Twilight and Rainbow Dash both clash on the bloody battlefield of the Everfree Forest. Swords and Feelings will collide, when only one mare can walk away. Or, can love conquer all?
Twilight and Rainbow Dash both clash on the bloody battlefield of the Everfree Forest. This battle will be the defining point of the 2ed Equestrian civil war. Will the New Lunar Republic win? Or will the Solar Empire crush the rebellion? And during this battle can Twilight and Rainbow really do the unthinkable: To kill the one you love.
In the magical land of Equestria. There were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies.
But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth. But they shunned and slept through her beautiful night. So one day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon.
She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: The Elements of Harmony! Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister then took on responsibility for both sun and moon, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since-
"All Lies!!!" screamed Luna, in her royal Canterlot voice. "nothing but propaganda filth! how can sister lie to her own subjects and blood?!".
Just then the door to the Royal Canterlot Archives slammed open, and in rushed Spike; a look of concern on his face.
"Luna, I heard shouting. Whats wrong!?" asked Spike, but the dragon stopped dead in his tracks when he gazed upon his new wife. Luna, looked beyond pissed; so much that her eyes and coat turned darker and her body began to transform into what resembled that of Nightmare Moon. "Luna! calm down!" cried Spike, as the drake rushed over to his mare he pulled her into a tight, yet loving hug. After a moment, Luna began to clam down; and she soon returned to her normal form.
Rubbing her head Luna looked back to the book on the table, Spike also noticed her gaze. Slowly Luna get go of her husband and trotted over to the table; Spike followed. The Night Goddess looked down at the book that caused all this fuss; she then looked back to her drake with a cold expression, that sent chills up his spine.
"Dear husband, what do you know about this book?" she asked, without any emotion.
"W-well, that's the story of the two sisters" said Spike, he pointed the cover picture; that showed both Luna and Celesta standing together. "and the story of how you became-" Spike couldn't bring himself to continue.
"Please, Spike do continue".
"-Nightmare Moon".
Luna nodded. "Yes, and who wrote this piece of propaganda dear husband?".
"Propaganda?-".
"Just! answer my question, Spike" said Luna, harsh at first; but then smiled warmly.
"Why, your sister wrote it hundreds of years ago of course" said Spike, very confused. "why do you ask?".
Luna transferred her gaze to the book. "Because its all lies..." a signal tear fell down her cheek. "yes we were resentful of my sister, that much is true; but she never tried to reason with us. Maybe the war could have been avoided if she just gave it a try, but NO she declared me an enemy of the state; and even now a thousand years latter she is still making herself look fully Innocent!" she screamed, Spike took a step back.
Luna turned to Spike and grinned like a mad-mare. "But! has she forgotten the war crimes that she commented as well? the innocent ponies that she killed to get to me!? dose that ever come up in your history books, Spike?!".
"No..." Spike squeaked out, clearly fearful for his life. Luna saw the scared look on her husbands face, so shaking her head Luna calmed down. She reached over and pulled the larger dragon into a deep kiss, that Spike happy returned. After a moment of pure bliss Luna pulled away.
"I am sorry my dear Spike, we are just very upset with our sister right now" she turned to the book. "we thought that now after we had returned sister would show us love once again, but apparently her love is only a mask. We can NOT stand for this hypocrisy to go on any-longer!".
"Luna.. I don't understand".
"Sister has lied to her my little ponies for too long, and made her own image that of perfection. We will not let this hidden tyranny continue, sister must tell the truth and face up to her war crimes, just like I have!".
Spike raised an eyebrow. "And what If she refuses?".
Luna smirked and looked to the moon outside the window.
"Then it shall be war...".
The very next day Luna demanded her sister to make a public announcement, telling her subjects about the truth of the First Equestrian Civil War and her crimes that she commented. Celestia however refused....
A week later Luna and Spike broadcasted on public radio the truth of the war, and of Celestia's tyranny and war crimes. Most ponies did not believe them, however many also did. By this time in his life, Spike had become a well known and well respected ambassador and politician; so many of his friends in high places believed him. Those ponies included: Fancy Pants, Hoity Toity and many other Canterlot elites.
With there support and funding the revolution took off in full swing. Ponies all over Equestria took sides, including the Elements of Harmony; who were all torn between their friendship with Spike and their loyalty to the very Princess who made them who they are today. Sadly for Spike most of his friends and family stayed with Celesta, except for surprisingly Rainbow Dash.
Spike asked Dash why she wanted to join, because why would she want to in the first place? all her friends were on the other side, and even her own marefriend Twilight stayed with the Solar Empire. "Why join the rebellion?" Dash replied to his question with this:
"Twilight's a tough mare, I'm sure she'll be fine without me for a little while" said Dash, laughing.
"A little while?" Spike looked confused. "Dash, I don't think that you understand. This isn't going to be a one year thing, this is war Dash. Lives will be lost, family's torn apart, and if you join us then you'll be fighting against Twilight. So I'll ask you again: are you absolutely sure?".
Dash took a moment to absorb the reality of the situation. Her eyes went wide, with mouth agape; but then she thought for a moment about how all of her other friends just abandoned Spike, even his own sister. She didn't want to be like them, she wanted to be loyal to Spike as a friend. She wanted to be loyal to Twilight too, but she knew that Twilight could handle herself in the long run. Spike on the other hand would probably get depressed with fighting all his friends. Dash had to stay with Spike, for his own good. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to miss Twilight a less, she was just looking out for a friend. 'Also, it dose sounds pretty bad ass being called a rebel soldier' Thought Dash, smiling weakly.
"I'm sure" said Dash, proudly with a salute.
Spike studied his friend closely and he could tell that she was lying to herself, that she really didn't know if this is what she wanted. Spike didn't want his friend to make a dumb choice and ruin her love life forever, but the New Lunar Republic couldn't afford to have all the Elements of Harmony fighting against them; because if so, the war would be over in days. So for now Spike took her lie as the truth.
"Well then..." Spike saluted back. "welcome to the revolution".
"War can change, but old feelings can only be hidden. That is until they are uncovered".
High in the skies above the Everfree Forest hovered a huge air-ship. That very ship belonged to the Solar Empire, and on board the huge aircraft stood Princess Celestia herself. She looked down upon the great forest, knowing that this would be the final battle. This war had gone on for five bloody years, no more resources could be spent on the war effort. The Equestrian economy was already in shambles thanks to this civil war, and too many lives were lost.
This war had to end today, no matter the cost.
Celestia looked to her right and noticed the grim look on her commanders face. Twilight Sparkle used to be the prized student of Princess Celestia, but when Luna declared war Twilight's life changed forever. She- being loyal to Celesta- stayed on the side of the Empire, all of her friends did the same, except for two. Her marefriend Rainbow Dash, and even her little brother Spike joined the Lunar Rebellion; there reasons differed though. Rainbow Dash thought that Luna's message of freedom and self-rule sounded more righteous of a cause than just fighting for Celesta, and apparently joining the revolution was a better cause than to stay with her marefriend. As for Spike, he, some years before the war, started a relationship with the Night Princess, so when war was declared Spike vowed to stayed with his wife until the end. But today was then end, and the dragon had keep his promise.
"Twilight, will you be alright with what is about to take place. Because If your not sure that you can-"
"No, I need to be the one" interrupted Twilight, coldly. "the one to kill her".
Celesta nodded and turned away from Twilight and transferred her gaze to the other alicorn who had stayed by her side during this war. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Cadance was less heartfelt about the moment, because her life had not changed as drastically as Twilight's had. The pink alicorn stood tall and proud, unlike Twilight, who stood cold and full of regret for the coming battle.
Celesta turned her gaze back to the Everfree Forest.
"So it begins" said Celestia. She lifted her right hoof high, then brought it down signaling for the attack to start.
* * *
Deep within the Everfree forest the rebel army waited in the shadows of the trees. Most of the army were pegasus & bat ponies, and that little difference would make a great impact in the coming battle. Pegasus and bat ponies could easily move from one tree to the other without much fuss, and being that all of Luna's troops were equipped with crossbows, this battle would soon be a slaughter for her sisters army.
Luna stood atop a tree branch. She smiled at the confident looks that her soldiers gave, and she knew why that was. This battle would be fought on there ground, and by there rules; unlike the many loss's they had revived before, where the battle took place wherever Celesta wanted it to be.
The New Lunar Republic had only suffered defeat after defeat at the being of this five year conflict, that was until her dear husband thought of a great strategy to put into action. Spikes plan was to move the rebel army into the Everfree and wait for Celestia to come to them. They would have plenty of food and Solar Air-ships could not reach them past the thick treetops. She was so overjoyed by the plan that Luna handsomely reworded her drake that night.
Luna smirked and also blushed from the memory. Transferring her gaze from the soldiers she moved it to her husband, who stood atop another branch not far away. Spike noticed Luna looking at him and he waved, with a huge goofy smile on his face. Luna giggled and waved back.
"Only you can make me feel and act this way, Spike" She whispered.
Only a second later a rainbow blur zoomed past Luna's head. It was her captain Rainbow Dash. The pegasus then turned around and flew towards Luna. Rainbow Dash looked pained, she knew why. Today she would have to kill the mare that she loved.
'Hopefully Twilight will be killed by somepony else, so that Captain Dash doesn't have to complete such a grim deed' she thought.
"Celestas army is heading this way from the west, they'll be here soon" Said Rainbow Dash, proudly with a salute. But Luna could see the pain behind her eyes.
"Very well" She turned back to her army and husband. Using her magic she lifted the flag of revolution high in the air.
"For the New Lunar Republic!" she cried in pride.
"For the Night Goddess!" screamed the ranks of soldiers.
* * *
Commander Twilight marched with the 3rd Battalion of the 5th Regiment through the west of the Everfree Forest. Their information did not provided them with the exact location of the rebel army, only that the rebels were deep inside the forest; so Celesta sent many regiments into the forest in different detections. Once a battalion or regiment found the rebel army they were to send up a flare.
But Twilight and her soldiers could only hear madding silence, no rebels. She knew that Luna's soldiers were probably watching them at this very moment, and that might mean that Rainbow Dash was watching them too. She knew that Dash would be looking for her, just as much as she was looking for Dash, and the moving shadows in the trees didn't help with there moral.
Wait? moving shadows!?
Just then a crossbow bolt struck her flag carrier, binging the poor stallion to the ground with a thud, only to have another soldier pick up the flag and get shot herself. After a third soldier died from holding the flag the others just left it there in the mud. This was not looking good for Twilight and her troops. As more crossbow bolts came down upon them Twilight used her magic to place a shield around her battalion. The bolts could not pierce her magic shield, so the onslaught stopped.
Silence once again filled the forest.
Still using her magic Twilight asked aloud "How many casualties!?".
"Fourteen dead, twenty injured, your majesty!" called her Lieutenant.
"That many already!?" Said Twilight, aghast.
'Think Twilight, you've been trained for this, and you can't die here. You need to be the one to kill Dash, its only right-'
"Yo, Twi, up here!" Yelled a familiar voice, that cut off her train of thought.
Twilight and her soldiers looked up, and there atop a high tree branch stood Rainbow Dash; looking proud and brave for her many Lunar soldiers that now surrounded the small battalion of Solar Empire troops. Twilight's battalion consisted of 300soldiers, adding the ones who were killed or injured, and the amount of rebels that surrounded them was twice that size. In the trees, on the ground, and in the air Rainbows soldiers were at the ready with swords and lances.
Twilight and Rainbow Dash both stared at each other in intensity. This would be the first time that they had seen the other in five long years. Old feelings once forgotten started to come out, but then were suppressed by shear willpower. They could not let there emotions get in the way.
"All you are now Twilight is another target to kill" whispered Rainbow, as she griped her sword in her wing.
"Your nothing but a dirty rebel now Dash" whispered Twilight, as she readied her sword in her magic.
Then silence took the battlefield once again. Twilight's soldiers huddled together in a protective square, still protected by Twilight's magic shield. Rainbows soldiers grinned with victory in there hearts, each soldier picked a target to kill when the attack would be called.
And as for Twilight and Rainbow Dash, they both watched the other with cold and blank expressions; both waiting for the other to make the first move.
The Lunar troops on the ground and in the air charged the shield on all sides. As they got closer Twilight ordered her soldiers to:
"When I give the signal, everypony break out of formation and charge them with all your might!".
"Yes! your majesty!" screamed the ranks.
The Lunar charge got closer and closer until at the very last moment, Twilight gave the signal.
"Break!" Yelled Twilight. When the shield dropped the first thing that she did was fire a bolt of magical energy at Rainbow Dash. Rainbow dogged the attack and jumped to another tree. Twilight ducked under a Lunar guards lance and stabbed him in the chest with her sword.
The battle had begun.
As both sides fought with all there might, Twilight and Dash were having there own fight in the trees above the battle.
Rainbow Dash dogged another one of Twilight's magic attacks. The pegasus then flipped the crossbow from off her back and gripped it in her wing, she then fired a bolt; hitting Twilight in the left wing.
"Ahh!" yelped Twilight in pain. Seeing her mare hurting also hurt Rainbow Dash, she floated there in shock at what she had just done.
Twilight roughly flew over to a tree branch, she stumbled foreword but caught herself. Looking up Twilight saw the shock in Rainbows eyes. Rainbow Dash was stunned that she really had just hurt her marefriend. Twilight took this moment of opportunity and shot a magical bolt at Dash, the pegasus could only blink once before being hit as she fell the the ground; far away from the battlefield. Twilight lost her site of Dash through the thick tree-lines. Flapping her injured wings Twilight flew painfully over to where she had last seen Dash.
Landing in a clearing far away from the battle Twilight could not see Dash anywhere.
"I could have sworn that this is where she landed" Twilight pulled her sword out of its socket, never taking her guard down.
"I did land here, Twi" Twilight jumped with fright. Turning around she saw Rainbow Dash laying on the ground, blooded but not fully beaten. Rainbow Dash's right wing was completely shot off. For a normal pegasus the pain would be to much to take, but Dash was no normal pegasus.
"Y-your w-wing.. I.. I..".
"You shot it off, is what I think you want to say" Dash laughed, as she coughed up bloody. She tried to get up, only to fall back onto the ground in pain.
Twilight rushed to her side, completely forgetting the fact that she was the enemy.
"Don't get up! you need your rest. I'll go and get something for the bleeding!" said Twilight, before Dash could even complain she was already gone.
Only a second pasted by and Twilight had returned with a med-kit. The alicorn used her magic to lifted the pegasus from off the ground, Rainbow Dash grunted in pain. "Sorry" mouthed Twilight. She then wrapped the pegasus torn wing in a medical bandage. Once done Twilight collapsed beside the other mare.
"Why.. you.. why did you help me" said Dash, clearly shocked. "I'm a captain in the Lunar rebel army".
"Because I..." Twilight smiled. "I still love you, Dash".
Rainbow Dash's eyes went wide in surprise.'She still loves me? even after I ran off and joined the rebellion. I... I can't believe it'
Dash sighed. "You do know that I'm not going to join your tyrant teachers army right?".
"I know" Twilight reached over and pulled the pegasus into a surprise hug. Rainbow was taken off guard, but then melted into the embrace. "I know that you can't change that part of yourself, your too stubborn" She giggled, as Dash rolled her eyes. "and you know that I can't change also" Dash nodded, slowly. "so... lets not change!".
"I don't understand?" said Dash, with a raised eyebrow.
"You can ever betray the New Lunar Republic, and I can never betray the Solar Empire; where both just to thickheaded. But, what if we don't betray them".
"I... um.. I still don't get it" Dash blushed, feeling a little dumb.
Twilight rolled her eyes and pulled Dash into a kiss. Dash gasped in shock, but quickly returned the warm kiss. Oh! how she missed this feeling, and how she missed Twilight altogether; five years is a long time to be alone after all. She loved the kiss so much, but she still didn't understand; so pulling away Dash spoke.
"I.. *pant*.. wow.. just wow" Twilight giggled, also trying to catch her breath. "but I still don't understand Twi".
"M.I.A" said Twilight, smiling.
"Missing. In. Action?" Dash thought for a moment, then returned the smile. "Twilight Sparkle, you clever mare you! I bet that this was your true plan all along".
"Nope, I just came up with it" she winked.
Twilight stood back up, also helping Dash up as well. Once both mares were back on four hoofs Twilight draped her good wing over her marefriends back, then they began there escape of the battlefield. But they only got a few steps away before a large green dragon, covered in blood landed and blocked their path.
"Spike!" both mares shouted in shock and fear.
Spike looked at Dash and then at Twilight. The dragon then pulled out his longsword from his back-strap, and held it high in the air. Twilight and Dash closed there eyes and screamed in fear as the mighty sword came down upon them.
But death did not come.
Opening there eyes both mares saw that there saddlebags had been expertly cut off. They looked to Spike in confusion.
"There has to be evidence to make the others think that your missing, otherwise they'll know that you deserted" said Spike, smiling at his sister.
Tears poured down Twilight's cheeks. "W-why help us?".
"Twilight, you may be a dammed soldier of the crown; but your still my sister before anything else. No war can ever change that" Spike pulled the mares into a hug, which they happily returned.
Pulling away Spike and the mares said there goodbyes. But, then a thought came to Twilight's head. She turned around and yelled.
"Spike!" The dragon tuned around. "who's wining the battle!?".
"The New Lunar Republic, baby!" Spike flipped off his sister, then took to the skies. Twilight and Dash laughed.
Twilight stopped laughing. "Wait! why am I celebrating?" Dash only shook her head and smiled.
"I love you, baby" said Dash.
And with that Twilight and Dash walked off the bloody battlefield, together.
