Chapter 24:

Getting Ready For War

Later that very night, Stone Heart and his band marched out of the Outlands and crossed a river to reach Equestria. As they emerged, they were soaked and covered in mud and were ready to proceed with their new plan to take back what was rightfully theirs for the taking…by force.

At the Castle, storm clouds rolled in and thunder was heard as the rain poured.

Inside, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie, Applejack, and Rarity were talking amongst each other in worry about how Dusk managed to get away from them again. While Fluttershy just remained quiet, upon hiding the fact that she was the one who helped Dusk to get away so he can find Ocellus.

"I can't believe Dusk is gone again," Rainbow Dash said with worry.

"I know. And this is the 8,000th time he's got away from us!" Rarity added, reminding them how many times Dusk has managed to slip under their noses.

"Ooooh, this is so bad! I thought you were gonna watch him, Applejack!" Pinkie said, putting the blame on Applejack.

"Me?! Rarity was gonna watch him," Applejack said, pointing to Rarity next to her.

"I thought Rainbow Dash was gonna watch him!" Rarity shouted, pointing to Rainbow Dash in anger.

"No, Pinkie's gonna watch him!" Rainbow argued back, pointing to Pinkie.

Fluttershy didn't say a word and just backed up, sensing some tension between her friends arguing.

"You were gonna watch him, Dashie!" Pinkie argued, pointing back at Rainbow Dash.

"Then Watch This!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she jumped up and landed on top of Pinkie.

"OW!" Pinkie yelped in pain,

"Get Off My Cousin You Rainbow Hair Donkey!" Applejack shouted as she jumped onto Rainbow Dash and started tussling with her, Rarity and Pinkie joined in the fray while Fluttershy just watched.

While they were fighting, Twilight entered the Castle and shook all the rainwater off her as she heard her friends fighting each other about something.

"Say it!" Rainbow said.

"No!" Pinkie shouted.

"Say it!" Rarity said next.

"Fat!" Pinkie shouted.

"Say It!" Applejack yelled.

Twilight then saw Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack yanking on Pinkie. Rainbow was yanking on Pinkie's tail, Rarity was yanking on Pinkie's left front hoof with her magic, and Applejack was yanking on Pinkie's mane as the pink poofy maned pony started shouting in distress.

"Fat! Fatty! Fat! Fat!" Pinkie cried out in pain and distress.

"What are you girls doing?" Twilight asked, wondering what they are arguing and fighting about.

"Twilight!" Fluttershy greeted her with a nervous smile while the other four mares stopped and turned to their Alicorn friend with nervous smiles as well, being caught by surprise.

"Darling, oh, uh. That's a good question. Let us tell you one, dear," Rarity said, nervously trying to break it down to her friend about the situation.

"Yeah, it's hypothetically," Pinkie said with a smile and a nod.

"That's right. You see there's this girl…" Rainbow Dash started.

"But this girl is not an Alicorn," Pinkie quickly added with a nervous smile.

"Oh, no, dear. Definitely not an Alicorn," Rarity agreed as Twilight looked at her friends with a smirk. Whenever something was wrong her friends got long winded and nervous.

"And her son well let's just say that her son…" Rainbow Dash was about to finish but then hesitated as she doesn't know how to break it to Twilight this time.

"Vanished?" Applejack asked nervously, finishing the question with her honest words.

"Dusk is gone?!" Twilight demanded, she could not believe that her own son would run away. Why would he disobey her for a traitorous Outsider? She had to find him and reason with him was her only thought.

Suddenly, Shining Armor entered the room with an urgent look on his face.

"Queen Twilight, quick! My scouts have spotted Stone Heart and the Outsiders making an attack on the kingdom and they're heading this way! It's WAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR!" Shining Armor said in urgency.

"Shining Armor, send one of your scouts to find Dusk!" Twilight ordered as Shining Armor nodded and headed out.

"Rainbow Dash, Applejack, assemble the strongest Alicorns you can find!" Twilight ordered, turning to Applejack and Rainbow Dash as they nodded.

"Rarity, prepare our armor for battle!" Twilight demanded, turning to Rarity as she nodded as well.

"Fluttershy and Pinkie, tell everyone in the kingdom to stay inside at all times! Everypony move now!" Twilight said, giving her final orders before she and her friends split up to do their tasks.

Outside, lightning flashed, thunderclaps were heard, and rain was pouring hard.

Stone Heart and his band marched right into Equestria as a small flock of birds cleared out of the way for them in fear.

Twilight and her band have put on their armor and are right now heading somewhere to meet with the Outsiders. Twilight has put on her armor, which matched her coat color and her medallion was a picture of her cutie mark, too as she leads her band to battle with her enemy.

Fluttershy told everypony and Kirins in the kingdom about what is happening and they all ran to their homes to stay inside, where they'd be safe.

Meanwhile, Dusk and Ocellus ran and flew as fast as they could to get back to their families and stop them before things can get out of hoof. As they ran, ahead of them, their bands appeared to be meeting at an open stretch of land on the edge of the gorge.

Pinkie talked to some Dragons, Griffons, Hippogriffs, Yaks, and Changelings about the upcoming conflict as well and they all began to evacuate the area too.

As the Outsiders took their positions and readied themselves to take back their home, Stone Heart walked up onto a high rock ledge and stood tall, this is the moment he's been dreaming and waiting for his whole life.

Vultures begin to circle above in the sky. They did not care who won, they were waiting for a meal.

Below, Stone Heart and his band waited as Twilight climbed up onto her high rock ledge and took her commanding position as she and her band readied themselves for this is the battle of the century.

The Mane 5, wearing their armor, were ready as well. Pinkie then marched up and turned around waving her tail at the Outsiders, "Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah! Nah!" She said mockingly.