1. Betrayal

The metallic boat hummed as it chugged over the murky service of the water. A Royal Guard, dressed in the standard reinforced midnight blue and gold uniform, headed the small boat.

"Lord-Protector and Princess Sparkle" The guard, Night Watch said, looking to the Alicorn sitting across from him, "How did the meeting with King Blood Talon go?" He smiled slightly, his eyes shifting to his blurry reflection on the light brown colored water.

Twilight smiled back, her crown slightly askew, "It went very well Lieutenant Watch. How's your family? Any foals yet" She straightened her scabbard, looking at the lieutenant.

Night chuckled, a smile adorning his face, he was always a jovial young stallion, "Cold Wind's doing great, he just signed the adoption forms for his neice, she'll be our filly in a few weeks." He looked up to the large, neigh-impregnable walls of Canterlion, one of the last few bastions that had some safety from The Contagion, a horrific disease spreading across the world. "We'll be there in a matter of minutes, better send the signal." He lit up his horn, sending an orange light into the sky, the watchmare on the wall sent up her aquamarine burst, and the gates opened up with a loud grinding.

Twilight smiled as they sailed in, and a lift elevated them to the dock. Anxious to see the Princess, and most of all, Dawn Star, the daughter of her friend and mentor, to see a friendly face after being gone for months. She tipped her head to the dock workers, this shift a unicorn and a minotaur, She was barely on the sandy ground before she smashed into by a light violet blur.

"Twilight, your back!" Dawn Star yelled, tackling the Alicorn to the ground, a wide smile on her face. Twilight's weathered dark blue and grey coat was now covered in sand. Laughing, Twilight got back to her hooves, a smile on her face as she hugged the little Alicorn.

"Dawn Star! Its great to see you again! Twilight said, hugging the little Alicorn filly. "I'd love to play with you Dawnie, but your mother wanted to see me as soon as I arrived." Twilight had magically transformed herself so she looked like her old Unicorn self, going full Alicorn when holding court or in diplomatic meetings. She ruffled Dawn's mane as the filly tugged her towards a gazebo.

"Ah, Lord-Protector Sparkle, it'ssogood to see you again." Chancellor Blueblood, adopted nephew of the Princess of the Sun, said sarcasm dripping like venom from his mouth, "Aunt Celestia is waiting for you upstairs, shoo, can't you see Solo Kov is trying to paint me?" He said, striking a heroic looking pose as the famous Prench reindeer artist Solo Kov briskly told Blueblood to stop moving.

Twilight trotted behind the filly, nodding her head at or waving to guards and staff she passed, each responded with a wave of their own or a small smile.

Twilight made her way towards the off white gazebo, vines twisting over the pillars and damp moss covered bits of the room. Princess Celestia was speaking to the Royal Spymaster, Silver Sword, he seemed to be agitated.

"Jamnit Princess, can't you see what we have to do. The other nations have forsaken us, so the only way we can get their aid is if we force them to" Silver said, slamming his hoof on a column, causing a tiny crack to appear, his maroon coat swaying the ocean breeze.

Celestia sighed, "Silver, I ask you this not just as your ruler, but as your friend, please reconsider. You know that, if we do force them to comply, then they will declare war on us, one we cannot win."

Silver grumbled, before trotting away, brushing past Twilight. Celestia smiled, hugging Dawn as the filly ran up to her mother. "Twilight, it is a fair wind that returns you to me." She nuzzled her student, "Have Zebrica, Griffonhala, Minotaurus, or the Donkelio Isles sent word?"

Twilight sighed, reaching into her coat, pulling out a sealed letter, hoofing it to Celestia. The Princesses dark gown contrasted against her golden regalia.

Celestia ripped open the seal, her eyes scanning over the page. Her brows furrowed, her expression switching from happiness, to sorrow, then anger. Frowning, she tossed the letter to the floor, staring out at the balcony. "That's it then, we're alone in this. The other nations have blockaded us off, they probably want to see the kingdom die off, and salvage whatever remains." Celestia looked around, "What happened to the guards?"

The letter lay still on the floor as Twilight laid a hoof on Celestia's back, "Princess, it isn't as bleak as it seems, a number of the nobles in the other nations have pledged to send supplies." Twilight said, smiling slightly.

Dawn tugged on Celestia's gown, pointing to the roof of the docking building, "Mommy, why are those stallions on the roof?" Celestia's face lit up in alarm, as did Twilight's.

"Dawn, get behind me!" Celestia yelled, placing herself between her daughter and the incoming threat. In a flash of green light and dust, two cloaked beings, one a stallion zebra and the other an imposing Griffon, drew swords, rushing at Celestia, but was blocked by Twilight's own rapier.

"Arghh!" Twilight yelled, slashing at one of the assassins, leaving a deep gash in his side as he teleported away, punching the Griffon in the throat, causing her, or at least it sounded like a her, to stumble back, as this one too teleported away in dust. Twilight huffed in relief.

"Twilight!" The Princess yelled, snapping Twilight out of her relief, as she drew her pistol, just as two more cloaked figures appeared. These two she could get a better look at. They both wore gloves, boots, gas masks, and hooded cloaks, all charcoal gray. Firing two rounds into their legs, they disappeared like their comrades.

"Thank you Twilight, t-No, not again!" Celestia said, as two more appeared, one raising a hoof, holding Twilight in midair, followed by Sombra, once Celestia's most trusted advisors, and a member of her elite guard, who had disappeared several years ago. Sombra smacked Celestia to the ground, a flash of guilt in his eyes, as he mouthed something unintelligible, before running his sword through her abdomen.

Dawn tried to run, but Sombra grabbed her tightly. Sombra nodded, as the one holding Twilight ceased his hold, as they disappeared, Dawn vanishing with a whimper.

Twilight gasped for breath, crawling over to Celestia, who lay in a pool of golden ichor, the blood than ran in demigods or minor gods. Celestia's head moved, she was alive, barely, her voice hoarse. "Twi-Twilight, its all, coming apart." She coughed, "Find, Dawn, s-she's the only one that can f-fix all this. You'll do this for me, won't you Twilight?" Her eyes started to close, as Twilight's welled up with tears. "I love-" Was the last thing Twilight could make out, as the mare, her mentor, ruler, and friend's body, lay lifeless. That was when he heard a the sound of heavy boots, and gasps. Turning her head, Blueblood, Silver Sword, and two guards, one of which who raised a sword to her throat.

"By Faust, look what she's done!" Blueblood said, staring in horror at what he saw, though Twilight could notice a glint of victory in his eyes.

"Yes, she's killed the Princess!" Silver Sword said, laying an odd amount of stress on she, "Where is Lady Dawn Star, traitor?" He said, glaring.

"Her own personal bodyguard, a fellow Princess, and her personal student to boot, who would have thought?" A portly guard asked, sneering.

"Take her, we'll see, Blackgate Prison should do nicely for her execution." Blueblood said, grinning, waving a hoof at the guard. Rearing back his arm, the butt of his rapier smashed into Twilight's face, as unconscious and darkness, took over.