//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: The Trek // Story: Shadow insecticide // by MoonshadowLuna330 //------------------------------// As Moonshadow and Discord arrived at the Solar Empire, it was destroyed completely. The town was filled with broken buildings, shards of glass covered the ground, as well as chunks of wood and concrete. The same black crystals that Angel had jutted out here and there from the ground seemed to melt in the inky blackness of the sky. “Mother of Celestia! What happened here?” Discord looked around, his eyes in awe and horror. Moonshadow went over to one of the crystals, putting her horn to it. She tried to use magic on it to see who or what it was from. She got zapped back, as her magic was reflected. “Well, that didn't work,” she said rubbing her horn, which was now slightly burnt on the tip. Discord went over to her and helped her up. “You okay?” he asked. “Yeah, I'm okay,” she said as she got up. Moonshadow looked to the path of the castle. It was covered with black crystals. “Well, I guess we gotta be careful from now on.” She headed up to the castle trying to avoid the crystals. “Do you have any idea as to who or what made these crystals?” Discord asked her, looking at one with worry. “I have an idea, but I don't know how He could be alive.” She looked at him, terror flashing in her eyes. As they reached the castle entrance, there were more crystals and more destruction. Dead guards lay all over the place, some encased in the crystals, some with pieces of crystal jutting out of a wound. “Hello? Any pony alive?” Discord shouted into the stillness of the devastation. Moonshadow elbowed him in the ribs. “Ouch! What? We need to see if there are any ponies alive,” he said rubbing his side. “Yeah, but you don't know if the thing is still here,” Moonshadow pointed out, growling at him. She looked around and cautiously took a step forward. They walked around the castle being careful not to disturb the devastation. They reached the hallway of Celestia’s room, or what looked like it at least. They heard some grunting and rubble trying to be moved; they looked at each other with hope. They rushed into Celestia's room, or what was left of it. They looked around. “Hello? Any pony need some help?” Moonshadow cried out desperately. “Oh, thank Celestia! Yes, I'm over here,” a male-toned voice called out. “I'm stuck under some rubble. Could you please help?” Moonshadow spotted a red horn and rushed over to it. It was Fast Track, one of Celestia's right stallion guards. “Fast Track!” she immediately lifted the huge piece of concrete off of him with her magic. Discord ran over to them looking dismayed. “Who’s this?” Discord asked, looking at the crimson unicorn stallion with black hair and white bangs. Fast Track heaved in the air, his flanks inflating and deflating. “My name's Fast Track, the best mama-jama.I'm one of Celestia's right stallion guards. You must be Discord, the God of Chaos?” Fast Track introduced himself and pointed at Discord with his question. “Reformed and at your service!” Discord bowed. Fast Track chuckled. “Well, it's a pleasure to meet you,” he looked at Moonshadow and hugged her. “I am so glad to see you again.” “Likewise. Now, what happened here and where is Celestia?” Moonshadow hugged him back, but looked at him with concern. Fast Track looked down and sighed. “King Sombra. That's what happened here. He's alive and turned Celestia against us. That's why so many are dead, but most went to his side and are alive. He also turned Cadence and Shining. We went to the Crystal Empire to help, but we had to fall back. I believe he got to Twilight and her friends too.” Fast Track's voice quivered with his last words. Moonshadow stomped her hooves in anger. “I KNEW IT! And he has gotten to Twilight and her friends. Angel, Fluttershy's bunny is suffering from these crystals,” Moonshadow said angrily. Her wings and magic flaring, a beam of magic split the room. As concrete fell, both Discord and Fast Track flinched and took a step back. Fast Track's horn lit up with his own magic and he blocked one of the blasts from Moonshadow. “Calm down Princess!” he yelled at the top of his lungs. The royal blue alicorn’s magic flickered out as she huffed. Her muscles flexed as the raw magic coursed through her. Discord stared at her in disbelief. “Wow, I didn't expect that from such a small being! You'd make a good chaotic queen some day!” he chuckled at his own joke, but Moonshadow was not amused. She glared at him, her pupils suddenly turning to slits. “Why, thank you Discord. But I already have a husband.” She hissed, then shook her head, her pupils turning back to normal. “I don’t know what that was. Sorry guys, I…I guess these crystals have an effect on me.” She shook herself as if to settle the magic flames still coursing through her. Moonshadow sat down and sighed, her body drooping. Fast Track looked at her in sympathy. “Everything will be okay because you have Discord and me. And, we shall stick with you till the end!”  he said, walking over to the sad princess. He lifted her head with a hoof and looked in her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks as her head was lifted. “The Nightmare, the thing that turned my mother into Nightmare Moon, she's in me, and with this dark power from Sombra, I'm afraid she'll take over me.” Moonshadow looked away, crying. Fast Track looked at her flatly, his eyes half closed. “Again, you - have - us!” Fast Track snapped. He walked around the sobbing princess beckoning Discord to follow. “We can’t decide anything for you. Unless you want to go this alone and risk what you fear, then leave without a word. But if you want our help, we will be right out here. You decide.” He turned his back on her and walked out with Discord. “Why are you being so mean to her?” Discord confronted Fast Track. “She needs to come to terms with this, this Nightmare. And we can’t help her, it needs to be her,” Fast Track said to Discord, looking at him. Fast Track’s eyes showed the draconequus that it hurt him to be so tough-loving toward the Princess.