//------------------------------//
// 03: A Call To Armaments 
// Story: The Crystal War 
// by EpicMuttonChops 
//------------------------------//

Rainbow Dash sat on her hospital bed, staring out the window. Princess Luna had risen the moon long ago, but the cyan pegasus couldn't fall asleep. Pinkamena had fallen asleep at her feet an hour ago. Thoughts of Twilight, the crystal ponies, and her battle with King Sombra kept running through her mind.

Is Twilight okay? Is Spike safe? What will Sombra do with the remaining crystal ponies? How did he fend me off? What did he do to my wing? Will I ever be able to fly again?

"Rainbow Dash," said a gravelly voice. She recognized that voice instantly. It belonged to the yellow pegasus that led the Wonderbolts. Usually, she would freak out that Spitfire had come to see her, but the last question was the one she asked herself the most, and frankly, she was depressed. "I heard about what you did for Twilight Sparkle."

Rainbow Dash kept her gaze toward the window, tears now starting to well up in her eyes. "Yeah, well, it didn't help."

"Still, that was the most heroic thing I've heard anypony do."

"Wait, how did you hear about it?"

Spitfire sat at the foot of the bed, on a spot that Pinkie had left available. "When you and your friends returned from the north, most of them went and told the Princesses what had happened. Some of them watched what you were doing, and spread the story."

Rainbow Dash let the tears fall down her face. Spitfire laid a hoof on her knee. "You were brave, Rainbow Dash. Nopony else would have faced Sombra like you did."

"But now I'll never be able to fly again!" the cyan pegasus sobbed.

Spitfire was silent as she thought. "You woulda been a great Wonderbolt, kid." Spitfire stood and walked to the door. As she reached the threshold, she turned and addressed Rainbow Dash again. "I'll see what I can do to get you in the air again." But the words were just an empty promise to her.

Pinkie Pie awoke from her sleep. Still groggy, all she noticed was her friend crying, and she got closer to Rainbow Dash and held her as she cried.


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Four days ago...


Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sat in the throne room, discussing political matters. A guard opened the large doors and bowed to the two sisters. "A train approaches from the Crystal Empire," he said.

Instantly Princess Celestia stood and walked to the guard. "Take me to the station. I wish to be there to greet my student as she returns."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The white alicorn accompanied her guard to the Canterlot train station. She stood there looking stately, waiting patiently for the train, her student, and most importantly, the news from the Crystal Empire.

The train chugged into the station, but the occupants were not what Princess Celestia had expected. Crystal ponies outside of the Empire? Princess Cadance and Shining Armor? Something was wrong. It wasn't until Twilight's friends carried the wounded Rainbow Dash out of the train that she realized that something was very, very wrong. She called out to Applejack. "What happened in the Crystal Empire?"

"Ah'm not completely sure, Princess," the orange pony replied, "but King Sombra got inside, and Rainbow Dash went to go save Twilight, but you can see how that turned out."

Celestia put a hoof to her mouth. "Oh no."

"Ah'm sorry, Princess, but ah think th' Crystal Empire's fallen again, and we can only hope that King Sombra took Twilight prisoner."

Celestia nodded and excused the earth pony. Rarity and the crystal unicorn brought Rainbow Dash to Celestia, with Pinkie Pie following close behind. "Princess Celestia, could you help us get Rainbow Dash to the hospital?" Rarity asked. "King Sombra did quite the number on her wing; it took us the whole trip to keep her stable."

"Of course," she said, and she turned and led them into the city. As they went along, ponies rushing out of the way, Rarity took notice of Celestia's calm demeanor.

As soon as Rainbow Dash had been admitted into the emergency room, she stopped the white alicorn. "Excuse me, Princess, but I couldn't help but notice that your behavior is quite calm, in regards to the current circumstances.

"Yes," was all she said.

"Do you not realize that Rainbow Dash could die? And our dear Twilight is missing!"

Suddenly Princess Celestia sat on the cold, polished floor. Her luminous mane no longer flowed as it once did; her eyes no longer shone as bright. Her vision blurred as she began to cry right there in the hall. "I know," she sobbed. "And it's all my fault."


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King Sombra laughed as the pegasus fell. He turned his attention to the castle tower once more, riding atop a large crystal. As he stepped on the railing of the rotunda, he heard whimpers of fear to his right. There stood a little purple dragon, no taller than his foreleg. The dragon was scared out of his mind, and gave a rather humorous shriek as the shadow pony dropped him into the crystalline cage with... whomever was trapped inside.

"What's going on, Spike?" a mare's voice said softly, yet loud enough for King Sombra to hear.

He smiled to himself; the little dragon was still quivering in fear. "It's Sombra," he replied. "He's here."

Instantly he grew angry. I am king of the Crystal Empire, and you will address me as such! He bellowed, using his magic to turn the crystals transparent. Now he could see his prisoner, but more importantly, she could see him.

The purple unicorn gasped, taken by surprise by both Sombra's voice and the sudden change in scenery. "What are you going to do with us?" she asked. He simply engulfed the prison with magic and escorted it down the tower.

I didn't think you would be so foolish as to find the Crystal Heart yourself, crystal princess.

Twilight realized he must have meant Cadance. "I'm not the crystal princess," she said.

This made King Sombra stop in his tracks. He turned to look at her. Ah yes, that made sense. He hadn't bothered to notice before, but now it was obvious that the purple unicorn's magic was different than that of the shield he had been attacking. If you are not the crystal princess, then who are you?

Twilight stood slowly. "I'm her friend. Princess Celestia asked me and my friends to help her and my brother Shining Armor protect the crystal ponies."

Sombra grinned, then he started laughing. Low at first, but it gradually grew to a full, hearty laughter that echoed off the walls. When he had regained his composure, he asked her, You are Celestia's student then?

"Her brightest," she said softly.

King Sombra still grinned, his fangs gleaming from the light bouncing off the walls. And that turned out swimmingly, didn't it? he laughed again. Twilight slumped back down to the floor of the cage, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Sombra continued down the stairs as he laughed.

"I -- failed," she stammered.

Oh yes, he answered her. You did a wonderful job at that. And to think, you almost succeeded. Twilight lay there crying the rest of the way, until Sombra revealed he was only imprisoning them for the time being. I remember what happened the last time I went up against your precious princesses, he told her. Killing you right now would only warrant a far greater consequence, and is the least favorable for my plans. Don't worry, he said as he left them in the dungeon, I'm sure your friends will try to rescue you in due time. The black unicorn halted once more and held a hoof to his chin. Well, maybe not the blue one. I left her in pretty rough shape after she attacked me.

"Rainbow Dash?" She tried to get more out of him, but he had already left them, and was not listening. He was on his way back to the top of the tower. Once he had reached the top, he put another spell on the circle that would allow him to visit the dungeons. The purple unicorn had figured out how to use his dark magic, but nopony else would.


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Three days ago...


King Sombra stepped out onto the balcony of his new castle to admire the panic he had caused. Once again, his throne was returned to him, ponies feared him, and he felt as if nothing had changed, even though the spell he had cast on the kingdom had simply sent it a thousand years into the future.

He was only able to enjoy it for a few moments, because he heard a light knock on the door, followed by the heavy door creaking open. He growled as he turned toward it to face the intruder.

What he saw in front of him was the first sign of respect that he had received from the crystal ponies since he had enslaved them oh so long ago. He saw three ponies enter and bow to him. What is the meaning of this?

The light gray stallion with blue hair and violet eyes in the center took a step forward. "Be merciful on us, Crystal King," Crystal Arrow began. "We remember everything from a thousand years ago and the slavery you put us through. We will do whatever you say." Crystal Arrow stayed bowing in front of the black unicorn, his eyes closed.

King Sombra looked to the other two ponies that cowered behind the stallion. Each of them also closed their eyes as Sombra's gaze swept over them. What are your names? he asked them.

"I'm Crystal Arrow," the light gray stallion replied. "This is Glass Rose," he indicated the salmon-colored unicorn mare with pale orange hair to his right, "and Rock Candy," the light purple pegasus stallion with bluish-grey hair to his left.

King Sombra stood there, thinking. Why should I trust them now? Why would they risk their lives to come to me? He didn't understand. He stood there in mindful silence for two minutes before making his decision. Very well, he said as he turned and walked toward his throne. Your lives will be kept, along with the lives of every crystal pony in my Empire. Sombra sat on the throne and brought the three ponies closer to him with his magic. All three of them squirmed in his aura, surprised by his actions. However, he continued, I have Celestia's favorite student in my custody, and I have no doubt she will try to free her from my grasp. There is a battle coming. Perhaps a war. You three will be my generals, leading my kingdom to victory!

As the three ponies turned and exited the throne room, Sombra remembered the other prison, the one that did not hold Twilight Sparkle, and added, And the ponies who are not willing to die for me, throw them in the dungeon.


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That was the day Princess Celestia began the counterattack and rescue mission. Her eyes were red from crying and weary from fatigue; she had not slept at all that night, not even a wink.

"Sister, you had to have known that this was a possibility," Princess Luna argued.

"Yes, but I was sure that my dear Twilight would be able to find a way on her own," the white alicorn replied.

Luna set a hoof on her sister's shoulder. She knew all too well the shameful consequences a single mistake could cause somepony. Many times in her thousand-year imprisonment, before Nightmare Moon's bitterness took control, she had wished for the same thing; not condemnation, but comfort.

It was a long while before the princess let anyone enter the throne room. When they finally opened the doors, Princess Celestia ordered the royal guard to prepare for battle in the North. Still stricken with grief, and despite Luna's warnings, she insisted that she front the attack herself and rescue Twilight Sparkle from the clutches of the Crystal King before his shadow embraced all of Equestria.

Celestia and the royal guard arrived in the North by the same tracks that Twilight and her friends had taken. They approached the Crystal Empire by hoof, and stormed the border of Sombra's new realm, hoping to take the shadow pony by surprise.

He had been prepared for this kind of reaction. Only a few guards, Princess? he scoffed at her. He led his own troops, the crystal ponies who had conceded to his authority, led by Crystal Arrow on the ground, and air strikes coordinated by Rock Candy.

Likewise, Celestia had also prepared for both air and ground battle, with Shining Armor leading the ground forces. Though not as strong as the earth ponies, Shining Armor still held his own, and as captain of the Royal Guard, his intelligence and skills still made him a great asset to the Princess. His magic was still blocked by Sombra's magic on his horn, but he was a valued soldier and tactician above all else, so rather than put him on leave until his horn was cured, Celestia put him with the other earth ponies.

The battle appeared to be a stalemate at first. The Royal Guard definitely had a tactical and military advantage over the crystal ponies, but the crystal ponies were driven to fight by their fear of King Sombra. They were crudely armored by whatever pieces they could find around the city, and many of the crystal ponies had none. Princess Celestia gave the order, if there was any chance, not to kill the crystal ponies.

The battle raged on for hours. The unicorns and earth ponies made the ground shake with their hooves, and pegasi filled the air with a roar of flapping wings. King Sombra grew tired of the battle and joined, now making it a very one-sided fight. Sombra single-hoofedly forced the Royal Guard back, and erected a wall of crystal around the Empire too thick to shatter.

Once Sombra had joined the fight, she knew without a doubt that she would lose this battle, and despite knowing how to use Sombra's dark magic, Princess Celestia could not break through either. She flew to the top edge of the barrier looked upon the Crystal Empire. What she saw saddened her; no fewer than three dozen of her own Royal Guard had been trapped on the other side. King Sombra and some other crystal ponies were currently stripping off their armor and binding them. She could only guess that they were going to be imprisoned.

Celestia projected her voice in a booming volume toward Sombra. "Do not think that you have beaten me, Sombra. I will return."

Sombra raised himself on a giant crystal and returned, in a voice just as loud, I have won this battle, and I will win every battle. I have your student, and now you have given me some of your own army.

Princess Celestia's anger grew. "You rule the crystal ponies with fear. My sister and I have all of Equestria that will come to our aide."

Sombra laughed. It sounds like you are declaring war, Princess.

"I am."


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Today...


It was now morning, and Princess Luna was visiting Rainbow Dash in the hospital. "The next day my sister and I appointed members of the Royal Guard outside Sombra's barrier to ensure that nopony, not even Sombra himself, would make sinister advances to the rest of Equestria. So far, he has not done anything since the first battle," she explained.

"Why not?" asked the cyan pegasus.

"We do not know," Luna replied. "It is most likely he is preparing his troops for future battles. My sister told me that many of the crystal ponies were not wearing any armor."

Rainbow Dash leaned back onto the hospital bed, careful not to put too much pressure on her broken wing. "Thanks for visiting, Princess."

"You are feeling better, Rainbow Dash?"

"Yeah, a little bit," she said. "I don't think I'll be able to help with fighting though."

"Perhaps that is the case. But perhaps it is not." Rainbow Dash looked at the blue alicorn. "We are holding a meeting today to discuss strategies. When she was told of the meeting, Captain Spitfire requested that you be in attendance."

"What? Why?" Rainbow Dash asked, confused that a disabled pegasus would be invited to such an important meeting.

"She did not disclose anything else, Rainbow Dash."

Pinkamena walked into the hospital room. It was rare for her to leave Rainbow Dash's side, but when Princess Luna came to visit, she had asked the pink pony to leave them. She hadn't realized that she was hungry, not eating much the last four days, and fatigue showed on her face and eyes. Even her legs were sluggish beneath her body weight.

Princess Luna stood and crossed to the door. "I will take my leave. The meeting is later tonight, before my sister lowers the sun." As she passed Pinkamena, she put a hoof on her shoulder. "I miss your dreams, Pinkie Pie. I hope you will be able to sleep well again soon." With that, the blue alicorn exited the room.

Pinkamena watched Luna go. Rainbow Dash slid off the bed and walked over to her. They embraced each other and talked until it was time for them to go to the meeting. Rainbow Dash was still a bit weary, not having eaten much without throwing it back up, so she put her right hoof over Pinkamena's shoulders, and the two of them walked through the halls and across the garden to one of the rooms beside the throne room, which held a table.

The two princesses sat at the head of the table, with Shining Armor and Princess Cadance to Celestia's right. Other Royal Guard officers sat around the table, and Captain Spitfire and Soarin, the senior members of the Wonderbolts, were also there. Rainbow Dash, escorted by her pink friend, were the last to arrive; the meeting had already begun.

Celestia and paused what she was saying and looked at the most recent attendees. "Welcome, Rainbow Dash. I am glad you could make it," she said, and directed the two to sit next to the unicorn sitting next to Captain Spitfire. "You have come at a good time. We were just discussing how to get my student, and your friend, Twilight Sparkle, away from the Crystal Empire. And since you risked your life to save her at the beginning, we were hoping you might have some vital information regarding this."

Rainbow Dash looked around the table, at all the faces pointed directly at her. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I saw Sombra heading toward the tall central tower of the crystal palace. I kinda knew that's where Twilight was, since she and Spike had gone to look for the Crystal Heart in the palace. The closer I got, I saw Spike standing next to the Heart. It looked like he was talking, but I didn't see anypony else. I saw something like a cage in the middle of the room."

The ponies around the table took note of this. Celestia had come to the same conclusion as everypony else. "Sombra hid the Crystal Heart in the castle? Twilight must have gotten caught in the cage." She turned back to Rainbow Dash. "Do you remember anything else?"

"I'm sorry, but that's all I remember. I was too busy fighting Sombra."

"We thank you for your efforts, Rainbow Dash. Captain Spitfire," she said, turning to the yellow pegasus, "I believe you have something to share with us?"

"Yes, Princess," Spitfire replied. She stood and put her hooves on the table. "Dr. Monchino here approached me a few days ago when he heard about Rainbow Dash. He's witnessed her amazing abilities a number of times, and wanted to help her out. Dr.?"

The tan unicorn next to her stood as she sat back down. "Thank you, Captain. For years my team and I have been working on limb replacements, mostly for those injured in construction, or natural disasters," he explained. "It broke my heart when I heard about Rainbow Dash's predicament. But!" he shouted, pointing his hoof into the air, "I have been perfecting a full wing replacement for such an injury as this."

He brought the prosthetic prototype out of a box and set it on the table for all the ponies to see. Everypony leaned in to get a closer look. "It is mostly comprised of plastic, but I have added in electronic elements, which I hope to connect to the existing nerves."

"That sounds dangerous, Doctor," Princess Cadance expressed.

"Yes, it will be a risky operation. All my previous experiments show that, if successful, Rainbow Dash may be able to fly again." Rainbow Dash's eyes widened at the thought. "All in all, it is up to her," the doctor concluded. He turned his attention toward the cyan pegasus. "In regards to recent events, we have no reason to ask this of you, but are you willing to undergo this surgery, for the chance to fly again?"

Once again every eye was set on her. Dr. Monchino sat and gestured for her to stand. Slowly, she rose and leaned against the table, still weak. She returned the gaze of every pony in the room, taking her time, and finally her eyes rested upon the princesses and Shining Armor. "I was probably the best flier in all of Equestria until a few days ago. Flying was everything to me, and now that's been taken away from me. Twilight is my friend; that's why I fought King Sombra. He brought us a war, a war that we have no chance winning."

"To answer you question, Doc, no." Faces fell, and some eyes (especially those of Shining Armor) looked betrayed. "I'm not gonna get this surgery for the chance to fly again. I'm gonna get this surgery because I want to fight. We're gonna need the Wonderbolts, and the Wonderbolts need the fastest and best fliers in Equestria."

Most of the ponies cheered, and the princesses smiled at her answer. Princess Cadance and Shining Armor got up and hugged her.

Once the noise had calmed down, Dr. Monchino took the stage again. Picking up the prosthetic, he said, "Come with me," and he led Rainbow Dash and Pinkamena away from the room.


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Rainbow Dash sluggishly opened her eyes, drowsy from both the pain medication and the anesthetic. She was lying on a different kind of hospital bed now, and she took her time sitting up. When she finally regained her bearings, she saw Dr. Monchino standing nearby. "Hey, Doc," she said with a weak smile.

"Ah, good, you're awake." The doctor turned his attention to her. "And you're sitting up, very good. But before you do anything else, I'd like to give you a quick examination."

He led her through extending the new wing, flaring out the feathers, and flapping it, gently at first, to see if the nerve connections were stable. There was, of course, some pain and tenderness at the site of the surgery, but everything seemed to be okay.

As he exited the room, he held the door open for Pinkamena, who walked up to her friend and gave her a hug. "Pinkie? Your hair's still deflated. What's wrong? The Doc says I'll be able to fly again soon."

"I know," she replied, "but your left wing was my favorite wing." Rainbow Dash couldn't help but laugh. "Oh yeah," she continued, "Spitfire told me to give this to you if you survived." She produced an envelope, with a red wax seal that bore the Wonderbolts emblem on it. The pegasus took it and tore it open with her teeth.

Captain Spitfire had written these words: "I don't remember ever thanking you for saving our lives at the Best Young Flier Competition, Rainbow Dash. It seems you have a habit of risking your life when your friends' lives are at risk. After you left the meeting with Dr. Monchino, we continued discussing the use of the Wonderbolts in the coming war. You're right, we do need the fastest and the best fliers in Equestria, which is why we're holding emergency auditions at the Wonderbolts Academy, and you're invited. Practices start in two weeks; that should give you enough time to recover well enough to join us."

"And thanks," she finished. "We could really use you, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow Dash threw the letter on the bed, whooping as she jumped up and down. Even Pinkamena had to smile, now that her friend could keep on flying.