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War in Canterlot by Viridiansteel

By VinylSS
Created: 2020-10-21 16:10:56
Expiry: Never
warcanterlot

  1. 1.
    Copied from https://pastebin.com/CR8w7JJ5
  2. 2.
     
  3. 3.
    > "Anon I need to talk with you"
  4. 4.
    > "Remember the day when earth was destroyed by the apocalypse and you became the last of your species?"
  5. 5.
    > "Well I was the one that caused the end of your world"
  6. 6.
    > "At the time I judged humans as an horrific threat and I eliminated them"
  7. 7.
    > "But after meeting you, after talking with you, i realized how stupid and wrong I was"
  8. 8.
    > "Please anon forgive me! I am sorry!"
  9. 9.
    > *sobs*
  10. 10.
    >A cold sweat washes over your body and the pit of your stomach feels constricted
  11. 11.
    >You catch your head in your hands and feel light headed
  12. 12.
    "W-what did you say?
  13. 13.
    >Tears start to well in Princess Celestia's eyes
  14. 14.
    >"I'm sorry Anon please try to understand ,humanity was growing out of control"
  15. 15.
    > You can't hear the rest what she says, your ears are ringing and the thump of your heart is beating faster inside your head
  16. 16.
    > Stumbling you find a wall to lean on and proceed to empty the contents of your stomach on the palace floor
  17. 17.
    >"Anon!"
  18. 18.
    >She tries to rush to help you but is stopped by your raised hand towards her
  19. 19.
    "D-dont come near me! Dont even try to touch me!
  20. 20.
    >As you try to regain your footing your mind is overwhelmed with emotion
  21. 21.
    >You've never felt so angry in your life, not just at her but yourself as well
  22. 22.
    >How could you be so gullible!
  23. 23.
    >Ever since she offered to help you find the reason Earth was destroyed she's been pulling the strings behind your back
  24. 24.
    >Its now only because you got so close to the truth that she decided to tell you out right
  25. 25.
    >What the fuck did she expect your reaction to be a fucking kiss and a hug?!
  26. 26.
    "I...I need to be alone"
  27. 27.
    >Your tone is low, there's almost no malice in your voice anymore
  28. 28.
    > Something has changed, you have never spoken to Princess Celestia or any other pony like this before
  29. 29.
    >There was something inside you bubbling to the surface
  30. 30.
    >Something... human
  31. 31.
    >"Anon, please listen to me"
  32. 32.
    "No...no more listening. I need some time to-to think"
  33. 33.
    >Using the wall for support your hunched body makes its way towards the main gate
  34. 34.
    >"Anon..."
  35. 35.
    >You can hear the regret and sadness in her voice but now was not the time for regrets or sadness
  36. 36.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------
  37. 37.
    >It's been years since you were last here
  38. 38.
    >Since that day you found out what happened to Earth
  39. 39.
    >To its people
  40. 40.
    >To your friends
  41. 41.
    >...Your family
  42. 42.
    >Everything you've done,
  43. 43.
    >The creatures you've killed , the things you've learned , The lines you've crossed... Everything! was leading up to this moment
  44. 44.
    >You now stand no longer a naive little fool. But a human man.
  45. 45.
    >Strong
  46. 46.
    >Wise
  47. 47.
    >And wilful
  48. 48.
    >"What are your orders sir?"
  49. 49.
    >A stout diamond dog stands beside as you look down to the gruff voice
  50. 50.
    >You contemplate for a moment a cool breeze blows across the field and the smell of grass and smoke hits your nostrils
  51. 51.
    >You inhale with vigor and breath a satisfied sigh
  52. 52.
    >The smell of war
  53. 53.
    "It would be rude not to knock first, don't you think Gouge? "
  54. 54.
    >The mail plated dog gives you a sly grin
  55. 55.
    >You raise your arm , the sunlight hits your dark emerald green plate armour and make light dance and around of it
  56. 56.
    >Pausing for a moment , a sentence speaks aloud in the quiet of your mind
  57. 57.
    >Before you utter it quietly to yourself
  58. 58.
    "...For Earth"
  59. 59.
    >Pulling down your arm the first of the trebuchets releases its destructive force on ponyville
  60. 60.
    >Demolishing its walls like sand stone against the tide
  61. 61.
    >It crumbles away so easily your troops howl and cheer as they begin to rush what little troops Princess Celestia as formed against you
  62. 62.
    >They look like ants from where you are
  63. 63.
    >You can hear the cries and shouts of dying creatures and ponies
  64. 64.
    >And the clash of of steel on steel
  65. 65.
    "I think they heard us Gouge"
  66. 66.
    >The dog chuckles as you return the sly grin it gave you and waves for the next trebuchets to pull
  67. 67.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  68. 68.
    >Looking on from your vantage point , you watch the second volley pulverise the battlefield
  69. 69.
    >The diamond dogs aren't very capable when it comes to aiming
  70. 70.
    >But they make up for their severe lack of mental capabilities with numbers and ferocious attitude in a scrap
  71. 71.
    >Gouge waves for the third volley to be flung when three minotaur clad in harden leather studded armour approach you
  72. 72.
    >The two of smaller minotaur's at the back carry embossed brazen shields with a sigils of a green serpent devouring a red sun , its body coiled round the orb on a field of dark azure.
  73. 73.
    >They each carry a large mace on their belts and the two smaller ones a spear in hand
  74. 74.
    >But the biggest one of the three carries a bastard sword on its back with a cobalt handle
  75. 75.
    >You greet them with a cool demeanour
  76. 76.
    "What news from the vanguard Captain Clove Hoof?"
  77. 77.
    >The largest brown minotaur at the front of the three speaks in a concerned tone
  78. 78.
    >"General Anonymous sir, the vanguard are holding the line but we're taking on heavy loses"
  79. 79.
    >Gouge continues to wave onwards but keeps his eyes on what's happening between the exchanges
  80. 80.
    "And?"
  81. 81.
    >The two smaller minotaur shoot each other a worried glance
  82. 82.
    >"General sir, I request that we pull the my troops back and allow reinforcements to sweep in from the north west side of the field, and pincer the enemy"
  83. 83.
    >You place a gauntlet hand on your chin stubble
  84. 84.
    "And what will your forces be doing during this, manoeuvre ?"
  85. 85.
    >"It will give the vanguard a chance to retreat back to recuperate and proceed with another strike against the enemy forces, General sir!"
  86. 86.
    >Smiling under your gauntlet you move closer to the large man bull
  87. 87.
    >He stands more than 6 foot and 5 over you but as walk over to him you can see the tension in his body
  88. 88.
    "Tell me Captain, do you understand the meaning of 'vanguard'?"
  89. 89.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
  90. 90.
    >Clove Hoof takes a step back from you
  91. 91.
    >His mouth babbling the shape of words but no sound comes out
  92. 92.
    >Eyes darting everywhere searching for something before he utters in a tight voice
  93. 93.
    >"V-vanguard means err ermm"
  94. 94.
    >He stammers for the right words, his once orotund voice now wobbly
  95. 95.
    >Staring him straight into his dark brown hard eyes, watching them move around in his head
  96. 96.
    >You patiently wait for him to find his words
  97. 97.
    >"It means the err the foremost division that takes its place in f-front of the army sir"
  98. 98.
    >A smile is revealed on your face when you lower your gauntlet hand and congratulate him in a modulated tone
  99. 99.
    "Good. Now tell me, what kind of vanguard moves from the front lines of a battle, to the back?"
  100. 100.
    >The bovine lummox shoots you a perplexed look
  101. 101.
    >"Th-they don't sir"
  102. 102.
    "They don't... "
  103. 103.
    >Reaching up with an opened hand you grab the hairs on the chin of the shaggy furred cretin and pull down
  104. 104.
    >Bringing his eye level to yours
  105. 105.
    " THEN EXPLAIN TO ME WHAT MY VANGUARD CAPTAIN IS DOING HERE!?"
  106. 106.
    >Clove Hoof places his arms outstretched for balance as you lurch him down further
  107. 107.
    >His hard eyes now wide with terror as you continue to speak , the other two bulls are stiff as stone sentries looking on
  108. 108.
    "You're vanguard! You're supposed to hold the front lines because that's your job!
  109. 109.
    >Moving past his horns you place your forehead on his flat broad skull and speak with a matter-of-fact tone
  110. 110.
    "If you're at the back here how can you be commanding the troops at the front!?"
  111. 111.
    >Mouth agape he performs the same charade of changing the shape of his lips with no sound accompanied
  112. 112.
    "Are you a coward Captain?"
  113. 113.
    >The bulls eyes stop darting and make connection with yours
  114. 114.
    "Was you wrong when you told me that minotaur's are the bravest of the brave?
  115. 115.
    >His eyes are now locked in a gaze. Motionless, unblinking you continue
  116. 116.
    "Stronger than steel? Capable of great feats when under pressure? Or were you wrong Clove Hoof? Just a desperate craven calf, freshly pulled of his mothers tits!
  117. 117.
    >The eyes of the bull are dark stone again, as you feel resistance you let go of his chin to watch the crumpled beast rise like a tower
  118. 118.
    >Mouth no longer uncontrolled but now replaced with thin lips puckered inward to the shape of a frown
  119. 119.
    >A tempered sword of rage has been forged with your words
  120. 120.
    >Now you need to point it in the right direction
  121. 121.
    "If you want to prove yourself true again, then get back out there and bring me the head of Shining Armor! Then you'll get your 'reinforcements' "
  122. 122.
    >An inhale of air and a booming cry like the sound of a war horn tells you the mythical beast is out for blood
  123. 123.
    >The two stone sentries that stood behind now banging their shields with spear in hand and joining in unison to the war cry
  124. 124.
    >Captain Clove Hoof unsheathes his bastard sword and holds it with one hand while the other signals his escort
  125. 125.
    >Pushing of their hooves they make way back down the hill and into the fray once more
  126. 126.
    >Three timber wolves rush to meet them and they grab hold of the bark and climb aboard the backs of the foul breathed mounts
  127. 127.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  128. 128.
    >Wind rushes past you kissing the side of your head as you watch the bulls charge
  129. 129.
    >Satisfied with the pep talk you move back to Gouge who is now laughing heartily
  130. 130.
    "Signal the trebuchets to hold Gouge, I don't want the new sortie being crushed"
  131. 131.
    >Gouge hiding the sniggers under a hand raises the other in the air to signal hold
  132. 132.
    >As he does this a cloud moves in front of the sun's rays, its size and shape like a floating content creating a blanket of shadow over the ensuing battle below
  133. 133.
    >Peering upward you stare at it with narrow eyes
  134. 134.
    >A familiar tightness in your stomach sends your thoughts hurtling back to your days in ponyville
  135. 135.
    >You know what that is
  136. 136.
    "Gouge"
  137. 137.
    >The dog ears stand at attention hearing your dead voice and looks with you at the cloud ominously in the sky
  138. 138.
    "Ready the ballista's. And tell your dogs that if they don't aim properly they'll find themselves being used as ammunition for the next volley "
  139. 139.
    >Gouge gives you a small nod before running on all fours to the hundreds of other dogs barking at each other loading trebuchets behind you
  140. 140.
    >Briefly you glance to see cragadile's still chained up and muzzled for each trebuchet , taming and capturing those ugly things was worth it
  141. 141.
    >They move slow on land but they don't need to do much apart from pull your war machines, which they have more than enough strength for
  142. 142.
    >Saving your own troops the effort
  143. 143.
    >You begin to make your stride towards Mefist
  144. 144.
    >Lying on her belly the ash wood timber wolfs head attentively watches the fighting , ears twitching to the ringing of metal on metal in the distance
  145. 145.
    >Taking in a deep breath you exhale with a loud whislte
  146. 146.
    >Mefist's head swivels to your direction and she stands back up on her paws and bounds towards you
  147. 147.
    "C'mon girl , take me to Gren!"
  148. 148.
    > She skids on her side as you grab hold of the bark on her shoulder with both hands and pull yourself onto her back in one motion
  149. 149.
    >Leafy green tongue lazily flopping in her mouth she races towards the back of your reserves
  150. 150.
    >Thoughts of you and Princess Celestia stir in the back of your mind taking you back years into the past
  151. 151.
    >After all if it was not for her helping you investigate what happened to Earth and teaching you about Equestria, you would never have known how or where to find and tame all these creatures
  152. 152.
    >Those times when you felt close to her when you would find a lead on perhaps the whereabouts of more humans and she would join in your revelry
  153. 153.
    >Only for you to be frustrated and disappointed when it came back as a dead end
  154. 154.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  155. 155.
    >In your head plays a scene in your life you've not thought on for years
  156. 156.
    >She would comfort you with honeyed words "Don't worry Anon, I'm sure we'll find something one day. What's important is that you never give up hope. And you are with friends here, in Equestria"
  157. 157.
    "I know your highness, I just"
  158. 158.
    > A pressure in your throat halts your sentence and makes your voice cracked
  159. 159.
    "...I just wish I could find one, just one other person"
  160. 160.
    >Rubbing your eyes clear of the moisture in them away with your index finger and thumb you stand up from the desk
  161. 161.
    >Trinkets and paper clutter the smooth varnished surface
  162. 162.
    >As you go to walk to the balcony you pick up a small rusted and chipped music box
  163. 163.
    >Turning its key and watching as it flips open to reveal a small figurine couple dancing in the centre, the inside of the lid is mirrored and its reflection shows many dancers
  164. 164.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3BMp7yBqws
  165. 165.
    >Now a relic of your home, the melody fills the still room with its chimes
  166. 166.
    "I feel like every time I get close to- to something! It's just ripped from under me"
  167. 167.
    >Placing the box on a dress table you stare out the balcony watching the evening sun set in the mountains against the sky painted a hue of pink and orange
  168. 168.
    >Biting your bottom lip as hard as possible, trying to fight back the wetness of your eyes and failing
  169. 169.
    >A cascade of tears tickles your cheeks and crawls under your chin to drip against the floor
  170. 170.
    >"Anon..."
  171. 171.
    >Princess Celestia steps to your side, the sound of her hooves tapping against the polished marble floor reverberate off the walls of your chamber
  172. 172.
    "I don't know what I'm doing anymore, I feel like I'm going mad!"
  173. 173.
    >A pearl fathered wing curls around your shoulder
  174. 174.
    >Its warmth radiates against your back and pulls you close to its owner
  175. 175.
    >Celestia rests her head to yours being careful to mind her horn and closes her eyes
  176. 176.
    >She speaks in a soft tone almost as hushed as a whisper
  177. 177.
    >"I know you think I can't possibly understand your torment Anon, but even if it takes one hundred years we will keep searching"
  178. 178.
    >You chuckle through the sobs
  179. 179.
    >Her glistening eyes open and express a confusion
  180. 180.
    >Catching your breath you explain with a half smile
  181. 181.
    "Humans don't live past much shy of 80 years, and even if they do they become frail and weak. I wouldn't be able to search as hard as I have been on my own"
  182. 182.
    >A tear runs down Celestias cheek as she closes her eyes again
  183. 183.
    >"I'll be here with you, by your side, every step of the way"
  184. 184.
    >Your heart rises in your chest when you hear say that
  185. 185.
    "Thank you, your highness "
  186. 186.
    >"Please, call me Celestia"
  187. 187.
    >Pulling you closer her head now rests on your shoulder and her wings shroud you
  188. 188.
    >You return the hug by wrapping your arms around her and muster up the courage to say
  189. 189.
    "Thank you ....Celestia"
  190. 190.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  191. 191.
    > Breaking away from the hug you look into Celestia's bright lavender eyes , her face starts to lean in closer to yours
  192. 192.
    >"General!"
  193. 193.
    >A haggard old voice passes through her lips
  194. 194.
    >"Anonymous, dammit!"
  195. 195.
    >Sitting on top of a panting Mefist you are brought back from the dream like state by Gren
  196. 196.
    >An old diamond dog with a tall lean body an arched back and thick grey speckled bushy eyebrows with matching moustache and beard
  197. 197.
    >He's wearing a dark azure jerkin and holding a long silver lance
  198. 198.
    >"Where the hell have you been boy, I saw that thing looming over from the west end ten minutes ago!"
  199. 199.
    "Apologies Gren, I was talking to a bull about some tits"
  200. 200.
    >Shooting you a look like he's trodden in something and caught a smell of it he replies
  201. 201.
    >"For fucks sakes lad, this is no time to be talking about yer blue fantasies!"
  202. 202.
    >Dismounting from Mefist you pat her belly and she sits on her haunches still panting
  203. 203.
    >Her green tongue lolling out the corner of her mouth
  204. 204.
    >You still feel strangely light having been awoken from your thoughts and speak in a flat voice
  205. 205.
    "I know Gren, are they ready?"
  206. 206.
    >The old dog rolls his eyes
  207. 207.
    >"You tell me lad, the rest of em have been behaving but it's your spitfire that's been causing the most trouble!"
  208. 208.
    >Hearing a loud hiss and the barks of dogs you begin to pace towards its source, Gren following in suit using the lance like a oversized walking stick
  209. 209.
    >"The little bitch has been snapping at anyone who tries n gets near her, she even tried to take a chunk out of my beard!"
  210. 210.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  211. 211.
    >Making a pretend gasp noise you jest at the old dog
  212. 212.
    "My goodness Gren, the thought of someone trying to take a bite out of your tough old hide? the poor thing"
  213. 213.
    >Gren looks up at you an sneers
  214. 214.
    >"Careful lad, you're not so old that I won't take you over my knee and give you a good thrashing"
  215. 215.
    "Buy me dinner first old dog"
  216. 216.
    >A smile cracks under Gren's moustache and you return it in like as a diamond dog mutt is thrown at your feet
  217. 217.
    >You look up to see diamond dogs barking and encircling a giant green wyvern hissing and spitting while its thorny tail slams into another mutt
  218. 218.
    >They have nets and lances in hand trying to impede the serpents movements
  219. 219.
    "STAND DOWN!"
  220. 220.
    >The mutts all jump when they hear you strident voice but the wyvern is still thrashing its tail around and hissing
  221. 221.
    >Backing away the dogs retreat slowly as you move carefully towards the distressed creature
  222. 222.
    >It still hasn't noticed you yet , its attention occupied still by the dogs
  223. 223.
    >Holding your arms up in front of you and try to speak appealingly
  224. 224.
    "Serend"
  225. 225.
    >The serpent whips round with its rows of serrated teeth on fearful display in its maw giving a long loud hiss
  226. 226.
    >Spittle marking your face and armour like little beads
  227. 227.
    >If it wanted to it could easily slice through your armoured body with one bite
  228. 228.
    >Your finger tips centimetres away from the teeth
  229. 229.
    >The feeling that if you don't move your hand now you're going to be charging into battle with a nub on the end of your arm
  230. 230.
    ------------------------------------------------
  231. 231.
    >The urge to pull your arm back is yelling through your head but you hold it and wait for the wyvern to stop hissing
  232. 232.
    >It lowers it jaws so you can see its pale yellow eyes glaring at you
  233. 233.
    "Easy girl, its me"
  234. 234.
    >Retracting her teeth she closes her jaw, and lets out her vibrant pink snake like tongue
  235. 235.
    >She gives you a couple of flicks against your fingers with the forked end
  236. 236.
    "There you go, see it's alright"
  237. 237.
    >Serend brings her head under your arm and nuzzles against your chest plate
  238. 238.
    >As you held her head in place caressing her neck, diamond dogs move to saddle Serend
  239. 239.
    >Wyverns are ill tempered beasts from the farthest lands in the east
  240. 240.
    >Unlike dragons the wyverns were smaller in size and couldn't produce fire from their maw.
  241. 241.
    >Their strength more aligned with speed and the commanded of aerobatics while in the sky
  242. 242.
    >Serrated teeth and thick talons attached to powerful legs enabled them to rip, tear and slice through even the sturdiest of blockades
  243. 243.
    >But the prized weapon of the wyvern was their barbed club tails that when in full swing with their speed hit like cannon balls
  244. 244.
    >Capturing and training them proved to be a more difficult task than the cragadiles
  245. 245.
    >But once you had a matriarch under control you had an entire nest of the winged serpents at your disposal
  246. 246.
    >Saddled and ready you move along Serend's slender neck to her body with your hand gliding over her green jadeite scales
  247. 247.
    >Climbing atop her back Serends head surveys the area around her, you push your feet into the holsters locking you in to a inclined position to your seat
  248. 248.
    >Gren cautiously moves closer unsure if Serend will turn again
  249. 249.
    >Passing you the silver lance he had been using to hold himself up
  250. 250.
    >You tuck the lance under your arm steadying the point in the air
  251. 251.
    >"Well, that was quite an interesting display. I was sure of it that she was gonna clamp down on your melon"
  252. 252.
    "Serend wouldn't do that to me, would you girl?"
  253. 253.
    >Patting the wyverns back her head curls around and meets your gaze with a blank stare
  254. 254.
    >She gives the air a few licks and then resumes her scoping
  255. 255.
    "See? She loves me . Poked her tongue out and everything"
  256. 256.
    >A beaming shit eating grin spreads across your face, the old dog shakes his head in response
  257. 257.
    ------------------------------------------------
  258. 258.
    >"Alright boy, this is it..."
  259. 259.
    >He raises an open hand to you
  260. 260.
    >With your free hand you clasp his forearm with a sure grip
  261. 261.
    >"Don't do anything stupid out there!"
  262. 262.
    >His haggard stern voice has shifted to a wobble in his throat, you've never seen the old dog like this before
  263. 263.
    >Feelings of nerves start to bubble and turn your stomach, and you take more deep breaths
  264. 264.
    >The plate armour feels more heavy now on your shoulders and you can feel yourself sweating profusely
  265. 265.
    "I'll try not to old dog"
  266. 266.
    >"And remember..."
  267. 267.
    >The old dogs grip tightens around your forearm as you both speak together
  268. 268.
    "Yer stick em with the pointy end"
  269. 269.
    >"Yer stick em with the pointy end"
  270. 270.
    >A smile on his face appears but in his sunken blue eyes you can see his worry
  271. 271.
    >"Give em something to fight for..."
  272. 272.
    >With that the old dog loosens his grip and moves away, a young pup rushes to his side to keep him up
  273. 273.
    ----------------------------------------------------
  274. 274.
    >Seeing the old dog protest but still taking the pups help, you watch them leave
  275. 275.
    >Your attention focused on the pup with a solemn stare
  276. 276.
    >He wears a half helm a skew on his head and a vest of chainmail, a plain short sword strapped to his belt
  277. 277.
    >The pup looks past his shoulder and meets your stare
  278. 278.
    >He's too young to be here...
  279. 279.
    >Pulling on the reins of Serend you whirl her to see all 20 division's of sky riders
  280. 280.
    >Ivy green, dark scarlet, indigo, rust and every conceivable colour of wyvern are scattered in the open meadow .
  281. 281.
    >On their backs are diamond dogs and on the bigger wyverns, minotaurs sit
  282. 282.
    >All of them in custom armour to ensure they are as aerodynamic as their partners
  283. 283.
    >They don't show it to you, but you can feel the tenseness in the air
  284. 284.
    >Aside from drills this'll be the first time they fly into battle
  285. 285.
    >A white bull man wearing steel scale mail steps to you
  286. 286.
    >He has one small and one large horn and hands you a dark emerald green barbute
  287. 287.
    >Placing the helm between your legs you take another look at the bull
  288. 288.
    >The scar running down his eye to his chin is unmistakable
  289. 289.
    "Brigadier Ribeye, when the riders and I lead the sortie send in a contingency of your best men to bolster the main assault on the ground"
  290. 290.
    >"Yes General"
  291. 291.
    >The scar running through his lip makes him talk out the side of his mouth but it doesn't make his bassy voice any less intimidating
  292. 292.
    "After that Field Marshal Gren is in charge with any superseding commands"
  293. 293.
    >"Understood General"
  294. 294.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  295. 295.
    >Turning your attention to your squad again you inhale as much as you can through your nose
  296. 296.
    "Soldiers, when I came to you I was broken!"
  297. 297.
    >They take note of the situation and raise their eyes to you some lifting their visors to see who is shouting
  298. 298.
    "A shell of a man, betrayed and crushed by the ones I thought I could trust dearly!"
  299. 299.
    >Riders stirring in their seats, squire pups handing begin handing out weapons of silver lances and javelins to those without
  300. 300.
    "I told you of the atrocities committed against my kin, my friends and my entire species!"
  301. 301.
    >Having their full attention now you push Serend to pace up the line
  302. 302.
    "But here I am today, my resolve and my will stronger than ever!"
  303. 303.
    >Each and every one of their faces are still, watching the last human in Equestria rally them
  304. 304.
    "I may be the last of my kind, but I have not given up hope! Hope, that these atrocities may never be felt by any kind again! Be them dog, minotaur or man!
  305. 305.
    >The tenseness in the air feels to be dissipating, you place your helmet on your head as you continue
  306. 306.
    "So when you ride out there today remember what it is you're fighting for! Fight for your families! Fight for your friends! FIGHT FOR YOUR SPECIES!
  307. 307.
    >An ardent flame has sparked in your troops
  308. 308.
    >They howl and cry out with ferocity their wyverns hissing in chorus
  309. 309.
    "If it's your time to die out there, it is your time to die! I will not ask for the impossible. All I ask when you ride with me! Is you take some of the bastards with you!
  310. 310.
    >You whirl Serend to look in the direction of the battlefield , who lets out a loud hiss herself
  311. 311.
    "LETS RIDE!"
  312. 312.
    >Flipping your visor down you spur Serend forward
  313. 313.
    >Her large leathery wings unfurl and push her off the ground
  314. 314.
    >It only takes a few flaps before you can feel the wind rush past you as Serend takes you to the field in the sky
  315. 315.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
  316. 316.
    >The cloud continent that now casts its shadow above the blood soaked fields looks like a hive, alive swarming with griffins and pegasi alike
  317. 317.
    >You knew this was coming,that fortress in the sky was Cloudsdale
  318. 318.
    >Wind whipping around you makes it difficult to hear much
  319. 319.
    >But the cries of dogs and minotaur's is clear
  320. 320.
    >It sends a chill down your spine
  321. 321.
    >In the pit of your stomach you feel like eels are writhing , making you feel sick
  322. 322.
    >Leaning back into your saddle more you lower your lance
  323. 323.
    >Your vision is stifled some by your helmet but you can feel a presence
  324. 324.
    >Behind you four other riders have formed to make an arrow head formation with you at the point
  325. 325.
    >Through your peripherals you can see they are your squad members
  326. 326.
    >Your squad
  327. 327.
    >Viper squad
  328. 328.
    >If they were doing it properly that would mean that Bane squad and Cyclone squad were either side of yours
  329. 329.
    >Tightening your grip on your silver lance you take aim making sure to relax your body
  330. 330.
    >As you fast approach your first targets
  331. 331.
    >Some armoured griffins hovering in the air
  332. 332.
    >Before they even have time to notice, you're already on them
  333. 333.
    >You can see the whites of their eyes as you puncture your lance through a griffin's wing
  334. 334.
    >Blood sprays your silver lance scarlet as the force of impact pushes into your arm and jolts your lance upwards
  335. 335.
    >It hurts slightly but you were prepared for it
  336. 336.
    >The unknown griffin flaps its wing frantically and screams in a shrill voice as gravity sends it plummeting to the ground
  337. 337.
    >Your arm aches as you lower your lance into position again
  338. 338.
    >But the surge of adrenaline will soon see to your pains, the adrenaline surge of your first kill in this war
  339. 339.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  340. 340.
    >Lancing at everything that comes within your reach
  341. 341.
    >The ride is turbulent as Serend ducks and weaves through pegasi and girffin's littering the air
  342. 342.
    >The enemy is panicked
  343. 343.
    >They'd never seen the creatures your riding before, and they certainly weren't prepared for more than one hundred of them
  344. 344.
    >Its exactly what you were hoping for
  345. 345.
    >Celestia probably thought she would have control of the skies during the battle giving her a huge advantage
  346. 346.
    >Even against your war machines
  347. 347.
    >But you had surprise on your side
  348. 348.
    >And that's all you needed in battle
  349. 349.
    >Your squad buddies cheer as you pierce a orange pegasus in gold armour through the bottom of his jaw and into its head
  350. 350.
    >"VIPER SQUAD!"
  351. 351.
    >Raising you lance upward allowing the wind to catch the lifeless body and slide it off your lance
  352. 352.
    >Its blood slapping you plate armour and helm
  353. 353.
    >Choosing to remain silent you lower the point to position once more
  354. 354.
    >There was still so much to do
  355. 355.
    --------------------------------------------------------------
  356. 356.
    >As you pass through the swarm of enemies you pull on Serend's reins to turn her for another run
  357. 357.
    >Noticing your ballista's are under siege from pegasus ponies
  358. 358.
    "Kurjack! Tell Bane Squad to move to the ballista's!"
  359. 359.
    >You shout over your left shoulder hoping the wind carries your voice
  360. 360.
    >Seeing as Kurjack breaks off the formation to line up with Bane Squad must mean he heard
  361. 361.
    >A bright flash zips past your vision causing Serend to scream
  362. 362.
    >You wince from the sudden pain to your retinas
  363. 363.
    >Spots float around your eyes, as if it was not already hard enough to see with the helmet
  364. 364.
    >Throwing your head back the helmet is caught by the wind and takes it off for you
  365. 365.
    >Eyes blinking to the new light of the world you can see the carnage of the dog fights
  366. 366.
    >Griffins and pegasus ponies are dropping from the sky unable to handle the speed and devastation of the sky riders
  367. 367.
    >You can see bolts of light wiz through the air from unicorns trying to shoot the wyverns down
  368. 368.
    >Peering to the ground you can see a large brown minotaur wielding a bastard sword fend for himself against an enclosing force of ponies
  369. 369.
    "Serend, down!"
  370. 370.
    >Serend tucks her wings in and falls, aiming for the minotaur
  371. 371.
     
  372. 372.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  373. 373.
     
  374. 374.
    >Bracing yourself for the landing, Serend opens her wings at the last second gliding and then slamming on top of a gold plated stallion
  375. 375.
    >Her powerful talons going to work crushing him under her
  376. 376.
    >The landing took a bit of wind out of your lungs but you join her by thrusting your lance into a unicorn through its neck
  377. 377.
    >It falls when you pull the lance away making gurgling noises as it chokes on its own blood
  378. 378.
    >While the unicorn bleeds out, Serend has already moved on to a blue pony locked in between her jaws
  379. 379.
    >Its makes a horrific noise as Serend closes her mouth slicing through the armour, flesh and bone
  380. 380.
    >Behind her tail bashes another stallion sending it rag dolling 10 meters away
  381. 381.
    >"General?"
  382. 382.
    >Clove Hoof stands bloody with an embossed brazen shield in one hand and his bastard sword in the other
  383. 383.
    >Standing to his back you see one of the smaller minotaurs that was with him when he left, it looks worn out from the struggle
  384. 384.
    >Barely holding up its shield and javelin
  385. 385.
    >A few feet from them, among the stained grass and dead, you recognise the body of the other
  386. 386.
    >Its entrails hanging from its belly like pink cables
  387. 387.
    "Reinforcements have arrived Captain, I'm sorry we couldn't make it sooner"
  388. 388.
    >You look over to the body of the fallen minotaur again
  389. 389.
    >Clove Hoof sees this and remarks by tapping the shield he carries
  390. 390.
    >"He lived well"
  391. 391.
    >You nod taking note that the shield Clove Hoof now carries was the one of the fallen bull
  392. 392.
    >As Serend gulps whatever part of the ponies body she had in her mouth, you can see the hill top being washed over with black
  393. 393.
    >The new contingency you asked for stampeding to meet with the other forces
  394. 394.
    "Meet with the reinforcements and let them take over the line Captain. You've lived well enough today"
  395. 395.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  396. 396.
     
  397. 397.
    >"General sir, I apologies for not brining Shining Armor's head for you. I had him on the run till we were cut off by his escort"
  398. 398.
    "Don't think on it anymore Captain, your new orders are to keep this bull and yourself alive"
  399. 399.
    >The Captain blows some air out of his nostrils
  400. 400.
    >He's frustrated and tired
  401. 401.
    >But you both know he can't keep this up for long
  402. 402.
    >"General sir! Before you go...please, take this"
  403. 403.
    >Presenting the shield to you, there's a glinting in his hard eyes
  404. 404.
    >"He'd want to be doing the most he can"
  405. 405.
    >Humbly reaching to take the shield you gaze upon the sigil
  406. 406.
    >Its surface is scratched and its charred on one corner but the green serpent devouring the red sun on a field of dark azure in the centre is still bold in colour
  407. 407.
    "What was his name?"
  408. 408.
    >Your voice is soft when you inquire
  409. 409.
    >The large brown bulls bottom lip quivers for a moment as he recomposes himself
  410. 410.
    >"Oxalis Hoof, sir"
  411. 411.
    >You don't say anything
  412. 412.
    >Sliding your arm into the strap of the shield
  413. 413.
    >With your shield arm you tap your chest plate where your heart is
  414. 414.
    >Clove hoof curls his hand into a fist and does the same
  415. 415.
    >Spurring Serend you take to the skies once more
  416. 416.
    >Leaving the bull to mourn his son
  417. 417.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  418. 418.
     
  419. 419.
    >Its harder to see without your helmet blocking the wind as you rise on the back of Serend
  420. 420.
    >It forces you to squint as the hard air assaults your face
  421. 421.
    >Joining your forces in the sky you notice on what's left of the walls surrounding Ponyville a legion of unicorns standing on top, taking pot shots at the other squadrons
  422. 422.
    >The hot bolts of magic strike a sky rider of his seat and burn through the wyverns scaly hide
  423. 423.
    >Again the wind wrapping your head makes it difficult to hear but in the distance the cry of the wyvern can be heard as gravity takes it
  424. 424.
    >Taking care not to come in range of the unicorns you aim to fly past them
  425. 425.
    >Raising your lance has high as you can with your arm aching in response
  426. 426.
    >The signal to form up
  427. 427.
    >Within seconds riders are already with you coming in from below , above and either side
  428. 428.
    >It was lucky that they could see the signal with all the flashes of magic arcing through the air
  429. 429.
    >You are five in formation, the wyverns silently gliding far away from the unicorns
  430. 430.
    >As you soar over the walls you take a glance down
  431. 431.
    >From what you could see it looks like Ponyville has been completely evacuated
  432. 432.
    >Unponied apple carts look as if they have been abandoned days ago along with the cottages residence
  433. 433.
    >Why would they build a wall around an empty city?
  434. 434.
    >There is no time to find the answer now, you were far enough over Ponyville to make your turn
  435. 435.
    >Pulling the reins, Serend turns with them flying on her side along with the rest of the formation keeping it tight
  436. 436.
    >The g forces push you into your saddle and makes it hard to breath
  437. 437.
    >A whistle noise can be heard as you all make the turn and line up
  438. 438.
    >Making the formation glide low and quiet to take the unicorns unaware
  439. 439.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  440. 440.
     
  441. 441.
    "Just a couple more yards..."
  442. 442.
    >Muttering to yourself as you move out of your saddle to squat
  443. 443.
    >Making sure your feet are still locked into their holsters
  444. 444.
    >Griping the reins tightly with your shield arm, the point of your lance now aiming in the air
  445. 445.
    >You brace for impact
  446. 446.
    >Coming up from behind the unicorns on the wall you stand in the saddle
  447. 447.
    >As you do Serend lets her tail lower slightly
  448. 448.
    >Before breaking out of the glide with a loud flap of her wings and swinging her tail
  449. 449.
    >A unicorn has just enough time to snap a look behind him to see a squad of winged serpents hiss before colliding
  450. 450.
    >Serend's clubbed tail connects with a bit of the wall with a loud smash followed by the pounding of the other wyverns tails smacking the wall
  451. 451.
    >The collision shakes you up and down hitting the seat of your pants, Serend lets out a hiss as she readjusts herself in the air
  452. 452.
    >Debris crashes to the ground as you look back
  453. 453.
    >Where the unicorns once were, only a crumbling wall remains with no sign of life on top of it
  454. 454.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
  455. 455.
     
  456. 456.
    >Flying high it would appear as if enemy reinforcements have joined in the fighting
  457. 457.
    >The temporary riders split off to meet with their original squads
  458. 458.
    >Battling below is even with both sides not receding an inch
  459. 459.
    >You scout the area trying to find the other members of viper squad but to no avail
  460. 460.
    >Ballista bolts are being fired into the mass of undulating figures on the ground and through the air
  461. 461.
    >The hill is clear of pegasus ponies and a few members of Bane squad are moving through the air in a figure of 8 above them
  462. 462.
    "Nice work Bane Squad"
  463. 463.
    >Only Serend hears your hushed talk and she takes no notice
  464. 464.
    >Coming to meet you in the air you spy Kurjack returning on his red jasper wyvern, most likely from helping Bane Squad
  465. 465.
    >Gently you tug at Serend's reins which slows her to a hover in the air
  466. 466.
    >Kurjack whirls his wyvern to your side to hover as well and gives a guttural shout
  467. 467.
    >"General Anonymous! The pegasus harassing the ballista's fled!"
  468. 468.
    >Some relief at last
  469. 469.
    "Good work Kurjack! Where's the rest of the Vipers!?"
  470. 470.
    >"They left with Cyclone Squad sir! For Clouds Dale above us! We thought you were hit when you fell!"
  471. 471.
    >A big smirk spreads across your face at the thought that they kept fighting hard even when you were gone
  472. 472.
    "Not a chance Kurjack!"
  473. 473.
    >The dog gives a loud laugh as he slaps the side of his head
  474. 474.
    >"By the way General! Gouge says cheers!"
  475. 475.
    >You had almost forgotten about Gouge the gruff speaking marksman
  476. 476.
    "Is he alright!?"
  477. 477.
    >"Aye sir! He's on one of the ballista's!"
  478. 478.
    >Pointing with his silver lance to the hill you look to the ballista's and nod
  479. 479.
    "Go get the Vipers! Tell them to find me in the field!"
  480. 480.
    >"What will you do General?!"
  481. 481.
    >As he asks an arc of ethereal blue light crackles and fizzes and passes through one of Bane Squads wyverns wings
  482. 482.
    >Sending it crashing down into the ballista Kurjack was pointing at
  483. 483.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  484. 484.
     
  485. 485.
    Image of Luna> http://pre09.deviantart.net/b6b9/th/pre/i/2014/211/d/2/princess_luna_in_armor_by_cxfantasy-d7swvo6.png
  486. 486.
     
  487. 487.
    >Sitting in your saddle your eyes wide with shock as the ethereal bolts decimate the other wyvern crashing it into a couple more ballista's with it
  488. 488.
    >The earth is singed and ablaze with blue flames on the hill
  489. 489.
    >Following the bolt from its trajectory you can see a pegasus with a horn, as dark as night in the air
  490. 490.
    >Turning back to Kurjack you yell
  491. 491.
    "GET THE VIPERS NOW!"
  492. 492.
    >Kurjack snaps back from looking on with his mouth agape and spurs his wyvern up into the cloud above
  493. 493.
    >While you spur Serend towards the new enemy
  494. 494.
    >She screeches moving so fast like a bat out of hell you can barely keep your eyes open against the wind
  495. 495.
    >It makes your eyes water
  496. 496.
    >Approaching the little black pony it appears to be getting alot closer than expected
  497. 497.
    >Raising your shield to help against the incoming wind its hit with a loud metal ding
  498. 498.
    >Hard
  499. 499.
    >It rocks you in your seat, you feel like you might have dislocated your shoulder from its socket from the pain and the collision has pushed the air from your lungs
  500. 500.
    >Serend whirls herself in the air and hisses as you come face to face with the attacker
  501. 501.
    >"Doth mine eyes deceive me? A serpent riding a serpent? This day hath been one for o' queer sights indeed "
  502. 502.
    >The shakespearian sultry voice of the attacker belongs to the alicorn, Princess Luna
  503. 503.
    >Her ethereal night mane sways softly even among the high winds
  504. 504.
    >The armour she wears is covered with her symbol of the crescent moon
  505. 505.
    >On her head her horn glows with aura which has enveloped a spear aimed directly at you
  506. 506.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
  507. 507.
     
  508. 508.
    >Regaining your lost wind and breathing through the pain, with teeth clenched you growl along with Serend's hissing
  509. 509.
    "Luna"
  510. 510.
    >Huffing she spits back at you in contempt
  511. 511.
    >"Fie upon't thou, speakth not in such familiar tongue base worm. Tis /Princess/ Luna to thee!"
  512. 512.
    "Your titles mean nothing to me on this field Luna"
  513. 513.
    >Rolling your shoulder in its joint making sure it has not actually dislocated, you sneer back at Luna
  514. 514.
    >How could such a tiny pony have such strength?
  515. 515.
    >Alicorns truly are powerfully frightening creatures
  516. 516.
    >Her eyes narrow as she gives a grimace
  517. 517.
    >"How like the beast thou rides, mine personage is not as in like to my sweet sister. Anonymous"
  518. 518.
    >Returning her grimace with your own scowl the old familiar feelings of hate boil to the surface at the mention of Celestia
  519. 519.
    "Thank you for the complement Luna, I find Serend and I share many similarities"
  520. 520.
    >Patting Serend's back she gives out a sudden loud hiss to which Luna is startled by
  521. 521.
    "She also doesn't like watching her own kin die"
  522. 522.
    >Dipping into the reservoirs of anger you've harboured for these long years your voice is grave and deep
  523. 523.
    "And you are right again, you're nothing like your sister"
  524. 524.
    >The alicorns turquoise eyes widen with outrage
  525. 525.
    >"ENOUGH! I will hear no more o' thine treacherous tongue, DIE!"
  526. 526.
    >Lifting her head, her horn glows bright before she unleashes as shockwave clapping loud as thunder
  527. 527.
    >Serend takes initiative and dives under it
  528. 528.
    >The wyvern mother is pissed, you no longer control her
  529. 529.
    >Good
  530. 530.
    >Both of you know who to focus your wrath upon now
  531. 531.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  532. 532.
     
  533. 533.
    >Coming up from below fast, Serend beats her wings with powerful strokes
  534. 534.
    >Aiming her open maw of teeth at Princess Luna
  535. 535.
    >Readying your own weapons you raise your shield and aim your silver lance
  536. 536.
    >Sheer force of speed and gravity combined keeps your back in the inclined position
  537. 537.
    >The alicorn has already spotted you and dances around Serend's mouth
  538. 538.
    >Her armoured hoofs grind along your lance as she spins her aura coated spear into your shield again with a grunt
  539. 539.
    >It reverberates through to your arm shooting another spike of pain up it
  540. 540.
    >If you weren't locked to your saddle it would have definitely sent you hurtling towards the earth
  541. 541.
    >But Serend is not done yet, she makes a sharp v turn in the air to make chase
  542. 542.
    >Now diving down upon Princess Luna
  543. 543.
    >This time her talons on her feet unfurl
  544. 544.
    >Princess Luna's eyes never left sight of you
  545. 545.
    >She sees it coming and twists her body away and thrusts her spear under Serend's wing
  546. 546.
    >It catches and tears through Serend's leathery wing flesh causing her to corkscrew in the air
  547. 547.
    >Rushing to meet the ground, Serend screams
  548. 548.
    >Your eyes are squinting from the wind and the g forces almost pull you from your seat
  549. 549.
    "C'MON SEREND!"
  550. 550.
    >Barking at her to get back in the air you clasp the reins and pull
  551. 551.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  552. 552.
     
  553. 553.
    >Pulling the reins with one hand does nothing
  554. 554.
    >Releasing your lance to the mercy of the wind behind, you grab hold with both hands and pull harder
  555. 555.
    "DON'T YOU QUIT ON ME!"
  556. 556.
    >Serend's head begins to arch up as she stretches her wings out as far as she can to counter the spinning
  557. 557.
    >By some sheer chance of dumb luck a passing squad of sky riders under you jets by
  558. 558.
    >Their flight path creates an updraft which Serend catches on her wings just before you become too acquainted with the fight on the ground
  559. 559.
    >You breathe a sigh of relief as Serend is soaring again
  560. 560.
    >Ears pop from the rapid change in air pressure
  561. 561.
    >The smell of blood below is thick catching in the back of your nose and you can hear the fighting closely than ever now
  562. 562.
    >Looking over to Serend's wing you can see the flesh as been torn some leaving a dark red streak
  563. 563.
    >The torn flaps slapping in the air
  564. 564.
    >But she can still catch some breeze under it
  565. 565.
    >Relief is short lived when a ethereal bolt fizzes past your pauldron and hits the ground in front of you
  566. 566.
    >Earth showers over you as you turn to see Princess Luna in pursuit firing another bolt from her horn
  567. 567.
    >"I will have thine life this day! tilly-vally!
  568. 568.
    >Weaving and dancing gracefully as a ballerina through the air, the injured wyvern manages to dodge the incoming bolts one after the other
  569. 569.
    >Serend picks up the speed as she makes a burst dash for the walls of Ponyville
  570. 570.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  571. 571.
     
  572. 572.
    >Deafening wind wraps your entire body as Serend flees from the tenacious alicorn
  573. 573.
    >If Serend's wing wasn't cleaved she could have out flown Princess Luna
  574. 574.
    >But as things were, all she can do is avert the thunder like bolts harassing her
  575. 575.
    >Passing over the wall of Ponyville Princess Luna's relentless assault ceases
  576. 576.
    >"Thou vile eel-skin tuck! Face me thou yellow bellied worm!"
  577. 577.
    >Her halted firing must mean she's either tired or she does not wish to harm the homes with her reckless blasting
  578. 578.
    >Giving that moments ago it seemed the barrage would not stop, it must be the latter
  579. 579.
    "Okay Serend, if we can't out chase her, we'll out manoeuvre her"
  580. 580.
    >You speak loud enough for Serend to hear but low enough that your voice is lost to the raging winds behind
  581. 581.
    >The serpents pale yellow eyes look back to yours as if she acknowledges what you said
  582. 582.
    >Sometimes it feels like Serend really does understand what you're saying
  583. 583.
    >Approaching the Town Hall you give your wyvern some last words of encouragement
  584. 584.
    "Okay girl, you can do it"
  585. 585.
    >Flying low Serend makes a bee line for the Town Hall as if to crash into it
  586. 586.
    >At the last second she shifts her body on its side while you move your body with her
  587. 587.
    >It's a tight turn you can feel the air pressure as you narrowly avoid decapitating yourself on the support beams of the hall
  588. 588.
    >She shifts her body again to head down to Sugarcube Corner
  589. 589.
    >Hearing Princess Luna guffaw behind you
  590. 590.
    >"Thou thinkest to scurry away? Then I shall play thy game"
  591. 591.
    "Hell's horses"
  592. 592.
    >Cursing under your breathe the alicorn Princess makes the turn
  593. 593.
    >It would seem Princess Luna new her way around town as well
  594. 594.
    >But there were still many turns and paths to take
  595. 595.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  596. 596.
     
  597. 597.
    >En route to Sugarcube Corner you make ready for the next turn
  598. 598.
    >Dust and litter in the streets kick up into the air as Serend and Luna whiz through the streets
  599. 599.
    >If Princess Luna does catch you the only way to defend yourself is with your shield
  600. 600.
    >The sword strapped to your hilt might help some, but its reach wouldn't be enough to fight back
  601. 601.
    >"How doth it feel to be back, Anonymous? If thou has feelings anymore?!"
  602. 602.
    >She's trying to make you lose focus
  603. 603.
    >Don't listen
  604. 604.
    >"Mine sister and I, all of the ponies took thee into our bosom when thou had nowhere to go!"
  605. 605.
    >Remain vigilant
  606. 606.
    >"Now thou sacks our city and murders its ponies. Did thou plan to betray us all along? Or are all the element of humanity heartless monsters?
  607. 607.
    >...
  608. 608.
    >She doesn't know
  609. 609.
    >Conflicting emotions storm within you
  610. 610.
    >A sinking feeling weights upon your heart
  611. 611.
    >While your blood boils
  612. 612.
    "You know nothing of my people, Luna!"
  613. 613.
    >Exclaiming back with a roar, she's touched a nerve
  614. 614.
    >And distracted you
  615. 615.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
  616. 616.
     
  617. 617.
    >Serend pushes off the comically large muffin spire of Sugarcube Corner to jettison down Stirrup Street
  618. 618.
    >Breaking some of its structure with her talons
  619. 619.
    >The sudden impact pushes most of your organs up in your body and hurts your spine where you had twisted on it to shout back at Luna
  620. 620.
    >You feel as if your about to wretch as a lump gets stuck in your throat and a hot sweat courses through you body
  621. 621.
    >In recompense some lose debris causes Luna to go off course slightly
  622. 622.
    >Crashing into the ground, she turns into a dot behind you
  623. 623.
    >Choking on the lump in your throat you struggle to speak
  624. 624.
    "No Serend,huurgh...to... there "
  625. 625.
    >Wearily pointing to the giant tree Serend whirls herself to your order
  626. 626.
    >To the now abandoned library
  627. 627.
    >Serend moves her wings into a glide as she approaches the green leaves of the tree
  628. 628.
    >Latching on with the tiny claws of her wings the leaves rustle as she gently clambers into the foliage to conceal herself
  629. 629.
    >Sluggishly releasing the clasps of your holsters you fall from the wyverns back on to a branch, your armour clanks when it hits the thick wood
  630. 630.
    >In the dark of the leaves, Crawling to the trunk of the tree you prop your aching back against it
  631. 631.
    >Everything hurts, your body complains from the harsh trials it's been put through
  632. 632.
    >While your head thumps with the beginnings of a headache
  633. 633.
    >Even poor Serend is exhausted from the skirmishes
  634. 634.
    >She places her heavy head across your lap, her body curls up rising up and down with her forked tongue flickering in and out of her lips
  635. 635.
    "We've fought well today Serend..."
  636. 636.
    >Your voice is quiet and haggard and the lump in your throat feels to be going
  637. 637.
    "Perhaps we've earned a rest, just for a short one..."
  638. 638.
    >As you place a hand on the wyverns head your eye lids grow heavy
  639. 639.
    >Its quiet here, you can't hear the fighting anymore
  640. 640.
    >Giving Serend a few caresses of her scales before you give up and let sleep take you
  641. 641.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  642. 642.
     
  643. 643.
    >Its dark in the palace
  644. 644.
    >Walking down the long empty hall your steps echo off and into the ceiling
  645. 645.
    >On the pillars in hanging baskets are white sweet alyssum flowers
  646. 646.
    >The scent of pollen and clover honey purveys the air
  647. 647.
    >Looking up there are banners hanging with a sigil
  648. 648.
    >A black and white alicorn dancing, surrounded by stars on a field of sky blue and in the centre a crescent moon and sun
  649. 649.
    >The banners seem alive as they sway in a nonexistent breeze
  650. 650.
    >As you walk you notice the stained glass windows beautifully displaying Equestrian history and prophecies
  651. 651.
    >One of the windows catch your attention and you stop to inspect it
  652. 652.
    >Where all the other windows depict ponies or demons this one shows a man clad in green armour
  653. 653.
    >He's on the back of a creature you recognise but can't think of the name of
  654. 654.
    >It sends goose bumps all up your arms and the back of your neck when you look into its yellow eye
  655. 655.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEqZKJ1Kyi0
  656. 656.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0gsduLrfSU
  657. 657.
    >A faint sound of music is coming from further down the hall
  658. 658.
    >You begin to walk again, gliding almost as you follow the sound to its source
  659. 659.
    >A storm outside rages tapping the windows with rain droplets
  660. 660.
    >Seeing a flash fill the halls for an instant you count to yourself like you did when you were a child
  661. 661.
    "1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9"
  662. 662.
    >You hear the rumble of thunder
  663. 663.
    "9 miles away"
  664. 664.
    >The music is clearer now as you come closer to a giant pair of royal purple doors with gold etchings of vines
  665. 665.
    >They looks heavy but as you push against it with an open hand it feels light as a feather
  666. 666.
    >Opening the door slowly the music grows even louder sending shivers up your spine
  667. 667.
    >Inside is the grand throne room
  668. 668.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  669. 669.
     
  670. 670.
    >Pillars reaching as high as 15 feet hold a chequered purple and pink ceiling
  671. 671.
    >In contrast the floor is polished marble mirroring everything in the room upon it
  672. 672.
    >More stained glass windows fill the room as tall at the pillars
  673. 673.
    >Treading along the salmon pink carpet you look upon the throne
  674. 674.
    >Its completely covered in gold with embossed patterns and two chalices of purple roses at the bottom steps
  675. 675.
    >Getting closer to the throne the music is now deafeningly loud
  676. 676.
    >On the seat of the throne something undulates and writhes under a maroon cloth
  677. 677.
    >There's another flash of thunder that makes the shadows of the pane glass windows seem alive as you make your way up the steps
  678. 678.
    >This time there is no need to count as the thunder crackles making the room tremble
  679. 679.
    >Finally at the source of music you reach out to take the cloth of whatever is moving under it
  680. 680.
    >Right before you do the music stops along with the savage storm
  681. 681.
    >The air feels eerily still, hairs prickle on the back of your neck
  682. 682.
    >Hesitating for a moment you dread what you might find
  683. 683.
    >But with a deep breath you wrench the cloth off to find
  684. 684.
    "A music box?"
  685. 685.
    >The cloth reveals a small steel ornate box, its lid closed
  686. 686.
    >Its hot to the touch but it does not scold you when you pick it up
  687. 687.
    >Inspecting it for the turn key yields no results so you try to force it open by digging your nails under the lid
  688. 688.
    >It stays jammed shut
  689. 689.
    >Struggling with the music box a warm hand gently falls on your shoulder
  690. 690.
    >Turning your head to find who it belongs to reveals a woman and a man
  691. 691.
    >The woman is dressed in a white gown while the man is wearing black suit trousers and a white shirt and black tie
  692. 692.
    >They have warm smiles on their faces
  693. 693.
    "Mom?...Dad?"
  694. 694.
    >Your eyes well up finding them here, the entire room is packed with people talking and walking about
  695. 695.
    >Some of the their faces you recognise as family and friends the rest of the people are blurry to you
  696. 696.
    >"Hello Anonymous"
  697. 697.
    >Mothers voice is silvery as you remember
  698. 698.
    >"You're not gonna get into like that sunbeam"
  699. 699.
    >Dad is jovial as usual as he chuckles to you trying to force open the box
  700. 700.
     
  701. 701.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  702. 702.
     
  703. 703.
    >Taking short breaths and face tingling you allow a torrent of tears to soak your cheeks
  704. 704.
    >Embracing your parents you squeeze them together and sob uncontrollably
  705. 705.
    "I thought I'd lost you"
  706. 706.
    >They return your embrace with a warm cuddle
  707. 707.
    >Mom:"Aw sweetheart, there, it's alright"
  708. 708.
    >Dad: "What are you crying for you daft sod? We didn't go anywhere"
  709. 709.
    >Retrieving your head from their shoulders you wipe the tears and snot away with the cuff of your sleeves
  710. 710.
    "I had this nightmare, you guys were gone, everyone was gone. I thought I was on my own"
  711. 711.
    >An arm warps around the back of your shoulders
  712. 712.
    >"Would you stop leaving your crap everywhere? How many times do I have to pick up after you?"
  713. 713.
    >The arm belongs to your brother
  714. 714.
    >He has his gleam smile spread across his cheeks as he puts the music box back in your hand
  715. 715.
    >Somehow you must of dropped it without realising
  716. 716.
    >Shrugging him off you grin back at him
  717. 717.
    "You're the messy one out of the two of us bro"
  718. 718.
    >Making his way down the steps he chortles back to you
  719. 719.
    >"Guess that makes you the emotional clean freak, right? HAH!"
  720. 720.
    "Fuck you"
  721. 721.
    >"Buy me dinner first dick head"
  722. 722.
    >Dad: "Lads, don't swear in front of your mother for fuck sakes"
  723. 723.
    >Mom:"Charming!"
  724. 724.
    >Mom hits Dad playfully on the arm and dad beams a smirk
  725. 725.
    "It's like you guys never left me"
  726. 726.
    >Their eyes express a sadness when you say that
  727. 727.
    >Mom: "Sweet heart we'd never leave you"
  728. 728.
    >Dad:"Yeah, can't get rid of us that easily mate. Made of tough stuff we are"
  729. 729.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  730. 730.
     
  731. 731.
    >Mom takes you by your hand and puts it on the music box lid placing her hand over yours
  732. 732.
    >Mom:"As long as you hold us in your heart, we will always be with you"
  733. 733.
    >Dad scruffs your hair up a little before gently putting his hand behind your back
  734. 734.
    >Dad:"As long as you remember us we'll always be by your side sunbeam, and we'll always love you no matter what"
  735. 735.
    >The tears in your eyes don't seem to be turning off
  736. 736.
    >Embracing them again making sure to keep hold of the music box tightly
  737. 737.
    "I'm never gonna lose you again"
  738. 738.
    >They wrap their arms around you in return and say in a sad voice
  739. 739.
    >Dad:"I know you don't want to son, but..."
  740. 740.
    >Mom:"We were never going to be around forever, Anonymous"
  741. 741.
    >In a quiet voice they say together
  742. 742.
    >Mom:"You have to let go"
  743. 743.
    >Dad:"You have to let go"
  744. 744.
    >Balling into them your eyes blood shot and face stained with crying
  745. 745.
    "No! you were taken from me! I have to keep you here, safe, with me!"
  746. 746.
    >Once more chillingly together
  747. 747.
    >"Let go..."
  748. 748.
    >The entire throne room feels to be trembling
  749. 749.
    >You squeeze harder scared to release them
  750. 750.
    >As you do your parents feel soft
  751. 751.
    >Too soft
  752. 752.
    >Looking up, their visages turn dark and look to be wailing with no sound coming out of their mouths
  753. 753.
    >The storm has picked up again and shakes the room so violently the windows shatter, the walls and pillars crack
  754. 754.
    "NO,NOOO!!"
  755. 755.
    >Screaming in protest your throat hurts
  756. 756.
    >Everyone in the room including your brother staggers before they are hurt by some force and blown away like dust into nothing
  757. 757.
    >Melting in your hands your parents horrific tortured faces collapse in on themselves
  758. 758.
    >As their entire bodies turn to ash as you fall to your knees
  759. 759.
    >Hitting the dirtied marble steps the walls and ceiling are torn away by the storm to reveal a shadowy blood stained sky and your city burning
  760. 760.
    >Here again
  761. 761.
    >You relive the day when the world died
  762. 762.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  763. 763.
     
  764. 764.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duam7RMOjNU
  765. 765.
    >A blistering heat in the raging winds makes your lungs feel as if they are on fire with every breath
  766. 766.
    >In the air you can smell nothing but smoke and dirt and blood
  767. 767.
    >Sobbing you struggle to your feet, still clutching the music box
  768. 768.
    >The box and yourself are blotched and blackened by your parents ashes
  769. 769.
    >Tears on your face boil and burn
  770. 770.
    >And though you still feel like you're crying nothing comes out
  771. 771.
    >All that remains of the room are the now filthy marbled steps and the throne covered in soot, half melted
  772. 772.
    >Hobbling down the main road you put your hand up to shield your eyes against the dust that slaps your face and body making you cough and hack
  773. 773.
    >Lightning and thunder in orange bolts strike down unforgivingly, scorching whatever they touch
  774. 774.
    >Above the sky was awash with sheets of grey and dark red with the clouds catching the orange of the fires balls that showered in unrelenting force
  775. 775.
    >Their impacts create giant bright flares of light and sound of bombs exploding
  776. 776.
    >With each meteor that strike a shockwave cause more dust and dirt to hit you
  777. 777.
    >Ground quakes under you and slabs of road are torn apart creating fissures
  778. 778.
    >The music box is sent spinning out of your hands, along with you
  779. 779.
    >Scrambling to try and get it back you can't get your footing as the earth is lifted beneath you
  780. 780.
    >Staggering and falling over your feet the box spirals to the edge of a chasm
  781. 781.
    >Leaping you catch it before it goes over as you peer down into a dark abyss below rubble clips the sides of the chasm in to the black nothingness
  782. 782.
    >Standing stable again you see the box lid has been broken
  783. 783.
    >Slowly a sense of compulsion dares you to open it
  784. 784.
    >When you do everything around is silent as the thump-thump of a bleeding heart is revealed
  785. 785.
    "I don't understand wha- Gurargh!"
  786. 786.
    >A pearl white horn runs through your chest from behind, dripping in scarlet
  787. 787.
    >Eyes open
  788. 788.
    >Its cold except for your lap
  789. 789.
    >Serend has her head resting on you
  790. 790.
    >Droplets of rain from the leaves of the tree tink against your armour and tap on your head running down your face
  791. 791.
    >A rumble of thunder can be heard far away as you look through the leaves to an overcast sky that has opened the heavens and poured itself on Ponyville
  792. 792.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  793. 793.
     
  794. 794.
    >Unsure of how long you've been asleep you try to move your still aching body
  795. 795.
    >Slowly sliding out from under Serend's slumbering head and using the trunk of the tree to steady yourself
  796. 796.
    >That dream, or nightmare is still fresh in your mind. The images playing back and forth as you try to suss out the meaning of it all.
  797. 797.
    >If there is any meaning
  798. 798.
    >It has reawakened a lot within you, feelings you thought you'd never feel again
  799. 799.
    >Faces you never thought you'd see again
  800. 800.
    >Staring out from between the veil of leaf and branches you can see gouts of smoke rising in the far distance
  801. 801.
    "Luna has been busy"
  802. 802.
    >Feeling something touch lightly against your elbow you see out the corner of your eye that Serend has awoken
  803. 803.
    >Raising your arm you let her head nestle under it and pet her broad brow
  804. 804.
    "I hope you rested well Serend, we've got a war to win"
  805. 805.
    >Taking a couple of steps backwards you turn to jump on the wyvern's back to your saddle, locking your feet into the holsters once more
  806. 806.
    "Climb"
  807. 807.
    >Twirling on the thick branch, Serend begins to scale the tree
  808. 808.
    >Her powerful talons dig into the bark and the claws of her winged arms reach hooking and scratching into anything that can support her weight
  809. 809.
    >At the top of the tree she periscopes her head to check out the area before moving the rest of her body up with you
  810. 810.
    >The gentle kiss of the rain greets you both
  811. 811.
    >Droplets explore down your neck and into your armour soaking you through
  812. 812.
    >It makes you shiver but it's not that unpleasant, it gives you a sense of clarity
  813. 813.
    >Another rumble of thunder
  814. 814.
    >Examining the horizon you stare where the smoke rises
  815. 815.
    >A compelling sense of duty demands you return to the field
  816. 816.
    >But the fighting won't stop anytime soon and you're already worn and tired
  817. 817.
    "I must stop this war at its source"
  818. 818.
    >You angle your head to focus in the direction of the mountains
  819. 819.
    >To Canterlot castle
  820. 820.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  821. 821.
     
  822. 822.
    >Still and calm
  823. 823.
    >You've already made your choice
  824. 824.
    >Great causes are fuelled by personal desires
  825. 825.
    >And your desire ignites like wildfire even against these wet conditions
  826. 826.
    >Spurring Serend she displays her wings and beats the air
  827. 827.
    >Airborne once more she hastens onwards for the mountains
  828. 828.
    >The rain no longer kisses you but pelts at an angle as Serend shoots through the incoming storm
  829. 829.
    >But you don't care, you keep your glare fixed on the mountains
  830. 830.
    >You feel cold and empty
  831. 831.
    >Braving the gales and getting to the castle are the only things on your agenda
  832. 832.
    >The gusts make the ride uncomfortable and turbulent
  833. 833.
    >A thunder crack sounds off near you
  834. 834.
    >Adding a concern to your now growing list
  835. 835.
    >You're hesitant whether you should try to breach the clouds above or stay the course
  836. 836.
    >Another discharge comes booming down
  837. 837.
    >That one was closer than the last
  838. 838.
    >The tempest seems more aggressive than ever
  839. 839.
    >A third boom almost deafens and blinds you
  840. 840.
    >"Finally I have uncovered thee! thou shalt not flee thy fate a second time!"
  841. 841.
    >Through the harsh downpour you hear Princess Luna's irked voice
  842. 842.
    >Peering behind you witness a battle worn Luna hunt you down
  843. 843.
    >As a bolt of ethereal magic from her horn clips your pauldron charring it
  844. 844.
    >Serend screams taking note of what's happening and begins to increase her pace while flying erratically
  845. 845.
    >Inside of you armour your shoulder feels like it's been seared off
  846. 846.
    >Flinching from the pain you retain hold onto the reins and try to comfort the strike with your other gauntleted hand
  847. 847.
    >"Huzzah! slaying thy beasts hath improved mine aim!"
  848. 848.
    >She wasn't bluffing
  849. 849.
    >All it would take is one well placed strike and its over
  850. 850.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  851. 851.
     
  852. 852.
    >How could she have found you so quickly?!
  853. 853.
    >Was she still searching inside the walls of Ponyville for you?
  854. 854.
    >Waiting for you?
  855. 855.
    >There was no opportunity to have these questions answered as another bolt barely misses Serend's wing
  856. 856.
    >"There is nowhere to hide this time thou loggerheaded clay brained snake of nature!
  857. 857.
    >Her voice is enraged but raspy
  858. 858.
    >Whatever she's been doing since you rested has taken its toll on her
  859. 859.
    >But she doesn't seem to be relenting with her magic
  860. 860.
    >She hammers bolts one after the other viciously attempting to punish you
  861. 861.
    >Serend is struggling to navigate the high gales while desperately trying to elude Luna at the same time
  862. 862.
    "Serend! Up!"
  863. 863.
    >It's all you can think to do to in your panic
  864. 864.
    >You'll be flying blind in the clouds and at more risk from being struck by the thunder and lightening
  865. 865.
    >But if Luna is desperate enough, she'll either follow and be in the same danger or risk losing you again
  866. 866.
    >Serend rigorously beats her wings ascending higher and higher and higher
  867. 867.
    >"NO!, I will not be humiliated again!"
  868. 868.
    >Luna has caught on to your plan
  869. 869.
    >She joins in thrashing her wings to Serend's escalating speed
  870. 870.
    >Frantically firing bolts of magic that sizzle and crack
  871. 871.
    >You pierce the heavens
  872. 872.
    >Before you lays a vast grey expanse of haze
  873. 873.
    >Lightning and thunder rumbles all around you and casts shadows of giants with each flash
  874. 874.
    >Its hotter up here and harder to breath but the air currents have died down some at least
  875. 875.
    >Turning in your saddle you try to spy Luna
  876. 876.
    >Everything is a grey as far as the eye can see
  877. 877.
    >The mist is so dense it feels as if you could cup your hands and catch it
  878. 878.
    >Aside from the thunder and lightning and heat the atmosphere is very still
  879. 879.
    >Peaceful almost
  880. 880.
    >But the tension in your body still has not receded yet
  881. 881.
    >Is it safe to fly out of this ocean of grey yet?
  882. 882.
    >You haven't heard a peep from Luna
  883. 883.
    >Maybe you should--
  884. 884.
    >"I WILL NOT BE DENIED!"
  885. 885.
    >An ethereal blue bolt from above incinerates through Serend's wing flesh
  886. 886.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  887. 887.
     
  888. 888.
    >Shrieking Serend flaps frantically trying to catch a breeze, a gust, anything
  889. 889.
    >Bursting forth from the clouds you and Serend careen rushing to meet the earth
  890. 890.
    >Your stomach has turned
  891. 891.
    >Heart hurts pounding in your chest
  892. 892.
    >Threatening to break out your ribcage
  893. 893.
    >Breath short
  894. 894.
    >Struggling to get oxygen
  895. 895.
    >Pull on the reins
  896. 896.
    >It doesn't help
  897. 897.
    >You're going down
  898. 898.
    >A mad instinct takes you over as you pull your knife from your belt and cut the billet strap
  899. 899.
    >The saddle with you slides under Serend to her chest
  900. 900.
    >A fade black takes you
  901. 901.
    >...
  902. 902.
    >Opening your eyes, your vision is blurry and you feel groggy
  903. 903.
    >Head is buzzing and your ears have a high pitched ringing sound
  904. 904.
    >You unlock the clasps to your holsters
  905. 905.
    >Something catches you
  906. 906.
    >A sheet?
  907. 907.
    >no its too thick
  908. 908.
    >And warm
  909. 909.
    >As you're vision focuses
  910. 910.
    >It becomes apparent that Serend has saved you
  911. 911.
    >She had coiled herself into a ball with you at the centre wrapping herself with her wings
  912. 912.
    >Protecting you from the crash
  913. 913.
    "Serend?..."
  914. 914.
    >You croak calling her name
  915. 915.
    >She doesn't move
  916. 916.
    "Serend, get up"
  917. 917.
    >...
  918. 918.
    >Nothing
  919. 919.
    "No...no, no, no don't you dare!"
  920. 920.
    >Inside her wings you crawl to her
  921. 921.
    >Putting your ear to her body where the heart of the wyvern mother is
  922. 922.
    >And wait with baited breath
  923. 923.
    >...
  924. 924.
    >thump-thump
  925. 925.
    >Its weak, but it's there
  926. 926.
    >Releasing a shaky sigh of relief
  927. 927.
    >Your head rises and falls where she fills her lungs
  928. 928.
    "Keep breathing"
  929. 929.
    >Crawling again you move to get out of her wings
  930. 930.
    >Her arms are heavy but they are persuaded as you push them aside
  931. 931.
    >Light blinds you as you step out from the safety of Serend's life saving embrace
  932. 932.
    >The sky is still pouring its self down on you
  933. 933.
    >Looking around you recognise where you are
  934. 934.
    >You're in the streets of Canterlot
  935. 935.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  936. 936.
     
  937. 937.
    >The Ivory walls and gold spires of Canterlot are empty
  938. 938.
    >Abandoned just like Ponyville
  939. 939.
    >All you can hear is the rain and the ripple of the protruding spires flags swaying in the storm
  940. 940.
    >Glancing back at Serend she's still coiled up
  941. 941.
    >Covering her body is a striped orange and brown cotton canvas, matted with blood
  942. 942.
    >It looks like she crashed into one of the many store front canopy's
  943. 943.
    >Treading through the wet street you go to remove the sticky sheet off Serend
  944. 944.
    >You can't tell how bad it is
  945. 945.
    >There is syrupy blood mixing with the rain and running from her mouth
  946. 946.
    >Her eyes are closed but her shallow breathing is still passing through her nostrils
  947. 947.
    >Maybe she's unconscious, you don't know how hard she hit the ground but it must have been enough to knock her out
  948. 948.
    >Getting down on one knee you stroke her head of jadeite scales and whisper
  949. 949.
    "You've done enough...stay and rest a while longer"
  950. 950.
    >It pains you to leave her here like this
  951. 951.
    >But there's nothing you can do for her even if you wanted to
  952. 952.
    >Until she wakes up you won't know how bad it is
  953. 953.
    >A hot tingling sensation bothers your shoulder
  954. 954.
    >Reaching over to rub it you see your right pauldron has been melted
  955. 955.
    >Revealing your tender seared flesh, still warm and throbbing in pain
  956. 956.
    >Scraping your half and a half steel long sword from its black leather scabbard you angle the edge under your arm
  957. 957.
    >And begin to saw
  958. 958.
    --------------------------------
  959. 959.
     
  960. 960.
    >Cutting the strap, the melted pauldron clanks and splashes against the stone street with a clunk
  961. 961.
    "No use in wearing it once it's done its job"
  962. 962.
    >Rolling your shoulder around a couple of times in it joint, testing for any pain
  963. 963.
    >Nothing you can't handle, its sore but the rain is helping. Soothing its fiery temper
  964. 964.
    >Proceeding now on foot you explore the city streets
  965. 965.
    >You did not anticipate that the rich snobs and upper class of Equesteria would be willing to leave their possessions behind let alone the city its self
  966. 966.
    >Celestia must have taken every precaution to ensure the safety of her ponies
  967. 967.
    >But where could they have all gone?
  968. 968.
    >Pondering the missing ponies you find yourself in the flowery peace gardens of the city
  969. 969.
    >A fountain placed at the centre
  970. 970.
    >The water is not spouting forth from the Roman designed spring
  971. 971.
    >Still, gazing upon its beauty even in this grey and grim sky
  972. 972.
    >It makes you sort of glad that no ponies are around to witness the travesties of this war
  973. 973.
    >Involving the innocent in the bloodshed is not something you would wish upon them
  974. 974.
    >Besides they are not the ones that need to be held responsible for Celestia's actions
  975. 975.
    >Peering over the ivory marble edge into its rippling waters you can see bit coins on the floor of the fountain
  976. 976.
    >Ponies probably threw them in their for wishes or luck
  977. 977.
    >Through the downpour you can hear the clip clop of hooves against stone
  978. 978.
    >A sense of dread fills you
  979. 979.
    >Pivoting round to face the incoming sound
  980. 980.
    >Luna stands haggardly breathing before you, wings spread open
  981. 981.
    >Her armour broken in places and scratched
  982. 982.
    >Mane flowing down to her hoofs
  983. 983.
    >Horn glowing with aura surrounding a spear with a broken haft
  984. 984.
    >Her eyes dark under her helmet glint with an ambition for blood
  985. 985.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  986. 986.
     
  987. 987.
    >Your grip becomes iron on the handle of your sword
  988. 988.
    >"Thou shalt not survive this day, Anonymous"
  989. 989.
    >Lowering her head Luna aims her horn at you
  990. 990.
    >You raise your shield
  991. 991.
    >It glows brighter and the fizzes with sparks before it returns to its original aura
  992. 992.
    >She strains again
  993. 993.
    >But has the same result
  994. 994.
    "Luna, you're too tired to continue this fight. Yield now -"
  995. 995.
    >"Silence!"
  996. 996.
    >Cutting you off she readies her broken spear
  997. 997.
    >"I do not need mine magics to defeat thee"
  998. 998.
    >Galloping for you she thrusts with her spear point
  999. 999.
    >Letting the shield take the strike you parry and swing at her
  1000. 1000.
    >Just brushing the side of her helmet she manages to propel herself backwards using her wings
  1001. 1001.
    >Another attempt slicing down with the edge of her aura coated weapon
  1002. 1002.
    >You catch it with your blade and riposte
  1003. 1003.
    >The peace gardens are filled with the sound of metal on metal ringing through the empty city
  1004. 1004.
    >As you and Luna perform your sword dance
  1005. 1005.
    >The sharp blades kiss each other and sing when they connect
  1006. 1006.
    >Allowing your shield to join in against the heavier hits
  1007. 1007.
    >Your weapons move fast enough to cut curtains in the downpour
  1008. 1008.
    >Moving close enough you whirl to bash her with your shield
  1009. 1009.
    >The dark night pony is pushed away
  1010. 1010.
    "Yield Luna!"
  1011. 1011.
    >Glaring up from under her furrowed brow she sneers at you
  1012. 1012.
    >Through her exasperated panting you hear
  1013. 1013.
    >"I will never yield to a traitor"
  1014. 1014.
    >She rises off her hoofs and rushes you
  1015. 1015.
    >Spear thudding against your shield over and over and over
  1016. 1016.
    >You can't help but block and back track
  1017. 1017.
    >"We took thee in! Treated thou like family!"
  1018. 1018.
    >There's no opening
  1019. 1019.
    >"Expected nothing in return!"
  1020. 1020.
    >She catches you in the arm
  1021. 1021.
    >"Thou disappears, for years! Then brings an army to siege us!"
  1022. 1022.
    >The shield is knocked aside
  1023. 1023.
    >Her spear point thrusts for your head
  1024. 1024.
    >Deflect it just in time but the force sends you to your seat
  1025. 1025.
    >Luna puts her wait on her forelegs and pin your arms to the wet ground
  1026. 1026.
    >The point of her blade presses into your throat
  1027. 1027.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1028. 1028.
     
  1029. 1029.
    >Both of you panting, you lay still
  1030. 1030.
    >Holding the gaze of the enraged mare
  1031. 1031.
    >It will be your last sight
  1032. 1032.
    >"Mine sister would want to see thee one last time Anonymous, yield... "
  1033. 1033.
    >You answer only with a cold stare
  1034. 1034.
    >It means death even if you yield
  1035. 1035.
    >The rain droplets pelt you and Luna curving under your eyes and making them wet
  1036. 1036.
    >"...Why...why dost thou continue to hurt us in this way!?"
  1037. 1037.
    >This time you speak, but with a dead voice
  1038. 1038.
    "Celestia, never told you why?"
  1039. 1039.
    >Her mouth curls downward but in her expression was one of earnest
  1040. 1040.
    >"Sister would not speakth of thee when thou had vanished, only eye offending brine was mine answer when I inquired on the element of thou"
  1041. 1041.
    >All these years
  1042. 1042.
    >Celestia had kept it a secret of what she had done to you
  1043. 1043.
    >Never telling another soul
  1044. 1044.
    >Not even her little sister
  1045. 1045.
    >A half smile creeps along your face
  1046. 1046.
    "Luna, do you really want to know why I left?"
  1047. 1047.
    >The alicorn's eye widen to your question
  1048. 1048.
    >As she mouths a word
  1049. 1049.
    >A green lumbering beast screeches from one of the ivory roofs and sweeps down with its club tail
  1050. 1050.
    >Luna's spear pulls itself away from your throat as she kicks you in the chest to take off backwards on her wings
  1051. 1051.
    >Her kick smacks your head into the stone and causes a ringing to return to your ears
  1052. 1052.
    >The green monster moves like a panther jumping and scaling the walls of buildings spitting blood all the while
  1053. 1053.
    >Rubbing the back of your head you try to sit up
  1054. 1054.
    >The shield you were using to block is a ragged mess so you toss it aside
  1055. 1055.
    >Luna is cautiously flitting around the gardens avoiding the beast as it pounces and then climbs again
  1056. 1056.
    >Inspecting what's happening a revelation hits you that Serend is conscience
  1057. 1057.
    >One of her wings still has a slice through it while the other has a cauterized hole
  1058. 1058.
    >She can't fly
  1059. 1059.
    >But it's not stopping her from snapping and lashing out at Luna
  1060. 1060.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1061. 1061.
     
  1062. 1062.
    >Thrashing her tail to-and-fro, Serend is fierce with her attack
  1063. 1063.
    >Luna is having a hard time weaving past the incoming strikes
  1064. 1064.
    >Standing and picking your sword up you look on as they go at it, unsure of what to do
  1065. 1065.
    >It's too dangerous to try and stop Serend
  1066. 1066.
    >Calling her would prove to be a useless gesture
  1067. 1067.
    >Going in means you forfeit your life
  1068. 1068.
    >Last time it was just a tantrum
  1069. 1069.
    >This
  1070. 1070.
    >This is a full wyvern frenzy
  1071. 1071.
    >All you can do is stand and watch
  1072. 1072.
    >Either Serend wears herself out or Luna dies
  1073. 1073.
    >You were so close though
  1074. 1074.
    >Maybe Luna would have heard you out
  1075. 1075.
    >Maybe she could have even joined you
  1076. 1076.
    >Telling her everything now would only serve to break her concentration and get her killed
  1077. 1077.
    >The only thing you can do is wait and see what happens
  1078. 1078.
    >During all of this war you've never felt so pathetic
  1079. 1079.
    >And useless
  1080. 1080.
    >Serend's movements are wild
  1081. 1081.
    >In the air she navigates with such precision and tact
  1082. 1082.
    >But on the ground she is erratic and unrefined
  1083. 1083.
    >Slamming into walls
  1084. 1084.
    >Skidding and scratching against the wet stone surface
  1085. 1085.
    >Biting the air and whirling her tail
  1086. 1086.
    >Her club tail whams into a shop window shattering and scattering glass everywhere
  1087. 1087.
    >When she tries to pull it back out it must have hit a support beam as the shop roof caves in and collapses the building
  1088. 1088.
    >A billow of dust and earth envelopes them both
  1089. 1089.
    >It's unclear what's happening
  1090. 1090.
    >Hearing only Serend's screeching and Luna's struggling grunts
  1091. 1091.
    >You can't make out what their shadows are doing
  1092. 1092.
    >The you hear it
  1093. 1093.
    >A blood curdling shriek
  1094. 1094.
    >Your heart drops in your chest as your bowels turn to water
  1095. 1095.
    "No..."
  1096. 1096.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
  1097. 1097.
     
  1098. 1098.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUZeSYsU0Uk
  1099. 1099.
     
  1100. 1100.
    >As the rain fall settles the dust
  1101. 1101.
    >Only Serend is visible
  1102. 1102.
    >Hunched over something
  1103. 1103.
    >Everything seems so still in contrast to what was happening moments ago
  1104. 1104.
    >Serend has stopped rampaging
  1105. 1105.
    >She shrieks again when Luna retrieves her spear from the belly of the wyvern
  1106. 1106.
    >Blood spews out with it, Serend sprawls to the ground
  1107. 1107.
    "SEREND!!"
  1108. 1108.
    >Howling you sprint to her
  1109. 1109.
    >Bounding over any obstacles in your way
  1110. 1110.
    >Wishing, praying your feet would carry you faster
  1111. 1111.
    >Luna flits away from her kill
  1112. 1112.
    >Using this opportunity to take a brief respite from the clash
  1113. 1113.
    >Collapsing on your knees next to Serend's head
  1114. 1114.
    >She whines
  1115. 1115.
    >Eyes are swivelling in her heard searching for something
  1116. 1116.
    "I'm here girl"
  1117. 1117.
    >Snivelling you put your sword down and cradle her bloody head
  1118. 1118.
    >Her pale yellow eyes shake as they focus in on you
  1119. 1119.
    "It's alright Serend, I'm here. Just hold on okay?"
  1120. 1120.
    >Glimpsing up you see a pool of blood forming under her body
  1121. 1121.
    >Seeping through the crack stone pebbles and mixing with the rain
  1122. 1122.
    "No, no no no no this can't be happening. Serend, stay with me"
  1123. 1123.
    >Caressing her scales you rock back and forth watching as her eyes begin to glaze over
  1124. 1124.
    >Her vibrant pink tongue comes out and lazily flicks at your hand
  1125. 1125.
    "See Serend, you're gonna be alright. I'll save you, I'll find a way, I-I'll patch you up and we can fly again girl"
  1126. 1126.
    >You try to smile but your mouth keeps wanting to turn down
  1127. 1127.
    >Her eyes gaze deep into yours
  1128. 1128.
    >Sometimes it feels like Serend, really does understand what you're saying
  1129. 1129.
    >Her whole body relaxes as she breathes out through her nostirls
  1130. 1130.
    >And her pupils dilate
  1131. 1131.
    "...S-Serend?......"
  1132. 1132.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
  1133. 1133.
     
  1134. 1134.
    >Only the sound of gentle rain answers
  1135. 1135.
    >On your knees still holding Serend's now limp necked head, you stay frozen
  1136. 1136.
    >The rain masks you of all tears and mucus that drips from your face
  1137. 1137.
    >A stammering whimper passes through your lips
  1138. 1138.
    "Please... don't leave me"
  1139. 1139.
    >Tightly embracing her, you keep looking into her eye through wet curtains
  1140. 1140.
    >Praying she moves
  1141. 1141.
    >But her eye remains still, droplets of rain tapping it and trickling down the side of her face
  1142. 1142.
    "Please...please, I can't lose you too"
  1143. 1143.
    "Why am I so weak? If I was braver I could have saved you, if I was stronger I could have"
  1144. 1144.
    >Your words become incoherent as you bawl your eyes out
  1145. 1145.
    >Wailing an inhuman cry for the mother wyvern
  1146. 1146.
    >Forgetting everything around you and only thinking on the tragic events of your life
  1147. 1147.
    >It's like a faucet has been turned on
  1148. 1148.
    >You haven't cried like this since you were told about...
  1149. 1149.
    >Earth
  1150. 1150.
    >Time seems to stand still as you mourn Serend
  1151. 1151.
    >As your wails slowly die down to a quiet sob
  1152. 1152.
    >A haggard sultry voice quietly speaks
  1153. 1153.
    >"Anonymous..."
  1154. 1154.
    >You feel numb
  1155. 1155.
    >Nothing else is coming out
  1156. 1156.
    >Sniffing you listlessly pick up your sword
  1157. 1157.
    >And rise like an obelisk of lament
  1158. 1158.
    >Turning your head in the direction of Luna
  1159. 1159.
    >Worn out and petrified, Luna looks into your dead, expressionless eyes
  1160. 1160.
    >"I prithee thee Anonymous, please listen-"
  1161. 1161.
    >Toneless you cut her off
  1162. 1162.
    "No, I'm done listening"
  1163. 1163.
    >Your voice feels sore from your wails of agony
  1164. 1164.
    >It hurts
  1165. 1165.
    >But you don't care
  1166. 1166.
    >Sluggishly walking to Luna
  1167. 1167.
    >You drag your sword along the stone pavment
  1168. 1168.
    -------------------------------------------------------
  1169. 1169.
     
  1170. 1170.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52wByO_SFxA
  1171. 1171.
     
  1172. 1172.
    >Luna struggles to levitate her broken, blood soaked spear
  1173. 1173.
    >"Please Anonymous, try to understand"
  1174. 1174.
    >A brief flash of thunder brings Celestia into your vision
  1175. 1175.
    >Lifting your long sword from the stone pavement, you grasp it in both hands
  1176. 1176.
    >Her mouth is still moving while she backs away from you
  1177. 1177.
    >But whatever she is saying falls on deaf ears
  1178. 1178.
    >You just want her to shut up
  1179. 1179.
    >Swinging your blade with a cold anger downwards knocks her spear to the ground
  1180. 1180.
    >Her aura coats the blade and brings it back up to defend again
  1181. 1181.
    >Another heavy swing smacks it out of the aura as you keep pressing towards her
  1182. 1182.
    >All she does is back track and defend
  1183. 1183.
    >You hammer hate filled swing after swing
  1184. 1184.
    >You backhand her with your gauntlet covered fist, knocking her helmet spinning off
  1185. 1185.
    >A knee finds her chest, up heaving her from the ground while your other hand catches her under the chin
  1186. 1186.
    >Dangling in the air before choke slamming her back to the floor, head first
  1187. 1187.
    >Standing over the Princess she wheezes and crawls from you
  1188. 1188.
    >Beating her wings she attempts to escape in the air
  1189. 1189.
    >Taking her broken spear up you hurl it with all your fury
  1190. 1190.
    >It strikes one of her wings, sending her careening into the fountain breaking the body of water below
  1191. 1191.
    >Blood begins to spread through the clear waters creating cloudy wisps
  1192. 1192.
    >Dropping your sword you wade into the cold damp
  1193. 1193.
    >The alicorn splashes the water trying to flap her pierced wing
  1194. 1194.
    >But she can't get any lift
  1195. 1195.
    >Kicking her legs she exerts herself to swim
  1196. 1196.
    >But she's too tired
  1197. 1197.
    >Lunging on top of her you grab hold of the back of her neck
  1198. 1198.
    >Pushing her under
  1199. 1199.
    >Letting her up to gasp for air
  1200. 1200.
    >Coughing and sputtering you hear her beg
  1201. 1201.
    >"Please Anonymous! *hack* Stop this! "
  1202. 1202.
    >Then plunging her back into the drink
  1203. 1203.
    >Her wings slap the cold surface and you where she flails
  1204. 1204.
    >But you keep her head under
  1205. 1205.
    >And wait for the bubbles to stop
  1206. 1206.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
  1207. 1207.
     
  1208. 1208.
    >The flailing is coming less and less
  1209. 1209.
    >In your head you hear strangers voices
  1210. 1210.
    >FINISH HER! DO THIS FOR HUMANITY! FOR SEREND!
  1211. 1211.
    >ONLY THE BLOOD OF GODS WILL SATE US AVENGER. BLEED THE SUN DRY LAST SON OF EARTH. DRAG IT FROM THE SKY INTO THE GRASP OF THE SEA, LET HER SPUTTER AND DIE AS WE DID!
  1212. 1212.
    >FINISH HER!!!
  1213. 1213.
    >Shaking your head of the voices you see something
  1214. 1214.
    >In the water, a reflection
  1215. 1215.
    >In the ripples a dark green spirit in the rain stands where you stand, with hollow circles for eyes
  1216. 1216.
    >You're becoming a monster
  1217. 1217.
    >Is this what you've become?
  1218. 1218.
    >Luna doesn't deserve this
  1219. 1219.
    >Its Celestia you want
  1220. 1220.
    "This is not me"
  1221. 1221.
    >Regaining your senses you toss Luna out of the water
  1222. 1222.
    >She hits her back against the inner rim of the fountain
  1223. 1223.
    >Convulsing as she spits up water and gasps for life
  1224. 1224.
    >Blood from her punctured wing leaks and drips onto the surface
  1225. 1225.
    >Wading to her all she can do to stop you is dully put a foreleg against your chest
  1226. 1226.
    >"Please *wheeze* I - I yield. I don't want to d-die*cough* I beg of thee!"
  1227. 1227.
    >With precise motion you push aside her foreleg
  1228. 1228.
    "Shut. Up."
  1229. 1229.
    >Eyes streaming with water and soaked to her furs
  1230. 1230.
    >The little dark blue alicorn silently watches you and cries
  1231. 1231.
    >Taking hold of her horn you wrench her head back and lean close to her ear
  1232. 1232.
    >Which produces a scared squeak from her
  1233. 1233.
    "Luna, you're going to listen to everything I have to say"
  1234. 1234.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1235. 1235.
     
  1236. 1236.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1-TrAvp_xs
  1237. 1237.
    >Luna's eyes are fixed on you with terror, she refrains from moving
  1238. 1238.
    >Afraid of the consequences
  1239. 1239.
    "When I arrived here, do you remember? I searched endlessly for evidence that my world may still be alive?"
  1240. 1240.
    >Nodding her head slightly in acknowledgement, you continue to lecture the Princess
  1241. 1241.
    "Do you know why I could only find pieces of my world? trinkets, books, useless technology and garbage?"
  1242. 1242.
    >"N-No"
  1243. 1243.
    >Jaw clenched you let some of your frenzied rage slip into your cold voice
  1244. 1244.
    "Your sister, Celestia, planted those items for me to find. She had found them long ago and put them in front of me to lead me on a wild goose chase!"
  1245. 1245.
    "All because she wanted to give me hope. Hope that maybe some of humanity might have made it here as well"
  1246. 1246.
    "But everyone I'd ever known and loved was taken from me. EVERYONE!"
  1247. 1247.
    >Luna whimpers when you move from her ear to yell in her face
  1248. 1248.
    "Celestia took them from me, along with my world. She judged that humanity was too dangerous to allow to live because of the feats we had achieved. In case our worlds ever made contact"
  1249. 1249.
    >Luna's eyes widen and her bottom lip quivers
  1250. 1250.
    >"N-no. That cannot--"
  1251. 1251.
    >Wrenching her head back again she yelps and returns to be silent once more
  1252. 1252.
    "My world was nowhere near advanced enough to be capable of interdimensional portals like yours. And even if we were our first priority wouldn't be to attack the creatures that existed there!"
  1253. 1253.
    "But that didn't stop your sister. She imbued our sun with her magic turning it red. The temperature of my world was raised with such an intensity it made everything burn, our oceans evaporate, Even the air we breathed hurt."
  1254. 1254.
    "It destroyed our atmosphere, we were no longer protected against meteoroids that came crashing into my planet as large bolides. Causing more death and destruction"
  1255. 1255.
    "Your sister single handedly ended my world because she thought humans were destructive evil creatures. But for all the evil that humans had done we also achieved many and great goods as well"
  1256. 1256.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1257. 1257.
     
  1258. 1258.
    >Luna still listens with and intense quiet
  1259. 1259.
    "Even though my people had dictators who controlled people and killed thousands, we stopped them.
  1260. 1260.
    "Even though countries struggled for basic medicine, food and water. We helped them."
  1261. 1261.
    "Even though some of my people were intolerant to others, we educated them to see through their intolerance and be more kind"
  1262. 1262.
    "We cured diseases, we created ways to connect with each other and understand one another on a world wide scale.
  1263. 1263.
    "We'd always defined ourselves by our ability to overcome the impossible and stride for a better future."
  1264. 1264.
    "Tell me Luna, did we deserve to die because of a few past mistakes that we learned from and tried to better ourselves from them!?"
  1265. 1265.
    >Luna's watery eyes expressed a sympathy
  1266. 1266.
    >But her mouth said otherwise
  1267. 1267.
    >"It-it cannot be true, mine sister is righteous and noble she would never do such a horrific deed!"
  1268. 1268.
    "Really Luna? You'd think I would go to war on a misconception? It's the truth Luna, Celestia told me she had done it herself."
  1269. 1269.
    "It is why I left. It is why I fight. It is why she must never be allowed to do something like that again!"
  1270. 1270.
    "I will take everything she has worked for to protect from her, including you..."
  1271. 1271.
    >Fear returns to her turquoise eyes
  1272. 1272.
    >"What doth thou mean?"
  1273. 1273.
    >Curling your hand into a fist you smack Luna in the face with your gauntlet
  1274. 1274.
    >Her head hits the rim and renders the alicorn Princess unconscious
  1275. 1275.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1276. 1276.
     
  1277. 1277.
    >Picking up Luna in your arms, you trudge out of the fountain and lay her next to some violet flowers
  1278. 1278.
    >Taking your sword back in hand you swing it to remove any droplets of rain and slide it back into its scabbard
  1279. 1279.
    >Then, going back to the body of Serend and sit next to her head
  1280. 1280.
    "I'm sorry Serend."
  1281. 1281.
    >Placing a gentle hand on her you can feel she is starting to grow cold
  1282. 1282.
    >You sit for while till the grey clouds give way to an orange sky
  1283. 1283.
    >Hearing the beats of wings above, you look to its source
  1284. 1284.
    >Three wyverns are flying down to you
  1285. 1285.
    >One of the wyverns looks older than the other two, with wisps of hair growing on its chin
  1286. 1286.
    >And on the back of the large, old, royal blue wyvern rides Gren
  1287. 1287.
    >He has swapped his blue jerkin for scale mail
  1288. 1288.
    >"Anonymous! Where the hell have you been boy?! I thought you were dead! "
  1289. 1289.
    >He doesn't sound mad but he doesn't sound particularly pleased either
  1290. 1290.
    >Your voice feels hoarse
  1291. 1291.
    "Gren? What are you doing here?"
  1292. 1292.
    >The wyverns land near you before Gren speaks again
  1293. 1293.
    >"When Luna came back from chasing you she pretty much decimated the riders, ol' Velkin an I here went to take the fight to her. But before we could get close enough she up an darted off again"
  1294. 1294.
    >Beginning to make his slow descend off the wyvern Gren continues
  1295. 1295.
    >"Me and the boys tried to track her down but, well...you know Velkin aint much of a flyer and my nose ain't what it used to be Hah!"
  1296. 1296.
    >You don't laugh
  1297. 1297.
    >You can't laugh
  1298. 1298.
    >"Whats the matter with you lad?"
  1299. 1299.
    >His bushy eyebrows and moustache turn down when he peers around the gardens
  1300. 1300.
    >Noticing both Luna on the flowers and Serend's now watery blood on the pavement
  1301. 1301.
    >"Boy...I'm sorry about Serend... but I hope you didn't "
  1302. 1302.
    "She's knocked out old dog"
  1303. 1303.
    >Cutting him off before he irks you anymore you stand to meet the riders
  1304. 1304.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1305. 1305.
     
  1306. 1306.
    "How many riders are left?"
  1307. 1307.
    >A pup in chainmail on a olive wyvern speaks up
  1308. 1308.
    >The pup that you saw before you left for the skies
  1309. 1309.
    >"less than 30 sir..."
  1310. 1310.
    >Out of 100 only 30 riders are left
  1311. 1311.
    >Glancing over back to Luna, you feel like you should have killed her after all
  1312. 1312.
    >Gren:" But even though we've lost many comrades today, it will have been worth it to take Princess Luna. With her in our grasp we can force Celestia to sign a treaty. We'll never have to fear her again!
  1313. 1313.
    >Gren:" And your vision for a equal world may come to fruition. You've done it my boy!"
  1314. 1314.
    >Looking back to Serend you can't feel any joy
  1315. 1315.
    >Even though Gren is happy with the results, you still feel hollow
  1316. 1316.
    "At what cost Gren?..."
  1317. 1317.
    >Grens sunken eyes move to a remorseful expression as he places an old paw on your other pauldron
  1318. 1318.
    >Gren:"Lad, I know you liked that wyvern. She wouldn't bond with anyone else but you, most probably thought of ya as one of her own. You were certainly the only one brave enough who could get near her"
  1319. 1319.
    >Gren" In war we lose things that are precious to us, it rips those things away. But the memories of those we lose will always be with us. And the cause they fought for must have been worth dying for"
  1320. 1320.
    >Gren" I've seen enough bloodshed in my day to understand that. The cause you fight for is the unification of Equestria and ensuring what happened to your world never happens again"
  1321. 1321.
    >Gren" And that's a damn good cause to fight for if I ever died for one!"
  1322. 1322.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1323. 1323.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9Pu92St5O0
  1324. 1324.
     
  1325. 1325.
    >Walking back to Serend you look into her yellow pale eyes
  1326. 1326.
    >Where a sharp pupil once sat now a dark plate rests in its place
  1327. 1327.
    >"You think she'd want to see you sulking like this lad?"
  1328. 1328.
    >Memories of when you researched the wyverns in the east and first caught her come flooding back to you
  1329. 1329.
    >She was always hissing at you and threatening to bite whenever you came to feed her
  1330. 1330.
    >Eventually Serend got used to you coming and going
  1331. 1331.
    >Till that day when she poked her tongue out at you and let you get closer enough to pet her
  1332. 1332.
    >Then you designed the saddle to ride on her back
  1333. 1333.
    >At first it was an uncomfortable experience, you'd always hated heights. And you especially disliked flying
  1334. 1334.
    >But you practiced with her everyday as she carried you higher and higher into the skies
  1335. 1335.
    >Your fears dissolved and it became a thrill you enjoyed
  1336. 1336.
    >Then when she took you to her nest, a hollowed out mountain that scraped the clouds and caught the sun
  1337. 1337.
    >Filled with wyverns, both her own brood and wyverns that were part of the nest
  1338. 1338.
    >A breath taking sight of colours and strange creatures in different shapes and sizes, flying in the cavernous mountain
  1339. 1339.
    >They never bothered to kill you when you met them
  1340. 1340.
    >Serend made sure of that, she was the matriarch and a mother to most of them
  1341. 1341.
    >These memories will always remain with you
  1342. 1342.
    >Reaching round her head and placing a hand over each of her eyes and closing them
  1343. 1343.
    >You whisper so that Gren can't hear you
  1344. 1344.
    >And your eyes begin to well up again
  1345. 1345.
    "Goodbye Serend..."
  1346. 1346.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1347. 1347.
     
  1348. 1348.
    >Upon saying your goodbye the other three wyverns move in closer and notice that Serend has passed on
  1349. 1349.
    >The two riders are surprised when they move on their own
  1350. 1350.
    >Its hard to tell in their snake like eyes but it would seem they are also sadden by her passing
  1351. 1351.
    >Gren:"Obie, get the muzzle will ya?
  1352. 1352.
    >The young pup reaches into his satchel and pulls out a custom muzzle with a black crystal sleeve positioned where the forehead of a pony would go
  1353. 1353.
    >Another of your innovations, created to take unicorn prisoners should they plea for mercy
  1354. 1354.
    >You had done some research on the properties of crystals in this world
  1355. 1355.
    >And there were numerous types, but black crystal seemed to have a nullifying effect on magic
  1356. 1356.
    >Gentle placing the muzzle over Luna's face and horn Obie picks her up
  1357. 1357.
    >Gren:"Be gentle with her lad, we'll patch her up back at the main camp, so we don't want her injured any further"
  1358. 1358.
    >Obie:"Yes Gren"
  1359. 1359.
    "Do you know that pup, Gren?"
  1360. 1360.
    >Leaving Serend's side for the last time you ask about the young pup
  1361. 1361.
    >Obie looks worried when you inquire about him
  1362. 1362.
    >Gren:"I bloody ought to, he's my grandson"
  1363. 1363.
    >Shooting Gren a befuddled look you turn your attention to Obie
  1364. 1364.
    "Pup, how old are you ?"
  1365. 1365.
    >Obie:" I'm 20 years old sir"
  1366. 1366.
    "...Don't lie to me."
  1367. 1367.
    >Obie looks like he's about to wet himself when he hears your matter-of-fact tone
  1368. 1368.
    >Obie: "I-I'm 16 sir"
  1369. 1369.
    "Fucking 16?! Gren! what is he doing here?!
  1370. 1370.
    >Gren:"Calm down lad, he's not been involved with any fighting. He's just my squire"
  1371. 1371.
    "You think the enemy gives a shit about that! He looks geared up enough to be a soldier!"
  1372. 1372.
    >Raising your voice to the old dog turns his expression sour
  1373. 1373.
    >Gren:"Boy, you've been through a lot. But you best watch your tone when you speak to me. As long as he is in my company he is protected well enough."
  1374. 1374.
    >Gren:"The whole damn reason I let him sneak through was because he wanted to see you!"
  1375. 1375.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1376. 1376.
    >Stumped by that statement you're not quite sure what to say
  1377. 1377.
    >Gren:"He wanted to see General Anonymous, the hero. The creature from another world that helped our people in technology and invention"
  1378. 1378.
    >Obie: "I'm sorry sir I didn't mean to make you mad"
  1379. 1379.
    >He seems contrite
  1380. 1380.
    >Feeling slightly guilty you let out a sigh
  1381. 1381.
    "That may be the case Gren, but he's still far too young to be involved in this. He needs to leave.
  1382. 1382.
    >Gren:"And he will, as soon as we rendezvous with the forces will sound for a tactical withdraw. Obie, put Luna on Maximus's wyvern"
  1383. 1383.
    >Obie:"Yes Gren"
  1384. 1384.
    >The young pup carries Luna on his back to a muscular scale mailed dog sitting on top of a orchid coloured wyvern
  1385. 1385.
    >Gren:"There"
  1386. 1386.
    >Gren just seems to be confusing you today
  1387. 1387.
    "There what?"
  1388. 1388.
    >Pointing to the olive coloured he says it again with emphasis
  1389. 1389.
    >Gren:"There!, your new wyvern. If you're so against the pup being involved in the war then take his wyvern, he'll ride with me and Maximus will make sure Luna stays secured"
  1390. 1390.
    >It feels way too soon to move on
  1391. 1391.
    "Gren, I don't need another wyvern"
  1392. 1392.
    >Gren:" I suppose you're going to flap your arms and fly yourself off this mountain then aye?"
  1393. 1393.
    >He has a point
  1394. 1394.
    >Obie: It's okay sir, she doesn't really listen to me anyway. Do you Silpheed? "
  1395. 1395.
    >The olive wyverns orange eyes don't move from their position, as she keeps looking upon Serend
  1396. 1396.
    >Gren:"If I remember correctly she's one of Serends hatchlings. The eldest one of the nest I think? She'll be a bit of a handful at first but I'm sure it's nothing you can't handle"
  1397. 1397.
    >As they move back to mount up they stop to notice you haven't budged from your spot
  1398. 1398.
    >Gren:" You coming lad?"
  1399. 1399.
    "I will Gren, I just...need a moment"
  1400. 1400.
    >Getting on top of their mounts ready to ride, with Luna in captivity, Gren looks back
  1401. 1401.
    >Gren:"Okay lad...I'm not gonna tell you to suck it up. But this is the heart of enemy territory and we will be leaving the field when we get back. So don't take too long"
  1402. 1402.
     
  1403. 1403.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1404. 1404.
     
  1405. 1405.
    "Wait, Gren"
  1406. 1406.
    >Gren:" What is it lad?"
  1407. 1407.
    >Running over to the shield you tossed aside you pick it up and hand it over to Obie now on the back of Velkin
  1408. 1408.
    "Obie, this shield belonged to a brave minotaur named Oxalis Hoof who gave his life today. Its protected me through this war. Just seems right that I give it to someone worth protecting more"
  1409. 1409.
    >The pup appears delighted at the gift of the ragged shield and gazes upon the sigil
  1410. 1410.
    "Look after yourself and your grandpa for me. But if you ever do something stupid like sneak into a war again, I'll slap you with it"
  1411. 1411.
    >Obie holds the shield up as if you protect himself from you
  1412. 1412.
    >Gren:" Hah! I don't need protecting, I fought and survived in over 4 wars and I know my way around the battlefield
  1413. 1413.
    >Raising an eyebrow to the Gren's boast you address Obie again
  1414. 1414.
    "See what I mean? The old dogs delusional, he's gonna need all the help he can get"
  1415. 1415.
    >Smirking at your own remark Gren lets out another loud guffaw
  1416. 1416.
    >Obie:" I will sir"
  1417. 1417.
    >Gren spurs Velkin to the air
  1418. 1418.
    >Obie:" We'll see you back at camp soon General Anonymous sir!"
  1419. 1419.
    >Waving them off you say quietly to yourself
  1420. 1420.
    "Yeah...sure"
  1421. 1421.
    >With that the blue and orchid wyverns take off into the orange painted sky, leaving you and Silpheed behind
  1422. 1422.
    >Watching till they are out of sight you then walk in the opposite direction past the wyvern
  1423. 1423.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1424. 1424.
     
  1425. 1425.
    >You manage to walk a couple of feet till you feel the movement of something large behind you
  1426. 1426.
    >Turning your head, Silpheed is following you
  1427. 1427.
    "No...go"
  1428. 1428.
    >Coldly you talk back to her and point in the direction that the other wyverns took off in
  1429. 1429.
    >She twists her neck up and looks behind briefly before staring blankly back at you
  1430. 1430.
    "Get going, go on"
  1431. 1431.
    >Gesturing her to shoo she flaps her wings to fly up and perches atop a building roof still staring at you all the while
  1432. 1432.
    "No you stupid lizard. Go away!"
  1433. 1433.
    >Her response is to poke her tongue out at you
  1434. 1434.
    "Fine! stay up there for all I care"
  1435. 1435.
    >Returning to your march you storm off
  1436. 1436.
    >Only to hear the beat of her wings again and for her to land in front of you
  1437. 1437.
    >Blocking your path
  1438. 1438.
    >Your patience is starting to wear thin
  1439. 1439.
    "Look, where I'm going there is no coming back Silpheed. You'll only end up getting yourself ki"
  1440. 1440.
    >Stopping yourself from saying the word
  1441. 1441.
    >You can't even bear the weight of the thought of losing another wyvern
  1442. 1442.
    "Silpheed, leave. Please."
  1443. 1443.
    >A little bit of grief seeps into your voice
  1444. 1444.
    >As Silpheed tries to move closer to you and you bitterly snap at her
  1445. 1445.
    "Get out of here! Go on, leave!
  1446. 1446.
    >The wyvern ignores your abusive tone and pushes her head into your hand before giving it a few licks with her tongue
  1447. 1447.
    >She can most probably smell Serend on you
  1448. 1448.
    "Stupid wyvern...I'm not your mother..."
  1449. 1449.
    >You caress her scales a couple of times before you push her head aside and command her
  1450. 1450.
    "Now scram, get lost!"
  1451. 1451.
    >The orange orbs of her eyes watch you intently, trying to figure you out
  1452. 1452.
    "I SAID FUCK OFF!!"
  1453. 1453.
    >Barking at her she backs off before taking wing into the sky
  1454. 1454.
    >You don't have to keep watch of her now
  1455. 1455.
    >She's not coming back
  1456. 1456.
    "...I saved her...for you Serend"
  1457. 1457.
    >Staring upwards into the gleaming orange hue sky you lock onto the palace.
  1458. 1458.
    "But there's no saving me from what I will do"
  1459. 1459.
    >You march through the abandoned streets of Canterlot
  1460. 1460.
    >Aiming for the palace
  1461. 1461.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
  1462. 1462.
     
  1463. 1463.
    >Heading for the palace you swap marching for a quiet saunter as you progress through Canterlot
  1464. 1464.
    >Its eerily quiet in these streets
  1465. 1465.
    >Where vendors and shops would be bustling with activity
  1466. 1466.
    >Only the cold air dashing through ivory alleys serves to meet you
  1467. 1467.
    >It is more like a ghost town than the upper-class district
  1468. 1468.
    >And the closer you get to the palace, the higher the chance of running into soldiers should be
  1469. 1469.
    >But you haven't encountered any yet
  1470. 1470.
    >There should have been some patrols marching around the perimeter
  1471. 1471.
    >Its highly unlikely that Celestia would send all her guard to fight
  1472. 1472.
    >Nearing an intersection of road you hear two voices chattering
  1473. 1473.
    >You hug the wall with your back to it and cautiously shimmy along the building
  1474. 1474.
    >Peering round the corner you can see a group of 6 guards a good few meters away
  1475. 1475.
    >6 of them would be difficult to take down on your own even if you caught them by surprise
  1476. 1476.
    >And they're appearance is different from the other soldiers you've seen
  1477. 1477.
    >Heavily armoured gold steel plate and chainmail vests underneath
  1478. 1478.
    >Celestia certainly has improved her royal guards protection since you left
  1479. 1479.
    >That design looks familiar
  1480. 1480.
    >Lurking you try to listen in on the conversation between two of them
  1481. 1481.
    >Guard 1:"Not too long ago now, in that direction"
  1482. 1482.
    >Guard 2:"Are you sure?"
  1483. 1483.
    >Guard 1:"Positive, word from the battlegrounds says things like those were swarming our troops before Princess Luna arrived. Has to be them."
  1484. 1484.
    >Guard 2:"Then they might have sent a small party to make an attempt on Princess Celestia. Inform her majesties elite, as for us we need to tighten our search. No pony gets in or out without my say "
  1485. 1485.
    >Shit
  1486. 1486.
    >They must have caught sight of Gren or Silpheed
  1487. 1487.
    >That 2nd one is giving orders, so he must be the officer in charge
  1488. 1488.
    >It would be a lot more easy to determine who was who if they weren't all white stallions
  1489. 1489.
    >The 1st three of the group turn to head to the palace while the officer and two others are making for your direction
  1490. 1490.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1491. 1491.
     
  1492. 1492.
    >Steel greaves clip clop against the pavement, getting closer and closer
  1493. 1493.
    >Without missing a beat you snatch up a loose pebble of the floor and hurl it over the roof tops
  1494. 1494.
    >The sound of the pebble echoes and reverberates through the empty streets
  1495. 1495.
    >Officer:"You hear that?"
  1496. 1496.
    >Other guard:"Could it be them?"
  1497. 1497.
    >Officer:"If it is let's not waste time talking, come on"
  1498. 1498.
    >Pressing yourself against the wall you try to make yourself as thin as possible
  1499. 1499.
    >Two armoured stallions gallop past without looking down the alley
  1500. 1500.
    >Charging towards the noise
  1501. 1501.
    >...Two?
  1502. 1502.
    >There were three heading your way
  1503. 1503.
    >An armoured head comes into view from the corner of your eye
  1504. 1504.
    >Your heart feels like it stops beating as you hold your breath
  1505. 1505.
    >The stallions head almost turns to you in slow motion
  1506. 1506.
    >His eyes meet yours
  1507. 1507.
    >Before he can call for help you grab him round the snout with one hand, slamming him into the ivory brick
  1508. 1508.
    >With the other hand you unsheathe your blade pressing the edge under his chin and above his chainmail vest in one fell motion
  1509. 1509.
    "If you yell for help, I will kill you"
  1510. 1510.
    >The stallion nods
  1511. 1511.
    >Now that you're closer to one you can see the armour they are wearing is something you designed and gave as an idea to Celestia
  1512. 1512.
    >It gives more protection than the regular armour and has little to no weak points
  1513. 1513.
    >But you made it
  1514. 1514.
    >You know exactly where to cut
  1515. 1515.
    "I'll show mercy if you answer my questions, how many of you are here?"
  1516. 1516.
    >Moving your hand a little you allow him to speak while still maintaining your hold
  1517. 1517.
    >"Too many for you "
  1518. 1518.
    >He knows, he's just stalling
  1519. 1519.
    >Who knows when the other two will notice he's missing
  1520. 1520.
    >Pressing the blade further into his throat you interrogate
  1521. 1521.
    "Okay then, I guess math isn't your strong suit. I'll try to give you one that's not so hard. Where is Princess Celestia?"
  1522. 1522.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1523. 1523.
     
  1524. 1524.
    >Blood trickle down the edge of your sword where it bites into the stallions neck
  1525. 1525.
    >"She's in the throne room with her elite guard"
  1526. 1526.
    "Well done, now really use your brain for this one. How many elite guard are there?"
  1527. 1527.
    >The blades edge seems to be persuading him better than you'd hoped
  1528. 1528.
    >"4 , there's 4 of them guarding her"
  1529. 1529.
    "See, isn't this much easier if you're cooperative? Now last question. Do any of you know about the passage on the left wing?"
  1530. 1530.
    >The stallion gives you a quizzical look
  1531. 1531.
    >"The what ?"
  1532. 1532.
    >Your lips turn into the shape of a cruel smirk
  1533. 1533.
    "Thank you"
  1534. 1534.
    >"You're gonna let me go now right? You said You'd show mercy if I answered your questions?"
  1535. 1535.
    >The panicked guard attempts to jog your memory
  1536. 1536.
    "That's right I did. I said I'd show you mercy. You just gave information to the enemy who will now use it. That's high treason against Princess Celestia. So yes, I will grant you mercy"
  1537. 1537.
    >Running your blade across the stallions throat a fountain of scarlet gushes forth drenching your arms and chest
  1538. 1538.
    >The unknown stallions eyes roll to the back of his head and his body goes limp as it collapses to the floor
  1539. 1539.
    >Wiping the blood off using the inside of your elbow you sheath your sword again
  1540. 1540.
    >Now you know where she is, how well guarded and that they were never told about the secret passage on the left wing of the palace
  1541. 1541.
    >You had been shown that entrance by Celestia herself when you were exploring the palace for the first time
  1542. 1542.
    >Discovering how it was built
  1543. 1543.
    >Fitting that you should use it now to end her
  1544. 1544.
    >Checking that the guards weren't on their way back, you dragged the body into an alley. And dump it.
  1545. 1545.
    >If Celestia was using your diagrams you had gifted to her for her royal guard, her elite were going to be more trouble
  1546. 1546.
    >You'd have to get in quickly and stealthily in order to take them down
  1547. 1547.
    >But first things first , you need to gain access to the palace
  1548. 1548.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1549. 1549.
     
  1550. 1550.
    >For a moment your thoughts linger
  1551. 1551.
    >You felt a sense of guilt for the unknown stallion
  1552. 1552.
    >But if you had not done it, he would most certainly have told the others
  1553. 1553.
    >The guards were already on edge before you had arrived and if they knew how many you are
  1554. 1554.
    >It wouldn't of taken them long to find you.
  1555. 1555.
    >On Earth the punishment for high treason was to be hanged or drawn and quartered
  1556. 1556.
    >Even though those acts had been abolished because they were considered archaic and barbarous
  1557. 1557.
    >In this world, it still is very archaic
  1558. 1558.
    >Maybe they would have incinerated him by unicorn firing squad
  1559. 1559.
    >But if Celestia could kill off an entire world because she thought it was dangerous
  1560. 1560.
    >You can't imagine the horrors she would have inflicted upon a stallion that gave information to the enemy
  1561. 1561.
    >...Or she might have shown leniency to her ponies
  1562. 1562.
    >But either way this is still a war and he won't be letting anyone know you're here
  1563. 1563.
    >Slipping past patrol after patrol you are as quiet as a shadow
  1564. 1564.
    >Becoming one of the spirits in the ghost town
  1565. 1565.
    >A patrol almost found you out before you creped through an open window and hid inside
  1566. 1566.
    >Allowing them to pass by without being detected
  1567. 1567.
    >Canterlot was like a maze if you did not know your way around
  1568. 1568.
    >But nothing had changed or been knocked down
  1569. 1569.
    >It's not long before you're on the main winding road that curves round to the peak of the mountain
  1570. 1570.
    >Atop of the peak is the palace
  1571. 1571.
    >There were less structures to hide by but that did not matter
  1572. 1572.
    >The rocky cliff face where the palace sits atop was your desination
  1573. 1573.
    >In front a waterfall drops from the overhang of the palace to splash and churn in a reservoir below
  1574. 1574.
    >Checking that no pony is in sight you prowl out of cover to behind the reservoir
  1575. 1575.
    >There is some daylight to help you see what you are doing as you start to feel up the rocks
  1576. 1576.
    >But nothing is budging
  1577. 1577.
    >A sense of urgency grows the longer you feel at the wall, you begin to wonder if it is still here
  1578. 1578.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1579. 1579.
     
  1580. 1580.
    >Realising that you need to feel the rocks a little lower, around pony height
  1581. 1581.
    >Your hand glides over a loose stone
  1582. 1582.
    >Placing your palm over it you twist and push the stone into the cliff
  1583. 1583.
    >The sound of something heavy clunking into place emanates from inside the rocks
  1584. 1584.
    >As a section of the wall withdraws into the cliff to reveal an opening leading to a dimly lit passageway
  1585. 1585.
    >The sound of the wall scraping against the inside of the cliff is a low rumble, low enough that its sound is masked by the waterfall
  1586. 1586.
    >You enter the cavity and as you do the entrance reseals itself behind you
  1587. 1587.
    >It takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the faint light, you can hardly see your feet
  1588. 1588.
    >Lights gently flicker and make shadows dance against the walls as you walk down the narrow tunnel
  1589. 1589.
    >You have to duck your head moving further into it and use the wall to hold yourself in case you trip on anything
  1590. 1590.
    >The rocky surface is cool to the touch
  1591. 1591.
    >Its uncomfortable cramped, this passageway was really meant only for ponies
  1592. 1592.
    >You wonder if no pony knew about this passage who lit the candles?
  1593. 1593.
    >As far as you knew, only yourself and Celestia know of this secret tunnel
  1594. 1594.
    >What if there were others who knew of its existence
  1595. 1595.
    >That would mean this secret tunnel was no longer a secret
  1596. 1596.
    >While still holding yourself with one hand you place the other on the pommel of your sword
  1597. 1597.
    >The thoughts are interrupted when you come across a wooden door with iron ornaments
  1598. 1598.
    >Removing your hand from your pommel you budge the stiff door open leading to a tall room
  1599. 1599.
    >In the centre a rock spiralling staircase comes into view
  1600. 1600.
    >The stairs lead up and into the darkness above
  1601. 1601.
    >Looking into the dark abyss a determination sets on your face
  1602. 1602.
    >Closing the door behind you, you now scale the steps for the long climb
  1603. 1603.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1604. 1604.
     
  1605. 1605.
    >They seem to go on and on and on into nothingness
  1606. 1606.
    >Treading the steps gives you time to think on what you need to do
  1607. 1607.
    >If what that stallion said was true, Celestia is protected by 4 royal elite guards.
  1608. 1608.
    >There's not a chance you can take them all on and her
  1609. 1609.
    >You need to do something to draw and separate them from her
  1610. 1610.
    >Once she's on her own then you move in
  1611. 1611.
    >But what could you do that would be a big enough distraction for royal elite guards to take note of?
  1612. 1612.
    >They only get involved if the Princesses or the palace were in danger
  1613. 1613.
    >And you are just one man
  1614. 1614.
    >Your head hits the ceiling as you reach the top of the flight
  1615. 1615.
    >Rubbing the sore spot you try to peer into the black
  1616. 1616.
    >Its darker up here, so much so that you can barely see your hands in front of your face
  1617. 1617.
    >You feel a strand of cobweb snag against your chin and brush it off
  1618. 1618.
    >Using your arms to feel out what you can't see you touch against a slab of wall
  1619. 1619.
    >Its heavy
  1620. 1620.
    >Pressing against it slowly with your shoulder light filters through the cracks as it slides ajar
  1621. 1621.
    >And you can hear voices
  1622. 1622.
    >More guards
  1623. 1623.
    >Lining your eye up with the light seeping through you can see two well armed guards with spears and swords at their sides, trotting along and conversing
  1624. 1624.
    >Their voices are low but you can just make out what they are saying
  1625. 1625.
    >Guard 1:"Well Princess Luna went out into the field and she's just as important to protect as Princess Celestia is"
  1626. 1626.
    >Guard 2:"Yeah, but that doesn't make her weaker, Princess Celestia is the one who controls the sun after all"
  1627. 1627.
    >Guard 1:" Ah, but doesn't Princess Luna control the moon? It may not be as grand or dazzling as the sun but it's still an important role to protect"
  1628. 1628.
    >Guard 2:" I suppose..."
  1629. 1629.
    >Guard 1:" Besides ever since a few years ago the Princess hasn't been quite like herself"
  1630. 1630.
    >Could they possibly be talking about?
  1631. 1631.
    >Guard 2: "When was this?"
  1632. 1632.
    >Guard 1: "You know, about the same time that monkey, minotaur...troll thing was living here"
  1633. 1633.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1634. 1634.
     
  1635. 1635.
    >Guard 2:" Oh yeah! I remember that thing, always going on about hoomanity and research"
  1636. 1636.
    >Guard 1:" Yeah hah! Well, just around the time it first arrived here Princess Celestia didn't seem to have that air of power she usually carried"
  1637. 1637.
    >Guard 2: "I think I know what you mean, she did get tired more easily constantly helping that thing with... whatever it was doing
  1638. 1638.
    >Guard 1:"That's what I'm getting at! as soon as it arrived here Princess Celestia just seemed more drained. Most probably why she's locked herself up with the Elite guards.
  1639. 1639.
    >Guard 2: "I bet the monkey thing had something for that, what with all its tinkering"
  1640. 1640.
    >Guard 1: "I also heard from one of the couriers that it's the monkey that's leading this siege"
  1641. 1641.
    >Guard 2:" Really?! I thought the monkey was attached to Princess Celestia, why would it attack us?"
  1642. 1642.
    >They stop moving to stand and converse more
  1643. 1643.
    >Guard 1:"'Ere...you don't think she and it were?"
  1644. 1644.
    >Guard 2:"Were what?"
  1645. 1645.
    >Guard 1:"Oh don't play innocent with me. Do you think they were mates?"
  1646. 1646.
    >Guard 2:"I think they were good friends, yeah. What of it?"
  1647. 1647.
    >The other guard raises his voice before lowering it again
  1648. 1648.
    >Guard 1:"NO you daft plum! Do you think they were..."
  1649. 1649.
    >Making a motion with his front hooves the stallion bumps them together several times making a clopping noise
  1650. 1650.
    >It takes a moment but the other guard seems to understand
  1651. 1651.
    >Guard 2:"Oh! oh, by the beard of Star Swirl no. Not a chance in tartarus. Our Princess with something like that?! bleagh! No she's much more refined. Plus I think she's got more of an eye for me.
  1652. 1652.
    >You couldn't really care less about such acts with Celestia, even more so now than ever
  1653. 1653.
    >And the fiery urge of blowing your cover and just cutting them both down in the middle of the hall runs rampant through your head
  1654. 1654.
    >Guard 1:"I suppose you're right, no way that the Princess would like something as weird looking as that thing was"
  1655. 1655.
    >Try to suppress it
  1656. 1656.
    >Guard 2:"Yeah and he had some weird looking things on his hooves too, thingers I think it called em. What a freak."
  1657. 1657.
    >The fiery urge rises
  1658. 1658.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1659. 1659.
     
  1660. 1660.
    >Guard 1:"And you need to wake up thinking Princess Celestia would fancy you? No no no, now Princess Luna, with that voice of hers. She's the Princess you'd want.
  1661. 1661.
    >A roll of the eyes from the other guard is obviously displayed before they set off again
  1662. 1662.
    >Guard 2:"Oh yeah sure, that ancient way of speaking must be a real mood setter in the bed room. With her 'tis thee's' and 'art thou's'. You're the one that's living in a dream.
  1663. 1663.
    >As they move off they keep bickering with one another till you can't hear them any longer
  1664. 1664.
    >Assuming it's all clear you push the slab to enter the halls of the palace.
  1665. 1665.
    >The polished marble floor, ivory walls, red carpets and stained glass windows are all as you remember them.
  1666. 1666.
    >Glancing at where you came out from, the slab block was actually a marbled statue of a mare holding a parchment in a silk gown
  1667. 1667.
    >You push the statue back into place to ensure that nothing seems off.
  1668. 1668.
    >And then skulk the halls of the palace
  1669. 1669.
    >You still have not thought of a way you could get Princess Celestia vulnerable
  1670. 1670.
    >Although according to the conversation you heard she does not seem to be at full strength
  1671. 1671.
    >Perhaps your theory of how Earth was eliminated was true, you only listened to half of her confession before you left some years ago
  1672. 1672.
    >She might of exhausted herself turning Earth's sun into a red giant when she destroyed it
  1673. 1673.
    >That process should have taken billions of years but if her magic can move star perhaps it could do other things as well
  1674. 1674.
    >You had began to suspected her when she displayed her power over this worlds sun to you for the first time
  1675. 1675.
    >Thinking if she could control this star perhaps she could control others too
  1676. 1676.
    >Not being adept at magic such things were, for now, still beyond your comprehension
  1677. 1677.
    >But it was of uncertain doubt that Celestia was the one who tampered with Earths sun
  1678. 1678.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1679. 1679.
     
  1680. 1680.
    >They mentioned she was always tired after helping you with your investigations
  1681. 1681.
    >It was too much of a coincidence that every time you found a lead Celestia would join you in pursuing it
  1682. 1682.
    >The lead would then become a dead end or just give you back more questions than answers
  1683. 1683.
    >Another theory but after her confession it just made sense that she would be the one ensuring you never found out
  1684. 1684.
    >You'll have to ask her when you see her for the last time
  1685. 1685.
    >Somehow you had managed to creep past well armed guards without being spotted
  1686. 1686.
    >Dodging guards has guided you to a familiar section of the palace
  1687. 1687.
    >A sense of nostalgia of roaming these halls enters your mind
  1688. 1688.
    >As if guided by an unknown hand of fate you have wound your way back
  1689. 1689.
    >To your old chamber quarters
  1690. 1690.
    >Your hand automatically opens the tall ivory doors with glided flowers as if by some force of habit
  1691. 1691.
    >Orange light spills into the dark room from the open balcony window
  1692. 1692.
    >A layer of dust has settled on your varnished desk, still littered with papers and trinkets
  1693. 1693.
    >All of your furnishings have dust on them
  1694. 1694.
    >It looks like nothing has been touched apart from the bed linen
  1695. 1695.
    >Royal purple satin sheets cover the queen sized mattress
  1696. 1696.
    >Wandering through your old chambers everything is still in place the way you left it
  1697. 1697.
    >Opening one of the desks draws you pull out a small red wax candle and some matches and light it
  1698. 1698.
    >Shaking the match to die
  1699. 1699.
    "Everything is here..."
  1700. 1700.
    >The illuminated room bares all to you
  1701. 1701.
    >All the clues that you used to find pieces of Earth.
  1702. 1702.
    >The books you recovered and read till they were memorised word for word
  1703. 1703.
    >Tomes bound in thick leather, old parchments yellow and curling, diagrams, schematics even old newspapers
  1704. 1704.
    >Were all meant to help you in your investigations
  1705. 1705.
    >They're all still here
  1706. 1706.
    >Examining the desk you search for something
  1707. 1707.
    >Realising the last place you left it was on the dresser by the balcony
  1708. 1708.
    >Turning your head towards the open balcony and orange light
  1709. 1709.
    >A small rusted metal music box covered in dust, sits atop a dresser
  1710. 1710.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1711. 1711.
     
  1712. 1712.
    >Picking the music box up you blow and wipe away the film of dust
  1713. 1713.
    >Most of its shine has worn over time
  1714. 1714.
    >Taking it over to the desk you inspect the box in the candle light
  1715. 1715.
    >Visions of the vivid dream you had resurface
  1716. 1716.
    >Opening the lid doesn't reveal a human heart but the figurine dancers
  1717. 1717.
    >The mirrored inside still reflects the tiny couple making more
  1718. 1718.
    >Turning the box upside down you press down on the bottom and it clicks
  1719. 1719.
    >Removing the bottom reveals a hidden compartment and inside a piece of paper that has been folded a dozen times over
  1720. 1720.
    >Unfolding the paper you lay it flat across the desk and use trinkets to hold the corners
  1721. 1721.
    >Putting the music box back together you turn its key
  1722. 1722.
    >Its tune fills the still chamber once more as you read the unfolded paper
  1723. 1723.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3BMp7yBqws
  1724. 1724.
    >Dear Princess Celestia
  1725. 1725.
    >Forgive me for my handwriting, I wanted to convey these feelings to you in person but I lack the strength.
  1726. 1726.
    >It's been almost a year now since you took me in.
  1727. 1727.
    >The hospitality, kindness and understanding you've shown me, even though I am a stranger in this world have been in abundance.
  1728. 1728.
    >I don't know if I can ever fully repay you for these acts but I will try.
  1729. 1729.
    >It has become apparent and clear that Earth is gone.
  1730. 1730.
    >I won't be able to go back and the people I knew are only images and memories in my head now.
  1731. 1731.
    >No matter how hard I search or wish it, I will always be the last human.
  1732. 1732.
    >While this does sadden me to think of, I cannot change it.
  1733. 1733.
    >Over the course of my time here I have tried to make friends
  1734. 1734.
    >While the ponies have been more than willing and kind enough to indulge my presence.
  1735. 1735.
    >I feel none of them understand me like you do.
  1736. 1736.
    >You have always been there for me, helped me and given me a hope.
  1737. 1737.
    >I sometimes fear what my life would have been like if you had not found me.
  1738. 1738.
    >Therefore I humbly wish to propose that I join your royal guard.
  1739. 1739.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1740. 1740.
     
  1741. 1741.
    >I may not be strong now but with training I can be. I will be able to protect you as you have protected me.
  1742. 1742.
    >It would honour me and humanity if I could do one great thing in my life, by protecting my savoir.
  1743. 1743.
    >I have the skills and knowledge to create and replicate technology from my own world.
  1744. 1744.
    >It may not seem like much compared to your magic at first. But over time, innovations could be made to improve upon my designs.
  1745. 1745.
    >I understand you see the other species in this world as somewhat dangerous to ponies like the diamond dogs.
  1746. 1746.
    >But my world fondly believed that in order to improve you must be willing to embrace other cultures.
  1747. 1747.
    >Allowing them to intermingle with your society may help improve them
  1748. 1748.
    >As well as adding their work force and input into my own designs may also yield splendid results.
  1749. 1749.
    >Either way whatever you choose I still hope to join your guard so that I may be by your side till the end of my time
  1750. 1750.
    >Faithfully yours
  1751. 1751.
    >Anonymous
  1752. 1752.
    >Sitting back in your chair a maelstrom emotions churn in your head and stomach
  1753. 1753.
    >Regret, anger, sadness, embarrassment
  1754. 1754.
    >You were going to give this letter to her the day she decided to confess
  1755. 1755.
    >You were a fool to trust her
  1756. 1756.
    >And an even bigger fool to want to protect her
  1757. 1757.
    >Staring into the candles calm flame you ponder on what might have been
  1758. 1758.
    >Imagine if you had joined her guard
  1759. 1759.
    >You would have just become another pawn for her to use when she pleases
  1760. 1760.
    >If you had made all the things you were going to make, she would have become an even greater power than she already is
  1761. 1761.
    >The more you stare into the flame the more these thoughts play in your head
  1762. 1762.
    >And the more they play, the more you realise she must not be allowed to have them
  1763. 1763.
    >If she has read or used them, she cannot be allowed to do so again
  1764. 1764.
    >Now you know what kind of distraction will work
  1765. 1765.
    >Placing the music box back onto the dresser
  1766. 1766.
    >You go back to the candle on the desk and the hold letter over its naked flame
  1767. 1767.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1768. 1768.
     
  1769. 1769.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em5gtDJcFqM
  1770. 1770.
    >Watching the letter twist, blacken and flare up
  1771. 1771.
    >And dropping it onto the desk with the other parchments
  1772. 1772.
    >You grab the rest of the matches and a few more scrolls and watch the fire engulf the top of the desk
  1773. 1773.
    >The dust and old paper are eaten by the flame as curls of ash float in the room
  1774. 1774.
    >Old tomes went up with a whoosh and scrolls unfurled as if some ghost was reading them
  1775. 1775.
    >Picking up one of the burning tomes you throw it onto the bed
  1776. 1776.
    >Satin is devoured by the fire as it crawls over the royal spread
  1777. 1777.
    >Then taking one of the scrolls and torching the silk curtains that hanged either side of the balcony
  1778. 1778.
    >Orange glow now fills the room and embers are carried to shadowy phantoms dancing on the ceiling to the tune of primordial fire
  1779. 1779.
    >As you leave the room you close the doors to let the fire crave the oxygen outside of the chamber
  1780. 1780.
    >Lighting another match you set a scroll aflame and torch all and any hanging banners, plants, fabrics anything that will burn
  1781. 1781.
    >In your wake you leave a burning trail in the hall that once lead to your chambers
  1782. 1782.
    >And make your way to the throne room
  1783. 1783.
    >The hall to the throne room looks as it did in your dream
  1784. 1784.
    >But the setting sun beams colourful lights through the stained glass windows
  1785. 1785.
    >And there is no man in green armour riding a wyvern depicted in any of the windows
  1786. 1786.
    >But you are already here
  1787. 1787.
    >And you may not be riding a wyvern but you bring instead
  1788. 1788.
    >A destructive force of nature with the temper of a wyvern
  1789. 1789.
    >Hiding behind one of the marble pillars you wait
  1790. 1790.
    >Calm, calculating and patient
  1791. 1791.
    >Your heart feels elated in your chest
  1792. 1792.
    >Forgetting all the wrongs you've done
  1793. 1793.
    >All the lives you've taken
  1794. 1794.
    >And proud of how far you've come
  1795. 1795.
    >A panicked guard stampedes to the throne room, shouting
  1796. 1796.
    >"FIRE ,FIRE IN THE PALACE!"
  1797. 1797.
    >That did not take long, but even magical ponies can fear something as ancient as fire
  1798. 1798.
    >He bursts into the tall glided doors of the throne room still screaming
  1799. 1799.
    >"YOUR MAJESTY, FIRE!"
  1800. 1800.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1801. 1801.
     
  1802. 1802.
    >One guard enters and five come out
  1803. 1803.
    >Four of the guards wear armour similar to the rest but their helmets are of a different craft
  1804. 1804.
    >They wear cloaks of gold pinned to their chests by jewelled broaches of imperial topaz in the shape of a sunburst
  1805. 1805.
    >They gallop past you capes flowing behind and when they turn the corner you move in
  1806. 1806.
    >Slamming the giant gilded doors behind you shut, locking them
  1807. 1807.
    >And grabbing a dropped spear and barring the doors for extra precaution
  1808. 1808.
    >A light voice echoes in the room from behind you
  1809. 1809.
    >"Hello Anon"
  1810. 1810.
    >Hearing that noble tone brings a mixture of feelings but an ardent passion of hate is the strongest amongst them
  1811. 1811.
    >Your voice was soft in response
  1812. 1812.
    "No one has called me that in a long, long time. Celestia."
  1813. 1813.
    >Facing the voice the vast spacious throne room greets you
  1814. 1814.
    >Marble pillars stretch high and hold the vaulted like cathedral ceiling
  1815. 1815.
    >Tall stained glass windows beam colours of blues, oranges, greens, purples, yellows and reds onto the reflective marble floor with the light of the setting sun
  1816. 1816.
    >Banners depicting sigils of a orange sun on a field of red, white crescent moon on a field of dark blue
  1817. 1817.
    >And the sigil of two alicorns one white the other blue dancing around a sun and moon on a field of sky blue and white stars all hang from the ceilings
  1818. 1818.
    >A maroon carpet leads your eyes past two chalices of purple roses up some steps to a tall gold throne embossed with patterns
  1819. 1819.
    >Sitting on her haunches is Princess Celestia her ethereal pink, green and blue mane seems alive as it moves with no breeze to assist it
  1820. 1820.
    >All in gold steel custom armour inlaid with silver scrollwork and ornamentations
  1821. 1821.
    >At the centre of her chest piece, a sunburst orange chrysoberyl
  1822. 1822.
    >Her pauldrons are encrusted with gems of purple sapphires with an eagle spread winged
  1823. 1823.
    >You tread on the long maroon carpet
  1824. 1824.
    >And approach Celestia
  1825. 1825.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------
  1826. 1826.
     
  1827. 1827.
    >"I Imagine I have you to thank for the fire?"
  1828. 1828.
    "You burnt my world, only seems fair I burn yours"
  1829. 1829.
    >Your voices are soft but echo enough inside the room to hear one another
  1830. 1830.
    >Celestia remains seated as you walk the length of the carpet to her throne
  1831. 1831.
    >"I had always hoped you would return, Anon. But not like this"
  1832. 1832.
    "I go by General Anonymous now, your highness"
  1833. 1833.
    >You perform a bow with an over the top motion to convey your 'allegiance'
  1834. 1834.
    >Her brow furrows up and her expression is one of hurt
  1835. 1835.
    >"I told you, you could call me Celestia"
  1836. 1836.
    "HAH! such a gracious Princess you are, Celestia. I should be so lucky we met"
  1837. 1837.
    >Celestias eyes glint with the coming formation of tears
  1838. 1838.
    >"Anon, please stop this, this war. Ponies, griffins, dogs and minotaurs alike are all dying while we speak"
  1839. 1839.
    "I am not the naive fool I once was Celestia! I know you'll just wet your eyes and pretend to care before you dismiss the minotaur clans and the dog packs back into their desolate lands"
  1840. 1840.
    "You were always a very good actress weren't you?"
  1841. 1841.
    >She stands and raises her voice slightly annoyed by your harsh tone
  1842. 1842.
    >"I would do no such thing!"
  1843. 1843.
    >Ecstatically you raise your own voice
  1844. 1844.
    "That's it! right there! show me some of that oh so righteous anger, Celestia. The same righteous fury you used to kill my planet! Tell me how you did it again?, I'd LOVE to hear it!"
  1845. 1845.
    >That silences her for a moment as she looks down at her armoured hoofs
  1846. 1846.
    >"Anon...I-"
  1847. 1847.
    "Go on tell me! Exactly how you did it!"
  1848. 1848.
    >Gesturing with your hands you circle them palms facing up
  1849. 1849.
    "Yooooou?..."
  1850. 1850.
    >Her voice is quite and soft again
  1851. 1851.
    >"Please, Anon"
  1852. 1852.
    "NO! I have a right to know, Celestia. Tell me."
  1853. 1853.
    >Still looking at her hoofs she says nothing
  1854. 1854.
    "Tell me..."
  1855. 1855.
    >She doesn't budge
  1856. 1856.
    "TELL ME!"
  1857. 1857.
    >Yelling at her raises her head, her brow has furrowed down now and her eyes are moist with tears forming in the corners
  1858. 1858.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1859. 1859.
     
  1860. 1860.
    >"I aged your sun...I judge humanity to be creatures of war and death that brought nothing but suffering and destruction to themselves and every other living being"
  1861. 1861.
    >"I used my powers to turn your sun into a red one and. And. A-and"
  1862. 1862.
    >Tears stream down her cheeks as she can no longer continue with what she was going to say
  1863. 1863.
    >Slowly you clap your hands
  1864. 1864.
    "BRAAAVO Celestia, bravo. And the Oscar goes to the one, the only, Princess Celestia! take a bow!"
  1865. 1865.
    >Cheering and whistling you continue your sarcastic rant
  1866. 1866.
    "And look at all these people! god damn, it takes some real stones to admit what you've done in front of all of them"
  1867. 1867.
    >Spreading your arms out you twirl gesturing to the empty throne room then continue stepping towards Celestia
  1868. 1868.
    >Her tearful face turns into a scowl
  1869. 1869.
    >"I never imagined you'd turn out to be like them, Anon. I saw in you a kindness and willing to learn and a sweetness that most humans did not display.
  1870. 1870.
    >That puts a halt to your pace and to your sarcastic tone
  1871. 1871.
    >"But just like them you've turned into a creature that breeds war"
  1872. 1872.
    "When you planted the seeds of destruction and deceit , I was what you reaped, Celestia."
  1873. 1873.
    "You see, when a human is pushed to their absolute limits, that is when we grow the most. But if you push us the wrong way, we push back"
  1874. 1874.
    "Honestly what did you expect me to think or do? give you a hug and tell you 'It's okay, I didn't like my people either'?"
  1875. 1875.
    "I may have had my qualms with a few but I would never wish for the destruction of them, just for justice and remorse to find them"
  1876. 1876.
    "I would have thought with all your teachings YOU would be the one to preach honesty and understanding, not me"
  1877. 1877.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1878. 1878.
     
  1879. 1879.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l65NZt6EbeU
  1880. 1880.
    >Gazing out of one of the colourful stained glass windows to the setting sun you are lost in thought
  1881. 1881.
    "Did you ever even ...I mean, what was I to you?"
  1882. 1882.
    >Celestia's scowl fades from her face
  1883. 1883.
    "Was I just some sort of exotic pet you kept around to make yourself feel better? So you could lord over me and laugh behind my back?"
  1884. 1884.
    >Stepping forward from her throne she attempts to assuage you
  1885. 1885.
    >"Anon, I never thought of you like that. You were a dear and close friend to me"
  1886. 1886.
    "Is that why whenever you joined me on my investigations, you caused them to become fruitless efforts? Because there was never any hope of finding any other humans?
  1887. 1887.
    >A look of stunned shock shows in her eyes as she freezes in place
  1888. 1888.
    "I always knew Celestia, it was too much of a coincidence not to see the patterns."
  1889. 1889.
    >Her face contorts into a sadden grimace
  1890. 1890.
    >"I did what I thought was right Anon, I couldn't bear to watch you lose your mind."
  1891. 1891.
    >The room is still from the silence between you both
  1892. 1892.
    >Celestia has returned to staring at her hooves
  1893. 1893.
    >While you continue to gaze out the window
  1894. 1894.
    >A soft sound comes from your lips after a moment
  1895. 1895.
    "You know. There was a time when I would have laid down my life for you. To protect you, as you had protected me"
  1896. 1896.
    >Out of the corner of your eye you can see her head rise up to stare at you intently
  1897. 1897.
    "There would have been nothing in this world that would have stopped me from being by your side, till my time was done"
  1898. 1898.
    "I truly believed I could do that. I even thought I could learn to l..."
  1899. 1899.
    >You stop yourself from saying that word
  1900. 1900.
    "Such a notion would have been considered wrong on Earth"
  1901. 1901.
    >"Anon, we can still. There is still time to--"
  1902. 1902.
    >Cutting her off with unsheathing your sword
  1903. 1903.
    >The scraping noise inside the scabbard echoes throughout the room
  1904. 1904.
    >Your voice is grave and solemn
  1905. 1905.
    "Our time is done. I will do what I believe is right. I will unify this land and all who inhabit it. And I will end you. Draw, Celestia."
  1906. 1906.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1907. 1907.
     
  1908. 1908.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh7nTM6D-GU
  1909. 1909.
    >Wiping her eyes clean of moisture her disposition turns serious
  1910. 1910.
    >"I too will do what I believe is right, Anon."
  1911. 1911.
    >Her horn glows a yellow gold aura coating and drawing a steel long sword from her side
  1912. 1912.
    >Its golden jeweled handle shines bright in the evening sun as she holds it in front of her
  1913. 1913.
    >Her blade has been pattern welded beautifully with the design of ripples on water
  1914. 1914.
    >Your insides feel twisted and your heart races but you move forward, iron grip on the handle of your own long sword
  1915. 1915.
    >Celestia does the same and approaches her face not changing from her determination
  1916. 1916.
    >Both of you swing your blades
  1917. 1917.
    >They connect and ring throughout the empty throne room
  1918. 1918.
    >The blades skim and kiss each other
  1919. 1919.
    >As you whirl them through the air
  1920. 1920.
    >Singing their chorus song of combat
  1921. 1921.
    >The both of you swing the blades with such speed and ferocity and precision
  1922. 1922.
    >You make it look as graceful as a dance
  1923. 1923.
    >Your styles are flawless
  1924. 1924.
    >Neither of you giving the other a chance to flourish
  1925. 1925.
    >Concentration fixes your stare on Celestia
  1926. 1926.
    >And hers fixes on you
  1927. 1927.
    >Travelling across the floor your reflections follow on the marble surface.
  1928. 1928.
    >Your mirrored selves do as you do
  1929. 1929.
    >Every swing, swipe and parry and thrust.
  1930. 1930.
    >Every step and turn and twirl.
  1931. 1931.
    >The flashes of steel bouncing the light of the sun creates sprites that whizz round the room
  1932. 1932.
    >Your blades slam into each other as you both push against them
  1933. 1933.
    >Both opposing forces lock your blades together
  1934. 1934.
    >Struggling to push the other of balance
  1935. 1935.
    "Your form is impeccable, Princess"
  1936. 1936.
    >A snarl snaps on her face
  1937. 1937.
    >Celesita runs her blade across yours to slice at your head
  1938. 1938.
    >Twisting the handle of your sword her edge misses by a hairs width and you return the favour
  1939. 1939.
    >Leaning forward your blade scrapes down her edge to her neck
  1940. 1940.
    >Only for her to twist her sword to pass the slice harmlessly through her flowing mane
  1941. 1941.
    >And back into a clinch
  1942. 1942.
    >You suddenly start to cough as something invades your throat
  1943. 1943.
    >A black smoke has seeped into the throne room
  1944. 1944.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1945. 1945.
     
  1946. 1946.
    >From the doors, the sound of the of the wood being pounded again and again comes from behind them
  1947. 1947.
    >"PRINCESS! PLEASE OPEN THE DOORS!"
  1948. 1948.
    >The lock and spear barring the door hold it shut
  1949. 1949.
    >Celestia glimpses at the doors before returning focus on you and the locked blades
  1950. 1950.
    >Celestia:"Shining, evacuate the palace immediately!"
  1951. 1951.
    >Shining:" OPEN THE DOORS!"
  1952. 1952.
    >Celestia pushes all of her weight into her blade and sends you back
  1953. 1953.
    >She then steps back away from you
  1954. 1954.
    >Holding her aura coated blade in the air
  1955. 1955.
    >You move to hound after her
  1956. 1956.
    >Celestia:"Leave Shining, evacuate the guards now! That's an order!"
  1957. 1957.
    "I am hurt, Celestia!"
  1958. 1958.
    >Swinging your sword to beat down against her
  1959. 1959.
    >Striking with both hands on your handle
  1960. 1960.
    >To smash her blade aside
  1961. 1961.
    "And here I thought, you would only make time for me!"
  1962. 1962.
    >Each blow with more force than the last
  1963. 1963.
    "This does put some strain on our relationship"
  1964. 1964.
    >Shining:"PRINCESS?!"
  1965. 1965.
    >Celestia:" GO, SHINING!"
  1966. 1966.
    >Parrying your strike
  1967. 1967.
    >She moves to swipe at you
  1968. 1968.
    >Catching it you both return to your life threatening sword dance
  1969. 1969.
    >The pounding on the door has ceased but the smoke still creeps through the cracks
  1970. 1970.
    >Both yours and her swings come in hard and fast
  1971. 1971.
    >No matter where you strike
  1972. 1972.
    >She reaches it
  1973. 1973.
    >Slicing up, you manage to scratch a pauldron
  1974. 1974.
    >After that her swings become more vicious
  1975. 1975.
    >You parry some
  1976. 1976.
    >Only for her sword to swing round again and again
  1977. 1977.
    >A bite at your unprotected shoulder
  1978. 1978.
    >Flinching from the pain you step away
  1979. 1979.
    >She presses as you do
  1980. 1980.
    >An over head cut comes down on you
  1981. 1981.
    >Catching it you deflect it to the side
  1982. 1982.
    >And back hand her with a fist
  1983. 1983.
    >She recoils turning away
  1984. 1984.
    >And her back legs kick out
  1985. 1985.
    >Stopping her armoured hooves with your sword
  1986. 1986.
    >The force knocks you down
  1987. 1987.
    >Sending your sword spinning
  1988. 1988.
    >You land of your back
  1989. 1989.
    >As a shadow looms
  1990. 1990.
    >Princess Celestia stands over you
  1991. 1991.
    >And thrusts the point of her sword down
  1992. 1992.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1993. 1993.
     
  1994. 1994.
    >Within a beat you shift your head to the side
  1995. 1995.
    >The edge of her blade chinks against the marble
  1996. 1996.
    >With an arm you smack one of her forelegs out from under her
  1997. 1997.
    >Knocking her off balance
  1998. 1998.
    >As she comes down you tuck your legs under her belly
  1999. 1999.
    >Using what leg strength you have
  2000. 2000.
    >Pushing her off and over you
  2001. 2001.
    >Scrambling to your feet you scurry to your sword
  2002. 2002.
    >You roll into it and pick it up vaulting into a stance
  2003. 2003.
    >Celestia is already on her hooves and bearing down at you
  2004. 2004.
    >"I cannot let this continue."
  2005. 2005.
    >Her horn glows
  2006. 2006.
    >You are enveloped by her gold magic
  2007. 2007.
    >It lifts you off the ground
  2008. 2008.
    >Starting to hover up
  2009. 2009.
    >But slowly halt floating in the air as a pressure begins to squeeze at your body
  2010. 2010.
    >Celestia has clear strain on her face
  2011. 2011.
    >"I. Don't. Understand?"
  2012. 2012.
    "Allow me to educate you, Celestia"
  2013. 2013.
    >You shrug out of her magical grasp
  2014. 2014.
    >The magic dissipates around you and you land back on your feet
  2015. 2015.
    "I've been messing with black crystals for some years now"
  2016. 2016.
    >Celestia turns even more pale then her usual pearl coloured self when you mention black crystals
  2017. 2017.
    "And thanks to the diamond dogs relentless excavating and mining skills"
  2018. 2018.
    "I have managed to gather an ample supply to create a fabric with enough crystal shards woven into the seams to endure even your magic"
  2019. 2019.
    "I haven't perfected it yet, as you can see"
  2020. 2020.
    >You gesture to your scorched shoulder where some of the fabric of your long sleeve shirt has been singed away
  2021. 2021.
    "But it should be more than enough to negate your hold on me"
  2022. 2022.
    "Did you really think I would come here without planning for you to use your magic?"
  2023. 2023.
    >The black smoke thickens at your feet
  2024. 2024.
    "You should know me better Celestia"
  2025. 2025.
    >She lowers her head
  2026. 2026.
    "Ashamed, that your one strength can do nothing but slightly singe my clothes?"
  2027. 2027.
    >"No"
  2028. 2028.
    >Her horn glows once more
  2029. 2029.
    >"You did not cover your entire body "
  2030. 2030.
    >Your eyes widen from the realization
  2031. 2031.
    >As Celestia blasts an ethereal white bolt from her horn aimed at your head
  2032. 2032.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2033. 2033.
     
  2034. 2034.
    >You move your arms to block the hit
  2035. 2035.
    >A burning heat strikes at your gauntlet vambrace
  2036. 2036.
    >Knocking you across the floor onto your back again
  2037. 2037.
    >The metal on your forearm corrodes to leave a hole
  2038. 2038.
    >Your arm feels like it's burning
  2039. 2039.
    >Your black crystal sleeve underneath is burnt and thin
  2040. 2040.
    >The doors suddenly burst open snapping the spear that barred it, in half
  2041. 2041.
    >A black billow of smoke crawls through
  2042. 2042.
    >Shining armour and the 4 elite guards pour through with it
  2043. 2043.
    >The scent of burning upholstery fills you lungs and stabs your nostrils
  2044. 2044.
    >Shining:"Princess, forgive me for disobeying but we must leave!"
  2045. 2045.
    >Wearing his signature custom purple gold steel armour, he looks to Princess Celestia
  2046. 2046.
    >His sight follows hers to find
  2047. 2047.
    >Shining:"You?!"
  2048. 2048.
    >His surprise at seeing you warrants a hostile low tone
  2049. 2049.
    "Hello Shiny, I was hoping for your head today"
  2050. 2050.
    >Vindictively you greet Shining Armor with a crooked smile
  2051. 2051.
    >As you stand to your feet again holding your injured shaking arm close to your body
  2052. 2052.
    >The smoke catches round you appearing as if you wear a black cloak of haze
  2053. 2053.
    >Shining:"Your armies have abandoned you Anonymous, they are in full retreat. It's over, surrender "
  2054. 2054.
    >Shining and the elite guard move to Celestia's side forming a line in front of her
  2055. 2055.
    >Their spears all lowered ready to charge into you at a moment's notice
  2056. 2056.
    >And Shining Armor's sword floats in the air surrounded by the violet aura of his horn
  2057. 2057.
    >Placing your head in your injured arm's hand you look as if you despair
  2058. 2058.
    >A chuckle escapes through your mouth
  2059. 2059.
    >The ponies all show a discomfort at your laugh
  2060. 2060.
    >All of them, except Celestia. Who still stares you down
  2061. 2061.
    >Shining:"You've lost Anonymous, you are outnumbered and your forces are gone."
  2062. 2062.
    >Stifling your laughter you speak
  2063. 2063.
    "No Shining, I have won."
  2064. 2064.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2065. 2065.
     
  2066. 2066.
    >Shining gives you a incredulous look
  2067. 2067.
    >Shining:"What are you talking about? Have you gone mad?"
  2068. 2068.
    "Not quite yet, Shiny. You know, I'll never understand what Princess Cadence sees in you. I guess she likes em big and dumb"
  2069. 2069.
    >Shining looks as if he is about to charge you on his own when Celestia puts a hoof in front of him
  2070. 2070.
    >Celesita:"Anon, what have you done?"
  2071. 2071.
    "As sharp as ever, Celestia."
  2072. 2072.
    >Examining your arm where you were hit, you smile to yourself
  2073. 2073.
    >Your arm still has a searing heat from the blast. But its pleasing to know that the woven shard fibres hold up to testing.
  2074. 2074.
    >If you took a direct hit to any part of your body that wasn't covered, it would certainly mean an intense wound if not death
  2075. 2075.
    >But something seems off, Luna's attacks melted your armour and scorched some of the fibre off
  2076. 2076.
    >Celestia's blast seems to have corroded the armour but has left the fibre intact if not slightly burnt
  2077. 2077.
    >Is she possible
  2078. 2078.
    >Holding back?
  2079. 2079.
    "My troops would not leave the fight unless they had good reason to. And defeat is not one of them"
  2080. 2080.
    >Shining snaps
  2081. 2081.
    >Shining:"Then why else would they run with their tails between their legs?!"
  2082. 2082.
    >A shit eating grin spreads across your face
  2083. 2083.
    >And a epiphany smacks Celestia's, as she whispers
  2084. 2084.
    >Celestia:"Luna..."
  2085. 2085.
    >She starts barking orders at her guard
  2086. 2086.
    >Celestia:" Shining, take the guard and tell all available pegasi that they must track down the opposing forces . But they are not to engage"
  2087. 2087.
    "It's too late Celestia, by now my riders will have already taken Luna in chains to our main camp."
  2088. 2088.
    "Even if you do manage to track them down, none of your ponies will be able to get within 100 miles of Luna"
  2089. 2089.
    >A hot flash of anger appears in Celestia's eyes
  2090. 2090.
    >Her horn begins to glow more heavily with aura
  2091. 2091.
    >She rears up and slams down on her forelegs releasing a huge shockwave of white from her horn
  2092. 2092.
    >You can do nothing as the force flings you from your feet
  2093. 2093.
    >Smashing into a stained glass window
  2094. 2094.
    >Your cheek has been sliced by a stray shard of glass
  2095. 2095.
    >As You fall
  2096. 2096.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2097. 2097.
     
  2098. 2098.
    >The glass shards dazzle and shine as they fall with you
  2099. 2099.
    >You feel the impact of the ground
  2100. 2100.
    >But it envelopes you and you hold your breath without thinking
  2101. 2101.
    >Struggling to reach the surface, you are in a moat that runs around the upper palace level
  2102. 2102.
    >The current carries you as you breach and gasp for air
  2103. 2103.
    >Still clutching your sword
  2104. 2104.
    >Your armour is light, but not so light you can stay afloat
  2105. 2105.
    >You take a couple of gulps of moat water before you reach the bank
  2106. 2106.
    >Crawling onto dry land once more
  2107. 2107.
    >You spew up some of the water and take a quick glance around
  2108. 2108.
    >The current has swept you to the back of the long stretch of water gardens of the palace's cliff side
  2109. 2109.
    >A canal runs into the heart of the garden to a wide circular shallow pond
  2110. 2110.
    >It splits into many channels coursing through the gardens in spiral patterns
  2111. 2111.
    >Weeping trees with pink blossom blooming, flowering dogwood and amur maples are dotted around
  2112. 2112.
    >Small shrubberies and flower beds of many colours are planted in the centre of the spirals of grass and water channels
  2113. 2113.
    >There is no time to admire their beauty as you are blown away by an explosive force from behind
  2114. 2114.
    >It throws you further onto the gardens grass and rolls you out of control
  2115. 2115.
    >Celestia has taken wing to the air and fires another bolt near you
  2116. 2116.
    >Clumps of dirt and water are sprayed across the beautiful garden and you with them
  2117. 2117.
    >Rolling to your feet you run to a nearby weeping tree as Celestia flies past on her spread open pearl wings
  2118. 2118.
    >It gives you a chance to notice that the 4 elite guard are galloping from the back entrance of the palace into the gardens
  2119. 2119.
    >Shining is not with them
  2120. 2120.
    "Coward"
  2121. 2121.
    >The palace has plumes of black smoke rising from its west side and now through the throne room shattered window
  2122. 2122.
    >The guards draw closer and you stay by the tree to meet them.
  2123. 2123.
    >Staying under the shade as to deter Celestia from firing any more bolts and burning her garden along with her palace
  2124. 2124.
    >The guards encircle you, spears all pointed at your person
  2125. 2125.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2126. 2126.
     
  2127. 2127.
    >This is not what you had planned for
  2128. 2128.
    >But you need to focus on your enclosing foes
  2129. 2129.
    "Okay colts...whenever you're ready?"
  2130. 2130.
    >Brandishing your long sword with both hands you take a wide stance
  2131. 2131.
    >You can't avert your eyes off this situation
  2132. 2132.
    >But knowing Celestia could swoop in at any given moment puts you on edge
  2133. 2133.
    >One of the guard to your left makes a lunge at you with his spear
  2134. 2134.
    >You smack it aside with your blade
  2135. 2135.
    >Turning to slap another spear from behind you
  2136. 2136.
    >Then another
  2137. 2137.
    >And another
  2138. 2138.
    >You turn with every motion of your sword
  2139. 2139.
    >Preventing any incoming points from piercing your blind spot
  2140. 2140.
    >You knock a spear down and stamp on it
  2141. 2141.
    >Breaking the head from the haft
  2142. 2142.
    >You let out a grunt from a dull pain that hits at the back of your thigh
  2143. 2143.
    >Turning to see a spear
  2144. 2144.
    >It has punctured through your cuisse into your back leg
  2145. 2145.
    >Blood is trickling out and dripping from the incision
  2146. 2146.
    >Swiping with your sword across the haft, you cut it just below the head of the spear
  2147. 2147.
    >The dull pain throbs into a more searing one
  2148. 2148.
    "You fucking little bastard!"
  2149. 2149.
    >You swing madly at the spears hovering near you
  2150. 2150.
    >Knocking them aside
  2151. 2151.
    >Spinning to the guard that got you
  2152. 2152.
    >He lowers his spike helmet
  2153. 2153.
    >Attempting to impale your stomach
  2154. 2154.
    >With you injured leg your knee catches under his chin
  2155. 2155.
    >And your sword swipes down to his neck
  2156. 2156.
    >It bites deep into his chainmail shirt
  2157. 2157.
    >Scarlet sprays fourth like a sprinkler as you wrench your blade back
  2158. 2158.
    >Another dull pain punches under your sword arm
  2159. 2159.
    >You let out a roar of anguish
  2160. 2160.
    >Grabbing hold of the haft
  2161. 2161.
    >Stopping it from pushing in further
  2162. 2162.
    >You snap the wood with your elbow
  2163. 2163.
    >And pull the rest of the broken haft out
  2164. 2164.
    >Its covered in a syrupy scarlet
  2165. 2165.
    >Your blood
  2166. 2166.
    >Eyes wide with fury you move to strike at the guard
  2167. 2167.
    >Celestia dives in with her armoured hooves out stretched
  2168. 2168.
    >Her heavy force slams into your back
  2169. 2169.
    >Sending you hurtling through the air
  2170. 2170.
    >Rolling with a thud into the circular shallow pond at the heart of the garden
  2171. 2171.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2172. 2172.
     
  2173. 2173.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmhjaFbpkIE
  2174. 2174.
    >Celestia lands in front of you unsheathing her golden sword once more
  2175. 2175.
    >The remaining 3 elite surround you again
  2176. 2176.
    >2 now brandishing long swords with gold inlaid black handles and the other still carrying a spear
  2177. 2177.
    >You push yourself up to kneel
  2178. 2178.
    >Pulling out the head of the spear in your back leg you wince in pain and toss it aside
  2179. 2179.
    >Your wounds throb and pulse with a sharp pain
  2180. 2180.
    >As if they were being stabbed over and over again
  2181. 2181.
    >Blood dripping into the shallow waters from under your arm and leg
  2182. 2182.
    >Tired and struggling to catch your haggard breath
  2183. 2183.
    >You peer up at Celestia
  2184. 2184.
    >Her face shows a sad disdain looking down at you
  2185. 2185.
    >Through your panting your voice croaks
  2186. 2186.
    "Isn't this what you wanted Celestia?"
  2187. 2187.
    >Spit congregates in your mouth and you swallow
  2188. 2188.
    "Me, bending the knee like a good little pet?"
  2189. 2189.
    >Her bottom lip quivers and her eyes begin to form tears at the corners again
  2190. 2190.
    >Her once noble voice wobbles
  2191. 2191.
    >"It wasn't supposed to be like this..."
  2192. 2192.
    >Rising you shakily stand to your feet grimacing
  2193. 2193.
    >The puncture in the back of your leg sends a stab of pain down it as you put your weight on it
  2194. 2194.
    "And what was it supposed to be like, Celestia?"
  2195. 2195.
    >"I don't know anymore...but it wasn't this."
  2196. 2196.
    >You try to raise your sword
  2197. 2197.
    >The wound under your arm throbs harder complaining at the work of lifting the heavy blade
  2198. 2198.
    >"You were supposed to be better than them."
  2199. 2199.
    >Pissed off and fatigued you sharply rebuke her criticism
  2200. 2200.
    "That's what infuriates me even now. How self righteous you think you are. By what right do you judge an entire race!?
  2201. 2201.
    "Humanity may not have been perfect, but we always tried our best!"
  2202. 2202.
    "No matter how we stumbled, fell or strayed of the path. We would always pick ourselves back up and keep moving forward."
  2203. 2203.
    >As you step to her the guards step in closer as well
  2204. 2204.
    >Through a clenched jaw you speak partly out of anger and partly out of pain
  2205. 2205.
    "There were children on my planet, Celestia...babes that hadn't even said their first words or taken their first steps"
  2206. 2206.
    "And you took them."
  2207. 2207.
    >Your mouth turns into a frown as your chin scrunches and eyes well up
  2208. 2208.
    "You took them in fire, you took them all"
  2209. 2209.
    "I heard the wails of my friends and family as they burned alive. Their screams, will haunt me for as long as I live"
  2210. 2210.
    "Every time I close my eyes, I can see them"
  2211. 2211.
    "Yet you still spout nonsense about how my people were creatures of suffering and destruction! The only creature I see that fits that description..."
  2212. 2212.
    >You point the end of your sword at her
  2213. 2213.
    "Is you."
  2214. 2214.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2215. 2215.
     
  2216. 2216.
    >Tears lightly tickle your cheeks anew as they race to your chin
  2217. 2217.
    >Celestia's purple eyes leak as a few drops of tears fall from her face
  2218. 2218.
    >The guards stand firm in their resolve to protect their Princess
  2219. 2219.
    >Though they seem disquieted by your speech
  2220. 2220.
    >"Please Anon, lay down your sword"
  2221. 2221.
    "Don't you get it? I will NEVER stop fighting you."
  2222. 2222.
    >Raising her sword she takes her stance
  2223. 2223.
    >"Anon, don't make me do this"
  2224. 2224.
    "Why not? ...Might as well finish what we started"
  2225. 2225.
    >You hardly have any strength left
  2226. 2226.
    >Tired and wounded
  2227. 2227.
    >You take your stance
  2228. 2228.
    >...
  2229. 2229.
    >It is still for a moment
  2230. 2230.
    >Only the sound of water gentle running through the garden and your exasperated panting can be heard
  2231. 2231.
    >Your heart is pounding in your chest
  2232. 2232.
    >The orange orb in the sky slowly fading from sight on the horizon
  2233. 2233.
    >Wind gentle kisses at your cheek...one last time
  2234. 2234.
    >You step and swing in at Celestia
  2235. 2235.
    >The blades bounce off each other
  2236. 2236.
    >Pivoting on the balls of your feet
  2237. 2237.
    >Whacking away a spear from behind
  2238. 2238.
    >Gaining enough momentum to flourish an incoming sword swing
  2239. 2239.
    >And another
  2240. 2240.
    >Surrounded, you rebound your strikes of theirs
  2241. 2241.
    >Spinning and twirling your sword like a baton
  2242. 2242.
    >Changing hands
  2243. 2243.
    >Doing everything you can to stop from being struck
  2244. 2244.
    >You dance like a green ghost through their attacks
  2245. 2245.
    >Avoiding blows
  2246. 2246.
    >Splashes sound as you tread through the shallows of the pond
  2247. 2247.
    >Steel and wood being struck join in melody
  2248. 2248.
    >Moving your way further to the gardens edge
  2249. 2249.
    >Which looks out to Ponyville in the distance
  2250. 2250.
    >A slice at your arm spatters red onto the green grass
  2251. 2251.
    >You collect more cuts as you move
  2252. 2252.
    >Each one sending jolts of pain through you
  2253. 2253.
    >A spear thrusts from behind again
  2254. 2254.
    >Twirling on the wood, grabbing hold and pulling on its haft
  2255. 2255.
    >You snatch it free from its owner
  2256. 2256.
    >Slapping the guard in the helmet with the spear-butt
  2257. 2257.
    >A slice at your back cuts deep through your armour
  2258. 2258.
    >Crying out in agony, you fall slamming on your knees from the shock spike of pain
  2259. 2259.
    >From the cut a scarlet waterfall pours from your back
  2260. 2260.
    >"NO! Don't kill him!"
  2261. 2261.
    >Celestia shouts in protest
  2262. 2262.
    >Dropping the spear you collapse
  2263. 2263.
    >Catching yourself before you thud to the ground
  2264. 2264.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2265. 2265.
     
  2266. 2266.
    >The guards back off
  2267. 2267.
    >All now brandishing swords
  2268. 2268.
    >The pain is unreal
  2269. 2269.
    >Every cut screams as your muscles spasm
  2270. 2270.
    >Your heart is hammering in your chest
  2271. 2271.
    >A feeling of wanting to throw up hits your stomach
  2272. 2272.
    >But all you can do is gasp and wheeze for air to comfort the burning in your throat
  2273. 2273.
    >All your armour feels to be pulling you down
  2274. 2274.
    >"We need him alive... to trade for my sister"
  2275. 2275.
    >Even now as you bleed, Celestia still plans on using you for her own gains
  2276. 2276.
    >Struggling to speak through your exhausted breaths
  2277. 2277.
    >Your voice is soft and low
  2278. 2278.
    "While I die, all you think of is how you can use me."
  2279. 2279.
    >Trying to rise to your feet again the guards move back in
  2280. 2280.
    >"No! stand down!"
  2281. 2281.
    >Celestia barks the order to her guards
  2282. 2282.
    >Using your sword as support
  2283. 2283.
    >You stand again, your legs threatening to give way from the strain
  2284. 2284.
    >"Anon...I will not let you die"
  2285. 2285.
    >Her voice seems to try and convey comfort
  2286. 2286.
    "You heartless witch...kill me..."
  2287. 2287.
    >"Anon, I beg you-"
  2288. 2288.
    >Celestia attempts to move to you
  2289. 2289.
    >And you take a swing wildly at the air in front of her
  2290. 2290.
    "KILL ME!"
  2291. 2291.
    >Blood and saliva escapes with your shout
  2292. 2292.
    >The weight of your sword staggers you backwards
  2293. 2293.
    >Your foot almost slips from under you
  2294. 2294.
    >Readjusting your footing you peer behind you
  2295. 2295.
    >Standing on the edge of a cliff
  2296. 2296.
    >The drop down is a long one
  2297. 2297.
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2298. 2298.
     
  2299. 2299.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bVR-RDEc7g
  2300. 2300.
    >"ANON!"
  2301. 2301.
    >You hold your sword out to stop her from moving closer
  2302. 2302.
    >A smile cracks on your tired face
  2303. 2303.
    >And a weary chuckle escapes you
  2304. 2304.
    "It seems like you won't finish me...too afraid to commit the total genocidal extinction of my species, huh?"
  2305. 2305.
    >Celestia pleas as you stare out into the abyss below
  2306. 2306.
    >"Anon, stop please! Get away from there!"
  2307. 2307.
    "I'm not going to let everything the dogs and minotaurs have fought for be for nothing! I will not be a bargaining chip for you to trade."
  2308. 2308.
    >Celestia's eye widen with fear
  2309. 2309.
    >"Anon...please...don't do it."
  2310. 2310.
    >Balancing along the edge of the cliff you smile back at the alicorn Princess
  2311. 2311.
    "Don't worry Celestia, I won't let you have the burden of wiping out a race...I wish you ...a long lasting life"
  2312. 2312.
    >Celestia's wide eyes well up and her lips turn down
  2313. 2313.
    "Goodbye...Celestia"
  2314. 2314.
    >Using the last of your strength you throw your sword at Celestia
  2315. 2315.
    >Her guards move in front of her path to block the incoming blade
  2316. 2316.
    >And her
  2317. 2317.
    >As you spread your arms out and fall backwards , allowing gravity to take you
  2318. 2318.
    >"NOOOOO!"
  2319. 2319.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2320. 2320.
     
  2321. 2321.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bosouX_d8Y
  2322. 2322.
    >Deafening roar of the wind rushes and sweeps past you
  2323. 2323.
    >The ledge you were on grows small quickly as a blip in the distance
  2324. 2324.
    >Your breathing is deep
  2325. 2325.
    >And your heart is leaping in your chest as if to try and escape your fate
  2326. 2326.
    >But you feel lighter than you have in ages
  2327. 2327.
    >You don't struggle
  2328. 2328.
    >Embracing the feeling
  2329. 2329.
    >Its almost liberating to know you don't have to fight anymore
  2330. 2330.
    >Your wounds have stopped crying in agony and now only tingle
  2331. 2331.
    >Everything you've done
  2332. 2332.
    >The creatures you've killed
  2333. 2333.
    >The things you've learned
  2334. 2334.
    >...The lines you've crossed
  2335. 2335.
    >Was it inevitable leading up to this moment?
  2336. 2336.
    >Droplets of tears leave you behind as you fall
  2337. 2337.
    >Gouge the marksman
  2338. 2338.
    >Oxalis hoof
  2339. 2339.
    >Your riders
  2340. 2340.
    >Your friends
  2341. 2341.
    >Your family
  2342. 2342.
    >You would be meeting them soon
  2343. 2343.
    >And even
  2344. 2344.
    "Wait for me, Serend..."
  2345. 2345.
    >Closing your eyes
  2346. 2346.
    >You accept what will meet you at the bottom
  2347. 2347.
    >...
  2348. 2348.
    >...
  2349. 2349.
    >...
  2350. 2350.
    >A black envelopes you
  2351. 2351.
    >...
  2352. 2352.
    >Its...
  2353. 2353.
    >Wet?
  2354. 2354.
    >And smells?
  2355. 2355.
    >Opening your eyes
  2356. 2356.
    >You can see a vibrant pink tongue?
  2357. 2357.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2358. 2358.
     
  2359. 2359.
    >You stay like this for what seems like hours
  2360. 2360.
    >Unsure of what's happening you remain still
  2361. 2361.
    >Before you are spat up and placed on the ground gentle
  2362. 2362.
    >Strands of long saliva stick to you and your armour
  2363. 2363.
    >Its dark
  2364. 2364.
    >Night has taken cast its veil on the land and the scattered twinkling stars are the only lights to greet you
  2365. 2365.
    >A large head prods at your chest and a tongue lashes and laps at your cuts
  2366. 2366.
    >It stings but your too tired to fight back at the damp assault
  2367. 2367.
    "...Silpheed?"
  2368. 2368.
    >The large head turns to show you a orange eye gleaming at you , inspecting you
  2369. 2369.
    >Silpheed had returned
  2370. 2370.
    >She must have caught you in the air as you careened to what you thought was your end
  2371. 2371.
    >Soft and wearily you speak to your rescuer
  2372. 2372.
    "You stupid lizard...you really don't listen do you?"
  2373. 2373.
    >She inhales through her nostrils and laps at your face more
  2374. 2374.
    "What the fuck do you think you're doing? Are you planning on eating me?"
  2375. 2375.
    >You let out a fatigued laugh as she pushes her head against you
  2376. 2376.
    "Alright. Okay ahaha. Stop now . Ahahah st- hahaha stop , Silpheed. Si- Silpheed! Knock it off!"
  2377. 2377.
    >Snapping you push her head aside and she stops but continues to look you up and down
  2378. 2378.
    "Jeeeesus!...control yourself"
  2379. 2379.
    >Taking a break from the tongue bath you look to your surroundings
  2380. 2380.
    >Night has shrouded all and you can recognise no land marks
  2381. 2381.
    >All you can tell is that you are in a wide meadow
  2382. 2382.
    >Exhuasted you lie down on your back
  2383. 2383.
    >The light impact reminds you of the gaping wound you collected
  2384. 2384.
    >To add injury to insult Silpheed rests her head on your belly
  2385. 2385.
    >Her heavy head weights you down on the wound
  2386. 2386.
    >As you look at the billions of stars in the sky
  2387. 2387.
    >You quietly whisper to yourself
  2388. 2388.
    "I'm sorry. I was not strong enough. Wait a little longer for me, will you?"
  2389. 2389.
    >A shooting star zooms through the blue dark sky
  2390. 2390.
    "I promise...I will keep fighting..."
  2391. 2391.
    >With that you grab onto Silpheed's head
  2392. 2392.
    >She raises you up and curves her neck to sit you on her saddle
  2393. 2393.
    >Locking yourself into the holster sluggishly you fall back to rest
  2394. 2394.
    >Silpheed takes to the skies and soars off into the dark blue beyond
  2395. 2395.
    >The stars watching over you
  2396. 2396.
    >That will keep you to your promise
  2397. 2397.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  2398. 2398.
     
  2399. 2399.
    >"And that my pups is the tale of General Anonymous, the last human in Equestria. Whom helped unite this land we live in today."
  2400. 2400.
    >An old dog sits in a quaint wooden chair within the confines of a cosy cottage
  2401. 2401.
    >On the wall hangs a old ragged shield with a sigil of a green serpent devouring a red sun on a field of dark azure
  2402. 2402.
    >In a bed lies three little pups
  2403. 2403.
    >"Granpa Obie, is that the end of the story?"
  2404. 2404.
    >The old dog strokes his grey beard and raises a bushy brow to show a green eye
  2405. 2405.
    >Obie:"Hmmm?"
  2406. 2406.
    >A small little pup with brown and white fur sits up in his bed
  2407. 2407.
    >Brown pup:"I mean is that it? General Anonymous never got his revenge?"
  2408. 2408.
    >Obie:" You wanted a tale of revenge did you?"
  2409. 2409.
    >Another little pup in a coat of dark grey also sits up
  2410. 2410.
    >Grey pup: "Well, yeah? I mean I thought that's what Anonymous wanted! But he never got even close to defeating Princess Celestia!"
  2411. 2411.
    >Obie:"And supposing he did get his revenge? He would have killed the one creature in this world that controls our sun, the very thing we use to grow life on this land"
  2412. 2412.
    >The old dog stands from his chair to re-tuck the pups back into their bed
  2413. 2413.
    >Obie:"And if he had succeeded in his plan my grandfather, your great, great grandfather would not have been able to make Celestia sign the treaty to allow equal rights and rule for all creatures in Equestira "
  2414. 2414.
    >Obie:"We would not live in the world we live in now where all creatures are treated with respect and equality, regardless of their species"
  2415. 2415.
    >A little black pup squeaks from under her covers
  2416. 2416.
    >Black pup: "Granpa, how do you know all this? Even the parts you weren't there for?"
  2417. 2417.
    >Obie:" I was there for some of it and Anonymous himself told me of his trials and tribulations, in later years he and I became very good friends. Now then, it is late and it's time for bed"
  2418. 2418.
    >Obie rises again and goes to close the white wooden door of the pups bedroom behind him
  2419. 2419.
    >Black pup:"Granpa?"
  2420. 2420.
    >Obie stops before closing the door
  2421. 2421.
    >Obie:"Hmmm? Yes?"
  2422. 2422.
    >Black pup:" Did Anonymous ever come back?"
  2423. 2423.
    >The old dog smiles from under his grey beard
  2424. 2424.
    >Obie:"He did my sweetling, but that is a tale, for another time....."
  2425. 2425.
     
  2426. 2426.
    End?
  2427. 2427.
    (Continues to next story WiC: Court of Changelings currently W.I.P/On hold)

War in Canterlot by Viridiansteel

by VinylSS