//------------------------------//
// Ch. 5 Let's Go Home 
// Story: Reaper 
// by CherryTune 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 5



*Let's Go Home*


Celeano sounds the alarm and the official city guard are alerted to the brigand attack. They rush out of the city to protect the remaining Equestrian guard and secure the hippogriff. The horde backs off, returns to the desert and to their castle. Cherry Tune says, “We have to go back for them!” as she tries to take to the sky.

“Cherry stop!” Nightfall says. “We can’t risk Reaper knowing of our presence.”

Cherry stops and looks back. “But if we don’t save them he’s going to know anyway!” she cries.

“I am sorry little pony but we can’t go after them. With a horde that size it’ll take all of our forces to even make a dent and we can’t leave Klugetown defenseless.” Celeano says.

Cherry looks at Celeano turns back at the horde and flies off anyway. “Cherry!” Sunny Side shouts.

“I’m sorry, I never meant for this to happen.” The hippogriff said.

“No, it’s not your fault. You gave us the final piece of the puzzle.” Nightfall replies. “In a few days our leaders will be here and this nightmare will be over. We must send word of Reapers sighting.” He continued.

“What about Cherry and the others?” Sunny asked.

“Sunny, I want to go after them as much as you do. But Celeano is right. The odds are against us. Only the princesses can save them. And the sooner they know that Reaper is here. The better chances they have.” Nightfall said.

Nightfall and Sunny return to the headquarters and write their report. But without any unicorn to send the letter they’ll have to mail by hoof. Capper tells of two sisters who live in Klugetown who happen to be unicorns. Sapphire Spark a light blue unicorn with and electric blue mane and Sugar Cloud another light blue unicorn with light blue and gold mane.

The two are immediately asked to visit the headquarters. Upon their arrival Nightfall asked without hesitation, “Can either of you perform a transportation spell?”

“Uh.” They both react.

“This is important!” Sunny snapped.

“I can.” Sugar Cloud replied. “Where’s it going? Mount Eris or Black Skull Island? Or the Bovine tribes in the mountains?”

“It needs to go to Princess Celestia. In Equestria.” Nightfall said.

“I’ve never done anything that far before. And I usually have to have line of sight to visualize where it’s going.” Sugar Cloud said nervously.

“I need you to focus young filly. Here is Canterlot and Princess Celestia.” Nightfall says as he pulls out a book of Equestria history and points to pictures inside. Sugar concentrates and cast a spell at the scroll. It slowly vanished with a spark. “I did it! I think.” Sugar said.

“I do hope so.” Sunny said.

“It’s late, Sunny you should rest. Our work here is done. We’ll need our full strength tomorrow.” Nightfall said.

“Why?” Sunny asks.

“Because you and I are going to bring back our friends.” Nightfall says.

Back in Canterlot a scroll materializes over Celestia head as she sleeps. It falls on her face and wakes her up. “Luna, I thought you said you’d take care of the mail at night.” She said aloud. She reads the letter then jumps out of bed and rushes to find Luna. “Sister. They found him!” Celestia said while bumping into Luna in the halls.

“Are they sure?” Luna asks.

“They say they received an eye witness account that describes Reaper accurately.” Celestia replies. “We’ll need to prepare Twilight for our departure. She’ll need to take care of Equestria in our absence.” She continued.

“Do you think she’s ready?” Luna asked.

“We’ll need to take a couple days to ease her into it.” Celestia says.

“I’ll start preparations immediately, continue your rest Tia, I have the night as always.” Luna said

“Of course Luna, I’ll prepare the staff during the day. Goodnight sister.” Celestia said.

Celestia heads back to bed and Luna continues to watch the night.

Sunny and Nightfall wake up early morning. With directions to Sand Dune and a days’ worth of supplies packed they head out into the desert. The pick up the trail which is easy as a large army can’t really cover up its tracks in a desert. They find Cherry's’ spear laying on the ground and fear that she has been taken too. They continue to Sand Dune and before they get into visual range they see Cherry holding on to Moonlet.

Cherry had carried Moonlet away from the hordes, while Moonlet held up her spear. She dragged Moonlet for hours before collapsing of exhaustion with Moonlet in her arms. Sunny and Nightfall rush over and check their vitals. “The're alive.” Sunny says.

“Good, but where’s Bulldoze and Sunspot?” Nightfall responds.

“Should we go on?” Sunny asked.

“Can you carry them back to town?” Nightfall replied.

“I think I can build a makeshift stretcher that can hold the both of them.” Sunny said.

“Then do that and get them back to town. I’ll continue ahead.” Nightfall said”

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Sunny asks.

“No, but it was a long shot we found Cherry and Moonlet. I am hoping we get lucky twice.” Nightfall said with an optimistic smile.

“Be careful Nightfall.” Sunny said.

“You too Sunny.” He replied.

Nightfall charges off towards Sand Dune as Sunny completes the stretcher and drags Cherry and Moonlet back to town. As Nightfall arrives at the edge of Sand Dune he peers into village. He doesn’t see Bulldozer or Sunspot but he manages to gather numbers on how many brigands were occupying the city.

He makes a decision to return to the village. On the way back he locates Bulldozers and Sunspots weapons by the glint they made in the sand. He gathers them up and continues to walk to Klugetown. Overhead he hears a thunderous roar slowly getting louder and louder. He looks into the sky a sees a silver dot streaking across the horizon. He ducks down and covers the spears in sand as to hide the glint from the sun. But the object had already changed its course and started to head towards him.

“Oh great.” Nightfall says. He stands up draws his spear. The object dived down and stopped suddenly in front of him kicking up sand. “Sup!” a voice range out.

“Sup.” He replied.

“Don’t remember me do you?” She responded

“I’m afraid not." Nightfall said while slowly lowering his spear.

“I’m Sapphire Spark! Your one and only expert on mechanical magic this side of the Badlands!” Sapphire said. The sand settled and she hovered above the ground. A wing shaped device was attached to her back and it glowed with magic. It rumbled as it kept her airborne.

“Aspiring to be princess are we?” Nightfall said.

Sapphire rolled her eyes and said. “Bleh! Nah, but I always wanted to fly. Right from when I was a little filly.”

“A unicorn who wanted to fly and made it happen…. Now I’ve seen it all.” Nightfall replied.

“Look do you want my help or not? I am only out here looking for you because your friend Sunny Side asked me to do her a favor.” Sapphire asked. “And it’s a good thing she and I spoke after my sister sent your letter cause I can actually kinda stand her. You on the other hand.” She continued.

“Wow! You are unpleasant.” Nightfall said. “But if you’re willing to get me back I won’t say no.” He continued.

“Very well grab your things and lift your arms up.” Sapphire said.

Nightfall grabbed the spears and lifted his arms. Sapphire flew up behind him and grabbed him from under his arms. “Hang on buttercup!” She said before shooting off into the sky. They make it back to Klugetown and meet up with Sunny. Cherry and Moonlet had recovered and were already up and walking around. Moonlet had been clawed and could potentially lose vision in her right eye and her entire right side of her face was scratched up. The bandages covered the damage but it would leave a permanent scar.

Cherry runs up to Nightfall. “Did you find them?” She asked.

“No, I am afraid not.” He replied placing Bulldozers and Sunspots spears on a table. “Cherry I was wrong. You managed to save Moonlet by yourself. I’m sorry.” He continued.

“I didn’t do it alone. Bulldozer and Sun recovered their weapons and managed to get to Moonlet. She was unconscious and wounded. When I arrived they were surrounded but holding them off.” Cherry said. “Bulldozer told me to get Moonlet away from the horde while they fought the brigands. So I did.” She continued.

“What happened to Bulldozer and Sunspot?” Nightfall asked.

“I don’t know, I left with Moonlet and only saw them get swarmed by the brigands. I must’ve carried Moonlet around in the desert for hours before I couldn’t go on anymore.” Cherry said.

“I’m sorry Cherry.” Nightfall said.

“Don’t be Nightfall, you did the right thing.” Cherry said. "Celestia and Luna will be here soon enough and Reaper will be sealed away." she continued.

“Right. Let’s go home. By the time we make it back the Princesses should be well ready to return to the Badlands and finish what we started.” Nightfall said.

It was noon and Sunny, Nightfall, Moonlet, and Cherry Tune leave Klugetown on their way back to Equestria. By the evening they make it to the train station and take rest under the terminal overhang. The train would arrive by morning and so would the clerk ponies operating the tick service. As the sun sits low in the sky the four took this time to relax and decompress over their months in the Badlands.


End Chapter