Captain Shining Armour let his head peek over the edge of the trench as he witnessed the faces of his enemy. They all carry the same ghastly trail like the flying machines but these beings walk upon two legs and hold weapons with another two limbs. There was something the Captain was sure about however. They were all carrying weapons both sharp and foreign, a potentially bad combination.
“Sir!” a voice easily dragged the officer's attention away from the advancing troops. “Arty is inbound!”
“Take cover every pony!” Shining shouted and as he ducked he witnessed the fireballs leaving their black and smokey trail behind them. The crashing sound as they impacted against their target made the Unicorn smile for a moment as he rose to see what the first volley had done. His smirk was short lived as the orb still held strong and the enemy were advancing without pause. It was this moment as he ducked below and looked at the young corporal Unicorn that he knew this may be their last stand. “Corporal. Tell the 12th to shift fire. Target our trench line. Dragon fire rounds.”
The Corporal paused for only a moment as he observed his superior. He let out a long breath before nodding his head and began to send his message.
“Draw weapons!”
“I'm sorry AJ!” Rainbow Dash apologized at her Earth pony friend who paced in circles for only a moment before bucking a nearby tree. Dash had watched AJ ever since she was in charge of getting her down to the ground safely and none of it was happy.
“Ah can't believe he just ditched us! Me!” AJ howled at no pony in particular. She just had to yell, to let out this inner frustration that was so tightly coiled.
“It'll be ok AJ!” Twilight intervened between the two as the group of friends finally began to see the farm pony's form begin to weaken. “Discord is behind all of this. If we deal with him then we can save Uriel along with the rest of Equestria!”
Rainbow Dash nudged Applejack to get her more steady on her hooves. The earth pony began a few steady breaths before settling herself in a steadfast position. “Mah apology girls. Guess Ah just lost mahself there for a moment.”
“We're friends darling. Of course we will be here for you whenever the need arises.” Rarity gave AJ a wink before turning to the orb and wincing. “Now have you ever seen a more horrendous colour for such a thing?” Rarity pointed at the large imposing transparent structure. “It isn't even time for such a Fall colour, ugh!”
Uriel awoke with a painful cough that made him shudder with each heave. His attempts of trying to open his eyes were meet with a fastening headache. Everything ached almost to a degree that he felt his conscious fading. All he could really do his shuffle his hooves to either side slightly but that small movement was enough to gather the wrong attention.
“Is my little baby awake?” The voice was rotten to the core in Uriel's ears.
Fighting the pain, Uriel opened one eye enough to see the chaotic beast stand over him with a smug look on his face. The Alicorn gave all his might into just trying to wipe the look off his face with a hoof but all he managed was just lightly dabbing his cheek.
“Aw, I love you too little man.” Discord said with small pats upon the white hoof that was now on his face. His smile stayed in place as the misfit creature bent down to rub a paw through the velvet mane that flicked like a fire but was smooth as a spring stream. Truly a visual treat that ran with the Princess sisters and kin with ease. “Can you believe it has been over a thousand years since you and I have been a family?”
Uriel cringed at the word.
“I can't believe at how much you have grown!” Discord giggled with delight as he called back on distant memories that swam freely in his head. “Good thing I have been saving my bits for a good University for you!” he laughed as he hovered a few feet above the ground.
Chrysalis watched from her position beside the human that was still staring angrily at the images that discord had floating about. How could she have been so diluted and blind? Had the need to gather love for her swarm clouded her vision this much? It was the sudden touch against her fingers that made her snap her gaze and thinking back onto the man in the chair.
“Michelle, I'm tired.” Allan barely said above a whisper as his eyes blinked several times as if to clear his vision. Chrysalis could feel the life in the man was weakening and knew the cause. A small smile gently crept onto her face as a plan began to hatch in her head.
“Sleep dear, sleep.” she whispered softly as her hand cupped one of the man's cheek. She watched as his head went limp and then hung to one side as soft breaths raised and lowered his chest. She waited a few moments to see if anything. Her smiled widened as she spot the small crack on the surface of the orb. It soon began to spread along the surface until it stopped a few meters away from it's original spot. Chrysalis' wicked smile kept true as she chanced a small chuckle at her work.
“Wake up my dear boy!” Discord said with encouragement as he held the pony up by his mane. The pain easily stretched across his features. Most of his white coat was burnt along with many of his feathers. With a wave of a claw Discord brought up another magical monitor that showed six particular mares racing along the country side. The image even zoomed in on one particular one wearing a hat and determined expression. Discord chuckled as he waved another monitor to existence to see both Celestia and Luna flying towards the orb. “We're going to have one big happy family reunion!” Discord said with glee as he gave Uriel a hug that made the Alircorn cry in pain.
One big happy family.
“Princess Celestia!” Twilight called out high above as the two royal mares landed softly only a few meters away from the Elements of Harmony. The mares of Ponyville had to take a moment to actually acknowledge the bright armour both Princesses were wearing and knew that things must be dire if they had donned such measures. “Princess, we need to get into that orb!”
“Agreed, Twilight.” Celestia said along with a nod of her head. She gave herself a second to breath and examined their group was missing one. “Where is my son?”
The Elements of Harmony went quiet for a moment until Applejack took a few steps forward. “We were separated, Princess.”
Celestia wanted to say something until a loud sound echoed through the plains. Every pony turned to see the face of a smiling discord appear as if a large canvas covering the face of the orb. His crooked smile easily displayed for all to see. “Ah Celestia and Luna!” Discord greeted as his gaze focused on the royal sisters. “You wouldn't believe my luck! I was just in the neighbourhood when I found one of your little lost ponies.” Discord explained before reaching off screen and pulling a pure white pony up by his flowing mane.
“Uriel!” Celestia shouted in shock as she watched her son slowly open one of his eyes, the other obviously way too swollen. Her heart was in pain as she witnessed the multiple gashes and burnt patches where is brilliant white coat should have been. Her only little colt had been beaten to such grievous wounds was not going to stand in her books. Another mare walked up to her side as she witnessed Applejack tilting her hat forward.
“You as put one more scratch on him, I'll make sure as rain that a stone imprisonment will be the last of your worries, Discord!” AJ shouted at the top of her lungs. Her anger easily overflowing as she began to kick up the dirt below her.
“Or what, dear Applejack?” Discord hollered before laughing lightly. He raised one claw and held it just above one of Uriel's deep cuts. “Are you going to throw some apples at me?”
“Applejack,” Twilight said as she moved up to the angered mare's side in worry. “He's trying to goad you on. We have to work together to beat his trickery. We know how much Uriel means to both you and the Princesses but we cannot rush things. He has obviously planned this all out.” The studious mare tried to make the fuming Apple pony see reason.
“Oh Twilight, you give me far more credit then I am worth.” Discord blushed. “I really just like playing with my favourite group of ponies.” He said with glee before pressing his claw into the wound. Uriel squirmed with the small amount of energy he had left as a painful howl left his lips.
Applejack had seen enough as she charged forward leaving a stunned Twilight behind to behold the pained Alicorn.
“Twilight.” A voice broke the lavender unicorn from her gaze to look back at the teacher she always cherished. “With the Elements of Harmony, you shall help save my Son. I'm pleading you, Twilight”
The unicorn stood in silence for a moment as the Princess extended her wings for flight. As the two shared a subtle but well meaning nod of their heads. It was all that needed to be exchanged before the Princesses took flight leaving five Elements of Harmony behind. “Come on girls! We have a certain Apple pony to catch up too, hopefully before she steps into any traps!”
Uriel fell from his grasp as he grunted loudly with the impact. His eye shut tightly as he did his best to ignore the pain. There wasn't a single part on his body that he was sure that didn't ache. He tried to flap his wings but nothing happen. Things were beginning to look bleak as he tried to drag himself away from Discord.
“What you see in her stupefies me. Silly mare runs into danger head first just for little, old you. I'd say lucky you but considering your current state, I'll pass.” Discord jested with the Alicorn before turning towards one side of the orb. A wicked smile adorned his face as he tapped his digits together. “Speaking of Applejack, I think she's arrived.”
Uriel let himself a glimpse at Discord only to see the chaotic god disappear in a green puff of smoke. Turning his head with a grunt of pain, Uriel also witness Applejack passing through a small hole in the orb. No, AJ! Turn back! Uriel wanted to scream at her as he witness the orb close behind her but she didn't notice.
“Ah'm coming ,Uriel!” Applejack shouted until she came to a sudden stop at his side. Immediately she reeled back as she witness the true extent of damage to his body. The large wings he was so proud of were obviously broken in several spots as well as one leg jutting off at a weird angle. Multiple burns and cuts ranging from deep to just a scratch. Never had she seen such a physically damaged pony in her life. “Uriel, say somethin'. Come on, Uriel.” Applejack began to plead as her form began to lower to his side.
He never did say anything but instead tried to raise a hoof to her cheek, a action that only resulted in pain that spread through his body. He did feel AJ lower her head as her cheek pressed against his hoof, a smile spreading across her face. “Howdy, Sugar cube.” His voice was weak but he made sure to bare with the pain.
Applejack lightly laughed before looking back down at him, a contorted look of worry yet joy. “That's mah line there, Sugar cube.”
“Applejack!” Pinkie Pie screamed at the top of her lungs but the farm pony didn't even take a quick glance in their direction.
“I'm dreadfully sorry Ma'am but we do not have a seat available for you and your guests at the moment.” Discords voice disturbed the group as they turned their heads again to witness Discord looking down on them from the orb picture.
“Discord!” Celestia screamed in anger. “Release those two immediately!” she ordered with fury but she was simply dismissed with a wave of Discords paw.
“As much as I'd love to throw back insults and such with my favourite gals, I have a romantic couple just dying to be separated. Ta ta!” Discord waved as his image disappeared from the face of the orb.
The group watched in horror as they witness Discord walking up behind Applejack.
“We have to get in there to help her!” Rainbow Dash said with desperation as she rammed the orb only to get the stiff resistance.
“We need the Elements of Harmony to disperse a shield of this strength.” Twilight studied her oppositions magic. An observation that made her frown as she witness the flaw in their attack.
“What are we waiting for than?” Dashie said as she stood by Twilight.
“We're missing Applejack.” Fluttershy said in worry as her gaze turned back to Discord. Dashie caught on as she smacked a hoof against her face. What none of the Mares expected however was the voice to come from the other side of the Orb.
“I may be able to help.” Chrysalis offered as she pressed a hoof against the red, shimmering surface.