A New Purpose

by Sparky Brony

First published 6th of July, 2014

Nick and Twilight are back. And this time, they have an old foe to fight. Yet this foe, has some new 'friends'.

Nick was brought to Equestria for more than just one reason. He's taught Twilight Sparkle the value of love. But their story isn't over. No, not nearly. They are in love, they have foals on the way, and now they've got to deal with a villain that Twilight has tackled before, but Nick has no idea that exists.

A Sequel to A New Teacher

And the amazing cover art is by the amazing Alumx!!!

Chapter 1.

Equestria, she had longed for the food this land would provide. All of the love. She looked at the portal behind her, at the creatures coming out. They were not of this realm, they wanted what they wanted, she knew what she needed. And nothing these ponies could do would be able to stop her this time. She had blundered when she took the place of that trollop Cadence. And her colony paid the price, most of them turned into greasy green smears on the buildings as Shining Armor's shield pushed them back. The ones who survived being flung to the far reaches of Equestria died of hunger. Only she remained. But she could bring them back. She could bring her hive back. But first, she had to clear the way. She had to make the ponies pay. But there was just one pony that she desired to destroy. One pony that made her hive's destruction possible. The unicorn, the protégé of Celestia, the one who saw through her deception.

"Twilight Sparkle, I will end you," she murmured to herself. She smiled at the tantalizing prospects in front of her. Ponies under her control, and she would feed on their love for each other, and she would grow a new hive. And she would be happy.

<This is your realm, Queen?> she heard its 'voice' in her head say. These insects had no way to speak, but they made up for that fact by speaking in her head. She turned and saw the Queen of the Vore, a massive six legged insect like creature. The Vore walked up to her and her voice became clearer in Chrysalis' head. <Are we in the right place? The place with the magic we can take?>

Chrysalis nodded slowly, looking at the green fields and the line of train tracks heading to a large metropolitan area. "That is Manehattan, and yes, we are in Equestria."

<Good, I will leave my workers and my soldiers with you. My patience is not infinite. We must take their magic.>

The massive Queen turned and shambled to the portal, in moments she was gone and thousands of smaller Vore started to pour through. More portals appeared, vomiting out even more of the insect like creatures. In a matter of minutes, the field was covered in tens of thousands of the soldiers and workers of the Vore colony.

"I will have my revenge," the changeling queen said to herself. "I can feel that you are in love. You have someone special. And feeding off of your love for him will make me more powerful than ever." She smiled. "He will be mine."

***

Luna felt the rip in existence that was the portal. The pain of the invasion ripped her from her pleasant dreams. Something this vital would affect Celestia as well. She jolted out of her bed and teleported immediately to her sister's throne room.

"Sister, did you feel that too?"

Celestia shook her head, as though she was trying to shake off a headache. "Yes. I did." Her ears drooped. "I fear this is more than we can handle. This may be the worst threat to Equestria we have ever faced."

Luna felt as though she needed to weep. Would this be the end of their world? "Do you know where this terror will strike?"

Celestia shook her head. "No, like you I felt the rips in existence, but I cannot locate where they are." She looked at one of her guards. "I need a quill and parchment. Now." The guard galloped to get the materials and floated them to Celestia. She put quill to parchment.

Dearest Princess Twilight,

I know that you close to the birth of your twins. But I need you in Canterlot immediately. A grave threat has arisen in Equestria, and you are needed once again. With Nick, as well as the rest of your friends.

Princess Celestia

In moments the parchment was rolled up, and engulfed in a green flame, sending it to the small town of Ponyville.

***

***Nick***

"Now, exactly why are we hunkered down in this trench?" I look over at Twilight. She's got her quill and parchment ready to take notes, her friends and I are in this trench. All I was told is that dragons would be flying by shortly as part of their migration.

Rainbow Dash smirks at me. "Because the last time we watched the dragons fly, they got in a bit of a tussle and flames went everywhere, I got a little singed." She flicks her tail in irritation, but she's got all four hooves on the ground, which is a rarity for her. And it tells me that she's taking this seriously. I hunker down a bit, if it's that serious, perhaps I should listen.
A few more of the denizens of Ponyville show up, it looks like we are ready. I look around.

"Where is Spike?"

Twilight smiles. "Spike is finishing getting the nursery prepared. I told him some ideas I had last night, and he decided to get right on it. After his last adventure with the dragons, he wasn't all that interested in joining us this time."

"Look, there they are," Rarity calls out. I look up, and am stunned.

Hundreds of dragons are flying over our position. They are huge! My only experience with dragons in my time here in Equestria have been with Spike, and he's just a baby dragon. These fit the definition of monsters to me. Each one is easily ten or twenty times the length of any pony around here, and some much bigger. And it's not neat lines of dragons flying in formation, they are chaotic, they are flying the whatever way they want, and sometimes smacking each other in the air. Ultimately though, they are all making their way towards their destination. I feel something deep inside me. I feel my wings spread, almost of their own volition. I look around, all the other pegasi have their wings folded at rest. Even Twilight has her wings folded, why are mine wanting to fly?

"This is so weird," I murmur to myself as I feel warmth in my body. There is something important happening here. I don't know what it is, but it's getting to be an itch. I look around again, all the ponies are ohhing and ahhhing, and all I want to do is take off and fly.

Why?

"Twilight?"

"Mh-hmm" she says distractedly.

"I feel as though I've got to fly. It's a pretty strong feeling, Twilight."

She looks at me sharply, noticing my stance, my body is ready for takeoff. I don't know why, but it feels as though I've got to fly, and right now. "I don't think that would be a good idea, Nick."

Like a wave, my feelings intensify, I have GOT to fly, and I have to do it right now. "I don't think I've got a choice, Twilight," I say as my wings flap of their own accord. In seconds I'm in the air. Heading up to the dragons. I've got two choices, fight this, or go with it. I make my choice quickly.

"Nick, come back!" I hear my love's voice get faint as I accelerate. I know everything is going to be fine. This is awesome. Not fighting anymore, I know what I need to do. In seconds I'm at the same level as the dragons, flying with them. At first, they don't even notice me then I hear a guttural voice behind me.

"Ponies aren't welcome here." And I hear a roar of flames as a dragon shoots his fire at me. Before my mind even registers the sound I'm evading the incoming flames. I do a barrel roll around another dragon, easily evading a swipe with huge claws. I can hear myself laugh. This is fun.

For about the next twenty minutes I'm flying with these massive creatures. At first they objected, but after I held my own with them, they seemed to accept my flying with them, I don't know if it's the oversize wings I have as a pegasus, or if their magic is resonating with mine, but this feels like I was born to do this. These are my compatriots in the sky. Flying with Rainbow Dash doesn't feel like this, nor with Cloud Kicker, or even Twilight. This feels like I've just put my hand into the perfect glove. I smile and howl with delight. This is how to fly.

***

I get my bearings after flying and see where the ponies have their protective trench. I bank and head back to them. I see Twilight, her wings are spread, and not for a good reason. I execute a perfect landing, rear legs first, and finally fold my wings.

"Of all the irresponsible, bull headed, stupid things you could do Nick." She trots up to me. I wilt a bit at her tone of voice.

"I'm sorry Twilight. But I don't think I had much control over what just happened." I feel a warmth on my flank and there is a bright flash of light emanating from me. Twilight's eyes widen.

"Oh my Celestia, Nick just got his cutie mark," I hear Rainbow Dash exclaim.

I turn my head and look at my flank, and sure enough, I've got a picture there. I look closely, a dragon, coiled up in the traditional oriental style, and it's wings are spread as though it's ready to take flight. It is shooting a jet of flame upwards. I look back at Twilight with a huge smile.

She trots up to me, her wings fold as she inspects my flank. "You are right, you didn't have control, you just found out what your talent is. And your talent has to do with dragons. I have never heard of a pony with a special talent having to do with dragons before.”

"Twilight!" We all turn to see Spike run up. As he gets to Twilight he hands her a rolled up parchment, he's breathing heavily. "I ran all the way from your new castle, Twilight, this is for you."

Twilight takes the parchment in her magic, breaking the seal and unfurling it. After a moment reading she looks at her friends and me. "We need to go to Canterlot, right now."

Author's Notes:

My wife and I got to talking about Nick and Twilight, and we came up with the outline for this story. A definite different tone than A New Teacher, but I think it will work. As always, comments and suggestions are ALWAYS appreciated.

Chapter 2.

I sigh as I look out the window of the aptly named Friendship Express. Though getting to ride in the Royal Coach is always a good thing. Twilight is moving slowly back from the restroom, she finally sits on the bench next to me.

She leans up against me. "I can't wait to drop these foals. Bathroom every ten minutes. Ugh!" She snuggles closer as I put a wing around her, I nuzzle the top of her head.

"Pregnancy can be hard, Twilight. But don't worry, you are going to have some beautiful foals."

She giggles. "I just want it to be over."

I think back, she's had a tumultuous pregnancy. Shortly after she informed me of her pregnancy, she gets called away to Canterlot because of something that she wasn't allowed to tell me. Then, less than a week later, we learn of this Tirek character. In the end, she had the alicorn magic of all the alicorns in Equestria. Though finding out that there were only four of them, that was interesting. Twilight and her friends ended up taking care of him quite handily. Though I didn't see it, I was out of town. Twilight had sent me on a shopping trip to Fillydelphia. She wasn't showing much then, unlike now. She's ready to drop. I've felt the foals kicking. And I was informed that she is having two unicorns, both fillies. Though near the end of the pregnancy, she's certainly ready for this ordeal to be over with.

"Well, your doctor says any day now. So why are we heading to Canterlot?"

"Because Princess Celestia has requested that I come immediately."

I look out the window, we are on the mountain now, and should be pulling into the station soon. In fact, now the brakes are being applied. In a matter of minutes, the doors are open and we exit the train.

I'm just letting Twilight lean against me as we walk when I hear a mare's voice. "Princess Sparkle, we have a coach waiting for you." I look over, two coaches are waiting. I smile, I don't want Twilight walking too much in her condition.

***

"Princess Twilight, I'm so sorry to have to call you away at an inopportune time," calls out a white alicorn. I stop in awe. Celestia is beautiful, with her glowing white coat and wings, her multicolored mane drifting on an unfelt breeze. I feel Twilight continuing on, so I dutifully continue supporting her as we all get into the throne room. I see Luna standing next to her sister. As we get closer, Twilight pulls away from me so she can nuzzle her mentor. I can see the genuine affection here. But the happy moment is short lived as Celestia pulls away. She turns to me.

“Greetings Nick. I have been informed of you, and some of the other humans my sister has brought here.”

She looks sternly at her sister, who wilts a bit under Celestia's gaze. She looks back at me. "I do have a question for you, young Nick."

I bow as best as I can, "I'll answer any question from you, Your Highness." Might as well be formal if I can pull it off, right?

Rose colored eyes capture my attention, I have a feeling that I'm going to answer her question honestly whether I want to or not.

"Are you still angry at my sister for her bringing you here?"

Luna pipes up, "Sister, I needed to find out more about these humans…" Only to be cut off by a sharp stamp of the hoof from Celestia.

Celestia continues, "I know I am unable to send you back, but if necessary, I can offer reparations."

I look at Celestia, then glance over at a cowed Luna. And finally a quick look at Twilight. I'm going to be honest.

"My emotions about coming to Equestria are mixed, your highness. The most important thing is that I am in love, with Princess Twilight." I move closer to her and fold a wing over her, I direct a pointed glare at Luna, "I am still angry at Luna for causing the circumstances for me to come to Equestria." I look at the ponies from Ponyville around me. "But the friends that I have made here, and the love that I have found, completely outstrip how angry I am at your sister. So, since you are offering reparations for her actions, I must respectfully refuse." I look at Twilight. "To accept would mean that I am getting compensated for what was done to me. The trouble is, given the choice, and knowing what I know now, I wouldn't change a thing." Well, I would change one thing, and that would be the big blow up that nearly tore Twilight and I apart, but I'm not going to mention that to the Princess. I squeeze Twilight a little closer, and she leans into me.

Celestia smiles at me. "I am glad to hear that things are turning for the best for you, young Nicholas."

Apparently that little bit of business is taken care of… Celestia turns to Twilight.

"We have a grave threat to Equestria, and you are the only ponies that can help."

Twilight's ears droop. "What is needed of me, Princess?"

Celestia sighs. "I sincerely wish that somepony else could counter this threat, but you have shown your abilities. And I am afraid that I must ask you again to help." She stops for a moment and looks at her sister, then back at Twilight. "We felt a dimensional portal being opened, actually, several of them."

"A dimensional portal? Like how Luna brought Nick here?"

Celestia and Luna both look unsure. "Not exactly. The method that Luna used specifically exposed Nick to the magic inherent to our world. And that is what caused him to be turned into a pony. The portal that was used is more along the lines of a rip in reality. Those entering are exposed to the magic, but if they have their own magic, it would prevent them from becoming like us."

Twilight looks confused. "So, they may not be ponies. So it will be easy to identify them, right?"
A short nod. "Most likely, yes. The trouble is, we could not pinpoint where these were, just that they opened. And we have no idea where they are."

Twilight speaks up, "So, what exactly are we to do, Princess?"

"You are to keep your eyes and ears open. I have a feeling, we don't know what exactly is going on, but I think we will find out soon."

***

"I hate you, you did this to me," Twilight moans at me.

I suppress a laugh. "If I remember correctly, you started in on me that night"

She growls at me. She doesn't like being proven wrong I guess.

I sit there holding her hoof as she is in Canterlot General Hospital. Not half an hour after our meeting with the Princesses, she stopped mid trot and told me it's time. Pinkie and Applejack were sent off to get the Princesses to the hospital, along with Twilight's birth herd. The naming conventions of pony society certainly are different than what I'm used to. She's been in labor for an hour. And the doctor, a very nice unicorn, says she's doing fine. But to look at her sweat soaked face, I am a little uncertain. I kiss the top of her head, and just stay close to her as the doctor works on her other end. She starts screaming again. A strong contraction this time.

"And, I've got the head." One more big push and the doctor has the first foal. Two nurses rush the foal to the other side of the room to be cleaned up and wrapped in swaddling. "Here comes the second," he says as two more nurses move close. Twilight howls in pain as she finishes pushing. And a second cry is added to the room, two bright and kicking foals. I smile at Twilight as she collapses. Her eyes flutter as exhaustion takes hold. After a few moments of me holding her, one of the nurses comes forward.

"You have to beautiful baby fillies here, Princess Sparkle."

Twilight brings the foals closer. She indicates one, a white coated unicorn with silver highlights in her coat, and a bright silver mane with a wide streak of lavender, like her mother. Her eyes are gold. "This is Starlight." And she indicates the other filly, another unicorn with a golden blonde coat, a much lighter, nearly platinum blonde mane but with pale pink and hot pink streaks in her mane, piercing blue eyes look at the new world to her. "And this is my little Moonlight." Twilight looks at me. "I chose those names in honor of Princess Luna, who brought us together." She nuzzles me and I just sit there, to be close to her.

"I love you Twilight."

She sighs in relief, "I love you too, Nick. But you had better show off the foals quickly. Don't want to keep our friends waiting."

I gather up both foals and my wings carry us slowly into the waiting room. One completely full with three Princesses, Twilight's family, and our friends.

"May I present… the newest members of our family,” I say to the room in general, silencing all the conversations in the room.

*** Outside Manehattan ***

Chrysalis has been busy since coming back to Equestria. All of the Vore soldiers are ready. She looks out at the thousands of assembled insectoid soldiers. The ponies haven't been paying attention to border security, meaning keeping them hidden was child's play in the rolling hills around the huge pony city. But their time of peace is over. Chrysalis keeps her natural changeling form as she walks to the head of the massive army. She looks back at her army. The time for her revenge starts now.

"Charge!"

Chapter 3.

***Nick***

I had to ask Spike where the dragons hang out after the migration. But Rainbow Dash and I have finally made it to this rugged land. I've got to find them, I have to find the dragons. Rainbow Dash spent most of the day in the air after Celestia asked me to take on this little mission of hers after I presented my children to her. I'm tired, and, by the lack of braggadocio from my flying partner, she's pretty tired too. Finally, we land on the edge of a large ravine, very near an apparent active volcano. We trot around, and finally my ears catch the guttural voices of the dragons. I feel a thrill of fear as I hear those deep voices. Add to that, the roars and the sound of them spewing flames.

"Stay here, Rainbow."

"No way, dude, I'm going in with you."

I stomp a hoof. "No, you are not." I feel the tingle of this magic, what I've accessed with my cutie mark. I know what to do. "I am the one who can gain their respect…"

She interrupts me, "You aren't a better flier than I am, Nick."

"No, I'm not, but this has nothing to do with ability to fly. This is no place for mares, Rainbow Dash."

I hear her huff, I look back and see her hovering, her forehooves crossed. I smile at her. "My cutie mark has to do with dragons. I need to find out more of what it means. I can feel magic wash through me. I felt it strongest when I was flying with them. I need to find out what else that means to me. If this is my special talent, if it is what makes me special in the grand scheme of things in this world, I need to find out more about it. I do know one thing though. If you go into this with me, Celestia's request to gain help from the dragons will be ignored, and we will be in no better shape than before." I look around, then point. "You see that cloud right there?" She turns and looks. "Hang out there, and keep an eye on me. I must go in there alone. If I get eaten by the dragons, you can tell Twilight."

"And have her mad at me for not protecting you, I don't think so."

"Everything will be fine Rainbow Dash. I'm going to handle this." I spread my overlarge wings in preparation for takeoff.
She looks doubtful. "The foals are a day and a half old. You should be home with Twilight."

I look back at her. "Celestia asked me to do this. I will be back soon. Twilight has Fluttershy and everypony else to help her out. You should be there too. I can handle this." I said, knowing in the back of my mind that is the case.

"If you think I'm going to get too far away from you going into danger, you are crazy, Nick."

I grumble, "Mares," as I take off. Less than a minute of flying I can see the dragons have taken note of me. I'm one pony, they don't feel any danger from me, so the sleepy giants just keep an eye out. I don't know why, but somehow the knowledge of what I need to do just surfaces in my mind. I fold my wings and dive, spreading them at the last minute to slam into the ground, a large dust cloud rings my body and floats slowly away. I don't say a word. I just look at the assembled dragons. Several look at the small pony curiously, but none make a move to address me. I stand there, panting slightly. It's actually pretty hot here, and I'm finding it more than a little uncomfortable. I simply stay still, only moving my eyes.

I keep my ears rotating around, I can tell I certainly have their attention. I can hear them muttering to each other about the pony that flew with them. I smile inwardly, they remember me. I can hear the juvenile dragons squabbling down in the crater. But they aren't my goal, the leaders are my target. And I need to find an old, and strong dragon. The one that knows what's going on. But I can't force it, I must wait for him to reveal himself.

After what seems like an eternity, a massive dragon finally stands and saunters arrogantly towards me. He gets close then pushes his massive snout at me. "Why do you disturb our peace, little pony?" I want to yelp at how loud and menacing his voice is, but I keep my cool, barely. I feel the magic in me, whispering in my ear. I need to keep calm, cool, and collected.
"I am here on behalf of the royal sisters. We need your help, grand dragons."

He roars and spits flame right at me. I flap my wings to take to the air, and as the flames end I land right back where I was before. I keep my wings spread aggressively, but all I really want to do is hide from the massive threat display in front of me. He finally lowers to my level. "They are ponies that can raise and lower the moon and the sun themselves. What need have they of us?"
"Celestia and Luna are worried as to a potential threat to Equestria."

"Let them handle it." He tosses a claw dismissively.

"This threat is not from this world."

He inhales sharply. "You are not from this world, little pony."

How in the holy bleeding hell did he know of my origins here? "True, but I was brought here to help by Princess Luna. This threat is a rip in existence."

"How do you know this is a threat? What if those you seek are simply visitors?"

"I do not know for certain. But my being sent here has to do more than just this threat." The massive dragon blinks. He was not expecting that answer.

I lower my voice, shouting all the time has my throat a bit raw. "I just gained my cutie mark, I'm apparently gifted in working with dragons. My main reason to be here is Celestia has asked me to remake the legendary Dragon Corps."

He huffs a bit of flame, then sits on his haunches and leans back. "I remember seeing you, the pony with the overlarge wings flying with us." A moment passes, then he smiles. "It has been a long time since I've seen a pegasus with such a lack of fear."

If he only knew how close I was to wetting myself. My magic is making me stay firm.

He brings a claw to his chin, he's apparently pondering me. I simply stay alert, finally he slams a massive paw onto the ground next to me. I just barely avoid flinching. His claw brushed against my primaries as it descended.

"It has been too long since we have worked with ponies. I remember my grandfather telling me of the elite Dragon Corps, helping the Royal Sisters in conquering those that would harm us. Is it true, she wants to bring that back, and have you in the lead?"

I simply nod.

He starts to chuckle, then it slowly progresses to a full blown laugh. Finally he subsides. "Fine, little pony. I know other dragons that have fond memories of flying with pegasi. I will speak to them, we will see about reforming the corps. And seeing a pony that can stand among dragons without quaking in fear is nice." He smiles a toothy smile.

"Nick!" I hear a voice behind me. A royal guard is hovering a good distance away.

I look at the dragon in front of me. "There seems to be a problem, I'll find what that guard wants." He waves a claw dismissively.
I'm shortly hovering in front of the guard. "What is it?"

"You are ordered to report to Canterlot immediately. Manehattan has been attacked."

"I'll be on my way in moments. Let me tell my new…" I look at the dragon, "friend." I speed back to the dragon.

"You may not have much time to tell other dragons of the reformation of the corps. Our city of Manehattan has been attacked, and judging by me being called immediately to Canterlot, it didn't go well. May I have your name, good sir?"

"Your city is under attack, so this threat may be very grave. Fine. I will gather the dragons and meet you sixty miles to the west of Manehattan. We will stay somewhat near the rail line heading into that city. And, my name is Brygor."

"As you heard, my name is Nick. Till we meet again, Brygor." I spread my wings and head immediately to the cloud Rainbow Dash was hiding in, then we both speed right for Canterlot.

***

First thing upon arriving back in Canterlot, I had to update the Princesses. Now, I have to deal with Twilight.

"I can be ready quickly. We will just have to get foal sitters for the trip. Perhaps…"

I cut her off. "You are not going, Twilight."

I get a venomous glare from her for my trouble. "Manehattan has been attacked, only one pegasus was able to escape the attack, and he died…" she gulped a little bit before continuing, "before we got more than finding out that a massive attack happened there."
"Exactly, you have two foals you need to worry about. I'll take Rainbow Dash, and the new Dragon Corps will find out what went wrong."

She shakes her head vehemently. "No, I need to be there. The princesses told me…"

I place a hoof gently on her lips. "We aren't going into battle, Twilight. We are simply going to find out what happened. If a battle is necessary, we will back off. For us to prevail in battle, we will need more than flight. We will need mages, we will need the strength of earth ponies. A couple of pegasi and some dragons are not a fighting force, we will be a reconnaissance force."

She looks down at the sleeping foals lying next to her. She nuzzles each one gently. Then once again shoots me a venomous glare. "You had better take care of yourself Nick."

I nod as I kiss the top of her head. "You know me."

"Yes, I do, and that's what I'm worried about."

After quite a while talking to her, I trot to the door, where Rainbow Dash is waiting. "Let's go."

Celestia made a strong case to have us take the train for the long trip to Manehattan, since both Rainbow Dash and I prefer to use our wings and that apparently was not an option. We spend several exhausting hours of flight at very high speed, I find out that I can hold speed above the speed of sound for hours. The fastest and longest that I've been able to fly in my entire life. We finally spot the dragons to the west of Manehattan. Finally we land and see that nearly two dozen of the menacing creatures have shown up. The massive one I had talked to previously is there, we head over to him.

"Greetings, Brygor. This is my friend, Rainbow Dash."

He looks at the rainbow maned pegasus critically. "I hope she can keep up with us."

I smile and wave a wing to forestall Rainbow's retort. "Trust me, that pony can fly."

"She had better not fold up and let fear control her."

I smirk at the dragon. "She's quite fearless."

I smile at her, fearless is a good way to describe her. She smirks at the dragons as they all lumber into the sky. She looks at me and takes off. I'm right behind her. In moments I've moved up to be flying with Brygor.

"I think a low insertion would be advantageous in this respect, we can skim the hills, and anypony looking for us will be taken by surprise."

Brygor looks over at me. "No, we will come in high, the better to see the most that we can see. We are simply to report what we see." Then he changes tactics, he glances back at Rainbow Dash. "She your mate?"

I laugh. "Not at all, she is a good friend. Princess Twilight Sparkle is the one I'm with."

The massive dragon stumbles in the air, it takes him a moment to regain his rhythm. "You are with Twilight? The one who took on a magically charged Tirek and held her own?"'

"Yes."

He shakes his head as we fly. "I went to the place where they battled, the magic was thick there. More than any dragon has ever felt." He looks at me appraisingly. "You have captured her heart then?"

I smile. "More along the lines we've captured each others. I never really knew love until I got to know her."

He smiles at me, and reaches a claw to touch my chest. "Hold her love close to your heart, Nicholas. That is something very special."

I smile. "I know."

We fly in silence as the tall buildings of Manehattan come into view. A haze of smoke is quite evident, and I can see the skyline has changed from the pictures I was shown of the massive city. Several tall buildings are apparently destroyed, and fires rage through parts of the town. It looks like a war zone. We keep an eye out for movement in the streets as we keep high. I don't see anything, we eventually make it to the ocean. Then we circle to the north. keeping our eyes peeled. But again, we don't see anything.

"Nearly a million ponies lived in this city," Brygor calls to me. "What happened to them?"

I shake my head. "I don't know. They should be here."

"It looks like they were all wiped out. But I don't see any bodies."

"This doesn't look like a changeling attack."

"Changelings?"

"I'll tell you later." Brygor shrugs. I jerk my head to the side as I hear a sharp crack. What looks like an inverted lightning strike ascends from the ground, hitting one of the dragons in the wing. The afflicted dragon apparently is overwhelmed, he clamps his ruined wing to his side and plummets for the ground. Hundreds more of the bolts spike into the air as two other dragons move to catch him and start evacuating. The entire sky is lit with bolts, I see one, now two, many dragons in serious trouble.

"Brygor, Rainbow, it's time to scatter," I howl over the wind of our flight. I bank hard, trying to avoid the bolts. I see Brygor hit, he howls in pain, but he stays in the air. I climb for some more altitude, but suddenly, I feel a blinding pain in my right wing. I glance over at my wing, it's singed, a good number of feathers are burned away. I start to fall from the sky.

"Nick!" I hear Rainbow Dash scream as she dives to catch me. I'm watching her strain to reach me when another bolt hits her square on in the chest. She's shocked, and knocked out. I look over and see Brygor, he's on his way to catch me, even with an injured wing.

I scream at him, "Save Rainbow Dash." He diverts to catch the cyan pegasus with a sad look at me. In moments he is heading
west with an unconscious Rainbow Dash in tow. I smile as darkness finally takes me.

***Twilight Sparkle***

I've just finished feeding the twins. I look down at my beautiful fillies. I don't like being out of the action. But this time with them is amazing. I finally lay my head down. It's been a long day.

There is a knock at the door. And Rainbow Dash pushes in. I take a look at my friend, she looks like she's been through the wringer. She has patches of cyan fur missing, charred spots all over, her normally tousled mane is completely ragged, and her wings look like she's been hit by lightning. She stumbles closer.

"Oh my Celestia, Rainbow Dash, what happened?"

"We were ambushed," Her head is down her ears are splayed to the sides, "once we completed the first circuit around the city. We were heading around for a second pass when we were attacked." Her voice is barely louder than a whisper.

"Oh no!"

"In the end, nearly half the dragons are down, with various injuries. One was killed." Her voice catches in her throat when she says the last word.

"And Nick?"

"It was like lightning, it was so fast. I got a hit right in the chest, I was out. I came to in the arms of the dragon leader of the Dragon Corps, his name is Brygor."

"And what of Nick?"

She wilted even further. "Brygor was hit pretty badly, how he was still flying with his wing shredded like that, I'll never know. Nick told him to catch me as he was falling."

I feel a chill in my chest. I have to ask again, "And what of my stallion? What of Nick?"

She crumples to the floor, her answer comes barely as a whisper, "He has to be dead."

The world turns to ash. "Dead?"

"Nopony can survive a fall from that height. No pony or dragon was able to get to Nick to save him. I was hit as I was trying to catch him. I talked to Luna. When she brought Nick to our world, there was a connection between them that was created, she told me that connection has been snapped. " Tears started to flow from her eyes. "I'm so sorry Twilight, but the father of your foals is dead.

***???***

Chrysalis stands over the unconscious pony on the ground. Her Vore soldiers caught the falling pegasus and brought him. He was the only one that fell after their attack on the pony and dragon sortie. She bends her head and lights up her horn, pushing her magic into him. In moments she draws a quick breath.

"Ahh, so this is the pony that has that unicorn enraptured." After a moment, "She's ascended to be an alicorn. I had better do something about that." She reaches in with her magic, and severs the magical connection she feels. In moments the strength of his love for Twilight is infusing her body. She smiles at the power. She stands back from the prone pegasus and green flames surround her body. As the flames clear, a purple alicorn is standing there, Twilight Sparkle's voice cackles, "I will use him to get you." She smiles into the darkness.

Author's Notes:

On advice of my editor, a new scene was needed, so as not to make the reader think that one of the main characters is dead, but to have the ponies believe he is dead. Hope you enjoy.

Chapter 4.

***Twilight Sparkle***

Nick, dead?

I shake my head, no, that's impossible. I look at my friend, at the tears running down her cheeks. She certainly believes it to be true. I nod to one of the nurses, it's nice to be in Canterlot castle, staff always at your beck and call. She comes up and stays near my foals as I walk out of the room.

"Twilight?" Rainbow Dash asks as she follows me slowly.

I ignore her, I'm not trying to be mean, I'm broken. I shamble slowly down the hall. My mind is reeling. I'm completely on autopilot. I finally end up in the observatory that I've spent most of my young life in. I feel my magic, my friend squawks as she is unceremoniously picked up and shoved out the door and the door seals in front of her. I can hear her desperate pounding on the door in a distant fashion.

I look at all the books on astronomy around me. I normally feel comforted by them. Not this time.

"Nick can't be dead," I say, barely above a whisper. I feel a surge of my magic, I don't care.

"Nick can't be dead," I say again, a little louder. My magic surges further, I can see all of the books floating around me. I don't care.

I collapse to the floor, tears are falling from my eyes. "Nick can't be dead," I moan. I can't think anything past that. For a very long time I lay there and sob.

Finally I slam a hoof into the floor, not noticing that I leave a deep impression in the marble cracks radiating from the imprint. "No, he can't be dead," I scream into the empty room. My wings spread and I'm airborne in the room, I land on the balcony. I can feel the magic surging inside of me. I feel the massive amount of power, it feels like when I had Celestia, Luna, and Cadence's magic inside me. The power crackles down my horn, it envelops me. I can feel the warmth that I feel when my eyes glow bright. I scream. I can feel power radiating from my body, I can feel glass shattering from my power. Lightning shoots into the sky from my body. I can't control this power. My vision turns white.

I'm hovering, I can feel I'm not in my body. I don't know where I am. Where I am is dark. I see a body lying in front of me, a pegasus pony. The features are indistinct. My vision clears slowly, I can see the pegasus is brown, laying on his side, and the wing that I can see is singed, nearly burned to a crisp. His mane is red and orange, like flames. I feel a surge of happiness, it's Nick. I see him groan, and his body shift, he's in pain. I hear him moan, but I can't get to him. I'm stuck above him, I'm ethereal. "Nick!" I scream, but he doesn't move. He can't hear me. I see a glimpse of purple as I feel a hoof on my shoulder.

"Twilight." I hear Celestia's voice. I feel my hooves settle to the cracked marble. I come out of it, whatever trance was in. I look around. The observatory is ruined. The ceiling is gone. The telescope is a mangled mess. Every book is a pile of charred ashes. Oh no. I press my head into Celestia's side.

"I'm so sorry, Princess."

I feel her wing fold around me.

"He's alive," I mumble into her chest.

"Oh, child, I wish that were true." She squeezes me hard with her wing.

***

Celestia holds me for what seems likes hours. Finally I'm able to control myself and pull away.

"Why me?" I ask through my tears.

"I'm sorry?"

I trot in a circle around the solar princess. "I mean, when something goes wrong, call Twilight." I stop and face her, slamming a hoof onto the marble. "Why me?"

Celestia looks unsure, that produces chills in my chest. I never have seen her unsure. She stands there for a long while.

"Princess, why me?"

She lowers her head and her ears splay to the sides. "Because you are the only one who can."

Huh?

"I don't understand, Princess. You are an alicorn, with unparalleled power. You raise the sun for hoofs sake."

"The sun." She smiles, looking out the window at the sun heading towards the western horizon. "I have had a special relationship with the sun. The sun isn't pulled across the sky by magical power, it resonates with me, and I use it's magic to bring it where it wants to go. I don't have nearly as much power as you may think."

I furrow my brow. "But when I moved the sun, when I had your magic, it took so much strength."

She smiles sadly. "Because the sun did not recognize you as its mistress. It fought you. It doesn't fight me."

"Really?"

She nods. "When I saw you, when you lost control during your test to join my school. Do you remember what I told you?"

I take a moment to remember. "You said you had never found a unicorn with my raw ability."

She beams at me. "Yes, and since you have ascended, your abilities have been multiplied."

I know I have gained in power since I was a unicorn. What are my abilities now? I don't know.

Celestia continues. "When you ended up with Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, and my magic, do you know why you were the one to take that power?"

I look down. "I do not."

"Because the amount of power involved would have killed me, and any other alicorn but you. You truly are the most powerful alicorn in existence."

I'm floored, I don’t know what to say.

Celestia moves towards me, her wings spread. "When I asked you to be my student, I had multiple reasons in mind. You are not my first personal protégée, you know that Twilight."

I nod slowly. What is she telling me? "I know you had Sunset Shimmer."

She smiles sadly at the loss. "Yes, among others. But what I have been looking for, for centuries now, is a warrior princess. Somepony to do the fighting that I can no longer do." She sighs, and looks about ready to cry. "The changeling queen, Chrysalis, she was able to defeat me."

"Oh Princess, that was with the addition of my brother's love."

She slams a hoof on the floor. "Hers plus twice that amount of love would not have been enough to overwhelm me even a few centuries ago."

My ears fold flat. "Princess Celestia, are you dying?"

"All life must end in its own time, but no, my time is not yet."

I breathe a sigh of relief. "So, as alicorns, we are not immortal?"

She shakes her head slowly. "No. Our lifespan is greatly increased. But there is a sunset to every pony's life. I have centuries left, perhaps millennia, but eventually the sun will set on my last day."

I look down. "And me?"

"You have a very long time before your cup runs dry, Twilight."

"And my friends?"

"Your friends are connected to you by the Elements of Harmony, even though you gave them up, you still have a connection to them, and that connection runs deeply into your friends. You will not outlive your friends."

"And Nick?"

She looks sad. "His time has already passed, Rainbow Dash told me what happened. And Princess Luna confirmed it."

I look at her. "They are wrong, Nick is alive."

She sits on her haunches, she's not willing to fight that point. "If Nick is somehow alive, he will live the normal lifespan for a pegasus pony, more than your typical unicorn, and less than your typical earth pony."

I look down, I feel tears threaten to overwhelm me again.

I feel her come up next to me. "Your children will also have a normal lifespan for their tribe." I see tears in her eyes. "Over the years, I have had children of my own, every single one of them is dead now. Of old age." I feel her wing fold over my body. "I have more descendants across Equestria than I can count, and each and every one of them has no idea that I'm related to them."

"But I will lose Nick?"

She nods sadly. "Cherish the time you spend with that human turned pony, Twilight. He loves you, you love him. That will have to be enough. Your children will be his legacy to you. And their children, and the cycle continues."

I feel tears start to fall. "I'm going to get him back."

"If you feel you can find him, even if it is simply his body, do what you must. Manehattan is lost to us, Equestria's Warrior Princess must be ready, both physically and mentally."

I snort. "I am ready, and whomever took the pony I love will pay the price." I feel my magic, nopony will stand in my way.

Chapter 5,

I finally make it home, to Ponyville. Though it takes nearly two weeks after the loss of Nick before Celestia says that I can get home. I finally am able to trot into my new home. I look at the door to the bedroom that Nick and I shared. Maybe I've come back too quickly. I shake my head and suppress the tears that threaten to overwhelm me. Some of the staff for this new castle of mine are working, and I can see my children being fawned over by the nannies I've hired. I hear the clop of small hooves. A white filly with a blond mane trots up to me, she extends extremely large wings and smiles at me.

"Hi Twilight, where's Nick?"

"Hi Cathy." I suppress my emotions, but I want to do nothing more than cry. This filly was once a human girl. Brought into our world by Princess Luna. She's been helpful, a friend of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and almost like another daughter to me. Being only seven years old when she was yanked from her world from in front of a delivery van that had lost control on ice. She spends most of her time with Fluttershy, but she does spend more than a little time with one of her fellow humans. I take a moment to reign myself in, "Nick has been captured."

She gasps, "By who?"

I look down, "I wish that I knew, Cathy. But I'm going to do everything I can to find him."

She smiles at me, "If you are going to look for him, he will be found. I know you can do it Twilight." She comes up and folds her wings around me. I let the little filly be close to me for a while.

***

We are interrupted by my friends. I look up at them. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both have armor on. Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie are giving them sidelong looks as they trot towards me.

"Princess." Rainbow Dash says as she salutes, Applejack salutes as well.

"What's going on, Rainbow? Applejack?" I ask.

Rainbow looks down, "Celestia asked us to join."

Applejack looks sharply at her friend, "Asked? Shoot, she all but said we would be drafted if we didn't volunteer. We were needed, she said." She reached up, then brought her hoof down quickly, obviously missing her usually ever present Stetson. Her golden champron in its stead.

Rainbow Dash flourished her wings, showing off the sharp wing blades, the tosses her head a bit, getting used to the weight of her new barding. "As if I would have ever said no to the Princess."

I smile at my friends, "What units are you going to report to?"

Rainbow spoke first, "The 1st Pegasi squadron. The squadron that is in charge of the Wonderbolts."

"Oh, General Swift Wind is in charge there…" I trail off as I see the star on each shoulder of Rainbow's armor, tears shine brightly in her eyes.

"General Swift Wind is dead. She gave her life saving a flight of pegasi that were trapped. The entire raid that we talked about, it was a failure. Princess Celestia said that I would be the perfect replacement for the General."

"Why is this happening?" I can feel tears starting to form.

Rainbow hung her head, "This enemy, we don't even really know who they are. The best reports are hard to believe. All we know is that they are really big insects. This is a new threat to Equestria, greater than anything we've faced before. And Celestia told me, the former element bearers must take their place as leaders. We must take on new roles, Twilight."

I look at Applejack, she shrugs her shoulders, showing the star. "Ah reckon it's the same fer me. The general for the 7th Earth Corps wasn't killed, but she was seriously injured. Her second didn't want the job, and Celestia nominated me."

I say as I head to the door, "I'll draw a set of armor, I'll join you…" only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash.

"Twilight, I have orders for you as well, signed by the Princess in my presence, and with her official seal." She reaches into her bags and brings out a rolled scroll. I quickly take it in my magic and snap the seal. Unfurling the parchment, I begin to read.

Princess Twilight,

As you no doubt have been told, I have elevated two of your friends to lead in the Royal Guards. I have no doubt they will rise to the occasion. The disaster which has caused the loss of so many in the guard must not be allowed to be repeated. Their commissions are for the duration of this conflict, with an option to continue once hostilities are concluded. I trust them to do their job, and you should too. Now I am afraid I must tell you what you must do. With the loss of your stallion, and the very recent birth of your foals. Your royal duties are to remain in Ponyville. I know you want to go and find Nicholas. But the fact is, you are needed at home, far worse than any princess is needed at the front lines of this war. We have lost one city, Canterlot will be another goal of our enemies. The lives of those in Ponyville and the surrounding area are your responsibility. Please, Twilight, your time to fight may come, but for now, you need to focus on what remains of your family. Additional Royal Guards reserves are being sent. And Ponyville will be a fallback position for the government, should Canterlot be overrun. Princess Luna and I will stay here, for the time being.

Yours…
Princess Celestia

I sit down heavily at the news. I look at my friends. I get a nuzzle from both Rainbow and Applejack. They quickly leave, with the rest of my friends staying here. I look around. "I'm to stay here."

"Oh darling, it's for your foals, and for your subjects. We need you here." Rarity starts, only to be interrupted by my forehoof slamming to the floor.

"I'm sorry, Rarity. But I cannot stay here. I must find Nick."

Fluttershy and Rarity look at each other. Fluttershy's ears fold back, but she speaks up, "But Princess Celestia said…"

I give my friend a hard look, causing her to wilt. I move closer and hug her, and bring Rarity into the hug as well, "I know what Princess Celestia said. But somehow, I know that I am the fulcrum here. I am what this all balances on." I look at my friends, confusion on their faces, "Whomever has Nick, they want me. And I have my suspicions as to whom it is, but I don't know for certain."

"So, you think this is all by somepony who has a grudge against you? That list could be pretty long." Rarity says.

I grimace, "I know. But there is just something about this that doesn't seem right. Luna has discovered new worlds that have intelligent life like ours. But what if there are more of those than Luna even could think of. I think that this isn't humans like what Nick and Cathy and the others are. I think this is something else entirely."

"But if they aren't from our world, why would they come here? And how did they find us?"

I frown, "I don't know the answers to those questions, but I'm going to find out." I look at Pinkie Pie, who has been uncharacteristically subdued since Nick went missing.

"Pinkie Pie, I need your help."

She smiles, "Anything you need Twilight."

I smile back, "I'm going to find who has my Nick, and I need you to make sure my foals are taken care of while I'm gone."

She bounces forward and salutes me, then she bounces to the door, I can hear her singsong as she hops away, "Whomever got Nick is going to pay." I smile, at least I've got Pinkie on my side.

I look at Rarity and Fluttershy, "I know I'm violating what Princess Celestia has told me to do. But I need to find Nick."

"But Princess Luna said he was dead." Fluttershy says.

I suppress a new bout of tears, "I know what she said, she is wrong. And I'm going to find him."

***

My vision is clouded by tears as I walk the familiar streets of Ponyville. I'm at a loss. I know what I need to do. I blink my eyes to clear them of tears. Then when that isn't enough, I swipe a forehoof across my face. Finally I can see and I know where I am. I look at the house I'm near. I look down, chew my lip for a moment, then I decide. I'm going to get Nick, no matter what anypony says. And to do that, I need supplies. I can buy most of what I need, but the number one thing is something I can get here. I knock on the door. For a long time, there's no answer, so I knock again, louder.

Finally the door opens and a very pale pink pegasus with a cerise and mint green mane answers the door. I smile at her, "Hi there Blossomforth, is Cloud in?"

She looks down, "Um, Twilight, is there any way you can come back later?"

I'll lose my nerve if I don't get going, "No, Blossomforth, I really need to see Cloud Kicker right now."

She excuses herself back to the bedroom, and I look around, and finally decide to alight on the couch in the living room. I feel my ears rotate towards the sounds emanating from the bedroom.

"Ahh, careful."

"Oh, sorry Cloud."

"That's too tight, she needs to see me, and not like this."

"Oh, sorry, I'm trying."

"This would be so much easier if I had magic."

"But then I couldn't…" The voice lowers to where I can't understand.

I hear giggles from both of them, then Cloud Kicker's voice picks up, "Just one more…"

I hear the sound of bodies tumbling around, then the door opens, Cloud Kicker trots into the room happily.

"Hi, Twilight. What brings you to my humble abode?"

My ears lower, "I've been ordered to stay in Ponyville, by Princess Celestia."

Her ears lower now, "I'm sorry to hear that, Princess. I've been permanently discharged by the guard, or I'd be joining with the call ups."

I look her square in the eye, "And the reason you can't get into the mix is exactly why I need you."

She cocks her head to the side, "Princess?"

I sigh, this was fine when it was bouncing around my head, but actually saying my plans to somepony else…that is hard, "I need a set of armor, I'm going to find Nick."

"But he was listed…" Blossomforth trails off with one look at the hardness in my eyes.

"Nick is not dead. I will repeat this until I am blue in the face, I know it to be true."

Cloud Kicker stiffens a bit, then looks me up and down, "Violating Princess Celestia's orders is not something to do lightly, and I could get in a lot of trouble helping you, Princess."

I feel myself wilt, I knew it. I feel a wing fold over me, then a second, Cloud Kicker whispers in my ear, "But that doesn't mean I won't help you, Princess. You are in love with Nick, you know he's alive. That's good enough for me. You've got as much help as I can give until you either find him, or his body."

I suppress my tears, "Thank you, now about that armor?"

She looks surprised, "Now?"

"When would be a better time?"

She looks thoughtful, "True, Princess. But I don't keep spare sets of armor at home, I have my personal set, which would be a bit small for you." She stops and looks thoughtful, "I know the guard has extra sets, at their office in Ponyville. I can get a set for you. Full set, with blades?"

I nod.

She nods back and heads to the door, "Blossomforth will keep you company until I get back.

***

A few hours later, I'm looking at myself in the mirror. I turn to look at my profile, then the other side. "Does it have to be so shiny?"

She chuckles, "The guard has their own standards, most armor is golden in color, it's more for show. We do have other sets that aren't as obtrusive, but I couldn't get a hold of them, this was what I could get. My contact in the guard was wary of giving me weapons and armor, but I was able to convince her it was necessary."

I frown as I look at the armor, "Let me see what I can do." I close my eyes and charge my horn. I focus on the armor and I can feel the enchantments on it. Including the one that enfolded me as I put the champron on my head, which turned my coat white to match the rest of the ponies in the guard. I break that one immediately. I then focus on the rest of the armor, and in moments I'm opening my eyes to look at my handiwork. My coat is back to its normal purple, and the golden color has been replaced with a matte black finish. And the blank flanchard now is sporting a subdued version of my cutie mark. Not brilliant and shining, but it's visible. I smile at my new look in the mirror. Then I hear a low whistle from Cloud Kicker.

"The enchantments on the armor would take a level five unicorn to break, and then it wouldn't be easy."

I smile, "Before I ascended, I was beyond level five. Now, I don't know what level my magic would be classified as."

"That's some serious work, Princess." She trots into her study. I doff the armor and pack it carefully in one side of my largest saddle bags. The other side already stuffed with food and other necessities for a trip. I finish packing and levitate the now heavy saddle bags onto my back. It wouldn't do to be trotting to the train in full armor. I look up and see Cloud Kicker with an equally large set of saddle bags on her back. She smiles at me, "Ready to go?"

"Oh, no. You've done enough, Cloud Kicker by getting me the armor, and the provisions. I don't want to get you in any more trouble."

She scoffs, "You have zero actual combat experience, you have zero knowledge of the wing blades that are integral to your armor. If you want to take them, you'll take me as well, Princess. I'll train you how I can. But…"

I interrupt her, "Cloud Kicker, I thank you for your assistance, but…"

"Don't be stupid, Twilight. You are running there in a blind rage. You need strategy, you need to think past the idea of I'm going to kick whomever's flank I need to to get my stallion back." She shouts as she overrides me.

She backs off her voice, "Princess. Two ponies will stand a better chance, I am coming with you, whether you like it or not."

"I could just tie you up."

"Go ahead and try, I've been trained in anti-unicorn fighting."

I step forward, my wings spreading in aggression. Then I see the look on her face, she's not fighting me, she's being stubborn, and she's pleading with her eyes. She sees me pause, "Please, Twilight. Nick was my friend too. I need to join you."

I lower my head in defeat, "Fine Cloud Kicker. You can come."

Chapter 6.

***Nick***

"Uhg, wha' happen?" I'm able to moan finally. I'm lying on my side, my burned wing, thankfully, isn't underneath me. But I hurt.

I hear a body shift, and I feel warmth, I slowly open my eyes, a purple wing is enfolding me, being very gentle with my wing, but I love the feeling of warmth.

"Twilight?"

She giggles, "In the flesh."

I look around, everything is still blurry, we are in a dimly lit cavern apparently, I can hear water dripping. It echoes, I swivel my ears around, I can't hear anything else. I try to lift my head.

"Oh, sweetie, don't do that. You are too injured."

I let my head down, I focus on Twilight. I smile at her, "Twilight, what happened?"

"We were overrun. I was able to get you, but Ponyville has been taken over."

This gets me to my hooves, "Our children!"

Her wing enfolds me in a hug, "They are fine, the other element bearers got them to safety. I think they are in the Griffon Kingdom."

I shake my head, then immediately regret that. Damn it hurt, "Who are they?"

She looks down and bites her lip, "They call themselves the Vore. They are from outside our world."

"Like I am?"

She looks confused for a moment, then smiles, "No. They are different."

I think for a moment, "Oh yeah, Princess Celestia already explained." I put a hoof to my head, "Ow, my head."

She chuckles, "I think I can help you with that, love."

I see a faint green aura and I am enfolded with magic, I feel my consciousness slipping, but more importantly, I feel the pain lessening. Ahh, that's nice.

***Twilight Sparkle***

I evade the hard swung blade and roll. My opponent shifts in response to the roll and attempts another strike. I can't get a spell ready to stop it in time, so I use my wings to power me along the ground backwards. As I skid to a stop I go on the offensive. I swing my wing blade, to have it blocked, but I'm ready again with my other blade, but again, it's stopped with the ring of steel in the small clearing. Several fast strikes with both blades and I'm being driven back by my opponents superior skill. I have an edge in strength, being an alicorn, I have earth pony strength. But the pegasus' speed is overwhelming any advantage, along with her greater skill with the blades.

She suddenly rushes me, her armored shoulder catching me and rolling me unceremoniously. I end up on my back, my wings splayed underneath me, the sharp steel ends up a hair's breadths from my neck. I look up at my opponent.

My opponent chuckles, "You can't rely on your advantages, Twilight. You have to look for the weakness of your opponent, and exploit it. What did I do there?"

I roll onto my hooves and regain my footing. I look down, "Cloud Kicker, I'm a novice at using the blades, you used my inexperience against me."

Once again, she chuckles, "Not just that, Twilight. In fact, you are getting pretty good with the blades so far. But you are keenly aware of your magic, even though it takes time and concentration to cast. You also think that your added strength is an advantage, it's not. With wing blades, speed is your friend. Just like everything is for a pegasus."

I look at the lilac colored mare, "Everything?"

She nods seriously, "Yes, Twilight. You know one of the fastest living pegasi, and you are in a herd with another pegasus, how can you not know this?"

I shake my head, "I don't know. I know that Rainbow Dash love speed, and Nick does too. But Nick is gentle and patient, he's not all about speed."

She smiles brightly, "You would be surprised Princess. Nick is able to hold back his natural impulses because he's in love with you. But he has the same desire for speed. How long can you be absorbed reading before he's out for a flight, or he's off doing something?"

I think back to the wonderful year with my stallion, "Not very long." I admit.

Again that chuckle, "He loves you Twilight, he's willing to move your preferred speed. Most of the time, but when you are occupied, he does things his speed. He kept his job, remember that?"

I sigh, "Yes, he wanted to keep his job when Princess Celestia asked him to do the Dragon Corps. I had to persuade him to take a leave of absence from the weather bureau so he could focus on what Princess Celestia asked of him. He does tend to keep busy."

"Just like all pegasi, when we aren't sleeping, we are moving. That is our nature."

"Even though he wasn't born a pegasus?"

A big smile, "But he's got the brain of a pegasus. He's got all the instincts. I dare say he wouldn't recognize himself as a human."

I look at Cloud, "Are you ready to go again?"

She smiles, "You know it. And remember, look for weakness in your opponent." She brings up her wing blades to a ready position. I leap forward in an attack.

***Rainbow Dash***

Who would have thought running the Wonderbolts would be so damned hard? I have a million things to keep track of, and every time somepony doesn't know what to do, they kick it up the chain of command, and who's at the top? Yeah, your friendly neighborhood Rainbow Dash. Ugh. Double Ugh.

The fold of my tent is pushed aside and a messenger pegasus. I take the parchment and scan it quickly. Damn. I look over at my friend, she's trying to get comfortable. But a month of directing the 7th Earth Ponies has taken a toll on her as well. She's barely staying awake. I know that feeling.

"AJ."

She doesn't even twitch, she's out of it.

"AJ."

No response, she might actually be asleep. I smile and run a feather down her ear, causing it to twitch, nothing more. I finally tickle her nose with my feather.

An explosive sneeze from the earth pony, I have to laugh, and she gives me a dirty look. My levity shuts down like a closed valve. Things are going from bad… to worse. "Applejack. I've just gotten news."

"What is it Rainbow?"

"Baltimare."

She looks horrified, "Baltimare has been taken?"

I nod sadly.

"How are we going to stop them?"

I shake my head, "I don't know. The trouble is, these soldiers are stealing the magic from the ponies as we attack. Every unicorn attack has been a disaster."

"And the pegasi?"

"They have been able to fight to a standstill, but we still keep losing ground, and they flanked the forces trying to protect Baltimare. We are in serious trouble."

She joins me in looking down at the map, "How much of Equestria are they going to gobble up?"

I sigh. "I don't know, Applejack. But it's our job to give them indigestion. And we are going to do that."

She smiles at me, "I've got your back, Rainbow. Let's kick some ass."

This is going to be a long night, we need to take back a city, and soon. Otherwise all is lost.

***Lightning Dust***

"1st squadron, to me!" I shout out as I rise above the battlefield. A hundred forty four pegasi, twelve flights of twelve pegasi each are under my command. Each Wonderbolt has command of a squadron. The call ups of reserves has been very productive. This army consists mainly of pegasi and earth ponies. The unicorn squadrons have been decimated by the magic eating qualities of our enemies. We aren't even sure what their names are. They have no idea what the term surrender is. They fight until they are disabled or killed. And they are bleedin hard to kill. I'm in traditional pegasi armor, along with a set of wing blades.

I inhale sharply, and holler with the kind of voice only a pegasus can belt out, "First through fourth flights, keep with me, fifth through twelfth, gather up as much cloud cover as you can, let's show them how ponies make war." I dive for the field. I feel a tingle of fear. Those ugly bastards have taken our cities. And there are so many of them!

I gesture to my first flight, the twelve pegasi flash down with me, slicing off legs, and wings, and cutting into the bodies of these bug like creatures. I fight for altitude so I can survey my part of the battlefield. The earth pony corps are starting to get into the mix, their halberds are really working hard. I think what strikes me most about this battlefield is how quiet it is. Ponies are screaming as they fight, screaming when they die. But these bugs don't make any noise at all. I take a quick glance to the west, some dark storm clouds are on the way. But there's no reason I can't help with that. I charge a quick bolt and throw it at the bugs.

My jaw drops as the bolt is absorbed without effect. I try a second bolt, to the same effect. Damn. I look at the incoming clouds, my bolts are magically based, those traditional bolts should be more effective. I've got one more ace in the hole. I charge my wing differently, loosing again, a brilliant green bolt arcs to the ground. And it's even more effective than I thought it would be, the bolt hits one of these bugs and arcs to its neighbors. Nearly a dozen of the bugs are shifted out of phase with time. I grin.

"1st squadron, gain some air!" I shout as I flash forward. My pegasi scatter from being in the mix with the bugs. I am going to hit them where it hurts. I push a bolt at the bugs, opening a clear space. Slamming to the ground, I lay around me with bolts. Dozens of the bugs flash out of existence.

"Dust, watch out!" One of my flight leaders screams, I toss a bolt behind me at the bug trying to sneak up on me. I hop into the air and clear another opening. Again I'm on the ground, tossing bolts around. My bolts are even more effective from the ground. One problem though, I'm panting, badly. I can feel my magical reserves draining with every bolt. One bug gets close enough to take a swipe at me, I have to stop throwing bolts to block its attack. I leap back and then bounce into the air. Damn, I'm exhausted. I fight for some altitude. I bank out of the way as my pegasi start bucking the clouds, sending hundreds of lightning bolts at the bugs. Thousands of them become smoking carcasses as the 7th Earth pony army pours through the lines we opened. I howl in delight. Their lines are crumbling.

"Press them!" I shout, and the bolts redouble. I throw a few more of my time displacement bolts. Then I notice a few dozen of a new looking bug, they turn around and aim their rears at us. Oh, no. Something's wrong. Before I can shout a word, bolts strike up from the ground at us. I evade like a maniac. I'm panting harder, it's getting hard to stay in the air. Damn, I have to do something. They are straight up murdering the pegasi. I see over a dozen of my ponies dropping from the sky, some of their compatriots are angling to catch them. I hope they survive. I don't have much magic left, but I've got to end this. I charge up my wings as strongly as I can, and after several seconds, I blast out the bolt I was gathering. My eyes flutter closed as the bolt heads to the ground. I never see it strike. I feel my wings fold to my sides as I fall from the sky. As my consciousness fades I smile grimly, I took out as many as I could.

***Rainbow Dash***

Back in Canterlot after our last defeat. Though it wasn't a total rout, and we were able to keep most of our forces able to fight. Though we need to rest and resupply them. I trot down the halls of Canterlot castle. I'm looking for a specific pony. I finally knock on the door of my destination. After a moment of polite waiting, I push my way into the room. There's a pony there, she's sleeping apparently. Well, I'll fix that.

I poke the prone pony. Her eyes flutter, then finally open, when they do, she bolts upright.

"I'm alive?"

I smile at her, "Yes, Lightning Dust. You are alive, your second caught you as you were falling from the sky. What the hell possessed you to exhaust yourself so badly you fell from the sky?"

She slams back into the soft bed, her golden eyes full of tears, "I couldn't stop, Rainbow. They were overpowering the pegasi, my magic is all that could stop them, so I did."

I narrow my eyes at the Wonderbolt, "Yeah, and if your second hadn't had good enough reflexes to drop everything and catch you, then you would have been done right there, and your magic wouldn't have helped at all."

She glowers at me, "My magic did help, Rainbow. I took out a lot of those bugs."

I sigh, "I know you did, Lightning, but in the end, we didn't take back Baltimare, and in fact, we lost Vanhoover in the mean time. They are moving too damned fast."

She jerks at the news, "Vanhoover? Add in Baltimare," She chokes for a moment at the mention of her home town, "and Manehattan. What do they want?"

I shake my head, "I don't know. In fact, all we know is they are taking the magic from the ponies."

"Like Tirek?"

"Yes, like Tirek."

She looks thoughtful, "So, we have to stop them, no matter what." I nod. She shifts the covers on the bed, "I need to get up. We need to stop them."

I put a wing out, blocking her attempts to get to her hooves. She looks at me plaintively, "Rainbow Dash, I really need to get out there."

"I know, but we need to find out how your magic works, because those bolts not only stopped them, but they arced from bug to bug, each of your blasts took out quite a few bugs. And if they are vulnerable to your magic, maybe some unicorns can use similar magic to hopefully affect the outcomes of any future battles. We are developing a few other tricks, but we need to learn from our mistakes quickly, or all of Equestria will come under their rule."

She finally sits up on the bed, she unfolds a wing, letting a charge crackle among her feathers, "I don't really know how my magic works. When it was discovered that I could use magic to throw lightning bolts, I did that for a long time. Then one time, I got mad during a sparring match, and I fired a different type of bolt. Thank Celestia I missed my trainer, but what I hit disappeared. I was taken to a few mages, and I had to demonstrate the bolts time and again. And finally one was able to dredge what they were out of an old book."

I cock my head to the side, ears forward, "And they are?"

"Time displacement bolts."

I shake my head, "So you sent them on a time travel trip? That means they will be popping back sometime in the future?"

She smiles as she shakes her head, "No, Rainbow Dash, not time travel, time displacement."

"Huh?"

"Anything hit is then out of phase with time, with us. Imagine we are running along, I zap somepony with my bolt, and it puts them a few steps behind us, or in front of us. They can't speed up to catch up with us, they can't slow down to let us catch up. They won't ever be able to be in our phase of time ever again."

"So, the bugs you zapped are still alive?"

She shrugs her wings, "I don't know. If they are alive, they won't be for long, kind of hard to get food when your food is out of phase with you."

That gets a shudder from me, "So there's no coming back from that?"

She shakes her head, "No. But it's very draining on my magic. Because I'm a magic user pegasus, I've had to train to get my magical reserves greater than most pegasi. Since most pegasi use their magic without conscious direction, the only way they can exhaust their reserves is by flying too fast for too long. But you and I are speedsters, so we naturally have greater reserves than most pegasi, add in my training, I could keep flying longer than you ever could. But I'd be just as tired as you are at the end of it."

"Well, can you teach any unicorns how to use that magic?"

Again, she shrugs her wings, "I don't know. I'll certainly try."

***

Once again, I'm trotting with a purpose. Though I really don't want to go where I'm going this time. I turn the corner and I see the fact that Canterlot, in fact, all of Equestria is on a wartime footing. Both day and night guards are at the massive doors. I have to submit to a blood test to be allowed through the doors. But finally I'm allowed into the throne room. A throne room that looks more like a war room. Maps everywhere. So much guard brass that if I weren't wearing General's stars on my armor, I would be out of place. But I finally make it up to the Sun Princess.

"Princess Celestia, I just finished talking to Lightning Dust." I go on to explain to her what Lightning Dust told me, as best as I'm able to.

After I wind down, "So, she's willing to demonstrate her abilities to see if some other mages can do the same?"

I nod, and get a smile in return. "At least there is some good news."

We are interrupted by a loud noise from the balcony. I look over, and I find my wings extending in alarm. A massive dragon walks into the throne room. I take a moment to look, and I remember this dragon, Brygor, from our sortie over Manehattan. He trundles up to Celestia, and offers her a bow, in response she nods her head.

"Princess, with Nicholas captured, the Dragon corps wanted to disband, but I was able to persuade them that the threat is grave, and those that are taking your land might end up taking our nesting grounds. So, I've gotten some more dragons to join us, just over a thousand of us are ready to help, and the two dozen of the Dragon Corps are ready to search for Nicholas."

Princess Celestia is ever gracious to the dragon, she nods her head regally again, then speaks, "I am sorry to say, young Nicholas has passed. Princess Luna felt her connection snap. That being said…"

The dragon interrupts Celestia, "No, Princess. I may not know that pony well, but I am certain he is still breathing. A pony of that bravery doesn't just die on a little sortie like that, no matter how much of a disaster it became."

She looks at him for a long time, "I am glad to hear that you are still loyal to that pony. If you truly believe he is alive, then go ahead and search for him. But what do you wish of me?"

"Some pegasi, those that aren't ready to wet themselves when flying with a dragon. Those that are brave, and are willing to take orders from a dragon. This is to be a cooperation, and I think some pegasi should train with us, and fly with us. And when Nick returns, he will have a fully ready corps to lead."

Celestia looks at me, then back at the dragon, "I think some ponies can be found who would fit your requirements Master Brygor."

The dragon bows and takes his leave. Princess Celestia turns back to me, then levitates a pen and parchment. She scrawls out a letter, talking while she does so, "I must summon Princess Twilight. Time displacement, hmmm. She's worked with time magic before on multiple occasions. I'm certain she must be among those who are trained in Lightning Dust's unique magical abilities." She finishes off the letter and sends it in a burst of flame.

I continue updating the Princess on what I know when a response bearing the signature flame of Spike returns. Princess Celestia starts to read, then her eyes narrow as she continues reading. I feel the temperature of the room start to rise, and smoke smolders around the Princesses mane. She drops the letter and walks away without another word. I gather up the now singed piece of parchment.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Princess Twilight forbade me from contacting you about her actions. But she explicitly told me not to lie, so I can tell you now that you have asked directly for her.

She's not here. She went to find Nick. She was very upset that you barred her from doing anything, so she decided to do it anyway. I am sorry for not informing you earlier, but I was under a magical seal from Princess Twilight that prevented me from telling you.

Sincerely,
Spike

Hoo, boy. This is going to be rich. I look up in time to see Princess Celestia coming back towards her throne. She slowly ascends the throne and her horn glows, and with a soft pop, Spike appears. He looks around in confusion, then he sees the Princess.

"I'm so sorry Princess, I would have told you, but Princess Twilight made it impossible for me to!" He cowers and covers his face in his hands.

Celestia speaks, but this isn't her normal voice, the weight of her thousands of years of leadership come through her voice, causing even me to tremble in fear, "Who else knows that Twilight has gone?"

The baby dragon cowers, "Only the other element bearers, Princess, except for Applejack and Rainbow Dash. They were gone when she said she was going to get Nick."

Celestia directs a glare at me, I back away, I didn't know anything about this. I haven't been talking to anypony in Ponyville since I left to take up control of the 1st Pegasi. Her mane is more than smoldering now. Flames are licking up and down her ethereal mane, starting to consume it. As I watch, her entire mane starts to glow with flames. Everypony in the room backs away from the enraged alicorn.

"If Princess Twilight can't follow instructions, perhaps her friends can tell me where she went." Once again her horn glows, and three ponies appear in front of her, Fluttershy takes one look at the Princess and cowers, Rarity puts a hoof to her heart in response to the sudden teleportation, and Pinkie Pie bounces up and down.

"Explain to me why Princess Twilight violated my orders to her?"

Pinkie Pie pipes up, "Because your orders were wrong, Princess." The fire that has replaced the Princesses mane flares brightly.

"What did you say?"

Pinkie Pie cocks a head to the side, "Princess Twilight loves Nick. She believes he's alive. She believes it so certainly that you were wrong to order her to stay."

"She's right, you know." A new voice intones. Coming from a midnight blue alicorn just entering the room from the Princesses study, "Dear Sister, Princess Twilight has as much authority as you, or I. You shouldn't have tried to order her around. She's long since proven that when she goes her own way, she can be unstoppable."

The flame snuff out immediately, though the alicorn of the day is still angry, "I told her to stay, that her time for fighting might come, but she needs to take care of her foals."

"A job I was doing until you popped me here." Pinkie Pie pipes up, and she doesn't wither at the angry glance she gets from Celestia.

Princess Luna smiles at Pinkie Pie and moves towards her sister, "Sister, Twilight knows what is best for her children, and I would think their father would be a good reason for her to go. She left her foals in capable hooves, there is a staff at her new castle, and Pinkie Pie here is very good with foals. Twilight knew what she was doing. You should trust her, my sister."

Princess Celestia finally turns to her sister, then looks at Pinkie Pie and Twilight's other friends, "I'm sorry for pulling you here so unexpectedly. Would you like me to transport you back? Or would you prefer the train?"

Only Pinkie Pie opts to be teleported back to Ponyville.

Celestia turns to her sister, "But sister, she is able to do time magic, which seems to be the key to defeating our foes. What am I to do? I need her."

Luna smiles, "We are working on some other ideas. We will find the way to stop these creatures. In the mean time, we have some of the best mages in Equestria here in Canterlot, let's find how many can be trained in the necessary magic."

Celestia growls again, "I am going to try to send a letter directly to Twilight, without her having Spike there, communication will be a lot harder. But I will try to send her a letter.

In a few minutes, a new piece of parchment is rolled, sealed, and flames take it away on its journey.

Chapter 7

The sound of a flame wakes me up from a sound slumber. Cloud Kicker and I have been nocturnal for the last few days, the Vore are usually active during the day, so we hole up during the day, and search at night. Around Manehattan, it's been horrible. I've seen enough dead ponies to make me permanently nauseous. I light my horn and bring the rolled parchment to me. So, Princess Celestia has found me, at least with parchment.

Dear Princess Twilight,

I must first start off with news. First off, the bad news. The cities of Baltimare and Vanhoover have been overrun. Though we were able to battle them nearly to a standstill a few times. Your friends Rainbow Dash and Applejack have acted with bravery and distinction.

A new development caused me to attempt to summon you, Princess. And I was baffled at first as to your decision to chase after phantoms. As Princess Luna has informed you, as well as Rainbow Dash, your Nick is dead. But if you must insist on this unwise course, then do so. But a certain pegasus by the name of Lightning Dust was involved in the unsuccessful battle to win Baltimare back, a wondrous discovery was made. The enemy is susceptible to time displacement magic. It is an ability that was unique to Lightning Dust, but she is in the process of teaching unicorns how to do that magic. And so far, she has been successful. The spellforms will be sent to you as soon as possible.

We need you, Princess Twilight, your abilities and strength are badly needed for the war effort. Please, complete your task with haste and help Princess Luna and myself in trying to destroy this enemy to all of ponydom.

Yours,

Princess Celestia

I hear a low whistle from behind me, Cloud Kicker was reading over my shoulder.

"Time displacement…hmmm."

I look at her, "Lightning Dust is a magic user pegasus?"

She nods, "I found out after she joined the Canterlot Wonderbolts. I think there are about a dozen magic users among the pegasi in the guard. They are very rare. And if she can do bolts that are effective, I hope she is able to help in the effort."

I think for a moment, time displacement. That sounds different than what Starswirl did when it comes to messing with time. Let me see… I charge my horn, and after a moment, I fire a green bolt at a bush, which promptly disappears. I smile, and hear a gasp.

"You were just told about them, and you mastered them that quickly?" Cloud Kicker says incredulously.

I giggle, "I wish it were that easy, but I've been learning about time magic for quite a while, that was similar to another spell of Starswirl the Bearded. I don't know if it's the same spell that Lightning Dust is able to do, but it seems to do the same basic thing."

"Wow."

I chuckle, "How close are we to Manehattan, Cloud?"

"About ten or fifteen miles. We should make it tonight. Are you sure you can find Nick in all of this?"

I nod grimly, "I have to."

***Nick***

I walk with Twilight through a forest. She woke me up saying she had to teleport us away from the cave. And we need to stay away from the Vore. That much is certain. My wing is healing slowly. In the last month, with Twilight's healing magic, I can now flare out my injured wing, and even flap it. But I know I have to keep my flight muscles exercised. I work my wings slowly as we walk. Though most of our trip is spent in silence, I'm so glad to have Twilight with me.

"I will be happy to see Brygor again."

Twilight seems a bit distracted, "Yeah, the dragon you flew with."

"If Ponyville and Canterlot have been taken over, where do you think the Princesses have gone?"

She shrugs her wings, "I have no idea. That's why we are heading to Vanhoover, maybe we can find somepony to let us know what's going on."

I sigh, "I just want to get off my hooves."

She looks back at me sharply, "Your wing still needs to grow feathers in, love. You need to be patient."

I groan, "Twilight, I've never been known for patience."

Twilight stops us in a small clearing, she spreads a wing, "I don't need sleep as badly as you do, Nick. You still need to heal, rest now, love."

I don't want to sleep, "I'm good for a few more miles."

Twilight grimaces, "Nick, please. Just take a nap for a bit. I can help you fall asleep if you need it."

I sigh, when it comes to Twilight Sparkle, she gets what she wants. I get myself comfortable and close my eyes, I hear the chime of her magic and I fall into a dreamless sleep.

***Chrysalis***

Green flames wash over Twilight's body, revealing her true form. A quick push of magic into the sleeping pegasus ensures he won't awaken at an inopportune time. And true to her word, a portal appears in the clearing. The queen of the Vore from earlier steps through.

<I have been in communication with my children. You have been requesting a lot of new soldiers recently.>

"I told you that the ponies would fight back."

<And you also said that their magic would be easy to take.>

"You seriously think that the ponies would go quietly. Your first battles against the mages were complete victories. Providing food for your children in abundance."

<Yes, and they have changed tactics. One of those flying ponies used magic that decimated forces, and now the unicorns are using that kind of magic.>

"Queen, not enough of those magic users can be brought to bear. You haven't lost any cities you've taken. The ponies living there have been the source of food for a lot of your children. You are winning."

<But the cost is extremely high, Chrysalis!>

Chrysalis rolls her eyes, "I said the ponies would fight, I was defeated by them."

The Vore Queen steps forward aggressively, <Perhaps we should just take you, you have magic, you would be a good meal.>

Chrysalis suppresses a shudder, "I would be a meal, for a few of you. The ponies here are a feast for your entire brood. It won't be easy, but you will win this."

The queen looks at her a long time, <I will send additional soldiers. You need to complete our victory quickly, instead of playing with this pony.>

The queen of the changelings chuckles, "Ahh, but that pony is the key to victory, he is the love of Princess Twilight Sparkle."

<I want Canterlot taken.>

Chrysalis nods her head, "As you wish." She says to the Vore queen's back as she opens a portal back to her home. The portal closes and Chrysalis lets flames cover her body, revealing once again the shape of Twilight Sparkle, "I will get you Twilight. First Canterlot, and then Ponyville."

***

Cloud Kicker sits on her haunches at her ease. Twilight has been searching for days, she's finally found a cave that she said resonated with her. She's trotting around the cave, back and forth, her horn lit. After a long time, "Yes!"

Cloud stands up and moves over to Twilight, "What?"

Twilight's smile is huge, she's holding something in her magic.

Cloud brings her head close, but in the dark of the cave, she really can't make out what it is. She looks at Twilight, "What?"

"Proof!"

She narrows her eyes at the princess, "Of...what?"

"Nick is alive!"

Twilight intensifies the glow of her horn, creating a ball of light that floats off her horn and sticks to the ceiling of the cave, illuminating the cave in a soft glow, what Twilight is holding is now obvious, a singed brown feather.

"Nick is alive. Here is proof."

The blonde maned pegasus looks at Twilight, "Are you certain, it is just a feather."

Twilight tosses her head, "Of course I'm certain, he had to have preened this out, the base is too clean to have been lost any other way. He was conscious in this cave, for at least a few days. My resonance testing doesn't tell me much, but he wasn't alone here.

"Who was with him?"

Twilight looks bleak, "I'm not certain. I can detect another magic user, but the impression is too faint, if I didn't know better, I feel as though I was here, but I've never been here before." Her ears fall, her eyes shrink to pinpricks.

Cloud Kicker notices, "What?"

"There is only one way I could feel as though my magic is here, without me being here before."

Cloud Kicker puts two and two together, "Changelings?"

Twilight nods.

Cloud growls, "Could the changelings have anything to do with those creatures attacking us? The Vore?"

Twilight nods, "It's only logical, Cloud."

Cloud stands up, moving over to her saddle bags, she shrugs them on, "Which way did they go?"

Twilight lights her horn once again, "West, I've got a sniff of the magic of this changeling, I'll find it. And I'll break it to give me back my stallion."

Cloud smiles, "Just leave some for me."

Twilight extinguishes the light, "No promises on that Cloud."

Chapter 8.

***Twilight***

Since Baltimare has been lost, and the Vore seem to be heading to Canterlot, based on the occasional report I've been getting from the Princess. We've headed south, Nick has to be with the Vore leadership, and I know a changeling has been involved. But how can a changeling be involved with these creatures? They are from outside our universe. It's impossible, but it's happening. I don't understand that. But then, I smile grimly, I'll find that changeling, and have it bring me to their queen. We've come across two Vore patrols during our time traveling, and with the knowledge that I've gained from the Princess on the time displacement magic, I've taken care of one of them, and the second was dispatched by Cloud Kicker herself.

Cloud looks at me over the body of the third Vore soldier, "Twilight, what's wrong?"

I shake my head, "I don't know, I'm not certain how they got the drop on us, thank you, my friend. You saved me."

She scoffs, "If you would get your head out of that pretty plot of yours, you would be ready."

I feel my face grow warm, "I'm sorry Cloud Kicker."

She comes up and nuzzles me, "I know how distracted you are by Nick, and I know how much you miss your foals, Twilight, but I need you to focus."

I nuzzle her back, "I'm really glad you came with, Cloud."

She beams at me, "All part of the service, Princess."

We continue on our path, the sun has just set, and the improvised magical goggles I've made help us see in the dark without me having to light my horn are on both of our faces. We have found that the Vore can sense a magic user when they are using magic. That has been useful when drawing them into a trap. I cast a spell making it seem that a pony is around using their magic, and they come to investigate, and we get the drop on them, it worked once, but the second attempt, they apparently learned. My scans of the bodies of the soldiers told me a lot. They don't talk because they can't. They simply do not have the equipment to make usable noises, not even rubbing body parts together like some insects do. But they obviously communicate. Cloud supposes that they are somewhat telepathic, along the idea of a hive mind. That's how they can change tactics in response to what we do, though the soldiers were killed. Cloud grabs her saddle bags.

"They know we are here now, so we better vacate before more of them show up."

I nod and grab my bags.

Cloud leaps for me, knocking me down, "What the hell Cloud?" I'm able to gasp, she puts a hoof over my mouth, then points with her other hoof. Someone is coming, I can see the leaves moving in the semi-dark. I charge my horn, though I've got a new spell sent by Celestia, to mask the charging from being felt by the Vore. It also mutes the glow of my horn.

We hear a muffled grunt, this isn't a Vore, is it a changeling? We both crouch by the downed soldier, letting the darkness mask our bodies. I hear the light tread common for a grounded pegasus. I glance at Cloud, she looks grim, if this is the changeling we are looking for, Nick might be nearby. A bush is pushed aside as a gray pegasus slips through, I know this pony. Dear Celestia, this had better not be a changeling. Cloud shifts position, and then springs to the air when the pony's head is turned away.

There is a truncated shout as Cloud Kicker tackles the pony, bouncing over each other, Cloud ends up on top with her wing blade at the pony's neck.

"Cloud Kicker!" The voice says, obvious relief and fear in her voice. I stand up and move to the two ponies.

"You look like Derpy, are you her?"

"Who else would I be?"

Cloud Kicker growls in the gray pony's face, "We know changelings are involved with this war, so, I ask again, are you Derpy? Of the Doo clan?"

The fear evident in Derpy's eyes is quite evident, I step forward, "I can find out, Cloud." I scan the pony, then smile.

"Let her up, Cloud." The armored pegasus looks at me severely, but gets off of our friend.

Derpy regains her hooves, and brushes herself off, "You have no idea how hard you are to track, Twilight Sparkle."

I step forward, "That was intentional, how did you find me?"

She looks at Cloud Kicker, "Well, you didn't leave a very good trail, but I've always been good at looking at a problem from a different angle. You are after Nick, right?"

We both nod.

"I want to help."

Cloud Kicker comes forward, "Derpy, you should be back in Ponyville, with Dinky and Sparkler."

"I have a friend watching Dinky, but I care about Nick too, if Princess Twilight is convinced he's alive, then I believe her, and she needs help."

"This is very dangerous, Derpy. I don't want you hurt." I say.

She smiles at me, "Princess Twilight, I don't know if Nick told you, but he and I were friends since Pinky's welcome to Ponyville party. We've had tea together every week pretty much since then."

"He's mentioned that, and I know he's had tea with you since the castle was built."

She nods, "He is my friend, if he's lost, I need to help find him."

I look at Cloud, she smiles at me, "I think she can help, Twilight. She's tracked us all the way from Manehattan." I appraise the gray mare closely, her mismatched eyes brimming with tears, I look over at Cloud.

Finally I sigh, "Okay, Derpy. You can join us."

She smiles, and flourishes her wings, I notice something, "You have wing blades?"

She nods, "Family heirlooms, I've had them sized for me. I took a quick trip to Canterlot before I started tracking you. I left most of my stuff at my base camp." She then looks down, "Sparkler is with me."

I look at her, aghast, "Derpy, she's fifteen years old."

She shakes her head, "She's sixteen now, and the call ups are calling ponies as young as sixteen. She was offered a chance to join the guard with family privileges, but she chose to join me on this."

I think about it for a long time, then a memory comes back to me, when I went to Nick after our huge blow up. When we finally got back together, Derpy was there when I showed up, I remembered him murmuring in her ear before she left, and the look on her face, "You love Nick, don't you?" I blurt out.

She smiles shyly, then looks down.

I look at Cloud, who has a stunned look on her face, then I smile, "That's it, isn't it?"

Derpy's face glows with a renewed blush, after a long time, she nods. "Yes, Twilight."

"It's been over a year since we got back together, why didn't you come up, and court Nick and I?"

She traces a hoof along the ground, "With you pregnant with royal foals, and with everything that happened the last year, I thought you wanted to wait until the foals were born to entertain new members of your herd."

Cloud Kicker looks thoughtful, "She does have a point, though the tabloids have been pretty quiet, many are wondering why you are keeping your herd so small, you are a Princess after all."

I stomp a hoof, "As if I don't have to deal with enough." I fume.

Derpy comes up and gives me a hug, "It's okay, Twilight, and once we find Nick, we can talk about that. But our first goal is to find Nick."

I embrace the gray pegasus tightly, "Thank you, Derpy. And I don't see any problem with you joining us. Though I agree, we should wait until we find our stallion."

***The Crystal Empire***

Cadance looks back behind her at the enhanced shield, Shining Armor is routing his shield through the Crystal Heart. It’s holding, thank Celestia. She has a hundred Crystal Guards with her. And over ten thousand crystal ponies are arrayed to either side. The Vore haven’t been able to handle the cold very well. Their hard exoskeletons get brittle in the cold, meaning that pony weapons are even more effective. The Crystal Army has repelled these creatures twice so far.

Cadance looks to the south, she wants to cry, an even hundred thousand soldiers are heading towards the shield. Cadance has already brought in the ponies living outside the barrier. How will they stop this horde? She calls orders to the officers in charge of the army.

“Princess, you need to get inside the barrier. There are too many here to risk losing you.” Her head general says softly.

Cadance glares at the light blue unicorn, “I’m not abandoning my ponies, General Snow” She growls.

Snow Swirl tosses his head, “Princess, we are outnumbered a hundred to one. I guarantee we will need to retreat through the shield. In fact, I would recommend that we retreat the army through right now, and let these creatures break their teeth on the shield.”

Cadance shakes her head, “No, the more they attack the shield itself, the more they will learn about it. Do you want them to deduce a pathway through it?”

He cocks his head to the side, “Princess, the only way through this shield is to have love in your heart for the Crystal Empire. These creatures will never have that.”

Cadance smirks, “And if they decide to turn, would you like this size force heading south? To hit other parts of Equestria?”

He looks thoughtful for a long moment, then he salutes, “We will make sure they are broken on our spears before they endanger anypony else.”

Cadance smiles, “That’s what I want to hear.”

She turns towards the advancing bugs, her telekinesis brings up her halberd, her voice rings out to all the ponies, “CHARGE!”

Cadance takes to the air with the rest of the pegasi, much to the chagrin of most of her personal guard. The two dozen pegasi in her guard take to the air with her. She doesn’t have any magic user pegasi among her crystal ponies, but she has some very effective fighters. They streak down towards the enemy, Cadance howling her rage at the invaders.

She slams to the ground, lashing out with the blade on her halberd, she takes one in the head, it drops immediately as she wrenches her halberd free. She whirls and slices a second one in half, using her magic to increase her strength. The rest of her pegasi guard are with her. And she can hear the rest of her compliment of the royal guard calling as they advance. Ten thousand ponies are all screaming. The Crystal Princess is in danger, and they are going to help her.

Cadance bounces into the air, screaming again, she brings her halberd in front of her as she slams into a cluster of bugs. One of them swipes at her, she smirks as she takes the blow on her armor, she rears back and lashes out with her powerful forelegs, crushing the head of the bug. Another tries to swipe at her, but is impaled on the lance of an earth pony that came up next to her. The mare screams as she forces the bug onto its back, where two more pegasi flash in, their wing blades slicing through the weaker part of its exoskeleton. The pegasi bounce into the air as the bug spasms in death. The earth pony yanks out her lance and whirls to face the next bug.

The bugs have learned, the unicorns that could, have learned the time displacement spell from the pegasus down south. Though when unicorns use the spell, the multiplier effect is somewhat reduced. The arcs from bug to bug don’t go as far. So, the bugs keep their distance from each other, reducing the effectiveness of the bolts. The unicorns can wipe out a lot of them, but eventually they tire out, and some have been overwhelmed in previous battles. Of course, the ponies have adjusted strategies as well, magic users that can do the time displacement bolts fire from pegasi pulled chariots above the battlefield, keeping them moving.

Cadance takes advantage of a small lull, she surveys the battlefield before her. Then her heart drops, “Oh, damn.” She murmurs, the bugs are adapting as well. Differently shaped bugs are trundling up, they are much larger than their bretheren, with enormous abdomens, they are guarded by cadres of the regular soldiers, telling Cadance that these bugs are valuable. One of them turn around, and aims.

“Pegasi, scramble!” Cadance calls as the massive bugs emit bolts of their own. Two chariots and a dozen pegasi are immolated as the rest scramble to avoid more bolts. Cadance whirls on her guards, “We have to stop those heavies, right now!” Wings are spread, and they take to the air, not looking for altitude, they skim over the forces fighting below. They are attacking the unicorns, what do they plan to do against an alicorn? Especially one enraged at the violation that these creatures represent. She can do the time displacement bolts too. She fires one at one of the artillery bugs, her bolt gouging a massive hole in the creature, which explodes. She grins as she fires a second bolt, with the same result. Then she feels an impact on her wing, a bug jumped high enough and got her with its hooked arm. With a scream, Cadance tumbles towards the ground, her body tumbling until she ends up on her back. She takes a moment to breathe, and slowly flips over. Six pegasi from her guard land around her, laying about with their lances.

After a moment, one of her guards helps her to her hooves, “Princess, you must fall back. We will work on these creatures, you need medical attention.”

Cadance looks at her wing, the massive rent in the flesh is dripping blood. She looks at the pegasus, and finally nods. She uses her one good wing, and the guard supports her other side, they skim back towards the shield perimeter.

“Princess!” General Snow calls out as she rushes towards the stricken Cadance. Two unicorn healers approach, both of them staggering a bit, with all the work they’ve done today, cool chills run down her wing as the flesh mends and the blood flow slowly ceases.

Finally the unicorns step back, one of them looks at Cadance, “Princess, we were able to heal you, but you lost a lot of blood, please don’t get back into that fight.”

Princess Cadance looks at the dark clouds coming in from the west, then at the battlefield. Her crystal army is holding the bugs back, but at a terrible cost. She looks down, “What are we going to do?”

Chapter 9.

“Twilight.” Derpy’s ears fall, she’s tracing circles in the ground with a hoof, “What will we do if we can’t find Nick?”

I look up at the gray mare for a long time, finally, “I’m on the trail of the changeling that has him. He’s been preening out damaged feathers as new ones grow. I’ve found at least a dozen feathers of his.”

Cloud Kicker nods, then she looks at me seriously, “Twilight, I know Nick came to Equestria after Cadance and Shining Armor’s wedding.” Her ears fall as well, “Does he know anything about changelings?”

I think for a moment, then I look down, “I haven’t really had a chance to educate him about the dangers of our world. I keep forgetting that he didn’t grow up in Equestria, he doesn’t know nearly enough.” I find myself sighing, “After I get him back, I’m going to have to teach him, to let him know that Equestria actually has some pretty serious dangers.”

Cloud Kicker looks at me, “Do you know what form the changeling has taken?”

I shake my head, “He seems to be going willingly with the changeling, so it would have to have taken the form of someone he loves and trusts.”

Derpy looks sad, “So, probably you.”

I move over and put a wing over the pegasus, “The list of ponies that Nick is comfortable enough with to follow like this is short.” I squeeze her tighter, “But I’m certain you are on the list too.”

She smiles and nuzzles me, “Thank you Twilight.”

The other pony sitting at the campfire clears her throat, “Twilight, can you teach me? I don’t know any real battle magic, can you help?”

I smile, teaching is something I’m very good at.

***Nick***

“Twilight, I’ve flown over this forest before. We are near Canterlot, but you said it was taken.”

Twilight Sparkle turns and looks at me, “We need to take it back, don’t we?”

I think for a moment, Twilight is one of the Princesses of Equestria, and an amazingly powerful mage. During her pregnancy, I found a book of hers. One she doesn’t keep with all the rest of her books in her library. This one is special. It shows all the accomplishments she has earned as Princess Celestia’s star student. The first page has her diploma from Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. But that’s not it, the Starswirl award for excellence in time magic, the Clover award for creative spellcasting. Dozens of awards, medals, decorations. Sometimes I wonder how I got to be with this wonderful mare. My only real accomplishment was learning how to fly fighter jets. Then I get pulled into this crazy world. I watch her stalk through the forest, she’s not afraid at all. Something I’ve always loved about her, things can get absolutely batshit crazy, but Twilight will always find a way to fix it.

***Canterlot***

The bugs are on their way. Nothing the Equestrian army has been able to do has really slowed them down. The new time bolt spell has helped, but it hasn’t stopped their advance. Kibitz pauses at Celestia’s chambers. A hoof on the door. He takes a deep breath and opens the massive door, looking in on the dark chamber, “Princess?”

Celestia stalks towards him, already in her armor, Kibitz backs up a bit, looking at the Solar Princess, “Princess, you are already tired, and what you are planning to do will take a lot of energy, you should have rested, there is no more time now.”

Celestia sighs, “I have gotten as much rest as I can. I must help my ponies.”

Kibitz rears up and puts a hoof on her withers, “Princess, I know you are worried, but your effectiveness is based on how much you can give, if you are exhausted, you can’t do as much.”

She shrugs off his hooves as she continues walking, “I will do what I must, Kibitz. My army has done what it can, it’s time these creatures found out what it means to feel the wrath of the Sun.”

Kibitz sighs as he watches Celestia stalk off, her mane is already started to smolder, she’s gathering energy from the sun, he hopes that it’s enough for this.

Soon Princess Celestia emerges from the highest point in the city, looking at the mountain above. These creatures are swarming towards the crown city of Equestria, the mountain location of the city would usually give the city an advantage over a siege, but not with these creatures. They are climbing down the mountain, if they overrun Canterlot, Ponyville will be lost as well. They have the high ground. She’s not aware that her gathering the energy of the Sun has set her mane ablaze, and her shoes are making impressions in the marble with every step. The bugs are getting close. It’s almost time. She glances around, her solar guard is with her, all of them looking at the advancing horde. She spreads her wings, and calls out, “Sister, NOW!”

***

Princess Luna stands on the hilltop, flanked by her night guards, a look of stern resolve on her face. She knows this spell. It is one of Star Swirl’s. Though there had never been a need or use for it in modern times, she is one of the few that remember some of his more esoteric spells. Most ponies would scoff at such, the idea sending shivers down their spines. This is Luna’s domain though, this is part of her paradigm.

“Are you sure about this?” Night Eyes asks.

“It is what my sister needs. It will give her the chance to do what she has to.” Luna says, “Star Swirl created this spell just for this purpose. The words to it are as ancient as the spell itself. The Serpents Breath.”

Even the name sends a tremble through Night’s Eyes leathery wing. Nodding slowly, he steels himself for what will follow.

Glancing up Luna hears the call. “Sister NOW!”

Closing her eyes Luna speaks coldly in the ancient tongue. “Anáil nathrach, ortha bhas betha, do cheol déanta.” Spreading her wings wide, her eyes glows pure white as her horn lights. A low hiss fills the air like an exhale of a thousand dragons. From her wings a grey fog spreads fast. It rolls across the advancing army like a storm, covering everything within it in a blanket of darkness. A fog so dense that the bright sunlight does not penetrate more than a foot.

*** The Crystal Empire ***

Cadance stands as the Crystal army is slowly pushed back. Thousands of bugs are nothing but corpses now. The few mages she has that are versed in the time displacement spell have had to retreat, they have nothing left to give. She had just gotten a report that at least one mage has died from extreme magical exhaustion. She looks at the oncoming bugs, how is she going to stop them?

“Onward to the Crystal Army!” She hears a shout from behind her. She rears back in shock, thousands of ponies, dressed in makeshift armor, carrying all sorts of weapons are pouring through the shield. They fall into positons, relieving ponies at the front lines, and pushing back against the bugs. Shining Armor comes up next to her, nuzzling her.

She looks at the mass of ponies pushing the bugs back, “What is this?”

Shining Armor smiles, “I was working to refresh the shield, when a pony came up to me, asking me how to help. I said she needed to stay in her home, and pray for the best.” He chuckles, “She slammed a hoof on the ground, and said that she didn’t want to wait in her home to see if we win or lose, she wanted to help.”

Cadance looks around, “And then?”

He shrugs, “I told her if she really wanted to help, she had to see how many other ponies she could bring, and maybe we could find armor and weapons for them. Next thing I knew I’ve got ten thousand volunteers, and more streaming in all the time. I had my guards ransack the armory to outfit as many ponies as they could.”

Cadance smiles at her husband, “Thank you, love, but you need to head inside, make sure the shield stays up.”

Shining Armor nuzzles Cadance once again, “Yes my Princess.”

Cadance turns and looks again at the incoming clouds from the west, will this new blood be enough? Or simply more meat for the grinder?

*** Canterlot ***

The serpents breath has worked, Celestia can see through the fog, though nopony else can. The bugs are confused, they don’t know what to do at this point. With a scream, she launches herself towards the bugs. At the same time, all of the guard pegasi take off as well, carrying throwing spears, or bows that a pegasus can operate in flight. They have been cautioned not to enter into the fog, so they start firing arrows, any time they see a bug try to get out of the fog, they feather the bug with arrows immediately. Each of the arrow heads have been modified with a small bit of time magic, to make their effect more pronounced. Celestia pulls on the power above her, the beam of her magic cutting through the bugs. Bodies, and parts of bodies are flung all over as she howls her rage. Celestia has not had to get involved in fighting like this in centuries, and she can feel it. Every blast takes more energy than she would like, and very rapidly, she is panting in exertion. She doesn’t let up, though, hundreds of bugs die from her magic. And soon she starts using the time displacement bolts, green bolt after green bolt arcing into the fog. The fog resonates green as the bolts arc from bug to bug, flashing them out of existence. And she’s not the only one using that magic.

The Wonderbolts are there as well, coming up from the rear, some pegasi drawn carts are there as well, with unicorns firing more green bolts wherever they can see a target. One particular Wonderbolt is laying a path of destruction herself, Lightning Dust is throwing bolt after bolt at every bug she sees.

Soon, the bugs start to retaliate, lighting comes up from the clouds in random bursts. The Serpent’s breath is making it impossible for them to aim. But they do make occasional hits as well. One bolt nearly singes Celestia’s horn. She rolls hard and fires a bolt back at the bug that shot at her, the bug disappearing into nothingness, along with a few of its compatriots.

Panting hard, Celestia calls out, “Enough, Sister.”

Luna lets down the spell, and the bugs become visible, the true nature of the spell becomes obvious, the fog is acid, the exoskeletons of the bugs at the leading edge of the fight are partially melted. The bugs are stumbling, many are blinded, many flail around randomly, even damaging their neighbors, who retaliate, causing multiple bugs to die from within their own ranks.

“Canterlot Guard, advance.”

Thousands of Royal Guards charge up the mountain, and in less than an hour, all the bugs have been stilled. Celestia lands next to her sister, then stumbles to fall to the ground. Luna moves over, her horn touching her sister and glowing, and in moments, Celestia is able to slowly get to her hooves.

Princess Celestia looks over the carnage, “It is done. We need to free the rest of our cities of these…” She moans in pain, and so does Princess Luna. Both putting a hoof to their temples.

*** The Crystal Empire ***

“Even with the added reinforcements, we are nearly done for.” General Snow calls out.

Cadance looks at the fighting going on less than a hundred yards from her. General Snow moves closer, “We’ve done all we can, we don’t have enough pegasi to use clouds to fight, we have done the best we can. It’s time to retreat to the other side of the shield.”

Cadance looks at her General, then out at the army, she sighs, “General Snow…” She trails off, she hears a sharp crack, and sees a puff of smoke in the distance. She cocks her head to the side, watching the curious happening repeat itself, and again, then several more times. The explosions are getting closer. What’s going on here?

She hears a howl of rage, and a dozen more explosions pepper the bugs nearest the lines. Getting many of them to pause and look back.

Cadance looks up, those clouds weren’t clouds, but thousands of Griffins! Each one of them has a satchel, she watches as one of them reaches into their satchel, pulling out a small object, which they hold a small smoking stick too, and then they toss it. She watches one land on the broad carapace of one of the bugs, the object explodes, blowing the bug into pieces.

Screams of joy from the ponies as the griffins continue pelting the bugs with the explosives. A group of griffons break off from the force and angle to land next to Cadance.

This is apparently the leader, he walks slowly to Cadance and bows, “Crystal Princess, Cadance.”

She bows back, he looks out at the next wave of griffins, they are dive bombing the bugs with swords held in their claws, more of the griffins hang back, peppering the bugs with more of the explosive devices.

He turns back to Princess Cadance, “We have received your letters, appealing for help. Never let it be said that the Griffin Kingdom doesn’t help our allies.”

Cadance bows again, more deeply, “Thank you King Guntram We really needed your help.”

He smiles, “Yes… yes you did.”

They both turn and watch, Cadance murmurs, “We might just win this day.”

*** Canterlot ***

Kibitz moves up, “Princesses?”

Celestia looks at Kibitz, how many can they throw at us?”

Kibitz furrows his brow, “What do you mean?”

“More of those portals, and they are close!” Luna calls out. She takes to the air, flying towards the summit where the invaders had come from. In moments she’s back, her voice is mournful, “The last was just the appetizer, the main course is on its way.”

Celestia looks at her sister seriously for a moment, “It is time to retreat, to head south. Ponyville must be evacuated too.” She looks around, “We need Princess Twilight.”

Luna stands up, looking to the south, “We are not yet defeated, my sister. Look!”

Celestia looks in the direction that Luna is pointing, then she smiles as she lets her exhaustion overtake her, “Brygor.”

Chapter 10.

***Nick***

Less than an hour from Canterlot, if I could fly. Forced to walk, it would be at least a day. Though Twilight has had me lying here. She told me she would be gone when I woke up, and sure enough, when I awoke this morning, she wasn’t here. I lie my head down and sigh, now I have to wait for her.

I stand up and flap my wings, I miss the air, I miss flying, but Twilight has said there are roving patrols of these bugs, and to stay on the ground. We’ve had to avoid several of them over the last few weeks. Twilight always senses them before we get too close, and either guides me around them, or she teleports us past them. Either way, we are working our way closer.

“There you are, love!” I hear her voice as she emerges from the forest into the clearing I’ve been sleeping in. I receive a nuzzle and a hug. She pulls back, “We need to get going.”

I sigh, we always have to keep moving, but we have to stay on the ground. I lift up a hoof, showing her the shoe, “I need new shoes, when we get a chance, all this walking.

She giggles as she turns.

“There you are!” Comes a familiar voice. I turn and look, Twilight Sparkle is galloping towards me, though she looks different, she’s wearing dark armor, and she looks enraged.

I stop as she jumps over me, landing on Twilight. Both of them scuffle and fight on the ground in front of me. I stand there, a hoof lifted in shock.

“Hey there handsome.” Another voice. I look, it’s Cloud Kicker. She’s grinning at me as she turns and watches the two ponies tumble on the ground. I watch a set of teeth come down on a foreleg, getting a yowl of pain out of the one bitten. They scramble a bit, and the other Twilight gets Twilight’s mane in her teeth, she yanks, hard.

I step forward, only to have a wing put in front of me, “I’d let them take care of it themselves, Nick. Twilight has been in a foul mood since you were lost.”

I’m only more confused, “But she’s been here since I was hurt.”

I feel cool chills along my body, and turn to my other side, Sparkler is there, with Derpy next to her. Her horn quiets, “He’s suffering from mild magical exhaustion, Mom. She’s been feeding off of him.”

I sit down heavily, “Feeding?” I whisper.

Derpy comes up and nuzzles me, then she sits down along with Sparkler. I can hear shouted curse words, along with screams of both rage and pain as the two alicorns tumble along the ground. An armored helmet comes flying away, landing at my feet, it looks like one of the Twilight’s is trying to insert a hoof into the other Twilight’s ear.

I stand there, looking at them, mesmerized. I get a wing whapping the back of my head, I look over at Cloud Kicker, she gives me a sour look. “Nick, put your wings down.”

I look back at my wings, yes, I’m popping a pinion, I grin slightly at Cloud Kicker, “Come on Cloud, look at them, you have to admit it’s hot to watch them fight.

She stops and looks at the two ponies fighting, her wings starting to extend slightly as one Twilight grabs the other’s tail, yanking hard, and getting a shriek for her trouble. She giggles, “You’ve got a point there, Nick.”

The Twilight’s fly apart as though an explosion was set off between them. I look at one, then the other. Now both of them are wearing identical armor. That’s odd.

“I won’t let you have him!” One of them screams to the other.

“You don’t need him, he’s mine.” The other one screams.

I shake my head hard, I look at Cloud Kicker, “Could you help me? I didn’t know there were two of her.”

Cloud Kicker, “One of them is a changeling. She’s been feeding off of your love for Twilight. We need to find the queen, Twilight suspects they are behind the bug attacks.”

I turn and look at the two supposed alicorns, they are snarling at each other as they circle each other slowly. I’ve finally had enough, “Okay, you two. STOP!” I scream, causing both of them to stop and look at me.

Cloud Kicker steps forward, “Twilight, this is a time for you to use your magic.”

This produces two very different reactions, one of them cringes and steps back. The other looks up at her horn and giggles, a violet aura enfolding her horn. She grins as she looks at the cringing version of herself. A beam is fired, causing the other twilight to shout as green fire washes over her form, wherever the green fire touches, it leaves behind a black hard shell, bug like wings, and a weird shaped horn. I shake my head as Twilight’s gasps at the form is revealed.

“Chrysalis!” She screams as she catches the other creature up in her aura. She seems to concentrate for a moment, the field holding the bug pony changing shape and merging with the ground. Finally Twilight lets her horn quiet, she turns and smiles at me. I don’t have any chance for thought as her armor falls off of her, and she leaps at me. We tumble end over end and end up with her on top of me, her wings spread, a blush on her cheeks, she leans down and kisses the pure hell out of me.

After time immeasurable, she pulls back a bit, “Oh, Nick. I’ve missed you!”

I stammer a bit, “I’d like to say the same thing, Twilight, but until about five minutes ago, I thought I was with you.”

She giggles as she nuzzles me, then she stops, looking over to the side, her horn lights, and I hear a squawk. Derpy is brought over, and the hug now encompasses three ponies. Derpy nuzzles me as Twilight whispers in my ear, “Derpy finally told me how she felt about you. She’s been helpful in finding you, because she missed you as much as I did.”

I look at Twilight for a long time, just communicating by eye, and finally I bring Derpy closer, “I’ve missed you, my friend.”

Derpy pulls back and looks at me, “Just friends?” She asks, her ears wilting.

I look at Twilight, and get a slight nod from her, then I shake my head, “I’m not used to pony terms, Derpy. I grew up in a world very different than yours. So, how about herd mate?”

She giggles and nuzzles me, “That works” she says as she sighs as she hugs me.

An evil laugh breaks us from our reunion, “You may have your Nick back, but the Crystal Empire and Canterlot are about to fall.”

Twilight tenses as she looks at me, I nod, it’s time for her to do what she does best. She stands up and stalks over to the captured changeling. I flip over and Derpy helps me to my hooves.

“Call them off.”

The queen of the changelings giggles, “I wouldn’t if I could. They have their own agenda. And that agenda is to take the magic from every pony in Equestria.”

Twilight looks at me, then back at the captured queen, “If you don’t help me, I swear by Celestia that I’ll…”

She’s interrupted, “You’ll do what? Kill me? Like your brother and his whore of a wife did to my colony?”

That gets Twilight, she stops, her horn quieting, tears fall from the changeling’s eyes, “My family, my children, reduced to greasy smears on the walls of Canterlot Castle. We had you, we had won. And then you had to free that Cadance, and somehow break my hold on Shining Armor. And his shield blasted me through the window, blasted hundreds of my children for miles. Many survived that blast.” She hangs her head, “But most didn’t.” She starts to sob.

I step forward, putting a wing around Twilight, she watches the changeling sob for a long time. She steps forward slowly, “I’m sorry that so many had to die. That happens in war. A war that you started, if you don’t remember.” Her voice gets hard, “And thousands, if not tens of thousands of ponies are now dead because you brought them here.

Chrysalis looks up at Twilight, “I had to get you, they were the only way I could get you.”

Twilight’s horn lights, and the shield around the changeling melts away, and she is picked up in Twilight’s aura, and brought face to face with Twilight, “And now you are going to show me how to get to their world, and I will let them know that Equestria is off limits to them.”

The bug queen only sobs harder.

***Canterlot***

The roar of a thousand dragons rings through Princess Luna’s ears as she rises up to join them. Brygor is in the lead, along with a thousand pegasi. Drawn from all over Equestria, the Dragon Corps has been trained under Brygor’s supervision since the beginning. But not just the Dragor Corps are attacking, thousands more dragons are joining. The danger to their nesting grounds, to their lives, is very real. They are helping. Princess Luna looks at the new forces coming in.

“I don’t know if you are enough to stop this, General.”

Brygor nods, “If they overwhelm us, we will go down fighting,” he growls. He looks at one of the pegasi, “Attack.” He commands, and the dragons and pegasi streak for the mountaintop.

Luna surveys the scene, the bugs are streaming over their brethren as they head to the walls of Canterlot. The ponies on the walls visibly tense as the Dragon corps descend on the bugs. The pegasi among them are laying about with ashanderi, long lances with what is essentially a short sword blade at the tip. The blade edges have been enhanced magically and slice through the bugs. The dragons rely on their claws and shooting flames. The bug advance falters and stops as the ferocity of the Dragon Corps becomes evident.

Luna smiles as the Dragon Corps starts to actually push the bugs back. She chuckles, “I’d better help them.” She murmurs as she flashes down, her horn lighting, green tendrils of energy lancing out at the oncoming bugs, flashing them to nothingness. She flips over a bug attack, landing with all four hooves on the bug, cracking it’s shell with her armored hooves. She can feel the nightmare inside her, the temptation to use that energy to help pulling at her. She resists that pull, knowing what will be wrought by the nightmare if it is allowed out. She strikes out with her forehooves, smashing another bug as her magic once again lances out. She may have more strength available than her sister at this point, but her power is not infinite. She cannot do this forever.

***Ponyville***

“Ugh, how uncivil.” Rarity murmurs as she uses her magic to finish fitting the armor on a young earth pony. Her magic tweaking the chain mail so it hangs right. She is good at the necessary enchantments for armor, so she does the spell. The armor loses over half of its weight and the earth pony shifts as she feels the change. Rarity smiles at her, “And all done.”

The mare smiles at her and turns. Rarity looks at one link of the chain mail, her horn still lit, she changes the color of that single link to a brilliant blue, to compliment the mare’s mane color as she trots from the room. The next train to Canterlot will be leaving soon, with new recruits that have been hurriedly trained. Canterlot is under siege, though hundreds of dragons are encircling the small town, adding another layer of defense for Ponyville.

Rarity floats a glass of water over, drinking deeply. She sets the half full glass on the table, then she looks at the glass, the water has rippling vibrations in it.

“Now that’s odd.” She murmurs as the vibrations become more evident to her, she feels them through her hooves. A quick glance around makes her leave the boutique, she stops in surprise, a forehoof raised.

Hundreds of bison are marching towards the train station. A yellow pony is walking with the Buffalo that Rarity knows, Chief Thunderhooves. The pony is wearing a cowboy hat and she can see his apple cutie mark.

Rarity jumps off the porch, and gallops towards the pony, “Braeburn!” She calls out. Getting him to move closer, Rarity moves over and walks between Chief Thunderhooves and Braeburn.

“Nice to see you, Miss Rarity.” The buffalo chieftain intones.

Rarity clears her throat, “I was unaware that the Buffalo are joining in this war.”

The buffalo looks at her sideways, “The princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, needs our help. We are here to help.”

Rarity smiles, “Thank you, Chief. Though it looks hopeless. But anyone helping is always a blessing.”

He smiles, “You are most welcome, Miss Rarity. You ponies have been friends to us buffalo, we will help where we can.”

***

Twilight Sparkle grimaces as she works the spell form given to her by the changeling queen. Before her the air is starting to coalesce, a rip starting to form. With a loud grunt, the portal finally opens. Twilight lets her horn quiet.

She smiles, “Got it!” she says as she turns around.

I look at the portal she just created, and back at our little party, “All of us?”

She smiles, “No, love. Just you and I.” She frowns and growls at the changeling stuck in her shield, “And her.”

Sparkler comes up, “You’ve been teaching me magic, Twilight. I can help.”

Twillight nuzzles the pink unicorn, “Oh sweetie, these creatures are resistant to magic attacks. I don’t know if you could really do much to help.”

Sparkler furrows her brow, “Then how can you be effective.”

Twilight giggles, “Because I’m going to use balefire.”

Sparkler gasps, “That is forbidden to use in Equestria, it’s dangerous, not just to those getting hit. It’s one that can unravel reality itself.”

Twilight again nuzzles Sparkler, “I won’t be in Equestria, now will I?”

Derpy comes up and gives me a hug, then Twilight, she then moves over to sit with Cloud Kicker and Sparkler, “We’ll stay here, and wait for you.”

Twilight looks at the swirling portal, “If the spellforms are right, the portal should be invisible on their side.”

“If you performed the spellform right.” The changeling queen smirks, getting a dirty look from Twilight.

Twilight’s horn lights, “Ready to go, love?”

I smile at her, “Most definitely!”

Chapter 11.

“Push them back!” Cadance shouts. And her troops, along with the Griffon army, are struggling to comply. With the reinforcements, they are pushing the bugs back, step by laborious step. But more bugs are showing up. Cadance moans at the new reinforcements.

“Princess, we cannot win this. There are too many of them.” General Snow says quietly.

Cadance takes to the air, minding her wing injury, she surveys the battlefield. Corpses, both pony and bug, litter the landscape, to advance, her forces are having to climb over the dead to keep fighting. The ponies haven’t broken, she smiles grimly, they won’t break so long as they have leadership. They keep position, using their weapons as effectively as they can. She risks a glance back into the shield, from time to time, as Shining Armor has been able to get them outfitted, more crystal ponies have been joining the fight. But this time, what she sees has her streaking through the shield.

She slams to the ground. “I got a letter back from your king. Saying you were staying neutral in this.”

The large yak tosses his head, “I am here because the Princess of Friendship went out of her way to help us be friends. We will help because of her,” Prince Rutherford says, “My father is against us doing this. All of my fighters here are volunteers because of Princess Twilight.”

Cadance looks at the thousands of yaks marching towards the shield boundary, many are towing heavy weapons from the Crystal Empire armory. She lowers her head, “Thank you, Prince.”

He smiles, “Yaks are friends with ponies. Ponies need help, we will help. Let’s smash the bugs.”

He looks at the army he’s brought, “Let’s go.” He calls out. The yaks surge forward through the shield.

Cadance watches as the bugs react to the yaks. Their thick fur keeps them safe from the wicked hooked appendages of the bugs. Their great strength smashing the hard carapace’s of the bugs. The front lines of the bugs breaks immediately.

Prince Rutherford screams, “Yaks smash!” As he wades in with his fellow yaks.

***

“Twilight. I’m scared.” I moan as we get through the portal. I look back at the portal we’ve just walked through. There’s nothing there. I look at Twilight.

She giggles, “Nick, I can feel the portal, we won’t get lost here.”

I nod and look around, no vegetation, just bare rocks. The rocky ground seems pretty easy to walk on. The air feels different than Equestria. I shake my head, “This is so weird.”

Twilight looks up at the sky, “No sun.” She murmurs.

She’s right, the entire sky is full of dark, roiling clouds, “This is their world. And if you can feel it, bereft of magic. They’ve consumed it all.” Chrysalis intones slowly.

Twilight shakes her head, “I feel magic. But not like Equestria, where magic is everywhere. But little spots, little bits of brightness in the dark.”

Chrysalis sighs, “That would be the ponies they’ve brought over here to feed on. You can feel the magic of those ponies.”

Twilight growls and stalks forward, “Then they are our first order of business.”

“You can’t!” Chrysalis screams, Twilight lifts a hoof, looking at the Changeling queen, she sighs, “Those ponies are their spoils of war, don’t you think they will be well guarded?”

Twilight’s magic drags the changeling over to her, “They are my ponies, I’m not leaving them here.”

Chrysalis shrugs, “It’s your funeral if you go there.”

Twilight spreads her wings, then pulls back, “I don’t want to focus on keeping you in check. I have two choices, I can leave you here.” That gets a shudder from the changeling queen. “Or, I can have you come with us, under your own power, but if you betray me, just one little bit. I will kill you, without hesitation or remorse.” Her hard glare is directed at the changeling, getting her to wilt, “Understood?”

The changeling queen wilts in defeat, “I will not betray you, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Now, I’m going to save those ponies, the reason I’m here is to save lives. Understood?”

Chrysalis hangs her head, “Yes, Twilight.”

I smile and spread my wings, “We get to fly?”

Twilight comes over and nuzzles me, “The reason you can’t fly is because she was feeding off of you, it’ll be a little bit before you can fly. We are ground bound for now, love. Let’s find the ponies.”

Hours pass as we walk, though finally we get close to a large penned area. The moans and cries of the ponies inside those pens tears at my heart. Apparently it’s the same for Twilight. She opens a pen and talks to a few of the ponies, directing them back to the portal. The ponies streak off as fast as they can, carrying those unable to move on their own.

Twilight smiles grimly as she watches the first of the ponies head back towards her portal, “We will save as many as possible, here, Nick.” She perks her ears forward, her horn lighting, “And the fighting starts.”

Twilight takes to the air, a dozen of the bugs heading towards her, I don’t know what I was expecting, but she fires a green lightning bolt, which arcs between the bugs, causing them to vanish. Twilight lands next to me, “Well, that was easier than I expected.”

I cock my head to the side, “Was that balefire?”

She giggles, “No, I will probably use it, but not yet, not while other methods are effective. Sparkler was right, it is dangerous to use. But I will not hesitate to use it when it’s needed. Chrysalis!”

The changeling queen steps forward, her ears down, her head low, “Yes, Princess?”

“Where is the bug queen?”

Chrysalis sighs and points to the top of a nearby mountain, “She has a citadel there. I would expect you to find her there.”

“Let us free the ponies, they are now aware that we are here, so we must hurry. Then we must get to the Citadel.”

***

Princess Luna powers up into the sky, the battle is actually looking good. The Dragon Corps have been very effective, the pegasi in the corps have been working with the dragons, fighting effectively, and pushing the bugs back up the mountain. Luna lands at the castle, kneeling down to her sister.

“Sister, we just might win the day.”

Celestia moans a bit, “I know sister. But that is this day, what about tomorrow, the next day? Weeks, months, years of lives given to keep our kingdom.” She looks down, “How can we stop this? Not the battle, but the war.”

Princess Luna looks down, finally making her decision, she gathers up her sister’s hooves and looks into her eyes, “If I am successful, you must stop me after.”

Confusion clouds Celestia’s eyes for a long moment, then clears as realization hits, “No, Sister, the risk is too great.”

Luna moves forward and kisses her sister on the forehead, “I don’t do it for myself this time, I do it for the ponies. Perhaps that will be good enough, and allow me to control the Nightmare.”

The horror on Celestia’s face is obvious, “No.” She whispers.

Luna smiles, "I must stop this threat, the Nightmare has enough power, perhaps I can seal up their portals, for all time. I was able to find Nick’s dimension, I was able to find other worlds, perhaps I can do something helpful.”

She turns from her sister and directs her attention inward. The power has been trying to surge inside her, and ruthlessly suppressed every time. It’s time to let that power out. As she meets the power in her mind, her coat darkens, her armor changes shape. Her eyes turn into slits as her teeth turn into jagged fangs, “The Nightmare is awakened.” Nightmare moon intones as she surveys the bugs fighting against the ponies, “And I will end this.”

She takes to the sky. The moon coming out, blotting out the sun, enhancing her power, her strength. She streaks down to the battle, bypassing the fighting, she must stop more of these vile creatures coming through.

Chapter 12

“Nick, look out!” Twilight screams. I can feel how much magic has been drained from me by the changeling as I bounce into the air to avoid a swipe from one of the bugs. As I’m in the air, a vivid green lightning bolt slams into the bugs, then a second one hits, I land and look at Twilight, smiling.

She growls as she opens up yet another pen, she moves towards a unicorn sitting there, she touches her horn to his, “This is the way home.” She murmurs as her horn’s aura envelopes his, “Hurry.”

Thousands of ponies are on their way back to Equestria now, we’ve been slowly working our way to the citadel. We are climbing the mountain now. I look ahead of us, some sort of structure encapsulates the summit of the mountain, “What are we going to do when we get there?”

Twilight continues to walk slowly, deliberately, her head rotating around, “This place is so unlike home.” She murmurs.

I shudder, “I’ve never known magic until I got here. But I think my world has more magic than this one does.” I flap my wings, smiling at the sharp glance I get from Twilight as she notices my wings, I shrug, “I want to fly, Twilight.”

Surprisingly, she chuckles, “I’ll be you do, Nick. Just a little longer and you should be able to. But we aren’t in Equestria, the magic you use, the magic that we all use, comes from everywhere. Our life force, the air, the sun, the moon, it imbues Equestria. Here…” She scuffs the ground as she continues walking, “You have to wait for your own natural reserves to replenish on their own.”

I cock my head to the side, “How?”

She smiles, I actually enjoy many of her lectures, learning has become a joy to me in the last year, rather than the bore it was for me when I was on Earth, “Well, Nick it all comes down to…” Her eyes widen as her ears perk forward, “Nick, fly!” She screams.

I turn forward to see a bug rushing at me. Twilight is fast, and her lightning reaches out at it. Only to be absorbed by some kind of field over the carapace of the bug. I rear up and strike it with a hoof, it doesn’t have have any face that I understand, it’s eyes are set back, with wicked claws all around them. Its strength is amazing as it pushes me back. I flap my wings to bring up my rear legs to strike it. I slam my hooves into it with everything I’ve got. Only to be slammed to the ground by the bug. It lifts a leg and it seems like slow motion as I watch the leg hit my chest, not even slowing down, the leg slices through my chest, continuing through to emerge out of my back.

I stare at what is impaling me for what seems like a long time, I weakly flap my wings and push on the leg with everything I have. The adrenaline is going too strong, I don’t feel a thing, but I know this is fatal. I scream as I strike with all four hooves, trying to get it to let me go. I feel my strength starting to fade as I watch my blood splash on the bug. Finally it lifts the leg that has me on it, shaking it hard I’m tossed across the ground, rolling several times, I end up against a boulder. Though I count it lucky, I’m able to see Twilight as the bug stalks towards her.

“Twilight, run away.” I whisper, it’s all I can do at this point. Though I’m surprised, there still is no pain.

A green beam impacts into the bug, staggering it. Chrysalis leaps at it, her wings fluttering as she slams into it physically, the bug catches her and she starts to struggle in its grip.

Twilight screams in rage, the bug focuses on her. It slams Chrysalis down to the ground and steps toward the alicorn. I watch the tears flow from her eyes as she continues to bellow, in slow motion as the bug rears up to strike her down the way it did me. Then everything turns white. A white bar of liquid fire slams into the bug. Its colors turn opposite for just a moment, like it’s turned into a photographic negative. Then it breaks apart into dust which fades rapidly away.

I touch my chest, looking at the unblemished fur. I bend my head down, I could have been certain that I had just been impaled through my chest. I shake my head hard, only to have Twilight tackle me, “Oh, Nick.” She murmurs as she holds me.

“What did you do?” Chrysalis screams at Twilight, who silences her with a glare as she turns to me.

“I could have sworn…” I start, only to have her wingtip placed against my lips.

“That…” She looks at where the bug was, then back at me, “that was balefire. And now you can see why it’s forbidden.”

I shake my head so hard my ears flop, “Huh?”

She lets me get to my hooves again, and starts walking, “After that, they’ll try to figure out what to do, but there is nothing to be done against balefire.” She sighs, “They were able to adapt to the magic lightning, but balefire is a whole different threat.”

“I don’t understand, Twilight.”

She smiles, “Balefire essentially is fire so hot that it doesn’t just burn you way, it burns you out of time itself. The thread of life that was you, is burned back in time, so what was hit actually ceases to exist before it was hit.” She shakes her head, “That’s why you were impaled, you were fatally hurt, and now you are fine.”

“But, I distinctly remember getting hit.”

She nods, “Only memories remain, Nick.” She nuzzles me quickly and continues walking, picking up her pace to a trot, which I copy.

I shake my head, trying to understand, “How far back in time did you burn that bug?”

“Balefire’s affect is based on the strength of the caster, and how much strength they used in the weave.”

I look at her, I know how strong she is, “So…?”

“Probably a few days. A week at most. I’m one of the strongest ponies alive, and I was understandably using every bit of power I could muster on it.”

I shake my head, “Wow.”

“That is why the spell is banned. A few thousand strong spellcasters using balefire in a single battle could unravel reality, when entire towns suddenly no longer exist, and haven’t for days, or weeks, or longer. The chain reactions from something like that could destroy our world.”

I nod, “That is scary, Twilight.”

She nods, “Celestia has some serious penalties for using that spell. Though I’m using it in defense of Equestria, and I’m not really in Equestria, at the moment.”

“Serious penalties?” Chrysalis screams, she seems to have gotten over her paralysis from Twilight, “You would have to have your horn removed for that. The penalty is the permanent loss of your magic.”

Twilight smirks at the changeling queen, “Then be glad I’m using it here, and I’m not using it on you.”

Chrysalis swallows a few times and steps back.

I wink at Twilight, “I think Celestia would be able to forgive you for that.”

She nudges me with a wing as we get to a set of stairs heading up into the citadel itself, “I hope so, but I don’t know if she would condone what I’m about to do. You ready to fly?”

I spread my wings, “I’ve been waiting for you to say that, love.”

We take flight, though only a few moments in the air have me feeling like I’ve been flying for hours. We slam through the doors into the large building. We end up skidding on the polished stone as we land. Hundreds of bugs are in here. But one stands out, she’s larger than the others, and as far as I’m concerned, more evil looking as well.

Several bugs rush towards us, Twilight lights her horn, “You know what I can do. Stop now or I will fire on the Queen.”

Several bugs get in between us and the Queen, Twilight takes to the air, and I stay with her, she keeps her charged horn aimed at the Queen, “Right now, I just want to talk, you talk to me, you might live.” She calls out.

I look back, Chrysalis is hovering behind us, by the look on her face, she’s terrified, and the bug queen speaks, though it’s not with my ears that I hear her, but somehow in my head, <You have brought the traitor here. Begone, we will have Canterlot and the rest of your world very soon. We’ve adjusted to your damnable magic. You will feed us for centuries to come.>

In answer, Twilight sends out a pencil thin bar of balefire, it strikes a half dozen of the bugs. The process takes longer, but every single one has the colors invert, and they slowly crumble into dust and fade away. She gives them a few seconds, “Would you like a taste of this, Queen?”

The bugs are all still for a long time. I keep an eye on Twilight as she watches the bug Queen patiently. With their odd shape, the workers are all angles and sharp edges, the queen is more rounded. I presume she’s like bugs that I’ve known, with a queen who lays eggs, and the rest do all the work. Though these bugs are intelligent, so I don’t know.

The bug queen shuffles forward and the rest of the soldiers and workers move to the periphery of the room. Allowing us a clear space to land. I look at Twilight and Chrysalis, and we finally land.

The bug queen is silent a long time, then she shifts slightly, and again, I hear her voice in my head, <I don’t know what you expect to do here. If you kill me, my colony will be in disarray, but we will grow a new queen. And we will continue getting our food from your world.>

Twilight growls, “Not acceptable, enough ponies have died to feed you. I am here to end this war.”

I can only describe the sounds made in my head by the queen as some kind of laughter, <Too late, we know where your world is. Go ahead, close the portals, we will open more. Thanks to the traitor in your midst.>

Twilight’s ears fall, “So, you are saying that you will not stop, no matter what we do? No agreements can be made to make peace?”

The bug queen moves forward, <You are food. That’s it. Do you ask the permission of the foliage you eat before you consume it? Do you ask the permission of the lesser animals some of your kind eat before you kill them?>

Twilight stomps a hoof on the floor, “That is completely different, plants are not intelligent, they don’t have thoughts and feelings. The animals some ponies consume are lesser creatures. They don’t have the level of intelligence that ponies have, and the ponies require the nutrients to survive. We don’t eat those with intelligence like ours.” Her voice rises, “We can’t have conversations with our food like you and I are conversing!”

<Irrelevant, we require your magic to survive. The sources we had available were insufficient to allow us to grow. With the magic from you ponies, we have been able to grow and flourish. Millions of new eggs are growing, bathed in the magic of you ponies. We will be unstoppable.>

“You are a plague to ponies. I came here to end this war, and I will.”

Again, that odd laugh in my head, <Go ahead and try, Princess. Soon all of your magic will belong to us.>

My only warning is Twilight extending her wings. Once again, a liquid bar of fire slams into the bug queen, and beyond her, destroying many other of the bugs. As I blink the bright purple afterimage from my eyes, I can see Twilight and Chrysalis have taken to the air. I bounce into the air myself as dozens of bugs rush towards us.

“Nick, hurry.” Twilight calls as she streaks towards the door. I catch up to Twilight and we speed towards the portal she had made.

Landing, Twilight looks at me, tears flowing from her eyes, “I’m sorry I couldn’t give more warning, Nick. Talking with her wasn’t working. And given how they think of us.” She sighs, tears continuing to drip freely, “I don’t think it’s possible to compromise. We need to go home.”

I look at the empty space that I know is the portal, “So, what are we going to do?”

“I don’t know, hopefully the destruction of the queen will do as she says, put them into temporary disarray. I will have to talk to Princess Celestia. Maybe we can think of something.” She nudges me towards the portal, Chrysalis walks through and I follow, Twilight bringing up the rear.

We step out of the portal, I look around, “What time is it?”

Twilight takes a look into the sky and gasps, “Oh, dear sweet Luna, No!”

Cloud Kicker comes up, nuzzling Twilight, “You certainly rescued a lot of ponies. I sent them south, I hope they will be okay. I think Luna is doing what she can to stop this. The moon came out and eclipsed the sun not very long ago.”

Derpy and Sparkler come forward, “Twilight, did you end the fighting?” Sparkler asks.

Twilight’s tears continue to fall, “No, I might have bought us some time. But I need to end this.”

“But how?” Cloud Kicker says softly.

Twilight stands there for a long time, her ears flicking back and forth. Then she brightens, “Princess Luna used the nightmare because it draws power from the moon, she has a lot more power than she usually does, right?”

Cloud Kicker frowns, “If the legends are true, that is the case.”

Twilight smiles, “I need to find Nightmare Moon.”

Derpy sighs dejectedly, “Just listen for maniacal laughter.”

Twilight takes a moment to nuzzle Derpy and Sparkler, then she moves over to me, “Nick, keep with me.” Then she hardens her glare, her horn lights and her aura encases the horn of the changeling queen. “And you, you will be unable to transform, and you will stay with Cloud Kicker, Derpy and Sparkler. They will take you to Canterlot. I will try to catch up when I can.”

She looks at me and spreads her wings, I smile. Once getting back to Equestria, my energy seems to have multiplied. I can keep up with her, now. We shoot off into the sky.

Chapter 13.

I follow the purple alicorn. Streaking along the ground is taxing, but I find I love following her in flight. I am faster than her, usually. But after being fed upon by the changeling, I’m finding it much harder to keep up my speed. Twilight has let her anger power her flight. Though her eyes are bright with tears as we fly. I’m still not certain what she meant. I push hard and get up next to her.

“Who is Nightmare Moon?” I call out.

Twilight looks at me, “Over a thousand years ago, Princess Luna was unhappy with how the ponies would ignore her. They played in the sunlight, and slept during her beautiful night. She became jealous, and after many years of this, her jealousy, her hatred, her pain, it all manifested itself. It changed her.” She pulls up hard to avoid a high tree crown. I match her maneuver easily.

She grimaces as she continues, “They fought. It was a long, and hard fight between Celestia and the Nightmare. But then Princess Celestia used the Elements of Harmony to banish her sister, and the nightmare, to the moon, for a thousand years.”

I contemplate that for a long time as we fly, finally I look at her, “So, she came back after a thousand years?”

She nods, “Shortly after the elements created the spell to send her, she had a vision, a prophetic vision. And she wrote, ‘on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape’” She glances back, “When I got my cutie mark, right in front of her, she told me later that her heart skipped a beat.”

I furrow my brow, “Why?”

“She had two meanings when she wrote that. In a thousand years, she would escape her imprisonment on the moon due to the confluence of the stars. And she would bring forever night. But the stars would aid Luna in her escape…” She falls silent for a long moment as we fly, then she looks ahead, “The stars on my flank, Nick. I am the one who helped her escape from the nightmare.”

I think about it as we both bank hard to the right to avoid a squad of bugs, we are getting close to the mountain. Canterlot is right over the ridge before us. Flashes of blackness, even darker than the night, announce the fighting of the creature before us.

“You saved her from the nightmare?”

She nods, “My friends and I, Celestia sent me to Ponyville, so I could meet them, ones who embodied what I needed to learn about friendship. And hopefully, become friends. She gambled the entire world.” Her ears splay back, “Because she had faith in me. Because she had faith in the friendships she knew I would forge in Ponyville.”

“Did she know that you would make such strong bonds?” I ask softly.

She shakes her head, “I asked her, after I gained my wings. She told me that she couldn’t use the Elements of Harmony anymore. Her connection to them was severed when she used them to send Luna to the moon. And no other magic in Equestria was nearly strong enough to stop the Nightmare. She said simply, ‘I had faith in my student, who had done so wonderfully in her years learning. I knew she would fix what my arrogance had brought about.’”

I think of the white alicorn, “She really did have faith in you, love.”

She looks at me and gives me a watery smile, “Yeah, but now we’ve got these damned bugs to deal with. And we don’t have the Elements of Harmony to draw from.”

That gets a grin from me, “So…” I look forward as we are getting closer, “You have no idea what we are going to do?”

“Nope.”

I smile, “Good, then no plans to get ruined once we start.”

That gets a giggle from her. Then her ears splay back, “Nick, stay close for now. But we have to stop her from wasting her energy on portals that can be reopened as quickly as she closes them.”

A loud scream from the nightmare punctuates her words. I glance ahead and watch the Nightmare slam closed two more portals. She lays about, enveloping the creatures in pure blackness, and they flail around, unable to do anything as they are slowly dissolved by the magic.

“Princess Luna, you cannot keep doing that.” Twilight calls out loudly, getting the black as night alicorn to pause and look at her.

“You foolish pony, these creatures must be destroyed.”

Twilight huffs, “I know that. But can’t you see? You destroy a few, and you close a portal or two. And a hundred more come through a brand new portal. They know how to get to us, simply closing a portal doesn’t work. We have to do something different.”

The nightmare turns to Twilight, and I get a good look at her. She has a midnight black coat, and her armor is massive, a deep purple with a highlight of Luna’s crescent moon cutie mark on her flank. Twilight gestures and gets a glare for her trouble, but the dark mare follows her up to a cloud. Twilight lands on the cloud with the Nightmare and I land a discrete distance away.

I get a good glance at Twilight’s face. She’s thinking furiously, she paws the cloud a bit as she stalks forward, “Princess, you aren’t doing anything to actually help here.”

A pained squawk from the other mare, “I’ve kept them from breaching the walls. I’ve pushed them back. Far more than you have done, little pony.”

Twilight bristles, “I’ve freed thousands of ponies in their dimension. I killed their queen. Don’t you dare tell me I haven’t done anything to end this threat to Equestria.”

The Nightmare smirks, “Well, good for you. They are still coming through.” She gestures with a hoof down below at the roiling mass of bugs heading towards the summit and towards Canterlot.

Twilight growls, “Look at them. They are in disarray. They’ve lost their queen. I’m not exactly certain how much effect that will have, but there is an obvious effect going on here.”

The Nightmare ponders Twilight’s words as two bugs marching up the mountain brush into each other. One bug retaliates and attacks the other, it’s wicked curved appendage neatly slicing off the leg. In eerie silence, both of them continue to fight each other until one of them finally falls. The winner is promptly ripped apart by other bugs coming up behind them. A pair of pegasi, towing a fairly large storm cloud stomp on the cloud. Sending bolts into the mass of bugs. Dozens of the creatures fall, smoke rising from their hard shells as the pegasi move on, keeping up the attack.

Twilight’s ears flick rapidly as she watches the carnage below, finally she puts out a hoof tentatively towards the Nightmare, “Please, let us work together. We can stop them.”

The Nightmare looks at the proffered hoof, then down at the fight, her own ears are flicking rapidly. She finally huffs, “Fine. Let us defeat these creatures together.”

Twilight smiles as both of them spread their wings. The cloud dissipates as they power into the air, I spread my wings and keep pace with them.

***

“Princess, the shield will fail. It’s being overpowered.” General Snow says softly.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza lands, continuing to guide the injured fighters away from the shield boundary. She trots up to Prince Rutherford, “Prince, you need to head home.”

The massive yak stumbles a bit, a crystal pony unicorn trots up, his horn lighting and bringing down the form on the yak’s large back.

“Oh, King Guntrum.” General Snow says sorrowfully.

Rutherford sniffs, “I saw him fall. I had to get his body out of that mess.” A few tears drop, “I had to.”

Cadance nuzzles the yak, “I know you did. Thank you.”

They all look at the shield boundary. Tens of thousands of bugs are massed against it, pushing on it, attacking it. The large bugs that have been so effective at keeping the fliers on their toes are now directing their energy bursts at the shield itself. Every impact causes ripples throughout the shield boundary. She glances back at the Crystal Castle, she knows her Shining Armor is there, pouring everything he has into it.

She looks around, “I can give us some more time.” She spreads her wings and shoots into the air, a quick and very fast flight has her landing in the rotunda under the castle. Shining Armor is there, sweat pouring from him.

“I don’t know what they are doing, but they are going to get through.” He pants.

She nuzzles him and bites his ear gently, then her horn alights as well. He opens himself to her, and their magic merges, renewed strength bolsters the shield, but she can feel the strain, they won’t be able to keep it up.

She looks at Shining, who looks at her, tears in his eyes. He realizes the same thing, this battle is lost, they just have to acknowledge it. She sidles up next to him, “I’ll hold as long as you hold, love. We will keep them out as long as we can.”

“As long as we can, love.” He says softly, closing his eyes and leaning against her. “Till the end.” He whispers.

***

A crater is left behind as the magical pegasus takes off. Lightning Dust is already panting, her fellow Wonderbolts told her to go out was madness. But word came through the guard ranks. The bugs have topped the northwest walls. Reinforcements will take time to get there. But she can be there first. A matter of minutes of flight has her landing on the high parapet of a building that adjoins the wall itself. She breathes a sigh, the wall itself is unbroken. But the mass of the horrible creatures has finally succeeded in climbing over the walls. More green lightning bolts strike out, slamming into the first ranks of the bugs. Mages of Celestia’s Solar Winds are galloping towards the onrushing creatures. Two entire divisions of fighters are on their way. But the mages were able to teleport ahead, and they are starting to lay waste to the ranks. They’ve been under enforced rest for the last twelve hours. Letting other units take up the slack, but it’s time for them to fight. Lighting Dust watches from her perch, three unicorns are getting creative with their magic, collapsing buildings on top of the bugs, or causing the earth to explode before the invaders.

Lightning Dust tenses, those three are in trouble, bugs have gotten around behind them. She flashes out a wing and a green bolt slams into the bugs, they disappear. She tosses off a wave to the unicorns as she takes to the air again, she needs to help. She crosses over the city walls and into the no pony land of the bugs. One of them notices her, and she has to dance to keep clear of the bolts coming at her. She fires a bolt at the monster sized bug, which promptly disappears. She lays about with her magic, feeling every bolt drain more and more of her strength.

A loud noise makes her gasp, a larger portal has opened. Those massive bugs are starting to trundle through, “Oh no you don’t.” She growls as she charges her wings. Electricity crackles among her wings as she gathers all of her remaining power. Dozens of those monsters are quickly through. The defenders will not be able to stand against those nasty things. She gains some altitude and brings both wings together in a mighty flap. A pony wide bolt slams into the artillery bugs, all of the new arrivals disappear, along with a few hundred of the smaller soldiers.

Lightning Dust’s eyes flutter as she finds her strength completely gone. She holds her wings out as she starts to fall. She can’t fly anymore. She knows what is coming, and she closes her eyes as she slams into the ground.

***

The little orange foal ducks to take cover in a doorway. He looks up, the Princess of the Night and The Princess of Friendship are attacking the bugs on the walls. The screams of the Nightmare send chills through his bones. Moonshine Squire moans. The bugs are coming through the streets of Canterlot. Hundreds of guard ponies gallop towards the invaders, wielding their weapons as they slam into the monsters. The ponies scream as they fight, and scream as they die.

Moonshine flinches as the limp body of a stallion of the Solar Guard crumples at his hooves. He wants to whimper, but he feels the magic all around. The bugs may steal the magic, but the world has more magic than they can absorb, for now. He opens he mouth to sing,

The minstrel colt to the war has gone, in the ranks of the dead yea shall find him...

His horn alights and the guard’s weapon floats up next to him. He’s going to be a member of Luna’s guards someday. He knows it in his soul. Several of the vile creatures have overpowered the guards. It’s his turn.

His sire's sword he hath girded on, and his wile harp slung beside him.

Raising his weapon, he braces himself, several guards are falling back, slicing into the bugs as they do. They aren’t breaking, they won’t break. Not with Celestia still there. He steps forward lowering the blade of the halberd in his magic. His voice rising above the din. Other voices among the guards take up the song.

land of song sang the warrior bard, though all the worlds betray thee.

His flanks feel warm. It doesn’t matter, he’s here to help the guard. He brings up the halberd and smiles grimly as he uses the weapon to remove the upper set of spines for a charging bug. He jumps to avoid the slicing return attack. He can hear hundreds of voices continuing to sing as he stabs the bug right in the eyes, getting the body to spasm as it dies. He yanks his halberd from the fresh corpse and tenses as more bugs come forward. He sings even louder.

One sword at least Equestria guards, one proud harp least shall praise, thee...

His luck is short lived, the bug comes up and knocks his clumsy attempt to attack away easily. It flashes two wicked hooked appendages into the foal. His singing turns to a loud scream as his body is ripped in two. The bug moves forward, stepping over the colt. A brand new cutie mark is on the flank, a kite shaped shield, a crescent moon on one side, and a harp on the other. The other guards have the song in them now. They keep singing as they are slowly pushed back by the bugs.

***

A white flash announces the arrival of Discord. The look on his face says everything to Fluttershy. She sighs as she moves over to the draconequus, “What’s going on?”

He snaps his fingers, conjuring a cup of tea, which he promptly takes a bite of, “These creatures seem to absorb everything eventually. I was able to stop them…” He sighs, “For a while. But they are now absorbing everything I do.” He stops for a long time, getting nuzzled by the yellow pegasus, “I’m sorry Fluttershy, but even the dragons around Ponyville are going to be overwhelmed.”

Fluttershy looks around the crystalline walls of Twilight’s castle, “How long do you think the castle will hold?”

Discord looks around, “Hours. Maybe.”

“So, we have seen our last sunrise?”

The tears start to flow from his eyes, “I’m so sorry, Fluttershy”

She simply nuzzles him.

Chapter 14.

***Twilight Sparkle***

I keep an eye on Nick as we keep flying. The Nightmare has been enthusiastically following my lead. Though it’s looking hopeless, while the bugs are in somewhat of a disarray, they are still pouring through portals quickly. I’m just glad they haven’t figured out a way to get portals inside the city proper. The constructed spell around Canterlot has helped in that respect. No portal can be made within the walls of the city, so long as those walls remain intact.

“Twilight, look!” Nick howls.

I glance back at Nick, then look the direction he’s pointed. The Nightmare notices too. She swoops down and starts to lay waste to the bugs that are clambering over the wall. I join her, finding my strength continuing to be taxed as I try to keep being creative with the magic resistant nature of the bugs. Luna was involved with the constructed spell, so the Nightmare is not attacking the walls themselves. But massive blocks of simple air are physically sweeping the bugs off the wall. I slam into the top of the wall in a hard landing.

“Hurry!” I call as I start to gather debris from the demolished buildings all around. I find unbroken blocks quickly and stack them on the top of the wall. The Nightmare notices what I’m doing and lands herself. She keeps pushing the bugs away as I continue to work. Pulverizing some of the rocks and mixing minerals together to make mortar. In a matter of minutes, I’ve added more than ten feet of height to the wall. I close my eyes and concentrate my magic. The stone contracts slightly and its strength is multiplied. “There.” I pant as I look inside the city, “We can’t do anything for those that made it over, but no more will get through for now.”

The Nightmare flashes into the air, and I speed up to follow her. Nick comes up next to me, “It’s like the Red Queen’s dilemma.” He muses.

I look at him and he chuckles at the look on my face, he continues, “It’s from a story in my world, called Through the Looking Glass. The Red Queen says to Alice, ‘Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place.’ We are fighting as hard as we can, but we aren’t advancing.”

I look at some of the devastation and bodies left behind by their breach into the city itself, “I’d say no matter what we are doing, we are losing.”

He sighs and nods, “Twilight, we need to do something. Or our entire world will be overrun by these things.”

I find myself growling, “We can kill them, we can close the portals. But they just keep coming.”

He looks at a newly opened portal as a dozen dragons rip into the bugs as they emerge, “It’s too bad we can’t stop their ability to make those damned portals.”

Something clicks in my head, then I smile, “Nick, you are a genius.” I shout as I put on a burst of speed.

I hear him respond as he catches up, “Naturally. But what specifically.”

The plan formulating in my mind makes me smile, I look at him, “Everything, love.” I streak towards the Nightmare.

“I need you to join with me in magic, Nightmare Moon.” I call.

This gets her to stop, “Why?” She asks, her face guarded.

“We need to make it impossible to make more portals. We need to stop them from coming through.”

“You little foal, don’t you think we’ve been trying to do?”

I smile, “Yeah, but by yourself, even with the added power of the nightmare, it isn’t enough. We need to combine our power. I’ll let you control, since Princess Luna is the one who figured out how to find other dimensions, use my power. Use my added strength to move everything.”

Her brow furrows, “Move everything?” Her eyes narrow and flick back and forth as she thinks furiously, then she smiles, “Ahh, I get it. Open yourself to me, Princess Twilight. But we will need more than you. Follow me.”

I follow as she angles for the castle, I think I know what she has in mind. And she confirms this by landing next to Princess Celestia. She steps forward, her wings folding by her sides, “I know what you want to do to me, dear sister, but the problem is bigger than either of us. I need you to join your magic with me, and with Twilight. We will stop the monsters from coming through.”

Celestia flinches, then looks at me. I nod, “Princess, you don’t have to trust her, but you can trust me. We will stop them coming through.”

“But what about those here?”

I sigh, “We need to close off the spigot before we address the flooding, Princess. Please?”

She looks at the ponies fighting and dying all around, she watches a flight of pegasi get hit by an artillery bug’s beam and all of them fall towards the ground. Other pegasi guards rush to catch those falling. Only half are saved, the rest are torn apart by the bugs as they crash. Celestia suppresses a sob as she nods, her horn glows mutely as she opens herself. My horn glows the same way as the Nightmare reaches out and pulls our power into her. She gasps as the torrent of power rushes through her, she smiles. “Now, it is time to end this threat to the ponies.” I follow her as she takes off once again. We fly above the highest spire of the great city of Canterlot.

“Now, let us begin.” She intones softly, and I find myself gasping as she pulls my magic, I know Celestia is feeling what I’m feeling. The moon itself flashes as she pulls everything she can from it as well. Midnight black tendrils extend from her horn, dividing again and again as each pony and bug is touched by the magic. The tendrils divide again as I feel even more power being used. The Nightmare is panting in effort as the effect spreads from Canterlot throughout the land around us. I watch as the magic becomes a wave, extending outward from Canterlot at speeds that would put Rainbow Dash to shame. In a matter of moments, the entire world around is enveloped in the oddly glimmering black magic. I get closer to the Nightmare. She grunts as the power flows through her.

“I couldn’t do this without the Nightmare” Comes Princess Luna’s voice from the black form, then she sighs, her voice changing back, “Now for the hard part.”

She strains, and I had only thought she had pulled every bit of magic I had before. Torrents of magic flow through the black Nightmare. I can feel her pain. I can feel the strain she is putting herself through. Her connection is to reality itself right now, her magic is touching everything. Then I feel it, a very subtle shift in my perception, everything, just a little bit. I look down as all the portals around Canterlot snap closed, some even slicing the bugs trundling through into pieces. The magic suddenly drains from me as the shift finishes, I turn towards the Nightmare, she’s falling.

“Nick, catch her.” I shout as I try to reorient my strength. I’m panting just trying to stay in the air. He flashes down and catches her, I fly next to him as we land on the parapet from Celestia.

“No more bugs will be able to make it here, Princess.” I say softly, “She’s shifted reality, the entire world, well actually,” My ears flick, “everything. We no longer occupy the space we were, we are elsewhere.”

Princess Celestia looks confused, “What are you talking about?”

The Nightmare shifts and stands up slowly, blood slowly leaking from her nose, “I changed our address. Essentially, the spell to find Equestria will simply fail, or open on another universe, not ours. The base knowledge of our world, our universe, is fundamentally changed. Since Princess Luna opened that first portal to find a love for Princess Twilight, she knew our address. So…” She smiles in exhaustion, “I changed it. They won’t be able to find it, not without help.”

A distant explosion draws our attention away from the city proper, Celestia growls, “Now we have to take care of them.”

I smile, “I have an idea.” I strike, hard. Wrestling control of the magic away from the Nightmare.

She looks at me in horror, “What are you doing you fool?”

“Ending this threat.” I say softly as I draw the magic from her, I pull on her connection to the moon, and pull everything I can. She starts to howl as the magic that makes the Nightmare flows into me.

“Twilight, no!” Celestia calls, only to be silenced by a glare from me, “I asked you to trust me, Princess Celestia. And I’m asking you to continue that trust.”

I can feel the emotions of the Nightmare. Princess Luna’s dark blue starts to become visible as I continue pulling the power. The hate, the anger, the betrayal, all burn inside me. I fight those emotions as they become more and more prominent. I smile, “Yes, this is exactly what I need.” I growl as the Nightmare is fully ripped from Princess Luna and the weakened mare collapses to the ground. I trot a few steps until I can see the entire battlefield, all the bugs advancing as they fight towards the walls of the city.

I enhance my voice for all to hear, “You want the magic of the ponies, here!” And I fire. All the magic I’ve gathered I fire at the bugs, not really magical power, though the strength is pushing it to all the bugs, everywhere in this world. Without their queen, they are vulnerable. What I send them is the hatred and envy of the Nightmare. My eyes flash white as I continue pouring those toxic emotions into the bugs. After what seems like forever, I find myself losing the connection, wetness drips from my own muzzle as I find my strength ebb from me.

***Nick***

“Twilight!” I shout as I flash forward and catch her before she crashes into the marble. I look back at the unconscious Luna and the staggering Princess Celestia, “What did she do?”

Celestia moves slowly to the parapet, “Look, young Nicholas.” She says softly.

I watch the bugs, they have pulled back from the wall, the chaos that losing the queen is multiplied by thousands. The bugs are a roiling mass of their blood and their body parts.

I whistle softly, “They are killing each other.”

Celestia moves over to her sister and nuzzles her, then she lights her horn, the semi-darkness of the perpetual eclipse passes as the sun moves from behind the moon, illuminating the day beautifully. The bugs continue fighting and killing each other.

Celestia moves over and nuzzles Twilight, “When my sister was fighting them, she remarked that the only thing she was able to feel of their emotions was hunger. She tried to find them in their dreams, because they do sleep, after a fashion. Their dreams were protected by their connection to their queen.”

“Twilight killed their Queen.” I say.

She looks at me and nods, “Then I can see how it worked. She used that connection, she exploited their weakness.”

That gets a smile from me, “Cloud Kicker told me about that once. Look for your opponents weakness and exploit it, rather than depending on your strengths.”

Princess Celestia smiles, “Cloud Kicker was with her during her search for you. I’m guessing she passed her knowledge of strategy to Twilight herself.”

***

The pressure on the shield lightens up quite a bit, Shining Armor and Cadance look at each other, blinking.

“What happened?” Shining pants.

Cadance closes her eyes, “I think things are going to be okay.”

Shining sit down heavily, “So, was it related to that magic that went over us?”

She nods, “I think so. I think Twilight may have won this war.” She gathers herself and streaks towards the shield perimeter. The ponies and all the others involved in the fighting are standing at the boundary, looking through the translucent bubble.

General Snow steps forward, “Something happened, the monsters just started attacking each other.”

Cadance tenses for a moment, then she smiles, “Yeah, I think Twilight did something to them. But let’s monitor this, once they stop fighting, let’s be ready to wipe out the rest of them and end this, permanently.”

***

Discord chuckles as he flies up higher, Fluttershy with him, they both fly over the devastation, the bugs are starting to quiet down as more and more die. She looks at Discord, “The sun is back, and the bugs are dying. We haven’t seen our last sunset yet.”

The draconequus smiles at Fluttershy as they keep out of reach. Discord snaps his fingers and an artillery bug, which has been laying waste to the bugs around it flashes to the size and shape of a skunk. And is promptly torn apart by the bugs around it, he smiles, “And their magic resistance is lessening it seems. I knew Twilight was up to something up there in Canterlot.”

Fluttershy grimaces at the draconequus, “Really, Discord. A skunk?”

He chuckles, “Well, I thought it fitting, since both of their butt blasts are deadly.”

She giggles and looks up at the city on the mountain, “I knew she could do it.”

***

Rainbow Dash groans and shifts on the bed, her eyes flutter open. Then they go wide and she sits up in a rush.

The nurse puts her wings on the other pegasus, pushing her down into the soft cloud bed, “Calm down. You are out of surgery now.”

Dash looks at the other pony, “Surgery?”

The other mare looks at Dash, “What is the last thing you remember?”

Dash flops back onto the bed, “I was trying to catch up with Lightning Dust when one of those artillery bugs nearly hit me.” Her eyes widen, “What happened to her?”

The nurse looks confused, “Who?”

“Lightning Dust.”

The white pegasus looks sad, “I’m sorry, I don’t know. But I think they do.” She shifts to point at four Wonderbolts walking slowly towards her.

Dash scowls, “Surprise, what happened to Lightning Dust?”

Surprise looks back at the other ‘bolts with her, then back at Dust, “I’m sorry, Rainbow Dash. But we couldn’t catch up with her. When you went after the artillery bug, I continued on to go after Dust. The rest stayed with you.” Tears start to leak from the other pony’s eyes, “I’m sorry, Dash, I wasn’t fast enough. I saw the effect of her blast with her magic, but I couldn’t catch her as she fell.” She sniffles, “The bugs tore her apart. I don’t think there is enough left for a proper funeral.”

“Damn it, that featherbrain.” Dash shouts as she pounds the bed with a hoof, “Let me get up, we’ll have to tell her family.”

“No, Rainbow Dash.”

Dash looks at the nurse who had just spoken, “What did you tell me? I’m the general for the 1st Pegasi squadron. I have to get with my troops.”

Surprise comes forward, “The war is over, Rainbow Dash. The bugs can’t get to us anymore, and the ones here…” She gulps and looks around, “They are all dead.”

Dash’s eyes widen, “How long was I out?”

“Most of a day.” Says one of the other Wonderbolts, “Add in your surgery.”

Dash frowns, “What is this surgery you keep talking about? I feel fine.”

The nurse chuckles, “Rainbow Dash, you are on enough painkillers for four ponies right now. I’m frankly surprised you are conscious. But I guess that is the speedster in you.” She sighs, “We had to perform an amputation.”

Dash looks confused, “What?” She brings her forehooves together and looks at them, then she looks at her rear hooves.

Surprise chokes off a sob, “It wasn’t a hoof, Dash.”

Dash’s eyes widen, “No…”

Surprise nods, “Your right wing was ruined. The doctors had enough problems keeping you alive.” She sees the tears on the cyan pegasi’s face, “They made the decision, you were losing too much blood. To repair the blood vessels would have starved your wing, so they decided to remove it.”

Dash shakes her head faintly, Surprise attempts a giggle, “Well, Soarin likes his prosthetic wing. I think you’ll like yours, once it’s built.”

Dash breaks down in tears, and finds a pony pulling her into a hug, “Fluttershy?” She’s able to murmur through her tears, “I thought you were in Ponyville.”

Fluttershy nuzzles her friend, “I was, but I came to Canterlot to see you when they told me you were hurt. Well, you and one other.”

Dash’s eyes widen once again, “Who?”

Fluttershy flinches and goes silent, Surprise comes forward, “The one who saved us all.” She moves and points to another pony lying on another bed.

Rainbow Dash finds the strength and wiggles away from everypony. She gets on the floor and walks unsteadily towards the other pony. As she walks, she notices another face. “Nick?”

The sleeping pony doesn’t respond, so she leaps at him, knocking him off the chair and hugging him. He flails wildly for a moment until his eyes focus on her, then he smiles, “Rainbow Dash, good to seeya.”

She nuzzles the brown pegasus stallion, “What is going on?”

Nick sighs, “She ended the threat, she used every bit of power she could, but she ended the threat to the ponies. The doctors don’t know if she’ll be able to ever wake up again.”

Rainbow Dash moves over to the prone pony, “Oh Twilight, what have you done to yourself.” She sobs as she lets the tears flow.

Chapter 15.

I walk slowly through the infirmary. Twilight has been moved to her castle in Ponyville. She has round the clock care by several nurses and specialists. And all of them agree, she may never wake. Though, at times, I find myself confused, they aren’t using any equipment or magic to keep her body alive, so she’s in there. I know she is. Three months, three months of them giving her body the nutrients and moisture she needs to stay alive via a tube. Daily scans by her doctors say the same thing. I split my time between the foals, and spending time with her. I see Brygor, once in a while, he’s been healing from the fight. Three months is a long time to heal. Princess Celestia has been spending much time in seclusion as her sister heals. She’s been taking on Luna’s duties for the Moon while Luna has been resting.

Soft hoofsteps gain my attention. I flick my ears and raise my head from the bed. Pinkie Pie is there, with both of the foals. I frown, “Pinkie, why did you bring them here? It only confuses them to see their mommy unable to respond to them.”

“I asked her to bring them, young Nicholas.” Comes another voice.

I sigh, “Princess Celestia, with all due respect, but I am their father…”

“Please Nick.” Comes another voice, getting me to look over at the midnight blue alicorn standing there.

I squint at her, “Princess Luna, what brings you here?” I growl.

“Nick.” Princess Celestia says sharply, gaining a glare from me, her ears flick as she recoils from the heat of my glare. She looks at Luna, who looks quite unsure at the moment.

Luna steps forward slowly, “Nick, words cannot express adequately my sorrow. The magic that made us unreachable to the vermin that attacked has also made your world permanently out of reach. Not only can you never go home, even as a pony, but you will never know what has happened there in your absence.”

I snort, my wings flinging out in a threat display, “Do you honestly think that’s why I’m upset, Princess?” I scream, tears threatening to fall.

Luna flinches, seeing her like that tells me everything I need to know, “Of course you know that’s not it. I have left my home behind, because of this pony right here. And your actions as the Nightmare may have ended the war.” I look at Twilight, “But your inability to stop the Nightmare without her help is what caused her to overdo it. Because you couldn’t control yourself, she’s here. She’s not playing with her foals.”

I sniffle, the tears that were threatening are now falling, “If you had controlled yourself, then she would be here, laughing, smiling, and being close to me.” I sob. I whirl away from the two alicorns and crawl up onto the soft bed. I curl my body around her head, using my overlarge wings to pull her a little closer, “Now leave me alone.”

Pinkie Pie moves up uncharacteristically slowly, “Nick, Princess Luna says she thinks that she can help.”

I growl, “Three months, it’s been three months. Look at her Pinkie! She’s lost a lot of weight, no matter what the doctors do, she’s slowly slipping away.”

Celestia steps forward, “I told Princess Luna to delay coming to help. If you must place blame, do so on me. She was too weak after that ordeal.”

I perk my head up, “So, she is able to recover, as Twilight wastes away?” I snort, looking at Luna, “She ripped the Nightmare out of you, she saved you. At the expense of herself.”

Luna comes forward, her ears splayed back and her wings pulled tightly to her sides, “You have valid points young Nick, but I’ve been begging my sister for weeks now to let me come here.”

I look at Luna and Celestia, Luna continues, “I think I can help Princess Twilight.”

“Why the children?” I growl, flicking my ears towards Pinkie and her dual saddle bags holding the foals.

Princess Luna puts a hoof on the bed, “I need them, we are going to find Princess Twilight in the dream. I’ve found her before,” Princess Celestia shifts, “I didn’t tell you I was going into the world of dreams, my sister. I have to fix what I destroyed.” She looks at me, her eyes pleading, “I need to help bring her out of this. I need you to help.” She looks back at Pinkie Pie and the foals, “And I need them. We must work together to get to her.”

I nuzzle Twilight, “I’ll do anything for her.”

She sighs, “I know.”

Pinkie Pie hops onto another bed and takes a few moments to arrange the foals, Sunlight and Moonlight both curl up with the pink pony. Celestia moves off, she looks back at all of us then flicks her tail as she exits the infirmary. Princess Luna lights her horn and glowing black tendrils of magic extend gently, touching the foals, then Twilight, and finally, myself. My eyes close as I settle down around her and sleep folds over me.

***

“Nick.” Princess Luna says softly, I look around. We are in absolute darkness. Though stars are everywhere, I look on as a carrier for the foals appears around my barrel. Both foals float into it and I take a moment to nuzzle each of them before looking at Luna.

“So…” I look around, “What now?”

She points to a globe, though it looks far different from the rest, it flickers between light and dark, but when it’s not flickering, it stays a fairly dark gray, “This is Twilight Sparkle. She is trapped in a nightmare.”

I step forward and put a hoof on the dream, “How do I help her?” I growl.

“You cannot, not right now. We need to work together to help her. But first, we must gain access to her dreams, to her mind. I tried myself.” She looks bleak, “But the magic resists me. I hope that with your help, we can enter her mind fully, and help draw her out of this.”

“Let’s start.”

She steps forward and puts her hoof next to mine and closes her eyes. Her horn again lights, and I feel her magic touch me and extend into the dream, after a few moments she smiles, “Having you here did help. I thought so!” She says and then we are in darkness.

I stand up and whirl around, “What happened?”

“We are in her dream, Nick.”

I look around, “There’s nothing…” My words trail off as I notice a soft light. I trot over to it then stop in shock. We are in a tower in Canterlot. The bugs are everywhere. And at their center…

“Oh Twilight.” I whimper. Twilight is there, she’s fighting for her life. Bugs are attacking her, and she’s fighting and killing them as fast as she can.

I spread my wings and Luna shouts, “Nick, you need to stop!”

I look at her, “What?”

She points, “She doesn’t realize it’s a dream. She’s stuck in this.”

“I need to get her out of it!”

“This is a dream, Nick. She is stuck in this fight. It is what she was doing when she fell into this.”

I look at the purple alicorn fighting, “Can she die in here?”

She sighs, “While the dream is real to her, I don’t think she can die in this fight. Things will just reset in her mind.” She watches for a long time, her ears flicking, “She can feel her body weakening, she can feel that she’s losing slowly. It will manifest in the monsters getting the better of her.”

I flinch as a bug slices off one of her wings. I’m enveloped in magic as I try to go to her as another bug gets close enough and lands a blow to her neck. Blood flies as she screams in pain. Then after a few moments everything stops. Everything blinks, and she’s back the way she was, still fighting for her life.

I shudder, “Does she remember what just happened?”

Her tail lashes as she stalks closer to the window, “I don’t believe so. It feels real to her, but in the end, it’s still a dream. We are not in the world of dreams, but merely in her own dream. She can die here a million times and still wake up.”

I look around, “Can the bugs hurt us? Hurt the foals?”

She looks unsure, then finally she shakes her head, “I don’t think so, Nick. So long as you remain yourself in her dream, you remain separate.”

“Can she see me?”

She nods, “She is aware of the dream.”

I turn and flash through the window, my wings taking my weight, “Twilight!” I call. The figure looks up at me, her mouth dropping in shock. A bug takes the opportunity to behead her. In moments, everything stops, and I’m back in the tower, watching her fight desperately for her life.

I shake my head, “That was…” I look up at Luna, “Different.”

“Brute force does not work in the dream, young Nick.”

I snort and rub a hoof through my fiery mane, “Ya could have told me.”

She moves forward as though to nuzzle me, then it looks like she rethinks the gesture, she nervously preens a wing instead, “Would you have listened to me?”

I look at Twilight, “Probably not.”

She steps forward, “I have a feeling you are still needed. I was unable to simply enter her dream by myself. She is aware of you being here, even though her dream doesn’t indicate it, and she allowed you in. I think you need to be with me as I talk to her.”

I look at her, “I’m still angry at you, Princess.”

She flinches, I continue, “But I think you want Twilight back as much as I do. If for no other reason than the guilt you feel right now.” I sigh, “Because of that, I’ll trust you with her. Nothing else has worked, you say you can help. I want her back in the world of life. And I know you want her there as well. Perhaps we can help her.” I hold out a hoof, “Together.”

She looks at my hoof for a long time, then she looks into my eyes, “You really do love her, don’t you?”

I nod.

She smiles as she takes my hoof, “I knew I made the right choice in picking you, Young Nick.”

She cloaks us all in darkness, and I can feel the world shift, we are standing in a clearing in Canterlot, a shocked look on Twilight’s face as the bugs around her have disappeared, only to be replaced by us.

“Nick, get out of here!” She pants, her horn glowing, “I’ve been fighting these bugs. You can’t stop them, they are too strong.”

Luna steps forward, “Twilight Sparkle, look around you. You ended the war.”

She shakes her head, “What are you talking about? It’s worse than ever, I tried to push the Nightmare into them, but all I got was them attacking me.”

Luna smiles, “You pulled the Nightmare out of me. You have banished it permanently from this world. You used the energy, the toxic emotions, to infect the monsters.” She glances all around, her ability with the dream is keeping all the bugs motionless, “This is a construct within your mind.”

Twilight shakes her head, “That’s impossible.”

Luna cocks her head to the side, “Really, Twilight? You stripped me of the Nightmare, and yet I stand before you, healthy and hale, as you wither slowly. You fight for your life, yet I have asked your stallion to bring your foals to you here.”

I find myself teleported, in the way of dreams, first I’m next to Princess Luna, now I’m right in front of Twilight, both foals are brought out before Twilight, Luna steps closer, “Look at them.”

She sits down, looking at us, then at Luna, “This isn’t real?”

Luna smiles, “That is actually a complex question, but the easiest answer is no, it’s not.”

Twilight furrows her brow, “Are you controlling this?”

Luna nods.

Twilight looks around, “So, for me to get out of this, and not get caught up again, I have to control this myself.”

Luna smiles and nods.

Twilight looks at me and smirks, she smiles at Luna for a moment and says softly, “Keep your control for a few more moments, please, Princess.”

Luna frowns as she nods, Twilight moves closer to me, “I’ve felt you, as I fight here, as I use everything I have to just keep from dying, I feel your presence, love.”

I find my face heating, “I’ve been with you, either with you, or with our foals.”

She smiles and darts forward to kiss me thoroughly, after time immeasurable she steps back, she smirks at me, “Okay, Luna, I think I can do it.”

A tension I didn’t notice in Princess Luna fades and all the bugs leap at us. Once again they halt mid-flight, Twilight smiles grimly, “I may not have the proficiency in the dream that you do, Princess Luna.” She grins evilly, “But I think I have enough here.”
As she finishes speaking, the first bug is engulfed in flames, and those flames rapidly spread among all the bugs, their bodies burning to ash as I watch, Twilight once again trots up to me, “And let’s do this…” She once again kisses me, and finally pulls away, “In real life.”

I find myself tumbling out of the dream, only to awaken to her lips on mine, I open my eyes, looking at her closed eyes as she moans in pleasure as she puts her forehooves around me, bringing me closer, her wings come around me too. I fold my wings around her as well, bringing her as close to me as I can.

A throat clearing causes her eyes to open, she pulls away and looks at me, then at everypony around us. She smiles around at the ponies, “What? I’ve missed him.” She pulls me closer.

Princess Celestia comes forward, “I can see that. How do you feel, Princess?”

Twilight’s horn lights, flipping the cover off, then she gets a good look at herself, “Starving, apparently.” She floats the foal carrier off of Pinkie and onto my back, then she floats each foal to her, where she kisses them softly, and then puts one, and then the other, in the carrier, “Let’s get some food. I want to see all of my friends.”

Princess Celestia smiles as she leads us towards the dining room, “I think that can be arranged. Princess.”

Epilogue

“One year ago today.” Princess Celestia intones to the crowd before her, “Princess Twilight and Princess Luna banded together to make it impossible for those creatures to ever find us again.” I am in an EUP uniform, as the leader of the Dragon Corps, I have to project an image, I look over at the Princess of the Sun, “The threat was ended to Equestria, and the entire world.”

She looks around at all of her subjects, “That war had a heavy toll. Tens of thousands of dead on our side. Ponies, dragons, griffins, yaks, and buffalo, among others, have died. Today we remember the honored dead. Many of you served with the Guard during the war.” Her ears flatten, “Many of you were injured, or knew others that were killed or injured themselves. This war touched every facet of our lives.”

As she continues to speak, I look around. Rainbow Dash is there, among the 1st pegasi. She refused retirement after the war. Her new mechanical wing is folded at her side, gleaming in the bright sunlight. Applejack, though, isn’t among the military members. She resigned right after the war, and she stands with the other element bearers. The Wonderbolts flew over the castle earlier. Only one original member survived, Spitfire, and she was among those flying in the missing pony formation. Their formation is much like the missing man formation I’ve flown as a human on occasion.

I look down at the crowd filling the courtyard. It’s packed with ponies of every hue, many were directly affected by the war, ponies missing hooves, or ears, or wings, or even a few unicorns that have lost their horns. Pony healers helped keep the death toll as low as possible, but many required a lot of work. Prosthesis makers will be busy for years to come.

Pegasi fly around, drawing my eyes to what has been done in the last year. The walls of the city on the mountain have been expanded and strengthened. Construction is ongoing in repairing the damage. Scaffolding is around hundreds of buildings. The ponies have many of the modern conveniences that I’ve had has a human, though they tend to use magic and technology blended together to make things work. I can’t find an electric line anywhere, but the houses have power.

Celestia’s voice draws my attention back to her, “With many thanks to Princess Twilight and Princess Luna, go in peace.” I watch her turn and head back into the tower. I look over at Twilight, who steps forward and nuzzles me, then her magic lights and our foals are brought over to us from Pinkie Pie’s protective watch. Since the war, she’s been pretty much a full time nanny for us. Noe because we particularly need her, but she wants to, and the foals adore her.

Twilight nuzzles each filly in turn, then she turns to me, “Nick.” She looks unsure, “I need to talk to you…Love.”

I find my ears flicking at her tone of voice, she only sounds like that when she’s fighting something internal, “Certainly.” Is what I say.

She floats the foals back over to Pinkie Pie, who herds them towards the stairs down to the exits. Twilight turns and starts walking, gesturing for me to follow, I walk sedately beside her. She is silent for a long time, but finally she talks, “Celestia had a talk with me, while you were gone. While you were captured by that monster.”

I furrow my brow, “She’s working to atone for her crimes. Celestia has her supervised at all times. And she’s forced to wear that charm that removes her ability to shape shift.”

Twilight shakes her head hard, “I know all of that, Nick. But I’m talking about what Princess Celestia told me.”

Huh? I remain silent, waiting for her to continue speaking, after a long time, “Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie are connected to me, via the Elements of Harmony. What that means is, this, my being an alicorn, I will not age, and I will live for millennia.” She sighs, “And so will they.”

That almost gets me to stop walking, but I continue, “And me?”

She nearly sobs, “That connection was made before I became an alicorn. It was a long time before I met you. I can’t just give you my abilities, I can’t make you live nearly forever with me.”

I sigh, and smile a bit, she’s so cute, even now, “Twilight. It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not.” She moans as the tears start to fall. “The last several months, I’ve been avoiding telling you. Because I don’t want you to leave me. But you will eventually notice, you’ll get older and I won’t…” She stops talking with my wing on her lips.

We turn into one of the many sitting rooms in the Royal Palace, I smile at her, “Twilight, do you honestly think I would leave you, because you’ll outlive me?”

The tears burst forth, she sobs as she nods, I rush forward and hug her, bringing my wings into the hug, “Oh Twilight, you never need to worry about that. Why would I leave you?”

She continues to sob, “Because you deserve somepony different, one that isn’t some sort of nearly immortal demigod.”

I pull back a bit, looking at her, “Are you saying that when I’m old and gray, you’ll not want me anymore?”

She stops, looking at me in shock, “What? Why? I would never.”

I smile at her, “Then don’t worry about me, hell. You’ll end up with a broken down old pony for a husband, I get a young, hot, wife until my dying day.” I wiggle my eyebrows, “I think I’m getting the better end of the deal, Twilight.”

She sniffles and looks at me, “Huh?”

I kiss her quickly, she responds but I pull away quickly, she opens her eyes and looks at me, I smile, “Twilight, you don’t need to worry about me leaving you. You must have some odd ideas about patriarchal societies.”

“You are saying you humans don’t divorce?”

I shake my head, “No, divorce happens, all too often in my world. But why would I divorce you?”

“Because…” She looks unsure, “I’m not going to be able to share your experiences with you, I won’t age like you, I’m always going to be different.”

I lean forward and kiss her, the kiss goes on for what seems like forever, and ends way too soon, I look at her, “Twilight, I don’t care about all of that, you are the pony I love. I’m never leaving you.”

She hugs me, hard, “Oh, Nick. I love you, forever.”

I squeeze her back, “Twilight, let’s go home. We have a life to live together.”

She nods as she wipes her tears away, “Yes, let’s go.”