//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: The Liberation of Canterlot // Story: MLP Movie: Equestria's side of the story // by tzening //------------------------------// The Southeast Liberation Alliance Camp 72 hours after Canterlot Occupation "SHE'S WHAT!?" It took Thorax and Ember to restrain Spike as he made a rush for Canterlot upon hearing about the failed rescue while the Mane Five dropped on their haunches in disbelief. His cheeks are stained with tears of sorrow and rage. "She treated you as a friend and this is how you repay her during the one time she needed you!?" "She used her authority as Princess of Friendship to order all the ponies stand down. Not that it mattered since the rescuers are dragons and changelings that answered to Ember and me." Thorax tried to explain the full context of the situation as he tried to calm his friend down while restraining him. "Tempest used concussive blasts to send any boarders off her ship while she set her vessel to flank speed for Canterlot. According to Pharynx and Trixie, even before the order, she was a one-mare army that sent dragons and changelings flying, with or without them being sent overboard." "Take my word for it, you will have better luck fighting a maulwulf alone and untransformed then to face her." Pharynx spoke from his stretcher that was hauling him to the nearest first aid tent, covered head to toe in broken cracks in his carapace. Being the strongest changeling with an unreal transformation made Tempest think that the former was worth her "one-hundred percent". Unfortunately, this meant that he soon found himself barraged with a lightning staff in every conceivable area before getting sent flying off the ship with a whack straight to the face that sent the poor guy flying out of the sky. A few other dragons met the same fate when they all thought they can take her. Thankfully, they were all saved by his brother and Ember leading a secondary group to catch any unconscious flyers. "If you had this mare as your Royal Guard, Chrysalis would had been dethroned much sooner." "Ok, so fighting her head-on is the worst idea since my 'Pie of Atonement'." Rainbow Dash stated. Pinkie winced in memory of that...thing that defied logical explanation that was supposed to be a pie that Rainbow was talking about. The less said about that abomination to the baking arts, the better. If it was that bad and Rainbow Dash said it's an even more terrible idea, you better listen. "How are we going to rescue Twilight now? She is now aware of us and locked down the entire city with the remaining Storm Guard on...guard for us." "Is the spell bottle still on?" Pinkie looked at the assembled cast, whether in vision or in person. "I have an idea..." 5 minutes later "Remind me again why we didn't get the pirates to use the stolen airship to just pose as one of them?" Fluttershy asked as the chained Mane 5 led a multi-layered cake with Spike as the candle while hiding the pirates and a hippogriff inside...somehow...without breathing holes, towards the city of Canterlot. "Tempest blew up their airship thanks to us leaving our map behind and they know Captain Celaeno is a traitor. If we pulled that off, we might as well be gift-wrapping us in a bow straight to the Storm King." Applejack responded to the query. Meanwhile in another area of the city... Another airship that managed to escape the notice of the ELA thanks to the racket Tempest made landed in the city, near the palace. "Wow!! Did I miss the party? Don't worry, your main star has arrived!!" As the Storm King set foot in Canterlot, he only has this to say: "I can't wait to get my new-found magic! The world is sooooo mine! If it all goes smoothly, I might actually try to live up to my side of the deal after all..." As the pirates quickly silenced the hedgehog, the Storm Guards immediately went for the Trojan cake. "The jig is up!!" With that the occupants of the cake busted out to meet the guards in battle. Meanwhile, as the signal went off, the ELA only has this to say: "EVERYONE!! ADVANCE FOR THE CITY!!" While the Mane 5, Spike and Capper made a break for the palace, the pirates fought off the current wave of Storm Guards, the ELA attacked the city from the outside. Caught by surprise and fighting on two fronts, the Storm airships were sent into disarray, not sure whether to fight the invading army outside or quell the chaos in the city itself. The first priorities are to release high-profile prisoners that can fight or aid the resistance in some other way, as wrong as it was to leave the prisoners in a cage, opening them right in a battlefield will be more haphazard for the released prisoners. However, a certain pegasus came to attention of the ELA. "You want us to rescue Songbird Serenade?!" Spitfire is currently sending bolts of judgement on the enemy and is shocked that they aren't going after other capable resistance fighters like Starlight, Moondancer and Prince Blueblood. "We Pillars will go to Canterlot Stadium and rescue them. Right now, we need the song of the muses to uplift the spirits of our people!!" Flash Magnus yelled to the captain as he wielded the full potential of Pegasus magic. Feathers plucked of his wings and turned into miniature lightning balls. "I've faced the dragons head-on. You overgrown fluffballs aren't even on our rogues gallery!!" "Taste the lightning of the empyrean. Heaven's Thunder!!" With that, lightning arced in beams from his hooves, wings and the spheres, hitting everywhere in a one hundred metre radius. Together with the Royal and Crystal Guards, they managed to break through and liberate the North and West of the city, establishing safe zones for the guards to carry the released prisoners to. "Veni, vidi, vici." After a short while, the Pillars broke through to Starlight's hiding spot. The first thing Starlight said when the ancients saved the flanks of her, a spoiled prince and a shut-in? "What took you guys so long?" In another section of the city, Songbird Serenade was overhearing the roar of battle that beset her ears. All of a sudden, the guards that were holding her captive were suddenly swept away in various ways. The ones in her front had brilliant crystals form and explode in front of her. To her right and left, dragon fire and changelings of various sizes rained down respectively. Behind her, the house exploded with the Wonderbolts arriving behind her. "Songbird Serenade. There you are." Flash Sentry asked the freed idol. "I take it that you are still on for the festival? Sorry about the delay. Soarin, get her to safety-" However, Songbird has other plans. "No, with all this going on. I want to let ponies know that they can see the rainbow at the end of the day. Take me to the nearest stage you can muster!! I want the country to hear my song!! Take this as my rehearsal!!" As her rescuers looked in disbelief, she only has this to say: "You all have never been to one of my concerts, haven't you? This level of craziness isn't in my top five!!" A few minutes later, Songbird Serenade was brought to a makeshift stage on the edge of the Wonderbolts Academy. She brought the microphone in to her lips, amplified by some makeshift loudspeakers, the idol drew the attention of the entire city. "EVERYONE!! LISTEN TO MY SONG!!" The song was played throughout the entire battlefield, a fitting tune for the situation. I know you, you're a special one Some see crazy where I see love You fall so low but shoot so high Big dreamers shoot for open sky So much life in those open eyes So much depth, you look for the light But when your wounds open, you will cry You'll cry out now and you'll question why In the north of the city, Shining Armor sent crystal swords after swords in the enemies that blocked his way, making a break for the palace to save his captured family. Steel nets and Obsidian Orbs dropped on him like rain. Not that it mattered to him, for he formed a physical crystal shell around him and the Crystal Guard to tank the incoming projectiles for his less-than-powerful guards behind him before leaving it behind for them to use the shell as a giant advancing tortoise. Destroyed armor and weapons flew in the air as the worried father disarmed one Storm Guard after another before imprisoning them in crystal like what he did to the ones on the airships. Flash Sentry, not to slack behind his prince, decided to pick up the pace wielding the second completed set of the Crystal Sabers. He acted as the rear-guard, protecting the liberated zones of the city at the same time. As for the airships... "Crystal Materialization!!" The sword split down to it's T-shape forming the Excalibur, but that is not all. "Engaging Anti-Fortress Mode!!" The two automatous shields floated to the sides of the sword. Upon recognizing the conditions being met for the fourth and the most powerful function, the crystal blade glowed with power, resonating with the shields to balance the raw power being channelled that would have been impossible without their involvement. "Drive away despair!! RADIANCE BURST!!!" As the command was stated, an aurora beam cut through the skies north of Canterlot hitting all of the airships in the affected area, the waves bypassing the anti-magic weaponry of the Storm Guard, effectively taking them out of the battle. It's only due to the non-killing intent of the user that the default setting of "Obliterate everything in that direction" isn't triggered. Sunburst was in the Command Carriage of the Aurora overseeing the entire battle acting as mission control, coordinating with the other armies. He watched the massive blow dealt to the enemy, soon wondered why they didn't just do that sooner. He soon found out the answer to that question as Flash Sentry dropped out of the sky unconscious due to overtaxed magic reserves and had to be carried back to base. He won't wake until the Friendship Festival is over. As for his last thoughts before fainting? "Princesses, was I a useful guard?" I can see a rainbow In your tears as they fall on down I can see your soul grow Through the pain as they hit the ground I can see a rainbow In your tears as the sun comes out As the sun comes out Eleven arcs of lighting sundered the western streets and skies over Canterlot. The Wonderbolts acted with the fury of their ancestors, sending lighting bolts after lightning bolts at the enemy host while destroying the infernal cages and muzzles on the imprisoned ponies with concentrated energy acting as the equivalent of torch welders. Since the "Iris-7" armor couldn't fit in the cake, Rainbow Dash decided that they meet up in the middle of the city and give the armor to her there. After meeting up with her, Rainbow Dash quickly gave a salute and thanks before re-joining her friends to make a break for the palace using her armor together with her Sonic Rainboom to act as a living battering ram to clear the way for her friends. Spitfire couldn't be more proud of her fellow bolts, in the darkest of times they truly lived up to their name as the greatest flyers of Equestria. She just wished that the overall situation didn't had to be this dire just for them to be competent. She still had one last ace in the hole to clear the western part of the city. "Wonderbolts!! Olympia formation!!" Ten lights from various zones in the city gathered to her position, following her lead. Together, they cleared the western skies, shining light on the city for the first time since what was an eternity. The Wonderbolts soon yelled out, using a handy microphone to amplify their voices. "Know the wrath of the rulers of the skies!!" Eleven lights shone with the brilliance of stars. "With this one strike, evil shall be smote off the earth!!" The eleven charged with thunder and lightning. "Be reduced to ash!! Wrath of Olympus!!" Eleven azure lights fired from the heavens, striking vital points in the enemy armies. The aftermath is clear: Not a single Storm Guard in the western part of the city is capable of combat. As Spitfire landed in front of the nearest Storm Guard, she only has this to ask: "Show me where are our friends kept and I will be merciful." I am here and I see your pain Through the storms, through the clouds, the rain I'm telling you you cannot escape You can do it, just feel baby I can see a rainbow In your tears as they fall on down I can see your soul grow Through the pain as they hit the ground I can see a rainbow In your tears as the sun comes out As the sun comes out After saving Starlight, Blueblood and Moondancer, the Pillars moved to liberate the eastern part of Canterlot. Meadowbrook stayed behind to give treatment to the rescued trio, who had to spend the previous three days "walking off" the battle with Tempest. When Trixie rambled about how trashed the trio were at the hooves of Tempest when she was telling the rest of the ELA about the latter, Meadowbrook soon understood the urgency in the Trixie's voice as she diagnosed her patients. "Multiple fractures on the stallion, a demolished ribcage for the red-haired unicorn mare and massive magic exhaustion on Starlight. I'm surprised the three of you would last three days with these kind of wounds. I shall administer treatment immediately." "I shall sever all that which is toxic, all that which is harmful." "I shall do all in my power to guide people to the state of well-being!" "Oath of the voodoo healers: Meadowbrook's Code!!" Powerful energy that is Earth Pony magic, energy that is responsible for the creation of crops and therefore, life poured from her to the three patients. What made Meadowbrook stand out aside from her potions was the fact that she can use her magic to directly heal her patients in times of urgency. However, it physically exhausts herself which is why she uses potions, especially if there are still more wounded on the battlefield. The trio of patients soon became fully aware of their surroundings, no longer having to worry about the pain in their bodies. Starlight immediately asked how long have they been languishing in their hiding spot. "You have out of the fight for three days." "THREE DAYS!? HOW'S EVERYPONY? IS EQUESTRIA A SMOKING RUIN? HOW DID YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT THE INVASION EVEN WHEN WE COULDN'T CONTACT YOU ALL?" "Slow down. You all still need rest. I may have healed your physical bodies but right now joining the fight is still not an option as you will just reopen your wounds. Let me bring up to speed what happened for the past three days." One exposition recap later... "Wow, looks like Twilight didn't spontaneously forget about you ponies. The Magic of Friendship is truly powerful indeed. Wait, is this place secure?" Rampant banging on the doors with definitely non-equine growls soon answered her question. "Looks like your healing spell gave away our position. It was nice while it lasted. Moondancer and Blueblood, are your swords at the ready?" A drawn sakaboto and a sword flaming on answered her question. "Meadowbrook, you saved us. Now it's time to return the favour. CHAAARRGGEE!!" Meanwhile, Starswirl, Mistmane, Rockhoof and Flash Magnus engaged the Storm Guard while the Canterlot Royal Guard rescued the prisoners and carried them off to safer parts of the city. Rockhoof realised that having only four ponies to clear out a quarter of the city may not be the brightest of ideas. "I will clear a path with the Spear of Thunder. The Canterlot Royal Guard already have their hooves full rescuing the prisoners." "How you gone insane? Even if we take the word that the rescued Princesses will fix up the city after the battle, there are still prisoners ahead. We can't afford to hit them. My student will never forgive me for this." Mistmane, who has been pondering the answer to the question, came to her solution. "Everypony, cover me. I shall use the Grove of Heavenly Peaches." "Hmm...That would work." Flash Magnus agreed. "I shall begin. Please cover me." The Pillar of Beauty glowed with the power of lost magic, for she shall create nothing short of a miracle. "I shall carry the burden of beauty and bring it's splendour to the unfortunate." "Let only those without sin pass into paradise." "Grove of Heavenly Peaches: Heaven's Genesis!" With the last word said, the whole of Western Canterlot sprouted trees. As the grove expanded, it snatched up the chained ponies and whisked them far away from their captors. The prisoners soon found themselves at feet of the Royal Guard, who wasted no time breaking their prisons and muzzles and carrying them to safety. Only the Storm Guard remained. "With the battlefield laid bare, we can charge forward with no hesitation. I take it that this also means that Somnambula, Shadow Lock and Stygian would have an easier time now." Sure enough, without having to worry about hitting the very ponies they need to save, divine rays of power started firing from the top of the pyramid on the Storm Guard. "Princess Celestia and Luna, I'm on my way!!" Here comes the sun Smiling down Here comes the sun Smiling down Here comes the sun Smiling down Smiling down The Doctor sundered the southern part of Canterlot with the fury of a Time Lord. Hurling the Storm Guard into Limbo and mirrors while disabling the rest with the Sonic Screwdriver, all that didn't matter to him. For he needed only one answer. "Where's Derpy's statue?" Zecora threw her entire brew of Poison Joke potions on the enemy. Effects varied from fluffed up until they were mistaken for white tumbleweeds to dropping down on the floor from having their upper bodies being too heavy for them. Maud began throwing punches and kicks everywhere, denting the supposedly unstoppable armour. Throwing giant rocks bigger then them definitely helped. "And now, for the grand finale of this act!!" Trixie soon appeared with her entire arsenal of fireworks and just pointed in the Storm Guard's general direction before setting them off. Fireworks rang throughout the southern part of the city. I can see a rainbow In your tears as they fall on down I can see your soul grow Through the pain as they hit the ground I can see a rainbow In your tears as the sun comes out As the sun comes out Ember blazed the general airspace with the might of the dragons. However, what caught her attention was a certain dragon. While most dragons focused on burning the Storm Guard airships while having to avoid the steel nets and Obsidian Orbs, one dark orange dragon spent her time catching those that didn't dodge in time. Not to mention, she also focused on breaking the cages and muzzles of the ponies rather than going for the enemy. Ember flew down to meet this new addition. She wasn't like the rest. "Dragonlord Ember!! Did I do something wrong?" "You seem to be an interesting runt. You focused on saving lives rather than burning your next foe. I like you. What's your name? Wait a minute, you don't seem to be from Equestria, I thought I came alone from the Dragon Lands." "Yeah, I slept through your initial call and decided to come over since I was bored. Name's Smolder." I can see a rainbow In your tears as they fall on down I can see your soul grow Through the pain as they hit the ground I can see a rainbow In your tears as the sun comes out As the sun comes out Thorax in his bear form wrestled with the Storm Guard. However, he was about to be hit from his blind spot by an Obsidian Orb. A young female voice soon reached his ears. "My King!! Move to your left!!" Not wasting time, he soon moved to the left, avoiding the infernal projectile which hit another Storm Guard instead. After mauling his foe, he soon turned to the source of the voice. A young female changeling with blue colouring and pink frills appeared in front of him. "How did you see that in the heat of battle?" "I'm not exactly a direct guard like the others. I always preferred knowledge and analysis. I stayed in the background to get an overview of the situation and help by watching our backs. See those locations? They are firing those orbs from there." She was pointing various positions on airships where the nets and orbs are being dropped. What is shocking about that it was the fact that to see those points you needed the usage of binoculars to view them properly while she simply could see them perfectly with just her naked eyes. "Your ability to discern the finest details under pressure is extraordinary. May I know your name?" "It's Ocellus." As Twilight looked in awe at the display of all of her friends fighting for tomorrow throughout the city, she couldn't be more proud of the power of friendship. However, the Storm King isn't impressed. "-I'm sooo totally over the cute pony thing. This ends now!!" Using the stolen magic of the Princesses, he conjured up a massive tornado around the castle. Shining Armor was sent flying back, his teleportation range still too short to reach his sister before pummelling to the ground. "Celestia damn it!!" "Should've watched my flight path. Got too carried away." Rainbow Dash reluctantly took off her armor as combining her Sonic Rainboom together with the speed amplifiers for once, made things too fast for her. She had to take a sudden swerve before the castle courtyard, thinking that there shouldn't be any guards left to deal with. As she watched the tornado form, she wished she hadn't damaged it as she could've easily broke through. She looked to her friend Pinkie and told her: "You must be faster than a speeding pegasus to go through that!!" The Element of Laughter wasn't fazed. She replied with a grin on her face. "I have an idea..."