Chapter 12: Ready, Aim, Fire Part 3: A Father's Daughter
The gang reconvened at the cart that Twilight Velvet and Luna were setting up.
"How's the evacuation going?" Luna asked.
"Mission accomplished." Twilight said with a smile. "We're the only ones left."
"Twilight, you and your mother take the kids to the exit point." Celestia said calmly. "Applejack and I will get the other truck ready and meet you back at the house."
The kids all headed in with help from Luna and Twilight Velvet.
"Now go easy on her, Twilight." Applejack said. "She's been actin' a might fidgety when ya gallop."
"You don't need to tell me about pulling a cart, Applejack!" Twilight said angrily. "My father was a master charger."
"He pulled chariots, Twilight." Twilight Velvet pointed out. She really didn't like how snippy Twilight was being. It just didn't seem like her. "This is a cart full of foals."
"Don't worry, Mom." Twilight said. "I've got it under control."
Twilight then drove off.
()()()()()
"We've righted the catapult ma'am." One of Chrysalis' Changelings said.
"If there are any more mistakes, the next projectile launched will be you." Chrysalis said as she lifted the guard up. She had enough of the various malfunctions with the catapult.
()()()()()
Fluttershy sat scared in the back of the cart as she turned to Luna.
"Luna, how can Sombra be so cruel?" Fluttershy asked.
"It's his way of punishing us because we don't always do what he tells us to." Luna explained.
"Why don't we?" Applebloom asked.
"Because sometimes you have to do what's right." Luna explained. "Even if it gets you into trouble. You know, one time, when Jesus was in the Synagogue, there was a stallion there with a paralyzed hand. It was the Sabbath. The day Jews are supposed to do no work. A group of Pharisees and members of King Hared's court were watching to see if Jesus would dare to heal this stallion on the Sabbath.
"'Stand up for everyone to see you.' Jesus told the stallion, and he then turned to the Pharisees.
"'What is the right thing to do on the Holy Day? Good or evil? To make someone better or let him die?'
"Jesus was angry because the religious leaders were so strict and obstinate. Jesus then told the stallion to stretch his hand out, and he did so, much to everyone's amazement. Although they admired his powers, many Pharisees were furious that Jesus had broken their law. Jesus knew this would get him into trouble, and he was right. The Pharisees were so angry, that they joined with the friends of King Hared to plot against Jesus. Much like Sombra plots against Christians today."
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Chrysalis prepared to launch after checking and rechecking the catapult personally.
"FIRE!" Chrysalis called out.
They fired two boulders into the district as Cadence tried to think of something to do.
()()()()()
As Twilight was driving the cart, she got frustrated with their lack of progress.
"Come on you bucket of bolts, faster!" Twilight said as she used the come-to-life spell to make the thing move faster.
"Twilight, Applejack said to go easy on the cart." Twilight Velvet said calmly.
"Yeah, but I can have us out of here in no time." Twilight said as she pressed onwards as the cart gained more and more speed.
"Twilight-" Twilight Velvet tried to warn her when suddenly, a huge boulder blocked their path, and Twilight had to turn completely around, and as she tried to slow down to get her barrings, the cart continued on like a panicked animal.
"Oh no." Twilight groaned as Rainbow Dash popped her head up.
"Uh, shouldn't we be going the other way?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Tell that to the cart!" Twilight said angrily, though she was angrier with herself. Twilight Velvet had told her to go easy on the truck, but as usual, Twilight Velvet's big stupid ego got in the way.
()()()()()
As Celestia and Applejack got their cart ready, they saw the other cart fly right past them.
"What in the world?" Celestia asked.
"I can't stop it!" Twilight called out.
"They're headin' right into the fire!" Applejack pointed out as everyone called for help.
()()()()()
From his palace, Sombra watched the market district burn as he played a harp.
Fire burn bright.
Fire burn strong.
Soon I will build
My pantheon.
Sombra then chuckled evilly.
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Celestia's truck had caught up to Twilight's.
"Hold on kids!" Celestia called out.
"We're trying!" Rainbow Dash called back.
"You're gonna have to jump!" Celestia called out.
Luna comforted the foals as they braced themselves.
"Applebloom, don't look down!" Applejack called out.
"On three." Rainbow Dash said calmly. "One, two, THREE!"
The three foals jumped off and landed in the other cart.
"Celestia, they're in." Applejack explained.
"You're turn, Luna." Celestia said.
"Can you get any closer?" Luna asked.
"Luna, if I was any closer, I'd be pulling your cart." Celestia replied.
"We'll jump with her, come on, Twilight." Twilight Velvet said as Twilight abandoned the harness and took one of Luna's sides while Twilight Velvet took the other. "One, two, three!"
The three jumped to the cart as the other one crashed into a building and as consumed by the flames.
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Cadence was watching the horror with Chrysalis.
"Funny." Chrysalis said with a smirk. "From here, they look just like ants."
"They look like ponies to me." Cadence said angrily.
At the market, everyone looked around. They were surrounded by fire, and the flames were too high for any of the regular openings to be accessible without burning to death or for them to fly out without suffering fatal amounts of smoke inhalation.
()()()()()
Back at the catapult, Chrysalis gazed at the center of the district.
"Target that statue!" Chrysalis called out.
()()()()()
Everyone arrived at a glorified statue of Sombra, unsure of what to do.
"There must be some way outta here." Applejack said, trying to be hopeful, but coming off more panicked.
Unfortunately, every way was blocked by fire and debris.
"We're trapped." Rainbow Dash gulped.
It was all Twilight's fault, so she figured she'd go with a clean conscious.
"Mom, I'm sorry." Twilight said plainly. "This whole thing is my fault."
"Chin up, Twilight Sparkle." Twilight Velvet said cheerfully. "I've been in worse scraps. I can't think of any, but I'm sure I have been."
"I just wanted to impress you." Twilight sighed.
"Impress me?" Twilight Velvet said in shock. "Is that why you've been acting so odd?"
"Yes." Twilight said. "I don't even deserve to wear my father's medallion."
"Bull plop!" Twilight Velvet said firmly. "Twilight, your father wasn't born a great leader! He became one over time, and you will too."
"Really?" Twilight asked.
"Yes, once you learn to think a little before leaping into action." Twilight Velvet said.
"Here comes another one!" Applejack called out as one landed very near where they all were.
"I can hardly breathe." Rainbow Dash gasped.
"Anymore boulders, and we're done for!" Applejack called out.
"Any ideas, Twilight?" Celestia asked.
"Nope." Twilight Velvet responded.
"Dad, I've let everyone down." Twilight sighed. "What should I do?"
Just then, she noticed the statue and the aqueduct, and she got an idea.
"Rainbow, do you think you can fly to the top of that statue?" Twilight asked.
"Sure." Rainbow Dash said. "But why?"
"I've got an idea." Twilight replied. "It's a long shot, but it just might work. Fluttershy, Applejack, I'm gonna need your help too."
Twilight then grabbed some stray rope that thankfully wasn't burned.
()()()()()
As the catapult got loaded again, Cadence got one more idea.
"Chrysalis, why don't you double the load?" Cadence asked. "It'll speed things up."
"I'm in charge of this operation, Cadence!" Chrysalis said angrily. "I'll give the orders! Double the load!"
()()()()()
Fluttershy and Applejack climbed up the base of the statue to a waiting Rainbow Dash with the rope as they unwound it.
"Good, now tie off the rope!" Twilight said calmly.
"Be careful!" Luna called out too.
They did so, tying the rope to Sombra's two hooves as Twilight grabbed a bust of Sombra and climbed up to the top.
"Quickly!" Celestia called out. "We don't have much time."
()()()()()
"Prepare to fire!" Chrysalis called out after the second boulder had been added.
"But ma'am, I don't think we should." A guard said.
"You're not here to think, now fire the catapult." Chrysalis said darkly.
"But ma'am-"
"I SAID FIRE!"
The catapult was fired, but it collapsed under the load and caught fire itself.
"Give me that bucket!" Chrysalis said quickly as a soldier handed it to her.
"But ma'am, that's oil!" The guard said, but it was too late. Chrysalis flung it on the fire, and it only got worse, and that was the end of the catapult.
()()()()()
Twilight aimed the bust at the aqueduct as she got it centered but began to get nervous.
"What if I miss again?" Twilight asked herself aloud.
"Then I was proud just to know you." Twilight Velvet stated. "Now do your best. That's all you can do."
Twilight nodded and fired. It hit the aqueduct, spraying water all over the fire and putting it out as everyone cheered.
"Now that's a shot even your father would've been proud of." Twilight Velvet said kindly as she and Twilight hugged.
Wow! That was a close one, huh?