Chapter Fifteen: Before The Dawn

“Slow down! Please for the love of all that is sweet and fluffy slowdown!” Dusty Shine shouts out as loud as she could, her eyes screwed shut as she flails and kicks in vain, held within Morrigan’s magical grasp. The cream-colored Goddess towing the earthen mare within a sphere of telekinetic force behind her, as her wings leave a trail of fire in the heavens. “I’m sorry I made the comment our fighters were faster! Now please just slow down some!!!” She screams out again, shrieking and squealing in fright.

The crimson maned alicorn, Morrigan, continues to ignore her, the mare pouring on even more speed with every flap of her majestic wings.Time was something they didn’t have to spare, and she knew it. Her eyes narrow as she senses her destination in her mind, the mare tucking her legs in against her belly and pushing herself even harder. The tail hairs of the alicorn whip and flick in the wind, glowing brightly behind her as if they themselves are set ablaze, leaving a long intense luminous streak of scarlet ether in her wake. Turning sharp and now into a dive, the pair plummets from the heavens and speeds towards the deck of the largest ship in the harbor, the Enterprise.

With a thunderous crack, she lands, her hooves touching down and skidding against the flight deck and metal surfaces of the large vessel, Morrigan’s bare keratin hoof walls leaving behind a small trail of sparks before she comes to a stop. Ponies all around her and Dusty Shine suddenly stop in their tasks, gawking and shaking in a terrified surprise of the pair’s sudden appearance. The Goddess appears angry, her muzzle twisted in a vicious scowl and tense, tightly held frown.Her horn dims down as the earthen mare is suddenly released from the field, dropped unceremoniously down upon her rump upon

Dusty shakily rises to her hooves and wobbles in place for a moment, before quickly falling back to her rump and placing both of her forehooves over her maw. Morrigan turns to her, glaring. “This is the ship you spoke of?” She says quietly, shifting her eyes to look around. “Speak my child…time is very short!” She gently urges, her features still tense and postured. Morrigan’s feathers seem to fluff out upon her massive angelic wings, a sign any Pegasus nearby could understand that the Goddess was very apprehensive and worried.

She nods slowly, Dusty Shines cheeks puffed out as she attempts to swallow back the bile building in her throat from the motion sickness. Right when she thinks she has it under control where she can compose herself, she lurches over and let’s loose the floodgates, vomiting off to the side upon the flight deck. It makes a sickening splattering sound, the fluids and remains of her previous meal quickly exiting her form and coating the surface of the ship.

Morrigan crinkles her nose and sighs, extending her foreleg and rubbing against the former maids’ withers and spine, gently attempting to sooth the sickened pony before her. Once Dusty finishes emptying the contents of her stomach, the alicorn lights her horn, the offending mess and smell quickly vanishing from existence as if it never occurred, before assisting Dusty back to her hooves. She glances up, seeing the ponies around them still staring, her emerald orbs quickly falling upon a set of very large Earth pony stallions fast walking to them in black uniforms, the insignias upon the sleeve cuffs showing they’re military police. She rises to her full height and holds her wings erect upon her back high, letting out a loud snort of a challenge to them through her snout. Clearly, the Goddess is in no mood to talk.

“Halt. This is a restricted…” The first uniformed stallion begins to call out, before coming to a stop before the towering alicorn, almost double his own height. Upon seeing the wings and horn upon her form, the stallion falls silent, bewildered as to why an alicorn he’s never seen before, and a very small Earth pony mare in a Canterlot uniform would be upon the ship, from out of nowhere.

Gaining her bearings finally Dusty Shine rises to her hooves and steps to the stallions, doing her best to ignore the taste and probably foul smell within her maw. Clearing her now parched and burning throat, she hoarsely speaks up. “I am Senior Chief Dusty Shine of Canterlot Command, here upon orders of the crown. I need this ship ready to launch right away.” She growls out, puffing out her chest slightly, doing her very best to hide her nervousness.

The stallions all look at each other briefly, before turning to face the pair again. “With respect misses uh…”

“Senior Chief Shine will do.” She responds curtly, maintaining her gaze upon the towering stallion looking down at her. Dusty readjusts her glasses upon her snout with her left forehoof, her tail flicking and swishing behind her against her will.

“Senior Chief Shine.” He corrects. “But I’m afraid we will need to see some identification, even if you are from Canterlot and came with…her.” He finishes, his gaze once again drawn to the towering alicorn mare eyeing him from her upturned muzzle, her piercing gaze seemingly seeing through his very soul, causing the normally stoic and hardened officer to feel small and meek in her presence.

Dusty rolls her eyes, holding out her foreleg to the group. “Radio Canterlot if you wish, I just came from there. Princess Celestia is well aware of our presence here. I just came from the control center in Canterlot Castle base. We are now taking command of this ship, to conduct a search and rescue mission. Delaying us will only further place the prince and princess in harm’s way. Please make haste!” She speaks out, bringing her hoof back down against the rigid flight deck of the ship, her hoof landing with a small clink as her silver shod shoes contact the deck plates.

Morrigan continues to look around her, mildly annoyed at the time being wasted speaking to these ponies before her. The Goddess ruffles her wings, giving them a gentle flap before folding them against her sides. Letting out a sigh she finally turns and locks her gaze off towards the EverFree Forest, her ears perking straight up as she scans the area. She can feel something, a terrible tightening within her chest. The alicorn can feel a mortal stab of fear within her heart, dread washing over her.

There is something out there blocking her telepathy and full power, some force that’s preventing her from simply flicking her horn and correcting this. Whatever it is, she decides, is going to feel very, very foalish about its actions before she wipes it off of creation.Dusty Shine continues to speak to the stallions, the exchanges of not-so pleasantries continuing before another pony, a smaller unicorn stallion approaches from the superstructure upon the ship.

“Gentle colts, stand down please!” The unicorn chirps out, his galloping coming to a stop quickly as he approaches the group. Holding a set of white parchment within his magical grasp, he holds the paperwork before the group of guards. “Lady Shine, please forgive the protocol process here onboard. We are under orders from the Equestrian Naval Command that no pony was to be authorized without written consent. We have just received a verified communication from Canterlot that you and your guest are authorized, please follow me.”

Heaving a sigh, Dusty turns and begins to walk with the unicorn stallion the two talking and exchanging information about the current crises, and their intentions here. Morrigan turns to follow, before coming to a stop before the tall stallion they were stopped by moments before, lowering her head to whisper in his ear. The stallion visibly blanches, his dark brown coat of fur seemingly turning a very pale shade of gray, the Goddess now holding a wicked, devilish smile upon her muzzle. She raises her head again and trots back to Dusty and the unicorn officer, following them to the interior command center of the vessel.

Moments pass, the stallion frozen in place, shaking in disbelief. His jaw trembles as much as his knees, the earthen ponies ears drooped low as his face holds sheer shock and horror. The other crewmen with him turn to the shocked-white stallion, shaking him with a hoof. “Hey Carl…what did she say?”

With a large, terrified hard swallow, he squeaks out in a haunted whisper. “That…was the mother of the princesses…The All Mother.” He shakes his head and twitches. “I…I think I just shat myself.”

“I just had a meeting with the head of aircraft maintenance, from what they stated after reading over the data logs transmitted; it was only a matter of time before something like this occurred.” Celestia sighed out, looking to Luna and Twilight.

Twilight nods while looking over the reports before her on the desk.She turns her gaze to the white elder Alicorn with a confused expression upon her features. ”Why were we not able to detect something like this sooner? Our engineers went over every inch of his aircraft, and duplicated all of the available technology. How the hay could we possibly miss something this big?!”

Celestia turns away, a sad raspy sound escaping her throat. As she fights back the emotions threating to break free, her calm regal mask cast aside and broken. “I’m not sure how any pony could have missed this, even with this being new technology to Equestria, we should have had a way to look for problems like these before they occur.” Turning to Twilight her muzzle twisted with sorrow and anguish her ears pinned back against her skull. “Now I fear our lack of foresight, may have just cost us our special some ponies.”

Luna’s eyes are fixed out the window gazing at the forest in the distance. She hisses in rage, still in shock of the sheer absurd level of bullshit. “It never ends, does it? It is too much to ask that just for one mother forsaken day that everything can go right, mine flames life is not in mortal peril... Is that too much to ask?!” She says with a hint of psychotic laughter. The other two alicorns in the room now eyeing her warily. A cold chill races up Celestia’s spine, the regal mare feeling a very icy sensation of fear for a moment.

Standing in the center of the bridge, Dusty looks around her in sheer amazement of the sights and sounds before her. The cold deck plating under her hooves, the brush blue painted bulkheads all around her, all marvels of the latest technology. She struggles to contain herself, to stay focused on the task at hoof. Right now the mare was standing on the bridge of the most advanced warship in the history of Equestria, the heart and soul of the ERN, The Enterprise. Now would be her maiden launch, though not the one intended for the grand vessel just weeks away in the spring. Dusty closes her eyes for a moment, relishing in all of its majesty and wonder.Today is the test, the true test of Equestrian innovation and power. This is history in the making, the ships very first mission one of dire importance; a rescue.

“Chief Shine, all decks report ready status. We’re sealed for travel and ready for combat.” One of the bridge officers comments to the earthen mare, drawing Dusty’s attention.

Morrigan stands against the rails in the forward section of the bridge, gazing out the glass at the world. Below her hooves, she can see a flurry of activity, ponies scrambling around to quickly check the restraints on the aircraft still on deck, others rushing to safe locations for theHelicarrier’s launch.Her ears swivel rearward as she hears Dusty issuing commands to set out, the ship’s many sensors already focused far away to their destination. Turning her head and leveling her gaze at the earthen mare, the all mother gives a slow nod of approval.

Breathing deep, Dusty glances around and speaks up. “Cut our dock tethers and disembark. Helm set our course for the crash site of the Commanders aircraft, all engines ahead flanking speed once we’re clear of the harbor.Radio our escorts the same instructions!”She calls out loudly.

All around them they can hear the gentle hum of the engines deep within the bowels of the great vessel, sounds of the ship's props churning slowly in the water deep below the surface of the waves, the sudden gentle shift in the deck plates beneath the hooves of all on board. Within minutes, the bow of the ship is turned to the mouth of the harbor, slowly leaving a massive wake behind it. Several other vessels have since also disembarked from their respective docks, skeleton crews as well now manning each ship as they prepare to escort the new supercarrier on its mission.

“Once we’re clear I want this ship in the air!” The earthen mare barks loudly to the bridge crew, issuing commands. “I don’t care if half of Equestria learns of this ship's true abilities, time is critical, and I expect you all to prove that you’re worthy to crew this vessel. Lives are at stake, so please do your best!”

Next to the elder alicorn, two unicorns stationed at the helm and ops positions at the front of the bridge silently work quickly with the controls, following their orders to the letter. A grey haired, white-furred unicorn mare turns her head away from the ops console, her gaze focused upon the Canterlot earth pony from the palace. Her teal eyes wide with hope and determination, she speaks loud and clear.

“Air vents reporting sealed and secure! Weapons depot is reporting green lights on all aerial countermeasures!” She calls out, her skilled fore hooves still resting on the console touchscreen, the ship continues to rock and lurch in preparation for its maiden voyage.

“Fire crews on standby! All deck personal report safety tethers are secure; we’ve also secured the aircraft below decks.” Another pony announces. It’s at this point that Dusty Shine sees an earth pony wearing a tan uniform with a captain’s eagle pinned to the collar step onto the bridge. His fur was light grey, his mane was shaved short, but definitely a darker shade of orange, and his cutie mark was a sword crossed with an anchor. He has a bit of a scruffy, half shaved beard, and judging by the remnants of shaving cream that was on his cheek, he wasn’t expecting to have his routine interrupted.

“Captain on the bridge!” Shouted an MP standing near the door.

“Status report!” He demands, his voice laden with a thick Stallion grad accent, as if he doesn’t notice Morrigan and Dusty standing on the bridge, the other bridge officers begin reading off what had just been announced. The stallion looks at a couple dials and screens on the bridge, then sighs. “Alright… As you were.” The stallion runs a hoof over his head and finally turns to look at the two ponies that were out of place, his eyes have bags under them, and there’s the distinct smell of too much aftershave emanating off of his coat.

“I suppose you’re Senior Chief Shine…” The stallion says in a voice that showed he really, truly, was trying to be polite. “I’m Captain North Star, and this is my ship. I apologize if I don’t bow and scrape at the moment, things have been hectic here and my back isn’t in the best of shape.” The ship lurched again, vortexes of water beginning to form on the four corners of the vessel.

“Sir, we’re about to break surface tension. Should I give the final order?” Announced another one of the bridge officers, North Star turned and nodded.

“By all means. Make our altitude twenty-five hundred to start out with, I didn’t like the looks of our last high altitude simulation, and comply with any orders these two have given in my absence…” North Star said, the officers nodded and went back to work.

“Surface breach in… Five… Four… Three…” The front officer shouted as the ship gave a hard lurch, by now the vortexes were massive, revealing the massive spinning blades that were pushing the carrier out of the water. “Two…One!” On cue the ship sprang up from the water, causing large waves to ripple through the harbor as water fell from the hull like rain.

“Initiate JATO boosters!” There was a tremendous whine as large jet turbines mounted on various points in the ship fired, giving the carrier even more lift and momentum as it began ascending. “Take off complete!” The captain turned to Morrigan and Dusty while the ship began turning on its maiden course.

“Now, with all possible respect, would either of you mind telling me what you’re doing with my ship?” North Star said as it appeared he had been working himself ragged, but what can you expect when you’re in charge of an experimental flagship.

Clearing her throat, Dusty turns her attention to the pony before her and nods. “We are dispatching the Enterprise and the battleship U.S.S New Jersey up river to the Oiche Gcathair area of the Everfree Forest River. The aircraft Talon-01 of the ERAF carrying the prince as well as an Equestrian princess has suffered a catastrophic failure, and thus they had to eject.They are both in hostile territory and in extreme danger. We are here upon orders of the crown to rescue them, as well as retrieve any possible pieces of the aircraft.

The massive carrier continues to gain altitude as it leaves the harbor, sounds of the engines outside howling as they power the great vessel into the skies.Morrigan watches one with wonder, never once in her many years has she ever thought something like this was possible. Yet all around her, it is. ‘Never doubt the power of innovation when great minds collide…’ She thinks to herself, a small, gentle smile creeping upon the Goddess’s muzzle.

The black alicorn sighs quietly as she stares into the firelight from the flames of the campfire.A shiver runs down the length of her bare back from the cool air of the night, the sun setting slowly just over the horizon, bringing the dangerous forest of Everfree into a shroud of darkness.It has since become too dark to see, forcing the wounded alicorn and human to take refuge within a small cave hidden in the shadows. Nightie turns her gaze to her side, raising her good wing and looking at the human pilot safely nestled beside her. She watches the slow rise and fall of his chest, taking comfort and solace he’s still alive.Lowering her muzzle carefully, she nuzzles him gently with her maw, her tongue extending out slightly, affectionately licking the dried blood off of his face and cheek, attempting to clean him. Talon has been passing in and out of consciousness through ought their aimless journey to Ponyville, or anywhere she could bring her master to seek medical attention.

Nightie shifts uncomfortably, lowering her wing again to cover her mate within her protective embrace once more. She can feel the heart within her barrel gently ticking away, a sign to her that the human is still alive and stable for the moment.Hours ago, they had found some of the still burning wreckage of the aircraft, where they had to make do with what they could, to heal themselves.The memory of intentionally holding her cracked hoof to the glowing orange metal of the broken vertical stave still fresh in her mind, sending another unwelcome shiver down her spine again at the painful memory.While it did stop the bleeding and cleaned the wound, it didn’t make it any more enjoyable by any stretch of the imagination.

Her mate was awake and coherent long enough to help set the broken bones in her wing, before tying it to her side in the remains of his blood-soaked and tattered flight suit in a makeshift sling. Her head turns to the broken wing where she glances at it, a tight frown once more gracing her features as she studies it. Pain was not something she was accustomed to as an immortal, the realization of just how incredibly fragile life truly was hitting home in her thoughts, the fleeting briefness of mortality. ‘Perhaps if I had known all those years ago…’ the alicorn thinks, understanding the torments she had inflicted upon Celestia in that battle so many centuries ago. A regret of so many of her past sins crosses her thoughts, gripping her heart with sorrow.The first thing she intended to do once they returned to Canterlot was speak with the dawn bringer. Perhaps she would try to be nicer to her new herd mate now, having a greater understanding of life and what it means to actually feel more than just anger and bitterness.

Talon groans quietly under Nighties wing, prompting the alicorn to once more draw her attention to him. The heavy warm blanket of feathers lifts off of his face slightly, a new sight of the dark alicorns tranquil teal pools now greeting him. He can smell the faint hint of copper on her breath, the scent reminding him that this particular alicorn had no qualms about her vampire tendencies, nor any shyness of blood.He turns his eyes to her and breathes deeply, opening his parched mouth to speak. “Nightie…” He hoarsely croaks out. “Where…are we?”

She purses her lips forward and coos quietly in response, her velvet voice low and gentle. “Rest now, Master. I have brought you to a safe place for the night. It is too dark to navigate this labyrinth deathtrap. We must remain here in this place for now, and continue to find our way once the dawn bringer lights the way. Please, sleep…regain your strength. I shall watch over you this night and protect you “ Nightie leans her neck down further, bringing her lips to his and kissing him lovingly.

The minutes tick away, the alicorn doing her best to fight off the urge to sleep. It has been a taxing day for her, the new body she has still unfamiliar in every way.She stares into the flickering flames of the small campfire before her, almost in a trance.She does not notice the soft sounds of leaves crunching beneath hooves approaching the mouth of the cave.

“Bless my luck, and what do I find? The ones I came in search of, after falling out of the sky. It’s a gift unto itself that you should have survived…but what’s this I have before my eyes?” A soft, friendly voice calls out in rhyme. The alicorn looks up, alert and awake now, tensing up. Nightie snaps her gaze to the entrance, her ears perked straight up at attention. The figure of a cloaked mare appears through the brush into the clearing.

Nightie can detect the subtle scents of spices, wood smoke, and oils. Flaring her nostrils, she inhales deeply, the alicorn attempting to decide her actions of what to do. The hood lowers on the cloaked mare, revealing the smiling muzzle of a zebra. “Please, rest easy my friend.I bid you welcome, and mean not to offend. You are protecting the prince of the skies I see, and the fur upon your form would speak of you as the princess Nightie?” Wordlessly Nightie nods, the alicorn studying the newcomer before her.

“That was the name given to me by my master…you are a zebra? I have not seen your kind since long before my banishment.” Nightmare responds to her, searching her memory of these ponies. Her instinct and heart tell her that this is a kind-spirited one, giving her some solace to relax slightly.

Seeing the alicorn before her slightly calm down, she takes another tentative step forward. “My name is Zecora, a shamaness of the western isles. Outside of Ponyville, I have lived for a long while! It’s a pleasure to meet you, fair Nightmare Moon. I mean you no harm, so please do not show gloom.A safe place to rest, this is not. Come follow me, for I will give you a warm place, food, and a cot. I can mend your injuries that I see, and help send you on your way, safely out of EverFree.”

“Please…my master is hurt badly, I fear he may not survive long. His breathing is troubled, and he cannot remain awake. He has lost a lot of blood!” Nightie hurriedly speaks, lifting her wing to show the zebra the human partially hidden beside her. Zecora’s muzzle twists and scrunches in alarm, her bright azure eyes focusing in on the wounded man.

She reaches the couple quickly, coming to a rest in the nightmare alicorns makeshift nest. Zecora looks the pair over, her eyes scanning quickly the damage upon the two. “Good this is not I fear, my dear. But not all is lost, for help is here. A salve for your broken hoof I have, bandages and dressings also in my bag. Place your hoof in this basin, it will numb the pain into a tingling sensation.” She speaks out in rhymes, digging through the satchel with her muzzle, then bringing the jar to Nightie within her maw. “Once your hoof is properly dressed, carry your mate to my home is what’s best. Stopping the bleeding will be no easy feat, but within my abode, there is plenty for which I can treat.” She speaks out, at the same time twisting the lid off of the container to open it for Nightie.

Nightmare sniffs the container briefly, staring down into the opened jar with tired curiosity. The contents of it are what appears to be a milky green paste, with bits of shredded and crushed plants mixed in. It has a strong mint scent to it, the vapors of the alchemical compound causing her to feel light headed. As Nightie begins to reach forward with her broken and burnt hoof, the Zebra gently pushes the alicorns wing aside. Nightie turns her head slowly and eyes the zebra warily, but still gives her some leeway and lifts her wing, exposing Talon to Zecora completely. She turns her attention back to the salve, slowly reaching into the paste and pressing her hoof into it. The effect is almost immediate, the dull painful spike fading quickly to a numb cooling sensation, bringing a faint smile of wonder to her muzzle.

“By your stars, this is worse than I feared, we must act quickly, and get away from here. This wound I cannot treat now, without a special brew. Let me dress your hoof quickly, to prevent his doom!” Zecora speaks to the large black alicorns before her, turning her piercing blue eyes to look into Nighties teal ones. “It is with haste we can stop this fate, to stop the prince’s passing, with death as his mate.” She reaches forward, scraping the salve against her own hooves, then rubbing the cream upon the alicorns extended foreleg and fetlock. Nightie complies, watching in a haze, exhaustion numbing her senses.

“Once treated with my healing brew, you and he will feel like new. Many natural cures I have from the wild, all safe to use, some tasty, and some vile. Rest easy princess Nightie, for you there is hope, as you shall soon see.” Zecora finishes, tying the bandages around the hoof of the nightmare alicorns, and rising to her own. “Place him upon your back and follow me, I have my home not far from here, safe from hungry things in the Ever free. “

Hours pass, the nightmare alicorn resting quietly in the living room of the Zebra’s home. She looks around curiously, watching as the shamaness treats the wounds of her mate carefully. Talon’s wounds have all been dressed, bandages carefully wrapped around stitches expertly done by Zecora.

“Rest easy now, fair Nightie, for your worries are all gone, and trouble-free. His injuries have been mended, I believe quite well, and it won't be long that he will be awake in good health!” Zecora speaks, washing the blood off of her hooves in a small sink. She turns her gaze to Nightmare, her luminescent blue eyes focused on the black alicorn. “How is your wing, might I ask? Do you feel as though flying will be quite the task?”

Nightie licks her lips perking up her hears and nods. “I am afraid I’m still in some pain, my friend. My hoof and wing are quite sore but much better. I thank you kindly for the help.” She speaks out softly, eyeing the careful bandages done to her foreleg. In truth, the fabric of the wrapping is itchy against her fur, and the crude splint is rather uncomfortable. Her wing feels as though it was wrapped a bit too tightly as well. If anything, the alicorn is looking forward to returning to Canterlot as soon as possible, so she can climb into a comfortable bed after seeing Doctor LifeFlight in the palace infirmary. She chews quietly on her lower lip, her heart still feeling out of rhythm in her chest from her blood loss. She feels somewhat dizzy from fatigue and pain, but nevertheless still alert to watch over the sleeping human pilot.

In the distance of the night, since the sun had set an hour ago, the three occupants of the small home have been hearing the sound of jet engines. Every so often one would come close, but for some reason turn away and fade back into the distance.

“Sore you will be for quite some time, that was quite a fall from the sky! But worry not, my alicorn friend, you two are soon on the mend. I am grateful to see you both took well to my homebrew, because with it you seem almost as good as new. Close your eyes and dream, by the dawn you will be out of the Everfree.

Nightie nods again, smiling softly, rising to her hooves and slowly limping to the sleeping man. She comes to a rest on her rump once she’s beside him, finally lowering herself down to her belly and resting her head on his shoulder. A quiet nicker is let go from deep in her chest, the alicorn breathing deeply his scent. That same familiar smell of fuel, exhaust, and that ever-present sweet scent.

A gentle knock at the door grabs the Zebra’s attention, Zecora rising to her own hooves and answering the door. Nightie is about to get up, when Zecora waves her off lazily, telling her to rest. Upon opening the door, several earth pony stallions in golden armor greeting her. She stares blankly at the group of them, her mind freezing for a moment as she looks like a deer caught in headlights.

“Greetings, we are the solar guard of Canterlot. Her majesty Celestia has dispatched us as a search party, attempting to locate two pilots of an aircraft that had crashed several miles from here earlier today. We came across your home, and are checking to see if you have perhaps seen or had contact with them. This is a matter of great importance.” The lead stallion speaks out tiredly, looking at the zebra with a friendly smile.

“Welcome gentlecolts, for you are in luck. I have the two here safe in my hut! You seek the princess Nightie and her mate, and yes, they have been saved from their fates.” She responds happily, seeing the muzzles of several guards suddenly turn to face her in shock. She steps aside and motions for the stallion to look inside, the guard doing so slowly.

Greeting his vision is the black svelte mare holding her head high, her teal orbs looking at him with sleepy confusion, with her good wing extended over Talon protectively. She narrows her eyes at the guard and lets out a soft, demonic growl from deep within her barrel saying simply ‘Hurt him, and I’ll eat you.’

“Princess Nightmare, I am Buck Sargent Hard Hoof. We were sent here by Canterlot to retrieve you and bring you and the prince to the Ponyville outpost for medical examination and transport to Canterlot palace. Please do not be afraid, we serve the crown and you.

“A cart you and your comrades will need, for neither can walk easily out of the EverFree.” Zecora speaks up, motioning to the alicorns bandaged foreleg and hind leg, as well as to the pilot. The guard looks over the human, stepping closer very slowly and carefully so not to anger or startle the wounded alicorn of death in the room. He knows Nightmare Moon has been declared as a ‘reformed citizen of Equestria’ by Princess Celestia herself, but Nightmare Moon is still Nightmare Moon.

“Corporal!” He calls out, slightly turning his head, but keeping focused on the alicorn. “Take private Pear Apple with you back to the station, fetch a cart on the double. Get Fleetfoot here also to pull it. She’s still on call, even if she is a show pony. And radio Canterlot, let them know that we found the missing couple.”

Morrigan shoots up to her haunches from her belly, the sensation of a dark energy wave firing up her spine like a bullet. Her eyes go wide with terror as she snaps her gaze to the bow of the Enterprise flight deck. “No...NO!” She shouts, scrambling to her hooves, the Goddess’s bare keratin hoof walls kicking up sparks upon the deck plating. She had thought it was only a small chance her presence would be felt, but she never imagined it was her energy alone that would awaken the demon sealed here. Fear races through her form now, a deep-rooted fear that made her stomach clench.

“Miss Morrigan…?” Dusty Shine chirps out in alarm, her gaze torn away from the screens, now looking at the all-mother. “What’s wrong?” The earthen mustang mare stands straight up now, more of the bridge crew of the helicarrier now turning their attention away from their tasks and focusing on the mysterious alicorn on the bridge.

Morrigan alights her horn, her eyes narrowed dangerously as she glares ahead. Wordlessly she breaks into a sprint, rushing forward to the glass at the front of the command bridge, before leaping over the two sitting bridge crew members at the navigation and ops stations. Her glowing horn contacts the glass, shattering it into dust as she bounds forward, her wings deploying open in a snap as she takes to the skies. Flames ignite from her wingtips, mane and tail as power pours through them, the alicorn mare leaving a trail of fire in her wake as she veers off to the side and away from the massive ship, darting straight down to the EverFree below.

She flaps her wings hard, gaining speed as she approaches her target, a glowing blade of pure light energy having formed above her with her magic. The goddess screams in fury, bolting down through the tree canopy and bringing the energy sword down, smacking straight into a field and stopping short. Materializing below her slowly, a blade of flame and shadow appears.

A massive shockwave of inky shadow energy discharges in a wide band sphere, knocking over bushes, uprooting trees in a large radius, and flattening all nearby vegetation. The shadows burst into flames around her and the slow forming shadowy figure below the Goddess. A dark, low whisper of a demonic voice speaks in a hiss.

“…good to see you…Morrigan.” The mare stares ahead of her in unbridled rage, glaring into the luminescent teal slitted eyes of the creature she came to destroy.

“Scorch!” Morrigan screams out between gnashing teeth, puffs of smoke and flame escaping her maw and she digs deep within herself and focuses all of her will into the energy blade, trying to cleave the titan before her. “How the hell did you awaken?!”

The titan of flame and shadow materializes fully, swinging his own sword and knocking the all-mother of creation back with ease, sending her flying back and crashing hard into an uprooted tree. He snarls angrily and steps forward, bringing a clawed hand up to his chest and clenching it into a fist. “No prison you can conjure will ever hold me, vile thief. I will finish what my mistress commanded, and place you in the grave!” The demon raises his arm holding the sword of the netherworld high above his head, a dark swirling vortex forming quickly above them, casting the EverFree into a stormy night of wind and shadows. “The formors will once again claim this world, and with them Macha upon her throne of creation once more…You will suffer for your treachery, young one!”

Morrigan rolls over off of her back and sets herself upon her hooves once more, coming to a standing position. She looks up at the skies in bewilderment, staring up in horror as demonic formors, her sisters army begin to pour out of the rip in space-time. Massive beasts of shadow and pure evil take to the skies, bone dragons, wyverns and the like, all scattering out in different directions, some heading straight for the Enterprise, others flying toward the battleship steadily steaming in from the river. Within seconds of this happening the effect is immediate, the massive turrets and deck guns of both ships begin to open fire, targeting and attacking the various demons. Loud thundering booms of weapons fire pierce the air.

A symphony of jet engines is heard, the nearby fighter aircraft escorting the massive carrier in the skies, her ponies of the ERAF responding in kind to the new threat. In the air the battle for Equestria commences, as brave souls take on an enemy they cannot even begin to comprehend.

The alicorn goddess turns her head to the titan approaching her, Morrigan spitting blood upon the soil. “My sister has been sealed in the eternal abyss, her death has already happened. You have no mistress now scorch, fade back into the depths of Tartarus where you belong!”

“My mistress is eternal, thief! It is you who will be sealed away. Stop hiding in that stolen form, and show the real you, or I will cut your black heart out and show what you really are to this world!” Scorch shoots back, swinging his sword again at the Goddess. A whip of shadow energy launches from the blade, striking the all-mother hard across the chest and knocking her to the ground again.

The alicorn struggles to get breath into her lungs from the force of the impact, the sensation of pain ripping through her barrel all the way to her spine. She gasps out in agony and falls to the ground again after struggling to get up. Her horn alights as she attempts to form a shield with her magic, only fractions of a second before another blast sends her flying backward again.

Morrigan lands several hundred feet away, coming to a dusty roll into a clearing, near the dilapidated castle of the royal pony sisters. She struggles to her hooves again, coughing out a spittle of saliva and blood from her maw.The titan swoops down from nowhere, swinging his sword of shadow over his head, bringing the flat of the blade down upon the alicorns skull. Morrigan, the crimson maned goddess sees stars in her vision, before a vicious kick is delivered to her snoot, sending her rolling again.

She can taste the blood and hear a grinding crunch in her jaw, the alicorn mother of creation’s vision becoming distorted and hazy with pain. Sounds become murky and muddled, a painful ringing sound overtaking her world in her ears. Scorch slowly walks forward, the tip of his longsword dragging upon the cobblestone path, grinding out a small trail of sparks. Overhead an aircraft erupts into flames as its brought down by a former wyvern, the skies still filled with a massive aerial battle as machine and monster meeting in the heavens, the ships and aircraft valiantly fighting for the souls of the world.

“You should have ended me when you had the chance and help of your temptress of a sister, Nehimahe…but your folly has brought about your end instead, thief. Cast off that stolen form, and show your true self! Have you no honor?!” The demon hisses out in rage, bringing his sword up once more. Scorch the Usurper stops in his tracks, setting his stance with the tip of the blade aimed straight and true. He will rush the wounded young goddess, and pierce her heart with the sword known as Sinhala, the cleaver of light.

Morrigan begins to chuckle quietly, a sardonic, dark laughter bordering on an insane cackle. Her wings slowly open and raise upon her back, the alicorn struggling and pushing herself up on her front hooves. Wisps of flame flicker and dance around her, her feathers glowing a deep blue and orange as flame overtakes her body. “Be careful what you wish for…” She whispers in a venomous hiss.

“Chief shine, all available fighters have been launched!” The unicorn officer at the ops station calls out. A bone dragon crosses over the flight deck in view of the bridge, before shattering into pieces by a lucky shot of the deck gun. The unicorn lets out a shriek of fright, unable to maintain composure.

"Comm, get Canterlot and Ponyville on the line, tell them we need more air support at once! We are under attack, situation critical!” Dusty Shine shouts, her voice strained attempting to talk over the droning sound of the guns and fight taking place outside of the ship. “Helm, hard to port, we need to lend as much support as we can to the all mother! Target that thing she’s fighting with the break line canons, and open fire! Danger close, use only small caliber rounds for surgical strikes!”

The ship rocks hard, throwing everyone standing to the deck plating, the carrier beginning to list to the starboard side. The forward engine near the nose of the carrier explodes into a massive fireball of debris and twisted metal, after an aircraft had been sent crashing into it by one of the many bone dragons and other airborne threats.

“Engine number three is out!” One of the bridge officers shouts. “We are on fire!”

“Fire teams to deck one and flight deck! Balance the power between the remaining three engines and pull back from the battle! Fighters, close the gap and provide close air support!” Another commanding officer shouts over the blaring alarms on the bridge.

A large wraith dragon formor barrels through the fray, swiping at one of the nearby F-18’s and clipping a horizontal stabilizer, the aircraft knocked into a spiral and narrowly missing the superstructure of the carrier. It continues its course, the foreboding glow of its demonic energy illuminating its path through its broken and hollow ribcage. Dusty punches in commands on the panel she’s working with, taking control of one of the grand canons on the rear of the flight deck, targeting and firing the weapon. The eardrum-shattering sound of the gun causes everyone’s teeth to rattle in their skulls, as the dragon explodes in a cloud of bone fragments and red mist, the round obliterating the threat in the blink of an eye. “You will not touch my husband's ship…” she whispers under her breath angrily. “Continue to engage! Comm, check on that fighters status, make sure it’s still ok to fight!”

“Senior chief!” The communications officer calls out, grinning from ear to ear upon her muzzle. “Fighters, and lots of them! We have incoming from Van Hoover, Canterlot and Ponyville! Massive waves of aircraft! Talon squadron is in-route at hypersonic! Canterlot also just got word from Ponyville, Captain Masters and the princess have been rescued and are being brought to Ponyville airbase! Condition stable!!”

“Now we’re getting somewhere…” Dusty smiles wildly, trying not to laugh. The battle is about to turn in their favor, the full might of the military coming to bear down now on this threat. Ahead she sees more flashes of flames and golden ribbons, a hailstorm of firepower from the battleship below. The Iowa Class battleship unleashing hell upon the enemies, its massive 16-inch guns firing in a droning harmony of death. Dusty glances down at the screen at her station, seeing the transponder markers of several small destroyers approaching the combat zone. It won’t be long, the fleet coming to aid in its first real test. The paint hasn’t even dried on most of the ships, and already they will test their mettle in combat. Today, the world will know the true strength of Equestria.

As Scorch begins to step in to rush Morrigan, the blade of his sword lowers and aims. He growls out in a battle cry, completely ignoring the flames and energy radiating from the goddess. He gets closer and closer, the tip of the shadow dark blade inches from her chest. Even at the closeness, he can’t see the alicorn's eyes hidden behind her mane. The blade stops short, held in place by her field, millimeters now off of her flesh. The titan pushes and forces, electrical discharges dancing off of the edge of the blade from her power.

“Elohim Gibor…” A massive shockwave bursts from her horn, sending the demonic titan flying backward, and through a castle tower. The building collapses down upon him now, stones and glass raining down and covering the area in dust and fire. She takes a step forward, her hoof impact shaking the ground as power explodes throughout her form. Morrigan opens her eyes, her once illustrious emerald green orbs now changed to a deep crimson, the pupils slitted and filled with the grief and anger of eternity.

Her mane and tail rise, igniting into a billowing hellfire of white flames, the fires of her power dancing along her visage. The fires take shape, turning into solid material, then wavering into a cloth-like form. The goddess reaches deep into the ether of the leylines of Heofon and creation, drawing energy from creation itself. The shackles of mortality cast away as she summons her will, focusing and drawing out the ancient armor of her soul once used in the first Heofon war. An astral dress covers her from withers to croup, long flowing sleeves of fire ribbons covering her forelegs. Morrigan tears open a rift in creation, pulling her most powerful weapon from the depths of hell itself. “Cameal!” She calls out, the energy rod coalescing and shapeshifting into a glaive. Her rear hooves ignite into flames, the keratin walls turning white and glowing with a soft orange hue. The goddess twirls the weapon in her fore hooves above her head, a trail of fire dancing off of the tip of the blade, creating a ring of fire in the air. She whips the blade down, the force of it casting out a massive energy spike, erasing several of the overhead dragons and wyverns from creation in the blink of an eye.

Overhead more aircraft arrive from several directions, entire air wings joining the fight. The skies alight with missiles and the buzzing of forward guns, the war machines cutting down scores of formors with ease.

As scorch launches stones off of himself to re-engage the all mother, he’s greeted by the sight he truly didn’t want. An angry alicorn Goddess of war barreling straight towards him, the glaives blade aimed right at his throat. “Scorch! Your final hour has come!” Morrigan shouts, her cosmically amplified voice shaking the heavens.

The battle once again commences, Scorch deflecting the glaive with his sword of shadow and flame, the enraged immortal titan forcing the alicorn back, and climbing to his own clawed feet. Before he can react, Morrigan is upon him again, laying siege with her heavy glaive, attacking furiously. Hit after hit he deflects with relative ease, the centuries of slumber having no effect in slowing him down even slightly. Morrigan over swings, the titan sidestepping and catching her off balance, then pins her weapon to the ground with his foot. “And where did you find this strength?” He growls out, cocking back his free arm and throwing a solid punch to Morrigan’s muzzle, striking the Goddess with enough force to snap her head back.

She grunts in pain, then rears up on her hind legs, letting go of the glaive. “I’ll never tell you!” She responds, kicking out both forelegs and smacking the titan hard directly on his face, her razor-sharp hoof walls cutting deep into the cheek and nose of the bipedal demon. Now with the fight tipped in her favor, she lands hard on her forehooves and twirls around quickly, whipping her flank as fast as she can to bring up a powerful twin back kick with her hind legs. Scorch is sent flying after millions of tons of force were thrown into the kick from the alicorn, the sound of her hooves creating a sound akin to the clap of thunder. Morrigan lets out a loud snort of victory and alights her horn to pick up her weapon. This fight is far from over she knows, it won’t take long for the titan to recover.

The goddess spreads her powerful wings, pumping then and taking to the skies. With her glaive in tow at her side held within her forelegs, she starts to gain altitude to join the overhead battle in progress against the formors.As she gets closer to the carrier above, she can feel her magic returning to her horn, the further she gets from the cursed lands of the Everfree. Up in the skies, she knows she has the best possible chance of eliminating the titan. Two aircraft wiz by her fairly close, being chased by a somewhat large thunder wyvern. The goddess blinks, staring at it emotionlessly, then simply grabs it within her magic. Using a small flick of her power, she applies thousands of tons of force in a telekinetic bubble, and crushes the offending formor in the blink of an eye, saving the two machines from a further chase. Morrigan turns her gaze back to the aircraft, their pilots having noticed her kill the creature, begin to turn around in a steep high-G turn, rejoining the fray themselves.

It isn’t long before she hears a rumbling howl from down below, Scorch quickly finding the alicorn mother of creation in the open skies. Morrigan, in turn, sees him rushing from below, and speeds closer to the ground to meet him halfway, the battle continuing. Swing after swing, metal strikes metal as the two deities fight, small shockwaves and bright flashes of light that can be seen for miles around as the two engage in immortal combat.

“Chief shine!” A bridge officer at the radar console calls out, drawing the attention of the Earthen mustang. As Dusty looks up and away from the screen she’s using to direct various aircraft to separate engagements, she can see the thing she was being notified about. Upon one of the many view screens against the front of the command center of the Enterprise, one of the aft deck cameras is watching the battle unfold between Morrigan and Scorch in perfect clarity. She stares wide-eyed, her mouth agape, not believing what she’s seeing. There on the screen, is an almost exact copy of what she had watched on the classified feed from Talons war machine from when Luna and Talon were on Elysium. On the viewscreen….was Macha.

Horror overtakes the mare upon the bridge, only mouthing half words and gibberish in absolute fear. Red eyes, fire for the mane and tail, ashen black wings and coat in places. The alicorn like creature on camera was a carbon copy of the demon Talon and Nightie fought off world. Dusty continues to stare wide-eyed, not believing what she’s seeing. The demonic alicorn on the screen slashed at the bipedal creature with a large ax-like weapon, sending it crashing back to the ground below. Dusty zooms in with the camera control on her station, pulling up a much more clear image of the alicorn like monster.

A crackling static comes over her headset while she stares in disbelief, Dusty hearing a familiar voice over the speakers. ‘Can’t even take a perty ship out for a day without runnin into a bunch of trouble, can ya?’ The voice grunts out.

“Sledgehammer!” Dusty calls out in response joyfully. “How close are you and the other squadrons?!” She asks, her eyes still tracing the camera feed of the demon mare on the screen.

‘Less than a minute out, ah can already see the slobberknocker of a fight ahead of me. You betch yer ass I’m not missin this now.’ The sound of static briefly overtakes the communications channel, before the stallions voice crackles through again. ‘Whuts the status of the captain and princess’s rescue?’

“A team located them in one of the locals care, a very helpful Zebra named Zecora! The medics are giving treatment to their injuries and getting them to an extraction point for evac! The transport will signal when ready, Talon squadron is to protect that chariot at all costs, extremely precious cargo!”

‘Rodger that. Alright you buckin degenerates, you heard tha lady. Do whut you boys do best and start killin these here demons. Showtime!’ Sledgehammer, the pilot of Talon’s squadron responds. The four surviving F/A-37 aircraft trail behind their lead, their weapons bays opening one after the other.Five separate missile racks roll out, followed by each aircraft selecting a long ranged target, and letting loose their own missiles. The battle for them begins, as more and more fighter craft now enter the fur ball.The weapons each strike a target, exploding violently and downing or killing a formor. The pilots of the ERAF all seem to notice one thing, suddenly they outnumber the formors, and the enemy numbers are beginning to decline rapidly, with each successful strike from the naval forces below, and the air force above.

Sledgehammer sees one target that piques his own interest, ahead through the canopy the eagle-eyed stallion sees Morrigan engaged in her own fight, against some two-legged monster. He turns his war machine sharply in the sky, lining up. ‘Missile tracking. Missile locked on’ The computer chirps, showing a bright red square and diamond highlighting the titan on the HUD. “Dusty, tell that thar mother of the princess to back off, I’m gonna let one loose on that monster she’s brawlin!” He gruffly speaks into the flight helmet.

‘Sledge, are you sure that’s Morrigan? What are you seeing on your screen?’ The mare responds over the radio.

“What the hell do you think I see ya dense woman?! It’s Celestia’s mom with her hair on fire, same cream coat, bright red hair, resting bitch muzzle. Now tell her ta back off!” The computer continues to chirp out, indicating he’s closing too close to strike with missiles. In mere seconds, he’ll have to either line up again or switch to guns.

Morrigan is sent crashing back to the ground after failing to deflect a powerful strike from Scorch the Usurper, the Goddess landing in what remains of the ruins of the former castle of the alicorn sisters. As she’s falling she opens her eyes, watching with disbelief of what’s happening, wondering if the pain she’s experiencing has finally driven her to insanity. A black switchblade aircraft exactly like Talons is coming up fast on her enemy, just ahead of the war machine is a trail of smoke, leading up to a speeding missile. Her eyes go wide as she brings a wing over her face, shielding from the coming explosion. The missile impacts, a massive concussive boom is heard, followed by an angry howl.

Scorch is sent down now, a trail of smoke and blood in his wake from the missile impact. He falls helplessly for a moment, now under attack again this time from the massive carrier some distance away. The Enterprise is cutting loose with three of its grand canons on the flight deck, the impressive weapons raining down hell as they fire in a symphony of death. Each round impacting with surgical precision, each canon firing again and again. Even when the titan of flame strikes the ground, the carrier continues to attack. Within seconds, aircraft now join in, attacking as a giant swarm of metal and fury. Missiles are let fly, forward guns blaze relentlessly, the fireball and surrounding crater of stone and debris growing larger and hotter. They all continue to fire, nary a one relenting unless the machine depletes its complement of weapons.

The alicorn all-mother regains her flight stability, climbing high into the heavens again. Her horn tip glows brightly like a beacon in the night, flashing brightly as a star. Her wings spread wide, her body rolling gracefully, twin contrails of fire from her wingtips. For but a moment the attack stops, for only seconds it seems time itself freezes. Morrigan lets go one final attack and within it all the fury of Heofon itself. A massive pillar of unimaginable magnitude and power is cast from her, the column of light itself reaching from the ground all the way beyond the stars. The area falls silent as the grave, not even the afterburners of the aircraft making a sound. The flash of light while bright is not blinding to those of pure heart. To those worthy of Heofon’s grace.

She pulls in her wings close to her body and turns in the air, force stalling herself out into a dive, returning to the ground. Her glaive burns brightly at the blade tip, an energy ball forming and coalescing at the end. Morrigan lands upon the ground a few feet away from the still smoking crater. She can hear the sounds of creation returning again, the sounds of Scorch grunting and trying to climb out of the hole soon to be his grave. She narrows her crimson eyes with hatred, scanning the massive plume of smoke for his demonic form. She sees a glimmer of a reflection from a distortion, with no time to react. Before she can back away, Scorch darts forward with his readied sword, and stabs the goddess, impaling her through her barrel and out of her shoulder.

Morrigan cries out in pain, blood trickling out of her mouth, crimson flowing from the wound in her chest. Her eyes fall to look into the titans own, Scorch bleeding profusely, burned and on his last thread of life. “If I am to die here, vile thief…you shall too! I will see you in Tartarus!”

Wordlessly, Morrigan grunts and gasps, her horn letting out sparks and electrical discharges. She focuses will the last scraps of her will, grasping the glaive in her failing magic, just barely out of the cursed lands field. Her glaive rattles and struggles to float, finally hovering shakily in the air. Ribbons of fire once again coalesce into a ball, the glaive flying forward and burying itself into his back, before discharging powerfully into scorch. The explosive blast blows a hole through the titan, his chest now torn open and gaping. Scorch the Usurper’s knees buckle, the titan of flame and shadow falling to the ground for the last time.As he lays dying now, the rift in the heavens closes, with it the formors disappearing and fading from the world of Equestria.

The alicorn screams out in rage and pain, grasping the blade of the sword with her forelegs, slowly and shakily pulling it out. A small patch of flame flickers violently where the sword once was, the Goddess sealing the wounds with the last traces of energy from the leylines into Heofon. Looking down upon the fallen-but still alive titan, she can feel the mechanisms of harmony beginning to move once more. Her eyes fade back to their usual emerald orbs, the astral dress wisping away, the Goddess taking on her mortal form once more.

The Enterprise continues to hover over the smoking battleground below; aircraft from all over Equestria circling wide and slowly, waiting for signs of trouble. Morrigan turns her gaze to the sky for a moment, before returning her focus upon the crippled titan before her hooves. She sneers in anger and disgust at the pitiful sight, a low snarl escaping her lips.

Standing silently after rigidly folding her wings to her sides, the cream-colored alicorn’s piercing gaze boring into the broken and utterly defeated Scorch, the Usurper. “I can’t very well allow you to live now, after all.” Morrigan hisses darkly, her emerald eyes glowing with murderous hatred of the creature before her.

Scorch simply coughs, turning his gaze away from her as he lets out a low chuckle, defiant to the end. “Filthy wench…your time will come soon enough.You and I both know…this is not your planet to rule…My mistress will return to claim it from you, vile thief. Macha shall be seated upon her throne of creation, and it will be you who is sealed in the abyss of Baol once more.”

Morrigan darts forward, pressing her forehoof into his throat, forcing it down until she feels his spine snapping beneath her weight. The titan lets out a guttural choke and a gurgle, before falling silent. Glaring harshly, she allows for a subtle, wicked smile.“This world is mine….” She whispers in a venomous hiss, finishing off the broken demon. As the life glow of Scorch leaves his body, the Goddess can feel the mechanisms of Harmony slowly shifting more; her power and the flow of magic being restored to her once again. “And I’ll kill my sister before I ever give it back.”The alicorn whispers, a sinister smile crossing her muzzle.

Morrigan looks back to the skies, spreading her tired wings and pumping them powerfully, taking to the air and heading to the carrier. She reaches about halfway when her senses finally catch the faint lifeglow of the human and the alicorn Nightie. A soft, grateful smile graces her muzzle, as she banks gently and corrects her course, now bound for Ponyville. The dawn is still hours away, her word kept true to Celestia. She pours on more speed now, seeing the outskirts of the little town just ahead, soft candles in windowsills and faintly glowing streetlights illuminating the way. Somewhere near the center of the town is the location where the pair is being kept, the sense of them in her chest growing stronger.

Fleetfoot lands the sky chariot gently on the ground, coming to a slow, soft bump of a stop. Looking back she stares at the royal couple, grinning. "I'd never have imagined I'd be a taxi for royalty...perk of the job I guess." She says joyfully.

Nightie sleepily looks at the wonderbolt pegasus with a mildly annoyed scowl, nodding slowly. "Thank you for helping my master and I." She responds, letting out a quiet sigh. This day has been beyond taxing for the former alicorn of death. It's not every day you fly in an aircraft, wind up falling through the sky and end up on a painful, terrible nightmare of an adventure. The alicorn looks up at the pegasus unhitching herself from the chariot, tilting her head. "Please tell me we will be returning to Canterlot on a train or a chariot like this one...I don't think I would like to fly in another banshee again for a while. "

Fleetfoot laughs lightheartedly and grins. "No your highness, Ponyville only has a hoof-full of military aircraft, and all of them are a single pilot only. I'm afraid I'll be the one flying you two back myself, unless you'd prefer to take the train. The next one won't be here until morning two days from now. Not much traffic through Ponyville ever since miss Twilight and Rarity left for Canterlot. The only original celebrities we have here are Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. The pink one because Princess Luna banned her from any events in Canterlot after the famed underwear and socks run in the palace several years back." Fleetfoot grins sheepishly, then takes a step forward to the chariot. She looks down at the human pilot after removing her flight goggles, and whistles. "Looks like he got roughed up pretty bad from that crash...he probably won't be up and walking around for weeks."

The nightmare alicorn lets out a snort, extending her free wing out a bit and covering the still unconscious pilot protectively. Zecora's drugs that were administered were powerful sedatives and pain relievers, it'll be a miracle if he wakes up before tomorrow nights moonrise."Yes...my master's leg has been broken, and he may have severe internal injuries.Were his heart not so strong, he would have faded today." She responds quietly, her muzzle turned downward as she gazes at Talons sleeping face serenely. "And if he should need to go somewhere, I would gladly carry him on my back if needed. I will shoulder any burden he asks, and do so happily."

The Pegasus mare nods enthusiastically, smiling. “Oh, I feel the same way for Spitfire. Even before we got married, honestly. Love makes us do crazy, weird things. But in love, we have incredible strength. …keep that fire about you, princess. Don’t ever let it go for even a moment, and things will always work out.”

As Nightie is about to speak in reply, the pair hears the sounds of wingbeats, as well as the very far off distant sounds of jet engines. The alicorn looks up to the night sky, searching. Moments later, she sees an unexpected sight, the all mother. Looking at her, Nightie can see a slight tinge of dust on her coat, as well as her mane slightly out of place. To any outside observer, the alicorn goddess would appear perfect and not having just went rounds with a titan, barely surviving. To Nightmare Moon, however, that slightly out of sorts would mean Morrigan was distracted on a cosmic scale. The black svelte alicorn swallows hard, wondering if the crash did worry Morrigan that much, her not having any idea what transpired while they were in the care of Zecora.

Morrigan comes in for a graceful landing, her eyes showing slight fatigue as she gazes upon the three with an amused, gentle expression. “Well, you’ve had an eventful day I see.” The goddess casually speaks out, her voice containing laughter and love that only a mother could have. She lets out a soft giggle, the sound akin to distant gentle wind chimes on a summers eve. “Are you two ready to go home?”

The black alicorn lets out a snort of discontent, her eyes never leaving the all-mother. She watches as Morrigan steps closer to the chariot, slightly confused and worried when she sees the horn of the goddess spark to life with powerful light magic. Morrigan casts off three orbs of starlight, the magic gently glowing an iridescent hue in the cool night of Ponyville. One of the orbs floats to the human pilot, fading and disappearing upon contact, the sleeping human’s face now no longer twisted in fitful pain and troubled sleep, but a peaceful one. His breathing also seems to stabilize now. The second orb touches Nightie, her quickly noticing the dull throbbing pain in her wing and legs fading to a minor ache if at all noticeable. Her wing still can’t move, but the pain is now gone. Lastly, the third orb touches Fleetfoot on the snoot, the Pegasus mare taking on a dopey, borderline over caffeinated smile.

“Rest now, little one, I’ll take them from here. You did well.” Morrigan speaks out softly to Fleetfoot, lowering her head and giving a gentle snoot-bump to the wonderbolt Pegasus. Fleet foot only nods dumbly in response, a drunk, happy blush illuminating her pastel blue muzzle. The goddess sidesteps her and lifts the harnesses to herself, using her magic to hitch the chariot. The straps are tight and ill-fitting to her significantly larger form, Morrigan letting out a quiet irritated snort. With a flick of her magic, they stretch and deform, loosely wrapping around her Lilith frame.

Fleetfoot begins to quietly trot away, bound once again for her own home, her mind blank and completely forgetting her orders to care for the royal couple, only a hazy thought of home for herself now. She no longer notices the three behind her. As she’s walking away, Morrigan breaks into a slow trot, her wings spread as she takes off, the chariot in tow behind her now. Moments after she’s airborne, several fighter aircraft appear on the outskirts of Ponyville, followed by complete air wings of several dozen others. The air fleet bound for their respective bases of operation. A hoof full of roughly twenty aircraft creep up behind and beside the goddess, escorting her safely back to Canterlot. The flight will be somewhat long at low speed, but quiet and safe. The battle for Equestria is over, for now, the missing pair found and recovered.

Waiting outside of the ballroom turned hangar, an anxious midnight alicorn paces, a worried and mournful expression upon her features. Her wings are hanging limply at her sides, her steps erratic as her bare hooves clack quietly against the pavement. It was only an hour ago she and her elder sister Celestia had received the news from Dusty Shine over the radio of the events that transpired. Though her husband is being flown back in the safest care possible, she’s still fretting uncontrollably. An ancient evil she’s always feared was reawakened, Her heardmate and former reflection is now crippled, and to top it all off to end her day, her husband still has not come out of his comatose state, and their beloved aircraft of which they’ve had so many memories have been completely and utterly destroyed. Today was not even remotely a good day for the alicorn princess of the night.

“Sister…it’s cold out here. At least wear a blanket while you wait for our husband.” Celestia speaks softly, sitting in the empty hangar. “Mother and nearly every aircraft from Canterlot are protecting those two right now. He couldn’t possibly be in better hooves.”

She pauses in her steps and glances to the elder white alicorn, her gaze tired and empty. “I know Tia…it’s just so hard to believe that everything fell apart like this…Even with mine flame being back home safely soon…it still feels as thou we hath lost a member of the family this day. Mine machine has long been a symbol of hope for our subjects and myself…and now with it lost, I feel as though there will always be a hole in mine heart.”

Celestia nods slowly, turning her attention back to the book she’s holding in her magic. “Your aircraft was scheduled to be decommissioned after hearths warming day, Lulu. You already know it is being replaced. That’s part of why I was going to have Talon and you in his promotion and retirement ceremony in the throne room. We were sending it to a museum of aviation anyway. Machines can be rebuilt, sister. And this one is no different. With Scorch now dead, you and I can go out to the EverFree any time, and gather the pieces. It’ll be like when you and I built puzzles before Discord.”

“Mine sister, I hath doubts of our abilities to properly assemble such a complex machine when we art missing so many of the pieces,” Luna replies sarcastically, rolling her eyes. “Though also knows even if we art forcing mine flame to retire from the Royal Air Force, he would still wish to fly among mine stars and thine daylight skies.”

Celestia has had about enough of the pacing at this point, and sets down her book. She rises to her hooves and walks to her younger sister, extending her wings around her and holding the midnight alicorn in place. “And you know I have a special gift for you two. I’ll just have to give it to you earlier than expected is all.”

The sound of jet engines rumbles in the distance, getting the attention of the two alicorns. Up above the hangar in Luna’s personal chambers, a pink alicorn sleepily pokes her head out of the balcony doors, her own attention now drawn. Coming into the airspace above the grand capital city, are the aircraft deployed earlier. At their center, is the all mother herself, towing a chariot. Cadence leaps off of the balcony railing, extending her wings open and gliding down to the opened hangar bay, waiting patiently for her herdmates to arrive home. The minutes pass like what seems forever, before Morrigan finally comes to a graceful landing. It only takes seconds before the chariot is mobbed by alicorns, the goddess of creation not even having a moment to unhitch herself before she’s bombarded with questions, and the black alicorn and pilot being smothered by nuzzles, sobs and hugs.

“Patience, my little ones…calm yourselves down. These two are fine. …While I feel your husband should heal his broken leg naturally, I have removed the blood poisons from both him and Nightie and mended their most dangerous wounds. She will be up on her hooves in the morning…you will have to care for him. He needs rest, take him to your chambers, so I speak.” Morrigan speaks out curtly, a mildly amused smile upon her lips. She simply yawns and walks off without another word, completely ignoring the questions and calls of her three daughters.

The black alicorn rises to her hooves, slowly stepping out of the chariot and to the ground, the wheels of the cart letting out a faint creak as she exits. She sighs and stretches out, her joints stiff from laying down for so long. The nightmare alicorn is exhausted, and in no mood to talk. As she’s turning around to gather Talon out of the cart, she sees Celestia hoisting him upon her back with magic, and Luna walking to her instead. Nightie qwerks an eyebrow at this, confused.

“Nightie…” Luna speaks out quietly, her left forehoof shuffling slowly in circles against the pavement. “I wanted to thank thee…for protecting mine flame again. I am…I am quite proud of thou…and grateful to have thou at mine side. I trust thee…” She quietly trails off, looking away from the taller black alicorn before her.

“Luminec--…” Nightmare speaks in reply, stopping short. “Luna…” She corrects herself. “The honor and joy is mine. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for our heard, I would go to the same lengths for you as well.” She sighs. Their ears all perk up as they hear a groggy moan from the human, still dazed and heavily drugged under painkillers and sedatives. “Let us speak at the sun rise…our master needs his rest, and I can think of the perfect way to give it to him.”

Luna nods, with a knowing smile. “Captain Fury!” She calls out to her personal guard, the thestral now walking to her from his watchful post at the hangar doors.

“Da, princess? Vhat may I do for you?” The Slavic guard speaks, his thick stalliongrad accent rumbling out softly.

“After we take mine husband to mine chambers, thou are to find a wheelchair for him in the palace infirmary. After that, bring it to mine study, and thou art dismissed for the evening. “

“Da, yes princess. It vill be done.” He responds, snapping out a wing in salute, then marching off to carry out his orders. Celestia and Cadence have since carried off the human, trying their best to keep quiet their chatting, as not to awaken him. This is absolutely not the first time Celestia has carried him, much less had him laying upon her back, and it absolutely won’t be the last. Luna eyes his bandages and wrappings, letting out a soft pained whicker knowing how much he had to of suffered needlessly in that crash. She couldn’t even imagine what nightmare her mother had encountered. Once she has a chance in their bedroom, she intends to heal him the best she can and rebadged him and the black alicorn properly. Years of being married to her husband have given her a unique edge in the understanding of human anatomy that the palace doctors didn’t quite have, the lunar princess having of becoming quite proficient over the years at mending his wounds.

The aircraft overhead all begin to land in sequence, one by one at the direction of the control center, any one of the fighters possibly being the one carrying Dusty Shine home as well.

In the bedroom chambers, Luna has since carefully re-wrapped the bandages done by Zecora on Talon, and Nighties by the Ponyville detachment of the royal guard. She winced and nearly vomited when she had seen the black svelte alicorns broken hoof, disbelieving that Nightmare Moon could have walked miles like she had, with a heavy load on her back through mud, uneven surfaces, rocks and sharp sticks, and still casually walked with barely a limp, only her left rear leg being favored.

It was discovered by Celestia that Nighties rear leg was not actually broken, but being magically shared pain through the link she has with Talon. It is because of his broken bones that she felt as though her own were also broken. Luna sighs quietly, having a newfound respect for her past reflection.

Celestia, Twilight, and Cadence and Nightie are all on the large ornate bed of the night princess, the human carefully nestled between the elder white alicorn and Cadence, Cadenza already fast asleep with her chest and wing being used as a pillow for him. Her loud rhythmic heartbeat lulling the man into a restful sleep as the painkillers slowly fade. Dusty had returned to the palace a short while ago, the mustang mare electing to bathe and rest in her own chambers for the evening, after such a stressful day. She simply wished to take some time to rest and recover by herself. Luna understood that need all too well. It won’t be long now, perhaps only a few more hours before she’s due to lower the moon, and Celestia to raise the sun. She tiredly yawns, then places her own fire tube in the sand bowl on the balcony table, turning to join the pony pile in her bed. She climbs up on her side after crossing the room, her bare hooves barely making a sound on the plush peacock carpet, the midnight alicorn bounding up on the comfortable mattress. After getting situated beside her husband closely and planting a soft kiss on his lips, she finally falls asleep, looking forward to what the dawn will bring. A new direction for her herds future, a father reunited with his children, and if Celestia’s cryptic words were any indication…possibly a new machine to make new memories with.