//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 - A clue to Spike's whereabouts // Story: Equestrian Civil War - An Alternate Universe // by twotonedearly //------------------------------// The morning sun shined on Equestria though all was not well as Unicornia's invasion force had struck Equestria. Already the Unicornian army had taken over Ponyville and have fashioned it into a base of operations. Queen Majesty awaited word from the army in Canterlot whom remained trying to pierce the barrier set around the castle by the combined magic of the two princesses and Discord. Amadeus looking frail stood beside his daughter's throne. “Any minute now and they will have that barrier destroyed.” Amadeus told his daughter. “If they value their lives they will shatter the barrier.” Majesty told her father. “I deserve all power, it's my birthright and I've taken the first step by becoming queen of Unicornia, when I rule over Equestria I'll make everypony bow to me as the Goddess I deserve to be.” Majesty coldly said. “First to ensure my rule, I must connect with my guests.” Majesty's gaze fixed toward her other guest in her caravan, a familiar demonic centaur who looked at the alicorn seeing the evil radiating from her. “So, your invasion has begun but I can sense you want more.” Tirek looked at Majesty Blueblood and Amadeus. “Not surprising from a weakling alicorn as yourself.” he smirked at Majesty “You will see me greater than that weakling fool Queen Faust. I need your help Tirek, you have a spell I must master.” Majesty responded to Tirek, he laughs as he heard Majesty's request. “You dare to master my forbidden magic? What makes you believe I'll submit to a lowly alicorn such as yourself? Although revenge on Twilight Sparkle and her friends will be mine.” Tirek said as he could see a glare from Amadeus Blueblood. “You dare speak the name of that harlot who tried to ruin Equestria in our presence?!” Amadeus snapped at Tirek before Majesty turned her attention on her father. “Father that will be enough. Besides Tirek, my father had his assassins deal with Twilight Sparkle, she's rotting in Tartarus where she belongs.” Majesty told Tirek, the centaur smirked. “Is that a fact?” Tirek asked before a pair of uncornian guards arrived. “Your highness, the barrier is weakening but it'll take more time before it is fully destroyed.” the unicornian guard told Majesty, she glared at the guard. “It's not good enough, tell the guards to work double time! I want MY castle cleared of that barrier understood?!” Majesty snapped at the guard. The guard quaked in his horseshoes. “Yes your highness. B-but our guards made an interesting discovery in the memorial garden. One of the graves was apparently robbed.” the guard told Majesty, the evil alicorn raised an eyebrow. “Who's grave was it?” Majesty asked. It wouldn't be like Princess Celestia to take a corpse with her unless it was somepony special to her. “We checked the grave maker, it's the grave of Princess Twilight Sparkle.” the guard gulped as Majesty's horn lit up again, he grew fearful as Amadeus glared at him too. “Apparently Celestia took Twilight Sparkle's body with her.” Tirek smirked again. “Majesty dear, there is nothing Celestia can do with the corpse of that harlot. Rest assured once you've taken Equestria we'll deal with Twilight Sparkle's corpse and her friends if they refuse your rule.” Amadeus told his daughter whom nods. “Tirek. My patience is wearing thin, teach me what I wish to know now.” Majesty told Tirek. “You dare to threaten me??” Tirek glared before a red beam shot into the centaur's chest causing Tirek to stagger. “Wh-what is this?? Wha-at are you doing to..” Tirek reeled in pain. His chest seemed to be on fire as his breathing became hard. “I can crush you with ease. But I need you alive to teach me your spell.” Majesty told Tirek. “ugh.. fine!” Tirek gasped as Majesty released her grip on him. He staggered forward clutching his chest. “Perfect.” Majesty grinned with pure evil. She prepared herself to learn from Tirek. Meanwhile at the Crystal Empire, Twilight had begun to train her sister Twinklestar in magic. Princess Celestia observed the two ponies in magic teachings though she can see some worry in Twilight's eyes. “Oh Twilight, if there was some way I can help reunite you with Spike.” Princess Celestia muttered to herself. She noticed a crystal guard approach. “Princess Celestia, there are two unicorn mares who wishes to enter the empire. They both claim to know Twilight Sparkle.” the guard informed Princess Celestia. “What was that?” Twilight turned her head to the guard. “Oh! Princess Twilight! There are two unicorn mares whom are outside the barrier of the Empire, they wish to pass through.” the guard told Twilight Sparkle, she didn't waste time as she followed the guard toward the barrier. Once there Twilight could see snow falling outside the barrier as well as two familiar figures. “Is that..?” Twilight began as she used her magic to open the barrier enough for her to step outside of it as she approached the two mares. “Twilight! Rarity wasn't kidding. You did survive!” came the familiar voice of Starlight Glimmer as she hugged her teacher just relieved to see her alive and well. “So you cheated death, that's something you must teach The Great and Powerful Trixie sometime, but in all seriousness, The Great and Powerful Trixie is happy to see you alive and not in that coffin.” came the voice of Trixie Lulamoon. “Trixie??” Twilight looked at her old rival as she looked happy to see her. “How did you guys know I was here?” Twilight asked Starlight and Trixie. “Well. It started when I was searching for Spike. Rarity told me what had happened with you surviving. I'll ask about that later, meantime I searched every place I could think of where Spike could be at but to no avail, I went back to Ponyville hoping to tell you when I found the town deserted.” Starlight began her explaination. “That was when Starlight and I encountered each other, even I the great and powerful Trixie knew something was off about Ponyville being abandoned. We knew we had to leave if something disasterous was on the way since we both learned about the Canterlot invasion.” Trixie continued the explanation where Starlight left off. “Good thing my hunch was right and we came here. Besides it's the only logical place to evacuate to.” Starlight finished as Twilight nods her head. “I was there in Canterlot when Unicornia attacked.” Twilight told her student. “Unicornia??” Trixie said as she gasped in shock. “Wait... Unicornia?? They had the gall to break the treaty Princess Platinum signed ages ago to unify all of Equestria??” Starlight said shocked to hear this information. “Apparently they got no respect for somepony like Princess Platinum. Let's get back inside the barrier.” Twilight said to Trixie and Starlight. The two unicorns nodded as they followed Twilight through the barrier and into the Empire. They soon arrived inside the crystal empire castle as Twilight led them into the main area where the element barrers, the princesses, Shining Armor, Flurry Heart, and Twinklestar were at. “Hey Starlight, glad you made it here.” Rainbow Dash went to greet Starlight. “I'm just glad we figured out where you guys were at. I need to tell Twilight something important, I found a clue where Spike could possibly be at.” Starlight told Rainbow Dash. “Where?! Where is he?!” Twilight asked, her expression was one of worry. “I tracked a lead I got from a pony who saw a dragon matching Spike's description accompanied by a baby phoenix. They were headed to Baltimare.” Starlight told Twilight. “Baltimare?? Why would Spike be headed there??” Twilight asked. “Maybe some of us should go and investigate this lead Twi.” Rainbow Dash suggested. “Ah reckon that's our only option ta find Spike. Ah say we do it.” Applejack agreed with Rainbow Dash's suggestion. “Right. Starlight I need you to go with Rainbow Dash and Applejack to Baltimare and see if Spike is still there.” Twilight told Starlight whom nodded to her mentor. “I can provide a fast way to get there. If you may princess.” Discord's voice echoed as he appeared beside Twilight. “Fine Discord but just be careful. With Majesty's army about you could run into resistance.” Twilight warned Discord. The Draconequus laughed as he snapped his claw as he, Starlight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack all vanished to Baltimare. Once in Baltimare the group began to look around before discovering unicornian guards. “This isn't good.” Starlight said in a hushed tone. “Man, Unicornia took Baltimare too??” Rainbow dash said in a hushed tone as well. “We need ta get back to the Empire before they see us.” Applejack told her friends whom nodded, Discord nods as well as he snaps his claw transporting the group back to the Empire. “What happened?” Twilight approached the group as they returned. “Unicornia, they've taken Baltimare.” starlight Glimmer answered Twilight's question. “My only chance to find Spike and those blasted traitors ruined it!” Twilight looked enraged. “Twi, we'll get that info about Spike. We just gotta flush those racist ponies out of Baltimare first.” Rainbow Dash told Twilight whom nodded. “Unicornia wouldn't expect a counter attack. I hope Shiny has the soldiers ready for war.” Twilight rushed off to find her brother. Luckily for her she didn't have to go far as Shining Armor along with Gladius Stride were preparing for any kind of attack from the invasion force. “Twiley, I thought you were still training Twinke in magic, what happened?” Shining Armor turned his attention to Twilight. “Get your best soldiers ready. Time to strike back against Unicornia!” Twilight told her brother.