So, I just found out last night, like just a few minutes after I completed this chapter that one of my best friends from college just tested positive for Covid 19. For those who don't know the virus is getting really bad here in Oklahoma and it's gotten to where I'm scared just to go to work. This virus is really doing a number on me and my friends. I have one friend who lives in California who is a cameraman in Hollywood and he has been unemployed since Hollywood shut down. He is really experiencing depression and low self esteem and worth due to him not being able to work. Now with one of my other friends testing positive for the virus this makes two friends of mine who is being directly affected by the virus.
Anyway let's get back to it and hopefully, if you are being infected by the virus in anyway this will help take your mind off of things for a few minutes.
It was a bright flashing light that finally woke up Orion. Opening up his eyes he quickly tried to shield them from the light Pinkie was shining on him from Twilight's table lamp.
"What the hey?" Orion complained while shielding his eyes.
"We will be asking the questions around here," Rainbow growled, flying up to glare Orion in the eyes. Orion tried to get up from the chair he was sitting in only to find that he was being tied down tightly by rope with Applejack holding the other end in her teeth.
"You have a lot of nerve showing your face around here Orion!" Twilight stepped out of the shadows, a look of shear hatred glued on her face. It wasn't the type of look that one pony would expect from the pony that once held the title Princess of Friendship. Then again considering the feelings that Twilight once had for Orion and then considering what he did to her, her expression and current actions were warranted.
Orion sighed realizing real quickly what all was ruckus was about. "Okay look I know what this is all about, but believe me when I say this, I am not your enemy."
"Oh yeah?" This time it was Thunder Soar flying out of the shadows at a high speed. He grabbed Orion by the shoulders and lifted him and the seat he was tied to a couple inches off the ground before slapping him across the face. "If you ain't our enemy then why did you try to kill Twilight and me? Why did you join forces with the enemy, and how did you know how to find us? Answer that you little son of a...!"
"Thunder, language please there are kids here!" Fluttershy pointed out, covering Screwball's ears.
"Dang it Discord sound proof force field now!" Thunder ordered "I'm having this one!"
With the snap of his fingers a force field was formed around Thunder, Pinkie, Applejack and Orion. All every pony could do was watch, their eyes wide as saucers as Thunder went loose on Orion, no pony outside the field could here what he was saying to him but judging by the fact that Applejack's and Pinkie's jaws was on the floor it wasn't pretty. Every pony suddenly gasped when Thunder took out a picture of a donkey, pointed at it then pointed back at Orion.
"I understood that one," Shining Armor whispered to Cadance.
"That is offensive," Candance replied "not to mention rude."
His anger subdued Thunder nodded to Discord signalling him to lower the force field before marching to join the rest of the team. "There, I'm glad I got that out of my system."
Twilight was still in shock as she approached Orion, who's mouth was still hanging on the floor, along with Pinkie's and Applejack's.
"You don't want to know the vocabulary he just used," Applejack replied "It was more colorful than a bucket full of zap apples."
"Can't say I really blame him though." Twilight replied glaring down to her former lover. "If I wasn't princess and forced to live by example I might do the same thing."
"Listen Twilight, you have every right to be mad at me."
"You tried to kill me and Thunder Soar!"
"I never actually tried to kill you."
"You stabbed me in the side with your horn and through me off a cliff! You fired a blast at Thunder, injuring his wing and nearly causing him to crash to his death! How in Equestria was you not trying to kill me?"
"I know why you think that Twilight, and I don't blame you for it. But it was the only way I knew to keep you alive."
"YOU STABBED ME!"
"In a non fatal area! Ash had every single one of his goons after you. They were going to kill you if I didn't reach you first. As long as Ash knew you was alive he wasn't going to stop coming for you. I did what I did to make him believe you was no longer a threat to him. I had to make it look like you was dead. I had to make it look real, which is why I couldn't tell you what I was doing. You had to believe I betrayed you, like I tried to kill you. It was the only way at the time I believed I could save your life. You are welcome!"
"That is so stupid!" Thunder spoke up "Even if you was careful where you stabbed Twilight you still threw her off a really, really, steep drop that could of easily killed both of us! And how do you explain zapping me?"
"First off I shot you because you went after her and I couldn't let you pull her out of there right yet and letting Ash know she was alive, but again I made sure not to shoot you in a fatal place. Second I was familiar with that ravine, I knew that with Alicorn's magic made it to where they would be powerful enough to survive that fall. As for you, I shot you in the wing, with your wing injured the speed of your descent dropped, insuring your survival."
"That is ridiculous," Applebloom snapped "Both Twilight and Thunder Soar were near death when me, Sweetie Belle, and Spike found them. They would have died if we didn't find them when we did. Your whole plan was completely stupid!"
"Let's pretend for a minute that we actually buy that?" Spike spoke up. "Why didn't you rejoin us and the rest of the rebellion, why didn't you go after Twilight after you did your deed and explain to her why you did what you did?"
"I thought I could infiltrate Ash and take him out from the inside. I thought if he thought I was on his side, if he trusted me, that I could find a way to take him and his army down. I took the book that Screwball used to free Ash. I learned how to turn objects into stone. I used it on one of Ash's top Lieutenants, Inferno. I was planning on eventually using it on Ash. Then Screwball here had to get in the way."
"What do you mean I got in the way? I was trying to actually end this without bloodshed you stupid little mule kisser."
"Screwball!" Fluttershy scolded at her daughter's sudden language.
"And you better be glad I got in the way because if you killed Ash I would unleash me inner daughter of chaos and sent you to the worst dimension in the history of all dimensions."
"That would be dimension 47 by the way." Discord chuckled wickedly "And trust me you don't want to go there."
"Look I screw up okay I admit it, but I ain't a hero like all of you. I am just a blacksmith, I never ran into action in my life. You ponies are the ones with the plans, you are the ponies who always know what to do no matter what is thrown at you. You have all saved Equestria like a hundred times. I haven't done any of that. So yes I messed up. I didn't think my plan through thoroughly, but I had to act fast if I wanted to at least try to save your life that day and try to end this war. I acted wrong, but you got to believe I had good intentions." Orion's voice suddenly lowered as he was no longer trying to defend himself. "None of that matters anyway if we don't stop Shadow Reaper."
"What do you mean?"
"It's the whole reason I risked your wrath coming here. Shadow Reaper escaped prison, he cloned himself, took Grogar's bewitching bell and the Orb of Anarchy. He turned Ash into stone and he is going to use the Orb to destroy Equestria and enslave those unfortunate to survive."
"HE BROKE OUT OF PRISON?" Luna screamed
"HE CLONED HIMSELF?" Pinkie screamed"
"HE HAS GROGAR'S BELL?" Discord screamed
"AND THE ORB OF ANARCHY?" Celestia screamed
"HE TURNED MY ASH INTO STONE?" Screwball cried
"Yes," Orion answered "Look, I know you don't fully trust me, and I don't blame you, I was a idiot. But I am trying to save Equestria just as much as you are. If Shadow wins thousands if not millions of ponies will die. You may not trust me but you need me. We are going to need every pony we can get if we are going to save Equestria this time. Please, let me help you."
Twilight really didn't know if she could trust Orion again, not after what he did. But if what he was saying was true then they really would need all ponies on deck if they was going to stop Shadow Reaper from destroying all of Equestria. So with a sigh Twilight agreed. "Fine, but know that I am only pardoning you this one time because of Shadow Reaper, but if you are using us, or try to betray us in any way, then you will share the same punishment that awaits Shadow Reaper. Do you understand me?"
"Yes, your majesty."
Twilight turned to Applejack, "Then release him."
Applejack did as she was told but as soon as Orion was released she approached Twilight about her concerns.
"Twilight? You think it is a good idea to trust this pony after everything?"
"We don't really have much of a choice, if what he is saying is true, then the more hooves on deck, the better chance we have of actually winning this."
Twilight called a emergency meeting for every pony as well as the yaks, dragons, and griffons. Most of the ponies wasn't present during Orion's interrogation so they was surprised when they got the word of a urgent meeting, nonetheless they all crammed tightly in Zecora's cottage, the yaks, griffons, and dragons listening from outside with the doors and windows open, as Twilight spoke.
"I know I said that with the surrender of Ash that the war was over, but sadly that is not the case."
"What do you mean?" Thorax asked "Did Ash change his mind and refused to surrender."
"No, something way worse has happened. Shadow Reaper, Ash's second in command revolted, he cloned himself, stole the magic form Ash's army with the bewitching bell, turned Ash to stone, and is now about to use the Orb of Anarchy to destroy all of Equestria."
Every pony gasped at that news.
"But the Orb of Anarchy was locked up more than a thousand years ago!" Twixie gasped
"How could he get his hoofs on something that powerful?" Starlight asked
"I don't know, but if we don't stop him all of Equesria will go up in flames."
"What's your plan Twilight?" Ember asked
"Ember you and the dragons will be part of our air strike, along with the griffons, Pegasus ponies, and Wonder Bolts. These will most likely be clones your going go up against so no need to hold back on your flames."
"We will fry them." Ember smirked.
"Granny Smith, Big Mac, Applejack? Can you lead the Earth ponies? They will be our ground troops, surround the castle and hit them with everything you got.
"I got a few catapults from back in the day that we can use." Granny Smith.
"What?" Flurry Heart asked "I didn't know you had Catapults?"
"Oh yes," Granny Smith replied "Why back when I was your age, me and my parents and grandparents, as well as my siblings and cousins was feuding with our neighbors the Peaches over who had the better farm. We used catapults to fling our rotten apples at them. We won of course and they left Ponyville. Part of Sweet Apple Acres use to be the Peaches farm."
"This pony never ceases to amaze me." Rainbow Dash whispered to Rarity.
"Anyway," Twilight continued "Unicorns, you will be our mane line of defense. Since you have the most magic you will be on the front lines leading the attacks. Hit them quick and hit them hard."
"No evildoer will be able to overpower the great and powerful Twixie!" Twixie replied
"Thorax, we need you and the Changelings to work at deceiving the enemy when you can. With your shape shifting you can distract them and lead them into a trap. Yes it will be dangerous as your job will involve getting close to the enemy and having them chase you, but doing that will give us a powerful tool to use against them."
"I will do what I can for the cause." Thorax replied.
"Fluttershy, can you have your animal friends help in any way?"
"I don't know, I try to keep them out of danger as much as I can. But this is their home to, and I am sure they will do what they can to protect it. Leave it to me Twilight, I will have them ready for action."
"Screwball and Discord, you two will be our wildcards."
"What do you mean by that?" Discord asked
"With you two being masters of chaos, not to mention pranks, this is a opportunity for the two of you to use your skills to good use. We need you to be a distraction for them while we set up the attacks. After that, use your skills of chaos and mayhem to good use."
Screwball and Discord squealed "Finally, we can do what we do best and no pony will get mad!"
"This will be my masterpiece," Screwball chuckled as she rubbed her hooves together thinking of what she would do to those clones.
"Yaks want to help to!" Prince Rutherford yelled "Yaks demand job!"
"Actually your strong build will work perfectly as muscle. Yaks move fast and as a herd. With your strong build you will be really useful in hoof to hoof combat. You will follow right behind the unicorns in the front lines. While they are busy blasting you will mow down who you can with your speed and horns."
"Yaks ARE tough, tougher than ponies. Enemy won't know what hit them."
"There is one last thing you need to know," Orion suddenly spoke up, to the surprise of the other ponies. "When Shadow Reaper stole Ash's magic before turning him to stone, he became a Alicorn himself. He will be more powerful then any one of you, taking him down will take a group effort. If you see him avoid him until we can all attack as a group. Try to pursue him yourself you will die a horrible death."
"Okay as he said," Twilight replied, adding to what Orion said. "Shadow Reaper is the main target but we have to take him down together. We will only have a limited time once he sets off that Orb. Take them down, take them down quickly, free Ash and take out that machine. This is our last chance every pony. Good luck out there. We leave at the top of the hour. Good luck."
After the meeting Orion found Twilight sitting outside, staring at the sky. He could tell she was concerned, he couldn't blame her. This was her home, every pony was depending on her to succeed. He knew he was probably the last pony she wanted for support but still, any comfort at all might be enough to make her feel better. Heck, it might help repair the tension between them.
"Just to let you know," Orion said sitting down next to Twilight "You did good back there. This plan, I think it will work. Every pony believes in you Twilight, so do I."
"You better be right Orion." Twilight replied harshly, not even turning to look at him.
"Hey, I am trying to encourage you, make you feel less scared."
"If you cared at all about how I feel you would have never done what you did. You didn't just hurt me physically Orion, you hurt me emotionally. You were the first pony I ever truly felt any real feelings for and you then you hurt me. You made me think you betrayed me. It has taken me everything I have to keep my emotions in check while trying to save my kingdom. All I have wanted to do since I survived the near death experience you caused me is unleash every ounce of my magic on you, Ash, and Shadow Reaper, in that order. But no, I had to keep calm because if I let what you did get to me we would all die. You have no idea the damage you have caused me."
"I do know Twilight, trust me, words can't describe how sorry I am. But I am hoping that maybe you can find it in me to forgive me, and maybe, possibly, start over."
"I can forgive you Orion, but things will never be like it once was. After this is over, you are to go back to Manehattan and stay there. You will not be welcomed at the Canterlot castle ever again. Not as a guard, not for the Grand Galloping Gala, not for anything. I might not have you thrown in prison for your deeds, but you are not getting off without punishment. Losing me is that punishment."
Hearing Twilight say those words hurt, but with a sigh Orion nodded in understanding. He didn't deserve her, not after what he did. With a heavy heart Orion got up and prepared for battle.
On the balcony in Canterlot castle Shadow Reaper created a giant machine that would hold the Orb of Anarchy. This machine was fifteen feet tall, cylinder in shape and had a opening right in the middle for the orb to sit in. There was a pull lever at the right side of the machine, at that the pull of the lever electricity fired into the orb and it started to charge.
With a sadistic laugh Shadow Reaper turned to Ash, who was still a statue and gloated over what he had accomplished. "Isn't it beautiful Ash, in just under three hours, Equestria and everything it has stood for, for thousands of years will all be destroyed, and a new Equestria, my Equestria will rise. Let Twilight and her friends try to stop me. For soon they will realize that there is no stopping what I have started. Equestria will fall, and Twilight, and all her little friends and allies will die with it."
So, I want your opinions on the ending between Twilight and Orion. I have to different endings already planned out, one that involves them getting back together and one where they don't and Orion leaves Canterlot. I like both endings equally but I want you the readers to vote on how you think their story should end based on how you feel about Orion and his excuse and if you feel he still deserves her. Please leave your vote in a review or PM. You have till the final chapter to place your vote. Till then stay safe, stay at home and take care.