The Throne of Lions

Rainbow and two hundred of her soldiers galloped towards Saltpans. Even at this distance, they could see the night sky tinged orange by the flames, and black smoke billowing upwards, bloodcurdling screams that pierced the air spurred them onward.

"Ice Brain, two on your right!" Guard Captain Daylen yelled, as he fired a bolt into the face of a Sombrien stallion-at-arms, his battleaxe and tower shield dropping to the charred ground with a CLANK. The grizzled Earth Pony reached into his satchel, ready to load another bolt into his crossbow, but came up empty-hoofed. Cursing, he holstered his crossbow and drew his steel shortsword and buckler, emblazoned with the three butterflies that were the sigil of House Flutters. He roared as he charged at the group of arbalists who were setting fire to the Temple of the Old Gods.

He staggered back as a stray bolt hit his shield, lodging itself within. He galloped into the three arbalists, who all drew their own blades. He raised his shield to block, thrusting it into the face of the besiegers, confounding him.

"Die Flutteri!" The arbalist yelled, swinging his sword to the right, which was parried by Daylen. The poor sod was repaid by a sword jutting through his gullet, he shuddered, and fell still. Daylen stabbed downward at the confounded arbalist, when he heard the final one creep up on him. He saw her sword rise-

-Then watched as an arrow sprouted from her neck. The leopardess raised a paw to the wound, watching as blood stained her neck. She gurgled, before falling to the ground, the arrow snapping in half.

"Need any help soldier?" Rainbow Dash asked, a cocky grin on her face, as she loaded another arrow into her yew longbow. "How many more are there?"

Daylen wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, getting to his hooves. "Thank you for the assistance, Lady Dash. Before you arrived, we had already fended off a number of them. The last report I got, there were maybe thirty or so remaining invaders, aside from these three." He motioned to the three bodies laying around them.

"Lady Dash!" A voice yelled, Daylen, Rainbow, and her two guards turned. Knight-Commander Grey Joy trotted towards them, a bloodied and bruised giraffe archer limping behind him.

"Mi'lady, we've managed to kill a number of the Sombrien scum, and the rest have ran, their tails tucked in between their legs!" Grey saluted, raising a loud cheer from the men. The Pegasus motioned to the giraffe behind him. "We managed to capture this milk-drinker. What shall we do with him?"

Dash smiled icily, unsheathing her sword. She trotted to the archer, grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, and pressed him to side of a blackened building, sword at the ready. "Well then archer. Tell me, why did Lord Sombra launch an assault on a hamlet owned by my fair marefriend?!" She growled, bring the blade closer, nicking his chin.

The giraffe whimpered, he was young, a calf, sixteen at best. "Lord Sombra decreed that a meeting of dissadents against the Iron Throne was being held in this town. We were ordered to plunder the town of riches and slaughter any conspirators." He flinched as the tip brought a small cut in his chin, "Please, that's all I know"

Rainbow's grip loosened, the calf dropped to the ground, breathing hard. "Alright then." She sheathed her sword, "I will let you have your freedom and your life, if you agree to fight against Sombra. What is your answer?"

The archer prostrated on the ground, kissing Rainbow Dash's hooves, tears streaming down his face, "I will do anything my lady, the only reason I served him is because my family is being held in one of his prisons."

Lady Dash smirked, "Very well then, I accept, what is your name, archer?" She fixed her cape, which had come undone.

"My name, is Dresden, I live to serve House Dash, but, when we DO topple Sombra from the Iron Throne, I only ask we free my family." Dresden said, rising to his hooves, picking up his recurve bow and setting it on his back, smiling in thanks.

"We shall do that, not for just your family Dresden, but for all those who have loved ones imprisoned by The Iron Tyrant." She said, placing a hoof on his shoulder. "Grey Joy, bring Dresden back to the keep. Get him patched up, a meal, and rest, he" She turned to her soldiers, who stood waiting, their armor glowing the light of the fires. "I need fifty of you to clean up the damage, bury any bodies, and look for survivors, is that clear?" Fifty of the guards nodded, trotting off to do their duty.

"The rest of you, we return home!" The guards cheered as they galloped swiftly back to Marsterly Rock. The harsh winds of the north whipped at their back as they rode home.

----Storm's End, Ancestral Home of House Flutters, formerly House Maretheon---

Fluttershy sat in her personal gardens, her most faithful bodyguard, Angel Bunny, stood nearby, miniature lance at the ready. She was dressed in a vibrant summer green gown, her Element of Harmony hung around her neck, and a laurel rested on her head. She tossed another hoofull of bird feed on the ground, watching the doves peck at them.

She heard hoofbeats echo across the finely carved stone floor. "How has Saltpans fared?" She asked in her voice, as soft as spring breeze. She turned her head slightly, hoping it was good news.

The courier bowed slightly, before speaking, "Lady Fluttershy, the attack has been stopped, though many did not survive." He noticed her shoulders sag. "But, all was not lost. Lady Dash and her soldiers were able to drive the rest of the invaders off, alongside your own guards."

Fluttershy beamed, "That's my mare. Is there anything else?" She got up from the alabaster bench, looking at the courier with a smile, her pink mane blowing gently.

"Yes, Lady Dash will be visiting for a few days." The courier replied, fixed his cap, bowing once more.

"Very good, it has been too long. Angel, would you kindly pay this nice stallion?" She looked to her protector, who begrudgingly pawed a small sack of bits to the stallion, frowning.

"Thank you, my Lady." He said, placing the currency in his delivery satchel, bowing once more, before trotting from the room, smiling brightly.

"Well Angel Bunny, we best get everything ready." She said, galloping out of the room, Angel Bunny hopping beside her. She politely ordered the servants to tidy the castle, which had been owned by her great-aunt, Loft Wind Maretheon, which, like many of the Great Houses of Equestria, changed their name to fit their current Lord or Lady.

She trotted upstairs to speak to her Captain of the Guard, Cloud Chaser, to tighten security during Lady Dash's stay. Chaser left to round up the guards.

Fluttershy smiled, before trotting through the busy halls to her bedchambers, where she decided to get some rest.

---The Crimson Kee---

"And so another pawn falls." Sombra said, magically flicking one of his own pawns down. "But, I still hold all the pieces Sparkle, and you have nothing." He chuckled darkly, reclining in his throne, his red and green eyes glowing in the darkened throne room, illuminating the shadows.