//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: War in Equestria // by FlamingSamurai //------------------------------// To say that Ponyville’s reaction to the news Twilight bore of Chrysalis declaring war on Equestria was unsettling would be an understatement. The residents panicked at the news that the Changelings had returned, though only a few citizens expected this. After all, some say a Changeling had been spotted attending Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda’s wedding a while ago; he hadn’t even bothered to conceal who he really was. After Twilight calmed the masses down, she explained everything that would happen during the Changeling’s invasion and how they would prepared for the worst. A barrier would be set up around the town and guards would be posted there to identify any Changelings that attempted to enter or even leave if there were already a few inside the city. Zecora, the rhyme-speaking zebra who lived in the Everfree Forest, had been asked by Princess Celestia to help as a medical officer. All of her belongings (specifically the supplies she used to practice her magic) were being moved from her hut to town hall, where she was given a private room that she would share with Fluttershy, who had to leave her cottage just outside of the town. Fluttershy was immediately hesitant to leave her home, but Twilight convinced her that if she stayed in her cottage, her animal friends, especially her beloved pet bunny Angel, would be at more risk to the Changeling’s attack. Additionally, Twilight put Mayor Mare in charge of evacuation, just in case things went south. Lastly, Twilight made it her personal duty to inspect everyone in Ponyville to make sure none of them had been replaced by Changelings. Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be so, although she did have Zecora create a special face paint that could expose a Changeling for who they really were, just in case. Out of the most of the Mane 6, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash were the most affected. Rarity and Applejack in particular had family they didn’t want to leave behind: Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith, and Big MacIntosh. While Rainbow was all too ready to leap into a fight, the closet thing she was leaving behind in Ponyville outside of her friends was Scootaloo, who had idolized her for the longest time. After Twilight’s speech, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Spike, the Apple Family, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders met at the train station to say goodbye. Needless to say, none of them were ready for the experience lying before them. Rarity and Pinkie Pie were wearing grayish-blue armor, the apparel of the guards from the Crystal Empire, which Flash Sentry had supplied to them on orders from Princess Cadance. Applejack was now in the yellow armor worn by Princess Celestia’s royal guards, minus the helmet as she still wore her familiar hat on her head. Her trusty work lasso was affixed to her side, Apple Bloom wondering how much good that would really do her. Finally, Rainbow Dash stood proud in her Wonderbolt’s uniform as she and Scootaloo stood near the train tracks. But for once, Rainbow felt no satisfaction at the prospect of flying with her idols once again. “I don’t want you to go”, Rainbow heard Scootaloo say as they hugged each other like sisters would. “I don’t like this anymore than you, little buddy”, Rainbow said back. “But I’ve dealt with these guys before. Remember when you and the others were kidnapped and we had to come save you?” Scootaloo remembered that all too well. Chrysalis returning after the Royal Wedding, being cooped up in a small prison with the other Crusaders for three days, and Twilight being the one who brought the hammer down on the Changeling Queen. “Yeah”, Scootaloo said. “But this time, if you see that mean old queen again, promise me one thing.” “What’s that?” Scootaloo looked up at Rainbow and smiled. “Kick her flank for me.” Rainbow smiled back. “Oh, please. If she comes my way, I’ll have her on the ground in ten seconds flat.” “Ahem.” Rainbow was forced to break off the hug and the two turned to see Captain Spitfire and Soarin standing behind them. “Rainbow Dash, it’s good to see you again”, Spitfire said. “I see you even came prepared.” "We hate to break this up," Soarin continued, "but we have to leave now. The rest of the Wonderbolts can’t wait for us forever.” Rainbow took one last look at Scootaloo and hugged her again. Then she briefly placed a hoof under her chin with a reassuring smile before walking over to Spitfire and Soarin. Moments later, the three of them together flew off in the direction of the setting sun, Scootaloo tearing up as she watched them go. She didn’t even notice that the others were now standing behind her until she felt a hoof touching her shoulder. She then turned around to see Granny Smith with a comforting smile on her face. “That ball of energy has been through a lot worse, ya know”, she said in a soft voice. “I know”, Scootaloo said, her eyes looking at the ground. Applejack looked down at her. “Don’t you worry now, Scootaloo. Rarity and I have got Sweetie Belle all set up to live on Sweet Apple Acres until we get back. If you ever need anything, you know where to find them.” Scootaloo looked at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who walked over and hugged her tightly. Scootaloo didn’t respond at first, but one look of reassurance from Applejack gave her reason to hug them right back. “Well”, she reasoned, “Cutie Mark Crusaders forever. Right?” “You betcha”, Apple Bloom said. “Until the end”, Sweetie Belle chimed in sadly. Suddenly, everyone heard a train whistle and turned to see a train from Appleoosa pulling in. Applejack was then surrounded by her family members in a hug of their own. “I sure am gonna miss y’all”, Applejack said, trying not to cry. “Be safe out there, Applejack”, she could hear Granny Smith say. “I will. Big Mac, take care of everything for me, alright?” “EYUP!” Big Mac said, already on the verge of sobbing. “Apple Bloom?” “Yeah, sis?” the younger apple said, looking up at her big sister. “If anything happens, know that I will always love you”, Applejack said. Apple Bloom immediately felt tears streaming down her face. “I love ya, too, Applejack.” Applejack broke the group hug as two guards stepped off the train and ushered for her to come along. She lifted her sister’s head up with her front hooves and smiled at her one last time. Then, before Apple Bloom could stop her, Applejack walked away and boarded the train, the two guards following suit. The doors closed. Moments later, the train whistled and pulled away. Rarity and Pinkie Pie saw Applejack tilt her head out the window and wave at them, a smile on her face and tears flowing from her eyes. The two mares tried to think happy thoughts as they waved back. It didn’t work. Once Applejack pulled herself back inside and the train disappeared from view, Pinkie’s mane deflated and she started crying and clutching Rarity for support. Rarity couldn’t help but return the favor as Spike and Sweetie Belle walked up to them and poked at their legs to get their attention. Rarity turned her attention away from Pinkie and clutched her little sister the way Applejack had done with her family a few moments ago. “Rarity?” Sweetie asked. “I know, Sweetie Belle”, Rarity whispered. “You don’t need to say anything. Just take care of Opal for me, okay?” Sweetie giggled slightly. “As long as Winnona doesn’t get her first.” This brightened Rarity’s mood slightly as she managed to chuckle. “Oh, don’t worry, Sweetie dearest. I’m sure Opal and Winnona will get along just fine.” “So long as that dog doesn’t ruin his newly-groomed coat”, Rarity finished in her mind. Pinkie, meanwhile, continued to cry as she held Spike, who struggled in her grip. “Okay, Pinkie, I’m upset about all this too, but…” Spike managed to say. As soon as she heard this, Pinkie dropped Spike and threw her hands up with a sheepish look on her face. “Oops. Sorry”, Pinkie said. Scootaloo and the rest of the Apple Family walked up to them. “Did you say goodbye to Twilight yet, Spike?” Scootaloo asked. “Yeah”, Spike said dejectedly. “It wasn’t easy. Twilight was hugging harder than Pinkie was a second ago. I don’t blame her.” “You’ve got a good pony watching over you, Spike”, Granny said, wiping a tear from her eye as she tried to remain positive. “Even if Twilight’s not with you right now, know that she’ll always be with you right here.” She put a hoof to Spike’s chest where his heart was, something which made Spike smile in spite of his fears. Then, it happened again. A train whistle, this time coming from a train from the Crystal Empire. The doors opened and two guards stepped out. “Miss Rarity, Miss Pie, and Spike, the Brave and Glorious, we are ready for your arrival at the Crystal Empire”, one of the guards said. The group hugged each other for one last time before Rarity, Spike, and Pinkie Pie boarded the train, Pinkie complaining to herself about how she didn’t get a cool title like her companions. Looking out the window, she saw the CMC and put her hooves to her cheeks and gave her best smile, encouraging them to do the same. The trio complied as the train slowly pulled away. Rarity and Spike looked out the window along with Pinkie and waved. The Apples and CMC watched as their friends and family disappeared into the distance, joining Applejack and Rainbow Dash in defending their home. Sweetie Belle continued to stare out into the distance, her smile fading and tears still falling. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo walked up next to her and hugged her, the only thing they could really do right now. Eventually, Sweetie returned to Sweet Apple Acres with the rest of the Apple Family and Scootaloo went back to her own home. Not one of them slept very well that night. ------------------------------------------------ In Celestia’s bedroom, Sunset looked at herself in the mirror, studying the armor that she was now wearing. It wasn’t like anything the royal guard had been assigned to wear; while she did have the standard yellow shoe armor, she wore a piece of yellow chest armor similar to Celestia and Luna’s royal attire, a headband of sorts, and some armor around her waist. “I’ll admit it’s not the first thing I was expecting to be wearing,” Sunset thought. “Still, it at least looks cooler than anything else the guard has on.” The door to the chamber opened and Sunset saw Princess Celestia entering. She was now wearing armor of her own, vastly different from anything she had ever seen before. She was wearing gold and brown boots, gold and brown armor covering her neck and chest with that familiar purple diamond in the center, and the crown on her head looked like her usual crown fused with a head piece that extended down to the sides of her head. At her side, Celestia was carrying some sort of weapon, a combination of a polearm and a lance. Sunset stared at her shock. “Whoa”, was the only thing she managed to get out.   “That’s what I said when Luna showed me the designs for this armor a long time ago”, Celestia replied. “She felt that since she and I share the title of rulers of Equestria, we should have a distinct look should we ever go into battle. I didn’t think it was all that necessary, but nevertheless I did approve of its creation. I’ve kept it in reserve just in case.” “Does Princess Luna have some sort of armor like that?” Sunset asked. Celestia nodded. “She doesn’t lack much in creativity, I’ll say that much about it. I think Pinkie Pie may have given her a few ideas.” Sunset smiled. “That wouldn’t surprise me.” The two laughed at that remark, the first happy moment they had shared since Sunset left Equestria. Then Celestia walked over to her former student and nuzzled her, Sunset responding in kind. “It’s so good to have you home, Sunset”, Celestia said. “You said that already”, Sunset said. “I know. It’s just, after your fall I feared…” “Thank Twilight that I didn’t go that far. Besides, I couldn’t stay away forever.” Celestia chuckled. “For that, I am glad. Now, there is something I need to tell you.” Sunset seemed puzzled. “What do you mean?” “We will be joining everyone else in defending Equestria soon enough. Originally, I wanted you to be right by my side in helping defend Canterlot and I still plan for that," Celestia explained. But right now, something has come up that I need your help with.” “And what is that?” Sunset asked. “The other day, after I sent a message to Twilight requesting her and your presences, I received a vision. It told me about strange objects falling from the sky, among other things.” Celestia couldn't stop thinking about it, especially the fact that giants had emerged and started fighting each other. “So, you want me to help you find a bunch of UFOs?” Sunset asked. “I don’t get why that seems so important right now.” “During the vision, I also saw that these ‘UFOs’ seemed to be some type of life form.” That got Sunset’s full attention. “I’m sorry, but… what?” “I know it seems hard to believe, Sunset, but the visions I receive have never been wrong," Celestia said confidently. You and I will investigate where I saw these life forms touch down: the undiscovered west, just past the Smokey Mountains.” Sunset’s eyes lit up. “The Undiscovered West? I’ve always wanted to see what that’s like!” She could barely contain any of her excitement. “So has Twilight. Perhaps once this is all over she and her friends will go there to spread the magic of friendship. But for now, know this, Sunset: this investigation is completely off the record. You, Luna, and myself are the only ones who know about it. Given our current circumstances, I don’t want any of my subjects to be brought into further panic by the idea that we have been invaded by aliens.” Sunset nodded. “Gotcha. So, when do we leave?” “When I raise the sun tomorrow morning”, Celestia said. “Luna will take charge of defending Canterlot in our absence. Hopefully once we get back, these aliens will either be our friends…” She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Or an even greater threat than what we face right now."