//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 = Regrouping // Story: Battle of the Moon and Sun // by EASTON //------------------------------// Ponyville: Library Sixth hour, fifteen minutes Twilight has contacted her mother, Luna, through her transponder crystal, a miniature version of the CCS that could be carried around unlike the crystals used for broadcast, it had the advantage and also disadvantage that it was limited to only being able to contact ONE other transponder crystal or TC for short. She had made contact to inform her of the events that had transpired. "Thank you for calling me Twilight. It seems the attack of the Solars was coordinated as they also sent teams of three to Cloudsdale and Manehattan as well as a team of six for Canterlot." "The result?" "The Commanders captured six of them and one of the ones that escaped is very unlikely to survive. Now, how will you proceed." "The elements are the key. I've already instructed that the Ponyville forces be mobilized but as far as they know, our main goal is Celestia." "Please be careful my daughter." "I will." ---------- Everfree Forest: Main Path Shining Armor had now explained to Celestia the entirety of the situation and all the changes that had occurred in her absence. "So that's why they all reacted like that. I, however was most surprised at the fact that she had a daughter." "We'll head back to the castle for now to meet up with other teams that had been sent across Equestria." "Although if their situation is anything like the one in Poniville we might not see them again." Shining thought. "NO! You can't think like that besides, remember who you're doing this for." Shining Armor had failed to save his parents the night they were arrested and that day his sister had gone running out of the house and he never saw her again; he was not only determined to complete his parents' goal but to find his sister, wherever she was. ---------- Ponyville: Town Hall Entrance Sixth hour, thirty minutes Twilight arrived at the Town Hall and apparently most ponies had chosen to stay in the building. Twilight turned to face the two guard that had been left in charge and were guarding the two unconscious prisoners. "Why is everypony still here?" The pegasus saluted to signify that he had heard her. "We're sorry mam, but the locals refused to leave." His partner then stepped forward, "We have already gathered all the local forces. Unfortunately they are not many." Twilight analyzed the team and confirmed what they had already told her, the town's military was small. It consisted only of the two Gem Soldiers, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, Lyra (a Night Guard) and the young Night Recruit Apple Bloom. "Lisen the five of us will cross the Everfree forest and head to the Castle of the Two Sisters. Further instructions will be provided depending on the situation when we arrive. Now please activate the illusion gem on your armor." That order was directed at both Lyra and Apple Bloom touched the small gem on their armor activating the spell put on them by Princess Luna: the spell made their appearance change by giving them a dark-gray coat, tufted ears and cat-like vertical slits for pupils; their manes and tails also changed to take a similar appearance for that of bat wings and if they had been pegasi their wings would have change to bat wings. The only thing the spell didn't change was the color of the eyes and it did not hide the cutie mark. As for Pinkie and Rainbow Dash, their uniform consisted of battle suits that were made to be extremely light (if not weightless) and movement agile as if they weren't even using clothing but they were as strong and resistant as steel. "Wait!" Twilight turned to see her friend Lyra crying in front of her. "Please, let me come too." Her tears didn't stop. Twilight knew her friend well, she was well aware of why she wanted to come so she reached to her, not as the Young Princess but as her friend. "I'm sorry Lyra, I can see that this whole deal with Bonbon or Sweetie Drops or whatever it is, but I can't let you come. Please understand." Lyra then looked Twilight in the eyes and noticed the empathy she felt for her, she was showing her emotions in public just for her, this caused her to start crying even harder in Twilight's chest. "Twilight, I can't take this anymore. First my friends and now the one I love. How many ponies in my life will I lose before they are stopped." She said as she continued crying. She then felt two hooves wrap around her. It was Twilight giving her a hug. "Lyra, I promise that you won't loose any pony else." Lyra then resumed her crying but this time out of happiness rather than sadness. She saw that Twilight was looking out for her friend to the point she had began acting as if she was an ordinary pony instead of the important mare she was. "Thank you Twilight." However as soon as she finished the frase her pupils shrank as she came to a realization of what she had just done. "*gasp* I just called you by your name in public! I'm so sorry." However Twilight just gave a light smile. "Don't worry, it's alright. I don't mind." After the two friends finished their conversation the two guards that had accompanied Twilight addressed their superior. "We're sorry to interrupt mam, but it seems you're not including us for the mission for the Everfree Forest." "That is because I need you to stay here to hold the two prisoners and protect civilians in case another enemy shows up." Then from the crowd three ponies that Twilight recognized as the ponies from the preparations stepped forward. "Excuse me Princess, but we want to help y'all." Applejack. "I agree, we can't just sit back an do nothing. Even a proper lady has to get her hooves dirty when it's needed." Rarity. "I may not be much help, but I want to do some thing... If it's not too much trouble." Fluttershy. Twilight could feel that she could trust them, but she couldn't let civilians come along. "Well, you can help by making sure everypony stays indoors and keeping them calm. It may not seem like much. But keeping things peaceful can be more important than you think." As this exchange was taking place the two prisoners commented on the revelation that Lyra had so carelessly given them. "Did you know her name was Twilight?" "No I always called her YP." "This is bad. You don't think she could be..." "Let's hope she's not."