Finding Cadance

"You can't be serious AJ," Twilight exclaimed as she realised that Applejack was pointing towards the Crystal Empire with an orange hoof. "Ah told ya that it was where we las' expected ta look," Applejack replied towards Twilight, the others stared on in silence.

Pinkie then spoke up, "That would explain why Sombra would take the bounty off her head," the others turned to her with confused looks, "Yes it is true we saw it ourselves," Rarity said after a few minutes, Twilight turned back towards the map on the wall.

She stared at it for a few minutes and turned back to face her friends again, "I guess it's our best bet at finding Cadance who might know where my brother is." She then sighed, "But, even if she is there, it's not like we can just trot into the Crystal Empire anymore. We are fugitives now and with the lead guards we wouldn't even get close without getting struck by a lot of arrows. And even if we managed to get into the Crystal Empire we wouldn't even know where to search for Cadance." she finished. Pinkie was rubbing a hoof on her chin intently, she then had an idea, "What if we disguised ourselves as those dark ponies and we can walk into the Crystal Empire without rising suspicion," she concluded, the others looked at her quizzically, "You're right it's a stupid idea, stupid brain." Twilight spoke to her intently, "Pinkie you're a genius," Pinkie perked up at hearing this, Twilight continued, "If we manage to find a battalion and take out six of them we could join the ranks and we would be able to walk into the Crystal Empire." The others thought about this, Rainbow then questioned, "Sorry to interrupt Twi, but, I don't suppose you know a spell to turn our eyes red do you?" "No Rainbow I don't but I don't think that these are normal ponies I think they're just shapes of the different types of ponies. Yes the unicorns and pegasi have the abilities of magic and flight, but, maybe Sombra made them like that," she stated.

"I heard, while on recon with Pinkie of course, that a battalion would be moving to the Crystal Empire today for some reason," Rarity spoke, Twilight turned to her purple maned friend and asked, "What type of battalion was it?" "Unfortunately darling, I don't know, but, I do know where they're meeting," she responded to her friends question. Applejack turned to the group after speaking to Rainbow Dash, "Where's that sugar cube?" Noticing that Applejack responded to her question she turned to her orange friend and looked into her eyes, "Sweet Apple Acres darling," Applejack turned away to hide her welling tears in her eyes, Rainbow was there to give her a hug and comfort her. Twilight turned back to Rarity, "Rarity are you sure that you don't know anything else?" Rarity thought hard about any other important details, she was not the sort of pony to forget things easily, "Actually I know the number of the battalion, it was something like..." after a brief pause she continued, "2509... yes, yes, that's what it was, battalion 2509." Twilight asked all of her friends to gather around her, "Right it's time to plan what we are about to do, we have to find out what ponies exist in this battalion, we need to know for sure," Rainbow Dash interrupted, "I think I know Twi, is it a battalion overseeing Sweet Apple Acres?" "Yes," the purple alicorn responded. Rainbow continued, "I've that battalion while I was flying over with Applejack they seem to have mainly earth ponies, two unicorn captains and two pegasi patrolling the sky or on the battalion's flanks." Twilight seemed to show interest in this. "That's actually perfect, the unicorn armour will cover my wings"

Twilight then turned to all her friends, "Right this is how it's going to work, AJ you and Pinkie will take out two earth ponies, but, make sure the others don't come after you, Rarity and I will take the two unicorn captains then Rainbow and Fluttershy you two take the two pegasi ponies," before she could conclude however Rainbow Dash spoke, "But, don't you think Fluttershy should take earth pony armour, she's not the strongest flyer out there, no offence Shy," Fluttershy looked at her in annoyance, "You know Dashie, I've actually grown stronger since the last time you saw me fly, I can fly like a normal pegasus now." Rainbow rubbed the back of her neck in discomfort, "Sorry Shy," Fluttershy smiled at her shyly. "Enough chatin' we gotta get that armour," Applejack interrupted, growing impatient. "Applejack's right we have to get that armour now or it will be too late I'm afraid," Rarity said agreeing with what her friend said. The six ponies left Spike in charge of the base while they were gone and he was not to open under any circumstances unless it was the secret knock, it was a short while before they reached Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack ran to a nearby hill, Rainbow told the rest to go on to the rendezvous point, "I've got her," she said flying after her friend, Applejack had stopped on top of the small hill where she now sat. Rainbow landed beside her, "Applejack what's wrong with you?!" she said irritated. "We are trying not to be seen and..." she stopped when she saw everything. All the apple trees were dead all that was left was the the wood of the tree, there were no leaves and no apples left except fro the ones that were rotten on the ground, Applejack was crying, silently, but crying nonetheless. Rainbow reached for her friend with a hoof.

Applejack turned and hugged Rainbow as soon as she saw that she was no longer alone, she cried into the cyan pegasus' rainbow coloured mane. All Rainbow could do was hold her friend in her hooves, starting to feel tears welling in her own eyes, suddenly Applejack pulled her head away from the rainbow coloured mane and captured Rainbow Dash in a kiss. Rainbow's eyes widened at the sudden movement by her friend, she pulled away from the kiss. Applejack looked into her eyes with her own red ones, from the amount of crying she did, she looked hurt. "Applejack what are you doing?" Rainbow said in a shocked tone of voice, she looked at her friend with hurt on her expression. "Ah thought that ya loved me Rainbow," Applejack finally spoke, still holding back tears, Rainbow turned away sadly, "You were hurt and I thought that I was going to lose you," Applejack wrapped her hooves around Dash from behind. "Rainbow ah heard ya an' Twilight talkin' 'bout me, an' ah heard her sayin' somethin' 'bout your eyes sayin' that ya loved me," she concluded and was about to let Rainbow go when Rainbow turned around and kissed her this time. Applejack did not resist, they shared the kiss for five seconds before Rainbow broke away from the kiss and told Applejack, "I do love you AJ," tears began to well up in her eyes with a weak smile forming on her muzzle.

The two walk together back to their friends who are oblivious to the events that unfolded only a few minutes ago, Twilight was relieved to see them unscathed. "I'm glad you're okay, I was beginning to worry for you, that you might have gotten captured or worse," she smiled at her two friends. Rainbow waved a hoof down, "Please Twi, we're okay," their other friends all gathered around them with happy faces and after a brief rest they split up into teams of two in order to take their targets out. Pinkie and Applejack picked out two earth ponies and decided to take them, Pinkie grabbed two knives from her belt and hoofed one over to her orange friend and they snuck up on the two from behind them and slit their throats. After they removed the armour they saw no eyes nor mouths just the shapes.

Pinkie spoke after a few minutes at gazing at their kills, "Wow, I guess Twilight was right the armour does make the eyes red and they are nothing but shapes," after they had put on the armour the two earth ponies went back to the rendezvous point by the homestead barn.

Rarity and Twilight had to find the two unicorn captains, who were seldom far apart since they were the two captains of the battalion, they were hiding in some bushes before Rarity spotted the two captains, "Look over there," she pointed towards a broken barn and Twilight saw the two unicorns standing together. She drew her bow and Rarity snuck behind the two in order to kill at least one of them, as soon as Twilight's arrow hit its mark Rarity's lady-like composure was gone as soon as she pounced on the remaining unicorn captain.

They removed the armour and saw that it was indeed the armour that gave the eyeless ponies their red eyes and the only distinct feature was their horns, soon they had the armour on them as well and met up Pinkie and Applejack who were waiting for them by the barn. There was only two left, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, it didn't take them long to find the pegasi hovering by a tree, Rainbow turned to Fluttershy, "We're not gonna even get close with them so far," she tried thinking of a plan, Fluttershy looked at Rainbow and had an idea, "Uhm... Rainbow I could distract them and you could maybe take them out before they harm me," Rainbow smiled at her friend, "Good idea Shy," Fluttershy hid behind her mane and smiled shyly behind it. Fluttershy threw a rock at the pegasi and they saw her instantly and immediately they flew after her, she began to fly away from them seeing that she got their attention and lured them to where Rainbow was waiting, as soon as she pretended to be trapped the pegasi slowly descended to capture her, just then Rainbow flew from the sky and shoved her knives into their backs.

They also discovered that these ponies were nothing but shapes with wings, they too were dressed in the armour and rendezvoused with their friends, Twilight noticed that the armour changed their voices to sound more masculine, but not too masculine, in fact it was more robotic than any thing. However, when they spoke to each other it was their normal voices, "Right, now what do we do Twilight darling?" Rarity asked, Twilight used her communications link to the rest of the battalion to rejoin at the barn where they were standing, within minutes the rest of the battalion was near the six friends, luckily it was mostly made of earth ponies. "March towards the Crystal Empire," Twilight ordered and as she started to walk the battalion began to follow without question, the armour managed to keep the friends on schedule to arrive at the Crystal Empire within a few hours, as they reached halfway on the road the battalion halted, Twilight called to Rainbow and Fluttershy, "Rainbow, Fluttershy, it's Spitfire she's asking us to meet her a metres away from the rest of the battalion," the two pegasi followed on her flanks as she walked scared towards Spitfirre who was now a dark colour, her hairstyle was still the same but was alos dark, Twilight spoke quickly, "Colonel Spitfire," she adressed while saluting her commanding officer, Spitfire immediately questioned, "Where are you going and what is you battalion number?" Twilight responded quickly, "We were sent by King Sombra to the Crystal Empire and we are battalion 2509," thank goodness for the voice in the helmet she was wearing. Spitfire looked at her suspiciously, she then proceeded to press a button on her chest plate and a screen showed from a tiny camera and Sombra was on it, "What is it colonel Spitfire?" he questioned in annoyance, "I was just making sure that you sent battalion 2509 to the Crystal Empire, your highness" she replied, Sombra thought for a few seconds then answered, "Ah battalion 2509 is to report there to watch the slaves and the two unicorn captains and four of their choosing are to watch the prisoners," the screen disappeared after he finished, Spitfire turned to Twilight and said, "Go ahead, I will tell them you are coming," she flew off to the gate. Twilight called to the rest of the battalion and the followed soon after catching up quickly to her and the two pegasi, as Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash returned to their positions on the flanks of the battalion Rainbow spoke to Twilight over the communications link, "That was close," Twilight nodded back to her.

They reached the gate within minutes after that, the Crystal Empire was turned into an intimidating fortress, as the battalion walked into the opening gates Rainbow Dash spotted Fleetfoot he was hovering over the walls in patrol, the battalion had not gone ten metres before they were stopped by Soarin. "Ah battalion 2509 you're here," he said with a sly smirk, Twilight saluted her commanding officer the same way she did with Spitfire, Soarin saluted back and continued, "Captain you are to split your battalion into twelve groups of twelve and they will be sent to watch the slaves, then you and your fellow captain will select four others to guard the prisoners," he concluded looking professional. Twilight looked towards the battalion who had already been organised into twelve groups of twelve then saw her friends behind her and Rarity who had now stood next to her, she spoke to Soarin, "I would like to take the two pegasi and those two earth ponies with us to watch the prisoners," Soarin straed at the other four ponies and smiled at Twilight and led them to the prison.

The prison was large and gray and was filled with many sad faced ponies who were standing behind bars, Soarin led them through the prison to a large metal door that led down a few steps which led to another metal door which housed five cells, Twilight questioned Soarin as they were walking down the corridor that held the five cells, "Why do you need six ponies for five cells?" Soarin turned and faced Twilight, "Well because the cell at the end of the corridor is holding a certain alicorn," he smiled slyly at her. The six friends in enemy armour were shown to their sleeping quarters and Soarin was about to leave before he turned to the six again, "Oh and before I forget if you happen to get hungry down here you can just call cookie and she'll bring you food of your choosing, speaking of which," he touched his helmet with his right hoof and spoke into it, "Cookie come down here," he said in a very rude tone of voice.

Suddenly a blue pony with a swirly pink mane shaped like cupcake icing came down the stairs and smiled weakly at Soarin, "Yes sir?" Soarin spoke to her, but also turned to the six friends while speaking, "These are the new guards and you will get them anything they require," Mrs Cupcake saluted her superior without question. Soarin dismissed her and told the six friends to start guarding the prisoners, after he left and they heard the top door close they removed their helmets, Twilight turned towards the end of the corridor, the others checked the other cells, Pinkie peered into the first one and saw aqua green unicorn with a lyte for her cutie mark and was overjoyed to see her friend again, "Lyra!" Lyra looked up from the ground and saw a happy Pinkie Pie in front of her, she smiled in joy as she walked to the cell door, "Pinkie it's you I'm so glad to see you again," she managed to give her a hug through the bars, Fluttershy inspected the one across from hers, she saw a cream coloured pony with a blue mane with a pink streak in it and it was curled at the fringe, the asme with the tail and was curled at the end of it, Fluttershy saw three bows as her cutie mark, she smiled and called to her, "Bon Bon," Bon Bon had looked up to see that Fluttershy was on the other side of he cell's bars, she also saw Pinkie behind her and Rainbow Dash too. Rarity looked into the cell next to Lyra's and gasped at what she saw, "Sweetie Belle? It's me Rarity darling," Sweetie Belle looked up to see her sister standing at her cell and all she could do was hug her sister.

Applejack looked into the one opposite to her and started to well up with tears to see her younger sister's pink bow and saw it was attached to the rest of her as well, she called in with a weak voice, "Apple Bloom, it's me lil' sis," Apple Bloom's head shot straight up as she saw her big sister standing before her and she did the sames as Sweetie Belle and just hugged her older sister. Twilight was outside of the the cell at the end of the corridor and she looked in to see an alicorn with a tiara upon her head, she smiled and leaned into the bars as far as she could and called to its prisoner, "Cadance, it's me Twilight," Cadance trotted over to the cell door to see the foal she once used to foal sit and hugged her, "I knew you would come Twilight," Twilight was holding back tears when she spoke again, "We all came to rescue you all from this horrible place," Cadance smiled at her again, "Thank you."

Twilight told Cadance of what happened to Celestia and Luna and what they had to do to survive, after she concluded and Cadance was up to speed Twilight asked her question that has been on her mind since Sombra took the throne of Canterlot, "Cadance, where is my brother?" Cadance looked away and then answered the question, "I...don't...know," Twilight began to sob when she heard these words, Cadance continued, "He rallied the Crystal Empire's army and marched towards the West and I haven't heard or seen of him since," Twilight explained that they would free her and the other four when they came up with a plan, besides they were there the whole week. The morning after, the six friends woke up to eat breakfast in their lounge, Mrs Cupcake was filled in by Pinkie Pie on why they were their and Pinkie suggested that they should take Mrs Cupcake with them. Twilight was speaking to Soarin upstairs about the duties they had to perform, Soarin was explaining, "Just watch the prisoners, make them eat, they have toilets and just watch the unicorns and the princess has their horn clamp and at the end of every week before the new guards reach the prison we give those prisoners a bath in the hot springs a few metres away from the wall." Twilight nodded and saluted him and returned to her friends and told them this information, "So that's when we'll free you all and we can turn the Wonderbolts back to their original selves, after we free Cadance she'll brake the badges on their uniforms and they'll be back to normal and we'll gallop back towards the base." Pinkie Pie then interjected a question, "What about Mrs Cupcake?" Twilight turned to her friend and said, "Well I can try and convince Soarin on trying to give her a bath when we take these five."

So the long week begins and Twilight never left Cadance's cell trying to find all the information she could about Princess Luna who had left Equestria, Cadance told her fellow alicorn about a certain Royal Guard, "Twilight I do not know where Luna is, but, I have heard that Phalanx knows where she might be." Twilight gasped and decided to retire to bed for some well earned rest.

Hey guys and girls sorry about not posting the A/Ns before this chapter because I simply forgot to, please Read and Review and I will not dislike you if you make them angry reviews or give bad reviews on the story I will accept them as lessons on to try harder next time, and if you are enjoying this story them tell me what you think and I do acknowledge the mistakes I make during writing.