The Black Stallion Chronicles: Chaos Rising

                                                                            Chapter 4

                                                                  Darkness Meets Twilight

Everything seemed to slow to halt. Almost every guard turned to the yellow Pegasus now buried under wood and debris. The commander herself took a few steps closer to the unmoving Pegasus with a look a shock and concern. Twilight continued scream at Fluttershy, telling her to get up or at least answer. But all she got was more guards turning toward her to stop her approach. The stallion's mind raced as he tried to fend off his attackers, trying to make his way to the Pegasus known as Fluttershy.

Then he felt it.

A shift in the wind as heat around him seemed to build. He looked over at Twilight who appeared to have stopped advancing as the gaurds were slowly backing away. Twilights eyes were glowing. Her horn glowed as a strong gale started to blow around her. Soon she became engulfed in a purple aura as energy began to gather around her. Then she exploded outward as the magic energy flowed throughout her body, shoving the pegasi soldiers in every direction.

She continued to radiate magic as she started to shoot magic at every soldier that came in eye contact with her as well as any who dared to get close. The commander could only watch in horror as her soldiers were tossed around like ragdolls. Then she came to a decision, a decision that every commander will look back at and wonder whether it was a good idea or not but at this point in time it seemed like the only option against a force of this magnitude.

“Retreat!” yelled the commander as every soldier turned to her in surprise but soon seeing their predicament decided as well that it seemed their best course of action.

The soldiers soon started to move away from the furious unicorn and taking their wounded with them. As soon as the fleet was ready, everyone but the commander went air-born. Opting for speed, they left the cages on the ground.  But the stallion wasn’t worried about the prisoners as he watched the commander slowly take off.

“Damn it, no. I can’t let her get away.” The stallion took off in a sprint to try to bring her down but the pressure surrounding the area made it almost impossible to move at any great speed. He could only watch as the commander made eye contact with him. He gave her his best ‘you are not getting away from me for long’ face as she returned it with a scowl and then turning toward her army, took off without looking back again.

Turning his attention away was harder than he thought but eventually he managed to turn his body around to face another threat: the out of control unicorn. Twilight’s magic flow should have drained completely by now. However instead it appeared to be increasing with every passing minute. If he didn’t get her under control, she could cause some serious damage to the town and those around her. He shuddered as he felt another wave of magic wash over him. This time it was enough to make the windows rattle.

“Twilight” the stallion called, “I know that you’re angry right now and understand that. You even managed to get those soldiers to flee. All I ask is that you please calm down. We will get Fluttershy some help but I can’t do that. Not like this.” The stallion felt his body being lowered to the ground as the pressure increased dramatically.

Damn, she’s completely lost control and her magic is to strong. I can’t get to her. Or not the way I am now. No…the last thing this town needs is TWO out of control horses. But even as he thought this he could feel the Darkness rise up bit within him. “Damit it all, what do I do?!”  The ground began to shake as Twilight let out a small scream as a surge of power blasted forth, breaking windows and causing those who had been hiding earlier in those buildings to flee as well. The stallion looked over at a blue unicorn that had just run out of one of the building. He was saying something to the stallion but he could not make out what it was. As the unicorn turned to run, clutching his hat, he yelled out what the stallion could guess was, “How in Celestia’s name did we not see this coming?”

The stallion then turned back to Twilight as he inched forward trying to get even closer than he was, but every time he made a few inches closer, a magical surge pushed him a few feet back.

The stallion looked up at the sky and yelled, “If there was ever a time for a miracle, now would be it.” He looked around expecting something to happen, but he got nothing. Just more ponies running in fear, the ponies in the cages trying to break free, bits of debris starting to fly off of the buildings, a weird blue object flying towards Twilight...

Wait what?

He shielded his eyes with his hoof from the projectiles flying through the air as another flash of power came from Twilight.

Then he felt some the presser lift.

He removed his hoof in time to see Luna standing next to Twilight with Luna’s horn glowing blue as she put it gently against Twilights head. Twilight’s magic surge immediately lessened as magic surrounding her dissipated. Twilight closed her eyes as she fell to the ground exhausted. Her horn stopped glowing purple around her horn as she came to rest at Luna’s feet.

Luna then gazed up at the stallion. “It’s been a while hasn’t it Lock?” The stallion grinned, “You always did like to show up at the last minute.” Luna carefully lifted Twilight with her magic, “Come, we shall retire to the Library. We have much to discuss and want to hear what you have learned so far.” Lock nodded, “but before we do that, do you think you could quickly unlock those cages?” Lock pointed at the cages surrounding them. The ponies inside had stopped trying to escape and were instead fixated on the coming of the Princess of the Night. Luna smiled as her horn glowed.She set down Twilight carefully. A blue aura then wrapped around all the locks as a clicking sound was heard followed by the sound of a dozen or so locks hitting the ground at the same time. Ponies cheered as they leaped out of their cages. The ponies that had been running in terror earlier had returned and had become part of the cheering crowd.

Luna nodded to them and then turned to Twilight. Using her magic, she lifted Twilight of the ground and started walking toward the library. Lock turned to follow her as well.

                                                                                          ***

As they entered the library, the sound of cheers could be heard dying down just before Lock shut the door making everything quiet. As Twilight would have put it, ‘just the way a library should sound.’ Luna remembered her last simple visit to the library. Twilight had showed her so many books and told all about her past adventures. Smiling at the memories, Luna levitated Twilight over to the sofa. She carefully laid her down and then turned to Lock. Luna was silent for a moment before finally she spoke up, “It seems that we were wrong about the resolve and power of the Sky Empire.

The army that pony managed to put together is staggering. Celestia and Shinning Armor are currently holding them off with a powerful shield spell but there is no telling how long it will hold. But the fact that they went for Ponyville as well is very confusing but interesting. I believe that the leader may have ties to this place and that is why she led some of her army to attack this place. I had already been out on my way here to talk to Twilight about a certain event unfolding in the future and how it may affect Equestria as a whole. Of course then this has to happen at the worst possible time." Luna faced turned grim as she stared down at the ground. "But enough about that, how are you doing? What have you learned so far?” Luna looked back up at Lock with a hopefull expression.

Lock sat down on the floor and removed his hood. He had yellow eyes and a red and bluish black mane. He had a scar going across his left eye though it was very had to see unless viewed up close. Lock closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he began, “Alright, when you first contacted me about this, I had already heard rumors of a growing rebellion. Though, at the time, I had assumed it was the New Lunar Republic making a fuss again.” Luna smiled, she had always enjoyed the idea that a lot of ponies think that she should rule and that she doesn’t have very much power. Maybe one day she would come to their meetings and listen to what they had to say. “Anyways,” Lock continued, “it soon became apparent that pegasi were the targeted audience. I soon learned about a meet up and managed to gain some information. Their goal is to bring the pegasi back to a respected and feared race that they used to be and the only way to do that is to take over Equestria. I also learned that the commander had been born on the ground and lived most her life as an orphan. I also learned that their main base is up in Cloudsdale. I came here in hopes of getting a spell that would allow me to walk freely throughout the place. It was interesting that Twilight lives in same place that the commander planned to attack. It was also a good thing that Twilight lost it when she did, otherwise things may have not have ended well.” Luna gave him a curious look, “what caused Twilight to release her magic essence in the first place?”

Lock thought for a moment. “Oh right, one of the pegasi known as Fluttershy got hurt during the fight and Twilight…"

"Damn it!”

Lock looked up in pure shock. “I forgot all about her. I think she is still buried under all that debris!" Luna face hoofed. “You do realize you just left one of the Elements of Harmony alone and hurt right?” Lock stammered, “I…uh…um…the battle…then you…and I…SORRY!” Luna sighed, “Alright I just sent a private message to my guards to fetch her and bring her to the hospital. Next time, care about the ponies you are trying to save!” Lock looked like he was about ready to go run off a cliff as his face turned crimson.

Luna sighed again, “Alright, that aside, what was you plan? After you got the spell and went to Cloudsdale, what did you plan to do besides gather information?” Lock regained as much composure as he could before he began, “I have a friend who lives up there who I think could be of huge help taking down the Empire.” Luna thought for a moment, “If you are talking about who I think you are, are you sure? What happened to leaving her out of this?” Lock thought for a moment, “I have my reasons but it will be easier to explain later.”

Luna held up her hoof as if to say ‘you don’t have to explain if you don’t want to’. “I am afraid I must return. My sister is calling for backup. Please, be careful and look after Twilight. And your friend as well. You know how to call me for help if you need it.” Lock stood up and then half bowed to her. Luna smiled as her horn began to glow.

“Good luck, my apprentice…”

And with a flash of light, she was gone.