//------------------------------// // Chapter 1: Retreat from Canterlot // Story: Falling Equestria // by Playtindo //------------------------------// "ORION! WE HAVE TO MOVE, NOW!" Nyx shouted as more green beams pounded away at her shield. "I CAN'T HOLD THEM OFF FOREVER!" "I KNOW!" Orion shouted back as he but the last piece of food into the cart. He quickly double-checked the store and told Nyx, "That's everything, let's move!" "Right." Nyx said as she began to focus all her magic into a wall that would protect them from the beams, but for how long it would hold she had no idea. "On my signal we move!" "Alright." Orion said as he got into position beside Nyx. "GO!" Nyx shouted the second her magic reached it's peak. They were about halfway down the street when Nyx saw that her shield was failing faster than expected. There was a large crack in the section right behind Orion, and a beam was headed right for that crack. She grabbed him with a hoof and pulled him towards her as the beam broke through her shield and hit the cart's wheel. The cart tipped to the side, it's contents spilling over the pavement. Orion was going for some of the food when a beam almost got him in the head. "Leave the food, lets go!" Nyx said as the line of changelings charged at the duo. Battlement's barricade was in sight after they turned a corner, "Almost there!" said Orion. "About time you showed up!" Battlement said as they leaped over the barricade. "And I see you brought some friends!" The squad of changelings opened fire at the barricade as unicorn soldiers tried to keep a shield up with what little energy they had left. It was no use. The changelings power proved to much as the shields went down and the barricade exploded in a cloud of dust. Nyx and Orion were on the far right side of the barricade when it got hit and were able to back into a nearby store. They peeked outside and saw Battlement limping away from the wreckage and a Earth Pony mare crawling in the same direction. Two sounds of spells going off were heard. One hit Battlement in the head, exploding the second it made contact. The other hit the mare in the back, causing her to spasm uncontrollably as the stun spell began to effect her. Nyx held Orion back as he tried to get out there and help the poor mare. "There's nothing you can do for her! Stay down!" Nyx whispered to him as the squad of changelings picked up the mare with their magic and carried her back to their base, most likely to be enslaved. When the coast was clear Nyx and Orion crept out of their hiding place only to be met with devastation. The bodies of the ponies who held this line were strewn about the wreckage of the barricade. They began to walk back towards the camp were they could be safe from the changeling horde. When they were about ten meters away from the last barricade protecting the camp Nyx stopped and shouted, "STAR!" Moments later a section of the barricade floated into the sky. As they entered they were greeted by the captain of the barricade, Flash Sentry. "Nyx, Orion, you were due back here an hour ago. Did something happen to Battlement's barricade?" He said with concern in his voice. "Inform Princess Cadence that Battlement is dead and that the barricade is destroyed. We'll be in the civilian quarter if you need us." Nyx said with a somber tone. "Yes Ma'am." Flash said as he flew of towards Princess Cadences tent in the center of camp. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Nyx and Orion walked to their small tent in the civilians quarter to be greeted by mint-colored unicorn tuck Nyx's daughter, Dawn, into bed. "Evening Lyra." Greeted Nyx. "How was Dawn today?" "Quiet as always," Lyra responded. "Thank's for watching her, I don't know what we'd do without you." Said Nyx, "No problem, Nyx." Said Lyra. "I'll be heading back to my tent for the night. Come find me if you need me to watch her again." "Thank's Lyra." Said Nyx as the unicorn left the tent. Nyx then turned to Dawn. She knelt down and lightly kissed her forehead. Suddenly Dawn jumped up and hugged her mother. "You're alive!" She exclaimed, "You didn't come back at your usual time, I thought that they caught you!" "No need to worry," said Nyx, "we just got held up." "Yeah, those changelings couldn't catch us if they tried." Added Orion. "Miss Nyx, Sir Orion?" They turned around to see a member of the princesses guard. "Yes?" Asked Nyx. "Princess Cadence has requested an audience with you, Orion, and other leaders to discuss our next move. "We'll be right there." said Nyx. She turned to Dawn," We'll be back soon, okay?" "Okay Mommy." Said Dawn through a yawn. She and Orion then walked to the war tent to discuss the resistance's future. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ "So it's settled then? We leave for Ponyville at dawn." "Yes, Princess!" Said the council in unison. The meeting had been rather short. Cadence had brought together her council only to inform them of situation that they were already aware of. Dwindling food stores, ponies being killed and captured every day, the cloaking spell placed on the camp failing. They all seemed relieved when Cadence suggested a move to Ponyville, the rumored stronghold of the resistance against Queen Chrysalis and the changeling horde. As the council was dismissed Cadence stopped Nyx to speak with her. "Yes Cadence?" Asked Nyx. "I'm surprised you didn't want to stay in Canterlot to try and find Twilight." "It's true that I want to find her, but she wouldn't forgive herself if everypony died trying to search for her." "That reminds me of something that I once said to her," Said Cadence. "And what would that be?" Asked Nyx. "That the needs of the many," Began Cadence. "Outweigh the needs of the few." Finished Nyx. There was a long pause until Nyx got up, "I'm going to start packing, I'll see you tomorrow Cadence." "See you." Said Cadence as she left for her cot. While walking back to her tent Nyx made a silent vow. I'll find you Twilight, this I swear.