//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6. 
// Story: A New Purpose 
// by Sparky Brony 
//------------------------------//

***Nick***

"Uhg, wha' happen?" I'm able to moan finally. I'm lying on my side, my burned wing, thankfully, isn't underneath me. But I hurt.

I hear a body shift, and I feel warmth, I slowly open my eyes, a purple wing is enfolding me, being very gentle with my wing, but I love the feeling of warmth.

"Twilight?"

She giggles, "In the flesh."

I look around, everything is still blurry, we are in a dimly lit cavern apparently, I can hear water dripping. It echoes, I swivel my ears around, I can't hear anything else. I try to lift my head.

"Oh, sweetie, don't do that. You are too injured."

I let my head down, I focus on Twilight. I smile at her, "Twilight, what happened?"

"We were overrun. I was able to get you, but Ponyville has been taken over."

This gets me to my hooves, "Our children!"

Her wing enfolds me in a hug, "They are fine, the other element bearers got them to safety. I think they are in the Griffon Kingdom."

I shake my head, then immediately regret that. Damn it hurt, "Who are they?"

She looks down and bites her lip, "They call themselves the Vore. They are from outside our world."

"Like I am?"

She looks confused for a moment, then smiles, "No. They are different."

I think for a moment, "Oh yeah, Princess Celestia already explained." I put a hoof to my head, "Ow, my head."

She chuckles, "I think I can help you with that, love."

I see a faint green aura and I am enfolded with magic, I feel my consciousness slipping, but more importantly, I feel the pain lessening. Ahh, that's nice.

***Twilight Sparkle***

I evade the hard swung blade and roll. My opponent shifts in response to the roll and attempts another strike. I can't get  a spell ready to stop it in time, so I use my wings to power me along the ground backwards. As I skid to a stop I go on the offensive. I swing my wing blade, to have it blocked, but I'm ready again with my other blade, but again, it's stopped with the ring of steel in the small clearing. Several fast strikes with both blades and I'm being driven back by my opponents superior skill. I have an edge in strength, being an alicorn, I have earth pony strength. But the pegasus' speed is overwhelming any advantage, along with her greater skill with the blades. 

She suddenly rushes me, her armored shoulder catching me and rolling me unceremoniously. I end up on my back, my wings splayed underneath me, the sharp steel ends up a hair's breadths from my neck. I look up at my opponent.

My opponent chuckles, "You can't rely on your advantages, Twilight. You have to look for the weakness of your opponent, and exploit it. What did I do there?"

I roll onto my hooves and regain my footing. I look down, "Cloud Kicker, I'm a novice at using the blades, you used my inexperience against me."

Once again, she chuckles, "Not just that, Twilight. In fact, you are getting pretty good with the blades so far. But you are keenly aware of your magic, even though it takes time and concentration to cast. You also think that your added strength is an advantage, it's not. With wing blades, speed is your friend. Just like everything is for a pegasus."

I look at the lilac colored mare, "Everything?"

She nods seriously, "Yes, Twilight. You know one of the fastest living pegasi, and you are in a herd with another pegasus, how can you not know this?"

I shake my head, "I don't know. I know that Rainbow Dash love speed, and Nick does too. But Nick is gentle and patient, he's not all about speed."

She smiles brightly, "You would be surprised Princess. Nick is able to hold back his natural impulses because he's in love with you. But he has the same desire for speed. How long can you be absorbed reading before he's out for a flight, or he's off doing something?"

I think back to the wonderful year with my stallion, "Not very long." I admit.

Again that chuckle, "He loves you Twilight, he's willing to move your preferred speed. Most of the time, but when you are occupied, he does things his speed. He kept his job, remember that?"

I sigh, "Yes, he wanted to keep his job when Princess Celestia asked him to do the Dragon Corps. I had to persuade him to take a leave of absence from the weather bureau so he could focus on what Princess Celestia asked of him. He does tend to keep busy."

"Just like all pegasi, when we aren't sleeping, we are moving. That is our nature."

"Even though he wasn't born a pegasus?"

A big smile, "But he's got the brain of a pegasus. He's got all the instincts. I dare say he wouldn't recognize himself as a human."

I look at Cloud, "Are you ready to go again?"

She smiles, "You know it. And remember, look for weakness in your opponent." She brings up her wing blades to a ready position. I leap forward in an attack.

***Rainbow Dash***

Who would have thought running the Wonderbolts would be so damned hard? I have a million things to keep track of, and every time somepony doesn't know what to do, they kick it up the chain of command, and who's at the top? Yeah, your friendly neighborhood Rainbow Dash. Ugh. Double Ugh.

The fold of my tent is pushed aside and a messenger pegasus. I take the parchment and scan it quickly. Damn. I look over at my friend, she's trying to get comfortable. But a month of directing the 7th Earth Ponies has taken a toll on her as well. She's barely staying awake. I know that feeling. 

"AJ."

She doesn't even twitch, she's out of it.

"AJ."

No response, she might actually be asleep. I smile and run a feather down her ear, causing it to twitch, nothing more. I finally tickle her nose with my feather.

An explosive sneeze from the earth pony, I have to laugh, and she gives me a dirty look. My levity shuts down like a closed valve. Things are going from bad… to worse. "Applejack. I've just gotten news."

"What is it Rainbow?"

"Baltimare."

She looks horrified, "Baltimare has been taken?"

I nod sadly.

"How are we going to stop them?"

I shake my head, "I don't know. The trouble is, these soldiers are stealing the magic from the ponies as we attack. Every unicorn attack has been a disaster."

"And the pegasi?"

"They have been able to fight to a standstill, but we still keep losing ground, and they flanked the forces trying to protect Baltimare. We are in serious trouble."

She joins me in looking down at the map, "How much of Equestria are they going to gobble up?"

I sigh. "I don't know, Applejack. But it's our job to give them indigestion. And we are going to do that."

She smiles at me, "I've got your back, Rainbow. Let's kick some ass."

This is going to be a long night, we need to take back a city, and soon. Otherwise all is lost.

***Lightning Dust***

"1st squadron, to me!" I shout out as I rise above the battlefield. A hundred forty four pegasi, twelve flights of twelve pegasi each are under my command. Each Wonderbolt has command of a squadron. The call ups of reserves has been very productive. This army consists mainly of pegasi and earth ponies. The unicorn squadrons have been decimated by the magic eating qualities of our enemies. We aren't even sure what their names are. They have no idea what the term surrender is. They fight until they are disabled or killed. And they are bleedin hard to kill. I'm in traditional pegasi armor, along with a set of wing blades. 

I inhale sharply, and holler with the kind of voice only a pegasus can belt out, "First through fourth flights, keep with me, fifth through twelfth, gather up as much cloud cover as you can, let's show them how ponies make war." I dive for the field. I feel a tingle of fear. Those ugly bastards have taken our cities. And there are so many of them!

I gesture to my first flight, the twelve pegasi flash down with me, slicing off legs, and wings, and cutting into the bodies of these bug like creatures. I fight for altitude so I can survey my part of the battlefield. The earth pony corps are starting to get into the mix, their halberds are really working hard. I think what strikes me most about this battlefield is how quiet it is. Ponies are screaming as they fight, screaming when they die. But these bugs don't make any noise at all. I take a quick glance to the west, some dark storm clouds are on the way. But there's no reason I can't help with that. I charge a quick bolt and throw it at the bugs.

My jaw drops as the bolt is absorbed without effect. I try a second bolt, to the same effect. Damn. I look at the incoming clouds, my bolts are magically based, those traditional bolts should be more effective. I've got one more ace in the hole. I charge my wing differently, loosing again, a brilliant green bolt arcs to the ground. And it's even more effective than I thought it would be, the bolt hits one of these bugs and arcs to its neighbors. Nearly a dozen of the bugs are shifted out of phase with time. I grin. 

"1st squadron, gain some air!" I shout as I flash forward. My pegasi scatter from being in the mix with the bugs. I am going to hit them where it hurts. I push a bolt at the bugs, opening a clear space. Slamming to the ground, I lay around me with bolts. Dozens of the bugs flash out of existence. 

"Dust, watch out!" One of my flight leaders screams, I toss a bolt behind me at the bug trying to sneak up on me. I hop into the air and clear another opening. Again I'm on the ground, tossing bolts around. My bolts are even more effective from the ground. One problem though, I'm panting, badly. I can feel my magical reserves draining with every bolt. One bug gets close enough to take a swipe at me, I have to stop throwing bolts to block its attack. I leap back and then bounce into the air. Damn, I'm exhausted. I fight for some altitude. I bank out of the way as my pegasi start bucking the clouds, sending hundreds of lightning bolts at the bugs. Thousands of them become smoking carcasses as the 7th Earth pony army pours through the lines we opened. I howl in delight. Their lines are crumbling. 

"Press them!" I shout, and the bolts redouble. I throw a few more of my time displacement bolts. Then I notice a few dozen of a new looking bug, they turn around and aim their rears at us. Oh, no. Something's wrong. Before I can shout a word, bolts strike up from the ground at us. I evade like a maniac. I'm panting harder, it's getting hard to stay in the air. Damn, I have to do something. They are straight up murdering the pegasi. I see over a dozen of my ponies dropping from the sky, some of their compatriots are angling to catch them. I hope they survive. I don't have much magic left, but I've got to end this. I charge up my wings as strongly as I can, and after several seconds, I blast out the bolt I was gathering. My eyes flutter closed as the bolt heads to the ground. I never see it strike. I feel my wings fold to my sides as I fall from the sky. As my consciousness fades I smile grimly, I took out as many as I could.

***Rainbow Dash***

Back in Canterlot after our last defeat. Though it wasn't a total rout, and we were able to keep most of our forces able to fight. Though we need to rest and resupply them. I trot down the halls of Canterlot castle. I'm looking for a specific pony. I finally knock on the door of my destination. After a moment of polite waiting, I push my way into the room. There's a pony there, she's sleeping apparently. Well, I'll fix that.

I poke the prone pony. Her eyes flutter, then finally open, when they do, she bolts upright.

"I'm alive?"

I smile at her, "Yes, Lightning Dust. You are alive, your second caught you as you were falling from the sky. What the hell possessed you to exhaust yourself so badly you fell from the sky?"

She slams back into the soft bed, her golden eyes full of tears, "I couldn't stop, Rainbow. They were overpowering the pegasi, my magic is all that could stop them, so I did."

I narrow my eyes at the Wonderbolt, "Yeah, and if your second hadn't had good enough reflexes to drop everything and catch you, then you would have been done right there, and your magic wouldn't have helped at all."

She glowers at me, "My magic did help, Rainbow. I took out a lot of those bugs."

I sigh, "I know you did, Lightning, but in the end, we didn't take back Baltimare, and in fact, we lost Vanhoover in the mean time. They are moving too damned fast."

She jerks at the news, "Vanhoover? Add in Baltimare," She chokes for a moment at the mention of her home town, "and Manehattan. What do they want?"

I shake my head, "I don't know. In fact, all we know is they are taking the magic from the ponies."

"Like Tirek?"

"Yes, like Tirek."

She looks thoughtful, "So, we have to stop them, no matter what." I nod. She shifts the covers on the bed, "I need to get up. We need to stop them."

I put a wing out, blocking her attempts to get to her hooves. She looks at me plaintively, "Rainbow Dash, I really need to get out there."

"I know, but we need to find out how your magic works, because those bolts not only stopped them, but they arced from bug to bug, each of your blasts took out quite a few bugs. And if they are vulnerable to your magic, maybe some unicorns can use similar magic to hopefully affect the outcomes of any future battles. We are developing a few other tricks, but we need to learn from our mistakes quickly, or all of Equestria will come under their rule."

She finally sits up on the bed, she unfolds a wing, letting a charge crackle among her feathers, "I don't really know how my magic works. When it was discovered that I could use magic to throw lightning bolts, I did that for a long time. Then one time, I got mad during a sparring match, and I fired a different type of bolt. Thank Celestia I missed my trainer, but what I hit disappeared. I was taken to a few mages, and I had to demonstrate the bolts time and again. And finally one was able to dredge what they were out of an old book."

I cock my head to the side, ears forward, "And they are?"

"Time displacement bolts."

I shake my head, "So you sent them on a time travel trip? That means they will be popping back sometime in the future?"

She smiles as she shakes her head, "No, Rainbow Dash, not time travel, time displacement."

"Huh?"

"Anything hit is then out of phase with time, with us. Imagine we are running along, I zap somepony with my bolt, and it puts them a few steps behind us, or in front of us. They can't speed up to catch up with us, they can't slow down to let us catch up. They won't ever be able to be in our phase of time ever again."

"So, the bugs you zapped are still alive?"

She shrugs her wings, "I don't know. If they are alive, they won't be for long, kind of hard to get food when your food is out of phase with you."

That gets a shudder from me, "So there's no coming back from that?"

She shakes her head, "No. But it's very draining on my magic. Because I'm a magic user pegasus, I've had to train to get my magical reserves greater than most pegasi. Since most pegasi use their magic without conscious direction, the only way they can exhaust their reserves is by flying too fast for too long. But you and I are speedsters, so we naturally have greater reserves than most pegasi, add in my training, I could keep flying longer than you ever could. But I'd be just as tired as you are at the end of it."

"Well, can you teach any unicorns how to use that magic?"

Again, she shrugs her wings, "I don't know. I'll certainly try."

***

Once again, I'm trotting with a purpose. Though I really don't want to go where I'm going this time. I turn the corner and I see the fact that Canterlot, in fact, all of Equestria is on a wartime footing. Both day and night guards are at the massive doors. I have to submit to a blood test to be allowed through the doors. But finally I'm allowed into the throne room. A throne room that looks more like a war room. Maps everywhere. So much guard brass that if I weren't wearing General's stars on my armor, I would be out of place. But I finally make it up to the Sun Princess.

"Princess Celestia, I just finished talking to Lightning Dust." I go on to explain to her what Lightning Dust told me, as best as I'm able to.

After I wind down, "So, she's willing to demonstrate her abilities to see if some other mages can do the same?"

I nod, and get a smile in return. "At least there is some good news."

We are interrupted by a loud noise from the balcony. I look over, and I find my wings extending in alarm. A massive dragon walks into the throne room. I take a moment to look, and I remember this dragon, Brygor, from our sortie over Manehattan. He trundles up to Celestia, and offers her a bow, in response she nods her head.

"Princess, with Nicholas captured, the Dragon corps wanted to disband, but I was able to persuade them that the threat is grave, and those that are taking your land might end up taking our nesting grounds. So, I've gotten some more dragons to join us, just over a thousand of us are ready to help, and the two dozen of the Dragon Corps are ready to search for Nicholas."

Princess Celestia is ever gracious to the dragon, she nods her head regally again, then speaks, "I am sorry to say, young Nicholas has passed. Princess Luna felt her connection snap. That being said…"

The dragon interrupts Celestia, "No, Princess. I may not know that pony well, but I am certain he is still breathing. A pony of that bravery doesn't just die on a little sortie like that, no matter how much of a disaster it became."

She looks at him for a long time, "I am glad to hear that you are still loyal to that pony. If you truly believe he is alive, then go ahead and search for him. But what do you wish of me?"

"Some pegasi, those that aren't ready to wet themselves when flying with a dragon. Those that are brave, and are willing to take orders from a dragon. This is to be a cooperation, and I think some pegasi should train with us, and fly with us. And when Nick returns, he will have a fully ready corps to lead."

Celestia looks at me, then back at the dragon, "I think some ponies can be found who would fit your requirements Master Brygor."

The dragon bows and takes his leave. Princess Celestia turns back to me, then levitates a pen and parchment. She scrawls out a letter, talking while she does so, "I must summon Princess Twilight. Time displacement, hmmm. She's worked with time magic before on multiple occasions. I'm certain she must be among those who are trained in Lightning Dust's unique magical abilities." She finishes off the letter and sends it in a burst of flame.

I continue updating the Princess on what I know when a response bearing the signature flame of Spike returns. Princess Celestia starts to read, then her eyes narrow as she continues reading. I feel the temperature of the room start to rise, and smoke smolders around the Princesses mane. She drops the letter and walks away without another word. I gather up the now singed piece of parchment.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Princess Twilight forbade me from contacting you about her actions. But she explicitly told me not to lie, so I can tell you now that you have asked directly for her. 

She's not here. She went to find Nick. She was very upset that you barred her from doing anything, so she decided to do it anyway. I am sorry for not informing you earlier, but I was under a magical seal from Princess Twilight that prevented me from telling you.

Sincerely,
Spike

Hoo, boy. This is going to be rich. I look up in time to see Princess Celestia coming back towards her throne. She slowly ascends the throne and her horn glows, and with a soft pop, Spike appears. He looks around in confusion, then he sees the Princess.

"I'm so sorry Princess, I would have told you, but Princess Twilight made it impossible for me to!" He cowers and covers his face in his hands.

Celestia speaks, but this isn't her normal voice, the weight of her thousands of years of leadership come through her voice, causing even me to tremble in fear, "Who else knows that Twilight has gone?"

The baby dragon cowers, "Only the other element bearers, Princess, except for Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They were gone when she said she was going to get Nick."

Celestia directs a glare at me, I back away, I didn't know anything about this. I haven't been talking to anypony in Ponyville since I left to take up control of the 1st Pegasi. Her mane is more than smoldering now. Flames are licking up and down her ethereal mane, starting to consume it. As I watch, her entire mane starts to glow with flames. Everypony in the room backs away from the enraged alicorn.

"If Princess Twilight can't follow instructions, perhaps her friends can tell me where she went." Once again her horn glows, and three ponies appear in front of her, Fluttershy takes one look at the Princess and cowers, Rarity puts a hoof to her heart in response to the sudden teleportation, and Pinkie Pie bounces up and down.

"Explain to me why Princess Twilight violated my orders to her?"

Pinkie Pie pipes up, "Because your orders were wrong, Princess." The fire that has replaced the Princesses mane flares brightly.

"What did you say?"

Pinkie Pie cocks a head to the side, "Princess Twilight loves Nick. She believes he's alive. She believes it so certainly that you were wrong to order her to stay."

"She's right, you know." A new voice intones. Coming from a midnight blue alicorn just entering the room from the Princesses study, "Dear Sister, Princess Twilight has as much authority as you, or I. You shouldn't have tried to order her around. She's long since proven that when she goes her own way, she can be unstoppable."

The flame snuff out immediately, though the alicorn of the day is still angry, "I told her to stay, that her time for fighting might come, but she needs to take care of her foals."

"A job I was doing until you popped me here." Pinkie Pie pipes up, and she doesn't wither at the angry glance she gets from Celestia.

Princess Luna smiles at Pinkie Pie and moves towards her sister, "Sister, Twilight knows what is best for her children, and I would think their father would be a good reason for her to go. She left her foals in capable hooves, there is a staff at her new castle, and Pinkie Pie here is very good with foals. Twilight knew what she was doing. You should trust her, my sister."

Princess Celestia finally turns to her sister, then looks at Pinkie Pie and Twilight's other friends, "I'm sorry for pulling you here so unexpectedly. Would you like me to transport you back? Or would you prefer the train?"

Only Pinkie Pie opts to be teleported back to Ponyville.

Celestia turns to her sister, "But sister, she is able to do time magic, which seems to be the key to defeating our foes. What am I to do? I need her."

Luna smiles, "We are working on some other ideas. We will find the way to stop these creatures. In the mean time, we have some of the best mages in Equestria here in Canterlot, let's find how many can be trained in the necessary magic."

Celestia growls again, "I am going to try to send a letter directly to Twilight, without her having Spike there, communication will be a lot harder. But I will try to send her a letter.

In a few minutes, a new piece of parchment is rolled, sealed, and flames take it away on its journey.