Groaning, Arc awakens. Looking out the window instinctively he notices that the sun has set and the moon has risen.
Groaning, Arc awakens. Looking out the window instinctively he notices that the sun has set and the moon has risen.
“Ugh… what… happened?”
The sound of hooves approaching rings out.
“The Infirmary, sir.”
Arc turns to see Redheart looking at him. “Why…?”
“I’m told you collapsed on the Bridge. Can you tell me what you were doing there?”
Arc thinks for a moment.
“I was… telling Thunderlane to… uh…”
Suddenly he sits straight up and gasps.
“…change course!”
“Sir?”
“We have to get to Ponyville right away!”
“And we will. But you should rest now.”
Arc shakes his head and stands.
“No! I have a job to do!”
Running back toward the Bridge, Arc reenters and runs over to the helm.
“Thunderlane! Where are we?!”
“About ten minutes from Light’s Hope, sir.”
Tight Ship nods from the captain’s chair. “We’re almost there.”
Arc turns to the comms. “Any chatter on the radio?!”
Lemon Hearts shakes her head. “No sir. It’s dead.”
Soarin frowns. “We’ve already verified that our own receiver is indeed working. There just isn’t anything to pick up.”
“Weapon systems?!”
Wrangler grins. “Online, sir.”
“Scanners!”
Moon Dancer shakes her head. “No other ships in range, sir.”
Arc clenches a fist as he turns toward the door. “Lemon Hearts, give the order for all of my forces to assemble in the Cargo Bay at once!”
“Yes sir.”
Soarin turns to him. “Where shall we land, sir? Light’s Hope?”
“In front of the Town Hall!”
Arc runs down the corridor as Lemon Hearts’ voice rings out over the intercom. Cherry calls out to him.
“I’m sure Rarity’s okay. She’s a pretty tough mare when she wants to be.”
“Yeah. But she’s still no match for soldiers.”
“What could they have been after?”
Arc grits his teeth angrily. “I don’t know. But they’ll tell me when I get my hands on them, or else.”
Reaching the Cargo Bay, Arc hears the sounds of innumerable hoofbeats running toward him. The soldiers line up with the squad in front along with Sereb. They salute and wait silently for him to speak.
“Everyone, Ponyville is under attack and radios are down! We need to get down there and figure out what’s going on! All Pegasus troops step forward!”
They do so quickly. Standing before him, he points to each one individually as he says numbers one through four.
“Group one will go with Max to search the north. Group two is with Xenos to the south. Group three will reconnoiter the west led by Hugh. And lastly group four will investigate the east with Viktor. Keep flying and look for any citizens in trouble. If you’re attacked by anyone wearing armor you have permission to engage. Even if they’re Royal Guards, don’t hold back. Scout your sectors and meet back to the Town Hall where the ship will be parked and guarded by the Earth Ponies and Unicorns. Sereb, you’re with me. Are there any questions?”
Max raises a hoof. “Is this an invasion, sir?”
“Worse. I think it’s the work of traitors. That’s why all of you have permission to engage friendly forces if necessary. Anyone else?”
The room is silent as Arc nods. Hurrying over to a panel, Arc opens it to expose a large lever. Grabbing it, he pulls with all his might. The cargo bay doors open as he turns to the Pegasi and shouts over the din of the engines and wind.
“Max’s team, GO!”
They all jump out and take flight. One by one Arc orders his four groups out before turning to the others.
“When we land the rest of you will form a perimeter around the ship! Keep it secure so we can maintain a fallback position!”
Every guard nods soberly and salutes as they hold their weapons at the ready. A short time later the mammoth ship sets down on the soft ground near the Town Hall. Motioning for his forces to follow, Arc calls forth his new armor and jumps out of the ship. His troops fan out and surround the ship as massive floodlights come on, bathing the area in light as bright as day.
“Hold this ground and await the return of the recon teams!”
Arc jumps on Sereb’s back as the wolf begins running away from the ship. As Arc looks around he spots his forces flying all around the streets and peeking into various houses. Arriving at Carousel Boutique he spies one of his guards moving to land in front of it.
“Continue on! I’ll scout this building myself!”
The Pegasi nods and takes flight as Arc dismounts Sereb and makes his way toward the building. He immediately spots the ruins of the front door which is lying inside the shop in pieces.
“RARITY! SWEETIE BELLE!”
Hearing no reply, he hurries upstairs with Sereb following closely behind. Coming to Rarity’s room, Arc sees the door hanging at a sickening angle from a single hinge. Grabbing it, he rips the wood away to enter the room. Looking around he spots the furniture utterly destroyed, the lights smashed, and the single window overlooking the town shattered and blown inward. Cherry calls out to him.
“What’s that in the center of the room?”
Wordlessly, Arc casts a Light Spell and holds it aloft. Kneeling down he puts his gauntlet in a red spot on the floor.
“Blood!”
Cherry gasps. “They really were taken forcefully!”
Sereb growls. “So it would seem. I’m smelling several different stallion’s scents.”
Quickly standing, Arc looks around at the carnage. Clenching a fist, he seethes as he picks up a picture of Rarity and Sweetie Belle hanging on the wall. Staring at it for a long time Arc eventually speaks.
“But why?! They were innocent!”
Cherry sighs. “We should get back to the ship, Arc. Maybe some of your forces found something by now.”
Arc nods angrily as he puts the framed photo in his ring. “Yeah. Someone had to see something. Or at the very least they’d better have!”
Sereb raises an eyebrow. “Arc?”
“Because I need something to direct all this rage toward!”
Running down the stairs, Arc smashes through what’s left of the front door sending fragments of it over the path before him. Pausing only long enough to jump on Sereb’s back, they make their way quickly back to The Equinox. He spots his forces landing one by one in front of the open Cargo Bay doors. They salute and stand at attention as Sereb runs over to them and allows Arc to dismount.
“Report!”
Max salutes. “Nopony in my sector, sir.”
Hugh shakes his head. “Nothing but empty houses and a couple smashed doors, sir.”
Viktor sighs. “Same on my side, sir.”
Xenos points a hoof. “I saw a lot of lights on in the orphanage, sir.”
“Did anyone see any sign of life anywhere else in town?”
All the soldiers shake their heads as Arc looks them over. Turning, he motions for everyone to follow.
“Unicorns, take defensive positions around the perimeter of the ship! Everyone else follow me to the orphanage! Double time!”
A voice rings out behind them.
“Wait!”
Arc turns to see Hammer running down the gangplank toward him.
“I wanna help too!”
“Sure. The kid gloves are off though if we meet any resistance though.
Hammer grins as she pulls her gun. “Just the way I like it!”
Running down the path toward the outskirts of town, Arc’s squad flanks him on either side along with Hammer as his forces follow closely behind. Meanwhile inside the orphanage, Derpy works in the kitchen with Dinky, Coco Pommel, Natalya, and Gallus. The gray mare turns to her superior.
“We don’t have much food left, Miss Pommel.”
“I know, Miss Derpy. But we have to keep everypony properly fed.”
Gallus nods soberly. “That much we do understand, ma’am.”
Natalya sighs. “But our stores were only meant to feed the orphans and staff! Not the entire town of Ponyville!”
Coco Pommel shrugs. “That’s right, Miss Natalya. However we need to do all we can until all of this mess blows over.”
Dinky looks up. “Or help arrives.”
Gallus scoffs. “Help?! Hero of Light Decimus’ troops are keeping us in here for whatever reason!”
Natalya looks to her brother. “Remember, the official documentation from Canterlot stated that it’s to keep us and the town’s population safe from an impending attack.”
Gallus rolls his eyes. “Yeah… right.”
Coco Pommel frowns. “Decimus may be onto something though. You saw what happened to Rarity and Sweetie Belle.”
Derpy nods. “Something out there really hurt them badly.”
Natalya shudders. “And it must still be after them, because he’s sequestering them in the storage room.”
Gallus narrows his eyes. “Or he and his cronies did that!”
Coco Pommel bows her head. “I suppose that’s possible. After all, neither Sweetie Belle nor Rarity can tell us what happened.”
Dinky sighs. “They’re still out cold. Well, Sweetie Belle is anyways.”
Natalya turns to her. “Oh? Did they let you in to check on her?”
Dinky shakes her head. “No. I mean, I tried but the guards outside the door told me to go back downstairs. Normally I can contact her telepathically though.”
Derpy frowns. “And she isn’t talking back?”
“Not since they brought her and Rarity here, no.”
Coco Pommel turns back to her food preparation duties. “In any case, this can’t go on much longer. Whatever it was that hurt Rarity has to be nearby. The Hero of Light will most certainly kill it and we can all go back to our normal lives.”
Gallus groans. “I still have a bad feeling about all this.”
Natalya sighs. “Well, we can’t do anything about that, so let’s just focus on the here and now.”
“Which is…?”
“Keeping everyone fed and calm.”
Meanwhile as they reach a bend in the road Arc motions for his troops to stop. They do so as he motions for his squad to follow him. Moving forward slowly and quietly they peek through some bushes and see the orphanage fully guarded by a large number of Royal Guards. Xenos grits his teeth as they look over the grounds.
“They’d better not have hurt Miss Pommel!”
Hugh grits his teeth. “We’ll make them pay if they did!”
Viktor frowns. “Even Decimus wouldn’t dare!”
Max sighs. “Let’s try to keep level heads here. Look through the side windows.”
Arc squints. “I’m seeing a number of the townsponies in there.”
Cherry calls out. “It looks like the Main Hall is pretty full.”
Arc frowns. “Yes. But I don’t think they’re having a party.”
Sereb sniffs the path nearby. “I sense that innumerable ponies walked this way not too long ago.”
Xenos grits his teeth. “How many?”
“Perhaps the entire town. There are so many fresh hoof prints here as well to back up that assumption.”
Arc turns to him. “What about Rarity and Sweetie Belle?!”
“Their scent is not here, no. However if they were taken forcefully it is possible they were flown here by Pegasi.”
Max turns to his commanding officer. “Sir, while it might sound callous right now, we really need to think of the townsponies as a whole.”
Viktor gasps. “Max! Miss Derpy and little Dinky are probably in there too!”
Arc sighs. “Yes, I know. So let’s think of a plan, shall we.”
Hugh clutches his weapon. “Perhaps a direct approach would be in order, sir.”
Hammer grins. “Now your talking!”
Xenos shakes his head. “That would be beyond risky!”
Sereb growls. “To them, yes!”
Hugh turns to Arc. “I’ve seen the troops sparring, sir. Trust me when I say that they’re definitely better trained and equipped than the soldiers over there.”
Xenos squints. “I think you’re onto something there, Hugh.”
Max raises an eyebrow. “You mean his idea?”
“No. Take a closer look at the guards on patrol.”
Viktor frowns. “What about them?”
Sereb narrows his eyes. “Their armor and weapons appear to be rather… old and poorly maintained.”
Hammer looks to him, confused. “What does that prove?”
Arc clenches a fist. “That Decimus doesn’t care about them in the least.”
Hugh looks them over. “Our forces’ weapons would tear their armor to pieces in no time.”
Sereb frowns. “Perhaps that is exactly what Decimus wants.”
Hammer gasps. “Are you saying he WANTS to lose troops?!”
“Not so much ‘lose’ as ‘sacrifice’.”
Xenos shrugs. “That comes to about the same thing though, doesn’t it?”
Arc chuckles. “Very clever of him.”
Hammer turns to him. “Arc?”
“We charge in there and butcher his forces with ease. He jumps out from wherever he’s hiding and attacks with reinforcements in front of the windows. Everyone inside sees us trying to kill his troops while they ‘defend’ the building.”
Hugh gasps. “The townsponies are released and testify to whomever investigates this matter on how they saw our forces killing guards!”
Max grits his teeth. “We’d be branded as traitors!”
Xenos sighs. “Well… more traitorous.”
Viktor groans. “Princess Celestia would have no other alternative than to give Decimus more forces to hunt us down!”
Sereb growls. “All while Decimus looks like a hero in the eyes of the public.”
Arc nods. “A clever plan, yes. Or he might take it another direction. Maybe he has a lot of forces hidden from sight. Maybe he has troops in the trees waiting to take me out personally. Maybe Celestia herself is out there watching the building right now with him. The possibilities are certainly endless.”
Hammer groans. “How could it go any worse?”
Arc shrugs. “I’m sure it could. But unlimited speculation doesn’t help us right now.”
Xenos turns to him. “Why don’t you just Blink inside, sir?”
Hugh grins. “You could place a sigil and portal everypony somewhere safe!”
Viktor shakes his head. “Wouldn’t work.”
Max points a hoof. “See those machines all around the area? They’re portable magical disrupters.”
Hammer gasps. “So Arc and the unicorns won’t be able to cast spells?!”
Max shakes his head. “Those don’t seal casting. But they do nullify any magic that tries to pass them. So no Blinking into the building or blasting at it to open an escape path. That goes for both us and the unicorns inside.”
Arc nods soberly. “Clever. Decimus is forcing us to make a bold first move.”
Sereb looks to Arc. “What will that move entail though?”
“Here’s the plan…”
A short time later four stallions clad in black cloaks approach the orphanage together. Walking up to the troops stationed in front of the main entrance, the figure in front motions for the three others to stop as they alone approach the sergeant in charge whom addresses them skeptically.
“You are…?”
“Nopony of consequence to you, peon!”
The sergeant puts a hoof on his weapon as his troops move to back him. “I suggest you become more forthcoming with answers. My guys here aren’t the most patient, after all.”
“Neither are mine.”
“You wanna rumble?!”
“Yes, indeed. It would give my pets some exercise and nourishment.”
The sergeant rolls his eyes. “Are you out of your MIND?! Who do you think you are?!”
“Don’t you recognize the agents of the Nightborn, peasant?!”
“N-Nightborn?! Why… would you…?!”
“We have come here on the personal orders of the Night Mother herself!
“Princess Luna?”
The robed stallion scoffs. “Yes, I believe that would be correct, simpleton.”
“For what purpose?”
“The Night Mother does not approve of your presence here. She hereby orders you and your troops to depart at once.”
“B-but, we can’t do that!”
“Are you questioning the Night Mother’s orders?!”
“No, sir! But we’re under orders from the Hero of Light himself!”
“To do what, exactly?”
“We were tasked with guarding this facility after the Hero of Light and his forces personally evacuated the civilians here for safekeeping.”
“Safekeeping?! From what?! Angry squirrels?! Perhaps even violent robins?!”
“I’m… not really sure, sir. He didn’t say.”
“The land must truly be secure if he can waste time on such frivolous tasks.”
“It isn’t for me to say. Me and the others here have sworn to defend this facility, and its occupants, with our very lives!”
“I see. And where is the Hero of Light now?”
“Unknown, sir. He just brought everypony here, gave us our orders, and quickly pulled out.”
“And the duration of your orders?”
“Until relieved.”
“I see. Well, for your own safety I suggest you and your soldiers pull out now.”
“…what?”
“The Nightborn will be taking over your vigil.”
“Apologies, but we cannot leave our post.”
“It was not a request.”
The sergeant shakes his head. “We have our orders.”
“As do we.”
“The best I can do is to allow you and your… associates to join us in guarding the citizens.”
“Unacceptable.”
“Well, I don’t really know what else to tell you. If we leave, Hero of Light Decimus will have our heads.”
“And if you don’t, we’ll take them ourselves! Behold the power bestowed upon us by the Night Mother herself!”
The trio behind him begin chanting softly as the foliage nearby begins to rustle. Mournful moans ring out as armored stallions caked in mud lumber forth. The robed stallion laughs as the soldiers before him slowly back up.
“The Nightborn now command the dead! What say you now?! “
“Tha-that’s IMPOSSIBLE! No magic is powerful enough to…! No! We have to hold them here! Get ready everypony!”
The soldiers prepare to defend themselves as the mud caked warriors continue to lumber toward them. Holding up a hoof, they stop ten or so feet from the defenders. The robed stallion chuckles wickedly.
“You should be honored, sergeant. All of you will now bear witness to the full extent of this power! BEHOLD!”
Pointing a hoof toward the foliage, a massive warrior lumbers forth on two feet. Even caked in dirt and mud the armor before them is still unmistakable in the moonlight. The sergeant’s hooves shake as he appears too afraid to move.
“H-H-Hero of Light Arc?! But… but you’re DEAD!”
“Not anymore! His power now serves the Night Mother! Advance, undead hero! Show these fools your loyalty to the…!”
The sound of hooves charging forward rings out nearby. Decimus, leading a small contingent of Royal Guards busts into the clearing. Charging at Eidolon’s Ward, they knock it to the ground and pierce it with their spears. Kicking the helmet off, Decimus plants the Spear of Righteousness in the dirt where the head should be. However its tip finds only dirt.
“What… is all this?!”
Decimus looks angrily to the robed stallions before him.
“This sorcery is not of the Nightborn! Who are you?!”
The sound of chuckling rings out nearby. Decimus looks all around as do the others.
“Whoever you are, show yourself!”
Eidolon’s Ward’s helmet suddenly flies back into the brush. A few moments later Sereb bursts through the foliage and roars loudly with Arc, clad in his new armor, on his back. He holds the helmet to his forehead for a few moments before tossing it aside. Decimus grits his teeth angrily.
“Who are you?!”
Chuckling, Arc removes his new helmet and looks Decimus in the eye.
“Someone that you tried VERY hard to kill not so long ago.”
The sergeant gasps. “It’s… it’s HIM!”
Decimus grits his teeth. “So you ARE alive!”
Arc nods wickedly. “Yes, I am. And now you’ve fallen right into my trap.”
“Your… trap?”
“Yes. I knew you wouldn’t show yourself unless I did. You left these troops out here in front of the orphanage to try and coax me out. And as soon as I did you would jump out and the trap would be sprung.”
Arc motions to Eidolon’s Ward lying on the ground.
“So I sent my old armor out here to bait YOU.”
Decimus grins. “Very impressive.”
“Thank you.”
“No, I mean it. You’ve completely undermined that which I had hoped to accomplish. Or did you?”
Arc folds his arms over his chest “Let me guess. The idea was to hold the townsponies hostage in my favorite building in hopes of luring me out.”
“Partially, yes. Honestly I didn’t really believe you had survived. At was actually Admiral Gaston whom convinced me to act as if you had though.”
Arc frowns. “He is quite a pain in the…”
“My plan was to continue the search endlessly though.”
Arc nods. “I see it now. If I or my body wasn’t found, you could continue throwing troops and resources at the search efforts. All the while keeping a stranglehold on the nation and its leaders.”
“Very perceptive. You’ve certainly used the time since we last met to hone your detective skills.”
Arc narrows his eyes. “There’s just one thing I don’t understand.”
“Oh? And what’s that?”
Arc clenches a fist. “Why did you hurt the owner of Carousel Boutique?”
“She was one of a few whom didn’t come quietly. My forces were authorized to take all necessary steps to get EVERY citizen to this building.”
Arc pulls the guardanium knife from his ring and points it at Decimus. “Well, you’ve got me here. So why don’t we end this matter?”
Decimus sighs. “Again?”
“As many times as it takes.”
“You can take me down, but I’ll always come back.”
“Then I will kill you… AGAIN AND AGAIN!”
“In any case…”
Decimus. motions for his forces to make ready before turning to Arc again.
“Are you certain you don’t want to give up and surrender yourself to me?”
“Never!”
The sergeant looks to Arc. “Please, sir! You don’t have the numbers to take our forces on!”
Decimus chuckles. “Or the strength to face me!”
Arc grits his teeth. “Then let me even things up.”
He motions with his hand. Hammer runs over with Auriel and stands with Arc. Pointing her gun at Decimus, Hammer calls out to him.
“We’ve got his back, freak!”
Auriel nods soberly. “Yes. You don’t stand a chance.”
Decimus laughs heartily. “The scales are believed to be tipped with the arrival of two more warriors?!”
“How about this then?”
Arc turns to look up at the moon. Gritting his teeth he changes into his Crimson form and looks to Decimus with blood red glowing eyes.
“My power has grown considerably since last we met, Decimus. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Decimus grits his teeth. “Yes! We’ll still be able to…!”
A powerful blast from behind them knocks the sergeant and his troops aside as Templar Derpy and Paladin Coco Pommel fly past them to join Arc and his forces. Derpy points the Spear of Hope at the traitor.
“How about now?!”
Coco Pommel lands next to her. “I’m done letting you push us around, Decimus!”
The sergeant and his forces quickly get to their feet, clearly confused. Looking at the newcomers he frowns.
“That voice… could it be…?”
He is cut off as the citizens of Ponyville rush past them to stand with Arc. Applejack points a hoof at Decimus angrily.
“You’ll have to take us all on then!”
Pinkie stomps a hoof angrily. “Yeah, meanie!”
Fluttershy frowns. “Right!”
Rainbow Dash grins at Decimus wickedly. “We’ll send you back to Canterlot in a BOX!”
Arc turns to his forces. “Everyone, prepare to…!”
Decimus pulls a strange looking gun from his belt. Aiming it high, he fires a shot onto the roof. Smoke begins pouring forth as the flames quickly spread. Turning back to Arc and his friends he laughs throatily.
“A roof heavy with dried brush and wood makes for quite the barbeque.”
Derpy gasps. “NO!”
Coco Pommel points her spear to Decimus, clearly enraged. “YOU MONSTER!”
Flying toward him at breakneck speed, she levels her spear at his chest. Stepping aside, Decimus smacks Coco Pommel away with the Spear of Righteousness as she passes. She rolls toward the orphanage as her helmet flies off. In the light through the windows the sergeant and his troops see her face as she moves to stand.
“M-Miss Pommel?!”
“It’s really her!”
“What do we do, sergeant?”
The stallion looks to Decimus, clearly enraged as he points his spear at the stallion.
“GET HIM!!!”
They rush forward as Arc turns to his own forces.
“PEGASI, EVACUATE THE ORPHANAGE! EVERYONE ELSE, CHARGE!!!”
Arc and Derpy run over to Coco Pommel and help her stand.
“Are you alright?!”
Coco Pommel nods weakly. “I’m… okay.”
Derpy gasps. “That was quite the blow! Are you certain?!”
“Yes! But we have to get everypony out of there!”
“My forces will get the foals and younglings out! Where’s Rarity and Sweetie Belle?!”
Derpy points a hoof. “In the upstairs storage room!”
Coco Pommel grimaces. “But they’re locked in there and guarded for resisting!”
Arc clenches a fist. “I’ll get them! Help with the evacuation!”
He runs toward the building as the little one’s start pouring outside. Passing them he spots Dinky herding the others from the back of the line. She has a small, red pack on her back as she runs. Motioning for her to keep going Arc runs up the stairs and toward the storage room. The two guards stand resolutely next to the door. As Arc approaches they call out to him with weapons raised.
“Sir, you don’t have the authority to…!”
Throwing his guardanium knife it hits the first guard right between the eyes, cutting through his helmet as if it were paper. Raising a hand as he runs, Arc casts a Telekinesis Spell and crushes the helmet of the other. As the pair fall to the floor he pulls his knife to himself and deftly slices through the lock. Opening the door to a wall of smoke, he hears Sweetie Belle coughing. Running inside the otherwise empty room he spots the filly trying desperately to pull her mother toward the door and away from the source of the smoke.
“ARC!”
Arc runs over. “I’ll get her! Run outside and stand with the others!”
Kneeling down he picks Rarity up and runs downstairs. Exiting the building Arc lays her down in the grass and listens to her chest. Sweetie Belle looks to him, clearly terrified.
“How is she?!”
“She’s got a pulse and is breathing.”
Derpy runs over with Natalya and Gallus.
“Are you alright, Arc?!”
“Fine! Is everyone out?!”
Natalya nods. “Cheerilee and Peachbottom used the emergency roll call list to verify that all the foals are accounted for!”
“What about the adults?!”
Gallus grins. “Everyone was on the first floor and ran out when Miss Pommel did… whatever it was that she did.”
Sereb bares his teeth. “I will see to it the building is empty!”
As Sereb runs inside Arc returns his attention to the battle. He spots his soldiers along with Hammer, Auriel, and all the townsponies standing there watching something. Hurrying over, he sees Decimus’ forces lying motionless on the ground. Coco Pommel is fighting Decimus tooth and nail as the sergeant and his soldiers keep the others back. Knocking him onto his back, she lunges forward and plants her spear firmly in his belly. Gasping, Decimus slumps to the ground and looks up at her as the spear is pulled from his body.
“You… traitor. This isn’t… over.”
Coco Pommel looks down at him angrily. “Nopony hurts these little ones! Do you hear me?! NOPONY!”
Turning, she walks back toward the others as Hammer steps forward. Decimus looks up at her as he coughs up a mouthful of blood.
“What… do you want… freak?”
Without a word the young woman points her gun at Decimus’ chest and fires, killing him instantly. Turning back to the others, Hammer rejoins Arc. He nods soberly and turns to those assembled.
“Pegasi, get that fire out! Fly to town and get…!”
Derpy grins. “I don’t think that’s going to be necessary, Arc.”
“What?! But..!”
A raindrop falls on Arc’s helmet with a loud ‘plink’. A few moments later the heavens erupt into a torrential downpour. Looking to the roof they see the flames die down and the smoke stops rising. The sergeant walks over to Coco Pommel with his soldiers and kneels respectfully as he removes his helmet.
“Miss Pommel, please forgive me and my forces for what we’ve done. We had no idea what was really happening.”
Coco Pommel extends a hoof. “It’s alright, Onyx Armor. After all you were only following orders.”
“You… remember me?”
“I remember every foal who’s ever been in my care.”
“Thank you for everything, ma’am.”
He looks at Decimus’ body nearby and sighs.
“It was nice to see you again, Miss Pommel. But right now I need to turn myself in.”
Coco Pommel appears confused. “What for?”
Onyx Armor sighs. “For the murder of the Hero of Light. I won’t let you take the blame for that act.”
Coco Pommel shakes her head. “No, do not throw your life away for the ‘crime’ of freeing the innocent.”
“But what else could I do?”
“Join the true Hero of Light in righting this wrong.”
Arc walks over. “We need to leave this place though. I can’t imagine Decimus attacking without first notifying Canterlot that we were here.”
Onyx Armor salutes him. “My soldiers and I will join you then, sir.”
“Good. We need all the help we can get.”
Touching his earring, Arc calls out.
“Arc to Lemon Hearts.”
“Lemon Hearts here, sir.”
“Fly the ship to the landing pad at Light’s Hope and pick us up.”
“Yes sir. We’ll be airborne in just a few minutes.”
“Good. And notify the crew that we’re going to be taking on quite a few more passengers.”
Soarin calls out. “Sir?”
“We need to evacuate the entire town of Ponyville. Arc out.”
Severing the connection, he turns to his forces.
“The Equinox will be at Light’s Hope soon. I want all of my soldiers to head there now with the townsponies. I’ll catch up with you later.”
Derpy gasps. “Where will you be?!”
“I’m going to check on the building. Make sure it isn’t still smoldering inside.”
Sereb steps forward. “I will join you.”
Hammer grins. “Me too!”
Auriel hurries over to him. “You can count on me too.”
“Let’s go.”
Arc and his friends enter the building as Coco Pommel and the other staff gather up the foals and younglings and head down the road toward Light’s Hope.