Dark Empire

=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.