//------------------------------// // Excavation (Fixed) // Story: The Twilight Citadel // by Pyrestrike //------------------------------// "I REPEAT!!! COME OUT PEACEFULLY OR YOU WILL BE ANNIHILATED!!!" The cave shook as another shock wave of vocal anger was concentrated onto the cave entrance. Ponies everywhere were gathering all the supplies and folding up the tents as quickly as possible with looks of terror on their faces. "OPEN FIRE!!!" A thunderous explosion rocked the cave as rocks and rubble fell from the ceiling and onto the camps below. Some ponies took cover while others ran deeper into the rocky cavern to escape. "The hideout can't take much more of this! We have to get to the safe areas! I think that we can get everypony there in time without the cave collapsing in on us!" Rainbow shouted amongst the blasts. "But Comet said that they're his folks out there Rainbow! Maybe we can smooth things out without having anymore violence happening!" Applejack said. Worry was etched in the farmmare's face as a large slab of stone had broken off from the cave ceiling and crushed a nearby tent, letting out a brief sigh of relief as nopony was occupying it. "Are you CRAZY!!! He's the one who started this entire mess in the first place and you want to bring him to the ponies that are shooting spells at us! You can try your olive branch, but if you get stunned by an energy bolt I'm not coming to rescue your flank!" Rainbow replied. Applejack acknowledged her response as Rainbow and the other elements ran with the rest of the crowd of ponies toward the back of the cave while she quickly galloped to the now half-folded medical tent where Comet Shard laid. Comet tried to stand up but instead fell flat on to the floor thanks to the injury on his foreleg. "If you get me to the entrance I can probably calm them down. They're looking for me so they'll at least stop trying to destroy this place when they see me." "Alright then, just promise me that you'll try to keep them from wiping us out. I've already seen enough destruction and death thanks to those bugs." Comet Shard smiled warmly for a moment and regained his struggling expression thanks to the pain from his wound. A young mare suddenly popped out in front of the two and got to Comet Shard's other side and started helping to support him. Comet Shard was taken aback by the cute mare helping him stand, admiring her golden fur and red fiery mane. Applejack on the other hand was furious with the teen. "FIRESIDE! What in tarnation are you doing! Get back with the others and stay with your sister while Rainbow and the others lead everypony to the safe areas!" She ordered. "Mom, it's about time that something exciting happened here! Nothing interesting ever occurs, and I'm not going to miss out on this opportunity of a lifetime to see a real battle!" "It's too dangerous for a young mare like you! I'd never forgive myself if you get hurt because of one of my mistakes!" "Don't worry mom you've been in way worse situations like this when you were young right? Besides, I've got a strong stallion to protect me when we go out there, isn't that right?" Comet Shard blushed heavily at Fireside's comment and started to limp faster with determination in his heart much to Applejack's surprise. "Fine, I'll let you tag along. Just help me get him to the entrance Celestia damn it!" After many minutes and small explosions they finally made it to the entrance of the cave and was met with a terrifying sight. Rows upon rows of ponies clad in silver and lavender colored armor were in formation surrounding the cave with the unicorn guards ready to release their next salvo of spells upon the rocky foundation. One guard, clad in completely dark purple armor saw the trio of ponies exiting the cavern and shouted her order. "CEASE FIRE!" The unicorn guards immediately released all the magical tension in their horns and in almost perfect sync, returned amongst the company of other soldiers in their battalion. The dark purple armored soldier gestured to a pure white colored soldier who started started walking up with what appeared to be a mare dressed up in tight-fitting clothes of nobility towards the three ponies frozen thanks to the chilly weather and the fear that they could be disintegrated at a moments notice. "Prince Comet Shard! You're alive!" Both Applejack and Fireside looked at Comet Shard in complete and utter shock as his title was revealed to the two mares while he put on a sheepish smile. "You're a Prince! How come you couldn't have told us that sooner!" "Sorry, at first I thought I couldn't trust you when I was surrounded by guards remember? So I pretty much kept the truth about my heritage a secret from you all." Comet replied sheepishly. "That would have really helped us in our little interrogation earlier, we could have treated you a bit nicer from what you've told us." The soldiers were standing in front of the whispering ponies as they were bickering until the white armored guard poked Fireside in the back with his spear. "What! Oh, sorry about that." "It would do some good to address an enemy or comrade with some form of respect the next time this happens my Prince." the guard replied. "Silver Shriek, Macrame! It's good to see you both, how have you been eh? Did you get the present I got you both on Hearths Warming Day?" The white armored stallion gave a stern glance at Comet Shard and replied in his emotionless tone. "His majesty should focus more on the tension of your guards at the moment, and the plushy you got me is hanging on my wall, with several knives pinning it there." The mare next to the guard gave him a scowl before moving quickly to Comet to inspect him. "Goodness! Your majesty should be more careful when going out into the snow like that! I'd hate it if you got frostbite and had to be carried around all day! This scarf you got me is barely keeping me warm at all! But I'm happy for your generosity." The pony named Macrame said. "Good to know! Uh, anyway how was the kingdom when I left a few weeks ago?" Comet asked. "Disgruntled, disorganized, and distressed since your disappearance your majesty. Your sister awaits atop the cliff as we speak, and if I were you I would probably start running." At Silver's saying, the dark purple guard opened her wings and flew towards the ponies with majesty as she settled softly on the powdery snow with little effort. Comet was a little nervous thanks to Silver's advice and the fact that the mare in question was walking menacingly toward him. "H-hey Meteor Shatter, u-um how are you?" "Good, are you hurt or injured?" she asked darkly. "On my right foreleg, I think it's broken. But nothing a trip to the medical ward can't fix." "So no seriously horrible injuries for me to worry about?" "Nope, all good here." Comet answered. "Well that's perfect then.... cause I'm gonna kill you myself." The mare grabbed Silver's spear all of a sudden and knocked Comet on the head with the wooden part repeatedly until he was on the floor begging for it to stop. "Ow!... Please Stop it!... I'm sorry if... I turned the kingdom... upside down... when I left!" Comet cried. "UPSIDE DOWN! YOU THINK THAT'S ALL YOU DID! DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY DAYS IT TOOK ME, SILVER SHRIEK AND MACRAME TO FIND YOU IN THIS CELESTIA DAMN WEATHER! IT TOOK FOUR DAYS FOR ME TO TRIANGULATE YOUR LAST KNOWN LOCATION NEAR HARROWFANG, AND ANOTHER DAY TO PREPARE FOR THIS TRIP, AND ANOTHER EIGHT DAYS TO FINALLY FIND YOUR ASS IN A CAVE WITH WHO KNOWS WHERE THESE PONIES CAME FROM! I SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE THEM ALL EXECUTED THANKS TO YOUR STUPID DECISION!!! "Hey! Leave them out of this! They're the ones who saved me in the first place so you should be thanking them for what they have done!" The enraged pegasus glanced in the direction of the other two ponies and slowly calmed down. The pegasus took off her helmet to reveal a cream colored mare about a few years older than Comet with long flowing violet mane. She looked with a small frown at Applejack and turned to face the cave which the prince came out with the two of them and sighed deeply. "He's right, I'm sorry for acting this way. I am in your debt for saving my haybrain of a brother." "I-It's no problem r-really, we weren't r-really going to leave him o-outside with those bugs flying around and about. Um, are you going to yell again? Cause I'm gonna have to cover my ears before they explode." "Yeah I see your point, I'm sorry if I seem scary thanks to the loud voice. It's really just an amplification charm my mother put on my helmet. So tell me, who's in charge and why are a bunch of ponies hiding out in a cave in the middle of nowhere?" Applejack stepped forward and tipped her stetson to the armored mare to give her answer. "I'm one of the ponies whose in charge of this here camp. You mess with it, and we're going to have a real big problem you hear." Applejack threatened, despite how hopelessly outnumbered she was. "Excuse me if I'm asking this but, why not journey to one of the towns a few miles from here? I can assure you that they would be much more comfortable than... um, this." Meteor asked, shrugging off Applejack's threat. "Too many Changelings have been sighted around these parts. Plus, I saw something mighty strange when I was scouting with my friend Rainbow. That, and that we have too many wounded ponies to risk moving all of a sudden. You do have a point though, we've been here for over five years and done our best to survive, but without anymore supplies we won't make it into the next month or so." Meteor nodded and looked to the sky and then turned to Comet Shard with a stern expression. "Mom's worried about you Comet. She's been sending expeditions like this far and wide to try and find you, she'd been pulling her mane out on her throne or staring out on the balcony towards the borders when you went missing. Things have been nothing but hard on her since dad died, and I'm trying to help her run this kingdom in any way that I can. It's about time that you take responsibility and help mom too." "Um excuse me, Miss Meteor Shatter, um are you still going to assault our hideout still? Cause I'm gonna start running if you still are." Fireside asked. Meteor looked to Fireside who visibly shrank under the armored mare's gaze and then toward the cave again. She thought of what to do finally and flew up while putting her helmet back on to address the soldiers waiting to attack. "STAND DOWN! THESE ARE INNOCENT PONIES, WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO CAUSE ANY HARM TO THEM AT ALL! STAND DOWN!" The soldiers lowered their weapons and stood attention awaiting further orders from their commanding officer while Applejack, Fireside and Comet all breathed a sigh of relief. Meteor Shatter flew back down to the group and looked toward Applejack. "How many ponies are in that cave?" "Five hundred and seventy two ponies. Most are civilians while a small portion came from survivors of the Equestrian Royal Guards, both Lunar and Solar divisions. We have cooks and chefs located near the supply tents, ponies such as elderly, wounded, fillies, and colts near the infirmary tent near the back of the cave for safety, guards or military units near the armory, the safe areas where we need to take shelter in case of emergency, and finally the meeting tent where we contemplate what to do about different situations." "You sure know how to keep track of everything around here." Meteor complimented. "Yeah, it's a habit me and my friends got from another old friend of ours. Besides, you can't be too careful since we are dealing with Changelings aren't we?" "Almost sounds like you're talking about my mother. She's obsessed with organization and whatnot. Excuse my lack of manners, I am Princess Meteor Shatter of the Aurora Empire." "Pleasure to meet ya yer highness, I think It's best we all go inside and straighten things out with the others." Applejack suggested. "I second that notion, wouldn't want even more violence in this scenario now do we?" Silver said. "Please let's get out of the cold. My name is Macrame, not Frozen!" the wrapped up mare complained. "All right then, give me a moment then." Meteor said as she walked through the small group of ponies and put her helmet on again. "YOUR ORDERS FROM HERE ON OUT ARE TO REMAIN IN A VIGILANT STANCE! ELIMINATE ANYTHING THAT TRIES TO THREATEN THIS CAVE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND! The formation of soldiers on the cliffs shouted back, "SIR YES SIR!" "Good. Shall we go inside?" Meteor asked. The sound of somepony clearing his throat was heard as Comet was writhing a bit on the ground in pain with a slightly angry look. "Oops, let me help you up." Fireside offered. Fireside grabbed ahold of Comet's hoof and pulled, only managing to slip on a patch of ice and fall backwards onto her rump. The now fallen young mare had a tinge of embarrassment on her cheeks as Comet Shard snickered at the sight until he felt the sting of a freshly made snowball hit his face. "Ouch! Aren't I in pain enough already!" Fireside started laughing and dodged a snowball that was launched with magic from the still sitting prince. "Will you two lovebirds stop playing around! If you want to do all that you should get a tent! We've got a lot of explaining and work to do now that we have friendly guests here so hurry up!" Applejack said angrily to Fireside. The two blushed at the comment as Fireside got up and helped Comet get to his hooves as they all entered the cave. Unbeknownst to them, a lone guard had sneaked off in the commotion. Once he checked to see if he was alone he transformed himself into a creature with a pair of blue eyes and chitinous coat. He unfurled his insect-like wings and proceeded to take off towards the direction of Equestria, eager to inform his Queen of what has happened.