//------------------------------// // Chapter 24: Hunted // Story: Heart of Raven Black // by Vin Diesels Go-Kart //------------------------------// The rain was falling even harder now. Daniel was firmly pressed against a large, dead tree that stood away from the others closer to the forest. Trixie was up against him, his hand over her mouth as the two watched the yellow spotlight make its rounds. It slowly swept from left to right, illuminating the area around it. Any woodland creatures that got caught in its gaze would remain frozen in place, petrified by its intensity, before retreating back into the wilderness. The Songbird's light would then continue on scanning for its prey. Whenever the light got close to the old tree, Daniel's heart rate would quicken, and his grip on Trixie would get just the slightest bit tighter. He knew what the outcome would be if the mechanical beast caught wind of their presence. He didn't really have to worry about being heard. The bird's heavy breathing drowned out most other noise. With a screeching howl, the Songbird took off into the air in search of the two. Its squeals echoing in the distance. Daniel waited another minute before releasing Trixie and stepping away from the tree. "As if we didn't have enough problems." he muttered. "W-what was that thing?" the unicorn asked. Daniel shook his head. "That is the Songbird. It's a monstrosity, a combination of beast and machine." "It was engineered?" The Zealot's voice grew low. "It used to serve as the guardian of the city, keeping the Prophet's daughter safe from harm. After her disappearance, it found itself without a purpose, endlessly roaming the city." "Then why is it down here?" she asked fearfully. The Crow looked to where the beast had flown. "Because I killed its master." The rumbling of thunder covered his voice for a moment. He paused, then continued. "No doubt Fink set the creature upon us when they discovered the Prophet's body." He was still confused as to how they had so quickly found Comstock and put the pieces of his murder together. And how did the police track him down to that alley in Shantytown? There were a lot of questions the Zealot had, but no idea where he could find the answers. "I hope Irene made it out okay." Trixie suddenly said. "She's not the one you should be worried about." Daniel spat. There was a small break in the rain, and the clearing became eerily quiet. "So what happens now?" the show mare asked. Before Daniel could answer, a horn cut through the silence. It was distant, but still loud enough to draw the attention of every creature in the area. They both looked at the fleet of airships. The lightning in the background lit them up only briefly, but it was long enough for Daniel to see that the entire armada was out and about. The Zealot knew what the next steps would be. The ships would indiscriminately attack settlements, establishing Columbia's power and making it apparent to all in this world. Lightning lit the mountains up momentarily, illuminating both of them. "They've begun their invasion." "Invasion...." Trixie repeated. The Crow nodded. "The ships will begin attacking major cities and towns. They'll likely start with the capital, if they haven't already." "But why?" "They don't need a reason." Daniel growled. "Fink will do it for the sake of future expansion. Those whom he doesn't destroy, he'll enslave, then he'll rebuild this world as he sees fit." The sound of flapping wings caused Trixie's ears to perk up. The raven passed her and landed on Daniel's shoulder. "But I'm going to stop them." he finished. The unicorn raised an eyebrow. "You? Why would you want to help us when you worked so hard to bring that floating city here in the first place?" "Because now I know the truth. My Lady wouldn't want this. Zachary Comstock was a mad man who used God and country to enforce loyalty. Now I'm going to stop the madness before it claims another world." The rain started pouring again. "So what do we do?" Trixie asked. "We go back to where this whole thing started." He started walking down the flooding path, trudging through the mud while Trixie looked at him in confusion. "We need to find Jacob and Jenkins." he explained, calling back to her. "But why would we need to go back to the Everfree Forest to do that?" she inquired, running to catch up to him. "Because I have a feeling they never left." As the two made their way to the Everfree, Daniel looked back over to where he last saw the Songbird, and suddenly knew deep down how he was going to die. * * * The second series of explosions sent another large chunk of the mountain plummeting toward the city of Canterlot, and the princesses found themselves in danger once again. Twilight knew she could do nothing more to defend the city, or its citizens. She had used all of her magic just keeping the city suspended, and though some of it had fallen to ruin during the journey down the mountain, most of it was intact. This rock slide, however, was sure to change that. Twilight looked up as the boulders came down. There were no longer screams coming from the city below. She knew the ponies likely no longer possessed the energy to scream for their lives. The capital of the greatest kingdom in the world would die quietly, with only the rumbling of earth signifying its end. The alicorn felt pressure on her shoulder and turned, realizing that Luna was resting a hoof on it. Nopony spoke as Twilight joined Luna and Cadence in an embrace. The other two had their eyes closed, but Twilight looked around. The two guards who had accompanied them to the balcony still stood there with them. She assumed the other guards were busy with crowd control and helping the injured. The two who now stood before her were officers. One was a unicorn and the other a pegasus. When her eyes met their's, they looked away. Looking at them, she could tell they felt ashamed. They had been charged with the protection of the princesses and all of Equestria's subjects, and now they could do nothing but stand there and die with them. Twilight herself would leave this world feeling the same way. She'd failed them far more than they failed her. Forgive me Celestia, I tried. she thought, closing her eyes and awaiting the end. "You ponies give up far too easily." Everypony looked at the Changeling queen as she walked out on the balcony. The boulders were almost upon them, but Chrysalis stood confidently among the others. With a deep breath, her horn lit up a neon green and she shot a beam of energy upward, much like Twilight had done not ten minutes prior. However, instead of continuing up past the cloud line, it stopped after reaching a bit past the highest tower in Canterlot, then spread out over the city. The first of the rocks bounced off the force field, rolling down the dome and off the floating platform. Even when the full brunt of the rock slide collided with the green roof, it hardly made a sound beyond a low rumbling. The ponies watched as their doom harmlessly fell away from the city. If any cracks or fractures appeared, they were too small to be noticed. The ponies' attention drifted from the shield to the Changeling who had made it. Chrysalis stood on the balcony in her usual careless manner. She turned her head halfway toward the princesses, eyeing Cadence in particular. "Guess where I learned that trick from, sweetheart." she giggled. This comment caused the pink princess to shake off the amazement at what had just transpired far sooner than the others, who still looked at the shield even as it began to dissipate. She glared at the queen. "How did you do that?" Chrysalis frowned. "I'm just that powerful." Cadence rolled her eyes as Luna spoke next. "Nevermind how you performed that spell. What I would like to know is why. You could have just as easily flown away and left us to our fate, yet you stayed and saved us." The changeling queen seemed almost offended. "Do you think I'm just some monster? It's difficult to feed off the love of a corpse. All I've ever wanted is the subjugation of Equestria, not its destruction." "How noble of you." Cadence said through gritted teeth. "Cadence, stop." Twilight interjected. "The fact remains that she just saved the city, but we have bigger problems." As Chrysalis' shield faded, rain found its way down to the ponies. "We should talk inside. There's still the matter of the giant city getting ready to invade." she turned to the guards. "Can you make sure the citizens are safe? Gather what guards you can and start searching homes for injured." The guard coughed. "With all due respect, your highness. Shouldn't we focus on preparing the city for another attack?" The princess shook her head. "If the humans decide to attack, there won't be much we can do no matter how prepared we are. I'd rather spend time saving lives than getting ready for a fight we can't win." The guards solemnly nodded and ran off. The others went as far as the hallway before stopping. "Twilight, is there really no way to stop this city?" Luna asked. The lavender princess looked at her, eyes sad and face grim. "As of right now, no. That's why we need to start coming up with a plan. They have us beat in terms of weaponry, plus they have air superiority. I hate saying it, but at this point it's gonna take a miracle." "And what of your friends? The other Elements of Harmony?" "Even if we were all together, I'm not sure the elements would do much against this threat. They aren't some corrupted spirit or maniacal being. These humans are as cold and callous as the machines they use." She thought back to the Handyman and Boy of Silence. These creatures had even begun fusing with machinery. How long before they were completely lifeless? Thomas was an exception. He had still been in touch with his natural side, that inner spirit that all living creatures seem to have. Nopony was completely merciless, but then these other humans showed up who seemed to have completely lost whatever had once made them human. She had a feeling that Daniel, Jenkins, and Jacob were only the tip of the iceberg. Speaking of which....... "That's it!" Twilight suddenly said, her eyes widening. "That's what?" Chrysalis asked. The others looked at her hopefully. "No time to explain. I have to go. Do your best to keep the peace while I'm gone!" She quickly flew out the balcony window and into the stormy abyss. "Twilight, wait!" Cadence yelled, but the Element of Magic was already gone. * * * Fitzroy always did her best to keep calm in desperate situations. When she first led the Vox, it was difficult for her to command the obedience of her subordinates. Being a woman in a man's world was tough, even more so when you were colored, but her calm demeanor, even in the face of extreme opposition, had earned her the respect she needed to maintain control of her rebel army. This ability to keep her fear in check was tested though, as her airship was assaulted by anti-air fire. Sweat coated her face and her lip twitched slightly. They had not anticipated Columbia to be so well prepared for their arrival. The first assault on the First Lady had caused the death of the pilot. Donny now stood at the controls, cursing as he desperately tried to avoid flak that peppered the sky. "How'd these fuckers know we were comin'!?" he yelled. "They already had their goddamn guns pointed at the skies when we entered range! The fucks up with that?" Another barrage of fire shook the blimp. Apple Bloom was no longer crying, and didn't seem to care about the current situation. Daisy had put her under a desk when they took fire, and she hadn't moved since. Her eyes seemed lost in a cloud of thoughts, or perhaps a vacancy of thoughts. A garbled voice came on the radio. "Daisy, we'll cover your entry. Get that ship down below the skyline." One of the accompanying blimps moved between the First Lady and the fire. It began taking the brunt of the onslaught while Donny took advantage and flew the craft low. "This is gonna get bumpy, strap yourselves in!" he ordered. "Good luck, mates." the voice said over the radio. The blimp was consumed with fire as it spiraled into a building. It had given the First Lady enough time though, as the damaged airship landed in an old town park. The grass had long died and the trees were mere shrubs, shadows of their former greatness, but it provided enough space for Fitzroy's ship to land. Four other dirigibles landed around it, as well as a few gunships. "We gotta move!" Donny exclaimed, kicking open the ship's hatch and leading the Vox out. Daisy grabbed Apple Bloom and followed. A horn alerted the rebels that police boats were inbound.