//------------------------------// // Chapter 28: The Fall of Evening // Story: Frozen Equestria // by Flashburn37 //------------------------------// Chapter28: The Fall of Evening Flashburn walked through the lines of soldiers that would be the first to fight, they had not only volunteered to fight, but for this specific position. This is where the brave, foolish, and violent were. He wondered which he was. He needed to be as close to the front as possible to defend against the Windigos, but that logic only went so far. He didn't want die, but... he couldn't stand the idea of hiding behind a living shield. He kept walking until we reached his Unicorn regiment. He didn't recognize a soul there. He thought about Boomie as he pulled his new cloak around him. Maybe she had decided not to come? He didn't blame her, but it did tear at his heart. Would he ever see his Boomie again? Leaving her may have been the sanest, safest decision but... looking back... maybe they could have made it work? *** Sparkboom crouched next to the soldiers who had brought her here. She had been ordered to report to the frontal Unicorn Regiment, but she wanted to see Flash one more time. There was no way they'd let him up front. They'd need him for the Windigos. Five hundred ponies had chosen to stay, and no matter where she looked she couldn't find Flash. What if he was part of the Elite team? Would she see her Flash again? What if he or she died today and they never saw one another? Letting him leave may have been for the best but... looking back... what if they had tried a bit harder? Could they have worked a way around their powers? *** "Luna..." Celestia whispered to her sister, "I am just beginning to remember your transformation back from the Nightmare. I missed you so much. I know these past few months have been trying on you and I'm sorry for that. Will you ever forgive me for banishing you to the moon?" "Celestia, I never blamed you for banishing me. Well, maybe for a few minutes after I got back but I wasn't in the right mindset. I understand the pressure you are under, you aren't allowed to doubt yourself in front of any of your subjects. For a thousand years, you did the work of two Alicorns. I hope you can forgive me for forcing you to banish me." Celestia smiled. "Once more we are on opposite sides, I vanguard the right as you hold the left. I never want to lose you again. Please, just stay alive." "I can at least promise I'll try, you take care of yourself as well. The Moon only reflects the light of the Sun after all, I'd be nothing without you." "I can't think of an astrological response... but I think the same about you. Now... let's go fight, for Equestria!" "For Equestria!" The two flew their separate ways neither able to comprehend just how much love the other sibling had for the other. *** Absol went to the front lines, they sat upon the fields of the battle staring across a field to the somewhat distant Equestrian Lines. He glared at his troops each in turn. "Listen and listen well! Today we eliminate the fiends Celestia, Luna, and their filthy army. We out number them three to one! Victory is assured. You choose how many casualties there will be. Remember we fight for justice! If any of you turn tail and run, you will answer to me personally. If I fall, you will answer to the Nightwarden and you'll wish I was still alive. Now take up arms! We charge now!" He drew his sword and galloped toward the Equestrians, his army at his back. He thought of what they fought for... he fought for his sister... he wished an arrow would take him. Maybe she'd care then. *** "This way..." Scootaloo whispered as she led the strike team into the caves. The team consisted of the cutie mark crusaders, the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, Big Macintosh and Captain Auto Tomaton. Shadow and Anti guarded the exit through the caves, guaranteeing them a way out. "I request that you not ask exactly how I know about this entrance, Twilight." "I will not ask you. Lead on please. Where will we come out?" "The Throne Room Antechamber. That's as close as we can get to the Throne Room, well... that I know of." "Alright, e'reypony got their weapons? We'll need 'em." Applejack asked. "Eeyup." "Yes, Lady Applejack." "You know it!" "Yes dear." "yes..." "I even brought my cannon!" "Only my horn..." "The Cutie Mark Crusaders are always prepared!" "The door will be right there. It leads to a false wall. We wait for your word Twilight." "We will want to confirm she is in there and then rush her. Don't give her a chance to respond. Now... go!" Twilight ordered. *** "Prepare the cannons!" Power Hacks ordered. "Fire on my word!" "They will be in range in thirty seconds!" Swift Code told him. "The Cannons are in place, and ready to fire!" Data Core confirmed over the radio. "This Balloon was hard to repair but I think it should withstand the backlash!" "Let's hope so... FIRE!" Power yelled. "Direct hit on the Freezer mages! Their shield blocked it but I don't think they will be able to block many more!" "Then reload!" "I'm working on it! You can help too Airmane!" "First it's ballista now cannons! I swear as soon as this war is over I'm flying down south for a much deserved vacation! Wait... why is the ground over by the Freezers made outta soap?" *** The Freezers had begun their charge so Sparkboom sprinted to her spot. As a Unicorn it was her job to either shield the Equestrians from the Freezer's magic and arrows, or attempt to destroy their shield and then wreck havoc on the Freezer's forces. She knew where her talent would be best used. She fired blast after explosive blast at the advancing shield and watched as blast after blast pummeled into theirs. She felt dread grab her heart as the pale form of the Windigos descended upon them. She heard a roaring flame come from only a dozen or so feet to her right and saw the torrent spin around blasting the Windigos until they fled in fear of their natural enemy. Boomie smiled, Flash had stayed. Emboldened by this she redoubled her magic and hammered away at the shield. Cannon balls rained from on high and shattered upon it as well but too many unicorns were allied with the Freezers, and too few with Equestria. The two armies met and blade crossed blade as arrows bounced harmlessly against the shields. But they did have one advantage. Or two as it were. Celestia and Luna flew above the battlefield landing where help was needed and battering the enemy shield. Sparkboom watched in horror as the ground ponies that stood between her and the Freezers fell to a ground pony in dark black armor, she knew from the stories... Absol had come. His sword swung from Unicorn to Unicorn, weakening the shield further. She tried to blast him but the shield was still too strong! She drew her pathetic example of a sword and braced herself for the end. She wasn't about to go down without a fight though, so she readied herself for a charge. He lifted his blade high and her courage fled her. She backed up against the hill. She wasn't ready... She deflected his blade once with hers... before it clattered to the ground. "Equestrian filth." he muttered as he lifted his blade. She didn't want to see it fall, so she shut her eyes. "Don't you touch her Absol!" A voice screamed. She opened her eyes and saw a familiar green cloak. "Flash?" She gasped, "What are you doing? Run! You're a mage! Their shield is still up!" "I know... but... I can't leave you!" Flash panicked. "How touching, now you'll die as well Flashburn." Absol spat. Flashburn held his spear aloft. "Even without my magic this is a powerful weapon..." The spear crackled with electricity. Flashburn smirked. "Have at you!" He thrust his spear forward. Absol deflected it with ease. Electricity crackled as the two weapons met. Absol returned with a sweeping attack which Flash ducked under. "You... will not win... Equestria will rise to meet you!" Sparkboom scooped up her sword and flanked Absol. Who laughed. He wielded his great sword as if it weighed nothing. Deflecting her attacks from behind and Flash's from in front. *** "The Freezers have broken through to our Unicorns!" Data Core yelled. "We need those shields down now!" "Our shield is fading! Anything you can do, do it now!" Power hacks ordered. "I do know one thing..." Data turned to Airmane. "Airmane! I think the Freezers are planning to attack this ship. Put on a parachute!" "Aye, but when that shield goes down, I'm tryin' to get this outta here!" He threw on a parachute. "Sorry Air..." Data Core reached pretended to reach for the firing mechanism on the cannon, before shoving Airmane off the ship. "Oh you bugger! I'll get you fo..." Airmane screamed as he fell toward the ground. Data turned the ship so the front faced the Freezer army and sped towards them. Grabbing a sword he began slicing the ropes that held the balloon to the rest of the ship. "Let's see them block this!" Just as the ship hovered above the Freezers shield the ropes began breaking of their own accord. "What are you doing? You're out of our shields radius!" Power asked. "Something you'd think of!" Power hacks watched in horror as the ship fell from its balloon and crashed onto the Freezers shield. "Maybe Data will survi..." he was cut off when the ship's cannon fuel detonated, shattering the shield. "No... Data..." *** Boomie had been backhoofed and lay still upon the ground, He couldn't save her... Flash blocked another sweeping strike but tripped over a fallen Unicorn. The spear fell from his grasp. Absol laughed, "You fool! Now die!" Absol lifted his blade high over his head and it glinted off the sunlight as... the shield fractured above him. Flashburn smiled now he could use magic... He teleported to the right of Absol as the sword planted itself into the earth where he had been only a second before. Flash picked up the spear as Absol hefted his sword. "Now... we are evenly matched." Flash shot fire at Absol who simply dodged and swung his blade. Flash deflected it with a blast of electricity from the spear. The shocked coursed through the blade and Absol was forced to drop it. "Forget about something? Maybe a certain weapon you made me use to kill my own friends?" Flash glared. "You think yourself angry? You think you know anger? Let me show you anger!" Absol picked up the charged blade and leapt at Flash who teleported behind him. Absol's hoof burned from contact with the blade, but he paid it no heed. "How long until you cannot teleport? I've seen Unicorns who lose their magic for a few hours after only once! I'll outlast you!" "Sure you will. But you forget..." The spear crackled with energy. Flash glanced around looking for back up, but it seemed all the other Unicorns were giving all they had at keeping the shield up and the ground ponies had only just reclosed the line. No help would come. He shot a bolt of lightning that Absol shrugged off as nothing... Curse Earth Ponies natural resistance to magic! I... I have to kill him by myself... Flash thought. I only have one shot at this... All or nothing! He charged all of his remaining magical energy, pulling all of the stored energy from the spear. The magical lightning mixed with his flame as he charged forward. He leapt into the air and a threw the spear with all the might of his final spell behind it. Absol deflected the spear with his sword then disappeared in the explosion of power. "... Di... Did... Did I win?" Flash panted as he collapsed from exhaustion. A voice emanated from in the smoke. "No..." Absol limped into sight, "I assume that was all you had?" Absol was very beat up, but still standing. "Now you will die." Flash looked up at him and tried to charge any magic at all, but he had nothing left. "At least I'll die knowing I fought for the right cause..." Absol paused. "Oh yes, I remember all you said to me while I was entranced. You're not fighting for justice! You're fighting for your Sister's, your only family's, affection!" Flash taunted. "Silence your tongue! You have no idea what you're talking about!" "You know it's true! She was traumatized when she was young I bet! You failed her as a brother didn't you? Let me guess, parents die? Is that why she's waging this war? You haven't helped her by letting her destroy all these lives!" "Shut up!" Absol swung his sword at Flash, to quell the truth that spewed from it. But the earth at his feet rose! Launching him into the air! "Oh thank... Alicorns... I guess..." Flash sighed in relief. "Next time... try and not put all your power into one attack then rely on me to save your sorry hide." Spark Boom coughed from where she sat. "What if I had been dead?" "Then I wouldn't have minded dying." Flash smirked. "Oh you!" She laughed. Absol limped forward again. "Good to know you don't mind dying Flash!" Sparkboom looked at Flash in disbelief, "Why won't he just won't die?" "Earth ponies... Am I right?" "Whoa Flash... kinda racist..." "It's not racist! I'm just saying they can resist magic better than Unicorns or Pegasi!" Absol growled, "Neither of you seem very afraid right now... why? Do you not know death when you see it?" A shadow fell over Absol. "We do, we just have back up." Absol spun about and looked directly into the sun, which one should never do, as it is bad for your sight. "Hello Freezer." Celestia greeted him. He knew he was doomed but he couldn't miss this one chance to earn his sister's respect. He swung his sword which she caught it with hers. He went to punch her but she caught his hoof with hers. He glared at her and spat in her face. "You shouldn't have done that." Her horn glowed and blasted into the ground. She put the full force of her hoof into a quick punch, He was unconscious, it seemed peaceful unlike how his life had been. "Flashburn, are you okay?" "Thanks to you and Boomie, yeah." He slowly got up. "Unfortunately I don't have the energy to repel the Windigos and once they realize this... We'll be doomed." "I've seen a pony transfer magic energy to another, can you do that?" "I've never tried it... maybe?" "I have some energy left!" Boomie called out. Celestia nodded, "Good, wait for the Windigos to return then test it out. I'm needed elsewhere. Good luck and try to stay safe. Twilight should be back soon and we can end this war... I'll take care of him." *** "There she is... Evandra... She has four guards with her. Auto and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, take care of them, everypony else, charge on my signal for Evandra." Twilight whispered. "Charge!" The ran into the room and divided as was planned. Rainbow flew straight at Evandra but right before she grabbed the crown Evandra spun around and clocked her on the head with her scepter, sending her reeling into the wall. "Rainbow!" Twilight screamed. "Ah, Twilight... We never got to meet in person before, it's too crowded here, maybe we can speak in private?" Evandra and Twilight disappeared in a flash of light. "Pony feathers!" Applejack cursed, "Where in the hay are they!?" "Rainbowdash are you alright?" Fluttershy asked as she hovered to Rainbow. "I may have a mild concussion... but I've had worse. Where's Twilight?" Pinkie tripped the Freezer guard that was fighting Sweetie Belle before saying, "Hay if I know!" They subdued the guards then looked around, "Look! Over there!" Rarity pointed out the window, where lights could be seen flashing in the tower of the rising sun. More guards ran in, so Auto ordered, "You five, go to the tower! Help Twilight! We'll hold them here!" "I aint leavin' mah kin!" Applejack obstinately objected. "We're in good hooves AJ, go!" Big Mac ordered. Applejack looked from her family to Auto to where Twilight was. "Alright, but if there's so much of a cut on either of them y'all answerin' ta me!" She spun around and followed the rest out to the hall that led to the tower. *** "Why hello Twilight, a little new to being an Alicorn to challenge me aren't we? I bet you haven't even used your scepter yet." Evandra taunted as her scepter became a sword. "Why are you attacking us Evandra? Equestria never did anything to the north!" Twilight growled as hers turned into a purple estoc. Evandra smiled, "Do think I am a fool? You only seek to delay me, so your friends can come to your rescue! Die now!" She rushed Twilight and swung wide, to test Twilight's defenses. Twilight deflected it, she had to use both hooves to overcome Evandra's superior strength. Twilight quickly realized that she was outmatched in both strength and speed, not to mention training. But she did have one leg up. "I'm the Princess of Magic! You will know no victory today!" She teleported behind Evandra and threw Celestia's desk at her. Evandra spun around and cut it in half. As the papers and documents swirled around Evandra she charged Twilight. Or she would've, if she wasn't fending off the papers as they flew around her. The cuts were minor, but annoying. Frustrated Evandra shot a laser at Twilight, who engaged her in laser combat. The true test of a unicorn's, or Alicorn's, magical prowess. The beams pushed against each other ferociously, but slowly Twilight got the upper hoof. Evandra, knew this was inevitable and allowed Twilight to win. Or so it seemed. Right as the beam was about to reach her horn, she dashed out of the way, it struck a mirror that had been enchanted to reflect magic and Twilight got hit by her own attack, launching her through several support columns and crashing into the wall. She shook her head to clear it and saw Evandra standing over her. "Shame, if you had allied with me, you could have grown to become the most powerful Alicorn in existence." She laughed. "I'm not through yet!" Twilight yelled. She teleported above Evandra and plucked the crown from her head. "Wait? Your alive!?" She growled in confusion. "And kicking!" Twilight stabbed at Evandra who caught her hoof. "Try this on for size!" She blasted Twilight into the wall next to the window with a beam. "Ow..." "Now, to finish you off..." The door burst open and Rainbowdash stood in-between Twilight and Evandra. "You'll have to get through me!" "And me!" Rarity yelled. "Me three! Oh shoot! Nopony said me too!" Pinkie bounced in. "Me... too!" Fluttershy swooped in. "Not tah mention me!" Applejack rushed in. Evandra looked at the six of them... the odds were not in her favor... They all had their elements... Twilight was standing up! She knew what she had to do. "Fine... You win." She dropped her sword and it reformed into her scepter. "Just don't punish my subjects." "R...Really?" Fluttershy's jaw dropped. "Of course. I am out-matched." She bowed her head, carefully aiming her horn. She fired her laser at the final support beam in the room. It shattered and she laughed as the whole building began to fall on top of them. "I will take from Celestia everything she took from me!" Pinkie darted about dodging the rocks as they fell. She grabbed Fluttershy and jumped out the window. "Fly my Shy! Fly!" Rainbow followed and grabbed Rarity holding her from the fall. Twilight teleported Applejack back to the throne room and was about to make the jump herself when Evandra grabbed her by the mane. "You stay!" Twilight tried to pull herself out of her grasp but she was too strong. Evandra began to laugh maniacally when an arrow thudded into her shoulder. Twilight jumped out the window just as the ceiling fell in. "No!!!! absol?" The top of the tower collapsing caused the base to shatter and the entire building crumbled. Twilight looked at her friends, "Thank you! Who shot that arrow?" She saw them all just struggling to stay aloft. "Fluttershy you had a bow right?" "I dropped in the room Twilight..." "Then who shot the arrow?" "None of us..." They looked around, but Nopony was in sight. "We'll figure it out later. Right now we need to get the Throne Room and help Auto." *** "And as you die, so does their fear." Rogue spat. She laid her bow on the ground and left Equestria. *** Celestia saw the lines break as the Freezers overwhelmed her troops. She looked out to the North and saw a beautiful sight. A glowing army... She looked out towards sea and saw the Kingdom of the Isles had already joined the Equestrian Forces. The Freezers saw it as well. Celestia knew what she had to do. "Absol has fallen! Reinforcements have come! Drive them back!" The Freezers heard this and their will was totally broken, the fled. Completely routed not even the Windigos remained. Victory had been achieved, but at what cost? Had Twilight been successful? *** Auto lay on his side, staunching a wound as the Bearers of The Elements of Harmony Blasted every Freezer they saw. Sweetie Belle was giving him stitches. She said something that he didn't quite catch. He couldn't hear anything... He was happy. They had won. They had the Elements of Harmony at long last. Equestria would live another day, even if the armies failed, they at least had one Princess left. Twilight would do well. Sweetie Belle looked worried. Why was she worried? They had won! She turned and called to the others. Somehow she looked so innocent. Even after all the blood she had seen. Her soul was pure. His eyes rolled over to look at Scootaloo, she had seen so many hardships, but somehow this war had saved her in the end. She would live on, happier than before. He looked at Applebloom, she looked sad. Why was she sad? Big Mac and Apple... Jack? Applejack? They were fine. He thought on his own life. From birth he had been raised and trained to be a soldier. Like his family before him. He had become a Captain quickly... He had failed his unit... Then... he gathered a group of the bravest, most remarkable ponies he had ever met... Most of them would be dead now... Why was it so dark? He could see Sweetie... Ball? Sweetieball was saying something... His eyes grew heavy and he smiled. He had done good.