Book 2, Chapter 20
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the known characters/places of Redwall or in MLP:FIM, I do however own Shooting Star, Colonel Ashpaw the Brave, Braveheart, and Princess Rosethrone.
Martin was with Shooting Star formulting a plan to save Princess Luna along with the Changeling Queen and Princess. Shooting Star had a feeling that Darkwing would anticipate the rescue mission making things difficult. Still Shooting Star refused to leave those three in the claws of the raven. He undid his bandages on his wings and checked them out. There seemed to be no injury to them and he tested them out, no pain at all. Martin had arrived back from scouting to report to Shooting Star what the situation was like "There hasn't been much change at all Shooting Star. Queen Evergreen, Princess Chrysalis and Princess Luna are still held captive and placed in an opened area where they could be rescued by us."
"It's clearly obvious it's a trap mate" Shooting Star admitted "That raven is quite a schemer full on knowing that I won't ever turn our back on our captured friends."
"Making a direct rescue approach nearly impossible" Martin admitted "But we still have the Changelings to help us."
"That we do" Shooting Star said "But Darkwing knows we have the whole Changeling Hive at our advantage so he's bound to warn his forces not to fall for any disguises and most likely come up with a unified phrase that will allow them to identify the real ones from the false."
"Too right mate" Martin agreed "Plus I doubt the tunneling won't work ether, I mean it worked to get Princess Luna and Princess Celestia out of Canterlot but what worked once won't work a second time."
Shooting Star spreads his wings and Martin noticed his wings were at full strength "You're wings are back to normal mate!"
Shooting Star nodded "That I do. So far we must fall for this trap sense there is no other way around it."
He looks at the aircraft and it gave him an idea "As long as those three don't admit anything we have this aircraft...Star Swirl? Does it have weapons?"
"Not much I'm afraid" Star Swirl admitted "This airship is more of a cargo type of aircraft used to deliver stuff to places in Equestria. It's not meant for war."
"But that doesn't mean we can't have armed forces in it now does it?"
Star Swirl understood Shooting Star's plan and smiled as he answered him "Of course it doesn't!"
Martin turned to Shooting Star getting the plan and the warrior mouse smirked "Oh Darkwing won't be able to predict this!"
"The only way he'll know is if ether of his captives confess" Rockhoof admitted.
Shooting Star puts a hoof under his chin "Then we have to act quickly. The two Changelings Princess Chrysalis and Queen Evergreen won't tell them anything as Changelings seem to be more ready for war than Equestrian ponies. Princess Luna being an Equestrian might is under extreme pressure."
"Or her temper gets to the best of her" Martin added on.
Shooting Star turned turned to the Changeling Hive whom were looking at him for guidence without their Queen or Princess they were really leaderless. Luckily sense Shooting Star was an honory Changeling this left him fit to lead them. For now the burden of leading the Changeling's rested on his shoulders. Shooting Star could sense their uneasiness and he addressed them "Fear not my fellow Changelings. I can assure you all that your Queen and Princess will be saved. I will not abandon them or Princess Luna. Good thing is Darkwing isn't going anywhere unless I'm captured too. So please hear me out, and go inside that aircraft."
The Changelings eagerly all agree to obey Shooting Star feeling his heroic nature in him. They would follow him to the death if they had to. They all flew into the ship. While this was going on he was explanining things to Star Swirl "I trust you know how to drive this ship."
"Oh, this is the first time I've ever drove or piloted any machine Shooting Star, but I'm sure I can learn how to, after all I'm a quick learner" Star Swirl admitted which the moment Star Swirl admitted to him that this was the first aircraft he was gonna pilot caused Shooting Star to face hoof muttering "Guess we'll have to buy you time to figure that out then...But you'll have to wait for my single to fly the aircraft close."
Star Swirl nodded firmly giving Shooting Star more confidence that he'd figure out how to fly this aircraft by the time the single was launched. This made Shooting Star smile "Good then..." he then address Rockhoof "In the meantime Rockhoof could you make weapons for the Changelings?"
"Certainly!" Rockhoof said "What type of weapons do you need?"
"Give them ranged weapons" Shooting Star ordered "Try mostly arrows but if you need to spears or even javelins. We need to spook the enemy once this aircraft arrives and take as much as we can."
"On it!" Rockhoof said.
Shooting Star turned to Martin and Ruff "That just leaves us to fall into that trap mates. Arm yourselves with ranged weapons too we'll use them to take out any sentries Darkwing posts out or guards guarding the captives then if we need to use close range weapons, we'll use them.
Martin and Ruff agreed to the plan.
"We'll have to attack them at night so that they don't see the aircraft" Martin told Shooting Star.
"Or…Maybe I can be of some assistance?" a female's voice sounded.
All eyes turned towards the voice and saw a beautiful White Pegasus Pony with a black mane and tail with her mane twisted like two human pigtails her Cutie Mark was a tornado with lightning around it like a shield. What startled Shooting Star more was her blue eyes they nearly looked like his own. Martin looks at her and was also amazed how she nearly looked simular to Shooting Star and he blinked "Could you have a long lost sister Shooting Star?"
Shooting Star shrugged "You're asking the wrong pony that question. She maybe but she also could be my real mother."
"Eh, she seems too young to be your mother, so she must be your sister Shooting Star" Ruff said.
"How can you tell?" Martin inquired to Ruff.
The otter looked at the mare and Shooting Star "Well I can see it in me own eyes mates by looking at her eyes. She's younger than Shooting Star for one thing and she doesn't seem to have that mother stare for a second thing. If she were his mother she'd be older and have a shocked looked that she just seen her son again."
The pegasus had a locket around her neck and at hearing the otter's words she took one look at Shooting Star, then removed her locket and opened it. She gasped as she saw a photo of her and Shooting Star and walks close to him "The otter is right!"
She gave Shooting Star her locket and he saw the picture of him and this new pegasus it through him for a loop as he gave the locket to her back "I'm sorry? I don't remember you."
The pegasus took a look at her locket before putting it back then pounced on the warrior Pegasus from Salmandestron giving him a hug of joy "Oh, I'm soooo happy to see you again big brother! I'm Storm Breeze! Your baby sister."
Now something clicked in Shooting Star's brain as if this Pegasus was telling the truth now his memories weren't clear when he was a baby but somehow he knew that this Pegasus was his baby sister "N-N-N-N-No way Storm! Is that you?!"
"It is!" the Pegasus said hugging him.
Shooting Star blinks still a bit confused "But why don't I remember you fully?"
Storm's face clouded as she looked down crying. Shooting Star blinks "Storm?"
Storm eyes him hugging him as she explained taking a deep breathe "It stands to reason why you wouldn't remember me as much…So I'll try to explain it as best I can with the help of my locket."
She presses the locket and a bright flash engulfed the area unseen by Darkwing's or any of his forces.
Every beast and everypony covered their eyes and found themselves staring at a reflective past as Storm began her explanation "Do not be alarmed...My locket is taking us to the past to further explain the mystery of why Shooting Star doesn't remember me fully. It's a memory spell that was cast by a unicorn wizard before he too was slain by Princess Rosethrone."
There was once a mountain where a special breed of warrior Pegasus Ponies called home. It was called Mount Polympious. These ponies were so secretive that most other ponies didn't know the place existed even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna had no idea of it's existence. These Warrior Pegasus were instrumental on keeping the peace in Equestria like a true warrior. There were other normal none warrior Pegasus ponies living like any real peaceful peace in Equestria. It had just so happened that Shooting Star had been born one year earlier before his sister Storm was. She was still a young and both had a family. The father's name was Ironhoof the strongest of the Warrior Pegasus and current leader of it, while his mother was a normal Pegasus pony named breeze. Life was peaceful in Mount Polympious then one day...Everything changed as a young Princess Rosethrone would show up with the intention of making a name for herself. With her was Limestone, and Darkwing mostly as witnesses. Princess Rosethrone had arrived on Mount Polympious and saw Breeze getting fresh food for her family. However a dark feeling swept over Breeze and she turned seeing Princess Rosethrone feeling her evil but before she could sound the alarm Rosethrone had speared her in the head with a tree limb that she had commanded killing her on the spot. Out of anger and grief at his wife's death, Ironhoof had ordered his children to hide and when the time was right make their way to Mystico the only Unicorn living in Mount Polympious. The two young pony children obeyed their father running off. Along the way however it was Limestone and Darkwing that seperated the two from each other with Darkwing specifically puersuing the young Shooting Star and Limestone chasing Storm Breeze. Storm would call for her brother when she saw him fall and due to their young age the two hadn't learned how to fly. Shaken with grief Storm ran finding the unicorn magician whom after using a spell created her locket telling her the memory spell will activate the moment she met her brother again if he was alive.
The light show had ended and Shooting Star now looked at Storm fully realizing she was his sister "Storm! Has it been that long sense we were seperated? What happened to father?"
Storm closed her eyes "Reports say that Ironhoof was slain by Rosethrone after a well fought battle."
"Then what were you doing in the city where they were enslaving ponies?" Martin asked her.
"I was on my own quest searching for my brother" Storm said "But I haven't received any training as a warrior so when I came to this town I got jumped and easily captured."
Shooting Star saw how thin his sister was from being starved vowing "Sis...Stick with me. You're safe now."
She hugged him "Not safe enough big brother! You're dealing with Darkwing the raven whom chased you..."
"Things make sense to me now" Shooting Star muttered "Dotti my adopted mother did say she and adopted father Lord Brocktree found me on my head..."
"Can't believe that happened to you and your sister mate" Ruff said almost crying "Man the poor heartbreak she must've had thinking she was the only survivor after being seperated."
Martin was also troubled by this but the mouse warrior kept his calm demenior clinching a paw out of the group he knew how cruel the world was "This isn't anything new to me Shooting Star. Vermin are like that anyway you go. Picking on the weak and defenseless although the warrior Pegasus weren't pushovers. It would make sense why Rosethrone went after them first-"
Shooting Star nodded "Because without trained warriors, there was nothing Princess Celestia or Princess Luna could do to repeal her attack on Canterlot so many years later."
Storm looks at her brother "So are we going to save Princess Luna and the two Changelings or what?"
Shooting Star looks at his little sister knowing she and him were the only Warrior Pegasus left despite her not having any warrior training, he could still sense that she wanted to save Equestria true like a true warrior. He nodded "Of course sis...Can you make a big storm cloud?"
Storm Breeze grinned "Why do you think mom named me Storm Breeze? I love making storms! They are my passion! I only wish I could weaponize it!"
Shooting Star actually gave her a big smile "Then you'll get your wish, I have no knowledge of Equestrian history but you have the knowledge of what Pegasus can do. Sis, you will be the final of this rescue plan. I'll need you to make a big storm that'll cover the aircraft. Try to stay out of the way from being spotted though. That storm cover will camoflauge the aircraft making the escape to it easier to get to."
Storm saluted her brother glad to have a big part in this "You bet big brother! And I may not have the best training but I do have knowledge at healing."
Martin smiled at Storm "Every group needs a healer after all. We're happy to have your help Storm, but do try to stay out of the way of being scene by the enemy. We don't want you and Shooting Star seperated again."
"Right!"
Shooting Star turned to Martin and Ruff, all three having quivers. Shooting Star looks at his sister giving her the code word "When you hear Eulia that's the cue to start the storm and for Star Swirl to start the aircraft."
"Got it" Storm said "Be careful brother!"
"I will be" Shooting Star promised her.
He nods to Martin "Let's go!"
"Right mate!"
The three run off with Storm Breeze smiling she had finally found her brother after so long apart. Her heart pumped as she leaps for joy excited muttering to herself with new founded joy "Thank Celestia I found my brother! And even thank Celestia more for him being alive!"
While Martin, Ruff, and Shooting Star were making their way towards the city. Princess Luna was still blaming herself for this mess. In her mind Princess Chrysalis was right she caused this mess for falling for the clone of Princess Rosethrone. She was struggling to break free as was Chrysalis and Queen Evergreen. Darkwing sighted the three royals "Struggling will just make it worse."
"Never know when we can break free Darkwing!" Princess Luna said struggling more.
"Yeah!" Princess Chrysalis said "Shooting Star will save us and you'll be sorry!"
"Oh I'm looking forward to it" Darkwing said smirking then he muttered "After all he got away once."
The Clone of Princess Rosethrone turned to Darkwing puzzled but he reminded her "Remember your earlier conquests Princess..."
"Oh that!" Princess Rosethrone's clone said with a big smile on her face "That was fun!"
"What are you talking about?" Luna demanded.
"Oh I'm sure somepony will tell you one day" Darkwing said "Like when I deliver you and Shooting Star to the real Rosethrone, I'm sure she'll tell you everything you need to know before silencing you."
As he is speaking a magpie whom had been elected as a sentry gave out a squak as an arrow struck him in the chest causing him to fall down. This was followed by two other vermin a rat and a weasle getting struck by shafts. Darkwing turned seeing Shooting Star advancing "Not a moment too soon I see."
The Raven could see he was aided by Martin and Ruff the otter "I bet the Changelings he had with them are too scared to fight back knowing we have their rulers."
Queen Evergreen glared at the raven "Changelings are a proud race. They'll follow Shooting Star."
It was then Shooting Star over through the raven for once. Instead of getting to the captives first, it was Martin, and Ruff whom arrived first. Without a second thought Martin swung his sword, once, twice, no three times freeing the captives with Ruff at his side.
"Thanks Martin!" Queen Evergreen said.
"Don't thank me just yet!"
"Where's Shooting Star?!" Princess Luna and Princess Chrysalis asked.
"He's coming" Ruff said.
Darkwing roars out "Come on out everyone! They have fallen for the bait!"
Shooting Star was hiding in the bushes watching as Martin and Ruff were surrounded but he wasn't. He waits till a fox was about to pounce on Martin before firing an arrow taking the fox down in an instant. Then he emerged from the bushes slaying two rats, two weasles, two ferrets, two foxes, and two magpies before joining his friends in the center.
"Ah, Shooting Star, we meet at last!" Darkwing told Shooting Star as the warrior pony met eye contact with him.
Shooting Star looks at Darkwing "Don't play as if this is the first time we've met Darkwing!"
"Oh so you know of the past."
"We found out a while ago" Martin told the raven.
"Then you know why I'll take you to Shooting Star to the real Rosethrone right?"
Shooting Star put another arrow to the bow aiming it at Darkwing "I assure you, this won't end the same way as it did before."
He fired the arrow and the raven simply flew out of the way "You're gonna have to do more than one arrow to take me out."
Shooting Star smirks "Oh, that arrow wasn't meant for you anyway...Everyone you know the word."
Princess Luna smirked as did the two Changeling rulers, Ruff and Martin all took a deep breathe and shouted "EULIA!"
At first it appeared as if nothing had happened but Shooting Star knew his sister heard the call and was whipping up a storm.
"Nice war cry from Salmandestron" Darkwing yawned not intimidated "Close in on them troops!"
All six heroes were fighting against the vermin horde and when it looked bad no one thought to look back as a big storm grew. Then winds started picking up causing Darkwing to be alarmed "WHAT THE?!"
Even the clone of Princess Rosethrone knew this wasn't a storm that was ordered on this day "What's going on?!"
Lightning fell from the sky directly on the vermin as Storm Breeze rained down the lightning like rain. Then hidden in the storm clouds the airship came with Changelings firing arrow after arrow striking the vermin.
"What's going on?" Princess Luna asked confused.
"No, time to answer right now!" Shooting Star told her "Come on let's go! Martin, and Ruff get on me and Luna!"
"Right mate!"
While the vermin were confused on what was going on Shooting Star with his rescued allies, Martin and Ruff disappeared towards the airship. As they were getting to the airship, Darkwing turned swearing he saw an image of a white Pegasus Pony with blue eyes matching Shooting Star before a lightning bolt struck him causing him to fall to the ground injured. The heroes got onto the aircraft and the Changelings all hugged their rulers. Star Swirl turned the ship around and was off to the Hypogriph mountain. Once in Shooting Star waited with Princess Luna at his side "Thank you Shooting Star for saving me, Princess Chrysalis and Queen Evergreen."
"You're welcome" Shooting Star told her "But I couldn't have done it without the help of someone close to me."
As he was saying this Storm Breeze flew in and hugged her brother joyfully "How was that big brother?!"
Shooting Star hugged his baby sister back "You were great Storm. You were great! Just like me, as I've told Princess Luna I couldn't have done it without your help sis."
"Sister?" Princess Luna asked confused while Storm continued hugging her brother joyfully glad to have him back in her life "What is going on?"
Shooting Star turned to Storm Breeze as the Changelings all came around him with Queen Evergreen and Princess Chrysalis also interested in the explantion. Shooting Star smiled at his sister "Shall we tell them together sis?"
"We shall!" Storm said.
The two Warrior Pegasus began their explanation to everyone else.
End of chapter
Longer chapter than normal but I wanted to get Luna free and introduce you to Shooting Star's baby sister Storm Breeze. Storm for short as I'll go by at times. I also wanted to set a dark tone like how far Rosethrone and Shooting Star actually go back and for Shooting Star to have a new reason to fight Rosethrone's forces. Next chapter is Chapter 21
