Twilight was awoken violently by what was ...screaming? Jutted from her peaceful sleep, Twilight looked around her still dark room. Spike sat on the ledge of the window, with a look of pure fear on his face. Through the window Twilight could see the soft glow on the night night sky. She knew what it meant, but hoped it wasn't true.
"Spike," She began tenitively."Whats going on?"Twilight asked, fearful of the answer.
"Well...um...er, Twi you need to see this." Twilight slowly got out of bed and moved towards the window. What she saw was a horror.
flames belowed out of the houses and ran wild through all of ponyville. Ponies ran through the streets, pegasi were franticaly trying to to put out the fires; the town was in chaos.
"What happened Spike?" Twilight muttered, almost whispering.
"I donno', I woke upfor a midnight snack, and the town was already like this." His voice was shaking alittle. "But..." He added "I think they have something to do with it..." He pointed a claw out the window. Twilight looked out at where Spike was pointing. There was a group of ponies, all with purple band on their forlegs. The earth ponies held tortches in their mouths, pegasi were droping crude fire bombs and the unicornshad glowing weapons floating infront of them.Twilight was shocked to see a group of Royal Guard fighting with some of theunicorns.
She turned to Spike and said "Spike, we need to send a letter to the princess imediatly!"
"I've tried Twilight but, she hasn't responded yet."
"hmmm....Quick go find Rainbow dash and fly to Canterlot to inform the princess."
"Yes sir, ah er ma'am' Spike said giveing a small salute before runing off. After his his departure, Twilight turned her attintion back outside. The flames continued to grow larger by the second. Twilight could see the baby dragon run towards her friends cloud home.
"Celestia help us." she said looking out the window. Twilight turned and walked to her bookshelf. After several minutes of deliberation, she pulled the most valuable books; being a small libary ,she only gathered 5 books. She levetated the books into her saddlebags and the her bags onto her back. The bags wieghed heavily on her small frame, but hopefully her friends would share in her burden.
Twilight started to plan what she would go. Frist she'd got to Pinkie at surgarcube corner and Rarity's beautique, seeing that they were in town and most in danger. After meeting her two friends, they would go to the the Apples farms, then to Fluttershys cottage to ride this whole thing out.
"oh i hope Fluttershy doesn't know what's going on here," she mused"she'd be so worried ." Twilight walked out of the room and started down the stairs calmly. Although her exterior was placid, Twilights mind was a rageing tempist of questions and confusion. Once down stairs, she romaged around the pantry for any and all she could carry without being overincumbered. Twilight marked this task off her mental checklist and went over the next steps.
"Okay now to the Carisel Beutique to get Rarity and..."She was cut off mid-thought. As she stepped out of the doorway of the ketchen she saw a group of ponies in the main room. Before Twilight could react one of the unicorns' horns glowed, and a blast of energy sent Twilight flying back into a bookcase. Books rained down on her partaly numb body. While fading in and out of consesnece, She saw the attacking mare draw closer. She had a silvery blue mane and light blue coat. She wore a black cape with stars and cresant moons on it, she also bore a cheshire grin. Twilight had seen her before, but from where? Before Twilight fully blacked out the mare leaned in and whispered
"Revenge at last."
......................................................................
Twilight felt a cold dampness against her cheek. Cold ? Why was she cold? did Spike forget to pay the bill again? A kick to the stomach brought back what happened last night. She gingerly opened her eyes. Twilight was sitting on a dirty, woen, hay mat in a large dark green tent. The only light came from a kerosine lamp hanging on one of the tent poles. She tugged at a metal collar that was around he neck.She attempted to use he magic to remove it, but after a few tries she found it was frutless.
"Don't bother, that anti-magic collar will stop you from doing anything Stupid." Looking up, Twilight saw the same light blue mare from before. She still couldn't put a name to her face.As soon as the mare spoke Twilight remembered the annoying show-boater.
"Now the great and powerful Trixie can finaly have her revenge!" Twilight rolled her eyes, she wished she was still asleep for this part.
"Little did you know that Trixie would use the force of the great and powerful NLR to exact her revenge! And..."
"Um.." Twilight interupted "NLR?"
"urrg, ofcorse your feeble mind woudn't know what the NLR is!" Trixie bousted " The New Lunar Republic, or NLR, is the gloreous republic founded by the queen of the night, Luna!" At this, Trixie gave a little flourish producing a small creasant moon above her head.
"But..." Twilight interuptered again
"What?" repied Trixie with annoance
"Why would Luna Fight against Celestia? I mean shes not Nightmare moon any more, so I don't see why."
"Luna left after seeing the extent of the tyranical sun gods rule!" Trixie repied.
"Celestia is no tyrant!" Twilight yelled, now standing. Trixie arced her eye bow at this sudden out burst. "Celestia is the kndest ruler ever!" Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs, rage builing in her.
Trixe laughted " The tyrant is worst than the greediest of dragons!"
The pent up rage in Twilight finally burst. before she know what had her twilight had launched into Trixie. The mare flailed and kicked about trying to inflict as much harm as she could to the Show-boat. Soon, Trixie levitated twilight off of herself and left twilight suspended in air, surrounded by in a light blue aurora. Twilight jerked about trying to escape, but after a few seconds, she went limp in defeat. Trixie rose from the ground. Once back on her hooves, she walked up to Twilight meeting her face to face. Her once beautifuly brushed l mane was spayed and tangqled. Trixie had a black eye and busted lip, but what frightend Twilight was her devilish grin. Trixie held up her hoof to strike. Twilight closed her eyes, she hoped it would be quick.
That is quite enough lieutenant." Twilight fell to the ground with a resounding thud, after being released by Trixie's magic. Trixie's as well as Twilight's attention was drawn to the stallion that had just entered the tent. Has was a tall dark purple unicorn. His mane was a single shade of of dark red brown save for one strip of black in his bangs. He had a purple leg band around his forleg, and a cape like Trixie's but without the flair.
He spoke again in the some deep and dry tone. "Miss Sparkle here is not, I repeat, not to be harmed by order of supreme commander Luna. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir." Said Trixie, ears pointing downward show casing her disappointment.
"Good, now admiral lightheart needs your assistance." The purple unicorn held open the tent flap for Trixie to leave. She obliged, giving Twilight a dirty look before exiting muttering to her self. Twilight stuggled to her hooves. All her muscles and joints ached. The stallion walked over to help the purple mare.
"Um.. thanks" Twilight said, taken off gaurd by the sudden compassion.
"If you would kindly,Miss Sparkle, follow me."
"O-okay..."
The stallion walked out of the tent with Twilight close behind. Outside there was several tents lined up in rows with a path between the rows. At the end of the path was a larger tent with extra wings on it.there were pegasi flying througt cloud hoops above her, earth ponies ran laps around the camp, and unicorns were attacking wooden manniquins with magic swords and spears. Dawn was just breaking over the horizon and a gentle breeze blew over the small camp.
Twilight looked around the place with a sense of awe and wonder. She saw a pony in a apron stirring a delightful smelling stew. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her of how hungry she was. Last night she ha skiped dinner in favor for studying. Twilight had convinced Spike she would eat a big breakfast. The stallion cleared his throat, which brought her back to reality. He had walked ahead, while twilight came to a dead stop in front of the chef.
" Oh...I'm sorry." Said twilight. She pointed her ears down and walked slowly towards the unicorn. He looked to twilight and then to the chef, then he trotted towards the chef. Twilight stared confused as the two stallions talked, she couldn't hear them. Twilight noticed that the cape the unicorn wore had shifted, showing his cutie mark. To her surprise it wasn't what she expected. Instead of a weapon of some sorts is cutie mark was a brain was for small lightning bolts around it. After thier talk, the stallion walked away lievitating a bowl of stew infront of him. He sat down at a near by table, seting the bowl on the table top. he waved hisnhoof,gesturing Twilight to come over and sit with him. Twilight nervously walked over and sat acrost from him. He gentaly pushed the bowl over to her. Normaly twilight would greedily drink it upwithout a second thought,but right now she had no idea what could be in it. Senceing her apprehention,the cape clad unicorn lievitated a spoonfull of stew ino hid mouth. He sat the spoon back down and said "eat."
Seeing no ill affect had come over the other unicorn, she lifted a spooful to her mouth. She took a tiny sip. An explosion of flavor burst in her mouth. It reminded her of the stew her foulsitter would make for her when she has sick. She egerly picked up the bowl with both hooves, and drankthe remaining liquid.After slerpy the very last drops,she lowered the bowl back to the table. Two red marks apeared on Twilights faceas shesaw the shocked expresion on the stallion's face. In her haist to eat she had thown out all etiquitt,Rarity would be so disapointed.
'um, t-thank you um,er I'm sorry but i dont know your name..."Twilight said
"Oh how rude of me. I'm Ethos harkener, general major of the NLR." Ethos expained dryly
"Well...um" Twilight bit her lip looking for the right words "It's a pleasure mr. Harkener."
"please just Ethos. I get called Harkener so offen that I fear I'll forget my full name!" Ethos said with a chuckle. Twilight only gave an uneasy smile.
"Oh, I geuss it a little earlyto be making jokes as I see you're still pretty shaken up. So please follow me Miss Sparkle and I'll show you where you are staying."
"Okay...."said Twilight meakly.
Ethos lead her to the largetent at the end of the path. They passed through the main enterance way into a small room.The room was poplated witha large wooden table piled with charts nd maps on it, a small end tablewith a phonograph on it and a coffee set on a small tale surrounded with cusions. Ethos lead Twilight to an opeing to the left wing.
"There is a cot here for you to sleep and I think there's a frien of yours too." As he said this a yellow and pink blur tackled Twilight.
"I was so-so-worried-about-you-and-and-and" Fluttershy said inbetween sobs.
"Fluttershy it's ok I'm alr-"
"No-no-no-it's-not-I-should-have-helped you-insted-of-the-animals-I'm-such-a-horrable-frieeeeeend!"Fluttershy burst into uncontralable tears.
"Fluttershy I'm alright." Twilight said pulling Fluttershy into a hug.Fluttershy's tears dampened Twilights coat.
"Look I don't even have a scratch on me!"
"Oh-I'm-so-glad-to-see-you're-okay."Twilight gentally brushed her hair.
"I'm glad to see you too Fluttershy"
Ethos shifted uneasaly at the emotional seen infront of him. He cleared his throat, grabbig the mares' attintions.
"Um, well then, there are two cots for you to sleep. If you need any thing I'll be in the north wing." Ethos trotted off, leaving Twilight and Fluttershy alone. They got to thier hooves. Twilght noticed a brace on Fluttershys wings.
"Well this whole ordeal has been very tireing, so letget some sleep." Fluttershy nodded and clambed into her cot. Twilight did the same, butbefore she feel asleep she thought she heared...music?
Spike clutched desperatly to the rainbow blur that was Rainbow Dash, s they sped towards the Canterlot palace. Celestia's sun rose beautifully behind it. There was an unusually large amont of Royal Gaurd outside. This became evedent when Dash flew into a group of them. They clashed and landed in a pile of feathers, armor, and scales.
"Halt!" Said a white unicorn.Dash stugglesd to get out from under the heap of unconscious, gaurd ponies.when she had finally freed her torso, she looked up at the unicorn towering over her. He wore purple armor acsented with gold edging.
"Halt! What is your business here?...Wait" The unicorn removed his helmet
"Arn't you one of Twily's friends?" Shining Armor asked. Dash managed to free her hind legs from the pile, and stand.
" Ya, I was the awsome one!" She bousted, striking a pose.
"Oh Ya now I remember, you did the sonic Rainboom. So why are you here?"
"there is a problem in Ponyville, and we need to talk to the Princess."
"Wait was it a bunch of ponies with leg bands?" Shining Armor asked.
" Ya" Said Spike as he stagered out of the dog pile of ponies."They were big, and mean looking, and I think some had fangs!" Spike wiggled two fingers infront of his mouth to imitate fangs.
" Oh come with me." said Shining Armor before gollaping towards the gates. Rainbow threw Spike onto her back and followed him.
The two ponies and baby dragon rushed in to the throne room. Sitting infront ofthe throne's steps a unicorn working at a small desk. Rainbow dash turned to Shining Armor and whispered "Where is the princess?"
"There's been,"He paused, looking for the right words. "Some complications as of late, so the princess has taken some time off." Dash looked back at to the unicorn who was still enamered by his paperwork.
"Then who's this clown." Shhe whispered a tad to loudly.
"I," He replied to Rainbow dash "am Spell Nexus, headmaster of Celestia's school of gifted unicorns and Celestia's personal assistant. Now how may I help you?" Nexus asked indignantly.
"Ya, can we talk to the Princess?" Dash strutted up to the desk. Nexus turned back to paperwork.
"Like Armor said, the Princess is takeing a leave of absence, and untill she returns I am takeing her place."he said more to his papers than Dash.
"Fine princess Nexus," Rainbow gave a cocky grin and Spike tried to stiffle a giggle."I'd like to report an attack on Ponyville."
"So I've been informed, I have allready sent reinforcements. Now if that is all then good day."
"Hmf!"Dash grunted andstoped her hoof before leaving. Shining Armor was about to do the same, but Nexus stoped him.
"Mr. Armor please don't let this happen again. Let anypony who asks knowof the current sittuation, thank you." Shining Armor only nodded and left.
Many stories above the throne room in the tallist tower of the palace, Celestia laid in her bed. Tear stains ran down her face, and she craddled a blue, plush pony close to her chest. She whispered softly to the doll "Oh Luna, I can't believe I lost you again, only this time I'm the nightmare." She shuddered as another wave of sarrow washed over her.
"I'm so sorry lu, I wish I could take it all back, I really do." new tears formed in her eyes, She hadn't cried like this sence she had to banish Luna to the moon. Celestia held up the small efigy of her sister, and looked into it's large button eyes
"I'm so sorry Luna."
