Chapter 8

                                                                        The Siege of New Ponyville

                                                                "Is it better to be respected or feared."

                                                                                                       Nightmare Moon

As Moondancer and her shades made their way over New Ponyville they split into a series of groups to begin settong up the teleport runes. Moondancer’s group descended into the city’s center where the counsel building resided. Out of the corner of her eye the fuchsia mare saw a green flash and dodged just in time as a blade whistled past her just missing her neck. Her assailant a green Pegasus mare continued on colliding into another shade and made quick work of his throat. The Pegasus faced the unicorns her yellow eyes alight with rage,” Looks like I get to add some horns to my collection.”

Moondancer let out a short screech and rushed the pegasus as her companions continued toward the counsel building. The world slowed down for the fuchsia unicorn as she allowed the dragonblood to overtake her. The green pegasus twirled to the side and began to chase the retreating shades but Moondancer caught her by her yellow tail and threw her in the opposite direction with surprising strength. Quickly righting herself the green mare flicked her wings bringing out her wing blades,” Fine I’ll kill you first you horned freak.”

“You’ll try,” Moondancer said with a smirk and summoned a ring of ethereal daggers around her. With a snarl the pegasus threw herself at the fuchsia unicorn.

On the battlefield things were going well as the Brood advanced quickly diminishing the earthborn army’s chance of winning this battle. Spike led the front of the battle bringing down any that came at him. The purple dragon let out a gout of green flame roasting a pair of ponies-at-arms that tried to rush him and activated his comcrystal,” Moondancer how are those runes coming?”

He dodged to the side as a juggernaut tried to buck him. Coating his claws in white flame Spike drove them into the earth pony’s side melting the armor and searing flesh causing the massive stallion to bellow in rage and pain. Spike cut him short as his white hot claw found stallions throat.

“My lord the spymaster has engaged an enemy pegasus above the city but the runes a under way.”

The reply came from Puzzle Box, Moondancer’s second-in-command.

Flash Sentry chimed in,” This pegasus she wasn’t green with a yellow mane was she?”

“Y-Yes sir how did you…?” Puzzle Box sounded surprised.

“Just a hunch her name’s Lighting Dust and if she’s here then her Finest aren’t far behind.” A pause.” Lord Pyrequill…”

Spike cut him off already knowing what he was about to say,” Take as many pegasi as you need Sentry.”

“Yes sir.”

“Snails send some Brood to the runes and have them prepare for teleportation.”

“Yes my lord,” Snails rumbled.

The purple dragon then launched himself into the sky and made his way toward the city. It was time to end this.

Puzzle Box and his five Shades touched down on the stairs leading up to the large red iron dome that served as the city’s counsel building. In front of the building’s large doors was a group of ponies-at-arms and a pair of buffalo. “We are Equestria,” they bellowed as they rushed the unicorns. Puzzle Box quickly gripped two of his daggers in his magic and sent hurtling them toward the stampeding group. Both daggers found the eye slits of a pair of earth ponies killing them instantly. The black unicorn then dodged to the side as a buffalo tried to gore his with her horns. Pivoting on his fore hooves Puzzle Box bucked the buffalo in the side of the neck. A pair of blades sprang out from his armored back hooves and servers arteries and muscle alike as the sliced the buffalo’s neck to ribbons.

‘Knew that modification would come in handy,’ the unicorn thought grimly as the blades retracted. Grabbing his third and final dagger the black unicorn sent it flying at the remaining buffalo. It buried itself hilt deep into the buffalo’s skull as he tried to crush a shade. Seeing that they had dispatched the last of the enemy troops Puzzle Box removed his helm and brushed a hoove through his sweat soaked white mane.

“Alright Whiteshadow, Crackerjack set up the runes.”

Both saluted and set to work. A smile graced the black unicorns muzzle as he gazed at the sun, burning bright in the blue cloudless sky. ‘This battle is ours.’

As Flash Sentry and his pegasi made their way into New Ponyville they began the engage Lightning’s Finest. Below him a group of Shades were working on the teleportation runes. The orange stallion blocked a wing blade and severed the owner’s wing with his short sword. Sheathing his blade the orange pegasus began flapping his wings furiously as two hostile pegasi rushed toward him. The air thickened between Flash and his two potential assailants slowing them to a crawl. Arcing downward Flash slammed a hoof into the stomach of the pegasus closest to him and in a quick flip cracked his back hoof across her skull knocking her unconscious. Before he could deal with the other finest she grabbed around the barrel by a wyvern. Her scream was cut short as it latched its jaws around her throat and crushed it. Grimacing Flash got out of the predators way as it made its way toward the ground. ‘Note to self don’t piss one of those thing off,’ He thought as he made his way toward the next teleportation rune.

Above New Ponyville Moondancer and Lightning Dust were still going at it. Moondancer had received several cuts from Lightning’s wing blades but doled out as good as she got. Dodging to the side the fuchsia mare slashed the pegasi’s side with an ethereal dagger. The green mare grimaced and pulled away before the blade could do any real damage.

“How the hell did a horned freak like you learn to fly like that?” Lightning snarled.

Moondancer found a smug smirk gracing her muzzle again,” Learned from the finest hunters. They also taught me who was predator and who was prey. Guess which you are?”

Lightning let out a war cry and rushed the unicorn throwing caution to the wind.

‘Just as planned’

Moondancer arced over the green mare sent her ethereal blades flying toward her. Lightning Dust twirled around just in time to see the blades bury themselves into her chest. She looked at the unicorn in shock. No one had ever bested her before. With a whimper she fell out of the sky.

Spike angled himself to the side his claws gutting another pegasus as he made his way toward the counsel building. He touched down as Puzzle Box made trotted up to him and bowed,” My lord all is ready, the building is secure and several of the runes have already been activated.”

“Good,” the dragon said with a nod as he made his way into the building. Inside a general and a few council members were seated around a stone table a map spread out between them. They looked up at the dragon in surprise.

One a dark red earth mare sat up,” You are not of House Moon and Stars are you?”

Spike chuckled,” Very astute. No I am not of House Moon and Stars. I am Lord Pyrequill and this city is now under the control of House Brightflame.” The purple dragon turned his gaze to the armored stallion at the table,” Tell your forces to stand down you’ve lost this battle.”

“Why you…” the silver stallion began before he was cut off by a yellow pegasus mare.

“General Apple Crisp order your forces to stand down.”

“But…”

“Our forces are out matched and their army are in the streets now end this before more Earthborn blood is shed!” She yelled slamming her fore hooves on the table. She turned to Spike and sneered,” The city is yours dragon.”

Next Chapter: The Risen Estimated time remaining: 45 Minutes