//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Light the Skies // Story: Dragoon Wars; Seven Lords Rising // by Crystalis McCloud //------------------------------// Hard azure eyes narrowed, peering past the semi- obscuring coverage of a heavy metal helm. The wearer's head darted from side to side, following the crackling flicker that shot through the skies beyond a luminous golden barrier. Each flicker was followed by a crack of lightning from another direction, bolts splashing along the shimmering surface. Damn, this dragon was fast. Even Flash's keen eyes could barely keep up with it. Even though its body glowed with bright violet arcs of lightning it was difficult to follow. The heavy helmet covering half of his face and line of sight really did not help either. Flash was pulled out of his frustrated thoughts by a pained groan behind him. His focus on the enemy shattered, and she was suddenly very much aware of the heavy weight of the charriot behind him, and the steady thumping of his wings, echoed by the fellow Royal Guard that hovered beside him. He grunted slightly, shifting the bar strapped to his side as he glanced over his shoulder. Sitting steadfast in the gilded chariot they flew was the tall, imposing figure of Princess Celestia. Her long horn lit with golden light, and her wings splayed wide behind her. The powerful appendages seemed to almost glow themselves in the light of her magic. However, her face did not mirror the majesty her posture would make one expect. Her brow was furrowed in exertion, lavender eyes leering beyond her veil as ragged gasps puffed from her muzzle. When a particularly loud and powerful bolt struck the barrier, her breath hitched in a sharp gasp. The very sight of their ruler in such a state brought a low spark of anger deep in the back of Flash's mind. Celestia's eyes clenched shut as she hissed out, ''Flash Sentry. Swift Seraphic.'' The guards' ears perked as they both looked to the princess, her eyes slowly opening. A splintering crack rang out as fractures began to spiderweb across the field around them. ''I can't hold this for much longer. It has taken all of my strength just to defend up from these attacks.'' She winced as another flurry of bolts struck one after another. ''When the Violet Dragon breaks through, it will be time for the two of you to act. Swift, I want you to protect me in my vulnerable state.'' The ivory guard beside Flash nodded, ''Yes, Princess.'' "And Flash Sentry..." "Yes, Your Majesty?" Flash answered. "You are officially relieved of your duties in my personal detail. As one of my chosen warriors, you are to engage the enemy at your discretion," Celestia commanded. Flash gulped audibly, a pit forming in his stomach. Fight a dragon that was about to break through a barrier forged by Celestia herself? Could he really do something like that? "But Princess," he objected, "How can I fight against a Lord and a Dragoon?! I knew it would be difficult when you said I would be fighting the White-Silver Dragon to become its Dragoon, but I won't stand a chance out there as I am now!" Still working hard to keep the spell going, Celestia shook her head. Pointing a hoof down to the ground far below, she directed Flash's gaze down to see a large plume of dust rising from the ground. Several magenta flashes strobed within, followed by a small dot of purple that was sent flipping out. Straining his eyes, Flash recognized the blur as none other than Princess Twilight, and as she skidded to a stop in the grass, he spotted the faint gleam of Casts on her hooves. She was fighting... amazingly. He knew alicorns were strong, but he hadn't expected to see the Princess fighting like this. As he watched on, somewhat slack-jawwed, Celestia explained, "I know my student well, and the last thing I ever wanted to do was force this battle on her. I told her and everypony else that I was selecting a candidate for the White-Silver Dragoon, but the truth is that I expected her to try to take that role for herself." Eyes wide, Flash turned his gaze back to Celestia. Confusion was evident on his face as she continued, "I had my reasons for picking you, Flash, and I want you to protect Princess Twilight and her friends to the best of your ability. This is the duty I entrust to you. The one I had planned for when I took you back from the Crystal Empire." Flash was undeniably concerned. Did he really have what it took to fulfill Celestia's expectations of him? He didn't have any time to think about it, as a violent sound of shattering glass filled his ears. The shield broke apart as an enormous triad of bolts struck from above, piercing the defence under their combined might. It was then that Flash felt a presence note above him. His eyes shot up to see Celestia's powerful frame flung over them. Her entire body was glowing with her golden aura. The lightning fell in a split second, colliding with the light and igniting in an explosion. Flash clenched his eyes shut, expecting to feel the force of the blast strike him, but nothing came. He only felt the rush of wind and smoke around him, his lungs starting to burn with every breath. He also felt much lighter, as the explosion ripped apart the charriot he and Swift had been carrying, yet when he opened his eyes he saw the two of them were unharmed. How shameful. He was a Royal Guard. He was supposed to protect the Princess, not the other way around. His heart sank even further when a ripple of the smoke moved between him and the ivory pegasus, giving way to the falling form of the Princess. A spark of anger coursed through him, and his gaze met Swift's across from him. The two of them shared a nod of understanding, and Flash felt his doubts fading away, replaced by absolute resolve. He didn't have time to doubt himself when his very destiny was being challenged. He was a protector. A guardian of others. He had sworn to defend others for all his life, and that was what he would do. Even if it cost him his life! The two pegasi moved in unison, shooting downward with a single beat of their wings. They plummeted out of the cloud of smoke just in time to see the small lightning dragon come up on the falling Celestia, charging a spell in its sparking claws. That spark of anger in Flash grew stronger. There was no way he was going to let this happen right in front of him. It was time to make good on the name his parents gave him. Bringing all of his focus to bare on Celestia and the dragon, he thought of nothing but his duty, his very nature. He would catch up with them! He accelerated faster, and faster still. He could feel the strain on his body as he approached his top speed at a rate that he hadn't pushed himself to in a long time. He caught up in an instant, flying right between the princess and the dragon. He would protect her. He would protect everypony! He could see the startled expression on the dragoness' face at the intrusion, then the anger that replaced it. She hissed and thrust a claw forward, releasing a blast of lightning. Instinct took complete control of Flash as he thrust a hoof in front of the bolt. He called forth the Carts that Celestia have him, the domed, egg-shell shape wrapping around the front of his hoof and traveling up his forearms to cover nearly the entire length. The lightning splashed off of the silvery surface of his trusted barrier cestus and coursed through his body. It stung all over, and his whole body tingled, but he could feel the power coursing through every part of his body. It felt different, stronger than natural lightning, but he would make it work. He HAD to make it work! He had to be quite fortunate to be facing the Lord of Lightning, out of any he could have faced. In less than the span of a second, he felt a familiar snapping feeling inside of him, and with a single flap of his wings, he had moved himself right in, almost nose to nose with the Violet Dragon. "What the-" Before she could react, he reared his forehoof back. The same violet sparks danced along the smooth surface of his cestus before he smashed it forward. He felt the weapon crush into the chest of the diminutive opponent, and focused as hard as he could in that instant. A shockwave formed as he discharged a large portion of the power he had absorbed. A loud burst rang out and the dragon was sent plummeting straight into the earth far below with a violent crash, sparks flickering out of the small crater. He heard the rush of air behind him as Swift moved as he was ordered, catching and protecting Celestia. Swift had that duty, and Flash had his. Dispersing his Casts to the innactive state, he bit and pulled at the straps of his armor, then grabbed the plated and threw them aside. Armor was important, but his opponent was fast, and he needed all the freedom he could get to keep up with her. His Casts would have to be his armor. The last piece coming off, he tossed aside his helm and flew in closer to the impact zone he'd sent the Violet Dragon into. He watched as the small dragon pulled herself out, clutching her chest and giving him a venemous glare through pained wincing.         “Who in the name of Soa are you?!” she coughed, zapping back up into the air.     He answered by lifting his forehooves up, activating his barrier cestus Casts in twin flashes of light. “Dragoon Candidate, Flash Sentry,” he declared, raising his hooves to guard himself. “And I won’t let you get away with attacking two of our beloved princesses, you scum!” "Dragoon Candidate, huh?" the electric dragoness spat. "Don't get cocky just because you caught me by surprise and got a lucky hit!" In an admittedly intimidating display, she clenched her claws and flared her tiny wings, electricity shooting from the wing tips and freezing for a second in the shape of much larger, more powerful wings. The boasting dragon cackled, "Well, Flash Sentry, I am Surge, the Lord of Lightning! Don't think the same thing will happen again! I have enough power to fry you to a crisp a thousand times over! Be sure to remember my name when I send you to the next world!" Flash readied his guard as Surge swept her tiny wings back, but felt his blood run cold as her gaze fell away from him, looking at the earth behind him. "Better yet, I'll send Celestia first!" she roared, rushing down and zipping only inches off of the ground. Lightning trailed behind her as she moved at a breakneck pace. "No!" Flash screamed, wings flaring wide and snapping down with an accompanying spark of lightning. Channeling every last remaining bit of the power he had taken into his wings, he reached his top speed in less than a second. Surge didn't even see him coming as he crashed his Cast down onto her from above, cracking and upheaving the earth as he smacked her down into the dirt again. He ground the smooth, bashing surface of his weapon into her back as his own momentum pressed down on her. She had to feel that one. Even his muscles and joints were screaming in protest at the sudden halt. He must not have done as much damage as he thought though, as before he could pull himself up, a huge current of electric force raced through his Cast and into his body. Such overwhelming power! It was all Flash could do to keep it contained in him and pour it into his wings as he flapped once more, shooting into the sky with excess lightning crackling painfully along his body. He couldn't let himself show that he was in pain though. The charge he could hold wasn't limitless, especially with Surge's lightning, which was more powerful and volatile than any he had felt before. He had to keep in control and make it seem like he had the advantage. Surge shot up from the crater in a streak of violet, leveling off in front of him. The leering intensity in her eyes was frightening, even with the faint trickle of blood falling from the corner of her mouth. Flash's body wanted to shake in fear and pain, but he kept steady with every ounce of willpower he possessed. Instead, he forced a cocky grin across his muzzle. "Nice try there, Surge, but thanks for the charge. It'll be fun using your own magic against you," he taunted. To demonstrate, he smashed the ends of his weapons together, releasing arcs of Surge's own power from one to the other. He had pushed too far. An unmistakable twitch and pained wince came out as the painful sparks danced across his body. A sadistic smirk replaced Surge's glare, "Oh? You sure surprised me, pony, I didn't think there was anyone in the world that could absorb my lightning and use it for themselves. I'll give you that much. You may actually be a fun opponent, but I can see that it's hurting you. You can't absorb as much power as I can put out, and it's tearing you apart already just trying!" Not good. He was found out. Flash really hoped that Swift was taking Celestia far out of sight right now. He didn't dare take his eyes from his enemy, lest he give her an opening to strike. Without his armor he was able to use his speed freely, but all it would take was one clean hit to cut him wide open. Thankfully, Surge seemed pretty cautious now too, and wasn't taking her eyes from him either. They stayed like that for a long while, hovering in place with light flaps of their wings as the sounds of other battles raged in the background. In fact, one of the battles sounded close. Really close. Right on top of- "Whoa!" Flash shouted, barely skirting to the side as a gleam of deep green shot past him from behind. The new arrival barrelled through the sky and was narrowly avoided by Surge before it came to a stop. Broad, powerful wings, the likes of which he had never seen, were spread wide and glowed with an ethereal teal light. The spherical orange gem set in the breastplate of the armor glinted in the faint traces of overcast morning light. As the figure righted itself, he saw it was a female griffon warrior wearing the Dragoon armor of the Jade Dragon. If he recalled what he had been told correctly, Jade's specialty was wind magic, not a good match-up for a pegasus. The pony fighting her had to be very good to be giving her such an evidently hard time. Said warrior arrived only a moment later, a rush of jettream nearly knocking Flash out of the sky as a pegasus mare with a bright cyan coat and a prismatic rainbow for a mane and tail stopped beside him. Along with a set of triangular Cast blades, she was wearing a strange shimmering cyan outfit that didn't have a single scratch on it, despite the small lacerations that covered every exposed part of her. The last thing he noticed was a faint rainbow glow that surrounded her, but began to fade away quickly. He had seen this mare before, when he had been in the Crystal Empire as part of Cadance's guard. She was Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty and one of Princess Twilight's friends. He didn't have time to be starstruck, even if he, and just about any guard he knew were ecstatic at the chance to see one of the famous ponies. Guards were strained to remain composed at all times. "Nice flying there, buddy," the mare chuckled, glancing over at him. "I don't know what you did, but you've gotta teach me how to do that someday." How could a day be so simultaneously horrible and amazing? On one hoof: griffons were attacking Equestria; Celestia was injured; and he was fighting for his life and that of countless others against a freaking dragon! On the other; he had never felt so exhilarated in his life; he was fighting harder than he ever had, and all for the sake of others, what he was born to do; and he was now fighting alongside an Element of Harmony, one of the most important ponies in the world! He reprimanded himself in the back of his head. He had to focus. "We can discuss that after we drive them out of our home," he answered back. He certainly wasn't trying to act cool or anything, but if he did by accident, he certainly wasn't going to complain. "You two should just give up now!" Surge growled. "No one can be match us one on one! It took an entire squadron of griffons to take me down and claim my Spirit!" Lightning danced along her barbs and blades as her body trembled. The snarl on her face only grew more vicious as she gathered a large amount of power and prepared to lunge forward. Flash felt his wings stiffen, crackling with lightning, and his hooves raised instinctively.  dddyyyyyy Before Surge could launch herself forward, her path was obstructed by the Jade Dragoon's battle scythe. The look of venomous frustration she shot to the griffon was downright terrifying. "Don't get in my way, Gilda! Princess or not, I will rip out your-!" "Shut up and listen!" Surge, and even Flash and Rainbow froze in shock and did just that. They listened through the roiling storm around them and heard a long, growing noise. nnnaaaaaaammmiiiiiiiicc! Gilda's eyes snapped wide open, and her wings swept down in an attempt to move. Before she could budge an inch, a rush of pink hurtled in from her side. A hard hind hoof struck her full in the side, followed by a jubilant scream of, "ENTRYYY!" The happy shout was followed by one of pain. The unfolding scene was borderline comical as a rather goofily posed pink mare with a poofy mane and tail in a dancer's dress high-kicked Gilda in a total blindside. Gilda was sent screaming in pain into an equally surprised Surge, knocking them down a long ways to the ground far below before they caught themselves. "Woo! That was fun!" the mare he recognized as another Element, Pinkie Pie, shouted. The energetic mare bounced and weaved through the air, accompanied by a rhythmic thumping sound. A closer look revealed that the Casts Pinkie wore had a rod running along them that spun rapidly, keeping the earth pony airborne. "How the hay-" "It's Pinkie Pie," Rainbow Dash stated simply. "Better to give up on making sense of her. Smarter ponies have tried and failed miserably." Despite the seeming seriousness of her tone, Flash could see a smirk spreading across her face as they watched the flambouyant pony weave through the air. The feeling was surprisingly infectious, and Flash soon felt a smile spread across his face, even as Gilda and Surge charged at Pinkie from below. She seemed blissfully unaware of the incoming enemies, and Flash was about to move to help her, but it was his turn to be stopped as Rainbow held a blade in front of him. Surge rocketed ahead in a streak of electricity, reaching Pinkie before Flash could object to being held at bay. Wrist blades raked through nothing but thin air as with a deft flip, Pinkie evaded. A moment later, a flourish of green shot up, and Gilda swept her scythe in a deadly arc. Again, Pinkie merely twirled to the side, narrowly avoiding the razor edge. Most stunning of all to Flash was that she dodged every blow with her eyes shut tight! Despite himself, Flash could still feel his smile getting wider, and the trembling in his overcharged limbs started to lessen. The griffon and dragon stopped high above and glared down at the seemingly blissfully unaware Pinkie Pie as she opened her eyes once more. With a joyful grin that seemed out of place in the middle of a battle, she stopped her aerial dance and waved up at the two of them. "Hiya there, grumpy Gilda! Nice to see you again! Though you really shouldn't be going around making my friends all pouty and sad when you stop by. You should try being nice and making ponies smile, like me!" Pinkie jabbered casually. "So this is the pink one, Gilda?" Surge hissed through clenched teeth. "I can see why she pisses you off so much." Pinkie tilted her head to the side a bit, her smile softening a bit. "Aww, I just wanted to make Dash's friend more welcome. I didn't want to upset her," she answered, absently tilting her body to the side just in time for a bolt of lightning that singed an end from her curly mane. Flash tried to fly forward to put himself between Pinkie and the attacks, every instinct screaming for him to protect, but still Rainbow held him back. "Grahhh! Why can't I hit you?! I should be stronger than this!" Surge screamed, her entire body sparking violently. "By the way, Gilda," Pinkie cheered, "congrats on becoming a Dragoon! You armor and wings and magic are sooo cool! I want some too! Pretty please?" A sneer passed over Gilda's beak as she and Surge flew higher and farther back. Their bright colors stood out as they silhouette of the griffon battleship loomed behind them. "You want some magic? Fine! We'll give you some!" she shouted down from above. An enormous feeling of dense magic gathering suddenly swept through the air as three swirling bands of glowing green light circled around Gilda. Within each band were dozens of luminous runes that orbitted her faster and faster as the magic in the air grew denser and denser. It wasn't just gathering from all around, it was also flowing in excess from the Jade Dragoon's body.  Floating alongside her, Surge's body was surrounded by deep violet bands of the same runic light. The magic was almost suffocating, and Flash felt his already labored breathing becoming heavier. Whatever Gilda and Surge were preparing, it was big. So why was Rainbow Dash still holding him back from helping? "Huh?" Pinkie merely blinked at the the enemy. "Oh! Silly-willy Gilda, I wasn't asking you!" she giggled. "What?" Gilda's brow twitched. As she hovered in place with her whirligig tonfas, Pinkie took an odd stance, holding one hoof pointed behind and below her, and letting the spinning weapon come to a halt. Her other hoof she held at an angle in front of her, keeping her afloat. When she was positioned, she shouted loud enough to give Princess Luna a run for her bits, "Gummy! Can I be a Dragoon? Pretty please?" A loud roar shook the skies in answer, and a huge gout of water shot from the earth below, striking right into Pinkie from behind, and right into her waiting hoof. The stream consumed her completely, but didn't do anything as it merely receded, leaving Pinkie dripping and sopping wet. Another roar followed immediately after, and Pinkie giggled, "Oh Gummy, you're such a silly dragon. Of course I can beat them, with Flashy and Dashy at my side!" Huh. When had Pinkie ever learned his name? Flash looked to Rainbow, hovering beside him, and saw an equal level of complete confusion on her face. "Why-" he opened his mouth to say. "What did I tell you?" Rainbow interrupted his question with a deadpan stare. "Umm... Don't question Pinkie Pie?" "Good boy," she beamed, patting his mane with the flat of her blade. Flash grumbled for a moment before protesting, "Well then why aren't we helping her? You can feel how strong those spells will be!" A mysterious smile spread across Rainbow's muzzle. "Yeah, each one is almost as powerful as a blast from the Elements of Harmony."  What?! How were they supposed to beat enemies that could put out that kind of power? "I don't know what you thought you were going to accomplish, Pinkie," Gilda shouted down from above. She began spinning her scythe in front of her rapidly, bringing the winds around her into a dense mass. Grasping her weapon in both armored claws, she raised the weapon over head. The rings of magic surrounding her and Surge vanished in unison, and the dragon hollowed suit by raising a clenched claw, the entire bladed appendage shining with countless arcs of lightning. "It doesn't matter anyway, because now you die!" Surge cackled. She opened her claw with a flash of dispersing energy and screamed, "Thunder Kid!" "Gaspless!" Gilda acted right after, swinging her scythe down to cut through the dense mass of winds, sending a trail of magic at an angle down just below Pinkie Pie. As a tornado began to form rise from the point the magic stopped, dozens of little lightning sparks began to rise around Pinkie. She was stuck in the center of two spells without any way out. Flash could only blink in utter confusion and soul tearing frustration. He hated not doing anything to protect others, and more than that he hated being prevented from doing so. Pointing his Casted hoof at the mare in imminent peril, he shouted, "That's your friend over there! She's going to die!" Rainbow Dash's smile only grew wider as the tornado enveloped her friend. Winds harsh enough to tear through flesh and bone had to be battering Pinkie from all sides, but still Rainbow didn't so much as budge. "You're completely right, Flash. And you also couldn't be more wrong," Dash said, a smug look on her face. "I trust Pinkie. She's one of the best friends I've ever had." The rising sparks of lightning flashed brightly, and one after another began firing bolt after powerful colt into the tornado. A growing violet ball of electricity built up, being the obscuring winds as they began to contract and pull together, forming a steadily smaller sphere of gale force death. "She's totally ridiculous. You'll never find a more confusing mare in all of Equestria, all just to make her friends smile. But she's not as ditzy and airheaded as she seems," she continued. "I trust that she knows what she is doing, because she'd never do anything to make her friends sad. She'd sooner make the impossible real than lose a smile." Flash watched in a mixture of frustration, horror, and awe as the sparks gathered above the sphere of winds, the electric glow in the center at its brightest. High above, Gilda swung her scythe back, the blade overlapped by an enormous blade of pure wind magic. Beside her, Surge slowly clenched her claws back together. The spells, cast in unison, then ended the same way. Surge snapped her claw shut, sending an enormous bolt crashing down from above. Gilda swung her scythe, releasing the enormous crescent blade of winds down, cleaving the sphere wide open. The wind magic shattered apart violently in the same instant that the huge bolt struck the nucleus of the sphere. The resulting flash of light, deafening explosion, and rush of wind from the dual spell pushed the two pegasi back with the intense force released. Flash didn't know how anypony could survive something like that, even with Dash's reassurance. Heck, despite her own words, even she looked a bit worried as she strained to see through the smoke. The rushing winds cleared the view quickly, and every fighter saw what remained at the center. A large crystal. Or rather, when Flash felt a shuddering of cold air on the tail end of the winds, he realized he was looking at a giant, diamond shaped piece of ice. And in that frozen container was Pinkie Pie, eyes closed, and holding an icey blue crystal sphere in her hooves, clasped tightly to her torso. Flash blinked once. Twice. Thrice in bewilderment. Then one last time as the seafoam color of the gem washed across the light dress Pinkie wore, replacing the dark pink shade it once had. Pinkie opened her eyes and looked up to Gilda and Surge, an excited intensity behind her gaze that replaced the simple cheer she had before. A broad smile spread across her muzzle as she called out, her voice traveling as though the ice wasn't even there, "You've attacked Ponyville just to get at Spike. You've hurt my friends. Made them frown. Made others cry." Gilda and Surge inched backwards, unable to grasp how their spells could have been stopped, until they saw the crystal she held. "The Blue-Sea Dragoon Spirit?!" Gilda growled. "When did she-" "Now it's my turn, Gildy-Gilda!" Pinkie shouted. Flinging her hooves out to her sides, blue light exploding from from the Dragoon Spirit, forcing large cracks to spiderweb across the surface of the ice. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Flash squinted against the blinding light refracting from the frozen prism. He muttered, dumbstruck, "Did she just become a Dragoon by asking pretty ple- oww!" Rainbow's elbow made painful contact with his ribs as she chuckled, "I told ya, she doesn't make any sense, but the last thing she was going to do was let something like that kill her. The Dragoon Spirit is a surprise though." "No kidding," Flash agreed. A loud crack followed his statement as the ice burst outward with another bright flash of magic. Wings wrapped tightly around her, she let out one last shout as the majestic, magical pinions stretched wide. She spun in place before facing Gilda and Surge in a battle posture. Her full transformation was on display as bits of shattered ice fell gently around her like winter snow. Her new form was as simultaneously terrifying and beautiful as Gilda's. From the powerful wings that seemed to be part of the very armor itself, to the flowing lines and markings that flowed across the light blue plates, guiding Flash's eyes to the green gemstone set in the center of the breastplate. Her Casts had also changed a bit too, the once blunt, metallic tonfa bars running along the sides of her hooves were now flat, razor sharp ice blades that led to pointed tips. But perhaps the most frightening was Pinkie herself. That look of excitement in her eyes had grown to the point that her blue eyes were practically glowing with what Flash could only call a battle fever. Her grin was wide and filled with mirth, as though this battle were the most exciting thing in the world to her. "Sorry Gilda, but I'm gonna have to beat you down and send you back to Griffonaria!" Pinkie hollered. Turning to look at the two pegasi, she giggled, "You with me, Dashy?" Flash could see the same energetic grin spreading across Rainbow Dash's face. She nodded and flitted over to Pinkie's side, holding up and crossing her own blades in front of her. "You bet I am, Pinkie. Let's show them that he they mess with Equestria, they have to deal with us!" Their optimism was infectious, and Flash was starting to really believe they could do this! With a Dragoon on their side now, they could win! There was no way he was going to just stand by either. "You with us, Flash?" Rainbow called out. These mares were really something else, weren't they? Then again, it only made sense that the Elements of Harmony would be some of the bravest, strongest ponies he had ever seen. They were supposed to be the most exceptional ponies in the world, after all. Even if he was out of his league though, he was going to fight. It was his mission, it was his nature, and for some reason right now he felt like he could do anything! "Yeah! My barrier cestus and I are at your service!" he shouted back. A zap from his wings brought him over to Pinkie's opposite side, letting the energy he still held crackle along his body painfully. It didn't matter how much it hurt, he would use this power. "One Dragoon won't make any difference!" Gilda jeered as she lowered into a ready stance. "We'll kill you all, take the Spirits, and dump your bodies at Celestia's hooves before we take her life as well!" Surge added, doing the same. The three glowing runic rings of a spell formed around Pinkie, spinning rapidly. She lifted a hoof straight up and started to shake uncontrollably. "Hahaha! Good luck trying! In five minutes it will all be over!" Only five minutes? Such confidence was certainly admirable, but also confusing. And what was with the shaking? Dash seemed a lot less confused. A knowing grin spread across her face as the spell built to a climax. "A doozey, huh?" "Doozey?" Flash echoed. Rather than answer, the rings around Pinkie dispersed into the air. Twirling her hoof over her head, a dozen huge chunks of ice started orbiting her, launching at Gilda and Surge with a thrust of her hoof and a shout, "Freezing Ring!" Like the fall of the starting flag in a race, the release of the spell signalled the beginning of the most intense battle of Flash's life. Not that he had a lot to compare to. He knew he was a good fighter, but since Equestria hadn't been to war in centuries, he had never fought to the death. Sparring matches, training in the Guard, and childhood scraps were the extent of his fighting experience. And nothing... nothing compared to this battle... this fight. The two groups rushed each other in the dark skies, Flash pulling ahead in a streak of lightning. His burst of speed was matched by Surge, who shattered and cut through Pinkie's icey magic, but not without her arms and blades being gloss over by a painful sheen of chilly ether. A loud boom followed shortly after, and Rainbow Dash shot ahead in the blink of an eye, leaving behind the spectral contrails of her Sonic Rainboom. The clash was fast and furious. Everything happened one instant after the other as when Dash would slash, Surge would dodge. Surge would move in, brandishing her claws, only for Flash to block it and take another painful charge into himself. A wide-sweeping scythe would descend on the pegasi from above, only for it to be knocked aside by a whirling tonfa blade, the other striking her back against her armored side. At any point Flash couldn't begin to say how much time had passed. He heard only the violent clamor of combat in his ears, saw only blurs of color and flashes of magic spells as they moved to and fro under the dense canopy of storm clouds. His only thoughts were to dodge, punch, block, and weave his way between and around ally and enemy alike. Whenever the enemy was about to strike down Pinkie or Dash, he was right there in a burst of lightning, his trusted shields meeting claw and blade. In turn, when he was in trouble, one the mares would protect him from what could have been fatal blows. It wasn't all perfect though. Cuts and gashes accumulated across his body. First one across his side, then two across his hind legs, more and more built up. The only one making any clean hits on their side was Pinkie Pie, but between Gilda's Dragoon armor and Surge's scales, not much headway was being made. Was all of their confidence for nothing? Even as he fought with everything he had, with every shot of electricity he felt ripple through his body, and every blow that smashed into his defences, he felt the pain and fatigue grow steadily greater. Rainbow seemed to be faring no better, her wounds steadily catching up with her. The one that was holding up best was Pinkie. Her energy seemed limitless, and at times he felt her fighting spirit was the only things keeping him going, like some post of push between his wings. It told him that he couldn't stop. Those five minutes felt like an eternity, but Pinkie's prediction rang true. Just before the moment came, the pink mare rammed headlong into Gilda and Surge, knocking them back with a hard buck and soaring up high. Stopping just below the dark clouds, she raised hooves glowing with azure light up to them. The clouds were gone. Just like that, they disappeared. Though the sky above seemed to be oddly wavy and shimmering. And suddenly very wet too. A huge wave of water crashed down on them all, drenching them to the bone. Pinkie shouted, "Light'em up, Twilight!" Princess Twilight? The fight was brought to an abrupt halt as a brilliant spire of white light shot up from the ground near the library. The luminous tower faded with the beating of large, powerful wings, giving way to Spike, fangs bared and eyes glowing with white light. Astride his glittering frame, standing on his back on her hind hooves was Princess Twilight, wearing opal white Dragoon armor. Her own wings unfurled, her eyes eclipsed with the same white light as Spike's. "Only one pony has ever been a Pinkie Sense doozey," Rainbow Dash laughed. "I knew she could do it. These guys are gonna be sorry now." "Damn it!" Gilda cursed. "Those bastards couldn't even kill a pathetic pony princ-" A glowing white arrow struck her in the breastplate, shattering on impact. The attack sent the griffon reeling back with a pained screech. The origin was Twilight, her Cast expanded into an elegant arch of light, forming a bow which already had another arrow at the ready. "Damn it, we failed," Surge spat. "His Majesty will not be happy with this." Holding the arrow drawn back and ready to fire, Twilight's voice reverberated through the air as she shouted in what was unmistakably the Royal Canterlot Voice, "I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, the White-Silver Dragoon! Princess Gilda, I demand that you take your warriors and leave our lands! If you don't... I will destroy every last one of you!"