Dovahshy May Cry
The Lesser of Two Evils
Author: Draconis187
The group had set up camp as the sun was nearing its time to make way for Luna’s moon. They all sat in a circle around a fire Fluttershy made, she sliced some wood with Pandora’s Grief form and set it alight using Agni. Whilst Twilight argued over the excessiveness of her methods, Fluttershy brushed them off with a smile.
“If I can have everypony’s attention please.” Twilight requested, pulling out a map of Fillydelphia.
Twilight’s horn lit up with its usual magenta glow as her aura encased itself around the map. In a flash of light the group were standing around a three dimensional representation of Fillydelphia. The tall office buildings stood as tall as an average pony. Just inside the town on the other side of where they were entering was their main target: Fillydelphia Correctional Facility. The prison where Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were being held.
“Okay, I know we went over our duties before we left but I feel that we had best go over it again.” Twilight said, her management skills showing. Her eyes darted to Dash and Gilda who were busy making a joke that nopony else could really make out
“Right, I suggest we stick to the original plan. Pinkie, Applejack and I will head for the Correctional Facility and free as many of the prisoners as we can. Trixie and Rarity, we’ll need you to get that fireworks cart set up on a roof.” Twilight continued as she pointed to a building. “I think here, the local corporate giant: Haytari. Their building is the highest in the area and would provide the best spot to cause the most confusion. Keep the area lit at all times since some of us won’t be able to see too well in the dark and we can not rely on the street lights since they may be defunct due to the Changelings.”
“Now Gilda, Rainbow Dash. We need you to keep an eye on things in the air and protect Rarity and Trixie since they will be the most vulnerable due to being in one place. That leaves Fluttershy and Vergil. Just distract them pull them away from the Correctional Facility so the rest of us can gain entry. Remember everypony: this is a rescue mission, nothing more.”
Everypony nodded, looking at her and then to their respective battle partner, Gilda and Rainbow gave one another a rather unsettling malicious smile before hoofbumping each other. Rarity and Trixie nodded at each other as a token of mutual respect since their lives rested on one another. Fluttershy looked at Vergil who still carried his stone cold expression and gave a small sigh. Twilight ended her spell and placed the map in a saddlebag and looked at Pinkie who gave one of her trademark, enormous grins while Applejack gave her a reassuring nod.
“Ok then wimps.” Gilda said, addressing everypony. “The moon will be out in one hour, we head out then.”
Everypony nodded and proceeded to get themselves ready. Trixie went off to train a bit with Cerberus while Fluttershy asked Vergil with some help with using Pandora. Twilight opened a spell book and studied a section labelled ‘The dark side of Telekinesis.’ Gilda laid down on the ground and went to sleep. Rainbow went off in Trixie’s direction, Fluttershy thought she heard her friend ask the blue mare to spar with her. Applejack in the meanwhile laid down against her hammer.
**** **** **** ****
In the city, the battle had already begun amongst the streets and airways. A Heavy Elite was doing battle with a Hell Vanguard. It swung its double sided greataxe at the Vanguard but as it sliced through, it appeared to have no effect on it as it continued to attack him with its scythe. The Elite braced itself for the coming attack but the Vanguard vanished instead, as it surveyed the area it failed to notice the patch of pure darkness below its hooves. The last thing the Elite saw was its own heart being ripped from its rapidly dying body.
Phantom lumbered on through the burning streets caused by the fighting. If he could smile, this would be the time to do it. His lesser versions of himself, the rock spiders known as Kyklops rampaged though the city, complimented with two or three Assaults. The Kyklops rammed through several lines of the Changeling forces, crushing them under their many feet. Assaults caught up and slaughtered any fleeing Changelings.
“That’s right, run you pathetic insects!” Phantom cried out as he witnessed the destruction around him. A Blademaster Elite came down from the skies, carrying two short swords and impaled them into Phantom’s back, shattering apart some of his exoskeleton. Phantom gave a laugh as the blades melted into his body. “What a pathetic catch.”
The last thing that went through the Elite’s mind was… Phantom’s foot. Phantom continued to waltz his way unabated to an open area of the city as a building fell due to an intense struggle between three Changelings and four cat-like beings called Shadows. The Shadows shifted from their cat-like form into a form of spear before impaling them into the roof, as they went through the roof with their kills, they went through one too many supporting walls, causing the collapse.
A few Vanguards appeared around Phantom and began to cut large, ornate drawings in a circular pattern around it. An Assault joined the mini ritual and sliced the tip of one of Phantom’s leg, causing him to bleed his demonic energy infused lava into the grooves. As he filled them, they changed colour and texture from the original red-orange lava to a light blue water-like substance that began to emanate black smoke from it.
“The final piece of this ritual.” Phantom muttered as the Assault handed over a strangely shaped object. It consisted of a single skull with red eyes, emanating a black mist from itself. It also possessed two long, thin bone-like protrusions with what appeared to be claws at the tips coming out of it. Phantom then placed the object in the middle of the demonic ring.
**** **** **** ****
“Alright, everypony ready?” Twilight asked the remaining part of the group as night fell on Equestria, bathing it in the moon’s soft glow.
“Like this?” Trixie asked to her demonic weapon. She wanted to learn a new move with the chilling weapon. Rainbow actually didn’t want to spar, opting to watch from a nearby cloud.
Channel your cold nature towards yourself and nothing will touch you. Said the demonic voice of one of Cerberus’ multiple heads.
“Channel it into myself? O-okay.” Trixie replied uncertain if the weapon was trying to trick her.
She stood steadfast and motionless as she held the weapon in her left hoof by its ring. She could feel the weapon give off a form of magic that felt familiar to her and yet it felt strange at the same time. She proceeded to swing the weapon around herself, knowing that if she built enough momentum it would carry on around her as soon as she released it. She felt the cold energy of the weapon trying to flow into her and it still sent chills through her as she continued. In a single movement, she released it. The weapon did not perform what she intended: it flew off and hit the ground a few feet in front of her, causing several spikes of below absolute zero temperature to thrust their way out of the dirt.
You are resisting. Cerberus said to the blue mare as she retrieved it with her magic while Rainbow laughed.
“W-what do you mean?” Trixie asked.
Every Devil Arm has its requirements to unleash its true potential. We have heard your friend’s story. Beowulf needed her to learn patience and strike when the opportunity rises. Mine is trust. You must trust not only your own power and abilities, but mine as well. Your friends earned my trust by defeating me but you have yet to put your faith in me. Another of Cerberus’ voices said nonchalantly.
Trixie hung her head at the Devil Arm’s words. Before she could fully process her ‘training’, Twilight found her.
“Are you ok Trixie?” She asked with concern for her former rival.
“Not entirely. This business with this thing is going to drive me insane.” She responded with a few tears beginning to appear in her eyes.
“Why, what’s wrong with it?” Twilight asked as she tilted her head in slight confusion.
“It tells me that I don’t trust it but I've been trying Twilight, I really have.” She said with a tear finally trailing down her face.
“Trixie, I believe it might mean that as much as you trust it here,” She said, placing her hoof on Trixie’s forehead. “You don’t trust it here.” Pointing to her heart this time. “Now come on, it’s time for us to move out.”
Applejack went off to get Fluttershy and Vergil who went off in a different direction so their practice wouldn’t interfere with Trixie’s. Fluttershy was standing behind a large wall with the large skull symbol encircled by wings symbol connected to the disastrous weapon. It also had the yellow pathways of light pulsating across its entire frame. Vergil was standing on the opposite side with several ghostly blades hovering around him. In an instant the swords vanished and appeared just behind Vergil and pointing at Fluttershy’s wall.
They shot off towards it, shattering just inches before they made contact with the wall. For a moment it appeared as if Vergil purposely made the swords shatter before reaching his sparring partner. Applejack could see from Vergil’s not changing stance, this was not the case at all. He hunched down as if preparing for some form of retaliation from Fluttershy. However the wall did not change its form but it began to glow in the same eerie yellow glow before the light concentrated its energy in the centre, just in front of the Pandora symbol.
In an instant the energy fired from the wall, just missing Vergil who teleported himself to left in order to avoid it. Applejack’s mouth fell open: the wall converted an attack and fired it back within two seconds of the original attack making contact with the wall.
“Whoa Nelly! That was sure an impressive light show you did there.” Applejack commented as she approached the two.
“It’s called Retribution, number 340. It takes any attack, converts it into a form of energy and then fires it back, usually at twice the strength.” Fluttershy explained to her impressed friend. “Is it time to go?”
Applejack nodded. “’Fraid so sugarcube.”
Vergil nodded his head as Fluttershy transformed Pandora back into its more dormant state. As the three joined up with Rarity, Gilda and Pinkie, Twilight, Rainbow and Trixie joined up as well. The group looked around and made last minute checks with their gear: Fluttershy ejected a round from each of her pistols so her next shot wouldn’t be a jammed one. Pinkie threw Kalina Ann into the air before it vanished in her mane as it came down. Trixie helped Rarity ensure their ‘artillery’ was in top condition. Gilda checked the straps of her rifle and the holding grip for her halberd.
“Ok then everypony, let’s do this.” Twilight said adamantly, her mind set on freeing her family.
**** **** **** ****
“What in the hay?” Applejack said as the group neared the outskirts of the city.
The occupying Changelings were still at war with the demon invaders but they were losing, badly. The streets were lined with the mutilated corpses of Changelings with only a few demon casualties. The buildings were either on fire or were a pile of rubble.
“Looks like we’re not the only ones who made enemies.” Twilight surmised as she examined on of the bodies. “Who would do some thing this brutal?”
“Not who, what.” Vergil spoke as he pointed above Twilight’s head.
She turned around to see four Shadows slowly make their way to the group, like a predator stalking its prey. As the one crept up, it leaped at Twilight who teleported back to the group. As it was about to go after her, Fluttershy opened up a hail of gunfire on the demon until a large, maroon coloured sphere appeared above it. In an instant Vergil swung Yamato at it, severing the orb in half and killing the demon.
The other three Shadows looked at each other for a moment, nopony knew of their weakness to firearms and they just found the only ponies in Equestria who were armed for war against demons. They weighed up their options in a matter of seconds which ended with them turning tail and running.
“Well that was strange.” Twilight murmured.
“Demons.” Fluttershy said, looking up at Vergil who gave an affirmative nod.
“Wait, what are demons doing in Equestria?” Trixie piped up with a confused look on her face.
“One could surmise they were summoned here by someone with knowledge of the demonic arts.” Vergil replied. “I believe Fluttershy and I best find where the portal they are coming from is and seal it.”
Fluttershy nodded at Vergil's response and turned to her friends. “Sorry girls but this is our specialty.”
“Go sugarcube, we’re rooting fer ya.” Applejack said with an encouraging grin.
The two demon hunters ran off into the streets as the others looked at each other.
“Well it looks like we’ll need to improvise from here on out.” Twilight said to the group as she began to pull out the map. “Let’s fin-”
“Twilight, this way!” Pinkie Pie called out. She was standing by a street corner, Kalina Ann in her forehooves, waving at Twilight.
“Pinkie, what are you doing?!” Twilight shouted.
“There is something really bad about to happen down here, come quick!” Pinkie shouted back with an annoyed look on her face.
“Pinkie, how do you know something bad is about to happen? I didn’t see any of your usual twitches!” Twilight said with a confused look on her face.
“I read the manuscript, how else?” She said as Twilight joined her friend.
“What manuscript?” Twilight asked, now thoroughly confused.
“No time to talk about that now, look!” Pinkie said, pointing down the street.
In front of them in the burning street were several Kyklops and some Assaults. They were busy fighting a couple of Changelings, one of them was a Lancet Elite. It carried a black handled halberd with a small green gem near the tip, just under the spear tip part of the halberd. The axe section of the halberd was in the shape of a crescent moon with an intricate pattern of a star constellation known as Luna’s Lament.
The Assault blocked the Lancet’s halberd by deflecting it off its alabaster-bone shield. Another Assault brought its claw down on another normal Changeling but it managed to evade it before a Kyklops pinned it down to the ground.
“What’s going on here?” Twilight thought out loud as Applejack joined up with them.
“What in Tarnation?!” Applejack said loudly… loud enough to be noticed by the several blood-thirsty, merciless demons. “Chocolate milk?”
Two Assaults and a Kyklops began to move slowly towards the three mares. This turned out to be a bad idea as an Assault got magically thrown several feet into the air as the other got hailed with confetti filled mini-rockets, filled with knockout gas. The Kyklops got into a battle of strength with Applejack who pulled out a lasso from under her Stetson hat and got it around its small head. The mares ran up to the other demons as they moved in to finish off the Lancet and two normal Changelings.
A Kyklops jumped into the air towards Twilight, planning to crush her. Sadly it either failed to notice what Twilight did to one of its previous compatriots or it was plain stupid. She grabbed it with her magic before throwing it at an Assault before it brought its claw down on it. Pinkie was dodging three Assaults with complete ease and with a chortling giggle.
“You are so silly!” She cried out as an Assault futilely tried to impale her and simultaneously dodging a Kyklops spitting rock at her.
“Pinkie, focus!” Twilight shouted as she grabbed the attacking Kyklops and began to use it as a makeshift bat, hitting several Assaults around as if they were nothing.
In a few more moments the scene was devoid of any living demons, leaving the three mares and - the three still breathing - Changelings. Applejack managed to stop the Kyklops that she had lassoed up from moving. It gave up and began to follow her orders.
“Wow, Applejack. That’s amazing!” Twilight remarked as her friend sat on the rock-composed spider with her hammer hefted of her right shoulder.
“Nopony can beat this rodeo gal!” She said with a huge triumphant grin.
“Thanks.” The lancet said to the mares as it got up. “Why are you here?”
“We came to rescue our friends, where are they?” Twilight asked.
“If you’re looking for the Correctional Facility you’re wasting your time. The demons overran our position there half an hour ago. Not to mention this is the wrong street to go down if that’s your destination.” It said with a low, droning voice.
“Pinkie!” Twilight shouted at the pink party mare who only smiled in response.
“Sorry Twilight but we really, really, really need to go down this way. It’s really, really important.” She defended.
“Your friend is right. There is a monster down that way that resembles the one your friend is riding.” The Lancet turned, pointing at the Kyklops. “This one though is larger and appears to be made of molten fire. It’s doing something there but I don’t know what. My two scouts who went to investigate got killed before they got close enough to discover their intent.”
“As far as Fluttershy told us, demons have no remorse and will kill anything in their way without fear.” Twilight said matter-of-factly. “So if we can assume that their intentions are impure… we need to stop it.”
“I’m coming. They killed my entire division and I deserve revenge.” The Lancet responded.
“I’m not sure about this sugarcube.” Applejack said with slight apprehension in her voice.
“Me neither Applejack but… we need the help since we are dealing with things we were never informed of. Can we trust you Mr..?” Twilight said, turning her attention from Applejack to the Lancet.
“Call me by my callsign, Broken Skies of the Third Lancet Division.” Skies said as he picked up his halberd.
“Nice to meet to Brokey, I’m Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie said with an huge happy grin. She shook his holed hoof so hard and so fast that once she let go, his hoof was still shaking up and down.
Twilight and Applejack facehoofed. “This is going to be one of those days isn't it?” Twilight said with a sigh.
**** **** **** ****
Through another section of Fillydelphia, Trixie and Rarity heading for the Haytari building. Rainbow Dash and Gilda were keeping an eye on them in the air. Trixie was pulling the cart while Rarity readied the first salvo of fireworks for when they got there or if they got jumped.
Trixie’s fireworks were the same as any other but they and the cart had one major difference: the fuses. On the cart, at the bottom of the grooves that the fireworks launch from were several, small spring-loaded hammers. A small button next to their base released the tension in the spring, causing the hammer to hit a particular section of the fireworks’ fuse.
The fuses looked normal as well until you took the small foil square at the end of the fuse into account. This was what Trixie loved to call ‘Impact Fuses’. An Impact Fuse is only special because of the mixture of powders in the foil that – when struck – caused the firework to almost instantly fly off.
“Trixie, you ok there darling?” Rarity asked her partner with concern as she walked around the dead body of an Elite that she could gather was of the Ranger variety since it carried a modified ballista which now lay in pieces.
“I’m fine, I still don’t see why I should pull the cart since I have a melee weapon.” Trixie slightly complained.
“Sorry darling but there are some things that I can’t do. Pulling a cart filled with explosives is definitely one of them.” Rarity responded. Trixie only sighed in response.
“Hey! You two still ok down there?!” Rainbow shouted to the pair.
“We’re fine Rainbow!” Rarity shouted back. “Although I’d rather not be here though!”
Rainbow shook her head with a sigh. “You’ll never change will you?”
“Dash, incoming!” Gilda shouted, pulling out her rifle and pointing at several of the Seven Sins that were making their way towards the unicorn mares.
“Gotta go!” Rainbow said with a salute as she slid Nevan around its strap, into her forehooves.
“We aren't staying out of this Rarity!” Trixie said to the fashionista who froze as she saw the several scythe and staff carrying demons. “Just great.”
“W-what are they?!” Rarity shouted, finally deciding to get out of her stupor. She turned around to see Trixie arming the cart.
“Demons of course, unless every Changeling decided to have a wardrobe change.” Trixie seethed as the last firework was put into the final groove.
“Now Rarity, use your magic to push these buttons to fire each firework individually.” Trixie said, pointing to the buttons on the base of the small hammers before point to three pins on the side of the cart, near the rear of it. “Pull all three of these to fire the entire salvo, do you understand?”
Rarity nodded slowly, still a tad afraid of the demons coming towards them. As the two mares looked to the advancing army, they saw Gilda impale a Pride through the chest before slamming it to the ground behind her while belting out a war cry. Dash was fairing equally as well, using the scythe of her own – courtesy of Nevan – to slice a Greed in half before making it spin around her body, slicing demons that got too close.
All seemed to be going well as the unicorns got closer to the fight until a Wrath exploded and sent Gilda crashing though a nearby building’s wall. Dash never told anypony this but even Nevan spoke to her as Cerberus had spoken to Trixie. Cerberus spoke to Trixie during her attempted training while Dash spoke to Nevan when she slowly strummed a few strings on their trip here.
Lady Dash. The sultry, calm voice of Nevan rang through Dash’s ears as she played with ferocity.
“Yeah, what do you want now?!” She called out for the first time, finally talking back too the Devil Arm as she initially disregarded the voice when she first heard it.
You need to give in, show everyone how you feel. I told you the same thing when I first spoke to you. Nevan said, neither angry or happy.
“First: it’s ‘everypony’. Secondly: letting everypony know how you feel is too sissy-like.” She retorted as she impaled a Lust through the chest with the pummel at the bottom.
There is no shame in letting out your feelings Lady Dash. But I must warn you again: if you cannot overcome your fears of letting out your feelings, you will never unlock our true potential. Nevan said for the last time.
“Finally I can think!” Dash said, ignoring Nevan’s words again as she strummed the strings, creating a shockwave that sent back several demons.
“Leave some for me!” Gilda screeched as she parried a Gluttony’s attack before impaling it on her halberd.
“Come on, we need to help.” Trixie said to an uneasy Rarity.
“I suppose.” She said as they picked up the pace to assist the mare and griffon.
**** **** **** ****
Fluttershy threw Grief at a pair of Assaults and fired at a Shadow with her pistols before Grief returned. She exposed the demon’s core, allowing Vergil to kill it. She threw her pistols into the air and Caught Greif, turning it into its dormant state by her feet as she then caught and holstered her pistols.
“Where are they coming from?” Fluttershy asked Vergil as she readied Revenge.
“I am unsure of their origins but we need to finish this quickly!” Vergil responded as he summoned several of his ethereal blades and fired them of at an Assault who then blocked it with its shield.
“Okay.” Fluttershy responded as she fired Revenge, killing the Assault that blocked Vergil’s attack as well as causing several Shadows to reveal their cores.
Vergil sliced into the air with Yamato, destroying the cores and the Shadows with them. “Come on.”
Fluttershy followed Vergil down the winding, war-torn street that she had now carved a hole through with Revenge.
**** **** **** ****
“What is that?” Twilight whispered as the three mares, a Kyklops and a Lancet found Phantom’s ritual site. The Kyklops moved about uneasily.
“Easy there Clunker.” Applejack reassured.
“Really?” Twilight said.
“At least his name is easier to say than that owl of yours.” Applejack retorted.
“Girls, this isn't the time to argue.” Pinkie said as she pointed to the scene around the corner.
The Ritual was beginning to near its completion as Phantom noticed their presence. The circle began to pulsate its demonic energy as the Vanguards channelled the energy to open the gate.
“You can come out, I know you are here.” He said threateningly. The small group came out from their hiding sport around the corner of a toy store. “What a disappointing catch.”
“What are you doing here?!” Twilight shouted, keeping her ground as the demon moved a few steps closer.
“I will not tell the likes of you lesser beings.” Phantom responded. “I will only tell you this: your deaths will come by my power, the power of Phantom!”
In a near instant Pinkie was standing on Phantom’s back, bouncing up and down. “What a silly name! You don’t seem like a phantom or a ghost since I can stand on you! How about a different name like: Big Meanie or Tough Nut? How about Rocky?!” She said with glee.
“Get off me you insect!” Phantom shouted as he tried to throw Pinkie off. It was sadly to no avail as the pink mare just jumped and dodged his every attack. Eventually a lucky swipe got a hold of Pinkie, knocking her off and into the middle of the circle.
“Pinkie!” Twilight and Applejack shouted, concerned for the party pony.
At first it looked like she couldn’t move, until she bounced up and turned around, Kalina Ann in her hooves. “You forgot my one rule!” She shouted, grabbing Phantom’s attention once more.
“What is it you insufferable pest?!” Phantom bellowed as he raised his one arm, ready to bring it crashing on her.
In that moment her mane went flat, her colour faded slightly and her voice sounded menacing and evil. “Don’t buck with Pinkamena Diane Pie.” She said as she pulled the trigger.
The rocket whistled out of the tube and made a beeline for Phantom’s outstretched arm. Instead of the rocket exploding in a cloud of confetti, it exploded like a garden variety rocket akin to when Fluttershy used it to ‘knock’ on the throne room’s doors. Twilight, Applejack and Broken Skies snapped out of the change in Pinkie’s demeanour and attacked.
Applejack kept a good distance away with her newest pet. He spat the rocks upwards so Applejack could use her hammer to propel them at greater speeds than her Kyklops could manage. They made contact and made Phantom physically flinch. Twilight tried to use her magic but the Ritual circle wouldn’t let her, effectively blocking any attempt except for weak telekinesis.
“Here take this!” Skies called as he tossed his halberd towards her. As Twilight was about to question his decision, he pulled out a bardiche. The blade was attached to the far end of the pole but its curve ended at the pole itself, near the grip where Broken Skies held it. The blade extended just a few inches past the end of the pole and curved in front of it, stopping just above it.
“Thanks!” Twilight said, wielding the halberd with her telekinesis. “This is definitely going to be one of those days.” She muttered as he attacked.
**** **** **** ****
Rarity and Trixie finally made it to the Haytari building and hefted the cart up the stairs, stopping every once in a while to deal with a demon or two. By ‘dealing’, Trixie did the work by using Cerberus to bash several Sins about before returning them to the dust they came from while Rarity stayed by the relative safety of the cart. She couldn’t use the fireworks inside of the building just in case they caused it to collapse.
In a few more minutes the two reached the roof with a huff and got ready. Rarity was going to use her attention to detail to call out enemy movements while Trixie operated the cart itself.
“Three demons dear.” Rarity called out. “North by northwest, twenty meters, the wind is blowing at 1m/s and is coming from the south.”
“Got them.” Trixie called back, using her horn to press one of her cart’s buttons.
The firework flew into the air with a whistle, leaving a light blue trail of smoke as it headed towards the group of Shadows. It collided inside the group and made a massive shriek as it detonated, deafening the Shadows and causing them to expose their cores. Dash and Gilda saw their opportunity and struck at the cores. The two flyers gave the ‘artillery’ mares a salute.
**** **** **** ****
“Hey Vergil, isn’t that the Correctional Facility?” Fluttershy asked, looking at the large, grey bricked building. It stood two storeys tall, just like Twilight’s 3-D representation and was the only building in the city – other than the police station – to have grey brickwork.
“Yes but it is not our job to help them.” Vergil replied callously.
“I’m helping anyway.” Fluttershy retorted as she ran up to the door, giving it a resounding kick from one of her Beowulf encased hooves. Vergil looked on before letting out a deep sigh and letting out a single, small chuckle.
The door shot off its hinges and took a sizeable chunk of the frame with it. Inside the building had several overturned desks, torn or burnt papers strewn across the floor like garbage. The walls were covered in various green and red stains and claw marks. Fluttershy ran to the staircase and saw the stairs leading down.
“It makes more sense for us to go down.” Vergil said, startling Fluttershy but he carried on regardless. “The upper floors would most likely be for the officers and their paperwork which leaves one to believe that this is an underground jail.”
Fluttershy nodded in agreement and lead the two of them down into the first underground level. Their way was once again barred by a door which Fluttershy caved in with a single punch of pure light. The minute she caved in the door, she regretted it as the stench of dead bodies and faecal matter collided with her sensitive nose.
“Please Celestia let us be in time.” Fluttershy whispered as she and Vergil reluctantly walked through the blood stained passageway.
Most cells were already filled with dead bodies, most of them looked like they were tortured, a few looked like they ended their own suffering, if their rotting food was any indication. The scene was depressing Fluttershy and made her heart start to sink into the pit of her stomach.
There was only two ponies that still held on but the damage to their bodies was too severe and they asked to be put down instead of being free. Fluttershy refused to allow it but Vergil convinced her that their need was greater than her own desire to make them live. She continued to walk to the second underground level as Vergil granted their wish.
“I still don’t agree with it.” Fluttershy began to sob as they neared the bottom of the second flight of stairs.
“It was their decision and theirs alone. You saw the state they were in, multiple fractures, third degree burns and the one looked like her eyes was removed, horribly. They will no longer suffer.” Vergil calmly responded.
“That doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.” Fluttershy retorted.
“I know.” He said with a very slight hint of care in his voice but Fluttershy was too overcome by the events around her to recognise it.
As they got into the second level passageway, the two were greeted by voices crying for help, for mercy, thinking it was their Changeling captors. Fluttershy and Vergil wasted no time to break the locks of the cells, one by one. The shock on the various ponies’ faces changed to the looks of hope even if they were being rescued by a yellow Pegasus wearing a red leather coat, standing on her hind legs and a being they never knew existed.
The more they freed, the more hooves they had to help free the others. Some helped those who were unable to walk either due to injury or exhaustion or a mixture of the two. One particular unicorn caught Fluttershy’s attention. His mane and tail were pitch black with a thick streak of red running through it. He ran his hooves through his mane until he felt it was back to its original style which resembled the movement of fire. His Cutie Mark was of some strange device Fluttershy had never seen before. After dusting off a part of his dirty coat with one of his black tipped forehooves he came up to her with a smile.
“Thanks for the save. Who would have though attending a game convention in Fillydelphia would be so hazardous to my health?” He said with a cheerful grin. “The names Joystick, pleasure to meet you, Ms?”
“Fluttershy, and this is Vergil.” She responded, looking a tad confused at how cool the unicorn was being. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, all things considered. I just hope the shop in Canterlot is faring ok since I couldn’t get back to work.” Joystick said. “Surprised to see me so chilled about a horrendous experience like this?” Fluttershy nodded. “Well, I’ve played enough games to realise, it ain't worth buck to get worked up over getting captured.”
“Ok, I need to ask you a very important question: have you seen a pink Alicorn and a white unicorn with a blue mane?” Fluttershy asked.
“Maybe, let me think.” Joystick responded. “Yeah, further down. ”
“Thanks.” Fluttershy responded. With Vergil and some volunteers, the group made their way through to the third underground level while Joystick ran up to the upper levels.
**** **** **** ****
“Ah! Stop moving!” Phantom bellowed as the pulsing of the Ritual circle began to quicken. “It is almost time. You are too late! Soon Mundus will have a new general for his army!”
“I don’t think so!” Cried Pinkie, her mane still flat and her colour still a duller pink. She fired off Kalina Ann’s bayonet, wrapping it around Phantom’s legs. “Twilight, now!”
Not wasting a second, Twilight, Applejack and Broken Skies brought down their respective weapons down onto Phantom’s head, causing a large crushing noise to ring out across the area they all stood in. They removed their weapons and turned around to head for the Ritual circle. As they neared it, the floor inside the circle darkened until it became pitch black. The Vanguards channelling the magic of the circle stopped to attack Twilight and the group but as they attempted to attack Applejack and Clunker, one of them collided with over a ton of rock spider, crushing it into the dust is came from.
“Yeehaaaw! Get along rock spider!” Applejack cried out as the duo juggled a rock and sent it flying into the face of another Vanguard, launching it backwards at great speed. “Twilight, you have to stop this magic mumbo-jumbo!”
“I’ll try!” Twilight shouted as she ran to the pulsating circle as it further increased its pace, signalling the spell’s near completion.
As she tried to stop the ritual from doing whatever its intended function was, she found the ritual was too far to stop. The group saw as the last Vanguard fell – thanks to Broken Skies’ halberd – the black floor begin to shrink in width but also begin to condense, forming a large black mass. The mass began to get as tall a Twilight and Applejack but that changed quickly.
“Get ready everypony! We don’t know what kind of monster this monster summoned.” Twilight said, pointing to Phantom’s dead body.
The mass began to warp and change shape, becoming some form of creature. The creature in question was a pony, or more specifically, an Alicorn if the size and the addition of a horn and a pair of wings were any indication. The creature laid down on its side as the tar-like texture began to turn into fur, pitch black fur. Near the Alicorn’s head and tail base, the mass turned a deep purple and began to sparkle almost as much as Celestia and Luna’s manes.
Just under the horn a turquoise headband could be seen, keeping the mane back in a fashion only seen by the spa sisters Aloe and Lotus. The creature began to get up on its hooves, rather shakily. It stood as tall as Princess Luna. As it got to its hooves, a bright light shot up into the air. The group didn’t really care, they were more focused on the entity in front of them.
“Uh, what happened?” The creature said in a soft, soothing sounding voice. It also had a very female sound to it so the group assumed it to be female. As it turned to the weapon brandishing group they noticed the turquoise eyes with the dagger-like slits for pupils… the eyes of Nightmare Moon. “Twilight, where are we? And why are you pointing a that at me, did I so something wrong?”
Twilight blinked. “How are you still alive Nightmare Moon?!” She bellowed. ‘Nightmare Moon’ took a few steps back in shock.
“Nightmare Moon? No, I'm Nyx. You’re daughter.” She replied, looking dejected.
Now Twilight was the one confused, now more than ever. “Since when did I have a daughter?”
“Please, Twilight calm down… and please put that away.” She said, pointing to the halberd in Twilight’s magical grasp. “You’re starting to scare me.”
“Hiya Nyxie!” Pinkie cried out, her mane and coat colour having returned to their original state. She gave ‘Nyx’ a hug that only Pinkie Pie could give.
“Pinkie, what are you doing?! Get away from her!” Twilight shouted.
“Why would I do that? It’s only Nyxie, you’re daughter.” Pinkie Pie replied as Nyx returned the insane mare’s hug with a genuine smile, the smile that seemed oddly familiar to Twilight but she couldn’t understand why.
“You know what? I give up with you Pinkie.” Twilight said, with a sigh.
As Nyx walked up to the group with Pinkie, she began to explain the parts of her life: how she is the reincarnation of Nightmare Moon but without the hatred that caused Luna to turn into her in the first place. She even showed Twilight and the group her dark blue kite shield shaped Cutie Mark. It had a pale blue outline while the kite shield itself tapered off to a single point and it had what looked like a waning crescent moon - also pale blue in colour – in the centre of it.
“I’m still not convinced, but I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt for now.” Twilight said after Nyx finished her explanation.
“Don’t worry Nyxie, she’ll come around.” Pinkie said reassuringly.
“Thanks Pinkie, you always know how to make a pony happy.” Nyx said with a smile.
“Come on, I think we had best get to the Correctional Facility.” Twilight said, breaking into a gallop as the other followed suit.
As they ran through the streets, several more Changelings were now only reduced to the best of the Elites that the Changeling army had to offer. Broken Skies looked at the devastation with a look of pure sadness.
“What’s wrong?” Nyx asked, giving the Elite a reassuring pat on his shoulder.
“I have something I need to do. Just don’t attack me when I get back, okay?” He asked to Twilight and the gang.
“I’m sure you’ve earned our trust for now.” Twilight said with a small grin as Broken Skies ran off.
**** **** **** ****
“They just keep coming!” Dash shouted after blasting away an Assault with Nevan’s shockwave.
“We need to hold this position Dash, no exceptions!” Gilda shouted back.
The Haytari building was getting swarmed by demons, they seemed to these combatants as more of a threat than the rest, why? Demons have no thoughts other than killing their targets with as much brutal force as conceivably possible. As much as the others were in larger groups, this group was doing more damage and was causing more chaos than the others. Rarity and Trixie turned to defending the entrance to the roof rather than take out the ones under them.
“Trixie, I think I’m running out of fireworks here.” Rarity asked fearfully as a firework blasted away another Hell Greed into the next Nightmare Night.
“Sorry but I’ve got my hooves tied up here!” Trixie called back as she slammed Cerberus into the roof, creating ice spikes to shoot out of the roof as it travelled across it.
“I could do with another weapon.” Rarity whine.
As if the universe owed the fashionista a favour, the light that shot out of Nyx’s body sped towards Rarity’s body with the speed of a Pegasus trying to perform a Sonic Rainboom. She looked up in time to see it but not in time to get out of its way. The light slammed into Rarity but it didn’t send her flying, nor did it harm her in any way. As the light faded, a large metal skull with demonic red eyes and emanating a black smoke from it appeared on Rarity’s left shoulder. She looked behind her and she could see two long, thin bone-like protrusions coming from her back and yet it was all attached to the Skull in some way.
Pull out my blades so we may dance the dance of death. A nearly seductively suave male voice came into her head.
She looked at the claw-like protrusions at the tips and used her magic to grab all three she could see. No sooner she removed them, they replenished. They faded into existence by the same black smoke that came from the skull. She also noticed the bone-like blades she removed had a red glow around them as well as her own magical glow just beyond it.
Throw my lovely lady, throw them with grace. The voice spoke again.
Rarity hardly needed any more encouragement as she hurled the blades like missiles, hitting a Wrath, blowing it and a part of the roof with it. Trixie was shocked but impressed.
“Now say, bits should be falling from the sky!” Trixie said jokingly, given the timing of the weapon’s appearance.
“Now that’s an un-ladylike request to make.” Rarity giggled back as she pulled as many blades the weapon could replenish. “What’s your name, darling?” She asked the weapon.
Call me Lucifer my dear. I believe this may be the start of a beautiful relationship. Lucifer responded.
The two flyers came back to see that their assistance was no longer really required as the two unicorns held back and pushed back the angry horde of demons. Dash gave Rarity a smile as she also gave out a low whistle.
“Nice, where’d you get it?” She asked her friend.
“Just appeared.” Rarity responded as she used one of the blades to get rid of a split end.
“Well I think we had best get to the Correctional Facility, the demons are retreating.” Gilda said as she loaded her rifle once more.
**** **** **** ****
Fluttershy and Vergil were getting the ponies in the third floor out until the yellow mare saw a particular pink Alicorn.
“F-Fluttershy?” Princess Cadance said shakily.
“Princess.” Fluttershy said slowly as she made her way to her cell. “Stand back.”
Cadance moved to the side of her cell as Fluttershy gave it an almighty punch. The door held fast but Fluttershy wasn’t about to throw in the towel, not now , not ever again. She then unloaded a series of kicks followed by a series of lightning fast punches. After the kicks, the door had buckled and as Fluttershy used one last punch, the door practically went ‘buck this’ and gave in.
“Cadance, where’s Shining Armor?” Fluttershy asked as she carefully broke the magic inhibiting clamp on the Princess’ horn.
“Further down, I'm coming with you.” She responded. Fluttershy only nodded and walked with her to Shining’s cell.
**** **** **** ****
“Where is it?” Joystick said out loud as he rummaged through the jail’s confiscation section. He was about to give up until he saw his keepsake: a revolver and its holster.
Being a gamer didn’t mean he had no money, he worked in Canterlot’s Game and Comic Store to make ends meet but he always saved up his bits. His friends didn’t believe him to ever be serious about anything in his life, always joking, trolling players and basically being a sarcastic ass. This time, after seeing this, he decided enough was enough.
The revolver was a six chamber revolver based on a game he knew: Ponies Never Cry 4. The revolver had two barrels for twice the damage but even though it was based on a game, the gun worked like any other. It had an intricate blue rose carved into the left hand side of the handle. It was originally a pistol handed down to him by his father before he had it customised.
He also spotted his black glasses. These had thin black strips where the lenses would be except they appeared to impair vision. In reality a one way spell was cast on this particular design which allowed the wearer to see normally and yet still look good.
As he exited the room he cam face-to-face with a Kyklops. He almost fired his pistol but it got taken away by somepony’s magical field. He looked over to where his pistol flew over to, to see a lavender coloured mare shaking her head.
“Well that’s just perfect, take my weapon why don’t you?” Joystick said as he threw his hooves up in the air. He took a closer look and saw the Kyklops had a pony riding on it.
“Well, this day just got interesting.” He mused. “Can I have Blue Rose back?”
The revolver was tossed back to him as he holstered it on his right side.
“Who are you?” He asked.
“Twilight Sparkle. This is Applejack.” She said, pointing to the Kyklops riding orange mare with a brown Stetson. “That’s Pinkie Pie.” She said, pointing to the hot pink mare with cotton candy hair. “This is Nyx.” Nyx gave Joystick a small bow. “And you already met Clunker here.” She finished off with pointing to the demon.
“Nice to meet you. Name’s Stick, Joystick.” He said with a mock English accent.
“What are you doing here, Joystick?” Twilight asked.
“Got thrown in there.” He said, pointing to the staircase leading to the lower levels. “Until a yellow mare and some hairless monkey opened the cells, freeing everypony.”
“Fluttershy and Vergil are here? That’s great!” Twilight said with a smile.
“Isn't it just grand?” A mesmerising voice came from behind the group. It belonged to Rarity. “We seem to all have the same thing in mind.”
“Whatcha got there Rarity?” Applejack asked, pointing to Lucifer.
“It’s my Devil Arm, Lucifer. He is quite a charming talker I must admit. He even has roses for me.” She said, pulling out a red rose from under the Skull to prove her point.
“Ok, well… wait what happened to the cart?” Twilight asked as she couldn’t see it outside.
“We kind of don’t need it any more, that and there was also the fact that somepony destroyed the staircase which made carrying it back impossible. It weighs a ton.” Dash responded. “Who the hay are you?” She said, addressing Nyx.
“She’s Nyxie!” Pinkie cried out. “She’s here to help!”
“I might as well until we find a way to get me back home.” Nyx said with a small sigh.
“Don’t get frowny wowny with your Aunt Pinkie! Remember: Smile!” Pinkie cried out, about to break into song but was interrupted by the sound of heavy hoofsteps.
Outside the entrance to the Facility a small group of Elites stood by with their large, small, medium weapons and dead serious faces. In front of them was Broken Skies with his bardiche. Pinkie ran out before anypony could stop her. She gave the Elite a huge hug and her trademark smile.
“Hello to you too Pinkie.” Broken Skies deadpanned. “I rounded up the surviving Elites.” He said to Twilight who walked outside to greet them. “We have two Pyros, seven Heavies, Four Lancets, including myself and three Blademasters.”
“What the hay?!” Dash said, looking at the menacing Elites who just stood there, still as statues.
“They're here to help.” Twilight deadpanned to Dash.
“You now? This war just got 20% cooler.” She said with a smirk on her face.
“Twilight, Rainbow Dash!” Fluttershy’s voice ran out from behind. All the prisoners and the rest of the battle group came out of the Correctional Facility. Twilight explained to Vergil and Fluttershy – as well as everypony else – about Broken Skies’ assistance with Phantom. Fluttershy was willing to give them a chance while Vergil just silently nodded.
“Twiley!” Shining Armor’s voice came calling.
“B.B.B.F.F!” Twilight called out, running to her brother and giving him a giant hug.
“Well as much as I’d hate to break this up, we had best get going.” Gilda said, pointing to the prisoners.
“Ok then, we need to get as many supplies as possible and get going then.” Twilight said.
Everypony nodded their heads and went off in search of supplies. Navigating the Fillydelphia was easier now that the demons turned tail and ran, although a few remained to try their luck. Nyx and Twilight went together as she felt a little safer with her ‘mother’.
“You’d think being older would cure me of my filly insecurities.” Nyx muttered as she and Twilight found some sleeping bags and other camping equipment in an outdoor enthusiast shop.
“Well, we all have our fears no matter how old we are. Celestia still fears for Equestria every day and this is only making it worse.” Twilight responded as the two left with as much gear as their magic would allow them to carry. Nyx smiled at Twilight.
“Just like my mother to say that.” She said, making Twilight blush.
In two hours of scavenging, the army of mismatched heroes and former villains met up by Correctional Facility. They took turns guarding each other and the former prisoners. The Elite also cycled watch duty amongst themselves. The prospect of returning to Canterlot weighed heavily on Twilight’s mind, she had a lot of explaining to do.