Game of Ponies: Frozen Ashes

“Farewell, Princess!” High General Turner called out before proceeding to trot to his tent, its mass resting a few hundred meters below the Princess’s. The charcoal sky glimmered with bright stars, which showered the sky in a cascade, a beautiful curtain of glimmering silver stars that made any ponies eye's shimmer and sparkle. Princess Twilight donned her plum colored silk robes, the corners trimmed with an intricately designed golden pattern.

She overlooked her armament, the entire coast decorated with the colors of the amethyst guard, each tent, banner, and piece of clothing embroidered with the Star of Twilight. The once bright flames near the encampment now just flickering charcoal casting dancing shadows of the north-waving banner placed at the dead center of the coast. The previously packed dining tent now quieter than a ripe leaf twirling in the wind. Only a few drunken soldiers toppled out of it, but even they barely made any audible sounds.

She exhaled, her eyes moving along her 6,000 troops, each one at one point bowed to an officer's blade swearing the warrior's vow, to protect and serve his queen until his dying breath. Their hearts sworn in, their bodies willing to be commanded, their entire being at her service. If only she could convince herself of that. She turned back around and entered her tent, its grandeur built in a remarkable amount of time.

The inside of her pavilion even more decorative than the outside, almost all of it was stitched with the finest lavender silk, light gold used to speckle the cloth making it glimmer and shine. The dim lighting only enhancing the effect of of the gold dotted fabric. Only a few high lamps were placed around her sleeping quarters, a wooden desk taking up most of the room, its top covered with that same badly drawn map. A few chimes hung low, their being still, no breeze or whisper entered her silent abode. For once she felt safe, the thoughts of betrayal, worry, even lust stopping their voracious billowing through her mind as she got ready for bed. Nothing but peace and... silence?

A sudden movement behind her causing the chimes to ring, their high pitched clanks piercing the peaceful air, tearing it to shreds. Twilight's mind flushed with the thoughts she was so eager to dump, her eyes widened as she sprang up unto her hooves and made her way to the center of the room. Her eyes darted around, examining the darkest corners, only now did she realize how dark her pavilion really was, perfect for anyone hiding seeking to slit her throat as she slept. Red vines creeped up her sclera as her unblinking eyes darted around the room.

Another rush behind her made her jolt forward and call out a little, she examined every little detail she could, trying to see who was in her pavilion.

"Who's there?" She called out, her voice audibly shaking. Her breathing sped up as the last thing she wanted to happen was for her to be flanked.

A flash of silver caught her off guard, she stood still looking at the dim-light lantern in front of her as a silver blade was pressed to her neck. Whoever was behind her sneaked past the guards, and somehow made his way into her living quarters. She exhaled carefully, trying to move her neck as far away from the blade as she could, her eyes no longer darting, just slowly lowering to the sharpened steel at her collar.

"Please..." she whispered, her voice stricken with fear and instability, "what do you want? I-i have bits... as many as you want, I’ll give it!" She pleaded shutting her eyes and biting her lip.

"Your bits are useless... Twilight." The voice behind her replied, deep, raspy, almost penetrating.

"Then what?" She pleaded. The being behind her exhaled on her neck and lightly loosened the blade that was against her throat.

"I'm looking for you..." He hissed

"Assassinating... murdering a princess is something that the six thousand out there are sure not to take kindly too," Twilight said, her voice trembling.

A faint chuckle was heard behind her, "Who said I’m here to assassinate you Twi?" He began, "I'd think you would have missed me."

"Who are you? Why are you here?" She asked once more.

Suddenly, the steel blade lowered completely, "I heard a certain pony princess needed a baby dragon." The voice replied teasingly.

Twilight gasped as she rapidly turned around, "SPIKE!" she called excitedly, "How a-...." Her voice trailed off as she stared at the creature in front of her. The creature glanced into her eyes, its verdant reptilian eyes staring at her. It abruptly arose, donning a thick cloak, trimmed with silver wool and stepping forward towards her. His purple, scaly skin reflected the lanterns light, as his eyes continued the stare.

Standing on two legs, it resembled a humanoid stature. The entire body of this creature was coated with jewels, some on necklaces, others embedded directly into his breastplate. His entire upper chest sparkled and shined casting an array of various colors all around the room. In one claw it held a spear, as tall as him, standing two stallions in height its length an intricately decorated wood, while the blade it's was a stunning mix of obsidian from the free kingdom, and krotanium. It stood proudly, glaring into twilight's shocked expression. Two long fangs stuck out of the corners of his mouth, one longer than the other, a slight grin separating the two even further.

"What... happened to you?" She exclaimed, softly stepping backwards.

"Seven years in this land is what happened Twi," He began, but not before thrusting his spear into the ground, “and now you are here too."

"How..." she stared at his body, "What are you?"

He ran his long claws along the one of the scattered wooden chairs, "I'm a Dragonkin, Twilight." He responded in a lower tone, he blinked his reptilian eyes at her and then gazed around the room.

She stepped back once more, "What?" She asked bewildered.

He gave a light chuckle, his forked tongue flicking out of his mouth for a split second. He stepped forward to her, and bent down, his heavily armored legs scrapping against each other, "You have so much to learn about this place twilight..."

"L-like what?" She asked, a little more self-assured.

He briskly stood back up, towering over her minuscule body, "that is not why I’m here," he started pacing to the right of the room, over to the wooden table, " I may be dragonkin now, but it doesn't mean I don't cough up the odd letter from the royal sunny ass." He gave a brief snicker before reaching behind his cloak pulling out a vanilla colored scroll holding it out to Twilight. "Read." he states bluntly.

She levitates the letter and places it on the table, "Listen spike... I..." She began before being cut off.

"No Twilight, I needed to go." He rapidly walked up to her, his heavy armor thumping against the ground as she turned her gaze away from him, realizing now what her small dragon has become. "You need to find the rest of the gang, and get. The hell. out . Of here." He paused before adding, "Got it?"

Twilight looked up at him, "They are alive?"

"You need to get off this rock Twilight, there's a war coming and you need to get out of here before it does. They will not stop after they conquer this rock."

"Who?" she asked feebly.

"Everyone!" he raised his voice, "The world is a game to them, the second they set sail to Equestria for Celestia's throne it will be the end for us!" He thundered over to his spear, ripping it out of the ground and making his way out of the tent.

"Spike!" She called out.

The dragonkin turned around, glancing one last time at her, "Whatever you may see, whatever you may hear... remember where you're from." He coarsely replied before turning back around and tearing the pavilion's entrance open, enormous pitch black wings spread from underneath his cloak. He stepped out of the tent, all she heard was a single beat of a pair of wings before it was silent once more, the chimes stiller than the sapphire ocean.

Twilight stepped back, still processing whatever just occurred, she glanced to the table, the letter sprawled out on it. She made her way to it, her breathing still heavy and her mind racing, trying to comprehend everything she was told. Her horn faintly glowed and lifted the letter before her eyes.

Dear Princess Twilight sparkle

I write this to you just moments before our ships of eight hundred thousand
of our finest soldiers depart, what you have done is deeply frightening my student.
You are not prepared for the hardships that face you out on that continent. But I
cannot change the past, only alter the future with my next actions. I am not leaving
my kingdom for the sake of four friends, there are much larger figures at play here.
A princess must know when to hold onto something, power, respect, a kingdom, and
when to let something go. You are truly lost.

Regards, Princess Celestia of Equestria