Night Patrol CH 9
-break
A bat pony? A bat pony was working for Sombra? How could this be happening? How could her child have betrayed her Luna wondered franticly looking from the arena to Sombra, the stallion's smirk widen as she glared.
"What magic have you cast upon him?" Luna demanded sternly.
Sombra unimpressed simply inspected his hoof, "Whatever do you mean? I need no magic to gain a pony's loyalty. Of course some food, water, and the promise of shelter and a job do go a long way. I amazed that you, Princess Luna, left your so called "children" to fend for themselves in the harsh caverns of the everfree, which I reminds you runs all the way up to Maredor."
Luna seethed through her teeth. She wanted to yell, so loud, that it would leave the black stallion permanently deaf forever. Yet, as his hurtful, but true words stung deep in her heart she knew it was her fault her bat ponies have gone to Sombra's embrace. In her misery she abandoned them and when she finally come to her senses and formed Night patrol, it should have come to no surprise that the caverns were empty when she went to recruit them to her cause.
"Please, be safe my ponies." She prayed softly. "Both of you return to me alive please."
-break
Fury circled his opponent, Bloodmoon matching him step for step. He didn't know a lot about Bat ponies; other then what Luna had told him and the others, they seemed no different from Pegasus, except better build for night flying with night vision and better agility in tight flying spaces. Both advantages were useless here in the wide open arena and broad daylight. Yet, looking at himself a dragon pony, Fury wondered if there were other tricks be gifted to bat ponies.
Trusting in his scaly coat Fury lurched forward charging Bloodmoon head on. He side trotted and charged from the right. Digging his left claw into the earth Fury swung himself, skidding behind Bloodmoon his jaw wide open to chomp on the bat pony's wing, only to bite air as Bloodmoon took flight. He snorted and flew up after him.
Up above Bloodmoon stalled in midair, he was preparing to attack. Fury chest expanded as he prepared to counter once the bat pony turned around it would all be over.
Bloodmoon turned as expected, but something was amiss, his chest was also bulging? (Is he like me? Is he a dragon pony pretending to be a bat pony?)
Not taking any chances Fury fired first, unleashing a wave of searing flames. The ponies below screamed in horror, but he paid little mind to them. He didn't care if they thought him a monster, they would be right, he was one.
A sudden ringing sound appeared in Fury's ears. He blinked away tears as his body reacted to the sound. He dipped a little, losing altitude, the flames above him burst apart, extinguishing in the air without his magic to feed them. He spotted Bloodmoon flying through the flames and he appeared to be screaming? Fury saw a small distortion in the air, the ringing worsened, the sound driving him mad as he tried in vain to scratch at his ears.
"It's some sort of sonic attack." Fury hissed, his mind going fuzzy, it was getting harder to think. He had to do something and quick! There was no way he could take another blast and stay conscious. Spotting Bloodmoon coming around for another pass, Fury knew his time was short, if fire didn't work then…
Bloodmoon yelled "Prepare yourself you freak!" readying his sonic scream. Another blast would put the dragon pony down for good. Exhaling Bloodmoon released a high pitch scream so powerful, it created shockwaves. There was no way that Dragon pony could defend himself. Bloodmoon smirked as he watched the sonic waves fly towards Fury, who was gathering up another fire blast, not that it would do much good. Fury released his breath, but instead of fire a large ear drum shattering roar came out, the roar canceling out his sonic scream.
"What?" Bloodmoon gasped surprised that his attack had been countered. In his moment of shock Fury flew up close and slashed at his barrel. He dodged, barely avoiding injury; the same could not be said for his armor which was ripped to shreds by the dragon pony's claws.
Fury smirked viciously, "Having fun yet bat?"
"More then you know."
Fury flexed his claws. "Good to hear."
The two charged one another hoof vs claw as they attacked with unrelenting fury. Bloodmoon's hooves smacked against Fury's armor, denting it and busing the skin beneath, bones cracking from the force, while Fury's claws raked deep into Bloodmoon ripping armor and leaving long red gashes all over the bat pony's body. Blood rained down from the sky.
-break
From below Luna watched in horror, "Please stop… please my children… stop…" she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. Beside her Sombra laughed. And it was then she decided she's had enough!
Magic filling her lungs Luna unleashed her Canterlot voice, "STOP! STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" The crowd stilled at her words, but the fighting continued. "I SAID STOP!" She yelled again at the two, but they kept going too far gone in blood lust to hear her.
Spreading her wings Luna took to the sky flying fast as her wings could take her. In a mere blink she was between Fury and Bloodmoon pushing them away with her hooves. Both ponies' pupils were tiny slits, their eyes screamed with rage and the desire to kill.
"Enough, it's time to stop," Luna said gently, her tone soothing with hint of magic mixed into calm the two. Slowly their eyes began to widen to their original size. "It's over the battle is done."
"Actually it's just being Luna!" Sombra laughed maniacally.
Luna turned, gasping at the sight of Sombra FLYING right behind her with the aid of two skeletal wings!
"What are you?"
"Your conquer." He said confidently. A flash of red magic shooting from his horn into the sky, from the clouds black figures emerged and from the north a more emerged from the ground, all around the empire explosions erupted turning buildings into fireballs and then all hell broke loose as the soldiers of Maredor attacked!
-break
"I wonder what's going on out there." Curaga, the medical pony watching over Nightingale asked her partner, Splint, as she looked over the Pegasus's vitals. They had forced Applejack outside so they could do their work, the Earth mare protested, relaying her orders from Princess Luna, but Curaga assured her Nightingale would be safe and locked her out of the room. After all who would be bold enough to attack in the heart of the crystal empire? "Splint can you please stop staring out the window and help me?" She asked writing down Nightingale's vitals. The clopping of hooves echoed behind her as she worked. "Thank you…"
A sharp pain erupted in Curaga's flank as a hoof covered her mouth muffling her screams. Through panicked eyes she saw that Splint was her attacker, he made soft cooing sounds as he laid her on the floor in the puddle of blood that had formed from her wound. Tears fell freely down her face as the last of her life drained away; darkness engulfing her vision.
"Splint… why…" Were her final words as "Splint" removed his hoof her mouth.
A burst of green flame engulfed Splint, revealing his true form as a Changeling. Expressionlessly he looked at the mare that had been his meal for the past several months. He had played the role of her friend/lover well and enjoyed it, but a lass the day has come to end the farce. The day of reckoning was at hand, the day when the changelings would have their own land, their own kingdom, in face of such things what was the life of one mare?
Speaking of mares, there was the Pegasus on the bed he had to deal with and her friend outside. Such were things he guessed as he picked up a spare pillow to smother the sleeping Pegasus. He was about to do the deed when her eyes snapped open! Quickly he pressed the pillow hard against her face, she struggled, her hooves flailing around wildly, occasionally smacking his face, but he held on. Splint readjusted his footing for better leverage and in an ironic twist of fate slipped on Curaga's blood.
Nightingale threw the pillow of her face and screamed at the top of her lungs, "APPLEJACK!"
Applejack came barreling through the door taking only a second to look at the situation, the blood on the floor, the dead nurse, her friend gasping for breath and the black bug thing with blood on its horn and a pillow in its hooves. Magic gathered around the earth mares hooves as pure rage flooded through her body.
"You no good vermin!"
Charging forward Applejack tackled the Changeling and straddled his torso and then began to pound the life out of him with her bare hooves! The changeling's face was a bloody mess by the time she was done, his head rolled to the side, his eyes meeting Curaga's. Slowly he reached out towards her; he could feel the pony's weight shift on his body, meaning she was getting ready to attack again. Her hoof came down crushing his foreleg just as it touched Curaga's. He hissed in pain, but did not let go.
"I'm…(cough, cough)… sorry… Curaga…" He whispered taking his last breath.
Applejack got to her hooves, rushing to Nightingale's bedside as the Pegasus tried to get up. Carefully the orange mare lowered her friend to her hooves; Nightingale leaned heavily against her side as she caught her breath.
"You ok Night?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Bloody Changeling nearly got me though."
AJ poked Splint's body with her hoof. "Is that what this thing is? Ugly little thing."
Nightingale laughed, "Yeah it is…" Suddenly her mind caught up with her as flashes of her fight in the clouds come to the forefront of her mind. "Crap, there's more in the clouds! Applejack these things are shape shifters and there's a ton of them!"
Explosions rocked the building. Both mares quickly looked out the window seeing the city in chaos as changelings dived bombed from the sky, with hordes of Bat and ponies covered in black armor storming the northern wall, barring Sombra's banner.
"Well, looks like they're not in the clouds no more." Applejack drawled keeping a cool composure. "Come on, we need to get to Princess Luna. Be careful of anypony too, no telling whose the enemy and whose friend with these things around."
Nightingale nodded, "Right let's go!"
The two mares made their way down the arena hallways as quickly as possible with Nightingales injuries. Thankfully they didn't run into anypony as they entered the dug out for the fighters. Sticking to the shadows they peered out into the arena and if they thought outside the arena looked bad, inside was worse, so much worse. Ponies were lying dead all over as the few guards fought against the changelings. In the sky they spotted Fierce Fury going berserk as he savagely mangled any changeling in his path, his feathery scaled coat shimmering with blood, both his and his enemies. Even more impressive though was the fight going on between Sombra and Princess Luna.
Sombra with a pair of skeletal wings was matching Luna blow for blow as both rulers launched powerful spells that no normal pony could hope to match. Beams of magic collided causing explosions that pushed the two away from each other. Two changelings flew in from the right, blindsiding Luna, Sombra pressed the advantage, but Fury breathed a wall of fire in his path. Luna hit the ground in front of them. Applejack quickly rushed out and bucked the two changelings off her princess.
"Princess you ok?" She yelled over the roar of the battle. Luna shook her head as she gathered herself.
"Applejack?" Luna dizzily replied as she regained her bearing, "By mother's mane Applejack! You're alright! Is Nightingale safe?"
Applejack nodded, "She's fine. A little bruised but fine. What are you orders Princess? What can we do to help?"
Luna surveyed the situation; a haunting realization dawned upon her as she remembered the youngest member of their party. "By mother's mane, Dusk! We've forgotten about Dusk! Applejack, you and Nightingale must quickly secure Dusk's safety and anypony else you can along the way. Then find Symphony and clear a path for her so she can activate the crystal heart. Hurry or the empire will be lost!"
"Aye, Princess," Applejack saluted, "You can trust us to get it done."
Luna nodded with a soft smile, "I know I can." She said taking to sky again.
Applejack rushed to Nightingale explaining their orders, the Pegasus nodded and followed after her comrade, pausing only briefly to stare to the south towards home. The skies were clear, but how long would they remain that way?
-break
Dusk followed King Treble down the hall of the palace with her head bowed to the floor. Earlier she'd been enjoying the festival with her own usual twist to spice things up and to make a long story short had gotten in trouble. Enough trouble that the venders reported her to the royal guards, who then reported her to the king since she was a royal guest. Turns out making pies explode went a little too far. Now she is to face punishment! She had to watch over the Kings daughter Cadenza. Not a horrible punishment by any means, but taking care of a new born foal was only fun a quarter of the time. She should know, she's foalsat plenty of the Apple clans newborns (They had a lot, they breed like rabbits!).
Timidly Dusk said, "So how long will I have to watch over Cadenza?"
King Treble paused to stroke his beard outside the said princess's door, enjoying Dusk's squirming. "Hmm… till Luna or one of her guards return I suppose. Any pony's guess when that will be." He chuckled as Dusk's face fell to near despair. Of course he wouldn't leave the filly with his dear foal for such a long time, but it was fun to pull the filly's leg a little bit. He deserved a good jest after having dealing with the mob that had brought the filly under his supervision. He wondered how Luna deals with her, blowing up pies, turning dunking apples to stone, and just causing general mayhem. She acted just like… Luna… did during her and Celestia's little pranking war. He remembered that particular event well; it was how he'd met Symphony after all and it remained wonderful and embarrassing memory as he was sent flying into the air covered in honey, landing at Symphony's feet after walking into Luna's prank set for Celestia.
"Here we are." He announced opening the door to Cadenza's room, his trip down memory lane over for now. The room looked as exactly as he'd left it. Toddler toys were placed perfectly in their proper place, a small castle play set located in the corner guarded by numerous stuffed animals, and finally Cadenza's crib with the Princess's formal foal sitter an elderly Crystal Unicorn named Proper Upbringing keeping watch over her as usual.
Treble smiled at the elderly mare as they approached, "Hello Proper Upbringing, nice to see you doing well today." The mare smiled softly back with a slight nod, scooting to the side to allow Treble and Dusk closer access to the sleeping princess. He smiled gently brushing Cadenza's mane. "I'm pleased to tell you will be free to enjoy the festival for the rest of the day. This little filly will foal sit Cadenza for the remainder of the day."
Proper Upbringing didn't respond, her attention directed at the bright red light hovering over the arena. Her eyes flashed green for a moment as she turned and began walking towards Treble and Dusk.
"Proper?" Treble inquired expecting some retort from the mare saying she didn't need a day off. He turned just in time as Proper Upbringing aimed her horn for his heart. Acting on his old guard training, Treble smacked her away with his hoof sending Proper Upbringing crashing into the castle play set.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded, snorting angrily. A burst of green flame engulfed the play house as "Proper Upbringing" revealed her true self, unleashing a high pitched battle cry that Treble knew all too well.
Looking at his slumbering daughter and then to Dusk, Treble knew he had little time. He wrapped Cadenza in his magic, blanket and all and quickly tied the little filly to Dusk's back.
"Run now!" He ordered, gracing between the tall glass windows and the changeling in the playhouse. He could make out the bug like forms of more changelings answering their comrade's call.
Dusk hesitated, looking between the door and Treble.
"I said go! Find Princess Luna! Trust no one until they've proven they are who they are! Now go! Keep my daughter safe!"
Dusk took off running just as the other Changelings broke through the window glass. Treble locked the door behind her making all the Changeling's direct their attention to him.
"Well… come on then! Let's have at it!" He challenged lighting up his horn with magic. The changelings hissed and charged all at once. Treble gritted his teeth, releasing an angry battle cry as he charged to meet them.
-break
Dusk ran as fast her little hooves could carry her. She didn't know where she was going or where she could find Luna, Applejack or any of the others, so she kept running, even as hell broke out around her. Changelings and Crystal guards were brawling in the halls, busting down doors, breaking through walls in efforts to kill one another. A guard fell in her path; she quickly leapt over his body as two Changelings raced after her, only to be stuck down by another guard.
Turning a hard right Dusk found herself in the throne room, which was completely filled with Changelings!
"Oh buck…"
All the changelings turned their attention the two fillies. Dusk cautiously took a step back towards the door, but it was slammed shut, leaving her trapped. She gulped preparing the only attack spell she knew, her horn light up with a black light as she aimed at the Changeling horde before her. They chuckled, laughing at her efforts as they moved in all at once.
"AHHH!" Screaming like a mad mare Dusk fired her spell, the black light hit a changeling dead center, a first nothing happened the changeling appeared up harmed as it blinked at her touching it's chest, then it happened. The changeling began coughing, blood sprinkled onto the crystal floor, the changeling look directly into her eyes filled with fear and then he simply fell over dead.
The Changeling horde hissed with anger and charged towards Dusk with bloodlust. The filly tried to charge up another spell, but couldn't as she was forced to dodge, escaping by sliding underneath another changeling. Her safety was only momentary as she found herself trapped in a corner. Dusk closed her eyes waiting for the inevitable, but after a long agonizing minute nothing happened. Opening her eyes she was surprised and very grateful to see the towering figure of Princess Symphony, it was also the time she noticed a soft hum of music in the air. She looked for the source and quickly found it was the princess singing and it wasn't any normal music, it was musical magic! From the looks of the Changelings, she had all of them completely enthralled as they swayed back and forth to the melody. Then the music stopped and Dusk wished she had kept her eyes closed.
The Changelings began to kill each other.
-break
Princess Symphony watched the slaughter with a monotone expression. She hated using her lovely music to commit such horrifying acts, but this time she felt nothing for her enemies. No pain, no sorrow, she didn't even see them a living beings, all she saw was Treble lying on the floor in a pool of blood, five changelings lying around him dead, the sixth standing over him in victory. She made sure it was shorted lived. Next she entered the halls finding her slaughtered guards and servants and more Changelings, she made short work of them as well. Finally she made her way here to the throne room; where she had sensed a spell go off. She arrived to find not only her daughter, but Dusk as well. She was so happy to see somepony alive that she almost didn't notice the Changelings in the room. She saw Dusk kill the one and the rest charge the little filly.
That was when she acted, beginning with the first keys of her song, she froze the Changeling in their place leaving them still as stone, except for their eyes. They followed her every step as she made her way to Dusk and Cadenza. Cadenza was still fast asleep; while Dusk had her eyes sewn shut, her body trembling with fear. She decided to leave them like that for the moment, they didn't need to see what she was about to do.
Standing in front of the filly and foal, Symphony began the second verse of her song, a low mournful tune filled with sadness and lost. The changelings responded, each one turning their sharp horns on another of their kin. Now it was time for the coup de grace. Symphony adjusted her key, her voice raising like a wave, filled with rage and hate, the changelings' eyes narrowed as they growled at one another. Then she released her spell and the Changelings plunged their horns into each other's throats.
Symphony stared at the carnage unblinkingly, a strange sort of numbness over taking her usually compassionate heart.
A startled gasp caught her attention; Dusk had opened her eyes and was staring directly at the carnage! Quickly she unfolded her wing and blocked the horrid sight from the filly's eyes, but the look in her eyes said she was too late. Gathering the two onto her back Symphony flew out the window, descending slowly to the ground towards the base of the castle where the Crystal heart was located.
"We must purge the invaders. Stay close to me and keep my daughter safe." Symphony said as they touched down. Immediately more changelings attacked, but a quick kick sent them hurdling away. Galloping toward the pedestal that housed the Crystal heart, Symphony charged her horn preparing to spread her love and hope across the empire and repel the invaders.
Dusk cried, "Look out!" As two Changelings charged from both sides, Symphony launched the fillies into the air so she could intercept the attackers. She easily tossed the two aside and caught the fillies on her romp again and began preparing her spell when…
"Look out!"
"Oh buck it!" Snarling Symphony dropped the two fillies near the pedestal, placing a magic shield over them as she faced the attackers. She expected more changelings, but was left staggering on her hooves as two sonic screams nearly busted her ear drums. Dizzily she smacked the bat ponies' aside, preparing to face the third shadowy figure head on as she charged with her horn pointed forward. This proved to be a mistake as her horn began entangled in the jagged black mess of a horn that belonged to none other than the changeling Queen herself, Chrysa.
"Hello Symphony," Chrysa greeted grinning like cat, "Been a long time hasn't it?"
Symphony grunted as she pushed against Chrysa's horn, trying to gain the upper hoof, "Not long enough I'd say! I see you're still as ugly as the last time I saw you."
"And you're a potty mouthed little princess, but why hold a grudge, we are family right?"
"You are no family of mine!" Symphony screamed regaining her balance.
Chrysa chuckled, "Still mad at me? You should really learn when to let things go, like this!" Unlocking her horn Chrysa watched with glee as Symphony stumbled forward without her to hold her back and whipped down her horn across the Crystal princesses' pretty pink flank staining it red.
"Dirty cheater," Symphony growled stumbling on her hooves. Her right flank was bleeding badly and it hurt to walk on it, how could she have made such a novice mistake? (Have I become rusty? Must have I can't remember the last time I even spared, let alone fight for my life.)
"Now, now," Chrysa taunted, "You're making me blush."
She scoffed as she applied pressure to her injury with her wing. "Why are you here Chrysa, why attack us? No matter how many of your "Children" you brought with you they are no match for the might of my Crystal guards. Give up and I'll let you go in peace."
Chrysa laughed circling around the pink Alicorn. "That would be true; if it weren't for the fact I have been placing my spies through your kingdom for years at every level of society; the common worker, the servants, the everyday citizen, and even the royal guard. We are everywhere Symphony, why do you think the castle was so easily over run? Why are the northern gates wide open as the Ponies of Maredor rush your walls. No Symphony, I will not be retreating, not this time."
"Maredor… Sombra is with you?"
"In more ways than one," Chrysa said coyly, "Call it a political maneuver with many benefits."
"But our peace treaty!"
"Was all a ruse, suggested by me, all to ensure the down fall of the crystal empire!"
Symphony grit her teeth, focusing on the floating blue diamond heart on the pedestal, if she can only get to it she can still save anypony!
Screaming she charged, forming both a spell on her horn and with her voice, she fired a magical beam of blue magic, Chrysa countered with her own green magic once again grid locking them, but she had an ace in her boots. Softy she began to sing a low key to put Chrysa to sleep, so she could do it permanently with her own hooves. Yet as the musical magic floated towards the changeling Queen something happened, another higher pitched spell blocked her spell, effectively neutralizing it and there was only one creature that could do such a thing.
"Sirens!" Symphony gasped spotting the half fish ponies flying around the castle, three in total.
"There's more in Maredor then mere Bat and shadow ponies, so much more." Chrysa grinned as she pushed Symphony back.
She could feel victory close at hoof! As soon as Symphony was dead the Crystal ponies' moral would be gone and the empire would be theirs! Chrysa was so focused on defeating the crystal princess that she completely forgot about Dusk, who was staring at the Crystal heart. Suddenly she felt a huge spike of magic erupted behind her.
-break
Dusk couldn't stand to sit back any longer. She had to do something! Securing Cadenza safely under the pedestal, Dusk stepped out in front of the crystal heart. Symphony said it could repel the all the bad ponies, she just had to figure out how to use it.
(Maybe if I hit it with my magic it will work!)
Dusk charges her horn and fires, creating a beam of black magic that began to spin the crystal faster and faster. A bright light began to shine from the core of the heart, so Dusk poured more magic into the heart, causing it to spin even faster and faster and faster!
Suddenly Dusk's eyes widened with a white glow as magic enveloped her entire body; she began to float in the air as small beam of magic changed into a big beam! The crystal heart reached it maximum velocity and a huge dome of magic began to grow from it.
"What's happening?" Chrysa demanded as the magic dome pushed against her, she tried to fight it but it just pushed harder! She was pushed past Symphony, who was unaffected, so were all the other Crystal ponies, only the Changelings and the ponies of Maredor were being pushed out.
"No, no, no!" Chrysa screamed as the dome pulsed and launched her and all the invading forces out of the city. Adjusting her wings, she managed to right herself, growling as she stared at the blue shield covering the Crystal Empire. Far off to the north was Sombra, their eyes met and they both nodded.
"Attack! Bring down the shield!"
-break
Princess Symphony crawled along the ground desperate to get to her daughter and Dusk. Her eyes focused on Cadenza, the little foal crying out for her at the top of her lungs. She tried to move faster, but she had lost too much blood and could barely stand. Glancing to Dusk, she was shocked to see the little filly was maintaining the shield.
(She has that much power? That's impossible no foal can have that much magic!)
Then she noticed something different about Dusk, she seemed… taller? Suddenly Dusk's body pulsed and grew looking somewhere in the age between fillyhood and marehood. (She's using so much magic that she's aging! I must stop her!)
Gritting her teeth, Symphony stumbled to her hooves and managed to sprint the remaining distance before collapsing beside Dusk. Gently she took Cadenza into her embrace and kissed her daughter lovingly on the forehead.
"I'm sorry Cadenza, but I have no choice… I love you." Reaching up Symphony touched Dusk's flank connecting to her magic, she felt a massive surge of power and quickly cast a spell and disappeared in a flash of white light just as Applejack and Nightingale arrived.
-somewhere else
Two Earth ponies a stallion and a mare were on their way home after a hard day's work when a bright flash of light shined ahead of them. They quickly hid in the nearby brush, fearful of what the light maybe. Much to their surprise a tall pink pony with wings and a horn stood on the road.
"Is that a princess?" The mare whispered to the stallion.
The stallion rubbed his beard stubble, looking closer at the horn and wings, as well as finery that adorned the pony, Crystal boots, a crown, and that strange harness like the one Celestia wears. "Seems to be, though I don't know of any princess that looks like that, perhaps she's a foreign ruler that got lost on her way to Canterlot."
"Dear, I think she's hurt. Look at her leg." The mare pointed to the Princess's back right leg, which was covered in blood. She gagged as she caught the sight of bone sticking out beneath the gore. "We should help her."
"Right, it's the right thing to do." The stallion agreed stepping out of the brush. "Hello there, you look like you could use some help!"
Symphony's head sprang up at the sound of the Earth stallion's voice, her vision was being to blur and she could feel the spell fading quickly, she didn't have much time. Quickly she used her remaining magic to cast a spell on Cadenza so she wouldn't be pulled back with her.
"Please…" She cried holding her daughter out to the earth pony couple. "Please take care of my daughter, raise her, protect her, and love her as your own. Please, as a promise to a dying mother."
The stallion gently took the foal from her hooves. For a moment her vision cleared and she saw the three them standing together as she and treble had on the day Cadenza was born. Symphony smiled, at peace knowing her daughter would grow up with parents.
"What's her name?" The mare asked.
"Cadenza, Mi amore Cadenza, Cadence for short." With that Symphony felt the spell wear off completely and disappeared in flash of light, leaving her daughter in the hooves of two strangers.
-back in the Crystal empire
"What the hay is going on?" Applejack shouted as she and Nightingale stumbled upon… something… strange. Dusk was floating in midair her eyes whited out, Princess Symphony disappeared and then reappeared and Nightingale was staring off into the distance. "Night what's going on?"
"It's open…" The Pegasus whispered, making Applejack raise a brow as she tried to see what her friend was seeing.
"What are you talking about?"
"There's a hole in their formation and their all focusing on trying to bring down the shield. This is my chance."
"Your chance for what, Night?" Applejack asked as Nightingale began to stretch.
"A chance to get out of here and get the others, if we miss this we might never get out of here alive, but I'm going to need a lot of speed." Nightingale turned and looked Applejack straight in the eyes. "Applejack, I need you to buck me."
Applejack's mouth fell, "I beg your pardon?"
Nightingale blushed, "Not like that! I mean launch me with your boot things, so I can get past the changelings!"
"Why didn't you just say that?" Applejack retorted kicking up a boulder with a flat surface. "Get on and hold on tight, it's going to be a rough ride." The earth mare said getting into position, her expression turn solemn as she looked at all the changelings outside the shield. "Be careful Night."
Nightingale smirked confidently, "Don't worry, I'll come back with everypony and show those bugs what's for, you just stay alive till then."
Nodding silently Applejack began gathering her magic, while Nightingale adjusted her goggles, once she was sure they wouldn't move in flight she waited.
Applejack said "On the count of three, Night, ready?"
"Ready Applejack, One!"
"Two"
"Three!"
With all her might Applejack kicked the stone causing it to fly like an arrow. She quickly turned around so she could watch Nightingale as she launched herself off the stone when it began to lose momentum. The white Pegasus broke through the shield flying at top speed and appeared to go unnoticed, until some Changeling burst out of the snow. Applejack held her hat tightly as she watched Nightingale narrowly dodge them. One looked like it got really close, but they were too far away to tell for sure, soon enough they were mere specks in the sky, and then nothing.
Putting her hat back on Applejack trotted over to Symphony and found the Crystal Princess dead with a smile on her face. She gave a quick prayer for the departed and turned her attention to Dusk, who was still glowing and firing magic at the Crystal heart. Now that she was close, Applejack finally noticed the changes to Dusk's body, mainly that she was almost as tall as her and her mane now reached down to her flank.
"What in the hay?" Tentatively Applejack reaches for the filly, but quickly pulled her hoof back as jolt of electricity zapped her hoof. Quickly putting two and two together Applejack realized Dusk was powering the shield. (How do I wake her up? Should I even wake her up? She's keeping all those bad ponies outside for now, but at this rate she'll be an old mare!)
Applejack was at a loss. Should she save Dusk or save the city and everypony in it? Closing her eyes she searched deep inside herself for the answer, trusting her gut, and her gut told her to save Dusk!
"Sorry about this sugercube!" Charging up her hoof Applejack punched Dusk right in the face! Knocking the filly out of her trace and bouncing across the ground. Applejack winced, realizing she may have over done it. Thankfully the Crystal heart was still spinning and the shield was still there… for now.
The sound of hooves touching down caught her attention. Applejack turned coming face to face with a disheveled Luna and Fierce Fury, who was looking worse for wear and missing two of his talons on his left claw. Arriving with them was the remaining majority of the Crystal army and there weren't that many left.
The Crystal ponies were exhausted and battered; they'd been taken by surprise and fought hard against the invaders. When the shield had been thrown up, they rejoiced in their small victory. Now they seemed to dull and lose their shine as they found their princess lying on the ground in her own blood. Princess Luna silently approached her cousin and closed the mare's eyes, noting the smile on her face.
She choked back her tears as she faced the Crystal ponies. They stared back at her and kneeled. One pony, the Vice captain of the Guard stood up and shouted, "Hail Princess Luna!"
His fellow guards soon joined in the chant and it spread across the empire like a wild fire. The fiery spirit of the Crystal ponies was reignited as they clung to hope, to the light in their darkest hour. Ironically it was the Princess of the Night that was that light.
Luna raised her hoof for silence and they promptly obeyed. "We haven't much time! The shield will only hold for two days. We must prepare!"
"Yes, princess!" They saluted fanning out to look for survivors, supplies and weapons.
Once they were all gone Luna approached Dusk, who was still unconscious. She barely noticed Applejack and Fury standing by her side as she stared at what happened to Dusk. Using the Crystal Heart had aged the filly into a mare and that wasn't all it had done. Branded on the Unicorn's flank was an eight turned on its side, the symbol for infinity.
"Where is Nightingale, Applejack?" She asked deciding to address Dusk's changes latter when she was awake. Applejack pointed to the south, looking nervous.
"She went to get help from home; she got spotted on her way out by some Changelings, I don't know what's become of her."
Luna solemn stared to the south. "We must prepare. We have little time." She said picking up Dusk and carrying her to the castle.
"What about Night?"
Luna sighed, suppressing her emotions, "I have faith in her ability, but… we cannot wait for help that may not be coming. Do you understand Commander Applejack?"
Applejack lowered her hat over her eyes, "I understand… princess."
"Good, you know what needs to be done. Fury go and find any Pegasus that can still fly and get them combat ready, we'll need them when the shield goes down. Applejack coordinate with the remaining soldiers, we need to fortify the castle. We'll need to hold out till the Crystal heart is ready to be used again. Understood?"
Applejack and Fury saluted, "Understood."
Luna watched them leave before entering the Castle, taking a one final glance at the Crystal heart before closing the door.
-In the artic
Nightingale shivered violently as she dug herself out of the snow. Around her were the five changelings that chased after her, all dead, but they left their mark. She glanced angry at her damaged wing, trying to move it, only to grimace in pain. No way was she flying out of here.
Stumbling through the snow she continued her way back to Equestria, hoping she didn't die before she got there.
"I gotta make it home… I gotta make it home…" She chanted as she walked into the blizzard.
