The Black Stallion Chronicles: Chaos Rising

                                                                            Chapter 1

                                                                                       The War Begins

The days have been nice. The weather has been normal and not a thing seems out of place. Things have been very quiet lately and everypony has gone about their business like any other day. Like any other normal day in Equestria. But that is not the case lately. Pegasi seem to be disappearing like they know something is coming but left without saying what it is.

A certain lavender unicorn had been sending letters Canterlot, trying to figure out what is going on but has received nothing back at all, much to her abovius anxiety and nervousness. But as the townsfolk and her close friends have pointed out, it could be nothing really worth worrying about. So most just passed it off without a another thought. But what most ponies don’t know is that Canterlot has closed its doors to the outside world. Few know about this but have faith that whatever the reason is, their princess can protect her nation from whatever it is happening. Everypony just goes about their day as if it were a normal day. But soon it will be day they shall never forget…

                                                                                        ***

A lone stallion walked along a deserted road. His hood and cloak was black and swayed back and forth as he walked. If someone had been walking near-by, he would have been mistaken as a shadow. Perhaps that is all he really is now. Just a lone shadow. But this shadow has a purpose. He is walking toward a town known as Ponyville. A small town  made up of a mixed breed of ponies. All of them living together in harmony… but that may all soon change.

“No” thought the stallion, “I must warn them. But would it all be in vain? Would they listen to some stranger? No they would not. That is why I must stick to the plan. I have been listening to the rumors and have even interrogated a supposed conspirator. He told me of their great plan but was it really going to happen. Could a Pegasus gather such an army for such a plan? The pegasi have been living under the same rule. Why should they feel a need to tip the balance? Of those who need to tip that balance, are there some who would disagree with such a plan? There must be more to this. There must be more to this secrete. I want to know more but I can’t. But there is someone who can help me, but she lives in place that I can not reach.”

The Stallion was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t even realized how close he now was to the town. The bustling people around the market are what drew him from his trance. He looked around. Everypony went about their day, hardly taking notice to the new comer.

“Travelers must come through here alot,” he decided. Looking around he started swing his head back and forth looking from house to house. “Now to find that tree,” he thought. He had found out through his travels, that there was a certain unicorn that lived in a tree in Ponyville that had a knack for spells.

One spell in particular, was a spell that allowed for non-Pegasus ponies to walk on clouds. He needed that spell if he was to go to Cloudsdale and find out if the rumors and Intel were true. He hoped that it was there that he would find the pony who should know what is going on. As he walked, he made his way through town. After a few minutes of walking he finally found what he was looking for. Right in front of him was a home built in the tree itself. It was more than a home, as he had been told it was originally just a library. “Hmmm” he thought “while the town’s name may not have much in imagination, there buildings do however make up for it.” Alright time to see if this unicorn is there  and if she can really do the spell he needed. As he walked through the door he was met with a blinding flash a purple light. The stallion covered his eyes with his hoof. He thought he then heard someone talking inside. "Alright Spike," came a voice from within "try to send this now." It was soon closely followed by a deafening boom of fire and smoke…

                                                                                       ***

High above the clouds sat an amazing Utopia made from what was believed to be from the clouds themselves. Pegasi roamed this vast Utopia. It's name was Cloudsdale. So long as they can remember it has been a haven for all pegasi who live there. But soon that would change. Soon the ground itself will be a haven as well. This is the mindset of all who devoted themselves to the Sky Empire. Their mission is to make the pegasi, a once proud and warrior race, feared and respected once again. No one knew this better than their Commander, Wind Rider.

Wind Rider stood in the middle a massive coliseum. She was a white pegasi with a light blue mane and hazel eyes. She wore armor that appeared to be somewhat anciant. It was grey all over. The helmet did well to cover her face much like the standard armor of now but at the same time chest plate appeared different. If one were to describe it they would have a very tough time. It had a neck protector and the rest of the armor did well to protect most of her body.

All around here stood pegasi covered in armor and chanting her name. At her feet rested a map of Equestria. All around her stood her army ready to die for her cause. She felt a sense of pride for a moment but soon swallowed it down in order for her raise up her voice in anger. “Attention!” she yelled at the top of her lungs. Almost immediately the whole stadium fell silent. All eyes turned toward her. Again she felt a surge of pride rising from within her like never before. Before she spoke again she fought down that pride for a moment. “Today, we begin our invasion. Today we fight to regain the lost honor of the pegasi nation. TODAY we shall rise again as the Warrior nation of old!”

Pegasi cheered around her, shouting her name and praising the Sky Empire. She pounded her hoof on the floor of the coliseum. Yet again the voices and all noise fell.

“When I was young, I was but a small poor defenseless pegasi. I was born on the ground. My parents died when I was very young, before I hardly had any wings. I had no home and I was shunned by both Earth and Unicorns alike." Their was more to it than that but she prefered not to mention it. "I had to do whatever it took just to survive. Because of my small wings I had no way to get to Cloudsdale. I was completely alone. But I refused to give up and I got stronger as I grew. I learned how to survive and to live off the land. I soon found myself unable to live in a town near where I was born. So I left and decided to go where I knew I would become stronger, the Everfree Forest.” Looks of astonishment came across some of the soldiers who had not heard this before. She continued, but now felt a sense of pride and hope come from herself yet again. “Then came a time in my life, when I found an old abandoned library. Though I could not yet read I saw pictures within the books depicting pegasi in proud armor and ruling above all other creatures. Soon I began to learn how to read and as I did, I learned more about what we are and what we are meant to be. I learned our old ways and some of the weapons used back then. It was then that learned how to make a weapon that hasn’t been seen for centuries.”

She raised her hoof above her head and releases her hidden blade. The Generals and other higher ups follow in the same manor. Wind Rider held her hoof above her head for moment longer as the crowd cheered once more. When she put her hoof down, the Generals and higher ups did the same. And as before, the coliseum grew quiet.

“I then soon decided that it was time raise an army and fight to regain what we have lost. It took time, but as you can all see, my dream has become a reality. Now the day has come. You all have your orders." She looked at her Generals, “Take most of the army like we planned to Canterlot. I shall lead a small portion to the neighboring town, Ponyville.” They nodded their heads in agreement. They all of coarse wondered why, but their unquestioning loyalty kept them from asking. They had already learned what she can do if they were to question her. What they did not realize was that the town that shuned her was in fact Ponyville.

Wind Rider turned toward her army once more, “Alright let’s move!” At the sound of her voice they all took off, each heading in their assigned objective. She too took off as well, leading her small army. A wave a pegasi poured from the coliseum. Had it not been on the outskirts of Cloudsdale, it would have been a sight to behold as countless pegasi flew through the air almost all heading off in the same direction. As she took her position in front of her small army she looked over at her massive one heading off toward Canterlot. She smiled with a look of determination on her face.

“The Equestrian Empire would soon end as the rise of the Sky Empire begins,” She thought.

Just a few miles below a dark cloud of pegasi could be seen heading for Ponyville.