THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE
The sky was lit up with blue lightning colliding with crystallized ponies. Large numbers of Guardian's battling against a smaller force of Crystallized ponies. While the battle between the Guardian's and Crystallized ponies waged on, the two airships carrying the ground troops had begun to descend. While the other two airships remained in the air, covering the two descending airships. On board the descending airship, Fluttershy had equipped herself in light green deer armor. She looked behind her one more time at her army.
A large number of organized Deer soldiers stood firmly behind her. All ready to lay down their lives for their Abber suserro. But Fluttershy was worried, no, worried didn't come close to the feeling. She was terrified, terrified of what might befall those she led. What if they failed, what if they all died before evening setting hoof on the battlefield, what if-
All these dreadful thoughts were instantly washed away, as a calm hoof grabbed her shoulder. Fluttershy looked to her left, and there was Thorn. Equipped with normal green deer armor and a warm smile on his face. The smile brought warmth to Fluttershy's heart, it was almost as if the smile was washing away all the fear and terror that she had felt. With Thorn by her side, she felt that she could've done anything.
The airship jerked forward, causing the entire large force to lurch forward before regaining their balance. The sound of a loud clank echoed through the ship, the large door in front of the force began to slowly open up like a drawbridge. Thorn looked back to Fluttershy with a reassuring smile.
"You ready?" He asked.
Fluttershy nodded. She took a deep breath before staring out into the battlefield. She drew her sword and without a moment of hesitation she charged forward. Her army following their leader with their lives in her hooves.
Nightwing never received the same lessons as Twilight did when Celestia taught her. Instead of being taught in friendship and magic, Nightwing was taught in strategies, planing, being clever, and being able to solve puzzles in quick paces. Of course their where times he was sent to learn about magic and rarely friendship, but he cared little about those assignments. There were times that he commanded fake troops, on a fake battlefield, against a fake enemy. And every time he would win. But this time it was different than the training battles. This time their we're lives on the line, on both sides.
Onboard the airship that Nightwing was on, in the map room there was a circular wooden table. A third dimensional diamond shaped programable crystal hovered above the table. Projecting an exact three dimensional magical aura image of the battlefield. Nightwing was used to how the battlefield worked, the first thing he had to do was split multiple parts of the field apart. The hologram on the table was immediately separated into four areas. The airships, which were covered in blue, the sky layer, which was covered in yellow, the ground layer, which was covered in yellow, and the Crystal Empire, which was covered in red.
With the four layers established, Nightwing then received a visual of his troops. The hologram was then lit up with tiny yellow Guardian figures flying in the sky layer, along with tiny sized Crystallized red ponies that were engaging the Guardian's. On the ground layer was an organized group of tiny green deer figures charging towards the Empire. Nightwing also knew that he was facing someone who was, without a doubt, not stupid. There was most likely a trap nearby and the Deer army was about to hit it soon.
The ground shook and the snow became less flat and smooth as the deer army charged forward. That is until a bright light shined from the sky. Fluttershy skidded to a halt as the deer company did the same. Fluttershy turned to the light to see that it was two flares. One yellow, the other black. Before landing the Guardian's informed all troops what each flare meant. Yellow meant caution, and black meant enemy. Since both were fired at the same time the combination meant 'beware of the enemy'.
"GAAHH!"
Fluttershy turned in fright, seeing the source of the scream. On of the deer soldiers had been hit with some kind of magic. And in an instant, multiple crystallized ponies climbed up from underneath the snow.
"Form up! Defensive position one!" Thorn yelled.
Fluttershy was pushed back as multiple deer troops began to surround their leader. It was the shape of a circle, with Fluttershy in the center. The more heavy troops moved up front. Their armor was a lot like any normal deer armor, except their was a jaw piece that covered the muzzle and connected to the helmet. The more heavier troops were equipped with full body shields where a U shaped hole was cut on the top, the purpose of this design was to allow the heavy troops to lay their spears on, so that if anything came close to the circle it could be stabbed or pushed back.
In the middle of the center were the more average deer soldiers. Equipped with a light shield and broadsword, along with normal green deer armor. In the inner area of the circle was the light armored troops, equipped with normal looking green deer armor except it had less protection than the other armor's, allowing them to be more nimble and move faster. They were also equipped with bows and arrows, along with small daggers. And in the very center of the circle was both Fluttershy and Thorn.
Fluttershy's ears folded, hoping that they would block out the sound of deer crying out in pain as they were continuously assaulted by Crystallized ponies. It was a horrible sound, and what's worse was that it was all her fault. She was the leader, and as the leader she had to lead her troops, but she was afraid. Scared out of her mind, hoping that all of this was a bad dream, a dream that she could just wake up from.
A crystallized pony jumped high into the air. Leaping over the three sections of the defensive circle. The crystallized pony's eyes glowed red, its target was Fluttershy. And she was helpless to do anything against it.
But the crystallized pony was instantly forced away from the circle as a rainbow blur tackled the pony towards the ground. Both the deer and crystallized ponies stopped, staring in amazement at what just happened. Arising from the downed crystallized pony was Rainbow Dash. And she looked absolutely pissed.
"Fluttershy!" She yelled, her anger not directed towards the enemy but rather towards her best friend. Fluttershy slowly rose from the circle, half of her face hidden behind her mane. "You need to stop hiding like a scared filly! Your the Ababa Sasero for crying out loud, your like the queen of every deer in Equestria. Start acting like it!"
"It's pronounced Abber suserro Rainbow Dash." A country voice said. Behind Fluttershy was Applejack, a slight frown on her face. "Now listen Sugar, I know ya've probably had yerself on heck of a tuff day. What with ya being turned to stone and all. And to be honest...I ma'self am having a hard time trying to grasp the situation. But listen to me." Applejack grabbed both of Fluttershy's shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "You are their leader. Only you can do this."
Fluttershy looked down as Applejack released Fluttershy from her gripped. Slowly she grabbed her sword. She hatted violence, but when her subjects were being treated the way they were it sparked something inside her. A fire of anger roared inside of Fluttershy. Without hesitation she charged forward, her army following behind. Ready to lay down their lives for their Abber suserro.
On the Crystal empire, the Hooded one walked calmly down one of the hallways. Comet Tail walking beside the Hooded one. Levitating beside the hooded one was a five pointed star looking object made of a clear crystalline material.
"You have the final piece, now what will you do with it?" Comet Tail asked.
"I'm afraid you are incorrect my Rook, we have not yet achieved the final piece to complete my plan, but it is within our grasp." The Hooded one stated.
"Speaking of which, what is it that you plan to do once you have all of these pieces?"
"You will know in due time." The hooded one replied. "But for now it is time to initiate phase three of our plans."
"Phase three?" Comet Tail asked. "It seems that might not be necessary, seeing as their heading right towards us."
The Hooded pony stopped and turned towards Comet Tail. Even though he could not see the Hooded one's face, Comet tail knew that he/she was glaring at him.
Comet Tail rolled his eyes. "Fine fine, I'll do it. But I won't be happy about it."
Comet tail closed his eyes. His horn became enclosed with red and black magic. The walls to the hallway began to crack and shake beneath the weight of Comet's magic.
Onboard the ship Nightwing was on. The glass windows to map room shattered outwards as red and black magic began to resonate from the room. The Guardian's that occupied the room were instantly thrown from the room. The only two that remained in the room were both Cheese and Nightwing. Who both just plain out confused as to what was happening. Then they vanished.
And then they reappeared. But not onboard the airship but rather someplace else. They're hooves were met with hard white grayish rocks. Of course they were still in a state of confusion, unaware of what was happening. Cheese then looked up, and was immediately aware of where he was. He tapped Nightwing's shoulder and pointed up.
Nightwing followed Cheese's hoof and looked up.
And say the earth.
And then he became aware of where he was.
He was on the moon, Nightwing had been teleported to the moon.
"Huh...how did I not recognize the ground?" Nightwing asked himself.
He looked to Cheese. And immediately flattened his brow. Cheese's face was turning blue, he grasped his neck in a desperate attempt to keep air in is body. Nightwing facehoofed and groaned. "Cheese..." Nightwing stopped himself, thinking of the pros and cons of letting Cheese die from air lose. Of course the pros outweighed the cons, until Nightwing thought of the wrath he would receive if his Teach found out he let an innocent Stallion die.
Nightwing sighed and grabbed Cheese's shoulder. "Cheese, breath. The moon isn't a cold giant rock floating in the sky, it has a breathable atmosphere."
With that Cheese exhaled and took in a large gust of air. "Thank Goodness! For a second there I was worried."
"Uh huh." Nightwing rolled his eyes.
"So, two things. One, why are on the moon?" Cheese asked.
"I don't know, someone must have teleported us here."
"Okay. Two, what's that?" Cheese pointed behind him.
Nightwing looked behind him and his eyes widened.
Behind them was a castle, with two large towers attached to a main building that towered above a large town. But the castle looked as though it was utterly destroyed, it's stone cracked, its structure was barely stable, and the town looked as though it had suffered the same fate as the castle. Nightwing had read about the castle, but not once ever saw it with his own eyes.
"The Lunar Arce." Nightwing said.
Back at the crystal empire the ship Nightwing had been aboard had crash landed. The final one in the sky was now above the empire. It jerked to a stop and from the bottom of it, ropes fell down until they reached the ground. Guardian's began to slide down the ropes until reaching the ground. Occupied by the Guardian's was Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie, Ranger, and Silver Platter all landed.
A guardian approached Twilight. "Princess Sporkal. Orders from captain Nightwing have ceased. Adaptive program tells me to take orders from you."
Pinkie giggled at Twilights nickname. "As your leader I demand that you refer to me as Twilight."
"Command not acceptable." The Guardian replied.
"Well then override."
"Override not available. Your orders Princess Sporkal."
"Just...just search the area for Nightwing so I can Beat him into a pulp."
"Unable to achieve command."
"Why not?!" Twilight demanded. "Where is he, the mother bucking literal moon?!
"Correct, Captain Nightwing is currently on the 'The mother bucking literal moon'."
Meanwhile on said moon, Nightwing and Cheese were walking along a path through the demolished town. Broken homes, deserted houses, and silent streets. There was no sound, there was no living thing, there was nothing.
"Geez what happened to this place?" Cheese asked. "It looks like it's been through a war zone."
"That's because it has."
Both Nightwing and Cheese halted. Turning to see the Hooded Pony standing on a broken building.
"Behold, the last city of the Shadow Knights. The kingdom of Lunar Arce. This kingdom was once filled with the last Vampire batponies that wanted to escape the Order's wrath. But their last kingdom was destroyed when Nightmare moon was banished here." The hooded one said, dropping down from the building and landing on the ground. "Did she ever tell you Nightwing. Did your beloved Teach ever look you in the eye and told you that she killed the very last of your kind?"
"...no." Nightwing croaked.
"No. Of course she didn't. How could she? After all it wasn't as if she could even remember such a gruesome thing. But that matters little, because I will finally bring justice to those that have done wrong."
And just like that, both Nightwing and Cheese were instantly taken out as multiple black tendrils erupted from the shadows and knocked out both Cheese and Nightwing. Comet tail appeared and picked up Cheese. He looked to the hooded one. "Dispose of him, we have no need for his mischief." Was the Hooded one's response.
Back on earth, outside of the crystal empire. The deer army was continuing its charge forward towards the empire in a Flying V battle formation. Fluttershy and Thorn lead the charge, where Applejack and Rainbow Dash aided the sides. Any crystallized ponies that came close were immediately pushed back. The plan was going very well.
That is until the battle regiment was met with a large crystal wall in front of them.
Fluttershy halted along with the rest of the army.
"That wall is made of Crystalline Jade." Thorn announced. "We won't be able to do anything against it."
The crystalline Jade wall was massive. It looked almost impenetrable.
KABOOOOOM!
That is until the sound of one thousand thunderous storms colliding all at once rang through the air. All eyes were almost instantly blinded as a red, black, yellow, and orange beam sailed through the sky and struck the wall.
Crystalline Jade is able to absorb both magic and kinetic energy. Unfortunately, like everything in existence, it melts at a certain degree. And that's what happened to the wall, it began to melt. Pieces of cracked and fractured crystalline Jade fell from the wall as the multi colored beam drilled into the wall. Finally the wall caved in, and a large chunk of it fell forward. Pushing both the air and snow beneath it outwards. A massive gust of high flying snow was sent forward. The heavy armored deer stepped forward, planting their shields into the ground in a crescent shape that shielded the army from the blast.
"Brace yourselves!" One of the heavy armed soldiers shouted.
The gust of air and snow was immensely powerful. Trying its best to push back the shields from the army. But the army stood firm, not willing to budge an inch from where they stood.
And just like that, the large gust vanished.
The air returned to normal. There was no wind, no howling snow, just plain everyday air.
"Sorry about that Sis. Didn't think of what might happen if the wall fell down." A voice said.
Fluttershy, along with the rest of the army, looked to the top of the large piece of destroyed wall. On top of it was Flash Sentry, who's mane and tail were black with red tips and his pupils turned red. Lightning Strike, whose mane and tail had turned a bright shade of orange along with his eyes. And Soarin, whose mane and tail turned a bright yellow along with his eyes.
Fluttershy smiled happily at the sight of her brothers and cousin. When Flash, Lightning Strike, and Soarin all landed they were both welcomed with a kiss from their sister.
"I don't think this is the time or place for kisses cuz." Soarin chuckled.
"Oh...good point." Fluttershy agreed.
Then she slapped Soarin on he cheek.
"Ow!" Soarin hissed. "What was that for?"
"That was for you disappearing for almost a month. Where the hay have you been?!" Fluttershy demanded.
"We don't have time for this." Lightning Strike said. "Come on, we have to go give some assistance to Nightwing."
THE MOON
Nightwing slowly came to. His senses beginning to reawaken and sharpen. When he was somewhat awake he became aware of his location. He was in a large room that looked to be the size of four football fields. Multiple pillars supported the ceiling, but some of the pillars were cut down and broken. A ripped and cut red mat stretched across from the front of the room all the way to the end. Nightwing tried to move but his body refused, looking down he saw the cause of his restrictions.
His entire body had been chained to one of the pillars that remained unscathed. The chains wrapped around his fully opened bat wings. The chains that were binding Nightwing to the pillars were not made of mere iron or silver. The chains were made of brimstone, a rare ore that was mined inside the far depths of Tartarus. Brimstone was said to be 'the chain's that bind evil to the eternal fire'. It was mostly used on Dragon's and Demon's. It was also something that ponies used on Vampire Batponies. Nightwing's memories bled deeply into his mind, reminding him of the pain that these chains had once caused to him. He winced in pain from the chains, parts of his body stung from the immense heat.
"Ah, your awake."
Nightwing looked to his left. Where the hooded one was walking towards Nightwing, a black metal chair levitating beside the hooded one. The Hooded Pony sat the chair in front of Nightwing, it's back facing Nightwing. The Hooded pony sat in the chair, resting her/his forelegs on the top rail.
"......Let me guess, this is the part were you tell me your life story and why your doing all of this?" Nightwing guessed.
"Unfortunately no. I will not be revealing my plans until the time is right. I will however reveal to you my story and who I am." The hooded one said. Her forelegs pulled down the hood.
Revealing a black pony head figure with no eyes, mouth, nostrils, ear holes, or anything detailed. The hooded one raised their crystal, the black shadow began to unwrap itself from the hooded one's head. Revealing her face.
Yes her. The hooded one was a mare with grey fur, bright red long mane, red eyes with black slits for pupils, and two fangs that slightly popped out of her mouth.
"As you probably have already guessed, I am one of the Vampire Batponies that survived the Order's holocaust." The mare said. "My name is Moon Stone."
"I knew it." Nightwing slightly smiled. "I knew I wasn't the only one, I knew I wasn't the only one who had survived."
"Yes, but it is sad that you and I must be enemies." Moon said.
"Quit your mumbling, tell me how you survived, are their others who survived, tell me everything." Nightwing rambled on.
"Enough! How can you be excited at a time like this, I'm going to get revenge on those who destroyed our race." Her face turned into a smile. "And your going to help me."
"When you say 'I'm going to help you' do you mean that your gonna mind control me to do your dirty work or are you going to somehow turn me to the dark side or something?" Nightwing asked.
Moon Stone sighed. "Do you know what a Shadow Knight is Nightwing?"
Nightwing looked at Moon Stone like she just asked him if he knew what a circle was. "Of course I know what a Shadow Knight is, it's a vampire Batpony capable of wielding a complex crystal and is part of the main military force of the Lunar Empire. Course when they all died the vampire population was destroyed by the Order."
"Your correct. Or rather, half correct." Moon Stone said as Nightwing raised his eyebrow. "The part of where only Shadow Knight's can use complex crystal's is false. Any one can use a complex crystal, but it was our kind that believed only those worthy could wield a complex crystal."
"So I take it your not a Shadow Knight?" Nightwing asked.
"No, if I was I wouldn't need you for my plans."
"If you need a Shadow Knight, what do you need me for? I mean for all I know I could not be a Shadow Knight." Nightwing suggested.
"Tell me Nightwing, what do you know of the Shadow Ponies?" Moon Stone asked.
"You mean the Umbrum?" Nightwing puckered his lips and looked up in deep thought. "...um...not a whole lot. I know that they were once any normal creatures, but soon they were consumed by their shadow's and turned into something monstrous. And also they were sealed away by the ruler of crystal Empire a while back."
"Yes...but did you know that some of the Umbrum possessed vampire Batponies and thus came the birth of the Shadow Knights."
"So what your saying is-"
"There's currently an Umbrum soul inside of you. Or rather the Umbrum soul has merged with yours."
"Okay...so I've got a Shadow Ponies soul inside of me...that's some nightmare fuel. But why do you need my soul?"
"All will be revealed in due time, don't fret." Moon Stone sinisterly smiled
*wham!*
Both Nightwing and Moon Stone turned their heads to the double door that Starlight had burst through. She was panting out of breath from the running she had done.
"Oh for the love of-breath! There is an atmosphere on the moon, you can breath." Nightwing groaned.
"I...know...that." Starlight panted.
Nightwing was about to say something else but it was immediately muffled as a piece of black duck tape was placed on his mouth. Nightwing could only speak in the famous tongue of 'tape on mouth'. A truly beautiful way of speech, to bad no one can fully understand it.
"Calm down Starlight, tell me what news you wish to deliver." Moon Stome said.
"Okay...we have company." Starlight said, regaining her breath.
"How many?" Moon Stone asked, her tone turning serious.
"By Bloodwing's report, twelve have somehow made their way to the moon." Starlight said.
"I see. Send everyone to defend this place at once, they will not halt my plans." Moon Stone said, placing her hood back over her head as a shadow began to wrap itself around Moon Stone's face. "Take Nightwing to the Ion Stone. I will take it from there."