Her beautiful Empire: under attack once more.
Far past the Spire's windows, more of these flying machinations, these "jets", punched through Shining Armor's spell. These things had ponies inside driving them, but so far she saw them as destructive harpies without souls. They were ugly in their design, and ugly in their purpose. Their machine guns riddled homes and businesses, and their bombs ignited crops and parks. These things would normally cause a pony to cower. Rarity would not blame them if they turned tail and run.
As the fires of war raged on, she did not expect to see something beautiful transpire before her eyes. Her ponies, who had not long ago celebrated the recapture of their Empire from Blueblood, stood firm against the invaders. The Magic Corps teleported in formation on various roofs of the city firing their burning magic, while on the streets the Geosense Corps launched their crushing boulders high up in the sky. Lords and ladies alike opened up their mansions as shelters and welcomed refugees. Even little children ran to and fro to help move supplies and directing evacuees. The downed pilots who had ejected were promptly captured, but they were not beaten thoroughly in the process.
She had seen such beauty in the warm smiles of her stepmother and her new albeit soon-to-be stepfather. Even as the castle trembled from the aerial explosions, they kept their stance, their mutual fondness, and their love for another. Rarity did feel sorry for her other stepfather, Lord Umbra, who often had been misunderstood due to his fearsome appearance, but even he found calmness and his burdens lifted when his ex-wife found true love.
"Rares, are you comin'?" asked Applejack.
The orange pony stood with Twilight, Sunny, Spike, and the other two Element bearers on the circular snowflake engraving that was the magic elevator's platform. She acknowledged that she was an Element Bearer of Empowerment, but to leave so soon? What about her clothes? Or her sister?
"Diamond Princess," said Umbra, "daughter of Queen Pearl; there is still so much more for you to give."
Her mother's words in her vision uttered through Umbra's lips made her shed a nostalgic tear, but nevertheless it was that of happiness. The Crystal Empire was already shining its brightest. Now she had to spread that brightness to the rest of the world.
"Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear," stuttered Rarity. "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. My first journey to the outside world, but it appears I have reached a conundrum. Applejack told me to pack light, but I can't decide which one of my light colors I should bring."
"I don't think that's what she meant about packing 'light'," Sweetie Belle explained as she watched her sister sprint back and forth between the multitude of dressing rooms and closets. Another explosion rocked the castle, and another jet had been downed. This one was closer than the last.
"How can you say that?" asked Rarity. "I have been chosen by the Element of Empowerment to act as an emissary for the Crystal Empire. We can't have Gaea or Pegasopolis think we're a bunch of backwater ponies."
"I also don't think they'll be worried too much about it."
"They must. If the world is such an ugly place, then it is my duty as the Diamond Princess to beautify it with all I have."
"Maybe you can just bring your sewing kit and make new clothes while you're out there."
"You know, that might work. North Star! Maxie! Unpack those seven bags and pack in instead my sewing machine, a thousand sewing needles, my diamond shaped pincushion, and one hundred feet of all my fabric color rolls."
"All kinds?" asked North Star.
"All of them! And that should be all."
"Awesome!" cried Sweetie Belle as another explosion shook the castle. "I'm already packed so we can go now."
"Sweetie Belle, have you lost your mind? You can't come."
"Sis, I wanna go see the outside world too!"
"But it's a dangerous place out there."
"It's dangerous here too!" Another explosion shook the castle, and the flaming wreckage of a Black Dahlia jet passed by outside the nearest window.
"Sweetie Belle, I'm going to Pegasopolis, a floating nation of pegasi warriors who are said to be faster than the fastest of all our spellcasters. They are the only nation right now that can challenge Gaea, and you've seen what the Gaeans are capable of. You must stay here, little sister. Your stepmother and her new beau will help protect you."
"But you're taking the cat."
"Don't start. You know you can't take care of Opalescence properly. Maybe not as properly as Fluttershy, but that's not the point. Please, you must stay behind for me. I will come back for you."
"Oh, okay."
"Now before I part, we have to do our secret hoofshake."
"Do we have to?"
"We must do it in honor of our mother."
"Oh, all right. Sunshine, sunshine…"
"Ladybugs awake…"
"Clap your hooves and…"
"Do a little shake!"
The sister princesses shared a short giggle before Rarity trotted off with North Star magically and physically towing her mountain of luggage. Sweetie Belle was assigned to the care of the cream-colored unicorn maidservant Maxie, one of many adults sworn to protect the petite princess. At least Sweetie Belle would not be alone. Apple Bloom would also stay behind under the care of the two bounty hunter mares.
Outside, Spike bowed upon Rarity's emergence into the grand hallways. The poor thing had bravely suffered numerous scratches and bites in his attempt to put Opalescence into her carrying cage, and the mummy-like bandages all over his body were testament of his devotion. He was in better shape compared to other ponies who attempted to handle the royal feline. One time, Opal had lobbed off a lock of Sweetie's pink and purple mane with steel claws.
Royal Guards rushed back and forth about the halls to deliver supplies and relay orders, and each one made time, whether they were wounded or not, to stop and bow as the Diamond Princess and her entourage passed by. Rarity felt no rush to speed up her stroll down to the underground exits. She did not want to upset Opalescence who was being carried in her cage by Spike, and she did not want to burden North Star any further as she struggled to haul and balance her tower of luggage with nary a protest. Explosions might be deafening the outside sky, but it was no excuse to not act ladylike.
The northwestern and the southwestern legs of the castle had secret underground entrances that converged into a single subterranean pathway shooting westward to the outskirts of Underton. Here, it didn't appear too secret, for already waiting at the path's entrance were two pony-drawn carriages: the first for the passengers, and the second for the luggage. The floor had been lined with finest red wool carpet, and the walls had a line of wrought iron torch holders and all the portraits of all the previous monarchs. Rarity and her biological parents sometimes held parties here, and she had heard that King Magnum and Queen Pearl hosted one of the longest six-legged hoof race for all the nobles.
It was almost a half-hour's journey down the furnished underground path, and the booming explosions from above did nothing to slow down the two carriages' pace. Once they arrived at the end, Rarity, Spike, and North Star had to go on hoof again since the carriages were unable to fit up through the stairwell leading towards the secret trap door. Past the door, the Diamond Princess led her entourage into a criminally plain and non-descript fabric warehouse, and almost immediately she rushed her companions outside into the chaos of war. The metal bombs continued their vain attempt to annihilate the geodesic spell protecting the Empire, and the loathsome Black Dahlia jets punched into the Empire's airspace only to be magically shot down a few seconds afterwards. Buildings all around her lay in smoldering ruins, and yet she witnessed no death and desperation thus far.
It was not too far to their transports that were between Underton's town limits and the barrier's edge, but again she felt no need to rush. Her friends who waited for her felt differently. They appeared haggard with messy manes and messy coats. The three crystal sleighs and the six equine-like Quartz Sentinels pulling them remained intact on a smooth dirt patch. Off towards the sides, piles upon piles of potentially offensive, if not hideous armor designs of the Gaean Clone invaders lay strewn about, and a few of the captured enemies were knocked out and placed in a wheeled crystal cage ready to be shipped out to the prisons when full.
"Dear me," said Rarity upon seeing her friends. "Have none of you found the time to style your hair?"
"We've been fightin' off the jets and Clones, thank you very much," replied Applejack. "Where have you been? And didn't I tell ya to pack light?"
"Of course I did! I brought rolls and rolls of light-colored fabrics."
"Never mind! Twilight here figured to leave one empty for your stuff, and I ain't sure it all gonna fit."
"You underestimate me, my dear Applejack. I can fit the equivalent of the Empire's entire wardrobe collection in one of my many closets, but I will require some assistance in loading all this in. Twilight, please be a dear and lend me a helping hoof."
"Oh, for the love of--"
The bullets from the descending Clone Paratroopers had cut off the orange pony's words. Now her mouth gripped the Sword of Truth, and her slashes turned the faceless invaders into magic dust that streamed through air and out of the protection of the Empire's magical barrier. Pinkie Pie provided air support by using her Pinkie Gear to launch herself off of various makeshift ramps made from ruined buildings and fallen debris. Fluttershy protected the Quartz Sentinels and the crystal sleighs by pinning the Butterfly Stars on each of them. The Butterfly Stars pinned on the enemy caused them to implode or explode when any of them directly attacked its targets.
Rarity knew Twilight was the perfect mare for the job for constructing the luggage into a color-coordinated obelisk. When she completed, an incoming jet distracted her and then she galloped off to shoot it down. That was a perfect time for Rarity to use her Element to enhance the stability of her personal belongings. She gave her stack a firm push that was met with sturdy and satisfying resistance.
"Yoo-hoo!" she cried out. "I'm all finished!"
"'Bout time!" remarked Applejack. She slew another one of those ugly-armored Clone Soldiers before packing herself beside in the nearest sleigh along with Fluttershy, Gummy, and Winona. Twilight, Sunny, and Owlowiscious boarded their sleigh, and Rarity waited for Spike to carry Opalescence in as he slotted himself between two velveteen trunks. The Diamond Princess noticed her maidservant North Star preparing to board too, but with a heavy heart she gestured out her white hoof to stop her from taking another step.
"My lady, you know I cannot abandon you," said the maidservant. "It was your late mother's' dying decree that I honor her by watching over you."
"I am so terribly sorry," said Rarity, "but I do not wish for you to follow me into a dangerous journey."
"I will go through the fires of Tartarus for you, my lady."
"Lady North Star, I relieve you of your duties to serve me until my return. For the time being, please assist Lady Maxie in supervising Princess Sweetie Belle's growth."
"As you wish... milady."
Plainly, Rarity sensed her maidservant's disapproval in her voice and the in the choppiness of her bow. Regardless, a Royal Order had to be obeyed, even if it would deny her the honor of serving her. Rarity did feel bad at letting her go like this. After Queen Pearl's death, she had been like a friend, an older sister, and a surrogate mother. She would hug her, but the distance between servant and mistress could only afford Rarity a kiss on her hoof from North Star.
"Aw, Northy's not coming with us?" Pinkie asked.
North Star almost shrieked when the Pinkie had popped up right beside her. She did tense up, and stood looking and not looking at the pink earth pony while stuttering tongues. Then to everypony's surprise but her, North Star gave Pinkie a hug. It was a peculiar hug, because she held Pinkie for a long while, and Rarity could have sworn she heard her moan or whimper. She only let go upon the rumblings of a nearby explosion, and she ran off leaving the pink pony very confused and almost catatonic. The normal Pinkie Pie would have jumped and did a backflip into the sleigh's seat next Rarity. Instead, she sluggishly settled in next to her.
"Darling, is there something wrong?"
"I dunno," said Pinkie. "I feel funny all of a sudden, but not ha-ha funny, and my heart won't stop beating for some reason."
"Is it your Pinkie Sense?"
"This isn't a Pinkie Sense I felt before. I mean, I feel happy about going on a new adventure, but I feel a little scared."
"I feel the same way about the little sister I am about to leave behind. I assure you, the Crystal Empire will not fall as long as its citizens stand up to oppression and invasion."
"I hope so."
"Cheer up, Pinkie Pie. We're going on a fabulous, if not exciting adventure, are we not?"
"Yes. Yes, we are! Onward!"
Pinkie Pie's resurging exuberance became the signal to summon three dozen Geosense Corps led by Aurea Laurea, Castle, and Quicksilver to the front. If she remembered Twilight's discussion correctly, the plan was to have Shining Armor and Cadence purposefully weaken the barrier spell's enough for the Magic Corps, led by Comet Tail, to cast a phase spell for Rarity and her friends' safe passage. Almost a minute had passed with them waiting for the perfect lull as the war in the skies raged on as jets and heli-copters surrounding the Crystal Castle en masse. A bright flash ignited from around the Crystal Castle, and immediately all of the invading aerial forces were shot down and their debris fell like fainting flies. The ponies found their lull.
"Magic Corps, fire now!" Comet cried.
The Magic Corps fired their phase spell at the magic barrier that caused a large rectangular portion to change into a lighter shade of magenta. The fifteen Geosense Corps ponies galloped and passed through, and less than a minute later the Quartz Sentinels shot out towing the sleighs behind them like the snap of whip. The passage through the barrier was hardly noticeable, and here the cold autumn breeze and endless snowfields greeted Rarity and her friends.
They had yet to escape the danger. Far ahead, the Gaean arctic Clone soldiers burst from the snow and rained explosions fired from mortar cannons, but it did nothing to slow down the advance of the convoy with Twilight and Sunny providing cover fire. About thirty Clones immediately arranged themselves in a firing line, but the Geosense Corps slid to a halt, dug their hooves deep into the snow, and raised a massive rock slab that flipped up to topple and smash upon the artificial ponies. Here, they dispersed to battle against incoming Clone reinforcements, shooting rocks like bullets against the invaders' actual bullets, and launching boulders to counter their mortar fire. They had already done their job clearing a path for Rarity and her friends, who sped on without stopping.
However, a fleet of gunmetal Gaean tanks threatened to halt their advance, and their dark turrets spun towards their general direction. Help for the heroines arrived when the beautifully carved Crystal Tanks, the very weapons the Empire's ponies were enslaved to build, burst from the snow and fired their magically charged shells at their fashion-deficient enemies. The trio of sleighs safely sped through the crossfire with no shell or bullet striking them. Even Rarity's luggage tower remained erect.
For a moment, the Diamond Princess saw the lead tank of the Empire's latest addition to the Royal Guard. On its back, a pole had been erected to wave the flag of the Empire. From one of the hatches, Bella of the Unicorn Hunters waved at the parting heroines, while Ingrid, with her towering anti-tank rifle rested on her shoulders intimidated a certain orange pony in one of the other sleighs with an arrogant smile.
The sisters and their tank immediately shrank from view right as the sleighs passed them. The skirmish in the snow now appeared as crackling embers, and in the distance the Crystal Empire remained magnificent until it faded in the haze of the afternoon light. The worry over her sister's safety lingered, but the last parting image of her steadfast home and the smiles of her fellow passengers--one adorable little dragon and a hyperactive pink pony--reassured her. The Diamond Princess conjured an embroidered handkerchief from her purse, and wistfully waved it towards the direction from whence she came.
Adieu, Crystal Empire. Adieu.