Invasion

The city falls in dancing flames

The hearts that once burned bright fell into ash

The beauty that once sent light across this land

Fell into the shadows of greed. . .

This story contains minor violence only read if you don’t mind that.

Invasion

Flames lit the corpse of Ponyville, lighting up the remains of what was once a tranquil untouched place of laughter. Ashes scattered the cracked sidewalks, and the clouds above were black. They were always black. The town seemed abandoned. Untouched by anypony for decades. But that was far from the deadfall truth. For in the heart of the city, was the dreary hideaway for three survivors. The three that had escaped the traitorous invasion.

The cement laboratory was pitch black apart from the single flickering lantern that hung from the ceiling overtop a steel table. The room smelt of rotten trash. And rats scurried around the base of the grimy walls, squealing as they searched for remains of anything they thought was edible.

“I’ve had enough of this!” Rarity complained under her breath. Dirt stained her once white coat, and the bags under her eyes hung heavy. Sleep deprivation was only a nuisance compared to the threats that marched the alleys of the barren town.

“It ain’t somethi’n we can just make disappear Rarity. And though I’m sick of it too, I fear that things’ll just get harder from here on out. Soon they’ll find us, and then . . .” Applejack didn’t dare finish her sentence, she didn’t even know what she would be able to say. That they were all going to die? That the army would find where they hid?

“It’s not my fault that were in this mess!” Rarity countered more aggressively, still hushed, but anyone could see the mare was having trouble keeping her voice quiet, for it wavered in volume continuously.

“It isn’t anyones fault!” Twilight interrupted them. “But for now we should focus on getting out of this mess. Thank Celestia that we were able to find this run down cellar. . .”

The two bickering ponies grunted, but didn’t say another word to each other. The anger in their eyes faded to cold misery. And after an unbearable silence, Applejack spoke. Her voice almost silent. “I still can’t believe Rainbow betrayed us. . .”

The words turned the room icy cold. Twilight closed her eyes, and when she opened them, crystal clear tears brimmed her lashes. They all still suffered from the cruel betrayal of their confident rainbow maned friend.

“We should try and forget about it for now-” Before Twilight could finish, Rarity spoke out with gruff rage, not holding her voice back this time.

“And Pinkie! And Fluttershy!” She cried out hoarsely. Remembering how Pinkiepie had turned her back on them when Rainbowdash’s army began to rise. And how Fluttershy had left their side as well when she was persuaded that she would be treated with kindness and respect, instead of the horrible way the outcasts were.

Twilight shook her head restlessly. Then, she smacked her hoof against the cement wall behind her, not even noticing the pain that should have rushed through her with the compact.

“We will not surrender!” She growled. “We will win this war!” Walking confidently over to the silver table with a new glow in her purple eyes, she laid out a map on the smooth table. Crinkles at the edges revealed the age of the golden map, but it was better than having nothing to rely on. As long as they had one fragile shard of hope, they could survive.

“I’d never surrender to that. . . that monster!” Trembling with anger, Applejack stared down into her reflection. She had become scrawny, weaker, and was steadily loosing her herself. A dark grudge clouded her shadowed green eyes as everyone was reminded of how treacherous Rainbowdash had truly become. The mare had managed to recruit Applebloom, Sweetiebell, and Scootaloo. Eager to get their cutie marks, the children agreed, unaware of how their lives had just been changed.

“Everyone is gone but us.” Rarity sighed. “What do we do? It’s not like we can take on a whole town. And everyone else has left. . .”

“But we wouldn’t have to.” Twilight told her with a keen glint in her eyes. “You can still make clothes can’t you?” When Rarity nodded, everything fell into place. “Perfect.” Brushing her hoof across the crinkled map, Twilight began giving her friends precise instructions on what they were to do. “We’ll go to Rainbow’s headquarters tomorrow.” Twilight began. Her voice was serious as she stared right into the eyes of Rarity and Applejack, sending them the message that there were no second chances. If they messed up, that was it. “Rarity will be able to sew us uniforms. That way we can pass through the streets without drawing too much unwanted attention.” Levitating a pen with her magic, Twilight marked two coordinates on the curled over map. Then carefully she created a precise dotted line connecting the two.” I’ve marked these two areas. This is our hideout, and this is Rainbowdash’s headquarters.” She explained. “Rainbowdash’s headquarters is on the other side of Ponyville, we’ll have to leave around 6am to make it there before too many citizens are on the streets. We’ll be caught for sure if everyone is patrolling. Are you two alright with this?” When her companion nodded, Twilight sighed. “Alright, then let’s get a good rest tonight . . .”

“I’ll stay on guard outside.” Applejack volunteered determinedly.

Twilight knew there was no way she could get her friend to change her mind, and with the strength in the farmer’s eyes, she knew they would be safe. “Good.”

The streets had only began to stir when Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity slipped out of the small laboratory they occupied, each of them wore black robes that dragged on the dusty ground. Twilight motioned to the narrow corridor ahead, and the two companions began to slug towards it as she gently closed the stainless door behind her, praying that nopony would spot the abandoned base.

Dull stones dug into their hooves as they climbed the long stairwell that led to the main streets of Ponyville, or what remained of it now.

The skies were dark again today Twilight observed as she, Applejack, and Rarity climbed the sharp edged stairs. They chipped under her hooves, but were sturdy enough to be safe. No other resident would dare venture off into a dark passageway, which was why it was perfect for them. They were brave, and they were free.

The free ones challenged

The brave ones fought

Never giving in to the darkness that loomed

With courage and will, they crouched in the streets

Of the corpse of the town that had died. . .

The skeletal streets were stained a rusty brown, and trash lay scattered in every direction. Rarity’s eyes began to water as the grotesque sight. Applejack just shook her head in shame as other individuals passed by without even acknowledging them. Everyone wore the shadowy rags and hung their heads, they all shared the same sinister eyes.

Twilight led her friends towards the centre of town. Their stomachs growled painfully, but the cramping wasn’t half as bad as the brutality of the betrayal they had experienced. As her legs moved through the barely recognizable streets, Twilight’s mind wondered back to the terrifying day when their nightmare had started.

“I’ve had enough! You idiots are always holding me back! Don’t you want me to be the best flyer in Equestria? The most looked up to pony in the universe?” Rainbowdash growled throwing out her hoof at her friends, who looked up at her with growing wide eyes. “I could be 25% more cooler without you punks hanging around me all the time!”

“You know we’re not trying to hold you back Rainbowdash!” Twilight tried to reason with her friend, but before she could say anything more, Rainbowdash cut her off.

“Oh really? I bet Rarity wasn’t trying to mess me up when she was showing off her glamorous wings at the Best Flyers competition in Cloudsdale! And what about you Twilight? Getting everybody to show me up with your, Maredowell scandal? What’s with that? Everypony abandoned me! I was all alone! Nobody even asked if I was alright!” The angry pegasus gave a snort of frustration before rushing off. “You’ll see that I’m much better on my own! You’ll all see! I’ll rule Ponyville! No, I’ll rule Equestria! And then you’ll regret holding me back!”

Days had past and they hadn’t seen the blue pegasus anywhere. But they did notice that their friends had begun to act strangely around them, always drifting off, not to be seen again for hours. But things began to get worse. The ponies that had joined Rainbowdash’s rebellion began to drive out other citizens. Houses began to go up in raging flames, and broken windows lay shattered in the ashes. Eventually everypony evacuated their home, this was around the time that Fluttershy abandoned them. Rainbowdash made it clear that she had nothing else to protect. The woodlands that had surrounded Ponyville were eaten by the sea of flames, and Angel had abandoned his selfless owner long before. Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity only managed to survive because Rainbowdash suspected that they were either dead, or long gone.

“Twi, look!” Applejack’s voice rang out, hauling her out of the memories and into the present. Applejack was pointing to town hall. A group of equines in black robes stood, listening to a roaring speech, nodding and whispering as the mare giving it shouted about freedom and power. The pegasus presenting, was the only one not wearing the hooded robes. Her rainbow mane was messy, the untidy style gave her an even more hostile appearance.

“There must be another meeting going on. . .” Rarity observed quietly. “Should we check it out?”

Before Twilight could answer, Applejack muttered, “Rainbowdash isn’t the only one up there.” Taking another look, Twilight scanned the crowd, and sure enough, she spotted Pinkiepie and Fluttershy at the front, looking down on the mass of ponies with twisted smirks. Applebloom and Sweetiebelle stared at Rainbowdash in horror, and sitting in between Pinkiepie and Fluttershy, was Scootaloo. The young filly had a cold look in her deep eyes, and on her flank, was a rainbow hewed flag.

“I want to get a closer look.” Twilight whispered. Originally she had planned on invading Rainbowdash’s “castle” and demanding reason, but now things had changed. Casually walking into the mob, she kept her head low. But there wasn’t any point, no one even noticed her, for all of them were gazing at their new leader with admiration and determination.

“We need to set out goals higher! Much higher!” Rainbowdash howled, shooting up into the air as she spoke. Drumming started as ponies began to beat the ground with their hooves. It started out slow, then began getting louder, harder, stronger. “Soon we’ll rule Equestria! We can change the world! Anypony who disagrees can just leave us alone! If they don’t, then they’ll have to say it to our hooves! With our power we can overrule Princess Celestia herself!”

How dare you! Twilight scowled in her head as anger tore through her limbs. It was so hard not to yell the words out, but she knew that she would be doomed if she did. But, why isn’t Celestia here now? Is Rainbowdash really too strong? Two hooded figures stepped up beside Twilight, and at first she thought they might be guards, but quickly she saw the orange and white snouts of Applejack and Rarity. Are they thinking he same thing?

The blasting sounds of the drumming hooves was louder than ever, and Twilight wanted to cover her ears. The ponies began to yell and cheer Rainbowdash’s name. The self confident pegasus grinned darkly before climbing high into the clouds until Twilight couldn’t see her anymore. Before she knew what was happening, Rainbowdash bulleted towards the ground, a bright rainbow forming behind her. Blasting forwards the mare let out a holler of pure adrenalin and the watchers began to chant her name!

Rainbowdash!

Twilight’s heart raced as the pegasus shot right by her head. She’ll see us! But the pegasus kept going, too enveloped in glory to notice Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity standing right in the crowd. Warmth began to heat her frozen body as Twilight thought they might actually be able to pull this off. But then a harsh wave of air swept past them. The hoods that concealed their identity flew backwards, and Twilight gasped in horror. Dread crawled through her as she stared at Applejack in fear. The farmer let out a small cry as everyone turned to face them. They recognized so many faces without the silly black fabric over the surrounding crowd’s faces. Lyra, Bonbon, Derpy,Screwball, they had all joined the rebellion, and everyone else had too. They had all betrayed Celestia.

Rainbowdash seemed to hear the sudden hush of the cheering and was pelting back as fast as a rocket. “What happened?” she demanded instantly. Then she saw Twilight. Frustration shot through her magenta eyes and she began to tremble with rage. “I thought you were dead. . . I thought. . .” Her eyes widened with a strange emotion. Fear, insanity? “You want to mess me up again. . . You want everyone to hate me!” Throwing her head violently into the air she cried out in a harsh tone, “Get them!”

“Run!” Twilight shouted desperately above the ruckus.

Applejack and Rarity dashed away, Twilight following them close behind. What happens now? Twilight searched for an answer, a solution. But there was nothing she could come up with to save her and her friends. She watched as Applejack began to tire, her legs beginning to wobble with exhaustion. Oh no . . .

The loyal friend had been working so hard, always taking the least amount of food, always doing the most work when they cleaned out the lab, and always offering to stay on guard duty. She always looked so determined. . .

“Twi, I don’t think I’ll be able to make it . . .” Applejack heaved. Her breath coming short. The bags under her eyes were heavy, and Twilight could see that her bones were painfully clear against her skin. “Ya’ll go on ahead. I’ll be fine. No regrets.”

Tears began to slip from Twilight’s eyes and she shook her head. “Applejack! You’re the strongest! You have to keep going! I need you! We need you! Don’t you-” Twilight was cut off by a sudden yelp. Applejack flipped forwards as she tripped on her own stumbling hooves. Before Twilight could go back and help her, Applejack’s body disappeared under the charging hooves behind them.

“Twilight . . .” Rarity breathed. “Applejack . . . Applejack’s gone isn’t she?”

“Don’t think about it! Just run!” Giving Rarity a shove, Twilight picked up the pace. She felt like all her muscles were going limp, but she forced her hooves to run faster, faster, faster. Twilight knew she was being cruel. She knew the pain Rarity was feeling. But they couldn’t slow down, they couldn’t mourn.

Trying to focus, Twilight searched desperately for a way out. Then the solution came to mind, but it came with a horrible realization. Now that there are only two of us, I can use my magic to teleport back into the lab! Concentrating her energy, she enveloped Rarity and herself in a wavering field of magic. 1. Twilight counted silently. 2.

A light shone brighter than Twilight had ever seen, covering her eyes, she heard the gasps and snorts of the shocked enemies. There was a sudden poof, and the two equines disappeared, leaving the pursuers and Applejack’s body behind. . . .

This sacrifice has lost

This day has been stained

The history has changed

This war has consumed us all

For we have fallen. . .

A terrible crying echoed through the dark laboratory. Rarity’s wails pierced the walls, and all Twilight could do was try to calm her down.

“Rarity! Rarity you have to pull yourself together!” Desperately she grabbed the unicorns shoulders and shook her, but that didn’t change anything, her sobs continued, loud and heavy in Twilight’s ears. Her frustration grew, and grew and grew. Finally she couldn’t take it. Swiftly she slapped Rarity’s cheek. The clapping as her hoof connected with skin filled the room. Rarity looked up at her with shocked watering eyes, bruising on her cheek had already started, for her white coat began to tinge purple. “You need to pull yourself together! Do you want to die too?” Suddenly Twilight’s anger fell into a vortex of crushing despair and guilt. “I don’t know what to do! I don’t know! I killed Applejack! I don’t want to lose you too! So for Celesta’s sake stay quiet!”

Slowly, Rarity settled down. But dread crept through her as she caught a small movement from Twilight. A twitch. She recognized that from when her friend was “tardy” on getting in a letter to her teacher. But she had overreacted, and almost destroyed Ponyville. . .

“You okay Twilight?” Rarity probed gently. The purple unicorn spun around, her chest heaving as she fought back her own cries.

“Am I alright?” She said quietly, and then she shouted. “Am I alright?? No! I’m not! Applejack is dead, Rainbowdash wants to kill us and take over Equestria, Fluttershy and Pinkiepie are traitors, and I don’t know what to do about it! What the hay are we supposed to do?”

“I don’t know!” Rarity raised her voice. “But we can’t sit around here and do nothing! You have all that sciency stuff over there! Why don’t you whip up some magic and fix everything?”

“Because I can’t! All of that stuff is Equestria knows how old!”

Narrowing her eyes, Rarity blurted out, “Do you even care about us anymore Twi! You used to do anything to save your friends and now you’re just going to abandon us?” Smashing her hooves on the table, Rarity glared at her friend with angry, devastated eyes.

Throwing her face right up to Rarity’s muzzle, Twilight growled. “Us?” She hissed through grinding teeth. “We’re the only ones left!”

Shaking her head, Rarity’s eyes softened. “Isn’t that all the more reason to fight?”

Understanding coursed through Twilight. And though she still fought the insanity that slowly crept in her veins, she felt better, warmer. How could I not have seen that? I need to protect Rarity more than ever right now. . . That’s is all I need to focus on. And I’ll make sure she get’s out of this mess alive! There’s no time to waste.

“There’s no point in trying to reason with Rainbowdash anymore. She’s proved that.” Twilight muttered darkly. Instantly, Rarity focused on every word her friend spoke, straightening her shoulders and raising her head, wiping the last remains of tears from her eyes. “I say we get out of here.”

“That won’t work.” Rarity whispered sadly. “You heard what Rainbow said. She’s invading everywhere. She wants to have all of Equestria looking up to her. Twilight, she’s gone mad!”

“What do we do then?” Twilight demanded, frustration seething in her voice once again.

“Wouldn’t everything go back to normal if the pony who was leading the invasion was. . . gone?” Rarity couldn’t force herself to say the word she implied, but she knew that Twilight would pick up one what she meant. Trying to fight back the grief that tore through her, she continued, feeling sick to her stomach with every word. “It’s simple. If we got rid of the fuel, the engine would stop. That’s what we need to do here.”

“You may be right. . .” Twilight said. “But, could we even do it?” Her head fell as she let herself, for the first time in a while, relax and think about all the great time that she had with her friends. When they were all alive. When they were all together in harmony. “We could. . .” Twilight answered her own question, a twisted grin on her face, but this time, she made sure Rarity didn’t see it.

Insanity drained their good intensions

They traveled the streets with war in their minds

Blood as black as night soaked their hearts

And they walked along the roads at midnight. . .

As Twilight and Rarity stopped at the entrance of town hall, cold shivers spread through their spines right down to their hooves. Graffiti was slashed across the walls in various colours of the rainbow. Red, blue, purple, green, yellow, and orange slathered the brick in a chaotic mess. Atop the building, giant waving flag with a photo of Rainbowdash was whipping in the wind. Red text had been scripted onto the material and it read,

Join us or be looked down on by your ruler, Rainbowdash

“It’s time we end this . . .” Twilight whispered, the knife only poking slightly out of her pocket, and though it was barely exposed, it caught the light of the searchlights above, and glimmered in a brilliant flash.

Head held high, Twilight and Rarity went up to the large doors that lead to Rainbowdash. They were about to enter, when the guard howled them an order, “Stop!”

Instantly Twilight and Rarity froze. Cold terror shot through them. Will these robes protect us? Twilight thought desperately. Please Celestia help us!

As the guard marched up to them, Twilight and Rarity remained silent. Not talking, barely breathing. 1,2,3. . . 1,2,3 . . . Twilight counted, trying to calm herself.

“You need to remove your hoods.” The stallion spoke firmly, his voice wad deep and strong. “This is the rule of the new law.”

Before Twilight could reply, Rarity spoke up, her voice deeper than usual. “We haven’t heard of that law, and I have a terribly swollen cheek.” she complained. Guilt flooded through Twilight as her friend mentioned the swollen cheek, but the guard didn’t loosen up one bit, he only pressed harder.

“Take your hoods off before I do it for you!” Her shouted. Stomping his hoof to the ground and snorting. “Don’t make me call for back up!”

Slowly Twilight drew the black hood off her head, revealing her identity.Rarity gave her a surprised look, but quickly followed her actions with sorrow filled eyes. We lost, we lost, we lost!

“You’re the ones Rainbowdash has been wanting us to capture!” Letting out a bellowing command, the guard bore down on them. Twilight and Rarity leapt out of the way, much more fast and agile than the muscular stallion. Together they shot towards the door. It was only inches away, but before they could make it, guards blasted through them.

“Break through!” Twilight yowled the command above the rising chaos. She couldn’t waste anytime making sure Rarity had heard the order. Beaming forwards, she weaved through the charging equines, feeling their hooves trying to grab her, and the sharp edges of blades brushing her coat.

Beating hooves surrounded her, and it was hard to breathe. Leaping out of the way as another guard rounded on her, Twilight dodged. With one final leap, she broke out of the clamor. Quickly looking back, she searched for Rarity in the chaos.

Her heart stopped. Rarity was being dragged away by two guards. She kicked and screamed, but every attempt of escape was answered by brutality from the guards. For a moment her gaze locked with Twilight’s. Tears flooded from her eyes, and her face was marked all over, but she smiled. She smiled to her friend, saying, don’t give up, I’m with you every step of the way. And then she was gone.

Twilight felt herself slipping away, Every bit of sanity she had left flew out the window. The dreadful truth was colder than an icy wind. She was alone. Two of her friends were gone for good, and she would be stuck trying to defeat Rainbowdash's army by herself. It was impossible. Rainbowdash had ever so slowly slipped away from being the loyal pony she once was, to a pony consumed by her own anger. Drawing the knife from her pocket she opened the doors, stepped inside, and said, “Hi Rainbow, how are you today? Do you want to go to Sweet Apple Acres with me and Rarity?”

Rainbowdash smiled down at her, her legs crossed and her hoof tapping on her knee. Beside her Scootaloo stared coldly, ready to charge at the intruder. “Oh Twi, you always crack me up. What are you going to do with that knife you got there?” Rainbowdash asked, playing with her broken friend.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe Rarity will need it, or Pinkiepie, or Fluttershy. I certainly don’t know what I would need this thing for.” With wide eyes and a corrupted chuckle, the unicorn dropped the sharp object. Her eye twitched and her grin widened, stretching her face into a contorted smile.

The guards began advancing on her, but Rainbowdash held out her hoof, telling them to stop. “Twi, you know Rarity isn’t going to live right? She’s going to die, and Applejack’s dead, and Pinkiepie and Fluttershy hate you. You know that right?”

Twilight didn’t seem to be listening, but she began to wobble, still smiling happily. “Oh yes, oh yes I know that well thank you.”

Sighing with pleasure, Rainbowdash motioned her away. “It was nice to see you Twilightsparkle, but I think it’s time for you to go. I’m sure you have things to do.”

“Oh yes, very much things to do. Thank you Dashy, I’ll be seeing you.” And with that the unicorn left. Never to be seen again.

“Didn’t I say that I would rule Equestria?” Rainbowdash whispered darkly. A shadow of the former mare she once was. Overrun by greed and darkness.

The heroes fell

The darkness rose

The small town was a corrupted error

Burning in the flames of greed. . .