//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: No Other Choice // Story: The Protectors of Harmony // by Delta Blade //------------------------------// Chapter 2: No Other Choice August 5, 2558 0900 hours Canterlot The Royal Castle Princess Celestia sat on her throne, her face calm and relaxed; reflecting the same feelings she had within. Her faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, recently became an alicorn. She was no longer her student, but a fellow princess (put in charge of Ponyville). Overall, Equestria was enjoying an era of peace and prosperity and the light of harmony seemed to hit every corner of this wonderful land. It would never last. Celestia was surprised when her sister, Princess Luna, trotted in. Celestia had recently appointed her the commander in chief of all Equestrian military forces across the known world (she was still to take orders from Celestia herself though). The distressed look on her face along with the quickened pace of her trotting told Celestia that she was nervous; and that meant she definitely didn't have good news for her. As Celestia stood, Luna spoke. "My sister," said Luna as both princesses moved toward each other. "News from Pretuskria." "Boardor?" asked Celestia. "What`s wrong with them? Nothing those boars can`t handle I'm hoping." "I'm afraid to say that you are mistaken my sister. I recently received this recorded message from the Equestrian embassy there." Luna`s horn then lit up and her eyes began to glow. She used her magic to darken the room and project a rectangular image on the wall. Suddenly, the image began to move; the message was playing. There was a white unicorn on the screen wearing the silver armor plating of the Royal Equestrian Army, his horn lit with the magic used to send the message; he seemed out of breath and there were burn marks on his face. Burn marks? Thought the sun princess. What`s going on? "Princess!" said the stallion on screen. "I don't know if you`re receiving this, hell, I don't even know if anypony will ever see this recording, but the changelings are back! They just came straight out of the mountains at 0600, a whole swarm of `em! And that`s not the worst part. I don't know how, but they`re shooting at us! I don't know how they`re able to do that but they`re shooting at us! With beams that can incinerate a whole pony and…and balls of fire! They shoot those from above while they`re flying. We can barely get close to `em without getting our flanks burned!" He paused to catch his breath, for he had been rambling with only two. "We can`t hold out for much longer, and I don't think I can sur-" He would never finish that thought, as a door opened off-screen and the unicorn`s eyes widened in fear as he looked towards it. "Gotcha!" said an unknown voice from off-screen before a blast of green energy grazed the stallion`s face. He fell off-screen screaming in pain. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH! AAAAAHHH! AHHH MY FACE IS BURNING! I CAN FEEL IT MELTING!" A changeling soldier holding a black spear with a green tip walked into view on his hind legs, laughing at the agony of his newest victim; suddenly, his laughter ceased. "Hold on, this one`s Equestrian!" said the changeling. "A unicorn huh?" He looked straight at Celestia. "And he`s sending a message to his people. I suppose it will end when he wants it to…or when he`s dead. Listen closely, whoever this is, the changelings are back! And it is us who are dominant above all other species on this earth! We are superior to all! We are the ones meant to rule the world!" He then moved over to the dying pony at his feet, still writhing in pain. "See how weak you are…how inferior! Whatever Equestrian is watching this, pray to Celestia, and watch how she will finally fail you. Equestria. Will. FALL!" And on that last note, he lifted his spear up, and brought the tip down off-screen, presumably into his victim`s head. Suddenly, the room filled itself with light once again as the message ended, cut short by the sender`s sudden death. The stunned silence that followed was finally broken by Celestia. "How long ago did you receive that message?" she asked. "Around five minutes ago," Luna answered. "I'm guessing that, by now, Pretuskria has fallen and Boardor has surrendered to the changeling army; and by the time we figure out how to make projectile weapons that can match those of the changelings` it will be too late." "They managed to conquer a city that big in only three hours?!" "I'm afraid so, my sister." Celestia began to pace back and forth, trying desperately to think of a solution. Her search seemed to be in vain, when she suddenly looked up at the ceiling with a gasp. "Yes! That`ll do it! There`s still hope." "How? I hate to sound so negative my sister but, how is there any hope for Equestria now? What hope could there possibly be?" "Humans." Luna`s eyes widened in fear. "You`re not serious are you?" said Luna incredulously. "My sister," said Celestia calmly. "We have no other choice if Equestria is to survive." "No! There`s always a choice!" said Luna as she and her sister took their discussion outside onto a balcony. "Besides, the humans are too dangerous and you know it!" "True, there are other choices," said Celestia as she looked up at the sky. "Other species that are just as powerful. But of all the most powerful out there, humanity is one of the few that would do anything to protect harmony. I know there is good in them! Plus, we need help now; and, as destiny may have it, the humans are the closest ones to us." "How close?" Celestia looked back at her solar counterpart; and as her horn began to glow, she smiled and answered, "They`re already here."