having too many flaws will make the ponies too weak

The world of the fae, Luminous, was a small world in comparison to the many worlds under the command of Starfleet. It did not have its own school like other fairy worlds, or did it have a connection to the greater realms of magic. However, this lush and green world was home to a small kingdom, run by a fairy queen who had a strong bond with the ponies of Starfleet. This fairy queen was Krysta, the old friend of the commander of Starfleet. Her lovely face, currently covered by her golden hair, was marred by a scowling frown, "Give me, the report again."

The purple haired fairy gulped and looked on her computer, "Well, it appears that even with our best mages and scientists on it...we are still unable to open a portal to United Equestria."

"So, let me get this straight," groaned Krysta, before leaning back into her chair and rubbing her brow. "Our closest allies, the group of ponies who have always been there for us, is currently at war with an multiversal embodiment of hatred for the past four months and we can do nothing to help?"

"Yes, your majesty," the fairy said with a bow.

As Krysta rubbed her temples, the warm hand of her husband rested on her shoulder, "My dear you should relax. This stress is not helpful for you."

Krysta flinched and got up from her throne, "How can I possibly rest? MY best friend is out there fighting and we're stuck here. We're one of the two countries that would actually treat United Equestria as allies. And we can't do a damnable thing to help them."

The king looked on as his wife walked to the window and sighed. Getting to his feet, Topaz reached out for her, "It will be all right. I am sure. They are Starfleet, I think they'll win this war without outside help."

Krysta crossed her arms under her chest and leaned against Topaz's chest, "I wish I could be so sure," she said with a shudder. "It's been four months, why haven't we gotten through? Someone or something must have messed with the dimensional barriers."

"Your majesties!" shouted a messenger as he ran into the throne room, the stone floor clacking against his metal shoes.

"Riven, what is it? Is it United Equestria?" Krysta asked, looking at the messenger.

"We don't know exactly how or why, but a portal is opening," he said, panting. "What do you wish for me to do?"

"Send some of our guards to check out who is coming through that portal, and to not engage them if they look like they will be a threat, "Krysta said, before looking back out the window and into the sky.

About a few miles away from the palace, a black portal finished opening, becoming big enough to allow the travelers to step foot out of the portal, "Ah, here we are!" Conquest said, giving his wings a flap as he landed, "The world of Illuminoth. Took me a while to break through the barrier but we made it."

"Thank you," the figure in the cloak said, stepping out soon after Conquest did. When his four cloven hooves hit the ground, the grass began to turn a shade of grey.

"Hey," Conquest said, lightly punching his companion's shoulder, "You've been saying you wanted to get some exercise once this war started and well...here we are. The only other place that would still be willing to help United Equestria. Now, unless you need my help in killing this place, I have some plans to make."

"I'll be fine," the figure said as he saw some fairy soldiers flying nearby. "I even see my first kills."

"Ah, got ya," Conquest said, walking up to the portal. "Enjoy. Would join in on the mass destruction, but I have some plans to make."

The figure in the cloak only gave a nod as his friend disappeared. By now, the green grass had turned into dust beneath his hooves. Narrowing his red eyes at the two soldier faires, he enveloped them both in magic and dragged them closer. As he watched them beginning to kick and squirm in his magic, the being gave out a chuckle as he dragged a cloven hoof along the face of one of the fairies, "So, this is what counts for fairies in this world...I am not impressed."

The other fairy gave out a scream of horror as he watched his friend expire before his eyes. The fairy that was touched gave out a haunting scream of horror and pain as the light faded from his eyes and fell to the ground, "What are you?"

"My name is one that is unheard of in this time, so please, call me a necromancer," the necromancer said with a smile. "Go to your queen and tell her that this world has seen its last sunrise."

The planet Illuminoth, a planet filled with life and faires. Within an hour, it's light faded from the universe.

---

Lightning laid on the floor, gasping for breath as he watched the scene unfold before his eyes. He could only watch on in horror as Starla was defiled by the black alicorn. The conqueror's moans and grunts increased with the speed of his thrusts. All the while, Starla cried out in pain, the tears forming small rivers on her face. With a whimper, she turned her head to look at Lighting and mouthed out a silent plea for help from her husband.

As her rape continued, Starla reached out to lighting with a trembling hand. Valiantly, the white unicornicopian tried to reach for her, but Conquest slapped his hand away, "Oh, don't be like that. I am just giving your wife the time of her life...shame she's crying too much to enjoy it!

Conquests words echoed through Lightning's head as the rape continued, his fist continuing to hit the ground in defiance as he listened to the screams of his wife-

"Starla!" Lighting screamed as he shot up in bed, his black mane matted with sweat. His black eyes were wide in shock as he stared down at his hands. Growling in rage, he slammed his fist onto the bed, "I...I failed her. I wasn't good enough, not strong enough. I couldn't-"

His self loathing was interrupted by a quick knock on the door of his home. His curiosity piqued, he got out of the bed and made his way to the door. When he opened the door, he smiled a little at seeing Artie, "Lightning, we need to talk. Why hasn't Starla been back yet? Where is she?

"Starla's..." Lightning paused as the images of his wife's rape flashed through his mind, "is in a safe location right now. This war would be too much for her."

"Lightning, we need the entire team together. We can't afford to let-

"We came to a mutual agreement that this was what was best for the both of us. Dark Conquest's forces are too strong for her to handle and she needed to-

Artie growled and slammed his fist against the doorframe, "They're too powerful for any of us, Lightning!"

"Exactly! So I made sure that the woman I love is safe. It was my design and I am going to stand by it. At least this won't end in failure!" Lightning growled, glaring at Artie.

"This isn't the time for your selfishness. This is the time for-"

"My team, my rules!" Lighting yelled. "And if you hate that idea, then you can join Dyno!"

Artie raised a hand in protest, but then lowered it before turning away, "Fine, but you're hiding something and I will find out exactly what it is."

As Artie left, Lightning closed the door with a slam, before collapsing to the floor, putting his head in his palms and wept, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you."

"Why is Starfleet strong, Lightning?" Grand Ruler asked.

"To protect the races that are inferior to us," Lightning said, standing in front of his teacher.

"And if we should fail in protecting those weaker than us?" Grand Ruler asked.

" Then we have failed as warriors," Lightning said. "There is no friendship, only the one. There is no team, only the one. We must follow the will of Grand Ruler, our hero and savior."

"And...

"I will never be seen as weak, " Lightning spoke aloud. Looking up from his crying, he muttered to himself,"Not strong enough."

A loud boom knocked him out if his revere as a bright blue portal opened up and a small fairy flew out of it. After a few moments, the fairy looked up and whimpered,"l...l...Lightning."

"Krysta!" Lightning shouted as he ran to his little friend's side. His face became awash with horror as he stared at her badly beaten body. Leaving her side for a brief moment, he brought out a healing salve and rubbed it along her body, "Please, not you, I can't lose you."

After a few moments of rubbing her body, Krysta began to cough a little, looking up at her friend, "Lightning! " She shouted, jumping into his arms and hugging him. "It's horrible. Luminous, It's fallen.

Lightning looked down in shock at this, "What."

"This monster, calling himself a necromancer, came from a portal and started to suck the souls of my people. We...couldn't stop him, no matter what we tried. He destroyed the castle, the land, everything.

"Your husband and Twink,what happened..." Lightning asked, only to get silence and tears in response. Without saying a word, Lighting held Krysta tight until she cried herself to sleep in his arms.

---

Fluttershy had a frown on her face as she felt the rytmic thumping of her love making end. For her, it was yet another boring session of sex that had no passion and emotion behind it at onto her side as she felt Rhyemy finish inside her, Fluttershy let out a sigh as she rubbed his side, "...Two minutes. That's slightly better than your old record."

. With a smiled, Conquest rolled of of her and walked to the door, "Thanks my dear, for a wonderful night."

Rhymey made a small chuckle as he rubbed Fluttershy's side,

"I do try and improve

My lovemaking groove."

Nodding, Fluttershy added, "It's just that I wish we added a little more foreplay and, you know, lovemaking when we do it."

"But Fluttershy,

I must ask why.

For sex there is no need

Except only to breed," Rhymey said, before yawning and turning his back to her.

"But there is more to lovemaking than that, it's something special between two lovers," Fluttershy complained. "And what's more, I want to talk to you about leaving me out of the fights. I need to b-"

"Now not another peep

It's time to go to sleep.

"But, Rhymey I-" any complaints she may have had were quickly drowned out by Rhymey's snoring. With a frustrated sigh, Fluttershy rolled out of bed and walked to her closet. Reaching inside of her collection of clothes, she brought out a pink nightgown with butterflies on the back and put it on. Tying the nightgown around the middle, Fluttershy opened the window and flew out into the night. After a few minutes of flight, she found a small part of her home that had a clearing. Landing in the clearing with a grunt, she looked up at the starry sky and smiled softly while she leaned back on her palms. Taking a deep breath, she took the time to admire the night sky and the sweet smell of the night air.

Hearing the light cracking of a tree branch, she turned her head to look at a pair of yellow eyes, "Oh, hello Lenny," Fluttershy remarked to the lemur, beckoning him to come out with a finger. "It's ok, it's just me. I know Rhymey hates it when I come out at night. He thinks that it's full of monsters that would scare me, or evil creatures of the night. But,:" she giggled when felt some mice run across the top of her hands, "We know better, don't we. There isn't anything scary out here. Just my nighttime friends."

Turning herself around to lay on her stomach, she looked at an owl who landed before her. Smiling at the little bird, she reached into her pocket and brought out some food. Then she petted its head as she heard it give out a little cry, "What was that?" she asked, getting another hoot from the owl in response, "Why do I love him when he is so controlling? Well, it's because, it's because..-" she paused and then laid on her back, "I don't know."

As her green eyes gazed up at the stars, she sighed, "Truth be told, I really don't know why I fell in love with him. If you asked me while I was dating him, I might have given you an answer like 'he's nice' or something simple like that, but that was before we were married."

A little series of yips drew her attention, and with a turn of her head, she looked at a small group of kits, "Do I have an answer for you now? No...I don't," turning her head towards the skies, she lightly rubbed the head of one of the kits, It was on a night like this that he came to me, landing from coming from a planetary portal to Unicornicopia and he introduced himself with that rhyming way he would talk. Is that why I love him? Because I found him so handsome and cute that I fell for his charms?" A bark from the fox made her smile, "No, you're right, I'm not that shallow. I wouldn't love a stallion just because he's handsome. Was it because he was nice?"

Fluttershy sat up and put her elbows on her thighs, "Well, no, my friends are nice, but I don't love them like that...except for one." with a blush, she tried shaking the image of Rainbow Dash holding out a hand for her out of her head. "The point is...I can't give you a real reason why I fell in love with him or why I should still be married to him beyond our vows."

A tweet from a nightingale caught her attention, "Oh, I couldn't divorce him if I tried. Divorce isn't exactly looked on well in United Equestria. I looked," with a sigh, she looked up at a group of stars in the shape of diamonds, "Maybe I should talk to Rarity tomorrow."

---

Starla laid in her bed, curled up in a fetal position with her eyes red. She gave out a small whimper as her mind tried to recover from the latest round of nightmares that she had woken up violently from. Trembling, she crossed her arms over her chest and shivered, letting out another round of sobs as she began to cry once more. Lifting up her head she turned to the sound of a door opening. With a whimper, she backed up away but then smiled when she saw who was in the doorway," Oh, it's you. Hey Dementia."

Dementia smiled softly as she stepped in, "Hey kid," noticing the unicorpian's red eyes, she asked, "Another nightmare?"

"When hasn't it been a nightmare," Starla sighed as she sat on the edge of the bed, wiping a tear away. "Lately, it's all I've been having. If it isn't Conquest making a dinner of my breasts, it's me having his children and him...aborting them in front of me."

Dementia sighed and walked to the side of the bed. With a smile, she took Dementia by the hand, "come on, I'm taking you to my room."

"What? Wouldn't Conquest be expecting me?" Starla asked, following Dementia as she was taken away.

"Naw, Conquest is busy planning his next attack, so you'll be fine," Dementia sid, leading Starla to the stairs leading to the upper floors "He's too busy planning to want to rape you tonight."

Starla smiled as she followed Dementia up the flights of stairs. As she walked, she noticed the number of floors that she was beginning to ascend and the windows that gave her a small glimpse of the rest of the fortress that has been her home, "I never realized just how many floors the main building has. I've only been to the top parapet at the perimeter of the courtyard."

"The main building is huge, no doubt about it," Dementia said, making their way to the top floor," Both inside and out."

"What's the rest of the place like?" Starla asked.

"The first floor, where you live, is the slave quarters and torture rooms. The second floor is the training and cafeteria rooms, while the floor above that being the barracks. Then the fourth floor is for the generals like me and the others," Dementia said.

Starla cocked her head to the side for a moment, "But this place looked bigger than four floors from the outside."

"That's because floors 5-7 are, according to Conquest, 'Meant to be there in case a team of heroes come to fight me and I want to split them up into one-on-one fights that highlight their growth and characterization.' Hs words."

"That's oddly specific," said Starla with a weird look in her eyes.

With a roll of her eyes, Dementia said, "Tell me about it. Lastly, the 8th floor is the top one, with the main planning room and Conquest's bed chambers. That's where he is right now." taking a few more steps, she walked to the end of a long hallway to a door with a letter D on it. Smiling, the white unicorn put a key to unlock it, "And this is my room. Rep and Mysterious are next door."

Starla's eyes went wide in shock as she took in the room before her when she stepped in, her purple mane swaying to the side when she looked the room over, "Wow, this..was not what I expected," she said, looking at the large bed that sat in the corner of the room, next to a small table lamp. The bed was lined with dark blue and red sheets, with a few plush ponies resting on top of it. Across from the bed was a dresser with a body length mirror standing next to it.

Dementia ran a hand through her red mane and gave a small chuckle, "What, were you expecting a large make-up kit and nothing but dresses? I know when we first met, I may have acted like a bimbo who only cared about my looks, but I had other interests you know."

"Well, no," Starla blushed, "It's just...not what was expecting. I was expecting something meaner and more cruel. You know, like a villain, not this. Not beds and teddy bears and," she looked to the side of the room and saw a small bookcase, "Books."

"Hey, villains have interests too. We're equines too, well," Dementia turned her head away as she closed the door and locked it, "Most of us."

Starla only gave a small sigh as she looked at the books on Dementia's shelf, "'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep', 'Animal Farm', 'Minority Report', and..." Starla paused as she picked up a small book with a little mouse on the cover, "'The Secret of NIMH?'"

"I love Mrs. Brisby!" Dementia giggled as he sat on the bed, already dressed down to a sports bra and panties. "Just don't tell Rep, he'll never let me forget reading about a motherly mouse who saves her children after going through hell."

"Trust me, I won't," Starla sid with a giggle as she put the book away. Turning around she began to walk to the bed.

"Hey, you can borrow one of my nightgowns, they're in the upper drawer," Dementia said.

Starla smiled and walked to the dresser, "Thanks, for letting me stay here. Even though, it's only for the night."

"Don't mention it kid," Dementia said, watching as Starla began to strip. She frowned as she got a good look at Starla's back, covered in lashes and scars. There were deep gouges just at the bottom of the wings and bite marks on her sides. When Starla took off her pants, she shuddered when she saw more bite marks on Starla's rear, and what looked like a blade wound at the base of her tail. Taking a quick glance at the mirror, Dementia got a glimpse at Starla's front.

Much like how her back was covered in scars, her front was just as bad, if not worse. Burn marks lined her shoulders and stomach, matching the cuts along her collarbone. Her breasts were bitten, teeth marks marring the white flesh while her purple nipples were pierced and cut. When Dementia looked at the crotch area, she winced and covered her own puss in sympathy as she saw the pubic mound was cut, and Dementia could only guess at what Conquest did to the rest of her old enemy's pussy. Looking to her bedside table, Dementia picked up a small bottle, The memore of Conquest's words flooding her mind, "While giving her hints of a better life out there and making her feel human, you are reminding her that there is something better out there for her. That maybe there is more to her than being my fuck toy. And that's good for me."

Looking to the unicornicopian, Dementia called out, "Starla, lay on your front."

"What?" Starla asked, putting on a light blue nightgown.

Dementia got off the bed and patted it, "I said, lay on your front," she said as Starla laid on the bed, her back facing the roof. Lightly lifting up the nightgown, Dementia squirted some of the salve onto her hands and then placed her hands onto Starla's exposed back.

""W-what are you doing? It feels cold," Starla said, feeling Dementia's hands begin to push and rub along her back.

"I don't care if this is helping you, Conquest. I refuse to let this girl suffer at your hands. She doesn't deserve to be treated like a toy," Dementia thought to herself as she rubbed small circles into Starla's back, eliciting a little moan from the unicorn. Sliding her white hands to Starla's arms, she pressed her fingers into the biceps, "I'm administering a healing salve to your body."

"A...healing salve?" asked Starla as she breathed a little softer.

"Yeah, Conquest gives some of this to each of his soldiers and generals. 'Can't have my best men getting hurt now can we?' he would say," Dementia said,moving her hands back to Starla's shoulder blades and softly rubbing circles into the flesh, feeling each muscle, feeling the tense parts begin to loosen a little.

"Wow, you almost think he cares," Starla said, getting a giggle from both her and Dementia.

Dementia smiled, "Only enough to make sure his warriors fight well." Turning her eyes back to the woman's back, she continued to press down on the muscles, pushing to the sides and caressing the soft parts of her back. Placing two fingers to the small of Starla's back, she began to trace along Starla's spine, pressing her fingers along every inch of the white fur.

Starla began to let out small moans as she felt Dementia's hands move along her back. So content and into the massage was she, that she did not realize that there was a faint glow along her body where Dementia touched her body and rubbed it. Instead, she closed her eyes and let out a small purr as she felt Dementia explore her body, feeling her tense body loosen to the villainess' touch and the scars along her body slowly began to heal, her pure white fur returning to normal," It's so weird."

"What is?" Dementia asked.

"We were enemies once, and now...this is the only place where I can feel human or safe. My former enemy is the only way that I can feel safe anymore, how weird is that?" When she felt Dementia caress the sides of her stomach, she giggled, "That tickles."

"Sorry," Dementia giggled, "Didn't know you we a ticklish little gal," Looking down at Starla's shapely rump, she added, "Look, I am going to have to touch some sensitive spots on your body for this salve to work. Do you want me to touch-"

"Go ahead," whispered Starla, "It'll be the first time I've felt something other than pain down there in awhile."

Dementia nodded and began to caress and rub each butt cheek tenderly, kneading it with a slow touch. Pressing her palms into the soft flesh, she made sure to lightly touch the base of Starla's tail. Sliding down along Sarla's white body, Dementia placed her hands onto Starla's thighs, rubbing the outside of them first, before moving to the back of the thigh.

A sharp gasp escaped Starla's throat as she felt Dementia rub along her inner thigh, lightly feeling along the sensitive hairs of her flesh. Her moans began to switch back to purring when she felt Dementia grab her calves and began to squeeze and massage them. She giggled when she felt Dementia run a finger along her right foot, "All done!"

"Really?" Starla asked, looking over her shoulder at Dementia, "Didn't felt like it took that long."

"It took thirty minutes, sweetheart," smiled Dementia as she laid next to Starla. "But it worked, look."

Laying on her back, Starla took note of her body, amazed at how well her body had healed. The wounds and red marks that once lined her body were now gone, leaving behind the perfect white form she was used to. Smiling, she pulled down her nightgown and then gave Dementia a hug, "Oh thank you!"

Dementia returned the hug, holding Starla close and running her hand through Starla's mane. She gave off a soft sigh as she enjoyed the warm feeling in her chest that came from being close to Starla, "You're welcome, sweetie. Now, get to bed."

Starla nodded and laid back down onto the bed,. As she began to cover up, she looked up at Dementia, "Where are you going to sleep?"

"You're my guest, I'm sleeping on the floor," Dementia said, moving away from the bed, only to feel Starla's hand on hers as she grabbed it tight.

With her finger entwined with Dementia's, she looked up, "Please don't. The only time I've ever been able to have a good night's sleep is when you are in bed with me. Please...don' t let me sleep alone."

Dementia smiled softly, looking into Starla's face, into the pleading blue eyes of the mare before her. A soft smile creeping along her own face, Dementia said, "Sure kid." As she slipped into her bed, and wrapping an arm around Starla's shoulder, a slow lullabye came to her mind. While the melody escaped her for the moment, thelyrics were still there in her heart.

Starlight is the message
That I send from beyond

As Dementia sung to Starla, she wrapped her arm around the unicorn's waist, pulling her close. In return, Starla draped her arms along Dementia's shoulders and snuggled up close to her.

Starlight is for always, even when I'm gone
With a starlight to shimmer on and on

Reaching up, Dementia ran her hand through Starla's mane, feeling her fingers run through each strand of her long mane. As she sang softly to the young mare, she closed her eyes and nuzzled against Starla's neck.

Starlight won't desert you
Starlight's always there
Starlight is the present I send from high above
Starlight is eternal like my love

As Dementia neared the end of the lullabye, she could hear Starla yawn and began to fall asleep. With a soft smile, Dementia ran a hand through the top of the purple mane and kissed Starla's horn.

Starlight is the message that I send
Starlight

Looking at the now asleep unicorpian, Dementia gave a look of determination, "I may not stop him from hurting you, but I won't let him kill you. I promise you this." Holding Starla close, she began to close her eyes. As sleep began to overtake her, a vision flashed through her mind, of two ponies holding hands and walking through a field together. Though silent, she could see what they were saying on their lips

"I love you."

Rep took a quick peek into Dementia's room, and saw Starla and Dementia sleeping together. He smiled and walked in for a few minutes. He tucked the two mares in and gave each a kiss on the forehead, "Sleep well, Dementia, you earned it old friend."

As Rep stepped out, Mysterious stood against the door, "War makes strange bed-fellows, does it not?"

"I don't know," Rep said, putting his hand behind his head, "I'm just glad Dementia has her...reminds me that we're both alive. You know. That there is something more to us then just being soldiers."

"I wonder if there wasn't always," Mysterious said. "We just never had a chance to explore it."

"Yeah," Rep said, looking down. Looking up, he added, "Well, better get some sleep. I heard the boss has big plans tomorrow for me."

---

The sun had barely crept over the horizon as Applejack stared out over her farm. Dressed in a pair of short and a sports bra, Applejack stood on the top of the hill in the farthest orchard overlooking everything. Tipping her hat, she gave a silent countdown in her head before taking off in a jog. Racing through the fields of trees, she began to pant as she started to work up a sweat, her legs running in rhythm with her beating heart. In her mind, she began to see images of her friends dying horribly at the hands of Dark Conquest and his minions, "Got to be faster, got to be stronger," she muttered to herself as she kept running through the trees.

As the sweat poured down her head and into her eyes, she continued to run, breath coming out in short pants as she began to sway back and forth. Her pace began to slow down as she started to feel her eyes droop, blackness overcoming her. Though tiredness overtook her body, she continued to run until she finally collapsed to the ground in a heap.

A few minutes later, she woke up in bed, her hat on a coat rack and a certain brown stallion asleep next to her, "Caramel?"

"Huh, oh hey Applejack!" Caramel said, smiling. Looking at her, he put his hand to her forehead, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, Ah'm fine. Why did you-"

"You passed out Applejack, I thought you overexerted yourself," Caramel then looked worried, "You did, didn't you?"

"No, Ah didn't," Applejack objected, slipping out of the bed, "Ah just got a little-whoaaaa."

"You didn't eat, did you?" Caramel asked as he helped Applejack. "Look, I won't tell anypony what happened, but please have breakfast with us?"

Applejack sighed, "Fine. Then Ah gotta meet Belle, she said she has something to tell us all."

---

Rarity relaxed on the bed of the spa, letting the cucumbers rest on her eyes. To her left, she could hear Mina letting out a sigh, "Oh, Rares you really should try this."

"I think I will abstain for now, dear," Rarity said, letting out a sigh as she began to relax.

Mina let out a flick of her tail in the water as she leaned over the edge of the tub, "So, what is it? Boy or girl?"

"I asked the doctor to not tell me," Rarity said. "I wanted to be surprised when it comes."

"Oh," Mina said, and then with a smile asked, "Name?"

"Well, me and Spike have worked out a few options,"Rarity said, wiggling a little in her chair, "If it's a boy, then we are going to name him Emerald Topaz. If it's a girl, on the other hoof, we haven't' decided between Velvet, after his grandmother, or Crystal Clarity after my grandmother."

Mina smiled, "I like the name Crystal, it's so cute. So, how's the father-to-be?"

"Gallant as ever, he's been working up a storm to make sure I am properly cared for, even if I can take care of myself. Why, if I didn't have Charity-"

"Charity?" Mina asked.

"My golem, it's what Pinkie has been calling her lately," Rarity said, sighing. "It's the oddest thing, she has becoming more and more alive as time passes on. Why, a few days ago she ask me if she could stay and watch the rain. Then, last night, I saw her dying her mane with a blue streak so she could be unique."

"Do you know why?" Mina asked.

"Pinkie," Rarity said. "Pinkie giving object their own names and personalities is nothing new, and she is treating my golem like her own pony. Not surprising, that mare would meet her evil twin and give her a 'Welcome to the Pie family!' in response."

"Are you worried she might try and take you over. Like in 'Power Ponies #60?' "

Rarity shook her head, "Not at all darling. Why, if she wanted it, I would find a way to give her a home and life of her own. It's the least I could do for making sure that my friends are safe while I'm...indisposed."

"That sounds," Mina was interrupted as she saw her body begin to glow, "Whoa, sorry about this Rarity, but got to cut this short."

"What?" Rarity asked, lifting up her cucumber from her eye and looking on in shock. "Mina, you're glow-"

"Yeah, I know. Dragon Lord is calling, its a dragon thing," Mina said, heading to the door. "Oh, and Spike will be coming too! Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on your boyfriend."

Rarity raised a hoof to ask more questions, but was stopped when she noticed the newcomer, "My word," she said, seeing the yellow pegasus with a pink mane as she paid Lotus, "Fluttershy?"

"Hello, Rarity, " Fluttershy said, laying on a chair to let a spa pony to help preen her feathers.

"Forgive me if I sound rude, but how did you escap-"

"I told him that I had a...dentist appointment," Fluttershy said, looking away a little.

Rarity let out a small chuckle, "Ah, some of Rainbow Dash is rubbing off on you, my dear."

"Yeah, I guess she is," Fluttershy said with a sigh. Then she looked to Rarity, "Rarity...do you think Rhymey's right for me?"

"Well, far be it for me to tell you what is or isn't right for you," Rarity said. ":I mean, look at my life. I am currently dating my best friend's adoptive son and am pregnant with his kirin child. Can only give you basic advice and to help you think about it. But, personally, I am none too pleased that you are married to a stallion who had to resort to deception and trickery in order to get what he wanted. If he didn't mess around with our heads and just said he wanted that Star Stone, we would've gladly given it to him. At least I feel better about thinking that you used a spell to turn yourself into a stallion for some odd reason."

"I wasn't happy happy when I found out about that, by the way," Fluttershy said with a frown. "Of course, when I asked him if used that mental trick on me, he just smiled and told me not to worry." with a soft growl, she lightly hit the side of her chair. Turning her head to look at Rarity, she sighed, "It's just so hard to believe that the stallion I met and dated could turn into,,,into-"

"A controlling, possessive, jealous, and quite frankly deplorable stallion?" Rarity asked. At Fluttershy's nod, Rarity let out a sad sigh, "My dear, it happens. Sometimes, the stallions we date aren't the same when we get married. Dating, they are your knight, and then marriage turns them into monsters. It's why me and Spike have been living together for a while now. It's to make sure that we can stand living with each other before we wed. So far, it's working, aside from the usual little spat here and there."

"Why do you love Spike, Rarity?" Fluttershy asked.

"Hmmm? Why? Well, he's like a brave knight that I always dreamed of. Granted, I can take care of myself, but he doesn't seem to care. He is always willing to be by my side, wanting to lend a hoof, or offer a shoulder to cry , that wasn't the only reason."

"It isn't?" Fluttershy asked, looking to Rarity.

Softly, the alabaster unicorn smiled and shook her head, "No, it isn't. Once, I had asked him if he would stop loving me because I had turned ugly or became grotesque. What he said, warmed my heart. He said, 'Rarity, as long as you remain the generous mare who would give her heart for a friend, then I would love you if you had turned into Tirek himself."

Fluttershy smiled gently at this, "Wish I could say the same about Rhymey. All I have about why I like him is because he's nice and handsome. I can't remember a single date we had, what makes him so special to me, or what he has that I love about him. Even my wedding was a horrible experience for me!"

"Was it not what you wanted?" Rarity asked.

"No," Fluttershy said." I had always thought my wedding day would be out in a field, surrounded by my animal friends and family. Twi-Celestia would affectionate the wedding, and I would be given away by my father. As I reach the altar, there she is-"

"He," Rarity said. "Or are you bi?"

"Um," Fluttershy blushed at this slip up, "Waiting for me is him. Dressed in her outfit, with a confident grin, but I can see how nervous she is. Celestia says our vows while you girls are all crying. Then, after she says we're married, she skips Celestia saying that you can kiss the bride and kisses me deeply. That, is what I always wanted, but I never got that! Instead, all I have is a stallion who says he loves me, but doesn't mean it."

Rarity put away her cucumbers and washed her face mask off, and then made an illusion of a sword, "Fluttershy, let me tell you about love and a partner. Now, a romantic partnership is like a sword and a sheath. The sheath protects the blade, keeps it from being unwieldy and hurting everypony around it, and keeps it from rusting. The word, on the other hoof, helps give the sheath a purpose and does its best to fight with the sheath. Some swords ponies know how to use both masterfully. Have you ever heard of Celestia's sword, Zenith?"

"No I can't say I have," Fluttershy said.

Rarity smiled, "It is truly a masterful sword, I have seen a replica of it in the Canterlot museum. I heard that it has a sheath that will collect her blood when she is wounded and heals her. You see, the sheath and sword in this case are how two perfect romantic partners work together. One supports the other, never taking something away. Now, who is your ideal partner?"

Fluttershy sat back for a moment and looked up at the ceiling, "Strong and fast, but has a little bit of a weak side that she only shows to those she really trusts. Is fiercely loyal not only to her friends, but her beliefs and ideals. Has to know the real me, wishing to let the real me out and make me believe that I am better than who I think I am. Has to be willing to stand in the rain with me, or do boring things just because she likes it and-"

"Dear," Rarity said, putting a hand onto Fluttershy's arm, "You just described Rainbow Dash."

Fluttershy blushed and looked away from Rarity. With a small sigh, she said, "Maybe we should talk about something else. Like maybe the war, and how it seems that Grand Ruler won't accept anypony's help."

"Yes, his little 'We're superior to everything, but we won't tell anypony because we are better than that' excuse." Rarity sighed.

Fluttershy then put her chest out, "''We're just better than you, deal with it'." she then pulled away, "Was that too mean?"

"No, that was perfect," Rarity giggled. "He seems to hate the idea that anypony outside of Equestria's borders would be useful in saving...them. Hmmmm?" Rarity put a hoof to her chin and the got off her chair. "If you can make the meeting today Fluttershy, tell the others I am dreadfully sorry."

"Wait, where are-" Fluttershy paused as she watched Rarity run out the door, "you going?"

---

Rarity stepped carefully through dark cave, her horn alight with its usual calm aura. With each step, she took the time to look around the rocky fields, to the stone walls, and then to the ground. Her eyes were on the look out for her target. Stepping quietly, she used her horn to identify gems and potential hiding places that might conceal her quarry. As she stepped further away from the cave opening, she stopped when a collection of spears appeared before her, "Halt pony, what are you-Ahhh!" screamed a small diamond dog with a red vest, "It's the loud screamy pony."

"That's lady Rarity to you, and I come in-" Rarity began but was interrupted by a shout from one of the diamond dogs.

"But, she is alone. Why should we fear her?" asked a taller dog, only to get hit by the one in a red vest.

"You never met her, you do not know what he is capable of when she is alone. She might start with the loud noises, or worse, have you drop a rocky thing on your head!" said the red vested dog, holding up his spear.

"So, we should kill her before she-"

A grey diamond dog held out a paw, "Wait, you smell that? Milk, coming from her."

"Oh sure, remind me that I just started lactating," Rarity blushed slightly and covered her chest with her arms.

"And I hear two heartbeats coming from her," another dog muttered, "Rover, I think the loud one is pregnant."

Rover, the dog in the red vest, sniffed the air, "That explains her unusual scent."

"Four months pregnant to be precise," Rarity said.

Rover looked to the dogs, "Drop your weapons men, we have no desire to hurt pregnant mares."

"Why thank you, you can actually be quite noble when you want to be," Rarity smiled softly. "Now, I have business with your leader or queen or whatever it is you have."

"Why do you want to see our ruler?" growled Rover.

"I will tell, only your leader," Rarity said, holding out her hand, "Now take me to her."

A bigger dog growled, "And what if we don't."

Rarity smirked, "Then...I will whine about it."

"TAKE HER TO OUR MASTER YOU SONS OF BITCHES! TAKE HER NOW!" Rover yelled as he pushed the dogs away and then bowed to Rarity, "Come this way, Lady Rarity."

Rarity held out her hand to be taken by one of the Diamond Dogs and led down further into the cave. As she walked further and deeper into the cave tunnels, she looked and noticed the various diamond dogs working and digging at the various parts of the caves. Her blue eyes even noticed some pup running about and playing with each other. With a brisk walk she was led further down the long tunnel, letting her hear some of the dog families making deals for diamonds while others talk about their families or making plans for the future.

In a short time, she was led into a central chamber where a large dog sat, wearing a long blue dress and a crown on her head, "Oh Den mother, we brought you the lady, Rarity."

"Is this the same Rarity who you dub, she who must be wary?" asked the Den mother.

"Yes, den mother," Rover said, bowing.

Rarity spoke up, performing a curtsy before the large dog, "It is a pleasure to be in the presence of a beautiful queen."

"I am not the queen, only a den mother. The Queen is in a land far from here, den mothers only watch over specific packs," growled the Den mother. "You may call me, Den Mother Zirconia."

"Very well," Rarity said with a ood, "Den mother, Zirconia. I am, Rarity Belle of Equestria, bearer of Generosity and friend of Celestia."

"Bah, Diamond Dogs do not recognize generals or leaders like that. Only pack leaders and fighters," Zirconia said, waving a paw. "And I heard that you are one of Grand Ruler Celesto's generals."

"Believe me, I come not as a general, but as an ambassador. I come with a request, and a proposal," Rarity said.

"A, proposal? And what would that entail?" Zirconia asked, placing one paw onto her chin.

"A few years ago, you somehow managed to hold back my friends and Starfleet, and somehow, beat them. Yet, you were afraid of me and my platinum touch, I want to know why you were strong enough to handle the supposed superior and stronger Starfleet," Rarity asked.

Zirconia chuckled, "Simple, the diamond armor we had, it increased our strength ten fold. A single Diamond Dog has the power of ten Dogs with it on. Though the diamonds are hard to find, and the suits hard to make."

"If you were so strong, then why did you run from me and my stick?" Rarity asked.

Rover piped in, "It's because each Diamond Dog is afraid of you, loud one. Charlie is still suffering that headache from when you tricked him into dropping a spike pillar onto his head."

"Oh, I see," Rarity lightly chuckled.

"Speaking of that day, I see you do not have changing touch," Zirconia said.

Rarity nodded, "Yes, I was able to remove that ghastly object away. Apparently it needed me to learn not to be greedy, even though the events leading up to me getting that ring and me using it are just so...beneath me that I still to this day cannot fathom why I hunted for that ring in the first place."

"Enough of your reminiscing, what does the armor have to do with this meeting? Do you seek it for yourself?" Zirconia asked.

Rarity waved a hoof dismissively, "Nothing of the sort, actually, I was hoping you could make more for your soldiers, and aid us of United Equestria in our war."

"Diamond Dogs have no place in a pony war! We have no desire to fight battles alongside stupid ponies," Zirconia growled."

"This war concerns us all, this entire planet. When Dark Conquest is done butchering us, he will surely set his sights on you. We need to stand together," Rarity said.

Zirconia waved a paw, "Bah, your Grand Ruler wouldn't approve of this idea. He sees us as inferior. What would be an incentive for us to work and ally with ponies?"

"I'm glad you asked, you say that the diamond armor is rare and hard to make? "Rarity asked.

"Yes," Zirconia nodded, "We can, at most, outfit maybe ten of our soldiers at a time."

Using her magic to pull a diamond form a wall, Rarity grinned, "I recently have had some time working on armor, and I have some friends of mine who can be taught to work with diamonds and armor as well. If you work with us, I will help make new sets of diamond armor for you all."

"And all you ask for, is our help? Why does this sound like pony trick," Zirconia asked, her grey fur bristling.

Rarity waved a white hand, "No trick, and I expect nothing more than your help. I am only offering my services and those of Carousel Boutique Inc. to help you build armor. I'll even throw in some gems for you plus some armor free of charge."

"And that's all we have to do in this alliance, is help you fight Conquest? No tricks?" Zirconia asked, lowering her golden staff.

"No tricks," Rarity smiled as she offered a hand, "Do we have a deal?"

Zirconia smiled.

---

Morning broke through the wasteland of the dark pocket dimension that Dark Conquest made his home. Several of the soldiers stepped out into the courtyard and looked upon the large stage that sat in front of the main building. On the stage was Dark Conquest, wearing a long trenchcoat and hot pants. Tatooed on his bare chest was a black hand holding a white orb, what some assumed to be what his cutie mark was. A slow smile spread across his lips as he gazed across the field, "Well, ladies and gentlemen, I hope that you all enjoyed your month-long break, because we are now going back to the grind and launching an all out assault! That's right, we are going to attack Equestria in one of it's biggest production cities-"

---

"-Fillydelphia?" Applejack asked as she sat at the roundtable that took up the center position of the Golden Oaks Memorial Library. "What makes you think he's going to attack Filly?"

Bell laid out a map and looked at the circle of friends as they sat at the table, "Well, it's simple mathematics. Conquest has been attacking cities in a circle since the war began. Counting on the idea that Grand Ruler would never see the pattern and try to stop it."

"Well, he's right about that," Rainbow Dash said, putting her feet on the table and leaning against the table. "Grand Ruler thinks that the best strategy is a game of hopscotch, remember?"

"So I heard,"" Belle said, putting markers onto several points of the map. "This is why his Vanhoover strategy worked. Look, Horn Kong wasn't too far away from Neigh Orleans. Then Winnerpool, Whinnysota, Stalliongrad, and so on. It's quite a simple circle, one that can easily cut us off from supplies and allies."

"One that could've been easily stopped if Grand Ruler knew what he was doing, rather than wait for the monster of the week to come out," Applejack grumbled.

"Be as it may, by using this pattern, and the way he has been only attacking with small skirmishes lately. I can safely assume that his next attack will be in Fillydelphia with a 50% certainty." Belle said with a nod.

"What's the other fifty percent?" Pinkie asked, playing with one of the dots.

Belle sighed and looked down, "He might attack Las Pegasus instead. So if I'm right, then we have a chance to get a win for our side finally. If not...then I just sacrificed over one million people because of an educated guess." Looking back up at her friends, she pleaded, "I know we only known each other for four months now, but I hope I have done enough for you guys that you can trust me."

"Sure we trust ya," Applejack said with a wink. "You seem to know your stuff."

"Besides," Rainbow Dash chuckled, "I think Conquest is banking on all of us being idiots. He doesn't realize we have an awesomely smart unicorn on our side."

"Thank you," Belle smiled.

"So, what's the plan?" Applejack asked.

---

"The plan is," Conquest smiled as he walked in front of a map of Fillydelphia, "We begin with a boar assault that will open up the city. After a few minutes of the boars attacking, Minotaurs, Earth Ponies, and Unicornicopians, you attack from the ground and squeeze in from two separate sides." Conquest then turned to the crowd, "Now, I think you know what I want. I want raping, I want pillaging, I want to see the flames of the ruined city kissing the sky baby! I want to see bodies littering the ground and I want to see children screaming before they are decapitated! And as for Starfleet-"

---

"What about them?" Rainbow Dash asked as she ate a muffin that Pinkie had passed out.

"Well, we know Conquest is gunning for them now," Applejack said. "AH think it was obvious when he said he was attacking Detrot just to kill one of them. We can't let him win and can't let them fight"

"But, what can we do?" Fluttershy asked, speaking up.

"Oh, maybe we could tell them that the fight is in Las Pegasus in case Belle is wrong," Pinkie said, waving her hand.

"And if I am right, we play into Conquest's hands. We might as well just give him Starfleet in a package," Belle said, causing Pinkie to sink back in her chair. "And what's more, if I'm right...then nothing is stopping them from coming to the city and distracting us."

"So, we got to convince them somehow, that the fight is somewhere else while fighting a huge fight in the middle of the city where they are bound to notice, great," Dash rolled her eyes.

Applejack frowned, "It's tougher than it sounds."

"Yeah, because it sounds so easy right now," snarked Rainbow Dash.

"Trust me sugarcube, Ah have an idea that can keep Starfleet busy," Applejack winked. "What Ah worried about is the rest of the plan. Conquest is gonna have a few generals and surprises up his sleeve-"

---

"Plenty of surprises in store for our Starfleet friends, but now I suggest you suit up and prepare yourselves, we attack in-"

---

"Two days," Belle said. "That's my estimate when the attack happens, if not sooner."

"How can you be so sure?" Rainbow Dash asked.

At this, Belle shook her head," I...I'm not. These calculations are pure conjecture at this point. All I can do right now is guess that sometime between now and the rest of the week, Conquest will make another move and attack Fillydelphia. I know there are a lot of ways that this could go wrong, but please," she then lowered her head, I am asking you to-"

"If you're asking us to trust ya, we do," Applejack said. "If there is so much as even a one percent chance that we can stop Conquest from taking one city or save a million ponies, we got to take it."

"Yeah, besides, if you're wrong, then we lost another town," Pinkie said. Then she added, "That just means you know what thingies and problems to fix next time right?"

Belle let out a small chuckle, "Yeah, I guess you are kind of right."

"Well, now we got a plan, and a goal, let's go home and meet up in Filly in two days and kick some butt!" Dash said, flying out.

As Belle watched the girls walked out of the library with a faint smile on her face. After they had gone, the grey unicorn walked to a back room. Opening it, she walked into the darkened room and turned on the light. With a sigh, she looked at the charts and graphs that laid out before her with a soft sigh. Her eyes trailed over the countless of red marks, crossed out circles, and crumbled up pieces of paper that littered the ground before her. Walking to a little chair that sat in front of the computer, she began to type on it, "Please... let me be right. I just want to be useful to them."

---

Two Days Later

"ARGH! I can't believe him!," shouted Krysta as she flew into Lightning's room.

"Krysta, what is it?" Lightning asked, looking down at a photo of Starla and putting it away.

With a swish of her hair, Kryta growled, "Can you believe Grand Ruler? I told him about what happened on Luminoth and all I got for it was a 'We'll look into it.' Seriously. "

"Well, he is awfully busy," Lightning said, "This war is taking up much of our time and we can't-"

"Be everywhere, I know!" Krysta sighed as she sat with Lighting, "But you would think that he could take a few seconds to see if I have a home left. If that demon really did take away my people or if there are some survivors like my...husband."

"It will be ok, he-"

"I don't even remember when we go married you know? It all happened so fast that i can bearly tell you what had happened or how we met, but boom one day we got married," Krysta whimpered as she felt a finger rub along her back, sighing, "I know I had become distant, and maybe even changed a little, but I thought...I thought..."

Lightning looked down at Krysta, curious, "You thought what?"

"That I was still important. That I was still valued to you guys and I had a place on the team. That maybe you guys would care, that I wasn't just some little side-kick who got kidnapped or tuned into a hostage. I thought maybe Starla...where's Starla? Krysta said, looking up at Lightning, her blue eyes looking with curiosity.

"Um, she's on a distant planet. Safe from the war," Lighting said, looking away from Krysta.

Krysta flew up into his face, "You are a really horrible liar, you know. Gee," she said, landing on his lap, "I thought, in spite of Grand Ruler telling you how much friendship sucks, that I was the only friend you wouldn't lie to. But I was wrong."

"N-no, Krysta, you are my friend, it's just that," Lightning paused and then sighed looking down. "A few months ago, before the war had started, I was coming home to see Starla. It was two days before our wedding anniversary and I wanted to get her something special. A telescope, so she could look at the stars again."

"She always did tell the nicest stories when she could look at the stars," Krysta said with a smile.

"Yeah, and she hasn't been looking at the stars as much lately, too busy to enjoy what she loves most," Lightning sighed, "I had thought the telescope would be a great gift for her, to show her that I love her and still think about her. That was when I saw her armor, torn and all around the floor. Scared, I ran up the stairs to see if she was there."

Krysta gasped, "OH, my...was she kidnapped?"

Growling, Lightning slammed his fists on the bed, "No, worse! I saw Dark Conquest on top of her, ramming his fingers into her and bragging about what he was going to do to her. Seeing what was happening, I morphed into my suit and charged at him, but he...he...stopped me."

"No, Starla," Krysta shook her head in fear.

Lightning began to tear up, "I couldn't stop him, I couldn't stop him from raping my wife. I just laid there in pain as he raped my lover right in front of me. And he was laughing about it, like he had won some sort of prize. When I had time to get up and fight, he had kidnapped her."

"And you haven't told your team why?" Krysta shouted.

"I can't!" Lighting said, turning away from Krysta, he heart feeling heavier. "I can't face them and tell them that I let Starla get raped in front of me, that I wasn't strong enough to save her. They need me, they need to believe in me."

"They can also help you get through this, maybe even comfort you," Krysta said rubbing his hand.

"You are starting to sound like an Equestrian," Lightning said, turning away. "Don't you realize, friendship in this case fails. There's nothing to be done. If they can't believe in me and believe that I can protect them, then what good am I?" Lightning shouted.

"A friend," sighed Krysta. Turning away she added, "I am not going to tell them, but only because you should be the one to say it, even if your stubborn pride says not to."

""Starfleet has to be strong, because we are the strongest, it is a fact," Lightning said.

Krysta flew to a nearby window and placed a hand onto it, "I wonder if that is true."

Inside the castle throne room, Celestia looked at the letter in her hand and smile softly. Looking up from the letter, her magenta eyes locked onto Grand Ruler as he strode in, his red cape billowing behind him. Smiling a little, she got up from the throne and walked to the tri-horn stallion, "Oh, Celesto, sweetie. I have a proposal."

"What is it, my queen?" Grand Ruler asked, glad to see his wife so chipper.

"Well, it seems to me that, my Equestrians are starting to forget that they are inferior to your Starfleet ponies," Celestia said, a frown creasing her muzzle.

Grand Ruler scoffed, waving a hand in disbelief, "How can that be, my dear. Surely they know the facts and realize just just inferior they are to us. My Unicornicopians have my magic in them and superior training that makes them faster, stronger, and smarter than the Equestrians, making us better. They should just enjoy the fact they are under our thumb and being helped."

"Yes but," Celestia looked away, a tear rolling down her cheek., "My husband, think about it. With our recent string of losses and the death of one of our Starfleet soldiers, the ponies are losing faith in your superiority."

"They are?" asked Grand Ruler.

Celestia nodded, "Yes, why, if this keeps up, they might start thinking that sufficient training will allow them to match or even surpass your Unicornicopians. They might start wanting to change things and improve their lot."

"The fools, they should know better," Grand Ruler said. "They can't change things, and those who try are doomed to failure."

"I know, and that's why I suggest a demonstration," Celestia said with a smile, "In the Spectrum Arena, you can have an exposition bout."

"A what?" Grand Ruler asked.

"An exposition bout, you know," Celestia then showed some images, "Your Starfleet ponies vs. my Element Bearers. They have a playful rumble, your team wins and gets stronger, and the Equestrians learn their place."

"Hmmm, I like it," Grand Ruler chuckled, "They'll have a chance to see the facts laid out before them."

"Yes sweetie, and it will be a confidence builder for your team as well," Celesti said, winking at her husband.

"Oh honey, you are a genius,"Grand Ruler said, kissing Celestia on the cheek. The he ran off, exiting through the door.

For a few moments, Celestia waved goodbye, and then immediately began to wipe her cheek down with a warm cloth, "My, that was a lot of horse-dung that you had to spew."

Celestia turned to Luna as she appeared from the shadows, "It was so the plan could work. I had to bite my tongue the entire time!"

Luna levitated the paper to herself, 'Hmm? A plan you say?"

Dear Princess Celestia,

A friend of ours has a plan to save Fillydelphia, but we need our help to pull it off. You need to distract Grand Ruler and Starfleet.

Signed, Applejack.

"Clever girl," Luna said, incinerating the letter with her magic. " And that is why you had to lie to your husband."

"Yes, " Celestia smiled, "Granted, it was easy. His ego is so huge that I could've told him that he should have Starfleet appear naked in order to show superiority and he would've believed it."

Luna giggled, "Yes, and that would be a sight to see wouldn't it?"

Putting a hand to the window, Celestia let out a small sigh, "I never intended this for them, you know. For them to become warriors."

"I don't think they were expecting their lives to take this turn either sister," Luna said.

"I-I wanted them to have normal lives, not being forced into wars like this. I wanted them to live their lives the best they could," Celestia frowned. "It's why I never gave Rainbow Dash a Wonderbolt title on a silver platter or Applejack a large enough grant to never have to work another day in her life."

"I doubt they would've taken the rewards, even if you gave them," Luna said with a shake of her head.

Celestia lowered her head and close her eyes, a little tear rolling down her cheek, "The only one who was to be granted a title of any sort, was Twilight. And I only had her become a princess, because I thought giving your savior a title like archmage was just too small for her. She needed to be a hero of the ponies,to remind them all that you didn't need to be a soldier to be a hero. And now look at them, going off to battle in another war against some sort of big bad."

"Sister," Luna said, rubbing her sisters back softly, "The choice for them to be normal ponies is no longer theirs to make. They lost it the moment they put on those necklaces, no, they lost it the moment they entered that forest to help Twilight save me. They are now something more, they are heroes"

Sighing, Celestia walked away from the window, "'Twilight will lead them, and they will support her', I do believe I said. But, only in times of great need, when the danger needed them to stand against the darkness, not because of some monster du jour."

"'The fires of battle forges something new in our hearts, it foges out the light of heroism and friendship'," Luna said.

"I know the quote, Luna, I wrote it the day after we beat Discord," Celestia said, looking over her shoulder at Luna.

The alicorn nodded," And it is no less true with them. There will always be a spark in us all to drive us to help others and bring the light to the world. That light burns in them, even now. Call it destiny, call it fate, but I know there is a difference between knowing what you are meant to be, and claiming it. Those five mares, would be fighting to protect Equestria without armor, training, or whatever it is that Starfleet rams down their throats. They do it because they are heroes, and with luck it will be that light that will inspire them to victory."

"Why Luna, how utterly philosophical," Celestia said.

Luna giggled, "Well, after hearing so many of your speeches, I think I would pick up a few lessons."

"You are welcome," Celestia said, walking to the nursery and picking up Castor, "I hope that is not all you learned from me."

Luna looked down at the girl, "You forgot Leilani."

The three year old did not seem to notice being forgotten by her mother and chose to continue to play, "Leilani? Oh yes, could you go and pick her up, I need to play with my son."

"Hey sun butt," Discord said, kissing celestia on the cheek. Then looking down at the young boy, who began to squeal in delight at his presence, he ruffled the boy's head and kissed him on the forehead, "And hello to you too."

"Dissy!" Castor said.

Luna frowned, "You risk so much Discord, throwing away your Goldwin disguise in front of the children."

"They won't squeal, I trust them," Discord smiled as the winked at Lielani, who continued to play with blocks. "I just came to tell you Lulu, that...I might have a surprise for you tonight. Now if you excuse me," he then turned back into Goldwin, "I have to take care of young Castor with dear Tia."

---

Three Hours Later, In The Spectrum Arena

Buddy sighed as he looked at his trembling hand, "It's just an exhibition match, just an exhibition match."

"Hey, Buddy, are you ok?" Artie asked, sitting with his friend as they sat in the locker room.

Buddy shook his head, "N-no, I'm not. I'm terrified. I know it's an exhibition match, and I know we are just doing this for fun, but I keep thinking back to that day, when we lost Myte."

"I know, and it hurts me too," Artie sighed. "I want to say this will pass, and we should keep fighting, but I think that's harder for some of us to do."

"I know we say, 'we're ready to die for the cause.' But the truth is," Buddy sighed, "Saying that and actually believing in that are two different things. I ave Darla to think about, you know. I...I don't' want this anymore, I don't want to be the fastest or the strongest, I want to just live my life with my cousin and grow flowers."

Artie sighed, "Can't say I feel the same. I just want...to keep fighting and protecting. I don't know what it is I fight for right now, but I want to prove myself that I am more than just the son of a rich family. I want to feel-"

"Heroic?" Buddy asked, a soft smile crossing his crimson muzzle. "I would love that, but, I don't think I have it in me. Look, I know this team hasn't been what you call...friends. But, do you think you would be mad if I quit tomorrow?"

Artie said nothing, but shook his head and gave the stallion a hug. Lightning watchd this from a distance, and frowned, and placed his forehead against the wall. Raising his fist, he slammed it hard and let out a small grunt that was mixed with rage and regret. Letting out a frustrated breath through clenched teeth, he turned away from the wall and walked to the two ponies, "All right, is everypony ready?"

"Y-yeah," Buddy said nervously.

Artie looked up, "Where is Rhymey?"

"Trying to solve a question in my life

Where is my wife," Rhymey said stepping out into the locker room.

"She'll be there, she's probably waiting in the stand, now come on Starfleet. Let's go!", Lightning said, running ahead of the group. After a quick run into the stadium and into the main ring, they found the place to be empty.

Artie began to look around, scratching his head. After stepping onto the mat for a few moment,s he saw a piece of paper lying on the floor. Reaching down, he picked up and read it, and then began to laugh, "Hahah, brilliant girls."

Dear superior ponies of Starfleet,

We figure that you wouldn't want to mess with us weaker and inferior Equestrians.

So we decided to leave you stuck in here while we dance with Conquest.

Don't worry, we'll take care of those meanies for you.

And you can be safe.

Signed,

AJ, RD,RB,FS, PP

P.S. The doors are locked right now. Belle guesses it will take you about two hours to break out and find the fight.

"What, this is ridiculous! We have got to get out of here and join them!" Lightning said, running out.

"And what? We've been pretty useless so far," Buddy said with a sigh, lightly kicking the ground.

Lightning growled, the words of his mentor flashing through his head.

Remember, no matter what, Starfleet is always the strongest. We have the best training, and so, no one else can ever match us.

"No, we have to go. We are the superior fighters, not them! We need to protect them because we-"

"Have lost every battle we've been in! And we lost Myte!" Buddy argued, tears falling from his cheeks. "We're not invincible Lightning! We're just a bunch of idiots trying to play hero."

"Buddy, if you wish to stay here, then we won't say anything about this," Artie said, walking to the doors.

"Like heck we are, staying behind is a cowardly thing to do," Lightning said.

"Because he's scared," Artie said, putting his hand out the door. "Now, I am going to get out of here for one reason only. And it's not because I am superior."

"Then may I ask Artie

Why are you going into a sortie?" Rhymey asked.

"Because, there are innocent ponies who need my help and the bearers might need back up," Artie said, his eyes narrowed in determination.

---

In the center of the city, Applejack calmly ate an apple as the sun shone overhead. Sighing deeply, she leaned her back against the friendship bell and looked up at the sky. Her green eyes scanned the area, trying to get a glimpse of blue or yellow, "Do you think she was wrong?" Rarity's golem asked.

Applejack shook her head, "No, I trust in her."

"Blind faith is rarely a sure thing," the golem said.

"It's more than that," Applejack said. "Sometimes, you just gotta put your trust onto somepony's shoulders. You just gotta trust your-"

"They're coming!" Rainbow Dash shouted, Fluttershy flying behind her.

Pinkie Pie popped out from inside the bell, "And from what we just saw, about six hundred strong!"

"Buck, sounds like he is going all out for hei one, all right girls, get ready for the boars!" Applejack frowned.

Rarity smiled, "Actually, Rarity had that covered. As a matter of fact, the plan should be going off...now!"

Outside of the city, the boars let out howls of war. Pawing at the ground, they began to get ready to charge into the city. With a mighty grunt the pigs began to charge and run, only to trip and fall thanks to the placement of holes all across the battlefield.

"Alright you sons and daughters of bitches! We stand here today on the precipice of our finest hour," said Rover from riding on top of a warg. "We are to give the boars no quarter as we fight them, we are to strike hard and fast to aid our new pony allies! We will strike hard and decimate their forces! Now," pointing a diamond-tipped sword toward the fallen boars, the little dog in the red vest called out, "Cry havoc and let loose the dogs of war!"

Back At The City Proper

"Rarity did what?" Rainbow Dash yelled.

Golem Rarity smiled, "Made an alliance with the Diamond Dogs and had them dig holes around the city. Boars may be invincible when they are charging head long into battle. But it's hard to get momentum when there's a holes beneath your feet."

"How clever," Fluttershy said with a smile.

"Nice one Rarity!" Pinkie cheered.

Applejack steeped in front of the girls and looked out into the horizon, "That still leaves with several hundred more soldier for us to fight and to make sure they don't destroy this city. So, listen up!"

All at once, the four mares stood at attention and got themselves ready. Rarity drew her bow, Rainbow Dash crouched in a fighting stance, Pinkie Pie bounced happily, while Fluttershy gulped and nodded. Applejack looked at the four before her and pointed at Rainbow Dash, "RD! I want you to fly up there and start taking down fliers, if it's in the sky, Ah don't want it in the air no more. Rarity, you're our eyes on the ground, Conquest taught his boys to surround us when we're fighting, we need to take that away. You start sniping what you can."

Rarity nodded as Rainbow Dash picked up Rarity and flew her to a rooftop. Applejack then looked to Fluttershy, "Flutters, we won't be able to save every pony, and some of them will get hurt. Ah need you to get the doctors together and set up someplace for them to go and get treated." with a nod, Fluttershy ran off, leaving Pinkie Pie bouncing up and down, "Pinks...it's party time!"

"Yippee!" Pinkie squealed as she stood with Applejack., a grin forming on her face as she began to watch the army start to march towards them. The hairs on the back of her neck began to perk up as her Pinkie sense started to warn her of the flyers that were already starting their assaults, only to be stopped by Rainbow and Rarity. Looking over to her left at Applejack, she watched as the farmer tipped her hat over her emerald eyes. A giggle escaped her lips as Pinkie put up a giant rubber band behind her. Ushing her back against it, the pink mare used the rubber band to launcher herself through the air and into the horde of soldiers with a loud "WHEEEEE!" as she flew, Pinkie brought out two giant hammers and spun in a circle, knocking all of the fighters out with the mallets as she spun and flew.

Applejack watched the scene in utter amazement and shook her head in disbelief. Looking back up, she saw some of the soldiers that began to near her, one of them being a large minotaur. With a small smirk crossing her lips, Applejack walked slowly to the large minotaur, determination matching every stride she took. The minotaur let out a snort as he strode towards Applejack with an air of self-confidence. Reaching back his fist he slammed it towards the farmer and in an instant...

Applejack caught the fist with her bare hand. She didn't even look her opponent in the eyes as she held the hand firmly in her grip, her head lowered so he hat casted a shadow over her eyes. Struggling, the minotaur let out a series of grunts as he tried to move his fist out of Applejack's steel-like grip but it did not move. Flashing a toothy grin, the farmer pulled the minotaur in close to her and uppercutted him hard in the jaw, sending him crashing into the ground, felling him with one hit.

Standing in front of her fallen opponent, Applejack looked to the rest of the soldiers while she dusted her knuckles off from the hit. She flashed them a look that dared them to take a step and fight her next.

Three earth ponies took the offer and ran at her. The first threw a cross at her, only to have it blocked by Applejack. Delivering a hard right into the stallion's face, Applejack then backhanded a mare that had come up behind her to strike. Then she drove a side-kick into the stomach of one,,Applejack began to stride slowly into the waiting army, not breaking her walk as a few of them charged at her with weapons drawn. Moving quickly, Applejack dodged and struck out at the opponents that came at her, breaking both weapons and limbs along the way.

A unicorn mare used telekinesis to grab Applejack's neck and began to slowly strangle her. Before the mare could snap her neck, an arrow shot from a top of a building and stuck the mare in the chest, breaking the used the opening to punch the mare hard in the chest twice and backhand her across the nose. Turning around to try and hit the minotaur behind her, the bull grabbed her arm and pulled it back. After slamming the back of his fist against Applejack's side, he grabbed her by the head and slammed her against the brick wall. Slowly, he dragged her head along the wall until he reached the end, when he slammed her face hard into the street.

Struggling to recover from the hits she took, Applejack began to get up, As she got up, she moved to the side to get out of the way of a low roundhouse kick from a unicorn. Once she was on her feet, she managed to block a jab from an earth pony, but was open for two other ponies to punch her hard in the gut. Doubled over in pain, she then received an uppercut to her chin.

Recovering quickly from the blow, she grabbed the spear from one of the ponies and pulled him in close for an uppercut. Then she side-kicked a pony on her right and followed it up with a roundhouse kick to another. Panting, blood and sweat trickling down the side of her face, she looked up in time to watch as a minotaur cow swung a giant mace into her, hitting her hard in the chest and slamming her through a wall.

After a few minutes, Applejack slowly got back to her feet, wincing in pain from the bruises that she had received. Through pained breath, she muttered a silent thank you to Rarity for making the armor so tough. Deep down, she knew her pain and injuries could've been much worse. Looking back at the cow, Applejack braced herself for the next attack, catching the mace in her bare hands. Then she pulled it out of the cow's grip and used it to bludgeon the minotaur into unconsciousness. Looking to a small group of soldiers charging at her, she threw the mace at them, taking them out.

Then, from the heavens, two unicornicopians flew at Applejack with their arms outstretched. This gave Applejack an opportunity to grab their fists and pull them to her and uppercut them both out. However, she was then open for a body slam by the minotaur behind them. As she struggled to get her breath back, the bull punched her hard in the gut twice and slammed his foot into her leg. As she screamed in pain, the bull grabbed Applejack's head and slammed it into the ground again and again, before kicking her into a lightpole.

Getting up, she winced at the pain her in stomach and leg. Then she felt a breeze across her head. Rubbing her head, she gasped at the loss of her hat. Looking at the bull, she braced herself for the charge. As he neared her, she grabbed the bull by the horns and then got onto his back. Firecously, he bucked and tried to get her off his back. However, her years in the rodeo made her more than a challenge for even the toughest bull. With a growl she slammed her fists into the bull's back hard, striking him until he finally fell.

As sh landed onto solid ground, she watched as some more soldiers came at her. A griffon slashed at her chest in an 'X' formation, drawing blood. Pushing through her pain, she uppercutted the griffon in the beak. Then roundhouse kicked an earth pony mare three times, and then back kicking the griffon behind her and then driving an elbow into the skull of one final pony.

Looking down, she saw her hat laying on the ground and slowly picked it up. After dusting it off, she turned to look at the rest of the soldiers. Putting her hat back on and straightening it, she said, "Yee-Buckin'-HAW!" She then charged into the fray.

---

Pinkie Pie looked up at the circle of soldiers that she had landed in and winked at them, still standing on the bodies of their allies and her hammers broken. Two griffons charged at her, slashing and slice at her. Nimbly, the pink pony began to walk back from the slash, dodging them with ease. When both came at her with a horizontal slash, she jumped in between the blade, twisting mid-air to slip in between the blades. Landing behind the griffons, she waved hello at them.

This enraged the two griffons and they turned to slash at Pinkie once one, only to look down in shock as their swords were fused together thanks to a group of magnets on opposite sides of the swords. Before they had a chance to react, they were knocked out by a super ball being thrown at their heads. After ricocheting off the wall, the ball quickly came back to Pinkie's out stretched hand. With a smile of confidence, she put her rubber ball back into her many pockets.

Her confidence was short lived, as an earth pony slashed at her back with a sword. Before she could recover, another earth pony backhanded her in the face, and roundhouse kicked her into a wall. With a grunt, Pinkie pulled away from the wall and rubbed her aching shoulder. Her ears twitching, her eyes opened wide with a gasp as she ducked under a pole from a minotaur. The minotaur swiped at Pinkie twice, forcing her to dodge the attack and rolled under his legs.

Turning around the minotaur tried to run, only to trip over his tied shoelaces. Instead of laughing at the joke, Pinkie quickly reacted to a few punches and kicks thrown by a group of earth ponies that began to swarm at her. Quick though she was, it was hard to catch up with the attacks and was soon hit in the gut and uppercutted in the chin.

Backing away from the hit, Pinkie rubbed her chin and smiled wide once more. Then she took off, leading the group behind her. As she ran she began to count to herself until she reached the number ten. Then, reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small ball and threw it at the group of charging ponies and one minotaur.

The group watched her throw the ball and immediately stopped when the ball landed in front of them, "Hey," said an earth pony mare as she picked up the ball. "It's a bomb, but look at it. The way the sun reflects on the colors and the way it sparkles?"

"I think I saw that thing before, in my dream," said a stallion wistfully.

A unicorn sighed, "It's like looking back on our Equestria of old and seeing it as it once was."

"Didn't you say it was a bomb?" asked the minotaur as they heard Pinkie eclaim.

"BOOM!" Smiled Pinkie as she watched the group of ten eclipsed by the bright light of the explosion. With a giggle, she laughed at the sight of the group being splattered against the wall. Splatter by extra sticky batter. "Pinkie Pie specialty, the world's most interesting bomb. Assisted by Maude, Dad, and Kake."

As she turned around, she was confronted by a griffon, who roared at her. Waving her hand to dismiss the bad breath, she took out a gumball and put it to the griffon's mouth and forced him to chew it. After a few moments, he blew a large bubble that encompassed his body and trapped him inside.

Waving bye to him, she ran away from the trapped opponent, running along walls of alley ways and across chain link fences until she caught the sight of a few unicornicopians ready to attack some civilians. Looking to her side, she saw that she was next to a music store. Smirking, she ran into the store and began to work.

Within seconds, she came out of the store carrying a cannon. With a yell, she caught the attention of the attacking unicornicopians. When they turned around, they raised an eyebrow at Pinkie and her mysterious cannon. Smiling like a maniac, she fired it and a small ball came out. The ball then hovered in the air for a brief moment, before flashing colors while music began to play. Once the music started to play, the group found themselves forced to dance to the music, pulling off strange and unusual dance moves. So enthralled in their dancing, they did not notice Pinkie Pie walking up to them armed with a baseball bat, labeled 'Pinkie's Little Nutcracker'. She then turned to look at the civilians, "You males over there might want to turn your heads."

If any of the male unicornicopian combatants had plans to have kids, they were forever crushed that day.

Turning away from her beaten opponents she hopped to the civilians, "Are you ok?"

"Yes, they were going to-"

"Shh, it's going to be ok," Pinkie said, helping the stallion up. Then she pointed away from the fight and into the distance, "My friend has a safe zone set up that away, you can wait there."

"Thanks," the stallion nodded and then he looked down the alley as some unicorns and griffons cracked down the alley. "But what about-"

"Oh, don't worry, they should meet up with my band right about-"

"Your band?" asked the stallion, looking for any other ponies with Pinkie. Then he watched as the enemies ran into the rubber band that was placed in the alley and were launched backwards into the sky.

"My rubber band," Pinkie giggled and then patted him on the back. "Now go!" After the stallion and his family ran away from the fight, Pinkie looked and saw another group of soldiers coming her way. Pulling out a bazooka, labeled 'Piezooka mk II', Pinkie crouched and aimed her weapon, "Ok boys...party time!" with a maniacal laughter, she began to fire round after round of super sticky pies at the soldiers, sticking them to the ground.

---

When Fluttershy got to a nearby hospital she saw it was in chaos. Nurses and doctors all began to run around panicking and screaming. Raising a hand, she tried her best to get their attention, but was drowned out by the loud noise. Sighing she tried again, but was still ignored. Looking to the side, she found an alarm and pulled it, catching the attention of every pony in the room. Blushing and squeaking, she pulled back temporarily, "Um, excuse me, I am so sorry about this, but now that I have your attention. I need you help. Conquest has come and-"

"We know," Doctor Heartbreak said, looking at Fluttershy. "And that is why we are trying our best to get everything here under control. We need to get something out there to help the civilians."

A nurse nodded, 'Yes, and we have to be quick. It's been no secret that Dark Conquest has little qualms about having his men attack hospitals or kill doctors. I have actually seen him rip one of their heads off just when he was saving a small colt from a leg wound."

Fluttershy nodded, and then raised her hand to speak, but was interrupted by another call, "If we don't get out of here soon, we're going to die. And then we won't be able to help the ponies."

"I know," Fluttershy said, nodding softly, "We're all scared. Dark Conquest's men are some of the fiercest opponents that anpony has faced. And that's why I need your help.'

"Our help?" asked Doctor Heartbreak, "Why? How?"

"I need to use this hospital and a few others as safe zones for the civilians that me and my friends save," Fluttershy said. "There are going to be several ponies hurt and we need all of the help we can get."

"But if we stay here, then the soldiers will come and kill us!" shouted a nurse.

"I don't want to die" shouted another.

"But some of us still have patients here we need to help," said another doctor by the name of Maxojir.

"I have a mare in labor up there," said a nurse.

"It'll be ok, I promise," Fluttershy said, much to the confusion of the medical staff. "I will protect you and everypony here." while a small swallow she whispered, "I hope."

"And how are you going to do that?" asked a nurse. "It isn't a secret that you are the weakest of your friends, and a total wimp."

"I know...I am weak, and helpless. But," with a soft look in her blue eyes, Fluttershy pleaded, ""if you trust me, I will protect all of you here and keep you alive. Please trust me."

Doctor Heartbreak looked to his team and stepped forward, "Whatever you need, Fluttershy."

---

Rarity's Golem stood on top of the building, watching the various fights closely, her eyes watching almost every movement the enemy made. When her eyes saw two changelings sneaking up behind Applejack, she fired a shot to take them out in one blow. When her eyes saw a minotaur, her arrow did not miss. There was something about a hiss of an arrow being released from the bow and the sound it made that struck it target. She smiled when she fired again, trying her best to not land a kill shot.

Although, it was hard to so,there were some of her shots that landed in a vital spot of certain opponents. She sighed sadly, knowing that she ay have taken out someone's brother or sister. When she looked at a pegasus in flight, her mind began to wander as she fired, "I am just a golem, not real. I am just a golm, not real," Rarity's golem whispered, her usual mantra flowing through her mind. "And yet, why is it that i still gt these feelings? Why do I care about if I kill or not. I am not real, am I? It doesn't help that Pinkie treats me like I am alive." As she said this she remembered a battle not too long ago.

"Hungry?" Applejack asked the golem as she handed over an apple.

"Oh, look, your leg," Fluttershy said, fixing the leg of the golem.

"Why do they treat me as though I am-AHH!" Golem Rarity screamed as griffon slashed her back. Spinning around, she blocked the griffon's claws and beat him back with a bow. After defeating him, she turned back to the city, "Shoot now, ask questions about life later."

Looking at a small dot, she fired her arrow and took down a pegasus with one shot. There was a coy smile on her lips as she prepared another arrow,.

---

Fluttershy ran out of the hospital, looking for another pony to help when she was a minotaur lying in a pool of blood. LEtting out a gasp, she flew over and landed by his side, "OH my, what a large laceration. Don't worry, I have plenty of-"

"Why are you helping me?" Tee minotaur asked as Fluttershy began to look through the medical ba that she was carrying. "I am an enemy combatant."

Fluttershy sighed as she began to sew a suture onto the Bovine's side, "I am a medic. And we medics don't see sides."

"But I-" the bovine groaned as he felt a shot of pain go through him.

"No buts, I don't care if you are an enemy, I am going to do all I can to help you," Fluttershy said, finishing the suture. Then she took out a need and plunged it into the minotaur's arm, knocking him out, "But that doesn't mean I'm stupid."

Nodding at her job, she flew back to the hospital, watching all of the ponies run about, "We don't have enough doctors here. If anypony starts to get hurt, we might not-"

"Let me!" Fluttershy said, walking up, much to the shock of the doctors. "LEt me help, put some scrubs on me and let me help you."

One nurse pony looked at her confused, "But, you just take care of animals."

Fluttershy nodded, "But I have also taken the time to look up pony anatomy,, just in case my friends were ever hurt. I know a lot and have helped with many cases before. Spo let me have a chance."

"Well, little miss nightingale," said a stallion with light brown hair, "Lets see what you got, and maybe you can actually sign a nice song for us."

"You sure that's a good idea, Dr. Coccyx," as a nurse.

"No, but it is either that, or we all die. And I don't know about you, but I have made too many enemies in hell to want to got there," Dr. Coccyx said.

---

Rainbow Dash let out a grunt of pain as she was kicked into the wall of a building. Before she could recover, the griffon that she had been fighting in the sky delivered a volley of punches into her chest and stomach, then she slashed at Rainbow's face. Recovering, Rainbow blocked the neck slash with a forearm and then delivered a flurry of punches into the griffon and then back fisted the griffon, knocking it out. With a grunt, she pushed herself away from the building and hovered for a few minutes.

Her eyes catching the sight of five more fliers coming at her, Rainbow began to fly headlong into them. Her charge was quickly stopped by a pegasus that came from below, uppercutting her hard in the jaw. Disoriented for but a second, Rainbow Dash readies a cross, that was grabbed by a griffon, who dug his claws into Rainbow Dash's arm, drawing blood. The griffon then happily drove his knee into Rainbow's stomach, sending her flying back into another griffon, who slashed across Dash's back, leaving deep red gashes.

Grabbing her by her mane, the griffon reached back with the intention to cut Dash's neck, however, an arrow through the wings ended his plans. The other griffon was taken down by another volley of arrows. As she caught her breath, Rainbow Dash looked down at Rarity and gave her a thumbs up. Looking back at the incoming opponents, she barely had time to react to a driving fist into her gut. However, she was able to come back with a hard uppercut into the pegasus's jaw. With his chest open, she rapidly struck his chest with multiple punches.

Without turning around she blocked a cross from a griffon and hit him in the beak with her left cross. Then she round housed him in the head and body three times. Then she back-kicked another behind her. Turning to face another one flying at her, she drow her elbows into the pegasus's skull, lifting her up so she could deliver a flying triple sidekick into the face of the female pegasus that was flying behind him.

As the opponent fell from the sky, Rainbow Dash panted, sweat and blood running down her face and arms. Looking to the horizon, she spotted more flyers approaching. With a tired sigh, she flew away from the group, leading them away, "Rainbow, how's it going on up there?"

"Bad, AJ," Rainbow Dash panted as she flew, watching as the soldiers flew after her. "These guys were ready for me this time. I can't get them into small groups so I can kick ass."

"I know the feeling, these losers are piling on the strong boys and are matching me in strength," Applejack grunted. "Ah bet these guys are here just in case we tried to protect Starfleet like we have been doing."

"Great, so as far as Conquest is concerned, we're just a distraction? Buck! I hate being the second banana," Rainbow Dash said.

Rarity, on the other line nodded, firing a show from her bow behind her and then another at another pony about to attack Applejack, "Well, is that different from how Starfleet treats us?"

"Yeah, still annoying. And right now I wish I had less of these guys to worry about," Rainbow Dash groans, and then looked at a distant window in the center of a building. "Oh, I just got a great idea!"

"What is it?" Applejack asked, a grunt coming from the line as she punched an earth pony.

Rainbow Dash smiled as she extended her fore legs out, "Well, you see, I've been reading this book on speedsters from the library that I found and in it, there is a subject on vibrations. See, all object vibrate at different speeds, and if you speed up your own molecules fast enough...you should be able to phase right through an object."

Pinkie Pie let out a gasp, "That sounds so cool."

"Rainbow, Rarity designed that suit to be resilient to your speeds and to attacks, but even it has limits. If you mess up this trick you will have large pieces of glass in your body," Rarity's golem said, a worried tone in her voice as she spoke.

"Well then," Rainbow Dash said, turning off the comm, "Better not mess up then!:" Taking one last look at the incoming window of the skyscraper, the cyan mare closed her eyes and began to breathe slowly. For a moment, she ignored everything around her and just focused on her breathing. As she breathed, she felt a familiar feeling pass through her mane and feathery wings.

It was the air, a cool and soft breeze that always flowed by when she flew. Being a pegasus, she always had a natural affinity for the air and the currents of the sky. She could feel the slight vibrations and changes that would occur whenever the weather was ready to change. Normal ponies would fear the sudden changes in the wind, but she didn't, she was a pegasus. The sky was her domain, the wind was her ally when all others failed her, air was her element. Keeping her breathing at a steady constant, she started to vibrate her body every so slightly, matching the wind as it flowed along her body. Her vibrations made her feel like a friend saying hello, and not an intruder. Her vrations continued to steadily speed up, increasing in time with her breathing until she, the wind, and her vibrations seem to move as one.

After a few moments, Rainbow Dash landed on the ground and turned around,. Behind her was the window pane that led to the outside and she was now on the inside of the building, on the other side of the glass. Smiling at her phasing through the building, she pumped her fist into the air in victory, and smirked as the other opponents who flew at her were unable to stop in time to avoid hitting into and breaking into the glass, "Aw, what's the matter, don't know how I did that? Here, let me show you!" with a smirk of confidence, Rainbow Dash flew once more through the pane of glass and out the other side, causing more to crash through the glass.

Watching as the last five flew at her, Rainbow Dash held up both hands in front of her and turned them into fist slowly. In an instant, she punched a pegasus hard in the face five times and then duck under two roundhouse kicks. When their legs were in mid-swipe, Dash punched both in the nads with her fists. Then she roundhouse kicked the last two griffons.

Rolling her shoulders and cracking her neck side to side, she let out a confident chuckle. This chuckle nearly died in her throat when she saw more griffons, pegasi, and what looked like to be some strange bird-like beings that looked like the strange human things that Twilight told her about. With a tired groan, she took off, "Damn, wish I had some back up, I'm getting tired," she said to herself as she flew away.

A voice broke through thecomm, "Well, don't that beat-all. The great Rainbow Dash needs help?"

"I don't believe it," Rainbow Dash said with wide and excited eyes. "Ace Ray, is that you?"

"In the flesh,": Ace Ray said with a smile.

"How did you break through this comm?" Rainbow dash asked.

"Belle gave us the frequency before we got here," Ace said.

Rainbow ash raised an eyebrow, "We?"

"Yeah, I brought a whole bunch of ex-Wonderbolts with me. Seems they were none too happy about what had really happened to me when I told them the truth. A lot of them quit on the spot and joined me," Ace said. "Now we are all ready to fly under your orders...commander."

Gilda voice came in over with a buzz, "Hey, Don't forget about me too."

"Gilda?"

"Yeah, an I brought some mercs with me too. I finally convinced the king to lend me some griffons to fight with us. We're only about twenty strong, but one of us is worth ten unicornicopians," Gilda chuckled, "Just give the orders Dashie and we'll kick some flank."

Rainbow Dash smiled and then put on a pair of goggles that she pulled out from her pocket, "All right team. Atari formation! I want you to gather and get as many of the fliers as you can and meet me in the center of town."

"Why the center?" asked a voice.

"Because that is the most clear of buildings! It's time we get some air superiority in this war and show Conquest what we fliers are made of," Dash said.

"All right, you hear the commander, meet in the center!" Ace shouted.

After a few moments Rainbow Dash flew to the center and looked behind her, watching as the fliers she had lured were coming towards her at a fast pace. Turning to her left, she watched as Ace's team flew to her. Smirking, she looked at the Wonderbolts that flew up behind Ace, "Fifteen of them?"

A yellow pegasus with a mane of orange fir stepped forward, "Hey, don't underestimate fifteen Wonderbolts. Just because we can't handle a dragon, doesn't mean we can't handle some ponies."

"Spitfire?" Rainbow dash said her eyes wide.

Spitfire nodded, "No pony brainwashes my team. No pony."

"Yeah, a hard case sometimes and determined to win, but she does care about her team," a light blue pegasus said, holding Spitfire' hand

Rainbow Dash did her best to hide her fangirl squeal as she heard a voice coming from behind, "Hey, did somepony order a party?" Gilda said, catching up with Dash, alongside her team of griffons.

Rainbow Dash nodded, "Glad you're here Gilda."

"No problem, you didn't tell me that they had harpies on their team."

"Harpies?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"Ancient Griffon enemies form a long time ago. They used to hide deep in the caves of Griffonstone, stealing our chicks at night and frying them up. Didn't think they were still around.

"Figures, Conquest would hire something like that on his team," Rainbow Dash growled as she watched the other two sets of armies fly in, forming a circle around the group of pegasi and griffons.

For a long time, the two groups floated there in the sky, staring at each other down. Their eyes began to stare down the other, wondering who would blink first. The only sounds that could be heard from their position in the sky was distant fighting and the sound of the blowing wind. Rainbow Dash looked back and forth from her team back to the opposing army. Then she raised her fist to the sky, an old battle cry of the pegasi sounding through her head, "Thunder and Lightning!"

"Wings of Steel!" shouted the pegasi back.

Gilda raised her claw in the sky, "Courage of a lion!"

` "Heart of a pony," shouted Ace Ray, smiling at Gilda.

"Wonderbolts, do or die!" shouted Spitfire.

The group shouted back, "Live and Dive."

"We protect the land-" Rainbow ash began and then was joined by the others as they shouted at once "And rule the sky!"

"Everypony, let's show these guys who owns the skies! Attack
!" Rainbow Dash shouted as she pushed down her goggles and flew off.

The opposing army let out various battle cries and charged at Rainbow Dash's team, teeth and weapons bared to the front. The resulting clash resulted in several fighters each fighting against multiple opponents and creating a spectacle in the sky of many colors clashing against one another with streaks of red shooting out from the various blurs of colors.

Rainbow Dash drove a fist hard into the gut of one pegasus, and followed it up with an uppercut. Without turning around, she side-kick a griffon and roundhoused his compatriot, hitting them three times. Then she did a spinning back kick to a pegasus behind her. Her leg was then grabbed before she could react her leg by a griffon who bit into the limb. Raising his hand, he prepared to break Dash's leg. However, his head was hit by Soarin's blue fst.

Looking to Dash, Soarin' gave the young pegasus a thumbs up before back-fisting a pegasus that tried to slash his back. Turning around, a smirk creased his face as he charged into a group of opponents. With them in a line, he started to punch one hard into the chest and stomach, pushing one into another creating a long line colliding with each other. After a line of six had been formed, Soarin' uppercut and kicked them out of the sky. He was then punched in the face by a large pegasus, and then had his arm pulled behind his back.

With a smile, the large pegasus began to punch Soarin' hard in the face and chest, letting out a chuckle as a loud crack sounded from one of his hits. The chuckling ended quickly when Spitfire flew into his side with a flying kick. With him still dazed from the hit, she flew a little higher, kicked him into the head and then chest before finishing with a crescent kick into the neck. Turning to her squad mate, she winked at him and gave him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.

Turning away from Soarin, Spitfire flew to opponent after opponent, striking each hard in the gut or chest. As he moved, her body seemed to turn into a little fireball. With each strike she performed, each opponent burst into flames and screamed in pain before falling down from the sky.

Ace Ray backed up in the air, watching as a group of griffons began to surround him. Closing his eyes, he breathed in and out, listening to their growls and grunts of anger. Then, when they began their collective charge at him, they were shocked when he became a one pegasus tornado, spinning his body in place so fast that he became a blur, striking all of them so rapidly, it was if he struck them all at once. Returning to a standing pose, he back-kicked a standing pegasus into a glass window. Turning to look at on Unicorpian who came at him, Ace Ray easily blocked the three kicks at the yellow winged unicorn performed, and then he kicked the stallion in the groin before punching out with an uppercut.

For the wonderbolts, in spite of having their best members at their side, it was still not an easy battle. Two of the pegasus members found themselves without their hearts, and one found himself getting his legs cut off. For the griffons, the fight was not any better. In spite of their superior fighting skill in comparison to some of the other fighters, they still were receiving losses of their own. The Harpies proved to be quite effective in killing some of their old enemies by ripping their limbs and heads off.

Gilda watched in horror as one of her griffon friends was decapitated by a harpy tearing his head off. Before she could fly at the harpy, an enemy griffon stabbed her side with a sword. Growling, Gilda clawed a his neck and face, killing him. Looking down at the sword in her stomach, she pulled it out of her and held it up, smiling wickedly. Using the blade to cut another griffon's arm off, she spun both blades in her hands, "Aw hell yeah. This is what I am talking about!"

With a lion's roar, Gilda flew back into the fray, cutting down pegasi and griffon alike with her blades. With one unicornicopian ahead of her, she stabbed him in the chest and cut him down. A harpy flew in behind her and raised her claw to cut Gilda in the back. However, the female bird demon was hit repeatedly by a pair of cyan hooves. Looking to the sound of pain, Gilda smiled when she watched the harpy fall thanks to Rainbow Dash. With a cocky grin, Rainbow Dash offered a thumbs up.

Gilda smirked at her old friend and got into a fighting stance, with Rainbow doing the same and pressing her back against Gilda's. Back to back, the two friends watched as they were surrounded by a group of unicornicopians, pegasi, and more harpies. Narrowing her eyes, Rainbow Dash waved her hand, beckoning the army to attack. Gilda raised a middle claw to all others in response.

Enraged, the circle of combatants flew at Rainbow and Gilda. Keeping their backs to one another, Rainbow Dash and Gilda responded in kind. Gilda's quick sword strikes compliments Rainbow's fast fists and kicks, each girl making sure the other was safe. When it looked like one would become swamped by superior numbers, the other would quickly join in with a slash or a kick to relieve the tension from the other. It was a bizarre dance, a dance of two fighters who knew each other too well and could predict the others movements.

Rainbow's and Gilda's ballet was interrupted by a flying lightning bolt, "Get the buck out of my town!"

Magenta eyes blinked in surprise as the lightning bolt finished kicking the last of the unicorpians out of the sky," Wait, that cone-trail, is that- " Rainbow Dash let out a gasp of surprise as the lightning bolt revealed itself to be sea green with a yellow mane, "Lighting Dust."

"Miss me?" Dust asked.

"Who?" Gilda asked.

"Old academy buddy, " Dash remarked.

Lightning Dust rolled her eyes, "You and I remember that very differently, and I think I ought to pay you back for that.'

"Geez," Gilda chuckled, "What is it with your old girlfriends, do you just naturally turn psycho? Should I worry about Fluttershy?"

Rainbow Dash growled and was about to retort when a phoenix screech caught her attention. Looking up, she saw a firebird take out five harpies at once, before turning into Spitfire as she flew to hover beside the trio, "The phoenix strike! That is cool!"

"Thanks," Spitfire said, running a hoof through her orange amane.

Gilda, looked confused, "Ok, how the buck did you do that?"

"Simple," Spitfire said, holding up her gloves. "Ignition gloves, bases off of my old ignition shoes. I snap my fingers before taking flight and ignite the air around me. Then I use my pegasus magic to manipulate the air around me to create that firebird."

Rainbow Dash looked up into the sky and smirked, "That gives mean idea." and before the four could asked, Rainbow Dash took off into the clouds. Sitting the cloud for a moment, she flew around in a circle, gathering up electricity in her body. Once she was charged, she flew back to the battle.

Clapping her hands together, she unleashed the lightning in a giant burst of lighting. Using her pegasus magic to manipulate the lightning around her, she began to turn the burst of lightning into a flying giant bird that surround her body and began to strike down several opponents. Coming back to hovering in front of a shocked quartet, Rainbow Dash smiled, "And I call that the Thunderbird Crash!"

Spitfire put a finger to her chin, "Could use work."

As the four hovered, more reinforcements from the other side began to fly in. Rainbow Dash winced and rubbed her sides, "Sporting a couple of broken ribs and I am pretty positive they did a number on my back."

"Yeah, my legs have been cut to ribbons," Spitfire groaned.

"There's a hole in my side," Gilda said.

"I just got here, can I fight by your side thought?" Lightning Dust asked.

"No, get your arm broken and then come back," Rainbow Dash said, a smirk on her lips.

This sported a chuckle from Gilda and a laugh that broke into tear for Spitfire. Their expressions then turned serious as they looked at the reinforcements, while the rest of the sky battle raged on around them, ally and foe all falling and fighting. Spitfire was the first to speak, "We've lost about five of our side, from our original fifty-one."

"Oh, how sad," Dash said. "That means we'll have to take over the other's slack."

"Don't worry Dash, I'll leave you some losers," Gilda chuckled.

Lightning Dust shrugged, "Are you kidding, I think I'll take out twenty before I fale."

"Well then, let's rock!" Dash said, flying off with the three following close behind.

---

A group of ponies stood outside of the hospital, watching the spectacle before them. Their eyes were focused on the clash of flesh on flesh and steel against claw. One stallion in particular watched in awe of the battle, his light green mane blowing in the breeze, "What are we doing?"

"Hiding, Flame Tongue, what do you think?" a unicornicopian said, looking at the red stallion before him.

"That's my point," Flame said with a low growl. "What the buck are we doing out here, watching this fight? We should be out there, fighting by their side.

"We can't, " argued the unicorpian that spoke before.

"And who says? Grand Ruler? We see what his advice and rules have left us with, right? Wind Shear, you had a sister in Trot Kong, and where is she?" Flame asked, watching the pegasus stallion shake his head in sadness. Flame's eyes narrowed, looking on at the battle, "For too long we keep getting told that we should hide when the fighting starts, that we should leave it to the professionals, and why? Because we're inferior, and weak?

A unicorpian modded,"You know Grand Ruler never says that you Equestrians are inferior. It's just that you are naturally weaker in terms of speed and strength. Technologically you are also weaker, it's just a fact of life. So-

"What! Just because we're weaker means that we can't fight alongside them?" he looked at his cutie mark, a hoof grabbing a flame. " I remember the Equestria of old, where we were truly equal. I was just a blacksmith. Not the best, but a good one. In spite of that, Celestia never made me feel like I was inferior just because I was an earth pony. I was just as good as anypony else and could stand with heroes if I wanted."

He sighed and then clenched his fist," We may have let the bearers fight for us, but that was because they were fighting gods and monsters. Look, do you see gods? All I see are just ponies and griffons. And yet, Grand Ruler tells us we can't fight."

"Because we're weak," said a mare.

To this, he could only respond by pointing a finger at Rainbow Dash as she guided the flight team in another assault, gaining an advantage over the other side, "Look at them. How many times has the Element Bearers been called 'inferior' due to the simple fact of life. That they don't have the training or that little magic of Grand Ruler in them or have been told 'You will never match up to Starfleet, you will never come to their level'? And do you see that stopping them from being heroes? No! And I am tired of not fighting."

"So, you want to risk your life over some selfish need?" asked the unicornicopian.

The was a slight growl in Flame's voice as he picked up a broken stick, " I am not fighting for a selfish reason. Him," he said pointing to an unicorn with a blue mane, "That is Wild Heart, my best friend since we were in elementary school together. We got our cutie marks at the same time and he has been my best friend ever since. I'm fighting for him. That's my cousin," he pointed the stick to a pegasus mare, "Been like a sister to me. My wife is having my foal upstairs right now, our first one. I...I don't think I could face my child, knowing I didn't do everything to protect this world."

The unicornicopian sighed, "So you are going to risk your life for-"

"It's not just me. I want us all to fight! For our brothers, sisters, cousins, lovers, mothers, fathers, and our friends. I say it's time we stop letting Grand Ruler dictate our lives and stand up and fight!" Flame shouted, raising his hand to the sky.

The other ponies began to look at each other and then nodded. Slowly each got up, and began to join Flame's side. The only exception were the ten unicornicopians in the room, who could only shake their heads. Fluttershy came out from a side room and looked at them, "For all of you going into battle, just remember this is a safe zone. If you get injured, try you best to come here or find a place to hide. I will do my best to protect everypony here."

"Major Fluttershy, you can't be serious. You have to stop their madness," an unicornicopian mare said.

Fluttershy shook her head, "But I can't. Remember, I am just weak and helpless little Fluttershy. I can't fight or struggle, remember?"

Flame Tongue smiled, "Right. Now, those who wish to fight, come...run with us!

---

Applejack winced as she took another blow to the chest, causing her to fall to a knee. One eyelid trembled as she stared at Unicornicopian that had punched her, glaring at him with a steely determination. Pushing through the pain in her legs, she got back up and got ready to fight again, only to watch in surprise as the Unicornicopian fell from a blow in the back of the head. Flame Tongue looked to Applejack and helped her to her feet, "I am sorry, Major Applejack, but I have decided to break the rules and fight with you."

"First of all, it's just Applejack. We're all ponies here, fighting for our friends. Second, do ya really want to fight?" she asked, watching the earth pony nod, "Then pick up a better weapon. That stick ain't gonna cut it!"

Flame smiled as he found a spear dropped by one of the downed stallions and then charged into the fray. A shocked but warm smile graced the mare's lips as she watched the battle unfold. Unicorns and earth ponies began to fight on the ground, while pegasi quickly joined the air with their brethren in the air. Rainbow Dash quickly took the role of leader, pointing to them which areas needed to be protected and who needed to fight.

Now no longer afraid or trapped by Grand Ruler's rules, the Equestrians began to fight as one. Ponies began to use their special talents and their unique magics to fight against their tougher opponents. Those that could not fight alone, quickly found themselves joined by other more capable fighters. Unicorns began to use various learned spells against fellow unicorns. Applejack took a step forward, but was stopped when a yellow unicornicopian stepped in front of her, "Excuse me, do you know whee Flame Tongue went?"

"Ah have no idea," Applejack said, shaking her head.

"Shame, if he survives this battle, tell him...he's right," the unicornicopian said,and then flew into the fray, taking out two earth ponies at once.

Applejack smiled and tipped her hat, covering her eyes with a shadow as she smirked, "I think the tide's about to change."

From a short distance away, the members of Starfleet: Rhymey, Lightning Dawn, Arite Bristles, and Buddy Rose, all ran out from within the confines of the stadium. Once they had gotten out, they were faced with a surprise, the ponies of Fillydelphia were fighting with the members of Friendship Is Magic. What was more, it was obvious from their perspective that their side was beginning to gain the upper hand in the battle. Lightning shook his head in disbelief, "No, no this is wrong!"

"What is?" Buddy asked, watching the ponies fight.

"All of this!" Lightning responded. "They are breaking every rule that we set out for them. They are supposed to be hiding while we fight! They are not supposed to be fighting with us, it's not their jobs."

" That doesn't seem to matter to them. They are willing to fight to protect those they care about, even if it means breaking the rules," Artie said, smiling admiringly.

Lightning shook his head, "But they can't. They're too weak, they lack the training to fight like us."

"To a hero, that doesn't matter," Artie said, stepping forward. "They are fighting because they have something to care for and sometimes that's all that's needed."

Rhymey raised his hand, "But-

"We've been fighting for so long under Grand Ruler's rules, that we forgot what it means to be a hero," Artie said, putting his staff over his shoulder and then walking away.

Lightning reached out for Artie, "Where are you going?"

"To fight with them," Artie said, a smile on his face. "To see if I still remember what it means to be a hero, and if I can fight on equal grounds with them."

Buddy watched as Artie walked away and quickly ran up to stand by his side, "I'm coming with you."

"But, Buddy, aren't you scared?" asked Artie.

Buddy looked down, "Yeah, I am. I'm more scared than anything right now. I'm afraid of dying and leaving my little cousin alone. I'm all she's got, you know, and I don't want her to become an orphan. Our orphanages aren't exactly the most pleasant place to be you know. But, I...I..."

"Yes?" asked Artie.

"I don't think I could live with myself, if I let my only friend in the world fight alone out there. So, consider this the last run of the plant hero of Starfleet!" smirked Buddy as she ran ahead of Artie, who soon followed his red companion.

Lightning watched as the two ran into the fray, his fist clenched. His face turned into a grimace as he bared his teeth, "We should be stopping the civilians, not fighting with them. We should be able to fight alone and not with the aid of anypony else."

"What it's worth, commander

I am still here, sir.

Though I will not lie

I fear for Fluttershy

She is i this fight

And I prefer she take flight

See her I must

Convince her running away is just," Rhymey said.

Lightning, if he heard Rhymey did not show it. He just squinted his eyes as he thought back.

"Look Starla, I'm in Starfleet! Now...I can finally do something, and who knows, maybe find out if there is more to me than just this stupid horn," Lightning said with a smile.

Looking back up, Lightning took flight, ":Those ponies are crazy, and if I don't fight, they are going to die. Rhymey, you go and find Fluttershy, if you want. I have a war to fight in."

---

The ground beneath Applejack shook as she grabbed the punch thrown by the minotaur, little divots being created in the ground beneath her feet. Her green eyes looked up at her opponent, glaring at him with steely daggers. Pushing the minotaur back with her arm, she spun around and bucked him in the stomach. She then turned her head towards an orange blur as he landed next to Applejack, "Hey there, Applejack."

"Artie? What the heck are you doing here? We put you in that stadium to protect you!" Applejack said as she watched some more soldiers begin to race towards her.

Artie lowered his head, "Applejack, if you were told to stay and hide when there was something you could do to help...would you? Even if common sense told you to stay back and let others do the fighting, would you hide?"

Applejack opened her mouth to say something, but no word came out. Instead she sighed and stared ahead, "You're right, Ah wouldn't. Even if you told me that I was facing death itself, Ah wouldn't stay behind and run away like a coward. But stay close to me, Dark Conquest wants you dead."

"I know," Artie said with a sigh. "'We've known since Myte died. But, I want to look at myself in the mirror again and say my parents are wrong. That I'm not just little rich kid that has his head in the clouds with delusions of being a hero. That my life actually is worth something!", and with that, Artie charged in, his staff pointed forward, and then he let out a yell of "Pain-"

Before he could let out his attack, a minotaur clotheslined him. Then he grabbed Artie's head with his hand and slammed his head into the ground. Three other soldiers joined in with the minotaur as they begin to pound away at the prone Artie "Oh gods, my parents were right, weren't they? I'm no hero."

The minotaur raised his fist for another blow, but was blocked by Applejack. With three short moves, she managed to get the ponies off of Artie. Looking down, she smiled and helped him up, "Are you still trying that whole 'Calling your attacks' thing? They aren't gonna let you! Now, start using that staff of yours and fight!"

Artie nodded and spun his staff in a circle before swiping the large staff in a wide arc that smashed the weapon against the side if the head of an earth pony. Without looking behind him, the orange unicornicopian thrusted his staff behind him and in front, striking two earth ponies in the stomach.

Before a unicorn could fire a bolt of electricity at Artie, Applejack grabbed the green unicorn's horn and slammed the head into the ground. She then turned her head up to the sound of staff on flesh and looked to see Artie knocking a few opponents away. Getting up, Applejack smirked at her ally.

Returning the smile, artie knocked loose a pole and kicked it towards Applejack, "Here."

"Uh, thanks, but I'm not a weapon user," Applejack said, grasping the pole in both hands.

"It's ok, just follow my lead," Artie said, slowly spinning his staff in a circle.

Nodding Applejack followed suit, just in time to block a series of bolts and arrows that were thrown their way. Once the assault was gone, the two stopped spinning the staffs and ran forward. Artie treated his staff fighting as an art, striking with a skill and ability that resembled a dance. Applejack, in stark contrast, began to bash her staff much like a blacksmith would a hammer.

After taking out ten soldiers as one, Applejack looked to her partner, "And that is how you do it!"

Artie smiled at Applejack and turned around, "Thank you, Applejack."

"Hey, we ain't got time for gratitude here. Now there is a neighborhood that could use your help that way," Applejack said, watching Artie salute and run off.

"Help!" a voice shouted.

Turning to the sound, Applejack saw Flame Tongue lying under some rubble. In front of the blue earth pony was a large minotaur holding up a large ax. Narrowing her eyes, Applejack ran to the bovine, wrapped her arms around v his waist from behind and suplex the monster into the ground.

Wiping away the sweat from her brow, she looked to the prone pony and walked to the rubble. With a massive grunt, she lifted the stone off of his legs, "You ok?"

Flame let out a grunt, "L-legs broken. Heh, guess I tried a little too hard to fight like you, hhh?"

"Nah, ya did fine," Applejack smiled and she got him to his feet. "You fought bravely and sometimes that all it takes to be a hero."

"I'll take him," Fluttershy said flying in from the sky, wearing what seemed to be a doctor's outfit over her armor.

"Fluttershy? What's with the outfit?" Applejack asked.

Fluttershy blushed as she got out a stretcher. "Um, the doctors at the hospital gave me one, so I could be an official medic."

Applejack nodded, "Ah got ya, now get going."

"Yes mam," Fluttershy said with a salute and then she flew off.

---

Buddy Rose stood in the alleyway, watching the many battles of the war take place. All across his field of vision, he could see pegasi take on the griffons and harpies in the air, while down on the ground he saw unicorns weave spells to aid the earth ponies to stand on equal ground against their larger foes. It all served to make a shiver run down his spine, "This was a bad idea," he whispered to himself.

"Darla, would you ever hate it if I quit Starfleet?" Buddy asked.

Darla smiled softly and looked up at her cousin, "No, I wouldn't. Because I get to spend more time with my favorite cousin."

"Even if I don't get to be a hero anymore?" asked Buddy.

"That would be impossible because you are always a hero, Buddy," Darla said happily and then hugged Buddy around his neck.

"You're wrong, Darla," whimpered Buddy, holding his whip close to his chest. "I'm no hero, I'm a coward! I'm shaking in fear of my own death." With a heavy sigh, he turned to leave and run to the hospital, when he heard a yell.

"Get away from my husband!" said a stallion as he stood in front a downed earth pony stallion. The stallion who yelled was holding a broken arm and stood on shaking knees.

Buddy watched this scene and gasped, then narrowing his eyes he lashed out his whip at the griffon who was going to kill the two ponies. Pulling back with all of his might, he broke the griffon's neck and with a second crack of the whip he took out a griffon in the air. Racing to the two stallions, he asked, "Are you two alright?"

"Y-yeah," the stallion nodded. "The name is Wind Storm, and this is my husband Lightning Flare. I tried to stop him from coming out here and let me fight. He isn't exactly the world's best you know."

"It's ok, all of us have something that we aren't the best at," Buddy said, smiled as he helped Lightning Flare up, "Come on, let me get you to a hospital."

---

"Fluttershy, please listen to reason

Do engage in this foolhardy mission

The battlefield is no place for you to be

It's at home, safe you see," Rhymey said to Fluttershy.

Fluttershy frowned as she looked to Rhymey, "No, it isn't. Here is where I belong, with my friends."

"Fluttershy, you are weak and soft

What kind of help can you-"

"This kind of help," Fluttershy said, rushing to a pony that was being taken in. Looking at the broken leg, she nodded, "Sir, this will hurt a lot. It's dislocated," and then she popped the leg back in.

Rhymey raised a hand, but was interrupted by a nurse, "Miss Fluttershy, we need you help in the upper floors."

Fluttershy nodded and turned around, "If you really care about me, then stop trying to get me to go home and help.

Rhymey growled and left the hospital, defeated.

---

"Commander Rep, do you see what I mean?" asked a pegasus as he stood on top of a building with Rep-Stallion.

Rep watched the battle closely, watching at the two armies collide, and watched as many of his side were falling or were being beaten, "Yeah, it's a brawl, and we're losing"

"You don't seem saddened by this, sir," the pegasus said.

"Nah, you kidding? I expected this the moment you started saying that we were fighting the elements and not Starfleet," Rep chuckled. "Grand Ruler can insult their beliefs all he wants, but you can't deny that those mares know how to get someone to follow them."

"Shall we retreat sir?" asked the stallion.

"Not yet," Rep-Stallion said wagging his finger in dismissal. Getting a running start from the edge of the roof, he ran to the side of the building before jumping off, "Got to check something out!" he said, jumping off the building and landing in front of Artie and Applejack with his fist and feet touching the ground with his arm in the air, "Ha! Superhero landing."

Artie pointed his staff at Rep-Stallion, "Ok Applejack, let-"

"No," Applejack said, holding out a hand to block Artie's advance. "He'll kick your ass and you know it. The man has had several fights with you and knows your fighting style. He has your number, but me...he hasn't fought me ye."

"It's true," Rep said, letting his scythes fall out from the sleeves of his shirt and into his hands. "I've been dying to fight you Applejack, ever since you kicked Mysterious so hard that it left a hoof print in his gut. You know he still has it?"

"Hoof print?" Artie asked, eyebrow raised.

"Long story," Applejack said. "Now, here's the plan, you go and handle the bad guys behind me. Ah want this to be a one-on-one fight with this mother bucker."

Rep stuck a forked tongue out and licked his lips. As he watched Artie run away from the fight to follow Applejack''s order, the lizard stallion raced at the earth pony, slashing his scythes at her. Swiftly Applejack dodged and ducked under the slashes. Smiling, Rep used his long tail to wrap around Applejack's legs and trip her sending her to the ground.

With a gasp, Applejack dodged to the left and right, dodging the strikes from the scythes. When a third strike came from above, Applejack grabbed it with her left hand, using her right forearm to block the other scythe. Holding tightly onto the blade, she stood back up and delivered a hard right cross into Rep's face. As he reeled back from the hit, Applejack punched him hard with several blows into the gut. It was only when she tried to back kick him that he gained an advantage. Raising his scythe, he slashed Applejack's left thigh. As she yelled in pain, the reptilian washed diagonally across her chest and then across her face.

Finding herself on the defensive, Applejack blocked several more strikes from Rep's blade with her for arms, the armor beginning to form cracks on it. Then with yell, Rep slashed down both of his bladed at Applejack's head. In a flash, she crossed her forearms and blocked both blades. She grunted as she felt the blades begin to break through the armor and dig themselves into her arms, "Look at you," Rep commented as she dug his blades deeper, "Some broken ribs, cuts, bite marks, and other wounds all over your body. I am pretty sure I just did a number on your left with my blade, when are you ever just going to give up?"

"Well, you know when Ah'm dead and buried?" Applejack asked, "That's when round two starts." With a smirk, she broke the block and then began to drive several punches into Rep's body, leaving dents with her punches. After several hard punches began to leave Rep dizzy, applejack spun around and planted her hands onto the ground. Cocking her legs close to her, she then double kicked him hard in the chest, cracking his ribs with an audible crack..

Rep found himself flying into the air, through a building and landing in a heap in a pile of rubble. Struggling to get back up, he looked at Applejack as she walked slowly towards him, her hat over her eyes, "You can surrender or retreat. Your choice."

Panting, Rep said, "You are a great fighter Applejack. I'm glad to have fought ya. All soldiers," he shouted into his comm, "Teleport out and retreat, if you're conscious."

Applejack watched in shock as a blue light began to surround him, "Wait, get back here!"

"You fought good, buddy. I hope we can have a rematch," chucked Rep as he vanished.

Applejack growled as she kicked the ground, and a few minutes later, she could hear Rainbow Dash on the comm, "Hey, AJ, the bad guys just vanished. Does this mean that-"

"We won, sugarcube, we won, "Applejack said, leaning against a light-pole, letting her breathing return to normal.

"We won?" Rainbow Dash said in disbelief, and then turned to her comrades in the air, "WE WON!"

"We did it, we won!" Gilda said, fist pumping the air and then giving Ace Ray a big hug.

On the ground, Flame Tongue could hear the cheers and then turning to look at the other ponies in the hospital, cheered, "We won. They did it! The battle is over, they saved us all, they won!"

All across the city, the ponies cheered and celebrates. They threw their hats into the air, And their weapons as well. Ponies and Unicorpians alike hugged and kissed one another as the noonday sun rose triumphantly into the sky. Other stallions and mares were content ot fistbump each other, or even just smirked at enemies that they now considered good friends. The celebration was brought to an abrupt halt when a slow, echoing clap was heard throughout the city, "Bravo, bravo, Brav-freaking-o," Dark Conquest said as he clapped his hands together. "You won, and protected this little city from the big bad. I am so proud."

"Conquest," Applejack growled, looking around, "Where is he?"

"I am so happy for you that I am clapping from here in the center of the city. Ok, not center, but I am somewhere in the city. I am going to go and pick up my consolation prize," Conquest said with a grim chuckle.

A look of horror came across Applejack's face, "Oh no, buck no. He's going after Starfleet! Everypony, find a Starfleet member and give me their status, now!"

"I found Artie!" Pinkie said, looking at the stallion.

"Lightning is in the sky with me, Rainbow Dash said, looking at the commander..

"Rhymey's with me, trying to convince me to leave," Fluttershy said with a sigh.

"And I think I see Buddy about 100 yards away from you Applejack," Rarity said.

Smiling, Applejack turned off her comm and looked at the red unicorpian as he started to walked towards her. He had a hopeful smile on his face as he walked back. Applejack let out a sigh of relief, only to feel her heart stop when Buddy's vine whips lashed out at him and wrapped around his neck and stomach. Shaking her head in horror, she looked at who held the two who held the whips, Raven and Dark Conquest. A sadistic smile crossed the black alicorn's lips as he said to his compatriot," Make a wish."

Time seemed to freeze as he and Raven pulled at once, breaking Buddy's neck and spine in a gut wrenching snap. There was a look of shock and horror in the red unicornicopian's face as he fell to the ground, all life fading from his eyes. When he hit the ground, he gave out one final gasp before dying.

Applejack watched all of this, horror quickly turning into rage as she let out a roar. Running towards him with tears of anger rolling down her cheeks, she yelled, "Conquest, you sick miserable son of a bitch!"

"Now Applejack," Dark Conquest smirked, as he grabbed Applejack's punc, wincing in pain as he felt the pressure from her blow pushing him back a little, "That is not a wish. Besides, you should know that you stand no chance against the big bad." he said as he casually pushed her back a few feet after letting go of her fist. Rubbing his hand to massage away the pain, he looked to Raven, "Raven, sweetie. Teach Applejack here a lesson in manners. I have more important matters to attend to."

"Yes, boss," Raven said with a bow before looking at Applejack and holding out her hand. With a smirk she covered Applejack with a dome of dark purple.

Applejack let out a grunt of pain as she felt heavier, "That feeling on your body is the gravity around you increasing by two, it's harder to walk, isn't it?"

If Applejack heard her, she did not acknowledge it as she walked slowly towards Raven,"Could ya wait there for a moment? I want you to give Conquest a message."

Raven ignored Applejack and hit her with another spell,"Three! Four!" she shouted, increasing the gravity on Applejack's body, sending her to the ground with each increase of gravity.

The only response Applejack gave was a grunt as she felt the pressure of spell increase. Every step she took nearer the grey unicorn was accompanied by a shake. Little rivulets of blood rolled down her arms and legs as she could feel blood vessels pop. Once she was within punching distance of Raven, Applejack pulled back her fist and hit Raven hard in the face, sending her flying across a city block and into a building, "Tell him that we're coming fer him, and that he's gonna pay for every life he's ever taken."

As if it wasn't affecting her at all, Applejack continued to walk towards Raven. With each step she took, craters began to form beneath her feet. Raven shook her head in horror as Applejack continued her march,"Six! SEVEN!" Still seeing Applejack come closer, she muttered, "This is impossible, your bones should be pa-

Her objection was interrupted by another one of Applejack's punch to the face that sent Raven flying, "Ah'll say it again, Raven. You tell your boss, we'll come for him one day and he's gonna pay for all the lives he took!" She said, before collapsing to her knees, blood running down her arms and legs.

Raven got up slowly, the intent of inflicting violent death on her opponent in the eyes, and prepared a fireball in her right hand. Before she could shoot, her vision was obscured by a blue blur. When the blur cleared, she found herself looking down the shaft of an arrow being aimed by Rarity. Looking beyond that was Rainbow Dash, cracking her knuckles with Pinkie at her side armed with a party cannon, ready to do battle. Behind them was Fluttershy helping Applejack to her feet and tending as best as she could to her wounds, "I suggest you run, because I do believe we have you outnumbered," Rarity said, narrowing her eyes.

Raven growled and muttered as she disappeared into the ether, "Shame, I was hoping to add Applejack to my list, right beside Twilight Sparkle."

Rarity fired off a shot as she disappeared. Turning around, she watched as Fluttershy helped Applejack to her feet, "Applejack are you alright?" Fluttershy asked.

Applejack breathed slowly, "Ah'm fine, but...Buddy." Closing her eyes, she growled in frustration, "Damn it, Ah wanted to save them all. Ah wanted them to come out of this alive."

"AJ," Rainbow Dash said, putting her hand onto Applejack's shoulder, "At least we saved the town."

"Yeah," Pinkie said with a bounce, "At least everypony here is going to see the sunrise tomorrow. Maybe you should focus on that."

"Maybe," Applejack said softly.

---

(One Week Later)

There was a large crowd gathered in the royal throne room, as the gathered group had filled the chambers to watch the ceremony in earnest. At the front of the room, kneeling in front of the throne were the bearers of the elements of harmony, dressed in their armor. Before them, stood Queen Celestia, holding a scepter while Grand Ruler sat on his throne beside her. He had his hand on his chin and had a scowl on his face as he watched the proceeding take place. With a cocky smile, Queen Celestia looked to the crowd, "My Little Ponies and Unicornicopians, last week there was a tremendous battle that united all of us and helped to save a city from Dark Conquest's plans. This victory, our first against such a threat, would not have been possible had not it been for the bravery and skill of the five before me. As thus, it is time I give them a reward that I should've done in the years before. I had not done this, because there was no need. I felt that they had known this in their hearts. And so, I am only cementing what has been in the hearts of all Equestrians everywhere."

She placed the scepter onto Applejack's shoulder, "Abbigail Jacqueline III, strong as the trees you farm. You have shown strength, determination, and courage of many a soldier. You bear the weight of the world, but ask nothing in return. Rise, Applejack, Knight of the Earth."

"Pinkamena Diane Pie," Celestia said, placing her scepter onto Pinkie's shoulder, "You have shown creativity in the face of ponies desiring to stay the same, only to bring happiness to others. Rise, Pinkie Pie, Knight of Creativity."

Celestia looked at the pregnant Rarity and smiled, "Rarity Belle, I understand that you took the time to give us reinforcements in the form of unlikely allies. At the same time, in spite of your condition, you have done your best to offer help to the team. Be it through armor, a golem, or just being yourself. Rise, Rarity, Knight of the Diamond."

"Fluttershy Firewing-Ward," Celestia giggled when she saw the yellow pegasus hide beneath her mane, as if it would hide her from the large crowd. "Kind hearted, and soft when compared to your more hardened friends. You are willing to go through hellfire itself, if it meant to help another pony. Rise, Fluttershy, Knight of the Heart."

Celestia then put the scepter onto Rainbow Dash's shoulder, "Rainbow Dash, loyal and swift. You have bravely led a small team into battle and won, you brought these mares together with a Rainboom, and you have stood by them even in the roughest of times. Rise, Rainbow Dash, Knight of the Wind."

"These mares are now the knights of the realm, let them have all the respect and honors that deserves!" Celestia said, holding her arms up, while Grand Ruler could only fume in a silent rage. "You all may leave and prepare for the celebration this evening, except...Rainbow Dash."

After the crowd had dispersed and left Rainbow Dash alone with the two royals, Celestia sat back onto her throne, "From what I understand, Rainbow Dash, you have formed quite a team together recently. Your little group that fought in Fillydelphia were quite successful in stopping Conquest."

"Heck yeah! We kicked flank back there. There was some losses, but beyond that, they couldn't lay a finger on us. We handed their-" a small blush crossed Rainbow Dash's cheeks as she put her hand behind her head, "-what I mean is, we were pretty awesome."

"Indeed," Celestia said, looking to Grand Ruler with a coy smile. "And it would be unwise to separate what has proven to be such a powerful force. So...I am giving them all to you as a special squadron under your command. You can call them what you want, and you are responsible for their training."

"Hold it, my...love," Grand Ruler Celesto said, a faint growl escaping his lips. "This group that you are giving to her are full of criminals, traitors, and griffons," he spat that last word out like something vile was in his mouth. "You cannot expect me to think that you are going to let her have that team?"

"My dear Celesto," Celestia said, her smile not leaving her lips. "I have just made Rainbow Dash a knight, which according to our laws makes her the same rank as Starla Shine. Now, according to your laws, A colonel has a right to form any type of team, squadron, or force that he/she pleases. To deny Rainbow Dash this right, would be saying that Equestrians are not equal. That, their inferiority means that they can never match up to you and they are not able to be your allies, but your servants. But, I thought that anypony can join Starfleet and do the same things, unless...that isn't true and we are not equal in ruling power."

Grand Ruler Celesto tried to object, but could only turn his head away in response, "Fine, allow her to have her squadron or whatever."

"Congratulations Rainbow Dash, I suggest you head outside and meet with them before the party tonight," Celestia said, winking to the cyan mare.

Rainbow Dash gave a cheerful nod and flew off from the throne room. After a few minutes of flight, she found herself on a balcony overlooking a collection of tents where several pegasi and griffons were stationed. She let out a sigh as she looked down at the group, "Wow..."

Gilda flinched as she felt Ace touch her side, "Cut it out, I'm fine."

"You have a sword wound in your stomach, you are not fine," Ace Ray grumbled.

Gilda rolled her eyes, "Look, it missed my important parts, and I can still fight, so yeah I'm fine."

"You are impossible," Ace said, shaking his head.

"And you are sexy," Gilda said, making Ace blush.

"Will you two keep quiet? Look," Lightning Dust said, pointing to the balcony where Rainbow Dash stood.

There was a smile on her lips as she thrusted her fist into the air, "Ok guys, just got the word from on high. We're all a team now. We're a squadron!"

There was a rousing cheer from the crowd, followed by a shout of, "And what do we call ourselves?"

"Uh," Rainbow Dash said, and then put her finger to her chin, "How about-"

"And if you name it after yourself, I will kill ya in front of this team!" Gilda screeched.

"Then how about the Wind Knights, G?" Rainbow Dash said, cocking her head to the side.

"Fine!" chuckled the griffon.

Spitfire flew up to the balcony and stood next to Dash, "Former Captain Spitfire, requesting to be your second-in-command, commander."

"Permission granted," Rainbow Dash said, and then smirked, "Besides, you know more about leading a group than me. I am still a little wet behind the ears."

"Shame, because I was thinking, after this war is done, about making you captain of the wonder-"

"Hold it," Dash said. "When I finally make it to captain, I want it to be because I am the best, not because I am some hero or because you see me as a savior. I want it because of my own sweat and blood. Got it."

"Got it," Spitfire said. Then looking back she said, "Now, you get to your friend Rarity, you guys have a party to get ready for."

---

Rainbow Dash flew down to the room where she and her friends were staying for the night of the party. As she neared the door, Applejack came bursting out with a look of terror in her eyes, "Dash, run! Rarity has gone on full dress making mode."

"What?" Rainbow Dash said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Yeah, when she found out about the party, she decided to make us all new dresses for the occasion. We tried to tell her no, we'll make do, but she said-

"No friends of mine are going to a celebration in clothing from a few years ago!" Applejack said in a cultured and high class tone.

"That was when she started grabbing and taking measurements," Applejack panted. "We lost Belle first, she was unsuspecting. Pinkie Pie gave up herself in order to let me warn you and Flutters. Now, go Rainbow, save your-" she then gasped as a measuring tape wrapped itself around her legs, "Oh no, she got me! Go, Rainbow Dash, run! Save yourself, and don't forget that you will alway be my friend," he last words echoed across the hall as she was pulled into the room.

Fluttershy landed next to Rainbow Dash, licking an ice cream cone, "What's going on?"

"Rarity has gone mad and is getting everypony into dresses," Rainbow Dash said.

"Oh," Fluttershy said calmly, licking her ice cream. "How many are left?"

"Me and you," Dash said, putting her hands behind her head. "But I wouldn't worry, you and I both-"

"Eeep" Fluttershy said as she was taken away by a bunch of measuring tape and fabric into the room, leaving behind the ice cream cone spinning in mid-air.

"-Have our own dresses that we can wear to this thing. And...Flutters?" Dash asked, looking to the smoke outline and spinning ice cream cone that was her best friend. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched the measuring tape snake towards her, "No, wait, Rarity stop! I have a dress uniform form the Wonderbolts reserves! I don't need a new outfit!" she yelled, but was pulled into the room next.

The ice cream cone stopped spinning in mid-air and started its descent, but was grabbed in Rarity's magic as she pulled it inside, "Darn these cravings."

---

A few hours into the night and the party was starting to begin. Off to the sides of the large royal ballroom, the buffet tables awaited, laden with food and drinks. The center of the floor was littered with Pony, griffon, and Unicorpian alike mingling and dancing. The party stopped for a brief few seconds when the doors opened and the five element bearers plus their friend stepped in, "Got to admit, Rarity knows how to make a dress," Applejack said, looking down at her long green and brown gown. There no sleeves on the dress, rather straps that were hooked with her cutie mark.

"Yeah, she does," Rainbow Dash said, putting her hands into the pockets of her sky blue dress pants. She let out a soft chuckle as she looked at the dark blue vest that she wore over a white undershirt, "Spitfire is going to flip when she see what Rares did to my dress uniform," she said, looking at the red lining in addition to the golden medals that were on the right side. One of them even representing her element.

"Isn't this cool? It's like a big party made for all of us! There's plenty of food, treats, music-" Pinkie began to ramble on for a few minutes, bouncing her dress as she did. The dress itself was a long pink gown with white streaks running across it. It's appearance resembled a giant cake, with the strapless top looking like someone had put on a large red cherry on top of the cake. In the center of her broach was a replica of her element.

Belle blushed slightly, "Does Rarity usually go on dressing sprees like this for big events?" her grey hands clasped over each other as she looked around nervously. Her eyes looked down at the long purple one piece gown, "I mean, how did she know I wanted to go simple."

"It's Rarity, trust me, she just knows," Rainbow Dash said, winking.

"Yes, but sometimes she can be a bit...excitable?" Fluttershy whispered as she stepped forward in a pleated dress, the green earthly colors matching well with the light pink butterfly and little crosses that lined the sides.

"Ladies, we are knights now, and we have to look the part," Rarity said, stepping to the front of the bearers, dressing an extravagant white dress with long purple sleeves. In her hand, was a purple and green fan that she put over her pregnant belly.

"What's with the fan?" Applejack asked.

Rarity put a finger to her lips and smiled, "My dear Applejack, it's Canterlot tradition for a royal knight to wear the colors of their beloved on their body. My fan is green and purple to match my dear Spikey-Wikey."

"Wait a minute," Rainbow Dash thought to herself as she looked down at the cuffs of her uniform and saw Yellow and pink stripes, "Those are Fluttershy's colors. That little-"

Rarity gave a small bit of laughter as she put the open fan to her face, "Now come, ladies, let us mingle with our friends and allies. And do remember some form of decorum, and I am cautioning three certain members of our little sextette."

Applejack counted in her head and then looked to Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and herself, "Hey! Ah can be plenty fanciful and decorum. Remember the wedding?'

"If you are referring to Celestia's and Grand Ruler's, then yes. And that is why I am asking for poise and grace that is expected of a group of-" Before Rarity could continue, a squeeing Pinkie ran by.

"Chocolate fountain!"

"And there we go," Rarity said, shaking her head as she walked out and onto the dance floor.

"Applejack are you sure I should be out there? I mean, I didn't do much, just come up with the plans and how to win," Belle said, looking away.

Applejack placed a hand onto Belle's shoulder, "You are one of us, you belong here, end of story."

"But-"

"No buts," Rainbow Dash said, taking Belle by the hand, "You're coming with us, now."

From behind the curtain, on the stage of the Royal ballroom, Celestia looked out at the cross. Her royal dress flowed and moved with her like her own mane did. All of the many layers were the various colors of the sunrise. Turning to look behind her, she smiled when she saw her sister, "Luna, you look so...cute!"

"Tia!" Luna whined, pouting a little as she stood in a dress similar to her sister's, but with sequins that sparkled like stars. "I have not been cute since I was eight years old!"

Walking towards her little sister, Celestia rubbed her sister's nose, "You will always be my adorable and cute sister. Lulu," she then kissed luna on the nose.

Luna shook her head in response and then booped her sister on the nose, "There, now we are-"

"Celestia I object to this," Grand Ruler said, stepping into the stage. "How on earth can you think of having a party a this moment?"

Luna rolled her eyes and sighed,"I'll go for now."

As Luna faded into the shadows, Celestia turned to face her husband, "We are having a party to celebrate the fact that we have actually won a battle in this long war. This is meant to celebrate our first victory and to honor all those who have worked hard to save us all."

Grand Ruler punched the wall next to him, "We won nothing. IT was all your Equestrian's doing. They were the ones who had won the battle this day. By breaking the rules and trying to do something that no one asked them to. They broke the rules!"

"Yes," Celestia agreed. "They won by realizing that they were no different than their Unicornicopian allies and that they could fight on the same level. That maybe, they are not as inferior as your so called facts describe. That they could achieve great things through harmony, courage, and," she said the next word with a smile, "Friendship.

"Don't say that word! Your ponies failed to fight with friendship the moment they threw that first punch," Grand Ruler growled, his red eyes narrowing. "Everyone knows that friendship means no fighting whatsoever, so don't try and say that your ponies won because they fought with friendship."

"That's not what fightin with friendship means," Celestia shook her head in disbelief. 'You will never get it."

Grand Ruler lowered his head, his black mane covering his eyes, "We shouldn't be celebrating anyway. Buddy is dead, we should be in mourning."

"We have been in mourning for the loss of our friend, for the past few days we have been in mourning for our fallen comrade. Now it is time for us to celebrate the living and our victories; however small they may be."

"No, now it is not!" Roared Grand Ruler. "We should be training ruthlessly, we should be pushing ourselves in order to win, and not thinking of something like parties and fun."

"But, even in times of war, a little levity can help inspire others and raise their spirits," Celestia said. "But, know the real reason why you are against such a party to be held."

Grand Ruler looked into Celestia's yes, "And why is that?"

"Because it was my team that won, it was because it was the Equestrians that won the day while your Unicornicopians lost. That the idea that the 'inferior' ponies with their little ideals won the day and your Starfleet, in spite of all the rhetoric that you brainwashed them with, did nothing to save the day in the entire five months of this war."

Grand Ruler let out a growl of anger as he raised his fist and punched it at Celestia. With a glowing finer, Celestia blocked the fist, "Do not raise your fist to me again, dear husband. You may have all of the political power thanks to our little 'agreement', but never forget that things can and will change." and with what, Celestia walked away.

As he watched her walk away from him, Grand Ruler growled and began to ignite hi s horn. For a few brief seconds his horns glowed but then sputtered out, "What is happening to me. I am losing control over her and everything else." Walking away from the stage, Grand Ruler shuddered when he felt one of the three horns spurt.

Celestia rubbed her finger a little as she stepped out onto the stage, before putting on her usual smile, "Ponies of United Equestria! Today we are here to celebrate a great victory against the evil of Dark Conquest. Through your efforts, you have stopped Conquest from taking one of our cities, and won us a nobel win. I will not lie," Celestia said, lowering her head in sadness, "We did not win this in a flawless victory, for we still lost some of our own in the battle. But, it is for them that we hold this grand celebration. For we are honoring their sacrifice, and we are also thanking them in our way for saving us all from Dark Conquest. We are remembering them as they are and remembering that they would want us to celebrate life! We are also here, to honor the six that helped us with this win."

"Six?" Belle asked herself as she suddenly felt a spotlight shine on her. Looking around she saw five spotlights on the five bearers of harmony.

"These six mares worked together to figure out Conquest's strategy and his plans. They helped tremendously to defeat him for right now, especially, from what I understand, you," Celestia said, pointing at Belle. "And you are?"

"Belle Amie, their new friend. I um," Belle chuckled and ran a finger through her mane, "didn't really do all that much. I just solved a bunch of equations and predicted his movements. Anypony could've done it."

"So modest, just like Twilight. She even looks like her. If only..." Quietly, Celestia wiped a tear away at the thought of her dead student, " You are so modest, but I can understand the feeling. You feel as if your victory was not yours alone, but everypony's." She then turned to look at the crowd, "My subjects! I will not lie and try and say that this will mark continued success against Conquest. He will strike back harder, and with even more power. But, for right now, tonight is a cause of celebration, for we must also pay tribute to our small victories as well as our large successes."

With a pause, Celestia watched as a sea-green earth pony began to walk onto the stage, "To start the festivities off, I have brought Countess Coloratura to sing a song."

"Coloratura, who in the hey," Applejack paused in her thoughts as she looked up at the stage at the mare, noticing the familiar black mane with the light blue stripe, "Rara?" she gasped out.

"Thank you, your majesty," Coloratura said with a bow and then looked to her band. Closing her eyes, she let the music begin to play. Those who knew her stage persona thought it odd that the countess would begin with a song that started off with a slow guitar beat, but as the drum beat began to match the guitar strum, it was obvious what she was saying. The way the guitar strummed, it was like listening to a slow heartbeat, matching the feelings of the equestrians.

As Applejack listened to the song that was being played, she smiled softly, "Wow, you made it Rara. Congratulations. Ah think I probably should go and tal-"

"Hey there, Applejack," smiled Flame Tongue as he walked up to her.

"Ah know you, yer that pony Ah saved in Filly," Applejack said, taking the stallions hand and shaking it. "Glad to see yer all right."

"Thanks to you," Flame said, rubbing the back of his head,. "Listen, my wife had a baby filly during the battle and we were thinking of maybe naming her Applejack, in honor of you. The problem is-"

"You would be joining in with about half of Fillydelphia," Applejack chuckled, taking a glass of cider and drinking it while she laid her elbows on the table.

"More like one-fifth. The others were trying to name them after Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity," Laughed Flame, "The thing is, we kind of want to be, you know, original, and I was hoping you would have an idea."

Applejack lowered her head and said in a sigh, "Rose Jack, call her Rose Jack. That's," she sniffled a little "A good name."

"I think so too,"" Flme nodded and turned to walk away, "Thank Applejack."

"Look at them, celebrating," grumbled Lightning as the watched the party continue from afar. His brow furrowed as he waved his hand, "Buddy is dead and they are celebrating?"

"Oh, and now you care?" asked Artie.

"Of course I do, I am just following what I know to be Starfleet's code!" shouted Lightning, "We are all prepared to die for the cause, so why should we mourn for our members for this long? I only mourned Twilight like I did because she died under my watch!" Lightning said, looking at Artie in the eyes. "And now, you are expecting me to mourn a teammate who had prepared himself to die? A...teammate I barely even knew."

"That's all we are, isn't it? Just the guys who fight together and save the world together, nothing more," Artie said, turning his head away.

"How can I mourn, for someone I didn't even know," Lightning sighed. "God, I don't even know my own teammates. And now three of them are gone."

Artie said nothing, choosing to walk away, "Artie?" Rhymey asked.

"I'm going to join the party, in honor of my friend," Artie said.

"We should be mourning," Lightning said.

"It's like you said, why mourn someone I didn't know, so I am going to celebrate my best friend's life,'" said Artie walking away.

"You going to join him?" Lightning asked, looking at Rhymey.

"No sir,

I will be here forever," Rhymey aid, smiling.

"He's right you know," Krysta said, landing on Lightning's shoulder.

Lightning scoffed, "We should mourn the dead, not partying like-"

"Friends?" Krysta asked, smiling. "You know, I think the elements are right. Those girls lost someone who was like a sister to them and they found a way to comfort one another and move on. I even heard they had a picnic to remember Twilight."

"They were wrong," Lightning said, looking away.

Krysta grumbled, "Why? Because they decided to be unlike you. To actually move on and embrace a brand new life thanks to their friends and move to a new world. Maybe if you did that-"

"Then what?" asked Lighting.

"Then you could move on and love your life," Krysta, looking up at Lighting. "You could actually enjoy your birthday with ponie who are willing to be your friend. Heck you could learn to enjoy it with me."

"It's better that way," Lighting calmly said.

Krysta scoffed, "What being stuck in the past? Come on, let's go," she said flying and then pulling on Lightning's shoulder.

"Go where?" Lightning Dawn asked.

"To have fun, at Joe's donut shop." Krysa smiled.

"Hey, Ms. Pie," Artie said with a smile, "Need a partner?"

Pinkie giggled, "Aw. You aren't nasty, you can call me Pinkie." Taking his hand and pulling him to the dance floor, she exclaimed, "And yes I do need a partner!"

Once on the dance floor, Arite watched as Pinkie began to spin and dance around him, before grabbing his hands and pulling him into a hug, "Pinkie, Um isn't this a slow dance type of song?"

"Yeah. And?"

The response to his question and the big naive grin on her face, made the brown smile and laugh, "Of course you would want to be different from everyone else, you wouldn't be Pinkie."

For a moment, Pinkie slowed her dancing down and traced a smile along his face, "And that is why I do it. A smile and a laugh always makes things seem a little better, don't it?"

"Yeah, it does," sighed Artie. "Thank you."

"For what?" Pinkie asked.

"For being so cheerful and," he paused for a brief moment, "bringing hope to these ponies by being a true hero."

"Ah, I'm not a hero, I'm just a happy party girl who can't stand to see a frown," Pinkie smiled.

"Even at the cost of your own smile. That's a hero," Artie said.

"What are you talking about?" Pinkie said, "I smile all the time."

The golem stood against the table and sighed as she watched party in full, "Enjoying the party?" Rarity asked her golem.

The homunculus nodded, running a hand through her purple mane, playing with the red streak that ran through it, "Yes, I am. You didn't need to invite me, you know."

"Nonsense, this is your victory too you know," Rarity smiled, putting the purple fan to her face. "I may have brought the diamond dogs, but you protected my friends in my stead. For that I am eternally grateful."

"It's what I am designed for," Said the golem smiling.

"Do you wish to mingle? Rarity asked. As the homunculus nodded, Rarity waved her golem off.

"Excuse me, will you dance with me?" Asked a brown unicorn with a blonde mane.

A white unicorn with a bone mane stepped in, "Back off, Trenderhoof, I call her to dance."

"Prince Blueblood, you are mistaken," a pegasus said, pushing him aside, "The young lady is to dance with I, Thunderclap!"

"Please, a mare as skilled as she is only to dance with a unicorpian.

"Ah, shaddup," A griffon growled. " She Is dancing with me."

Hiding her face behind a purple fan, Rarity let out a haughty laugh, "My dear gentlecolts, I am afraid my heart belongs to another, and as such my dance card is full."

"Yeah, with me," Spike said, landing behind Rarity And draping an arm over her shoulder and onto her stomach.

The males looked at the dragon in shock and slowly began to back away. Rarity turned to look at her fiancé with a smile, "welcome home, Spikey-Wikey." She said with a kiss on his cheek, "And how was that dragonlord meeting or whatever it is."

"Boring," Spike said, putting his hands onto her waist. "He kept us for a week for some talks about something or other. If he didn't threaten to squish me, I would've left the moment I got there. But he did and Grumble kind of insulted your honor."

"He did?" Rarity asked.

Spike chuckled, " Yeah, called you a little pony whore who was desperate. Kind of had to stay and defend your honor."

"AW, thank you my brave knight," Rarity smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Now, shall we dance" Spike asked with a smile.


Rainbow Dash walked over to Fluttershy as she stood by the buffet table, "Where's your husband?"

"He decided to not come," Fluttershy sighed. "Why did I ever fall for a stallion I knew for only half a day."

Dash only answered with a,shake of her head, "Want to dance?"

Fluttershy looked down at Dash's outstretched hand and put hers into the offered hand,"Yes, I would love too."

Smiling, Rainbow Dash guided her friend onto the dance floor and put her arms over the yellow pegasus's shoulders. Fluttershy looked into her old friends eyes and blushed when she saw Dash smile at her. Sliding her hands to Rainbow's waist, she began to dance in a slow rhythm in beat with the music, "This makes me think of our first dance. Remember? "

"Oh yeah, the flying nights dance," Dash chuckled as she spun around with Fluttershy, holding her at arm's length and then pulling her back into her arms, "You were being a little wallflower and I saw you waiting there."

Fluttershy swayed a little and smiled softly, "That was when you said 'this is a dance, and you're going to dance.' Then you took me by the hand to the dance floor and we danced together. Oh, it was so embarrassing."

"What did you have to be embarrassed about?" Dash asked with a confident chuckle taking her hand and holding it in the air while holding her other hand on Fluttershy's hips. "You were dancing with me, and everything I do, is awesome."

Fluttershy giggled softly, "No it wasn't, I was so horrible dancing out there. I looked like an idiot."

"You were fine," Rainbow Dash smiled, "You were with me, and you will always be ok when I'm around."

Fluttershy smiled and laid her head not Dash's shoulder, "Thank you."

Goldwin tapped a finger onto Celestia's shoulder, "Excuse me, but can you teach me to dance?"

"Why, sure Goldwin," Celestia said, standing up and going to the dance floor. As she put her hands onto Goldwin's shoulders, she leaned in close to whisper, "you are risking a lot to dance with me, Discord."

"Oh posh," Discord said, his voice coming out from the golden statue, "All these little mortals see is the princess dancing with a good friend. Nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"No, I'm just saying that when my 'husband' finds you, Goldwin is going to be washing the space ports for a week," Celestia giggled.

"Well then, I better make it a horrible job then," Discord smiled as he twirled Celestia around before hugging her tightly. "As if I am afraid of that three horned garbage eater."

"One who couldn't notice a cheating wife if I told him outright," Celestia said with a nod.

Discord then whispered, "By the way, I check if there is something amiss about that little 'political treaty' of yours. I suspect there is something amiss there, and I think I finally know what it is."

"But you want me to see for myself," Celestia said. "I have been thinking the same myself, especially after my little talk tonight."

"He seems a little weaker, you know," Discord whispered.

"Yes, it would normally take my entire hand to block his attack, now only a finger. Something is different," Celestia said, shaking her her head as she put a to her chin.

"Ok, enough about business, let's focus on two important things, you and me," Discord smiled.

Ace smirked at Gilda, "Now you see, I don't think a griffon can really out drink a pony. It just isn't possible."

"I don't know, I drank a few earth ponies under the table. The only one I can't, is Dash," Gilda said.

"Speedster metabolism," Ace said. "Their bodies burn through so much energy that the alcohol burns off. You have to push her tolerance to the limit to get her drunk."

"So, what about you?" Gilda asked, eyebrow arched.

"Me? I uh," Ace was about to respond with his reddened face when he heard.

"Ace," said a light blue pegasus whispered as she walked out from the crowd.

When Ace turned to the sound of the voice, his voice caught in in his throat as he whispered, "Skye..."

Gilda began to step forward, her eyes glaring daggers at the other pegasus, but Ace raised a wing to stop her. He then turned to look at his sister and breathed slowly. The two pegasi stood there for a few brief seconds, but for them it was like two long hours of staring at one another. Both siblings looked as if they did not know what to do, only to look at each other as hundreds of feelings flowed through their hearts.

"I'm going to beat the Starfleet love out of you!"

"Why don't you get a job,"

For Ace, the memory of him punching his sister in the face ran in his head, how he had her on the ground and continued to beat her. There was a lingering fear that he might have killed her if he had not been stopped. He hated himself that day, and he began to tremble as he could see that monster in his sister's eyes.

Then, his sister did something he never expected. Tears running down her cheeks, Sky ran to Ace Ray and wrapped both arms around his neck in a giant hug, "Big brother, I am so sorry."

Ace stood in shock, asking, "Why? Why are you sorry? I hit you, I let my anger rage and I almost-"

"But I kept dismissing your fears and complaints. I treated you like some monster when we should've had a talk," Skye said. "When I found out that Starfleet brainwashed you and you were in that coma I...I abandoned you because I blamed you!"

"No, it's not your fault," Ace said, tears rolling down his cheeks, "I let my anger control me! I should've just sat with you and had a good long talk with you and maybe found a different way to oppose Starfleet."

"No I-"

Gilda stepped in between the two siblings, "Ok, lets say it like this. We were both dumbasses, we made mistakes, and now let's forgive each other. Got it?"

Ace chuckled, "Can we add a drink to that too?"

"Hey, I'll buy for the both of ya," Gilda said, laughing.

"Oh, and is this the griffon who I have to thank for saving you?" Sky asked, and when Ace nodded, Skye immediately hugged Gilda, "Thank you, thank you so much. I don't know what I would've done if Ace had stayed like that."

"Hey, it ain't that big of a deal, I just talked to him and was his friend for a while," Gilda said.

"Just a friend?" winked Skye.

To this, Ace and Gilda looked at one another and blushed.

Luna sat, watching all of the events with a smile. Concealed in the shadows, she had managed to make herself scarce amongst the crowd of revelers. Sitting at the buffet table, the lunar diarch began to drink some tea and smile. Then she felt a tapping on her shoulder and when she looked, she looked into the eyes of Spark, "Spark? "

"Luna, Discord gave us some information that you need to see, it involves something you have been waiting to tackle for a while now," Spark whispered.

"The prisoners?" Luna asked, and when Spark nodded, she waved her hand, "Go back t base, I will join you tonight."

"I will your majesty, I just..." Spark paused as she watched the bearers of the elements talk, dance, and play. "Wow, look at them."

"Yes, the bearers are a wonderful sight, especially when the five are together," Luna said, and then noticed that Spark had tears in her eyes, "Why are you crying?"

"Because I w-" she stopped her sentence, and then coughed, "I am just so entranced by their friendship that I wish to be a part of their group. They look so happy."

"I see," Luna said.

"Can I just watch for few minutes more?" Spark said.

Luna nodded and watched as Spark watched the dance, her tail wagging. There was a faint smile on Shining Spark's lips and then she mouth out two sentences that we in audible to everyone around her. Luna noticed the way Spark's lips moved and smiled softly as she read the purple unicorn's lips, "Interesting"

---

The mood in the castle fortress was sombre and sullen. Though the screams and agonized groans of the tortured and dying still echoed throughout the base, it was still tinged with the feeling of failure. Several of the soldiers would look to the door that led to the chambers of their leaders with worried and inquisitive looks, "He hasn't been seen in a week."

One of the soldiers looked to his fellow comrade, "Think that the loss at Fillydelphia hurt him?"

"Of course not!" Conquest said, stepping behind the two soldiers, "I have just been spending this past week reorganizing my strategies and battle plans. While I admit that the loss at Filly is tragic indeed, I am not going to do the old stomp around, scream and shout at my men and blame them for something that was not their fault."

Conquest stepped ahead of them and let his trenchcoat flutter behind him, "No, the loss was in part of the stupidity of some of my soldiers, the fault was mine. I had underestimated the brains of some of the ponies in Equestria. I had begun my attacks in a circular pattern because I wanted to strangle United Equestria via cutting them off of potential allies and supplies. Letting them die from starvation and loneliness. However, that was counting on Grand Ruler Celesto being too stupid to see my plan and actually do something about it."

"

"But," he growled scratching his fingers along the stone walls, "It seems that United Equestria actually has someone with bain in their ranks. This is very annoying, but not unexpected. After all," Dark Conquest smiled, "It would be damn depressing for them if I won all of the time and way too boring. There would be no tension, no reason to root for their side if I kept winning because they know what is going to happen next. Now that they think they can win, it will make taking the hope away from them all the more delectable!"

LAughing, he turned to the steps, "Now, I am going to take a break from my planning for now to enjoy my favorite toy in the world. TTFFN!" he chuckled, skipping down the stairs.

After passing a few floors, he went to the slave quarters and reached Starla's door. He had a smile on his face when he opened it, a smile that faded when he saw Starla sitting on the bed with a smile on her face," And why are you smiling?"

"I heard what happened at Fillydelphia. We all heard it," chuckled Starla as she got off the bed and walked defiantly to Conquest. "You...lost. You lost the entire battle and now, I see that you aren't as invincible as you think you are. Which means that soon, you are going to be beaten," she began to laugh louder, her chuckles mixing in her words, "So rape me all you want, I know that someday, Lightning is going to come through those doors and rescue me. And you are going to find yourself nothing more than a stain on the floor-OOOF!"

Conquest interrupted her laughter by placing his hand onto her head and pressing his thumb against her forehead. Then with a frown, he calmly pushed her against the wall, not a tinge of anger was in his voice as he began to speak, "You know why I love to rape? It's because of the power I exert over my victims. I love the idea taking away the power of freedom from people and making them feel worthless. It's why i mastered so many forms of it: Anal, normal, character, and canon. But, I think my second favorite has to be, mind rape. What was it that your Ruler said? That you can't be mind raped?"

"Y-yes, it's impossible for a person to be mind raped, that's what he said, and even if it is possible, I am immune. I have so many psyblocks that you can't do it," giggled Starla, her earlier bravado fading as she felt a jolt of pain go through her.

"But, I have been putting you through so much trauma and pain that your little mind has been wrecked. You little psyblocks have been weakened so much that now, I can peel away your little mind like an onion," Conquest said, narrowing his eyes at her as his hand began to glow with a black energy.

"W-what are you doing? S-stop, please stop, don't," Whimpered Starla, tears running down her face as she felt him enter her mind.

"And do you confirm that this was the mare that killed the victim?" asked Grand Ruler as he looked to Lightning.

Starla shook her head and said, "No, it wasn't me. Your scanners are wrong, I was framed, if you only had a jury and some real witnesses you could see that!"

"What?" gasped Starla at the sound of her own words. "Why did I say that?"

Conquest's voice could be heard all around her as she stood on the witness stand, "I am just playing you some of the memories of some of my soldiers. You know the prisoners from your jails. Many are sent there because of your messed up, for a lack of a better word, 'judicial' system."

"N-no, that's a lie!" screamed Starla as she found herself in front of another trial.

A stallion's voice came through her lips, "No, that isn't true! I would never hurt my children, my wife is just making it up so she can take them away!"

"You're lying," Buddy said, "We can see it in our visors, your heartbeat is erratic."

"Of course it is! I have low blood pressure and I take medication to fix that," the stallion talked through Starla. "Please, believe me! If you look through the evidence you can plainly see-"

"You wife told us all we needed to know," Buddy said.

"She saw me slap my daughter playfully! It was a little game we were playing with our hands called Slap-jack!" the stallion cried. "I would never hurt my daughter. Please...no, don't take her away."

"S-stop this," Starla finally managed to speak again in her voice.

"I can't, all you are seeing are echoes of the past. Of the innocent ponies that you sent to jail. This," Conquest laughed "Is all your sins."

"They all saw you kill that mare," Starla said. "They all saw it and confirm it. Her blood was on your knife."

"What they saw was me trying to stop my wife from killing herself and failing! She had been dealing with depression and the fact that thse was barren finally drove her over the edge. I tried to stop her from killing herself with my knife but I could pull the blade away in time and it stabbed her gut," The stallion spoke through Starla's voice. "Your lie detectors, they can-"

The other Starla frowned, "We don't need a lie detector when we have fifteen witnesses who saw you did it. You are going away."

"STOP!" Screamed the real Starla as she collapsed to the floor of her mind, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"And the prisons, you have the most evil of prisons you know?" Conquest chuckled as he snapped his fingers and began to show Starla hundreds of horrible images that flooded her. Rape, torture, and killing all going on within the prison system. "Over 3000 cases are tried in United equestria, of them, over fifty-one percent are innocent."

In the real world, Starla continued to cry as Conquest kept her pinned to the wall with his thumb, "P-please, Conquest, stop this, stop this now."

"Oh I could," Conquest said, undoing the middle hook of her golden bra and releasing it,"For a price."

""W-what is it?" Starla shuddered, feeling his finger trail along her body and past her belly, unable to move or fight back.

"Ask me to make love to you, and I will take away your pain," Conquest said, his finger sliding under her dress.

"No, I won't do that. I don't want to give in to your lust," cred Starla

"Fine then, I guess I could just fuck you while you are under the mind spell, I could care less," Conquest shrugged.

This made Starla's eyes widen in horror, "No, please no. I...I..."

"Yes?" Conquest asked, sliding her dress off as he licked her neck.

"Make love to me, just stop this pain," Strala cried as she felt herself becoming disrobed.

Conquest smiled, "That's a good girl, just give in."

STarla whimpered as the rape commenced, and cried until it was all over. After he was done, he left her on the bed and she curled up, trying to ignore the words Conquest said "IT's what you deserve, to be rapeed." said nothing, but curled up in a ball and cried herself to sleep. The next morning, when she would wake up, she found a long cylinder next to her bed. Becoming curious, she leaned in and unwrapped the cylinder to discover a telescope, with a note that read,

What you really deserve - D

---

"See Radiant, it is easy," Titan said, looking at the pony in front of him as she started to concentrate.

"This, will bring him back, right?" asked Radiant Hope, looking at Titan.

Underneath his hood, the creature nodded, and then held out his hand, "There is just one more thing that is required of you. A payment of sorts."

"What sort of payment?' Hope asked, her finger playing through her mane. "Because if it's my soul, I will kindly give it up if it means that I can bring Sombra back."

"Sort of like that," Titan said, holding up a sphere. "Just touch this."

Hop looked at the orb curiously," What is it?"

"It is an orb, meant to give you what you need to achieve your goals and mine," Titan said. "It just needs a offering to make it work. Now, touch it, and you can begin to raise this place to the ground."

Radiant Hope looked past the orb, and nodding, placed her palm on the white surface and began to glow. She let out a gasp as she could her body start to change, feathers began to sprout along her arms, her features became slightly more feral, and her face took on a bird's appearance. After a few minutes, she landed on the ground and panted heavily, slowly getting up, "Who, am I?" she asked.

Titan smiled and ran a golden hand along her cheek, "You are my faithful general, Magus. You are to help me with the freeing of the Umbra to lead them to victory."

"Yes, sire," she said, a flash of a stallion with black mane flashed through her mind. "Who is...Sombra?"

"Another servant. Do not worry about him,," he said turning away and walking off, "Now come, there is much to be done.

---

Grand Ruler sat in the throne room, looking down at his two Starfleet members, "Lightning Dawn, and Rhymey Couplet, you two are here because you are the only two members of my Starfleet that I can trust anymore."

"Sire I disagree

What about Artie?" Rhymey asked while Lightning kept silent.

"He has been seen cavorting and mingling with the Equestrians, especially that insane one Pinkie Pie," growled Grand Ruler as she gripped his throne arms. "He is lost to us."

"Grand Ruler I think that you are-" Lighting Dawn began, but was looked down upon by Grand Ruler. Shaking, he turned his head, "Sorry, sire."

Grand Ruler frowned, and then placed his hand onto his chin, "It seems that we are losing control over the Equestrians, they are starting to become braver, and are actually fighting now. They seemed convinced that they are able to change things, that they can actually meet up to the standards of us. They are mistaken of course, because they seem to forget the absolute fact that they are far behind us in technology and in power. They cannot change this fact and when they do they only end up getting hurt." he then leaned back in his chair, laying one leg on top of the other, "And yet, they recently have become ignorant of this fact."

"Yes sire," Lightning said, nodding, the look in his father figure's eyes causing him to tremble a little.

"We must stop this now before they start to get any more cannot have Starfleet be ruined by these ponies and their concepts of friendship and love. The only magic is in believing after all," Grand Ruler pointed a finger to Rhymey," We'll start with you. Control your wife, remind her of her place."

"Yes Sire

Of her will I will retire," Rhymey bowed.

"And you, Lightning. Keep a better tab on the rest of Friendship Is Magic," Grand Ruler growled. "Bad enough that they saved Fillydelphia, now that wife of mine has made them knights. Now all of United Equestria is singing their praises and honoring them. Even some of my Unicornicopians! This is a bad thing."

"It is really, Grand Ruler? They have proven to be quite capable fighters," Lightning said, and then backed away from Grand Ruler's gaze.

Narrowing his eyes in rage at the white unicorn, Grand Ruler growled, "You, who I raised as my own son, dare to speak such blasphemy? Equestrians are naturally inferior beings who have no place in Starfleet. The only reason why I allowed them the ability to join us was because of a good show of goodwill! You are trying to say that we are to admit that there are races you can stand shoulder to shoulder with us?! Remember what is the Starfleet motto?"

""We are strong, so use our power to make sure the lesser races are protected. We are might, so we are right," Lightning said, turning his head away.

Grand Ruler gave a nod, "Good. you best remember that, or else I may have to consider who I choose as my son and my protege."

Lighting shivered, "Y-yes sire."

"Now, we can still fix this to our advantage," Grand Ruler said. "Conquest has been beating for now. Hw will fall back on the tricks of the old villains and send a monster our way, or at the very least as powerful henchman with some small foot soldiers. This little game that the Equestrians played is over. Time to go back to normal. Let the knights play for the public and do some shows or whatnot. Let the Equestrians think that they have some champions."

"B-but sire!" Lighting objected. A glare from Grand Ruler quickly caused him to back away, "Sorry."

"Now, dismissed!" Grand Ruler shouted. Then as they left, he placed his fingers together and taped them as one, "Maybe now, I can finally get control back."

It's amazing how much a chapter can change in so short of time. This chapter was originally one line in the rough ddraft. And here it is

"Buddy is stranged by his own wine whip by Rep-Stallion."

That was it, nothing else. And now we have this long chapter that has probably done more with a story than the original Starfleet series, all five seasons. But, lets get to the commentary shall we?

The first few sections, Fluttershy and Dimetnia's parts, were all set up so that way I can explore some more of everybody's relationships. From Dimetnia's growing heart, to the idea that Fluttershy really is in a loveless marriage. Wich also leads to what was happening in Rarity's segment.

First of all, I love the gauntlet of fire so much. It is my favorite Spike episode, so I had to refence that in some way. And no, it isn't foreshadowing anything ;) Also, Fluttershy brings up someting that annoys greatly about Rhymey's and Fluttters relatonship...what relationship? Throughout the whole series thye go on what, two dates? There has to be more to a relationship than just "Oh, I'm cute." It's the usual Gary-stu OC bullcrap that we always see. Cute OC lands, woos girl for five whole seconds, and boom, love interest. So, this is Fluttershy actually asking about her relationship.

Rarity was new, mainly because I noticd that in the rough draft, after she gets knocked up, she is out of the story besides a few mentions. I love the fasionista too much for that, so I decided to have her get some help, and thank goodness there was am eppie in Starfleet where the Dogs were unexplainaly strong. So here it is. And no I am not sorry for the Sons of Bitches line or the dogs of war jokes .I never apologize for a wonderfully prepared bad joke.

The whole entire seige was probaly one of my favorite things to write! The fights were a blast to craft, but some were nerve wracking to write. Namely Pinkie Pie's. I am always worried about doing Pinkie's fights because I am always scared about going too far with her. Her free spirit and insanity are pure fun, but its hard to do visual gags in a literary medieum.

The scene with the guys, that was...a challenge. I was hesitant at first to put in a scene of the civies helping to fight. I was scared it would make the mane five weak or pathetic. But then after a talk with the writer's group on Fimfic and reading Power Ranger Digital, I decided to do it. First of all, we have been seeing the fall of Starfleet, now it was time for some harmony. Also, I love the idea that a hero does more than just save, they inspire. And lastly, I was asking myself on Power Rangers Digital why didn't any of the other Digimon help in the battles. So I decided, why not.

Some trivia.

Shout outs: Rainbow Dash's battle cry? That's from the awesome pony fic "Immortal Game".

Yes, I am a Flash Fan, can you tell?

There was a Gilda and Ace sex scene, but I cut it out. Also, Trixie's group was going to have their own story, but I think putting that along a war was too much.