The Lord of the Ponies: The Friendship of Equestria

Ch.41 The Breaking of the Fellowship

Rainbow Dash strode past the stone structure, to find an army of strange beasts ready for combat. It wasn't fear that gripped Rainbow Dash, for the cyan Pegasus feared no enemy; it was only a heightened sense of her environment. She could discern the breathing of each hostile before her, how their chitin hides remained dull and black in the face of the falling Sun. Rainbow could feel the anticipation of the draconian Changelings; the monster's opened their frightful jaws to intimidate the tiny Pegasus. But Rainbow Dash didn't feel fear, just a heightened sense of things.

A single Dovakniik charged the miniscule Pegasus; Rainbow Dash was only half the size of even the smallest hostile. The sound of claws tearing at the forest floor pervaded the Pegasus' sensitive ears. The Dovakniik advanced as if in slow motion; massive amounts of adrenaline pumped through Rainbow's body as she prepared herself for the inevitable onslaught. Rainbow Dash raised her sword, a warning for the blood-drunk monsters to retreat. But of course, her warning went unheeded, and the charging Dovakniik executed a downward smash aimed at the Pegasus.

Rainbow Dash dodged left, and the Dovakniik's claw smashed into the ground. She then countered with a slice to the legs, and dismembered the Dovakniik's weight-bearing appendages from its body; the first casualty roared defiantly as the blood slowly drained from its body. Another Dovakniik charged Rainbow Dash in an effort to swallow the mare whole. The beast's terrible maw opened wide, prepared to consume the tiny Pegasus in a single effort. But Rainbow sent her sword into the Dovakniik's mouth; the blade went through the creature's skull. The cyan Pegasus turned, and pulled her weapon from the Dovakniik's mouth; the dead monster dropped at her hooves.

Now the rest of the Dovakniik charged, either to surround Rainbow Dash, or move past her into the woods. Rainbow swung her sword at the draconian Changelings' waist level, trying to keep the frightful beasts at bay. But there were too many of the horrid creatures, and like their Changeling kin, the Dovakniik soon swarmed past Rainbow Dash's defenses. The cyan Pegasus was forced to climb the stairs leading to the High Seat, an advantageous strategy, as the Dovakniik were unable to overcome the Pegasus in the chokehold of the staircase.

***

"Apple Bloom!" called out Spike as he ventured into the forest, searching for his missing comrade.

Suddenly, the sound of clanging metal and dropping bodies infiltrated his draconian ears. He turned towards the source of such commotion, and saw the fleeting form of chitin-covered beasts as they ventured into the forest, possibly searching for Apple Bloom.

"Apple Bloom!" called Spike again, as he dashed into the forest, in a near-impossible chance that he would find Apple Bloom before the army of Dovakniik did.

***

"FIND THE FILLY! FIND THE FILLY!" yelled Vring, ordering the majority of his brothers into the forest. Their main objective was to find Nightmare Moon's prize, and not the destruction of an impressively skilled mare.

Rainbow Dash heard the roar of the Dovakniik leader, which was then accompanied by the retreat of her attackers into the forest. While the cyan Pegasus may have been a fast flyer, only on the ground could she ensure that Apple Bloom had the chance to escape the Dovakniik. Rainbow galloped to the edge of the structure, and leapt off screaming, "DARING DO" as she fell over three of the massive beasts.

Rainbow Dash quickly turned onto her back, and thrust her sword into the hardened gut of an approaching Dovakniik. The beast fell into her blade, trapping the cyan Pegasus under its gargantuan frame.  Discovering Rainbow's sudden moment of weakness, three Dovakniik charged the helpless Pegasus, ready to finish off the troublesome pony.

One Dovakniik was vaporized by an azure magic bolt. The second was sent flying back by a cannon ball which collided with its face. The last Dovakniik was tackled by an enraged mess of fur and foul breath, as Rover's sharp claws effortlessly ripped the beast apart. Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rover emerged from the forest and began to assault the army of fleeing Dovakniik. Pinkie Pie aided Rainbow Dash, and helped to move the dead Dovakniik corpse from her flailing body. Once free, Rainbow Dash rejoined the fight, assisting her comrades in the effort to stop anymore Dovakniik from entering the forest.

"Go, Rainbow Dash!" ordered Rarity.

Rainbow Dash fled into the forest, and used her wings to fly over the searching Dovakniik, while scanning the forest for Apple Bloom.

***

Apple Bloom fled deeper into the forest, the Dovakniik a few gallops behind. Slowly, the charging beasts closed in on Apple Bloom; their large strides overcoming the filly's quick pace. The head Dovakniik reached a claw out for Apple Bloom, a hair length away from grabbing the pony's collar. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash slammed into the creature, knocking the beast to the ground. The cyan Pegasus quickly followed with a chop to the monster's neck, decapitating the surprised Dovakniik.

Rainbow again took up Apple Bloom's defense, using her superior speed to stop the Dovakniik from passing her. But again, the overwhelming numbers of the beasts overcame Rainbow's defense, and still large numbers of Dovakniik fled into the forest, searching for Apple Bloom. While Apple Bloom had her head start, she galloped deep into a denser portion of the forest; the many trees blocked any line-of-sight the massive Dovakniik had on the tiny filly.

Apple Bloom compressed her body into the smooth grooves of a tree trunk, and kept herself silent as some Dovakniik passed her woodland shelter. Soon, a small number of Dovakniik passed, and Apple Bloom was safe for what time Rainbow Dash could hold off the Dovakniik reinforcements.

"Apple Bloom!" called Sweetie Belle; the alabaster filly hid with Scootaloo within the rotted remains of a nearby hollow.

Apple Bloom turned towards her friends, who were gesturing her over to their shelter.

"Hide here. Quick!" ordered Scootaloo.

"Come on!" hailed Sweetie Belle.

Apple Bloom met her friends' gaze, and shook her head. The Earth filly tweaked her neck towards the direction of the boats; a great look of sadness occupied Apple Bloom's countenance. Scootaloo met Apple Bloom's gaze, and an abbreviated understanding was shared between the two ponies.

"What's she doing?" Sweetie Belle asked Scootaloo, confused as to why Apple Bloom hesitated to join them.

"She's leaving," Scootaloo whispered softly. Sweetie Belle's gaze quickly craned towards Apple Bloom; no way would the alabaster Unicorn abandon a fellow Cutie Mark Crusader.

"NO!" screamed Sweetie Belle, leaping from her hollow.

"What are you doing?" Scootaloo grabbed her friend's coat, and was subsequently pulled from the hollow as well.

A roar rang out from behind the two fillies. They turned to find a single Dovakniik gesturing to his comrades... they had been seen! Soon, a small patrol of Dovaknik emerged from the dense forest, charging towards Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. The two revealed Crusaders turned to their hidden comrade, and found Apple Bloom's complexion to be pleading.

"Gallop, Apple Bloom! Go on!" ordered Scootaloo, to which Apple Bloom complied, and immediately fled into the forest, heading towards the boats.

Scootaloo turned towards the charging Dovakniik, and her wings began to buzz violently. The orange Pegasus folded her forehooves to her side, and began to bawk.

"Bawk, bawk, bawk," impersonated Scootaloo, sounding rather like a chicken.

"What was that?" questioned Sweetie Belle; the filly's knees vibrated, anxious to leave.

"I don't know! I think it was a chicken impression. Now run!" answered Scootaloo, followed by her sudden departure into the forest with Sweetie Belle, while a horde of Dovakniik charged after them.

***

Rarity continued to vaporize the many fleeing Dovakniik with her magic, her power accented thanks to the crown which rested on her head. Her offensive measures created a hole through the Dovakniik horde, as she, Pinkie Pie and Rover made their way to Rainbow Dash, whom they could hear exchanging blows with the Dovakniik. Eventually, the trio reacquainted with their cyan comrade, and began a new defense, which more effectively kept the charging Dovakniik hordes at bay.

Rarity's horn impaled itself into the eye of a hungry Dovakniik. Rainbow sent her sword through the belly of another draconian Changeling, and slammed its head against a nearby tree. Rover tackled individual Dovakniik with reckless abandon; once on the ground, the Dovakniik had no chance against the jaw and the claws of the animalistic Diamond Dog. And Pinkie Pie kept the hordes of Dovakniik at bay with her party cannon; the projectiles of such a weapon obliterated multiple members of the advancing horde.

***

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle retreated into the forest opposite of Apple Bloom's direction, coaxing the numerous Dovakniik from their fleeing friend. The fillys' small stature afforded them greater agility as they seamlessly passed through the constrained areas between the trees, a matter the cumbersome Dovakniik had trouble with. But soon, the two fillies reached a clearing in the forest, with Dovakniik on all sides rushing to capture them.

Trapped, and with nowhere to go, the fillies were helpless to halt the advance of the Dovakniik. Soon, one of the chitin-covered beasts reached the helpless fillies, its claws open to snag its prize. Suddenly, the creature's hands were cut off, as Shining Armor joined the fight. The trained stallion bucked the beast away, leaving him and his friends' room for a defense.

Two Dovakniik, one for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, raced towards the fillies, as Shining Armor was occupied with another of the beasts. Unsuspecting any opposition, the two Dovakniik were quickly eliminated, as the two fillies slipped their Alicornian daggers into the hearts of their attackers. Finished with his Dovakniik, Shining Armor pulled out a dagger, and launched it into the eye of a charging Dovakniik, killing the beast in short order.

***

Rainbow Dash was forced against the trunk of a tree, as she resisted the strength of the Dovakniik she grappled. While Rainbow was occupied, Rarity set off a chain of attacks which vaporized five Dovakniik in quick succession. Now free, Rarity turned towards her strangled comrade, as Rainbow was lifted into the air by the Dovakniik, who had its back to Rarity. Soon, the Dovakniik was vaporized, and Rainbow fell to the hard floor, recovering her breath.

Rarity approached the mare, offering her hoof out to help. Rainbow Dash graciously accepted, and was pulled to her feet. Suddenly, an echo pervaded the forests around Rarity, Rover, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. It was the horn of Canterlot.

"The horn of Canterlot," remarked Rarity.

"Shining Armor," finished Rainbow Dash, before departing towards the intrusive noise, her comrades following close behind.

***

Shining Armor flipped a Dovakniik over his back; the beast's neck was crushed under the weight of its body. Shining Armor, along with the fillies, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, retreated deeper into the forest. The Royal Guard blew his horn again, calling for aid and drawing the horde of Dovakniik from Apple Bloom's trail.

***

The horn of Canterlot became louder as Rainbow Dash and her companions advanced on Shining Armor's position. The cyan Pegasus leapt over a log, to find the swinging form of a waiting Dovakniik. The Pegasus rolled in the air, and the creature's claws missed her body. Rainbow regained her footing behind the beast, and sent her blade into the draconian Changeling's spine, killing the monster instantly. The other three soon joined, and together, the troop made their way to Shining's position.

***

Shining Armor parried a Dovakniik's claw as it swung down upon him. The stallion pushed up on his blade, knocking the beast's arm back, giving him the opening to sever the creature's appendage from its body. Green blood spilled from the Dovaniik's stump, and Shining bucked the beast back; it died slowly on the forest floor as the blood pooled from its body. Another Dovakniik charged the Royal Guard, but was caught by surprise as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo tripped the beast, and sent their daggers into its body at multiple locations.

Shining turned towards yet another Dovakniik, and quickly decapitated the hostile form before it could strike. But still, a nigh endless swarm of the draconian Changelings charged over the hills, like a colony of giant ants.

"Run! Run!' yelled Shining Armor, pushing the fillies to retreat from their hopeless situation.

Two Dovakniik charged the Captain at once. The first swiped down at Shining Armor, to which he dodged by jumping back. The beast's claws became stuck in the ground, and Shining sent his blade through the Dovakniik's skull. The second fared no better, as Shining pulled his blade from the corpse of his dead enemy and thrust it again into the body of the second Dovakniik.

A distance from the fight, the fillies, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle began throwing rocks at the approaching horde of Dovakniik, impeding the effort of the beasts to kidnap the two ponies. With chucking stones, and swinging swords, Shining Armor and the two Cutie Mark Crusaders relinquished no ground to the advancing Dovakniik, but that was all about to change.

Advancing over a hill was Vring; the alpha Dovakniik possessed the only forged weapon any of his fellow Dovakniik owned: a bow. While Shining Armor continued to slay his comrades, Vring readied his bow. A single arrow fit perfectly on the bow string. Vring pulled the string back, the long-range weapon aimed at Shining Armor. Vring let the arrow go, and the fatal projectile flew towards Shining's unaware form.

The arrow slammed into Shining Armor's shoulder, knocking the massive pony off his feet. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo ceased their offense, and paused to look at the fallen body of Shining Armor. Miraculously though, Shining recovered his footing and began his assault on the charging Dovakniik. The stallion screamed in agony, but he failed to fall; he would not let the Dovakniik have the fillies.

Vring moved further down the hill, placing himself closer to the unrelenting target. The alpha Dovakniik placed another arrow on the bowstring, and pulled back, again taking aim at Shining Armor. This time, Shining noticed the bow-wielding beast, but it is too late. Vring lets the arrow fly, and it collided with Shining's chest, again knocking the pony over.

But what would've been a fatal blow didn't stop Shining Armor. The stallion recovered again, this time roaring in blood lust, as he swung wildly at the horde of approaching Dovakniik; the Royal Guard was unstoppable. Vring roared at the pony, unsatisfied that the stallion could survive so many arrows. So, again, Vring loaded an arrow into his bow. The alpha Dovakniik pulled the string back, taking aim once again at Shining Armor. Blood drunk, Shining didn't notice Vring fire another arrow at him, a mistake which would cost him his life.

A third arrow placed itself in Shining's lung; the stallion's breath fled from his body. Knocked to his knees once again, Shining failed to recuperate, and was forced to watch as the swarming Dovakniik overpowered Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, and carried them off into the forest. Strangely though, the other Dovakniik passed Shining's half dead body, ignoring the pony who single hoofedly slaughtered many of their brethren.

The horde of Dovakniik passed Shining Armor, with the exception of Vring, who stood before him, with another arrow aimed at the stallion's heart. The two champions, of evil and good, matched their gaze. Vring smiled at Shining Armor, satisfied that he may finally end the stubborn stallion's life. But Shining didn't fear the monster before him. Instead, his thoughts were occupied with visions of his wife, Princess Cadence, and his late sister, Twilight Sparkle.

"I- I have failed you both," choked Shining Armor, hoping to be forgiven by the two ponies whom he wished to be with in his last moments.

The arrow flew from the bow, but was sent a random direction, as Rainbow Dash tackled Vring. The cyan Pegasus launched herself off of Vring, maintaining a distance between herself and the massive Dovakniik. Vring charged the cyan Pegasus, launching wave after wave of shredding claws, in a hope to eviscerate the pony. Rainbow countered each blow with her sword, but the superior strength of the Dovakniik pushed her into a tree. Vring grabbed Rainbow's neck, slowly squeezing the life from the troublesome Pegasus.

Rainbow Dash, in a final effort, bucked Vring in the gut, knocking the air from the beast's lungs. The cyan Pegasus rolled away from the alpha Dovakniik, and reached her sword once again. Vring, recovered in breath, charged Rainbow Dash, trying to stomp the insignificant Pegasus. Vring missed with his first stomp, and Rainbow sent her blade into the beast's leg. Vring roared in pain, and kicked Rainbow Dash aside, as he worked to remove the steel blade from his appendage. With Rainbow Dash at a distance, Vring pulled the blood soaked sword from his leg, and licked it clean, savoring the vile taste of his own blood.

Vring then threw the weapon at Rainbow Dash, which the cyan Pegasus caught in midair. The two foes then charged again at each other, this time Rainbow on the offense as she swung wildly at the alpha Dovakniik. One swing from her swing eviscerated an arm from Vring's body, which was then followed by the steel sword being plunged into Vring's gut. Vring looked down at the blade which was impaled in his form, and pulled it further in, leading the cyan Pegasus closer to his open maw.

Rainbow, in a final strike, ripped the blade from Vring's body, and swung at the alpha Dovakniik's neck. Her attack rang true, and Vring's head was sliced from his body. Rainbow Dash had won the fight.