//------------------------------// // Chapter 12 // Story: The Sun's Knight // by Lucky424 //------------------------------// Luna watched from her position in the makeshift cell. There was nothing she could do, her arms restrained behind her back, and a magic sealing ring around her horn. How the changelings had gotten the designs she didn’t know, but they would pay for this attack on Equestria. Several more entered the cellar, carrying a battered and bruised pegasus stallion with them. He didn’t make it easy, blood dripping from his mouth and a gash over his left eye, the lid closed for protection, yet he still resisted. The five changelings in the room lit their horns, using magic to pick him up and slam him onto the table, and they strapped him down on his front, two pulling against his wings and spreading them out. A larger changeling, different to the drones, walked in, eyeing the stallion with disgust and stopping in front of the mare's prison, a sneerful grin on his face. “Greetings Princess Luna, I am King Metamorphosis. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance at last.” She walked forward towards the bars and spat in his face, glaring at him. “I have no need of your name. You will release us both, or face the consequences.” “Face the consequences? What do you think this is all about? Did you really believe my mother could be killed without reprisal?” The changeling walked to the head of the pegasus, lifting it up so that the good eye could look at him. He then dragged his fingers across his muzzle, drawing more blood from the scratch marks. “We know he is the one, and his fate shall be the same.” He drew out a knife and placed the hilt on the stallion’s face. “Do you recognize this? You thought it destroyed, and now it shall be used on you.” “If y-y-you harm L-l-l-una…” “Harm her? My dear, misguided colt, I’m not going to harm her. I’m going to make you watch as I kill her, slowly.” The stallion began to thrash against his bonds, attempting to bite Metamorphosis. “Oh, some fight left in you still? Worry not, we will get there. But first…” He walked around the the left side, placing his hand on the wing to steady it, and the tip of the knife at the joint with the shoulder, right on the nerve. Luna cringed and tried to close her eyes as the stallion’s pained screams echoed throughout the cellar, but the spell on her made her watch the torture. The knife was pulled away and all the changelings looked to the ceiling, hearing multiple thuds. The door to the cellar cracked open a little and four cylindrical objects were thrown in. They looked at them for all of five second before they exploded with bright light and a high pitched whining noise. Luna’s ears recovered quickly, and she soon heard another high pitched noise, but with a different tone, one that she recognised as it repeated. Her vision returned just in time to see a beam of light sliced cleanly through the air where Metamorphosis’ head had been, the changeling having teleported away moments before. The spell that restricted her vision disappeared, and she turned her head towards the door, relief filling her body. Gray and Dean entered the cellar, poking the bodies with the tips of the spellguns in their hands. Gray picked up a set of keys and worked on unlocking Luna, whilst Dean walked over to the table and released the stallion, who had fallen into unconsciousness from the pain. As soon as she was released, Luna was over to the table, wrapping her arms around the stallion, tears falling from her eyes. She looked at where the knife had been placed and gasped, then looked up at the two humans. “A-a-a-are we safe?” Gray nodded to Dean, who went and stood near the door. “All the changelings in the house are dead, don’t know how many more are in town.” “G-g-good. I n-need to clean his wounds. Can you get me some supplies? T-t-they should be in the cupboard by the front door.” With a nod of his head he left, returning a few minutes later with a large case, which he set next to the stallion. Luna opened it and took out what she needed, wiping away the blood and starting to close the wounds. She had finished with the ones on his head, shakily beginning to clean the wing. “What happened?” “They attacked just as Twilight was about to send us home, over a hundred of them disguised as guards. Celestia knew we couldn’t do anything, and she teleported us to safety. We’re on our way back. I’m not leaving your home in their hands.” “Was Twilight Sparkle successful?” “I don’t know, but you need to leave him. We’re going to need your help.” “I will only hinder you. I… have not fought for a millenia. I can get you into the castle, a way that we prevented magic from interfering by using magic. But I must stay with him.” “Okay… you do what you have to do, we’ll secure Canterlot. Dean, you ready?” “Yeah, the house is secure. I’ve got Big Mac upstairs with a rifle and spare ammo. There’s only one way down, and he’s in the way.” “Good. Luna, send us.” She lifted up a hand and tugged the ring of her horn, gritting her teeth as it sent a painful response back, designed to stop just that. With a deep breath it slipped off, and she gathered her magic, letting it flow around them. With a flash of light they were gone, and she looked towards the knife trail, tears falling heavily as she stared at the name carved into Alec’s wing joint. ‘CHRYSALIS’ “AND WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO NOW?” “I DON’T KNOW, JUST KEEP SHOOTING BACK!” For the past twenty minutes, Gray and Dean had been trading fire with the changelings down the corridor from Alec’s little hideaway. They couldn’t advance any further towards the throne room, but they were keeping the drones back. There were more drones out on the balcony, trying to blast their way in, but it seemed the windows were quite well protected. A blast of light that didn’t come from them or the changelings shot over their heads, impacting the rocky roof of the corridor. There was a loud rumble as cracks formed, and then part of the tunnel collapsed, blocking that route off. They both turned to see what had caused it, looking to the owner of the spell gun that was glowing with heat in shock. “Sorry I’m late to the party… now, where’s the main dance floor?” There was another flash from behind the pegasus, Luna appearing in the blink of an eye. She walked up to Alec and slapped him on the side of his face that wasn’t bandaged. He just shrugged it off, turning to look at the banging noises coming from the balcony. He cracked open a window just enough to put his arm through, grabbing hold of the nearest drone and crushing it’s windpipe, then letting the body drop. “Who’s next?” The drones backed off, taking to the air, continuing to try and blast their way in. Gray and Dean relaxed a little, glad to have someone who knew the layout of the castle, but Gray already knew that there was only two ways out of this room, and both were blocked. They walked over to Alec after he got their attention, where he had pulled out a set of schematics, which showed different sections of the castle. Luna came over and highlighted some areas with her magic. “These locations are accessible to us, but none have a direct route to the throne room, which will is where Celestia will be.” Dean turned around as the gun fire from outside stopped, watching as a larger drone than the others dropped to the balcony. The nine foot behemoth hefted a large mace, slamming it against the window. The only result was a small scratch on the outside. It just repeated it’s action, determined to break through. “We need to find Blueblood, without him, the whole plan falls down.” Gray couldn’t believe his ears, that Alec was actually suggesting they needed someone like him to help them. Then again, he had only been there for a few days, maybe there was more to the prince that met the eye. A patch of the map representing the gardens flared up brightly, the pegasus giving a chuckle, and he tapped the glowing area. Luna’s horn flashed once, and several heat signatures appeared around another. The ones forming the ring tried to jump forward, but a funnel of heat blasted at a few of them, making the disappear in the flare. “Heh, tacmap spell, still awesome. Looks like we found our princess. Luna, he can’t keep that up. Get us down there and then get yourself out of here.” “Alec…” “No, you must stay safe.” She looked to Gray and Dean for their input, but they just nodded in agreement with the stallion, reloading their weapons. With a defeated sigh she charged her horn, closing her eyes. To her it felt like she was sending them to their deaths, to them… this is the kind of things they had trained for. She saw a crumpled note on the ground and picked it up, unwrapping it to find Alec's map of hives and the grave site. She concentrated hard, summoning as much magic as possible for long range teleport, whilst charging a spell to syphon magic from the natural world, and then she was gone in a flash. With a flash of light the trio of males found themselves standing on grass, surrounded by a glowing gold shield. “BLUEBLOOD, CONCENTRATE ON DEFENSE!!” The stallion, who had just flung another flame spell at more changelings looked around and nodded, the shield flaring intensely. “ABOUT BUCKING TIME YOU GOT HERE! CELESTIA’S IN THE THRONE ROOM, BUT I CAN’T GET THERE!” The three new combatants to the battlefield opened fire, each beam flashing towards the changelings opposing them. “YOU MUST GET TO CELESTIA!!” There were multiple flashes around them, off duty guard squads teleporting into the garden. The unicorns immediately copied the prince and formed shields, the pegasi and earth ponies opening fire. There was no room to retreat, but no room to advance either. The changelings had taken refuge on the walls, and barricaded the entrances. There was only one way for the ponies to get in, a small service entrance for the castle staff. The changelings switched tactics, concentrating their fire on one squad at a time. The force was too much for a single unicorn, even one with Royal Guard training, and the first shield failed, leaving the trio inside in the open. They made no noise as the beams of magic cut them down. This isn't to say it was a one sided battle, far from it. There were only fifteen pony squads, plus the four in the centre, and over a hundred changelings, but none gave up or fled. Another shield collapsed, the unicorn and earth pony cut down, but the pegasus managed to escape, soaring high above the battle and dodging their enemy's fire. The four watched as her spell gun cleared a part of the wall, and she landed upon it. The changelings to either side screeched and charged at her, knocking her to the floor. There was an explosion as her spell gun's magic core was overloaded, a good twenty meters of the wall crumbling away in the blast. The rest of the squads fell back, the shields converging on one another and forming a higher level of protection. Blueblood took a moment to rest, letting her horn stop glowing. “T-t-throne room. Must g-g-get to...” “Fine, we'll get to her. You stay here with the ranks.” The mare's hand shot out and stopped Alec by the shoulder, Gray and Dean helping to hold him back. He tried to wriggle his way free, but was unable to do so in his weakened state. “LET ME GO! WE HAVE TO GET TO HER!” “AND WE WILL, BUT TOGETHER! WE NEED TO GET ABOVE THE THRONE ROOM!” Alec ceased his struggles, raising an eyebrow at Blueblood. Sure, he didn't much like the stallion, but he certainly had a penchant for good ideas. Gray and Dean nodded, ready to go with the plan. “WE’LL GO AS ONE! GRAY, DEAN, FORM UP ON BLUE!” They did as instructed, each one taking a position around him like a triangle. “ALL READY?” The two humans and unicorn nodded, tensing their legs. “MOVE!!!” The foursome began to march towards the castle, their weapons passing through the shield and contacting with the changeling drones, whose fire was simply being absorbed by the magical barrier.         The thirty changelings left in the throne room looked to the doors nervously, glad that the sounds of fighting had died down. Those that didn’t have their guns pointed at Celestia and Twilight pointed theirs at the doors as they cracked open, a lone drone entering and walking up to the commander. “Sir, the ones assaulting the castle have withdrawn to parts unknown. We now number too little to try and find them.” “Well, we’ll have to coax them out. The whiney unicorn first, I tire of her grating voice.” The drone smiled as it walked over to the corner, where two mares sat with their wrists shackled behind their backs. The unicorn had a magic sealing ring over her horn, and she glared at the drone as she was lifted to her feet. “Unhand me, ruffian! This is no way to treat a lady! When I get out of thisspphh!” The changeling had slapped the mare across the cheek hard, a little bit of blood dripping from a new cut on her lip. She struggled for all she was worth as the drone dragged her to the centre of the room, forcing her to her knees. Rarity looked up and met the scared faces of Celestia and Twilight. “NOW HERE THIS!” The four mares winced as the commander drone’s voice was amplified through magic, a way to get it’s message throughout the castle. “GIVE UP NOW, AND THAT WILL BE THE END OF IT! KEEP FIGHTING AND YOU WILL FORFEIT THE LIVES OF OUR PRISONERS! AS IT IS, YOU HAVE ALREADY LOST ONE!” Rarity’s eyes went wide with the realisation that this was it for her, and so did Celestia’s, who got to her feet and jumped forward, halted by the changeling drones around her. “No, I beg of you! Take my life in her stead!” “Do you think of us as stupid, pony? We know she is one of the element bearers, and without them you are defenceless. Now watch as I open your country to all those you have wronged.” A glow from high above drew the attention of the drones, and then the windows up there imploded. The changelings crouched for cover against the shards of glass, and four silhouettes dropped in via rope, then opened fire on the static drones. Angered by the interruption, the commander squeezed the trigger, just as the new unicorn mare looked over. “RARITY!!!” She opened her eyes from the chaos as she recognised the voice. The beam of magical energy was interrupted a mere half a metre in front her, the other mare being hit in the chest. There was a flash as she fell to the floor, and the changelings were shocked to see Prince Blueblood lying on the red carpet in a short red dress. The door burst open and the remaining changeling drones in the castle entered the throne room. They opened fire, managing to pin down the three remaining standing. The commander held up his hand for the firing to stop, and pointed his gun at the back of the crying mare’s head, who was crouched over the fallen stallion. “A valiant effort, but all for naught. Give up, and I shall let her live. Five… Four… Three…” Three guns were thrown from around the pillars they were using for cover, and the trio walked out with their arms in the air. The changeling smirked as he recognised the pegasus, pointing his gun at him. There was a flash to the side, where Celestia had charged her horn with enough magic, releasing the spell which knocked the commander from his feet, his chitin smouldering a little. He calmly stood, sauntering over the the mare and roughly raised her to her feet, dragging her towards one of the windows. He forced her head against the glass, and she saw the flashes of spell guns being traded throughout the gardens. “As you can see... you won't win.” She turned to find Gray hand managed to get closer, but so had the drone, who was now pointing his gun at Celestia's head. “One more step, hooman, and she leaves here with no brain.” The man and mare just stared into each other's eyes, ignoring what was going on around them. A flash in the middle of the room drew the changelings attention, where Princess Luna had just teleported in, dressed in unusual armour and carrying a customized spell gun. He was further distracted as multiple squads of guards were teleported into the room with her, immediately opening fire on the drones. His vision refocused on movement close to him, but he was too late to stop Gray from tackling him through the window, knocking Celestia from his grip, and out onto the balcony. They rolled over each other until they hit the wall, where the drone's spell gun fell to the gardens below. They both stood and the drone lit his horn, but Gray closed the distance and took a hold of it. It felt like bone, so with all his strength he started to bend it, the changeling screeching in pain. Gray ignored the scratches that the drone was causing on his arms, stomach, chest, and face, concentrating on defeating his foe. There was a sickening snap as the horn broke clean off in his hands, the pair stumbling away from each other. Dark green blood ran down the changeling's forehead, and he reached behind his back to produce a long knife. “I'll... KILL YOU!!!” The drone charged with the knife held high, whilst Gray lifted the only item he had left. There was the sound of a rough carapace cracking when they met, but the force of the drone's charge pushed them both over the railings, Celestia watching in horror as they fell. She ran over and looked down with fear, but felt relief wash over her. “OVER HERE, I NEED HELP!! GRAY, HOLD ON!” She took a step back as a camouflaged arm reached over from her left, accompanied by a bleeding beige furry arm from her right. Working together, Dean and Alec pulled Gray back over the railings, and the trio fell to the floor in a heap. Celestia was worried for a moment until Alec motioned for her to turn around, where he unlocked her shackles with a key from his pocket. She stepped away and turned to view the trio, who were now resting their backs against the low wall. Alec's head tilted towards the humans, and all three looked at one another. “Guys... you look like shit. Guess I'm the only good looking one left now, huh?” Celestia's expectations of what to come next never happened. Dean had directly insulted the pair, and even though Gray was from the same world, she thought there would be some anger. Instead, the trio just switched gazes from stone face to stone face... and then they all burst out laughing. Luna appeared next to her sister, pulling her into a tight embrace. “Hey... doesn't your stallion get any?” “Looking like that, no, you probably don't. I think I've puked up better looking things than you.” The two mares stared open mouth at what Gray had just said to Alec, who weekly punched the man in the shoulder, both of them chuckling. “Gray! Do not speak to him in such a way!” He just smirked up at Celestia, chuckling as the pegasus gave his reply. “Eat shit and die, you cocksucker!” There was a slight echo as Luna slapped Alec once more, but he stopped her arm before she could do it again, pulling her into a deep kiss in full view of all the others. Back inside the throne room, the stench of burning chitin was rife. The guards were instantly upon the three other mares to release them, having to drag a hysteric Rarity away from Blueblood. The fourth concious mare in the corner approached, wrapping her friend in a tight embrace. “‘e saved yer life, Rare. Let ‘im rest.” A guard with a red cross over his sun sigil approached the downed prince, rolling him over and checking the wound. Applejack held even tighter to Rarity as she tried to pull away when the stallion winced. His eyes fluttered open, and he met the gaze of the unicorn mare with a pained smile. They then shut again as his head thudded to the floor. “You two, infirmary, now!” Two unicorn guards ran over and teleported away on the medic's orders, who then proceeded to check the rest on them for wounds. He made his way over towards the balcony when a wild eyed Dean ran past him, towards one of the corners. It was then that the medic noticed the prone earth pony, and had a quick glance around. Celestia was standing with her sister, Twilight was being help by a recent addition to the Canterlot Guard, a transfer from the Crystal Empire, so he followed the human. He rolled her over to see the scorch mark on her fur, and then lit his horn, scanning her with his magic. “It's okay, that was the end of the magic core. It's just a burn, and not very deep. She'll live, but only if she gets treatment right away.” Dean remained silent, sliding one arm behind her back and the other under her knees, slowly standing with the mare in his arms. A guard tried to take her off him, but backed away from the glare he received. With an indication from the medic, two guards followed alongside Dean as he left the throne, guiding him towards the infirmary.         “YOU FAILED ME!” The was a sickening sound as the blade sliced across the changeling drone's throat, and it fell to the floor trying to stop it's blood seeping out. It joined the pile of several bodies at the foot of the throne, and King Metamorphosis looked at the remaining soldiers in the royal chambers. The one he had just killed was the last one from the meeting, the rest were just following orders, and had done their best. “The rest of you, your new assignment. The drone who suggested using that mare to get the message to Sparkle... I want her found, and made an example of those that fail me. Now leave me!” The drones bowed and filed out of the doors, a group stopping to pick the dead bodies. Metamorphosis turned and looked out through the highly viscous green substance that his race used as a glass substitute, gazing out over his hive. The last time he was it was a buzz of activity, and now he could barely discern any movement. “My son, you did well.” He spun around in shock, but found nothing in the room with him. “You did not take all the variables into account.” “Mother, is that you?” The image of Chrysalis appeared in front of him, but when he put his hand up to touch her, it passed right through her. He managed to get his hand right to his muzzle, proving that she wasn't really there, frowning at the mirage. “How are you doing this? You are dead!” “I do not have long, Meta. I used the last of my essence to put some of myself in the hive mind, but it won't last another hour. Listen to me well, my son. The hive mind is quiet, so quiet compared to what it used to be. Find these traitors to our kind. Find them, and kill those that refuse to return to our glorious race!” “It shall be done, mother.” Chrysalis' image lifted her arms and wrapped them around his back, and he could 'feel' the embrace. His head was 'pulled' down and he 'felt' her kiss his forehead. He gave a sigh and 'pushed' her back so that he could look into her eyes. “Is there no way for you to stay?” “No, this will be the last time I see you.” “Mother... the one who killed you, he is still alive.” “Worry not, you will have him in time. I must go now, see my other children. But remember,” She placed her hand upon his chest, a soft smile upon her muzzle. “I'll always be here, with you.” “Mother, you are starting to sound like a pony.” The both chuckled at that, and smiled at each other. “Goodbye, Metamorphosis. Hate your guts.” “Hate your guts too, mother. Goodbye.” Her image slowly faded, and he took his throne with a sigh. He brought a hand up to his cheek as he felt something falling down it. He brought it up to his eyes and found it wet, his eyes going wide with shock. I'm crying?? But... changelings don't cry!! ...Do they?         “Fair Heart?” The earth pony turned around to see a pegasus mare standing in the doorway, her face full of conflicting emotions. She happily skipped over and planted a wet kiss on the tip of the other mare's muzzle, but grew confused as it wasn't returned, and she was pushed away instead. “I'm... I'm leaving. You're in danger if I stay...” “But Breezy Mint... what danger could come from the confectionery business? Especially when you've never actually gone to the factory where you work.” “How do you know that?” “I came to surprise you at lunch one day, and they had never heard of you. I... understand that you didn't want to tell me what you do, and wanted to wait for the right time. So... what do you do?” The pegasus led her over and sat her on the couch, standing near the door. Fair Heart noticed some suitcases in the hallway behind her marefriend, and looked up with tears in her eyes. A small green flame started at her feet, and slowly slid up her body, leaving a black chitin behind. It reached her head and the earth pony found herself staring at eyes that were pupil-less slits. “You... you're...” “A changeling, yes. And I must leave, both for my part in the events today, and to keep you safe from my leaders. Goodbye, Fair Heart.” There was another set of green flame, leaving the orange furred pegasus mare once more. There was water streaks down her cheeks, and she quickly spun about, picking up her cases. She hadn't made it to the front door before Fair Heart grabbed her wrist and spun her around. “Fair, I need to leave.” She was pushed against the wall as the earth pony pressed her into a deep kiss, pulling away with teary eyes. “You... are not going anywhere. I... can keep you safe. Come, let's go to the castle.”