Metal Fire

So far, Luna had gathered thirty-four soldiers willing to help the cause.

"With all of them combined, including us, that makes forty-seven." she had explained.

"What about the soldiers we commanded into battle?" Saber had asked.

"Fifty-four are free, so if we can convince them to help, we'll have about one-hundred." she said. The Doctor managed one more room for Luna. That was the maximum capacity of the Tardis. Saber always kept guard at night, he was kind of like a sentry. On a rare occasion, he fell asleep while on duty. On most nights, Dash kept him company and on the nights when she was too tired, she slept with him. He enjoyed her company. She kept the nightmares away. The group of thirteen traveled to the Night Hunter base, in the Everfree. The Doctor rigged a device so that the thirty-four soldiers could stay in a room in a pocket of time. The recon always had to keep a low profile, looking for the fifty-four other soldiers. Canterlot needed this group of one hundred ponies. Equestria needed them.

That night, he fell asleep and it wasn't dreamless. He had multiple nightmares, forgetting them as the finished.

"Saber," a soft voice called, "Saber, wake up." his eyes shot open and he bolted upright. Rainbow was standing next to him.

"Dash? Is it daytime?" he whispered,

"No. It's the middle of the night. You were thrashing around. What's up?" she explained,

"I was?"  Saber asked. She lay down next to him and leaned into his shoulder. Rainbow had a concerned look on her face. "Nightmares," he explained, "I can't remember them though. Don't worry. I'm fine." he yawned and blinked tiredly.

"Come on," she yawned, "Let's get some sleep. We all need to into Canterlot to get supplies tomorrow." she fell asleep on his shoulder. Saber stayed up for little while longer and soon fell asleep. Now, he didn't have nightmares. He slept for what felt like a second. Closed his eyes and opened them. The Tardis lights were up and running and most of the group down below. Saber helped Vinyl up and glided down. He landed near one wall of the time travel ship and the couple trotted towards the group.

"Ah, there you two are!" Adamant exclaimed, "We need to get ready. Rarity, do you have the cloaks ready?"

"Here they are!" Rarity answered, tossing the group cloaks made from plain black fabric. Saber donned his and so did the others.

"We're going to need to split up into groups of two." Saber explained, "Go with whom you would want to." Dash leaned against him and whispered,

"I'll go with you." he kissed her on the cheek and nodded. Saber looked at the other groups. Most were obvious. Doctor with Derpy, Applejack with Rainbow, Lunar with Fluttershy. Others weren't that obvious. Luna with Twilight, Rarity with Pinkie Pie. Adamant was going to watch the Tardis. They walked out of the Tardis in pairs, one by one. The Doctor managed to replicate a bit, so everypony had at least a sack full of them. Saber and Dash were in charge of weaponry. The couple made their way through the market, weaving in between beggars and the homeless, asking for money. Saber was enraged with Celestia. He vowed that if she couldn't be undiscorded, he would make her pay. They found what looked like a blacksmith's shop. The trader turned around at the sound of them approaching.

"Ow can I 'elp 'ou?" he asked,

"We need enough spears for twelve ponies." Saber replied, keeping his head low. He didn't keep his wings outside his cloak so they didn't attract attention.

"'Ou sure 'ou got enough?" the merchant said, eyeing the shadows that covered their faces. He was about to knock of Saber's hood when his eyes glowed haphazard blue. Warning. The merchant then knocked off Rainbow's hood. "Ah, pretty girl ain't ya? How's about 'ou leave this bum and come have a pint?" he said, putting a hoof under her chin. She slapped his hoof away.

"Don't touch me." she growled.

"Spears. Now." Saber said, eyes slowly turning red.

"That'll be a thousand bits." the trader replied, handing over twelve steel spears. Saber paid the trader and the couple left. They returned to the Tardis where the others had just returned. The spears clattered as Saber dropped them.

"Is everypony back?" Saber asked,

"No, the Applejack and Vinyl still aren't here." Adamant replied. Suddenly, the doors of the Tardis flew open and Rainbow, followed by Applejack galloped in at full speed and shut the door. "What happened?" Adamant demanded,

"Guard saw us," Vinyl panted, "Got a bunch of others and chased us back. Get us out of here! Celestia herself is coming!"

"On it!" the Doctor replied. The Tardis whirred right as Celestia's horn was starting to glow. It rumbled and then stopped. Saber opened the door and what he saw devastated him and his friends. It was Ponyville, but it had been razed. Fire was everywhere. The houses were destroyed. He stepped out and landed on a piece of charred wood. Saber recognized this place. This was where his house had been. Where his parents lived. All gone.

Razed