The Power of Love v2by II TrailBlazer IIChaptersChapter IChapter IIChapter IIIChapter IVChapter VChapter VIVIIChapter I My whole life, I had been a normal unicorn. I went to school, I had a job, and I even had a fillyfriend for a while, but she had to leave to Canterlot and I haven't seen her since. Nothing particularly interesting had ever happened to me. I lived in Manehattan for the majority of my life. My family had moved there from Fillydelphia when I was young. My family had a financial crisis recently, so I had to get a high paying job. But let me tell you, waking up, going to work, sitting at a desk all day, going home and repeating wasn't exactly 'living the dream'. Now, fifteen years later, I travel. Anywhere I feel like. It's a lot more interesting than sitting at at a desk, doing nothing with my 'potentially great' life. I am an extremely curious pony, so this just seemed like the right kind of thing for me. I liked to travel to interesting and exciting places, like jungles and mountains and stuff. But soon, that will all change. I lay asleep on the damp grass, as the morning sun beamed across my body. I continued to sleep there, until a drop of water ran off one of the trees above me and dropped onto my forehead. I woke up, wiped the drop away and looked around. I was in the middle of a forest, with nopony around. I was having some trouble recalling recent events, so I had no idea where I was or how I got there. My guess is that I had amnesia and it wasn't really something that happened often, so I assumed I had scraped my arm across something poisonous. I noticed I was lying near a path, but both ends seemed to just go on forever, being guided into the darkness by the trees on either side. I couldn't just sit there, so I chose a direction and started walking. About half a mile down the road, the trees began to get bigger and darker. Barely any sun was shining through the leaves, but there were a few hoof prints in the dirt. I followed them through the forest until I saw a few buildings in the distance, and there were also some ponies out and about. I galloped towards it and as soon as I arrived, a blue pegasus came down from the sky to greet me. “Hey! I’ve never seen you here before. Did you just get here?” she asked. “Umm. I guess so.” I said, not entirely sure what to say. “Well, welcome to Ponyville. I'm Rainbow Dash.” I knew Ponyville. I had seen it on a map before. Being a traveller, I liked to learn about other places in Equestria. I guess I could check it off my list of places I’ve traveled. “Hi Rainbow Dash. I'm Sunny.” I said back. “So Sunny, why'd you come to Ponyville?” “Well, I'm not really sure.” She looked at me funny. “What do you mean you're not sure?” she asked. “Well, I woke up in the middle of a forest and started walking in this direction. Then I found Ponyville.” I tried to explain, even though I wasn't entirely sure myself. “That’s weird... Well how about I show you around?” she said. “That’s a good idea.” As we walked through town she showed me the all the residents that lived here. Shortly after, Rainbow introduced me to a few of her close friends. There was Applejack, She was an earth pony who owns an apple orchard with her family just outside of Ponyvile. Pinkie Pie, another earth pony who helps run the bakery with Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Rarity, a unicorn, and designer of fashion for various ponies. and Fluttershy, a shy and timid pegasus that took care of the animals around Ponyvile. I met them all one by one. They all seemed familiar like I had read about them somewhere, but where? Rainbow said there was one other pony that I should meet, so we walked over to her house. "...and that's how I performed my signature move and saved Rarity." Rainbow said. "That's pretty cool." I replied “We're here. This is my friend Twilight Sparkle's house. She's from Canterlot and she runs the Ponyvile library.” she said as she knocked on the door. "This seems like a tree house." I whispered to my self. At that moment, the door opened and a lilac unicorn stood in the doorway. She was... beautiful. She was the most amazing pony I had ever seen. Her eyes were so gorgeous, her smile was amazing, her mane was lovely. It was love at first sight, I think my heart literally skipped a beat. “Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. Who's your friend?” she asked. “Hi, Twilight. This is Sunny. He's new in town. I was just showing him around.” Rainbow Dash said. “Hi Sunny. I'm Twilight Sparkle.” I couldn't speak. I was too lovestruck. I wasn't sure if it was just me or if she was moving in slow motion. Rainbow Dash waved her hoof in my face and pulled me out of my trance. "Wha-? Oh right, um, Hello Twilight Sparkle. Nice to meet you." I said enthusiastically. "Do you want to come in?" she asked. "Um... sure." I said as my cheeks burned red. "I'll catch you guys later. I've got some cloud searching business I've got to take care of." "Bye!" Twilight and I said in unison. My cheeks still glowing red. "So whats your special talent? It doesn't look like books from the look of your cutie mark." I said. "Its magic. I just love reading books." she replied "Really? What kind of magic do you know?" "All sorts of kinds. There's teleportation, Levitation..." "What kind of destruction spells do you have?" I said cutting her off. "Well... I don't know about destruction but I do have a spell that sends a magical beam out of my horn that can at least destroy a wall." Twilight replied. "Can you teach me some of those spells?" I asked. "That could take a while. How long are you visiting for?" she asked. At that moment I had a choice to make. Go back to the way things were and travel. Or stay in this town with a beautiful unicorn and make do. "Forever!" I said. "Because this, is my new home." Chapter II "How is the squad I sent out to Ponyville?" Queen Chrysalis asked. "They just came back my queen." said a changeling with red eyes and a large scar going down its face. "Good, what do we know so far?" "Well, we know that there is nothing going on like weddings or princesses." The changeling answered. "Excellent, this shouldn't be a failed attempt like last time. This time I am sending a third of my army to capture the civilians of Ponyvile. They shall attack In a few days. It will take them at least twenty four hours to get there so they shall leave after two moons at dawn. Get them ready!" "Yes my queen. I will Inform the army about the invasion." "Oh and this time, You are going too. Do not fail me!" As the changeling left Chrysalis turned to her open room with cocoons all over the ceiling. She looked out the open balcony and saw her underground fortress. It wasn't really a fortress. It was a huge cave with multiple tunnels leading to other caves and an outlet to the over world. She watched as dozens of changelings lined up and got into their training positions. She thought about the attack on Canterlot and about the purple unicorn that blew her cover. She had done some research about her and found out she was living in Ponyville with her friends that helped her. She will finally get her revenge. _________________ Twilight Sparkle. The most beautiful pony in all of Equestria, and I still haven't told her how I really felt about her. I knew I loved her. We had spent so much time together and she had taught me so many spells. I felt like I could do anything. We went out for lunch a few times, but that was just with some of her friends. I realized that I completely left my old life behind because I had been there for a whole month. Doing odd jobs for people like carrying boxed goods to the market or taking care of Fluttershy's pets for a day. That was a real pain, but not as much as bucking apple trees all day for AppleJack. I eventually gained enough bits to purchase a settlement in Ponyvile. All was going smoothly. I felt like I fit into the community. Today, I was going to tell Twilight that I had feelings towards her. I saw her in the park by herself, reading a book. That was my chance. I strolled up to her, trying to stop myself from sweating. What did I have to loose. "Hello Twilight." I said, trying to keep my cool. "Hey Sunny!" "I have to ask you something." I said as I started Blushing. "Yes?" "Would it be OK if you err... Would you... Would-" I just couldn't mutter what I needed to say. At that moment, we heard a yelling coming from up above us. "Look out!" We both looked up and saw Rainbow Dash spinning out of control towards us. Before I could get out of the way, she crashed into me, knocking me onto my back. I lied there, dazed and confused, trying to stop the world from spinning around me. I got back up and gave Rainbow Dash an angry look. "Oh. Sorry about that." she said. "Is AppleJack helping you out again?" Twilight asked? "Not this time." Dash replied. "Well what happened?" I asked. "Derpy!" Dash said. "Oh." Twilight and I said in unison. Twilight returned her attention to me. "Anyway, what did you want to ask me?" she asked. "Oh. Nothing." I said. That perfect opportunity was ruined. "I'll see you guys later." Dash said. "Yeah I need to get home too and check on my, um... plants." I said. "Plants?" Twilight and Dash asked. "Yeah, Plants. Bye." I left before both of them could reply. I ran home with the thought of plants on my mind. I didn't have any, other than the grass and trees around my home. I thought about telling her tomorrow when she is helping Fluttershy with her birds. This is getting harder and harder. Maybe I will just tell her when we are practicing spells, or after we have lunch, I can just pull her aside. I don't know what I'm going to do if this keeps ending badly. ------------------A few days later------------------ Okay. It was getting quite ridiculous now. In the past few days, I had given it another five attempts. Every single time, something happened which caused me to mess up. Whether is be a bird trying to mess with me or accidentally tripping on my tail, which I need cut by the way. But no more. Today, I was just going to go up to her and blurt it out. I don't care if there were ponies around to hear me. It was getting dark but I walked over to her house and knocked on the door. She answered and I was immediately entranced by her beauty. I could see spike munching on some gems in the library. "Yes Sunny?" she asked. "Twilight, I'm-" I began, but I was stopped by a scream, coming from outside. "For pete's sake! What now?!" I yelled. "Ice cream cooler's broken, Free Ice cream for everypony." Said a large stallion serving people. Just then Twilight an I saw a large dust cloud of ponies rush over to the Ice cream vendor. "Hey, You want to get some while its free?" Twilight asked. "Well, nothing else is happening today, so, why not!" I said in low angry growl. As we walked over to the Ice cream vendor I thought about the possibility that the universe doesn't want us to be together. I quickly shook off the bad thought. This isn't possible is it. Coolers are meant to last a while. I doubt he has been in this business for years. Something doesn't seem right here. Chapter III The changeling squad hovered high above Ponyvile, getting a good view of the town. The red-eyed changeling made a few clicks, signaling the few changelings just outside of the area. Changelings have developed their own language overtime by using simple clicks and noises. Don't ask me how it works, it just does. He was signaling the few on the ground to make a distraction. "Make some sort of distraction. Its getting dark and I don't want to wait another nine or so hours to get these ponies." "Yes general!" The changelings on the ground moved in. "So what kind of distraction should we make?" They said to each other. "I don't know?" "How about you take out that Ice Cream Vendor and I'll go work on the other side of town." "Deal." Two changelings flew into the dark sky camouflaging them as they headed towards the west side of town. The two changelings that stayed took the form of two pegasus'. One of them slowly bit the cables on the back of the vendor until they heard it power down. As soon as that happened they heard screams and free Ice cream. The changelings in disguise saw a huge crowd of ponies rush over to where they were and get in line for Ice cream. "That worked perfectly." The changeling said to the other. They heard clicks coming from the west side of town. "We've seemed to create a distraction that lured most of the ponies into one spot." "This will be easier than I thought." The changeling general eyed them from the skies. And with that he sent out a red light blocking all magic from the ponies just in case. He knew some of them would try to use it to teleport away or try to use magical bolts to overpower his squad. He signaled the changelings to dive bomb on his mark. "Mark!" "So what were you going to say to me Sunny?" Twilight asked. "Well, I guess its a good a time as any." I said to my self. "Twilight... I was going to ask you... if you..." At that moment I heard screams and turned around to see ponies lifted up off the ground and getting taken into the night sky. "Wha... Whats going on?" Twilight asked. "I don't..." I was cut off again by a changeling that grabbed me by the neck. We were both in the air wrestling for control of gravity. I managed to Head but it in the face and knock it out. We were both spinning like a hoof ball towards the ground. We crashed just next to the library. I turned around and saw Twilight get lifted off the ground by a strange looking changeling. I got up and ran towards her and grabbed the changeling by the legs. "Twilight use your magic!" I yelled "I can't." "Why not." Before she could reply I lost my grip and fell on a park bench and shattered it. I was in pain, I couldn't use magic, and the love of my life was getting carried with the rest of the town to their assumed death. I got up and limped my way to the library. I needed to check on spike. As I opened the door I saw spike charge at me with a sharp gem tied to a stick. "Heeeeahhhhh!" Spike yelled. "Woah!" I said as I dogged the attack. "What are you doing?" "Oh Sunny, I thought you were one of them." He apologized. "Do I look like one of them?" I asked "Well.... I don't know? They can change forms." "If I was, You wouldn't be here right now." "I guess your right." Spike sighed "We need to look for survivors, Lets go." I said to Spike as we walked out the door. We walked to city hall, or what was left of it. We found Rarity and a few other ponies cowering under tables. I walked over to the tables and looked under them. "Its OK, the coast is clear!" I said aloud. "Are... are you sure?" Rarity stuttered as she and two other ponies climbed out from under the tables. "I'm Pretty sure." I answered. "Where is the rest of the town?" She asked. "I don't know but I have a way of finding out. Lets go back to the library everypony." I said. As we walked down the street we saw the town with benches and light posts toppled over and destroyed. The Ice cream Vendor was still there but the seller wasn't. I didn't care bout the town right now, all I wanted were some answers. I walked over to the changeling that I knocked out and shook him until he woke up. "What... where am I." It said in a high pitched voice. "That doesn't matter now. Where did they take the ponies?" I scolded. "I'll never tell you!" It slipped away from my grip and tried to pin me down. Rarity was screaming in the back. That wasn't helping. I managed to counter the attack and pin him to the ground. I smashed its face onto the hard ground. "How about now?" I yelled "OK OK, I'll talk!" "You'd better! Now where are they." I screamed. "They are being taken to a changeling hive underground past the everfree! I'll mark it on a map for you." He pleaded I turned to spike. "Spike, Go get me a map." "On it." He said as he fled into the library. "You'd better not be lying to me!" I yelled to the changeling on the ground. "I swear on Chrysalis." He said. Spike came running out with a map. "I got it." I took the map from his grip and set it down near the changeling. He marked a spot near the forest with an X. After that, I picked him up and slammed his face into the ground, knocking it out again. "Thanks." I spat out as I turned to Rarity. "How did you learn to do that?" She asked "I used to be a traveler. I need to protect my self from bandits and wild animals. Now, I think I need to go alone on this rescue mission." "Let me come with you." Spike said. "No, too dangerous. I need you and Rarity here to search for more survivors. I need to find Twilight alone." "What about the other ponies." Spike chirped up. "Oh yeah, them too." "Wait, why Twilight?" Rarity asked. Oh.. no! "Do you like her?" "Um.. well..." "You've been here for a month and never told her. She's not going to be single forever darling." "I'll be single forever if I don't get to her in time. Now start looking for survivors." I replied "Ok, fine but when you get back, I'm planing the Wedding." She said as she walked away. "Ugh... fine. Go help her out spike." "I'm on it., and there's supplies in the library if you need anything. Oh and about Twilight..." "Yeah?" I asked. "Go Get her Buddy." He said as he sprinted off towards Rarity. I turned and looked down at the map, where the changeling had marked the X. It was already Midnight and Luna's Moon shown down all across the Horizon. I looked towards the library. I will have to gather supplies and rest in the forest. I hope there's nothing to scary in there. "Don't Worry Twilight. I'm coming!" Chapter IV Twilight Sparkle. She was the only thing on my mind. I needed to rescue her before its too late. I couldn't imagine what they would do to her because of what she did to them. I remember reading about the royal wedding in the paper. That's why Twilight and her friends seem so familiar. That, and I have been around them for a month now. I have known this for about a week but never asked about it. It just feels like the girls are getting enough attention already for being the element's of harmony. I'm sure they would be sick of everypony pestering them about it. I've been running for about twelve hours now, with the occasional break. I thought this place was closer. I guess that the Ever Free was bigger than I thought. It felt like I had been running in circles. Hey, haven't I seen that tree before? Nah, I think my mind is just playing tricks on me. Wait, what was that? I just heard a growl. Was it a manticore? No, it seems to low to be a manticore. Maybe a... Just then, three timber wolves jumped out of a nearby bush. Fierce looking beings that take the form of a wolf but made out of tree bark. Their animations and sounds are also wolf-like. But all of them charging me at once. You would think that you are good enough to stop all three at once, but the truth is, no-one is that good. I couldn't let them get between me and Twilight. I couldn't go back either. I guess I would just have to go around. Jumping to my side, I managed to doge the timber wolf's fangs. They were sharp and bleeding with sap. I heard that if you get bitten by one, you would eventually turn into one. I didn't want to find out today. I smashed open the jaw of the timber wolf that tried to bite me. I could hear whimpering as I ran ahead. I guess the one I inured had enough because I could only see two as I turned around. I'd better take care of these two before I keep on going. As I saw one leap towards me, I got on my hind legs and grabbed it with my front hooves and threw it to the ground beside me smashing it to pieces. I took off running again dodging in and out of the way of trees. I heard a loud shattering noise followed by a light whimper. I turned around to see my plan's success. It was wood on wood as I saw splinters stuck in a tree and more just scattered across the forest.. "I need to get out of here. If I am correct about timber wolves, then they will be regenerating any minute now." I said to myself. I kept running forward. Hoping not to run into other wildlife. I wished Fluttershy was with me so she could at least calm any animals I have a hard time with. I wanted somepony to be here with me so I could brag about me defeating the timber wolves. I guess I just wanted anypony here, mainly Twilight. After a nice long jog, I decided to bunker down for the night. I broke off huge branches and started to make a little hut. This wasn't the first time I had been alone in the wilderness before but tonight was different. I guess you could say I was going to Mare Grylls it because I didn't bring too many snacks, or even something to sleep in. I had to make do, I grabbed a few large leaves made a bed. I soon set up a small campfire. I wondered about all the animals that it would attract. Looking at my bed I made I started to worry about all of the bugs that could be in those leaves. I was terrified of spiders. Yeah, they are small but still, too many and you have a problem. Plus they are hard to notice. If they bit you, you would itch for days. I got in bed and drifted off into the endless night, erasing those thoughts from my mind and not worrying about anything else but Twilight. "Wha... where am I?" I said still dazed and confused. I looked around and saw darkness all around. Suddenly a light flashed on. "Aah!" I yelled. The light blinding my eyes, I tried to look around. I was in a hospital, no a room with a bed. It looked like it could house a patient.... or a victim. Just as I got my sight back as I saw Twilight get thrown onto the bed by the changeling with red eyes. He was all too familiar. He started moving closer to Twilight. I tried to move and scream hoping she would notice me but I couldn't. I turned my head away from the horror as I heard her scream. Tears formed in my closed eyes. It was like a dagger straight through my heart. I couldn't watch her in pain, Let alone all of the other ponies I could hear just outside the room. I couldn't believe that I had failed. What happened between the camp and now? It was just a huge gap of memory loss. More importantly, what was happening to Twilight? I opened my eyes to see the changeling rushing me. Suddenly, fangs in my neck, world fading black,. All I could feel was mental pain, not physical. Heart broken, my marefriend would surely die. I had to do something, but what? Suddenly my life flashed before my eyes. Not my old life, my new one. I looked back on all of the good times I had in Ponyvile with my new friends. I then thought of all the times I had with Twilight. If I was going to die, I wanted her to be the last thought I have. I just wish she could have done the same. I slowly closed my eyes as I passed out. I jolted up. Sweat covering my body. Heart pounding rapidly. It was night. I was at the temporary camp I had built. It was all just a dream. That dream made it harder for me but it also reminded me of all the good times I had in Ponyvile. Each thought pushed me further and further. I wanted things to go back to normal. I wanted to keep on going but my body was way too tired. I just didn't want to sleep for fear of another dream. Another horrifying dream. I lay back down on the soft leaves letting the weight of my eyelids take over me. I had to sleep if I was going to want to get there sooner. Chapter V A drip of water rolls down a leaf up high in the forest and falls onto my forehead. I spring up with the thought of the dream. I hoped it was a dream. Not the dream, all of it, everything, well just the changeling invasion part. I looked around and noticed I was in the forest from last night. I guess it wasn't a dream, but I still had a mission to do. I got up, packed my belongings, which wasn't much, and headed towards the X. It shouldn't have been that far. I had been walking for at-least a day, that, and there was a lot of green plasma covering the floor. I ripped a flower out of the ground and dropped it into the plasma. It was engulfed by flames and melted into liquid. "Not touching any of that." I whispered to myself. "Probably don't want to touch any of that." A mysterious voice said. I turned to see another colt following me. His coat was tan and had a mane that was light brown that was centered with dark blue. "Who are you?" I asked. "The name's Blazer, TrailBlazer." He replied. "Why are you here?" "Why do you think? You can't take on a whole army of changelings. After Rarity told us about you going on some crazy mission to save the rest of the town, I just had to help you. After all, I used to be in the royal guard back in Los Pegasus. If you know anything about that place, you would at-least know that its swarming with gangs. I had to go in undercover and arrest at-least half of a gang once." Blazer said. " So... who exactly are you?" "My name's Sunny, I used to be a traveler until one day I woke up with amnesia and found Ponyvile. I met this beautiful mare there. She changed my life, It was about two months ago anyway. But enough about me, so you were a royal guard. What happened?" I asked. "Long story short, I got kicked off. The guards were making deals with the some of the local gangs. When I refused to join in, they conspired against me, started making up stories and planting evidence on me. They called the captain and showed him my locker. As much as I tried to tell him it wasn't mine, he didn't believe me. I was given a warning and kicked off the royal guard." "Wow, I'm really sorry." I said thinking it would help. "Its all fine now, I've got friends in high places. We'd better get to that hive soon." Blazer said. "Oh right, How could I forget? Lets go." And with that we trotted forward. After about five minutes of trying to side-step all of the puddles of green plasma, we finally hit the outskirts of the hive. It looked like and ant hill. Just a huge pile of red rock and sand with holes everywhere. Crawling around it were changelings on patrol. TrailBlazer motioned for me too look left. I saw a few ponies getting teased as they were forced into the dark caves. I immediately recognized the yellow pegasus. I wanted to scream her name but Blazer put a hoof over my mouth and muffled my sound. "What are you doing? We are trying to be sneaky." he whispered. "Oh right." I whispered back. "How are we going to get in? By the looks of it, they've got this place surrounded." Blazer stated. "Hmm... I know. I've been here before!" I exclaimed. "You have?" "Yeah, I used to travel a lot, remember. There's an abandoned mine shaft a few trots from here. Shouldn't be too far, never noticed any changelings, but if we can get in, we could find a way into the changeling hive." "Well what are we waiting for?Lets go." Blazer replied. "This way." I said as I walked to my right. We walked for about five minutes until we hit a mine shaft opening. I wondered if it was sill open, It didn't look like it. The front of the mine shaft had broken support beams, loose screws, and destroyed fences. It's been a while since I've been here. "Do you think anypony is still in there?" TrailBlazer asked. "I don't think so. Last time I was here, this was restricted ground. I don't know about that anymore." "Well, lets go check it out." We crawled under a few support beams that could crush us if even a pebble fell onto it. We walked down dirt corridor until we hit another crippled walkway. We had to either go left or right but because the hive was generally towards the left, we went left. It was endless, we kept hitting dead ends and having to retrace our steps. It was very hard to see because of the broken lamps in each corridor. We eventually found a room with lockers and flashlights. Blazer didn't half to use his magic to help us see anymore. I checked all the lockers to see if there was anything useful. Nope. "Hey, take a look at this." Blazer called to me. "What? What did you find." I rushed over to him. "Well I was just reading this journal and, well look." March 31 Day 12, The miners haven't found much. Nothing to report. Although some of the miners in sector 5 say they can sense crystals. I don't know how. I guess its because I'm not a unicorn. We will be using our new digger to carve a hole into the wall. I hope this doesn't start another cave-in, R.I.P sector 2. If there are as many crystals as these ponies say there are, then we could retire on that room alone... March 32 Day 13, Looks like the digger is over-heating again. That's the sixth time today. Having to lug water buckets around isn't quite easy. Had another accident today. That weird guy with them crazy eyes. Had to pull him away from the drill. He's fine now. He said he had a sister that deliver's mail. I just hope she got the better gene's. March 33 Day 14, We finally breached the wall. Found over a million bits worth of crystals on the other side. We've also found some strange rock on the other side, trying to dig through it but the digger is giving us problems. Might need the starter from sector 4. Seismic activity has been occurring more often after we opened up this room. We are trying t... "What, How could that be it?" I asked after I shut the journal. "I think we have bigger problems. I just found the room." Blazer said from behind me. I rushed over to his side. There was the room, Filled with lots of gems and crystal of every color. Rarity would faint if she was here. I also noticed the drill, halfway through some black wall. Seeping through the wall was more of that green plasma. "That is going to be a problem." I replied. "Not that, look up." I tilted my head upwards to see hundreds of changelings sleeping like bats, and hanging from the ceiling. We needed to get through that wall but how? It was impossible to start the drill and not wake up the changelings. So here we were again, at another dead end. Chapter VI "Well, What now?" I asked Trail. "I have an idea, but we will need that power cell before we do anything." "How are we going to get one?" I asked. "The miner said there was one in sector four." "He said there was a starter." "Same thing, well kind of." Trail Blazer replied. "While you do that, i'm going to see what I can find around here." I told him. "You do that Sunny." He said as he left the room, taking a flashlight. TrailBlazer walked down the long corridor talking a right at the end. He shined his flashlight up to the door way and read "Sector four." He walked in, slicing through the darkness with his flashlight. He looked around and saw the drill in the middle of the room. "I hope there are no monsters in here." As soon as he said that he heard a growl come from the next room. "I hope there are no power cells in this room." He backed up slowly turning around to see where the growling was coming from. He touched something cold. He turned and saw the drill with the extra... "Power cell." He checked around the room and saw dead ponies lying there. They were just a bunch of skeletons like in the last room. He trotted out of the room slowly and made his way back to sector 5. "Hey, you got that starter yet?" I asked him as I watched him trot in. "mhmmmhmmh!" He said with his mouth full of scroll as he dropped it on the nearby table." Its called a power cell and yes. I also found a map of the mine." "Map, for what?" I asked "You'll see." He said as he installed the new power cell. It only took a few minutes to install and turn on. With the lights flashing we hoped that none of the changelings would wake up. We knew that they would definatly wake up if we turned on the drill. We needed a plan, lucky for us, TrailBlazer said he had a plan. "So whats the plan." I asked him "Ok, so we are here." He pointed at the map, "and this tunnel circles around back to here. see that support beam in the doorway, ready to give way. Well, how good are you at bucking." "Well I uh..." My cheeks turned red. "I meant like kicking. Should have been more specific, I guess." "Oh, well yeah I can kick something pretty had, but i'm no Applejack." I replied. "I know sunny, now stand over there behind that table so you can reach the support beam." "Right here?" I asked "Yep that's great. now when I say kick it, you kick the support beam ok." Blazer instructed. "Gotcha." I said crouching by the door. "Ok, so when I start the drill, the hundreds of changelings will chase me. When I say kick, you kick." He switched on the drill and the machine started making loud noises. The changelings soon woke up and charged straight for TrailBlazer. He moved quick, running through the doorway as lots of changelings followed him. It must have only been about twenty or so but looked like hundreds. It was only a few minutes until I saw him appear at the end of the corridor running straight towards me bringing the horde. He was about three fourths of the way before he yelled... "KICK!" I kicked the support beam and watched as he evaded into the room right before the ceiling collapsed onto the "Thousands" of changelings. We were stuck in the room. While he was playing chicken, the drill was working. It had busted through the wall and green acidic goo sprayed through the wall. Luckily we were untouched. We saw through the room and it looked like they had all of the ponies trapped in cocoons. Blazer and I walked through the hole carefully as we watch the towns ponies unconsciously sleeping in green pods. We were walking around the hive for at least four or five minutes without running into to many changeling patrols. Whenever we saw a few TrailBlazer just put them to sleep with his magic, I teleported behind them to knock them out with my hooves. I kept telling Blazer we needed to keep on going and that there was a main place where we could release all of the pods. I was really looking to find Twilight. We finally came to a map. "Where are we? In a spaceship, or the hive." TrailBlazer asked. "Really." I whispered. TrailBlazer pointed to the map and it showed that the west corridor, where we came from, housed the ponies. There was a line going from that corridor to the main room. "That must be the controls. We can let the ponies out from there." I said. "This way." TrailBlazer pointed. I followed him as we walked down the main corridor. The hallway opened up into a big room. It wasn't really a room, more like a cave, just big enough to be a room. There were a few changelings in control of room. Me and blazer walked up to them and silently put them to sleep. After we cleared the room, we checked for the controls to the west corridor. "Found it" I said just loud enough for TrailBlazer to hear me. "We're in." he said as he took control of the system and shut down the pods. "Lets go save some ponies." We rushed over to the west corridor just in time to see ponies walking from their slumber. It was all of them, the ponies from Ponyvile. "Fluttershy!" TrailBlazer said rushing over to catch her before she flopped out of the green shell. "Trail? Where... where am I?" Fluttershy said running her eyes. "Its ok, you're safe now. I Pinkie promise." He said back. "How do you know Fluttershy?" I asked TrailBlazer. "I help her with her animals from time to time." He replied. "Wait... where is Twilight?" I asked panting. "They... the Queen took her." Fluttershy said back. "Queen? I want to face her!" Trailblazer said anxiously. "No, you get every pony out of here. I'm going to save Twilight. She is what I came for." I said sprinting back to the map room. "Alright everypony, you heard him. We are leaving. Lets go, this was to the exit." TrailBlazer yelled while leading the herd. I ran to the chambers of the Queen. I slowly stayed to the shadows to avoid being caught by any guards. I finally got to the room and slowly opened the doors. I looked inside, Chrysalis was sleeping on her bed. No sign of Twilight, Until I looked up. There she was, in a cocoon stuck to the ceiling. Since the walls were mainly rocks, I started to rock climb on the jagged edges poking through. I finally got to a good point and leaped onto the cocoon. That must have woke her because I felt movement below. I looked through to see her crying. I tapped on the cocoon and she looked up. "Sun-" she exclaimed, but I cut her off. "Shhhhhhh! Be quiet!" I whispered. I was hanging from the cocoon by my two front hooves, which were beginning to slip. I tried my best to keep them on, but they were a bit sweaty. "What are you doing here?" she said quietly. "I came to save you guys!" "Really? You really did that?" "How did they get you in there?" I asked. "I don't know. I woke up like this." "Can you teleport out?" "No. I've tried. It's impossible. I was starting to slip some more. "Ok, Twilight. I'm about to slip and give myself away, but I really have to tell you something. I can't wait any longer." I said, knowing that this was the time. This might be my last opportunity. "Yes Sunny?" she said in curiosity. "I am... in love with you." I said, worried about how she would respond. "Re- really?" she said, in shock. "For how long?" "Since we first met. You were the most beautiful pony in all of Equestria. I was always trying to tell you, but I never could. She didn't respond, she just stared at me. At that moment, my hooves slipped and I started falling. She reached her hoof out to grab me... but missed because there was a green wall there. I fell. Everything was moving in slow motion for some reason. It was all over now. Everything. Even if I did survive the fall, it wouldn't be much better than if I just died. At least I told Twilight Sparkle that I loved her. That was the whole reason I ever stayed in Ponyville anyway. VII So here I am, falling to my death. I was so close. I guess, It was never meant to be. At-least that is what it looked like. It seemed to me that whatever I did, When ever I did it, How ever I did it, something was stopping us from being together. Each time I had been getting closer and closer. I just wish I had another chance to make it right. If I could, I would probably tell her a few weeks after I had met her. But now, I will never get that chance. I woke up from my sudden death. I guess I didn't hit the floor after all. That meant that I would have another chance. Not only at life, but at my relationship. I could thank Celestia later, now where am I. What did I hit. Looking down I can see a dead or unconscious Chrysalis underneath me. Looks like that is one thing I don't have to worry about. I slowly got off of her bed and looked up. I could hear sniffles coming from the cocoon. "Its ok Twilight, I'm fine." I whispered upwards. I really didn't feel fine. My back ached. "Sunny! You're OK!" She tried to shout, again still barley audible through the cocoon. "Yeah I think I fell on Chrysalis' bed, or something." "Well, can you get me down." Twilight asked. "Yeah, I think I can. Be careful, Ready." I shot a blast of magic towards the roof near the cocoon and split the stem into pieces. She was falling, I needed to catch her. "I've got you." I said looking up. Suddenly she was enveloped in a red glow, floating. "Thanks Sunny." Twilight said with a sigh. "That wasn't me." I replied turning around to see a changeling with red eyes looking at us. "Oh how cute. She is mine though by the way. The Queen had a special plan for you." He said looking up at Twilight. "Get this other unicorn out of here." "Yes general!" two other changelings ran up to me and held my fore-arms behind my back. "And what about the Queen sir?" "Oh yes, I guess that makes me the next in charge. Hold him here until I find something to do for him." With that, he left, Closing the doors behind him and taking Twilight. "Noooo!" I yelled, forgetting that I was a unicorn. Oh yeah. With a flash of light, I teleported a few inches behind them and slammed their heads together. I grabbed the keys and headed to the doors. Unlocking them with a huge creek and forcing them open. I ran down the hallway and searched all testing chambers one by one. Finally I had gotten to the last one on the list. The hall way was long and guarded by tons of changelings, this was going to be one heck of a fight. Inside the room, the general was preparing Twilight for magical drain. Hooking her up to a device to siphon all of the magic in her body. He could hear destruction just outside of the door. He motioned to one of the changeling guards to check on it. The guard barley got to the door when I bucked the door and him across the room. I took a look at the playing field, it was a large room with wires and such all hooked up to a device that was pointed to the inner hive. At the end of the room was what seemed to be an outside area. It was still underground, just a balcony looking at a huge cave. It was about a five thousand meter drop. At the bottom was a lake that stretched for miles and was filled with the green acidic goo. I wonder what would happen if you fell in? "Let her go!" I screamed at the general. "Just because you destroyed a fraction of my army, you think you can defeat me?" He growled "I can and I will." "Try that without magic!" He yelled. "All's fair..." I said teleporting behind him "...in love and war." I threw a jab at the back of his head. Unfortunately he ducked and I missed. He swung around and caught me with an upper cut to the chin. He sent me flying and I crashed onto the balcony next to the railing. "Lets settle this like earth ponies." He said, casting a spell on me that blocked my use of magic. He picked me up and kicked me in the stomach. I crashed to the floor with a thud. It was so painful, I couldn't breathe. He got on top of me and started to choke me out. I couldn't take it, I was about to black out when I heard a yell come from the right of me. It was TrailBlazer, he was running full sprint towards the general. He tackled him off me. I took a huge breath as I gasped. "Where... Did... You ..." I was trying to ask. "No time. This place is overfilling with green acid. You need to get out of here." TrailBlazer said still struggling with the general. I looked over the balcony, the green acid was rapidly rising up to the top. I had to grab Twilight and get out of here. I stripped her free of wires. "Hurry we need..." I was cut off by her lips meeting mine. It was the best feeling in Equestria. I broke free from her lilac lips and told her "... Now is not the time." "TrailBlazer, lets go!" I screamed across the room. He was still fighting with the general. The general finally overpowered him and shot him with a blast of magic. Me and Twilight both gasped as he fell. The general looked back over to us and charged up his magic for another bolt. Neither Twilight or I could put up a shield. My magic was blocked and her magic was regenerating. Just before he fired the blast, TrailBlazer got up with his reserved strength and tackled the general over the railing with a yell, they both fell over the edge. "NOO!" I yelled, running over to the edge with Twilight following me. I saw them both throwing punches as they fell, five thousand meters into the acidic goo. I couldn't watch. "There's nothing we can do. We need to get out of here." Twilight said while tugging me. My brain was on auto-pilot as I followed her to the exit. I was still trying to comprehend what just happened. I had lost a good friend, I could remember him later, we needed to get out of here. Valves were breaking and spraying the acidic goo which coated the walls. I even saw a changeling get doused in acid and a second later, he melted to the ground. When we finally made it to the exit hole, The whole cave collapsed on itself sending dust and dirt everywhere. We saw all of the towns ponies waiting for us. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were checking on all of the other ponies while Fluttershy walked up to us. She gave Twilight a hug and looked at me. "Were is TrailBlazer?" Fluttershy asked. I just looked at the ground. "He... didn't make it." Twilight answered. I saw Fluttershy's expression change. She looked down at the ground and started to sob. I felt heart broken because she looked so cute but at the same time, horrified. "It will be ok..." I said trying to cheer her up, but all I got were more sobs. Eventually Twilight pulled me to the side. "I just want to thank you again." Twilight said. "I think you did a good job of that back there." "Oh... Right." She said blushing. "How would you like to get dinner sometime when the town is repaired." I asked Twilight. She giggled as she said, "I'd love to." She kissed me on the cheek and went off to help the other towns ponies. And for once in my life, Everything was going good.
Chapter I My whole life, I had been a normal unicorn. I went to school, I had a job, and I even had a fillyfriend for a while, but she had to leave to Canterlot and I haven't seen her since. Nothing particularly interesting had ever happened to me. I lived in Manehattan for the majority of my life. My family had moved there from Fillydelphia when I was young. My family had a financial crisis recently, so I had to get a high paying job. But let me tell you, waking up, going to work, sitting at a desk all day, going home and repeating wasn't exactly 'living the dream'. Now, fifteen years later, I travel. Anywhere I feel like. It's a lot more interesting than sitting at at a desk, doing nothing with my 'potentially great' life. I am an extremely curious pony, so this just seemed like the right kind of thing for me. I liked to travel to interesting and exciting places, like jungles and mountains and stuff. But soon, that will all change. I lay asleep on the damp grass, as the morning sun beamed across my body. I continued to sleep there, until a drop of water ran off one of the trees above me and dropped onto my forehead. I woke up, wiped the drop away and looked around. I was in the middle of a forest, with nopony around. I was having some trouble recalling recent events, so I had no idea where I was or how I got there. My guess is that I had amnesia and it wasn't really something that happened often, so I assumed I had scraped my arm across something poisonous. I noticed I was lying near a path, but both ends seemed to just go on forever, being guided into the darkness by the trees on either side. I couldn't just sit there, so I chose a direction and started walking. About half a mile down the road, the trees began to get bigger and darker. Barely any sun was shining through the leaves, but there were a few hoof prints in the dirt. I followed them through the forest until I saw a few buildings in the distance, and there were also some ponies out and about. I galloped towards it and as soon as I arrived, a blue pegasus came down from the sky to greet me. “Hey! I’ve never seen you here before. Did you just get here?” she asked. “Umm. I guess so.” I said, not entirely sure what to say. “Well, welcome to Ponyville. I'm Rainbow Dash.” I knew Ponyville. I had seen it on a map before. Being a traveller, I liked to learn about other places in Equestria. I guess I could check it off my list of places I’ve traveled. “Hi Rainbow Dash. I'm Sunny.” I said back. “So Sunny, why'd you come to Ponyville?” “Well, I'm not really sure.” She looked at me funny. “What do you mean you're not sure?” she asked. “Well, I woke up in the middle of a forest and started walking in this direction. Then I found Ponyville.” I tried to explain, even though I wasn't entirely sure myself. “That’s weird... Well how about I show you around?” she said. “That’s a good idea.” As we walked through town she showed me the all the residents that lived here. Shortly after, Rainbow introduced me to a few of her close friends. There was Applejack, She was an earth pony who owns an apple orchard with her family just outside of Ponyvile. Pinkie Pie, another earth pony who helps run the bakery with Mr. and Mrs. Cake. Rarity, a unicorn, and designer of fashion for various ponies. and Fluttershy, a shy and timid pegasus that took care of the animals around Ponyvile. I met them all one by one. They all seemed familiar like I had read about them somewhere, but where? Rainbow said there was one other pony that I should meet, so we walked over to her house. "...and that's how I performed my signature move and saved Rarity." Rainbow said. "That's pretty cool." I replied “We're here. This is my friend Twilight Sparkle's house. She's from Canterlot and she runs the Ponyvile library.” she said as she knocked on the door. "This seems like a tree house." I whispered to my self. At that moment, the door opened and a lilac unicorn stood in the doorway. She was... beautiful. She was the most amazing pony I had ever seen. Her eyes were so gorgeous, her smile was amazing, her mane was lovely. It was love at first sight, I think my heart literally skipped a beat. “Oh, hello Rainbow Dash. Who's your friend?” she asked. “Hi, Twilight. This is Sunny. He's new in town. I was just showing him around.” Rainbow Dash said. “Hi Sunny. I'm Twilight Sparkle.” I couldn't speak. I was too lovestruck. I wasn't sure if it was just me or if she was moving in slow motion. Rainbow Dash waved her hoof in my face and pulled me out of my trance. "Wha-? Oh right, um, Hello Twilight Sparkle. Nice to meet you." I said enthusiastically. "Do you want to come in?" she asked. "Um... sure." I said as my cheeks burned red. "I'll catch you guys later. I've got some cloud searching business I've got to take care of." "Bye!" Twilight and I said in unison. My cheeks still glowing red. "So whats your special talent? It doesn't look like books from the look of your cutie mark." I said. "Its magic. I just love reading books." she replied "Really? What kind of magic do you know?" "All sorts of kinds. There's teleportation, Levitation..." "What kind of destruction spells do you have?" I said cutting her off. "Well... I don't know about destruction but I do have a spell that sends a magical beam out of my horn that can at least destroy a wall." Twilight replied. "Can you teach me some of those spells?" I asked. "That could take a while. How long are you visiting for?" she asked. At that moment I had a choice to make. Go back to the way things were and travel. Or stay in this town with a beautiful unicorn and make do. "Forever!" I said. "Because this, is my new home."
Chapter II "How is the squad I sent out to Ponyville?" Queen Chrysalis asked. "They just came back my queen." said a changeling with red eyes and a large scar going down its face. "Good, what do we know so far?" "Well, we know that there is nothing going on like weddings or princesses." The changeling answered. "Excellent, this shouldn't be a failed attempt like last time. This time I am sending a third of my army to capture the civilians of Ponyvile. They shall attack In a few days. It will take them at least twenty four hours to get there so they shall leave after two moons at dawn. Get them ready!" "Yes my queen. I will Inform the army about the invasion." "Oh and this time, You are going too. Do not fail me!" As the changeling left Chrysalis turned to her open room with cocoons all over the ceiling. She looked out the open balcony and saw her underground fortress. It wasn't really a fortress. It was a huge cave with multiple tunnels leading to other caves and an outlet to the over world. She watched as dozens of changelings lined up and got into their training positions. She thought about the attack on Canterlot and about the purple unicorn that blew her cover. She had done some research about her and found out she was living in Ponyville with her friends that helped her. She will finally get her revenge. _________________ Twilight Sparkle. The most beautiful pony in all of Equestria, and I still haven't told her how I really felt about her. I knew I loved her. We had spent so much time together and she had taught me so many spells. I felt like I could do anything. We went out for lunch a few times, but that was just with some of her friends. I realized that I completely left my old life behind because I had been there for a whole month. Doing odd jobs for people like carrying boxed goods to the market or taking care of Fluttershy's pets for a day. That was a real pain, but not as much as bucking apple trees all day for AppleJack. I eventually gained enough bits to purchase a settlement in Ponyvile. All was going smoothly. I felt like I fit into the community. Today, I was going to tell Twilight that I had feelings towards her. I saw her in the park by herself, reading a book. That was my chance. I strolled up to her, trying to stop myself from sweating. What did I have to loose. "Hello Twilight." I said, trying to keep my cool. "Hey Sunny!" "I have to ask you something." I said as I started Blushing. "Yes?" "Would it be OK if you err... Would you... Would-" I just couldn't mutter what I needed to say. At that moment, we heard a yelling coming from up above us. "Look out!" We both looked up and saw Rainbow Dash spinning out of control towards us. Before I could get out of the way, she crashed into me, knocking me onto my back. I lied there, dazed and confused, trying to stop the world from spinning around me. I got back up and gave Rainbow Dash an angry look. "Oh. Sorry about that." she said. "Is AppleJack helping you out again?" Twilight asked? "Not this time." Dash replied. "Well what happened?" I asked. "Derpy!" Dash said. "Oh." Twilight and I said in unison. Twilight returned her attention to me. "Anyway, what did you want to ask me?" she asked. "Oh. Nothing." I said. That perfect opportunity was ruined. "I'll see you guys later." Dash said. "Yeah I need to get home too and check on my, um... plants." I said. "Plants?" Twilight and Dash asked. "Yeah, Plants. Bye." I left before both of them could reply. I ran home with the thought of plants on my mind. I didn't have any, other than the grass and trees around my home. I thought about telling her tomorrow when she is helping Fluttershy with her birds. This is getting harder and harder. Maybe I will just tell her when we are practicing spells, or after we have lunch, I can just pull her aside. I don't know what I'm going to do if this keeps ending badly. ------------------A few days later------------------ Okay. It was getting quite ridiculous now. In the past few days, I had given it another five attempts. Every single time, something happened which caused me to mess up. Whether is be a bird trying to mess with me or accidentally tripping on my tail, which I need cut by the way. But no more. Today, I was just going to go up to her and blurt it out. I don't care if there were ponies around to hear me. It was getting dark but I walked over to her house and knocked on the door. She answered and I was immediately entranced by her beauty. I could see spike munching on some gems in the library. "Yes Sunny?" she asked. "Twilight, I'm-" I began, but I was stopped by a scream, coming from outside. "For pete's sake! What now?!" I yelled. "Ice cream cooler's broken, Free Ice cream for everypony." Said a large stallion serving people. Just then Twilight an I saw a large dust cloud of ponies rush over to the Ice cream vendor. "Hey, You want to get some while its free?" Twilight asked. "Well, nothing else is happening today, so, why not!" I said in low angry growl. As we walked over to the Ice cream vendor I thought about the possibility that the universe doesn't want us to be together. I quickly shook off the bad thought. This isn't possible is it. Coolers are meant to last a while. I doubt he has been in this business for years. Something doesn't seem right here.
Chapter III The changeling squad hovered high above Ponyvile, getting a good view of the town. The red-eyed changeling made a few clicks, signaling the few changelings just outside of the area. Changelings have developed their own language overtime by using simple clicks and noises. Don't ask me how it works, it just does. He was signaling the few on the ground to make a distraction. "Make some sort of distraction. Its getting dark and I don't want to wait another nine or so hours to get these ponies." "Yes general!" The changelings on the ground moved in. "So what kind of distraction should we make?" They said to each other. "I don't know?" "How about you take out that Ice Cream Vendor and I'll go work on the other side of town." "Deal." Two changelings flew into the dark sky camouflaging them as they headed towards the west side of town. The two changelings that stayed took the form of two pegasus'. One of them slowly bit the cables on the back of the vendor until they heard it power down. As soon as that happened they heard screams and free Ice cream. The changelings in disguise saw a huge crowd of ponies rush over to where they were and get in line for Ice cream. "That worked perfectly." The changeling said to the other. They heard clicks coming from the west side of town. "We've seemed to create a distraction that lured most of the ponies into one spot." "This will be easier than I thought." The changeling general eyed them from the skies. And with that he sent out a red light blocking all magic from the ponies just in case. He knew some of them would try to use it to teleport away or try to use magical bolts to overpower his squad. He signaled the changelings to dive bomb on his mark. "Mark!" "So what were you going to say to me Sunny?" Twilight asked. "Well, I guess its a good a time as any." I said to my self. "Twilight... I was going to ask you... if you..." At that moment I heard screams and turned around to see ponies lifted up off the ground and getting taken into the night sky. "Wha... Whats going on?" Twilight asked. "I don't..." I was cut off again by a changeling that grabbed me by the neck. We were both in the air wrestling for control of gravity. I managed to Head but it in the face and knock it out. We were both spinning like a hoof ball towards the ground. We crashed just next to the library. I turned around and saw Twilight get lifted off the ground by a strange looking changeling. I got up and ran towards her and grabbed the changeling by the legs. "Twilight use your magic!" I yelled "I can't." "Why not." Before she could reply I lost my grip and fell on a park bench and shattered it. I was in pain, I couldn't use magic, and the love of my life was getting carried with the rest of the town to their assumed death. I got up and limped my way to the library. I needed to check on spike. As I opened the door I saw spike charge at me with a sharp gem tied to a stick. "Heeeeahhhhh!" Spike yelled. "Woah!" I said as I dogged the attack. "What are you doing?" "Oh Sunny, I thought you were one of them." He apologized. "Do I look like one of them?" I asked "Well.... I don't know? They can change forms." "If I was, You wouldn't be here right now." "I guess your right." Spike sighed "We need to look for survivors, Lets go." I said to Spike as we walked out the door. We walked to city hall, or what was left of it. We found Rarity and a few other ponies cowering under tables. I walked over to the tables and looked under them. "Its OK, the coast is clear!" I said aloud. "Are... are you sure?" Rarity stuttered as she and two other ponies climbed out from under the tables. "I'm Pretty sure." I answered. "Where is the rest of the town?" She asked. "I don't know but I have a way of finding out. Lets go back to the library everypony." I said. As we walked down the street we saw the town with benches and light posts toppled over and destroyed. The Ice cream Vendor was still there but the seller wasn't. I didn't care bout the town right now, all I wanted were some answers. I walked over to the changeling that I knocked out and shook him until he woke up. "What... where am I." It said in a high pitched voice. "That doesn't matter now. Where did they take the ponies?" I scolded. "I'll never tell you!" It slipped away from my grip and tried to pin me down. Rarity was screaming in the back. That wasn't helping. I managed to counter the attack and pin him to the ground. I smashed its face onto the hard ground. "How about now?" I yelled "OK OK, I'll talk!" "You'd better! Now where are they." I screamed. "They are being taken to a changeling hive underground past the everfree! I'll mark it on a map for you." He pleaded I turned to spike. "Spike, Go get me a map." "On it." He said as he fled into the library. "You'd better not be lying to me!" I yelled to the changeling on the ground. "I swear on Chrysalis." He said. Spike came running out with a map. "I got it." I took the map from his grip and set it down near the changeling. He marked a spot near the forest with an X. After that, I picked him up and slammed his face into the ground, knocking it out again. "Thanks." I spat out as I turned to Rarity. "How did you learn to do that?" She asked "I used to be a traveler. I need to protect my self from bandits and wild animals. Now, I think I need to go alone on this rescue mission." "Let me come with you." Spike said. "No, too dangerous. I need you and Rarity here to search for more survivors. I need to find Twilight alone." "What about the other ponies." Spike chirped up. "Oh yeah, them too." "Wait, why Twilight?" Rarity asked. Oh.. no! "Do you like her?" "Um.. well..." "You've been here for a month and never told her. She's not going to be single forever darling." "I'll be single forever if I don't get to her in time. Now start looking for survivors." I replied "Ok, fine but when you get back, I'm planing the Wedding." She said as she walked away. "Ugh... fine. Go help her out spike." "I'm on it., and there's supplies in the library if you need anything. Oh and about Twilight..." "Yeah?" I asked. "Go Get her Buddy." He said as he sprinted off towards Rarity. I turned and looked down at the map, where the changeling had marked the X. It was already Midnight and Luna's Moon shown down all across the Horizon. I looked towards the library. I will have to gather supplies and rest in the forest. I hope there's nothing to scary in there. "Don't Worry Twilight. I'm coming!"
Chapter IV Twilight Sparkle. She was the only thing on my mind. I needed to rescue her before its too late. I couldn't imagine what they would do to her because of what she did to them. I remember reading about the royal wedding in the paper. That's why Twilight and her friends seem so familiar. That, and I have been around them for a month now. I have known this for about a week but never asked about it. It just feels like the girls are getting enough attention already for being the element's of harmony. I'm sure they would be sick of everypony pestering them about it. I've been running for about twelve hours now, with the occasional break. I thought this place was closer. I guess that the Ever Free was bigger than I thought. It felt like I had been running in circles. Hey, haven't I seen that tree before? Nah, I think my mind is just playing tricks on me. Wait, what was that? I just heard a growl. Was it a manticore? No, it seems to low to be a manticore. Maybe a... Just then, three timber wolves jumped out of a nearby bush. Fierce looking beings that take the form of a wolf but made out of tree bark. Their animations and sounds are also wolf-like. But all of them charging me at once. You would think that you are good enough to stop all three at once, but the truth is, no-one is that good. I couldn't let them get between me and Twilight. I couldn't go back either. I guess I would just have to go around. Jumping to my side, I managed to doge the timber wolf's fangs. They were sharp and bleeding with sap. I heard that if you get bitten by one, you would eventually turn into one. I didn't want to find out today. I smashed open the jaw of the timber wolf that tried to bite me. I could hear whimpering as I ran ahead. I guess the one I inured had enough because I could only see two as I turned around. I'd better take care of these two before I keep on going. As I saw one leap towards me, I got on my hind legs and grabbed it with my front hooves and threw it to the ground beside me smashing it to pieces. I took off running again dodging in and out of the way of trees. I heard a loud shattering noise followed by a light whimper. I turned around to see my plan's success. It was wood on wood as I saw splinters stuck in a tree and more just scattered across the forest.. "I need to get out of here. If I am correct about timber wolves, then they will be regenerating any minute now." I said to myself. I kept running forward. Hoping not to run into other wildlife. I wished Fluttershy was with me so she could at least calm any animals I have a hard time with. I wanted somepony to be here with me so I could brag about me defeating the timber wolves. I guess I just wanted anypony here, mainly Twilight. After a nice long jog, I decided to bunker down for the night. I broke off huge branches and started to make a little hut. This wasn't the first time I had been alone in the wilderness before but tonight was different. I guess you could say I was going to Mare Grylls it because I didn't bring too many snacks, or even something to sleep in. I had to make do, I grabbed a few large leaves made a bed. I soon set up a small campfire. I wondered about all the animals that it would attract. Looking at my bed I made I started to worry about all of the bugs that could be in those leaves. I was terrified of spiders. Yeah, they are small but still, too many and you have a problem. Plus they are hard to notice. If they bit you, you would itch for days. I got in bed and drifted off into the endless night, erasing those thoughts from my mind and not worrying about anything else but Twilight. "Wha... where am I?" I said still dazed and confused. I looked around and saw darkness all around. Suddenly a light flashed on. "Aah!" I yelled. The light blinding my eyes, I tried to look around. I was in a hospital, no a room with a bed. It looked like it could house a patient.... or a victim. Just as I got my sight back as I saw Twilight get thrown onto the bed by the changeling with red eyes. He was all too familiar. He started moving closer to Twilight. I tried to move and scream hoping she would notice me but I couldn't. I turned my head away from the horror as I heard her scream. Tears formed in my closed eyes. It was like a dagger straight through my heart. I couldn't watch her in pain, Let alone all of the other ponies I could hear just outside the room. I couldn't believe that I had failed. What happened between the camp and now? It was just a huge gap of memory loss. More importantly, what was happening to Twilight? I opened my eyes to see the changeling rushing me. Suddenly, fangs in my neck, world fading black,. All I could feel was mental pain, not physical. Heart broken, my marefriend would surely die. I had to do something, but what? Suddenly my life flashed before my eyes. Not my old life, my new one. I looked back on all of the good times I had in Ponyvile with my new friends. I then thought of all the times I had with Twilight. If I was going to die, I wanted her to be the last thought I have. I just wish she could have done the same. I slowly closed my eyes as I passed out. I jolted up. Sweat covering my body. Heart pounding rapidly. It was night. I was at the temporary camp I had built. It was all just a dream. That dream made it harder for me but it also reminded me of all the good times I had in Ponyvile. Each thought pushed me further and further. I wanted things to go back to normal. I wanted to keep on going but my body was way too tired. I just didn't want to sleep for fear of another dream. Another horrifying dream. I lay back down on the soft leaves letting the weight of my eyelids take over me. I had to sleep if I was going to want to get there sooner.
Chapter V A drip of water rolls down a leaf up high in the forest and falls onto my forehead. I spring up with the thought of the dream. I hoped it was a dream. Not the dream, all of it, everything, well just the changeling invasion part. I looked around and noticed I was in the forest from last night. I guess it wasn't a dream, but I still had a mission to do. I got up, packed my belongings, which wasn't much, and headed towards the X. It shouldn't have been that far. I had been walking for at-least a day, that, and there was a lot of green plasma covering the floor. I ripped a flower out of the ground and dropped it into the plasma. It was engulfed by flames and melted into liquid. "Not touching any of that." I whispered to myself. "Probably don't want to touch any of that." A mysterious voice said. I turned to see another colt following me. His coat was tan and had a mane that was light brown that was centered with dark blue. "Who are you?" I asked. "The name's Blazer, TrailBlazer." He replied. "Why are you here?" "Why do you think? You can't take on a whole army of changelings. After Rarity told us about you going on some crazy mission to save the rest of the town, I just had to help you. After all, I used to be in the royal guard back in Los Pegasus. If you know anything about that place, you would at-least know that its swarming with gangs. I had to go in undercover and arrest at-least half of a gang once." Blazer said. " So... who exactly are you?" "My name's Sunny, I used to be a traveler until one day I woke up with amnesia and found Ponyvile. I met this beautiful mare there. She changed my life, It was about two months ago anyway. But enough about me, so you were a royal guard. What happened?" I asked. "Long story short, I got kicked off. The guards were making deals with the some of the local gangs. When I refused to join in, they conspired against me, started making up stories and planting evidence on me. They called the captain and showed him my locker. As much as I tried to tell him it wasn't mine, he didn't believe me. I was given a warning and kicked off the royal guard." "Wow, I'm really sorry." I said thinking it would help. "Its all fine now, I've got friends in high places. We'd better get to that hive soon." Blazer said. "Oh right, How could I forget? Lets go." And with that we trotted forward. After about five minutes of trying to side-step all of the puddles of green plasma, we finally hit the outskirts of the hive. It looked like and ant hill. Just a huge pile of red rock and sand with holes everywhere. Crawling around it were changelings on patrol. TrailBlazer motioned for me too look left. I saw a few ponies getting teased as they were forced into the dark caves. I immediately recognized the yellow pegasus. I wanted to scream her name but Blazer put a hoof over my mouth and muffled my sound. "What are you doing? We are trying to be sneaky." he whispered. "Oh right." I whispered back. "How are we going to get in? By the looks of it, they've got this place surrounded." Blazer stated. "Hmm... I know. I've been here before!" I exclaimed. "You have?" "Yeah, I used to travel a lot, remember. There's an abandoned mine shaft a few trots from here. Shouldn't be too far, never noticed any changelings, but if we can get in, we could find a way into the changeling hive." "Well what are we waiting for?Lets go." Blazer replied. "This way." I said as I walked to my right. We walked for about five minutes until we hit a mine shaft opening. I wondered if it was sill open, It didn't look like it. The front of the mine shaft had broken support beams, loose screws, and destroyed fences. It's been a while since I've been here. "Do you think anypony is still in there?" TrailBlazer asked. "I don't think so. Last time I was here, this was restricted ground. I don't know about that anymore." "Well, lets go check it out." We crawled under a few support beams that could crush us if even a pebble fell onto it. We walked down dirt corridor until we hit another crippled walkway. We had to either go left or right but because the hive was generally towards the left, we went left. It was endless, we kept hitting dead ends and having to retrace our steps. It was very hard to see because of the broken lamps in each corridor. We eventually found a room with lockers and flashlights. Blazer didn't half to use his magic to help us see anymore. I checked all the lockers to see if there was anything useful. Nope. "Hey, take a look at this." Blazer called to me. "What? What did you find." I rushed over to him. "Well I was just reading this journal and, well look." March 31 Day 12, The miners haven't found much. Nothing to report. Although some of the miners in sector 5 say they can sense crystals. I don't know how. I guess its because I'm not a unicorn. We will be using our new digger to carve a hole into the wall. I hope this doesn't start another cave-in, R.I.P sector 2. If there are as many crystals as these ponies say there are, then we could retire on that room alone... March 32 Day 13, Looks like the digger is over-heating again. That's the sixth time today. Having to lug water buckets around isn't quite easy. Had another accident today. That weird guy with them crazy eyes. Had to pull him away from the drill. He's fine now. He said he had a sister that deliver's mail. I just hope she got the better gene's. March 33 Day 14, We finally breached the wall. Found over a million bits worth of crystals on the other side. We've also found some strange rock on the other side, trying to dig through it but the digger is giving us problems. Might need the starter from sector 4. Seismic activity has been occurring more often after we opened up this room. We are trying t... "What, How could that be it?" I asked after I shut the journal. "I think we have bigger problems. I just found the room." Blazer said from behind me. I rushed over to his side. There was the room, Filled with lots of gems and crystal of every color. Rarity would faint if she was here. I also noticed the drill, halfway through some black wall. Seeping through the wall was more of that green plasma. "That is going to be a problem." I replied. "Not that, look up." I tilted my head upwards to see hundreds of changelings sleeping like bats, and hanging from the ceiling. We needed to get through that wall but how? It was impossible to start the drill and not wake up the changelings. So here we were again, at another dead end.
Chapter VI "Well, What now?" I asked Trail. "I have an idea, but we will need that power cell before we do anything." "How are we going to get one?" I asked. "The miner said there was one in sector four." "He said there was a starter." "Same thing, well kind of." Trail Blazer replied. "While you do that, i'm going to see what I can find around here." I told him. "You do that Sunny." He said as he left the room, taking a flashlight. TrailBlazer walked down the long corridor talking a right at the end. He shined his flashlight up to the door way and read "Sector four." He walked in, slicing through the darkness with his flashlight. He looked around and saw the drill in the middle of the room. "I hope there are no monsters in here." As soon as he said that he heard a growl come from the next room. "I hope there are no power cells in this room." He backed up slowly turning around to see where the growling was coming from. He touched something cold. He turned and saw the drill with the extra... "Power cell." He checked around the room and saw dead ponies lying there. They were just a bunch of skeletons like in the last room. He trotted out of the room slowly and made his way back to sector 5. "Hey, you got that starter yet?" I asked him as I watched him trot in. "mhmmmhmmh!" He said with his mouth full of scroll as he dropped it on the nearby table." Its called a power cell and yes. I also found a map of the mine." "Map, for what?" I asked "You'll see." He said as he installed the new power cell. It only took a few minutes to install and turn on. With the lights flashing we hoped that none of the changelings would wake up. We knew that they would definatly wake up if we turned on the drill. We needed a plan, lucky for us, TrailBlazer said he had a plan. "So whats the plan." I asked him "Ok, so we are here." He pointed at the map, "and this tunnel circles around back to here. see that support beam in the doorway, ready to give way. Well, how good are you at bucking." "Well I uh..." My cheeks turned red. "I meant like kicking. Should have been more specific, I guess." "Oh, well yeah I can kick something pretty had, but i'm no Applejack." I replied. "I know sunny, now stand over there behind that table so you can reach the support beam." "Right here?" I asked "Yep that's great. now when I say kick it, you kick the support beam ok." Blazer instructed. "Gotcha." I said crouching by the door. "Ok, so when I start the drill, the hundreds of changelings will chase me. When I say kick, you kick." He switched on the drill and the machine started making loud noises. The changelings soon woke up and charged straight for TrailBlazer. He moved quick, running through the doorway as lots of changelings followed him. It must have only been about twenty or so but looked like hundreds. It was only a few minutes until I saw him appear at the end of the corridor running straight towards me bringing the horde. He was about three fourths of the way before he yelled... "KICK!" I kicked the support beam and watched as he evaded into the room right before the ceiling collapsed onto the "Thousands" of changelings. We were stuck in the room. While he was playing chicken, the drill was working. It had busted through the wall and green acidic goo sprayed through the wall. Luckily we were untouched. We saw through the room and it looked like they had all of the ponies trapped in cocoons. Blazer and I walked through the hole carefully as we watch the towns ponies unconsciously sleeping in green pods. We were walking around the hive for at least four or five minutes without running into to many changeling patrols. Whenever we saw a few TrailBlazer just put them to sleep with his magic, I teleported behind them to knock them out with my hooves. I kept telling Blazer we needed to keep on going and that there was a main place where we could release all of the pods. I was really looking to find Twilight. We finally came to a map. "Where are we? In a spaceship, or the hive." TrailBlazer asked. "Really." I whispered. TrailBlazer pointed to the map and it showed that the west corridor, where we came from, housed the ponies. There was a line going from that corridor to the main room. "That must be the controls. We can let the ponies out from there." I said. "This way." TrailBlazer pointed. I followed him as we walked down the main corridor. The hallway opened up into a big room. It wasn't really a room, more like a cave, just big enough to be a room. There were a few changelings in control of room. Me and blazer walked up to them and silently put them to sleep. After we cleared the room, we checked for the controls to the west corridor. "Found it" I said just loud enough for TrailBlazer to hear me. "We're in." he said as he took control of the system and shut down the pods. "Lets go save some ponies." We rushed over to the west corridor just in time to see ponies walking from their slumber. It was all of them, the ponies from Ponyvile. "Fluttershy!" TrailBlazer said rushing over to catch her before she flopped out of the green shell. "Trail? Where... where am I?" Fluttershy said running her eyes. "Its ok, you're safe now. I Pinkie promise." He said back. "How do you know Fluttershy?" I asked TrailBlazer. "I help her with her animals from time to time." He replied. "Wait... where is Twilight?" I asked panting. "They... the Queen took her." Fluttershy said back. "Queen? I want to face her!" Trailblazer said anxiously. "No, you get every pony out of here. I'm going to save Twilight. She is what I came for." I said sprinting back to the map room. "Alright everypony, you heard him. We are leaving. Lets go, this was to the exit." TrailBlazer yelled while leading the herd. I ran to the chambers of the Queen. I slowly stayed to the shadows to avoid being caught by any guards. I finally got to the room and slowly opened the doors. I looked inside, Chrysalis was sleeping on her bed. No sign of Twilight, Until I looked up. There she was, in a cocoon stuck to the ceiling. Since the walls were mainly rocks, I started to rock climb on the jagged edges poking through. I finally got to a good point and leaped onto the cocoon. That must have woke her because I felt movement below. I looked through to see her crying. I tapped on the cocoon and she looked up. "Sun-" she exclaimed, but I cut her off. "Shhhhhhh! Be quiet!" I whispered. I was hanging from the cocoon by my two front hooves, which were beginning to slip. I tried my best to keep them on, but they were a bit sweaty. "What are you doing here?" she said quietly. "I came to save you guys!" "Really? You really did that?" "How did they get you in there?" I asked. "I don't know. I woke up like this." "Can you teleport out?" "No. I've tried. It's impossible. I was starting to slip some more. "Ok, Twilight. I'm about to slip and give myself away, but I really have to tell you something. I can't wait any longer." I said, knowing that this was the time. This might be my last opportunity. "Yes Sunny?" she said in curiosity. "I am... in love with you." I said, worried about how she would respond. "Re- really?" she said, in shock. "For how long?" "Since we first met. You were the most beautiful pony in all of Equestria. I was always trying to tell you, but I never could. She didn't respond, she just stared at me. At that moment, my hooves slipped and I started falling. She reached her hoof out to grab me... but missed because there was a green wall there. I fell. Everything was moving in slow motion for some reason. It was all over now. Everything. Even if I did survive the fall, it wouldn't be much better than if I just died. At least I told Twilight Sparkle that I loved her. That was the whole reason I ever stayed in Ponyville anyway.
VII So here I am, falling to my death. I was so close. I guess, It was never meant to be. At-least that is what it looked like. It seemed to me that whatever I did, When ever I did it, How ever I did it, something was stopping us from being together. Each time I had been getting closer and closer. I just wish I had another chance to make it right. If I could, I would probably tell her a few weeks after I had met her. But now, I will never get that chance. I woke up from my sudden death. I guess I didn't hit the floor after all. That meant that I would have another chance. Not only at life, but at my relationship. I could thank Celestia later, now where am I. What did I hit. Looking down I can see a dead or unconscious Chrysalis underneath me. Looks like that is one thing I don't have to worry about. I slowly got off of her bed and looked up. I could hear sniffles coming from the cocoon. "Its ok Twilight, I'm fine." I whispered upwards. I really didn't feel fine. My back ached. "Sunny! You're OK!" She tried to shout, again still barley audible through the cocoon. "Yeah I think I fell on Chrysalis' bed, or something." "Well, can you get me down." Twilight asked. "Yeah, I think I can. Be careful, Ready." I shot a blast of magic towards the roof near the cocoon and split the stem into pieces. She was falling, I needed to catch her. "I've got you." I said looking up. Suddenly she was enveloped in a red glow, floating. "Thanks Sunny." Twilight said with a sigh. "That wasn't me." I replied turning around to see a changeling with red eyes looking at us. "Oh how cute. She is mine though by the way. The Queen had a special plan for you." He said looking up at Twilight. "Get this other unicorn out of here." "Yes general!" two other changelings ran up to me and held my fore-arms behind my back. "And what about the Queen sir?" "Oh yes, I guess that makes me the next in charge. Hold him here until I find something to do for him." With that, he left, Closing the doors behind him and taking Twilight. "Noooo!" I yelled, forgetting that I was a unicorn. Oh yeah. With a flash of light, I teleported a few inches behind them and slammed their heads together. I grabbed the keys and headed to the doors. Unlocking them with a huge creek and forcing them open. I ran down the hallway and searched all testing chambers one by one. Finally I had gotten to the last one on the list. The hall way was long and guarded by tons of changelings, this was going to be one heck of a fight. Inside the room, the general was preparing Twilight for magical drain. Hooking her up to a device to siphon all of the magic in her body. He could hear destruction just outside of the door. He motioned to one of the changeling guards to check on it. The guard barley got to the door when I bucked the door and him across the room. I took a look at the playing field, it was a large room with wires and such all hooked up to a device that was pointed to the inner hive. At the end of the room was what seemed to be an outside area. It was still underground, just a balcony looking at a huge cave. It was about a five thousand meter drop. At the bottom was a lake that stretched for miles and was filled with the green acidic goo. I wonder what would happen if you fell in? "Let her go!" I screamed at the general. "Just because you destroyed a fraction of my army, you think you can defeat me?" He growled "I can and I will." "Try that without magic!" He yelled. "All's fair..." I said teleporting behind him "...in love and war." I threw a jab at the back of his head. Unfortunately he ducked and I missed. He swung around and caught me with an upper cut to the chin. He sent me flying and I crashed onto the balcony next to the railing. "Lets settle this like earth ponies." He said, casting a spell on me that blocked my use of magic. He picked me up and kicked me in the stomach. I crashed to the floor with a thud. It was so painful, I couldn't breathe. He got on top of me and started to choke me out. I couldn't take it, I was about to black out when I heard a yell come from the right of me. It was TrailBlazer, he was running full sprint towards the general. He tackled him off me. I took a huge breath as I gasped. "Where... Did... You ..." I was trying to ask. "No time. This place is overfilling with green acid. You need to get out of here." TrailBlazer said still struggling with the general. I looked over the balcony, the green acid was rapidly rising up to the top. I had to grab Twilight and get out of here. I stripped her free of wires. "Hurry we need..." I was cut off by her lips meeting mine. It was the best feeling in Equestria. I broke free from her lilac lips and told her "... Now is not the time." "TrailBlazer, lets go!" I screamed across the room. He was still fighting with the general. The general finally overpowered him and shot him with a blast of magic. Me and Twilight both gasped as he fell. The general looked back over to us and charged up his magic for another bolt. Neither Twilight or I could put up a shield. My magic was blocked and her magic was regenerating. Just before he fired the blast, TrailBlazer got up with his reserved strength and tackled the general over the railing with a yell, they both fell over the edge. "NOO!" I yelled, running over to the edge with Twilight following me. I saw them both throwing punches as they fell, five thousand meters into the acidic goo. I couldn't watch. "There's nothing we can do. We need to get out of here." Twilight said while tugging me. My brain was on auto-pilot as I followed her to the exit. I was still trying to comprehend what just happened. I had lost a good friend, I could remember him later, we needed to get out of here. Valves were breaking and spraying the acidic goo which coated the walls. I even saw a changeling get doused in acid and a second later, he melted to the ground. When we finally made it to the exit hole, The whole cave collapsed on itself sending dust and dirt everywhere. We saw all of the towns ponies waiting for us. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were checking on all of the other ponies while Fluttershy walked up to us. She gave Twilight a hug and looked at me. "Were is TrailBlazer?" Fluttershy asked. I just looked at the ground. "He... didn't make it." Twilight answered. I saw Fluttershy's expression change. She looked down at the ground and started to sob. I felt heart broken because she looked so cute but at the same time, horrified. "It will be ok..." I said trying to cheer her up, but all I got were more sobs. Eventually Twilight pulled me to the side. "I just want to thank you again." Twilight said. "I think you did a good job of that back there." "Oh... Right." She said blushing. "How would you like to get dinner sometime when the town is repaired." I asked Twilight. She giggled as she said, "I'd love to." She kissed me on the cheek and went off to help the other towns ponies. And for once in my life, Everything was going good.
