//------------------------------// // Protect Twilight At All Costs // Story: To be a Wonderbolt: Fall of a Nation // by Diablomuerte2 //------------------------------// Protect Twilight At All Costs Spike had finished off his task quickly and started phase two of his unit's plan. "Alright you sorry lot of dragons, we’re behind schedule and need to rush to the bunker we were assigned to protect," He vigorously yelled. His inability to be efficient as a fighter was countered by his amazing ability at strategic combat. He had been reading books of various nature growing up, and recently he had been forced to read books that taught about war and war tactics. His plan was easily the best ambush plan that went relatively well according to the results shown. He had easily suckered the Draconians and hoped it would be as easy to continue his victories over the enemy. He was riding on the back of another dragon and with his signal they all rushed to the bunker that was already being attacked. ____________________________________________________________ The group of ponies that were stationed outside the bunker had watched as the legion of Draconians had been torn apart by the heavily invested and well built traps. They were hoping the advancing forces would be deterred or even annihilated off by the various mechanical death dealing contraptions, instead they were met with even more hostility. The Draconians began advancing and using their dead allies to trigger the other traps and render them useless. They were enraged when they approached and had been ready to annihilate the ponies that dare trick them. The unit had been composed of mostly pegasi ponies but for some reason they had among their ranks, a peculiar and pink earth pony. Pinkie Pie had been stationed elsewhere but before the war began she decided to leave her platoon and protect Twilight regardless of the lack permission, she was following her heart not her orders. Thunder Lane was ready to die to for his brother at any given chance, his training had been limited in combat and he knew his chances for survival were slim to none but he had joined the war knowing that they had to fight against all odds. He was accompanied by some other ponies he knew like that one muscular one who had those tiny wings. Along with those two Ponyville residents the elite royal guard was also stationed at the bunker to keep the defenses in place. The bunker was the most important one since it had delegates and leaders of all kinds being housed inside. Celestia had to make a stand at where the resources were needed most and in return she was viewed differently by those who weren't as protected. ____________________________________________________________ Inside the bunker, Twilight was furious at her inability to help. She was forced to stay inside with unicorns that were expertly trained in barrier magic making sure nopony got out, or worse if anything got in, the bunker. With them in place she could only hear the battle taking place outside and was scared for the life of the royal guard ponies outside. She knew there would be losses since she wasn't an idealist. She had read books about war before and the atrocities it brought, but she never imagined she would be stuck in a war where her lover and all her friends could die, and she was forced to stay behind as those she loved were put in danger. She began crying and hoping that those she loved would make it through the hardships of the cold war. She never felt such desperation to see Pinkie Pie again and wanted nothing more than to make sweet, sweet love with her marefriend. She wanted her friends to make it through so they could celebrate life together. ____________________________________________________________ Pinkie Pie began preparing for the incoming attack, her Pinkie Sense was guiding her movements and she was easily able to out maneuver the Draconian attackers. She used her expertise of cannons to easily set up the last resort measure while dodging the attacks. Thunder Lane was able to keep pace with one of the injured Draconians and began out speeding him with ease. He didn't have any plan of attack besides stalling until the last resort measures were ready to be used. His limited combat skills were easily able to keep him alive against a wounded Draconian. Snowflake, the muscular pony, was fighting head the head with a fresh Draconian all the while yelling "Yeeahh!" He had no fears to speak of and attacked viciously allowing him to stagger his foe with ease. He felt mighty while backing the Draconian off and easily subduing the enemy. Pinkie Pie hurried herself and finished the preparations for the last resort device, it was a cannon that was set to simultaneously launch high impact cannons that would break through anything but at the cost of the structure's integrity, it was meant to be used in case the place was being overrun and would alert the ponies inside. With the final part set up she launched the cannons and watched as all the enemies before them easily fell to the might of the super cannon. It was a shallow victory for the enemy was already weakened by the traps. Pinkie Pie felt no honor in taking down the weakened foes and wondered how such powerful enemies could be taken down so easily. ____________________________________________________________ The second unit of Draconians, that were watching the first, had smiled at their plan going off without a hitch. They allowed the first unit to sacrifice themselves in order to exhaust the defenses and spring the traps. When the final boom was heard, they decided it was time to attack. The unit of Draconians was made up of whatever could be scrounged from the initial attacks on the borders. They united and became a team of five Draconians, and even with their injuries they were ready to take out the ponies. The main targets were the elite royal guards and then when the guards fell it would be easy pickings from there on in. The first attacker flew in with a mighty roar and startled the defensive unit that was already battle worn from the previous engagement. The first victim was one of the elite guards, he fell easily to the might of the attacking Draconian, but when he kept going for the other guard he was countered by Pinkie Pie and her spear. It penetrated his underbelly and went straight through his vital organs. ____________________________________________________________ Pinkie felt she had no choice but to kill the Draconian in order to keep her teammates alive. "Just go already... you are only going to die or cause death... just leave while we still have a choice in the matter." Pinkie was sincere in her plea but was only met with an answer of hostility. She then saw the opposing force reveal themselves and attack all together. It wasn't a fun sight for her, and she had no clue as to what she could do against so many Draconians. Thunder Lane began charging feeling foolhardy and unwilling to just surrender or die in vain. Snowflake followed him into combat and they each were able to injure greatly their opponent before being struck down mercilessly by the Draconians they fought. Pinkie knew that would happen, her Pinkie Sense was letting her know this battle was going to end badly for all of them. The elite guards rushed in and took out the injured Draconians, but in doing so they left themselves open to the others and got torn asunder by the last remaining pair of evil fiends. Pinkie Pie knew she was all that stood between the Draconian scum and the bunker with Twilight inside it. "No matter what happens to me I won't let my princess die!" ____________________________________________________________ Spike and the other dragons had arrived in time to watch Pinkie being sent flying into the bunker door and falling limp. He knew that with Pinkie down it meant the Draconians had free access to the bunker. The only problem was that his dragon unit wasn't fit for unplanned combat against the mightier beasts. He had to make a judgement call, "I don't know if we can take them out, but if we don't do something they will all die... Twilight is vital to our future and must be protected ... if you aren't up for the task, then head to the rendezvous and see how many others made it... I hope that at least some of you will stay with me... I can't do it alone." Some dragons flew away from the combat, they felt they served enough. The other stayed and flew into battle with Spike unwilling to let the Draconians gain any ground without a fight. ____________________________________________________________ The Draconians closed in on Pinkie Pie and smiled at her lack of movement. "Should we eviscerate her before or after we destroy the bunker and kill all the ponies inside?" The less damaged Draconian asked. The more injured one was chuckling, "I say we let her die slowly as we kill all the ponies inside then kill her after she learns of her failure." They both were in high spirits and knew they would please Dragunda and serve their kind well by eliminating the ponies inside the bunker. It didn't matter how important a pony was to their own species, they were still the enemy and wiping them out meant victory. Before they could enact their plan they were attacked from the rear and became startled. "What was that," called out one of the Draconians attacking the bunker. The other one turned to see what was going on and found hostile forces attempting to take them down led by a small purple dragon. ____________________________________________________________ Spike and his crew of dragons were blasting fire at the Draconians in attempts to get them to turn around and fight. The plan went swimmingly well and they managed to anger the Draconians. "Alright, now is the time we fight or die, remember we know their weak spots and we can use it to our advantage," Spike cried out. The battle went horribly for Spike and the equestrian dragons. The mistake of challenging a greater foe had been the undoing of the mighty beasts that fought for Equestria. One by one they would attempt to make a killing blow on the Draconians only to miss or barely connect. The more injured Draconian had been too wounded to dodge many of the attacks and was finally slain but at the cost of many dragons. The less injured Draconian easily took out the rest of the dragons until Spike was left. Spike was alone against the mighty Draconian and clearly had no chance of attaining victory. "Well... this is goodbye," he softly whispered to the wind as it blew gently across the battlefield. He looked up at his foe and smiled, he didn't have any regrets and wasn't going to allow the enemy to take his pride away. The Draconian wasn't happy watching an enemy smile before they were killed. He used his tail to pick Spike up and squeezed the dragon harshly, "Scream for me, I want to hear your bravado fade with each second of your pitiful crying." Spike tried ignoring the pain and continue smiling, he wanted to make sure the Draconian wouldn't get the pleasure of hearinghim scream. His efforts were causing the the enemy to further punish the baby dragon and he was met with hot flames that burned his eyes. Still despite the searing pain he didn't cry nor did he allow himself to utter any sounds that could indicate to the enemy he was in pain. "I said cry for me you useless excuse for a dragon... cry for me so I can finish you off," the Draconian demanded while losing his patience. He squeezed harder and heard some bones being broken and yet the baby dragon wouldn't utter the sound he wanted so desperately to hear. Spike felt his body being broken and with the last of his bravado he said something that would seal his fate forever, "your mother squeezed harder than this last night." The Draconian enraged by the insult crushed the baby dragon with his tail and slammed him on the ground. He was going to stomp on the dead body until he felt something pierce his heart. He looked at the object that pierced him in confusion and noticed it was being driven into his back by a certain pink pony. ____________________________________________________________ Pinkie Pie finished off the last Draconian with barely any energy left in her. She was in shock and almost died, she held onto life by the desires she had to live. "Spike... didn't deserve this... this war is so pointless," she coughed out. She walked towards the bunker door and tapped on it three times, "Open up... it's over they lost... we ... won." The battle ended with Pinkie being lead inside the bunker and having to relay some unfortunate news to Twilight. It was a victory for ponykind but in the end at what costs?