//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Next Step // Story: My Final Pony Fantasy II // by Vimtrust5 //------------------------------// The airship landed safely near Altair. As the party disembarked, they thanked Cid and his crew, waving happily at them. "Thank you, Cid," said Firion. "Maybe we'll need your services again sometime." "It's possible," said the expert pilot. Altair Before our heroes went back into the base, they decided to share the good news with Gordon. He was ecstatic that they succeeded in bringing mythril and praised them for their courage, but still expressed self-doubt. "Don't worry, Your Highness," said Twilight. "You'll find it someday." The group returned to the hideout with high spirits and met with Princess Hilda once more. "Princess Hilda, good news!" said Twilight. "We've brought the mythril you asked us to bring!" "Well done!" Hilda congratulated. "Minwu, you have done well." "Thank you, Your Highness," said the white mage. "Hurry, take the mythril to Tobul. He's the blacksmith at the weapon shop." "Yes, Your Highness." The team bowed to the princess and left the base for the weapon shop and found an elderly man wondering about in the shop. "Excuse us," said Firion. "Yes?" "We're looking for someone named Tobul. Are you he?" "Oh, don't mind me," the man replied. "I'm just an old man." "Would you change your mind if we showed you... this?" The old man couldn't believe his eyes. "Why... why that's mythril!" "Yes, it is." "Well... why didn't you say so in the first place? I'll get to work on it right away." Tobul took the mythril out of Firion's hand and began his work. "How long will take to complete these weapons?" asked Twilight. "You can't rush art, young lady." "B-B-But Palamecia... the Dreadnought...!" "These things take time, Twilight," said Maria. "No need to rush." Twilight's right eye twitched. "'No need...?' 'NO NEED?!' You heard what Josef said. Since this 'Dark Knight' came along, that Dreadnought thing's about to be complete and could attack us or some other village at any time! I don't even want to think about it, but what if they succeed? What if they win?! The Emperor's also after Equestria, too! He's gonna--" She began to hyperventilate. "He's going to go after everyone I know and love... My friends... my brother... Princess Celestia..." "Twilight...?" Fluttershy said nervously. The young alicorn's panic attack worsened as she panted and panted until she gasped, collapsing to the floor. "Twilight!" everybody cried. "Oh no!" Cadence gasped. "She's fainted!" "There's no time to waste," said Minwu. "Follow me!" "But where?!" Spike shouted. "Let's get back to the base!" said Firion. "You need some help?" asked Tobul. "That won't be necessary," said Maria. "You just keep working on that mythril. Thank you." Everyone carried the poor girl out of the store. In the same chamber where they met, Firion carefully placed Twilight on the sigil. Minwu began to chant while the others watched, hoping whatever spell he was going to cast would work. "Let us leave her be for now," said the white mage. "Are you sure?" asked Cadence. "Is it really alright to leave her like this?" Fluttershy added. "As much as I hate to say this, yes," Minwu answered. "Come. We will let Her Highness know." As they all left the chamber, Spike looked back at his unconscious friend, hoping for a quick recovery. Two hours later... The group returned to the chamber and knelt before the purple alicorn. "Twilight?" Fluttershy. "Please wake up..." The purple alicorn's eyes stirred, slowly opening. Everybody smiled. "How... how long was I out?" she asked. "About two hours, I'm afraid." "Two hours?! Has the Empire attacked yet?" she asked. "Luckily, no," said Maria. Twilight was about to get back on all fours when Minwu stopped her. "Wait! Don't move." "But..." Twilight noticed that she began struggling to move. "You've regained consciousness, but the spell isn't complete yet." "But, what about the mythril? And the Dreadnought?" "Let us worry about warship now," said Guy. "You need rest." "B-But..." Princess Cadence sighed, feeling she was going to regret saying what she was about to say. "I'm afraid you can't come with us to Bafsk for now." Twilight's eyes grew wide. "What? But why?" "We're really sorry, Twilight, but given your current condition," said Minwu, "you cannot even stand right now or even walk." "But the Empire..." "There's... actually some good news," said Firion. "There is?" "Apparently, the Dark Knight's been taken off the project and replaced with Count Borghen, and the people's brainwashing wore off." Twilight stared in disbelief. "And you didn't tell me earlier because...?" she said, trying to stand up. "Oh..." She sat on her belly, facing her colleagues. "How did you get this information?" "We have a spy among the imperials," Minwu stated. "He infiltrated Bafsk to report on the Dreadnought's progress, and that is how we gained intel on the existence of this weapon in the first place." "I guess I shouldn't be surprised." "Please, don't hurt yourself, Twilight," said Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, Spike..." said Cadence. "Will you stay here with Twilight? I'll be going with them to stop the Dark Knight." The pegasus and dragon turned to look at her, then turned to each other wondering if this was the right thing to do. After much thinking, they both agreed. "Please be careful, Princess Cadence," said Flutterhsy. "I will," she replied. *music stops* And so, our heroes set off once more into the field, but not before returning to the weapon shop and purchasing the weapons Tobul had created: a mythril knife, mythril mace, mythril spear, and a mythril sword. According to the map, the village of Bafsk stood several miles east of Poft. Making their way east of the village , they entered the village surrounded almost entirely by stone, with the intent of destroying the Dreadnought. Bafsk Despite the sun shining brightly, a dreary atmosphere pervaded the town. Our heroes took notice of this the moment they set foot in the village, observing the inhabitants walking around in fear, looking in several directions. Firion approached one resident of the village asking, "What's going on here?" "We've been enslaved to build the Dreadnought," he said. "I... I can't remember anything. At least, when the Dark Knight was here." Another villager approached them. "Y-You're rebels, aren't you?" They nodded. "Please... please destroy the Dreadnought." "We will," said Maria. "Just so you know," said another resident. "You'll need a pass to enter that ship." "A pass?" asked Guy. "Yes." Going further, they came across a short and chubby man who had a red nose, red hair, and a squat face. He wore fancy clothes: striped trousers, a cape, a red tunic with medals, gold gloves, and an oversized trifoil cap. "Borghen," Minwu muttered venomously. "So that's the traitor?" asked Cadence. "Come on, you lazy good-for-nothings! Move it!" Borghen commanded. "Mooooove it! Finish its construction as quickly as your pathetic selves can! You're going to advance my position in the imperial army." Leaving the sadistic count and his men alone, they ran into an imperial soldier standing next to one of the buildings all by himself. Cautiously, they approached him. "Ever since Count Borghen came as the Dark Knight's replacement," he said, "it's been easy for us here. But he sure seems like an idiot--oops, you never heard that." He then took notice of the pink alicorn amongst them. "So, it's true. There are magical creatures. I doubt even they know where the rebels are though." "What if I told about the 'Wild Rose?'" asked Cadence. "You... You spoke?" the man replied. "And you know the password? Then you all must be..." "That's right," Firion answered. "We're in the rebel army, under the command of Princess Hilda." "Ah, comrades! I wasn't able to move around when the Dark Knight was commanding this operation. Borghen is only a pig-headed fool. He doesn't care about anything but himself." "That is why he betrayed our kingdom of Fynn and defected to Palamecia," said Minwu. "Tell us what you know of the Dreadnought." "I figured that was your reason for being here. As you guessed, I am not a soldier of the Empire; I'm a spy for the rebellion. Just go around the building behind me and you'll find the entrance to the sewers ahead," he declared, pointing ahead of the group. "Will it take us to the Dreadnought?" asked Maria. "Indeed. Well that's enough talk for now. Don't want to rouse suspicion. Good luck." Our heroes found themselves in the area underneath town and trekked onward through the shallow waters and acquiring whatever treasures they could find. Along the way, they encountered several monsters including balloons like the ones they fought at Semitt Falls, along with undead zombies. Upon defeating these creatures, our heroes attributes increased and their magical and physical skills grew stronger. Going through the narrow corridors, they went down another level with determination. Once we find that thing and destroy it, Cadence thought, we'll beat the Emperor and be one step closer to saving you, Flurry. Upon turning right, the party went straight ahead and after several twists and turns through the narrow corridors, they noticed something and came to a stop. "Who's that?" Firion asked. A man in unique Palamecian armor stood right on front of them. "It cannot be..." Minwu uttered. "Yes, it is I, the Dark Knight!" he confirmed. "You're all too late, rebel curs. The Dreadnought is complete." He glanced at Princess Cadence who returned the favor with a stern glare. "I see you have an equine with you as well." "What do you mean..?" asked Minwu. "The one I'm talking about is merely an infant, but she has wings and a horn like that pink one." Cadence gasped. "Flurry!" "Oh, you know her? Could it be that she is your child?" he mocked. "You will stop this madness and tell your Emperor to release my baby!" Cadence commanded. The Dark Knight chuckled, unaffected by the Princess' anger. "You make me laugh, you really do." Cadence growled. "Just what are you doing here?!" Firion exclaimed. "Did you think I'd return to Palamecia before my duty was done?" the Dark Knight replied. "Give up. You and your rebel friends stand no chance against the Emperor. I will leave you to think it over. Farewell for now." Maria stood still, perplexed. That voice, she thought. He sounds so familiar. Just then, Count Borghen appeared taunting our hereoes. "Too bad, rebels!" he laughed, escaping. "Maria! We go after them!" said Guy. "R-Right," she answered. They went after him, but it was too late. The Dark Knight escaped into the completed Dreadnought, and his pursuers watched in horror as it took off, ready to destroy everything in its path. Cadence gasped. "Oh, no..." Immediately, the Princess of Love believed she had to do what needed to be done. "Everyone, get back to town! I'll try to stop it myself!" she said. "What?!" everyone cried. "Princess Cadence, you can't...!" Firion tried to say, before the pink alicorn took flight. "What we do now?" asked Guy. "We can't just abandon her!" said Maria. "...D-Damn it!" The humans went back into the sewers, grabbing a pass out of a treasure chest in the last room. Something they needed later on... Cadence flew high in the ground with the intent of stopping the warship in front of her from causing more pain and suffering. But before she could even reach the vessel, one of the turrets aimed directly at her. Seeing this, she attempted to conjure a shield, but before it could be finished, a missile came right at her; the force of the blast knocked her unconscious, sending her falling to the ground! Elsewhere, Firion, Maria, Guy, and Minwu returned to Bafsk and saw something in the distance. "There's something falling from the sky!" Minwu pointed. "It Princess Cadence!" said Guy. Maria gasped. "Oh, no!" "Come on!" The humans raced to the area where Cadence was falling, hoping to catch her in time. Just when it looked like she was about to crash, Guy jumped as high as he could and grabbed the princess. "We've got to help her!" said Maria. "That makes two princesses in just one day," said Firion. The humans carried her back to Bafsk. *music fades out* Meanwhile, at the rebel base in Altair... Twilight finally regained some of her strength, though she was still worried about everything that had happened so far. She along with Spike and Fluttershy met with Princess Hilda in the meeting room. Also in the room were the same Crystal Ponies they rescued. "How are you feeling, Twilight?" asked Fluttershy. "You okay?" said Spike. "I... I think so," Twilight answered. "Oh, Princess Twilight. Please don't strain yourself..." said Hilda. "I'm sorry, everypony. But I can't help worry about the whole situation. What with you and little Flurry Heart being abducted, the Emperor's plans and all..." She then looked towards the human princess. "I'm sorry, Your Highness." *music stops* Suddenly, everyone present felt powerful tremors. "No..." said Hilda. "It cannot be..." "It can't be, it can't!" Twilight said, sharing her worries. Just then, a man burst into the meeting room panicking. "Your Highness! The Dreadnought's operational! It's attacking us!" "No...!" "Twilight! You've gotta do something!" Spike urged. "Please, Twilight," said Fluttershy. The purple alicorn tried to conjure the best spell she could think of, but her emotional state was causing a strain on her magical abilities and her physical strength. "Come on, Twilight..." "Uuuuuurrgh...!" Twilight groaned. Before she knew what happened, her whole world suddenly turned black again... *music fades out*