Dark Empire

=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.