//------------------------------// // The Attack of the Nightwalkers // Story: My Little Pony and the Wolves of Imperiacus // by commander369 //------------------------------// Twilight reached out of the forest and kept on running back to Ponyville. Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Granny Smith was talking to her two elderly cousins. "How old were you when you first saw the eclipse, Auntie Applesauce?" Granny Smith said. "Oh, I've never saw it. But my folks told many wonderful stories about it since I was a filly." Auntie Applesauce said. "But I've seen it when I was only a year old." Apple Rose replied. "You can't even remember stuff like that when you're a year old." Auntie Applesauce interrupted. "I sure can." Apple Rose argued. "You can't even remember our last family reunion and that was about a few months ago." Auntie Applesauce said. Apple Rose stopped for a second and thought to herself. "We had another reunion?" The two old Apple cousins laughed together with Apple Rose. Then Applejack came upon them, and she was not laughing at all. "Hey granny, can we talk?" Applejack said with a frown. "About what, Applejack?" Granny Smith questioned. "About Apple Bloom." Applejack said sadly. Granny Smith started to worry when she heard Apple Bloom's name. "What's wrong with Apple Bloom?" "She seems a little distracted." Applejack stared back at Apple Bloom who was still talking to Babs in the field. "Poor Apple Bloom. She must still be upset about that whole silly school play." Auntie Applesauce then placed her hoof around Applejack. "Oh shuck, Applejack. Apple Bloom is a strong little pony like you." Apple Rose came in the conversation. "I'm sure when the eclipse comes around, she will forget all that whole play nonsense stuff." "But still, there is still only three days left. I don't want Apple Bloom to be miserable till then." Applejack said. "Then go cheer her up, by sharin' her with your hero." Granny Smith winked at Applejack. "Maybe you're right, Granny. I'll think I'll will. And I'll know just what to do." Applejack left the three elders and called out to Apple Bloom and Babs. "Hey Apple Bloom. Want to do somethin' for the family?!" Grammy Smith, Auntie Applesauce, and Apple Rose smiled for Applejack and hope for the best. In the huge crowd of the Apple family, Babs giggled to herself as she watched all the ponies enjoying the reunion. Babs walked into the center of the crowd and pointed her hoof with a loud shout. "OH LOOK EVERYPONY! LOOK! A NIGHTWALKER IS HERE!" All of the Apple Family turned and saw Big Macintosh dressed up in a Nightwalker suit. He let out a fake roar. All the Apple Family saw the act and cried a fake scream and huddled around each other. "We are doomed!"Apple Fritter faked screaming. "Oh what do we do?" Apple Honey faked shaking in fear. "Oh who will save us?" Red Gala faked crying. Then Applejack came in and calmed the family down with high fake relieve. "Fear not everypony, Mudshield is here to save us!" She gestured to Apple Bloom coming out of the barn, painted brown and wearing a tiny gold suit of armor. The family cheered as they watch the little dressed-up Guardian charged towards the dressed-up Nightwalker. "Hey there you! Leave this lovin' family alone ya dirty Macintosh…I mean ya dirty Nightwalker. Take this." Apple Bloom raised her hoof up and gave Macintosh a slightly soft punch on the nose. He hesitated for a second from the weak punch, and then remembered his part. He purposely jumped up and dropped dead on the ground. The Apple Family gave Apple Bloom more cheering and hooting. Apple Bloom blushed with a smile. "Thanks everypony." Back in the middle of the crowd, Applejack smiled to herself, seeing that her plan to make Apple Bloom happy worked like a charm. "Perfect." Applejack turned her smile upside down when she heard an annoying screaming. "RUN! EVERYPONY RUN!" Twilight galloped past Sweet Apple Acres, where the entire Apple Family noticed her. "Um… is this another act?" Braeburn confused. Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Babs are confused with Twilight's running off screaming. "What's with her?" Apple Bloom worried. "Does she always do that?" Babs annoyed. Applejack was a little concerned about Twilight's breakdown. "Um…. just enjoy the rest of the party, okay. I'm goin' to go talk to her." Applejack left the party and followed Twilight. Apple Bloom, Babs, along with Granny Smith and Big Macintosh frowned in sadness for Applejack's leaving the reunion. "Where is Applejack headin' off to?" Apple Bloom questioned. Granny Smith was confused. "Beats me. That gal always like to flitterin' around like a…." Then they looked up and witnessed the darkness clouding over Sweet Apple Acres. Inside of Fluttershy's cottage, all the animals and critters are jumping up and down in excitement. Fluttershy has returned with the cupcakes she promised. "I brought the cupcakes!" All of the animals pushed and shoved each other as Fluttershy lay down the cupcakes on the floor. "Now, now. There's plenty for everypony." Fluttershy giggled to herself as she watched all the animals chow down on the cupcakes. But then she noticed that in the crowd, Angel was nowhere to be found. "Angel Bunny?" She got her answer when Angel jumped down on Fluttershy's head and into the crowd of cupcake eating animals. But there was only one problem, she saw Angel in a black bat suit. Fluttershy shrieked in shock when she noticed that her pet wanted to be dressed up as a Nightwalker. "Oh no, Angel Bunny! We shouldn't be dress up like that!" Angel crossed his arms and turned back away from Fluttershy. But Fluttershy kept on trying to find a way to convince him. "No, Angel Bunny. Dressing up as a Nightwalker is not a good manner for this holiday." Angel stomped petulantly and turned his head back, not listening to a word she said. "This is a holiday for the Guardians. It is when all the ponies of Equestria celebrate for the wolves for saving us from the Nightwalkers." Fluttershy begged Angel to do the right thing, but it's not working. "Please Angel Bunny." Even that talk, Angel still refused to listen. Defeated, Fluttershy gave up. "Oh ok. I guess it wouldn't hurt." Angle nodded disrespectfully and joined the other animals with their cupcakes. Fluttershy signed in depression until she heard a loud screaming outside. It was Twilight. "RUN! EVERYPONY RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!" She ran passed Fluttershy's cottage. Fluttershy popped her head out of the door, seeing Twilight running. "Run for what?" Applejack came next, screaming to Fluttershy whiles she's still running after Twilight. "Come on, Fluttershy!" Fluttershy blinked twice and called to her friends inside. "Oh sorry, my friends. I'll be right back." Fluttershy flew out the door and followed Twilight. Angel popped his head out the door while eating a cupcake. He then looked up in the sky, seeing the darkness clouding over Fluttershy's cottage. In the park, the Wonderbolts are on stage. Spitfire walked in front of the microphone and faced the crowded audience of pegasi. "And so, I would like to thank you pegasi again for joining in the Wonderbolt's Thunderbolt Fan Club." The entire pegasi audience cheered and applauded. Spitfire raised her hoof up, silencing the audience and continued her speech. "It was a tough competition, but we have already chosen our new five members. And these members will the ones who will be joining us at the Canterlot Ceremony." The crowd cheered louder. Spitfire then pointed to the white Wonderbolt pegasus behind her. "Sourin' will read out the names." Spitfire then turned back to the audience. "If your name is called, come on stage and join us for the big event." Spitfire called to Sourin and moved over away from the microphone. "Sourin', if you please." Sourin' walked in front of the cheering crowd, holding up each of the five envelops. "Alright Thunderbolt fans, this is it! The moment you've all been waiting for!" Sourin' opened and read the first envelop. "Alright! The first member is….. Cloudchaser!" Cloudchaser gasped in surprise when she heard her name; she stood up, hugged her sister and flew on stage as the appreciative crowd cheered. Sourin' opened and read the second envelop. "Second member is… Flitter!" Flitter gasped surprise too, stood up, flew on stage, hugged her sister, and stand next to her. Sourin' opened and read the third envelop. "Third member is... Thunderlane!" Thunderlane stood up, took a bow to the crowd and flew on stage, giving high-fives to Cloudchaser and Flitter. Sourin' opened and read the fourth envelop. "Fourth member is… Snowflake!" The crowd cheered as Snowflake snorted up with a yell. "YEAH!" Snowflake shouted. He flew on stage, and stand in line with the other winners. The crowd turned silence as they waited to hear the last winner's name. As for Rainbow Dash, she was so excited and so nervous, she was starting to shake. Scootaloo saw this and patted Rainbow Dash on the back. "Don't worry, Rainbow Dash. You are sure to win." "Of course I am. I am Rainbow Dash. I'm a Guardian-kind of pony." Rainbow Dash said with pride and ego. Scootaloo smiled at Rainbow Dash. "Oh, I really do too." Then Scootaloo smile turned to frown. "But after that school play. I don't feel like I'm a Guardian-like kind of pony." Rainbow Dash stared back at the depressed Scootaloo. "Oh, what are you talking about, kid? You were great at the play, remember." "Yeah, playing as Nightwalkers." Scootaloo whispered embarrassed. Rainbow Dash patted Scootaloo on the back. "Don't worry about it. Someday you will be Guardian-like kind of pony…. like me." "Maybe if I'm lucky, someday I could meet Thunderbolt." Scootaloo said with hope again. Rainbow Dash snickered to herself. "I doubted. To meet somewolf like Thunderbolt, you need to be fearless like me and also a fast flyer too." "Oh….. Ok." Scootaloo said with her feelings hurt even more. Sourin' opened the fifth and final envelop. "And finally, the last fifth member is…." Rainbow Dash got up and flew towards the stage, knowing she will be called no matter what. Sourin' read the name from the final envelop. "Rainbow…" But then he was interrupted by Twilight's screaming and yelling. Every pegasi turned to the direction to her as she ran though the park. "RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN!" "What in the name of Celestia!" Rainbow Dash said with a grim. Just when things are about to get any worse. Applejack and Fluttershy came after, yelling Rainbow Dash's name out loud. "Rainbow Dash! Come on!" Applejack said while chasing after Twilight. "What!" Rainbow Dash then turned her attention to the Wonderbolts and the crowd with impatient looks on their faces. Rainbow Dash let out a nervous laugh. "Hehehehehe… um… excuse me." Rainbow Dash groaned in frustration, she got up and joined Applejack and Fluttershy in the chase. The rest of the pegasi draw a round of frustrating gazes. But then, they all looked up and saw the darkness clouds covering over them. As for Twilight, she was still galloping through Ponyville, running past town square where everypony gave puzzled and confused looks. At the Carousel Boutique, Rarity and Sweetie Belle are in the ground-floor showroom. Sweetie Belle was standing on a table and dressed in a fashionable blue wolf-fur dress. "Oh, Sweetie Belle, you look so gorgeous." Rarity said while needling the dress. Sweetie Belle fidgeted impatiently at the position she's in. "Please hold still, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity said while trying to hold Sweetie Belle down. "Is this really necessary? When I said I want to be dressed up like the Guardian Bladesword, I didn't mean it like this." Sweetie Belle looked into the mirrors and blushed when she saw herself in the dress. "This is too embarrassing." "You said you wanted to look fabulous, right. And what could be more fabulous than dressing up like my hero." Rarity said. Sweetie Belle groaned. "I don't think a Guardian like Bladesword wears a dress." "I'll be hearing enough of that, young lady. Now hold still. This is once in a lifetime and I am not about to miss this opportunity for my new fabulous dress to be unnoticed." Rarity boasted. "Yeah, but…" Sweetie Belle objected. "No buts! Now hold still and don't move." Rarity interrupted. "Oh, ok." Sweetie Belle give up and stand still while Rarity working on her dress. But then they heard a loud shouting coming from outside. Twilight's loud screaming was also heard at Carousel Boutique, Rarity opened the front door and glared out a disgusted cry. "What is all the ruckus!? I'm trying to work here!" Rarity yelled. "RUN! RUN!" Twilight ran screaming pass Rarity, after that Applejack and Fluttershy went ahead, but Rainbow Dash halt and spotted Rarity. "Come on, Rarity! Let's just stop her already so I could get to the Wonderbolts Meeting!" Rainbow Dash continued on the chase, Rarity rolled her eyes and turned back to Sweetie Belle who was still standing on the table. "Sweetie Belle, stay here." Rarity ran out the door, but stopped and turned back to Sweetie Belle. "And don't move." Rarity then galloped after them, leaving Sweetie Belle standing still alone on the table. "Um, ok." Sweetie Belle whispered to herself alone. Back to Twilight, she was running faster and faster, continuing screaming in every direction. In her point of view, her eyes viewed the streets of Ponyville going into high-speed until the face of Pinkie Pie blocked in its path. "Hey, Twilight!?" Bang! Twilight and Pinkie Pie slammed into each other. Twilight lay on the ground, moaning in pain. As for Pinkie Pie, she got up with no problem at all. "Hey, Twilight? Whatcha doing? Are you having a race, because I love racing. Racing is fun. I could race too. Maybe I can't run very very very fast. But I could still run as far as I can." Pinkie Pie said while jumping up and down around the exhausted Twilight. Twilight regained herself up and faced Pinkie Pie in panic. "Pinkie Pie! Don't just stand there! Run!" Just when Twilight was about to run again, the others finally caught up to her. "Run from what?!" Applejack said. "What is wrong with you, Twilight?" Rarity asked. "Yeah! What's the big idea?!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "Is everything okay? You look so frighten." Fluttershy worried. Twilight interrupted them with a horrid shout. "We have no time for this we have to…." Twilight halt and gazed at the sky. Realizing the darkness has reached the blue skies over Ponyville. "What's going on? It's only noon. It's not supposed to be dark yet." Rainbow Dash confused while looking at the sky. As the purple clouds covering over the sun. Turning daylight to deep dusk. Everypony gathered around to witness this new change in the sky. The change in light brought a growing creepy high pitched sounds around Ponyville. "What is that?!" Pinkie Pie said with a confused face. "Y'all hear that?" Applejack snapped. "Oh, what is that ghastly sound?" Rarity disgusted. "Yeah, where's it coming from?" Rainbow Dash said with a worried look. "It sounds scary?" Fluttershy gulped. The sound seemed to be coming around the entire town. The sound grew louder and soon everypony was now starting to hear it too. Windows and door opening, ponies coming out of their homes, gathering up in the streets getting nervous as the sound gets louder, especially Twilight and her friends. Soon, complete darkness swept over Ponyville. Now they all stop, beholding. Something was moving the trees in the forest as the sound grew louder with a lot of scary roaring sounds. Finally, the earth started to shake. Cracks! Swarm of Nightwalkers burst out from the view. Swarming everywhere in the dark cloudy sky. Millions of them emerged from the trees, whooshing from the forest and into the dark sky like high speed jets. "What in tarnation are those?!" Applejack screamed. Backlit by coronal light, it first seem to be smoke or ash, but soon they realize these are living things, Nightwalkers squealing in delight over their new day nightfall. They keep coming, filling the sky with thick waves. Mercifully, the wing figures seem to be moving away. But now forming one wave cleaved from another and does a quick about face with the ponies of Ponyville. All of the ponies feel very uncomfortable and started to back away. The Mayor stepped into the frighten crowd and tried to calm them down. "Everypony, please, please calm down! Everything will be al…" Then all of a sudden, a Nightwalker swooped in on Mayor Mare and snatched her off the ground like an eagle catching a mouse. All the ponies panicked and ran for their lives. Pair of red loudspeakers mounted on a yellow pole sounded off with an air-raid siren. At the ground level, Twilight and her friends braced themselves as the creatures goes into a dive, snatching everypony they came across. Twilight and the others witnessed the horrible scene around Ponyville. "RUN! RUN TO THE LIBRARY!" Twilight shouted with desperation. They ran as fast as they can when all the Nightwalkers dived into the street, one after the other, barely missing them when they emerged from the craters when they made impacted. "Twilight, What in the name of all things oats and Apples is goin' on here?!" Applejack said to Twilight while running for their lives. "I'll explain later! Right now we need to…" Twilight gasped as she stopped and saw that the library along with many houses in the back was being completely over-run by the Nightwalkers. "Oh no, SPIKE!" Twilight screamed in tears. "Whoa nelly." Applejack said in shock. "We got to get out of here, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash shouted while the other ponies turned around and flew. Twilight couldn't move. "But….. Spike!" "We have to go!" Applejack yanked Twilight to run away. Twilight and her friends ran the other way while the Nightwalkers demolished the library to the ground. "We have to find Zecora!" Twilight said while running. "What, why?!" Applejack confused. Then, they halt when one Nightwalker slammed down in front of them and roared viciously at them. It leaped at them for a swipe in its claw, but Applejack turned around with her both back hooves and kicked it in the face for an instant knock out. "What are we waiting for?!" Applejack said. As they continued running, Twilight looked around and saw the terror she has created. Nightwalkers are running amok in the sky and in the streets; ponies are being snatched from above one by one, and building and houses are being burn down to the ground. Twilight can't do anything except run in tears. As they were running, they stopped and looked up. Suddenly they are covered in darkness as the shadow engulfed them, until a huge silhouetted object suddenly blocked their view. Through the dark sky, a giant dark bat emerged out from the clouds. Twilight and her friends were stunned in fear as they saw the monster hovering over Ponyville. It was Lord Bloodfang. Behind him, millions of Nightwalkers swarmed out as they followed him, leading his army towards the Canterlot Castle. "PRINCESS CELESTIA!" Twilight screamed. In those swarm of Nightwalkers, each bat are carrying something or someone on their feet. They were giant green Trolls with armors. When they hovered over the most populated area, the Nightwalkers released the Trolls. Each one made a hard landing, creating big craters on the grounds and streets. They crawled out and started to bash everything in sight with their giant hammers, all the ponies screamed and ran for cover. On the dark sky over Ponyville, Bloodfang and his Nightwalkers flew into high-speed to Canterlot. The Castle was surrounded by millions of Royal Guards, protecting the deadly impact of the invasion. The ponies' first attack started with cannons and horn magic being fire upon the invaders. Many Nightwalkers are shot down, but Bloodfang and many other Nightwalkers dodged every shot, passing through the fire and explosions in its path. With the first attack failed, hundreds of Pegasus Guards flew up and closed in on the incoming army. "ATTACK, MY CHILDREN!" Bloodfang screamed as he raged furiously into battle. "DESTROY THEM ALL!" The Royal Guards attacked, made a collision course with Bloodfang and the Nightwalkers. Explosions and fire filled the sky of war. The battle goes on, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to hold them back. The Pegasus Guards fought desperate but the Nightwalkers are too strong and too fast, they have the advantage. Pegasi are being hit, blasted, and thrown from the sky and crashed hard into the Canterlot ground. Bloodfang focused on the throne room of the castle and prepared to strike, but then three Pegasus Guards blocked his way. "FOOLS, YOU PONIES ONCE AGAIN UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER!" Bloodfang stopped in midair and blast his red energy fire at the Pegasus Guards, impact with a huge explosion. They all fell in defeat, leaving Bloodfang to continue on his plan. In the throne room, inside the Canterlot Castle, Bloodfang shattered through the glass window and entered the room with a hard landing. "Celestia, I'm home!" Bloodfang looked around and saw that the Princess is nowhere in sight. "WHAT?!" He growled in frustration and looked back outside and flew off into the remaining sky battle. Back in Ponyville, Twilight and her friends can see Canterlot in flames. Applejack turned her head and saw at the end of the road, General Darkclaw and three Nightwalkers spotted them and flew towards them. "SEIZE THEM!" Darkclaw shouted as he speed to the direction where Twilight and her friends are standing. Applejack snapped out of it as she saw the incoming Nightwalkers. "WE GOT TO GO NOW!" The ponies ran as fast as they can, but the four Nightwalkers are closing in too fast. "RUN, RUN, RUN, LITTLE PONIES." General Darkclaw said while taunting and laughing manically. Twilight and her friends ran with their lives. One of the Nightwalkers closed in, opening its claws to prepare for a grab. But Twilight turned her head back and used her magic horn to zap at the incoming Nightwalker, causing it to crash landed on the ground. Darkclaw and the three Nightwalkers left the fallen bat behind and continued on the chase. The impatient General then grabbed a food cart on the street and threw it at the running ponies. Twilight saw the incoming food cart. "LOOK OUT!" The food cart crashed hard into the ground, missing just an inch to the running ponies. "HURRY! HURRY!" Twilight shouted louder with fear. Darkclaw laughed in amusement. He then took a deep breath and fired out the red beam from his mouth. He targeted the ponies with his powerful ray, but only missing them inches by inches. Burning everything in its sight, except for Twilight and her friends. "BETTER MAKE IT QUICKLY!" Rainbow Dash shouted. Twilight and her friends made a sudden stop when a giant Troll came across their way. The Troll spotted them and growled viciously at them. They slowly walked back until they noticed that one of the three Nightwalkers was coming at them. The Troll was preparing to crush them with his giant hammer, but Twilight and her friends ran the other way just in time as the Nightwalker came in. The Nightwalker missed its target, but failed to notice the Troll in front of it and got smashed by the hammer instead. The ponies made their way out of Ponyville and kept on running until they reach the forest road. "Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" Twilight said panicking. General Darkclaw and the other Nightwalker are still right on their tail, they got closer and closer they pull out their legs and opened their sharp claws, ready to catch their prey. "THEY'RE GOING TO GET US!" Pinkie Pie shouted in fear. "WE'RE DONE FOR!" Fluttershy closed her eyes with hopelessness. But then, the two Nightwalkers fall back and flew away. "Huh!?" Twilight confused. "What!? What happened?!" Rainbow Dash said. "Why are did they just leave?!" Applejack said worried. The confused ponies continued running, still trying to escape no matter what. In the sky above, a giant dark wing-figure was silently closing in on them. It was Lord Bloodfang. "You can run. But you can't escape from me." Bloodfang hissed viciously to himself. Bloodfang conjured a beam from his mouth and blasted it towards the unsuspecting ponies. Twilight and her friends began to hear something, turned their heads while still running and saw a red beam heading straight towards them, they screamed in terror as the beam got closer. Then a familiar yellow magic protected them from the blast. They stopped and looked up, it was Princess Celestia. "PRINCESS CELESTIA!" Twilight shouted in relive. Princess Celestia called to Twilight below. "Run, Twilight! Go!" "But…." Twilight questioned. "GO!" Princess Celestia shouted. Twilight shed in tear and had no choice but to obey her Princess. They got up and continued running, disappearing into the forest. Leaving only Princess Celestia and Lord Bloodfang flying in midair, facing each other. "There you are Princess Celestia…. I must say it's been a long time. Still protecting Equestria I see." Bloodfang mocked. "I will always protect Equestria and all of my subjects from creatures like you!" Celestia replied in battle position. "Do you really still have what it takes to battle against me? You never had a chance to defeat me! I've proved it to you, remember." Bloodfang lectured. "I MAY NOT BE ABLE DEFEAT YOU, BLOODFANG. BUT I KNOW SOMEWOLF WHO WILL!" Celestia screamed. "MAYBE. BUT YOUR HERO PRINCE WON'T BE HERE TO SAVE YOU NOW." Bloodfang fired his powerful beam. But Celestia fired back. Each conjured a beam and blasted it toward the other. Yellow blast from Celestia and red blast from Bloodfang. Celestia tired her best, but Bloodfang was still too strong. "PATHETIC? AFTER A THOUSAND YEARS AND THIS IS ALL YOU GOT?!" Bloodfang laughed. He smiled and added more power to his attack. Celestia's eye widen in fear as the red energy slowly bulldozed it way into her horn and cause a huge explosion between them. Twilight and her friends kept on running; even a giant explosion behind them. Inside the explosion, Bloodfang emerged from the fire. "VICTORY!" Bloodfang screamed in the air. Bloodfang laughed manically and disappeared into the night sky; Zoom out to the entire landscape of Ponyville and Canterlot being taken over. Giant huge smoke flaming all over Ponyville, hears of ponies crying and screaming, and the sky swarming with millions of Nightwalkers. All of Equestria has fallen by the Nightwalkers once again.