Chapter 2 – A serious arrival
It happened three days later.
When princess Celestia opened her eyes again, she was greeted by her sister Luna, Twilight and her 5 friends. She was still very weak, she barely managed to whisper some words into her sisters ear before falling asleep again. Concerned Luna led Twilight and her friends out of the room to let her older sister rest.
„Twilight Sparkle,“Luna said in a grim voice,“we have to take preperations at once.“
„What...what for?“ Twilight asked in confusion.
„We have to send message to all parts of equestria immediatly,“ Luna answered.“ She turned around and gazed at the six ponys.“Equestria will be attacked soon.“
Twilight and her friends stayed at Canterlot and took preperations. It has been two days since the messages were send of, but there still was no reply.
In the meantime Luna and Twilight went through the spells and maps of the old book.
„So you used the last two weeks to learn from this book?“Luna asked in amazement.
„Yes indeed,“ Twilight responded,“but to be honest I'm not sure if I can use any of these spells. They are indeed powerful.“
„Better then nothing,“ Luna said,“it may become handy.“
Twilight wanted to answer, when suddenly the door of the library burst opened and Rainbow Dashed flew in.
„Princess, Twilight,“she panted,“some messengers just arrived! They don't look very good!“
They didn't hesitate any second and ran through the castle. When they reached the entrance hall they already saw them; royal pegasi in red armor. Twilight shook her head.
„What's this?,“ she wondered,“ I thought our messangers wore golden armor?“
„They still do,“ Luna gasped,“ they are injured.“
Then Twilight saw it. The three messangers left strains of blood on the floor. One of them even seemed to have lost on of his wings, only a piece of liveless meat hanging on its shoulder, bones showing.
Twilight had to turn her head to supress the urge to vomit. She has never seen something this brutal before. She could hardly imagine what pain those pegasi have to endure right now.
„Messengers!“ Luna called,“What's your status?“
Two of the messengers turned around for her. The third dropped to the ground, bleeding from his head.
„We need doctors here at once!“, Luna cried,“Doctors! It's an emergency!“
They immediatly arrived and took the unconciousness pegasus for medical care. Some doctors took care of the other two pegasi while they reported to Luna. She then turned to Twilight.
„As I feared. It already started.“ She bowed her head.“We are doomed and it's mine and Celestias fault.“
„What do you mean?“ Twilight asked.
„I'll explain later.“ Luna answered.“Gather your friends. We'll meet in celestia's chambers. She must know about this at once.“
„We digged our own grave,“ Celestia said in low voice,“we unburied old knowledge and used it just to lead a monster to our world.“
The princess recovered quickly in the last two days. She still had to rest in bed but she got better with each day.
„I think it is time we show what exactly happened on our trip, Celestia,“ Luna proposed.“ Shall I?“
„Of course,“ Celestia answered,“you may.“
„Please close your eyes“ Luna adressed Twilight and her friends.“I'll show you about the war we encountered and the war we are in now.“
They closed their eyes. After a short moment they saw pictures. Pictures from places they've never seen before and people and creatures they couldn't even imagine. There were different pictures but they all had one thing in common. Destruction, death and violence. Everything was on fire. Strange creatures roaming the landscape, shooting or slaughtering other creatures which ran around in panic. Explosions destroyed big buildings, undead creatures ripped helpless beings apart, scattering their guts on the ground, big creatures crushing buildings and people underfood, leaving nothing but rocks and smashed meat. It was like hell was on the loose.
Then the pictures changed a bit. The buildings looked familar to Twilight and her friends and there were ponys, but the rest remained the same. The helpless ponys were slaughtered until they didn't resemble anything that had ever lived. Then the pictures stopped.
Twilight quickly grabbed a nearby flower pot and puked. The others were pale and shooked, glaring into the air.
„Manehatten and Alicornia have already been destroyed,“ Luna said in low voice,“They came like from nowhere.“
„We think that our magical trip tracked them to us,“ Celestia continued,“ I don't know why they want to destroy us but I can sense something magical. Something big and strong but I cannot determine where it comes from.“
Twilight recovered a bit.“What can we do to stop...these things?“
Celestia and Luna just looked down.
„It is hopeless then?“ Twilight continued.
„We have no idea,“ Luna answered,“We have never seen something like that before. While we were away we fought of some creatures and even managed to kill them, but it was hard and there are so many of them.“ Luna looked at Twilight with a grim look.“Even if we could gather all magical power in equestria, we wouldn't stand a chance.“
Twilight shoke her head.“No...this can't be. I can't believe it is suppose to end all.“
Fluttershy squeeked a little.“Is there no one who can help us?“
„I say we still fight,“Rainbow Dash exclaimed,“They shall try to get me down, but I won't give up so easily.“
„Ya're taking the words out of my mouth, Rainbow Dash,“Applejack added,“We'll fight like a wolf in a corner. Biting all in reach before going down.“
„I think we should try to gather as many people as possible,“ Twilight said,“and see if we can at least protect Canterlot. We could use a forcefield like when the changelings attacked us. Maybe this will help.“
„I fear that our magical power will be no match against their forces, Twilight“, Celestia exclaimed.“They also possess very strong magical powers. It will be just a matter of time before they break our defences.“
Twilight looked down and wandered around, pondering. There was something in the back of her mind but she couldn't remember.
„Oh my. I have to return to ponyville at once and get my sister sweetie bell,“ Rarity suddenly shouted.“ We should all return to ponyville and warn and bring them here in safety.“
„Ya're right,“ Applejack added.“ All we can do now is saving the ones most important to us.“
Rarity, Fluttershy and Applejack ran off at once. The others looked after them.
Twilight was still thinking, when Rainbow Dash interupted her.“Twilight. I'll give a warning to cloudsdale. Shall I give Spike a warning from you on my way there?“
„That would be nice,“ Twilight answered,“thank you so much.“
Rainbow saluted and flew off in an instant.
„I think I should go to the Cake family and warn them as well,“Pinkie said,“too bad I can't teleport there like you can do, Twilight.“
„My teleportation spell is limited to me or others in close range,“Twilight answered,“I could never...“ Twilight suddenly stopped and glared at Pinkie with empty eyes.
Pinkie Pie tilted her head.“Twilight. Are you alright?“
Twilight suddenly grinned.“Pinkie Pie, you are a genie!“
„No, I'm an earth pony,“ Pinkie Pie answered.
Twilight didn't react to her answer and turned for the two princesses. She summoned the old book that lay on a table near the bed and opened it. Pinkie Pie just shrugged her shoulders and left the room.
„I knew there was something,“ Twilight said to herself loudly,“I had something in mind and Pinkie just remembered me what it was.“ She flipped the sites of the book until she found something.“Here“. She turned the book to the two princesses.“This might be our last chance.“
The princesses stared at the pages. At first they were surprised but then they nodded.
„You always remember me, why I chose you as my most faithful student,“ Celestia smiled at Twilight.
When Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie arrived in Ponysville via Pony Express, they we're already greeted by their family members, packed with their personal belongings. The whole trainstation was filled with ponys.
„Sweetie Bell,“Rarity wondered and trotted upt to her little sister,“what are you doing here?“
„Rainbow Dash came by about 2 hours ago and warned us all,“ Sweetie bell said,“Almost everyone from ponyville gathered their stuff and wants to go to Canterlot.“
„Thanks goodness ya'll all save,“ Applejack exclaimed, hugging her little sister Applebloom, her brother Big Macintosh and her grandmother Granny Smith.“ All ready to leave?“
„I still have to go home,“ Fluttershy said in panic,“I need to take care of my animals and Angel.“
„Ah about that,“ Applebloom exclaimed. She reached for a bag behind her and handed it to Fluttershy.“Rainbow Dash realeased your pets and brought Angel with her. Here.“
She opened the bag and a small rabbit jumped out directly into Fluttershys arms.
„Oh Angel,“ Fluttershy cried,“I'm so glad you are fine.“
„I think we should return to Canterlot at once,“ Rarity said.“ And let's pray we'll be safe there.“
When the train arrived in Canterlot it was evening. The ponys got out of the train and we're greeted by some maidens from Canterlot castle who seperated the arrivals in groups and led them to different shelters to find enough space for everypony.
When everyone was at a safe place Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Pinkie Pie went to Canterlot castle. Rainbow Dash just passed by, stopped and joined them.
„Hi Rainbow Dash and thank you so much for warning all,“ Rarity greeted her.
„Ha. No problem“, Rainbow Dash answered.“I'm much faster then Pony Express anyway and I wanted to warn Spike anyway.“
„Now that you mention it,“Fluttershy said,“Twilight didn't come to Ponyville.
„Nope.“ Pinkie Pie exclaimed.“As far as I remember she had an idea about teleporting and stayed by the princesses.“
The other ponys glared at her.“What?!“
„Yeah it's strange. She really knows alot about ZOOM and being somewhere else suddenly and stuff but she called me a genie remembering her about it.“ She giggled.“Silliy Twilight. She know's I'm an earth pony.“
The others looked at each other and then ran off to the entrance hall.
„Hey wait for me!“ Pinkie Pie called, jumping after them.
When they opened the castle gates they saw Twilight and Luna standing in the middle of the entrance hall. Celestia sat on some cushions nearby. The old book was floating next to Luna und Twilight.
„Ah. Perfect timing,“ Twilight called.“We think there is a possibility that might save us from this upcoming evil!“
„Really?!“ the others said simultanous.
„Yes. Pinkie Pie remember me about a description I read in the book as well as something I saw at the old ruins in the desert Equerian Makan,“ Twilight explained.“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna used the spellbook to travel to other worlds. This spell here is able to teleport someone to us. This might be our chance.“
„But...“ Applejack wondered,“who do ya want to call?“
„I'm...not sure,“ Twilight answered.“There something written about 'the one (also mentioned in holy manual(revision 2)' but I've no idea what this means. But it's our only hope!“
„You have my full trust, Twilight Sparkle,“ Celestia said,“and I'm sure all others here agree with me. We have to risk it.“
„YOUR HIGHNESS!“
A royal guard galloped into the entrance hall. Everypony stared at him with big eyes.
„Your Highness. Ponyville is under attack!“
„Oh my god,“Applejack said,“thanks goodness the town as been evacuated already.“
„That's not all“, the royal guard continued.“Our scouts mentioned that troops of strange creatures are on their way to Canterlot castle. They soon reach us!“
Celestia carefully stood up.“Did Shining armor raise the magical shield already?“
„Yes, your Highness“, the guard answered.“All troops are getting in position preparing for the attack.“
„Good.“ Celestia said.“Return to your commander. And make sure no pony enters this hall. We need to make preperations.“
„Affirmative“. The guard saluted and left the hall closing it behind him.
„Time is precious“, Celestia said to the other.“The have to begin right now. Are you ready?“
Luna and Twilight nodded.
Floating the book in front of them Celestia, Luna and Twilight began channeling their unicorn powers. While Luna still seemed fine, it was hard for the weakened Celestia and the unexperienced Twilight. The other ponys stood closeby and prayed for good luck.
After three neverending minutes of concentration a blue sparkle appeared in the middle of the room. Lightning brightened up the hall until a small portal appeared. Then they waited.
„Did it work?“ Twilight asked anxiously.
„I think we did everything as explained in the book“, Luna answered.
Celestia sat down on the pillows again, panting.“Now all we can do is hope.“
They waited for several minutes. The portal was spending a constant bright light in the entrance hall, but no one came through it. After a short while it fizzled and vanished.
„So there goes our last hope.“ Twilight said with lowered head.
It became quite in the entrance hall. No one dared to break the silence. Their last chance to save the world was gone.
Twilight then went to the entrance.“Well...all we can do now is showing those monsters what we are made of.“ She turned around.“Who follows me?“
Her friends ran up to her at once.“We will.“
„We'll join later,“Luna said,“I'll take care of my sister first.“
Twilight glanced at the princesses, then nodded to her friends.“Okay. Lets go!“
She opened the door, and was greeted with a bright light in front of them. They all had to close their eyes but still got blinded. It took a moment before their eyes adjusted ... and gasped at what was in front of them.
„So Nettie. Where is the Sirian Council? Can they help me find Mental again? I hope they can after the shit they did last time.
In front of them stood a strange creature. Twilight knew she had something like that before. The statue in the temple ruins looked exactly like it. It had two long legs, two long arms and looked very muscular. Except for that it wore blue pants, fixed with a silver belt buckle showing the same strange symbol like on the white T-Shirt he wore. His red shoes were knotted with white bands. His hands were protected by dark brown leather gloves. He had short black hair standing up wildly and his face showed a five o'clock shadow beard. But what troubled Twilight most was the size of it's eyes under it's one-line eyebrowns. Compared to all beings she knew they were fairly small and showed no color but white and black. He turned around with a grim look when the ponys opened the hall and was talking to someone.
„Wait a minute,“ the creature said,“this isn't the Sirian Council isn't it? Nettie? What's going on?“
„Who...who are you?“, Twilight asked carefully.
The creaturen before them became silent, then burst into laughter:„HaHa. You nearly got me with that, Nettie,“ the creature answered, ignoring Twilight,“you know exactly who I'm. Now come on. Where is the council?“
Twilight looked at her friends in confusion.
„What do you mean it wasn't you, Nettie?“, the creature continued talking to itself.“There aren't any people around to talk to.“
„I think he is crazy or something, talking to himself“, Rainbow Dash said,“So ...is his name Nettie or what?“
The creature stared at Rainbow Dash, then at the other ponys in front of him. He grabbed some metallic item from his belt, pointed it at the ponys and it made some clicking noises. They just stared back in surprise.
„My name is Sam Stone.“, the creature said with a deep voice.“Or just call me Serious Sam. And you have exactly five seconds to explain me what I'm doing here...and two already have passed.“