-5-
Starfall was visibly upset. That usually meant that someone had delivered bad news, or had blundered something important. This time, he didn’t even need to hear the bad news, he already knew what was coming.
He held up a hoof to silence the earth pony who was requesting more water. A small sigh escaped him, "I am well aware of the crisis, but as I’m sure you know, the city of Cloudsdale has rebelled againt the republic. We do not have the capacity to assist you further, but be assured you will have rain within the next few days."
The earth pony motioned to protest, but revised that course of action. Instead he bowed, "Thank you for your time. I pray they will reconsider their actions and join Celestia's council in building this great republic." With that he walked out of the doors.
"Starfall, it has been a week since Celestia's death, and the melted snows are all that have been feeding the crops. We need to do something!" Guiding Light yelled.
The room was relatively cool, but without the rain, the heat was becoming excessive. Lakes and rivers they depended on were drying up, leaving very little water. The councils unicorns were starting to get cranky.
Starfall held a level head through it all. The army was disciplined enough for the time being. The special unicorn division was also coming along nicely, assisting the drought with magically summoned water. Still, he was unsure of whether or not to take military action on Cloudsdale. Why? With Stormbreaker reinforcing Manehatten and pushing his forces to the contested border between Republic lands and those of the rebels any forces he would send would be unprepared. But his internal debate had left him with a reasonable solution. What was left was to test the faith of his ‘loyal’ council members. He bit down on his tongue hard and took in a deep breath.
“I have thought very hard these past few days on the matters at hoof. I have come to a kind of conclusion on the matter. Allow me to explain.”
He summoned the map of Equestria to the table once more, using his magic to drag the pieces into their places. Several of the military figures sat around Cloudsdale’s flag.
“You’re intending to fight Cloudsdale? That seems like a waste of resources, considering that Stormbreaker is breathing down our manes.” Another of the unicorns responded. Starfall glared at him. The unicorn sat down immediately and stayed quiet.
“We have a very large military force, in comparison to Stormbreaker’s. Therefore, we can deceive him into thinking we are responding with force to his move in Manehatten.” Several flags slid across the map, passing through Fillydelphia. A blue glow of magic highlighted the trail the forces would take. Four smaller flags remained.
“However,” he continued, "this would make it seem as if we are ignoring the threat of famine with a short term look at winning the war as quickly as possible. Many history books deep in the archives prove that ample food keeps morale high in long fights.
“This allows us to sneak several units through the Everfree Forest to attack and overwhelm Cloudsdale,” Starfall slid three of the flags on a path through the Everfree Forest to the mountains near the city. “They will be more likely to send troops and arms to their allies in Manehatten, leaving them vulnerable and catching them off guard.” He tipped the flag on Cloudsdale’s position onto its side. “It will allow us to cut off any additional air forces or weather fronts.”
Many of the unicorns nodded in agreement with this plan. Starfall smiled widely. They were won over easily enough, and it further enforced his leadership in the military aspect as well.
Good, Starfall thought.
“Do you have a plan for rainclouds after the city falls to us? Surely the weather factory will not be in working condition.” Guiding Light chimed in.
“If we have to rebuild or repair the factory, we can wrangle the remnants of whatever clouds they’ve been building. We can also take advantage of the storms they’ve let run wild in the Everfree Forest. It should not be a problem.”
Guiding Light seemed satisfied with that and nodded her consent.
“I would like to bring it to a vote. All those in favor of this military plan?”
All of the unicorns in the room raised their hooves. Excellent, Starfall mused.
“The plan will take effect immediately. Bastion, you will head the forces in the attack on Cloudsdale. Dynasty will accompany you as the leader for our ground forces. The attack will occur as soon as you arrive. Since it is still early, you should have enough time to reach your staging area by nightfall. If you’re ready, you can attack them. They’re guaranteeing blue skies.”
Bastion and Dynasty nodded and bowed. They then left the room to their posts.
“The remainder of our forces will fall to Guiding Light and Lieutenant. Follow the path through Fillydelphia. You will be greeted hospitably, and it may force Stormbreaker’s forces to retreat to Manehatten. If that occurs, don’t push too much farther. I will join you in a few day’s time in Bastion’s place. The rest of you will assume the duties of court and council. You will also be responsible for raising and setting both Sun and Moon. Conserve yourselves.”
All of the unicorns stood and bowed to Starfall, who in return bowed to them.
“Make them regret their misplaced trust,” he said.
Permanently, his mind whispered to him.
--*--
Rainbow Dash woke up to another warm evening in Cloudsdale. The bed she lay in floated in the center of the guest room. Three of the walls in the rounded room held open windows, allowing a cool breeze to float gently through her feathers. It also allowed the sounds of an unusually busy city to drag her from a nap. She hovered over to the window to see what all the fuss was about.
Many of the guards that had been sent to train and equip the militia were scrambling to pass out equipment and packs to the waiting hooves of the troops. These troops fanned out into the city, kissing their wives and children farewell before lifting off. From what she could see, they were headed out of the city, in the path that those diplomats had come.
“That’s weird,” she said aloud.
Her curiosity took over her laziness. Diving from the window, she flew down to the main part of the city hall. It was a large open building built into the clouds to separate two whole tiers of the city. Above it was the school she had attended in her youth, as well as the arena where she had performed her Sonic Rainboom at the Young Fliers Competition. The entrance was on the housing tier, where much of the clouds had been broken down into many different buildings, each housing many families, and a few small businesses.
The hall itself was simple, with few furnishings, save for a lavish carpet in the center, and tables spread across the room. In the back, at the end of the carpet no less, were several desks and a door into the room holding the mayor. On each side was an entrance to a large meeting room, one of which she was frequently in to listen to diplomatic talks. That was her first stop.
She entered the room and found Peace Bloom busy writing on a scroll, while looking at a board with many different pieces on it. The burly diplomats from earlier in the week had returned and were adjusting different pieces on the same board.
Peace Bloom glanced up and beckoned Rainbow over to her.
“Rainbow, this is important. You need to get in contact with Twilight and the Princess immediately. Starfall has made his move towards Manehatten.”
Twilight! I need to talk with Luna, like, right now, Rainbow said, the anxiety bleeding through the connection.
OK. Hold on, came the response. There was silence for a moment.
Finally, Luna’s voice chimed in her head, Yes Miss Dash?
Peace Bloom, that’s the diplomat from Cloudsdale, wants you to know that Starfall - I think that’s his name - is sending armed ponies towards Manehatten. From the looks of it, Cloudsdale is sending almost everyone there to defend it.
Luna’s response faltered. Rainbow could feel the fear in her voice. They’re leaving... to go to war?
Yeah. I mean, it’ll be like that time in Appaloosa when the settler ponies used pies to subdue the Buffalo there.
Luna’s voice was confused, Pies? Rainbow Dash, be serious please. When ponies go to war, they kill each other. Its no joking matter.
Luna said something else, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t paying attention. Her whole body shook slightly just like she was during Celestia’s funeral march. War was never really explained to her very well in school, nor did she pay attention much even if it was taught. The only war that she had ever heard of was the Reunification War of Equestria almost 900 years ago, and it was because Twilight found it in some old book she wanted to study.
Where are you two? She managed to think.
In a city below the castle where you freed me from Nightmare Moon. For now, stay there. If anything happens, come find us here. Don’t put yourself in danger. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt. Neither would Twilight...
Ok. Rainbow lost her concentration on the connection.
“Is there anyone staying behind?” One of the Stalliongrad diplomats looked concerned. Rainbow was unaware of what conversation she missed, but her mind was just barely able to catch the conversation now.
“Yes. A small defensive force is here. Any who can will fight if it comes to it. We have already set up an evacuation plan.” Peace Bloom was sweating from anxiety. She wiped it off with her hoof.
“Good. Ensure that the tornadoes are ready to be sent tomorrow. If we can keep luring his forces forward to Manehatten, any tornado from behind will send his troops into a panic. It will be quick, and then we can take back Canterlot.”
She saluted them, and they returned in kind. “Just make sure the stallions and mares come home.”
“Stay vigilant Peace Bloom. May Celestia’s spirit protect you.”
“And you. All of you.”
--*--
The morning sun glinted over the corner of the mountains on the edge of the Everfree Forest. An army of pegasi and unicorns marched through the mountain paths, hiding behind its relative safety from the city of Cloudsdale. Their armor lightly jingled on the stone from the many soldiers lying in wait. Unicorns began to channel their magic, slowly weaving their spell together. Bastion trotted to the peak of the mountain, in plain sight of the city and sat down. His own magic began to surround him flowing behind his eyes to see far into the city.
Pegasi sat behind their clouds with crossbows and swords as best as they could make. Some of the leaders looked concerned at the lone unicorn, scrambling to get pegasi into positions all along the storm clouds that the city was brewing. The weather factory was barely containing the tornadoes they had put together, reigning it in with any tools they could use to adjust its ferocity. Bastion outright laughed.
Their weaponized weather would be the death of them.
His magic reached out into the weave behind them and drew himself as its guiding needles. The magic flowed around his own giving him full control over the weave. He tested their strength, tugging slightly on the sources of the magic. The unicorns made no noise, or movement, so he finished preparing the weave’s ruthlessness to unleash upon the poor foals in Cloudsdale.
Starfall looked towards the sky, feeling the wind on his face through the throne room in Canterlot. He could see the far mountains and the storm that brewed beyond it.
The weave is ready Starfall, came Bastion’s voice.
A smile played on Starfall’s lips, slowly pushing him into a wicked grin. Wipe Cloudsdale from the map.
Of course.
The screams from the Republic’s army rattled the front lines of Cloudsdale, and woke Rainbow from her sleep. She rushed to the window only to witness pegasi pouring over the mountains. They flooded the sky with their feathers, pushing the air out of the way as they charged the city. A strange magical force followed slowly behind them. Like a tsunami, the ocean-blue magic poured over the mountains reaching into the sky. The clear skies gave way to the darkness, the wave consuming whatever lies she was trying to tell herself.
It was real.
“FIRE!” Yelled one of the Cloudsdale defenders below.
A volley of crossbow bolts flung themselves skywards at the charging pegasi. The magic wave reacted first, pouring in around the attackers and burning the crossbow bolts as they touched it. Not all were spared from the meager defenses, as ponies fell from the sky into the storm clouds below. Screams of pain and fear mingled as the wave closed in on the city. Clouds evaporated at it’s touch, taking apart any defenses that Rainbow had watched the city build night and day.
“Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh,” she began yelling, frantically trying to fly into the tier with all of Cloudsdale’s homes. “WE’RE UNDER ATTACK! HELP!”
Ponies scrambled from their homes to look at the commotion outside. Panic gripped families who tried to leave with anything they could put their hooves on. Young foals and fillies could be heard crying among the confusion as scared parents tried to flee with them in their hooves.
The militia also left their homes and took to the sky, flying to the battle, drawing their weapons as they flew. The wave advanced upon the city. Just as it was about to crash right into it, the Republic’s pegasi broke from behind it.
Pegasus fought pegasus as they collided with one another in mid-flight. Loosely gripped swords clanged against expertly trained Repulic wingblades. Mare and stallion fell through the clouds to their doom below or dying as they fell. Hatred fumed through the ranks of hundreds of soldiers. The rough militia of Cloudsdale gave as many inches as possible to preserve whatever lives they had to protect. Any families still in the city did their best to escape the encroaching melee.
That's when Bastion began to truly weave the magic at his command. An expert at large magical spells, he began to coax the threads from each pony he had under his command. He worked out each individual string from the weave, letting the strands hang loose over the city. Then with a grunt, he dove each strand into the clouds, spider-webbing the different layers throughout. He could feel the clouds giving way slowly to the heat, allowing the storm clouds to rise through the gaps.
The storms burst through the clouds in random locations, spraying the soft platforms with fresh rain and ice. Lightining struck through homes and buildings, tearing up the battlefield. With the magic guiding the path of chaos and destruction, it worked its way into the weather factory. The walls cracked and heaved under the pressure of the storms within, without, and the magic piercing it from below. The ponies inside tried to stop the storms they had so carefully created, but they broke free of their constraints, smashing the walls into nothingness.
Rainbow couldn’t believe what was happening to the city. Before she knew it, she was caught within the melee. Blades danced around her, flinging sparks or blood into the air. Her body was knocked around as she tried desperately to weave in and out of danger’s way. One of the enemy soldiers swung wildly at her, and she reacted on instinct, rolling left and bucking him right in the head. The crunch was sickening and the stallion dropped through the clouds below.
Screams could be heard from all over the city as the magic worked their way into the sky. Anypony it touched started to lose their ability to fly, and fell into the storms below. Her instincts hit her full force now, and she bolted from the city, plowing through anything in the way except for the weapons she avoided. One slashed into her side and clipped her wing, but she spun to keep her momentum steady. The tendrils of magic rose around her like columns of water, which she launched herself around.
Just at the outskirts, she was grazed by one. Her wings locked in place and she started plummeting towards the forest beyond. Instead of fighting to stay up, she pushed herself to move faster diving full on. The air began to tighten around her body, and her breathing became weaker.
Bastion signaled to his counterpart at the base of the mountains by releasing her magic from the weave. The red mare licked her lips. The earth ponies behind her stood ready, but nervous. But that was alright, not that it mattered.
She would break them.
Do it, Dynasty. Bastion’s voice was strained, but clear in her head. She wanted blood.
“CHAAAAAAAARGEE!” She cried, leading forward into the valley below. Fire burst from her horn surrounding her body as she ran into the rampant storms. The ponies behind her echoed her cry, raising the banner of the Republic of Sun and Moon and charging in after her. Swords sung from their sheaths as they entered the storm.
The air pulled into a tight cone, ripping through the air like an arrow. The ground came ever closer as Rainbow tried to push harder. She only had one shot at this.
The first thing that surprised her was the army of ponies waiting for her. Unicorns in the formerly hidden group lifted their veil revealing a small force of soaked earth ponies waiting to meet them. Dynasty burst into hysterical laughter, pulling her magic to her and forcing it into the ground below. She stopped in place allowing the earth ponies to charge past her. Her body strained to rip the molten core from deep below the battlefield, pulling hard on her magic to force it towards the surface.
Your weave begins now Dynasty. Don’t overdo it.
She could feel Bastion’s magic intertwine with hers, weaving more of their loyal unicorns’ magic into hers. Her eyes went wide, and her smile deepened into insanity. Swords met somplace beyond her, where the armies fought.
Stormbreaker’s unicorns were desperate to destroy the red pony. They sent up flares of magic, weaving their might together before unleashing it into the sky. Lightning struck at the pony, but her magic was already around her. The rain fled from her as the heat increased around her. Bodies of dead or dying pegasi rained down from the city below fueling her excitement and glee. It was all so perfect. She couldn’t contain herself any longer.
Dynasty’s laughter pierced the air as the earth ruptured beneath the enemy. Columns of lava burst from the broken earth, consuming the dirt that once held it. Her magic teased them into column sized whips, lashing out at the lines below. Ponies were flung skyward, as the clouds above lifted higher.
But her magic ended abruptly when a huge boom thundered from up above, sending a huge rainbow blast across the skies. Bastion also felt the magic ripped from him.
Fortunately, the magic had done its work. Whatever was being held by the weave fell into nothing. blast wiped whatever was left of the cloud city into a growing crescent shape on its edge. The storm cloud was ripped to pieces, clearing whatever advantage those forces had. Those remaining numbered less than a few hundred, and they knew there was no hope for a counter attack. Their weapons dropped to the ground, and they surrendered.
Rainbow felt her body flying low to the ground, and she pulled up, loosing her supersonic speed immediately, and flinging her skywards. The trail dissipated behind her leaving her sore and helpless. Eventually she slowed down to a stop, and fell back down to the river below. Her eyes shut from the pressure, and she flared her wings out. The air whipped around her slowing her descent into a slower dive, breaking her already injured wing. The pain was more than she could take, and as she fell into the water, her consciousness slipped away.
Whatever ponies remained from Cloudsdale’s defenders, Bastion and Dynasty rounded them up and brought them into the muddy fields below. They stood side by side, surrounded by the Republic’s forces. He looked them up and down.
They were worn, and afraid. Some were crying softly to themselves, while others were simply too shocked to react. They each stared down at the ground as Bastion walked by, accompanied by a whimper or too.
Bastion reached out with his mind to the council chambers. The mind he seeked readily grabbed hold. Starfall, we are victorious, he thought, pride filling his mind.
What of the city?
Wiped from the map.
Starfall laughed out loud, filling the chamber with dark laughter. Excellent.
What shall we do with the prisoners?
Starfall went to answer, but instead cut the connection for a moment. He hadn’t planned for prisoners, nor did he have space for them. The best thing would be to use them to rebuild the factory, but if they could be freed, it would be a problem.
A though slowly whispered its way to the front of his mind. Kill them, it said. His smile grew wider. That would solve most of the possible problems from keeping them. He could always have other pegasi rebuild Cloudsdale.
He re-established the connection to Bastion.
Starfall? Bastion’s voice sounded almost immediately.
There weren’t any prisoners.
Sir?
When the future hears of this battle, there will be no prisoners from the first battle of the war. There were no soldiers that survived. It is a complete and utter victory.
Bastion hesitated and swallowed hard. Yes sir.
He looked at the ragged soldiers who were only protecting their home, and steeled himself.
“All forces begin the march northward! We go to Fillydelphia.”
Cheers went up in the crowd, and they happily complied, setting off at a brisk pace beside him. He nodded to two unicorns to stay.
Dynasty.
Yes, Bastion?
Let them believe they will be prisoners, but wait until we leave.
Then what?
Bastion could feel the excitement and anticipation bubbling through her thoughts. He steeled himself not to look back as his group passed over a hill. His gut screamed at him not to do what he was ordered. He bit down on his tongue and grated it along his teeth before gathering the will to give the command:
Kill them.
--*--
Rainbow coughed as hard as she could, expelling the water and mud from her mouth. Pain wracked her body all over. At least one of her wings was broken, but amazingly, she wasn’t more hurt than she should have been. Especially after her sonic rainboom right near the ground. Incredible luck must have been with her for the water she landed on rather than the solid ground.
She mustered enough strength to lift herself to her hooves. Her body wobbled as she tested one hoof, then the other. Once she found that she could walk again, she set off through the woods, doing her best to find her way out of the forest.
Twilight... Twi...? She tried desperately to reach out for a connection somewhere.
Rainbow Dash? Is everything alright?
No. Nothing is ok, except for hearing your voice. Cloudsdale... She hesitated. The images flooded her mind, going by over and over.
Rainbow? What about Cloudsdale?
I... I don’t know... I’m lost in the forest somewhere, and I’m bleeding I think. I can’t fly and there was so much blood.
Rainbow?! Oh Celestia, I’ll try to find you, just keep going south if you can manage it.
It hurts so bad, Twilight. I can’t feel the ground or my wing. How long have I been unconscious?
I don’t know Rainbow, just keep going.
At the campsite, Twilight was frantic. She had no idea what was going on with her friend, but it was clear that she was traumatized to no end. Luna was resting in the tent, and she had just started the fire for that evening. All of those duties left her mind as she opened the tent flaps.
“Luna! Something’s happened to Rainbow Dash!” she yelled.
Luna shot straight up from her sleeping bag, “Wha- what?”
“Rainbow Dash is in the forest somewhere! She’s hurt and trying to say something about Cloudsdale, but I can’t understand her.”
Luna took the necklace from Twilight’s neck and poured her magic into it. She felt a tug from it, trying to return to its other half. “I’ll go find her.” Her wings beat the air beneath her, and she took to the skies.
Rainbow Dash? This is Luna. I’m coming to find you.
Luna? Oh Celestia, please. I’m so scared. They killed everypony... Why? The pain... it hurts so bad.
Luna darted through the forest, speeding past the trees, following the tug of the necklace guide her. She felt the pull increase and she slowed down, walking quickly forward. Before long, she found the light blue pony, who collapsed into tears.
“Luna, they killed...” she bawled into her hooves.
Rainbow Dash looked horrible. Her entire body had bruises and cuts all over it. Her mane and coat were disheveled, stained with mud and blood from her wounds. The pony simply leaned into Luna’s coat as she lifted her onto her back, crying the whole way back to the campsite.
Twilight had paced for almost an hour until Luna returned, landing and taking off towards the sea.
“Rainbow Dash!” she cried, and chased after her.
They spent a good amount of time at the beach cleaning the blood and dirt out of her coat and mane. All the while, Luna worked magic on her to help ease the pain, and reset her broken bone. Rainbow’s thoughts began to settle, slowly at first, but then quicker as sleep started to take her. When they brought her into the warmth of the fire, Rainbow Dash lay her head on Twilight’s leg, and fell soundly asleep.
The three ponies stayed by the fire for a long time. Twilight and Luna watched the fire dance into the night. Its flames slowly grew tired, and the wood shrank to coals. Finally, when the moon was high overhead, the flames dropped to become a mere embers. The wind blew the heat into the air, warming them as they sat.
“I saw what happened.” Luna whispered, “I looked into her thoughts and watched them destroy everything.”
Twilight looked up at her, tearing.
“No one was spared. It was... haunting.”
“Is Rainbow... going to be ok?”
Luna hesitated, then sighed. “She won’t be the same again, but she will be alright. Maybe not right now, but soon.”
Twilight was silent. It was a few moments before she piped up, “This will continue the longer we take.”
“Yes.” Luna’s eyes cast to the ground.
“Then I would like to do what you asked of me.”
Luna blushed, and stammered over her words, “B-but I thought... you said...”
Twilight looked more determined now. She slid Rainbow’s head off of her lap, gently lowering it to the ground. She walked over and sat in front of Luna, staring right at her. “I don’t know if I’m ready, nor if this is the right thing to do when the world is falling apart around us. But... I trust you. If it will save everything we know, then its worth it. Not just for us, but for every foal and filly now and in the future.”
Luna smiled sheepishly. Twilight returned the smile, blushing in the process. She nuzzled into Luna’s neck, before pulling away.
“You know that I won’t force you into such danger.” Luna finally mustered the guts to look her in the eyes.
“I’m volunteering. Whatever happens, everything will be ok.”
The two ponies closed their eyes. Magic burst from their horns, sheathing them in their own magic. They focused more magic into their horns, Luna’s glowing ever brighter beneath the moon. Twilight opened her eyes first, waiting for Luna to do the same. When she did, they locked their gazes in place and their horns touched.
The magic blended together, creating a beautiful array of dark colors like blue, purple, and every hue or shade in-between. It coalesced together causing a single bubble of magic to encompass the two ponies shimmering a deep blue into the night.