The sun had set on the horse city, and the moonless night helped to hide Noble Six as she continued to make her way away from the castle.
It was surprisingly harder than she thought, to escape, but the city was built without an engineer, it seemed, and was much larger than she previously thought.
Noble Six had spent the better half of the evening creeping through the back alleys of the city and waiting for the streets to clear before she darted across into the next alley, only to follow it around back where she started.
The Spartan silently cursed whatever architectural "genius" had designed the city, and eventually found herself at what she could only hope was an exit. Unfortunately, for her, there was a distinct lack of buildings between her and the large wall with thick wooden gates, and an abundance of small horses all gathered around several... Floats?
Noble Six could barely see the horses, thanks to one of her many augmentations, but... Yes, they were definitely standing around several parade floats and talking excitedly with one another in their language of neighs and whinny's.
Several torches were lit and mounted into the floats so that other horses could see them as they roamed the streets, and Noble Six realized she would have to wait for the parade to begin before she would have a chance at escape.
So, annoyed, the Spartan slumped against one of the walls in the alley and watched.
And waited.
"The city is under lock down, with guards posted at every exit imaginable, from the sewers, to the sky." Captain Shining Armor reported, with a salute.
"Thank you, Captain." Princess Celestia replied. "You'll have to hurry if you want to be at the head of the parade."
"Your majesty?" Shining Armor asked, confusedly.
"We must continue to act as though nothing is wrong, Captain. The guards are there to watch the parade, and if you are not there to lead it as you said you would, then the public would grow suspicious." Princess Celestia explained.
"I understand, your majesty."
With a quick salute of farewell, Shining Armor left the throne room and hurried off to catch the start of the parade.
"Oh, Luna..." Celestia whispered, with a sigh. "I hope you remember the parade, and how important it is for you to be there..."
Princess Celestia slowly trotted out of the throne room, her royal duties done, for the day, before slipping into her room and onto the balcony. "It's the beginning of The Harvest, and if you're not there to celebrate it..."
Princess Celestia lowered her head in shame and turned back into her room.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most, from when Mother and Father passed, to Nightmare Moon... And now..."
While ponies outside, all around the country, were celebrating the beginning of a new season, deep within the confines of Canterlot castle, their Princess was crying...
Only the gentle knocking of a purple alicorn roused the sorrowful alicorn from her tears.
"Twilight?" Princess Celestia began, in confusion. "What are you doing in the castle?"
"I thought you might need somepony to talk to, Princess..." Twilight Sparkle replied as she stepped into the room. "I mean, I know you're old and wise, but that doesn't mean it isn't hard..."
Giving a sad little smile, Princess Celestia shook her head, gently. "I will be fine, Twilight. I've been through it all, before, and survived. Luna will come back, eventually. As for you, what are you still doing in the castle?"
"What do you mean, Princess?"
"I mean, it's a celebration, Twilight. Go to Ponyville, be with your friends. Be happy." Princess Celestia suggested.
Twilight Sparkle only gave a small, sad frown for her mentor before nodding and turning to depart.
Shining Armor closed his eyes and took in the scent of the sweet, crisp, night air.
He wasn't incredibly fond of parades, especially since he was the Captain of the Guard, and that meant most of the attention would be on him.
The only good thing he felt that came from it was the disciplined nature of it all. It was all so concrete, so uniform. It was beautiful to him.
At last, the time had begun. Ponies lined the streets, fillies and colts munching down treats as their wide eyes turned to watch the beginnings of the parade, while mares and stallions laughed and chatted with each other.
A last second adjustment to his helmet, and the fireworks behind him tore up through the sky before exploding into flames.
Ponies cheered and hollered as the parade marched forward, with Shining Armor leading a company of eighty Night Guards, followed by the parade floats, jesters, and performers.
He didn't have time to inspect the show, before or during the act, but he assumed whatever was on the floats, and whatever the performers were doing, thoroughly pleased the crowd; evident by their cheers and laughter.
Another burst of the fireworks cannon sounded, and the sky lit up once more as the street filled with the sounds of foals awing.
Shining Armor felt a little bad for the pegasi he had stationed up above, who must be having quite the fright.
Eventually, after the parade had snaked its way through the city, it came to a halt outside Canterlot Gardens, where Princess Luna was to raise the moon to signal the beginning of the new season.
As the company of Night Guards took their position around the central platform, Shining Armor began to wonder where exactly was the Princess of the Night...
And then, everything exploded into chaos.
The moon slowly began to rise from the edge of the sky, climbing hurriedly into the center.
Cheers that erupted from the gathered crowd soon turned to screams of terror as the entire company of Night Guards burst into Changelings in flashes of green.
Queen Chrysalis, herself, appeared on the central platform in a flash and let out a menacing laugh as Changelings began to appear all over the city.
Shining Armor stood there, dumbstruck, with a look of terror on his face as the Queen of the Changelings slowly approached him.
Noble Six quietly counted off the seconds as the last float began its journey through the town, leaving the main gate as more fireworks filled the sky.
A few guards took up position beside the gate, and Noble Six counted four in watch towers on either side of the gate.
It would be difficult, but Noble Six could get it done.
Double checking her surroundings, and finding them pleasingly barren, the Spartan snuck out of the alley and quickly pressed herself up against the stone wall, digging her fingers into the rock and beginning to climb her way to freedom.
She was nearly to the top when screams rang in her ears, and images of melting Marines flashed through her mind. Noble Six reeled back in shock, losing her grip on the wall and falling to the cobblestone with a noisy thud.
Noble Six soon learned, however, that the screams were real. Another sounded off, nearby, and convinced a patrolling guard that that was more important than whatever had thudded below him.
Shaking her head clear and climbing the wall once more, Noble Six soon reached the top of the wall and stared out into the beautiful countryside of the strange planet.
Turning back to give a mocking farewell to the city, Noble Six saw that the moon had suddenly risen, green flashes appeared throughout the city, and the screams of terrified horses filled her ears.
Noble Six shook slightly, nearly falling off of the wall.
Jericho Seven... Noble Six remembered, in horror.
She remembered the screams of her family, of her friends, of her neighbors.
She remembered the tears pouring down her cheeks as she screamed in anger and fear.
She remembered feeling nothing but... Calmness, as she sat on a pelican that brought her to a fleeing freighter.
She remembered everything when she volunteered for the Spartan-III program.
Noble Six turned and hurriedly climbed down the other side of the wall, leaving the city and its terrified citizens behind.
She had no obligation to help them.
Princess Celestia stared out into the city of Canterlot in pure horror and disbelief.
Just a few moments ago, the moon had risen, and Celestia felt so happy that her younger sister had done so; taking it as a sign of forgiveness and that she would soon be home, safe and sound.
But, instead, as the moon settled in the middle of the sky, familiar green flashes erupted all around the city, and the sound of terrified, fleeing ponies filled the night.
Celestia could not believe it.
"Beautiful, is it not?" A mocking, dark voice sounded from behind the white alicorn.
"Luna." Princess Celestia whispered as she turned to face her sister.
But the sister she knew did not stand behind her. Rather, it was the monster within that had festered during all of those years of neglect.
Nightmare Moon locked eyes with Celestia and offered a slight smile. "I think it's beautiful, at least. The moon, of course; right where it belongs."
"What have you done with Luna?" Princess Celestia demanded to know.
"I AM Luna!" Nightmare Moon barked, her smile fading, only to be replaced with a menacing, teethy frown. "I am the part of her that you ignored until it consumed her very being, Celestia. I am the bitter jealousy and anger that should not exist, so powerful that I have earned a physical form in this world!"
"No." Princess Celestia stated, firmly. "The Elements of Harmony banished you!"
"Foal!" Nightmare Moon spat as she began to circle around the white alicorn. "I do not die, I only sleep! Luna and I are one and the same! Without both of us, now, neither of us can exist. You have brought this curse upon yourself and, now, you must face the consequences!"
Princess Celestia's eyes lit up in shock as Nightmare Moon attacked, lunging forward to stab at her with her horn.
Celestia quickly jumped backwards, now taking a defensive stance before the dark alicorn. "What do you plan to do? You and I both know that neither of us can hurt each other."
"Is that what you think?" Nightmare Moon questioned with a mocking chuckle as she slowly pulled a green crystal blade from a sheathe at her side, studying it carefully in admiration. "One has to wonder, exactly, why you never harvested those gems in the Canterlot Caverns..."
Celestia's eyes lit up in fear as Nightmare Moon lunged forwards, once more.
Twilight Sparkle snorted in laughter, sending her drink out through her nose as Pinkie Pie continued on with the story.
"And then I said 'Oatmeal? Are you crazy?!"
Laughter erupted from each of the ponies within Sugarcube Corner which, at the time, only included Twilight's five best friends.
"Pinkie, you're a riot!" Rainbow Dash comment as she continued to chuckle.
After everypony had regained their bearings, and the room fell silent, Twilight Sparkle gave a happy sigh. "You girls are the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Even better than being Princess Celestia's student?" Fluttershy asked.
"Especially better than being Princess Celestia's student." Twilight confirmed, happily, before giving a sad look to each of her confused friends. "I just hate that I almost never going to see you all, again..."
"Oh, darling, nonsense!" Rarity began. "I go to Canterlot quite frequently; you're bound to see me!"
"Yeah, and when I'm a Wonderbolt, you'll see me in the skies, every day!" Rainbow Dash added.
"Heck, an' Ah attend e'ry Gala." Applejack said.
"Oh, oh!" Pinkie Pie joined in. "Me too, me too!"
The group gave a giggle at Pinkie's antics before Twilight turned her gaze towards Fluttershy, who was trying her hardest to hide behind her milkshake glass.
"I-I don't really have a reason to be in Canterlot..." she admitted. "But I'll try my hardest to visit, every now and then..."
Content with their responses, Twilight pulled all of her friends into a group hug. "I just wish I didn't have to go back, in the morning."
"Speaking of which, dear, how long is the celebration supposed to last?" Rarity inquired. "I don't remember nearly as many fireworks last year as they're shooting off, now."
A confused look out the window revealed several bolts and bursts of light erupt above Canterlot - some going further than fireworks should, and some not going very far, at all, before bursting.
"Those aren't fireworks, Rarity..." Twilight began, quietly. "Those are spells..."
3266295 Damn you've been going ham on this story.
Shaaaaame.
3266871
3266869 Damn straight. I'd like to get that RP going, gain, but you never replied.
3266906 Shit man, I'm sorry but my Skype is fucked to shit. Literally I can't even I.M. People anymore it sucks. I have no idea what happened, about a month ago I downloaded an update and that's when it slowly started dying on me.
The only way I can chat is through Google Plus or Gmail. But if you can find another way for us to continue it, I'll be happy to join.
Will the epilogue be the end of the fic or the end of an arc?
Noble Six, what are you doing! You forgot your helmet!
3266930 End of the story.
3266935
I know! She seemed pretty intent on getting her gun before, too, but now leaving something as important of part of her armor behind?!
Those things have a self-destruct mechanism for a reason: They contain some of the most advanced technology ever created by man kind.
How do you expect to finish this story up in two chapters?
3267082 You'll see~
Noble Six, you DON'T have any obligation to help them. They imprisoned you and tortured you. They took from you all you had left. Take it back, find the remnants of the ship, fix it up with what you can, leave this rock, and never return.
3266940 Is there gonna be a sequel to this story?
3267193 Not that I have planned. Anyone is free to make one, though. It'll have to be non-canon, though, since a sequel would ruin my epilogue.
Uuumm i dont like where this is going..... And also, (to my opinion) it seems as if the whole story is primary focused on Celestia, not noble 6. Is this part of the story, or I'm mistaken?
3267316 The story is focused on Noble Six, and the relationship between Celestia and Luna. It'll make more sense in the next chapter, I promise. I'm sorry you're not liking the story. Do you have any suggestions?
3267378no I'm not saying I'm hating it. I love this story. That suspense is killing me between Luna and Celestia. And also suggestion...... I dont have one. Keep up the work though, cuase this is getting good
Wait wut? All that monologue about the screams of her family and kinsmen, and she just walks? I mean; yer they put her in a cell, and all, but that's what anyone would do to an alien soldier they knew nothing about. Damn, I was so hoping she'd shoulderbash the shit outta some changelings
3268093 There's still one chapter left~
Ya Six fuck em let them rot... in all seriousness i hope six does not help them
3268298 Trade ya a bag o' skittles for some shoulderbashin' action next chapter? cmon, you know you wanna
3268950 But skittles are made with gelatin! D:
And it's going to happen, anyway~
3268978 I had to reread your sentence a few times, it was so mind-boggling. I take it your allergic to gelatin? or just don't like it, perhaps? either way it's scary to think of. *shivers* and also: yay! violence!
3269040 Nah, vegetarian. And yay, violence!
3269051 Oh, okay then. What's a vegetarian approved treat with which I can bribe you for changeling ouchies?
3269077 Black licorice :3
That good ol' German stuff, not the crappy American kind.
3269133 Then thoult shall have liquorice!
On a side note; not many authors'l really hold a conversation with the readers {especially not one this fun! } So, I think you are deserving of a level up! woot! plus your stories are good too, so imma follow ya, and keep an eye out for more
Interesting turn of events I've got an feeling that this isn't going to be an happy ending! Oh well!
3269194 *flails excitedly, unable to form a proper response, but incredible happy*
3269199
How can reality be happy after all this has been building up. The final nail in Celestia's coffin is when she took upon herself to dodge those trials and give Twilight more responsibilities than her own sister. Who wouldn't want to kick Celestia's ass!
It seems strange to me that a unicorn, in this case rarity, doesn't know a spell when she sees one.
3269696
Agreed needs to be taken down an notch or if the most recent chapter says anything then maybe Celestia needs to be killed?
3270103 She doesn't recognize the spells being cast, since they're more like streaks of light across the sky.
Feels rushed every thing is happening to fast, such as the escape and then attack, and then the end seems like your trying to end this quickly.
3272125 That's one of my biggest flaws, as I've come to notice... I kind of lose interest in the stories, but feel the need to finish them, so I tend to skip over pointless details and drawn out stuff; giving only the juicy parts to the reader...
I'm sorry...
If Six dies I swear to whatever god you believe in...
3273215 Everyone dies, eventually. :3
3273402 Correction: If she dies at the end of the story*
*read prev. post.
3273531 Define "the story".
3273540 Sorry, I meant "this" story.
Inb4 Satan
3273541 Blargh, I give up teasing.
3273553pictures.mastermarf.com/blog/2008/080817-notice-the-game.png
fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2012/025/a/1/you_lose_the_game__by_bikerfan92-d4njqf3.jpg
Sorry, couldn't decide on which one to use.
3273567 Huh?
3273576 Wait, you've never heard of the game?
3273577 I have heard of many games.
3273596 This is not just any game, it's THE GAME.
3273609 THAT IS AWESOME
3273624 AND YOU JUST LOST IT!
3273839
And by thinking of the game you lose as well