Dark Empireby ZaarlikaChapters=1-The threat and the fall==2-A new Canterlot==3-The Tower==4-A failed entry==5-Operation:Lunar Rescue==6-The moon has its own powers==1-The threat and the fall==Chapter 1-The threat and the fall= Twilight watched the approaching Canterlot. Celestia had contacted her on VERY short notice and had asked Twilight to come and help her decipher the cause of some 'odd magic'. Twilight didn't understand why Celestia wanted her students help, when her student didn't know as much as her in this kind of area. "What's up, Twi?"Applejack asked, sitting next to her. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering what Celestia meant by 'odd magic'."Twilight answered. "Me too.AhI think it's just somepony trying to show off with a bit o' bad luck."AJ chuckled. "Yeah, I mean, what would cause that?"Rainbow asked, flying over. "The Changelings generally don't use useless 'odd magic', the Zebras....why would they? I honestly can't think of anything that would do that on purpose."Dash added. "Yeah. It doesn't even SOUND dangerous, and we certainly can't see it, right?"Twi smiled. AJ leaned over to look out the train at Canterlot. Twi leaned back to let her see. "Nope."AJ chuckled. Dash smiled and flew behind them, sitting down. ~~~ "Still think its some silly joke?"Twilight asked her friends, staring at the faint black vortex just poking out from behind the mountain. "Nope."Dash gulped. "Maybe it's somepony's way of travelling! MAYBE they'll give us cupcakes if we're nice to them!"Pinkie grinned. "Pinkie, PLEASE, do you REALLY think someone would use THAT to get around? It's not even in a useful place!"Rarity stared at Pinkie with a 'are-you-serious' face while gesturing to the vortex. "I sure hope it's not dangerous."Fluttershy commented. "We all do." Twilight responded. "Hello girls. I see you have seen the 'odd magic' I mentioned."Celestia gestured to the vortex as she approached. "Oh, hello Princess. Yes, we have."Twilight greeted. "Indeed. Sorry for telling you to come on such short notice, when it appeared there was a panic."Celestia chuckled nervously, shaking a little bit of roughness in her mane. "It's okay. So, what do we do?"Twilight asked. "Yeah. Ah kinda want this thing shut as soon as possible."AJ looked to Twilight. "I agree, I mean, LOOK at it!"Dash added. "For now I have several squads of Royal Guards watching it."Celestia told them. "Should we try some magic?"Twilight asked. "What else?"Rarity looked at Twilight with the same face she gazed at Pinkie with. "A cupcake launcher?"Pinkie suggested, drawing the massive cannon out of nowhere. "No, Pinkie."Twilight sighed. Looking downtrodden Pinkie put the cannon away. "I have tried some containment spells but it breaks them in seconds. Watch."Celestia explained, pointing her horn at the vortex. It lit up and a bubble formed around the vortex. A second later it cracked. This crack grew at a massive rate and a couple more seconds and the containment spell shattered. The glow disappeared from Celestia's horn. "Maybe there's SOMEPONY we need to beat up back there."Dash suggested. "Dash has a good point. Maybe someone, or someone's machine or contraption, is using some kind of magic on the other side to hold it open. Maybe if we blast a spell through to destroy it the vortex will shut."Twilight agreed. "Why don't you try, Twilight? I need to go set up a guard in Canterlot in preparation for the worst."Celestia nodded to Twilight. Twilight hesitated before her horn lit up, an offensive spell charging until it started forming around her head. She released the spell, the massive white missile of magic flew towards the vortex. It span and split, each segment growing to the size of the original. They flew through the vortex. A moment passed. Another moment passed. The six ponies and Celestia watched, hoping Twilight's magic had done the job. Another moment passed. The vortex seemed to shake, and everyone on the balcony leaned forward to see what happened. The vortex shook again, but what they hoped was the opposite of what happened-It grew bigger and denser. There was a flash from its centre and a small blocky-purple light flew at the ponies, smashing directly in front of Celestia, who had to jump back to avoid being hit. "It...it's a message!"Twilight blinked. Celestia's horn again lit up as she yanked out and unravelled the paper. Celestia read the message aloud: 'To whomever receives this:We are the Dark Empire. If you surrender to us now you may live to see another day. If you do not your world will crumble around you and we will claim it nonetheless, and you? You will die a death nothing has ever experienced in this vast universe.' "Princess, Ah don't think we should just GIVE UP."AJ scowled at the paper. Celestia thought for a moment. She turned it over and summoned a quill. She simply wrote 'We refuse' on the back, launching it back through the vortex. A minute passed. "So, what do we-Wo-o-ah!"Pinkie started, before a massive boom erupted from the vortex. Another paper flew to Celestia, but the vortex kept booming and shaking. Something was coming through. "It's says 'Then die'."Celestia read. At that moment a massive, black ship covered in wicked, bladed curves and massive cannons protruding from its sides erupted from the vortex, a behemoth of a blast coming with it, shaking the mountain to its core. It started to crumble. "We have to evacuate Canterlot! You six, get out of here, I will get the Guard."Celestia ordered, running back inside the palace. It was not regal in the least but In a sudden crisis like this it didn't matter. "Celestia, wait!"Twilight called, moving for the doorway back in. The ship fired at the mountain, and it, already damaged, easily gave way to the cannon's firepower. With it came Canterlot. "Everypony get down! Canterlot's fallin'!"AJ yelled. "Hold on!" Rainbow called, starting to fly down to make sure the exit was safe, when a boulder hit her, sending her plummeting into the breaking Canterlot, as it started to slide down and tumble. It was breaking under this, and the pelting or rocks from the destroyed mountain. "Rainbow!"Twilight screamed, watching the blue Pegasus fall. "Girls! Quickly, come inside!"Celestia screamed, gesturing for them to come in. The five ran for the doorway back in from the balcony. Luna was also in there, barking something at someone. A boulder toppled and smashed Into the doorway, collapsing it and blocking their path. "Hold on!"Celestia screamed, attempting to pull debris free unsuccessfully. "Twilight! We have to help Rainbow! She's in danger!"Rarity called, signaling to the limp Pegasus on a damaged building. "If you haven't noticed, we're ALL in danger!"AJ pointed out. "I'll go to Rainbow."Fluttershy called, starting to move away from the balcony, when AJ grabbed her hind hoof. "No, y'all get hurt like Rainbow!" AJ growled, pulling Fluttershy back down. "Look out!"Rarity screamed, just before a large boulder smashed into the Palace, sending dust rocketing out of the opposite windows. "Princess!"Twilight screamed, fighting the dust gathering. "I'm all right! You need to find a way off that balcony!"Celestia coughed. Luna had fallen silent. "It MIGHT be a moment too late!"Rarity pointed to the massive boulder breaking loose and toppling towards the balcony. "Look out!"Pinkie dived away, the other four quickly followed suit. The boulder smashed into the balcony doorway, and the balcony came free. The last thing Twilight remembered was falling towards Canterlot, everyone screaming, and Celestia leaning out of one of the windows, reaching out towards them, before the base of the Palace cracked, and simultaneously Canterlot began to topple. Massive cracks started to open. =2-A new Canterlot==Chapter 2-Bearings in a new Canterlot= Twilight raised her head slightly, opening one eye. She was still in Canterlot, that much was for sure. But where. She looked about and saw scores of dead ponies scattered around the street. She felt lucky she wasn't among them, especially since she had fallen from the Palace. She lifted her head higher, noting the house she was facing was half collapsed, one unfortunate pony impaled on the sharp remains pointing up. But hang on, how did they get THERE? Twilight stood up. Canterlot was no longer the sturdy city it was, bathed in bright sunlight. It was a smashed, cracked, crumbling ruin shrouded in dust and darkness. Looking up, Twilight saw through her ruffled mane the reason for the darkness part-The ship from the vortex was hovering over Canterlot. They probably wouldn't notice ONE moving pony. She walked the the edge of the caved-in ceiling she'd landed by. She peered around the corner to see a wing twitching. Watching further she saw it was yellow, with a little tuft of pink here and there. Fluttershy! Twilight ran over, falling to her knees by her friend. "Fluttershy! Are you alright?"Twilight shook the Pegasus. Fluttershy moaned and slowly opened one eye. "Twilight? Oh thank goodness."Fluttershy smiled weakly, hauling herself into a sitting position. "Why is it so dark?"Fluttershy asked. Twilight gestured upwards. Fluttershy looked up and got her answer. "I think the others landed nearby."Fluttershy noted, looking around. "Do you know where the Princesses are?"Twilight asked. Fluttershy looked past Twilight. "That might help."Fluttershy pointed. Looking to where Fluttershy was pointing she saw the collapsed remains of the Palace, which had fallen from its place and crashed hear its base. One of the towers still half-stood. The top had partially fallen away, but if they could get there it would make a good place to search for survivors. And hide. "Maybe we should go there. It still seems solid."Fluttershy suggested. "No. We need to find the others first. THEN we go."Twilight re-suggested. "That's a better idea. We could survive better together."Fluttershy nodded. "Maybe not just survive, maybe strike back, maybe even drive them out of Equestria."Twilight added. Fluttershy nodded. They both span when they heard a mare cry in distress and saw a hat drift from another street. "Applejack!"Twilight and Fluttershy called, galloping around the corner. Indeed Applejack was there, and she was in better condition than Twilight or Fluttershy. She was also being held down by somewhat Changeling-like ponies. She was struggling to get free. "Keep down, pathetic creature!"one of them hissed. The resulting spitball it got in the eye told it that wasn't going to get them anywhere. Immediately a hoof flew into its face, launching it away from AJ. A rather angry Fluttershy had kicked him in the face. "She's not pathetic, at least not as pathetic as you!" Fluttershy growled, kicking the stumbling creature in the chin, launching it into a building. Another, distracted by this, didn't see the blast of purple magic fly at it until it was spiraling several blocks away. The last one, the one holding Applejack down, got a forehoof to the face, causing him to stumble. Applejack got up, span, and bucked him in the chest, launching him into a building. He was unconscious instantaneously. "Thanks y'all! Where's everyone else?"AJ asked. "By that do you mean everyone living in Canterlot or the girls?"Twilight asked. "Both."AJ answered. "Firstly, look around. Secondly, we don't know. We're looking."Twilight answered. AJ looked around and saw the bodies of pony after pony. "Ah think we should head for the Palace. Maybe there we can search for the others."AJ suggested. Twilight considered that idea. It was a bit better than Fluttershy's original plan. "Okay. We head there then."Twilight decided. ~~~ The three ponies had been walking for a few minutes, every here and there hearing distant screams and battle cries, signs of the invasion taking place. "So we need to find Rainbow, Pinkie and Rarity, am ah right?"Applejack asked. "Yep. Also the Princesses. If we can't find them then we're in trouble."Twilight answered. "I wonder who else is alive."Fluttershy wondered aloud. "I wonder if these...things...have gotten elsewhere in Equestria."Twilight responded. "Ah sure hope mah family is alright."Applejack added. They stopped at the sound of a creature screeching, followed up by one flying into view, smashing into a building dressed in what looked like a rough attempt at a dress. Another followed, smashing into the first in a badly made hat. A third, not wearing anything this time, fell into view, a white hoof smashing into its face. It got up and ran into the middle of the street, stumbling while attempting to get into a proper battle stance. "Really, you have NO sense of fashion, and the indecency to try to stop me from helping you!"a familiar voice grunted, before a mannequin flew into the creature, knocking it to the floor. It was unconscious rather fast. "Rarity!" the trio called. The white mare trotted around the corner. "Oh, hello girls. Glad to see you. These....THINGS are SO rude!"Rarity spat, bapping the one in the middle of the road away from her. "Rarity, do you not remember what happened earlier?"Twilight squinted. "Well, yes, of course! But I didn't expect it to end up THIS bad."Rarity spat at the creature again. It's jaw simply twitched in response. AJ gave her the same look she gave Pinkie and Twilight earlier. Rarity watched her for a second before turning to Twilight. "So, what's the plan?"Rarity asked. "We're going to the Palace to use its last tower as a lookout to try and find Pinkie, maybe Rainbow."Twilight answered. "Well, let's not waste precious time then!" Rarity raised her head high. =3-The Tower==Chapter 3-The Tower= "Well, this sucks."Applejack sighed. In front of them another tower had fallen, barring their way to the Palace. "Can't you fly over and check for survivors there, Fluttershy?"Rarity asked. "No, my wing was hurt. I can't move it much."Fluttershy answered. "And it's too big to either move with magic or jump over."Twilight added. "So...?"Applejack looked to the others. "Maybe if we find the tower head we can get in through there. From there...I don't know."Twilight suggested. "Well, it's a better plan than wandering around, getting into fights with those things."Fluttershy looked around nervously. "I agree. It's sure to be here SOMEWHERE. It wouldn't just vaporize."Rarity agreed. "But, should we move together or quicken it up and split up?"Rarity asked. "Ah think splittin' it up would be a better idea. There would be little danger as we'd search the length of it faster."Applejack suggested. "I agree with Applejack, the faster we find it the faster we're together and safe again."Fluttershy agreed. "Safe?"Twilight chuckled. "I agree with the girls, Twilight, although we'd be safer together splitting up would quicken things up."Rarity looked to Twilight, as did the others. "Alright then. We split up. Rarity, go with Applejack. Fluttershy, come with me."Twilight decided. "Alright then, come on, Rarity!"Applejack called, heading off towards one end. Rarity gave a deep grunt before following. "Alright Fluttershy, follow me."Twilight gestured, heading off towards the other. ~~~ Rarity watched the fallen tower for any means of getting in. So far there were just cracks and fallen in holes full of debris. The tower was also broken into segments, but the edges either had piles of debris or were collapsed. "My, there sure is a lot of debris in this tower. If we do get in I do not know HOW we will get anywhere with it."Rarity wondered aloud. "Ah dunno, but it's the only plan we got, so we better just go along with it."Applejack shrugged. "Besides, all these holes and stuff aren't just on our side, and if we get in it would probably be easier to move the rubble."Applejack added. "That's it! Move the rubble!"Rarity grinned, running to a hole. She pushed the pile of debris, and tried digging at it, but to no avail. The pile of concrete, plaster and everything else was too heavy to move from there. "Applejack, you're a strong earth pony, aren't you? Could you move this?"Rarity asked. "Ah dunno, let me see."Applejack shrugged, observing the rubble. Rarity looked across the buildings opposite the tower. "I say, the dust, shadows and distant screams truly make one feel uncomfortable."Rarity pointed out. "Let alone unsafe."Applejack added, pushing at the rubble. It shifted slightly. "Rarity! It's movin'! Come help me here!"Applejack called. Rarity ran to her friends aid, pushing with all her might against the rubble. It shifted move, and it seemed as though they were going to get in. They span at the sound of a terrified shriek. What they saw was horrifying. A Unicorn mare, obviously one of those upper-class ponies(and had lost all of this upper-class-ness after a recent tumble.) was running to them, in obvious distress. "Please, you have to he-"She started, before she was cut to the floor by a creature. She screamed on the floor, attempting to crawl away. In its mouth the creature held a wickedly curved sword. Is stamped its forehoof on her pelvis and brought the blade down in a curve that used the hook shape in the sword to rip the helpless mare's spine out, launching it at the two horrified mares. "My god, she's..."Rarity breathed. "...dead..."Applejack finished. The creature growled through its teeth before charging them. "Applejack! Kick debris at him! Slow him down!"Rarity looked to Applejack, who had already thought of it and sent a pile of rubble at the creature with a powerful buck. It had the intended effect, as the creature's speed slowed massively. Rarity charged forward, locking her horn with its sword, while Applejack came around and bucked it in the ribs, sending it flying. The two heard multiple cracks as she did so. Rarity catcher the sword it had flung into the air and hurled it at the creature, slicing it cleanly across the throat. It gurgled, obviously trying to call for help, and it tried to stand, but stumbled as blood spurted from its throat and it fell back down. The impact send some of its esophagus sliding out, masses of blood following. It gurgled a little more, it's limbs twitching, before falling limp.Rarity stood silent, watching in horror at the sudden realization of what she had just done. "I....I just...."Rarity stammered. "Rarity, you did what you needed to do. It killed her and was going to kill us. You saved yourself and me."Applejack put a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. Rarity stood still for a moment before raising her head slightly. "You're right. I needed to. And besides, there will be time for sobbing uncontrollably over being a killer once we've found a way into the tower."Rarity decided, stamping a hoof down. Applejack chuckled. "That's right. So, let's get back to searching for a route."Applejack smiled. "Yes. Let's."Rarity nodded. ~~~ Twilight kept an eye out while Fluttershy watched for a way into the Tower. "Anything, Fluttershy?"Twilight asked, charging her force spell just a little more at the sight of something running across the street in the distance. "No, but I think we're on the right track, I'm seeing things that you see near the top of a tower."Fluttershy answered. "Since when did you become an expert on towers?"Twilight asked. "Twilight, now's not the best time."Fluttershy answered. "Okay, okay. Let's have a little jog, shall we? Maybe we'll find the top."Twilight suggested. "I'd rather not..."Fluttershy shook her head, looking to her injured wing. "Oh, right, sorry."Twilight chuckled. "Whatever. Let's just keep looking."Fluttershy returned to scanning the tower. "Hold on, I think I see the top!" Twilight pointed to what waseither the top, a boulder or a very large pile of debris further along. "Looks like it. Let's go look."Fluttershy nodded. The two ran as fast as Fluttershy could before the up and down motion hurt her wing. The stopped at the shape. "Well, we found what's left of the top."Twilight blinked. A boulder had crashed into the top on its way down Canterlot and had toppled the tower, and the landing had shattered some of the top into rubble. "What now?"Fluttershy asked. Twilight thought. They needed to get the others but with Fluttershy's wing reaching them would take forever. "Hide in the tower. I'm gonna go run after AJ and Rarity and bring them here. I'll be as quick as possible."Twilight planned. "Okay."Fluttershy headed inside the intact half of the top and lay down, nursing her wing. Twilight ran down the way they had came. ~~~ Rarity fired a bolt of magic at another creature. "These pesky things just do not give up, do they?"Rarity growled as she fired another bolt at it, knocking it unconscious. "They're holding an invasion; they're not going to."Applejack responded. The duo turned when they heard something calling from behind them. Rarity charged another bolt, prepared to knock another creature down. But something unusual happened-A purple light formed above its head. Rarity de-charged her attack. "Twi?"Applejack squinted. The shadow moved into view range and indeed it was the purple mare. "Girls! Phew. Follow me!"Twilight chuckled. "What's going on? Where's Fluttershy?"Rarity asked. "She's in the tower."Twilight answered. "Whatever do you mean?"Rarity asked. "We found a way in."Twilight answered. Both Applejack and Rarity smiled. =4-A failed entry="Hold on, girls, it's comin' loose!"Applejack growled as she heaved against the side of the inner tower. After getting in they had found a loose piece of walling, and Applejack had been trying to push it free. "Hold on Applejack, let me try something."Twilight motioned for AJ to step away, eyeing a boulder. Using magic, Twilight lifted the boulder. "Ah see where yer goin' with this."Applejack stepped back. Turning her head towards the loose wall, Twilight sent the boulder smashing into the wall, and the loose section easily gave way. Twilight moved the boulder aside and let her friends through. "Well, we got to the Palace. What now?"Fluttershy asked. "We get in and get to the tower."Twilight answered. "AND search for survivors."Rarity added. The four ponies headed up the cracked ground to the large doors. They expected to be able to open the doors, but when they heaved against it it didn't budge. "Is it locked?"Applejack asked. "Eh hem."Rarity looked to Applejack, pointing to the smashed lock, back down near the fallen tower. "Oh."Applejack blinked. "There might be a barricade."Twilight suggested, as this was MOST of the door. The rest was up near the palace's original base. Twilight peered through the gap in between the doors. No form of barricade, not even a pile of debris to hold it shut. "Nothing back there."Twilight stepped back. "Uuuh, Twilight, I found out why."Fluttershy called. She pointed to the base of the damaged door. It was stuck tightly in a groove dug into the ground when it landed. "Well, there's no gettin' in through there."Applejack noted. "I don't know any other ways in, and if there were they'd be up by its old base."Twilight stroked her chin, thinking. "Maybe there's something up there, like a boulder we can push down to break through a wall."Fluttershy suggested. "Fluttershy, you're a genius!"Rarity grinned. "But even if there IS something up there, how will we push it down?"Twilight wondered aloud. "Eh hem?"Applejack stamped a hind hoof. "Oh, ok ok."Twilight smiled. "So it's decided? We go up and push some boulder down?"Rarity asked. "It's the only plan we have."Twilight answered. ~~~ "Twi? How long is this gunna take?"Applejack asked as she bucked another creature down the steps to the original base. "Just...hold...on!Girls! Move!"Twilight answered as she yanked a boulder free from the large pile blocking their path. The four ponies jumped to the side, leaving several of the oblivious creatures to get crushed by the rocks, leaving just flesh and shattered bones behind, masses of blood pouring from the mangled corpses. "Come on, everypony! Let's clean up the rest of 'em!"AJ grinned as she bucked a slightly confused, but attacking creature back down the steps. She hurled a rock down at it, and it hit it hard in the throat. It choked and scrabbled at the rock, which, due to some sharp parts, had jammed itself in its throat, and the scrabbling just made the wounds bigger, until it accidently tore open its throat, letting the rock, a piece of esophagus and a large amount of blood to pour out. It stumbled and fell back from shock, happening to land on an ally's sword. The now-blood soaked creature dropped its sword and attacked, leaping at AJ, but Twilight repelled it by sending a magical shard plummeting through its chest. A hunk of its heart flew out the back and the creature was already dead by the time it hit the floor. The shard exploded, shredding it and sending, limbs, flesh and organs flying in a massive explosion of blood. The remaining two screeched at the four ponies before retreating, now knowing that these four were superior. One of these two didn't get too far after a white horn flew through its chest. Rarity threw it up and threw a force spell at it, launching it off into the far lower Canterlot. "Well, girls, we can go further now."Twilight smiled. "Aren't you a little...shocked at the fact you killed that thing?"Fluttershy asked. "Well, yeah, but now's not the time for that."Twilight answered. ~~~ The four ponies had reached the top of the steps, and now looked over the remains of the Palace's original base. Scattered around and through it were multiple dead Royal Guards, along with several dead creatures. "Looks like they put up a real fight."Twilight blinked. "Yeah. Too bad they didn't win."Applejack added. "Or lose."Rarity noted, looking at the fact there were no surviving creatures. "Yeah, or we'd have another fight on our hands."Fluttershy responded. "So girls, let's find us a boulder!"Twilight peered around several shattered walls. On several occasions they pushed one down, but they were never big enough to do any real damage to the wall below. On the 7th attempt the wall cracked. "Ah think the weight of all of those boulders is weighing down on the wall."Applejack explained. "Yeah, must be. So..."Twilight watched the boulders. "What if we keep hitting it with the same boulder, with magic?"Rarity suggested. "Rarity, sometimes you are a mastermind."Twilight patted Rarity on the shoulder. ~~~ Twilight hauled the biggest boulder so it was above her head. She threw it at the pile of rocks again and it cracked just a little more. "Twi...this is taking forever, and lifting these rocks is VERY taxing after a while."Rarity panted. "I know...but I think we're nearly through."Twilight responded. "Hey y'all, look out!"Applejack called from the top of the hill above the two Unicorns. A moment later and Applejack and Fluttershy were pushing a large rock made from several smaller rocks tied together with rope. "Uuuh, Twilight, do you suppose we RUN AWAY!"Rarity suggested, running away from where the rock was going to hit. "Good idea!"Twilight responded, diving away. The rock fell away and hit the original pile, ripping through the wall. "My, that worked better than I thought it would."Fluttershy commented as she followed AJ down. "No time to talk, girls, we have to search the inside for survivors."Twilight stepped inside the ruined Palace, now just a shell of it's former glory. "AND find that tower!"Rarity followed. As the four stepped inside, they noted several things: For one, it was remarkably intact and was supported by multiple wooden beams on the inside(one of which they had broken). Second, the steps going up had been somewhat repaired, enough to use. Thirdly, occasionally they heard footsteps upstairs. "Y'all, I think somepony's home."Applejack pointed to the ceiling. "Survivors?"Fluttershy suggested. "Looking at the fact no one has broken in before us, I'd say that's about right."Twilight was watching the stairs. "Um, girls, I think we should block up this hole with something."Rarity suggested. "Good idea. Then nothing can follow us in."Fluttershy nodded. Twilight 'grabbed' the big boulder AJ and Fluttershy had made and pushed it back, nicely blocking the hole. "Who's there?"the four heard from the steps. The pony who said it, the tone obviously sounding like a Royal Guard, was just out of view. "Twilight Sparkle, and three of her friends."Twilight answered. "Twilight? The Princess has been trying to spot you since Canterlot stopped! Quickly now, come upstairs."the Guard responded, coming further down and motioning the four over. He led them up about three odd floors of depleted guard squads watching the staircases from behind crude barricades. At the top one Celestia was watching Canterlot from a window, trying to spot something. "Princess Celestia, you can stop. Twilight and her friends have come here."the Guard informed. Celestia turned, and as soon as she spotted her student and her friends she ran over and grabbed Twilight, obviously overjoyed to see her. "Twilight! Thank the heavens you are alright! Where are your other friends? Rainbowdash and Pinkie Pie?"Celestia asked. "We don't know. We came here hoping to use this place like a lookout to spot them, namely the tower."Twilight answered. "You mean the one still standing?"Celestia asked. "Of course."Twilight answered. "Well that's the problem..."Celestia scratched her forehead. "What is?"Applejack asked. "During the disaster the entrance collapsed. Luna was forced to run up there to escape being crushed. I fear she may be injured, or worse."Celestia answered. "We need to rescue Luna! We would be in great trouble without her!"Rarity tugged at the debris. "Right. We need to rescue Luna."Twilight nodded. =5-Operation:Lunar Rescue=Twilight observed the pile of rubble blocking the entrance to the tower. This wasnt a little pile of debris made of little hunks. There were large sections of wall, ceiling and archway. They were not going to move much of this. "We can't move this aside. We need to find another way in."Twilight looked around. "Like the tower barring the way here..."Rarity sighed. "Yeah."Twilight blinked. Celestia, who was busy trying to maintain the little order she had in the ruined Palace, overheard and turned to her student. "There is not much in here. Try looking around. Maybe there's something you can use to help."Celestia suggested. "Good idea Princess."Twilight nodded. "Ah think a sledgehammer could do a mighty load to help get in."Applejack tapped her chin. "Assuming we're trying to move the rubble. Wouldn't you think the Princess or a Guard would have thought of that?"Rarity asked. "Rarity has a point."Fluttershy nodded. "There's a couple of corridors. We should make sure there's nothing of value in them."Twilight gestured. "Ah agree."Applejack nodded. ~~~ Twilight heaved at the door. It wasn't barred or stuck in the ground but it was tightly sealed. "Need help?"Celestia asked, inspecting what Twilight was doing. "If you're offering."Twilight smiled. "Of course."Celestia's horn lit up. "The lock is broken, but intact enough that it has sealed the door. Hold on."Celestia explained. Twilight watched as she struggled with the lock, a glow coming from between the doors. Eventually Twilight heard a snap and the pieces of lock falling to the ground. Twilight and Celestia then put their magic together and heaved at the doors. They slowly ground open, but when it opened a bit the ceiling cracked and dust fell down. "I think that's open enough. Too much of this Palace, let alone Canterlot, has collapsed already."Celestia gestured for Twilight to go through. "Thanks Princess."Twilight grinned. "It's nothing. But I must return to my duties."Celestia nodded, turning and walking away. Twilight walked through. It WAS an apartment, from the looks of it. She walked over to the cracked window. Trying to see through the dust coat, she only managed to spot a squad of creatures inspecting how to pass the fallen tower. They muttered a little, but Twilight couldn't hear, so she creaked the window just a little, and pressed her ear against the gap. "We must bypass this barricade." "How do we know it is a barricade? It appears to be a fallen structure." "Shush! It still ACTS as one, and thus IS one." "Okay, okay." "How do we pass it? We cannot jump over NOR can we move it. There is likely to be no tunnel." "Maybe if we can't move it or get over it..." "What are you thinking ?" "Maybe we can blow our way through." "What do I suggest?" "Looking at the brittle material this is made of, a Structural Disassembly shockwave should do the trick." "Of course. I will get the gunner." "Good." Twilight heard enough. They were going to break into the Palace! Everypony was in danger! She ran back towards the half-open door, but she stepped in the crack she had stepped to avoid and it gave way under her beating weight. She crashed into the now debris-filled room. This had obviously gotten the creature squad's attention. "There are occupants in this building!" "And?" "We must hurry to silence them before they can be alerted of our presence. Quickly now, let us bypass this barrier!" Twilight scrambled to her feet, but shook and fell again. Looking to the cause, she saw her leg was broken. The massive inrush of pain suddenly caused her to scream, catching the attention of an already-alert Celestia. A second later and the solar princess was at the edge of the hole. "Twilight! Are you alright?"Celestia asked. "I broke my leg!"Twilight answered, nursing the awkwardly twisted limb. "Guards! Get her out of there!"Celestia ordered the two guards that had followed. "Hang on..."Twilight hobbled to some dusty parts at a hole in the wall. It was vaguely arranged to shape a device that, if a part is removed, a rope springs forward and could launch projectiles. She moved a piece or two into better positions. "Do we have spare spears?"Twilight asked. A few moments later and she was buried under a few dozen spears. "Okay, hang on..."Twilight moved to point it at a creature and removed the hunk of wood stuck in the plank that formed the body. Indeed the spear that had loosely sat there originally launched off at high speed, beheading the creature. With a smile Twilight heard "We've been spotted! Quickly, hurry!" "A Structural Disassembly shockwave takes time to prepare!" "I don't care! Hurry it up!" Twilight moved back a little. "Twilight, you're a genius! Guards, after as many spare spears as we have and bring them here. Station a soldier here to operate the contraption! Twilight has found us a defense!"Celestia ordered. Quickly enough a Guard helped Twilight out of the hole, as another ran to the contraption, which humans would know as a 'crossbow', and started firing at the panicked creatures. A few shots later and the squad were all headless. A moment later and the pile of spears grew as a few dozen more spears were thrown to the Guard down by the crossbow. "Thank you, Twilight. Now we have a way to fight off these monstrosities. Here."Celestia smiled. She gingerly lifted up Twilight's broken leg with her own and her horn glowed. Twilight felt several uncomfortable clicks before Celestia's horn stopped glowing. "I've fixed the bone, but the wounds are still there, but I need to save what energy I have."Celestia smiled. "Thanks, Princess."Twilight smiled back. ~~~ Applejack listened to the crash through the wall. She and Rarity had once again taken this route, while Fluttershy stayed behind to take care of injured Guards in any way she could. "Hear that? Ah hope Twi's alright."Applejack tapped the wall. "Indeed. She's a valuable ally in this crisis and we cannot afford to lose her."Rarity nodded, peering out the window at the forsaken Canterlot. "I've always wanted to come here, maybe to live here, but I've only ever been on short visits. And then before I can THIS happens."Rarity sighed. "Look Rarity. Sometimes bad things happen we don't want to happen. It happens to all of us. Maybe they'll build a new Canterlot, just like the old one."Applejack put a reassuring hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "But right now we need to focus on the task at hand. Luna is in trouble and we need to find a way to her, and then there's Equestria we need to save."Applejack added. Rarity turned away from the window, to Applejack. "You're right. I've done enough being sad and all. We need to save Luna, and then Equestria. So let's go."Rarity's face gained a look of determination. Applejack simply smiled in response. ~~~ "There's nothing in this hallway except for that room that collapsed."Twilight tapped her chin. "And we still need to find a way into that tower."Twilight added. "And how do you suppose we do that?"Celestia asked. "Well we can't get through that debris. Maybe if we get onto the roof we can find a hole and get in through there."Twilight suggested. "Good plan. Also it's unlikely any of our enemy can get onto the roof to get in."Celestia added. "Right. Maybe a staircase. Fallen bit of roof."Twilight tapped her chin more. "Twilight! Maybe if we let the ceiling above that door collapse we will at least have a boost!"Celestia grinned, looking to the doors. "And also it wouldn't completely block off the way to the weapon!"Twilight grinned also, gesturing to the Guard keeping an eye out from the crossbow. "Guards, hold on. We're collapsing a bit of roof."Celestia raised her hoof to hold any Guard movements. "Why, your Highness? Would that not let the enemy in?"A guard asked. "No. I doubt they can jump the entire way up there, and also it is near impossible to climb. It will allow us to get to Luna, hopefully."Celestia answered. "Alright. Men, stay back! The Princess and Twilight are making a way to Princess Luna!"the Guard stepped away. =6-The moon has its own powers=The ceiling cracked as the doors turned away. "Easy now..."Celestia breathed. The doors slid more, closing in on the walls. The ceiling above hung down, and small bits of debris started to fall through. "Alright....push it the rest of the way!"Twilight and her mentor threw the doors back, and the ceiling collapsed, forming a mound that allowed them to get to the ceiling. "Alright, what now?" a guard asked. "I'll get the others, and we'll go find Luna."Twilight suggested. Celestia nodded in response. ~~~ Applejack heaved at the door again, and Rarity used her magic to try and move anything behind the door. "I'm telling you Applejack, there is NO way we are opening this door!" Rarity reasoned. "Yes....we....are!"Applejack almost threw herself at the door, and it ripped open, launching a rock across the room. A simple storeroom. "How many darn storerooms does this castle have?"Applejack growled. "Applejack! Look! Shovels! We can dig away some of the rubble!"Rarity grinned. "Maybe, but it's hard to shovel large chunks. We'll keep it in mind."Applejack responded. The two jumped when they heard a crash elsewhere in the castle. They jumped back when the bookshelf they'd passed toppled over and crashed into the opposite wall. Most of the books were torn and dusty. Applejack threw another few books away. "Applejack, look at this!" Rarity held up a book in front of her friend. "Why is there a book called Dark Empire?"Applejack asked. "It's what the...creatures call themselves, is it not?"Rarity suggested. "Oh yeah!"Applejack took the book and opened it. 'The Dark Empire first attacked the capital of Farda, collapsing it and slaughtering everyone who had not died by then. With the land's leaders gone, the people were unorganized in whatever resistance they made, leading to a swift destruction of the people. The Dark Empire proclaimed themselves as the land's conquerors to those they enslaved, before using them to claim anything of value from the land. They then appeared to leave, before fire rained down from the sky and burned the land, cratering it and ruining it beyond recovery. Now the land lies a dead, black shell, all life extinguished, the only sign of former inhabitants being the ruins of towns and cities and the thousands of skeletons littering the land. The Dark Empire moves on, and destroys all land wherever they go.' "Um, Applejack?" Rarity looked to her friend. "Yeah?"AJ responded. "Think we should warn the others?" "Yeah." "If we don't things might go the same way." "Seems to me like it's started already." "Well lets not waste time dilly-dallying then!" ~~~ Celestia clambered atop the mound and peered at the ruined tower. It was severely damaged. Celestia was, in fact, surprised it had not fallen off. "Guards! Station several men up here as lookouts." Celestia called. "Yes, Princess!" one called back. A moment later and about five guards climbed up, stationing themselves around the edge, watching. Twilight turned the corner and scanned the walkway, trying to spot her friends. She turned to Fluttershy who was going about between soldiers, supposedly helping them. "Fluttershy! Have you seen where Applejack or Rarity went?" Twilight asked. "Um, yeah, down those steps there." Fluttershy pointed to some cracked, dusty steps with obvious footprints in them. "Thanks, I'll be back in a minute."Twilight nodded, making for the stairs. "Be careful Twilight!"Fluttershy called. Twilight walked down them and peered around the corners. She spotted the duo reading an old dusty tome by a fallen bookcase. "Girls, we don't have time! Come on!"Twilight called, using her magic to move a heap of books aside and lift the bookcase back up. "Twi, you MIGHT wanna see this."Applejack called. "Darn it girls."Twilight walked over and lifted the book up, reading the paragraph Rarity had pointed to. "So? This looks REALLY old, that civilization might have been far less advanced than us." Twilight pointed out. "So would that Dark Empire."Rarity added. "Oh yeah."Twilight tapped her chin. "And as of now we're goin' down the same path as that old civilization."Applejack took the book back. "Anyway, what was it you came to tell us?"Rarity asked. "We found a way onto the roof so we can get to the tower."Twilight answered. "Awesome! Let's get up there then!"Applejack threw the book onto a pile behind her. ~~~ One of the rooftop guards, Flared Spear, heated a thump behind him. Turning to see, he saw a light orange hoof at the edge of the hole, shortly followed by another. Walking over, he peered over to see Twilight and two of her friends. The one with her hooves o. The roof was the one called Applejack. He grabbed her hooves and hauled her up, thumping down as he did so. "Why thanks partner!"Applejack smiled before helping the white one up, and Twilight lifted herself up. Flared Spear got back up. "Why are you here?"he asked. "We're going to try and find a way into the tower."Rarity answered. "To try and rescue Princess Luna."Twilight added. "Right, of course, over there."he gestured to the tower. Applejack nodded before the trio headed towards the damaged tower. Twilight gestured to Rarity to slowly step onto the tower's side. "Ooooo, it's high up and, what if we fell?"Rarity breathed heavily. "Don't worry Rarity, it's fine."Twilight gestured again. "Yeah rarity! Come on and join the party!"Applejack grinned reassuringly. "Party? I must say-"Rarity started. "It's a figure of speech Rarity and you should know that, now come on!" Twilight moved to grab Rarity's hoof. "Alright alright!"Rarity snapped her hoof away from Twilight. She slowly landed a hoof on the tower and then the other. Carefully stepping her hind hooves down, she shook slightly before realizing the rough tower side gave her a strong grip. "Oh, we'll, you're right!"Rarity gave a mildly surprised humph. Applejack peered into a hole. "This looks alright girls."Applejack called. "Sure?"Twilight called. "Weeeeell, looking at the fact the bottom beneath us has fallen away, it's our best bet of getting in."Rarity peered over the edge. "Why not further up?"Twilight asked. "Who said Princess Luna was at the top?"Applejack asked. "Good point, come on."Twilight shrugged. Applejack dropped into the tower, followed by Twilight and then Rarity. "I must say if you ignore the gaping hole behind us it feels a lot safer in here."Rarity noted. "Let's find Luna."Twilight moved towards the top. ~~~ The trio jumped back as another step from what was now the ceiling dropped off. "Are we sure this is safe?"Rarity asked. "Rarity, ask yourself this:WHERE in Canterlot is 'safe'?"Twilight asked. "Good point."Rarity shrugged. "Girls! I can hear something!"Applejack raised a hoof. The trio listened. A moment passed and they heard a slight moan. "Luna!" Twilight ran past Applejack, bounding over several steps on the floor. "C'mon!" Applejack gestured to Rarity before making after her friend. Twilight stopped at the door, which was now diagonal but closer to being horizontal. She heaved at the door. "Huh? Who's there?"Twilight heard. "It's me, Twilight. Princess, we've come to get you!"Twilight answered. "Oh, good. Is it just you?"Luna asked. "My friends Applejack and Rarity are coming now."Twilight peered over her shoulder at the two mares approaching her. "Where are your other friends?"Luna asked. "Elsewhere, but give me a moment."Twilight answered. Her two friends skidded to a halt in front of her. "What's goin' on?" Applejack asked. "Luna's in here, but like every other door in Canterlot, it's stuck."Twilight answered. "Frankly, I'm not surprised."Rarity blinked. "Wait."Twilight tapped her chin. "What?"Rarity asked. "Rarity, use your magic with me to try and get this door open, Applejack, push against it." Twilight gestured. "I would help but I'm stuck."Luna called. "I'm really getting tired of heaving doors open."Applejack sighed. Twilight and Rarity's horns lit and the door started creaking. Applejack heaved hard. The door started moving. "It's coming! Keep pushing you three!" Luna called. The three pushed as hard as they could and the door came loose, clunking on the floor. Luna was indeed stuck under a hunk of wall from the former wall. Twilight and Rarity lifted it while Applejack pulled Luna out from under it. Twilight and Rarity let go and panted as it smashed back on the floor. "Thank you girls, really."Luna panted. "We couldn't just leave you here Princess."Twilight smiled. "Did you want to ask anything?"Rarity asked. "You didn't really answer me. Where are the rest of your friends?"Luna asked. "Fluttershy is still in the Palace, as for the other two. We don't know."Twilight answered. "But we're sure they're fine."Applejack added. "Applejack, we SAW Rainbow fall unconscious."Rarity sighed. "Rarity..."Applejack put her face in a hoof. "And Canterlot?"Luna asked. "Look outside."Twilight gestured to a hole in the former ceiling. Luna walked over and peered out over the dark, dusty ruin. "We've been trying to hold out in the Palace, so far successfully, as for anyone else in Canterlot..."Twilight informed. "There were a lot of bodies."Applejack added. "Very few of which were alien." Rarity finished. "Alien?"Luna asked. "The invaders, which did this, they're alien."Rarity answered. "And you say the Palace is still intact?"Luna peered at the doorframe. "More or less. Not in the same place but yeah."Twilight answered. "I must say I'm surprised this tower hasn't fallen off."Luna tapped her chin. "The other one did."Applejack added. "Where are the aliens?"Luna asked. "Either in Canterlot's ruins or up in their ship."Twilight answered. Luna looked outside again and at the large spacecraft. "Well, I'd say most of them are in there." Luna scowled at the black vehicle. "Probably."Applejack blinked. "Well then."Luna started, her horn glowing. "Time for payback."Luna growled. "For destroying me and my sister's city, for killing my people..."Luna's voice was getting angrier and more vicious by the second, and the orb on her horn was getting bigger and more violent as well. "...and for hurting Twilight's friends!"Luna roared, the blast of magic firing with such force the whole Palace jolted slightly. The missile flew straight for the Shadowbringer. Aboard the bridge, the crew rushed about from console to console, trying to evade the missile. "Crewman! What's the projectile made of?"The captain asked. "Uuuuuh, the computer can't tell! If I guessed id say...magic?"a crew member answered. "Magic? What in the Empire are you-"The captain started. Luna's missile hit the side of the ship, near the engines. A moment later and one of the larger engines exploded, sending the ship on a crash course. "Status report!"the captain called. "Major engine down. Multiple other engines damaged and weakened." "And? What's going on?" "I'm trying to keep her up but the ship's going down!" the helmsman called. "Alright, abandon ship! Abandon ship!" the captain ordered. "No time sir!"the helmsman called. "How long do we have?" the captain called. The crew was less frantic and more horrified and panicked now. "Estimated time to crash, ten seconds, sir!"the helmsman called. "Darn it, hold on!" the captain braced for impact. The black ship moved away from Canterlot and headed down, smashing into the hills near the ruin and bathing the city in sunlight. It was midday. The bottom of the ship burned as the ship ground to a halt, and even then bits of the hull were incinerated by small explosions every here and there. "I think that did it Princess!"Twilight grinned. "Wait. You're SMILING at that?"Applejack put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Applejack. They destroyed our city, have nearly killed everyone in Canterlot and if we don't do something they'll destroy Equestria. I think we can smile at their ship going down."Twilight responded. "Twilight has a point. Did you not see that poor mare get her spine torn out, or did you just forget that?"Rarity asked. "Right before you killed it."Applejack humphed. "I had to! And you certainly didn't look like you were going to!" Rarity growled. "Girls! We have no time for bickering! We must get back to the Palace!" Luna stamped her hoof. "Luna is right."Twilight started for the Palace. "I'm surprised the tower is still standing, after that attack Luna made." Rarity noted. The trio stopped when they heard a crack from further down the tower. "It isn't."Applejack blinked. The tower jolted down. It was coming loose. "Hold on girls! I can get us out of here!"Luna's horn lit up brightly. There was a flash, and they were gone.
=1-The threat and the fall==Chapter 1-The threat and the fall= Twilight watched the approaching Canterlot. Celestia had contacted her on VERY short notice and had asked Twilight to come and help her decipher the cause of some 'odd magic'. Twilight didn't understand why Celestia wanted her students help, when her student didn't know as much as her in this kind of area. "What's up, Twi?"Applejack asked, sitting next to her. "Oh, nothing. Just wondering what Celestia meant by 'odd magic'."Twilight answered. "Me too.AhI think it's just somepony trying to show off with a bit o' bad luck."AJ chuckled. "Yeah, I mean, what would cause that?"Rainbow asked, flying over. "The Changelings generally don't use useless 'odd magic', the Zebras....why would they? I honestly can't think of anything that would do that on purpose."Dash added. "Yeah. It doesn't even SOUND dangerous, and we certainly can't see it, right?"Twi smiled. AJ leaned over to look out the train at Canterlot. Twi leaned back to let her see. "Nope."AJ chuckled. Dash smiled and flew behind them, sitting down. ~~~ "Still think its some silly joke?"Twilight asked her friends, staring at the faint black vortex just poking out from behind the mountain. "Nope."Dash gulped. "Maybe it's somepony's way of travelling! MAYBE they'll give us cupcakes if we're nice to them!"Pinkie grinned. "Pinkie, PLEASE, do you REALLY think someone would use THAT to get around? It's not even in a useful place!"Rarity stared at Pinkie with a 'are-you-serious' face while gesturing to the vortex. "I sure hope it's not dangerous."Fluttershy commented. "We all do." Twilight responded. "Hello girls. I see you have seen the 'odd magic' I mentioned."Celestia gestured to the vortex as she approached. "Oh, hello Princess. Yes, we have."Twilight greeted. "Indeed. Sorry for telling you to come on such short notice, when it appeared there was a panic."Celestia chuckled nervously, shaking a little bit of roughness in her mane. "It's okay. So, what do we do?"Twilight asked. "Yeah. Ah kinda want this thing shut as soon as possible."AJ looked to Twilight. "I agree, I mean, LOOK at it!"Dash added. "For now I have several squads of Royal Guards watching it."Celestia told them. "Should we try some magic?"Twilight asked. "What else?"Rarity looked at Twilight with the same face she gazed at Pinkie with. "A cupcake launcher?"Pinkie suggested, drawing the massive cannon out of nowhere. "No, Pinkie."Twilight sighed. Looking downtrodden Pinkie put the cannon away. "I have tried some containment spells but it breaks them in seconds. Watch."Celestia explained, pointing her horn at the vortex. It lit up and a bubble formed around the vortex. A second later it cracked. This crack grew at a massive rate and a couple more seconds and the containment spell shattered. The glow disappeared from Celestia's horn. "Maybe there's SOMEPONY we need to beat up back there."Dash suggested. "Dash has a good point. Maybe someone, or someone's machine or contraption, is using some kind of magic on the other side to hold it open. Maybe if we blast a spell through to destroy it the vortex will shut."Twilight agreed. "Why don't you try, Twilight? I need to go set up a guard in Canterlot in preparation for the worst."Celestia nodded to Twilight. Twilight hesitated before her horn lit up, an offensive spell charging until it started forming around her head. She released the spell, the massive white missile of magic flew towards the vortex. It span and split, each segment growing to the size of the original. They flew through the vortex. A moment passed. Another moment passed. The six ponies and Celestia watched, hoping Twilight's magic had done the job. Another moment passed. The vortex seemed to shake, and everyone on the balcony leaned forward to see what happened. The vortex shook again, but what they hoped was the opposite of what happened-It grew bigger and denser. There was a flash from its centre and a small blocky-purple light flew at the ponies, smashing directly in front of Celestia, who had to jump back to avoid being hit. "It...it's a message!"Twilight blinked. Celestia's horn again lit up as she yanked out and unravelled the paper. Celestia read the message aloud: 'To whomever receives this:We are the Dark Empire. If you surrender to us now you may live to see another day. If you do not your world will crumble around you and we will claim it nonetheless, and you? You will die a death nothing has ever experienced in this vast universe.' "Princess, Ah don't think we should just GIVE UP."AJ scowled at the paper. Celestia thought for a moment. She turned it over and summoned a quill. She simply wrote 'We refuse' on the back, launching it back through the vortex. A minute passed. "So, what do we-Wo-o-ah!"Pinkie started, before a massive boom erupted from the vortex. Another paper flew to Celestia, but the vortex kept booming and shaking. Something was coming through. "It's says 'Then die'."Celestia read. At that moment a massive, black ship covered in wicked, bladed curves and massive cannons protruding from its sides erupted from the vortex, a behemoth of a blast coming with it, shaking the mountain to its core. It started to crumble. "We have to evacuate Canterlot! You six, get out of here, I will get the Guard."Celestia ordered, running back inside the palace. It was not regal in the least but In a sudden crisis like this it didn't matter. "Celestia, wait!"Twilight called, moving for the doorway back in. The ship fired at the mountain, and it, already damaged, easily gave way to the cannon's firepower. With it came Canterlot. "Everypony get down! Canterlot's fallin'!"AJ yelled. "Hold on!" Rainbow called, starting to fly down to make sure the exit was safe, when a boulder hit her, sending her plummeting into the breaking Canterlot, as it started to slide down and tumble. It was breaking under this, and the pelting or rocks from the destroyed mountain. "Rainbow!"Twilight screamed, watching the blue Pegasus fall. "Girls! Quickly, come inside!"Celestia screamed, gesturing for them to come in. The five ran for the doorway back in from the balcony. Luna was also in there, barking something at someone. A boulder toppled and smashed Into the doorway, collapsing it and blocking their path. "Hold on!"Celestia screamed, attempting to pull debris free unsuccessfully. "Twilight! We have to help Rainbow! She's in danger!"Rarity called, signaling to the limp Pegasus on a damaged building. "If you haven't noticed, we're ALL in danger!"AJ pointed out. "I'll go to Rainbow."Fluttershy called, starting to move away from the balcony, when AJ grabbed her hind hoof. "No, y'all get hurt like Rainbow!" AJ growled, pulling Fluttershy back down. "Look out!"Rarity screamed, just before a large boulder smashed into the Palace, sending dust rocketing out of the opposite windows. "Princess!"Twilight screamed, fighting the dust gathering. "I'm all right! You need to find a way off that balcony!"Celestia coughed. Luna had fallen silent. "It MIGHT be a moment too late!"Rarity pointed to the massive boulder breaking loose and toppling towards the balcony. "Look out!"Pinkie dived away, the other four quickly followed suit. The boulder smashed into the balcony doorway, and the balcony came free. The last thing Twilight remembered was falling towards Canterlot, everyone screaming, and Celestia leaning out of one of the windows, reaching out towards them, before the base of the Palace cracked, and simultaneously Canterlot began to topple. Massive cracks started to open.
=2-A new Canterlot==Chapter 2-Bearings in a new Canterlot= Twilight raised her head slightly, opening one eye. She was still in Canterlot, that much was for sure. But where. She looked about and saw scores of dead ponies scattered around the street. She felt lucky she wasn't among them, especially since she had fallen from the Palace. She lifted her head higher, noting the house she was facing was half collapsed, one unfortunate pony impaled on the sharp remains pointing up. But hang on, how did they get THERE? Twilight stood up. Canterlot was no longer the sturdy city it was, bathed in bright sunlight. It was a smashed, cracked, crumbling ruin shrouded in dust and darkness. Looking up, Twilight saw through her ruffled mane the reason for the darkness part-The ship from the vortex was hovering over Canterlot. They probably wouldn't notice ONE moving pony. She walked the the edge of the caved-in ceiling she'd landed by. She peered around the corner to see a wing twitching. Watching further she saw it was yellow, with a little tuft of pink here and there. Fluttershy! Twilight ran over, falling to her knees by her friend. "Fluttershy! Are you alright?"Twilight shook the Pegasus. Fluttershy moaned and slowly opened one eye. "Twilight? Oh thank goodness."Fluttershy smiled weakly, hauling herself into a sitting position. "Why is it so dark?"Fluttershy asked. Twilight gestured upwards. Fluttershy looked up and got her answer. "I think the others landed nearby."Fluttershy noted, looking around. "Do you know where the Princesses are?"Twilight asked. Fluttershy looked past Twilight. "That might help."Fluttershy pointed. Looking to where Fluttershy was pointing she saw the collapsed remains of the Palace, which had fallen from its place and crashed hear its base. One of the towers still half-stood. The top had partially fallen away, but if they could get there it would make a good place to search for survivors. And hide. "Maybe we should go there. It still seems solid."Fluttershy suggested. "No. We need to find the others first. THEN we go."Twilight re-suggested. "That's a better idea. We could survive better together."Fluttershy nodded. "Maybe not just survive, maybe strike back, maybe even drive them out of Equestria."Twilight added. Fluttershy nodded. They both span when they heard a mare cry in distress and saw a hat drift from another street. "Applejack!"Twilight and Fluttershy called, galloping around the corner. Indeed Applejack was there, and she was in better condition than Twilight or Fluttershy. She was also being held down by somewhat Changeling-like ponies. She was struggling to get free. "Keep down, pathetic creature!"one of them hissed. The resulting spitball it got in the eye told it that wasn't going to get them anywhere. Immediately a hoof flew into its face, launching it away from AJ. A rather angry Fluttershy had kicked him in the face. "She's not pathetic, at least not as pathetic as you!" Fluttershy growled, kicking the stumbling creature in the chin, launching it into a building. Another, distracted by this, didn't see the blast of purple magic fly at it until it was spiraling several blocks away. The last one, the one holding Applejack down, got a forehoof to the face, causing him to stumble. Applejack got up, span, and bucked him in the chest, launching him into a building. He was unconscious instantaneously. "Thanks y'all! Where's everyone else?"AJ asked. "By that do you mean everyone living in Canterlot or the girls?"Twilight asked. "Both."AJ answered. "Firstly, look around. Secondly, we don't know. We're looking."Twilight answered. AJ looked around and saw the bodies of pony after pony. "Ah think we should head for the Palace. Maybe there we can search for the others."AJ suggested. Twilight considered that idea. It was a bit better than Fluttershy's original plan. "Okay. We head there then."Twilight decided. ~~~ The three ponies had been walking for a few minutes, every here and there hearing distant screams and battle cries, signs of the invasion taking place. "So we need to find Rainbow, Pinkie and Rarity, am ah right?"Applejack asked. "Yep. Also the Princesses. If we can't find them then we're in trouble."Twilight answered. "I wonder who else is alive."Fluttershy wondered aloud. "I wonder if these...things...have gotten elsewhere in Equestria."Twilight responded. "Ah sure hope mah family is alright."Applejack added. They stopped at the sound of a creature screeching, followed up by one flying into view, smashing into a building dressed in what looked like a rough attempt at a dress. Another followed, smashing into the first in a badly made hat. A third, not wearing anything this time, fell into view, a white hoof smashing into its face. It got up and ran into the middle of the street, stumbling while attempting to get into a proper battle stance. "Really, you have NO sense of fashion, and the indecency to try to stop me from helping you!"a familiar voice grunted, before a mannequin flew into the creature, knocking it to the floor. It was unconscious rather fast. "Rarity!" the trio called. The white mare trotted around the corner. "Oh, hello girls. Glad to see you. These....THINGS are SO rude!"Rarity spat, bapping the one in the middle of the road away from her. "Rarity, do you not remember what happened earlier?"Twilight squinted. "Well, yes, of course! But I didn't expect it to end up THIS bad."Rarity spat at the creature again. It's jaw simply twitched in response. AJ gave her the same look she gave Pinkie and Twilight earlier. Rarity watched her for a second before turning to Twilight. "So, what's the plan?"Rarity asked. "We're going to the Palace to use its last tower as a lookout to try and find Pinkie, maybe Rainbow."Twilight answered. "Well, let's not waste precious time then!" Rarity raised her head high.
=3-The Tower==Chapter 3-The Tower= "Well, this sucks."Applejack sighed. In front of them another tower had fallen, barring their way to the Palace. "Can't you fly over and check for survivors there, Fluttershy?"Rarity asked. "No, my wing was hurt. I can't move it much."Fluttershy answered. "And it's too big to either move with magic or jump over."Twilight added. "So...?"Applejack looked to the others. "Maybe if we find the tower head we can get in through there. From there...I don't know."Twilight suggested. "Well, it's a better plan than wandering around, getting into fights with those things."Fluttershy looked around nervously. "I agree. It's sure to be here SOMEWHERE. It wouldn't just vaporize."Rarity agreed. "But, should we move together or quicken it up and split up?"Rarity asked. "Ah think splittin' it up would be a better idea. There would be little danger as we'd search the length of it faster."Applejack suggested. "I agree with Applejack, the faster we find it the faster we're together and safe again."Fluttershy agreed. "Safe?"Twilight chuckled. "I agree with the girls, Twilight, although we'd be safer together splitting up would quicken things up."Rarity looked to Twilight, as did the others. "Alright then. We split up. Rarity, go with Applejack. Fluttershy, come with me."Twilight decided. "Alright then, come on, Rarity!"Applejack called, heading off towards one end. Rarity gave a deep grunt before following. "Alright Fluttershy, follow me."Twilight gestured, heading off towards the other. ~~~ Rarity watched the fallen tower for any means of getting in. So far there were just cracks and fallen in holes full of debris. The tower was also broken into segments, but the edges either had piles of debris or were collapsed. "My, there sure is a lot of debris in this tower. If we do get in I do not know HOW we will get anywhere with it."Rarity wondered aloud. "Ah dunno, but it's the only plan we got, so we better just go along with it."Applejack shrugged. "Besides, all these holes and stuff aren't just on our side, and if we get in it would probably be easier to move the rubble."Applejack added. "That's it! Move the rubble!"Rarity grinned, running to a hole. She pushed the pile of debris, and tried digging at it, but to no avail. The pile of concrete, plaster and everything else was too heavy to move from there. "Applejack, you're a strong earth pony, aren't you? Could you move this?"Rarity asked. "Ah dunno, let me see."Applejack shrugged, observing the rubble. Rarity looked across the buildings opposite the tower. "I say, the dust, shadows and distant screams truly make one feel uncomfortable."Rarity pointed out. "Let alone unsafe."Applejack added, pushing at the rubble. It shifted slightly. "Rarity! It's movin'! Come help me here!"Applejack called. Rarity ran to her friends aid, pushing with all her might against the rubble. It shifted move, and it seemed as though they were going to get in. They span at the sound of a terrified shriek. What they saw was horrifying. A Unicorn mare, obviously one of those upper-class ponies(and had lost all of this upper-class-ness after a recent tumble.) was running to them, in obvious distress. "Please, you have to he-"She started, before she was cut to the floor by a creature. She screamed on the floor, attempting to crawl away. In its mouth the creature held a wickedly curved sword. Is stamped its forehoof on her pelvis and brought the blade down in a curve that used the hook shape in the sword to rip the helpless mare's spine out, launching it at the two horrified mares. "My god, she's..."Rarity breathed. "...dead..."Applejack finished. The creature growled through its teeth before charging them. "Applejack! Kick debris at him! Slow him down!"Rarity looked to Applejack, who had already thought of it and sent a pile of rubble at the creature with a powerful buck. It had the intended effect, as the creature's speed slowed massively. Rarity charged forward, locking her horn with its sword, while Applejack came around and bucked it in the ribs, sending it flying. The two heard multiple cracks as she did so. Rarity catcher the sword it had flung into the air and hurled it at the creature, slicing it cleanly across the throat. It gurgled, obviously trying to call for help, and it tried to stand, but stumbled as blood spurted from its throat and it fell back down. The impact send some of its esophagus sliding out, masses of blood following. It gurgled a little more, it's limbs twitching, before falling limp.Rarity stood silent, watching in horror at the sudden realization of what she had just done. "I....I just...."Rarity stammered. "Rarity, you did what you needed to do. It killed her and was going to kill us. You saved yourself and me."Applejack put a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. Rarity stood still for a moment before raising her head slightly. "You're right. I needed to. And besides, there will be time for sobbing uncontrollably over being a killer once we've found a way into the tower."Rarity decided, stamping a hoof down. Applejack chuckled. "That's right. So, let's get back to searching for a route."Applejack smiled. "Yes. Let's."Rarity nodded. ~~~ Twilight kept an eye out while Fluttershy watched for a way into the Tower. "Anything, Fluttershy?"Twilight asked, charging her force spell just a little more at the sight of something running across the street in the distance. "No, but I think we're on the right track, I'm seeing things that you see near the top of a tower."Fluttershy answered. "Since when did you become an expert on towers?"Twilight asked. "Twilight, now's not the best time."Fluttershy answered. "Okay, okay. Let's have a little jog, shall we? Maybe we'll find the top."Twilight suggested. "I'd rather not..."Fluttershy shook her head, looking to her injured wing. "Oh, right, sorry."Twilight chuckled. "Whatever. Let's just keep looking."Fluttershy returned to scanning the tower. "Hold on, I think I see the top!" Twilight pointed to what waseither the top, a boulder or a very large pile of debris further along. "Looks like it. Let's go look."Fluttershy nodded. The two ran as fast as Fluttershy could before the up and down motion hurt her wing. The stopped at the shape. "Well, we found what's left of the top."Twilight blinked. A boulder had crashed into the top on its way down Canterlot and had toppled the tower, and the landing had shattered some of the top into rubble. "What now?"Fluttershy asked. Twilight thought. They needed to get the others but with Fluttershy's wing reaching them would take forever. "Hide in the tower. I'm gonna go run after AJ and Rarity and bring them here. I'll be as quick as possible."Twilight planned. "Okay."Fluttershy headed inside the intact half of the top and lay down, nursing her wing. Twilight ran down the way they had came. ~~~ Rarity fired a bolt of magic at another creature. "These pesky things just do not give up, do they?"Rarity growled as she fired another bolt at it, knocking it unconscious. "They're holding an invasion; they're not going to."Applejack responded. The duo turned when they heard something calling from behind them. Rarity charged another bolt, prepared to knock another creature down. But something unusual happened-A purple light formed above its head. Rarity de-charged her attack. "Twi?"Applejack squinted. The shadow moved into view range and indeed it was the purple mare. "Girls! Phew. Follow me!"Twilight chuckled. "What's going on? Where's Fluttershy?"Rarity asked. "She's in the tower."Twilight answered. "Whatever do you mean?"Rarity asked. "We found a way in."Twilight answered. Both Applejack and Rarity smiled.
=4-A failed entry="Hold on, girls, it's comin' loose!"Applejack growled as she heaved against the side of the inner tower. After getting in they had found a loose piece of walling, and Applejack had been trying to push it free. "Hold on Applejack, let me try something."Twilight motioned for AJ to step away, eyeing a boulder. Using magic, Twilight lifted the boulder. "Ah see where yer goin' with this."Applejack stepped back. Turning her head towards the loose wall, Twilight sent the boulder smashing into the wall, and the loose section easily gave way. Twilight moved the boulder aside and let her friends through. "Well, we got to the Palace. What now?"Fluttershy asked. "We get in and get to the tower."Twilight answered. "AND search for survivors."Rarity added. The four ponies headed up the cracked ground to the large doors. They expected to be able to open the doors, but when they heaved against it it didn't budge. "Is it locked?"Applejack asked. "Eh hem."Rarity looked to Applejack, pointing to the smashed lock, back down near the fallen tower. "Oh."Applejack blinked. "There might be a barricade."Twilight suggested, as this was MOST of the door. The rest was up near the palace's original base. Twilight peered through the gap in between the doors. No form of barricade, not even a pile of debris to hold it shut. "Nothing back there."Twilight stepped back. "Uuuh, Twilight, I found out why."Fluttershy called. She pointed to the base of the damaged door. It was stuck tightly in a groove dug into the ground when it landed. "Well, there's no gettin' in through there."Applejack noted. "I don't know any other ways in, and if there were they'd be up by its old base."Twilight stroked her chin, thinking. "Maybe there's something up there, like a boulder we can push down to break through a wall."Fluttershy suggested. "Fluttershy, you're a genius!"Rarity grinned. "But even if there IS something up there, how will we push it down?"Twilight wondered aloud. "Eh hem?"Applejack stamped a hind hoof. "Oh, ok ok."Twilight smiled. "So it's decided? We go up and push some boulder down?"Rarity asked. "It's the only plan we have."Twilight answered. ~~~ "Twi? How long is this gunna take?"Applejack asked as she bucked another creature down the steps to the original base. "Just...hold...on!Girls! Move!"Twilight answered as she yanked a boulder free from the large pile blocking their path. The four ponies jumped to the side, leaving several of the oblivious creatures to get crushed by the rocks, leaving just flesh and shattered bones behind, masses of blood pouring from the mangled corpses. "Come on, everypony! Let's clean up the rest of 'em!"AJ grinned as she bucked a slightly confused, but attacking creature back down the steps. She hurled a rock down at it, and it hit it hard in the throat. It choked and scrabbled at the rock, which, due to some sharp parts, had jammed itself in its throat, and the scrabbling just made the wounds bigger, until it accidently tore open its throat, letting the rock, a piece of esophagus and a large amount of blood to pour out. It stumbled and fell back from shock, happening to land on an ally's sword. The now-blood soaked creature dropped its sword and attacked, leaping at AJ, but Twilight repelled it by sending a magical shard plummeting through its chest. A hunk of its heart flew out the back and the creature was already dead by the time it hit the floor. The shard exploded, shredding it and sending, limbs, flesh and organs flying in a massive explosion of blood. The remaining two screeched at the four ponies before retreating, now knowing that these four were superior. One of these two didn't get too far after a white horn flew through its chest. Rarity threw it up and threw a force spell at it, launching it off into the far lower Canterlot. "Well, girls, we can go further now."Twilight smiled. "Aren't you a little...shocked at the fact you killed that thing?"Fluttershy asked. "Well, yeah, but now's not the time for that."Twilight answered. ~~~ The four ponies had reached the top of the steps, and now looked over the remains of the Palace's original base. Scattered around and through it were multiple dead Royal Guards, along with several dead creatures. "Looks like they put up a real fight."Twilight blinked. "Yeah. Too bad they didn't win."Applejack added. "Or lose."Rarity noted, looking at the fact there were no surviving creatures. "Yeah, or we'd have another fight on our hands."Fluttershy responded. "So girls, let's find us a boulder!"Twilight peered around several shattered walls. On several occasions they pushed one down, but they were never big enough to do any real damage to the wall below. On the 7th attempt the wall cracked. "Ah think the weight of all of those boulders is weighing down on the wall."Applejack explained. "Yeah, must be. So..."Twilight watched the boulders. "What if we keep hitting it with the same boulder, with magic?"Rarity suggested. "Rarity, sometimes you are a mastermind."Twilight patted Rarity on the shoulder. ~~~ Twilight hauled the biggest boulder so it was above her head. She threw it at the pile of rocks again and it cracked just a little more. "Twi...this is taking forever, and lifting these rocks is VERY taxing after a while."Rarity panted. "I know...but I think we're nearly through."Twilight responded. "Hey y'all, look out!"Applejack called from the top of the hill above the two Unicorns. A moment later and Applejack and Fluttershy were pushing a large rock made from several smaller rocks tied together with rope. "Uuuh, Twilight, do you suppose we RUN AWAY!"Rarity suggested, running away from where the rock was going to hit. "Good idea!"Twilight responded, diving away. The rock fell away and hit the original pile, ripping through the wall. "My, that worked better than I thought it would."Fluttershy commented as she followed AJ down. "No time to talk, girls, we have to search the inside for survivors."Twilight stepped inside the ruined Palace, now just a shell of it's former glory. "AND find that tower!"Rarity followed. As the four stepped inside, they noted several things: For one, it was remarkably intact and was supported by multiple wooden beams on the inside(one of which they had broken). Second, the steps going up had been somewhat repaired, enough to use. Thirdly, occasionally they heard footsteps upstairs. "Y'all, I think somepony's home."Applejack pointed to the ceiling. "Survivors?"Fluttershy suggested. "Looking at the fact no one has broken in before us, I'd say that's about right."Twilight was watching the stairs. "Um, girls, I think we should block up this hole with something."Rarity suggested. "Good idea. Then nothing can follow us in."Fluttershy nodded. Twilight 'grabbed' the big boulder AJ and Fluttershy had made and pushed it back, nicely blocking the hole. "Who's there?"the four heard from the steps. The pony who said it, the tone obviously sounding like a Royal Guard, was just out of view. "Twilight Sparkle, and three of her friends."Twilight answered. "Twilight? The Princess has been trying to spot you since Canterlot stopped! Quickly now, come upstairs."the Guard responded, coming further down and motioning the four over. He led them up about three odd floors of depleted guard squads watching the staircases from behind crude barricades. At the top one Celestia was watching Canterlot from a window, trying to spot something. "Princess Celestia, you can stop. Twilight and her friends have come here."the Guard informed. Celestia turned, and as soon as she spotted her student and her friends she ran over and grabbed Twilight, obviously overjoyed to see her. "Twilight! Thank the heavens you are alright! Where are your other friends? Rainbowdash and Pinkie Pie?"Celestia asked. "We don't know. We came here hoping to use this place like a lookout to spot them, namely the tower."Twilight answered. "You mean the one still standing?"Celestia asked. "Of course."Twilight answered. "Well that's the problem..."Celestia scratched her forehead. "What is?"Applejack asked. "During the disaster the entrance collapsed. Luna was forced to run up there to escape being crushed. I fear she may be injured, or worse."Celestia answered. "We need to rescue Luna! We would be in great trouble without her!"Rarity tugged at the debris. "Right. We need to rescue Luna."Twilight nodded.
=5-Operation:Lunar Rescue=Twilight observed the pile of rubble blocking the entrance to the tower. This wasnt a little pile of debris made of little hunks. There were large sections of wall, ceiling and archway. They were not going to move much of this. "We can't move this aside. We need to find another way in."Twilight looked around. "Like the tower barring the way here..."Rarity sighed. "Yeah."Twilight blinked. Celestia, who was busy trying to maintain the little order she had in the ruined Palace, overheard and turned to her student. "There is not much in here. Try looking around. Maybe there's something you can use to help."Celestia suggested. "Good idea Princess."Twilight nodded. "Ah think a sledgehammer could do a mighty load to help get in."Applejack tapped her chin. "Assuming we're trying to move the rubble. Wouldn't you think the Princess or a Guard would have thought of that?"Rarity asked. "Rarity has a point."Fluttershy nodded. "There's a couple of corridors. We should make sure there's nothing of value in them."Twilight gestured. "Ah agree."Applejack nodded. ~~~ Twilight heaved at the door. It wasn't barred or stuck in the ground but it was tightly sealed. "Need help?"Celestia asked, inspecting what Twilight was doing. "If you're offering."Twilight smiled. "Of course."Celestia's horn lit up. "The lock is broken, but intact enough that it has sealed the door. Hold on."Celestia explained. Twilight watched as she struggled with the lock, a glow coming from between the doors. Eventually Twilight heard a snap and the pieces of lock falling to the ground. Twilight and Celestia then put their magic together and heaved at the doors. They slowly ground open, but when it opened a bit the ceiling cracked and dust fell down. "I think that's open enough. Too much of this Palace, let alone Canterlot, has collapsed already."Celestia gestured for Twilight to go through. "Thanks Princess."Twilight grinned. "It's nothing. But I must return to my duties."Celestia nodded, turning and walking away. Twilight walked through. It WAS an apartment, from the looks of it. She walked over to the cracked window. Trying to see through the dust coat, she only managed to spot a squad of creatures inspecting how to pass the fallen tower. They muttered a little, but Twilight couldn't hear, so she creaked the window just a little, and pressed her ear against the gap. "We must bypass this barricade." "How do we know it is a barricade? It appears to be a fallen structure." "Shush! It still ACTS as one, and thus IS one." "Okay, okay." "How do we pass it? We cannot jump over NOR can we move it. There is likely to be no tunnel." "Maybe if we can't move it or get over it..." "What are you thinking ?" "Maybe we can blow our way through." "What do I suggest?" "Looking at the brittle material this is made of, a Structural Disassembly shockwave should do the trick." "Of course. I will get the gunner." "Good." Twilight heard enough. They were going to break into the Palace! Everypony was in danger! She ran back towards the half-open door, but she stepped in the crack she had stepped to avoid and it gave way under her beating weight. She crashed into the now debris-filled room. This had obviously gotten the creature squad's attention. "There are occupants in this building!" "And?" "We must hurry to silence them before they can be alerted of our presence. Quickly now, let us bypass this barrier!" Twilight scrambled to her feet, but shook and fell again. Looking to the cause, she saw her leg was broken. The massive inrush of pain suddenly caused her to scream, catching the attention of an already-alert Celestia. A second later and the solar princess was at the edge of the hole. "Twilight! Are you alright?"Celestia asked. "I broke my leg!"Twilight answered, nursing the awkwardly twisted limb. "Guards! Get her out of there!"Celestia ordered the two guards that had followed. "Hang on..."Twilight hobbled to some dusty parts at a hole in the wall. It was vaguely arranged to shape a device that, if a part is removed, a rope springs forward and could launch projectiles. She moved a piece or two into better positions. "Do we have spare spears?"Twilight asked. A few moments later and she was buried under a few dozen spears. "Okay, hang on..."Twilight moved to point it at a creature and removed the hunk of wood stuck in the plank that formed the body. Indeed the spear that had loosely sat there originally launched off at high speed, beheading the creature. With a smile Twilight heard "We've been spotted! Quickly, hurry!" "A Structural Disassembly shockwave takes time to prepare!" "I don't care! Hurry it up!" Twilight moved back a little. "Twilight, you're a genius! Guards, after as many spare spears as we have and bring them here. Station a soldier here to operate the contraption! Twilight has found us a defense!"Celestia ordered. Quickly enough a Guard helped Twilight out of the hole, as another ran to the contraption, which humans would know as a 'crossbow', and started firing at the panicked creatures. A few shots later and the squad were all headless. A moment later and the pile of spears grew as a few dozen more spears were thrown to the Guard down by the crossbow. "Thank you, Twilight. Now we have a way to fight off these monstrosities. Here."Celestia smiled. She gingerly lifted up Twilight's broken leg with her own and her horn glowed. Twilight felt several uncomfortable clicks before Celestia's horn stopped glowing. "I've fixed the bone, but the wounds are still there, but I need to save what energy I have."Celestia smiled. "Thanks, Princess."Twilight smiled back. ~~~ Applejack listened to the crash through the wall. She and Rarity had once again taken this route, while Fluttershy stayed behind to take care of injured Guards in any way she could. "Hear that? Ah hope Twi's alright."Applejack tapped the wall. "Indeed. She's a valuable ally in this crisis and we cannot afford to lose her."Rarity nodded, peering out the window at the forsaken Canterlot. "I've always wanted to come here, maybe to live here, but I've only ever been on short visits. And then before I can THIS happens."Rarity sighed. "Look Rarity. Sometimes bad things happen we don't want to happen. It happens to all of us. Maybe they'll build a new Canterlot, just like the old one."Applejack put a reassuring hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "But right now we need to focus on the task at hand. Luna is in trouble and we need to find a way to her, and then there's Equestria we need to save."Applejack added. Rarity turned away from the window, to Applejack. "You're right. I've done enough being sad and all. We need to save Luna, and then Equestria. So let's go."Rarity's face gained a look of determination. Applejack simply smiled in response. ~~~ "There's nothing in this hallway except for that room that collapsed."Twilight tapped her chin. "And we still need to find a way into that tower."Twilight added. "And how do you suppose we do that?"Celestia asked. "Well we can't get through that debris. Maybe if we get onto the roof we can find a hole and get in through there."Twilight suggested. "Good plan. Also it's unlikely any of our enemy can get onto the roof to get in."Celestia added. "Right. Maybe a staircase. Fallen bit of roof."Twilight tapped her chin more. "Twilight! Maybe if we let the ceiling above that door collapse we will at least have a boost!"Celestia grinned, looking to the doors. "And also it wouldn't completely block off the way to the weapon!"Twilight grinned also, gesturing to the Guard keeping an eye out from the crossbow. "Guards, hold on. We're collapsing a bit of roof."Celestia raised her hoof to hold any Guard movements. "Why, your Highness? Would that not let the enemy in?"A guard asked. "No. I doubt they can jump the entire way up there, and also it is near impossible to climb. It will allow us to get to Luna, hopefully."Celestia answered. "Alright. Men, stay back! The Princess and Twilight are making a way to Princess Luna!"the Guard stepped away.
=6-The moon has its own powers=The ceiling cracked as the doors turned away. "Easy now..."Celestia breathed. The doors slid more, closing in on the walls. The ceiling above hung down, and small bits of debris started to fall through. "Alright....push it the rest of the way!"Twilight and her mentor threw the doors back, and the ceiling collapsed, forming a mound that allowed them to get to the ceiling. "Alright, what now?" a guard asked. "I'll get the others, and we'll go find Luna."Twilight suggested. Celestia nodded in response. ~~~ Applejack heaved at the door again, and Rarity used her magic to try and move anything behind the door. "I'm telling you Applejack, there is NO way we are opening this door!" Rarity reasoned. "Yes....we....are!"Applejack almost threw herself at the door, and it ripped open, launching a rock across the room. A simple storeroom. "How many darn storerooms does this castle have?"Applejack growled. "Applejack! Look! Shovels! We can dig away some of the rubble!"Rarity grinned. "Maybe, but it's hard to shovel large chunks. We'll keep it in mind."Applejack responded. The two jumped when they heard a crash elsewhere in the castle. They jumped back when the bookshelf they'd passed toppled over and crashed into the opposite wall. Most of the books were torn and dusty. Applejack threw another few books away. "Applejack, look at this!" Rarity held up a book in front of her friend. "Why is there a book called Dark Empire?"Applejack asked. "It's what the...creatures call themselves, is it not?"Rarity suggested. "Oh yeah!"Applejack took the book and opened it. 'The Dark Empire first attacked the capital of Farda, collapsing it and slaughtering everyone who had not died by then. With the land's leaders gone, the people were unorganized in whatever resistance they made, leading to a swift destruction of the people. The Dark Empire proclaimed themselves as the land's conquerors to those they enslaved, before using them to claim anything of value from the land. They then appeared to leave, before fire rained down from the sky and burned the land, cratering it and ruining it beyond recovery. Now the land lies a dead, black shell, all life extinguished, the only sign of former inhabitants being the ruins of towns and cities and the thousands of skeletons littering the land. The Dark Empire moves on, and destroys all land wherever they go.' "Um, Applejack?" Rarity looked to her friend. "Yeah?"AJ responded. "Think we should warn the others?" "Yeah." "If we don't things might go the same way." "Seems to me like it's started already." "Well lets not waste time dilly-dallying then!" ~~~ Celestia clambered atop the mound and peered at the ruined tower. It was severely damaged. Celestia was, in fact, surprised it had not fallen off. "Guards! Station several men up here as lookouts." Celestia called. "Yes, Princess!" one called back. A moment later and about five guards climbed up, stationing themselves around the edge, watching. Twilight turned the corner and scanned the walkway, trying to spot her friends. She turned to Fluttershy who was going about between soldiers, supposedly helping them. "Fluttershy! Have you seen where Applejack or Rarity went?" Twilight asked. "Um, yeah, down those steps there." Fluttershy pointed to some cracked, dusty steps with obvious footprints in them. "Thanks, I'll be back in a minute."Twilight nodded, making for the stairs. "Be careful Twilight!"Fluttershy called. Twilight walked down them and peered around the corners. She spotted the duo reading an old dusty tome by a fallen bookcase. "Girls, we don't have time! Come on!"Twilight called, using her magic to move a heap of books aside and lift the bookcase back up. "Twi, you MIGHT wanna see this."Applejack called. "Darn it girls."Twilight walked over and lifted the book up, reading the paragraph Rarity had pointed to. "So? This looks REALLY old, that civilization might have been far less advanced than us." Twilight pointed out. "So would that Dark Empire."Rarity added. "Oh yeah."Twilight tapped her chin. "And as of now we're goin' down the same path as that old civilization."Applejack took the book back. "Anyway, what was it you came to tell us?"Rarity asked. "We found a way onto the roof so we can get to the tower."Twilight answered. "Awesome! Let's get up there then!"Applejack threw the book onto a pile behind her. ~~~ One of the rooftop guards, Flared Spear, heated a thump behind him. Turning to see, he saw a light orange hoof at the edge of the hole, shortly followed by another. Walking over, he peered over to see Twilight and two of her friends. The one with her hooves o. The roof was the one called Applejack. He grabbed her hooves and hauled her up, thumping down as he did so. "Why thanks partner!"Applejack smiled before helping the white one up, and Twilight lifted herself up. Flared Spear got back up. "Why are you here?"he asked. "We're going to try and find a way into the tower."Rarity answered. "To try and rescue Princess Luna."Twilight added. "Right, of course, over there."he gestured to the tower. Applejack nodded before the trio headed towards the damaged tower. Twilight gestured to Rarity to slowly step onto the tower's side. "Ooooo, it's high up and, what if we fell?"Rarity breathed heavily. "Don't worry Rarity, it's fine."Twilight gestured again. "Yeah rarity! Come on and join the party!"Applejack grinned reassuringly. "Party? I must say-"Rarity started. "It's a figure of speech Rarity and you should know that, now come on!" Twilight moved to grab Rarity's hoof. "Alright alright!"Rarity snapped her hoof away from Twilight. She slowly landed a hoof on the tower and then the other. Carefully stepping her hind hooves down, she shook slightly before realizing the rough tower side gave her a strong grip. "Oh, we'll, you're right!"Rarity gave a mildly surprised humph. Applejack peered into a hole. "This looks alright girls."Applejack called. "Sure?"Twilight called. "Weeeeell, looking at the fact the bottom beneath us has fallen away, it's our best bet of getting in."Rarity peered over the edge. "Why not further up?"Twilight asked. "Who said Princess Luna was at the top?"Applejack asked. "Good point, come on."Twilight shrugged. Applejack dropped into the tower, followed by Twilight and then Rarity. "I must say if you ignore the gaping hole behind us it feels a lot safer in here."Rarity noted. "Let's find Luna."Twilight moved towards the top. ~~~ The trio jumped back as another step from what was now the ceiling dropped off. "Are we sure this is safe?"Rarity asked. "Rarity, ask yourself this:WHERE in Canterlot is 'safe'?"Twilight asked. "Good point."Rarity shrugged. "Girls! I can hear something!"Applejack raised a hoof. The trio listened. A moment passed and they heard a slight moan. "Luna!" Twilight ran past Applejack, bounding over several steps on the floor. "C'mon!" Applejack gestured to Rarity before making after her friend. Twilight stopped at the door, which was now diagonal but closer to being horizontal. She heaved at the door. "Huh? Who's there?"Twilight heard. "It's me, Twilight. Princess, we've come to get you!"Twilight answered. "Oh, good. Is it just you?"Luna asked. "My friends Applejack and Rarity are coming now."Twilight peered over her shoulder at the two mares approaching her. "Where are your other friends?"Luna asked. "Elsewhere, but give me a moment."Twilight answered. Her two friends skidded to a halt in front of her. "What's goin' on?" Applejack asked. "Luna's in here, but like every other door in Canterlot, it's stuck."Twilight answered. "Frankly, I'm not surprised."Rarity blinked. "Wait."Twilight tapped her chin. "What?"Rarity asked. "Rarity, use your magic with me to try and get this door open, Applejack, push against it." Twilight gestured. "I would help but I'm stuck."Luna called. "I'm really getting tired of heaving doors open."Applejack sighed. Twilight and Rarity's horns lit and the door started creaking. Applejack heaved hard. The door started moving. "It's coming! Keep pushing you three!" Luna called. The three pushed as hard as they could and the door came loose, clunking on the floor. Luna was indeed stuck under a hunk of wall from the former wall. Twilight and Rarity lifted it while Applejack pulled Luna out from under it. Twilight and Rarity let go and panted as it smashed back on the floor. "Thank you girls, really."Luna panted. "We couldn't just leave you here Princess."Twilight smiled. "Did you want to ask anything?"Rarity asked. "You didn't really answer me. Where are the rest of your friends?"Luna asked. "Fluttershy is still in the Palace, as for the other two. We don't know."Twilight answered. "But we're sure they're fine."Applejack added. "Applejack, we SAW Rainbow fall unconscious."Rarity sighed. "Rarity..."Applejack put her face in a hoof. "And Canterlot?"Luna asked. "Look outside."Twilight gestured to a hole in the former ceiling. Luna walked over and peered out over the dark, dusty ruin. "We've been trying to hold out in the Palace, so far successfully, as for anyone else in Canterlot..."Twilight informed. "There were a lot of bodies."Applejack added. "Very few of which were alien." Rarity finished. "Alien?"Luna asked. "The invaders, which did this, they're alien."Rarity answered. "And you say the Palace is still intact?"Luna peered at the doorframe. "More or less. Not in the same place but yeah."Twilight answered. "I must say I'm surprised this tower hasn't fallen off."Luna tapped her chin. "The other one did."Applejack added. "Where are the aliens?"Luna asked. "Either in Canterlot's ruins or up in their ship."Twilight answered. Luna looked outside again and at the large spacecraft. "Well, I'd say most of them are in there." Luna scowled at the black vehicle. "Probably."Applejack blinked. "Well then."Luna started, her horn glowing. "Time for payback."Luna growled. "For destroying me and my sister's city, for killing my people..."Luna's voice was getting angrier and more vicious by the second, and the orb on her horn was getting bigger and more violent as well. "...and for hurting Twilight's friends!"Luna roared, the blast of magic firing with such force the whole Palace jolted slightly. The missile flew straight for the Shadowbringer. Aboard the bridge, the crew rushed about from console to console, trying to evade the missile. "Crewman! What's the projectile made of?"The captain asked. "Uuuuuh, the computer can't tell! If I guessed id say...magic?"a crew member answered. "Magic? What in the Empire are you-"The captain started. Luna's missile hit the side of the ship, near the engines. A moment later and one of the larger engines exploded, sending the ship on a crash course. "Status report!"the captain called. "Major engine down. Multiple other engines damaged and weakened." "And? What's going on?" "I'm trying to keep her up but the ship's going down!" the helmsman called. "Alright, abandon ship! Abandon ship!" the captain ordered. "No time sir!"the helmsman called. "How long do we have?" the captain called. The crew was less frantic and more horrified and panicked now. "Estimated time to crash, ten seconds, sir!"the helmsman called. "Darn it, hold on!" the captain braced for impact. The black ship moved away from Canterlot and headed down, smashing into the hills near the ruin and bathing the city in sunlight. It was midday. The bottom of the ship burned as the ship ground to a halt, and even then bits of the hull were incinerated by small explosions every here and there. "I think that did it Princess!"Twilight grinned. "Wait. You're SMILING at that?"Applejack put a hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Applejack. They destroyed our city, have nearly killed everyone in Canterlot and if we don't do something they'll destroy Equestria. I think we can smile at their ship going down."Twilight responded. "Twilight has a point. Did you not see that poor mare get her spine torn out, or did you just forget that?"Rarity asked. "Right before you killed it."Applejack humphed. "I had to! And you certainly didn't look like you were going to!" Rarity growled. "Girls! We have no time for bickering! We must get back to the Palace!" Luna stamped her hoof. "Luna is right."Twilight started for the Palace. "I'm surprised the tower is still standing, after that attack Luna made." Rarity noted. The trio stopped when they heard a crack from further down the tower. "It isn't."Applejack blinked. The tower jolted down. It was coming loose. "Hold on girls! I can get us out of here!"Luna's horn lit up brightly. There was a flash, and they were gone.
