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// Chapter 50: Regrouping 
// Story: The Elements of Honor 
// by Flanagan 
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	Fluttershy opened her eyes slowly, her head was pounding, barely able to think straight because if the pain. Fluttershy slowly reached for her head in an attempt to rub the pain away, but when she did she felt something warm run down her hoof. She frantically removed her hoof from her head to inspect it and once she saw the crimson liquid she screamed in terror. She tried to get up but it felt like something held her down, Fluttershy looked down to her waist and saw the reason why she was unable to move. A large pillar had fallen on her after Destruction sent them flying.
“Oh no…” she said to herself looking around, trying to squirm out from under the pillar, but the pillar had her pinned. Fluttershy looked to the pillar; blowing her mane out of her face she placed both hooves under it.
“Come on Shy…” she grunted trying to lift the pillar off over, “almost…” she said as the pillar began to rise, “almost…”
She was almost free from her prison when a nearby building couldn’t take the strain anymore and collapsed, causing the ground to tremble for blocks. During the collapse she had lost her grip on the pillar and it slammed back down on her back legs. SNAP! 
“EIAH!” she screamed in agony before passing out from pain. Once she came back to her senses, Fluttershy looked to her legs. She painfully reached for the pillar but the moment she felt pressure on her legs her whole body writhed in pain. “Oh what are you going to do now?” she asked to herself, tears running down her face. “You got separated from everypony else…” she looked to the pillar pinning her down, “and now this… I-I should’ve just stayed at home.”
“That’s the best I can do with what I have,” Warhammer said looking over Twilight and Derpy one more time. “I hope it will suffice until we find Patches and the others.”
“Thanks Warhammer,” Derpy said giving him a hug. “now all we need to do is get back to everypony.”
“Then we can’t waste any more time,” Scootaloo said making her way to the door. “I’ll fly ahead, to see if I can’t see anything.”
“As eager as you are to find the others, we still need to stay together.” Warhammer said, stepping between the door and her. “We don’t need any more injuries amongst us.”
“Warhammer is right, Scootaloo,” Twilight said, “safety in numbers you know.”
“Then let us make haste,” Princess Luna said while Warhammer opened the door. “If we have a chance of finding anypony we must be off.”
The small group made their way outside and began searching for the others in the charred city. Hoping against hope that they would find them before it was too late.
“We were reunited here.” Battleaxe said, pointing to the hoof drawn map on the table, “about twelve blocks from the palace gardens.”
“But our group was closer to where the stadium used to be,” Greatsword replied pointing halfway across the table, “and you said that your group landed over here by the airship docks.” 
“Could it be possible the others landed somewhere near the train station?” Carmel asked looking at the edge of the table.
“That’s on the other side of the city,” Event said. “Even if they’re over there; we’d never make it there in time.” 
Battleaxe looked at the table again and rubbed his chin. “Well if they had any sense they would-“ 
“They would be doing the same thing we’re doing,” Greatsword said cutting his brother off, “and sense they’re fewer in number that is even IF they’re together, they would’ve already started to make their way to a rally point.”
“Where do you think they would meet?” Spike asked.
“The only landmark that’s still recognizable,” Greatsword said pointing to the center of the map, “If they’re still alive, they’ll be heading to-“
“The golden apple tree...” Warhammer said looking into the city.
“Why there?” Scootaloo asked. “Why would we need to go to an apple tree?”
“A GOLDEN apple tree,” Twilight said, correcting her, “and it makes sense, it’s pretty much the center of the city, if anypony’s still out there that would be the best place to regroup.”
“If we have a heading then let us continue,” Princess Luna said, “but we must watch our pace, Derpy is starting to fall behind.”
The group looked back to the clearly struggling pony behind them. Her injuries had caused a great deal of pain to her and because of the walking she was starting to feel it even more. Warhammer made his way to Derpy and looked her over one more time.
“If you continue to walk you will slow us down…” he said somberly. “I’m afraid I’ll have no other choice.” He raised his hoof towards her, leaving the others in shock.
“WARHAMMER!” Twilight yelled in panic, “NO!”
Warhammer grabbed Derpy and gently placed her on his back. The others let out a sigh of relief as he made his way passed them with the crossed eyed pegasus’s hooves clinging gently to his neck.
“Are the three of you coming along?” he said turning to them. “The golden apple tree is about twenty blocks away still, and the roads aren’t exactly the safest.” 
“Is everypony ready?” Greatsword asked the group. They all nodded in response. “Good, now we all know that the golden apple tree is about a quarter mile away from here, but we have wounded, so we need to keep a reasonable pace and keep an eye out for any survivors, no matter who they are.”
“Then let’s get moving.” Battleaxe said, making his way to the door. “Stallions first…” he said as the door opened behind him.
The group, led by Greatsword, Battleaxe and Long Shot made their way back into the city. They moved as fast as they could through the ruins of the once proud city, avoiding all threats as they did so. 
“SOMEPONY!” Fluttershy cried into the empty city, “ANYPONY, HELP!” There was no answer, she was all alone and unable to get out from under the pillar. After several attempts at moving it and crying for help again and again, she let out a defeated sigh and began to cry.
“I never thought it would end this way…” she said crying to herself. “None of this would’ve ever happened if you didn’t go running after Greatsword a few days ago…”
She continued to cry to herself for some time, until she heard the unmistakable sound of hoof steps approaching her. She looked around frantically, hoping that she could find something to counsel herself from whatever it was that was coming her way, but to her despair there was nothing. So she did the only thing that she could do, Fluttershy curled up as best she could and closed her eyes tightly, doing her best to fight back the tears still running down her face. The sound of whatever was coming continued to grow louder and with every step it became harder for her to hold back the tears. 
Then the sound stopped, whoever they were they were right on top of her. Fluttershy couldn’t help but let out a squeaking cry while she awaited her end, but to her surprise she felt the weight of the pillar come off of her legs, then she heard a loud crash of the pillar being thrown a great distance. Fluttershy finally opened her eyes to see a familiar unicorn’s face staring back at her.
“TWILIGHT?!” Fluttershy exclaimed relieved. “Is… is that REALLY you?”
“Yes, Fluttershy…” Twilight said lowering herself to her, trying to anailize her condition. “Are you hurt?” 
“Y-yes…” Fluttershy replied meekly. “Both my back legs… I-I think they’re broken…”
“I think you’re right, Fluttershy…” Twilight said looking at Fluttershy’s legs, “Warhammer is there anything you can do for her?”
“Warhammer?” Fluttershy asked, “You- you’re here with Warhammer?”
“Yes I am,” Twilight replied, with a comforting smile. “And it’s not just him, Princess Luna, Scootaloo and Derpy are with me as well.”
“W-where are the others?” she asked the moment Warhammer walked to her side.
“We don’t know,” he answered, lifting the titanic pillar with ease. “But we are going to the location they would most likely meet.” Warhammer looked over her injuries closely. “You are lucky we found you, but unfortunately I don’t have anything that can be used to help you.” He turned to Princess Luna, “Luna help Twilight put Fluttershy on my back.”
“You are already carrying Derpy, Warhammer,” Princess Luna said concerned. “Are you sure you can carry the two of them that far?”
“I am more than willing to carry the burden,” Warhammer said, “and more than capable.”
Twilight and Luna nodded and gently lifted Fluttershy from off the ground onto his back. She began cling to his waist as tight as she could, but when she did she instinctively released her grip, feeling something wrong.
“Warhammer…” she whispered. “Some of your ribs, they’re broken.”
“I know,” Warhammer said fighting the pain, “but you need me and I’m not leaving any of you behind.”
“But… carrying one pony must be painful,” She said, “now two-“
“I will endure,” Warhammer said starting to walk to the others, “as I always have…”
“Thank you…” Fluttershy whispered softly, “Thank you for saving me.”
“I do what I can,” Warhammer replied, “and all I ask is that you don’t tell Luna, she’s already been through enough tonight.”
“Ok.” Fluttershy said, Warhammer then made his way back to Twilight, Scootaloo and Princess Luna. Once there they looked over each other one last time and continued their way to the center of the city.
“Almost there,” Long Shot said looking down the street. “We’re about two blocks away.”
“Good,” Greatsword said, he looked behind himself “and it looks like that we haven’t lost anypony, we might just catch a break for once.”
“If only…” Long Shot chuckled, “but with our luck, who knows what’ll happen next.” Long Shot looked back to the group as well. “Do you think we stand a chance?” 
“What was that, Long Shot?” Greatsword said turning his attention to him.
“Do you think we stand a chance?” Long Shot repeated. “You know against Destruction, do you really believe that you and the other two can stop something like that?”
“Would we be here if I didn’t think we stood a chance?” Greatsword answered. “Furthermore, would I even be here if all of us didn’t believe we could win?”
“I guess you’re right, Greatsword,” Long Shot said, fighting back a chuckle. “But if I’m going to face my end, I’ve gotta say this…” he placed his hoof on Greatsword’s shoulder. “It’s been an honor serving with and under you.”
“I feel the same way about you.” Greatsword said, removing Long Shot’s hoof and shaking it firmly. “But let’s not say our goodbye’s just yet,” he pointed to the monster in the sky. “We still need to kill that bastard.” 
“SHADOW FIENDS!” Spike roared, pointing to the rooftops. In moments the group was surrounded by the evil creatures. They pinned group into a small corner, making them stand back to back while staring down their potential end. 
“They’re everywhere…” Princess Cadence said looking in every direction. “We don’t stand a chance…” 
“That maybe so…” Greatsword growled, “but I’m not going down again without a fight!” he flew into the mass of shadow fiends, sending any who stood in his way flying.
“So I guess that means the ‘no wings, no magic thing’ is over with?” Rainbow asked watching Greatsword cut through the fiends.
“Does this answer your question?” Battleaxe said unleashing a massive wave of magic at a group of shadow fiends.
“AW YEAH!” Rainbow exclaimed flying into the air. “These guys are going down!” Rainbow flew into the fry, taking down one shadow fiend after the other, “I think I’m beating you now, EH!”
“NO FAIR!” Event called, hobbling into the fight. “I have a disability!”
The fighting began furiously, but every shadow fiend they took down it seemed that three more took its place. The group fought on bravely but they knew that at some point they would be overwhelmed. In the heat of the battle Princess Cadence was struck buy one of the shadow fiends; she hit the ground hard, golden blood streaming out of her injury. Princess Cadence looked up to her attacker, it stood over her and rose it’s blade like foreleg. She closed her eyes tightly, ready for the end, but before it could land the final blow a pillar flew into the beast. 
Princess Cadence looked up to see Warhammer standing over her with Derpy and Fluttershy on his back. The others looked onward and saw Twilight, Scootaloo and Princess Luna not far behind them, Princess Luna’s eyes and horn glowing with furry.
“THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT HATH ARRIVED!” Luna roared as a massive beam shot down from the sky, nearly hitting Destruction and landing not far from where the group was.
Luna’s attack drug across the streets of Canterlot in a vibrant silvery glow. Blasting rubble and shadow fiends alike into the air. Princess Luna’s eyes began to glow even brighter as the beam became even stronger, pulsing faster and faster as it approached the group. The beam came to within feet away from the group before it abruptly stopped. They looked to where Princess Luna was standing, she wasbreathing heavily, her legs were shaking and she was starting to sway back and forth. Then Princess Luna hit the ground.
“PRINCESS LUNA!” Scootaloo and Twilight cried, shaking her franticly, but there was no response. There were no more shadow fiends, but possibly at a horrible cost.
Destruction breathed in deeply and looked towards the group. His smile grew large when the group looked back to him, “I’ve found you…” he said with his crest beginning to glow.