//------------------------------// // To Build An Army... // Story: My Little Musketeer! // by Appl3dashie //------------------------------// "Why are you here... Crystal..." Pearl said. "I'm letting you know that I was listening and watching the whole time!" she growled. "But I was going to beat you up but... I'm your sister. So I decided to help you." she grinned. "If she beats us up one more time... I'm gonna bake some scrumptious cupcakes!" Pinkie laughed. Twilight looked at her worriedly. I really don't like the sound of that... she thought. "So whats it like in heaven?" Crystal asked. Pearl explained what being in heaven is like. "So being ruled over by Sir Francis De Glados is awful." she sighed. "Listen I know your my sister and all but because your dead I can't make fun of you anymore. Anyway I remember your supposed to be Queen by now. Well... until Princess Silver is dead." "Well come on lets go storm into her lair and kick her flank out the window!" Rainbowdash said. "Well I'm coming." They all gasped. Except Twilight. "Why so shocked guys?" she trotted over and put her hoof around her neck. "We need all the help we can get." "And guess who I've got!" she cried. She clapped. Two ponies appeared from behind her. "Ahh... Hello DiamondCrown and greetings to you to Windswept." "Who are they?" Twilight asked. "My two highest earth ponies. But that isn't all... Presenting my two highest dragons!" One dragon flew down from a pillar hovering above Windswept. The other flew straight on top of DiamondCrown. "Okay the one above WindSwept is Genesisgem. the other FireWing." "Wow... but we're gonna need much more then these 4..." Pearl said. "Umm top two changelings?" She clapped again. Two changelings swooped down from the pillars as well. "Where does she even hide them?" Twilight whispered to Rainbowdash. "Beats me..." she replied. "This isFineIce." she pointed a claw at the changeling. "WHAT A BUNCH OF LOSERS!" he cried. "Keep it together FineIce... It'll all be over..." he hugged himself. "NO THE WAR WILL RAGE ON I MUST FIGHT!" he cried waving his hooves around. "But then I'll get killed. My body will die!" "He was hit by a bomb on the head during a war against Nightmare Moon. Unfortunately we didn't win but... he recovered fine." Crystal sighed claw palming. "RECOVER! RECOVER! RECOVER!" He shouted. "This is BlueDusk.". They looked at the cool looking changeling. "Darlings no need to stare. I'm already perfect and I'm one of the top changelings there is. Anyway I simply must give you some clothes to wear. And a brush in the mane... and some false eyelashes... And a fedora..." she pointed at Applejack. "Well I'll say I don't need a fancy hairdo or a so called 'fedora'." She snapped back. "Now now Applejack.." Rainbowdash nuzzled Applejack on the cheek. She blushed. "Okay everypony! And now the army!" She stomped her two front hooves. Nothing happened. "I SAID NOW THE ARMY!" Crystal yelled at the air. "That's our queue idiots!" Grumbled a voice. "Right sorry!" called another. Around 40 ponies ran up. It was a mixture of ponies,gryphons, changelings and batponies. "Here is the army. Chief Pastel." Crystal bowed politely. "Thank you." she stared at the others. Twilight felt her eyes piercing her soul. "Well well well... Lookie here..." she marched around the girls. "Y-you don't have a cutie mark...." Twilight said. Crystal signaled for her to stop it but Pastel seemed fine. "Never earned it. Now no more questions. Time to find out what to do and when!" She said. "Well..." Twilight explained how Princess Silver must be killed to restore Pearls rightful throne. "Interesting... but Crystal's army isn't enough. We're gonna need way more ponies then you've ever imagined." Pastel sharply spoke. "Aha! But that's we're Pearl's crew comes in." Twilight grinned. It didn't take long before they were all standing in front of Pearl's ship. "HURRY UP AND GET THAT CRATE ON BOARD WE ARE LEAVING AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU IDIOTS SAY!" Quill yelled. "Get it in batpony scum!" Juicebox cracked a whip on one batponies back. "HURRY UP!" "Get in you stupid filly." Delta kicked Blossom into a crate. "WHOA WHOA WHOA! WHAT YOU DOING?" Rainbowdash flew into the air. "Finally she's arrived!" Yelled one pirate before getting shot by Quill. "What the hell did you do to BlockBuilder?" Pearl growled. "Well he called out.." Grinned Delta. "Ugh you guys get off my ship." Pearl replied. "Not your ship anymore mother! You passed it down to yours truly." Quill yelled out to her. "Crap. Guys I need you all to take down those three bribe the pirates to fight for us then take over the ship... Okay?" "Got it!" Dash zoomed to the ship followed by other winged ponies. "Lets go!" Twilight yelled the others ran onto the ship. "This ain't gonna be easy..." JuiceBox cried. "Try your best." Quill said. Like that was gonna happen. They were out numbered. 3 to 20. And its pretty obvious who the winner was. "Toss them overboard boys." Pearl said before the three got kicked off the ship. "We'll have revenge! Like seriously!" Delta yelled out. Before they got hit by a wave... then being eaten by a whale... and going through its digestive system... eww. "Its Pearl!" cried a pirate. "Hold up boys." Applejack said marching in front of Pearl. "We ain't here for the ship..." Rainbow sharply spoke. The pirates excited expressions vanished and turned into frightened expressions. We're offering you a lifetime deal.." "One of a kind lamp shades?" Someone said. "No not lampshades..." Rainbowdash sighed. "But I wish we did have lampshades!" Pinkie jumped. "Anyway.. We want all of you 42 pirates to join our army.. against Princess Silver. No health insurance." Twilight said. "DEAL!" They yelled instantly. "Well then.. Lets get to it!" Twilight walked over to the wheel and turned the boat east. They sailed through heavy rain... tornadoes and even one heavy whirlpool. Now Twilight and the others must face the one challenge who stands in their way... A gate! "What the hell is this doing here?" Twilight said looking up at the gate. "OMG I KNOW ASK ME!" Pinkie said waving her hoof. "Well what is it?" "Well since you haven't obviously read one particular book it explains the gate of Artemis! Princess Luna's great grandma. She passed away long ago but she did so many kind things that the ponies of Neigheria built a gate far out in the sea. It was left there for a long time. Probably so long that they forgot about it!" She then put on her detective hat. "Should we investigate?" she then laughed. "Get it? InvestiGATE!" "Yeah yeah we know. Come on." There was some rocks that 6 ponies could stand on. Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack and Pinkie went onto four of the rocks leaving two left. Pearl flew onto the one behind Pinkie and guess who went onto the rock next to Pearl? "Galaxy?" Pearl said. "Its me! Pitch went home for the night leaving me to find you." she grinned. "Twilight do ya think you could open it with your magic?" Applejack asked. "Probably not... the gates are to big." she stared up at the massive gates towering into the sky. "I'll give it a shot though." She summoned her magic onto the gate. "Hnng..." she pushed it open a small bit but that's all she could do before she passed out. "Damn it! We shouldn't have told her to try." Rainbow said splashing water on her. Twilight's eyes shot open. She gasped for air. "Thank god your okay." They stared at the gates again. "I had a thought.... We could ram something into the gates." Pearl said. "Then we could break a hole through it." They sat in silence thinking about her idea. "She's right ya know." Pinkie spoke up after a few minutes. "But maybe breaking it would offend the gods." "How do you know there is gods in this world." Galaxy scowled at the thought. "You and Pearl are dead. You guys are ruled over by Glados." Pinkie responded. "So there must be gods." "And indeed there are." The water spoke. "GET ON THE SHIP NOW!" One pirate cried. They scrambled onto the ship as a statue of a pony rose from the sea. "Wait your not any normal pony... your P-" "Poseidon. God of the sea." He put his trident on the water instantly vanishing. "It was wise that you didn't knock down the gate. Artemis has such a temper these days." He sighed. "What do you want from us?" Twilight asked. "Nothing. I just overheard that you want to get through Artemis's gate. Well I'll give you a clue. There isn't." They stared in shock at the pony. "What what? Honesty." Applejack scowled. "Well then. We'll be on our way..." Pearl said turning the ship around. "What are you doing?!" Twilight mumbled. "Trust me!" She mumbled back. "I suppose I could help you... but for an exchange of course." Poseidon called out. "Whats the exchange?" Twilight said still not looking at the sea god. "If one of you real ponies stay with me for the rest of your lives." They stopped talking. The only sound that could be heard was the crash of the waves. "It doesn't have to be this way... we can always sacrifice one pirate." Galaxy whispered to Twilight. "Well do we have a deal or what?" Poseidon asked raising an eyebrow. "Come on guys think... If we sacrifice a pirate they would cower in fear." Applejack mumbled. They stood solemnly thinking. "We've got a deal." Pinkie said standing tall. "Pinkie shut up!" Rainbow snapped. "Sorry Dashie but I made the choice for my friends." She winked. "Pinkie no! You can't do this you'll be stuck in here forever!" Pearl cried. "Well I can and if you think you won't see me then think again." She cheered. "Bye guys!" she galloped off the plank. "Pinkie you'll dr-" Applejack stared at the water rising up to hold her. "Well I must say it's very heartbreaking to see a close friend go. I'm not a monster and I'm not always like this." Poseidon patted the pink mare. "See you later!" She waved. "PINKIE!" They held Rainbowdash back. "Rainbow she decided to do it for us! She doesn't want you following her." Twilight said. "GOODBYE!" she was trapped then in a ball of water. "P-Pinkie?" Rainbowdash slumped onto the ground. Meanwhile in the ball of water... "What are you doing to me?" Pinkie stamped. "Are you trying to kill me?" "No no course not. Just taking you somewhere. You will be missed by your friends." Poseidon appeared next to her hoof around her neck. "But trust me your gonna help me a whole lot." A bit of water in front of them opened to show them a door. "Go through it." "What?! What's on the other side! I might be facing 15 daggers!" Pinkie yelled. "You've gotta trust me. I mean it. Its for the best." He nudged her. "O-Okie dokie lokie..." She trotted towards the door. With one hoof she pushed it open looking at the bright light. "Wait wha-" Meanwhile... "SHE'S GONNA DIE! SHE WON'T SURVIVE!" Rainbowdash sobbed heavily into Pearl's shoulder. "Hush now." Pearl nuzzled her shoulder. "HOW CAN I CALM DOWN... SHE'S DEAD!" Rainbow sobbed heavily again. "Twilight you steer the ship through the gates with Applejack." She looked over at the opened gate. Before.. "Pinkie..." Rainbow stared into the distance. "Come on... we gotta go..." Galaxy who didn't care started for the wheel. "HOW DARE YOU!" Rainbowdash punched her head. "YOU BLOODY EVIL PONY!" she punched her again. "IF YOU KNEW PINKAMENA DIANE PIE LIKE WE DO YOUR LIFE WOULD BE OH SO HAPPY! BUT YOU DON'T GIVE A-" "Rainbow!" Twilight said holding Blossom close to her. "Calm down Dashie." Applejack hugged Rainbow. "Wait... I just said that? WE SHOULD BE BEATING THAT PONY UP FOR THAT!" She kicked her head hard. "Stop it both of you!" Twilight teleported in between them. "Enough is enough. Applejack go to the wheel." She snapped. "And you Rainbowdash!" she turned to see Rainbow sobbing into Pearl's shoulder. "Oh.." she hung her head. "Ma'am can I tell you something or should I save it for later." One pirate asked. "What?" she snapped. "The gate of Artemis has opened." He pointed into the distance. The sun shone brightly on the gates. "Indeed it has..." Twilight watched the sun reflect off the gates. "Okay... Call in Shining and Libra. I want them to start food preparation." He saluted before before galloping through the crowd of stunned pirates. "I'd better check on RD." she trotted over regretting even coming to this dreadful place. "Applejack you okay?" Twilight asked trotting up the stairs. No response... "Applejack?!" "Oh hey Twilight." Applejack turned over slowly. "You okay?" She put a hoof around the mare. "You know how I didn't hear you before?" "Applejack you know its ok-" "I am getting old. So... By the time the war comes I might not survive..." "Applejack..." "I may be to slow. My face may be wrinkling. If I die..." She stopped. "You won't die." "W-What do you mean?" She looked at her. "You have friends. And friends lookout for each other." They hugged before sailing into the sunset.