Sweetie smiled as she stared at the cowering ponies, locked in their cages with their horns tightly bound. The fire benders whimpered helplessly as they watched her, sitting as far as they could. “Easy, my little fiery darlings,” the princess said as she moved around. “I have no intentions of killing you, if you obey.”
“You might as well! You monster!” one pony yelled, though he quickly cowered as her gaze fell on him.
“There is no longer any need or desire for your kind in this world,” the princess said as she paced back and forth. “The sun has no place in our sky, only the moon. Now, we offer you acceptance into our nation. After a quick removal of your horn, an... albeit, painful operation, you will be tended to and cared for, until you can work in our colonies. Some of you I see already lack horns, and can be put to works as one of our subjects.”
“We'll never work for you! You're monsters!” a mare yelled out, though she quickly backed away as the unicorn's eyes turned to her.
“Monsters? No. We're merely the victors,” Sweetie said as her eyes glowed a dark purple. “We are strong, powerful. Your weak country now stands as little more than a few dozen uncaptured trembling cowards. The sun hasn't risen in days, and the countries have done nothing but shake in their homes. The Air Nomads are already almost completely demolished, with only a single mediocre force that remains. The only country that even holds a semblance of power anymore is the Earth Kingdom, and they can't even hope to fight off this force. Nothing can, or will save you. Before long you'll all fall to our side, and your precious avatar will fall by my hoof soon after. I'm merely being generous allowing you a chance to be on the winning side... whether you like it, or not.”
“We'll never join you, we'll fight until-” Suddenly the cage shook as a loud clang rang through the air. A pegasus laid on top, her eyes little swirls after her painful crash. After a few moments more pegasi crashed into the ground around them, eliciting startled shrieks from the camping ponies.
The princess looked up as blue streaks tore through the night, sending the Water Nation pegasi to the ground as they passed. “The wonderbolts? What are they...” her head turned to the right as her eyes widened. “Stop them, you fools!”
The powerful air benders flew in perfect V formation, Rainbow Dash leading the charge. The air shattered around them as the pegasi combined their bending into one massive arrow of wind. Their speed picked up as they flew, the blurs sending any pegasus that came close hurtling to the ground. Spikes of ice flew through the air at them, but they nimbly moved from side to side, covering each other with their bending. Finally, the air benders tore through the back of the camp, plunging in and out of the first air ship's balloon as their powerful current made the ships shake and tear at their anchors. The pegasi split into two smaller Vs, Rainbow's plunging through the balloons while the second tore through decks, bursts of slicing wind cutting through rigging. Within a matter of seconds the entirety of the air fleet crashed to the ground and the wonderbolts took to the sky and turned back the way they came, disappearing into the night.
------
“Total success!” Rainbow yelled as she landed on the opposite side of the forest, a smirk on her face. “All they have now are a bunch of pegasi.”
“Good,” Sapphire said as she looked over her forces. Three pirate ships were floating a few feet off the ground, her small force that she had arrived with, the avatar and her friends and then a dozen wonderbolts. “How large were their forces?”
“Massive,” Spitfire said as she shook her head. “Even in the sky we're outnumbered at least ten to one. On ground, likely a hundred or even a thousand to one. Possibly more. I've never seen a force so large. Worst of all, they have shadowbolts. We took them by surprise this time, but another such attack will fail.”
“Are you sure you took out all their ships?” Celestia asked.
“After that, they'll be lucky to use them as fire wood, let alone ships,” Rainbow said with a chuckle.
“How about the forest and the fire benders? How is their progress on that?” Twilight asked nervously.
“Not good...” Spitfire mumbled as she shook her head. “They had plenty of cages down there and I definitely saw ponies in them. The woods aren't holding up, they're tearing through them fast.”
“There's no telling how close they are to the village though,” Rainbow added quickly. “They're cutting blind. They could still be miles from it for all we know.”
“Unfortunately, it'll still be a few days before a proper force can arrive,” Sapphire grumbled. “Possibly longer with the lack of sun. Even then, with the forces we'll receive from Fillydelphia, we'll probably be out numbered if they are as numerous as you say. How about from Cloudsdale?”
“Our numbers are still fairly low,” Spitfire said with a sigh. “We're still recovering from the last hundred years. It'll probably take a few more days before we get a full force here as well, even then we'll likely be vastly outnumbered.”
“They'll likely launch their own attack soon,” Sapphire said as she gazed over the woods. “They can attack from the air, but that won't be an issue. But once they begin a ground assault, we'll be overrun.”
“Of course,” Twilight mumbled as she lightly prodded the ground. She looked to Celestia. “Well, you're a member of them, any plans?”
Sapphire hmphed, but didn't say a word as the elder unicorn began. “If their numbers are that vast, I'm afraid my initial plan won't work. At the moment, we must focus on defense and saving who we can. Draw as many, and defeat as many, as possible. Their only benders will be their unicorns, so we may have a chance if we can maintain our distance. Our first step must be to gain power over the skies.”
“As much as I hate to say it,” the commander growled. “She's right. These woods are the only thing stopping them from launching a full assault. The more air control we have, the more we can stall them and get your ponies out of there.”
“Speaking of,” Rainbow mumbled as she glanced to the sky. “More pegasi are coming. I can hear them.”
“Okay!” Sapphire got to her hooves and motioned towards the air. “They've readied a counter! I want a partial dome of stone and obstacles around the ships. If they want to dive at us or do their fancy flying, I want them to have a bad day,” she yelled as her soldiers got to work. “Air benders, keep near the ships until we see how many there are. It'll be your job to take down any stragglers or those that try to escape. Pirates, you'll-”
“Ah don't take orders from no fancy earth bender!” Steel Beard snapped as he spread his wings. “Come on, boys! We're gonna keep our ships safe. If any of those fancy fliers think they'll hurt our babies, they have another thing coming.”
The commander sighed before motioning to the air. “Very well. Avatar, air benders. Keep near the ships. I'll keep the ground forces handled and do what I can from here, I'll trust you to watch out for them and keep our few vehicles of air superiority from being destroyed. You!” she glanced to Rarity and Celestia. “Just... keep in the back and don't touch anything. We don't need any puddle splashers getting in our way.”
“Why you arrogant, foul mannered- mmf!” Rarity growled as her aunt wrapped a hoof around her neck and pulled her away.
“Very well, commander. As you wish. Come along, niece,” Celestia said as she dragged the mare back.
The sound of flapping wings soon filled the air as pegasi flew through the air from the east. The sound of their wings were like a hurricane, racing towards them at breakneck speeds. The ground forces quickly formed a curved shield in the front. Long, tall pillars of stone burst from the air to surround the ships. “Get ready!”
Twilight frowned as she heard the forces coming closer, but she couldn't make them out aside from stars occasionally being blocked. A small ball of flame gathered at the tip of her horn, before she sent it flying through the air and detonating like a firework. The pegasi scattered as the light finally illuminated their bodies. Dozens of pegasi were caught in the light of the blast, a fair distance from their camps torchlight. “Sapphire! I need something I can light, we need to be able to see them!”
“On it!” the earth bender yelled. After a few moments a massive pillar shot into the air, towering over the balloons. “Light 'er up!”
“I... err, okay!” the alicorn yelled as flames shot out from her horn and enveloped the pillar. Light soon spread out as small black stones within the pillar caught on fire. The pegasi tore around the pillars as her eyes widened. The first group charged forward as she, and the other air benders, took to the sky and created a powerful wall of wind to block them. The army didn't stop, crashing into it and being cast aside from the blast as more struggled through the powerful winds.
“Keep going!” Rainbow yelled as she flapped her wings as hard as she could. Her eyes widened and she twisted around. “Behind us!” she screamed as she turned around and sent a powerful blast towards their back. The shadowbolt dodged to the right around it, before charging into the blue pegasus. Before the speedster could react, the Water Nation stallion thrust a hoof to each side of the mare's wings. Rainbow let out a cry as her wings locked up and her bending ceased. She started to fall, but her front hooves gripped the shadowbolt as she went and drove him into the ship as they crashed. As the stallion laid, dazed, she drove her hooves into his face repeatedly until he went limp.
Rainbow quickly looked around, frowning as the others weren't fairing much better. A few wonderbolts had already fallen, but fortunately the comrades on the ship were helping. Unfortunately, their wings were being disabled. Already one of the ships were being attacked by the superior numbers of the pegasi, as its crew struggled to fight them off.
Then, the stars disappeared. A wall seemed to materialize out of nowhere, blocking the ship and most of the forces out, while trapping her, the crew, a few wonderbolts and some of the Water Nation ponies inside. Soarin suddenly slammed into the deck besides her, pinned by four non-shadowbolt pegasi. She charged in, tackling the closest into its comrade before turning and bucking another under the chin. The fallen wonderbolt quickly gripped and reversed positions with his remaining attacker as she charged the two who were still off balance. A few quick blows and they were down for the count.
The mare let out a cry as she was suddenly tackled from behind, a hoof striking against her back three times, as her hooves went limp. A second later the shadowbolt jumped away as a blade tried to cleave him in two, one of the pegasus pirates moving over her. “How yah holdin' up?” he hissed out around the weapon.
“Can't move,” she growled. “I don't know what they did, but my hooves and wings won't move.”
“Come on, yah buncha daisies! Time tah finish them off!” Steel Beard yelled as he charged forward, cutlass in hand. The night reappeared as the walls around the ship collapsed. Almost instantly the remaining forces of the Water Nation took to the air. Rainbow groaned as Soarin helped her to her hooves.
“Come on, let's get you looked at,” he said as he moved to consolidate her with the rest of their forces.
“This is not good,” Twilight whispered as she looked over the forces, many of who were being tended by Fluttershy and Spitfire.
“Seventeen of them, captured or dead,” Sapphire grumbled. “Meanwhile, we have over a third of our forces wounded, eight of the pirates killed, three of mine dead, and look,” she waved a hoof towards the ships. One was now crumbled to the ground, the wood shattered and balloon cut to pieces. “This was just their scouting force.”
“It's worse than that,” Soarin said as he trotted up. “Over two-thirds of our air benders have been disabled. We need to move, and fast. Another attack like that and we're dead. This night is only making things worse, we can't see any of them like this. The only good news is how many slammed into those stone pillars.”
Twilight sighed as she looked down. “Maybe we-”
“Okay, enough,” Sapphire snapped as she turned to the ships. “You, Steel Beard. Get your ships out of here. As it is, we can't afford to defend them again, but we do need them. Move them farther to the west and cover in the forest lands.”
“I don't take orders from no earth pony,” the griffon snapped.
“Then start,” she said as she looked around. “We need to move fast if we're to have any chance. Their air control is better, so we need to not be here when they return. You, water bender, you know their general plans of operation, correct?” she asked as she motioned to Celestia.
“Yes. They'll likely prepare a second assault now that our forces are known. Ground forces are probably already on the way,” the elder unicorn said gently. “What exactly is your plan?”
“Easy. We're not going to be here when they arrive. Soldiers, we're going underground!”
“Wait, we can't go under the forest!” Twilight exclaimed. “It's-”
“We won't be,” the commander snapped. “We're going to lay some traps. A full on fight against them is suicide, so we're not going to fight that way.” She glanced to the griffon. “Are you going or not? Do you want your ships to be torn limb from limb? Followed by you?”
Steel Beard turned and growled towards Celestia. “Pay better be worth it...”
------
“Your highness,” Shadowblade, leader of the shadowbolts, said as she bowed her head. “We grounded one of their ships, but the other two remained strong when we departed. However, their forces are weak. It shouldn't take more than a fraction of our forces to overwhelm them.”
“And the avatar? Was she with them?” Sweetie asked as she leaned over the tank.
The pony gulped as she slowly nodded. “In... indeed. However, one of the attack force noticed something else. It could be wrong, but they seemed quite certain.”
“Hm? What is it?” Sweetie asked with a mildly annoyed sigh.
“They believe they saw your sister, and your aunt. Gathered by the earth benders, they-”
“MY SISTER?!” the princess yelled as she jumped from the tank and gripped the pegasus around the neck. “Who? Where? Bring this pony to me immediately!”
The mare gulped, and nodded to one of the stallions, a non-shadowbolt. “I only saw her for a moment, but I saw two ponies who resembled them closely,” the stallion mumbled with a blush. “I only recognized them due to their white coats standing out so well in the night, and I used to see pictures of them when I was... younger...”
Sweetie just stared as a massive grin formed across her lips. “Of course. My sister is here to revel in my triumph! I should have known! She-”
“Might be working with the avatar,” Shadowblade said.
The young unicorn frowned, before backhoofing the other mare across the face. “My sister is OBVIOUSLY trying to trick the avatar into lowering her guard. I will not have any pony speaking ill of her loyalty, do I make myself clear?”
The pegasus quickly nodded her head. “O-of course. My apologies. Shall I gather another force to attack?”
“Oh, no no no. If my aunt is with them, they'll be expecting that...” the mare rubbed her hooves together. “Shadowbolts, I want all of you gathered. You are to track them down and, if the opportunity presents itself, capture my sister.” She paused for a moment. “I suppose, capture the avatar as well.”
“Of... of course, your highness. We'll leave immediately,” the pegasus said as she turned and took to the sky.
“Your highness? What would you like us to do?” Caballeron asked nervously.
“Isn't it obvious?” she asked with a roll of her eyes. “Prepare the other pegasi for their own assaults. Surround the forest as best you can. Earth ponies and benders are to continue cutting through those trees. If they don't manage to capture those two, well... we'll force them out.”
“Of course,” the stallion said with a bow of his head before turning to leave.
“Mwa ha ha ha ha,” Sweetie laughed with delight.
“See, I told you she'd do the laugh. You owe me three bits,” Scootaloo said with a chuckle.
“Ah, that's not fair! We didn't know her sis was gonna be here!” Flowerbloom whined.
“Too bad, so sad,” the pegasus said as she held out a hoof.
“You two do realize I can hear you, right?” Sweetie snapped.
“Eeyup,” the earth pony said as she dropped the bits in her friends hooves. “Double or nothing? Bet she squeals Rarity's name when we she her.”
“You're on!”
“Ughhhhhh!” the unicorn groaned with a roll of her eyes as she trotted away.
------
“Avatar!” a voice rang out through the night, catching the alicorn by surprise. She turned towards the sound, but all she could see were trees.
“Errr, hello?” she asked softly as she stepped closer. “Are... are you the spirit of the forest?”
“... No,” a-red coated pony said as she slowly stepped from the trees, her blue mane blowing in the night's breeze. “I don't know if you re-”
“Ashmane!” the alicorn shrieked as she hugged the mare and nearly toppled her over. “You're okay!”
“Of... of course. We have been waiting for your appearance, ever since we heard of this impending attack,” the mare said as she looked towards the forest. “I can lead you back, but not so many at once.”
“Don't worry about leading us back,” Sapphire said quickly. “For now our main plan is extraction. Start sending your ponies here and we'll get them safe.”
“I... I see. I'm sorry to say that many have already been captured,” the mare said as she hung her head. “We heard of the impending attack from a... fire bender we thought long gone.”
“Colgate?” Rarity asked.
Every head whipped around to her. “What? I meet ponies sometimes! I don't just spend all my time chasing you around!” the princess objected.
“Err... I don't believe we've met so... anyway,” Ashmane nodded. “Colgate returned and warned us. We attempted to spy on them, but some of our scouts were captured. We've been holding in our small home, but they draw every closer. The forest fights them, but it cannot forever. It is only a matter of time before they have captured us all. Some have ran in fear, but I don't know if any escapes. Avatar, we need your help more than ever.”
Twilight nodded. “Of course. We'll work on evacuating everypony we can. Once that is finished, we'll free the captives. I give my word, I will not allow them to remain prisoners.”
“Good. I will bring whoever you decide, but they control the skies,” the earth pony said as she looked up. “Even now they could be watching us...”
“Don't worry. We have that settled,” Sapphire grinned. “Avatar, take one of my earth benders with you. When you return, they'll be able to find us no problem. Getting the entire batch of you fancy benders out will be no problem. This will all go sensationally!”
“Now hold on just one ah your fancy minutes,” Applejack snapped as she raised a hoof. “Ah didn't come all the way out here jus' tah sit around an' hide. If any pony is comin' with the avatar, it's me. 'Sides, ah can earth bend just as well as any ah your soldiers.”
Rarity gently prodded the ground. “I... I'm coming too! Not because I care or anything, but because I'm not letting you out of my sight until this is over,” she snapped at Twilight. “And I kinda wanna maybe just a little bit see if Colgate is okay. But mostly the keeping an eye on you thing!”
The avatar slowly nodded. “I... I see. Very well then. Commander,” she said as she looked to the sensational mare. “I believe I'll take Rainbow, Applejack and Rarity with me. Between the four of us, we should have enough information and skills to deal with anything the Water Nation may try. Fluttershy, Pinkie, Spike, please keep helping the hurt. Just focus on defenses and hiding, we'll find you as soon as we're out.”
Sapphire nodded. “Very well, then-”
“Oh!” the young princess said as she turned to the commander. “In case anything goes wrong, I must say this now,” she took a deep breath. “While I think you are quite rude, loud, and upsetting... I also think the outfit you're wearing is simply marvelous, though I do believe it could use a bit more sparkle. Have you considered adding a few more rubies to it? I think you'd look absolutely stunning!”
“Err, well, thank you. Um, well, I do admit I've always considered something like that,” Sapphire said as she looked down at her outfit. “But the emperor tells me I shouldn't be so visible. As a-.”
“Nonsense! Why, with the right fabrics and jewels I could make you an outfit that... what?” she trailed off as the other ponies just stared at her.
Twilight shook her head. “Nothing... let's just go. Come on.”
Rarity sighed and slowly trotted after them, pouting a little. “I bet you could make the best dress!” Spike said quickly.
The princess smiled and gave him a small pat on the head. “Thank you, darling.”
------
“They couldn't have just disappeared...” Shadowblade said as she looked around the empty fields. Not a single torch remained.
“Perhaps they retreated?” one of her soldiers offered.
“I hope not,” the pegasus mumbled as she slowly flew through the night, her wings silent. “If they did, her highness will be furious at the lost opportunity to capture her sister...”
“... Permission to speak freely?” the soldier asked again.
“Granted.”
“Are you sure we should even try to capture the banished princess? With all due respect, her highness seems to be flying in the face of Nightmare Moon's orders. If we do capture her and bring her back, won't that be returning her to the kingdom?”
“In a manner, yes,” the mare said with a nod. “However, Sweetie is the future ruler of this kingdom. If she wishes to capture and imprison her elder sister, then it is our duty to obey until told otherwise. And, if she wishes to capture both the avatar and her sister, allowing the dishonored princess to return... we will do whatever it takes to accomplish her goal. Even if it costs us our lives. Understand?”
“Of course, sir,” the stallion mumbled. “I did not mean to question your directions.” Slowly the shadowbolts landed in the grass, their hooves making barely a sound as they landed.
“I don't like this,” another mumbled.
“Keep quiet. If you feel anything, move,” Shadowblade whispered as she slowly walked. “Look for any hints of their direction, but keep in groups of three. They are all benders, so there is no telling where they could be.”
“Except in the air, right?” one asked with a snicker. “I really thought the wonderbolts would put up a better fight. Don't see how they- grk!” the mare fell silent as she found a hoof pressed to her throat.
“Never underestimate those benders,” the captain hissed. “We were created solely to counter them. There would be no need if they weren't a credible threat. We-” Her ears twitched as she froze. A moment later she took to the air, the others following after them. As they left the ground, it suddenly opened under them as lashes of dirt attempted to grip them, but they were already to far away. “Spread out and keep off the dirt. Don't allow them to strike and keep your positions quiet. Teams of three. Go,” she ordered as the pegasi nodded and then spread out, melding into the night.
------
“The forest hasn't changed much,” Ashmane said as she slowly lead them through the woods. “Though you four best keep close. With so many it is... quite easy to get lost.”
“It's a... mighty interestin' place yah got here,” Applejack mumbled as she slowly stepped around a quilled plant. “Never been licked by a flower before...”
“Just be thankful it only wanted a taste,” the other earth pony said with a sigh.
“How many ponies still remain?” Twilight asked nervously.
“Not enough. We can no longer raise the sun like this...” Ashmane said as she lowered her head. “We lack the power needed for such a difficult task. I am afraid that-”
“No. I didn't mean because of that,” the avatar said as she trotted after her. “I need to know how long it'll take to get every pony out of here. I have a new home for you. An impenetrable fortress, Fillydelphia. The emperor has agreed to allow all of you to stay there. Once we get every pony here out, we'll focus on the prisoners.”
“With proper cover, we could get every pony out in a few hours in small groups.”
“That won't work,” Rarity said quickly.
“But-” Twilight started.
“Just listen, avatar. The moment my sister catches wind of us escaping, that's it. These woods are huge, on hoof. The pegasi don't take that long to traverse them. If you start sliding ponies out of the forest, every pegasi in the army will descend on you like... like...”
“A psychotic unicorn bent on regaining her honor at any cost?” Rainbow offered with a smirk.
“... Yes,” Rarity grumbled as she looked to the alicorn. “We have two ships still, hiding. If we could get everypony to them, it would be easy to get them out. But, we need to distract their main force and... and then some if we want to rescue the prisoners.” She took a deep breath. “In order to have any chance we'll have to... oh gosh,” she face hoofed.
“What? What's wrong?”
“My... my aunt's plan. She was right, wouldn't work with this many numbers on their side but... oh by the stars,” she groaned as she leaned against the tree. “This might work, if I know anything about my sister, this might work. But oh by the heavens above it makes me sick just thinking about YOU doing it.”
“What? What is it? Tell me!” the alicorn squealed as she hopped a few feet. “Is it good? Is it bad? Can we use it to save every pony?”
“Ugh... we're going to need to get as many ponies out of here, as quick as we can. Would it be possible to get them all out?” Rarity asked Ashmane as she ignored the avatar. “If everypony left at once, together. Could we get them all out?”
“It... it would be quite dangerous. Large groups through these woods are-”
“Can it be done?” the unicorn interrupted.
“With... with difficulty, I suppose.”
“Yah gonna tell us what your fancy plan is before or after Twilight goes and lights your mane on fire?” Applejack asked with a snort.
The princess groaned and shook her head. “Easy. My sister wants me and you want your tribe back. I'm going to have to," the mare choked on the word, "b-be your... ugh... hostage.”
“Hah! That's awesome!” Rainbow added with a chuckle.