//------------------------------// // The Forever Knight Rebellion part 3 // Story: And Then There Were 10...Er...67 // by Grey Ghost //------------------------------// “Jason you have to take it slowly,” Chrysalis tried to reason, only for him to wave her off. “I ain’t taking nothing slow,” he snarled, ripping the IV from his arm. He winced a little but shook it off, “Those fucks want to mess with Equestria, I’ll lay the fuck smack on them.” He got out of bed, stumbling a little before faceplanting hard on the floor. “Are you alright?” Chrysalis asked, rushing to his side. “I told you to take it slowly,” she chastised, sighing a little. “Yeah, I’m fine,” Jason groaned, rolling onto his back. “Just help me up will ya?” Chrysalis just chuckled and lowered her head. He grabbed onto it and she raised her head back up, helping him to his feet. “Let’s get you to the others, they were pretty worried about you,” she said, nuzzling his cheek. She moved slowly out of the room, letting the human lean on her as he got his legs back under control. “I got a better idea,” Jason said, stopping a drone. “You, go tell the Elements to come to the meeting room ASAP.” “Do it,” Chrysalis added, to which the drone nodded, galloping off to complete the task. She walked him into the meeting room, depositing him in the second throne she had made for him. “God I’m sore...” he complained as he rubbed his neck, trying to un-kink it. “How long was I out for?” “About three days,” Chrysalis said, getting comfortable. “All of them spent here.” She looked at him with a smile, “I’m glad you’re awake, I was really worried that you wouldn’t wake up.” “A little virus ain’t gonna keep me away from you guys,” he said just as the Elements rushed in. Well, most of them. Fluttershy hung back, staring at the floor blankly. Following behind them was what looked like a zebra and Driba and Blukic, who buzzed over, sitting on his shoulders. “Jay, you're awake!” Pinkie shouted, bouncing up and down, “This calls for an ‘I’m so happy you're out of your coma’ party!” “Later Pinkie,” he said, shaking his head. “We have to fix this mess first.” He stopped to stare at Twilight, “Twilight... what happened to you?” “We’ll explain it all at once Jason,” she assured him, walking to a empty seat. He shook his head, turning to the zebra, “I don’t think we’ve met, I’m Jason.” “Jason, this is our friend Zecora, she’s an expert at making potions who lives here in the Everfree,” Twilight said as she and the others took their seats, “I’m not surprised you haven’t met her yet.” “It is always nice to meet someone new, even with the harsh times we are going through,” she said, giving him a smile. “Uncatalogued DNA detected,” the Omnitrix chirped, scanning the rather bemused Zecora. “Yeah it does that,” Jason said, shrugging a little. “Ok, so lets get this little pow wow started shall we?” “Not without me you won’t,” Discord’s voice cut in, causing all present to freeze. They all turned their heads to spot Angel Bunny in the doorway. The thing that surprised them the most was that his eyes were yellow with red irises. “What?” he asked, staring at them, “Haven’t you ever seen a rabbit before?” “D-dissy?” Fluttershy asked meekly before bolting out of her seat, pulling the startled rabbit into a bone crushing hug, “Oh Dissy! I thought you were dead!” “I will be if you don’t ease up!” he wheezed out, trying to escape her grasp. “Oh!” she said, letting him go. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.” She wiped the tears of joy out of her eyes, “What... what about Angel?” “He’s still in here, he’s not really happy with me renting out his body,” Discord said, brushing himself off. “It’s giving me a headache...” he frowned, rubbing his head. “Ok, so can we start now?” Jason asked, watching as Fluttershy sat back down, Discord held in her lap. “Ok good... now please tell me what I’ve missed in the past three days.” He sat back, listening to each of them. As the explanations wore on, he clenched his fists harder and harder, even hard enough for his nails to draw blood. “So basically they’ve screwed us all over?” “It does look rather dire, dear...” Rarity admitted, looking at them. “What do we do?” “First off, we free Luna,” Jason said, sitting up. “You two idiots can make yourselves useful,” he said, glaring at the breezies. “Wait, us?” Driba asked, looking rather shocked, “What could we possibly do?” “You’re small, the knights don’t know about you and you’re hard to spot,” Jason started, “You guys sneak the cure in to Luna and free her, which helps us take down the knights.” “You want us to sneak into Forever Knight territory?!” Driba asked, getting into his face. “Yes I do, you're the only ones who can do this... that is assuming Zecora has a cure for petrification?” Jason asked, looking toward her. “A vial or two will do, to make the princess as good as new.” Zecora said, reaching into her saddlebags and producing two vials small enough for the breezies to carry. “Ok good,” Jason said, passing them toward the breezies. “One word of advice guys, if most ponies, except maybe pegasi, are like most people I knew, they’ll have a tendency to not look up. Twilight, Dash, AJ and I will go to Canterlot, while Blukic and Driba go free Luna.” He turned to the other half of the Elements. “I want you three to go into Ponyville and find Slash.” “What about Zed?” Fluttershy asked, causing Jason to blink. “I forgot about her, would she be willing to help, Fluttershy?” “Oh yes, she didn’t really like her last owner. He didn’t feed her.” “Alright, take her with you just in cas-” Jason didn’t finish as a loud crash filled the air. Fearing the worst, the assembled group rushed out, racing toward the throne room. Once there they discovered Gilda, laying in a pool of blood, having crashed through one of the few remaining windows. “Gilda!” Dash screamed, bolting over to the prone griffon. “N-no, you’re ok, you’re ok!” she stuttered, tears streaking down her muzzle. “Get her to the doctors now!” Chrysalis shouted to the nearby guards. They nodded, levitating the wounded griffon up in their magic, rushing off to the medical wing. “Dash... I... you should stay with her.” Jason started, only to get cut off by the look of rage on her face. “Let’s go,” she said simply, walking out of the room, leaving the rest of them in shock. Jason was the first to snap out of it, shaking his head. “Ok, we all know our jobs let’s get them done,” he said, starting to follow Dash. “Be safe love.” Chrysalis called out to which Jason smirked. “Me safe? You got it Chrissy.” he said, giving her the thumbs up before vanishing out of sight. “It sure is quiet...” Pinkie said as she, Rarity, Fluttershy and Zed walked into Ponyville. The normally lively town was dead quiet, with only the occasional house or animal noise to break it. “Lets stay focused Pinkie dear, who knows what they did with Slash, poor thing.” Rarity said, looking around. “Any idea where he could be?” “Oh! Twitcha twitch!” Pinkie shouted, looking back at her tail. “And itchy hoof? That means one of our friends is at Sweet Apple Acres!!” “Oh my, we should go help him, if that’s ok with you girls.” Fluttershy said quietly, rather afraid that one of them would get hurt. “Well then we shan’t leave him in the hooves of those cretins any longer!” Rarity declared with a determined shout, dashing off to the farm with Pinkie on her heels. “Ok Zed... let’s get going.” Fluttershy said to the Baskurr before following after her friends, Zed close behind her. Like the rest of Ponyville, the farm was dead quiet, this time broken by the rustling of tree leaves. “I think the best place to look is the barn, they'd have the most space there...” Rarity said as she approached the barn. “So you finally decided to crawl out of your hole,” a stallion’s voice cut in causing them all to freeze and look in his direction. Standing next to an apple tree was a sickly yellow stallion with a metal horn and red tinted goggles “You’re one of those meanie knights aren’t you?!” Pinkie accused, pointing her hoof at him. “Me? One of those idiots?” he asked, letting out a laugh. “Truth be told, I’m not really loyal to their cause. I only joined their rebellion because I was promised the ability to do my research in peace.” “Research?” Rarity asked, frowning a little ”What kind of research?” “I’m so glad you asked, allow me to show you,” he said, letting out a whistle. The assembled mares all watched in horror as a gigantic fruit bat rose up from the trees, screeching at them. “Get them!” he ordered, at which point the bat dive-bombed at them. “Ugh, we’re finally here,” Driba said as they reached Canterlot castle. It wasn’t a very long flight, being so small meant that the wind carried you farther faster. “This thing is heavy.” “Lets hurry and free the princess before one of those knights sees us,” Blukic said, flittering toward the gardens. “Please, most terrestrial organisms don’t look up, we’ll be fine,” Driba said waving him off. They came to the gardens. “Um... do we know which one is the princess?” “Well, she is an alicorn, can’t be that hard to find.” Blukic said, looking around. After about a half hour of searching they stumbled across the correct statue. “Are you sure this is her?” Driba asked, flying around the statue. “Well she’s got a knife sticking out of her butt, I figure this has to be her.” Blukic said, pointing at said knife. “Alright let’s use these stupid vials already.” Driba said, tossing the vial at Luna, giving a satisfied smirk as the vial shattered on impact. Blukic did the same, the stone starting to fizzle at the impact sites. “Yes! We did- no!!” he shouted and covered his eyes as the statue fell off its pedestal. “Please tell me we didn’t break her!” “Looks like we chipped her tail,” Blukic said, looking over the statue. “Oh thats a relief,” Driba said, watching as the stone fractured and exploded outward as the princess freed herself. “By Faust! I am free! But how...?” she asked, getting to her feet, stretching out her wings. “That would be us!” Driba said as he and Blukic flew up into her sight. She just watched as they chattered away. “It seems my little friends that I have you to thank for my freedom, though I fear I cannot understand you,” she said, giving the two of them a gentle pat on the head. “Now we must be off before they catch us,” she said, levitating them into her mane as she trotted over to the wall. She pressed a brick in, causing part of the wall to slide up. “Stay with me little ones, ‘tis easy to get lost in the passages,” she said, stepping into the tunnel and using her magic to close it behind her. “I ever tell you guys I hate walking?” Jason asked as they walked along the train tracks. Dash was up ahead, not going too fast but also not slowing down for them either. “Well maybe if you weren’t wearing all that armor we’d be moving faster,” Twilight teased, trying to lighten the mood. “Ah thought you said we had ta’ give those two time t’ free Luna?” Applejack asked, raising her eyebrow. “Of course we do. I mean I could turn into XLR8 or Fastrack, but I need to save all of the Omnitrix’s power for when we get there.” Jason said sighing a little. “Though how much longer do we have to go?” “Well... we should be there by midday tomorrow, at the rate we’re going,” Twilight said looking up at him. “Yeah... screw that,”Jason said, stopping in his tracks. “Omnitrix, Fastrack!” he shifted into a black and blue cat creature. Before either could protest, he reached down and scooped the mares up, speeding along the tracks. “Try to keep up Dash!” he called as he passed. Dash just snorted, speeding up, staying on his heels as they raced to Canterlot. The girls screamed as the bat dived at them, fearing the worst. Zed let out a challenging growl, leaping at the bat. Mid-jump, she shifted into a large white scaled lizard, slamming into the opposing creature. The two beasts tumbled to the ground, knocking over several trees. “What did you do to that poor creature!?” Fluttershy demanded her eyes burning with rage. “I made it better than it was!” the stallion snorted, “It’s bleeding hearts like you that shut down my research in the first place!” “You're just a big meanie!” Pinkie shouted, her face twisted into a look of anger. Zed let out a whine of pain as the bat dug its claws into her side, tossing her over the ponies and into the house, destroying the porch and part of the front wall. “Zed!” Fluttershy shouted, looking at the prone creature in horror. “Y-you monster!” she said, glaring at the bat, starting to use her stare. “Wait, Fluttershy don’t!” Pinkie shouted, though it was too late. Fluttershy screamed in pain, starting to backpedal, shaking her head. “As much as I would like to see you all dead, I have better things to do,” the stallion said, climbing on the bat’s back. “I suppose we’ll meet again,” he said as the bat spread its wings, flying out of sight. “Pinkie, dear? What's wrong with Fluttershy?” Rarity asked, looking at their friend with concern. “Umm... she may be turning into Flutterbat again...” Pinkie said in a low voice. “What!?” “N-no, I-I’m ok.” Fluttershy said, taking a few deep breaths. “Ok... let’s go check on Zed....” “Fluttershy... y-you look...” “Zed’s more important.” she said firmly, trotting over to the wounded animal, which had reverted back to normal. “I’ll tend to her wounds, you two go find Slash.” she said, turning her full attention to Zed. “Well... you heard the lady Pinkie, lets get to looking.” Rarity said, pulling Pinkie along with her magic. “I hope Slash is ok...” Pinkie said, pushing the barn doors open. Both mares gasped, staring on in horror. Strapped to a table was Slash, parts of his armor had been removed with the exposed flesh having been burned. He was laying limp, his barely rising chest the only sign that he was alive. “Pinkie, we have to get him to the doctors!” Rarity shouted, rushing over to the changeling and quickly undoing the straps. Once he was free, she lifted him up in her magic. “You stay with Fluttershy!” she ordered as she galloped out of the barn, not caring if she got herself dirty at this point. Pinkie sat back on her haunches and saluted as Rarity ran off. Celestia sighed as she tossed the book she had been attempting, and failing, to read against the wall. It was hard to concentrate when your subjects were suffering. “What am I supposed to do...?” she asked, a few tears escaping her eyes. Suddenly the far wall opened up and out stepped Luna, free of her petrification. “L-Luna?” Celestia asked in surprise, staring at her in shock. “Yes ‘tis I sister, I was freed with some help,” Luna said, letting the breezies out of her mane. “I’m not sure who sent them, I cannot understand them for the life of me.” “I’m sorry, I haven’t studied breezie language to know a translation spell,” Celestia said, snapping out of her funk. “Luna... what’s with your tail?” “Hmm?” Luna asked, looking at her tail. There was a piece of it missing, causing it to flow oddly. “‘Tis strange. It must have come off when I broke free,” she said with a shrug, not noticing the look of relief on the breezies’ muzzles. “We have to hurry Luna, get this magic inhibitor off me,” Celestia said, getting to her hooves. Luna obliged, removing the inhibitor and dropping it to the floor. Celestia glared at it in disgust, bringing her hoof down on it and shattering it into hundreds of tiny pieces. “We have to move quickly! They will have noticed we are free,” Luna said, pausing as the sound of combat filled the castle. “We will have to move that much quicker then,” she continued, the two of them teleporting to the throne room. A few minutes earlier.... Jason came to a halt as they reached Canterlot castle, placing the two disoriented mares on the ground. He tapped the Omnitrix, reverting to human. “Ok... let’s go.” he said, pulling his sword out of his hypercube. “You guys ready for this?” he asked, turning to look at the ponies as Dash joined them. “Ready as we’ll ever be,” Applejack said, adjusting her hat. There was a determined look on her face, a look she shared with the other mares. “Alright then,” Jason said, conjuring up a fireball in his hand. With a shout of “Flare!” he fired the ball at the castle doors, knocking them off their hinges. Dash zipped in first, followed by Jason and the others. Various guards charged at them, only to be knocked away by a gust of wind from Jason. They made it to the throne room, another blast of flare knocking the doors open. The guards stood at attention, their eyes unfocused. Standing in the throne room were various nobles, with the armored king sitting on the throne. “Ah, Jason, I’ve been waiting to see you again.” the king said, sitting up with interest. “Wait, yer the king!?” Applejack asked, her eyes wide. “Ah Miss Applejack, good to see you again,” Trenderhoof said, removing his helmet and placing it next to himself. “You are as charming as ever by the way.” “Are you serious?” Jason asked with a glare. “I knew you were a hipster but a genocidal king? Oh you so gotta die,” Jason said, pulling his own helmet on. “We’ll see which one of us is gonna die!” Trenderhoof shouted, glaring at them. “Kill them all!” he shouted as the guards and knights raised their weapons at the four. Before any of them could react, Luna and Celestia teleported into the room. Both of them were in their war armor, weapons at the ready. “Deal with them Hex!” Trenderhoof hissed, glaring at the hooded pony. “I don’t think so!” Jason said, shifting into Wildvine and snatching the amulet from around his neck. “I think this belongs to you, Twilight,” he said, using it to restore her wings and horn. He then chucked it out the window, sending it sailing over the horizon. “It’s over, Trenderhoof!” Celestia said, pointing her sword at him. “Stand down and we may show you mercy. “I think not! Get them!” Trenderhoof shouted. All at once his forces converged on the group, guards, knights and even Charmcaster’s golems on the attack. “The guards are not in control of themselves! Try not to hurt them!” Celestia shouted, knocking a guard into a another. doing her best not to injure them. “‘Tis easier said than done sister!” Luna said, smashing her warhammer in a golem’s face, making the construct crumble into pieces. “I’ll cast a dispelling aura! Applejack, this is going to take a minute or two, can you keep them off me?” Twilight asked, already filling her horn with magic. “Ya got it Twi!” Applejack said, bucking a knight into a column and denting his armor. “Just give it up!” Jason shouted, clashing his sword against the stallion’s, the two of them glaring at each other. “We’re going to end your reign, jackass!” He grabbed a seed off his back, throwing it at the stallion. Trenderhoof dodged it just before it hit, barely escaping the explosion. Jason threw several more before the Omnitrix timed out on him. “Let’s see how cocky you are without your little gadget!” Trenderhoof hissed, crossing his blade with Jason’s again. He pressed the attack, his magic allowing him to strike faster than Jason. “Enough of this,” Jason said, cleaving through Trenderhoof’s sword, the tip flying across the room. Trenderhoof stared at it for a second before firing the broken sword at Jason’s head. “Fuck!” he shouted as the broken blade pierced his helmet, stabbing into his face. Seizing his chance, Trenderhoof wrapped Jason’s chest in his magic, starting to squeeze. Jason’s armor held up for some time before it buckled, starting to crush and stab his chest. “I’m going to crush the life out of you!” Trenderhoof shouted, increasing his magic, causing Jason to cry out in pain. “Jason!” Dash shouted, spotting the human in trouble. “Don’t worry I’m coming!” she dove at Trenderhoof, determined to help her friend. At the last moment Trender dropped Jason, lifting up the humans sword and cut through Dash. The pegasus screamed as her body fell one way and her forelegs fell another. “You see?” Trender asked, glaring at Dash, “This is what happens when you challenge m-” He was cut off as a fist slammed into his face. Jason pulled the sword out of his face, and tossed his helmet away. His face was contorted in rage and his eyes had turned red. He continued to slam fist after fist into Trender’s face, screaming in anger. “Y-you... savage...” Trender muttered out when Jason stopped. He shakily got to his hooves, spitting several of his teeth out. He glared at Jason, starting to cast another spell. Jason, with the speed of XLR8, swung his sword, cleaving off Trender’s horn. Before the stallion could process that, Jason sliced through him again and again and again, until Trenderhoof was nothing more than unidentifiable meat on the floor and he himself was drenched in the stallion’s blood. With a scream of rage, he darted around the room, cleaving limbs off all the knights he could find, reveling in the bloodshed. “Jason?” Applejack asked, looking at her adopted brother, covered in blood and grinning like a madman. “Jason ya have ta-” she was cut off as he slapped her away, hard enough to send her into a wall. “Applejack...” Jason balked in horror as his senses came back to him. He stumbled a little before falling backwards, his vision cutting to black.