Book 2, Chapter 21

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, Princess Rosethrone and Storm Breeze.

On the aircraft that Star Swirl was piloting, all Changelings, along with Princess Luna gathered to hear Shooting Star's explanation on what he had learned from his long lost sister Storm Breeze. Storm had explained the very early beginning of her tribe of Warrior Pegasus a very secretive tribe and how they were the ones in charge of keeping Equestria peaceful. Shooting Star had taken over for her after Rosethrone had figured it out and attacked Mount Polympious which she managed to kill every single warrior Pegasus by her own power except for Shooting Star and Storm whom managed to get away but got seperated by the efforts of both Limestone and Darkwing. Luna's face was one of pure rage and anger. Anger at herself and Princess Celestia for not catching onto Rosethrone's murderous rampage even if it was very early on they should've sensed this coming. Shooting Star turned seeing her "Luna?"

"Celestia and I should've been there! If we would've known about this, this whole mess with Rosethrone which all of Equestria faces wouldn't have happened! Shooting Star, Storm Breeze, I'm so sorry that this happened to you two! Nopony should go through in life knowing they are the last two of their people!"

"And what could you and your sister have done to help the Warrior Pegasi out?!" Princess Chrysalis asked Luna in a challenging but for once advising tone.

This caused Princess Luna to glare at her but Chrysalis answered the unanswered question "THERE WAS NOTHING YOU AND YOUR SISTER COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERNTLY! YOU TWO BOTH COULD HAVE BEEN SLAIN ALONGSIDE THE WARRIOR PEGASI! Rosethrone isn't one to hold back on anything she does and would have slain you two as well! All in all she would've had Equestria earlier!"

"But maybe my sister and I could've stopped or beaten her!" Luna suggested to Chrysalis.

Chrysalis transformed into Luna herself and mocked her repeating the line "But maybe my sister and I could've stopped her-" Chrysalis turned back to normal "That's wishful thinking, but were your sister and you trained to fight warriors?"
"...No" Luna muttered now seeing Chrysalis's point "But maybe we could have done something to stop her! Like maybe she wasn't that evil as she is now!"

This time it was Martin that spoke "I highly doubt it Princess. When one starts off being raises as evil unless she or he escapes from that situation on his or her own will there isn't any hope for Rosethrone back then."

"And that would be a big no-no" Chrysalis told Luna "Agaisnt somepony like Rosethrone even back then you can't just think peaceful diplomacy will work. Rosethrone would've used that against you and your sister to gain what she wants!"

Luna sighed with Shooting Star giving her a pat on the back "It's a good thought Luna. But personally you can't do anything about the past no matter what happened. One shouldn't reflect to the past too much. All one can do is try to learn from it and plan better. Besides."

He looks at his sister's skinny form "Somethings can be better for all of us."

Luna frowned knowing where he was getting at Storm was in bad shape health wise she had been a slave for so long and most likely treated horribly. She shook in anger "Mark my words as a Princess, Storm Breeze! Whoever enslaved you will pay for that! I will see to that!, and I won't let that pony or creature get away with enslaving one of my subjects!"

Shooting Star agreed with Luna "Nopony or no one enslaves my sister and gets away with it."

Storm sat in front of her brother hugging him and Princess Luna warmly "Oh, I'll be fine now big brother and Princess Luna! Now that big brother is here! If there is anything you Princess Luna and big brother could do about my ex master...Please do."

Shooting Star wrapped his hooves around his little sister feeling her body yes, she was very skinny due to enslavement but at the same time she had lived all this time despite the harsh treatment "Why didn't you run away sis?"

"Not like I didn't think of running away from my master" Storm admitted "I've tried many times but got recaptured and beaten repeatbly with master hoping to break me into obeidence...I wasn't a very good slave as he had to try to beat me constantly."

Martin smirked "Us warriors aren't the best usage for slaves. How vermin think they can enslave warriors and break them is beyound even my knowledge. I too happen to be a slave once against Badrag the Tyrant but he soon found out I wasn't a slave he would enjoy too much."

Storm sighed "You say that but he had almost broke me and might have done so had your attack on the city to try to free the captive ponies not had given my master a near heart attack as he wasn't expecting it."

Shooting Star rubbed her head "Well you don't have to worry about anything now sis. I'm here and I will not let him take you back."

"That goes double for me!" Princess Luna added on

"And me" Princess Chrysalis said not wanting to be left out "I'll make that jerk of a master pay dearly for harming Shooting Star's little sister for twelve years!"

Storm smiled relaxing next to her brother feeling that he would protect her. As she is relaxing Shooting Star looks at her body going to deliver on this vow. She and him were the only warrior Pegasi left and he had to protect his sister. Princess Luna looks out the windows keeping guard. Ruff was looking at Star Swirl "How long do we have till we get there?"

"About an hour or so" Star Swirl answered the otter "Providing we don't get interupted by an unfriendly visit."

Shooting Star overheard this and let his sister sleep underneath his hooves. He was very much determined to make sure she stayed freed. As he is looking at her body inspecting it for injuries, he could see the scars of whip marks which partly healed but also partly didn't which caused him to frown. The Warrior Pegasus fought his emotions to keep them in check, oh if her master ever made a mistake in trying to recapture Storm Breeze, Shooting Star would let him have it. Princess Luna sat down right besides him "Despite what Chrysalis told me, I still feel for you and Storm, and still wish that I or Princess Celestia could have done something better, again sorry for what had happened to you and her."

"Now that we're reunited, Storm and I'll be fine" Shooting Star told her looking at his sister "Right now Storm needs more support right now. And thank you Luna."

Princess Luna agreed whispering to him "She does need you right now. Chrysalis and I will keep watch while you watch over your sister."

Shooting Star smiled "Thanks again."

Princess Luna stood up turning to Princess Chrysalis reaching out a hoof "Truce?"

Princess Chrysalis hestiated but eventually reached her own hoof out accepting the truce "Truce!"

"Now let's go see if we will be visited."

"Oh Luna, I have a feeling we will...No slave master wants to lose a slave for good...Storm's slave master is sure to pay us a visit."

Luna growls vowing hateful vengence on Storm's slave master "And it will be the last mistake he or she ever makes if I get my hooves on him or her!"

While the aircraft flew, down below Darkwing was now in recovery mode. The Raven groans as he slowly got up. He felt his burnt chest where the lightning bolt had struck him. Princess Rosethrone's clone stood up after keeping her eyes trailed on the aircraft. She was now out for blood, her foe's blood and Darkwing knew her clone now wouldn't listen to reason. She stood up "I'm going after that aircraft and I'll destroy every living creature on board!"

Darkwing looks at her "But the real you wants Shooting Star and Luna brought to her alive!"

"I DON'T CARE!" Rosethrone's clone roared "I'm sure she'd settle with any results...THEY GOT AWAY FROM US! WELL I'M GOING TO SHOW THEM WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THEY DEFY ME"

Darkwing turns "At least do it when you have an army!"

"Nope! You must recover from that injury, I'll deal with them...Strangely especially that white Pegasus!"
"That white Pegasus is Shooting Star's sister."

"A better hostage and captive" Rosethone's clone spoke "I'm gonna destroy them all and bring her alive. I'll torture that mare until she begs for mercy and make her relive the day she and her brother eluded me."

Before Darkwing could say anything else Rosethrone's clone had flown off to destroy her foes leaving the raven captain to heal up. Along the way that she flew she flown into a strong blue minator creature. Oh the way she looked at him she knew whom it was, Iron Will. The minator saw Rosethrone growling "Iron Will is missing a pony slave! If you value your life you won't come across me!"

Rosethrone's clone rolls her eyes ignoring this brute and bully while walking forward. He tries to grab her but she counters quickly with her magic "You are a fool to not realize who I am or am a Clone of!"

She had ended up using her magic to grip her opponent around his neck just like the real one would've when annoyed or if anyone pissed her off. The minator began to gag for breathe as the clone of Princess Rosethrone thought about twisting his neck and ending his life now that he made his fatal error.

"Y-Y-Y-You must be Prin-Prin-Princess Rosethrone's Clone!"

"Du'h!" Princess Rosethrone's clone growls "Now why would you threaten me?!"

"Iron Will's lost a slave! Iron Will is searching for his slave so he can beat into obeidence!"

Even as a clone, Princess Rosethrone now was listening closely "Slave? A pony slave?"

"Yes!"

"What color was he or she?"

"White Pegasus with black mane in two pig tails! Wait Iron Will must ask you saw her?"

At this point Princess Rosethrone threw Iron Will face first into the ground releasing him from her grip "YES! She was with my foes and lead to a successful rescue mission of my own captives!"

Iron Will blinks "Where is she? Iron Will will get her!"

Rosethrone's clone smirks pointing to an aircraft "Up there!"

"Oh she's not getting away!" Iron Will said "But how do Iron Will get up there?"

Rosethrone's clone studied branches as the aircraft was flying still low enough for trees to reach them "Oh I can pin it down for a while but you'll have to get her alone. If you can bring me the other passengers on board, I'll reward you with all of them except for two whom are my captives."

"Iron Will likes what he hears Princess Rosethrone. Iron Will will accept the task!"

Princess Rosethrone's clone grinned now formulating a proper plan "Then come with me. My raven captain will help us set up the attack."

She walks back to camp with Darkwing alertive "Princess? You're back!"

"With a new recruit!" the clone of Princess Rosethrone spoke.

She steps aside and Iron Will walks in with Darkwing smirking clearly seeing the Princess playing the cards right even as a clone there was some spark of brains in it then again the real Princess Rosethrone saw everything from her clone's eyes and most likely spoke to him.

"Iron Will wants his slave back" Iron Will told the raven captain "And your Princess says you'll help us."

"Of course" Darkwing said "Then you need to know some proper military rules...I'm Captain Darkwing in charge of this second army. You'll address me as such as I outrank you."

Iron Will looked like he was going to strangle the old raven but Rosethrone's clone stopped him "Darkwing's right he's your superior and will be treated as such!"

"Grr...Iron Will normally doesn't take orders from anypony or anyone but for once Iron Will will do so!"

"Good answer" Princess Rosethrone's clone told him.

"So you have a plan Princess?" Darkwing asked her.

"Of course" Princess Rosethrone's clone said eying the aircraft "I need you to set up a diversion Darkwing to get their attention thinking we're persuing them while I set up a spider web."

A new rat in the second army spoke out of terms due to confusion "But Princess you aren't a spider! You can't spin webs!"

Princess Rosethrone's clone eyes the young rat venomously "I'm surrounded by idiots except for Darkwing...For that matter Captain Darkwing..."

Darkwing kicked the young rat in the head knocking him out "Never insult the Princess with a question!"

With the young rat knocked out Rosethrone's clone spoke "Spiders aren't the only things that can produce silk. Some trees can produce a sticky substance that can be extremely sticky. This subtrance is known as sap. I plan to force the trees to produce a web of the stickiest sap to trap that aircraft. Once trapped our new recruit will storm into it to take our foes by surprise to capture them both...This plan needs all three of us to do or parts well to succeed. I will not tolerate failure on this."

"I will get the soldiers ready Princess" Darkwing said.

Princess Rosethrone's clone nods walking off into the night ready to do her plan.

Inside the aircraft, Shooting Star was watching over his sister's now sleeping form. She was smiling in her sleep now that she had found him again. His warrior insticts soon picked up and he stood up quickly. So quickly that Storm was nearly kicked in the neck by accident. She opened one of her eyes seeing her brother's quickness "Big brother?"

He rubbed her mane "Sleep tight little sis. You need it the most."

He began to walk causing her to ask "Where are you going?"

Shooting Star turned to her "There's gonna be an attack on the aircraft. I don't know what Princess Rosethrone has in mind but I'm gonna make sure she's not successful. Queen Evergreen if you are around please watch over my sister."
Before she could ask another question he was off to inform Martin about this as well as Princess Luna and Princess Chrysalis. Storm sighs "Big brother..."

"He's looking out for your safety Storm" Queen Evergreen said.

Storm jumps in surprise as the Changeling Queen had come up from behind her and it scared her a bit "Oh Queen Evergreen ma'am!"

Storm Breeze bows to the Changeling Queen legs shaking but only in surprise. Queen Evergreen raised a hoof "Easy Storm! I didn't mean to frighten you like that! I came to watch over you as your brother just asked of me to."

"Sorry" Storm apologized again "I know he's looking after me but I wish he could watch over me more privately. We just met and."

Queen Evergreen gave the mare a gentle pat on the head almost as if she was Storm's mother to calm her down causing Storm to look up at her. The gentle Changeling Queen smiled "I know what you are going through maybe not fully but I know. I go through this every time Chrysalis escapes the Changeling Hive without informing any changeling...Especially when she nearly got us wiped out by Rosethrone alone too. Believe me when I say this your brother wants to be at your side but if an attack is coming we must be prepared for it. In a way he's protecting you as well."

"You're right" Storm said sighing and her stomach growls "Stupid stomach!"

Queen Evergreen chuckled "Come with me Storm I'll get you something to eat."

"Well alright" Storm said.

The two walked to get something to eat.

Princess Luna and Princess Chrysalis sat in the middle of the aircraft looking out the doors of it. The two heard hoof steps coming forward. The two stood up ready to defend if it was a foe. Once they saw who it was the two relaxed. It was Princess Luna that spoke "Shooting Star! You should be with your sister bonding with her!"

"I was" Shooting Star told her "And would be,"

"But" Martin said "Shooting Star feels as if there is gonna be an attack soon."

"Darkwing's forces aren't in any condition to fight a prolonged battle after that successful rescue you pulled off" Princess Chrysalis told the two.

"That maybe so" Shooting Star admitted "But I can feel it. The clone of Princess Rosethone must've came up with a plan one that the real Rosethrone has thought of."

"Is that possible a clone of her could?" Chrysalis asked.

Princess Luna sighed "Under normal situtations with a cloning spell no...But something tells me that Rosethrone's spells might be considered not a normal situation so it is possible she can."

"We need to be alert" Shooting Star said "We can't be allowed to be taken off guard. In a way I'm still protecting my sister."

"Whose watching over her?" Chrysalis asked.

Shooting Star answered "Your mother Queen Evergreen is, I asked her before leaving Storm Breeze to get ready for this attack."

The two Princesses stood up looking out the door with Shooting Star sighing "The attack isn't gonna come from the door ladies..."

"It's gonna come from our backs or front" Martin said "Most likely our back."

Shooting Star puts a hoof under his chin "And front..."

"How?" Martin asked.

"Worrying about our backs is probably what the real Princess Rosethrone has planned for a diversion...Somehow the real attack is gonna come from the front leaving us vulnerable for whatever she has planned."

Martin turned to the Princesses "Think one of you could look out the back way and the other look out the front?"

"Both of them will look out the back" Shooting Star said not wanting the two to argue he knew there probably wasn't any time for them to argue now was the time for action and defending not arguing "I'll look out the front with Star Swirl, Martin you stay here watching that door if there is an intrusion coming."

"Right away" Martin said.

Shooting Star prepared a defense hoping it was gonna be enough.

end of chapter

Looks like Rosethrone isn't through yet with Shooting Star. She's not letting him get away and certainly not going to let Storm get away with foiling her plan. Next chapter is Book 2, Chapter 22!