Be warned, this will be dark and terrible, and it factors into my plans for what lies ahead of the story.

Also, you might recognize this is based off something

The day began with such promise, as Canterlot, the Royal Capital of Equestria, shined like a pristine jewel on the Canterhorn mountainside. Visible to see in virtually all directions for miles around, it stood proud and majestic, a glorious city that housed the seat of Equestrian power, a veritable melange of culture, opportunity, potential, education, and possibility. Granted, the noble ponies and highfalutin' unicorns strutted their stuff as though each and every single one of them was the most important pony in all the city, yet there was much to enjoy and admire within this majestic metropolis.

And then... Canterhorn erupted.

It happened without warning, an explosion from the mountain peak louder than the roars of a hundred dragons! Burning globs of molten rock rained down upon every side of the mountain.

Including Canterlot.

Screams and mass panic quickly spread as the citizens ran for cover while a few dared to risk the peril of reaching the nearest airships or the train station to quickly escape the destruction that was sure to follow. The pegasi among the Royal Guard took flight to protect the people, to guide them to safety. But there was no safety to be found, as lava fell in endless gushes vomited from the bowels of the earth.

The Guard was simply not prepared to handle this.

There had never been an indication that Canterhorn was a volcano, no signs or evidence of any kind that it ever was a natural chimney to release the pressure from the planet's core. It just didn't seem possible, and yet the destruction and the chaos was happening all around, as lava oozed through the streets, burning and melting and searing anything unfortunate enough to stand in its path. From above, more globs of lava fell like meteors, trailing volcanic gas and smoky ash that were toxic to breathe!

Lives were already being lost, if not by the lava or the gas, then by the fires and the panic that was going on despite the Royal Guards' best efforts to guide and protect the citizens. Buildings and structures and monuments that weren't melting were instead ablaze in roaring flames or engulfed in volcanic smoke or ash. Structures were toppling, and foundations were faltering as the city was growing increasingly unstable.

In Canterlot Castle, the Royal Sisters and Prince Sombra were scrambling to figure out a solution. Celestia and Sombra had woefully sent their beloved foal, the Little Prince Sol, away with his nanny and a dozen bodyguards, whom they trusted enough to keep safe their most precious treasure. Luna poured over the city map and the map of Mount Canterhorn and the surrounding lands, trying to determine what they could do to save Canterlot... when all of a sudden, throughout the city, a strange crackling sound unnerved all who heard it and the fire falling out of the sky stopped.

All too suddenly, it became eerily quiet.

They all rushed outside and were stunned to see the rivers of lava had suddenly cooled and hardened. It was still miserably hot, the air reeked of brimstone, and the damage to the city was still evident, and lives had still been lost. Yet while some took a sigh at the moment of reprieve, the alicorns feared this was a calm before the-

A distant crumbling sound, the crack of rock splitting, and then a shaking rumble caught their ears and they gazed up towards the mountain top, where the lava had been flowing earlier... and then something rose up and out of the peak, displacing tons of rocks and debris, causing landslides to come down, further damaging the city but thankfully the survivors had cleared out of the way and evacuated via the airships and trains.

Now, standing on the peak of Mt. Canterhorn, looming ominously over all, was a frightening and grim fortress of dark volcanic rock, with towers topped with MASSIVE red gemstones that glowed menacingly like heated metal in a forge, interconnected with heavy chains of wrought-iron that glowed with intense heat, the primary tower belching out smog like the smokestack of an industrial factory. Already, the sky above Canterlot and Mt. Canterhorn was becoming polluted as the clouds darkened with ash and soot.

The danger was not past, for it'd been but a prelude to this unknown foe. Without hesitation, the three alicorns took flight while their forces spread out to assess damage control and help those in need. Already a news crew was getting to work, reporting the devastation that had assailed Canterlot while Celestia, Luna and Sombra flew towards the fortress of whatever new enemy they now faced.

Rising up until they were level with the vast burning red jewel atop the fortress's main tower, Celestia called out in the Royal Canterlot Voice:

"We are the Rulers of this nation, on which you have made an unprovoked assault and taken innocent lives! Whether this was your intention or not is irrelevant, thus you shall receive this singular warning - Stand down and send your leadership out to discuss the terms of surrender, which are UNCONDITIONAL!! You have three minutes to comply, otherwise I swear by the Holy Goddess we shall CRUSH YOU WITHOUT MERCY AND WITHOUT QUARTER!!!"

The Sun Princess was answered with silence, and it seemed in that one moment that all of Equestria held her breath as they awaited the encroachers' response... which came in the form of that massive burning red crystal suddenly intensifying with a harsh and searing light before a beam of unimaginable heat ignited!

Celestia, Luna and Sombra raised their Mana Shields to protect themselves, but hardly a moment later the heat-beam burned right through them and their screams were cut off as they were suddenly burned away into ashes!

The citizens of Equestria, those present in Canterlot who had just personally witnessed the unthinkable, as well as those watching the news at home, looked on in utter horrified disbelief as their Triarchs were gone. It had happened so quickly, so easily!

Panic. Terror. Screams!

The Canterlot citizens, those who had survived the first wave of this out-of-nowhere attack, scrambled to the airstrips, the train station, even the mountainside roads that hardly anypony used anymore, in a mad and desperate dash to escape!

The EUP wasted no time as the militia took charge and sent their best pegasi warriors to meet this enemy head-on and buy their fellow soldiers time to evacuate the citizens!

The vast red gem on the fortress intensified again for a moment before it unleashed beams of heat that shot across the skies in multiple directions, seemingly shooting at nothing as they disappeared beyond the horizons. But then... the smaller towers of the fortress opened up as something zoomed out like a plague of locusts. They were like a vast swarm that quickly dispersed as many flew off in the same directions the giant gem's beams had shot earlier while the rest zoomed down towards Canterlot, where the citizens and EUP were still trying to evacuate.

To everyone's horror, the "swarm" was made up of what appeared to be crystal golems!

They were small, about the average size of a foal, but their bodies were shaped like rhombus diamonds with arm-like appendages, floating off the upper half of the bodies, ending in three sharp claws, and the top points of the bodies had blistering fireballs as "heads" and the golems' crystal bodies radiated a burning red!

As they descended, the golems soon came to a halt above the Canterlot rooftops, raised their arms... and then started shooting everypony with the same kind of heat-beams from their claws that had just killed the Royal Sisters and Sombra mere minutes ago! Left and right, in the air and on the ground, ponies were being blasted into oblivion, leaving nothing behind but faint and simmering ashes on the ground and in the wind.

The screams grew louder and the horror even colder as everypony realized this enemy was not here to conquer them, but to destroy them!

"General Bloodthorn, what's the situation?" asked Midnight as he and the rest of the Council of Friendship, along with Starlight and Sunburst, gazed up at a projected screen displaying a lunar pony named Bloodthorn, a general in the EUP.

"The situation is growing more dire by the minute, Your Majesty," answered Bloodthorn with a grim demeanor. "Whoever, or whatever, this enemy is, they are not interested in talking. Those strange crystal golems are blasting anypony, any creature at all, and leaving nothing but ashes in their wake... I estimate Canterlot will be lost before the day is over, and we're working as fast as we can to evacuate as many as we can.

"My pegasi are doing their best to distract the enemy, my unicorns their best to shield the citizens, but it's a losing battle! I'm sorry, Prince Midnight, but Canterlot is lost..."

The Council of Friendship hung their heads solemnly at Bloodthorn's words when the doors opened and they looked to see their families arriving, the Cutie-Mark Crusaders up front as Twinken rushed up to his brother and sister, saying, "Midnight! Twilight, is-is it true...?"

Midnight and Twilight shared a despondent look as they all looked upon their little ponies and Twilight answered with deepest mourning, "It is... Sombra, Luna.... Celestia! They're all gone..."

"We have to get out there!" Rainbow Dash flapped up over the Map, "We need to help the EUP, save as many as we can! Soarin, Thunder, we should fly off to Cloudsdale and rally the Wonderbolts!"
"We gotta protect Ponyville, y'all!" Applejack spoke up, "We need t' protect our friends n' neighbors from wha's comin'!"
"New Heights Avionics will lend all our airships to offer aerial support," added Blueblood. "We must use everything at our disposal to face this enemy!"

"SILENCE!!!"

All chatter ceased and all eyes turned to Midnight as he furrowed his brows, "We must keep our heads and form a strategy! We are facing an enemy unlike anything we've ever seen before. If we rush out there half-cocked we're just gonna get blown away like everypony else. Council of Friendship, Knight's of Harmony! ....It's all hooves on deck."

The tone in Midnight's voice fell upon them all with a bitter chill as the Knights all nodded and summoned their swords. Midnight looked to his wife, Twilight, and said, "Twily, gather all of Ponyville here to the castle and prepare Project Away."

"Project Away?!" Twilight echoed in disbelief. "But- But Midnight-"

Her husband touched noses with her and he softly said, "Just in case..."

She nodded fearfully and then said, "Girls! Spread out through Ponyville. Alert everypony that they need to come and take refuge here in the castle!"

Starlight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy all nodded before they shared a brief moment with their own stallions and rushed out of the Map Room, passing by their families and friends as they hurried off.

"Knights of Harmony!" Midnight called his brothers to attention, "We must help the EUP to protect the citizens and face this enemy. Make no mistake, there is no promise of victory or survival. We are in for the fight of our lives! I would not ask of any of you what I am not willing to do myself, but if this is too much, then I understand."

Without hesitation, Macintosh, Thunderlane, Blueblood, Soarin, Cheese Sandwich and Sunburst stepped forward, their expressions solemn yet determined and Midnight nodded before he ordered, "Rally the Harmony Guard Dusk Division! The Dawn Division and Captain Firestorm will remain in Ponyville to help protect the people.

"Blueblood, prep The Break of Dawn! Be sure all weapons and defenses installed are primed and ready! Bloodthorn!" Midnight turned to face the screen again, where Bloodthorn was still displayed as he saluted and awaited orders.
"Save as many as you can and then have all our forces fall back to a more defensible position. We will come as quickly as we can to reinforce you."

"Yes, Prince Midnight," Bloodthorn nodded before he cut the connection and his image on-screen vanished.

"Midnight...?" The sapphire alicorn looked to see his brother and his friends all approaching him with fearful looks as the electric indigo colt asked, "You're gonna save everypony, right?"

Midnight wanted so very much to give his little brother, the Crusaders, and all else present a cocky smirk and say something like 'Oh sure, no prob! Those bad guys are about to have their butts kicked!' but he couldn't. This enemy had so suddenly and so effortlessly killed three powerful alicorns and was killing ponies and other creatures even as they stood there in that moment, so Midngiht took a deep breath, knelt down and placed a hoof onto Twinken's withers.

"Little brother... we will give our very lives to protect Equestria and all her little ponies. But should we fail..." It killed Midngiht to say this, but he knew he had to emphasize the gravity of the situation as he said, "then the responsibility will fall to you, Cutie-Mark Crusaders."

Twinken felt like his heart jumped into his throat, when he heard hoofsteps and saw his friends standing at his side. They were scared too, but as they stood together, an inner strength took root in their hearts and they nodded to each other before Rumble said, "We'll do our best."

"This is Iris Flag of SHM News reporting live from Horseshoe Bay!" said a pegasus mare reporter to her camerapony as they shot a live feed of Horseshoe Bay being attacked. "The mysterious enemy has spread its attack to-"

"Behind you!" the camerapony shouted as they saw the fearsome crystal golems zooming through the air, shooting heat-beams at the panicking masses as ponies and other sapient creatures were turned to ashes in the blink of an eye!

Then, from out of nowhere, two Wonderbolts swooped down, saving Iris and her camerapony from being blasted and dropping them off on a distant rooftop.

"You guys should be safe here for the moment, but don't stick around!" Spitfire commanded before she and Fleetfoot took wing.

"Uh, as you can see, the Wonderbolts are spread thin as they desperately work to protect the citizens and...!" Iris and the camerapony watched in despair as Captain Spitfire and several Wonderbolts suffered the same fate as so many else and their ashes scattered to the burning streets below. They were so despondent, they hardly noticed one of the golems float up in front of them, glinting forebodingly before there was a flash of red light!

"Iris! IRIS, LOOK OUT!!" shouted Novel Scene as she watched helplessly as the screen behind her turned to static, with the words 'NO SIGNAL' overlapping it, and the mare, still safe in the studio, sighed in mourning as she cleared her throat, "My-my apologies, we... appear to be having some... technical difficulties from our Horsehoe Bay feed. We... take you now to a devastated Manehatten."

The screen changed to display Manehatten while Novel Scene narrated the grim scenario going on.
"Thankfully, it appears the Manehatten Division of the EUP seems to be having a bit more luck as they stand their ground and do their best to protect the citizens."

Several skyscrapers had either been toppled or were on fire as the crystal golems zoomed over the streets below, shooting at anypony unfortunate enough to be caught in their line of fire. Many guardsponies and the local policeponies did their best to protect and evacuate the citizens.

Soarin and Thunderlane led the Silverbolts through the air, attacking the golems, doing their best to outmaneuver them and avoid their heat-beams, and they even succeeded in destroying several. But the golems were just too fast and too many. It wasn't long before the tide turned in the enemy's favor as Novel sadly confirmed, "Fillies and gentlecolts, we've... just lost Soarin, Thunderlane and the Silverbolts...Other heroes and defensive forces reported dead or missing include:

"Shining Armor, Cadance, Praetura, Techorse, Rainbow Dash, Blueblood, Cheese Sandwich, Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer. As for Princess Cora and Prince Sol... their statuses are unknown."

"MIDNIGHT! BEHIND YOU!!!" Midnight Blaze missed being turned to ashes by the skin of his teeth as he flew over Canterlot, having gone there with his Dusk Division and what fellow knights had volunteered to go with him to aid the resistance in the royal capital.

The Break of Dawn had carried them towards Mt. Canterhorn and was about to rise towards Canterlot, but the enemy had ambushed them at the city limits. Midnight and Sunburst, along with a few of the Dusk Division had jumped off the airship, Midnight ordering Lieutenant Avalanche to flee so they could give her and what few refugees they'd managed to get out safely, and now they were fighting for their lives.

The crystal goldems zoomed around them, fast and their surfaces flashing to momentarily blind them at the worse possible moments, and randomly shooting heat-beams. Midnight and Sunburst's Shield spells were useless against the attacks and all too quickly it was down to the alicorn and his apprentice while Midnight's guards were all burned to ashes before their very eyes.

As they tried to protect themselves and figure out a way to escape, Midnight spotted a golem right above them and gasped as it shot a heat-beam at Sunburst.

"Sunburst, look out!!" Sunburst found himself getting pushed away and barely had time to glimpse Midnight vanishing in a a blinding flash of heat for he had no time to mourn as he desperately tried to defend himself, throwing up Mana Shields, dodging heat-beams when none of them held, and he activated a communication device pinned to his cloak.

"Sunburst to the Castle!" Sunburst panted as he dodged a heat-beam and shot a Magic Arrow back, but it was in vain. "I- I think I'm the last knight left! But- Ergh! I don't think I'm gonna... AUGH!!!!"

"No..." Spike clenched his fist as he slammed the Map table in frustration, as he and the Crusaders had witnessed it all on the news broadcasts displayed on the screens Spike had brought into the Map Room so they could follow what was going on out there.

Canterlot, Manehatten, Baltimare, Fillydelphia, every major city in Equestria was under attack by the crystal golems. It became clear that the giant red gem atop the enemy fortress had launched those heat-beams before as preemptive strikes on the major cities, which had also directed the golems on where to concentrate their attacks.

The Knights of Harmony. The Council of Friendship. The Harmony Guard's Dusk Division. The Silverbolts, the Wonderbolts, and most of the EUP.

They had failed.

Twinken spoke with a heavy heart what his friends were thinking, "It's up to us now."

"So then, what're we waiting for, a theme song!?" Scootaloo urged. "We gotta get out there and do something!"

"First, we must make a strategy," said Twinken firmly, "The best Equestria had to offer couldn't stop these things. They're small but fast, and can strike from almost anywhere and you'd never see them coming. Not only that, they burn right through magical defenses."

"Then we gotta figure out the enemy's weakness and use that to beat them," added Rumble. "Otherwise, we're dead ducks."

"Spike, do you mind?" Button asked the young drake, who sorrowfully stepped away from the map and Button, remembering how it worked, brought up the holographic display that showed all of Equestria, with various "hotspots" marked red.
"The red is where the enemy is right now. They're mostly attacking the big cities, but they're already starting to move onto the smaller towns and villages."

"Did tha' one get lost?" Apple Bloom pointed to a tiny red dot moving towards the Frozen North.

"No! It's heading for the Crystal Empire!" Sweetie Belle pointed out. "But... why aren't the rest of them going up there?"

"Maybe... it's the cold environment," Twinken suggested. "These things came out of a volcano, right? Maybe they avoid the cold but have somehow detected the Crystal Empire, so they sent a scout to look into it."

"We'll go after that golem and capture it," Rumble declared, "If we can figure out what makes it tick, maybe we can find a weakness we can use against the rest of them."

"You'll need to get there fast," Spike had gotten a hold of himself. "Take the Slipstream over at Blueblood's warehouse. It's not equipped with any weapons but it's small and fast and should get you there in time."

"Let's move!" Scootaloo exclaimed and the Crusaders rushed off.

By the time the Crusaders had arrived in the Frozen North, they soon came upon the single enemy unit, a lone crystal golem, floating aimlessly about, looking positively lost and perhaps even confused. That didn't mean they weren't afraid of it. They'd seen just one of these things turn dozens of panicking ponies into ashes in a flash of light!

It was small but it was dangerous.

Besides, they'd come prepared. They wore enchanted cloaks designed to protect them from extreme temperatures, and hopefully help them survive the heat-beams though they doubted it. Button had grabbed a shield just his size, Scootaloo a pair of fleet-boots to allow her to run at incredible speeds, Sweetie Belle a slingshot with special magic marbles that would pop upon being launched into all kinds of surprise ammo, Apple Bloom had gotten one of Applejack's spare lasso ropes, and Twinken had grabbed an Evening Hood cloak Midnight had shown him, for it was enchanted to make its wearer invisible and intangible if necessary and he'd given Rumble a special pair of bands that would increase his strength.

Before they'd left, Midnight's pet wolf, Dreamer, had followed and they let him come along, and all of them honestly felt safer to have the big friendly wolf along for the mission.

They'd made their plan: An Ambush.

They couldn't afford to let this golem thing get away and call for help.

Just in case it might hear them, Twinken had suggested they use his telepathy to mentally communicate without risk of being heard talking.

As everypony moved into position in the snowy landscape, they were careful to keep their distance in case their hoofsteps in the snow were heard and Twinken, invisible and standing on a high hill overlooking the situation, subtly used his magic to erase his friends' tracks in the snow.

I'm ready! Button Mash

All set.

Me too.

Me three!

It's showtime, ponies!

Alright, remember the plan... Sweetie Belle! Twinken thought, his telepathy doing its work to link their minds to communicate and Sweetie Belle stood up from her hiding place and took aim with her slingshot... and launched a pebble that zoomed past the golem and vanished into a nearby snowbank, creating a soft but discernible "piff" sound, which alerted the gem!

It spun `round, glaring at the hole in the snow, made by the pebble, unaware of Twinken preparing a spell and then shooting it straight at the golem!

A loud sound, like a reverberating knell, filled the air while the golem shook and seemed to struggle to stay aloft and its arms seemed to drift away from its body.

My spell should have fluxed whatever is remotely controlling it, thought Twinken, Move in!

Sweetie Belle took aim with a blue marble and when it struck the golem, it suddenly became coated with magical ice! Unfortunately, it was not enough as the golem built up some heat and launched a heat-beam in Sweetie Belle's general direction, forcing her to take cover.

Ah'm goin' in! Apple Bloom burst out of her hiding place under some snow and, with a skilled touch that would have made her sister proud, she lashed her lasso out, ensnaring the golem and yanking it downwards.

Although the golem hit the ground, it wobbly floated up and its glow indicated it was about to shoot Bloom, only for Dreamer to run out of nowhere, headbutting the golem and Button Mash rushed in, slamming his shield down upon the golem to pin it. Thankfully, the shield's magic forged into it caused a disruption of the golem's ability to muster its heat-beam while it was in contact with the shield.

Rumble flew down, nodding to Button, who raised the shield off the golem, only for Rumble to grab it and quickly pin it against the shield again, preventing it from using its heat-beam. It struggled surprisingly hard that both colts cried out in alarm, which spurred the others to hurry forward as Twinken did a scanning spell on the gem.

I found a spot that should disable it but not destroy it, here! He pointed to just below the golem's "head".

"RRRRAAUGH!!" Scotaloo rushed in, running faster than she ever had before, thanks to the fleet-boots, and struck the spot Twinken had pointed out, causing a web of cracks to spread from the point of impact yet the golem remained whole while its light seemed to dim and one of its arms dropped, no longer connected to the body.

"Great work, everypony, so far so good," smiled Twinken and his friends smiled back, none of them noticing the sparks of red energy coming from the claws on the golem's remaining arm.

But Dreamer did, as he saw the sparks were much too close to Button Mash.

It happened so suddenly, as the golem's energy seemed to flux and the sparks shot out from its claw with more intensity, straight towards Button Mash... only for Button to be pushed away as Dreamer protected him and the sparks fell upon the wolf's pelt and he cried out in agony as he was engulfed in a magical fire that quickly snuffed out!

And Dreamer was gone.

The Crusaders stared in shock as Twinken sorrowfully thought, Dreamer...

It- It must have had some kind of surge when we disabled it... Sweetie Belle sadly thought.

"There's nothing we can do for him now," Rumble spoke aloud, "With the golem disabled, talking should be okay. Now, let's get this thing boarded onto the Slipstream and-"

"LOOK OUT!!" Button shouted as he pointed to the sky and they all barely had enough time to duck for cover as two more crystal golems shot heat-beams at them and zoomed overhead.

"Get that golem onto the Slipstream, I'll buy you some time!" Rumble shouted as he took flight.
"Me as well!" Apple Bloom rushed out into the open before anypony could stop her.

"Rgh! I'll get the airship, Sweetie Belle, Button, the golem!" Twinken teleported to the Slipstream and used his magic to remotely control it to float towards his friends.

As they carried their prize to reach Twinken and the ship, Scootaloo kept close in case they needed backup. But they all couldn't help but worry as Rumble flew like he'd never flown before and Apple Bloom creatively lassoed a rock and swung it around like a flail to strike one of the golems when it zoomed too close, causing it to crash onto a nearby hill.

Rumble managed to fool the other and strike it dead-center, causing it to fall and crash as well when he noticed the others had done their job and shouted, "Apple Bloom, they got it! Retreat!"

Apple Bloom hurried to catch up with her friends and reach the Slipstream, unaware that the golem she'd struck was still glowing... before it managed to raise its claw and ignite its burning energy, focused towards the filly.

As he made sure their prize was secured, Twinken felt a terrible chill on his withers and he looked to see his sister in mortal danger. She wasn't going to make it. She never saw it coming, as the other golem mustered its burning energy and shot a heat-beam as Apple Bloom had looked back and gasped in horror right before she was turned to ashes.

"APPLE BLOOOOOOMMMM!!!!" screamed Twinken in horror as his sister was taken from him and he'd been helpless to do anything about it.

"APPLE BLOOM!!!" cried Scootaloo as she and the rest of the Crusaders looked on in heartbroken disbelief.

"Get on the ship!" Rumble snatched Sweetie Belle's slingshot and ammo, flew upwards and shot a yellow marble at the golem that had just taken their friend from them... and it was engulfed in a burst of lightning that caused it to shatter in an explosion of incinerating energy.

As the Slipstream flew back to Ponyville, the Crusaders were handling the loss of Apple Bloom with tears, anger and disbelief. Rumble piloted the airship with a pained look on his face while Sweetie Belle cried with Button doing his best to console her, Twinken was inconsolable, and Scootaloo was raging, "Why didn't she stay back?! It should have been me, I could have-"

"This is not the time for tears!" yelled Rumble even though they could hear the pain in his voice too. "We have a job to do: Protect Equestria, and make sure Apple Bloom's sacrifice wasn't for nothing."

"Th-then... we need to get back to Ponyville, to the Castle," Twinken wiped his tears away and forced himself to get back into it, "There should be a means for us to make a broadcast to get a message out to everypony. Equestria needs to know that there is still hope."

Alas, the enemy had finally turned its searing gaze upon Ponyville when the Crusaders arrived. What remained of the Harmony Guard surrounded the Castle of Friendship, where the survivors had all taken refuge, as Firestorm led the defenders against the dozens of crystal golems floating around, shooting heat-beams seemingly at random, slowly but surely burning through what defenses were left.

"Keep firing!" Firestorm shouted as he launched a super-condensed sphere of Dragonfyre at the golems, "The townsfolk inside the Castle are depending on us! We will not let them down!"

What remained of the Harmony Guard was their unicorns launching Magic Arrow spells while the pegasi and earth ponies kept building a barricade around the castle doors. But it was a losing battle. The guards were being picked off one after the other, the barricade was failing, and it wouldn't be long before their defense was broken through, and there would be nothing standing between the townfolk and obliteration.

As Firestorm launched more dragonfyre spells, his lieutenant, Nightling stood beside him and he said to her, "If this is where we meet our end, Lieutenant, if... if this is the day we will meet the Goddess..."

Nightling stood shoulder to shoulder with the pony who had been her commanding officer, her mentor, the father she never had, she smiled at him and said, "It's been an honor serving under you, Captain Firestorm."

The moment passed when a barrel fell from the sky towards the crystal golems, a magical fuse sparkling before it vanished into a hole in said barrel-

A burst of technicolor magical fireworks spread out in all directions, which seemed to dazzle and confuse the golems as they appeared uncertain of where to concentrate their attacks and even seemed to shake and struggle to stay aloft in the air. Some of their arms dropped, their fireballs for heads snuffed out, some of them crashed into each other.

Firestorm and Nightling had no idea what as going on, but they saw an opportunity before Firestorm shouted, "The enemy's disoriented! Attack before they can recover!!"

The remaining Harmony Guards didn't waste a moment as the unicorns launched their Magic Arrows with great fervor, the pegasi zoomed in and struck the golems head-on and the earth ponies threw or bucked anything they could to knock the enemy down. Before long, the golems were broken or shattered or otherwise disabled as they all fell.

"Sir! Wha... what just happened?" asked Nightling once the fighting had stopped.

Firestorm looked up and answered, "I think they happened."

All eyes followed his gaze and they looked to see the Slipstream descend and aboard it stood the Cutie-Mark Crusaders. Once they touched ground, they hurried up to Firestorm, Button saying, "Captain, I'm glad we arrived in time."

"In the nick of time, I should say, son!" Firestorm smirked, "I don't know what you Crusaders did but you gave us the opening we needed to kick some tail!"

"We managed to capture one of the crystal golems and look it over," Twinken explained, "We found out the golems track us by our magic and body-heat. So the magical fireworks messes with them and sends them into a fritz that prevents them from seeing us or keeping control of themselves."

"Hmm, sounds like these golem things are being remotely controlled," Firestorm considered, "But it'd have to be something pretty powerful to broadcast a magical signal like that to control so many of these things and across the nation."

"We'll show you the magic fireworks we used to mess with the golems so you can be better prepared for the next attack," Rumble said, "In the meantime we need to get the message out to everypony that there's a way to fight these things. There's still hope to save Equestria."

While the Harmony Guard was preparing the magical fireworks, the Crusaders checked out Ponyville Square to see the damage done to their hometown. It was heartbreaking to see buildings burned, roofs collapsed, the singe marks of those who hadn't been able to get away. Even the pony statue of the fountain had been knocked over and her head broken off.

Now that they had a moment to pause, the full weight of everything that had happened, everyone they'd lost, it fell upon them as the surviving Crusaders wept. Button and Sweetie Belle comforted each other while Scootaloo struggled to keep some semblance of her cool even as she shook with heartbroken rage. Rumble too was mourning, clenching his eyes as he thought of Thunderlane, the only family he had left, was gone.

As for Twinken, he sat on the edge of the broken fountain, crying into his hooves, blaming himself for the loss of their fellow Crusader, wishing his brother and sister-in-law were still here. Midnight and Twilight had always been the ones to lead the others in saving the day. Twinken had admired them for that, but until now he'd never understood the burden that came with being a hero.

They were gone. Along with his-

!?!

Twinken jumped to his hooves, his sudden motion alerting his friends, and they watched as he levitated the pony statue of the fountain aside, revealing somepony under the debris. Taking a closer look, they saw...

"Princess Luna!!" Twinken smiled in relief to see his teacher, lying there, dazed and holding her head as Luna sat herself up, her eyes a tad twitchy as she came out of it.

"Is it really her?!" Scootaloo hurried over.
"Wasn't she wiped out at the start?" asked Button Mash. "Her and Celestia and Sombra!"

"Princess Luna, is... is it really you?" asked Twinken as she approached her.

"Y- Yes, I... I remember that attack," Luna struggled to sit up onto her haunches as she held her head with one hoof. "But... I have no idea how I survived, or how wound up here."

"Maybe you teleported right in the nick of time but the heat-beam messed with you somehow," suggested Twinken.
"And maybe you don't remember because you might have got sent for a loop or something," added Button Mash.

"My mind, it... it does feel strange," Luna concurred, "It's difficult to.... to remember anything, but I can't help but feel that... I think there's something I need to tell all of you."

"Wait... maybe that's it!" Sweetie Belle smiled as something crossed her mind, "Twinken, the golem we caught, remember the energy inside it?"

"Yeah, it... it gave off spatial vibrations," nodded Twinken.

"Exactly! The kind that can be detected when somepony teleports!" Sweetie Belle pointed out excitedly, "The golems aren't burning ponies to ashes, they're teleporting them!"

"But if the enemy is teleporting everypony... where are they?" Button had just asked the million-bit question.

"THEY'RE BACK!!" The shout of warning was far away but they all could hear it as they looked up and saw at least a hundred of crystal golems in the sky over Ponyville and they were already descending.

"Back to the Castle!" Rumble shouted and they hurried to the Castle of Friendship as volleys of lasers came down, blasting what remained standing of Ponyville.

The Harmony Guard was already being overwhelmed as the Crusaders and Luna rushed inside, meeting Firestorm, Nightling Spike, and what remained of the Harmony Guard inside the entry hall.

"Princess Luna, glad to see you're still alive," Firestorm saluted the Princess of the Night. "We've managed to relocate the townsfolk."

"How?" asked Button Mash.

"Project Away, an asset classified by Midnight and Twilight," explained Spike, "Basically it's a device that can create a portal to another location. We sent the townsfolk to a hidden location where an emergency bunker was constructed, but due to sending so many at once the portal device has been overloaded."

"So we're trapped?!" worried Sweetie Belle, especially when they heard a loud boom outside.

"We can still get away, but the device can now only send one pony at a time," Spike assured.

"Take us there!" Twinken ordered when an explosion down the way they came indicated the enemy was now inside. "RUN!!"

They followed Spike to a large room deep inside the castle where they saw a large crystalline hoop connected to some kind of terminal awaited them. Firestorm nodded to Spike, and he hurried to the terminal and said, "Remember, only one can pass through at a time. I'll set the portal to take you to-"

"The Castle of the Two Sisters," Luna suddenly interjected even though she continued to hold her head. "Its isolated location will make it a safe place to hide, at least for a while."

"You heard the princess! Do it!" Firestorm ordered Spike, who got to work setting the coordinates while Firestorm stood with his soldiers, "As for us, we'll hold them off as long as we can to buy you all time to escape."

"But- But Captain!" Button Mash protested, only for the dragon-pony to gently grasp Button's shoulder with his claws and looked upon the colt who so reminded him of Cheat Code.

"Go do your brother proud, son," Firestorm smiled with a cocky gleam in his eyes, causing Button to tear up but nod in understanding.

At that moment, the crystalline hoop began to glow with energy before a veil of mana filled its circumference like a ripple of liquid and Spike said, "Alright, one at a time, and wait at least three seconds before the next one! If anyone goes in too soon after prior the portal will destabilize and take too long to work again!"

As if to emphasize Spike's words, they heard more explosions coming from the hall outside the room.

"Whoever's going first had been go while the going's good!" Spike yelled, and Button Mash pushed Sweetie Belle forward.

They shared a quick look, both of them worried for each other, before Sweetie Belle hurried through the portal, which rippled until the "surface" seemed to smooth out and Spike said, "Next up!"

Button went next, and the commotion outside the room grew louder before Twinken went through as well. It was in that moment the door to the room exploded, knocking several guards away, some getting pinned by debris. Scootaloo was about to help when Rumble grabbed her and threw her into the portal before she could protest.

Stepping back, Rumble yelled, "Spike, you next!"

"No, I'm the only one who knows how to operate the portal," Spike shook his head. "If there's a chance, I have to stay so the others can make it through."

"I will help the-" Luna almost volunteered, only for Rumble to interrupt.

"No! The Crusaders need you more than they do! You're next, princess," Rumble ordered and pointed to the portal.

Luna hesitated but she knew the colt was right and started to go through as the crystal golems launched a barrage of beams, and the guardsponies vanished one after the other despite their efforts, including Nightling and Firestorm. Rumble saw one of the golems aim at Luna... and he jumped to intercept, vanishing in a flash of light.

Spike teared up to see his friend gone when he noticed the golems leer down at him with their burning "faces" and their claws sparking with heat, and the drake quickly turned off the portal and blew a gout of his own dragonfyre onto the terminal destroying it. He glared brazenly at the enemy and raised his fists, "They'll stop you... and they'll save Eqeustria!!!"

Spike bravely leapt forward to attack, only to be engulfed in the burning light.

In the Castle of the Two Sisters, the Crusaders and Luna had taken refuge and a moment to catch their breath. It seemed that things just continued to become more and more hopeless. They thought they'd succeeded in finding a weakness in their enemy, only to lose Apple Bloom. They thought they'd begun to turn the tide when they arrived to help the Harmony Guard, only for more enemy forces to overwhelm them and forced the Crusaders to retreat, during which Rumble had been lost as well.

Now, here they were, hiding like rats in an ancient ruin and all they had now was a theory that maybe the enemy wasn't killing everyone off after all but perhaps capturing them.

Finally, they picked themselves up, brushed off their doubts and began to plan their next move.

"So... if the enemy really is capturing everypony and taking them prisoner," Twinken said as his horn lit up and he projected an image of the enemy fortress atop Mount Canterhorn, "this is the only place they have that could possibly contain them all. Whattya think, Princess Luna? Does... does that sound familiar any?"

"No... Forgive me, my... I still can't remember," Luna replied, still sounding a little out of it, even weak.

"So... if we're gonna break in and save them, we're gonna need a distraction," Button Mash proposed before looking to Scootaloo. "Scoots, you're the fastest, you stand the best chance of pulling it off and getting away."

"But... the enemy will be all over her! Even at her fastest, Scootaloo-" Twinken protested, only for Scootaloo to give him a friendly punch in the shoulder.

"Aw, no worries, Twink!" Scootaloo acted all confident but inside she was very much afraid, yet she understood only she could do this. "Those cheap ornaments will never see me coming or going!"

"Worst case, Scootaloo will be teleported into their prison and we'll free her along with everypony else," assured a hopeful Sweetie Belle.

Twinken sighed, understanding this was their best shot. He just wasn't sure if he could take losing anymore of his friends....

Night had fallen. Thankfully, Luna had been able to muster enough clarity to lower the sun and raise the moon, with Twinken helping by adding his own lunar magic to hers and giving her a telepathic nudge maintain focus. With the cover of darkness, the four Crusaders and the Princess of the Night managed to make their way to foot of Canterhorn. They were dismayed to see the surrounding lands had been reduced to scorched earth. The railroad had been melted, indicating the trains were no longer an option for any survivors, however unlikely, to get away by rail.

High above, sitting upon the peak of Canterhorn, the enemy fortress loomed menacingly, the giant red gem on the main tower giving off a simmering shimmer like heat waves, as thousands of crystal golems zoomed around the airspace surrounding the mountain. The fact none of them fired their beams and seemed to be moving relatively slow and steady indicated there was nopony nearby for them to attack.

That was a troubling thought, as the four foals and princess stood before a cave that led to the system of crystals inside the mountain. Thankfully, Luna could recall the quickest route through those caves that led to an isolated ledge higher up on the mountainside. They'd considered having Luna levitate them up the mountain while she'd fly, but soon agreed that it was too big a risk, that they might be detected by the enemy and they'd never get close enough to the fortress.

Navigating the crystal caves took longer than they'd like, but soon they reached their destination: a wide ledge on the mountainside, above Canterlot and below the enemy fortress. Thankfully the ledge had foliage to keep themselves hidden, and thanks to a spyglass they'd found back at the Castle of the Two Sisters they had a perfect view of the fortress above and the crystal golems, apparently floating around on patrol.

"Stay close to Princess Luna," Button Mash suggested to Twinken in a hushed tone, "She's still kinda..."

Twinken nodded in understanding as he peered over to his mistress. Though Luna was able to focus on the moment and the task at hoof, she remained fuzzy in the head whenever she seemed to think back and try to remember whatever it was she still felt she needed to tell them. Twinken had considered telepathically assisting her in clearing her head, but he wasn't at that level yet and they couldn't afford for Luna to become incapacitated.

There was no point waiting any longer, so Twinken telepathically said, Alright, everypony! Let's do this, remember the plan. Once Luna and I are inside, you're all good to go for your parts!

They nodded while Luna allowed Twinken to climb onto her back and she took flight while he cast an invisibility spell over them both, leaving the other Crusaders standing by as they waited.

The flight up the mountain and reaching the enemy fortress was nerve-wracking. While he trusted his mistress to carry him safely, it was still frightening for the colt to see how high they were in the air and how far below the ground was. Finally, much to Twinken's relief, they reached the fortress. It was made of volcanic rock and even in the cold hours of the night and at this altitude, where the air was cold and thinner, the fortress was miserably hot, and it reeked of brimstone.

The princess and her pupil set hoof on a curtain wall but didn't linger as they carefully snuck down the nearest doorway they saw to find cover before Twinken contacted his friends, We're ready and in position! Take care, you guys...

Hearing Twinken's mental voice in their heads, Scootaloo looked to Button Mash and Sweetie Belle and saw their concern. She gave them a cocky smirk before she stepped over the edge... and ran down the mountainside, straight down to Canterlot! Thankfully, the fleet-boots not only allowed her to maintain an impressive running speed, they seemed to keep her hooves adhered to the mountainside instead of falling.

She reached the streets of Canterlot, ignored the destruction, the devastation, the scorch marks, the ashes she kicked up in her wake... and stopped right out in the open before shouting out, "ALRIGHT, YOU OVERSIZED FIREFLIES!! YOU THINK YOU'RE HOT?! WELL COME AND GET IT!!!"

That seemed to do just what Scootaloo wanted as her voice echoed through the empty wastes of Canterlot and before long several crystal golems zoomed down and began firing their heat-beams at her. She easily dodged and started running with the golems in pursuit.

That's our cue! Princess Luna, we're ready! Sweetie Belle thought as she carefully focused her magic so Luna would be able to lock onto it.

Button hugged Sweetie Belle as they waited, hoping Luna would use her summoning spell before they were noticed... when they vanished in a burst of pale green and evening blue sparks of mana, and they found themselves standing besides Luna and Twinken inside the enemy fortress.

Let's go! Twinken urged and they ventured deeper into the fortress.

Meanwhile, outside, Scootaloo led the golems on an epic chase. The fleet-boots allowed her to run an speeds nopony could run normally, but they drew their power from the wearer, and Scootaloo, despite being a flightless pegasus, was surging with power! She dodged the heat-beams with uncanny speed and agility, even tricking some of the golems to shoot each other with speedy maneuvering.

She made sure to be mindful of her surroundings, leading the golems through tight spaces so they couldn't gang up on her or get a clear shot. Unfortunately, as fast and clever as Scootaloo was, her fleet-boots didn't give her a boost of energy. She was getting tired and as much as she hated to admit it she wouldn't be able to keep this up for much longer.

But I have to buy them as much time as I can! Faster, Scootaloo... FASTER!!! Scootaloo urged herself and her inner magic sent her into overdrive as she sped up, going to fast she created a vacuum, causing glass to break in her wake,

Alas... Scootaloo's luck soon ran out as she made a wrong turn and a heat-beam struck the ground right in front of her, making it explode and launching Scootaloo into the air as she cried out in alarm! She flapped her little wings, trying to right herself and hopefully land on her hooves, but she was helpless in the air as a heat-beam got her in the back.

"AUGH!!" Twinken collapsed as he, Luna, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle made their way through the fortress and they looked to him in worry as the unicorn colt teared up again as he thought to them, She's... she's gone! They got Scootaloo...

It's okay! Sweetie Belle assured but sounding more like she was trying to convince herself as she added, We'll find her along with Apple Bloom, Rumble and everyone else.

No... All of them looked to Luna, who had a despondent look as she explained, My mind has cleared a little. The heat-beams do exactly what we originally thought! There is no prison, no one to rescue. I'm sorry, my little ponies, we came here for nothing...

What? No! The spatial vibrations we found on the golem- Sweetie Belle protested in denial only for Twinken to stand up and force Sweetie Belle to look at him.

Sweetie Belle, enough! I wanted to believe just as much as you! he thought to her with furrowed brows and tear-stained cheeks, But I've been reaching out, trying to sense the minds of any prisoners since the moment Luna and I got in here and I feel nothing! There's nopony here. Apple Bloom, Rumble... all our friends and family! They're gone.

Sweetie Belle whimpered as the tears came back and she thought of her sister, her parents, their friends, when Button Mash proposed, But we can still make a difference! We have the magic bomb that can disable the golems. If we set it off at whatever it is that's controlling them all, we'll beat them and save everypony else who's still out there.

The group ventured further in, avoiding some golems that were patrolling the fortress halls. Twinken and Sweetie Belle used their sensor spells to detect the golems' energy source and following it, until they all came into a vast chamber!

It was a huge open space, bigger than the throne room in Canterlot Castle ten times over! In the center there was a large red crystal that seemed to pulse with energy that flowed along veins of crystal that spread throughout the chamber and out various passageways. Surrounding the base of this menacing crystal was a moat filled with molten lava, and floating around the giant crystal were several golems, apparently there to protect what could only be the heart of the enemy!

We'll take care of the golems! You guys set the bomb, Twinken thought to Button Mash and Sweetie Belle, and the unicorn colt and alicorn princess charged in, the golems quickly taking notice of them as they zoomed in to attack.

While the golems were distracted, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle snuck towards the giant crystal, with the lava moat in their way. Getting an idea, Button Mash held up his shield, grabbed Sweetie Belle... and took a running start! Just before they reached the edge of the moat, Button Mash took a leap, the shield held directly underneath Sweetie Belle and himself, and they skimmed the surface of the lava before they jumped again and made it across though the shield sank into the lava.

There was no time to worry about that as Button Mash led Sweetie Belle right up to the giant red crystal and they touched it, feeling the pulsing vibration that was very similar to a heartbeat. They shared a determined look before Button Mash removed the magic bomb strapped to his back and set it onto the giant crystal before Button Mash began to punch in the necessary settings.

"I... I think I did know they weren't here," uttered Sweetie Belle gloomily. "I just... I had to know for sure..."

Button Mash raised Sweetie Belle's chin so she'd look him in the eyes... and surprised her when he touched his nose to hers, a foal's idea of a kiss, which caused Sweetie Belle to blush up, as did Button. But they shared a look that was perfectly clear before Sweetie Belle nuzzled Button Mash and they looked at the bomb as Button punched in the final setting.

"The bomb is armed! We have five minutes to get out of here once I start the countdown!" Button shouted to Twinken and Luna, who'd just shattered the golems present.

Luna carried Twinken with her as she flew to Button and Sweetie Belle to gather them right as Button started the countdown, and then they hightailed it out of there!

They ran as fast as they could through the fortress hallways, dodging any golems they ran into, as they couldn't afford to waste even a second. Soon, they reached a larger hallway and saw the way out, a huge pair of heavy doors made of dark iron. Luna, Twinken and Sweetie Belle charged their horns before unleashing Magic Arrow spells upon those doors, only for them to ricochet off, nearly blasting themselves with their own Magic Arrows!

They came all too close to getting blasted from behind as the golems finally caught up and was shooting their heat-beams and they all ducked for cover, Luna and Twinken to one side, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle to the other.

Less than thirty seconds... Princess Luna! Button Mash thought to her, There's an opening above you, take Twinken and get out of here!

What?! Don't be crazy, we're not leaving you! Twinken protested.

Don't worry, we have a way out, assured Sweetie Belle, we'll be right behind you!

"NO!! WE CAN'T LEAVE ANYPONY ELSE BEHIND!!" screamed Twinken as Luna took her thrashing pupil and took flight, zooming through the opening Button had pointed out, flying off to safety.

As the heat-beams now concentrated firing at them as they kept to cover, Button Mash and Sweetie Belle shared one last look, solemn and heartbreaking, before they hugged each other as the countdown neared zero...

Outside, the fortress loomed in the darkness of the night, its giant red gem burning like a blistering coal atop its main tower, a monument to the greatest devastation Equestria had ever suffered.

And then it blew up.

The gem suddenly lit up with an intensifying light, cracks forming, lava bleeding out of it, before a terrible explosion blew and the volcano the fortress was built upon erupted! Lava spewed and fell with greater volume and impact than Neighagra Falls and Canterlot was wiped completely off the face of the earth. The crystal golems that had been outside, the ones that didn't get caught n the explosion, suddenly dropped, their light going out, as the source of their power was now dead. From a distant hilltop, Luna and Twinken looked on as the fire and smoke formed a massive mushroom-shaped cloud of smog, dust, ash and debris and the fires were so intense and hot it felt like it was the middle of an unbearably hot day rather than night.

Neither of them felt the sweetness of victory however. Only ashes...

My pupil... the mission- Luna tried to think to the colt, only for Twinken to shake his head in heartbroken sorrow.

Don't... I don't care that it was a success! Twinken felt his heart being torn in two as he shook and struggled to keep what little control and restraint he had left. The cost was too high...

As the destruction seemed to settle however, a tremor caused the alicorn princess and unicorn colt to shudder in fearful confusion. Had the bomb done more damage than they'd thought? They looked towards the lava-soaked remains of Canterhorn... when they felt the earth shake and heard a CRACK as the earth around Canterhorn seemed to split open, the remains of what had once been the heart of Equestria getting swallowed up... before another mountain- Nay, a volcano rose up from the depths of what had to be hell and there was another fortress!

No...! Twinken couldn't believe it!

All that they'd sacrificed, all that they'd lost! It had been for nothing! The enemy was still here and all the world, not just Equestria, was in danger!

No, no! No!! Twinken finally lost it as he sobbed in anger, disbelief, sorrow, and only a sliver of what self-control he managed to keep hold of spurred him to turn around to Luna, We have to get out of here!

No... responded Luna as she gave Twinken a cold look, grasping him with her hoof, We have to end this now!

And then, a blade of solid shadow extended from Luna's free hoof as she suddenly stabbed Twinken right into his heart, his face filled with disbelieving horror as everything went black...