[Attack!] The Party Ends (Open)

[Elderflower]

Sugar Star's heart went from triumph to horror in seconds. She landed a blow on Slippy with her knife, but doing so brought the unicorn's wrath upon her quickly. His dark magic barrelled towards her at incredible speed, and she tried to manoeuvre around it. Normally it would be a task she could perform with ease: Sugar Star's strength rested in her ability to fly nimbly and quickly, a skillset likely rooted in her history as a dancer, but this time she was too tired, too drained of blood. The specialist manage to turn her body away from the brunt of the blow but it still caught her left side.

She dropped from the sky instantly, screaming in agony. Oh Tartarus no. The pain was indescribable. Ice and fire and daggers all at once were assaulting her entire left side, causing her to writhe in pain. No no no. She couldn't let some shrivelled old sorcerer wretch get the better of her like this. Not now, not with so many ponies and gryphons battling their hardest. But Sugar simply couldn't shut off the pain, couldn't beat it. Not right away.

The pegasus just barely registered a speech being made in an unfamiliar voice, trying to rally the Caribou against the sorcerer. So he had bewitched one of his own soldiers? Her disgust at the notion hardened Sugar's will, and though she could not stand she managed to still her tortured writhing and fix Slippery with a determined glare. Her previous declaration still lived in her eyes, her expression. He would rue the day he called upon their fury, and Sugar Star, all of them - they would not submit.

-----------

Ryx let out a terrible cross between a raptor's shriek and the roar of a big cat the moment the sharp tines of her foe's antlers penetrated her side. She pulled back immediately, her cries intensifying as metal spikes slashed across her chest. Fortunately the latter blow was softened by her thick chest feathers, but the added pain was something the angry gryph did not need. She stepped back, wings folded tightly against her body to keep them protected as best she could and help ease the pain on her side,. The gryphon's chest oozed red as she panted...this armoured caribou was no joke - but...but what was that!?

Looking her enemy in the eyes, Ryx felt her stomach turn to lead. This was no ordinary foe, but not because of her considerable strength! The lovely, powerful cow was completely bewitched. Her eyes glowed with sickening purple smoke and her body, though strong and battle-ready, lacked the vitality of life. Cogs were turning in the scholar's head as the second caribou approached, swinging his hammer. She jumped back, though not without difficulty, and scowled at the pain. What struck her as odd, however, was the uncertainty marked on his expression, for it matched her own. At once Ryx grasped for every scrap of knowledge her educated mind had on caribou and made her next move: one that would hopefully spare her or any other creature, be they pony or caribou, from getting any more bloody. Before she could speak, she saw the REA pegasus she had rescued earlier dropped by wicked magic with a tortured shriek. Ryx felt a desperate ache to go assist her but had to stay and protect the helpless here, had to try something to ease this assault. Better than anyone, that mare knew going into this battle that her life was forfeit. The gryphon took a deep breath.

"Ho there, Caribou!" she bellowed respectfully, careful to keep her distance should her attackers push forward again. Her voice boomed over the field of battle, hopefully calling the attention of the six Vikings who seemed to retained their minds to her.

"Please, cease your charge! This berserker, this cow, is caught in a snare of vile magic. She has been robbed of her thoughts, her will, her heart! Her eyes are empty but for the mark of a curse! Help me free her! I cannot fight a foe who has been made to a fight as a puppet would dance upon strings, there is no honour in that. Only the strong survive, correct? But what of those who have been robbed of a chance by devilry such as this? That sorceror is using you all as pawns to his own gains, just as Sombra is! Tyrants do not share power. They'd see you dead if you fail to bend the knee, and why bow to a snake?"

[SunsetSombra]

[this post has been removed by original writer - deletion request]

[RarityDash]

Cyprianus' attention stayed firmly on the female guard who had thrown the knife into his leg. He smiled upon seeing his curse had connected with her and let out some dark laughter at her screams. She was helpless before him and the pain he wrought. Once he was sure she had had enough to subdue anyone, he stopped his curse and moved toward where he left her upon the ground. With his magic, he then pulled the knife from out of his leg and levitated it, still bloody, toward the guardpony's neck.

"This is what happens to those who would challenge my power," he said in a deeply sinister voice as the knife drew ever closer...

Elsewhere, many other things were happening. The giant hawks still attacked the uniformed pegasus and the male griffon, but one of the five spied a white unicorn mare in the side alleys and swept down to assail her with flourishes of beak and talon.

The viking who was being driven to a blinding rage my the mischievous unicorn mare stomped his hoof and gave a harsh cry at her incessant taunts and doges. That she had the nerve to actually kiss him and ask him how his day was, only served to turn his face red with anger. "You dare to mock me, wretched fool? I am Hersir Megin and long have I sailed with the Red Jarl! This hammer of mine has smashed though the bones of countless ponies like you who were foolish enough to test my patience!"

The warrior called Megin gave a battlecry and then swung his hammer harder than ever before at the nimble unicorn. He missed, unfortunately and in the process of the swing, he lost his grip on his hammer. It went flying far off into the distance, leaving the warrior weaponless.

Meanwhile, the berserker's antlers deterred her large griffon foe, for a moment, as did the appearance of her eyes and face. This did not stop a pegasus mare from sweeping in from behind to deliver a blow to the armored caribou's knee, causing her to stagger--not from any pain, but just from the force of it.

While this pony distracted the berserker, the griffoness made an appeal to the viking who rushed under the order of the sorcerer to meet her in combat. This viking was Drengr Frjáls, an older, grayer caribou, heartily-muscled, bearded, and posessing hard, stony eyes. Now he was as fierce and ruthless a warrior as any of them were, but he had to admit that the sight of the caribou cow's face had spooked him, and for multiple reasons. Frjáls found himself in a moment of doubt about what he was doing there. Unlike others who sailed with the Jarl, he had already cut a long carreer on the seas and he had a family back home. He could not deny that a major part of him rejected this situation. Following the orders of this black wizard who would rob caribou of their minds and send them to murder children, and all of it done in the name of some wicked tyrant, brought back from beyond death? His pride as a warrior made him question what he did, but his doubts saw him lower his hammer and look to the griffon.

"I can't deny that I find myself wavering at the sight of her. The Jarl... he promised us riches, gold which I could send back home to Saar, but I have little taste for that accursed wizard and his defilement of what is right and natural, or his true king for that matter," he said in a heavy voice. "But be that as it may, I cannot help you. I know nothing of the mechanism of the wizard's wicked arts... and even if I did I would hesitate to help one such as her regardless..." he added as he looked again to the berserker's face. It was unmistakable, really. Countless of his best comrades had been locked away in the prisons of Heil solely through the efforts of this one particular cow. Seeing her as she was now, Frjáls in pat felt it was as she deserved, even as another part told him it was a fate deserved by no caribou.

It was about then that the two sword wielding vikings who had been chasing the pegasus mare caught up with her and began to swing their weapons in her direction, freeing the attention of the berserker who charged anew at the griffoness. Frjáls, a certain doubt still about him, begrudgingly lifted his hammer once more, prepared to resume fighting as well.

As this all transpired, Tourmaline Glass was escorted quickly away by the red earth stallion. No one pursued them, and it seemed for a time they were safe. Tourmaline found herself finally able to breathe and think again, for the first time since the invasion had begun. Almost immediately when she did, she noticed that the pony who had lead her away carried on his back none other than the misshapen harbinger who had spoken to her earlier in the day, before everything started.

"D-disguise?" she started, echoing the word of the pony who had taken her from that horrible spot, finding it hard to speak normally again. She looked to the strangely shaped stallion, beset with a deep curiosity for whatever mysteries were set to reveal themselves.

​

[Blueblood]

"Ah.... Oah..." Try as Kahz could to put a brave face on the situation, the jostling along Red Cedar's back kept disturbing his chitinous injury, and the pain in turn prevented an unclouded observation of the goings-on. The battle itself was painful to watch as well; having no taste for barbarism, it was hard for him to stand the sight of it having an upper hand. There were, for the changelings, no gods; nothing to which he could appeal in a last ditch resort. Plus, if the invaders won, would he ven make it back alive to give his report.

"Ungh?" The stallion was asking about a disguise. So, Red was, in fact, aware of the whole situation Re:Changelings, was he? Well, no point in maintaining the illusion now; it sapped too much of his strength in any case. With a shimmer, the image of a pony dropped from him, leaving a Changeling in a sorry state. He was still just as twisted, but there were visible cracks along the exoskeleton of his left foreleg. "Dunno... how much good... you'd do... anyway..."

Looking away from the sickening sight, he caught the gaze of Tourmaline. Darn it, he'd forgotten! No weaseling out of this; he was done and caught. "Heh... and I thought... I had... the darkest secrets... today." He nodded out towards the raging battle. "Never got... your name. Mine's Kahz." They might die if this went bad. It would be too horrible to die next to each other, and ignorant of names.

​

[PedestrianWolf]

The griffon had managed to topple the viking, but not defeat him. The caribou got back on his feet and snorted, pawed the ground, and charged. Derecho was ready. He crouched low, tail lashing behind him. Just as the warrior was within striking range, the griffon grabbed his antlers and rolled backwards, using the caribou's momentum against him. He placed both hind paws firmly on the armored chest of the viking and kicked him up and over, straight into the hawk that was divebombing them. Well well, how fortuitous!

While the bird and beast were entangled in each other, Derecho made a quick survey of the battle. The wounded stallion and the young fillies had been moved to safety, that was good. The berserker, who was covered in pie? was being engaged by the large black griffoness and another pony. They seemed to be holding their own, but more of the vikings were converging on them.

Movement caught his eye. More young fillies, darting back and fourth, carrying instruments? No time to wonder about that, they seemed to be avoiding the conflict so far. A cry of pain caused him to turn and look upwards. The golden pegasus had been hit by a beam of magic from the dark sorcerer. She writhed in pain as she hit the ground, and that odious evil creature was advancing on her, holding a knife.

"Nyet, not today you don't." the griffon hissed. He rolled to his feet on one graceful move and started running in their direction. Leapfrogging over the viking who had only just disentangled himself from the fallen hawk, he snapped his wings open and launched himself into the air. He climbed ever higher into the swirling crescendo that the weather pegasi were creating, gaining altitude.

He concentrated. He had done this move dozens of times before, taught it to his students. This time it just might break his feathery neck, but it was a chance he had to take. The griffon backflipped in a tight arc, and dived. He held his wings close to his body, to gain speed. He held one talon in front of him, balled into a fist. His vision started to tunnel, and in the bullseye was that treacherous vermin of a sorcerer.

"Do a barrel roll" he whispered to himself. Flicking one wing to put himself into a controlled spin, he aimed his whole body at his target. "Three seconds to impact. Two. One."

POW!

Crystal flugelhorns. Crystal flugelhorns. Marzipan had seen some over by the jousing arena, so that's where she headed. She ducked and ran, moving between the carts and hiding behind debris. She panted, buzzing with fear and adrenaline. There was fighting going on all around her, and she felt so small and useless.

No, not totally useless. She had bought a few precious seconds for that little crystal filly with her pie throwing. And being small had advantages. She could move quickly, and keep out of sight of the big brutes. She considered flying, but there were those giant birds in the sky, and those things were scary! No, best to stay low.

She skittered past the tent where the jousting supplies were kept, and had an idea. Sneaking in, she grabbed one of the helmets and tried it on. Too big, made for a stallion. Maybe this one? Still a bit big, but better. At least the filly could see out of this one. It rattled around too much though. Ditching the helmet, she tried on the body armor. It hung low on her, but the stuffed saddlebags on her back padded her flanks. Good enough, it would do. Feeling a bit better protected, the almond pegasus slipped out of the tent and over to the flugelhorn display.

Marzipan's heart sank. Many of the instruments had been damaged by the falling buildings. She sifted through the rubble. This one wasn't too badly bent. Here was one that was only scratched and dented a little. Ah, one that was almost in perfect condition, just covered in dirt. She hurredly gathered as many of the horns as she could carry and prepared to go back the way she came when he heard shouting. Peeking her head up, she saw the large black griffon addressing the viking horde, begging them to stop and consider their actions. It was a bold move, and the little pegasus respected her greatly for it. Also for the distraction it provided.

The filly crouched down low and moved as quickly as she could back to the jousting supplies tent. Carrying all these horns was tiring, and the armor she wore was heavier than she expected. It would be awesome if she could get her friends to meet here instead of over by the carts, but how to get their attention without alerting anypony else?

. . . . .

A lance, its base buried in the sand of the jousing arena, with a banner attached to its point, snapping in the wind. On the banner, a paintbrush, ball, and carrot were drawn in charcoal and smudged with berry juice (to make the carrot purple). Hopefully her friends would get the hint...

[SteelEagle]

Soarin' prayed to the hoary hosts of Equestria's bright past for some help but none was forthcoming. The hawk was relentless and so was the viking on it, the talons and teeth, the axe and spear, not a breath to be spared or a moment to be had to think of anything else other than surviving the next attack. Luckily it was a giant hawk and a viking at a bad angle. Otherwise he would be dead, as uncoordinated were his attempts at fleeing. But he also knew he had no real shoot at escape, at least none that he was willing to take. He could probably just fly away and count on his speed being greater than a hawk weighed down by a viking, but that would be cowardly. How could he live with himself if he ran while the Empire burned? No. No, he would do what he could until he could do no more. A younger Soarin' could have done more but even in his older age Soarin' was beyond most fliers. He'd just have to be willing to dig deep into whatever reserves he had to fight this.

Luckily, he had already gotten his wings some solid practice with the previous weather team. The same concept could hold true for the hawk, even more so since it lacked any weather magics to be effective against him. So he repeated what he did to the weather team, with the added fact he was being more agile than the hawk. Contradictory wind patterns. Directional flying. The hawk flew itself into a tizzy, nearly crossing itself a few times in an attempt to bite at the flighty pegasus. The viking was holding on increasingly less as a way to attack the Wonderbolt and more needing to purely survive. Words failed Soarin' as his razor sharp focus-

-KATHUNK. “AHHHH!”

An arrow in the back from one of the vikings on a hawk. The pain was overwhelming, the arrow lodgings itself abreast of his spinal column. He held himself up in the air out of shock but stopped flying around, becoming an easy target for the Hawk. It grabbed Soarin' in its claws and shook the Wonderbolt violently before biting down on one of his wings and shaking him some more. With a great cry of victory it tossed the Wonderbolt up in the air...and then caught him in its mouth, biting and swallowing.

Soarin' was food now.

[PyroBlaze]

Flux pouted slightly as the caribou didn't answer her question, instead going into some kind of angry rant and trying to hit her again with his hammer. She dodged around the blow, then watched the hammer with a tilted head as it flew away. She looked back at Megin after a moment with a wide smile on her face.

"Hiya, Meggy! I'm Flux!" She said, giving him a wave. She paused, her smile faltering for a moment as she looked back to the direction the hammer had gone in. "Sorry 'bout your hammer, but that's why you gotta keep a good grip on those things. So! Now that you do-" She stopped abruptly and looked over at seemingly nothing, looking like she was listening to somepony talking though no voice came. In truth, she was listening to her imaginary friends as they spoke.

"Sorry, Meggy, but looks like we can't be friends. Oh well, maybe next time." Flux said, shrugging slightly in disappointment. With that, she turned and delivered a kick to the caribou's face, finally going on the offensive.

[RarityDash]

Tourmaline was sure she was through being stunned that day, but the sight of the strange unicorn becoming an equally strange changeling saw the eyes in her face bulging to their limits.

"You're a changeling!" she started in alarm. She calmed down as she noticed the not unpleasant expression on the creature's face. "Ummm... I mean... well, I'm called Tourmaline Glass, and I'm an investigator of all..." the filly started but then silenced herself with a sigh. "I go to school here in the empire..." she admitted somewhat sheepishly.

She looked at the changeling with uncertainty, her mind starting to swirl again. "I was caught in a changeling invasion once not too long ago. Nightmare Night in Ponyville. It was kind of unsettling, but nothing like this... were you a part of that...?" she asked, tilting her head. "Or are you a good changeling, like Prince Bathos from the Untold Schism Saga?" she asked hopefully.

Hersir Megin felt like a fool. He was a Hersir for crying out loud! He could picture Ofrior and some of the others of the same rank mocking him viciously for throwing his own hammer away in the fight, but this opponent fiercely grated at his very last nerve. He didn't need a hammer to smash such a pitiful excuse for a pony though. He could do it with his bare hooves and antlers! She went to grab at her, but she seemed as if she heard some voiceless someone call to her and then made like she was in retreat. The Hersier lunged at where she thought she would be, only for a hard and sudden kick to be placed upon the side of his face.

He staggered back. "Accursed wretch! How dare you strike me!" he shouted, wincing and reeling from his likely broken nose. He lurched toward the pony, trying this time to reach her with his hooves.

In the sky, one of the hawks ate a pony whole. Cyprianus had made his hawks to different sizes. Most of them were only as big as two to three ponies, but the largest of them was indeed large enough to swallow a pony whole. Atop this one, and on top of the next largest, additional vikings still did ride, tormenting others in the sky with their weapons from the backs of their feathered mounts. These viking riders howled with satisfaction upon seeing the pony go down their mount's gullet. What a sight it was to see!

Cyprianus and his knife, meanwhile, moved closer to his target, ready to slice her throat. Just as he was about to do the wicked deed, the male griffon who had so viciously insulted him in so many ways came at him with an impressively powerful punch. Caught off guard, the unicorn immediately dropped the knife and attempted to generate a magic shield. His reflexes were not keen enough, however, and the shield was still far too thin as the punch collided and shattered it before slamming into his face.

He was lucky to at least be able to soften the impact, but the blow still stung considerably. Cyprianus staggered back, his face feeling numb. He glanced aside to see how it was that this foe had even gotten to them, to see that the hawk and the viking that had been sent to deal with the griffon had gotten tangled with each other and were only now coming undone. He fumed. Could he truly trust no one but himself there that day?

"You may have stopped me from finishing that one, but my ire is now on you both! I will show you worlds of fear the likes which have made creatures of all shapes quake from the halls of Kastrot to the darkest corner of the Southern Wilds!" he shouted. "Protect me, my pets, while I enact this summoning!" he shouted as magic shot from his horn to the riderless hawks and then up into the air right before him where some kind of otherworldly gate slowly began to form.

The three hawks still in the sky, including the largest one with its stomach full of pony, all descended at once and began to encircle the griffon and the guard, swiping and pecking at them with a new fury to keep them from the wizard who was their commander.

​

[PyroBlaze]

Flux looked at the caribou again as he spoke, complaining about how she had hit him. She giggled slightly at his words, hopping backwards a bit as Megin grabbed at her. He was a silly caribou! Too bad they couldn't be friends, this was fun!

"Silly Meggy. Sorry about hitting you, but you're trying to hurt my friends, and my friends say I should be stopping you. I'd love to be your friend, but that would mean you would have to stop attacking my other friends, and it doesn't really look like you'll be doing that any time soon." She said, hopping backwards some more to get out of his hooves. She kept playing around a bit, standing still until he tried to grab her, then jumping back out of the way, bouncing as she moved a bit away and waited for him again. After a bit, Devil yelled at her, telling her to attack. She giggled before turning to kick Megin in the face again.

[DerpRavener]

“Arrgh!” 'Spring Breeze' felt frustration mix into the slurry of emotions she was currently experiencing. Red and the others seemed to be out of danger for now, but nothing seemed to be going the way she wanted it too. She'd managed to stagger the berzerker, but it didn't take. Which she'd expected, and it would have been fine except that the cow immediately turned back towards the large griffon, who'd been trying to talk down the final caribou to join the fray. As the whole point of this exercise was to lead the berzerker around, failing to even get its attention meant she'd expected the energy for nothing.

'Spring Breeze' frantically leapt away from the pair of swords swung at her, and though she escaped mostly intact she received a couple of gashes on her forelegs. They weren't too deep, but it was a painful reminder of just how close she was cutting things. She fled to the air once more, to give herself some breathing room.

It was then that she heard the cry of pain from the guardspony. 'Spring Breeze' grimaced at the sound, but as the hawks hadn't taken notice of her yet (she was flying low enough, apparently) she had a moment to look. The guardspony had tried to attack the mage himself, but he was having none of it. A burst of magic had left the pegasus writhing on the ground, but as the mage closed in to finish her of the griffon from the frontlines charged in and knocked him back.

With her initial plan a failure but the mage occupied, 'Spring Breeze' saw an opportunity. She had one idea that she hadn't been able to try until now. It was a bit of a gamble, given that she didn't know for certain how the berzerker was controlled, but the potential payoff was huge. “Plan B it is,” she muttered to nopony in particular.

Putting on a sudden burst of speed, 'Spring Breeze' angled herself to land in front of the berzerker a short distance away, then with a few flashes of green changed her disguise mid-fall.

What crashed to the ground ahead of the caribou, wincing for only an instant as it landed on injured forelegs, was a dull purple unicorn stallion, with an unruly black mane and an equally unruly beard. Naj of course couldn't replicate the robe, and some of the proportions were wrong and the colour was subtly off, but one way or another that likely wouldn't matter. Besides, her focus had been on the voice anyways, likely the more important part.

She had to speak quickly, it wouldn't be long before the pursuing caribou caught up to her, and there was no way they'd be fooled for more than an instant. She doubted even the ponies who'd only seen the mage for a minute would be fooled. But she only needed to fool one in particular, who currently lacked the brain to tell the difference.

“INSOLENT WRETCH!” the 'unicorn' thundered at the berzerker, drawing forth all the rage and arrogance he could muster. The mage seemed the type to abuse his toys, and now would be no time to break from that. “You waste my time with these weaklings while THAT IMPOSTER-” the 'unicorn' wrenched his foreleg in the direction of real one, “and the traitors who follow him roam unscathed! Slay him and every caribou he leads!”

There it was. Either this would work, and that caribou would not only stop being a problem but could help solve their other problems, or the cow wasn't influenced by voice and the plan had no hope from the get go. In neither case could Naj afford to stop and study the results.

Doubly so for the otherworldly hole that the mage now seemed to be tearing in the sky.

As she was out of the berzerker's line of sight, (shifting to the side, if she needed, to get there) Naj dropped her now unnecessary disguise and ran toward the mage, intent on joining the fray. She wasn't exactly sure what was happening, but she was confident that if they couldn't stop it things would end very badly for them.

[Elderflower]

At the very last possible moment, when Sugar Star felt ready to accept her death, the spotted gryphon barrelled into the scene a landed a blow on Slippery. The specialist, still feeling as though her side was on fire, clenched her jaw, snatched the knife that Slippery had dropped, and finally stood once more. No, no more accepting defeat or death. This was time to act. Unfortunately, though, Slippy had the exact same thought and started working some really sinister magic. He also called down more hawks. More hawks. Yes, that was exactly what the battered mare needed.

“Thank you, friend!” she was sure to call out to her rescuer this time, though it was a bit muffled since she had a knife in her teeth.

Sugar cast her gaze around and spotted her sword nearby as well. She supposed she was lucky she didn’t land on it during her fall - that would have been a terrible end to her part in all this. Putting away Slippy’s knife, she wielded her sword once more as the first of the hawks came at her. Curse these beasts to Tartarus she thought acidly, slashing at the avian foot that reached to rake at her. Thankfully it sent the beast back, but Sugar winced and stepped back as well. She was still hurting, but this wasn’t a time to falter. It also wasn’t a time to be fighting giant bloody hawks.

The specialist tried to meet her gyphon ally’s eyes, gesturing to Slippery. Whatever he was summoning should not be allowed to come through and she was going to do her best to go after him - they had to get rid of these birds quickly. The gates that had appeared, that sickening black magic that made her heart feel slimy: it all had to be stopped. The first hawk was back on her again, though, and the other two had reached them both - and of course they had begun circling. Getting out of this one would be difficult, but at least these birds weren’t sentient. That was one thing they had going for them, at least.

One of the circling birds’ talons reached the specialist and ripped open her ear, and the mare targeted that one. She staggered a bit from the pain, hissing loudly as hot blood flowed down over her neck and her armour. Time to act: thankfully she still had two bows left in her arsenal. After reading the birds’ movements, she threw her knife and got one in the eye, and right after that sent one of her bows to stick on the other eye. Blinding these things worked before, and thankfully it worked again. Not nearly as well, but that was probably for the best - if it worked too well she’d likely have three skeletal hawks on her hooves. That...that was not something she wanted.

The hawk she blinded shrieked and halted in the air, causing the other two to crash into it and they all tumbled forwards. The last to crash into them was up into action quick enough, but the one she blinded was grounded and wailing, throwing its wings around as it tried to bat the bow off its eye while the other eye bled freely. The second was dazed for a few moments, providing an excellent opportunity to attack. So Sugar Star did, she leaped skywards, crying out and faltering a little from pain caused by her wounds and lingering black magic, and came down at the bird from above, aiming to thrust her blade into the base of the bird’s neck. She was unsteady in the sky, though, still feeling the effects of Slippery’s magic - her blow connected with the hawk’s wing, instead.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Ryx bristled, her thick layers of feathers standing on edge as she flattened her ear tufts and anger tinted her yellow raptor’s eyes. She took a breath, mentally running through every leaf of parchment and every tome she had ever read on caribou culture. She also pulled on what she had learned from traveling caribou, which she deemed more valuable compared to writing done from the biased standpoint of an equine or avian scholar. She would not strike, and so long as she wished to talk she hoped her ‘foe’ would see reason.

“Only the strong survive. Those words mean something to you, but how do you measure strength?” the gryphoness asked, gesturing to the fillies and colts who were hiding, cowering for the lives, “This powerful strike force of yours has assaulted a group of civilians and there are mere babes among us. Before I came here I saw the bodies of foals that had been callously murdered cast about the streets. Do caribou find strength in the murder of children? What spoils await you after this battle that are worth this? Sombra will take the bulk of it for himself and give you his scraps, you know this. Caribou are fierce, and your ways brutal compared to ponykind, but you are not without your honour. That is what I have always believed... at least until today. You would settle for the riches Sombra does not claim after fighting this battle for him, after besmirching your own honour in his name? Look at how that sorcerer stood back, simpering and cowardly, while he pushed you into the fore, bewitched one of your own into murdering a filly. You may not care for this cow, but would you wish that on another? Having their mind robbed and their hooves stained with the blood of children? End this madness, for pity’s sake. You know as well as I there is one way to put an end to that monster’s black magic. You cut the head off the snake.”

Ryx could only hope the caribou would listen to reason. She heard in his speech that his heart was heavy: caribou were relentless, unforgiving, and came from a bloody lifestyle, but they were never monsters. Living through a living Tartarus together every day in the Whitescar could only strengthen their sense of kinship and community, she was sure, and constantly seeing the weak perish or be killed had to place a value on young life, on the future of their society. She refused to believe that they couldn’t be reasoned with - at the very least this one had to listen.

[RedCedar]

Red sucked in a breath through clenched lips as the changeling's disguise dropped, and he was left looking at - well, whatever it was, it looked pretty awful. Gingerly, he looked around at the injury to Kahz's leg, seeing how it might have been meant to fit together, while it was leaking... something. The notion of an external structure was still alien to him, even having seen it up close before, but there was no doubt that this must have been as painful as a broken leg.

Tourmaline Glass, however, seemed to be fascinated by her first changeling. He thought she took it a little better than he did, actually, launching straight into the questions. "I was caught in a changeling invasion once not too long ago. Nightmare Night in Ponyville. It was kind of unsettling, but nothing like this... were you a part of that...? Or are you a good changeling, like Prince Bathos from the Untold Schism Saga?"

Red smirked. "I'm starting to feel like I'm the only one who wasn't there during that invasion," he said. "Though I'm not sure I wanted to make up for it like this." he added, then looked to Tourmaline Glass. "Good changeling Prince Bathos? If we get out of this, you'll have to get me a copy of that," he said with a smile.

Looking back to Kahz's injury, he took another deep breath, then looked around the room - more like an office - that he had herded everyone into out the range of combat. Settling on a course of action, he reached up to the curtains along the window and, with his teeth, ripped off several long strips, setting them beside Kahz where he could use them. Then he took his hooves and placed them on either side of the distinct crack in the chitin. Pausing there for a moment, he looked back up to Kahz apologetically, saying, "Sorry, but this is probably going to hurt like Tartarus.". A second later, he sharply jerked the exoskeleton in his hooves, separating, and then resetting the plating so that, while still broken, the two halves now fit together snugly again. Once that was done, he began tying the strips of cloth around Kahz's leg, wrapping it tight to keep it together.

[Blueblood]

Inexpert medicine is never a painless business. Not that Kahz had much right to criticize Red's approach; truth be told, the changeling couldn't think of any better alternative treatment than the simple binding and splinting of the wound. He did not cry, he did not scream, but he very nearly bit through his own jaw in keeping silent.

It was too much; he needed to talk, he needed a distraction. Thankfully, the little filly next to him was willing to talk. So, she'd been on site for the second invasion of Equestria, eh? Kahz would have gone if they'd let him, no need to tell her that little detail, though. "No... wasn't there." He had to choke out a laugh at her asking whether he was a 'good' changeling. "Heh... heh... No one sane... calls themselves... evil. Not even... them." He waved a hoof towards the rampaging caribou outside, even as the Berserker that had almost killed a defenseless foal was in view. "I'm not... as mean as... some, but I'm... loyal to... my own." He shrugged, that is, one of his shoulders was temporarily even with the other. "If I... wasn't... then I... wouldn't call myself... a good changeling."

Almost dispiritedly, he was still watching the battle. Changelings might see ponies as a food source, but they'd never actually eat them, unlike the hawk which gulped down one of the ponies' sky champions. About the only bright spot in the battle was Naj, whose gambit appealed to him on a deep level. He'd always been of the opinion that changelings couldn't imitate the armies of others, but must infuse their native subtlety with boldness. Faking the enemy commander to split the forces was a perfect example. "Now that... that IS good..." He pointed out his fellow changeling to the filly. "I'd do... that... if I wasn't... broken..."

​

[brianblackberry]

Sunrise Beach was stunned, she had never seen anything remotely like this in her life. Sure she had read many stories about the forces of disharmony or destruction that had threatened Equestria throughout history, and like most ponies alive today, had gone through living in the wake of a few of such conflicts herself during her brief life, but never had she been at ground zero of an attack, especially one so malicious and horrifying as this!

It wasn't the fact the turquoise filly had never seen a caribou before that so frightened her, but the horrific avian creatures they were flying, something right out of nightmares and not at all typical of what she was told of the cervids during her lessons. There was something very foul about this whole attack, like dark magic, but even though she was a unicorn and could sense such a force, she was still too young and untrained to actually pinpoint or understand its nature.

Fortunately Sunrise came to her senses with enough time to avoid the diving attack of one of the zombified birds, her speed and fortunate in this case, small size allowing her to escape by diving under one the nearby tents in temporary safety. As she peeked back out from the curtain, the winged abomination had moved on; just as relieving though was Purple waving back to her from the relative safety of under the nearby pie cart. Sunrise had no doubt in her mind that she rather be with her friends then alone during this frightful time and quickly dashed across the path to slide under the cart, bumping into her bestie.

Fortunately Marzipan was also there and even better Purple had a plan that while sounding a bit far fetched was certainly better than anything Sunrise had, which was nothing. Given her 'assignment' of finding a bellows, Sunrise gave a proper salute, "like, royal page Sunrise Beach of the Righteous Rainbow Friendship Kingdom of Princess Twilight Sparkle shall like, do her duty and retrieve a radical bellows!! Like, have no fear and junk my fellow pony citizens!!" It sounded proper and brave, just as a royal page should be, more importantly, a good way to hide how frightened and uncertain she really was.

There are advantages to being small and this was one of them, the caribou, once on the ground appeared to ignore smaller ponies, either because they didn't see them as a threat or perhaps out of pity or even some sense of honor. Whatever the reason, Sunrise was glad for it as it made her race to the nearby smithy with little incident. Well, little incident other than some hammer crashing into the earth right in front of her causing the unicorn filly to screech to a halt.

Sunrise looked about but there was no caribou charging her way, was the hammer just discarded then? Well finders keepers! Unfortunately, try as she might, Sunrise just couldn't lift the hammer, her magic only aided enough to allow her to drag it along the ground behind her, so much for a new mighty weapon of a royal page, well, at least she could hide it and that was something.

After a minute she made it to the smithy, dragging the hammer along the floor in a pink aura behind her until she managed to move it to a pile of hay, which served as a good enough ad hoc location to which to bury the weapon so it couldn't be used. Phew, that was more physically stressful then she would like to admit, at least the bellows would be far lighter. Now to just get it and get the hay back to her friends!

[PedestrianWolf]

Oh, Mother of Mercy, he hurt. The griffon had built up a lot of speed on that dive, and his punch should have knocked the sorcerer tail over teakettle. But the slippery bugger had thrown up a magical shield at the last moment. The hit still connected, but the shield had absorbed much of the impact, and the evil unicorn had only been left staggered. Derecho, though, had spun out and skidded to a stop a few yards away. His right wrist was shattered, that was certain. His collarbone probably broken, too. He drew in a breath and hissed it out. Cracked at least one, if not two ribs as well. That was going to make flying difficult.

He lifted his head to see that the REA pegasus was still alive, and back on her hooves. That was a good sign, at least. She called out a thanks, and he returned her a salute with his good foretalon. She then gestured towards the sorcerer. Turning over to look, Derecho saw that he was now opening some sort of portal, and had called down more hawks to keep them busy while he conjured. Just grreat. Three riderless hawks descended on the pair. The pegasus managed to take down one with a well aimed bolt to the eye. The other two flaied at them, but the golden pegasus managed to pin one to the ground with her sword. The griffon was impressed. She fought like a demon.

An arrow whizzed past his head, bringing his attention back to the fray. There was still a gigantic hawk in the air, large enough to carry multiple warriors on its back. One of them had shot at the griffon, and was readying his bow for another chance. Derecho wasn't about to let him have it, though. Rolling to his feet, the griffon sprang into the air, flapping his wings hard. Lightning bolts of pain shot through his body, but he fought to stay conscious. Holding his broken arm close to his body, he held his left foreleg out, talons balled into a fist. He hit the underside of the dreadnought hawk, punching it right in the gut. The surprised bird lurched forward, pitching one of its caribou riders off his back. It also disgorged its most recently consumed meal. A nauseus rain of vomit and bile fell on the ground below. Along with one blue pony.

Dodging the claws of the great bird, the griffon flipped around and began attacking its underside again. He noticed that there were leather straps crisscrossing the hawk's girth. Aha, so that's how the riders stayed on! Hooking his bad arm in two of the straps, Derecho began kicking at the birds soft underbelly with his razor sharp back claws. He raked and clawed, sending a shower of feathers and blood below like dirty snow. He had no idea if this was affecting the wizard's casting, as the giant hawk was pitching and yawing so bad it was all he could do to hold on. The bird flailed, trying to dislodge this most painful parasite from his belly, and in doing so dumped the rest of his riders off his back. It scratched with its talons, and tried to bite at the griffon with its sharp beak.

Derecho began unbuckling the straps while dodging the giant talons and beak. Getting one strap loose, then a second one, some semblance of a plan formed in his head. Gingerly holding his bad foreleg close to his body, he gripped the two leather thongs he had unfastened and dropped like a stone. Pulling the straps taught, he looped over the bird's back, bringing the straps up with him before dodging past its shoulder and down again. Success! One wing of the gigantic hawk was bound and tangled in the leather strapping. He flew in between its legs and pulled hard, an audible popping noise as the joint was wrenched from its socket. The bird screamed in pain and frustration, trying to flap its now useless wing. Coming up from behind, he landed on its now empty back, and gripped the remaining saddle straps in his good talon like a rodeo rider. He kicked the great hawk's head downwards, causing it to begin plummeting towards the ground. Hopefully right on the head of that accursed unicorn mage.

[RarityDash]

Tourmaline nodded innocently at the red stallion, looking carefully away as he tended to the changeling's cracked leg. "It's a series of eight fantasy novels by the acclaimed author E.W. Moon. Bathos is prince of the Desert Valley Kingdom, firm allies to the Highland King in opposition to the wicked legions of the Demon King. He is jovial and fun-loving, not seeming to ever take things seriously, but he is actually incredibly cunning, solving problems with clever use of his wits and his silver tongue, as well as his ability to shape shift. He is one of the series main heroes alongside the earth pony youth from the highlands Summer Wind, the aged and mysterious but somewhat flaky unicorn wizard Rebus the Green, and the brave griffon huntress Astrid from the Forest Kingdom, until the appearance of the wicked General Animus in book six when he is..." Tourmaline stopped herself and gulped tellingly, recalling the scene in the text where the prince's heart was cut out by the wicked general, who would go on to lay waste to an army of changelings almost singlehoofedly. "Well, you said you wanted to read it, so I probably shouldn't spoil anything..."

It played against character a little, he being in a lot of ways a cheery, comic relief character and all, but Prince Bathos had actually been one of her favorite characters in the story. She had cried upon reading his death scene. That sensitivity in the forefront for how she was rattled, she looked toward the changeling who was right before her. She could understand the things he said, it was a matter of perspective. But then again, was it? Was there anyone who could rightly look at the tyrant Sombra and this dark wizard who served him and believe they were anything more than evil. Sombra practically was the Demon King, and this sorcerer perhaps was his Animus... or maybe his Ichor. It was hard to tell, but the point remained the same. Good and evil were hazier concepts in real life then in fiction, but from where Tourmaline was standing, true evil was still a very real thing in the world.

Her eyes moved to where the injured changeling indicated and she was just in time to see a great change occur. Where once a pegasus stood, now there was a duplicate of the evil wizard. There was another changeling in the area, and this one, much like Bathos, was using ability and wits to try and trick the horrible thing which had very nearly killed her. "So, there was another changeling...?" Tourmaline started. She thought back to what the injured one had told you before. "That's what you meant in what you said about the two..." she said. "There wasn't any hidden meaning in any of that, I suppose... you were just trying to give me some advice..."

The other changeling's ploy, did in fact work, though maybe not entirely as intended. It was a simpler thing even than trickery, though it was unlikely the changeling had a way of knowing this. There was nothing reasoning in the berserker's mind at that moment. The curse had stripped her of all sense and thought. You cannot trick one who cannot think or reason in the first place. The magic itself could, however, be tricked. A soldier who could not follow orders was a useless thing, and so in the magic programming of his curse, Cyprianus had made it so that the berserker would respond to his voice and his alone. As long as the changeling was able to match his voice perfectly, she could command the armored caribou warrior.

"What are you doing, you stupid cow!" one of the sword welding vikings ran in front of the berserker. "It's been all in front of us this time! It's trickery! That is not your master!"

"Halt, brother! I do not think she can recognize--" the other viking with a sword started to speak, rushing to attempt to intervene, but it was too late. The voice of her master had told the berseker to kill and without a will of her own, there was no way for her to resist the order. With a powerful swing of the gigantic sword she carried, the first of the two vikings lost his head.

The scene caught the attention of Cyprianus, even as he concentrated on his summoning spell. His own berserker was coming toward him, viking blood on her weapon. Behind her in the distance was his own image. Changelings, huh? That complicated matters. He could, with a simple order, send the berserker back in the other direction, but what would stop the changeling from just doing the same? He was not interested in some meandering back and forth that would be both distracting and fruitless. The only solution he had was a reckless one that might have dire consequences but it was the only option her saw.

"Berserker, you will destroy every pony you should see save me, and every griffon or changeling too," he said, still focused mainly on his growing portal. "And you shall listen to my orders no further!"

The words reached the berserker and were recognized. Cyprianus loathed having to do such a thing as rob himself of his ability to order his own puppet, and the idea of leaving her final order as a kill order probably didn't quite agree with the true king's desire to see his subjects to be live to see their bonds. Cyprianus was at that time blinded by frustration, however, and by the pain in his face and leg from the injuries he suffered. He wanted to see blood.

And so the berserker changed her direction and began to move toward the first non-caribou she spied. As it so happened it was one of the three fillies who had been scurrying about up to mischief and thus far gone unnoticed, the young unicorn of the group as she ran to meet up with her friends. Slowly the armored warrior moved toward the three, ready to fulfil her final order.

Meanwhile, back at where the berserker had once been, the Drengr Frjáls listened to the griffon's further appeal, as did the other viking, a Fri-hals named Saell who had just seen his own brother Svein Kapp slain by the berserker.

Frjáls was torn. He had daughters back home and did not believe children should be harmed in war. The griffon spoke a lot of sense, but it was hard still to be swayed. He believed in the old way of life and he believed in the Jarl. Even as all this refused to sit right with him, could he really betray his own.

"Your words... they get to me more than I would expect... but betrayal is a lot to ask of a warrior. I do not believe any of this is right... but to go against the wishes of my brothers at arms, turn traitor against the Jarl... I do not know if I can..." said Frjáls, looking unsure of himself.

"The loyalty awarded by your age is telling, Frjáls. Me, I can see it plainly now. The Jarl has entered us into an ungodly pact with the wickedest of demons. We owe him nothing any longer," said Saell, an anger burning behind his eyes as he held his sword. "For it, my brother's life has been cut short, and I will see that all responsible for that shall pay!" He looked suddenly to the figure who looked like Cyprianus, but without his robe. "Starting with you, shape-shifter, who would order that monster to kill!"

The viking ran at the changeling with new found intensity, intent to attain vengeance in a duel.

Elsewhere on the battlefield, the Hersir Megin, recieved another kick to the face, this one harder than before. It sent the helmet flying from off his head and made him see red. "You'll need much more than feeble kicks to best me, you fool!" he shouted as once more he rushed right at her with his sharp horns.

The hawks meanwhile struggled in heated combat with the pegasus guard. With bows and knives she left one blinded and wounded in the wing and the rest somewhat staggered. The injured hawk squawked in pain, unable to fly anymore and very nearly bested. The giant one meanwhile was met by the griffon, who managed to get it to vomit up the blue pony and then succeeded in tangling it up in its own strap. The riders on these hawks in the process dismounted quickly and with all their strength saw that the bird would topple over away from Cyprianus. In time, the other hawk and the viking whom the giffon had left entangled with each other rejoined the fight to keep them busy. The viking hefted his hammer and swung it viciously at the pegasus guard side while the hawk went straight for the griffon's face with its claws.

Meanwhile, Cyprianus cackled with delight. It would not be long soon. His portal was almost strong enough to call forth his desired ally. Then there would be no one who could stand before him!

​

[Elderflower]

Ryx could sense herself getting through to some of the caribou, convincing them to turn against the commands of their mad Jarl and the tyrant unicorn. The elder warrior was still warring with himself, not ready to give up the life and loyalty he had known for all his years, but at least he had drawn still. She felt spurred to push forwards, to convince the vikings to aid the ponies, but - no. Oh no.

She had only succeeded to send one caribou off to murder a changeling that had been fighting on the ponies’ side. Granted, her command to have the berserker kill her own brothers at arms did not sit well with the gryphon… Ryx drew a deep breath. The changeling had commanded a bewitched, sentient being to murder her own kind. That thought carried the same foul taste as the unicorn’s black magic, even on the field of battle. Some things were simply wrong. Ryx could kill a hawk, she could even kill one of these proud warriors in battle if they would not hold back (though she would live with the remorse for many years after, if it came to it), but she could not use the cow the way the changeling had. She could not fault the viking his hotblooded actions, for in his hooves she would likely feel that very same fury.

Still, attacking her was not the right course of action. Right now the urgency was placed on destroying the unicorn, who was summoning some...thing in the sky. Ryx did not want to know what lurked on the other side of that black gate.

“Please, wait!” she called to the younger viking, a touch desperately, “That changeling’s actions were foul and she should see consequences, but the unicorn must be stopped! Please see reason!”

The gryphon turned once more to her first ‘foe,’ ready to make one last attempt.

“The Jarl has betrayed your brothers and sisters, those whom you fight with and trust to have at your side today. He has betrayed all of you, and perhaps even himself. You have the chance to fight for your own honour and that of your kin. The caribou here seem to me more worthy of your loyalty than the Jarl who would promise your blades and your blood to a tyrant who would see you all spoil for his own gains. Do you truly want to see what that wretch summons now from the depths of Tartarus?”

Bah! No more talking. With one last hard, cold look at the older caribou, the gryphon launched herself in the air, gasping a little as blood and pain rushed to her wounded side, then made her way towards the sorcerer while his forces were engaged. Time to strike.

It was more out of sheer, stupid luck than anything, but Sugar Star evaded the deadly blow of a hammer. She had barely sensed it coming until it whistled over her head and slammed into her avian foe with a sickening, wet crunch. Well. Perhaps it was the time to falter at least a little bit. The specialist had staggered thanks to her wounds and her exhaustion, and as she fell it caused the caribou’s assault to land the finishing blow to the chest of its own beast.

In the momentary confusion after the strike, Sugar managed to lurk back out of immediate danger. It seemed as though the black gryphon was returning to help her once more, though she was looking as sore and bloody as Sugar felt. The large creature slammed into the back of the viking with the hammer, using her weight to knock him forwards and stand upon his back.

“The caribou are loyal to their Jarl, but they are not evil. If you don’t have to kill them. Don’t.”

Without another word, Blackbird was off towards Slippery. Sugar, desperate to help but refusing to leave Spot and - Celestia’s knickers was that Soarin’ who just came out of that bird?! No, no, she could not leave them. She was needed here, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t help the gryphon! Sugar took out her remaining bow, said a silent prayer for luck, and rubbed it over the ground. The remnants of her glitter bomb had turned the battle scene rather ridiculous, she had finally noticed, as the entire area shimmered more than the pages of any juvenile romance comic she had ever read. It would help, though - glitter has a purpose in any situation.

Quickly, quickly Sugar Star threw the bow to the gryph and propelled it with a painful flap of her wings. She wanted to call out to her feathery ally, but feared that doing so would draw too much of Slippy’s attention. Instead, she sent the bow right to the outstretched talons of the catbird and hoped for the best, because Soarin’ and Spot needed her help.

She brandished her blade once more, shaking to fight the exhaustion, ran to stand over Soarin’s unconscious body. Unconscious, because she refused to believe he had perished.

“Spot,” she said to the spotted gryphon with a half-smile, hoping her voice wasn’t shaking too badly, “I am at your side, friend. We can do this.”

--------------------------------------------

Ryx was nearing the sorcerer, her face tight with controlled fury, when a...a bow full of shimmery...glitter powder found its way to her talons? If she wasn’t so single-minded about stopping the black unicorn then the gryphoness would have staggered, but she figured it would be better to just roll with it. Hoping that the unicorn’s focus would be wholly dedicated to his spell, she threw the bow right at his twitchy little eyes. If it connected, the powder would get in his eyes and itch and blind him and heck, even make him pretty!

And then she’d snap her beak shut right around his neck and silence his nasty, horrid little voice once and for all. That was the goal!

[PyroBlaze]

Flux blinked as Megin's helmet flew off from her kick. Was she really hitting that hard? Huh, interesting. Unfortunately, her self-imposed distraction allowed the caribou to get in much too close for her to do too much. She gave a surprised squeak as she was brought back to the real world, her disguise falling as she tried to buzz away into the sky.

She wasn't quite fast enough though, as one of the caribou's horns went into a hole in her hind leg, jerking her to a painful stop. She glared downward as she tried to get her leg off his horns, blasting him with magic blasts as she put her forehooves on his head to help her get free.

"Hey! Lemme go, Meggy!" She cried, blasting him with more magic as she tried to tug the horn out of her leg.

[DerpRavener]

The plan worked! The berzerker abandoned her current targets for the pair of vikings in pursuit of Naj. Noticing that something was wrong, one of them tried to reason with the cow but it was about as effective as negotiating with a boulder. A boulder that was rolling at him, in fact, and the end result was about the same.

Naj's victory proved to be short lived. Despite everything happening around him, the mage had managed to notice what happened to his little science project, and not only that but when he set it back against them he also prevented any further manipulation. The silver lining was that the mage had stopped any of his own future orders as much as he had Naj's, so from here on out the berzerker would behave exactly as it did right now. Though that wasn't a particularly promising state of affairs, as it immediately began lumbering after a unicorn filly scurrying around the edges of the battle. Naj couldn't tell what she'd been up to until this point, only that she was now in danger.

The large griffon was still trying to reason with the two remaining caribou. To her credit, she appeared to be swaying the older of them, and other did indeed renounce his commitment to his jarl.

That detail wouldn't do Naj much good though, and it was as she was dropping her disguise that she was caught by his sudden charge after his declaration of revenge. Had she been a millisecond slower to react she would have lost her head to the sword swing. As it was, she rolled with the blade, keeping her head but still receiving a nasty gash across the side of her head. As she took to the air once more, barely avoiding a second furious strike, she heard the griffon call out to the caribou.

“That changeling’s actions were foul and she should see consequences, but the unicorn must be stopped! Please see reason!”

Naj gritted her teeth. Even if she survived the battle, by the sound of that she'd likely end up at the wrong end of REA spears, instead of safety. She supposed she maybe could settle for ultimately dying in defense of the city.

Besides, none of that would matter if the defense couldn't hold. As such Naj had more pressing issues for now. The viking below her and out for her blood, for one. From her vantage point she also noticed the large griffon ascend, and begin to move after the mage, which also made her realize just how close the battle had moved them.

It was a noble goal, but that meant nopony was left to deal with the now uncontrollable berzerker. Naj had planned to go after the mage herself at this point, but that plan counted on the berzerker being at least occupied. And she wouldn't abide with the filly being sacrificed as bait.

She glared down at the angry viking below, and between breaths finally addressed his claims. “At least I wasn't the one setting it on foals! You have the gall blame me, when I was defending myself and mine, while yours is the side slaughtering civillians!? And with such monsters, no less!” Well, it came out a little more theatrical than she intended, but it got the point across. He wanted a chase? Oh he'd get a chase.

Naj darted towards the berzerker once more, caring little whether the viking on the ground follow her or switch to a more appealing target. She had a chance to try her initial plan, or failing that to at least entangle the berzerker and save the filly, but it all hinged on her being able to get its attention. She fired a raw blast from her horn at the thing, (she didn't know any actual spells, but all changelings trained for combat had this basic use of their horns) before throwing herself at its unarmoured head and trying to beat it with her hooves. She tried to do damage the thing, not so much sure that she could as she was desperate to shift its focus.

[Bramble Rose]

Purple Haze scrambled amongst the musical instruments, so very glad that the warriors were apparantly all too busy fighting the adults around her to pay attention to her. Her constant assertion to her big brother that she was a 'young mare' and not a little filly felt very hollow just now, and she wanted desperately to just run and hide. But she stayed out there till she found the recorder, and scooped it up. She paused by some of the food stands and searched desperately through the sacks - this one was too porous, this one was too ragged, this one had a hole... AH! Here we go! She snagged up a big, tightly woven sack, waxed to prevent it from dripping. Perfect! She snagged it up and peeked up over the counter to see how things were going.

Undead giant birds! A massive berserker! She knew berserker stories - they were scary! She hoped they could take care of that berserker, because they didn't GET scared. Magic all over the place! Her eyes flickered to Derecho, and she saw him riding a giant bird through the air, ripping and tearing at its straps, then nearly tearing its wing off. Her eyes shimmered and her jaw dropped - the recorder falling to the ground. Wow. It was right out of her favorite stories! A real honest to goodness hero!

But then that fight flew past the flag, with all their cutie marks on it. Oh! Somepony was ready and hiding! Purple peered around carefully ... ducked under as a crystal knight and a couple carribou went rolling down the street in a giant cloud of dust, scrabbling and kicking... and when she came back up, she saw the berserker charging towards her friend Sunrise!

Her eyes narrowed and she dropped the sack and recorder, looking around at what she had available. Fruit stand. Nothing but crystal apples and crystal carrots and crystal lemons and crystal bananas .. AH HA! She jumped up on the stand and slammed her little hooves down on the bananas, making two bananas fire out and fly across to hit the berserker in the face, and then she took the peels and tossed them in front of the thing as it came over Sunrise, so that its big hooves would land on the banana peels and send it sliding past into one of those tents full of hats. Not defeated, but distracted from Sunrise, at least. Teach them to mess with the junior food fight champion of Fet Loch two years running! "Comon, sunrise!" she called, grabbing up her supplies and scarpering across the street as quick as she could, the sack up over her back and the recorder clutched tightly in her teeth. She came sliding in behind the jousting supplies tent, then scrambled inside. "Aye!" she quietly whispered, "We're good fer it, then!" She started looking through the weapons and armor. All too big, darn it. She seized up a knife and poked some holes into her sack, then selected from among all those flugelhorns... "This one... this one... aaaand... this one! Great work, Marzi! Ye're a gem!" She poked those three into three of the holes, and grabbed up a tent tie to loop around them, keeping them loosely together. "We should hie on o'er to th' royal box! It'll have th' best 'coustics! Everypony needs tae hear th' princess, roit?" She jabbed the recorder into the last hole in the sack, then pulled out the lance and handed it to Marzi. Clapping the smallest helmet she could find over her own head, she then slung the makeshift bagpipes over her back and peered out of the tent. "Ye keep th' banner flyin! Sunrise is brinin' th' bellows! Comon! Tae th' royal box!"

​

[brianblackberry]

Sunrise Beach has had some pretty frightening moments in her young life: Getting lost in Bareback Gultch, hiding and watching in horror as Tirac stole the magic from ponies, even facing off against giant prankster spiders, but none of that had prepared her for the beastly looking caribou cow mindlessly galloping towards her wearing the most terrifying spiked and plated armor. If that wasn't scary enough, Sunrise could sense the frightful dark magic that drove the reindeer's mindless charge towards her. It made the filly wonder for a second, was there any mind left in this poor creature? Was she even still alive?

There was little time for the turquoise filly to ponder the unnatural forces which drove the blind rage of the creature before her, the only pertinent question being how she would get away! Sunrise desperately looked about for a way to escape the smithy unharmed when the charging creator suddenly got smacked in the face by a flurry of bananas! It didn't stop the creature's charge, but the equally well tossed peels did send the monstrous caribou sliding out of control as it headed toward Sunrise. It was the opening the filly needed and ran forwards and jumped on her stomach to slide under the careening beserker as it slide over her, through the back wall and into a nearby hat stand, which further covered it's blinded face.

Like, so close!! What luck!! Then she heard the source of her luck, her bestie Purple Haze, who was beckoning Sunrise to follow. "Like, that was totally radical Purple!! You should like,be a royal guard or something!" Ha! Never underestimate fillies! With a renewed resolve and just as importantly, before the beserker got its bearings, Sunrise floated the bellows with a pink aura of unicorn magic and galloped out of the smithy and after her earth pony friend.

Diving under the jousting tent with her bestie, Sunrise was just as relieved to see that Marzipan was still safe and sound as well. As Purple sat there and assembled whatever weird contraption that was hopefully going to turn the tide of battle, Sunrise dug through the crystal jousting equipment, finding little that would fit except a helmet that, well, sort of fit on her head; thank Celestia her horn was just tall enough to keep it from sliding over her eyes. More importantly was a lance! Sunrise at least had a little experience with them, mostly carrying and cleaning them for actual guards, but it was something! And a little extra weaponry never hurt, right?

Sunrise wanted to question exactly what Purple was doing, but she didn't want to discourage her friend, besides the idea of a trio of fillies saving the day just sounded awesome. With that in mind, the turquoise filly used all her magic know how to carry both the bellows and the lance in a pink aura, those magic lessons she had been getting had paid off enough where she had learned to balance two things at once! "Like, don't worry Purple and Marzi, I'll hold them off while you all finish that like, cool ultimate weapon thingy you like, are so totally going to make! Ready? Set? Let's go!!"

[Blueblood]

"Prince, eh? ... Sound's like.... my kinda guy." It was true that Kahz did always try to maintain a positive attitude on things, but that was usually for the boost it gave to his methods of persuasion. Plus, he was more likely to try to appear sincere than jovial as such, since his survival in most cases depended upon getting other changelings to take him seriously. Fundamentally, though, he was always a fan of trying to win by cleverness rather than brute force; to move by persuasion rather than coercion.

Hence, his admiration of Naj's tactics. Unfortunately, their result also revealed the limits of that approach, just as much as Bathos' eventual fate at the hands of Animus. Hopefully, the end result would not be as tragic this time. Wincing at the sudden turn of the berzerker, and the dark mage's counter-turning, he tried to keep an eye out for developments in the battle while talking to Tourmaline. It certainly left no mental space to think about his own pain, so that was something.

"Heh... it just... struck me as funny... you looking for... hidden truths... when we were... hiding in plain sight." It was not nearly so funny, now that her dire predictions had been borne out. "Guess the jokes... on me then... Ooo, nasty." He just saw one of the hawks puke up an injured pegasus. That could not have been pleasant for anyone involved.

His most anxious attention was split between the dimensional gate the dark unicorn was opening, and Naj's continuing struggles. He wondered, briefly, what sort of effect this would have on Equestrian opinion regarding changelings. If a significant shift occurred.... the Hive could take advantage of it.

But first, they'd have to live through today.

​

[RedCedar]

Red finished tying up Kahz's split leg, letting Tourmaline Glass tell him about her favourite books. If there were any risks of spoilers, they were probably not heeded as he mostly let her talk so that she would keep herself calm by focusing on something she liked rather than what was happening outside. Nevertheless, Red couldn't help but smile when she came to her realization. "So, there was another changeling...? That's what you meant in what you said about the two..."

"Actually, there were three changelings, all told," Red admitted, "but, who's counting?" As Red carefully put Kahz's leg down where the changeling could rest it, hoping that whatever passed for blood and healing agents in a changeling would begin to work on the seam in his exoskeleton, he looked back up at Kahz. "Well, when this is over I hope you'll continue to be a good and loyal changeling and report to your Hive, your Queen and any other changeling who will listen that there is at least one pony in Equestria who is willing to help and sustain changelings without the need to be kidnapped or invaded." He turned and smiled to Tourmaline Glass again. "And I bet the same would go for her, especially if she ever found her own Good Prince Bathos." he added.

But then, Red's smile faded, a knot growing in his stomach again. There was a reason he had made that appeal to the changeling in front of him, and right now she was outside risking her life fighting against the caribou. Now, with nothing immediate to do at hand, he had to look and see what was happening. Staying low to the floor, back from the window and off to one side, he peered out into the raging battle in the street outside. There, he could just make out the sorcerer attempting - something. Hawks and griffins and the pegasus in soldier's armour filled the skies. Looking to the ground again, he still saw more caribou than he would have liked, though he noted with some grim satisfaction that one of them was lying on the ground while his head was lying about a metre away. Scanning through the carnage, there was one caribou swatting at an undisguised changeling with its antlers. His eyes opened wide at the sight for a moment, but then dismissed it. That one must have been Flux. She wasn't quite the same size or body shape as Naj. Looking to the other side of the street, however, the insides of his ears turned white as parchment. There, undeniably, was Naj, perched on the back of that unthinking zombie of a caribou, doing her best to give it a good beating while other caribou were pursuing.

When Red remembered to breathe again, he slumped back down to the floor. "I have to go," he said firmly. "I need to get out there and help, if I can. You two stay here, keep the door locked after I leave, and keep your heads down out of that window."

[RarityDash]

Touched by the griffon's words, the viking called Frjáls lowered his hammer. She was right and so was Saell. Not even for loyalty to his brothers could he force himself to continue with this. He was at a loss as what it would mean for the future to become a betrayer, but could he really be expected to hold his head high with pride after the things he had seen that day? He didn't rightly expect it so.

The viking called Saell meanwhile was furious. He had singled out an opponent for a duel only for her to fly away from him in pursuit of the berserker. Said opponent, the changeling who had set the berseker upon her master with a kill order, was trying to steal the berserker's attention, still unaware that there was no attention for her to steal. The berserker, in her current mindless state, could not prioritize one target for another. She had no intelligence. All she knew was the order she had been left with--kill them all, save her master and the caribou. The magic blast seemed to have no effect in drawing the armored warrior. When the changeling flew in to again knock the berserker's helmet off and strike her face, still bloody from the cut left by the griffoness, however, she did look upon her and recognize her as a target. The berserker struck at the changeling with its armored foreleg, intent to smash the spikes on the armor into her head. She might have done so too, but just before the impact, the changeling was tackled to the ground.

"You will not run from me, coward! I am your opponent now!" shouted Fri-hals Saell, pinning the changeling and pointing his sword downward. "And, for all that I've lost, I'll end this now!" he added as he readied a mighty swing, the berserker meanwhile again began to lurch slowly toward the three children.

Hersir Megin meanwhile found himself shocked to discover that his opponent was a changeling too, as her disguise fell and she took to the air on her tiny insect like wings. Young Tourmaline might have read long tales of good and cheerful changelings, but to the burly Hersir, it was a great shock that such an impossible individual as this might be a product of the northern wastelands. "Hahaha! It's been quite some time since I've had changelings for opponent! These holes certainly are a convenient thing!" he shouted as he snagged the changeling by one of the hollows in her legs on one of his antlers and pulled her in closer to him. "It's time this ends! You're trickery has gone on far enough!" he added, only to be shot point blank in the face by repeated bursts of magic.

The antler came loose from the hole and Megin staggered back, dizzy and for a time open to further attack.

Elsewhere, in safety, Tourmaline Glass nodded at what the changeling said. "I was looking for hidden truths..." she said as she peered back out at where the fighting raged. "But I do not know what I expected to do when I found them." She looked downward, unable to watch the action outside any longer. "I was so excited when I saw those clouds... but this... is this terrible thing what I wanted to see happen?" the filly began to sob quietly, feeling somehow it was her fault.

She looked up in her tears as the red stallion spoke. Three? She looked just in time to see the silly unicorn who she had bumped into earlier transform into a changeling right as she fought with an especially mean and large caribou. So... that was another thing she had been right about after all. She nodded to the stallion and to the changeling. "Yeah..." she sniffled. "We should listen to each other. I know I would. Just look, the changelings are fighting just as hard as everyone else to protect everyone. They can't truly be that different..."

She nodded as the stallion said he was going back out there. He had saved her and seemed really nice and understanding. She didn't want to see anything bad happen to him. "Be careful..." she said through more sniffling.

Back outside, Frjáls realized he had made his decision. Cyprianus needed to be stopped. He couldn't deny that to himself any longer. The Jarl and any who would bow to true evil be cursed. He nodded to himself as he steeled his resolve. Then, without another word, he stepped out toward the wizard.

Not far away vikings and hawks made fierce swipes at the guard and the male griffon, though they persevered and in time they were joined again by the large female griffon. it was this last one who would make the bold move on Cyprianus himself while the others still were kept occupied by hammers and talons. Using a bow saturated with glitter powder, the griffoness blinded him and send him staggering backwards. The latter was a lucky thing for the wizard, as the griffon went to slice his neck with her beak. Because of his blind staggering, Cyprianus tripped over some rubble and crashed to the ground, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"Spite your cursed tricks!" he shouted from where he was prone on the ground, still blinded and irritated by the sparkles. "But it's no matter. My portal should be stabilized by now. Come forth, Fylkir and enjoy the feast I have prepared for you!"

A roar like thunder sounded from the portal above as something massive started to snake out from within its black depths. Fylkir was a lindworm, a variety of wingless dragon with a long body more like a sea serpent, though this was not a creature out of place out of water. Utterly massive, with its impossibly long, blood-red scaled body its presence could not be ignored by anyone as it slithered out of the portal and immediately began to smash buidings effortlessly with its tail. Its yellow eyes bleak and cold

"Where is this that you have brought me, wizard?" the lindworm spoke, it's voice deep to an impossible level and seething with violence.

"Great Fylkir! Feast! Destroy them all!" Cyrpianus started, wondering briefly if he had made a mistake. It was right then that a severe cold wind started to blow through the empire. Snow started to fall. Sombra had taken the Crystal Heart. The empire would soon be as bitter and as cold as the Arctic lands which surrounded it.

"It has been long since I have indulged myself..." said Fylkir in its impossible voice. Then, quite suddenly, the massive drake's claws reached for the first living taget it happened to spy. It was the viking called Frjáls, charging at Cyprianus with his hammer held high. Fylkir raised him up swiftly and then without hesitation threw the caribou whole into his jaws. His sharp teeth ground their way through the poor caribou, armor and all and soon he was no more.

Cyprianus cackled with laughter, even as he was still on the ground and unable to fully open his eyes. It was done now. Fylkir and the winter conditions setting in, the tide had fully turned. There was no hope for this foolish resistance any longer!

​

[PedestrianWolf]

Derecho the griffon had just beaten a dreadnought of a hawk and rode it into the ground. Unfortunately, not on top of that slippery weasel of a sorcerer's head. He did get one viking, though, who wasn't fast enough to get out of the way and was knocked out cold by the great bird's flailing. Another, smaller hawk attacked him with its talons. He grabbed it out of the air with his good arm and brought it bodily to the ground, standing on its neck and crushing its windpipe. "Come out to the Crystal Empire, we'll have a few laughs! Feh." he grumbled to himself.

The golden REA pegasus had rushed over to the side of the regurgitated blue pony, who lay motionless a few feet away. “Spot, I am at your side, friend. We can do this.” He nodded his assent. She was just as beautiful close up as she had been at a distance. Her coat and armor sparkled in the weak sunlight, like a vision. What a pair they must make, her covered in glittering glory, and his fur and feathers matted with dirt and blood (not all of it his, at least). Splinters of broken crystal cut into his feet. He was tired. No time to rest, there would be plenty of that when this was over, or he was dead. Whichever came first.

Seized with an idea, he stepped over to the unconscious viking warrior. Taking the shield, the griffon strapped it to his broken arm. Ripping a strip of fabric from a fallen banner, he wrapped his useless wrist tightly, and tied it close to his chest. He may be hobbled, but at least the buckler would protect him a little. He also removed the caribou's helmet and plunked it down on his own head. Feathers stuck out oddly from the spaces meant for antlers and ears, but at least it fit well enough. There was no nose guard to interfere with his beak, and he only lost a little of his peripheral vision. It would do.

Turning back to the golden pegasus, Derecho laid out his plan. "You stay here. Protect him," indicating the fallen Wonderbolt, "and aid her." pointing towards the black griffon. "I will go out there and fight them." waving his claws at the square full of vikings. "Too many ponies being hurt. I help them, draw fight to me. You stop wizard. We will be victorious, yes?" She nodded, and he turned to go. He picked up a sword that had fallen from the warrior's grip. "Now I have weapon, ho ho ho!" he crowed, and leaped into the air.

One, two! One, two! And through and through. His technique was terrible, if any REA pony was watching they would be embarassed. But his intent wasn't to kill, it was to distract and draw fire. The leopard spotted griffon pounced from the air on the back of a passing caribou. Digging his back claws into the unprotected flanks, he slashed at the face of the warrior with his purloined blade. Antlers were broken, ears were bloodied, eyes were poked. As soon as another viking came to his comrade's aid, Derecho leapt back into the sky, screeching a high pitched cry. "Ki Ki Ki! Yip Ki Yay! Hah!" He taunted the frustrated caribou from the air, swooping and diving amongst them. "Welcome to party! I am here! Hah. Ki Ki! Come get me!"

Marzipan's plan had worked. Purple Haze and Sunrise Beach made their way into the tent with their supplies. The earth filly started rummaging through the pile, picking out horns and sticking them into a bag and tying them together with cord. "Great work, Marzi! Ye're a gem!" "Grazi! Um, what is that you make? A bag with horns?" It was certainly unlike anything the little filly had seen before. As soon as the work was done, the three of them gathered up what helmets and armor they could find to wear. The helmets were all to big for Marzipan's head, so she stuffed one with a few polishing cloths as padding. They smelled a bit funny, but at least the helmet didn't rattle around her ears anymore.

"We should hie on o'er to th' royal box! It'll have th' best 'coustics!" Sunrise picked up a lance and carried the small bellows while Purple held on to her strange bag. Marzipan grabbed the lance with her banner on it, and tucked it into place at her side. "Ready? Set? Let's go!!" "Ai! Into the mouth of the wolf!" The three intrepid fillies ducked out of the tent and began running towards the royal box. It wasn't too far away, but there was a lot of debris and vikings still on the ground to dodge. The almond coated pegasus ran up a fallen wall partition and took to the sky, flying over two baffled vikings. She landed next to her friends who had skirted around the caribou and kept running.

She skidded to a stop just in front of the royal box. "Okay, we ara here. Now what?" This plan had better work. At least it couldn't get any worse, right?