A Fire Within

Stretch across the northern border of the noble land of Equestria stood one of the greatest constructs of the Melody Dynasty. Grand Empress Octavia commanded that a great wall be erected between Equestria and the frozen wastes to the north. The wall was strong and built to defend. Soldiers patrolled it constantly, leaving no stretch unguarded for an instant.

One night, the wind was especially chilly against a young soldier's face. He fluffed his scarf up around his neck and adjusted his helmet in an attempt to defend himself from the cold. He looked up. The sky was black with clouds; it looked like it was going to snow. The soldier thought briefly of the fresh spring that his hometown must be enjoying, but felt not a twinge of homesickness. He stood up a little taller, forgetting the cold wind. His country needed him to protect her border, and it was an honor to do so in the name of Empress Octavia.

He drew his sheathed sword closer to his side and continued on. The only sounds were his hooves against the stone and frozen wind in the flags.

Something suddenly struck the back of the soldier's helmet, and it clattered to the ground. He looked up and saw a large black bird sweeping past him and perching nearby. It gave a loud screech, and a flock of hooks appeared over the wall. The clattered to the floor and drew back, hooking on to the edge of the wall. The ropes attached to them went taut. The soldier didn't wait to see who was pulling themselves up the wall. He turned and sprinted for the nearest guard tower.

Before he could call out, a horned head appeared around the edge of the wall and shot a beam of fiery red at the soldier's neck. As a soldier of Equestria, he was trained extensively in battle with unicorns and their magic. He dodged the shot and brought one hoof up to his attacker's horn and another between her forelegs. With one swift motion he turned the unicorn on her head, effectively stunning her and removing her from his path.

"Light the signal!" he cried to the tower. "The unicorns are invading! Light the-"

The door to the tower opened, revealing two unicorns where two earth pony soldiers should have been. The soldier dodged their attack and scurried up a nearby ladder to the top of the tower. He barely reached the top before the unicorns below him disintegrated the ladder. As the ladder fell apart beneath him, he jumped and caught the edge of the tower, pulling himself over before the unicorns below could take another shot at him.

He snatched a torch from it's iron stand and turned to throw it into the timber basin, but stumbled back in surprise when a huge figure vaulted itself over the wall. The light of the torch illuminated a large, black unicorn. His eyes were sickly green with blood-red irises and purple mist trailing from the back edges. His horn was wickedly curved and sharp. It bore a heated red color that stood out against his shadowy mane and obsidian armor. The wind tore at his battered red cape and he smiled, revealing a row of unnaturally sharp teeth.

King Sombra. The soldier had heard much about the Empress's greatest enemy, but seeing him in person was an entirely different, and terrifying, experience. The soldier wasted no more time. He cast the torch into the oiled timber, and the signal was set ablaze in less than a second. The flames towered high and bright. In the next tower over, another fire flared up in response, then the next tower, and the next, until the wall was a growing snake of flame.

The soldier stared hard into Sombra's eyes.

"Now all of Equestria knows you're here," she said.

Sombra smiled a little wider. His horn glowed with a black aura, and a nearby flag began to float. Sombra tipped it into the fire, and the Equestrian insignia was engulfed in flame. Sparks spewed from the fire like tiny red comets.

Sombra chuckled. "Perfect."

The commander of the Equestrian army sprinted up the steps of the Imperial palace. He was a strong but aging earth pony. His coat, once a deep golden brown, was well on it's way to becoming a deep gray. He was covered head to hoof in gold-accented armor, more symbolic than functional. A great red cape trailed behind him, and his helmet sprouted two long feathers colored to look like a Phoenix's.

The Empress waited for him in the throne room, having received word that the commander had urgent news for her. He burst through the doors and barely managed to get his helmet off in time to bow respectfully.

"Your Majesty," he panted. "The Unicorns have invaded our northern border."

"Nonsense," screeched the Empress's counsel, who stood beside her. She turned her nose up, her fluffy pink locks bouncing with every movement. "Nopony can penetrate the Great Wall."

"Pinkie Pie," Empress Octavia said, holding out a hoof to silence her. "Enough."

"King Sombra is leading them," at this, the Empress became tense. "We're setting up defenses around your palace as we speak," the commander said.

"No!" Octavia stepped down from her throne and closer to the commander. "Send your troops to protect my citizens! Pinkie Pie," the pink pony perked up. "Deliver conscription notices throughout the land. Call up as many new recruits as you can."

"With respect," the commander said. "I believe my forces can stop him."

"I won't take any chances." Octavia held her head back with royal dignity, and stood a little taller. "A single grain of wheat can tip the scale. A single pony can mean the difference between victory and defeat."