//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Twilight Sparkle // Story: My Little Rebellion // by Fragezeichen //------------------------------// (Reading guide: Flashback = *_* Scene Change = <_>) My Little Rebellion Chapter 1 - Twilight Sparkle Six years ago. That was when everything was normal. That’s when we lived in peace without many fears or questions. Blissful ignorance brought about by our cushy lives and simple existence. We had never wondered about others out there, beyond the stars. We believed our great leaders, the Princesses, ruled over all, even the emptiness of space. But we were wrong... They had come, in their massive ships and bearing horrific weapons capable of ripping through a pony in a single blast. Any attempt to resist them was met with deadly force. What could we do? How could we fight back? Our magic was useless against them and soon, even our beloved Princess Celestia fell at their hands. Our lives...are over.... *_* The purple equine gave a sigh as she placed her quill and papers aside. The cage she laid in was as cold as ever and the dim candle nearby was slowly starting to fizzle out. What a pitiful continuance she was living, trapped within some military base who knows how many miles away from any sort of friend. At least her captors allowed her these writing tools, something to keep her sane. How could this have gone so wrong? She thought to herself, examining her filthy mane and coat. How long had it been since her last bath? Two? Three months? She shook her head and slowly shambled to that poor excuse for a ‘bed’ they tossed into her cage last year. Maybe some sleep would make her feel better.... *_* “Run! Keep goin’!” A sudden voice cried out. How could she even make it out with all the screaming? “Twi’! C’mon get up!” She knew that voice but she could remember. The blast seemed to take away her ability to focus. With little warning, an orange-yellow pony started yelling in her face, it’s usual cowboy hat gone somewhere. “A-Applejack? W-what’s going on?” The bruised mare attempted only for the other to buck her up onto her back and race off. Twilight, from Applejack’s back, could see the devastation caused by the black monstrosity above, beams of light shot down from it and set fire to anything in it’s path. “Applejack! Twilight! This way!” Another voice called, this one shriller and faster. Twilight looked up and saw the rainbow maned Pegasus yelling something at them as she carried another, this one bore a pink mane and her left wing was broken. “C’mon! We have to get to the forest!” She exclaimed before shooting forward. Applejack darted ahead, focusing on nothing but getting herself and the purple pony on her back to safety. This was not an easy task. Left and right, denizens of Ponyville began being captured with nets from smaller creatures that came from the giant black beast. Rose, the flower pony. Lyra and Bon Bon. Even the postal pony Derpy fell victim to abduction. “Quickly everypony! Into the forest!” A tan pony with a gray mane and tail instructed as she stood at the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Despite her best efforts though, many others didn’t make it inside. “How many of us made it?” A shivering filly asked looking up at the rather small group. “I...I think this is it...” A stallion replied. Applejack sighed and fell to her side, Twilight rolling off and landing on the ground with a sudden thud soon after. “Oh...pardon Twilight but...I’m plum tuckered...” The cowpony panted. Twilight shook her head and nodded. “I’m fine, don’t worry.” She stood up and looked around, hoping to find her friends somewhere. “Did...did the others make it? Did you see them AJ?” “ ‘Fraid not Twi’, I saw Rainbow And Fluttershy come this way before but...I didn’t see ‘em come in.” The wheezing mare admitted as she struggled to stand up, to no avail. “Stay down AJ, I’ll look around okay?” Twilight asked much to Applejack’s dismay. She tried to get up again but her leg’s just wouldn’t allow her, eventually she gave up and nodded, letting her companion walk off by herself. “What the heck were those things?!” A gruff voice shouted in a group of some of the older Ponyvillians. “They took my daughter right off my back!” “C-calm down now Buck, we have to focus.” A blue mare with a pink mane whispered. “Mrs.Cake is right Buck, we’re the eldest ones here, we need to figure out what to do.” Ms.Mayor spoke up, a visible gash on her cheek still bleeding slightly. “Obviously we’ve been attacked by some unknown creatures, and this is no ordinary attack either. It was planned and carried out in a most militarized manner.” The other’s blinked at the Mayor’s sudden serious tone. “Militarized? You mean to tell me that our attackers are some sort of army?” Buck questioned suddenly. “No doubt about it, an attack like that...I haven’t seen such coordination since the Llama Wars, and those were so long ago.” Twilight shook her head, she needed to find her friends, then focus on what to do. She prayed they were there, and safe, and with each other. Quickly she asked around the collection of confused and beaten ponies, learning the fate of her friends. Pinkie Pie had made it out with Rarity into the mountains along with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Big Macintosh and Applebloom and Granny Smith had been taken away while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy managed to make it into the forest. “R-Rainbow! Fluttershy!” Twilight cried as she galloped her way to her friends. Though she bore a smile on her face, the two on the ground did not return such a gaze. Fluttershy laid curled up next to Rainbow, whimpering slightly as her left eye stayed closed for some reason and her left wing stayed limp at her side, broken. “F-Fluttershy?” “She won’t talk, she was caught in a pretty bad explosion too.” Rainbow sighed, looking down slowly. “Did she...did something happen to her voice?” Twilight asked, walking a little closer. “It was Angel, If it weren’t for him, Fluttershy’d be dead by now.” The name made the yellow Pegasus cry out loudly. Twilight didn’t need to ask what happened, she already knew. "Applejack is back this way, I’ll see if I can help her over here.” The purple mare stated as she began to turn away. “What happened Twilight? What the heck just happened?” The rainbow maned pony cried out suddenly. “W-what do you mean?” “You’re the smart one right? Can’t you explain what all that was?!” Twilight blinked and looked away. Nothing in her books ever described something this fierce, this powerful. She didn’t know what to say to her scared friend. “I-I can’t...I don’t know what it was...I’m sorry...” *_* “Oi! Wake up ya roddy lil’ git!” A voice suddenly commanded, forcing the sleeping mare awake. “Wot you think you’re doin’ huh? Sleepin’? Little twat’s like you don’t get ta sleep until I say ya can.” It was the jailer, the angry creep who’s only goal in life seemed to be to make Twilight’s captivity even more hellish. “I said git up!” Twilight slowly stood up on her hooves and walked toward the cage door, looking up at her captor. He spat in her face and chuckled. “Oi, aren’t you a cute lil’ thing? Ugh, makes me sick just lookin’ at’cha. If I had my way, I’d skin ya and bake ya into a nice pony pie, but I can’t. Instead, I git ta watch ya all day, everyday. How wonderful eh?” The disturbed jailer casually declared. “Also, I git ta feed ya, meanin’ I git ta keep you alive! Isn’t that even better?!” Twilight shook her head, it was the same thing everyday with him. He’d complain about her, spit at her, abuse her and then he’d feed her. A repetitive cycle of pain that she had been going through for six years. “Git yer food, ya little prick.” He said, pushing a tray through a slot on the floor. It bore some stale hay and water, like usual and like usual, she ate it. The sound of the jailer’s footsteps echoed as he walked away, muttering obscenities to himself, meaning the mare was alone again. It was an odd thought to think she didn’t mind him talking to her in that way as long as he talked to her. To hear a voice meant she wasn’t alone, even if he did want her dead. She began to think about him a bit more when she came across something in her hay, a daffodil. A small flower that not only smelled sweet but also tasted sweet. Had he given it to her? That wouldn’t even be imaginable, but there it was, staring at her with it’s white petals and yellow center. She didn’t eat it, it was too precious. Instead she placed it near her ‘bed’ where she could see it everyday, and with her jailer gone, she could return to her slumber. *_* “Alright everypony, the elders and I have come up with a plan. It’s nothing perfect but it’s all we got.” The Mayor announced suddenly. “We have to make our way to Canterlot, it’s the safest place in Equestria and perhaps Celestia could even stop and defeat our attackers.” The younger ponies looked around at each other but there were no objections. “There is only one problem. Many of us are hurt and cannot walk, some of us must return to Ponyville and retrieve some carriages so that we may transport the wounded.” The group stared at their mayor as if she had just suddenly gone insane. "You’ve gone insane!” Buck cried, pounding a hoof into the ground. There was a small clamor of agreement when the mayor spoke up again. “Do you intend to leave our hurt friends behind then? I most certainly will not, even if I have to go alone.” The tan old mare said finally, turning away from the others and beginning to walk toward the ruined remains of Ponyville. “Wait! Madam Mayor! I’ll go too.” A voice quickly spoke up, it’s owner, a thin green pony, galloped to the Mayor’s side. “My little sister, she’s hurt and I couldn’t possibly carry her myself... The only way would be a carriage.” The Mayor smiled and nodded, turning back to the rest. “Anypony else?” “Ah’ll go Ms.Mayor.” Applejack said, slowly standing up. Twilight blinked and stood in front of her. “You can’t! You’re legs are too weak to walk let alone bring back a carriage!” “You sayin’ my mouth is makin’ promises my legs can’t keep? That sounds like a challenge to me Twi’.” The cowpony declared as she slowly limped towards the Mayor and the smaller green mare, her legs wobbling along the way. “Applejack...this is no time to let pride get in the way...I don’t want to lose you...” Twilight whispered, forcing the orange mare to stop. “Ah’ll be fine Twilight, I’m always fine, remember?” She replied, giving an assuring smile. Twilight looked down, knowing she’d be unable to stop her friend from going. “Then...Rainbow, can you go with them?” The purple mare asked, turning to the Pegasus with Fluttershy laying close to her. “Well, I guess I could, but...Fluttershy would need somepony with her...” The frequent flier replied. Twilight nodded and made her way over. “I’ll stay with her, don’t worry.” Rainbow looked up then at the sniffling Pegasus next to her with a nod. “Alright, I’ll go. We’ll be fast right?” She asked as she stood up, the Mayor giving a nod. “Of course, there should be some nearby, we won’t have to go very far. Though it’d be easier if we had a bit more help...Buck?” The Mayor called, turning to the black stallion who was turned away. “Ugh...Fine, I’ll go...” He said finally, a hint of defeat in his voice. “Maybe...maybe I’ll run into one of those things, take it out and find my daughter...” He thought hopefully, slowly shambling forth. *_* Twilight shivered as she slowly awoke, looking around her cell with a sigh. What was a pony to do? Trapped for six years, no outside interaction, no exercise, nothing. Just being forced to remain sedentary in small, cold, metal cage. Her prayers had been unanswered for so long she had given up on making them. Her goddess was dead anyway, the magnificent white mare of the sun, destroyed by the invaders who had taken over. Only Luna, the younger princess, remained alive. But why? Twilight thought to herself. Why keep Luna around? One day she’ll be able to fight back, won’t she? What was the point? The young mare shook her head and looked up, a small ray of sunlight was shining through the sad excuse for a window high above the room. Was that it? Was Luna raising the sun and moon? Is that why they need her? “Oi, ya awake in there or wot?” The familiar voice asked, pounding on the wall. Twilight frowned at the door and looked away, deciding not to answer. “I said, are you awake ya git?!” The voice called again, frustration audibly arising. “A’ight then, I’ll just have to come in there and check eh?” Twilight blinked, he would be coming inside? For what? The sound of the 32 locks on the door began to open, one by one they were moved and the tumblers shifted until the knob on the door began to turn. “I’ve been given permission ta ‘decommission’ ya, oh what fun we’ll be ‘avin eh? Heh, heh, heh...” <_> “Alright, looks like that’s the base where one of the Element Hosts is being held. You guys ready?” A black-clad soldier asked her team, a strange mixture of ponies and the invaders. The group whispered in agreement. “Alright then, ponies, you head toward the right and make the distraction, free the captured and have them fight for us, we’ll go and free the Element Host.” The plan was set in motion quickly, the team splitting off and heading toward their assigned posts. A battle was set to begin... *_* Success. The carriages had been brought to the wounded and the remaining ponies would be able to carry them toward Canterlot to safety. Hopefully. Despite Twilight’s warning, Applejack remained on her hooves, walking alongside the others as they made their way along the path towards the mountain capital, occasionally stopping to hide from oncoming patrols. “They’re looking for us...It’s like they know they missed us or something..” Rainbow Dash whispered as the group emerged from another hiding spot. “That can’t be...right?” “First rule of successful war Rainbow, know your enemy.” The Mayor replied, a stern look covering her face. The Mayor’s sudden change in attitude disturbed the rest, their once delightful, helpful, and kind leader had become something else, almost like a warrior. “How do you know all this madam Mayor?” Twilight inquired, trotting up to the tan elder’s side. “It was before your time Twilight, long ago when I was about your age, I fought in the great Llama wars. It was a trying time, constant fighting between us ponies and the Llamas of the dark side of Equestria.” The Mayor replied. “You were in the Llama wars? I...I never would have guessed...but I suppose the knowledge does help here...” “Indeed it does Twilight, I just wish I didn’t ever have to use this knowledge again.” The group carried on in silence, besides the occasional moan of pain from one of the ponies in the carriages, and all seemed to finally be going well. Canterlot was in sight, soon they’d be safe. Quickly they rushed up the hill leading to a better view when they saw the fire. Canterlot set ablaze by the very monsters that attacked them. “No...N-no...I-It can’t be...” Twilight stammered, slowly stepping back. From the distance she could see the very tower she used to live in fall to the ground before the rest of the area was consumed by the burning fury. “It would seem our enemy is stronger than we once thought, and much more organized than we are.” Mayor muttered under her breath. She turned to the scared equines following her with her eyes reflecting the burning flame. “Now it would seem we are at war once more.” *_* “ALERT! ALERT! The base is under attack! Report to battle and defensive positions! This is not a drill! ALERT! ALERT!” The voice on the intercom repeated. The sudden sounds of explosions and gun fire startled the mare just as the door began to open. “Wot the? Wots goin’ on out there?” The jailer cried out with a growl. “Ugh, you stay in there horse or I’ll make the remainder of your short life a living hell.” He commanded before leaving. Twilight quickly grabbed the door knob in her hooves and, with a little difficulty, managed to open it. Before here was a room she only saw once before, when they tossed her into her cage, it was dark, smelly, and oddly wet. Just like before. Finally, I can make a run for it! Twilight thought as she began to race down hallways, narrowly avoiding being spotted by the enemy. Corridor after corridor, room after room, she ran and kept running until her legs felt like they’d burst open from stress. No! Please! Just a little further! I...I have to see the sun at least! Let me see the sun! She pleaded with her body, and to her surprise she managed to keep going, eventually bursting out through a window. The sun’s rays splashed over her, coating her in it’s warmth for the first time in six years. If only she could enjoy it. “N-NOOOO! YEEAAAAAARRGH!” She cried as she began to fall, the window she had jumped from was unfortunately stationed near the edge of the cliff the base was built on. No...to come so far...only to die like this? Why must fate be so cruel? She wondered. Her life began to flash before her eyes, when she first became Celestia’s student, how hard she worked to make her teacher happy. The things she did, the magic she learned, and most importantly, the friends she made. Applejack...Rarity...Pinkie Pie...Fluttershy... She began in her head. “...and you too Rainbow Dash...” She said aloud, still falling towards the rocky ground.