Lateral Movement

by Alzrius

585 - Re: Match

Starlight Glimmer’s assault was relentless.

“Give it up, you little brats!” cackled the madmare from where she was levitating above the battlefield, firing a barrage of energy blasts from her horn. “You don’t have what it takes to defeat me!”

As much as he wanted to toss out a witty one-liner in response, Fruit Crunch didn’t have the energy to waste on trying to sound cool. Instead, he put all of his effort into a desperate shoulder roll as one of Starlight’s magical beams lanced down toward him, avoiding the attack by inches as he came up on his hooves, panting. Ignoring the deep gash carved in the ground next to him – and what it would have done if it had struck home – he risked a glance to either side of him, worried about his friends.

Fortunately, they’d managed to weather the onslaught of energy beams as well. Off to his left, he could see Cleansweep and Fiddlesticks leaning out from behind some freshly-scorched rubble that the latter filly had used as a makeshift shield. To his right, Straightlace was in front of Feathercap, his hind leg still extended from having deflected Starlight’s magical attack. As he made eye contact with each of them, they all gave a quick nod, recognizing that it was time to use the strategy that they’d worked out for exactly this situation. Here goes nothing!

Cleansweep and Feathercap started chanting at the same time, the filly raising her voice in a liturgy to the Night Mare’s power while the colt was murmuring a complex series of intonations Fruit Crunch couldn’t follow, both of them waving a foreleg in a series of sharp gestures. Cleansweep finished first, immediately reaching out and placing a hoof on Fiddlesticks’ side, activating her spell. “Go!”

Fiddlesticks didn’t need to be told twice, racing directly toward Fruit Crunch as fast as her hooves could carry her. For his part, Fruit Crunch heaved himself up onto his hind legs, putting his fore-hooves side by side out in front of him, both turned upward as he bent his knees slightly. Gritting his teeth as Fiddlesticks gave a hop, putting her back hooves on his front ones, Fruit Crunch couldn’t hold back a grunt of effort as raised his forelegs as hard as he could, fighting with everything he had as Fiddlesticks pushed off of him, straining to send his friend skyward.

An instant later Fiddlesticks was launched into the air, rocketing upward as though shot out of a cannon.

It was far more of a vertical climb than an assisted jump should have been able to give her, even taking into account the boosted strength and speed from the wolf spirits Fruit Crunch had imbued them all with at the start of the fight. But thanks to the spell Cleansweep had cast on her, Fiddlesticks’ jumping power was greatly enhanced, and with the added boost from Fruit Crunch, she ascended as quickly as any pegasus, cocking her hoof back as she soared toward Starlight Glimmer. From his position on the ground, Fruit Crunch could see the evil mare’s eyes widening, clearly having been taken by surprise.

The sight made him snicker.

You haven’t seen anything yet.

Fiddlesticks had crossed more than half of the distance to Starlight, and was still climbing rapidly, when Feathercap finished his spell.

Immediately, Fiddlesticks began to grow.

Normally one of the smallest members of their group, the earth filly’s size was suddenly robust enough that she could have made even the stoutest of stallions feel insecure. Her torso was as broad as a barrel. Her legs were as thick as tree trunks. Her hooves were the size of anvils. And her eyes were trained directly on Starlight.

The sudden transformation earned a shriek of fright from the levitating mare, and the sound was music to Fruit Crunch’s ears. He knew that Starlight was fully aware of how strong Fiddlesticks was normally, and could no doubt guess how much more power her punch would pack now that her mass had increased several times over. The force of the oncoming strike would mean lights out for her, and even if she somehow stayed conscious, she’d be in no condition to keep fighting.

Holding his breath, Fruit Crunch could almost see Starlight calculating her options, but the belligerent unicorn was out of time, with Fiddlesticks reaching the apex of her leap. With a roar, the filly pivoted at the waist as her hoof came forward, putting her entire body behind the blow. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as she lashed out…

…and struck nothing but air as Starlight suddenly shifted to the side, just barely managing to get clear of Fiddlesticks’ punch.

“Ha!” The laugh burst from Starlight’s lips in a voice that was as relieved as it was triumphant. “Missed me!”

But the smile Fiddlesticks sent Starlight’s way as she sailed past her was one of victory. “You’re going down.”

From his position on the ground, Fruit Crunch saw Starlight’s brows furrow in confusion and alarm, but she didn’t have a chance to react before another voice rang out.

“FALL!!!”

The bellow sounded too loud to have come from Straightlace, the Night Mare’s magic imbuing the command with supernatural potency. The sheer weight behind the word made Fruit Crunch cringe reflexively, despite the force of the spell not having been directed at him. Whereas Starlight Glimmer, he knew, was getting the full effect of it.

He could almost see the order take effect, the compulsion imbued in the word following the sound as it reached her ears and slammed into her brain. Under normal circumstances, he knew, the odds of this kind of spell working on Starlight were low. Mind-affecting magic coud be fought off through sheer willpower, and whatever else could be said about her, Starlight Glimmer was a pony of unyielding determination.

That was why they’d gone to such great lengths to try and distract her, softening her up for Straightlace’s spell. While it would have been great if Fiddlesticks had been able to land a decisive blow, they’d all agreed beforehoof that it was unlikely. With Starlight’s telekinetic flight giving complete mastery of her aerial positioning, an uncontrolled leap – even if it took her by surprise – was unlikely to get within striking range of her.

What it could do, however, was leave her off-balance and unprepared for a sudden battle of wills. Even as Fruit Crunch watched, a sudden jolt ran through Starlight’s body, her jaw clenching as she tried to resist the sudden impulse demanding that she return to the ground. The sight made him swallow, knowing that they didn’t have a backup plan if this didn’t work.

But a second later, the aura surrounding Starlight’s horn winked out, the larger one surrounding her body following suit. A shudder ran through Starlight as she began to fall, still trying to beat back the order compelling her not to fly, but there was nothing she could do to stop herself as she hit the ground hard, a cry of pain escaping her lips as she bounced and rolled…

Directly toward where their spirit animals had been waiting.

Her cry of pain becoming one of panic as Lyden led the charge, Starlight couldn’t do anything as the five of them leapt from where they’d been concealing themselves, descending on the fallen pony with a vengeance. In an instant, she was at the center of a storm of teeth and talons, thrashing wildly as she was scratched and bitten from all sides.

“Her horn!” yelled Fruit Crunch as he raced toward where Starlight had fallen, knowing that they needed to put her down before she could regroup and counterattack. “Get her horn!” Straightlace’s spell would only last for a few seconds before wearing off naturally, and it didn’t prevent Starlight from using other kinds of-

A bright flash from the center of the animals made his heart sink, and when he saw a matching shine out of the corner of his eye, he already knew what it would be before he turned his head. Sure enough, there was Starlight, over fifty feet distant and glaring at them. Despite her having managed to protect her horn, she still looked worse for wear. The shoulder she’d landed on was already discoloring badly, scratch marks covered her sides and back, while bite marks covered her hooves. But she was still on her hooves.

Cursing, Fruit Crunch changed course, rushing toward her despite knowing that he’d never be able to get there before she got her next spell off. He could already hear his friends behind him, and out of his periphery could see that the spirit animals were already starting to move. Maybe we can still get her, he found himself hoping. Some of those bites on her hooves had to be from Venin, so maybe if the poison-

“This isn’t over,” growled Starlight, her voice thick with malice as she swept her eyes over each of them. “I promise you, the next time we fight, you won’t be so lucky.”

The words made Fruit Crunch’s eyes widen, unable to believe what he was hearing. Was she…?

A moment later, Starlight disappeared, and this time the flash of her teleporting wasn’t matched by another one elsewhere in his field of vision.

She had fled.

“Did…did she just retreat?” came Feathercap’s disbelieving voice.

“I think she did!” whooped Cleansweep. “I think we beat her!”

“It worked!” cheered Fiddlesticks, still gigantic. “It really worked!”

“We really did it,” laughed Straightlace, grinning as he walked up next to Fruit Crunch. “Can you believe it?”

Fruit Crunch couldn’t help but smirk at that. “Of course I can,” he answered, unable to help the cocky tone in his voice as he turned to look at his friends. “We’re the Night Mare’s-”

---

That was when Fruit Crunch woke up.

All around him, his friends were coming to as well, yawning and stretching as they slowly shook off the vestiges of slumber. Sitting up, Fruit Crunch rubbed his eyes. “You guys are not going to believe the dream I just had,” he murmured.

On the other side of the room, Fiddlesticks groaned as she brushed her mane out of her face. “Do you really have to make that joke every time?”

He didn’t have a chance to answer as Cleansweep, already completely awake, flew a quick circuit of the room. “Forget the bad jokes! We just beat-”

“Shhh!” hissed Fiddlesticks suddenly. “You’ll wake Tiddlywinks!”

“Sorry!” Lowering her voice to a whisper, Cleansweep gave the other filly an apologetic look as Fiddlesticks went to adjust her baby brother’s blanket, the infant having managed to sleep through the commotion. “But seriously though, we just beat Starlight Glimmer! I mean, I know it’s not the real Starlight Glimmer, being that she’s a composite from our memories and everything, but still! How long have we been trying to do that now?!”

“I think that was our sixth time fighting her,” mused Straightlace.

“Seventh,” corrected Feathercap, slipping his binoculars around his neck.

Grinning, Fruit Crunch clopped his hooves together, the noise earning him a dirty look from Fiddlesticks. “We took care of that Silhouette guy and his goon squad in two tries, and that Royal Guard regiment in three. Now that we’ve beaten Starlight Glimmer, I wonder who we’re gonna fight next?”

You’re too quick to call what happened this time a victory, huffed Lyden, lifting his muzzle from where he was lying in the corner of the room. Your enemy was able to leave on her terms and under her own power.

I agree, added Altaer from where he was perched in the rafters. Further, you were too quick to abandon your defensive posture. Reconnaissance should have been performed to confirm her retreat.

“What reconnaissance?” frowned Fruit Crunch. “We saw her teleport away.”

Is that what you saw, or what you thought you saw? lectured Ulespy, twisting his head around to look at Fruit Crunch from where he was clinging onto a hanging lamp. Had she used her magic to turn invisible, cloaking her intent with words of defeat, would you have known the difference?

“He’s right,” groaned Feathercap. “One of us should have cast that spell to detect magical radiation. The emanations from an illusion spell are different from a trans-spatial one.”

“We probably should have put some eyes in the sky too,” sighed Fiddlesticks, glancing at Ulespy before looking over at Lyden. “And a nose to the ground, in case her scent turned up somewhere it shouldn’t have been.”

Not to mention that you should have taken the momentary lapse in hostilities as an opportunity to begin healing the others. Venin’s chastisement made Cleansweep pout as she touched down, the snake slithering up her leg and curling in her usual spot around the filly’s middle. Even if they were only moderately wounded, you always want your nest to be free of injuries in case the battle suddenly resumes. Particularly since there were no bystanders nearby in need of your aid.

We’re not saying you didn’t do a good job, added Nemel as she trundled over to Fiddlesticks. Both your tactics and your teamwork were excellent. We just don’t want you to drop your guard too soon.

“So does that mean we’re gonna have to fight Starlight in our dreams again tonight?” moaned Cleansweep.

“If it does, then we’ll deal with it,” sighed Fruit Crunch. “The Night Mare is letting us share these dreams so that we can work on getting stronger. That means figuring out how to best use the spells she’s giving us, along with better developing the powers we get from you guys.” That last part was directed at Lyden, who raised and lowered his muzzle in the lupine approximation of a nod.

Very well said, replied the wolf, pride filling his mental voice. You’re all growing more proficient at using the abilities we’re able to grant you. Combined with the spells at your command, and your nocturnal training, you’ll soon become a true force to be reckoned with. I have no doubt that the High Alpha will be most pleased when he returns.

Fruit Crush couldn’t help but grin at that, looking at his friends and finding matching looks on their faces. Lex was gonna be so impressed when they told him how much stronger they’d gotten!

Fighting down the urge to daydream about what that would be like, Fruit Crunch glanced at the window. Although the shade was drawn, he could still see light seeping in from around the edges, telling him that morning had arrived. “We should probably get a move on. What’s on everypony’s schedule for today?”

“I’m going to be working with Miss Halation some more,” replied Feathercap immediately, earning some good-natured groans from the others.

“Feathercap, you’re already getting spells from the Night Mare,” chided Cleansweep with a teasing grin. “Why do you want to study magic in books too?”

Hugging his binoculars to his chest, Feathercap frowned. “Some of the spells I’m learning with Miss Halation aren’t like the ones we get from the Night Mare,” he replied defensively. “That’s how I was able to cast that enlargement spell on Fiddlesticks.”

“He’s got a point there,” noted the filly in question.

“And I can still keep an eye on things outside by looking through Ulespy’s eyes,” huffed the only unicorn member of the Knights.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it,” chuckled Straightlace, waving a hoof in a conciliatory gesture before smirking. “After all, if you study enough magic, you may become as good as me one day.”

The statement – spoken in a lilting tone that made it clear he wasn’t being serious – caused the other foals to roll their eyes. For whatever reason, the Night Mare hadn’t granted them spellcasting abilities in equal measure. Straightlace had received the most, followed by Fiddlesticks, and then Feathercap, with Cleansweep and Fruit Crunch being tied for having received the least. While their spirit animals had told them that the variances were likely in response to their personal aptitudes for receiving her power, rather than being a reflection of how much she favored each of them – an explanation abetted by how the range of specific spells they could pray for were different for most of them – it was still a subject that provoked some ribbing among the group.

“I’ll be with Cloudbank most of the day,” added Fiddlesticks, in a transparent attempt to move the conversation along. “She’s still teaching those new guys who’re receiving spells about how to use them, and I offered to help out. Which reminds me: Cleansweep, can your dad take care of Tiddlywinks? Most of the manor staff here are busy doing what they can to help out with the coronation or with Granola Bar’s wedding, so I thought maybe he could babysit?”

“Oh, um, I guess I can ask him,” shrugged Cleansweep. “He’s been acting kinda weird lately, taking it easy instead of being all gung-ho about some sporting event the way he usually is. I think he misses Mom, so maybe that’ll cheer him up. I’ll ask him before I meet up with Hopscotch.”

Fruit Crunch nodded. “Lyden and I are going to be making the rounds with Garden Gate.” He sat up a little straighter. “I’m gonna ask her about maybe having a daytime training session with our group and hers, one leader to another.”

“And I’ll be on air patrol with Turbo,” confirmed Straightlace. “I think maybe he’ll wear the badge the Royal Vexal-…Vexol-…”

“Vexillologist,” chimed in Feathercap.

“Right, the badge the Royal Vexillologist made.” He shook his head in mild consternation. “I don’t know why he’s so against wearing an emblem showing Prince Legis’s cutie mark.”

“Yeah,” frowned Cleansweep. “You think he’d be a little more grateful, what with being brought back to life and all.”

Fiddlesticks shrugged, gently picking up Tiddlywinks and sliding him onto her back. “It’s probably because the prince sent his friends on that adventure in Canterlot while he was gone, and he’s upset he was left out.”

“Which is why the Night Mare’s Knights always stick together,” pronounced Fruit Crunch sagely. “We work as a team, in dreams and in the daylight.”

Cleansweep smirked. “Except for splitting up while we’re patrolling with the grownups, right?”

“You know what I mean!” groaned Fruit Crunch, prompting a round of laughter from everypony – himself included – as they filed out of their room, spirit animals in tow, looking forward to what the new day had in store.

Author's Note:

The Night Mare's Knights receive spells from their goddess!

With their abilities augmented, is peace in Vanhoover guaranteed until Lex returns? Or will some new disaster put their enhanced powers to the test?

Comments

[Booster Spice]

The Knights used the Throw Bobby At It trick from Dungeons and Dragons?

[harts fire]

[Alzrius]

10764788 Well, that's just a knockoff of a Fastball Special.

But really, what we saw here was the Knights dusting off Feathercap's old plan for dealing with Silhouette: everyone distracts the bad guy while one person prepares to use the real maneuver for ending the fight.

[Alzrius]

10764839 Glad you liked the chapter!

[Not so New Brony]

So the NMK essentially gets to run simulations to test out their new spells and improve on their proficiency and teamwork and all without any harm to them...geez, the CMC would probably do anything to be able to do that.

Guess it's another good thing Shining Armor's proposal to siege Vanhoover didn't get approved cause if they went in with his assumptions then they'll likely get trounced...for the first few moments. Sure the kids are more powerful now but they are still just that, a group of kids with some power but the guards, after their string of embarrassing blunders, are likely going to be more coordinated and determined to at the very least, not mess up.

Still, with the plan put to the wayside for whatever Celestia has planned, it's a good thing the kids won't need to put their 'training' to the test any time soon.

[Alzrius]

10765954 The Night Mare's Knights are indeed able to train in their dreams now, and it sounds like they're putting it to good use, especially in conjunction with the spellcasting abilities they've been granted. While it's questionable if they'd have been able to stand up to Shining Armor's plans for an invasion, they certainly wouldn't have gone down easily, that's for certain.

Of course, there's also the tidbit that was dropped in this chapter, that the idea put forward by Cloudbank and the NMK about needing to pray to the Night Mare via Lex as a conduit appears to have been successful, since it was mentioned that more ponies have gained spells. With Cloudbank taking it upon herself to help train them, and some of the Knights helping out (Fiddlesticks in this case), the number of ponies in Lex's area of control with special abilities are growing. With enough discipline and organization, an invasion might not be feasible in the future even if Celestia changes her mind, though that would mean she'd be right about a civil war if it did happen.

Which raises the question of exactly what Celestia's planning as an alternative...