Knight Fall
Honey Crisp waved goodbye to her friends as she left the schoolhouse, promising to meet them bright and early the next day to help with a bake sale put on by the school. The filly had taken to baking like a fish to water, and every adult around her noted that the sweet young mare would likely have her Cutie Mark in baking sometime soon, though they naturally refrained from telling her this. As it was, the setting sun gleamed across her unblemished flank as she wrapped her scarf even more tightly around her neck and pulled her stocking cap over her untidy mane and freezing ears. The day had dawned cold, had kept cold, and it looked as if it would finish even colder. She was looking forward to getting back to the farmhouse and a cup of hot cider.
“Honey Crisp!” a voice called from the schoolhouse. She turned to see that her teacher, Mr. Books, was standing in the doorway, waving to her. She blushed a little at the sight of him. Like most of the fillies in her class, Honey Crisp had a bit of a schoolgirl’s crush on the teacher. He was handsome, kind, funny, and currently not seeing anypony. So she quickly readjusted her hat as she trotted back towards the schoolhouse.
“Yes, Mr. Books?” she asked.
The unicorn smiled kindly. “Would you mind stepping into the schoolhouse for a brief moment? I’d like to talk to you about something.”
Honey Crisp glanced over her shoulder at the road behind her. Normally she was supposed to come straight home if her mother wasn’t there to pick her up, but Mr. Books was her teacher. And she certainly didn’t want to disappoint him. “Of course, sir.” she replied, stepping inside. The door closed behind her.
Mr. Books trotted behind his desk, a simple thing of applewood, a gift from her family many years back to the schoolhouse. He noted the young filly shuffling uneasily in front of him. “Honey Crisp, are you alright?”
She nodded. “I’m just eager to get home, sir.”
He smiled. “Understandable. Last day before the winter break and all that. I promise to make this quick. I have a question for you, and then I shall happily escort you home myself. Deal?”
The Earth filly nodded. “Deal.”
“I’ve been going over your medical records, and everything is up to date except for your weight. How much do you weigh, Honey Crisp?”
The filly gave her weight confusedly. “But why do you need to know that? You’re not Nurse Redheart.”
Mr. Books smiled at her as his horn lit up. A quick jet of light caught her in the chest, and the filly sank to the ground, asleep. “Because, Honey Crisp, I need to know how fast my sisters and I can run with you. I know your mother, and I don’t relish the thought of being caught by her with you in tow.”
Her disguise fell away in a rush of emerald, and her wings began to hum and vibrate, letting her sisters know that the time to flee was now. She turned to face the side of the schoolhouse as she waited on a response. She did not wait long, perhaps a minute, before two replies came back, little more than affirmative chirps. Another spell reduced the side of the schoolhouse to ash, as she hauled the filly onto her back and began to sprint through the streets of Ponyville.
An alarm was raised at the sight of a Changeling sprinting through the streets carrying a foal, and several ponies gave chase to the kidnapper before she was able to make it through the center of town. She saw to her horror that the Bearer of Honesty was setting up a cart in the town square, and their eyes locked before the Earth Pony’s face contorted and she leapt away from the cart, giving chase.
She kept to her pre-planned route, cursing her encumbered speed as Applejack gained on her step by step. She was close now, so close, all she had to do was make it into the next lane, and…there! She took the corner sharply, sprinting for the edge of town as best she could while carrying a half-grown filly on her back. Applejack’s thundering hooves were right behind her the whole way, and she was never quite so glad to see Onyx, minus her disguise as the proprietor of Quills and Sofas, waiting in the middle of the road.
She fired a stunner spell at Applejack, keeping to her orders to use non-lethal techniques at all costs, and giving the Changeling time to increase the distance between herself and the furious Applejack. The last stretch lay before her, and she felt rather than saw Azure fall in on her other side, joining the magical barrage speeding towards Applejack. The pair of female Changelings not running fired off a few more spells before abandoning their positions and breaking off towards the Everfree. As they ran, a loop of rope was quickly secured to Honey Crisp’s middle, and three lengths were attached with practiced ease.
Applejack panted as she made up the gap between her and the Changelings, who had approached the open fields on the edge of town. They were getting ready to leap into the air and head towards the Everfree, she could see that much. And she didn’t know what it was, but there was something about the clouds lining up at the edge of its boundaries, obviously as a deterrent to the town’s Pegasi.
As one, the team of Changelings leapt into the air, spreading out into an even triangle. The breath caught in Applejack’s chest as she worked harder and harder, desperate to catch the monsters who had taken her foal. Three steps away, two, one…she jumped, hooves outstretched as the Changeling team struggled for lift. And missed, by the smallest of fractions of inches. The Earth pony could do nothing but stare as they climbed higher and higher. One or two Pegasi rose from the center of town in order to stop them, but they were easily picked off by spells from the two Changelings flanking “Mr. Books”. She screamed as Honey Crisp appeared to slip off of the lead Changeling’s back, suspended by the ropes each Changeling held in their hooves.
“Honey Crisp!” the heartbroken mare called as her daughter was flown away over the Everfree. “Honey Crisp!” The town gathered to watch helplessly as Applejack, a community leader, broke down. “Monsters! You bring her back, you bucking monsters! Please, I’ll do anything! Just…just bring her back…”
The crowd parted for her husband, who had stepped out of a shop just in time to see the Changelings take off. Parcels forgotten, he had hurried towards the edge of town, somehow knowing that it was his daughter being taken from him as they winged towards the forest. Barely Scotch knelt by his wife, comforting her as she began to weep.
“Hon, what happened? Who took her?”
Applejack’s sobs grew quiet, and she began to shake, violent tremors that wracked her entire body. When she looked up, her eyes gleamed with a barely repressed fire, a torrent of hatred that bordered on the all-consuming. When she spoke, her voice packed an ocean of hate into two simple words.
“Twilight. Sparkle.”
Without a backwards glance, she left her husband and town behind, heading towards the forest. Twilight Sparkle had taken her foal from her. And she would be waiting for her, waiting to meet her. She was going to Zecora’s hut. There she would meet Twilight Sparkle. And there, friend or no, she would make sure Twilight Sparkle never did anything to hurt her daughter or the ones she loved, ever again.
Rainbow Dash surveyed the town in front of her, one that even now burned from within, consumed by the fires of revolution and anarchy as ponies leapt from street to street, looting government buildings, toppling statues of Celestia, and overrunning any of her positions that had been left too far forward. Even now, the last remnants of the Guard had formed a compact ring around the tower, behind a barricade that had been erected both quickly and professionally. She herself had helped with her own hooves to tip a wagon onto its side, nail boards into place, and tear up cobblestones in order to forestall any charges made by the Ever Free.
In some places the defenses had already been tested, being thrown back with difficulty by those manning them. They had paid dearly for that defense, however, and she could hear the screams of wounded ponies in the tower behind her, as her medics did their best to treat them for the wounds they had received from the strange spheres thrown by the rioters. Rainbow Dash watched as another pony under her command, an Earth pony hardly more than a colt, was carried to a medical hut by two of his comrades. He appeared fine…until she noticed that one of his hooves was badly mangled and blackened. He didn’t appear to be in much pain, though. He didn’t look to be feeling much of anything, anymore.
How had things spiraled so quickly out of control? She gazed at the skies, which only hours ago had seemed to be full of the promise of salvation, if they could not restore order entirely. Now they were a grim reminder of what Twilight Sparkle was truly capable of. Three hours ago, a task force of nearly fifty ships, among them troop carriers, bombards, and the quick moving aerial gunships, had roared into view above the city from the northeast, straight from Canterlot. They had cheered then, thinking that Celestia’s justice would carry the day here in Trottingham. They were wrong. By the Radiant Sun, were they wrong.
The sky of Trottingham had suddenly darkened with patches of smoke, resembling the magical illuminations unicorns shot into the sky to celebrate holidays and special occasions. What had set these explosions apart, however, was the fact that they erupted in flashes of flame, and were powerful enough to do damage to any airship. She had watched, horrified, as the anti-airship rounds being fired from…from somewhere...had torn the fleet to shreds. One had gone directly into an airship, punching a hole in its metal hull before exploding within the ship. It had veered listlessly after that, crashing into one of its brethren and plummeting into the ground. And she had seen what they did to Pegasi as she had raced off with the rest of the flyers under her command to rescue those they could. It was only thanks to her speed and agility that she wasn’t hit by the explosions that dotted the air.
But she hadn’t made it back unscathed, not quite. She had been hit right underneath her wing, near the joint where it connected to the rest of her body. She had barely been able to glide in for a landing, and she would be unable to get enough lift to fly out of the city. Her last orders to her team had been to leave the city. They were the fastest flyers available to her, and they could handle themselves in a fight. It would be after the Gala when they arrived, but they would be back. And they’d bring the might of Equestria back with them. She just hoped they’d be quick. So far, the rebels had shown no mercy, given no quarter, and asked for none in return. Prisoners were not taken. They needed reinforcements, and they needed to hold out until morning. But that wasn’t her problem right now.
“Aurora Company has been pushed back to their position in our defensive ring! We no longer control anything in the city except the barricade!” her aide shouted over the sounds of combat and explosives, magical and mundane. “ They’ve effectively grounded our flyers, ma’am, though we still have a few combat ready. What are your orders?”
Rainbow Dash snapped out of her reverie, bringing herself up to speed on what she had just been told. A moment later, she came to her decision. “Ground them. I need every able-bodied pony up on those walls, holding pikes and spears. Tell our mages that if they don’t come up with a way to counteract those spheres they’re throwing outside of personal shields, then we’re all finished. We are now fighting a defensive battle, and we are going to hold this position until reinforcements arrive. If we can last until tomorrow morning, then I believe that Princess Celestia herself might be available to lend aid.”
The aide scurried away to deliver the message. Rainbow Dash sighed and reached for her canteen. A voice rang out over the barricade. “Attention occupants of the Governor’s Spire! Forces belonging to the Princess Celestia! We of the Ever Free Occupational Movement wish to speak with you! Is the commander of the Guard garrison available to speak?”
Rainbow Dash, though unable to fly, was fast enough that she had made it to the top of her wall before the echoes from the voice had faded away. She swept the walls for a unicorn, pulling one who had been rescued from a falling airship with her. “You. Navy. Can you do amplification spells?”
The unicorn nodded weakly. “Yes, ma’am. Just start speaking, I’ll boost your voice.”
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat and replied. “This is Commander Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty and Commander of Her Solar Majesty’s Peacekeeping Force in Trottingham. Who am I addressing?”
A reply came back. “My name is Lively Song, elected leader of the Ever Free movement in the city of Trottingham. I am here to negotiate terms of ceasefire and surrender of your forces. You’ve lost the city, Commander. We don’t want any more bloodshed. Will you negotiate?”
Rainbow Dash’s wings flared indignantly before she realized what her situation was. She was surrounded, the ponies under her command were weary and hurt, and they were clearly outmatched. Her eyes took in the pitiful fort they had constructed, the frightened faces of the Guards around her, and for the first time in nearly four years, Rainbow Dash felt her bloodlust fade. When she spoke, it was not with the voice of a commander, but that of a leader.
“As Commander of this group, I will negotiate terms of surrender. Here are my conditions. Firstly, the seriously wounded I have in my care, those unable to move themselves, will be treated for their wounds and kept safe. Those able to leave while still sustaining serious wounds must be allowed to do so. Thirdly, all enlisted taken as prisoners will be treated humanely and fairly. In return, they will abide by the rules of their captors., and remain orderly under the command of their officers, who will comply with the rules of their detainment.”
There was a pause from the location of the voice. Rainbow Dash could feel the eyes of nearly a thousand ponies on her as she stood tall, waiting on a response. One minute went by, and then two. As she counted towards her third minute, the voice spoke again. “Your terms are acceptable. However, I must make an addendum. You will relinquish custody of your Element and agree to extradition to the Regia in the Everfree Forest, there to be tried for war crimes against the newly formed state led by the Lady Twilight Sparkle.”
Rainbow Dash didn’t even hesitate. “Agreed.”
“Then I consider our conversation concluded, Commander. We will arrive in fifteen minutes. You have until then to prepare yourselves. Good day.”
Rainbow Dash turned to the weary, disbelieving ponies that she commanded. “You are hereby ordered to form yourselves into chain of command, stack your weapons, and enter formation. We’ve lost this city. No need for you all to lose your lives. And besides, my team is on the way to Canterlot. If they think that they can hold this city,” she growled, “they’ve got another think coming. Let the medics know that they’ll shortly be relieved and appraise them of the situation. And if the Princess is unable to recover me in time to put down this foolish revolt, then I would like to take this opportunity to say it has been an honor serving with you all.”
Lively Song strode down the avenue, to the right of her banner-bearer. The flag sent to her by Twilight Sparkle had seen fierce fighting during the day, and had proved itself to be a symbol to rally around during some of the more pressing engagements. The once-pristine silk was now tattered and scorched, the pole stained with blood. For all of that, it still remained a powerful symbol. Just like her warriors, who had proved themselves extremely well today. At last, she and her group of Ever Free fighters reached the barricade, which was gently levitated aside by the unicorns with her. They were not challenged. Carefully, she and her captains stepped through the gap.
“Guard, tench-hut!”
A thousand ponies came to attention, those that were able. In front of them lay spears and helmets, stacked in orderly piles by unit. In front of the group stood their Commander, Rainbow Dash. They stood proud, waiting on her to make a move. Lively handled it with all of the grace and dignity she could muster. “Stay here.” she murmured to the Earth Pony bearing the banner, and she strode forward to meet the Element of Loyalty face-to-face. “Commander Rainbow Dash, I presume?”
The chromatic Pegasus nodded shortly. “Indeed I am. Are you here to relieve me of my command?”
“Lively Song, at your service. And yes, I am here to take command of Trottingham.”
The Pegasus slumped. “Very well. I, Rainbow Dash, hereby relinquish control of the city of Trottingham and surrender my forces until such time as hostilities between the Ever Free and Equestria have ceased.”
“I Lively Song, do accept your conditional surrender and give my word to hold to the terms of our agreement. Rainbow Dash, you may hold yourself relieved of command.” At a nod from Lively, two ponies stepped from the ranks behind her holding bonds. “Rainbow Dash, I hereby charge you with crimes against the Ever Free State, charges to be leveled formally at the Regia. In compliance with the standing commands of Milady Twilight Sparkle, I am to seize your Element, to be brought with you to the Regia.”
Rainbow Dash nodded, looking at the breastplate she wore. She had not removed the Element since Twilight had started her rebellion. She had grown accustomed to its power, its protection. And she had no idea what would happen once she was separated from it. Inhaling, she placed her hooves on the plate, and tugged. It refused to budge, and a lance of pain shot through her. She gritted her teeth and tried again. The Element tore at her skin in protest, as she attempted to shed the bond she had shared with it over four years of battle. A high pitched, keening scream came from the Pegasus, whether from her own throat or the protesting metal it was hard to say. Reaching for her last reserves of strength, Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty, relinquished her power.
The breastplate clattered on the ground, as Rainbow Dash followed it down. There was a gasp from the ponies she commanded. Underneath the armor, the pony was emaciated, her chest scabbed and bleeding over protruding ribs. Her coat had no luster, and that was rapidly spreading to the rest of her body as she collapsed onto the ground, her usual reservoir of power gone. For four years, Rainbow Dash had pushed herself with the aid of her Element. And now, she was paying the price. The once proud pony was now skin and bones, chest laboring as she fought for air.
Through fading sight she saw her officers looking at her, horrified at the sight of her weakness. She was barely aware of calls for a medic as restraints were placed around her wings and legs. A bridle was slipped into her mouth and securely fastened. Humiliation and fear flared up hot within her, and she came to realize that she was crying. Gentle yet powerful hooves lifted her away, bundling her out of the gates toward some unknown location. The last thing Rainbow Dash heard before she fell into merciful unconsciousness was the tolling of some massive bell.
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Owwww. Mental image of rainbow is disturbing.
Other than that, yay plot development.
Pushing her limits for four years straight. A lesser pony would have died. I'm guessing Rainbow sees this as her chance to finally confront Twilight face to face?
OOOOH SNAP! ANOTHER FEATURE ALERT!
EDIT: And gone after 5 minutes.
crap, i actually feel BAD for rainbow. don't keep us waiting, more dang it more!
2001084 actually since she has no real tactical knowledge and her only advantage is her combat skills she is completely overwhelmed by the force surrounding her not to mention the fact that the Everfree though not out classing her severely over power and out number her with both troops and equipment, the Everfree's flash-powder weapons are extremely devastating especially to the main advantage of Celestia's forces the areal corps. so in order to not waist precious lives on a pointless defense that would most likely involve the death of all those under her command she decides to take the most reasonable rout and save what remains of her troops so they can live to hopefully serve Celestia again. by surrendering her forces she is saving as many lives as she possibly can.
HOLY BUCK, now we know the price the elements demand for continued use. It was like a drug to her, she and it had become one. That is horrific to think about. I feel so bad fer Rainbow, not only has she lost her love and her friends but now she might die without the element
Aww. Poor Rainbow Dash. It's not her fault she got lumped with Loyalty, after all
to be treated "humanely"?
By the way, I must say I believed Rainbow Dash was a Rook, not a Knight.
Although this rebellion is off to a pretty good start, it's still a rebellion.
A caveat for the kiddies:
American Revolution.
Boxer Rebellion.
Russian Revolution.
Jacobite Rebellion.
Capture has succeded. Conversion is at hand, regardless of the damned reinforcements.
Awaiting further releases.
well, that went according to plan. i wonder how the rest of her moves are gonna turn out (highly probable that a few other moves will face unforeseen circumstances).
2002185
Don´t forget it´s Celestia turn to move. I´ll be surprised if she hasn´t anticipated Luna´s "operation rescue mission". And there is the ominous foreshadowed CMC´s reunion too.
2002480
That was rather obvious.
The thing is that this is where their friendship will be tested, and if it holds strong, Applebloom will defect. If not, she will be killed or kill.
...hopefully her bond is strong enough.
My guess is that Applebloom is all but permanently brain screwed. AB needs to live for AJ to see what Celestia has truely become.
Sweetie Belle? I am Assuming that Rarity knows who she is and that the real question is what Rarity will do when Celestia tries to kill Sweetie Belle. IF Sweetie dies then Rarity will fall towards Everfree. (I doubt that Celestia can allow Sweetie to live considering what she knows) If Sweetie does live (and i do want her to live) then Rarity is up in the air but is still available for conversion.
Rainbow Dash? Keep Twilight far away from her. RD is not ready to talk to Twilight. Have Scootaloo do all the talking. Rainbow might actually listen to Scoots... (assuming that Scoots lives ...please say she lives?
)
Even if Luna is not freed it seems like Twilight is on schedule to free the Elements of Harmony from Celestia's control.
Honestly im starting to lose interest in the story. its taking longer to get to the point and nothing is really changing here...
2001520
Who ever said she was the Knight?
I think I see where at least part of this is going. Twilight has alluded to the fact that one of the members of the party she sent to rescue Luna will die. We, the readers, of course assume it is Sweetie Bell. I, however, think it will be night light., that both he and Twilight have planned it that way. Or, he will die to save Sweetie Bell. Either way, I'm certain he will die to give us some emotional turmoil, without eliminating a major character.
I wonder if Twilight knew what would happen if Rainbow was separated from her element after such prolonged exposure? The only thing Dash had was the element and now she's nothing. One of Celestia's most powerful pieces is captured and we await her move.
2006167
I think Scootaloo has better odds to become the sacrifice, since, unlike Sweetie, she doesn´t have a big sister Bearer.
I think sweetie bell is going to have to kill applebloom, but that's just my theory.
2001562
The difference between a rebellion and a revolution is whether it succeeds. All revolutions were called rebellions while they were happening.
2001141>>2001141
I don't feel bad for Rainbow at all. Yes, she's been pushing herself mercilessly for four years, but in that time she's caused almost, if not as much, pain as Twilight herself but with far less (if any) regret. Not to mention that her only motivation is revenge.
2003133
The only two characters who could have been considered to have "fallen" in this chapter are AJ and Dash... I can't imagine two more straightforward ponies. I would consider them both Rooks. I'm curious as to whom the title is referring to if not them.
2010373
well, if its all the same to you, i'm still holding out on her coming around and kicking some major flank for the EverFree Fighters.
2010387
I hope to see her come around too, but she's got a lot of bad karma built up
2010394
which is why she got all bucked up when she took off her element.
As someone who picked this story up naught but a few days ago, after finally catching up, I simply have this to say: Well done Airstream. This and it's prequel have proved extremely enjoyable stories to read. It's a shame I hadn't found these earlier, but regardless, I look forward to seeing where you take this tale.
An interesting chapter. The remnants of the Solar Wing could prove to be a thorn in Twilight's Canterlot plans depending on when they get back, as I believe I recall their escape route being by air. In any case, Rainbow is not going to be a happy filly when she meets Twilight.
I found this.
dayum...okay.....i'll admit it, i've just gained some more sympathy for rainbow dash after dat mental image
the bell is tolling dash....and i fear it tolls not for you.....but for the solar wing
Rainbow dash backing down?? Dam she really has been pushing herself too hard. I expect rd choosing death rather than to side with Twily.
2863841 Nah, RD is too loyal to her unit for her hate of Twi to be worth their lives.
>all enlisted taken as prisoners will be treated humanely and fairly
Now I'm curious to know the etymology of 'humane' in this world
Good use of 'think' instead of the expected 'thing'. I like it
As I'm reading this story, I'm actually finding it a tad difficult to continue. It is entirely not because of the quality of the story, but it is. This world is so... hard. Reading a story with empathy is what really puts you in the story, but man if this is just an awful situation all around.
Holy
RD had to not just tear here element away from her skin, but she just half-died while doing so!