Chapter 40: The Battle of Evermore
The griffin war bands flew in perfect 'v' formation all dressed in full armor. At the head of the 'v' was a trio of griffins armed with pikes. To each side of them is a griffin armed with a sword, then griffins armed with bow and arrows. Occasionally a solitary griffin would fly behind the ‘v’, theses griffin were dressed in robes instead of armor carrying staves, these were the griffin spellcasters. They flew across the Great Sea and above Equestrian soil right between Fillydelphia and Balitmare. Their destination: Ponyville.
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“And this is the Thrones Room.” Twilight says to Nymeria, who is wearing a red collar.
“Wow, this is amazing!” Nymeria says.
“That concludes the tour.” Twilight says. “I think it would be best if you got some rest now.”
Nymeria yawns. “Good idea.” She heads toward her room.
“Twilight!” Spikes yells as comes run into the room.
“Spike what’s the problem?” Twilight asks just as an explosion is heard outside. “What is that?”
“The griffins…” Spike pants. “They’re attacking. ”
“Where did you get this information?”
“”Your agent in Balitmare spotted them flying in full battle formation crossing Equestrian soil an hour ago. She sent the letter using the emergency dragon mail system you’d set up.”
Twilight nods. “I promise once this is over we’ll figure something where you’re not belching up letters all the time.”
“I understand.” Spike says. “What can I do?
"I need you to sound the alarm." Twilight says then she goes into her room and comes out dressed in silver guard armor. The armor is made so her cutie mark is visible. She goes and knocks on Trixie's door.
Trixie opens the door with a yawn. "What can the tired and unamused Trixie do for you?"
"Get dressed, the griffins are attacking." Twilight says as she watches Trixie put on her battle robes, which look a lot like her performing robes.
"Trixie is ready."
"Go get the unicorn divisions in their places."
"You can count on Trixie." Trixie says then vanishes in a flash of magic.
At that time a loud siren is heard from the top on the castle.
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“Any questions class?” Miss Cheerilee asks. The class as usual shakes their head, proving that once again she has done her job. “Good. Now for the next…” She stops when she hears a loud siren. “All right class, Ponyville’s under attack. You know the drill.”
“Yes, Miss Cheerilee.” The class chimes in unison, Two pegasi students take wing and close the windows. Two earth ponies get up and roll back a rug to reveal a trapdoor that they open revealing an unlit staircase. An unicorn lights up her horn and descends the staircase and the other students follow. Miss Cheerilee and one of the other unicorn’s descend last. The unicorn closing the door behind them.
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Twilight goes to the center of town and is soon joined by Rarity, who is dressed robe adorned with many gemstones. “Isn’t that a bit heavy Rarity?”
Rarity smiles. “They’re enchanted. My robe should provide me with as much protection as your armor. A few of them have other effects if I need them too.”
“Who enchanted them?” Twilight asks.
“Amethyst Mist, you’ve meet her haven’t you?”
Twilight nods. “She was a student at Celestia’s school, moved here to get away from the hustle of city life. Special talent in cutting and enchanting gemstones. You couldn't ask for anypony better to do the job.”
“The town’s weather ponies are gathering up storm clouds, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash says as she flies in dressed in platinum guard armor, Twilight’s cutie mark emblazed on her chest.”We should be able to do as you instructed soon.
“Good, go make sure that goes as planned. I’ll be here.” Twilight instructs.
“I can’t exactly protect you if I’m elsewhere.” Rainbow says. “I thought I was the head of your guards.”
“That reminds me, are you going to find more guards?” Twilight asks.
“I got you the one.”
“No, that guard came to me on his own”
“I’m still going through the applicants, Twilight. We can’t just trust anypony with your safety.”
“Of course.” Twilight says. “It’s alright, Celestia lent me some of hers personal guards, and they’re stationed around town, they know their jobs. She also lent me a couple divisions of guards to help with the plan. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be here to keep an eye on her.” Rarity says.
“Me too!” Pinkie Pie says as she pushes her party cannon to the meeting,
“No armor Pinkie?” Rarity asks.
“We didn’t have armor when we fought the changelings.” Pinkie replies.
“Yes, we didn’t exactly have a chance to prepare for that fight.” Rarity admits. “But we all knew this was coming.”
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie exclaims and pulls a giant cupcake wrapper out of nowhere and wraps it around her barrel. “There I’m armored.”
“I don’t know why I even bother.” Rarity sighs.
“All right, I’ll go take control of the weather pegasi.” Rainbow Dash says then flies off.
“Where’s Fluttershy?” Rarity asks.
“She’s taking care of the animals.” Twilight answers. “And Discord is watching over her.”
“And Applejack?” Rarity asks.
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“Alright, y’all.” Applejack says as the siren goes off. She’s wearing a copper breastplate. She walks in front of a group of earth ponies all of them wearing some sort of armor. “That’s our cue. Apple Bloom?”
Apple Bloom comes up to her carrying a set of saddlebags overflowing with tools. “Yeah sis?”
“Is it ready?”
“I followed Twilight’s blueprints best I could.” Apple Bloom says. “We couldn’t exactly test it, could we?”
“I reckon you got a point there.” Applejack says. “Let’s do this.”
“Eeyup.” Big Mac says.as he Applejack and some earth pony guards are tethered to a very large object covered with a tarp. Four large wheels hold it off the ground.
“Give er a pull, let’s see er roll.” Apple Bloom instructs.
“You heard the filly!” Applejack yells. “Giddyup!” With that they start to pull and the the cart starts rolling smoothly out of the barn.
“All right the rest of you, let’s go.” Apple Bloom says.
“I can’t believe we’re taking orders from a filly.” One guard says to the other as they’re tethered to a smaller cart, also covered with a tarp.
“Princess’s orders, what are you going to do?” The other says.
“Git moving.” Apple Bloom says. “I need to get the rest ya going then try and get ahead ya so I can set it up.”
“Wait!” The first one says. “You’re going to the battlefield?”
Apple Bloom grins. “I’m the one that knows how this here thing works. I have to be there.”
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“Alright unicorns.” Trixie says to the group of unicorns in front of them. Several of them in guard armor, the rest wearing a hodgepodge of armor.. “I’m your battle commander.”
“You’re a battle commander.” Ash says as he walks up wearing new platinum armor with Twilight’s crest. The unicorns’ guards immediately salute him. “At ease.”
“What do you mean?” Trixie asks confused.
“Lieutenant Ash Fall of Princess Twilight Sparkle’s personal guard. I’m here to take control of the southern division of unicorns.”
“Twilight didn’t tell Trixie this.”
“She knew you wouldn’t approve of a colt leading, so it had to wait to last minute.” Ash says. “Sorry.”
Trixie nods. “Let’s split the troops, we have jobs to do.”
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The griffins arrive at Rambling Rock Ridge when it starts to rain on them.
King Appolyinia , who flies in the middle of his forces looks to his Lieutenant, Gilda who flies next to him. “I thought you said that these ponies control their weather.” He says to her. “Why would they make it rain over these mountains?”
“I don’t know, your majesty.” Gilda says. “It doesn’t make sense to me either.”
“The rain picks up making it hard for the armored griffins to fly. “Spellcasters!” Appolynia yells. “Shield us.”
Several of the griffins raise their staves and a bubble of air forms around the army. The army continues to fly when one of the lead griffins speaks up. “My lord, look at that!” He points ahead.
Appolynia looks ahead and sees the clouds starting to gather, they seem to be trying to funnel to the ground. The griffins look at him confused as the clouds form into a tornado and the tornado heads towards the army hitting the shield and tearing it apart. The army splits apart as the tornado rips apart the first group of griffins. Suddenly Appolynia realizes the truth. “We’re under attack!” The griffins all grab their weapons. “Disperse those clouds, they have their pegasi there.”
Quickly the spellcaster griffins raise their staves and start calling up wind to punch holes in the clouds. "Fall back!" Rainbow Dash yells as the magic starts to dissipate the clouds. Pegasi quickly leave their places in the clouds and fly back to Ponyville.
"Get them!" Appolyinia yells and the griffins quickly reform into their battle groups and fly at the pegasi.
The pegasi fly south, skirting the edge of the Everfree Forest. As soon as the griffins see this a group separates and flies over the forest only to be attacked by the uncontrollable clouds and forced to the ground where they are attacked by timberwolves. The rest of the griffins avoid the woods so they don’t end up like their companions. As they clear the forest the griffins are hit by magical blasts from the group of unicorns on the ground. The griffins separate to provide more difficult targets. The griffin spellcasters raise their staves. “Shield!” Ash calls out and the unicorns quickly focus together to create a shield right before the magical attacks hit them.
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Sweetie Belle stand at the top of Twilight’s castle. She watches the ensuing battle from the warded window. “Spike.”
“What is it Sweetie Belle?” Spike asks.
“This doesn’t feel right.”
“What not being part of the battle?”
Sweetie shakes her head. “The battle at all. This shouldn’t be happening.”
“I know.” Spike says. “I wish that they could just use the Rainbow Power and get it over with.”
“Twilight said we can’t do that.” Sweetie says.
“Are we safe here?” Nymeria asks ass he comes out of a corner.
“We’re completely safe.” Spike says. “Twilight cast some protective spells out the castle before she left.”
“And Ash taught me a shield spell if it comes to that.” Sweetie says.
Nymeria nods and sits and watches the battle with Sweetie.
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Applejack, Big Mac and the other earth ponies pull the tarped device to the top of a hill. Apple Bloom comes running up to the wagon. “Let’s get this thing set up.”
Scootaloo and Silver Spoon climb out from under the tarp and quickly fly up and unhook the tarp and pull it off revealing a massive catapult. “This thing sure looks impressive.” Scootaloo says.
“Now let’s hope it works.” Apple Bloom says as she goes about setting the the catapult up. “Ya know I can’t believe that Fluttershy let ya keep being able to fly.”
“Fluttershy said that Discord doesn’t have to return us to normal until after the attack.” Scootaloo says. “I was hoping it’d be a little longer.”
“I ain’t complain, we goin need all the hooves we can get.” Apple Bloom says.
“Come on Silver.” Scootaloo says. “Let’s move the boulder cover so the class can come out.” The two of them land and push a large stone aside revealing a tunnel.
Cheerilee climbs out followed by the rest of the class. “I really don’t like those tunnels.”
“Princess Twilight says that they’re the safest place in town.” Silver says.
Cheerilee nods and looks at the catapult. “So you are two really helping fight this war?”
Silver nods. “We could use some help if any of the school foals want to help.”
“I don’t know.” Cheerilee says.
The rest of the class looks at each other then one of them speaks up. “This is our town, how can we help?”
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“Form ranks!” Appolynia yells as he sees the griffins attempting to dodge magical attacks. “Swoop in and and break their line!” The griffins start to reform ranks when a large boulder comes crashing through obliterating a couple griffins. “What in Equestria was that?
“My liege they have some sort of weapon unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” Gilda says. “Look to that hill!.”
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“A successful hit!” Lieutenant Greaves says. “That contraption works.”
“Ya heard the stallion!” Apple Bloom yells. “Get them smaller ones loaded and that biggen reset.”
The ponies cheer and they quickly roll the large rocks over to the catapults where they either lift it up and one of the young ponies comes up and nudges it into the catapult or a team of two young unicorns lift the rocks into the catapults.
Meanwhile Applejack turns a crank on the large catapult bringing to to the reset position and the ponies put the boulder inside of it.
“Fire!” Greaves yells.
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The rocks come raining down among the griffins tearing their forces apart. “Focus on those war machines!” Apploynia yells. The spellcaster griffins starts to cast their magic at the catapults only for their magic to hit a magical shield. “More unicorns?” Appolynia growls as the other group of unicorns attacks them again. He looks at his decimated forces. “Retreat before the pegasi create another tornado!” The griffins turn around and as they do the attacks slow down. “We’ll go and regroup.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” a male voice says,
Appolynia turns to the voice and sees Winter Spark; dressed in Night Guard armor; a pair of wings on his back. “Who are you?” Appolynia growls.
“Prince Winter Spark.” He says as he charges up his horn and summons cold fire.
“What are you doing?”
“You King Appolynia are under arrest for attacking Equestria, come with me peacefully or I’ll be forced to subdue you.”
“I’d like to see you try!” Appolynia yells as he pulls out his sword out and flies toward Winter.
Winter draws his sword and meets Appolynia. His horn glows brightly as he charges his magic.
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As Sweetie watches the battle ensue she begins to tear up.
“Sweetie Belle, what’s wrong?” Nymeria asks.
Sweetie Belle gets up and then she begins to sing:
As I watch the open sky,
I feel as if I'm in a dream
The lights that flash and slowly fade,
Are all I see
The sounds of battle seem far away,
As I wait here silently
I pray for tomorrow to finally dawn,
For a future where you're here with me
We wait for peace of a new coming day,
Where laughter is heard from all we hold dear
It feels so close, but still so far,
We have to believe that we can see this through
The sun comes up as a new dawning morn,
A light that promises to show the way
For without hope, all is for naught
We have to believe we will see the dawn
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Winter and Appolynia battle, their swords clashing as they come together. Anytime another griffin moves to interfere one of the pegasi crash into the griffin allowing the two to focus on each other. “You fight well, for a pony.”
“I’ve been going easy on you Appolynia.” Winter says. “If you don’t surrender I’ll be forced to use my magic.”
“What are you going to do to me?” Appolynia asks.
“Nothing that you’ll like.” Winter answers as summons cold fire, the blue flame dancing around him.
“You’re fire can’t hurt me.” Appolynia laughs. “My armor was enchanted to grant me immunity to your magic.”
“I doubt they included this one.” Winter says as he calls upon the cold fire to envelope Appolynia’s arms.
“What is this, it isn’t hot.” Appolynia growls then drops his sword and yells. “It’s cold, it burns!”
“It’s called cold fire, and it’ll freeze you solid.” Winter says
“I’ll take you with me!” Appolynia yells and quickly flies at Winter.
“I’m sorry.” Winter sighs as he teleports away and then summons cold fire to envelope Appolynia’s wings.
Ice quickly forms on the griffin king’s wings and he falls toward the ground. As he falls a golden glow envelops him and he looks to see Ash slowing his descent with his magic. “I believe the prince said you were under arrest for crimes against Equestria.”
“The plan was mine!” Apploynia yells as he reaches over and takes off his breastplate, as he does he takes the dagger hidden inside off and stabs himself, ending his reign.