Private Thunder Crash. He was a fresh recruit in the Royal Guards, only being in service for about a month. His armor didn't have any of the wear and tear brought on by the skirmishes the more experienced members of the guard had faced. His station at the front gates of Canterlot gave him a good view of the valley, but that was one of the only redeeming values of his current employment.
"This sucks... I thought the guards were supposed to have exciting lives of adventure!" He complained as he fiddled with his spear.
He was a pegasus stallion with a slate grey coat and a white mane. His golden armor glinted as a cloud drifted in the breeze that the weather team had orchestrated. Not a single inch of it's journey was of it's own accord; it was merely following the whims of it's creators.
"Maybe working with pop at the weather factory would have been more exciting. At least there you get an opportunity to stretch your wings. And this stupid armor is so uncomfortable." He continued on as he gazed at the clouds, envious of their current mobility. "I just wish something would happen around here. Maybe a petty thief to catch at the least."
As he continued to daydream about how boring his job was, Thunder Crash began hearing the sound of hooves clopping against the dirt. His eyes lazily drifted to the road that stretched around a bend in the mountain. A grey pegasus with a green mane began trotting up the road, her every step as graceful as the wind. Thunder Crash began tracing his eyes along her body, finding himself unable to resist her perfect physique. She stopped just in front of his guard station.
Timidly she looked around with uncertainty. "Um, excuse me? I-I'm looking for a friend of mine. Her name is Blossom Breeze. She said she was going to meet me here at noon to show me around the city."
Thunder Crash shook his head to regain focus. "I don't remember seeing anypony that went by that name." He glanced at his pocket watch on the nearby table. "I think it might be because you're about two hours late."
The other pegasus seemed startled by this new information. "W-what?! Oh no! My stupid watch must be slowing down again!" She prattled on, her eyes making it clear she was on the verge of tears.
"D-don't worry. I'm sure I can help you out. I bet I could even show you around town if you can't find your friend." Thunder Crash assured.
"Y-you'd do that for me? That's so sweet." She responded with a blush.
Thunder Crash found himself mesmerized by her eyes. Something about them made him want to do anything for her.
"I'd have to have you go through a security check, though. Something about 'humens' or something."
She took a step closer to him while batting her eyelashes. "Oh, I'm sure there's no need for that... You can just open the gate for me and my... friends."
Thunder Crash's vision began to blur as his mind was infected by a dark force. Any thoughts in his mind stopped and all that mattered were the orders of this pegasus. "Of course... I'll go and open the gate..."
His hoofsteps clumsy and unbalanced, Thunder Crash went about activating the machinery to open the massive city gate. As he tended to his work, the other pegasus erupted in a burst of green flames, her fur singed away to reveal a black chitinous body. Her body elongated to a height comparable with Princess Celestia, and her green mane changed into a sickly aquamarine length of hair with several holes in it. Her legs were also riddled with holes, a trait shared by her now insectoid wings and crooked horn.
Queen Chrysalis sighed in annoyance. "You can come out now."
A two legged figure stepped around the bend and joined her.
"You sound annoyed." Van noted.
"I don't see why I have to lower myself to doing such simple and foolish tasks. If you want me to fool somepony, make it more of a challenge next time. This idiot was hardly worth my time."
"But isn't the prize you seek worth such simple troubles?" Van asked.
Chrysalis began chuckling with delight. "You've assured me the entire kingdom once you've replicated the world. Finally, my children will be able to feed to their heart's content!"
"Speaking of your offspring, are they in position?" Van asked, not even bothering to look at Chrysalis as he gazed upon the valley below.
"Our main force is waiting to fly in over the peak of the mountain, but they won't attack until I give them the signal. There are others, the most elite changelings in my service, who are waiting in disguise to sabotage key points of the city's defenses."
"Excellent. Legretta and Sync will lead our force of replicas to assault from the mines you informed me of. With our combined efforts, the power I seek shall be within my grasp before the day is done. With it, I will free this world, and all other worlds from the tyranny of the Score!"
Just as Van had finished his ranting, the gates to Canterlot swung wide open for him to enter. Chrysalis bared her teeth as she grinned in anticipation of her bright future. As Van began to take casual strides into the city, Chrysalis spoke up.
"What should we do about him?" She asked as she pointed a hoof to the guard.
"Leave him. By the time he regains his senses, it will be far too late."
--------
Luke Fon Fabre and the mane 6 had frantically sprinted back to the hotel as soon as they had deduced Van's plot. Each member of the group scrambled to get their belongings so they could leave for the train station.
"What is Master Van thinking?! He can't just put innocent lives at risk to get his way! It was one thing to imprison Lorelei, but to go after Celestia..." Luke angrily rambled.
Twilight turned Luke around violently with her magic. "Don't you dare say anything like that! Celestia will never let Van win! Sh-she always knows what to do..." Twilight trailed off as tears formed in her eyes.
Luke placed a reassuring hand on Twilight's shoulder. "I'm sorry. You're right though. Celestia won't give in to Van, and neither will I."
Twilight sniffled as she composed herself. "We should get moving... The sooner we get to Canterlot, the better."
Luke nodded as he scooped up his belongings. The group sprinted out of the lobby, only pausing to tell the owner that they were checking out. The group made a mad dash for the train station, making their way up to the ticket booth.
"We need a train to Canterlot, now!" Luke urgently demanded.
The mare behind the counter gave him a deadpanned look. "And I need to marry royalty, but neither of those are in the cards right now."
Twilight pushed Luke out of the way and glared death at the other mare. "We need to get to Canterlot in order to stop an invasion! I have a missive from Princess Celestia, herself!"
The mare read the letter that was levitated before her before letting out an annoyed sigh. "I need a vacation..." She then turned to look at her train schedule. "I can have the train to Ponyville diverted to get you there, but you'd better tell Celestia I'm not getting fired for this."
"Thank you." Twilight huffed before leading the group to their newly acquired train.
"I hope we're not too late..." Luke muttered.
--------
Asch was furious at the slow pace of his train, despite the fact it was going full speed.
"Dammit, this thing is too slow! We'll never catch Van at this rate!"
Derpy cautiously hovered beside Asch. "You need to calm down. I'm sure we'll be able to make it there soon."
The Doctor had busied himself running his Sonic Screwdriver over the machinery in the engine room.
"You know, I understand the urgency, but did you really have to knock out the conductor?" He asked through the gritted teeth that held his tool.
"It worked didn't it? And what good is using that thing on the engine? There aren't exactly any doors or locks to ope-"
Asch was interrupted mid-sentence as the train lurched forward with speed. The Doctor tucked away the Sonic Screwdriver and turned to Asch with a smug grin.
"I'm sorry, did you say something? I was busy being brilliant."
Asch grunted as he righted himself. "I'll retract my statement..."
--------
Vandesdelca Musto Fende was an expert in the Albert Style of swordsmanship, a fact that none could argue against. As the first few guards took notice to the target they were informed of by Princess Celestia's briefing, they had charged to defeat the human and ensure that peace could reign in Equestria. One by one, guards began falling as they foolishly challenged their superior opponent. Chaos began to erupt in the streets as civilians began to run and hide from the fighting.
"Their attention is focused on us. Prepare to signal the attack." Van ordered to Chrysalis.
"Gladly." She replied with a sinister grin.
Soon her horn began to glow with a green energy that she fired high into the air, acting as a signal flare. The attack on Canterlot had officially begun.
--------
The train that Twilight had "convinced" the booth mare to give them was now speeding along the tracks that circled around the mountain that Canterlot was built into. The lack of any visible signs of chaos allowed Twilight to relax slightly.
Only slightly.
"Sugarcube, are you alright?" Applejack asked in concern.
Twilight was staring out the window, lost in her thoughts.
What if we're too late? Can the Princess really defend herself against that human?
Twilight snapped out of her stupor when she felt a nudging at her shoulder. She turned around to see Applejack, concern clear on her face.
"Twi, you've been quiet this whole time. Are you feelin' okay?"
Twilight paused to collect her thoughts. "I-I'm fine."
Applejack frowned at her friend. "Twi, don't try to lie to me."
Twilight sighed, realizing she couldn't lie to the Element of Honesty. "You're right... I'm not fine at all. I'm terrified that we're too late. You've seen what Luke's teacher was capable of. He was able to deflect Celestia's magic so easily..."
Applejack playfully put her stetson on Twilight, who fidgeted as the hat ruffled her mane.
"There's no sense in losing your marbles over it. We're gonna put a stop to that Van fella, just you wait and see!"
Twilight began to relax, but suddenly a familiar feeling caught her attention. It was a magical aura, and a unique one at that. It felt like an energy that was deprived of love or empathy had just cried out for anything sensitive to magic to hear. Realizing the direction it was coming from, Twilight looked out the window and scanned the sky.
"Oh no..." She muttered.
Luke noticed the horror on her face and decided to investigate. "What's wrong?"
"The changelings are there..."
--------
Briggs clenched her teeth in rage. This human was swatting away her soldiers with hardly any effort. As much as it pained her, she had to stay at her position in order to defend the castle, and the Princesses by extension. One of her couriers glided down from above to deliver a report.
"Ma'am, the human has made his way into the town square. We've begun the evacuation procedure, but our soldiers can't hold him off. We've got reports of casualties..." He paused and turned his head in sorrow. "Almost half of them are fatalities..."
Briggs seethed at the thought of her men dying against a foe such as this without even making a dent.
"Order our soldiers to retreat to the castle. We'll fortify our position against him."
Briggs' horn began to glow as she unsheathed her sword.
"He'll soon know why I'm called the 'Ice Queen'."
Suddenly a bright green light burst in the air. Everypony on guard halted as they watched in awe as the sickly light reached it's pinnacle, exploding in a haze of green fog.
"Send that order now! We need to regroup before they arrive!"
The pegasus courier didn't bother to ask who "They" were. He saluted before flying out at break neck speed to give the order to regroup at the castle. He began barking out the order, but soon heard a buzzing in his ear. Thinking it to be a horsefly, he pressed on without giving it another thought. Soon the buzzing grew louder, and more sources were heard.
"What in the-?"
A swarm of black equine's began flying through the green fog, ambushing everypony they could find. Soon the courier was tackled by two of the black creatures and began tumbling towards the ground.
--------
Luke's train screeched to a halt at the station in Canterlot. Soon the human and his pony companions rushed out of the vehicle, Luke brandishing his weapon.
"What are those things?" Luke asked as he spotted several black dots swarming from above the fog.
"They're changelings, creatures who can disguise themselves as ponies and feed on the emotions of love. They attacked Canterlot before and their numbers are fewer, but with Van here..." Twilight explained before trailing off.
"Look out!" Rarity shouted.
A changeling made a beeline straight for Twilight...
*Splutch!*
Only to be cut down by Luke...
Twilight fought the urge to vomit, but was grateful for Luke's intervention.
"*urp* Th-thanks..."
Luke began rushing towards another group of the insectoid fiends. "Don't thank me just yet. We have a siege to stop!"
With that, the Elements of Harmony joined the fray, and the Battle for Canterlot began.