//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: WAR! // Story: Wrath of the Shadow General // by Black Kyurem //------------------------------// Things looked bleak for Twilight and her friends. They knew that Martinet was gloating instead of just unleashing his fury on them because if they tried anything, they'd be taken down in ten seconds flat. "Once Equestria belongs to me, I can do whatever I want!" declared Martinet. "The bronies and I will have all the power in the world to share and use it however we see fit! And if any of you dare to defy me and my regime, I will crush you into nothingness!" "We can't allow ourselves to stand for this!" said Celestia. "Are you sure, princess?" asked Martinet. "I don't have to destroy all of you... if you join me! You'll find that being a subordinate under my command and being alive will be much better than the suppression you bestowed to me and my people! I simply wish to rule Equestria the way I want! We bronies will be the supreme dominant force that controls this land! All I ask for in exchange is your cooperation. Do this for me and I will spare your lives." "You're lying!" accused Celestia. "I know what you plan to do! Anypony who isn't you or your people you will stamp out no matter what we do! You're a coward, Martinet! All you ever did growing up was seize power from the backs of others by intimidating them with nothing but your stature!" "HOW DARE YOU!!" "I'll die before I allow you to get away with this!" Celestia's words made Twilight gasp in horror. "Yes, princess, yes!" Martinet agreed. "You will DIE!!!!" Martinet raised his front hooves, preparing to strike first, but before he could, he was suddenly hit by a speeding force and knocked to the ground. It was an armored griffon, leading a pack of griffons that started to attack the bronies. The army from the Griffon Kingdom had arrived just in time! "The griffons are here!" exclaimed Rainbow Dash. But the griffons weren't alone. Princess Luna was leading an assault with her bat-pony guards all over Canterlot. While the guards struck with magic and weapons, Luna was also unleashing her powerful magic to defeat the enemy bronies. Celestia then fired off a wave of golden magic, restoring her own guards to normal so they could join the fight. Also, charging into Canterlot came the buffaloes from Appleloosa, led by Chief Thunderhooves and Little Strongheart, plowing through bronies left and right. "Come on, girls!" shouted Rainbow Dash. "Let's take 'em down!" So Twilight and her friends joined the fight against the bronies. Twilight fired bursts of magic, Applejack and Rarity used their rear hooves for kicking, Pinkie Pie fired rounds from her party cannon, and Rainbow Dash performed a Sonic Rainboom at a point blank range, right near a group of bronies. Even Spike fought a few bronies by breathing green fire at them and torching their fur. "Now is the time!" declared Celestia. "Twilight, let us summon the Changelings to fight for our side!" Both Celestia and Twilight got their horns glowing green and by opening a portal in the sky, the Changelings came swooping down and relentlessly attacked the bronies, trapping them with their green goo. Several Changelings transformed into perfect copies of Martinet, confusing bronies and gaining the upper hand. Queen Chrysalis herself took a shot at the real Martinet, clashing horns. "Nopony conquers Equestria but me!" she hissed. And finally, Captain Shining Armor arrived, leading the Crystal Pony guards. As they charged, Cadance entered the scene and the couple touched horns, lighting up and transforming into an embodiment of pure love. Their shockwave spread across Equestria, sending many of the bronies packing. After being hit by such a force, the bronies started to flee. "Cowards!!" Martinet bellowed furiously, still trying to hold off Chrysalis. "Get back here and fight! This is nothing! We will stand together until Equestria is ours! Until Equestria is mine!" But then he saw the shockwave of Shining Armor and Cadance coming straight for him. So he activated his own magic and surrounded himself in a powerful shield, throwing Chrysalis off of him and protecting himself completely from the shockwave. After the storm of love subsided, many of the bronies were down and out. Martinet's shield had been broken, but he had emerged unharmed. Chrysalis attempted to take another shot at Martinet by firing green magic from her horn, but when Martinet fired his own crimson red magic at Chrysalis, it easily overpowered her, taking her down for the count. "Imbecile!" he roared. "Changelings don't scare me! They are nothing but mindless imposters! Begone! Back where you came from!" With another flash of his magic, the Changelings were hurled up into the air and they vanished instantly, including Chrysalis. "Girls!" Twilight called to her friends. "We need to get the Elements of Harmony now!" Twilight and her friends dropped what they were doing and prepared to flee Canterlot. "NO!" bellowed Martinet. "NO YOU DON'T!!" His next magic trick raised himself aloft in the air, protected by a shield so nopony could hurt him while he was charging up. From up on high, Martinet released a stream of crimson red rays from his horn in several directions, hitting just about every single one of Celestia's allies and taking them down in the process. Chief Thunderhooves, Little Strongheart, Shining Armor, Cadance, Luna, and Twilight's friends were all struck down along with their armies. "Spike!" screeched Twilight. "Look out!" She tossed Spike off her back just in time before she and Celestia got hit by Martinet's magic rays and falling to the ground. Spike hurried over to check on his best friend. "Twilight?" he murmured, trying to shake her awake. Twilight groaned in pain and she couldn't move. "Twilight?!" Tears came to Spike's eyes. Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, Shadowstealth was escorting his daughter and the Cutie Mark Crusaders to the schoolhouse. And Cheerilee was happy to see Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo again. "Oh, my little darlings!" she cooed, hugging them all. "I missed you." "I'm sorry, Miss Cheerilee," Shadowstealth regretfully interrupted. "But this isn't a visit on good terms. I came to inform you of something serious." "What is it?" "Diamond Tiara has threatened to somehow seperate ponies with cutie marks from ponies without cutie marks." "What?! But that can't be! Even Diamond Tiara wouldn't dare to go that far!" "Yes, I myself find it hard to believe, but I have proof." Shadowstealth's horn glowed and projected an image of what had been seen when Diamond Tiara and her group came to the protected clubhouse. "Your only special talents are being the most useless fillies in all of Equestria! Everypony hates you! Blank flanks! You hear me?! Blank flanks! This isn't over yet! I'll see to it that you and the rest of your kind are thrown away with the garbage where you belong! You're nothing! And that's all you'll ever be!!" Cheerilee was horrified. "How... how could she..." She started to tear up. "Either she's been spared too long," suggested Shadowstealth. "Or it's possible that she might be under some kind of influence." "I hope it's the latter," said Cheerilee. "I just can't stomach even Diamond Tiara deliberately wanting to harm other ponies." "I will inform Filthy Rich immediately," said Shadowstealth. "These fillies are sticking with me so I can protect them. Diamond Tiara could be anywhere, so I fear they might not be safe walking alone. Miss Cheerilee, Diamond Tiara is dangerous. We must be prepared to do whatever it takes should the worst be realized. Are you willing to do so?" Cheerilee shed a single tear. "Yes," she said decisively. "Whatever it takes, this all has to stop."