My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

A Changeling’s Lament

Chapter 9

The Sacking of Ponyville

“it is so nice to have you back, general.” Chrysalis said to Edge as she sat on the throne.

Edge bowed to her. “It’s good to be back, my queen. Several weeks on leave really did me some good. I feel better already.”

“I’m glad. I always need my best at top strength.”

A Changeling came in and whispered into Edge’s ear. He nodded when he heard the report. “I’ll be back soon, my queen. Got some personal business to take care of.” Edge bowed to her and left.

Friction was confused. A few weeks vacation? He was living with ponies for 5 months. “um… my queen. What happened to him?”

Chrysalis smiled. “impressive, isn’t it? Purging someone can do quite a number of things to them. One of them being erasing memories.”

“Erasing Memories?”

“repression, actually. Edge has no memory of the past 6 months. He doesn’t remember being taken in by Ponies; he doesn’t remember the wedding of Trixie and Luna… he doesn’t even remember his love for Fluttershy. He‘s exactly who he was before all that; a completely sadistic general of the Changeling forces.”

Friction remembered her Purge. It wasn’t exactly a pleasant experience. She can only imagine having your memory erased and your brain messed with. Edge walked back in with a couple of Changelings behind him. “how’d it go?” Chrysalis asked.

“my forces are ready for my command. They know I’m back at the ready.”

“Good.” Chrysalis got up from the throne and slowly walked alone the right side of the room. “now… we need a good first target.” she noticed something out the window and looked at it with a snicker. “and I know just the place; that innocent little hamlet…” she crushed a bug with her hoof, staring out towards the town that lies not far from Canterlot.

Satoshi looked though a telescope at the capital, hoping to see something. Out of everyone, he had the best eye-sight. He has to since he’s the pilot of Orion.

“Well? How’s it look?” Fox asked, sitting on the railing of Twilight’s balcony.

“well…” Satoshi tinkered with the sights. “there’s some fires here and there; I’m guessing bon fires creating by the prisoners. Other then that, nothing. I can’t see a thing other then that pink barrier.” he sat away from the telescope and softly hit it on the lens, causing it to spin. “if Orion was fixed, it’d probably be gone by now.”

“how long till it is fixed?” Applejack asked as she walked up to the balcony.

“we’re just about there. Just need to connect the wires to the main control console and she’ll be able to fly. But until we get that device was stolen from us by that monster, we’re stuck on this world.”

“as long as it can fly, we’ll have a advantage.” Celestia said as she walked up to the balcony. “we’ll have something Chrysalis won’t have.”

“yeah, but Orion got totaled when it went up against that giant monster.”

The princess had an idea on how to deal with that. “I think I know how to fix that.” Celestia said with a wink.

“OW!!! Not so tight!” Req exclaimed.

Her fight with the knight had left had badly injured with a few broken bones in her arms, legs, and chest, as well as a ton of cuts and bruises. She’s lucky she got out alive. Currently, she’s being bandaged by Twilight, Cadence, and Nurse Redheart.

“if you didn’t want it tight, you shouldn’t have gotten injured.” Redheart commented, bandaging Req’s arm.

“don’t blame me, blame that knight guy.” Req angrily muttered. She looked to Twi, who was getting some rags wet. She moved her attention to Twi’s prego belly. “did you even figure out what the knight wanted with you?”

“no. I didn’t see what he did to me. Once he stuck me in that trance, I lost all connection. I’m not sure how he did it but… I think he took my soul out of my body.”

“He did what?” Cadence gasped.

“I wouldn’t be surprised.” Req said. “I know… knew a few people who were capable of doing that. They don’t take it out, they just… what was the term Gabs used… disconnect it for a few seconds.”

“Whatever the case, it felt… wrong. I just hope he didn’t hurt Starlight.”

“You and me both.” Cadence said. “I want to meet my niece or nephew one of these days.”

“Speaking of which, when do I meet mine?” Twilight asked, carrying the rags over.

Cadence chuckled. “anyday now. I’m a bit anxious.”

“you wouldn’t be the first mother to be on edge.” Req joked.

Eris laughed as she ran though town, dragging a piece of cloth behind her. Her pursuers weren’t having a good time.

“ERIS!!!” The CMC yelled as they ran after the baby Draconequus. “Stop running!” Eris ignored them and continued to run.

“why does she do this?” Sweetie Belle whined.

“I don’t know.” Scootaloo replied.

Eris ran out of town and towards Fluttershy’s cottage. Applebloom dived to catch her but missed and slid into a tree, causing snow to fall on her. Eris stopped at Fluttershy’s door and swung the cloth though the air.

“*heavy panting* she… is… fast… for a kid…” Pipsqueak panted.

Applebloom stuck her head out and spit snow out. She noticed the house and got confused. “Why are we here?”

Sniffling came from somewhere with everyone leaving to believe it came from Eris. “I don’t know, but I think Eris is crying that we caught her.” Feather Weight said as he flew over to her.

Applebloom hit snow out of her ears and shook her head. She heard the sniffling but didn’t hear it coming from Eris. “I don’t think it’s her.” she got out of the snow and shoot it off. “I think it’s coming from inside the cottage.”

“The cottage?” the rest asked. Yep, they heard it coming from there.

Curious, Scootaloo opened the door.

Fluttershy silently cried her heart out as she held a picture close. “Fluttershy?” ‘Shy heard Scoots ask, sniffled, and wiped her eyes, replying with a cracked voice. “S-Scootaloo… what are you doing here?”

She and the rest of her friends came in. Eris ran in and jumped onto Fluttershy’s couch. “why are you crying?”

“Crying?” Fluttershy wiped her eyes again. “I-I wasn’t crying.”

“yes you were.” Sweetie Belle said. “we heard you outside. Plus, there’s still tears rolling down your face.”

Fluttershy touched her face and felt them. “o-oh. I see that I was.”

“Are you okay?”

Eris, in her silent genius, quickly took the picture out of Fluttershy’s hoofs and landed it to a confused Scootaloo. “Eris!” Fluttershy exclaimed.

Not really sure what’s going on, Scootaloo looked at it and recognized a very familiar Changeling. “is this Edge?” Fluttershy forcefully took it back from Scoots and held it close. “ ‘Shy?”

Fluttershy sadly looked away from them, only muttering one sentence; “I miss him.”

Chrysalis chuckled as her Changelings made the P.O.W.’s gather in the Canterlot gardens.

“Now what, another execution?” Jax asked, still as confident as before.

“oh, no no no no no.” Chrysalis smiled as a crystal came down from above. She flickered to live, showing Ponyville. “it’s time for a feature presentation. I call it ‘the fall of a empire.’”

A sudden and loud explosion echoed though town, shaking every building and breaking every window.

Begin Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYJW2hdbqNg

The Hunted - Assassin’s Creed Revelations OST

More followed after it, crashing around the town and encircling in a ring of fire.

“What the hell?” Aura exclaimed.

Wisps of shadows moved along the ground, out of the fire and making their way towards town. A Shadow Lion burst out of the ground and landed on top of Aura. He struggled to get the lion off but he couldn’t it with it trying to get at his neck.

A blast of magic shot it off as Lina ran over, fireballs ready to go. “you gonna lie there or are you going to fight?”

Aura quickly got up and grabbed his lance. “duh. Fight.”

“not again.” Celestia gasped as she looked at the ring of fire surrounding the town. She fell to her knees in shock. “This can’t be happening again.”

Satoshi ran as far as he could out of the town and towards Orion. If this was a attack, and if they lose, he wasn’t going to let them take the blueprints.

A platform crystal hovered over the fire. a certain general sat on top, giving orders. “Encircle the town. Make sure no one leaves. Our queen want’s prisoners!” Edge ordered. He looked down at the town and saw Sugarcube Corner. Something flashed in his mind, causing him to hold it pain. “why does this town… feel familiar?”

Ash twirled his guns as he fired in all directions, giving the citizens time to flee. Spyro grunted as he hit the ground next to him. “That hurt.”

“This is unprecedented, don’t you think?” Ash asked him.

“It’s war. They never give warnings.”

“True.” Ash shoved Spyro out of the path of a Shadow Rhino. He shot it in the head, killing it and making it disperse into darkness.

“nice shot.”

“I aim to please.” another explosion cut their little banter short. Ash quickly came up a idea. It was risky but what other options do they have. “Spyro, get down to the train station and see if they can get one ready. We’re gonna need a quick getaway.”

“you sure?”

“You got a better idea?”

“ow ow ow. Watch it!” Req complained as she was carried away from the library by Twilight and Redheart.

“you can’t move, remember? Broken legs?” Redheart retorted.

“then give me crutches.”

A Shadow Komodo Dragon jumped down from above the library and towards them. Req noticed this. If she can’t fight back with swords, she can still fight back with magic. “Seraphim Blade!” a cut of light appeared and sliced the Shadow Creature in half. “Good to know I can still use magic.”

Twilight rolled her eyes when she noticed something. “wait. Where’s Cadence?”

“Probably getting Armor now let’s go.” Req yelled.

“Come on! You got to get it to move!” Spyro complained to the train engineers.

“Sorry, but ever since last night, the ol’ gal’s been acting weird.” one of them said.

“Then deal with it in the next town.”

“the next town is 40 miles away and this train isn’t keen with salt air.”

Spyro groaned and grabbed the leader and walked him over to give him a good view of Ponyville. “you know what will happen if you don’t start that train up?” he shook his head no. “those things…” Spyro pointed to a Shadow Creature. “…will have you for dinner.”

That was all the convincing he needed. “Start up the train.”

The fire from the explosions rose up high to the sky. Edge watched from the platform and smiled. “it’s good to be back.” he said with a sneer.

End Song.

Back in Canterlot, everyone was seeing the devastation being done to a otherwise peaceful town.

“mom…” Dinky tearfully croaked. Jax looked down and felt sorry for her. Their world was coming down around them and she can’t do anything.

Bahamut flew over to Fluttershy’s cottage and burst though the door. The CMC and Fluttershy were still inside, cowering in a corner. “What are you all still doing here?” he asked. “They called for a evacuation. We have to get to the train station.”

“we’re scared.” the girls of the CMC said with a whimper.

“I know. War is scary and nobody should witness it but if you don’t move it, you’ll become someone’s dinner.”

Being the fearless girl she was, Eris ran over to Bahamut and jumped on his back. The others looked at each other and gulped. “Well… if Eris isn’t afraid…” Fluttershy shakingly said.

“Good, now let’s get going!” Bahamut exclaimed.

Begin Song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XjX1uqOMXs

Unforeseen Assault - Tales of Vesperia: The First Strike OST

0:00.

The ponies cautiously peaked out first, making sure the coast was clear, before making a run for the train station. Bahamut spread his wings and took to the sky.

Chaos ruled the streets as citizens fled for their lives, hoping to live to see another day. Changelings and Shadow Creatures alike chased after them, hoping to take prisoners.

Cadence ran as fast as she could to the station. She wasn’t able to find Armor so she’s hoping he’s still alive and at the station.

A sudden burst of pain from her mid-section caused her to stop and hold herself in pain. A group of Changelings saw her and converged on her location.

0:33.

Lina fired a fire ball and Aura sliced at a few Shadow Creatures, killing most of them. A Shadow Spider emerged from the ground behind them and pounced onto them. It kicked Aura’s weapon away and sprayed web onto Lina’s hands.

“well, so much for us getting away.” Lina joked.

0:41.

Satoshi ran as fast as he could towards the station, blueprints in hand. Even though he didn’t hear the order to converge there, he knew that was the most logical place to go.

0:57.

Explosions continued to rain all over town, leaving walls of fire and large craters behind. In one such craters, prisoners were being gathered up; 3 of them being Aura, Cadence, and Lina.

1:13.

Fluttershy and the CMC ran as fast as they could though the war-torn streets, not wanting to become corpses or prisoners. They unknowingly ran underneath Edge’s little platform. He saw them and snickered.

He jumped off it, flapped his wings as fast as he could, and shot down towards them.

1:21.

He rammed into Fluttershy, flew into a alley, pinned her against a wall, summoned up some claws, and held them up to her face.

Fluttershy panted in fear with her eyes snapped close. Edge held the claws up to her neck but felt like something was holding him back.

“Grgh. Gra. Gy…” the claws shook as his mind began to flash with images, images he never saw before.

Fluttershy heard the shaking and wondered why she wasn’t dead yet. She opened them up and looked in a mix of surprise and horror to see that Edge was the one holding her up against the wall, the one trying to kill her “Edge…”

His soulless eyes sparked back to his normal purple eyes then back again. He was surprised to hear that from a normal Pegasus. “How do you know my name?”

A blast of ice hit Edge and sent him into the end of the alley. Fluttershy fell to the ground and rubbed her throat. “Come on!” Riku exclaimed before running off.

Fluttershy nodded, got up, and ran to the exit. She stopped and looked back at Edge. Why would he attack her? She somberly looked away and ran off.

Edge grumbled as he got up. Why did that pony feel so… familiar?

1:57.

The people clamored as they got onto the train for the second time in 2 days. Ash and Fox fired their blasters at the Shadow Creatures, keeping them at bay.

“So what’s our destination?” Spyro asked inside the engine room.

“Little town 30 miles east of here. Think it’s called Maredrid or something like that.”

The last of the ponies clamored on as Hiccup did a headcount with tallies in his journal. Bahamut, the CMC, Riku, and Fluttershy just arrived, adding a few more to his count. Something felt off so he re-counted. “We’re missing 16.” Satoshi arrived and panted. “make that 15.”

“where were you?” Sora asked.

Satoshi brought his blueprints to viewing height. “had to get these. Can’t let evil-doers get it.”

“You know what happened to the missing 15?”

“yeah. Caught a few glimpses. They were taken captive; Lina, Aura, and Cadence among them.”

Hearing that Cadence got caught sent Armor over the edge. He ran out, hoping to get to her. Twilight ran out after him. “whoa whoa whoa, BBBFF!” she ran in front of him and got in his way. “There’s nothing you can do for her!”

“But that’s my wife and my unborn child in there!”

“I know! But there’s nothing you can do for her. Besides, Aura and Lina are with her as well so they’ll protect her from danger.”

Armor looked up to the burning town and sighed. He was leaving his wife in the middle of all this. He didn’t like it but Twi was right. “All right. I hate it but all right.” Twi ran back to the train. Armor turned to head back to the train but glanced back to the town. “be safe, Cadence.”

The Prisoners whimpered in fear at the bottom of the crater. Aura, Lina, and Cadence kept on strong faces so they don’t show fear. Edge walked on over, drawing the heads of his former friends. “Edge? Edge, what are you doing with them?” Aura asked.

First the Pegasus, now this… thing. How do they know these him? “what do we do with them, sir?” a subordinate asked.

Edge looked at them long and hard, thinking of a good punishment for them. “send the ponies to Canterlot for the crystal mines. Lock the humans in the deepest part of the town. And…” he looked over to Cadence and remembered Chrysalis’ words. “take the Alicorn to our queen. She wishes to meet with her.”

“Yes sir.”

“Edge is giving orders to Changelings?” Aura asked.

“basterd turned full traitor. Knew he was a bad egg the moment I laid eyes on him.” Lina said.

Cadence wasn’t so sure. She felt conflict in his heart and heard it in his voice. Something happened to him and she plans to find out what.

The train whistle bellowed as the train itself slowly pulled out. Shadow Creatures continued to converge on it but only to be blasted away.

Fox and Ash waited till a opportune moment before jumping onto the wrecked caboose.

The whistle reached the prisoners, giving them feelings of relief. Long as the Princess and the Elements got away, they still had a chance.

Another pain hit Cadence, causing her to groan in pain.

The train pulled away from the station and away from the burning city. If nobody believed it before, they did now.

War has officially come to Equestria.

End Song.