Twilight Gives Way to Dawn

Chapters

Battle: Los Pegasus
Friendship is Memories
Battle: Los Pegasus Part II
Surprise
Wishes and Dreams
Pineshield?
This Can't Be Good
The Plunge
A Walk
Keep your enemies closer
Sweet Dreams
Help Wanted
Reinforcements
The Path of Purging
Sleep Tight
Time to Act
The Final Battle
Healing Wounds
Random End: What the Crap?!
Battle plans
Hostile Takeover.

Battle: Los Pegasus

One hour ago: Los Pegasus

"Can I go swim mama?", a young Pegasus mare pleaded.

"Not yet dear! You know it's still too cold to go swimming now," her mother warned.

"But mom! It's eighty degrees outside! That's warm enough!", the young one begged.

"Lilly...", the mother got her attention, "The water takes longer to warm up than the air. About this time of year, the water is usually still around fifty degrees, maybe less. You would freeze to death, or drown!"

"OK mom. What about next week?"

How about the week after? We can check then. The weather stallion says it will be warmer then. "

"OK!", the filly sprang away happily.

"Foals..."

The mother, who was just hanging cloths to dry, hung up the last article of clothing and walked inside. Once inside, she walked over to the stove and began cooking dinner. A mother's job is never done, she thought to herself.

"Hey Rosemary? Where did I put my tie?", a stallion called from the back of the house.

"In here, on the table," she called back.

"Mom! The Queen is coming! The Queen is coming!", Lilly called happily from outside.

"Gail! Get Lilly in the house and lock her in the basement!" Rosemary yelled in panic. Her daughter didn't understand that it was in fact bad to have a visit from the Queen, and not good.

Gail promptly snatched his daughter from the yard and went off to the basement.

"This can't be good."

The soldiers were near the city wall when the gates were closed and locked by the guards inside. However, they were no trouble for a mass driver spell combined from the soldiers that had gathered. The door was flung from its hinges and they were inside.

"Kill them all! It is time we take our city back! Leave the civilians unharmed unless they interfere!", Rarity bellowed from somewhere in the middle of the soldiers.

The soldiers were now on their way past the corpses and headed into town. They were undeterred.

"This can't be good!", a lone scout said to himself before flying in the direction of HQ.

Present: Resistance HQ

"When?!", the Commander was shocked.

"About an hour ag-go. I s-saw it from my guard's perch. It w-was bad! There were far too many f-for the amount of g-guards there", the scout stuttered, obviously shaken.

"Go get some rest, you've made a good fast trip here. You've earned it," Rainbow Dash thanked him then turned back to the table of officers. "Jack! Pineshield! Round up an army one hundred strong. Get them on their way to Los Pegasus. We can't lose this fight! We need to get them some aid now!"

"Yes ma'am!", they saluted in unison, before sprinting out.

"I just hope we're not too late," Rainbow muttered to herself once she was alone.

The Empire's soldiers were half way through the city. Their plan had gone as it should. There were many battles going on. Groups of rebels were in battle with groups of Imperials. The Imperials were winning so far. They had an advantage; they weren't expected. They had had the element of surprise...but so did someone else.

Around a corner of a fabric shop, were a large number of rebel soldiers. Around an adjacent corner of another shop, were a good few more. These were only a few of the surprise guests. Along the top of the buildings was a crew of scouting Pegasi. It was mere seconds before the whole of the strike force was on top of the unsuspecting platoon of Imperials.

They didn't see what had happened till a third of their troops were dropped. However, once they knew what had happened, they snapped into professional killer mode. The Imperials came back with malice. One rebel Pegasus was taken out of the air by a magical grip, only to be stabbed in the side by another's spear. While another rebel was plunged into a nearby wall, breaking their neck.

Lt. Major Apple Jack was about to panic, but saw something of interest. A wagon large enough to need a group ten-strong to pull was loaded down with large lumber. She quickly motioned a Unicorn rebel to see it, and upon noticing what was the object of interest, said soldier began to smile maliciously.

"Stand back!", AJ yelled.

The Unicorn quickly put all her strength behind her horn, and was able to rip the cords off of the wagon, sending every last log crashing down on the Imperials.

Apple Jack was about to celebrate over their leadership, until she saw the large gathering of soldiers in the streets ahead. The Lt. began to tell her soldiers to charge, when a number of her men were taken out by flying gems coming from as if from heaven. She looked up to see Rarity standing on top of the building above them.

AJ whistled and pointed at the roof across from Rarity. Two Pegasi flew over and carried her up to the roof she had pointed at. Once on top, she faced Rarity with a hate-filled look in her eye.

"Howdy Rarity! Long time, no bloody revenge!", she spat the words at her.

"Indeed Darling."

The soldiers were slightly outnumbered. They still had eighty nine of their original hundred. They rushed the Imperials with all they had. They were valiant, almost to the point of fearlessness. They were strong: stronger than most, but only to be outmatched by the soldiers in front of them. They were relentless, in that they did not fear taking a life used for evil to secure an innocent one. They were in over their heads, and they would soon learn this.

Author's Note

Part two should be quite longer, as it focuses more closely on the entirety of the battle.
I am still relatively new to writing fight scenes so I will read it over MANY times before publication.

Also! I am not all to good at drawing...so I need somepony with skill to create a good cover art...this will be much appreciated! If anyone accepts this challenge pm me with the pic.

Thanx!
Lawpony

Friendship is Memories

"I just hope we're not too late."

Rainbow Dash was left alone as Applejack and Pineshield hurried out. She took her helmet off and laid it on the table. Had she really just made the decision to send them out to battle, while she stayed behind?

"No Dash, you can't think that way," she firmly stated to herself. "Ponyville needs you here right now."

She walked down the hall to her quarters, which were never used outside of sleep. She stepped inside and gave a sigh as she pulled a familiar picture off the wall. A tear came to her eye as she began to remember a time when they were all friends. Her gaze went from Rarity, to Twilight -which at the time of the picture was still a simple unicorn. She then saw the two that made her the most sad, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. How could she not have seen this coming? The two that would have and should have been expected to take it harder, were the elements of laughter and kindness. She began to sniffle when she remembered the day Fluttershy ran away to live on an isolated island when the war started. She begged them not to bother her.

"Fluttershy, you can't just run away!", Rainbow could remember saying

"What's stopping me?", Fluttershy had replied.

"Nothing, you aren't being forced to stay."

"Then let me go. I can't help any pony anymore."

"I can't lose another friend! Not this time!"

"I'm sorry Rainbow, but I can't stay. Goodbye."

Rainbow let a sob escape her throat.

"Goodbye Fluttershy," Rainbow sniffled with teary eyes.

She looked to Pinkie and sighed.

"Where did you go Pinkie?"

It was the day Twilight declared dictatorship on all of Equestria. Pinkie tried to throw a party for Twilight that said "congratulations on becoming a dictator",- predictable- but was thrown out of Canterlot and threatened not to set foot there ever again. She began to act weird after that. First she started talking to walls. The next thing she did was she would grind up rocks and put them in her water, claiming it was "mineral water". The last thing she did was buy blood-red paint and paint on the walls of her room, "DEATH TO THE QUEEN", and then disappear never to be seen again.

"Oh Pinkie, why did you have to go? What happened in that castle? What did they do to you?"

She looked at Apple Jack. The only one to have stayed with her and fight against what had become of their friends. She couldn't put into words how much that meant to her, nor how much it meant to the people of Equestria. She looked at Apple Jack and smiled. At least one of my friends didn't go crazy or turn evil, she thought to herself

Her eyes fell on Rarity. She could remember how different they were, yet how close they had become as friends. How Rarity was all about fashion, and manors, and all that pish-posh stuff. Rainbow was nothing close to that. She was all about speed, athletics, exercise, and other non-girly things. Somehow, they still got along. That is, until she began to unquestionably follow the Queen.

She then looked to the pony on the "targets list". It featured a picture of a Unicorn that had a black coat, and a red mane that was frazzled and short. Her horn had been sharpened to a point that could cut metal. She was holding up a dead rebel soldier as a sign of "I dare you to appose me". The name above the poster read, "Diamond Death". Her signature weapon was featured as gems, usually diamonds that had been made into knives, and shot as projectiles.

"How did you ever become this? I can barely tell you apart," Rainbow Dash whispered to the picture.

She then looked above it, to a picture that had an arrow pointing from it to Diamond Death's. "Queen RedDawn", she read. "What have you done?"

The picture of RedDawn was of a blood red coated Alicorn mare that had a long flowing black mane, and a sharp horn made to kill. Her eyes were glazed over with purple tendrils coming from them as she held a soldier off of a cliff with her dark powers. Her face was of pure hate. She looked as if she would kill her own friends to take what she wanted. And she had. How else had she acquired the throne and all its power for herself? Certainly not under mutual ruling terms.

She then recalled a time when her and Twilight were friends. They were good friends. They would hang out sometimes, they would go on epic adventures to try and save Equestria. Good times those were. What ever happened to those times? What had changed Twilight from this lovable, inquisitive, mare to an evil overlord-lady. If only she could find a way to fix her, she would. She would fight for a way to go back to the past. Back to when their friendship was magic. Back before their friendship was memories.

She stood there, lost in thought. She was pulled out of her trance by a knock on her door.

"What is it?", she called.

"Message for the Commander regarding the plans for Ponyville," the messenger said from outside the door.

"What is the message?"

"After much studying and spying, we have completely observed every factor of every guard's post. We know what they are going to do before they do it."

"When do they do shift changes for the Guard?"

"Every night at twelve, sharp."

"Get a small invasion force ready. Come tomorrow, Ponyville will be ours."

Friendship is memories.

Battle: Los Pegasus Part II

As Pineshield flew over Los Pegasus, the wind blew his short teal hair. His armor was glistening a bright green in the early-afternoon sun. He had been circling the city for about five minutes now, ordering strikes on collecting bodies of Imperials. He would send soldiers to aid in losing battles around Los Pegasus where the infantry fell weak.

He was currently making his third trip around the city when he saw a massive gathering on Mane Street.

"That's a lot of soldiers. Delta squad!! This one is all of ours! Attack!"

As soon as he bellowed his command, he leaned forward and nosedived, followed by the rest of his armada. The group plummeted into the city, directing themselves onto Mane Street. They landed ten feet from the soldiers, using their momentum to push themselves into a power run. Pineshield at the front, began to cry.

"For Equestria!"

The group echoed him.

"For Equestria!"

Pineshield charged the nearest soldier, and engaged in battle, followed by a wave of rebel Pegasi. The soldier swung at him, missing due to his Pegasi speed and agility. The rebel countered by bucking the soldier in the side, making him lose his balance. He then held up a hoof, and a knife sprang out from the armor on his foreleg. He quickly jabbed it into the soldier's throat.

The rebel next to him was losing his leverage against the soldier he was facing. Pineshield quickly spun around and slit the soldier's hind ankles, making him fall backwards as the rebel overpowered him. Pineshield was grabbed by magic and flung into a wall. He used the thin armor coating on his wings to shield himself from the blow. While trying to get up from the ground, a soldier swung a mace in his magic grip at him. He barely dodged it by pushing off of the air with his wings. When he turned towards his attacker, the mace was stuck in the wall, and the soldier was pulling on it.

Amateur!, he thought to himself as he jumped onto his back and slit his throat.

He looked back at the mob of soldiers falling limp. The Pegasi were completely destroying them. There was no way they would lose Los Pegasus. He jumped back in the fight as the kill ratio tipped in the rebels' favor.

"How long has it been now Applejack?", Diamond Death questioned. "Five years?"

"It's been a long time Rarity, Ah was wonderin' when ya would show your ugly face again," Applejack retorted.

They were now on an open flat roof.

"Where did we leave off again? Ah yes, you were on the ground begging, and I was about to kill you," Diamond sported a wicked smile. "Would you care to pick back up from there?"

Applejack glared at her. It killed her that Rarity had magic, and therefore an advantage.

"You know I could kick your flank all day. Why must you bow to the weak? Everything they have worked and died for is nothing. They are nothing! Come with us, and become more. Come with us and you shall rule with us as gods!", Diamond bribed her.

"Ah made mah choice. Ah'm ready to die for mah cause...are you?"

With that, Applejack charged Rarity and jumped in the air to perform an in-air-buck. This failed when Rarity grabbed AJ's hind legs in her magic, and spun her around in the air before releasing her, allowing her to fly into a wall. Applejack got up, and with a glare on her face, shot a small arrow out of her foreleg's armored gauntlet. She caught Rarity off guard and it hit her directly in her left ear.

As Rarity fell to the ground screaming in pain, Applejack ran to her side and injected her with a vial of a sleep agent. She had just caught the second to most dangerous pony in all of Equestria. She couldn't believe it was so easy.

As Applejack began to drag her off of the roof, she noticed something off. The ear that had been hit, had returned to its original shape.

How in Tartarus-, Applejack's train of thought was cut off as a hoof slammed into the side of her head.

"This is going well for us! Show no mercy, for it would not be shown to you!", Pineshield bellowed over the crowd of Pegasi warriors.

As if on cue, a swarm of Imperial Pegasi flew overhead. Their numbers were so great, that they blocked out the sun. This immediately turned the future tides of the battle.

"This isn't good," Pineshield told himself.

He knew the battle was lost when he saw the massive number of soldiers headed their way. He quickly turned and got the attention of his team.

"It has been an honor serving with you all! It is time I leave you to finish this task! Fight well," and with that he flew straight up towards the mass number.

When he had arrived at the massive gathering of Pegasi, he quickly located the leader, who was flying well above the group, barking orders. In one fluid movement, he was directly in front of him.

"I will not let you do this!"

"What is stopping me?", the older young responded calmly.

"Me!"

Pineshield slammed into the general with all of his force, sending them both spiraling toward a guard tower. The general landed against the side of the tower, followed by Pineshield landing on him, pushing them both through the wall. The general recovered rather quickly, shooting off of the ground and landing a hoof into Pineshield's face. Before he could recover, another hoof connected with the back of his head. Boy this guy is quick!

When the general lunged for him a third time, Pineshield positioned his armored wing as a shield and planted the Pegasus' face on it. While the general was still tumbling on the floor, Pineshield shot a chain out of his other foreleg gauntlet, that wrapped around the general. When he pulled him in, the general untangled himself and used his momentum to slam into Pineshield. The two continued their attacks until both were beaten and bruised. Finally, once Pineshield had drained all of his energy, the general stood over him with a spear attached to his gauntlet.

"Any last words before I do the world a favor?", the tired general growled.

"Just one," Pineshield replied.

"And what is that?"

"Catch."

Pineshield pushed away from the general with his wings and glided across the floor. When he got to other end of the room, he enveloped himself in his armored wings and drove through a pillar, making it fall toward the general. Of coarse, he was more intelligent than to stand still, and side-stepped the falling object. It didn't even hit the floor as it landed against another pillar. Proud of his adversery's failed attempt at killing him, he loudly boasted.

"Really? Is that all you can do? You know I am smarter than that!"

The second pillar began to fall, bringing all of the other five floors above with it.

"Oh poo," the general got out just before the entire tower collapsed on top of him.

"Good bye Equestria, it was an honor to fight for your freedom," a Pegasus stated in bravery as he was cut in two. The rebel forces had been badly beaten as the mass of Imperials flew down to finish them.

It was a lost cause, all hope died with the rebels.

In about a minute's time, the last twenty rebel soldiers fled the city, nearly evading entire mass death.

When Applejack awoke, she was tied up on the back of a chariot, and she could see the rebel bodies littering the streets. It hit her like a five ton weight.

Los Pegasus was lost.

Surprise

"Everpony in position?", A unicorn telepathically asked using magic.

"Red Team, in position," came a response.

"Green Team, in position,"said another

"Blue Team, in position,"

"What did they say?", Rainbow dash stood next to the unicorn.

"They are in position."

"Then tell them to begin."

"The Commander says we must begin," the unicorn told the groups.

When they were ready, the unicorn gave the signal and Red Team detonated bombs at the train station, and quickly became hidden. Once this had been done, a great number of guards were sent out to investigate what had happened.

"Green Team, your turn."

Two guards stood watch over the gate to the guard tower, when one looked to the other.

"Hey," the guard said.

"Yeah?", replied the other.

"You ever wonder why we're-"

Their conversation was cut off by knives flying into their helmets. As they collapsed to the ground, three ponies glided past them without a sound. Once inside the three began their way to the top.

"Ok, we need to get through this door here. And then we go up this winding stair case, taking out as many guards as possible," the orange one said.

"And how many guards are there on each floor again?", asked a white unicorn.

"The information Ah got says four on each floor," said the yellow mare.

"Are you sure there are four on every floor, Blossom? I mean, what if there are five or six? Then we'd be in trouble!"

"Look, Silent Chime, we had this place scoped out fer weeks.", Dark Blossom reassured. "We know how many guards there are on each floor, what they do in their free time. Hay, we even know how many cups of coffee each one can drink before he has to-"

"Okay! So basically we should trust HQ...got it."

"Hey, where's scoot- Ah mean Shadow Blaze?"

"Over here. I'm waiting for the first guard to come out and start a conversation with the door guard. He has about one minute left", Scootaloo told them from above the doorway to the main room.

The other two hid, and in one minute and five seconds from then, the guard walked through and was attacked from above as he made his way out the door.

"Sleep now, brave soul. You have earned your rest," Scootaloo lulled as she closed his eyes.

The three quietly made their way into the room to take out the other three still at their posts. They all waited until the others were in position. Once in position, they all killed their targets in a synchronized movement.

The three continued to take out the guards on their way up the tower until they emerged from the top.

"Where'd you put his warning flag Blossom?", Sweetie Belle asked.

"Me? Ah didn't touch it!"

"Then who did?"

"For goodness' sake! I'll head back down and get it," Scootaloo scolded.

Scootaloo left the pair to themselves for several minutes, before returning with the alarm flag from one of the dead guards.

"Well, here goes nothing!", Scootaloo squeaked as she tore it in half in her and Applebloom's teeth, before throwing it over the tower wall.

"Sir! There has been an oddity at the west guard tower. Their warning flag was seen falling to the ground in two halves about thirty minutes ago," a soldier warned the general in charge of Ponyville's Imperial fort.

"Hmm...first the train station, then the road leading to Canterlot, now our west guard tower's flag being flung over the wall? We're being toyed with. Send out every soldier to find the doers of these deeds."

"You don't think it could be the Resistance do you?"

"I doubt that. I received word from the Queen that Los Pegasus was taken yesterday. I doubt they would attack in such a short time frame. Not when they are badly wounded and weak."

At that moment, a sizzle noise could be heard from outside the door. It grew louder and louder, until the door flew off the hinges.

One hour ago.

"I see it! Commander, the plan is going smoothly," the unicorn assistant stated.

"Good, we must move quickly. More than likely, we weren't the only ones that got the signal," Commander Dash warned.

"Should I send out the command?"

"Affirmative."

"All teams! Continue to meeting destination!

"On our way!"

"Tell the Commander we're ready."

"At once!"

Forty five minutes ago.

The groups met up and began heading towards Ponyville's Main base of operations. They were able to sneak past every guard and make their way without being seen.

"Blue Team, separate from the group and continue to your objective. I'll see you at final destination," the Commander told the group.

Blue team stopped within the tree line, and slowly made their way to the backup road heading from Ponyville to Canterlot. Once there, they began planting explosives on a three mile stretch of road, about one mile out of town.

"You think they'll hear this?", one rebel asked.

"Are you kidding? They'll hear this up in Canterlot!", another replied jokingly.

"Yeah! And they won't be able to help as poor little Ponyville base is taken!"

"I can't wait to see what they do when they can't even get troops out here to help their soldiers."

"We shall see."

And with that, all of Blue Team began too slowly backtrack until they were just inside Ponyville. When they were a safe enough distance inside town limits, they lit the fuse, and watched it head off.

Current

"Commander, we did it," the unicorn from Blue Team gulped after his stealthy run away from the blast zone.

"Good, now is the time to remain hidden, and await my command to enter the fray should we need it," Rainbow's unicorn partner sent back.

"Understood."

"You don't think it could be the Resistance do you?", came a voice from inside the door.

"Shh...do you hear that?", Rainbow Dash hushed them.

"I doubt that. I received word from the Queen that Los Pegasus was taken yesterday. I doubt they would attack in such a short time frame. Not when they are badly wounded and weak," came the response of a second voice, the General's by Rainbow Dash's memory.

"They aren't expecting us. This is our chance. Unicorns, blow the door down!", the Commander whispered.

The unicorns of each group charged their powers together and shot an explosion that shot the door off of its hinges. They were inside the base.

Rainbow Dash ran in first, taking out the stallion standing next to the desk. She flew straight into him, and shot him into the wall. She then turned, as all of the rebels had surrounded the shocked General.

"What was that about? It not being us? You must not have known how much I wanted this!"

"Well poo!", the General huffed.

Author's Note

Should I tag the CMC because of this chapter(unless there isn't an all three button)? Perhaps I will keep them in the story.

And if anyone got the reference with the two guards in the beginning...I'll give you all of my mustaches! :pinkiehappy:

Wishes and Dreams

How long had it been since she had slept in her own bed? She hadn't a clue. All she knew was that it made her so happy to sleep in her own bed. Rainbow Dash turned over to get in a better position. Why hadn't they destroyed my cloud house by now, seeing as how much the Queen hates me? she thought to herself.

Just then, she realized that she had overslept.

"No rest for the ones keeping Equestria out of total hopelessness," She groaned while getting out of bed.

As she made her way downstairs, she noticed something off.

"I didn't go to sleep in my own bed last night. I went to my barracks in the forest."

Heart racing, she quickly thought of all of the things that could have happened, ending with her in her own bed. She opened her door and began to fly down to town, to see life as it had become during their imprisonment. To her surprise, as she got to town, life was as it used to be. Ponies were out selling products at their booths. Including a certain farm pony.

"Applejack? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back at base?", Rainbow asked, confused.

"Base? What're ya talkin' about? Ah'm s'posed to be here sellin' mah apples, just like every day," even more confused than her friend.

"Ha ha Applejack, you got me. Now get back to base, and that's an order," Rainbow was beginning to get miffed.

"Since when are you the boss of me?!

"Since you enlisted into the Resistance to take down Tw-", she was cut off when Fluttershy walked up to Applejack and and gave her some bits for an apple.

"Thank ya kindly Fluttershy," Applejack said.

"No, thank you for having the best apples in all of Equestria," Fluttershy insisted.

"Wait! Apples? What about Sweet Apple Acres? Didn't Twi-", Rainbow was cut off again.

"What do ya mean what about mah farm? It's doin' just fine. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Ugh! Fluttershy, you remember what happened to her farm, you tell-", Rainbow Dash paused in confusion, looked at Fluttershy, and her eyes grew wide with realization. "FLUTTERSHY?! When did you come back?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Um...I...uh...sorry?", Fluttershy squeeked from behind her mane.

"I thought you left, never to return!", Rainbow blurted out with tear-filled eyes. "I've missed you so much!", she hugged Fluttershy as if she hadn't seen her in ages. Hadn't she?

"Um...yes...I missed you too...Is a day too long not to see a friend?", Fluttershy was now extremely confused, as was Applejack.

"Rainbow, what's goin' on? It's not like you to act as if you hadn't seen friends in years," Applejack questioned.

"But that's just it, I haven't. The last time I saw you, Fluttershy, was five years ago. You left when Twi-", really, again?

"Oh my...I don't remember leaving five years ago. In fact, we just had coffee last Tuesday. And not to mention casual hellos and goodbyes when we happen to bump into each other at the market this past week."

"But you left when-"

"Where's Fluttershy going?! Can I come?", Pinkie Pie had broken the laws of physics, again, and appeared out of Applejack's apple basket.

"No Pinkie, Fluttershy isn't-", yet again, she was cut off, but this time under her own power. She delved into a deep thought for several seconds. "Pinkie?"

"Yes Dashie?"

"Would you mind sticking out a hoof please?"

"Sure thing!", she stuck out her left fore-hoof.

Rainbow Dash took it in her hooves, and began to examine it. She looked up at Pinkie with the straightest face she had ever used, and suddenly burst into tears and wrapped Pinkie in a hug.

"Oh Pinkie! Why did you ever leave?!"

"I don't know! I just had to!", Pinkie followed her friend's outburst.

"You know I could have and would have helped you through it!"

"I know! And I'm sorryheheee!"

"Don't you ever leave again!"

"I won't!", she immediately regained her composure. "Uh, Dashie?"

"Yeah Pinkie", Rainbow sniffled.

"Why are we crying?"

Rainbow had the most confused face on at that moment. "What do you mean Pinkie? Don't you remember? You went all crazy when Tw-", Why bother?, she thought to herself as she was cut off again.

"Has any pony seen Rarity or Twilight recently?", Applejack asked.

"Yeah, they were back at the library practicing some new magic tricks," Fluttershy replied.

"Well they should be on their way to the park soon, on account of us havin' a picnic today."

"Oh yeah! I completely forgot about that!", Pinkie had gone back to her ecstatic self.

"We'll finish this conversation later Rainbow. Ah need to get some things together fer the picnic," Applejack apologized.

"Bwah? Huh? O...kay? See ya later," the situation was absolutely tormenting Rainbow Dash's mind.

It was a nice day. The kind one takes all of their friends to a picnic on. The sun was on its best behavior, the clouds were hiding away from the group of happy friends, the grass seemed greener that day. Then, Twilight and Rarity arrived.

"Sorry everypony, we were just finishing up our practice," Twilight explained to her friends.

"Oh, it's no big deal," Fluttershy assured her friend.

"Twilight!"

Twilight turned to see her rainbow colored friend in an attack position, ready to lunge at her.

"Um, yes Rainbow Dash?", Twilight was confused.

"How dare you come here?! You evil pile of horseradish! How dare you do what you did to all of your friends and show your face like you didn't do anything?!"

"I have no clue what you're talking about. Is there something I did wrong? Is work getting to you? I read that increased stress can lead to lashing out."

"What? No, you....uh....what?", At that moment, she noticed that Twilight didn't have any wings.

"What is confusing you Rainbow?", Twilight questioned.

"What happened to your wings? You were an Alicorn princess last time I saw you."

Twilight couldn't hold it in. "BAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!"

Her friends followed suit.

"What's so funny? You killed people, you ruined lives! You became, "Queen Red Dawn" and killed the princesses for power! How dare you laugh at me?!"

"Woah! What was that last part? I didn't kill the princesses," Twilight retorted.

"Oh yeah?! You must have sent "Diamond Death" over here to do it for you!", she spat the name at her friends, motioning to Rarity.

"Wha, me? I can assure you, I haven't killed. Certaintly not the princesses!", Rarity defended.

"That's it! I'm getting Celestia in on this," Twilight teleported Spike out of nowhere. Spike landed on the ground with a thud, holding a shower brush and a rubber ducky.

"BWAH! What's up Twilight?!"

"I need you to send this letter to the princess at once," she explained, holding up a letter she had just written.

"Fine!", he took the letter and burped it away. "Can I go back to my shower now? Preferably without any mirror smashing into this time."

"Of course Spike,"Twilight picked him up with her magic, and teleported him back to the library.

In the distance, there was the sound of a collision with glass, and a high pitched dragon bellow. "Twilight!

"He'll be fine," there was an awkward silence between the group. "It's the scales."

At that moment, the Princess of the sun appeared out of nowhere. "I was summoned?"

"Yes Princess, Rainbow Dash has verbally attacked me and Rarity. She said something about me being an evil "Queen RedDawn". I want to know what's wrong," Twilight requested.

"Luna told me that Rainbow Dash had a nightmare last night, and that she couldn't do anything to help."

"So...it was all a dream?", Rainbow Dash asked with tear filled eyes.

"Yes. She does apologize though. She stayed in your dream all night, trying to help in any way she could."

So, you didn't die? Equestria's still in one piece? All those innocents are OK?!"

Yes, yes, and yes," Celestia confirmed with a warm smile.

So...we're not sworn enemies?!", she looked at Twilight happily.

"I suppose not," Twilight opened her arms for a hug.

"Oh I'm so sorry! I thought it was all real!", Rainbow Dash jumped into her hooves.

"Oh, it was," she whispered into her ear.

And with that, Rainbow Dash was left in the black of space to think for a minute or two. She then heard words she wished she would never hear again.

"Commander Dash..."

Pineshield?

"Commander Dash! Answer me! Are you okay?", a guard asked, now standing next to her bed.

"I can't believe it was a dream," Rainbow was in tears.

"Ma'am?", the soldier replied after finally getting her to speak.

"I thought it was real, then I thought it was fake. It was so confusing!"

"Commander, we need you right now. We can't have you going crazy on us," he gave her a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, and I don't plan to. I just...had a dream last night. I woke up in my cloud house. I went down to town, and everything was back to normal. I was on edge and wanted to argue with everypony. Finally Twilight sent a message to princess Celestia about me, and she came and cleared things up," She sniffled as more tears began to flow. "She told me that it was just a dream, that Luna had tried to intervene but wasn't able to. Then me and Twilight hugged, and that's when she made me wake up and feel alone again," she started sobbing.

"There, there. I know it's hard, I have a cousin in the royal guard. We need to stay strong. The whole of Equestria needs you right now."

"You're right. I can't sit here and cry about everything. Others have it worse than me and I need to stand tall for them," Rainbow stood up off of her bed and looked at him. "Thanks, I needed that."

"No problem. Oh yeah!", his eyes widened as he realized something he had forgotten. "I came here to tell you, the force we sent to Los Pegasus still hasn't returned. I think something may be-"

At that moment, a figure stood in the doorway to her room.

"Pineshield?! What happened to you?", Rainbow stared in horror at her squadron leader.

"Oh, this? It's nothing!", He didn't motion towards any part of his body, seeing as all of it was badly damaged. As if on cue, his back cracked and he fell over without making a sound.

"Pineshield!"

The first guard ran over to him and checked his pulse with his magic.

"He's alive, but I don't know for how long."

Pineshield's vision was extremely blurred. He could only see colors. He watched as all the pretty colors danced around him until they began forming a face. No, a mane. But there was a face attached to it. Then suddenly the mouth of said face began forming words.

"........you........shield.......happened....."

He looked at the face for a moment, then he realized who it was. It was his commander. He did his best to salute but he couldn't get his foreleg past his chest. The words continued, but were more audible this time.

"Are you.....Pineshield........What happened......"

He just stared at her, confused for a moment. Then Rainbow began to speak again.

"Are you okay Pineshield? What happened out there?"

"Oh man! My head!", Pineshield moaned.

"You're under a lot of drugs right now, the doctors say you're lucky to be alive," Rainbow explained.

"I'm even surprised I'm still alive!"

"So what happened out there?", Rainbow went straight to the point.

"Where to start?"

"Maybe with how you got like this..."

"Well, I dropped a tower on myself."

"You dropped a tower on yourself? Why?!", Rainbow gave him a concerned look.

"Well, I was fighting the general of the large invasion force that took Los Pegasus. I knew all was lost. The rest of the force you sent didn't make it."

"We lost Los Pegasus?! Then how'd you get back alive, with all of those injuries?"

"Yeah, there was a long hard battle that we were winning. Then out of nowhere, the sun was blocked by a massive force, two thousand strong maybe. I fought the general and was about to lose, so I dropped a tower on the both of us. I guess that's where my tale really begins."

Three days ago

It wasn't a good day for a tragic loss. Those days are supposed to be dark and rainy. Today had been bright and sunny, until the final wave of troops had come in and blocked out the sun.
In the aftermath of the loss, screams of agony could be heard way off in the distance. Moans of loss were heard around every corner, that is, until an imperial ended the source.

Pineshield lay broken beside a pile of debris. He hadn't intended to live as long as he did. He awoke slowly, taking in the situation. He was laying on his back, one of his hooves under him, twisted out of joint. Let me take care of that, he thought before taking it in his hind hooves in front, and twisting his hind quarters. This action was followed by a harsh scream emanating from his dry throat.

"geeAAAAAAHHH-mhm-HMMM!", he stuck his good fore-hoof into his mouth to keep his pain only to himself.

When he had finally regained his thought, his bad hoof was now usable again, though it may need professional medics to make it good as new. He was about to get up and find a way to escape when an imperial walked around a pile of debris.

"This one's still alive," he looked at Pineshield's body that had gone limp just perfectly before he came upon it. "Guess I need to fix th-Hey! It's Pineshield! If I capture him the queen will promote me for sure!"

He knelt over the fallen soldier to tie him up. Fear gripped Pineshield and he acted. He shot his good hoof into the soldier's face, catching him off guard. When the soldier could see again, there was a hoof-mounted knife flying into his throat. When the soldier fell, Pineshield waited for any others to come. No soldiers came to this one's aid. Pineshield took the soldier into a hole in the rubble of tower, and traded armor with him.

"So that's why you were dressed like an imperial...good thing I recognized your face before the armor," Rainbow donned a inquisitive composure.

"Thank you ruggedly good looks!", Pineshield pumped his good hoof in the air.

"Ha! Yeah r-"

When Pineshield emerged from the hole, he was now, to the eye, an imperial. He knew how they walked, he knew how they talked. After all, he used to be a Sargent in the royal guard before the new rule. They were now still the same, just under tyrannical rule.

"This armor brings back memories," he recalled his guard days.

He slowly made his way to where all of the imperials were, making sure not to show his face too much. They were cheering over their victory, so he joined in, being sure not to make it look too fake. When Diamond Death had appeared before the group, she began to tell them how great of a job they did. She told them that Los Pegasus was now theirs and that they had fully crushed the rebellion there. She then held up a beaten and bloody body using her magic. It was....It was....

"Applejack?", Rainbow Dash was now tearing up.

"Yes ma'am. It was her...But don't worry, she's still alive, or at least at the time she was."

I need to get out of here. I need to inform the Commander, Pineshield thought to himself.

When Rarity had finished telling them about how they had one of the top officers in the resistance, she flung Applejack into the back of a chariot and climbed in. She bellowed one final call before ordering the pegasi to fly.

"Hunt down the cowards that ran! Kill them all before they get home!"

A bellowing roar came from the crowd as they all ran in the direction the rebels went.

"And that's about all there was detail-wise. I went with the imperials as they found our troops. When we came upon them, enough recognized my face and let me sneak past them. And that's how I got here without being followed. So many died, helping me escape. And that is why I need to stay strong. I need to do my part to free this land...for their sake, along with all of ours."

"I'm sorry you had to see Applejack like that. It must have been hard," Rainbow shivered a bit.

"Yes, though I knew she was alive. She was breathing, and when she was thrown into the chariot she made a moan, meaning she felt it...I know she's alive, and we need to get her back before it's too late."

"Then let us find a way to come back at th-"

"Commander! I am sorry to interrupt, but something terrible has happened!"

"What is it?!"

"The changelings! They've been attacked!"

Author's Note

I went through and edited this thing like three times there were so many mistakes!
So if you see any stupid mistakes just remember...I don't have an editor... -_-

This Can't Be Good

It was a nice day to stand guard today. Not that much was happening, not that much ever did. But today just seemed like one of those days. The sun was at a forty five degree angle, indicating that in a few hours it would be noon; and that meant lunch! Flage, short for Camouflage, was having the best day of the year so far. Maybe, if she pulled the right strings, and said the right things, it could be perfect.

"Hey, Flip?", Flage got her friends attention.

"Yeah Flage?", Flip turned out of her position to see what her co-post guard friend wanted.

"Where's Flop?", she looked not scared, just inquisitive.

Flop was Flip's twin brother. They had grown up together and had a special kind of sibling bond it seems only twins can have. They seemed to have a sort of connection that made each stronger when near the other. It was a possible effect of a magic containing organism that shared a womb. It isn't common, but can still happen. This is why Flip and Flop were stationed outside the entrance. They were to be a more powerful unit this way.

"Oh, he's at the doctor, he got the flew last week when the unexpected cold came," Flip looked at her friend. "But he'll be fine, he's in the last stages of recovery."

"Well that's good. The flew used to be very dangerous until Equestria came to our aid. But we are running out. The civil war has stopped the flow of supplies. It never effects just the county it happens in. But, they told us to stay out of it... well tell Flop I thought about him today."

"I will. You know, I was just thinking that today was a nice day, despite all that's going on elsewhere."

"Yeah, so was I. I don't think anything could ruin it," she inhaled a deep breath and sighed.

As if fate were waiting for those lines to be uttered, a huge flaming rock came over the hill and began its path into the gate that the two were standing. The gate, and everything previously in front of it was crushed. Then she came. It was as if death itself had walked up onto the scene.

"Well, it looks like I've squashed another bug!", she looked down at Flip's unrecognizable body. "Troops! The gate is open! If in any way possible, kill as little Changelings as you can. Their queen is our target.", Rarity sent over the telepathic comm.

"For our Queen!" someone sent back.

A multitude of soldiers came storming over the hill to funnel into the hole that led to the center of the hive. The soldiers made their way to the tunnels where they met a force they had not expected to be there so quickly. The imperials used stun bolts that they would fire from their horns. This would paralyze them, but not permanently. This was so the imperials could make their way past the Changeling soldiers without killing every one of them; which was not their goal.

"How did they know we were coming? We took out the gate guards!", Rarity was furious because of the minor delay.

Just then, a soldier about ten feet away from her collapsed to the floor and then turned into a Changeling, a dead one. It was Flage.

"This scum warned them! Hurry! We must get past them to get to their Queen!", Rarity commanded.

When the imperials continued their barrage of stun bolts, it slowly began to stop having effect. This only fueled Rarity's hate even more. She flew into the nearest Changeling and plunged her horn into his heart. She then spun around and flung him into the crowd of Changelings that was nearest to her.

"This is what happens when you don't comply with the Empire. You get killed! Destroyed! We will kill your Queen and take you over! This is your chance! You will either accept or die denying. But your hive will belong to High Queen Red Dawn!"

"You will die trying, just like the Griffon terrorist! We are all stronger than any pony!", an unnamed Changeling yelled from the crowd. This earned a massive roar from the Changelings.

"Very well."

Rarity nodded, and all of the soldiers rushed their targets at once. She ran to a Changeling and without blinking an eye, jumped over him, landing with her horn down his back. She flung him into another, and while he was distracted, shot a diamond into his face. He too fell. She kept this up for another minute, until a knight in pure gold armor, which towered over a normal sized pony by three heads and shoulders, stepped out into the open.

"Dibs!", Diamond Death sent out telepathically.

"Of course my Lady! It is all yours," a higher lieutenant replied.

She ran up to him, and sent three magic bolts right at his face. This only distracted him, as the armor, which covered his face, was enchanted. He regained himself though, and swung his left foreleg at her, and a hammer flew out of it and smashed into her. She spun around just in time to use her feet to kick off of a wall. She propelled herself into him, horn charged, and sent them both through the wall behind him.

The battle in the main hall continued on. It was starting to look up, then a manticore was released in the direction of the Imperials. As it slowly made its way over to them, the soldiers just looked on in determination.

"Well, let's get this over with," the currently leading commander -in Diamond Death's absence- extened his right forehoof, and a scythe folded out of his it. "I believe you have a poor choice in prey."

Author's Note

Sorry about the delay...the 30th was the last day of school, not the one after like I thought, then I wasted all of yesterday playing Dark Souls. Can't really call it wasting...that's the only game I could play all day and have it as a realistic excuse for why I didn't post ponies...but anywho...hope you enjoyed...also, I like to put a lot of ...'s got a problem with it? oh well.............. :P

The Plunge

As Rarity plunged through the wall, she did not expect what she would find on the other side. She had driven them both into a massive hole. The hole had three bridges stretching across it. It was about three hundred feet deep, and each bridge was about seventy feet lower than the last. As Rarity and the knight fell down the hole, their momentum was greatly slowed as they fell through each bridge. When they finally hit the ground, the knight's hammer was detached and embedded in the rocky floor. The knight saw this and quickly retracted the broken limb attachment. Before Diamond could bat an eye, he had extended a massive great sword from his other foreleg.

"Ah, so this is the road we must travel."

The juggernaut nodded.

"So be it!", Diamond spat.

She charged the knight and was nearly cleaved in two by his massive blade. She stretched two legs to either side, and slid under the him. When she came back up, she back flipped onto his back, spun around and would have fired a diamond into the back of his head, had it not been completely protected.

"Blast-OOF!", she was flung into the air as he flicked her with his armored tail.

Once she was in the air, he swatted her with his unarmed hoof, sending her through a column of the lower bridge. When she hit the wall, she was able to gain balance in the hole she had made, and suddenly shot a bolt of frost at him. She successfully froze her target in place for the time being. She made her way over to him and began to examin him. She grinned the most evil grin she could muster.

"So this is what you see with? A simple eye hole. How do you see out of such a small hole? Better yet, how do you see out of such a small hole, when you have a diamond embedded in your skull?", Rarity maniacally laughed.

Just then, the knight spoke. "I have a question. How will you breathe when you have a sword embedded in your chest?", the knight asked through his helmet.

"How did you-", she was cut off, as his massive blade made contact with her chest, and sent her flying.

"Yeah, try to come back from that!"

Per his request, the evil sorceress slowly stood up, and began cracking her vertebrae back in place.

"Eww, gross!", the knight began backing away.

She had finished with her back and was now putting her left foreleg back in its socket. When she completed this, she popped her neck out of its sickening position that border lined looking broken.

"You were saying..."

"How the-", he was shot into the wall by a large magic blade.

"That was extremely painful! Please do not do that again," Diamond growled.

The knight looked to his left and noticed an archway. He looked back and quickly constructed a plan. Without delay, he shot a massive crossbow bolt from his shoulder at Rarity, and while she dodged, he dove for the door. He made it just in time and cleaved the top of the arch in two with his blade, causing it to collapse and close the gap. He then saw that she was digging through the ruble, so he ran on three legs while he dug into the ceiling with his blade, causing the hallway he left behind to further collapse.

"I need someone on top to send the ceiling of the delta excavation hole down on itself. Red Dawn's sorceress is in there and I don't think she can die easily!", the knight sent over the magical comm.

"We're kinda busy at the moment. The mantacores are obeying them for some reason!"

"But I need help! She's chasing me down a hall now! If she gets to me, I'm dead! I need someone to hurry up and fill this pit in, or send me help!"

Just then his pleas were answered and he heard a massive explosion. It was followed by the sound of ruble falling nearby. He stopped running, put his sword away, and began to catch his breath. His heart was racing. Had he just narrowly avoided the worst death he could think of? Death by a sorcerer is not fun he had heard. He had heard they could do things to your very soul to make sure you didn't die too quickly. He was calming down and began walking off the shaky feeling in his legs. He slowly walked until he came to a wall with a sign that read, "Excavation zone. Tunnel currently halfway dug."

"Oh no! Don't tell me I just trapped myself down here in a tunnel!"

He turned around and didn't see anything behind him. For some reason, something about this made his skin crawl.

"Uh, guys. I think I have a problem. I seem to have trapped myself in an unfinished tunnel. I need somebody to get me outta here. I don't have the right equipment to dig outta here. Guys?"

The only thing that gave him company was the quiet, and an eerie feeling.

"Um...what happened up there? Why won't they respond?!", the knight was beginning to sweat.

Suddenly, he could hear the ruble collapse in the direction he came.

"Hello? Did you guys here me? That was kinda quick for somebody who was just fighting a manticore."

There was only dark and silence.

"This doesn't seem right. Something's off."

He lit up his horn to see in the dark tunnel, for there were no light sources left behind from the recent excavations. Before he died, the last thing he saw was a diamond suddenly closing the distance to his face.

Author's Note

Sorry for such a long delay. I really hope you enjoyed the chapter. It was fun to write. Now to go take a nap, or eat lunch...whichever comes first.

A Walk

"What do you mean they won?!", Rainbow Dash was in full panic mode.

"The Queen herself joined in to make sure they weren't defeated," Feather Weight informed.

"But, why weren't we notified?!"

"That's why I came Commander! My squad and I stayed with the changelings to help, and I am the only one to survive!"

"What?! What of the other squads?"

"They were beheaded. It was both a sign of anti-resistance, and a warning to me as to not dilly dally on my trip back. And yes, I made sure I wasn't followed."

"How did Red Dawn add that much aid? I mean, she is the best with magic, but I don't see her presence changing much."

"She has gained some new powers. I fear she may have somehow unlocked almighty power or something. First when she initially arrived, she turned the changelings' manticore army against them, then she shot some sort of magical beam into the ceiling that made it collapse!"

"WHAT?!", if there was anything past panic mode, Rainbow had entered it.

"I know, I don't understand either. But when she emerged from the changeling queen's chambers, she held the horn of Chrysalis."

"Hmm...HMMM! What to do?! What to do?! We have to storm them right now! We have to kill her before she can do anything else!"

"Commander! Calm down a little bit. Maybe it would be best if you go for a walk," Pineshield was looking up from the hospital bed with caring eyes. "You haven't slept well, and you've been stuffing yourself in the planning room for the past month! Now, with all due respect, go take a walk before you injure yourself, ma'am!", he held his week foreleg up to his forehead and saluted.

"A walk? Are you sure? What if-"

"We'll send a soldier to watch you in case that happens."

"But if-"

"He'll protect you if anything happens."

Do you see my face? It is not amused."

"I know...you'd probably be the one to save his life. But it would be best to have more than one pony alone at a time, in case anything does happen."

"I guess you're right. Feather Weight, walk with me"

"Yes ma'am. Shall I change into my casual apparel?", Feather Weight asked.

"As you wish, meet me at the library. That is where I wish to start off my walk.

"Yes ma'am."

In front of the library, two ponies met to go for a walk. Rainbow Dash hadn't seen Ponyville in forever. The first stop on her walk, was to visit an old friend she hadn't seen since Twilight changed. Without any delay, she approached the door to the library and knocked five times.

"Bwah? Five knocks! Who's there?!", came a deep dragon voice from inside.

"Is this still Spike's residence?", Rainbow replied.

The sound of hurried feet came towards the door, and it swung open.

"Rainbow?! Is that really you?!", Spike cried out.

"I would say hey kiddo, but it seems you're not a kiddo anymore," Rainbow gave him a warm smile.

"Yeah, it's been a while. So I see you freed us from the Queen's rule for now," he looked towards Rainbow Dash's hooves. "I don't know why she did it."

"Yes I know, it shocked us all. But you need to know that I am doing everything I can to find out what caused it, and keep you safe."

"Yeah, I know. Where're the others? I don't know much of what happened after y'all left."

Rainbow looked down, trying to find the correct words, then looked back into his eyes. "Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie left, Rarity joined Twilight, and was thus promoted to the highest rank. And Applejack stayed by my side the whole way," she smiled after adding the last part.

"Where is Applejack? I figure she would be with you on your trip into town."

Rainbow gulped. She knew what was about to come would be the worst so far. "I don't know. She...she was taken in the battle for Los Pegasus."

Spike looked on in shock and dis-belief. "What?! You mean, Twilight took her? What do you think she's done to her? I hate to say it, but she's changed so much, nothing would surprise me."

"Don't think like that! She's done some nasty thing. Things only me and my men have seen, but don't go thinking what's she's done to one of her old friends. She hasn't killed one of us so it won't be as easy."

"So what are you doing in town?", Spike was perking up a bit.

"Oh, you know. Just taking a walk around the town I freed from evil. And-", her stomach angrily growled. "Uh...I just realized, I haven't eaten all day."

"But it's two in the afternoon."

Yeah. I'm off to the diner. See ya later Spike."

She gave him a hug and was turning to leave but he interjected. "Wait! Can I come too? I haven't been out much, and I haven't seen you in forever!", he begged.

"Sure thing! We can catch up some more over some lunch!"

"Uh...I know it's more of a mare's thing to say but... I need to freshen up a little before we head out. I don't think I've bathed all week."

"But it's Thursday!"

"Yeah...I've become kind of a hermit, and I stay locked up in my room reading books."

"Well hurry up! You've gotta show me what's changed since I left. And what the best places to eat are."

"Okay, be right back!"

Rainbow looked at Feather Weight and he just shrugged.

Author's Note

So I finally got around to updating after feeling guilty about it. This is a failed attempt at a forth of July update. Yes, it is the fifth by my time. If it is still the forth on your end, hurrah! I am also really tired and kinda half-flanked this one so...if you notice some dumb mistake please politely let me know and I shall politely fix it, and everyone shall be happy, thank you. happy forth of July :D *FAIL

Keep your enemies closer

As Rainbow Dash and Spike walked down the street, she was overwhelmed at what had happened while Ponyville was under the Queen's rule. She also saw just how remarkably quickly they were healing. There were ponies dancing and singing in the streets. The old diners were now open again, with plenty of food freshly in stock. Even the mayor was back to being mayor. The town re-elected her after her unlawful step-down the Queen ordered. Everything seemed like nothing ever happened. However, a few places were missing ponies that belonged. Suger Cube Corner was missing Pinkie Pie. All of Fluttershy's animals were in the wild, or a shelter. Sweet Apple Acres' prized farm mare was currently a prisoner of war, whereabouts unknown. The town's tailor and fashion diva had left them to their own tacky garments. Ponyville was coming back, but some scars couldn't heal.

But she couldn't dwell on the bad. She had to think about the good.

"So, this new eatery. It's nice?", Rainbow asked as her and Spike walked.

"Well, it's not really new. Just, not in hiding anymore."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when the Queen became a dictator, she rationed everypony's food. It was nasty and didn't really fill you up. It was enough to keep you alive but, that was it. So this couple of zebras, who had recently moved in, decided to open an underground shop, where they would take your daily rations and add some water and wild herbs, and they made some kind of soup with it," Spike licked his lips. "It was great! They turned that old, dry stuff into something new and tasty. I never went out much, but I had to make time once in a while for that!"

"So, do they still use that stuff?", Rainbow was looking a little scared. She had tasted imperial rations before.

"Oh no. They're keeping the idea, but using whatever food a pony brings from their home, or the market. It's exploding! If freedom returns, they'll easily have a popular franchise. And it all came from just trying to do something nice for the ponies around them."

"Well you're making me hungry! When do we get there?"

"It's just a block over."

When they got there, Rainbow found it to be a small building, room enough for a small kitchen, and a lawn of picnic tables.

"What a a quaint little building," Rainbow admired.

"Quaint? You're starting to sound like Ra-uh, some fancy couple...down the street," Spike's countenance fell.

"Relax Spike. We're here to remember the good, not the bad. We can talk about the past. It might be better if we can escape the present once in a while," she gave him a reassuring smile.

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey, remember that time when you stuck Opal in that tree? It seemed like the only thing that would get Rarity outside was the desperate cries from her terrified cat!", he began snickering.

"Yeah, it takes a master to know what to do to get a diva out of a pity tantrum," Rainbow she snickered with him.

"Oh! Remember when Twilight saved everypony from Discord?" I mean, that was awesome! How she used the elements of harmony."

"Yeah, she was pretty awesome," she looked like she was about to change moods entirely.

"You know what? I never heard the whole story about what happened to you guys when Discord came. I mean, I know what he did, but y'all never talked much about what it felt like."

"Oh, wait, we're next in line. Did we even bring anything?", they were now standing at the window to the kitchen.

"Oh yeah," he reached into a -very manly- hand bag, and drew out some ingredient he had brought. "I've got some gems for me, of course, and I brought a bouquet of roses for you. Now don't jump to conclusions or anything! I hear that among ponies roses make one of the best stews here."

"Okay, let's give them our stuff and find a table. So what were you saying about Discord?", Rainbow finished as they found a table.

"How did it feel, to have your entire nature, and inner self turned around like that. I mean, Applejack couldn't tell the truth, Fluttershy was a jerk, Pinkie Pie hated laughter and happiness, and that was a dark day. Rarity went nuts about hording stuff for herself, and you abandoned everypony. Now, I know that wasn't really you, I mean, look at who you are now. You're Commander Dash, the leader of the Resistance, the final hope for Equestria. So, what happened deep down?"

Rainbow Dash was at a loss for words. "You kinda caught me off guard there. But don't sweat it. It was...weird. Have you ever fought yourself, I mean literally? It felt like there was another me, and she was bent on abandoning her friends. I just had to stop her. I just had to keep her from leaving, but then I failed. She left, and "saved" some random cloud and fell asleep on it, the bum! But when Twilight put my element around my neck, the other me began to die. And then she just vanished."

"Wow...that is deep. Oh, would you look at that, foods ready!", he licked his lips.

"Can't wait to dig my face into this Rose-stew-thing!", she promptly stuck her entire muzzle in it.

"BAAHAHAHAHAHA! I didn't think you were serious!", Spike was in tears.

She raised her face out of the stew and looked puzzled. "What?"

Then a silence fell over them. She looked confused, and Spike had stopped laughing and was confused as well. And then she burst into laughter, followed by Spike.

"You're face was epic! You thought I wasn't joking!"

"I thought you were serious!"

The two joined in one more fit of laughter, and then began to make their way back into a serious conversation. They talked about more instances in their friends' past. They recalled how Applejack made Pinkie blow milk out of her nose in front of the Princess, and everypony thought she would be disgusted, but she laughed along. They talked about how Fluttershy found her special somepony, and how he left her. They talked their way form start to finish of their friends' history together. It was a short run, but the three, if Applejack were still alive, were all that remained.

Across the street, Feather Weight was watching from against the wall of a furniture store, his chosen guard duty position.

"Pst! Feather Weight!", a hidden voice whispered to Feather Weight.

"Huh? Is that you Flicker?", Feather Weight recognized the hushed voice.

"Keep it down! You know I'm a known imperial! The fact that I'm even here alive is a miracle!"

"Oh, sorry, what brings you here?", he brought his voice to a whisper as well. While making sure not to move his head in the direction of the voice, as to not draw attention to the bush it came from.

"The Queen has changed your mission. She wants you to kill Rainbow Dash!"

"What? Why?"

"Because we already have Applejack. If we kill their leader they'll have no one to turn to. And then we can use Applejack as leverage! They'll try and keep the fight going, but once they see Applejack has joined our side, they'll lose faith!"

"What? You know she'll refuse! She refused last time!"

"But the Queen has more ways than negotiation to make them bow! She will be beaten into submission, and if all else fails, she'll die!"

"And if she's dead, they'll lose faith anyway! Tell the Queen I've done as she's asked. Better yet, tell her majesty you helped me do it!"

"Very well. When? Where?"

"Midnight, wherever the Commander lays her head!"

"I shall see you then! Stay close!", and with that, the bush slipped around the back of the building. Feather Weight remained leaning against the wall.

Sweet Dreams

"I suppose you still won't talk?", Diamond had just entered the room.

"T-talk 'bout what? How 'bout boys. You like ta talk 'bout boys? Well, there was this one-"

"Quiet! You know what I mean!"

"-He just liked me fer mah body. If you guess I told him no, you'd be right. I want a-"

"Stallion that loves you for who you really are?", Diamond Death was nose to nose with a very worn Applejack.

"How'd you know that? Did you read mah thoughts?", she looked up at the soulless eyes that stared into hers.

"Yes, and I think I know your answer before I ask. Will you join us? Will you abandon your oath to Equestria and bow to your true queen? Or will you die a rebel's death?"

"Well, if the choices are to be a coward like all o'you, or die, I guess I'll die!", she leaned forward off of the table she lay on, and stuck her tongue out at Diamond.

"You seem out of it. I may have something that will bring you back to reality."

Diamond summoned a looking glass out of nothing, and began to cast a spell over it. The surface of the glass moved like water. It rippled and waved, and after some more movements, it reveled Rainbow Dash sleeping. Not from the view of some unknown window, but from a pony's eyes, through a hood, with another pony in sight. The pony in the mirror looked at their fore-hoof and saw that the gem strapped to it was now glowing.

"I presume you are ready Commander?", the pony whispered.

Diamond's horn and the gem in the mirror blinked twice in unison.

"Then we shall begin."

"Begin what?!", Applejack's act fell quickly.

"The death of your commander, and the beginning of an age of unchallenged rule!", she roared in premature triumph.

"Ya can't! Ya just can't!", Applejack was in tears as she lay helpless, strapped down to a table.

"Just watch," the look in her eye was horrifying.

One hour ago: Resistance Base

"So, First Lieutenant Pineshield, you were extremely lucky it was only an out of place vertebra. And that it didn't harm any nearby nerve systems."

"So I'm free to go?", he looked up tiredly.

"Soon, the large amount of cosmetic damage and flesh wounds were taken care of as well. You may not want to let them open themselves up so soon."

"Where's the Commander?"

"She took her leave, as the stress was getting to her head. Goodness, sometimes I think she should let somepony who's not so close take over."

"But where did she go? I wanted to see her."

"She said something about going for a walk through Ponyville, and about visiting memorable places and whatnot."

"May I go? A-as long as I stay bandaged up of course!", he wouldn't want to be kept in bed, not when he had such urgent news for the Commander.

"I suppose. You have never been bad about revisiting me too often. You are dismissed."

"Thanks doc! I owe you one!", and with that, he got up and groggily galloped out of sickbay.

"I need to find her! I need to warn her! She's in danger!", he repeated over and over while he looked around town.

He ran around for twenty five minutes searching until when he hadn't found her on the streets, he sat down to think things through.

"Where would she go? A sentimental place perhaps? Maybe the library. If I remember correctly, that is where Twilight used to stay, and where they had many meetings, and pre-quest gatherings."

Thirty minutes ago: Ponyville Public Library

He had galloped across town to the library, and upon knocking on the door, an unfamiliar face met him.

"Hello? Who are you?", Spike looked tired.

"Uh, do I know you?"

"I don't think so. What's your name?"

"They call me Pineshield."

"The name's Spike...Pineshield...wait! I remember you. You came up somewhere when Rainbow and I were talking. You're like in command somewhere in the resistance, right?", Spike inquired.

"I am in command of a medium sized division of pegasi warriors, yes. Do you know where she is right now? I need to speak with her!"

"Um, she left my company a while ago, right after dinner was over actually. I think she was finding a place for the night. They destroyed her cloud house you know."

"Do you not know where she went?!", Pineshield was beginning to look panicked.

"Uh, no. I assumed she'd head back to her base or something. If she wanted to stay somewhere close to home, I'd say check Fluttershy's abandoned cottage, or Pinkie's old room in Suger Cube Corner."

"I highly doubt that. Have you ever lost a loved pony?"

"No, why?"

"I have, and if there is one common attitude toward the former dwelling of a lost loved pony, it's to not desecrate it. That means no pony stays there, no pony sleeps there, and no pony moves anything around, or in any way alters the way it was when they died. And RD's been treating Pinkie and Fluttershy like they died ever since I've known her."

"So, what about an inn? Does that sound like a "new Rainbow Dash" move?"

"What do you mean new Rainbow Dash? She's the same pony as before, she's just traumatized by the past. And traumatized ponies are to be treated differently than normal ones. One time when I was talking to her about battle plans and strategies, she just went straight into a sobbing fit. As if she had been thinking about it for a while, and just suddenly let it all out."

"Well, let's see. There's an inn over near the Hospital. It's called the...Out Inn, ironic right? I think all the gang stayed there once before all this happened."

"Why would they all stay in an inn right here in town when they live here anyway?", Pineshield cocked an eyebrow.

"It was when Sweetie Belle had pneumonia, and Rarity decided to stay close to the hospital. Rainbow Dash decided she'd stay with her, and then everypony else joined in."

"Oh, I hadn't heard that story before. Well that was nice of all of them. So I'll go check the inn. And if she shows up here, could you point her in my direction?"

"Sure thing Pineshield."

"Thanks. See ya around," Pineshield turned and walked away from the doorway.

Five minutes ago: The Out Inn

"Um, hello?", Pineshield was standing in the lobby of the Inn.

"How can I help you today young sir?", and elderly mare came behind the counter.

"Do you have a resident by the name, Spectrum Dart?"

"Why, yes we do. Is she a friend of yours?"

"My wife. She told me she would ask you to leave me a key. I had to come separately. Darn job."

"Oh, well, I guess you can have a key to the room as well. Room, 215. How long have you been married?"

"Six years! Six long happy years."

"Enjoy it while it lasts! Soon you'll be old like me!", the old mare chuckled.

"Thanks!", he grabbed the key in his mouth and galloped up the stairs.

He found his way to room 215 and was about to enter, when he notice scratch marks on the knob.

"Hmm, it looks like it's been picked. I'm late, I just hope not too late," he whispered to himself.

He gently pushed the door open and found two ponies standing ready to strike on a sleeping Rainbow Dash. The Pegasus pony's wings were showing, and Pineshield saw the color of its feathers.

"I knew the bastard wasn't on our side!", Pineshield thought.

Just then, he saw a blue stone on the fore-hoof of the one in question flash twice.

"Then we shall begin," Feather Weight whispered.

"Time to act!"

Author's Note

Sorry for such a delay! I've been really lazy about updating. I'm also going on vacation tonight, so I am leaving you with this cliff hanger. (gasp) I will be back next Wednesday, probably going to update Thursday. See you then, and thanx for staying with me on this journey! Stay awesome!

Help Wanted

As Pineshield thought over his next actions, Feather Weight summoned a knife from his right fore-leg gauntlet and raised it over Rainbow's neck.

"Buck! No time to think!"

Pineshield took his left fore-leg and knocked Feather Weight's knife above his head, then followed by using his right to slam the spy's face into Rainbow's bed-side table. Instantly, Rainbow was upright in her bed, adjusting her eyes to see what was happening. Within five seconds, Rainbow was able to make out the shapes of Pineshield, Feather Weight, and another. Feather Weight was currently jumping onto Pineshield's back as he wrestled with the other. She knew who's side to take.

She leaped from the bed and collided with Feather Weight, sending him off of Pineshield.

"Thanks!", he shouted.

With his attention and strength now narrowed at Flicker, he easily overpowered him. Rainbow Dash was in the floor with Feather Weight, a blob of kicking hooves and missed knife clang noises in the dark. Finally, Feather Weight found room to act, and shot his hind-legs under Rainbow's back, and flipped her over himself. As she landed behind him, he turned to stab her in the gut.

"No!", Rainbow yelled with determination, not fear.

As he slashed at her, she dodged and his knife embedded into the wall behind her. She turned and bucked him in the face, disconnecting him from his knife. She took the knife out of the wall with her mouth.

"No, Commander, you don't need to do this! This isn't necessary!", he backed away, until his back met the end of her bed.

She used her wings and shot herself at him, kicking his face, followed up by a back flip. When she landed, he was dazed. She ran at him, embedding his knife in his chest. She then whispered in his ear.

"Rot in the pits of tartarus traitor!"

He just gargled blood.

She took the knife from his chest and slit his throat with it.

"That was brutal! Well, the other's tied up and ready for whatever awaits him."

"Kill him!"

"No message to the Queen, no "Nice try!" or anything?"

"Nothing. Just kill him."

"Yes ma'am," he bowed and went over and slit Flicker's throat.

"Well that is going to be a setback. But no matter, we still have one of their's!", Diamond Death was looking at the site of Pineshield killing Flicker.

"My liege, the plan has failed. Pineshield found Rainbow Dash and killed Flicker and Feather Weight in a surprise attack," she sent telepathically.

"Blast! It took us long enough to get that spy deep in cover! Oh well, there is only one thing left to do. We scare the Resistance into surrender. We kill our hostage, and give that as a warning. As for our assault on their portion of Manehatten, it was a total success. And of course, I let one rebel live so she could escape and share the news! They will gather all of their strength and prepare for an invasion! By my calculations, come tomorrow the Resistance will fall."

"So I am to kill this prisoner?", she looked hungrily at Applejack. She wanted so much to be the one to bring her demise.

"NO! I am to do it! And I will deliver her helmet myself as I make my appearance in Ponyville, when we take it back! You will come with me, and together, we will leave no rebel alive"

"Yes my liege, when am I to expect you?", she was hoping to torture Applejack before the Queen could kill her.

A dark purple and black bubble formed and popped, revealing Red Dawn standing where it was. "I am already here. Now, leave us, I am to do this by myself!", she teleported Rarity back to the throne room.

"Ooh, I was THIS CLOSE!", she screamed.

On their way back to the library to tell Spike that Rainbow Dash was fine, she stopped them.

"So, how did you know? How close where they to...?"

"To killing you? He was raising his blade when I acted. As for how I knew, I saw that his armor had a chink in it, a scratch. Do you remember how we stole the armor from the old armory room, the one with the old Equestrian armor?"

"Yes."

"And what color was it, what color did we change it to?"

"It was gold, and we changed it to green, why? How is this important?"

"Bare with me. Now what color did the imperials start making their armor?"

"Purple, they started making their armor purple."

"Well, before I went under, I saw that the original color was showing in the scratch on his armor. And it wasn't gold, it was-"

"Purple."

"Yep. So as soon as I came to I left to find you. Luckily for you, I found Spike, and him and I brain stormed and came up with the only place you would have gone."

"The Out Inn."

"You got it!"

"Well thanks. I owe you my life."

"No, you owe me nothing. You are my commander, it is my duty to protect you, even unto death. On the contrary, I owe you my life."

"How noble," she blushed. "Well in any case, I am thankful."

They continued walking into Ponyville, and soon were back at the library. Upon knocking on the door, they didn't have to wait long for an answer.

"Is she Okay?!", he shouted as he flung the door open.

"You betcha kiddo!"

"OH RAINBOW DASH! I was so scared! If you didn't make it I would've been left alone! You are the last of them!", he ran up and hugged her and began sobbing.

"It's okay Spike, Pineshield saved me! Don't worry, I'll bring us back together, you'll see!"

"You will, you really will?"

"Yes, I promise!"

Just then Pineshield looked around hurriedly.

"Shouldn't we be back at base? They've had a long time without us."

"OH! Yeah, of course! Spike, see ya later, duty calls," and with that, her and Pineshield left the library.

On their way back to the base, Rainbow Dash tiredly rested her head on Pineshield's sturdy shoulder. Pineshield, of course, looked very embarrassed, and had no clue what to do. Was he supposed to ask her to stop, like a flankhole, or enjoy it, or would that be weird? He could ask her i she was tired, yeah, that would work.

"Uh, Dash? You tired?"

"Mhm," she yawned.

That's so adorable! NO! Stay focused!, he thought.

"You don't feel weird resting your head on my shoulder?"

"Not really. I mean, I can rest my neck can't I? You don't mind do you?"

"No." And why should I?, he thought.

"Okay," she leaned her head on him again. This time he grinned.

"And thanks again. I know flattery is wasted on you, you humble wreck!", she leand away and punched his shoulder.

"Yeah, and again, it wasn't anything but protecting my commander."

"You sure? You have that look in your eyes. I think you like me."

Did she really just...?

"What?! I couldn't! I wouldn't! You're my commander! I'm a soldier, I can't waste time for feelings like love."

"You say that like soldier's and ponies are different! But soldiers aren't empty suits of armor, we're just ponies."

"She said that to me once, my sister. I know I never talk about my family, but I guess you deserve to know. When I joined the Equestrian empire, the old one, I pretty much lost all emotion. I mean, general love, like for the pony race still remained. But I didn't have room in my being for compassionate love. All I was filled with were a general sense of justice and loyalty, and honor, but that's where the sentiments ended. My sister saw me growing distant from mom and dad, and even her. She told me that even though I was a soldier now, didn't mean I couldn't be the same brother she once knew. I guess I just never regained my ability to love."

"Well maybe I can help with that," she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "I like you Pineshield."

"You do?", he was blushing now.

"Yes, ever since you reached the rank right below me, I've found myself intrigued by you. I've sorta had a crush on you. Do you like me?"

"I've always kinda liked you but, I don't know."

"Well let's just try it an-" they had arrived and were met by a sweating Pegasus soldier.

"Commander! Manehatten! It's been taken!", she panted through deep breaths.

Rainbow's head shot upright from Pineshield's shoulder. "What?!"

"The queen left me alive to tell you, she's coming this way! To take the final piece of the land back!"

"This can't be! We need to get everypony together! We stand and fight!"

"Uh, here comes Spike," Pineshield was looking back.

"Rainbow!"

"Spike? What are you doing here?"

"I couldn't sleep. I thought I could stay with you guys for the night. I ran here as fast as I could because I didn't know if they locked up after hours or something!", he was panting heavily.

"No, gate's still open. But you can't stay, not tonight. In fact, it would be good for you if you just packed up and left town!"

"What? Why?"

"The queen is coming back to reclaim Ponyville soon, and I don't want you to be here when she does!"

"She's coming here? Soon?!"

"Yes, and I believe she's going to come at us with all her might. That's why I need you gone. Get the town's ponies and get them out of town as well!"

"Will you survive?"

"Hopefully, yes. Probably, no. But if Equestria's going to fall into her hooves once and for all, it will be after we all die!"

"Commander, we need to start getting ready for what is to come!", Pineshield stepped in nobly.

"You're right. Spike, do as I said, Pineshield, get the troops together! Get a message sent out to all of the remaining unicorn rebels and tell them and their soldiers to meet us here! We need to well up our strengths here for our final stand!"

"Um, that may not be necessary," Spike interrupted.

"What?"

"Well, I may have a friend who can help, more than you know."

"Who?"

"Do you remember Golan? The young dragon warrior I befriended?"

"The one you took lessons from on dragon fighting styles?"

"Yes."

"What about him?"

"Well, he is now called Lord Golan, after he overthrew the evil emperor and took the throne. He may be willing to help us, if I ask."

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes on him. "Ask."

Author's Note

Surprise! I just updated from vacation! Turns out they have WiFi in the mountains here! So how's that for a chapter? How did y'all like the PineDash ship? Let me know if it helps or hinders the story. Also, Lord Golan is one of my best friends, so I just had to insert him into the story...well, his name at least. Give him a round of applause for not doing anything at all but letting me use his name! /)*(\

Reinforcements

In the meeting hall of the great empire of Quinn, seven figures sat around a table. There was Commander Rainbow Dash, Lt. Pineshield, and Spike. On the other side of the table sat Lord Golan and three of his advisers.

"You see Golan, my friend, fifteen years ago, before we met, my friend and somewhat sister-figure Twilight Sparkle took her place among the princesses. Five years ago, after I came back, she killed Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Last year, she killed her own brother and sister-in-law to take the Crystal Empire as well. Just last week, she took the Changeling Empire. Her forces are growing, and if we don't stop her now, she may take over the griffons, then you! If we don't act, nothing will stop her! Pony kind has faced some bad things; from Nightmare Moon, to Discord, to King Somba! But this menace is world endangering!"

"I know, I have seen it happening and have reinforced my own def-did you say the Changelings were taken over? I haven't heard of this yet! This is not as I expected! Thank you for telling me this! We may be better prepared for the future!"

"Wait! That's it?! You're just going to prepare yourselves?! What about Equestria man?! What about the Griffon Empire?! What about when I helped you on your journey to the throne? Does that mean nothing now?", Spike was pleading to his old friend.

"That was one mission."

"And you gained millions in support!"

"I could have done it without any help!"

"I SAVED YOUR LIFE!"

"WHY MUST I HELP A RACE TO SURVIVE IF IT'S JUST GOING TO FORGET ABOUT IT?!"

"Because I'll make sure you'll be remembered," Rainbow Dash spoke up.

They all looked at Rainbow.

"Yeah. When I overthrow the Queen, you'll be heroes, I'll make sure of it."

"Heroes? You think us as greedy beasts like those things living out there?! Those are greed dragons! They are corrupted by it! We are civilized beings, that respect life! We wouldn't do it for fame!"

"Then why won't you help us?!"

"Because I put my family first! I worked hard to secure my own empire, why would I risk losing it to another?"

"Because they will take it if you don't help us stop them!"

Golan looked at his advisers. They looked at each other, nodded, then looked at him and nodded.

"I suppose this could be worked out. I mean, I completely understand the need for help Equestria has, but I also fear for my own people. What should I do?", he turned back to the elders who he relied on for wisdom.

They whispered in ancient tongue to each other. Finally, the oldest and wisest dragon stood and began to speak, his ancient voice slow and deep. "It would be wise to act now. If the griffons fall, we may have no chance. If we help this rebellion, we may find the world still safe tomorrow. If we hesitate, we may all die in fire and fury. The elders are suggesting you agree."

"Your wisdom is beyond my young shortsightedness. I am sorry for being so arrogant with you ponies. I suppose I am just paranoid to take action outside of my own walls."

"Oh, no fault given. You are simply looking after your family. But if you help us, the world could be to gain, safe and alive, while we sleep in peace," Pineshield added, gaining a respectful nod from his Commander.

"I have reached a decision, as no doubt my elders have as well," they nodded at him. "Then I shall put forth my entire strength to aid your rebellion and help secure this world!"

"Thank you so much Lord Golan! You won't regret helping us!", the Commander squeaked.

"I hope not! I would like to see this world free of tyranny. You should return home and inform your troops we will be coming to your base in the morning."

"No need, we can send them a letter. We had our base communication unicorn linked to Spike's fire so he could send it to her. They will be ready by tonight."

"Good, give my soldiers an hour to prepare, and then we leave."

As Twilight traveled in the endless void, she could see Applejack bleeding and bruised. She cried out to her friend, but no response came. She called her name until her throat hurt. Finally, she could feel her body returning to her. She was standing over Applejack, about to kill her. She tried to stop herself, but she just couldn't.

"So, the mighty Applejack! What have you gotten yourself into this time?"

Did I just say that?, she thought to herself.

"It seems Ah've been caught. But no matter, Ah know how it'll end, so why don't ya just go ahead and do it?", she spat at her.

Don't worry Applejack, I would never hurt you! You don't have to worry.

"Yes, so do I. First I slice you, then I dice you, then I cook you up for the dogs!"

What?! Is that my voice?! That can't be me...can it?

"I am truly going to enjoy this! You have interfered long enough! And when I deliver your armor to Ponyville and show your blood painted on it, they will not only lose, but do so in misery! They will see what I did to their own, and when I do the same to Rainbow Dash, they will crumple!"

NO!

Time stopped and the voice she thought was hers entered her head.

WHAT?!

You can't kill my friend!

But I already have! I've killed many ponies, and she will not be the last!

Who are you?!

Why, I am you of course!

But, you can't be! I'm me!

Exactly! And you are doing this! Nice job Twilight Sparkle, you're killing your friend!

But...I don't understand!

There is nothing to understand! Logic does not exist! There is only us, and what we want, right?

No.

What?, the word was growled.

I said no! You will not kill Applejack! You won't, you won't, you won't!

You don't want to do this.

Yes I do!

You're going to regret this.

You will not kill her., her voice stern.

Time continued, and Red Dawn continued talking to Applejack about how she was going to torture her. Twilight lost vision and fell back into the void.

Author's Note

Yep

............on another note...woof!

ER MER GERD! ER DERG!

The Path of Purging

Rainbow Dash, Pineshield, and Spike were walking the way back to Ponyville. Behind them, about a mile, waited ten thousand dragon warriors waiting for the go ahead to walk in. The three arrived just outside of Ponyville at nine o'clock in the evening. The Commander had a strange feeling.

"Something seems off," she muttered.

As they stepped into town, it seemed quiet. No pony was out play, working, or even buying or selling. No lights were on in homes, and no pony voices were heard inside.

"Uh...what happened here? It's too quiet to be good," The Commander whispered to Pineshield.

They walked toward town square, and the commotion became louder and louder as they approached.

"They've fled! They've run away in fear for their lives! They have abandoned you ponies! What do you think of them now?!", a voice bellowed over the entire town's folk as they gathered.

"That's where they went," Spike whispered.

As they came fully around another home, they noticed it was the Queen herself, and her entire army in the thousands behind her.

"OH CRAP!", Rainbow hissed as she backed them back around the house.

"What do we do? They're way behind us!", Pineshield was panicked.

"Send a letter?", Spike suggested.

"Great idea! We could get them here faster if you did!", The Commander whispered under the commotion.

Spike took out a quill, paper, and ink and began writing a letter. When he had finished, he blew it in flames.

"Good, now we just-AHH!"

Pineshield was dragged into the open by magic.

"Your highness! They have returned!", Diamond Death bellowed.

"Well isn't this great!", Rainbow muttered as she got pulled out as well, followed by Spike.

"What do you think is going to happen when we win? I mean, do you think we're just going to go our separate ways, or will there be peace and open trade between our nations once more?", the dragon mage was talking to Lord Golan.

"I do hope it will go back to the days of old. My father told me stories of before Lord Smendor. He told me of how ponies and dragons lived together in peace. How before the greed dragons gave us a bad name. Before all of this. But now we are going to save them, and they will love us once more!", he rejoiced at the thought of peace.

"It would be a miracle, but yes, I would love to see that too." The mage looked up at his Lord. "Wait, letter incoming," he blew fire into his hands and a letter formed.

He opened it and began reading it aloud.

"No time for pleasantries! They're here! The Queen herself! She's taking the town back and they have thousands of soldiers! Please hurry!

-Spike"

"We must get there! NOW!", Lord Golan stood above them on a rock and bellowed, "THE QUEEN IS ALREADY IN THE TOWN! WE MUST LIBERATE IT!"

The warriors bellowed back.

"CHARGE!"

They all charged in a wave of power.

"So, you thought you could leave Ponyville unprotected for long did you? You fools! I have come to claim what is rightfully mine! What has always been rightfully mine! And I bring the armor of your precious Applejack with me!", Red Dawn threw it in front of them, covered in blood.

Rainbow Dash looked stunned for a moment, but held back her tears and made her face stern. "We didn't leave it without protection! I just left it without me! And that's what you wanted isn't it?", Rainbow was bound in the middle of town, along with Spike and Pineshield.

Such resilience!, Pineshield thought. That's why it's an honor to call her my Commander!

"And without you they fled! It is a sign that they are weak! But one must ask, why did you return? Did you think you could kill me in one last battle, or that you could do something glorious and make me cower? NO! I am HIGH QUEEN! NO PONY WILL STAND AGAINST ME!", she began to cackle.

"No? What about a dragon?", Lord Golan was standing on top of a building looking down at her.

"Wha-", he cut her off.

"I think a dragon could. Or should I say, dragons?", at that moment, a multitude of dragons came rushing in weapons drawn.

He jumped off of the roof and freed the three and they turned to the queen.

"NO!", she jumped into the air and teleported multiple times until she was in a royal carriage, and it began to fly away. "YOU WIN THIS ROUND! BUT YOU WILL NEVER WIN THE WAR! YOU WILL ALL DIE!"

"Blast! Where are our soldiers?"

"I gave them the order to flee if the battle came before we were ready."

A changeling juggernaut began charging at them, and suddenly it was run through by a massive blast of magic.

"Take THAT, magic deflecting armor!", came a cry from a unicorn.

Rainbow turned to look, and there stood ten mages, as a multitude of Pegasi flew over them to join the battle.

"There they are!", she turned back to the battle. "Let's do this! Civilians! Get back into your homes!"

The battle was being waged around them, and they just found an opening and jumped in. If they weren't in resistance armor, a civilian, or a dragon they were killed.

One dragon was shot in the back by a magical bolt, but her just turned around and incinerated the unicorn responsible. Another dragon swung a mighty hammer at a Pegasus and caught him out of the air. The battle was looking up for the Resistance.

"WE CAN DO THIS! WE WILL DO THIS! RUN THEM OUT OF OUR TOWN!", Rainbow bellowed at her forces.

"DRAGONS FOLLOW!", Golan yelled at his troops.

A massive charge through town left the streets littered with many changeling bodies as well as imperial bodies, along with a few from the resistance. The dragons had only lost three so far. Their legendary armor protecting against most magic and physical attacks, but wasn't perfect.

The charge led all of the way to the end of town and the Empire was now outnumbered three to five. They fled, and the battle for Ponyville was a success.

"Let us not stop here! We will purge this land of the filth!", Lord Golan shouted.

They began a charge that led them from Ponyville, to Los Pegasus, to Manehattan, to Fillydelphia, to Baltimare and all in between. In ten days they had pushed the Empire into Canterlot.

They arrived back in Ponyville, with more troops than ever. The dragons had lost half of their soldiers in the campaign, but the Resistance gained hundreds of volunteers with every town and city liberated. Their forces were growing.

"You have done us a great service, you are true heroes!", Rainbow was standing in town square. "Along with all of the fallen that couldn't stand here today! I thank you, on behalf of all of Equestria, for your valiant efforts!"

"But it's not over yet!", Golan cried. "The scum has been pushed into their base, and I wish to see this to the end!"

"You wish to join us for the final battle?", Pineshield questioned.

"I would fight by your side into the pits of tartarus! It has been an honor to fight with the Resistance!", Golan bowed to them, and the whole of the multitude bowed before Pineshield and Rainbow Dash.

Pineshield shook his head at the thought, turned and bowed himself before her.

His Commander.

Author's Note

So...rushed, or not rushed? That is the question! Who else wants to see the epic ending? It should be over in the next chapter or two, while I'd rather it be no less than three chapters. Stay awesome my friends!

Sleep Tight

The night of their arrival in Ponyville was restless. Most ponies couldn't sleep in anticipation of the next day. Everypony knew they would either die or kill somepony they once loved. Some ponies slept outside, while others drank to life while in the shadow of death. Rainbow Dash decided to go for a walk, as that was what calmed her the most. She didn't want to go into battle buzzed, or completely wasted. She knew the soldiers in the tavern would most certainly die. Though she was proud of Pineshield and his stallions, who kept their distance from strong drink, as always.

She made her way around town, feeling the soft breeze as it blew through. She felt the chill of the Everfree, lurking up from the foul dark. She smelled baked goods being skillfully crafted at Sugercube Corner. She was about half way through her walk, and had the urge to sing. She hadn't sung since her friends were together.

With teary eyes, she began to sing a song from years passed.

"A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
A friend will be their to help them see.
A true, true friend helps a friend in need.
To see the light that shines from a true true friend."

She paused and wiped the tears away.

"A true true friend helps a friend in need...", she stopped.

Eyes opened wide, she gasped.

"That's it! That day is the answer! The day she became Princess!"

She ran to the library and burst in.

"BWAH! Rainbow? What're you doing?", Spike was half asleep.

"Spike, do you have Twilight's scrolls, or any of her writings?"

"Uh...yeah, she didn't take any with her. She forgot about them I think. Why?"

"Do you remember the day she became princess? When all of our friends' cutie marks were switched up?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Do you have Star Swirl the Bearded's spell book? I need to see Twilight's spell correction!"

"Uh, it should be under her bed, that's where I saw her keep it last."

"K, thanks!"

Rainbow Dash made her way up to Twilight's bed room and went in. She made sure to console Spike and tell him she would be careful. Upon looking under her bed, she found the old dusty book still intact. She opened it to the bookmarked page and found the original spell and under it, Twilight's continuation in her writing.

From one to another, another to one. A mark of one's destiny singled out alone, fulfilled.

From all of us together, together we are friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end.

"I knew it! That's it!", she turned toward the door and shouted. "Hey Spike! Where are the elements of harmony kept? And did Twilight leave her crown behind when she changed?"

He came walking back in. "She threw it in the trash, and I fished it out. It's in my room on display. The others are in the book still, since the last time they were used."

"Thanks, you may want to hear me out on this."

"I'm listening."

"I have a crazy idea, and if I can keep Twilight alive long enough to try it, we could get her back!"

"What?", he gasped.

"This is what I was thinking," she began to tell him her plan.

She had finished telling her scheme to Spike and went on her way back to base to try and sleep with hope in her heart. On her way to her room, she felt a presence behind her. She could hear his steady breathing.

"What is it Pineshield?", she asked without turning her head.

"I was going to compliment you on your singing, and maybe give you a shoulder to cry on but you left in a frenzy."

"Well I had this crazy idea! It involves the elements and-", he cut her off.

"Should you be telling me this? How do you know I'll keep my mouth shut?"

She looked at him.

"Okay, zipped tight," he made the motion of zipping his lips.

"I'll need to tell you from the start, come with me and we'll sit down."

They both entered her room and took a seat. Pineshield, knowing how they felt for each other, felt extremely awkward in her sleeping quarters.

"Don't worry, I'll leave the door unlocked," she poked fun at him.

He just grinned sheepishly at her. "So, this story of yours, tell me all of it."

"Well, it begins on one summer morning. Twilight Sparkle emerged from her home singing happily..."

"So that's your plan? Interesting. It seems almost possible to work," Pineshield had a studious face.

"I hope so. If it doesn't I may have to...", she trailed off, not wanting to say it.

"Woah, don't go there! Don't you ever go there! That's how you make it worse! Think about how you'll have your old friend back, think about what you'll do together when she's back! But for all that is good, don't go there!", Pineshield was looking her in the eyes.

She found compassion in his deep green eyes.

"Thank you Pineshield, I suppose I think too military minded these days. And you know better than I do how that acts on your scenario thought processes."

"That I do. But I think we should both get some sleep. Tomorrow is the dawning of a new day, and we need to be fully awake for it!", he got up from his seat and made his way to the doorway.

"DON'T...go...please," the last part was almost a whisper.

"Huh?", he turned back to see her looking down pitifully.

"Could you...please...maybe...sleep...with me?", she blinked back up at him.

"What do you mean by sleep? Do you mean, actually get some rest?"

"Of course I do! It's just that, I've gone so long without the presence of those I love that it haunts me to my very core. Every night is either spent chasing ghosts I couldn't catch before, or imagining myself a failure. I have recurring nightmares of me failing and everypony dying. Red Dawn remains the ruler and all of my loved ones die under her wrath. Even you."

He looked down at her, eyes full of pity.

"I...I don't know. You could sleep under my wing, but I just don't want something to be said..."

"You could leave once I'm asleep. All I'm asking is the comfort you can give me to help me fall into peaceful sleep."

"Sure, I guess I could do that."

They climbed into her bed and laid with their legs tucked under them, Pineshield with his wing wrapped around her. Finally, after two hours of in and out of sleep, she fell into a deep and restful sleep. He took note of this, and climbed out of the bed and made his way for the door. When he got to the door, he heard her make a childlike whimpering noise, very quiet, but noticeable. He turned to see her small frame shaking and shivering.

Poor thing, he thought. She's just a little wounded filly on the inside.

He made his way back to the bed, climbed in and covered her back with his wing. He shushed her softly and brushed her back to coax her back to peace.

Author's Note

First thing's first, d'aww! Now that that's out of the way, the whole thing about why they didn't charge Canterlot after their campaign. They needed to rest and regenerate strength. They did spend ten days fighting battle after battle. Plus they have innumerable spies watching the city, so everypony would know if they came back out to fight some more.

Time to Act

The night went by peacefully. Everypony slept well in spite of the battle which loomed over their heads. The drunk ponies were few and thankfully so, as they were locked up to be kept out of the way. There wasn't a rule against drinking while on home soil, but there would be after the previous night. The sun had not even risen and everypony was waking up and beginning their long careful preparations for the hard battle ahead of them.

Pineshield opened his eyes to find Rainbow Dash still curled up under his wing. She had a small smile on her face as she nuzzled up against him. His heart melted as he felt her soft peaceful breath on his neck. He grew sad as he knew he would have to wake her. It was the first peaceful sleep she's had in ages and he'd have to end it. How would he? Would he go for the military wake up, or softly nudge her? His question was answered as a loud knock came from the door, startling both of them. Rainbow Dash shot upright and looked at the door.

"Who is it?", she tiredly called.

"Scootaloo the Swift requesting that you come to the battle room and begin briefing," came a boyish voice from outside.

"On my way," Rainbow responded.

She turned and looked at Pineshield, who was halfway in the closet.

She tilted her head.

"I thought they were coming in," he answered her unspoken question.

"Oh, okay. We'd better get to the battle room quickly. We need to have everypony on the same page for this."

She walked over to the door and opened it. When she had stepped out into the hall, she looked around and didn't see anypony. She looked back to Pineshield and waved her wing towards the hall. Pineshield edged out of her room and they walked quickly to a point in the hall where they wouldn't look suspicious walking together. They made it past the mess hall and hadn't seen anypony. Glad they hadn't been seen coming from her room, they calmed a bit and walked to the battle room at a steadier pace.

Upon entering the battle room, they were met by all of the higher ranking ponies such as squad leaders and any other ponies that had any significance in the planning of a war.. Along with leaders, there were rank-less entities such as the three younger mares: Scootaloo, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle.

"Okay, let's get down to business," Rainbow rested her fore-hooves on the table. "We need to have our plan completely ready before we proceed. Ranking officers, first thing's first. I request that you inform your troops not to kill the Queen."

This earned her looks from every pony present, save Pineshield.

"I have a plan for her, but she needs to remain alive for it to happen."

They all nodded, knowing she knew what was best.

"I want all Pegasi under Pineshield and giving air support. Unicorns will be our main protection and ranged support, while Earth troops will be on the front lines. Earth ponies will go in squads of twenty. All squads under my lead. If I give an order, it is followed without delay." They all nodded. " Good. I want catapults on top of the mountain, firing down at any large gathering of hostiles they see. It would usually be hard to lug it up the mountain, but Unicorns will be tasked with teleporting it piece by piece," she pointed at the top of the mountain on the map.

"If we can get them built well hidden around the mountain face, it would be an easy task to pull them around to face Canterlot within minutes. Swift, Silent, Strong. I want you three on the front lines. I know you like the covert jobs, but this is the front line, no room for stealth this time. I know you three can handle it," she was looking at Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom.

"Yes ma'am!", they said in unison, saluting her.

"Now, This fight will be long and hard. I want to see courage out there. I know there is fear in the hearts of my ponies, I feel it too. But we need to be brave, strong, unstoppable!"

This earned her a large "HURRAH!" from the gathering.

She looked out proudly over her soldiers, her friends, her family.

"Oh, and one last thing. I know that Diamond Death is going to be out there too, but don't let her scare you. It is your fear that fuels her power. She is part of my plan as well. She is a primary target, to be taken alive and as quickly as possible. If we can get her out of this fight in the beginning, we will have greater chances."

They all nodded slowly. Deep inside, knowing she knew best. On the outside, they looked doubtful.

"Let's get to work!", she slammed her hoof down on the table and the gathering left the room.

Within minutes, the camp came alive with noise and action. Catapults were taken apart while unicorns grabbed pieces and disappeared with them. Squads were divided up and briefed. Pineshield took all of the Pegasi and went over the plan with them. Unicorns got together and warmed up their magic. The three spies, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Applebloom went over their own plans with each other. It was going smoothly, and Rainbow Dash had decided to put on her dark warrior armor.

It was a symbol of her power and control. It wasn't even close to the usual Command armor she often donned. This armor was somewhat ceremonial for her. It was hoof made by a friend, and was used as a sign of strength and ability.

It wasn't green like the usual rebel armor, but black, as the darkest nightmares. It was curved with spikes on the shoulders, the wings were strangely movable, though they looked as though they weighed a ton. They were clad with the same black spiky looking metal, and lined with large blades. Her leggings covered every inch of each leg. The shoes were especially sinister. They had one inch long spikes that created the sole of the boot, while the edge spikes ran over the top and created a lip around the edge of her hooves. Last was her helmet, which left no opening to see her face. The Visor was made of a transparent metal that was tented to the same black shade of her armor on the outside. She breathed through a vent system that ran through the helmet to the back of the head,

She looked in the mirror and was awe-struck to say the least. She hadn't worn the armor in so long she had forgotten how dangerous and scary she looked in it.

When she had posed a little for the mirror, she looked around in her chest of old armor and weapons to find the matching weapon for this set of armor. When she had found it, she reached in with her left fore-leg and attached the massive black spiky hammer to the armor. She raised it in the air. It was so light, she had forgotten how so, that she slammed it into the ceiling in expectation that it would weigh a ton. It in fact only weighed fifty pounds. Enough to maintain flight, while still able to crush a skull.

"Let's do this," she muttered to her reflection.

Author's Note

Congratulations...I stayed up till 2:37 my time to update! I am so tired, but hopefully the quality's good. I knew that if I waited till tomorrow I would probably forget half of the cool ideas I had for this chapter, so...yeah. Also, If anyone is wondering what's with the names I gave the CMC, it's Scootaloo the Swift, Sweetie Belle the Silent, and Applebloom the Strong. They are somewhat in their own league entirely, and so are trusted with way more. They're like special warriors of their own kind.

The Final Battle

"Reinforce the walls! Barricade the gates on all entrances! Bar all the windows! I want every soldier on the streets! They will be met with all our strength!", Diamond Death yelled over the crowd of scrambling ponies.

It took two hours and all of the defenses had been raised. Soldiers were now waiting from the gates all the way to the palace doors. Inside these doors stood one hundred of the strongest warriors under her majesty. Up the stairs in the hall of the Princess stood ten unicorn master mages. Inside the queen's quarters, RedDawn was in place to watch over the battle.

"She is ours! We have her! We will kill her, and finally end this stupid fight for nothing!", she growled at the mirror.

"I won't let you kill her," a voice said.

"You again? How do you keep coming back? Stay down where you belong!", she lit her horn and the voice didn't speak again.

It was ten in the morning. Both sides were anticipating what was about to happen. Rainbow Dash sent a messenger with a shield over to the guards at the front gate. The messenger looked at the guards and waited for their response. The guards did what they were expected to do, they took the shield and attached it to the gate. The messenger bowed and flew back to Rainbow Dash.

"They are ready for battle, commander," the messenger pony informed her. "The shield is in place, signifying the start of the battle."

"Good job, now get the flag," Rainbow replied.

The messenger grabbed a red flag and flew into the air with it. After three seconds of flying around with it in her teeth, everypony and dragon had seen it, and began to march. As she was finishing her rehearsed course of flight, a soldier on the wall of Canterlot gave an order.

"Fire!"

A large mounted bow shot a five foot long arrow that took the messenger out of the sky.

"Oh crap!", she looked over to her designated unicorn communicator. "Give the signal!"

The unicorn sent the go ahead to another unicorn on top of the mountain, and the catapults were released. Five huge rocks came tumbling down the mountain striking their desired targets. Three rocks made contact with bridge in the inner portion of the city, one boulder hit and destroyed the main well in town, and the last smashed though the entrance, opening it wide to the outside.

"Direct hit!"

Both armies began their charge for the gaping hole in the wall. Rainbow Dash ran into battle with her forces as the two powers collided. Death met many ponies as the initial impact came, but soon it turned into a standing battle at the wall.

Rainbow Dash was too busy to notice, but there was a portion of wall hanging over the Empire's side that was barely still intact. Pineshield took notice of this and devised a plan.

"Pegasi! Fly down and kick the hanging portion of wall! That should give our ponies a chance to step in!"

They all flew down in unison, and with grace flew down and kicked the wall portion downward. The chunk of bricks fell down and crushed over thirty soldiers and startled a hundred more. This gave the Resistance some time to act.

Rainbow Dash yelled and flew into the crowd of awe-struck soldiers. She swung her large hammer around and swept three soldiers into the wall, crushing them. She then continued it into a back swing and smashed two more. By this time they were back to their senses and were fighting back. She lifted her hammer's long neck and blocked a sword, followed by twisting the sword into the ground. In one move she had smashed the pony's head into the ground. Another pony came at her with a two hooved axe. She stepped to the side as it swung down past her chest, ducked as it came over her head, then bashed him in the face with her wing during his follow through. She continued this fluid march like a rhythm until she had stepped through past the wall. She looked back for a split second and could see her forces were making it through with her.

With new found courage she charged the hundreds with her followers.

Meanwhile, Pineshield was flying over the city, giving orders to his Pegasi as he saw the need. At one point, he found a gathering on top of the wall with crossbows aimed down at his allies. He gave the order and his Pegasi flew down and collided with them, sending them one by one off of the thirty foot wall. Another time, he found a massive catapult being armed with large boulders.He went down and they followed, as they all began smashing beams and cutting ropes until it fell in on itself. The changelings were beginning to form into Resistance troop lookalikes and tricking them.

Rainbow turned to her unicorn companion. "Patch!"

She turned her head. "Ma'am?"

"Tell the unicorns to use the identity safe guard spell we practiced!"

"Yes ma'am!", she began to think the words as she fought. "It is time for the identity spell! All at once now! Three, two, one, NOW!", she preformed the spell with the others as all of the changelings were changed back into their own forms.

A gem came out of nowhere and killed a nearby rebel soldier.

"Diamond!", Rainbow yelled.

"I'm on it!", she looked at Diamond Death, who was on a roof top firing gems down on her enemies. Before she teleported, she sent out a message to the other unicorns. "I need twenty unicorns to meet me at the hole in the wall! I'll have a gift for you shortly.", and she vanished.

"Take that you insolent little worms! And that!", Rarity was sending gems off of the roof at rebels below. "I will tear you all to pieces!"

"Having fun?"

"How-", a magic beam collided with her face.

"Did I sneak up on you? Sweetie Belle the Silent taught me. She is the best you know."

"Let's hope you were trained just as well in magic combat!", she shot a gem at her face.

The gem stopped inches from Patch's face and disintegrated. "Shining Armor taught me that. And he was the best at the time." She sent back a knife in her magic.

The knife spun around Rarity's head and flew into the ground behind her. "Twilight taught me, and she's the best now!", she sent a gem hidden behind another gem.

The first flew up into the air as the other flew into the ground in front of Patch. "If he were still alive would Twilight still be the best?"

Rarity looked at the floor, then up into the air. She looked back at Patch with a grin. "I hope so," she flung herself at Patch.

Patch rolled under the attack, and stood to her feet. Rarity landed on the wall behind her, kicked off and flew at her again. This time, she collided with Patch's back and sent her to the ground. When Patch hit the ground, Rarity kicked off of her and landed ten feet from her. Patch rolled backwards and jumped back another ten feet.

The two began shooting magic beams at each other. Diamond sent one at Patch's face, only for it to split into two and hit the wall behind her. She sent back a volley of three. One went around her and came back and hit the second, while the third met a magic shield. Diamond sent back a gem inside of a magic ball. The ball split in two and left the gem flying by itself. Patch closed her eyes, and caught the two in her magic, spun them around her back, and met them together stopping the gem.

This went on for ten more minutes, and neither mage grew tired. Finally, when Diamond sent another volley, Patch teleported past them and met Rarity's face with a hoof. She slid back and suddenly charged up and stabbed Patch through the chest with her horn.

"OH! GLP!", Patch gargled.

She spat blood onto her foe's face and spoke. "Guess who's won now!", her words drenched in acid. Before Diamond could react they were both enveloped in a blue aura and disappeared.

They reappeared in the center of twenty unicorn rebels that were surprised at first.

Diamond pulled her horn out of Patch and let her fall to the ground. " Well CRAP!"

Rainbow Dash had led the charge through the city and had finally made it to the castle. Golan was now by her side as he had brought his warriors down the other side of the city. She opened the doors to the castle and was met by one hundred massive warriors. Some were changeling Juggernauts, some where highly ranking Knights.

"I've got this, you go on up ahead."

"Okay, see you when this is over."

He looked back to his gathering. "Take them out!", he shouted followed by leading a charge into the main throne room.

Rainbow Dash looked behind her to see that a hundred soldiers made it through with her.

"I'll need twenty volunteers to head upstairs with me."

Slowly, twenty ponies stepped forward.

"Are you ready for this?"

The twenty nodded.

"Then let's do this!", she yelled as she charged into the throne room.

Getting through alive wasn't easy. It was, however, easier than going in without multiple dragon warriors to keep the heat off of you. They made it up the stairs in one piece and began their journey to the queen's quarters. Upon entering the Hall of the Princess, they were met by ten unicorn mages. Instantly, two of her gathering were dropped by their sorceries. She flew into one, bashing it in the face with her hammer. She then dodged a magic bolt and shot toward another, uppercutting it into the ceiling. Another unicorn rebel shot a bolt through the heart of one of the mages. A Pegasus troop flew into one and broke its back with the force. After about ten more seconds, her ponies were victorious in this small skirmish.

"Her chambers are just ahead. On me, and we'll take her in for treason. Once we come out with her, this whole thing will be over,".she whispered to the fifteen remaining soldiers.

Their faces were aglow with anticipation. They couldn't wait to restore order.

"But remember, she'll be taken alive. Understand?"

They nodded in unison.

"Good."

Rainbow Dash sneaked up to the door and began to open it. She opened it fully and stepped in.

"Queen RedDawn, you are under arrest for treaso-", she was flung into the wall by magic.

RedDawn shut the door and blocked it with a spell. "You were going to arrest me? You really thought you could get away with it?"

"Commander?!", the soldiers were trying to get in.

"How cute. Too bad though," she mocked pouting as she dropped the ceiling just outside the door on them, crushing them all.

"You monster!", Rainbow coughed from the other side of the room.

"You've just now noticed? I've been this for quite some time." The roof above the Hall of the Princess caved in as well.

"What changed you Twilight?"

"DON'T CALL ME BY THAT NAME!"

The very room shook.

"I'm sorry, what changed you RedDawn?"

"Nothing has changed! I am RedDawn, not Twilight Sparkle! How could one be the other?"

Rainbow was confused.

"Allow me to let you in on a little secret. One day, Twilight Sparkle was trying to save a certain empire from a certain dark sorcerer king. She made the mistake of using black magic to open a door in his kingdom. Though she succeeded, she was scarred by something, something dark that lurked in her very mind. That was me. One day, many years later, I finally became strong enough to take over. I took over and made it my goal to rule the world, as was my original plan so long ago."

Rainbow's eyes opened wide with shock. "King Somba?! It can't be! He died!"

"Not exactly. I am not exactly him. I am his essence, living on in another body. I am the essence of his power, though he-I died long ago. Trust me. It's black magic, your puny mortal mind could never comprehend. How do you think Twilight had no clue of my existence until it was too late? She hadn't a clue what was thriving inside of her mind!"

"That didn't sound good!", Pineshield exclaimed.

"What?", another rebel replied.

"I heard a noi-", he looked back at the castle to see the roof over the Hall of the Princess caving in. "That's not good."

"They're dueling it out!", another cried.

"It doesn't feel like it's that. Something tells me she's not winning."

"Then do something!"

He looked over to the unicorn waiting for the order to teleport with Twilight's elemental crown.

"Any word?"

"Nothin'. No pony's said a word yet."

"Give me that! I'm going to bring it to her!"

"Yes sir," the unicorn levitated it to him.

He flew into the air and shot in the direction of the queen's quarters. As he got closer to the queen's quarters, he saw that the window had been bricked up.

"Brace yourself Pineshield!", he gritted his teeth.

"But what of Rarity? And all of the ponies of the royal guard?"

"The dark power can spread and take over minds. The minds under this power are much weaker and rely on the base power to stay alive. I have created a dark army that will obey me because I am their master!"

"What of the sun and moon? How do they continue to move? You did kill Celestia and Luna did you not? Is this another power of your black magic?"

"I actually don't know. Twilight fights back now and again, and sometime I can't remember what I did with somepony's body when I've killed them. I can't remember if I burned them or buried them or ate them."

"Well, you aren't...going to...get-", she wheazed heavily,"-away with this."

"Oh yes I am. As I speak I am crushing you! You will die soon and your puny Resistance with it!"

"Puny? Take a look outside. Your forces are scattered and beaten!"

"I will raise more! No pony can withstand the power of black magic!"

"I did. Applejack did. Thousands loyal ponies of Equestria who stand out there upon your wrecked army did!"

She tightened her magical grip on Rainbow Dash.

A tear spilled out of her eye, and her thoughts took a new path.

"I love you Equestria! I love you Pinesh-", she was cut off as a blast came from across the room.

Pineshield came bursting through the wall right where RedDawn stood. He collided with her and they both flew into the adjacent wall and he fell unconscious.

RedDawn was extremely dazed as she had lost her horn in the impact.

Rainbow fell from the wall and crawled along the rubble over to where Pineshield laid. She saw the crown tucked under his wing, still intact.

YES!

She took it from under his wing and fluttered over tiredly to RedDawn.

"What are you doing?", she slurred.

"I am doing what must be done!", she took the crown and placed it firmly on the queen's head.

"NO! THIS CAN'T HAPPEN!", suddenly, as if peace washed over her, she stared blankly at Rainbow Dash.

She floated into the air as images of her past flew over her vision. It went from her birth to the day she entered magic kindergarten. Then they changed to her becoming Celestia's personal student. Next she could remember coming to Ponyville, and then, her memories of her with her friends. Her memories recalled the day they defeated Nightmare Moon, to King Sombra, and all in between. Memories of deepening her friendships and ultimately, becoming princess came. It seemed to her like she remembered the whole encounter with Celestia as they spoke of her destiny. Finally, she remembered the day she lost her will and fell into endless black and void. I am Twilight Sparkle

After three minutes of being suspended in mid air, she fell down on her face and wept. She wept until she had no tears and continued. Finally, after Rainbow Dash had taken her cold metal armor off, she walked over and looked into the shivering and shaking mare's eyes.

"T...Twilight, is...is that you?", she asked.

Twilight answered by looking into Rainbow's eyes, tears streaming out of hers, and wrapped her in a tight hug.

"OH! Thank you Rainbow! I thought I would be trapped there for eternity!", she sobbed into her friend's shoulder. Her voice returned to it's natural softness.

Rainbow began to cry. She'd done it. She had gotten her friend back. She was so overwhelmed that words just couldn't come to her. She simply looked down at her friend and began to sob with her.

The two sat there sobbing in each other's hooves. Finally, Pineshield woke up against the wall. He hadn't seen what happened, but given a second to think, he found out pretty quickly the mood of the situation.

Tears began to flood into his eyes, as he watched the happy reunion. He had waited to see this moment ever since he'd heard Rainbow Dash's story. And now, finally, he was looking at it finally happening.

To not interrupt their happy moment, he got up to head back out the hole. However, as soon as he moved he shouted in pain.

Both mares looked at him shocked. They looked at the area he was holding, it was his side.

"What's the matter?!", Rainbow was kind of worried.

"It's my side! It's killing me!"

She looked closely and saw that Twilight's severed horn was embedded in his right side.

"Oh my! You need a medic! Both of you!"

"I can get down there fi-INE! Don't worry about me, carry her down to the medic and get her checked on," Pineshield assured them.

"Okay, but I'll be back for you."

She flew off out the hole, holding her dearest friend in her hooves.

Author's Note

Not the end yet! There are still a few more things I need to explain, and a few more feels to be felt! Thanks for staying with this story for so long! Next chapter will be the last chapter of the actual story line, but then there will be a few "bonus features" kinda chapters...thanks! See you next time!

Healing Wounds

It was a sight not expected to be seen. Most ponies would say it was insane, others would be intrigued, while some would simply remain skeptical. They all stared on as Rainbow Dash came fluttering down from the castle, holding RedDawn in her hooves.

"What is she doing?!", one pony yelled.

"She's...helping her!", shouted another.

"Everypony, please! She is not what she seems!", Rainbow pleaded with them as she landed. "Medic!"

A medic came out of the crowd and took Twilight from Rainbow's hooves. They looked up at her and she nodded, then they took her to a group of field medics that began to work on her.

"What do you mean? She is the dark queen! She is the one who killed hundreds! Thousands!"

"No, RedDawn did those things, not Princess Twilight Sparkle!", Rainbow was becoming defensive.

"What does that even mean?"

"I had a chat with RedDawn just before I destroyed her. RedDawn was pretty much, King Sombra's essence living on."

Gasps came from all around her.

"Twilight has been trapped inside of her own body this whole time, so she needs to be welcomed back!"

"You mean to tell us that the actual Twilight was not even doing those things?! That she's been locked away for ten years!", one of the medics exclaimed.

Rainbow nodded.

"Oh shoot! I need to get Pineshield! Be right back! And take care of her okay?", she flew into the air.

"Yes ma'am! Knowing the truth, of course I will!"

Rainbow flew into the air and made her way to the castle. After three minutes, she came back with Pineshield in her hooves. She carefully placed him on a cot the medics had ready, and they began to work on him. After an hour of helping get the injured to the medics and their mobile hospital they had set up, and explaining everything to everypony, Rainbow Dash returned to see how things were going.

"So doc, what's the news?"

"Both should make it. Pineshield was lucky the horn missed vital organs. Though he may have slight breathing problems after what it did to his diaphragm muscle. Twilight will most definitely have splitting headaches for a few weeks, but she'll live, and with magical therapy, her horn should grow back.

Dash sighed.

"There is one thing though."

"Yes?"

"Before the anesthetics took over, Pineshield mumbled on about some unfinished business he had with you, but he's under now so it will have to wait. Just thought you would like to know."

"Yeah, thanks doc." He nodded and turned towards the camp they had set up. "Oh, and doc?"

"Yes?", he turned back to her.

"Is Twilight still awake?"

"She came to just as Pineshield was going under. You wish to see her?"

"Yeah."

"Follow me then."

He led her to one of the many tents they had up all over the city, and upon entering, he opened a veil to Twilight's room. Twilight looked up and smiled at her old friend.

"Hey there champ. How's it going?", Rainbow asked.

"Good I guess. Apart from finding out that the past ten years of my life have been spent pretty much in a coma, and a lot of my friends and relatives are either dead or scarred, that is."

"Well be glad you're immortal, and will live to see new generations that knew nothing of this day. I lost ten years of my life, and will grow old soon enough. But let's not speak of this now. Today is a glad day!"

"I wish I could enjoy it, but I just can't! I mean, there're so many unanswered questions. Like how many of my friends did I kill? How much damage did I do to Equestria? How do the sun and moon still orbit? I don't remember doing anything to keep them going. And another question, where are the others?"

The question hit Rainbow Dash like a brick. She only knew where one other pony from their original friends were, and that was Rarity.

"Well, Pinkie Pie went crazy and left after RedDawn did things to her, Flutters ran off because the insanity of a war between two of her closest friends was getting to her, and she felt that she was no help. I don't know what happened to Applejack, RedDawn delivered her armor to Ponyville just eleven days ago, after capturing her during the battle over Los Pegasus."

"Applejack! I remember...I remember standing up to RedDawn before she did something to her! I told her I wasn't going to let her kill my friend."

"You did? Did she follow?"

"Not sure, I think she killed her anyway. But-", and image of Applejack tied up caught her attention. "-I remember!" Another image, of her closing a door to the room Applejack was in came to her. "She locked her up!"

"Where?"

"Not quite sure, but I need to get to the castle!"

Three hours later, Twilight, Rainbow, and a very woozy Pineshield found themselves in Twilight's demolished living quarters.

"I must have written it down in my diary somewhere."

"Got a journal!", Pineshield held it up with his teeth.

"What's it say?", Twilight dashed over to him.

He opened it and began flipping through pages.

"AHA! Found something from more recent. It's regarding Applejack!"

"Read it!", Rainbow demanded.

"Blah, blah, blah...Here we go! ...After having to suppress Twilight Sparkle yet another time, something odd happened. I wasn't able to harm Applejack in any fatal way. It seems her last words which told me I couldn't kill her friend, were true. It's as if an invisible force holds me from inflicting any harm beyond minor injuries. As this enrages me, I am not able to kill her, so I began to put her in the dungeon. However, upon opening the doors to that horrid place, I blacked out. Later, I awoke in my chambers, without Applejack anywhere to be seen. Something strange is going on. I've tried to enter the dungeons but can't step foot in without blacking out and waking up somewhere else. A lot of my servants are taking this as an ill omen, but I think otherwise. That's where is ends," Pineshield lifter his head from the journal.

"So we should check the dungeons then. Maybe there was something down there Twilight didn't want RedDawn to see," Rainbow suggested.

"Let's go," Pineshield agreed.

The three made their way back out the castle, and around to the back, where the dungeon doors stood. However, on their way to the dungeon, Rainbow Dash was stopped by something as the others kept moving. Within seconds, Rainbow was letting out a loud scream, that turned into crying sobs. The other two came running over and saw her lying on her stomach, face down in front of two grave stones. One read "Pinkamena Diane Pie", while the other read "Fluttershy".

"How?", was all she could get past her shocked sobbing.

Twilight nearly fainted in disbelief. She quickly joined with the sobbing.

"I don't know. This is beyond me," Pineshield didn't understand either.

"I may know. I think I can remember something."

"What is it?", Rainbow looked up at her.

She controlled herself long enough to bring back the memory. "I...RedDawn was trying to bring all of her old friends together. The ones that would join her gained ultimate respect, those that wouldn't, died. That's why she wanted to kill you and Applejack so badly. I think I can remember. Oh god! She killed Pinkie! I can remember doing it and burying her here!", she laid down and cried.

"I'm sorry you have to have those terrible memories," Pineshield tried to console her. "What of Fluttershy?"

"She...she didn't make it out of the storm that was raging the night she ran away! We...", she squinted her eyes hard trying to think. "We found her in a river just outside of Ponyville!", she grunted it out past gritted teeth.

The two mares sat there and cried together for five minutes. Pineshield being emotionally broken by the scene before him, sat down between them and laid his wings over them.

"Shhh, it's okay. We still have more friends to find, and we must hurry."

"You're right. We need to see what's in that dungeon!"' Rainbow stood up shakily.

The three made their way down the stares to the great dungeon. As they got to the door, Rainbow looked back.

"Everypony ready?", she asked.

They nodded.

"Here we go."

She opened the doors.

They stood there in shock. Inside the dungeon, there were many ponies scattered around, bound to the stone walls by chains. They could see Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, Applejack, and Queen Chrysalis. All of them were bound with a recently emptied food tray by them.

"Princess Celestia!", Twilight called out.

Celestia looked up in shock as she saw who was coming. She lowered down against the wall to keep away from her attacker.

Twilight stopped in her tracks. "Don't you recognize me?"

"Yes, I do! Now please don't hurt me!"

"Why would I...?"

"You've already brought this week's food, so why else would you come down here?"

"To free you! I'm not RedDawn! I'm Twilight Sparkle! RedDawn is dead!", she jumped joyously toward Celestia.

"Dead? Dead how? You're standing right here in front of us!", Luna's voice echoed from a dark corner.

Pineshield stepped forward. "We'll explain later. You need to come with us your Majesty!"

"Pineshield?! You've come to save us!"

"Yes ma'am! And don't fear Twilight now. All will be explained later, just trust me that she is good now!"

"O..okay," she fell unconscious.

The three went back and got help. Over twenty ponies went into the dungeon to get them all out safely. They arrived back in the growing medical camp in chariots. They unloaded the weak ponies carefully and they were immediately taken into care and seen.

"I still can't believe Princess Celestia is still alive! This is a miracle!", the doctor came out of the tent.

"So is everypony alright?", Rainbow was waiting for him.

"Long story short, yes. Though, they may have some long term scars from being left in the dark for so long, but physically, they'll live!", he exclaimed happily.

"Oh thank the maker! It really does seem like a happy ending!", she suppressed the memory of the graves for now.

"Yes. It truly is!"

One month later.

The city of Canterlot was assembled in the dining hall of the royal castle. It was a feast that the Princesses threw as their first act after returning to power. It was both a thanks to all who fought, and to those who had major roles. Their was a special list of guests who were allowed to sit at the same table with Celestia and Luna. The list contained the following: Rainbow Dash, Pineshield, Spike, Lord Golan, Rarity, Twilight, Applejack, Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor. As they ate, there was reflection at the table.

"I can't believe I did all those awful things! I mean what am I, some sort of ruffian?", Rarity asked Rainbow.

"No, that wasn't you Rare. It was Diamond Death doing those things! You were the lesser of two evils, being controlled by RedDawn's dark power. When Twilight Returned and RedDawn died, the veil was lifted from your mind and you were yourself again."

"But it just feels like it was all just a bad dream, but when I look in the mirror, I look older, and I have more scars than I used to."

"Yeah, the same goes for the rest of us," Twilight motioned toward her short nub on her forehead.

"Is it coming along nicely Twilight?", Pineshield asked. "I'm sorry for breaking it."

They all looked at him. Twilight smirked.

Celestia looked over them. "I would like to make a toast, if you would not mind."

They all bowed their heads to her.

She stood up from the table and tapped her fork against her drinking glass. All eyes fell on her. All conversations hushed.

"I would like to propose a toast to my loyal friend here. She has fought against the evil Empire for ten long years, never giving up, and never quitting. Knowing that one day, she would mend the hole in our land's heart. And now, today, I stand before you to tell you that she has done just that! Mares and gentlecolts, please put your hooves together for Ms. Rainbow Dash!"

The gathering clapped their hooves together and cheered for her.

Rainbow blushed.

"And the other Princesses and I have counseled and would like to give an announcement! Princess Twilight, take it away!"

Twilight stood after Celestia sat down. "First thing's first. I would just like to say thank you. You saved me from an eternity in darkness. And you saved everypony in Equestria, and quite possibly even the world from RedDawn. Without you, the world would never have seen happy days! Thank you!"

Rainbow blushed deeper.

"But this isn't just a thank you. As Princess Celestia previously stated, I have some news for you. Though this has never happened in the history of Equestria, we would like you, a mortal, to reign in our stead!"

Rainbow's eyes opened wide. "What? Me?!"

"Yes Rainbow, you've proven that you can lead Equestria through any trial! You have been their true leader for ten years! And we want you to lead us on!"

"But what about you guys?! What about raising the sun and moon?"

Celestia stood and answered her. "Luna and I will still control the physical world, as is our duty, but you will rule it politically, and militarily! You have what it takes. And besides, we're immortal, we can have our turn later, but today is your time to shine!"

Rainbow was awestruck.

"Yes Rainbow, I will let you rule in my place for now. That is, if you would accept," Twilight assured her.

"Well? Do you accept?", Luna added.

Rainbow looked out to the crowd. She looked back to Twilight. "I accept."

One week later.

Rainbow Dash was standing outside of the throne room, mentally preparing herself for what came next. She looked in a nearby mirror and adjusted her dress. She never did like dresses, but this one was hoof-made by Rarity for the occasion, and she loved it. She could hear the music beginning to play, and the planner motioned her ahead. With a deep breath, she stepped through the doors and slowly made her way to the throne. When she made it to the throne, Princess Celestia was waiting for her.

"Mares and gentlecolts! I am proud to perform this coronation ceremony for this pony here. This is the first time in the history of Equestria that a mortal has been given the honor of being crowned Princess. Today, we gather here to celebrate the coronation of Princess Rainbow Dash!"

Everypony remained silent.

"Give me the crown please."

A pony came from off stage with a beautiful crown made of gold and let Celestia take it.

"Today, Rainbow Dash. Because you have proven yourself worthy by not only saving me, but all of Equestria, and even the world from the tyranny which was RedDawn, the reincarnate power of King Sombra, I gladly crown you, Princess Rainbow Dash!"

Everypony cheered.

Later that evening, Rainbow was standing on the balcony of Canterlot Castle, looking down over the land which was now hers. The events of the past few weeks seeming to have gone by so quickly. In fact, the past few months felt like a vapor in the wind. Two months ago, she was struggling not to lose the fight. And now, here she stood, Princess Rainbow Dash.

"May I join you?", Pineshield was standing behind her.

"Of course you can. You're an old friend, you don't need to ask."

He walked up and looked over the railing. "I'm proud of you, you know."

She looked at him. "Hey Pineshield, remember when we said we liked each other?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Well, I think I'm ready to love you. Do you feel the same way?"

He just stared into her eyes. "Dash, I already love you more than you could imagine."

She blushed. "Really?"

"I love you so much! If you hadn't made it back there, I don't know how I would have been able to carry on! I wouldn't have been able to live without you!"

Rainbow blushed deeply.

Pineshield walked over to her and kissed her cheek. "I love you so much because your love for life and the protection of other ponies never ends. I love you because you confided in me, and trusted me."

She bowed in embarrassment from all of the attention.

He wrapped his wing over her and pulled her closer to him. "I love you." He kissed her cheek again.

Author's Note

Whew! What a run! There it is folks! The end of my first ever fanfic! Thanx all of you awesome peepz that read this first ever story from this beginner! I would like to thank all of the people who up voted this story even though it had its plot holes and grammatical errors! Though the story will say "Complete" I've still got the bonus stuff I want to do, so don't leave this train just yet! Now I'm off to write those and start planning out the sequal! Ohoho! Yeah! You read right! Below, if you wouldn't mind, please leave a comment asking for whatever was confusing in this whole story to be explained, and if you would like a sequal, and I will reply to all comments, and explain all I can! Thanx again awesome folks! BYE!

-Lawpony

Random End: What the Crap?!

"That's not fair! You cheated!", Twilight shouted across the table.

"What do you mean?", Rainbow was defensively leaning over the table.

"There wasn't anything saying you could use the elements of harmony!"

"Well, there wasn't a rule saying I couldn't! And I still say it wasn't fair that you used that, rocket-move-thingy to take over the changelings. I mean, if you wanna win the game, just take over a whole other country!"

"It didn't seem too hard to win when you kept bringing the same pony back to life to save the day!"

Fluttershy looked back and forth as the two argued.

Applejack jumped in. "Yeah, well at least you weren't eliminated right in the middle of the game. Am Ah Right, Flutters? Pinkie?"

Pinkie turned back towards the table from her desk in the corner. After pulling off her headphones she looked at the table. "You guys are still playing that game? Boooooring! I've spent the past hour on World of Warcraft, and some idiot by the name of Leroy Jenkins just blindly rushed in and got everypony killed!", she spun back around in her office chair and shoved her headphones back on. "Ima kill him if he does it again!"

"Oookaaay, but mah point's still clear...right?", Applejack grinned widely at the now quiet table.

"Sure thing Applejack, but we all know it was my epic skill with board games that won me that battle!", Rarity looked at her hoof.

"No, it was your lucky hand that won you that battle! Without that "plus five stamina power up", and "instant dexterity bonus if against an earth pony" cards, I woulda won!"

"Girls, girls! We don't need to fight over a silly game like this!" Twilight tried to calm them.

"Yeah, and it's my turn to be the alicorn princess tyrant! You made it sound FUN!", Rainbow squeaked from across the table.

"No! This is my role!"

"Uh...it says right here in the rules, ...winner claims antagonist role in next game..."

"But, I...fine," she handed her crown piece to Rainbow Dash.

"Yes! This is gonna be So. AWESOME!", she put the crown in front of her. "So, are we turning this into an all nighter?"

All of them sighed loudly in frustration.

"Okay, okay. We can play again tomorrow!"

"No Rainbow, these games are meant for playing when you're bored, or in our case, when the power goes out and you have no elec......tricity" Rarity paused. She then turned to Pinkie. "PINKIE!"

They all stared at her, as she continued to kill trolls, and those things in the game. Pinkie turned around slowly in her office chair. She took off her headphones slowly and placed them on the desk.

"Now...I can explain..."

"You were playing World of Warcraft this whole time? While we thought the power was out?!"

"Um...yes?"

"WE JUST WASTED AN HOUR OF OUR LIVES ON THIS GAME!", Rarity exploded.

"Heh, I didn't. I just won the most awesomest role ever! Mortal Princess!"

"Well, besides her," Rarity grunted.

"Oh...ya know what? There is something on the computer screen that requires my attention at the moment," she began to turn towards the screen.

"NO! Don't let her-"

"Pinkie Pie powers ACTIVATE!", she jumped through the computer screen.

"-break the fourth wall. Ugh!"

Right before the computer burst into flames, a voice could be heard over the headset. "What the?! Why's this pony jumping at my scre-AH!"

"Well. Isn't that just great! I suppose we should all just hit the hay. G'night girls," Twilight started heading upstairs, followed by Spike.

"Good night," they all replied in unison, then began to head out of Twilight's library.

After heading to bed, Twilight began to fall asleep quickly, as it had been a long day. When she had finally entered a somewhat restful sleep, she could hear Spike gagging in his bed.

"Spike, you better not-", a letter followed by green fire came out of the dark and smacked her in the face. "Oh."

She opened it after turning on a light and it read:

My dearest student, Twilight Sparkle.

I believe I have something of yours. A certain pink somepony just blasted through my sister's computer and began hiding in random places around her room. I assume you know more than I do, so please have her back.

Sincerely, Princess Celestia.

Twilight grunted. "Hurry! Writer a letter Spike!"

Spike jumped up and grabbed a quill and paper. "Ready."

"Dear Princess Celestia. I would like to request that you return Pinkie Pie to her home at Sugercube corner, because I have no more need of her here. Your student, Twilight Sparkle. You got that Spike?"

Spike nodded.

"Send it, and hurry!"

Spike sucked in air, ready to blow fire at the letter. But instead, he burped green fire right at Twilight's face, followed by Pinkie.

"Oof!", Twilight grunted as Pinkie hit her face.

"OOH! Are we having a slumber party? I love slumber parties! This one time, I had a slumber party with this stallion, and we-", Pinkie went on flapping her jaws as Twilight just rolled her eyes.

"Pinkie, we're not having a slumber party."

"Then why are we both standing in your room. Oh wait, is there only one bed in here?", Pinkie turned to Spike and pointed to the door. "Spike, you must leave. This is our alo-", she looked at Twilight as she began to wobble a little.

Twilight lost consciousness, and collapsed on the floor.

"Oh, okay, never mind. Good night Twilight!", Pinkie smiled then hopped onto Twilight's bed and turned out the lights.

Spike just climber back into bed. "You know what? Forget it, I don't even care anymore."

Author's Note

NOTICE: This is a random end that is in no way true and has no real connection to the story. Also, anything that doesn't make sense in here was probably on purpose, seeing as it is purposefully random.

Also, I am going to go ahead and give a few facts about the story and its development.

Fact #1. Pineshield's name was based off of Thorin's nickname from the hobbit, Oakenshield. Pineshield, Oakenshield...yeah. I watched the hobbit right before creating his character.

Fact #2. Pineshield was not originally supposed to live after the battle in the tower in Los Pegasus, but something made me bring him back.

Fact #3. I am tired.

Fact #4. I did not originally have any clue where I was going with the story until after, if I remember correctly, chapter 3.

Fact #5. I originally planned to have Pinkie and Fluttershy found and/or rescued, but couldn't find anywhere to fit it in logically, and it would have just seemed like I was trying to "spare" the story of too much tragedy.

Fact #6. I was originally going to have Applejack rescued, but was lazy about it and suddenly realized I hadn't done it until I was already on the final stretch to the finale...so I just had her join the rest in the final rescue.

Fact #7.If anyone doesn't like the fact that I kept Celestia and Luna alive, well I couldn't think of a way to explain the sun and moon moving on their own, or Twilight actually keeping a regular day/night schedule if it was in her control.

Fact #8. I originally created Patch as an unknown character that wouldn't really be missed if I killed her off, but then remembered Pineshield and was like, "hmm...". But then I just killed her anyway cuz it wasn't dark enough to have EVERY character I introduce live somehow.

Well, thanks for staying with this story, and thanks for coming back to read this random piece o' poo...but come again when you want priceless entertainment. Priceless as in they wouldn't sell it for actual money in stores. That'd be a rip-off. (and illegal) <3

Battle plans

Twilight stood there, a single tear escaped her eye. It had been so long since she had spoken to more than one of her old friends. She had only regularly seen Rarity, and that was because come the rift, she took the side of the Princess. Going over to her dresser, she took out a lock box from her top drawer and pulled out an old picture of all of her friends posing with her.
She went from mare to mare, remembering happy times they had. She let the memories flow, from Pinkie, to Fluttershy, and to Rarity.

She glared a scowl of pure hate when her sight fell upon Rainbow Dash and Applejack. There they were, happy and smiling along with everypony else.

Look at her with her hoof on my head; get your hoof off my head! She thought, scowl not wavering.

She put the picture back in the lock box and tossed it carelessly back into her drawer before making her way to the throne room. Upon entering, she saw the throne and became very happy all of a sudden.

"I love you SO much! This is the best thing I've ever taken from a dead princess!", she rubbed the throne with a hoof while pressing a cheek against it.

"You show so much affection for something replaceable, yet you ignore your closest friend...", Rarity emerges from the shadows.

"Rarity! You shouldn't sneak up on somepony!", Twilight's expression changes from happy to almost scared. "That's how a pony gets themselves killed!"

"Are you saying you would kill me?"

"Of course not! But we are in the middle of war. What if i mistook you for one of Rainbow's spies? You did choose to wait in the shadows."

"This is true. I apologies my Liege. What does High Queen RedDawn have on her schedule today?" Rarity inquired as she conjured a quill and notepad.

"I was thinking we should raise the taxes. One week is too long to have the same taxes; we wouldn't want our subjects getting comfortable now would we?, Twilight raised a brow along with a twisted smirk.

"I suppose not. And we wouldn't want them to think we're giving them a break." -Rarity displayed a similar look. - "Our high queen has requested, and it shall be done! How mu-", she was interrupted by a soldier running in the throne room.

"Your highness! It is ready!", he saluted.

"First Lt. Rarity! Put our current plans aside! Brief the guard and report back to me!", Queen RedDawn commanded

Rarity turned saluted, "At once your highness!"

She bolted off, heading to the conference room to brief all of the officers of the army. She had only been IN a battle twice.
Rounding the corner of some hallway - there were hundreds of them - she found herself in the presence of the entirety of the head command. She quickly donned a very serious look on her face and began to brief them on what was going to happen. Once she had finished briefing them, she made her way to the queen's chambers.

"Knock knock.", Rarity was outside RedDawn's door.

"Enter, Rarity," Twilight said calmly from her room.

"The battle plan is ready, the officers have been briefed, and the troops are armed and awaiting your command.", Rarity stated once she entered.

"Good. Don your armor first Lt. This campaign will be your victory," she gave Rarity a smile. "Now go! Make me proud Lt!"

Rarity almost died with excitement. "Trust me your Highness! They won't know what hit them!"

One hour later.

Rainbow Dash was currently standing over a table in a dark room, looking at a map of the landscape of Equestria. It had pins of all sorts of colors sticking in it, as well as a lot of sweat stains, indicating she had been there for a while. She had been looking at these pins for so long she had begun to daydream about them attacking one another. She was considering which city to attack next. They didn't have as many cities under their control as the Empire, but they had a few. They currently controlled Los Pegasus, part of Manehattan, and the Everfree Forest - which is where their HQ was.

"So if we take the road from Ponyville tah Canterlot, then Ponyville's ours?" Applejack was standing across from Commander Dash.

"That's the plan anyway."-Rainbow Dash currently had a promising look in her eyes.- "As long as we put the train out of commission, they won't have a way to get earth or unicorn troops out to Ponyville as quickly. This should give us a size advantage...or at least make it less uneven. We also need to make sure we decommission the train while it's not in use...we don't want to endanger any innocent bystanders. "

"Yes, but what if the Pegasus troops are able to carry earth or unicorn troops? Ah mean, what if we fail to take out enough to really matter?"

"According to our chief adviser, their armor is too heavy to have two sets being held up by one pair of wings for elongated periods of time."

"Then that's the plan. Now what of our predicament in our portion of Manehattan? Is it not to risky tah have half the city belong to us, and half belong tah the Empire?" - Applejack took one of the Empire's heavy infantry pins and placed it on Manehattan, followed by pulling out the one that signified the Resistance's pin and throwing it into the wall next to her. - "What if they just ignore our cease fire and bring in a massive army? We'd have no use but tah surrender."

"Well, that would be a problem, if-", she was interrupted by a soldier suddenly bursting into the room.

"Excuse me Commander, but there's been an attack on one of our cities!"

Applejack simply gave Rainbow a bemused look that said, What'd Ah tell ya?

"Which city was it?", the commander was putting on her armor.

"Los Pegasus."

Author's Note

Next Chapter. "Battle: Los Pegasus"

Hostile Takeover.

"Does this manticore not know how to die?!", an imperial soldier growled.

"It appears to be augmented by some sort of elemental material. I do not believe our average weapons can do much against it," a seemingly intellectual soldier replied.

"What?!"

"He's saying our non-magic weapons can't harm it," the squad leader replied.

"Oh...bummer."

"Unicorn units! We require assistance! Initiate the massive charge maneuver...if you please," the unicorn of the squad sent out.

"At once!"

There came a massive charge of energy from the collection of unicorn troops behind them, that blew past them and collided with the manticore. It suddenly began to smolder and burst into flames. As soon as it began to bellow, it was gone and ashes fell in its place.

"Much obliged."

"Imminent manticore horde!"

The front line teams looked on as a massive gate opened to reveal over a hundred manticores that looked very hungry.

"Uh...the leader says you should probably take this. But give us some augmented help if you can."

"Understood, your weapons are now augmented. Have fun, you've just joined the party!"

They looked down, and their weapons were glowing red. They looked up to see the unicorns teleporting into battle. They were charging the pack of beasts.

"Well that wasn't fair. Come on boys. Don't let them take all the fun!", the leader grinned.

The earth pony troops charged with their magical weapons and began to overpower the beasts.

The battle was long, many imperials were eaten alive. The lead was constantly turning between the imperials, and the changelings. Finally, the massive beasts stood victorious atop a massive pile of imperial corpses. The changelings were on the verge of charging the remaining lines of imperials when suddenly, the very essence of death stepped in. Queen Red Dawn had arrived.

"What is she doing here?! She is a fool to blindly charge into her death!", a random changeling shouted from the mass of soldiers.

"Oh really? Is this also foolish?", the queen countered.

No sooner had she uttered these words, a nearby manticore turned and ate the changeling whole.

"These are highly trained! How could this be?!", a changeling shouted.

"Black magic! Sorcery!", another cried.

And then the entirety of the manticore force began to charge their masters.

"We're kinda busy at the moment. The manticores are obeying them for some reason!", the changeling that received the message replied.

"But I need help! She's chasing me down a hall now! If she gets to me, I'm dead! I need someone to hurry up and fill this pit in, or send me help!", the sender retorted.

The changeling that got his message was about to tell him the gist of what was going down, but took a magical spear to the face.

At that moment, Red Dawn sent a magic missile into the ceiling that caused a massive chunk to fall on top of the collection of changelings.

"She is to bury us in our own hive!", changelings cried in anger.

"Forth division, protect our Queen! You mustn't let anything happen to her!", the lead changeling sent out on an open telepathic channel.

"Thanks for your stupidity to use an open channel!", Red Dawn sent back out.

"Is there no end to your-", the general began but slumped to the ground with over a dozen arrows fighting for space in his brain.

"Hurry! Go! NEVER SURRENDE-", the general's replacement sent out, and was incinerated where she stood.

The group of knights made their way down the hall leading to the Queen's chambers. When they began, there were ten of them. On their way, three were picked off by Red Dawn and her teleport combat. She teleported in front of the rear knight, and stabbed him in the face. She then teleported in front of the next and plunged a knife into her chest. She took out the third by teleporting behind him, and stabbing him down through the back with a magic battle axe.

"This is not going to work! We need to end this here and not risk the life of our queen!"

The seven remaining knights turned around and armed for battle.

"I hate corridors!", one muttered.

"You do? Well then allow me to show you why I love them!", Red Dawn smiled maniacally.

She teleported between the two closest knights, and pulled one's weapon into the other, followed by flying upside-down to the next one, and driving her horn into the hole in his helmet. She executed a back flip, which landed her on her feet. She then turned and teleported into one of the remaining, killing him instantly, She used her magic to shoot the crossbow mounted on his foreleg, hitting all three that lived. She ran past the first dead one, picking up his battle axe in her magic, and hurled it towards one of the two left alive. The first ducked, and the one behind lost her head. She then then teleported to the flying battle axe, grabbed it, and teleported into the position of flinging the axe into his head.

"And that is why corridors are so fun to use! Now, where is the queen?", Red Dawn continued down the hall.

After about a minute of running, she finally saw a door that was guarded by two soldiers. Before she was seen, she teleported around the previous corner, and used an illusory spell to make herself into a changeling knight.

"I love being the only one that can do this!", she piped happily.

She worked up a pant and rounded the corner as dramatically as she could.

"Guards! You must let me in at once! That imperial scum of a Queen is behind me! I have been ordered to give our Queen additional aid!"

"At once ma'am! We shall stand guard and make sure she doesn't get past," one replied.

Oh, but you just have... she thought to herself as she ran into Chrysalis' chambers.

"My Queen, that imperial scum is behind me! We must get you away from here!"

"There is a tunnel that leads outside the hive. I was going to use it only if we lost," Queen Chrysalis replied.

"We have lost indeed my Queen," she mocked sorrow. And this voice disguise, LOVE IT!

"Very well, lead me out, and we shall seek out the aid of the Resistance. They are the only hope we have that's within a day's journey."

"At once! But we must hurry! Red Dawn was behind me before I got here! On your way my Queen!"

Chrysalis walked over to a bookshelf, and pulled out a book. Nothing happened until she laid it on the desk, and opened it to a certain page. When she did this, the bed moved and a tunnel was revieled.

"The desk is designed to measure the weight of each side of the book when I put a certain number of pages on either side," Chrysalis explained.

As Chrysalis began to enter the tunnel, her vision went black.

"Subjects! Enemies! Behold the horn of Queen Chrysalis!", Red Dawn held up a black crooked horn for all of the hive to see.

Cries of horror and screams of joy were heard from every corner.

"Now, you will either bow to me or I will kill you."

"Those of you who wish to oppose her, try as you may, but you will die. Now those of you who will bow and claim her as Queen, drop your weapons and surrender," Diamond Death shouted across the echoing walls of the hive.

The sound of weapons hitting the floor rang for what seemed like minutes. Finally, all was silent, and every head was bent in fear towards the floor.

"Good. You see that Feather Weight? I want Rainbow Dash to know what has happened, you hear?!"

An imperial soldier bowed and flew out of the hive.

Author's Note

FINALLY!!! I have been really about procrastinating! Guilt finally got to me for promising chapters and not giving them...But anyway...anyone still wondeering about my other story, There's a New Law in Town, take a look at my user page and read my blurb on the Shedule tab...and yes...shedule on purpose, not schedule lol