//------------------------------// // Stand or Flee // Story: Strained and Flexed Bridges // by YukiSN //------------------------------// Chapter 17 - Stand or Flee "Twilight? Oh please Twilight hang in there!" Spike's voice rang in Twilight's ears, the lavender unicorn slowly come to. Her head was throbbing and it felt like a manticore had pierced through her chest and was slowly contorting her insides. Groaning in pain, Twilight felt a relaxing cold sensation on her forehead. Slowly opening her eyes, she found Spike and Pinkie Pie hovering over her, worried expressions on their faces. "Wha… How long have I been out?" Twilight asked. "About a day and a half," Spike replied, picking up a warm bowl of soup that Pinkie Pie had made earlier. Feeling quite hungry and parched, Twilight eagerly accepted the food, not even protesting when Spike began to feed her. "How are you feeling Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked, concerned for her friend's current state of mind and health. Twilight cringed, a sharp pain shooting through her body as she slowly tried to sit up. "Horrible. I feel like somepony is slowly twisting my internals with an eggbeater," Twilight moaned, suddenly lurching forward. Acting quick, Spike grabbed a nearby trash bin and handed it to Twilight, allowing the unicorn to throw up. Pinkie Pie shuddered at the sight before looking at Twilight with sympathy. "How much longer do you think I have?" Twilight asked, all hope gone from her voice. "Twilight Sparkle! You can't be thinking like that! Never give up hope! Think about what we still have to do! The fate of Equestria lies in our hooves!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, shocked and saddened by her friend's depression. "It lies in YOUR hooves now," Twilight sighed, Pinkie Pie's ears drooped. "Twilight, this isn't like you. You never give up hope!" Spike protested, the unicorn ignoring the dragon's protest. "If your so dead set on the thought that you're going to die, then why not make the best out of the remaining time? Help save Equestria," Silver Wings spoke, stepping out from the shadows of one of the corners Twilight's bedroom. "Who are you?" Twilight asked, feeling her stomach begin to churn again. "The name is Silver Wings. And I am quite aware of your current predicament," Silver Wings replied. "As we speak now, Sven, Fluttershy, and Rarity are making their way back to Ponyville after a less than stellar reuniting with Sven's mother. Fact of the matter is that during this war, Celestia will require all ponies to take refuge in Canterlot, leaving Ponyville defenseless. You'll have to choose. Follow the orders of your teacher or stand and fight for Ponyville. All I can say is that from my observations, the citizens will flee to Canterlot. Applejack will stay behind with Big Mac. Rarity will be torn so you'll have to convince her. Pinkie Pie will most definitely stay behind just like Fluttershy," Silver Wings spoke gravely. Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie Pie were shocked. "Wait, how do you know this?" Twilight asked. "I was there in your mentor's study, I offered help but apparently paying me isn't the most honorable thing," Silver Wings replied, shrugging before trotting over to a window. "Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie will stay behind. Rarity will need coaxing. And you have your own choice. There is a good chance that you could persuade your friends to flee with you and rebuild after the battle. You can flee to Canterlot under the orders of your mentor or you can stand and fight along side Sven," Silver Wings spoke softly, flying out the window. Eyes turned to Twilight. "What does he mean?" Spike asked, suddenly belching and a letter appearing in his small claws. "Princess Celestia?" Twilight muttered aloud as she noticed the royal seal. "What does it say Spike?" Pinkie Pie asked, her curiosity growing rapidly. Clearing his throat, Spike unrolled the scroll and began to read: My Faithful Student Twilight, As you are aware, war is brewing quickly with the Changelings. Unfortunately for us, our time is counting down very quickly. Your brother has reported the positions of various Changeling camps that surround Canterlot and Ponyville. With our current resources and soldiers available, we will not be able to withstand a full frontal assault by the Changelings. It is with great regret that I will call all the citizens of Ponyville to retreat to Canterlot where Shining Armor will hold his protective shield spell over the city while our guards defend various points. The mayor of Ponyville has been informed and I will be sending a small squadron of Royal Guards to help with the evacuation. I am truly sorry for this decision but my military advisors and I agreed it was the most effective solution. Ponyville will be able to rebuild after the battle but I would like to try and avoid as many casualties as possible. Her Royal Highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria Twilight and Pinkie Pie looked at each other, shocked by the princess's decision. "I won't leave Ponyville," Pinkie Pie said firmly, determination in her eyes. "But Pinkie, we have to go, it's Princess Celestia's orders," Twilight weakly protested. "Twilight, Pinkie's family and home is here, it's quite understandable why she'd want to stay behind," Spike piped up, Pinkie Pie nodding in agreement. "I won't sit back idly and watch as my home gets destroyed, nor the homes of any other pony," Pinkie Pie spoke. The sound of a carriage landing drew Twilight's attention towards the window, Rarity being dropped off while Fluttershy and Sven landed softly. "Does Fluttershy know? She should know about this," Pinkie Pie murmured, Spike nodding in agreement. Twilight could feel the pain in her chest slowly begin to increase once again. "Spike, why don't you go tell Fluttershy, I'm sure Pinkie Pie can handle me for a while," Twilight groaned, flopping back into her bed and cringing slightly. Spike was about to protest before a pink hoof was raised in front of him. Pinkie Pie looked at Spike with an assuring smile and motioned for him to go. Reluctantly, the purple dragon finally left the library, the sounds of his sister in pain still ringing in ears while the sounds of Pinkie Pie's bouncing around the room to fetch various supplies was easily heard by all. "Fluttershy! Wait! I need to tell you something! It's important!" Spike cried out, noticing Fluttershy and Sven slowly trotting away. The duo stopped and turned to find the dragon panting to quickly catch his breath after sprinting. Rarity had also overheard the commotion and joined the hearing. Spike quickly filled the three in on Princess Celestia's plan and the evacuation of Ponyville, watching carefully for Fluttershy's and Rarity's reactions. "Evacuate Ponyville?! What in Equestria possessed her to come up with that solution?!" Rarity exclaimed, obviously not happy with Princess Celestia's plan. "But…but my babies are here! They'll be defenseless if I leave them! What if they get sick? Or hurt? Or even worse!" Fluttershy exclaimed, fearing for her animal friends' lives. "My thoughts exactly," Sven grunted, trudging off towards Fluttershy's cottage. "Spike, is there anyway you can tell Twilight that all of us need to have a meeting? Please?" Fluttershy asked, the purple dragon nodding before sprinting off back to the library. Rarity turned to Fluttershy, worry filling her eyes. "Dear Fluttershy! What are we going to do? I can't possibly leave the boutique nor Ponyville knowing that it'll be destroyed! And I'm quite sure you can't either!" Rarity exclaimed, the canary yellow pegasus nodding in agreement. "Oh, but the rest of the town, we can't defend everything," Fluttershy sniffed, saddened by the thought. "Well Spike said he'd talk to Twilight about setting up a meeting with the others so we can express our dissatisfaction with Celestia's plan there!" Rarity replied, giving Fluttershy a reassuring hug. The two mares parted ways, both waiting for the meeting to be called and their own fate to be decided. --------------------XXX-------------------- "What?!" Applejack and Rainbow Dash both yelled incredulously after hearing the letter Princess Celestia sent to Twilight. The mane six had gathered once again in the library after hours to discuss their plan of action. While a few ponies had already been evacuated, more would leave the next day. "There's no bucking way I'm leaving Ponyville abandoned! This is my home!" Rainbow Dash yelled angrily. "I agree with RD! Ain't no way I'm going to let my farm get ravished without a fight!" Applejack agreed, slamming her hoof on the ground firmly. Twilight was mentally keeping her shock suppressed. She knew that her friends would be against the plan but she didn't think they'd react this intensely. "Fluttershy, what do you think about all this nonsense?" Applejack asked, her emerald eyes turning to Fluttershy. "I…I don't want to leave my babies alone. They'll be defenseless," the pegasus weakly squeaked, her eyes now turning to Rarity. "I'll send Sweetie Belle to Canterlot but I'm not going to let my home be destroyed by some ruffians," Rarity spoke, keeping her cool nature but suppressing her own anger; Rainbow Dash slowly moved behind Applejack just in case though. "And me too! I'm not going to abandon Sugarcube Corner!" Pinkie Pie added. Spike suddenly re-entered the library, Vex, Aurora, Archimedes, Strings, and Sven trailing behind him. "I brought them, I thought it'd be best for them to know too," Spike informed, walking into the kitchen to get drinks and food for the guests. "I'm staying," Archimedes immediately spoke, eyes turned to the eye-patch and hat wearing stallion. "Sugarcube, you don't have to-" Applejack began before she was cut off. "The farm is important to you Applejack, it's your home. It's starting to slowly feel like a place I might hopefully consider a place of safe haven. And I'll stay and fight," Archimedes replied determinedly. "I'd like to stay behind as well, I may not be that great at combat but I'm potent with healing thanks to Zecora," Strings spoke, "I can heal and treat wounds to anypony." Twilight was unsure of how to even try and persuade her friends and the ShadowHawks to flee with her to Canterlot, their determination would make her request sound so inconsiderate. Perhaps logic was on her side? "W-w-we're going to stay too," Vex weakly spoke, Rarity approaching the mare with concern. "Darling, you don't have to stay, you could be safe in Canterlot," Rarity assured. Vex shook her head. "N-n-no Rarity, you showed my sister and I great generosity by taking us in and caring for us. Now it's our turn to repay you," the pegasus replied. "You know my answer, I'm staying and fighting. Just like tradition," Sven muttered, cracking his neck. "What tradition?" Archimedes asked, eyes now falling on Sven. "It's nothing. Just a silly little thing I follow," Sven quickly replied, averting his eyes, now focusing on Fluttershy. "I don't like the thought of abandoning Ponyville as much as any of you but I seriously think that we should consider holding up in Canterlot," Twilight spoke cautiously, aware of the passively restrained anger that was emitting from Rainbow Dash and Applejack.. "Why in tarnation would you want to flee?!" Applejack yelled. "I'm just saying that even if all of us stay and fight, there's an ARMY that's going to swamp through Ponyville to get to Canterlot! It's eleven versus who knows how many," Twilight replied. "Sorry Twi, but I ain't budging," Applejack snapped. "She's right Twilight! And I'm staying too, forget trying to convince me!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Twilight's attention turned to Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, you've got to see that if you stay behind, you'll be killed! We could move your animal friends to Canterlot too, there's plenty of room in the garden," Twilight weakly tried to convince. "But we can't possibly get ALL of them. I couldn't live with myself knowing that one of them got left behind," Fluttershy whimpered, "I'm sorry Twilight, I'm going to have to stay behind too." "Rarity…" Twilight began. "Send Sweetie Belle to Canterlot first. I'm still not so sure yet," the alabaster unicorn spoke, massaging her temples with her hooves. "Twi, you've got to realize that the majority of us aren't going to abandon Ponyville. This is our home and where we were raised. It's too hard on us to abandon it," Applejack sighed, placing a hoof over Twilight's shoulder. Twilight was about to speak before a sharp pain rushed through her body, causing her to collapse and cring. "Spike! Get the bucket!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, the purple dragon quickly running over with the metal can. "It's okay, I'm not going to throw up this time," Twilight assured, pushing the bucket away gently before standing up again. "Twilight, out of all of us, YOU'D better go to Canterlot. Not just because you're the most talented unicorn we know and Celestia's most faithful student, but because YOU'RE DYING. I'm sure your parents would absolutely love to see you, yet alone know about your current predicament," Rarity spoke. A knock on the door soon drew the attentions of the ponies inside the library. "Come in, it's open!" Twilight called out, the door creaking open and Silver Wings trotting inside. "You again!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed, Silver Wings smiled before turning his attention to Sven. "Well, well, well. We meet again," Silver Wings smiled, bowing his head courteously, Sven following suit. "So it seems Silver. What brings you here now? Shouldn't you be looting or treasure hunting somewhere else?" Sven asked, anger hidden in his words. "Well after war here, there might be some profit. But nonetheless, I have come for you actually. Do you really think you can hold against the Changeling army?" Silver Wings asked, "Your team doesn't even remember anything and will easily be killed." Sven nodded, understanding the likely outcome of the actions of him and his ex-team. "I believe we know the cost of our decisions. As tradition, I will fight. What about you? Will you flee?" Sven growled, turning his head away from Silver Wings. "Of course not. I came to ask if you wanted a fighting partner," Silver Wings smiled. Sven's eyes widened as he whipped around, staring at the pegasus. "Why would you want to fight along side me?" Sven asked. "Well, I haven't had an adrenaline rush like the battles we fought in ever since I left with my brother, who is now dead. I figured that as long as I wanted that rush back, I'll fight along side my old leader," Silver Wings chuckled, extending a hoof towards Sven. Grinning widely, Sven shook Silver Wings' hoof. "Hope you've been practicing. Can't have any squad member new OR ex being out of shape. Not on my watch!" Sven laughed, Silver Wings smiled. "We'll have to wait and see. Hopefully YOU can catch up," the pegasus grinned, "By the way, don't you think you should spend a rather 'pleasurable" night with a certain mare in this room?" Sven blushed widely as his eyes quickly shot to Fluttershy and then back to Silver Wings. "I knew it." --------------------XXX-------------------- "How many have been evacuated?" Princess Celestia asked, four royal guards approaching the Sun Goddess. "Almost half of Ponyville has been evacuated. The Elements of Harmony and the ShadowHawks appear to be waiting for the last civilian to leave," one of the guards reported. Princess Celestia nodded, her eyes now falling onto the map of the battlefield that was spread across her desk. "Your Majesty, permission to speak freely?" the third guard asked, Princess Celestia granted him the request. "What if the Elements of Harmony choose to stay behind? I think all of the guards and Royal Guards know that the ShadowHawks are most likely to stay behind and fight, but what of the mares? What if they choose to stay as well?" the guard asked. Princess Celestia sighed and slowly made her way to her balcony, looking at Ponyville. "If they refuse to move… take them by force," she spoke firmly. "By force?" another guard asked. "We can't afford to lose the Elements of Harmony at a crucial time like this. As much as it pains me to imagine, take them by force, conscious or unconscious and by any method necessary," Princess Celestia ordered. The guards bowed and left. --------------------XXX-------------------- The mane six had split up, the mares and their guests returning to their homes. Rarity trotted slowly back to the boutique, Vex and Aurora in tail. The thoughts that swirled around the unicorn's mind as a result of the meeting was giving the dress maker a harsh headache. "Something wrong?" Aurora asked. "Nothing dear, just a small headache. All that talk about abandonment and fleeing, you know how I over think sometimes," Rarity replied with an assuring smile. "I can make dinner if you want to rest," Vex weakly offered. "That… I might actually take you up on that offer," Rarity sighed, massaging her temples as the trio reached the fashionable boutique. Opening the door, Rarity and the two sisters gasped in horror. Furniture laid broken and scattered across the floor, mirrors were shattered, mannequins were thrown across the room while scraps of fabrics and strings littered the place. "We've been robbed!" Rarity screamed. "I got it!" Sweetie Belle's voice rang through the room, the filly running past the door while chasing a feral Opalescence. "So it was the cat?" Vex wondered aloud, Rarity simply face hoofed and trotting inside. "Opal dear! Calm down!" Rarity yelled, the cat suddenly stopping and walking over to her bed. "Well! Since when did she ever listen to me like that?" Rarity wondered aloud, baffled by the outcome. Sighing heavily, the unicorn looked at her boutique and the huge mess. "We can take care of this, go and rest in the tub or something perhaps. Vex will call you when dinner is ready," Aurora assured, nudging Rarity towards the stairs. Sweetie Belle was about to offer her assistance before the dress maker picked her up with her magic and dragged her away. Giggling at the sight, the two sisters turned around, looking at the mess before beginning their job. --------------------XXX-------------------- "What do you mean I got to go to Canterlot?! I wanna stay too!" Applebloom pouted. "Applebloom, there's no time for you to start protesting. Go and pack your things now!" Applejack yelled, she had been arguing with her sister for the past ten minutes and her patience was hanging by a thread. Frightened by her sister's sudden rage caused the filly to scamper up to her room and quickly begin packing her belongings. She had seen what Applejack looked like when she was angry and she definitely didn't want to see that again. Sighing heavily, Applejack turned to her brother, Big Macintosh. "Big Mac, you got to make sure Granny Smith and Applebloom make it to Canterlot safely. Okay? I don't want to hear any nonsense about you staying behind too," Applejack spoke firmly, causing her bigger brother to nod in agreement quickly. "Eeyup," Big Macintosh replied, slowly trotting upstairs to get Granny Smith. Sighing heavily , Applejack sank her flank down into the soft green cushions of a nearby sofa. Tossing her Stetson aside, the orange mare begin to wonder how her older brother would even break the news that she'd been killed by Changelings to Applebloom after this whole ordeal was over. "I can't think like that! There's a possibility that it won't happen! … Aw shucks, who am I kidding…" --------------------XXX-------------------- "SWEETIE BELLE, PACK YOUR THINGS IMMEDIATELY!" Rarity screamed, scaring her sister so much that she began to cry as she ran to her room. Huffing heavily, Rarity massaged her temples, the migraine she had obtained during the meeting at Twilight's library was getting worse and Sweetie Belle's protests and complaints of not wanting to leave and stay instead were driving her insane. "Rarity? Is everything alright?" Aurora called from downstairs. Sighing and sinking lower into the warm waters of her bathtub, Rarity called out and insisted that she was fine, just a little argument with her sister. Vex soon trotted inside, still embarrassed for seeing Rarity in the tub. "Um… W-w-would you like some h-h-help washing your b-back?" she stuttered, her wings slowly beginning to unfurl. "Sure dearie, that'd be lovely!" Rarity exclaimed, somewhat happy at the thought before motioning for Vex to join her in the tub. Still blushing, Vex slowly approached Rarity, slipping into the tub and allowing the warmth of the water to send a pleasing sensation through her. Nearly slipping, Vex used her wings to help push her back up. Moving gently behind Rarity, she began to rub the alabaster's back with the lavender soap. "Wow Rarity, your skin is so soft!" Vex gasped in amazement. "Thank you dearie! I always make sure I use the best of products and tips for my skin!" Rarity smiled warmly. "Rarity… I feel light headed…" Vex suddenly began to swoon, the unicorn quickly grabbing her by the shoulders. "Are you okay?" Rarity asked, concern in her voice. "I think it may just be the heat… I'm not that good with dealing hot temperatures," Vex replied ashamed. "That's okay darling! Here, I can add some colder water to counter the warmth," Rarity smiled, reaching for the knob. "Oh no! What about your warm bath though?" Vex asked. "It's nothing darling, I can take these anytime! I just want to make sure you're okay for now," Rarity smiled. Nodding hesitantly, Vex allowed the colder water to mix with the warmth, soon resulting in a calming lukewarm water. It was only now that Rarity noticed Vex slowly starting to fall asleep, most likely due to the temperature. Smiling, she watched as the pegasus soon fell asleep, leaning her head against the wooden walls while the water moved gently at every small movement she made. Using her magic, Rarity lifted the mare out of the tub and dried her off before taking her up to her bed. "Such a sweet mare. I can only wonder when she learns the truth…" Rarity thought, letting the idea and scenario play out in her mind. Shaking her head, the mare turned and trotted out the door, gently closing it shut. --------------------XXX-------------------- "What are you going to do?" Sven asked, sitting across from Fluttershy at a mahogany wood table. The two had been sitting in silence for the past twenty minutes, Fluttershy's animal friends watching from the threshold of the kitchen. "I don't know. I don't want to leave them all behind," Fluttershy sighed, resting her head on the table. "There's bound to be casualties, not all of them will survive. I mean, not all of them will be safe, especially the larger animals," Sven spoke solemnly. "I know, but I just can't bring myself to leave them," Fluttershy whimpered. "Maybe you can request something to Princess Celestia?" Sven suggested, Fluttershy's eyes widened while a grin spread on her lips. "That's a great idea Sven! I'll go talk to Twilight!" Fluttershy squealed happily, flying towards the door. Sven smiled as he watched the pegasus happily float away before sighing. Turning his eyes to the burning candle in the center of the table, he closed his eyes. Breathing in heavily, he exhaled slowly, the flickering flame threatening to die. "Fluttershy… if we stay, we'll all die." --------------------XXX-------------------- "Spike? Are you here?" Fluttershy called out quietly as she softly pushed the library door open. The purple dragon soon emerged from the kitchen, a ruby cupcake in hand and waved. "Hey Fluttershy, how are you?" Spike asked, motioning for his guest to follow him inside. "I'm doing fine, thank you. How about yourself?" Fluttershy replied, slowly following the dragon. "Still working on taking care of Twilight, it really worries me. Water?" Spike asked, Fluttershy shaking her head. "Oh my. I'm sorry. Actually I came because I was wondering if you could send a letter for me," Fluttershy spoke. Explaining her thoughts to Spike, the purple dragon nodded, quickly writing the message down and sending it away in a puff of green flame. "Oh thank you Spike! How about I watch out for Twilight for a while? You can take a break and stretch out," Fluttershy suggested, the dragon nodding in agreement before saying goodbye. Fluttershy watched as the dragon left the library before trotting upstairs to check on the unicorn. "Twilight? Are you here?" Fluttershy called out quietly, poking her head into the lavender unicorn's room. Spotting the lump that rested quietly in the bed, the pegasus quietly flew up next to her friend. Looking at the beads of sweat that trickled down the mare's face, Fluttershy sighed and reached for a nearby cloth before a hoof touched her wing. Turning around, Fluttershy found Twilight weakly breathing, with a dazed expression as she weakly pulled on the pegasus' wing. "Fluttershy… please tell me you'll go… I don't… want to see anypony… hurt… or worse…" Twilight panted before passing out her hoof limply drooping off the side of her bed. Fluttershy let Twilight's words stir in her mind for a moment before quietly repositioning Twilight and wiping her forehead. "Okay Twilight. I will." --------------------XXX-------------------- "You're staying Pinkie?!" Mr. and Mrs. Cake exclaimed in shock. The energetic pink pony bounced up and down, nodding vigorously. "Yep! This is my home and I'll stay behind to defend it!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed, suddenly producing a camouflaged army helmet and war paint out of thin air. "But what about the kids? They need someone to make them smile during this war. If hope is lost and happiness fades… then we've already lost," Mr. Cake spoke. Pinkie Pie froze, she hadn't thought about that yet. While she was all caught up in her stand against the Changelings, she forgot about the joy and happiness she brought others, something she'd be throwing away for her own foolish and selfish desire. Sighing, Pinkie Pie took off her helmet. "I didn't think about that. How foolish of me… I've made up my mind! If morale is what we need, then I'll go to Canterlot with everypony! Smiles everypony! Smiles!" --------------------XXX-------------------- Rainbow Dash sat on her cloud bed, glancing around her home. The white fluffy clouds that kept her cool during the summer and fairly warm during the winter was comforting to her. Her pictures of the Wonderbolts and old drawings as a filly were still plastered around the place, though her pictures drawn as a filly were hidden in a box. Her Best Young Flyer award rested in a glass frame. A picture of her and her best friends hung over her bed. Sighing, the pegasus sank deeply into her bed. "All this. This is all probably going to be lost. Stupid war," Rainbow Dash sighed heavily. Deciding that she wanted a bite to eat, the cyan mare made her way to her kitchen, finding Silver Wings sitting in the same chair and drinking some water. "Hello," the stallion greeted nonchalantly. Rainbow Dash only stared at the stallion, her eye twitching on the fact that he had once again got into her home and was eating or drinking. "How do you keep getting in here?" Rainbow Dash asked, trotting over to her fridge and rummaging around. "You leave a window open all the time, didn't you realize?" Silver Wings smiled, pointing to an open circular window that resided above the sink. "Oh… I should fix that," Rainbow Dash muttered, mentally slapping herself. "Nah, you're fine. How else am I going to get back in here anyway? By the way, you're running low on cereal and muffins," Silver Wings informed. Rainbow Dash turned to her cabinets, sure enough, she was running out. "Jeez, I wonder how THAT happened," she muttered. "I have no clue. So back to the more important topic, I assume I'll see you in the skies?" Silver Wings replied. "I'm not backing down from this fight. I'm Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow Dash exclaimed proudly, almost as if she was insulted that her loyalty and dedication to protect her home was being questioned. "No need to get your wings in a twist Rainbow, it was just an honest question," Silver Wings smiled, trotting over to the mare. Extending his hoof, a competitive grin spread across his face. "Bet you I can take down more than you can before going down." "You're on!"