Princess Burning Star was floating in a strange white space. The feeling was unusual. “Where am I?” she questioned.

Soon she heard a voice speak. “You are in the dreamscape. A part of the dreamscape that has not been seen since before Nightmare’s rule.”

“Who are you?”

“That does not matter right now. What does matter is who are you?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Are you Burning Star? Are you one of the four adopted children?” She closed her eyes and waved her head back and forth in an attempt to tune out the voice. But the voice got loud. “Are you the great granddaughter of ‘F’?! Are you the great granddaughter of Celestia?!” His voice kept rising and rising. “Are you the student of Celestia?! ARE YOU NEW DAWN?!?!”

Suddenly her eyes shot wide open at those words. Soon unknown yet somehow familiar memories began to flood her head. She grabbed her head as the memories kept flowing. It was so painful. Suddenly she screamed out, “Who is New Dawn?!”

“Who are you?” he questioned again, but this time it sounded more rhetorical.

Out of nowhere, she began to fall from the white space. Soon she landed in front of a gravestone. On it was a name. She looked and read it aloud. “Here lies Princess New Dawn. Daughter.... Daughter of Celestia and Sun--”

Suddenly she was interrupted. “Yes, New Dawn was the daughter of Celestia and ‘F’. She is also you.”

Again without warning, the area changed as she found herself looking at Celestia. Celestia was walking beside a little filly. The filly looked exactly like her. Burning Star placed her hand over her mouth in a gasp as she saw this. But where was ‘F’.

“New Dawn was your past life. That is why she chose you. It had nothing to do with bloodline.”

“Where is ‘F’ then?”

“He never got the chance to see you as a child.”

“Because of the parasite?”

“Yes, but of something more. Years after this you went searching for him. Everypony thought he was dead. You called on all the help you could. You even went behind Celestia's back and called upon Sombra’s league of assassins A.N.T.I.. In the end, though you finally found him.”

Suddenly she found herself in a dark cave. At the end of it was ‘F’. But he looked different. He had not yet taken his false draconequus form. She looked to see New Dawn approach him. “You wanted to know him, but he did not know you. He thought you were an enemy. Listening to the corrupted words of the parasite, he….killed you. It wasn’t until afterward did he realize what he did, and who you were. This pushed him over the edge.”

After seeing what he did, she fell to the ground as tears couldn’t stop flowing. The voice decided to continue, “When ‘F’ found you once more in this life, he saw a chance to do things right. He wanted to know you and be there for you. Even in your darkest hour. This is why he lied to you. Everything that he was, and everything that he is, did not matter. What mattered from then on? Is everything he tried to be, for you.”

Soon the dream began to clear.

******

Morning finally arrived with the rise of the dual eclipse. Twilight and the airship armada made their way across the remains of the Empire’s great walls. Everything seemed like it was going to be okay, Twilight turned on the speaker and decided to give a speech to all the airships and ponies on the ground.

"Hello, everypony. As you know, we will be entering the empire soon. We must do whatever it takes to win. This will be the final Dark War. I'm not saying this as a guarantee or a promise. I'm saying that either we win this war or we all die trying. We can no longer stand by. We can no longer retreat. We can no longer give up hope. We can no longer be fallen." She pulled out her katana and raised it to the sky as she finished, "EITHER WE RISE AS THE VICTORS, OR WE RISE TO THE AFTERLIFE!!"

After finishing her speech, they arrived past the wall. Up ahead they soon saw the grand airship Andross. Their first line to get passed would be Prince Nexus Star. The prince looked at them through his airship. He grabbed out a communication gem. “Night Fright I have spotted them. Are the Menos Grande ready?”

“They’re in their stations,” he answered.

“Good. What about my Alphabolts?”

“They will be there soon.”

After talking to him, the prince put up the gem and then signaled the ones at their own stations to drop the gauntlets. He placed his hands into them and activated the Andross’s gauntlets. Afterward, he aimed at the ground and shot out two giant circles. This confused Twilight.

Suddenly a bright light shot forth from each the circles. They were giant teleports. Soon two gigantic, two hundred foot tall creatures in tall black robes stepped forth. They were clearly ponies that had been experimented on. They were as tall as skyscrapers now.

Twilight looked in utter confusion upon these giants. She turned to Bon Bon and Lyra, expecting some answers. But that didn’t help for this was the first time they had seen them.

Soon they heard a voice over the speakers. “Twilight Sparkle, I heard everything, and might I say that was a truly inspirational speech. But this will be where it ends for you. These are my Menos Grande. They hold large amounts of my arsenal of nukes within their gut and can shoot them out like a machine gun. I suggest you surrender before I unleash them."

Twilight looked forward as she only took a moment to think. She spoke. “Flash and Gilda, get out there and figure out if those things have a weak spot.“ She then turned to Bon Bon. “Bon Bon, tell the other airships to stay as far back as possible, meanwhile we are charging forward. Let’s see what the Avalon can do.”

As Twilight got in position in the center of the control room. Flash and Gilda went outside. At the same time, the other airships got back. Nexus Star saw and this got ready. The Avalon charged forward, surprising him with the speed it quickly reached. He commanded the first attack. It missed.

He quickly shot another, and another. Each one heading straight for Twilight. But each one was dodged. Twilight knew she couldn’t keep this up forever, soon he would catch onto what she was doing and how.

While this was going on, Gilda and Flash made their way to the nearest one. Landing on its shoulder, it didn’t even notice them. It was strange, the creature was clearly a pony, yet by the look of it, had been dead for a long time. There was rotting flesh everywhere. How was this thing still standing? What it a spell? Or something else?

As Flash looked across the creature, he couldn’t help but get the feeling they were being watched. Suddenly Flash pushed Gilda out of the way as a metal talon on a chain flew by. Though he saved Gilda, he didn’t get the chance to dodge the one heading for his throat. The talon grabbed and pulled him off the Menos Grande. Gilda looked to see her brother Commander Gryford.

“It’s been awhile, sister. Escaped from Tartarus have we?”

“Indeed. I see you still work for Nexus Star. Are those talons a gift from him?”

Suddenly with some struggle, Flash got free and kicked Gryford. He jumped back and tried another attack, but Gilda stopped him. “Flash I’ll handle this Menos Grande, you go handle the other one.”

He looked to her and understood what she meant. He quickly got out of there and headed for the other one. Meanwhile, Gryford turned to attack him. Gilda stopped the attack by flying up and stabbing her blade into one of his talons. “Come on Gryford, I thought you would like some family bonding.” Once up there she kicked him across the face. He flipped backward and away from her. He straightened himself and charged at her as she did the same.

As they did battle, Flash made his way to the other one. It was there that he saw similarities with the first one. In particular, there were several giant black pipes stabbed through the flesh of the back. These may have been the weak points that Twilight was looking for. He grabbed out his radio. He contacted Twilight and told her what he found.

“I hear you Flash. I'll try to get the ship over there.”

They had to hurry, they didn't how long it would take for the prince to figure it out. However, he already had, as he smiled within the Andross. Soon a voice could be heard over the speaker. “Very interesting Twilight. You have your body connected to the airship like me. Don’t you?” Indeed she did. She had been using her dark magic to power it’s speed. He had caught on. This was bad. Twilight had to move quickly. She made her way to the other side of one of the Menos Grande.

As she did so, Nexus Star raised his gauntlets. Soon everything seemed to go in slow motion as Twilight used her dark magic to shoot the laser of the Avalon. The laser shot forth, hitting the black pipes, destroying them. However, at the same time, the side of the Avalon was hit.

Everything moved forward as the airship rocked with great force. “Statute report!” Twilight shouted.

“Shields are still holding, but the right engine is down,” replied Lyra.

“Can we still fly?”

“Yes, but only at half speed.”

“Incoming, another laser strike,” said Bon Bon.

“Everypony hold on. I’m going to try something crazy.” She concentrated, hoping her idea would work. They only had seconds. Nexus Star watched in victory as the laser hit. Meanwhile, the Menos Grande fell. As it did, its arsenal went off.

Flash ran through the skies as fast as he could. “Gilda, get out of here. The nukes are going off.”

She was still fighting her brother. She turned to see the explosion. She grabbed out her radio. “Flash, you tell Rainbow Dash that she made a damn fine leader of the Cloud Rebels. And that I’ll see her when this is over with.”

The signal cut off. Flash closed his eyes as he knew that she was gone as the other Menos Grande was engulfed. Afterward, he looked to see the Avalon being hit head on by Nexus Star’s laser. “No!!” he trembled.

Flash watched in horror as the flagship slowly vanished. A tear fell from his eyes. The Prince looked in triumph. He had won. The other ponies on the other airships looked in shock. Even on the ground, the ponies were gasping. Was this the end?

Out of nowhere, the Avalon appeared above the Andross. “Master of Teleportation, huh! Laser, full power!!” shouted Twilight as she shot forth a blast at such close range that the shields had no time to stop it.

As the laser tore a massive hole right through the Andross, Nexus Star contacted Night Fright.

******

Night Fright was walking to something when he was contacted. “What happened now?”

“The Andross has been hit head on. Where are my Alphabolts? You said they would be here soon?”

Night Fright smirked. “I’m sorry child, but you have outlived your usefulness.”

“What?! NIGHT FRIGHT?!?!” was the last thing said before Night Fright cut the signal.

“Foolish child. I no longer need you or this empire.” He held out his hands as he arrived in front the titan airship. “Now that I have this. With it and the intel I have gathered on those fakers, soon even Mother and Father shall bow to me.”

******

Twilight backed the Avalon far enough away and looked to see the Andross’s explode. This was a big victory, but this was only the beginning. Soon Flash got back aboard the Avalon. He ran to Twilight and took her into an embrace. “How?”

“I used a teleport. Though I didn’t know how big i would be able to make it. I’m surprised I didn’t cut the flagship in half,” she answered as she took the embrace with delight.

Realizing how random this looked, Flash quickly broke the embrace. “Okay, you need to stop pushing yourself.”

Twilight turned to Lyra. “How long will repairs take?”

“About two to three hours at most.”

“Okay,” she turned to Bon Bon. “Contact the rest of the armies. Tell them we’ll catch up soon. They need to move quickly while the enemy is in disarray.” She then looked back to Flash. “Flash, go follow them. Keep them safe. Keep them alive.”

“Of course.” He got ready to take his leave, but then he turned around and kissed her on the cheek. Her eyes widened as a bright blush filled her face. Afterward, he left.

******

Meanwhile miles away, Rainbow Dash’s group were doing their best to dodge the giant Darkrider’s attacks. Soarin flew the airship all kinds of directions. He was slowly tricking him. Soon the airship got within range of the tower. They launched a series of bombs, blowing it up. However, as they did, they found themselves being grabbed by Darkrider. He flung their airship. They held their positions as the airship rocked.

Soon Darkrider was contacted by Night Fright. “How is the test run going?”

“We are at perfect parameters.”

“Good, I just completed phases one, two and three. Hurry up and defeat those fools, then go on to phase four. Demolishing that spire.”

“Yes, Night Fright.”

Darkrider finished the transmission. He got into position. Soon he grabbed and unsheathed a giant cyber katana. They looked for only a few seconds as the blade went right for them. It moved too fast to dodge as it cut the airship in half.

Air pressure got in as all three of them went plummeting to the ground. As they plummeted, Spitfire gained her footing and started to fly. However, another swing missed them but separated Spitfire from Rainbow Dash and Soarin.

The two continued to fall. They looked to each other. They knew this was the end. Meanwhile Flash looked to see the airship ripped apart and saw them falling. Seeing this Flash raised his speed, but it was not enough. He looked in sorrow, knowing he wouldn’t get there in time.

Soarin pulled himself free from the wheelchair and make his way to Rainbow Dash. He caught her off guard as he took her into an embrace. He wrapped his arms tightly around her as tears fell from their eyes.

“I’m right here Rainbow Dash, and I’m not losing you again.”

“You big idiot,” she trembled as she took the embrace.

Soon Darkrider’s katana began to charge up with electricity. He got ready to swing once more. This time, even if it missed it would still kill. Suddenly Flash got an idea. “Soarin!!” he yelled.

Soarin turned to see him.

“Open your wings for flight, and hold on to Rainbow Dash as tight as you can!!” Flash yelled again. This confused Soarin, but he had no other reason to doubt him. Once that was done, Flash yelled to Rainbow Dash. “Rainbow Dash, you did it once before. I need to do it again. You accessed light magic once thirteen years ago. Now use it again.” her eyes widened as she knew what he meant. “Use the SONIC RAINBOOM!!”

She looked to the ground as it closed in on one side and on the other was the giant katana. She closed her eyes in concentration, hoping with all her might. Soon the air around Soarin and Rainbow Dash began to condense as the sound barrier was broken.

Just as the blade made contact, a burst of rainbow shot forth in all directions. Rainbow Dash for the first time in years flew. Sure she was using Soarin’s wings as rudders, but it was still flight.

She flew around the blade and charged high into the sky. Twilight in the distance looked to see the sonic rainboom speed across the skies above the empire and all across Equestria. It was a symbol to all that a new hope was on the rise.

Back at the battle, Darkrider swung his electric katana, but with each swing, he missed. Rainbow Dash and Soarin were moving at such speeds that even with his greater range he still couldn’t hit them.

The two got into position. Rainbow Dash looked at Soarin. She had a smile and a crazy plan. He smiled back to her. He would always trust her. She then charged forward right at Darkrider as he dropped his blade towards them. They didn’t dodge at all this time.

As it closed in, they felt the electricity before the blade. They pushed on and increase their speed. Flash’s eyes widened at what they were doing. They were going to combine the sonic rainboom with the same move he was now using. The Light Speed Dash.

Soon the electricity wrapped around them as their speed increased even more. Finally, the katana made contact. However, their speed soon broke through the blade. They kept flying forward as they ripped through the katana completely and right through Darkrider.

They ripped a hole right through the center. Soon they came to a stop and looked to their victory. Darkrider began to spark up and spark up. Soon explosions began to cover him. They look to see the explosions heading right for them. However, their bodies were too numb to move as they began to once more plummet.

Flash moved quickly to catch them both. He moved at great speed and got them out of there. Meanwhile, Spitfire got out as well.

Hours later they all met back up in the ruins of Manehattan. Twilight landed the Avalon as they took a moment to catch their breath. Rainbow Dash and Soarin were taken into the infirmary as they had a few burns from pulling off that crazy move.

Twilight walked over to Applejack and the diamond dogs as they arrived. Applejack told her that they had a few small injuries, but otherwise, they were fine. It seemed there were some ground forces Twilight didn’t see while flying overhead.

Soon Fluttershy and Tirek showed up with the Forest Rebels. Behind them were several plunder vines that followed Fluttershy. These plunder vines looked different from others. They were much thicker and longer. Twilight wanted to question it but saw no reason to. Clearly, these special plunder vines were meant for something.

Now that all the groups had arrived they took time to rest. Hours pass and soon the dual eclipse began to set as night had arrived. Finally, the time had arrived, they could rest no longer. Beyond Manehattan was once the great ocean called the Celestial Sea. Now it a dessert that was called the Eternal Wastelands.

This is where the final stretch would be. Twilight, Flash, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Soarin, Fluttershy, and Applejack all gathered together. The final parts of the plan would soon be complete. They had just received a message that Spike and Rarity had made it to the Rainbow Factory. Now they needed to make their move. Attack Nightmare Spire.

They all looked onward as armies of nightmare griffins gathered. This would be the final battle. This is where it would end.

******

Author's Notes:

Well here is first part of the final dark war. So how was it? Did I do good with this one? The next part will be posted on Thursday.