//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Retaking the Crystal Empire part 2 // Story: Assassinverse: Unicornia The New Order // by efug25g //------------------------------// "LOOK OUT EVERY PONY!!!" Twilight shouted as she and her team scattered across the open space around the Black Juggernaut. Without moving a muscle, the Juggernaut started firing its rockets at Twilight and her friends. When the rockets exploded upon impact, they unleashed a small radiation that caused the ground to turn green and hazardous for a few seconds. Luckily, Twilight and Flash flew up into the air and performed an aerial strike poising their weapons straight at the Juggernaut. However, just when Twilight and Flash are about to attack the Changeling walker with their greatsword and lance, the Juggernaut used both of its gauntlets to block both of their attacks while they're in mid-air. Not a moment too soon, the Juggernaut started aiming its gauntlets at the two flying ponies, spraying acid at them. Flash and Twilight were both able to fly higher into the sky to avoid contact with the acid. As soon as the Juggernaut's Acid thrower ran out of ammo, it started to fire its Green Javelin rockets into the sky. Spike threw a flash grenade at the huge walker, making the Juggernaut temporary blind for a couple of seconds. Flash flew to the right of the Juggernaut and Twilight flew to the left of the Juggernaut. Before the Juggernaut had a chance to react, both of the flying ponies flew straight at it with high velocity and made several lighting strikes that puncture the Juggernaut's side armor. Behind the Juggernaut, Starlight appeared after using her teleportation spell and smashed the enemy walker with her warhammer in the back of its head, sending the walker kneeling to the ground. In front of the Juggernaut, Twilight uses her magic to raise her greatsword way up high in front of her and zoomed in to perform a quick slash that sliced right through the walker. As soon as Twilight landed on all four hooves, the Juggernaut exploded behind her, making it fall on its face. After they took down the 1st Juggernaut, Twilight's team proceeded to the dark tower next to the Crystal Palace. Meanwhile at the Palace Courtyard, Rainbow and Soarin were able to storm right through the enemy Changeling ranks, along with a dozen of squads of Pegasus and Griffons. However, before Rainbow's team can proceed inside the palace, they were met by another Black Juggernaut, who already blew up 5 pegasus to smithereens and crippled several griffons and Changeling Republican soldiers. "That is so not cool, at all." Rainbow Dash hissed. "Let's get him!!!!" As soon as the Juggernaut set its sight on the light-blue pegasus, the walker launched 8 Green Javelin rockets at Rainbow Dash. Not a moment too soon, Rainbow flew up straight into the clouds and zoomed straight at the Juggernaut with her spear aiming at its cockpit. In just in a heartbeat, the female pegasus rammed at the Juggernaut and punched straight through its hull with her spear and flew right past the mech from underneath its legs. The rockets that were following Rainbow Dash struck at the Juggernaut, causing a lot explosions around it. After the damage was done, the Juggernaut fell on its back completely crippled by its own weapon. "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!" Rainbow Dash laughed while still hovering above the wrecked walker. "I bet you can't beat that, you big dumb junkie." Before Rainbow Dash could see what was going on, the Juggernaut slowly got up and used a regenerator pack that was latched onto its back. Upon seeing this, Rainbow Dash shrieked with fear after realizing that the Juggernaut isn't beaten yet. The walker started firing its acid thrower at the light-blue pegasus only for her to fly at top speed and flew behind a building in order to avoid getting sprayed at by the acid. While the Juggernaut is distracted by Rainbow Dash, after Sunset Shimmer killed another enemy changeling with a throwing knife, she used her magic to summon at anti-armor tank rifle and aimed at the Juggernaut's regenerator pack. After the unicorn fired her rifle, the bullet pierced the regenerator pack, making it explode right behind the Juggernaut, loosing his concentration. Applejack appeared from the Juggernaut's side as she leaped towards it and slashed the Mech right across the face. After the earth pony mare landed on her feet, she dove underneath the walker and slashed both of its legs with both of her talons before it collapsed onto its torso. Before the walker got up, it was met by an electric shock from a thunder cloud that Rainbow Dash brought down from the sky. After the female pegasus kicked the cloud for several times, it unleash multiple lighting bolts onto the Juggernaut's face. Rainbow Dash and Applejack appear right in front of the robot and started engaging the Juggernaut in close range combat. The walker threw a couple of strikes with its fists only for Applejack to evade it with a side step and slammed the robot with her metal ball and chain in the face while Rainbow Dash stabbed the robots, lower torso with her spear. All of a sudden, Applejack wrapped the metal chains around the Juggernaut and pulled it right behind her, making the robot fall on its back. The next thing Rainbow Dash did, was thrusting her spear straight through the glass frame of the cockpit, killing the Changeling pilot that was commanding it. After Rainbow disengaged, pulling out her spear from the defeated Juggernaut, she spots several more of Cicada's Changelings closing in on them as a couple of her marksmen started opening fire with their venom rifles and venom crossbows. Before any of venomous projectiles struck at the light-blue pegasus, Rarity appears and uses her magic to summon a massive shield wall of large gems to defend against incoming enemy fire. "Come on, guys. We have to move it!!!" Rarity said as she hurled the gem shield at the changeling marksmen. As soon as the gem shield crashed into the changelings, it exploded into a million gem shards. Every single changeling that got too close to the explosion got pierced by the gem shards before they collapsed on the crystal floor dead. Not a moment too soon, Rainbow Dash flew in a very fast pace and knocked down the surviving changeling marksmen with the shaft of her spear. Behind Dash, Applejack ran up behind the pegasus, walked on top of her, and jumped at one Changeling Warrior nearby and lunged at it with both of her talons. After the female earth pony stabbed the warrior with both of her talons in the neck, she ran up to and alongside the palace wall on her right and impaled another changeling from behind. Just when a Changeling Drone came out of a doorway behind Applejack, the farm pony turned around, unholstered a revolver from her left hip, and blew the drone's apart in a bloody mess. Rarity, Rainbow, Sunset, and Applejack finally head inside the palace to recover the crystal heart, with Soarin closing the door behind them. Meanwhile at the dark prison tower, Flash Sentry zeroed into 2 changeling warriors and whacked them both off their feet with his lance. After Flash stabbed one warrior with his lance, Twilight threw a dagger at the second warrior, piercing his skull before he fell on the ground dead. Before one Changeling Marksmen took aim at the purple alicorn with his venom crossbow, Starlight Glimmer appeared behind him. As soon as the marksmen turned around, Starlight punched him in the face as she knocked the crossbow away from him, lifted the changeling up high with both of her hooves, slammed him to the floor on his back, and broke his neck, killing him. Inside the doorway to the prison tower, 4 more changeling drones came out and drew out their crude swords before attacking the three ponies. However, Trixie appeared before them, after using a teleportation spell, and sprayed at them with a dragon breath thrower, unleashing a massive jet stream of fire at them. Upon contact, all four changelings started screaming as they all got caught on fire before they collapsed. As soon as Twilight ran right next to the doorway, she spots more changelings heading her way. The purple alicorn took out a fire grenade, pulled out its pin, and threw it into the doorway. When the grenade exploded in a combustible effect, the changelings got vaporized in the explosion. The four ponies and the teenage dragon move inside the dark prison tower and ran up the stairs to rescue Princess Cadence and Princess Celestia. Spike went up ahead of the 4 ponies and spray a long range of dragon fire at one Changeling Warrior up the stairs. As soon as the warrior got engulfed in flames, he screamed as he ran out to the top floor of the tower, fell of the balcony, and plummeted straight down onto the crystal pavement. Just when Twilight appeared before them, both of the alicorn princesses were surprised under a state of shock. "What the? Twilight, is that really you??" Princess Celestia asked as she started to have tears come out of her eyes. "I-It can't be." Cadence said as she spotted a familiar alicorn appear before them. "Long time no see you two." Twilight Sparkle said with a smile on her face. "Cadence, if you don't remember me, then maybe this will do: Sunshine, Sunshine, lady bugs awake, clap your hooves and do a little shake." "But that's... OH MY FAUST!!! Twilight, you're alive!!!!" Princess Cadence wailed, realizing that it was the very same chant that she and Twilight made when they were both little fillies, as she and Princess Celestia both hugged Twilight in their hooves. "OH MY DEAR, SWEET TWILIGHT!!!" Princess Celestia cried very loud. "B-But how is this possible?? I could've sworn that I failed to save you with my healing magic earlier!!?" "I can't blame you for doubting yourself over such things because I bet its that Orichalcum that was embedded underneath my flesh." Twilight said to the Sun Princess. "Orichalcum?? What do you mean by that??" Princess Cadence asked Twilight. "I'll explain later." Twilight replied to her foal-sitter. "Well, right now we have a former kingdom to reclaim. Princess Luna and the Lunar Republic are already trying to retake the Crystal Empire as we speak. Anyway, do you know where is Sunburst??" "That wretched Changeling Queen has him imprisoned underneath the Crystal Palace." Princess Cadence said. "I overheard the changelings that if any invaders breach in their makeshift fortress then Sunburst and the Crystal Heart will be used as bait by the Queen herself." "But that means.....OH SHIT!!!" Twilight exclaimed in horror. "Rainbow Dash and the others.... I think they're all walking into a trap." "Then you must go help the others." Princess Celestia suggested to Twilight. "Me and Cadence will fly to Luna's camp until her army has successfully retake the Crystal Empire." "Understood." Twilight acknowledged to Princess Celestia as she used her magic to break the chains off both of the princesses before flying out of the prison tower. As soon as Twilight landed on the ground, she told Starlight, Trixie, and Flash the situation at hand. After Twilight explained what is going on right now, all four ponies decided to fight their way to the Crystal Palace, while Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence flew out of the tower and headed straight to Luna's encampment. Meanwhile, inside the Crystal Palace, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, Soarin, and Sunset fought their way down to the dungeons to retrieve the Crystal Heart. As they proceed forward to the lower levels of the Crystal Palace, the four ponies were met by more changeling warriors and drones. Applejack charged forward, grabbed one warrior in the arm with her hoof, and slammed him at a nearby wall. Rainbow kicked one drone in its knee, making him fall forward flat on the floor, and stabbed him in the back with her spear. A Changeling Drone drew out his sword and started swinging at Rarity. Unfortunately, the white unicorn leaned back after the drone made a few swings with his sword, grabbed the drone's arm with her left hoof, and slashed across the drone's chest with her tanto blade, as well as slashing across his neck, killing him. Sunset ducked an oncoming spear thrust from one of the Changeling Warriors, grabbed the spear's shaft, and jabbed the warrior in the neck with the spear's other end, making the warrior fall on the ground completely paralyzed. Another warrior came and attempted to slash at the yellow unicorn with his sword, only for her to grab the warrior's arm that had the sword and slammed it into a nearby wall, knocking the sword off his hoof, and kicked at the warrior's left hind leg, dislocating it. As the warrior screamed in pain, Sunset stabbed him with a trench knife and shoved him to the ground. Rainbow Dash ran forward past Sunset Shimmer, slid forward with her knees, grabbed a venom rifle that one of the Changeling Marksmen is holding in his hooves, kicked him away with both of her hooves, and shot him with his own rifle, making the Changeling burst into an explosion of blood. When another Changeling Marksmen appear in front of the female pegasus, Rainbow Dash ran right past him and slammed him in the chest with her hoof, damaging the marksmen's windpipe, and then knocked him upwards with the opposite end of her spear. After fighting their way down to the dungeons, the went into a large round room. In the middle of the rotunda, there was the Crystal Heart incase inside a large rectangular glass container. Behind the Crystal Heart, there was Sunburst without his green cape. As soon as the four ponies got closer, they noticed that Sunburst was covered up in bruises and cuts all over his body. "SWEET FAUST!!! Sunburst, what are you doing here?!" Rainbow Dash said in shock. "There's no time to explain!!" The orange unicorn said in a weakly tone of voice. "But you guys should get out of here." "Don't worry fella, we're hear to rescue ya!" Applejack said as she approached Sunburst. "No, Applejack. It's a trap!!!" Sunburst exclaimed in a wheeze. Before any pony could step closer to Sunburst or to the Crystal Heart, a high-pitched scream erupted from behind, in which came from Rarity. Just when they all turned around, Applejack, Rainbow, Sunset, and Soarin saw Rarity get stabbed in her side before she fell on the ground. Much to Applejack's horror, she sees Rarity clutching her bleeding wound while going in and out of consciousness. The next thing she knew, Rarity closed her eyes and lost consciousness. "WHAT IN THE HAY???? RARITY!!!!" Applejack screamed in fright as she ran towards her unicorn friend. "No, Rarity. Please hang on!!!" As soon as Applejack came by Rarity's side, General Rasputin and Queen Cicada appear out of the doorway that Applejack and her team came through. They were both laughing at Applejack and her team with scorn and jeering. "There is no escape from the retribution of the changelings, girl!!!" Rasputin cackled as he carried his black sword in which has Rarity's blood. "YOU ARE SOOOOO DEAD, YOU CHANGELING WHORE!!!!" Applejack snarled as she drew out her talons. "Rainbow Dash, help me......." Before Applejack could say anymore, she heard more screaming coming from behind her. As soon as she turned around, she sees another Black Juggernaut crashed from above the ceiling of the rotunda and grabbed Rainbow Dash and Sunset with its huge gauntlets by their waists and with its right foot on top of Soarin. "What in tarnation????" Applejack freaked out seeing that all of her friends are being ensnared by Cicada's and Rasputin's web of woes. "Oh Twi, please help us!!!" The next thing Applejack knew, is that she is now surrounded by Queen Cicada, General Rasputin, and the 3rd Black Juggernaut. All of them are poised to strike at Applejack on all sides in the rotunda.