//------------------------------// // The Battle Begins // Story: New Beginnings // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// Fluttershy sighed quietly as she raised a hoof to knock on Zecora's door. She squeaked in surprise as the Zebra leapt out from above her, dressed from head to hoof in what could only be called fur armor, a spear balanced on her shoulder as she lowered herself to the ground, another held in her mouth, Upon seeing it was only Fluttershy she quickly pushed the frightened mare into her hut, shutting the door behind them. "It is quite dangerous out there. To what do I owe this visit, frightened mare?" she asked. Fluttershy sighed in relief. "M...My friends...my daughter..." Fluttershy was unable to hold back her tears any longer. She fell to the ground, the zebra placing a hoof on her shoulder comfortingly, letting the pegasus cry until she could cry no more. "I am sorry to hear of your loss Fluttershy and I am glad you no longer need to cry. But there is much to be done or else Discord will have won." The pegasus nodded and sniffed. "R..Rainbow Dash went after Shining Armor." "I see. A rebellion, an Army." Zecora said, setting down her weapons. Fluttershy nodded. "We have no time to lose. Come Fluttershy, we must move." "I am curious, how did you use magic?" Celestia asked. Piper smiled a little, lowering his head as he sighed. "Magic lives within all things Princess. Anypony is capable of the art of magic, though a unicorn is more suited for the task. There are spells which pegasi such as you and I can use. Then there are spells that only Dragons can use. Though I haven't attempted any myself so I am not sure if a pegasi could use such magic." "A pegasi having magic? that doesn't make any sense." The orange pegasus chuckled a little. "Have you ever rested on a cloud before Princess?" he asked her. The pegasus nodded. "Has your sister?" he asked. This time she shook her head. "Have you ever wondered why a Pegasus can stand on a cloud as if it were the ground and a unicorn cannot?" Celestia blinked, looking up at the dark clouds swirling all around them. "I suppose the thought had never come to me before. Do you mean to say we use magic without realizing it?" "I suppose I am." he chuckled a little. It was a bit strange, sitting there with the Ruler of all of Equestria and speaking as if he had any idea what he was talking about. Though his words seemed to soothe her. "I spoke with your mother the other night." Piper said softly. Celestia looked at him with wide eyes. "m...My mother?" "Yes. Harmony. I felt it wouldn't be right to hide it from you. I might not be honesty but I don't feel right keeping secrets from friends. She's worried about you and your sister. She asked us to protect you, to keep you safe." The pegasus smiled, gently nuzzling his cheek. Piper froze up in shock for a moment, a light blush touching his face. "Thank you..." she said softly, a smile on her face as she looked at the small forest they had created. Piper was still amazed at what they had done. It was thanks to Amethysts' and Emeralds' magic though. "I have to ask, Loyalty isn't your real name is it?" Piper smiled a little. "Not exactly. Though i'm sure the Doctor explained it." She nodded. "Due to you being from a timeline we might be a part of, you cannot reveal who you truly are. I only asked now because I hoped you wouldn't keep any more secrets from me." Piper winced visibly and hung his head low. "Princess...If I could tell you, I would. Please believe me when I say that." "Alright...but I hope someday you will reveal it to me." she gently kissed his cheek before walking back to her tent. Piper sat there for a moment, his cheeks flushed and his mind racing. Sunburst cleared her throat from nearby, smiling knowingly at him. "Enjoying yerself Loyalty?" she asked of him. He glanced over at her and she burst into laughter, pointing to his wings. Piper gasped and quickly lowered them. "HEY! Its not like I can control them!" this only provoked the other pegasus, making her laugh even harder. Finally she pulled herself to her hooves and sat beside him. "Ok, so, she MIGHT have a thing fer ya. Or it could just be a friendly gesture like what Luna did with Emy. Its kinda obvious ya got th' hots fer her though." "...Can you blame me?" he asked her. Sunburst looked over her shoulder at Celestia's tent. "Guess ah can't. Though ah know ah don't have t' tell ya that she ain't what we are here for. Least not in that way. Ya can't go gettin mixed up in some crazy relationship with th' princess, especially when str...uh...Ah mean...especially when she is suppose t' be an immortal princess an all." she said quickly. Piper was about to ask what she had said before but she smiled and ran off before he had a chance. He sighed and put a hoof to his cheek I wonder what that kiss meant... Strawberry pouted a little looking at the group of soldiers. They had their heads hanging low, toiling away on their armor or their weaponry or just staring blankly at the cloudy sky. She couldn't leave things like this. She picked up a stick and ran over to one of the shields, snatching it up and piling it next to some helmets. Looking around she smiled and grabbed another stick, bouncing them off her makeshift drumset, drawing the attention of everypony in the camp. She began to sing, throwing her head back and forth, smiling as a pony started to move to the music, snatching up a flute and playing along with her. "Come on Everypony!" she called out to them, smiles spreading throughout the camp as the song continued. She placed the sticks in a nearby ponies hooves and bounced around the camp, continuing to sing. One could almost see the happiness emanating from the pony as she bounced, throwing her hooves in the air as she held the final note of her song. The ponies around her broke into laughter, the zebra smiling at all of them. She gasped in surprise as one of them hugged her. "Thank ya fer that miss Laughter. Things have been mighty glum 'round here. These here ponies needed somethin t' raise their spirits." The zebra hugged back gently and giggled. "Not a problem! Its my job to make ponies happy!" "Is that...a Sonic Rainboom?" Cadence asked as a streak of rainbow made its way across the sky. "Yea...and its headed for us!" Shining armor pushed Cadence to the side, the rainbow crashing down where she had been standing moments before. The impact kicked up a massive cloud of dirt, throwing the nearby ponies into a coughing fit. Slowly it began to settle, revealing one exhausted and worse for wear Rainbow Dash. "S...Shin...Shining armor...Discord...help.." she collapsed, Cadence snatching the pegasus in her magic. "We've got to get back to Canterlot." Piper looked around at the soldiers. They were afraid, some of them weren't even any older than he was. It scared him to think that this was the great army meant to defeat Discord. No matter how positive he tried to be, all he could think of was how many of them would die. How many they would be unable to protect. They were just kids themselves, what could they do? Honeycrisp mumbled something beside him, drawing his attention to her. "oh..um..sorry." "No, wait. Say that again." "oh...well um...ah just thought that...maybe since this is Sweet Apple Acres..t..that th' Everfree forest wouldn't be too far away...a...and maybe w..we could ask some of th' animals fer help..." Piper smiled. Of Course! Why didn't I think of that! "That's brilliant. You can talk to the animals and ask for their help!" the shy pegasus squeaked. "M...Me!? BU...But.." "It has to be you, you're the only one that can talk to them." the pony bit her lip and Piper smiled. "Don't worry, I'll go with you." she smiled and hugged him, the soldiers just watching them in confusion. "Alright, here's the plan." Dinky bit her lip, seeing the Doctor sitting atop a hill, staring at the forest they had created. She took a deep breath and sat beside him, tipping her hat a little. "Doctor..." she began, though she wasn't sure what she was going to say. "Its beautiful isn't it? These trees sitting here in this desolate land. It brings hope to these poor ponies. As do you and your friends Miss Doctor." he said with a small smirk. She chuckled a little. "The forest was all their idea Doctor. I haven't really done much since arriving here." She sighed taking off her hat. "I don't deserve to call myself Doctor..." she said, setting the hat down beside him. He looked at it then at her. "Might I ask how you know me?" he asked softly. She kept her eyes on the ground. "You are a very important pony to me...I had to make a choice when I came here...I had to abandon.." tears welled up in her eyes. "No." He said softly, she looked up at him, blinking in surprise as he sat the hat on her head. "Miss Doctor, do you think I always do whats right? Do you think I've never regretted a choice I've had to make? Its the burden of the job my dear. Keeping secrets from those close to you, watching from a distance as they suffer and being able to do nothing. You did what had to be done my dear." she smiled, hugging him tightly. The usually articulate Doctor was thrown into a flurry of random blabbering as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. "Miss Doctor..i..I'm flattered but..." she giggled as she pulled away from him. "I'm sorry Doctor, you misunderstand the gesture. We are nothing more than close friends." she explained, much to his relief. "Though, there is a certain pony out there who you have your eyes on. Sadly it will take you some time to realize it." "Well don't you know my dear? Time is all I have." He panted heavily, leaning forward and closing his eyes. The chains held him tightly to the wall and only let him move so far. It wasn't much but he could use it. He took a slow breath and lifted his head, looking across the dungeon at the other Alicorn trapped down here. It had cost him, but he had kept Discord from harming a single hair on her head. He smiled knowing he had been able to protect her even if he had failed everypony else. "Nyx...you awake?" he asked softly. She nodded slowly. "I'm so sorry Riku..." she said quietly. The wounded Alicorn only smiled. "Its fine Nyx, listen, can you get your magic to work?" he asked. In answer she cast a small light between them. "I can...but not much." he smiled. "Good, good. We won't need much. Listen, I need you to cut me free." "Riku...I don't have enough magic to break these chains. Discord made them." "Not the chains. Me." he said. She looked at him in shock. seeing that he had pulled himself loose of the clasps. They still clung to his hooves, though with help he could pull free. That still didn't change the fact that there were chains bound around the stubs of his wings holding him to the wall. "I...I can't..." tears filled her eyes. He smiled at her. "Nyx, you can do this. We have to get out of here somehow and your the only pony who can do this." "He's right Miss Nyx." The Doctor said from his cage on the far side of the room. Though his voice didn't hold its normal strength. He had been broken by his failure and quite literally from his fall. Though his body healed he couldn't ignore the pain weighing heavily on his heart. "Doctor...but..." she looked between them in desperation. A wheezing cough drawing her attention. It was the form of chrome mist that spoke up, just barely holding onto life as he lay on his side on the ground. "Princess...we all...have a duty...we must fulfill..." he wheezed, lifting his head enough for her to see his bruised face. "We may not...like the duty...given to us...but we must do...what we must do..." he finished, his head falling to the ground. For a moment she feared he had finally passed on, though he was only unconscious, his chest slowly rising and falling. Even in his sleep his pained expression never faded. Nyx closed her eyes, calling out to her magic. A blade hovering over Riku's hoof, another ready to slice through his wing stubs. "I'M SORRY!" Slowly her eyes opened. She mumbled quietly, putting a hoof to her head. "what happened..." she sat up and looked around, finding herself on a train. Her memory slammed into her like a brick wall, her eyes wide. "Fluttershy! I gotta find Shining armor!" "I'm right here." he said softly. The pegasus spun, finding him wearing his namesake battle armor, cadence beside him as well as Mia. Cadence rested a hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. "Dash, please tell us what happened...you came crashing out of nowhere mumbling about Discord and needing help." "Huh...OH! Yea! We've got to get to Canterlot!" "we're already headed there. Just calm down and explain whats going on." Rainbow Dash nodded and began telling them everything that had happened. After she finished the ponies merely hung their heads. "So we don't have the Elements and we have no idea where they are. Twily is trapped by that...thing...and so are the royal sisters?" Shining armor roared in anger and slammed his hoof into a nearby bed, the frame cracking slightly. "Shining, please..." "no...this is my fault. I should've been there." "If you had then you would've only been captured. We didn't even stand a chance..." Rainbow said, her ears flat against her head. "He's changed...he isn't the same Discord we fought before...he is something darker than that. Much darker..." "Well we can't just leave them there. We need a plan." Cadence said. Mia smiled a little. "Well, why not do what the princess' did?" She spoke up. "We're gonna raise an army!" Though they didn't feel like it, most of the ponies in the room had fallen asleep, leaving only Spike and Discord awake in the room. The Dragon and Draconequus stared at one another, saying nothing. "Well this is boring." Discord moved closer to the dragon, a low growl filling Spikes throat as he stood over Rarity. "I couldn't care less for your freak lover." Smoke drifted from Spikes mouth and nostrils as he growled louder. Discord or no Discord, no one insulted Rarity in front of Spike Swift Shrike. The dragon roared, flames billowing around him and licking at the bars of his cage. Discord watched with a smile as he charged against the bars again and again, managing to bend them slightly, though each time he smashed into the bars he lost more and more of his resolve until finally he just collapsed beside Rarity. "Is that all? No wonder she settled for you, I doubt anypony else would've come anywhere near her." "THAT'S IT!" Spike yelled, waking the others. The dragon hurled himself at the bars, bursting free and tackling Discord to the ground. "The forest?" Celestia asked. Dinky nodded. "One of our friends talents is speaking with animals. We believe the creatures of the Everfree forest would be quite the asset to our cause. Though we cannot send her alone. Even with her talent the Everfree is dangerous. At the same time we do not wish to leave you alone here, especially since Discord knows where we are." "So you intend to send a small team to the Forest then?" again the unicorn nodded. "It shouldn't take them more than half a day. We will be sending Loyalty and Kindess to aid her. Generosity, Magic, Honesty, and Laughter will remain here as a first line of defense in case of attack." "Very well, I hope they return safely." Dinky nodded, leaving the tent. "Well?" Piper asked. Dinky nodded. "The plan is a go. Just be careful out there. Nopony knows just how dangerous the Everfree might be during this time. In our time most of its dangers have been subdued by the Princess' powers." They nodded, the three pegasi taking off toward the Everfree Forest. It was only moments after they had vanished from her sight that she spotted the horde of creatures marching toward them from the other direction. "oh no..." She quickly ran into the camp, snatching up a rope and pulling on it as hard as she could. A bell ringing throughout the entire camp. The Final Battle was about to begin. "Do ya really think ah can talk t' them Piper?" Honeycrisp asked softly. "I know you can. And don't worry, we'll be right by your side" he said with a smile, Sunburst nodding her agreement. "Any of those mean ol' monsters that try t' hurt ya are gonna have t' go through us first!" she said proudly. Soon the forest came into view, the three of them landing together. Piper looked around slowly, drawing his hoofblade as they entered the forest. Sunburst took a slow breath, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again flames danced within them, ready to be unleashed on anything that dared harm her cousin or nephew. "H...Hello?" Honeycrisp called out. "I'm sorry t..to bother you, but we really need help..." "And what help do you expect from us pony?" a wolf asked, peeking its head out from behind a wilted tree. It wore a small grin on its face and its coat shone in several different colors as it made its way toward them. "That's far enough." Piper said, pointing his hoofblade at it. The wolf scoffed and shook its head, turning toward Honeycrisp with a toothy grin. "So you want help? For what?" more creatures stepped forward from the shadows. Honeycrisp began to pant heavily, relaxing as Sunburst stepped up beside her, Piper on her other side. With them there she was invincible. She took a deep breath and looked at the creatures of the forest. "We need you to help us fight Discord." the wolf blinked and turned back to those behind her, laughing and shaking her head. "Sorry kid, but rule of the forest is we follow the strongest. Discord has you beat there. But none of us are crazy enough to go near that freak." "Its a test of strength you want, then come on. Your talking to the Elements of Harmony and Knights of Canterlot here!" Piper spoke up, making the wolf laugh again. "You pipsqueaks?! HA! Don't make me laugh kid. You don't even look that tough." Piper spread his wings wide, the blades clinging to them releasing with a loud SHING. "Nice, so you can at least sparkle in what little sunlight there is before you die." Sunburst chuckled, pulling her glasses off. "Don't tease my nephew, he has a short temper." she said, flames appearing around her as she opened her eyes. "Almost as short as mine." "SPIKE!" Rarity screamed as Discord lifted the dragon by his throat, slamming his head back against the wall again and again. Though dazed from each hit he wasn't hurt, he had his diamond tough scales to thank for that. Though he couldn't hold up forever. The dragon grinned as Discord held him in the air. "Now this is more like it. Why couldn't the rest of you put up a fight like this?" He asked them. Spike placed a claw around discords wrist, snapping his other claws, flames licking at Discords arm. In shock he dropped Spike, giving the dragon time enough to recover and snap his claws once more, Rarity vanishing from her cage. Discord soon caught on though and smashed his claw across Spikes face, the dragon tumbling across the ground, finally coming to a stop as he collided with the wall. "SPIKE! Come on Spike! get up!" Twilight called out to him, though she received no reply from the dragon. Discord rolled his eyes. "Wonderful, just when things were getting good." he sighed and lifted Spike, tossing him into a cage that appeared in mid-air. "I suppose i'll just have to occupy my time with the rest of Equestria." One step, two, floor. Riku groaned as he tried to lift himself, only the faint sound of Nyx crying urging him to keep going. He had to get up, he had to help them. He rolled onto his side, resting his stub of a hoof on the ground, wincing as it scraped against the cold hard stone beneath him. He gritted his teeth, placing his hoof on the ground and pushed himself up to a sitting position, forcing himself to smile up at Nyx as he stumbled over to her. He could feel their eyes on him, the Doctor, Chrome Mist, even Derpy who they couldn't see. The poor mare had been chained up against the wall in the darkest part of the dungeon away from them. Riku finally reached Nyx, rubbing his cheek against hers. "Shh...its ok Nyx...its gonna be ok..." He took a slow breath and reared up on his hind hooves, smashing his severed hoof and good hoof into the chains, holding back a cry of pain as he struck it again and again, the chain finally breaking free. Slowly but surely he worked through each clasp, bending them enough that the Alicorn could pull free. As soon as her hooves touched ground she threw them around him, her tears soaking into his coat. "I'm so sorry Riku...im so sorry..." she repeated over and over again. He leaned against her, panting heavily. He had lost a lot of blood and breaking her free had taken what little energy he had left. "its ok Nyx...its ok...ju...just get out of here..ok? g..get the doc..a..and derpy...m..me and mist...w..will catch..." Riku stumbled a little as she pulled back to argue, the mare quickly catching him before he hit the ground. "You can't even stand on your own anymore Riku...and its all my fault...how do you expect to catch up with us?" He grinned a little and closed his eyes. "Riku? Riku?! RIKU?!" Flames danced around the creatures of the Everfree, most of them running for their lives only to have walls of ice and flame block their path. "WAIT!" Honeycrisp yelled, Piper and Sunburst stopping. The elder pegasus walked up to the frightened creatures and smiled at them. "I'm sorry about my friends, they just really need your help. Won't you help us?" she asked them. the animals all looked at one another and nodded. "You've got us convinced but uh...not him." the wolf from earlier said, pointing a claw at a large figure making its way toward them. Piper and Sunburst stepped forward, frost clinging to Pipers mane and the air seeming to melt around sunburst. Again Honeycrisp stepped forward, watching the Hydra step forward. One of the heads lowered itself to her level and took on the full effects of The Stare, rearing back in shock, the other heads quick to do the same. The rest of the creatures watched as the beast stumbled backwards, averting its gaze from the pegasus. "Well...that settles that then..." "MOVE!" Amethyst slammed his shoulder into Dinky, pushing her out of the way of a large pink cloud. The cloud stuck to Amethyst and exploded, the unicorn watching in horror. "AMETHYST!" She rushed into the cloud of smoke left behind by the explosion, searching for the kirin. She heard coughing and turned, finding him in one piece with a scorch mark across his scales. "Sweet Celestia that hurt..." he mumbled, Dinky pulling him into a hug. Amethyst blinked and leapt backwards, throwing a wing around the unicorn as more clouds slammed into the ground around them. It was all he could do to keep them away from Dinky. While his scales would protect him they couldn't protect her. Another stuck to his wing and he was forced to push her away, wincing as the cloud blew up on his wing, tearing a hole in it. He stumbled forward, watching as Dinky rushed toward him. "GET BACK!" On the other side of the battlefield, Emerald and Nova were in much the same situation. The Kirin using herself as a shield for the Alicorn. Emerald kept her wings curled around Nova, letting the Alicorn focus her spells on keeping them safe. All around them were the sounds of blades hitting blades, explosions tearing apart ponies and others crying. They had to get away, they had to find a way out! Emerald winced as another cloud blew up on her back. "EMY! Are you ok?!" Nova cried. "I'm fine! We need to get out of her Nova!" she yelled over the sounds of battle around them. In the center of the fighting stood Strawberry swirl, a hoofblade on both of her forehooves and one blade in her mouth. Another clung to her tail. The pony spun, slicing through each cloud that flew toward her and her troops, her diamond edged blades easily splitting them, letting them slam into the ground behind her and explode harmlessly. A group of deformed creatures marched towards them, claws and horns twisted at awkward angles as they growled. Strawberry gulped as the beasts charged towards them, quickly calming herself. Cutting through clouds was one thing, but cutting through living flesh was entirely different. She threw her hoof forward "CHARGE!" she blinked, having been about to say the same thing herself. From behind her tons of creatures poured forth, wolves, foxes, chimera, all rushing into battle and leaping onto the creatures that had been ready to attack Strawberry. On top of the hill stood Piper and Sunburst, smiling as they took to the air, diving headfirst into battle and rolling around one another in a dance of flames and ice. Strawberry watched in amazement as Piper froze the creatures, Sunburst's flames taking care of the rest, leaving only piles of wet ash behind. Strawberry realized something though, Honeycrisp wasn't with them. She panicked and searched the sky for her, hearing only a loud roar. She spun and stared with wide eyes, finding the pegasus riding on top of a Hydra. Her pegasus friend rested on top of one of the three heads, guiding it into the fight. Rarity gasped as she found herself falling, though she landed on something soft. She looked around, finding that she was in none other than Carousel Boutique. "Spike...sent me home!? Why that no good Drake! I thought he promised never to do this again!" she fumed as she jumped out of her bed. She stopped as the sounds outside reached her. Screams of terror. She peeked out her window, finding ponies running back and forth frantically as they were chased by creatures far more horrifying than the heartless. Rarity gulped trying to think. "Come now Rarity, surely there is something you can do." she thought aloud, pacing her room. "NO! I am a lady, a lady does not run into battle!" she argued with herself, staring into her mirror. "But you have to do something! Anything! Your friends need you Rarity!" "What can I possibly do to help? I'm just one little unicorn...if only Rainbow Dash were here, that mare would know what to do." Rarity's ears perked up as the sound of metal clanging drew her back to her window. There dressed from head to hoof in battle armor stood none other than Shining Armor, Rainbow Dash by his side. The armor she wore marked her a General. Rarity was a bit surprised, though she had to know these sort of things about the ponies of Canterlot to impress them she never thought she would really see anypony in a General Uniform, let alone Rainbow Dash. "Though she does fit the job..." "Search for survivors!" Shining ordered the ponies around him, all of them spreading out, clearing the area of the foul creatures who had attacked Ponyville. Rarity poked her head out of her store, gasping as Rainbow Dash pulled her into a hug "RARITY! You're ok! Did the others escape too? Wheres Aj?" She asked, smiling. Though the Unicorns expression and silence made her smile fade. "Rarity? Come on...wh..where are they?" "I'm so sorry Rainbow Dash...I'm the only one who got out...Spike broke free an..and before I knew it I was here...he's still back there..a..and so are the others..." Rainbow lowered her head, quickly putting on a smile, placing a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "Its ok Rare, at least your safe. We're gonna get them out Rarity, we've got a plan and a secret weapon." "a secret weapon?" Rainbow nodded, guiding the unicorn outside. She gasped, her eyes wide as she spotted the 'secret weapon' "Rainbow, you can't be serious." Shining armor stepped forward. "You got any better ideas?" The unicorn looked at him and back at the weapon. "No I suppose not...It will have to do then. Shall we be going?" "Where?" "The castle of course. We've got to save the others and I refuse to leave Spike there for another moment longer." "Rarity...the castle isn't there anymore." Rainbow said softly. "w...what? that's impossible, of course its there!" Rarity turned to find that Canterlot Palace was indeed missing from its place high above Ponyville. "W...where has it gone?" "Back to its original place in Equestria, deep within the Everfree Forest."