Did I mention that there's going to be songs? Because there's going to be songs. The idea for this actually struck me when I was writing the author's note for Chapter 1 and suddenly Viva La Vida by Coldplay came up on shuffle. It was a message from the Gods, and so there are now going to be at least 3 or 4 musical parody-esque songs scattered throughout (possibly more, IMPROVISATION). So open Viva La Vida up in another tab or something (or take this www dot youtube dot com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE) and play it when appropriate. You'll know.

Luna was absent for the whole of the meal, though Twilight said because the sun was setting she'd obviously calmed down enough to fulfil that particular duty of setting the sun and raising the moon. While they ate, it was Rainbow Dash that said:

"So what's it like in Angel Land?" to Pit. Pit slurped thoughtfully on his stew, before saying:

"From what I can tell from the map, it's kind of a bit like Cloudsdale, only not everything is made of cloud. We have big temples and buildings and parks and my home, Palutena's Palace."

"You live in a palace?" This information was evidently news to Marth.

"Yeah. I live there, work there and train there."

"I am impressed."

"That is pretty neat. Is it anything like this place?" Rainbow cast her hoof across the room, indicating to the whole of the castle.

"Um, yeah, a little bit. I've not seen much of this place though, so I don't really know."

"You're going to explore tomorrow, so that will change," said Twilight. "Don't go outside the castle, by the way, it's still too dangerous, even with two ponies."

"Even with Mute-Macho-Face here," Rainbow flicked Link with her tail, and he woke up from his doze, startled. He gave her an unsavoury look, before flopping back down with his head over his hooves, like a dog. Looking at Link like that led to a new path on Pit's train of thought.

"What would happen if a normal horse was brought here?" he said, thinking of Link's horse Epona. There was a short silence, before he continued, prompting: "Just a normal, dumb animal from our world. Would they be like a pony only still with the brain of an animal? Or would they get really smart?"

"That's an interesting question." Twilight frowned. "Next time you come, bring a pony from your world with you!"

"I told you, no ponies in my world, only in theirs." Pit nodded at Link and Marth.

"Why doncha have ponies in your world?" said Applejack. Pit shrugged.

"I guess when the Gods were making Skyworld, they thought it'd be silly to have normal horses when everyone could fly, so they gave them wings and called them pegasi."

"What about alicorns, do you have…." Twilight trailed off as she saw Marth, who had started motioning towards the door to the balcony. A shadow had passed over the small window that was in it. Luna had come back. No one moved or said anything. None of them knew what to do. Should they wait for her to come in? Or should they go outside to talk to her? It was a few moments until anyone made a decision, and then Pit stood up.

"I'll be back in a sec," he said, and went out to the balcony.

She was sitting on it, looking at the moon as it started its journey across the sky. Her ears twitched as she heard him come out, and she instantly stood up as soon as she saw him, head hung low.

"Captain, I…I am sorry," she said.

"It's alright. I don't mind. I've been called things a lot worse than 'foreigner' when I've been away from home, take it from me," he told her earnestly, casting his mind back to his first day in the Smash Mansion. He did his best not to smile as he remembered Samus beating up Wario after he called Pit something rude, though what it was the Angel could no longer remember.

"You are doing an excellent job so far, it gives me hope but…you outshine me, and I am the one who is meant to be the leader. I am the Princess, I must lead my ponies, it is wrong that such a responsibility has to be handed to somepony else…"

"My lady told me that Equestria doesn't really have an army because it's such a peaceful place. That's why you're finding it hard. Even your sister would find this kind of descruction hard to deal with, I know that she wouldn't be used to it either," he said, and then flinched at his own words. As he'd expected after realising it, Luna also flinched. Her gaze went back to the crumbling city of Canterlot, before her turquoise eyes came back to Pit, filled with sadness yet again.

"We used to rule this world, Captain…" she said, softly. "We used…to rule the world,

Day and night when we gave the word.
Now the days are so harsh and cruel,
I fear the streets we used to rule.

I used to move the night,
Control all of the moon's might,
She'd be the one who moved the sun,
And now I miss her so much, what have they done?

The duties fall on me,
To lead our land and ponies free,
How can I do it on my own?
To save this fair place, to save our fair home?

Why did it turn out this way?
For me to rule both night and day?
I can't cope with this kind of stress,
I'll never be like her I must confess.
But Captain why can't you see?
The responsibility lands sole on me,
I am the Princess here,
I'm not allowed to show my fear.

If my sister was still with us,
She'd tell me not to make a fuss,
Because she thought I was strong enough,
But she was so wrong, I'm not so tough.

I wish I was Nightmare Moon!
Instead of Princesse de la lune,
But I know that I must stay
Oh I wish I could hide here and pray.

Why did it turn out this way?
For me to rule both night and day?
I can't cope with this kind of stress,
I'll never be like her I must confess,
And she said with her dying breaths,
It's up to me to end these deaths,
I am the Princess here.
The way to victory will be clear.

Captain this is my plan of action,
My weak persona is what I will shun,
I shall grow strong and proud with power,
My battle cry heard from every tower.
It's a risk that I must take,
To end the misery and heartache,
My mind it has been made.
I will no longer be afraid."

She turned to him with a new look in her eyes, the sad look now replaced with a determined one.

"You are right, Captain. I must continue my sister's legacy! She would not wish to see me moping while our kingdom is at risk! Now come. Let us go inside, away from this chill. Now is the time for rest."

The floor of the astronomy tower wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep, and after much rolling around trying to make himself comfortable Pit had eventually given up and fluttered outside. To his mild surprise, he hadn't been the only one who'd had the idea of sleeping out there. Link was sprawled across the balcony and Luna was curled up on the roof, her mystic mane calm and still. Being careful not to wake either the ones outside or the ones underneath the roof he was about to land on, Pit chose the most comfortable looking spot and settled down. The stars were unfamiliar and distant, but the air was not too cold. It was cool enough to be a relief from the stuffy air inside, however, and the Angel fell asleep much more readily underneath the night sky.

He woke up next morning to Twilight Sparkle saying:

"Captain, wake up! We've got a letter from the Crystal Kingdom!"

"Thwa?" he looked up muzzily, before giving a small yelp as he slid down the roof tiles, rolled off the edge and, by Angelic instinct, landed on his hooves. He shook himself out, trying to wake himself up and shake the dew from his fur. Only then did he look at Twilight and say: "Say that again?"

"We've got a letter from the Crystal Kingdom, it arrived a few minutes ago."

"The Crystal Kingdom being…?

"The nearest kingdom to Equestria, ruled by my brother and sister-in-law. It lies beyond the Crystal Mountains, the ones on the map."

"Yeah, I remember. Wait, ruled by your brother?"

"Yep. Its ruler, Queen Cadence, is married to my brother. Which means I'm technically royalty! Not that it feels much like it. Anyway, come inside and see what she has to say."

"Er, OK," he frowned, not too sure if he could take all of this in at this time of morning, but followed her inside all the same.

An unfamiliar white pegasus was standing among the ponies inside, and as he noticed Pit he gave him a respectful nod.

"Captain," he said.

"Um, hi. So what's this letter about?"

"It is from Queen Cadence," said Luna. "She says…you should read it for yourself," she levitated it over to Pit, leaving it floating in front of his face so he could read it.

"Dear Aunt Luna and all of you there in Canterlot,

I'm writing to say how sincerely sorry I am that I can't leave my duties as ruler of the Crystal Kingdom to help you in your battle against the monsters at this moment in time. Even if I could manage the take the time off, I'm not even sure how I could help! What use is the power of love against a kingdom filled with evil?

But asides from that, I'm writing to say that Shining Armour has just set out for Manehatten. He plans on fortifying the city to make sure that no monsters get in, I hope you find this a good idea. He told me that if any of you have any orders for him he'll gladly follow them, all you need to do is to send my Royal Messenger (who brought this letter to you, his name is Swift Sky) to Manehatten telling him what to do.

I hope you're all in good health and I'll remain optimistic that the monsters will be driven out of Equestria before too long.

Yours sincerely,

Cadence."

"Perfect," Pit declared. "And I don't even mean that sarcastically, it really is perfect. Guards in Manehatten from elsewhere means that we won't have to send any of our numbers to go out there and fortify it instead."

"Any orders?" said Swift Sky hopefully.

"Not just yet. But, if you want to make yourself useful…"

"Her Highness told me I was to stay here as long as I was needed, and, to be blunt, I really want to help in any way I can."

"Hey, Rainbow, want a temporary assistant?"

"I'll take it," Rainbow shrugged, but grinned.

"Alight then. Swift Sky, this is Rainbow Dash. She was going to go to Cloudsdale with two-hundred enlistment posters. I want you to go with her and help her distribute them. I'm pretty sure she'll tell you her plan."

"You're the pegasus that can perform the sonic rainboom, aren't you?" he said turning to Rainbow, who looked very pleased to be recognised.

"You bet I am. Heard of me?"

"I was at the wedding when you performed it, it was magnificent! It will be an honour to work with you."

"Er, great! In that case, Twilight, load up the bags, we're goin' to Cloudsdale!"

"Load the bags up yourself, I have work to do," the unicorn replied, a tad smugly, before looking up at the turquoise unicorn beside her. "Prince Marth, to the library!"

"Please, Miss Sparkle, call me 'Marth'," he said with a smile, and the two of them trotted out. Pit rolled his eyes. Marth was a sucker for any woman with a high IQ at Brawl (which basically narrowed it down to Zelda and Samus, it had to be said), and it seemed it didn't change if it was a mare with a high IQ either.

"I'll help you get loaded up, Rainbow Dash," Pit said once the two unicorns had left. "And Link, you get all your kit ready, we're gonna head off to explore as soon as I've had something to eat. Oh. You're already ready. In that case…um, I dunno, just chill. Applejack, got anything I can eat for breakfast?"

"Sure, ya can have some bread. In that box," she nodded at one of the cardboard boxes that were stacked near the fireplace. "Princess, you ready to go start fixin' this place up?"

"Yes, Applejack, I think so. Cadence's letter somehow makes me feel better about things," said the alicorn with a smile.

"I think she jus' has that kinda effect on ponies. Let's go. See ya later, Captain!"

"Bye Applejack." And then it was just Pit, Link and the two pegasi, who had begun to empty out saddlebags and carefully put posters in. Link made no move to help, instead preferring to roll a water bomb around precariously, but the Angel went over to help them instead. Only then did he finally get something to eat.

So what did you think of the song, eh? All the songs I'm using are related to what's going on in the story even without the lyrics rewrite, so go ahead and speculate as to what OTHER songs I will be using (teaser: NEXT ONE UP IS A DISNEY OOOOOH YEAH). Not the best stuff, I'll admit, 'cause I only found out there's a website for finding rhymes AFTER I wrote the lyrics. And the words may not match up perfectly. I don't know. Trust me, the other ones I've written are better. Anyway, there a whole bunch of plot points in this chapter that I'm probably going to forget about. I don't know that either. IMPROVISATION EVERYBODY.