//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A New Hope // Story: Valor is Magic // by NotSoSubtle //------------------------------// A New Hope Tired and battered, the mixed royal guard glided over the outer walls of Canterlot and landed gently in the front courtyard. With no wheels, the mental facets of the chariot screeched as it set down on the stone walkway. The soldiers at the gate and along the walls kept their posts, but with the light from the streetlamps she could see ponies from the gate garrison running to the arriving party. Some were wearing armor, but most wore simple uniforms and saddlebags. Twilight stepped off of the chariot still bewildered and in shock, but none the worse for wear. The first ponies to approach wore white circlets around their arms marked with a red cross, asking if there were any wounded. Twilight told them she was fine, and they hurried to patch the scrapes and cuts of the guards. A stallion earth pony with a cinnamon coat and a dark mane briskly followed behind the medics. He wore a khaki uniform shirt, a maroon beret, and a confident smile. He was an older pony, probably twice Twilight’s age, but something about the spring in his trot amongst the beleaguered defenders of Canterlot set him apart from his surroundings. He headed straight for Twilight even in the bustle of the landing area. Stopping abruptly as he reached her, he clicked his heels. “Major Vedette at your service, Miss Sparkle. Princess Celestia bid me to escort you to the university when you arrived.” He tipped his head slightly, indicating the guards being treated. “But first, I have duties to attend to here. If you’d please stay close to me in the meantime, we will depart shortly.” Twilight was a pony who still felt out of place around societal formality. Being confronted with military decorum was even more awkward. “Um. Yes, of course major. Please proceed to prosecute your predetermined procedures.” The major looked back at her dubiously with a raised eyebrow, but then his reassuring smile returned. “With pride.” He spun and directed his attention to the pegasi and medics, approaching the pegasus that had first knocked on Twilight’s door. He saluted the guard, his hoof snapping up and back with crisp precision. “What is your unit’s condition, sir?” Vedette said sir in a Canterbury accent. The pegasus shook his head. “Coming in was easier than going out. They still have harasser groups in the forest around the city. We lost Percheron in the trees." The guard set his jaw in frustration, his eyes growing distant. “That’s four, Vedette. I lost four pegasi today.” The major put a hoof on the royal guard’s shoulder, and looked him dead in the eye. “No, colonel. A rescue team found Wild Fire after you cleared Canterlot’s airspace. She's at the university infirmary now.” The guard’s eyes went wide. “Is she…?” “Two broken legs and some cracked ribs, but she’s alive and safe.” The earth pony squinted hard at the guard, and then gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “And she’ll fly again.” The pegasus’s eyes got misty for a moment before he blinked it away. The major pretended not to notice. “See to your ponies, colonel, then clean up and pay her a visit. She wanted to know the moment you returned.” Vedette smiled warmly. “I’ll be speaking with Delta soon. Percheron is a fighting stallion. Don’t count him out yet.” Twilight stood silent and wide-eyed as she absorbed the exchange. Her more academic side started to chronicle what she was witnessing for posterity, but then she was struck with a wave of guilt. These pegasi had risked life and limb bringing her here from Ponyville, and had taken casualties because of it. She hadn’t even known Percheron’s name when he had dove at the griffins. Wild Fire was injured, and she hadn’t even met her. The least she could do was let them finish in private. As Major Vedette continued to bolster the royal guards, Twilight took a couple steps away to get out of earshot. Canterlot looked different from the ground. Certainly, it was still a wounded city, but the damage was already being mended. The fires were under control, and ponies ran this way that as they worked together to put out the flames for good. Ponies from every service were intermingled in common labor, from the military to police and fireponies. Most uplifting of all, the plain citizens of Equestria had turned out in force to stand with them. Even now they toiled, putting out fires, carrying supplies, anything they could do to help. A stallion’s voice cut through the background noise. “Somethin’ the matter?” Twilight jumped and turned. A tall unicorn stood behind her, wearing a tight suit like the Wonderbolts, but with depressing colors. It was a dark olive, with brown and black splotches in a camouflage pattern. Over the suit he wore a thick, flat black vest covered with square pockets, and a lightweight helmet in the same color. His cutie mark was covered, but the flank of the olive suit had a simple patch stitched to it: A triangular horseshoe on a shield-shaped patch. Twilight noticed the angles were curiously off from an equilateral triangle. One side was broader than the other two, maybe like the Hippoi letter delta. The unicorn waited silently while she recovered herself. Twilight tried to smile warmly at the soldier pony, but it was tainted with her own exhaustion. “I’m sorry, you kind of snuck up on me there.” The unicorn betrayed about as much emotion as she might expect from one of Celestia’s guards, recent events aside. “Saw you land.” He glanced past her to the city. “Must be a shock, seeing it like this.” “Some griffins attacked us on the flight in.” She glanced around, indicating the destruction around them. “Did they do this?” The olive-clad unicorn nodded once, but when Twilight waited for him to comment, he said nothing more. “I don’t understand. Why?” Twilight’s distress crept into her voice as she thought about what they had done. “What could they possibly gain?” The stallion looked past her into nothing. “Y'know what I think?” He shrugged. “Don't really matter what I think. Somethin’ or somepony takes a swing at your head, politics and all that hay just goes right out the window.” His words hit her like a blow to the chest. Canterlot was burning. How could anypony just not care about why? The soldier gave her a serious look, but his eyes were warm with sympathy. “It’s not time for ‘why’ right now. I’ve got a job to do here, and I bet you do too. If we don’t stay focused, somepony else gets hurt.” He glanced back to where a group of similarly dressed unicorns and Vedette were talking near the gate house. “My team is grouping up. You take care of yourself.” He turned without further goodbye and trotted away. Left in the wake of such a serious stallion, Twilight couldn’t help but gape. As he left, Major Vedette passed him on his way to Twilight. Still wearing that comforting smile, he approached her with an energetic trot. “I see you made Hoot’s acquaintance. He’s a good pony, that one.” He inhaled sharply, his tone becoming more official. “Matters are being handled here. Would you allow me to escort you to the university?” Twilight pulled herself together, saving any thoughts she might have about the conversation with ‘Hoot’ for later. The soldier unicorn was right about one thing: she had a job to do. “Why not the castle?” The cinnamon pony shook his head. “It suffered structural damage during the battle. Princess Luna ordered most of the castle’s staff and departments to the university campus for safety. Princess Celestia will be there as well.” She tried her best not to imagine what the palace must look like if that were true. “Major, with all the damage to the city, maybe you should lead the way.” He bowed slightly. “Of course, Miss Sparkle. Follow me.” They took off together at a brisk trot, zigzagging their way around the rescue and recovery work in the streets in the fire lit night. Major Vedette slowed his pace to a walk as they neared the university. The university itself had been spared much of the damage that had been visited on the city, which had made it an ideal location to set up relief and response efforts. Uniformed ponies stood as acting security at each of the gates in the low walls, questioning any that approached the campus. The large grass lawn that surrounded the university tower had been set up as an outdoor hospital. Hundreds of stretchers holding injured ponies covered the lawn in a loose grid. Still more were being brought in, the medics and nurses alike rushing to sort the arrivals. Twilight was relieved that at least her friends had been spared the sight of so much suffering, especially Fluttershy. As the pair approached one of the security checkpoints, one of the unicorns at the gate looked toward them and lit his horn, casting a very weak spell Twilight didn’t recognize. Apparently satisfied with the result, he saluted the major. “Sir, I’ve been instructed to inform you the emergency council is underway. The courier mentioned something about General Manifold arriving from Cloudsdale.” For the first time Twilight saw the cinnamon pony turn harsh. “They started already? What were they thinking!” The major saw Twilight give him a quizzical look. He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. We still have to hurry.” Vedette rushed her into the building and up the stairs. Security was tight, but the soldier ponies just let them blaze past the security lines. Twilight was gasping for air when they finally left the stairwell. Pausing before rounding the corner into the hallway, Vedette took two deep breaths. When he did, he had the same stature and pace as when she first saw him after the landing: Confident, deliberate, and professional. She followed him down the hallway toward the main lecture hall. A large group of Celestia’s guards stood at the end of the hallway in front of a pair of large doors. As they approached, two earth ponies blocked the doorway, and a unicorn cast the same small spell Twilight had seen used at the gate. Wordlessly, the unicorn nodded to the earth pony guards, who stepped aside and opened the doors. The whole exchange took place in the span of a few seconds, and the pair breezed past the guards without slowing down. They entered the lecture hall by the main student entrance, behind the back row. Blue and gold Equestrian flags hung from the polished wood walls, and the light and dark blue floor tiles each bore the symbol of the sun and moon united. The tiered, circular seating was filled to near capacity. More than a hundred unicorns and earth ponies wearing uniforms from every branch of service sat absorbing the briefing. Twilight’s eyes went wide with amazement, immediately drawn to the bright display just in front and above the front row. A large transparent map of central Equestria filled the air, with bright lines and circles for every feature Twilight could imagine. In addition to the green topographic lines, other symbols in red and blue spotted the map, with some meaning that escaped her. To either side of the map, square frames displayed either text or metal images in stunning clarity. She recognized it as a masterwork illusion spell, but it had been repurposed into a projected display. Noting the subtle energies working in the spell and studying their components, she resolved to meet with the pony controlling the spell; maybe she'd even be able to get their notes. Several ponies in the back row turned to frown at them when the door opened, some sneering at the entering pair causing the disruption. Still, they said nothing of it and one by one returned their attention back to the display. Major Vedette leaned close to Twilight and whispered. “There are two seats reserved over in the left wing. This way.” He briskly and silently led her along the back of the room and down one of the aisles, to where she could see a pair of empty seats. They were both at the end of different rows, and the major showed Twilight to the front seat before taking the one behind her. “Twily!” She gasped with surprise at her brother, who was sitting next to her in the row. “I was so worried.” The white and blue-maned unicorn put a foreleg around her and hugged her close. “Shining Armor!” She happily hugged him back. Several ponies in nearby seats turned to them with stern looks, and Twilight blushed. “What happened here?” Her brother didn’t respond, just holding her tight. For a few moments he seemed willfully oblivious to everything in the world but his dear sister, especially the onlookers who were bothered by the disruption. The captain squeezed his eyes shut, holding back tears. Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight saw Vedette watching the reunion with a happy gleam in his eye. Regaining his composure, Twilight’s brother broke the embrace and leaned back, his eyes still misty. “I’m sorry. It’s just so good to see you safe.” He inhaled, and almost at once he became the strong captain that so many ponies had come to respect. “Canterlot was attacked just before sundown, but now we’re learning that the griffins struck out all across the northern border. The attack here may have just been a diversion.” He nodded toward the front of the lecture hall. “General Watch is filling the assembly in on their movements in central Equestria.” Now having a clear view, Twilight could see ponies sitting at a long, regal table in the middle of the room that had replaced the podium. Most of them were uniformed with long arrays of stripes and awards on their chests. Twilight might not be familiar with military customs and vocabulary, but she recognized several of the ponies at the table from meeting them briefly at the Grand Galloping Gala. To the right were generals Buffalo Soldier and Manifold, each of them regional commanders; Buffalo of southwestern Equestria, Manifold of the Cloudsdale pegasi. General Tornado Watch, a large pegasus, was standing while he gave the briefing with just a slight Stalliongrad accent. To the left were generals Big Wig and Black Jack, both earth ponies, as well as Admiral Even Keel. Black Jack and Even Keel, a unicorn, were discussing something in hushed tones and with grim looks. Of the two settings at the middle of the table, only one was occupied. Princess Luna sat regally in the left seat, intently listening to Tornado Watch give his report. Her flowing stellar mane contrasted the fire in her narrowed eyes as she looked at the markings on the display. It was as if she hoped her gaze would burn the invaders to cinders where they stood. Twilight suppressed a sudden shiver and looked away. As Tornado Watch transitioned into an after action summary of the night’s events, the side displays switched from showing mostly text to black and white mental images of the conflict. Diamond dogs and the occasional griffin were overrunning pony positions in almost every frame. The buildings were damaged enough that she couldn’t place the architecture at first. After a few frames, she noted the window panes and dome roofs were central Equestrian, probably Trottingham, on the northern border. This wasn’t an emergency meeting. This was a war council. Equestria was facing an all-out invasion. The symbols on the map moved, and Tornado Watch cleared his throat to draw attention to the front. The whispers in the hall died down, and he continued. “Most of the northern districts have been lost, including the train station. The remaining elements of the 23rd and 11th have pulled back to the south west, where the city sits on a series of hills at the base of the mountain range. Fortunately, the diamond dogs have stopped their advance and started looting. When the attack started, they were an organized force, but that’s broken down for now.” A hoof was raised, and Luna pointed to the earth pony. “We recognize Colonel Hoovesvelt, favorite son of Manehattan.” The mustached earth pony stood with harrumph. “Yes, well, um, quite.” He adjusted his round spectacles. “Can we conclude that the promise of war spoils is the motive for diamond dog participation?” All eyes returned to the pegasus general, and he nodded. “It seems so. As the western force pushes south, the dogs become disorganized for a short while at each town, pillaging gems before the griffins can get them to march on. News from the eastern front would support that conclusion.” He looked for more raised hooves, and seeing none, he continued. “This brings us to discussion of long term response in the east.” He sighed. “Last report I received from the coast, reinforcements are already moving up from New Saddle, and that the first of those could be there within the day. Our perimeter will hold that long, and it doesn’t look like the diamond dogs will be getting any more support of their own. It will be a long, hard fight, but once the fresh troops start arriving, it will just be a matter of time until we can retake the whole of Stalliongrad.” Twilight gaped as a wave or murmurs filled the room. How could she be looking at a map of one of Equestria’s largest cities? Shining Armor raised a hoof. “We recognize Shining Armor, twice hero of Canterlot.” He stood, bowing to her in courtly manner. “Thank you, Princess Luna. What news is there from Trottingham?” The general started to answer, but then hesitated. “Director, your information would be more current than my own. Has there been any change?” A metallic blue unicorn in the front row stood, his horn illuminated with a yellow hue of active magic. Unlike the other ponies Twilight had seen, he wore a suit and tie instead of a uniform. She felt subtle shifts in the projection as he moved, but to the naked eye it remained unchanged. Twilight couldn’t help but feel a bit of awe at the stallion’s mastery of illusion magic. The stallion turned to address Shining Armor, but seemed to notice something that surprised him, and squinted a moment before answering. “We have had no news from Trottingham in over eight hours, and couriers sent have not returned.” The assembly buzzed with whispers. More hooves were raised and Tornado Watch answered more questions about troop displacements, supplies, and losses. Twilight lost track of it as the depth of what was happening became clear to her. She shivered. This was nothing like the challenges she and her friends had faced before. Doubt began to gnaw away at her resolve. What could one pony librarian contribute that the entire equestrian military wasn’t doing already? “I can’t believe this is happening.” Shining Armor frowned. “If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t believe it either. Equestria hasn’t had a true border war in two centuries. Even then the griffin prides were our allies.” He ground his teeth. “I don’t think they’ve ever launched a surprise attack on an ally in their entire history. It’s so out of character for them.” Sensing her brother’s stress, Twilight was gentle with how she asked her next question. She had to know. “I saw the city flying in. How did it start?” He sighed and hung his head. “It was a surprise attack, but the timing was the worst part. When Princess Luna went out to raise the moon, she was the first to spot them. The griffins dove on the city before we could raise an alarm.” Twilight furrowed her brow, confused. “But couldn’t you just raise your shield spell to drive them out of the city?” Shining Armor looked away, glaring in frustration into his memory. “The griffins knew about my shield. They singled me out and surrounded me. I couldn’t cast the spell while fighting to defend myself. They…” he shifted uncomfortably. “They just kept coming. There were moments I really thought they had me.” Vedette leaned forward, frowning. “You are too modest, Shining Armor. I saw you held your own against at least six of the griffins, one of them a khan.” The pony next to the major tried to shush him, but Vedette gave him a quick vicious glare in return. He turned back to Shining Armor. “Most ponies wouldn’t have lasted seconds, but you held them long enough for the princess to come you your aid.” Shining Armor shifted uncomfortably and started to blush. “Thank you, but…” Twilight’s eyes widened in horror. “Princess Luna?” The major shook his head. “Princess Celestia insisted that Luna focus on raising the moon, in spite of the battle. Royal duty and all that, you know. Your mentor was the one who flew to your brother’s assistance.” The mare’s eyes darted back to the table, where Celestia’s chair sat empty. “Celestia fought? Is she—“ He raised a calming hoof. “No no, she’s quite alright. She called the meeting to order, but is resting now.” Vedette sighed. “Luna missed out on most of the fighting, what with all the astronomical sorcery. It seems to me Celestia delegated this meeting to her sister to help her recover some pride. ” He waived a hoof dismissively until he was sure her brother wasn’t looking back, and then conspiratorially pointed his hoof at Shining Armor. “Sometimes even the most noble and hardworking pony will feel like he should have done more.” Shining Armor’s head spun and he eyed Vedette, who winked at the captain. “Just the opinion of an old major. Probably rubbish.” Twilight stared at the cinnamon stallion, baffled, but was startled by one of the generals before she could think on it more. “There isn’t time for this!” the auditorium hushed as Manifold stood and collected his hat. The pegasus’s hooves clacked against the tile floor as he turned to leave. General Big Wig stood and narrowed his eyes at the disrupting pegasus. “General Manifold, you have yet to give your report on the condition of Cloudsdale.” “’The condition of…’” The pegasus’s eyes burned with defiant rage. Luna intervened before either offended pony could continue. “We yield the floor to the honorable General Manifold.” Manifold was surprised to see that he had the entire assembly’s attention and quickly collected himself, although still clearly indignant with Big Wig. “Frankly, the defenders of Cloudsdale are outnumbered and overrun, General Big Wig. While I respect the difficulties of Tornado Watch and the soldiers’ valor at Stalliongrad, the situation of the pegasi city is beyond dire. Two divisions of griffins hit Cloudsdale just after the moon rose. We never got warning from our patrols, so we can only assume they were intercepted.” Manifold turned to look directly on Princess Luna. “The city is all but lost, princess. Even with the reinforcements you sent, we just don’t have enough pegasi. The griffins are possessed with a rage like none I’ve ever seen, even from their kind. They’ve taken the fliers academy, most of the cloud complexes, the weather factories...” When he opened his eyes, he was clearly fighting tears. Twilight could see him choke up. “They’ve dumped the weather vats. I’ve never seen anything like it. The rainbows are draining through the clouds in blotched colors, collecting in a lake beneath the city.” He paused, fighting down his emotions before he continued. “I made the journey here alone. My staff and escort remained behind to aid in the city’s defense. They are buying time, time enough for me to come here, and say this to all of you.” The general turned to face the assembly. “Without assistance, Cloudsdale is lost in a matter of hours. I am here to ask for that aid.” Ponies shifted uncomfortably, but no one answered Manifold. Moments passed. Most of the generals at the royal table hung their heads, ashamed at their own silence, all except Black Jack. He met Manifold’s stare, clearly wanting to offer his friend help, but having none to give. Finally, General Manifold donned his cap. “Very well.” Facing Princess Luna, he snapped to attention. “Princess, I ask your leave to return to my post.” Luna’s jaw dropped a little in silent shock. She closed her eyes sadly and nodded, without a word. The lecture hall went silent as Black Jack stood and approached Manifold, and the two friends said their goodbyes. Twilight gave her brother a confused glance. “Where is he going?” He didn’t look away from the generals. “He’s going back to Cloudsdale.” She had never heard Shining Armor’s voice so grim, and yet a spark of pride gave a sharpness to his words. She was still trying to rationalize what she was hearing from the floor. “But he just said…” The muscles in his neck tensed, but his voice was warm and consoling. “He knows what he said. He’s going home to make his last stand.” “Wait, why aren't any ponies going to help?” Shining Armor looked at her in disbelief. “Twilight, only pegasi can go to Cloudsdale.” It suddenly dawned on Twilight that she did have something to contribute. She stood and spoke before her anxiety could stop her. “Wait, General! There is a way earth ponies and unicorns can help you defend Cloudsdale!” Manifold turned toward her, sitting in the far end of the assembly, and squinted. Several ponies looked up at her in disgust at her outburst. The general seemed to be sizing her up, but scoffed when he saw her horn. “The flight spell? I’ve read about it. It takes too much energy to cast it even once for reliable military use, and the pony receiving the wings is too unfamiliar with them to suddenly be thrown into battle.” Most of the uniformed ponies who cared to look back scowled at her as if she had just said something foolish in class. She felt her confidence waiver under the collective glares, and Twilight found the butterflies in her stomach fighting her to just sit down and stay quiet. Princess Luna, who had sat motionless during Manifold’s petition, smiled happily. “We recognize Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic.” Twilight was suddenly aware of just how many eyes were in the room, because every single one stared wide and unblinking at her. She gulped. “I know the flight spell, and you’re right. There is a smaller spell that lets an earth pony walk on clouds. It’s simple enough that most unicorns should be able to learn it, and I was able to enchant several ponies with it at once. A unicorn talented in magic should at least be able to cast it once every few minutes, and it can last for a few days.” Manifold’s eyes went wide as murmurs in the assembly returned. The potential of what Twilight was saying wasn’t lost on anyone. Manifold looked to the director, his face wordlessly conveying his mix of hope and disbelief. The projection spell collapsed. The director stood and looked back to Twilight, his eyes narrowing. “I’ve never read of such a spell. Where did you come across it?” “Well, actually it’s something I put together when I had the same problem. It’s a hybrid of Starswirl the Bearded’s levitation spell with...” she trailed off, and then shook her head to focus. “That’s not important right now. What is important is that I was able to visit Cloudsdale,” with my friends to see the Annual Young Fliers Competition didn’t seem appropriate to the setting. “With the other Elements of Harmony.” Smiles began to creep onto some of the faces in the assembly. The director thought about it, and then asked, “How long would it take you to show me the mechanics of the spell?” Twilight had seen him handle the display spell for an extended period with ease, so he could probably learn as fast as she could teach. “The components are fairly standard, but the arrangement is tricky. I’d say half an hour at most.” The director spun to face the royal table. “Princess Luna, I request your leave so that I can learn this spell from Twilight Sparkle and disseminate its workings to our unicorns near Cloudsdale.” Luna beamed, reflecting the new hope that had filled the chamber. “We give leave to Director Petronel and Twilight Sparkle that they may pursue these ends.” She turned back to the still stunned general. “General Manifold, you are dismissed as well. Return to Cloudsdale, and tell them reinforcements are on the way.” She warmly locked eyes with Manifold and spoke without using the royal voice. “The pegasi of your great city will not stand alone.”