//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: The Battle of Cloudsdale // Story: Equestria Wars Episode I: Fall of the New Lunar Republic // by sonicdash123 //------------------------------// Everyone has gathered inside the mission briefing room now that Charming Thunder has made a discovery on a location of the Shadowbolt base. Pilots who have been trained by Cheerilee have also came to the briefing to see what Charming Thunder plans. He then entered the room with Celestia and the briefing has started. "You all have gathered here because I discovered the location of our next target," he said as he pressed a button and the hologram projector revealed Cloudsdale. "Thanks to the intel from Spitfire and Soarin, we can make our first strike to the Shadowbolts and capture Rainbow Dash. But most important of all...I have learned that they are planning to make a desperate attack on Ponyville." Everyone was shocked at this situation. "Now, our mission is simple. I will land at Cloudsdale to find Rainbow Dash while the fleet holds of the enemy fleet. Once I find Rainbow Dash, I will request a shuttle to get her to safety and delivered to Ponyville. Once we get back to Ponyville, I will use my memory spell just as I used it on Applejack. Good luck." When the briefing was over, the pilots headed to their ships to fly to their assigned capital ship so that they can travel to Cloudsdale and be ready to deploy for battle. --------------------- Aboard Charming Thunder's Venator Star Destroyer, he was at the bridge as the engineers were at the controls plotting a course to Cloudsdale. "Permission to come aboard?" Octavia asked. Charming Thunder turned to her and replied, "Permission granted." She then walked to his side with a little worry. "I'm just concerned about something." "And whats that?" "How are you going to walk on clouds?" "I'm going to use a speel to allow me to walk in Cloudsdale. Twilight taught it to me." "Coordinates are set, sir," an engineer said. "Good. Move forward." Four Venators and nine Acclamators started to set their course to Cloudsdale. --------------------- Rainbow Dash was in her office now that she has become captain of the Shadowbolts. She was disappointed that Spitfire and Soarin left the team. She sat in her chair going over paperwork that was scattered across her desk. She then heard an alarm being triggered as a sign that something is coming. The door then slammed open as one of the members of the Shadowbolt squadron entered the office. "Captain," she said. "We are under attack. Its the rebels." Rainbow Dash got up from her seat and said, "Tell all pilots to take off and attack." "But what about you, ma'am?" "I'll stay here. They might be coming for me." She grabbed her blaster pistol and placed it in the holster. --------------------- Fighters are now being deployed from the Venators and are now pushing forward to Cloudsdale. Charming Thunder was in front of the squadron as he is being escorted by two V-19 Torrent fighters. Once Charming Thunder found a landing platform, the two fighters escorting him broke off and headed to battle. He exited the cockpit and entered the building where Rainbow Dash is. Meanwhile at the skies of Cloudsdale, ARC-170 starfighter squadrons started attacking the Shadowbolt squadron. Their fighters were similar to the ARC-170 but different. Turbo laser towers have been firing down fighters from the surface of Cloudsdale. Fighters have been blown up by the enemy squadron. Hopefully they will buy enough time for Charming Thunder to capture Rainbow Dash. --------------------- Rainbow Dash was staring at the action that was outside of the window. She suddenly heard a breathing sound coming from inside the office. She turned to the left then the right and then straight to come face to face with the dark figure. "So. You have come for me eh?" Rainbow Dash asked with a sinister grin. "Yes," Charming Thunder replied. Rainbow slowly reached for her blaster as she asked, "How is Scootaloo?" He then reached for his lightsaber on his belt and answered, "She is worried about you." "Why? Is it because I betrayed Princess Celestia!?" She then threw out her blaster and started to blast him. But Charming Thunder activated his lightsaber and blocked the bolts. One of the blaster bolts hit Rainbow's hoof and she dropped the blaster. She then fell to the floor with her hoof in pain. He then walked to the downed Rainbow Dash and grabbed her by the neck. "Ack! Why are you doing this?" "It is the only way to stop Luna from taking over Equestria." "You think you've won? You still have Shining Armor to take care of. Including Twilight Sparkle." When Charming Thunder heard the name he punched her in the face to knock her out. Charming Thunder placed Rainbow Dash on his back as he took out his communicator to contact Octavia and said, "Octavia, send in a shuttle. The target has been found. I repeat, the target has been found. --------------------- A shuttle flew out of the star destroyers hangar and flew to the coordinates that was placed by Charming Thunder. The shuttle folded its wings like a butterfly and landed next to Charming Thunder's ship. The ramp to shuttle opened as two pegasi flew towards him lifting Rainbow off of his back. "Make sure that she is tied up," Charming Thunder said. "We don't want her to fly to Canterlot to warn Luna." "Yes, sir," said one of the pegasi and saluted him. They both then went to shuttle and started to take off. Charming Thunder went to his ship and followed the shuttle as cover. "All forces retreat," Charming Thunder said to his communicator in his ship. The Shadowbolt squadron has been defeated and has started to head to Canterlot. The Venators and Acclamators then plotted a course back to Ponyville to wrap things up with Rainbow Dash.