//------------------------------// // The Battle of Canterlot // Story: Phantom War IV: Return of the Phantom Consortium // by Danny Eclipse //------------------------------// A few hours later… I had position members of Team Insanity in the ground and air. Rainbine and me would fight in the skies, Fluttershout, Rarifruit, Endario, Masquerade, and Applepills were working for medical support. Darkbine, Scorpion, Pinkis, and Brutalight were on the front lines. Meta was on his ship, the Merciless, using his technology to try to find a way to enter Phantom Consortium communications systems. Dusk was on the front lines with Charming and the Main 6, except for Rainbow. Me and Rainbine went inside the hanger bay and found Rainbow and Light, talking. They see me and Rainbow was shocked to see Rainbine, who smirked back to her. “I’ll take my fighter, the Soulless One. I design it to be very fast and rapid fire.” I told them. Rainbine added “I’ll take one of your TIE Interceptor.” Rainbow said “Alright…” Rainbine said “Oh, where are my manners? I’m Rainbine Dash, Element of Cybernetics and your Insanity Counterpart.” Light asked “Well, are we going together?” “Alright. I’ll lead, Rainbow; you can cover my right. Rainbine and Light, you ladies can take the left.” I ordered We all nod and began to go to our fighters… Dusk had a pair of Binoculars and she was looking out for the army. Finally, she catches sight of the assault force. Dusk shouted “Alright, here they are!” They looked at what she was seeing and hands the binoculars to Charming and he looks. Charming ordered “Alright, they approach. Everypony, to your battle stations!” The others begin to take positions and the soldiers went to their positions. The AT-ATs began to fire their guns against the assault group. Darkbine began to charge ahead as a group of troops began to advance. They see Canderous Tanks beginning to fire back. A few AT-APs began to fire at the group, which took cover. The fighters deploy and I was ahead. “Meta, how is the decrypting coming along?” Meta replied on communicator “Lightning changed the communication frequency, it’s going to take much longer now.” “Until then, we need to hold out.” Rainbine shouted on communicator “Fighters incoming!” I looked and see the massive fleet of StarVipers beginning their attack run. The Bombers were behind them and behind those were the Crusader Corvettes. However, I noticed something missing… “Hold on! Attention all units, we have a problem.” I reported on my communicator. Charming asked on communicator “What is it?” “Lightning’s not leading the fighter assault! I repeat: She’s not leading the fighter assault!” Dusk replied on communicator “That’s odd. She could be trying to find a way to avoid the assault.” “No way. We would have picked up her fighter’s signal. I think she’s on the ground!” I replied. Charming said “If she is, we’ll find her soon enough.” The fighter assault collided with ours and the fighting broke loose. Meanwhile on one of the Crusader Corvettes… The Captain ordered “Get ready to fire against the enemy force-“ A Pilot reported “Sure! We are picking up a signal. It’s of Phantom Consortium origin- Wait, it’s the Soulless One!” The Captain said “Lord Danny’s Fighter? Impossible!” The Pilot replied “My instruments don’t lie unless there is a malfunction.” The Captain ordered “Open hailing channel on the fighter.” I was being chased by 3 StarVipers but Rainbow saved my neck. Me and Rainbow were together on this and we continue to take down fighters. I began to hear my communicator beeping. I opened the channel. Captain asked on the communicator “Lord Danny? Is that you?” “Identify yourself!” Captain said “I’m one of the captains of a Crusader Corvette. It’s good to see you again, sir! We are still loyal to you.” “Inform to Consortium then. Let them know I’m here!” I ordered. I kept listening to the channel. The Captain told the entire Consortium that I was back and I began to hear half the fleet returning to my control. “All those who are still loyal to me, turn your guns against the traitors!” When the order was given, several different ships began to open fire against the Anti-Consortium Ships who were loyal to Lightning. They began to break into a fight. “All Droids of the Consortium, respond to code Zeta4523!” I smiled as the droids began to instantly reprogram to return under my control. “All Droid Units, engage to anti-Consortium forces and they are to be shot on sight!” On the ground… Charming and Dusk were leading the assault forces. They were surrounded by Commando Droids who were pointing their blasters at them. They were about to pull the trigger until their eyes turned from red to green. They began to salute to Dusk and she smiled. Dusk shouted with glee “Father did it! Protocol Zeta is in effect!”. Then she ordered “All droids engage the traitors!” The Commando Droids and Droideka MK IIs began to open fire against the Infantry forces and the Vehicles. Some pony soldiers of the Phantom Consortium began to turn to the enemy and fire at them. Dusk said “Father must have informed the Consortium of his return. Loyalists turned against enemy.” Charming replied, happy at the turns of the tide “This battle just turned to our favor now.” They began to lead the offensive now. On the bridge of the Eclipse… Captain Duran stormed the bridge. His Royal Commandos took the bridge and took control over the Eclipse. Duran began to type down the code and they had control over the Superlaser. He targeted one of the battleship’s and fired, destroying it. Duran said “All hail Lord Danny!” Me and Rainbow cut from the assault group, heading to the main fighting force. We saw the Superlaser destroy a battleship and I smiled. Duran had took the bridge. “Rainbow, the tides have turned. We need to find Lightning!” Rainbow asked “But where is she?” “Lightning is a coward. But if she isn’t-No, she couldn’t have…” Rainbow asked “What is it?” “Rainbow, you continue the assault! I need to head back to the castle!” I ordered to her. Rainbow asked again “What is she planning?” “I think this is a distraction for us while she makes her way to the Castle, undetected! She plans to target the Princesses and take the throne!” I shouted. Rainbow replied “I’m going with you!” “No, it will be-“ Rainbow said “It’s my fault she wants revenge! I have to stop her before she does something she will regret.” I began think about it and sigh in defeat. “Fine. Follow me!” Rainbow and me change course, heading back to the Castle. Rainbine and Light continue the assault. “Charming, I think I know what Lightning is planning. She is heading the castle with an attack force! She could be trying to take the throne while we are distracted!” I shouted on the communicator. Charming replied “Makes sense since she is a coward. I’m heading back now with a squad.” “Me and Rainbow are on our way back as well. We will need to stop her!” Lightning Dust, six Purge Troopers, and a large squad of ponies who were loyal to her had past the main gate after killing off some guards. Their forces made into the castle and when they got inside, they opened the throne room doors and see Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadance. The three Princesses looked at Lightning in surprise. Lightning smirked and waved her hand, 4 cages were lead inside. The Princesses’ eyes narrowed as Lightning used them to locked them inside. They tried to use their magic but it failed. However, the victory was short lived when she heard someone walk in. Lightning looked and see Charming. She smirks as he draws his lightsaber. Charming said “So, you must be Lightning Dust…” Lightning replied “Well, look who came. I hoped you would come.” Charming charged but regretted it when a ghostly hand grabs Charming and pulls him into a cage. He loses his lightsaber and tried to use his magic but it failed. Lightning laughs in victory. Lightning shouted with victory and glee “I took you all down by myself! Now, I will become the only Queen of Equestria! My coronation will begin immediately!” A familiar voice said “Coronation Lightning? This is bad comedy…” Lightning’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the door. She sees me, lightsabers drawn and smiling evilly. Rainbow was next to me with a blaster pistol in her hooves. Lightning said nervously “L-Lord Danny!?! Phantom Consortium! I am your true leader now! I order you to attack Danny!” I smiled evilly and put away my lightsabers and grabbed a hold of my medallion. Suddenly, the Dark Star Saber appeared in front of me and I grabbed it. The Pony Troops were nervous to see me and slowly began to pull back. Lightning shouted “Your return is too late! The Phantom Consortium is now loyal to me! The Reign of Lightning has begun!” “And now it will end!” I replied with glee and hate. Lightning ordered “Destroy him!” The Purge Troopers began to advance onto me. I took my sword and charged at them. I slash one of them in half and stabbed another. 1 of them fired a blue energy missile at me but I dodged it and used Force Storm against 3 of them, shocking them and their circuits exploded. The last one tried to grab me but I cut its left arm off and then cut the right leg off, making it fall. I then stabbed the center of it and it died. The pony troopers became more fearful. Lightning said “Cowards! Is there no pony left who would challenge this…this pretender to the throne!?” One of the Pony Troopers replied “Fight your own battles, Lightning Dust! Unless you’re a coward!” “Lightning Dust—your mockery of a reign is over!” I shouted with hatred. I used my Force Storm and shocked Lightning. She screamed in pain and falls to the ground, dropping the remote that she had to hold the cages. It explodes and the cages opened, no longer using their Anti-Magic effect. Lightning began to coward as I approach her with my sword. Lightning begged “Lord Danny…please have mercy! I beg of you! I thought you would want this!” “Mercy!? YOU DARE ASK FOR MERCY!! No! I’ve made many mistakes in my past but this is one I don’t plan to make again!” I began to raise my sword. Lightning begged more “No…please! Have mercy!!” Charming shouted “She asks for mercy Danny! That’s enough!” I ignore him and ready to strike her down. I swung down and was about to hit her until I see a white sword stop it. I looked at it and was surprised. It was the Star Saber and see Charming holding it. Charming shouted “No! She doesn’t deserve death!” “You DARE protect the one being who would kill or sell you out for her own life!?” Charming paused for a few minutes before… Charming replied “Yes…”