//-------------------------------------------------------// The Black Stallion Chronicles: Chaos Rising -by ShadowBrony- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The War Begins //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The War Begins                                                                             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. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 Unexpected Help //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 Unexpected Help                                                                                             Chapter 2                                                                                       Unexpected Help The Black Stallion coughed as the smoke came billowing out of the tree house. He tried to blink the tears out of his eyes as he tried to see through the thick smoke. “Spike?!” was yelled through the smoke. The stallion took a few steps forward, trying to see what had happened. As he entered a purple aura appeared in the smoke and a sudden gust of wind came through the tree house. As the smoke cleared, the stallion looked around the room. The shock wave had cause most of the furniture to collide with the walls. Several books lay around the room. Not one single shelf held a book. It was a complete mess. The stallion heard a groan from the left of him and turned toward the wall beside the door. Firmly implanted in the wall was a small purple dragon. With his eyes still closed, he groaned again. “Twilight, don’t ever do that again. You could have easily have kept me from ever blowing fire ever again.” He opened his eyes and blew out a small flame just to be sure. A lavender unicorn popped in beside him as she teleported from one side of the room to the other. Using here magic she levitated the dragon out of the wall. After setting him on the ground, she ran over and hugged him. “I’m so sorry Spike. I thought if I boosted your flame you would have enough power to get a letter through to the princess. I should have asked first before casting that spell and then asking you to try and breathe fire.” Spike looked around the room, “let’s just be glad I didn’t burn any books and call it a day.” The lavender unicorn squeezed him tighter and then let him go. “Ok, I promise to never do that to you again. Now you go upstairs and relax, I’ll clean up the Library.” Spike turned toward her, gave her a small smile, and then turned and limped upstairs. The lavender unicorn turned and started to use her magic to put all the books back. The Stallion grunted. The lavender unicorn turned in surprise. “Oh sorry, how long have you been standing there?” The stallion walked in and stood a few feet away from her, “Since your explosion that nearly blew me out of this town.” He said coldly. The lavender unicorn grinned apologetically, “Sorry, I really didn’t mean to. I have been trying these past few weeks to get a hold of the princess. Strange things have been happening around here lately and I was hoping she could shed some light on it. But any time I try to send a letter, we get it back a few seconds later unopened. Worst is that there are some rumors that it is now impossible to get into Canterlot. I have just been so worried; I guess I kind of got desperate after awhile.” The stallion turned his head and look around the room. “I would say that is an understatement.” The unicorn sighed, “Yeah…anyways my name is Twilight, what brings you here?” The stallion looked at her with a serious look on his face, or at least a far as the unicorn could tell seeing very little of it past the hood. “I heard that you have a very big knack for spells. I was hoping you could use a certain one on me.” Twilight gave him a curious look, “Well that depends on the spell. What do you want me to do?”  The stallion looked out the window then back at her, “I need you cast a spell that will allow me to walk on clouds.”  Twilight gave him a confused look, “Sure I can do that spell no problem. I have cast the spell before on myself and my friends. But why do you need it. Are going to visit Cloudsdale or something?” The stallion nodded his head, “Yes. I am meeting a friend up there.” Twilight turned around and started to go through the scattered books, “Alright let me see if I can find the spell. Should not be to hard but I want to make sure I am doing it right. I…” Before Twilight could say anymore she noticed it had gotten surprisingly dark all of a sudden. “That’s strange, it is only mid afternoon.” The stallion froze in place. “No, not now, it can’t be happening already!” Twilight looked at the stallion with shock and confusion, “what can’t be happening? What are you talking about?” The stallion ran outside and looked up at the sky. Twilight followed him out. She looked at the stallion, “what is going on? You seem to know why it has gotten so dark all of a sudden.” The stallion pointed his hoof at the sky. Twilight looked up. Her jaw hit the ground at what she was seeing. At least a good 50 or so pegasi were flying in formation blocking out the sun and heading toward the middle of the town. The stallion turned toward Twilight, “You want to know what is going on? Alright, over the past few weeks a Pegasus named Wind Rider has been gathering an army for what she calls the Sky Empire. Their mission is to bring honor and respect back to the pegasi who were once a proud warrior nation, and she feels that the best way to do this is to take over Equestria. It appears she is starting with your town.” Twilight turned to him in a look of horror. The stallion turned and started running toward the middle of town. Twilight ran after him. “Hey” she called, running up alongside him, “What are you going to do?” Without slowing down or turning to her he yelled, “It is my fault for not seeing their attack coming sooner. I thought I had more time but I was wrong. I have to protect this town. I will not let this place become her first takeover. I will stop her here and now.” Twilight looked up at the incoming legion of Pegasi, “how do you plan on stopping an army like that?!” The Stallion reached under his cloak revealing a sword hanging at his side. “I have many ways to deal with them. This isn’t the first time I have gone up against an army of pegasi.” Twilight looked ahead with a look of determination, “alright, but you are not going in there alone. I have learned that when it comes to friends in need, the more friends you have to back you up, the better your chances will be at helping them.” The stallion turned toward her. Through his hood she thought she could make out him grinning. “If the rumors of your deeds are true, then I can see no better person to fight alongside with in this battle.” Twilight nodded feeling a sense of both nervousness but at the same time pride as they made their way right as the pegasi started to descend on the town. 5 minutes earlier high above Ponyville... Commander Wind Rider turned toward her army as she led them, hovering backwards but still moving a quick pace forward. She turned to her army, “Remember, capture all unicorns and earth ponies. But do not lay a hoof on the pegasi living down there. They may not know it but they are to become a part of a new generation of pegasi in the Sky Empire. Leave no one else uncaptured and don’t allow anything else to get away. Any opposition will be met with harsh penalties.” She then smiled and yelled “For the Sky Empire!” She was met with the same echo from her troops. She then descended and landed in the middle of the town. She yelled at her troops to go forth. They landed and immediately started to through earth ponies and unicorns alike into the cages they had brought with them. And then, all hell broke loose as panicking townsfolk started to run. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 Controlled Chaos //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 Controlled Chaos                                                                                        Chapter 3                                                                                  Controlled Chaos Fluttershy loved coming to the market. Ever since she had learned to be less of a pushover she has had better luck bartering for good prices on food; which meant that she could get more for herself and her animals. She had just bought some fresh cherries when she noticed it had become surprisingly dark out. She looked around and noticed the ponies around her looking up and pointing in awe. Fluttershy then looked up herself and saw dozens upon dozens of armored pegasi flying in formation. Fluttershy looked on in awe herself. She felt nervous seeing so many armored pegasi in one place. She could hardly take seeing more that 2 guards at the royal palace. This was starting to feel like it was just a little too much. Then the pegasi descended. The first to land was a white Pegasus in weird looking armor. She raised her hoof just as the rest of the pegasi landed with cages. Then she heard her yell something. Some of the pegasi started to grab some earth ponies and throwing them in the cages. Then the realization hit every single pony. They were here for one reason: Capture everypony. Fluttershy squeaked and ran under the cherry stand table. She then watched in horror as the pegasi continued to round up ponies. All who ran away from them were captured. Unicorns and Earth ponies alike were taken against their will and thrown into those horrible cages. But for some reason they seemed to not be interested in the other pegasi. Most of the regular pegasi where gone, but the ones that stayed seemed to be left completely alone. What is going on? thought Fluttershy as she closed her eyes and covered her face with her hooves in fear.                                                                                               *** Twilight was a bit in shock. She had just witnessed an army of pegasi land and immediately began to take Earth ponies and Unicorns alike. Chaos reigned around her. Ponies ran in all directions trying to escape while some tryed to hide. Some seemed successfull in hiding but those who ran were eventually caught or came very close to being caught. Some where thrown around or tackle when they tried to fight back. The battle seemed very onesided. “Is this what war looks like?” She asked, thinking back to her books.  She had read about the clash of the Lunar Rebellion and the Equestrian Empire, but seeing this much chaos first hand had her frozen in shock. The stallion noticing her shock went back over to her. “Hey” he said as he nudged her, “wake up. This isn’t the time to freeze up. Your friends need you NOW. I know this may seem over your head, but you need to look past that. Remember we came here to stop them!” Twilight shook her head. He was right, she needed to stop thinking about the war and focus on the battle. “What do you want me to do?” The stallion pointed at the armored pegasi. Take them down by any means necessary. We can free the ponies in the cages after we have stopped the opposition.” Twilight’s horn glowed. She set a determined look on her face and charged into the fray. The stallion was about to follow her when four pegasi landed around him. “Crud, looks like to get to the leader the lackeys must come first.” He reached under his cape and pulled out his blade with his teeth. It was samurai sword with a black hilt. He brought it to bear and charged the Pegasus in front of him. The pegasi not sure what to expect stood there in shock. The stallion brought his sword down unto the soldiers head. The sword banged against the soldiers helmet leaving him dazed as he fell to the ground. The other 3 realizing that the stallion was a threat ran up to attack him from behind. The stallion bucked his hoofs into one closest to him, his hoofs hitting its head, sending the Pegasus flying back a few feet. A big dent in his helmet showed as he lay unconscious. The stallion then reared his head slashing the remaining two. They fell with a thud as armor appeared sliced open with blood running from their wounds. The stallion then turned to survey the scene. Twilight appeared to be surrounded by both conscious and unconscious pegasi. As she dispatched some pegasi, more came to take their place. Her horn glowed as purple light shot out from it in different directions taking out every pegasi she hit. On the other side, away from the battle, the commander continued to yell orders as the remaining pegasi continued capture any non-pegasi pony. Then out of nowhere a light blue pegasus with light blue and green hair charged the commander from behind with a big stick in his mouth. But before he could get to close though, the commander noticed him and smacked him away with her hoof. He landed on the dirt dazed. Before he could get up, the commander’s hidden blade appeared just a few inches from his face. The soldiers turned and stopped what the where doing as the stared at their leader. Was she going to hurt the pegasus? Didn’t she tell them not to hurt the pegasi? But they never expected such opposition from them. What reason would they have to attack the soldiers? They should have figured out by now that they were all on the same side. The blue pegasus could only look at the blade in fear. The commander looked down at the pegasus with rage but soon let it all go when she saw the fear in him. He feared her. She is supposed to be a beacon of hope for all pegasi. Not a murderer. She sheathed her blade and took a few steps away from him. She then looked at her soldiers seeing relief in their faces. The blue pegasus got up and left the ground as he used his wings to take off as fast as he could. A look of shame and anger played across his face. He tried to stop them but he had failed, and had almost died because of it. The stallion watched him go wishing he could offer him something to help him but the battle was raging on; he still had other matters at hand. He unsheathed his blade as he ran back into the fray.                                                                                           *** Wind Rider needed a moment to clear her head. She was still shaken by the whole ordeal. This is what she wanted right? But why does this all feel so wrong? She looked at the ponies in some of the cages. Some had sad looks or looks of hoplessness. She felt guilty but she did not want to be. She had a plan and she knew the consequences. But why did this all feel so wrong? She wanted continue her train of thought but she was interrupted by two small rocks nailing her in the forehead. Even though her helmet protected her, she still felt a great deal of anger and annoyance flow through her again. She looked up to see a black earth pony, with orange hair, standing next to a blue unicorn, with black and gray striped hair, who was levitating rocks. They were both smiling with a look of determination. The unicorn appeared to be ready to through some more. The commander trying to not lose it, seeing as she was suppose to be a calm collected leader, casually as she could, lifted her hoof as she commanded two soldiers to capture them. The smiles on the unicorn and earth pony disappeared as they were each tackled by a soldier. They soon found themselves thrown in a cage before they could even register what was happening. The soldiers, a black one and a white one, hoof bumped. Feeling cocky the white one, without looking, lifted his left back leg and smashed it into a cart, sending flying at high speeds down the market. The stallion looked up having just taken out a soldier traced the directory of the runaway cart. It was heading right for the cherry stand… Right where a small yellow pegasus with pink hair was hiding. Before he could say a warning, Twilight, having noticed the cart as well, was already screaming her name. “Fluttershy, look out!” Fluttershy opened her eyes just in time to see the cart slam into her and the cherry stand. Wood and fruit flew in all directions as the stand collapsed in on itself, burying the her. “FLUTTERSHY!” Twilight was nearly in tears as she looked for an sign of her friend coming out of the mess of wood and debris. She quickly started to run toward where the cherry stand used to be, taking on any pegasi that got in her way, trying to get to Fluttershy. But there were to many pegasi and she soon found herself blocked. As she continued to cast spells, trying to make her way toward her, the stallion was being overwhelmed himself.  As he tried to hack his way through, doing his best to get to where the pegasus had been buried by debris, Twilight continued to scream her name. But amongst the rubble, she got no answer. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4 Darkness Meets Twilight //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4 Darkness Meets Twilight                                                                             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. //-------------------------------------------------------// Update and hiatus //-------------------------------------------------------// Update and hiatus Unfortunatly the I have hit some road bumps in this story and in life as well. So because of that I am puting this story on Hiatus. But there is some good news, I am working on another series that is about mostly Lock meeting charcters from the MLP universe that share a dark past or are currently going through some dark times. Check out Road to Dawn to get started then read Glimmer of Light. I am going to get back to this story eventuallly but it will most likely be after my classes are done. Hope you enjoy these stories instead. Link to The Road to Dawn (http://www.fimfiction.net/story/84045/the-road-to-dawn) Link to A  Glimmer of Light (http://www.fimfiction.net/story/91617/a-glimmer-of-light)