Chapter 12
Assault
The group of ponies were sitting in the library still distraught over the events of the previous night, Twilight refused to come out of her room, her friends were there for her but nothing seemed to work. Meanwhile Sky, Fire and Turner were trying to figure out a way to get to Detrot before the fight started.
“What about the train?” Fire suggested.
“No good. It’s a twelve hour trip, we’d never make it.” Turner said with a sigh.
“What about my wings I could fly there and-”
“Unless you can go over three hundred miles an hour I doubt it. We need to think of something else.” Fire said in disappointment. “What about the spell he used maybe I can-”
“No, your still weak from the birth.”
“We need to figure out how the spell works, and find a unicorn that’s capable of casting it.” Turner said as he scratched his chin with his hoof. His eyes suddenly increased to the size of dinner plates. “Wait, his notes surely he’s written something down about it.”
“Aright ponies let’s move out!” Sky said in a commanding tone.
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Echo was walking down the streets of Detrot with an army of the homeless and destitute behind him, his army, his reason for fighting. He was their last and only hope. As the ruins of the factory came into view so did his foe. The griffin that had turned his world upside down, the griffon that killed his friend and the griffon that would taste his own blood by the end of today. Echo halted his advance and motioned for his army to do the same. Ace then moved in front of his army and started to speak.
“I though this was a battle between soldiers, not a bunch of fillies.”
“You’re correct. These ponies are tired of your abuse of power, It’s fine time that we take back what’s rightfully ours!” the crowd behind him cheered. “I am giving you this one chance to walk away, so long as you swear on your life never to return to this city.”.
“And why should I be scared of a worn out doctor and a group of ragtags, passing themselves off as soldiers?”
“Because we know the truth!”
“So you found out that I was the one who killed your mare friend. What of it? She was just a pawn in my plan, just as you were.” he said with a smirk.
“Theres no reasoning with you, you’ve abandoned sanity for madness! You have made this city sick!”
“What you ponies need is a reminder who runs Detrot!” he said as he got in an offensive stance.
“What they need is to be rid of you and your cruelty! No more words, this day we fight!” The horde behind the dark stallion started to cheer and howl. Soon they quieted down, the silence became so thick any-pony could cut it with a knife. Echo turned back to his army and gave one final look into their eyes. He then saw the apparition of Star standing beside him, along with Sky, Fire and Turner. the apparitions smiled and nodded to their dark friend. “To the end.” Echo said as he charged with his horn lit. The army followed close behind. Ace charged as well with malice in his eyes. As the two armies clashed the city will be forever changed.
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Back in Ponyville the ponies occupying the library started tearing it apart looking for something, anything that could help their friend.
“It has to be here somewhere!” Fire shouted.
“We’re looking!” Rainbow said as she flipped through a book.
“Hey I found something!” Pinkie said at the top of her lungs, the ponies then crowded around the pink mare. “It’s one of his notes on that weirdo spell.”
I have successfully perfected the temporal space seal spell. Two points are needed an enter and exit seal. I have set one up in front of the clinic should I need to get back in a hurry, I will keep a few seal’s on me just incase of an emergency. The seals are easy enough to make just some parchment and some magic. Luckily I have both. The exit seals are permanent unless the structure is compromised. Damaged seals won’t work, once I tried it with an apple only half of it was sent through. The one at the clinic is still useable and I placed a protection spell around it so it will never be damaged. I hope to return there some day.
To use this spell one simply must draw the correct symbol and pour their magic into it, while thinking of a pure reason to use it. I don’t want just any-pony getting their hooves on this spell, just imagine how this could benefit criminals.
The ponies in the room started to gather all the paper and ink they could carry and brought them in the center of the library.
“Twilight do you remember the symbol?” Sky said.
“I think so, it looked like a weird star constellation.”
“Did it look like this?” Turner said as he drew an odd shaped star.
“Yeah that’s It! Wait that looks like..”
“You’re cutie mark.” he finished as he glanced at Twilight’s mark.
“Okay every-pony let’s get to work.” Fire said as she began to draw. Once the seal was complete Turner spoke up.
“So who’s going? Other than me of corse.”
“Me.” Sky said.
Fire was about to say something but was cut off by a blue hoof.
“Don’t even think about it!”
“I’m not going to leave him there to die.”
“You have to stay here and-”
“No!”
“Damn it Fire I can’t loose you!” he said as he started to cry.
“If we go together then you won’t.”
“Fire think about our colt. He needs you.”
“What about you? Who’s going to tech him how to fly or play hoof-ball or going to toast him at his wedding?” she said as she began to cry.
“I love you Fire and I want nothing more than to spend my life with you and Pyro. I’ve never been god at these sort of things. Looks like I’m gonna have to take a play from Echo’s book.”
“What?” she said as she dropped to the floor.
“I drugged your drink three minutes ago. You’re awake, you just can’t move.”
“JERK!” she bellowed.
“Applejack could you please take my fiance upstairs?”
“Sure thing.” she said as she lifted the mare onto her back.
“Now that that’s taken care of who else is going?”
“Me!” Twilight said with a stern look.
“No, Echo would never-” he was cut off by Twilight wrapping the two stallions in a magical aura.
“You need me to perform the spell, I’m going that’s final!” the two stallions looked at each other and decided that there was no stopping her.
“Fine,then lets’s go.” Sky said impatiently.
“Okay hang on!” Twilight said as her magic began to flow through the seal. The others watched in amazement as the three ponies vanished in a flash of light. Twilight’s last thought before the plunge was hoping that they would make it in time.
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The battle had begun, ponies clashed, blood was spilt and cries of agony and pain could be heard for miles. Echo was in the center and taking on as many as he could handle. Suddenly a friendly griffin mad his way to him.
“Echo, the left side is about to fail, we can’t last forever.”
“Understood, initiate operation ‘Cripple.’” he said as he continued to beat the pony that he held on the ground by his front hoof. The griffin flew up to one of the buildings where a squad of pegasi and griffins carrying massive rocks.
“Alright it’s show time! On my left.” the griffin said as he and the others took flight and began to drop the rocks on top of the enemies. Echo could hear the crunching of bones through the fight. He continued to make his way through the battle field, he made sure that the left side would hold, as he went to the right flank he noticed a familiar face in the fight. Turner. He made his way to the earth pony.
“What are you doing here!?” he yelled.
“We’re here to help you.” Turner said as he uppercutted a unicorn.
“We?” as soon as he said that he noticed another wave of enemies coming right for them. Before they came within ten feet of them they were stopped by a barrage of purple magic, sending the attackers back into the nearest building Echo looked over head and Saw Twilight standing on Sky’s back with her horn glowing. The two landed next to Turner and Echo. Twilight got off of Sky and trotted over to her colt-friend and smacked him across the face.“Okay I deserved that.” he said as he rubbed the sore spot.
“Damn right you do!” she said with tears in her eyes.
“Guy’s I’m an ass-hole I admit that, and I will gladly accept any and all smart ass remarks after this is over. But right now theres and army of gang members that are good and ready to completely buck our shit up!”
“So cheesy apology later?” Sky interjected. A grey earth pony suddenly trotted up next to Echo.
“Echo! Ace just ran inside the factory, and our right flank is loosing ground.” Echo pondered for a minute and looked back at Twilight and his friends.
“C’mon man, we’re here we want to help.” Echo looked at Twilight and his friends he took a deep breath and gave them their orders.
“Sky cover the right flank, Turner got to the left. Twilight stay behind and provide cover fire for them.”
“No! I’m not leaving you again!” she said with tears pouring down her face. Echo grabbed her and pressed his lips against hers.
“Twilight, I need you safe. Just provide cover for the others. I’ll see you again, on this side or the other.” he said as he ran off into the crowd. Echo continued to slash his way through the mob of enemies, he was fighting more than he ever had in his life. He noticed a familiar griffin in the horde, Black Beak. He made his way to the large griffin, their eyes locked.
“Well, fortune favors me today, it’s the pony who got me locked up!” Black beak said as he swung his talon at the dark stallion. The two entered a seemingly endless battle. Echo materialized a scalpel and began to take him down slowly but surely. Black Beak was losing energy fast. Echo saw an opening and slammed his hoof on the griffins skull knocking him out cold. Echo took a moment to glance at the griffin laying in the street and continued to move his way through the crowd. He fought his way through until he saw a familiar burned down building. Four griffins were standing guard by the entrance. Echo made his way to them and began to fight the massive beasts. He fell to his stomach in pain as one of them uppercutted his jaw. Echo looked up to see the four griffin’s starting to descend on him. Suddenly one of them was taken out by a blue blur, the second was hit by a purple magic blast the the other two were taken out by rocks. Echo looked behind him to see Twilight, Turner and the majority of the mob standing behind him.
“What? I though I told you guys to cover our left and right sides?” he said Twilight helped him to his hooves.
“We did, after that we thought you could use the help.” Turner said with a grin. “Plus Twilight here wouldn’t stop pestering us until we came to your aid. You got yourself one hell of a mare-friend Echo.”
“Tell me about it.” he said with a chuckle as he looked back to Twilight.
“So what do we do now?”
“Ace is held up here, I’m going to end this.” he said as he walked towards the entrance.
“Not without me your not.” Turner said as he trotted to his side.
“Same for me.” Sky said with a smirk.
“Me too.” Twilight said as she joined her colt-friend. The four ponies trotted into the old ware house and made their way to a burnt down office, there was a badly wounded griffin sitting in a chair with a bottle of vodka on the desk.
“Wait outside, I’ll handle this.” The ponies did as they asked and left the dark stallion inside. Echo continued up the stairs to where Ace was waiting for him.
This is where it all ends.