A Brother Returns to Equestria, an army behind him, and hatred in his heart.
The long lost brother of Princess Celestia and Luna, known as Blaze Bringer, returns to Equestria thanks to unintentional help from Nightmare Moon in the form she has now taken, otherwise known as Chrysalis.
Ponies from various backgrounds and places must now converge to fight off Blaze Bringer and his army of Sabrei as he comes to destroy Canterlot and all its citizens. A tale of the Elements, Musicians, and Everyday Ponies who experience the feelings of love, loss, friendship, and betrayal as an Alicorn is reborn as a Helios, a horse of dark flames.
Sometimes fate is cruel. Like when it cripples a Pegasus.
Sometimes life is great. Like when he gets to marry the mare of his dreams.
But sometimes existence is a tricky thing in itself. Like when it brings together many from many different places and backgrounds for a single almighty purpose.
This is the second tale of Breeze Rider, a pony who was once a human, a teacher, and a Wonderbolt.
Join him again now as he journeys towards being a husband, a father, and an inspiration.
Though rarely seen, ponies can be found from places beyond what are considered the borders of Equestria.
One such pony is Rafiq, a Royal Canterlot Knight from the far away land of Hockland, located in one of the Great 3 Oceans.
Rafiq came to Equestria as a request of his late sister, Dewdrop, that he protect it in place of her upon her fall in battle. Rafiq did as he was requested and rose quickly through the ranks of Celestia’s Soldiers to become a Captain of the Guard much like Shining Armor thanks to his power and righteous ways.
Today, Rafiq continues his duty at Canterlot, ever conscious of the one soul he was unable to save in his years of service as a Solar Guard in his many years of service. The one casuality he could have prevented in the Great War of Betrayal and Separation.
A name can say a lot about a pony. It can convey their personality, their talent, and their very selves. Bam is the name of one pony. That should tell you enough about her.
The youngest sister of Pinkie Pie, Bam came to love parties as her eldest sister does as well as enjoy music like her second sister does.
Bam currently resides in Ponyville, a manager and resident of The Glowing Hoof, Ponyville and Equestria’s number one stop for any party supplies aside from food, which Bam always lets her sister handle.
Bam is currently in the process of interviewing a potential new employee for the Glowing Hoof, one she admired as she grew up.
Sometimes parents aren’t really all that certain in naming their child. None but one pony can predict the future near perfectly. Sometimes they just have to take a chance.
The pony named Character grew up and passed through school with little to no issues, still unaware of what his special talent might be or how his name could relate to it.
Eventually, Character happened to catch the attention of one pony by the name of Photo Finish. Upon hearing his voice and how he could manipulate it, Photo Finish knew that character could help her establish a new career and reputation in a whole new field for her
Today, Character voices a wide variety of characters on many of Equestria’s top shows. Character never forgets his humble roots though, and never ignores an invite to a Pinkie Pie Party if he can help it.
A skeptic can be one of two things. It can be somepony who doesn’t believe something until he or she sees it with their eyes. Or it can be the name of the Lead Guitarist of Equestria’s Top Band, Feather Blaster.
Skeptic was mocked in elementary school for his unique choice of how to play his guitar. Skeptic chose to play with his wings instead of his hooves. As it turned out, several ponies had great interest in his abilities.
Skeptic eventually found several musician ponies like him at the Canterlot Academy for Artistic Ponies, and they decided to form a band which would go on to make several of Equestria’s Top Songs, only ever loosing first place on the charts due to an amazing PON-3 song or the occasional one hit wonder from an Element of Harmony.
Currently, Feather Blaster tours Equestria with their latest song. The next stop on their list? Ponyville of course.
Though Rarity raises the reputation of Carousel Boutique through large orders to celebrities, even she needs her staple customers. One such pony that does this is Violet Melody, another member of Feather Blaster as well as the Lead Singer.
Violet is not only responsible for singing, she is also responsible for alternating between the keyboard and the saxophone depending on the song she’s playing. Violet met Skeptic at the Canterlot Academy for Artistic Ponies too, and they instantly hit it off due to their shared anomaly; playing instruments with their wings instead of their hooves.
Violet always makes sure to stop by Ponyville on tour to visit her old friend Twilight and her favourite designer Rarity. While there, Violet always usually gets Rarity to design her an outfit and checks up on the latest Daring Do with Twilight so as to keep in the loop.
Having recently met Trixie on tour, Violet Melody looks even more forward to her next tourstop at Ponyville so she can get to ask Twilight about that certain situation and ask Rarity how it felt to take Blueblood down a few notches.
Breeze Rider had a happy foalhood, different for many different reasons. Though he did share a common grounds with many other ponies; he too had a younger brother.
Sky Wing was the name of the pony who would be Breeze Rider’s brother, though again adopted into his family instead of simply added. Sky was an orphan, both his parents killed ina train wreck that had destroyed the engine on the first Friendship Express.
Feeling compassion for him, Golden Wing and Burly Wind adopted him the same as they had done for Breeze Rider. Eventually, Sky Wing entered Flight School under the teachings of his brother.
Sky Wing was one of the top fliers in the school, edged out only just barely by Rainbow Dash herself by classmate rankings, and still managing to breach the Top 10 of All Time Students.
During his days at Flight School, he developed a crush on another Pegasus filly much like his older brother would many years from then. The filly that Sky Wing chose to admire and love to the extent he could was Rainbow Dash. Many years they would be together in school, and neither would admit their feelings for the other.
Eventually, Sky Wing would enter the Military after his Graduation from Flight School, rising quickly to become a firearms lieutenant under the famous Zuli Archer himself.
Many years would pass before he and his brother and his crush would cross paths again, and luck would have it that it would happen on one of the happiest days of Breeze Rider’s Life.
When you think of a pony who can travel across the Dimensions, many will think of Dr. Whooves and nopony else. There is another pony though that can travel through space to deliver Equestria and many other multiverses from destruction, or cause it in turn. Or at least, there was another at one time.
This pony is named Shift for the moment. Shift himself is a pony of many names and many talents to those aware of just who he truly is, his chief talent being unaware of what he truly once was, and what he could still become if he ever happens or chooses to remember. But for now, Shift is merely the simple, if also somewhat cocky, manager of Feather Blaster.
Soon enough, Shift must use his lost accrued knowledge for a greater cause. One greater than he has ever known thus far in his forgotten shifting life. Even if it means he must sacrifice much to do what is needed.
Prologue Chapter 9: Sometimes You Just Have to Waffle It
Waffle Cones was the most popular pony in Ponyville by foals standards anyway. Every other day after Cheerilee released her class from school, Waffle would come by and sell ice cream to the eager little colts and fillies.
Waffle also often collaborated with Pinkie Pie and The Cakes for business, a venture that was very profitable for all involved parties.
And soon enough, Waffle might get a boost in business thanks to the extremely eager efforts of a little sister or two.
Peach. A name you might imagine for a pony who can make the best of life no matter what. That’s not always the case with Peach though.
Peach always sacrifices for other ponies, to the extent that it’s his special talent. Peach would do anything for his sister, Cream, or his brother, Crème Brulee especially though. Peach also hopes to meet that one special mare someday though and hopes to be able to sacrifice for her as well, after seeing how happy his brother is with his mare, Cinnamon.
Peach currently works alongside Shining Armor in Canterlot as his personal Lieutenant, promoted to captain temporarily in his place for his honeymoon.
As Peach sees Sky Wing loop by over him, he remembers the question he must ask Shining Armor upon his return. The question both his and Sky Wings superiors have refused to answer since their shared induction. The question about the War.
As Derpy proved, many things around Ponyville are in a constant need of repair. Though most don’t know it, the pony mostly called in for these repair jobs goes by the name of Clockwork Sprocket.
Clockwork has fixed many things across all of Ponyville as well as kept them running. She’s also been called in to help out in Cloudsdale or Canterlot a few times with repairs. But constant work with little gratitude can start to grate on anypony.
Being only truly close friends with a few ponies, a couple former celebrities counted amongst the numbers, Clockwork is a pony few take chances on.
Little does Clockwork know though that she’s about to get a very pink surprise courtesy of two sisters.
Cream is the younger sister of Peach, and is unsure of how to feel about it. She knows she should feel proud when people compliment her about her brother, but Cream wishes she’d get a little personal recognition once in a while.
Cream is actually one of the prime innovators of the spell that allows non Pegasi to walk on clouds. She was helped along by Clockwork and Shift, but she was still one of the main minds behind such a revolutionary spell.
Today, Cream heads towards her job as one of the three Head Surgeons at Ponyville General Hospital, hoping that she can receive at least praise from her staff for her work on badly hurt ponies as she does most days by Nurse Redheart.
Little does Cream know though that very soon she may be called upon by a pony most would give up a hoof to meet for a very important task all her own design.
Though everypony has one true calling, who’s to say that everypony can’t also have a few hobbies they’re quite good at too? Such is the case with Diamond Bolt, a Pegasus engineer who also happens to complete the trio of Feather Blaster.
Diamond Bolt is constantly out on the road due to either repair calls or band gigs, so he built himself a helper to keep his house in order. Diamond Bolt asked Rarity to help him find Diamonds to make the little guy indestructible, and she delivered.
Diamond Bolt is currently in the midst of repairing the last of the blown amps for Feather Blaster, and eagerly awaiting returning to Ponyville to get to see the mare he’s admired for quite a little while.
Prologue Chapter 14: The Third Pony That Witnessed 1000 Years
Zuli Archer is a name known only to the most elite of the unicorn students of Celestia. He once was one of the few things that stood in the way of Nightmare Moon herself during her initial attack. He was only defeated due to an incomplete spell of his own design.
Freed from Nightmare Moon 1000 years later much as Luna was, Zuli returns to the world a changed unicorn. With this experience behind him, Zuli sets forth to train many a new unicorn or Pegasus in his ways so as to leave his mark for another reason.
A fifth of his kind, one that has witnessed a thousand years or more, shall soon come again. A pony that even a somepony as ancient as Zuli does not remember.
Chrysalis screamed as Shining Armor’s shield spell empowered by the love of Cadence pushed her from what she knew to be the boundaries of Equestria. Eventually, she was fully separated from the remainder of her subjects as the spell continued to propel her forward.
Eventually, Chrysalis felt herself stop near abruptly outside a large cave that appeared to be in the dingiest area of all of Equestria. As she stopped, Chrysalis heard one short statement before she blacked out due to the quickness of her halting.
“At last. I’ve waited for you for a very long time…” A deep voice spoke from below where Chrysalis lay, now unconscious.
***
Chrysalis stayed what could be called asleep for many hours, now under the care of the owner of the mysterious voice. Eventually, Chrysalis would awaken within the cave where she had crashed and become startled as to how exactly she had been brought within the cave itself.
“Where is this? Who are you? How dare you imprison the Changeling Queen!” Chrysalis berated the mysterious equine creature near the entrance of the cave.
The mysterious equine smiled, happy that Chrysalis was awake at last.
“You are in no way imprisoned Chrysalis. I merely brought you in here with my magic after you crashed into my protective barriers around what you could call my home. And before you begin to ask basic questions, yes I know who and what you are, what you do, and what you have just done to Canterlot.” The stranger spoke up, moving into the light and allowing Chrysalis to glimpse his form for the first time.
The stranger was clearly a pony, or at least had a shape similar to that of a pony. He had a navy blue coat and a stark white mane, but he was also scarred severely all over his body, from his hooves to his face. He also had several strange markings interwoven within his form; markings that looked like they should not naturally be there. There were also 2 severe scars at the beings sides as well as the fact that his horn was destroyed. Chrysalis cringed at the sight of this…being.
“Hmph. So I can make even a Changeling cringe with my appearance eh? I suppose I should’ve expected that reaction, but even after so many years it still hurts.” The being spoke to Chrysalis, his voice betraying the age of many lifetimes and a great amount of sadness.
“What…What are you?” Chrysalis asked the being, unsure of how else to bother wording her question.
“I am many things. A wingless Pegasi. A hornless unicorn. A powerless Alicorn. But most importantly, I am Blaze Bringer.” Blaze Bringer explained to Chrysalis, knowing that the time for him to act would come very soon.
“Blaze Bringer? You say you are another alicorn. I had no idea there were others aside from the three princesses I met.” Chrysalis stated, earning what could be called either a grimace or a smirk from Blaze Bringer.
“Many have forgotten me. Even after all I did for Equestria. After everything…” Blaze Bringer’s face betrayed sadness for a moment before he regained his composure and began to pace about the cave.
“What is that you did?” Chrysalis asked Blaze Bringer, intrigued by this strange being who called himself an alicorn.
“I’d prefer not to explain right now.” Blaze Bringer hastily responded, knowing that now was the beginning of it all.
“Well then, might I be able to ask when I may leave this home of yours? I am needed to gather my subjects and return to our home in order to prepare for another attack on Canterlot.” Chrysalis told Blaze bringer as she got to her hooves and began to walk forward towards the exit.
Blaze Bringer stepped in front of Chrysalis’ path, intent on stopping her. If glimpsed from the right angle, a smile could clearly be seen on Blaze Bringer’s mangled face.
“I’m afraid I can’t allow you to leave here Chrysalis. At least, not before you give me what I need.” Blaze Bringer spoke softly, his body beginning to glow a strange shade of blue towards the end of his statement.
As Chrysalis began a reply, she was knocked back against the far edge of the cave and forced to exhale all the air she had taken in for the preparation of her next question. As Chrysalis darted her eyes about, she was shocked to see her hooves imprisoned in a magical barrier of sorts.
“What is this?! How can you use magic with a broken horn? I though all unicorns were powerless with their horns damaged or destroyed?!” Chrysalis screamed at Blaze Bringer, anger and fear both prominent in her voice.
“In most cases you would be correct Chrysalis. A unicorn with a damaged or broken horn is quite powerless in terms of magic. Even an alicorn will have difficulty with their magic with the same scenario. But…I am a little different from what most call traditional.” Blaze Bringer spoke up, appearing almost giddy as he dashed about his cave grabbing all manner of objects and books.
“What do you mean you are different from traditional ponies? What is so special about you?” Chrysalis asked Blaze Bringer, seeing his eye twitch at her last question and feeling his magic falter from its current strength for a split second.
“By all means Chrysalis, I am no different. However, I was changed many a year ago by a powerful curse. I take it you’ve noticed the peculiar markings on my coat?” Blaze Bringer told Chrysalis, his old composure regained.
Chrysalis gazed upon Blaze Bringer’s form at his request and took true notice of the marking on his coat now. They appeared quite intricate and stretched seemingly over his entire form.
“What of them?” Chrysalis asked, trying her best to keep her normal composure in such a terrifying situation.
“These markings are a seal courtesy of Zebrika. These markings seal all my powers and abilities within my form, intending to never be released at all or if not for only a few moments at a time. However, I was able to overcome many of the trapping of the curse to regain my former magical power. I am still without my wings and my former appearance though. I still possess the ability to fly within me as well as perfect memory of my old form, but I have not the means to further weaken the curse to regain them. That is what I need you for.” Blaze Bringer explained, moving fully beneath Chrysalis now with a strange mixing set for magical potions towed behind him with his magic.
“What could I possibly do to weaken that curse you blasted fool?” Chrysalis demanded of Blaze Bringer, shocked to see him smile knowingly up at her in return.
“Oh but you already know what I need from you. Don’t you….Nightmare?” Blaze Bringer smiled up at Chrysalis.
“What name do you address me by? My name is Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings! I have never gone by any other moniker.” Chrysalis told Blaze Bringer, making him smile ever larger as she did.
“Of course you would believe that. After all, everything you once were remains with Luna. Except for some of your power and what I truly require from you.” Blaze Bringer answered Chrysalis, preparing the spell he needed as he also readied his mind for the approaching mental war.
“I have never even met the princess of the Night! Stop your foalish claims!” Chrysalis bellowed at Blaze Bringer, hoping to scare him to what she believe was sanity for the former alicorn.
“Quiet Chrysalis. I shall explain to you who you are, how you came to be this creature before me, and what I need from you. But first, I must silence you so as you don’t interrupt until I allow you to.” Blaze Bringer paced in front of Chrysalis as he temporarily sealed her voice with his powerful magic.
Chrysalis struggled for a few moments, but could make no noise of protest and was unable to physically fight against Blaze Bringer’s spell as well. Within approximately 10 minutes of beginning her struggle against this new spell, Chrysalis resigned herself to her fate of listening to Blaze Bringers blasphemous tale.
“All settled in are we? Well then, let’s begin.” Blaze Bringer began, knowing that every word brought him closer to what he sought; what he needed.
“Nightmare Moon was the entity created from Princess Luna’s rage and jealously at the love ponies gave to her sister and her sun over 1000 years ago. Nightmare Moon’s Magic was stronger than Celestia’s alone, and thus she was able to overpower her sister in brute magical force and engage an eternal night upon all of Equestria. History remembers that many tried to stop her, including Dawn Breaker, the first Element of Magic, and the Great Zuli Archer himself. None alone were equal to her though. So Celestia chose to wield the Elements of Harmony against Nightmare Moon with the help of the 5 Bearers Nightmare had not been able to get to, at last managing to deter her power by imprisoning her for many a long year in the moon. A thousand years to be precise.” Blaze Bringer paused, beginning to see the recognition spell flash within Chrysalis’ eyes.
“Two long years ago, Nightmare Moon returned to Equestria, empowered again without the full power of the Elements of Harmony to seal her power. Again, an eternal night was to be instilled into Equestria. Twilight Sparkle had other plans though.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he thought of the help the unicorn mare had unwillingly given him.
“She, along with her five new friends, journeyed forth to re-gather the 5 known Elements. Celestia had sealed away the Element of Magic so Nightmare Moon could never destroy the ability to wield the Elements again. Along their journey, Nightmare Moon tried many different methods to stop their progress. Applejack awakened Honesty with the Rockslide. Fluttershy demonstrated Kindness against the Manticore. Pinkie wielded Laughter against the Imagined Evil. Rarity showed Generosity to the Sea Serpent. And Rainbow Dash bonded with Loyalty against the Shadow Bolts. Each of the 5 Elements now lay awake within those ponies, only a single spark of Magic needed to fully wield their power. That is where Nightmare Moon again fully enters.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he now began to see fear grow in Chrysalis’ eyes as his spell and words took the effect he needed.
“Nightmare Moon returned again as Twilight foalishly ignored the Magic within her and attempted to awaken the distinct lacking of Magic within the conduits for the Elements. Nightmare Moon proved this by crushing the conduits before her very eyes. Unfortunately, Twilight’s friends sought her out and she at last realized where the Magic needed to fuel the Elements of Harmony truly lay dormant. As Twilight realized this, Celestia sent her the Element of Magic to allow her most faithful student to use the full power of the Elements against what was once her younger sister. As the Elements collided with Nightmare Moon, many believe the Elements destroyed her or sealed her forever within Luna. I am the only one who knows this to not be the case.” Blaze Bringer looked fully at Chrysalis as she slowly shook her head back and forth at his statements, now knowing he spoke only the truth she had never wished to know.
Blaze Bringer pointed at Chrysalis with his hoof, fully ready to make the statement he had spent much of his exiled life researching.
“YOU are Nightmare Moon Chrysalis. Or, to be more exact, you are what became of the entity formerly known as Nightmare Moon after the Elements of Harmony banished you from Equestria without Luna this time as they had attempted to do a 1000 years ago. Only the true balance of the Elements could succeed in doing that though. And, once removed from Equestria and separated from what once defined you, you adapted to whatever was around you once you regained consciousness. You awakened in the homeland of the Changelings, Farana. You adapted to your old size and shape with the features of a Changeling, much like how you once improved upon Luna’s appearance. As the Changelings truly needed a leader, you were accepted with little questioning or fighting.” Blaze Bringer smiled his most maniacal smile as he neared the end of his imposed silencing of Chrysalis.
“You still felt the need to destroy Equestria once you became Chrysalis, though your methods adapted to reflect the Changelings natural abilities. You returned, and have again been banished, though this time you came to me. And now, I remove your silence and shall tell you just what I require of you.” Blaze Bringer concluded, lessening only the spell he had used to silence Chrysalis during his tale.
***
Chrysalis breathed heavily for a few long moments before directing her gaze upon Blaze Bringer, now fully aware of just who he was by name alone.
“And just what exactly is it that you need from me in this shattered and separated form….brother?” Chrysalis spit at Blaze Bringer, causing him to coil back and laugh at her statement.
“So you do at last fully remember everything. I am glad I was able to help you.” Blaze Bringer mockingly told Chrysalis, wanting to enjoy himself a short bit longer before he entered the final stage of his ceremony.
“Save it brother. I know not how you became like this as I have not seen you in more than a thousand years, but I can guess that you brought me here for some almighty purpose. So simply tell me what it is already.” Chrysalis spit back at Blaze Bringer, the resentment within her towards Breeze Rider at this moment blotting out any and all happy memories of him.
Blaze Bringer smiled up again at Chrysalis, though this time a bit more content than the other times he had done so.
“Very well Chrysalis. I do indeed need you for a grand purpose. I need you for what you are even in this banished and separated form; I need you as a piece of Luna.” Blaze Bringer manipulated his words, certain that his methods would entice more questions from Chrysalis.
“What do you mean by that? By what use am I good for as a part of that wretched Princess of the Night?” Chrysalis asked, venom licking her words as she remembered the being she had lived with until two years ago.
Blaze Bringer intently focused on the materials below him at the current moment though, needing absolute focus to finish the antidote he so desperately needed.
***
For 15 minutes, Chrysalis demanded an answer from Blaze Bringer while he focused on his brew. Eventually, as Blaze Bringer dropped in the few hairs he had managed to procure from Zecora as the second last needed ingredient of the antidote, Chrysalis grew silent and decided she would receive her answer when it was needed.
Blaze Bringer remained silent for another 10 minutes after adding the zebra hairs, in absolute focus as he double checked every single thing he had done thus far with his antidote to make sure he was fully prepared to add the last ingredient. Once satisfied he could do no more with what he had already procured, Blaze Bringer again focused on Chrysalis as he prepared himself to say what he had been building up to all this time.
“Like it or not Chrysalis, you were once Luna and she was once you. In more ways than just appearance and mindset. You were the same equine for many a year. Which means you still have the one thing I require in order to complete my antidote….the blood of an Alicorn Princess.” Blaze Bringer maniacally smiled as he looked upon Chrysalis at his statement.
“BLOOD?! You intend to take my blood for your godless antidote?! What makes you think I would allow you to do such a thing?!” Chrysalis screamed at Blaze Bringer, fully afraid of the pony she had once called her brother now.
“You have no choice in the matter Chrysalis. My magic was always stronger than yours, even as Nightmare Moon. Had I not been overseeing the Crystal Kingdom at that point, you would have never been a threat. Especially now, weakened as you are by the Elements and the Princesses Power, you are nothing to me.” Blaze Bringer explained, focused again as he raised up what was called a Celestial Blade, one of the few things that could make an alicorn bleed, with his magic.
Chrysalis struggled and screamed, terrified at what she knew would come very soon. Even with a thousand years of solitude from Equestria, she had never forgotten the threat of the Celestial Blade.
The Celestial Blade could be emblazoned with the same magic as an Alicorn or a Cutie Mark so that it could only hurt that particular pony. The Celestial Blade was not intended to kill though. The Celestial Blades were created long ago by a long destroyed enemy kingdom of Equestria as a means to keep powerful war prisoners exactly where they were. The Celestial Blades could impale the soul and bind it to only one spot, a very impressive means of keeping ponies where they were needed. Against those that struggled or when used by those who were truly gifted with wielding them, the Blades could also cause injury enough to bleed.
Blaze Bringer at last finished polishing the Celestial Blade with a few of Luna’s Hairs as it took on the mark of Luna’s Cutie Mark upon its edge. Blaze Bringer raised the Blade and levelled it with Chrysalis’ heart while increasing his binding magic upon her so that she could not move a single inch to ruin this moment.
“At last….my time has come again.” Blaze Bringer spoke aloud as he sent the Celestial Blade forward with his magic, directly on target with where he had intended it to go.
The pain Chrysalis felt was as though every single atom of her very being was spontaneously combusting at once. Within a few short seconds of her screams finishing, Chrysalis felt the blood begin to drip down her coat towards the ground.
Blaze Bringer collected a small amount of the blood and manipulated it slowly within the rest of the antidote, focused but slowly losing the face he typically used to hide his intent focus as his giddiness grew at the prospect of at last completing the antidote he had slaved over for the last 9 years.
***
A long hour passed before a single word was spoken again in the cave. It was Chrysalis who would speak, weakened greatly by the Celestial Blade and her brother’s magic.
“Why?...” Chrysalis coughed out as she felt the burning of the Celestial Blade began to subside a small amount.
“So that I can at last get the revenge I deserve on a land that has long forgotten what I once did for it.” Blaze Bringer called back as his antidote at last began to shift colours, until it at last it settled on the black of the night sky for its colour.
Blaze Bringer smiled again as at last his plans were realized. No longer would Celestia hold him here. No longer would anypony never know there was once a third Alicorn Ruler. No more would anypony never feel the wrath brought forth by Blaze Bringer as he again took what he needed from Equestria.
Bam charged through the streets of Ponyville, in perceived urgent need of finding her eldest sister to inform her of the great news she had just heard. It took little time for Bam to find Pinkie, having been able to pick her sister out of a crowd for well over a few years now.
“Pinkie! Pinkie! Pinkie!” Bam called out to her, doing her best to bounce after her sister the same way Pinkie moved near everywhere.
Pinkie turned around at the mention of her name, and a smile instantly grew as she saw her littlest sister come bounding up to her, as happy as Pinkie had ever seen her.
“Heya Bamo. What’s shakin bacon baby sis?” Pinkie asked her sister, ruffling Bam’s hair a little in the process.
Bam instantly reached up and held Pinkie’s hoof as she prepared to tell her sister the best news she had heard in the past month.
“Octy’s coming to Ponyville soon!” bam cried up, squeeing at the end as she thought of being able to see her older sister again after her very long tour with Vinyl Scratch and Sweetie Belle across Equestria.
“Really?! Ohmygosh Bamo! We have to throw her a super duper uber party! When is she coming back?” Pinkie immediately spurted back at Bam, as excited to see her other sister as Bam was.
“She, Scratchy, and Sweetie Belle are doing a Double Grand Finale Tour Show with Feather Blaster just outside Ponyville in 3 days!” Bam told her sister, glad Pinkie was as excited for all this as she was.
“Well then Bamo, we have little time to get ready. Let’s stop the shakin and get to bakin!” Pinkie picked up her little sister and immediately carted the both of them off back to Sugarcube Corner to prepare the party to end all parties.
***
“Ugh. Sometimes this is a lot harder to adapt to than I thought it would be.” Breeze Rider groaned as he woke up from the bed in Fluttershy’s cottage, the bed proving to be far less comfortable than sleeping on a cloud today.
“You okay Breezy?” Fluttershy called up the stairs of her cottage, her voice instantly doing the job of 10 cups of coffee at waking Breeze Rider.
“I’m fine Flutters. Just had a bit of an uncomfortable sleep. I can still sort of feel my wings from time to time. Occasionally gives me a hard time sleeping on things that aren’t clouds. I am a Pegasus by nature after all.” Breeze Rider answered Fluttershy as he proceeded down the stairs and into the kitchen to see his beautiful wife.
No matter how many times Breeze Rider saw Fluttershy every day, she was always the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. 4 years ago Breeze Rider and Fluttershy had been married by Rarity, and every day since then had been nothing short of a blessing for Breeze Rider.
“Sweet Celestia. How is it you always find time to look so beautiful Fluttershy and still manage to be such an amazing mare in so many other ways?” Breeze Rider teased Fluttershy as he came up behind her and nuzzled her.
“Oh you. You always know just what to say don’t you?” Fluttershy giggled at Breeze Rider and nuzzled him back.
“Another upside of being a prophet I suppose.” Breeze Rider winked as he told Fluttershy that, the joke having long since been established among them.
“That old bit again? What brought that up?” Fluttershy asked, wondering why Breeze Rider would be mentioning his visions again after so long.
Breeze Rider contemplated his answer for a few moments while he munched on fresh banana bread for breakfast, and then decided it was best to tell Fluttershy the truth.
“To be honest, I’m starting to have visions I can’t control again. Just like the vision about my accident.” Breeze Rider breathed heavily as he told Fluttershy this, still worried he’d cause her un-necessary worry.
Fluttershy turned right around, her eyes wide and worried. Breeze Rider sighed as he prepared himself for the inevitable questions.
“You are? When did these start? What’s in them? What should we do?” Fluttershy quickly asked Breeze Rider, flying over to him and holding him.
Breeze Rider enjoyed Fluttershy’s embrace for a few moments before answering her with exactly as much information as he had it.
“I’ve started having them in my dreams since about a month ago. Very little I can decipher is in them. There’s a lot of heat and fire. Magical Fire I can tell because it is dark blue and black as well as it seems to have a life all its own. I hear various voices, few of which I’ve ever heard before. I specifically heard the names Rafiq, Zuli, Clockwork, and Blaze Bringer though. I have no context for their names either. I think we should inform those who can best give me tips. Twilight might know something. Aunt Celestia too. I feel certain that one of them or both have mentioned Rafiq and or Zuli before. I think that’s the best we can do for now with so little to go on.” Breese Rider told his wife, hoping he’d alleviated some of Fluttershy’s worries with his forethought in this matter.
Once Breeze Rider heard Fluttershy sigh and release her grip on his hoof some, he felt certain he’d helped her mind at least a bit.
“Okay. Well, we can always see Twilight anytime. The problem will be informing Princess Celestia. She’s always very busy.” Fluttershy put her hoof on her chin as she hovered in the air to think.
Before Breeze Rider could move to make any more suggestions, a knock on the cottage’s door resounded through their minds and their house.
“Who could that be this early in the morning?” Fluttershy asked, flying slowly over to the door as Breeze Rider trotted alongside her to it.
***
“This is our singing tell-you-all We hope it tells you well You're invited to a party 'Cause we think you're really swell”
“Octy’s coming home three days from now So help us celebrate The snacks will be delicious The music first-rate”
“There will be friends and bands Feather Blaster, Octave Swell And when the party's over We'll gather 'round for a family hug”
“No need to bring a gift Being there with friends will be enough Parties mean having fun with friends Not getting lots of stuff”
“It won't be the same without you both So we hope that you say Yay So, please, oh please R.S.V.P And come, and be our friends!”
Pinkie Pie and Bam finished at the same time, both clearly tired but still possessing the maniacal energy all of Pinkie’s family seemed to have.
Breeze Rider and Fluttershy both turned to look at each other for a short moment before answering, both of them beyond used to Pinkie and her very original way of doing most everything.
“Well, how can I refuse an invitation that great eh Pinkie? Bam?” Breeze Rider spoke up, smiling as he sat on his haunches at the antics of the ponies he sometimes called his bosses.
“You’ll really come Breeze Rider?” Bam perked up when Breeze Rider answered her, the younger sister of Pinkie still getting occasionally starstruck by Breeze Rider’s status as a former Wonderbolt.
“Absolutely. What kind of employee would I be if I didn’t come by parties my bosses explicitly invite me to?” Breeze Rider chuckled at the statement, both Pinkie and Bam never having gotten used to having a former Wonderbolt work for them occasionally.
“You’ll come too then I suppose Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked, knowing that neither Breeze Rider nor Fluttershy ever liked to speak for the couple.
“Oh. Absolutely Pinkie. Who else is coming?” Fluttershy asked, landing gently beside Breeze Rider as she did.
“Well, we invited you two first.” Bam began, knowing that she and her sister were so well in tune that they could explain all this together in their sleep.
“Next up is Rarity since Sweetie Belle is coming too, though I’m pretty certain she already knows that.” Pinkie continued, knowing just what to say and when to compliment Bam in this answer.
“Then pretty much everypony else in Ponyville and Cloudsdale! Feather Blaster is coming too, and they’re gonna be performing a joint finale with Octave Swell!” Bam finished, beginning to jump up and down as she did, becoming near the perfect copy of her sister.
“Sounds like an excellent event and guest list girls. We’ll see you there okay?” Fluttershy replied, nodding to Breeze Rider as she did so.
“Definitely. Now, if you’ll please excuse us, we’re off to visit Aunt Celestia for a very important catch-up session.” Breeze Rider concluded as he walked slowly around Pinkie and Bam to look for a cloud that was low enough for him to use.
“Ugh. What a day yesterday was.” Clockwork spoke aloud to nopony in particular as she brewed her morning cup of Canterlot Beans coffee, courtesy of Donut Joe being a regular customer for Clockwork.
Yesterday alone, Clockwork had been called to fix the Snowflake Room in the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, do even more repairs to Ponyville’s Town Hall, and fixed yet another busted oven at Sugarcube Corner. If only Diamond Bolt wasn’t off on tour right now, Clockwork could take a bit more time off every now and then.
Clockwork could always smile a bit when she thought of Diamond Bolt, no matter what mood she was in otherwise. As Clockwork floated her cup of Ambrosia level liquid over to her with her magic, a knock came upon her door.
“God I hope it isn’t a repair call this early.” Clockwork spoke aloud again, wondering just where she had picked up this particular habit.
***
After another installment of the modified Singing Telegram, Clockwork sat on her haunches and massaged her temples with her hooves at the antics of the newly dubbed Pink Party Sisters of Ponyville.
“And you came to invite me this early because?...” Clockwork asked Pinkie Pie, hoping to get an at least half decent response from the baker.
“Because I know about you and Diamond Bolt and Feather Blaster is totally gonna be here too in two days so I figured you should be super duper top priority in telling about the party plans.” Pinkie answered Clockwork, winking at her as Clockwork nearly dropped her magical grip on her coffee mug.
“Y-You know?” Clockwork muttered quietly as a blush appeared on her cheeks, Clockwork still not at all used to talking about her coltfriend to other ponies aside from Diamond Bolt himself.
“Of course silly. My Pinkie Sense never lies. I Pinkie Promised myself not to tell anypony else by the way though. And nopony breaks a Pinkie Promise.” Pinkie answered Clockwork, stopping her bouncing and smiling her most sincere smile to show Clockwork that she really meant what she said.
Clockwork smiled back at Pinkie Pie, never before having fully appreciated the pink party pony for anything more than consistent repair calls before now. Clockwork re-levitated her coffee level and moved it back over to her face before she gave the sisters an answer.
“Thanks Pinkie. I’ll be there. Can’t wait to taste your latest party snacks.” Clockwork chuckled as the sisters beamed and bounded away from her house, no doubt on their way to invite more guests to a party nopony else was even aware of yet.
***
Elsewhere, Diamond Bolt was also making early morning plans, though his related far more to Feather Blaster than any true repairs. However, even Diamond Bolt was mildly aware he was distracted, if only minutely. Diamond Bolt only truly realized how distracted he was when he realized that he’d attached steel guitar strings to Skeptic’s guitar.
“Yo Diam. You finished with my guitar yet? We gotta get back to practicing soon.” Skeptic called out as he entered the room, hastily scanning as he saw Diamond Bolt just barely finish attaching the last proper string to his guitar.
“Just finished Skeptic. Didn’t get time to tune them though. Sorry about that.” Diamond Bolt told Skeptic as he moved over to begin re-tuning his keyboard in preparation for Feather Blaster’s upcoming practice session.
“You okay Diam? You’ve been distracted ever since we announced the venue for our Finale.” Skeptic questioned Diamond Bolt as he slung his guitar across his back in order to get in the mindset for tuning and practicing.
“I guess I’m just worried about seeing Clockwork again. It’s been near 8 months since we left on this tour, and I haven’t been able to make it back to Ponyville once to visit her, or even found time to write her a letter as I’ve had such massive repairs after some of our shows.” Diamond Bolt smiled knowingly at Skeptic as he finished working on his keyboard for the time being.
“Yeah. Sorry about that. I wish I could’ve given you some time off, but we’ve had so many extra gigs booked that none of us has had any true time off. I also wish I could say I understand the relationship bit with you and Clockwork, but I don’t. I’m not into finding a marefriend right now, at least not while we’re still on the road.” Skeptic told Diamond Bolt before taking to the air to tune his guitar, the way he always did for some reason.
“Just look in front of you and you’d find the perfect mare you dumb stallion.” Diamond Bolt thought to himself as he lamented over the fact that Skeptic was too dense and Violet was too ignorant for them to move any closer on their own.
As Diamond Bolt finished his though, Violet Melody herself entered the practice hall, her saxophone of course already tuned and ready for practice as usual. Violet took her place at the exact opposite side of Diamond Bolt just as Skeptic returned to the flat level of the stage.
“Hey guys. What’s ticking around in those musical minds of yours?” Violet asked as she mentally prepared herself to become the musician that was most noticeable from the group as a whole with her unique eyes.
“Nothing that need concern you for now Violet.” Diamond Bolt smiled to himself as he thought of the implications his words sometimes had.
“Something bugging my favorite band?” A voice called over to Violet, Diamond Bolt, and Skeptic, all three ponies turned towards the voice, even though they knew well who it was already.
The voice belonged to Shift, their Pegasus manager. Shift flew over as fast he could and took his typical place right in front of the band to watch them practice as he had done for every single other practice session and performance Feather Blaster had done since Shift had become their manager.
“Heyo Shift. Everything set for Ponyville tomorrow?” Skeptic asked, certain that his manager wouldn’t be here without a proper answer.
“Yep. Confirmed the arrival time of Octave Shift too. They’ll arrive about one hour after us tomorrow for the performance.” Shift answered calmly, knowing that he’d thought of everything Skeptic might ask on behalf of the band right now.
“Well, since we’re all here and ready now, let’s take it from the top of our set shall we?” Skeptic asked as he swung his guitar around and readied himself on his hind hoofs once he was certain Shift had finished too.
“I’m ready to go.” Violet answered as she re-opened her eyes and showed off the new colour they always shifted to when she embraced her passion.
“Alright then. One, two, three…GO!” Diamond Bolt called as he, Violet, and Skeptic reared their wings to begin playing in the same style that had skyrocketed them to the top of Equestria’s music charts.
***
“You did un excellent job today Character.” Photo Finish told Character as he finished recording his lines for that day in the studio.
“Thanks Photo Finish. I get a week off now right?” Character double-checked with his agent, hoping he had indeed predicted the time of his break right as he truly needed the time off.
“Indeed. De magiks vill go on hold for now. Now, I go! And you should go as vell.” Photo Finish quickly told Character as she dashed out of the Studio E Productions building.
Character smiled as he left the recording studio and went to check his mail, a surprisingly short time later. As Character collected his mail, he noticed a rather bulky enveloped colored half green and half pink.
Upon opening the envelope, Character knew exactly how he was going to spend his week off. Who turns down a free concert invitation after all?
***
“Yay! Yay! Yay!” Sweetie Belle bounced around the stretch carriage as she thought of just how soon she would be back in Ponyville and hanging out with her friends and former Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“Sweetie Belle, surely the novelty of returning to your hometown and seeing you sister and friends again has worn off by now?” Octavia asked the young mare, remembering her own sisters as she did so.
“Nope. I haven’t even seen Scootaloo since she got her Cutie Mark and pseudo-joined the Wonderbolts, and Apple Bloom is building the stage for us now that she’s done updating Sweet Apple Acres! This is gonna be our first full reunion in near 3 years!” Sweetie Belle’s voice cracked as she explained just why she was so excited, a phenomenon that happened far less often as she had grown.
Octavia huffed slightly as Sweetie Belle near instantly resumed her bouncing and shouting again, if anything even more energetic this time around.
“Relax Octy. Aren’t you excited to see your sisters again too?” Vinyl Scratch asked Octavia as she finished polishing her last backup pair of sunglasses with her magic.
“I suppose so. It’s just been far longer since I saw my sisters than since Sweetie Belle saw hers. I’m afraid we won’t even recognize each other anymore.” Octavia explained to Vinyl, the one pony she had come to be able to talk to all her problems about easily.
“I wouldn’t worry. Knowing Pinkie and Bam, they’re probably organizing a party for our return to Ponyville and our joint Final with Feather Blaster.” Vinyl said nonchalantly, hoping to anger Octavia just enough so that she would calm down beyond her anxiety.
“I don’t know why you ever agreed to have us perform with that band. Our styles don’t even mash together at all.” Octavia huffed, just the reaction Vinyl had hoped for.
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained Octy. At best, this helps both our careers. At worst, it’s a semi-awkward question in some interviews down the line.” Vinyl explained, hoping her first sentence would work in both the manners she had attempted it to do.
Octavia thought to herself for a moment, before sighing and admitting defeat to the unicorn DJ who sat beside her.
“I suppose you’re right Vinyl. And that I should apply the same philosophy to my sisters as well.” Octavia smiled slightly at last as she thought of meeting her younger and older siblings.
Vinyl Scratch smiled too as she saw Octavia smile, hoping that Ponyville would be just outside their doors as soon as possible for both her fellow musicians.
“One butterscotch cone with sprinkles please.” Dinky came up to Waffles with Cheerilee to reward herself for another week’s great work as Cheerilee’s Assistant Teacher.
Waffles smiled down at the young mare who had very quickly become one of his best and favorite customers ever since she had enrolled in Cheerilee’s class well over 6 years ago now.
“Sure thing Dinky. Anything for you today Cheerilee?” Waffles asked Cheerilee as he prepared Dinky her ice cream cone.
“Hmm. I think I’ll have a two scoop cherry cone please. I do feel like celebrating today.” Cheerilee told Waffles, smiling at the colt that had barely left the school grounds from her very own class, similar to what she had done.
“A rare treat for you Cheerilee. What’s the special occasion if you don’t mind me asking my former classmate?” Waffles asked Cheerilee as he handed Dinky her Ice Cream and set about preparing Cheerilee’s own next.
“You didn’t hear? I would’ve thought that you were one of the ponies Pinkie would’ve told first.” Cheerilee questioned Waffles as he quickly finished her preparing her cone and handed it to her.
“Pinkie Pie? She did mention an event I can help out with alongside Sugarcube Corner tomorrow, but she didn’t give me any specifics other than just that. What’s going on exactly?” Waffles asked Cheerilee as he set about cleaning his stand and preparing to close shop for the night as Dinky was always his last customer on a Friday.
“Sweetie Belle is coming back to Ponyville for the Finale of her big tour with Vinyl Scratch and Octavia! She’s even doing a joint performance with Feather Blaster!” Cheerilee clapped her hooves together, her excitement at seeing one of her former students again showing greatly in her demeanour.
“Sweetie’s coming back to town eh? Well, that event is certainly gonna draw a crowd and a lot of business for me and Pinkie if that’s the case. No wonder she got me to join in.” Waffles smiled at the antics of his pink business partner, wondering exactly what crazy thing would be around the corner next for Ponyville after this concert.
***
“Great work today Cream. I wish we’d had you on staff a few years ago back when Breeze Rider crashed outside of town.” Jonas Saltlick told his fellow unicorn surgeon, ushering a mild blush from Cream.
“Thank you very much Dr. Saltlick. Though I doubt I’m really as great as everypony keeps telling me I am.” Cream pawed the ground gently, still not used to the showering of gratitude that was common behaviour of near everypony in Ponyville.
“Nonsense. And I’ve said it’s okay to call me Jonas when we’re off work Cream. You need to start becoming more confident in your skills as a doctor and a unicorn. After all, you were one of the prime innovators of the Cloud Walker spell. That was a huge leap forward in magical evolution for all ponykind.” Jonas Saltlick answered Cream, hoping he could at least help Cream to feel slightly more confident in herself so that she could become even better than she already was.
Cream openly blushed at that compliment, seeing as she had merely been one of three ponies behind the spell and few very rarely acknowledged her openly as part of the team due to a lack of information about the exact team behind it.
“Thanks to that spell, we’re able to send unicorn and earth pony specialists to Cloudsdale and Neighagra Falls, places they were never able to get to before. It’s helped numerous ponies, four noteworthy ones right here in Ponyville that I’m certain would thank you if they knew you had created the spell.” Dr. Saltlick concluded as he saw a smile spread across Cream’s face as she truly began to realize the impact her work had on Equestria.
“Thank you again Dr. Saltli- Jonas. I guess sometimes you need a little help to see the Everfree Forest for the trees huh?” Cream laughed at her own joke, certain that Crème Brulee would love to hear that one on his next visit or in Cream’s next letter.
“Always glad to help. Have a good weekend Cream.” Dr. Saltlick called out as Cream waved back at him as she trotted out the door and on to the road towards home as her shift at last ended.
Cream smiled to herself as she walked home, even neglecting to notice that she had mail at first. Once Cream did notice though, she went to her mail box and opened a very thick and official looking envelope written in somewhat familiar handwriting.
As Cream finished the letter, she was both happy, shocked, and confused as she decided to utter one sentence aloud just to confirm she had indeed read what she thought she had.
“Why in all of Equestria would Peach write to me now and want me to come to Canterlot tomorrow and meet Princess Celestia along with him and the other Lieutenants and Captains of the Royal Guard?” Cream greatly wondered as she began to re-read the strange letter as she slowly trotted back towards Ponyville and the train terminal.
“You really think it’s the best idea to confront them about it?” Sky Wing asked Peach, a little worried over his friends current behaviour.
“We’ve waited long enough. We need to know about the Lost Era.” Peach answered Sky Wing, determined as ever to go through with his plan of confronting Shining Armor and Zuli Archer about the Lost Era of Equestria.
The Lost Era refers to a time blotted out of Equestria’s history, much like Discord’s Reign was. The Lost Era occurred near 11 years ago, or so the newest recruits of the Canterlot Royal Guard had been told upon the end of their two month probation. Since then, not a single other word had been utter about the Lost Era, and Peach for one was sick of the waiting.
“Is it really smart to ask them though? What if they report us to the Princesses?” Sky Wing worried, not wanting to forgo his current position within Canterlot.
“We’re Lieutenants of the Royal Guard, the third highest position there is in the hierarchy of Canterlot. If they won’t trust us now, then why should we bother to stay?” Peach retorted, certain that his current argument with Peach would play well against the Captains as well.
As Sky Wing prepared another response for Peach, the both of them rounded a corner and glimpsed their respective Captains a short ways away, delivering their final orders for the day.
“Captain Shining Armor! Captain Zuli!” Peach cried as he saw them, hoping he got their attention as he galloped forward towards them both, Sky Wing flying quickly behind him.
“Peach. Sky Wing. What brings you here in such a clearly urgent rush?” Zuli asked the Lieutenants, his voice truly echoing his age as he did.
“I’m wondering the same thing.” Shining Armor added, turning and saluting Peach and Sky Wing as he did.
Peach and Sky Wing saluted the Captains back before Peach continued with his explanation and questions.
“Captains. I wish to know about the Lost Era. I think that I and Sky Wing are more than ready, as we’re Lieutenants in the Royal Guard now. We’ve been kept in the dark long enough don’t you think?” Peach questioned his superiors, hoping he had pleaded his case properly.
Shining Armor sighed before he answered Peach.
“We don’t willing keep it from the rest of the Guards. It was a decree by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna that only the most important of soldiers be informed after it happened.” Shining Armor shivered as he subconsciously remembered the Lost Era.
“Indeed. This Era happened whilst I slumbered, but I have been informed thusly by the Princess of the Sun about what transpired then.” Zuli added, again showing his age through his words.
“What do you mean? What exactly did happen then Captain Zuli?” Sky Wing asked, his curiosity at last piqued.
“A war happened. A war that forever isolated Equestria.” Shining Armor breathed, remembering the terrible years as though they were yesterday.
**
“Fall in soldiers! The battle preparation is over for today!” Crimson Edge called out to the troops in his division, wanting to be rid of the battlefield as much as they did.
Within a half hour, all of Crimson Edge’s soldiers had fallen back to the barracks, including his lieutenant, a young Shining Armor himself.
“Look alive Shining Armor. Even though the War gets to me and you as much as the others here, we gotta look stronger to inspire them.” Crimson Edge told his young charge, hoping he wouldn’t have to repeat his words too often in this accursed war.
“Sorry sir. I was just caught up in thinking about my family is all. I got a letter from my mother yesterday. My little sister Twilight just got her Cutie Mark last week and was made Princess Celestia’s personal prodigee.” Shining Armor smiled a little despite all the hardships of the war at the thought of his sister bouncing around Canterlot Castle as she learned even more magic.
“Congratulations son. Hopefully you’ll be back soon to congratulate her in person.” Crimson Edge tried to buck up his young lieutenant, knowing he succeeded as Shining Armor again fully lifted his head above his shoulders.
“Hopefully sir. Are there any projections for the coming days?” Shining Armor asked, ready to become a soldier fully again.
“Actually yes. Commander Blaze Bringer himself delivered some information that will aid us greatly. It appears that the Zebras are preparing some sort of new spell or curse over there on quite a large scale. The Dragons are staying dormant through all this which seems suspicious to me and the Commander. He suspects that it’s because the Zebra’s are preparing their ultimate final attack with this new spell.” Crimson Edge paused as he and Shining Armor arrived at their Command Tent to further discuss details.
“A new spell? Do we have any information at all? I know Zebra Spells are a lot harder to decipher than Equestrian magic, but we should try our best all the same.” Shining Armor piped in as he took his place on the left hand side of Crimson Edge as they studied the magical map of the battlegrounds in detail with this new information.
“We don’t have any information on it that we can use or would be helpful. We have Intelligence that knows the Zebra language of Magic, but even they have never seen these sort of markings anywhere in their studies.” Crimson Edge huffed as he loomed over all the unknown variables of the approaching final attack.
“What do we do then with so little to go on sir?” Shining Armor asked his Commanding Officer, worry clear in his voice as he too tried to create battle plans.
“We attack first if possible.” A deep voice boomed from the doorway of the tent, causing both Shining Armor and Crimson Edge to look up at its possessor.
Leader of the Equestria War Forces Blaze Bringer was the one who stood there. Blaze Bringer moved slowly into the tent due to his size as Shining Armor and Crimson Edge saluted him.
“At ease soldiers. I simply happened to overhear you and decided that then would be the best time to interject my plan of action. Had you not been here, I would have called an immediate War Council and told you then.” Blaze Bringer continued, hoping that his plans would indeed play out as he hoped.
“When do you wish to launch the attack sir? We’re ready at most anytime, but we do have to inform the masses quickly if you were hoping to initiate it soon.” Crimson Edge asked Blaze Bringer, certain that the mind of the ruler would have already thought of an answer.
“In 2 days time at dawn. I will personally lead the attack, and I wish you to be my second In Command Crimson Edge. Shining Armor, you shall be Battlefield promoted to General in order to take the place of Crimson Edge. Understood?” Blaze Bringer asked as he prepared to leave and inform the other Generals and Lieutenants of his plan.
“Understood. Thank you sir.” Shining Armor and Crimson Edge echoed each other as Blaze Bringer took his leave of them for the moment.
**
The forces of Celestia of Equestria gathered at the peak of the Charred Mountains in order to initiate the final push of this long war. The war had tired and strained everypony, including the enemies. Every creature present on either side simply wanted the war to end, only differing in their ideals of which side should emerge victorious at the end of this day.
Blaze Bringer flew above the rest of the army, preparing himself to be ready to move anywhere the first move might be made as fast as possible. Crimson Edge paced along the rows of soldiers in front of him, watching the enemies, his troops, and his Commanding Officer in alternating paces.
Shining Armor was positioned slightly behind Crimson Edge alongside the other Captains, nervously worrying his magic wouldn’t be enough to help at all in the final battle. It was at that point that another Captain approached Shining Armor to try to help calm him.
“You should stop shaking so much son. You’re beginning to sink into the ground a bit.” Blunt Blade told Shining Armor, his sense of tension telling him he had enough time to calm the young stallion before any words would be said.
“Sorry sir. I’m just not used to being a Captain yet. I was a Lieutenant two days ago.” Shining Armor piqued up, glad the older officer had come over to him.
“It ain’t all that different son. Just be like ya were when you were a Lieutenant and forget about your technical position for a while. The stress’ll just melt away.” Blunt Blade chuckled as Shining Armor looked quizzically at him, and then smiled as at last a sense of calm flowed through him.
“Thank you sir. I feel much better now. Might I inquire your name sir?” Shining Armor asked as he moved his eyes about, hoping he still had a little time left for banter.
“I’m Blunt Blade from Hockland. And your name?” Blunt Blade responded promptly as his neck began to itch, a sure sign that tensions were building.
“Shining Armor from Canterlot sir.” Shining Armor saluted as he repeated his name and hometown to the Captain.
“Canterlot eh? My daughter’s stationed over there. Maybe ya should look her up when ya get back.” Blunt Edge laughed lightly as he saw Shining Armor shuffle slightly at his last words.
“No offense meant sir, but I can’t do that. I already have a special mare back home waiting for me.” Shining Armor truly relaxed as Cadance permeated his thoughts again.
“S’alright son. But look alive. Time for talking and freelance thinking is over.” Blunt Blade called out his last sentence as he turned about and watched Blaze Bringer begin his plan.
**
Blaze Bringer landed just below the peak of the Charred Mountains as he prepared to face the enemy Zebra’s and the few dragons that had decided to remain until the end.
“This is your last chance. Simply surrender and we shall be merciful. You may not be ever truly welcomed in Equestria again, but at least you will not be feared when you do enter it if you should simply lay down your animosity here and now.” Blaze Bringer called out to those he was forced to call his enemies.
The leader of the Zebra revolution, Zazyun, stepped forward from the masses, knowing he answered for his people as he did so.
“We shall not falter, we shall not fall. Come you curs and face us all.” Zazyun spoke in a booming voice, ending any hope for a peaceful conclusion as he did.
Once Crimson Edge directed his hoof towards the Zebra’s, everypony charged. As the ponies charged over the rough ground towards, Zazyun smiled as his Chief Sorcerer’s unleashed the new spell they had developed for just this battle.
The markings hidden along the ground lit up and began to ensnare anypony that came in direct contact or near them. The strange new spell began to sap them of their strength and snake markings onto their bodies. Not one single pony had avoided being caught by the spell’s initial release. The zebra’s had planned their attack well.
Shining Armor struggled as he began to feel his magic wane within him and the strange energy begin to snake its way up his forelegs.
“What is this?!” Shining Armor screamed as he fought to tried and free himself from this most evil of magical incarnations.
“I don’t know son! But fight it as long as you can! If we give up now, we’ll never see the ones we care about the most again!” Blunt Blade screamed as visions of Dewdrop and Rafiq came into his vision and gave him a bit more strength.
“None shall not return home this day.”
Blaze Bringer boomed his voice much like his younger sister once had as he charged within the middle of the incantation, the center of its power. From there, he wielded his own magic in order to draw forth the spell from all others.
“Commander Blaze Bringer!” Crimson Edge called out as the spell redrapped itself entirely over the alicorn that had led Equestria against its enemies.
“Do not argue this! Go now! I will end this war myself and protect those most important to me!” Blaze Bringer echoed as he prepared to unleash his most powerful spell even through all the restrictions of the Zebrikan Seal.
Everypony, including Shining Armor, charged back beyond the Charred Mountains. Some had clearly not escaped the effects of the seal though and had strange markings that caused them pain, prevented them from the use of their wings or magic, or had clearly aged them within.
Shining Armor pushed out all the magic that he could muster and protected as well as moved forward every pony that could not do so themselves. Just as Shining Armor finished pulling across the last soldier to safety on their side of the Charred Mountains, an orb of light brighter than Celestia’s Sun or Luna’s Moon appeared over the battlefield.
If one could glimpse past the initial brightness, then the slowly disintergrating figure of Blaze Bringer could be glimpsed within the orb of light. As he spoke his last words, not a single creature there moved.
“Do not forget what has occurred here. Do not allow any of this to happen again. Any of you.”
Blaze Bringer’s magic then peaked as he destroyed the Charred Mountains, forever sealing Equestria from direct travel with Dragaria, Zebrika, and Griffalon. Blaze Bringer had sacrificed himself to destroy the hatred the war had created by isolating each involved party from the one for whom they harbored hatred.
Even in his death, Blaze Bringer had proved himself a ruler of the ponies, for the ponies.
“And that is the Lost Era.” Shining Armor finished, finally breathing in again after a long while as his memories were finally allowed to slumber within him again.
“It is a time Equestria must forget but cannot be ignored for the aftereffects it left upon the land.” Zuli added, his knowledge of the inner workings of ancient Equestria clearly influencing just how he responded to things such as this.
“Sweet Celestia.” Sky Wing spoke up, shocked at just what he had learned about something he’d never intended to ask about.
Peach remained silent for a long time, his mind thrown into overgear. Even though he was a soldier when he was needed, Peach was always more of a technical fighter than a physical one.
“Was the Zebrikan Seal ever further researched after the Lost Era?” Peach asked, needing to have as much information as possible before presenting any hypotheses to his superiors.
“Indeed. I myself have studied it as well now that I have reawakened. It is a seal of magic. All magic. Not simply the magic of a unicorn. This seal will banish the innate abilities of the Earth ponies and the Pegasi as well. This effect is temporary should one escape a lot of impact from it or escape very quickly, but it is near permanent in every other recorded case.” Zuli explained his findings on the spell, curious still as to how the Zebras had managed to make such a powerful seal so very powerful.
“Near permanent? What does that mean?” Sky Wing asked, hoping to speed along Peach to another conclusion.
“In some cases, the afflicted ponies were able to reawaken their powers for short stints of time. However, the spell always kept the abilities within them.” Shining Armor elaborated, wondering just where Peach was going with all this.
“So the spell didn’t inherently cause death or harm aside from the removal of their abilities?” Peach questioned, almost entirely ready to state his idea.
“Not in any recorded case we were able to document after we returned. The only one we never got to examine was Commander Blaze Bringer.” Shining Armor added, the pain of losing the third ruler still heavy on his heart.
“…What if Blaze Bringer never died though?” Peach near whispered, worried about speaking too loudly about his idea.
Shining Armor was strucken silent at the believed insolence of the Lieutenant. Zuli himself had other ideas though about Peach’s statement.
“What makes you say that? All the ponies that returned recounted that he appeared to be disintergrating within the orb of light he created to destroy the Charred Mountains. How do you believe he would have survived?” Zuli asked Peach, curious about this bright young Lieutenant’s assumptions.
“Simply the way you said the seal affected ponies. Even if Blaze Bringer were to have taken a far larger dose of it than any other recorded, the effects should only have been magnified on him. And I’ve never heard of any spell, even ones that only Alicorns can cast, causing full death. Blaze Bringer might have been severely hurt or unconscious for a long time, but he should have eventually regained his original form and been able to return.” Peach concluded his findings, hoping he wasn’t assuming too much on his part.
Zuli and Shining Armor both remained quite silent this time. Both contemplated the ideal that Blaze Bringer very well might have survived his last stand in the Lost Era. Eventually, it fell to Zuli to speak again.
“It is a quite logical and somewhat possible idea Peach. I ask this to us all though; Even if Blaze Bringer had survived and regained mobility, why would he have never returned?” Zuli asked, curious about this idea as much as he had been about Peach’s.
“Maybe he couldn’t return? Even if he did indeed survive that battle, he might have been gravely injured or trapped by rubble and not been able to make his way back here to Canterlot.” Sky Wing added in, as convinced as his superiors that Peach’s idea was grounded in reality.
“If all we’re talking about is as true as we think, we need to go and inform the Princesses immediately.” Shining Armor spoke up, enticing nods from all other ponies present as they prepared to head to Princess Celestia’s chambers as fast as they could.
***
“This is certainly shocking and enlightening information Shining Armor and Zuli Archer. I did however hear of something similar from Breeze Rider a few days ago. Do you both swear to its authenticity such as he did?” Princess Celestia asked her two most trusted Captains of all her years as Princess of the Sun.
“I swear to it Princess Celestia. I could not find a single true illogicality to it.” Zuli spoke up, knowing his words will carry the wisdom Celestia had wanted from him.
“I did not think of it myself until Peach here came to me and told me, but I can’t believe how I never did so now that I’ve heard it Princess Celestia.” Shining Armor added, bowing before the Princess as he did so.
Both Cream and Sky Wing had remained silent throughout the meeting with Princess Celestia. Both had felt confident in stating their ideas and claims to their Captains, but Peach and Sky Wing had silently agreed that their Captains were far more suited for informing Princess Celestia personally than they were.
Princess Celestia remained silent for a few more moments before deciding to speak again, the ideal of Blaze Bringer being alive accepted within her mind now.
“If this is indeed the case, we must go and inform my sister as well as the remainder of the Starswirl Council. They will be able to locate him if this information proves as true as we believe it to be.” Princess Celestia announced as took flight in order to guide the others to her sister chambers.
All the other ponies present nodded and began to follow Celestia’s path. Within a very short matter of time, Celestia stood outside Luna’s room with Shining Armor, Zuli, Peach, and Sky Wing a short ways behind.
“Luna? May we enter please? We have information of dire importance to impart on you.” Celestia asked aloud as she faced Luna’s doors.
“Celly…Help me…Please” Luna weakly cried from the other side, in clear pain.
Within seconds Celestia’s magic had blown off the double doors to Luna’s Chambers as she heard her little sister call out in need.
“Luna!” Celestia nearly screamed as she galloped over to the Princess of the Night, who lay in agonizing pain in the center of the room, drenched in sweat.
“Celly…I can barely move…I feel as though I am bonded to this section of Canterlot…What is this dark magic?” Luna pleaded with her elder sister as she slowly turned towards the gathered ponies, each minute movement proving to cause her unimaginable pain.
“Zuli! Do you know what this is? This is clearly ancient and evil magic. What is it?!” Celestia cried at her eldest captain, hoping Zuli would know the reason for Luna’s pain.
Zuli approached carefully, not wanting to cause Luna any more pain or discomfort than she already felt. After a few moments of careful observation, Zuli felt certain he knew the only possible cause for such a thing.
“I do not know how this is possible, but Princess Luna appears to be suffering the effects of an impalement by a Celestial Blade.” Zuli calmly spoke, hoping he had formulated his ideas properly for this diagnosis.
Celestia’s eyes went near bloodshot as Zuli spoke his last words, the true terror of them only felt by her, Luna, and Zuli.
“A Celestial Blade? But how is that possible? I thought they were all rounded up, accounted for, and then destroyed?” Celestia questioned Zuli as she was unable to formulate proper thought as her sister lay there in such great pain.
“That’s true Princess. But there has always been one Celestial Blade that eluded us. It never occurred to me before now though.” Zuli breathed heavily as he came to realize the great meaning of his own words.
“What…does thou mean Zuli Archer?” Luna pleaded Zuli from the floor of her chambers.
“The only Celestial Blade that could remain in existence is…Blaze Bringer’s. And if he is indeed using it again, or somepony else is using it on his behalf, and for a purpose such as this, it can bode nothing good for Canterlot nor for the rest of Equestria.” Zuli quietly explained as silence fell over the entirety of the Royal Court, as though all could feel Luna’s pain and Celestia’s fear.
***
“MUWAHAHAHAHA!”
Blaze Bringer’s laugh echoed menacingly and slowly throughout his cave, causing much of the rock to shake and some of it to even collapse. Chrysalis protected her eyes until the quaking had finished.
“At last. I am whole again.” Blaze Bringer spoke with a new edge to his words, one that snapped open Chrysalis’ eyes in fear and directed them then directly at Blaze Bringer.
Blaze Bringer’s form had changed greatly. Flames of dark ocean blue now licked his form almost entirely at its edges. Wings of the same colour and material now protruded from his sides as well. Blaze Bringer’s horn had reformed, black as the night sky with an intricate pattern of blood red laced within in. The Zebrikan markings that had laid hidden on Blaze Bringer before now stood out prominently, died blood red now. Blaze Bringer’s eyes had shifted as well, to an almost somehow dark golden tone.
“At last I am ready. And far more powerful than ever before as a Helios.” Blaze Bringer spoke aloud again, the dark magic that fueled his body coursing through his voice.
“You intend to attack Equestria alone? I wish you luck in becoming like Discord then brother.” Chrysalis weakly taunted her brother, most of her strength still sapped away.
Blaze Bringer turned slowly towards Chrysalis and approached, his flames parting all before him, even the solid rubble of boulders from his initial elation.
“I do not head for Equestria now dear sister. Equestria shall fall last.” Blaze Bringers taunted Chrysalis as he cooled his flames to allow them to brush her being.
“Then where do you head now in such high spirits?” Chrysalis earnestly wondered, her brother’s action confusing her greatly.
“I head to your ‘home’ sister. Farana shall fall first.” Blaze bringer smiled as he felt the terror within Chrysalis grow at his words.
Uninterrupted by Chrysalis, who was now struck entirely silent by fear, Blaze Bringer continued.
“Then Zebrika shall kneel. And Dragaria and Griffalon shall do the same. And then, and only then, will Equestria burn beneath my hooves.” Blaze Bringer paused to look over his shoulder one last time before he shattered the magic of his barrier and left to begin his reign anew.
“We must gather all our forces immediately if such is the case! Such a danger to Canterlot and the Princesses cannot go uninvestigated!” Rafiq shouted up from his place amongst the Captains of the Royal Guard.
Princess Celestia had called an immediate Meeting of all Royal Guards as soon as she had secured Luna’s safety as best she could. Princess Celestia had even personally requested that Crimson Edge return to grant his wisdom to the new generation of Royal Guards.
“And what do you suppose we do exactly colt? If all of us head out to hunt down Blaze Bringer, who we don’t even have a location on yet, then in what way are we doing our job?” Crimson Edge bit back against the son of one of his bets friends, the resemblance uncanny.
“Our duty is to protect the Princesses! We cannot do that properly whilst this Blaze Bringer holds a weapon that can hurt Princess Luna from distances we can’t even fathom!” Rafiq yelled back, his anger overpowering his own normally well balanced logic.
“You dumb foal. Our duty is to protect Canterlot and all its civilians, not just the Princesses. What would the Princesses rule over if there was no Kingdom eh?” Crimson Edge growled at rafiq, his patience near gone with the young Captain.
Rafiq stuttered for a few moments, and then fell silent as he went about smashing his shield once upon the ground as a symbol of his promise to not go beyond what he cannot refute.
“Good. Now listen up. We’re indeed going to go out and look for Blaze Bringer. If nothing else to at least finally get definitive answers as to his whereabouts and current state of body and mind. But we need to set up protective measures that will protect Canterlot while we’re gone.” Crimson Edge explained, hoping the others had ideas of their own to contribute.
“We need the Elements of Harmony in that case. They can protect Equestria in our stead for sure.” Sky Wing spoke up from the crown, enticing nods from many of the other Guards present.
“The Elements of Harmony are indeed powerful, but they are not fast or reliable enough to protect Canterlot on their own without any additional resources. The battle against the Changelings and Discord proved that. We will need additional replacements.” Shining Armor contradicted the young Sky Wing, hating himself for truly not believing his little sister alone could protect their birthplace.
“Who else do we call then? Does anypony know some other ponies we can call to help?” Peach spoke up at last, turning his head at all angles to look for any and all responses to his question.
“We could call the Ponyville Repair Ponies as they’re sometimes called. They’re not the best fighters, but they could build defenses for Canterlot to make up for it.” The Guard named Scabbard called out from the crowd.
“Who all is on this supposed team?” Zuli questioned Scabbard, hoping the numbers he could state would be sufficient.
“Let’s see…There’s Clockwork Sprocket, Quick Fix, Diamond Bolt and…Nova Fusion I think I’ve heard them called in passing. I’ve never met any of them personally, but I’ve heard lots of impressive things.” Scabbard replied, eliciting murmurs from the other guards as a name or two was recognized.
“We shall call them then. Any other suggestions?” Celestia called out, worry very clear in her regal voice.
“I know of one more. My sister Cream may be able to help. I’ll write to her. I also seem to recall hearing that this Diamond Bolt is a member of the band Feather Blaster, so we’ll have to contact them as a whole I’d guess.“ Peach concluded, hoping his contributions would tip the scales enough.
Celestia stayed in thought for a few long moments before answering the Royal Guards as a whole.
“Very well. Contact all the ponies we have just named and tell them to arrive in Canterlot post haste with as many other ponies and supplies as they’ll need for a lengthy stay. My godson Breeze Rider must be called as well. He possesses my former gift of Premonition. I can think of nopony better to assist those already named. Do not delay in accomplishing these tasks. The fate of my sister and Equestria itself may lie in the balance.” Celestia drifted off near the end as the Guards dispersed, her eyes appearing to have lost some of their natural glow as she did so.
***
“Phew. Finally all set up down here. How about you Pinkie?” Waffle called up from his crowning party supply, a Portable Ice Cream Grotto Bar, to Pinkie Pie who was currently preparing all her Party Cannons to fire a mixture of confetti, cupcakes, and muffins at the end of the Feather Blaster concert.
“Everything’s basically ready on my part. How’re the decorations Bamo?” Pinkie called up to her little sister, who was currently borrowing what Pinkie called her “Balloon Belt” to attach decorations across the top of the stage Feather Blaster and Octave Swell would soon be occupying.
“Really good Pinkie! I’ve just got a couple more left, and then I’m all good. One of us should go tell Shift that we’re ready shouldn’t we?” Bam called back down as she finished attaching the last of her Glow Bracelets to the stage.
“I heard my name.” A voice rang out from below the 3 decorating ponies, causing all of them to look down to where the crowd would form to see the manager of Feather Blaster, Shift Appear.
“How do you always seem to show up right when somepony says your name?” Waffle laughed as he set about putting down his Bar Rags to go and greet the Pegasus that was giving him such great business today.
“Maybe you’ve got your own Pinkie Sense.” Pinkie bounced down, carefully guiding Bam down alongside her.
“Maybe Pinkie I’ve never wondered it myself. In any case, what were you talking about when you mentioned me?” Shift smiled at the silliness of these Ponyville ponies.
“We were just gonna go get you. We’re all set for the Concert.” Bam told him, happier than even Pinkie at organizing her first Ponyville-Wide scale event.
“Excellent! I’m happy to hear that. Now let’s talk details for the Finale…” Shift began, only to be cut off by a large bellow from behind him.
“Shift!” Diamond Bolt yelled from behind Shift, clearly startling all the other ponies present. Diamond Bolt landed quickly behind Shift, Skeptic and Violet not far behind him.
“What is it? You rarely react that worriedly Diamond Bolt.” Shift asked Diamond Bolt, worried by why it wasn’t just Diamond Bolt that looked worried.
“We’ve been called to Canterlot. As a whole, though they specified Diamond Bolt in the letter.” Skeptic explained, eliciting a surprised look from Shift and Waffle.
“Canterlot? Why in Equestria would they call us there as a whole? Don’t they know today is our Finale?” Shift asked aloud, hoping for a bit more clarification from his band.
“They apologized for interrupting our joint Finale with Octave Swell, but they said this absolutely can’t wait. They’ve already sent a train for us. It will be here early tomorrow morning the letter said.” Violet spoke up, her eyes full of as much wonder as Shift’s were.
“What about Octave Swell?” They don’t have enough to put on the Finale by themselves.” Waffle spoke up, wondering just what to do now.
“Octave Swell got a letter too. From the looks of it, quite a few ponies that are currently in Ponyville are being redirected to Canterlot. I really think we have to go.” Diamond Bolt added, truly wondering just who in the entirety would be accompanying them to Canterlot.
“I see,” Shift began, before turning around and talking to Pinkie, Bam, and Waffle. “Well, I’m very sorry for this, but it seems the Finale is going to have to go on hold until at least when we get back. I hope this isn’t too much of an in…” Shift attempted to explain, before two shouts with a similar level of adrenaline to Diamond Bolt shot up over him.
“Pinkie! Are you there? Princess Celestia has called for us.” Twilight called up to the stage, Rarity and Fluttershy by her side as well.
“Please Pinkie. It’s a really serious thing we’re coming to get you for.” Fluttershy added, her normal level of worry seeming to have left her and having been replaced by a far great subconscious fear.
“I’m afraid we have to go somewhere Pinkie Pie. Truly sorry for this interrupting your catering of the Finale, but considering what Sweetie Belle told me, I’m certain it’s on hold no?” Rarity concluded, just as Pinkie jumped down beside her, Bam only a few seconds behind.
Pinkie breathed heavily for a moment before answering her best friends, her hair seeming to deflate a little as she did.
“I have a bad feeling I already know all about this girls.” Pinkie stated quickly as she and all the other ponies present nodded and began to wonder and worry just what Canterlot might bode for them.
***
“Pathetic. And you all once nearly conquered Canterlot?” Blaze Bringer spoke to the Changelings on the ground before him.
“What…what have you come here for?” A Changeling named Sickle spoke up weakly from the ground near Blaze Bringer.
Blaze Bringer looked at Sickle for a short moment, and then sauntered slowly over to the young Changeling so as to answer him.
“You ask what I have come for? I have come for an army that can destroy Equestria.” Blaze Bringer explained, his face mere inches away from Sickle’s.
“Then why attack us? We nearly destroyed Canterlot once as a whole…” Sickle attempted to barter with the dark alicorn, only eliciting a harsh smile from Blaze Bringer.
“I have two reasons for you Changeling. The first is this. You believe you nearly destroyed Canterlot? I think not. You nearly conquered Canterlot. Those are not the same thing whatsoever. The second reason is this. You are not my army yet. You still belong to Chrysalis.” Blaze Bringer began, his voice echoing malevolently throughout all the Changeling’s ears and minds.
Blaze Bringer paused for a moment to step a few feet away from Sickle so that he would have nothing but open ground around his immediate being.
“I will change that fact though.” Blaze Bringer laughed as he stomped heavily upon the ground, the flames that created his body spreading through the ground around him and into the Changelings bodies as well.
As the flames made contact with each Changeling, they changed the Changelings into entirely new creatures of Blaze Bringer’s design. The Changelings also lost all conscious thought except for automated responses if needed, becoming now nothing more than mechanical soldiers dedicated solely to assisting Blaze Bringer in his dark quest of Domination and Destruction.
“As of now, you will be called the Sabrei. You are now the First Battalion of my Conquering Army. Under my rule, we will destroy all. If you fail me, the penalty is eternal banishment from reality itself. You will cease to exist. Do you all understand this?” Blaze Bringer spoke from above the creatures once called Changelings.
“Yes Master.” The Sabrei spoke as a whole, their bodies now only individual conduits for one great mindset.
“Good. Then next, we head to Zebrika.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he prepared to lead his army against its first obstacle to Equestria.
Those that would defend Canterlot, not that any of them knew that yet, were gathered at the Ponyville train station. The Ponyville Repair Ponies, The Elements of Harmony, Feather Blaster, and many other well-known ponies had been called to aid Canterlot now.
There was Twilight Sparkle and Spike the Dragon, the Element of Magic and her first Assistant. Owlowiscious, Twilight’s Second Assistant, would remain in Ponyville and keep Golden Oak’s Library organized while Twilight and Spike were in Canterlot. Twilight and Spike had brought as many books as Twilight thought might help them while in Canterlot, despite having no information whatsoever about what Princess Celestia was calling her for to go on.
Next was Fluttershy and her husband Breeze Rider, the Element of Kindness and the godson of Celestia. Breeze Rider and Fluttershy had been in Canterlot mere days ago to tell Princess Celestia of Breeze Rider’s latest visions, which surely had to have boded some of the elements of the current situation Canterlot found itself in within them. Fluttershy had left Angel in charge of all the other animals, and hoped he would be willing enough to keep them all fed and happy for as long as they would be gone.
There was also Rarity with her sister Sweetie Belle, and Sweetie Belle’s friends Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle had come to find Apple Bloom and Scootaloo upon returning to Ponyville, and then gone straight to Rarity with them after hearing about her summons to Canterlot from Vinyl Scratch and Octavia. The letters had specified to bring as many supplies and other ponies as a lengthy stay might require, so Sweetie Belle insisted Apple Bloom and Scotaloo join the rest of them in Canterlot. Rarity had not brought any of her fashion supplies, as she doubted very much so that she’d have any time to work on new fashion while in Canterlot for such important sounding business.
Pinkie Pie and Bam were there too. Pinkie had successfully convinced Waffle to remain in Ponyville and manage Sugarcube Corner for her while she was gone, but Bam had not backed down from insisting on accompanying Pinkie to Canterlot in order to make up for the current cancelation of the Octave Swell and Feather Blaster Finale. Bam had convinced her school friend Character to watch over The Glowing Hoof in her stead, as Character didn’t like the sound of going to Canterlot from the way Bam described the reason she was going. Pinkie promised she’d brought her Party Cannon, but nopony could see it or understand how she might’ve accomplished that feat so sneakily.
Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, Skeptic, and Violet Melody had formed a sort of improvised group as each of them was missing one of their numbers to other gather groups. Octavia was extremely happy to see her sister again, but she truly wished it had been under the original circumstances. Skeptic was practicing his guitar, seemingly unaffected at all by the sever nature of the gatherings around him. Vinyl was trying to cheer up Octavia and Violet, who’d hoped that Diamond Bolt’s temporary removal from the band might be her chance to get closer with Skeptic. Vinyl wasn’t faring overly well, but she was making a slight difference in everypony’s demeanour difference by openly suggesting that Octave Swell and Feather Blaster form one band after all this mess was over.
Clockwork Sprocket, Nova Fusion, Quick-Fix, and Diamond Bolt had successfully reformed into the group others had christened the Ponyville Repair Ponies. Diamond Bolt was enjoying being able to be around Clockwork again, and Clockwork was happy to just see him again. Nova was trying to explain his computer to Diamond Bolt as best he could, explaining it was sort of like his robot the Adamant Cerebellum, except without the Artificial Intelligence and in a box shape instead. Diamond Bolt had also surprisingly managed to bring AC with him after a quick stop at his house that very morning, so it was a quite useful explanation. Quick-Fix entertained herself by fixing up AC’s frame during Nova’s explanation.
Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Shift, and Cream had formed a very impromptu group upon seeing that everypony else was in one, and then recruited Spike and Twilight to their group as well. Applejack and Twilight had made quick friends with Cream upon finding out she had not only had brothers, but that one of her brothers was a Royal Guard Lieutenant. Rainbow Dash was overly thanking Cream after finding out she had been one of the innovators of the Cloud Walking Spell that had allowed her friends to see her first Sonic Rainboom. Cream was blushing and muttering throughout all this, being a little star-struck by some of the Elements of Harmony being star-struck with her ironically. Shift was simply talking with everypony generally, wondering why exactly he could almost feel as though something bad was about to happen.
Eventually, thanks to the energetic greetings of Bam and Breeze Rider, everypony at the train station had gotten to meet everypony else and learned a little bit about each of the others. Just as Breeze Rider finished introducing Diamond Bolt and Fluttershy, the train at last arrived.
On board the train already were Zuli Archer, Rafiq, and Peach, who had been selected by Princess Celestia to greet all the ponies that had been called to Canterlot and guide them to the Castle as quickly as possible.
***
“Greetings everypony. I am Rafiq, a Captain of the Royal Guards of Canterlot. I and my fellow Guardsmen here have been asked by Princess Celestia to personally escort all of you to Canterlot as quickly possible, and the to the Castle as soon as we can afterwards.” Rafiq spoke up, his opening speech having been rehearsed during the train ride there.
Everypony present looked from Rafiq, to Zuli, to Peach, wondering now even more so how desperate Canterlot was to send out 2 Captains and a Lieutenant of the Royal guard to escort them.
“Nice to meet you Rafiq and others who I currently don’t the names of. I am Breeze Rider, and this is my wife Fluttershy,” Breeze Rider spoke up as he stepped beside Fluttershy. “I understand time is clearly of the essence, but perhaps if you introduced yourselves to all of us and we did the same, it would make the escort easier?” Breeze Rider suggested, hoping his understanding of the Royal Guards hadn’t faded too much in his years away from it in Canterlot.
“A good idea Breeze Rider. I am Zuli Archer, also a Captain of the Royal Guard. I was assigned the same duty as Rafiq here, but I was requested to specifically focus upon the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony.” Zuli added, looking out upon the gathered ponies and wondering which 6 were the current Wielders.
“I’m Twilight Sparkle, and this is my dragon Spike,” Twilight responded, pointing out Spike as she introduced him. “I am the Bearer of the Element of Magic, and my friends Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie are the other Bearers.” Twilight concluded, hoping she could streamline the process slightly like this.
“Aw come on Twi. Where’s the fun if we don’t introduce ourselves?” Rainbow Dash asked as she landed near Twilight with a dejected look on her face.
“I’m afraid we don’t have a lot of time for this Ma’am. We were told to get you all on as quickly as possible. I suggest we continue our introductions once you all are onboard the train. Are there any objections?” Peach called out, sweeping the crowd quickly to search for any sign of an objection.
Once it was clear nopony could argue Peach’s logic, everypony quickly set about moving themselves and their logic onboard the Friendship Express. It took a surprisingly short time with added assistance from Rafiq, Zuli, and Peach. In less than 20 minutes, all the ponies from the Ponyville station were successfully onboard the train and it was beginning to move.
“I apologize for that, but circumstances are quite grave in Canterlot. I am Peach by the way. I’m sorry for not introducing myself sooner.” Peach spoke up again once everypony was settled on the train.
“It’s okay Peach. I’m Cream to everypony that doesn’t know. Peach here is my brother. If you want to know a little about me, then I’m a surgeon at Ponyville General as well as one of the innovators of the Cloud Walking Spell, along with Clockwork and Diamond Bolt.” Cream explained as she stood up and indicated Clockwork and Diamond Bolt.
“Guess that’s my queue eh? I’m Clockwork Sprocket. Many of you don’t personally know me yet, but I’m a Ponyville and Cloudsdale Repair Pony. That’s about all that you guys need to know about me for now I suppose. Wanna add anything in here Diamond Bolt?” Clockwork added as she turned to Diamond Bolt beside her.
“Hey everypony. I’m Diamond Bolt. I’m a Repair Pony too, but I’m also a member of the Band Feather Blaster and this lovely mare here’s coltfriend.” Diamond Bolt quickly added as he kissed Clockwork’s cheek, making Clockwork blush quite profusely.
“Buck it Diamond. You didn’t need to tell everypony that.” Clockwork hurriedly said before sitting back down and hiding her face in her hooves.
Everypony chuckled for a moment or so before Skeptic, Shift, and Violet stood up to continue the introductions.
“Gonna be hard to top that introduction, but I’m doing mine anyway. I’m Skeptic, lead Guitarist of Feather Blaster. This colt here is Shift, our awesome manager, and the mare here is Violet Melody, our incredible sax player.” Skeptic explained, not noticing at all how Violet turned away and hid herself behind her mane as he mentioned her.
Bam jumped up immediately after Skeptic finished, and proceeded into her introduction almost immediately.
“Hi everypony! I’m Bam, Pinkie’s sister. I run The Glowing Hoof, Equestria’s best party store ever! That’s basically all from me, but thanks for listening!” Bam finished and sat right back down, shocking everypony at just how quickly she’d done everything.
Quick-Fix stood up slowly, not wanting to appear too quickly after Bam had finished her spirited introduction.
“Well, that’s a hard intro to top too. In any case, I’m Quick Fix, and this colt here is my friend Nova Fusion. We’re Repair Ponies too. Our work speaks better for us than we do, so I’ll let you make your opinions of us after we’ve finished a project or two around you.” Quick-Fix stated to the group, sitting back down as she did so.
Vinyl Scratch and Octavia stood up next, now some of the last ponies to introduce themselves to everypony.
“Hey. I’m Vinyl Scratch, though some of you might call me DJ PON-3. This mare next to me is Octavia. We’re part of a band we formed called Octave Swell. I could go on and on about how awesome me and Octavia are, but like Quick-Fix there said, we prefer our work to talk for us. So give our songs a listen and then come back to us.” Vinyl finished quickly, sitting back down as Octavia smiled and shook her head at the actions of her band-mate.
Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo stood up last, having held out for this moment intentionally.
“Ready girls?” Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.
“Ready!” Sweetie Belle answered, jumping up a little as she did so.
“Let’s do it!” Scootaloo added, bracing herself for maximum liftoff from her upcoming jump.
Most everypony looked quizzically at each other for a moment, while others covered their ears. The latter group was far more prepared.
“WE ARE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! And we won’t stop until we get our Cutie Marks!” Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo all yelled in unison, causing most everypony to keel over laughing at their antics once they could properly hear themselves again.
***
“Please! We can help you! We can remove the Zebrikan Seal from your body! We can return you to the way you used to be! Just please spare us!” The new Zebrika Leader since the Lost Era, Raki, pleaded with Blaze Bringer.
“You plead for mercy from me now? When your nation refused to surrender a few long years ago and nearly destroyed half of Canterlot’s population with that blasted Seal? I think not.” Blaze Bringer spat at Raki as he laid there on the ground before him.
“We will give you whatever you wish! Please! Spare my citizens! I promise I can make you as you once were!” Raki beseeched Blaze Bringer, tears flowing free from his eyes as he heard all the screams of the citizens he could not protect.
“I do not wish to be as I once was. I far prefer this form and its power.” Blaze Bringer smiled maliciously as he heard Raki completely break down at his words.
Zebrika lay in ruins before Blaze Bringer, the work of his first Sabrei. Their power was not near as great as his, but their numbers allowed more wide-spread destruction at a far greater pace than Blaze Bringer could alone create. Homes burned and citizens fled before the power of the Sabrei and Blaze Bringer himself.
Blaze Bringer knew the time was ripe to again create Sabrei. He would enjoy creating them from the Zebra’s far more than he had from creating the Sabrei from Changelings.
“You ask what I wish of you Raki? Then bear witness to the true reason I have not slain any of your numbers.” Blaze Bringer laughed as he expanded his wings and took to the sky, wanting to test the flow of his power through air instead of land this time in preparation for Dragaria and Griffalon.
Within seconds of Blaze Bringer willing his power forth, the dark flames had spread forth from his body and set about spreading across the small nation of Zebrika. The Zebra’s attempted to flee the flames, but none were successful. Blaze Bringer’s laughed echoed across the nation as the flames at last settled and reformed about his body.
“And now my Sabrei, only two lands remain between us and Equestria. Onward to Dragaria and Griffalon!” Blaze Bringer decried, the Sabrei answering him in one solid yell as they rose and began to march anew, their numbers now greatly increased.
Once off the Friendship Express, the group of ponies called to Canterlot took a very short amount of time to reach the Castle thanks to Rafiq, Zuli, Peach, and Breeze Rider’s intimate knowledge of Canterlot and the various paths to the Castle.
Once all had reached the Castle, Princess Celestia herself appeared to greet the group, though she appeared malnourished and exhausted beyond what anypony had ever seen on her before.
“Thank you all for coming as quickly as you could. You have my eternal gratitude.” Princess Celestia spoke quietly to the gathered ponies quietly, her voice appearing to be almost raw.
“Princess Celestia! What has happened to make you like this? You were not like this when we departed last night for Ponyville.” Rafiq worriedly asked the Princess, worried over her deteriorating condition.
“It is best I explain it somewhere else. Follow me kindly.” Celestia nearly begged the gathered ponies. Twilight and Breeze rider both immediately galloped forth and set about supporting one side of the Princess each.
“Thank you both.” Celestia whispered to Twilight and Breeze Rider, her true emotions and condition only being shown to the two she trusted as much as Luna.
It was slow going to the Guard Tower with Celestia as weak as she was, but eventually through their combined willpower, everypony had made it into the Tower and had taken a seat.
Shining Armor and Sky Wing were both already present in the Tower, and both assisted Twilight and Breeze Rider escort Celestia to her seat so that she could at last rest from her journey. Once Celestia was settled, the 2 pairs of Siblings took their seat, but not without one set of questions from each of the younger siblings.
“Shining. What’s going on? Why is Princess like this? Why were we called?” Twilight whispered to Shining Armor hastily.
“Brother! Why are you here? Why is Fluttershy? Why is Rainbow Dash?!” Sky Wing nervously asked his brother, curiosity over riding all other thoughts for the Lieutenant.
Though both Shining Armor and Breeze Rider received different questions, they shared one answer for them;
“Not now. Later.”
Once the last one to take a seat, Twilight, had settled in, Celestia began her explanation.
“Again, I thank you all greatly for coming here on such short notice. Now, I shall explain the reason I have called you all here. In short, Canterlot needs your help gravely.” Celestia began, choosing to pause there so as to allow questions from the gathered ponies.
“What do you mean ‘Canterlot needs our help greatly’ Princess?” Twilight spoke up, her worry for what could do this to Celestia after Twilight had seen her during both Chrysalis and Discord’s attacks.
“Canterlot is under threat of attack. An attack with far greater potential than the Changelings was. This threat has already afflicted Luna.” Celestia explained, her head falling slightly as she remembered the pain Luna was still in.
“Princess Luna?! What’s happened to her?” Bam asked, hoping she was welcome to voice worries or questions here.
Zuli chose to explain this particular part to the Group so as to save Celestia some energy for the remaining explanations.
“An old weapon long thought gone from Equestria has somehow afflicted Princess Luna with its abilities. This weapon is called a Celestial Blade,” Zuli elaborated, eliciting gasps from Cream, Breeze Rider, Clockwork, and Twilight. “I trust by that reaction, some of you are already informed of the Celestial Blade. I ask that you explain their powers to the other then.” Zuli concluded, looking to those who had reacted to explain further.
“A Celestial Blade is…an evil thing. They were created long ago by an ancient society to stop the most powerful of Equestrian fighters from battling against them.” Cream began, her medical training having taught her all about the Celestial Blades and how to recognize their afflictions.
“How does one of these things work? Judging by the name, I’m assuming it’s a sword of sorts. How does a sword stop a pony from fighting though?” Violet spoke up, curious as to why there was such fear for what sounded like nothing more than the average weapon.
“There are numerous steps needed to make a Celestial Blade function properly. First of all, you need hair or fur from the pony you intend to stop. You rub the hair or fur on the edge of the Blade, and it will take on the image of that ponies Cutie Mark all along it.” Breeze Rider began, his Developed Premonitions having taught him all this.
“Next, you need to be able to strike the pony in question. Once you strike them, whether it be a graze, a slash, or a simple stab, you need to impale the Blade into a strong piece of ground, rock, or jewel as a base for the Blade.” Clockwork continued, her Engineer training having taught her about the mechanics of the Celestial Blades and even how to build one.
“Finally, the b-blood of the pony has to touch the seal on the Blade to bind the pony. That pony is then bonded to wherever they are at the time of the completion of the seal. The seal can’t be removed or undone by any except the being that originally bound the pony there. The sealing causes immense pain through all the cells of the pony if they so much as try even minute movements like breathing.” Twilight concluded, her hooves shaking as she remembered what she had learned about the Celestial Blades.
“And Princess Luna was hit by one? How? Did anypony somehow sneak in and strike her?” Diamond Bolt asked aloud, hoping there would be some sort of logical explanation to this situation.
“That’s exactly the problem for why we called you here. We believe we know who might have hit Princess Luna with the Celestial Blade, or at least who the Blade originally belonged to. We still don’t know how this is possible though.” Rafiq answered Diamond Bolt, his urge for action against the one that caused Luna such pain growing ever stronger in him.
“Who is it? Who could have done this?” Skeptic demanded from the gathered ponies, wanting any answer at all.
Silence followed Skeptics words for a few moments. Finally, it was Celestia who would answer Skeptic’s question.
“We believe it to be…,” Celestia began, swallowing part way through as she still dared not believe it of him. “…My older brother, Blaze Bringer. My believed formerly deceased older brother.” Celestia finished, a great silence following her every word.
Nopony knew how to respond to that for quite a time, so silence permeated every inch of the Guard Tower for a time.
***
“So you wish to willingly join me hm?” Blaze Bringer questioned the Griffon before him, wondering why such beings had not been against them in the War.
“Yeah. What has Equestria ever done for us? Better off without it I say.” Gilda told Blaze Bringer, her need to survive outweighing her former friendship with Rainbow Dash at the current moment.
“So you have nothing you wish to preserve in all of Equestria from destruction?” Blaze Bringer asked Gilda, attempting to weed out what he wanted from her.
“Nothing at all.” Gilda told Blaze Bringer, sweat silently running down her feathers.
“You lie Gilda. The one called ‘Rainbow Dash’ holds a place in your heart. You would not destroy her as you are now.” Blaze Bringer spat at Gilda, six of his Sabrei springing forward to hold Gilda to the ground as she attempted to flee from him.
“I-I don’t care about Rainbow Dash! Let her burn! Let me help!” Glida screamed at Blaze Bringer, fear at last apparent in her eyes as she beheld the alicorn.
“I know all Gilda. You cannot hope to hide your true thoughts and feelings from detection. You are no use to me as you are now while you harbor hope to save one from me. That can be rectified however…” Blaze Bringer smiled as Gilda screamed upon remembering what had happened to the last Griffon Blaze Bringer had said those words to.
Blaze Bringer laughed, the fear he inspired from the beings he conquered being the sweetest joy he could ever imagine. Blaze Bringer again brought forth his dark flames as Gilda continued to fight the Sabrei’s hold in a daft attempt to escape. Within another few seconds, Gilda was no longer the being she once was.
“I still have particular use for you. You are the one that will destroy the Element of Loyalty. You will identify yourself by your former identity. Do you understand my Sabrei?” Blaze Bringer instructed Gilda, her eyes glazing over with darkness as he did so.
“Yes my Master. I shall heed you every word.” The one once called Gilda spoke as an individual with the Sabrei’s voice.
Blaze Bringer smiled again at Gilda, before moving to leave the High Chambers of Griffalon so as to gather his Sabrei for the march against Dragaria, and then against Equestria.
***
“Your…brother? But…how?...why?” Twilight was unable to truly gather her thoughts as she tried to absorb what it was that Celestia had just said to everypony.
Celestia looked to Shining Armor, knowing he would be the best pony present to explain about Blaze Bringer.
“Blaze Bringer was indeed the elder brother of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. He ruled many years ago, but not ever over Canterlot and Equestria as you now know it by its boundaries. Blaze Bringer ruled over the Lost Lands of Equestria as you might know them. Primarily Zebrika and the Crystal Kingdom. Blaze Bringer did not often involve himself publicly with our Equestria, preferring instead to be a Silent Ruler of his Lands. That changed about 11 years ago however.” Shining Armor began, pausing as he saw fit to allow his words to sink in.
“About 11 years ago, Zebrika declared itself a sovereign nation from Equestria and declared war on us for supposedly subjugating them to our rule for so long before then. They managed to recruit Dragons to their side and set about marching upon Equestria. Upon hearing of this, Blaze Bringer encased the Crystal Kingdom in a Protection Spell and flew to Equestria in order to guide the Royal Guards and any others who wished to fight against the Zebra’s and Dragons.” Rafiq paused, knowing that at last questions would begin to come.
“But…why would somepony who did all that for Equestria want to hurt it now?” Sweetie Belle asked slowly, as confused as anypony else present.
“During the Final Battle, the Zebra’s revealed a new spell. It was truly dark magic, intended to decrease Equestria’s fighting force by more than half, making it impossible to stop their advance from that point onwards. Blaze Bringer sacrificed himself to contain the Zebrikan Seal, and then used his contained magic to destroy the Charred Mountains, the only known path at the time between Equestria, Griffalon, Dragaria, and Zebrika. We originally believed Blaze Bringer to have perished in that battle. By further examining information now though, we believe that Blaze Bringer survived, though severely scarred and hurt by the Zebrikan Seal.” Peach breathed, his explanation becoming harder by the second to properly explain.
“In order to further protect Equestria in case the Zebra’s or Dragons ever decided to return, a Protection Spell was created to repel the Zebrikan Seal once we had discovered how it worked. If Blaze Bringer had indeed ever found a way to return home, we would never have even been able to make it within 50 miles of Canterlot. It is believed he may have taken this as a personal banishment directed at only him and may be intending to take revenge on Equestria for that reason.” Zuli concluded, wishing avidly that things could have turned out very differently.
“We must find Blaze Bringer and attempt to rectify what has already happened and prevent anything further from happening. For that purpose, we have called you all to Canterlot.” Celestia added on, a few silent tears falling from her eyes as she imagined her elder brother now.
“What can we do? We’re not the best idea for a Search Party if that’s what you were thinking.” Nova spoke up, truly wondering why they were called now after hearing most of the reasoning.
“We understand that. You will not be searching for Blaze Bringer. That is the duty of the Royal Guards. Blaze Bringer is powerful though, so we must send out our strongest to search for him in case he proves himself to be dangerous now. We ask that you effectively replace us for a time with your respective skills in order to protect Canterlot while we cannot be here.” Zuli answered Nova, looking about at all the other ponies present reactions after seeing Nova’s.
“You want us…to protect all of Canterlot with our respective abilities?” Twilight spoke on behalf of the Elements of Harmony, all of them simply nodding or shaking their heads at her words.
“Correct. You all are the best at what you do, whether that be repairs, creations, or wielding the Elements of Harmony. There are no others that could protect Canterlot as best as you can in our absence. We beg you to please help us.” Rafiq answered Twilight and the bowed his head before all the ponies present in order to show his true gratitude and need of them.
Silence permeated the Guard Tower again, though this time it was hastened. Every pony present looked to those they most trusted, and then back towards the Princess and the Royal Guards Leaders.
“What do you need us to do?” Cream spoke up, fear gone from her voice, replaced now by determination to help Canterlot as best she could
“Hm…I think I could increase the voltage a little bit more without too much worry. What do you think Quick-Fix?” Nova asked his friend as he analyzed the overlay of his recently created Anti-Invasion Electric Defence or the AIED for short.
Quick Fix looked up from tuning her Modified Automatic and Rapid-Fire Crossbows to answer Nova, all the while looking about for the others that should be around that area.
“What’s the current voltage at?” Quick-Fix asked him while she set about wiping the oil off her face from fine tuning her Crossbows.
“About 60 volts per square inch. I was thinking of uping that to 80 volts instead. Just in case of a greater air force attack.” Nova told Quick-Fix as she finished making her way over to him.
“80 volts could work. Keep it below 120 volts though or nopony will be able to get out of Canterlot easily if they need to. You can still do an instant shutoff at 80 volts can’t you?” Quick-Fix asked while looking over the measurements on Nova’s laptop.
“Yep. I’ll go about increasing the voltage then. How’re your Modded Crossbows coming along?” Nova questioned Quick-fix as he adjusted the values on his laptop.
“Pretty good. They’re nowhere near as powerful, fast, or accurate as the ones that Zuli Archer can use, but they can pump out near 40 arrows a minute for over an hour before reloading them manually, so they should serve some use if it all comes down to a battle.” Quick-Fix breathed as she lamented over just how likely it was that Canterlot would be under siege soon.
“I’d like to say don’t worry, but I can’t. All we can do is our best. Where are the others anyway?” Nova tried his best to distract Quick-Fix from her thoughts, all while his own still mildly festered beneath the surface.
***
“You sure this is gonna work Diam?” Skeptic shouted up to his friend from his place in the center of what could be called the roof of Canterlot Castle.
“Not entirely. Sound manipulation combined with magic has always been a hard area to rationalize or work easily with. If properly done, it’s amazing powerful. If done wrong, it basically does nothing more than normal music will. If anypony is capable of properly doing it though, it’s one of us.” Diamond Bolt called back down to Skeptic as he set about moving the clouds Clockwork and Cream were currently on so that they could continue to fine-tune the current setup for one of Canterlot’s defenses.
“Normally, I’d appreciate the compliment Diam. But right now I need to stay focused. Cream! You think this many speakers is enough amplification?” Clockwork added as she set about adjusting the volume levels on one of the hastily modified speakers of Feather Blaster that Twilight and Cream had earlier duplicated and increased in size.
“I think so. It won’t project as much more than basic music beyond Canterlot’s limitations, but while within Canterlot, it should cause extreme discomfort to the level of actual pain to any enemies that make it past Nova and Quick-Fix’s initial defenses.” Cream explained as she wiped sweat from her brow, this work proving necessary but exhausting.
“So what’ll you need us to exactly then?” Vinyl Scratch called up, her magic amplifying Cream, Clockwork, and Diamond Bolt’s voices so that everypony who was staying on the ground could hear them clearly.
Gathered on the roof altogether were Skeptic, Violet Melody, Vinyl Scratch, Bam, and Octavia. Sweetie Belle had wanted to help as well, but after a stern lecture of the dangers from her band-mates and her older sister, she and the other 2 Cutie Mark Crusaders were currently roaming the Castle below the others.
“To paraphrase, just ‘do your thing.’ Once this is all set up, anytime you start playing music, it’ll be amplified into a weapon we can use against just who or whatever it is Blaze Bringer might set against us here.” Clockwork called down as she finished levelling the sound output on the very last speaker and Diamond Bolt began to lower her and her cloud back down to the ground.
“Very well then. What shall we do in the meantime?” Octavia asked aloud, just as Cream too touched down upon solid ground again.
“I don’t know about you, but I’d enjoy your last few unattached hours and try to find anypony you want or need to,” Diamond Bolt answered Octavia, moving forward and wrapping his wing around Clockwork as he did so. “Speaking of which, has anypony seen the Elements of Harmony or our manager?”
***
“You really think I have some sort of dormant power within me?” Shift asked Breeze Rider, still not entirely certain of the former Wonderbolt’s words.
“I do. I’ve viewed the past of everypony here who I hadn’t previously met, and you certainly have the one that’s hardest to view. Like me, it’s almost as if you had an entirely separate life before Equestria that you don’t remember. You also seem to have a strange energy about you that I can’t define. I can only imagine that your power will reveal itself in your time of greatest need, similar to my gift of Premonition.” Breeze Rider answered Shift as he set about moving forward to greet Fluttershy after yet another practice session with the Elements of Harmony.
Twilight had insisted that she and the other Bearers practice activating the Elements of Harmony near every hour since Princess Celestia had dismissed them and told them to begin creating their defences. In a mere few hours of practice, it now took no more than a few seconds of focus for the Elements to activate, and it took only a fraction of the energy from all of them that it used to.
“How’d practice go honey? Any improvement?” Breeze Rider asked Fluttershy as she and the others exited the room Celestia had told them would be best for practicing with the Elements.
“Twilight says that we’ve doubled the power output of the Elements for only a third of the power we used to use when activating them. She said we should be proud.” Fluttershy answered Breeze Rider, then nuzzled him.
“You think we’re ready for em yet Twi?” Applejack asked Twilight, taking off her hat for a few moments to recoup after practice with the Elements of Harmony.
“I think so. Like Shining Armor told me, the Elements alone aren’t enough to stop everything Blaze Bringer might put against us, but they’re definitely a lot easier and better to wield on our part than they used to be.” Twilight told Applejack, sitting down on her haunches as she did and taking a deep breath.
“Do relax Twilight dear. We won’t be able to use the Elements at all if all of us aren’t in our top condition.” Rarity approached Twilight, hoping to calm her fellow unicorn some.
“I know Rarity. I just can’t help but worry a bit. Is it all going to be enough?” Twilight asked all her friends aloud.
“It will have to be. You can do no more than your best Twilight. If anypony remembers that best, it’s me.” Breeze Rider spoke up, hoping to calm Twilight some just as he had calmed Afterburn so long ago right before the Best Young Fliers Competition.
Twilight smiled at Breeze Rider’s words, and everypony felt the immediate calm Twilight’s smile brought with it.
***
“I don’t like this at all.” Rafiq spoke up from his place in the Guard Tower, eliciting moans from all the other Guard ponies present.
“Seriously Captain Rafiq? When are you going to get over the fact that we need the other ponies here to guard Equestria while we’re gone? You can’t do everything on your own. With all due respect sir.” Peach spoke up, sick of his Captain’s worries but not wanting to offend him either.
“I did not mean that Peach. I am beyond such worries as that now. I’m more worried about our Communications report.” Rafiq answered his Lieutenant, causing Peach and everypony else present to look over at him.
“What do you mean Rafiq? What’s wrong with the Communications report?” Shining Armor asked Rafiq, wandering over to his side to see the report as well.
“We’ve heard nothing from Zebrika recently. Nothing at all. They don’t often send us anything detailed or important, but they’ve always maintained a modicum of Communication with us in every report since we re-established a good connection with them.” Rafiq elaborated, causing everypony to focus all the remaining attention on him.
“Do you think that maybe they’re working with Blaze Bringer? And that’s why they aren’t communicating with us?” Sky Wing interjected, hoping that fear wasn’t overpowering his every rational thought.
“It is a possibility. Or they may have been attacked by him and are unable to communicate because of such an attack. In any case, it is a suspicious occurrence and we should inform Princess Celestia of it. Perhaps we’d best check Zebrika first for Blaze Bringer in lieu of this new hunch.” Zuli added in, looking over the Communications report himself as he did so.
“Let’s go then.” Rafiq called out as he stood up along with the others and headed towards Princess Luna’s chambers, where Celestia had remained since the end of the briefing to the Gathered Defenders.
***
“You are pathetic Garble. You beg worse than the Griffon Gilda did for freedom.” Blaze Bringer sneered at the young dragon that lay defeated near his hooves.
Garble attempted to rise to his claws again, only to have Blaze Bringer step down upon him with one hoof, causing the wind to flow instantly out of the dragon’s lungs.
“Come on…Please…I’ll stop the other dragons for you…” Garble breathed slightly, his words causing Blaze Bringer to apply more pressure to the Dragon’s back.
“The other dragons you say? So you would betray your own race for a taste of freedom from my wrath? You are the same as the worst scum of Canterlot Garble. Even Gilda would only attack Equestria for freedom and not her own race. You disgust me.” Blaze Bringer spat at Garble, his anger boiling at the actions and words of the dragon who had attacked him first.
Even the Dragons had not been able to stop the Sabrei or Blaze Bringer. They had survived a short while longer thanks to their size and power, but they too had succumbed to the overwhelming power of the Helios and his Army.
“There are no other dragons now Garble. They are all part of my Sabrei now. You were the first dragon to fight me, and you are the last to fall. You will get your mild taste of freedom Garble, but only to destroy the Element of Magic and her wretched ‘pet’. That is the freedom I give you.” Blaze Bringer snarled as he pulsed his flames through Garble, only allowing him to rise a moment after he retracted the flames.
“Yes my Master. I apologize for my former insolence. I live to serve your will.” The dragon who was formerly Garble spoke through the Sabrei.
“Excellent. And now my Sabrei, we have but one duty to perform before the destruction of Equestria.” Blaze Bringer smiled to himself as he prepared to head ‘home’, his Sabrei following avidly behind him.
***
The cave had grown far lighter since the removal of Blaze Bringer’s barrier, though Chrysalis could see none of it due to her deteriorating vision from the Celestial Blades’ impalement within her. Eventually though, Chrysalis felt a tremendous yet familiar presence join her within the cave due to her remaining senses.
“Why have you come back brother?” Chrysalis weakly accused what she could not see due to the exhaustion that had spawned after having the Celestial Blade impaled within her body for such a long time.
“I have come back to send a message my dear sister. And fortunately, once again, you are the perfect conduit for what I must do.” Blaze Bringer spoke to the Changeling, preparing to wield his magic once more.
Blaze Bringer’s magic enveloped Chrysalis for short moment, the dark shade of the flames feeling to Chrysalis almost as if they could burn away her very presence. After the short envelope though, Blaze Bringer’s magic receded and Chrysalis felt as though a tremendous weight was lifted from her body.
“What…did you do to me?” Chrysalis asked Blaze Bringer as the Alicorn somehow appeared within her vision again.
“I have removed the Celestial Blade from you. I no longer need bind you and Luna. What fun will burning Equestria be if one of their strongest fighters can’t even move against me?” Blaze Bringer smiled as he burned away Luna’s Cutie Mark from the Celestial Blade and reshaped the blade into that of a Scythe.
“What do you wish from me in return for my freedom?” Chrysalis asked Blaze Bringer as she finally stood upon her hooves again.
“I wish nothing more from you Chrysalis. I have your blood, and your Changelings. What you do with your life now is all up to your own decisions. I simply warn you that should you stand against me in any fashion, I will not hesitate to crush you. Be gone now if you wish to do anything more with your life than rot in this place. I have another message to send.” Blaze Bringer elaborated as he levitated the re-forged Celestial Blade, now re-christened the Celestial Scythe, before him and prepared to wield his magic once more.
Blaze Bringer heard the hurried hooftseps of Chrysalis and felt the gust of wind from her wings as she flew away, but none of it concerned him. Now was at last the time to begin his true revenge.
***
“I trust your beliefs are correct in this matter Rafiq. Zebrika shall be the first place we search for him. Is there anything else of import you wish to tell m-” Celestia began, before a dark echo encased Canterlot, and the remainder of Equestria within itself.
“Greetings Equestria. Though many of you will not understand the reasoning for this message, those that have import to me will. This is Blaze Bringer. I am alive. I am powerful. I am a Helios now. I have conquered Farana, home of the Changelings, Zebrika, homeland of the Zebras, Griffalon, the Griffon’s territory, and Dragaria, the Dragon’s Cove, already. Now I come for Equestria. I come with my Sabrei, my army. We cannot be stopped. We cannot be repelled. All who try such futile acts will be crushed and burned beneath my hooves. I come for Canterlot first, and then for the remainder of Equestria. Make your stand in Canterlot if you will, though it will be a useless endeavor. I have freed Luna from the Celestial Blade and re-forged it. The Blade no longer binds. It simply slashes the souls of those I cut. I will show no mercy to mares, foals, elders, or injured. All will fall. I come in two day’s time. Use that time wisely how you see fit. I won’t keep you waiting. Farewell Equestria. Prepare yourself for my flames.”
Blaze Bringer’s words echoed within Equestria for a time after they fell silent. Once they fell silent, everypony was left alone with their thoughts. After a time, everypony looked to Canterlot as their last source of prayer, their last source of hope. In two days, everypony’s faith was to be tested. In two days, all might end.
Blaze Bringer’s words echoed throughout the minds of all who heard them, as if becoming some sort of maniacal counter that would sound repeatedly until he arrived. Within an hour from the original time his words were heard, everypony was busy with one thing or another.
Some ponies wanted the embrace of that one special somepony in this dark time. Others went to tell their special somepony of their importance. Some finished projects they’d always delayed or ate meals they’d always wanted to. All had one thought in mind though;
“This may be my last chance to do this.”
***
Rafiq stood before two familiar names in the area behind Canterlot Gardens. Behind the Gardens lay the Royal Graveyard, where all who had ever served in Celestia and Luna’s courts lay upon their death.
Rafiq kneeled before the tombstones of his father and his sister, hoping they could hear the words he was about to speak. Rafiq chose to speak to Blunt Blade first.
“Father. I apologize for not having visited more often. But Canterlot has kept me busy, much like you predicted it would when I finally journeyed here from Hockland. I now prepare to face the Alicorn you once so greatly defended in battle. Though Blaze Bringer was once a ruler of Equestria too, my loyalty lies with Princess Luna and Princess Celestia now. I apologize for what I may have to do, but you know better than anypony that duty often must override your own inherent sense of justice. You died believing that philosophy, and I believe it as well. This may be my last chance to speak to you like this should the battle go badly, so I say a Thanks for all you have done for me and Dewdrop, and I pray you will have a peaceful afterlife without me until I too fall in battle. Farewell Blunt Blade, Captain of the Royal Guards of Canterlot.” Rafiq paused, a tear silently falling at his side as he finished the prayer to his father.
Rafiq turned next to the tombstone of his sister, knowing this prayer would be harder to say than his father’s had been.
“Dewdrop. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. That was my one duty as your older brother for all time, and I couldn’t do it. If I only hadn’t so avidly refused to go to Canterlot with you when you left, it might be me in your place, and you in mine. Though I know I can’t live my life simply wondering what might have happened, I must apologize for not having done some things differently. I hope you can forgive me as I too prepare to give my life for Canterlot. If I survive, I will pray to you again. If I don’t, then I hope you’ll greet and forgive me upon the other side of life. Goodbye my sister.” Rafiq concluded, grabbing his shield and mallet as he turned to leave, knowing each might now carry a blessing from his family to aid him.
***
“So Blaze Bringer’s really alive and he’s coming to Canterlot with an army of vengeance eh?” Quick-Fix rhetorically asked Nova as she leaned up against a nearby wall.
Nova and Quick-Fix had decided to simply relax in the company of each other for their last few war-free hours. Nova closed his laptop at Quick-Fix’s words and went over to his bags to unpack some things he had packed last minute.
“Sure looks that way. You want a drink Quick-Fix? Might be our last chance to enjoy one.” Nova called out to her as he brought out two flasks from his bag, one that was gold and one that was silver.
“You know I don’t like Spectra Nova.” Quick-Fix looked quizzically at him as he set down the silver flask in front of her.
“Yeah I do. That’s why I have two flasks. Mine’s filled with Spectra,” Nova indicated his gold flask respectively, and then Quick-Fix’s. “Yours is filled with Zap Apple Juice. I brought both options just in case as a last minute thought.” Nova finished as he took a swig from his flask.
Quick-Fix looked down at her flask, picked it up, and then also took a swig from it. The Zap Apple Juice tasted sweet with a surprisingly sour aftertaste that reminded Quick-Fix of live electricity.
“Thanks.” Quick-Fix called out to Nova as she took another swig, eliciting a nod from Nova.
Nova and Quick-Fix stayed in silence for a while, their only actions to take swigs from the flasks and breathe. Eventually, Quick-Fix broke the silence.
“I really hope this isn’t really gonna prove to be our last drink though.” Quick-Fix told Nova, her fear of the coming days showing itself for a short moment.
“I hope so too. I really do.” Nova answered her as he took a look at the sky over Canterlot, hoping his AIED would be able to help in the coming attack.
***
Skeptic sat on top of the highest tower of Canterlot Castle, clacking his hooves together in worry over what was coming in less than 48 hours.
“Do you mind if I join you up there?” A voice called out to Skeptic from below, causing him to pause and look down to discover just who it was.
Violet Melody was the pony who was calling up to Skeptic, the same look of worry about her as was prevelant on Skeptic.
“Not at all. Where’s Diam and Shift?” Skeptic asked Violet as she landed next to him.
“Diamond’s off with Clockwork, and I dunno where Shift went. Last I saw him, he was with that former Wonderbolt and that pony who’s a surgeon…Breeze Rider and Cream I think they’re called.” Violet explained as best she could, finally settling into a comfortable seat on the tower.
“I see. Funny how everypony seems to have somepony special right now, or at least somepony they can be around. I didn’t want a marefriend all through yesterday and today before a while ago, but I kind of wish I had one right now. Foalish thoughts right?” Skeptic laughed at himself as he explained his thoughts to Violet.
“Not really. Everypony wants somepony they can be with when Equestria seems to be falling. I wish I had a coltfriend right now too.” Violet answered Skeptic, inching a bit closer as she did so.
“You do?” Skeptic asked, wondering where this might go, but already having a subconscious idea of it himself.
“Yeah. You know…since I don’t have a coltfriend…and you don’t have a marefriend…” Violet began, edging closer to Skeptic a little more as she did.
“Yeah?” Skeptic whispered, now fully certain he knew where this was heading.
“Maybe, just for now, we can think of each other as our respective special someponies. Just so that we have somepony to support us through all this.” Violet finished, now sitting directly beside Skeptic.
Skeptic smiled to himself as he unfurled his wing and draped it around Violet. Violet blushed at the action, and then looked at Skeptic again.
“I think I’d like that a lot Violet.” Skeptic told her, leaning his head down to rest it on top of hers, as she leaned her head into his shoulders.
Violet and Skeptic simply sat on top of the tower for a time watching the Sun’s unstoppable progression across the sky, happy to simply be there with somepony else at their side.
***
“Do you think we’ll all be okay after it’s over?” Fluttershy asked Breeze Rider, holding her husband close as he held her close.
“I wish I could say for sure Fluttershy, but I can’t see anything. My Premonitions are useless for right now.” Breeze Rider cursed his inability to properly soother his wife in this time of turmoil.
Fluttershy silently cried for a few moments, and Breeze Rider only held her tighter and closer as she did. Eventually, Fluttershy calmed down a bit.
“Where’s Sky Wing? Shouldn’t your little brother have somepony to be with now too?” Fluttershy wondered as she loosened her grip on Breeze rider slightly.
“I wouldn’t worry about that too much Flutters. My visions may not be good for what’s going to happen in two days, but I wasn’t once called the ‘Breeze of Love’ for nothing you know.” Breeze Rider smiled to himself as he imagined his little brother with the mare he’d always liked in Flight School.
“Hmm?” Fluttershy questioned Breeze Rider’s statement, looking up at his face fully as she did so.
“I’d tell you myself right now, but something tells me that Rainbow Dash would rather beat me to it.” Breeze Rider chuckled as he gave his wife a kiss of her forehead.
***
“You…you really mean that?” Rainbow dash asked Sky Wing, still not certain she’d heard him right.
“I do Rainbow Dash. I’ve admired you since Flight School for your confidence, and that eventually turned into what I can only call love. I never had the courage to come and talk to you about it, but some advice from my brother and this whole Blaze Bringer thing seems to have given me a shot of courage.” Sky Wing explained, making a subconscious note to thank Breeze Rider later on.
“Buck that Breeze Rider. Even if he didn’t have those Premonitions, something tells me he’d always be able to know or be able to tell others just what to say.” Rainbow Dash blushed to herself as she imagined the smile Breeze Rider must be wearing right now.
“So…will you give me a chance?” Sky Wing interjected, hoping he’d managed to sway Rainbow enough.
“Nopony’s ever thought of me just as a mare before. That certainly gives you a head start. But you’ll have to outrace me first for me to truly give you a chance.” Rainbow Dash winked at Sky Wing as she took off through the closest window.
Sky Wing blinked for a moment before the full impact of Rainbow Dash’s words hit him like the Friendship Express would.
“Hey! You said I had a head start!” Sky Wing called out after Rainbow as he followed her out the window, Sky Wing hearing a laugh from Rainbow Dash as a response.
***
“Thanks for understanding why I couldn’t visit Pinkie, Bam. It means a lot to me that you do.” Octavia smiled at her sisters as she gave them a hug for understanding her so well even after so many years apart.
“No problem Octy. We all get busy from time to time. I’m just glad that we can still be all together as sisters when it really matters.” Pinkie told Octavia, brushing her mane some as she did so, much like she had done for her and Bam when they were sad as fillies.
“Plus, we still get to have a big party to celebrate the Finale of your tour once this is all over! Don’t forget that sis!” Bam added in, smiling at her older and younger sisters as she did so.
Pinkie and Octavia smiled back, but neither of their smiles were as full of as much innocent hope as Bam’s was. Both sisters secretly believed that everything really was about to end, and that there was very little they could do to change any of that. They never let Bam know that know. Their sister deserved a little bit more childish freedom before the end, so Pinkie and Octavia let her have it.
***
“I’m glad Octavia finally reconnected with them.” Vinyl told herself aloud, wondering why exactly she was choosing now to start talking to herself.
“Shouldn’t you follow her example Vinyl dear?” A voice called out from behind Vinyl, causing her to quickly hide her tear filled eyes behind her signature sunglasses and turn around.
The voice belonged to Rarity, who in turn had brought Sweetie Belle along with her. Vinyl smiled and stood up as she realized it was them.
“What are you two doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your friends or family?” Vinyl jokingly asked, heaving a huge sigh of relief on the inside that they had come to see her.
“You ARE part of our family Vinyl Scratch. And our friends all have alternate duties to attend to at the moment.” Rarity told Vinyl, jokingly tapping her on her horn as she did so.
“Even your friends Sweetie Belle?” Vinyl asked the young filly as she smiled earnestly at her cousins.
“Apple Bloom had to go and try to calm Applejack down some. She was running about looking for Twilight the last I saw her. And Scootaloo went to follow Rainbow Dash. We agreed that for now, we have to grow up a bit and stop our Crusading. One Blaze Bringer’s gone, we’ll do more Crusading then ever!” Sweetie Belle smiled up at Vinyl and Rarity, surprising the mares with her forethought into this.
“That’s….very impressive Sweetie Belle.” Vinyl choked up a bit at the smiling filly’s face, hoping her sunglasses could still hide her tears from view.
“I wholeheartedly agree Sweetie.” Rarity told her sister as she nuzzled her slightly.
Sweetie Belle looked up at Rarity and Vinyl at their responses and was confused as to why they were both so openly crying.
“Why are you crying? Did I do something wrong?” Sweetie Belle worriedly asked, hoping she could fix what she’d done if it was her fault.
“Not at all Sweetie Belle. It’s just…you’ll understand when you’re older.” Rarity told Sweetie Belle, pulling her close into a hug as she did so.
“Listen to your big sis Sweetie. She knows just what she’s talking about.” Vinyl added as she too joined Rarity’s hug.
Rarity, Vinyl Scratch, and Sweetie Belle stayed in their group hug for a long time, simply hoping to enjoy it for as much of their remaining time as they could.
“I wish I knew what I could do to help. Breeze Rider says I have some power within me and a mysterious past, but I don’t know how any of that will help if I can’t figure it all out in time.” Shift spoke aloud to himself as he walked around the Canterlot Gardens for the near 5th time, having nothing else to do at the moment.
“Ugh. I can’t listen to this anymore. You really want to know how you can help? I’ll tell you.” A voice echoed within Shifts mind, confusing him as to just where it was coming from or who’s voice it was.
“Who’s there? Who said that?” Shift called out, wondering just who had been listening to him this whole time.
“Honestly, ponies have no respect for their elders anymore. Shouldn’t you be able to just guess who this is considering where you are?” The voice teased Shift, causing him to turn about more as he zeroed in on the source of the voice.
The only thing before Shift from the direction the voice was coming from was the statue of Discord, God of Chaos. Shift couldn’t believe that Discord was choosing to talk to him, but he could come up with no alternatives to that scenario.
“Are you Discord?” Shift questioned the voice, hearing a laugh as response first.
“Finally! See? All it took was a little hard fact and guesswork. That wasn’t so hard now was it?” Discord taunted Shift, knowing none could resist his words for a time.
“Why are you speaking to me? Why now?” Shift asked Discord, wondering what the God’s plans were for him.
“Honestly, I want you to save Equestria for me. That upitty little alicorn that went away before I even ruled the first time doesn’t deserve to destroy it while I can’t do anything. That’s why I’m talking to you here and now.” Discord explained, his voice appearing to hold no lies or hidden meanings within it at the time.
“How can I save Equestria? I’m just a regular pony like everypony else. Breeze Rider said so.” Shift elaborated, wondering just what Discord saw in him.
“Ah. Breeze Rider said that eh? Did Breeze Rider tell you he wasn’t originally from this dimension or race though? He said you were like him, which makes you the same sort of being.” Discord elaborated, eliciting a shocked look from Shift.
For a moment, numerous strange images flashed through Shift’s mind, causing him to drop to the ground and feel extremely hot for a moment.
“I…wasn’t always a pony? Then what was I?” Shift asked Discord, a laugh following his question again.
“I’ll tell you my boy, but again, only my way. Ahem.” Discord paused as he prepared a riddle within his mind.
“You were once like me, a deity of sorts. You possessed power, one that distorts.”
“But where I was chaos, you were light. If you should awaken again, save Equestria you just might.”
“For you, I have these words of advice: Heed your power, for it is not you own. You will not battle alone.”
“Do what you can for what matters most Or else Equestria shall surely roast.”
Discord fell silent at his last three words, a final laugh the last thing Shift heard. Shift stayed within the Gardens for quite a time after, trying to decipher Discord’s words, and hoping one day would be enough time to do it.
***
“Why can’t I fight Twilight? I’m a dragon, same as the ones that Blaze Bringer’ll bring against us. I might be able to help. I don’t wanna stay locked below with the Cutie Mark Crusaders if I can help at all.” Spike pleaded with Twilight, hoping he might be able to convince his pseudo-mother to let him fight.
“It’s not a matter of whether you’d be able to help us fight or not Spike. It’s a matter of how much I’d worry about you while I’m fighting. Sweetie Belle had the same argument with Rarity over how her singing could help the sound defence system, but Rarity would never willingly put Sweetie Belle in harm’s way just to mildly increase our chances. And I won’t do the same with you, and neither will Rainbow Dash or Applejack when it comes down to it. You’re too important to me.” Twilight told Spike, tears in her eyes heavily as she did so.
Spike could see the pain he’d cause Twilight by continuing to argue this with her, so he did the most mature thing he could think of.
“Okay Twilight. I’ll stay out of the main battle. But it’ll be my duty to protect Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle if they find us alright?” Spike smiled at Twilight, seeing her mildly smile again too.
“Okay Spike. I trust you with them, and the others do too.” Twilight conceded to Spike, hugging him close as she did.
***
“Applejack! Ya need to calm down some! What’s this all about anyway?” Apple Bloom called after her sister, wondering just why she was so intent on finding Twilight anyway.
“Not now Apple Bloom. This needs ta happen if it’s really gonna turn out to be our last days.” Applejack hastily called back to her sister, still continuing to gallop around the Castle in search of her friend.
Applejack rounded a corner and at last saw Twilight sending Spike off to the area she and Celestia had chosen to put him and the Crusaders in before the battle began.
“Twi! Ah need your help!” Applejack called out to Twilight just as she reached her.
“What is it Applejack? What’s got you so worried?” Twilight asked Applejack, worried about why her friend seemed so scared at the moment.
“Can ya please bring Hay Bale here with a teleport spell? I didn’t bring him here with me cause I assumed we’d be going home, but if this might be then end, then I gotta see him again and tell him something. Please help me Twi. You’re the only one I can ask this of.” Applejack begged Twilight, tears flowing freely down her face as she did.
“Okay Applejack. Just give me a little while okay? It will tire me a lot to teleport myself all the way from here to Ponyville, and then I have to bring Hay Bale back with me.” Twilight lifted Applejack’s head to make sure she saw her most sincere smile as she disappeared in a flash of purple light.
***
“Got ya finally!” Sky Wing called out to Rainbow Dash as he passed her after having touched her wing, finally proving he could outpace the Wonderbolt.
“No fair! I’m not at Rainboom speed yet!” Rainbow called out as she finally slowed down and allowed herself a minute of rest from racing Sky Wing.
“That’s why I had to catch you now. If you hit a Sonic Rainboom, I’d never catch you. You’re the only pony that can reach that level of speed after all.” Sky Wing told Rainbow Dash as he turned about and met her at the same point in the sky above Canterlot.
Rainbow Dash blushed at Sky Wing’s compliment as she prepared to ask what she’d always intended to after he told her of his feelings.
“So, where do you wanna take me out when we get the chance?” Rainbow asked Sky Wing, brushing her mane in front of her face nervously as she did so.
Before Sky Wing could do more than open his mouth to prepare to answer Rainbow Dash, a cry from the ground reached the ears of Rainbow Dash and Sky Wing.
“Rainbow Dash! Mister Sky Wing! Can I join you guys up there?” Scootaloo called out to the two Pegasi as loud as she could, eliciting a smile from both of them.
“Sure thing squirt. We’ll pop down there and get ya. Come on Sky Wing. She has trouble flying.” Rainbow Dash explained as Sky Wing nodded and prepared to dive with her too.
“No!” Scootaloo cried out as Rainbow Dash and Sky Wing stopped a few feet short of the ground.
Sky Wing and Rainbow Dash especially looked quizzically at the young filly.
“I can make it that high myself. I have to. I can’t spend my whole life afraid.” Scootaloo explained as she pumped her wings up and down, slowly gaining speed and control.
After a few minutes, Scootaloo kept her promise and had flown up high enough to place herself on Rainbow Dash’s back all by herself. Scootaloo was tired, but she was extremely happy too.
“I really did it! I flew a few feet!” Scootaloo squeed from Rainbow’s back, causing both older Pegasi to smile at her.
“You sure did Scootaloo. Now why’d you want to join us in the air so bad anyway?” Sky Wing asked her, curious as to the filly’s intentions.
“Since Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle are off with the families, and I don’t have one myself, I thought I could spend some time with the mare I consider my awesome older sister and her new coltfriend.” Scootaloo smiled widely at Sky Wing as Rainbow Dash blushed profusely.
“That all sounds cool to me. How about you Rainbow?” Sky Wing winked at Rainbow, causing her to blush more, but smile at the same time.
“Sounds perfect.” Rainbow Dash said as she, Sky Wing, and Scootaloo climbed to the heights Nova’s AIED would allow within Canterlot at the time.
***
Applejack sat waiting, hoping Twilight would have enough strength to bring Hay Bale back to Canterlot with her. Applejack knew that Twilight was the most powerful unicorn she knew, but that she still had her limits.
Once Applejack had finished her current line of thought though, a bright purple flash appeared in front of her, and Twilight and Hay Bale both emerged from within it.
Applejack rushed forward and embraced Hay Bale, letting some tears flow as he was able to hold her again.
“Thank you Twilight. Ah’ll never forget this. I promise ya that as the Element a Honesty.” Applejack told Twilight, feeling newfound appreciation for the unicorn as she never had before now.
“You’re welcome Applejack. I have to go trade watch positions with Cream in a while, so I’ll leave to go and rest some while you and Hay Bale discuss what you need to.” Twilight waved at Applejack as she began to ascend the steps leading to Canterlot Castle’s best Watchtower and what was temporarily her sleeping quarters.
“Applejack! I heard that Blaze Bringer guy the other day threaten Canterlot. Why are you staying? You should have had Twilight bring you back to Ponyville instead of bringing me here.” Hay Bale questioned Applejack, worried over his wife’s thought process in the current timeframe.
“Ah have ta stay and do my best Hay Bale. Ah’m the Element a Honesty. None o’ the others Elements would even work if Ah wasn’t here. Plus, Ah don’t trust myself ta travel right now.” Applejack explained to Hay Bale, blushing and turning away at the last sentence.
“What do you mean Applejack?” Hay Bale asked her, wondering just what Applejack meant by not trusting herself to travel.
Applejack paused for a time and attempted to begin explaining several times. Each time she just wasn’t able to say it though. Eventually, she decided to just let the Element of Honesty influence her.
“Ah’m pregnant Hay Bale. We’re gonna have a foal.” Applejack blurted out to Hay Bale, shocking the stallion for a moment, before immeasurable happiness overcame him and he simply held Applejack closer to him to enjoy the moment while he still could.
***
Diamond Bolt and Clockwork sat on top of the roof of Canterlot Castle again, simply watching the skyline fade together. Both were afraid, but neither wanted to admit their fear to the other. Eventually, another pony joined them.
“It is alright to admit to fear you know. Fear is natural, primal. It’s unavoidable in life. You’re not the only ones afraid of what tomorrow brings.” Zuli spoke up as he walked onto the roof, guessing what the silence between two such close ponies meant at this time.
“I suppose you’re right Zuli. Are you afraid of Blaze Bringer too?” Clockwork asked the elder unicorn, only being able to guess his answer herself.
“I faced Nightmare Moon many long years ago. I felt fear then at the being Princess Luna had become, but I overcame it. It is the same with Blaze Bringer. I will not ignore my fear, but I must overcome it to perform my necessary duties to Canterlot and to Equestria. You and all others would be wise to do the same.” Zuli explained, taking a few more steps that placed him at the edge of the roof of Canterlot Castle.
“Thank you Zuli. That’s exactly what we needed to hear. We’re ready for tomorrow now.” Diamond Bolt thanked Zuli and wrapped his wing around Clockwork once more.
“Glad to help.” Zuli smiled as he spread his wings and soared from the roof of the Castle to survey Canterlot as it was now one last time.
***
“I have to go now. I wish I could stay.” Shining Armor whispered to Cadance, getting up off of their bed to gather at Canterlot Castle for the coming battle that morning.
“Stay safe as best you can. Protect Twilight and Canterlot like I know you can.” Cadance told Shining Armor as he finished preparing his armor.
Shining Armor smiled at Cadance, and gave her one last kiss as he prepared to leave. Shining Armor saluted his house, beyond which lie Canterlot, making a promise to protect it and the city as best he could from Blaze Bringer this day.
***
Twilight climbed the last step to the top of Canterlot Castle’s Watchtower, to relieve Cream of her duty so that she could prepare herself and her magic to heal wounds in battle.
“Anything Cream?” Twilight called out to the stock-still unicorn across from her, approaching closer as she did so.
“Unfortunately Twilight, yes.” Cream called back, urging Twilight forward faster.
“What do you mean Cream? What is it?” Twilight hastily asked upon seeing Cream’s terrified face up close.
“I just spotted Blaze Bringer and his army. And they’re not far out at all Twilight.” Cream breathed as Twilight felt the colour run from her face as well at the news.
Twilight had teleported herself immediately to Princess Celestia’s side upon regaining the use of her limbs after Cream’s statement, and Princess Celestia in turn had informed everypony else that would fight, and warned everypony who would hide.
Once securing the safety of Canterlot’s civilians, including the entirety of the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Spike, the ponies gathered for battle in their assigned areas.
Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony stood on the roof of Canterlot Castle’s roof alongside Vinyl Scratch, Octavia, Celestia and the newly healed Luna, Feather Blaster, and Zuli Archer. The musical ponies would run sound interference and the Elements of Harmony, Celestia, Luna and Zuli would attack those affected by it.
Clockwork, Cream, Quick-Fix, Bam, and Nova stood below them in the Courtyards, ready to launch mechanical attacks and respond to injuries where they were needed and when. Clockwork, Bam and Quick-Fix readied Quick-Fix’s Modified Crossbow’s just as Nova at last maximized the output of his AIED.
Rafiq, Shining Armor, Hay Bale, Breeze Rider, Peach, and Sky Wing stood at the frontlines of what would soon become Canterlot’s battlefield, ready to fight. Sky Wing had insisted upon fighting alongside his Captain Zuli in battle, but Zuli had convinced him his shotguns could do more against Blaze Bringer’s forces on the ground than alongside him above Canterlot.
Once all was said and done, and Twilight and Cream had set up a communications spell between the separate battle groups, only one pony remained unaccounted for among the warriors or the hidden.
“Has anypony anywhere seen that one pony that was Feather Blaster’s manager? Shift was his name wasn’t it?” Peach asked everypony via their link, wondering just where Shift could’ve gone.
“Yeah. Where is that colt? He disappeared like a day ago into the Canterlot Gardens, and I don’t think anypony’s seen him since.” Vinyl Scratch relayed her answer back, murmurs of agreement coming alongside it from the others.
“I am here. And I’m ready to fight.” A gentle voice quickly billowed through everypony’s mind, shocking them .
Everypony quickly looked around until Shift was located emerging from the Labyrinth near the Ground Fighters.
A few birds were calmly perched along Shift’s head and back, and a snake was draped across his shoulders. Upon reaching the other ponies, the animals calmly left Shift’s being and moved back within the Gardens.
“How’d you learn the Mind-link Spell?” Cream asked Shift as he readied himself alongside Rafiq for battle.
“I saw it and I liked it. Simple as that for me now.” Shift smiled as he felt the confused thoughts of everypony temporarily invade his mind.
“Let’s figure this all out later shall we? It’s time.” Breeze Rider added in as everypony went silent and focused towards the mass of creatures that had just appeared within their normal field of vision.
***
Blaze Bringer and his Sabrei approached the outer limitations of Canterlot as an army under complete command of only one leader. Upon reaching around 3 miles away from Canterlot’s widest barriers, Blaze Bringer halted his Sabrei so as to again address Canterlot.
“Well Canterlot. It certainly has been quite a long time since last we saw each other. I hardly recognize you, and I’m certain you don’t recognize me. But enough time for playful banter. You did not heed my warning citizens of Canterlot. I warned you of my arrival and what would happen should you choose to stand against me. I see your pitiful defenses. They will do you no good against my power and the power of my Sabrei. Confused as to how I acquired such an army? I morphed the populations of the nations I conquered into these beings, beings with a single thought in mind; to aid me in my destruction of Equestria. You cannot hope to fight us all. Your powers cannot compare. You made many wrong decisions this day, and for that, now you will die.”
***
The Sabrei moved to attack at Blaze Bringer’s last words, still as a near entirely solitary unit. Within a few seconds of charging, the fastest Sabrei made contact with Nova’s AIED.
Many of the initial wave of Sabrei were paralyzed into inactivity by the sheer amount of electricity coursing through the invisible net over Canterlot, but a few of the Sabrei were able to charge through the AIED and towards the Castle.
Rafiq was first to attack the charging Sabrei, charging forward and smashing two aside with his shield before smashing a third and fourth away with his mallet.
“For The Celestial and Lunar Empire!” Rafiq called out loudly as he prepared to attack the remaining grounded Sabrei again.
As Blaze Bringer at last surveyed just how many of his air-born Sabrei were useless against Nova’s AIED, he moved towards it himself.
“An interesting design, as well as an irritating one. Vanish before me you annoyance.” Blaze Bringer breathed his last words heavily at the AIED, his flames flowing through his words and onto to the AIED, quickly spreading across its entire surface and destroying it just as rapidly.
“My AIED! How could he just destroy it so easily?” Nova yelled to the others as he saw the formerly paralyzed Sabrei regain control of their faculties and begin to move towards them.
“Worry about that later Nova! Take a Crossbow and get ready!” Quick-Fix told her friend, quickly aiming her own Crossbow and nailing four Sabrei.
As the air-born Sabrei approached the Castle, the Magical Noise Interference at last went into effect by Feather Blaster and Octave Swell, causing many of the Sabrei to break from the pack mind as the pain overwhelmed them. The Rooftop Fighters wasted no time in quickly putting down each and every Sabrei that stopped moving for so little as a second.
“Good shot my sister! But do not waste thine energy too quickly. You have only recently recovered some of it, and we have many more to fight!” Luna called out to Celestia as Celestia struck down three Sabrei with a single burst of her magic, while Luna herself made four Sabrei collide with each other by facilitating artificial darkness in front of them.
Zuli was firing a multitude of various arrows at the Sabrei, attempting to see in just what way he could stop them without killing any of them. Eventually, Zuli learned he could burn out their own flames with an arrow of fire of his own magical creation, allowing him to quickly disarm and render many Sabrei within an area useless. Within little to no time, Zuli had defeated the most Sabrei of any single fighter, though he took no pride in it.
Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Rainbow were easily wielding the Elements of Harmony against large groups of Sabrei, quickly clearing entire areas of battle of the enemy entirely. Each had trained so well with the Elements that they knew they could continue to project the full power of the Elements for hours still.
Even as each of the Canterlot Warriors was amazing at defeating Sabrei though, many more rose from the ranks to replace them, so formerly defeated ones even rising again, pain and fear entirely gone from their thoughts at all. After near a half hour of consistent attacks, with little progress appearing to have been made against the Sabrei, a thought began to course through each fighters mind;
“Will we lose?”
Just as each fighter took a quick reprise at that horrible thought, an immensely strong warrior landed in front of several of them.
***
Six distinct Sabrei landed upon the rooftop of Canterlot Castle, each with an individual goal of the collective mind.
“You look….familiar.” Rarity slowly spoke to the two large figures before her, eliciting their old voices to temporarily emerge to taunt her.
“Do we now? I wonder why that might be pony. Buwahaha.” Scale spoke to Rarity, laughing at the end as her eyes widened at the minor recollection of his voice.
“Grableasgh.” Crackle barked at Rarity, his old personality leaking through the Sabrei pack mind as well for now.
“You…you’re the dragons Spike met on his Migration!” Twilight called out as she connected the figures of the two in front of Rarity with the shape of the Sabrei in front of her as well.
“Very good pony. Where is that little part-pony anyway? Master ordered me to eliminate him and the Element of Magic.” Garble growled at Twilight, licking his lips slightly as he did so.
“Yeah. I’d like to see the shrimp again too, but I gotta stay here and detain as many as I can of the noise causers.” Shred smiled maliciously at Vinyl, Octavia, and Feather Blaster.
“Are you a dragon from the Migration too then?” Rainbow Dash quickly jumped back and snorted at the figure in front of her.
“Come on Dash. Already forgotten me entirely in favor of your lame pony friends for who you have proper Loyalty have you?” Gilda laughed at Rainbow, causing Rainbow to entirely go slack at the shock of seeing Gilda like this.
“And who are you then? You share no body type like the dragons or griffons.” Celestia challenged the last figure, which stood before her and Luna.
“I was once Raki, leader of Zebrika, though I have no need of that name or title except for now under my Master’s rule. I am to detain his sisters as long as I can.” Raki answered Celestia and Luna, eliciting each of them to get into a stance assosciated with battle.
“I’d say that’s enough explanation for now. Time to find that pathetic excuse for a dragon. You better hurry if you wanna beat me to him Element of Magic.” Garble laughed as he quickly smashed a large hole within the roof and took of through it.
Twilight galloped over to the hole, and looked back at the others, torn as to just where she needed to go.
“Go Twi! Spike and the Cutie Mark Crusaders’ll need ya more than we will! You said that now that we’re so attuned to em, the Elements still have power even if they’re separated. We’ll be fine for now! Go!” Applejack yelled at Twilight, eliciting a nod from Twilight as she followed Garble through the hole he had made and used her Teleport spell to make up for lost time against the Sabrei Dragon.
“Bad choice. Dividing your forces when you’re already divided.” Shred laughed back at Applejack, smiling toothily as he finished.
“And why’s that scale face?” Diamond Bolt angrily asked Shred, hoping he could somehow instill fear in the strange creature.
“Cause now it’s easier for us to do our jobs. Like this!” Shred yelled as he quickly leapt at the speakers and destroyed over half of them with two slashes of his claws.
As everypony looked at the damage Shred had just done against one of their best defenses, Gilda and Raki made their moves. While Gilda took Rainbow Dash from the roof with her in one swift movement, Raki forced Celestia and Luna down to the ground with a Sabrei energy empowered temporary Zebrikan Seal.
“Let’s take our battle to the skies Dash! Hope you can keep up!” Gilda screeched at Rainbow as she flung her high into the clouds above the Castle.
“The Master wishes you be on the same level as his when he finishes the others.” Raki spoke mindlessly, speaking as nothing but a Sabrei more than any other.
As Shred landed upon the roof again, Zuli, Diamond Bolt, Violet, and Skeptic took off while Octavia and Vinyl dashed to opposite corners of the rooftop. Rarity, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Applejack quickly joined them in their new formation.
“Zuli! Rarity! Diam! Applejack! Go help Twilight, Clockwork, Hay Bale, Shift and the others on the ground! The less of us they have directly held here the better!” Skeptic yelled at Diamond Bolt, Zuli and Applejack, encouraging a nod from his fellow Pegasi before they took off quickly towards the ground, followed by a shift of her hat from Applejack and a wave of her mane from Rarity as they leapt off the rooftop behind Diamond Bolt and Zuli.
“They may have a better chance down there now, but you have a worse chance here. Buwahaha.” Scale spoke up as he and Crackle joined by Scales’ side against the few ponies left on the rooftop.
“You two seem different from most of the others here. Why is that?” Blaze Bringer questioned Shift and Breeze Rider, the two ponies directly before him.
“I doubt you truly care Blaze Bringer. You’re just wondering whether we’d make better Sabrei than corpses.” Breeze Rider bit back at the alicorn.
“Perhaps I am considering that possibility. Your tenacity is stronger than most I have encountered though, so you would not be made into Sabrei easily. Making you corpses will be far easier.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he levitated his Celestial Scythe in front of his body.
Before Breeze Rider or Shift could do more than get into a battle stance, a shadow charged over them towards Blaze Bringer, malice and power in the voice that bore it.
“You will not get past me Blaze Bringer! I fight for Equestria itself!” Rafiq bellowed at Blaze Bringer as he charged the evil alicorn with his shield held in front of his body.
Blaze Bringer looked quizzically at the Captain before him, feeling certain he had somehow seen the colt before. As Blaze Bringer blocked Rafiq’s shield bashing by impaling his Celestial Scythe within it, he leaned closer to Rafiq’s face.
“Tell me colt. Who was your father?” Blaze bringer questioned Rafiq, while the stallion freed himself from Blaze Bringer’s grip.
“My father was named Blunt Blade, and he was a Captain under your rule 11 years ago! Though he served you, I serve Princess Celestia and Princess Luna! And you will do no harm to them this day!” Rafiq shouted back at Blaze Bringer as he charged again, this time with his mallet in hoof.
Blaze Bringer smiled maliciously as Rafiq charged him yet again. In one swift movement of his magic, Blaze Bringer cut away a portion of Rafiq’s left side and Rafiq crashed to the ground beside him, in pain as he had never felt before.
“It seems there are some truths to old sayings. You are truly like your father Rafiq.” Blaze Bringer laughed at Rafiq as he lay quivering on the ground from Blaze Bringer’s attack.
As Blaze Bringer surveyed Rafiq one last time, three shadows appeared over his shoulders, signalling another incoming attack.
Breeze Rider and Shift had seen Rafiq’s defeat as not only a great loss, but their chance to launch an attack on Blaze Bringer first. Shift had closed his eyes, claiming he could somehow hit Blaze Bringer better like that and had gone left and high, while Breeze Rider had unsheated the sword he had chosen as his weapon for this battle and gone right and low. Zuli had seen the opportunity to attack from above, and had taken to covering any blind-spots he observed in Shift and Breeze Rider’s assault.
Blaze Bringer did not have enough time to avoid every attack, so he chose to simply dodge Breeze Rider’s while Shift’s punch and Zuli’s Arrows Connected and he was sent spiralling a distance away.
While Blaze Bringer crashed into a few nearby tree’s, Breeze Rider, Shift, and Zuli rendezvoused so as to prepare to attack again.
“Are you okay Breeze Rider? He didn’t counterattack you when he dodged did he?” Shift asked Breeze Rider.
“No. I managed to escape that attack unscathed. Thanks to Zuli. What are you doing here anyway Zuli? What about the rooftop battle?” Breeze Rider asked the Archer, all the while wondering if Fluttershy was still okay.
“We were attacked by a great number of fighters there. They were attempting to hold us there, so in a split second we decided it would be better if some of us escaped so that they couldn’t keep all of us on the rooftop. I left with Applejack and Diamond Bolt, though we separated quickly. I saw Rafiq fall as well as your incoming attack, so I joined in.” Zuli quickly explained.
“Well, thanks for coming. But look alive. He’s back.” Shift added, directing his attention to the rising form of Blaze Bringer.
Blaze Bringer rose quickly, and then disappeared in a flourish of flames, reappearing where he had been moments before the attack. After jokingly resetting his jaw, Blaze Bringer focused upon the three common ponies that were strongest in his sister’s army.
“An impressive punch Shift. You certainly do have some sort of odd power about you. The same compliment to you Zuli. Though you’ll find my flames far harder to extinguish than those of my Sabrei.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he levitated his Scythe once more in front of him, before quickly disappearing into flames again.
Breeze Rider quickly focused his Premonitions, hoping to gain a quick glimpse of how Blaze Bringer would attack them. As he at last saw the Vision he sought, Breeze Rider moved to quickly yell out to his comrades.
“Move! Now!” Breeze Rider screamed as he shoved Shift aside slightly, just as Blaze Bringer appeared in front of them and swung his Scythe in a manner that would have certainly bifurcated Shift had he not been moved by Breeze Rider.
As it was, Breeze Rider caught most of the Scythe’s slash, causing him to feel the same pain he had felt when he lost his wings. Shift caught the edge of Blaze Bringer’s first attack, and keeled over as he felt indescribable pain spread throughout his body.
Zuli attempted to summon an arrow in time to stop Blaze Bringer, but Blaze Bringer quickly shifted his Scythe and caught Zuli shallowly across his chest and left wing as Zuli had attempted to take to the air. Within a single fluid attack, Blaze Bringer had brought down all three stallions.
“Let us see who else dares defy me.” Blaze Bringer spoke aloud as he trotted past Zuli and towards the remainder of Canterlot’s fighting force.
Zuli attempted to stand upon his hooves again quickly, but the Scythe’s slash had stripped him of much of his strength. Zuli slowly crawled instead over to Shift, the only other currently conscious pony.
“Shift…We need to help Breeze Rider…and Rafiq.” Zuli breathed heavily to Shift, his strength returning extremely slowly.
“How…can we help him? That Scythe…it cut us to our souls right?” Shift asked Zuli, his strength still mostly gone too.
“Breeze Rider….took the brunt of the attack….our souls are healing…because they were simply grazed. Breeze Rider’s soul….is destroyed…and Rafiq’s…is slowly fading away entirely. We must….awaken Breeze Rider a new soul….and heal Rafiq’s.” Zuli explained to Shift, hoping he would understand.
“How can we do that?” Shift asked, secretly already knowing the answer to his own question thanks to Discord.
“You must will it to happen. If we can find Cream, she can heal our physical wounds, but you are the only pony with the power to distort reality to his will. You are the only one….that can heal their souls. I know you can.” Zuli stated quietly to Shift, knowing that he was not the first to tell Shift of this power he possessed.
***
“It appears as though I truly have already faced the best the commoners can offer me.” Blaze Bringer spoke to the group of ponies before him, all of them extremely fatigued from fighting so many Sabrei before his own arrival.
Before Blaze Bringer, there lay Nova Fusion, Quick-Fix, Clockwork, Diamond Bolt, Cream, and Bam. Most of their Crossbows was destroyed beyond repair, and Nova and Quick-Fix were both already unconscious from their wounds and exhaustion. Cream and Clockwork lay struggling to breath properly on the ground. Diamond Bolt stood very shakily upon his hooves, partially in front of Clockwork in a subconscious attempt to keep her safe. Bam was the only pony who remained fully on her hooves.
“Your arrogance for thinking you could defeat me is great, but you ignorance of your own limitations is greater than even that. I commend you, but I advise you simply lay down and fade away as I conquer the remainder of Canterlot.” Blaze Bringer spoke mostly to Bam and Diamond Bolt, but his words held impact for everypony present.
“You…won’t win.” Diamond Bolt weakly told Blaze Bringer, issuing a laugh from the alicorn.
“I doubt that very much. I have not even had to use my Scythe against you, and you were an entire division of my sister’s forces. I will not have to try hard to finish what I began.” Blaze Bringer taunted Diamond Bolt.
“You can’t beat our spirits down! We’ll outlast you!” Bam screamed at Blaze Bringer as she charged him with the last of the energy.
Bam never heard the yells of those behind her, or the sounds of battle around her once she began to charge. Bam simply saw Blaze Bringer in front of her and slowly watched as he prepared to stop her.
As soon as Bam’s last charge had begun, it had ended. Bam lay on the ground in front of Blaze Bringer, devoid of life. The Celestial Scythe had now taken its second full victim.
“Foalish child. Spirit alone is no match for overwhelming power. I hope she speaks as an example to the rest of you. I have dallied enough about this battle. It is time I meet my sister’s.” Blaze Bringer slowly spoke as he walked away from Bam’s body for a short time, before disappearing into his dark flames once more.
Cream, Clockwork, and Diamond Bolt forced themselves onto their hooves and galloped over to Bam, hoping more than anything that Blaze Bringer had miscalculated his attack. As Cream examined Bam’s eyes though, it became fully apparent that she was gone. As Diamond Bolt screamed at this news, Octavia and Pinkie both somehow seemed to hear him over all the other sounds of battle.
***
“How’ve you been little Spike?” Garble leered at the small dragon and his three fellow hiding citizens.
Garble had easily torn through Canterlot Castle with his new power, homing in on the faint traces of Spike’s scent to eventually locate him in the lowest level of the Castle.
“You! Why are you here? Why do you look like that? Go away!” Spike screamed at Garble, trying to gather the Cutie Mark Crusaders directly behind him with his claws.
“No can do Spike. I’m part of Blaze Bringer’s Sabrei army now, and he taxed me with eliminating the Element of Magic. I can practically smell its power from you as well as that purple pony on the roof, so destroying you should wreck it as well.” Garble laughed as the fear in Spike’s eyes only grew larger at his words.
As Garble moved to strike Spike down with one of his claws, a beam of magic caught him full in the back. Even with his enhanced defenses as a Sabrei, the magic sent Garble flying.
Spike looked for the source of the magic that had saved him and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and was honestly surprised to see Twilight as its caster.
“Twilight!” Spike cried as he, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo ran over to her and hugged her tightly.
Garble’s roar shot up from the rubble where Twilight had buried him, and the Spike and the fillies quickly fully hid behind Twilight. Garble emerged from the rubble shortly thereafter, only a little worse for wear, but far angrier.
“You think you can take me alone do you?” Garble challenged Twilight, tensing his claws as he did so.
“She ain’t alone no more!” Applejack called out from the staircase situated behind Twilight, shocking everypony, with both Rarity and Hay Bale alongside her.
“Three Elements of Harmony are no different to me than one!” Garble screamed as he charged Twilight.
Hay Bale charged faster though, and caught Garble full on in the stomach just as both reached their top charging speed. Hay Bale continued to push Garble back, right until they were against the far wall of the basement of the Castle.
“I’m no Element of Harmony, but you’ve got to deal with me too pal!” Hay Bale shouted as he punched Garble, attempting to hold him where he was as long as he could.
“Hay Bale!” Applejack cried out as she and Rarity at last reached Twilight and the others location in the Basement.
“I’ll hold him for a bit! Try to think of some way to stop him!” Hay Bale called back just as Garble roared and slashed his stomach twice.
“Twilight! What can we do with the Elements we have?” Rarity quickly questioned Twilight, hoping her most logical friend had some idea of what to do.
“We can seal him in Crystalized magic! Focus on you Elements girls!” Twilight quickly answered, focusing on her Element of magic immediately as she finished.
Rarity and Applejack quickly followed Twilight’s example. Soon after, Red, Purple, and White beams of Magic were being aimed at garble just as he succeeded in pushing the now limp Hay Bale off of him.
Garble charged at Twilight and Spike again even through the Elements of Magic, Honesty, and Generosity’s influence, though their magic was slowly affecting him. Just as Garble reached a place in the Basement only a few feet away from the others, he finally froze, fully encased in what could only be called a Magical Diamond the size of a house in Ponyville.
As Garble at last no longer became a threat, Applejack charged down the hall to check on Hay Bale’s condition. Hay Bale was injured and bleeding slightly, but he assured Applejack he’d be fine.
“I’m glad to have my war marks AJ. Besides, I have to stick around for you and the foal. I won’t clock out yet.” Hay Bale assured Applejack, taking her hoof in his own as he did.
Twilight smiled at the love between Hay Bale and Applejack as Rarity hugged Sweetie Belle and Spike climbed up on her back. Just as Apple Bloom prepared to run down the hall and join Applejack and Hay Bale, a tremendous force shook the entirety of the Castle, causing everypony in the Basement to turn towards its source, and hurriedly wonder what could be happening now.
***
Rainbow Dash quickly looped around and hit Gilda a good few times as she at last achieved a Sonic Rainboom. Gilda had definitely been faster than her before now, but like Sky Wing had told her, only Rainbow Dash could go Sonic Rainboom speed.
After about the 10th pass, Gilda at last was knocked unconscious and started to fall towards the ground. Sabrei or not, Gilda had once been Rainbow’s friend, so she quickly passed under her and rested her on the closest cloud.
Rainbow then looped the entirety of the battlefield, knocking out any remaining and conscious Sabrei that got in her way while she did it. Eventually, Rainbow came to rest on the Rooftop of the Castle once more, just as Crackle at last fell from Skeptic’s punches, shortly after Shred and Scale had fallen before Vinyl, Octavia, Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Violet.
“Pinkie. Octavia. You need to come to the Ground Battlefield now. There’s something the both of you need to see, though you won’t like it.” Rainbow dejectedly told her friends, both their faces portraying the worry Rainbow had been certain her words would create.
“Is that all of them in this area Captain Shining Armor?” Sky Wing called out to Shining Armor as he finished unloading what was currently his last loaded shot into the last Sabrei within his range of sight and attack.
“I think so Sky Wing. We’ve made a serious dent in their numbers, but these things don’t feel pain or stay defeated like we do. We’ll need to stop Blaze Bringer if we want to stop all of them from just getting back up again in a while.” Shining Armor answered the young lieutenant as he finished examining the last of the unconscious Sabrei in the area.
“What should we do for now sir? Captain Rafiq disappeared a while ago to go and fight more Sabrei, and he hasn’t come back. Should we attempt to find him?” Peach asked Shining Armor as he rendezvoused with the unicorn Captain of the Guard and his fellow Lieutenant after dispatching his last Sabrei as well.
“We shall attempt to find him, as well as all the others. None have come searching for us, and I’ve heard no sounds of battle for some time from farther away. That doesn’t bode well at all to me.” Shining Armor explained to Peach and Sky Wing, silently hoping Twilight was still alright as he did.
Sky Wing silently agreed with Shining Armor’s statement, and had the same hope that Shining Armor held for Twilight for the ideal that Breeze Rider was still alright as well.
***
Octavia stared silent at the fallen form of Bam, words failing her for one of the first times in all her life. Pinkie had knelt down by Bam’s side, choosing not to believe what she saw before her at all.
“Is she really…” Octavia began, looking to Cream as she did. Cream nodded gravely back, and Octavia felt another part of her heart shatter for her little sister.
Pinkie stayed quiet for another moment by Bam’s side at Cream’s silent statement. The Element of Laughter had turned dark inside her necklace, as though reflecting Pinkie’s current feelings over laughing away her troubles.
“How?” Pinkie quietly questioned everypony present, needing some sort of answer as to how her Bamo had come to this state before her.
“She charged at Blaze Bringer by herself. None of us had the strength or speed after fighting the Sabrei and him to stop her. In one short swing of his Scythe, she was on the ground. She never moved after that. I’m sorry Pinkie.” Diamond Bolt elaborated, Clockwork by his side and crying again at his words.
Pinkie felt anger towards Blaze Bringer; an anger unlike anything Pinkie had ever felt for anypony before now. Just as Pinkie prepared stand and move to hunt down the alicorn, a voice called out from the nearby trees.
“She’s not yet lost entirely Pinkie Pie.” Zuli weakly shouted towards her, his strength still not fully returned.
Everypony stood stock-still as, slowly, Zuli emerged fully from the forest, supporting Breeze Rider with his shoulders and foreleg, and Shift followed whilst supporting Rafiq.
The gather ponies remained silent while Zuli and his group slowly approached them, still clearly worn from their own battle against Blaze Bringer.
“What do you mean by that statement?” Octavia asked Zuli, though it was Shift who would answer her.
“So long as her body remains mostly whole, I can re-forge a soul for it. I only recently acquire this power. I can tell that Bam’s current soul is gone, but an imprint of it remains in its place. I can create a new soul dyed in those remains so that she will be as she was before Blaze Bringer’s slash. I did the same for Rafiq and Breeze Rider.” Shift explained, still confused as to just how powerful he could prove himself to be.
“You have the strength to do that Shift? More importantly, do you have the strength to do it again? You yourself are battle weary and injured.” Cream spoke up, disbelief at her fellow unicorn’s words.
“Heal the others first please Cream. We will all need our strength for when the Sabrei re-awaken, but I am by far the least injured of my party at the current moment.” Shift told Cream, moving to kneel beside Bam as he did so.
“Can….can you really save my little Bamo?” Pinkie quietly asked Shift, fear and hope lacing every syllable she spoke to him.
“I can. I simply need some time to do it.” Shift answered Pinkie, refocusing all his efforts onto Bam’s body as he did.
***
“The last sound we heard was probably Rainbow’s Sonic Rainboom, though I had no idea it could be quite so destructive on its own.” Twilight told her brother, having met up with him and Sky Wing as she, Applejack, and Rarity had exited the Castle after re-securing the safety of Spike and the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“We heard that too, though I have a dark feeling that the sound you heard wasn’t entirely made by Rainbow Dash.” Shining Armor added in, the still distinct lack of battle noises bothering the war trained Captain.
“Ya think maybe Blaze Bringer did somethin else?” Applejack questioned Breeze Rider, fear rekindled in her over the elder Alicorn brother.
“We have no proof of that directly, but both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are still missing from the exit of the Rooftop Battle as you said, and I doubt Blaze Bringer would stay silent for so long as this without being either gone or entirely pre-occupied with something else.” Shining Armor elaborated his idea, hoping that the Princesses were still alright.
“Let’s find the others, ask them about this, then go find Princess Celestia and Luna then.” Sky Wing spoke up, eliciting nods from everypony as their eyes continued to scan the Castle grounds for their allies.
***
“Is that truly all you have my sisters? Time has not been kind to you.” Blaze Bringer laughed as Celestia and Luna both lay exhausted before him, mildly bloody and bruised after Blaze Bringer’s attack using explosive flames.
“Time has been harsher to thou than we brother.” Luna sneered at Blaze Bringer, the love she had once felt for Blaze Bringer now buried elsewhere in her heart.
“Equestria was far crueler to me than time ever was Luna. But then again, you were the only one in power back when I was banished weren’t you Celestia?” Blaze Bringer tauntingly asked Celestia, malice clear in his voice.
“You were never banished my brother. We created our Barriers to repel any Zebra’s or Dragons that might harbor evil intentions by using the Zebrikan Seal against Equestria from entering anywhere near us. You were thought to have perished at the Charred Mountains. We never imagined that you had survived and would attempt to return, only to be blocked by the cruel Seal that had already separated you from us.” Celestia explained, her voice weak from battle.
Blaze Bringer’s eyes momentarily flashed their former blue colour, before being hidden behind the darkness of his black flames.
“It is of no import why you truly created the Barriers which kept me from myself returning. You still did not consider the possibility of searching for me until recently, and that was far too late a decision. I cannot be deterred from my quest of vengeance now. And you Barriers can do nothing against me as I now am.Their power barely tugs at me now.” Blaze Bringer hastily spoke, as though afraid his own words might betray what lay dormant in his own heart for the sister Alicorns.
Blaze Bringer prepared to charge Celestia and Luna again, but froze for a moment as he saw his Celestial Scythe temporarily ignite bright red without his command.
“Blast that Pegasus. He has taken all of them back now.” Blaze Bringer silently cursed the only who had completely defied his Scythe’s powers thus far.
***
Shift meditated before Bam’s body, which was now encased in a navy blue aura, which Zuli assured Pinkie and Octavia had been around Breeze Rider and Rafiq’s bodies before they too had been brought back.
Shift breathed out heavily after another moment of focus, and opened his eyes as Bam’s body slowly returned to the ground.
“It is done. She lives again.” Shift quickly told everypony, just as a groan was also heard from Bam’s body.
Just as Bam sat up on her haunches and prepared to ask everypony just what was wrong and what had happened, she was pounced upon into a tremendous hug by both Pinkie and Octavia.
“Don’t ever be away from us again okay Bam?” Octavia told Bam, tears flowing heavily down her face as she did.
Pinkie nodded along with Octavia’s demand, and Bam quickly agreed, but still wondered just why Pinkie and Octavia were so hysterical about her.
“I hate to break up this moment, but we have a big problem.” Shining Armor spoke up from the edge of the barrier he had created to protect Shift and Cream while they healed the others that were there.
The Sabrei were at last beginning to rise again, the power Blaze Bringer had instilled in them having at last re-ignited. Everypony was instantly at attention upon noticing this.
“Shining Armor. Keep you barrier up while Cream heals Bam and Hay Bale. I’ll take to the air and..AH!” Zuli cried out as he activated his wings, the gash Blaze Bringer had created still there somehow.
“You can’t fly Zuli. Blaze Bringer somehow not only slashed the wings you created when you fought him, but he slashed your ideal of them. Shift will have to heal them for you.” Rafiq told Zuli, gripping his mace and shield heavily as he too prepared to enter the battle again.
“Will those wings work only for you Zuli? Or can other ponies use them too?” Breeze Rider asked Zuli, an idea forming in his head.
“They can be used by other ponies. The wings will reflect the pony that wears them. Why?” Zuli questioned Breeze Rider, his curiosity peaked.
“Then give them to me. I’ll fight the Sabrei from the air. You stay on the ground with the others and use your arrows.” Breeze Rider quickly told Zuli, hoping the unicorn would comply.
Zuli quickly surveyed the approaching Sabrei, and decided that Breeze Rider’s idea had the best chance of success. Zuli removed his wings with his magic, and quickly attached them to Breeze Rider.
For a moment, no wings whatsoever appeared by Breeze Rider’s side as he focused. Suddenly after that short moment though, tremendous wings projected from Breeze Rider’s side, as magnificent as his former wings had been.
“I’m back in the air. Okay. Listen up. I’ve got a battle plan. Rainbow, Skeptic, Diamond Bolt. You’re with me in the air. Rafiq, Zuli, Shift, Peach. You attack heavily on the ground. Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, Bam, Nova, Violet, Sky Wing. You back all of us up with the last of the Crossbows and the Elements. Applejack, you sit out with Hay Bale til he’s healed. You need to both stay safe for a reason after all. Shining Armor, Cream. You protect and heal up Quick-Fix, Clockwork, Octavia, Vinyl, and Hay Bale. Not all of you are injured severely, but you will be if you don’t sit out for a bit.” Breeze Rider quickly explained, encouraging nods from everypony present as they took their best indicated positions and prepared themselves for the new battle.
Rafiq and Breeze Rider charged out from Shining Armor’s Shield at the same time, with Rainbow Dash and Shift not far behind. As Rafiq and Shift set about smashing the Sabrei who foolishly got in their path on the ground with mallets, shields, and hooves respectively, Peach and Sky Wing set about taking down those that they missed in their initial attacks with gunfire and magic. Rarity and Twilight set about punishing those that evaded even Sky Wing and Peach’s attacks with their Elements of Harmony.
Breeze Rider easily out maneuvered and outpaced all the air-born Sabrei, and hit every one right where it would hurt the most. Skeptic hit those outside Breeze Rider’s range hard with his hooves, and Rainbow took out those within the gaps. Bam and Nova hit a Sabrei with every arrow they fired, while Fluttershy and Pinkie backed them up with blasts from the Elements of Kindness and Generosity.
Diamond Bolt and Zuli interchanged positions to take out those Sabrei who weren’t completely subdued by the other attacks, each doing their part magnificently. Violet assisted them with Crossbow shots wherever and whenever she could, making the entire process go much faster.
Applejack, Octavia, and Vinyl watched the battle with worry, which quickly changed to awe at the overwhelming abilities of each fighter over the already weakened and already once defeated Sabrei. Shining Armor and Cream kept up their respective magical flow, each fulfilling their duties to the Warriors as a whole.
Within an hour of the battle’s beginning, it had ended in victory for the Canterlot Warriors, and everypony was back up to their prime thanks to Cream. Zuli would be unable to fly with his wings until Shift healed him, but he agreed that could wait until Blaze Bringer was defeated and the Princesses were found.
Upon mention of their names, Celestia and Luna crashed through the outer walls of Canterlot Castle, and landed directly in front of Shining Armor’s Shield Spell. Both Celestia and Luna were heavily battle worn, with blood and sweat matted heavily in their fur and manes. Before anypony could do more than attempt to move towards them, Blaze Bringer arrived at everypony’s location too.
“It’s time to end this all myself.” Blaze Bringer coldly sneered at everypony, his flames appearing to darken as he did so.
Blaze Bringer had eyes only for Celestia and Luna as he arrived, so Breeze Rider and Shift were both able to fly up to his location and blindside him with a combined attack directed right at Blaze Bringer’s head.
“Cream! Heal the Princesses now! We’ll hold him off! Everypony else! Think of something that can put him down for good!” Breeze Rider screamed back at the ground as he and Shift launched Blaze Bringer away a distance with their first attack.
Blaze Bringer refocused his attention to Breeze Rider and Shift after recovering slightly from their attack, roaring loudly as he did.
“I have had enough insolence from you betrayers! This time I will shred your bodies and souls into indecipherable pieces!” Blaze Bringer yelled at Breeze Rider and Shift, the sheer power behind his words forcing them back a short ways.
“Breeze Rider!” Fluttershy called up to him, worried as she saw Blaze Bringer only narrowly miss him as Breeze Rider dived away from the attack, before quickly looping up to buck him in the jawline.
“We need a plan. Now!” Violet added in, moving to stop Fluttershy from moving to fly up and try to help Breeze Rider.
“How can we stop him though? He destroyed everything we created to stop him!” Nova yelled out, worried over just how long Shift and Breeze Rider could fight for.
“Not…everything.” Celestia weakly spoke up from Cream and Luna’s side, causing everypony to rush to her side immediately.
“What do you mean Princess? What didn’t he destroy?” Quick-Fix quickly asked Celestia, hoping it was some sort of weapon that could stop Blaze Bringer.
“Our brother…spoke of the Barriers which repel the Zebrikan Seal. The one Sabrei named Raki that attempted to use it directly against us here after also forcing his way within our Barrier along with our brother… was paralyzed and repelled from Canterlot’s confines after a few seconds of wielding it against us.” Luna began, coughing mildly at the end from her injuries.
“The Barriers are still around Canterlot and… in effect. The Zebrikan Seal is… part of Blaze Bringer. As he flies and wields his powers now, he is activating the Seal and…simply overcoming it. Blaze Bringer is simply… most unaffected by the Barriers powers now. If they could be strengthened, they might seal all aspects of his power back within him…permanently. Including his influence over the Sabrei.” Celestia concluded, heavily winded from her explanation.
Everypony looked up from the Princesses to each other, the key to stopping Blaze Bringer within their grasp now.
“How can we strengthen those barriers though?” Diamond Bolt quickly questioned everypony else, hoping somepony had a plan.
“The Elements of Harmony could enhance its power almost enough!” Twilight chipped in, issuing forth smiles from everypony with her words.
“I will protect you while you prepare the Elements full power. Will any help me?” Zuli spoke up, looking to those who could still fight for help.
“I’ll help. My magic was made to defend Canterlot from threats anyway.” Peach spoke up, moving to stand by Zuli.
“Count me in too. I gotta put my all towards this plan.” Clockwork continued, moving to Zuli’s other side.
“I want to get Blaze Bringer back for earlier, so count me in on this support team.” Quick-Fix finished, moving to meet the others that would help the Elements of Harmony.
“We still need the Barriers to be stronger though. I could add my own Shield Spell’s power to the Barriers to reinvigorate them as well.” Shining Armor added, looking to his Shield as he spoke of it.
“I’ll support your magic with mine. It’ll make your Shields power greater, therefore making the overall Barriers stronger.” Vinyl spoke up, wobbling slowly over to Shining Armor as she did.
“Blaze Bringer already broke my barrier, so let me help yours.” Nova chipped in, moving to Shining Armor and Vinyl’s shared location.
“I’ll help Shining Armor too. I can keep your strength consistent so you can make sure to add as much power as possible to the barriers.” Cream added, moving to stand behind Shining Armor, opposite Vinyl Scratch.
“Are you certain that you can do this Vinyl?” Octavia quickly asked her friend, not wanting at all to lose somepony close to her again that day.
“I can, and I have to.” Vinyl nodded to Octavia, showing the true strength she had to the pony she trusted most.
“Good. Everypony else, with me. We’ll help Breeze Rider and Shift keep Blaze Bringer occupied while the rest empower the Barrier.” Rafiq called out, moving to stand outside Shining Armor’s shield just as he dissolved it to focus all his possible strength into a new one.
“For Canterlot!” Rafiq yelled out, his call being echoed by Diamond Bolt, Skeptic, Sky Wing, Violet, and Bam as all of them charged.
***
“Violet, Sky Wing! You weave around him and hit Blaze Bringer fast like Breeze Rider is! Skeptic, Diamond Bolt! You guys and Shift try to hit Blaze Bringer hard towards the ground! I’ll hit him back up once he reaches me and Bam!” Rafiq called out to the Pegasi as they nodded and took off to help Breeze Rider and Shift.
“Bam! Take my mallet! You’ll need it soon!” Rafiq called out to Pinkie’s little sister as he threw her one of his preferred weapons.
“Thanks! But what about you?” Bam called back to Rafiq, the other earth pony fighter smiling as she did.
“I’ll bash Blaze Bringer with my shield.” Rafiq laughed back at Bam, issuing a confused smile from the normally fun loving pony.
“Heads up bro!” Sky Wing called out to Breeze Rider just as he unloaded a shot towards Blaze Bringer.
“Thanks for the assistance!” Breeze Rider called back as he dodged his brothers shot and it connected with Blaze Bringer’s belly.
Violet Melody quickly flew up while Blaze Bringer was caught off guard and kicked him in his eyes. Blaze Bringer screamed out at the attack, just as Shift, Diamond Bolt, and Skeptic joined each other in the air and prepared to dive-bomb Blaze Bringer.
Just as Blaze Bringer opened his eyes from Violet and Sky Wing’s attacks, he was bombarded by the three remaining Pegasi as they pushed him quickly towards the ground, and the waiting Rafiq and Bam.
“Hit him in my direction Bam!” Rafiq called out, encouraging a nod from Bam as she wound up the Mallet and prepared to swing as soon as Skeptic and the others separated from him.
A few short feet from the ground, Skeptic, Diamond Bolt, and Shift at last spread away from Blaze Bringer, and before the alicorn could do more than extend his wings, Bam hit him clear across his back as he hit terminal velocity, easily propelling him towards Rafiq.
Rafiq braced himself, and angled his shield so as to send Blaze Bringer back into the sky with his bashing movement. Just before Blaze Bringer reached Rafiq though, he disappeared into flames. As everypony hastily looked around for him, Blaze Bringer reappeared in the middle of the battlefield.
“ENOUGH!” Blaze Bringer bellowed, sending flames forward from his body towards everypony that currently fought him.
Within a few moments, everypony lay on the ground, in a large amount of pain after Blaze Bringer’s attack, hoping they’d bought enough time for the others.
“Now!” Twilight shouted from her location along the others, causing Blaze Bringer’s head to snap towards their location as she did.
***
Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie instantly focused upon their respective Element at Twilight’s words, the Elements power almost instantly synchronizing and blasting towards the sky above Canterlot.
At the same moment as the Elements Power began to rise, Shining Armor pulsated his Shield Spell too, assisted by the magic of Vinyl and Cream. Shining Armor’s shield pulsed out and combined with the already existing Barrier, causing it to at last become openly visible to everypony and grow covered in ancient runes.
“NO!” Blaze Bringer screamed as he at least realized the ponies plan as arks of electricity lapped at his coat from the empowered Barrier, and then rushed towards the Elements of Harmony to destroy them before their power could further strengthen the Barrier.
As Blaze Bringer approached though, a twist of fire red and brown shaded magic intercepted him, followed by a volley of electrical arrows. Blaze Bringer was pushed back slightly by the attack, but not harmed thanks to his flames. As Blaze Bringer sneered at the three ponies who had attacked him, the Elements power at last touched the Barrier.
Within a few seconds of the Elements power radiating through the Barrier, bolts of what appeared to be lightning came from the barrier and struck Blaze Bringer from all angles. Blaze Bringer screamed in agony, though no pony could hear it over the power of the Barriers defences.
Blaze Bringer dropped to the ground by the command of the Barrier, trying his best to claw his way free as he did so. Blaze Bringer’s flames were beginning to fade away, even those that were being drawn in from the various scattered Sabrei, and his coat and mane were slowly returning to their original shades. Blaze Bringer screamed out one last time as he was completely enveloped by the Barriers power.
Everypony slowly made their way towards the orb of light in which Blaze Bringer now was encased, wondering just what they might see. As the magic slowly lessened in intensity around Blaze Bringer, his form appeared again, causing everypony to gasp.
Blaze Bringer had returned to the form he had possessed before stealing Chrysalis’ blood, his scars and the marking of the Zebrikan Seal appearing even more prominent on his form now. Blaze Bringer looked hopelessly and angrily up at his sisters, clearly still having words for the two.
***
“Now you see my true original form. Now you see just what war did to me. I am no longer Blaze Bringer in this form. I am only a scarred and disfigured freak.” Blaze Bringer spat at his sisters, tears betraying the anger in his words.
“You are wrong about that brother.” Luna told Blaze Bringer, tears beginning to pool in her eyes as well.
“Am I truly Luna?” Blaze Bringer softly sneered at Luna, closing his eyes to let his tears temporarily overtake him.
“You are still Blaze Bringer. You are still our brother.” Celestia explained, crying upon seeing her true brother again.
“And we still love you Blaze Bringer.” Luna added, moving down to nuzzle Blaze Bringer herself, Celestia joining her a moment later.
Blaze Bringer opened his eyes in shock at Luna’s last words and the actions of his younger sisters. He had thought himself an unloved freak, and that was why the dark flames had spawned when he infused himself with power. As Blaze Bringer saw the true foalishness of his actions, he truly felt at peace for a moment.
Almost immediately after, Blaze Bringer’s eyes widened in shock as a thin column of dark flames erupted from between his shoulders. Blaze Bringer screamed in pain as Luna and Celestia were pulled back from him by Peach and Rafiq.
“AHHHHH!!!!!!!” Blaze Bringer screamed, the agony of his erupting flames overcoming that of the Barrier and allowing him to stand upon his hooves again.
“What’s happening to him?” Twilight called out as she and everypony else retreated a few paces from Blaze Bringer.
“All that power from his other form and the Sabrei must be too much to contain in his original form!” Nova worriedly explained, only Quick-Fix and the other Ponyville Repair Ponies truly understanding just what he meant.
“Does that mean the power will continue to erupt from him until his form is destroyed?” Zuli hurriedly asked, hoping his idea was very wrong.
“Yes! But, if all that power erupts out of him now…” Clockwork began, fear gripping her every muscle as she realized just what would happen to Blaze Bringer.
“It will destroy Canterlot, and anything and everything within 100 miles of it!” Diamond Bolt finished, knowing none of them would be able to protect near everypony within the blast radius fast enough.
“Is there no way to stop it?” Celestia begged everypony as Blaze Bringer continued to scream as four more towers of flames appeared on his body.
“There’s not time to find one!” Breeze Rider responded, wishing his Visions would appear, showing him a way to help Blaze Bringer.
“NO! There must be some way!” Luna screamed, tears flowing freely down her face as she looked at everypony for answers.
“Breeze Rider! Zuli’s Wings! Maybe you can fly him away in time!” Sky Wing suggested, having foolish belief that his big brother could do anything.
“Not even I’m strong enough to carry myself and him far enough away in time!” Breeze Rider called back, wishing severely he could help with his new wings.
“But I am!” Blaze Bringer forced out through his screams, shocking everypony into looking at him.
“I can..AHHH!! I can fly myself high above Canterlot so I don’t harm anypony here! I’m the only one who can! AH!!!!” Blaze Bringer screamed as three more flame pillars appeared and he used the still contained flames to forge new wings.
“Blaze Bringer! You can’t! You only just came back to us!” Luna cried at her brother, causing him to smile strangely.
“No Luna. I never came back. Not as I should have anyway. I belong only in your hearts and your good memories, like I was before now. Ah!” Blaze Bringer cried out as the flames threatened to envelop him temporarily.
“I hope you can forgive me for what I did because of my misplaced hate. If you can’t, then I ask you simply forget about me. ‘Blaze Bringer’ is a name that should only live on in the memories of those who truly need him. I’m not the pony for that job any more. So, Goodbye.” Blaze Bringer smiled as he flared his wings and took off over Canterlot, his altitude growing higher as his flames burned brighter.
Celestia held Luna back as she attempted to follow Blaze Bringer, not wanting to lose her older brother like she had once lost Celestia for a thousand years. Diamond Bolt held Clockwork and Skeptic held Violet, their wings draped over their special somepony. Breeze Rider protected Fluttershy and Sky Wing behind his flared wings, while Pinkie hugged Bam and Octavia close. Shift, Zuli, Nova, and Quick-Fix looked up, unreadable expressions on each of their faces.
Blaze Bringer continued to climb far beyond any height visible from Canterlot Castle’s grounds, intent to not harm any with his own impending demise again. As Blaze Bringer at last felt himself break into an area of the sky where his wings could climb no farther, he smiled to himself as he felt the flames burn him away to nothingness.
As Blaze Bringer’s form fully disappeared within the flames, the resulting explosion created appeared as a bright light over Canterlot Castle, signalling his passing to everypony below. Rafiq and Peach saluted the sky, their respect for the true Blaze Bringer forever assured. Rarity and Cream looked to the ground and let a few solitary tears fall in respect for the fallen alicorn. Twilight and Shining Armor simply stared open mouthed at the blast, unable to think of doing anything else, while Applejack and Hay Bale bowed their heads in respect. Luna screamed and cried even harder as Celestia openly cried over her sister’s shoulders.
Everypony in Equestria witnessed the blast, and each knew that it was something none of them could ever explain, but they still felt tremendous sadness upon remembering the blast. Though few would ever know the true reason behind the blast, all knew that it meant Blaze bringer was again gone from this world, this time forever.
Nine months had passed since the end of the battle against Blaze Bringer. Each pony had continued the path of their lives, their encounters with Blaze Bringer and each other having permanently brought changes to who they were.
***
“Stay safe okay Sweetie Belle?” Rarity begged her little sister as she hugged her goodbye.
“I’m not a silly filly anymore Rarity. I know how to take care of myself. Plus, I’ve got everypony to help with that!” Sweetie Belle answered Rarity, the concern her elder sister had for her still touching her heart
“I suppose that’s all very true. Send me letters and any requests for outfits won’t you? All of you?” Rarity directed her last question to the other currently present members of The Pony Experience, as they now called themselves, as a whole.
“Of course Rare. How could I ever forget my family?” Vinyl winked at Rarity as she shifted her sunglasses to answer her.
“Count on it Madame Rarity. I’m hoping to order a very special dress from you sometime soon anyway.” Violet Melody teased as she nuzzled Skeptic.
Skeptic blushed and stroked his mane nervously heavily at Violet’s teasing before moving to answer both Violet and Rarity.
“Stop talking about that for now Violet! I’m still getting used to our relationship. Though you’re definitely the one we’ll come to for the dresses and suits Rarity…ACK! Look what you’ve got me saying! Can we maybe just go now? We still have to go get Diam and Octavia.” Skeptic rushed over his own words as Sweetie Belle finally boarded their carriage.
“I have to agree with Skeptic unfortunately, no matter how fun it is watching him nervously answer questions. We have to get on the road fairly soon if we want to get to Fillydelphia for our first show of this tour. We’ll be back in Ponyville soon though Rarity, so don’t worry about being away from Sweetie Belle for too long.” Shift added in from his reserved meditation area near the front of the carriage.
“Of course. I shall eagerly await that day until then. Take care everypony and give my regards to the others!” Rarity waved at everypony as the carriage set off on its way to Sugarcube Corner.
***
“Do you really have to go?” Bam whined to Octavia, wishing she could persuade her sister to stay simply with a look.
“Unfortunately, if I wish to continue my career as a musician, then yes I do. The Pony Experience won’t be on tour away from Ponyville as long as we were when we were to separate bands though.” Octavia explained, lifting Bam’s head so she could look her in the eyes.
“Oh! Well if that’s the case, it means more parties me and The Glowing Hoof can decorate! Isn’t that great Character?” Bam turned to her new friend turned employee turned coltfriend.
“Sure is Bam. Especially if it means I can decorate more directly with you.” Character laughed as Bam blushed.
“You know I don’t like that sappy stuff! Whoops! We’re almost late. Gotta go Octavia, Pinkie! See you both around!” Bam hurriedly said as she looked at her watch, quickly bouncing over and dragging Character along with her as she ran through Ponyville.
“She’ll be alright without me Pinkie?” Octavia asked her older sister, only mildly worried over Bam’s activities in Ponyville.
“Don’t you worry. I’ll keep my peepers on her from Sugarcube Corner. Write often okay?” Pinkie asked as she moved forward and hugged Octavia.
“Of course Pinkie. I can see the carriage now. I have to run. I’ll see you soon Pinkie!” Octavia called out to her sister and waving, right before picking up her cello and running to meet the carriage so that they could continue straight on to picking up Diamond Bolt without too much of a delay.
***
“I can’t believe I get to come with you on tour this time. You really need a technician that badly?” Clockwork asked Diamond Bolt as they finished loading their luggage into the back of the carriage, a process greatly helped by Clockwork’s magic.
“We do. I did repairs before now, but it really cut into my practice time, so Shift told me to get some of the ponies that set up the Sound Defense way back when. You were my first choice obviously, but since Cream turned us down too, we need you even worse than we did before.” Diamond Bolt explained as he moved to get the door to the carriage for Clockwork.
“You’re such a flatterer. Good thing you’re so cute too.” Clockwork winked at Diamond Bolt as she entered the carriage, causing Diamond Bolt’s wings to hastily expand.
Everypony had a good long laugh at Diamond Bolt even after he finally managed to calm his wings, enter the carriage, and get on the road to Phillydelphia. Everypony stopped though once the drivers said they were about to pass their last opportunity to see Ponyville.
None of them would be gone long, but everypony in the carriage would miss the small town terribly. That just meant they could celebrate their return even better every time they came back for a show though.
“Are you sure you can’t stay longer?” Fluttershy asked Rainbow Dash and Sky Wing, already knowing the answer in her heart.
“Sorry Flutters. Sky Wing’s gotta go back on the train today since his breaks over, and I’m gonna go with him for a few days before I have to go back to the Wonderbolts.” Rainbow explained to Fluttershy, smiling at Sky Wing as she did.
“Finally testing out living together now are we?” Breeze Rider teased Sky Wing and Rainbow Dash, causing blushes to appear on both their faces at his comment.
“Breeze Rider!” Fluttershy jokingly tapped Breeze Rider on his forehead, secretly enjoying the chaos he could cause between Rainbow and Sky Wing too.
“Sorry. Have fun you two. Though we still expect invites to the wedding at some point in time.” Breeze Rider laughed as Rainbow almost immediately got up and flew out the door in embarsasment.
“I know you see the future bro, but even you didn’t need to have a Vision to know you’re both invited as Best Mare and Stallion respectively when it happens right? Now please stop teasing Rainbow about it until it actually does happen won’t you?” Sky Wing quickly asked his brother, before leaving to go and collect Rainbow before boarding his train.
“That’ll happen the day my wings grow back of their own free will Sky Wing.” Breeze Rider whispered to Fluttershy, and both enjoyed a giggle before moving to close the door to their cottage and prepare for their evening.
***
“Another great day today Jonas.” Cream spoke up as she and Dr. Saltlick prepared to end their day at Ponyville General.
“Same to you Cream. Any plans for the weekend?” Dr. Saltlick asked her, hoping Cream could surprise him again like she had by using his first name without being asked to.
“Actually, Waffle is picking me up for a date tonight. And then I’m going to visit my brother Peach tomorrow. He recently got promoted from a Lieutenant to a Captain of the Royal Guard.” Cream proudly told Dr. Saltlick, eliciting a happy grin from the other doctor.
“Your brother sounds like an impressive pony. That makes him the second Lieutenant promoted in the last 9 months right?” Dr. Saltlick asked Cream, hoping he’d read the headlines of the Ponyville Times right these past few months.
“Yes. After Zuli Archer retired from his formal position, his Lieutenant Sky Wing was promoted to take his place. And Shining Armor is going on Vacation with Princess Cadance once Sky Wing returns, so Peach is being promoted to take over his place til he returns.” Cream explained, feeling pride for her brother as she did.
“That date you mentioned also sounds like it’ll be good. Have fun you two crazy foals.” Dr. Saltlick added, jokingly calling out to Cream as she left the Hospital to go and get ready for her date that night by picking up some beauty supplies and tips from Rarity, and then hitting the Ponyville Day Spa for the first time with Fluttershy.
***
“I can’t believe it…I’ve got a son!” Hay Bale shouted as he at last saw fully saw the face of his newborn colt, Apple Turnover.
“He sure is a handsome one ain’t he? Looks just like his daddy.” Applejack added as she held her newborn foal, prouder than she’d ever been before.
“He’s got your eyes, which makes him just as beautiful as you in my opinion.” Hay Bale added, kissing first Applejack on the forehead, and then Apple Turnover.
Applejack smiled at Hay Bale’s comment, and then decided to voice an opinion she’d had for a while to Hay Bale.
“Ya know, he wouldn’t even be here right now if it weren’t for Blaze Bringer. None of us would be.” Applejack told Hay Bale, causing him to smile surprisingly.
“We owe him a lot. Blaze Bringer died a true hero in the end.” Hay Bale added, looking up as he did.
“That he did. That he did.” Applejack concluded, looking up along with Hay Bale, as though hoping Blaze Bringer himself was watching and listening.
***
“I still can’t believe Diamond Bolt and Clockwork both had to leave Ponyville and Cloudsdale. This is gonna make our lives so much more hectic for the next little while.” Nova told Quick-Fix as they made their way across Ponyville on another repair call.
“It’s a bit our fault for volunteering. In any case, at least it’ll make the days go by faster right?” Quick-Fix asked Nova, hoping there’d be some way to make this situation seem better.
“Another day, another dollar, another glass of Spectra eh?” Nova jokingly asked Quick-Fix, causing her to smile as he did.
“To you maybe. I still prefer Zap Apple Juice though.” Quick-Fix replied, causing both her and Nova to break into laughter as they continued along their way to Sweet Apple Acres, to help fix some additions Apple Bloom had tried to add to the barn.
“Promise to take care of my unit while I’m gone?” Shining Armor hastily asked Peach, still worried about trusting his entire unit with a newly promoted Captain, even though he had known Peach for so long before his promotion.
“Don’t worry Captain Shining Armor. You’re leaving your Guards in good hooves. I won’t let you down.” Peach told him, looking very forward to his first assignment as a Captain of the Royal Guards.
“And you’ll take care of our house for me and Cadance Twilight?” Shining Armor asked Twilight, at which point she rolled her eyes.
“Don’t worry BBBFF. You’ve trusted me with the entirety of Equestria before now, so trusting me to watch your house alone should be no problem for you.” Twilight explained, smiling up at Shining Armor as she did.
“I suppose you’re both right. Alright then. Canterlot is in your hooves.” Shining Armor saluted Twilight and Peach as he left the door, catching one last remark from Twilight as he did.
“Oh joy. Like that’s never happened before now right Peach?” Twilight jokingly asked Peach, at which point they both broke out laughing, causing Shining Armor to smile widely as he turned to leave for Baltimare.
***
Rafiq and Zuli both stood in the Royal Graveyard, each paying their respects to the warriors that they each had known in what felt to them like entirely different lifetimes.
After going individually to names in the Graveyard for a while, Rafiq and Zuli eventually converged upon the newest addition to the Graveyard’s names. They both now paid their direct respects to Blaze Bringer, for saving Canterlot in the end by sacrificing himself to his own destructive powers.
After a few moments of silent prayer, Zuli and Rafiq rose from their kneeling position in front of Blaze Bringer’s tombstone, and set about returning to Canterlot Castle directly.
“Blaze Bringer was truly all my father had ever said about him. In the end at least.” Rafiq spoke up as he and Zuli walked through the Gardens.
“A true ruler. A shame his time ruling Canterlot directly was so short and so tragic.” Zuli added, encouraging a nod from Rafiq in return.
“Indeed. If you don’t mind me asking, what will you do now that you’re no longer a Captain Zuli?” Rafiq questioned the unicorn, wondering where his new friend might go now.
“I will not leave Canterlot. It is my home. I will continue to serve Celestia, but only as an advisor now. It is time Sky Wing took the role he was always meant to have.” Zuli explained, looking above to see Sky Wing himself and Rainbow Dash fly over the Castle.
“I see. I will stay a Captain until I fall in battle, same as my father and sister before me.” Rafiq added, thinking of not only Dewdrop, but Celestia and Luna as he said the word sister.
“Sister…hm. I wonder how the Princesses fair.” Zuli wondered, looking to the top of the Castle and hoping that both Princesses would eventually fully recover from the loss of their brother.
***
Celestia and Luna lay beside each other upon the rooftop of Canterlot Castle, just as Zuli assumed. The sisters sat in silence for now, but certain words needed to be spoken between them at this time.
“I believe I am okay about our brother now sister.” Luna spoke up, looking upwards to where Blaze bringer had vanished so many months ago.
“That is good Luna. It is true that time heals all wounds. Just as it has healed my wounds over you, it will eventually completely heal your wounds for Blaze Bringer.” Celestia told Luna, nuzzling her younger sister as she did.
“I believe you about that now sister. And, I still feel as though brother is with us, even if he truly is gone forever this time.” Luna explained, looking to her heart.
“He will always be with us Luna. Blaze Bringer, as his name implies, brings fire to our hearts, which is what fuels our love and our life. So long as we feel anything warm within our hearts, brother will be there.” Celestia believed, closing her eyes and smiling to herself as she imagined the ghostly image of Blaze Bringer by her and Luna’s side, encasing them in his protective wings.
“I feel the same sister.” Luna answered Celestia, and closed her eyes to enter the same belief as Celestia, and feel her brother’s presence strengthen for a time within her.
Celestia and Luna stayed upon the rooftop for many hours, until that night had both come and gone, Blaze Bringer’s presence in their hearts keeping its cold at bay for them. As at last Celestia and Luna fell into sleep, the ghostly figure of Blaze Bringer at last folded his wings and faded away into the wind, until the next time somepony would need him by their side.