Gyro and Hazel soared through the clouds, followed by nearly two dozen Triumvirate soldiers. They wore the same midnight-blue armor, but being all pegasi, the armor covered their wings, making them usable as a blunt weapon. Gyro knew this could potentially hurt the guards’ wings, but it would give them a great advantage in Cloudsdale. It was a necessary risk he thought, especially since it was only temporary. Soon, this fight would be over, and the Triumvirate could rule peacefully. But he had a task at hand, he and the the rest of the Triumvirate knew that as long as there were members of the elite guard out there, they couldn't rest easily.

"So who are we sending after Hazel?" Gyro asked.

"Well, the pegasi in the guard have an agreed upon meeting place in Cloudsdale if anything were to happen," Hazel explained. "Our informant gave us the location, and now we're hoping to catch Briggs, who spent a year in the guard." Hazel slowed down as the group came closer to Cloudsdale. "He won't be easy to take out in his home town, an area he knows like the back of his own hoof, but our force should be enough to overwhelm him."

"How do we know he's alone? If there are more than one of them, there's a good chance-" Gyro was interrupted.

"There's no chance of that, we have accounted for seven of the nine ponies in the elite guard; one is a pegasus, one is an earth pony. We have the advantage of knowing that if that pegasus is here, we'll catch him alone."

"Then, I guess it's time we move in," Gyro signaled tot he other ponies, flying still in the air behind them. "Everypony to the main objective, move fast and hit him hard. We only get one shot at this so we can't afford any mess-ups, everypony move out!" Gates ordered as himself, Hazel, and dozens of pegasi rushed through the air, towards the center of Cloudsdale.

Briggs walked out the room that had been hidden away in Cloudsdale for years. He looked out at the dozens of pegasi flying towards him. They had kept the hideout under the radar in the center of Cloudsdale for years - and now they found him! He knew they would come though, there was no way the wouldn't. He had just hoped somepony else would be here too, but there wasn't. He had known it before he had gotten there too, but he didn't want to believe that he was the only one who had escaped.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Twenty hours earlier...

Briggs flew behind Dauphin, galloping through the streets and into the gardens.

"How exactly are we supposed to find Celestia if she was supposed to be in the Everfree forest?" Cyclone asked, the blue pegasus flew at Briggs' flank.

"I don't understand why she would leave unannounced and take none of the guard - it doesn't add up," Typhoon agreed. Typhoon and Cyclone were brother and sister, and two of the best fliers in Equestria.

"I've heard rumors about a mysterious energy reading in Everfree," Inferno added, the unicorn was a brilliant orange. He had a great power with offensive magic, especially fire. Briggs had always found it a bit ironic that he had such a laid-back personality. But he supposed that was a good thing - it can't be good for someone that powerful to be so volatile.

"It doesn't matter where she went, our why she went there," Dauphin jumped in," We have to find her no matter what." He galloped with the four ponies behind him for nearly a mile until he came to a plaza. A few shops lined the outside, there were a few trees, but nothing of interest.

"Hey D'?" Inferno asked Dauphin as he walked up to the white unicorn," why are we here? There isn’t anypoyny here... And frankly, I don’t see any reason why the princess would be here of all places."

Dauphin looked at the ground and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"What are you-" Cyclone began to ask, but she was cut off. Dozens of Triumvirate soldiers came rushing at them, firing bolts of energy with the staffs that only the elite guard should have the access to. Inferno fought back with blasts of fire, while Briggs and Typhoon flew up to air, hovering above the fight. They fired bolts at Dauphin, who had forced Inferno into one of the nexuses. Turning on the spot, the traitor assaulted the pair with bolts of magical energy. Several hit Typhoon as he spiraled into the ground, dropping into one of the magical portals. Cyclone dove after her brother, getting herself caught in the portal as well. Briggs flew towards the ground and fired an energy bolt at Dauphin, knocking him off balance. Briggs took the opportunity to fly away - there was no way he could beat Dauphin and all the guards by himself.

He took to the air, and was followed by about a dozen pegasi. Briggs weaved through buildings, losing a few, but was still followed closely. He flew straight up towards a large cloud. Energy bolts rushed by him, some hitting. Several even hit his brace, making him drop his staff. He couldn't go back for it, he had to get away. Briggs rushed through the cloud, and looped once above it , going slow enough to ensure that his pursuers saw him dive back into the cloud.

Briggs kept in the cloud as the guards passed through. He flew to the edge of the cloud and went as fast he could towards Cloudsdale. The pegasus knew he was safe for now, by the time they figured out what had happened, he would be long gone.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Briggs wasted no time in engaging the oncoming pegasi, he couldn't just run this time, he'd have to hit them hard if he wanted to get away. Briggs wouldn't be able to win this if he couldn't keep his distance, which would be difficult without his staff.

He had an idea, but he would have to bunch the guards up. Briggs weaved through the guards, trying to work them all close enough to a medium sized cloud just outside of the floating city. He weaved through them, drawing them all closer to the cloud. He stopped next to the cloud as Hazel and most of the other guards charged in.

Briggs bucked the cloud, causing lightning to shoot out of it. The bolts attracted to the metal armor on the ponies, shocking Hazel and the others badly. They spiraled to the clouds below, many unconscious.

The few guards that had stayed with Gyro began to fly towards the now fleeing Briggs. "Let him go," Gyro ordered.

"But, he'll get away," one of the guards objected. "What if he regroups with the others?"

"We have wounded here soldier, and I won't risk my ponies for somepony that we will inevitably catch," Gyro raised his voice and paused before saying under his breath, "one way or another."

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

The seven ponies came to a hill outside Ponyville, looking down at the town. Things seemed to have calmed down since they left. Twilight couldn't decide if this was good or bad. If they had found what the elements, there was no reason why they should stick around. Regardless, the fact that the town wasn't thrown into utter chaos was definitely good.

"Alright everypony," Gates began," here's the plan: Applejack, you'll go to Sweet Apple Acres, and then meet up with Rarity and Pinkie Pie at the Carousal Boutique before heading to Sugarcube Corner to get Pinkie's element." The three ponies nodded as Gates turned to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. "You two are going to Fluttershy's cottage and then your home outside town - it shouldn't take you too long since you can fly - so be sure to get to the library fast to help Twilight. And Twilight, I'll escort you into the town so that you're close enough to teleport into the library. You can hide there until the rest of us show up," Gates finished," I'll keep them distracted for as long as I can, but all of you need to get to the library as fast as you can."

"You can count on us Gates," Rainbow Dash said confidently as she flew away with Fluttershy.

The rest of the ponies galloped away as Gates whispered, "And be careful..."

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Sterling moved through the center of town, receiving reports from half a dozen guards.

"I don’t care about what you didn't find," she said sharply. "When one of you actually finds something, let me know, otherwise get back to work!" she snapped as she came to the center of town. She looked at the damaged buildings - it was really a shame they had to use such force to take over, but it was in Equestria's best interest for the Triumvirate to take over. No matter the cost. After the first few weeks the citizens would begin to understand, and things would be better in Equestria than they ever had been - or so she thought.

"Ma'am!" Sterling turned to see on of her officers running up, short of breath. "You need to come right away, we've found something in the library."

Next Chapter: Chapter Ten - The Elements of Harmony Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 37 Minutes