Princesses of Equestria

Chapter 20: Determination, and Devastation

Dear Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,

Great news! We got a message today. Can you guess who sent it? Here's a hint:

Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake,

Clap your hooves and do a little shake.

You guessed it! Princess Cadance: The greatest foalsitter in the history of all foalsitters! She, my Big Brother Best Friend Forever Shining Armor, and Captain Spitfire made it out of Canterlot, and got thousands of citizens to safety! They've holed up in the Crystal Empire and Cloudsdale, and they're rescuing more refugees by the day ... but that's all.

They're besieged, and outnumbered ten to one by phoblin armies. Even if they weren't, Armonia alone is just too powerful.

Manehattan and Applepaloosa have already been taken. She's sapping power from their petrified citizens as I write. Power enough to make my disastrous Spring Equinox seem tame. Cadance, Shining Armor, and all the armies of Equestria can't possibly defeat her.

It's up to us.

You were right about Equinox Greens' magic. Our Elements are growing stronger than ever, and so are we.

Spike got petrified on our very first day here. I thought I'd lost him, but Applejack thought otherwise, and her faith brought my little brother back. Despite my failures, she still believes in me. They all do.

Pinkie Pie's the life of the party. Despite everything, she's so happy, so goofy, so ... her, that we can't help smiling too.

Rainbow Dash pushes us as hard as she does herself. We won't quit while she's got our backs.

Rarity's composure is nothing short of inspiring. Although she's lost her Boutique, and a whole season's worth of dresses, she perseveres on.

Fluttershy's made so many new friends! Between the flatuants (don't ask) and the green thumbs (please don't ask), her menagerie's going to become a full-blown zoo. And by Eponia, can she give a pep talk. I've been having everypony write you letters for morale enhancement, but if I'd known how far one speech from Fluttershy could raise our spirits, I'd have conserved Spike's ink.

Whoops. I mean, Sir Spike's ink. That's right. I've officially knighted him! He has armor, a shield, a lance, and everything! Rarity's own designs, of course. I've been astounded by how much he's improved during sparring practice.

I mean, none of us could possibly win against Armonia as we are, but we'd at least make her work for her meal.

Even Discord's pitching in! When we'd begun our journey I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him (ie: only a couple of feet on a good day). But without him, we'd have succumbed to an ambush from Armonia. And although Discord tried making a joke of it, we could tell. He cares. He wants to help, in his own strange, chaotic way.

Which is great, since he's technically responsible for all this. I think.

I still have so many questions. Why can't Discord remember anything about Equinox Greens? There's no doubt, to us or him, that he caused the transformations here.

What, exactly, made the ward that keeps Armonia out? Is it the guardian that Luna mentioned? Intellectus? The sphinx I've seen in my dreams? In her dreams?

Why have I been dreaming of Equus Nox's life? Is it because of our shared Spring Equinox magic? Why hasn't Armonia exploited that connection like before? Is she even aware it exists? Does she even sleep? Where did her three last letters vanish to?