Team Star

Cadence flew through the hall, over the heads of the earth ponies and unicorns, narrowly diving through the on-wing pegasi.

As she passed Sunburst, standing at his post, patiently awaiting direction from Celestia; his eyes turned up as his teammate burst through in a surprising lash of urgency. Sunburst took off in her direction, following her, teleporting himself in bursts of orange light trying to keep up with the pace. “What’s your direction?” He asked seriously.

Cadence looked down, tucking her wings and spinning to her hooves. She and Sunburst now both moving on hoof. “I’m not standing around while Celestia does nothing.” She insisted.

Sunburst rolled his eyes, recalling Celestia’s infamous inaction. She often waited until a threat was in their doorstep before acting, when other leaders would like be more proactive. “So… no direction.”

Cadence rolled her eyes at the rule-stickler. “I’m giving myself direction, so are you coming or not?”

Sunburst didn’t hesitate, though the twist of his face said he’d wanted to. “Alright, I’m coming.”

Shining Armor and the royal guard continued ushering people inside the building, but as the changeling crowd pushed past their forces and followed the ponies inside, it seemed to be increasingly difficult.

Flash pounded his wings against the sky, providing direction to those ponies who were willing to take it. “It’s safer inside.” He said, and that is what they believed.

Chrysalis moved as one with her army. Through the crowd, and at any point of contention, a battalion would narrow in. Containing the threat, allowing the invasion to proceed forward.

Next up on the chopping block was the combination of Sunset and Pinkie Pie. With a circular motion of her head, Sunset drew a force field of red and mint power as her semblance mixed with her magic.

Pinkie Pie grew more and more antsy. The fur on the back of her body rising with the growing commotion. Bouncing from wall-to-wall, like a poorly drawn cartoon who’d just had their first taste of coffee.

Sunset looked her over, rolling her eyes, but cracking a smile. They were supposedly their respective team leaders, but Pinkie Pie was so erratic, she couldn’t imagine her in a leadership role whatsoever. “Hey, you good?”

Pinkie Pie smiled, through the constant motion and twitching. “Oh… so good-“ she giggled as the changelings began to bash against Sunset’s pane of magical energy. With each thud, Pinkie Pie seemed to go more and more animated, more eager, more prepared.

As the sparkling screen turned to dust, an energetic Pinkie Pie burst beyond enemy lines. Hopping cleanly on the heads of changeling drones, injuring or slightly inconveniencing them. When she finally decided to stop causing a minor annoyance, she turned and faced the creatures she’d hindered. Watching as they fell to ribbons of colorful paper. From sentient beings, to inanimate confetti with a sad little horn sound effect.

Sunset watched in sheer horror. Though, Pinkie Pie could only reach so many of them. She seemed rather proud.

Sunset swallowed her morals, blasting the creatures with her flame and extinguishing them before they were able to catch the building on fire. Charring them, but not actually ending their lives.

And despite their collective efforts, once again, they two could only do so much.

Cadence and Sunburst forced their way through the crowd, stamping on bizarre and misplaced confetti and scorched carpet. Through the changelings, the Spring Maiden blasting the pawns to nothing.

Once they made it out to the courtyard, it was increasingly obvious what they were up against. What was believed to be a manageable swarm, one that would potentially rival the number of guards and students, was soon noted as a complete invasion.

Not only were there enough changelings to match the school’s forces, but there were enough changelings there to rival the population of the entire city.

“Shining Armor!” She said, screeching to a hault. The stallion turned, and the stern face turned to mush at the sight of her. Her panic fazed him… she was the strongest pony he knew. Both physically and emotionally. “You have to open the gates. Let the lock down lift!”

Shining rushed to her, handing the reigns to his capable second-hand in Flash. “What? That will just let more of them in. At least when they’re in the air we’re playing defense. If we open the gates they’ll storm the unicorns and the earth ponies.”

“Not the be the bearer of bad news, but they’re getting past you regardless. A whole colony of them is moving up the hall as we speak.” Sunburst interrupted.

Cadence rolled her eyes. “We need to evacuate the school. The changelings want what’s inside the vault… they don’t want to hurt ponies… though we may want to hurt them to keep them from getting it.”

Shining Armor sighed, “we can’t just let them take the Winter Maiden’s power, you… you’re a full realized maiden, unstoppable… That new girl- not so much.”

“But we can’t put every pony else in harm’s way.”

“Fall back!” Shining Armor commanded, and the formal royal guard gave him aggravated stares. “I say: fall back! Let’s get the students and faculty out of the school. There’s too many of them!”

Starlight swallowed the lump in her throat. The staff felt heavy, and nothing had ever felt heavy in her magical grasp before.

As the buzzing grew near to them, Fluttershy tucked herself behind the unicorn. “Hey, I’m not really sure about this.”

“Be unsure quietly, please.” Starlight demanded. “When I give you the signal, do your thing, alright?”

Fluttershy shook nervously, “a-alright.” She agreed reluctantly.

As the unyielding stream of enemies approached them, Starlight waved the staff. Lifting her body with her magic she pointed the staff toward the audience.

This was the signal, but as Fluttershy looked at the terrifying armored mugs, she hesitated.

Starlight shook, “Fluttershy!” She groaned through gritted teeth.

The Pegasus closed her eyes, gathering all her courage… as they came face to face with the creatures, she couldn’t take it any more. With all her might, she opened her eyes, willing each creature to freeze where they stood. And for a moment, they did.

Starlight lifted the staff to a vertical position and harnessed all her concentration. With a moment of nothingness, and a second of confusion, the changelings at the front of the crowd began to fall as whips of breath pulled from their bodies. Starlight had begun to absorb the magic of her enemies.

In that moment, Fluttershy’s resolve faltered. Allowing the line to begin their charge again.

Starlight’s body swirled with the power flinging it back with a flick of the weapon. Taking out a few others, but still, they were no match.

Rainbow Dash flew at a high speed, dropping Apple Jack beside Fluttershy as they pushed back the crowd. Sunset and Pinkie arriving in almost the same moment.

“This is the last stand, isn’t it.” Rainbow Dash winced.

“No! Never!” Apple Jack denied.

Chrysalis finally rose from the crowd. “Your last stand, perhaps not, I see what I’ve come for.” She said, the bladed wings ripping through the worthless disguise. The green eyes and the gleam of her unique exoskeleton captured their attention.

In a rush, she flung all her strength and body weight at Starlight Glimmer. Starlight, weakened from the battle, took the hit with detriment.

“You are mistaken.” The booming voice said from behind.

“And who might you be.” The Changeling noted, lifting Starlight by the mane with her green magic. “You dare lie to me, what pony else than a Maiden would have such strength.”

“Unhand her!” Sunset demanded. “She is not the pony you believe her to be.”

Starlight winced, putting her hooves to her head as her mane was pulled upward, hanging her in the air. “It’s me!” She screamed. “I’m the maiden!” She pointed her horn to slice through her own mane, hoping for a slight release from the pain, but Chrysalis had already begun wrapping her in some strange ectoplasm.

The team watched in terror, it was evident to them what she was attempting to do… to sacrifice herself in an attempt at saving her friend… but Chrysalis was none the wiser. And even if she were killed, she would only return in search of the true maiden.

There was a lull as the beating of wings ceased. The hall was silent. “Then I shall take you- my prisoner, and my minions shall destroy this bleak little institution.”