//------------------------------// // By Moonlight // Story: Elements of Revival // by ChivalrythePegasus //------------------------------// "Morningrise, are you okay?" The second time knocked him out of thought, as he shook his head vertically, trying to make sense of how the alicorn had gotten there. "Yes, I am quite alright, just thing all of today's drama got to me." Morningrise responded, the concerned eyes of the alicorn not leaving Morningrise. "You don't look okay... should I get Aluna or Vela to come...?" The alicorn began, quickly interrupted by Morningrise. "No, I insist, I am quite..." Morningrise began as he walked forward but was suddenly stopped by a throbbing pain in his head. "Here, let me..." The alicorn began, intercepted before she could get out to go get somepony else by Morningrise's persistence. "No, I really insist. I am fine. I appreciate the concern, its just all of the thrill of the new people we have found. There are actually others." "Whatever you say, Morningrise, but you are still the most stubborn alicorn I have ever met." The alicorn said, walking out of the room calmly and with a regal stride. Morningrise turned, looking to the alicorn. "And the politically correct term, Night Flash, is Ornery." Morningrise said, getting a chuckle out of the alicorn. "At least you still have your humor..." Night Flash responded, as Morningrise turned and talked under his breath, sighing. "If only it were just me being stubborn" He said, cringing again in pain. Meanwhile, Chivalry stood in the foyer, greeting the two pegasi who had only just met the survivors. "So, do you have any questions about Seclusion?" He said, getting a confused look from the two pegasi. "Seclusion?" Starfury responded, getting a nod in return from Chivalry. "Yes. Seclusion is what we have named this place. It was surveyed by Timberhitch and built by everypony you see here today." Chivalry said, pointing to many ponies walking around, including Timberhitch, who nodded back to Chivalry. "Howdy, y'all already know me, right?" She said, getting only a quiet nod from the two. Finally, Starfury broke the silence. "So what was up with that one Pegasus?" "Who, Sparta? That's my brother, when I left to join the palaponies, like Virtue, I left my family behind." "Why would you ever do that?" Anteros responded. "We had our reasons. When I was a colt, I remember my home town was overrun by the griffons. Everypony could do nothing but watch them destroy everything we held dear. That is, except for the palaponies. They came in and stood against the monsters hoof to hoof, and defeated them. Since then, it was always my dream to be a palapony. Virtue on the other hand, all she has told me personally is that her father was a general and that she wanted to make him proud, since she didn't get to see him often. Other than that, I am not really sure." Chivalry explained, getting an understanding look from Starfury and Anteros. "But then who all did Virtue leave behind?" Starfury asked, as Chivarly stood pondering. "You know, I never really asked, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to just ask. Here, shes on guard at the front gate." Chivalry said, as he and the two pegasi ran out of the foyer towards the entrance, running into Virtue. "Hey, everypony. Something wrong?" She said, looking at the group. "No, just curious though. You told me about your father..." "Yes, General Lightningstrike" Virtue nodded, bringing back memories of the strong willed Pegasus that she had known from the wartime glories. "And that you left your mother to join the palaponiees..." "Yes..." Virtue began to look confused as to the probing of already known material. "But did you leave anypony else?" Finally a look of understanding came to Virtue's face. "Well yes, two sisters, but I don't see how..." Virtue began, interrupted by Chivalry "Well then, maybe, just maybe, we have got a trip to take..." Chivalry said, looking to the sky. It was night, but it was too difficult to tell any real night or day, as the sky now just sat at a dull gray that got either brighter or darker with time. The four pegasi flew northward, as Chivalry turned to Virtue. "Are you sure this is the direction of the city?" He could see a nod from Virtue in the darkness. Then again, it was always dark now. "Yes, but I am pretty sure it's long gone, after all, we went..." Virtue began, quickly silenced when the walls of a city appeared in the distance. "I don't suppose this is it." Chivalry said, as even in the distance, the frantic movement of pegasi could be seen. The group sped up, arriving at the walls quickly. As they landed, a Pegasus quickly flew up. "Oh, thank celestia we have some backup... We have been found out and our shroud has been... wait, is that you, Virtue?" The Pegasus said. "Wait, no way, is that you Arc?" Virtue said, surprised. "Virtue! We have missed you. I have got so much to tell you." Arc said, delighted. "That can wait, do you know about my mother? Is she okay?" Virtue inquired, getting a sad look from her friend. "I'm sorry, Virtue. We lost her several moons back." Arc said solemly, pushing her muzzle towards Virtue's flank, struggling to drive the memories out of her mind. "And what of my sisters?" Virtue said. Arc went to speak, but was interrupted by a loud roar. "No time, we must think of something now." Arc quickly urged. Chivalry turned to the Pegasus. "Do you have a leader?" Chivalry said, looking around at the panic and chaos with a relatively calm composure. After all, this was his usual. "Yes, Justice is her name, I will take you to her now." Arc responded, as she flew off, followed by Chivalry. Meanwhile, Virtue flew down to the guard, followed by Starfury and Anteros and greeted them. "Okay, I will be taking command of this unit, I need a perimeter set up now, and scouts on the closing enemy distance..." Arc and Chivalry landed in front of a large building that somewhat resembled a palace. Arc turned to Chivalry, and spoke softly. "Justice dwells in here. She is expecting you." Arc said, to which Chivalry looked confused, then simply managed a nod, as he pushed the palace doors open. Inside, the makeshift palace was ragged, the banners of the old hierarchies torn and burned to mere shreds of what they once were. At the end of the long corridor of an entry room there stood a single Pegasus, clad in full plate armor. Chivalry approached slowly, stopping several feet behind the Pegasus. "Justice?" Chivalry said, inquiring softly to show respect and solemnness. "Hiya!" A hyper-active voice responded, somewhat startling Chivalry. "Are you Justice?" "That's what they call me, well us." She said, confusing Chivalry even further. "Us?" Chivalry looked around, trying to see any other ponies. "Yeah, me and Balthazar and Random and Chance and momma Credence!" Finally, it hit Chivalry that Justice had Multiple personalities. "Well, my friends and I have come here..." Chivalry began, interrupted by a booming voice coming from Justice, along with a sudden eye color change. "To find Virtue's sisters. I knew you would be here, and you will find them before this city falls." Justice said, to which Chivalry bowed respectfully. "Well, that is also something I wanted to bring up. I think this city cannot stand against these creatures. I believe our only option is to retreat. And we do have a fortress which could house any survivors." "That sound like the right thing to do. I'm not a good fighter anyway, and there aren't many of us here to fight anyway. Now Random..." Justice said, after yet another eye color change. "Well, if you would allow me, I would gladly like to take over the operations and evacuation." "Why I would be honored. After all, Balthazar told me you are a great general, or he said you would be.. eh, details aren't important." Chivalry looked confused again, then shook it away, bowing. "Thank you, Justice." "Oh, Sweetie, it's nothing. And you can just call me Credence." Outside, what few survivors were left gathered at the entrance to the makeshift palace. Mumbling went through the small group, as guards scrambled to the walls to defend them to the best of their abilities. Chivalry walked out with Justice, immediately running into Virtue on the outside. "Are these...?" Chivalry asked, looking to the group "All of the citizens here. there's Flow and Breeze, Mara, Shine, Glimmer, and Teal." Virtue said, to which Chivalry looked on. "Is this it?" Chivalry said, to which Virtue began to nod, but was interrupted by the nudging of two more pegasi from the crowd. Virtue was shocked, immediately recognizing the two. "Hope? Jolt?" "Sister!" The two responded as they ran to each other. They began to embrace, but were quickly interrupted by a loud booming. "Virtue, they've breached the walls!" One of the guards yelled, trying his best to hold off enemies. "Quickly, begin the evacuation." At Seclusion, Morningrise looked frantically from room to room, searching for Virtue and Chivalry. He walked into the meditation room, finding Aluna and Vela. "I do not wish to interrupt you..." Morningrise began "Please..." Aluna began "... Go ahead" Vela finished. "Have you seen Chivalry or Virtue?" Morningrise looked around the meditation room, as it was not uncommon for the two to spend time meditating. "Not since..." "... Hours ago." Again Aluna and Vela spoke in tandem "Well, do you know anywhere I can find them?" Morningrise began to look more and more concerned, as nightfall was known for the high activity of various creatures, none of which Morningrise wished to encounter. "Try the..." "...Foyer" The two nodded at the same time. Morningrise nodded, quickly walking out of the room and into the foyer. Immediately, he noticed the door to the outside was wide open, what little light there was shining into Seclusion. Morningrise quickly pulled Lionessa to the side, trying to piece together what was happeneing. "Where are Chivalry and Virtue?" Panic filled Morningrise's expression. "I have no clue. First I hear something about Virtue's sisters, then nothing.." Lionessa responded. "And you didn't stop them?" Morningrise responded, putting Lionessa into a defensive spot. "I figured they had already checked with you.. I am as shocked as you are right now!" She responded. Morningrise sighed, then walked to the doorway. He looked outside, sighing. "I hope they are okay... They need to be okay." Morningrise looked outside, shivering at the thought of what was happening out there... Chaos erupted from the city as the guard tried to control the creatures. Anteros and Starfury began the evacuation, as Chivalry, Virtue, Justice, and Hope lingered to hold the enemies back. Virtue yelled back to Hope, who was using bandages to wrap wounds in the midst of the brawl. "Hope, get out of here! It's too dangerous!" "Never! My job is to heal the guard, and by Celestia, I'm going to do it!" Hope responded. Virtue responded again. "No, It is too dangerous, you have to get out of here." "Sister, you left me once, I am not letting it happen again." Virtue looked to Hope, and sighed. "Look, I'm sorry okay... being a palapony meant a lot to me, and I know I wasn't there for you, and I can't fix the past, but I can make sure the future is different." Hope turned to look to Virtue, and smiled, a single tear travelling down her face. "That was all I ever needed to hear." The Pegasus walked towards Virtue, intercepted by a creature, who sunk its claws into Hope's neck. Hope fell to the ground limp, quickly followed by Virtue running to her position, quickly dispatching the enemy. Virtue held the frail Pegasus, tearing up. "We're gonna get you out of here Hope." "I don't doubt it, just like I never doubted you... cough... you remember the story mom would tell us when we were young?" "Hope, don't..." Virtue tried to stop Hope. "The one about the little Pegasus that ran away, trying to find the perfect place, but returned home, and discovered that after thinking that the perfect place never existed, that she always had it at home?" "Save your strength Hope..." "That Pegasus was you Virtue, that's how I knew you would always return... cough... Welcome home, Sister." Hope lost consciousness, as Virtue yelled to Chivalry then flied off to get Hope back as quickly as possible. Chivalry turned to Justice, who was fighting beside Arc. "It's time to evacuate." Chivalry began, putting his hoof on Justice's shoulder "That's a negative, Chivalry, it is time for you to evacuate. I am going to stay" The eyes of Justice again had changed. The guard to the left of Justice shook his head. "No, Captain, you have served us enough, you need to go to fight another day. We will hold them off. It has been an honor, Captain." The guard saluted, to which Justice nodded, then returned a salute. "Indeed, it has been an honor." Justice responded, as the three pegasi flew out of the fight, flying as quickly as possible to catch back up to the group. As they caught up, Chivalry tried to assist Virtue, but was stopped. She looked to him. "No, this is my responsibility." The group continued flying, the pegasi carrying the unicorns and earth ponies, as Seclusion became within sight. Morningrise stood at the entrance. "What in Celestia's name were you thinking? Do you realize..." Morningrise began, quickly silenced by the bleeding pony in Virtue's arms, specifically the runed markings that resembled those used by unicorns, which confused Morningrise. "Morningrise, can you heal her? Morningrise....MORNINGRISE!" Virtue said, eventually stunning Morningrise out of his thought. "Yes, I will." Morningrise responded, as Virtue layed the body of her sister to the ground. Morningrise concentrated, speaking the words of a powerful healing spell, as the strain became stronger and stronger on Morningrise as finally the spell went off, cascading light onto the body. The spell lifted the body, healing the wound and releasing light everywhere, stunning everypony in the area. Finally, Hope regained consciousness, immediately looking to Morningrise and bowing. "I am forever in your debt, noble alicorn." Hope said, to which Morningrise could not hear. Everything became blurred to Morningrise, as he became gradually more and more dizzy, as Virtue ran to him. "Thank you Morningrise, wait, you don't look so good... are you okay Morningrise? Chivalry, something's wrong." Virtue said, blurred more and more by Morningrises mind as a vile laughter began to erupt in his head. "Give him some space, he may be claustrophobic" Hope said, to which Virtue said something back, but Morningrise could not make out. Now, all he could hear was a deep, evil voice. "Not so tough or strong now, are you Mister Morningrise. How are you any leader if you are so weak? Where's your faith?" The voice taunted, as Morningrise tried to shut his eyes to try to calm himself. Suddenly, he felt his body give, with a sudden thud. "Are you okay, Morningrise?"