Canceled for good: making new fic

Chapters

The Wasted Plains
The Armory
The Tower
The Breakout (Pt. I: Failure)
The Breakout (Pt. II: Mutilation - Escape)
Old Freinds
The Dream
The Outcast/Reclaiming
The Arrival
The Rain
The Alliance
The Speech

The Wasted Plains

The dust formed in sheets across the Unicorn's hooded robes. Her face was masked, sheilding her throat from the biting dryness The wind blew against her, and her eyes began to bring a stinging pain, dry as they were. She could barley make out a small shed to her left, off the path that she had been following for the entire day (she could only guess at to how long she was travelling, but figured it was around 5 hours.) Se was close enough to the building to make out some details; Small shack, but it appeared to have held up well to the wastland. She circled around to the door, and - with great force - managed to open it. Inside, she found one candle and lit it, the orange glow casting light across the broad walls. looked arounf at her surroundings. A mattress on the floor. A few boxes, empty. A chest, but unless it was unlocked, she couldnt get into it. She took her map out from a pouch slung across her back and gazed across it, her eyes darting from one side to the other, finally resting on one focused point. The candle was running out of wick, and the tired unicorn snuffed it out and walked over to the mattress, eager for some rest.

She woke up, the wind making the entire shed creak with agony. She hardly had time to open her eyes when she heard footsteps outside. Pony? Or Necromane? She couldn't tell, the sound of hoofs was almost drowned out by the wind and creaking of the unstable wooden structure she had taken refuge in. The hoofs were circling the building: of that she was sure. And she also knew that if... whatever it was, managed to get to the door there was a good chance it was either a Necromane, a bandit, or by some miracle, a traveller. Keeping an eye on the door while he rears traced the hoofsteps around... almost directy towards the door. She could her it trying to open the door, for what felt like ten minutes, then silence. Moments passed, and the door was kicked in, and flew to the opposite wall, givng whatever it was from the outside instant access to the unicorn and her spoils. She kept low, and watched as a hulking figure entered the shed. The first hoof in gave the unicorn a shock, a few holes in it and it appeared to have been eaten away. But she knew better, she recognized the hoof of a changeling from ten miles away. But this time, it was a mere ten feet. The changelings have been growing to cope with life in the harsh world, but those that are left behind soon become the skeletons you'd find when you wander around the wasted plains. Each step it took gave a thud, and clattered the armor it wore. It looked around, it's aqua eyes not seeing anything of use to it, it walked out to the plains. The unicorn got up, slowly and quietly, and held herself close against the wall.She could hear the armor clanking with every step it took... *clank*...*clank*...*clank*..... silence. Then a grunting, some beast was all she could tell from the sound. She took the smallest of peeks out of the doorway, and saw the changeling, lying on it's side. But that wasn't what got her attention. It was the Necromane, ripping chunks of the matte-grey flesh through even the armor that was being worn seconds ago. A Necromane is a hairless beast that was forged from the bodies of dead ponies and the sould of dead changelings. The mouth was stitched into a wide grin, and the eyelids were stitched open, giving it a phycotic gaze. Chunks of meat flew from the body of the changeling, and with each bite, the Necromane's face became more and more soaked in blood. After a few more minutes, the Necromane had satisfied it's hunger, and set off into the plains, hunting for new prey. The unicorn watched the changeling, it had probbly bled to death while being eaten, but she tried not to focus on the gritty details. She walked over to him, and opened his packs, hoping for something useful. She'd take just about anything she could get, but there were the things she would always hope for. A book, some candles, any form of food, and so on. 'Let's see what we caught today.' she thought to herself, and empties the pack onto the cold, dead earth. A can of apple cider. Some sketches. A small book, written in Gryphonix. SHe could easily read it, but decided to save it until those long nights. But for now, she took out her map, and found her way back to the path she had been following for the days earlier. 'Just a few more days.' she thought to herself, and she picked up the pace, eager to reach her destination.

~-Wicar, three days later-~

The hooded unicorn approached the gates of the city, one of three still standing after the Changelings decimated Equestria entirely. "Greetings, traveller. Im going to have to ask you to put your hood down so we can make sure you aren't a changeling." said one of the guards, masked and armored. The unicorn complied, and put her hood down to reveal a smooth violet coat, with a deep purple mane, with a single lighter purple stripe slightly off center. The guard checked her off, and opened the gates for her. She looked around, paticularly on the roofs of the buildings that have been patched up a bit to make them more liveable. Finally, her eyes rested on a pegasus who stood on the roof. She gave a nod, and flew down to a building on the greound level, and motioned for her to follow in. She made her way through the crowds, and closed the door behind her. The cyan pegasus looked at her, and took off her gas mask, which rustled her rainbow mane, and revealed a scarred, mauled face from years in the plains. Rainbow walked up to twilight and gave her a hug, and started crying softly. "Twilight, I... I thought you were gone." she said, trying to hold back the tears. "No, im here. But, where are the others?" Twilight asked, sitting Dash down in a chair . "Well, we're all in town. Except Fluttershy." she said, sinking her head. She shut ehr eyes, still forcing the tears back. "Where did she go?" Twilight asked, patting Dashie's back gently. She didn't get a chance to answer. "She went off to research them beasts you see over yonder." said a cowgirl's voice, from te doorway. Twilight looked up, and there were her freinds, wearing smiles and happy to see her. But, in 20 years, they had all changed in their own way. Pinkie Pie's hair is going flat, and she hasnt thrown a party in over a year. Rrity has started wearing common clothes, not caring about the accesories. Applejack is stronger than ever, making a solid living growing and harvesting the cities crops. They all exchanged hugs and a few words, when a knock came at the door. Before anypony could get to open it, it swung open, and three armed guards barged into the small house. Two of them had shoulder-mounted rifles, and they were loaded and aimed into the 5 confused ponies, "By order of our great princess Luna, you are hereby ordered into the Royal Courtyard, but we cannot disclose the reasons for this." one of the guards explained. "But... we were all told that Luna dissapeared at the seige of the Polaris command facility, sucked into the void." Twilight told them, confusion reigning supreme. "Well, you were told wrong. Now, move out. You all still have your special gear, it was preserved for all this time." he told them, walking them out and up the broad cobblestone roads and past the bustling market stalls of ng in the soulless condition of the plains.

The Armory

The palace was built from mixed stones, that together gave it a regal look. It was perfectly symmetrical, not a stone ouf of place. Such unmatched precision, for a place so deep into the plains, Twilight thought to herself, but it didn't matter. The thought that overtook all of their minds was how Luna had managed to escape the void; how the burning shadows had not reached her. They walked up the spiral staircase, past seemingly endless floors filled with the chatter of other ponies. But their bodies were hardened by the plains, and even though the towering flight of stairs would give Big Mac a challenge, they were up to the Master's quarter's in under ten minutes. The guards stopped just before the large twin-archway into the master quarters. "She is expecting all five of you, so you may proceed in." One of the unicorn guards told them, stepping aside to allow entry. Twilight led them into the royal quarters, the walls decorated with artifacts from wars. Some long forgotten, some fresh memories. They all gazed upwards, to the ceiling that was trimmed with gold, giving it a reflective sheen. "Ah, good morning, girls." A voice said from the back of the room they were standing in. The five of them looked over, and pinpointed the voice on the royal midnight-blue alicorn, standing over a large map that was sprawled out on a table. Markers and pins had been stuck in to reveal landmarks, battlefields, and smaller towns in the plains. "Princess? How... how dod you escape the void?" Twilight asked, staring at Luna with her own disbelieving eyes. Luna looked at the violet unicorn for a moment, confused. "Why yes, it is. Now, as for why I have called you here. I no longer rule any form of an empire, but that doesnt mean I don't know something that may concern you. I have received word that Fluttershy has been taken prisoner by the army of changelings. Due to her holding an element of harmony, she is being held in special housing, a small fortress that is almost impenetrable. However, it MAY be infiltratiable. A plan I have devised allows three of you to get in, and do whatever is requiered to get her out of there. But two will have to stay outside, watch for guarrds or any of their new armored chariots." Luna said, turning to a wall of blueprints, and taking a specific one down for them. "They call it the tank, and it is, in simplicity, a giant, rolling shell of iron with an artillery cannon on top that they can rotate and fire. That said, even the Iron Mastodon, as the soldiers have come to call it, has a few weaknesses." Luna drew in breath to continue, but Twilight stopped it just short. "Princess, I appreceate all this information you're giving us, but we dont have the equipment to do this." Twilight explained. Dash looked up, cocking her head to the side. "Andbesides, all the guns and grnades were lost during the seige, and we all know the changelings have their damn biological weapons, so using a sword would be totally pathetic..." Dash told them, circling one of her hoofs on the ground. "Oh, don't worry about that. We do have an armo0ry here, so you can let your imagination run wild." Luna said, directing them out the door. "Tale these lot to the armory, will you?" She commanded, and received a salute in return. The guards led them down the staircase, and far, far below the shattered crust of the earth.

The large steel doors hissed and clanked, the gears turning and rattling. They slowly opened as if in slow motion, which revealed a glorious hall, lined with weapons, ranging from pistols and sniper rifles, to machine guns and assault rifles. The keeper walked up to them, a pegasus with a dark, blood red tint to his coat, and a mane, spoted with dots of red, giving him a bloodied appearence. "Well, now. You ponies see anything you like?" He asked, looking back to the weapons hall. Dash's jaw dropped, and she walked forwards, looking at the first shelf of weapons.

Applejack knew exactly what she was looking for: something that packs a nice punch. Instinctivley, she wandered over to the shotgun rack, and inspected a few, finally laying hoofs on her new gun. "Oh, nice choice. That's a Spaz-12. Good gun, good gun. By the way, the name is Mordus." he said, taking a small bow.

Meanwhile, Pinkie wandered around, until something clicked. She looked up, and there it was. A rack full of grenade launchers, just waiting for her. She took hold of an M-79, a beige finish and the metal stock glimmering in the light of the armory. She slung the strap around her back, and sought out a side arm. She wandered over to the pistols rack, but nothing seemed to leap out at her. She was getting hungry, and randomly selected a pistol off the rack. 'Desert Eagle IMI' the stamp read. It was a large, bulky pistol, but it would do. She fit herself a holster and dropped the pistol in.

Rarity wanted something unique, with that flare you wouldn't find on other weapons. Though her clothes may not show it, she still longed for the accessory-lined closets in her old home, back in Ponyville. She scoured at all the guns, lined up and all the same. Like cookies on a baking sheet. But, in a graceful gift ffrom Celestia, she spotted a very diffrent weapon. The mag was positioned behind the grip, something that no other rifles there had. She Looked up for Mordus, and signaled for a ladder; she was just out of reach. Mordus walked aound the corner, out of her sight, but she could hear the rattling and chaking of the steel carrige rolling back out. He positioned it up to the rack she needed, and retreived her selected rifle. "Ah, a wise choice. We call these the Augies, but the name doesnt really matter. This is your AUG. And, if you want, there is the accesory depot off to the side for all your guns." he said, raising a hoof to the side. Rarity lit up like a light, and trotted off, the scopes, slings, and special underbarrel weapons shining just like the jewels she had found so precious.

Twilight, the scientist she always was, longing for the untested, went up to Mordus and tapped his shoulder. "Ah, who have we here?" He asked, and awaited a name. "Twilight SParkle. By chance, you you happen to have any prototype weapons? Anything... new?" She asked, looking around blandly at the rather stock weapons n the room. "Yeah, we may have a couple things that may catch your eye. Go down 3 racks, theres small corridor. Down there, you'll find what you're looking for. Twilight wantered round the corner, and through a (rather poorly lit) hallway when she found it. She turned in to the toom, head craned to the right, and she found them. The few that were in the small store room were special. In that way, where you dont just kill youe targets, but have fun with them doing it. Each of the four weapons had a description explaining what they did.

Eviscerator: This melee weapon is designed to do exactly what the title states. The plunges itself into a target's body, lacerating anything in its way, and detatches itself from the harpoon cable. At the press of a button, it begines spinning, just like a blander would, inside one's body. The effect is a spectable of chunks or organs, waves or crashing ruby, and the ever-so-enjoyable screams of unadultered pain as your target is made into chop suey!

Dragon's Breath: This weapon is the latest in scienific eingineering. When fired, it fires a beam that us intraceable by the naked eye, that can make its way through objects [ANYTHING THINNER THAN 8'] and upon impact with organic cells, starts a fire on the molecular level. Blood cells come to a boil in the cell stream, and whoever the poor sod is that you fired this baby at will have one final steam bath.

Wild Wind: Ever wanted to fire a tiny, peircing, slashing needle at somepony? How about five? In one second? You guessed it: The Wild Wind fires a continuous stream of needless at a target. Perfect enough to slip through clothing and most armors, yet deadly enough to peirce through bone. If the needle itself doesnt take care of your target, the optional explosive-tip, corrosive-tip, or inferno-tip will!

Twilight stopped for a second. She realized she didnt look on the opposite wall. Turning around, she saw that the Changelings werent the only ones with tanks. Not by far. There turned out to be an entire hangar, tanks lined up. At least twelve she counted. "Yes, seems that I should tell you this. I know what Luna told you, they they just discovered these tanks. Well, we know stuff she doesnt, and thats not true in any way. Down here, she has restricted access, and... well, i'ce been training a squad of tankers. We have lights, mediums, heavies, tank destroyers, and artillery platforms. You want it, I got it here." he said, a half-smile quirked across his face. Twilight would have explored deeper into this, but a voice called out from the main room. "Twilight! One of Luna's guards is here to take us bakc up!" called Applejack's voice. She thanked Mordus, and said she would be back to learn more about the tanks theybhave hidden here, and walked back to her freinds. She looked at Dash, sho was wearing a gas mask, but not like the one before. Along with that, a helmet, leather camo suit and a sniper rifle. "Hey, Twi. Check this out." she said, and pulled her rifle ofer her shoulder. At the press of a button the scope clovers flipped up, and the barrel extended. "It's called the DSR-1. Pretty sweet, huh?" She said, giving her the ego-boosted look that was so common all those years ago. Twilight have a nod of approval, and led them all out into the spiral stair, and they started back up to Luna's quarters.

The Tower

The guards dropped the lot of them at the top of the stairwell, and they walked inside. Luna was standing over her map, but there was a new marking on it. "Girls, we have finally located where Fluttershy is being held prisoner. And it isn't pretty..." she said, looking up at them with a hint of worry in her eyes. "Why is that?" Rainbow asked, always ready for the feel of battle. "Well, the tower itself will be somewhat easy to get into. But we have reports of a tank housed there, which will be a bit of a problem." She said, looking up at them. "However, we do have a tank that you can use for this mission, and this mission only." she told Twilight. 'Exept you have twenty downstairs in your armory you dont even know about.' Twilight through to herself. "That would me a major sset to us, Princess. When do we head out?" she asked. Luna looked at the nearest clock: a small, but regal looking clock that looked like it would be seen in Canterlot. "You five have about thirty minutes to get prepared. Seeing as you have your equipment already,l just head to the armory, and it will be waiting." she said, walking them to the door. They walked down the stairs in silence. Apart for twenty years, and not a thing to talk about. When they finally reached the armory doors, Mordus was waiting for them, a towel hung around his neck. "Well, i can't say it's the most glamorous tank of the bunch we have, but it'll get you through. Follow me in here and i'll let you get to know your equipment." he said, shaking his head into the hallway. The six of them walked through, until they came upon the tank hangar, with one tank pulled out of the rows stationed there. "This beauty is the VK 1602, we call them Leopards. Fash, sleep and tough, this should do the job. Now, I got dissiers on each of you, and i've determined which position you will excel in. Pinkie , you are a loader. So, whatever shell Twilight, the commander, tells you to put in, you load. Rainbow, you're the gunner, so you'll get the fun part. Rarity, you'll be the navigator, and Applejack radiomare. Now, open up the hatch on the top here and climb in. You take off in about five minutes." he said, jumping up on the back of the tank and climbing onto the turret hatch. "Commander first, Twilight. Rarity, you're next. Pinkie, you then Applejack. Dash, you go in last." he said, as the all climbed into their positions.

Inside the VK was cramped, hot, and musty. Twilight hit the start button, and the engine sputtered and rattled for a few seconds, before roaring to life in a strewn-out mechanical purr. The vibrations were felt throughout the tank, and they all prepped the equipment. Mordus radioed them from his post in the hanger. "Okay, now make sure everything is in order. Rainbow, give the turret a full clockwise rotation, then a full counter. Pinkie, make sure the barrel is clear of any obstructions and load a shell. You guys are permitted to start out in Five... Four... Three... Two... One... Roger wilgo, you are cleared to ride out." With that, Rarity eased on the gas. The tank lurched forwards, and picked up speed. They were out into the wastes, and the drive was long and bumpy. During the drive, they all shared stories about their encounters in the Plains, which helped kill some time. "Girls, I would say we're nearing the target. Tower, twelve o'clock." Twilight said, looking through her veiwscreen. Rainbow lifted her seat up into firing position, and got her sights in place. "Okay girld, ready up." radioed Mordus, one last check before they went into combat mode. "Radiomare ready!" "Driver reporting in." "Loader here, all's well." "Gunner here, find me a target!" Commander, Leopard is ready." there was a breif shot of static, but broadcast resumed. "okay, im picking up an armored vehivule partolling the tower, and it hasn't spotted you yet. Make use of that, and remember. A tracked tank is a dead tank." he said. "Wait, what does 'tracked' mean?" Rainbow called out to Applejack. "Mordus, what does tracked mean, exactly?" Asked Applejack. "Oh yes. SHoot the track of a tank, and it;s immobilized. Sitting targets are soon-to-be-dead targets. Over and out." he said, and shut the radio for the time being. "Rarity, make a circle around the tower. Slow speed by half. Gunner, keep an eye out for that tank." Twilight said. ot even a full minute later, Dash's voice echoed from her gunner's hole. "Speak of Discord, TANK SPOTTED!" she yelled, giving warning to the others. The Changeling tank was long, with tracks that appeared heavily armored. Twilight could just make out the designation B-1 on the side, and got Applejack to radio it in. "Mordus, we have engaged the-" she was cut off by Dash screaming as she fired the first shot. The sound was like what you'd hear if you smashed a hammer against an iron bar. In your head. All of their ears rang, but they still managed to carry on their duties. Pinkie immediatley loaded another shell, and gave Dash the ok. "We have engaged the B-1 they have patrolling the tower, Mordus" The radio clicked and flickered for a econd before a responce was heard. "Good job there. Just dont let ig get behind you, thats where every tank is weakest." he said, and the radio went silent again. "Brace youselfes, everypony!" Dash screamed, as the B-1 fired a round at them. The tank's armor absorbed most of it, but a small bit of shrapnel was flung into the tank, narrowly missing Pinkie. "Dash, you better kill that thing before I have to kill you!" she screamed at her, furiously loading yet another shell. Dash fired, and the shell hit the B-1 at the perfect angle, splitting armor plates and burrowing itself deep into the tank. Then, without warning, the B-1 exploded in a glorious spectacle of feirce orange and red, with the rising cloud of black smoke. "Okay, girls, lets go find Fluttershy." Twilight said, and they all clamored out of the tank.

They walked around the tower until they found a manhole, which they could fit down and go deep into the heart of the facility. They all went down the ladder, until they reached solid gorund. But when they started down the hall, they were soon surrounded by an entire batllion of changelings. Rainbow and Pinkie both pulled out their weapons, but Twilight quickly silenced that plan ."No, stop. They were waiting for us, and if you fire, then we'll ALL die." she said. One of the changelings, donning ceremonial armor approached them. "We have been expecting you. You will be held in a cell, to await a meeting with our leader. "Put us in a cell with FLuttershy, and we will comply with any further orders." Twilight demanded. The changeling looked at her, and shook his head. "No can do, and you'll find out why in just a moment." Hours passed. 'Just a moment my flank' Dash thought, before they finally were arranged for a meeting. They were escorted to a throne room. But something was... off.

Standing by the throne were Lunar guards, one of which Twilight recognized as a door guard back in Luna's city. They were seated in front of the throne, and sure enough, upon the roytal stone seat sat Luna. "Well, girls, i do beleive that you're wondering what the hay just happened to you. And to tell you the truth?" she stopped, and a flash of green came from the throne. Luna was replaced with Chrysalis, staring at them with her dark green eyes. "There is no Luna. There is no hope. You are just one of thousands of prisoners now. But, thing is, you five are soecial. You each hold an element of harmony. We need those elements, and thankfully, your precious Fluttershy was kind enough to put no no resistance to us... shall we say 'stripping her'. Both of her element, and of her flesh. We peeled it all off, layer by layer. And now, we're gonna do the same to you. Guards! Send these to the detention block 12-C, throw thm in with those other inmates." she said, and looked back at twilight as she was forced out. She shifted back into Luna, and walked back out to her chariot.

The Breakout (Pt. I: Failure)

NOTE: I'm posting this part of it because I feel like SOMETHING should be published. I will still work on it, and apologize for such a long wait with so little chapter...

The mottled grey that plastered the confines of Twilight's cell was melting, shedding away to reveal her own personal nightmare. She knew it was a dream, but something was strange about it. This she kept telling herself, but it seemed so real. She was strapped to a chair, one that would be found in a dentist's office, tiled back to an almost horizontal position. SHe was struggling against the suggofating grip of the leather staraps that held her legs, and head in place. A lumbering, muscular changeling entered the room, much larger then Twilight could see with her head restrained. "Well, now. Queen Chrysalis has a proposition for you. You just hand over you, and all your freinds elements of harmony, and you are set free. If not, I'm going to use your spine as a back scratcher! So, little lady, what's it gonna be?" he said, his voice deep and almost impossible to understand. All the 'real' Twilight could see was the 'dream-real' Twilight closing her eyes, and open her mouth. 'Dont say just take them, please don't' she thought to herself. She waited, breath held tight, for the words that change fate to be spoken. It was then that the walls began reshaping themselfes around her, and the world went black. Her eyes searched for input, anything aside from the blinding darkness, but getting nothing.

She opened her eyes, and was brought back into the world. She was breaking out into a cold sweat, and saw one of her cellmates standing over her. Ah, you awaken! I do say, you must've been having one horrendous nightmare to be thrashing in your sleep like that." he said, chuckling. "Well, while i know you just woke up, your freinds and I have come up with a plan to get us out of here. You awake enough to hear it, or would you prefer I wait for a bit?" She sat up, and nodded, giving acknowledgement to his plan, whatever it was. "It sounds good, having a plan. But what, exactly..." she stopped, giving him the rest of the sentence. "Is the plan? Well, in about five minutes, the interrogater will come 'round, and ask who wants it first. The orange one, Applejack, will voulenteer, and in the second the gate opens, jump right over the interrogater," Twilight gave an uneasy look, and shifter her gaze over to Applejack. "You sure you can do this?" Applejack got up, and walked over to Twilight. "Of cource I will be, sugarcube. All you need to do is stay put, and i'll do whatever I can." she said, walking over to her freind. "O-okay... if you say so. Now, what was your name?" Twilight asked, standing up off the cold, hard stone slab that served as a bed. "Ah, you may call me Uriah. I- oh wait... I do beleive that the interrogater appeoaches." None os them could hear anything at first, but gradually, the hoofsteps grew louder. And sure as Uriah said, a huge earth pony, with bulking chains and all sorts of rusted iron in his attire, rattled the cell bars. "Well, well, well. Looks like i'll get a chioce of my prtey. But i'm in a good mood. Who wants the evisceration first?" he said, looking dead at Rarity, who seemed to be slowly backing in a corner. "How about you, little girl?" he said. He pounded on the bars again, walking around the cell to the corner Rarity had sealed herself in. "Nope. You;'re takin me, big guy." she said with extra twang in her vioce. "Oh, missy, bad idea." he chuckled to him self and plodded back over the the cell door, and fiddled with the lock. Applejack stratched her legs, and got in a position for the jump.

The lock clicked, and the gate for entry into the cell creaked open, like hoofs on a chalkboard. Applejack took off, with what small space she had to build up speed, and closed her eyes. With all the force, and all the willpower she had, she opened her eyes and pushed off the ground, like a pegasus taking flight. She sailed through the air, untoutched. The cell bars flew past her, just another blur in the sea of objects whizzing past her. Then her world same to a jerking halt. the forward momentum from the jump stopped, and an ice-spike of pain in one of her hind legs. She fell to the floor and felt all the breath go out of her, like a gut punch. she doubled over, cradling her leg, which she found to be entangles in a... chain. She looked up, and traced the links to the interrogater, who had snagged her leg just as she passed overhead. The large earth pony walked towards her, and before she could react, yanked the chain around her leg up, holding her upside down, face-to-face. "And what do you call that, missy? Going out with a boom for your freinds?" he said, looking back at the cell. Rarity already had tears welling up in her eyes. Uroah, put his hoof thriough the bars and propped himself up on them. "no, no, nonono!" he yelled, jaw agape, eyes wide open. "Lemme go, ya fat, smelly cow!" she yelled, yanking at the chains around her leg. "Hmmm.... okay then." he said, and walked over to a tin sklab of stone, over what appeared to be a pit into... Celestia-knows-where. Twilight suspected it would lead to some ultimatley violent death, but thatw as as far as she wanted to go at this point. The interrogater took the chains and held them high, and slammed them down on the table, sending Applejack down with almost twice the force as last time. He spread Applejacks legs to each corner of the table, and tied them down.

Applejack was unconcious, a small cut on her nose. A thin stream of blood trickiling down her body, and poolinhg in a puddle of crimson fluid. All the ponies seemed to be in a trance, all of them staring at applejack, waiting for movement, just anything to let them know she wasn't gone. Not yet, at least. Uriah had this breath held for what felt like hours on end, and thats when she moved, and let out a small grown. He exhaled, and drew in fresh air. Or as fresh as it could get underground, surrounded by decaying bodies and mutilated corpses. The black earth pony walked over to the table, and gave Applejack a nudge. SHe groaned, and tried to roll over, but was bound by the chains. THis time, the interrogater slammed his hoff don on the table, dust from the stone getting in Applejacks lungs, forcing her to wake up. She strained to sit up, cough it out, but couldnt. She hacked up, and felt it coming, but managed to hold down the vomit that was building up from so much couging. Her breathing became wheezing, and the interrogater hadnt been at her for five minutes. "Aw c'mon. You better last longer that the last toy I had." he said, and pulled out a pair of rusted pliers. Applejack was breaking into a sweat, her mind racing to find words of mercy.

Words that never came.

The Breakout (Pt. II: Mutilation - Escape)

Uriah knew what the interrogater was doing, dragging those chunks of wood and stone underneath the stone slab Applejack was tied to. He would light a fire under there, and either cook her to death, or use this as a beginning to a needlessley gorey death. The others had gone to sleep, like Applejack. The Interrogater had stopped moving logs, but came and went regularly. But Uriah knew that it would only last for a small amount of time, and that if there was a chance to do something, he'd need to make the move. Now.

He got up, quietly as not to wake the others, and examined the lock. 'Looks like if I could fit a small enough needle in here...' His throught trailed off as he searched for something in the cell, anything he could manipulate for the lock. He looked around, and felt a pair of eyes watching him. Who's, it was all but impossible to tell. HE tried his best to ignore it, and came to the sad realization that there was nothing he could use to open it. Back in his military base, there would have been a plethora of objects he never though he'd have a use for, but the one time... figures. He glazed his eyes over all the sleeping ponies. Or all the sleeping ponies, and the one awake pegasus, eyes fixed on the lock. He got up and moved over to Rainbow, and, too, held the lock in his gaze. "Well, the one thing I can think that would fit in that lock would be one of my feathers. Yoiu know how they are, with that cartiledge spear that keeps them in?" she whispered, looking up at him. "Yank a feather from your wing? That would be uncomfortable, would it not?" he asked, looking at her right wing, the closest to him. "Really? It's a feather-pulling. I've gone through way worse on my good days in the plains. Just give it ma good tug, they grow back... eventually." she said, lifting her left wing, which was burnt in some areas, feathers blackened and some totally bunt off. "Some gryphon bandit tried to puch me into an electric current, figured it would take me out. Thing is, he didnt see the grinder behind him... Yeah, he practicially exploded in a sodden red heap of.... shredded tweet!" she said, cackling to herself. "Ah, yeah. Well anyways, just tug one out, and see if that won't work." she told him, lifting her wing near his mouth. Uriah looked at her, and placed a long feather in his mouth, and gave it a tug. Sure enough, it came out perfectly, and he got up for the lock. "Well, lets see if the magic will happen..." she said, sitting on the right side of the door. Uriah propped himself back on the bars like last time, and carefully inserted the stiff end of the feather into the lock. There was a satisfying click, and the door was released, ready to be opened whenever he was ready to do... what, exactly? Applejack was tied up, and the interrogater came about every ten minutes. Anything he COULD do would have to be perfect and quick.

He quietly moved his way to applejack, and began work on the bindings around her hoofs. He lookeed for something, anything to cut the tight bonds free. His eues rested upon aknife, close enough. With surgical precision, he slid the cool steel blade between Applejack's leg and the rope, and slit it through. 'Only three more.' he thought to himself. Applejack was stirring, slowly awakening. "What in tarnation-" she said, looking down. "Uriah? What the hay are you doin' down there!?" she asked, vioce as quiet as it would go with the anger she had. But it wasn't anger, Uriah suspected, more surprise and worry. "I'm in the process of getting us out of thie foul place. Now, two more bonds and you're good to get down and follow the rest of us out." he said, looking up to Dash. "Would you be so kind as to wake the others?" he asked her. Rainbow nodded and darted back in the cage, approaching erach of them and getting them up. "Okay, Applejack, last one. You're gonna have to be quiet though, got it?" he asked her as he cout the last rope. "Got it, partner. Lets het the hay out." she said, finally sitting up after being forced down so long.

Twilight led them out, followed by Pinkie, Rarity, Dash, Applejack, and Uriah. "You guys go, get the tank and just go. I'll see what I can do about Fluttershy." Rainbow said. She just turned around when some demonic vioce, yet so familiar, called them out. "Oh, that won't be necessary, my freinds. You see, you're all far too late. Insanity has taken its toll, and the changelings took an advantage of that." The voice's host body stepped into the light. Her coat was a mottled gray-black. Hoofs had ritted away, and were growing back with the flesh of a changeling, as if a virus as growing into the places ripped away from the torture. her mane was a matte-black color, devoid of life. They could almost beleive it was their Fluttershy.

Almost.

But not the eyes, the gleaming yellow orbs had been obviously cut apart. Dash noticed the stitches holfing them together. Her smile wasn't natural - nor was she smiling. The corners of her mouth had been cut and swen with barbed-wire upwards, adding to her soulless appearence. She spoke again, but this time, it was the shy, tiny vioce they ha dall grown to know. "Oh, no, you guys. You have to go, now. Just go, run out!" she said, running towards them with speed to rival Dash's running speed. She pointed a hoof to a passageway. "Run through here, that takes yoiu out of here, just do NOT take me, you wont be able to-" she was cut off. Her eyes becan to glow brighter, and she reared up on her hind legs. The shreik of dry-ice pain that surged through her body was unbearable. Her nerve endings had been turned to white-how steel rods, all 7 million of them strong enough to bring Big mac to his knees. What remained of her cutie mark, the one scant reminder of who she was, began to swell up. Slowly, as if by an invisible tool, it began ripping itself away from her body. The others had all run away, all exept one. Dash couldn't bear to see Fluttershy put through this, yet as the loyal freind she was, she couldn't leave.

The jacket of fat pulled apart with sickening ease, and a stream of steaming-hot blood pooled down and around her leg. She fell to her knees, as the cutie mark finally pulled free. She didn't have much pegasus flesh left, only a patch of mottled yellow on her left ribcage. She breathed heavily, and tears flowed like the blood from her leg. The smell was horrible enough, it permeated the entire room, and made Rainbow's eyes water up, yet she looked on in dawning horrer as the patch of yellow fur began swelling up too. It ripped apart with much more force than from her flank. They could both hear the blood veins twisting and popping uner the pressure. Then, in a glorious spectacle of red, it all came free. Her insides were revaled,, and Dash could see Fluttershy's once-beating heart. But it wasn't for long, as the changeling flesh that once covered all but those patches, grew, and ate away at the open wound, covering it all back up. "F-f-fluttershy?" dash asked on unsteady legs. She took three steps towards her, and fell to her knees, andcried until it was nothing more than a dry heave, her floods of tears mixing with the blood to make a sickly green color. "In the name of Discord, what in the bloody name of oblivion happened to her!?" a voice came from behind her. Dash looked up, and evenm through the tears and sore eyes, she could recognoze Twilight. "Nothing, and i don't want to talk about this ever... okay?" she told hger, getting up and walking past her. "And if we ever, EVER see that Chrysalis bitch again, i'll be ready. I'll kill her, and it will be so painful." she said, the hatred in her vioce taking over. Twilight took one last look at the mutilated body, and noticed a faint movment in her lungs. She stepped closer, but was deterred by a growl that was un-pony like. She ran back up to the plains, and got back in her Leopard, with the others already packed in tight. She sat down in her seat, and stared at the control panel, and gave a sigh. "What happened in there?" asked a voice, but as for who it was, Dash didn't even turn around to see who it was. "Nothing, and don't ask me about it..." she said, in a stern voice. She could feel all the eyes lock onto her, and was almost forced to say somethingt ele to offset the abruptness of that. "Please... I just.... don't want that to ever come back to me..." she said.

~-Tank hangar, 3 hours later-~

They all climbed out of the tank, and mordus was waiting for them right outside. "Well, you lot managed to bring it back in one peice. I'm impressed." He said, greeting them. Twilight was just about to walk out when Dash stopped her. "Hey, Twi... Could you maybe.... erase that memory? Of Fluttershy?" she asked her. Twilight thought for a minute. "Well, i mean... I can learn a spell, but there's no way to bring it back-" Dash gave her 'the look' "Not that you'd want it. I'll see what I can do, okay?" she said. Dash hunger her head. "Okay... thanks, Twilight." she said. Twilight nuzzled her head against hers. "Don't worry. Ill have it by the end of the week." she said, and walked out, back into the armory. Dash followed her, a silent half-step behind.

PROGRESS RESUMING NEXT WEEKEND

Old Freinds

A group of three travellers approached the gate. They wore tattered robe and hoods. The guards saw that they were rather young, an earth pony, pegasus and unicorn together. "Woah now, young ladies. You lot have any buisness here?" he asked them with a raised eyebrow. One of them looked up, the unicorn. "No, just passing through. Maybe a place to stay for the night." she said, looking up.The guard seemed to study her intently, but one of them piped up. "Who's flank to I have to kick to get the damn gate open, huh!?" the pegasus said, stepping forward. The guard looked up, startled. "Oh, yeah. Lemme get that." he said, and trotted back towards the lever.

Dash saw different. She sat atop the watch tower, staing at the trio of adventureres with a hawk's eye.They looked lost, alone. But Dash had a responsobility in the city, to guide any newcomers to wherever they're headed. As much as she hated talking to randoms, she knew it was her job, and lept off the tower, nosediving for the ground. Headed straight for the hapless three of them, she pulled up at the last second, sending a gust of wind across the dead ground. "Greetings and wecome to the worst hellhole you'll ever have the misfortune to come across in the plains. Now, all I need are your names to write down in the roster and I can get back to napping." The three of them didnt move, staring at her. "Well, are we just going to stand in this akward trance, or should I make sure I don't have a tentacle growing out of my ear?" she said, growlooking at them expectantly. One of them stepped forward, slowly but surley. "You can't be..." she asked, taking her hood off.

What Rainbow Dash saw hit her with the inimaginable force of the flashforward. What she had come to know, and see on an almost daily basis had been forever changed. Scarred, burned forever by the plains. The deep purple eyes were older, hardened. They saw things unseeable, that have probably taken their tool on the yound mare. She was beautiful amidst her rough appearence: Tattered robes, bruises, cuts. But one thing stuck out to her. The bloody, bandage, bruised stump of a wing. "Scootaloo?" she asked, almost a whisper. "What? You though a changeling navy radiating all of Equestria, reanimated, bloodthirsty corpses, an ENTIRE WAR, and these two would keep me down?" she asked, cocking her head back to the others. They took their hoods off, and Rainbow instantly was teleported thirty or so years back, to the young fillies they were when she met them. "You guys.... Whee have you been for the past twenty years!?" she asked in disbelief. She hugged them all, resisting the tears that came back, along with a wave of memories. "Hey, let's get you guys inside. I'll let you guys crash at my place, follow me." she said, trotting up an alley way. They climped some stairs, until they came to a door at the end of a long halway. "Ok, you guys just... make yourselfes at home. I'm going to get the others, they're gonna want to see you." she said, pushing the door open."Okay. And Rainbow!" Scootaloo called out. "Thanks..." she said. she nuzzled her head against Rainbow's neck. Scootaloo could feel her heartbeat. A comforting sound that made her feel better, despite everything that's happeed to her. "it's no problem Scoot. I'll be back in just a flash, though." she said, lifting her head back up. They smiled, and Dash took off. Scootaloo walked back into the rioom, and got her first real look around. The shelves were lined with tools, survival items and such. Applebloom said from behind her. Scootaloo gave a backwards glance to her tall, but well-built freind. Except she wasn't a freind. No, They were all sisters. And Scootaloo couldn't think of them any other way.

Twilight was just getting checking off her list of things to do for the day. (Some things never change.) Food was sparse, and anything of tolerant quality had an infuriating price tag. But Twilight being the saver she always was, she could usually get unradiated food. Usually. She was just getting ready to walk out her door, when it burt open in front of her. She looked up startled, and her eyes fell upon her Cyan pegasus friend. "Hey, we have some visitors. Listen, go get AJ and Rarity, i'll get Pinkie. Bring everypony to my room, ok?" she asked. Twilight took a minute to react, but nodded and dropped her list. 'I guess getting food can wait until tomorrow...' she thought to herself, and went out to find her targets. Applejack was in her market stall, making a transaction with a unicorn Twilight recognized. Blue coated, with a darker and lighter blue mane. But it didn't matter to her. "Applejack, you need to go up to Rainbow's room. She says we have visitors." Twilight said. Applejack flagged down a passerby, who Twilight supposed was a freind of hers. They exchanged a few words, and Applejack headed off with Twilight. "Well howdy to you, too..." she said, a hint of sarcasm in her country twang. "Oh, sorry Applejack. I'm just a bit confused as to who out 'visitors' are Rainbow told me about." she explained, walking up the street. "Aw, it's no problem." Applejack replied, giving Twilight a light bump on the shoulder They passed by shops of every sort, ranging from taverns to armorers. They walked until they finally came across the shop they were looking for: The sign read 'Rarity & Sister Outfitters' but the sister had been crossed out. Every time that topic was brought up by a customer, Rarity seemed to hide the depression Twilight knew that brought her. They walked in, and the bells on the door clinked, a pleasent sound amond the rough waves of chatter and trotting. "Just a minute, please!" a voice called from the back, and Applejack walked up to the service counter. "Rarity, it's me and Twilight. Rainbow has everypony going up to her room, she says we all have visitors." Applejack explained. "Oh dear. It's probably one of her Pegasi Corps freinds. Drunken braggart, i'll bet." she said. "Not having a good day..." Twilight whispered to Applejack. AJ let a small chuckle and nodded knowingly. "Okay, girls, let's go." she said, walking out from the back. Twilight led them out of her shop, and Rarity locked the door behind them, and they began the walk to Rainbow's room.

Rainbow darted through the city with speed unmatched by anything in all Equestria. A jet stream formed behind her as she found her way to the bakery, the one place where everypony knew to find the pink earth pony. Rainbow slowed down and entered the small shop. Immediately, the smell of baking cookies and cakes filled her nose with such a rich smell. Behind the counter stood the worlds most renown sweets eater, baker, and party thrower. But she wasn't the same, not by far. Her once cotton mane was deflated, and her coat was a much darker shade of pink. "Oh, hello Dashie. What can I get ya?" she asked, eager to serve. "nothing today, Pinkie. I DO need you to meet me at my house. We have some special guests." Pinkid nodded, and trotted out the store with Rainbow, headed to the others. They could both spot Rainbow's house: it was the tallest tower, and also served as the watchtower. Even if Dash wasn't in tower itself, She was always looking out, as if expecting something...

The Dream

The night was filled with fun and laughter as the CMC, now grown and tempered by the plains shared stories and tales of their encounters. Apple bloom and Sweetie Belle went with their sisters for the night, and Scootaloo was walking out the door. "Hey, kid!" Dash called after Scoot. Grown as she was, Dash couldn't help but look after the younger Pegasus. "you can crash with me tonight. I need to hit my watch duty for an hour, and I'll be back, but..." She looked around the room. "I think there's an extra bed in the back you can use." Scootaloo looked in that direction and nodded. "Thanks for lookin out for me. Can I tell you something I haven't told.... Anyone?" sgd asked, walking up to her. Dash cocked get head to one side. "Go ahead, kiddo. I'm all open." she said, giving her a gentle tap of thr wing, "Well, I font want this to sound awkward, but... You're the closest I've ever had to a parent, and I would... really like it if you..." She stopped. Scootaloo searched for a word, the last thing she wanted was to be stumped in front of the one true mentor she had ever had in her life. "Be your guardian...?" Dash filled in, cautiously. "Yes, essentially. I know that this is kinda strange, but... It would mean a lot to me.". Dash thought for a moment, pondering on what was said. "If course I will. Anything you need, I'll be here for you. And don't be shy about telling me things... And with that said, I must ask: what happened to your wings?" Scoot hung her head, and exhaled. "Remember what happened to the Pegasus at the Ponyville chem drop?" She asked. Dash flashed back on the horror scene that unfolded that night. Any Pegasus who inhaled the gas has their wings bloated and bursted. "Oh Celestia... Sadly, yes." She responded. "Well, I got a tiny bit of it, and..." she stopped and looked at the stumps, bloody and bandaged. "But yeah, thats pretty much what I remember." Dash looked at them, tears forming on the edge of her eyes. "Did you ever actually learn to fly?" Dash asked, rubbing her nose. Scootaloo looked up to Dash, and her ears went down. "No, not.... not exactly. Buck it, not at all. Who am I kidding, no I didn't. It happened after Applebloom, Sweetiebelle and I escaped from the camp we were in. Dash looked at her for a moment. "What do you mean 'escaped'?" she asked suspiciously. "It was.... okay, it's a long story, but can it wait 'till tomorrow? My legs are killing me...

The cool midnight air was refreshing to Dash, as she sat on her perch, a watchful eye over the city. Tonight there was no wind, no dust: something that hardly ever happened. But when it did, it was one of the few times she actually enjoyed being up there. She sat back, in a perfect napping position, but had to be concious not to fall asleep there, as she had done so many times before. Then the clouds rolled in, blocking all the light from the moon, and she felt herself slip deeper and deeper into the trance of sleep. But in what seemed like just minutes, a rumbling sound filled her ears, and began shaking the entire tower on which she sat upon. She jerked up, and scanned the horizon. Nothing exept the dust clouds... But these clouds were moving. Thats when she saw them.

Tanks. Hundreds of them, closing in on all directions. She jumped from her perch, and flew through the town, and activated the invasion siren. It rang through the entire town, and she darted aove to see the townpeople's lights come on. Ten seconds passed, no lights. Thats when a shell zipped by her, and she realized she couldnt stay up here much longer. In defence, she raced her way to one of the guns built into the wall, almost ground level. She loaded a shell, and aimed the gun dead at a tank. The pulled the trigger, and all sound in the world was sucked up, just a ringing was left. Off in the distance, a satisfactory explosion signaled one less threat. 'Okay, thats 1 out of 500...' she thought to herself, and loaded another shell, and fired. But thats when they shot back. Another shell hit the concrete wall, and blew out a support column. She saw the roof sag in slightly behind her, and clamored to get out of the turret. A tank fired, and a small speck of orange shot up. She finally got her leg unstuck, when the explosion threw her off balance again. The roof caved in, trapping her in a tiny box, filled with highly explosive shells. The tanks had stopped firing, but one in specific was drawing closer at a faster pace than the others. She backed herself against the wall, bracing for a shell to slam through her body, an instant death. But the tank kept rolling, and she quickly realized it wasn't a shell that would hit her: It was a tank. Desperatley, she pushed against the rock wall teeming above her, but when she turned around, all she saw was the cloud of dust, rubble, and a tank hurdling towards her.

She sat up, straight as a board. The cold sweat had almost completley soaked her, and the coolth of the night didn't help. She looked around at the town, still intact. No tanks, no fires, no worries. She made her way back to her bed, tiphoofing through the hallway, and plopped down onto the mattress. The covers put up a good fight, but eventually (after much wrestling) Dash found her sweet spot, and the warm embrace of true sleep set in.

The Outcast/Reclaiming

The gate guards to the city, the first line of warning, have seen a lot of strange ponies come and go from the walls, But his one was... very different. Hardly talked. Hardly moved. Hardly breathed, it seemed. "Hey, uhhh... Why dont you go get Dash down here, we need vericifation." He turned around to check if he was doing as told, and when he looked back, the pony was gone. Not just walking away, truly gone. "Cloudreign, where'd that pony go?" he called out, turning into a trot towards the shack. "How am I supposed to know, you were standing right in front of him... her... IT." he said and walked out puzzled. "You call for Dash?" the other asked. "No, I've been standing here wonderng what the hay you took this morning to lose track of a pony standing right in front of you..." he said, staring him down. A silence took over, and the wind slipped through the slightly-opened gate.

But it wasnt just the wind that slipped in. Nopony could see it, as it slipped through alleys, through the maze of streets that composed the town. But even the wind must stop, and so it did. The whistling of a breeze turned into the tapping of hoofs on cobblestone, as a shapeless figure made its was towards the light at the end of the alley. It could see the vendors, one was almost deat at the end of the alley way. Running it was an orange earth pony with a blonde mane, who talked with a funny accent in her voice. The pony walked lightly across the hall, quiet as the wind itself, drawing nearer and nearer, almost-- *CRASH* --barrels upon barrels of something rolled over the body in the hallway, and the orange pony looked back, startled. Franticly, it tried to get out from uder the barrels, but the orange pony had a lantern wnd was heading straight towards her. "What in tarnation... oh now, who's this?" she said, looking down at the trapped unicorn. "I can explain, later. Help me up?" He asked, and held out a hoof. His accent was thick, like Applejacks, but Bitish. Applejack pulled him free and brushed herself off. "Okay, now... when were you planning to explain yourself?" He thought for a moment. "Tonight. I know you, and your freinds though. You and your freinds need to hear about this tonight." He thanked her kindly and went about his way.

Applejack had gotten all the others into her room, and they waited. They all faced the door, anticipating the a knock. "Okay, so here's what i have." a voice from behind them called, and they all turned around alarmed. "How did you..." Twilight started, but the unicorn just started up louder "The name is Shadow Sliver, by the way. You five, once six, are the elements of harmony. I have a l litle slice of reality for you: your powers no longer work. They all need to be together. That means that Pinkie wont make you laugh, take jokes as easily, or laugh herself. Dash could easily become an unloyal burden. Applejack, you may find it harder not to lie. Here's the truth: You may think you're all extraordinary ponies, but you arent. Now that the element has no effect, you lot are just another bunch of ponies, regular citezens of the town. My freinds and I can change that: me, along with two others are the elements of battle: Silence, Rage, and Command. Now, so far: any questions?" he asked, and Twilight spoke up first. "Where are these other two you spoke of?" He looked out the window for a second. "On their way here, actually. Now, we knew about Fluttershy, and have a plan to keep your elements alive: We have built a catalyst, that will take the elements DNA and transfer it into another pony. Simple, right?" he asked, looking around at the faces. "Not really, because Fluttershy is now a mutant beast, and if we need to get her element's DNA, then..." Dash trailed off, slowly coming to the realization of that would have to happen first.

"Well, then..." Shadow said. "Put the 'beast' down."

Hundreds of miles away, Polaris Command Center, Crystal Mountains

Even after twenty years, the dust remain settled, a sheet over the rubble that had fellen during the fateful day of invasion. The bodies that were mecilessly slaughtered then lay crystalized. After all, thats how the mountains got their name. But out of all the crystals, one could easily pick out a specific one. Twice as large. Glowing faintly. Cracking. Chips fell off of the structure. Chunks. Sheets. The crashing echoed throughout the entire mountaintop, then silence.

*clicklack, clicklack, clicklack* Hoofsteps rang through the ruined fortress, as a midnight blue Alicorn stepped forward, released from the icy chains that bound her, that froze her blood in the veins, and she looked up to her dying moon. Her horn began to glow, and she sent a beam of pure energy into space. She had no reason to ensure that it hit: Midnight energy fids its way to its origin. Minutes passed, and the moon began glowing brighter, and brighter yet, as the Princess of the night reclaimed her throne.

The Arrival

Two ponies approached the gate, both in a uniform of some type, and armed. "Halt there, I'm afraid I'm gonna need you to-" He stopped, and stood at attention. "Awaiting orders, Commanders!" he bellowed. "At ease, Soldier. Just let us in." the one on the left said. "Yes ma'am, right away ma'am." he said, turning around to open the gates. The large, rod-iron walls spread open, and sounds of rusty bolts squealing under pressure filled the air as two spiff and span ponies stepped through. One unicorn and one pegasus gathered much attention, the sheer difference in attire shocking; amid tattered cloth and bare hoofs stood two of what was once the pinnacle of military power: the Equestrian Defence Force. Individuals stopped and looked on, but the growing crowd was dispersed by Rainbow, who led them off, and into the administrative wing of the palace.

Words were quickly exchanged as the two ponies made their way to the towns spea-com."Greetings, citizens. I'm sure you and your staff are aware of the state of complete and utter disarray our once-formidable empire is currently in. If not, here's an alarm with no snooze button for you: There is no more celestial-damned empire anymore. We tried our damnedest to keep it together, but now that it has been reduced to mostly dust, rubble, and radiation, we need to rebuild. That's where we come in. I'm Gen. Derpy H. Hooves, and along with Wing Attack and Strategy Commander Colgate, we will rebuild. All citizens are required to attend a town hall meeting tomorrow. Further information can be acquired from the main office of town hall. Good day." The spea-com clicked off and Derpy's attention turned her five old friends. "Holy hay, I can't believe that of all places, you'd be in this shithole. Say, where's the other one of you... Shutterfly, I think?" Rarity stepped forward to speak. "Fluttershy, darling. And she..." Rarity trailed off and looked to the others. "She was captured and experimented on. She suffered a generic mutation and literally transformed into a changeling brute." Twilight explained. Colgate walked over to Dash and nuzzled her. "I bet it hit you harder than the others, huh?" she asked her. Rainbow gave a small sniffe and answered: "It hit us all hard, but yeah. So how do you plan to rebuild our forces back up? A lotta duct tape and superglue?" she asked, chuckling. " No, when you're up in ranks like both of us are, or were, you get benefits. As in armaments and access to underground alliances. The group you six formed was no different than some of the others that still exist." The door swung open without warning, and three ponies stepped into the room. "No way..." Derpy muttered under her breath .

"Well well. Did ya miss us?"

"You could say that. Not to rush introductions, but these 5 are the elements of harmony." Derpy stepped aside, letting them in view. "I told the 5 about these guys, and vice versa. We heard your announcement as we walked in, and... Well, aside from the armaments my team has access to; tanks, rifles and some... Prototypes, do we have anything here?" The pegasus asked. "My name's Feather Bullit, element of Command." He took a small bow. His light green coat had a rough patina to it, and his hair was ruffled and dirty. He stunk of gasoline, but was one of few ponies capable of repairing anything with a hayclip. "Yes, actually. Armory with tanks, guns and three special weapons is underground here." Twilight told them. "Good, I can't wait to buck up some more changelings. I'm element of Rage, the name is Mortus Maulus. Everyone calls me Flesh Wound, though. I'll rig any weapon you bring me to be as over the top as possible. Don't expect any clean kills!" he said, bursting with a hearty belly laugh. His muscles bulged even at calm times like this. His teeth appeared poorly cared for, and when Colgate caught a glimpse of them she shuddered. "Yes, we know... Good guy, but sometimes it feels like that's all he says." Silver said, rolling his sea crystal blue eyes. "By chance, do you know of a roof we could sleep under?" Asked Bullit. "We're willing to pay." he said, hoping precious money would persuade somepony. "There's a refuge camp near the southern tower that you could use. But ask around, some ponies here would be happy to let you stay for a short stint. I'm headed to my quarters, though. Goodnight everypony." Twilight said, and was followed by the others as they trailed outdoors, to a damp, cool night.

The Rain

~-Twelve hundred years ago. Germaney-~

The damp breeze made it hard to breathe, with each inhale of air bringing along just enough water to cause fits after so long. But Vhir'Krah was slowly getting used to it. His Equine allies were going through the exact same thing, anyways. Just another night in Hell.

But with rain.

He rolled onto his side, and pushed his eyes shut, but the patter of rain falling on moistened ground kept penetrating the thin veil of sleep he so desperatly wanted. Giving up, he just sighed and let his eyes open up again. He could hear ponies outside talking as they walked to their tents, but couldn't make out any words. Just mixed tones and voices. And rain. In a new attempt, he decided to hone his superior Changeling hearing into the rain, hoping the sounds would slowly drive him out. *pitter-pat...-pit-patter-pat-pitpitter...crunch* His eyes shot open, and his mind instantly ran to his daughter, in the building just across the way. He eased out of bed, careful not to make any noises, and the hoofsteps grew into marching. He knew that nopony was to enter or leave this late, so he grabbed his sword and sheath, and braved the rain to go outside. "You there. I'm not allowed to let any of you lot through." He said, stepping in their way. But there were too many of them.

An entire company of royal guards marched through the town, but one stepped out of line and with the use of a megaphone, called out to the town. "Attention everypony who resides legally or illeally in this camp is hereby ordered to line up outside! Younger then 20 to the left, older to the right!" This message was repeated as both pony and changeling lined up. Vhir saw his wife and kids, but all guards were ordered to stand back, looking over all of the campers. "Now, we have a message from Celestia herself, that is being sent to each and every camp such as this one. Now, may all Changelings step forward." Eventually, reluctantly, every Changeling stepped forward from the Pony rest of them. "Ah, good. Now, from the letter from the Princess herself: 'Dear Changelings to whom it may concern: I greatly appreciate all of you, and want to thank your Race for the help you have provided us in fighting back the Gryphonic invaders and saving us from impending doom. However, over the land we've tanken from hard won battles and expansion, along with the immense amount of forces you have helped trained, we have gained empire status and thus, do not require any further assistance. And my first act as leader of an empire is to exterminate the disgusting vermin known as Changelings that have burrowed themselves into our new empire. Good day to you all.'" He finished reading, and looked back up to stunned eyes and confused faces. "Place. Younger ones first." He said, motioning to the younger group of changelings. One pegasus walked over, and on his shoulder, a spear was mounted. He walked behind the first and youngest changeling, spear aimed directly down at the yound boy's throat. There was a pause, and he looked back to the pegasus behing him. "Eyes forward, disgusting heap of filth!" He yelled, taking a hoof and knocking him to the ground. Vhir took a few long steps forward, but was halted by two pegasi who swooped down, obviously hiding in the clouds for somepony to run. "No, no, no. You're gonna be the last one because of this." The Unicorn who read the letter told him, glancing over. "Execute." He said loudly and firmly. On cue, the pegasus reared his shoulder back, and drove the spear straight through the soft body of the young Changeling, but not killing him. "He'll bleed out. Move to the next." The Unicorn said, walking around the scene. Vhir looked to his daughter, who looked back with a look of true terror in her aqua crystal eyes. The spear ripped through the next in line's flesh, and came out along with a lung attatched. The young Changeling fell to his knees, dead outside and hardly alive inside. "Once." The Unicorn said, giving the executioner the ok for another hit. "STOP!" Vhir shouted, and was now being physically restrained by the Pegasi. "You can't just kill us all!" he yelled, voice cracking and tears on the verge of running. "Oh?" The Unicorn said, turning to Vhir. The pegasus reared back, and brought the spear through the head of the young boy, and he went limp on the spear, falling face-down onto the muddy earth. "But i'm doing exactly that." He said, with a smirk. Vhir looked on in horror as the Pegasus took aim at his daughter and positioned himself for a lunge. A surge of adrenaline crashed over Vhir, and he pushed the two pegasi holding him out of the air. He ran at full speed, pushing off the ground with each rush of energy he released. But it was in vain, as he could see it happening. The spear had crashed halfway through his daughter's head, and by time he was halfway there, he had poulled out already. He ran for her limp body, but one of the Pegasi swooped in and picked it up, blood steaming down.

Like rain.

He looked around, and found the face of the spear aimed at him now. Military training took over, and he artfully dodged the spear, and ran back through the maze of tents and buildings erected for the camp, hoping to lose any pursuit he may have attracted with his episode back there. His eyes were stinging, whether it was sweat or rain he couldn't tell as he picked a direction and ran. After what seemed like a hundred miles, he finally came to what appeared to be a cave, and wandered in, hoping never to be found. He was away from the downpour, but still heard the dropping of water, and the ground around him grew damp as his tears fell.

Like rain.

The Alliance

Applause and cheers filled the room, the sound overflowing into the town. Derpy took her bow, and walked off the stage and the open arms of her friends. "Did you all like it?" Se asked hopefully, looking at everypony's faces. "Of course we did, how could we not? Now all we need to do is get the recruits in shape." Rainbow Dash said with a pep in her voice. "Recruits?" Derpy asked, looking to Twilight for an explanation. "All those people you just gave that rally speech to?" Twilight asked, trying to prompt Derpy. "Yeah, what about them?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Those were the recruits." Colgate said, walking in from the stage. "But we won't need them. You all should come outside." she explained, walking back out and off the stage. Everypony else followed her, confused. And when they walked outside, the midday sun was no more. Looking up, the sky was a black sheet, with some white specks here and there. But when they looked closer, something was all too familiar.

It wasn't just the sky. It was a bed of Gryphons coming down on their heads. One unicorn was scrambling for a rifle when Colgate stopped him. One by one they landed on the ground in front of them, and gradually the sun peeked back through the Gryphonic cloud overhead. Most landed outside the city walls in chunks, until only one spiraled down. He was much larger than the rest, and donned some form of armor. His powerful wings whirled up clouds of dust as he lowered himself onto the earth. Colgate and derpy both stood at attention, and saluted. "Yes, at ease. Quite the town you have here, Ponies. But I bring news about your freinds in that other town, and I'll be perfectly... blunt: They're all dead. The town lies in ruin, a sick creation of the once-dormant Changeling war machine." Gasps and cries filled the air, stunned ponies questioned the Gryphon's words. "Wait.... The entire town? It's gone?" Colgate asked, confused. She looked to Derpy for an answer as she always did, but to no avail. "Yes, the Changelings used very high explosives.That is why we, the Grypohonic Assault Wing, wish to form an alliance with you." Silence.Derpy though long and hard, muttering to herself, but came to a conclusion rather quickly. "I'll accept that. But I wish to transfer five of your best airgryphons to be under command of our air commanders, today if possible." Dash and Bullit perked at those words, and gave each other a hoof-bump. "Aye, Joven. Send for the five we had on standby." The Gryphon he gave the order to extended his wings and shot up and over the walls, like one huge jump. "Well, while he is retreving them, why dont we go inside and work our the diplomatic stuff. One of the flyers im giving you knows what to do, and will abide by your commands." Colgate and Derpy gave a nod, and walked into the town's central bunker.

The Soldiers looked around at the foreigners in their town, nopony speaking a word. Looks were exchanged, eyes were locked, thoughts were thought. But not a word was spoken. Dash noticed one Gryphon starting at her intently, scanning her body as if he was trying to find the smallest of scratches on a freshly painted chariot. "Are you gonna tell me what you're staring at, or am I supposed to just guess!?" She said, her voice cracking a bit at the end. "Oh, no no. Im sorry, I just have never seen a pegasus of your colors before. It, uhh..... You look pretty cool." he said, taking a small step back. "Oh... well, thanks. Sorry I stepped out like that." Dash said. You guys know where you're supposed to be going?" She asked. "Wherever we're told to. You have like a... chow hall or something?"

The Speech

Seats quickly filled up in the oversized auditorium. Each pony was handed a pamphlet and assigned a seat. After a short wait, Derpy came up for her speech: "Town hall is bustling with life once more, a stark reminder of the days when town hall was full even if there was no meeting to get to. A simpler time? Wrong. Generations before us had hardships, as with those before them, and even those before them. But, look one hundred, two hundred years into the future, and they'll say the same about us. We, as a race, have grown accustom to looking back in time and wishing our lives would just revert back, for everything to go away. And when we realize we can't wish it, and we're pushed to our knees, we don't bother to get up. But the truth is... We can change our lives, and others at the same time, and this leads to changing settlements, cities, and, after much effort, the entire world. It's been done before. It was done when the ponies we look back on looked back, and decided to work to the dream. But they had somewhere to start. All we have is each other, our spirits, and determination. But with these few things, we can carry ourselves to beyond what we drempt of, and into what all of our individually great minds together, wanted: Unification. There are others like us out there, we just don't believe it because we can't see them; we never hear about them. But we don't need to, for with what we have, we can achieve far greater than those with more. And together, we can make that simpler time, the 'old days' today! AND TOGETHER, WE CAN REBUILD! THE FEAR WE WILL FACE WILL BE ANOTHER HARDSHIP TO CONQUER, AND IN THE END... In the end, when our children's children look back on us, and think to themselves: 'What a simpler time, the good old days...' Maybe they, too, will ruse up and strive to change, strive to unify... Strive to rebuild. Ladies and gentlecolts, thank you so much, and have a good day."