Realization and Trust
The trust held between the mane six and the Warrior of Light was still held in great regards. Cosmos’s plan for this secret and for her lone protector was going as planned but has been greatly slowed down due to the ponies banishing him out of fear.
Unfortunately for the other Warriors that Kain and the Warrior of Light have not yet put to sleep, Manikins have been overwhelming them, therefore time was running out and fast.
Unfortunately now a red sun will rise in Equestria as a dark day dawns over Canterlot, for the ponies were about to experience something that not even Celestia could have thought would happen. The true hellfires of war. This is but one of many tragedies to befall Equestria. The counter attack made by the Stallion Knights of Canterlot being led by their captain Shining Armor, who have everlasting courage and unbendable faith, but against the martial might of Chaos’s forces they stood little chance of victory. Alas their defeat was to be certain.
With so many questions in Lightning’s mind she alone faces the Sanctuary.
The sky finally became clear after the group made the dragon go sleep somewhere else. The sun rose as a new day dawned. Twilight wandered the streets of Ponyvile with Spike beside her, she kept the Vanish tome Cosmos gave her.
"So you know some forbidden magick now?" Spike asked in an excited tone.
"SHH!" Twilight shushed loudly, she didn’t want the other ponies to hear what she stumbled upon, they didn’t call this magic forbidden nothing. "It IS a secret that I have this, no one must know about it okay?"
"Why?" Spike asked sadly.
"Because I might be breaking hundreds of laws just possessing this magic! Also if I go down because of this they’ll take you with me!"
"Don’t you think you’re over reacting?" Spike scoffed.
Twilight just grumbled at him. "Just keep it a secret okay?" Just then the world began to shake around them, many loud explosions were heard with many loud neighs and screams. Twilight and many bystanders turned to the direction of the hysteria and it appeared that something was happening at Canterlot. Many windows began to shatter and many explosions occurred from many rooftops from both the city and the castle. Many fires broke out and smoke lifted from the city. The ponies watching gasped and began to shake in fear for something was happening and they knew it wasn't good at all.
"What’s happening?" Twilight asked, afraid not just for Celestia, but for her parents and her older brother, who were living in Canterlot at the time.
"Will the princess be ok?" A young pegasus asked.
"Twilight!" Rarity called, Twilight turned to see her friends approaching her from behind they joined her and they appeared to be equally afraid of what’s happening at Canterlot but in reality they could not be as afraid as Twilight was. "Look it’s the princess!" A stallion shouted, he threw his hoof forward. Celestia was seen galloping with many other ponies towards Ponyvile beside her, three manikins were fallowing them in the air chasing them. One of them dove in to attack and when it touched the fleeing group three ponies screamed in pain as they were launched into the air by the manikin.
Celestia focused her powers and shot rays of magic that looked like rays of sunshine at the three manikins and it instantly destroyed them. The ponies of Ponyvile rushed over to Celestia and the ponies of Canterlot. Celestia had many bruises and burn patches on her body. Twilight and her friends rushed over to Celestia who's panting for being out of breath.
"What happened princess?" Twilight asked, but Celestia collapsed before she could answer. Her friends rushed over to aid Celestia but Twilight and Spike rushed all around the group hoping to find her family, unfortunately she found no sign of them. She looked at Canterlot and she shed a tear from her eye from seeing Canterlot broken and engulfed in smoke.
Back at the Sanctuary Lightning approached the throne and Cosmos smiled at her return.
"Lightning!" Cosmos said happily. Lightning noticed that no one else made it back to the Sanctuary yet.
"I guess the rest of ‘em still haven’t made it back here yet." Lightning said. "The fighting out there…it’s something else. Those things those Manikins they just keep coming, and every one of ‘em wants us dead." Cosmos frowned at this sad news, Warrior gave Lightning a knowing look. "And Kain… I don’t know what he’s after, but he’s turned on us, and now he’s attacking his own allies." Cosmos gasped and Warrior had no reaction. "I got separated from the others. I’m not sure they even managed to get out." Cosmos gasped again but this time she sounded even more afraid for her warriors. She also sensed a missing presence from one of her warriors.
"Cosmos?" Warrior said concerned, Cosmos frowned even more deeply.
"It’s Jecht…" Cosmos said sadly. "I felt his spirit growing weaker, and then…it vanished." Lightning gasped at the thought of what could of happened to her comrade.
"Vanished?" Warrior asked just as stunned as Lightning is. "So he was slain by one of Chaos’s fiends."
"Hmph." Lightning scoffed. "I wouldn’t bet on it. They have someone on the inside doing their work for ‘em."
"You think…Kain did it?" Cosmos said with great concern and doubt.
"Jecht’s not the only one he’s gotten to. I saw him with my own eyes. I saw the friend he’d already betrayed, and I saw him try and claim his next victim too."
"You must be mistaken." Cosmos said shaking her head." I can sense all of the other warriors are still-"
"The other warriors aren’t coming!" Lightning shouted angered that Cosmos doubted the very things Lightning saw with her own eyes. "Listen to me. Two of us made it out of that mess alive, and you’re lookn’ right at ‘em!" She threw an accusing finger at Cosmos. "We keep taking orders from you, and we can forget about the crystals. We won’t last that long!" She scoffed again and turned her head away from the Goddess. "Of all the stupid things to die for…" Warrior understood that that's his cue to make Lightning go to sleep into the next battle.
"You are absolutely correct. We cannot win." Warrior said, drawing his sword and pointing it at Lightning.
"No!" Cosmos shrieked, seeing what has become of her protector of not just her life but all of Equestria."
"You too… Just like Kain, huh?" Lightning snarled. She drew her Blazefire Saber and pointed it at Warrior, she wasn't about to just let Warrior slay her without a fight. "Another traitor, what do you even want!?"
"I am afraid that does not concern you at present." Warrior said calmly.
Back in Ponyvile the six ponies and Spike got Princess Celestia and many others to the hospital for many ponies were wounded trying to escape. The yellow unicorn doctor, known best as Doctor Stable, nursed her wounds while she rested soundly. She slowly opened her eyes.
"How is she doctor?" Fluttershy asked.
"She’ll be fine." Doctor Stable said calmly. "Luckily when she collapsed it was due to her using powers and her over exerting herself when she defeated those, well, whatever those things were."
"Where are the rest of Canterlot’s citizens?" Celestia asked.
"Mayor Mare is moving them to other ponies houses where in hopes that other citizens will hopefully take them in. This is something nopony ever saw coming." Rairty explained.
Twilight rushed over to Celestia and stared at her with a frightened look on her face. "Please, what happened?"
Celestia also put on a frightened look and she breathed heavily for she will need her strength to tell what happened. "A demonic yet regal looking human dressed in gold attacked Canterlot. With many manikins, many stallions tried their hardest to protect both the castle and the city but their martial might was too much for us to handle. His usage of magick was devastating, the stallions allowed me and many citizens to escape, I don’t know what he’s after or why he attacked us, but I can definitely say that he must be a Warrior of Chaos."
"So Warrior was right, a Warrior of Chaos is here." Rainbow Dash said.
"What about my family?" Twilight asked. Celestia frowned greatly and ordered the others to leave the room, when they did Celestia and Twilight were completely alone.
"Twilight, it’s thanks to your brother that I was able to escape, sadly many stallions and even worse many civilians lost their lives in the attack." Twilight became overwhelmed with fear.
"Are they…"
"I can’t say for your parents I also can’t say for your brother, but remember this as long as there is no body, they must still be alive." Twilight felt a little better since she trust Celestia with her life, but her fear for her loved ones still worried her.
"They must have been captured then! I must go and save them!" Twilight squealed, she turned towards the door and began to make thoughts about breaking into Canterlot and saving her family.
"Don’t!" Celestia shouted. "Canterlot is overrun and those manikins would slaughter you without thinking twice."
"But-"
"I know how you feel Twilight, I’m the only one of the royal family who escaped. My family to, is in trouble. Unfortunately the attack was so surprising and so shocking, I had to leave the Elements of Harmony behind. Please get Warrior, he can chase that mad man away."
Twilight sighed in shame for she had to confess what happened. "I’m afraid that the ponies here other than myself and a few others felt that Warrior’s coming was a curse. Mayor mare the the city voted on him being banished and the movement went through." Celestia’s jaw dropped and she sighed.
"Why didn’t you tell me?" Celestia sighed.
"It only happened three days ago me and the others were gonna try to get him back ourselves."
"Well in that case must prepare a speech for the citizens and tell them to stay calm and give this man whatever he wants."
"We’re just gonna stand here and do nothing!?" Twilight asked bitterly.
"He let me live therefore he still thinks I can serve a purpose in his plans, it won’t be long until he comes this way. With Warrior banished and without the Elements of Harmony we don’t stand a chance against him. If we resist, he will only kill us all. It’d be better if we don’t fight him, maybe then he’ll return our loved ones."
Twilight couldn’t take that choice so she put on a serious face and turned around and walked out the door. Celestia sighed knowing that while Twilight wasn’t happy with the choice and neither was she for that matter, but it was the safest choice to make. While she hopes that all the citizens trapped in Canterlot are safe, above all she hopes for her sister, her niece and nephew and other close family members to be safe to. Twilight joined her friends in the waiting room.
"What’ll we do?" Fluttershy asked. "Who ever this bad guy is he'll probably attack Ponyvile next."
"I say we go right back into Canterlot and give him the boot!" Rainbow Dash announced doing kicking and punching motions with her hoves.
"No, he’s too powerful, it won’t do any good." Twilight said.
"I bet if we give him a present and be his friend, he’ll go away!" Pinkie Pie suggested.
"I don’t think he wants to make friends sugarcube." Applejack suggested, the rest of the group rolling their eyes.
"There’s only one thing we can do!" Twilight said with a strong resolve. "We must go to the Sanctuary and bring Warrior back, only he can make this guy leave!"
"Darling, won’t that be breaking the law?" Rarity said shocked, she knew such a action existed but never in the history of Equestria did a pony ever go through with it.
"Yes, come on girls, if the ponies won’t accept him back, well that’s too bad!" Twilight rushed forward and the rest fallowed. Rainbow Dash had a big smile on her face for the excitement for what she and her friends are about to do.
"Yeah! Fightin’ the law never felt so good!" Spike said in tuff tone.
Back in Canterlot the manikins were pushing the prisoners down into the dungeons. The Emperor wandered the throne room, since both Canterlot castle and city was his property.
"That was almost too simple." said the Emperor, smiling at what he just accomplished. "It matters not that I let that white alicorn go, for I have the next best thing to help me get what I want." He called for one particular prisoner he had a great interest in. A small rose colored alicorn with a gold tiara and gold and dark purple mane was being dragged into the room violently with a chain leash around her neck by a Counterfeit Youth. This alicorn was in fact one of the royal family. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza but for some she’s best known as Cadence.
"Who are you?" Cadence asked staring at the Emperor with fear.
"I am your new master, you will bow to me." The Emperor said. "I am the Emperor of Palamicia and now I rule over your world."
"Why are you doing this?" Cadence asked weakly.
"You have something I want, what I want is what Cosmos wants. Just be lucky I’m here to restrain the manikins, without a master to control them, the dogs would keep eating until nothing’s left. On their own manikins only know how to destroy, they would not let you beg for mercy before they claim a soul, and they won’t stop until there is nothing left." Cadence realized how lucky she and all the others are.
"What is it you want?" Cadence asked. "Just take it and leave!"
"That’s the problem." The Emperor said. "I don’t know what it is, and neither do my colleagues, and since I know you’re a member of the royal family, you’re going to tell me."
"How do you know my lineage?" Cadence demanded.
"It’s quite simple, being royalty myself. I am can Identify royalty through your appearance, the fact you’re not human doesn’t matter."
"I’m sorry but I don’t know what you’re talking about." Cadence said sadly.
"Don’t be afraid, I will not begin your interrogation quite yet. You have a while to regain your memory and I do hope that you do before we start." Sadly Cadence really didn’t know what the Emperor wanted. "For now I need to make this place more to my liking and what better way to do so than to bring fourth my own lair. Take her away!" The manikin jerked her leash and brought her to a special prison he was using to hold his captives that were important to his plans.
Cadence began to tear up as she began to think hard about the attack and most importantly her love, Shining Armor.
The Manikins were charging into the city at Canterlot, many ponies screamed and ran out of the city or towards the castle for shelter. Cadence noticed this out a castle window and she saw the Emperor following closely and issuing orders to the manikins. Cadence began to worry for she knew that it would only be a few minutes until the Emperor reached the castle. Cadence who looked after the foal and young ponies in the castle nursery began to rush them out the door in order to escape.
"What’s going on Ms. Cadence?" One colt asked.
"Everything’s fine!" Cadence assured the young pony even though she knew everything was not ok, she was perfectly capable of keeping them calm. She gathered all the fillies and colts and began to gently but quickly push them out the door. Things seemed normal until the screaming became louder, Cadence began to rush the young ponies out the door even faster. She knew that the attack is getting closer and if she was gonna save the ponies she needed to be quick. The castle began to rumble, Cadence’s soul was filled with fear.
"Is everything all right Ms. Cadence?" A filly asked shaking. Cadence smiled at her and the other ponies who were also shaking, she had to try her best to not look frightened.
"It's fine, but we need to move very fast!" They moved through the hallways and tried to move to the front door. Many ponies screamed and ran around aimlessly, others ran towards the front door. Many brave Stallions rushed out the door to counter the manikins. Cadence had the team of young ponies move to a side door where the stallions were not going. They came to a large oriental blue door leading to the outside garden, their freedom was clear. Unfortunately a wall was blown down right next to them and sure enough the Emperor appeared through the hole in the wall and many manikins poured through it after him. They appeared in between the group and their freedom. Cadence stood tall between the ponies and the Emperor, the little ponies began to shake in fear at the sight of the danger directly in front of them. The Emperor took notice of Cadence and smirked, he waved his staff in her direction.
"I want her!" The Emperor shouted with glee.
"What will we do Ms. Cadence?" A filly asked in a chilled tone.
"You guys find Princess Celestia and get out of here! Stay with her and you’ll be safe!" The ponies ran in the opposite direction, Cadence knew that even if she didn’t make it, at least the ponies wiould be safe. She charged at the Emperor and a Lady of Antiquity cast a Stop spell on her and she became frozen in place. The Emperor rushed over to her and clubbed her head with his staff, she began to lose consciousness as she fell to floor and slowly went out.
"Cadence No!" Shouted the voice of her love Shining Armor echoing in her head, she went completely out when she hit the floor.
In an underground tunnel under Canterlot Castle captain Shining Armor rested at a camp made by himself and several Stallion Knights. Many of them are saddened or angered for the fact that many of their friends, family, and comrades were killed in the attack. The camp had three small tents and many sleeping bags strung out all over the ground and two tables giving out rationed food and water. Many stallions including their captain gather around a huge campfire.
"Do you think we can save our home?" One Stallion asked.
"I’m not sure, I wasn’t able to beat one of those crystal thingies." Another stallion responded.
"I’m sorry I couldn’t save you Cadence."Shining Armor thought with his heart aching, for who knows what the Emperor could be doing to her. He witnessed Cadence get captured and he knew that the she must still be alive but for how long he couldn’t say. He also began to have a flashback to when the Emperor stormed the castle.
Cadence fell to the ground unconscious Shining Armor watched as an emotion that is a mixture of fear and anger consumed his body. He fixed a heated glare on the Emperor, the Emperor just gave him an evil smile. It made Shining Armor sick to know that there’s a creature in the world that takes pleasure in such atrocities. The Emperor’s horde of manikins stormed forward while others picked up Cadence and carried her behind the Emperor. Shining Armor got ready to charge to save his love. But he noticed the young ponies she was trying to protect rushing towards the throne room and realized that she would want those young ones to have a future. So he raced to the throne room the assist them. Celestia rushed out of the throne room being followed by a few manikins. The young ponies reached Celestia, Luna was seen flying out of a window in the back of the throne room and away from Canterlot so at least she made it away from the attack.
Celestia stopped for a few seconds to get the ponies attention and they all ran towards the main exit together.
"Princess!" Shining Armor called to Clelestia.
"You must aid us in our escape!" Celestia said to her captain of the royal guard. Shining Armor nodded in agreement as they continued to rush towards the exit. Sadly the team was stopped as they noticed the main opening became a battlefield between Stallions and manikins, it was a gruesome sight as many Stallions fell to the weapons and magick being used against them, the weapons and magick was all too powerful for the Stallions to handle. Every stallion neighed or shouted in pain as each stallion fell dead one by one. Celestia and the young ponies stood speechless as they noticed everypony suffering and dying at the hands of chaos’s forces. It hurt Celestia most of all seeing this happen to her loyal and peaceful subjects.
"Glorious is it not?" The Emperor said approaching Celestia from the east, Shining Armor, and the rest of the group who are at this moment alone. The manikins were getting ready to attack the small group but the Emperor halted them.
"You monster! You must be a Warrior of Chaos!" Celestia shouted giving the Emperor an angry look.
"You must be Celestia. It’s an honor milady!" The Emperor bowed mockingly.
"How do you know me?" Celestia shouted she became more angry and surprised at the Emperor’s knowledge.
"I have my sources, especially one that watches us at this very moment." The Emperor smiled devilishly.
"What have you done with Cadence!?" Shining Armor yelled.
"She will play a crucial role in getting me what I want." The Emperor gave Celestia a disgusted look. "My question to you, is how is it you know about our conflict? What role exactly did you, or do you play in it?" Celestia glared at the Emperor and didn’t respond. "You see, getting involved in our affairs caused this to happen, so you brought this upon yourself." He motioned his staff towards the battle and the team had to watch the sight of ponies dying right before her. "You see this Castle and its town will soon become the property of the Palamician Empire. Eventually you and this whole world will be mine to rule and you will accept me as your ruler."
Shining Armor stood tall as he began to charge up a magic spell, one said that’s used to keep Canterlot safe. He charged directly into the battlefield and a giant barrier shot out around him and blasted the manikins away, not all of them were destroyed though but they were knocked off their feet, the spell however did not affect the Emperor since he is much more pawerful than Shining Armor is. All the Stallions battling manikins were spared from getting killed. Celestia took this chance to run forward with the young ponies and make their escape. Shining Armor struggled to stand back up, casting that spell really took a lot out of him, the rest of his fellow comrades ran over to him to help support him.
"Sir we have to move out now we can’t hold them, we’ve lost!" One Stallion supporting him shouted. Shining Armor hated to leave Cadence behind but he realized that there’s no way he can save her now.
"Break away, we must take cover underground, we’ll find away to give this guy the boot, but later!" Shining Armor reluctantly ordered. "Retreat!" All the Stallions ran away to find cover. Celestia made it miles away from Canterlot, she managed to catch up with the running horde of citizens. Sadly many manikins got back on their feet and began to pursue them. Since the Emperor seemed more interested in Celestia he focused his attention to her and ignored the stallions, he knew they were there but since the stallions were nothing he couldn’t handle he decidec to just let them go. Canterlot is now Emperor Mateus’s property.
Shining Armor rose up from the ground and galloped to the front of the cave and cleared his throat and began to give a speech to the stallions. "Listen up Everypony! Princess Celestia has escaped to Ponyvile and Princess Luna has escaped to parts unknown. It is up to us to rescue the rest of the hostages including remaining members of the royal family and our home from the clutches of the Emperor."
"How exactly can we captain?" A stallion asked. "We were not able to destroy any of those crystal beings."
"We should regroup with our princess in Ponyvile!" Another stallion suggested.
"No!" Shining Armor ordered. "As guards of Canterlot we’ve sworn an oath to protect Canterlot, the royal family, and its citizens. Some citizens and royal family is still trapped in there and it’s up to use to fulfill our duties as guards and stop this madman. We are guards of Canterlot and our time to stop him is now, let’s take back what was wrongly taken from us!" The Stallions cheered.
The Emperor walked outside to the main square in the city and he slammed his staff into the ground.
Back in Ponyvile Princess Celestia called fourth all the ponies of Ponyville and escaped citizens of Canterlot to a large wooden podium on a large wooden stage, so Princess Celestia could give the citizens her speech. Twilight and her friends rushed away from the speech and towards the center of Ponyville and slid on the grind beam and disappeared. Celestia cleared her throat and began to speak. Ponies looked upon her with concerned looks and sad faces, others looked at her with hope, hope that she would be able to provide a solution to this catastrophe.
"The Emperor’s attack on Canterlot was ruthless and many lives were lost. He and his manikin army pillaged and burned everything in sight and when they marched onto the castle, Canterlot’s doom had been decided. I managed to escape with many citizens. However many ponies, some being your friends and family, including my own are still trapped and are now in the hands of the Emperor." A tear slid down Celestia’s muzzle and she slightly chocked up at the thought of what could be happening to them. "I give you this message to you for since you felt it was necessary to banish the only one who could save us." She gave a angry glare to Mayor Mare who hung her head in shame. "For anypony to make resistance or any attempts to save Canterlot will serve no purpose, other than create more death. So I give you this option." She cleared her throat and she got ready to speak the most important part of her speech.
"Mares, Stallions, and Foals, of Equestria, I beg you to cast away your thoughts and any attempts to resist the Emperor, channel that energy for prayers instead. Prayers for all the citizens who are at this moment trapped inside Canterlot in the Emperor’s clutches. Ponies that never harmed any creature and are peaceful who also never raised a hoof against the Emperor’s forces. Prayer too, for my sister and your fellow Princess, Luna. Who’s fate is unknown for she vanished during the attack. Also pray for Her Royal Highness, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza who has fallen into the Emperor’s hands so the foals and children could be safe. Know also Captain, Shining Armor has done something drastic to himself, in order to protect the citizens and has given me the chance to stand before you right now, for now his current fate is unknown. At this time if anyone chooses to march on Canterlot and attempt to free it or attempt to fight the Emperor if he arrives here, are no better than the Emperor himself, a monstrous fiend who only seeks to burn Equestria to the ground." The ponies lowered their heads in sadness at the idea of doing nothing but know well that nothing can be done about the current situation. It’s unfortunate, but they’re powerless.
They heard rumbling coming from Canterlot and felt a tremor from the ground, all the ponies looked towards Canterlot. A green glow came out of the ground and the heavens above Canterlot became filled with a dark ominous cloud that represents all the evil that the Emperor was. Then something evil rose from beneath the ground, a giant purple, black, and pink castle made completely out of crystal. The Castle also had many evil demonic looking faces posing as openings for the doors and windows. The main tower held Canterlot Castle, which itself stayed intact but it’s resting on the roof of this evil castle. Most of the town stayed intact but some of it is completely gone. The ponies including Celestia gasped in awe at what Canterlot has become.
The resistance ran out from the tunnels underneath the castle and stared at the structure in awe.
At the Sanctuary Warrior and Lightning began to fight each other.
"Toss aside your blade and say goodnight." Warrior advised Lightning.
"No thanks. It’s not my bedtime." Lightning scoffed. Warrior charged at Lightning and they locked blades with each other. Many pink lights surrounded Lightning indicating she’s switching paradigms, roles which hold different types of offensive and defensive powers. Her paradigm shifted from Commando to Ravager.
"Blizzara!" Lightning shouted and she shot a medium sized icicle at Warrior and he sent him backwards and Warrior waved his hands in the air.
"Give me Strength!" Warrior shouted and many small icicles rained down towards Lightning. Lightning charged towards Warrior, avoiding the icicles and changed her paradigm back to Commando and she began to slash at Warrior and Warrior blocked each of her slashes with his sword and his shield. She made her weapon change from a sword to a gun and it fired a few bullets at Warrior. Warrior blocked them with his shield, but the force of the shot caused him to stagger backwards. Then Lightning pulled out two giant blades and she waved them around in circles in the air and as she did rose petals soared through the air.
"This is gonna sting!" Lightning shouted spinning around in circles. "See ya!" Then many lightning bolts rained down and zapped Warrior with great electrical force. Lightning put the giant blades away. Warrior regained himself and threw his hand in the air again.
"Give me strength!" He shouted and lightning bolts zapped down in a straight line and hurt Lightning. "Bathe in the light!" Warrior shouted, digging his sword into the ground and flung many lights at Lightning that traveled in a straight line towards her. The lights connected and hurt Lightning. Lightning acted quickly for she wracked with pain and needed to do something to heal herself. She changed her paradigm from Commando to Medic.
"Not Over!" Lightning shouted casting the Cura spell and easing her pain. Lightning changed her paradigm from Medic to Ravager and got on the ground and waved her hands in the air. "THUNNN-DA-GAAAA!" More lightning rained down on Warrior but this lightning didn’t hurt him as much as it did before. Sadly no one seemed to notice the seven visitors just now entering the Sanctuary.
"What’s Warrior doing?" Twilight asked in a shocked tone.
"Who’s that human with the pink hair?" Fluttershy asked.
"Maybe she’s a bad guy if Warrior’s fighting her, let’s help him!" Rainbow Dash asked and she charged towards the battle with the others closely behind. Lightning pulled out the two giant blades again and jumped in circles in the air.
"Who’re you watching!?" Lightning shouted, she charged at Warrior and cut through him and left many rose petals behind Warrior wailed in pain and Cosmos took notice to the visitors and quickly acted to stop the fighting.
"Stop! You mustn’t fight! Hear me warriors. Stay your blades!" Cosmos shouted. "Haven’t you seen that we have visitors?" Warrior stood shocked as the ponies interjected between Warrior and Lightning.
"You hurt my friend!" Fluttershy shouted glaring at Lightning.
"I should give you a swift buck in the face for this!" Rainbow Dash shouted hovering over the floor and moving her front legs around in a motion that resembled a boxing stance.
"I’ll vanish you Warrior so she can’t hurt you!" Twilight said, glaring at Lightning. With her horn glowing, she began to chant the vanish spell.
"Those boots you’re wearing don’t suit you at all!" Rarity snapped trying to insult Lightning’s appearance, but she wasn’t affected by it.
"You may be a bad guy perhaps we could celebrate us meeting when we’re done!" Pinkie Pie laughed. Warrior face palmed out of embarrassment, Lightning stared at the ponies in shock. She scoffed and seethed the Blazefire Saber.
"This isn’t a county fair, go back to the stable were you belong!" Lightning ordered the ponies.
"County Fair!?" Applejack shouted feeling insulted. "I may be all ‘bout apples, but there’s no need to be generlizin’ like that!"
"I thought it was pretty funny." Spike giggled. The rest of the ponies glared at Spike and he gulped.
"Themes Fightin’ words!" Rainbow Dash said staring down Lightning and began to take the stance she held before again.
"You can’t be serious." Lightning scoffed. "You got some attitude on ya." Lightning smiled at Rainbow Dash, she appears to be taking small liking to the Pegasus.
"Don’t you underestimate me!" Rainbow Dash yelled. She charged at Lightning and attempted to buck her in the chest but Lightning back flipped to avoid the shot.
"You’re going to regret this!" Lightning warned, pulling out her weapon. Lightning charged at Rainbow Dash and began to slash at her. Luckily thanks to Rainbow Dash watching Warrior train and mimicking his movements, she was able to quickly dodge her slashes.
"Hmph." Lightning smiled. "You really are quite skilled. But this must end." Lightning switched her paradigm to Ravager. "Fire!" She shouted and fired a small fireball at Rainbow Dash and she slightly burned her left wing.
"OW OW OW OW OW!" She screamed, Rainbow Dash zoomed down and dipped her wing into the water on the floor of the Sanctuary and cooled it off.
"That’s enough Rainbow Dash!" Warrior ordered. Once Rainbow Dash’s wing cooled off and she rejoined the others.
"So you know these horses?" Lightning scoffed. "They must be your friends, have betrayed them to?" The ponies gasped and looked at Warrior.
"Who is she?" Spike asked Warrior.
"I’m Lightning, a warrior for Cosmos." The ponies gasped again.
"What were you fighting about?" Twilight asked. Warrior sighed as he looked to the ground and said nothing. Cosmos rose from her throne and stared at Warrior.
"Speak, you know more than you reveal." Cosmos asked Warrior.
"My pardons." Warrior admitted. "I meant to speak to you about Kain later."
"Who’s Kain?" Rarity asked.
"Another Warrior of Cosmos." Lightning, explained. "However he’s also in league with this traitor in a conspiracy to murder us all."
"What!?" The ponies and Spike gasped, they never imagined something like this would happen, least of all someone they considered a friend to do something so horrible.
"How could you!?" Fluttershy, she began to tear up. She never imagined that the brave hero she gets strength from would be someone who acts so selfishly.
"This fight, you see… Kain and I… We’ve yielded." Warrior admitted, the ponies sighed at Warrior.
"How could you just give up!?" Rainbow Dash shouted in disgust.
"And hurt your friends in the process!" Twilight said, also disgusted.
"What do you mean?" Lightning asked starting to calm down.
"No sooner had Cosmos imbued us with her power than the twisted warriors we came to know as manikins appeared in this world." Warrior explained. "An endless spring of military might, directed by the force of Chaos. For each we would slay, two more would take its place. Had we so chosen, we could have battled until our last ounce of strength was drained. There was one thing, however we know that we could never do, win. And the longer we fought, the more painfully apparent that became."
"When I became guardian of Equestria, the manikin situation has reached the ponies world. Their numbers have grown fairly weak the manikins do not appear in such overwhelming numbers but each time their numbers grow. Even though whatever this big secret is in this world I knew I couldn’t uncover it in time to help us. Even though I keep finding clues that can point me in the right direction, I do understand that I must help the allies I have gained in this strange world with their everyday problems, if I were to find the secret, but I couldn’t wait any longer. Then I found Kain and he told me that if we all fall, we get revived and are allowed to fight again at full strength."
The ponies still felt very disappointed in Warrior’s decisions but they also began to pity Warrior for feeling like he had to give up.
"You’re taking down your own allies and putting them to sleep so they’ll get revived?" Lightning asked in a angry tone. She rushed over to Warrior and stared him in the face. "You expect me to buy into that? You don’t think we can win, so you think we should just lose on purpose!?"
"Why didn’t you come to us?" Twilight asked saddened. "We've could have helped you out! We could have pulled together to find a better solution."
"I did." Warrior stated. "When I asked you about doing something horrible to allies but it being for their own good." Twilight remembered when Warrior asked her that question, and began to feel a little guilty for giving Warrior such a horrible idea. Warrior turned to Lightning and stared at her unphased by her aggressive tone. "I do think we need to lose on purpose. It is our only hope of success."
"Where do you even dream up a fairy tale like that!?" Lightning shouted, she looked away from Warrior. "Look… Even if what you’re saying wasn’t completely crazy, what’s the point in getting revived so we can keep fighting an endless war?"
"Oh my, this is horrible, a war that never ends!" Spike sighed sadly.
"At least we never have to say goodbye!" Pinkie Pie cheered.
"Yeah but our home would get caught up in the middle of this russlin’ forever!" Applejack stated.
"I will help you out all you need me to!" Rarity said in a very nervous tone. "But I won’t get involved in a problem that can never be solved."
"Warrior, I feel for you I really do." Fluttershy said in a comforting tone. "But trust me when I say that hurting your friends is not the answer!" Twilight looked to the side with a disappointed look. She had a shaking suspicion that Princess Celestia knew about this.
"You know what, she appears to have a point." Rainbow Dash said bitterly, staring at Lightning. "How do I know that you won’t betray us like you did your own allies?" She glared at Warrior and the other ponies stared her down but Rainbow Dash returned the stare for she did present a strong point. Cosmos looked away with an ashamed look, because she does know the hard facts of this endless war.
"I mean…if this war isn’t gonna end…" Lightning sighed shaking her head and looking to the ground with a sad look. "Why even fight? What in the world are we doing here?" Warrior looked at Lightning and the ponies and gave a sympathetic look.
"Making the war end." Warrior assured. "Is that not correct, Cosmos?" Cosmos looked at Warrior and said nothing. "We are here to use our power Cosmos has granted us, our crystals, to bring the cycle to a grinding halt. But as matters stand, we are doomed to fail before we can even obtain them."
"But what about Equestria?" Twilight asked. "We can still give you what you’re after, right?"
"Maybe but since we don’t even know what it is or where to start looking, I can’t place all my hopes into that gamble." Warrior explained. "If we do not embrace the cycle, the crystals will never be ours to wield." Just as Warrior said that, more Warriors of Cosmos arrived. Laguna, Yuna, and Vaan. They took a notice to the ponies and were stunned. Laguna found that the Cloud of Darkness was right about what she said about ponies. The ponies looked over at the new group of Warriors and went over to greet them.
"Not exactly uplifting." Laguna shrugged.
"We don’t even have the time to consider our options." Yuna sighed, Vaan just mumbled under his breath.
"It was my hope that you would journey onward, to face the next battle." Warrior admitted. "At the same time I would take more time to find the secret to Equestria."
"That’s where you come in I’m guessing?" Laguna asked pointing to the ponies.
"Yes, it also seems that you three are also Warriors of Cosmos." Twilight said, the other three looked surprised that these horses could speak.
"I’m Laguna." He pointed to himself.
"I’m Yuna, it’s nice to meet you." Yuna smiled approaching the ponies and reaching out her hand in a attempt to pet them. Fluttershy could feel Yuna’s compassion for other creatures and approached her, Fluttershy smiled as Yuna slowly petted her.
"I’m Vaan, it’s great I’ve never seen such intelligent animals before!" He cheered.
"I know it’s amazing isn’t it?" Pinkie Pie said hoping over to Vaan and smiled at him. Vaan laughed and returned the smile. The ponies took the time to introduce themselves and the group took a break and used the time to get better aquatinted.
"So you run an orchard and focus your lives on great apple foods?" Laguna asked Applejack.
"Sure do! You’re welcome anytime!" Applejack smiled. All this talk of apples caused Laguna’s stomach to growl.
"Geez, you got any extra ones on you?" Laguna laughed and rubbed his stomach. Applejack smiled and lifted her hat and underneath there was a big red apple underneath.
"I always carry a little extra travel rations with me." Applejack explained. "Go ahead and chow down, you’ll find no better tasting apples!" Laguna took the apple off her head and munched on it. Laguna smiled at how delicious it tasted.
"Valefore!" Yuna called and she waved her staff around summoned Valefore, the aeon flew next to Yuna and Yuna petted its feathers as it stared at Fluttershy.
"You work so well this these, aeons?" Fluttershy complimented, approaching Valefore and smiled at it’s face. Even thought nothing was said between them it did seem clear that the aeon and the Pegasus liked each other.
"We can all work well with creatures if we are willing to just try." Yuna smiled.
"The way you move around with such grace and beauty as you summoned it is like watching a live interpretive dance!" Rarty complimented.
"While it isn’t everything, I do like having nice looks in my moves." Yuna laughed.
"You wanna travel the skies?" Pinkie Pie asked Vaan. "Wish I had wings so I could also!"
"I may not remember everything about my home but I could never forget my goal in life!" Vaan laughed.
"A sky pirate!" Spike said in awe, the name gave him chills. "That sounds so cool!"
"There’s just one thing I must know about you ponies." Vaan announced and they all turned to give him their attention.
"What?" Twilight asked. Vaan got nervous and worked up the courage to ask a very bold question.
"So, how old are all of you?" Vaan asked in a nerviouse tone. The ponies sneered at Vaan and looked away from him. "What?" Vaan thought it was an innocent question to ask. Spike just giggled at the question.
"So Lightning, you think you’re hot stuff huh?" Rainbow Dash said giving her a mocking look.
"What’s it to you?" Lightning asked, unamused.
"Just know I’m faster than Lightning!" Rainbow Dash said trying to tell her off.
"You sure showed that when I lit you on fire." Lightning said, her tone slightly mocking. "So how are you guys exactly involved in this?"
"Warrior is charged to protect our world because one of our princesses became a Warrior of Chaos we uncovered the truth that we particular six ponies are chosen ones to wield a power that freed her from Chaos’s hold." Twilight explained.
"Cosmos said that there is a secret in this world that I must uncover and whatever it is, it can help us win this conflict." Warrior explained.
"When he finds it what good will it do if he’s the only one who finds it?" Vaan asked Cosmos.
"When he finds it he will be able to share it with you, because you are all bound together." Cosmos explained.
"But now Warrior is banished because the manikins showed up and the ponies believed his arrival is a curse." Rainbow Dash explained.
"How many of those tomes do you have?" Twilight asked Cosmos.
"Many more, but I’m not sure if it would be wise to give them to you, that magick is very dangerous." Cosmos explained. Twilight looked depressed, she knew that she might have to learn some more magick in order to save her family.
"So what are you going to do?" Yuna asked sadly.
"I’ve sworn an oath to Kain." Warrior explained. "While he puts the other warriors to sleep. I am to serve as his shield."
"Are you guys like, brothers in arms, to the bitter end?" Laguna asked.
"Whatever hopes we have rest upon you in the next fight. I need to spend much time in Equestria to uncover this grand secret." Warrior said looking to the ground. "Sometimes you must lose a battle to win the war. Please try to accept this. The crystals, and Equestria are the only hopes we have now."
"You’re wrong." Lightning objected. "The group looked at her. You two can do whatever you want. But don’t go asking me to believe in this crap." The ponies gasped for hearing such language use, Rainbow Dash smirked. Twilight stared at Spike to make sure he wouldn’t say that word ever. "Me…I make my own fate. I’ll keep looking for hope until I find some."
"Lightning." Warrior sighed, slightly put out that she’s objecting to his plan.
"Say your ‘next battle’ were to start now. There wouldn’t be any fewer enemies out there." Lightning explained. "And starting over fresh doesn’t guarantee we’d get our crystals any faster either. At the very least, we might as well cut their numbers down first. It sure can’t hurt can it? And might just give us a shot."
"Guess now’s as good a time as any." Laguna spoke out, scratching his head. "Just happens I’ve got some intel that might change the whole game." He snickered. "You wanna even our odds? Try this on, I know where the manikins are coming from." The group gasped at this information that can really turn the tide for them. "Well, more like how to find where they come from. But if you wanna go lookin’, I’m up for it."
"You are?" Lightning asked.
"You know I’m in to!" Vaan announced. "I promised to help end this thing and that’s what I’m gonna do. I’m not givin’ up now. I’m finishing what I started. We’ve got better things to do than napping."
"Vaan." Lightning sighed.
"I’m coming to!" Yuna said marching forward. "I can’t just sleep here while you’re all out fighting. I can’t turn my back on people like that. If I can help, then I’ll keep fighting."
"Yuna." Lightning sighed.
"The road you choose is no easy one." Warrior warned. "You still walk it, knowing what you face?" Warrior looked at his comrades faces and learned that they’re determined to face the danger ahead. "Very well. Then I shall place my hope and trust in you."
"Well then, guess it’s a date!" Laguna cheered looking outward. "Looks like we’ve got some manikins to disassemble."
"Right! Let’s take em apart!" Raimbow Dash said flying next to Lightning she's attempting to join the other Warriors of Cosmos.
"We can’t remember?" Twilight said coldly to the Pegasus. "We’ve got bigger problems!"
"What do you mean?" Cosmos asked.
"We need Warrior to come back!" Spike said.
"A Warrior of Chaos has appeared and has attacked Canterlot and has driven Princess Celestia and many other citizens into exile." Rarity explained.
"Princess Celestia says that fighting him ourselves will serve no purpose so she’s just giving up!" Twilight said. "Many citizens are being held prisoner there including members of the royal family. Twilight looked down with a sad look. Even my own family."
"Who could have done this?" Yuna gasped.
"Princess Celestia didn’t say who but she described him as a demonic figure dressed in regal gold clothes."
"That’s Emperor Mateus." Cosmos explained.
"He’s the one who took sir Jecht!" Yuna cried. Lightning sighed for she now has witness evidence that Kain didn't touch Jecht.
"You wish for me to return despite being banished?" Warrior asked.
"Yes, once your back they will have to accept you back. They will learn that you are meant to protect us!" Twilight explained further.
"Do it, if what you say is true about this world, than we need it to stand." Lightning advised.
"I wouldn’t be good to just leave a poor world like their in Chaos’s hands would it?" Vaan laughed.
"You’re right. I will return to Equestria and I will help be rid of the Emperor." Warrior agreed.
Warrior walked towards the gateway to Equestria and the ponies took time to say goodbye to the other Warriors of Cosmos.
"I’d like to have a party, if you really do have top quality ones!" Vaan said to Pinkie Pie.
"Great, I’d also like to show you a flying machine I invented to hang out with Rainbow Dash more often." Pinkie Pie laughed.
"If you do become a sky pirate, you don’t need to look any further for a first mate!" Spike said sounding tuff and pointing his thumb to himself. Vaan laughed at the idea of a dragon being a first mate. "I’m serious!"
"I don’t think you understand what being a sky pirate is truly about!" Vaan laughed.
"I would love to meet more of the aeons!" Fluttershy said to Yuna.
"Darling if you would like I could create something to make your motions with your staff more beautiful." Rarity said to Yuna. Yuna smiled and began to pet Fluttershy again, she attempted to pet Rarity but she wouldn’t let Yuna ruin her mane.
"I would love to see you two again." Yuna said happily.
"Yer always welcome to our orchard, I can whip up the most lip smackn’ apple cuisine you’ve ever seen!" Applejack said to Laguna.
"I’ll be sure to have an empty stomach when I show up." Laguna laughed, rubbing his stomach. Rainbow Dash stared at Lightning and she stared back at her. They both smiled at each other.
"See you around." Rainbow Dash said to her.
"You too." Lightning said. They separated and the other Warriors walked out of the Sanctuary and Lightning had a big smile on her face. The ponies rejoined Warrior and proceeded to Equestria. It seemed that the ponies really connected to the other warriors. Cosmos sighed and a tear rolled down her cheek for even her own warriors began to fight amongst themselves. More about how Celestia’s home was on the brink of annihilation and that she and her subjects are now too involved in the conflict in order to be safe.
The group walked into Equestria and Warrior immediately took notice to the giant structure holding Canterlot Castle into the sky and the dark cloud blanketing the castle. His eyes bugged out at the sight.
"What are you doing here? A unicorn shouted to Warrior, many other ponies looked at Warrior some looking like it’s a miracle that he’s back, others were looking at Warrior with welcoming looks. Many whispers and gossip spread throughout the city."
"Warrior of Light!" Mayor Mare called. Warrior was expecting to be court marshaled for breaking the law so he felt nervous. "This way please!" She led the group to Twilight’s Library and there they were brought to Princess Celestia.
"Warrior, welcome back!" Celestia said.
"The Emperor has attacked your royal city. He has hostages?" Warrior asked. A tear slid down Celestia’s muzzle and she nodded.
"I wish I could help but even me being here right now breaks the law." Warrior sighed.
"You see we realize you were right about the enemy attacking weather you’re here or not." Mayor Mare said. "We reversed the law and you’re welcome back. We’re deeply sorry for what we’ve done, I hope you can forgive us."
"Warrior I beg you to help us rid Equestria of the Emperor!" Celestia begged lowering her head in a begging gesture.
Warrior closed his eyes and sighed for he felt that he had to help them not just because it was the right thing to do, or because that Cosmos assigned him the task but because he felt that he wants to do it, for them.
"I will do it." Warrior responded. Then he realized that he knew what the name of the structure that holds Canterlot is named. "Celestia you should know that Canterlot at this time is no longer Canterlot."
"What do you mean?" Celestia asked, Warrior and the other ponies walked out of the library and stared at the structure.
"On my journies with my comrades, I have been there many times. That is the Emperor’s lair, and as long as it reigns over Canterlot, is Canterlot no more, it is now called, Pandemonium."