//------------------------------// // 9. Battle // Story: Chrysalis' Revenge // by RickyB //------------------------------// CHAPTER NINE: BATTLE In Canterlot the mood was far from pleasant. Luna who should have gone to bed after setting the moon was up and pacing. Cadence also paced but Shining Armor was there trying to calm her down. Shooting Star and the remaining element holders were also tense. Those that where there. “So where in the blazes is Rainbow dash?” Applejack asked. “I’m right here.” Rainbow Dash said from the doorway. The blue pegasus was in her academy uniform. “I see Spitfire wasted no time in relaying my order.” Shining Armor remarked. “That the fastest both in the academy and Wonderbolts be suited up in case they are needed.” “Fer what exactly?” Applejack questioned. “An emergency.” Shining Armor replied. No sooner than he said those words did Luna’s and Cadence’s horns began to glow brightly. At first it was silent, then Luna collapsed to the ground and Cadence began to wail. “She’s gone!” “Who is?” Armor asked trying to comfort his wife. Cadence said nothing and let her horn glow. In turn Rarities’, Shooting Star’s and Shining Armor’s horns all glowed getting her message. Rarity instantly began crying, while Armor shook his head, Shooting Star stood there in silence tears running down her muzzle. “What in tarnation is going on?” Applejack demanded. “She’s gone,” Rarity whispered. “Who?” Applejack asked “Twilight.” Rarity answered. “No way!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “Rainbow Dash!” a raspy voice barked. “Get a move on!” Rainbow Dash turned and saw Spitfire, Soarin, Fleetfoot and Lighting Dust. Knowing better than to ask questions Rainbow Dash followed the small team. “Shining Armor ready the chariots, get the fastest pegasus you can and bring them to me. Princess Cadence, Shooting Star and the elements will join us.” Luna said her voice shaky. “What’s going on?” Fluttershy asked. “Is Twilight ok?” Spike asked. “No.” Luna said as tears fell. “Twilight Sparkle, is dead. XXXXX “Alright.” Spitfire barked. “Soarin, Fleetfloot, Rainbow Dash and Lighting Dust. Despite concerns on some of your protocols regarding safety and working as a team,” she snapped a glare at Lighting Dust. “You are the fastest so take wing, and for a somepony, if that pony so much brushes a member of my team wrong that pony is gone! Rainbow Dash and I will take point, Fleetfoot take middle, Soarin take the rear with Lighting Dust.” Soarin kept his mouth shut, and the team was airborne. Spitfire flew next to Rainbow Dash. “Any questions newb ask them now.” Spitfire said. “Do we know any casualties?” Rainbow asked. “Rainbow Dash,” Spitfire started. “I chose you because of your loyalty, when we get to the sight you will see a sight you never want to see. Chances are we will be attacked as soon as we enter the sight. I need our team to be your top priority. You screw this up, you desert this team, I’ll make it my job to make sure you not only lose your position here, but you never fly in a route other than a postal route. Do I make myself clear?” “Yes Sir!” Rainbow Dash replied. “Take the rear with Lighting Dust, send Soarin up here.” Spitfire said. “Yes Sir!” came the reply. “Dash!” Spitfire said. “I might sound harsh but I need you to keep your head.” Dash nodded and flew off. In moments she was joined by her second in command Soarin. “Have you heard the reports?” Soarin asked. “Yeah,” Spitfire replied. “I gave her the lecture for all that’s worth.” “She’s going to flip.” Soarin warned. “She’s a Wonderbolt.” Spitfire growled in return. “In training.” Soarin added. “Taking a big gamble.” “The only Wonderbolts able to make this trip in the time asked was Me, you and Fleetfoot,” Spitfire explained. “Rainbow Dash is fast, and Lightning Dust, her disregard for safety aside pushes herself harder than anypony I’ve even seen.” “She nearly killed five ponies, the Princesses pupil included.” Soarin replied. “She pulls anything like that and she’s gone.” Spitfire replied. Soarin didn’t say a word, he knew how his captain got. He looked back towards Rainbow Dash. Even from his distance he could see how determined she was. “She makes it through this she’ll be a sure thing.” Soarin said. “If she makes it.” Spitfire said. XXXXX “Where the BUCK are those chariots?” Luna yelled, her patience growing thinner by the moment. “All Pegasus guards who can make it to the Badlands are already deployed.” Shining Armor replied. Luna sighed and turned to Cadence who had stopped crying. She looked around Rarity and Fluttershy were in tears. Pinkie looked totally lost and was trying to cheer up Spike, but failing miserably. Shooting Star just stood there almost in shock, while Applejack paced while growling. “Everypony!” Luna shouted using her canterlot accent. All heads turned to her. “The loss of Twilight weighs heavy on us all, but we need to get there, who knows what damage my sister will do in this state. You all need to push your pain and sorrow aside and act for the best of Equestria. Come closer and I will teleport us there.” They gathered close and Luna’s horn glowed dark blue in power. Cadence then joined in to help with the mass teleport her horn glowing pink, then Shining Armor’s glowed blue as did Shooting Star’s, then Rarities horn glowed violet. With the joined effort the small group was gone. XXXXX The sun, a solar orb that contains trillions degree’s of heat. On Equestria there where two ponies who could raise and lower the sun. Princess Celestia of course, but in times where she can’t. Her younger sister Princess Luna has convinced the sun to lower or raise. Now however in her righteous rage the Solar Matriarch channeled the power of the sun. Rage at Chrysalis for forcing her into this conflict. The trap was perfect, lure Celestia into a false sense of victory then strike. Only Chrysalis didn’t hit Celestia, she killed her prized student, Twilight Sparkle. Celestia placed a shield around her student, it’s the least she could do. “Why Celestia,” Chrysalis mocked. “Don’t tell me you cared for her.” “I care for every pony,” Celestia said. “It’s my duty to keep pony kind safe from you. From those like you who seek to endanger my subjects. Chrysalis, you are out of options! You will pay for the life you cut short today!” As Celestia said those words a swarm of Changelings came from a hole in the ground. Celestia then went into battle with reckless abandon. XXXXX The sudden burst of light was all Spitfire needed to see. She increased her speed and the others followed suit. They where greeting by a swarm of buzzing changelings. Still through the black wall of changelings they saw Celestia who was fighting the changeling swarm. “Go through them!” Spitfire ordered. “Rainbow Dash, Lightning Dust try to get through to The Princess.” Rainbow Dash and Lightning Dust did just that and plowed through the poorly coordinated offense of the Changelings. They got to where Celestia was fighting against the changelings, then Rainbow dash saw what she didn’t want to see. She saw Twilight Sparkle laying there. “Keep it together, keep it together.” Rainbow said to herself over and over, she then heard a laugh. “Looks like some little pony lost a friend.” Chrysalis laughed. Rainbow Dash shook with anger, but before the anger could explode there was another beacon of light. Before Dash could guess at what happened a royal blue blur flew in knocking Chrysalis down to the ground bellow. XXXXX After arriving in the Badlands, Luna immediately went after Chrysalis. The group saw Twilight laying there. Cadence went to the body of Twilight, she nuzzled her still warm body. “I’m so sorry.” She said. She looked and saw Chrysalis staggering to her hooves. She was about to give orders but she heard a boom followed by a blast of confetti that told her she didn’t need to. Pinkie Pie fired her party cannon at any changeling that got close enough. When the changelings would try to swarm her the pink pony would simply just on their heads before firing her party cannon once more. Rarity liked to say she was a lady, but seeing Twilight laying there. Set something off in her, and she was punching any changeling that got in striking distance. Changelings went flying at the force of Applejack’s kicks, the enraged farm pony was focused on one thing. Chrysalis. She saw the changeling queen and charged her moments before Cadence could get her hooves on the queen. Blue streaks told Applejack that Shining Armor and Shooting star where keeping her safe. Applejack saw Pinkie jumping around with Spike on her back. “Code S!” Pinkie yelled before landing on another changeling. The farm pony smiled as she went hoof to hoof with Chrysalis. XXXXX It was dark, and cold, the Twilight Sparkle found herself in the Badlands. Changelings flew everywhere. She saw Fluttershy crying, and she saw the reason. Twilight gasped as she saw her own body. “No!” Twilight cried. “Twilight Sparkle!” a harsh but still soothing female voice called out, and before her was an Alicorn, she was smaller that Celestia and was the color of the sun with a red mane and tail. “It is time!” As Twilight was about to ask why she heard something, when she looked she saw Philomena and PeeWee. To her shock they were in two places at once. As both Phoenix’s where beside her material and astral form. “Can I do it?” PeeWee asked excitedly. “Can I help her now?” “It is her choice.” A voice rumbled it was male and sounded like the ocean itself. Another Alicorn was in the mix now this one taller than even Celestia but was the color of Luna. “No way,” Twilight murmured in disbelief. “This can’t be true, your just old mares tales.” “Old mares tales?” the female asked. “Orbsah, we are old mares tales apparently.” “I see our daughter didn’t tell her of us, Tau Sunflare.” Orbsah chuckled. “I am the moon Twilight Sparkle, I am the night, the stars, the ocean, the wind. You feel me at night and I watch you at night along with my daughter.” “I am the sun, the clouds, I am the day and the light on Equestria.” Tau said. “Twilight Sparkle your destiny is at hand.” “Too late for that.” Twilight said. “No it’s not!” PeeWee protested. “Hush young one,” Philomena said her voice made it sound like the phoenix was singing. “Twilight is very confused about her fate.” “I’m not confused!” Twilight pointed out angrily as she jabbed a hoof at her mortal form. “I’m dead!” “You are.” Philomena admitted her voice coated in sadness. “You died saving your mentor. Yet your sacrifice was not in vain Twilight Sparkle. Even now your friends fight.” “To get back of Chrysalis.” Twilight said grimly. “Vengeance is a fools game.” Orbsah rumbled. “They fight for you and your memory.” Tau Sunflare added. “Your destiny is still at hand Twilight.” Philomena assured her. “Have you ever wondered why Celestia is one of the few ponies to have a Phoenix for a pet?” Twilight shook her head. “It’s a sign of rebirth.” PeeWee said. “You can be reborn!” “The choice is your Twilight Sparkle.” Philomena said. “And yours alone.” XXXXX The battle was going poorly. Pinkies Code S consisted of her using her super sticky syrup or as she called it her Sssyrup to trap Chrysalis. Chrysalis being clever was able to trap Pinkie Pie in her own trap while creating a tar pit of syrup the others had to avoid. Luna was the second pony to fall victim to the sweet tar pit as a group of changelings tossed the night’s ruler into the trap. Still they fought on the Wonderbolts streaked through the sky, with Fleetfoot, Spitfire and Soarin working as a team, while Lighting Dust and Rainbow Dash did the same. The two newbie’s saw an opening to go for Chrysalis. Dash looked to Spitfire who gave a nod. Rainbow Dash and Lighting Dust streaked towards Chrysalis who just smiled as her horn glowed. “Hmm a stray.” Chrysalis mused to herself. Her horn continued to glow green. Rainbow and Lightning where almost to their target until Lightning Dust veered into Dash. Dash in a frenzied attempt to stop her tumble grabbed at Dust’s goggles ripping them off. When Dash came to a stop she gasped, as did the other Wonderbolts who arrived at the skirmish. Lightning Dash’s eyes glowed a changeling green. “She’s a changeling!” Fleetfoot blurted. “No!” Lightning Dust cried. “This happens from time to time.” Chrysalis said as if it didn’t matter. “One strays from the heard and thinks it’s a normal pony.” “I am a normal pegasus!” Lightning Dust screamed as she went right for Chrysalis. “Ah ah aahh.” Chrysalis sang. “Wrong way.” Against her will she flew right into the Wonderbolts, with such force that the three vets where tossed into the gooey syrup trap. As Dust turned around she was met with a flying tackle from Rainbow Dash. With little time to prepare she was sent propelling back and finally slammed against the ground. Where she tried but failed to get up. Rainbow had little time to celebrate as half dozen changelings swarmed and grabbed her. “You are losing.” Celestia stated. “No,” Chrysalis said as she nodded and several changelings came out holding Fluttershy, Cadence, Shining Armor, Shooting Star, Rarity, Spike and Applejack captive. The group that seized Rainbow Dash floated down with the pony in their grasp. “What say we finish this, or should I have my children finish them?” “No,” Celestia said as she removed her royal vestments. “I agree Chrysalis, it’s time we finish this. I’ll not have any more of my subjects killed this day or any other day. Three months ago I vowed to keep my kingdom and my ponies safe from you. You defeated me that day.” “Ever since, I have not been the same pony, I’ve been doubted and I have doubted myself. Twilight didn’t need to pay the ultimate price, nopony should have. Today Chrysalis this ends with your defeat, or my death.” “Then I’ll have your head mounted in my chambers!” Chrysalis screamed as she unleashed a blast of green flame. Celestia dodged the blast with natural ease, she didn’t charge up her magic, Celestia went straight for hoof to hoof combat. She hit Chrysalis with a devastating kick and followed up with a second that sent the queen sprawling. Celestia followed up again trying for a third kick, but she missed and Chrysalis hit Celestia in the midsection with her hind legs. Celestia made her way to her hooves, Chrysalis came charging in, Celestia lowered her head and as the vengeful queen went for what she was sure would be a killing blow found herself skewered on Celestia’s horn. Celestia tossed Chrysalis off her horn and stood above her. “Go ahead,” Chrysalis dared. “Finish me.” “No,” Celestia said. “She wouldn’t have wanted it that way. Take your children and remain her. You step hoof into Canterlot to hurt my subject again and I won’t be as merciful.” “Of course,” Chrysalis said as she scrambled to her hooves. “You are the merciful one,” she then lunged at Celestia striking the princess in the temple. Celestia fell to the ground struggling to remain conscious. “That’s all ah can take!” an enraged Applejack screamed as she kicked with her back hooves sending all near changelings flying. The farm mare charged at Chrysalis who met her with a hoof to the side of the head sending the mare sprawling. Applejack came to a stop near Celestia. “Now I have my choice,” Chrysalis said gleefully. “Are you ok Applejack?” Celestia asked forgetting about her own injuries. “Ah’m sorry princess.” Applejacked murmured. “Ah got carried away.” “Well Celestia,” Chrysalis said. “You said this will end with my defeat or your death. I’m not defeated, but I’ll spare you and take this foolish one instead.” “Ah ain’t afraid.” Applejack said no fear in her voice. “Ya offed mah best friend, ya wanna off me too then jus do it.” “Applejack!” spike yelled. “Don’t do it!” Rarity yelled. “Make it quick.” Applejack said as she closed her eyes, just as chrysalis raised to her hind legs. Changelings swarmed Celestia to make sure she wouldn’t interfere with the execution. “Ah’m sorry.” She waited but felt nothing, she heard gasps from those around her. Applejack opened her eyes and saw Chrysalis who looked like she just saw a ghost. When she looked behind her she found out why.