The Celestial Guard

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A green bolt of magic flew across the town square, it struck a guard, who flew of the main float and hit the pavement with a thud. The trap had been sprung. The Tal'Meidir revealed their true form in a flash of green flame, citizens saw this and began to panic, fleeing from the black creatures who were cutting them down. As the crowd stampeded to safety, like a herd of buffalo, they knocked down any royal Guard who tried to calm them. The next bolt of magic flew towards Celestia and she knew she had no time to protect herself.

This is going to hurt.

PATCHING

The green bolt bounced of a shield that was now surrounding her. Another bolt, of greater intensity flew in, however it was also easily deflected. Then she saw Swift Hooves standing beside her grinning.

"Getting slow in your old age I see."

The other guards regrouped themselves and began to fight back. Swift Hooves heard some of the guards shouting the word "Changelings", probably some sort of colloquialism for the Tal'Meidir. No time for that though, one of the assassins was coming strait for him, flying at him, fangs bared. It struck him on the side, knocking him over onto his back. They struggled for a bit, the black creature charged up his horn and attempted to hit Swift, however it missed and tore a hole in the float. Swift swung his hoof into the creatures jaw, with a loud crack it fell of him, unconscious. Another green bolt flew across the square, flying towards Celestia, there were no other guards around and Swift had no time to bring back his shield, so he went with the flow, throwing himself into Celestia, pushing her out of the way. Luckily it also missed Swift Hooves and hit a window, shattering it. He got up on his hooves, all had gone quiet, he couldn't see anypony on the streets, except for a few dead bodies, not the greatest sight in any ponies book. Celestia was tending a one injured pony, with a few guards around her.

WOOSH

Swift Hooves felt a burning pain on his left shoulder. A spell had gone straight through his armour and had burned his flesh. He screamed in pain and collapsed on his side. A few more spells flew out of nowhere, killing the other guards surrounding Celestia, however they dropped to the ground, without a sound. A blue bolt hit Celestia in the side, paralysing her from the neck down.

                                       Bright Eyes appeared beside Swift Hooves as he got up, Swift Hooves turned to Bright Eyes.

"Come on! Help me with Ce-"

Another pain engulfed his left eye as he collapsed once again, falling unconscious . He saw the guard grin venomously at him, then he teleported over to Celestia, crafting a blade out of the air. He held it over her side for a few seconds before plunging it into her heart. Her eyes bulged in fear and panic, unable to scream in pain. Bright Eyes laughed evil before speaking up.

"Come with me minions, Master will be pleased.", in a flash of light, he and the others disappeared. The reinforcements finally arrived on scene, with Twilight leading them, they all stopped when they saw Celestia's body, blood oozing from a wound at her side. Twilight was the first to walk up to the Princess, she put her hoof on her neck to check for a pulse. Then she gulped nervously at the result.

"S-she's dead. The Princess is dead...."

All the guards were silent in shock. Twilight turned to where the battered body of Swift Hooves was, who was just regaining consciousness. His left eye was totally burnt and beyond use.

"What happened?"

"We were attacked by a few black creatures."

"Changelings?"

"If that's your name for them, yes."

"There's another name for them? Ug, I'm getting of topic, who led them, was it the Queen?"

"No, it was Bright Eyes."

"The Queen disguised herself as Bright Eyes?"

"No, it was Bright Eyes."

Then Swift Hooves got up, and looked over at the princesses body, which the guards were still staring at in shock.

"Is..is she dead?"

"Yes, I'm sorry, you tried your best."

"There still may be time."

"Don't delude yourself Swift, she's gone."

Ignoring Twilight, Swift Hooves stumbled over to the body, checking for any sign of the cyan glow around Celestia's cutie mark. It was still there, but fading, he would have to act fast.

                                                       He closed his eyes and began to concentrate, then he started to pull his life-force from his own body and channel it into a blue orb that was forming at the tip of his horn. It grew bigger and bigger, and its colour conforming to the colour of Celestia's magic aura. His muscles ached as they began to die, but he had to continue, so he did. The other ponies were staring in fascination at this little lightshow, unsure of its purpose. He step closer to Celestia's body ,whispering the words he always wanted to say to her, into her ear.

"I love you Celestia, and I always will."

Then his horn connected with her horn, an explosion of harmless blue light burst across all of Canterlot. Suddenly Celestia's eyes opened and she began to breath again, her wound had already closed up.

                                                 The pain was too much for Swift, he could feel his very essence burning up inside the cage which was his body, while the others were dumbstruck in shock as Celestia stood up, he took a detour to the other side of the square. Now he could feel a pressure building up on the inside of his horn, as he walked, blood vessels exploded as the magic previously used began to turn on its user.

So, this is it, never expect to go out like a firework.

BAM

His horn shattered, sending shrapnel into the air, some of it tore through his skin and bones. He screamed in pain as he receded from this world and into the next one.

"SWIFT!", screamed a pony in the Royal Canterlot voice.