Peach Nectar, Stormfront, Corn Silk, Day Dream, Wildflower and Willow Leaf had climbed off the back of the draco-lizard that had been brought to a stop next to a babbling stream. They had left the storm a half day ago and they were quenching their thirst, filling canteens and waterskins, or splashing the cold water on themselves to wash off. The big lizard slurped up massive gulps of water to slake its thirst.

Stormfront went off to forage for wild root vegetables that could still be found this close to winter. He plucked a few wild carrots and radishes, placing them in a sack, if he was lucky, he'd be able to forage enough to make a hearty stew for tonight. A smile graced his lips when he found a vine that bore some some early frost grapes, though the pale-colored bunches of fruit were a little bitter and tough, their juice made for a hearty drink, or could be fermented into a strong wine, which would be perfect for celebrating when the mares had their little ones. Laying down his stave, he reached out a hoof to pluck the first bunch of grapes when a rifle barrel was pressed into his temple.

"You thought you all could get away by running through the storm, eh?", the New Unicornia ranger growled softly, "Now here's what's gonna go down. We're gonna walk to the edge of the clearin' and then you're gonna call them mares over one at a time so my buddy and me can catch 'em. Do anything stupid and I'll splat your brains all over the ground. We clear?" When Stormfront gave a curt nod, the ranger gave him a shove, saying, "Good, now get to movin'"

Stormfront feigned going with the soldier, before snatching up his stave with the five alicorns carved into one end from where he had laid it on the ground and quickly spun around, slamming it into the side of the ranger's head, laying him out cold. The pegasus took off as quick as he could, shouting, "Little sister! Run!"

Peach Nectar quick gathered up the other four mares and quickly climbed up onto the saddle. The New Unicornia commander spat curses as he popped out from his hiding place and snapped off several shots at Stormfront with his assault rifle. After the last mare was on the saddle, Peach Nectar snapped the reins and whirred her tongue, spurring the draco-lizard into action, she tugged the reigns, coaxing the big reptile around in a U-turn to face the New Unicornia soldier. The New Unicornia commander followed Stormfront with the sights on his rifle until he noticed the draco-lizard moving towards and aimed the rifle at the reptile, firing off several shots. Most of the bullets glanced harmlessly off the beast's thick scaly hide, but a couple found a gap in the scales and sunk in, lodging in the layers of blubbery tissue. Instead of scarring the draco-lizard to making it veer off or run away, the wounds, which would have been serious to a lesser creature, instead enraged it and the saurian charged. The commander's eyes went wide with fright as the creature, which normally moved along in a slow, determined, plodding pace, charged with enough speed that a truck with a suped-up engine would have trouble escaping from. Blind panic took over the commander and he started galloping away as hard as his legs could carry him, tossing the rifle away in the process. As the unicorn galloped away, the primal animal portion of his brain taking full control with fight-or-flight, the draco-lizard stayed locked on the target of its rage, ripping down trees and undergrowth that was in the way. The New Unicornia commander tripped over his own hooves and tumbled to the ground. Looking up from the ground, he screamed in fright as the last thing he saw was a pair of open jaws coming at him. The New Unicornia ranger that had been knocked out, woke up in time to see through a gap in the trees his commander being thrashed around in the jaws of the draco-lizard, limbs being torn off as easily as a foal throwing a temper tantrum would tear apart a doll, then swallow the remains down its gullet. The ranger narrowed his eyes and silently swore those mares would suffer.

Stormfront landed on the saddle as Peach Nectar got the angry draco-lizard under control. "Good work little sister." Peach Nectar jumped in shock, turned and slugged the pegasus in his wither. "You tryin' to give me a heart attack?!" "I'm sorry litt-" "Let's just get out of here.", she interrupted. Stormfront nodded and crawled over the front of the saddle to rub the top of the draco-lizard's head, which made it give a happy rumble. He coughed and felt something hot splash against his lips. The pegasus wiped his mouth with the back of his hoof, he took a moment to look at the bright red staining the fur before wiping off on his torn robes. His mind wandered for a moment to the bullet lodged in his lung and the crude bandages he had to fashion from his robes. He knew he would last a day, three if he was lucky, but he'd gladly do it again, his life was a small price to pay to ensure these five mares were safe... as only in death does duty to the goddesses end.

***

Smolder landed on a peak opposite from Spike, she had flown half a day to get here. With quick movements up then down, they bobbed their heads, followed by hissing, huffing and deep rumbling growls. The two Clawed their respective mountaintops, kicking up clouds of rock, ice and snow. For several minutes the two dragons continued their ritualized dance. The two unleashed deafening roars, then breathed gouts of flame against each other's scales. With mighty flaps of their wings, they took to the air. Claws on fore and hind limbs locked together as the two dragons began a midair grappling contest. Jaws snapped, heads butted and tails lashed as the two tried to throw the other to the ground through strength or cunning.

Smolder gained the upper hand and tucked her shoulder under Spike's bulk, flipping him over her. As Spike tumbled through the air, he caught hold of Smolder's hind leg, dragging her down with him.

As the two tumbled through the air, they threw punches at each other. At the last second Spike flapped his wings once and shifted his weight. The dragons slammed into the valley floor with the might of a meteor, causing the nearby trees to shatter into splinters or be laid flat from the impact wave and causing the ground from the impact of their combined bulks. Spike sat atop Smolder, pinning her to the ground in the middle of the newly created clearing.

Smolder gave Spike a stare with hooded eyes and licked his cheek with her forked tongue. "If I wasn't here on a mission from the dragon lord, we'd be making a new clutch of eggs." She ran a claw teasingly along his chest scales.

Spike blushed as he climbed off of Smolder.

"So I guess it's true that the princesses are back and taking Equestria back."

Spike jammed a thumb back in the direction where the crusade forces were camped. "Yup! They've got an army, including some big ponies that wear thick armor and carry powerful weapons. They've even got some war machines that are as big as you or me that can melt the ground into glass. There's even a group of loonies that worship them as goddesses. Twilight's not exactly thrilled about it, but Celestia and Luna have been slowly molding them from a band of near-suicidal fanatics into an effective fighting force." He laid a hand on her shoulder, then pulled her into a tight hug. "It's good to see you again."

Smolder raised her arms slightly, hesitated for a second, then awkwardly hugged Spike back. "It's...uh... good to see you again, big guy." She pushed him away. "Could we cut out all this mushy stuff? It's not very dragon-like."

***

A unicorn mare with a dusty pink coat and a black and white mane, wearing the dark brown robes of a preacher, walked through the badlands, carrying a staff with the likenesses of five alicorns carved into one end on her back. Dawn Flare paused, out of the corners of her vision, she swore she saw some shrubs, dead trees and rocks following her movements.

From below the edge of a small rise, an earth pony colt walked up to the unicorn mare. "Come with me. It's not safe here. There's been a malwurf sighted in the area."

Dawn Flare pulled the staff off of her back and planted its butt on the ground. "Worry not young one. I have been tasked by the goddesses to protect their little ponies, even if it means my life."

The ground heaved upwards. What looked like a giant starling mole with blue skin burst forth. All around Dawn Flare the trees, shrubs and rocks transformed into what looked like to her as insectoid ponies of all colors of the rainbow in bursts of flames. They took to the air to fight off the malwurf as a swarm.

Dawn Flare interject herself between the malwurf being swarmed by bug-ponies and the colt, bracing the staff in front of her.

The malwurf roared as it swatted the changelings attacking it away and crawled out of the hole it made. It eyes the unicorn mare protecting a young disguised changeling and decided to go after the easier meal.

Dawn Flare shoved the colt out of the way, then dove, narrowly avoiding getting caught by the massive teeth. "Demon from the deep earth! Be gone!", she shouted, jamming the butt of the staff in the creature's eye.

The malwurf bellowed in pain as it reared up, swiping at its injured eye with a massive digging paw. Several changelings threw their bodies against its upper chest, while others fired blasts of magic from their short horns, others spat goo on its hind legs. Dawn Flare lit her horn and with a telekenetic shove, sent the beast toppling over.

As the malwurf flipped onto it's belly and started digging to get away, Dawn Flare ran up and smacked it on the rump with her staff. "Be gone demon from the deep earth! And tell others of your kind that this land is under protection of the goddesses!"

A tall changeling, who had dark chitin with red highlights, scored with scars, what looked liked a pair of deer's antlers crossed with a beetle's pincers sat atop it's head. "You were lucky we were here, pony, otherwise you'd have been gobbled up by that malwurf."

"Luck has nothing to do with it, for the goddesses guide my hooves.", Dawn Flare replied.

The changeling rolled his multifaceted eyes. "Great, another cultist." He turned to the other changelings. "Put her in a cocoon and drop her off at the nearest pony settlement. Last thing we need is another death cult trying to form in our lands."

"Belay that order!", a feminine voice called out. A tall, light turquoise changeling with translucent pink membrane hanging from the back of its head like a mane, walked forth.

"Queen Ocellus!", the changeling with the dark chitin bowed low.

"Rise, Pharynx. I am a queen only because of the eggs I lay, not because of a title. There's no need to grovel in the dirt. Besides, haven't you heard the rumors and stories? The alicorn princesses are back and this little pony is proof."

"Wait, you're a queen?", Dawn Flare asked.

Ocellus smiled. "Yes I am. Our hive has several queens and none are above any other 'ling."

"I've never met royalty before."

"No, queens for us aren't royalty. It just means we lay the eggs. We've not had a queen rule over us since...well in a long time.", Ocellus explained, "Come my little pony and accompany me back to the hive. We have plenty of sweet nectar to drink and honey suckle to eat. I'd like to hear about your goddesses."

***

For the better part of a day Peach Nectar sat in the saddle, guiding the draco-lizard onwards. Stormfront slumped low where he was sitting, coughing and wheezing, he occasionally coughed up and spat out gobs of bright red blood and mucus. He wiped the bright red from his mouth and wiped the substance off on his robe as Wildflower moved over to sit next to him. "You don't look so good. Are you okay?" "'M fine." "No, you're not fine. Though we haven't said anything yet, Corn Silk, Day Dream, Willow Leaf and me have noticed that you're coughing up blood. Nopony that's 'fine' does that. You need to say something to Peach, maybe she can figure out where somepony is that can get you some help." Stormfront wheezed and gasped, taking a second to gather up enough strength and replied in a voice that sounded like he was under water, "No. *kaff*", he spat another gob of blood and mucus on the ground, "She's under 'nuff stress right now. There's s'm'th'g out-." "I'm telling her you're hurt!", Wildflower interrupted, "She needs to know you're hurt. Maybe there's a village or a camp nearby we can divert to. There might a doctor or a healer there." Before he could answer no, the pregnant mare had started moving to the front of the saddle.

"Peach.", Wildflower whispered in Peach Nectar's ear, "Stormy's hurt bad. He's coughing up blood."

"I know.", Peach Nectar replied, "But we can't stop here. There's something following us."

Wildflower's eyes went wide. "You sure?"

Peach nodded.

"How do you know?"

"I've seen something up in the treetops. Didn't get a good look at it, but it's got wings and moving fast, tryin' to stay out of sight. But that'snot what I'm worried about." Peach flicked her eyes to her left. "There's something in the undergrowth shadowing us, probably a group of somethings. I haven't seen it yet, just seen some bushes and saplings move like something's brushing past 'em. It's got the big lizard actin' squirrely and the only thing I've seen seen that would make the big guy act like this was that fire breathing monster. I don't think it's that, not big enough, but defiantly dangerous enough to make the lizard scared. Plus, if I was a betting mare, my money would also be on that we're still being tracked by some rangers from New Unicornia still. We don't know how many survived the storm, but if we made it through, then it's safe to say that at least a few of them made it through too." When Wildflower went to look, Peach Nectar spoke up again, "Don't turn your head to look, we don't need whatever is shadowing knowing we know it's there. Move back and spread quietly that we might have to fight if we don't run across another caravan or a town. Check the saddle for things that can be used as weapons and something to strap yourselves down with."

Wildflower nodded ever so slightly and moved back to the other mares.

Pauline flapped from tree branch to tree branch, perching for a few moments at a time as she watched the six ponies riding on the back of the. Two of them were clearly pregnant, but still looked a few months away from giving birth. The pegasus stallion looked sick or hurt. "I didn't think we'd see any members of the scheduled caravan so soon after the storm. Maybe they're scouts or messengers. Could the caravan be stranded out there somewhere and they're looking for help?", she whispered to herself. The griffon hen stroked the crown of feathers atop her head as she thought when she caught movement in the undergrowth to her right. Turning her head, she saw nothing. She squinted her eyes, rubbing her upper and lower beak together, then she saw it...not exactly a clear shape, just a couple of shadows on the ground. Slipping backwards on the branch she was perched on, she allowed herself to drop to the ground flapping her wings once to slow her momentum so she landed softly, rather than with a thump. Using her natural camouflage that her fur and feathers granted her, along with her natural griffon instincts, she decided to creep through the undergrowth parallel to the road and offer the ponies riding on the draco-lizard any help she could.

The New Unicornia ranger crept through the shrubs and trees that grew adjacent to the well used road. Though he had made good time, he still kept his distance from the six ponies riding atop the big lizard. It would only be a matter of time before they had to stop to make camp, or came across another caravan, or found a settlement, then he's strike. He'd already planned to kill them all and any that took them in, he'd already concocted the story in his head about why none of them were brought back alive, after all ponies always got hit in the crossfire, his superiors and the High Pontiff would forgive him for that, the battlefield was a chaotic place. For now he was content to track them, as the soldiers of the Sacred Order of Heaven's Rangers were patient.

Cadance, along with her five Nova Guard shadowed the six ponies riding on the back of the big lizard, the invisibility spell kept them shrouded as long as none of them directly drew any undue attention to themselves. She kept an eye on the two elements still moving high in the sky. "It's odd they're riding on a lesser baloth. I didn't know their ranges were this far from volcanic and desert regions. I guess Twily could tell me what their ranges are."

"Highness?", one of the Nova Guard asked through the coms unit, "Are they in danger? Should we move in and neutralize the beast?"

"Sorry, didn't realize my coms unit was still open.", Cadance apologized, "I was just thinking out loud. I don't think they're in any threat from the lesser baloth. They were used as beasts of burden centuries ago by the Abyssinians, I'm sure it's quite tame. As long as nopony provokes it. We'd only have to worry if it was a greater baloth. Switching off for now."

As Wildflower, Willow Leaf, Day Dream and Corn Silk were looking for weapons and something to lash themselves down, Stormfront's sides and chest heaved as he tried to gasp for air through the blood that built up in his lung, then went limp and tumbled off of the saddle, falling hard on the ground.

"Shit!", Peach snarled as she tugged on the reins to bring the draco-lizard to a stop. Flinging the assault that she had pilfered from the New Unicornia ranger back at the caravan onto her back, and she jumped from the saddle to the ground. "Help me get him out of the road and into the trees." After the pegasus was dragged several body lengths into the trees, she guided the draco-lizard into the trees and made is walk in a circle to create a clearing. She gave a quick count of the ammo remaining in the assault rifle's magazine, twelve rounds left, not enough for any kind of protracted firefight, but enough for the mares to protect themselves and Stormy. She shoved the weapon into the hooves of one of the mares and started walking off through the undergrowth.

"Where are you going?", one of the mare asked.

"I'm gonna look for some kind of sign that we're near a town or a camp. Maybe they'll have a healer or some medicine that can help. But first I need to backtrack in the hopes that whoever is shadowing us and following us will follow me, and follw me away from you all. Get a fire going, keep it low and try to keep Stormy comfortable until I get back."

"What if they catch up to you before you find any help?"

"Then I'm dead...or worse. Just watch over him for me and if anything attacks, use that rifle, but make sure you hit what you're amin' at, there's not many bullets left." Peach darted over to Stormfront and stroked his mane. "Don't you up and die on me, little brother. Your goddesses aren't calling you home yet." She set off through the undergrowth.

Cadance turned on her coms unit. "Link your sensors, fan out and keep a lock on that griffon that was in the treetops. Keep out of sight, make contact once they're safe or a threat moves on them. I'm moving to the north to follow the unicorn that parted from them." The alicorn in pink power armor and the five transequine warriors in lavender power armor spread out through the undergrowth, making their way to their targets.

Peach Nectar hurried through the undergrowth for several body lengths before cutting out onto the road to search for a sign of civilization.

Pauline swooped out from the undergrowth, landing in front of the unicorn mare, making her back up in fright. She held up her talons to show the pony she wasn't a threat. "Easy, easy! I'm a friend. I've been following you six for a while to make sure you all aren't a threat to my village. Do you need any help?"

"My friend's hurt real bad. He's been hit in the lung." Peach pointed her hoof back the way she came. "A New Unicornia ranger shot him. There's four mares with me, at least two of them are pregnant." She took a breath to slow her heartbeat. "I take it that you were what I saw in the treetops?"

Pauline nodded.

"Thank the divine and the goddesses and whatever other higher powers there are!" Peach turned to head out again, stopped and turned back. "You said something about a village? Do they have a doctor or a healer or some medicine to help my friend?"

Pauline tapped her herb pouches. "I'm a healer."

Right then and there Peach Nectar decided that the first temple, church or shrine she came to, she was going to attend the services they had to give thanks to whatever guided the fortunate series of events that has befallen her. "How far is your village?"

Pauline pointed off through the trees. "The Quarry is only about a quarter league that way. Just go through the trees until you come across a trail and follow it, it'll lead you to to a wall covered in vines and a camouflaged gate." She pulled a sash off of her healer's belt and tossed it to Peach. "They're a wary group, especially after stories of an army attacking the Brass Legion being led by several strange ponies. If you hold this sash up and say Pauline needs help, my name's Pauline by the way, they'll send somepony to help you."

Peach Nectar tied the sash around her barrel. "Peach. And be careful, I left the gun with the mares to defend themselves. Tell them that I've sent you and that I'm coming back with more help." She took off through the trees.

Pauline leapt up and spread her wings, taking to the air. Flying in a broad circle, she saw the small clearing where the four mares and the gravely injured pegasus was. Banking downwards and flying to the clearing, she thought she heard some faint electronic crackling. "Hello!", she said in a loud, friendly voice, after landing the bough of a tree.

The mare with the assault rifle aimed the weapon at the griffon hen.

Pauline held up a talon. "Whoa there. I'm a friend and here to help."

"How do I know that?"

"I'm a healer. Peach sent me while she went on to The Quarry to find some ponies to help." When the mare lowered the weapon, Pauline fluttered to the ground and trotted over to Stormfront. Using a talon, she cut down his robes and peeled them back. "Let's see what we've got here." She undid the crude bandages around his barrel and sucked in a hissing breath. "That's not good. Let's hope I'm not too late." Pulling one of the pouches off her belt, she fished through it, pulled out a small sprig of leaves, stuck them in her beak and chewed them up, then stuck them in his wound. The barely conscious Stormfront groaned in pain. She pulled out a small knife from her belt and passed it to one of the mares. "There's some plants, blues stems, red thorns, silver leaves, gold berries. Get me as many of the leaves, thorns and berries that you can gather. Go now, quickly!" She pointed to another mare, "You, fine me a pot, bowl or cup or something, fill it with water and put it on the fire to boil.", she pointed to a third mare, "You gather me the widest leaves you can find." Opening the sack on her belt, she pulled out a mortar and pestle. Opening a few more pouches, she fished out some orange-colored leaves, bright green berries and blue seeds, dumped them into the mortar and started grinding a poultice.

Peach Nectar hurried through the trees and a smile crossed her lips when she saw the trail. The New Unicornia ranger leapt out from the undergrowth, aiming his rifle. She dove into the undergrowth and scrambled behind a tree as the assault rifle rattled off its entire magazine. Bullets whizzed through the air, shredding undergrowth, turning seedlings into splinters, gouging gashes in bigger trees and narrowly missing the mare.

"Shots fired not far from my location.", Cadance whispered into her coms unit, "Moving in to investigate." She drew her rapier and started moving to where the shots were fired.

Blues wisps of smoke curled up from the muzzle of the assault rifle as the New Unicornia ranger dropped the empty magazine and replaced it with a fresh one. "Come out, come out, where ever you are. Just show me your face, little pony. I promise it will hurt for only a second, which is better than a whore like you deserves." He walked along where he saw her dive to, peeking through the shredded undergrowth. "I don't know why you've risked your neck to protect those whores, they barely qualify as ponies and are little more than just a set of holes. I guess the priests should have snapped your horn at birth and placed you in the brooding stocks when you hit your first heat."

Keep blabbing plot hole. Peach Nectar lowered herself to the ground slowly, gripped a stick in her teeth and shuffled forward slowly, peeking around the edge of the tree so she could see him through a gap in the undergrowth.

"Maybe I won't kill you, maybe I'll just drag your sorry plot in myself, kicking and screaming. If I'm lucky, the High Pontiff will let have first crack at you, and after I get done rutting you, I'll toss you to my buddies so they can have a good time. It doesn't have to happen like that,just show me your head and BANG, no more pain or worries." He heard the sound of a twig snapping and turn to look in the direction it came from. "Is that you over there? You tryin' to be slick and sneak past me?" He chambered a round and started looking through the underbrush. He thought for a second that he saw something moving in the underbrush.

Peach had long since tuned out taunting. Once she saw him turning his head away from her, she flicked her head, tossing the stick through the undergrowth.

Stormfront opened his eyes a crack and stared up at the blurry griffon tending to him. A pink light was zooming down from above. "P-p-p-pink..."

"My feathers' highlights are more magenta, but I guess pink would be a close enough.", Pauling said as she smeared the poultice on a big leaf and placed it against the stallion's wound. "I guess it's a good sign that you're conscious enough to talk."

Stormfront pointed a hoof at the incoming light. "P-p-ink l-ight..."

Pauline pushed his hoof down and stuck a gold berry in her beak, mashing it up and stuck in his mouth. "Yes, pink light. Now swallow this. You've got a punctured lung and you're drowning in your bloo-AHHH!" She felt something latch onto her neck, followed by a blinding pink flash. When her vision came back a second later she saw standing opposite her, made of pink light, a pegasus mare with a long mane covering part of her face and an earth pony mare, her dreadlocked mane done tied up over her head. "Wh-who are you?"

"Healing.", the two ponies made of light said simultaneously before fading away.

The ranger aimed his rifle where the heard some crashing followed by a small thump in the undergrowth. "Is that you little filly?" He paused to listen. "Aw, you gonna be quiet as a mouse after makin' all that noise? Ah well. Ollie Ollie oxen free, ready or not, here I come and all that!" He began trotting into the undergrowth.

Stormfront reached up a hoof to touch the golden torc that held the pink, butterfly-shaped gem around the griffon hen's neck and smiled. Though he had become too weak to speak, he still thanked the goddesses that he was found worthy enough to see the next champion. He smiled as his vision faded.

"Oh no you don't!", Pauline shouted as the last rasping breath left the stallion's throat. She clamped his mouth shut, placed her open beak over his snout and blew two quick breaths in the hopes to get him breathing again. Leaning up from giving him artificial respiration, placed both talons on his chest and started pumping her taloned feet on his chest in the hopes of getting his heart started again. "Breathe, damn you! Breathe!" She slapped him on the cheeks with a talon before going back to artificial respiration.

Peach Nectar waited until the ranger was nearly past her hiding spot before she sprung up to her hooves and charged him. She lowered her head in the hopes of spearing her opponent with her horn. He shifted at the last second, narrowly avoiding getting speared by her horn and the two of them tumbled on the ground from the collision. The mare and the stallion rolled on the ground as the grappled with each other, teeth biting and hooves striking.

He pinned her under him, pressing a hoof into her throat. "You clever l'il bi--" His eyes went wide and a strangled squeak escaped his throat as a hoof collided with his testicles.

As the ranger went to grasp at his bruised nethers, Peach headbutted him on the end of his snout, shoved him backwards and snatched up the assault rifle he dropped as she sprang up to her hooves.

"What the fuck is that?!", Corn Silk shouted in shock as a massive lavender armored pony walked into the clearing. She snatched up the assault rifle and began firing wildly. Bullets shredded the undergrowth as she fired indiscriminately, sparks flew from lavender armor where a few had struck.

A silver aura surrounded the rifle and the Nova Guard snatched it away. "Give me that before you hurt yourself or somepony else!", the transequine warrior growled through its helmet. Two more Nova Guard burst into the clearing, the spikes on their halberds pointed at the mare's throat. The first Nova Guard's coms unit crackled and the two other transequines planted the butts of their halberds in the ground, standing still as statues, as the first went to check on Pauline and Stormfront.

A lavender armored hoof rested on Pauline's wither. The Nova Guard stooped down slightly to scan Stormfront's body with the sensors in its armor. "I'm sorry. You've done all you can, but it's too late for him."

Pauline wiped the tears from her eyes. "Curse my wings. If I had offered my help when I first noticed when he was hurt, I could have saved him."

"Doubtful, unless you had some bags of plasma and platelets and a full surgery suite. He drowned in his own blood."

Peach Nectar aimed the rifle that was suspended in her magic at the ranger. "You could have just chosen not to pursue us or called off the pursuit after I took out your truck back at the caravan. But no, you had to hound us and chase us, even after we went through the storm. I don't know how many you lost to the storm. But...", she pulled out the magazine from the rifle, shucked the round in the chamber and tossed the weapon away, "...I'm gonna give one chance. Go back home and tell your commander that we got away or lost our trail or that we all died or whatever...I really don't care. Too many ponies have died today and I don't want to add to their number, I've got enough blood on my hooves as it is."

The ranger let out a series of venom-laced chuckles from where he was laying on the ground.

Peach looked at him nonplussed. "What's so funny?" An aura surrounded her body and she was thrown into a tree.

The ranger sprang to his hooves, rushed her, he grasped her mane in a fetlock and slammed her face several times into the trunk. Bright crimson trickled from her nose, mouth and left ear, she spat a gob of red on his hooves. "Where are they?!", he roared, "Tell me and I'll make it quick!"

"Fuck you!", Peach screamed and spat a gob of blood in his face.

He slammed her face into into the tree trunk again, then threw her to the ground. Taking a moment to wipe the offending substance off, gripped his combat knife in his magic, drawing it from the sheath. A bright purple flash sent him staggering backwards.

When his his vision cleared, Peach Nectar had regained her hooves and was wearing a golden torc holding a purple diamond-shaped gem. On either side of her were two unicorn mares, made of purple light, one looked ancient with its mane flowing in an unfelt wind, the other had a mane in a luxurious swoosh. "Just. Go. Home. It's over. Nopony else has to die."

The ranger levitated the knife in his magic and aimed it at the unicorn mare, a hateful sneer on his lips. "There is no amount of magical tricks that can help you now." He narrowed his eyes, but failed to see the shadow looming over him. Peach saw the shadowy form and started backing up. A vicious smile spread spread across his lips. "That's tight, get scared. It's gonna make it all the sweeter when I stick you like a pig."

A blue aura surrounded him and lifted him into the air. A rapier, encased in a crackling energy field pierced his back, slipped between his ribs, went through his heart and out of his chest. As the ranger gagged and choked on his own blood, Cadance leaned her head over his shoulder and said, "Not if I stick you first."

Peach Nectar, seeing the alicorn effortlessly dispatch the New Unicornia ranger, fell to her belly, pressing her hooves together over head, and silently gave a prayer of thanks to the divine, the goddesses and any other higher power she could think of.

Cadance withdrew her rapier from the body of the dead unicorn, dropped the body to the ground, flicked the blood from the blade and mag-locked the weapon to her side. Taking note of the grovelling mare, she gently said, "Rise my little pony. There is no need to fear me."

Peach Nectar rose to her hooves and looked at the alicorn in pink power armor. She stared in awe at the alicorn in awe and fear. She was staring at one of Stormfront's goddesses in the flesh. Her thoughts went to the ancient teaching from the priests of the temple of The Most High Divine that had been drilled in her from foalhood. The mare's muscles trembled from a mix of exhaustion, fear, her injuries and her own cognitive dissonance as her mind warred with itself.

Multiple thoughts raced like wildfire through Peach Nectar's mind. If there a living goddess standing before her, is the Divine false? Or is this a deceiver? This can't be a deceiver if if it saved her, right? Is the Divine false? Why does a goddess need armor? The world stopped making sense and started spinning around faster and faster.

Cadance's lips turned down in a scowl seeing the injuries the unicorn had suffered. The look of confusion, pain and fear was clearly plastered across the mare's face. She spoke softly, "Be at peace my little pony. You are safe now."

Pain became very real to Peach Nectar. She could feel her left eye swelling shut, her head throbbed and what felt like a white-hot wire trailing from her left eye down to her jaw. Her legs folded in on themselves and she crumpled to a heap to the ground.

Cadance hurried over to Peach nectar and knelt down. Lighting her horn, she scanned the unicorn's injuries. She scowled at what she learned, the mare's left eye socket was broken in three places, she had several fractures along her snout and had a serious concussion, it was a miracle she could stand as long as she did and still be conscious. Tapping a hoof on a panel on her armor, it slid open to reveal a med kit. Opening the med kit, she extracted a surette with he magic, popping the cap off the end to reveal a small needle, she jammed it in the unicorn mare's neck. "Just lie still, you're hurt bad. This should help with the pain." She fumbled around with the compartments in her armor, finding a few small foil bags of water and popped the cap off of one, then levitated it up to the mare's lips. "Drink this slowly and keep calm."

Peach Nectar drank the water as the painkiller started working. After a few moments, her thoughts became clearer, though her head still felt fuzzy. One thought came to the forefront and she said, "Village."

"Pardon?"

"There's a village not far from here. I ran into a healer from there who gave me her sash, said to go there and show it at the gate, saying she needs their help."

Cadance questioned Peach how far the village was and untied the sash from the mare's barrel with her magic. She reached up a hoof to her chestplate and tapped a panel, a soft pinging sound could be heard. A moment later two Nebula Guard burst through the undergrowth. "I'm fine, but she's hurt. There's a village not far from here." She pointed a hoof at one transequine. "You stay with her and make sure she doesn't go into shock. I'll be back quickly with help." The pink alicorn took off through the undergrowth with a Nova Guard hot on her hooves, while the other stayed with Peach Nectar.

Peach rose to her hooves shakily.

The Nova Guard turned its helmeted head and said in a deep voice, "You should be laying down."

"I've gotta pee and I don't feel like laying in it."

The transequine grumble incoherently under its helmet for a split second, then sighed. "Fine, I shall accompany you to that thicket. But, once you're done relieving your bladder, you're coming back here to lay down until the princess comes back."

Peach rocked her head back in confusion for a moment. "Princess?" When the massive armored pony didn't answer, she sighed and said, "Fine." She walked over to the thicket and squatted down. A frown spread across her lips at the massive pony facing her. "Turn away. I can't pee when everypony and their brother watching me."

The Nova Guard said nothing and instead turned away.

After Peach had emptied her bladder, she walked back to where she and the Nova Guard had been, the transequine walking beside her the whole way. After laying down, she looked up at the Nova Guard and said, "My name's Peach Nectar, what's yours?" The armored pony said nothing. "O-kay. So...um...are you some kind of construct?"

"No."

"So you're a pony?"

"Yes."

"Are you a stallion?"

"No."

"So you're a mare."

"No."

"If you're not a stallion or a mare, then what are you?"

"I am a Nova Guard."

"What's a Nova Guard?"

"It is what I am."

"And what exactly is a Nova Guard?"

"I am a Nova Guard."

"You've made that part clear. Let me rephrase. What do Nova Guards...er...guard? Novas?"

"No. We have taken a sacred oath to protect the princesses of Equestria, carry out their orders to the letter, and if need be, give our lives to protect them."

Cadance hurried along the trail that lead to The Quarry. She paused when reaching the wall, the vines covering it made for a good camouflage that hid it well enough until someone was close to it. "I know this place, but from where?", she said softly to herself.

"Highness?", the Nova Guard said, "There's a gate up ahead."

Cadance nodded to the transequine warrior and levitated the sash in her magic. "Very well. Let's go." Reaching the gate, she raised am armored hoof and knocked loudly on the gate. "Open up in the name of Equestria and the Crystal Empire!", the pink alicorn called out in a loud voice.

Cadance saw a couple of ponies peek over the lip of the wall and heard the clopping of hooves and whispers behind the gate. For several moments nothing happened, then a pony appeared over the top of the wall and shouted a challenge, "Who goes there and why should we open our gates?" The princess stood to her full height,flared her wings in a regal manner and called out in a loud voice, "I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza! I have injured ponies that need assistance!" "How do we know this isn't a trick by raiders?"

Cadance huffed, more annoyed than anything else, then forced herself to calm down, these ponies had survived by being paranoid and cautious. "If I were raiders, or gangers, or slavers, I would have attacked instead of asking for help." She levitated Pauline's sash into view. "One of your own, a griffon named Pauline, is helping one of the ponies under my protection that is severely injured, and I have another that was just recently injured, though not as severely. Will you lend aid to your princess?"

Cadance heard several whispered arguments behind the gate and wall. "If Pauline is helping them out is, they can't be bad, right?" "How do we know this isn't a trick?" "If it was a trick, then why would that one be disguised as a goddess?" She snorted in aggravation and whispered to the Nova Guard, "I'm going to fly over and confront them face-to-face, take the wall, but harm nopony." The Nova Guard nodded.

As Cadance spread her wings to take flight, the Nova Guard diverted excess power to the servos in its leg armor and squatted down. With a short hop into the air and the flapping of her wings, the alicorn took flight, effortlessly clearing the gate. With a powerful power armor-assisted leap, the transequine landed atop the wall. Cadance landed on the opposite of the gate among the gathered ponies, who scattered and started running. The The Nova Guard easily overpowered one the ponies atop the wall with its superior strength and agility, pinning the pony under its armored hoof and pointed the spike on its silver halberd at the pony's throat. With a quick snap of its helmeted head to the side, it silently signaled for the ponies nearby to throw down their weapons, which they quickly complied and laid on their bellies to surrender, placing their forehooves on their heads. "BE STILL!", Cadance shouted in the Royal Conterlot Voice. The ponies of The Quarry immediately froze in their tracks and bowed. "Now I'm only going state this once, I am not here to harm anypony. I have injured and am requesting assistance. Please bring your leader to me, I am willing to negotiate for compensation that will be mutually beneficial for everypony."

Several ponies scurried off. Cadance, while waiting for the ponies to return with the leader of The Quarry, decided to walk around. With a quick flick of her wing, she summoned the Nova Guard, who quickly came to her side. She stopped in front of a large egg-shaped boulder that sat atop a fractured faultline, around its base were laid wreaths of flowers, small baskets of spices, small metal bowls with burning cones of incense and small piles of precious stones. "Holder's Boulder!", she whispered, "This is the old Pie family rock farm! Are these ponies the descendants of Marble and Limestone?"

The clopping of hooves caught the attention of the alicorn and when she turned her head to look. There was a short earth pony stallion, covered in rock dust, making the color of his coat and mane and tail and cutie mark difficult to discern, thick, ropy muscles rippled underneath his coat. The stallion's went wide and he bowed low to the ground, nose buried in the dust. "Forgive me. When several ponies said a goddess was outside the gates, I did not believe them. I beseech thee, bring not thy wrath on these good ponies. I am chieftain of this town, if anypony should be smote, then it it should be me."

"Rise,", Cadance said calmly, "I have not come here to...smite...", she paused, the word feeling bitter on her tongue, "...I have injured that needs your help. I am willing to offer compensation. What is your name?"

The stallion rose from the ground. "My name is Key Lime Pie, your most sacred. The ponies of The Quarry will offer any assistance your most sacred form needs, but there is no need for compensation, we have everything we need."

Cadance looked around for a moment. "What about a forge that can make all the tools you need? An army that can keep not only this town safe, but also keep the nearby caravan route free of bandits, gangers, slavers and dangerous monsters?"

Key Lime's eyes went wide."Y-you can offer that?!"

Cadance let a small grin spread across her lips. "Yes, my little pony, I can offer that. If you would rather be left alone, after my business here is done, my fellow princesses and I will assure that no pony or creature will darken the gate of your town without your permission."

"N-no, we would gladly accept any help your most sacred...uh...ness would offer.", Key Lime spluttered out, "But I have one question. We have been hearing for weeks of an army overthrowing the cruel Brass Lord and his legion of bandits, was that your doing?"

"Yes, my aunts, sister-in-law, daughter and I lead the force that destroyed his band."

Key Lime's plot plopped hard on the ground, here he was before a goddess who had overthrew a tyrant whose bandits and raiders had been searching for this village for years. He quickly gathered his wits about him and began ordering for wagons and ponies to pull them. "Where are your wounded, my goddess?"

"My body guard here will guide you to them."

The Nova Guard's coms unit crackled.

"Yes, I will be quite fine. I'm sure there's nothing here that's a threat to me.", Cadance replied, making Key Lime and the other ponies to look at both of the with confused looks. She smiled at them. "Worry not, my little ponies. My guard was making sure that I'd be safe while they're helping you. Would you please direct me to the highest point nearby so I can contact my forces?"

***TWO DAYS LATER***

The massive armored Harmony-class airship, bristling with dozens of weapons batteries on each side, front and back flew over the town. Three other airships, the smaller and older Alicorn-class, moved with the massive airship in formation. Banners of the the five princesses fluttered from the sides and gasbags. Mortal and transequine pegasi flew in patrols around the four airships. The powerful jet engines on the backs of the four airships cut out and jet engines on the front ignited, slowing them to a stop. Propellers extended from their sides and angled themselves upwards, making the lighter-than-air crafts hover in place. The ponies of The Quarry gathered around to watch in awe.

Cadance, along with her five Nova Guard, stood off to the side of the recently cleared area in the middle of the town. The two newest element bearers, Pauline, the bearer of Healing and Peach Nectar, the bearer of Compassion, her head wrapped in bandages, gawked at the massive flying warship as they stood on each side of the pink alicorn, each tried to say something, but couldn't find the words.

"I see that they got the first of the new airships up and running, and managed to refit the older ones.", Cadance said to herself.

Ramps on the sides of the three escort airships opened. Earth pony and unicorn legionaries leapt off the ramps, pegasus legionaries flew from the airships. Landing, the transequine warriors quickly made a secure perimeter for the massive airship to land. Ropes were cast over the sides of the Harmony-class airship and deckhooves slid down them. They extracted flags from their uniforms and began waving out semaphore to the spotters still aboard.

As the massive airship began settling its flat hull on the ground, Cadance took note of the figurehead of a unicorn mare on the forecastle and the name of the ship, 'NEE Luster Dawn. "Of course you'd name the new airship after your first student.", she said in to her coms unit.

"I would have taken the Harmony, but the sparks for its engines were being a bit cantankerous.", Twilight replied over the coms unit.

Several thick leg-like landing struts extended from the NEE Luster Dawn as it neared the ground. As the landing struts touched the ground and the airship settled, the propellers cut off. With the hiss of pneumatics and hydraulics, the massive ramp lowered. Once the ramp was fully extended to the ground, the ten ponemarchs, along with two captains serving as honor guard, wearing thick robes, strode down the ramp and took up positions on each side of the ramp. They were followed by the twelve mortal general, wearing full dress uniforms, the two matriarchs of the minotaur tribes, and the two high preachers of the Fraternity, all with full honor guard. Once all the ponies, both mortal and transequine, had taken up their places on each side of the ramp, the four princesses, their peytrals, shoes and tiaras were polished to a mirror shine, along with their Nova Guard, and the two other element bearers, Dew Drop and Apple Pie, walked down the ramp.

Cadance walked forward and all five princesses bowed before each other. After rising, they shared hugs and nuzzles. The pink alicorn, still in her power armor, waved a hoof to the townsponies and the hidden town. "Welcome, my fellow princesses to the town of The Quarry."

"We art impressed niece.", Luna said, "Thou managed to bring this town and its good ponies into the fold."

By the gate, the draco-lizard laid curled up. "Is that a draco lesser baloth?", Twilight asked.

"I was meaning to ask you about that.", Cadance said, "I wasn't aware that lesser baloths would be this far from the deserts and volcanoes."

"The draco breed prefers the cooler climates of Equestria and they're more docile that their volcanic or desert dwelling cousins. Unless it is angered, hasn't eaten for a month, or somepony messes with its eggs, then anything and everything lays its eyes on becomes food.", the lavender alicorn replied.

Cadance blew out a sigh, the big lizard had seemed content gnaw on natural salt licks or snap up the rats that got too close, when it wasn't lazing about.

Key Lime Pie, who had cleaned himself up, allowing all to see his light grey coat and lime green mane clearly, his cutie mark was a silver key with a lime for a handle, was wearing a vest that looked to be more patches than whatever the original material was, and a stylized hardhat. He stepped forward and bowed low. "Greeting, my goddesses and welcome to our meager town."

Twilight grit her teeth, but didn't let it show. All four princesses dipped their head and Celestia said, "We ask humbly for your permission to enter your town proper, my good chieftain."

"B-b-but of course!", Key Lime stuttered, "What we have is yours."

"May we have permission to send surveyors and engineers to take stock of your mines?", Flurry Heart asked.

"No permission is needed, my goddess. As I said, all we have is yours.", Key Lime answered.

"No.", Flurry retorted, "What you have is yours. You live here, not us. We are not tyrants. We do not take from our subjects without properly compensating them."

Twilight stepped forward. "We princesses of the New equestrian Empire are willing to negotiate a charter that, we hope would be most beneficial for all parties involved. We have Spike and Smolder bringing a small forge as a show of our good intentions, along with a small compliment of tech monks. It should be here by the end of the day. Grand Maestro SUnset Shimmer, along with a battalion of Ponyhood of Steel soldiers are escorting a larger forge, accompanied by a full temple of tech monks. It will be a week before they get here. That should more than enough time to get a good portion of the charter negotiated."

Cadance leaned down and whispered in in Key Lime's ear, "The tech monks are an odd bunch, more machine than pony. They like to rub oil and pray over tools and machinery. I don't get it, but if you allow them to carry out their weirdness, they make some amazing things."

Celestia cleared her throat. "I'm sure that many of your ponies would like to get back to their work and lives. If it you would please you, we'd like to begin negotiations on the charter.We shall supply the refreshments"

Key Lime accompanied by the five princesses to town hall, that stood where the old Pie family house once stood. Dew Drop and Apple Pie hurried over to Pauline and drug her along to raid the ship's larder. Peach Nectar, Wildflower, Corn Silk, Day Dream and Willow Leaf were ushered to the infirmary aboard the massive airship.

It was late afternoon. Two hours ago the princesses and Key Lime Pie had decided to break for the day while he went to settle a dispute with some of the ponies that had been working in the mines. The negotiations had been productive and had been going faster than intended. He had agreed to all of the princesses requests and had to be made to take concessions that would benefit the town. The way things were going, it would be two more days before the charter would be done, with only minor issued that needed ironing out. But that wasn't on Twilight's mind currently as she read the medical reports from the infirmary and the testimonials of the four mares as Peach Nectar had been in surgery and was currently in recovery. The unicorn mare had needed plates and screws to repair her broken eye socket. But that wasn't what made the lavender alicorn angry.

Cadance knocked on the door of Twilight's personal quarters before walking in. She noticed the enraged look on her sister-in-law's face. "A copper bit for your thoughts?"

Twilight slapped the testimonials that the four mares had given. "They raped them!", she growled, "They would steal them from their families, chain them down and rape them! When they would get pregnant and give birth in those horrible conditions, they'd take their foals from them! Why?! All because some perverted religion says that because they weren't born unicorns, they had no rights! All because of some sort of disgusting believe in this 'divine' that said unicorns were born superior!" She snatched up the papers in her magic and threw them across the room with a scream of rage and disgust. "At first I only wanted to confront this New Unicornia and ask them to turn over Cozy Glow, if she was there. I had thought this was just some sort of odd unicorn country and would have let them be, whether or not they wanted to join us. But now, I'm going to tear down that country brick by brick, even if I have to do on my own with my four hooves! And whoever this 'High Pontiff' is, I'll personally turn them to stone!" She slumped to the floor and began to weep. "When I encountered the sphinxes down in the remains of Saddle Arabia, I found out that not only they were enslaving ponies, but were also raping foals. I erased every bit of evidence that they had existed and wiped out their armies to the last creature. I'll do the same to this New Unicornia!"

Cadance gathered up the papers where Twilight had thrown them and sat down next to her sister-in-law. She wrapped a foreleg around the lavender alicorn and pulled her in to a tight hug. "Don't worry, I'm sure Celestia and Luna will agree with you. I'll gladly stand by you and bring the leadership of this country to justice along side you. When Flurry Heart learns of this, she'll personally bring you the fuel to burn the country down, if you so choose. We'll bring this not only to our fellow princesses, but also the generals and the ponemarchs. They had pray that they meet their divine before they meet us, for it may have mercy on them."

Author's Note

Whew! This chapter was longer than I had intended too and was a slog to write.

To give a little background on the new element bearers, Apple Pie and Key Lime Pie are distant cousins. The former is a descendant of Pinkie pie and Apple Bloom, the latter is a descendant of one of the other Pie sisters. Dew Drop is half Equestrian and half Saddle Arabian. Pauline was found as a chick by her adoptive mother and raised in The Quarry, her ancestry will be revealed at a later time.

Are you sure that you're just a lazy writer who hasn't figured out her ancestry?

Nobody asked you, other me!

The changelings have shown themselves. The Bison will make contact with the crusade in a future chapter.

I think you forgot about them until just now.

Shut it other me!

Chrysalis and the ponies of Hidden Valley will make contact in a future chapter.

Coming up will the war against New Unicornia.

Thank you all for reading and I hope you all enjoy.

If you notice any typos, have any questions, want to make any comments, have any criticisms, wanna throw shade or pure bane, feel free to leave them down below.

Thanks to New_Rebellion for allowing me to toss ideas at him and his suggestions. Go show him some My Little Pony love.