Benevolence Over Vengeance

Rainbow Dash

He truly did hate me. I couldn't even tell him that I didn't order his death. Then to make matters worse, I charged at him! Am I truly fit to rule when I can't even stand up for myself, let alone fight a one-pony army? Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight, and I led our troops out of the castle, but something was wrong. Our numbers seem to have dropped... significantly.

"Where is everypony?" I asked.

"They joined Lord Zephyr. They fear him to death," Applejack explained. I wasn't fit to be a ruler, let alone the one to face him. He was too powerful, driven by true anger and hatred. Why couldn't I just get it together and tell him I hadn't ordered the attack? He was right... I am the Leader of Chaos and the one who brought it upon this land.

"Zephyr is just a stain on this land. I'm pretty sure our best friend Rainbow Dash can defeat him!" encouraged Twilight. She was still upset at the death of Flash Sentry, but was recovering.

"I can't even tell him that I hadn't ordered the attack, let alone face him in combat. He's just way too strong, even for me!" I exclaimed.

"He can't defeat us when we are together. As long as we think and fight as one, we can overcome any foe!" Twilight countered.

"Even if he has a lot of strength, we still got each other, and that is all we need for an army!" Applejack added.

"You guys still stand by me even though I've failed on multiple occasions, dooming this world to more chaos?" I asked.

"Of course!" exclaimed Fluttershy. My friends still had my back! They weren't leaving me in the dust, but I can't say the same for Zephyr.

"OK, Zephyr has strength, will, determination, and spirit. But we have one of the brightest minds in all of Equestria! Twilight Sparkle!" I exclaimed.

"Surely Twi could come up with a plan to defeat 'em," suggested Applejack.

"Strategy is a very important part of battle. We've estimated Zephyr's army to be extremely out-numbered to ours, but his training techniques have probably adapted them to become immune to pain, as he is. We'll have to destroy their morale, rather than them. We must stay out of reach of Zephyr, for surely all to fight him means death. You saw how many arrows were stuck in him right? He still kept going. As they approach the bridge to Canterlot, we blow it to shreds when the enemy has filled the bridge. As they construct a new bridge to get across, we set up ballistas, catapults, and arbalests to hold off their advance.  Arbalests are to be positioned at the castle gates, ballistas and catapults to delay the construction of a new bridge. Zephyr's strength and determination will get him past our defenses and I'm afraid the final battle will be between us and him. Shining Armor, our best warrior will have to try and defeat Zephyr before he reaches the throne room. Everypony stay inside alright? Troops and officers shall be placed along the roads to hold the enemy's invasion. Everypony got it?" asked Twilight. We all nodded our heads and went to work.

"I'll prepare a speech for the ponies awaiting orders. The rest of you get moving on the defenses and explosives," I ordered. I walked out of the room and looked over at the balcony where I was to give out the orders. I hesitated. Twilight had said that the final battle would be between us and Zephyr. Could we really beat him as one? Or will he simply overpower us as he had done before? Never mind these thoughts, I had to give my people the orders. I stepped up to the balcony and called out.

"My fellow ponies! As we speak, Lord Zephyr's forces march through our villages, destroying them, and heading here. We've tried to stop his advance many times, only to come up empty. We must pull together here and end this! Lord Zephyr must be stopped at all costs! Prepare the defenses! Arbalests at the castle gates, catapults and ballistas positioned on the castle walls and over-looking the bridge! Set explosives along the bridge to halt their advance! Crowd the roads with soldiers! We stand here for the Equestrian Empire! For Equestria!" I shouted. Cheers of enthusiasm erupted in the castle. Everypony got to moving and the battle was soon to be had. It was time to face the one she loved... Lord Zephyr of the Rebellion Forces.

"My Lady! The enemy has arrived at the bridge and is setting up camp!" reported a soldier. Zephyr stood beyond that bridge, she could feel him staring at her, with hatred and contempt. If only he knew...

"Get the forces ready! We must prepare to blow the bridge when they advance!" I ordered.

"Yes My Lady!" he responded as he took off. Everything was in place. She could only hope that she wouldn't have to face him and that her friends would survive the battle.

"Rainbow Dash..." a voice spoke from behind. It was Shining Armor.

"Yes Shining?" I asked.

"Zephyr is standing at the other end of the bridge. His troops began to advance but he halted them. He lit a match and threw it onto the bridge. It exploded... our strategy has failed..." My hopes dropped.

"Not necessarily. He is still unable to advance. Get to the front lines, you'll need to face Zephyr considering you are the strongest pony in our forces. We'll need you," I told him.

"I'm honored. Good-bye My Lady, for this may be last time we see each other," he whispered as he sprinted down the hall. It was time to begin...

Their forces began to build a bridge, but were slowed by the catapults and ballistas. Twilight truly was amazing at strategy. Without her, we would be in the dirt right now. She watched from the balcony as a strange fire appeared from Zephyr's forces. A voice thundered throughout the sky.

"God in Heaven, give me strength! For we must crush the ones who oppose benevolence and virtue! For justice we must march!" Zephyr's voice echoed throughout the battlefield as a bridge formed from clouds appeared at the huge gap. I was shocked that some pony could do such a thing! He truly was amazing! But it was not the time to think that. Now was the time to fight.

Shining Armor

As the cloud bridge appeared in front of me, my forces took a step back. Zephyr stood at the other end, with a spear blazing with fire and a lightning aura surrounding it. He slammed it to the ground, causing the ballistas to shatter.

"Pathetic defenses! Come and face me like a real stallion, Shining!" he called me out. He walked to the center of the bridge and I followed suit.

"I stand here for my people. For My Lady," I spoke with confidence.

"Ha! I used to do the same until they betrayed me. Now fight the Mighty Lord Zephyr! Words are not needed on the field of battle!" He exclaimed as he twirled his spear around his hoof. He drew my sword and pointed it at him. We locked in combat. Swing after swing, block after block, we were locked in equal combat. Eventually, he threw me off guard as sliced at me. It cut open my foreleg, causing me to shout in pain. He then used the butt-end of his spear to hit me back and off my feet.

"Get up! I'm not through with you yet!" he shouted. I began to slowly get up, but then picked up my sword and lashed out at him. I hit him in the chest, and he began to bleed. He didn't even looked frayed! He just kept fighting. Every time I blocked his attack, I felt my bones rattle. He was way too strong. After endless fighting, we locked in sword to spear strength battle. I pushed with all my might and he did the same.

"You are... not without some skill," he whispered. "However, I am the mightiest warrior in this land. I hope you said your final good-byes," he added. At that, he threw me back, making the sword to fall from my hoof.  As I laid on my back, Zephyr towered over me.

"Do it... I am ready to die," I told him.

"Good!" he shouted. Then, everything went black.

Rainbow Dash

Shining Armor was dead, slain at the hoof of Lord Zephyr. The forces charged forth and it was a battle of strength and will. They were making progress as soldier after soldier was cut down by Zephyr. He swung his spear so fluently into every attack that it was mesmerizing. His soldiers were also killing more of us than we could. It seemed hopeless, until they reached the gates. The arbalests let forth a fury of arrows, killing many enemy soldiers, but Zephyr avoided them. He rolled and dodged the arrows, eventually reaching them. With one swift blow, he destroyed one of the arbalests and repeated so with every other one. Eventually, he broke down the castle gates and charged forth, only to find no soldiers. We had confused him! But, he continued forward, leaving his troops behind. I raced down to the throne room, ready to take my stand.

"Zephyr!" I shouted as he approached.

"Rainbow Dash. It is time to face the one to bring your death!" he called out as he began to charge. I stood there waiting for my friends.  Where were they? Had they abandoned her? He drew closer. What were they doing?! He was going to kill me! I shut my eyes as he approached with great speed. I braced myself for death, but death didn't come. I opened my eyes, to see a spear pierced right through him. His face looked shocked as another one flew into his body, and another, and another! Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy dropped down from behind the columns and walked over to me.

"I think it is time to tell him..." Fluttershy whispered.

"Zephyr... I never ordered that attack against you. That was Guardeye lying to get you to fight us. I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't because you were always swinging at me. I want you to know something Zephyr... ever since I met you, I had a liking for you. I loved you for all the things you've done for me. I'm just so sorry," I said with sorrow. I looked up and thought I saw his heart melting.

"Rainbow Dash, I've always loved you. But the thought of you hating me enough to have me killed destroyed who I was... I'm so sorry that I harmed you and your friends. Take my spear, use the incantation I taught you without knowing. It is my favorite phrase.  It will destroy my forces. I'm the one to apologize... forgive me... for all the horrible things I've done..." he dropped to his knees. I ran to him and held him up. I took the spears out of him and carried him to the hospital. He was near death, but I couldn't let him die... I forgave him... I loved him. Applejack, Twilight, and Fluttershy helped me get him to the doctor and he was taken into surgery. I could only hope that he would survive... we all did...