“HQ? Come in, HQ. Are you there? Is there anyone on this frequency?! ...dammit.”

He tapped his earpiece and sighed. “Great. Out of contact, on my own, unarmed and lost. Goddamn Sirian technology.” He took a moment to take in his surroundings; the lush, colorful forest he'd found himself in was abuzz with life, and the bright sun above shone on him with a warm light. “Well, at least it's not a desert,” he amended. “I've had my fill of deserts.”

Given nothing else to do, he made his way through the almost ridiculously vibrant forest, only needing a few minutes to find its edge and emerge into a grassy plain. He checked his phone to see if he could get any sort of GPS or satellite fix on his location- only to find that there was no signal of any kind that he could access. “Well, that's not good,” he murmured to himself.

“What's not good?”

“Gyah-!” His hand went for a pistol he no longer had, while he spun around to find the source of the voice. “Where the hell-!”

“Up here!” He froze, then looked up. Above him hovered an exceptionally small horse, flapping a pair of fog-grey wings steadily, while a yellow mane and tail fluttered in the breeze it made. But he noted all that in the background while he was caught by the strange creature's most striking feature: A pair of enormous, cockeyed golden eyes, one looking intently at him while the other sort of wandered off on its own. “What the hell are you?!” he couldn't help but utter.

“I'm a pony!” A goofy grin crossed that expressive face. “What the hay are you?”

“Um... I'm a human.” He wasn't exactly new to the concept of alien species, but this thing took the prize for silliness. He was at least thankful it didn't seem hostile, because shooting something so... well... cute would take levels of detachment he wasn't sure even he could manage. “So. Well... where am I?”

“You're in the Principality of Equestria, it seems.” Another voice sounded off from near the treeline; he and the pony both turned to find a woman in what looked like a hiking outfit, with a zebra roughly the same size as the flying pony walking next to her, clad in a plain grey cloak. He stared at the newcomers for a moment. “You can't be serious,” he deadpanned.

“It does seem rather outlandish, I know. But as we're apparently standing in a land of talking sentient equines, it also makes a certain measure of sense.” The woman chuckled. “Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Lara Croft; my lovely companion here is Zecora. And you are?”

“Sam Stone.” He glanced up at the still-hovering pony. “And this is, uh....”

“I'm Derpy! Derpy Hooves, of the Equestrian Postal Service.” After a moment, surprise crossed the pony's face. “Oh... wait! Sam Stone? Lara Croft? Hang on just a second!” It- or, well, “she”, it would seem- immediately landed and stuck her face into a set of saddlebags strapped across her back, rummaging through it.

“Yeeeeah... well.” Sam scratched the back of his neck. “The last thing I remember is jumping into some half-destroyed Sirian time-lock, plugging a random set of coordinates in and phasing out just before the whole damn planet exploded. Then I ended up here.”

“Hmm. Interesting.” Lara crossed her arms. “I'd uncovered an exceptionally intact Atlantean structure with what looked like an extremely complex transport system. Unfortunately, the part of the complex I was in chose to collapse under its own weight while I was in it... it was either 'use the system' or 'be smashed under countless tonnes of rubble'.” She chuckled. “How I happened to end up here, though... it's a mystery.”

“Two strange creatures arrive, from a faraway place... a coincidence, I cannot call this with a straight face.” Zecora's gaze switched between the two humans. “But to solve this puzzle, my place it is not. I would wish to see you both to the city of Canterlot.”

Sam stared at the zebra for a moment, then glanced askance at Lara. “Does she always talk like that?”

“I find it rather charming.” Lara took a few steps forward, looking around. “Apparently Canterlot is the seat of power here in Equestria. Zecora would like us to meet the Princesses of this place. She tells me there are three, all of them-”

“Right here! Found 'em!” Derpy exclaimed. The others turned to find the pegasus on her rear legs, each forehoof holding up a package wrapped in plain brown paper. “Sam 'Serious' Stone, Lara Croft... special delivery!” she chirped, holding out the boxes.

“You're kidding.” Sam took his parcel. Sure enough, there was his name, written in flowing script. “Well, so long as it isn't C.O.D.,” he joked, tearing off the wrapping. Inside he found a black plastic case with a note taped to it, which he pulled off and read.

“Dear Mr. Stone,

No doubt by now, you wonder how it is you found yourself here within the borders of my nation. Through means of scrying too complex to describe here, I came to see your impending death via teleportation- you were fated to materialize in deep space, to die quickly and meaninglessly. I was able to rescue you from that end, and alter your destination to this world.

I wish I could say I had done this out of simple generosity, but I am afraid an urgent matter requires your assistance. For the last five months, this land- Equestria- has seen an incursion of seemingly demonic origin, an invasion unlike any we have ever known and which we are ill-equipped to repel. This enemy has proven disdainful of negotiation and seeks nothing more than the corruption or destruction of all other life it encounters. I brought you and your fellow human, Ms. Croft, to my nation in hopes that you could give us assistance in fighting off this enemy- to help me protect my ponies, and all the other forms of life that call this world home.

I cannot compel you to aid our cause. If you wish to return to your home, you need only tell me, and I will make all accommodations that I can. But I ask- I beg- of you to do what you can to help us. Ours is a world in danger of obliteration.

My sister, Princess Luna, will be en route as soon as she is able, to guide you. In the meantime, I have tasked this brave mailmare known as Derpy Hooves to provide whatever aid she can, and entrusted her to deliver a gift- something I took great pains to acquire. I believe you will find it useful.

Respectfully yours,

Princess Celestia”

Inside the case was a welcome sight to Sam- a brand-new SOP38 handgun, and one of the new technomagic ammunition replenishers, integrated into a hip holster, that he'd heard rumors about. The magazine of .45ACP rounds included in the case slid easily into the weapon's handgrip. “I don't know who this Princess Celestia is, but it looks like she's been peeking at my Christmas list,” he chuckled.

“And it seems she knows my size as well.” Lara had just finished strapping on the holster and was holding the weapon up. “So, uh, Lara,” Sam said. “Do you know how to handle one of-”

His voice trailed off as the woman expertly cleared and checked the chamber, loaded the weapon and chambered a round, then looked up at him. “I'm sorry, Sam. You were saying?”

“...never mind.” He couldn't help but grin. “So now that we're loaded for bear, what....”

A loud, piercing scream echoed across the plains, coming from the northwest. A thin trail of smoke floated up from the hills in that direction. “My goodness!” Zecora gasped. “A village is that way, of farmers and crafters. Canterlot can wait- we should see what's the matter!”

“Uh... yeah.” Sam frowned. “Hey, I'm always up for killin' monsters. But Zecora, Derpy... maybe you'd better find someplace to hide.”

“No way!” Derpy crossed her forelegs over her chest as she hovered, shaking her head. “Princess Celestia told me that I should stick with you and help you out, and that's just what I'm gonna do!”

Zecora stepped forward to stand between the two humans. “Trouble is ahoof, that is easy to see,” she said in a calm but determined voice. “But when others need help, this zebra will not flee.”

Sam sighed, then shrugged. “Well, if you insist. Lara?”

“I'm sure we'll find their help useful.” She spared a glance towards that column of smoke, which seemed to have gotten thicker. “Sam, I believe we need to be on our way.”

“Gotcha.” The unusual quartet charged across the plain, the two armed humans taking the lead as zebra and pegasus kept close behind. It took a bit more than ten minutes for them to exit the valley and hit the outskirts of the village Zecora had mentioned- barely more than a collection of thatch-roofed homes, a handful of shops, some broad farmland and a windmill. Said windmill was now in flames, as were a few of the other buildings, and panicked ponies raced through the streets, looking for places to hide- and sometimes tripping over the corpses of their fellow townsfolk strewn about.

A sneer crossed Sam's face as he spotted what it was the ponies were running from. Huge, hideous demonic creatures- some hoofed satyr-like bipeds, others almost human but for their discolored skin, and some like tentacled dogs with heads that were almost entirely mouth- harried the survivors, almost seeming to prolong the chase purposefully in order to increase the targets' horror. The ravaged bodies left in the streets showed that the creatures were anything but gentle once the chase ended.

“Okay, I've seen enough.” Sam drew his handgun and clicked off the safety. “Battle plan: Demons over there; kill they ass. Questions?”

“I have one.” Lara had also pulled her weapon, and looked just as eager to move as he did. “What colour do demons bleed?”

He gave her a positively wicked grin. “Let's find out.”

And there, with the first gunshots ever heard in Equestria, the battle was joined.

(-)

The stench that assaulted Lara's nose was, unfortunately, all too familiar- the thick, acrid smell of gunpowder mixed with the coppery tang of spilled blood. It almost takes an effort now to actually realize I'm smelling it, she thought morosely as she jogged back towards the center of town. Seems no matter where I find myself, I'm facing someone or something that wants me dead. I'm beginning to take it all personally.

Sam and Derpy were waiting by the well that marked the middle of the small village. “No more demons in the area that I could see,” she said, glancing around. “Zecora isn't back yet?”

“She's doing a quick final check on the wounded.” Sam leaned against the well. “Looks like she's a capable medic, at least. Does some pretty impressive stuff with potions. I think she knew something was gonna happen, the way she was kitted out.”

“Hm.” She stroked her chin. “While we're waiting... Derpy? What, exactly, is going on here?”

“Oh. Um.” The pegasus frowned, rubbing the back of her neck. “I don't know a whole lot about it, but... about four months ago, stories started going around that some of the griffon communities to the northeast-”

Lara raised a hand. “I'm sorry... did you say gryphons?”

“Yeah, griffons, that's what I said.”

Sam shook his head. “Jesus. Talking ponies, zebras, now gryphons. What's next, minotaurs?”

“No, we haven't heard anything bad from the minotaurs yet. But anyway!” She gave the humans a look. “Some of the griffon communities were... well, just up and vanishing. Something was attacking them, but nopony could get a straight answer out of the griffon government. And then some Equestrian cities started reporting strange monsters wandering around in wild spots. Then, about two months ago, attacks started happening in lots of places at once- almost like some alien invasion! We've had more than half a dozen cities and towns wiped out since then....” Her expression fell, and she went quiet.

“Indeed.” Zecora trotted around the corner of a nearby house. “Where the demons come from is a mystery. But this is the southernmost attack I've seen.”

“So they're advancing.” Sam crossed his arms.

“That seems to be the case, my friend. Which begs the question... towards what end?”

“If we're dealing with the kind of creatures I'm familiar with? Destruction, pure and simple.”

Lara gave the man a look. “What sort of creatures do you mean?”

“I can tell you later. Zecora, what was the casualty count?”

The zebra sighed. “I tended to some before it was too late. But of less than three hundred, they lost... sixty-eight.”

Lara winced. “Poor souls,” she murmured. “Do you ponies not have a standing military to deal with this sort of thing?”

“Our Royal Guard is brave, but their numbers are few- and fewer still have time spent in battle accrued.” She looked down at the ground for a moment. “A millennium of peace Equestria has had, a fact of which- normally- I am quite glad. But a threat of this kind this nation's never known. It seems that, once more, our blades must be honed.”

“You're gonna have to step up your game real quick,” Sam commented. “Because these demons are playing for keeps. There anything else we can do here?”

Zecora took a step away from the man, seemingly taken aback by his brusque manner. “N- no. All that's left is to bury our lost sixty-eight, and give time for the others to recuperate.”

“Not an option. We need to evacuate this place as fast as possible.”

“What?!” Outrage flashed across the zebra's normally calm features. “These ponies have just seen carnage untold! They-”

“Save it. No offense, but you obviously don't know anything about armies.” He pointed a finger at the demon corpses still littering the street. “Armies have commanders that send forces out to complete objectives and then report back. These guys? They're not gonna be reporting back. That means their commanders are going to send more demons. And two humans with handguns aren't going to be enough to stop them.”

Zecora drew in a breath- and then let it out in a quiet sigh. “...you are right, of course, I know,” she murmured. “I will help these ponies prepare to go.”

With that, she turned and cantered back towards the small town hall where the survivors had been grouped up. Lara turned towards Sam with a frown. “That was rather....” she began, searching for a word to use.

“Mean,” Derpy finished, with an even deeper frown. “Zecora's a nice zebra! You didn't have to talk to her like that!”

“Yeah, I did. We don't have time to argue. We're dealing with an enemy with an unknown ability to communicate and coordinate. I'm assuming they're an organized army and that they already know that their attack force met resistance here.” He grunted. “Which means that we're also wasting time standing here talking about it. We need to go help Zecora prep the civilians for evac.”

With that, he jogged off in the direction Zecora had gone. Lara sighed. “He may be rather crude, but he's also right,” she told Derpy. “And I certainly don't wish to leave these poor innocents here to face a second attack.”

The pegasus nodded slowly. “You're right,” she said quietly, before taking on a determined look. “So we've got a lot of innocent ponies to deliver to safety! Mailmare Derpy Hooves reporting for duty!” She threw a sloppy salute that almost sent her hoof slamming into her skull.

Despite herself, Lara couldn't help but chuckle. “That's the spirit. Come along, now.”

(-)

The creaking of wheels echoed across the grassy plain, as wagons that had once been meant to haul produce and other goods now carried injured ponies and foals too young to manage a long trip on hoof. Perhaps predictably, organizing the evacuation hadn't been the most difficult part- that had been actually convincing the population to abandon their village in the first place. Only a very to-the-point explanation from Sam of what was likely to happen if they stayed had convinced the ponies to leave their homes and farms behind.

The strongest of the village's stallions and mares now pulled the wagons through the tall grass, while the others clustered around them, keeping up quiet, nervous conversation. The hooffull of unicorns that called the village home had taken places at the edge of the group, each keeping a pitchfork or pickaxe afloat next to them, nervously watching the plains for any possible attackers, while several pegasi hovered overhead to serve as spotters for anything further out.

Fear was thick in the air; Zecora could quite literally smell it. Not that she could blame the poor, traumatized ponies for being terrified- nothing could have prepared them for events like what they'd just survived. But to their credit, the villagers kept themselves moving in an orderly fashion, refusing to give in to panic. It wasn't the easiest thing to admit, even to herself, but Sam's direct and to-the-point attitude had probably helped as much as anything; being given clear and unmistakable directions was a balm to a panicked mind- it took away a measure of uncertainty, and allowed a fearful pony to focus her attention on what had to be done to follow those directions. He bears the manner of a lifelong warrior, she thought, watching as the human walked just ahead of the caravan, his easy stride not quite hiding his alertness. Not to mention the musculature.

The other human in their midst was much different, and not only in gender. Once the ponies had gotten past Lara's strange appearance, they had warmed up to her quite readily; her gentle voice and supportive demeanor gave them somepony- someone, that is, she corrected herself- they could feel safe near. The fact that the woman had been just as effective in killing demons as her male counterpart didn't hurt that in the slightest. Apparently she comes from a very different background than him, if I'm any judge of personality, but she's had no small amount of experience defending herself and others as well.

She let her thoughts tumble about inside her head while she walked, being sure to maintain a good level of situational awareness just to be on the safe side. I wouldn't be so foalish as to second-guess the wisdom of the Princesses, but these humans... are they trustworthy? I have to confess an inherent distrust towards creatures who can dispense violence so easily, even in defense of others- but these demons are much worse, and apparently care nothing about such things as diplomacy, or fair combat, or even the worth of innocent life. Are ponies capable of resisting such a foe alone? Are any of this world's natives? If the demons could overrun the griffons so easily, what sort of resistance could the likes of ponies, zebras and donkeys muster?

Perhaps we are in need of all the help we can get....

“Ahem. Zecora?” The zebra almost jumped despite the quietness of Lara's voice. “Err... sorry to disturb your thoughts, but I was wondering how much longer it might be until we reach... errr... Whinnipeg, did you call it?”

Zecora nodded. “At the pace we set, three hours, I believe. With luck, we'll see the city before this eve.”

Lara nodded. “We're making better time than I'd expected. Ponies have some amazing endurance.”

Zecora opened her mouth to speak- but her words died in her throat as she saw Sam halt abruptly, bring up one fist into the air for a moment, then raise his index finger and twirl it three times before pointing towards the nearest treeline. “Those gestures he makes, I have never seen,” she half-whispered. “Pray tell me, Lara- what do they mean?”

“Rally everyone up and get them into cover in the woods.” The woman immediately sprinted towards the wagons, and Zecora was right behind, helping to get the ponies pulling the wagons moving in the right direction. “What's going on?” asked one of the harnessed earth ponies- Cinnamon Swirl, if Zecora remembered correctly. “Why are we leaving the road?”

Lara glanced ahead. “Sam seems to believe there's a threat ahead. I'm willing to follow his recommendation.”

“But I don't hear-”

thud

Zecora felt as much as heard the impact- a deep, heavy vibration through the ground that rattled loose planks on the wagons. Somewhere to the northeast, a tree crashed to the ground. Lara visibly paled. “I think we've found what Sam was worried about,” she murmured. “Or rather, it has found us. Everyone! Go! Quickly!”

The procession broke out into a half-panicked gallop, the ponies pulling the wagons somehow able to keep up with the others as they outright fled for cover. Just as the group made it to the treeline deeply enough to be hidden from view, something seemed to explode from the thicker forest north of the road, sending thirty-foot firs and redwoods flying like toothpicks.

The... thing that had uprooted the trees like weeds came into sight a moment later, and Zecora would swear that her heart stopped for a moment in pure mortal terror.

Its overall form was suggestive of armor, something that either of the humans might be able to wear... were they five times the height of Ponyville's Town Hall. Brown-and-purple metallic plates covered every inch of it, with many places bearing accents of a wicked green that would've spelled “poisonous” on any plant Zecora knew of; its chest bore an opening, covered by three bars each thicker than three ponies standing nose-to-tail, through which leaked some unidentifiable glowing-green substance. From its back jutted a pair of thick structures that looked like warped versions of parapets she'd seen rising from Canterlot Castle.

Her ears instinctively plastered themselves against her head as the thing gave off a piercing wail and lurched forward, one enormous foot slamming down into the ground hard enough to throw rocks and soil dozens of feet in every direction around it. She could just barely hear the ponies behind her let out screams of fear, some of them backing further into the forest; none broke away and ran, however, most likely out of some primal fear of being separated from the herd and brought down.

Lara had her weapon in hand, though Zecora figured that to be for a feeling of safety rather than any actual intent to use it; as powerful as the “firearm” was against normal creatures, it would likely have the same effect against this monstrosity as would spitballs versus a dragon. “What in God's name is that?” she uttered.

“No idea.” Sam had his arms crossed, his nonchalance almost comical given the situation. “I've fought bigger things, but usually with a rocket launcher.”

Zecora was about to ask him what difference fireworks could possibly make in this situation when an flicker of movement at the edge of her sight caught her attention. She brought her gaze back to the monster in the distance- and could just pick out a shape flying towards it at high speed, barely more than a black dot at that range. As she watched, that dot seemed to intercept the giant metallic beast-

-and burst through its left arm, sending a cloud of torn metal flying through the air.

The creature, whatever it was, reeled from the impact; its damaged arm creaked, then snapped off above the elbow, crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. Before the towering monster could recover, the airborne speck cut a tight half-circle turn and repeated the trick- this time plowing into its left leg just above the knee. The machine's horrid horn sounded again, sounding for all the world like the cry of a wounded animal, as its leg buckled under the onslaught and it half-fell to the ground; as it struggled to keep from collapsing completely, that speck flew above it- and then seemed to streak through space itself, too fast for the equine eye to follow, spearing through the metal monstrosity's abdomen.

The thing froze for a moment, shuddered, and then fell to the ground in a heap, giving off one final bellowing cry before becoming still and silent.

“What... what did that?!” Zecora heard somepony cry out.

“Hard to tell at this distance.” Sam was holding up an object of some sort, flat and rectangular; a moving image decorated the side facing him. “Looks like a weird sort of pony, though.”

Zecora blinked, then trotted over to have a look for herself. The shape shown in the picture on the object looked familiar, but she couldn't place it- until it held still for a moment, and the image sharpened slightly. “I know her, and her arrival is none too soon!” she exclaimed. “My friends, that is Luna, Princess of the Moon!”

Various cheers rose up from the ponies still hiding beneath the cover the trees provided. “Well, great,” Sam said, “but how's she going to find us from all the way over there?”

“Hm. I may have a solution.” Lara unslung the small pack that hung from her shoulders, opened it, and produced something small and bright orange that almost resembled her firearm- except that the front tube was much wider and shorter. She pushed something red into it, then raised it into the air and pulled the trigger; with a loud pop and a high-pitched whine, a brilliant red spark soared into the air, leaving a thick trail of smoke behind it. “Flare gun,” Sam commented with the barest of grins. “Handy.”

“Vital, sometimes, in my profession,” Lara replied, tucking the flare gun away. Sure enough, the speck in the distance seemed to take notice of the flare, and within the space of a quarter-minute it had covered the distance- until the slightly-disheveled-looking form of Princess Luna landed before them. “I apologize for my lateness.” she said, her cyan eyes flicking across the now-kneeling ponies and zebra. “Other matters demanded my attention. But... why are you all here? I would have expected you to remain at Goldengrass Village until my arrival.”

“Err... pardon me, Your Majesty, but I'm afraid that would've been quite impossible,” Lara replied.

“Why? What has happened-” she went quiet abruptly as she once more looked around at the assembled ponies- and their bandages, their shell-shocked expressions, and the foals whose parents weren't there. “...how many,” she half-whispered to Lara, “still remain at the village?”

Lara let out a soft sigh. “Sixty-eight, Your Highness.”

For the briefest of moments, a look of pure anguish washed over the alicorn's features, before she steeled herself. “I take it that I have the two of you to thank for defending the survivors, and seeing them away from the danger?” she asked, her gaze flicking between the humans.

Lara smiled slightly. “Well, yes, but the efforts of Zecora and Derpy were crucial to tending the wounded and making good time.”

“Indeed. Mine sister chose well to send them to find you.” A brief smile crossed Luna's face. “So I am to take it you are Lara Croft, and your companion is Sam Stone?”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The woman gave a smile and a bow of her head, while Sam merely nodded and grunted out “Yeah, hi”. If the man's lack of manners bothered the lunar diarch, she didn't show it. “Excellent,” Luna said quietly. “And I assume that you seek to bring these unfortunates to Whinnipeg?”

“That's right, Princess,” Derpy answered. “We've still got a lot of hurt and scared ponies who need to get somewhere safe.”

“A laudable goal. Perhaps I can speed the process.” She raised her head, and her voice. “My little ponies!” she called out. “You've nothing to fear now. Your Princess will bring you to safety. Gather 'round me, hence.”

Zecora was heartened to see no hesitation from the ponies who clustered up around the midnight-blue alicorn. Either they've come to accept her, or they simply know there are far more terrifying things she seeks to protect them from, the zebra mused. “Now, my little ponies, ready yourselves,” Luna commanded. “This may prove to feel unpleasant, but it is the quickest way to safety.”

The Princess's horn was enveloped by a jet-black aura that quickly grew to encompass the entire group, and Zecora felt a wave of cold air wash over her as darkness surrounded her- and yet she was still able to see all the others as clearly as before. And then there was an abrupt lurching feeling, as if they all were in some invisible wagon being pulled at great speeds- and pinpricks of light formed in the void, creating white glowing streaks as they zoomed past to disappear behind them.

The ethereal light show lasted for only half a minute before the void gradually faded, to reveal to them a wide paved road leading towards a rather impressive city skyline. A sign posted beside the road read “WELCOME TO WHINNIPEG, HOME OF THE BARBECUE HAYBURGER”. “Hell,” Sam muttered, rubbing his head. “That was some ride.”

“I wanna do that again!” a foal yelled out from one of the wagons, quickly joined by several others. Luna actually smiled for a moment before raising a hoof to catch the attention of a pedestrian further down the road. “You there!” she called.

“Yeah, whatcha need- oh my stars!” The unicorn immediately dropped into a bow. “Princess Luna! I... I had no idea you were coming!”

“Your assistance is required, citizen. Goldengrass has been attacked; these ponies are what remain of its population. They must be seen to in whatever ways are required. All expenses will be paid by the Crowns.”

“Attacked?!” The stallion's eyes went wide. “I... I understand, Princess! Wait here! I'll call emergency services!” He ran off as fast as his hooves could carry him.

It didn't take long for the Whinnipeg Police Department and paramedics from the local hospitals to respond; the officials were quick to take command of the scene, setting up a triage for the wounded on the spot and taking statements from the others. Somepony else had offered to go to the mayor to call for pegasus patrols over the terrain between the city and the village to watch for any advancing demonic forces. As soon as the situation seemed to be under control, Luna took the two humans, Zecora and Derpy aside. “As much as I would like to see to the comfort of these unfortunate ponies, we have greater issues to resolve,” the Princess said.

Zecora nodded in agreement. “You have already saved us hours we would have spent at a tiring trot. Pray tell, Princess- do you intend to see us to Canterlot?”

“If only I could.” A deep frown creased Luna's face. “I must instead take you to an emergency camp in the woods surrounding the mountain base. Mine sister awaits us there, with answers to the questions our human friends here undoubtedly have.”

“Um... Princess?” Derpy's expression was a mixture of worry and confusion. “Why there? What's wrong? Why would Princess Celestia be in some camp instead of the castle?”

Luna raised her head and looked towards the east. “Because, my good mailmare... the city of Canterlot is under siege.”