//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Battle for the Citadel of Harmony // Story: Galaxia's Equestria // by pchn00 //------------------------------// Chapter 11: Battle for the Citadel of Harmony Jen, Cadence, and Shining Armor joined Trixie, Fancy Pants, Moon Dancer and Dinky Doo in the entrance hall of the Citadel. Echo and Lyra were leading Discord, Tak, and Umbra inside. “What’s going on guys?” “There’s a whole army of undead and brainwashed ponies coming our way, Jenny! The Resistance was attacked while you guys were down here and Discord lead the survivors here!” A frowning Jennifer looked to Discord for confirmation. He nodded. “We got everypony we could out, but… it wasn’t many. I’m sorry, Princess.” He bowed his head to Cadence. The Crystal Princess looked aghast, racing by them to check on the survivors of her band. “I’m sure you did your best, Uncle D. What are we dealing with here exactly?” Feeling his spirits rise a bit at the restored girl still using Jubilant’s name for him, he allowed a faint smile to appear. “Nothing too serious. Just a few hundred zombie ponies and a small detachment of Galaxia’s guards. Maybe fifty living ponies total.” Looking from the group of ponies to the citadel wall, Jennifer blinked herself to stand atop it, gazing out at the cavern before her. Resting her forehooves on the wall, she lifted herself out, squinting to see the far side. She could make out the shadowy mass that must be the undead horde; flickering lights had to be the living ponies carrying torches behind them. She noted a frantic Cadence racing about the courtyard tending to anypony she got near that required her aide, Shining Armor doing his best to calm her down. Blinking back down to the wall, Jen cleared her throat. “I need everypony to get into the Citadel itself! Bar the doors and keep away from the windows!” Her friends were fighting the rush of ponies trying to press their way inside, but soon she was joined by the other newly baptized Knights of Harmony, along with Umbra, Tak, and Discord. Looking from Cadence to Umbra, Jen frowned. “How much does Galaxia know about The Resistance? Does she know the spiderkin are helping? Does she know Cadence leads it?” Umbra shook her head. “I do not believe so. She is aware of my kin through the Lich, but so far as she knows, we have nothing to do with one another.” Shining stepped forward. “Nopony’s seen Cadence or myself either.” Nodding slowly, Jennifer looked over the group. “Alright. Cadence, Shining Armor, Fancy Pants, and Lyra all wait in the Citadel. I think it’s a good idea to keep the royals a secret, and Fancy and Lyra; you guys are important in Canterlot, so it might be a good idea to keep your involvement here secret. Let’s have Trixie and Discord up on the wall throwing spells, while Echo’s overhead giving support with her screams. Moon Dancer with me. Dinky, I want you to stay here and help Cadence with the wounded. Umbra, you stay behind too. If these undead are as weak as the last batch, we should have no problem with them, but I want somepony who I know can fight here to protect the Citadel in case these things sneak by us.” Jen blinked back up to the walls, taking human shape again and staring hard across the way. She barely registered Discord appearing beside her. “I think we need to address a quick issue before you go racing off into battle.” Brow raised, the woman looked down at the stallion… who jabbed her in the stomach with a forehoof. A look of confusion crossed her face as a queasy feeling welled up from her belly. Retching loudly, she gagged and hacked up… the glowing jewel half she used to have attached to Mercy’s hilt. It hit the ground with a soft clink. She turned a baleful glare on her uncle. “There wasn’t any other way to get that out of me?” Shrugging innocently, he levitated the jewel into her hands, and she wasted no time fastening it to her hilt again. “That was the most fun. And Jennifer… be careful. I doubt they’ll be able to get through your armor, but still... the old knights died just the same. Best not to take any chances out there.” Offering him a quick smile, she squeezed his shoulder firmly. “I’ll be fine, Uncle D. I’ve got you guys up here watching my back. Echo and Moon Dancer will be down there with me too.” “I know, I know. You’re a big pony now. I just... well, you know…” Jen was grinning teasingly. “Is Discord, the Spirit of Chaos and Master of Disaster, worried about little old me? I am flattered!” With a snort, he gave her a magical nudge, sending her over the edge of the wall. Wings flapping wildly to soften her impact, she hit the ground with a grunt, glaring up at him. He only gave a jaunty wave and a toothy grin, nodding toward the oncoming undead horde. Standing, she brushed herself off and summoned her armor. Moon Dancer was galloping her way as the Citadel doors boomed shut behind her. Echo soared over the wall as Trixie took her place beside Discord. The former Princess of the night trotted to Jennifer’s side, summoning her own armor and drawing her twin blades with her magic. “This is your first battle since returning, Jennifer. Are you prepared?” Letting out a long breath, Jen looked to the shambling mass slowly crossing the chasm toward the Citadel’s waiting defenders. “I suppose I have to be. It’s what you brought me back for, right? To fight.” She allowed a faint frown to form. Moon Dancer didn’t miss the change in her tone. “That is not the only reason your friends sought your resurrection. The fighting will be over soon enough, and you will return to your quiet life in Ponyville.” Jennifer didn’t look like she entirely believed the mare, but she didn’t comment. “Well. No sense standing here waiting for them to come to us right? Let’s get to work!” Blade shining bright, she leapt into the air. With a few flaps of her wings, she carried herself to the center of the span, landing and holding her sword up high. ‘Will thou summon me right away or would thou prefer to save thy mana?’ ‘I’ll save my mana for now Heart. I’ll call if I need you, don’t worry.’ Moon Dancer was hot on her heels, rushing past Jennifer with Night Singer held before her. Her horn shimmered as she cloaked herself in invisibility, going to work. The only mark of her passing was the occasional skeleton or zombie being sliced to pieces. Echo flashed overhead, unleashing her sonic screams down into the undead horde. She easily twisted in the air avoiding the clumsy spears thrown by the shambling mass. Wrinkling her nose, Jen batted aside an errant spear and waded into the melee herself. Setting Mercy’s blade to work with her magic, she swung her shield, bashing heads and skulls with it while she pounded away with her empty gauntleted fist to equal effect. Her swordwork required no finesse to dispatch the mindless shambling monsters. While they may be a threat to the unarmored earth ponies of The Resistance, the heavily armored, magic wielding knights were another story. A sudden flare of light overhead caused the young woman to leap backwards, using her wings to propel herself away quicker. Arcs of bright pink lightning formed in the air, crackling down to the ground and digging deep furrows in the stone as it blasted the undead in its path to dust. Jen craned her head back to regard an equally surprised looking Trixie holding her staff, Spell Nexus, out away from herself with a look of increasing respect. Allowing herself a small chuckle at the mare’s amazement, Jennifer turned back to the waiting monsters. Setting Mercy into a rapid spin, she nudged the whirling blade through the throng, sending putrefied flesh and clacking bones flying in all directions. She could detect a faint shimmer in the air to her right that she correctly guessed to be Moon Dancer, and kept her weapon far from that area. Smashing her way through them like a freight train, Jen soon found herself on the other side of the cavern, facing the astounded living ponies of Galaxia’s guard. Without taking her eyes from them, she held her free hand out to the side, calling her blade to it. She could see several of the guard gulp and break out in a sweat as they stared at her. Straightening up, she flared her wings to their full span at her sides. “I am Jubilant Surprise Pie, Commander of the Order of Harmony! I offer you all a chance to lay down your arms and join us in the fight against Galaxia’s tyranny! Her time is coming, and anypony willing to fight with us will be forgiven for their crimes against Equestria!” ‘Very well said, Jennifer.’ ‘Well thank you, Bleeding Heart. I thought so too.’ The occasional undead would shamble Jen’s way, but she’d swat it aside without looking away from the living ponies. After a short time conversing, a representative stepped forward. An armored stallion with gold filigree denoting him some sort of officer, most likely. “You and your Resistance are traitors to the crown, miss! We order you to stand down and surrender yourself to the mercy of the crown!” Jen glanced over her shoulder, seeing the undead threat being easily squashed by Moon Dancer, Echo, and Trixie, she sighed, focusing on the living ponies. “Right then. Hard way it is.” Lifting her blade, she charged it with her magic, swinging horizontally and releasing a wave of dazzling green. The ponies of Galaxia’s army scrambled to get out of the way, but it only grew larger and larger, overtaking the lot in one fell swoop and sending them tumbling head over hooves to land on their flanks or slam against the back wall of the cavern. Flicking her head to the right, she sent a light wave of levitation magic washing across the ground, sending most of their weapons over the side of the chasm. The few still armed took one look at the stern woman glaring at them and turned tail straight away, bolting from the cavern. With a firm nod, Jennifer made her way back to help her friends clean up the monstrosities. Moon Dancer shimmered into view at her side, panting lightly. “Well done, Jennifer. You sent them running with no casualties. They cannot help but obey Galaxia. She conditions them well with her magic.” Batting aside a skeleton, Jen frowned down at Moon Dancer. “If Discord can free ponies from her spell why haven’t you just freed everypony?” The mare dispatched a pair herself. “Releasing a pony here and there will go unnoticed, but if Discord begins unraveling the spell en masse, then Galaxia will be able to home in on his exact position. If that happens, we would be unable to fight her off.” Blowing out a heavy breath, Jen’s shoulders sagged. “How are we going to beat her?” “I am afraid I do not know. In the past Celestia, Discord, Starswirl and myself cast a spell that made everypony forget her name. This drained her of nearly all her power and we sealed her away. She has taken steps to protect against that happening again.” Seeing the threat ended, Jen sheathed her sword. “Well for now, let’s concentrate on weakening her power base, I suppose; rallying outlying earth pony towns. Freeing the Crystal Empire should be a priority too. I’m hearing some scary things from Cadence.” “I do not disagree. Let us return to the Citadel and…” Moon Dancer trailed off, focusing on an increasingly bright red glow forming at the center of the cavern. Eldritch wind began to whip up from nowhere, blowing the remains of the undead into a swirling whirlwind of bone and flesh. Squinting her eyes from within her helm, Jen could make out a pallid pony’s face taking shape within the storm. It fixed glowing red eyes on her. “Well, well… look at this. You somehow survived Galaxia’s curse? Bravo, young lady, Bravo. I am impressed.” Mercy was in her hand again in a flash. “Lich! Show yourself!” “I think I’ll turn down your generous invitation. ‘Commander’. The power of The Order is not unknown to me, and I’d much rather prefer to be as far as possible from any of those blades of yours, thank you. Instead, I thought I’d test a new idea of mine on you lot; see how it measures up to the famed knights of harmony. Good luck! If you don’t die, I’ll be excited to try something new.” The storm was churning faster and faster now, the flying body parts being pulled closer to the eye of the storm. A fearful looking Echo landed beside Jennifer and Moon Dancer. “What is it!?” Jen could only shake her head, staring open mouthed as the flesh and bone began to merge together. Heaving and surging larger and larger, a shape was beginning to form. Nearly twice the size of the cerberus she slew years ago, this undead abomination had no legs. Its torso melted into a large blob of undulating flesh, which it used to slither about on the ground. Two writhing, spindly arms grew from its shoulders. A gaping maw that dominated the bulk of its body yawned open, revealing broken shards of jagged bone for teeth as it loosed an ear splitting roar. The trio scattered as the creature whipped an arm over its head, slamming it down unnaturally fast and cracking the stone. Jen and Echo took to the air, the latter darting around to the other side of the thing. Moon Dancer frantically galloped away from the scrabbling bone claws on the end of the monster’s arm. Seeing the beleaguered mare barely keeping ahead of the reaching hand, Jen folded her wings and dove, slicing the hand off cleanly at the wrist. She came to a skidding stop on the ground turning to face the monster. The turn saved her life. The severed hand suddenly twitched to life, lashing with dozens of razor thin tentacles at the spot she’d occupied seconds ago. With a startled yelp, she kicked off the ground, taking to the air once more as the tentacles whipped and writhed just beneath her feet. Jennifer watched grimly as the hand reattached itself to the arm, seeming to have no damage done whatsoever. Echo darted to and fro overhead, dodging the occasional tendril of goopy flesh that would whip upward from the monster trying to swat her from the air. She’d occasionally loose one of her screams into the beast, but its fleshed dimpled inward and sprang out like a giant jelly, evidently unbothered by her sonic attacks. Trixie and Discord fared little better with their magical attacks. Bolts of pure energy were absorbed smoothly into the things body. “What do we do!? Nothing seems to be hurting it!” Discord scowled down at the scene. He was wishing for the times when a snap of his fingers would turn something like this into a giant pudding cup. “It’s just dead flesh, right? We could rot it away to the bone with an aging spell!” The sorceress’ eyebrows shot up. “An aging spell!? I can’t cast one of those!” Rolling his eyes, Discord nodded to the staff gripped in her magic hovering over her shoulder. She cast a sheepish look at it and sighed. “Right, right. I’ll do my best. I don’t know if I can affect something so big though.” “Good point. Aim for the arms. It’ll make things easier on the fighters down there if we can take those out.” “Right!” Tugging her hat down tighter over her head, Trixie focused inward on her magic. She knew the age spell of course, but had never had the raw power to cast it before. Now it seemed almost easy. Like when she’d worn the alicorn amulet, only without the corruption along with the power. Smiling confidently, she felt her connection with her staff strengthen as she leaned upon it to cast the spell. Her aura raced out toward the monster, focusing around its whipping arms. She released a whoop of delight as the flesh rapidly shriveled and decayed, flaking away and revealing the brittle bone beneath. Her delight was short lived as it rounded on her, fixing her with its balefully glowing eyes. Its maw gaped wide as it belched forth a wave of noxious green fumes. The unicorn duo on the wall erected a hasty magical bubble around them, but the fumes weren’t stopping with them. They were rushing toward the citadel keep, and the unprotected ponies inside. “I’m on it! You stay here and try to help them!” Discord vanished with a flash, reappearing at the keep doors. The ponies within were startled, but he wasted no time with words, throwing a barrier around as much of the keep as he could. Shining Armor charged to his side, not asking what was going on, simply adding his magic to Discord’s and stretching the magical bubble around the whole of the keep. “Things not going well out there then?” Grimly, Discord shook his head. “Nothing they can’t handle. I hope.” Having a better target than blobby flesh to aim at now, Echo streaked in, screeching along the creature’s arms. Small cracks raced along the bone, growing thicker and thicker, before the arms finally shattered to pieces. Giving a quick victory twirl in the air, Echo didn’t see the newly manifested tendril snap out from the creatures’ chest. It splattered against her barrel with bone breaking force, vaulting her into the ceiling where she was pinned in a cocoon of necrotized flesh. “Echo!” Jennifer’s first instinct was to fly up and check on her fillyfriend immediately, but she knew her focus had to be on the battle first. Fighting back the urge to rush upward, she charged her blade again, unleashing a surge of magic into the fleshy beast. It actually seemed to tear at the flesh momentarily before it sealed over again. Giving another burbling roar, it lifted a tendril, slapping a surprised Jennifer in the back and hammering her into the ground. Moon Dancer was leaping and twisting nimbly to avoid all the slapping tendrils of gooey flesh, slicing with either blade of Night Singer when she was able, but it seemed futile. Her invisibility spells didn’t seem to confuse it at all either. She winced, seeing Jen slapped down into the ground. When the thing lifted the flesh it’d struck her with, it left a sizeable piece behind, keeping her tethered to the ground. She struggled weakly to break free, but was clearly trapped solidly. ‘Trixie’s age spell seemed to slow the beast but in my diminished state I am unable to wield such spells.’ The former Princess frowned and shifted her gaze to the wall. Trixie was trapped inside her own magical bubble. The noxious fumes belched by the beast were eating away at the stone; she shuddered to think what it would do to a pony’s flesh. Gritting her teeth, she focused on her blades, resuming her work. “Bon-bon!? Has anypony seen an earth pony mare named Bon-bon!? Cream coat; cutie mark of three candies!?” Lyra was rushing from group to group of the survivors in the Citadel. She felt her spirits sink lower and lower as her beloved was nowhere to be found amongst them. “Miss Heartstrings isn’t it?” Lyra whipped around at the voice. It was an earth pony mare, heavily bandaged with one eye covered… probably missing. “Y— yes ma’am. Did you see my Bonnie?” “I’m so sorry miss. She was one of the last to fall in the attack. She was very brave. Got quite a few of us out, but the tunnel collapsed on her. There’s just no way she… that she survived.” Lyra felt her heart drop all the way into her hooves. “O— oh. Well… thank you. I should… I should go find my friends. Help out you know? Knightly duties and all that.” “Of course. If you want to talk more, I’ll be here.” By then, Lyra wasn’t listening anymore. The whole world felt… numb. Dark and gray. Just moments ago she’d become one with harmony apparently, and everything felt bright and vibrant, but now... without her Bon-bon to welcome her home, what was the point of it all? She wanted to make the world a happy place again for her. She saw Discord and Shining Armor at the door, making some kind of magical shield. “What’s going on?” “Some kind of giant undead monster out there. Jen and the rest are out there fighting it off. It spit out some poison gas, so we’re keeping it away from the keep.” Lyra was only half-listening to Discord as he spoke. She tightened her jaw, staring out the window. She could see the rampaging beast swinging around its big tentacles. She winced, seeing Echo slapped into the ceiling. Her eyes flicked to Hymn at her side. With a sigh, she drew the blade, focusing her magic through the rapier. She felt a shield stronger than one she’d ever conjured form around herself. Without a word to the others, she burst out the doors, racing for the sight of the battle. She passed under Trixie up on the wall, shielding herself. She shouted something as Lyra passed by her, but the musician didn’t hear. Crossing through the citadel’s outer wall, she arrived in time to see Jennifer smashed to the ground. Moon Dancer was cutting at the thing to little effect. Sword and spell seemed equally useless. It was then she recalled the old story of how Sunshine calmed the dragons. With a little shrug, she levitated her lyre from the saddlebag on her side. Slowly at first, but with more confidence she began to play the lines to the song she’d planned to perform for Bon-bon on their wedding day. Long before all this insanity with Queen Galaxia began. At first, her efforts had little effect. The monster didn’t seem to notice at all. Then she began to amplify the music with Hymn’s assistance. Now the creature turned its head to regard her. Its constantly thrashing tendrils slowed and calmed as it began to slither toward her slowly. Shifting her gaze back and forth, she started to walk backwards, the monster following her unerringly. Closing her eyes, she turned out the sounds it was making, focusing instead on her music. Moon Dancer sidled around the beast toward Jennifer, slicing her free of her bindings. With a groan, she began to pull herself free. “Whass goin’ on?” The unicorn nodded toward Lyra. “Your friend the lyre player seems to have saved our lives. Can you free Echo?” Worriedly looking toward the slowly backing away Lyra, Jen nodded, flapping hard and carrying herself up to Echo. Drawing her sword, she cut the night pony free of her bindings, catching her prone form as she fell. She was breathing, but shallowly. “It’ll be okay Echo; I’ll get you inside and fix you up.” Holding Echo in her arms, Jen landed beside Moon Dancer. “Where is she going? There’s nothing over there!” Realization dawned on the woman as Lyra continued to walk to the edge of the chasm. Sucking in her breath, she laid Echo on the ground and broke into a run. Lyra saw Jen get up, and get Echo down. That brought a ghost of a smile to her face. That was good. At least her friends were alright. Even if her Bonnie wasn’t. She was going to see her soon anyway. She could feel the edge of the chasm on her back hooves now. Jennifer was running for her, but she wasn’t fast enough. With one last deep breath, Lyra leapt backwards over the edge of the chasm, playing as she fell. The monster mindlessly followed, tipping right over the edge. Jen watched, horrified, as Lyra lead the undead abomination over the edge of the seemingly bottomless chasm. She didn’t hesitate in leaping over the side after her. “Lyra!” She could see the glow from Lyra’s magic as she continued to play while she fell, but it was faint. Hidden by the beast’s bulk. Gritting her teeth, she tucked her wings in and dove toward the falling unicorn. Dipping under the undulating monster, she could actually see Lyra. “I’ve got you!” Harder and harder she beat her wings, drawing closer to the mare. Lyra was even reaching out toward her now. Hand outstretched, she could just barely touch the tip of Lyra’s hoof. Jen’s eyes popped wide open as the monster lurched to life behind her, snapping a tendril around her middle and flinging her out to the side. She spun through the air away from the plummeting pair, slamming hard into the wall and smacking the back of her head against it, dazing herself. She hovered shakily, trying to focus, but by the time her vision had cleared enough to see, she’d lost sight of Lyra. “No! No, no I’m not losing one of my friends!” Up above, the fumes were clearing, and Shining Armor joined Moon Dancer and Trixie at the edge of the chasm, looking down with Umbra and Tak close behind. The eldest pony gazed down sadly. “Umbra, please retrieve Jennifer.” The young alicorn glanced to Moon Dancer and nodded, inching to the edge and leaping off. Her ebon wings flared open as she glided down in lazy circles. She found a bloodied and disoriented Jennifer flying erratically back and forth, making an awkward descent. “Jennifer, it is time to return to the others.” Stubbornly, the woman shook her head. “Lyra needs me, Umbra. She… she fell!” Her words were slurred. Judging by the blood running freely from her helm, she suffered a severe head blow. Regarding her sadly, Umbra changed tactics. “Lyra is fine. She awaits us above, Jennifer. Come, she and Echo are both in need of your aid.” She could see the confusion in the woman’s eyes as she met her own. “I… she is? Are you sure? I— I thought she fell… I…” She wobbled in the air. “…I don’t feel so good, Umbra.” Nodding once, the alicorn surrounded Jennifer in her crimson aura of magic. “Relax yourself. I will carry us back up. You have done well.” Jen relaxed, allowing Umbra to carry her back to the others. “She has sustained a serious head wound and needs immediate attention.” Echo was already on Shining Armor’s back. “Right. Let’s get them inside. Cadence will see to them as soon as she can. It’s nothing life threatening, I think.” Nodding, the group made their way back into the keep. Moon Dancer regarded Jennifer sadly. A look Shining Armor didn’t miss. “Losing somepony under your command is never easy. She’s going to have to get used to it.” “Still. Lyra was the first friend she made in Equestria. To have her be her first loss…” “War isn’t fair, Princess. There are going to be many more losses before this is all over.” Shining and Umbra got Jennifer and Echo to beds up in the citadel’s private chambers upstairs. Moon Dancer cast one last look at the slumbering duo before shutting the doors and following the others downstairs. Jen woke to gentle hooves probing her head. She blinked awake fully, lifting her head. She’d reverted to pony form in her sleep apparently. Cadence was standing over her, changing a bandage on her head. “I’m sorry, did I wake you?” Giving a shrug, Jen shifted her gaze to Echo. “S’ok. How’s Echo?” “She’s fine. Night ponies are pretty tough, you know? Some bad bruises, but nothing broken. It’s you I’m worried about. Cracked your head wide open you know? I used what healing spells I had left, but I’m running on empty after seeing to everypony down below.” Nodding slowly, the young mare settled back down. “I didn’t catch her.” Cadence said nothing for several moments, moving to Echo’s side and checking her bandages. “I know.” “I was… so close. I could feel her. I… why didn’t I use my magic? I’m so stupid!” “Hey… hey. You can’t think like that. It was the heat of the moment. If you’d tried to use your magic without proper focus, you would have crushed her. Lyra gave her life to save everypony. Honor her memory and continue on. It’s all we can do.” Jen let her head fall back against the pillows again. “…have you lost many ponies? In The Resistance?” Gently, the Crystal Princess nodded. “I have. Missions go wrong from time to time. We’ve had to change hideouts several times until we settled on the last one. You’ve been asleep for an entire day, Jennifer. Now that you’re awake and recovering, it’s time to get a move on. We need to finish this. Equestria needs us. Even with the losses, having close to a dozen ponies near our strength should be enough to take back the Empire. From there, we’ll move on to Canterlot.” Slowly, the young alicorn was shaking her head, but Cadence rested a hoof on her shoulder. “Lyra’s death was a tragedy, one we’ll properly mourn when we can. For now, we have to push onward. She wouldn’t want us to just give up. She gave her life for you. For all of us. Let’s make her death mean something.” Jennifer closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Slowly, she exhaled and opened her soft blue orbs, determination once more lit in them. “Right. Gather everypony to the planning room. We’ve got an Empire to save.” “Actually.” A new voice sounded from the door, causing both mares to turn toward it. It was a tall, leggy unicorn that neither had ever seen before. She stepped into the room, nudging the door shut behind herself. Her horn lit with an acrid green light as flames raced across her body, burning away the velvety grey coat and revealing shiny chitin beneath. Wings flickering lazily, Queen Chrysalis regarded the two alarmed mares with mild amusement. “You have more pressing matters than the Crystal Empire.”