Out of nowhere, something came in at blinding speed and caused an explosion right in front of the Shadow Unicorn Commander. This surprised him, but not enough to loosen the grip he has over the Chief. Then, two more explosions. All three explosions were intense. So much so, it created a cloud and lifted dirt, dust, and debris into the air and hurled in all directions.
“What now?” Nocturnal asked out loud.
As the cloud and dust settled, every pony gets a clearer view of what, or who is there. Three Pegasi, who seem to be wearing some sort of uniform outfit and eye-wear.
“I hope we are not late.” said one of them.
One of the Mustangoes asked out loud, “Who are you?”
Another of the three replied, “What? Haven’t you heard of the Thunderbolts? Well technically, we are Recruits in training.”
A breeze blows in to fill in the awkward silence accompanied by blank looks. Mustangoes never seen, or heard of such things for they know not of any occurrences that happen beyond their territory.
The Pegasus continues, “You all need to get out more often.”
Nocturnal is well aware who these newcomers are, and is very upset. In fact, his teeth may form cracks from clenching so much. The Second Chief grunts as he tries again to get out of the Shadow Unicorn’s grip, but to no avail. The Lead Thunderbolt darts her eyes around while holding her pose. First at the Chief, then at the Mustangoes and Shadowlings, then to the sky where the Shadow Pegasus Commander is hovering, and lastly in front at the Shadow Unicorn Commander. She has all the information she needs. Then whispers at the other two, “Follow my lead.” They agreed.
“I do not know what you ponder. Whatever it is it won’t w..”, before the Tyrant can finish his sentence, the lead Thunderbolt charges ahead towards him at same speed they arrived. It was fast, too fast. No pony saw this coming, not even the Shadow Unicorn as the Pegasus headbutted him right in the chest with such force, he tumbled away a few times before coming to a halt face down. At last, the pinned down giant is now free. The other two Pegasi were circling around Shadowlings, causing a vortex which sucked them right in from one end and spew them thru the other end. They have somewhat organized the battle field a bit by having Mustangoes on one side, and Shadowlings on the other. The Mustangoes were impressed. They are witnessing Pegasi, other than the Shadowlings, come together, whom are fighting on their side.
“I see. You are with us! But where did you come from? And why is this the first time seeing you all?” one of the Sentinels wondered.
“You REALLY need to get out more often” said one of the Recruits.
The Lead Pegasus responded, “Give them a break. Be honest, have YOU ever heard or visited this land before?”
The Recruit settled down “Point taken.”
As they continue their conversation, the battle seems to have taken an intermission, for there is a bit of organized chaos, excitement, elation, confusion, and surprises. This gave time for all sides to regroup and recover a bit. Unfortunately, this also gave time for Nocturnal and Airebelle to recover and further analyze the situation.
“Thunderbolts? Are they new?” thought the Shadow Pegasus Commander.
“I must gather my strength.” thought the Shadow Unicorn Commander.
And the Chief is on his hooves, still the figure that eclipses every pony on the field.
Back to the conversation, “I don’t get it. If you all never heard of this land, how did you know this location? And how did you know we needed help?” asked another Sentinel.
Remember the story of how the Neutrals established their little settlement? And, how they chose to live by themselves, yet on rare occasions they would meet wondering ponies? One of those wondering ponies happens to be a Pegasus who does some detective work. Some may label him as a spy due to the nature of his work. He consider himself as a Scout. He works by himself, and only reports to one boss. We do not know who. But anyways, he became good friends with the Neutrals. So much so, that they told him a bit about themselves and why their town is the way it is. He understood and reserved judgement, and promised them not to talk about it with any other pony. One of the Neutrals asked a big favor from him.
“If you happened to be traveling west, can you keep an eye out for a .. let say, not so friendly group of ponies that look like us?”
He nodded.
“Also, should you notice this .. particular group talk about or plan to do bad things when they come east, should you happen to be traveling east, can you let our ponies know about this threat?”
The Pegasus replied, “You have my word. I will.”
And so along his route west, he came across the Mustangoes. That group that spotted him repelled the Scout away from the village with sticks and stones. He decided to camp out near the sea. That is when and where the Second Chief of Arms met him for the first time. The Scout was on guard at first, but then he sees the Chief not doing anything hostile. They both relax a bit.
The Chief begins, “I apologize for what happened to you at the village. We rarely get visitors. And when we do, they are not the friendly kind.”
“I see.” said the Scout. “But, you are here, talking to me. Why? And how did you track me?”
The Chief answered one of his questions, “The wind just so happened to be blowing in our direction. Our noses picked up your unique scent. While every Mustangoes is on guard back at the village, I sneaked out and followed my nose. I guess it is a specialty we developed.” The Chief pauses to sit down to further relax before continuing, “As for your other question … I sometimes asked myself that. I could get in trouble should any pony from the village find out I am talking to an outsider, especially one from the east. I guess to directly answer your question, I just wanted to know you and your intentions.”
The Scout replies, “No need to worry Chief. I am a lone pony that wanders the world. I have been all over Equestria, but I have yet to travel this far west. I am curious what is out here.” A bit of relief came to the Chief. “You said you could get in trouble if you talk to an outsider. Particularly one from the east? Why is that?”
The Chief breathes in, and breathes out as his head angles downward looking at the ground.
“As you seen first hoof, tensions are running high in the village. Not so long ago, maybe a few moons in the past, there was a group of bandits that came from the east.” Instantly, the Scout remembers what the Neutrals told him. He further listens attentively. “The one time we let our guard down, our village gets raided by these scoundrels. We fought back. But they have done enough damage ...”
“I feel sorry this has happened to your ponies.” said the Scout out of sympathy. The Chief lightly shakes his head, as if he should not feel sorry for something he has no control over. Then the Scout added, “If there is anything I can do for you, I am at your service .. in secrecy of course.” The Chief was delighted.
To sum up a long story; lone Scout travels west for adventure. He barely noticed a hidden town. He makes friends with the Neutrals. He continues west. He was repelled by the Mustangoes. He takes a break near the sea shore. The Second Chief of Arms greets him and both became friends. He continues further west. He finally spots the baddy bandits, though they are much more than that. He secretly observes them, and catches wind on their evil scheme. He travels back east, secretly notifies the Second Chief of Arms. Continues east, notifies the Neutrals. Then makes a mad dash towards Cloudsdale where he knows a friend who knows a friend who knows a strong flier and is body guard material training to be a Thunderbolt on one hoof, and on the other is a vigilante who helps ANY pony and goes on adventures whenever possible. Then that Pegasus notified a couple close Pegasi. And that in turn caused a chain reaction of secrecy around Equestria letting trustworthy ponies know about trouble in the west that can potentially affect them.
“Wow!” one Mustango said in awe and shock.
“So they are outsiders of Equestrian origin.” another implied about the Shadow forces.
“There is a floating cloud village?” another asked in disbelief.
“More ponies are on the way here?” asked a Sentinel to one of the Recruits.
And one of them answers, “There may be. I can’t say for sure.”
This is not sitting well with the two Shadow Commanders. Nocturnal has lost his patience, while Airebelle sneaks into the clouds.
“No! Not good. We had the Mustangoes nearly wiped out, until these lily-livered Equestrian Pegasi interfered. Now more of them are on the way?” said to himself “They were already a burden to begin with since their Chief became a giant.”
The Shadowlings are noticing their Unicorn Commander having a tough time formulating a strategy. They continue to wait for their orders, or continue horsing around. Meanwhile, the Shadow Pegasus Commander gathered her Shadowlings already set their own strategy in motion. The others below are unaware.
“Enough down time. We should focus on our enemies.” suggested a Sentinel, also adding, “We can take on the Unicorn. We leave the Pegasi to you Thunderbolts.”
“Speaking of Pegasi, where are the rest of them?” asked a Thunderbolt recruit. Everypony is looking around.
“I can’t believe we took our eyes off of them. How careless of I!” said a Sentinel.
“Do not worry about it. I am sure they will show up again to back up their Unicorn leader. Maybe we can beat them to it if we all attack him at once.”
The Chief replies, “Sounds like a plan to me.” The Mustangoes and Thunderbolt recruits are ready to launch an all out assault aimed directly to their main opponent.
In a roar, the Chief signals “CHARGE!” as he leads it, practically already there.
The not so arrogant Unicorn charges up his horn, keeps a catalog of many advanced spells in the forefront of his mind. This is a desperate move he never wished to do. The Shadowlings brace themselves against the charging mega bull, as he takes a swing directly at them and their Commander, which the Unicorn nullifies. A distraction for the Bolts to come in at blinding speed rush to deliver a one-two-three successful hit directly to their enemy Unicorn, followed by a four-five-six successful blow from three of the Sentinels, that further launches him into the air, giving room for the goliath Chief to come back with another swing at a group of Shadowlings, hoping to send them on a one way trip to elsewhere. As he swings, the hammer goes thru. It is nullified! Not by their elite Commander, he is still in the air. Amazingly, the remaining Shadowling Unicorns gathered and pulled off a high-leveled skill! More Shadowlings charge at the giant, about to do the same as they did to their Unicorn Commander, but they are stopped by a sudden blockade of Mustangoes, which they keep that group of Shadowlings busy. The Chief then swings his hammer down to the Shadowling Unicorns, burrowing half of them into the ground!
All around everywhere Shadowlings vs. Mustangoes. As for the airborne Nocturnal, he reach peak height then starts falling down. During his fall, the Thunderbolts strike again in a fury of blows, until he finally forms a bubbles around him. He never thought he would be fighting an air combat, so he never bothered preparing for one. Something that the Chief quickly tracks, as he takes another swing at the falling Unicorn, the bubble disappears and turns into another form of protection, the same protection that nullifies attacks from the Chief’s hammer. The hammer goes through. As flawless as it was, one Bolt was right behind that hammer and strikes the Unicorn, sending him hurling into a stone wall. Another useful info that the Chief picked up.
“I see how his magic works.” he thinks to himself. “That was excellent Thunderbolts! One more assault!”
Thunderbolt recruits gather. The Lead Recruit is troubled by something.
“What’s up?” asked one to the Recruits to her Lead Pegasus.
She replies, “Strange. Still no sign of the Shadow Pegasi. I wonder..” before she could finish, a droplet fell on her muzzle. She looks up at the cloudy sky and thinks to herself, “Nothing seems out of the ordinary, just some dark clouds. Seem like it can rain in buckets at any ...”
She quickly realizes something, takes a look below at the flat dry basin, then looks at the sky again. It is then she realizes the imminent danger.
“Oh No!” out loud she said, then blitzes towards the dark clouds.
Inside she goes, coughing and hacking for it is extremely thick. She goes through a sizeable amount of thick clouds before reaching an opening.
“Oh my Spectra ..” she instantly tells herself once she sees this gigantic sphere of water, unfathomable to any pony’s mind. They have an intricate system of sucking out rain water from the thick heavy clouds that they made mixed in with natural clouds, then holding it in place. It started as one droplet, then a bucket, then a whole water tower, so on and so forth until it is now, a gargantuan sphere, still growing in size. You could probably fit ten large blue whales, maybe more. And what is keeping this massive, impossible ocean in its place is the sheer wind power by all the Shadow Pegasi circling at speeds that rivals the Thunderbolt Recruits.
“No time left, I must warn every pony!” she quickly dashes away.
Airebelle is absorbing this amazing feat her team has produced. It is like art to her. “I can look at this all day. But time is near. Those ‘no-stangoes’ are in for it.”
The frantic Bolt made her way out of the clouds and sees every pony and Shadows battling one another. With all of her breath, she lets out the only warning given.
“EVERYPONY! GET OUT OF THE BASIN!”
The Mustangoes on the ground heard a sound. “What was that?” asked one of them.
Another pointed at the sky, “It came from up there! I think a Thunderbolt is trying to warn us about something”.
It is too late. “RELEASE!” shouted the Shadow Pegasus Commander.
The Shadowlings changed their wind formation in a way that when they released this ocean of water, it funneled into a huge, steady stream directly onto the dried lake. The water is released. The poor Bolt that tried warning everypony was directly in its cross-hairs. She got taken by this water beast.
“What is that?” asked a Mustango.
It is a pressurized river barring down on them very fast. Goes without saying, they never witness this abnormal phenomenon either. The Chief is too late to react. All he can do is shout.
“Oh no! RUN!”
Imagine this is a big waterfall crashing down into rocks and making the sounds a waterfall resonates. Now add in many many many tons of pressurized, funneled power produced by the Shadowling Pegasi, and multiply the waterfall, volume and all, ten folds, twenty folds, fifty folds. All of it made impact almost dead center of the dried up lake. The poor villagers did not stood a chance as it wiped them out. The force of water was so great, a lot of it bounced into the air and came down again as a second waterfall. This massive, impossible deluge kept coming down, it seemed like it would never end. The poor Mustangoes, the Chief, even some of the Shadowlings that were in the basin were swept away somewhere.
Fortunately, the Chief is gigantic enough to stand on his hooves and not drown. But he has to hurry and scoop up as many of his ponies as he can and as soon as he can, for he does not know how much more the water level will rise. Some of the Shadowling Pegasi did rescues of their own, grabbing as many comrades as they could and leaving them at the edge of the basin above water. The Chief kept going back into the water, scooping more ponies up, bringing them back to the shore, then again and again until he can no longer keep his head above water. He rescued the last bunch, then falls on his hands and knees. He now is completely exhausted. So much so, that his gigantic body remorphs back to his original pony form, as he fully collapses, gasping for air. His great Nature power, gone. His divine hammer, gone. The whole ordeal was too much for him and everypony. The Sentinels that can still stand quickly go to their Chief.
The two Thunderbolts search for their comrade who was taken away by the torrent, still coming down from the sky. They spot her belly up drifting away. They grab and take her where the rest of the Mustangoes are somewhat gathered. Their numbers not as high as before.
“Is everypony okay?” a Sentinel asks. Some of them responded “uh huh”.
He realizes where they are currently located, at the base of Mount Mustango. The cave clearly visible from his vantage point. He looks at the entrance of the cave, still guarded by a Sentinel at the entrance stealthily looking out as that guard signals back giving a status update by body and hoof sign. The Sentinel looking at the cave sees a filly poking her head out to take a peek outside. As she looks towards the direction where everypony is gathered, she is shocked to see them at their current state. Her mother takes her back in.
“As if things can’t get any worse.” the Sentinel speaks being frank about their situation.
At the other side where the Shadowlings are gathering, one of them rallies the group. “Hey, let's take them down while we still can.” They gather and start their movement towards the Mustangoes.
Mustangoes began conversing with one another. “Oh my goodness. The dry basin is now a lake.” said one of them. Everypony noticed the basin that they used to know has changed. “How much more is this water going to rise?” The water still creeping up the edge. Not many Mustangoes been to the site where their civilization started. They have only imagined it by stories told by their predecessors. They recognize details about the site as they locate important landmarks. “The Stonewall!” Every Mustango gasps. A Sentinel states the obvious, “That wall is well submerged by now.”
Every Mustango is feeling the somberness vibe around them, as if everything they have done is for nothing. They are witnessing their kind being further reduced to less significance.
“Here they come!” one of them shouts. At this point, even though the numbers on both sides have been further reduced, the Shadowlings still out number the Munstangoes. They have no choice but to keep going with the little strength they have left. A few Mustangoes from random sides tried a sneak attack on the group, but the Shadowling Unicorns repelled them away. A Thunderbolt manages to sneak nearby a dark cloud. She bucks it causing a lightning bolt to shoot down, hitting the Shadowling group, knocking them down. The Bolt celebrate briefly, enough time for a Shadowling Pegasus to come at her from behind with a side flying kick, sending her down to the ground. Shadowlings surround and capture her. All Shadowling Pegasi swarmed down on top of the Mustangoes and few Sentinels. They tried fighting them off, but there were too many and were quickly overpowered and captured. The remaining Sentinels were also surrounded, still guarding the downed Chief.
One of the Sentinels did something unexpected. He did it very well. He took off his headgear and raised it with his left hoof abruptly, the Shadowlings halted for a moment, as if they were expecting a sudden attack, which in a way it was as he did a quick circular, winding motion, then threw his helm at a random Shadowling right to the forehead, stunning him. They quickly overpowered the remaining Sentinels and the Chief.
“We got ‘em all!” cheered a Shadowling, as the rest cheered in their own way.
Not entirely true. When that Sentinel raised his helm with his left hoof and spinned it, that was a hidden code exclusive to the Sentinels. The guard hiding in the cave picked up the distress signal, something every Sentinel had hope to never ever see. The guards, one inside and one near the entrance, along with all the mares, fillies, and colts, escaped into the mountain’s intricate system of hidden passageways. As they reach the exit, something stops them in their tracks.
Back at the other side of the mountain, the Shadow forces are savoring their victory over the Mustangoes. The Shadow Pegasus Commander makes her way to the center and speaks. “Well done my Pegasi!”
The Chief is held on the shoulders of two Sentinels that are closely surrounded by Shadowlings. He wakes up to find himself and his ponies surrounded by darkness. Heart broken and defeated, the Chief can literally do nothing more.
“Shadowling Unicorns, where is your Commander?” asked the high ranked Pegasus.
“Right .. here.” answered the battered and exhausted, yet still arrogant Unicorn Commander, as he seems to be holding something.
“What is that? Are you holding a piece of rock?” asked Airebelle.
“Good question. I’ll let the Chief answer it.” replied Nocturnal.
The Chief did not want to humor his intolerance, but he looks anyways at what Nocturnal is holding in his hoof of what appears to be a piece of slab with symbols on it.
“No!” responded the helpless Chief, for all he can do is watch the Commander drop that piece of stone, and forcefully stomp it, breaking into smaller pieces of rocks. It is now indistinguishable.
Airebelle is amused, “Ha! I see you were precise to your metaphor.”
“Of course. Except for their civilization crumbling part. I planned on giving them a proper funeral by opening a rift into another place far worse than Tartarus as a good gesture sign. Of course, it takes a high leveled individual to conjure that kind of spell, such as myself. And, a massive amount of magic, which thanks to you Mustangoes, I have very little of.” Some of them grunted in disgust for they have never met such a foul fiend. He continues, “Instead, we will have to settle for something more brutish. Not my kind of style, but effective.”
The Shadowlings grabbed a big heavy rock, tied a rope to it from one end. “Who pony better to go first none other than .. the Chief!” implied the ruthless Unicorn.
Mustangoes are stunned in disbelief. They struggled to get free, but to no avail.
“What are you doing? Get your dirty hooves off our Chief!” Out cried one of the Sentinels next to the Chief as he is quickly pinned down.
The Chief’s legs are now tied and bound to this large rock. The Shadows now take possession of Mustangoes’ beloved leader and carry him and the boulder towards the ledge. In doubt that he will be asked any last words, the Chief speaks one last time.
“Mark my words, fiendish leader of the Shadows. You may have defeated us, and may rid of us Mustangoes. But you will NEVER - EVER - rid of Nature. She WILL come at you hard and smite you down!”
All of the Shadowlings burst out a laugh.
“Toss him!” ordered the Unicorn.
Thus, the Chief and boulder were launched into the air to fall and drown into the newly formed lake, courtesy of the Shadow Pegasi team.
“Chief!” shouted all the Mustangoes.
Then the Unicorn ordered, “Prepare the Sentinels. They are next.” The Chief fell a long fall, but never made a splash. Two Pegasi bolted in and caught the Chief and rock just in time. As they slowly make their way to the top ledge, the Mustangoes gasped. Nocturnal turned around and see the other two Thunderbolts carrying the Chief and rock. They place them down, and severed the rope.
You can bet the Nocturnal is not pleased to see them again as he admits, “Oh. I completely forgot about you two.” The Shadowlings quickly jump on them, making sure they do not attempt any more heroic acts. “I should have handled them immediately. A mistake I will not make again. Quickly, tie them as well!”
They had just enough ropes to tie up the legs on both of them. The Shadowlings begin creating more ropes.
“Thank you Thunderbolts” said a Mustango. “Thank you very much!” another speaks in tears.
Nocturnal impatiently orders, “Hurry and send them to their aquatic grave. Their sentiments are making me nauseous. It seems that is the only thing they have an abundant amount of to compensate for their loss of ‘Neigh-ture’ power.” Every Mustango collectively grunted under their breaths for the Tyrant has hit a nerve.
One of the Thunderbolts stirs up a peculiar dialogue with the dark Tyrant, “I know you have no honor, but you could have at least properly given the Chief the opportunity to say his farewells to his ponies.”
The Mustangoes look at each other in a bit of shock and much confusion.
The Unicorn Tyrant responds, “You are right. I have no honor. As for last words, he uttered them out before his fall.”
She then continues, “Hmph. You can act and carry this macho, malevolent, high nosed snobby facade and strike fear into those weaker than you, or you can have a real impactful impression when you duel another Unicorn of your caliber. And when ponies see you are defeating other Unicorns as powerful, no, more powerful than yourself, that is when they fear you the most. Especially if the Unicorns you defeat are the ones everypony know and admire.”
“I have no interest in such sport. And, if you don’t shut your hole, I will tie a rope around your muzzle myself!” replied Nocturnal.
Everypony are wondering what is going through that Thunderbolt’s head, still she continues. “Okay, okay .. on one condition.”
“Really? Have you forgotten you are the one tied?” instantly responded the ticked Unicorn.
She continues insisting proper etiquette out of the intelligent brute, “Call me crazy, but I am not letting your rudeness go. Properly ask the Chief if he has any last words. I promise I will be quiet. Oh, how rude of me. Please properly ask the Chief if he has any last words.”
Nocturnal ignores her as he is trying his best to meditate to gather up strength. As if he and the other Shadowlings were not annoyed enough, she then continues, “Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please Please .. ”
“Urgh! Are you done making ropes?” he snarled.
“Not yet sire!” hastily responded a Shadowling.
The Shadow Pegasus Commander, as well as other Pegasi, used both main feathers to cover their ears as the daring Bolt continues to test their patience, “Please Please Please Please Please -- I can do this all day -- Please Please Please Please Please ”
The impatient Unicorn just wants silence. “Fine!! Any last words you infatuated Nature loving simpleton?!”
The Chief looks towards the outspoken Bolt for a clue. Unsure whether to answer or stay silent. The Bolt looks at the Chief and gives a sudden wink. And so the Chief answers, repeated the words he said before his anticipated demise. Those words were:
“You may have defeated us, and may rid of us Mustangoes. But you will never - EVER - rid of Nature. She WILL come at you hard and smite - you - down!”
Right on queue. In an instant, the dark clouds cleared up like a ripple effect, from one little circle to a huge clearing and beyond.
“What the hay!?” exclaimed Airebelle.
The sun and the blue sky has been re-introduced to the landscape below. A sudden unexpected phenomenon that shocked every pony, but a much welcoming sight for the Mustangoes. The Shadowlings are nervous as they look around.
“You have got to be kidding me!” With a desperate look on his face, the Nocturnal is livid at this point, looking around aimlessly as he sees no pony else other than the ones already there. The cheeky Bolt is enjoying every moment of the Commander’s reaction, absorbing their response to their current disposition. She can barely contain her amusement as she cracks a little smirk. The Unicorn Tyrant seems less of one, for he cannot think straight anymore, for he knows this is not a good sign of what may come to him and his army. Desperation has taken over him as he turns to the Bolt who was talkative a moment ago. He noticed the subtle look on her face has slightly changed. Enough of a difference that he is convinced she knows what is going on. So he implies it.
“You ..”
“Me?” rhetorically responded the Bolt.
“You have something to do with this.”
The Bolt rolls her eyes to look another direction and says, “I do not know what you are talking about.”
That was it. The last mane strand of his patience has been plucked. Nocturnal took over the Shadowling’s task and finished making the rest of the ropes.
“This should suffice.” he said using his magic to wrap the ropes around as many Mustangoes as he could in a bunch. “There! Now march them off the ledge. I don’t care who goes first - oh what the hay, March all of them at once! End them all now!”
The silence was quickly filled by the sounds of Shadowlings and Mustangoes struggling with each other. But the Shadowlings still have the upper hand and force the villagers to the ledge.
The Tyrant added one more thing, “Oh, and put that cheeky Bolt in front of the pack. Let see you smirk now.”
One Shadowling carries the Bolt to the front. She decided to take initiative and throws the tied up Bolt off the ledge. Every pony gasps. She probably had enough of the Bolt as much as her Commander. She then goes to any pony she can grab.
“Good! Keep it going until they are all gone!” praised the savage Unicorn.
The group of tied up villagers are near the edge of the drop off when suddenly, the thrown Bolt magically re-appears in front of the group, standing on all four hooves untied. The villagers, and the other two Thunderbolts gasped, then breathed a sigh of relief.
“No way! No Pegasus have Unicorn magic!” outbursts Airebelle.
Then, behind the reappeared Bolt emerges two filly Unicorns, as they each stand on either side of the Bolt.
“Only two filly Unicorns? .. Stop playing and show yourself whoever you are, wherever you are!” demanded the Unicorn Commander.
“Look up there!” said one of the villagers who noticed something. Rather, some ponies. More Pegasi. They are more Thunderbolt recruits, who were the ones that cleared the sky seamlessly. Then more random Pegasi showed up. As they come closer, one of them looks familiar.
“Ah .. it’s .. you.” said the Chief.
“It is good to see you again Chief.” said the wandering Scout.
Then, more Unicorns and Earth ponies started appearing, by magic or transit. Another familiar set faces to arrive at the scene were a small group of Neutrals. Mustangoes were utterly relieved when they started seeing familiar faces accompanied with the newcomers. Those faces are the ponies they thought they lost in battle. More and more kept appearing. It was a miracle in their eyes as it seems all of them are okay. The Chief looked around hoping he would see his comrade, his superior. But, it seemed he would be the only Mustango not appearing. He can only imagine the worst thing has happened to him. He then shifted his focus on the overall good outcome of this day. Soon enough, the scene of the Shadow forces out numbering the villagers was completely reversed, many times over. There were the fully recovered Mustangoes as well as the newcomers from the east, in the variety of Earth, Pegasi, and Unicorns in great numbers. Impossible for the Shadows to take on such an army at their current state, they were quickly disarmed, diffused, and taken away. All of them, including the Hammer Hard Rock, who was captured along the way, sent to Tartarus.
Their journey towards the west was a long, restless one for the newcomers. So they took a day to relax, recover, meet and enjoy each other’s company. Then the next day came when they had to leave. Though the Mustangoes did not show it, there was a bit of sadness, for a part of them wanted the newcomers to stay. But they understood they needed to return back to their families, their responsibilities, their home back in the east. After clearly seeing first hoof what a difference having a variety of ponies in their village can make, the Chief can only think that maybe it is time for the Mustangoes to adapt to the changing world around them.
And so he said to the departing, “I hope you all come back again. We promise not to throw sticks and stones.”
A Scholarly Unicorn replied, “Of course! I have to say, even though I am not a Shadowling, knowing that they came from Equestria makes me feel kind’ve responsible, and ashamed at what our society has produced.” A lot of them murmured in agreement. He added, “So I want to make things right by helping you all rebuild your village.” And this sentiment comes from a Unicorn who only seen maybe a quarter of all Equestria.
Another one, an Earth pony, has traveled most of their region said, “I feel the same way. You bet I will be coming back. Besides, you have to show me more of your sports.” And the others echoed their same thoughts.
“Looks like your village will soon become a popular destination place.” said the Scholar Unicorn.
With that said, they all part ways. Little did the Scholar Unicorn know, that destroyed village would become more than a popular destination site. Gradually over time as the village was rebuilt, ponies from east Equestria were interested about a new place outside of their region to the west. More ponies started traveling to the rebuilt Mustango village. It was a long journey, so out-posts, other villages and small town were built to ease the burden that comes with long distance travel.
Two new villages were built east and west near the Neutrals. No pony knew the Neutral village was even there until the new villagers and the Neutrals met by accident. From there on they became good neighbors. An established, dedicated dirt road from east to west was naturally built, a by product from all the hoof steps and wagons wheels rolling to and from. Overtime, The Mustango village grew into a town, then a big town as more huts and wood structural homes were built to meet the growing population. Travelers were coming in from all over. Places like; Los Pegasus, Van Hoover, Ponyville, Appleloosa, even as far east as Baltimare, and as high as Cloudsdale. Eventually, even the Royals noticed and heard ponies from Canterlot traveling to this new popular destination.