Redmoon's world swam as he opened his eyes. His body was heavy as he tried to rise on all four hooves. The muffled screams of both the wounded and dying ponies filled his ears from all around him. His head still spun as he looked around at the carnage, confused. His sword lay not but a few paces away, jammed into the ribs of a Diamond Dog mercenary. Something had exploded when he got his kill, and not much further from his sword was the answer. A unicorn had his horn snapped during a spell; causing the magic to backfire and kill the unicorn along with several others,f the unicorn at the epicenter.
Red looked around the enemy fort at the blood and death. Pony killing pony, magic breaking the earth around him. This was his calling, and this... this scared him every time he saw it. The fort was harder to crack than expected. They had just broken through the outer wall and started for the courtyard when the unicorn fell to the magical backlash.
Something felt off about this whole attack. Why was it so tough to break into this place, what was so important that so many would die to protect it? Redmoon had to know.
He reached down and gripped his blade in his teeth. With a great heave, he pulled free the blade and moved to a door. His hearing and sight had finally fully returned, as did the adrenalin from the heat of battle. His jet black coat was lathered beneath the heavy crimson armor he wore, and his red and purple mane and tail were slicked with blood. If it was his or from some other source, he didn't care.
Intelligence said the leaders of the New Lunar Republic were gathering to plan their biggest attack on the Royal Army to date, and the princess saw this as the perfect time to end the war. Fort Strongheart held ten-thousand enemy troops with enough food and supplies to maintain the war indefinitely. If they could capture it, they would win the war.
Red charged the door, planted his right foreleg, spun and kicked the wood right off its hinges. The door slammed into a guard that couldn't move fast enough and snapped his back against the wall. Two more guards who were also there, fell to his blade as he charged passed into the narrow hall. With another mighty kick, he entered a large room.
In the center of the room, the ghostly form of Nightmare Moon stood. Light shown from a magic circle on the stone floor. It illuminated five unicorns that were around the circle as they cast the summoning spell to pull her back to this world. She turned her dark eyes to Red and he could feel the power coming off her. Her starry mane flowed down under her blue helm and danced about into the area. Her dark blue armor gave off a faint light as she shifted closer into this world. She was the only one who had noticed his arrival. The unicorns casting their ritual were locked in the concentration of the spell. Nightmare Moon's aura was intoxicating. The power that he could feel that she held was amazing, and very frightening at the same time. Red felt that so long as she was by his side he could achieve anything. If she were to come to close or continue to stare at him the way she was he felt as though he would be smothered with her power. Those eyes.... He both wanted but didn't want to break his gaze from hers. He just wanted to fall into the darkness and be with her. To follow as she commanded.
Red shook off the magic of Nightmare Moon that held him in place. What was he thinking? His loyalty was to Princess Celestia and the kingdom of Equesteria. He knew then the power that Nightmare Moon held, even without being in the same world. With the thoughts of Celestia now on his mind he was able to remember his objective. Keep Nightmare Moon from returning to this world. With his blade in mouth, he knew of only one way to stop this. Though Red was not sure how this would end for him, he knew that this would be the end for the unicorns who were opening the doorway for Nightmare Moon. Quickly, he removed three horns before the magic could backlash. The surge of power was followed by a deafening boom and the evil shriek of pain from Nightmare Moon as she was pulled back into her own world, her prison. Red was thrown back into the wall, as were the two remaining unicorns. Pain ran through his already aching body as he slid down to the floor.
Red forced himself up from the rubble. His sword was embedded to the hilt in the wall beside him. He looked around the room, searching for a sign of anything. There was nothing. He sat back down, trying to gather more strength, and waiting for the ringing to quit once again. He thought to himself that he was lucky he wasn't deaf after all the explosions he had just been in the blast of. There was one unfortunate loss for him from this final battle. He could no longer see out of his left eye. He thought something was a bit off. Shaking his head the thanked Celestia that his eye was the only thing lost. It seemed he was awfully close to losing his will to Nightmare Moon. He thought that maybe his lost sight in one eye was the payment for that. Hot blood slowly ran from the forever darkened eye and down his cheek, dripping to the ground from there. He again forced himself to stand once more.
As he worked his way from the fort, more stumbling then anything, blind and in pain, he could see that the war was over and the royal army had won. Nightmare Moon had been stopped and her followers defeated. Red looked to the east, at the beginning of a new day, and as the sun rose so did the flag of the royal army.
Red stood on the hill overlooking the crumbling fort. The wind whipped his mane and tail to his left side as the sun set at his back. This place held many memories for the old warhorse. It was over thirty years ago when he had charged the gates of this place, sword held high. He had survived that day, a hero to the kingdom. His eye had changed to a dull gray after the healers returned its sight to him. The scar would remain till the end of his days, but he liked it.
He trotted down to the gate of the fallen stronghold, overgrown with moss and vines. They held it for two more years before leaving it to nature. He was given the post of captain of the fort and honored for his bravery in the battle, but something still didn't sit well with him. Something was off about this whole place, even now after the war had passed and Luna was back in her rightful place next to her sister, at peace from the darkness that held her.
Something moved inside the courtyard just as he stepped into the archway of vines. It dashed into the core of the building, looking like a snake of mist and shadow. Red was just about to go after it when something else got his attention, a small purple blur darted between his legs. It was a young dragon named Spike who belonged to one of the ponies in Ponyville. A town three days from here. Spike clung and hid behind his leg. His childlike fear surfacing and shaking Red's legs as he held tight while Red was contemplating why the little dragon would come here.
The little dragon looked up at him, “Wha-what was that?”
“Just a shadow of the past. Why have you followed me little one?”
Spike looked around, but saw nothing more. He stepped out from under Red and stood as tall as he could.
“You have been summoned by princess Twilight.” he said handing a scroll over to him. “Both her and the other princesses would like to see you as soon as possible.”
Red looked down at the dragon, confused, as Spike unfurled the scroll. He cleared his throat and read the princesses short letter out loud.
“Dear Redmoon,
We hope this finds you in good health, but due to unforeseen events, we ask for your
presence in Canterlot, post hast. Have Spike send a letter the moment you
leave so we may prepare a proper escort and lodgings for your arrival.
Safe travels,
Princess Twilight Sparkle”
“Spike, what is this about?” Red asked, taking the letter Spike was handing him.
“I don't know, but can we get out of here? It gives me the creeps.”
Red set the letter down and looked around at the crumbling fort. Its power still radiated evil, making any that entered its halls tremble or suffer nightmares, most times both. He turned and started back for his home calling for Spike to follow, lest he get lost along the way. They walked a short time and stopped for the night. Red set the logs for a fire and had spike light them.
“Why were you at that place, Red?” Spike asked tentatively.
“I do it every five years, as both remembrance and penitence, for the war that ripped the land in two.”
“Wait, a war?”
“Yes, Spike. I was just sixteen when I was placed into the field. The war was against a group that gained an influx of members. They called themselves the New Lunar Republic.” Red looked up at the stars that were starting to appear in the just forming night sky.
“Why haven't I ever heard about this?”
“Celestia thought it best to leave it out of the open public's view. Something about in sighting a panic in the populaces.” Red fought back some of the bloodier memories of that war that he was called to. “Lets talk of other things, little Spike.”
“Like what?” he piped up nervously.
“Do you remember anything about why the princesses want me to come to them?”
“Luna wasn't feeling well, something about not being able to sleep. But Celestia was worried about something else that Twilight was talking about.” Spike replied.
“So something to do with magic that has them in a tizzy.” Red chuckled at his little jab at the princesses.
Spike chuckled nervously, his eyes darting about like something was out to get him this night.
“Fear not, Spike, the princesses do have a scene of hummer that even I get to laugh at.” Red retorted to the jumpy little dragon.
“That's not it, something's out there watching us.....” he trailed off.
“Sleep little one, I shall watch over you till the sun rises.”
“What about you?”
“I'll be fine.”
Spike didn't argue on this one and curled up next to the fire, falling to sleep almost instantly. Red watched the steady rise and fall of he breathing for a short time before getting up. He walked back to the fallen fort and moved into the courtyard. There he stood, as if to challenge the curs of the place to face him.
The fort it's self seemed to accept his challenge as it's door creaked open. A figure stepped into the courtyard to face the war pony. It stood a little taller than Red and was in the guise of an alicorn, holding its head high as gazed at him. Its body seemed composed of darkness and stars, twinkling and shining as it moved across the courtyard.
The alicorn walked up to him and stopped. It seemed to gaze into his soul as it moved around him. It spoke in a voice that seemed to come from all around him.
Who are you to stand before the Queen of the dark sky and not kneel? You, who stopped my body from breaking through to this world, but not my power. Kneel before your true Queen, tiny mortal, and I will spare you.
Red smirked at the being, “Shut up and get out here, Misty.”
The mist alicorn shifted and lost some of its size as it turned into a small black pony-like insect. Misty Dew, the changeling, stood before him with a cheeky grin on her face. She was much shorter than Red, at his towering sixteen hands, standing at just under twelve. Her thick chitin was black as night and her eyes seemed to glow with blue light as she giggled up at him.
“How'd you know it was me?” she asked.
“Nightmare was much bigger, you always have a problem getting the size right with your shifts. Nice mist snake though.”
She scoffed at this and glared at him.
“So did you bring it, Scar face?”
Red looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. “Just wait, the others will be coming in short order.”
She sighed, “Thirty years is a long time for that gift of yours, you sure the others are still alive?”
He simply nodded and looked off into the darkness.
They waited only a few minuets until someone else came through the broken archway. Soon many ponies stood and milled about the courtyard. Red climbed up onto a stone that stood slightly above everypony else. Many of his friends chatted with each other as they waited for their gift, one that was promised long ago.
“Friends,” Red called out to the mob before him. “Thank you all for coming. It has been many years since we gathered in this spot, not as friends but as soldiers. You have waited long enough for this so I wont delay any longer.”
He jumped down and pushed through the ponies to a stone covered with a red cloth. He stood beside it and turned to look at his friends gathered before him.
“Over thirty years ago, we charged this place. We kicked in the door to protect all we held dear. Six-hundred against ten-thousand. We fought and we won, kicking Nightmare Moon back to her hole on the moon! We even held the Fort as the enemy was hunted down and stomped out. Still something held this place in its grip, not letting the dead leave. We have found a way to fix this.”
Taking the cloth in his teeth he pulled it free, reviling what was underneath. A large black stone monolith faced the crowd. Upon the face was a large plaque with a carved picture of charging ponies into battle. Just below that was writing that read “To The Fallen, Glory To The Dead”. Under that was a list of names.
Every pony looked at this plaque and waited for an explanation. Red looked out at his crowd with sadness in his gaze.
“Hey Red, this is all well and good for those that died that day, but what about us?” Misty asked.
“Hey, I'm on this plaque.” one of them shouted.
Soon all of the mob flooded to the stone, looking to see if their name was on it. Everypony there was on it. Most laughed thinking it was a joke, but some got mad.
Misty walked up to Red looking confused. “What's going on, Captain?”
Red's eyes began to tear up as he spoke to the gathered.
“Every name on this plaque is dead, they fought and died to save the world from Nightmare Moon on that day. She did something to the land. It keep you here, but with no memory of your death.”
He looked up at the shocked faces. “I spoke to Luna about what happened and why I could see you when no pony else could. Nightmare Moon, just before the spell back lashed, cast a curse upon me that backfired just as the spell to summon her ruptured. It hit the land instead of me, latching onto the dead and dying as their souls left their body. On that day I lost my eye, and seeing death was my part of this curse.”
“It took Luna a long time to make something to fix what she did to you. She placed it into the stone that stands before you. Its magic will and has already begun to canceled out the curse.”
Red looked out to the crowd.
“You served under me even in death. You are all my friends, my comrades, my family. I will remember every mission I worked with you on, every late night I spent talking with you, every single guard shift I stood with you. Even in death, my friends, you gave your service to your country.”
Red began to cry as he looked at their faces.
“Two weeks ago this stone was placed here to honor the dead, to honor you. You who served so faithfully. You, who fell in that battle. My friends. Be Free.”
Everypony looked on in shock as Red hung his head and cried for them. The crowd began to realize the truth and feel the magic holding them there finally wane. Many moved to comfort him in his sorrow, but this only made his emotions worse. Slowly, one by one, they faded into nothingness, passing into the afterlife. Each wished Red the best, a long life and many happy memories, but he only responded with a tiny sob as the disappeared.
Soon only Misty remained.
“Why, Red?” she pleaded, tears filling her glowing eyes.
“You have remained far too long, my friend. You should have moved on by now.” he said as he nuzzled her face with his. “You will hold a very special place in my heart, Misty. You loved me as more than a friend, even though I never returned those feelings. So now I feel I should say this, though it is unfortunate it has taken me till now to actually tell you. I love you, Misty Dew. I always have and always will.”
Misty looked up in surprise at his words. She had wanted to hear those words since they first started working together. She had fallen in love with him, even abandoned her hive just to be with him over the years. Even if it was just because of her death that she had left, it still hurt to leave the hive mind and become an individual.
“I don't want to go, I'm scared.”
“Be brave, little one. You are never alone.”
Misty smiled up at him as she faded into blackness. Before she vanished, she closed her eyes and mouthed “Don't cry, I love you. Thank you, for everything.”
At that Red turned, head hung low, and walked back to the camp where he had left Spike. As he left the grounds of the fort he turned once more, trying to stand as tall as he could out of respect for them.
“May you rest in peace, my friends.”
