Alicorn: The Lost Princess

Cadence flapped her wings, fluttering ahead of the other two ground-bound ponies. “You two can fly, you know…” she said, in an attempt to encourage them, but also to speed up their journey.

Celestia widened her wing span. It was becoming evident that though Cadence’s metamorphosis was the most severe… she was still growing in stature. Celestia had once been a height match to Cadence, Twilight the smaller, now she had surpassed her. “I know we can fly.” She said, it was almost sarcastic. “Some of us aren’t accustomed to doing so.”

Twilight nodded in agreement, holding the wings tightly to her torso, she had tried to ignore them. “I’d rather stay hooves-to-the-ground, honestly.”

Cadence flew, her stomach facing the sky as she let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine.”

Apple Jack burst into the family home with aggressive urgency. “There are unicorns in search of the girls.”

Inside, upon the sofa sat Twilight’s parents, her Granny, Apple Bloom, and Spike. They all rose with the same urgency upon hearing. “If they come here they will know we fled Canterlot.” Velvet said. Her husband hung to her in a comforting manner.

“Well then, we ain’t gonna let ‘em’ find ya’.” Applesauce insisted. “We’ll hid you all out in the orchard if they come a-lookin’.”

Spike and Apple Bloom looked around. “Where’s Shining Armor?” Spike asked.

“And Big Mac…” Apple Bloom added.

Below the cloud-top city the sound of marching hooves on the ground could be heard. It was a soft sound, given how far up the Pegasi lived, but it was audible.

Below, stood a grand battalion of Unicorn soldiers. Far larger than their previous group, those that had been stopped in Ponyville. This was partly due to their defeat, but also partially due to the fact that the Unicorns considered the Pegasi a far worthier opponents.

Having had days of forewarning, the Pegasi Air Force had built up their ranks… but the Unicorns had been preparing for this far longer than the formal war declaration. In perfect unison a skilled group of magicians sliced their magical rays through the base of the city.

Civilians flittered away as the blasts shook the city. Retreating back to the west away from city hall. But, city hall was not their target.

The Air Force retaliated… bolting down with precision and speed. Able to fully evade any blasts to make physical contact with their targets. General Spitfire floated at the ready, taking note of all her soldiers in battle… but also noting that unlike an ordinary battle, their attackers did not help their brothers-in-arms. Though disturbing the force, the unicorns did not focus on fighting back. Those who were hit fell back, while the others marched past them.

It was evident that the Pegasi Air Force was out numbered, and though they could hold their own in a battle… the unicorns hadn’t come to fight. They arrived for one reason. Once the task force reached their location, they began the mission. The Pegasi rained down on them, but the combined blast was too quick to be halted.

In a moment a circular ring of power swirled upwards from the unicorn soldiers in the field. It spun until it sliced through the clouds directly above. The unicorns immediately fell back, sprinting at top speeds as the weather factory came hurdling down. The Pegasi’s pride and joy, their contribution to the nation: Fallen.

The crushed building spread shrapnel flying and a cloud of dust as it collapsed onto itself. Ponies only just managing to escape being crushed entirely. Even the most severely injured were fortunate to not face such a fate.

The Pegasi retreated. The unicorns returning the way they had come. It seemed their mission was over.

The entrance of Tartarus was atop a sky-lining mountain. A million or more steps to its peak. “I think we’d ought to set up camp here. It’s getting late, and it’s better to not be climbing in the dark.” Twilight said.

The other two agreed, Cadence starting to get weary and hungry, Celestia a bit fearful of what the future held for them. “Alright. well let’s get set up for the night” the pink one said.

A yellow Pegasi fluttered into Ponyville, around one hoof was a blue ribbon tied to a scroll of paper. “Um… excuse me…” she tried, but no pony seemed to hear her. “I’m looking for-“ ponies walked past, unphased by her and uninterested in talking to a stranger. Curiously, she wandered into the local sweet shop.

As she entered, a pink pony slowly peered over from behind the counter. Her long muted straight mane was sort of unsettling. “Good afternoon… or maybe evening… my name is Fluttershy and I-“

The pink cashier bound over the counter without a second for Fluttershy to think. She pounced on her like prey. “A Pegasus? Are you after something too?”

Fluttershy cowered. “No- I mean- yes, but-“

The pinkie pony noticed her fear and loosened up a bit, still skeptical and still disturbing to look at. “I had a couple of unicorns in here… hunting Alicorns… know anything about THAT?”

Fluttershy peaked out from where here hooves had covered her face. Unfortunately for her, she did know something about that. “I um- actually-“

“Well let me show you what happens to ponies like that around here!” She shouted, revealing the large blue cannon. “They call this the ‘party cannon’, but I just call it ‘my little friend’.” She said laughing manically.

Fluttershy gulped “I- I- I fought off two unicorns too… in my city…” she confessed.

The pink one’s face fell, “you… fought them?” Fluttershy nodded uncertainly. “Oh and here I was thinking you were working with them!” She laughed as her color returned and her mane bounced into a coily, pink, tuft of curls. “I’m Pinkie Pie.” She said holding out one hoof for a hoof-shake.

“N-No.” Fluttershy said finally. She rose, awkwardly shaking hooves with the new acquaintance. “I’m looking for mayormare… my city… Cloudsdale. It was attacked today and well, the governor sent me with a message for your mayor.”

Pinkie Pie hopped from side to side excitedly. “Oh Mayor Mare I know her, yeah, come on I’ll take you to her house! Let’s go!”

The trio sat around a small fire, eating what they had each brought. Twilight ate a small apple Celestia had given her. Cadence eating a snack cake manufactured by the unicorns. While Celestia ate some sort of berry cobbler made by Cadence’s mother.

“I know we barely know each other,” Celestia began. “But… what made you guys I don’t know… want to fight? To stop the unicorn king, I mean no offense but, especially you, Twilight.”

Twilight chewed and swallowed. “No none taken. Our king…” she thought for a moment, making sure no loyalists could hear her, though it was pretty clear they three were alone. “Is a tyrant. And even though I never wanted to be-“ she raised her wings for emphasis “this… I know I have to follow my destiny.”

Cadence nodded wiping her horn off for the same effect. “I didn’t know I was going to have to fight until Twilight and her brother showed up at my door, and you know, I guess I just knew I had to go.” She shrugged. “I hardly even thought twice about it.”

Celestia nodded slowly, “I’ve thought a lot about it…” he thought was interrupted but the sound of crashing branches that they had grown to expect this time around. “Are you serious?!” She called out in desperation.

A zip of a shadow pierced through the center of their camp, blasting into their fire and subsequently leaving them in the dark. The shaddows leaked across the moonlit ground.

Swiftly, Twilight lit the ground with her magic, but as she did, she watched the shaddows engulf her friends. She ran toward them, but no matter how swift she was, she was no match. They were gone.