The Seventh Element

A breeze blew over the gondola as the airship crested the last hill before Ponyville.  It prompted the ponies to look over the edge to get a better look at the town under siege.  The damage had only gotten worse since they last peered to the horizon.  Smoke had begun to rise from the thatched roof buildings, implying that the Diamond Dogs had been up to much more than just roughhousing some ponies.  A small team of the dogs ran just below the ship.  Argent kept an eye on them, and narrowed his eyes when he noticed that they appeared to be readying some sort of device.  He had never seen it in Equestria before, but it did look awfully familiar from somewhere.

A projectile followed by a whoosh of smoke pierced the balloon of the airship and detonated.  Argent had his answer as to what the device was.

The Diamond Dogs had somehow acquired a rocket launcher.

“We’re going down!” The airship’s captain called out.  He began running for the edge just as a flaming support beam crushed him mid-leap.  Twilight prepared a magic platform for the rest of the ponies to evacuate to.  They all hopped on and Twilight moved the platform quickly away from the falling vehicle.  It crashed in a brilliant blaze.  Argent could see the Diamond Dogs celebrating its destruction just as the magic platform landed behind a building.

“What in the hay was that?” Applejack asked, her eyes containing a mixture of anger, confusion, and fear.

“A rocket launcher,” Argent said plainly.  The six mares looked at him intently, waiting for him to continue.  Their trust of him was shaky enough as it was, but he knew he had no choice but to inform them of what he knew, “It’s a weapon.  You put this thing called a rocket in a specially made tube and aim it at what you want to hit.  When you pull the trigger, the rocket flies out, and if your aim is good enough, whatever you hit blows up.”

“Let me guess, something from the human world?” Rainbow Dash glared at Argent.

“Yeah, but don’t look at me like I brought it here.  Normally, only human militaries have those.”

“And?”

“And I’m just a normal human—not a soldier or anything!”

“You sure seem to know about a lot for just a ‘normal human.’”

“Twilight knows a lot for a pony, and you trust her, don’t you?”

“Yeah, but that’s—”

“Look, Rainbow Dash, I don’t know what’s happening, why it’s happening, if I’m connected to this, and even if I am, how I’m connected to this.  If you recall, I came here on a vacation.  Do you think this necklace and a burning city is my, or anyone’s idea of a sunny good time?!” Argent yelled.  Rainbow’s shocked face kept him from blowing up even further.

“Sorry.  It’s been a rough couple of days.”

“No, I’m sorry.  I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions like that.  We cool?” Rainbow extended her hoof, and Argent experienced the first ever true “bro-hoof.”

“I hate to ruin your little ‘bonding moment’ but we do have a Ponyville to save, dears.” Rarity said.

The seven ponies emerged from their cover behind the building to a scene of utter chaos.  Walls broken down, entire blocks ablaze, debris littering the streets, and ponies of all kinds running and flying to escape the destruction the Diamond Dogs had wrought on the town.

“Thank Celestia; it’s the Elements of Harmony!” a pony with a lily in her hair ran up to the group, “They came out of nowhere around noon.  I was just watering my flowers when the house across the street from mine just blew into smithereens!  I cowered down for a couple minutes but it all just grew louder.  When I finally looked up again those dogs were marching in from everywhere and all of Ponyville looked like a picture straight out of Tartarus!”

“Calm down, Lily.  Did they say anything as they were coming in the town?” Twilight asked.  Lily narrowed her eyes.

“You think I stayed around to listen to them?  Once I had my chance I booked it out of there as fast as my legs could carry me!  I just hope Daisy and Rose are okay.  They were out shopping when it all started.”

“Thanks for the information.  Get to a safe place and we’ll take care of this.  It won’t be the first time we’ve saved a place from certain destruction!” Twilight assured her.  The pony rolled her eyes,

“Yeah, well it happens a little more than I’d like.  I recommend calling in the Equestrian military to come help you out with this one, though.” Another explosion rocked the street, “I’ll see you later!  I’ve got to get out of here!”

Just as Lily ran away Fluttershy spoke up,

“Twilight, I was taking a look around from above and saw a huge group of Diamond Dogs headed for Sweet Apple Acres.  I think that’s where we should go first.”  Applejack’s eyes widened,

“Yer darn tootin’ we’re goin’ there first!  C’mon, y’all!  Ain’t nopony gonna get the jump on mah home and get away with it!”  The orange earth pony bolted off in the direction of her home, where there was indeed a sizable battalion of Diamond Dogs en route to the farm.  As the ponies ran past the dogs at a distance Twilight couldn’t help but notice, “I’ve never seen Diamond Dogs act this way.  Through all my research I’ve only found them to fight in leaderless small groups.  This is an organized army!”

“I think I see why there are so many on their way to Applejack’s place—look over there!” Rainbow Dash pointed ahead.

Diamond Dogs were being sent flying left and right thanks to a triple-tag-team of the three other Apple family members of Sweet Apple Acres.  Applebloom distracted them while Granny Smith—surprisingly nimbly—hit them over the head with various household objects.  While dazed, Big Macintosh bucked them off the farm into next week.  From the tired looks on their faces, they had been at it for a while.

“Guys!  Ah’m here!” Applejack called as she and the others hopped over the fence to the front grounds of the farm.  Rainbow Dash barreled into a leaping dog that was headed for Applebloom.  Twilight and Rarity used small magic blasts to knock a few more away.  Pinkie (somehow) deployed her Party Cannon to help set up the perimeter around the tired Apples.

“Y’all okay?” Applejack asked, embracing her family.

“We are now, thanks to you guys, sis!” Applebloom said.

“All right.  I need y’all to head to the storm cellar while we handle things out here,” Applejack implored.  Granny Smith interjected,

“Like hay we will!  Ah haven’t seen this much action since the Pony-Dragon war more than a thousand moons ago!”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac nodded.

“Is that where you got that helmet?” Applejack tilted her head.

“Sure is!  But that’s a story for another time.  More dogs a-comin’!”

“Fine, you and Big Mac can stay, but Ah am not havin’ mah little sister out here.  It’s way too dangerous!”

“But Ah can fight, too!  I’m a big—”

“Ah said NO, Applebloom,” Applejack lashed back, tears welling up in her eyes, “I ain’t losin’ no more of mah family.  Not no way, not no how!”  Granny Smith put her hoof around the young filly, knowing full well what her granddaughter was referring to.

“Come on, young un’.  Ah’ll go with you to the storm cellar.”  As the two Apples retreated, Applejack turned back to her friends, who had varying expressions of concern splayed across their faces.

“Ah’m fine, sugarcubes.  Now let’s get these varmints off mah farm and outta Ponyville!”  The Elements of Harmony, including Argent, stood ready for the Diamond Dogs’ next move.

“Attack!” one of them called, holding a sword high in the air.  A wave of them, teeth gnashing and voices snarling, made a beeline for the waiting ponies.  Argent set his horn alight in an intense silvery glow,

“Time to see what I can really do!”

Argent’s horn illuminated, and as it did, the necklaces and tiara of the other six ponies began to light as well.  The light then grew around and enveloped their bodies.  It shone for a moment, and faded to reveal that it had donned suits of armor on the ponies, each one stylized to match each Elemental crest.

“How did you do that?” Twilight asked, inspecting herself.

“I… I didn’t.  At least I don’t think I did.  Do you think it’s connected to my Element?” Argent said.

“Well, there’s no time to figure that out right now.  We’ve got a fight to win!  Everyone, charge!”

The seven ponies rushed into battle.  Though they were vastly outnumbered, they felt like they had every advantage in the world.  Whatever the nature of the armor Argent had summoned, it was deflecting every blow the Diamond Dogs were throwing at them.  Be it claws or swords or maces or battle axes, the attacks would just bounce off harmlessly.  The Elements of Harmony used their seemingly infallible defense to fight back fiercely.

Twilight’s magic blasted away as Rainbow Dash wove through them to assist with swift and precise aerial attacks.  Applejack and Big Mac bucked harder than they ever bucked any apple tree to send targets flying.  Rarity made use of her packed sewing supplies and fired sewing needles with her magic at incredible speeds.  Pinkie Pie’s Party Cannon blasts were assisted with dexterous control of unusually heavy maracas as makeshift clubs.  Even Fluttershy managed to stare down a few Diamond Dogs into retreat.  As magic blasts were a surprisingly easy skill, Argent joined Twilight in her ranged attacks.  After about an hour of straight fighting, an enemy officer finally called the order to fall back, and Sweet Apple Acres was finally safe.  Once the last grunt disappeared over the horizon out of Ponyville, Rainbow Dash landed beside Twilight,

“What now?” she asked.

“As much as I’d like to rest, the rest of Ponyville is still under attack.  We have to go make sure there aren’t many ponies in danger.”

“It’s a good thing Argent made us this fancy armor.  Ah don’t know what we would have done without it,” Applejack noted.  The other ponies nodded their agreement, except Big Macintosh, who did not gain a suit of armor and had sustained a few injuries.

“Oh, right.  Big Mac, y’all go to Granny Smith n’ Applebloom and get patched up.  We’ll be fine.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac nodded and galloped as fast as he could to the Apples’ storm cellar.

“At any rate, are you sure we can handle the rest, Twilight?  These guys aren’t Changelings,” Argent pointed out, “We’ll be here into the night, and that’s if we don’t get ourselves captured, or worse.”

“I never planned on continuing while we’re this tired,” Twilight shook her head, “I’ll call for some help.”

The purple unicorn put her horn skyward and sent up a brilliant purple flare that suspended in the air for a second, then beamed off in the direction of Canterlot.

“You mean the Equestrian Army?”  Fluttershy asked, “Do you really think it’s that bad?”

“It’s better to be safe than sorry, dear.” Rarity assured her pegasus friend.  A moment later, a yellow flare returned from the sky and flew straight to Twilight’s horn.

“Well, are they coming?” Rainbow asked.

“Yes.  Apparently they’re very close, and Princess Celestia is with them!”  Just as Twilight finished speaking, rhythmic hoof stamps could be heard in the distance.  Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy rose up to see where it was coming from.

“Over there, from the north!” Fluttershy pointed.  The seven ponies ran in the direction of the advancing Army.

The Elements of Harmony wove through soldier upon soldier to reach Princess Celestia’s chariot.

“Princess!” Twilight called, getting Celestia’s attention.  Celestia fluttered out of her chariot and began walking beside her student.

“Twilight, I’m glad you all are safe… where did the armor come from?”

“Argie’s necklace lit up all like ‘BOOM!’ and suddenly we were covered in metal!  Pretty swanky, huh?” Pinkie explained.

“The Elements keep surprising me each and every day…” Celestia said quietly.

“Excuse me?” Twilight asked,

“Oh, sorry.  It’s nothing.  More importantly, the Diamond Dog invasion is more serious than we thought.”

“You’re kidding,” Rainbow Dash gasped.

“I wish there was room for jokes, Rainbow Dash.  At the same time the Dogs marched on Ponyville, more armies entered cities all over Equestria.  Entire populations have been driven back to Baltimare’s Horseshoe Bay and the Port of Vanhoover.  There have even been reports of action between Diamond Dogs and Changelings near the Badlands.” Celestia said.

“Any word on how they’re organized or why they’re attacking?” Argent asked.  A glance into the stallion’s eyes told Celestia that not only his body had been in battle today.

“I see you’ve thought about it, too.  In the midst of the attacks, some Equestrian forces have reported the use of odd weaponry never before seen.  They’re incredibly destructive and have already cost thousands of lives, military and civilian alike,” Celestia could barely hold back the choked tone in her voice.  Argent guessed if a millennia old Princess was this distraught, the Kingdom of Equestria has likely not seen such destruction in such a short amount of time.  Even the guards around her seemed somber.

“Come, we must take back Ponyville as soon as possible.  This is probably a bad time to mention this, but Ponyville’s town hall holds a secret that will be key in preventing more bloodshed.  Also, Argent,” Celestia turned to Argent with a look more serious than he had ever seen any pony—or human for that matter—look in his entire life,

“It may be on your shoulders alone to save Equestria.”