Lunar Dawn

by We'll_Never_Know

Part V/Epilogue: Sanctuary

"This is Solar Army Group Two, we are prepared to move out at your command."

"This is Wonderbolt Squadron, Unit Commander Spitfire reporting in. We are ready to take off and proceed with fire mission at your command."

"Armored Column Three checking in. We are ready to roll out. Give the order."

"Solar Army Group Six reporting in. Forces are lined up and ready to go. Give the order."

"The is Her Majesty's Ship Canterlot Rose reporting in. We have our detail of Marines on board ready to disembark on the shore with rotary-winged support. We await your command."

Shining Armor heard the calls roll in on the radio. Group after group called in and checked in. Celestia stood and looked outside the window of her chamber, leaving Armor on the radio.

After the last one checked in, Armor looked to Celestia. "Are you ready, your highness?"
She looked back at him. So young...yet lost so much. His sister was lost behind enemy lines, and there was the matter of her niece...

"Your Highness?"

Celestia nodded. "Proceed Captain", she ordered.

Armor quickly got back on the radio.

"This is Sun Base to all Solar Military forces at ready. Proceed with Operation: Sunrise. I repeat, Proceed with Operation: Sunrise. Deploy your forces and move to your objectives. Good luck; Sun Base out."

Shining Armor hung up the radio. "The order's been given, your highness. We're making history."

"Yes, Captain...", she answered. She looked at him, and back out the window. Her mountain fortress was built several hundred years ago to protect her...if Nightmare Moon ever came back. As the years passed, she had made several modernizations made, including the hidden train here, and the fortress defenses. The buildings may be stone, but there was electricity, not to mention anti-air and ground defense batteries everywhere. There would be no chances on Celestia. She was secure here.

She looked back to her Captain of the Guard. "Come, sit", she asked him, trying to sound as kind as possible. He was a good soldier and loyal, to a point. She had some struggle with him during the conflict. With her student and his sister stuck behind enemy lines, heaven knows what happened to her. He repeatedly requested and begged that a Special Forces team could drop in behind enemy lines and extract her. The other generals said there was no way they could do it effectively without maximizing casualties, and even then, and Celestia knew too, that they didn't know where she was or if she was even alive anymore. Constantly he would storm off and lock himself in his quarters, to come out later and just sulk for a bit in his office. She had talked to him a lot, trying to comfort him. She felt sorry; he had gone through too much in too little time.

The most disturbing part was his hatred of her sister and the Lunars, which began even before the war. But when his sister was trapped behind enemy lines, the Captain vowed bloody vengeance if his sister was hurt.

He sat without saying anything. Celestia wanted to make sure she was alright. "Are you alright Captain?"

"Hm? Yes, your highness", he answered. He sighed. "I just hope she's going to be found."

"I do too", Celestia answered, comforting her Captain. "I do too..."

* * *
The three galloped through the forest as fast as possible. No slowing down; they needed to go quickly.

They didn't know how if Applejack and Applebloom had succeeded, they couldn't find out. They were too far ahead; they couldn't look back or see. The bomb wasn't that big. They could only hope that they succeeded.

"I hope they make it out", Sweetie Belle told Scootaloo, while they were galloping.

"I do too...", Scootaloo answered. They continued at full speed. It was good to go relatively unloaded. They only carried rifles and two magazines of spare ammunition. No food; it was either make it to safety or die.
Eventually, after five and a half hours, they stopped and simply panted. "Do you think...we'll...be...caught", Sweetie Belle asked.

"I...don't...know...", Scootaloo answered. "What...do...you...think...Pinkie?"

Pinkie didn't answer. The flat pink maned pony simply panted. Pinkie hadn't said much since they escaped. She just galloped, not looking back. She looked at her two companions now. But she didn't say anything. They could tell she only was concerned with getting home.

After a few minutes, they continued at full gallop. The forest was getting thicker. They ran past the place they stopped the last time they were here, when they lost Rarity and Soarin', and crept around. They were in a trench, and looked across the plain.

There was an entire camp of soldiers.

The group crept down in the trench. "Can you see which side they belong to", Scootaloo asked.

Sweetie Belle looked over the trench. The flag of Luna swung in the night. "Lunar", she whispered.

"Aw, muffins", Scootaloo whispered.

Or tried to whisper.

The Lunar Soldiers heard and got up and loaded their rifles quickly. "Who's there; show yourself!"

The group sat in fear, and Scootaloo brought a hoof to her mouth. The Lunars had thrown down their bipods and walked.

"Show yourself!"

Then a group about six soldiers were twenty feet behind them. They looked up in horror. "You're going to come with..."

There was a noise in the distance, and everyone looked up. A pegasi fighter flew above them...with a sunburst and bolt under the wing, seen for a split second. As they saw it, something detached...
And the ground above the trench turned to fire. Just a straight line of fire. The Lunars screamed as whatever caused the fire stuck to them and they burned. Scootaloo looked up in horror and saw one nearly melt as the fur and skin crisped away.

The strike had limited their hearing, so they only saw several rotary winged craft above the flames. They were different than the Lunar ones. They settled down in front of the strike zone, and then several soldiers wearing different uniforms stepped out.

Sweetie Belle brought up her head and another shout came. "Hold there! Don't move! In the name of her highness Celestia!"

Celestia? SOLARS!

Pinkie shouted: "FRIENDLIES! FRIENDLIES!"

The Solars approached. Their uniforms were patterned digitally, green and tan. They wore helmets with the same pattern.They looked at the drastically different uniforms Scootaloo, Pinkie, and Sweetie Belle were wearing. Even without the Lunar patches, the uniform was unmistakable, especially with the rifles they were carrying.

"I'll believe that when the Sun turns purple, Lunar", one of the soldiers told them, cocking his rifle. Their rifles were different.
They had bi-pods like the ones the Lunar weapons, but other than that, the magazines were in the back, behind the trigger, and there was a built-in scope on the weapon.

"Wait", a voice called. The soldiers looked back; and another soldier, a unicorn holding what looked like a picture in his magic. He looked over at Pinkie. "Are you Pinkamena Diane?"

"Yes...yes...", she answered. "I...I am..."

The soldier looked at her. "Your mane is flatter than what's on archive", the soldier told her.

"It happens when I'm sad", she answered. "This war makes me sad."

The soldier nodded. "Well, 'Pinkamena', care to come up with your friends?"

"Yes...yes...", she answered, and the three followed suit. The soldiers cleared the way as she got up.

The soldier that talked to her checked the cutie mark and nodded. "You're Pinkamena alright." He turned to his detachment. "Get them on the rotary wings; we're going back early. This takes precedence over everything on orders from her highness.
Let's move."

The three were loaded onto rotary winged aircraft, and were flown away.

"Safety...", Sweetie Belle whispered. They were safe.

* * *

After three hours, they were coming to a decent. They had looked out the window at times, to see the landscape. In the distance, they saw the mass Solar forces moving across the land. "What are they doing", Scootaloo asked

"Major operation", one of the soldiers answered. "We've going to take back every major city the Lunars took. Manehattan, Canterlot, Ponyville..."

"Ah", Scootaloo answered. "We fought outside Ponyville..."

"Really", the lead one had commented. "Well, it looks like you're a veteran of that theater before we are!" Everyone chuckled.

When they came to where they were, the sun was rising, and the dawn opened. The rotary wings then hovered for about a minute before setting down in a courtyard. The soldiers told the three to wait as the engines powered down, and the pilots got out. The soldiers went first, followed by the three.

"Keep quiet", one whispered to Scootaloo. She took note, as it was probably for good reason.
The entire group was met by another group, led by a familiar white bodied and blue maned unicorn male, wearing a tan uniform with no camouflage and white trim. The other soldiers carried shorter carbines and wore similar uniforms, except with berets. The lead soldier and the unicorn saluted one another.

"Lieutenant, welcome back", he said. It was unmistakable.

"Captain Shining Armor, I have something for you", the lead soldier said. He looked back and motioned for Pinkie. She came up slowly.

Shining Armor's mouth dropped. Pinkie looked confusingly and he came up and hugged her. "You're...you're one of Twilight's friends! How...are...where's Twilight?"

Pinkie didn't answer. She looked right over his body, just staring with an empty look. Some of the soldiers gulped nervously.

"Uh, uh, Pinkie, is it? Could you, uh, say something please?"

Pinkie just stared. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle tried to come up to her, and Sweetie Belle raised her hoof in front of Pinkie's eyes. Shining Armor stepped back and looked confused.

Pinkie didn't blink, or notice.

The lead soldier from the rotary winged cleared his throat and spoke up. "With all due respect, sir, I think we should take these three to her highness now. She would want to speak to them."
After a moment Shining Armor nodded, "Yes...yes..."

The lead soldier nudged on Pinkie. "Come, now, Miss Pinkamena, let's go..."

After a moment, she placed one hoof forward and began trotting with the rest of the party. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle looked nervously at each other.

"What's wrong with her", Scootaloo asked.

"I don't know", Sweetie Belle answered.

The soldier who was kind to them looked to them. "We've had a few soldiers come back for medical treatment. Almost all of them came back staring like that. I think the doctors diagnosed it as psychological trauma. Whatever she went through is affecting her now."

"Oh, I...I see", Sweetie Belle answered.

* * *

The group from the rotary wing had left on orders of Shining Armor, and once they entered the building, the other guards left them too. Their hoofsteps echoed in the hallway.

The building was large and made of stone, like most of this fortress. The mountains surrounded it, making it ideal for a secret place. The stone walls were unadorned, something much different than Canterlot.

"Alright, she's right this way", Shining Armor told them, opening the large door. "Tell her what she wants."

The castle wasn't as flashy as Canterlot, and yet the Princess still had the luxury of a relatively large room, but they could tell the same room doubled as a sort of throne room, with a stone throne sitting with one of the only three decorations in the room, all of which were simply tapestries with the sunburst of Celestia on them. There was a large grated window, which overlooked the courtyard, draped by large, plain curtains. To the left was a radio system, which was apparently used to give orders. Towards the middle-right of the room, was a large couch and three smaller ones surrounding a coffee table. To the center-left, was a bed, for her highness. Beside it, was the doorway to a bathroom.

Her highness looked back to the three who just entered. Her face was that of amazement and joy. "You're...you're safe!" They saw a tear of joy come down her face. The three took a moment to kneel and lower their heads in honor. "Oh, please rise, faithful ones. Rise! Do not bow!" They did and looked at her highness with puzzlement.

"Friends! Yes, friends! Come close, come close." The three did, and her highness spread her wings to hold them together close to her. "It brings me joy to see you three safe..." She let go and the three stood there waiting. She looked to the table and couches.

"Oh, please, come here, sit, sit with me." The three did as commanded and sat on the couches, while her highness reclined in her own. There was a pitcher of tea on the table, several cups, and some small cookies to go along with it."Make yourselves comfortable, by goodness you deserve it. Have whatever you like."

They did merrily, and were delighted at the smell and taste of real food and drink. For the past few months, they survived on brook water and rations.
After a few moments, Celestia started. "So", she began. "Will your other comrades be coming soon? What of my student?"

"Uh...", Scootaloo trailed. "I...your highness..."

"They're dead", Pinkie blurted out. Celestia and the younger ones looked to the pink pony. She sat, simply staring at her refreshments. "Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy were killed by the Lunars. I don't know about Applejack and her sister, but I hope they're alive."

Celestia looked to her cup. "I'm so sorry...what of my student?"

"She's dead too", Pinkie said calmly. Celestia sat back in shock. "She was killed because of a lie."

"What Miss Pinkie means to say", Sweetie Belle told Celestia. "What happened was that Twilight Sparkle was tricked into leading the Lunars to our camp. We killed them all, with none of us hurt. But when we got back, a prisoner we took noticed Twilight's necklace, which was used to track us. Applejack got mad and hit Twilight angrily, and had us tie her up..."
"...the next morning, Applejack decided to execute her alongside the prisoner", Scootaloo continued. "The prisoner was shot first, but when Twilight's turn came up, Applejack couldn't bring herself do it. When one of our other friends tried to step in, Applejack struggled, but the gun went off and killed your student and our friend." Celestia looked down, tears flowing from her eyes. "I'm so sorry your highness."

Celestia closed her eyes and sighed. "Who. Betrayed. My. Student."

"Fluttershy had the gun that killed her", Sweetie Belle explained, "but she's dead now too. Twilight said Spike gave her the necklace. He's the one who gave us up, your highness."

"That dragon...", she trailed. "I trusted him..."

"We don't know where he is", Scootaloo said. "I'm sorry; we didn't go back into the city, we stayed outside."

"I see", Celestia answered. "Well...where is my student buried?"

"By our camp; six hours from where we were picked up, your highness", Sweetie Belle answered.

"My forces are going to Ponyville...if you were with them, could you find the grave?"

"Yes, you're highness", Scootaloo answered.

Celestia thought for a second, but knew what needed to be done imminently. "I'm glad you three still live. I will have you stay comfortably for a few days. You deserve it."

The three smiled at the Princess's generosity. "Thank you, your highness", they said in near-unison.

"Now, you have my leave. I will have rooms drawn up for you", she answered. She looked to Pinkie. "Do you need a doctor, Pinkamena?"

"No, your highness", she answered. "I'll be fine."

The three got up to leave and Celestia commanded the door be open. The three walked right out, escorted by Celestia. She smiled, and looked down. Shining Armor was there.

"Well, your highness", he asked, "what of my sister?"

Celestia's mood changed back. His sister...what would he do if he was told the truth? That she was killed by her own friends?"

After a moment she sighed. "She was killed in a Lunar Ambush", she lied.

"What...", Armor trailed.

"I'm so sorry", Celestia sympathized. He leaned in to her side and started to cry. She held him with her wing. "It's going to be alright...it's going to be alright..."

* * *

Six months passed. Three days after their arrival at the fortress, the three were taken to the front, accompanied by Celestia and Shining Armor. They showed the soldiers the grave sites of Rarity, Twilight, and Soarin'. They also found the remains of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Coffins were ordered to be built by all of them. Just a week later, reports rolled in. Manehattan was taken, Appleloosa liberated, and Canterlot had been for a week back under Solar control. Now, they stood while Ponyville surrendered.

There was a crowd of soldiers, who deposited their rifles on a pile, and stood at attention. A griffon stepped out and the flag of Luna was brought up on a moving table next to her by two soldiers. "I am Major Gilda, commander of this city. You have rightfully won back; we can fight no further. I surrender the city to you, unconditionally."

"Gilda, Major of the Military of my sister", Celestia addressed her. "I am glad you decided to end the bloodshed."

"Yes, your highness", Gilda answered.

Pinkie whispered something to Celestia. "My faithful follower tells me that two of her friends made it in the city. She and I wish to know their fate."

Gilda looked down and nodded. A group of Lunar soldiers stepped aside, revealing two coffins.

Pinkie began to cry. "We tried to save them, but the former Commander had mortally wounded them", Gilda explained. "I am sorry."

Now, six months later, the city was back to normal. For the last few months, the war was at a standstill, the lines barely moving. But for the three, nothing like that mattered. They moved in with Derpy, not wanting to go separately. She happily accepted them into her home, and even bought a larger one to accommodate them all easier. They lived together, and were happy. They also learned a prisoner exchange was planned, and Spike would be returned to the Solars. They couldn't say how he would be accepted, as it was well known he was a traitor.

But Pinkie was not the same. She was always flat-maned, rarely excited. She always mourned her friends, being the last one still alive. A doctor described it as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, and Survivor's Guilt, as she was the only one still alive. Right now, they were going to the War Cemetery.

Sweet Apple Acres was transformed into a burial ground for fallen Solar soldiers. But in the center was a monument to the freedom fighters, surrounded by the graves of the fallen ones. A statue stood, showcasing all of them, including Soarin' together fighting.

They had flowers in saddle-bags, to place on each of the graves. Almost all of them were all buried here:
Rarity: Killed in Action bravely
Fluttershy: Stayed behind to save her friends
Rainbow Dash: Gave the enemy one last surprise before death
Twilight Sparkle: Died under unfortunate circumstances

Twilight's death was never clear. Celestia told them to never reveal the truth of Twilight's death, wanting to keep her student's memory a good one, along with theirs. After putting down the flowers and standing in mourning, they gave a batch to Soarin' in the aviator grave site, and then proceeded on.

Now, Applejack wasn't buried here. Instead, she was buried with Big Mac and Applebloom on a hill overlooking the acres.
They came up and brought flowers to each of the graves, and stood in silence. They all died bravely. Big Mac defying his killers, and Applejack and Applebloom died to make sure the others were going to live. It was powerful to them.
They could rest now; their war was over. If everything went well, they need not fight again.

Hopefully.

Comments

[We'll_Never_Know]

1097546

Thanks, I'll try to do that to all of the chapters tonight

[Error_404_Not_Found]

so...much...yes...A well-forged conclusion to a very good adaptation story.

[We'll_Never_Know]

1108948

can't please everyone

got to fix that though

[FenrisianBrony]

I've never red Red Dawn, but this story is great. Didn't expect that many characters to die though. Still good.

[T1MBUK0N3]

2058923 Red Dawn is the very 1st PG-13 rated movie to ever be released since 1984. It has to do with the Soviet Union launching an assault on the United States, & a bunch of war heroes have to fight back. Look it up, & you'll know what I'm talking about.