Chapter 1: The Strange Knight
The sound of panting could be heard as a pony was running across a burning battlefield, another pony being carried on his back. The pony was covered in gleaming green armor with glowing green eyes shining from within his helmet. He looked like a combination of a pony and a machine. He glanced up at the pony on his back as he ran.
“Stay with me, Captain,” he said, his voice sounding a little electric. “We’re almost at the nurse’s station!”
The helmet opened up and revealed a light peach face with green eyes and a dark brown mane. He had a look of courage and determination in his eyes as he ran. Despite all of the chaos around him, he did his best to stay focused. Soon, he arrived at a small cave and went inside. He placed the pony down as gently as he could.
“Turbo Tech,” he called. “Captain Steel Heart needs medical attention! Now!”
Another pony came in from within the depths of the cave. He also had robotic armor, but it was blue with a pair of metal wings on his sides. His helmet showed off a pair of red eyes and a gray muzzle. He saw the captain injured and went to his side as fast as he could.
Before anypony could say anything, an explosion was heard from the outside. What followed was a massive stallion with bright red robotic armor. He was panting heavily with some traces of black ooze and burn marks all over his armor.
“I see you’ve been busy, Stronghold,” said Turbo Tech.
“Well, you know me,” said Stronghold. “If there’s a very dangerous monster out there that threatens the innocent, I’ll be there to show it that I’m more dangerous than it will ever be.”
“Focus, guys,” said the first pony. “Captain Steel Heart still needs medical attention!”
The pony named Captain Steel Heart slowly got up and looked outside. He grunted sadly as he held his torso with his left front hoof. “I’m afraid we don’t have any options left,” he said. “It’s over. The Shadow Ponies won. Copperville has been destroyed. The Warriors of Light have fallen.”
The first pony looked at him in disbelief. “Sir, what are you saying?” He asked. “It can’t be over! There has to be a way to stop them!”
Steel Heart gave the pony a reassuring smile. “Don’t be so upset, kid,” he said. “I have one more idea!” He turned to Turbo Tech. “Turbo, we need a portal to Ponyville, ASAP. Can you do it?”
“I think I can,” said Turbo. “But, why a portal to Ponyville?”
“Remember what our resources said,” Steel Heart said.
Turbo suddenly had a look of understanding on his face before nodding. He went to the back of the cave and closed his eyes while raising his right front hoof up, revealing a small cannon. Stronghold went to the cave entrance and sealed it off with a large rock.
Steel Heart turned to the pony who had carried him. “I need you to listen to me, son,” he said. “Our troops managed to figure out the plans of the Shadow Ponies. They’re planning an invasion of Ponyville. Once they overwhelm the town, they will attack Canterlot.”
“What?” The green-armored pony said with disbelief. “But why? Ponyville is a completely harmless town!”
“Exactly,” said Steel Heart. “This is how they operate: Attack the harmless towns first before moving on to the more advanced cities. That way, they’ll get strong quite easily. After all, they tend to feed on the souls of ponies. The more innocent the pony, the more power is given to the Shadow Ponies!”
The metallic pony looked horrified. “No,” he cried. “We can’t let Ponyville fall before those monsters!”
“That’s why I’m sending you on this mission,” said Steel Heart. “Go to Ponyville, find the red cracks, and seal them off before the Shadow Ponies can launch their attack.”
“But, what about you, sir?”
“Son, I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it.”
“... W-what?!”
“You heard me. I’m afraid I won’t make it. My injuries are too serious and the others already have their duties. Now, you have yours.”
“S-sir, I can’t just leave you three! Y-you’ll die!”
“Complete your mission.”
“But…”
“That’s an order!”
“...”
“...”
“......Yes, sir.”
The conversation was cut off by the sound of banging at the front of the cave! The metal pony looked and saw Stronghold struggling to keep the rock in place.
“We’ve got trouble, captain,” Stronghold called out. “The Shadow Ponies have found us! They’re gonna come in any minute!”
“Don’t keep us out,” said voices from the outside. They sounded cheerful but evil at the same time. “We just want to play. Be our friends. You will smile forever!”
The first pony became alarmed. He didn’t want his team to get hurt, but he also didn’t want the Shadow Ponies to rule Equestria. He glanced over at Turbo Tech and gasped at a rather horrible sight: His friend was slowly starting to fade away into nothingness as he continued to create the portal to Ponyville!
“Turbo,” called the pony. “Stop! You’re gonna be…”
Turbo simply turned to him with a sad smile. “Stay positive, my friend,” he said before facing towards the portal again. With a loud cry, he managed to make the portal. Sadly, as the portal appeared, Turbo disappeared!
The pony gasped as tears rolled down his cheeks. Suddenly, he felt Captain Steel Heart grab him. He glanced at the captain, who was smiling sadly.
“Don’t worry,” Steel Heart said. “He fulfilled his duty. Now, go fulfill yours!” With that, he tossed the pony into the portal. “Good luck… Sir Robocolt!”
The pony named Sir Robocolt cried out as he was tossed into the portal. He took one final glance at his remaining friends. The last thing he saw before the portal closed was the sight of shadowy smiling ponies overwhelming his friends! As the portal closed, he felt his eyes sting with tears at the knowledge that his friends were gone.
*****
Robocolt slowly opened his eyes as he slowly got up. He took a moment to check out his surroundings and saw that he was in a forest. It was quite dark and a bit creepy for the metallic stallion.
“This must be the Everfree Forest,” he said to himself. “Which means that Ponyville can’t be too far off! Okay, Robocolt! This is it! Find the crack, seal it off, and stop the Shadow Ponies!”
He sat down and closed his eyes. Soon, his armor vanished to reveal a peach-colored pony with green eyes and a brown mane and tail. He also wore a pair of glasses and had a sword and shield for a cutie mark. Standing up, he marched towards the entrance of the forest and began to head to Ponyville.