The Collapse of Equestria: The Two Humans

Chapter 3

The first thing Arcus felt wasn't pain, it wasn't worry, it wasn't anger. It was full on rage, a rage that surged throughout his entire body.  Arcus exerted all his strength pushed the wall off of him and staggers as he tries to stands up.

Everything is blurry, he was hearing a ringing sound in his ears it was excruciatingly painful .  Arcus looks at his leg and he sees a wooden spike in his leg. There was a lot of blood flowing from his injury. Arcus grabs the spike which caused a lot of pain just from touching it. He try's to yanks it out, the pain was agonizing. It wouldn't come out. Arcus markings glow red and the spike was thrusted out of his leg without any contact.  Then the wound starts closing slowly, it seemed to be stitching itself together, slowly pulling itself together. Then Arcus hears his name.

"ARCUS!"

Arcus turns to the source and sees a purple pony figure in the distance.

"Twilight?" Said Arcus.

Twilight looks down at his leg, There was blood but no wound. This confused Twilight.

"Are you ok?" Asked Twilight.

"Look I'm fine."

"There's blood, but where's the cut?" Asked Twilight.

"Don't worry about it."

"Look we have to get out of here, come on. "

"No you go on without me." replied Arcus

"What?" Questioned Twilight.

Arcus started lifting up debris, clearing the path in front of him.

"I'm not leaving without Firebolt." replied Arcus

"Ok where is he?" asked Twilight

Arcus heads in the direction of the stage where he launched Firebolt. Twilight followed after him.

"This morning I saw a train is it still here?"

"Yes." replied Twilight

"Where will it be heading to?” Asked Arcus.

"Canterlot"

"What's that, the capital?" replied Arcus

"Yea."

"Ok we needed to go there anyway."

Rainbow, Pinkie and Rarity climbed out of the rubble. Rainbows mane looks dusty, as while as the others.

"How bad is my mane?" Asked Rarity

"Horrible." Replied Rainbow.

Rarity started to break down and cry.

"GIRLS!" Yelled Twilight

The three looked over to Twilight. Pinkie sprinted to Twilight and engulfing her in a hug.

"Twilight, You're alive, this calls for a being alive party."

Twilight responded with a glare. But then turned it into a smile and she returned the hug. Then Rainbow dash and Rarity joined in. After they were done they look to where Arcus was just standing But he is gone.

"Arcus?"

"Over here?" Replied Arcus.

Twilight looks over to Arcus who was lifting debris up. They all walk up to him.

"What's going on." asked Rainbow.

"Party's over!" replied Arcus.

Arcus turns to the four ponies.

"Look I need you four to get to the train and get the ponies from here onto it. We're leaving." said Arcus

"We can't abandon Ponyville Arcus. This is our home."  replied Rarity

"Don't forget that Fluttershy and Applejack are out there, and I'm not leaving until they are safe!" Replied Rainbow Dash

Arcus turned to Rainbow Dash. And got down to her level.

"I will find them, I promise."

Rainbow Dash just kept glaring at Arcus. Arcus gets up, but he hears something. Arcus looks up and notices falling debris falling towards the ponies. They all looked up. It was falling towards them. The girls start screaming. They close their eyes like its going to end. After a few seconds, Rainbow dash was the first one to open her eyes. She looks up and sees that the debris is floating in the air.

"Way to go Twilight" Rainbow said as she jumped in joy.

Twilight looked up at the floating debris, then at Rainbow Dash.

"That's not me" replied Twilight.

The girls look at Arcus, Arcus is holding his left arm out. his right arm was holding his left.  His left arm is glowing blue. Arcus looks like he is struggling, as if he was carrying something heavy. Then it Twilight gets it.  Arcus is levitating the debris.

Suddenly the debris breaks down the middle. Arcus Releases it. It lands next to the ponies but not hitting them.

"How? I read that humans don't have magic or wings." Twilight said

Arcus was trying to catch his breath.

"It's not magic, look after I get you out of this I will tell you how I did that." replied Arcus.

Twilight nods as Arcus starts walking.

"If we get out." Replied Rainbow dash.

Arcus sees Firebolt a couple yards away he dashes over to his body. He throws Firebolt over his shoulder. Arcus was taken back by Firebolt weight at first.

"Come on buddy. You ain't gonna die on my watch" Arcus said as he carried Firebolt.

Arcus turns to the ponies. Arcus places Firebolt on Twilight's back. Twilight gives Arcus a Glare.

"Take him to the Train."

"What if there is no Train?" Relied Twilight

"Then Run...Run for your life."

"What about you." asked Pinkie

"I'm going to meet up with the local guard and try to save this town."

"There is no local guards. There's never any problems here." Replied Twilight

"Then the town is hopeless. I will look for your friends and I will warn everyone who I see."

Twilight turn white as snow as something came to her mind.

"SPIKE!" Yelled Twilight

Arcus turned around to face Twilight, he was confused  by this.

"Who's or what's a spike?" Replied Arcus

Twilight jumps Arcus and they fall to the floor

"YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE LIBRARY. KNOWING HIM HE IS SLEEPING IN THIS. PLEASE YOU MUST GET HIM!" Pleaded Twilight

Arcus gets up and looks at Twilight. "I will head there first." With that Arcus runs out the building.

The sky was red as hell itself. The ship was firing west of ponyville which gave Arcus time. The library was north of Ponyville. Arcus looked up as he was running. The ship was ten times the size of Ponyville.  As Arcus was running, he noticed ponies running towards him. Arcus then noticed the ship start shooting at the area he was at. Canon fire was strong,  Arcus was taken of his feet from a shot that nearly hit him.  Arcus gets up and looks at the ponies who are confused by all of this bloodshed.

"LISTEN EVERYONE. GO TO THE TRAIN STATION." Yelled Arcus.

Some ponies followed Arcus warning and headed in the direction of the train station.

Arcus ran off as fast as he could running past many burning buildings, he runs past ponies heading for the the train station. Looking for the library, Arcus could see what looked like a colossal oak tree house that he remembered to be the library.

“This is where Twilight said Spike was before the attack.”

As Arcus approached the library. The ship has changed its shots from normal cannon balls, to pyrotechnic ones. One of theses shots hit the tree house.

"Shit."

Arcus booted the door down and the door caved in instantaneously . Arcus could barely see from the smoke, the smoke was so thick arcus began to choke.

"SPIKE!" Yelled Arcus

The books were on fire. The walls were also burning, Arcus headed up the stairs. When he reached the top, he saw what looked like a Doggy bed. But nothing was sleeping inside but there were a couple of charred branches on the bed.

"Damn it. Where is this Spike."

Arcus looked out the library's window. what he saw disgusted him. Ponies were on fire, They were screaming In agony, they're skin was charred and almost all traces of fur was burned off . Arcus noticed the houses were all in flames, the building hay structures only increased the flames intensity. Arcus looked down from the window, He saw a filly, she was lost she was frantically looking in every direction for her mother. The filly looked up a large building that was just impacted by a cannon ball. the buildings structure finally gave away, causing it to fall... It landed on her body with a thump, killing her instantaneously. Arcus looks away, it disgusted him. He made a fist as a tear ran down his face.

"I failed them."

Then he looked up. A cannon ball was heading right towards him.

"Oh thats." Was all arcus could say as The library was hit from the shot, flames went everywhere, wooden splinters shot everywhere. Arcus was hit hy some, he felt them go into his skin. Arcus continued to run down the stairs, nearly tripping and jolted out the door way . Arcus jump as the library explodes from more shots, the blast propels him fifteen feet away .

Debris Lands next to him, Flaming wood and burning paper.

While I guess I better look for the other two ponies Arcus thought. Arcus heard hoof steps heading towards him. He found this strange because most ponies were tuning out of the city. But what got arcus attention the most, Was that this pony running, had metal clashing as he ran. This must be a royal guard.

"You, human."

Arcus looked up from the ground, he saw nothing. Arcus slowly gets up and turns around, he sees a white stallion wearing gold plated armor.

"Yes, are you here to help." Arcus asked curiously because the guard was engaging in conversation rather than helping the ponies from the attack.

"No, i was sent here to arrest you. Your coming with me, i have a warrant for your arrest issued by the Princess." Said the guard

"ARE YOU CRAZY! PONIES ARE DYING AND YOU'RE ARRESTING ME AND NOT SAVING LIVES!" yelled Arcus

The guard takes out a spear and points it at Arcus head.

"I'm not going to ask again, come with me, or die."

"Wow, This is the first time I heard a pony say something violence." Arcus commented.

"ARCUS!" Said another voice.

Arcus turns to his left and he sees a orange pony ruining to his direction.

"Applejack what is it?" asked Arcus

"Applebloom and the girls are in the barn and it was hit by one of the flying things. Its not far from here, I need help I can't open it. Please help me." said Applejack.

"This is the humans fault, the town is burning because of him. He brought them here, he is coming with me" yelled the guard.

Applejack turns to the guard,  she was disgusted with what he had said

"He didn't do anything. And They are just children." pleaded Applejack

"I'm sorry, i'm under orders." replied the guard.

Arcus looks back and forth and both of them he is being asked a lot from two ponys. Save lives, or go to jail...

"Take me to the barn."

The guard didn't like that, he started to charge Arcus. Arcus turned around and sees this. He dodges the pony, the guard turns around, he beings to charge Arcus again, the pony was mere feet away when Arcus round house kicks him in the chest. His golden armor indents where Arcus foot made contact. This sends the guard flying back a few feet. Arcus starts walking toward the guard, who is Struggling to get up. The guard looks up and sees Arcus on top of him. The guard closes his eyes, Bracing for death.

"I'm not going to kill you."

The guards eyes open wide. He looks at arcus confused.

"I want you to survive as much as the rest of theses ponies. I just had to knock some sense into you." Arcus said.

Arcus lifted out and hand. The guard Flinched at first. But then the guard grabbed it and Arcus lifted him back to all fours.

"I'm sorry, I was under orders." said the guard.

The guard dashed off from the direction of where he came.

Arcus turned to Applejack.

"Lets go."

While Arcus and Applejack were running to sweet apple acres. The site he saw while running was disturbing . He saw lots of dead bodies scattered everywhere ,he saw blood everywhere, buildings on fire debris was falling everywhere, craters in the streets littered with steel cannon balls, and charred bodies, he saw the red skies, the fumes coming out of the Warship, the smog thick as fog, it disgusted him. But all he could worry about was helping the children in the barn so he ran and ran and ran.

"Why are they in the barn." asked Arcus

"They were doing their second attempt at getting their cutie marks from being farm hands."

"I still don't know what a cutie mark is."

"There's no time for that." replied Applejack

When they reach the barn,.Arcus took a looks at it. the door looked like it was smashed he heard screams coming from inside and all of a sudden the warship's cannon shot hit the barn directly, it wasn't just a cannonball was a burning one. this cause the barn to catch on fire. Arcus knew he had only moments to save the children. So he rolled his sleeves up and he warped to the supporting wooden bars on the barn he shimmied to an open barn window. When he got inside he could see the fillies. He saw Applebloom, Sweetie belle and Scootaloo crying on the second floor the barn. they were all huddled in the corner.

Arcus ran towards the fillies when he got close to them Applebloom looked up at him she looked up in sheer fear.

"Its ok im here to help" said Arcus

"Ok" said Applebloom

Arcus grabbed Applebloom and put her in his hoodie she was dangling in it now.  Her head was showing but her body was inside the jacket and  her head was out the head hole right beside Arcus head. He picked up Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo with his arms. He looked frantically in the Barn. He looked at the window he just came from.  But it is now on fire. All he can do is climb.  He saw an open hatch the top of the barn. maybe just maybe he can make it. He saw a support beam that looks sturdy. So  he leaped against the wall then as he pushed of the wall he warped to a bar a few feet away and when he got on it he looked frantically for another one.  He didn't see anything. So he checked if he was in warping distance of the open window on the top of the bar, He was. So he  leaped as far as he could and warped up to the window, there on the windows perch he noticed that it was a tremendous fall to the ground, one that could inflict major injuries.

"Orange one with wings, can you fly" asked Arcus.

"Can't you teleport us down?" Asked Scootaloo

"I can only do that for short distances. Now I'm going to ask you again. Can you fly?" Asked Arcus

"No... but I can glide." said Scootaloo

"Take her and glide down."

Scootaloo grabbed hold of Sweetie belle and she jumped off the roof of the barn. She struggled with staying stable because of the air turbulence.  She landed safely next to Applejack.

"Ok, Applebloom listen to me. I need you to hold on really tight. And don't let go, no matter what. Understood?"

"Yes sir." replied Applebloom.

Arcus with tucked in Applebloom in his jacket. His goal was to climb to the top of the barn. This was hard from the heat of the wood, the wood was so hot it nearly scorched his hand .  When he reached the top of the barn. He looked down at the ground and saw applejack crying. Arcus looked at Applebloom.

"Are you ready?" asked Arcus.

"No."

Arcus grabbed Applebloom and held her tight. He closed his eyes and jumped backwards off the roof of the barn. The fall was about fifty feet. Time slowed for the two of them, minutes felt like hours.

The sight for Applejack was heartbreaking. She knew what he was doing. He was going to take the force of the fall. So her sister can live ,this made Applejack cry harder.

When Arcus hit the ground there was a large thump and the noise could be heard far off. The pain was intense the fall knocked all the wind out of his lungs. Arcus felt three of his ribs crack. But as soon as they were broken. He felt them repairing themselves. He let go of Applebloom, Applebloom jumped off of Arcus. She started nudging his arm in an attempt to get him up.

"Get up mister."

Applejack run to her sister and picked her up in a hug.

"Are you ok that was a mighty big fall."

"Yea, i'll live."

"You don't know how grateful we are. thank you so much."

"Don't worry about it." Replied Arcus

Arcus had a little trouble getting up at first but he made it up.

"Now that the kids are safe head to the train station. Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie and Rarity are there." said Arcus

"What about the girls?" asked Applejack

"They're all safe, while except for Fluttershy."

"You have to get her!"

"We're does she live. I will get her and you take them to the train station." asked Arcus

"She lives on the edge of the everfree forest east of Ponyville."

"Ok I'm heading there now."

Arcus darted off to Fluttershys house.

When Arcus arrived at Fluttershys cottage. It was a mess. The building was mostly intact. There were some broken windows.  Arcus walked up to the door and he kicked it in. He saw Fluttershy crying in the corner of the main room. Arcus slowly walked up to Fluttershy. She was sobbing heavily. Arcus noticed something that was out of place. There was a dead bunny. A glass shard was in his throat. There was a lot of blood gushing out of his throat. It make a thick blood pool, even for just a little bunny.

This must have been her pet Arcus thought.

"What happened?" Asked Arcus

There was a loud noise. It shock the house. I was scarred. Then the windows... Exploded. It frightened me. And when I looked at the broken window. I saw angel bunny. He was making a noise. It sounded like he was choking. So i ran to him. And I saw the glass shard in his neck... He looked at me... The face he had."

Arcus bent down and embraced Fluttershy in a hug. Fluttershy placed her head on Arcus shoulder. Arcus felt her tears soak into his hoodie.

"No need to say more Fluttershy. I know it hurts. I've lost someone close to me too. I know how you feel."

Fluttershy returned the hug. She continued to cry, Arcus pats her back, Arcus steps back from Fluttershy.

"We have to go." Arcus said

Fluttershy looks up at Arcus.

"I'm in no condition to go anywhere." replied Fluttershy

"Then I will carry you."

Arcus picked up Fluttershy and ran out the door. As soon as he got out. A cannon ball hit her house setting it on fire and destroying it.

He noticed the ship was almost done destroying Ponyville. There were no buildings left untouched from this attack.

Arcus was running. He ran as fast as he can. His feet felt like they were on fire. His back was getting sore from carrying Fluttershy. He saw in the distance the train station. The train was loading ponies.

"I knew they could do it." Arcus said aloud.

Arcus went into full throttle, As he got close to the train station.

"HOLD ON!" Yelled Arcus.

But something made Arcus stop dead in his tracks. Arcus look up at the ship in the sky. The engines flame disappeared. This can only mean two things. One, it can be landing. Or it can be warping out of here, which will completely destroy the town from the force of the ship. Both had devastating effects.

"Why have we stopped." Asked Fluttershy.

"We have to get out of here." Replied Arcus.

Arcus look at the train,  he noticed the train just started moving.

"Oh that's great."

The train was barely moving, but Arcus had to get to it before it started to gain speed, so Arcus ran.

Arcus caught up to the train. He is going to lose the train if he didn't act now, so he got to the cargo doors, they were luckily open. He threw Fluttershy inside and he jumped aboard.

Arcus just laid there out of breath. Fluttershy begins to cry again. He turns to Fluttershy, Fluttershy mane was a mess. You couldn't see her face.

"Hey, it's going to be ok. We're safe now." Said Arcus as he moved her mane,revealing her eyes.

"Y-you're a father... Aren't you?" Asked Fluttershy.

Arcus looked at her confused and he raised an eyebrow.

"Where did you get that from."

"You're a very caring person, you treat me like a sad child.. And you normally don't know how to do that unless you raise children.  Or when you're around them a lot. I know this because I raise a lot of baby animals." Replied Fluttershy

"Yes, I had a daughter."

"What happened to her?" Asked Fluttershy.

"I do not want to talk about that."

Arcus keeped eye contact with Fluttershy as he got up. Arcus then turned around and headed for the door of the cart.

"Be right back."

Arcus  walked to the next cart.  In this cart there were a few ponies Sitting down next to the door there was a mint green pony who Arcus remembers. She looks up at him and smiles.

"So the human lives"

Arcus gives the unicorn a hug.

"It's good to see you."

"Same goes for you." Replied Lyra

Arcus walks past  her and goes into the next cart. There was a sign, it said VIP, and under that it said very important ponies. Arcus found that funny. This one had private rooms. The first room he saw had Applejack in it. Arcus knocked on the door to her room. This makes Applejack turn to the door. As soon as she sees Arcus she opens the door and walks up to Arcus and hugs him.

"Thank you."

"No problem." replied Arcus.

"We should talk to the girls. Ah bet they will be glad you made it... Wait where's Fluttershy?"

"Right here."

Arcus and Applejack  turn around and looked at Fluttershy. Applejack was taken back by Fluttershys mane. It was a mess.

"Are you ok?" Asked Applejack.

"Yes. I'm fine, Thanks to  Arcus."

Arcus, Applejack and Fluttershy walk into the next room. There are four ponies.  When they saw Fluttershy and Arcus their faced lite up.

"Arcus, Fluttershy, you made it." Twilight said

"Thanks to Arcus I did" added Fluttershy.

"Where's Firebolt?" Asked Arcus

“He's in the cart in front of us" Pinkie said

"Applejack told us what you did to save Applebloom. That was heroic of you." Rarity said

"Ah thought you were going to die to save her. I heard your bones pop and break.  But you fix your self, because you got back up, How?" Asked Applejack.

"That's a different story for a different day." Replied Arcus

"While I'm going to check on Firebolt."

"Hey Arcus... Where's Spike?" Twilight asked

Arcus heart sunk like a stone. Arcus turned around to face the purple mare.

"Twilight. I'm sorry. He wasn't there when I was there. The library was empty."

Twilight legs were shaking and wobbling. Twilight Collapsed onto the floor. She broke down and began to cry.

Arcus place his hand on Twilight's shoulder.

"I'm deeply sorry. But there was nothing I could do."

Arcus looked at Rainbow Dash, She was giving him a really nasty look.

Arcus turned around and step out of the room and he was back in the hallway of the cart. Arcus walked to the next room. What he saw Disturbed him. There were at least ten ponies on stretchers. Most of them had Severe burns. One was missing one of her hind legs.  He found Firebolt Lying down on one,  Arcus sat down next to him.

"I'm soo sorry... This is all my fault, I did this you.”

"Oh shut up I'm fine.”

Firebolt rolls over so he can face Arcus.

"I'm glad you made it."

"why are you in here?" Asked Arcus.

"You gave me a concussion... dumbass."

Arcus Winced from Firebolt's Choice of words.

"Sorry about that"

"Oh and dont worry ill get you back, i'm sure." replied Firebolt with a grin

"Hey, I didn't think ponies uses such Vulgar words?"

"While most don't. I don't come from Ponyville. None of them swear, while. Sometimes Cranky Doodle Donkey swears at Pinkie. But that when hes under lots of stress."

"Good, Note to self don't swear in front of the ponies."

Arcus sat alone In his cabin. He felt like crap. He heard the door to his room open then close. He turned and saw Applejack. She walked up to him and sat next to him. A moment of silence passes

It's my fault."

"What do ya mean sugarcube."

"I didn't prepare you all. I got to know you all instead. It's my fault ponyville was destroyed."

"Arcus ah you're a good pony... Ah mean human."

"If you didn't show up, Applebloom would have been killed. And what you did for her was heroic."

"Thanks."

"I'm going to check up on Applebloom."

As applejack reaches the door she turns around.

"And Arcus."

"Ya."

"You may have failed, but your still a hero to me, and the Apple Family."

"Thanks Applejack, I really appreciate it."

When she left. Arcus went back into his thoughts. What Fluttershy said to him. Are you a father, It haunted him.

There was a knock on the door. Arcus was snap back into reality. Arcus gets up and opens the door. Firebolt was standing at the door. There was some wrappings on his head. There was some blood on them.

"Hey Arcus."

"Oh hello Firebolt."

"Mind if I sleep here?" Asked Firebolt

"Sure take the bed to the left."

When Firebolt walked inside he saw that there was only one bed. Firebolt raised an eyebrow at this.

"But where would you sleep." asked Firebolt

"I'm not going to sleep  and if I do sleep it would be on the floor." replied Arcus.

"You sure?" Asked Firebolt

"Ya go to sleep."

Firebolt jumps into the bed and he pulls the covers up.

"Good night Arcus."

"Good night Firebolt."

Three hours later

Arcus couldn't take the stress from the earlier in the night, So he stepped outside of his room. Arcus look into the rooms as he walked. He rarity sleeping in a bed with a filly in one room. Arcus remembers this filly, the one the orange one flew down with. Arcus walked into the next cart. In it was a few sleeping ponies They were cuddle up in a corner. Arcus kept on walking. He was now at the caboose. He saw twilight who was looking into the the gleaming night ski. The stars were bright.

Twilight turned to face Arcus

"Twilight, About spike."

"It's fine. I don't blame you. Lets change the subject."

"Soo twilight, beautiful night isn't it."

"Yea luna has really outdone herself."

"What do you mean?"

"Princess Luna she raises the moon just like Celestia- raises the sun"

"Really, on my planet, the planets rotate around each other naturally to bring night and day."

"Wow our worlds are really different."

"Yea I guess they are."

"Hey Arcus I have question."

"Ya whats up Twilight"

"Will things ever be the same again?" Asked Twilight.

"I'm not going to lie to you. No. Things are going to change now. But the question is. Will it change you."

As Arcus looks out the window he sees the royal city of Canterlot.

"By the end of this, You will all be different ponies."