Just Before the Dawn

by Drefsab

Rating: mature
Tags: Romance, Original Character, Princess Celestia, Sex, Human, Gore, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 453903

In a time shortly after Luna's banishment, Celestia finds herself on the brink of war with a rival nation. Hoping to avert disaster, she seeks out someone very special: Tercio Krosus. A soldier, a confidant, and the only living human in Equestria.

One month has passed since Princess Celestia was forced to banish her own sister. Suddenly alone and with the weight of rule squarely on her shoulders, the sovereign of Equestria has become but a shell of her former self, maintaining a facade of confidence that hides growing doubts and lingering regrets.

When a devastating attack is launched on her nation by a vindictive, opportunistic foreign ruler who will stop at nothing to see a generations-old grudge resolved, the weakened Celestia seeks to stem the flow of soldiers that now pour over Equestria's borders and put an end to the bloodshed. In her darkest hour, she turns to the aid of an unexpected confidant: A steadfast soldier, a loving brother, someone she has watched grow and mature since he was but a child.

The only living human in Equestria.

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Cover art originally by Yakolev-Vlad.

Published 2014-01-27 04:00:02 UTC
Last updated 2019-02-26 08:24:05 UTC

2 - Return

Summervale was not a particularly large community. Nestled between the Swayback mountains to the west and the vast, rolling plains to the east, for decades it had been a quiet farming village that took advantage of the river Avitus that split the area in two. For the last few years it had been rumored to be the center of an economic growth project, but besides a few trade vendors and a smattering of shops nothing much had come of it. For the citizens of Summervale, that was just how they liked it: Away from the noise and bustle of Canterlot, or the battle-training shouts and marching drums of Marestopholous. Some would call it quaint, even boring.

For Tercio Krosus, it was home; familiar and inviting, comfortable in its modest population. For thirty-two years he had lived here, bearing witness to the cold winters and the mild summers that gave the town its namesake. It was a good, honest place to live. And it was the one place where he truly fit in.

"Tercio, darling, it's so good to see you!" Glimmering Grace stood up and wrapped her forelegs around him in a warm hug. She was all smiles.

"Hello, mother. Have you been well?" Tercio planted a kiss on her cheek, glad to see that she was in good health.

"You know me, dear, always fretting about this or that."

He smiled. "Father, I take it?"

"Who else? I swear, that stallion is going to be working the fields until his hooves fall off, mark my words. But you didn't come to listen to me nag, now did you? Please, please, come in!"

Glimmering Grace, a pegasus pony in her late fifties with a light purple coat and greying, two-tone pink mane and striking purple eyes, still had an air of charm and motherly love about her after all these years. Ever since he was but a small child, she and her husband had raised Tercio like he was their own son. Phsyical appearances mattered little; at heart she was a caretaker, and from the moment she laid eyes on the strange "human" child she was struck by him. "Everyone," she'd told her neighbors, "deserves a chance at a decent life."

And so she'd cared for him, different though he was and despite having a young colt near his age already. It hadn't been easy, but as she looked upon him in his gleaming Royal Guard armor she couldn't help but feel like it had all been worth it.

"I'm so glad to see you home once again, Tercio. It feels like it's been quite some time, doesn't it?"

"More than you can know," he replied honestly, seating himself on a small pile of pillows next to the low dining table, one he had towered over since he was a young man. The familiar smells of his mother's cooking filled his lungs, and the old, well-cared-for home still looked exactly like he had left it so long ago. In the mid-day sun one could hardly tell it had been a family home for three generations.

Tercio took a cup of sweet citrus-flavored water as Grace passed it to him, eagerly downing the refreshing, slightly tart drink. After a long day on the road he had worked up a fair thirst.

"Goodness, you seem as if you've not had anything to drink the whole day!"

"It certainly feels like it," he answered with a smile as he took a second cup. He was sure that if he went upstairs he'd find his room exactly as he'd left it when he'd joined the Guard. "I often think about how much I miss this place -- and you and father, of course -- when we're out in the field or training with a local Cohort. Sharing a tent with a large, snoring earth pony isn't a particularly welcome way to spend a week."

Grace laughed softly and took a seat near her son, the flowing length of her sapphire shawl splaying across the floor. "Now you know how I've felt ever since I met your father! Cotton balls tend to help block out the noise, I find."

"I'll keep that in mind. So, how have you been?"

"As well as can be expected when both of your sons are away and your husband is convinced he's struck gold with something or other. You know how he is."

"What is it this time? A miracle crop? A pyrite mine?"

"Hardly," she said with a dismissive hoof wave. "For some ridiculous reason he's latched onto the idea that magically-infused sky wagons are the next big thing."

"This despite the fact that he's, umm..."

"An earth pony? Oh, yes. But don't tell him that. Once he sets his mind on something..."

"Say no more," Tercio chuckled.

"But yes, I've been quite well. I tend to stay home and write, but recently I've been preoccupied with helping Star Sweet's daughter find a proper suitor. You know, the young mare with the yellow mane? Lives down the road from the market?" Tercio nodded. "Well anyway, she's of age now to start looking for a nice stallion. Maybe start a family. She's quite single, you know..."

"Mother, she's fifteen. I'm old enough to be her father. Not to mention I'm not even her species."

"Nonsense, I was married when I was fifteen!"

"To someone three times your age who wanted you as a trophy wife, and left you for an even younger girl just a few years later, remember?"

She scoffed. "You wouldn't understand, Tercio. His family was very high-profile. But...I suppose I was too young to really understand what I was getting into. And his leaving did pave the way for me to meet your father, not to mention yourself, so I shan't complain about where the fates have taken me for even a moment."

"Speaking of which, is father around? I didn't see him on the way in."

"He's in town, dearie. Should be back before nightfall, though. He'll be delighted to see you!"

"The feeling will very much be mutual." He took a long drink of his water and loosened the straps around his ankles, letting out a sigh of relief as his aching soles got the chance to feel some air. "And what of Victus? I have not heard word of him for quite some time."

Glimmering Grace exhaled sharply, a sour look crossing her face. "That would make two of us. Ever since he was accepted into the Legion I've had naught but letters show up at my doorstep for the last six months. It would seem your brother is more concerned with warfare than his own family these days."

The Legion? Now that was interesting. Being accepted into the Equestrian Guard at all is a mark of pride, but the Legion is the best of the best. Last he'd heard, Victus was trying to move up from the Equestrian Guard posting he'd been so bored by, but it was a long process. Could he have achieved his goal in such a short amount of time? If anyone could set his mind to it, it was his brother.

"I'm sure he's just busy, mother. Spirits know I've been busy myself in the Royal Guard."

"At least you find the time to visit," she grumbled. "I swear, that pegasus takes after his father in every way conceivable."

"Maybe so, but at least I'm here for now. Legatus Phalanx granted me leave for a week, and I intend to take full advantage of it."

"A whole week? Well, that is good news!" Grace wrapped her adoptive son in a comforting hug, her spirits once more lifted. "Oh but listen to me, prattling on like some old hag. You must be exhausted from the road."

"Somewhat," he laughed, looking himself over. He was covered in dust and dirt, and his usually gleaming armor was dulled with scrapes and smudges from a long day's march.

"Don't you worry about a thing, sweetie. I'll heat up a bath for you so you can feel like a proper stallion -- err, man -- again. In the mean time, you can leave your bag in your room. You should find it quite familiar." He smiled to himself -- exactly like he'd predicted, alright. "Dinner should be ready in an hour. You still enjoy whipped potatoes and soda bread, I take it? With seasoned carrots? I thought so." Tercio stood up and grabbed his rucksack, slinging it over his shoulder. "Oh, of course, I'd nearly forgotten!"

"Hmm?"

"Princess Luna. Is it true she...she's no longer sitting beside her sister in Canterlot?"

He grimaced, not sure if he should bring up what he'd seen that terrible night. "Yes. Princess Luna and Princess Celestia are no longer co-ruling Equestria. Luna has been...banished, mother."

She gasped. "No! They'd always been so wonderful together! What happened?"

"I'm afraid I'm not privy to such information. No doubt you've seen how the full moon has changed. It's because Luna has been exiled to it."

"Princess Luna was banished to the moon? Oh, dear, how horrible. The poor thing. I do hope it's resolved soon, Equestria just isn't the same without the two of them working together."

He remembered very clearly how Luna-turned-Nightmare-Moon had ended the life of one of his soldiers, and nearly ended his as well. The memory was like a sharp blade in the back of his mind, and he hated that he even had to carry such a thing for the rest of his life. There was no way he could tell his mother, not now. It had only been a scant month, and the wound was still fresh. He could only imagine how Celestia felt.

"We shall see," he answered simply.

***

Asleep in her chambers, Princess Celestia dreamed the same dream she'd had for so many weeks; a dream of Luna, a dark shadow looming over her, pulling at her strings. The shadow would turn into a great, horrible maw, and just before it consumed the princess she'd wake up with a start. Sleep was not a welcome break, not these days, but at some point her body would simply refuse to function without it.

"Princess! Princess Celestia!" At first she thought she was dreaming, a distant voice calling to her that, for once, wasn't her sister's. Frantic pounding on her doors snapped her out of her sleep, and she groggily made her way to the room's entrance. She had to shield her eyes against the harsh torch light that met her vision as she swung open her door. A young guard stood before her, bowing deeply, but with a look of panic on his face.

"Guardsman? Is something the matter?"

"My most sincere apologies for waking you, Your Highness, but I bring urgent news from Legatus Phalanx! The 44th Legion has been attacked within the borders of Whitetail, seemingly by our own soldiers!"

Her half-asleep mind struggled with the information. The 44th? Why did that sound so familiar?

"I apologize, but I'm afraid I do not immediately--" At once she was hit by a realization; the 44th was the very unit she'd tasked with carrying out a reconnaisance mission to Whitetail.

"Your Highness?"

"Oh, no..."

"Is something wrong?"

She straightened herself, standing up tall and confident as best she could. "What happened? Quickly, tell me everything you know."

"I don't know much, Princess. I was simply sent here to inform you that a member of the Legion patrol in question made it back to his encampment before collapsing. He says he's the only survivor that he knows of, and that they were attacked by ponies wearing Equestrian armor."

Traitors? In the Guard? She hoped the report was wrong. Somehow, it had to be.

"Where is this legionary being held?"

"At the infirmary in Raven's Rock nearly a day's flight from here."

She cursed under her breath, the distance too far to teleport herself. She would have to fly there. "Can you do me a favor, guardsman?"

"Of course, Princess. Anything you ask."

"Return to Legatus Phalanx and inform him that I shall be taking two days' leave, effective immediately. While I am away, he is in charge the day-to-day affairs of the government. I also need you to tell him that my Praetorians are to be awakened and ready to depart within the hour. Did you get all that?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I shall depart immediately to do as you've asked." The guardsman bowed deeply once more and turned smartly on his hooves, then galloped down the hallway with his saddle-mounted torch casting harsh, orange light on the walls and marble floor.

Celestia's mind still groaned and complained from a lack of sleep, but she ignored it -- she would have time to sleep on the way to Raven's Rock. For now, she would have to pack enough things for a short trip. Once she was there, she would speak with this poor legionary and find out everything he knew about what had happened.

And then, she could set out to make things right.

***

It was a cool morning, the air crisp and clean, as Tercio took in his daily regimen of physical training. A few miles up and back, through the fields of Summervale's vast farms. Several times he stopped and chatted with familiar faces, neighbors and friends he hadn't seen in months or even years. It felt good to be home, if only for a time.

Breakfast followed shortly after, a plate of eggs and vegetables he inhaled much to his mother's bemusement. It wasn't until later in the day that he finally caught sight of his father, Roughshod, returning from town with a small wagon of goods bumping up the road behind him.

"Father! Good to see you've not dropped dead from exertion," he said with a hearty laugh as he approached the old stallion.

"Tercio?" Roughshod blinked several times, his face brightening when he recognized his son. "Well as I live and breathe, it is you!" He wrapped Tercio in a strong embrace and bumped his hoof against Tercio's fist. "For a moment I thought I might be imagining things."

"What, is there another human you're caring for that I've not learned of?"

"Oh, droves of them, I tell you," he chuckled. "Do your old man a favor and help me bring some of this inside, won't you?"

"Of course." Tercio hefted a bag of grains over each shoulder and took his place alongside his father. "Mother was worried something had happened to you. She says you were supposed to come home last night."

"That I was. Had a bit of a problem, though, when a damned rockslide buried the road between Summervale and Bridle Falls in a cubit of stone. Had to wait for it to be cleared out before any travelers could go through."

Despite his age, Roughshod was still as strong an earth pony as Tercio had ever seen. Nearly sixty years of working the fields day in and day out had hardened his frame and strengthened his muscles. Tough and conditioned though Tercio considered himself, even he had to admit that he was outclassed by his adoptive father. The light brown shade of his coat and close-cropped, dark-red mane was faded and greying these days, bleached from decades of exposure to the elements, but he was quite still handsome in a rugged, well-lived sort of way. Tercio could only hope he was in as good a condition when he was older.

"Just set those down near the counter," Roughshod said in a gravelly, slightly strained voice, the result of drastic surgery from his younger years. He and his son unloaded the rest of the cart in a matter of minutes, working up a sweat despite the cool air. "It's times like this I remember I'm not a young buck anymore."

"I don't know, you seem to handle yourself fairly well...for an old man," Tercio answered with a wry smile.

"Old though I may be, I could still take you to the ground if I had to. You've got that high center of mass, and all those gangly limbs. Nowhere near suited for personal combat!"

"Perhaps. I've never believed in picking on the elderly and infirm, so we'll just have to speculate."

Roughsod laughed to himself and jabbed a hoof into Tercio's side. "Come on, you smart ass, and share a drink with your old man. Might want to grab both of the mugs, lest my frail body collapses under the weight."

A pair of silver-etched cups disappeared from the cupboards, along with a pitcher of half-empty amasec wine. Tercio followed his father out to the back patio, an uncovered resting area dotted with numerous chairs and small tables, including one built specifically for his larger frame. It was worn and chipped after years of use, but still as comfortable as he remembered.

"Quite the view, isn't it?" Roughshod asked as a mug was slid his way, the pale, amber-colored amasec sloshing against the sides. "Sometimes I come out here with your mother and just sit and watch the sun rise or set over the mountains." Indeed it was a sight to behold, a vast field of corn, sweet potato, carrot and wheat plants sprouting over an area nearly forty acres in size. The sky was clear and blue without a single cloud in sight. Tercio closed his eyes and enjoyed the breeze flowing in from the mountains, his cup of alcohol grasped in his hands. It was so peaceful up here, a far cry from the shouting decanii or perpetually angry centurions that could be heard over the din of the encampments.

"Welcome back, Tercio," his father said as he raised his cup.

"I'm glad to be back, father." He took a drink of the slightly sweet wine, an aftertaste of honey playing over his tongue before the burn of the alcohol tickled his throat. "If mother knew we were drinking this early in the afternoon she would have our heads."

"No different from any other day, then," Roughshod laughed. "Where is the old hag, anyway?"

"She said she was spending most of the day with Star Sweet. Left just before you arrived, in fact."

"Huh. Guess she wasn't too worried then, eh? Let me guess; she tried setting you up with that young girl."

"Something like that," Tercio replied with a slight smile. "She's convinced I'm getting too old to find a suitable mare, and I need to hurry up and start a family."

"Too old? Shit, you're still a pup. You've got plenty of time to settle down." Roughshod refilled both of their cups before continuing. "Speaking of which...have you, uh...delighted any mares recently?"

Tercio nearly choked on his wine. "Why am I not surprised you'd ask such a thing?"

"What? Don't give me that look. You're out there in the field for months at a time, no use denying the cock the old gods saw fit to give you, right? Hell, I was in your same position myself, a long time ago. I know how the Guard works. Spend some time away from the mares, get a little leave, find the nearest working girl..."

"I must admit this is making me rather uncomfortable." Tercio emptied his cup in one, long chug and poured himself another. If his father kept his line of questioning up, he was going to need a lot more amasec to get the images out of his head.

"Just answer the question before I die of old age, would you?"

Tercio let out a deep sigh. "Fine, fine. I...suppose I may have had romantic encounters with the fairer sex. Occasionally."

"Oh, so you did fuck somepony, huh? That's my boy!" Roughshod laughed out loud, probably a little louder than he'd intended thanks to the amasec. "I imagine you don't have much trouble connecting your bits with their bits, eh? It all works the same in the end!" Tercio's face flushed bright red, which only served to make his father laugh even louder, pounding his hoof on the table. "Look at you, like an embarrassed teenager! You're in your thirties now, there's no need for that!"

"For the record," Tercio quickly added, "they weren't whores. Just a couple of very nice mares who, uh, happened to be very interested in making love to someone of my...unique stature."

"Oh, Tercio, Tercio," his father chuckled, "fucking by any other name is still fucking. But hey, it's good to see you're still able to live a semi-normal existence in such a regard."

"So, uh, the Royal Guard is a good place, I've found," Tercio eagerly changed the subject, hoping his father would take the bait. "It's certainly a step above the rank-and-file of the Equestrian Guard."

"Mmm, that's what I hear. Was never in the service long enough to apply, myself, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought about it several times. And now my own son is serving with them. Heh, who woulda thought, right? They give you that fancy-ass armor?"

"Indeed so. I have it stored in a trunk upstairs if you'd like to take a look."

"I would, in fact. But that can wait." Roughshod adjusted his position in his seat, grunting as he struggled to find a comfortable spot. "Come, delight your dear old father with your tales of bravery and daring. Surely you have some."

"Not quite so much as you'd think," Tercio replied with a shrug. "Life in the Royal Guard is really not all that interesting. We may be Canterlot's personal defense force, but most of the time we're simply guarding doors or filling out paperwork or some-such mundane task. On the bright side, gold-trimmed armor looks nice when you're sitting on your ass for ten hours a day."

"Sounds familiar! Military life is a whole lot of 'hurry up and wait'. Some things never change, I suppose."

Tercio idly rubbed his cup as the memory of Celestia's fight with her sister played through his mind once more. "There is one thing..."

"Oh?"

"Well...you know Luna's been banished, I take it?"

His father nodded. "I've heard rumors, and seen the full moon. It's true, then?"

"I'm afraid so. I...I was there when it happened, father." Roughshod sat up in his seat, for once not sure what to say. "It was very late in the evening, or rather, very early in the morning, when the Legatus woke me up and said the palace was under attack. I didn't have time to do much but grab my arms, and I took a few guardsmen with me. When we arrived in the gardens there was this frantic, mid-air battle happening between the sisters. Princess Luna, she didn't look the same. There was something...off...about her. She called herself 'Nightmare Moon'."

"You don't say. To think one such as her could fall so far..."

"One of my compatriots -- Strata, was his name -- was killed by a blast of energy, not even two meters from me. He was no small stallion, but when that dark magic struck him he simply....exploded. I was covered in his gore from head to toe."

"Gods, I had no idea! Was it really that bad?" His son simply nodded. "I'm sorry to hear about...Strata, was it? It's always a shame when a good soldier has to die for no damned reason."

"I know," Tercio said quietly.

"You haven't told your mother about this, have you?"

"No," he shook his head, "such a thing would only serve to worry her for my safety more than she already does."

"Good, you should probably keep it that way. And don't worry, I won't say anything."

Tercio grabbed the pitcher and refilled his cup once again. "It's well that I'm not going anywhere for the rest of the day. Perhaps if I down enough amasec I'll be able to sleep tonight..."

***

"Your Majesty, welcome to our humble encampment." The legionary bowed before his ruler as she stepped off from the sky carriage. The outpost was sparsely populated; Celestia estimated there to be less than a hundred legionaries, judging by the small tents dotting the landscape. A series of small fires wafted smoke and the smell of cooked food through the clearing, and everywhere she looked there were armored ponies going about their appointed rounds.

"Thank you, legionary," Celestia said in return, slightly bowing her head. "Did your commanding officers make you aware of the reason for my arrival?"

He nodded. "Yes, Princess. I was told you were coming to speak with the wounded Swift Strike." Somehow, she had been hoping that the attack was just a rumor, but it was not to be.

"So it's true, then. Your unit was attacked."

"Yes, Princess, I'm afraid so. Swift Strike was the only one to make it back. He's resting in the infirmary, under the care of apothecary Tender Care. Shall I take you to him?"

"He's well enough to speak? You're sure? Very well, then."

"As you wish. Follow me, Your Highness."

The legionary led her through a crowd of soldiers covered in gleaming steel and iron armor, all of whom bowed as she approached. She smiled and greeted them, just as she always had. A pair of white pegasus royal guards at her side glowered at the legionaries, their interservice rivalry the worst-kept secret in the Equestrian military.

"Just through here, Princess." She ducked her head to enter the large tent, her sense of smell immediately overwhelmed by surgical liquids and potent potions. A series of cots lined the tent, and at the far end was the only one currently occupied. A dark orange earth pony with a shaved mane and close-cut brown tail lay curled up in a ball with a large blanket wrapped around his torso. The apothecary greeted her as she entered, a stocky pony wearing a blood-stained smock and a side pouch with surgical instruments.

"Your Highness," he nodded.

"Hello, Tender Care. How have you been?"

"I've seen better days," he admitted, pointing to the injured legionary across the room. "Swift Strike is well enough to speak, but he is still weak and his wounds are prone to reopening."

She frowned at the poor soldier's condition. "Is he going to be alright?"

"Yes, I believe so. Our best salves and potions are doing their work, but he's going to be bed-ridden for at least another few weeks. Were you looking to conversate with him?"

"I was hoping to, yes. But if he's not well enough..."

"As I said, he'll live. I'd advise patience, but I'm sure you have much more experience with such things than I do."

"I should imagine so," she answered with a slight smile. She turned to her pegasus guards. "You may wait outside, I assure you I am in no danger here." The guards nodded and exited through the flap, and she slowly approached the wounded pony. She could hear his breaths coming out slightly ragged and wet. For a time she said nothing, sitting alongside him and watching him sleep. He twitched and tossed from what she could only imagine was a bad dream, a memory of what he'd been through. Gently, she placed a hoof on his side and closed her eyes, focusing her mind on his.

It's going to be okay. Calm yourself, Swift Strike.

The legionary's shivering slowly came to a stop, his breathing becoming regular and steady, though still ragged. After a moment he slowly opened his eyes and looked around, surprised by the sight of the princess seated beside him.

"...Princess Celestia? Is it really you?"

"Indeed it is," she answered softly and with a comforting smile. "I hope I am not bothering you. The apothecary says you're not feeling well."

"Bothering me? No, no, of course not!" He attempted to sit up in his cot, only to have a sharp stab travel down his side. He grunted in pain and grabbed for his bandaged wound.

"Easy, easy," she told him, helping him lie back down. "Save your strength."

"I'm sorry, Princess, I was not expecting a visit. I must look a mess..."

"You're alive, that's all that matters," she reassured him, pulling the blanket up over his chest.

"Yeah...the only one who's alive." He chewed his lip and looked up at her. "I suppose that's why you're here, isn't it? To get my account of what happened?"

"And to make sure you're alright, of course. I know it is a lot to ask of you, Swift Strike, but if there's anything you can tell me -- anything at all -- that might help bring whoever did this to justice, then I would hear what you have to say."

"O-Of course, Your Highness. Please, excuse me for one moment." The wounded pony grabbed a flask of water at his side, taking long, thirsty gulps. He fumbled with the cap, feeling self-conscious at looking foolish in front of the princess he'd only ever seen from a distance. "Where would you like me to begin?"

"As far back as you can manage, please. You were on a patrol, correct?"

He nodded, wincing at the pain in his side. "Yes. Decanus Silver Oak hadn't said much ahead of time, only that he needed seven others to join him on a mission from the princess --- uh, you -- herself. Yourself. Sorry..."

"It's alright," she smiled. "Please, continue."

"From what we understood, we were to lead a scouting party into Whitetail and observe any troop movements or formations that may have been gathering in River Run. I volunteered and we set out about half an hour later. Marched for quite some time, but eventually we made it into Whitetail." He paused before continuing. "Princess Celestia, I had always been under the assumption that Whitetail is a neutral territory."

"It is," she answered, "but I had reason to believe it was in danger. That's why I asked Silver Oak to lead a small patrol out that way. It wasn't exactly...legal, in the strictest sense of the word, but sometimes such things are unavoidable. I thought if your patrol could find something of importance I could act upon it and speak with the Chancellor of Whitetail."

"I see..." He took another drink from his flask. "It was a few hours after sunset on the second day when we encountered what appeared to be a small force of Equestrian Guard."

Celestia's mind raced with the possibilities. Had one of the local units gone rogue? She tried to keep a decent grasp on where her military was stationed but the smaller Centuries could be overlooked...

"You're absolutely sure of this, Swift Strike? You can say with one-hundred percent certainty that they were in Equestrian Guard armor?"

"Yes, Princess, absolutely. I'd know it anywhere -- I wore it for eight years. Except..."

"Except what?"

"Except...I don't know, something about them just felt wrong, even before Decanus Silver Oak spoke to them. They weren't in a standard marching formation, or even a defensive formation in the event that they were expecting to encounter trouble. They were just...there. And when they came closer, we noticed they were covered in blood!"

"Did they carry any kind of insignia or banner? Perhaps something that would denote their unit?"

"No," he answered with a shake of his head, "nothing like that."

"I see. And then what happened?"

"The guardsman that our decanus was talking to stuck a blade in his side. Silver Oak reacted quickly and dispatched the traitorous scum, but we immediately came under attack from the others; perhaps a dozen. We adopted a shield wall formation and began to advance on them, taking out a few with our pila, and then broke into a galloping advance that broke their line." He laughed bitterly. "The bastards didn't know what hit 'em. Got this nice little gash here," he pointed to a bloodied bandage, "during the attack. Had an arrow lodge itself into the flesh of my left foreleg, too. We took down the majority but a few of them turned and attempted to run. We gave chase, only to find ourselves drawn into a line of waiting archers that a immediately took out several of our own number." Swift Strike pounded a hoof into the cot. "We should have seen it coming! It was stupid and amateur of us to fall for such an obvious ploy. But I think we were too incensed by the thought of being attacked by our own to notice."

Celestia remained quiet, making a mental note of everything she'd heard so far. The wounded pony's voice began to break, his jaw trembling and small tears welling up in the corners of his eyes.

"Ceraunius, he was our designated vexillarius for the patrol. He fought so hard, but the poor, young stallion was slaughtered like a forest beast by those traitorous guards..."

"I'm sorry," the princess said quietly, resting a hoof on his foreleg. "If I'd known you would run into such danger I would have never sent you out there."

In spite of his condition, he smiled weakly. "We're the Legion, Princess. Danger is what we do."

"So you were ambushed from the side, you said? How did you escape?"

"Decanus Silver Oak had us in a circular wall formation, but the volume of projectiles was too much for us. Far too much. He said we were to make one last charge, straight into the line of archers set up in the forest. Once we broke through we were to make all speed back here, to the encampment. I...I was the only one who made it. The others fell to arrow volleys or blades." He set his jaw and narrowed his eyes. "We made them pay for every life, though. You can be damn well sure of that."

"I commend you -- and your entire patrol -- for being so brave. I can't imagine what it must be like for you." Of course she could. She'd comforted so many wounded and dying during her lifetime that she'd nearly seen it all, and it never got any easier to see. But traitors? That was something entirely different. Never in the history of Equestria had they suffered an attack by their own forces. It only served to strengthen her resolve. "Swift Strike, the guards you encountered -- you said they were covered in blood. From what, exactly?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. It was already dry, so it had to have been at least several hours old." Several horrible possibilities came to mind, and they nearly stole the breath from her lungs. "We aren't missing any other legionaries, are we? Possibly to further attacks?"

"Not that we're aware of, no."

"Well, at least that's one bit of good news," he said with a deep sigh. "Princess, you have to find out who was responsible for this. I can't let my battle brothers die for nothing!"

Celestia placed a hoof on his chest and looked him in the eyes. "I promise you, Swift Strike, I will find them. There is nowhere they can go to escape Equestrian justice. Now," she said calmingly, touching her long horn to his head, "get some rest. I am here for you, and all your brothers in arms." There was a soft, yellow glow as she gently lulled the wounded legionary into a deep sleep, his eyelids becoming heavy and his mind cleared of all worry, at least for a time.

And thank you. Your words will save lives.

As quietly as she could she stood up and returned to the apothecary, asking him to do his best. He bowed and said he would, and once again she was back outside where her waiting guards immediately flanked her. She was half way to her sky carriage when a young legionary came rushing up to her, skidding to a halt as a pair of swords were thrust in his direction to keep him away. Celestia signaled her guards, and the swords returned to their sides.

"Is there something wrong, legionary?"

"Princess, I was told to bring word to you. It's the chancellor of Whitetail -- he's here, at this encampment!"

She lifted a hoof in surprise. "The chancellor? I had not received any such notice. Are you sure?"

"He sent me himself. He wants to speak with you. Immediately." He took a half-step forward and added, "and he is very upset."

3 - Deception

Chancellor Artellus was a strong, well-built stag. Shorter than Celestia by a head, his large, decorated antlers still managed to make him look her equal in size. He was also darker than most of his kind, with a coat the color of wet earth flecked with white spots. He stood with confidence, a prime example of whitetail physique.

And his eyes glowed with a silent fury Celestia hadn't seen since her own sister had turned on her.

"Welcome to Equestria, Chancellor Artellus," the princess said with a respectful bow of her head, approaching the ruler of Whitetail and his retinue of guards. They wore glassy, crystal-like armor that radiated in the sunlight with a deep, almost otherworldly emerald color. At his side, a pair of does -- servants, most likely -- fanned him with large half-circles made of wooden frames and delicate paper.

"I was not aware you were going to be making a visit, good sir. To what do I owe the pleas--"

"You can cut the formalities, Celestia," he interrupted her, already raising his voice. "I am not here on leisure. I am here because of a number. A very specific number."

Celestia cocked her head. "A number? I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't quite understand."

Artellus was quiet for a moment before he spoke up. "Two-hundred and forty-seven, Celestia. Does that number mean anything to you?"

"I...cannot say it does. You'll excuse me if--"

"Two-hundred and forty-seven. That is the number of my citizens who were slaughtered by your military."

Celestia gasped at the accusation. "Chancellor, I assure you, this is the first I've heard of such a thing. In fact, the reason I am here is because one of our own patrols was attacked by what appears to be traitorous guardsmen. At no point have I heard of any attack on your nation."

"You haven't? Really? Because the settlement of River Run says otherwise. Perhaps you would like to bathe in the river of blood that now flows from its citizens?"

River Run. So she had been right...

"What? What are you hiding?" Artellus demanded.

"Nothing, Your Grace. You must understand, this is the first I've heard of this attack and--"

"DO NOT LIE TO ME!" He shouted, taking an aggressive step forward. Celestia's guards were fast, their swords at the ready within a heartbeat's time. They stared down the bucks in their glimmering armor, both sides daring the other to make the first move. "You know damn well what happened! I have numerous eyewitness accounts that place your Equestrian Guard at River Run that night! I have swords of Equestrian make still buried in the necks and skulls of my people! I have armor worn by your guards spattered with the blood of fawns and does, cut down in the roads and slaughtered in their homes! Half of River Run is now a burnt-out, blood-stained killing field!" He spoke through clenched teeth and glared with a seething anger he could barely contain. "And to think I used to trust you."

The pieces suddenly fell into place. How had she not seen it until now? The very village her doomed patrol had been sent to scout was also the closest village to where they had fallen, murdered by traitors. If the patrol had encountered the offending soldiers coming from opposite their direction, as Swift Strike had said, that would mean they had come from...

"River Run," she said quietly.

"Perhaps you would care to say that again, murderer," he spat out the word like bitter wine, his hatred and contempt causing him to literally shake where he stood.

"The guards that attacked my legionaries. They came from River Run."

Artellus lifted a cloven hoof to his chest in mock sympathy. "Oh. Oh, I see. You lost a few soldiers. I'm sure that will be of immense comfort to the fawns who watched their parents' throats get sliced in front of them!"

"You don't understand," she said, regaining a measure of composure. "Empress Elinwynn told me that a concentration of soldiers -- my soldiers -- were massing along Whitetail's borders. I told her I was unaware of any such encampment, so I asked the 44th Legion to search for exactly that sort of thing between this location and River Run."

"You sent armed soldiers into my territory?! And yet you still deny slaughtering my people!"

"I did not order them," she retorted, finally raising her voice, "to attack River Run! I would never do such a thing! Yes, I sent an armed patrol into Whitetail, but at no point did I ever tell them to attack anyone! They defended themselves, likely from the same guards who attacked your village, and all but one of them were killed in the process! And you dare come here, in front of my own stallions, and accuse me of murdering innocents?!" Celestia took a deep breath and calmed herself. "No. I will not have such an allegation thrown at me. Not for one moment. Not by you, not by anyone. I do not kill the innocent, Chancellor Artellus. If these...traitors...who killed my soldiers are the same you speak of, then I swear I will do everything in my power to see them brought to justice. But I did not have a hoof in their actions."

"And how do I know such claims are not simply a way to throw me off course? Having some of your own turn on each other is a very convenient way to absolve yourself of any guilt."

"Because the survivor of the attack is resting in the infirmary as we speak." Celestia motioned back toward the tent. "I have just finished conversing with him. The conviction in his voice, the strength of his words...they are as genuine as I've ever heard. I do not doubt him for a moment." She narrowed her eyes at the stag standing before her. "Furthermore, I do not appreciate accusations that I would commit such a terrible atrocity, Artellus. We have known each other for quite a while, have we not?"

"I suppose we have."

"And in all those years, when have I ever shown anything but goodwill to you and your people? Have we not helped each other in times of need?" She leaned in closer and looked him directly in the eyes. "What purpose would it serve me to kill innocent deer, to slaughter families? If you believe me a warmonger, Chancellor, then perhaps all of our years of friendship have been a sham and you truly know nothing about me."

Chancellor Artellus held her gaze for a long moment, then stomped a frustrated hoof in the dirt. He began to pace behind his guards, their swords still drawn. "I came here expecting to hear you attempt to justify such a horrible act, to say that River Run deserved what happened to it."

"You really think I would say something like that? I'm honestly hurt that you think so little of me."

He stopped, turning to face the princess, his expression suddenly softer.

"So you didn't attack Whitetail?"

"I swear I did not."

"And you really did lose good soldiers to a band of traitors?"

"That's how it appears thus far, yes."

Artellus let out a deep sigh. "Celestia...even if I were to believe you -- and I really want to -- you must understand: there are others who are not so easily persuaded. The people of Whitetail are calling for blood. Your blood. Convincing me is one thing, but the entirety of a nation? That's an whole different matter entirely."

"Then convince them, Chancellor. They'll listen to you."

"They'll listen to me only as far as the senate wills it." Artellus looked down to his guards. "Put those things away, there is no need for more bloodshed." Celestia's guards did the same, and at last there was an uneasy peace. "Whitetail isn't like Equestria, Princess. I have forty-three senators who expect me to carry out the will of the people, and the people expect me to call for war. I can tell them your story, but I fear my stance may be unpopular enough that the senate will seek to override my decision with a three-quarters vote."

Celestia frowned, disheartened by the news. "Surely you are not powerless as the head of the state. I could come with you. We could talk to the senate together, get them to understand that this is the work of an outside force. Or an inner one, as the case may be."

"I appreciate your conviction, but I believe the last thing you should do right now is step hoof in Whitetail. I don't think you fully grasp just how angry the population is right now." Artellus put a hoof to his forehead, seeking to calm a pounding headache that had been growing since his arrival. "Ancestors forgive me. Here I thought I might have an answer, have someone to blame for this atrocity, yet I show myself to be no better than an angry dog barking at shadows." He bowed his head deeply as he spoke. "I accosted you without evidence, insulted you and your nation, and for that I truly apologize, Princess Celestia. How foolish I must look..."

Celestia nodded lightly in return. "While I cannot say I approve of jumping to such conclusions, or the actions you took because of it...I accept your apology, Chancellor Artellus, and I mourn for the loss of your people. Such a thing is beyond anything I can imagine."

"Thank you, Celestia. That means a lot to me. And yet, now I face the prospect of returning to the senate with news that you are absolved of guilt, despite physical evidence to the contrary. They are not going to be so persuaded, I fear. I will tell them exactly what you have told me, but..."

Celestia stepped toward him and placed a hoof on his armored, silver-inlaid chest. "Speak with conviction, and they will listen. I'm sure of it."

For the first time, Artellus smiled.

"I wish I were as sure as you, Princess. But I have already caused you enough drama for one day, I think." He motioned to his guards. "Come, we take our leave." Artellus bowed to Celestia, and she bowed in return. "I truly hope we find who is responsible for this. And when we do, they will suffer for it."

***

Along the road running between Whitetail and Equestria, a lone carriage bumped and rolled over the rough dirt. Up front, a pair of emerald-clad guards pulled their leader and his two servants, chattering idly with each other as their passengers did the same. It was a long way back to the capital, especially with their return trip taking them around -- and thus avoiding -- the place where Equestria's legionaries were apparently attacked by their own. The same force that had slaughtered the town of River Run.

In his embellished, gold-inlaid seat, Chancellor Artellus had remained mostly quiet since he'd left the Equestrian encampment several hours ago. For what felt like an age he'd mulled over what he'd heard, what Princess Celestia had claimed. Could she actually be right? Was the attack on River Run the work of traitors? She'd certainly spoken with confidence.

"Would you like a cup of wine, Chancellor?" Faedris, one of his servant does, asked as her counterpart fanned the ruling buck. Artellus smiled at her and waved a hoof.

"No, thank you, Faedris. Reluctant though I am to turn down a fine Valed Meadow, I'm afraid I must keep my mental faculties under as much control as I can manage."

"As you wish, Chancellor."

Artellus stared at the doe for several seconds, cocking his head.

"Faedris, may I ask you something?"

"Of course, Chancellor. Whatever you please."

"What did you think of Celestia?"

Faedris worked her mouth up and down, not sure how to respond to such a question.

"I...I'm not sure I understand. It is not my place to speak of such things, Chancellor."

"Please, I would like you to speak your mind. You need not fear reprisal, if that is what you're concerned about."

"Well...umm..." She tapped her chin with a hoof as she thought. "It's not quite something I have a lot of experience with, but the pony princess seems to believe in what she's saying. At least, as far as I could tell. Why do you ask?"

"Because I've no idea what to tell the senate. I thought perhaps an outside voice could help me make up my mind."

"Oh, of course, Chancellor. I'm more than happy to help."

"Very good." He turned to the servant opposite him, who was still cooling him with a large paper fan. "Arixia, would you care for some wine in my stead? No reason to let it go to waste."

Arixia, younger and lighter in coat than her fellow servant, blinked in surprise.

"Me, Chancellor?"

"Unless you know of another Arixia in this carriage. Think of it as a 'thank you' for your attendance."

"In that case...yes, thank you."

His antlers glowed with a crackling white energy as he levitated the cup to his servant.

"Faedris, I understand you have a pony in the family. Am I correct?"

She nodded. "Yes, Chancellor. My cousin married a pony -- a unicorn, I think they're called -- last year. They're quite a cute couple, if I do say so."

"I would imagine so," he said with a smile. "Have you had the chance to get to know this unicorn?"

"Somewhat. She is not around as often as we'd all like, what with living two towns away, but we've conversed at length a few times. Very interested in deer history, as it turns out."

"Being married to a deer will do that to you, hmm?"

"I suppose it would," she giggled.

"I must say, I envy you. I didn't even see a pony until my seventh birthday. Father was a senator at the time, and he had taken me to a gathering of the near-by rulers, and that's when I saw them -- a pair of winged ponies, flying over the meeting grounds. How I wished I could have joined them."

"That sounds very nice, Chancellor."

"Indeed it was." He let out a deep sigh. "And then for some bizarre reason, probably the onset of stupidity that comes with a career in politics, I thought I might try my hoof at running Whitetail. And now here I am, less than a year after election, and my own people have been slaughtered. Now I face the task of returning to Whitetail with only Celestia's good word to counter the pile of bodies laid at my seat." He was silent for a moment before continuing. "I must have looked a rank amateur and a horrific brute, accusing her of such a thing. I have never seen Celestia lose her temper, but I certainly warranted her doing that very thing."

"And you believe what she's said, Chancellor?"

"Some part of me doesn't want to, but Princess Celestia has been around far longer than I have. Unless she is extraordinarily well-versed in deceit, I've no real reason to doubt her resolve. And yet, the senate -- and more-so than even that, the citizens of Whitetail -- are not likely to care for my words of defense for the Equestrians. The more I think about it, the more I realize I'm facing an uphill struggle."

He looked at Faedris with a frown.

"Perhaps if Whitetail hadn't been so secretive for so many generations, marriage between our species would be more common. Perhaps we wouldn't be in this situation right now. We're so closely related to ponykind, and yet it feels like we're a world apart."

"You can't know that, Chancellor," Arixia answered him, finishing her cup of wine. "You've barely slept in days, and further worrying on the way to the capital will only serve to set you on edge before the senate. Who will you convince to see your view when you can barely stand or maintain your composure?"

"Sleep?" he said with a dismissive scoff. "My dear Arixia, if I don't come up with something by tomorrow I will--"

"Shhh...you will have plenty of time to consider such things when you've rested. After all, we can't have the most powerful stag in Whitetail losing focus, now can we? Now, lay your head back and relax. We will figure out something by tomorrow, I'm sure of it."

Reluctantly, Artellus closed his eyes, sure that he was wasting his time. A gentle song filled the carriage, one that was familiar to him since he was a fawn. His mind painted a picture of a beautiful meadow, a house near a babbling stream. Home. It had been so long. The thoughts comforted him, and soon he found himself asleep for the first time in days.

***

Evinwiir, the capital of Whitetail and trade hub for all manner of vendors passing through from Cervidae and Equestria. Always a busy place, it was frequently packed with traveling merchants, vendors, tourists and dignitaries. This time of year was particularly busy, the autumn harvest drawing in farmers and produce sellers from the far reaches of the continent. Bustling and outwardly friendly though the city was, there was a subtle undercurrent that ran through the crowds, waiting for someone to pick it out of the noise and chatter. It existed only in bits and pieces -- whispered rumors here, claims and exaggerations there. "River Run has been slaughtered to the last child," one would say. "No," a voice would answer him, "they left the children alive on purpose."

So much confusion, so much panic hidden just below the surface. Ponies and deer unfamiliar with each other eyed their distantly-related counterparts with suspicion and unease. Whitetail was a tightly-wound coil, just waiting for something to set it off.

Triarii intended to be that something. It was a name he had chosen for himself, taken from the old saying "gone to the triarii" -- the bitter end. He found it fitting. His old name, his old profession, his old life; none of it mattered. There was only Triarii, the willing instrument of change.

Casually he walked the cobblestone streets that wound around the tall, graceful curves of Whitetail architecture. Vendors shouted to him as he passed by in his purple cloak and thin robes, a popular deer fashion. It helped him blend in. Sometimes he would hear one of them curse his kind. "Disgusting equine," an old buck said from a corner. "Murderer! Filth!"

Triarii tolerated their barbs, shrugged off their verbal slings and arrows. They could say whatever they wanted. It wouldn't change anything. In the end they, too, would know the truth. His queen, his goddess, would see to it. She had assured him that much. And so he had entered Whitetail's biggest city willingly, without hesitation.

Up ahead, in the distance. A parting of the crowds, a murmur of commotion. The chancellor of Whitetail had returned after what felt like an age, his procession of carriages and chariots surrounded by deer guards in their glinting armor. Slowly, and with great purpose, he made his way to the front of the crowd as the chancellor's entourage patrolled ahead of him. Thousands of deer gathered around to catch a glimpse of their leader. Most paid him no attention, ignoring the pony that was half a head shorter than the average citizen. To them, he was just another Equestrian tourist or traveler.

The procession slowed to a halt in front of the steps of the senate building. Numerous senators in their ornate clothing and opulent antler decorations waited at the top. Good, more witnesses.

Chancellor Artellus finally stepped out of his carriage, flanked on either side by guards and servants. He waved a foreleg at the crowds and they erupted in cheer. Flowing, almost poetic deer language poured from his lips, and the gathered masses cheered once again. Ever the pragmatist, Artellus took several minutes to greet the front rows of citizens and converse with them. Some of them sounded angry, or upset, or deeply saddened. Survivors of River Run, perhaps? Relatives of those who were cut down? It mattered little.

Triarii's mouth twitched and his heart raced as the deer chancellor approached his side of the crowd, escorted by his personal guard. This was it -- this was the very moment he'd waited for, trained for, obsessed over for so many long weeks. Every step closer sounded louder in his ears until the crowd became a castrophany of voices and hoof stamps. He could hear the sound of his own breaths, echoing in his head and rippling through his body. Long seconds passed, each feeling like a lifetime. A few more steps.

And then, he struck.

"LONG LIVE EQUESTRIA!"

Even as he shouted his last words, his victory cry, the gladius hidden under his robe levitated out, enveloped in a sparkling, shimmering field of green magic. Time slowed as he saw the blade flip over, its sharpened point cutting through the air. It only had to travel a short distance. He could feel the resistance of the weapon as it plunged through the chancellor's skin, sliced apart muscle, fat, and sinew. Deeper, up to the very hilt, through the heart and the arteries. Stiff resistance; the ribs and spine. And there his blade stopped, for it could go no further.

The deer guards were fast. Very fast. But they were not fast enough. Two, then four, then countless blades tore through Triarii's body. The pain was incredibly vivid, bright splotches of darkness that punctuated his vision with every impact. Yet, he did not care. In his final, brief moments of life, before his body was torn open and his very essence drained from his form, he thought of his queen.

And he was content.

***

Morning of the seventh day. The last day of his leave. Out in the fields, Tercio was helping his father and a handful of paid workers to pick carrots from the ground. It was long, back-breaking work, but he'd endured far worse in the Royal Guard. At least here he could converse with his old neighbors and friends. Later that afternoon he would have to begin the long walk back to Canterlot, and tomorrow he would be back to drill and training as if nothing had happened. For now, he would enjoy the open air.

Some time before the sun reached its peak in the sky, a dot appeared in the distance, cresting over a hill and moving just above the ground. Tercio shaded his eyes from the sun and strained to see what the figure could be -- it was definitely a pegasus, he gathered shortly after, noting the stocky frame and flapping wings. As the flying pony approached he could make out details; a helmet that glinted in the sunlight, a dark cloak that trailed behind him. Whoever the pegasus was, he was flying exceptionally fast.

"Father," he called out, "what do you make of that?" He pointed to the figure as it gained altitude, hovered in the air for a long moment, then rapidly descended toward the farmhouse.

"I don't know, but it appears he's in a hurry. Why don't you go meet him at the front entrance?"

Tercio nodded and brushed the dirt from his trousers, making his way there even as the pony started pounding on the door. "Hold on, I'm coming!" He threw open the door, only to see a white pegasus with an amber mane standing before him, wearing a full set of armor. "Victus! I had no idea you were on the way! I would have told mother or --"

"Tercio! Have...have you not heard the news?" Victus had to lean against the doorway to catch his breath, inhaling deeply from the flight over.

"News? What news?" He bent down on a knee to be closer to his brother's height. "Victus. What news do you speak of?"

Victus set his jaw, his eyes wide with a near-panic, unsure of what to say for a long moment.

"It's Equestria, Tercio. We've been invaded."

4 - Family, Country and Royalty

Summervale was a full day's walk to Canterlot under the best of conditions. The dusty road traveled through Splitrock, then up to the hilltop town of Ashberry, before winding its way up through the rocky passes that led into the magnificent, hanging capital city. Knowing the march that awaited them, Tercio and his adoptive brother Victus began their trek shortly after the latter had flown in with news that shook them to the very core -- war had come to Equestria. Victus didn't have many details, but the knowledge that his home had been invaded by an outside force was enough to spur Tercio into action.

Sadly, that meant a sudden departure from their mother and father. Roughshod had understood and wished them both the best, but when their mother, Glimmering Grace, heard the word "war" she could hardly keep from crying for the entirety of the farewell. Tercio had felt horrible to leave his loving parents in such a state, but Victus had urged their immediate departure.

They were lucky to catch a wagon headed in the direction they were going, and after a short chat the old stallion pulling it had agreed to haul Victus and his strange-looking brother along, at least until Splitrock. From there, he had explained, they would have to travel the roads themselves.

Tercio looked to the sky, figuring it to be mid-afternoon by the sun's position. With luck they would be in Canterlot just after nightfall. He could only imagine what the capital was like at that very moment; likely it was a mess of forming military units, frantic intelligence gathering, and concerned citizens. Still, despite the troubles that surely lie ahead, he was glad to be beside his brother for the first time in many months.

"What do you make of it?"

Victus' voice took his attention away from the skies, where formations of pegasi were flying to some unknown destination.

"Hmm? Make of what?"

"This war, Tercio."

He shrugged. "I don't know. I've heard naught but rumors from neighbors and passing ponies thus far. It appears to be the deer in one form or another, but beyond that? I couldn't say. I don't suppose you know anything?"

"Only what I've heard. The deer have invaded from the south-eastern border of Whitetail. I don't believe they've encountered any towns just yet, but every moment they march onward is another moment for them to ransack some poor bastard's home. Or family."

"But why the deer? Up until this point they've shown no sign of aggression that I'm aware of."

"I don't know, but I would wager we'll find out upon returning to Canterlot."

"I wager we will." Tercio reached into the sack lying next to him, his armor clattering with the motion of the road. "Care for an apple?"

"Couldn't hurt."

A quick swipe of his gladius, and each brother took their half. They ate in silence for a moment, each lost in his own thoughts. Tercio spoke up as he tossed his core away.

"Mother misses you, you know. She worries you've forgotten her and father."

"I know, I know. I miss them, too. And you as well. But surely they understand that the Legion keeps me busy. Father, of all ponies, should realize that. And besides," he tossed the remains of his apple to the ground, "I do make an effort to write them when I can."

"You needn't convince me, brother. I just worry for mother's sake. She's...she's getting old. I fear she will not be around for too many more years."

"Do not speak of such things," Victus snapped, pointing a hoof. "Mother is in good health, and father is still strong and fit for his age. I will not hear otherwise."

"Sorry," Tercio said apologetically. "I meant no harm, it's just..." He searched for the words, chewing his lip. "We're soldiers, Victus. Soldiers who now find themselves at war, and in different branches: you in the Legion, and I in the Royal Guard. Tomorrow we will likely be returned to our units, and if we don't see each other or our parents again..."

"We will," Victus said with confidence, putting a foreleg on Tercio's back. "Trust in the old gods and the princess to see us through, and when this mess sorts itself we will drown ourselves in wine and mares."

Tercio chuckled at his brother's attitude, the same confidence and bravado he'd carried since they were children.

"You sound very sure of yourself."

"Of course, I'm in the Legion! No amount of tree-rutting deer could possibly hope to stop the 44th. Not to mention we still have to hunt down those bastards who betrayed us. You and your soft-skinned companions in the Royal Guard, however...well, I'm sure if the deer ever need someone to pretty-up their pricks, you'd be perfect for the job!"

"Fuck you, you ass," Tercio laughed. "The Legion may be well and fine, but when you need the real soldiers to save your asses, you know where to find us!"

"Yes, licking the princess' royal shoes!"

They laughed together for the first time in what felt like ages, and in that moment Tercio realized that he may never share a moment like this with his sibling again. He hoped he was wrong, and they would spend many hours reminiscing about their childhood together once the deer surrendered. And they would surrender, he was sure of it. It was only a matter of time, and lives to be lost.

"It's good to speak with you again, Victus. It's been a long time." Tercio slapped a hand on his brother's armored shoulder and smiled.

"Aye, that it has. I thought we might catch up on our trip back to Canterlot. That's why I haven't simply taken off and flown back. Not that you would know about flying, you poor bastard."

"You can keep your wings, brother, I'm quite happy with these." He wiggled his fingers with a smirk. "And so are the mares, or so they tell me."

Victus scoffed and waved a dismissive hoof. "Please, you should know by now that a whore will say anything you like so long as you pay her for it."

"You'd know all about whores, wouldn't you?"

"You're damn right I would! In fact, next time you're in Marestopholous, there's this gorgeous young pegasus I should introduce you to. She is very much worth the coin for her services rendered."

"I'll keep that in mind," Tercio chuckled. "In the mean time, I may have brought a small barrel of ale with me. Nothing much, just a few cups worth, but if you're interested in sharing a drink with your tall, ugly brother..."

"Ale, eh? I knew there was a reason I still put up with you." Tercio pulled a pair of cups from his bag and uncorked the quart-sized barrel, concentrating intently to keep the bumpy road from spilling a precious drop. "While we're at it, you're going to have to tell me about those mares you spoke of. Be warned, however, that I may have to call you out if I believe something to be far too outlandish even for you."

"Duly noted." Tercio held up his cup in a toast. "To mother and father, Equestria, and the best damn sibling I could ask for. Even if he is a massive pain in the ass."

Victus smiled and raised his hooves.

"I'll drink to that, brother."

***

In the far-off reaches of Whitetail Woods, a lone earth pony stepped into a large tent, one of many that had been set up in an informal encampment, covered with tree limbs branches and pine boughs to conceal it from prying pegasus eyes. The dark of night and the chill wind sent a shiver down Libertus' spine, not from fear or cold, but from excitement and anticipation. The chancellor of Whitetail had been eliminated, struck down by an assassin's blade, just as She had said it would be. How he wished he could have seen the faces that day as the pathetic deer was stuck like an unruly creature of the forest. He smiled with the knowledge that he had chosen well his path in life, away from the corruption and inaction of Equestria, away from the shouted insults and gazes of mockery that met him whenever he announced his devotion to his Dark Queen.

"Traitor," they'd called him. "Extremist. Cultist." It mattered not, for he knew within the very pit of his soul that his was the true way. He did have to thank the Equestrian military for one thing, though: his training. Three years of service had given him the skills necessary to join other like-minded followers, many of them still choosing to wear their Equestrian Guard armor in battle, or during the spilling of blood. They wore their gore-stained steel and iron as a badge of pride, a sign of true devotion to Her way of life and beyond. So it had been when they'd slaughtered the opulent, pathetic deer of River Run, and so it had been when they'd ended the slave-like service of the Legion patrol. The legionaries should have thanked him and his brothers for freeing them from such demeaning servitude, but they would meet the Dark Queen in the afterlife, and there she would show them the truth of their after-existence.

Libertus. Freed from slavery. It was a good name, a meaningful name he was proud to call his own. He embraced his new life, just like his comrades, and here he felt more at home than he'd ever felt in Equestria.

Deep inside the tent, a small shrine had been set up to Her glory: burning candles, offerings of severed antlers and Legion armor clasps still caked with blood. Libertus stood before it in awe, finding comfort in the flickering light cast upon the walls. Then, with a great sense of excitement, he reached out and grasped the necklace charm from its pedestal, an ancient symbol of a deer and a pony in the style of the wondrous Pisces constellation. In ages long past, it had meant peace and cooperation between the species -- though Libertus viewed it as weakness and contentedness. Now, with the help of his Queen, it would mean war and aggression. Equestria and Whitetail would burn, and the world would be cleansed for it.

"My eternal ruler," Libertus spoke softly, closing his eyes and focusing on the charm between his hooves, "my Dark Queen, I call to you on this night. I beg of you: come forth and grace me with your glory, that I may be the instrument of your will." Seconds passed. Long seconds. Had he done the summoning improperly? Had She forgotten about him? His fears were assuaged as a voice spoke to him from behind, a strong, powerful voice.

"Libertus."

"My Queen, you honor me with your presence." He averted his eyes to the floor and bowed on his knees.

"Rise, my servant, and gaze upon me." Libertus stood as he'd been told, once more coming face-to-face with the swirling, smokey visage of the winged unicorn. She towered over him, her form at once ethereal and perceptible only on the edges of his vision, like a storm cloud made of shadows and mist.

"I...I am not worthy of such respect, my Queen!"

"Shhhhh," the shadowy form whispered, "you are worthy of so much more, Libertus. You and your comrades, your brothers in battle. Tell me, what news do you bring?"

"My Queen, I bring word of war. Chancellor Artellus, the smug, self-assured leader of the Whitetail, has been slain by one of our own. The assassin perished in the attack, but accomplished his mission."

"Then he will be remembered for all time, and his soul will join the Great Calling, just as yours will one day soon."

"It is all I can ask for, my Queen."

"And what of Whitetail?"

"The senate was gathered to welcome back Artellus from his trip to Equestria. They witnessed the murder of the deer chancellor by the blade of an Equestrian. I saw the shock in their eyes myself. After the slaughter of River Run, it was the last push the meek nation needed. Within hours the senate had declared war on Equestria, and the armies of the deerfolk already march across her borders. It is only a matter of time until the bloodshed truly begins."

"Good. This is excellent news, Libertus. Already I can sense the chaos, the uncertainty. The citizens of Whitetail are thirsty for the blood of Equestrians. Has Senator Vinawyll taken control of the nation, as was expected?"

"I believe so, Your Eternal Grace. Vinawyll is a coward who will bow to the senate without question. He is merely a puppet, a figurehead."

"Then he will be of no real consequence." The shadowy figure stood silent for a moment, only the sound of her swirling form filling the tent. "You have served me well, Libertus. In the coming days I will have one, last favor to ask of you. I leave it to you and your brothers to prepare as necessary. When the time comes, I will call on you. You will not fail me."

"Of course, my Queen. I will do whatever you ask." For a fraction of a second, Libertus swore he could see a predatory, sharp-toothed grin, and in that moment he found himself both terrified and elated. He would succeed, and he would join Her in eternal glory and sit beside Her on the throne of darkness, or he would fail and his soul would be tormented for a thousand generations.

"Think on my words. Embrace them, as I have embraced you. And when I am ready...we will strike."

The shadowy figure faded from view, becoming a cloud of shimmering vapor that scattered with the breeze. Libertus set the charm back on its pedestal, bowing his head at having had the honor of speaking with Her once more.

"I am yours to command," he whispered solemnly, "my eternal Nightmare Moon."

***

"Legatus Phalanx, Decanus Tercio Krosus and Decanus Victus Krosus reporting for duty."

Tercio and Victus came to attention and snapped out sharp salutes, placing a hand or a hoof over the center of their chests with their helmets tucked into their left sides. Night had already begun to fall on Canterlot, and the barracks was a hive of bustling activity -- commanders carrying out their tasks, guardsmen checking their gear and packing away supplies for their deployments, orderlies and aides carrying the word of the princess.

"Welcome back, Tercio," their commanding officer said, not looking up from his mound of paperwork. "I trust you enjoyed your time away?"

"Yes, sir, I did."

"Good. A little break now and then does wonders for the body and mind." Phalanx lifted his head slightly and peered at the pegasus before him with his one good eye. "Who the blazes are you?"

"Victus Krosus, my Legatus," the other answered smartly. "Decanus of the 44th Legion and brother to Tercio."

"The 44th, huh? Poor bastards. I heard about what happened to that patrol. My condolences, legionary."

"Thank you, sir. They were good stallions to the last."

"So I would imagine." Phalanx looked over the two soldiers standing before him, so completely different from one another. "You two're brothers?"

"Yes, sir," Tercio answered. "Victus is my adoptive brother, but I care for him as my own blood, and he for me."

"Hmm. Didn't expect him to be a pegasus," Phalanx mumbled, turning his attention back to the scrolls stacked on his desk. Victus shot a look at his brother, but Tercio simply shrugged -- Phalanx was one of the literal and proverbial old guard, wary and suspicious of non-earth ponies. It was a sentiment that had slowly begun to die out in the Equestrian military, but pegasi and unicorns were still typically assigned to their own squads within their associated units.

"...we were awaiting orders, sir?"

"Huh? Oh, right." The old, battle-scarred pony flipped through the rolled-out scrolls, holding them up to the right side of his face, his left eye covered by a white patch that wrapped around his head. "Vanarius, Valor, Vertigo...ah, here. Victus. 44th Legion. Says here you're to return to your unit as it's currently positioned, along the eastern border of Whitetail. They've had to fall back a ways once the deer advance began, but as far as I know they haven't entered any combat just yet. If you fly north-west to Timber Falls and then west toward the border you should run into the 44th after a few hours time. No doubt they'll be expecting your return."

"Yes, Legatus."

"Understood? Good. You're dismissed, Decanus Victus. Find a bunk for the night. You can depart in the morning." Victus gave a smart salute and turned to leave, quietly telling his brother to find him whenever he had the chance. "As for you, Decanus Tercio Krosus, there is something we need to discuss."

Tercio felt a lump rise to his throat. The only time the Legatus had to "talk" with anyone was when they were about to face a world of shit. He wondered what he'd done, and how bad the punishment would be.

"I'm not going to lie to you, the situation with the deer is fucked," Phalanx admitted. "Our forces are scattered throughout the land and things have escalated so quickly we haven't had sufficient time to reinforce the border with Whitetail."

"Have we had any battles with them yet, sir?"

"Only small skirmishes. Neither side seems committed to a large attack just yet. Old gods know we can't take them head-on just yet. The deer are many things but they are not stupid. They'll gather their forces and push when they believe victory is assured, and my gut tells me that'll be sooner rather than later. I'm guessing Artellus didn't get the chance to talk some sense into them..."

"So is it true? The chancellor has been assassinated?"

"Bloody fucking mess that is," the old stallion grumbled. "He was struck down by a pony carrying an Equestrian blade. No identifying armor or tags of any sort, so whoever he was he likely realized it was a one-way trip. You ask me, I think it's the same cocksuckers who tore into the Legion patrol and wiped out River Run. This carries their mark, without a doubt."

"The same? So the ones who attacked us were not guardsmen after all?"

"Hard to say, but if I had to place coin on it I'd say they were pretending to be Equestrian Guard just to start this damn war. They knew what they were doing, this wasn't some random attack by traitors." He laughed bitterly. "Too bad such a realization is completely in hindsight."

"What of Whitetail, sir? Surely they should know of such a thing."

"They should, but they won't listen. First they lose a few hundred of their citizens, then their chancellor bleeds out on the steps of the senate building. There is nothing in this world that is going to convince them that we're not at fault here. As such, we're going to need all the leadership we can get out there. The princess has decided to send me to take command of both the Legion and Guard forces situated due west."

"I see, sir. Congratulations."

"Don't you congratulate me, Tercio. I've overseen the elimination of bandit camps and criminal organizations, but all-out war is just as new for me as it is for you. I had hoped to never step foot onto a battlefield for the rest of my old, crotchety life, but I am a servant of Equestria first and foremost. If Her Highness requests my aid, she shall have it again. Even if her sister isn't around to talk sense into her."

"Uh, yes, sir."

"Right. In my stead, I will be promoting Centurion Cestus to Canterlot overseeing duties. He'll be Legatus Cestus now. He's already been made aware of this, so you can spare him the platitudes."

Tercio was somewhat surprised -- Cestus had always been a good friend and a loyal soldier, but as a Centurion he wasn't in his element. He'd often spoken of longing for the days of the rank of Decanus, where he only had to care for perhaps a dozen soldiers at most. Now he was being placed in command of thousands of Royal Guard.

"So...that just leaves you, human."

"Sir?"

"Effective immediately, you are hereby promoted to the rank of Centurion, and your position within the 23rd Royal Guard will subsequently be given to an underling." Tercio gasped in surprise, a promotion the last thing he'd expected. "As of now, you are with the 105th Royal Guard. Technically that makes Cestus your immediate C.O., though the two of you will likely not have need of butting heads. I imagine his duties will keep him away from the palace for quite some time. He is still 'sir' to you, for the sake of formality, but you're under the orders of the princess before anything else."

"Sir, if I may... the 105th is--"

"Princess Celestia's personal palace guard, yes. You are now a Praetorian, rank Centurion. Is there a problem with that?"

A Centurion and a Praetorian? All at once?

"No, sir, not at all. I was simply not expecting such an honor."

"Well I wasn't expecting to be sent to out to fight a bunch of tree-rutting deer today, either, but shit happens...Centurion." Tercio remained silent, but he could feel Phalanx's gaze upon him. "You can just say it, Tercio. You're wondering why you're being given this position."

"That I am, Legatus."

"It's not 'Legatus' for long. Going to be 'General' soon. But yes, you were chosen for the 105th after much deliberation with both the princess and the other officers of the Royal Guard. You may be ugly as sin -- what with those lanky arms and tall frame of yours -- and stubborn as a damned mule, but you consistently out-perform the other guards in combat drills and tactical exercises. I don't know if you're actually decent at what you do, or if you're just damned lucky, or both, but you've impressed enough of the Royal Guard to warrant a promotion. I suggest you accept it."

"I will, sir. Thank you, I'm honored."

Phalanx grunted. "Mmm. You'd better be. And you'd better be on alert at all times; now that we're at war, the princess is a prime target for assassination. You must tend to her as she asks, and trust no one you couldn't personally vouch for. Not the citizens of Equestria, not even your former fellow guardsmen. Understood?"

"Understood, sir."

"Good. In the morning you will report to Princess Celestia personally. You'll have your standing orders from there. For now, you're dismissed. I suggest you wash up and make yourself presentable for the princess. And for the love of all things decent, clean that damn armor. You look like you've been rolling around with the pigs all day."

Tercio stood at attention and saluted. "I won't let you down, Legatus."

"I know you won't, otherwise I'd have to kick your ass, and I don't care how big and ugly you are." Tercio could have sworn he saw Phalanx crack the tiniest hint of a grin, but it was gone in a blink. "Dismissed, Centurion."

Tercio saluted quickly and set out to locate Victus to pass along the good news. Just wait until he hears about this, he thought with an amused smile, technically he has to call me 'sir' now...

He couldn't wait to see the reaction on his brother's face.

***

Morning. It had come far too quickly, and with far too much sunlight. Tercio groaned at the rays of light that seemed impossibly bright in his eyes, especially after he and Victus had spent several hours at a local tavern celebrating his new promotion. He had no idea what time it was when he snuck back into the barracks, but he did know what time it was now: too damned early. He rubbed his tired eyes, noticing that he was one of the few soldiers still left. A guard opposite his bunk was busy strapping on his gear. Tercio called out to him.

"Guardsman, have you an idea of the time?"

The guard looked up from his partially-assembled outfit, lifting an eyebrow.

"It is early morning. Do not worry, the sun is still low in the sky. Whatever appointment you're to keep, I doubt you've missed it just yet." He added, "by the way, it's Guardsman Balteus"

Tercio let out a relieved breath. "Ah, of course. Thank you, Balteus, that's what I was hoping."

With his mind at ease -- if still swimming from last night's celebration -- he began the complex task of properly assembling his clothing and armor for the day.

He started with his basic, light-brown tunic, a mostly-decorative pteruges skirt made of detailed sections of leather and fabric, and a scarf to protect his neck from chafing. The tunic was simple, but comfortable, with reinforced shoulders to keep the edges of the armor from biting into his skin. Next came his sword belt, made of leather and covered in small pouches for extra storage space. His sharpened blade slid into the sheathe with a satisfying scraping of material. Then came the caliga, his sandal-like marching boots that wrapped up halfway to his knees. They were comfortable enough, but on long marches they chafed the sides of his feet.

After that, the real work began: First his chainmail shirt, then his manica and greaves; arm and leg guards, made of flexible but sturdy lengths of shaped iron with leather backings and held in place by straps and buckles. After so many years he'd become used to the weight, the feel of the armor tugging on his upper arms and lower legs. It was a comforting feeling now, one that meant protection and familiarity.

The bulk of the armor protection, of course, came from his Lorica Segmentata, a strong, sturdy armor piece that covered his torso from collar to waist, made of strips of leather-backed steel and iron joined together so that no weak point remained, no place where a sword could pierce. The chest plate had been moulded to show an idealized version of his physique -- one that he grumbled about every time he put it on, knowing full-well he'd likely never actually look like that. The edges of the armor were decorated with golden inlays, a gift from his joining of the Royal Guard several years ago, and if nothing else it at least looked impressive.

Also cosmetic was a cloak that was held together by a clasp over the collar of his armor. It hung down over his back, a dark gold in color to signify the Royal Guard, and stopped at the back of his knee. More than anything else, the cloak -- technically a sagum -- represented status, providing a quick way for the lower ranks to identify their superiors. Tercio's was relatively simple, just a length of fabric, but more prestigious cloaks were often decorated with designs of golden thread, stylized wheat stalks, or ancient Equestrian symbols for power, mercy, or whatever the soldier in question was known for.

Lastly, but just as important as the segmented armor, was his galea -- his helmet. A mostly-standard Equestrian helm, complete with ear and nose segments, though modified for his anatomy. A crest of red, dyed pony hair ran from the front of the helm to the back, an easy way for his soldiers to identify him in the midst of battle...or for the enemy to do the same, should he be unfortunate. He still fondly remembered the day he received his helm; he was the butt of jokes for the entire week, as most soldiers his rank or higher simply let their manes stick up through a hole in the top of their helmet. You could always tell a devoted Guard officer or NCO by the strip of red they'd have along the upper portion of their manes. They considered it a badge of honor. Personally, Tercio was happy to keep his own dark hair short and stick with a fake crest.

"Krosus!" Tercio jumped at the sudden outburst from the doorway, hastily standing at attention. A large, well-built stallion was standing there in full regalia, with a trio of golden bars in the middle of a horse shoe denoting his rank of Imperator.

"Sir!"

"I trust you're aware of your introductory meeting within the hour?"

"Yes, Imperator. I was just finishing up my armor, sir."

"Good. I suggest you do not keep the princess or your new friends in the 105th waiting. You're a Praetorian now, you'd damn well better act like it."

"I won't let you down, sir."

"See to it that you don't. The 105th is my unit, and in my unit we run a very tight schedule."

"Of course, sir."

Without another word, the Imperator turned and left. Tercio waited until he was down the hall to break his stance.

"Hard ass..."

A laughing Balteus trotted past, tossing his sword onto his back.

"I see you met Imperator Stonewall."

"Yeah. He's gonna be my new commander, it seems."

"You poor bastard." The pony guard called out over his shoulder. "Better you than me!"

***

It almost didn't feel real. After two years of service in the Royal Guard, Tercio was finally going to meet the princess herself. Up until now he'd only ever seen her from afar; "The Royal Guard" was more like "The Canterlot Guard" when all was said and done. Ponies had always asked him what Princess Celestia was like, and he'd always have to tell them the same thing: He had no idea. The Praetorians? They were the real deal, directly responsible for the protection of Equestria's now-sole ruling princess.

Security was certainly tough -- between the common barracks and the palace doors there had been six different guard stations. He'd considered just walking with his identification out at all times, for whatever good it would do. At last he'd arrived at his destination: The end of a long hallway covered in stained glass frescoes, with a large pair of intricately decorated doors that towered over his form in an arched, flowing curve. A pair of Praetorians in golden armor stood watch, spears held firmly against their bodies. Interestingly, he noted, they were both pegasi -- something of a rarity in the normal Royal Guard, or even the Legion. The two guards crossed their spears with practiced precision as he approached, blocking his way.

"State your business."

"Centurion Tercio Krosus, here to see Princess Celestia. Legatus Phalanx said I was to--"

"Oh, right," the guard on the left said as they pulled their spears back. "You're the, uh...hooman?"

"Human," Tercio corrected him. "But I am a soldier first and foremost. My physical appearance matters little."

"As you say. Still...never seen your kind before."

"Yeah, I get that a lot..."

"Anyway, you're free to enter. The princess will be joining you shortly, I believe she's still in her chambers taking care of...princess things."

"Princess things?" Tercio asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Forgive my compatriot," the other guard said, "he's somewhat informal at times."

"That's fine with me, informal is a nice break from the monotony of drill and pomp." It suddenly dawned on him that he was likely speaking to soon-to-be colleagues. "My apologies, I didn't realize you were Praetorians. I suppose we'll be serving alongside each other soon." He stuck out a closed fist. "Tercio."

"Decanus Reveille, nice to meet you." The grey pegasus bumped Tercio's fist with his hoof, while Tercio mouthed the name of his new comrade several times, getting used to its pronunciation.

Rev-uh-lee...

"Decanus Morning Star," the second pony said, his coat a much brighter orange. Tercio noted that he didn't stick his hoof out, but simply tipped his spear and gave a slight nod. Between the two, Reveille seemed far more personable.

"Morning Star? Quite a fitting name for this line of work, I'd say."

Morning Star rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, as many before you have said, and as many after you will no-doubt continue to say."

Both soldiers were Decani in rank, but neither had saluted Tercio or called him 'sir'. He considered asking why that was, but thought better of it -- the Praetorians had their own rules, that much was clear. He hoped to get some sort of solid information on such things.

"It's good to meet the both of you, soldiers, but I really ought to wait for the princess. No doubt we'll see each other soon."

"No doubt," Morning Star said. "Two rules before you enter, soldier: Keep your hooves...hands...visible at all times, and be on your best behavior. Though you may be the only one in there with the princess, you are not alone. Is that clear?"

Not particularly. "Perfectly clear, Decanus Morning Star."

"I should hope so."

With a slight grunt of exertion the massive double doors swung open, slowly revealing the throne room itself. The sight took Tercio's breath away.

A large, circular room, two-tiered with banister-lined balconies, greeted his eyes. Large windows adorned the upper level and sunlight streamed in to shine on the polished, marble floor that glittered with flecks of gold. Long, curved ribbons of pink, green and blue hung from the balconies and intertwined with each other, reaching all the way to the end of the room, where they formed a circle that bordered a large tapestry that showed the entirety of Equestria -- from the Whitetail Woods in the west, to the Swayback Mountains in the east, and all points in between.

Underneath the huge banner, covered in a rainbow of colorful flowers and gold-embroidered red silk, sat the throne. More of an oval-shaped dais than an actual seat, which he supposed only made sense for a pony. Or a leader of ponies. An arching back wall showed an engraved scene of some sort, though he couldn't make it out from where he was standing. The whole area gave off an air of power, but he found it oddly comforting as well. Countless pillows of all sizes were laid against the corners or formed into seating circles, and he could imagine himself falling into a pile of them and drifting off to sleep in the warmth of the mid-day's glow.

A noise caught his attention, distant at first.

Click-clack, click-clack.

Metallic hoofsteps. She was approaching. His heart began to race, and he frantically looked himself over once more, making sure his uniform was exactly as it should be. The hoofbeats grew louder until it sounded like she was just around the corner.

Not just 'she', he thought, but the ruler of all of Equestria. His Princess.

His pulse still pounding in his ears, he bent down on one knee with his helmet at his side, and lowered his head in respect and admiration. The sound of the princess' arrival entered the room, then stopped a short distance from him. He could feel her strong presence, and though he had thought the moment would be nerve-wracking, he found his heartbeat steadying and a sense of calm coming over him. Gradually and gently, like a soft breeze. He found his voice after several seconds. He spoke as he continued to avert his gaze to the floor.

"My Princess, I, Tercio Krosus, son of Roughshod, and Centurion of Equestria and her people, greet you and hereby offer my life to you in service to the crown."

He waited for what felt like a very long time, though he was sure it couldn't have been more than a few breaths. Was she trying to determine what he was? Was she confused or revolted by his strange physique? Surely she had known of his arrival...

"Please rise, Centurion. There is no need to avert your eyes here."

"Y-Yes, Princess." Slowly, he stood back up, straightened himself out, and turned his gaze to meet her. He gasped softly, his eyes growing wide despite his formality.

"Welcome, Tercio," she said with a voice as soft as the finest silk and a smile that was as warm as the sunlight itself. "I am Princess Celestia, and it is a pleasure to finally meet you after all this time."

5 - Gilias of the Skyguard

Tercio stood before Princess Celestia, wanting more than anything to simply gaze upon her with his mouth agape. She was beautiful, even more so than when he'd seen her at a distance. He'd often heard others speak of her as the ideal of the pony form, and as he took in her radiance he couldn't help but agree. Everything about her was perfect in its grace, its shape and figure, and he found himself in a momentarily trance-like state as he focused on her long, colorful mane and tail that seemed to flow with an unseen ethereal wind and sparkle with the mid-day's sun. The curves of her body, soft yet shapely, the confident and comforting gaze of her pink eyes, her--

"Tercio? Are you feeling alright?"

The princess' voice snapped him back to reality, and he quickly composed himself and cleared his throat, trying his hardest not to make it obvious.

"Uh, yes, Princess. Ahem. I am simply honored and taken aback by finally meeting the ruler of Equestria."

She offered a warm smile. Tercio thought she was likely used to such a reaction, and he wondered how many times she'd seen that same look.

"You are too kind, but please, have a seat." She motioned to a row of large pillows off to one side. Her golden, metallic shoes clacked on the marble floor as she took her place alongside Tercio, and only then did he realize just how tall she was. From her hooves to the top of her head she was just as tall as he was, a fact that surprised him greatly -- Tercio was nearly twice as tall as every intelligent creature he'd run into, with the exception of a few particularly large earth ponies who came up to the middle of his chest. The long, spiraling horn on her head made her taller than him by a bit, and he could imagine her being both intimidating and awe-inspiring to behold by any pony in the land. She was beautiful, regal, and carried herself with confidence, just as he imagined the sovereign of his nation would be.

"Tercio Krosus, our newest centurion. It has been a long time coming, has it not?"

"My promotion, you mean? I merely seek to serve Equestria by any means, my Princess, regardless of rank."

She laughed softly. "It is okay to speak freely around me, Tercio. Please, do not think of me as one of your superior officers, but rather as a friend."

"Yes, my Princess," he said said before he could even think. Years of discipline had ingrained it in him. "My apologies, it's simply a bit unexpected."

"We'll work on it." They sat down on the large pillows; Tercio had to adjust his sword belt to keep it from dragging against the floor. "Congratulations on your promotion. Your stallions spoke highly of you, and they played no small part in considering you for such a position."

"Thank you, Princess. I'm honored that so many of them considered me worthy of such praise. To be honest, I sometimes wondered how long I would be a decanus. My father reached the same rank before he left the Equestrian Guard, you see."

"I remember him. Roughshod, I believe his name was."

Surprise was plainly visible on his face. "You knew my father?"

"Briefly, yes. We talked for a short time when I was touring a Guard camp. That must have been, oh...forty years ago? How is he these days?"

"Quite well, if prone to foul moods. I forget you've lived such a long life," he said with a chuckle. "I imagine you've spoken with quite the number of soldiers over the years."

"One or two," she answered, laughing quietly.

"But yes, to answer your original question: I'm glad to be of service to Equestria as a centurion. And a Praetorian, no less. Two new titles in one day is quite unexpected, as you can imagine." He rapped his knuckles against the helmet at his side. "Royal Guard for six years, Equestrian Guard for eight before that. Sometimes, when I was younger, I'd see you and Princess Luna, and--"

He caught himself, wincing at the boundaries he felt he'd just overstepped. An almost imperceptible flash of emotion went through Celestia's eyes, but she hid it with a practiced smile.

"Ah...my apologies, Princess. I did not mean to bring up such a personal memory in your presence, especially after...."

"No, it's fine," she answered. "The memory you speak of, is it a happy one?"

"It is."

"Happy memories are how I choose to remember my sister, Tercio. Not as the thing she became. Please, continue."

"Yes, Princess, of course. I...I'd sometimes see the both of you riding in your pegasus-drawn carriage, and I'd imagine meeting you in person, but I was young and I held no real hope of such a thing. After all, what was I but another soldier?"

She smiled. "And yet, here you are."

"So it would seem. My brother and I, we would often sit out back during our visits home and watch the moon rise over the mountains. He was convinced you and your sister were nigh unapproachable." He laughed and added, "he, uh, often professed his infatuation for her." That made Celestia chuckle, and he was glad he hadn't stepped on any proverbial hooves.

"Your brother and half of Equestria, it sometimes seemed. Perhaps one day I will show you the veritable mountain of scrolls she received from admirers." Tercio didn't ask, but he imagined Celestia received just as many.

Finding his throat dry, he lifted the cap from his water flask and took a long gulp.

"Pardon me, Princess."

"No need for apologies. If you're thirsty, you need only say so. Perhaps we can get you something a little more tasteful than lukewarm water."

"Oh. That would be quite nice, thank you."

Celestia tapped her hoof against the floor three times, and an attractive young mare appeared in the doorway a moment later.

"Yes, Princess? How may I help you?"

"Primrose, would you mind fetching a pair of glasses for myself and my guest?"

"Of course, Princess Celestia. Anything in particular?"

"Juice of some kind. Surprise us."

"As you wish."

The mare disappeared back around the corner, returning a short time later with two drinks carried on a tray on her back.

"Thank you, Primrose."

"You're very welcome, Princess. Enjoy your refreshments."

Tercio grabbed a drink from the tray, swirling it around in the cup that almost seemed to be made of mother-of-pearl. A dark, purple juice met his lips and he took a cursory taste -- sweet, but not overly so.

"This is quite good," he said between sips. "Thank you, my Princess."

"You're very welcome. Opalberry juice, from the Everfree forest. It's only in season for a short time, so we make sure to stock up on it."

"To be honest, this is the first drink I've been offered since my arrival in Canterlot that isn't alcohol of some sort. I was beginning to wonder if everyone here had stomachs of iron."

"I have never been much of a drinker, mostly special occasions. A nice glass of juice helps keep my mind focused, I find."

Tercio finished his glass and set it to the side. "Princess, would you mind if I asked you a question? About my posting, I mean."

"Not at all," she said with a reassuring smile. "Ask whatever question you like."

He chewed his lip as he mulled over how to ask what was on his mind, eventually deciding to simply speak earnestly.

"My posting -- here, to the Praetorians, and as a newly-promoted Centurion -- what brought about such a decision? Surely there are members of the Royal Guard, or the Legion, who are better qualified for such an honor. Ponies who have fought in actual combat, or know the inner workings of Canterlot and its garrisons. I suppose what I'm ultimately asking is..."

"Why you?" she finished for him.

"Yes. If it's something you can share, of course. I would not want to intrude on things above my pay grade."

Celestia adjusted her position on the pillows, looking at Tercio for a moment before answering.

"It was a matter of many different factors. Welcoming someone into my personal guard is a heavy undertaking, with weeks of reviews by current and former officers, conversations with those who served under the soldier in question, disciplinary record reviews...all manner of potential criteria. You can imagine the trust that is needed for such an assignment."

He nodded. "That I can."

"With that said...yes, there are more experienced soldiers in the Royal Guard or the Legion, or even the Equestrian Guard as a whole. Yes, there are ponies who know Canterlot like their birth home. But there is something inside of you that I saw from the moment I watched you run out into that courtyard on that horrible night."

The night Luna was banished, he thought.

"Even after witnessing one of your own lose his life, you did not hesitate for a moment to do your duty and protect the palace. There is something special in your heart, Tercio." She placed a hoof over his chest. "Devotion."

"Devotion? I'm not sure I understand. We are all devoted to protecting you, Princess."

"That may be true, but I speak of more than just devotion to your duty. I've read your service history. I've spoken to your friends and your commanding officers. They all come to the same conclusion: You devote yourself -- mind, body, and heart -- fully and completely, striving to make yourself the best you can truly be, because of how different you are."

Tercio felt her words in the very depth of his being, as if he's spoken them himself.

"You are not the fastest, or the strongest. You cannot fly or perform feats of magic. But you do not give up on something once you set your mind to it. You have potential, Tercio Krosus. That is why I selected you for my personal guard."

He wasn't entirely sure what to say; he felt honored by her placing so much trust in him, but potential? He saw that in every soldier he'd ever commanded or taken orders from. He wasn't going to question such a decision, however. Not when it came directly from the princess herself.

"I...shall endeavor to fulfill that potential you see in me, Princess. I believe it may simply take some time to get used to my new posting."

"I'm sure it will. You will meet your fellow Praetorians later today; most of them are out on a training exercise outside of the city. In the mean time, please speak with Centurion Polaris, just outside the palace entrance. He'll familiarize you with the Praetorian barracks."

"Of course, Princess." Tercio stood up and brushed himself off. "I realize I may not be privy to such information, but is there any news on the war? Any victories or defeats?"

Celestia shook her head. "Nothing of importance thus far. Scouts from Cloudsdale have been relaying Whitetail positions to our forces as frequently as possible, but the Whitetail are surprisingly slow to launch a major assault for their rapid push into Equestrian lands."

"Any idea why?"

"I couldn't say. My hope is that the Whitetail senate is just making a show of force, but I'm preparing for the worst. I've spoken with representatives from Zevran, the Griffon Empire, and the Cervedaen Hegemony, asking them all for support or negotiation backing. They don't seem particularly fond of getting involved militarily, and I can't say I blame them too much. We have not seen a war in our lands for hundreds of years. And now this happens..."

"Well whatever may come, Princess, I stand ready to defend both you and my country from aggression. No matter the cost."

"Thank you," she said with a light smile. "But I have kept you for too long, and no doubt you have personal effects to attend to. If you have any questions, Legatus Stonewall will be your immediate commanding officer. He's a good stallion, if a little...rough at times."

"So I've noticed." Tercio placed a fist over his chest and bowed in a salute. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Princess Celestia. Thank you for your time and your company. Oh, and the drink, lest I forget." He laughed nervously and added, "and here I thought I would never even get the chance to see you in person. I am greatly honored."

"The pleasure was all mine," she answered with a bow of her own. "Perhaps we will speak again soon."

"I would like that very much."

With that, he turned smartly in place and walked out, through the double doors and past the sentries, down the great entrance hall and around the glistening foyer that marked the entrance to the palace's inner chambers. He felt rejuvinated, relaxed -- for all his worries and doubts, he had encountered no more issue speaking with the ruler of Equestria than he would have had with any other citizen. Less, in fact. Something about her presence made him feel alive.

He hoped it wouldn't be the last time they met.

***

Victus drew his sword from its sheathe, clutching it tightly in his mouth. He was focused intently on his opponent who had done the same. Both of them stood in place, daring the other to make the first move. A few seconds was all it would take to decide the battle -- strike, counter-strike, death blow. Quick, practiced, deadly. His opponent struck first, splaying his wings open in an attempt to distract Victus' eyes, but the Legionary knew better than to fall for such a simple trick. He parried the first swing of the enemy's gladius, feeling the clash of metal on metal reverberate through the sword and into his mouth, then down his body. A second strike came in, and Victus sidestepped it and answered the attack with his own thrust into the side of the neck, stabbing hard and decisively.

"Ow! Alright, alright, I give! Goddesses, Victus, that thing hurts."

The young legionary dropped his training sword and rubbed his neck with a hoof.

"Oh stop being a child, Nimbus. You're lucky they're blunted, or you'd be bleeding out right now."

"At least if bled out I wouldn't have to listen to your incessant nonsense, you cocky bastard."

"True enough." Victus chuckled and tucked his sword back into its scabbard, taking a moment to watch the others doing their own combat drills. They practiced in pairs and small groups, all under the watchful eyes of the legatus and his centurions. An earth pony came running up to the legatus at speed, stopping in a cloud of dust as he saluted and presented a scroll from his saddlebags.

"Wonder what's going on there," Nimbus said, motioning to the officers.

"No idea. Looks important, though."

"Hmm. Maybe they're reassigning you to latrine duty."

"Only in your dreams, my friend. And if you do have such dreams, do us both a favor and keep them to yourself."

"No promises."

The messenger saluted once more and headed for a tent while the officers talked in a large circle. Whatever they were talking about, they seemed highly animated about it.

"Something tells me this isn't good."

"Yeah..."

The legatus raised a hoof in the air and whistled loud enough to be heard over the noise of weapon training.

"Attention, legionaries! Cease your training and gather round immediately!"

Victus swore to himself. "Just once I'd like to be wrong about bad news."

The entirety of the 44th Legion was soon assembled, numbering nearly a thousand strong. They talked idly to each other and speculated, as soldiers are wont to do, but no one seemed to know for sure what was going on. The legatus stepped onto a small platform to better be seen by the masses.

"Everyone listen up! I have just received word from our scouts in Cloudsdale: Whitetail forces have attacked Witherfell en masse. Reports are mixed but the number varies from two thousand to twenty-five hundred deer, at least as far as we can tell." There was a murmur of shock and anger that only settled down when the legatus raised his hoof again. "At this time we aren't sure of how many civilians made it out, but what we do know is that the Equestrian Guard unit stationed in that area has been nearly wiped out."

"Why didn't we have more forces in the area?!" someone shouted.

"Because we weren't expecting the deer to push north-east. Our assumption was that they would push south-east, along the river White Shoals, but we underestimated the deer and their ability to traverse rough terrain. And you would be wise to watch your tongue, legionary."

Victus leaned in and spoke just above a whisper to his comrade.

"Witherfell? I've never heard of the place."

"Farming community, maybe four hundred ponies. We used to visit there when I was a colt."

"Close?"

"Thirty leagues, give or take. No more than four days' march from here. Less, if you don't stop for rest."

"Shit..."

The legatus looked over his scroll once more and motioned to the crowd.

"This is the first serious act of aggression by the Whitetail, and you can be sure it won't be the last. Attacking a village so close to a major outpost -- ours, if you're wondering -- is quite the bold act. The tree-rutting deer want our land, and by the Goddesses, we'll make them pay for every inch they take. That said, we will not be moving out immediately."

More commotion by the gathered legionaries, shouts calling for immediate revenge.

"Silence! You're soldiers, damnit, act like it!" Silence filled the outpost once more. "Good. Now, there is a good reason for our delay. I want to get out there and carve up those sons of whores as much as you do, but we are not ready. Not yet. The deerfolk are like no enemy we've faced before, and so your combat drills are going to be led by a new adviser."

A figure stepped out from the tent behind the legatus, altogether unfamiliar and foreign. It stood on four legs, but two of them were thin and bird-like. Its body was divided into two distinct halves, with the chest and head covered in a plumage of white, blue-tipped feathers and the beak of an eagle, and the waist and hind legs of a dark-brown lion. A long, thin tail swished the air behind it. The gathered soldiers let out a collective gasp.

"Allow me to introduce Battle-Master Gilias, of the Imperial Griffon Skyguard."

Nimbus prodded Victus with a hoof. "That's a griffon? I...I've never seen one before! Goddesses, look at it!"

"Battle-Master Gilias has flown in all the way from the Griffon Empire to be here today. She has first-hand experience with the deer and their fighting style."

"She?"

Someone in the crowd yelled out after the announcement.

"What do you mean, 'she'? You expect us to take orders from a damned woman?!"

Gilias was fast. Nearly as soon as the words had left the legionary's mouth she was in the air with a single, powerful flap of her wings. The griffon dove down through the rapidly parting crowd, knocking aside a pair of unicorns as she landed on the pony who had dared to question her, sending him sliding across the ground on his back. A sharp, curved blade was stuck against his throat before he could even react.

"If you wish to keep your innards within your body, Equestrian, then I suggest you keep your fucking mouth shut." She pressed the blade into his neck just hard enough to draw a trickle of blood. "Do I make myself clear?" The legionary sheepishly let out a 'yes' and, just as fast as she had attacked, Gilias withdrew back to her spot beneath the platform.

Victus, along with the entirety of the 44th Legion, stood in stunned silence. Whoever this...griffon...was, she was damn good. The legatus spoke up once his newest adviser had resumed her position.

"I trust there will be no more outbursts? No? A wise decision. Battle-Master Gilias is here on unofficial terms; that is to say, she does not have the backing of the Griffon Empire or its military. Not as far as politics and formality is concerned, anyway. No, she is here as an adviser because of the simple fact that the griffons have decided to maintain an official stance of neutrality in this conflict. However, they know as well as we do that the loss of territory to the Whitetail military will only lead to reduced trade with Equestria, and a stronger deer presence along their southern borders. Thus, Battle-Master Gilias is only here to observe as a neutral party. And if she just so happens to be training, say, the 44th Legion in deer-crushing tactics, well...that's entirely under plausible deniability. But perhaps you'd do better to hear from the griffon herself."

Gilias stepped forward with a blade clutched in her claw-hand. If there was any doubts as to her legitimacy as a soldier, they'd already been shattered. She'd seen to that.

"Pay attention, because I'm only going to go over this once! As your commander said, I am Battle-Master Gilias, commanding officer of the Fourth Imperial Skyguard, Ker'rat Company. For the last twenty-two years I have served the Holy Emperor and all He surveys. I have fought in Cervedae, Saddle Arabia, Zevran, and the Great Expanse. If there is a sentient being out there, I have most likely fought and killed it."

She began to pace back and forth in front of the gathered ponies. Not one of them said a word.

"Your commander, Legatus Lentius, personally approached me and asked that I be of assistance in your rapidly-evolving war with the Whitetail. I accepted, on the condition that I be placed with the closest thing you ponies have to an elite fighting force. Thus, here I am." She sneered at the pony who had called her out. "Though if this is the level of discipline I can expect, this is going to be a very short war. I can only hope you prove me wrong."

She paused for a moment, looking out over the crowd.

"You may think you know the deer, but you have no idea. They are not like any enemy you have ever fought. Considering the last time you dirt-humping Equestrians faced a bigger threat than some scum-sucking bandits was several hundred years ago, you're going into this war completely unprepared. As the spearhead of the Equestrian military, it is up to you to make sure that those fucking antler-scraping deer don't run your asses into the ground."

A hoof stuck up from someone near Victus.

"What do you want, Equestrian?"

"Hasn't the Griffon Empire been at peace for just as long?"

Gilias actually smiled; it reminded Victus of a hydra about to devour its victim.

"You know what, Equestrian? I'm glad you asked that. Have we been at peace just like you ponies? If you believe everything you hear, sure. But conflicts are not always black-and-white. The Empire must maintain its place of power in the mountains, and any who threaten that power are dealt with. Harshly. Countless shadow wars have sprung up over the years, and yours truly has fought in most of them. You'll never read about them in history scrolls, but trust me: They're there. You just have to look."

The griffon stood up on her powerful, lion-like hind legs and drew a second curved blade from the opposite side of her body. As she did so, jagged, pink scars became visible across much of her chest and around her wings. She struck a menacing figure, easily twice as tall as the largest pony around, with strong muscles apparent throughout her body.

"So when I say I can teach you how to fight the deer, I damn-well fucking mean it. We're going to train hard. Damn hard. And by the end of the week, I guarantee each and every one of you will be a deer-slaughtering legionary motherfucker with a raging hard-on for Whitetail blood!"

She stopped and grinned with the same, predatory look on her face.

"That, or you'll be dead."

7 - Fal'naas

"I hope everyone's paying attention, because if your dumb ass dies in combat then I will personally pull you out of the after-life and strangle you for being an inattentive little shit!" Battle-Master Gilias said, standing before a row of three deer mock-ups. They were crudely constructed, a jumble of sticks and burlap arranged into the vague shapes of Equestria's most recent enemies, but they were good enough for the purposes of demonstration.

Yesterday, the 44th Legion had all but dismissed the sudden appearance of the griffon woman. Now, there was no joking or sneering. There was only the gathering of soldiers in full battle armor, and the sound of Gilias' voice carrying across the clearing.

"I'm not one for sugar-coating things, so let me say this to you straight: The deer will slaughter you if you fight them without knowing how they work. They may not look it, but the soldiers of Whitetail are not to be fucked with." She approached the first deer mock-up, a buck with tall, multi-pronged antlers. "Most of the soldiers you'll be facing in combat will be male -- bucks and stags, depending on their age, though it's kind of a grey area. And yes, I said 'most'. Whitetail allows females to serve in their military, albeit in small numbers, but they're mostly in separate units and you likely won't encounter them on the battlefield. We'll still cover that in detail, but for now we're focusing on this bad boy right here."

She knocked a fist against the training dummy, causing it to sway under the blow.

"If I can be honest with you pony-folk, I'm surprised you aren't a mixed-gender military force. You're usually all about the...touchy-feely rainbow shit, or something. Equality. That kinda thing. Anyway, that's neither here nor there. What is here is a buck made of sticks. Just use your imaginations."

Gilias drew a sword from her side, pointing to the top of the buck with the end of her blade.

"Your standard buck is half a head taller than the average stallion, excluding the antlers. They tend to be leaner and less stocky than a pony of equal size, but they're still deceptively strong. Stronger than a pegasus, but not as strong as an earth pony." The blade came back down, and she idly bounced it in her claw-hand. "This means that they are agile fighters, relying more on finesse than raw strength. You have to keep on your toes...hooves, whatever...in a one-on-one situation."

She jerked her head toward the training dummy.

"See those antlers? All deer have the ability to perform simple magic. When I say 'simple', that's just what I mean. Light levitation tends to be the extent of it, and it can take many years of practice before a buck can levitate something as simple as a sword. For the most part they will fight like more nimble earth ponies. Only the most talented of deer can perform feats of magic more advanced than floating a blade."

A foreleg went up in the crowd. Gilias pointed to it and asked what the question was.

"So if we don't have to worry about that fancy magic shit, and they're just twitchier earth ponies, what's the problem?"

Gilias simply smiled. "The problem, my dimwitted friend, is that the deer -- and especially the whitetail -- don't fight like ponies. What do you use in the legion for standard combat load-out?"

Legatus Lentius, standing in the front row, answered her.

"A gladius, tower shield and buckler, and one or more pila."

"So you fight with a sword and shield most of the time, right? That's pretty normal. So does the Griffon Empire, and Zevran, and Saddle Arabia. But not the whitetail."

Gilias stepped past the first mock-up and over to the second; it was fully adorned in a set of crystalline, glimmering armor that gave off a dull green shine in the light of mid-day. Its exterior had been marred by scrape marks and gouges.

"We managed to, uh, procure this armor from a fallen buck. Anyone have any observations about it?"

"It's shiny?" someone answered, and the others laughed.

"You must be the brains of the group, Equestrian. Yes, it's shiny. Now, any observations that don't border on mind-crushingly stupid?"

Another hoof went up. "It's more segmented than our armor."

"Well look at that, a real answer! There might be hope for you fuckers yet! Yes, Whitetail armor is made to be flexible yet strong, consisting of scale-like segments of a material they call quinndryll -- roughly translated, it means 'steel of the forest'. Think of it as a super-hard quartz. It may look like glass and feel like glass, but it's a tough son of a bitch to get through. It's also exceptionally light for how strong it is."

"We should get some of that," Victus told the stallion next to him.

"Don't go turning in your steel just yet, though. Just like the deer themselves, it's not without its weaknesses. Quinndryll may be strong but it's frail against crushing impacts, like those of a mace or battle axe. It can also be penetrated by a sufficiently strong projectile. Arrows will bounce off, but a ballista shot will still get through."

Lentius called for an orderly, though Victus could not hear what was being said. The orderly stayed for only a moment before darting off to the armory tent.

"There's one more thing you should know about this armor," Gilias continued, "and it's something that ties into the deer fighting style. As I said, many of the deer don't fight with a sword and shield. They rely on a complex triple-blade system, consisting of a long, narrow sword either grasped in the mouth or, occasionally, levitated...and this."

Gilias picked up the training dummy and slammed its forelegs into the ground, cracking and snapping many of the sticks that made up the body of the mock-up. No one noticed the sound, however, because they were all staring at the thin, sharp blades that had shot out from the upper foreleg armor. They whistled in surprise and murmured to each other, impressed by the unexpected weapons.

"This, my equine friends, is what makes the deer so dangerous. These conical daggers are spring-loaded in internal holsters. A solid stomp of the hooves and they shoot out at great speed and lock into place, providing the deer in question with two more avenues of attack. A well-trained deer warrior can make you focus on three things at once, using a flurry of blows to wear your defenses down and exploit any opening with a swift stab to the throat, chest, or head. It's exactly for this reason that we're not marching out into combat as we speak. You're completely unprepared to fight the whitetail. That's why I'm here." She jerked her head back to the tent. "We've gathered a good dozen sets of whitetail armor, so you're all going to take turns wearing them. For those of you with a larger build, you'll likely have to settle for just wearing the foreleg armor and spring-blades. I want all of you to get used to fighting against three weapons at once!"

The same orderly backed out of the tent as Gilias finished speaking, dragging a large sack of weapons and emerald armor along the ground. Legatus Lentius trotted over and inspected the weapons, nodding in approval.

"Listen up, 44th! In light of Battle-Master Gilias' advice, we are going to start distributing battle axes and war hammers! Their numbers are small in comparison to our stock of gladius blades, so for the time being only squad leaders will carry one! We only have a few short days to get proficient with them, so I expect you all to train your asses off! Understood?"

"Sir!" they answered as one.

"Good. That's what I like to hear." He lifted a hoof to the griffon adviser, who was covered from head to tail in brown and blue armor. "Battle-Master Gilias, you may resume."

"As you say." She stepped to the last training dummy, shorter and thinner than the others. Instead of a tall rack, this mock-up's antlers were short and curved back. "One last thing before we start combat drills. I said female deer -- does -- are different, and they are. And no, I don't mean they lack a cock, before one of you geniuses thinks it would be funny to say so. In comparison to magic-using ponies, specifically unicorns, deer do not follow the norm of 'larger horn or antlers means more powerful magic'. They're the complete opposite. Smaller antlers, specifically those of a doe, are much stronger at focusing magic than those of their showy male counterparts. Usually. Does lack the strength of bucks, and so they've become very adept at illusion magic to give them an edge in combat. They can make you see what is not there, they can make you hear things that don't exist. Some of these does are very powerful magic users. Fortunately for you sad, lonely bastards you won't have to worry about running across them in most situations. If you do, well...it's probably best to just fall back and fight with numbers on your side."

"That's not very encouraging," someone said in response.

"Well no fucking shit, it's not supposed to be. I'm just telling you like it is." She reached her arms across her body, pulling a long, curved sword from each side. "Now, it's time to put all of this long-winded horse shit to practice. You will split up into your assigned groups, and pick one of you to be the first to wear the deer armor. Don't worry, the blades are blunted so you don't hurt your pretty little hides. Remember, try to fight like a deer: thrusting attacks, multiple attack angles, quick strikes."

Gilias gave the gathered soldiers a wry smile and puffed out her chest, her studded leather and steel armor creaking.

"Do well enough, and you'll get to fight me. Anyone who can land a strike will get a small cask of amasec, compliments of the finest winery in Winter Rock."

She crossed her swords, then quickly drew them apart with a singing of steel on steel.

"I don't expect I'll be sharing much of it."

***

Tercio Krosus stood in the center of the Canterlot battle ring, sword and shield in hand. Before him stood three of his fellow recruits in full armor -- an earth pony, a pegasus, and a unicorn, each grasping or floating a gladius, with small buckler shields strapped to their upper forelegs. They were like him, new to the ranks of the Praetorians. Each of them were good, dedicated soldiers with long careers in the Equestrian Guard.

There was Polaris, a lightly colored unicorn with a shock of purple hair who had joined up as soon as he'd turned seventeen. He'd wanted nothing more than to serve alongside Princess Luna, but after her banishment he'd recommitted himself to Celestia.

Beside him was one of the few pegasi in Tercio's barracks, a younger stallion named Thunderburst. With his midnight blue coat and bright white mane and tail he stood out more than most. He'd made a name for himself -- or so he'd said -- fighting raider camps in the rough northern mountains of Equestria where a criminal group of pegasi had formed their own cloud city, hidden far away from prying eyes. He was by far the most aggressive recruit Tercio had met, and the young soldier was known through the Praetorian ranks as being deadly in combat, but hot-headed and prone to violence. For now he was on the ground, his wings spread out to make himself look larger and more imposing.

Lastly, standing to the far right, was the earth pony of the trio, a stallion with a stout build by the name of Rimeberry. Tercio hadn't had a chance to speak with him at length just yet, but he seemed like a relatively quiet pony in his late thirties.

"Krosus!" Imperator Stonewall shouted from his observation podium.

"Sir!"

"Are you ready to prove you're not entirely useless?"

"Absolutely, sir!"

"Good! Let's see how you do against multiple opponents. You may begin when ready."

Tercio was in a battle stance, with a tower shield over his left arm and a gladius in his right hand. He rocked on the soles of his feet in anticipation of the attack, his eyes darting between the trio of ponies in front of him.

"Come on, then," he said with an amused smile. "Who wants the first swing? Have a go if you think you're man enough!"

Thunderburst was the first to make a move, coming in with a fast swing to Tercio's midsection. He parried the strike and countered with a stab to the chest, but the pegasus was fast and sidestepped with another swing of his own. It deflected off Tercio's chest armor, leaving an opening just long enough for him to deliver a swift, powerful kick to Thunderburst's upper torso. The pegasus went sprawling in a cloud of dust and his sword clattered to the ground.

"Sloppy, Thunderburst," Tercio said as he reset himself into a brawling position. "I thought you were supposed to be a hard ass."

"I gave you that one," Thunderburst answered, pushing himself back to his hooves. "Next time I won't be so generous."

"As you say. Right, who's next for a boot to the face?"

"Suppose that'd be me," Rimeberry said, stepping forward with his sword clutched in his mouth. They stared each other down for a long second before Tercio struck out with his blade, missing a swing at neck level and blocking a follow-up from Rimeberry with his shield. A wild thrust answered the shield's motion and it just barely missed Tercio's thigh. He thought to bring his gladius down in a diagonal attack, but Rimebery was a step ahead and had already turned in place to deliver a strong kick of his hind legs. Tercio's shield took the brunt of the impact, but the earth pony was deceptively strong, and he tumbled onto his back. Thinking quickly he swept the ground at knee height with his sword, expecting Rimeberry to jump back to avoid the attack. He did, and Tercio was ready with a powerful bash from his shield that knocked the stallion's head straight back. A thrust of a blunted sword connected with flesh, and Rimeberry was forced to concede the fight to a death blow.

"Not bad, meat. Not bad at all!" Stonewall actually cracked a faint hint of a smile, but it was gone just as fast as it had appeared. "Polaris! Show this uppity monkey what we think of his fancy swordplay!"

Polaris stepped forward, sword and tower shield levitating before him.

"With pleasure, sir!"

"Uppity monkey?" Tercio asked quietly to his opponent.

"Compared to what he could have called you, you got off easy."

"Like I'll get off easy with you?"

"We'll see."

Polaris went for a different approach, playing defensively as Tercio's blows rained down on him. Hit after hit met his shield or was deflected by his own sword. A strong, downward swing from Tercio's shield smashed into the ground, missing the stallion by a hair's breadth, and Polaris countered with a swing that connected to Tercio's upper left arm, landing with enough force to dent the iron armor plate. As Tercio took a wide swing with his gladius, Polaris jumped back and levitated his weapon far to the side, letting Tercio's own momentum carry him through and leave an opening, and in the next second the unicorn's sword was behind Tercio's back, drawing his attention and forcing him to spin around. It was an unorthodox attack, and it gave Polaris time to draw a dagger from his sling and jab it up against Tercio's lower back.

"If you value your spine you might want to admit defeat," he said, breathing deeply from exertion.

"Alright, alright, I give. You win." Tercio rubbed his back as the dagger was withdrawn, laughing despite himself. "That was quite the trick. Never seen that one before."

"The advantages of having a horn," Polaris replied. "Well fought."

"Well fought."

Stonewall whistled loudly. "If you two are done sucking each other's cocks, I suggest you get back into your fighting stances! Nice move by the way, Polaris."

"Thank you, sir."

"Just don't get cocky. A trick like that works fine for one-on-one, but in a battlefield you'd be a fool to levitate your shield and sword so far from your body. Now...what do you say we step it up, Krosus? If you think you can handle it."

"I can handle whatever you need me to, sir!"

"So you say. In that case, you're going to fight all three of your fellow scumsuckers at once! I want to see aggression, you dogs! I want a rain of blows that will make this ugly son of a bitch beg for mercy!"

"This should be fun," Polaris said, cracking his neck as he set his shield and sword in front of him once more.

"Fighters, at the ready!" Stonewall shouted, raising a hoof in the air. Tercio took his stance, deciding who to go after first. Thunderburst was agile but lacked brute strength, Rimeberry was more than a match for Tercio's own strength but wasn't aggressive with his swings, and Polaris was--

"BEGIN!"

With a shout all three recruits charged forward, their weapons lashing out in a flurry of strikes. Tercio reacted to each swing, deflecting and blocking and parrying frantically. His heart raced as he tried to focus on each opponent without leaving himself open, his years of training instinctively kicking in and turning his movements into a well-practiced dance of sword and shield. Thunderburst took to the air and hovered at head height, forcing Tercio to keep yet another attack angle in mind. A string of impacts bashed against armor and helm, and he found a small opening that let him kick Rimeberry hard enough to knock him away, if only for a second or two. With the blows lessened for just a breath Tercio struck out with his gladius and thrust it into a gap inThunderburst's chest armor hard enough to knock the wind out of his lungs. The pegasus fell to the ground with a harsh exhale, coughing as he struggled to take in deep gulps of air.

A hard impact smashed against Tercio's left side, sending the tower shield flying out from his grasp. Polaris had taken the opportunity to slam the edge of his shield into his opponent, and with Tercio stagged by the blow he could feel victory just a moment away. Tercio reacted quickly, picking up Thunderburst's gladius from the sand of the sparring ring and continuing to give Polaris a hard fight with a string of strikes from his twin weapons. He started to feel confident in his assault, each swing striking home with strength and precision. Polaris may have had an edge in magic, but Tercio was strong, and he was fast, and he knew he could be far more agile than he was at that very moment. A new-found sense of martial awareness gradually came over him, and he could hear the others murmuring in surprise and cheering him on as his attacks became a veritable whirlwind of motion. And yet, Polaris still held his own. When his shield was lost he picked up the slack with his buckler and parried every blow Tercio threw at him.

"Come on, human!" he taunted between strikes. "How do you expect...to protect...the princess...fighting like that?!" Tercio had to step back as Polaris' swings became stronger, his opponent's horn glowing bright orange as it focused more and stronger magical energy. "Hit me, Tercio! Attack! Attack! What will the deer think of such a display?!" Now firmly on the offensive, Polaris began to taunt Tercio in deer-speak. "Fal'naas, Tercio! Fal'naas!" A sword strike was deflected, but Polaris followed with a kick to the stomach that nearly made Tercio double over.

"FAL'NAAS!"

Something stirred within Tercio at the shouted word. Something he couldn't explain. It was as if someone had lit a torch in a darkest night, guiding him with a brilliant beacon that pushed away the fog in his mind.

Clarity.

And with it came an intense, all-consuming anger. Hatred like he'd never felt before. It welled up in his chest like a bloated leech, black and terrible. His vision narrowed to focus only on his opponent, the flurry of blows being thrust at him of no consequence; Tercio knew he could block and parry the strikes without fail, and as he let a sword thrust smash into his chest armor he bit down on his lip hard enough to draw a stream of blood. He only needed a moment, the slightest hesitation...

"Tercio! What are you doing?! Attack me! Attack me right n--"

With a sudden rush of power Tercio struck out, bull-rushing his opponent with a terrible shout of blind rage. He tackled Polaris to the ground, landing on top of him. Polaris began to panic, landing powerful impacts from his buckler shield against Tercio's helmeted head, but to no avail. The sword he'd been levitating for combat stopped dead, clasped in Tercio's left hand hard enough to draw blood. At the same time, Tercio's right hand landed crushing blows from his closed fist.

Tercio's hands became cut and torn from slamming into steel edges and pounding into flesh and bone, but still he would not relent. Somewhere, far off in the distance he could not find within himself to care about, he heard shouting. Voices telling him to stop. The orange cloud of magic surrounding Polaris' weapon dissipated into nothing, and as the threat ceased to exist Tercio dropped the blade from his bloody hand, now using both fists to pound the unfortunate unicorn into a bloody mess.

Something slammed into the side of his head, but it didn't matter. Strong forelegs yanked at his body, but he could not care. He knew what his only purpose was, with absolute clarity. Grasping the training sword in both hands, he lifted it high above the battered pegasus, began to bring it down -- and then things went impossibly dark again. The fire that had guided him slipped from his vision, the uncertainty sunk back into his mind, and in a single, terrible moment he came to his senses.

And then his world went black.

***

Princess Celestia sat in her chambers, reading over reports from western Equestria. They were nothing but bad news: Another village attacked, another force too large for the local guards to handle, another list of missing and dead soldiers and civilians. A pounding headache had begun to build in her temples, and she lifted a hoof to rub them in the hopes of temporary relief.

"We're just not ready," she said quietly to no one in particular. She firmly believed in the fighting ability of the Equestrian Guard, but for the last several hundred years their biggest concern had been criminal gangs or cultists. She longed for the days when her parents ruled the land; they could have called upon the Crystal Empire to send help, but no one had heard from the Equestrian ally since the violent and horrific days of King Sombra's rule. The whole city seemed to have just...disappeared.

Disturbing reports of an ultimatum had made their way to her, and even at that moment she knew there was a large contingent of Guard and Legionary forces marching west to meet the deer in open warfare for the first time. If only she had more time. If only Luna were around...

A loud knock on her door grabbed her attention, and she quickly made herself presentable before answering. Standing before her was a dark-coated pegasus in battle armor, covered in dust and breathing heavily. He bowed his head in respect as Celestia looked upon him.

"Praetorian Thunderburst?"

"Please forgive the interruption, my Princess, but I bring urgent word from the Praetorians of barracks four."

You should not be surprised.

"What sort of news? Has something happened?"

"Two of our newest members have been injured, one seriously, in a sparring match. Their names are Polaris, a unicorn, and Tercio, a...human, I believe? Imperator Stonewall sent me to inform you. If you wish, I can provide you with more information."

She kept her expression neutral, but inside a nagging voice tugged at her.

You knew it might come to this.

"No, that's quite alright, thank you. May I accompany you to the injury ward?"

"Of course, Princess. You needn't ask my permission."

"Very well, then. Please, lead the way."

Celestia closed the doors behind her with a brief flash of magic, not bothering to put on her crown or breast collar. If something happened, if one of them died, she would feel the blame squarely on her shoulders, and no one would ever know but her. She hoped they were not seriously injured.

It was a short trip, just down a few hallways and out to a building at the edge of the palace grounds. The room was mostly empty, except for two beds occupied by strikingly different figures.

"Princess," Stonewall said with a nod of his head as she approached.

"I came as soon as I heard. What happened, Stonewall?"

"That's the question, isn't it?" Stonewall motioned to the still form of a unicorn off to his right, the light rise and fall of its chest the only indication it was still alive. "Polaris was in a training fight with that strange-looking creature over there. They seemed to be each other's equal, but something happened after Decanus Polaris began to taunt Centurion Krosus. The...human...started to lash out like a stallion possessed. I don't know what got into him."

He is too dangerous, sister.

"I see. And how is Polaris doing?"

"I won't lie, he's in bad shape. He's missing several teeth, he has a broken cheek bone and fractured skull, and the flesh around his right eye has swelled so much that it's become a purple mass of blood and skin. The apothecary believes the swelling will go down and the bones will mend, but..."

"But?"

Stonewall sighed. "But Polaris is non-responsive to external stimuli. For all intents and purposes he's bed-ridden, and if he doesn't wake up within the next day or two then he will likely die of injuries." Stonewall pointed to Polaris' bed. "He may have internal injuries that not even the apothecary's magic can fix. It's too early to tell."

Celestia stood at the wounded unicorn's side, placing a hoof on his chest. His head was wrapped in bandages, sticky with blood. She wanted to weep for him, but she knew she could not.

"And what of Tercio?"

"He's passed out from exertion, or maybe from whatever it was that overcame him. He has some deep cuts on his hands and several bruises from where the others had tried to stop him, but that's really the extent of his injuries."

In sharp contrast to Polaris, the human one bed over seemed to sleep almost peacefully, a blanket wrapped around his body. Something had to have caused him to lash out, but she was at a loss for what it could be. Instead, she occupied her mind by speaking with Thunderburst.

"Praetorian, were you near Tercio when he...lost control, correct?"

"Yes, Princess," Thunderburst answered. "Myself and Rimeberry were alongside Polaris in a three-on-one sparring match. It was good training, up until the moment Tercio attacked Polaris without mercy." He kicked a hoof at the ground and swore to himself. "I knew we shouldn't have trusted someone so different. He's not even equine."

"I would ask that you not be so quick to jump to conclusions, Thunderburst. Something has happened here, and I intend to find out what that was so that it doesn't happen again."

His ears flattened in embarassment. "Yes, Princess, of course. My apologies..."

"It's alright. Now, what happened?"

"Rimeberry and I -- uh, I suppose I should mention Rimeberry is in the barracks -- were training intently. I have to give due credit to the human, he fights with far more talent than his form would suggest otherwise. He actually managed to take both of us down in short order, but Polaris was more of an equal match. They fought so hard that their strikes became a near blur of motion. Tercio had Polaris on the back hoof, but then Polaris found an opening and started pushing Tercio back. Perhaps he became overconfident, or perhaps he was just messing around, but during the engagement he started to yell at Tercio to attack him and be more aggressive. And that's when Tercio fell to insanity."

"Insanity? How so?"

"He took Polaris to the ground and started pounding away with his fists, ignoring any semblance of military form or discipline. Just blow after blow. I think we all realized it wasn't just part of the training anymore when Tercio's punches came up trailing blood. We had to knock him out with a shield to the side of the head, and even then it took several strikes. He was far too strong for us to simply pull him off Polaris."

Imperator Stonewall removed his steel and gold helm, letting his short, red-dyed mane fall to his neck.

"Princess, I know Centurion Krosus has all the makings of a fine Praetorian, but if this is the sort of thing we can expect from him, well...we're all sworn to protect you, and he is a potential threat."

"No, I understand," Celestia answered, turning her gaze from the wounded soldiers. "To tell you the truth, Stonewall, I'm not sure what to do with him at this point. I do not want to see him returned to the Royal Guard, or worse, removed from Equestrian service entirely if I don't have to. I, too, believe he has great potential. This is just an unexpected development, and I will need time to think on it."

"Of course, Princess. Whatever your decision, I stand ready to enforce it." Stonewall and Thunderburst saluted smartly as Celestia bowed to them.

"When the apothecary returns please tell him that I want to be notified as soon as either of them awaken."

"So it shall be done. And what of the other barracks? Word spreads fast amongst Praetorian ranks."

"I will not speak a word of it to them. They don't need to know."

"As you wish."

Celestia took her time returning to her chambers, stopping by the palace gardens to ease her mind. She already had so much to think about; the war, the needs and concerns of her citizens, and now Tercio. It was something she'd feared for many years, and now it threatened to overtake her like a tempest.

We warned you, dear sister.

Luna appeared in the corner of the garden, her appearance that of the days before she was banished, before she had turned to darkness.

"You are hardly one to lecture me, Luna."

A guard walked by in the distance, passing through the image of the co-ruler of Equestria. Her image shimmered and disappeared. Celestia turned and walked away, down the short corridors that led to her room. Luna appeared in a side hallway, leaning against the wall.

You knew exactly what he was. What he is. What he could be.

"And I chose compassion. Perhaps you should have tried it more often."

Compassion would have been to stick a blade through his heart the moment you saw him.

A pair of brightly-colored mares bowed to Celestia as she passed, and she smiled and carried on just as she'd done so many countless times before. Exhausted, she opened the door to her room and sank against the wall. Her mane and tail had begun to lose their sheen again. Luna had leaned in to whisper into her sister's ear.

Embrace it, Celestia. Stop your pitiful coddling of this creature before he hurts someone else.

"I will not entertain such ideas. I can save him. He deserves a chance at a good life."

She blinked, and the towering form of Nightmare Moon stood before her in glimmering armor.

Like you saved us?

Flashes of violence, death. Betrayal.

"I don't need to convince you of anything."

The image smiled with dagger-like teeth. Celestia shut her eyes tight and willed it all to stop.

Of course not. You need only to convince yourself...

When she opened her eyes Luna was gone once more. No, Celestia told herself, she was never there. She'd been banished for more than a month. And yet, as events compounded, Celestia had turned to the memory of her sister more and more often, seeking some sort of answer. A way to fix all of Equestria's problems and make everything return to how it should be.

Deep down, she knew it would not be so mercifully simple. With a deep breath she stepped out onto her balcony, focusing her mind on the comforting warmth of the sun, and slowly, and gently, set it on the path to dip below the distant mountain tops. In a few hours she would need to raise the moon in its place, but for now her tired mind could think only of sleep. If she was lucky, she would not dream of Luna or her twisted transformation. She could close her eyes and, for a fleeting moment, feel free of her burdens.

8 - To War

Tercio awoke with a splitting pain in his head, stripped to his undergarments in a dark and unfamiliar place. The ground was hard and cold to the touch. He sat up with a groan, feeling his vision swim as he struggled to focus in the dim light. He was in a small room, and the only light source was the glow of a torch far down the end of a hallway. He tried to stretch out his legs, only to find one of them shackled to the floor by a chain. He quickly realized he was in a prison cell.

"Hello?" he called out. "Is anyone there?"

No answer. He wracked his brain to try and remember how he'd gotten in his current situation, but he could see only flashes; mere glimpses of blood, steel, and dirt. There was the training circle, and a fight against Polaris and his battle brothers, and then...nothing.

"If anyone is out there, I could do with a drink of water!"

The sound of heavy door opening echoed down the hallway, followed by the unmistakable sound of hoof steps. The light approached with it, casting a harsh, orange tint. The form of a pony stopped in front of his cell, standing some distance from the bars of his door. Tercio shielded his eyes, waiting for them to adjust. When they did, he recognized the pony immediately.

"Imperator Stonewall! I am extremely relieved to see you. I wasn't sure if anyone was listening."

"Krosus," Stonewall said simply, nodding his head. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just threw myself down a flight of stairs. My head--" He touched a palm above his ears, only to be met by the rough graze of bandages. At the same time he noticed his hands almost completely wrapped, with spots of dark, dried blood throughout. "Sir, what happened to me? Why am I in a cell?"

"I don't know what happened, not entirely," Stonewall answered, setting his torch in a sconce behind him. "What I do know, however, is that you lost your damn mind out there."

"I don't understand..."

"Mmm. Maybe you don't, but you're in here as a precaution. The princess wanted to speak with you as soon as you were awake. Now that you are, I'm going to bring her here. I suggest keeping to the back of your cell when she arrives. Understood?"

Tercio nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good. I'll be back soon. In the mean time, there is a bowl of water and some bread at the foot of your cot."

Stonewall left without another word, leaving only the uncomfortable darkness as Tercio's only companion. He found that he had just enough play in his ankle chain to lie on his bed or reach the chamber pot in the corner, and not much else...not that he had much else to begin with. He thought of it as being locked in a stone closet. The bread was slightly stale but the water was cold and wonderful, and as he quenched his thirst and dry throat he felt immense relief.

At some point he removed the bandages from his hands, finding them bloody, bruised, and cut. They didn't hurt, but rather throbbed with a numbness that made it hard to hold anything. He could only guess as to how they had become that way, and he tossed the used bandages to the side.

After what felt like a very long time the door swung open at the end of the hallway once more, this time with more than one set of hooves clopping on the rough stone. Imperator Stonewall approached Tercio's cell, and Tercio backed up against the far wall just as he'd been told. Stonewall nodded to his side, and Princess Celestia took her place just in front of him. In the dim light she still looked regal and beautiful to Tercio's eyes, but something about her was different. She looked...tired. Worn out. He wondered if it was merely the shadows playing tricks on him.

"Hello, Tercio," she said in the same familiar, comforting voice he'd so enjoyed listening to when he first met her.

"My Princess," he replied, putting a closed fist over his heart and bowing his head. "I am sorry you must see me under such bizarre circumstances."

"Those circumstances are what we're trying to figure out. How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," he said, raising his blood-caked hands.

Stonewall stepped closer. "Centurion Krosus, I'm going to make something very clear to you: You are in here because you assaulted a fellow Praetorian recruit."

Tercio's eyes went wide. "I did what? What do you mean? Who?"

"Decanus Polaris."

"No, no, that doesn't make any sense. I wasn't assaulting Polaris, I was sparring with him!"

Celestia intervened. "Why don't you tell us what you remember of the day's training?"

Tercio sat on the side of his cot, his head in his hands.

"We...we were training in the sparring circle, outside of the palace grounds. The imperator said it would be good practice, and it would teach us how to fight against multiple opponents. I was with recruits Rimeberry, Thunderburst, and Polaris. I remember defeating Rimeberry and Thunderburst in single combat, but losing to Polaris' magic skills. Then it became a three on one situation. I fought against them as hard as I could, and then..." He shook his head. "And then I don't remember anything past that. Next thing I know, I'm sitting in this cell." Tercio stood up and approached the door, clutching his bloodied hands over the metal bars in the window. "What happened to me?"

"From what we can understand," Stonewall said, "you lost control of your senses. You ceased sparring with Polaris and tackled him to the ground, then you began to hit him in the face as hard as you could with your fists. We tried to pull you off him, but had to resort to a crude impact to the head to render you unconscious."

That explained the injuries. "I don't remember any of it, I swear! Are you sure that's what happened?"

"As sure as I am that Polaris is now fighting for his very survival in the infirmary. You made a bloody mess of his face and upper skull. He'll be lucky to live, much less eat or talk normally again. The apothecary is doing his best to mend Polaris' injuries, but they're extensive."

A huge weight felt like it had suddenly been set firmly on Tercio's chest. Polaris was severely injured, and might die, all because of something he had no recollection of. His head pounded, but he had to try and remember the details, anything that might give him a clue to his situation.

"I...I remember sparring with Polaris. I had the upper hand, but he was a fierce opponent. He started to...to...mock me, I think, but I knew it was in jest. We were merely testing each other."

"Do you remember what he said?" Celestia asked.

"He wanted me to attack him...that's what he kept saying. 'Attack! Attack!' Just like that."

"Is that why you tackled him?"

"No, it couldn't have been. We were in the middle of intense combat, yes, but at no point did I ever feel angry. Certainly not angry enough to do such a horrible thing. That's it. That's all I remember."

"Have you ever had aggressive feelings like this in the past?"

"No more than any other soldier. I assure you, I am not a person who is prone to fits of anger. I never have been."

Celestia turned to Stonewall. "Given his service record makes no mention of any such previous incidents, I'm inclined to believe him. I do not believe Centurion Tercio to be a threat, either to himself or others."

"All due respect, Princess," Stonewall countered, "I find it hard to believe you can state such a thing when Polaris is fighting for his life in the infirmary. If you want proof of this human's capabilities, look no further than the unconscious form of his battle brother."

Tercio clasped his hands together. "Imperator, Princess, I beg of you: Speak to my brother, Victus. Speak to my old unit commanders, speak to my parents and life-long friends. They will all reassure you of the same things I have already told you."

"Be that as it may, Centurion Krosus, there is still the undeniable fact that you assaulted a fellow soldier. Would you suggest it is just, even right, to pretend such a thing never happened?"

He let out a deep sigh. "No. It would not be just."

"Then I believe we've nothing further to discuss."

"Please, just hear me out, sir. I do not want to spend this war rotting away in a cell. I want to do my part to protect the Princess and Equestria, I--"

"What you want is irrelevant, Krosus."

Celestia gave a Stonewall a firm look. "Please let him finish, Stonewall." She nodded to Tercio. "As you were saying?"

"As...as I was saying, I thought that perhaps, if you would allow it, my Princess, I could continue to serve with the Praetorians and earn my place while this war is still being fought. Once we have defeated the whitetail, then I would readily accept any punishment you and Imperator Stonewall see fit." He frowned and added, "I have not given the last fourteen years of my life to Equestria to sit in a prison during her time of greatest need."

Celestia was silent for a short time, a hoof to her chin as she pondered the situation she found herself in.

"You make a strong argument," she finally said. "I cannot speak for Imperator Stonewall, but I see no reason to deny such a request."

"If I agreed to such a thing," Stonewall retorted, "then there are some factors that must be considered. The most obvious is Decanus Polaris' survival. If he dies from his injuries, then you are no longer facing an assault charge -- you are looking at murder. I don't think I need to tell you how serious such a charge would be."

"No, sir."

"Supposing Polaris does survive, then it is up to him to bring charges against you. If he agrees, we will continue from this very position after the war has passed. If he declines any charges, however...well, then there is nothing further. You will not be brought before a tribunal." Stonewall shifted the purple cloak on his back off to one side. "I would suggest you speak with Polaris when, and if, he is conscious. I despise the courts and their long-winded nonsense. It would be best if they never got involved. That, however, is entirely up to him and you. Do something right for once and talk it out like stallions."

Stonewall began to leave, placing his helm back upon his head and yanking his red-dyed mane through the crest.

"Then...I am free to go? For now?" Tercio called to him.

"I suppose you are, Centurion. Muster is just before sunrise tomorrow. Do not be late!"

It took a moment for the Imperator's words to truly strike home. When they did, Tercio felt as if the weight on his chest had been lifted all at once. Tears welled up in his eyes and he sank down to the floor, laughing with relief.

"Oh thank the old gods! If I never see this cell again it shall be too soon!"

Celestia smiled at him and levitated a ring of keys from down the hallway, struggling with the lock for a moment before hearing it give with a loud 'clack'.

"I know Imperator Stonewall has quite the reputation as a stallion of, shall we say, exacting standards, but as you have seen he is not unfair." She waved Tercio near with a hoof, floating another, smaller key to the shackles at his feet. They rattled to the ground. "Please, there is no need to keep your distance. I do not believe you a threat, Tercio."

He scrambled to his feet, saluting smartly before approaching her. "I am forever in your debt, Princess Celestia. I hope the others do not view me as some sort of monster after what happened to Polaris..."

"I cannot speak for them, but I've seen you at work. I've seen how hard you train and how much you want to be the best soldier you can be. If you continue to show that same tenacity then I am sure the others will accept you."

Tercio stepped from his cell, a cool wind sweeping down the hall. He shivered, wishing he had more than just his undergarments.

"My apologies, Princess, but I find myself rather cold at the moment. I don't suppose you would have--"

"Your things? Indeed I do. You will find them with the jailer just outside of the entrance door. I sincerely apologize for putting you in such a situation to begin with, but Imperator Stonewall was insistent we take no chances."

"I understand," he nodded, crossing his arms over his chest for warmth. "Thank you again."

"It is my pleasure. I'm sure you've languished in the cold for far too long; I will leave you to pick up your things and rejoin your Praetorian brothers."

With a curt bow Celestia turned and began to head down the hallway.

"Princess?"

She stopped and faced around once more.

"Yes?"

"I've been meaning to ask...why come to my aid? I would imagine a situation like this is usually handled internally by the soldier's unit. Why come down here to speak with me?"

"Because outside of this city, outside of these walls, Equestria is burning. Every day I have to speak with the widows of fallen soldiers, or the children of murdered citizens. Our home -- my home -- has become a place of misery and hatred. Not too long ago, we prided ourselves on love and community. No one seems to remember that these days," she said, dropping her voice to a firm whisper, "but I do."

***

A chill wind blew through the forest, rustling leaves and shaking branches. Overhead, clouds sped across the sky and darkened the ground, bringing with them the cool, clean smell of rains yet to come. Somewhere in the vast expanse of the Whitetail Woods, a lone earth pony trudged through the dirt and fallen leaves, his hoofsteps heavy with the weight of his armor. There were no trails, no roads, only a set of very specific directions he kept tucked into his scabbard.

Someone had summoned him. A note, slipped under his door in the night, had said simply "I have use of your skills". On the back of the slip of parchment, numerous steps had been jotted down. And so he'd followed them, confident in his abilities.

After what seemed like a very long time he finally reached his destination, a lone stump in the middle of a thicket. It was surrounded by dead leaves and dried twigs, and they crunched and snapped under his weight as he approached the small pendant resting upon the remnant of the severed tree. A deer and a pony, forming a circle, like a constellation he vaguely remembered. Puzzled, he picked up the porcelain thing and studied it. It looked like a bit of curio one would find at a street merchant's cart, nothing particularly unique.

The pendant began to hum, responding to his touch. It vibrated, then shook, and fell back onto the stump. He stepped back and half drew his sword from its sheathe, watching with equal parts curiosity and caution as a great plume of thick, black smoke gushed from the pendant. For a moment it hung in the air, gently swirling despite the gusting winds. Then, all at once, it took shape -- tall, and lithe. A figure vaguely resembling a pony, but different. A thousand points of nearly imperceptible light, like stars on a dusty night, glittered through the figure's mane and tail. Its body ebbed and flowed with an unseen force, its face a featureless black mask.

"Hello, Lacertus," it finally said, its voice cold as a grave. A chill shot down the pony's spine, harsher than any bellowing storm. He kept himself composed, just as he'd always done.

"I take it you're the one who summoned me to this damnable place in the middle of nowhere."

"Yes, I am. Is that an issue?"

"That depends," he answered with a shrug. "What is it you want, exactly? I suggest you make it quick, my time is valuable."

"I'm sure." The smokey figure cocked its head at him. "Answer me this, Lacertus: How long have you been a sell-sword?"

"Three decades. Seventy-six contracts."

"And how many of those contracts were you able to complete successfully?"

"Seventy-six." He smirked and patted the hilt of his sword with a hoof. "Is there a point to this?"

The twisting black mass flared briefly. "Of course there is. And you would be wise to watch your tone, little earth pony."

Lacertus chuckled dismissively. "Little? If you think I'm little, you should--"

"Enough. There is no point to this bickering. I wish only a yes or a no from you, nothing more or less."

"And the question is...?"

"Will you kill who I send you after? Without fail?"

"I'll kill an entire town if you want me to, so long as you pay me."

"Good. That is very good." The dark figure smiled with shockingly bright teeth, sharp as blades and glinting otherworldly light. Lacertus felt the air pulled from his lungs, and in a singular moment he knew fear for the first time in many years.

"Who...who do you need dead? Keep in mind, my services are not cheap," he stated after regaining his confidence.

"There is only one target, Lacertus of Canterlot. A very valuable target. One that will make you wealthy beyond your wildest dreams."

Green-blue eyes, sharp and thin like a dragon's, appeared on the thing's face. They affixed him with an unblinking gaze. "Princess Celestia."

Lacertus' eyes went wide for the briefest of moments.

"That's quite the kill. I may be good, but do you really expect me to take on an entire city's worth of guards?"

"Of course not. I have already arranged for a distraction. You need only take advantage of the commotion. Will that be a problem, earth pony?"

It wouldn't be easy. It would likely be incredibly difficult. But it would be the kill of a lifetime. The ultimate show of his prowess. He would be remembered for all of eternity as the one who butchered a goddess. It would be glorious.

"No," he said confidently, smiling with barely-contained glee, the joy of the hunt spreading over him once more. "That won't be a problem in the least."

***

Tercio was free once more. Though he had only been locked up for a few days, most of it in unconsciousness, it felt like so much longer. Yet even as he relaxed in the cool, comforting winds that swept through the cliff-side city, his heart was heavy with guilt and worry. A fellow recruit was in serious condition, and may die, all because of something beyond his control. No matter how many times he replayed the fight in his head, trying to pick out any little detail, he couldn't remember what had been the trigger for such an attack. Furthermore, he had no idea why it hadn't happened in the fourteen previous years of service he'd given to Equestria. Surely if it was a simple rise of anger it would have happened sooner, wouldn't it? There had to be something more, something he was missing.

He'd stopped by the infirmary, where the apothecary had gone over the extent of Polaris' wounds. It shook Tercio to his core to know he'd caused them. So far Polaris had not grown worse, but he had not grown better, either. He was in a state of perpetual unconsciousness; the apothecary described it as being alive but not fully living. Tercio didn't fully understand it, and it only served to frustrate him more.

When he finally returned to the Praetorian barracks he found his bunk just as he'd left it, with his gear still kept in the trunk at the foot of his bed. The only real change came from his fellow recruits. He hadn't heard anything from the full-fledged Praetorians down the hall, but the others in his area -- Rimeberry and Thunderburst -- were much quieter than he had previously seen them. Polaris' own bunk, across from his, had been kept tidy for his hopeful return.

The others didn't say much to him that night, keeping to themselves for the most part. It wasn't anger or resentment he felt directed at him when they gazed in his direction, but rather, caution. They were afraid of him, afraid that they might be the next to end up in the infirmary at his hands. He wanted to defend himself and tell them how he wasn't in control of his mind or body when it happened, but thought it best to simply say nothing for the time being. Likely, he would have to earn their trust once more -- not to mention Princess Celestia's, and that of his Imperator -- and he intended to do exactly that, no matter what it took.

***

"Come on, Equestrian, just give up. Isn't it enough to be beaten back-to-back?"

Victus stabbed his gladius into the soil and picked himself up off the ground, his armor stained with grass and dirt. Twice now he'd challenged Gilias to single combat, and twice he'd been defeated handily. So too, in fact, had every other challenger. Three continuous hours of combat, and the griffon hadn't lost a step. He liked to think he was a competent warrior, but Gilias seemed to be on a whole other level entirely.

"Not until I've taken your precious amasec, griffon."

"Still got some fight left in you, huh? I admire that." Gilias twirled her curved blades in her hands, clinking her talons against the sharpened steel. "Alright, let's make this interesting."

"What did you have in mind?" he asked wearily.

"How about this: If you win this fight, you can have all three casks. No questions asked."

"And if I lose?"

Gilias smiled wryly. "Then I get your helm."

He jerked back. "What? Why on Earth would you want my helm? It wouldn't even fit you."

"Call it a souvenier," she answered with a shrug. "Those gold inlays sure are nice..."

He stood in silence, unsure of whether or not to take the challenge. The others started to goad him on, shouting for him to defend the honor of the 44th Legion. Easy for them to do, they had nothing to lose.

"...fine. Winner take all." His battle brothers cheered. Gilias simply smirked at his answer.

"I see you found your balls after all. Gotta be honest, I didn't think you'd accept."

"I suppose I'm full of surprises," he said, getting back into a battle stance with his gladius clutched in his mouth.

"You'll need to pull out a few if you want a chance, Equestrian."

Just as the first blade was about to be thrust, a loud sound stole the encampment's attention. The gathered ponies turned to see what the interruption was, finding a pegasus making a circle around the area with a trumpeting horn in his mouth. It landed near Legatus Lentius, sharply saluting before dropping a scroll at his hooves. The legatus studied the parchment, his eyes narrowing at the unseen words. He said something to the pegasus messenger, and the pair went back and forth for a moment. Then, just as suddenly as he'd arrived, the messenger took to the air and was gone. The legionaries stood silent, waiting for their commander to say something. He took to the pedestal near his private tent, raising a hoof in the air.

"Everyone gather 'round and listen up!"

Gilias grumbled and stuck her swords back into their sheathes.

"We'll finish this later, Equestrian."

"I certainly hope so," Victus said.

Lentius clopped a hoof on the pedestal. "You all know me. I'm not one to mince words or sweeten them like honey. I will not waste your time, or my own. Thus, the message I bring to you is simple: Effective immediately, the 44th Legion is mobilized for war!" A surprised murmur rushed through the crowd before it was silenced by a wave of the legatus' foreleg. "Word has just reached me that a scout patrol from the 28th Legion was wiped out, save for one survivor who was let go to deliver a message. That message said that unless Equestrian forces meet the Whitetail in open combat outside of the Everfree forest, the deer will slaughter every living thing on their path to Canterlot. Stallion, mare, or foal."

Shouts of anger were his response, outrage at such a horrific ultimatum.

"And so, we will march out to face the enemy tomorrow morning!" Lentius raised his voice, holding his hooves high over his head. He knew that his soldiers looked to him for inspiration, and so he summoned the voice of his very heart and soul, that he might instill in them the confidence he could only hope he could give them in return.

"Take the night to prepare your equipment and load your sacks with provisions! Sharpen your blades and clean your armor to a mirror shine, so that the light of Celestia's sun may blind the motherless deer! For tomorrow the 44th will fight, and we will kill, and by the gods old and new we will visit upon our enemies such terrible wrath that their entire species will wish it had never heard the name of Equestria!"

9 - The Coming Storm

"You know, when I found out I was being transferred to the Praetorians, I never thought I would be spending my days planting flowers," Tercio grumbled with a handful of small, pink flowers. For the last four hours he and the other recruits had painstakingly dug out neat little holes, stuck a flower in each one, and filled the hole up. Over and over.

"I mean, we're supposed to be the elite of Equestrian military might, and here we are, breaking our backs, hunched over planting boxes. Where does this factor into defending the princess, exactly?"

"The only thing you're defending is the privilege of a hot meal, Krosus." Imperator Stonewall paced back and forth behind the recruits from Barracks 4 and Barracks 2, as if planting decorative flowers was of the utmost importance. "And if you keep bitching, you're likely to lose that privilege."

To Tercio's immediate right, the tall, strong form of Rimeberry continued his duties without complaint.

"I don't mind it," he said, alternating purple and white rows. "Reminds me of happier times."

"If your happier times involved sticking flowers in the ground all day, I'd hate to know what you consider to be hard work, my friend."

Rimeberry smiled lightly to himself. "I used to do this for fun, back in the day. It was a break from farm work."

Tercio stopped momentarily. "You worked on a farm?"

"I did." The big earth pony took a long drink from his flask, letting out a satisfied exhale. "Grew up on one. Folks owned a vineyard up in the north of Equestria, near the Griffon border. Made a nice little living making ice wine."

"Ice wine?"

"Yep. When the winter freeze rolls around, and everything is at just the right temperature, the sugars in the grapes become more concentrated. Makes a sweeter wine. It's hard work, getting a decent amount of it, but it always sold well. Gave my mother and father enough income to last us the year."

"Huh. Well I guess that explains the name. Now I don't have to ask," Tercio quipped.

"I suppose you don't." He worked in silence for a time before speaking up once more. "What about you, Tercio? Any soil running through your veins?"

"There is, in fact."

"Oh?"

"My adoptive mother and father are fifth-generation farmers. Wheat and carrots, mostly. I spent many a year helping them with the planting and harvesting. It's never really been my forte, however. That's why I signed up with the Equestrian military as soon as I was able. Being a soldier suits me far better than, oh, planting flowers."

"And yet here you are," Rimeberry said with a small chuckle.

"So it would seem."

Across from Tercio's spot in line, Thunderburst was having more trouble than either of his compatriots. He swore to himself as a bundle of purple-speckled flowers tumbled from his grasp. "Gods above! This is beneath me. I am a pegasus, not a mud pony! I should be soaring through the sky with a spear at my side, not rummaging through dirt."

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just say 'mud pony' in my presence," Rimeberry said without looking up.

Thunderburst grumbled. "I'm just tired of these meaningless tasks. Shouldn't we be sparring right now?"

"Patience, Thunderburst." Rimeberry held up a flower between his hooves, looking at it in the fading glow of the increasingly cloudy sky. "It's like being a recruit again. You just have to bide your time and do as they say."

"Patience nothing!" Thunderburst stood up, tossing the flowers to the ground. "Fully half of Equestria's military might is marching on Everfree as we speak! Why are we not joining them?!"

"Hey, come on," Tercio said, "I would rather be fighting, too, but there's no need to lose your temper over it."

"You're one to lecture me about temper, human! One of us has beaten a fellow soldier into a state of living death. I do not know how you sleep at night."

Stonewall came marching over, stepping up to the mouthy pegasus.

"Is there a problem, Thunderburst?"

"Sir, I only want to fight the whitetail. Why are we digging holes for flowers?"

"Because sometimes that's what you have to do, whether you like it or not. Need I remind you that you are an aspiring praetorian? You have not earned the right to guard a chamber pot, much less the princess!"

"But--"

"Not a word, recruit. Do you hear me? If you wish to support the soldiers marching to face the deer, then I suggest you offer your prayers, because you will not be offering your blade. Not yet." Stonewall raised his voice to be heard over the dozen recruits culled from the Equestrian Guard and Royal Guard. "That goes for all of you! If blood is what you seek, then rest assured that there will be a river of it soon enough! Whether it is yours, or the enemy's, is to be seen. Until then, you should consider yourselves lucky to be blessed with Princess Celestia's royal garden! Now get back to work!"

Tercio waited until the imperator was out of ear shot.

"Look, Thunderburst, I already told you I had no control over what happened to Polaris. I'm hoping for his recovery just as much as you are."

"I'm sure. What do you care, human? Likely he is just another pony to you. I'm surprised you can even tell us apart."

With a grunt of frustration Tercio looked Thunderburst in the eye. "I care not if you think ill of me, Thunderburst. I am too busy worrying for the well-being of my brother in the 44th Legion to bother with whether or not you despise me."

"Your brother? So there's more than one of you?"

"No. He's a pegasus, like you, only he proves his worth through actions, not empty words."

Sensing a brawl coming in the not too distant future, Rimeberry stepped in to try and calm the situation.

"So you're a praetorian, and your brother is a legionary. Your parents must be proud."

"I would like to think so," Tercio said, pulling his gaze away from Thunderburst. "They took me in when they had no obligation to, and for that I am eternally grateful."

"They sound like good folks."

"They are, though they must be worried sick right about now. Can't say I blame them. News of the coming battle has surely spread throughout most of Equestria at this point."

"And your brother, do you worry for him?"

Tercio nodded. "Of course. I worry for him every day. But the Legion is not for the weak of mind or body, and I know he is more than capable of defending himself. I'd argue he's a better fighter than I am."

"That's not much of a boast," Thunderburst mumbled.

"I'm a better fighter than you, pegasus, or have you already forgotten the last time we sparred? Spare me your barbs, I grow weary of them already." Thunderburst shot him a look full of daggers, but said nothing more. "I'm sorry, Rimeberry. I simply do not have patience for those who would insult another's blood."

"I understand," the other said.

Tercio pulled a cloth from a belt pouch, wiping the sweat from his brow and forehead. Even with the coming shade planting was hard work. Far above, large, grey clouds were slowly overtaking the sun. Somewhere, he thought, Victus was looking up at the same sky. A horrible thought tugged at his mind and refused to let go -- it might be the last sky Victus ever saw.

Tercio gave a silent prayer to the old gods.

"Be safe, brother."

***

Libertus and his followers bowed on their knees as the image of their queen formed from the pendant laid upon her altar. The old tent, once used to hide her from the outside world, was now gone. In its place, there was only the open air of Whitetail Wood. They'd all gathered here, his comrades, his brothers and sisters in eternal service, to follow one last order. He knew not their exact number, only that hundreds of true believers had come from every corner of Equestria. Word of the untold glory and eternal life awaiting them had even attracted members of other species, for they were all equal in the eyes of Nightmare Moon. In return, she asked only for their devotion.

"My Queen," Libertus said as the fully-formed visage stood before him, its shape swirling and billowing with an unseen wind. "We have gathered as you asked. Our numbers are legion."

"Rise, my servants," the dark figure said, "and know that you are loved." A murmur of pure joy spread through the masses. "I trust none of you were followed?"

"A few, my Queen, but those who dared to impede upon our ceremony have been dealt with in a manner befitting the torment awaiting them in the afterlife. You will find only loyalists amongst us."

"Very good, Libertus. Tell me: Do the armies of Equestria still march toward Everfree? Do the deerfolk still intend to wage war to the last?"

"Yes. There is no stopping the conflict, just as you had foreseen."

"Then it is time." The black mass studied the crowd with predatory eyes. "Events have been set in motion that will alter the course of history forever. Tomorrow, all of you -- pony, zebra, and griffon alike -- will tip the balance of power away from the corrupt, stagnant rule of Princess Celestia and her blind lackeys. You...will change everything."

Libertus felt a rush of exhilaration, a sense of pride like he had never felt before. Clad in his blood-stained armor, he bowed before his ruler once more.

"We will do anything you ask, Queen Nightmare Moon! Command us!"

The gathered warriors and fanatics shouted, pleaded for a task.

The dark figure raised a foreleg, and all was silent once more.

"A dark day awaits Equestria. Her streets will run red with the blood of her soldiers, slain by the deer, and you...you will be my instruments of my will. Tomorrow, you will march on Canterlot!" The crowd gasped in surprise and delight.

"You will storm the very walls of the diseased heart of Equestria's rule, and you will lay waste to every living thing within in confines, that a new world may be reborn from its ashes!"

Libertus led the crowd in a mighty cheer, their blades raised in the air.

"I will give you eternal life, my followers," the figure said. "I will give you power beyond power, and we will rejoice in unending pleasure and feast til our bellies are full in the Great Beyond! And in return...I ask only for your mortal lives."

Libertus looked up at his queen, tears streaming from his eyes, and in that moment he knew that he had chosen right when the whole world had told him he was wrong.

"Now go. Leave behind no traces of this site. And when you reach Canterlot, let all who stand before you know the wrath of Nightmare Moon."

***

Many miles away, on the edge of the Everfree forest, a gathering storm mirrored the scene far below -- the largest mobilization of Equestrian forces in two hundred years. Thousands of soldiers from all arms of the mighty nation's military steadily formed themselves into squads, squads into centuries, centuries into cohorts. As far as the eye could see, vast numbers of steel and iron-clad warriors stood at the ready. Skirmish stallions, archers, air assault units, shield carriers. Ballistae and catapults. Endless fields of upright spears and sheathed swords. There was no longer a distinction between Equestrian Guard, Royal Guard, or Legion. United under the banner of their home land, they were all simply soldiers.

In the distance behind them, a massive tent city had been erected to feed and supply the bulk of Equestria's military. Now it was empty, nothing but the smoldering ashes of extinguished campfires and empty canvas.

Amongst the gathered numbers, Decanus Victus stood with his squad. They were but a small part of the endless formations, but he stood by his stallions like they were his own flesh and blood. Some were new to the Legion -- Steel Spark, Vincarius, Sertis, and Rockfall -- while others had served alongside him for years. His old compatriot and childhood friend, Chiron, stood at his side, the left-most of the squad. Smaller in stature than Victus, he none the less had proven himself as an able soldier in the Legion. He craned his neck to see above the crested helms that surrounded him, giving up with a sigh of annoyance.

"Is something the matter, Chiron?" Victus asked as he gave a final inspection to each of his stallions, tightening straps and testing their armor for proper fittings.

"Yes," Chiron said, "I'm damned terrified, that's what."

Some of the others echoed his sentiment.

"You've never been one to mince words, old friend," Victus chuckled.

"Are you not afraid as well? Look at all of this!" He motioned with a hoof to the sea of stallions. "Never before have I seen such a show of force! Half of Equestria must be out here."

"Then you should take comfort in our strength. If the deer want a fight, then they're going to get one."

Some of the more veteran members of the squad laughed in approval.

"Of that I've no doubt. I do believe we have the training and skill necessary, but still...an actual battle. I do not understand how you can be so calm."

Victus stepped back from his squad, standing before them with his spear at his side.

"Shall I let you all in on a secret? Yes? Very well." Victus removed his galea, revealing his short-cropped, amber mane. His white coat stood out in sharp contrast to the metallic armor and red Legion cloak that adorned his body. "Truth be told, I am just as scared as any of you. Perhaps more so. I worry not for my own life, but for yours. You are, all of you, my brothers, and I care for you as such."

A cool wind blew through the clearing, bringing with it the promise of rain. Distant thunder rolled across the heavens and warned of impending storms.

"Know this, legionaries: No matter what the deer may throw at us, I will not falter. I will not leave you. We will fight as one, and we will kill as one, and if it comes to it, then we will die as one. On this, you have my very word as a stallion."

Behind his squad, behind the many others that made up just a single century, there came an echoing of voices, orders passed down from officer to officer. The nearest centurion relayed the message: The deer had arrived.

"They're here," Victus said quietly to his squad. Immediately he could feel his pulse quicken. Another shouted order. "Squad! Formation stance! Spears up!"

As one they snapped to attention, standing as straight and tall as their weapons. The sound of countless ponies, all carrying out the same order, echoed through the coming battlefield. It was awe-inspiring, a sound he knew he'd never forget. Then, for the first time since they'd arrived, it was completely silent.

***

General Phalanx stood atop the low hill overlooking his army. It was a breathtaking sight, a veritable sea of the finest soldiers Equestria had to offer. Clad in golden armor, with a white crest upon his helm, he looked every bit the leader he hoped he could be. A shimmering cloak of magically-infused white silk bellowed behind him in the gusting winds, shimmering with the radiant light of Celestia's sun. He closed his eyes and took in a deep, wonderful breath of rain-scented air. For the briefest of moments he was a colt again, running through the shallow stream behind his home. No war upon him, no lives to be lost under his command.

"The stallions are ready, General."

He opened his eyes, and once more he was focused solely on the task before him.

"So they are."

His most trusted imperators stood to either flank, along with an unexpected visitor from the 44th Legion -- a griffon named Gilias. Legatus Lentius had spoken highly of her skill, and she seemed eager to join the fight. He could not very well turn down another blade.

"You are free to leave, should you so feel the need," Phalanx told the Battle-Master from a distant land.

"And miss the fun? Not on your life, Equestrian," Gilias answered with a confident grin.

"Very well, then."

Ahead in the wooded distance an unfamiliar horn sounded, loud and deep. Many others joined it, lighter and sharper. The whitetail were approaching.

"Let me ask you something, griffon."

"Yes?"

"You've fought the deer. Do you truly believe we can win this war?"

"I don't know," she answered truthfully. "I have yet to see your forces in action. If we survive this battle, ask me then."

The horns stopped, and the rumbling began. Countless deer marching in formation, unseen yet very much heard. Their deertongue call-and-response commands echoed through the thick forest that obscured their movements.

"FYYL NA'AL KRAHS!"

"HWAH!"

"GAHL D'WIN!"

"HWAH!"

At once they appeared from the edge of the forest, marching in long columns as they stepped into the clearing. With military precision they split into rectangular sections, hundreds of deer per formation. Polished, glass-like armor shone green in the fading light of overcast skies. For ten minutes they streamed from the forest, their numbers beyond counting. With a final, shouted order the deer were in place. Their lines stretched as wide and far as the Equestrians that stood not even two hundred yards away.

General Phalanx looked out over the massed deer, and for the first time he was unsure of his own victory.

"Right. Axebite, Shatter-Shield, you're with me. Keep your weapons holstered, and that's an order."

His imperators answered immediately, placing their helms upon their heads and hoisting the banners of Equestria upon their backs, held up high on saddle-mounted poles.

"What about me?" Gilias asked.

"You will stay here. This is a matter between myself and the Whitetail general."

"You won't be saying that when I start slaughtering the deer."

"It is a matter of formality, Battle-Master. Do not concern yourself with such things, I am sure you have already been noticed."

"Good, I hate being last to fight."

The impending battlefield was disconcertingly quiet. There was only the sound of wind whipping through the clearing, rustling banners and shaking spears, and the rolling sound of nearing thunder. With a final, deep breath the general marched out to the empty space between the two great armies. A tall, well-built stag with graying spots came out to meet him, flanked by two of Whitetail's finest warriors. Floating beside them were long, narrow flags of green and white, triangular in shape, with split ends that flapped in the wind.

For a long moment neither side said a word. The old veterans simply looked each other over, a wordless, martial respect their only common ground.

"Brother-General Felnaris," Phalanx finally said, tipping his head to the other.

"General Phalanx," Felnaris replied in heavily-accented Equestrian Common, returning the slight nod. "We meet at last."

"So it would seem." Phalanx looked out over his gathered army, then the army of his rival. He saw only countless lives that would soon be lost. "I realize this is likely a futile gesture, but perhaps we do not have to fight."

The leader of Whitetail's military, clad in gold-flecked armor, smiled lightly at the thought.

"Indeed we do not, Equestrian. All we ask is your full surrender, and the abolishment of Princess Celestia from the throne."

"You know as well as I do that such a thing will not happen."

"Then we have nothing further to discuss."

"Listen to me," Phalanx bit back, taking a step closer. "This entire campaign is based on a lie! It was not us who destroyed River Run, nor ended the life of your chancellor. Please, turn back. Tell your Senate that we seek only time to discover who is at fault for such crimes. Then, when the traitorous scum are discovered, we can wipe them out together."

"And give your armies time to build up further? General, I do not believe you know so much about warfare as you claim." Felnaris gestured to his forces. "Come what may, the fates have already decided for us. I speak with you out of respect for your past accomplishments, not out of fear. Or hatred. I am simply an old soldier. As are you. I care not why I am told to fight, only that I am."

"Heh. A couple of damned, old soldiers. Isn't that the gods' honest truth?"

"Some things do not change." Felnaris bowed to an unseen soldier. "If you could, please pass on a message to Battle-Master Gilias. Tell her Brother-General Felnaris wishes her a long life."

"As you wish."

Phalanx looked up at the gathering clouds, feeling the first drops of scattered rain fall over his face. Despite all signs to the contrary, he had still fostered some small hope of resolving the meeting of forces without bloodshed. Now that hope was gone, and in its place was a slowly rising sense of determination. If he had to fight, then he would fight to his utmost. His stallions depended on it. If they fell, Equestria would be forced to fight with greatly reduced numbers.

"Very well," he said firmly. "If such a thing cannot be avoided, then we will fight. In the event of defeat for either of us, I ask only that our respective soldiers are treated fairly. No prisoner will come to harm under the flag of surrender. On this, I give you my word."

"And I, mine."

Without a further word, the two leaders turned and marched back to their lines. His soldiers saluted him once more as he passed. Finally, with his position overlooking the battlefield secured, he relieved his guarding imperators back to their formations.

"Brother-General Felnaris wishes you a long life," he said to Gilias as she stood at his side once more. "I take it you two know each other?"

"You could say that. We fought in a battle nearly two decades ago. He is tougher than he looks. But then," she added with an air of resolve, "so am I."

"Let us hope so."

Neither army made a move, and in the long, passing minutes light showers of rain turned into a steady downpour that clattered off steel and crystalline armor, the sound echoing through the clearing. General Phalanx bowed his head, offering a prayer for his stallions.

"May the gods old and new watch over and guide us."

And then he was at war.

"HASTATIIIII!"

His commanders echoed his orders through the ranks.

"AT THE READY!"

Down the entire front line, stallions of the first four ranks joined shields in a great, impenetrable wall of wood and iron, spears tucked into their forelegs. Glistening weapon tips dripped with rain water as they jutted from gaps, forming a long line of assured death for any who would dare to attack. There they remained, motionless, waiting.

"DA'EN'KRAS, FILINYYN!"

Across the way, thousands of deer answered as one. Small, crystalline buckler shields were raised to neck-level, and together unfolded once, twice, three times as segments dropped from the main circle and latched together. In a matter of moments, they had grown more than twice their original size.

"ARO'WIN!"

"HWAH!"

A thousand deer raised up and stomped their forelegs into the ground.

"ARO'WIN!"

"HWAH!"

"ARO'WIN!"

"HWAH!!"

With a final shout the deer slammed their hooves down. A deafening cacophony filled the air as thousands of armor-mounted conical blades shot out and locked into place.

General Phalanx looked over his soldiers one, last time. He knew only a fraction of them by name, but he knew he would feel the deaths of each and every one. Later he would mourn them. For now, he would be their general, and he would fight and kill with them, and by his leadership his home would be safe once again.

"EQUESTRIANS!" He donned his helm and unsheathed his sword, shouting above the din of falling rain.

"PREPARE TO DEFEND YOURSELVES!"

10 - Id

Frantic footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, down the barracks wing and out to the Praetorian common area. A senior officer passed by, and Tercio threw up a quick salute before rushing past him at a nearly full run. He had no time for pleasantries or formality. He cared only about reaching the infirmary. Not even a minute prior, a messenger stallion had brought word to his barracks -- Polaris was awake. It mattered not that it was half way through the night, it was news Tercio had been awaiting for what felt like an age.

The common area gave way to the central palace grounds, then the royal garden, before he finally reached the small cluster of buildings denoting the medicae quarters. He allowed himself a few seconds to catch his breath before entering the building, finding the apothecary looking over a stack of scrolls under the light of a row of candles.

"Bed fourteen, left side," the pony said after quick glance.

Most of the bunks were empty, with only a few soldiers scattered here or there with illness or injuries. The place smelled of medicinal salves and old bandages. Down near the end of the outer-most row, the unmistakable form of a unicorn lay with its mostly-wrapped head propped up on a small stack of cushions, its ivory-colored coat flecked and spotted with dried blood.

Slowly, cautiously, Tercio approached and took a knee.

"Polaris, can you hear me? It's Tercio."

There was no response for some time. Then, a groan.

"Tercio...?"

"Yes. I received word you were awake."

"So it would seem."

Tercio was suddenly overtaken with relief, sitting on the ground with his head in his hands.

"Your well-being has been at the forefront of my mind for many days. I was afraid you might die." He lifted a flask of water from beside the bed, holding it up beside his wounded comrade. "Are you thirsty? I could give you some water."

"Not...right now..." Polaris answered, weakly lifting a foreleg to push the flask away. His words came out slurred and what little of his face was uncovered was bruised and swollen.

"Very well. How are you feeling? Are you alright?"

"I...I feel as if I've been tossed down a mountain." Polaris' voice was raspy and he frequently had to stop to wince at some unknown pain. "But I'm...alive...at least."

"No thanks to me," Tercio said, not able to look Polaris in the eyes.

It was silent for a few long, uncomfortable seconds.

"Do you remember what happened, Polaris?"

"Yes...we were sparring. You had the advantage, but I...pushed back. And I...I started to taunt you. I can remember it clearly. Perhaps I shouldn't have--"

"I know it was all in jest, my friend," Tercio interrupted. "Believe me, it would take more than competitive banter for me to do this to you."

"And yet, here we are. Or, here I am..."

Tercio was unsure of what to say. He had tried to figure out his exact words for many days now, but nothing ever truly sounded like it could make up for what he had done. Perhaps nothing could.

"I'm sorry. For all of this. I don't know what happened, but I lost control of myself. You must believe me when I say that I became someone else. Even now, all I can remember are flashes, glimpses of violence. As if I were possessed."

"You...certainly fought like it." Polaris slowly turned his head to look at Tercio. "I have served...for...nngh...ten years of my life. And never...have I seen someone act so enraged."

More flashes of that day, red-tinted visions of fists pounding into flesh.

"I am truly sorry, Polaris. I would not blame you in the least if you did not trust me, much less want to serve alongside me."

"I cannot say. Not yet. I do appreciate you...coming here to apologize, however. It couldn't hurt to start anew, could it?"

"I suppose not," Tercio replied with a relieved laugh. He grasped his comrade's foreleg in his hands. "It's good to have you back with us."

"And I am very glad to be back. I remember...I remember there was something else. Just before you struck. I was saying 'attack, attack', and then...some other word. Something like...For...Falc...Faln..."

A clear memory of the past. A sword held high above an exposed throat, its hilt dripping with blood.

"Fal'naas," Polaris said at last, the word finally returning to him. Tercio felt his grip tighten at the mere sound of it. Something inside of him was reacting to the simple word, and even as he felt his heart beat quicken the sound of Polaris' voice seemed to fade into the distance.

"...are you doing? Tercio? Are you alright?"

With a start and a sudden gasp Tercio found himself once more in control. He sprang to his feet and stepped away from the injured unicorn, leaning against a marble pillar with heavy breaths.

"Gods above..."

"What was that?" Polaris asked with a look of concern and confusion. "You looked as if...you were...lost in thought."

"That word! Something about it--"

"You mean fal'n--"

"Don't say it!" Tercio shouted. The apothecary looked over in their direction for a moment before returning to his work with a shrug. "Please. Where did you hear it from? What in the world does it mean?"

"It's...a deertongue word, I think. I heard it during training...many years ago. Our old instructor..."

"What does it mean?" Tercio repeated.

"I don't know. It's just something he used to...say to us." Polaris pushed himself up on an elbow. "Is there something I should know?"

Tercio's mind was swimming, a great, swirling vortex of half-seen memories and a thousand emotions pulling on him at once.

"I can't be here right now. I'm sorry, my friend. I should remove myself before something happens again..."

"Tercio? I must admit to being...quite confused...right now."

"I-I have to leave. I will try to come by in the morning. I just need to get out of here." He stumbled towards the door without another word. A terrible pain began to build in his head and it took every bit of his strength to make the trek back to his bunk. He collapsed onto the straw-filled mattress, still fully clothed, and within seconds he began the most troubled night's rest since he'd assaulted Polaris many days ago.

***

A field of wheat, endless on all sides.

"They will be here soon. We cannot hold them forever."

"I know. We will be gone long before they arrive. Do not concern yourself."

"And what of the child? He is not yet ready."

Falling, falling endlessly through a sky of storms and fire.

"Then we will leave him. This does not change anything."

"It changes everything! How can you abandon us at such a time?"

A river of blood, thick with corpses.

"Patience. The time will come. We must simply wait."

***

A groggy morning came with the rising of the sun. Sleep had been nearly impossible, filled with images Tercio could hardly begin to piece together, if they meant anything at all. Wearily he'd dressed himself and strapped on his armor, giving a check to the daily assignment posting. A dozen stallions crowded around the scroll, searching for their names. Tercio found his half-way down: Throne Room duty. He groaned, not particularly looking forward to a day of standing around in an empty hallway guarding a set of doors.

"Look on the bright side," a stallion from Barracks Two joked, "you're a Praetorian now. You get to guard the second set of doors! Those poor bastards in the Royal Guard have to stand near the outer ones. You're moving up in the world."

By the time Tercio finished readying himself and headed down the hallway to the central palace grounds, then down to his assigned post, he found Morning Star already waiting. Beside him was an unfamiliar stallion in a sour mood who complained about the long night, barely managing a salute to formally leave his post before muttering about sleep. Once he passed through the first set of double doors leading back outside, Tercio leaned his back against the wall and let out a sigh. For most of the night he had tried to figure out who might possibly know what "fal'naas" could possibly mean, and why it caused him to react with such anger, but as far as he knew none of his comrades spoke Deertongue.

"Krosus," the pony said to him, tipping his spear.

"Star," Tercio replied.

"Another exciting day, hmm? Just think, we could be leading squads of soldiers in battle right now, instead of standing around like common guards. Makes you rethink joining the Praetorians a little, doesn't it?"

"Of course not," Tercio insisted. Morning Star eyed him skeptically. "...fine, perhaps a little."

"That's what I thought. By the way, you look terrible. Spend the night with a whore who didn't agree with your wages?"

"If only it were that simple." There was no way he could tell Morning Star about, well, anything that had happened during the visit to Polaris' sickbed. A half-truth would suffice. "One could hardly blame me for getting little in the way of sleep. My brother in the Legion is marching off to war as we speak. By this eve he may be in battle." Yet another thing thing to worry about. Truthfully he felt terrible for thinking about something as relatively pointless as a mysterious word when Victus may very well be fighting for his life, but it wasn't as if he could simply will himself to appear at his brother's side.

"I can only hope he lives to see the morrow," he said quietly.

Morning Star nodded. "I shall keep him in my prayers."

"Thank you."

Hours came and went, bringing little in the way of excitement. Occasionally a well-to-do pony or an officer would stop by for an appointment with the princess, and Morning Star would write their name and time of visit in the thick, hard-bound ledger at his side, or once in a while Tercio and Morning Star would talk about some of the few things that had in common, but otherwise it was just another long posting. It did, however, give Tercio a lot of time to think. There was one pony who might have the information he was looking for. All he had to do was gain access to her.

"Do you remember some time ago, when you misplaced your gladius?" Tercio asked, breaking the silence.

"Of course," the other said with a small laugh. "Stonewall would have had my ass if you hadn't let me borrow yours. Why do you ask?"

"Because I need to call upon that favor you owe me."

Morning Star swore. "Great. I should have known I'd regret saying that. What is it you want?"

"I need to see the princess as soon as possible."

"You see her every time we open the doors."

"You know what I mean, smart-ass. I have need to speak with her. Believe me, it's urgent."

"Maybe it is," Morning Star said, rubbing a hoof under the back of his helm, "but why not go through Stonewall? There's a chain of command for this kind of thing."

"I cannot discuss it with Stonewall, or anyone else for that matter. It has to be Princess Celestia." Tercio placed a pleading hand over his chest. "I promise, this will not come back to you. If the imperator wishes to bring down his wrath upon anyone, it shall be me alone."

"...and your plan is?"

"Put me in for a meeting with the princess before our shift ends. You can mark it in the ledger as, say...Gallant Hearthstone?"

"My uncle?!" Morning Star asked, raising his voice. Tercio had to shush him before they returned to a quieter voice. "Why in the nine hells would I do such a thing?"

"Because no one would question him showing up for an appointment. He's connected. And thus, so are you."

"But he lives half-way across the country!"

"Exactly. Who will find out? Certainly not him."

Morning Star lowered his voice to just above a whisper. "If I decide to help you -- and that is a very large 'if' -- then we are even. More than even. This is a far larger risk than simply misplacing a sword. You're asking me to lie on the official registry!"

"I know, I know, but this for Polaris' sake, not just my own. Everyone knows what I did, and I can't just make that go away. But I can try to make sure it never happens again." Morning Star tapped a hoof while he thought about the proposal. "Please. There is something going on that I cannot explain. Princess Celestia could be the answer I'm searching for."

Morning Star grumbled something to himself, leaning against his spear.

"Alright. I'll put you down for a few hours from now. But no more favors, understood?"

"Understood. And thank you. Whatever it is that's happened to me, I intend to find out."

***

The large doors of Princess Celestia's throne room swung open, groaning on their hinges. It had been several weeks since his first visit to the opulent, regal building, but Tercio still felt a sense of wonder as he entered. Lengths of multi-colored silk and gold trinkets wrapped around the carved marble pillars that supported the arched ceiling, and large windows let in the warmth and light of the mid-day's sun. At the end of the room, under the hanging banner of Equestria's lands, Princess Celestia sat with a scroll levitating in front of her. A cup of steaming liquid sat beside her; tea of some sort, he guessed. Tercio approached cautiously, still unsure of being in her presense under false pretenses.

"Ah, Sir Hearthstone," she said in a practiced, refined voice, still keeping her eyes on the scroll. "To what do I owe the pleasure? I realize it is a long trip from your home, surely you must--"

She looked up, jerking her head back slightly as she realized who she was speaking with.

"...Tercio? Where's Sir Hearthstone?"

"He's not here, Your Highness. Truth be told, he was never meant to arrive today."

She gave an inquisitive look.

"I am afraid I do not understand..."

Tercio approached the royal dais, bowing his head and saluting with his fist over his chest.

"I beg your forgiveness, my Princess, but I needed to see you as soon as possible."

"About what? Is something the matter?"

"Yes. It's about Polaris, and my actions that brought him to his current condition."

Celestia rolled up the scroll and placed it on a shelf, where it joined many others.

"I am more than willing to speak with anyone who requests it, but you must understand there is a process to such things. This unfortunate war keeps me quite busy."

"I know. I am deeply sorry for the misleading nature of my arrival, but I needed help that only you can provide, and I needed it quickly." Tercio hoped he had not overstepped his bounds.

"Hmm...while I cannot condone such an action, I can hear the conviction in your voice, and if speaking with you will somehow provide you answers for what you seek, then I will hear you now." She smiled lightly, adding, "but please, in the future, you needn't worry about coming to see me. I may be quite busy, but I know that the very heart and soul of this nation is its people -- you included. All you need to do is ask."

"Thank you very much, Princess," Tercio said with a sigh of relief. "That is very kind of you."

Celestia nodded. "Very well, what can I help you with?"

Tercio began to pace back and forth as he spoke. "Very early this morning, well before the dawn, I received word from a runner that Polaris was awake. I rushed down to see for myself, and was very glad to see it was true."

"I have not yet had the chance to see him. How is he?"

"He is doing well, though he is still quite unsightly with injuries. I can only hope he recovers quickly. But yes, I spoke with him at some length, mostly about the regrettable attack. I asked what he remembered of that day, and to my surprise he remembered far more than even myself. Most importantly, he remembered one word that I did not. That word is why I have sought you out today." He stopped. "Princess, you speak many languages, yes?"

"I do," she said, "many fluently, some less so. Why do you ask?"

"Is one of them Deertongue? The language of the Whitetail and Cervidaens?"

"Iyl fwelyyn tor al'wa'yys," she replied with a small laugh. "I speak it well enough. Though they would prefer if we called it 'The Common Language of Deerkind'. I'm guessing this word you're looking for is in their language?"

"Yes, at least according to Polaris. I will say it, but I must ask that you please do not repeat it back to me. It has effects that are...difficult to explain."

"What sort of effects? If this is something potentially dangerous I would like to know."

"It seems to trigger some sort of...uncontrollable anger, a deeply-seated rage that consumes my every thought. At first it's simply a strong urge, but when heard multiple times -- like when Polaris and I were sparring -- it clouds my judgment until all I can focus on is destroying the closest thing to me. It happened to be Polaris that first day..."

Celestia was quiet for a time. "I must admit, I've never heard of such a thing in all my years. This is quite odd."

"I know. I say it's something that controls my actions, but at the same time I feel as if there is an absolute clarity when it's overtaken me. Like all I've ever lived for is in that very moment."

"I see. What is this word?"

Tercio took a deep breath, as if preparing to speak great, terrible truths before the gods themselves.

"Fal'naas," he finally said.

Celestia mouthed the word, but did not speak it, as she compared it to Equestrian.

"It has no direct translation to our language," she said after some time, "but the closest meaning would be 'destroy without mercy' or 'kill with purpose', depending on the context."

"Destroy without mercy...I suppose that would explain my actions. Where does this word come from?"

"It's an old military order, from before the deer united into the two nations they are now."

"I don't understand, Princess...why would I have knowledge of such a word? Why does it seem to control me so? I have never even heard Deertongue until Polaris spoke it to me!"

"I don't know, much as I wish I could provide you with a more satisfactory answer. You're certain you've never heard it before the incident with Polaris?"

"Not that I can recall, no. It's as if it's simply come out of nowhere, and now I worry that I will be set off once more by something so simple. I do not wish to hurt anyone else."

Celestia stood up from her dais, stepping over to Tercio until she was just in front of him. Her voice was calming and comforting as she spoke.

"Tercio...in order to better understand what is at the heart of this situation, I need to see the effects of it for myself. What I'm about to ask of you is not something I take lightly."

He knew what it was likely going to be, and he hated having to contemplate it.

"I am going to speak the word to you, more than once. Then I can--"

"Princess, I must object," he interrupted. "You've seen what I did to Polaris! I cannot, and will not, let such harm come to yourself!"

"It will be alright. I assure you, I will be in no danger from your actions."

He almost couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"At least call some of the others in to restrain me, if you insist on such a thing!"

"I do not want them to see you like that again. Not if we can avoid it." She gave Tercio a warm smile. "I promise, nothing will happen. You understand why I ask this of you, don't you?"

"I do," he answered begrudgingly, "but I still do not like the thought of it. This...this...urge within me, it frightens me, Princess. Truly frightens me."

"I know it does. That's why we will control it before it controls you."

The idea of willingly losing himself again, especially before the very princess he thought so highly of, shook him to his very depths. Was she really so sure of her ability to control him? She obviously believed she could, but after the horrific assault on Polaris he felt nothing but trepidation. Still, if it held even a slim hope of helping...

"Okay," he relented, "I will do as you ask. But please, allow me a moment to prepare."

"Of course. Take your time."

Tercio removed his helm, setting it against a far wall, along with his arm guards, sword belt -- with sheathed blade still attached -- and leg guards. Finally, he pulled the long, thin dagger from its holster along the small of his back, tossing it aside with a clatter. Now removed of anything that could possibly injure or kill, he stood in the center of the long room and braced himself. Celestia had already closed the smaller set of doors that led her personal quarters and kitchen area, leaving only her and Tercio in the throne room.

"Alright," he said at last. "I am ready."

"Then let us begin."

***

Outwardly, Princess Celestia was as collected and calm as ever, not a single word or motion betraying the practiced confidence she'd become so used to showing. Deep down, however, she was as unsure as the human standing before her. She hoped she was wrong. Really, truly hoped.

"Please try to describe what you're feeling, if you can," she asked of him. In truth, she didn't want to strain him in such a way as she was about to, but far more than her own regret was riding on the results of her impromptu test.

He is dangerous, sister.

Such a simple word. An outdated word. A word not in common use since the days of her parents' rule. And yet, here it was, a hidden trigger that could utterly dominate the will of someone she'd watched grow for nearly his entire life. She hated to say it at all.

"Fal'naas."

It was slight, at first. A clenching of his fists, a tightening of his muscles. He shut his eyes against some unseen urge, inhaling sharply at the sensation.

"It is like...a trickle of blood at the back of my eyelids," he said after several seconds. "My mouth grows dry. I feel as if my body is braced for combat. I feel...strong."

A short time passed, and he nodded for her to continue.

"Fal'naas."

He fell to a knee, gritting his teeth. Something stronger was beginning to overtake him. He visibly fought for control of his own actions, his strong arms twitching as if to drive him forward. It took longer for him to respond this time, and his words came out between grunts of exertion.

"It is now...a stream. My body...calls for violence. Darkness. It is hard to...to think."

Celestia was becoming more worried as Tercio fought the urges wracking his body. She wanted to stop, but she knew she had to carry on for his sake. He would hate himself, possibly even hate her, but in time he would forgive.

"Please...do not let me...hurt you!"

"I promise."

Once more he signaled he was ready.

"...fal'naas."

For a long moment, he simply stopped, his head bowed, barely moving.

"Tercio? Can you hear--"

With a terrible shout he sprang to his feet, rushing forward faster than Celestia had thought possible. His eyes, wide and focused, gazed upon her with a horrible blood lust. Thinking quickly, she focused a small portion of her magic into an ethereal barrier that should have pushed back with enough force to temporarily stumble him. It didn't. Tercio pushed through the barrier as if it was not even there, his strong form speeding toward her. She had to take a step back to avoid a lunge, and Tercio fell to the floor. He pounded his fist on the polished marble, back on his feet within seconds.

This time, Celestia wrapped him in a cloud of sparkling, yellow energy. He yelled at the setback, gritting his teeth in exertion, never taking his eyes off her for even a second. The look of pure, unbridled hatred shook Celestia to her very soul. Amazingly, Tercio had found it within himself to continue forward despite the force that was locking him in place. Heavy footsteps echoed through the throne room as he slowly advanced against magic that would have held any other soldier without fail. Even with her great effort, Tercio would not be stopped. His resistance to magic was far more than she'd feared.

He is dangerous, sister.

Tears began to stream from the corners of his eyes as he grunted and yelled against the force she placed on him.

"Kar...kar'nal..."

Celestia gasped at the sudden realization: Tercio had spoken in the language of the deer. It was stuttering and harsh, but clear all the same.

"Kar'nal d-dwylluun...fon...Equestrii!"

Slaughter the Equestrian.

"Oh, no..."

A split second, a heart beat's lack of focus, was all it took. Straining against the weight of his own armor he pushed forward, swinging a powerful fist at her. Celestia jumped back, tripping over her own dais and breaking the porcelain cup at its side. She stumbled to stay upright, her golden shoes clacking rapidly on the ground.

At the far end of the room, the large doors swung open. Morning Star looked inside, his sword at the ready, having been drawn in by all the commotion. He saw his princess running away from the human, and without thought he took to the air and flew with all his might.

"No!" Celestia shouted, having regained her balance. Morning Star quickly halted in mid-air.

"Princess, you are in danger! I must--"

"Do not interfere! That is an order!"

Bright rays of light filled the room as she brought more of her power to bear, wrapping her long horn in layers of magical energy. Celestia knew she was walking a very fine line -- any more power and she was likely to kill him outright. Still he struggled, blood streaming down from his nose and over his mouth, giving him the look of a crazed predatory animal. There was one final hope, one last solution before she would be forced to render him unconscious.

"Tercio," she said firmly, "foryys aviil naas!"

Cease your attack.

Immediately he stopped struggling, though his breathing remained heavy.

"Tercio?..." Morning Star said quietly as he watched the spectacle unfold before him.

Celestia repeated the phrase, and Tercio fell to his knees. Slowly, but surely, his focus returned. His breathing steadied, the primal violence in his actions ceased. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and in an instant his body went limp and fell to the floor. Celestia reacted quickly, cushioning his head against the fall with a slight pull of magic.

Stunned, Morning Star flapped over to his comrade's side, landing beside him and cautiously watching him.

"Princess...what did I just--"

"You are not to speak a word of this to anyone," she said quietly but firmly. "Please. For his sake."

Morning Star had heard the rumors of Tercio's outburst. He'd seen Polaris lying in the infirmary in terrible condition. But to see it for himself was something else entirely.

He is dangerous.

"Gods," he said, looking up at Celestia, "what happened here?"

11 - Equestria Must Fall

Loud hoofsteps sounded through the hallways, bringing Tercio back to consciousness with a groggy start. He was moving, but not of his own will, bouncing up and down in the steady rhythm of a pony's canter. Marble floors passed by, seemingly inches from his face. It took a moment to realize he was being carried, and as he gained control of himself once more noticed the orange coat of his fellow praetorian in the gaps of his armor. Feathery wings brushed against his arms, folded against the pony's side.

"...Morning Star? What in the world--"

"Oh, good, you're awake," Morning Star said, coming to a stop. "It would be appreciated if you could walk the rest of the way." Tercio's arms and knees had been dragging along the ground, and he rubbed them as he stood up from his carried position. "Gods, but you're heavy! This is the last time I drag your ass out of the throne room, got it?"

His armor and weapons were back on his person, strapped down just a bit too tight for comfort.

"What do you mean, dragged out of the throne room?"

"Did I misspeak?"

"No, sorry. I'm just surprised to be out here. The last thing I remember was Princess Celestia saying...oh. I think I know what happened..."

"I don't think you do, human. And I wish I didn't."

Tercio felt a sudden rush of panic overtake him, if only for a moment.

"You saw it happen? I didn't hurt her, did I? Oh, gods..."

"Only the end of it. And no, the princess is fine. I heard a lot of noise coming from the throne room, so I took a look inside. You can imagine my surprise when I saw you attempting to do to Princess Celestia what you did to Polaris. Or worse."

Tercio swore. "I was really hoping no one else would have to see me that way. I take it the princess told you about what happened?"

"She only said she was attempting to figure out something. Something about the...how did she put it?...'other person' inside of you. I don't really understand, but she was insistent I bring you back to your bunk."

"Oh." Embarrassed and ashamed that he'd lost control of himself again, especially with Morning Star there to see the result, Tercio was unsure of what to say. "I know I don't have the right to ask, but if you could, you know..."

"Don't worry," Morning Star countered, leaning his spear against the wall, "I'm not going to say anything. The princess asked the same thing of me."

"Thank you," Tercio replied with a relieved breath.

"Though I must admit, I've no idea why you put yourself in such a situation in the first place. If you really do lose yourself, as you've said, that's something you should make your fellow soldiers aware of before you put the princess in danger."

"She was never in danger," Tercio insisted.

"She certainly looked like it when I came in."

"I would not have agreed to such a thing if I thought she would be harmed!" His voice echoed through the halls, and he had to calm himself before continuing. "Listen, I don't know why I have this 'other person', but I do. Now that we know what causes it to come forth, we can work to avoid it, or even negate it entirely. I needed help, and I hoped the princess could oblige. That's why I asked you to fake that entry in the ledger, Star."

Morning Star was not pleased, but had to admit the situation warranted the risks.

"Fine. Maybe you needed help. But do not make this a habit, understood? I am not going to lie for your sake again. As is, I had to tell any curious onlookers that you were taken by a sudden fit of illness as I dragged your unconscious form down the hallways. The princess had a pair of Royal Guard stallions take over for the remainder of our shift, so at least Stonewall won't be on our asses for leaving our posts." Morning Star motioned to Tercio's mouth and chin, which was stained a dark red by dried blood. "We should get you to the bath house so you can clean yourself up. If the imperator sees you like this we'll both have a lot of explaining to do."

***

It had been a long night for Lacertus Praxis. Longer than any in recent memory. Three decades of profit could buy a stallion a lot of things on his final night on earth, and he'd spent without pause -- the finest wines, the richest foods, the youngest whores. One last celebration of the pleasures of coin and flesh, decadence he'd earned in blood, both his and his prey's. And yet, through it all, he kept his wit as sharp as his blade. His mind remained clear through the alcohol and the sex and the long hours that had passed upon his return home. There was no room to falter. There was only the hunt.

Fitting, he thought, that his last kill should be his greatest. For many years his name had been spoken in hushed tones across the known world, a reputation brought on by his unwavering devotion to the kill and the brutality with which he carried it out. Ponies averted their eyes whenever he passed. They whispered words like 'murderer', 'killer', 'criminal' when they thought he could not hear them. Some thought he was a servant of the nine hells. He let them have their little slanders and ridiculous theories. At the end of the day it only served to raise his reputation, which meant higher prices for his particular set of skills.

All of this he reflected on in the pre-dawn hours, comfortable in the estate he'd lived in for many years. Candle light flickered off the armor and weapons splayed out upon the ground. They were as much a part of him as his own beating heart, the culmination of countless contracts given life in thick, black leather and silvery, polished steel. Expensive amasec swirled in his chalice as he thought upon each one.

His helm, an unblinking visage of a roaring dragon -- a small city's governor whose hot springs had run red with his own blood. Lacertus had pulled the innards from the fat politico's body and left them strewn about his opulent bathing house. His creativity had been rewarded well by his employer for it.

Beside the helm, an intricate chest piece of studded leather, steel and iron. Its front bore the carved image of an orange tree, the only thing from his early years that he still remembered fondly. Six soldiers of the Griffon Empire had fallen for its creation.

Large pauldrons of shining metal jutted from each shoulder, the heads of lions protecting him with their eternal gaze. They were nicked and bent in places from combat, but he considered them to be badges of honor. A particularly worthy opponent, a Saddle Arabian and his retinue of guards from the far east, had nearly bested him. But only nearly. Lacertus had given the tall stallion the rare gift of a quick death.

Of all his equipment, it was his greatsword that he was proudest of. A gift from the wild clans of the Eastwald for slaughtering a neighboring tribe, it was a truly massive weapon that was as tall as a pony was long. It glowed faintly with a silvery hue that radiated from the foreign symbols carved into the blade, the same symbols that the strange ponies and zebras used to make the weapon surprisingly light. It was still capable of cleaving a stallion in two, but it could be swung effortlessly by Lacertus' strong frame.

All of his equipment, every blade and piece of armor, meant something deeply personal. As he thought on his past accomplishments, his life as a sell-sword, he only regretted that he would likely never live to see the rewards that slaying an immortal ruler would bring. He would settle, he thought with a quiet laugh, for being forever remembered. Good or bad, it didn't matter. Of course he'd been promised life eternal and pleasures beyond his imagining by the shadowed figure he'd spoken with -- Nightmare Moon, a somewhat-crazed follower had told him later -- but he held no real expectations of such. If he did find himself in some here-after, it would merely be a nice bonus.

Nightmare Moon. He'd heard the name in passing before, something about Princess Luna rebelling against her pious sister. Hers was the reason the moon now bore the image of an other-wordly mare. Interesting though it was, it had no real effect on his daily life, and thus, it quickly dropped by the wayside. He could have hardly imagined himself speaking with the fallen goddess not long after, eager and willing to do what she could not and destroy her sister.

Everything was in place, just as it should have been. And so, he waited in the pre-dawn hours and enjoyed a final cup of his sweet, amber wine. In a matter of hours he would likely be dead -- but so would his target. He would savor the moment, watch the life drain from her body, and in her final breath he would anoint his blade in the blood of a goddess.

***

"The night greets you well, sister."

"And you, brother. You're sure the others are ready?"

"Without a doubt. They await only the proper moment, my dear Sweetvine."

Cloaked in the shadows of night, two ponies took to a small corner of a building on the edge of Canterlot, a scant distance from the walls that surrounded the hanging city. Two days had passed since their final order had come down, and in that time hundreds of their number had trickled into the city, small groups of three or four at a time to avoid suspicion. They had worn their normal clothes, their loose robes and body wraps. They mingled with the population and made idle chatter. Patiently they had waited, and now they were ready. Libertus knew not their exact number, but he knew it would be enough. It was exactly as She had said.

"We have waited a long time for this. Weeks, months. We have come too far to fail now."

"Perhaps. I sometimes fear our companions will hesitate when the moment comes to slip a blade into the flesh of another." Under his long, obscuring cloak, the blood-stained armor of Libertus' old life rattled lightly against itself. "Some may be soldiers, but many are not. They do not know what it is to strike down another pony."

"Then they will learn, or they will die," Sweetvine said simply.

"We will all die, sister."

"Of course. It is not death I fear, but the thought of dying without killing for Her glory."

"Indeed so." Libertus took a deep breath of the cool air; he would miss it so. "Do you think the others know we're simply a diversion?"

"No. I have not told them. You?"

"Not a word. I imagine many would not fight if they knew as much."

"Then their faith is weak."

"It is of no matter either way. As long as the assassin gets through, we have done our part."

Sweetvine smiled. "I do so love when you're confident, brother."

No older than her early twenties, the young earth pony mare none the less thought of herself as a competent fighter. She'd trained with her brother since they were but foals, using a set of her father's too-large armor and training swords, hoping against hope to join the military she knew she could never be a part of.

She laughed at the thought of it now. Of course, things were different then. The propaganda of the royal sisters living in harmony was a fabricated lie that was brought into the light when Luna had rebelled. Why couldn't more ponies see it? It was right in front of their faces, for all the world to see, and still they followed Luna's useless sister who sat upon a throne of lies and cowardice.

Libertus had given purpose to her life after he'd left the Guard. He'd cursed the names of those who called him brutal and blood-thirsty, and for a long time he wandered Equestria with no direction. Until, one day, he'd found a pendant lying upon his makeshift bed in the forest. That's when She had come to him. Nightmare Moon. It took mere days for Libertus to seek out his sister, and from that moment on they'd recruited countless others to their cause.

And now, after so much planning and preparation, it was time. A new follower had asked her, once, if she regretted that she would live such a short life. It was a ridiculous question, but she understood that it was one born of trepidation. "No," she'd answered confidently, "I regret only that I waited so long to find my place."

"Tell me, sister," Libertus spoke up, pulling her back to the moment, "when we have shed these mortal bodies and joined our queen, how will you spend eternity?"

In truth, she hadn't thought about it much. She didn't need to. In her mind, the answer was simple.

"Just as I always have." She placed a foreleg around Libertus' neck and smiled, then kissed him lovingly. "With you."

***

There was never enough sleep these days. Though she'd grown somewhat used to it, Celestia still longed for the days when she could set the sun and drift off in peace, letting Luna handle the duties of the long night. These days, between her double duty with the sun and the moon, and the taxing effort of managing a war she wanted no part of, she thought herself lucky to get half a night's rest. The warmth of her bed called to her as she forced herself to move her tired body once more, thoughts of delaying the sunrise heavy like her eyelids.

A light knock on her door brought a smile to her face despite her haze. Rosewise made it a habit to leave a cup of steaming tea at the princess' door every morning, placed on a silver platter and adorned with a single flower and a spoonful of orange blossom honey. Celestia floated the hot drink into her chambers and closed the door behind her, the hints of spicy, earthy notes filling her lungs as the liquid warmed her throat.

It was still cool and damp out as she stepped onto her balcony, with only scattered clouds dotting the sky. The rains had passed on to the west, leaving Canterlot shining like a mirror in the glow of the moon that just barely peaked over the distant mountains. Part of Nightmare Moon's image was still visible, and she felt a pang of regret as she lowered the moon below the horizon. Even now she wished her sister was around to talk to, to share a laugh and discuss the night's events before they traded places. But it was not to be.

Celestia focused her power with practiced strength, her horn enveloped in a radiant glow to match the sun's bright rays of light, and slowly, and surely, raised the mighty star over the horizon. Satisfied with her work, she set the sun on a gradual path across the sky, where it would shine over Equestria until it was time once more to repeat the cycle.

A cool breeze wafted through the city, and she closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of it brushing over her coat and skin. The day would be a busy one, with dignitaries from the Griffon Empire stopping by around mid-day, not to mention the myriad issues that would no doubt--

A sound caught her attention, distant, drifting in on the wind. For a time she was unsure she'd heard anything at all. Then, seemingly all at once, Canterlot erupted into shouts. Terrible, angry yells and the unmistakable sound of steel against steel. Then came the screams of the dying, the pleas for mercy.

Shocked, horrified, she felt as if her body was rooted in place. Time seemed to slow as she heard each cry and clash of metal. Her hundreds of years of preparation took over, pushing her on despite the scene below. As quick as she dared to she ran back into her chambers, down the hallway, and out into the throne room.

Canterlot was under attack.

***

"Everybody move it! I need your asses up here right now!"

Imperator Stonewall shouted to his soldiers as he galloped to the meeting point for the four Praetorian barracks. Some were already assembled, while the rest were rapidly flooding in from outside. Sixty of their number stood ready within minutes, clad in armor and brandishing pila and blades.

"Listen up! Canterlot has been besieged from within by an unknown number of enemy combatants, and it is our job to make sure they don't step a single hoof in this palace!"

"Are they deer?" someone asked above the muffled sounds of combat that echoed in from below.

"Some are, most aren't. If you see someone waving a weapon in your direction and they're not wearing Equestrian equipment, you are to assume they're a threat and treat them appropriately!" Stonewall stuck out an armored hoof, pointing at groups of soldiers. "Barracks one and barracks four, you're to protect the outer walls of the palace as well as any entry ways! That includes doors, open areas, waste water grates, or anything of the sort! If it's big enough for a rat to squeeze a fart through, I want you watching it! Understood?!"

"Understood!" they answered as one.

"Barracks two and three, you're the second line! We'll be guarding the throne room and inner passages! Morning Star, Rimeberry, Krosus, Vinerin, Thunderburst, fall in with me! I don't trust you as far as I can throw you, Krosus, but in the event you lose your mind again I want to be within reaching distance."

"Yes, sir," Tercio answered, not wanting to argue at such a time.

The small group quickly broke off from the main body of Praetorians and made full gallop for the throne room. Six guards from another barracks were already at the entrance, and Stonewall shouted at them to open the doors and move out of the way. Inside, Princess Celestia stood at the far end of the room, a sword levitating at her side as she worriedly checked the stallions who approached her. She sighed with relief as she saw Stonewall and the others, sliding her weapon back into a sheathe she'd hurriedly thrown around her neck.

"Are you alright, my Princess? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine, Stonewall, thank you. What is going on down there? I had just raised the sun when there was a sudden outburst of violence."

"We don't know for sure, not yet, but whoever it is, it isn't the deer. From the initial reports it appears that the traitors that attacked the Legion patrol are among their number."

Celestia looked ragged with worry, her ethereally flowing mane and tail lacking their usual shine, and bags under her eyes betrayed her tired condition.

"Can we hold them?" she asked.

"Honestly, Your Highness, I don't know. Most of the Royal Guard is away fighting the deer, but our numbers should still hold strong. In the event that the intruders break into the palace, the Praetorians will give them hell. That I can promise you."

Regaining a modicum of composure, Celestia bowed her head to the soldiers who had become her personal guard.

"Thank you all for arriving so quickly. Your aid is greatly appreciated."

She nodded to Tercio, a subtle movement. She hadn't mentioned the incident to anyone after all.

"Of course, Princess," Rimeberry answered.

"Right then!" Stonewall motioned to each entrance. "Thunderburst and Rimeberry, you have watch of the main entrance. Bar that door and don't open it for anyone or anything, I don't care who they are. Morning Star and Vinerin, you have the chamber hall. The pantry has a stairwell that leads down into a storage room, I want you to make sure nothing comes through that door. Krosus, you get to stick to my side like stink on shit. Everyone move it!"

Stonewall turned to face the princess, putting a hoof over his chest in salute.

"Princess, in the event that the throne room is compromised we will head for the escape tunnels. I trust you remember where the entrance is?"

"Of course."

"Good to hear." He pointed to the sword dangling from her neck. "There is no need to carry such a weapon yourself, Princess. It will only burden you."

Celestia gave an amused chuckle. "I assure you, Imperator, I can handle myself if need be. One does not live for hundreds of years and not pick up a thing or two about swordplay."

***

"Bombardment ready!" General Phalanx heard the leader of his catapult teams shout over the pounding rain and driving thunder. Up and down the length of the Equestrian formation dozens of siege engines stood ready to unleash their deadly payloads of crushing projectiles. Nearly a hundred ballistae were loaded with heavy bolts, but their range and accuracy would be greatly reduced by the wind and rain. He would have to wait to put their firepower to use.

The opening stages of the battle were underway, with each side readying their long-ranged weapons to unleash upon their targets. There would be an initial volley per side, followed by archers loosing their arrows to the sky, and finally an infantry charge across the field. From there, the general's battle plan would be set in motion.

"Catapults at the ready!" Phalanx yelled, hearing his order echo down the line. The deer stood motionless across the field, waiting for the fight to begin in earnest.

"Release!"

Nearly as one the catapults came to life with creaking wood and wrenching ropes, bucking their rear wheels as large boulders flew across the expanse between the two armies. The projectiles seemed to hang in the air, graceful despite their size, water trailing off their mass like small fountains, until they crashed into the deer lines with resounding thumps and wet crunches of bone and flesh. Hundreds of deer were instantly killed or wounded, crushed or maimed horrifically as the catapults' immensely heavy payloads bounced and tumbled through their formations. And yet, not a single deer moved from their place, even as their dying comrades cried out.

"Catapults, reload!"

It would take a long time to prepare another volley, and the deer wasted no time in responding. With a distant shout the deer unleashed their own siege weapons; large, swinging contraptions that hefted large spreads of pottery into the air with baskets of ropes and weighted arms. The Equestrian soldiers watched in a mix of curiosity and dread as the veritable clouds of pottery scattered through the sky. They tumbled and twisted, then came down in a vast blanket. They were not accurate, but what they lacked in accuracy they made up for in number. As each one landed, a blossoming plume of bright green flames burst forth and engulfed anyone unfortunate enough to be near it. Horrible screams filled the air as Phalanx's formations were dotted with otherworldly fire. Ponies rushed to the aid of near-by victims, desperately trying to put out the flames that burned even in the pouring rain and stuck to skin and steel alike. The sickeningly sweet smell of burnt flesh filled the battlefield.

"Move the wounded to the medicae tents! Leave the dead!"

General Phalanx was not about to let his soldiers suffer helplessly. For all of their military pomp and poise, the deer could not hope to match Equestrians in camaraderie. If Phalanx could avoid unnecessary deaths, he would. Several ponies passed by him, carrying wounded soldiers with terrible burns. Some were missing limbs, or had been charred to the point of being unrecognizable, their armor fused to their flesh.

"Mother fuckers," Gilias growled at Phalanx's side. "The Griffon Empire would never use such barbaric weapons! I'm going to slaughter so many deer their collective history will piss itself at my name!"

"Easy, Battle-Master," Phalanx said, lifting an armored foreleg. "Your time will come. We mustn't lose our heads now, or we're liable to lose them later."

"Yeah..."

Down on the second line, hundreds of archers were readying their weapons, nocking arrows and holding their bows at a low-ready position. Across the way, the deer forces did the same.

"Archers, at the ready!"

Countless arrowheads aimed at the sky.

"Release!"

The deer did not wait this time. As soon as the Equestrians had fired off their volley, the Whitetail archers did the same. For a moment the missiles formed a veritable cloud, passing by each other narrowly, some arrows impacting and tumbling from the air. The rain and wind blew many off course, but still they continued on.

"Shields up!"

Tower shields and bucklers formed a rough wall of wood and iron, but it was never going to stop the rain of projectiles entirely. Hundreds of arrows dug themselves into shields with sharp thwacks or bounced off armor with shrill pings, yet many on both sides soon fell. Deer and pony alike dropped to the ground in agony, dead on the spot or rapidly bleeding out. Some were lucky, having taken hits to non-vital areas, and a few among their number yanked out the offending arrowheads and continued on, their pain only feeding their will to fight. There would be many more barrages to follow.

There was an almost palpable change to the air, a build-up like a coiled spring waiting to be released. General Phalanx could feel his stallions becoming focused the deer alone, a quiet fury just below their disciplined surface. They were eager for vengeance for their fallen comrades, eager to end the Whitetail threat once and for all. He would not make them wait.

"Hastati, shield wall formation!"

The front rows of soldiers locked their shields together, forming an overlapping barrier that menaced with spears.

"Princepes, spears up!"

Behind the shield wall, the more veteran stallions brought their long spears into an upright and ready position, vast rows of them bristling like the spines of a great beast. The two armies faced each other in silence, with only the sound of cascading rain falling on their armor. Across the expanse, the deer commander was rallying his soldiers. They shouted call and response words of encouragement, bravery, and loyalty. General Phalanx raised his voice as loud as he could despite his old age, hoping to be heard over the rainfall so that every guard and legionary would know that their general was with them.

"Equestrians! Brothers!" He began. "Do not fear that which lies before you! Though our enemy is strong, he fights alone! He fights for conquest, for falsehoods that have corrupted his nation and manipulated his thoughts! He fight only for the next battle! But we -- we fight for what is behind us! We fight for Equestria, for our families, for our land! The deer would see all that we love burned to the ground! If we should falter here, today, then everything our great nation has become will have been for naught! Do not fight for me, but for your homes! Your children! Your Princess, who even now blesses us in her thoughts! For Equestria!"

A great thundering sound of thousands of deer running across the expanse with a roaring battle cry signaled the beginning of the battle proper. General Phalanx braced himself, drawing his sword from its sheath with a resounding singing of steel.

"Equestriaaans! Chaaaarge!"

Four thousand voices shouted as one, galloping at full speed across the rain-soaked field. A singular sound, louder than any thunder crack, resounded for miles around as the opposing shield walls crashed into each other. The battle to decide the fate of Equestria had begun.

***

Tercio struck his shield and sword together in frustration.

"This is not right! Fourteen years I have trained for this moment, and yet I must stand idle while my brothers die in the streets!"

"Calm yourself, Krosus. If bloodshed is what you wish, pray that it is yours and not the princess'."

At the end of the throne room, a wrapped scroll appeared in a burst of orange magic, falling to the ground. Imperator Stonewall scooped it up and set it upon a low pedestal. He grumbled as he read over the news.

"Centurion Hammerfell reports that the Royal Guard is falling back to the palace foregrounds. Most of the attackers are poorly trained, but they have strength in numbers. We--"

A loud crash echoed through the throne room, bringing with it a spray of shattered glass. A small group of pegasi had burst through a window, landing on their hooves with swords at the ready. They wasted no time, immediately lunging for the closest target with short swords clutched in their mouths.

"For Nightmare Moon!"

"Defensive formation!" Stonewall shouted, bringing the waiting praetorians into a rough semi-circle to protect the princess. Rimeberry was the first to engage the attackers, deflecting sword blows with his tall shield and countering with thrusts and slashes. The pegasi were unarmored, but they were agile, and they dodged out of the way as Tercio and Morning Star moved in to assist. A dark-coated pegasus struck out at chest level with a brief flap of his wings -- Tercio parried with his gladius, then brought his shield around and struck his opponent in the face. The pegasus briefly faltered, dazed by the impact, and Tercio thrust his sword deep, the blade sticking out through the back of the neck. The attacker fell to the ground, clutching at his throat as blood pooled around him. A crushing blow from the edge of a shield ended his struggling.

Beside him, Rimeberry had been joined by Thunderburst, who was currently burying his gladius up to the hilt in flesh and bone. With two attackers quickly dispatched, the third began to grow desperate. He threw himself back, then lifted into the air and made a fast lunge directly at the princess across the room. He did not get far. Thinking quickly, Tercio grasped his blade with both hands and stuck the blade directly into the air. The last pegasus could not react fast enough, and in the blink of an eye he had split himself open along his entire length. Blood and viscera sprayed from his gaping wound, and he tumbled from the air in a heap, crashing headlong into the royal dais. He screamed a wet, gurgling scream, struggled on his side, and died where he lay.

"We're clear," Stonewall said, sheathing his sword. "Happy now, Krosus?"

Tercio said nothing in return, wiping the blood from his face and hands, still breathing heavily from the rush of combat.

"Nice work dealing with that scum at the end. Just don't let it go to your head. There could be more on the way."

Celestia looked on in horror at the gore that had so defiled her throne room. More than the violence, it was what the attackers had shouted that shook her to her very soul. She found her legs weak, and she had to sit down to regain her composure. Over and over she heard the words, occupying her every thought.

For Nightmare Moon.

***

Lacertus Praxis grunted and strained and sweat with every movement. For nearly an hour he had been climbing up the rock face of Canterlot's connecting mountain, focused on a small, almost imperceptible clearing half way up the imposing wall of sharp boulders and sheer cliff sides. He swore and wished he were twenty years younger, but still he climbed. Sharp, metallic spikes on his armored shoes dug into the rock, just enough to support his body, armor, and weapon. A single unsure step, a moment's hesitation, and he would fall to his death.

Even from where he was, he could hear the sounds of distant battle. The diversionary attack was under way. Dedicated but misguided ponies would be throwing themselves into the slaughter. Everything now came down to him, and him alone.

Long minutes passed before he finally was able to reach the small clearing, a rocky outcropping adorned with scattered sage brush and clinging weeds. He rolled onto his back, breathing heavily, and allowed himself a brief rest. Before him, a featureless wall of black stone -- or so it appeared. The dark figure had spoken of a hidden passage, a false front. Cautiously, he stuck a hoof out and pressed it against the rock. It resisted, but not as much as it should have. Confident now that he'd found it, he gathered his strength and pushed as hard as he could. An invisible barrier of magic pushed back, crackling with energy that coursed down his body and lanced through his skin like a thousand knives, yet still he forced himself on, yelling with effort. He could feel the barrier giving way, slowly, and with a final burst of power he broke through. The false wall gave a sound like a billowing whirlwind, and in a rush of air disappeared.

Lacertus picked himself off the dusty ground, looked up, and smiled. He was in.

12 - Sell-Sword, Assassin, Butcher

"Sir, catapults are reloaded and ready to fire!"

"Ballistae report Whitetail infantry are within range!"

General Phalanx looked over the battle that was raging below, where thousands of deer and ponies were engaged in vicious combat. It had only been a few minutes at most, but already the losses on both sides were staggering. The deer fought with tenacity and a strikingly offensive style, but Phalanx's soldiers were giving just as well as they were getting. Maces and war hammers had proven to be particularly effective against the tough but brittle armor of the deer. He only wished he had more.

White cloak flowing behind him, even in the pouring rain, he set in motion the first phase of his battle plan.

"Catapults, target their siege engines! Ballistae, I want you to hit the second tier of their infantry! Archers, you're to target your counterparts in the deer lines! Let's see if we can't reduce their ranged abilities!"

Hundreds of arrows were readied, long bows levitating in front of unicorn archers or firmly secured in place with spikes stuck into the ground for pegasi and earth ponies. Siege weapons sounded the all-ready to their commanders. The straining of strings and groaning of ropes sounded as one.

"All ranged forces...fire!"

***

"Victus, left side!"

A large deer wielding a long, narrow blade bounded over a dead pony, stabbing it forth in an attempt to get the advantage over Victus and his allies. Victus managed to dodge to the side, deflecting the weapon off the side of his shield, only to be met by furious kicks from the twin conical blades of the deer's armor. The rain of blows was keeping Victus on the back hoof, and for every stab he dodged or blocked two more came his way. A momentary opening let him thrust his gladius at the deer, only to have it bounce off the crystalline armor that made their kind so infuriating to fight. Suddenly the attacking buck let out a yell of anguish and fell to his side, blood pooling under him from a vicious wound. A thrust to the deer's neck put a definitive end to the fight.

"My thanks, Chiron!" Victus said above the din of battle, already searching for his next foe. There was no shortage of potential targets -- countless deer were fighting along a massive line of shields and weapons that extended as far as the eye could see. Already he and his squad-mates had accounted for two dozen deer vanquished, yet still it seemed like so little. A shouted order came from somewhere behind, an order for the second tier -- the princepes -- to ready their throwing spears.

"Pila incoming, shields up!" he yelled to his squad. A makeshift roof of tower shields went up along the first four ranks. Someone nearby let out a cry as a deer pike found a gap in the shield wall. The well-trained legionaries immediately took his place, making sure the wall stayed closed.

Dozens of pila arced over the formation, falling amongst the ranks of the Whitetail. The heavy spear heads had the power to pierce the thinner armor on the backs and helms of the deer, and many fell in an instant. Immediately after there came a loud, collective whistle as hundreds of arrows and dozens of heavy ballista bolts flitted into the air. A rain of iron and wood lanced through the deer, impacting with wet thumps and the sound of metal tearing through flesh. Victus chanced a look between shields and watched a squad of deer fall to the ground, some dead from multiple arrows to exposed areas, others pierced through by long, deadly bolts. A buck several rows back had been impaled through with such force that he was now uselessly squirming half-way up the shaft of a ballista projectile, blood seeping from his mouth and running down from both sides of his body. He shouted something in an agonized voice. A soldier beside him turned, nodded sharply, and immediately ran his long, narrow blade through his impaled comrade's heart. Seconds later, the struggling ceased.

Without delay or warning, the heavy-sounding passes of catapulted boulders and projectiles drowned out the battle with impacts so loud they could be heard, and felt, over the clashes of steel and screams of the dying.

"Squad, hold the wall! Spears up!"

Ponies grunted and strained to keep the deer from breaking through, pushing back with all of their might. Behind the first line Ceraunius, Sertis, Steel Spark and others set their thrusting spears into their shoulders, held tight in their forelegs.

"Hold! Hooold!" A small step of momentum came, and Victus took full advantage of it. "Now!"

Victus, Chiron and the entire first row of shield-bearers momentarily parted their tower shields. At the same time, the second row thrust their long weapons through, aiming for unarmored necks and gaps in armor. As soon as they did, the shield wall formed back into an impenetrable barrier. The Equestrians moved up a precious pair of steps, finishing off any who lay wounded.

"Stay strong, brothers! Fight until your last breath!"

***

Tercio and Rimeberry had just finished piling the bodies of the three attackers in the corner when another scroll popped into being with a flash of magic. Imperator Stonewall snatched it up, unfurled it, and swore at the news it contained.

"The eastern entrance has been compromised. Praetorians from barracks four are heading over to reinforce it, but they fully expect some opposition to have already passed through." If the eastern entrance had fallen, it meant there were now less than sixty defenders between the throne room and the palace foregrounds. "Damnit all, I wish we had a better idea of the traitors' numbers. They have to be running low on forces by now!"

The sounds of battle drew ever closer as they waited, anxiously, for another attack. It was only a matter of time. Where, and when, it would come from was the single greatest unknown. For a group of skilled soldiers so used to the steady ebb and flow of combat, the uncertainty was almost unbearable.

Tercio kept his head on a swivel, expecting a pegasus to fly through the window once more, or a deer to appear in a flash of light behind him, or perhaps even a griffon to crash through the roof.

Long minutes passed in uncomfortable silence. No one said a word, but they all knew they were likely to see more combat before the hour was through. What was once a distant murmur had grown into a far closer cacophony of clashing weapons and cries of battle.

"Bastards can't be further than the garden entrance," Stonewall finally spoke up. Once more a scroll appeared before him, this time bearing the red stamp that denoted utmost urgency. He read it aloud, making sure to direct most of it at Celestia.

"Palace safety is compromised. Most of the attackers are dead but a large group has managed to fight its way past the initial defenses. The Royal Guard commander expects them to be upon us shortly, and advises evacuation. Western stations are on their way to reinforce, but until then we are effectively cut off."

He stuck out the scroll, letting the princess levitate it in front of her. She quickly looked over it, a shadow of worry crossing her face.

"Princess Celestia, this location is no longer secure. We must retreat to the tunnels."

Celestia frowned, hesitant to leave.

"Are you sure we cannot hold here, Stonewall?"

"I cannot say with certainty, but I believe it better to be safe than sorry in this situation."

"I will need a few moments to gather some things from Luna's room. If those fanatics should find her things, I can only imagine what will happen to them."

Stonewall cleared his throat, still trying to be gentle with his persuasion.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, I'm not sure such a thing is wise at this time. We can come back once the attackers have been dispatched."

"The rest of the praetorian reinforcements are on their way, perhaps we can--"

"Princess!" Stonewall interrupted, finally raising his voice. "We have to go, and we have to go now! Your life is not worth some of Princess Luna's trinkets!"

"They...they are not merely trinkets, Stonewall," she insisted, "they are all I have left of her." She bowed her head in respect. "Please. I ask only for a short time."

Stonewall tapped a hoof on the ground, sighing deeply.

"You have one minute, nothing more. I apologize for my demeanor, Princess, but my only concern in life is your well-being."

"I know," she said in reply, "and thank you. I promise, we will evacuate before anything can happen."

"Very well. Venerin, Thunderburst, you're with the princess. One minute. Understood?"

The praetorians nodded, trotting alongside Celestia as she headed through the entrance at the back of the throne room.

"The rest of you, form up on me! I want your shields at the ready and in formation!"

Commotion, not far now. Heavy and rhythmic it came, joining the sound of death and battle from just down the hall. A series of loud cracks sounded, followed by a resounding thud as something large crashed down and shook the floor.

The outer doors had fallen.

***

"It is just up ahead. Please, wait here. I will only be a moment."

Princess Celestia let her two faithful praetorians at the entryway to the royal chambers, but she was not alone. At her side, Luna kept pace with a smug smirk.

Really, sister? Bits and baubles? I am surprised by you.

They are all that remains of you. If anything should happen to them...

So melodramatic. Whatever happened to the stoic leader of Equestria?

She lost her sister.

Celestia stood in front of the large doors decorated with a carved, crescent moon that marked Luna's personal quarters. For the better part of three months she'd hardly set a hoof inside, not wanting to face the reality of her sister's banishment. In some small way, Celestia hoped that, if she kept Luna's room just as it was when she'd changed, the events of that fateful night might undo themselves, and she could return to life as it had existed for hundreds of years.

You are deluding yourself. Are you both a fool and a dreamer, Celestia?

Cautiously, she nudged the doors open and stepped inside. The air was stale, the room dark and cold. The once ever-present scent of night lilies was gone, leaving in its place a heavy blanket of dust that swirled and flowed with her every movement.

Luna was gone. In her place, Nightmare Moon stood in glowing armor.

Do you see now? Trinkets. Nothing more.

Celestia bathed the room in the first light it had seen in many months, a casting of yellow energy that glowed from the tip of her horn. It reflected off glass vases and delicately sculpted gifts; presents from admirers and dignitaries. In the corner, a stylized painting of her and Luna circling a half-sun, half-moon on a field of stars sat on a night stand, surrounded by wilted flowers.

Somewhere in the distance, a booming rumble shook the walls and floor.

Even in banishment you torment this city. Is it not enough to make me grieve for you?

The ghostly image smiled like shark moving in for the kill.

I do not make empty threats, sister. And yet...it is not only I who occupies your thoughts these days, is it? You still worry for another...

Beside Nightmare Moon another figure appeared, tall and strong.

In time, you will regret letting him live. You know what he is, the danger he poses. Let him die believing he is protecting you.

He deserves a chance. There is good in him. I have seen it.

How honorable of you. And yet, you have seen the darkness that resides within his very being. End him, Celestia. End him, and be done with it!

"I will not!" Celestia shouted, stomping a hoof on the marble floor. The shadowy forms drifted away in the wind as Thunderburst and Venerin burst into the room, swords at the ready.

"Princess! Are you alright?!" Thunderburst asked, surveying the room.

It took Celestia a moment to realize what she had done; she fought to hide her embarrassment and had to look away lest her guards see the tears in her eyes.

"Yes...I'm fine, thank you. I apologize for my outburst, I was simply overcome at seeing Luna's belongings in such a condition."

Venerin motioned with his weapon. "Your Highness, it is time to go. The outer doors have been breached and there is now little standing between us and the remaining extremists."

Celestia wished she had more time. There were so many memories to be revisited, centuries worth of keepsakes and possessions. She feared she may never see them again.

A blue and white saddlebag floated to her side, and inside it she placed a few precious bits of her past. They clinked and rustled as they jostled against one another, and when she was satisfied she secured the flap and strapped the bag around her waist. A loud battering on the throne room doors drove the severity of the situation home, and Celestia and her guards headed back to the throne room proper with all due haste.

***

The struggle of combat had already ceased as Tercio ducked low behind his shield. There were no more praetorians guarding the hallway; their brief fight had lasted no more than half a minute. Now they were certainly dead, leaving only the heavy, barred doors to keep the attackers at bay. Something heavy and powerful was bashing against them, spraying splinters of wood with each impact and buckling the ornate doors little by little.

"Stonewall!" Tercio turned briefly to see Celestia and her escort galloping in. They closed and barred the doors behind them, then immediately took their places beside their brothers.

"Have you found what you were looking for?" Stonewall asked, a spear tucked against his side.

"I grabbed what I could," Celestia answered, already beginning the process of revealing the escape tunnel that had existed, but never been used, for the last two hundred years. It was times like this she wished she was still at the castle of her parents, far off in the Everfree forest. The countless hours her and Luna had spent exploring the myriad passages and secret paths would have served her well for escaping.

"I will require some time to bypass the magical barriers!"

"Time is not something we have a lot of, Princess!"

The heavy beating continued -- WHAM, WHAM -- and with each strike the door give a tiny bit. Venerin focused his magic to try and reinforce it as best he could, but it was only a temporary measure.

"It would be easier if Polaris were here," he said between clenched teeth.

Polaris. Tercio had scarcely thought of him since the incident with Celestia. He hoped the unfortunate unicorn was well, carried off to safety by the apothecaries. He would have to wait to find out.

Celestia wrapped the royal dais in a cloud of sparkling magic, slowly sliding it out of place. Underneath the throne, what appeared to be a solid floor soon began to shimmer and ripple like expanding rings in a puddle, the strange forces at work reacting to her power. She called out to Stonewall, telling him it would only be a moment, when the barred doors finally gave way.

"Cover!" Stonewall shouted, stepping back with his tower shield to avoid the large chunks of debris that rained down as the final line of defense shattered. A volley of arrows immediately flitted through the doorway, bouncing off the impromptu shield wall or clattering off the floor.

Tercio held his pilum tight, and upon the imperator's orders heaved the heavy projectile with all his might. It struck solidly into the unarmored chest of a unicorn, burying itself deep. The unicorn immediately dropped to the floor, the energy around his horn ceasing in an instant. Without sufficient support, the battering ram -- really a crudely torn-out and hastily shaped tree trunk -- wobbled as the remaining unicorns strained to support it. A pair of pila found their marks, and the ram fell to the ground with a resounding crunch and snapping of bones as it crushed anyone who was unfortunate enough to be under it.

"Praetorians, blades front!"

Tercio set his gladius against the side of his tower shield, waiting for an onrush that seemed to number in the dozens. Few of them wore armor, most choosing to don simple blue cloaks and whatever weapons they could levitate or grasp in their mouths. They fell upon the shield wall like a crashing wave, pushing against the semi-circle the praetorians had formed around the door's entrance to funnel the attackers into a killzone. Half a dozen swords thrust out against the wall of bodies that were trying to break the formation, with echoing yells or sharp exhales of pain marking each strike. The fanatical ponies wildly swung their weapons, finding only shields and parrying blades where they lashed out.

A griffon took to the air over the masses, sharp talons extended like daggers, and threw itself against the praetorians. Tercio barely kept upright, swearing between gritted teeth as claws dug into his leg. The griffon managed to get its head over the top of his shield, and it snapped at Tercio viciously, trying to remove his eyes with its sharp beak. Tercio turned his head at the attack, hearing the sharp clangs of his helm as it blunted the griffon's attacks. His gladius went sliding across the floor, and the griffon mocked him in its own language. Still fighting the weight of his attacker, Tercio reached for the small of his back, withdrawing a long, slender dagger, and jabbed it upward into the griffon's neck. The creature shouted in shock and panic, clutching for the blade as it was driven into its throat over and over again. Dark, red blood poured over Tercio in a small torrent, spraying his armor and skin with gore. The griffon ceased its attack, and Tercio tossed its body off his shield.

The wall had held, but the attackers were taking their toll on the brave praetorians. Each and every one of them now sported gashes in their flesh, cuts and stab wounds that turned their steel armor a dark crimson. Still they fought.

Venerin was the first to tire. His weapon lodged in the skull of an opponent, he now resorted to rough bashes and powerful, crushing blows from his tower shield to hold his position. It, too, was soon lost. He grabbed a mace from a mangled body, deflecting blows with his small buckler shield strapped to his right foreleg.

"Hold the line!" Stonewall shouted, stabbing his weapon into the spine of an earth pony that had nearly ended Morning Star's life during a brief moment of tunnel vision. Another volley of arrows zipped through the air, impacting against friend and foe alike. The fanatics were getting desperate, but they could smell blood in the water. It drove them on, their bodies forming a literal mound that reached as high as the praetorians' shields.

"HOLD THE LIIINE!"

A long, curved blade found a gap in Tercio's defenses. It slashed into the unprotected back of his upper arm as it was yanked back against his shield, eliciting a shout of pain. Within seconds there were numerous forelegs pulling at his shield with all of their might, and he could feel himself losing his balance. With only a brief hesitation Tercio removed his arm from the shield's inner straps, letting it fall with the mob. Furious with both himself for letting them get the best of him, and with the fanatics for threatening the very soldiers he cared about, he lashed out with his long dagger at any target he could find. Necks, forelegs, chests, it mattered not. What blows came his way were batted aside with his buckler. He fought like a man possessed, thankful that he was still in control of himself. A short axe fell at his feet from a slain opponent, and he alternated powerful, chopping attacks with swift, precise strikes from both weapons.

A bright flash filled the throne room, and Celestia shouted across the distance.

"The passage is clear!"

Clutching at his side, Stonewall ordered an organized retreat. The praetorians immediately began a quick but methodical retreat, keeping their remaining weapons and shields toward the enemy. For a moment, it looked like the attackers had finally run out of bodies to throw at them. That was the moment the traitorous guards made their move.

Clad in piecemeal Equestrian Guard armor flecked and spotted with dried blood, they advanced without delay, swords slick with gore clutched tightly in their mouths.

"Halt! By order of the Praetorian Guard, I order you to halt!" Stonewall shouted, some small part of him hoping they would listen. Instead, they picked up their pace, coming to a full gallop with loud war cries. They clambered up and over the mound of bodies in the doorway, rushed past the sobbing and dying ponies on the ground around them, and struck the tired, wounded defenders. It took only seconds for their first victim to fall. Venerin blocked a sword swing with his shield, only to find a second pushed up through the gap in his cuirass. He let out a horrible, pained sound, then fell silent as the traitors buried their weapons up the hilt.

"Venerin!" Morning Star shouted, letting his guard down for only a moment at the loss of his friend. An arrow pierced through his right wing and stuck at an angle into his right hind leg, and he tripped over himself and tumbled to the ground. A quick roll was all that saved him from having a sword plunged through his skull.

"Into the passage! Move!" Stonewall struck out with his weapon, but he was losing his focus. His vision swam and his heartbeat pounded in his ears. A heavy weapon smashed into his right foreleg, shattering bone. Only vaguely aware of what had happened, he attempted to lift his shield back up, but it refused to move. Then, all at once, the pain hit. It washed over him like a screaming river, and he fell to the ground clutching at his shattered limb. A stallion wearing a torn cloak and battered armor stood over him, mace raised, and Stonewall prepared to accept his fate.

***

Behind the deer lines, Brother-General Felnaris stood beside his adviser, looking every bit the commander with his glimmering, crystalline armor laced with gold and inlays of small, purple gems. He had watched the carnage unfold before him for some time, unphased by his losses. His soldiers were holding strong.

"The Equestrians fight well," he said. Pieces of green and white fabric hung from the tips of his tall, wide antlers, a symbol of status among his people.

"Indeed they do, sir. Are you not worried?"

Felnaris gave a short, humorless laugh. "Worried? No, not for a moment, Brother-Captain. We will destroy the Equestrians to the last, and when none stand between us and their paltry capital it will be as if they had never existed."

Brother-Captain Corvalix looked at his commanding officer with an unsure eye.

"Forgive me, Brother-General, but I do not think the ponies will give up so easily. They are tenacious fighters, despite rumors to the contrary. I see that, now, for myself."

"You mean from your time in the forest?"

"Yes," Corvalix said. "They did not give up their pursuit of me, no matter the terrain, and even as their numbers dwindled to my attacks they fought on." He pointed to still-healing wound at his shoulder. "I will carry this scar as a reminder of that for the rest of my life."

"With respect, Brother-Captain, it is not that I doubt such things, but in open battle it is clear they must resort to gimmicks and trickery to win," Felnaris retorted. "Do you see, there? On the western end of the formation?" Corvalix strained his eyes; multi-colored spots were just barely visible, flying high over the battle lines. "General Phalanx has no-doubt created a formation of pegasi to attack our forces from the air. They know we cannot counter them in an equal manner, but they make the mistake of thinking such an attack to be untouchable. Observe."

The distant figures were rapidly growing closer, flying at great speed. Scattered arrows flew up to meet them with no effect, and they answered the volleys with weapons of their own: bundles of short, sharp darts held together with twine. A firm tug released the bundles carried on the sides of each pegasus, and within seconds hundreds of small, lethal projectiles were falling to the earth. By sheer number alone they had proven to be effective, causing entire clusters of deer to collapse with puncture wounds.

"Sir, I don't see how--"

"Patience, Brother-Captain."

In front of the assembled deer officers the most powerful magic users were lined up. They wore no armor, for it would only dampen their concentration. With a simple, spoken order they each focused on a pegasus, their antlers glowing green with crackling energy that arced through the air around them. Immediately, the pegasi stopped in mid-air. They struggled against unseen forces, thrashing wildly. Some managed to escape, but many did not, and moments later a volley of small pots were flung in their direction, lit fuses hanging from their sides. They exploded among the pegasi with loud pops and flashes of light, showering them with shards of glass and jagged metal shavings. With the ponies now wounded or dead, the bucks let their limp forms fall to the earth, where masses of blades made sure they would not get up again.

"You see? Gimmicks. The pegasi have contributed nothing but a few casualties, and now their ranks are asunder. We will not be seeing them again, not in such a formation."

Corvalix took a small step back, out of view of the General. The Equestrians had just launched another volley from their siege weapons, more bundles of darts like those carried by the pegasi. They fell well short of the officers' lines, and those that did come within range were halted in mid air by a shimmering wall of green magic.

"Sir, why not deploy such a barrier among the front lines? Surely it would save many lives."

"Because the rank-and-file are disposable," Felnaris answered coldly. "We can always recruit more. What few gifted magic users we have must be deployed to protect the senior cadre. Namely, you and I. Myself particularly, of course."

"Of course, Brother-General."

An orderly ran up and dropped to his knees, a small cup floating beside him. He offered his thanks as the General took the drink and dismissed him with a wave, and just as quickly as he'd appeared he was gone again.

"Sweetbark tea," Felnaris said over the lip of his cup. "Let me ask you something, Brother-Captain Corvalix."

"Sir?"

"Do you know why I am so confident in victory?"

"I...I could only venture a guess, Brother-General."

"By all means."

Corvalix thought for a long moment, then answered.

"The bravery and tenacity of the Whitetail soldier?"

Felnaris chuckled. "No, no. It is far simpler than any descriptor. So simple, in fact, that even the most uneducated farmer could understand it." He did not wait for Corvalix to respond. "The simple fact is that I have seen combat, commanded soldiers on the battlefield, and General Phalanx has not. He has crushed small bands of extremists or criminals, but open warfare? Not even once. He commands only from training, not from experience."

"I see..."

A ballista bolt arced through the sky, lost behind a volley of arrows. Too heavy to be stopped by a single buck, and noticed too late for the gathered line to focus on it, the missile tore through the magical barrier and removed the head of an unfortunate Whitetail officer.

"Sloppy," Felnaris said, sipping his steaming tea. "The Equestrians, for all their fighting spirit, are a nation of soft bodies and softer hearts. Their much-beloved 'princesses' preached love and kinship, and yet they could not even keep their own relationship from tearing apart at the seams. They are, all of them, hypocrites -- even if they are not aware of it. And that is why we will destroy them to the last."

***

A wave of light and a force, as brilliant as the sun, rushed through the throne room, tossing back the attacking traitors and slamming them against the far wall in disoriented heaps. Imperator Stonewall wasted no time, taking advantage of the temporary distraction to get back on his hooves with the help of the remaining praetorians.

"Please hurry," Celestia said, the strain of such a show of power heavy on her voice, "I cannot do that again for some time."

The praetorians limped to her side, remaining weapons and shields still trained on the enemy. The attackers had not yet recovered, still lying on the ground and groaning or flailing their limbs in confusion, but Stonewall knew it would not last forever.

"Everyone into the passage," he ordered, weakly lifting his gladius with his remaining, functional foreleg. "Thunderburst and Morning Star, you're the least injured. You have point."

"Sir," the answered as one. Morning Star was the first to make the short fall into the tunnel, landing with a resounding thump. A few seconds later he gave the all-clear, and Thunderburst followed after him.

"Your Highness, if you would."

Celestia took a cursory glance back at the throne room entrance, then jumped down with a brief flap of her wings that kicked up a small gout of dust and dirt from the old, unused passage.

"Rime, Krosus, you'll have to help me down. I fear I won't make such a landing in one piece."

Tercio and Rimeberry nodded, then grabbed hold of Stonewall around his good foreleg and shoulders. Behind them, the stallions were finally regaining their senses, and they shouted to one another as they grabbed hold of whatever weapons they could find. It wouldn't be long before they were on the offensive again.

"Shit," Tercio swore, gradually lowering his commander down. "Sir, they're--"

"I'm well aware, Krosus! Hurry it up!"

Blood dripped down from his cut arm, making it hard to keep a solid hold of Stonewall. He strained and sweated, feeling his muscles beginning to give way under the weight of the injured pony and his armor. The loud, clacking sound of armored hooves on tile echoed through the room -- the traitor guards were coming.

"Fuck it, that's close enough! Let me go and get your asses in here right now!"

Stonewall fell the remaining few feet and landed hard on his haunches, exhaling sharp and harsh as the air was knocked from his lungs. Above him, a tossed axe whipped by the entrance and narrowly missed Tercio and Rimeberry. They threw themselves into the hole, landing hard enough to warp their segmented shoulder armor.

Celestia began to close off the entrance as soon as her personal guard was with her, first bringing the magical barrier back into being, then sliding the heavy dais back into place. The stallions above shouted and swore viciously, trying to stop the escape. One of them managed to get his armored forelegs into the entrance, up to his knees. The wall of energy enveloped him and coursed through his body like lightning, and he screamed as the dais slid into place, crushing him into place, bones shattered, where he would remain until the barrier shocked the very life from his body.

Celestia flinched at the sound. She hated to inflict suffering on anyone, even those who would end her life, but she knew she had no other choice.

"Poor bastard," Thunderburst said, helping Rimeberry up from the heap of limbs he'd crumpled into on landing.

"A fitting death for a traitor and a murderer." Stonewall pulled a pair of small vials from under his armor, wrapped in cloth, and uncorked them with a tug from his teeth. A pair of torches stood in sconces on the rough, dirty stone walls. The air smelled stagnant and earthy, and he hoped the old torches would still hold a light. Carefully, one liquid was poured in a small amount over the cloth and sap torch heads.

"Stand back," he ordered. A second liquid, more viscous and tinted red, was then poured over the first. The chemicals bubbled and fizzed for several seconds, then ignited with a flash of red-orange flames. "Well, at least one thing today hasn't gone to shit. Princess, I take it you know your way around?"

"Yes, but it has been some time since I was last down here with Luna," she answered, adding her own yellow glow to the torchlight glinting off the walls.

"Is everyone still able to fight?"

They answered affirmative to the last, even as Morning Star wrenched an arrow from his hind leg with gritted teeth.

"Right. Krosus, do your grotesque monkey paws still work?"

"Sir?"

"Your hands, Krosus! Stop staring at me like a wide-eyed cow and grab a torch. You're the most inviting target so you get to take point. Do you still have a weapon?"

"Just a dagger, sir. Lost the axe in the melee."

"Good enough. The rest of us will form up around the princess. It should only take a short time to reach the cavern. We'll wait there until the other praetorians and what's left of the Royal Guard can wipe out the remaining traitors."

The dug-out tunnel was barely high enough for Tercio to stand up in, and the walls felt cramped and claustrophobic as he made his way through the old passage. Celestia was quiet for much of the journey, saying very little as she followed behind Tercio with the battered, bloody remnants of the praetorians at her side. On they walked, passing through an additional barrier that was quickly cleared by royal magic, and soon the air became lighter and cooler. There was an entrance near-by, or some sort of ventilation chamber, Celestia mentioned.

"I can't believe they got into the throne room," Rimeberry said, walking on three legs with the fourth clutching the gash on his chest.

"Bastards ran Venerin right through! We made them pay for every step, though." Morning Star kicked at the dirt with a frustrated swear, bloodied gladius still clutched in his mouth.

"That we did." He looked up at the princess. "You are unharmed, Your Highness?"

"I am, thanks to all of you," she said as comfortingly as she could manage. "Thank you for protecting me. Although..." her voice trailed off.

"Princess?"

"Decanus Venerin's death weighs heavily on me," she said with a tinge of sadness creeping into her voice. "I feel I bear responsibility for him. If I had not returned to grab some petty items from Princess Luna's room, he might still be alive."

Imperator Stonewall answered her as his torn cloak dragged on the floor behind him.

"Do not burden yourself with such thoughts, Princess. We are sworn to protect you to our last breaths. Venerin died as well as any of us could ever hope. He did not object even once, for he knows the value of family. In truth, I rejoice for him, for he is with his now. Any of us should be so lucky." When Celestia did not speak further, Stonewall continued. "He will posthumously be made a full-fledged Praetorian, and buried with all the honors that entails. On this, I give my word."

The winding tunnel eventually opened into a wider path, tall enough for Tercio to finally stand up straight. He rubbed the soreness from his neck as he stepped over a small boulder -- and stopped.

"Gods," he whispered in awe, "what sort of place is this?"

***

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Lacertus Praxis heard distant voices coming from somewhere beyond the expansive cave he'd found his way into. For some time he'd simply lied upon his back and taken in the sights and sounds around him; a cavern of the most beautiful crystals and clearest water he'd ever seen. Old and jaded though he considered himself, somewhere in the back of his mind he still felt a child-like wonder at the spectacle.

Above him, long crystals, as big around as his great sword, jutted from the ceiling, surrounded by patches of smaller crystalline shapes that looked as delicate as blades of grass. The large formations glowed a soft, almost ethereal blue that radiated to the surrounding walls, themselves seemingly polished to a near-mirror shine by some unknown element. Below his well-hidden perch, pools of perfectly clear water stood motionless. Tiny, purple shards added just the smallest hint of color from the bottom. A cool wind blew in from limestone tubes leading to the outside world, adding a relaxing, almost nurturing feel to the cavern.

And then there was the sound. He'd missed it at first, too busy climbing up to his ambush point and subsequently breathing heavily from exertion, but as he'd regained his senses it came to him. It was barely noticeable at first, like a mis-heard sound or a trick of the mind. Then it had started to grow, carried on the cool breeze, a soft twinkling of harmonious notes from the most delicate chimes he could imagine. Always they were there, just at the edge of his hearing, and when he'd closed his eyes he could imagine himself floating over an endless ocean with the sun rising over the horizon. For the first time in many years, he'd felt truly at peace.

Then came the voices from the tunnel. The crystals slowly, subtly changed color to a radiant yellow as the sounds of steel and hoof approached ever closer. Carefully he chanced the smallest peak over an outcropping, and within seconds a limb appeared. Long, well-toned, covered in armor plating. No mere pony limb. He smiled to himself -- the waiting was over.

***

"In all my years I have never seen such a place!"

Tercio and his compatriots stood in slack-jawed wonder at the sight of the cave around them. Stonewall urged them to stay sharp, but even he had to admit to the beauty before his eyes. Still, his duty came first, and he ordered the remaining praetorians to take their places around the tall, echoing chamber. They would be safe here, he said, until the fighting had passed.

"It's quite something, isn't it?" Celestia said with the first smile she'd managed since the fighting began. "Many years ago, when our mother and father still ruled as King and Queen, Luna and I would venture down here. We shared countless stories and played many games, just the two of us." The glowing crystals turned a dark blue at the mention of the fallen Princess' name, then faded back to yellow. "This place still remembers those times, just as much as I do."

"I don't understand," Tercio said, bending down and sliding his fingers through the cool water. They tingled, like the kiss of winter ice, and soon the blood had been washed from his hand like it was never there. "What do you mean 'this place still remembers'?"

"This cave is very special. It is a font of magical energy, a wonder of the natural way of things. My father said it used to be a unicorn holy site, back before the three races united under a single banner. That was many centuries ago."

She reached out and touched an armored hoof to a long, multi-faceted crystal. It shined brilliantly though all colors of the sunset.

"There is a consciousness about this place, one beyond my understanding, and I think it beautiful. At one time, so did my sister." She turned and motioned to Tercio with a slight nod of her head. "Come, see for yourself."

He cautiously approached her side, unsure of what he might feel once he made contact with the strange surface. Slowly, he pressed his fingers to the hard face of the crystal. He could feel a vibration, like a hum, pass through his arm and over his body.

"It is unsure of what to make of you," Celestia explained as the crystal ceased to glow. Tercio frowned, disappointed, and the humming sensation left him. "You are conflicted."

"Should I not be?" he asked quietly, remembering only small flashes of how he'd once again lost control of himself and attempted to harm the very princess he was sworn to protect.

Celestia hesitated before answering.

"Only you can know the answer for sure. It is not my place to say."

She placed a hoof against the back of his hand, and together the crystal glowed with a faint yellow-orange.

"Perhaps one day you will know. On that day, we will return here, under happier circumstances."

Covered in blood, both his and his enemy's, bruised and cut and broken, Tercio found it hard to think of such times. He missed his brother, missed his parents, feared for their safety. He wondered if he would be able to truly protect the princess, or if he was even truly cut out for the Praetorians. Still, there was something about Celestia that radiated confidence and comfort, even in her own moments of self-doubt, and he was thankful to have her encouraging words.

"I would like that," he said just above a whisper.

The hum stopped, suddenly replaced by a sound like a shrill scream. Tercio jerked his hand back as the crystals suddenly changed to a harsh, ugly red, bathing the entire cavern in a crimson light. Then there was a wet, sharp tearing of metal slicing through flesh, and as he turned around he glimpsed Morning Star's head falling to the ground.

There, beside the body of his comrade, stood an earth pony. He was covered from muzzle to tail in thick armor, his face hidden behind a mask of polished silver, and in his mouth he clutched a massive sword that glistened with fresh blood. Red light cast a harsh, dark shadow upon him, his armor glowing like the flames of the underworld, and when he gazed upon Tercio he struck a strong, imposing silhouette.

"M-Morning Star?" Thunderburst said in shock, watching the blood pour from the severed stump of his friend's neck. Overcome by grief, he pulled the gladius from his side and lashed out at the unknown attacker, yelling as he stabbed his sword into the thick chest armor. There the blade stuck, and with a single, powerful strike the assassin severed the right foreleg from his body in a spray of blood and shattered steel. Thunderburst fell to the ground, screaming, clutching at his wound.

Stonewall and Rimeberry were on the attack before Thunderburst could suffer a killing blow, and together they deflected the massive weapon. Stonewall held fast despite his shattered limb and painful wounds, but he knew he was no match for his opponent. With Rimeberry distracting the assassin with a series of furious blows, Stonewall grabbed the now-unconscious Thunderburst's hind leg in his mouth and dragged him away. Rimeberry took a long gash along his side, and he was forced to retreat to protect his wounded comrades. Celestia shouted something to Stonewall, but Tercio could not make out the words over the clashes of combat and the pounding pulse in his ears as he rushed over. He would have to worry about Thunderburst later.

Whoever the large, powerful earth pony was, Tercio thought him surprisingly quick for wielding such a large weapon. He parried and blocked like it was a simple dagger. Any attack he missed simply bounced off his armor, and even as Tercio fought he found the heavy blade carving through the air at his chest. He jumped back, then lunged forward with his long reach to stab at his opponent with his dagger. It may as well have been a toy.

The dagger stuck firmly into the back of the assassin's armor, finding some small gap between plates, and blood seeped out in long rivulets. The big earth pony did not even flinch, and swung his weapon around in a short arc to remove Tercio's head. Tercio ducked and moved back again, barely avoiding having his throat severed.

"Tercio, quickly!" Celestia shouted, levitating the weapon from its sheathe around her neck. Tercio ran toward it as fast as he could, grabbing it out of mid-air with a lunge. The assassin's weapon passed by so close he could feel the wind on the back of his head. He landed roughly on his shoulder, rolling on his side to avoid a killing strike, and hurried back to his feet, placing enough distance between him and his opponent to even the odds -- or so he hoped.

"Fancy sword you've got there," the assassin said, his voice distorted from his face-obscuring mask. Tercio turned the blade in his hand, and it was unlike any sword he'd seen before; three times as long as a gladius and made of the finest steel, sharpened to a nearly perfect edge, just as deadly with slashing attacks as it was with stabbing thrusts. It glowed faintly with an inner yellow light and felt warm to the touch. A beautifully carved, stylized sun -- the same image that graced Celestia's flanks -- was engraved just above the golden hilt. It burned a luminous orange.

Tercio struck out with it, and the weapon seemed to slice the very air itself. Again he lashed out, but the great sword of his opponent countered it.

"Who are you?" Tercio asked, circling the assassin. "What is it you want?"

"Nothing you can provide me, human." He laughed, pulling the dagger from his back. He tossed it aside, where it skidded into a pool of water. "I was told I would likely encounter you. You are even more grotesque than I had heard."

"Petty barbs mean nothing to me, murderer."

"So you say. If you must know, my name is Lacertus Praxis of Canterlot. Slayer of a dozen kings, terror of the Eastwald, the finest mercenary in Equestria. Perhaps you have heard of me?"

"No, but you seem to have quite the high opinion of yourself for a petty sell-sword."

"Petty? You know nothing of me, boy. But it matters little," he said, hefting his weapon, "for soon I will drink the blood of your beloved goddess from your skull!"

Lacertus swung his weapon far more quickly than Tercio had thought possible. It caught him in the shoulder, slicing through his armor strips and gashing open the top of his arm. Tercio immediately struck back with a powerful, hacking slice. The royal sword carved through the face of one of Lacertus' decorative lion pauldrons, leaving it briefly glowing bright red as the blade imparted the heat of the sun with its strike. Lacertus swore loudly.

"You'll pay for that!"

A long, arcing swing came Tercio's way; he dodged to the side and brought the sword down hard. Lacertus deflected the weapon and planted his blade in the ground, using its momentum to swing himself up and around for a vicious buck of his hind legs. Tercio blocked it at the last moment with his buckler shield, only to have it shatter into pieces. The force of the impact threw him back, and as he struggled to regain his footing another strike lanced through the armored leather straps of his pteruges skirt, narrowly missing his thigh.

"For the love of the gods, Krosus, focus!" Stonewall said from the princess' side, where he and Rimeberry were frantically trying to stop Thunderburst's bleeding. Lacertus promised the old imperator that he would be next, once he'd dispatched the repugnant creature before him.

Tercio forced himself to calm down, despite the pain, despite the blood that now ran from multiple places on his body. Lacertus may have had the advantage of raw strength, but his movements, quick though they were for having such a large sword, still could not match the speed and agility Tercio's body provided him. The big earth pony had to swing his weapon using his head and neck, which left very brief gaps where he could not see what was happening. It would have to be enough.

"Are you one of them? The traitors who slaughter our citizens in the streets?" Tercio asked, trying to stall for time, checking over Lacertus' armor for any weak point. It looked as solid as a block of steel.

"A traitor? Ha! Those undisciplined rabble who don their old armor and long for the glory days. They are a useful distraction, a sacrifice."

"For what?"

"For me."

Lacertus swung his weapon wide, cleaving through a cluster of glowing crystals as Tercio jumped back. Sparks shot out from the clashing blades as a series of blows were parried and blocked. Tercio studied the armored assassin intently, finding no obvious place where he could slip his blade through. A rush of adrenaline forced him forward, and he struck a furious string of stabs and slashes. Some of them found their way through Lacertus' defenses, but all were defeated by his armor, leaving only glowing gashes and long scrapes against the hardened steel. A slight opening showed itself, and Tercio kicked at the side of Lacertus' head as hard as he could, sending the other's neck craning back and to the side. In that moment, he brought the sword up and through the black leather and iron plates. It dug deep, but not deep enough, and as Lacertus twisted his head back the sword carried up through his helm and sliced off one of his ears. He gave an angered yell, tossing the glowing, ruined face guard to the ground. A burning, steaming gash, from the bottom of his neck to the tip of his head, dripped blood in long rivulets and streams of crimson. Tercio moved in for another strike, hoping to put an end to the battle, only to have Lacertus spin around and deliver a crushing buck of his powerful hind legs. Tercio was thrown back, his chest armor dented and distorted, and he landed in a pile with the air knocked from his lungs.

"Not bad, human" Lacertus said, wincing in pain. "I may just give you the gift of a quick death after all." Reaching into a pouch along his side, he pulled out a flask of dark, thick liquid. He popped the cork out and poured it down his head, over his bleeding wounds, gritting his teeth as the fluid began to sizzle and bubble. Within seconds the wound was cauterized, his skin fused together with ugly, black lumps of gelatinous liquid and congealed blood.

"Fucking zebras never said it would burn that much," he swore. Bathed in the light of glowing crystals, Tercio finally got a good look at his attacker -- an older face, worn and scarred. A long, pink line ran down his cheek and a close-cut, gray mane stood in sharp contrast to the dark brown of his coat. Lacertus laughed in amusement as Tercio studied him, the jagged scar on his face distorting his smile into a lopsided grin that pulled his face tight on one side.

"She said I might run into you, that Nightmare bitch. Said you were probably a good fighter." He hefted his great sword over his back, its edges shining faintly with silvery runes. "It is not often I compliment a victim, but in this case I think you've earned it. Too bad it's about to mean shit."

"Enough!" Tercio shouted, rushing forward with his sword at his side.

"Yes, I think you're right. Enough."

As Tercio approached Lacertus, weapon held high to deliver a deadly blow, Lacertus uttered a single word.

"Fal'naas."

For a brief moment Tercio staggered, the trigger word blanking his mind like a lightning flash. He stumbled and fell, his helm crashing to the ground beside Lacertus, and as his head slammed against the crystal formations he simply stopped moving.

"Well look at that, it actually worked." Lacertus considered taking Tercio's head right then and there, but decided against it. The princess was still breathing, and Lacertus intended to put an end to that very soon. "Now, Princess Celestia, you and I have some unfinished business. I tell you what: you lie down on the ground and accept what's coming, and I'll make sure you don't feel anything more than is necessary."

"You take one more step toward her and I'll run you right through, traitor!" Stonewall yelled, hefting Rimeberry's buckler in his remaining good foreleg. Rime and Thunderburst were completely helpless from shock and blood loss and, even though Celestia had managed to stop their bleeding, their unconscious forms would not be lifting a sword any time soon.

Lacertus cocked his head, chuckling at the sight of the bloody, broken old stallion before him. He would not even be a threat, and they both knew it. Lacertus suddenly broke into a sprint, charging the distance between them, and hefted his sword around for a powerful strike. Stonewall lifted his small shield up, but it was a futile gesture against the mighty swing of the great sword. It shattered into splinters of iron and wood, and the massive blade carried through as if nothing had stood in its way at all, severing Stonewall's foreleg above the knee. Stonewall gasped at the cold, sharp blade cleanly cutting away his limb, and as he fell to the ground he looked into Lacertus' eyes and saw only hatred. The menacing assassin raised his weapon once more, but something caught his attention. A sword flew through the air wrapped in a sheen of yellow magic, slicing a deep gash into the flank of Lacertus' armor that burned red-hot.

"You get away from them right this instant!" Celestia shouted, sword levitating before her. She stepped forward and sliced the air just in front of him, narrowly missing his exposed, bloodied face. "Stop this madness and surrender yourself to our custody, Lacertus Praxis of Canterlot."

Lacertus growled at the searing pain along his side.

"I gave you the chance to end your life with dignity, Princess. Now I am going to see to it that you die screaming, begging at my hooves."

"You are a monster," Celestia answered defiantly, "and if you truly do this on behalf of my sister, then you have been lied to. She cares only for herself now."

"I don't give two shits about you or your sister and your petty squabbles."

"What did she promise you? Gold? Fame? A place at her side?" Celestia asked, watching nervously as Imperator Stonewall pulled himself up against a rock and began wrapping a tourniquet around his bleeding stump with torn lengths of his cloak. Lacertus looked in his direction, but obviously didn't consider him to be a threat.

"Something much simpler than any of those things, Your Highness: the pleasure of watching you die before me."

Pushing himself off with his powerful hind legs, Lacertus sprung off a stalagmite with his weapon clutched in his mouth. Celestia jumped to the side with a flap of her wings, bringing her sword around to counter attack, but it found only air. Lacertus was up and moving before she could recover, missing her neck by mere inches. She stabbed the gleaming weapon out in a decisive thrust, carving through the steel and leather armor and plunging into the knee of his right hind leg. Lacertus yelled and delivered a series of crushing blows, each one meeting the royal weapon with a clash of steel and a flash of magical energies that lit the cave for the blink of an eye. For the first time since he'd arrived, he truly had to focus on his target. Celestia was far more adept with a blade than he'd thought, but he remained confident -- she had to have a weakness, everyone did. He just had to find it. Briefly his weapon glowed yellow, and he could feel it yanking away from his grip. He bit down on it harder, the magical runes countering Celestia's power.

"Nice try, bitch," he muttered.

A split-second later he was tearing through the air from a blast of light and fury directed from the tip of Celestia's horn. The heat burned his skin and singed his short mane before his back smashed into a cluster of crystals, shredding them apart and scattering their remains across the ground like a thousand shards of glass. The impact left him dazed for the briefest of moments, and Celestia shot out her sword across the cavern in an attempt to end the fight. It scraped across Lacertus' armor, and he stuck out a hoof and trapped it against the ground. His great sword glowed silver and, in a single, massive strike, he shattered the magical weapon into pieces. It died with a flash of orange and yellow, and he kicked the hilt into a pool of water.

Now without a weapon, Celestia felt helpless as the assassin stood back up, limping toward her, with the tip of his blade dragging along the ground. She lowered her head and unleashed another blast of magical energy, but Lacertus was prepared and blocked the beam with the broad side of his sword. Again she tried, and again there was no effect. She looked around for somewhere to go to, but the ceiling was not high enough to fly.

"Come now, Princess," he taunted, "surely you see that further struggle is pointless! All of your vaunted praetorians are dead or dying. No one is coming to your aid." Another burst of light and heat was sent his way. "That fancy magic shit isn't going to save you!"

Lacertus galloped forward, swinging his weapon at Celestia's neck. She disappeared in a flash, reappearing some distance behind him, where she picked up a fallen gladius and struck out with it immediately. It clanged off his back armor, then off his chest. As he turned around she aimed it directly for his face, where it connected with a wet impact and tore away a large chunk of his left cheek.

"You fucking bitch!" he slurred as blood seeped into his mouth. A follow-up from Celestia was blocked by his greatsword, and the gladius dug itself into his thick chest armor and came to a stop. It jiggled in place as she tried to yank it back out, and Lacertus was immediately upon her, far faster than he'd moved since being wounded. Furious, angered blows rained down around her, slicing through crystals and spires of stone and gouging deep gashes in the floor as she barely avoided each attack. She knew she was running out of space, but she was too exhausted, too drained, to focus enough magic to teleport out of harm's way. She turned to try and run back toward Stonewall, desperate for help, and that was when the great sword found her at last. It carved into her shoulder, tore through the flesh of her side, and cut a horrible wound all the way down to the sun on her flank. With a scream she collapsed against the semi-reflective walls, tears in her eyes from the pain that shot through her like the very soul of a raging fire.

Then she heard it. The horrible, familiar yell, the pounding of footsteps rapidly approaching. Lacertus turned to look, and in that very moment Tercio was upon him. They went sprawling to the ground as Tercio tackled the assassin with all of his might, skidding to a stop near the edge of a clear pool of water.

Lacertus' eyes were wide at the sight of the human atop him, and he instictively swung his sword around. It stopped in mid-air as Tercio grabbed onto the long hilt that protruded from Lacertus' mouth with both hands, and with a shout he ripped it away. Shattered teeth and streamers of blood flew through the air. Lacertus screamed in torment.

With no weapon left to fight with, Lacertus tried to slide back, away from the rampaging prateorian that roared with blood lust like an angry lion. Tercio grabbed him by his mane and slammed his head into the ground, over and over, an unrelenting rage screaming through every fiber of his being, then held Lacertus underwater up to his neck. Lacertus thrashed and kicked his legs, water filling his lungs, desperately hoping to get Tercio to stop his attack, but his armored hooves found only unrelenting steel. With one hand Tercio reached for Lacertus' neck and squeezed as hard as he could. He could feel the muscles flexing against his palm, and he dug his fingers into the flesh hard enough to draw blood. The sight of it pushed him on, until it was all he could focus on, and with a terrible shout he clenched his fist together with all the strength he had within him, tearing Lacertus' throat out in an arterial spray of bright red blood.

The assassin thrashed for a few seconds more, and then it was over.

Now lying on her side, her vision growing blurry, Celestia had seen the entire thing. Tercio stood up from his kill, covered in blood, and locked eyes with her.

"Please..." she whispered, "remember who you are."

Celestia closed her eyes , feeling so exhausted she couldn't have ever imagined it, and, before her sight turned dark, heard only the sound of approaching footsteps.

***

13 - Recovery

Soaring above the battlefield with a retinue of pegasi at her side, Battle-Master Gilias was in her element. Since the start of the battle she'd rapidly become impressed by the courage and fighting spirit of the ponies; even in the face of potentially overwhelming force, they never backed down. They did, however, need to learn a thing or two about tactical flying -- especially after the disastrous first outing that had cost many pegasi their lives -- and for that reason she'd volunteered to lead them into battle for quick strikes against vulnerable targets. The armor worn by pegasi was lighter than that of their unicorn or earth pony brethren, which meant a policy of "get in, attack, get out" was the only way to avoid excessive losses.

"Battle-Master, there are more of those swing-arm contraptions to our right, just before the treeline!" A blue pegasus in gold and silver armor shouted above the noise of the wind and rain, pointing a hoof at the siege weapons grouped together on the eastern edge of the fight. They ducked and weaved with the dips and hills of the terrain, and between hilltops she managed to get a look.

"I see it! Looks like two dozen deer in the area!" She held up a closed claw-hand and thrust it downward, the signal for a diving attack. "Move in!"

As one they rapidly ascended through the pouring rain, water trailing off their feathers, and dove on the small formation. Gilias was the first to strike, tucking her wings in and landing with enough speed to carry her across the slick grass with a blade in each hand. Simultaneous swings decapitated one deer and sliced the neck of another before she skidded to a halt, already bringing her curved swords up and around to lash out at the nearest target. At the same time, her pegasi took up positions around her and began to fight off the defending deer. It was a fierce, brutal flurry of flashing steel, lasting no more than a few breaths, and by the end the deer lay dead or dying, with the loss of two pegasi in exchange.

"Wings out and pricks up, ponies! Move it!"

No sooner had they lifted back into the air than a wave of explosive pots were flung their way. Gilias cursed as she saw their small forms rapidly approaching, and she immediately yelled for her pegasi to fly as close to the ground as possible. Many of the projectiles crashed into the hillside or went flying by harmlessly, but a few managed to explode directly amidst the formation, sounding like a sudden burst of hail as the shards of pottery, glass and iron bounced off armor or embedded themselves in flesh. Several pegasi shouted and fell to the ground in crumpled heaps, trailing blood from numerous puncture wounds, and Gilias felt a sudden, stabbing pain like a swarm of angry bees all along her left side. She wobbled as her flapping faltered.

"We've lost Cracius and Monsoon!" A pegasus to her left pulled alongside her and attempted to hold her up with one of his forelegs, but the griffon's wings were too large and he had to fall back to avoid blocking her movement.

"They'll have to find their own way back!" She reached a hand back to her side, and when she pulled it up to her face she saw patches of red that covered her talons. "Fucking tree-rutters! Everyone break off and get back to the medicae tents if you're hit, that's an order!"

Blood dripped from her forehead, making it steadily harder to see as it clouded her vision. She stayed focused on the terrain, but she could feel herself growing weaker, her powerful flaps now barely keeping her flying. Finally she passed over Equestrian lines and, with a final surge of willpower, dove into the center of the medical area. She landed hard enough to leave a trail of torn grass and soil behind her, and she laughed to herself despite the pain as the apothecaries rushed over.

"I need the strongest shit you have," she said with her head on the ground, part-way delirious, "because if I feel any pain I'm going to eat one of you fuckers. Alive."

***

Brother-Captain Corvalix and his commander watched intently as the nations of Whitetail and Equestria battled each other in vicious combat. For over an hour it had gone on, with countless dead and wounded on both sides. At times it felt like nature itself was intent on adding to the chaos, with the relentless downpour turning the battlefield into a swampy muck of blood and torn earth.

"I can't help but notice the ponies are still fighting tenaciously, sir. Perhaps General Phalanx knows more about warfare than you believe?"

Felnaris dismissed the idea with a shrug.

"Phalanx has been lucky and stubborn, Brother-Captain, nothing more. It is only a matter of time."

Another wave of fire pots rained down on the Equestrian lines, but even such a fearsome weapon seemed to have little effect on the enemy's morale. Corvalix cursed and wished he had more siege weapons; many had been destroyed by pegasus attacks led by that damnable griffon, or lucky catapult hits, and what few remained were now under the protection of a greatly reduced magical barrier. It was a slow, gradual thing, the loss of combat efficiency, but it was there. Felnaris simply refused to see it, the stubborn old stag so set in his ways, so sure of victory without effort. It was infuriating.

"As I said: Phalanx has no experience with real warfare," Felnaris said, motioning to the eastern flank. There Corvalix saw a large contingent of armored ponies forming up into double rows with long spears held at the ready. "See how he gathers his forces in the open, no doubt hoping to attack us from the side. It is a fool's tactic, a move of desperation."

Indeed, it appeared that the Whitetail soldiers had already begun to move themselves to counter the flanking attack, breaking off a force of over two hundred from the reserve ranks to form a wall of blades for the ponies to charge into.

The ranks of Equestrians shouted something, then began to pick up speed and break into a full gallop. Their hooves sloshed through the water and kicked up streamers of wet soil, and as one they lowered their spears. They were about to rush head-long into a force double their size, bristling with long blades and armor-mounted daggers. A suicide attack. Corvalix felt a twist of worry in the pit of his stomach -- what if Phalanx really didn't know how to fight a war? Everything he'd worked for, planned for, would be thrown into chaos.

Another war cry sounded, though Corvalix could not make out the words. The charging ponies gained a burst of speed, closing in on the deer lines, until they were nearly within spear range. A bright glow started to shine from the center of each group, like miniature stars, each a different color. There was a blinding flash.

And then, the ponies simply disappeared.

Corvalix gasped.

A heartbeat later, the missing ponies materialized among the back ranks of the Whitetail army with a battle cry, still at a fierce gallop. Their precision was astounding, with each small formation appearing in a different place with a burst of light and magic. They carved into the unprotected deer with spear and sword and mace, and within seconds the commanding ranks were decimated. Some of the bucks, stronger and more experienced, took two or three ponies down before succumbing to the relentless, sudden appearance of Equestria's most skilled magic users and their squads.

Brother-General Felnaris stepped back in surprise, his mouth agape at the ferocity of the Equestrian maneuver.

"I..Polasis Formation, break off and kill those damned ponies! Leave the front ranks if you must!"

Inwardly, Corvalix smiled. In a single moment, Felnaris had been put in his place.

"What now, sir?" he asked, a tinge of amusement in his voice.

"Now we end their miserable lives and carry on! Trickery and gimmicks, just as I said!"

A near-by siege weapon's crew cried out as war maces shattered their armor and crushed their bones. Great spurts of blood and gore sprayed from the heavy, powerful impacts that brought them to the ground. One of the deer lifted up and crashed a fire pot into the pile next to him, engulfing himself, his comrades, and six ponies in otherworldly green flames.

"Sir, we need help!" someone shouted above the noise of battle and the screams of burning soldiers.

"Formations seven through ten are at half-strength!" another said.

"Barrier squad is dead!"

Felnaris was beginning to panic. It was plainly visible in his eyes; he had underestimated his enemy, and was now frantically looking around for a way out, a way to regain control. A battered commander hobbled up to him, his body covered in wounds.

"Sir! We...we need reinforcements on the...western edge! The Equestrians are breaking through!"

"Return to your post!" Felnaris shouted. Some of the deer down the line had begun to break off, falling back to better positions but leaving their flanks exposed, in a desperate bid to fight off the constant blades and arrows that were being sent their way. "All of you, return to your positions! That's an order, damnit!"

The wounded commander clutched his chest, his breathing heavy.

"We should retreat..."

A blade whipped through the air, lodging itself in the deer's side. The hilt crackled with green magic as Felnaris dug the blade in deeper. The commander fell to the ground, dead where he landed.

"Traitors! Cowards! The armies of Whitetail do not retreat!"

That was all Corvalix needed. The final sign of Whitetail weakness. A volley of arrows and ballista bolts arced over the front lines, and Corvalix quickly threw up a barrier with all of his might and focus, deflecting the projectiles -- except for one. A single ballista bolt, long and heavy and horrifically sharp, stopped with a jerk in mid-air, mere inches from Felnaris' body. The Brother-General shot a look of relief that immediately changed to rage.

"And you, Brother-Captain! Why are you not fighting the filthy rabble?! Where is your sense of loyalty and--"

Felnaris stopped with a pained choke. He looked down at the bolt sticking out from his chest, magical energy coursing up and down its length. It jerked forward, and he gave an agonized grunt as jagged pieces of his armor sawed into his wound.

Beside him, Brother-Captain Corvalix fixed an unblinking glare at his commanding officer, his antlers bathed in emerald-green light.

"Don't you dare speak to me about loyalty, Brother-General," he said, spitting the words like poison from his mouth. "My loyalty lies with another. One who is stronger than any among your pathetic ranks."

With a burst of magic he twisted the bolt, and a stream of blood dribbled from Felnaris' mouth.

"You are a fool and a disgrace to the Whitetail. You were never going to win this battle. Too many lives have been wasted to your pride." Corvalix leaned in, speaking just above a whisper. "Die now, knowing that everything you have done is for naught, Felnaris."

With a final push the commander of the Whitetail, the strategist of their invasion, fell dead. Corvalix stood over the body for a long moment, relishing the death he'd waited so long to inflict on the insufferable leader. For months he had taken the general's barbs without retort, withstood the verbal and physical abuse that so frequently came from questioning orders or bringing bad news, and he had done it for a cause far greater than himself. Now, after all that time, he finally felt justified.

With as much feigned sadness and panic as he could muster, he yelled to the commanders who were fighting for the lives of their bucks, and themselves.

"B-Brother-General Felnaris has fallen! All Whitetail forces, retreat! I say again, retreat with all due haste!"

Some of the commanders looked back at him in shock and confusion, but upon seeing the body of their general impaled by an Equestrian missile quickly fell in line and passed on the order. Up and down the formations it was repeated, and in seconds the battle line was broken as deer vaulted over the bodies of their dead comrades to escape. Many fell to arrows and spears. Hundreds of pegasi were seen to leap into the air, charging down survivors with their superior speed.

The Whitetail were routed. Many of the deer dropped their weapons and surrendered; those who didn't were quickly dispatched.

"Sir, we need to get you out of here!" A company commander said as he ran over, his armor slick with blood from his twin daggers.

"Of course, Brother-Sergeant. As you say."

Several surviving deer joined with him, and together they made a full retreat for the safety and cover of the woods. As they darted between trees and hopped fallen logs, Corvalix allowed himself a brief smile. Everything had gone better than he could have hoped for and, though he had been prepared to sacrifice his life, he was glad to be alive.

***

"...izens are in a full-blown panic, not that I blame them."

"What of the Guard, sir? Or the Praetorians? Do we have the numbers necessary to restore order?"

"If we're lucky. Damned attack took its toll on us."

The sound of conversation echoed like a distant thunderclap, gradually gaining clarity as the far-off voices came into focus. Slowly, Princess Celestia opened her eyes. She was alive.

Thin curtains blew in the light breeze drifting through an open window, orange beams of late-day light casting their glow on a place that was at once familiar and strangely foreign in its appearance -- the royal infirmary. In her groggy, half-awake state, Celestia remembered the days she and Luna would come to this very place as a result of their childish adventures. In the corner, leaning against the wall, a young visage of her sister smiled a gap-toothed smile and giggled at the loss of another baby tooth.

"Luna..."

Her eyelids grew heavy, and she felt herself drifting off to sleep once more.

"Princess! Are you alright? Can you hear me?"

Celestia grumbled, feeling like a child deprived of a nap. She forced herself to stay awake, the soft rays of setting sunlight suddenly like burning bonfires, and she turned her head with a groan. All at once the voice snapped to focus.

"Princess Celestia, we're here for you."

Imperator Stonewall. He'd survived after all.

"Mmmn...Stonewall?"

His ears immediately perked up at the sound of her voice.

"Yes. Thank the gods you're alive. For quite some time we weren't sure if you were going to make it."

Celestia sat up in her bed, carefully craning her neck to look around. A sharp pain jerked her shoulder, and she recoiled with a small shout.

"Easy now, Princess, easy now. Your wounds are not yet fully healed."

She looked down at the left side of her body, where an ugly, jagged line of mended flesh showed against her white coat that was washed a filthy red with streams of dried blood. Bandages clung to her side and wrapped tight against her ribs. The memory of the assassin's blade tearing into her flashed before her eyes, as vivid as the moment it happened: the gleaming edge of his massive sword, the horrible feeling of being trapped, the pain as it cut her. Then...

"Tercio?" she asked, finally noticing the tall human standing at the foot of her bed.

"I remain at your side, My Princess," he said with a pained nod. His right arm was held tight against his chest in a sling that remained pink and wet from his injuries, and everything above his elbow seemed to be stained with seeping blood. Dark, ugly bruises showed themselves across his face and chest. In his free hand he clutched a healing poultice to his side, where he had torn away a section of his cloth doublet to tend to the wound. The herbal concoction wafted from where he stood, earthy and biting to the senses.

"How are you feeling?" Stonewall asked. The old stallion had seen better days, wrapped in thick bandages over much of his torso.

"I have been better," Celestia answered truthfully, "but I am alive."

"All we can ask for. Some time passed after you lost consciousness. Fortunately, a flight of pegasi from a neighboring Praetorian detachment thought to look for us in the escape tunnel. We owe much of our survival to them."

As he turned Celestia gasped at the stump where his foreleg used to be. His other foreleg hung uselessly, its bones broken. Stonewall remained standing solely due to the carved staff that now supported his upper body, tucked into the spot where his leg met his chest. "Really, it is not as bad as it looks," he tried to assure her. "I will not be fighting any time soon, but I continue to serve to the best of my ability. Besides, the apothecaries assure me they can fashion a wooden replacement in due time. I have tried to convince them to make it out of steel and conceal a folding blade, but thus far I have had little success." He chuckled despite his situation.

"I am glad to see you are still in good spirits," Celestia said. "And more-so, I am glad to see you still with us. I feared we would all take our last breaths in that cave." Flashes of combat, sprays of blood. The horrible, screeching wail of the cavern. The memories shook her to her very soul. "What of the others?"

Stonewall frowned. "Morning Star is dead, quite obviously. Thunderburst lost a limb and a lot of blood, he is under intensive watch. Whether he will survive or not, I cannot say. Rimeberry is recovering in the main infirmary. The apothecaries say he has several broken ribs and a punctured lung. His survival is also, I'm afraid, unknown at this point."

"I see...I'm sorry to hear that." The moaning of wounded ponies sounded from down the hall, far too many. "How has Canterlot fared? Is it as bad as I imagine?"

"To be honest, Your Highness, not too well. There are still a few...cultists...who insist on throwing their lives away, but they are being dealt with. The majority of them are now dead, albeit at a great cost. We're still trying to verify everything, but we believe our military losses number somewhere between sixty and eighty Royal Guard, twenty to thirty Praetorian Guard, and a dozen soldiers from a visiting Legion encampment. The wounded number twice that. As for the cultist scum, we estimate anywhere up to six hundred. We made the bastards pay for every life they took."

"And what of the citizens?"

"Civilian losses are...higher."

"How much higher?"

Stonewall said nothing for a moment, casting his eyes to the floor.

"Stonewall? How much higher?"

"...between three hundred and five hundred dead. The number of wounded is unknown."

Celestia gasped with her hooves to her chest, her eyes tearing up. So much loss and suffering, and for what? For the fanatical devotion to her fallen sister? She felt the rising urge to break down and cry, and she closed her eyes hard against it and forced herself to remain as calm as she could.

"I'm sorry, I just need a moment," she said with sadness evident on her voice. Tercio and Stonewall turned away out of respect, speaking to each other quietly. Celestia felt the weight of every death crushing down on her, and for what felt like an eternity she found it hard to breathe or think clearly. So many senseless deaths...

"Do you know who is in charge of this infirmary?" Celestia finally asked once she'd regained her composure.

"That would be apothecary Mended Heart. She is currently gathering supplies down the hall. Shall I bring her before you?"

"Please do," Celestia noded weakly. "I wish to ask her something."

Stonewall turned and hobbled out through the door, but was stopped as Tercio asked if he would prefer to send him instead. Stonewall declined, saying he was crippled, not dead, and headed down the hallway with his walking cane clacking on the floor.

"Still as stubborn as ever," Celestia said, wiping lingering tears from her eyes. She studied Tercio for a time as he pulled the healing poultice away, grimacing at the sting of the medicine as it cleaned and healed the gash at his side. He noticed her looking at him and tipped his head in admiration.

"Are you well, Princess?" he asked, pulling another mixture of herbs and liquids from the wooden table behind him.

"I was about to ask you the same."

"I have been better," he answered truthfully, "but still I draw breath. I cannot complain too much in that regard."

"That makes two of us, then. I'm relieved you're alive."

"And I, you." Tercio pressed the cloth full of medicine against his wound once more, sucking in a breath through his teeth at the stinging that came from it. "They tell me I killed the assassin, Lacertus, quite viciously. Truth be told, it's just like the other times I was overcome with that...primal violence, I suppose you could call it."

"You don't remember anything?" she asked.

"No. There are only brief moments. Bits and pieces. When I close my eyes, I see only blood and death." He looked up with a worried shadow crossing his face. "Did I truly tear his throat out? With my bare hands?"

"Yes. I remember it clearly. I had just been struck down by the assassin's blade, and before he could end my life you were upon him. To see such anger, such determination, as you fought him was...hard to watch."

Tercio sank down onto a small pile of cushions with a brief, humorless laugh. "'Hard to watch'. I tore someone's throat out! I am a monster, not a soldier, it would seem."

"You are not a monster," Celestia said reassuringly. "You saved many lives by defeating Lacertus, mine included. No one, pony or not, would demonize you for such a thing."

"And yet, I can completely lose myself because of a simple, spoken word. Like a trained beast."

Celestia considered what to say; there was much to be said for his situation, good and bad.

"I think that, despite the seemingly uncontrollable nature of it, there is some part of you that still fights against it. You may have killed Lacertus, but you did not harm me. After what happened when we tried to test that certain word's effects on you, I was convinced it caused nothing but a single-minded pursuit of violence. But now...well, maybe there is something we can do to further help you."

"That would be a very welcome plan," Tercio replied. "I hate the idea of someone, anyone, having such total control over me. Lacertus, gods damn his soul, used it just once, but it was enough to give him the opportunity to seriously harm yourself and the others. By some miracle I did not attack you in turn."

"Perhaps it was a miracle. Or perhaps you have more control over yourself than you used to."

"Either way, I am glad it is over." Tercio stood up with a grunt of pain and walked to her bedside, leaning in to lower his voice. "Princess, there is something I have been trying to figure out since I regained consciousness."

"Yes?"

"It's about how Lacertus used, well, that word. Doesn't it strike you as a little strange that he knew about it at all? Not only that, but he knew I would be with you."

Celestia tapped her chin with a hoof.

"That is rather strange, now that I think about it. Didn't he say he was a sell-sword?"

"Among other things. We're quite lucky our assassin enjoyed the sound of his own voice."

"So it would seem. Considering you and I only found out about it recently, it would make sense that someone had to have told Lacertus about it." He looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Could it have been Nightmare Moon? He mentioned her at least once."

Celestia shook her head. "I don't know, but it strikes me as very peculiar that Luna would know such an old word of Deerspeak. She never was one for other languages. It's possible her corruption gave her some sort of new understanding, but I can only speculate."

"So if not Nightmare--ah, Luna, then who?"

"I do not know. We will have to figure it out along with the rest of this horrible mess, I suppose."

"I suppose so."

Hoof-falls and the familiar clacking of wood on tile grew closer.

"Know this, Tercio: you are a good man. I have seen it in you. Do not doubt yourself."

"Thank you, Princess. I will do my utmost to continue to serve you."

"I know you will," she said with a soft smile.

Stonewall and Mended Heart returned with bags of supplies around their sides. Mended Heart -- a middle-aged, slightly portly mare with purple-gray hair and matching coat -- wore a long body wrap of white linen, decorated with gold and silver prayer symbols. Dried blood smeared the otherwise pristine fabric. She had a caring face, but stress and lack of sleep had clearly taken a toll on her.

"Good evening, Princess Celestia," she said curtly. "It has been some time since you were brought here. Your condition has been rather uneven, to say the least."

"So I imagine. Tell me, how long has it been, exactly?"

"Well over three days. At least, I believe so. It's hard to tell without the coming of night or the dawning of day."

As Celestia looked out the nearby window she realized the sun had not changed position since she last moved it, leading to a perpetual twilight that now turned the sky all shades of orange and purple. She panicked, willing the moon to rise and the sun to fully set, but she was too weak. The strain caused a pounding in her temples, and she gave up with an annoyed exhale. The heavenly bodies would have to wait.

"Please, do not exert yourself just yet, Princess." Mended Heart eased Celestia's head back down, propping her up with another pillow. "While a prolonged dusk has understandably caused many to grow worried, your friends and assistants have done their best to assuage much of the concern."

"Do they know I still live?" Celestia asked, worried for the well-being of her people.

"Yes, though they are not aware of the extent of your injuries. Thankfully, they believed you were simply resting, instead of somewhat more unconscious, as it were."

"Which leads to different matter entirely," Stonewall added. "What the good apothecary forgets to mention is Canterlot. Between the continued fighting with the remaining cultists, the dead littering the streets, and what many perceive -- wrongfully, of course -- to be inaction on your part, civil unrest is at the breaking point for Canterlot itself. What little guard capability we have is strained beyond measure. We have the majority of our soldiers pulling shifts that last nearly an entire day, though the passage of time is hard to measure at the moment."

Her headache seemed to only grow worse as she heard the news. Hundreds dead, war raging in the west, the capital on the brink of revolt...

"Surely there must be some good to report," she said with her head in her hooves.

"There is, in fact," Tercio answered. "Yesterday a pegasus messenger reported that the Whitetail forces had been defeated near the Everfree forest. Losses were high on both sides, but ultimately we routed the enemy. Their commanding officer -- a Brother-General Felnaris, I believe -- was killed in battle. Felnaris' second in command is young and inexperienced, nowhere near as knowledgeable as his superior, and as such there is naught but chaos and disorder among the remaining soldiers. They are in a full retreat back to the Whitetail borders, with our forces pursuing them as quickly as we can."

"At least we are one step closer to winning this insufferable, pointless war, then."

"So it seems, Your Highness. General Phalanx was the right stallion for the job."

"Just as I knew he would be. Any news of your brother?"

Tercio shook his head. "No. Gods willing, he survived the battle. It is on my mind constantly, as I'm sure you can understand."

Stonewall clicked his cane on the floor.

"Princess, I do not enjoy asking such a thing, but the guard regiments are in need of orders. There are too many wounded to tend to, and if the citizens of Canterlot do not see decisive action soon I fear they will begin to riot."

Celestia thought for a moment, then raised her head with as much authority as she could muster.

"Very well. Imperator Stonewall, I am placing you in command of all Guard activity between here and the great library. I leave it to you to appoint someone for the remaining half of the city."

"As you wish, My Princess."

"Mended Heart, I realize this is an unusual request, but I would like you to open the royal infirmary to the most seriously wounded of our citizens. There is enough room in here to fit a score of ponies. Remove whatever furniture and decorations you need to make room. I am also giving you the authority to pull any extra apothecaries from the Guard facilities, should you need them."

Mended Heart lifted a foreleg in surprise. "I...yes, Princess. It will take some time, but I believe it can be done."

"I know you will do your best." Celestia said with a comforting tone, placing a hoof on her shoulder. Stonewall hobbled out, with Mended Heart behind him, and before long they were on their way to their appointed tasks.

"And I, Princess? What would you have me do?" Tercio asked, bowing his head.

"For now, I would have you stay at my side, if you would not mind."

"I would not mind in the least. Is there any particular reason why? If I may ask, of course."

"I am far too weak to assist Mended Heart. I thought you might be able to, should she ask it of you." Celestia gave a weak smile, the most she could manage, her eyes red as she fought back tears. "And because, if I'm honest, I would very much like to have someone here to talk to right now."

14 - A Shared Sunset

Far off from the confines of Canterlot's great walls, at the foot of the Bridle Ridge mountains the capital city had clung to for the last two centuries, a small collection of buildings glowed orange in the flickering light of dozens of torches, like muted flashes against the star-studded night sky. They were old, far older than the grand city towering above, their dark onyx stonework now crumbling and run through with growing mosses. Unused for countless years, little remained of their ancient glory save for a few rough-hewn walls and beaten stone paths. Once, they had held significance to passing ponies and travelers from far-off lands; now, only the Praetorians of Canterlot's standing military visited their old foundations.

In the center of the once-great courtyard a gathering of soldiers in ceremonial armor stood at attention, their numbers now a scant four dozen of a force that, until a few weeks ago, had numbered nearly eighty. They stood in rows of four across and two deep, their cloaks flowing behind them in the gusty winds. At the end of each row a pair of crested helms marked the places of honor their fallen brethren held, mementos of the lives they had lost.

Before the gathered formation, Imperator Stonewall hobbled along the stone walkway that led to a raised platform covered with golden laurels and flags of the Praetorian Guard and Equestria. His left foreleg hung uselessly at his side, a reminder of the battle that had so shaken Canterlot over two weeks prior. He supported one side of his body with a carved, ornately decorated cane; the other, with a wooden replacement that now served as his right foreleg, secured to his mangled stump with leather straps and iron buckles. For a time he stood before his gathered soldiers in silence, looking over them as a father looks over his children.

"For thirty generations we Praetorians have guarded the sovereign rulers of Equestria! For thirty generations we have fought, and bled, and died, that others may live in peace! We, the finest of our nation's military might! Yet, until a fortnight past, never had we suffered an assault on our beloved homes. In a singular moment we saw the worst equinity has to offer, a band of traitors and murderers who killed without mercy or thought, driven by a fanatical devotion to the fallen princess of the night. For three nights we battled them, rooting them out of their holes and driving them before the blade, and in the end we were victorious, just as we have always been, and just as we will always be!"

He dropped the volume of his voice, now heavy with loss.

"Our victory, sadly, came at a great cost. Thirty of our brothers lost their lives in defense of Princess Celestia, Canterlot, and its people. To the last they fought with courage and honor, often in the face of overwhelming odds, and without their sacrifice we may not have held the city when all was said and done. Of the lost, we honor first the ten who served with distinction for years, even decades, as faithful Praetorian brothers and comrades-in-arms."

A young earth pony approached the platform, cradling a purple-crested, golden helm at his side. He set it down before the Imperator, then returned to his place in the formation.

"Before the gods new and old, we honor the lives and memories of our kin. When Equestria called on them, they did not falter nor hesitate to give their lives for those they cared about. Exemplary, each of them. May they find peace in the Great Beyond, now and forever."

"Now and forever," the gathered soldiers echoed.

The earth pony returned once more, with a silver helm this time.

"We Praetorians are a proud bunch," Stonewall continued. "Few are selected, and fewer still see the day they may call themselves 'Praetorian'. Yet even an aspiring soldier can show great feats of courage and dedication. So it is with the twenty recruits who died in battle, fighting side-by-side with their seniors, each a veteran soldier in his own right. Through their actions they proved themselves to be true to the cause and to each other, and so I hereby grant them the title of Praetorian in service of Equestria. May they find peace in the Great Beyond, now and forever."

"Now and forever." The soldiers bowed their heads in reverence, offering a moment of silence and prayer for their lost brothers.

"Recruits Thunderburst, Rimeberry and Krosus, I would ask that you approach and take a knee."

Tercio and his comrades looked at each other for a moment, then fell out of formation and took their places before their commanding officer. Each of them showed lasting wounds from the battle -- Rimeberry's jagged scar down his side, still pink with mending flesh. Thunderburst's wooden leg, a near match to Stonewall's. Tercio's weakened arm and torso, both covered in deep gashes that remained wrapped in bandages under his ceremonial armor.

"The soldiers you see before you fought at my side in Princess Celestia's defense. For a time we held the throne room against a large, desperate force of traitors and fanatics, but they were too many in number. Venerin fell after a courageous final stand, allowing the rest of us time to get the Princess to safety. For this, we owe him our eternal gratitude. Morning Star, as fine a soldier as I have ever seen, was slain by an assassin's blade. Such a waste of a good stallion."

Stonewall frowned.

"A fierce fighter, this sell-sword was. Even though we outnumbered him four to one, he managed to inflict terrible wounds on all of us, and I do not know if any of us would still live if not for the bravery of the soldiers you see kneeling before you. And so, with the blessing of the Princess herself, I hereby bestow upon Decanus Thunderburst, Decanus Rimeberry, and Centurion Krosus the title of Praetorian in Celestia's service!"

One by one Tercio and the others bowed their heads, allowing Stonewall and his assistant to remove their old helms and replace them with custom-created golden replacements, topped with crests of royal purple. Matching cloaks were soon affixed to their backs and shoulders.

"You won't be needing this anymore, Krosus," Stonewall said as he folded the golden fabric of the old Royal Guard unit Tercio had not seen in months. "Congratulations, you're one of us now. I thought it would be fitting if I showed you this before you wear it." He held out the purple material, letting it unfold and sway in the wind. In the center, a red and gold silhouette of a charging bull stood out against the dark background.

"Back when Equestria was young," he explained, "the bull was a symbol of tenacity in battle and of unrelenting strength. Given your particular method of destroying the assassin, Lacertus, I'd say it's only fitting. Just don't let it go to your head. Understood?"

Tercio nodded. "Yes, sir, I'm honored. Thank you."

"Mmm. Don't think this lets you off the hook. I've still got my eye on you and your gangly limbs...but perhaps you've earned a slight bit of leeway. For now."

Stonewall stepped back, putting his wooden leg to his chest.

"Honor to the Princess!"

"Honor to the Princess," the three praetorians answered in return.

"Congratulations. You are truly brothers in battle now." He raised his voice to the assembled crowd. "A salute to our newest kin! Honor to the Princess!"

"Honor to the Princess!"

Tercio raised his head and looked out across the center, a swelling of pride and accomplishment forming a lump in his throat. Through the spilling of blood, his and his enemy's, he had earned his right to be called "Praetorian". He only wished his brother and parents could be among the crowd.

***

Princess Celestia sat upon her dais in the warmth of the mid-morning's sun, reading over the many scrolls and papers that had gathered there since the previous night. She had been staring at the same one for many minutes, her mind elsewhere. It was not, for once, filled with worry and dread. In truth, it was the first time since the start of the war that she felt some small sense of normal life returning to Canterlot -- the Whitetail armies were steadily being driven out of Equestria, the capitol city had been repaired, and the citizens of Equestria had shown remarkable determination in the face of such a horrific attack. They were strong in mind and spirit, no less eager to help their fellow pony. With all of the death and destruction and sadness that had swept her nation, she could hardly remember the last time she'd simply...relaxed.

"Rosewise," Celestia called out, "may I see you for a moment?"

Her assistant trotted around the corner, dressed in a ruby-colored shawl with a matching hair band.

"Yes, Princess? Can I help you?"

"Rose, when was the last time we hosted a celebratory event? Nothing too large, like a royal ball. Just something smaller."

"Oh. Hmm..." She tapped a hoof to her chin as she thought, her emerald eyes affixed on the ground. "To be honest, I can't properly remember. Four, maybe five months past? Before Princess Luna, umm..." she trailed off, not wanting to bring up such a hurtful memory.

"It's alright, you can say it. Before she was banished."

"Right. I think that may have been the last time. It was, if I recall correctly, a nice dinner for six of your guests. Senators from Whitetail, I believe."

"That sounds about right," Celestia nodded. "If only we'd known then what we know now, hmm? Regardless, I believe we're long overdue for something to take our minds off all of this."

"Of course, Princess. What did you have in mind?"

Celestia levitated a length of parchment, along with a quill and ink, from a desk at the corner of the room. She began to write, taking care to properly spell out names and make the writing legible and regal -- just as she had practiced so many times before.

"I would like you to invite these guests, please. There are not many, but I believe a small celebration will go a long way towards returning a bit of joy, and perhaps even a little hope."

Rosewise glanced over the list, making a note of each name.

"And what of this last name? It appears you've separated it from the rest."

Celestia smiled softly.

"That is someone I would like to invite prior to the main event. I believe I owe him my life. I know it's short notice, but would you be able to set up a small dinner for two? Nothing opulent, of course."

It was indeed short notice, less than twelve hours away. There would be much to order and arrange. Rosewise rolled the scroll and tucked it under a foreleg.

"Princess, in twenty-two years I have not let you down even once, and I don't intend to start now."

***

"Hold still, Krosus, or you're going to look like you just lost a fight with a timberwolf."

Imperator Stonewall stood on his hind legs, attempting to secure the fabric fasteners that lined the side of Tercio's off-white tunic. A vertical stripe of purple ran down each shoulder, denoting the human as a newly-christened praetorian. The fabric was a comfortable if simple dyed wool, and Tercio was thankful he wouldn't be forced to wear his ceremonial armor for the occasion.

"Apologies, sir," Tercio said as he looked himself over in a large mirror. He was clean-shaven and his hair was neatly cut to military specifications, and he approved of the cut of the tunic that now adorned his body. The tailor had done an excellent job with his unique frame.

"It's not 'sir' anymore, Krosus. You're a praetorian now, you can knock off that 'sir' shit."

"Uh, right. Sorry, sir--erm, Stonewall."

Calling his commanding officer by his name still felt odd, like a decade's worth of training was fighting back at the very thought of it. It was all so...informal.

"You'll get used to it." Stonewall tapped Tercio's waist. "Other side."

"So if we're all on a first-name basis, you don't have to address me as 'Krosus' anymore, correct?"

Stonewall grunted with a length of fabric in his teeth.

"Suppose so. Old habits die hard. Besides, sometimes you have to be reminded who's in charge here, despite the touchy-feely nonsense this first-name thing is supposed to promote. You're still Krosus to me. Best you get used to it."

"Already am...sir."

For the first time, Tercio saw Stonewall chuckle, however briefly.

"There may be hope for you yet, Krosus." He tugged at the last loop of material, swearing to himself as it refused to tie off. "Times like this I wish I was a prick-headed unicorn. All that fancy magic shit probably comes in handy."

"I wouldn't know."

"Of course you wouldn't, you're practically an earth pony yourself. Better than having your head in the clouds or buried in an arcane tome. Hokey ancient magic is no match for a good blade at your side and the strength to drive it home, if you ask me." Tercio hadn't asked, but by now he'd learned to let the old stallion have his ramblings. It meant less sweating and swearing for everyone else. "Alright, that's done. I trust you can do the rest yourself."

"I should hope so."

With his tunic neatly in place, Tercio grabbed the long toga from his storage closet and draped it over himself, leaving his right shoulder and chest uncovered to show the honorary stripe beneath it. He ran a hand down the fabric, far softer and smoother than his woolen undergarment, making sure no dust or dirt clung to him. The toga fell down to his knees, nearly to the top of his strapped leather sandals. He carried no sword or helm, not even a provision belt. His only weapon was a small blade, more of a knife than anything, strapped to his upper leg in a leather holster. Praetorians had to be armed at all times, as the ancient mandate stated, but no one was in a particular hurry to bring their swords and shields to a dinner party.

"Would you mind if I asked you a question?" Tercio prodded as he made some last-minute adjustments to his formal wear.

"That depends on the topic."

"Have you ever dined with the princess? Or any royalty?"

"I have," Stonewall said with a quick nod, "many years ago. I was invited by both of the princesses to join them for food and drink, back when I was about your rank. Maybe a bit younger. They wanted to congratulate me on my quick rise through the Guard, as well as my contributions against the wild plains-dwellers to the south. Nasty bunch, they were."

"And how was it?"

Stonewall shrugged. "It was dinner. Food was good, wine was good. To be honest I don't remember most of the two or three hours in question."

"Because you were drunk?"

"Drunk? Ha. No, not exactly. Because I spent the entire time staring at Celestia and Luna in slack-jawed reverence. At least, that's what it felt like. They tell me I was quite talkative, but I'll be damned if I can remember what I said. The one thing that stands out is just how incredibly beautiful they were. It was the first time I'd seen either of them up close. I'll never forget it." He laughed and added, "funny thing about nigh-immortal goddesses -- they don't look a day older after all those years. Shame about Luna. I always fancied her, however ridiculous the notion may have been."

Stonewall seemed lost in thought for a moment, then stood up straight and nodded sharply to Tercio.

"Right, that's enough story-telling from a grumpy old fuck like me. You have a date with the princess! Now get going, royalty doesn't like to wait."

"Thank you for your help, Stonewall," Tercio said with a slight bow. "Any advice before I head out?"

"Just remember that you represent the Praetorians when you're there. This is a singularly high honor, you need to treat it as such. Don't make yourself look like an ass, or I'll find out. Oh, and have a good time. That's an order."

***

"Mr. Tercio! I'm so glad to see you've made it. Please, follow me."

Tercio did as he was asked, keeping behind the polite, middle-aged mare as she led him down a series of hallways. They passed the throne room, then continued through a simple wooden door that opened to an elegant kitchen and storage area. An older stallion in an apron was waiting as Tercio rounded the corner, flanked on either side by a pair of ponies in matching outfits.

"Hello," Tercio said politely, bowing slightly in respect. "I must admit I wasn't expecting some sort of...honor guard."

The old stallion laughed with a shake of his head.

"Honor guard? No, no, nothing of the sort. I am the princess' personal cook, Silver Platter, and these are my assistants. Would I be correct in assuming you're the guest of honor for tonight?"

"Oh, sorry. Uh, yes. I was told Princess Celestia called on me."

"So it would seem. I will not delay you any longer, I simply wished to introduce myself. If there is anything -- anything at all -- that you would like us to make, by all means, let us know. We will do our best to make it happen."

Tercio thanked them and carried on, ignoring the whispers that the assistants were no-doubt using to talk about how strange he looked. After more than thirty years he'd grown used to it; it was to be expected when you were different from every other living being on the planet. At least most ponies didn't outright insult him for it.

The kitchen hallway opened into a large, circular room with a vaulted ceiling and carved limestone pillars. The last light of the setting sun peeked through the colorful frescoes that lined the walls, images of old Equestrian history forever kept in glass and bronze.

At the opposite end of the room there was a tall pair of frosted glass and wrought iron doors. Vague shapes were visible through them, and only when Tercio stepped through them did he realize where he was.

"Here we are," Rosewise said cheerfully. She offered the way forward with a hoof, and Tercio stepped out onto the terrace that hung from the side of the castle's largest tower. Immediately he was struck by the view -- he could see for countless miles all around, from the distant plains of the south to the forested northern expanses that remained mostly unexplored to this day. Banisters wrapped around the edge of the tiled terrace, topped with glittering orbs of polished amber. Throw pillows of red, gold and purple sat in small piles next to carved wooden stands that held bronze bowls overflowing with fruit. It took his breath away, the most regal place he'd ever seen.

"Hello, Tercio," Celestia's familiar voice said from just off to his right. The ruler of Equestria sat comfortably on a large cushion next to a low table, and she smiled warmly as Tercio approached.

"My Princess," he said with a salute. "It's good to see you again, under much more favorable circumstances."

"It's good to see you, too." She motioned to the opposite end of the table. "Please, sit down."

As Tercio sank into the large, obviously expensive cushion, Rosewise trotted to his side and cheerily asked what he would like to start off with.

"I...honestly could not say. I've never dined with royalty before," he laughed. "I think I shall bow to the Princess' superior judgment."

"How about a simple Zevran appetizer?" Celestia asked. Rosewise smiled and turned smartly, closing the large doors behind her as she went to relay the request to the cooks. For the second time in as many months, Tercio found himself alone with the sovereign of Equestria.

"Thank you for coming, Tercio," Celestia said. "I'm glad you could attend. I trust it was not too much of a problem to free yourself for a few hours?"

"For my Princess, I am always at the ready," Tercio answered confidently. "If you wish my company, I am more than happy to oblige. Such is a Praetorian's duty."

Celestia arched an eyebrow, then laughed quietly.

"I see you spoke with Stonewall before coming here. Would I be correct in that assumption?"

"Well..."

"I should have expected as much. I'm sure he filled your head with talk of 'upholding the honor of Equestria' and 'representing the Praetorians' and the like, but really, you needn't worry about such things here. It's okay to simply relax and drop that stuffy bearing. You're not on duty, after all, you're having a meal. I would much prefer company that's talkative and laid-back to a guard detail."

Tercio worked his jaw up and down as he tried to find the words, then gave up with a chuckle.

"My apologies, Princess. Imperator Stonewall is quite clear in his words. This transition between years of military drill and ceremony, and a much more casual attitude as of late, is taking some getting used to. I still call Stonewall 'sir'." He allowed himself to relax with a deep breath, leaning against a stack of pillows that supported his back. "I suppose our first meeting wasn't exactly an exchange of strategies between generals, was it?"

"No, I would say not. It was nice to simply talk," she answered with a smile. "So, how are you fairing? Do your wounds still bother you?"

"Thankfully not. At least, for the most part. It is occasionally still tender when I touch my ribs or my right arm, but I'd say it's naught but an annoyance at this point." Tercio glanced at Celestia's side, noticing that it showed no signs of scarring from the vicious attack she'd lived through. "And what of you? If I may ask, of course."

"I am glad to say I'm back to my healthy, pre-assassination attempt self. The apothecaries even managed to heal my scars away completely, thanks to some very dedicated ponies with an affinity for medicinal spells."

A slight breeze rustled the sheer, white and gold fabric of her formal gown and the warm, yellow shawl that hung over her shoulder and across her chest. Her mane and tail, previously faded and lacking its usual sheen, billowed gently of its own unseen wind, sparkling in the fading remnants of daylight that peeked over the mountains.

Tercio caught himself beginning to stare, and blinked himself back to reality -- hopefully before she could notice.

"Well, I am glad to hear you're doing better, Princess. And might I say, you look absolutely lovely."

She smiled back and tipped her head in his direction.

"Thank you, you're too kind. You look quite ravishing in your formal attire as well. That's a very nice toga."

"My mother made it many years ago, she would be glad to hear it," he laughed. "But yes, thank you. Truth be told, I have not worn it since my induction into the Royal Guard, nearly five years ago. It's held up nicely, I think."

Rosewise returned moments later, carrying a tray of fluffy, dark bread, a tall jug of liquid, and a small platter of some sort of wrapped leaf. She set the trays down, bowed curteously, and she was gone once more.

"Have you ever had Zevran quisine?" Celestia asked as she floated a silvery fork and knife to her tray.

"I have not, though I hear it's...it's quite good." Tercio took his own silverware and stabbed one of the dark green, oily leaf bundles. He looked at it as if it were alive, unsure of what to make of it.

"The zebras make some wonderful food. This is one of my favorites, a light appetizer that won't fill you up before the main course." She lifted a wrapped leaf off the tray, then sliced it down the middle. A thick, yellow liquid dripped out and revealed the collection of fine-grain rices and greenery contained within.

"This is k'wal'e, a kind of all-in-a-pot curry wrapped up in grape leaves. The ingredients vary, but it's always rice and assorted vegetables. It's meant to be eaten with this sweet molasses bread."

Celestia daintily sliced a piece of bread from the loaf, wrapped it around the curry mixture, and slid it into her mouth. When she didn't immediately keel over, Tercio decided to try it for himself. No matter how he tried, the bread simply would not yield to his knife. He muttered to himself, much to Celestia's amusement.

"It takes some practice. But please, don't worry about such things. It's perfectly fine to use your hooves -- or hands."

He settled for simply tearing off a piece, then cautiously took a bite. The food itself was nothing to look at, but the flavor seemed to explode in his mouth. Slightly sweet, a little spicy, with an earthy aftertaste.

"Consider me surprised," he said after he'd swallowed it down. "This is quite good."

"I thought you might like it. A visiting dignitary from the Zevran Tribal Lands brought some with him, many years back. It was one of Luna's favorites, and she's quite a picky eater. Was a picky eater, I should say." A shadow of sadness crossed Celestia's face for a brief moment, and then it was gone.

"I'm sorry, it's still quite hard sometimes," she apologized.

"There is no need to be, I would feel the same way. In your position I'm not sure I could have kept my head as high as you have. You show remarkable courage, Princess."

"I try to. Life in Equestria does not simply stop because I mourn my sister, and its citizens all have concerns of their own. It would be selfish of me to simply lock myself away from the world." She took another wrapped curry and finished it, then poured a glass of amber-colored liquid for both of them. "But, today is not a day for such things. Today is a day of celebration, in your honor." She lifted her crystal glass and held it over the table; it bobbed lightly in a field of yellow magic. "To our newest Praetorian, Tercio Krosus. May you live a good life, my friend."

"And you as well, Princess. Thank you," Terco replied, clinking his glass against hers. "And, if I may: to my brothers in battle. They will be missed."

He tipped his glass back and took a drink of the amber liquid. It was sweet and refreshing, with an alcoholic bite at the back of his throat.

"Amasec. Very good amasec, at that," he said, swirling it in his hand.

"You know your wine. I take it you're a fan?"

"Occasionally. I've really only had it a few times, but never like this."

"The best in Equestria. I'm glad you approve."

"Very much so," he laughed, downing the remainder of his drink. "May I?" He motioned to the jug.

"Be my guest."

Tercio poured a drink and sat back, cradling the glass in his hands.

"I wanted to say thank you for the beautiful cloak, while I'm thinking of it. I'm honored that you would have such a thing made for me."

"You did save my life, after all," Celestia answered, "so I thought you deserved something special for it."

"Not that I would turn such a gift down, but I was not the only one at your side that day."

"Of course. All of you were very brave, and I'm glad to have had each and every one of you protecting me, but it was you that defeated the assassin, Lacertus. What's more, even though he used that word to try and tip the scales in his favor, you retained enough control to not harm a fellow Equestrian. I can't thank you enough for what you did."

"I am glad I could do my job, Princess. Getting to talk with you over a lovely meal and some fine amasec is far more than I could have hoped for."

The double doors swung open once more, and Rosewise led a trio of ponies that held large trays on their backs. One by one they slid the food onto the table, a veritable feast for the senses. There was fruit paste and sliced cheese in a stone bowl, a pasta dish with a citrus and herb drizzle, small sandwiches of feta and cucumber, and, for the centerpiece, an entire pumpkin stuffed with a thick, hearty vegetable stew.

"My dear Silver, you have truly outdone yourself. Thank you so much for this wonderful food."

"My pleasure, Princess," the cook said. "Please, enjoy yourselves."

Tercio had never seen so much food in one place; he hardly knew where to begin.

"Any recommendations, Princess?"

"Most of this is new to me, so I really couldn't say. I suppose we'll find out together, won't we?" She smiled warmly.

"I suppose we will. Right, then. Mares first, Your Highness."

"Please, call me Celestia. It's rare I hear my own name these days."

"Very well...Celestia."

Tercio waited for her to take her choice of the food, then scooped some stew into a bowl with a few small sandwich slices on the side. It was the best stew he'd ever tasted.

"Gods have mercy," he chuckled after his first spoonful. "I do hope my mother will forgive me for saying this is far better than anything I've had in many years."

"It will be our secret," Celestia said, blowing lightly on her own portion to cool it down. "Truly magnificent. Silver Platter is the best cook I've had in ages. I can hardly even boil a potato at the best of times, I swear."

"That makes two of us."

"Speaking of which, how is your family doing? I have not had the pleasure of your parents' company for far too long, I'm afraid. I believe they were Roughshod and...Glittering Grace?"

"Glimmering Grace," Tercio corrected her. "I have not seen them since before the war began, though mother does send letters once in a while. They are well, but they worry for the safety of myself and my brother. After the attack on Canterlot she was nearly frantic with worry, but I've at least managed to reassure her that I'm okay in my own letters back." He took a long drink of his amasec, then said, "I have not told them what happened. The fighting, the loss of Venerin and Morning Star, the...change...that overcame me against Lacertus. Mother and father are getting older, and I worry that too much stress could cause undue harm."

"It sounds like you care for them very much."

"Of course. They took me in when they had no obligation to do so, some sort of...strange child though I was. I had quite a rough childhood, as you can imagine." He cast his eyes down and idly rubbed his thumb across his glass. "Children can be very cruel, as can adults. I never felt like I truly belonged in Equestria, but my adoptive parents worked their hardest to make sure I had a loving home and a warm meal to come home to every day. I owe them the world."

Tercio let out a deep breath and laughed to himself.

"My apologies, it's just something that is as clear now as it was then. I have far more fond memories than sad ones, and I'm quite thankful for that. The sad ones simply seem to be more vivid."

Celestia smiled reassuringly, but it soon became the slightest hint of a frown.

"I understand completely. I have lived a long time, and I will live many more years to come, I hope, and in those years I have seen some terrible things. Criminals, famine -- war. But the single most horrible moment of my life was being forced to banish my own sister. It will be a very, very long time before she returns..."

"I'm sorry," Tercio said. "I never got the chance to meet Princess Luna in person, but I'd always admired the both of you from afar. She seemed like a wonderful mare."

"She was. Kind, generous, beautiful...until she became corrupted by jealousy and anger. But let's not focus on the negative, hmm? I would much rather hear about the good times." Celestia set her drink down and adjusted herself against the cushion. "What of your brother? What was it like growing up with a pegasus as a human?"

"Oh, where to begin? To this day I envy his ability to fly. He's always taken good care of me and stood up for me, especially before I was tall enough to stand up for myself against the barbs and bullying that came from the other children. I am truly thankful for him. Of course, my brother and I have had our share of perilous moments in our lives, mostly thanks to our own childish curiosity when we were younger. There are far too many to tell, though one in particular stands out: the night we stole our way into a neighbor's orchard to get at his fruit trees."

Celestia floated a small serving of pasta to her plate and smiled.

"Do tell."

"Very well, though I'm sure my experiences pale in comparison with yours."

"If there's one thing I've learned over the last several hundred years, Tercio, it's that everyone has a story worth telling."

"Right. Well, this was many years ago, obviously. I was probably...twelve? Thirteen? Something like that. Even at that age I was as tall as most stallions. Anyway, we were quite bored one night, and Victus had the idea to sneak into our neighbor's farm -- Applewood, I think was his name. Of course, being young and full of more bravery than intelligence, I thought it was a great idea."

Celestia laughed. "That sounds familiar."

"So in the early hours of the morning, well before sunrise, Victus and I hopped the fence into Applewood's orchard. We must have eaten ten pounds of peaches and apples that night! They were perfectly ripe and juicy, and we spent oh, two hours or so out there just talking about colt things. You know...what we wanted to be when we grew up, the kind of mares we were going to inevitably marry and have ten kids in a large house with, things like that. It was a great time."

"I'm assuming there's an 'and then' coming up..."

"You would be right! We were having a great time, and then...Mr. Applewood decided to take a late-night stroll through the orchard."

"Oh, dear."

"That was my reaction, albeit far more surprised and with a few words of foul language! When the farmer came tromping into the field, we had nowhere to hide. We attempted to take cover behind a large apple tree, but Victus' damn tail was still sticking out like a blonde duster, and Applewood happened to see it. He called Victus to come out, but I don't think he saw me. We were scared out of our wits! At that moment, I came up with a plan that, in hindsight, could have ended very poorly had Mr. Applewood been armed."

"Which was...?"

"I decided to cover my face in and arms in mud, wait for the farmer to get near us, and then jump out and scare him. Flawless!"

Celestia giggled at the thought.

"What in the world would make you want to do that?"

"I don't know, I was a child. It seemed like a good idea at the time!"

"Did you succeed in your daring plan?" she asked between sips.

"I did! I jumped out from behind that tree, arms raised, and roared with all the fury my pre-pubescent voice could muster. The poor stallion fell backwards, and it gave us enough time to make our escape. Unfortunately, I am the only human that I know, and when Mr. Applewood realized he'd just been terrorized by a strange-looking child it wasn't difficult to make the connection. He informed our parents the next morning. I would have been upset with getting in trouble, but I was too busy being sick from eating my own body weight in peaches and apples."

They laughed together, and Tercio found it very good to relax for the first time in many days. With the orange and pink sunset, the wonderful food, and Celestia's company, he regretted that he would eventually have to go back to reality, and the grind of military life.

"So yes, that's my story. I'm sure I could think of many more, but the wine dulls my thoughts. Pleasantly so, of course."

Tercio lifted his plate to grab another helping, but Celestia was already floating it over. He thanked her and stabbed into the cheese and fruit paste, finding it just as good as everything else he'd had that night.

"It sounds like you and Victus are quite close."

"We were," he nodded. "Unfortunately, age and careers have caused us to not be in contact nearly as much as we'd like. With my service in the Praetorian Guard, and his in the Legion, we are often on opposite sides of the country. The last I'd heard from him was when he was just about to head off to fight the Whitetail near the Everfree forest. It's been several weeks since then, and I've not received word on his health. I like to hope he is simply too busy to write, but part of me cannot help but fear the worst."

"I will see if I can locate news for you, but Victus sounds like a strong stallion. You'll see each other soon, I'm sure of it."

Tercio looked towrd the distant mountains to the west -- somewhere out there, far beyond their mighty peaks, Victus was pushing the Whitetail menace back. He wished he could be in two places at once.

Sensing his mood becoming weary, Celestia quickly changed the subject.

"So tell me, Mr. Tercio, is there a mare in your life? Somepony who waits for you to return after the war has ended?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, no, nothing like that," he laughed quietly. "Most of my time is spent in the barracks or around the castle. Occasionally I'll travel down to Canterlot proper, but no, I have not exactly been a busy man in that regard. Between my job and my, ah, unique looks, it's rather hard to find someone who doesn't view me as some sort of, I don't know...adventure, I suppose? I've fancied a few mares in my time, but they always ended up breaking things off after a short while. I think they were just curious more than anything."

He gave a short, humorless laugh.

"Such is my lot in life, being an oddity in this world. My mother, gods bless her, keeps trying to arrange potential marriages with the local mares. I don't begrudge her for it, though I do think it's somewhat old-fashioned. Maybe she's right," he said, shrugging, "and I'm getting too old to not be siring a child. If I'm honest, I don't believe it's even possible for me to do so. Though I'm similar to ponies in some respects, for the most part I am as different as a bear is to a hen."

Celestia thought for a moment, then said, "I don't believe you should give up on finding somepony of your own. Even if you cannot give your mare a child, there is no reason you have to spend your days alone. I'm sure there's someone out there for you, you just have to look for her."

"Maybe," he said distantly, watching the last rays of light fade over the mountain tops. "I am thankful my job keeps me busy, else I might have too much time to dwell on such things." Tercio looked back at Celestia and cocked his head. "What about you, Princ--ah, Celestia? I have noticed there is no prince in Equestria. If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"No, it's fine," she reassured him. "It's sort of...complicated."

"How so? You're the most powerful mare on Earth, you've got hundreds of years of knowledge and experience in all manner of things, and you're incredibly beautiful, if I may be so bold. Surely you have many who call as potential suitors?"

Tercio swore he could see just a hint of a blush, though it may very well have been the soft, pink light of the sunset.

"That's very sweet of you. It's strange to discuss such a thing, but Luna and I received many letters from all over Equestria and beyond. Love-struck stallions -- sometimes even mares -- who had convinced themselves that we were 'meant to be' or 'destined by the stars' or some-such flowery poetry. Nothing ever came from them, of course. Watching over Equestria is something I take very seriously, and it occupies much of my day. With Luna no longer around, I have had to take up double duty and raise and lower the moon in addition to the sun. Such a schedule, as you can probably imagine, leaves little time for a stallion."

Tercio wasn't sure what answer he was expecting, but it seemed odd for someone in her position to be by herself for so long.

"Surely there must have been someone who caught your eye?"

"Just once, many, many years ago. I was still learning to be a princess after my mother and father passed away, and I was feeling very vulnerable. Luna tried to help, but she's younger than myself, and was rightly concerned with finishing her royal education. One day I met a charming stallion -- a unicorn -- who was visiting after the unification of the three races. He was rather plain-looking, but handsome in his own way, and he was incredibly smart. At the time he was the utmost authority on arcane magic in the land, and to this day many of his spells are commonly in use."

Celestia turned her head and focused, slowly bringing the sun below the horizon. Her horn shined like a thousand points of starlight, bathing the terrace in a warm glow.

"For some time we saw each other, though only on his visits to the old castle that now lies unused in the Everfree forest. I enjoyed his company, and he enjoyed mine, and for a while it seemed all would be well."

The moon now rose until it just peeked over the hills. Celestia closed her eyes and, with a final surge of magic, set the moon on its gradual, graceful arc through the sky.

"So what happened?" Tercio asked, downing the remainder of his glass.

"His work on the arcane arts took its toll. Magic was still very much an unknown medium back in those days, and during the autumn of that year he made a terrible mistake: he cast what turned out to be an aging spell on himself. In a matter of weeks he went from a healthy stallion in the prime of his life to a fragile shell of his former self. With Luna's help we eventually found a counter-spell, but it was far too late."

She closed her eyes and frowned deeply at the memory.

"The stallion I cared for so much had doomed himself to an early death. He lived another couple of years, too ashamed to see me again, and spent all of his time in solitude, until one day he simply...passed away."

"I'm sorry. That sounds terrible." Tercio set his glass on the table, feeling more than a little guilty for bringing up such an old wound.

"No, it's alright. It was a very long time ago. Time heals all wounds, even those that we think will never stop hurting. So it is with my dear, old Starswirl."

Tercio thought he knew the name from somewhere, but he could not place it for the life of him.

"I have not told that story to anyone in many years," she added.

"Well, thank you for trusting me enough to do so. I can only hope that I find someone I can care about as much."

"I'm sure you will. You need only search your heart."

"And Canterlot," he quipped.

"Yes, and Canterlot, I'm sure," she said with a soft smile. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to hear some more of those stories you seem to tell so well. I've no further duties until I retire for the night, and I would love to enjoy such pleasant weather as we're having. I assume you're available for a while yet?"

"For you, Celestia, I am always available."

Surprisingly, the princess reached a foreleg across the table and placed her golden shoe upon Tercio's shoulder.

"Thank you for agreeing to come by tonight, Tercio. You've been a wonderful dinner guest."

Tercio grasped her hoof in both hands and smiled.

"And thank you for inviting me. I've not had a more pleasant evening with more charming company in a very long time."

He refilled their glasses, passing one across the table, and put his arm up on a cushion.

"So, where would you like me to begin?"

15 - Curia

It was the first time Tercio had been in the Conference of Nations room, a large, stately circle of tiered marble steps and crafted seats for up to a dozen dignitaries. Housed in one of the castle's largest spires, it served as a meeting point for diplomats, rulers, and other important people from beyond Equestria's borders. At first he had counted himself lucky for being chosen, along with three others, to guard some of the most powerful and influential beings in the world, but as time dragged on and diplomats bickered he'd soon come to wish he'd been passed by.

Besides Princess Celestia, three others from surrounding nations had shown up earlier in the day to discuss the matter of the Equestrian/Whitetail war and its repercussions. None of them seemed to particularly care for the other, but things had at least remained relatively civil.

There was Empress Elinwyyn, from the Cervidaen Hegemony, a frequent guest of Celestia's. Tercio had only seen her once before, but she seemed reasonable enough. She did, however, hold herself in high regard, far more than Celestia had ever shown. Her nation -- composed of several smaller states that had been annexed through conquest, mostly -- was roughly the size of Equestria, though more spread out. At the moment she was seated to Celestia's right, draped in a shimmering fabric of emerald green, with golden antler decorations that tinkled gently when she moved her head. Large antlers on female deer, Celestia had told him, were unique to Elinwyyn's particular race.

Beside her sat the ruler of the Griffon Empire, a hot-headed male of the aggressive and war-like northern lands formally known by the title of "Emperor Galdron, Claw of the Mountains, Ruler of the Six Holds, Conqueror of The Wilds, With Eternal Glory From the Gods of Air, Stone, and Flame, He Who Rules by Divine Right, Blessed be His Name."

At least, that's how his servant had introduced him. The grand titles and self-important jargon went out the door when he was talking with other rulers, probably out of necessity. Rumor had it that the griffons worshiped Emperor Galdron as a god or prophet, a living manifestation of the earthen gods so central to many aspects of griffon life. He came from the distant, wind-swept peaks of Skytalon, where the harsh cold and blistering gales meant that most griffon settlements were dug straight into the mountains themselves. His ruling chambers were said to be the hollowed-out shell of an entire snow-capped peak.

He was darker than other griffons Tercio had seen, with grey plumage tipped with black over his front half and dark brown fur over his back half. From neck to haunches he wore dark brown leathers with silver decorations and blue patterns. A large, intricate portrayal of a great mountain adorned the chest plate of his armor, with inscriptions written in his native tongue in shining platinum. Steel gauntlets clicked on the mahogany chair as he drummed his claws in impatience.

Finally, there was the leader of the Zevran Tribal Lands -- or simply Zevran -- Elder Mwolan'e. Of the three visiting heads of state, Tercio liked him the best. So too, it seemed, did Celestia. Whereas Galdron was boisterous and borderline obnoxious, and Elinwyyn infuriatingly self-important and smug at times, Mwolan'e never raised his voice or insulted the others. His patience made even Celestia seem short-tempered by comparison. Dressed in traditional brown and black wrappings that hung to his knees, along with a short, cylindrical hat, his stocky zebra frame made him stand out from the other, taller attendees. His most striking feature was his tendency to slip into rhyme, an apparently common trait among the zebras, and the large, golden rings that adorned his neck and legs. He currently sat across from the griffon emperor, his forelegs crossed over his chest.

Celestia stood in the middle of the room, speaking at length for the last several minutes. She had been trying to drum up support for Equestria's part of the war, but it was an uphill battle. None of them seemed to want to throw in their lot.

"My esteemed guests, I realize that what I ask of you is not something that is easy to answer, but--"

"On the contrary, Princess," Emperor Galdron interrupted, "I think it's quite easy to answer. And that answer is a solid 'no'."

Mwolan'e spoke up. "Emperor Galdron, I do not believe you are giving a fair chance to Princess Celestia." His words were heavily accented, but still had a pleasing timbre to them. "Who among us can say they have not experienced war in their time? Such a thing is sometimes unavoidable."

"And sometimes it's necessary," the griffon countered. "This is not one of those times. We are at peace in Skytalon and the six holds. It is a time to replenish our numbers and forge our weapons for the next conflict."

"I believe peace is something the distinguished Princess has more experience with than any among us.You should not be so quick to jump to conclusions."

"And you should not be so quick to lecture me, zebra," Galdron said with a sneer. Bad blood still existed between the two nations from a conflict that had taken place less than a decade prior.

Celestia clacked a golden shoe on the tile.

"As I have said previously, Emperor, please try to keep things civil." Galdron said nothing in return, motioning for Celestia to continue. "The simple truth of the matter is that my people fight and die to repel the Whitetail aggressors, all because of an attack that we had no part in."

"That's not the way I heard it."

"Then I believe you heard wrong, Emperor Galdron," Celestia answered firmly, affixing her gaze on him.

For the first time in several minutes, Empress Elinwyyn added her voice to the debate.

"Princess, Emperor -- what caused the outbreak of this war is not what matters. Not anymore. What matters is what will end it."

"What will end it would be the Whitetail chancellor actually attending this conference, not cowering under his senators," Galdron laughed dismissively. "And you, Empress -- why haven't you used your influence with the Whitetail to put a stop to this? Surely they're more likely to listen to you than any of us, seeing as how you're practically blood related."

"We may both be deer, but I am Redtail and they are Whitetail. We are as different as pegasus and unicorn, though I suppose we may appear similar to the uninitiated."

"Regardless, they would listen to you before any of us. Clearly before Princess Celestia."

"My dear Emperor, since the outbreak of this war I have, in my boundless grace, attempted to speak with both nations many times. Equestria is thankfully open, but Whitetail is hostile and paranoid after the attack on their people. I still try, as my position dictates, and I have every confidence that, in time, the Whitetail will see my way as the only proper way, lest they be forgotten in the annals of history."

"That sounds like a threat, Empress."

Elinwyyn smiled. "No, simply a statement of fact. Times are changing, and those who do not adapt will cease to be relevant."

Elder Mwolan'e raised a hoof to speak. "Excuse me for interrupting, my friends, but I believe Equestria's armies have Whitetail on the retreat, even as we speak. The tides of war have surely turned, no more pony homes will burn. Will the Whitetail capitol now be crushed, as payment for this war to which they have blindly rushed?"

In the center of the room, Celestia frowned at the thought.

"I have not once entertained the idea of sieging Whitetail's capitol, Elder Mwolan'e. Such an act would only lead to more death and destruction. Between the war and the attack on Canterlot I have had enough bloodshed for an eternity." She raised her voice slightly and spoke with confidence. "Before the start of this conflict, Equestria had been at peace with its neighbors for the last two hundred years. Not since my mother and father united the three pony races has this land seen steel clashing against steel. Can anyone here claim the same? No? Then I fail to see how my actions could be misconstrued as war mongering or something similar. I am not asking for soldiers to crush Whitetail or its people; I merely ask for enough support to ensure that I can bring this war to a close with as few losses on both sides as possible. Whitetail will only stop when it believes it cannot possibly win."

The dignitaries said nothing, prompting Celestia to approach each of them as she spoke.

"If not soldiers, then supplies. Food, water, medicine, materials, anything you can spare. I give you my word that Equestria will repay you, with gratitude and generosity, as we always have."

Mwolan'e was the first to say something in return.

"Princess, even if the Whitetail do not prolong this conflict, there is still the matter of these 'Nightmare Moon' cults that are appearing. As I understand it, they are the same ones who so ruthlessly attacked Canterlot, are they not?"

Celestia sighed. "They are, yes, or so it seems. As if it were not enough to be forced to banish my own sister, I now have to deal with fanatics and cultists who worship her as some sort of dark messiah. What caused this, I cannot say, but you can rest assured that I am very much committed to bringing them to justice as we find them...or helping them, as it often turns out to be."

"What do you mean, 'helping them'?" Emperor Galdron asked.

"Most of the ponies -- and griffons and zebras and deer -- who are under the cult's influence are simply lost and afraid. Misguided, as it were. If I can help them readjust to normal life, I will do so."

"It would be easier to put them all to the sword and be done with it," he said firmly.

"It would be. And it would also be wrong."

Galdron scoffed. "You ponies and your love and mercy. Look where it's gotten you now."

Celestia approached the griffon emperor and stood before him in all of her grace and authority.

"One of the benefits of a long life, Emperor Galdron, is that I can remember things quite clearly when they would simply be stories or myths to someone with a normal life span. Do you know your history?"

"As if I would lead the Empire without it! Yes, of course I know the history of the griffon people."

"Then you should already be well aware of the hundreds of ponies who gave their lives -- voluntarily, might I add -- to defend Skytalon against the great dragon attacks nearly a century and a half ago. A time which your nation would not have survived if not for the love and mercy my people showed yours."

She stuck out a hoof against his armored chest.

"Do not mistake our kind nature for weakness, Emperor."

Galdron sat up in his chair after she'd turned away, fidgeting and mumbling to himself.

"Fine. If Equestria asks for support, it shall have support. I cannot promise how much, but you will hear from me by the next crescent moon."

Satisfied, and hiding a smile behind her practiced facade, Celestia bowed deeply.

"Thank you, Emperor. Your kindness will not be forgotten. Would anyone else pledge support to Equestria?"

"Our lands are vast, our numbers small," Elder Mwolan'e said, "but if aid you seek, I am at your call. Your age speaks to your wisdom, far more than any of us. Forgive me for my doubts; war is harmful for us all. I am sure my merchants would very much like to resume trade without fear of attack from either side. We have no warriors to spare, though a strong harvest this year has given us a vast cornucopia of food stores. I would be glad to send them to your soldiers."

"You are too kind, my friend. I cannot thank you enough." Celestia turned to Elinwyyn. "And you?"

"Unfortunately, Princess, I do not think aid is something we can provide. A terribly cold winter left our fields bare, a catastrophe from which we are still recovering."

Mwolan'e arched an eyebrow in surprise. "Your people go hungry? I have not heard of this before now. If you require any aid--"

"No, thank you," Elinwyyn answered quickly, "we are recovering quite well and we prefer to be self-sufficient. In any case, all of our soldiers are either guarding our borders, searching for the followers of your fallen sister, or keeping the peace. Furthermore, the Whitetail are our kin in spirit as well as blood. Not many of my people wish to fight their cousins across the border. They are, after all, both part of the superior Cervidaen heritage."

Two out of three was more than Celestia was expecting to get. Even with the Cervidaen people unable or unwilling to support Equestria, it could have been far worse. Promises were cheap, and Celestia knew it, but at least it meant the possibility of aid. She bowed deeply to mark the end of negotiations.

"My friends, I thank each and every one of you for attending today. I know it's a long way from your homes. I do hope you've found the food and hospitality to be sufficient, and the conversations to be enlightening."

They bowed in return, except for Galdron, who simply nodded.

"As always, Princess Celestia, it's been a treat," he said in an annoyingly dismissive tone. "You shall hear from the Griffon Empire soon."

"And ours as well." Mwolan'e made a spiral pattern across his chest with a hoof. "May the spirits watch over and guide you always."

The zebra and griffon rulers left through the tall doors at the side of the room, leaving only Elinwyyn with Celestia. The tall, petite deer stood up and stretched loudly.

"Do you think Galdron will actually hold up to his end of the agreement?"

"I don't know," Celestia answered truthfully, "but I'm optimistic. He is a hard griffon to get along with, but not entirely unreasonable."

"Perhaps. I think he'd sooner offer a knife in your back." The golden decorations on her antlers swayed as she approached the princess. "I'm curious, Celestia: do you still have that pendant I gave you, from the last time the moon was full?"

"I do, yes. It's quite lovely, thank you."

"Very good. Keep it close, and I'm confident you will have good luck."

Celestia wasn't sure of how much good luck she'd had recently, but she didn't object.

"I could certainly use it, Empress."

"As could we all." Elinwyyn bowed once more. "Thank you again for having me. I must be leaving for Cervidae, but we will see each other again soon, I'm sure of it."

"Of course. Have a safe trip."

As soon as Elinwyyn was gone, Celestia drooped her head and let out a long, deep breath, then regained her more casual bearing.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same. Thank you for standing watch, my praetorians."

"We are honored to serve, Princess," they answered as one, tipping their spears.

"And I'm honored to have you with me. Cloudtop, Anarius, Cinder Sage, you may return to your barracks for the time being. Have a pleasant rest of the day."

"And I, Princess?" Tercio asked as his companions left through the guard entrance behind him.

"Walk with me, please," she answered.

"As you wish."

Celestia waited until they were out of earshot of the other guards, then asked, "So what did you think of our honored guests?"

"They were...quite interesting. I have never witnessed royalty deciding the fate of nations."

She laughed quietly. "You can be honest with me, my friend. What did you really think?"

"Well, I..." Tercio tried to think of something to say, but the words failed him for some time. "I suppose they come off as rather, I don't know...aloof? The zebra, Molwana--"

"Mwolan'e," Celestia corrected him with a giggle.

"Right, Mwolan'e. He struck me as the only one to truly care about what you were saying. Galdron and Elinwyyn were surprisingly dismissive of your concerns. Perhaps the ideals I have seen you uphold do not apply to every leader, much to my dismay."

Celestia nodded. "I am by no means perfect, but I do try to uphold the very elements that have kept us safe and prosperous for all this time. I am sure Galdron and Elinwyyn are doing the same; their ideals are simply different from ours."

"As you say. I must admit that I do not envy you at such times, especially with the griffon," he laughed.

"Galdron is like his father and his grandfather before him -- stubborn. Getting through to him requires an equally stubborn resolve. I believe I made it clear to the good Emperor that he cannot insult us like we're a weak nation."

"I'd say you did indeed. That Elinwyyn mare -- or doe, rather -- I had only seen her prior to this day at some distance. She is quite a striking figure."

Celestia smirked. "Enjoy your time around her, did you?"

"As much as one could enjoy his time around someone of great self-importance and infuriatingly smug demeanor. She is not exactly my type," he laughed.

"I'm merely teasing. Yes, Elinwyyn is quite a figure, but I would be lying if I said my dealings with her have not come at some small cost of sanity. She means well enough, I think, and she often brings gifts as a show of good will."

"Like the pendant she mentioned?"

"The very same. Remind me to show it to you some time."

"I'll do that. And what of Mwolan'e? I quite liked him, he seems to have a firm head on his shoulder."

"Mwolan'e is someone I see very rarely. I wish he were closer -- especially for the wonderful food he usually brings -- but, alas, Zevran is further from Canterlot than any other nation in attendance today. Quite a shame, really. That said, I am glad I don't have to attend these sorts of meetings on a regular basis, or I'm afraid I would quickly cease to be patient. Foreign leaders can be more difficult to deal with than any number of other crises."

They passed a pair of saluting guards on the way to a bridge that connected the towering spires, and Tercio saluted in return.

"I wanted to thank you again for the wonderful dinner last night, Princess. I believe I slept better than I have in ages, no doubt thanks to a copious amount of food and wine."

"I'm glad to hear it. And thank you for being such a charming dinner guest. I value such conversations far more than a thousand bouts of diplomatic bickering. It is nice to be reminded that life goes on."

"A not entirely unreasonable thing to say," he mused. "I hear word you've invited some others to a small dinner party tomorrow night. Any truth to it?"

"There is, yes. I wanted to thank them just as I've thanked you -- but more than that, I wanted it to be clear that I valued you as not just a praetorian, but as a kind, charming man and a good friend. That's why I invited you to dinner with me -- I had many reasons, not just a singular one, and all of them were justified far more than I can say. I value all of my praetorian guards and friends, but there is something special about you. And I don't just mean your unique looks."

"Well that's good to know," Tercio chuckled.

"You mention your adoptive mother and father often. I'd say they have done a fine job raising you, and they should be proud to have such a good son, no matter who or what he is. Perhaps we can meet again some time soon for a lighter meal?"

The thought of spending more time with the princess made his spirits lift -- the more he got to know the previously-distant Celestia, the more he enjoyed her company. He smiled to himself at the prospect of being around her once more.

"I would like that very much."

***

The night was cool as Tercio crossed over the palace grounds on his way to Canterlot proper. Small clumps of clouds hung in the sky, with flitting figures darting back and forth, silhouetted against the glowing half-moon. His leather sandals crunched on the dirt path that led to the main gate, where he passed the statue of Discord, a physical god of disharmony and chaos that had brought terror to Equestria many years before he was even born. He wondered what kind of place the world used to be before his time, before civilization. From the sound of things, it was barbaric and utterly dangerous.

"Evening, Centurion," a gold-clad guard said as Tercio approached, saluting smartly. His blue crest swayed as he pulled his hoof to his chest.

"Milites."

Tercio returned the salute and continued on, out through the large gates that had been reinforced with iron even since the attack. From there it was a short walk down the hill to a large, open-air garden that branched off to the many roads that would take a traveller to any place in Canterlot they desired. To the east, the military sector, with blacksmiths, armorers, and provision runners, all working day and night to keep the war effort supplied.

To the west, the Great Library of Equestria, a building that housed countless scrolls, books, and ancient hieroglyphic slates detailing the entire history of the known world. It was said one could get lost in its great halls and spend hours trying to return.

Finally, to the south, the majority of Canterlot remained as large and populated as it had ever been. Much of the battle scars from the fanatical attackers had been painted over or replaced, but not all of them; gouges from spears and arrows pock-marked walls, and faded red stains still showed through in places where the unfortunate citizens of the great city had fallen.

Still, life went on. Even well after the setting of the sun there was a busy chorus of street vendors, shop owners and general chatter as friends and neighbors met and conversed. It was almost like a war wasn't even going on. Tercio envied them for not witnessing the sight of the princess nearly dying in battle, but pitied them for not having the means to defend themselves against the followers of Nightmare Moon. Far too many had lost their lives. Princess Celestia had taken it exceptionally hard, saying barely more than a few words for a week on end. But she, too, had found herself once more. The world would not stop while she wept, and neither would Canterlot.

The smell of fresh food met his nose upon his entrance to the famous Harmony Street, the place that was the true heart and soul of Canterlot..and the beginning of nearly every excess one could ask for, if you knew where to look. All it took was a few minutes of walking in the right direction.

"Come, come, I have fresh potato dumplings and wheat pasta!" A heavily-accented voice called out.

"A stallion who does not eat curry balls is no true stallion!"

"Fresh strawberries and grapes, the finest in the city! The finest in Equestria!"

Young colts and fillies gathered around him as he walked, pulling open flaps on saddle bags to reveal myriad bits and baubles for sale. They vied for his attention, shoving each other and whining about how unfair it was that they had to compete with their pseudo-friends. Some of them simply wanted to touch a hoof to his waist or arm, excited and intrigued by the tall, strange-looking creature standing before them. He laughed and assured them he didn't bite, allowing them their curiosity, before they quickly realized he wasn't going to buy anything and moved on.

A spicy smell of some kind of peppery dish grabbed his attention, and he followed it to its source, a small street cart where a thick, red soup boiled lively from fire-heated rocks that sizzled as they were dropped into the mixture. The zebra mare sitting beside the pot smiled and offered a bowl for a moderate price, and Tercio gladly accepted, handing over a small stack of bits. The initial spiciness rushed down his throat, but before it could become unpleasant it was replaced by a soothing, sweet aftertaste. He concluded that zebra food was the greatest thing in all of creation, much to the surprise of the two stallions seated beside him.

His stomach full and his coin purse slightly emptier, Tercio headed south from Harmony and soon came upon the well-known, but infrequently discussed Saddlesore Alley. The attitude changed as quickly as the lighting -- gone were the countless candles and and small cooking fires that cast an orange glow. In their place, a rainbow of colored lanterns and magical flames danced across the shadowed walls and flicked across cobblestone streets. The hustle and bustle died down to a quieter hum of distant conversation. It didn't take long for the first mare to approach him from a corner building. She, like most of her companions, wore a loose, red shawl that covered her shoulders and wrapped once around her waist, tipped with hanging strands of red silk and gold beads.

"Hey there, mister mysterious, you looking for a good time? I'd love to know what you're all about..."

Soresaddle Alley, the carnal heart of Canterlot's southern district. If you couldn't find what you were looking for, it probably wasn't someone's turn-on. Brothels lined the streets and mares danced seductively in front of their quarters, teasingly lifting tails or dipping to their knees in an attempt to pull in the closest traveller -- male or female, young or old, it didn't matter.

In truth, Tercio wasn't looking for a mare for the night. Curiosity had brought him to Soresaddle more than anything, though he didn't mind the view. Plenty of other stallions were much more eager, however, as he could plainly hear. The moans and groans sometimes seemed to surround him, at least when he could hear them over the oft exquisite mares who vied for his coin.

As he rounded a corner a middle-aged pegasus stallion in a green and silver cloak trotted beside him, looking up with a sly smile.

"Hey, I know you!"

"Do you?" Tercio asked cautiously.

"Yeah! You're not some ordinary sucker looking for some boring street mare, am I right? You're a stallion of class."

"I think you may have me mistaken for someone else."

"Pfft, I know a picky customer when I see one. So what's your thing, pal? Stallions? Mares? I got 'em all. Got 'em young, too. How's that?" When Tercio didn't say anything the fast-talking stallion redoubled his efforts. "Name's Red Light, and these mares here? They ain't nothin'. My girls are courtesans, ya understand?"

"Please leave."

"Hey, what's your age preference? If ya got the coin, I got ones who ain't even got their destiny marks yet. Might be you're their destiny, eh? Ya never know."

Tercio let out an exasperated sigh.

"If you knew who I was you wouldn't be asking me such things."

"Of course I know you. Everyone knows you! You're that homen what's got the funny-lookin' hooves."

"I'm also a Praetorian, and if you try to sell me a filly one more time I'm going to have the entirety of the royal guard down here before you can pick your prick up from the ground."

Red Light jerked back.

"Whoa, whoa, take it easy there! Ain't nothin' illegal goin' on, I'm a legitimate business stallion! Look, if ya want me to be honest, they ain't actually blank flanks, alright? We just hide their destiny marks with a magic spell. There, can we get back to brass tacks now?"

"I would rather you leave me be."

"Fine, then. Be that way. Don't come cryin' to me when your cock starts burnin' every time ya piss."

Instead of leaving, the stallion stuck to Tercio's side, constantly glancing around. Tercio felt under the fabric of his tunic for the small, hidden blade he kept strapped to his thigh. Something was off, and it wasn't just the stallion's pushy attitude. Together they ducked behind a large building, and as soon as they were out of sight of anyone else Tercio yanked the dagger from its holster and forced Red Light against the wall.

"I said, leave me be!"

"Shit!" Red Light choked with an arm pressed against his neck.

"I do not know who you think you are, or what you hope to accomplish, but I assure you--"

"I have word from your brother!"

Tercio paused, unsure of what he'd just heard.

"Do not lie to me, stallion. It would be unwise to upset a praetorian."

"I swear it! I may be a fool at times, but I find lying with a blade to my throat to be a very bad for my health!"

When Tercio relaxed his grip the stallion dropped to the floor, coughing and catching his breath.

"Fucking hell, he wasn't kidding. You really are quick!"

Still cautious, Tercio never the less slid the weapon back into his concealed holster.

"You had best explain yourself, and quickly."

"Right, right." Red Light picked himself back up, dusting off his cloak. "I do, in fact, know who you are. You are Tercio Krosus, a Centurion of the Praetorian Guard, age thirty-two. Humen, or however you say it. You're not exactly one to blend in with the crowd."

"The point, Red Light."

"My name's not actually Red Light, but you probably guessed that already, didn't you? You can keep calling me that for the purpose of this conversation, if you like. The important part is that I bring word from your brother, Victus, in the Legion."

"How...how do you know Victus?"

"He hired me out to find you. I'm less of a purveyor of fine mares and more of a messenger."

"You certainly seemed eager to sell me one."

"We were surrounded by whores and ponies who would cut your ear off just to spite you. I was specifically told to not tell anyone but you. Had to blend in, understand? Been following you since you left the castle."

Tercio cursed himself for not noticing before.

"Tell me what? Has something happened to Victus? Is he alright?" Tercio could hear himself growing worried, but the stallion took a step back to give him space.

"Your pegasus brother is fine. Even managed to get through the biggest battle of the last three centuries without a scratch. He fights for Equestria on the western border, near Whitetail Wood. He's been very busy with his duties and he regrets not being able to write, but he sends his best wishes. He says, and I quote: 'I hope this message finds you well, brother. I've heard you saved Princess Celestia from an assassin. I am very proud of you, as I'm sure mother and father are. The war goes well but I wish I were home. Take care of yourself, I will see you soon if the gods will it.'"

Tercio slumped back against the wall, laughing in relief.

"Oh thank the gods! I had feared the worst. Thank you for setting my mind at ease, but I have to ask: why all the secrecy?"

"Because when you're in my line of business, you can't be too careful. You're kind of a hero, and if I went around blurting out information about you or your brother, well...let's just say there are some Nightmare Moon followers who aren't too happy you stopped them from killing Celestia. Wouldn't want you getting yourself in even more danger, ya follow?"

"That's...awfully kind of you, actually."

Red Light -- or the pony who called himself Red Light -- lifted an upturned hoof, the equivalent of a shrug.

"I'm a messenger, an information pony, but I'm still loyal to the crown. Business tends to dry up if everyone you rely on for income ends up dying."

Tercio could hardly believe it -- not only was Victus alive, he was in good health! From what he'd heard, the battle for the Everfree forest was among the largest and most violent in Equestria's history, and wounded had poured into Canterlot for weeks following it. Escaping such a fight without a single scratch -- far more than Tercio himself could claim -- was either a very large stroke of luck, or a testament to Victus' skill.

"Red Light, would you be able to deliver a message for me in return?"

"I suppose I could, for a price."

"Name it."

"Well..." He tapped his hoof on the ground and stretched his wings out as he came up with a price. "Last I saw, he was steadily heading west. Provided they haven't suddenly fallen back or made a major offensive, his unit is likely to be at or near the Equestria/Whitetail border. That's a full day-and-a-half flight, weather permitting."

"Can't you control the weather?"

Red Light gave a snorting laugh. "Look, buddy, I'm flattered that you think I can wrangle an entire thunderstorm or drop a cyclone on a whim, but I'm just one pegasus. I can pull myself a cloud to sleep on but that's about it. I have to avoid the bad weather just as much as anyone else."

"Right, not sure what I was thinking. How much will it cost?"

"Seventy bits."

"You can't be serious."

"Hey, if you think you can find a faster way to deliver a message, in private, to a specific pony on the other side of the damn country, then by all means, go for it. If not, then that's my price."

Tercio grumbled to himself as he pulled his coin purse from his belt, then emptied the majority of it into the waiting hooves of Red Light.

"That's nearly a month's pay, I'll have you know."

Red Light pulled open the flap of a low-profile saddle bag hidden under his cloak and dumped the coins into it.

"Money well spent, Mr. Tercio. Money well spent."

"It had better be. So, do I write down what I want to pass on, or...?"

"No scrolls, no pages. Can't have my clients' secrets getting spilled, now can we? Tell me what you want me to pass on, like I'm your brother, and I'll deliver it as sure as if you were standing there."

There was so much to say. How could he even begin to mention the abject terror he felt during the raid on Canterlot, the pain that he felt at the loss of his comrades to a bunch of blood-crazed cultists, the nigh-uncontrollable rage he'd unleashed to kill Lacertus? He wished he could speak with Victus, sit down with him over a tall jug of wine and tell him about everything he'd been through. He wished he could describe what it was like to sit down for dinner with the most radiant mare he'd ever seen. Instead, he would have to keep it short, and save the stories for another time.

"Victus, I am glad to hear from you. Canterlot has at last returned to normal, though we are fewer in number. I fare well; no mere sell-sword will get the best of your brother. I am a full-fledged praetorian now, tasked with guarding the princess. She sends her well wishes. Stay safe, and one day soon we will visit the old orchard again. Gods be with you."

Red Light's eyes stared off into space for a moment, then refocused with a blink.

"I've got it. Rest assured, your brother will get your message, word for word. Now, I think it best we part ways. Thank you for your business, and best of luck with your duties."

"And you as well," Tercio nodded. "And thank you, Red Light. You have done much to rest my concerns."

"Whatever I can do to help." The pegasus tucked his saddle bag back under his cloak then turned to leave, his hooves clopping quietly against the cobblestone. "Take care of yourself, Praetorian."

16 - Vae Victus

Polished steel sliced through the air, clashing against wood and iron as it struck home. Again and again it attacked, quick jabs and powerful slashes, and each time it was met by the impenetrable wood and iron of a tower shield or the parrying strike of another blade.

For the past half hour Celestia had been training intently with the assistance of Stonewall and Tercio, brought upon by the old stallion's insistence that the princess learn to defend herself better in the event of a future attack. She had been reluctant at first, claiming to avoid conflict when necessary, but before long she had been convinced to see the practical side of things. Next time, Stonewall had said, the praetorians might not be enough.

"Time your blows, Princess," he reminded her, pacing back and forth while she sparred. She'd shown a good deal more skill than he'd imagined, but she was rusty and tended to flail rather than pick her strikes. In the thirty years he'd served at her side, it was the first time he'd actually seen the princess training with any conviction.

Maybe, he mused, the attack has finally lit a fire under her ass.

"Play to your strengths. Watch your opponent. Attack from unexpected angles."

Celestia trained using a longsword, nearly twice the size of a standard gladius, which allowed her to exploit her taller frame and focus her magic more effectively. Her opponent, Tercio, fought using the standard gladius and tower shield, with a smaller buckler as a back-up. It would suffice for initial training.

Tercio held his shield at neck level, covering himself from top to bottom and leaving only his head and ankles exposed. In his right hand he grasped his blade, keeping it high and ready. For a brief second he planned his movements, then let out a shout and pushed himself off his heels with a surge of speed. The ferocity of the attack caught Celestia by surprise, and she took a step back as her levitated sword clanged harmlessly off the front of the shield. She struggled to remain in control of the weapon, then, in a moment of desperation, brought the sword around from behind to strike at Tercio's back. Without missing a step he swung his shield around, bringing it up to cover himself in one, smooth motion as he went into a sideways stance, blocking the weapon effortlessly with his left hand and thrusting his gladius out with his right. The blunted blade stopped a scant inch from Celestia's throat, and she gulped in surprise.

"Ha! Very good, Krosus! Very good!" Stonewall stomped a hoof on the ground and laughed a short laugh. He motioned to the shield as Tercio dropped his stance and returned to a resting position. "How in the nine hells did you figure that one out?"

"Polaris tried that on me once before. It caught me off guard then," he answered, then tapped a finger against the side of his head, "but I remember. When the princess lost control of her weapon I thought she might try something similar."

"Well hell, maybe you're not useless after all."

"So I would hope." He turned to Celestia and bowed slightly. "Apologies for surprising you like that, Princess."

"No need to be sorry, my friend. That was quite skillful of you. To be honest it's been a very long time since I've taken combat training so seriously. I wish I'd done so sooner."

"How long, exactly?"

"Too long," Stonewall quipped.

"Over fifty years ago," Celestia admitted sheepishly. "Luna and I would spar sometimes, but combat seemed like a distant concern compared to the daily routine of politics and meeting the needs of Equestria's citizens. In hindsight, I feel rather foolish for it."

"You could not have known," Tercio reassured her. "You were merely doing what any good ruler would do: putting the people ahead of yourself."

"Perhaps. But I can no longer pretend that Canterlot is entirely safe, no matter how many guards we may have. I want to be prepared, both for myself and for all of you. I owe it to you and Stonewall and everypony else to not be a burden should we find ourselves under attack again."

"Very noble, Princess. Now, if it pleases the Imperator, we'll continue."

Stonewall waved them on.

Celestia returned to a ready stance, her hooves firmly planted and her longsword floating in front of her in a shimmering field of yellow magic.

"Think about me as an opponent," Terco said. "An enemy. I am your equal in height, I am able to extend my attack range further than any pegasus or stallion, but you are not limited to the movement of a weapon clasped in a hand or held in a mouth. I have reach, you have flexibility."

She nodded, then took a deep breath.

"Right. Whenever you're ready, Ter--oh!"

Tercio struck out without warning, stabbing his gladius forward and just barely missing Celestia's chest. She took a step back, but recovered far more quickly than the previous bout. Her longsword thudded against Tercio's shield in a heavy slash, and with a grunt of exertion she pushed the sword with enough power to skid Tercio back on the tile by several inches. Her horn flared with a second layer of energy, enveloping the first, and the longsword scraped off the side of the shield. She thrust it out once more, narrowly passing his shoulder, and Tercio took the brief moment of respite to swing his shield up. Celestia caught the movement, dodged to the right, and brought her sword plunging down from above. It landed hard enough to embed itself in the tower shield's wooden structure for a heartbeat, and as she yanked it free she found a gladius stopped directly in front of her face.

"I thought I had you that time," she said after she recovered her bearing.

"You almost did."

Stonewall approached. "The problem, Your Highness, is that while your offensive capabilities are strong, your defensive abilities are weak. There is a reason we train with sword and board: you need equal parts attack and defense."

Celestia frowned. "I can't very well be seen walking around Canterlot with a large shield at my side, Imperator. Imagine what such an image would convey to the ponies of Canterlot."

"Strength? Fighting spirit?" he answered sincerely.

"Fear. My subjects expect to see their princess calm and in control. Such a thing would be self-defeating were I to wander around, armed and armored, as if I were expecting an attack at any moment." She motioned to the two praetorians. "That's what I have you and your kin for, after all."

Stonewall rubbed his chin. "Mmm. Fair enough. Still, I don't like you being defenseless."

"Should such a need arise, I can equip myself for battle, provided I have the time to prepare. At the very least I could, perhaps, keep a weapon concealed on or around the dais?"

Tercio raised a hand to get their attention.

"If I may make a suggestion? You want something that will be effective, yet you also want it to be easy to hide from view. A tower shield is much too large to keep concealed, obviously -- but what about a pair of longswords? Perhaps with a small buckler strapped to her upper foreleg?"

"I don't know..." Stonewall replied.

"Think of it this way: Princess Celestia already has the means to carry a sword with her, as we saw during the attack, so it's conceivable that a second wouldn't be much encumberment. It would allow her to levitate her weapons while keeping her agility and providing a means of defense. Plus, a pair of scabbards are easier to hide from view than a large shield. Such a combat load-out could be equipped and ready to use in mere seconds."

Stonewall looked up at Celestia. "Princess? What do you think?"

"I have to default to you, my friend. You have far more experience with arms than I."

"Well, it's certainly a viable idea, but if this is what we agree on then you're going to have to commit to a schedule of training, at least three to four days a week. Dual blades are not unheard of, but it requires a level of focus and knowledge far above that of a shield and gladius. This will not be an easy task to master."

Celestia looked at the sword levitating before her, its blade reflecting the sunlight glow of her magic.

"If it means potentially saving the life of even a single pony," she said confidently, "then I will do it."

"Very well then, it's settled."

"You are going to need another sword, Princess," Tercio said, pointing with his gladius. "Unfortunately longswords are not something we typically carry in the armory."

Stonewall answered for her. "Let me take care of that. And while we're at it, neither you nor I can use magic, so levitating something is far beyond our abilities. But I think I know a way to fix that little problem. Now, back to your ready positions. We're not done for today just yet."

***

Slow and painful. That's how Victus would have described his progress. When he'd been told to run reconnaissance on a newly-discovered Nightmare Moon cultist camp, he hadn't expected to take an hour or more to crawl his way through the rain and mud to avoid detection.

His team was small, consisting of himself, his fellow experienced legionary and long-time friend, Chiron, and a few newly-anointed soldiers who had proven themselves in battle -- Steel Spark, Sertis, and Rockfall. The first part of the plan was to locate the camp at the edge of the forest, attain an exact count of the cultists' numbers, and grab anything that could help link it with other groups. Hopefully without conflict.

"Quit your bitching, ponies."

Gilias, the battle-hardened griffon. She was the second part of the plan, the distraction. Her task was to present herself to the cultists as an aspiring member, then cause as much commotion as possible to draw the others around her. Surprisingly, she was all for it.

"You're going in unarmed?" Victus had asked her before they left the Legion camp.

"Unarmed? Of course not. I have these." With her signature grin she'd clacked her talons together, and made it very clear that she was more than capable of handling whatever a few fanatics could throw at her.

Now she found herself crawling through the filth like everyone else, getting her feathers and fur matted with mud, dead leaves and torn grass. Unlike everyone else, she relished it.

"This kind of weather makes you feel alive, my equine friends! Drink it in!"

"I do not see how you can be so excited about dragging ourselves through wet, sucking mud, Batttle-Master," Rockfall said in a harsh whisper. None of them wore any sort of armor, lest it give them away, instead carrying simple belts that held water flasks and a single gladius. Those who had lighter-colored coats or manes, like Victus, had covered themselves in a dark brown powder that would conceal their forms. It clung to his skin and feathers and itched like mad, but it was better than being caught.

"If you'd grown up in Skytalon you would cherish the rain, Equestrian. The only moisture we ever see up there is snow, snow, and more snow. Oh, and ice. So look on the bright side: you could be freezing your ass off right now."

"Silence," Victus ordered, lifting a hoof. The tall, triangular shapes of the cultist encampment were finally within view, a small sea of tents and lean-to structures. Silhouetted shadows traveled between them. "We hold here for now. Steel Spark, Rockfall, you will take the left flank. Sertis, Chiron, you take the right. Remember: slow movements, and keep your head low. Try to get an accurate count of number and species, or race. If we're compromised, regroup at this spot. Once Gilias has their attention I will make my way to the camp. Understood?"

"Understood," they answered as one.

"Very well. Battle-Master Gilias, I believe this is your time to shine. Best of luck."

"Luck?" Gilias chortled. "If I can survive a bunch of pissed-off deer slinging explosives at me, I can handle a few fanatics." She pulled herself up from the mud, not bothering to brush any of it off. "One last thing before I go."

"Yes?"

"Hit me."

Victus looked at her like she'd just grown a second head.

"...what?"

"You heard me, pony. Hit me. I gotta look the part of a griffon on her last legs."

"I..." He gave up with a sigh. "Fine. But this is your idea, not mine."

"No shit. Hurry it up, will you?"

Victus stood up, staring at the griffon for a moment, then cocked back a foreleg.

"Hey," she said intently, "do me a favor, and don't be a pussy about it."

Reluctantly he mustered as much strength as he could, then drove his hoof forward. It hit Gilias in her left cheek hard enough to draw a thin gash of blood that dyed her feathers pink as it mixed with the rain. Immediately the entire side of her face began to swell, the skin turning purple and red under her white plumage. She held her position, unmoving, for several seconds, breathing deeply.

"Not bad," she finally said, laughing between winces of pain and sucking breaths. "I could kill someone with my bare claws right now. Let's hope the cultist scum don't piss me off, hmm?" She looked herself over once more and said, "here goes everything."

Victus hit the ground as soon as Gilias turned to leave. The others looked at him with amused interest.

"What? You have your orders, legionaries, get moving!"

The ponies around him started their slow crawl to their overwatch positions while Victus kept an eye on Gilias. It only took a few moments for her to clear the mouth of the forest, where she immediately began to hobble along, nearly dragging herself in feigned injury. She coughed and wheezed, faintly audible above the rain.

"Battle-Master, warrior, trainer," Victus chuckled to himself, "and now, actor. Consider me impressed, Gilias."

***

For their diminutive size, Gilias thought between limping steps, ponies were a lot stronger than they looked. She was impressed by the pegasus and his decidedly painful right hook. If she'd had any teeth, there would have been a good chance she'd be missing a few.

"Intruder! Stop right there!"

They'd finally noticed her, a small band of figures wrapped in dark blue, hooded cloaks. Three appeared to be earth ponies, with the bulge in the fourth's hood marking him as a unicorn. Gilias did as she was told, coming to a stop with a claw clutching the side of her face.

"Who are you, and why do you trespass on sacred land?"

The pony in the center, large in build and with a distinctly northern accent, gazed upon her with cruel eyes. The tip of a scabbard jutted out from the back of his cloak. Presumably the others would be armed as well. There wouldn't be a lot of time if things went to shit.

Now or never, Gilias.

"B-Brothers...I am so glad to have...nngh...finally found you."

The gathered ponies looked at each other.

"Explain yourself, griffon. Do not dare to call me 'brother' in vain."

Gilias had prepared a sob-story for the occasion, one she was sure would win over even the blackest of hearts. That, or they'd see right through it and stick a blade in her throat. One of the two.

"I...I barely escaped. It was terrible. Those damned Celestia loyalists, they attacked my peaceful farming village! They came in and demanded that we give them everything we have -- our food, our water -- and when we resisted they...they killed my fucking dog! Ran him through like a damned creature of the forest! He was just a puppy! A puppy with a missing leg! And he was blind!"

Gilias collapsed to her knees and forced herself to cry, squeezing her swollen face to encourage the tears to flow.

"Those monsters," one of the cultists said. Well, at least that one wasn't too bright.

"When we still would not give in to their sick demands, they strung up my father, who was an unemployed invalid and also suffering from the pox, right before my eyes! I tried to save him, but three of them pounced on me and beat me mercilessly! They said...they said if I moved, they would gut me then and there and feast on my entrails, then dance and fornicate in my blood!"

"I never did trust their type," another said, nodding to his companion. "To think they would resort to such depravity in the name of the false goddess! We are doing this land a favor by ending her corrupt reign!"

Gilias had to hide a smile -- it was like fooling children.

***

Back at the edge of the tree line, Victus was ready to make his move. Gilias was now surrounded by cloaked ponies and, while he couldn't make out her words over the rain, she seemed to have things under control for the time being. He lifted a foreleg and signaled that he was about to move, then slowly stood up from his position and took cover behind a tree. He was fairly certain he couldn't be seen, and with his gladius at his side he made a short gallop to a rotten tree stump and threw himself against the ground. A quick look to either side, and his look-outs gave him a status check; no activity to the right, but Rockfall stamped his hoof against the ground twice -- there was a pair of cultists somewhere to the western side of the camp. Victus would have to be more cautious.

Less than a hundred yards ahead a small collection of tents dotted the border of the camp. Behind them, a much larger tent, topped with golden decorations, stood out against the others. Thin, black smoke billowed from a hole at the top, likely from a stove of some kind. If there was anything of value to be found, Victus figured, it would be found there.

***

"--And so I come to you, brothers and sisters, in my time of need. For far too long have I believed the lies spread by the rancid, corrupting words of Celestia! I ask that you embrace me, as you have embraced the cold, loving grasp of Nightmare Loon. MOON! Nightmare Moon."

So far, so good. Mostly. By now Gilias had attracted most of the camp to her side, playing up her muddy, down-trodden, rain-soaked appearance for all it was worth. Somewhere on the opposite side of the camp the pegasus would be making his move. She hoped he knew what he was doing.

"You poor thing," a mare said somewhere in the crowd. They murmured and talked to each other, eating her story right up. Gilias collapsed to the ground, coughing dramatically and clutching her stomach.

"Please...some water..."

"Sister Bluebell, quickly!" A pony shouted. Rapid hoof-falls squelched in the mud as someone trotted away, only to return a few seconds later. A flask was passed from pony to pony, until a unicorn lifted his hood and levitated the water with blue-green magic. He had shaved his mane, leaving only bare skin that stood out in sharp contrast to the dark blue of his coat.

"Drink, griffon, and be restored."

Gilias was in no hurry to actually gulp down anything handed to her by a bunch of darkness-worshiping lunatics. When the water met her beak she grabbed the flask tightly and squeezed as hard as she could. A burst of water spilled down her face, close enough to fool any observer. Hopefully. When she collapsed to the ground again the crowd's noise rose to a din of shouts and pleas.

"Save her!" someone pleaded. "She is one of us!"

"She must have vengeance!"

"Let her feel the love of our Goddess!"

Gilias wanted to chance a look in Victus' direction, but knew she could not. She could only hope he was quick.

***

The first group of tents was thankfully empty, an unorganized mess of pots and pans, sleeping rolls and personal effects. For a group of supposedly organized fanatics, they were unusually messy.

Rain continued to patter down on the canvas tops and sides, and they billowed gently in the wind that swept in from the east. The gathered voices around Gilias were louder now, some of them audible. For what it was worth, they were fully entranced by her performance.

A short sprint put Victus against the side of the large, steeple-topped, rectangular tent that seemed to be the most important structure in the camp. He pressed himself closer to listen for any noise, finding none, but he knew the noise of the rain would likely block out any low conversations or sounds of hoof steps. Once more he looked to his fellow legionaries, who had moved up as he advanced. Right side, still all clear. Left side, two missing.

"Great," he muttered. Unaccounted for cultists were not likely to be good for his health. Carefully he pulled his gladius from its scabbard, then slowly and quietly cut a vertical line down the middle of the tent just big enough to fit through. The newly-formed flaps whipped in a gust of wind, and Victus ducked inside with his weapon at the ready. A quick scan revealed no figures, pony or otherwise. Instead, he was greeted by dozens of burning candles that cast their flickering glow on the dark interior. To his right, at the entrance, a trail of them marked a path between effigies of carved wood and rough, shaped bronze. The candles curved in and out, over and over, like a wax serpent. All around were offerings of food and drink, countless gemstones and coins of silver and gold. A place of worship and reverence, if ever there was one.

At the end of the tent, to Victus' far left, a shrine had been set up to honor their goddess, Nightmare Moon. The thought of someone worshiping Princess Celestia's corrupted sister made his skin crawl, a feeling that was only made worse by the bits and pieces of bloodied armor, severed horns and torn wings that formed a grotesque altar to a crude, circular stone that had been made to mimic the new moon.

Victus trotted over, carefully, not wanting to disturb anything that might make enough noise to give him away. He picked up the stone between his hooves and turned it around, knocking on it to make sure it wasn't hollow. It was heavy and rough, but did not seem unusual. Small gifts sat upon a trio of short pillars, and after a moment a single item caught his eye.

Surrounded by dark-colored flower petals and small wreaths of pine branches, a pendant sat by itself on the center-most pillar. It was not particularly large, perhaps as large around as his hoof, and it showed a stylized image of a deer and a pony in a circle, as if endlessly chasing one another. Whatever it was, it seemed to be important. Victus opened a pouch on his sword belt and swept the pendant, along with a few other small items, into it before securing it shut once more. Satisfied, he continued his search of the area, taking care to step over a small row of candles -- and inadvertently kicking an unseen piece of armor nearly half way across the tent. It clattered loudly and clanged into a stone plinth. His heart racing, he stood in place and listened with absolute concentration, his ears swiveling in all directions for any hint that he had been found out.

He heard the dagger before he saw it, an almost imperceptible fwip as it shot past his head. It buried itself in the canvas behind him and tore a gash that let in the rain. And then they were upon him.

***

Amidst the commotion of the gathered cultists, a single voice stood out, loud and powerful.

"Easy, my brothers and sisters. We shall take care of the griffon woman, I ask only for some space."

The crowd stepped back several paces, finally giving Gilias enough room to think. She looked up at the new figure now standing before her, a stout earth pony with strong legs and a close-cut mane of grey and silver. For a moment he studied her, looking her up and down with a questioning eye. Then he stuck out a hoof, and Gilias grabbed it and pulled herself back up.

"Welcome, sister," the big earth pony said in a voice full of stones. "I hear you are seeking refuge from the worshipers of the false Goddess."

Gilias wiped her mouth with her claw and nodded.

"Yes, I am. I had heard there were followers of Nightmare Moon -- the one, true Goddess -- in these woods. For two days I wandered through the mud and the rain, narrowly avoiding death at every turn, until finally I found you. Truly I am blessed to be alive."

Shouts of "Praise Nightmare Moon!" and "Glory to the Goddess!" sprung up around her.

"So it would seem. Tell me, griffon, what is your name?"

"Ginian, brother," Gilias replied with a bow of her head.

"Ginian. From where do you hail, Ginian?"

This one seemed to be more intelligent than the others. Fitting for a leader, she thought.

"A small village called Corinia, near the Whitetail border. Have you heard of it?"

Of course he wouldn't -- she'd made it up.

"No, I have not. Equestria is a vast place, however. You are a farmer?"

"I am."

"What do you grow, farmer?"

Just shut up and show me around already.

"Oh, you know," she said, shrugging. "Cotton, wheat, snap apples, that sort of thing. I'm a third generation farmer."

"I see. Good crops, all."

Gilias managed a half-smile, though the side of her face stung from the action.

"Right, thanks. Farming is, uh...good livin'. So...what's your name, brother?"

The earth pony, who clearly thought highly of himself, lifted a foreleg to the skies to emphasize his own grandeur.

"I am Validus Corinthius Ignacio Formalus the Third, servant of the one, true Goddess, Nightmare Moon, and enemy of all who would oppose Her glory."

Yep, definitely thought highly of himself.

"Well, Sir Validus, um, Corinthial Ignamus Formalwear, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." She cringed at her pronunciation of his name.

Smooth.

"Do not worry yourself with such trivialities," he said with a deep, barking laugh. "I am simply 'Brother Validus' to all who call this place home. I must admit, Sister Ginian, I am deeply moved by your tale of loss and sorrow. Your faithful pet, destroyed like a play thing. Your loving father, hung for all to see. Truly the Equestrians who follow Celestia are wicked. On that, you will find no quarrel with us."

"Thank you."

Validus stomped a hoof on the ground.

"Except..."

Uh-oh.

"Except...there is one, little thing I could use some...clarification on."

"Yes?"

"You see, Sister Ginian, I, too, am a farmer. Was a farmer. Many leagues east of here is the town of Crup Caverns which, despite its name, is not actually located in a cavern." He chuckled at his own joke. "Up until several months ago, when I was made to see the light in the darkness, I tended the fields with my uncle and two cousins. We grew all sorts of things -- fruits, grasses for hay, stalked plants of all kinds -- but there was one plant in particular I was fond of: cotton."

"You don't say? Then we have similar interests."

"Indeed. The problem, my griffon friend, is that cotton is a very particular plant. It requires a certain amount of moisture and a certain climate. That's why the eastern lands of Equestria are ideal. One place that cotton will not grow, however, is in the western expanses. If it could, the Whitetail would not receive much of their supply from trade with Equestria."

Shit. She had to think fast.

"Normally I would agree with you, but our crop is special; it is infused with zebra magic, blessed by their elders."

Validus was clearly becoming more suspicious. He took a step forward and looked her over, then ran a hoof across her side.

"We, uh...we aren't that familiar just yet, Brother Validus. I would ask--"

"No," he interrupted her,"it is I who am asking the questions."

Hurry the fuck up, Victus.

"I believe I have asked you much already, but there is one thing I have not mentioned just yet, griffon."

"What would that be?"

He pulled his hoof away from her side, clearing a long trail of wet mud and exposing the plumage underneath.

"What sort of farmer has battle scars?"

Shit!

"Uhh...I was a mercenary once. Back before--"

"Who did you fight?"

"The Zevran tribal la--"

"When did you fight them?"

"A long time ago, about--"

"Equestria has never had a conflict with the Zevran nation or its people, certainly not within your lifetime. The Griffon Empire, however..."

"I-I moved to Equestria. To farm."

"But you just said you were a third generation farmer, which would imply you've been in Equestria your entire life."

"Uhmm..."

The attitude of the crowd had changed completely. They were closing in on her, slowly growing more weary of her false tales. Validus lifted a foreleg, revealing the pommel of a sword under his cloak.

"Why are you here, griffon? Answer me! Who sent you?!"

Things were about to turn very bad, and quickly. Surrounded by cultists, under the watchful eye of their leader, and with no way to be sure of Victus' situation, Gilias did the only thing she could think of.

"Fuck it."

With lightning speed she dove for Validus, flashing her sharpened talons and digging them into his shoulders as the force of her impact rolled them both end over end. They skidded to a stop in the rain-wet mud, the onlookers momentarily in shock. Then, with as much strength as she could muster, she latched her beak onto the base of his neck and bit down. Hard. A spurt of warm, red blood sprayed her face as she tore through his jugular vein.

For a few, scant seconds there was silence. No one moved. Validus clutched at this throat, gasping in panicked breaths that soon turned into wet gurgles of blood and rain.

A distinctive sound came from somewhere behind her, the clashing of steel on steel. Victus. It had to be.

With a powerful flap of her wings she took to the air, leaving behind the gathered ponies who quickly turned to a vengeful mob out for her blood, but her wings were heavy with rain and sticky with mud. Sprays of debris fell from her with every attempt to stay in the air, but it was too much. With every bit of effort in her body she pointed herself at the sound of battle, the large tent that she was sure was her only chance of escaping.

***

Victus jumped back, the short blade of a dagger narrowly missing his throat. Two cultists lashed out again, their movements sharp but increasingly frustrated. One of them turned around and bucked with his hind legs, leaving a dent in the the heavy stone pillar and knocking it on its side. Victus took the opportunity to deliver a sideways stab into the stallion's flank, his gladius plunging through the anvil-shaped destiny mark, tearing muscle and drawing a stream of blood as he withdrew it. The cultist fell to the ground with a shout, but his partner was fast. A unicorn mare, muted pink in color, shot out a dagger at Victus. It buried itself in his shoulder with a burning lash of pain, and he stumbled back against the tent wall with a grunt. A second blade, aimed at his neck, was deflected by a quick slash. The dagger clattered to the ground but was immediately picked back up in a shimmering field of purple magic. For having such a petite frame, he thought grimly, the mare before him was surprisingly practical in combat. She hadn't relied on any showy moves or spouted any religious rhetoric, instead solely focusing on her target with a murderous determination.

The tent glowed purple as she yanked the second dagger from his shoulder, drawing it up as she pulled. Victus felt his left foreleg give out. Immediately he was set upon by the previously injured stallion, who was trying mightily to cave his skull in with powerful hoof stomps. Victus lifted a knee and smashed it into the stallion's testicles as hard as he could, again and again, until his opponent collapsed in pain. He bit down on the handle of his gladius and shoved it as far as he could into the stallion's chest, then kicked his body to the side. A long, narrow blade tore across his cheek; the unicorn mare was already trying to finish him off.

Just then, as a second dagger flashed toward him, the side of the tent exploded open.

***

Gilias had landed in a heap, the sheer weight of her body tearing a hole through the canvas. She tumbled and rolled, spraying the inside of the tent with water and knocking over countless candles and piles of flowers. It took a moment to get her bearings. Opposite her, against the wall, a bloodied Victus looked in with wide eyes. A dead stallion lay at his side. To his left, an attractive unicorn mare levitated a pair of crimson-slicked daggers. She was staring with her mouth agape, unsure of what to make of the griffon that had smashed through the tent.

"Victus!" Gilias shouted, pulling herself to her feet and scrambling to get traction with her claws.

The sound of the mob was rapidly approaching. It didn't take long for the mare to realize whose side the griffon was on. She focused on Gilias and shot both of her daggers out, sending one flying harmlessly through the trailing feathers of Gilias' left wing and the other just a bit too high, but she corrected and pulled them back to her side.

"Gilias, catch!" Victus tossed the sword to her, and Gilias reached out to grasp it in her claws -- only to have it intercepted in mid-air by a blisteringly fast dagger. Both blades carried on to the back corner of the tent and clattered to the ground. Before Gilias could react a stabbing pain radiated out from her thigh. The unicorn was now galloping at Gilias at full speed, her horn flashing with magic as she drove her weapon of choice deeper. Enraged by the pain coursing through her, Gilias pushed herself off with her powerful hind legs and tackled the mare to the ground. They struggled with one another, neither able to get the advantage.

"Skraw'kan, Equestrian!" Gilias shouted. She slammed her skull into the mare's in a fierce headbutt. Dazed, but still in control, she grabbed hold of her attacker's face and delivered pounding blows of her fists to the side of the mare's head, then slammed it into the ground with all of her strength until the unicorn's horn no longer glowed with magic.

"Gilias! Gilias, we have to go!" Victus hobbled to her side, still clutching his gladius. Blood seeped from his shoulder and stained his powder-darkened coat. His voice snapped her out of her trance, and she turned to look at him with tired but firm eyes.

"Right. Did...did you get what you came for?" She yanked the dagger from her thigh, swearing loudly and tossing it aside.

"I think so. Come on, the others will have seen your duress. Pray they get to us before the cultists do."

The sky flashed and thunder rumbled as they left the large tent, briefly illuminating four figures galloping toward them. One of them shouted to Victus.

"We must make haste, Decanus! There are more cultists than I care to think about, and they are all very eager to catch you!"

"So I noticed, Sertis! Fall in at my side, I am wounded!"

"He has a real talent for understatement," Gilias remarked.

Sertis did as he was ordered, supporting Victus on his shoulder. He grimaced at the torn wound left by the dagger.

"Gods, what happened in there?"

"I'll tell you when we are not in imminent danger of being ripped apart!"

Within seconds the others were at his side with their weapons drawn, the sound of the massed cultists building to a roar that had to be shouted over to be heard.

"I should have acted sooner," Chiron said, "this is my fault!"

"You can beat yourself up over it after we've escaped with our lives!" Victus gritted his teeth against the pain and turned to Steelspark. "Did you manage to get a count of their number?"

"For what it's worth, yes!" he answered between labored breaths. "At least forty, perhaps fifty! Mostly ponies, with the odd zebra mixed in!"

"Anything that could chase us?"

"I can't be sure, their cloaks were--"

A splash of water and mud marked the sudden arrival of a cultist, a small axe clutched in his mouth, as he sent Steelspark sprawling. Powerful wing flaps kept the attacking pegasus steady, and he barreled into Chiron with the head of his axe crossing low. Chiron dodged the deadly weapon and reared up, letting the momentum of the pegasus' swing carry him down into the mud. With a swift stomp the ground mixed with a stream of red, and the pegasus was no more. Precious seconds passed as the legionaries regrouped. Hastily tossed blades rained down around them, digging into the earth with wet squelches and muddy thwacks.

"Get to the trees! It's our only chance!"

A large conifer loomed ahead, and they quickly took cover behind it. Several spears dug themselves into the thick bark as Victus took a brief moment to catch his breath.

"Blades out, legionaries! Split attack on my mark!"

The mass of cultists moved ever closer, shouting and swearing in their drive for the blood of those who had wronged them.

"Hold! Hoooold!"

The first of the cloaked forms came into view, and he saw what was waiting for him.

"Now!"

As one the legionaries attacked in a three-tiered vertical formation; Victus and Gilias took to the air and dove for the rear-most fanatics, while Steelspark and Chiron threw themselves bodily into the front of the mob with their blades stabbing forward. As they made their move, Rockfall and Sertis used their magic to yank spears and daggers from their foes' grasp, turning them around in mid-air before plunging them back into their owners. A furious counter-attack, the epitome of violence of action -- a maneuver of Gilias' sharpened skills and battle-honed mind.

Almost immediately the mob of Nightmare Moon worshipers began to break, shocked and horrified by the bloodshed wrought upon them in such a short time. Many of them turned to run, their spirits broken. Some even succeeded in making it. But not many.

Less than a minute had passed. Victus stood alongside his soldiers, his mouth red with blood that had run down from the blade of his gladius, his breathing heavy. They had slaughtered nearly two dozen without loss of their own. Against overwhelming odds, they had succeeded. Relieved, satisfied, and proud of his stallions, Victus dropped his weapon into the mud.

"Well done, brothers."

Only then did he allow himself to collapse.

17 - Swiftwing

Hundreds of feet above the surface of Equestria, Tercio Krosus hung on to his seat for dear life. He held the ornate sky carriage's cushions in a death grip, white-knuckled ever since he'd left Canterlot. The vehicle drifted through the air, pulled by two pairs of gold-clad pegasi who were securely strapped in to the yoke up front. Barely any time had passed from when they'd first ascended, but for Tercio it felt like a very long time indeed.

"I assure you, you're in no danger," Princess Celestia said once again. She had tried, repeatedly, to reassure him ever since they left the ground. It had amounted to little.

"I appreciate the concern, Princess, but until today I had not realized I had a fear of heights." A gust of wind caused the carriage to drop unexpectedly, just enough to elicit a gasp and a surprised swear. "If the gods had intended me to fly they would have given me wings!"

"You know, not many citizens get to see the inside of the royal sky carriage, much less ride in it on an official venture. Just think of it as a perk of the job." Celestia calmly sipped from a cup of berry juice, amused by the usually steadfast human who was reduced to a shaking child.

"Begging your pardon, Princess, but I will happily think of it as such when we are back on the ground in one piece."

Flying across the country was the last thing Tercio had expected to be doing when he checked the duty roster that morning. Guarding the palace doors, maybe, or patrolling the perimeter, but "sky carriage escort"? That was something else entirely. He'd heard of it from time to time -- it came up every so often, typically assigned to the most senior of praetorians when the Princess was traveling away from the security of Canterlot. Being chosen, despite his newly-promoted status, was unexpected to say the least.

He'd asked for clarification, of course. When Imperator Stonewall arrived shortly after he was immediately set upon by Tercio, who insisted it must have been a mistake.

"We don't make mistakes," Stonewall had answered decisively. "The Princess asked for you personally. You will do as she requests. It is not open for debate."

Further questioning did, at least, reveal the reason for Celestia's trip: she was heading north to the predominantly griffon town of Swiftwing, a place that was feeling uneasy about the war, and had expressed a desire to pack up and leave for the safety of near-by Winterclaw, within the borders of the Griffon Empire. Apparently such trips were not entirely uncommon, and were considered "low risk" visits. "You win hearts and minds, you win wars," Stonewall had said. Two hours and a marching pack full of winter clothing later, Tercio found himself speeding into the sky with Celestia and her retinue of sky carriage pegasi.

The bumps and jostles of turbulent air soon gave way to clearer skies, allowing Tercio to calm himself for the first time. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, making sure not to look out from the small windows to either side. Just because he was flying, it didn't mean he wanted to see exactly how far he would fall to his death.

"Feeling better?" Celestia asked. She looked genuinely concerned. "I had no idea air travel would be such an experience for you. I suppose it's something I take for granted after so much time."

Tercio nodded quickly. "Somewhat better. Please do not ask me to watch the ground rush by, however, or I fear I shall empty the contents of my stomach."

"It's a start. Would you care for some blackberry juice to calm your nerves?"

A carafe and cup floated nearly motionlessly in a cloud of yellow magic in front of him.

"No, thank you. I shall be alright, I'm simply going to--" a slight bump bleached his face once more, "--to need some time to adjust." Tercio planted himself in his seat, relaxing his grip slightly. "If you don't mind me asking, Princess, why would you choose me of all people to go with you? Surely you'd be better served by a pegasus. One imagines they would not have the fear of turning into a crater."

Celestia laughed quietly. "Probably not. If you'd like to know, I chose you because you're a fine soldier, and because of what you said some time ago, during our dinner."

"Oh?"

"You'd mentioned that you felt like you were a curiosity, and that your unique form made you stand out as something be singled out and mocked."

Tercio cringed; he regretted saying such a thing, even if it was the truth.

"I do recall something similar, yes," he replied.

"I thought about it for some time, and I came to the conclusion that your apperance and stature could be used as an asset to Equestria, and not just as a soldier."

His curiosity piqued, he motioned for her to continue.

"You see, Tercio, the town of Swiftwing is very different from Canterlot, or Marestopholous, or even Summervale. It is a place where griffons from the north have made their home, mixing with the local Equestrian population. It is an icon of the very ideals Equestria holds so dear -- equality, tolerance, love, respect. It is one of a hoof-full of such places, and I value it and its citizens greatly. But Swiftwing is scared. They're scared that the Griffon Empire will soon join the war, and, as a mixed population, they fear that they will end up being on the wrong side of the conflict no matter who they ally with."

Celestia finished her cup and gently placed it down beside her before continuing.

"I do not think such a thing is remotely possible, but I have insight that they do not. That is why I've brought you with me. If they see you among us, speak to you, perhaps, then it could go a long way towards easing tensions not just here, but across the area. The griffons have voiced concern that we're only looking after equine troubles. They feel like strangers in their own homes. I thought that you, being not just physically different, but the only one of your kind, could help convince them that we seek to take care of all of our citizens, regardless of race or species. Think of yourself as a representative of all non-pony beings. A diplomat."

Tercio tapped a foot as he considered her words.

"So you want me to, what, tell them my life story?"

"Nothing so sweeping as that, no," Celestia clarified. "Truth be told we'll be improvising, but I'm confident in you. You're a born leader, they'll listen to you."

"Or at least have someone else to stare at in slack-jawed surprise," Tercio added. "Very well, if you think I can be of assistance, I will gladly do whatever it takes. Although I am not exactly a public speaker, much less an impromptu diplomat," he laughed to himself.

"I'm sure you'll do fine. Just be yourself, Tercio."

A chance to help others who felt like outcasts at times -- it was something he couldn't possibly say no to. He only hoped he could be as sure as Celestia seemed to be.

***

Swiftwing was unlike any place Tercio has ever seen; serene, strikingly beautiful -- and dreadfully cold. Despite it being early autumn the ground was already coated in a thin layer of snow, and a chill wind gently rustled the bare branches of the tall trees that dotted the outlying area of the small town. Tercio found himself exceptionally thankful for the winter clothing he'd brought along: snow boots that went up to his knee, treated to be water-proof, thick tunics and outer garments of fur and cotton for his chest and shoulders, woolen pants and hand wrappings, and a standard-issue snow cap, thankfully without the holes for a pony's ears. Fully bundled up, he almost felt warm. Almost. No amount of perimeter patrol seemed to be enough to fight back the biting cold. He envied the pegasi and griffons who made up the majority of the population, both of whom were immune to all but the most severe of temperature swings.

Celestia's meeting with the village leaders went on far longer than expected; morning turned to afternoon, afternoon to evening, evening to night. A few times he'd been called upon to speak with a griffon or pony, and he'd always introduced himself and smiled and made himself sociable, but the day seemed to simply drag on. His attempts to relate to the villagers seemed to fall on deaf ears, and while none of them mocked him directly he could still catch whispers and back-handed remarks whenever he was leaving.

The pegasus praetorians were no friendlier. Even among praetorian ranks the fliers in charge of Celestia's sky carriage were considered to be in their own league, an exceptionally tight-knit group of no more than a dozen pegasi who rarely conversed with outsiders. An entire day's worth of security and patrol had resulted in merely a handful of words exchanged between them. Conversation, it seemed, was not their strong point.

As the sun finally set over the horizon and the sky grew ever darker, Tercio was finally relieved of his duties by a pegasus who simply nodded as they changed post. Cold and hungry, he headed for the large tent that had been erected to shelter him and the others, a steady stream of smoke billowing from the center. A fire pit blazed away as he opened the canvas flap, warming him and filling his lungs with the scent of a hearty vegetable stew cooking in a large pot over the flames. He quickly made a bowl for himself and stepped into the overhang that doubled as a look-out post, finding it empty except for a mat of straw and furs. A small camp fire crackled and sparked as he took a seat, enough to keep away the cold breeze that played through his short hair and prickled his cheeks whenever it gusted. Thankful to be off his feet and with a warm meal in his stomach, Tercio ate in silence, leaning back against a stack of winter coats that went unused by the pegasi. It did not take long for his eyelids to grow heavy, and soon he slipped in and out of consciousness in a peaceful fit of half-asleep haze.

Crunching snow startled him awake, gladius instinctively clutched in his hand. He relaxed when it saw it was merely Celestia returning with a pair of pegasi guards in tow. The princess bowed to her escorts.

"Thank you Jetstream, Monsoon. You may retire for the night."

Her praetorian fliers dipped to their knees in admiration, then trotted past Tercio and disappeared into the tent.

"Apologies for the confusion, Princess, I should not have been so lax. The day has been long, it seems."

"No need to apologize, my friend. If anyone can sympathize with a long day, it is without a doubt myself."

She motioned to a spot next to him.

"Would you mind if I share your camp fire?"

"Of course not," he said quickly, moving himself over to make room for her. A thought went through his head of there not being enough cushioning for her to sit down, and he scrambled to find something for her. "I, uh, seem to be somewhat short on royal amenities..."

"Do not concern yourself, a winter coat is quite enough, I assure you," she answered in amusement. Celestia took the few steps over to his side and sat down on her haunches with a quiet sigh of relief, closing her eyes and letting the fire warm her. "Time has a way of dragging on when one spends the day conversing with those who would prefer not to see reason. It is good to simply be off my hooves."

"So I imagine. I must say, I do not envy the politicking and debating that you go through so constantly. Dealing with it day in and day out would drive me mad."

Celestia smirked. "Sometimes I wonder if I haven't reached that point already. There are those who would argue such a thing happened a long time ago."

"For what it's worth, you seem fairly reasonable to me," Tercio chuckled.

"That's good to know. At least someone still thinks so."

He motioned to the distant buildings.

"So the griffon mayor, Gorin. He did not seem to be my biggest fan. Neither did most of the ponies or griffons around here. Am I mistaken, or did our planned ambassadorial duties not go as well as we'd hoped?"

Celestia shrugged. "Gorin and his ilk are stubborn and proud. They do not show it outwardly, but trust me when I say your efforts were not in vain. I saw it in their actions, heard it in their voices; they wouldn't admit it, of course, but you held no small degree of sway over them. Gorin's wife, in particular, was surprised to hear you verifying my claims."

"I'm glad I could be of assistance, but I think I'll stick with being a soldier for the time being. It's far less stressful."

Above them, the night sky sparkled with a million points of light, as clear and crisp as anywhere Tercio had ever been. Vast ribbons of green and blue danced across the heavens in curtains of glowing aether, reflected in the wide river that ran parallel to Swiftwing's eastern expanse. He was struck by how still and calm the night felt, and as he stared into the wondrous night he marveled at the beauty he'd never imagined.

"I'd heard tale of these...winter lights, I think they're called. My father used to talk about how he would see them every night for months at a time when he was working in the northern lands. He said they were like the most delicate silks of green and blue and orange, stretching across the entire sky." He laughed softly and added, "I never believed him until this moment."

Celestia smiled and motioned to the glittering lights.

"Many years ago, when I was still a filly, my mother used to weave the most beautiful displays in the night sky. That was her talent, her calling in life. Brilliant gossamer sheets of the most vivid colors you could ever imagine. It came to her as easily as paint and canvas comes to others. Even something as wonderful as the very sight before your eyes pales in comparison."

It was hard to imagine such a thing. Having never ventured further north than Canterlot, Tercio was astonished by how striking it was. Did the northerners take such a thing for granted? Was it just another part of the night for them? He couldn't picture it ever becoming routine.

"I know 'winter lights' is a common term for Equestrians," Celestia continued, "but Luna and I always called it something else entirely, if only to honor our mother's memory: the Aurora."

Aurora. A fittingly regal name for something so grand, he thought.

"What were they like?" he asked. "Your mother and father, that is. If you don't mind me asking. I wouldn't want to pry on something so personal. I only ask because I've never heard you, or anyone else, bring them up."

Celestia seemed lost in thought for a few heartbeats. Tercio hoped he hadn't overstepped his bounds.

"I'm not sure where to begin," she laughed quietly. "It is a very long history." She spread her large wings out and stretched before tucking them back in. "Aurora, my mother, was as gentle and kind as any mare I've ever seen, and she was ever so lovely. Ponies often commented on her striking looks; she had a white coat, but it was tinted ever so slightly with just a hint or the lightest orange. Her mane flowed with soft pinks and oranges that faded into each other like the gentlest of sunsets. What I remember most, though, is her eyes -- a deep pink that, when they caught the sunlight just so, shined like polished crystal."

"Like yours?" Tercio asked.

She smiled. "My own eyes pale in comparison, I assure you."

"You do yourself a disservice, Princess. I would say they're quite lovely."

Celestia blushed lightly. "Thank you, that's very kind. You would not believe it to see me now, but when I was a filly I had a mane and tail very similar to hers. I looked quite different."

Tercio smirked. "You had a pink mane? Really?"

"I did! As I said, it was a long time ago."

"Curious, I have not heard of someone's mane changing color as they grow older."

"That is a story for another time. It's...complicated."

She pointed a gold-clad hoof at the gently waving lights overhead.

"Just as Luna now controls -- or rather, controlled -- the night sky, my mother once created the sunrise and sunset. The aurora, the so-called winter lights, were of her creation. She said to me once, when I was very young, that even the fading of the light should feel as comforting and familiar as the warmest of blankets. Together, she and my father created beauty that transcends the ages. The lights are a testament to her skill, even after all these years. So long as Equestria lives, so too will her legacy."

"She sounds like a wonderful mare. I only regret having never seen such a thing until tonight. It's simply stunning."

"I think she would be very happy to hear that, thank you. My father often complimented her on it."

"Was he like you and Luna as well?"

"He was. Luna gets her coat and mane from him, though she lacks the shapes of endless, swirling stars that flowed through his hair. Argo Navis, was his name -- very much a name from the old ways -- though everyone simply referred to him as King Argo. He created the constellations that every school filly learns, and he splashed the heavens with the great band of stars that spills across the night sky like a river of milk and honey."

Celestia leaned back and smiled at an amusing memory.

"In public he was the opposite of my mother, self-assured and sometimes boisterous. He was the latest in a long line of rulers that had founded not just Equestria but nearly the entire world. While he was never cruel or unnecessarily rude, his attitude could be a bit...off-putting, at times. Thankfully my mother was there to ease him into a softer, easier way of thinking. It took a long time, many hundreds of years before we were born and nearly a hundred after that, but eventually he became the symbol of Equestria's ideals that live on to this day.

They were wonderful parents. Luna and I were never left wanting for anything; if we were scared or unsure, they were always there for us. If we were curious or eager to learn, they always had answers. I know now we were privileged to have grown up as the children of the most powerful ponies in the world, but we never thought of it that way. They were never King and Queen to us. Just Mother and Father."

A golden-armored pegasus trotted up and saluted smartly.

"Your Highness, perimeter patrols reveal nothing of interest. We are, as of this moment, quite safe."

Tercio respected the stallion's bearing and professionalism, even if his attitude throughout the day had been less than personable.

"Thank you," Celestia answered, bowing her head. "Please, help yourself to a meal and a warm bed roll. You have served well today, my friend."

"Thank you, Princess." He eyed Tercio with caution. "Shall I arrange for a secondary escort until you retire for the night?"

"That won't be necessary," Tercio answered for her, letting his annoyance at such an implication come through. Celestia jumped in before the praetorians could butt heads any further.

"No, but thank you for the offer."

The pegasus locked eyes with Tercio for a brief time, then saluted once more and disappeared inside the tent. Tercio rubbed his jaw, the rough stubble of two days unshaven hair scratching against his fingers.

"I get the distinct feeling he does not particularly care for me."

"Whirlwind is a good stallion, but he does not trust others easily. While good for his duty, it's not so good for making friends. Give him time."

"As you say." A gust of wind kicked up a light drift of snow, stinging his cheeks. He wished he had something hot to drink. "Thank you for sharing about your mother and father. I know I have no right to ask of such things."

Celestia placed a hoof on his knee.

"Tercio, you needn't worry about upsetting me with something as simple as a question about my family. I may miss my parents and my sister dearly, but they are always with me in my thoughts and in my heart. I could talk about them for days, and indeed, there are so many things I could discuss, but that is for another time." She smiled warmly. "It is not often I talk about such old memories. Sometimes sharing the stories of my mother and father makes it feel like they're still here."

"I understand. To be honest, I asked because I sometimes wonder about my own parents -- my real ones. I wonder if they miss me, or if they're still alive out there, somewhere." He looked at Celestia with a skewed frown. "I don't even know where I come from. I used to ask my adoptive mother when I was younger, but she always said I 'fell from the stars', and that they'd taken me in because they wanted me to have a good life. I'm grateful for them, truly I am, but I wanted to ask...do you know anything more? Do you know who my real parents are?"

Celestia was quiet for what felt like a long time. Tercio prodded further when he did not get an answer.

"Princess? Please, if you know anything..."

"It's been some time," she finally answered, "but I can recall it as if it were yesterday. You're sure you want to know?"

"Of course. Wouldn't you be curious if you were in my position?"

"I suppose I would be. Very well, then." She looked at Tercio with her warm, reassuring pink eyes. "Your mother -- adoptive mother -- found you lying in a field of grass on the western edge of the Summvervale outskirts, late one night. She said she had seen a star fall from the sky, so close she could almost touch it. Something drove her to find out what had fallen so close to her home, and so she discovered you. To hear her tell it, she was terrified at first, as most anyone would have been; you were unlike anything she had ever seen, so different from a foal, or any creature Equestrians know of. She rushed off to bring her husband to see what she had found."

Celestia smiled.

"You were as scared of them as they were of you, and you cried and cried while they decided what they were supposed to do with you. Grace took you into the house, and after a short time they decided that I should know about it. So, a few days later, Luna and myself showed up at their residence after hearing tale of a strange child that had appeared from the heavens."

Tercio thought over what he had been told, imagining Grace and Roughshod scurrying about to find a place for his infant self. He could almost picture the panic on his mother's face, the quiet consideration of his father as he sat in his favorite chair.

"Am I the first human Equestria has seen? Truly?"

"Yes. Luna was the one who thought of it; an ancient word, from before Equestria's founding, that was used to describe exiles from other lands that were taken in by the earth pony tribes. 'Human'. She thought it fitting."

We cannot afford to take the chance.

And what would you have me do? End his life? Cast him out? He is a child, Luna.

He is a child for now. One day he will be an adult, and what then? He is dangerous, sister.

I will not deny him the chance at a good life, nor will I hear objections to such. That is final.

"--when I previously asked. Princess? Are you alright?"

Celestia blinked, jerking suddenly as Tercio's voice brought her back to the present.

"Y-Yes, my apologies. The day must have taken a greater toll than I had imagined. What was your question?"

"I was asking why my mother and father didn't tell me this themselves. They always seemed so hesitant."

"I...I cannot say. If I had to venture a guess, I'd speculate they likely did not want to reveal such a thing until they thought you were ready."

"Ready?" he laughed bitterly. "I have lived in Equestria for thirty-two years. At what point did they think I would be ready?"

"As I said, it's merely speculation." Celestia could feel his mood turning sour. "Do not think ill of them, Tercio. They have always done what is best, and I'd say they've done a fine job. After all, it's not just anyone who serves as a Praetorian."

"I know, and I'm glad they did give me a chance, but..." Tercio ran a hand through his short hair and let out a deep exhale. "What happened after you and Luna showed up?"

"We, too, were unsure of where to keep you. Typically, abandoned children are placed with a family of their own species -- griffons, zebras, deer -- but obviously there was none to match you with. It was your mother who suggested you stay with them." She laughed and said, "you should have seen your father's reaction. They had just had a colt less than a year prior, and the idea of raising not just a foal but a human child nearly gave him an anxiety attack right there on the spot. Fortunately, your mother can be very persuasive."

"Don't I know it." He chuckled at the memory of being guilt-tripped into venturing into town for supplies on a regular basis. "She's always had a way with words. The only thing I know for sure from that time is that she named me Tercio after her grandfather, the third-born of his family. Apparently she held him in very high regard. From there, it was simply a matter of adding her family's surname, and thus I was given a name: Tercio Krosus. I've always thought it a good name."

"Indeed it is." Celestia stretched her wing out and placed it around Tercio's shoulders. "I cannot say who your real parents are, or where you were born, and that is something I cannot take the sting away from; but I can, without a shadow of a doubt, say that they would be proud. Your adoptive mother and father did their best by you."

"Considering I'm sitting here discussing it with you, I think they must have done something right." He looked up at the gentle streamers of light that played overhead. "All my life I've wondered where I come from. I may never know for sure, but maybe that doesn't matter as much as I'd thought. After all, if I'd never fallen to Equestria, I would have never had the pleasure of sitting here beside you on such a beautiful night. If I'm counting my blessings, that is surely one of them." He placed a hand on her shoulder and placed the other over his heart. "Thank you sharing so much with me, Celestia. It is not often I am given such courtesy by those around me." Tercio smirked to himself. "And here I used to think you completely unapproachable. Joining the Praetorians was the best thing that's ever happened to me."

Princess Celestia dipped her head and returned his smile.

"You're very welcome. And thank you. It's nice to simply sit down and talk sometimes, especially with such good company."

***

Late in the night, with the near-by fire crackling pleasantly, Tercio rolled onto his back to find a more comfortable sleeping position. Half-asleep, he cradled his back and mumbled, then drifted off once more. At first, it felt like a dream, something brushing against his shoulders, pressing down on them. Only when it became uncomfortable did he groggily awaken -- and found a pegasus pushing him into the ground with all of its might. He gasped and grabbed for his weapon, but it was nowhere to be found.

"Don't fucking move, human," the pegasus said. In the darkness of the tent Tercio could not make out who it was. Only a silhouette revealed the pony's form, backlit by the fire pit. "Not a sound, do you hear me? Your gladius is in the corner. You may retrieve it once I am done with you."

The pony was strong, far stronger than he looked, and even as Tercio struggled to force himself up the force on his body intensified to the point of pain. He was immobilized.

"What do you want?" he asked in a furious whisper. "You had better have a damn good reason for me to not run you through!"

"Shut up. You are not to speak or I will crush your wind pipe like a straw of hay." For emphasis the pegasus forced his hoof against Tercio's throat, nearly gagging him. "I know what you are. I know what you're capable of. Word gets around; Polaris, in the training ring. Beaten to a pulp. The assassin, down in the crystal depths. We were told you killed him with your blade. But no blade inflicts the wounds that stallion had on his body. Word has it you're some kind of monster, a murderous creature with a hair trigger and no control over it."

"How dare you even--"

"I said, do not speak." The pegasus continued while Tercio gasped for breath. "I don't know how you managed to squirm your way into the ranks of the Praetorian Guard, but know this: I am watching you, and if I think you pose a threat to the Princess in any way I will not hesitate to watch you drown in your own blood."

Tercio struggled in anger, determined to gain the upper hand, before a swift kick to the side of his head turned everything as black as night.

18 - From a Single Spark

Imperator Stonewall approached the towering double doors that marked the entrance to Princess Celestia's throne room. He marveled at their construction; intricate decorations of oak and cherry wood that concealed metal reinforcement bars, the result of the Nightmare Moon cult's brutal attack on Canterlot and the palace itself several months prior. No battering ram would break down the doors this time.

"Krosus," he said by way of acknowledgement. His artificial foreleg clacked on the tile with every step.

"Stonewall, sir. Good to see you, as always." For the last several hours Tercio had taken the languorous job of guarding the throne room doors. Security had lightened as of late, with the standard two guards typically reduced to one. With the Whitetail losing in the west, and the Nightmare Moon cults being rooted out regularly, Canterlot had mostly returned to its pre-attack feeling of comfort and familiarity.

"I thought I told you to knock off that 'sir' shit, Krosus."

"And I thought you were supposed to address me by my first name now, sir."

They shared a good-natured laugh and Tercio relaxed his posture, leaning his spear and shield against the wall.

"Is there something I can do for you while I'm standing here doing nothing in particular?"

"As a matter of fact, you can." Stonewall stuck out his wooden leg. "If you could polish this for a couple of hours it would look much better, I think."

"As much as I appreciate the generous offer, Imperator, I'm going to have to pass."

"Suit yourself, human. But in all seriousness, do you know of the Princess' whereabouts? I believe her schedule is free for the next hour or so, and our dual-wielding instructor is about to arrive."

It was the first Tercio had heard about Celestia's continued combat training since it had been mentioned during their sparring session. He was pleased to learn she intended to do as she'd promised.

"Really? He has taken his time getting here. Who might he be?"

"I think you'd probably like to see for yourself."

Stonewall turned and let out a sharp whistle that echoed through the great hall. A few seconds later the doors leading to the courtyard opened with a groan and a familiar figure stepped through. He was a unicorn of average size, with a coat of light grey and a purple mane hidden beneath his same-colored, crested helm. His polished armor shone with gold detailing, and a purple cloak emblazoned with intertwined olive branches flowed over his back as he trotted.

"I believe you're familiar with Praetorian Polaris."

Polaris. Tercio had heard word of the newly-anointed praetorian's survival, but several months had passed since the last time he'd set eyes upon him. Before the attack on Canterlot, before his induction into Celestia's personal cadre. Tercio stared in disbelief for what felt like a long time. Polaris approached and bowed his head.

"Tercio. It has been some time, hasn't it?"

Stonewall pushed his way through the doors to the throne room.

"I'll leave you two to catch up. Krosus, your replacement will be here shortly. Do try to avoid falling on your spear until then."

The heavy doors slammed shut, leaving Tercio and Polaris alone.

"What, no warm greeting for an old sparring partner? Or did the assassin take your tongue?"

Polaris was as sharp as ever, though physically he was different. He still maintained an inherent handsomeness, but his face was now pockmarked and rough. Patches of skin showed through where his coat had not grown back, or could not grow back, and one side of his face appeared to bulge slightly over his cheek bone. Tercio was overtaken by harsh realization.

I did this to him.

He searched for the words, but could not find them. Instead, he settled for a simple "welcome back."

"It's good to be back, believe me. Convalescing in a hospital bed has taken up far too much of my time as of late. If I never smell another medicae concoction it will be too soon."

Tercio managed a small laugh, but his heart was not in it.

"Right. Too much time."

Polaris cocked his head, then removed his helm and set it beside him.

"It's alright. You can say what's on your mind. I'm relatively sure I know what it is: you're concerned about my appearance, aren't you?"

"Well, I--"

"I know what I look like. You won't offend me."

Tercio let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"I'm sorry," he finally said. "Gods above, Polaris, I'm so sorry. First there was the sparring ring, and then the night I came to see you in the medicae building, and all of this ridiculous matter of some sort of...trigger word! Like I'm a trained beast jumping at the will of some cruel master! You deserved to be fighting alongside the princess, not laid up in a bed because I could not control myself."

Tercio removed his own helmet, its weight suddenly feeling like a stone.

"And now you're disfigured because of me. I alone am responsible." He laughed bitterly to himself. "You would not be wrong to despise me. I would accept such a thing without objection."

Polaris leaned against the wall beside him.

"When I was under medicae care," he began, "I wasn't sure what to think. I was hurt, both physically and mentally. I was angry; angry at you, for lashing out at me. Angry at myself, for allowing such a thing to best me. I spent my days and nights in pain, bleeding and bruised under a mountain of bandages and healing poultices, trapped within my own body but unable to move or speak. It tainted my thoughts, and when you showed up that night, when I finally regained control of myself, all of it came flooding back to me. I wanted to hate you. That was why I couldn't speak with you at length. I forced myself to remain civil, but there was no weight behind my words."

He sighed.

"And then the attack came. I was barely strong enough to stand, but once the sound of battle echoed through the palace grounds I knew I could not simply lie in my cot and wait to die. By the time I managed to obtain a weapon the palace had been over run. I fear I would have not lived to see the morn if it wasn't for the three apothecaries who showed me another way out of the building, a passage built into the very walls that took us around and behind the cultists to an old spire."

Polaris lifted a hoof and pointed to a distant tower, visible through the large windows that let in colored sunlight through their stained glass facades.

"It was there we met up with a few others from the Royal Guard, and together we held out against the brutes for nearly an hour. At some point we received terrible news -- the throne room had fallen, and Princess Celestia was nowhere to be found. We feared the worst. I feared the worst. I was overcome with grief and anger, and it drove me to fight despite my wounds."

"How many of you were there?" Tercio asked.

"No more than a dozen. We held the doorway against numbers three times our own. Th apothecaries and surgeons could do little more than offer encouragement and treat our wounded with what little supplies they had on hoof. It was...not a time I remember fondly."

"I can relate. Our small band held the throne room after the cultists battered down these very doors. There were so many of them. That's what I remember the most: the endless pouring of bodies, so many that they were climbing over the dead to get to us. Poor Venerin, he was the first to fall."

"I heard. He was a good stallion," Polaris added.

"Indeed so. How long did you hold out, the dozen of you?"

"I cannot say with certainty. It felt like a very long time, though it could have been only a few moments. At some point, I don't know exactly when, the weakness of my body and the strain of my continued fighting seemed to simply...disappear, I suppose you could say. I cared not for my own safety. I only wanted to kill as many of those damned brutes as I could manage. I wanted to see them bleed. And at that moment, even in the middle of the carnage, a thought entered the back of my mind: at long last, I understood you, or a small portion of you. Not where your trigger word came from or why you knew it, of course, but I understood why you fought so tenaciously, why you'd attacked me so. That pure, unbridled rage...it gave you strength. It was intoxicating. In that moment I felt I could take on the entirety of the cult by myself."

Tercio flashed back to the times he'd been under the control of that damnable word, a prisoner in his own body; brief glimpses and snippets of time stained red. Had he actually enjoyed it? Some perverse part of him, the part that screamed for blood until it was all he could hear, had enjoyed it immensely. The feeling of his fists against Polaris' face, the impact of flesh and bone. The spray of arterial blood as he ripped Lacertus' throat out with his bare hands had been nearly orgasmic, in a twisted sort of way. The thinking part of him, the personality that was trapped behind the other force within him, had felt sick at every second of the fight. Even now, his stomach turned at the thought of it.

"Polaris...I'm not sure I would put it that way. This force inside of me, it goes counter to everything we've learned. We're soldiers, not barbarians. We fight as one, with honed skills and precise movements. When I am under the influence of that word, I can't think of anything but dispatching my enemy as quickly as possible. Self-preservation doesn't even factor into my actions; there is only the blood lust. I would not call such a thing 'intoxicating'. In fact, I am ashamed that it even happens at all."

Polaris scratched at his mane. "Perhaps I chose the wrong words, and for that I apologize. I did not mean to offend, I merely sought to sympathize with your, uh, condition. Allow me to try again." He cleared his throat loudly. "I forgive you, Tercio."

"You do? Truly?"

"Yes. I did not understand what drove you to attack me. I did not understand why you reacted the way you did when I brought up that word. But now I know. Word travels quickly among our ranks. I heard of how you saved the lives of Stonewall, Thunderburst, Rimeberry and even Princess Celestia. Somehow, you controlled that anger within you. I now realize that you are a good soldier, caught up in something beyond what you could have ever imagined, and for that I forgive you, before the gods themselves."

A huge weight felt as if it was lifted from Tercio's chest. Months of worry and self-doubt, many a sleepless night, vanished in an instant.

"Thank you, Polaris." Tercio put his fist over his heart and bowed deeply, a sign of great respect. "You are a better man than I. I would be remiss if I did not apologize in turn for putting you through such a miserable experience, all of that pain and anguish. If only I knew then what I know now."

"Said many a stallion before you, as will many to come. Do not dwell on the past, Praetorian." A trio of hard raps on the doors signaled that an impatient Stonewall was waiting for them. "Right then, we should not keep old Stonewall waiting, lest we end up cleaning the latrines out. Again."

Tercio and Polaris put their helms back on and secured them, saluting as a replacement stallion came to relieve Tercio of his post. Together they pushed through to the throne room.

"Polaris, if you don't mind me asking, where have you been for the last three months? We've seen neither hide nor hair of you."

"That, my tall friend," he said confidently, "is something I'll have to tell you about another day."

***

Days later, Tercio stood before two of his fellow Praetorians, their spears crossed to block his entrance. Praetorians from a different barracks, with names he couldn't remember. They looked vaguely familiar, a pair of dark-coated earth ponies, but he could not place them. He doubted they had the same issue with him.

"Centurion Tercio Krosus, here to see Princess Celestia. I was told she's expecting me."

"Centurion," the larger of the two said with a tip of his head. "Go on in. I'm sure you know the deal by now -- no weapons with the Princess."

"Of course." He lifted the sides of his tunic to show he was not carrying a gladius, then pushed forward. The spears remained crossed.

"Everything. That includes the dagger."

He grumbled and unfastened the holster from around his thigh, letting the dagger and its sheathe tumble to the floor.

"You know we're supposed to be armed at all times, don't you?"

"You know we're not allowed to have weapons around the princess per Imperator Stonewall, don't you?" the earth pony countered. "Don't be difficult about it. We're a few paces away if there's trouble." They pulled their spears back and pushed the door part way open. Tercio didn't particularly like the new rule -- being without a weapon left him feeling naked -- but he was in no position to argue.

The mid-day sun was almost alarmingly bright as he stepped out onto the balcony. The view was, of course, amazing; the overhanging platform looked down upon Canterlot's business quarter, where throngs of ponies and other species went about their rounds and made deals by the hundreds. Directly ahead, where the great city connected to the mountain, a series of aqueducts carried fresh, clean water from a deep reservoir hidden under the mountain itself. As his eyes adjusted to the light he could see that the day was still clear and blue, with hardly a cloud in the sky. Cool, moist air blew in from the north, carrying the clean smell of the previous night's rains with it.

"Hello, Princess," Tercio said politely, giving the customary salute. The nigh-immortal ruler of Equestria bowed in return, then motioned for the door guards to give them privacy. A loud ka-chunk faded away until only the breeze made any sound.

"Hello, Tercio. It's good to see you, as always."

"Likewise. I hope you'll forgive the informal attire, today is one of the rare days I don't have the Imperator screaming in my ear."

"No need to worry, I know that armor can get uncomfortable after a while." She lifted a hoof to a stack of cushions. "Please, sit down. Would you care for some bramble berry tea? It's quite pleasant on a chilly day like today."

"That sounds good, thank you."

Celestia poured a steaming cup for both of them, floating Tercio's over to him. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything important."

"Not quite," he said, grasping his drink from the air. "I was just reading a a copy of a play one of the others had recommended. So far it's not bad."

"I didn't know you were a patron of the fine arts."

"I'm not," he chuckled, "it's not exactly The Seven Cities of Elsewhere. It's a bit more...lurid."

"Oh, I see. I'll refrain from asking you the details then."

"That's probably for the best." Careful sips of the hot liquid warmed his mouth and trickled down into his stomach. A hint of fruit, but not overwhelming. It reminded him of his mother's favorite drink, albeit without the mouth-puckering tartness she seemed to enjoy so much. "So...if I may ask, what was the reason you summoned me?"

Celestia looked up from the rim of her cup, her expression serious.

"Does the Princess of Equestria need a reason to ask for one of her soldiers?"

"I, uh -- of course not. My apologies, I didn't mean to imply--"

He was interrupted by her refined laughter.

"I'm only kidding, Tercio. Come now, you know me better than that!" He felt his face flush red, eliciting another fit of laughter from the princess. "Busy as I may be, I am not without a sense of humor. Sometimes it's the only thing keeping me sane, I swear."

"Right. As you say." Tercio cleared his throat. "Quite a lovely day, isn't it?"

"It is. The weather works in our favor. More tea?"

"Please."

They drank in silence for a short time, enjoying the cool winds and fresh air. Celestia finished half of her cup and set it to the side, adjusting her position on the large pillows.

"Tercio...there is something I need to ask you, and I want you to answer truthfully. Do you swear it?"

His mind raced with what she could possibly be wondering. "I do..."

Celestia looked around to make sure they were alone, then locked her sight upon him once more.

"A few days ago, when we were in Swiftwing, were you confronted by one of my pegasus guards?"

The memory came back to him at once, the damnable Praetorian forcing him down with more strength than he'd thought possible, spewing distrust and barely-contained anger at his recent placement in the Praetorian ranks.

"I...well, I'm not sure I was confronted so much as we had a conversation. We have some...some disagreements. But it's nothing to worry about."

"Were you threatened?"

"I don't think--"

"Were you?"

Of course he'd been threatened. He'd even been rendered unconscious afterward. But Tercio considered it to be an internal matter, a disagreement between soldiers. The Princess, he'd reasoned, had enough to worry about without him bringing up inner-service rivalry. It wasn't exactly the first time he'd been verbally or physically threatened in his years in the Equestrian military, and it had always worked itself out in time. But now, looking into her unfaltering pink gaze, he found himself unable to withhold such a thing.

"...Yes. Although I cannot be entirely sure, I believe it was Praetorian Whirlwind who did so. I did not want to make this your issue," he quickly clarified.

"Tercio, you are one of my most valued guards, but so is Whirlwind. You are part of a close-knit and exclusive group, so if there is ever discord among the ranks I consider it my duty to see it through. I have been doing this for long enough to know when heads are butting, and I've become very good at acting upon my suspicions. What did he say, exactly?"

"He said I was dangerous, a threat to your safety. Somehow word has gotten out about my...situation. He knows what happened in the crystal cave, and he knows about Polaris. He knows what really happened. I doubt he's the only one."

Celestia frowned. "I was hoping such a thing would stay private. Everyone there was sworn to secrecy. I assumed they understood."

"I can't say who spoke of it first, but it's no use hiding it anymore. Because of it, Whirlwind thinks I'm a monster who has lied his way through the ranks. He said if he ever believes me an imminent threat, he will not hesitate to do what has to be done."

Tercio had never seen Celestia angry, and even now she maintained her impeccably practiced demeanor, but it was there, on the very tip of her voice, in the subtle movements of her body. She was not exactly angry, but she was clearly disappointed. He imagined that must have hurt far worse.

"This cannot be allowed to continue. I will speak with Centurion Whirlwind as soon as his shift has ended and put a stop to this. It is not okay, under any circumstances, to threaten a fellow soldier. Especially in a time of war. I will not have it."

He wondered if Whirlwind would lose his rank and be kicked from his posting. Strangely enough, some small part of him felt no ill will toward the pegasus. By all accounts Whirlwind was a good soldier, and in his position Tercio imagined he might even have reacted the same way. It still didn't excuse his actions, and he would likely remain untrusting of Whirlwind for some time to come, but ultimately the decision came down to Celestia herself. It was not his place to ask, nor would he have expected an answer.

"I understand. Such behavior is unacceptable."

"I always hate having to discipline one of my own guards, but it's not unheard of, I'm afraid. Sometimes personalities clash, or species rivalry and mistrust rears its ugly head. You should have seen the Equestrian military before the formal unification of the three nations. Some of it still lingers."

"So I've heard." A gust of wind ruffled his clothing and turned his skin to goose-flesh. It would be a cold night once the sun was down. Celestia finished what was left of her cup and gave a short sigh.

"War, infighting, cultists who worship the grossly perverted form of my sister, foreign affairs meetings nearly every day with this ruler or that, not to mention the daily business of running Equestria -- it can all be so tiresome at times." She managed a smile despite her worries. "Let's not talk about those things for now. I would much rather talk about something else."

"Such as?"

"Well, the festival of the Three Pillars is no more than a week away. Are you familiar with it?"

"Of course, as is anyone who remembers basic history." He began to recite from memory, years of celebrations and education making the old words as familiar as if they were spoken the day before. "Tolerance, the open mind. Devotion, the open heart. Generosity, the open soul. With these pillars we build a strong foundation. United, they are unbreakable."

"I see someone paid attention in school," Celestia giggled.

"I tried to, whenever I wasn't distracted by pretty mares or meat-headed stallions. You'd be surprised how many former bullies decide to leave you alone when you come back from the Month of Harvest nearly twice their size."

"I imagine. You seem to be familiar with the festival, so allow me to ask: what are you thankful for in life?"

"Well...if I had to pick three things, I suppose it would be my family, my current position in the military, and my continued survival in the face of such dangers. Is that too simple of an answer?"

"I don't think there is such a thing," she replied with a warm smile. "Those are all good things to be thankful for."

"If I may break tradition and add one more thing, I am thankful, in all honesty, that I've had the chance to meet you. Back when I served in the Equestrian Guard I thought of you as, I don't know...aloof, perhaps? No offense intended. You always seemed like someone who was so wise, and obviously powerful if you could move the sun itself. My own experiences must pale in comparison to some of the things you've seen. And yet, when I accepted my position in the Praetorian ranks and sat down with you that first time, I began to see 'the Mighty Princess Celestia', as the others used to call you, as surprisingly humble and relateable."

"The Mighty Princess Celestia," she repeated, laughing in disbelief. "Goodness, I feel as if I should be be standing on the parade grounds flexing my muscles and making grunting noises!"

"To hear some of them talk, you weren't far removed from such a thing."

"Four hundred years, and I can honestly say that's the first time I've heard that word used to describe me."

"First time for everything, I suppose. What about you, Celestia? What are you thankful for?"

Celestia wasn't sure how to answer. What was there to be thankful for in such a time of strife?

"I...suppose I am thankful, of course, for still drawing breath, despite the best efforts of Lacertus and the others. I am thankful for life returning to some sort of normality after so many of our citizens lost their lives in the attack. I am most certainly thankful I do not have to convene with Empress Elinwyyn on a daily basis." She touched a hoof to her jeweled breast collar. "And I am thankful to have you at the palace with me. Not only did you save my life from the assassin--"

"Just doing my job, Princess," Tercio stated.

"Of course. Not only that, but having someone to talk to is a welcome change of pace."

"Surely you must have others you converse with. You are, after all, the Princess of Equestria."

"There are others, yes," she answered, "but with them it is different. With my long life and power over heavenly bodies I'm often seen as a fascination, perhaps a sort of Goddess. To this day I find ponies who worship me as some sort of living deity. While flattering, it always makes me feel just a little uncomfortable. Even those I call my friends do not conversate with me like a normal pony. Their speech is lofty and often their demeanor turns out to be a way to gain my favor, as if I am some sort of...of...tradesmare looking to give out positions of power."

Tercio considered what he'd heard; growing up immersed in Equestrian culture, he had been convinced Celestia was, in fact, some sort of higher power. It had taken a long time to dispel that myth. No doubt others would still believe it.

"I can see why they would think so highly of you. After all, your sun brings warmth and life. It's more than any of us could hope to accomplish."

"But that's just it -- they look at me and see power, in one form or another. I have tried my entire life to assure my subjects that I am as caring as any of them; that I, too, do not live in a crystal spire away from the realities of day-to-day life. It's just that I have to do so without appearing weak. It is not an easy balance to find. Hundreds of years of practice and still I worry." She smiled at Tercio. "That is why I am thankful to have you here. In the time I've had to speak with you, you have always been respectful, but it's more than that. That day when we shared a meal at sunset, I saw you open up and really be yourself. Not just a Praetorian, or a soldier, but a person. You were frank and sincere."

"I was simply trying sound at least somewhat interesting. No small feat, to hear my brother speak."

"I'm sure he's only kidding. Let me ask you something: do you feel comfortable around me, Tercio?"

"I...yes, I suppose I do," he answered. He rubbed the back of his neck with his palm. "I don't know what it is, exactly. I tend to keep to myself most of the time. Being so different from everyone else had made me somewhat of an introvert, I think. It's not often I get to share a story or listen to one myself."

Celestia watched the sun for a moment as it continued its slow arc across the sky, shielding her eyes with an outstretched wing. Still plenty of time in the day. Soon there would be meetings with her top generals and advisers, then a late lunch with her kitchen staff, followed by the veritable pile of scrolls that awaited her every evening from citizens across Equestria and beyond. All the more reason to enjoy the moment.

"Maybe we're not so different, you and I," she said thoughtfully. "It's rare I meet someone who can share the feeling of being a stranger in their own land. Perhaps it's why I enjoy our conversations so much."

"I enjoy them as well. Believe me, given the choice of getting yelled at by Stonewall or talking with you, I'm much more fond of the latter. Not to insult the good Imperator's looks, but he's rather harsh on the eyes, comparatively. Harsh on the back, too, should he happen to have us hauling supplies for the day."

Celestia gave a wry smile. "So you're saying I'm easy on the eyes?"

"Well, I...that is...I'm going to remain silent lest I put my foot in my mouth further than I already have."

"No need to be embarrassed, I'm flattered. That's very nice of you to say." She laughed softly and floated both of the small cups back to her side, then filled them up once more, tipping the tea pot to get every drop out. "You would be surprised how few ponies have the courage to pass on even a small compliment. It would seem I'm more intimidating than I'm led to believe."

"Intimidating? Perhaps a little. After all, it's not every mare than can incinerate you with a thought, should you happen to speak out of turn."

The idea of being so petty and power-mad was so absurd it elicited a hearty laugh from Celestia. For all its ridiculous implications, there were likely some ponies who actually believed she could do so.

"Tercio, Tercio," she chuckled, "you have it all wrong. I only incinerate those who don't compliment me. All shall love me and despair."

Tercio grabbed his cup from the air. "Remind me to stay on your good side, then."

For a brief moment their eyes locked, and Tercio found himself entranced by her smile and her laughter. Somewhere, deep within himself, the smallest of notions -- really, an absurd idea -- made itself known. He was enjoying himself, not as a guest of the Princess, but as if he were speaking with someone who was genuinely pleased to have him as company.

"To not being incinerated," he said after only a few heartbeats. Another soft, comforting second of amused laughter as she clinked her delicate cup against his.

"Never have I heard a finer toast."

19 - Mistaken Affection

In her dreams she saw them, tall figures silhouetted against a flaming sky. They gazed upon her, through her, with empty eyes that spoke of no empathy or emotion. At once they moved towards her, each step crushing the ground beneath them and uncovering vast swaths of mutilated bodies that shook and trembled like living things. Frantically she turned to run, but her legs moved agonizingly slowly. Pleading hooves grasped at her from the ground, held her back, while a thousand agonized voices cried out to her in desperation

Time. It is only a matter...of time. As it has happened once, so shall it happen again.

A feminine voice, distorted and booming, filled her mind until it was all she could hear. She clapped her hooves over her ears and yelled for it to stop. The voice mixed with the screams of the dead and swirled around her in a maddening fury.

Death. You bring only death upon this land. Endless. Senseless.

She screamed uselessly into the storm of voices as they became a howling gale. Still the shadows approached, reaching out for her with strong arms and grasping hands of black ichor. The booming voice shook her with every word it spoke, drawing her deeper into an endless chasm. A face appeared before her, with predatory eyes and a razor maw. A blackened crown, as dark as the night, rested on its incorporeal head, and its jaw distended sickeningly as it yelled in terrible un-words that wrenched her insides.

***

Princess Celestia awoke with a startled jolt, finding her pillow damp with sweat and her heart racing. For a long, confused moment she wondered if the thing in her dream had followed her, but quickly she regained her senses and calmed herself with deep breaths. Still shaking lightly, she sat up and pushed the blanket from her body as she rubbed a hoof against her temple. It was the second time in as many weeks she had had the nightmare. Still the same, still just as vivid.

Moonlight flooded in through the large windows of her private quarters, bathing the room in a soft glow. Celestia pushed herself out of bed and landed on the tile with a clack of her bare hooves. Stumbling and half-asleep, she pushed open the door to the hallway just enough to see out of it. Torch light, far too bright. A Praetorian guard eyed her cautiously through the crack in the door, clearly confused to see his Princess up at such an hour.

"Princess Celestia? Can I...help you?"

"Hibiscus tea. Honey. Twist of lemon." She turned to leave the guard to his duty, then thought better of it. There was no reason to be rude. "...please."

The guard hesitated, unsure of his strange orders.

"Uh, yes, Your Highness. I shall get it for you promptly."

Celestia grunted an acknowledgement and closed the door fully, then threw her balcony doors open with a burst of magic. Cold, crisp night air flooded in, rustling her satin curtains and brushing against her skin. A deep, wonderful lungful cleared her mind.

In the distance, the slivered crescent moon arced high above the mountains. It was very late indeed. Still plenty of time, she pleasantly thought, to fall asleep once more -- but not before having a drink to calm her mind and body.

Of course, she could hardly look at the moon these days without thinking of Luna. Her sister's very essence had been absorbed into it, altering its appearance to serve as a constant reminder of the life she would likely never see again.

My sister, lost to darkness, for the whole world to see.

The visions had been getting stronger, more frequent, as Celestia now suddenly found herself with an abundance of time to think. Life had returned to normal, or a close approximation of it, for the citizens of Canterlot. Part of her considered it a curse; she knew it was never actually Luna, or Nightmare Moon, standing beside her, or tormenting her with cruel words. At times she wanted to shout back at the visions and the voices, but such a thing would surely bring her sanity into question. She could fight them during the day, but by night her dreams were completely beyond her control. In her long life she had never imagined herself being afraid of something as innocent as sleep, and yet she now found herself in exactly that position with every lowering of the sun and raising of the moon.

A quiet knock on her door.

"Princess? I have your tea."

Celestia knew she looked a mess. She was too tired to care.

"Thank you," she said gingerly as she poked the hallway door open enough to grab the tea cup and small plate with her magic. They wobbled and shook, nearly spilling the hot liquid on the floor.

"Are you alright, Princess? Do you require any assistance?"

"I'm fine, thank you," she replied with a faint smile. "Merely a bad dream."

"Very well. Have a good night."

She sighed in relief as she sat on the balcony cushions and sipped her tea -- It was just a little too sweet, but perfectly fine for its purpose. As she enjoyed her drink, flashes of the dream appeared once more. Fears and memories in equal parts, the inescapable past and the possible future. All those years ago, it would have been so much easier to take Luna's advice. Easier, and morally reprehensible. No, so long as there was a chance, she would not fall prey to such ideas. Everyone, she thought, deserves a second chance. Pony, griffon, deer...or human.

***

"Tercio! The hell are you doing?" Rimeberry tapped the other's shoulder with the end of his spear. "You feelin' alright?"

"What? Oh, right. My apologies, Rime, I'm just a bit distracted today. Hard to focus. You understand."

Tercio swore under his breath; for the third time today someone had caught him not paying attention. It wasn't that he didn't care about combat drills, it was that something else was occupying his mind.

"If you say so. Stonewall will have your ass if he finds out you're not devoting yourself to your task."

"I know, I know. Let's just start again, shall we?"

"As you say." Tower shield in front of him, Rimeberry struck the side of his weapon against it. "Your move."

Tercio quickly considered his opponent; Rimeberry was immensely strong, but he favored his left side after the wound he'd sustained in his fight against the assassin Lacertus. Thus far he'd been more of a defensive fighter, attempting to use his raw strength and stubborn combat stance to counter Tercio's faster, lighter movements.

With a shout Tercio lunged with his gladius, then quickly bashed Rimeberry's shield out of the way with his own. The stallion reacted by swinging his foreleg-strapped buckler around hard enough to knock Tercio off balance, then thrust out with his combat spear. When it narrowly missed, he switched his grip to allow for sideways strikes, alternating with powerful shield charges. The impacts caused sparks and small chips of wood to fly from their competing equipment.

Tercio felt in control despite the onslaught of attacks. He'd seen the same thing from others in the Praetorian ranks, those who believed they could easily counter Tercio's larger stature by tripping him up or keeping him close. He wondered if Celestia was watching, and whether she considered him to be a competent soldier. Surely she would after his display in the crystal cavern, unless she thought all of his combat prowess was a result of his trigger word and resulting state of mind. Perhaps a quick glance would--

The world was suddenly far blurrier than he had remembered it being. Harder, too. It took longer than he would have preferred to realize that he was, in fact, on the ground. Not only was he on the ground, but his helm was now sporting a decidedly large dent in its side. Once again he stood up, dusted himself off, and squared off for combat, feeling decidedly embarrassed by his performance.

***

Princess Celestia peered over the edge of her viewing platform, an elevated balcony that gave a full view of the training yard and medicae facilities. Her flowing mane and tail moved gently with the breeze that drifted in from the near-by mountains, covering one eye with pink, green and blue strands of her multi-colored hair. Watching the Praetorians spar with one another was never a particularly interesting affair, but her presence helped reinforce the notion that she was there for those who served her. Occasionally she would tip her head and offer a polite smile to the stallions who glanced her way, and that would be the extent of her excitement for the duration of her appearance. Four hundred years of stallions beating at each other with blunted weapons and shields tended to grow dull in its same-ness.

Such a time, however, was popular with her friends. Or rather, those she considered to be closest to the traditional use of the word. Currently, a trio of mares in their finest, most expensive outfits graced her usually quiet balcony with their continuous chatter, a small group that was less likely to use her good graces for financial, societal, or political gain.

Hopefully.

There was Violet Breeze, from the most affluent district of Canterlot, who had been a frequent guest of the palace since before Luna's banishment. Genuine and heart-felt, Celestia considered her to be the mare most grounded in reality. With her husband off commanding the 41st Equestrian Guard, Violet had come to rely on her visits with Celestia to maintain some semblance of normality in an upper-class society where military service was considered to be beneath the well-to-do. She sat to the right of the Princess of the Sun, levitating a small cluster of grapes and talking with her long-time friend and associate, Picenia.

Older and more open with her words than the others, Picenia had made a name for herself as the premier baker in Equestria's second largest city, Marestopholous, before moving to Canterlot to expand her business. Over three decades she'd become the most prominent producer of bread and baked good of all kinds in Equestria. Her shops fed a sizeable portion of the military, and for that she was treated with respect and courtesy by Celestia and the entirety of the royal court.

She did, however, hold herself in high regard -- especially as an earth pony -- sometimes to her own detriment. Picenia spoke in lofty tones and loved nothing more than to talk about how this baker or that had practically begged her for help, to which she, in her "infinite grace", had, of course, obliged...provided they sold their shop to her in return. Shrewd and sometimes ruthless in her business dealings, Celestia had never-the-less shown her favor as a sign of good faith. Armies marched on their stomachs, after all, a fact the Princess was all too aware of.

Finally, there was the newest member of Celestia's small circle of friends, a young mare barely out of her teens by the name of Sapphire Quill. An earth pony like Picenia, Sapphire was not a mare of industry or the wife of a prominent military figure. Instead, she had made her living as the foremost playwright of the last three generations, being viewed as somewhat of a prodigy after creating the famous performance piece A Shadow at Dawn when she was fresh out of talent school.

Sapphire was a breath of fresh air, more enthusiastic than the others, at least in Celestia's eyes. More concerned with handsome stallions than politics, she enjoyed their time at the balcony as much for the sights as for the conversations. She had an impatient streak, very much a 'here and now' sort of mare. She gazed with interest at the Praetorians fighting below, giggling and making comments to Violet.

"Is it true what they say?" she asked. "Do the Praetorians really have more...endurance?"

"I couldn't tell you, dearie, but I hear their sweat is an aphrodisiac. I saw a mare selling small vials of it in the market just the other day."

"How in the world would they get something like that?"

Violet laughed. "I wasn't about to ask."

"This is not exactly proper conversation for royal discussion," Picenia interjected.

"Don't fret, I'm sure Tia's fine with it. Right?"

Celestia hid an annoyed grunt at the nickname. It was something personal and familiar, a memory of a time when Luna would call her by the shortened name during their imagined adventures that took them through the old castle. She might have objected to Sapphire using it, but she found it difficult to blame the mare's youth and eagerness to hang around the palace. At the end of the day, it was harmless.

"I don't normally discuss such things," Celestia answered with a practiced smile, "but I will not stop you from doing so. Try to keep things somewhat...appropriate...at least."

"Right, right, no details. I understand."

Sapphire pointed a hoof to one soldier in particular, bigger than the others in stature.

"Who was that one again? The...homen?"

"Human," Celestia corrected her. "That would be Ceturion Tercio Krosus. He's somewhat unique, as you can tell."

"He's so...tall! Where does he come from, anyway? Are there more of him?"

"It's a long story, but as far as I know: no, he is the only one of his kind. Why do you ask?"

"Becauuuse," Sapphire answered in a sing-song voice, "I think he likes me."

Violet scoffed. "You think everypony likes you, Sapphire. Not all of them are suitors vying for your hoof."

"No, really! He keeps looking up here, right at me! See for yourself!"

Interested, and more than a little skeptical, Celestia looked down at the gathered Praetorians. Their attacks and dodges kicked up small plumes of dust with every movement, partially obscuring the great sparring rings, but she could just barely make out the human chancing quick glances in her direction. It was unlike him to not be completely focused on his combat partner. Occasionally his momentary lapse of concentration would result in a sword strike or a shield bash that would knock him off balance

"See? He's clearly interested." Another quick glance was paid for in kind by a powerful shield blow to the side of his helm, sending him sprawling across the rough ground. "Ouch."

Picenia waved a dismissive hoof.

"If that's the quality of stallion you're looking for, my dear Sapphire, perhaps you should look elsewhere. Within your own species would be a fine place to start, unless you're aiming particularly low again."

The three mares started to bicker once more, an occurrence that was common in their visits. Sometimes Celestia wondered why she bothered inviting them.

***

As he left the training ring to take a long drink from his water skin, Tercio chanced a longer look at the royal balcony. At least this time he wouldn't have to worry about being knocked senseless. Celestia and the three brightly-colored mares were still there, just distant enough to hide any real detail. He could have sworn he saw her smiling...

"You done for the day or what?" Rimeberry's voice interrupted him in mid-drink, calling from the sparring circle.

"No, no, I'm just a bit parched. I'll be right there."

He knew it was absurd, likely even impossible, but for the past several days the tiniest notion had entered his mind, nested, and grown, as an ember would grow into a wildfire. Such a thing, were he to express it aloud, would surely result in mocking laughter and disbelief from his colleagues, nevermind the Princess herself.

Gods help me, she fills my waking thoughts.

And yet, the more he fretted about it, the more he found it difficult to avert his eyes. He was aware that he'd been catching her sight, and that of her guests, but surely she couldn't ever share such an idea. What was he, but a soldier? And not only a soldier, but one who could lose control of himself with a single word. Nevermind the fact that he was not even equine at all. He was as foreign as one could be in Equestria.

But she? She was a nigh-immortal being of immense power and boundless responsibility. She was flawless in her beauty and unparalleled in her grace. He'd seen first-hand the controlled madness that was her everyday life, a flurry of politicos and agendas and concerns brought forth by her subjects. Finding time for herself was a rare occurrence. She hadn't even taken interest in a suitor since before the time of his great-grandfather Harvest Wind. Why, before the gods old and new, would she ever think of him as he thought of her? She couldn't possibly. Every time he'd spoken with her it had been like a cascade of pure light entered him and filled him with comfort, calming his thoughts and easing his tired muscles. She was untouchable in her perfection.

And yet, the thought lingered, and his eyes wandered, and she met his gaze.

He cursed to himself; he was struck by her, completely and utterly, and there was not a damned thing he could do about it.

***

"Look, he's doing it again! What more proof do you need? I'd fly down there if I had wings, my friends."

"You wouldn't do any such thing, Sapphire."

"I would too! In fact, I'm going to prove you wrong. Again."

The young mare turned to Celestia and smiled brightly.

"Tia, I would like to meet that human Praetorian. Immediately." Sheepishly, she added, "please."

Celestia raised a surprised foreleg. Sapphire had a way of being enthusiastic, but demanding to meet Tercio was far and away the most brash thing she'd done in months. What were the chances Tercio shared Sapphire's affections? Not likely, she concluded.

"I'm...sure he's probably quite busy, my dear friend," Celestia said comfortingly. "The life of a Praetorian is one of discipline and preparation."

"Then let him prepare to meet me. I am curious to know more about him." She prodded Celestia with a hoof. "Come on, he's under your command, right? You could order him to come up here, or meet me down there."

"That's not something I prefer to do if possible. Just as we have our agenda for the day, so does--"

"Come on, Tia. Just a short conversation. What could it hurt?"

Sapphire was likely wasting her time, Celestia thought. Tercio had never shown interest in any of the palace mares -- though she supposed it would get the pushy mare to drop the topic if she talked to him and saw he didn't care for her advances.

"Very well," she surrendered, "I will ask him to speak with you, but I will not order it. He is not a slave, Sapphire."

"He could be my slave," the other giggled.

Violet Breeze rolled her eyes. "This is going to go well, I can already see it."

***

Who in the world was Sapphire Quill?

That was the question on Tercio's mind as he walked up the three flights of stairs between the training area and the palace common grounds. The name didn't sound familiar, but the messenger made it quite clear that he or she was interested in meeting him. A dignitary, perhaps? An old family friend?

He didn't have to wait long to get an answer. As he pushed through the outer doors he saw a mare sitting at a low table, her eyes already upon him and a wry smile on her face.

"Hello, Sir Tercio," she said. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise," Tercio answered cautiously. He stood before her with his hands behind his back in a semi-relaxed military stance. "You must be Sapphire Quill, I assume..."

"The one and only." She patted a spot next to her. "Come, sit. I insist."

Confused, Tercio did as she asked. She was, at the very least, quite attractive, with a cream-colored coat and light pink mane and tail, complimented by eyes the color of her namesake. While Tercio did not exactly consider himself an accurate judge of age, especially for mares, he didn't think her much older than her early twenties.

"I'm sorry, Lady Sapphire Quill, I don't believe we've met."

"No, we haven't. That's why I invited you here." She motioned to a tall carafe. "Can I interest you in some fine amasec? Princess Celestia provided it for us. She's such a good friend." When Tercio declined she shrugged it away. "Suit yourself, human." She studied him for a time, leaving Tercio feeling somewhat awkward as the silence crept along longer than he was comfortable with. "I saw you training today, in the sparring ring. You're quite the fighter."

"I try to be. The life of Princess Celestia depends on it, nevermind my own and that of the stallions fighting alongside me." When she didn't say anything -- simply smiling back like a school filly -- Tercio felt the patience in him beginning to wane. "If there is something I can help you with...?"

"There might be. You see, I saw you looking up at me for some time. It was quite frequent, more than a mistake or a curious glance. In fact, it was hard to ignore."

Oh no.

"I've seen my share of stallions, Sir Tercio, and even in a human it is apparently not any different. That look of unbridled desire, a sort of...curious, yet longing need to set your eyes upon my not-insignificant curves. Would I be right?"

Tercio almost laughed in her face. "Look, Sapphire, I appreciate the idea but--"

He realized he couldn't blurt out the fact that he was staring at Celestia, especially if this young mare was as close to the Princess as she'd claimed. Images of the Princess and her royal friends laughing at his admission flashed before him. There had to be a way out of this.

"I want to make you an offer, Sir Tercio. One you might find to be in your interests."

"And that is?"

"I appreciate the hard work you and your brothers -- or whatever you call the ponies with you -- put forth in defense of Equestria. I have never had much of an interest in combat myself; my talents lie more in the fields of drama, tragedy and comedy. I do, however, speak with enough stallions at my shows to know how difficult your life can be. With that in mind, I'm prepared to offer you and your...what do you call it? The name for your group that lives under the same roof?"

"My contubernium?"

"That's it, contubernium. I want to extend my hoof to you and your friends, or partners, or however you like to call them, to a grand feast and celebration in your shared honor. There will be drinking and dancing and laughter to be had by all, and you won't pay a single coin for it. After all, I'd say you've all earned a little relaxation after saving Canterlot, wouldn't you?"

"The stallions I fought beside would certainly appreciate such a thing, sure," he replied, nodding. "But why not ask one of them? Imperator Stonewall is our immediate commanding officer...sort of. You would surely do well to bring this before him."

Sapphire shrugged and tossed her mane. "Why would I do that when I could speak with you instead? You're much more...exotic."

"I prefer to be thought of as just another man, Lady Sapphire."

"Pfft. You and I both know you're not just another rank and file soldier. You're so much more interesting than that."

She was getting increasingly aggressive with her compliments. Something was quite clearly going on.

"I'm not sure I'm the one--"

"I won't waste any more of your time, so please don't waste mine. To put it simply, I am offering to treat your fellow Praetorians to a night of merriment they won't soon forget...on the condition that you allow me some of your time once you arrive."

'Some time' could mean any number of things -- though from her expression, and the mistaken belief that his affection was aimed her way, it was clear she did not intend to discuss politics.

"I know this is quite sudden, but I'm a spontaneous sort of mare. I am not asking you to bow before me or anything so grand, and I assure you I will not slip any essence of moonlight blossom into your chalice. You're such an interesting figure, Sir Tercio. It's not every day one gets to learn more about the only male of his kind. I would very much like to know more about you in good time. You don't have to hide the fact that you're interested in me, for I'm quite interested in you."

Part of him knew it was a bad idea to stay around the pushy mare and her sudden, strangely aggressive come-on. She reminded him of an old marefriend from his teenage years; she, too, was interested in him for his unique looks as much as his personality -- probably more one than the other -- and she'd been quite exciting during a few weeks of sleepless nights, but in the end she'd left like the others. As a younger man Tercio would have jumped at the chance to be with an attractive mare and leave it at that, but his older, wiser self had begun to look for something more.

Still...the Praetorians could use a break. They'd trained and sweated and bled for months on end with little in the way of relief, and the stress was beginning to eat away at their morale, nevermind the continued, lingering pains and reminders of their numerous wounds from the attack on the palace. If this mare was so oddly interested in him, he could always just grin and bear it while his brothers in arms enjoyed themselves. He owed them that much for taking him in as one of their own.

"Alright," he finally answered, not entirely sure of himself, "my brothers and I will join you, should you wish it. I am sure they will be pleased to hear the news. Gods know they need some time off. You will have to run this by Stonewall and Celestia, though. They may not be so easy to convince."

Sapphire Quill gave a short, self-assured laugh.

"Sir Tercio, I do not believe you fully understand who I am. Leave it to me."

***

Brother-Captain Corvalix stood before the royal throne, his head bowed low. His sovereign sat upon her dais, considering the battle-scarred deer who had presented himself in his finest formal wear; a loose wrapping of silks, with a green sash decorating his shoulders, marking him as a war hero. A thin, golden thread hung from the tip of his antlers, ending in a green gem that flashed as it caught the sun.

"You called on me, sister?" he asked, his head still lowered.

"Corvalix. Yes. Thank you for coming." The tall, willowy doe stepped down, her regal cloak flowing across the tile behind her. She looked upon her sibling with emerald eyes, lifting his chin with a cloven hoof. "How do you fare?"

"As well as is to be expected. My wounds are fresh but I am alive." He motioned to a wrapped gash along his side which stained his red-brown fur and white spots a dark crimson.

"You are hurt?"

"A small band of Equestrians found me yesterday, during a scouting run. I managed to slay them to the last, but not without consequence. It could have been worse."

"I see. Do try to avoid such things in the future, won't you?"

He turned up a corner of his mouth in a grin. "I shall try. No guarantees, however."

"That will have to do." His sister trotted to a large map of Whitetail, where various divisions had been marked with gems of different colors. "How goes the war with the Equestrians?"

"The Whitetail are determined fighters, clever when they're allowed to be, but they remain without proper leadership. They still think me one of them, the fools. Their senate is a hollow thing, ineffective and too busy bickering amongst one another to take decisive action."

"Will they hold?"

"Their army? No. The Whitetail fight well, but it is a losing war. The Equestrians lack the raw numbers but their soldiers show remarkable initiative at the company, platoon, even individual level. Whitetail underestimated the ferocity with which the ponies would respond, and now fight a defensive war. The bulk of the deer forces are holed up in the old fortress town of Quillyyn, just past the edge of the forest. It is a strong place to fight from."

"And the Equestrians?"

"They continue to take steady losses. Make no mistake, however -- they will triumph in the end. No army has faced Equestrian soldiers in hundreds of years. They have the element of surprise with them in every battle." Corvalix trotted to the map, levitating a crystalline staff. "Once Quillyyn has fallen there will be no major strongholds between the Equestrians and the Whitetail capitol of Evinwiir. Our cousins will be broken in mind and body, unable to continue fighting with any real resolve. Peace negotiations, I believe, will follow soon after. Celestia will have her victory. She may even have a good bit of Whitetail land to add to her nation."

The deer ruler stamped a hoof on the ground.

"In an ideal world, perhaps."

"Indeed, sister. The Whitetail will be begging for help. Already they ask us for aid. They need only grow more desperate. A few weeks at the most, and we shall be their saving grace." Corvalix leaned his staff against the wall. "Before we commit to such a plan, I must ask once more: are you absolutely sure of this course of action? Our...prior attempts...at destabilizing Equestria have all ended poorly."

The doe considered his words, cocking her head as she studied the large map.

"Would you have our nation remain a shadow of its former self? Would you see twenty generations of Redtail ingenuity and tenacity fall by the wayside?"

"Of course not. I simply do not wish to see our efforts become a minor note in a history scroll."

"You worry too much, brother. Lacertus' death was certainly a disappointment, but it was not entirely unexpected. The Nightmare Moon cults are easily swayed, and serve as useful fodder, but they, too, are inconsequential. They merely serve a greater purpose they've no idea of. There is always another way to add a little chaos to the mix; we must wait for the proper time, however, lest we reveal ourselves too soon."

Corvalix snickered at his sister's cunning.

"Mother and father always did consider you somewhat of a trickster. If only they could be here to see us now."

"Then the least we could do is provide them with something to be proud of from the Great Beyond, wouldn't you agree?"

"Without a doubt." Corvalix bowed his head once more, satisfied that their long-standing plan was finally coming together. They had waited nearly three decades; a few more weeks would be nothing.

"Until next time, Corvalix. Do take care."

"And you as well. I shall see you soon," he said confidently, "my dear Elinwynn."

20 - Sapphire

If the Royal Palace was Equestria's soul, then Northern Canterlot was its beating heart. Widely known as the "Industry District", Northern Canterlot hosted the largest collection of food storage and preservation warehouses, blacksmith forges, bakeries, and other goods and services shops in the greater Equestrian area. Here, too, could be found the most well-to-do ponies of all races -- masters of their domains, titans of industry. Their elegant and expensive homes clung to the very edges of the suspended city, providing unparalleled views of the valley and mountains below.

Clutching his formal clothing tightly against his body, Tercio traveled down the maze-like expanses of small footpaths and carved stone roads that were, supposedly, going to lead to one home in particular. It was decidedly chilly out, even with his multi-layered tunic and his toga that hung down to his knees. Indeed, the nights had grown colder as of late -- it wouldn't be long before the month of Harvest was upon the land. He pictured his father toiling in the fields, despite his mother's objections, with a small band of Summervale's youths at his side, busily threshing and picking and sorting their various crops.

The trip thus far had been uneventful, though the grandeur and opulence of the homes -- really, private mansions -- that he'd passed had only increased. Each one was larger than the last, looking for all the world like a bizarre game of one-upsmanship. Here, he thought, were those who could afford such things without batting an eye. He was equally jealous and fascinated.

Two streets down, past a small hedgerow of thorned bushes, he finally reached his destination. The dwelling was a three-tiered monstrosity of shaped marble columns and shimmering, tiled frescoes that wrapped around the rectangular building in intricate patterns of deep, black opal. The front entrance had been decorated with long lengths of purple and gold silk decorated with various celestial signs, including, Tercio noticed, the bull that adorned his armor's cloak, which he thankfully hadn't had to wear tonight. The whole property, from front to back, was lit by burning braziers full of crackling cherry wood, giving off a slightly sweet smell that tinted the earthy, sharp tang of wafting smoke. It was, he decided, the most impressive private residence he had ever seen. For a time he wondered if he was at the right location, but the unmistakable sound of uproarious laughter from inside reassured him. Perhaps Sapphire Quill wasn't as off-putting as she initially seemed, and he was merely over-reacting. There was only one way to find out.

***

Princess Celestia sat in her chambers, a thick book floating before her. It was a mostly forgettable novel, a tale of romance and intrigue the likes of which she'd read a thousand times before, and would likely forget soon after she was done. It did, at least, serve to take her mind off things. Namely, the impending celebration in the Praetorians' honor half way across the city, put on by Sapphire Quill and many of her closest friends, or at least those who claimed to be so.

It had been very sudden -- a short conversation between the playwright and Equestria's resident human, followed by a smiling, triumphant Sapphire returning to the observation balcony to announce that she would be hosting a grand event. And, she'd said, Tercio would be the guest of honor.

Try as she might, Celestia couldn't figure out what, if anything, Tercio saw in the young mare. She was quite attractive and well-spoken, certainly, but her pushy demeanor was the antithesis of Tercio's own.

Then again, Celestia thought glumly, one could be blinded by gifts or honors or simple lust without realizing it. She'd seen it happen many times, and Tercio was a young man in a very stressful situation; maybe he saw something in Sapphire after all, even if it was just temporary comfort. He'd certainly seemed interested, constantly looking up at the balcony during his sparring matches with the others. A small thought crossed her mind, and she wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it, yet it insisted on lingering.

What if he wasn't looking at Sapphire?

No, such an idea was idle musing at best. She refocused her thoughts, shifting her attention to the Praetorians as a whole. They had been overjoyed at the news that they would be getting a celebration in their honor. Even Imperator Stonewall had seemed eager, at least as much as gruff demeanor allowed. Despite her own feelings toward the matter, she was not about to let her hereto unfounded doubts deny the most loyal of Equestria's soldiers their relaxation and time away from the barracks, away from the sparring and the reminders of battle. They would drink and eat until they were sated, and come back renewed.

Morale is of the utmost importance, she could hear her father say.

So she would allow Tercio to be played by the whims of Sapphire's cunning, such as it was, if it pleased all parties involved.

But she did not have to like it.

***

"Tercio, you sly dog! How in the name of the nine hells did you arrange this?!"

Praetorian Stormfront clapped a hoof on Tercio's back and laughed, leading him through the entryway into an expansive central room. Torches and candles lit the dark hallways, and numerous mares in serving sashes carried trays of food on their backs between the ends of the mansion-like home. Several ponies, mostly civilians, sat on large cushions and chatted with cups of wine and sweet amasec beside them.

"It's a rather strange story. Take my word for it," Tercio answered.

"Come on, you can't just leave it at that!"

"Perhaps another time. For now, I believe we have a celebration to enjoy."

"That we do! Come, come, this way. The others are awaiting your arrival."

Stormfront was one of the younger Praetorians, a recent peagsus inductee who had arrived just before the attack on Canterlot. He'd proven himself in combat on the palace grounds, and he seemed like a genuine sort of stallion, but he apparently felt he knew Tercio better than Tercio knew him.

Off to the left of the central sitting room, down a hallway dotted with numerous bedroom doors, a large, heated bath house greeted him with a plume of mist, and the air grew damp and warm. He could just make out the silhouettes of numerous stallions as they conversed and laughed. Stormfront trotted off, leaving him to himself.

"Praetoria Victor!" he shouted, raising a clenched fist above his head.

"Praetoria Victor!" came the answer, followed by cheers and good-natured laughter.

"Well look who's finally here!" someone said.

"It's the guy with the long legs and the short prick!"

"About time you showed up, Your Highness," someone else jabbed.

Tercio stepped closer to the steaming water. "Good to see you're all enjoying yourselves. Started without me, did you?"

Rimeberry raised his cup and tilted it in Tercio's direction, spilling a few drops of deep red wine.

"The party waits for no one, my friend."

"Besides," someone else said, "it's first come, first serve with these fine mares. Or maybe it's first served, first come! I know which one I prefer, eh ladies? Ha!"

Tercio waved his hand through the fog, now able to see that several of his brothers had a mare -- or two -- at their side. Empty pitchers of wine floated on the surface or rolled around on the polished granite where several more Praetorians were gathered around and conversing. Occasionally one of them would gesture wildly, and the others would practically roll on the ground in amusement. He smiled -- it was good to see everyone getting the chance to enjoy themselves again.

An out-of-step clacking caught his attention, and he turned to see Stonewall approaching with a roll of scrolls stuffed into a saddlebag. At his side was an older mare, perhaps a few years younger than himself, with a graying coat of light purple.

"Krosus," he nodded.

"Imperator, sir," Tercio replied.

"Good to see you. How fares your night?"

"Ask me in several hours," he chuckled.

"Noted." Stonewall gestured to the mare. "Tercio Krosus, this is my wife, Radiance. Honey, this is Tercio Krosus. One of a kind, probably for the best."

"A pleasure to meet you, madam." Tercio bowed and stuck out his hand, shaking her hoof gently. "I have heard much about you."

Her eyes lit up, an inner youth behind her slightly wrinkled face.

"All good, I should hope," she laughed. "It's nice to meet you too, dearie."

Tercio pointed to the saddlebag across Stonewall's back. "This is supposed to be a relaxing time, Imperator. You look as if you're ready to inventory the entirety of Equestria's military."

"Someone has to be the mouthpiece of Equestria, may as well be me. There's negotiations to be had, Krosus, and the atmosphere is conducive to some very good deals." He paused, then added, "and don't worry, I'm not going to be a stick in the mud all night. We'll partake once the business side of things has been wrapped up."

Radiance giggled at the sights around her. "Reminds me of our younger days, Stoney."

Stonewall caught Tercio suppressing a laugh, eyeing the thin smile that was trying its hardest to break out into a full-on grin.

"Right, well, we should get going, my dear. Let's leave the young bucks to their entertainment. Do try to behave yourself, Krosus."

"Sir."

With Stonewall gone, Tercio was once again free to converse with his fellow Praetorians. After the long, cold walk the heated bath seemed very inviting. Finding an unoccupied stone bench, he stripped down to his bare skin and set his clothing off to one side, then stepped to the edge of the large bath and eased himself in. It was almost uncomfortably hot at first, but he soon adjusted to the heat and submerged himself up to his neck with a sigh of relief.

"Feel better?" Tercio recognized the voice immediately -- Polaris.

"Like you wouldn't believe." He stretched his arms out, resting them on the carved stone edges of the bath pool. "How are things in Barracks Three? I've hardly seen hide nor hair of you in weeks."

Polaris shrugged. "Business as usual, really. We had a visitor from the Royal Guard a few days past, some stallion looking for assistance with a convoy of goods moving to the front lines. Normally we let the other branches take care of such things, but the Princess herself approved it. As far as I know it went without a hitch. That was our 'excitement' for the week, as it was."

A pitcher of wine and a golden cup floated over, and Tercio eagerly grabbed them both and poured himself a drink. The wine, like the rest of the house, was exquisite, and likely very expensive.

"Let's join the others, shall we? I'm sure there's a few mares we could get you acquainted with."

***

Two floors above, in a lavishly decorated bedroom, Sapphire Quill watched the military stallions and their companions from a window that was encircled by tiny, white flowers. None of them seemed to have noticed her, which suited her just fine; the celebration was for all of them, and though she did admire them she preferred to leave the entertaining and serving to her hired mares. She was expecting just one guest in particular.

He'd already arrived, of course, and had spent the last half hour rejoicing and drinking with his Praetorian comrades. She did not want to pry him away from them, not just yet. A good host knew when to let her guests enjoy the company of others, and when to converse with them in private. She could still enjoy the sight, though. He was so...different. Mysterious. Something about the definition of his body and the smoothness of his skin intrigued her greatly. What was he like, away from the formality of the palace? She intended to find out. She needed only wait.

***

How long had it been? Hours? It was hard to tell. Not that it mattered. Tercio was all too happy to partake in good drink, good food, and the company of good mares. Some of his brothers had disappeared into various rooms with their fairer sex in tow, and while he'd been tempted to do so himself a few times, he'd thus far been content to delight the gathered mares with tales of his bravery -- sometimes embellished more than just a bit. They were, he thought, a very friendly bunch. None of them had made a move at him beyond some teasing, though the more he drank the more he wished they would be a little more...accommodating with him. Or each other.

He smiled as one of them -- a pretty young earth pony named, of all things, Peachy Pumpkin -- filled his cup once more. It wobbled in his hand before he took a long drink.

"That can't be your real name," he insisted with a laugh.

"Oh, but it is! What, you've never heard an Eastern Equestrian farmer's name before, Sir Tercio? I should be hurt to hear as much." She pouted dramatically, drawing giggles from the others.

"No harm intended, madam. I...I, too, am a farmer. Was a farmer. Still am. Sort of." He looked at his cup, watching it swirl before his eyes. It amused him more than it should have. "It would seem the bounty of Autumn Harvest is with me tonight."

"The Gods bless us with many things," Peachy agreed, "though I would posit that wine is the best of them all."

"You will find no argument here! Come, ladies, let us raise our merriment to Autumn Harvest. We will rejoice in Her gift to Equestria."

Four cups clattered together, and they drank their fill. Two of the mares -- Tercio could not, for the life of him, remember their names -- dropped their empty cups and up-ended the nearly empty carafe, which was down to barely more than a few drops. It dripped its last between them, and they giggled as their inhibitions faltered and they met in a passionate, more than slightly drunken kiss.

"Perhaps being a Praetorian isn't so bad after all," Tercio said to himself, content to sit back and watch with interest as their increasingly comfortable acts threatened to create a show he would not soon forget. Peachy Pumpkin's eyes were wide as she sat next to him, obviously uncomfortable with the situation.

"I was not expecting that..."

"Neither was I. You won't see me complaining, however."

She nodded. "Your interests are quite different from mine in this regard, Sir Tercio."

One of the mares had just pushed herself up on the edge of the bath, letting her legs dangle in the water, when he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Yes?" he asked, turning his head.

"Excuse me, sir, but are you the Praetorian known as Tercio?" It was a young mare with a pinkish-red coat. A unicorn, he noticed. She wore a loose-fitting, deep-blue toga with golden highlights that wrapped around her shoulder.

"I am..." he answered, his interests split between the mare speaking to him and the two who were now engaged in an act he could hardly draw his eyes from.

"Excuse the interruption, but Madam Sapphire Quill wishes the pleasure of your company. I will be happy to escort you up to her chambers. You may call me Ruby Rose."

Between the wine clouding his mind and the sight before his eyes it took a moment for the name to register.

"Sapphire. Right. I'd nearly forgotten." Quietly, he added, "damn her timing."

"Sir?"

"Yes, yes, I'll follow you. Give me a moment to gather my clothing and--"

"No need, I can do that for you."

Pink magic enshrouded her horn and floated over his stacked formal wear, which hovered beside her as she bowed courteously.

"Oh. Alright, then. I can't help but feel I'm not properly dressed to meet her, however."

Ruby Rose simply smiled. "There is no need to be embarrassed, Sir Tercio. Going without clothing is perfectly normal in the privacy and comfort of one's home. And you should very much consider this estate yours for the night."

Intimate with Equestrian society though he was, Tercio had always felt awkward at the concept of walking around with his nether regions open to the breeze. Looking around, he found a length of white cloth used for drying oneself after a bath, and quickly wrapped it around his waist, where it ended just above his knees.

"Ladies, I am afraid I've been called on," he told the mares still in the water. They bemoaned his departure, cloyingly calling to him to come back. "Believe me, I would very much like to. Perhaps I shall be free in some time." He bowed slightly to Ruby. "Lead the way."

***

Sapphire Quill's room was, without a doubt, larger than the entirety of the home he'd grown up in. Even before stepping through the entrance arch he was bombarded with sights and smells: fresh flowers of every color, small pots of burning incense, gems and jewelry that sparkled in the light of countless flickering candles. Everything, from the ceiling to the tables, was made of grey-black marble strewn with golden flakes that caught the light and twinkled like a cloudless night.

"Hello again, Tercio," Sapphire greeted him. She sat on a large, cushioned chair that resembled a basket turned slightly on its side, her cream-colored body partially hidden behind twin layers of sheer, dark blue fabric that wrapped around her shoulders and torso twice before hanging off to one side. Thin, delicate chains of gold dangled from a pair of rings just above the base of her ears, and a choker of gold and silver studded with tiny sapphires decorated her neck.

Tercio bowed in respect, impressed by his surroundings and the mare seated before him.

"Lady Sapphire. You look quite stunning, if I may be so bold."

"You may," she answered with a wry grin. "Come, join me, I insist." She patted the cushion next to her, then motioned to Ruby Rose. "You may leave Sir Tercio's belongings on the dresser, Ruby. Would you be a dear and fetch us some hot tea?"

"Of course, Miss Sapphire."

Ruby trotted off to the far end of the room, where a very expensive-looking tea set had been arranged on a low table.

"She's so helpful," Sapphire said as Tercio took a seat beside her. "I take it the party has been to your liking so far?"

"It has indeed," Tercio nodded. "I want to thank you for such a grand event, and I assure you the others feel the same way. It has been a long time since we've had the chance to relax and forget about our duties." He cleared his throat as he realized he was wearing nothing but a bathing towel. "I feel I must apologize for my lack of formal attire. I assure you I came properly dressed, but Miss Ruby was insistent that I needn't worry about getting fully dressed to see you. I hope I do not offend in such a regard."

Sapphire giggled, refined and practiced. "I can appreciate your modesty, but really, there is no need to worry about such things here. My home is your home, and I only wear this outfit for the sake of being a good hostess."

Tercio waved his hand at the opulent surroundings. "You have a beautiful estate here."

"Thank you."

"But if I may ask, aren't you a playwright? I had always considered northern Canterlot to be a place of blacksmiths and grain barons."

"You have a sharp mind, Sir Tercio."

"As much as it can be with gods-know-how-much wine in my stomach, anyway. Very good wine, might I add."

"Only the finest. But yes, I must admit this is not a home of my own design. My dear uncle left it to me when he passed, many years ago. Only recently have I been old enough to take advantage of its grandeur. I'm quite partial to it." She brushed a length of pink hair from her face. "It is well that I have found success in my own right, or this would be a very expensive place to live."

Ruby Rose returned with a tray on her back, and she levitated a ceramic tea pot and two small cups onto a table in front of Tercio and his host.

"Your tea, Miss Sapphire. Twist of lemon and a small spoon of sugar in each."

Sapphire smiled in delight as the scent caught her nose. "That will be all, Ruby. You may resume your cleaning now."

Tercio grasped the cup, almost amusingly small in his hands, and carefully took a sip.

"I've not had tea very often, but I could get used to it if it's this good." He paused for a moment, thinking of how to ask what was on his mind. "Miss Sapphire--"

"You can drop the 'miss' part," she interrupted with a grin.

"Sapphire, then. I must ask why you have shown such interest in me. You must understand: from my perspective, this is all very sudden."

"Oh I understand perfectly well. After all, it's not every day one is wined and dined by the elite of Equestrian society." Sapphire motioned with a hoof. "Obviously your unique looks are part of it, but please, do not think me interested in you solely because you are some sort of exotic creature to be gazed upon as a child gazes upon a lamb. No, there is something deeper at play here. Is it so wrong to want to know more about someone?"

"No, I suppose not. In that case, what is it you wish to know?"

"Whatever you would like to tell me," she said simply. "I am a patron of the arts, Tercio. I appreciate that there is drama and laughter and sadness and a thousand other emotions and experiences within each and every one of us. So please, tell me about yourself."

Tercio set down his cup and picked up a small bowl of fruit that was set beside it, full of brightly colored apples. "May I? A bit of food should help this wine and tea settle."

"By all means."

"Thank you." He grabbed an apple roughly the size of his fist that was peculiarly colored, like a rainbow. A bite revealed it to be juicy and sweet, with a strange tingling that was not unpleasant as it traveled down his throat, though he did cough at the unexpected sensation.

"Your first time having a zap apple, I take it? They say the heavens themselves strike the orchards with thunder and lightning to make them."

"It's certainly different. But yes, you wanted to know about me. Hmm..."

What was there to say? Aside from being physically different he didn't consider himself to be particularly unique. Surely others had led more interesting lives.

"Well, I was found in a field when I was but a very young child. Princess Celestia tells me I fell from the sky, like a falling star. My adoptive parents -- my mother, Glimmering Grace, and my father, Roughshod -- took me in out of the goodness of their hearts. Were I in their position, I cannot say I would have done the same with a child that was so strange compared to the rest of the world, especially since they had just had a foal of their own: my brother, Victus."

"They were good to you?"

"Far more than I could have asked for. Growing up among the other children was difficult at the best of times, and I faced nearly constant harassment from my schoolmates until I was old enough, and tall enough, to stand up for myself. Victus was always there for me, though. For most of my life we were inseparable."

"Most of your life?" she questioned.

"Yes. Upon reaching the age of seventeen we had decided to join the Equestrian Guard, mostly as a way of escaping a home life we thought to be boring and stagnant. My family has been farmers, at least on my father's side, for generations. While I still enjoy it to some extent, it's back-breaking work and the pay isn't anything of note. Enough for a comfortable life, but Victus and I wanted to travel, to see new places. That sort of thing." He laughed and added, "and yet most of my career has been spent in Equestria. Fate is strange."

"So you joined up?"

"Yes. I thought I would do well as a soldier. I have advantages the others do not."

Sapphire looked at him with interest. "Advantages? Such as?"

"Well, I am quite obviously taller than the others. It makes it hard for many ponies to fight me on equal terms, as they have to look up to watch all of my movements. I find that throws many of them off balance. I am also more flexible in my movements, since I am not restricted to mouthing the hilt of a sword. Only a unicorn can truly match my dexterity with a blade, I find."

"Funny you should say that. I, myself, am also quite...flexible," she giggled.

Tercio cleared his throat, unsure of what to say.

"Besides that, I have a longer reach than the others. Imperator Stonewall may be a hard-ass, but he's taught me to fight well. Far better than the basic combat drills we learned in the Equestrian Guard. 'Your mind must be as sharp as your blade', as he likes to say."

"Unless you happen to be...preoccupied?" she laughed.

Tercio saw himself being knocked to the ground time and again, his ridiculous notion of romance drawing him from his duties. A notion that had, somehow, resulted in his current situation.

"I, uh, must admit that was not my finest moment."

"I thought it was cute. I've seen stallions struck speechless at my approach, but never before have they also been struck in the head by a shield because of it. First time for everything, hmm?" She lifted the tea pot and smiled. "More tea, Sir Tercio?"

"Thank you, I would--"

For a few heartbeats his vision lost focus, and he shook his head to clear it away.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm sorry...I must have imbibed more than my share of wine in the bath."

"An experience I have shared more than I would care to admit, believe me. Come, drink. The tea will help you focus." She poured a steaming cup and joined him in a drink, adding a twist of lemon and sugar for taste. "Please, continue."

"I...I was in the Equestrian Guard for some time. Oddly enough, I found it boring most of the time. My dreams of travel and adventure fell to the wayside, replaced by cleaning duties in the barracks or drill and ceremony to make the officers look important in front of foreign dignitaries. I suppose I still spend much of my time guarding doors these days, but at least I am afforded travel from time to time as the Princess' personal guard."

"And what of your brother, Victus? What does he do?"

"Victus is a Legionary!" Tercio said proudly, and perhaps a bit too loud. "As I said, we were close for much of our lives, but once Victus was accepted into the Legion we grew apart somewhat. One could argue it was out of necessity; Victus had dreams of Legionary service and I wanted to be a Praetorian. He obtained his posting first, a few years ahead of me, and I must admit with no small amount of shame that I was envious of him. Instead of the Praetorians I was moved up to the Royal Guard -- still a good place to be, but the Royal Guard is even heavier on pomp and ceremony than the regular rank and file I had just left. While my brother was fighting criminals I was polishing my armor and standing around from dawn to dusk. It could be said that...that..."

All of a sudden, seemingly without provocation, he was very aware of the fact that the mare across from him was stunningly beautiful. She seemed to glow in the soft light of dozens of candles, her eyes shimmering like precious gemstones, the curves of her body--

"Tercio? Are you sure you're well?"

He acted as if nothing had happened. Best not to draw attention to such things.

"Perhaps it was a lot of wine...but yes, I did not become a Praetorian until very recently, when the Whitetail invaded from the west. Victus was overjoyed to hear it, and we celebrated until early morning at a local tavern, just sharing stories of our childhoods and talking about how we would stop the whole damn deer army by ourselves if we had to."

Sapphire smiled and let one of the straps slide from her shoulder. "A very noble sentiment."

"Yes...noble. That was, uh..." He struggled to find his thoughts, feeling a strange tingle working its way from his hands and feet. "That was the last time I saw him. He is still well, last I heard, but with this war striking so close to home I can't help but feel a new-found appreciation for my family. Too many citizens lost loved ones during the recent attack."

"It was awful, truly awful," Sapphire said with a hoof to her chest. It traced a line down her body. Very slowly.

"And what of you, Sapphire? Do you...or rather, are you from Canterlot originally?"

"I am," she answered. "I've always enjoyed the sights and sounds of Equestria's capitol. The bustling crowds, the rooftops as far as the eye can see, the great palace looming over the city like a protective mother. It's provided me a source of endless inspiration. After all, one needs only venture outside to find a story worth telling. There are thousands of them out there, Tercio, just waiting to be discovered." She sipped her tea and laughed. "And they are all very profitable for one such as myself."

"Clearly it's working out for you. What made you want to be a playwright in the first place?"

Sapphire shrugged. "To be honest, it's not all that interesting. I want to say it's because I once saw a play when I was a filly, but I don't actually remember much of it. I thought it was terribly boring! But, I've always enjoyed creating and writing. I wanted to be an author for a time, but near the end of my time in Talent School I ventured into creating plays. My very first play, The Acts of One was stereotypically self-important and loaded with cliches, but it lit a fire within my soul. I wanted to improve. I've only been out of school for a few years, but I seemed to have struck gold with my second effort, A Shadow at Dawn. Within a few months it had become the best-attended play in the last century, and to this day it routinely sells out wherever it goes."

"You don't travel with it?"

She laughed. "Sometimes, but lately I haven't had the time or the inkling to do such a thing. I may be looking to start anew, however, and very soon. Call it a new venture."

"A new play, then?"

"Exactly. Just not for some time. There are still details to work out, and I enjoy my place in Canterlot. Besides, I have others who do the traveling for me. They ensure my work is represented exactly as it is written, and there are no finer actors in all of Equestria. Have you ever been to a play, Tercio?"

"No," he shook his head, "I am not exactly well-versed in such things. I like to consider myself well-read, however. Reading has been a hobby of mine for many years."

"The tallest of buildings are built upon the foundations of quill and parchment," Sapphire recited from memory.

"The Musings of Veranius,," Tercio replied.

"Very good! You are well-read. And here I thought it was all for show," she teased.

"I tend to have a lot of free time in the military. Ask any of my battle brothers."

"Oh I agree, that's why I invited all of you here tonight."

Tercio felt like a school colt, nervous and excited to be talking to a filly who was, in his mind, far out of his grasp.

"Did Celestia resist the idea?"

"Not at all! In fact, she encouraged it. She knows you've all been working very hard, and your jobs are so stressful. Tia is very generous like that. Not as generous as myself, of course."

"Right...generous..."

Generous, like the subtle curves of Sapphire's form. She was quite attractive...

"I only tease, of course. I cannot imagine what she has experienced in four hundred years of life. But then, she lives a life of regality and formality. She is not free to set aside her inhibitions and, say...share several pitchers of her finest wine with her guest of honor? At the very least, some fine tea?"

The tingling sensation had, by now, traveled up his arms and legs before settling in his chest. He found it increasingly hard to think -- or rather, to think of anything but Sapphire.

"...don't you agree, Tercio?"

He caught her gaze. "Yes, without a doubt. I...I should probably gather my belongings and find some place to rest for a time. Please excuse me, I don't mean to be rude, it's just that I would not want to be a poor guest by losing myself to drink." He pushed himself up from the chair, but stopped half way up. Sapphire had pulled herself from her own seat, and was standing before him.

"Rude? I would not dare think of you in such a way. You have been a wonderful, polite guest thus far. Only...politeness is so boring. I could be polite with any number of guests, but you, Tercio...you are different. It's there, just beneath the surface. Do you truly think me so blind as to not see it?"

"I am not sure what you mean."

"Please, there is no need to continue this game. The other day, on the balcony. I saw you looking at me. When I spoke with you, I saw your gaze wander and your thoughts flit from your mind. Even now, you grasp at straws to excuse yourself from my presence, lest your true intentions be revealed for fear of...well, I'm not sure of what, exactly. Perhaps you're embarrassed? Nervous? You needn't be."

Sapphire's words echoed in his mind, pleasant and soothing, like a warm blanket. He sat back down.

"I'm..." he put a hand to his head, his mind racing. "It's not that I am nervous in your presence, Sapphire."

"Mmm. So I can tell," she answered with a giggle. Tercio was vaguely aware of the fact that his towel had fallen, and he was now nude before her. Distantly, as if looking upon himself, he saw that he was growing increasingly erect. For some reason, he could not find it within himself to care. It was, he reasoned, perfectly normal.

"Goodness," she continued, "I am not sure what I had expected, but I am pleasantly surprised. Very pleasantly. I take it you are truly comfortable now, Sir Tercio?"

"I am getting there..."

Sapphire brushed the other strap from her shoulder, then unwrapped the formal wear from around her body. She took the soft, silky material in her grasp and played it up his leg.

"Perhaps I could help you get there faster?"

"I'm not sure I--"

She placed a hoof to his lips. "Just relax. Do not concern yourself with anything but my touch."

He found it hard to argue as she grasped him firmly and slowly, ever so slowly, took him in her mouth. He gasped at the sensation, setting his head back against the chair's thick cushions as she used her tongue to trace long lines up and down before bobbing her head. She moaned softly as she reached between her legs and touched herself, warm waves rippling through her body.

Tercio only opened his eyes once she stopped, lamenting that she had done so too soon. Sapphire did not say anything as she climbed up to straddle his legs, pushing herself into him with a firm kiss. Now fully lost in the moment, Tercio felt, rather than saw, the moment she lowered her warm, wet body onto him with a groan. She threw her head back and her breaths came out ragged, dripping with ecstasy.

"Sapphire..."

"Do you love me, Tercio?" She asked as she rocked her hips and pushed against him.

"I...I'm not..."

"Would you do anything for me?"

"...yes..."

She smiled at his answer, a wry, satisfied smile.

"I will be yours tonight. As often as you want, any way you want. My body is yours." She leaned in and breathily whispered in his ear, "all I ask is a single favor."

He looked into her azure eyes and nodded.

"Anything."

"Travel with me. Stay at my side. I will make you famous."

"I don't...don't understand..."

"The new venture I mentioned? It's you, Tercio." She thrust her hips forward for emphasis. "You will be the star of my greatest piece yet. Think of it: just you and I, all around the known world. A story of your life. A life you will share with me. Leave the Praetorians behind, forget the bloody battles and the stress of not knowing whether you will die the next day. Join me, and you will know joy the likes of which you've never imagined."

Somewhere in the back of his mind, a small ember started to grow. He could leave the military. What had it done for them? No more fighting, no more taking orders, no more guarding Celestia, no more--

Celestia.

With a rush like cold water he felt his senses return, clarity for the first time since he'd arrived. Horrified, he saw Sapphire smiling at him with a look he could only imagine seeing on a manticore before it pounced. Not only was he no longer seated by himself, he was now deep inside the mare who had, at his last reccolection, been merely beside him. He gasped at the realization. Where had his mind gone, to so casually let her coerce his thoughts? First the Deertongue word that brought unfathomable rage, and now the heartless toying of his baser desires by a mare who had outwardly appeared interested in his life? It was as if he was hardly in control of himself at all anymore.

"Tercio, my love? Are you--"

He grabbed her shoulders with both hands and pulled her face in close to his.

"What did you give me?" he asked quietly.

"What are you talking about? I didn't--"

"What did you give me?!" he shouted, pushing her off him so that she nearly fell off the chair.

"I merely sought to calm your nerves. A bit of an aphrodisiac never brought any harm."

"You drugged me! And for what?!"

It came back to him, the absurd request to leave behind everything he knew for a life of travel and sex with a mare he'd only just met. I will make you famous. The words echoed relentlessly.

"You misunderstand!"

"I misunderstand nothing, Sapphire! You want to make me into some sort of...of...spectacle! All of this, the party for my brothers, the drink and conversation, the false affection, was some misguided attempt at personal gain? Do you really think I would abandon my life for you?! I hardly know who you are!"

"I thought you were interested..."

"In you?! Ha! I had never even seen you until a few days ago! What kind of arrogance would possess you to assume that simply because I glance in your general direction that we are somehow meant to be together? I came here tonight to be polite, for the benefit of the stallions I fight beside, and when I regain my senses I find you riding my cock as if we were lovers!"

Sapphire sat back down on her side of the chair, fuming with frustration.

"I only wanted to give you a real life, Tercio!"

"As your play thing, your centerpiece. I cannot believe you would do such a thing." He leaned in and stuck a finger against her chest. "I will not abandon my all that I have worked for. Not for you, not for anyone. I am proud to be a Praetorian, to guard the very life of the Princess. It is not your affection that I seek, Sapphire. I am sorry you believed otherwise." He stood back up, wrapping the towel around himself and grabbing his clothes. "I am leaving."

"Please, Tercio, you must reconsider! Think of the thousands of Equestrian citizens that will delight at the story of your life! You will be known for all of history!"

Ashamed and disgusted with both himself and Sapphire, he turned and walked out of her presence.

"If I am to be remembered, it will not be because of you."

21 - Confession

Of all the things he valued, the simple pleasure of sleeping was, without a doubt, chief amongst them. Before his time in the Guard he would spend many hours a night sleeping blissfully in the comfort of his own bed, warm beneath wool blankets. That had all stopped the moment he joined up, and for the last fifteen years sleep had been a thing that only others experienced with any regularity. They had told him he would get used to it, that his body would adapt to needing less sleep. They had lied.

"Hey. Hey, Tercio. You awake?"

Tercio rolled over on his cot with a grumble.

"Hmm?"

"You've got night shift, remember?"

"Oh, right. Yeah. Night shift."

Sure enough, the sun had already set, and the moon hung low in the sky. It would be a long night. Still half asleep, Tercio mused that, were he married, he would at least be allowed to return to his home when off-duty. At it was, he had to hot-bunk in the barracks, taking someone's place as they left to start their own shift. Maybe one of the mares around town would take pity on him.

Forcing himself awake, and eyeing Rimeberry with envy as the stallion crawled into the spot he'd just left, Tercio went to the chest at the corner of the room and began the long process of putting on his full armor: buckling straps, adjusting fittings, working out the kinks where his shoulder pauldrons chafed against his neck without the proper amount of padding. Even with years of practice it was still a tedious affair. Finally, with his gold-decorated steel armor in place and his purple cloak tied on, he was ready for duty. A final check for his weapons -- a sword in a scabbard at his waist and a tall spear in hand.

Satisfied, he headed down the hallway, out of the Praetorian barracks wing. He passed the royal garden and waved to the grounds keeper, an older mare who took care of the exotic, magical plants that only bloomed at night. A few minutes and two flights of stairs later he was at the side entrance to the private kitchen's delivery hallway. A knock and a muttered password got him through, and from there it was a short walk past the empty throne room to Princess Celestia's personal quarters. Two soldiers stood guard at the short hallway leading to the twin rooms for Celestia and Luna -- the latter now closed off with a "No Entry" sign -- and they greeted Tercio warmly as he relieved them for the night.

"Hell of a party that was," the younger of the two, Frost Wind, said as he took his spear against his side with a sigh of relief. He rubbed a shoulder with a hoof. "Word has it you set the whole thing up or something."

His partner, a tall stallion named Carpisius, grunted in approval. "Yeah, not bad. You see those two pegasuses with the purple coats? I hear they went through half the Praetorian Guard last night."

"If they did, it didn't include me," Frost Wind replied in annoyance.

Tercio chuckled and knocked him on the helm.

"Don't feel too bad, Frost. I wouldn't exactly call my night particularly good, either."

"Don't bullshit a bullshitter, Tercio. We saw those three mares fawning over you like your prick was filled with gold."

"They were good company, nothing more...though at times I wished they would have been more forthcoming with their advances."

"Uh-huh. They were real good company for everyone when they started going down on each other in the bath, let me tell you!"

"Gods honest truth," Carpisius added. "Anyway, I'm tired as a dog. Let's get going."

"Right." Frost Wind tipped his spear. "Have a good one, Tercio. Whatever your part in it, thanks for the party at that mare's place. It was good to forget about guarding doors and hallways for a while. We owe you one."

With the stallions gone, Tercio was left by himself to take over guard duty. There he stood for long hours on end, only occasionally seeing someone pass by at the other end of the hall. He sighed. With the palace considered to be under less threat than it had been a few months prior, Stonewall had seen fit to reduce the night shift from two to one. Tercio wished he had someone to chat with, but instead he was left with only his thoughts to keep him company. Inevitably, they would turn to Sapphire Quill and her unwelcome advances.

No, he thought, "advances" wasn't nearly strong enough of a word to describe waking up from a stupor to find her riding him like a wild beast. What could have possibly possessed her to think such a thing would be appropriate? Did she honestly think that the prospect of a night of sex would be enough to draw him away from everything he'd worked for? No matter how he tried, he couldn't understand it. His knee-jerk reaction was to blame it on the selfishness and arrogance of the upper class, but such a thought was immature at best. After all, Celestia had been nothing but kind to him, and it didn't get much more "upper class" than ruling Equestria as a nigh-immortal being.

It was a shame about Sapphire. For a while she had shown herself to be a pleasant, intelligent conversationalist, and despite her sometimes pushy demeanor she was pleasant to be around, not to mention being quite attractive. All of that had been rendered moot after she'd drugged him and tried to take advantage of his altered mind.

The sound of metallic hoofsteps on the polished floor snapped him out of his day dreaming, and he quickly assumed a military bearing. Princess Celestia appeared around the corner a moment later, her head drooped in a clear sign of exhaustion.

"Princess," Tercio said, saluting with a fist over his chest. Despite her mood Celestia offered a smile in return.

"As you were, Tercio." He went back to a resting position, leaning his spear against the wall.

"How fares your night?"

"Busy," Celestia answered with a tired laugh. "A representative from Saddle Arabia insisted on bringing twenty of his closest servants -- sorry, "assistants" -- with him everywhere he went. He also speaks little to no Equestrian, and my Saddle Arabian is less than ideal. That was always Luna's duty."

"So communicating was a bit hard, I take it."

"You would not believe me if I told you. Did you know Saddle Arabian translators have their own caste system now? Of the twenty of his servants, six were translators, belonging to three different castes. So I would speak to one of them, and that translator would tell the next translator, and he would tell the next, before the final translator finally told the Saddle Arabian representative."

Tercio was still trying to work out the logistics of it.

"I...don't see how that's particularly useful. Or sane."

"That makes two of us," Celestia said. "This process was repeated when the representative tried to speak to me in return. A simple conversation about continued trade took three hours." She sighed loudly. "Whatever happened to clarity in simplicity?"

"I couldn't begin to say, Princess."

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to dump my problems on you. I'm sure you'd rather not listen to me prattle on about dignitaries and self-important ponies."

"All part of the job description," he joked. He was pleased to get a small laugh in return.

"So it would seem. I should probably retire for the night, lest my thoughts turn to flight from my duties. Cave living would likely not be an improvement. Actually, before I go, may I be a bother and ask for a cup of tea?"

"Spoon of honey and a bit of lemon? Of course."

Celestia floated her crown from her head and smiled warmly.

"Am I really that predictable?"

"You have asked for the same thing from the night shift for the last two months, Your Highness. We know your needs practically before you speak them."

Celestia trotted down the hall, pushing open the doors to her room with a flash of magic.

"See? I knew there was a reason I kept all of you around."

***

"Damnation! It had to have been here! I know it!"

Victus kicked the dirt at his hooves, fuming at the loss of the pendant he'd worked so hard to get a hold of.

"We've been here since early morning, Equestrian, and still we have nothing to show for it," Gilias fired back.

"Then we will keep looking!"

Nearly an entire day had been spent deep in the forest where the Nightmare Moon cult's camp used to be, back before Victus and his small band of Legionaries had stolen their way in thanks to some theatrics by the group's now-permanent griffon addition. Though the mission had ultimately not resulted in any Legion deaths, they had come back with little in the way of new information about the cult's inner workings. After a hard-fought battle Victus had collapsed in the mud, and had to be carried back to the medicae tents by the others. Somewhere along the way, or perhaps during the fight, he had lost the medallion that had seemed to be the only thing of import in the entire camp.

Spending two weeks recovering from his wounds had not helped matters, and most of the Legion camp had moved on to support the southern tip of the push into Whitetail, leaving only a hoof-full of soldiers and a single apothecary behind.

"All of that blood shed for nothing!" He swore and stomped a hoof in frustration. "Perhaps I should have joined Tercio and fought with the Praetorians instead. At least then I wouldn't be searching through two weeks of muck and dead leaves."

"Now what?" Rockfall, the squad's sole archer, asked after several seconds of silence.

"I don't know. Perhaps...perhaps we should head back after all."

Gilias spread her wings out and flapped into the air.

"First rational thing I've heard you say all day. Don't get your balls in a wad, there are always more of those darkness-worshiping lunatics to stab in the face later. We'll get another one of your little pendants soon."

What had been so damned important about it? he wondered. There were far more valuable things lying around the camp's shrine -- gold, jewels, silver finery -- but only the carved ivory in the shape of a heavenly constellation had its own place above the others. Whatever it was, he was going to find it again. Cults be damned.

***

Tercio yawned and stretched his arms out wide, scratching his side where his tunic had developed an annoying, persistent itch. He wished he had a bed. A bed and a hot bath. Maybe at the same time. A cold breeze would occasionally blow in from the moonlight window down the hall; he cursed the cold, wishing he had a fire nearby to keep him warm, or at least a long winter wrap, but he was thankful that it helped keep him awake.

No armed enemy would best him, but if that enemy showed up with a sleeping roll he might just let the whole damn palace fall if it meant a good night's rest. So long as they kept it down, they could pillage all they pleased.

A short distance away, Celestia's door opened. Tercio craned his neck and saw a candle in a silver sconce float out in a cloud of yellow magic, followed by the Princess herself. She lacked her usual crown and breast collar, and her flowing mane drooped against her neck and across her back. A silken chiton crossed both of her shoulders and trailed on the floor to either side of her, its loose, pearl-colored fabric connected to a golden ring around the base of her neck.

"Princess?" he asked cautiously. "Is there something you need?"

Clearly not fully awake, Celestia took a few steps toward him.

"Did your replacement not show up?" she asked.

He glanced at the moon, only halfway through its arc in the sky.

"It is still the middle of the night. I have several more hours."

"Hmm?" She looked for herself, squinting against the full moon. "Right. My mistake." She turned back to Tercio. "My apologies, it has been somewhat of a restless night."

"Your sister?" he asked, still not sure if Celestia was familiar enough with him to allow such a question.

"Yes," she said simply.

"I'm sorry. Would you like me to fetch you another tea, or...?"

Celestia shook her head. "No, thank you. I was hoping you would join me in taking a walk around the palace grounds. Some fresh air would do me well, I think."

"Oh," he said, surprised. "If you would like. I am yours to command, after all."

Celestia let out a dramatic, exasperated sigh.

"Tercio, I appreciate formality as much as the next princess, but I am not asking you as my guard. I am asking you as my friend. I could use someone to talk to."

Tercio picked up his spear and returned a light smile.

"In that case, I would be happy to."

He waited for Celestia to reach his side, then grabbed a quietly burning torch from its holster near the throne room doors. They took the short route to the outside, bypassing the extravagant hallway full of stained glass images in favor of a staff walkway that led to the delivery and storage areas. From there they curved around the great stone walls of the palace's outer defenses and arrived at the grand garden. Not a soul was in sight. Celestia had remained quiet for most of the trip, but the smell of evergreen pine seemed to reinvigorate her. It was cold out, but not unbearable.

"Have you ever been to the garden at night?" she asked Tercio, who was still at her side. A sharp, orange glow lit the area around them as he held the torch close for warmth.

"I can't say I have. At least, not this late. Even Moonglade appears to be gone for the night. I saw her earlier, before my shift."

"I like to come out here sometimes when I can't sleep. Lately it's been more and more frequent..."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I can't imagine what it must be like to have such a burden on your shoulders. An entire nation to watch over, an unwanted war to manage -- and Princess Luna."

He looked up at the full moon, the visage of the fallen Princess of the Night forever burned into its very being.

"I still see her sometimes, you know" she admitted. "I have not told anyone else. I fear what they would think of me."

"Yet you don't fear what I would think?"

She smiled. "No. You have a good heart and a sharp mind. Whatever you may think of yourself, you are not judgmental." Her expression turned serious once more. "She often comes to me in my dreams, a writhing mass of acrid smoke and incorporeal darkness. At times, I even see her in my waking hours, as if she never left. Sometimes she appears as I knew her, beautiful and elegant, but always she speaks as Nightmare Moon. It is my burden to carry, but I wish it were not so."

"You can always speak with me about it," Tercio said, stepping around a row of short bushes that glittered in the torch light. "I can't say I have shared any experience even remotely as terrible as what you have gone through, but I can at least offer my support."

"I know. That's why I asked you to come with me tonight. I truly appreciate it." Rather than dwell on it further, Celestia sought to change the subject. "How was the party last night, for the Praetorians? Or I suppose it would be two nights ago now, wouldn't it?"

"That it would. It was..." He struggled to find the right word. "Interesting, we'll say."

"Oh?"

"My battle brothers were quite overjoyed to attend, and be attended to. Even Imperator Stonewall was there, with his wife. They were negotiating supply deals while everyone else was drinking and fu--uh, carousing. Yes."

"Always the pragmatist," Celestia laughed.

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen so much wine in one place in my entire life. Miss Sapphire was very generous in that regard."

And other regards, I'd bet, Celestia thought with a tinge of annoyance. Goodness only knew what Sapphire would do to get her way. She put on a smile anyway.

"That sounds like a lovely time. So you enjoyed your stay, then?"

Tercio cleared his throat.

"We were pleased to be off duty, certainly. The Praetorians, that is. They seem to be under the impression that such an event was my doing, when really all I did was agree to meet with Miss Sapphire at no cost to myself. I could hardly turn down a night of relaxation for the very stallions I fight beside."

Celestia eyed him with an amused look.

"I did not ask about the others, Tercio, I asked about you."

"I...I enjoyed myself. Mostly. Sharing stories with the others was something I'll never forget. At least, those stories I was sober enough to remember."

"I see. And how did your evening event with Sapphire go?" Celestia asked with a mix of genuine curiosity and mild annoyance. Sapphire was still young, and Celestia knew she shouldn't begrudge her for anything that might result from it, but such a thing was easier said than done sometimes.

"Well, uh, Miss Sapphire was polite and conversational. She is certainly one who deserves her title as the premier playwright of our generation."

That was a guarded response if I've ever heard one, Celestia thought.

"She is quite talented, yes," she agreed. "You were her guest for the evening, after all, and one would not expect a host to be rude or anything less than talkative."

"Without a doubt."

"Good, good. I'm glad to hear it." They passed rows of brightly-colored flowers that glowed pink and blue and white, and vines that shrank and grew as they reached out for the light of the torch. "The event's announcement was quite sudden, as I'm sure you're aware. Sapphire Quill has only been a guest of the palace for a short time, and the others sometimes look down on her eagerness. Perhaps we've forgotten what it was to be that young."

Tercio thought on his answer. "I believe Miss Sapphire is used to getting what she wants. Her life is very different from mine, and certainly different from yours."

"Did she mention to you why she wanted to host the event in the first place?"

He laughed. "I am embarrassed to say so, but I believe she thought my occasional glances at the royal platform to be a sign of affection, or longing. How she thought so much from so little, I could not say."

So, Sapphire was wrong after all. The young mare had been fooling herself.

"Why were you so interested in our viewing platform, anyway?" Celestia asked, prying just a bit. "It is not as if you haven't seen it many dozens of times before."

"Well, to be completely forthcoming, I sometimes feel...demoralized, I suppose you could say. The hours are long and the work is hard for ones such as ourselves. Seeing you up there, even for a brief moment, helps remind me of what I am training so hard for."

Celestia was thankful he couldn't see her blushing. She gave a genuine smile all the same.

"That's very kind of you. That's exactly why I have watched over my Praetorians for all of these years. Many have said something similar." Absently, she felt her mane and tail billowing just a little bit more than they had been. "But yes, as I said, the event was unplanned to the best of my knowledge. As long as you and your fellow soldiers had a good time, I cannot ask for more."

"They had a good time of it, yes. I've no doubt they will remember it fondly."

Celestia came to a stop, with Tercio in front of her.

"You're sure that's all there is to say about the event?"

"That would be it. I do not lead a particularly interesting life at the best of times."

He hid it well, but it was there -- something beneath the surface. Had she been any other mare, Celestia likely would not have noticed it. But hundreds of years dealing with the disingenuous, overly polite attitudes of countless diplomats, heads of state, and citizens looking for a leg up had made her very good at picking out falsehoods.

"Very well. Just remember: I am here if you ever have a concern or need to speak at length, no matter how hard it may seem to discuss something."

A simple reassurance was sometimes all that was needed. She watched him carefully, saw as he averted his eyes for the briefest of moments. It was entirely possible nothing more would come from it if he was set in his ways...but there was always the chance.

"Thank you," he said in response, "I shall keep that in mind."

With that, Celestia led the way back to the palace. Tercio said hardly a word.

***

"Night shift again, eh? You poor bastard."

Thunderburst laughed and trotted off, leaving Tercio behind to stare at the duty roster. Twice in a row? It was beginning to feel less like a posting and more like a punishment. Another long night, another span of endless hours with only his thoughts to keep him occupied.

Still, there was no use in complaining. He had a job to do, no matter how tedious it was. He squeezed in a quick meal before catching a precious few hours of dreamless sleep, and before long he was standing guard near Celestia's quarters once more. It was, mercifully, not nearly as cold as the previous night.

Once again he waited for the Princess to return from her royal duties, and they greeted each other with the usual pleasantries and small talk before she took her leave for the night. The doors to her room shut and latched, and silence filled the halls.

In the uncomfortable quiet Tercio could see and hear Sapphire's every action as if it were happening all over again; the conversation in her bedroom, bits and pieces of intimacy that had been forced upon him, the sudden sensation of returning to his senses. Yet again his mind had been violated, by substance rather than the spoken word. He wanted to pretend it had never happened, and yet the more he thought about it the angrier he became. Who was she to push herself on him, to act as if everything was about her wants and needs? Did she honestly believe he would give up everything to be with her, a mare he'd known for scant minutes?

The obvious solution, of course, was to tell Celestia what had happened. She, of all ponies, would understand, and would likely be reviled and disgusted by Sapphire's actions. Yet Sapphire was a guest of the royal court, and it was common knowledge that not just anyone was worthy of taking seat beside the most powerful and influential ruler in the land. The young mare had done something of worth to earn her spot on the observation platform. Maybe she contributed part of her earnings to the war effort, or had a hoof in some venture outside of the stage? He could only guess.

Still...if he knew Celestia as he thought he did, it was unlikely she would keep Sapphire around after hearing about the night of the event. There was always a line of well-to-do ponies looking to join the royal court, wasn't there? Sapphire would be replaced, and it would mean he wouldn't have to see her staring at him during his combat drills again. Most importantly, it would give him some peace of mind. Keeping such a secret would be toxic, and he knew it in the very pit of his soul. Could he trust himself to not let it build until it burst forth in a fit of rage, brought on by any number of things? If he valued his place in the Praetorians, he very much doubted it.

"Gods see me through this," he muttered as he picked up his spear and walked to Celestia's quarters. He stopped before the ornate wooden doors and hesitated, his fist just inches away. There would be no going back once he started.

Three sharp knocks echoed through the hall. For a moment there was no answer; was waking the Princess really wise? He'd heard Stonewall warn against such a thing unless it was a dire emergency. He was about to turn around and leave when he heard the door lock unlatch from the other side.

Celestia peeked her head out. "Tercio? Is there something I can help you with?"

Tercio stumbled over his words until he took a breath to calm himself.

"I hope I am not interrupting you, Princess. I can come back tomorrow if you're preoccupied, or sleeping, or--"

She shook her head. "It's alright, I don't mind. Is something the matter?"

"It's about the other night, at the party Sapphire threw for myself and the others. I...I may not have been entirely truthful when I spoke with you earlier in the garden."

She'd been right: all was not as it had appeared. She pushed the door open and stepped aside.

"Please, come in. Whatever you wish to discuss, I am open to hearing it."

***

Seated on a pair of cushions, Tercio and Celestia talked for what seemed to be a long time. He told her everything he could remember -- the copious amounts of wine, the nearly nude state of his visit to Sapphire's bedroom, the tea he was convinced was laced with an Equestrian aphrodisiac he couldn't begin to identify. He even told her of how he'd snapped back to his senses to find Sapphire atop him, and the resulting anger he'd felt from being taken advantage of. It was humiliating, and the more he spoke of it the more he felt ashamed for his actions, no matter what had been running through his veins at the time. They were the actions of a fool, he insisted. The actions of a lovestruck teenager, not of a grown man who should have known better.

Through it all Celestia listened intently, her face rarely betraying her true state of mind. To hear such horrible things about Sapphire, the mare she'd previously thought trustworthy, if a bit too ambitious and lustful for her own good, turn out to be nothing but a smokescreen for her true intentions was a shock the likes of which she could have hardly imagined.

"She asked me to give up everything! My career in the Guard, my brothers in arms, my life as I knew it, all so she could make me some sort of performance piece in her 'next great play.'" Tercio laughed bitterly. "Her next great play. A play about my life! In return I would be famous, she said. I would be known throughout Equestria. I would be rich. I would have endless nights of torrid sex. All I would have to do is surrender my soul to a mare I'd known barely an hour." His face turned sour and he scoffed at the idea. "Perhaps if I were a younger man I would have said yes. But I am not the man I was when I signed up. I am thirty-two years old now. I have the responsibility of watching over the lives of those around me. The Praetorians depend on me, and I on them. I will not leave them until the very life has bled from my veins and the air has left my lungs."

"And you're absolutely sure of what you say? Such accusations are not to be taken lightly, as I'm sure you understand."

"I would not have asked to speak with you if I was not, Princess."

Celestia stood up and walked to the open doors of her balcony, letting the cool breeze calm her mind and help her think. The thought of Sapphire going through with such a backstabbing plan chilled her more than any cold night. She'd invited the playwright to join her as a guest because of her charm and her contribution to Equestrian art and society. Apparently, Sapphire's ambitions did not stop there. To attempt something so bold was completely beyond the pale.

"I must admit to being surprised by the idea of Sapphire doing something so brazenly wrong. In the short time that I've known her she's always shown herself to be reliable and trustworthy, if sometimes brutally honest in her opinions. To think she could drug you and take advantage of your baser urges is...apalling, to say the least."

"I know," Tercio said. "It was not an easy decision to come to you with this."

"That said...I like to think I have become quite adept at separating truth from fiction in my long years, and I do not detect any lies or malice in your words. Indeed, there are many who would have kept such an incident hidden out of fear -- either of retribution, or ridicule."

"So you believe me, then?"

Celestia frowned, and in that moment Tercio deeply regretted having to tell her at all.

"I do. I wish I didn't -- I wish Sapphire had not shown herself to be untrustworthy -- but I believe what you've told me. I will have to speak with her in the morning."

"I see..." He hesitated before asking, "and what will become of her?"

"I don't know. Not yet," Celestia answered with a tinge of sadness. "At the very least, she will not be invited back to the palace. Beyond that, we will have to see."

"As you say. I am truly sorry to bring such terrible news, Celestia. I did not wish to ruin your night or your mood."

Celestia placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Don't be. You have every right to feel sickened by what happened to you, and you did the right thing in coming to me."

A bitterness welled inside him, burning his chest. "Even as an adult I am a second-class citizen to some. The Praetorian who threatened me at Swiftwing said I was a dangerous monster. Sapphire assumed that I would be more than willing to leave everything behind and join her. Am I not afforded basic decency simply because of my physical appearance?" He caught himself raising his voice and stopped before he lost his temper, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm sorry. I know the vast majority of those I meet do not think ill of me, but it's always the select few that linger."

"I understand, more than you can know," Celestia said reassuringly. "Being the long-lived ruler of Equestria does not make me immune to the slings and arrows of those who, for whatever reason, do not care for me. I can remember some of the hurtful things that were yelled at me three hundred years ago just as readily as if they happened yesterday. Human or equine, some things are the same no matter who you are." She placed his hand on her chest and offered a warm smile. "All that matters is what's in your mind and in your heart."

For a long second Tercio met her comforting gaze and felt the warmth of her skin, and in that moment he could not have wished to be anywhere else.

"Thank you," he said as he pulled back from her. "For the kind words, I mean. You have given me much to think on during these long hours."

"You're very welcome. And thank you for being strong enough to speak with me about Sapphire and her actions. I give you my word that she will not seek your presence again."

Tercio stood up from his cushion and placed his helm back on his head, then grabbed his weapons and shield that were lying against the corner.

"I should get back to my duties. Stonewall will have a fit if he catches me away from my post."

Celestia laughed softly. "You were speaking with me on a very important matter, I do not believe he has the authority to object." She opened the twin doors with an aura of magic, floating out a candle for extra light. "Please, do not hesitate to come to me with any other matters of import. I am always available...if I'm not preoccupied with politics, at least."

"I will, thank you."

"Very well. Have a good night, Tercio."

He stopped in the hallway and bowed in respect.

"And you as well, Celestia." The doors had nearly closed when he spoke up once more, facing away as he slid his arm into the backing strap of his tower shield. "It was you, you know." He turned back to face her. "When I came to my senses in Sapphire's quarters. I...I thought of you, and how I couldn't possibly abandon the trust you'd shown in keeping me at your side. I truly enjoy my time with you."

Celestia met his eyes and saw something within him, warm and familiar.

"In a way...I suppose you could say you saved me yet again."

He made as if to continue, but stopped himself.

"Have a good night, Princess."

With that, Tercio returned to his post at the end of the hall. Celestia watched him for a short time, then quietly closed the doors. Alone with her thoughts once more, she sat on the end of her bed, his words playing before her again. Deep down, she already knew what he'd meant without having to consider it. The look in his eyes, the way he'd carried himself as he spoke with her. All those times they'd sat down and laughed and enjoyed each other's company. It was not just admiration, or respect, that had driven him to share so much. It was affection. Love.

She lied down, the realization pulling at her. Sapphire's actions were a lot to consider already, but this...

She closed her eyes and clutched her pillow tight, and as she drifted off to sleep she felt his hand on her chest once more.

23 - Uncertain Times and Distant Hopes

It had been a long time since Celestia had dug through the crowded confines of her storage room. Hardly bigger than a closet, it contained a collection of her oldest memories, some of them passed on from her aging parents in the last years of their lives. Stacks of scrolls, mounds of books, piles of old formal clothing and wooden chests filled to the brim with keepsakes and mementos. A thick layer of dust coated everything, and she coughed and sneezed as she reached for a small chest sitting atop old sketches of plants and birds.

No bigger than a bread box, the gilded chest still contained the most precious of her things -- things she had not laid eyes upon for several decades. Happy to have found it, she returned to her quarters and sat on her bed, giving a quick look outside; only a few hours left until it was time to raise the moon and lower the sun. She was thankful that the day's meetings and royal duties had been slight in comparison to days prior. It gave her time to think, and thinking was something she'd done a lot of since Wither Shoals.

The old chest felt familiar in her grasp, a dark ochre color accented with gold banding and scarlet inlays. It lacked a typical lock, looking like a solid block to anyone who might not know better. She focused on it for a moment, taking time to recall the exact sealing spell she had used. An audible click answered her magical prodding, and the featureless box split open along hidden seams. Celestia gently lifted back the curved lid and smiled as old memories came back to her.

There was a small mosaic of Luna and herself, made by an admiring stallion many, many years ago. It still sparkled like she'd just received it yesterday. Below it, a tightly wrapped scroll, addressed to her father from a faithful worker, announced that the final stone had been set in place for the Royal Palace of Canterlot, and that the old castle in the Everfree forest would be left to the ravages of time. She still remembered the hallways and passages of the old place, where she and Luna had spent many days and nights exploring its vast, maze-like construction.

As she gingerly sorted through the box a single object caught her attention, a folded length of canvas that had yellowed with time. She set the box aside, carefully opened the old keepsake, and sighed with mixed emotions. The painting's colors had faded and chipped, but it was still unmistakable: Starswirl. Her dear, sweet Starswirl. Like a moment in time captured forever he sat beside her younger self, a foreleg draped around her neck and a loving smile on his face. She still remembered it like it was yesterday, the long hours of holding still for the painter to capture their likenesses. It had taken a week to complete, but the memory it created would be with her until the day she died.

She wiped a tear and laughed at the flood of memories that came back to her, all the little things she hoped she would never forget. Their brief time together had been some of the best years of her life, and not even the unfathomable heartbreak caused by his aging spell mistake had made her miss him any less.

"Princess?"

Celestia jumped at the sudden voice, nearly tipping over the box.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, Princess! I didn't mean to startle you! I can come back later!"

Mended Heart, Canterlot's foremost apothecary and healer, was standing in the doorway with an embarrassed, apologetic smile.

"It's fine, you don't have to go," Celestia said reassuringly, trying to dry her reddened eyes.

"I didn't want to interrupt you, but you missed your check-up. I was just making sure you were okay."

Of course. How could she have forgotten?

"I'm sorry, Mended Heart. I suppose I got so caught up in the past that I neglected the present..."

The kindly, middle-aged unicorn mare with a fading purple coat approached the princess and stopped just before her.

"I haven't seen you open that in a long time."

"It's been a while," Celestia laughed, sniffing back a tear. "It's the first time I've done so since Luna's banishment. I thought maybe seeing something old and familiar would help ease my mind." She patted a spot on the bed next to her. "You can sit, if you like."

Mended Heart stepped up onto the large, ornate bed and saw Celestia grasping the old painting.

"You still miss him, don't you?"

"I do. He was everything to me for a time that now seems all too brief." Celestia looked over at the one mare she truly considered to be a friend these days, the only one she had told about Starswirl in several decades -- besides Tercio. "It's been generations for most ponies. Everyone knows him now as a pioneer of the arcane arts, like some sort of legend of old. But I can still picture him like he was standing right here."

She considered not saying anything further. Some part of her didn't want to bring up the very thing that pulled at her mind and heart. Perhaps it would simply fade away like an old painting if she didn't mention it out loud.

"Mended Heart, there's...there's something I would like your advice on. You are the only one I could possibly speak to about such a thing."

Mended Heart cocked her head in curiosity. "Is there something wrong? Are you not well?"

"No, no, I'm fine -- physically, anyway. It's more of a matter of the heart..."

"Ohhh, I see. What seems to be the matter?"

"I know I don't need to ask, but I'm going to anyway: please don't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you."

"No need to worry about me, Celestia," Mended Heart replied, crossing a hoof over her heart. "Not a word will leave this room."

"Thank you." The princess hesitated, still unsure of herself. "It's...it's about Centurion Tercio."

"The human Praetorian? What of him?"

"Earlier this week, during our visit to Wither Shoals, he said something that has occupied my thoughts ever since."

"And that is...?"

"He...he said he loved me."

Mended Heart gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth.

"He did?"

"In all but the actual word. It was early in the night and we were walking along the shore, just talking like we sometimes do. At some point, whether it was because he has grown comfortable around me, or simply because he felt the time was right, he confessed that he cared about me deeply. He said he's never felt so close to someone, and that he would wait as long as it takes to be with me."

"And what did you say?"

"...I couldn't bring myself to say anything either way. I just said I needed time to think."

Mended Heart put a hoof on Celestia's leg to comfort her.

"Oh, dearie. That is quite the situation. Did you have any idea he felt that way about you?"

"I had some idea. I'd always felt some sort of...spark...when we spoke. I saw it in his eyes. I didn't think much of it -- after all, I've had countless stallions, and even some mares, try to court me over the years. Some of them were even soldiers, like him."

"But this is different?"

"Yes," Celestia nodded. "This time it isn't just a one-sided infatuation. I do care about him. I've come to know him as a kind man who cares deeply about his family and looks after his soldiers. Even with his somewhat forward confession his words weighed heavily on me. Over the last several months we've become close, more like dear friends than Princess and Praetorian. And that frightens me more than I can say."

Pulling up the painting, Celestia held it out for Mended Heart to see.

"Time heals all wounds, but when I think about Starswirl I remember all of the pain that came with it." Tears streamed down her cheeks despite her efforts to keep herself composed. "I watched him die, Mended Heart. I held his hoof as he took his last breath, the first time I'd seen him since he'd hidden himself away from the world out of shame and disgust at his mistake. That is the inevitability I cannot escape: everyone I love, everyone I care for, will die. And every time I lose someone, they become just another memory in this box, another scrap of parchment or an old painting. I...I don't know if I can put myself through that again."

She looked at Mended Heart with glistening eyes and spoke in an unsteady voice.

"There are no more alicorns, no one I can know I will spend the next three thousand years or more with. My mother and father were the last pair that will likely ever walk this earth."

"I don't understand, Princess," Mended Heart said, grasping Celestia's hoof. "Aren't there more out there like you?"

"No, and there hasn't been for some time. I had hope, once; there was a spell from long, long ago that could turn a normal pony into an alicorn, but that knowledge has been lost to time. I will always out-live my lovers. I will out-live Tercio. Just the thought of it..."

Mended Heart offered a sympathetic frown.

"I can't say I know what that's like. I doubt anyone but you could. But what would you do to hide from these fears? Spend the rest of your life alone, unable to grow close to anyone again? Do you really think your mother and father would have wanted such a thing for their daughter? If you ask me, a few decades of love is better than another few decades of loneliness and self-pity."

Celestia smiled behind her tears. "You make it sound so obvious."

"I only say what I believe to be right. Clearly this Tercio has feelings for you, and somewhere deep down you have feelings for him as well. You're both so very different from everypony else; maybe it was destined that you end up together. If I were you, Princess, I would enjoy the time I had with the one I love."

"That's just it, I don't know if I love him. This is all so sudden."

"Forgive me, perhaps 'love' isn't the proper word. Far be it from me to be so bold, but what could it hurt? Give him a chance. Perhaps you'll be glad you did."

"But if anyone finds out--"

Mended Heart scoffed. "Please, dearie. You're the Princess of Equestria. If someone doesn't like the fact that you're romantic with someone of your choosing, they can jump off a cliff. It's your life, not theirs. Let them have their petty rumors." She pointed to the folded painting, lowering her voice to a motherly, calming tone. "Starswirl was there for you when you needed him, but it was so long ago. Of course part of him will always be with you, but maybe it's time you let Tercio be there for you now. After all, it's better to be left with fond memories than none at all."

***

Among the ranks of Equestria's armies there was little love for the Whitetail. After all, it was the deer nation that had attacked Equestria under false pretenses, victims of a slaughter perpetrated by those with no connection to the Legion or its larger contingent of Guard brothers. How foolish they were to close their eyes against the truth, to lead thousands of young bucks to their deaths for a cause without merit.

And yet, General Phalanx relished his victories, even as he wished the Whitetail would surrender so no more blood would have to be shed. A strong initial showing from the Whitetail had quickly turned to a series of routs as the deer forces tried time and again to unite under the banner of the homeland, only to be crushed by the massed ponies across the border. Their best general had fallen in the first fight at the edge of the forest, a ballista bolt splitting his chest in two. Disorganized, the other officers had put up pockets of resistance, but they always fell. It was their command structure, Phalanx mused, that held back the otherwise fierce Whitetail. It was too rigid, too reliant on fear, unbending in its structure and purpose.

Many had doubted Equestria's resolve and fighting ability. Phalanx remembered one dignitary in particular, before the Guard had marched off to battle. A visiting griffon. "You ponies know nothing of war," the warrior had laughed, making a mockery of the gathered Equestrian officers. "You are a nation of artists and bakers, farmers who proudly proclaim tolerance and love over honor and strength. Where will those ideals be when a sword is being driven into your back?"

Standing atop the mountain of rubble that used to be Quillyyn Keep, surveying the destruction with his one good eye, Phalanx wished the smarmy bastard was standing beside him now. Let him see how weak Equestria was when its enemies lay dead at its hooves.

"It's really something, isn't it?"

Centurion Valpone, commander of the 5th Guard Cohort, trotted up beside his old friend. His face and neck was thick with scar tissue, lingering reminders of the Whitetail's horrific arcane fire pots that had caused so much devastation among the Equestrian ranks in the opening battle. Valpone had been badly burned, but insisted on returning to the front after only a week of treatment. His injuries still wept thin streams of blood every time he turned his neck too far to one side, tainting his bandages crimson and dying his light-brown coat.

"It's something, alright," Phalanx answered grimly. "Damn mess is what it is. Took two weeks to pound this place to ruin, even with dozens of siege engines. There's not even enough left standing to use as a lean-to to escape the rains."

Strewn before him was a field of pulverized white rock and wooden timbers that had once been the ancient stronghold of Quillyyn, Whitetail's oldest fortification and the last line of defense before the capitol. It lay shattered and rain-slick, broken by catapults that had hurled massive boulders day and night. Nothing, not even the whitetail's own fire weapons, captured and put to use by the Equestrians, would force the defenders to surrender. They had died to the last, surrounded and cut off, abandoned by their own leaders.

"Too many, General. We lost far too many taking this place."

Phalanx nodded. "What's the final count?"

"At last I saw it? Six hundred and fifteen dead or dying. Double that injured. Whitetail losses are unknown, but growing."

"Shame. Damn shame. But we took this place in the end, by the gods."

Small groups of Guard and Legion soldiers picked through the rubble, dragging out mangled whitetail bodies to add to the pile that still grew after four hours of searching. There had been no cheering after the announcement of the keep's fall, no songs of victory sung by the Equestrians. Months of fighting had left everyone tired, weary of the carnage and the relentless sounds of battle. And the rain. The damnable, cold rain that seemed to never end, drenching everyone and everything it touched. Even when it let up it was nearly impossible to get campfires to stay lit, so soaked was the wood. Equestria's finest had lived on a diet of stale, tasteless wafers and dried fruits wrapped in thick leaves, the only thing that seemed to stand a chance at foiling the downpour.

Morale was at its lowest since the war began, even with victory nearly assured in every battle. Infighting was common among the varied units; the 12th Guard had gotten into a knock-down, drag-out fight against their closest neighbors, the 9th Legion. Thirty good stallions had to be sent back to the capitol for medical treatment, and an equal number were now serving out time in the kitchens on punishment duty. A few had even been charged with attempted murder. They now spent their days back at Guard headquarters in iron cells.

"Makes you long for the days of officers screaming in your ear to keep your shield up, doesn't it?"

Valpone chuckled despite the surroundings. "That it does. Simpler days for sure." He watched a pair of unicorns lift a heavy boulder, his stomach turning as the remains of a deer soldier lay crushed under his shattered armor. "So what happens now?"

Phalanx shrugged. "Now? Evinwiir, I would imagine," he said grimly.

"You really think we'll take the capitol?"

"If we must. It falls on the Princess to make that call. It would be wise to stop here, though, I think. We can fortify the area, call in reinforcements. More importantly, we can let the stallions get away from this place for a while."

"A few weeks home would do us all a great deal of good," Valpone agreed. "Or it could give the whitetail time to regroup and come back in greater numbers."

"The whitetail are as broken as this fortress, my old friend. What strength they have will be held in reserve to defend Evinwiir. I don't think I need to tell you how many lives we'll throw away assaulting that place. Imagine this scene of destruction played out over three miles of high walls. We would win, yes, but our military strength would be in shambles. I cannot commit to such an attack. Not yet, not until we're sure." He motioned to the injured soldiers who lay in long rows at the foot of a field of medicae tents. "We can't forget that it's our devotion to each other that separates us from the deer. But even the strongest of commitments can be shattered by poor morale. The stallions need a break."

Phalanx gave a shrill whistle, bidding his notary to come over with a sharp salute. The young pegasus pulled a length of parchment and a quill from his saddle bag, shielding it from the rain with his hood.

"General, sir?"

"I need you to take a message for me, Blackcurrant. I need your word that you will copy down exactly what I say, because this is going to be read by the Princess herself. Understood?"

"Of course, General," the young Immunes answered quickly.

"Good. Message is as follows: To the attention of Princess Celestia, from General Phalanx, commander of the combined Equestrian military forces in Whitetail."

Blackcurrant wrote as quickly as he could, taking care to make sure the message wasn't ruined by the downpour.

"Dear Princess Celestia: As I speak these words I stand atop the remains of Quillyyn Keep. The battle was fierce but we have emerged victorious. Before us, a scant twenty miles to the west, lies Evinwiir. While I've no doubt our brave soldiers would win the day -- should we choose to assault the city -- I must make my thoughts known on the matter. The stallions are tired of battle and miserable in the relentless rain. Morale is worse by the day, and I fear for their well-being.

It is with an emphatic heart that I ask for the following.

First, we require reinforcements for all of our divisions. I will send exact numbers to the unit commanders in Canterlot soon after this missive, but know that I will need several thousand more soldiers, mostly from Equestrian Guard postings. These soldiers will allow our injured and weary to return home for a period of time yet to be determined, but likely within the realm of two weeks to seventeen days, depending on our needs. A warm, dry bed and a hot meal will do much for their spirits.

Second, I want to make sure that our supplies cannot be destroyed by the constant rains. Thus, I request that all shipments of food, medicine, and personal goods be made water-tight by a layer of wax-covered parchment wrapped in drakon leaves. I cannot overstate how miserable the weather is here. It does not respond in the least to our pegasi's attempts to control it.

Finally, I must ask you to decide how we should proceed once we are returned to full strength. I will be honest: we will take heavy losses if we attack Evinwiir. Thousands would be lost, and our strength in the area might not be enough to quell the unrest that would follow. I pray that you will be able to strike an accord with the Whitetail senate and their puppet chancellor, but, if we must, we will see this through to the end. On this I give you my solemn word."

Valpone nodded in approval.

"May this letter find you in good health, and may your grace be with us."

***

You were a fool, Tercio. A damned fool.

The bitter cold of the early days of winter was fast approaching. The royal garden was feeling its effects, its colorful oranges, reds and yellows turning to dead browns. Where there were once spectacular trees with leaves that rustled in their thousands like the breaking of distant waves, now there was only the skeletal fingers of bare branches reaching for the sky.

Tercio wished his shift was over. The chill wind bit at his exposed ankles and numbed his face, a far cry from the warmth and comfort of palace guard duty.

He wondered if this was a punishment of some kind. It had, after all, been nearly a week since his confession to Celestia on the rocky shore overlooking the Sea of Lights. He had not heard a word from her since, and she almost seemed to take the most circuitous route to and from her daily dealings in order to avoid seeing him. Sometimes he would see her in the distance, flanked by her Praetorians or her pegasi in charge of the sky wagon, and each time she did not notice him. Didn't notice, or didn't care to notice.

What were you thinking, making such a confession? It was too sudden, too overwhelming. You've driven her away.

It was, at times, all he could think about. Every word spoken to her could be recalled in detail as clear as glass, and he fretted over each and every one. He had come to the conclusion very quickly that he was far too forward in his confession. After all, had he not been on the receiving end of a very ill-advised romance from Sapphire? True, he hadn't drugged the princess to get his way, but it was similar enough to make him uncomfortable the longer he thought about it.

At the time he'd felt justified, even confident; after all, they'd shared many a pleasant conversation together, and she'd always seemed to enjoy his company as much as he enjoyed hers. But could she truly love him in return? Judging by her complete silence, that answer was a definitive "no".

And yet, he held onto a tiny ember of hope. Celestia was not one to simply cease contact with someone she'd come to know so well. She was far too caring for anything of the sort.

All he could do was wait, and wonder.

***

"Just ahead, they're coming from the south!"

Steel Spark galloped back to his spot alongside the forest trail, where a net of vines and leaves propped up by sticks had been erected to conceal some of Equestria's finest soldiers and their battle-scarred griffon companion. They were hunkered low, hiding their silhouettes against the dark forest.

"How many?" Victus asked, craning his neck to catch glimpses of the flickering torch light that marked the latest in a string of cultist supply parties. Each one prior had been allowed to pass without incident, none the wiser that the 44th Legion's best soldiers were only a scant few paces away.

"Eight, maybe ten. Mostly ponies, with two deer and possibly a zebra."

"Not too bad, then." He turned to the others. "Be ready. We will strike fast and hard."

The sound of wagon wheels crunching through the dirt path echoed around them, drowning out the distant roars and unnerving cries of the Everfree forest's night creatures. Quietly, the Legionaries drew their swords or readied their spears and bows.

"Let's hope this is the right one," Battle-Master Gilias said just above a whisper, unsheathing her twin, curved blades.

"It had better be. After all, it was your people who supplied the intel." Victus smirked. "Or do you not trust the mighty Griffon Skyguard?"

"I trust them more than I trust these Nightmare Moon cocks."

"Then I guess we'll find out."

The supply wagons came into view a moment later, a pair of carts pulled by earth ponies that were flanked by several figures cloaked in dark blue garments. Some of them idly chatted with one another, though none of them seemed particularly alert. Only those at the front and rear carried torches, and those were the first Victus ordered to be targeted. He looked to each of his soldiers, six in all, including Gilias, and they nodded in turn. Slowly, he raised a hoof and held it in the air. Just a few seconds more...

Victus dropped his foreleg, and in an instant three pila were arcing through the air. Two of them found their mark, digging themselves deep into the sides of two cultists who dropped to the ground with pained shouts, their torches rolling around and casting harsh shadows amid the confusion. Two bows joined the ambush, unleashing arrow after arrow as the Legionaries charged down from their overwatch with a battle shout. Victus was the first in, using his wings to propel himself at great speed and slamming into the nearest cultist, a tall buck clad in crystalline armor. They tumbled end over end before slamming into the wheel of the closest wagon, a twisted heap of kicking legs and shouted curses. He heard the others engage their own targets as he slashed at the buck's throat, swearing as the blade deflected off a quickly raised pauldron. A powerful kick sent Victus lurching back, giving the buck time to yank a long, conical dagger from his side and stomp his forelegs to send his armor-mounted knee blades locking into place. Now facing the prospect of fighting three blades at once, Victus kept his distance and only lunged forward to keep the deer guessing.

Around him, the other Legionaries were having better luck. Gilias had made the first kill with her blades, slicing open the stomach of a pegasus before stabbing through his skull. Sirtis landed a crushing blow with his mace, caving in the rib cage of a zebra that had tried to buck him in the jaw.

The noise and commotion of the sudden, brutal attack had sent some of the cultists running, but well-aimed arrows found their marks and cut short their escapes. The victims lay moaning on the ground, rapidly bleeding out.

It took less than a minute for most of the ambushed cultists to fall. The buck standing before Victus, however, refused to surrender an inch. He had backed himself into a space between the two carts, leaving only his front open to attack. Arrows pinged and scraped off his green, glassy armor and he shouted in harsh deertongue as the legionaries stood before him with bloodied swords. It was a narrow angle of attack, allowing only a single pony to fit through the gap at a time. The first to make a move, Chiron, found himself beaten back by a furious onslaught of stabbing attacks. Several found their mark, and he was forced to step away with bleeding wounds on his forelegs and shoulder.

"Disgusting equines," the deer said in broken Equestrian. "Cowards attack weak only! Not fight like soldiers!"

"Surrender and we won't gut you," Gilias demanded, holding a blade in one claw and and a torch in the other. Orange light reflected off the deer's armor and illuminated the stream of blood that painted his chest red.

"Gry-fin no better. Hide behind equine. Like old times." He spat blood and tucked himself further into the wedge. "Kyyl fal'een, d'o'braskii!"

"I don't know what you just said, but I'm pretty sure I don't like it." Gilias took a step forward, then unfurled her wings. The defiant deer dug in his hooves and prepared for her attack, only to lift a foreleg and grunt in surprise as she tossed the burning torch directly at him. It bounced off his leg guards and singed his fur, forcing him to turn aside for only a few heartbeats. But it was enough. The deer lost sight of her, and as he shouted in his language she attacked from above, plunging her sword through the gap between his neck and back armor. With both claws she shoved with all of her might, forcing the weapon deep. The buck screamed and desperately slashed behind him with his dagger, drawing blood where it punctured her studded leather wrist guards, but it was a futile effort. In a matter of seconds he was splayed out on the ground, a large pool of blood forming under him. Gilias drew her sword out and hacked away repeatedly at the gap, drawing long streams and rivulets of crimson.

"Fuck! You! Hiding! Behind! Equines!"

With a final slash she severed the deer's head, then dropped to her knees, breathing heavily.

"Fucking whitetail. Our kind used to eat you! Maybe we should do so again."

Victus trotted over and placed a hoof on her shoulder.

"Are you alright, Gilias?"

"Just a cut. I'm fine."

He nodded. "Are there any injuries?"

"I'll live," Chiron answered. "Hurts like the nine hells, though."

The others answered that they were unharmed, except for Rockfall, who had suffered a deep gash to his right foreleg that left it hanging uselessly. The big stallion was lying on his side, taking deep, sucking breaths as waves of pain coursed through him. Thankfully, no Legionaries had died.

"Get Rockfall patched up as best we can. We'll have the apothecary look at him when we return. Spark, I want you to take care of Chiron. If you need extra supplies take them from the carts."

"Yes, Decanus," Steel Spark said with a salute.

"Right, let's see what we've got here."

Victus and two legionaries shoved the heavy lids from a clutch of earthen containers, holding torches above them to see their contents.

"Grains...grasses...spare garments...scattered coins...did we just attack a convoy of dirt farmers and tailors?"

"Most of them weren't armed," Steel Spark said. The realization was beginning to dawn on Victus and his soldiers -- perhaps they truly had attacked the wrong people. They were Nightmare Moon cultists, without a doubt -- the garments denoted them as such -- but most did not fight back.

Gilias hobbled over. "There's got to be more than that. Keep looking!" Pot after pot was tipped over, but still nothing of value was to be found. With a shout of frustration Gilias shoved the pots off the carts. "Emperor's tits!"

"Did we just slaughter innocents?" Spark asked, looking at Victus with dread.

"They were not innocents, they were followers of the fallen princess!" Sertis objected.

"They did not fight like soldiers! Only that damned whitetail was of any import!"

"Better we slay them now than let them kill Equestrians later!"

Victus slammed his gladius into the side of the the cart, lodging it deep in the wooden planks.

"Enough! You're Legionaries, damnit, act like it!"

An uneasy silence fell, broken only by distant sounds of forest beasts.

"Take what supplies you can carry. Food, medicine. I want the bodies searched. Perhaps one of them carries intel we can bring back."

Silently the stallions went about their task, picking through bloodied wrappings and shattered remains. The attack had been brutal and efficient, a fact that now haunted them as they stepped around scattered body parts and stinking innards.

Gilias whistled and waved everyone over.

"Take a look at our asshole whitetail friend. Notice anything?"

"Besides the fact that he's missing a head?"

"Yes, besides that, smart ass."

Chiron poked at the crystalline armor.

"This is whitetail in make, without a doubt."

"That alone doesn't mean much. We've seen stolen armor on numerous Nightmare worshipers already. Look closer, under the pauldron. See where it meets the arm guards?"

He squinted against the sporadic lighting from a torch. A small image of a snake over a tri-pointed shield was etched into the glassy surface, surprisingly detailed for its size.

"What is that? Some kind of devotion symbol?"

"Not quite," Gilias answered. "That's a unit emblem. I've seen it on some of the bodies we pulled from the battle at the onset of the war. Apparently it marks this antlered prick as one of the elite."

Victus looked at the body, then up at Gilias.

"Are you saying he's with the Whitetail military?"

"That, or he managed to kill the guy who owned it and take it for himself. The way he fought, I'm leaning toward the former."

Chiron swore.

"Let's not jump to conclusions," Victus warned. "All the same, we will report this to Legatus Applespice once we return."

Gilias snickered. "Applespice. You ponies, I swear."

"Remove the armor piece and keep it safe, we'll need it for proof. Everyone else, we'll--"

A sudden rustling behind them caused everyone to twist around, weapons at the ready. It was coming from their former ambush spot.

"Be ready," Victus ordered, then took to the air. He circled the small dugout twice, seeing a deer-shaped silhouette hiding in a pile of leaves. Cautiously he descended, staying just out of possible weapon range. "Whoever is there, make yourself known! You have my word that you will not be harmed if you do not resist!"

A small figure slowly poked its head out. Victus landed and approached, then stopped.

"Legionaries, lower your weapons," he shouted, "it is safe."

Gilias was the first to arrive. She gasped at the sight.

"Emperor, it's a kid!"

The others crowded around, and the small deer tucked himself back into the leaves, trembling.

"A fawn?" Chiron asked in disbelief. "A whitetail fawn, no less. What the hell is a kid doing out here?"

"I don't know, but I mean to find out." Victus lowered his head and spoke softly. "Are you alone here, child? Are you hurt?"

The fawn simply stared back at him, its lip trembling and ears flattened against its short, stubby bumps that would one day be antlers.

Victus turned to one of the others. "Rockfall, I need you to translate for me."

Rockfall nodded. "Right. I'll do what I can."

"Good. Ask him if he's alone, and if he's wounded."

"Aeswiild," he began. The fawn's ears perked up at the sound of its own language. "Faraas caer binisal? Faraas o'dalyn?"

He's improving, Victus thought. Learning Deertongue had been a wise move.

"N-Nefiir. Dalanas fyyn nara a'lys su...sukiil."

Rockfall shook his head.

"He's by himself, and unharmed. Terrified, but unharmed."

Victus realized they were all spattered with blood and gore, especially Gilias. He would have been terrified, too.

"Now ask him how he got here, and where his parents are."

Again Rockfall spoke, though the longer questions and sharp pains of his wound caused him to stumble and have to repeat himself a few times to the young fawn.

"He...he says he was with the others. He ran away when the fighting started. If I understand correctly, he says he has not seen his parents for a very long time." He asked a question to the fawn in deertongue. "Four moons. That was when he saw them last."

"And who were the others? In the caravan?"

"They were...well, it doesn't have an exact translation, but the closest I can say is that they were his caretakers. He was given to them."

"Given?"

"Yes." Another string of deer language. "His mother and father were 'sleeping and would not wake'. He was given to 'the ones in blue', as he calls them, by...'elders with golden chains'. It's a whitetail cultural thing."

"Given to others. Then he's a slave?"

Rockfall grimaced. "Seems that way."

A commotion swept through the Legionary ranks. Gilias swore to herself. The young fawn spoke again, pointing in the direction of the carts.

"The elders promised he would see his parents again if he went with the ones in blue. He wants to know where Linilyyn is. He keeps asking me."

"I know that name," Gilias said. "Whitetail settlement on the edge of the border with Equestria. Small place, been there maybe six, seven years. It was ransacked by cultists a few months ago. One of my contacts told me about it."

"That poor kid," someone said.

"Can you ask him his name, Rockfall?"

The little deer answered, now on his short legs.

"Aliis."

Victus reached into his satchel and pulled out a small pouch of roughly-chopped carrots and apples, then pulled the cork from his water skin.

"It's okay, Aliis. You're safe now. I promise." He offered the food and drink, setting it on the ground. The deer approached cautiously, sniffing at it, then sat on his haunches and scooped up the pouch. Hunger soon took over, and he chewed at his meal even as he wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Chiron, Rockfall, Gilias, if you would?" Victus pulled them aside, speaking just above a whisper so as not to disturb the foal. "What do you think?"

"What do I think? I think we were justified in killing every last one of those bastards," Gilias answered

"We still don't know they were all guilty," Rockfall added.

"They're slavers, Equestrian. That is all the proof we need." She kicked at the dirt. "Fucking scum. I'd heard of the cults taking slaves to convert to their beliefs, but to actually see it..."

"Worse than that," Chiron said, "cultist slavers with connections to the Whitetail military itself."

"What, you mean the military sanctioned an attack on its own settlement? That seems hard to believe even for the whitetail." Victus looked back at the fawn, who was, thankfully, still eating. "Still...evidence being what it is, it's entirely possible. We'll take the foal back with us to the encampment. They'll help him from there. Understood?"

As they came back the young fawn asked something to Rockfall.

"He says he wants to give us something as a thank-you for the meal."

Victus smiled comfortingly and approached. Aliis dug at the ground for a few seconds, pulling back wet soil to reveal a small, white emblem the size of a large coin. He handed it to Victus and spoke in deertongue.

"Aliis says he liked to keep this with him when they were on the road. He had to hide it in his pack or the others would get angry with him. Apparently he really likes the design."

Victus wiped away the dirt and grime, and his eyes went wide with recognition. There, in carved ivory, was the image of a deer and a pony chasing one another, their bodies forming a circle around a central star.

"This...this is an emblem. The emblem. Just like the one we tried to procure at the cultist camp."

After so many long weeks of searching, he was finally holding the very object that he'd been after. He didn't know why it was so important to the Nightmare Moon followers, but now he intended to find out.

"He wants to know if you like it," Rockfall said.

Victus placed a hoof over his chest and smiled warmly.

"Tell him I like it very much."

24 - A Lifetime in a Single Moment

There were not many who in Equestria's history who could claim to have served in every branch of the military, and fewer still who had lived to tell about it. It was good, then, that Legatus Cestus considered himself to be blessed with luck. A veteran of the tribal skirmishes and numerous other small conflicts, Cestus had spent time in the Equestrian Guard, Royal Guard, Praetorian Guard, and the Legion, each time picking up new skills and points of view. Presently, he served as the advisor to Princess Celestia on all troop movements to and from the area around Canterlot.

Celestia had always liked the old stallion, even from his days as a rank-and-file soldier. Time had not been kind to his features -- his once brilliant orange mane had faded to an off-white color, and his wings could hardly carry him more than a few hundred yards at a time -- but his sharp mind had maintained its edge. The princess was thankful for his company as they both surveyed a large map of Equestria and eastern Whitetail, where dozens of unit markers denoted the various cohorts that had fought the Whitetail all the way back to their capitol.

"Looks like the deerfolk are regretting their aggression," Cestus said. He knocked a hoof on the map, speaking confidently. "Kar'nodaan, Pilynquaas, Caeniila...and now, Quillyyn. If I didn't know any better I'd say the whitetail are letting us have their land. Not that I'd complain. I hear Whitetail forest is a great place to visit if you're looking for crippling depression and torrential rain. Oh, and monsters. Can't forget them."

Celestia had only heard part of his boast, busily reading through a scroll that had arrived earlier in the day from General Phalanx. Attached to the scroll were several notes on casualty statistics and requests to unit commanders for further goods and reinforcements. The sheer number of wounded and dead over the last four months was never something she could fully come to terms with, though she despised the fact that she had, against her will, become somewhat used to the reports. Good Equestrian citizens were becoming statistics. She wished she could mourn them, but every time she glanced at the numbers she simply felt numb.

It had not all been bad news, thankfully. Promised supplies from Zevran and Skytalon were finally arriving, and Phalanx had assured her that Quillyyn Keep had fallen, which left the nation of Whitetail with a very small number of options. She was hopeful for peace, but fearful of razing Evinwiir. It was, truth be told, not something she had considered to any real degree. Removing the senate and chancellor from power would have made her a conqueror, an expansionist no better than the Cervidaens of old. And yet, she had not heard from the Whitetail chancellor for nearly three months. If only there was some way...

"...elements of the 18th Legion and 108th Guard could be sent in shortly. What do you think?"

Celestia blinked, finding Cestus staring at her inquisitively.

"I'm sorry, Legatus. Could you say that again? I was distracted."

"Reinforcements, Your Highness. General Phalanx is asking for reinforcements so that he may send his veteran soldiers back to their families for a time. I will need to speak with the garrison commanders in the area but I believe we can do so without compromising our strength in the west. Believe me when I say that time away from the battlefield is worth its weight in gold."

"Right, morale," she said, forcing herself to focus. "Pass word to the local commanders that they are to draw up a list of able-bodied stallions to send to the front. We will need cooks, apothecaries, supply runners, smithies, whatever they can spare. All convoys will need to pack two weeks worth of provisions, in the event of inclement weather. Once they arrive, they should...should..."

She put a hoof to her head and sighed.

"Princess?"

"Why won't they just surrender?" she asked, exasperated and annoyed. "The whitetail, I mean. Are they really so eager to see their civilization fall? Or are they counting on us not attacking?"

"I cannot begin to speak for the whitetail or their military."

"Neither can their chancellor, apparently. Am I so wrong for not wanting to burn Evinwiir to the ground, Cestus? The last thing I want to be seen as is a tyrant or some sort of...conquering empress. The days of Equestria's expansion by blade are long gone."

"Yet the other nations are watching this war with interest. We cannot afford to be appear weak, Princess. Though, in fairness, I understand your point of view. Personally I would bombard the city's fortifications with a prolonged campaign of siege. It would take months, perhaps years, but it would whittle their resources to nothing. They would be forced to surrender by way of our cutting off their supplies."

Celestia lifted a unit emblem from the table, floating it before her. The carved, gleaming obsidian figure of a crested Legion helm bobbed as she turned it round, its surface catching the room's warm torch light.

"I won't commit to such an attack. I can't, Cestus. It goes counter to everything we stand for."

The old stallion sighed. "Ultimately it's your word, Princess, not mine, that decides the fate of Whitetail. I can only advise that we do not tarry. Give the stallions some time home, sure. Rebuild our strength in the west, certainly. But it will be the dead of winter before long, and the only thing worse than attacking a fortified position is attacking it with snow up to your chest. If the deer have the entire winter to rebuild, well..."

"I understand," Celestia answered. "I still hold out hope that Chancellor Vinawyll wishes for an end to hostilities. If I can persuade Cervidae or Skytalon to join me in convincing the whitetail and their leaders..." She shook her head. "I need time. I will not give up the dream of peace so easily."

"As you wish. For now I will relay your message to the others in and around Canterlot. Word should spread to our secondary outposts within the week." Cestus snapped off a crisp salute, his green veteran cloak flowing with the motion. "Do not hesitate to call on me any time you wish my input."

Celestia bowed her head in respect, hearing him turn and trot across the room. He stopped and motioned to the map table with a tip of his head.

"I think you're a kind soul, Princess, and I think you truly believe in the principles set out by King Argo and Queen Aurora. They say history is not written in kind words, and I'm inclined to believe it. But I hope you can prove them wrong."

***

"Mail call! You know the deal, everyone gather 'round so I don't have to yell."

Fifty Praetorians from First and Third Barracks quickly formed a semi-circle around Imperator Stonewall. There was an excitement in the air, and for good reason: for the first time in months there was a chance of returning home for a time. It had started with the front lines and moved east from there, word of Equestria's repeated victories spreading like wildfire along with the hope of seeing family again. Some of the veteran Praetorians already lived in Canterlot, and for them it meant a welcome break from palace duty.

Tercio hoped his name was among those called for the first wave of leave. Seeing his parents -- and hopefully his brother -- was a wonderful thought, especially with Equestria's biggest holiday, Hearth's Warming, coming up at the end of the month.

"As soon as I get back, I'm gonna knock on this pretty little mare's door and do a little catching up," a newer pegasus inductee, Cloudtop, said to anyone who would listen.

"There are worse ways to be welcomed home," Rimeberry added.

"What about you, Rime?" Tercio asked. The big earth pony lifted an upturned hoof in a shrug.

"Probably check in on my nephew and his vineyard. It's almost the right weather for ice wine, and the kid's still pretty new at it."

"Bring back a bottle for me, won't you? If I have to hear you describe its taste again I'm going to go mad."

Rimeberry smirked. "I'll try to remember the ugly human and his requests. No promises, though."

"All I can ask."

Stonewall stomped his wooden foreleg on the floor.

"Right, quiet down. There's a few things to cover. Let's see..." He flipped through pages of scrolls, mumbling to himself as he read the missives from around Canterlot. "When your name is called step over to the right, there's a table set up for all this shit. I have mail for...Thunderburst, Olive Branch, Nightowl, Perantius, Acasius, Evergreen, Golden Wheat, Cloudtop, Cloudswirl, Silver Cloud..."

He looked up from his list and cocked an eyebrow.

"What is it with you pegasi and clouds, exactly? Anyway...Oriscio, Snowcap, Aether Weave aaaand Amistorum. You all received scrolls today. Rimeberry and Hammer Haft, there's a package for each of you. Sign off with the quartermaster and you're good. That's all for now."

"What about our leave?" someone asked, others echoing him.

"You'll get it soon enough. Rear echelon units like ourselves have low priority, but you should be home in time for the holiday, or close to it. And no bitching! Else you might find yourself at the bottom of that list. Dismissed!"

The crowd slowly drifted apart with a general murmuring of commotion. Tercio was disappointed to not have anything from home, but it had only been a few days since the last letter. At least he could write something back to occupy his time.

"Not you, Krosus," Stonewall said, getting the human's attention.

"Sir?"

"I've got something I was told to deliver to you personally. Royal stamp and everything." He passed the wrapped scroll and waited for Tercio to open it. "Who the hell'd you piss off now? Don't tell me they assigned you to kitchen duty."

"Not quite..." Tercio answered, reading over the scroll. "It would appear the Princess has requested my presence this evening. She says it is 'of a matter of the utmost importance'..."

"Huh. Sounds serious. Surprised I haven't heard about it, come to think of it."

Tercio could guess what it was. The missive didn't sound particularly encouraging. He felt his spirits drop even as he re-read the words a second time, then a third.

"A...a personal matter, most likely," he managed to say without letting his worry come through.

"Right, right, none of my business. I'll leave you to it, then." Stonewall promptly trotted off, then called back over his shoulder. "And don't forget about your leadership course! You've got two hours to prepare!"

Compared to the inevitability of seeing Celestia for the first time in over a week, a training class seemed incredibly unimportant. Still, they paid him to be a soldier, not to think about the outcome of ill-timed confessions. He'd do what he had to, and the rest was up to fate.

***

Canterlot's Castle's largest spire held much significance to the nation of Equestria, built in a time of upheaval and uncertainty when the three races were still feuding among themselves. The time of Unity had not been free of conflict.

These days, the great spire served as a way to look back upon the past through the many frescoes, paintings, artifacts and stained glass windows that adorned its walls and arched ceiling. To Princess Celestia it was a source of memories that no ponies currently alive could ever hope to imagine in detail.

One area of the tower in particular had become a favorite of hers, a hanging platform that jutted off from the side three-quarters of the way up. The view it provided was unparalleled, and she often took her meals there in an effort to re-center herself and focus on the day's trials to come.

And, of course, it was the place she'd first had dinner with Tercio. Though it had only been a few short months, the casual attitude of that night now seemed so very distant.

As the wind played through her mane and caressed her skin with cold gusts of an early winter's eve, her silken dress trailing behind her like water over a stone, she waited nervously for him to stand before her once more. Tercio, the steadfast soldier who had worked his way through the ranks with his own skill and dedication. The human who had always been looked upon as a bizarre outcast, a curiosity. And now he had admitted to falling for the most powerful, sought-after mare in Equestria.

She had to laugh, despite herself. It was such an unlikely story. Had it not happened to her personally she might have dismissed it as rumor and rhetoric. Her amused smile quickly faded as the reality of her situation came rumbling back like a thunderclap. Long minutes passed, each feeling more drawn out than the last, until finally she heard the twin doors open behind her.

"Princess, Sir Tercio Krosus is here to see you," her aide said in a polite, formal tone. Celestia smiled and thanked her.

Dressed in his formal tunic and draped in his toga, Tercio saluted with a fist over his chest and bowed slightly. Warmer layers of cotton underclothing peeked out from his tunic, insulation against the cold.

"Good evening, Celestia," he said. If he was nervous or unsure of himself he did not show it. Perhaps, Celestia thought, his time around her had taught him a few things about appearances.

"Good evening, Tercio," she replied. "How have you been?"

"I have been well, thank you. And yourself?"

"As well as can be expected in such busy times."

She hesitated before continuing -- it was so formal, so uncomfortable compared to the last time they had spoken. She knew neither of them wanted to be the first to say anything about their possible feelings for each other, but she could not simply come out and say so.

"Will you sit with me?" she asked, motioning to a row of cushions that sat next to a low table. A small bowl of fruit and a few glasses with flavored water had been prepared for her by the kitchen, but she hardly felt like touching either of them.

"Of course."

Tercio waited for her to seat herself, then took his place beside her. They sat in uncomfortable silence for what felt like a long time, staring at the near-by mountain range that was gradually being dusted with the season's first snows.

"Do you have any news?" Celestia asked, hoping to break the ice. "Any word from family and friends?"

"No more than I've heard from others. There is hope of being sent home for a time, though understandably those on the front lines get priority. I do not mind waiting, but I do wish I could be home at the same time as Victus. I can only imagine what he's gone through since the war started. His unit has been on the forefront of the battlefield since the first engagement."

"I will see what I can do," she said. Whatever the night may bring, she still prided herself on taking care of her Praetorians to the best of her abilities. Arranging for some time with his brother and parents might be just what Tercio needed.

"Thank you." Tercio cleared his throat nervously. "You seem to have been quite busy since Wither Shoals. I trust everything is alright?"

"In Canterlot? Yes. But across the border it's...complicated. Even as the war reaches its inevitable end I find myself wishing for a simpler way to cease hostilities once and for all. Those in power in Whitetail refuse to speak with me, even after repeated requests. Perhaps they truly believe me a tyrant after all."

"Then they are fools," Tercio added quickly. "I have heard the rumors: you have not sacked Evinwiir, despite having the capability to do so. A tyrant would not refuse to slaughter civilians in their homes, to burn them to the ground. That is not our way."

"I'm glad you still believe." She managed a light smile and said, "I have others in the military saying I must take action, and take it now. To them, ideals take a secondary position to victory."

Tercio shrugged. "I am not a leader of armies, Princess. I can only speak on behalf of myself and those I serve with."

"And what do they say? What do they think I should do?"

"Some are split, but most have stopped viewing the deer as evil some time ago. The whitetail are simply our enemies in a time of war. If you want evil -- true, shameless evil -- then one needs look no further than the followers of Nightmare Moon. Murder, slavery, destruction...the stories I hear are disturbing, to say the least."

"I know. Believe me, I know all too well." Celestia dipped her head in shame. "Every time we find another camp set up to honor Luna's twisted, fallen persona, or come across another settlement burned to the ground, I relive that horrible night. Once Whitetail has surrendered we can finally turn our attention fully to disbanding those who taint the good memory of my sister. I do not know if she has a hoof in guiding them herself, or if they merely follow some twisted ideology, but I will find out, and I will put an end to it."

Tercio reached for a glass, his throat parched and his mouth dry from worry. Did she actually call upon him to discuss strategy?

"So...what will you do when this is all over?" he asked, trying to tilt the conversation just a bit in his favor. "After Whitetail has surrendered and the cults no longer pose a threat?"

Celestia thought for a moment before answering.

"I imagine life will resume as it always has. My duties as Princess do not cease just because a war has come to an end. There are always negotiations to partake in, dignitaries to entertain. I imagine our relations with Whitetail and its Cervidaen neighbors will be strained, but I am prepared for it. Or so I should hope." She faced him with the warmth of the crackling brazier reflecting in her eyes, its licking flames casting a soft glow on her formal outfit and crown, and Tercio found it hard to focus on his thoughts once more. "And what about you? What is in store for Centurion Tercio Krosus?"

"Honestly? I have not given it much thought. I may end up staying in the military until I retire; It's certainly a good posting, and I cannot complain about the pay..."

"But...?" she prodded.

Tercio looked at her and chuckled to himself. "But...I'm not sure if I can see myself being a crotchety old war horse like Stonewall or his ilk. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing but the deepest respect for the Imperator and everyone who continues to serve in their old age, but do I really want to be hefting a sword and shield for so long? I don't know. Not yet, at any rate." He looked out over the horizon -- somewhere out there, his home still waited. "It's funny...not long ago my father told me I would start to miss the simplicity and honest work of tending a field. After the attack on Canterlot, I am starting to think he may have been right."

"Parents usually are," Celestia quipped.

"So I've learned! It's just...I don't think I'm ready to give up being a Praetorian just yet. I have some good years left in me. Maybe one day I'll settle down with a mare I care for. Someone I enjoy being with. Whoever that might be."

An uneasy silence hung in the air. They both knew what the implication of his statement was.

"That sounds very nice," Celestia said quietly.

"It does..."

The gentle burning of firewood and the cold gales blowing in from the mountains were the only sounds between them once more. Celestia ventured a glance out of the corner of her eye, seeing Tercio staring into the distance. When she finally spoke it was in a hushed voice, barely louder than the wind.

"I assume you realize that I didn't call upon you to idly discuss the war, Tercio."

"I figured as much," he answered, turning back to her. Celestia felt herself shaking, her heart racing in her chest. She worried that the entirety of Equestria could see her and know her every thought. "Reading the summons filled me with both dread and elation. We have not spoken since Wither Shoals, and I thought...well, a lot of things. I feared you would never wish to speak with me again, that I had driven you away entirely."

Celestia frowned. "Do you think me so callous?"

"No, never. But I had no way of knowing. The mind creates the most terrible possibilities..."

"I'm sorry to have put you in such a position. I truly am."

Tercio gave a short, humorless laugh. "It is I who should apologize. Such a foolish thing to do, being so forward and confessing like a scared colt. As if the very ideas of tact and maturity have no bearing on my decisions."

All of the hours she had spent thinking of what to say, and how to say it, had been of no help. The more she considered her words the more they became a jumbled mess that refused to come to the surface. Instead, she steeled herself and asked the simplest question she could imagine.

"Tercio, do you...do you love me?"

She expected him to react with shock, or relief. But he only stared back at her, casting his gaze aside as he tried to answer.

"I think...I think 'love' is a very strong word, and I would hesitate use it just yet. Perhaps if I--"

"Please. I have to know. Call it a confession if you like, but tell me truthfully."

He inhaled deeply, his breath faltering.

"...yes."

Celestia felt a flood of emotions come over her like a cold wave. So many nights awake in her bed, so many countless minutes and hours wondering if it had been merely a momentary infatuation. Now there could be no doubt.

"I love you, Celestia. From the moment we met you have been in my thoughts, and no matter how absurd I knew it to be I always held onto this...this notion, this tiny ember of hope, that you might care the same about me."

He placed a hand to her chest, felt her heart beating just as fast as his own.

"Am I so wrong for it? Do you feel it as well?"

Slowly, she draped a foreleg over his arm, her eyes glimmering.

"...I do. I spent all this time wondering whether it was a mistake. I was so scared, Tercio. I worry about things that no one else in the world has to. I held onto painful memories and dreaded the thought of more, but I was wrong." She sniffed back the tears that ran down her cheeks and grasped his hands. "I feel it every time we speak. You understand me better than anyone else I have met in a very long time, and I always know that I can come to you with anything. I don't know if what we have between us is truly destined to be, but I am willing to try."

She caught her breath and looked into his familiar brown eyes, finding relief and joy and uncertainty that mirrored her own. In a way, it was comforting. It gave her the courage to continue as she finally said what she had been wanting to, the truth that had been hidden behind half-truths, for what felt like a very long time.

"I...I want to be with you, Tercio."

It was as if a great weight had been taken from her chest, and as she considered her confession she felt his hand lift her chin. She did not know what more to say, but found that, perhaps, she didn't have to say anything else at all. She caressed her cheek against his palm, her eyes locked with his, and slowly, and nervously, met him in a comforting kiss. For a few heartbeats nothing else mattered in the world, and she let herself become lost in the moment that had been so long in coming. She had finally bared her soul, and it was wonderful. Regretfully she pulled away, the moment passing far too quickly.

"You've no idea burden you've eased from my heart," Tercio said with a relieved smile. Celestia laughed with him, all of her stress finally finding an outlet. It felt...right. She placed her forehead against his and ran a hoof down his cheek.

"We'll make this work." She gently kissed his hand and smiled. "Somehow, we'll make this work. I promise."

They embraced each other lovingly, gently rocking with the gusting wind, and for the first night in many months they were free to think of nothing at all.

26 - Struggle

Cold weather training was always a miserable affair. No matter how many times he did it, Tercio still despised the snow, the biting cold and the rough terrain. He and thirty others had started their long trek up the mountain nearest Canterlot nearly four hours ago, and he had long since lost most of the feeling in his hands and feet. Insulating under garments and boots could only do so much to fight off the encroaching snows and blowing winds. He swore to himself, wishing he had the warmth of a natural coat like all the others, even if they weren't particularly happy with their situations either.

"F-Fuckin' cold and shit," a voice stammered beside him between chattering teeth and clanking armor.

"I don't see what you're complaining about, Rime." Frost Wind trotted alongside the shivering earth pony as if it was the middle of summer. "You should be used to it by now. Don't you come from a vineyard that makes ice wine? I mean, one would expect such a place to be cold."

"First of all, I don't go stomping through snow if I can help it," Rimeberry retorted with a look of barely hidden resentment. "Second, fuck you and your...your pegasus weather resistance. It's even in your name, for the love of all things decent!"

Frost Wind shrugged. "Not everyone can be blessed with being a pegasus, my friend."

"Apparently not everyone can be blessed with knowing when to shut their damn m-mouths, either..."

Imperator Stonewall, standing beside the formation, knocked his gladius against his shield.

"Are you two ladies are done slap-fighting? Because if I have to step between you the snow is gonna be the least of your problems."

"I don't know how you can stand it up here," Tercio said, stepping through a snow drift that came up to his knees.

"You learn to deal with it. Besides, I'll be damned if I'm gonna let you whiny bunch of colts show me up."

It took another half-hour until they reached their destination, a snow-covered plateau that overlooked the decidedly warmer valley below. The city of Canterlot could just barely be seen clinging to the mountains in the distance, with the castle's main spires being the only thing separating it from the horizon. Clumps of bare bushes and evergreen trees dotted the encampment site and, despite the passage of time and weather, one could still see evidence of Praetorian activity from years prior: stone fire pits, rusted tent stakes, and bits of scrap metal littered the area.

Setting up the big, canvas tents took a long time, thanks to the blustery winds, and it was miserable going. Only once they'd secured their long shelters and set out their fires did they get the chance to warm up and get some hot food in their stomachs. Some of the veteran Praetorians, Tercio included, took the opportunity to catch an hour or two of sleep, exhausted from the climb, knowing full well that they would likely not have another chance for a while to come. Warm and comfortable in his sleeping roll, he'd quickly entered a dreamless sleep. It was over all too soon.

"Winter combat drill in five! Let's move it, Praetorians!"

Stonewall's voice filled the tent, answered by grumbled swears and complaints. Tercio had to force himself to get up once more, and his legs and back protested as he strapped on his armor. He wished he was back in the barracks, in those damned uncomfortable cots. Even they seemed a luxury right now.

"I don't see the old guard joining us," Thunderburst said bitterly. 'Old guard' was what he and the others called the senior Praetorians from the other barracks, the officers, all of whom were back in Canterlot as they spoke.

"They were doing this before some of us were even able to walk. I'd say they've earned the right to sit on their asses."

The dark-coated pegasus scoffed. "At least Stonewall knows what leadership is. Hard-ass though he may be, he's certainly earned my respect, unlike the others." A chorus of agreements answered him.

"Don't let him hear you say that," someone else added, getting laughter in return.

Tercio had just finished securing his purple cloak when the old stallion opened the tent flap once more.

"Right, everyone out! Move your asses, fillies, or you'll be digging shit trenches for the next two days!"

The harsh cold was like a kick to the gut as he stepped outside. Even though the clouds had partially cleared and the sun was shining through he felt no relief, his breath coming out in wispy puffs and his skin prickling with goose flesh. His spirits lifted somewhat as he noticed the stone circle that had been laid out in the middle of the trio of long tents; perhaps some sparring would help him forget about the biting chill.

"Listen up!" Stonewall raised a hoof, a buckler shield securely strapped to it, and the gathered soldiers crowded around him. "This will be the first of your winter combat training drills! Over the next several days you will learn the fine art of not dying with your prick frozen to the ground! Don't go dropping dead on me, or I'll be disappointed. Even with you, Polaris."

The others laughed, and Stonewall waited for them to quiet down before continuing.

"More to the point, every Praetorian worth his salt needs to know how to handle himself in the worst situations possible. The smart-asses in the Legion like to call us 'soft' for residing in Canterlot, but there was nothing soft about the ass-kicking we gave to those cultists shit bags, now was there?!"

A shout of "HAH-OOH!" answered him, and a rare smile crossed Stonewall's scarred face.

"You're damned right! With that said, we can never be too prepared. The cold of winter is fast approaching Canterlot, and if those worshipers of the fallen princess or even the tree-rutting whitetail should try to attack us, thinking us weak because of a little snow, then they will be in for a harsh lesson. Krosus!"

"Stonewall, sir?" Tercio answered, standing at attention.

"You're in charge of Third contubernium for the time being. Polaris, you get Second. Cloudtop will be in charge of First once he returns with our water. I want you to form your stallions into combat groups. Formation training will begin one hour after sparring. We'll decide the hastati, principes, and triarii ranks as we get to them. Understood? Then let's get to it, Praetorians!"

The soldiers split off into their assigned groups, and Tercio circled his raised arm to gather his charges.

"Does anyone still need to grab any equipment?" he asked. "No? Very well. For now we'll form a fighting circle, and your opponent will be the stallion opposite you. Rimeberry, Anarius, Balustrade and Fentien will take the left side. Myself, Thunderburst, Iron Thresh and Bear will take the right."

"Hey, how come you get the zebra?" Rimeberry objected.

"Because I'm in charge," Tercio answered with a smirk.

"Yeah, we'll see who's in charge when you're on the ground."

The others laughed and threw out good-natured, mocking replies to the two biggest members of their number.

"Is that a challenge, Rimeberry?"

"A challenge? Of course not. It's a promise."

Tercio donned his crested helm and hefted his tower shield.

"Then I suppose we know what the first combat of the day will be, don't we?"

He could hear the Praetorians cheering him on and goading him to fight. Rimeberry looked around and smiled, then pulled out his gladius from its sheathe.

"I suppose we do. Come then, human, and draw your sword."

As he reached for his weapon Tercio wondered if such a grand sword should be used for simple combat training. He knew Princess Luna would have laughed in amusement at his hesitation -- what good was a sword if you could not use it? -- but it still felt like using a golden dagger to open a market scroll.

His fingers touched the pommel and grasped the warm grip, and as he made a connection to the magical blade it almost felt alive. A faint whisper at the very edge of his hearing called to him. Was it possible Nocturne itself was eager for battle? A single thrum, a vibration, shot up his arm at the thought, and when he closed his eyes he could see the stars of the night sky laid out before him.

He pulled the weapon from its scabbard, and it sang with a sharp-sounding squeal of metal on leather. There was a commotion all around him as he did so, gasps of surprise and murmurs of excitement.

"What is that?" Rimeberry asked, staring at the weapon in awe.

"This?" Tercio turned it over in his grasp, the fine steel catching the sun's light. "This is the blade of Princess Luna."

The murmurs grew louder, drawing the attention of the other groups who trotted over to see what was happening.

"It's what? Come on, be serious."

"I speak only the truth, my friend."

"Where in the hell did you get Luna's weapon? This has to be a joke! There's no way you could--"

"It was a gift, from Princess Celestia. A bit more fitting of a weapon for someone of my build, wouldn't you say?"

Rimeberry placed a hoof on the broad side of the sword, as if it was the only way to be sure it was real.

"I mean, yeah, that gladius always did seem kinda small for you, but still...you're not exactly royalty."

Tercio spun Nocturne around, its white trail of ethereal energy visible even in daylight. Now the crowd wanted to see him fight Rimeberry even more than before. For the first time, Tercio saw the big earth pony hesitate. The others called on him to fight, shouted words of encouragement, be it genuine or mocking.

"Alright, alright, we'll do this. I don't need some fancy-ass sword to kick your ass."

Tercio looked up from his weapon and saw Stonewall watching silently from behind the gathered soldiers. Surprisingly, he wasn't trying to disperse everyone. Tercio decided he would have to worry about the Imperator later. For now, there was a tough, well-trained, veteran soldier who wanted nothing more than to show up him and his new weapon.

Tercio and Rimeberry took their positions in the circle, shields up and weapons out.

"Tell ya what, Tercio. If you win, I'll drink three whole cups of that joy-lick stuff Bear's so crazy for next time we're out."

"And if I lose?"

"Then you gotta do it. And call me 'sir' for the rest of the week."

Tercio laughed. "Fat chance of that happening, but sure, why not?"

"Just try not to bash my face in with your fists if you think you're gonna lose, alright?"

Tercio glanced over to Polaris and cringed inwardly. They were never going to let him forget that day.

"Alright, then, you're on. Make your move if you're stallion enough."

They stood ready for several seconds, each trying to figure out their first move. Tercio felt fairly confident that he could best Rimeberry, though Rime did have a strength advantage. He would have to play to his edge in flexibility and speed. He visualized his attack and Nocturne jerked forward almost imperceptibly. It was, he realized, awaiting the fight just as much as he was.

As sword and soldier you are now bonded -- keep it safe, and it will keep you safe in return.

Celestia hadn't just been speaking figuratively. Luna's weapon was something truly special: an empathic blade, joined to its wielder. The way it conformed to his grip, kept his sword-hand warm even in the biting cold; he didn't truly understand it, but it felt like an extension of his own body. A predatory grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he came to understand the power it contained. He was ready.

Rimeberry lunged forward with his gladius clutched in his mouth, making a vicious stab at Tercio's upper legs, then followed with an upward slice that caromed off the edge of his shield. Without hesitation Rime knocked aside a sword strike and countered with a quick series of attacks and a powerful shield bash that sent Tercio reeling back. Tercio charged back with a vicious overhead strike that cut into the snow-covered dirt of the sparring ring, and as he brought his weapon back up he was met with a buck to the chest that dented his armor and sent him sprawling to the ground. He landed in a heap and cheers went up from Rime's supporters.

"That's one," the earth pony said in self-satisfaction.

"I should have seen that coming."

"Should have, but didn't."

Back in their ready positions, Tercio decided to be the aggressive one this time. He struck out with swing after swing of his magical weapon, each hit digging into Rime's tower shield and carving through the air with streams of glowing magic. Had his opponent been anyone else, he was sure they would have been distracted by the display. Nocturne sang with every attack and flashed with reflected sunlight. Rime hefted his shield to block an overhead attack, only to find Tercio spinning to the side at the last second and delivering a strong kick of his own to the stallion's ribs. A rush of air left Rime's lungs just as the tip of the longsword stopped just short his neck, shaving a strip of hairs as it came to rest.

"One each." Tercio offered a hand and helped Rimeberry to his hooves, impressed with the finesse his new weapon allowed him. The sword was a wonder to fight with, precise and deadly. Now the crowd was really into it, shouting and encouraging their favorite fighter, and more than a few bets exchanged hooves as the final round was about to begin.

"That's a nice sword ya got there," Rimeberry said. "Still not sure if you deserve to wield it, human. If it truly is the weapon of Luna then I await your inevitable destruction at the tip of her horn when she comes to reclaim it."

"I doubt very much she's coming back any time soon. Perhaps you need some more convincing, my stubborn friend?"

Rimeberry smirked. "We'll see. Come on, let's see what you can really do. Prove your worth, and I might decide you're not entirely useless after all."

Tercio clapped his sword against the side of his shield, feet firmly planted, and pushed off with a burst of speed. Initially it caught Rimeberry by surprise, causing the latter to quickly jump to the side and scramble to keep his stance in the slick snow and dirt that was rapidly becoming mud as they fought.

But Rime was a veteran soldier in his own right, and his years of training and combat experience quickly kicked in to give him the smallest of advantages in the fight. Trying to make gladius strikes his primary means of attack only invited Tercio to take advantage of the relatively unwieldy style, and only quick thinking saved him from a sword being brought down or sweeping in from the side. He blocked and parried and dodged, answering in kind, knowing he had the edge in strength and endurance.

It felt to Tercio that his knowledge was getting him nowhere. Rimeberry could not hope to trick him with magic or fly above him like a pegasus, but in a way it made him more dangerous; he would fight with good, old fashioned combat prowess. Tercio tried all manner of faints and misdirections, yet Rime did not fall for it even once. Battering at the earth pony's shield was like trying to cut into a thick tree, for all the good it was doing. He could feel himself slowly beginning to lose focus as he grew tired, his arms protesting with every swing and stab. Still he fought on, getting a second wind as a hard blow to Rime's helm with the pommel of his sword brought a brief window of opportunity. He swung diagonally, outside of the stalwart tower shield, but Rime brought up his buckler with little effort, using the momentum of his opponent's attack to send Tercio stumbling to the edge of the ring with a firm kick. Tercio recovered just before he would have stepped out, breathing heavily as he brought his weapon and shield back up. His muscles burned with the effort.

"Damnit!" he cursed to himself. What was he missing? He had used every advantage available to him, and still Rimeberry showed no signs of slowing down. Frustrated, he stepped forward with his shield covering him from ankle to neck, his sword facing out.

Nocturne jerked in his hand, its grip growing warmer. What was he doing wrong? He had always considered himself to be a strong fighter, a warrior who knew his way around a blade. And yet, he could not find enough of an opening to finish his opponent. Using the longsword took so much more out of him than his old gladius, but he could feel its power just waiting for him to exploit it. It was there, just below the surface, yet unreachable.

Slowly, as he approached the waiting Rimeberry, his focus tunneled until all he could see was the enemy. Rimeberry, standing there as if nothing was the matter, as if Tercio was no more than a mere recruit. He gritted his teeth and exhaled sharply, and he felt Nocturne thrum with energy, urging him to keep going.

Tercio and Rimeberry charged each other and met with a powerful collision of shields, neither willing to move back an inch. Rime attempted to find a weak point in Tercio's defenses, alternating stabs from his short sword and quick jabs from a dagger he'd secured to one of his forelegs with a length of fabric. Twice they drew blood from shallow wounds, and Tercio grunted in momentary pain.

As he finally landed a successful attack -- a shallow gash along Rimeberry's haunches -- his vision grew tinted with fog, red and creeping, at the edges of his sight.

Rimeberry dashed forward and brought his armored shoulder to bear, ramming it into Tercio's shield and stumbling the human despite his combat-ready stance. Multiple strikes dug into Tercio's armor or deflected off, but for every attack he was more than capable of defending in turn. Time after time the two met sword and shield, neither finding a way to end the battle.

Tercio was growing increasingly frustrated. If only he could find an opening! If only he were stronger! He needed victory so bad he could taste it, feel it in every fiber of his being. The sensation was palpable and alluring in ways he couldn't fully grasp.

Tercio dropped to a knee, his breathing becoming rapid and harsh as he felt a power come over him that was at once terrifying and wonderful in its familiarity. For the briefest of moments he knew, somewhere in the commotion of the attacks that still slammed into his shield, what was happening. It was like a flood of molten metal through his veins, and he fought to control himself.

"Stop this," he whispered to himself.

A dark tint of red washed over his vision. The thought of combat, the thrill of seeing the arterial sprays of blood as his enemy died screaming, was intoxicating. He was no longer tired. His arms no longer ached, his muscles no longer protested against his movements.

He felt powerful. Unstoppable.

With a primal shout he burst forward, sending Rimeberry sliding back, and began a vicious barrage of attacks that slowly but surely sent the stallion inching toward the edge of the ring. He was no longer looking for a break to end the fight. All he wanted was to see Rimeberry's shield torn away, tossed to the side like a play thing, that he could carve into his opponent and bury his sword up to the hilt. Distantly he heard Rimeberry curse as he was reduced to his buckler and gladius, and as the stallion attempted to recover his shield Tercio brought his sword up, ready to plunge it through Rimeberry's armor.

"No!" he said between gritted teeth. His arms brought Nocturne down in a death blow, landing to the side just enough to do no more than draw a slim stream of blood. He fell to a knee once more, dropping his shield and holding onto his sword that was stabbed point-down into the mud. "Not...again..."

The darkness inside of him, the power he could not put a name to, fought against his will. Rimeberry, confused by Tercio dropping his shield voluntarily, came in for another attack in the hopes of securing a victory. Tercio deftly deflected the gladius, grabbed Rimeberry by the pauldrons, and hurled him across the ring.

"I am in control," he spat, shutting his eyes tight. The sword burned in his hands, physically painful to hold, as if trying to escape his grasp. "I...am not someone's...trained animal!"

Rimeberry was up and on the offensive once more, but as he struck out Tercio met the blade with his own. Tercio grabbed the back of his helm and pulled him forward.

"Rime," he pleaded in a strained, angered voice, "it's happening...again..."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Rimeberry replied, struggling to pull away. "Let me go or end this already!"

"The anger. It's...trying..."

Rimeberry's eyes went wide, the memory of the assassin's spurting blood flashing before him as clear as day.

"Oh, shit. Oh, shit!" He tried to jerk away from Tercio's grasp, but the human had a tight grip on his foreleg. Realizing he wasn't likely to get away, he instead tried to help Tercio resist whatever it was that had come over him."Come on, Tercio, fight it! You beat it once before, you bastard, and you can do it again!"

No one in the crowd seemed to know what was happening. It was clear that the fight had taken a strange turn, but to what extent?

In a rapid-fire flash of images Tercio saw himself tearing through the Praetorians. He saw countless dead at his feet, and the dying form of Celestia crushed between his powerful hands. Tears ran down his face at the glimpse of the future the darkness had in store for him, and he shook with rage and grief.

"I would never hurt her. Never!"

"Hurt who? Tercio! Hurt who?!"

Tercio looked up at Rimeberry, the urge to destroy him screaming through his mind, straining to take over.

"...Celestia."

Nocturne was no longer burning in his hands. At once it became cool, almost comforting, and a glow of white-tinted magic built at the tip of its blade. It grew until it was like a miniature sun, the gathered Praetorians having to shield their eyes from its brilliance. The energy rushed down the length of the blade, briefly gathered in the grip, and shot through his arm, flinging him back into the dirt. It twisted through his veins and traveled through his chest, glowing under his skin. Something shrieked in his head, terrible and shrill, until it was all he could hear...and then it stopped, mercifully silent. Blinking his eyes open, Tercio found not even a hint of the red that had so clouded his vision just seconds prior. He met Rimeberry's worried gaze, and felt only relief. His breathing returned to normal, and he slowly pulled himself to his feet.

Everyone was looking at him. They had seen the power inside threaten to come out, and those who had heard of his horrible deeds against Polaris and the assassin Lacertus had their weapons drawn. And yet, he felt a clarity he had not experienced since before the war, before he joined the Praetorians.

"Make way! Move it!" Imperator Stonewall pushed his way through the shocked crowd, a hoof on the sword at his side. "Krosus? What in the nine hells did you just do? What was that?"

Tercio looked down at himself in disbelief, covered in mud and melting snow.

"I've won," he said simply. "I've beaten it again, without bloodshed."

Stonewall eyed him skeptically.

"Are you...you, still?"

Tercio hefted Nocturne before him, as if he was seeing it for the first time.

"More than I have been in a very long time, sir."

Stonewall was skeptical and cautious, but nodded in approval all the same.

"I think we need to discuss a few things. Meet me in my tent once you've cleaned yourself up. The rest of you: show's over, get back to to your groups!"

As Tercio began to walk off, the crowd parting for him in stunned silence, Rimeberry called out to him.

"Wait, so...does this mean I win?"

***

"Take a seat, Krosus." Tercio did as he was asked, sitting atop a worn cushion opposite Stonewall in the large, private tent that was covered in maps and hastily discarded scrolls. Even during a training mission the old stallion had a warrior's mindset. "I think it's abundantly clear that we need to talk about some...issues that have arisen as of late. I want you to be truthful with me. No bullshit, no half-truths. Just honesty. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," Tercio answered. He fretted about what the questions would be, though he knew at least one of them would be about his incident.

"Alright then." Stonewall poured a hot cup of some sort of dark liquid for himself and Tercio, handing one over. "Here, it'll warm you up and help with your nerves." Tercio tried it, finding it bitter and a little unpleasant, but it was better than nothing. "First time having coffee? The wife picked some up when she visited Zevran a while back. They're crazy about it there. Better than that tea crap everyone else seems to like so much, if you ask me." Tercio hadn't asked, but he knew better than to question Stonewall's tastes. "So, let's just get the obvious one out of the way: what in the hell happened out there? Was it another one of your 'lapses'?"

"For lack of a better word, yes."

"Go on."

Tercio took another sip of his "coffee", thankful that it gave him a few seconds to think.

"When I was sparring with Rimeberry I felt fine. We were evenly matched, and he is a skilled opponent. At some point, however, I began to feel myself growing frustrated that I could not break his defenses. Whether this 'power' inside of me began to feed on that, I can't say, but I knew it was happening once I began seeing blood everywhere I looked."

"Like before you attacked Polaris. Or the assassin."

"Yes," he nodded. "It was the same sort of gnawing hatred that steadily grew until it was all I could focus on. I didn't just want to defeat Rime, I wanted to hurt him, to kill him. It terrifies me that such a thing is able to come out seemingly whenever it pleases. It's been so long since it last happened, I thought that maybe...maybe this time I could stop it before it started."

Stonewall was quiet for a time, studying Tercio carefully.

"Did Rimeberry say fal--that word? Did he utter it at any point? Did anyone else?"

"No, sir, not that I know of. It's strange; every other time I've lost control of myself it was because of that damnable deertongue word, like some sort of built-in trigger. But when I was out in the ring it was like the mere existence of frustration and anger was enough to bring it to the surface." He struck his fist against his chest. "It tried to control me, but I would not give in. Not this time. It was the strangest feeling, as if I was fighting someone else inside my own body." He didn't mention that it was the thought of Celestia that had once again saved him.

"So what you're saying, if I understand properly, is you can control it now?"

Tercio shrugged. "I don't know, not for sure. If someone were to use that certain word I might fall back to my more primal ways, but I'm slowly learning how to fight back. I was able to drag myself back from the rage that resulted in the assassin's death; perhaps this darkness inside of me is growing desperate, looking for a new way to let itself take over. That could be why I nearly lost myself in the ring."

Stonewall rubbed his chin in thought. "You say that like it's alive, instead of some part of you that you do your best to hide."

"Perhaps it is. If it is not, then I am truly fighting against my own nature, which is somehow more frightening." Tercio set his cup to the side, hesitating to ask the question that was on his mind. "Sir, do you ever regret my joining the Praetorians? Do you still believe me a threat?"

Stonewall leaned back against a low table and exhaled loudly. "Hell of a question. Do I think you're a threat? You can be. The fact that a simple word -- and now, apparently, the rush of combat -- can cause you to lose all pretense of self-control is something I worry about, certainly. You have direct access to the Princess herself, and were it purely my choice I would not keep you on any sort of duty that kept you near her without supervision. But Celestia is insistent that I treat you like anyone else. She's been very insistent as of late, come to think of it..."

If only he knew why, Tercio thought in amusement.

"That said, you do seem to be able to negate this...darkness, as you call it...to some degree. It's a start. There may be hope for you yet. The others think you're a decent enough leader, though that confidence may be shaken after today's little display. We'll see how it pans out."

The sound of combat, of steel against steel, rang out as the Praetorians started their training in earnest.

"To answer your other question: no, I don't regret you joining up with us. Had you not been there when the followers of Nightmare Moon attacked us, it's entirely possible none of us would have lived to see today. Celestia saw something in you back when you were with the Royal Guard, and I've been around her long enough to know that her hunches are usually right. You can fight damn well enough, what with that lanky body of yours. So long as you don't flip out and try to murder all of us, you're more than welcome in the Praetorian Guard. Just don't let it go to your head. And for the love of the goddesses, Krosus, if you feel yourself slipping into that damnable rage again don't try to hide it. We'll do what we can to help you."

"Of course, sir." Tercio felt a welling of pride; Stonewall approved of him, in his own way. It was high praise indeed. The Imperator wasn't exactly one for smiles and pats on the shoulder, so he took what he could get.

"Good, that's what I like to hear. Before you go, there's two other things I want to discuss in brief." He pointed to the exquisite sword at Tercio's side, now dirtied by combat. Tercio would have to give it a good cleaning later. "Where in the hell did you get that thing? You know what that is, don't you?"

"The blade of Princess Luna, sir, yes. It was a gift from Princess Celestia for saving her life in the crystal cavern. She said it should be wielded by someone 'pure of heart and mind'. How she figured that person is myself, I do not believe I'll ever know."

Stonewall laughed. "Pure of heart and mind, eh? Maybe she doesn't know you as well as she thinks. Still, it's ultimately her decision. It's a fine weapon, and you should guard it with your life. When I heard the commotion and saw you holding it I had to stand there and make sure my eyes weren't playing a trick on me. It was like stepping back in time."

"Sir?"

"I had the great pleasure of sparring against Luna many years ago, back in my youth. I'll never forget the first time I saw it...I thought it was second only to Luna herself in its beauty." He waved the memory away with his hoof. "Ah, but I doubt you want to hear an old stallion ramble on about his misplaced affections."

Tercio cupped the pommel in his hand, feeling a light tingle as his fingers brushed the magical sapphire that swirled with energy.

"Sir, this is going to sound like a strange question, but...do you think a weapon can be, well, alive?"

The Imperator jerked his head back. "What do you mean, 'alive'? Is there something I should know?"

"It's just that, when I was fighting with Rimeberry, I could feel Nocturne -- that's its name, according to Celestia -- growing eager for battle. If I hold it tightly I can...hear it. Like many distant voices"

"First you say you're fighting with yourself for control of your own body, and now you hear voices when you carry this 'Nocturne'? Are you sure you haven't gone mad?"

"I know how it sounds, but it's different in this case. It's not a threatening feeling, but rather, a comforting one. When I fight it is as if the sword is an extension of my body, and I feel supremely confident. As a matter of fact, I believe it was what helped me fight off the blood rage before it could take over."

Stonewall stood up and stretched, taking a quick moment to check on the soldiers outside. Satisfied, he returned to his former spot but stayed standing.

"Yeah, I saw the glowy shit too. Everyone did. Magic is a strange thing indeed. I hope you're right about it being a force for good."

"It is, sir. I could feel it."

"If you say so, Krosus. It's possible your sword is alive, in a sense. I have heard of empathic blades; that is, a weapon that forms a connection with its wielder, but typically it is reserved for royalty, and for good reason: Celestia and Luna have had many years to learn the intricacies of such magic. They control heavenly bodies, so a simple sword is not an issue. But stallions like you and I? Well, stallions like me and whatever the hell it is you're supposed to be? We can't even float a dust mote. I'm not saying you're unfit to carry Luna's weapon, as that decision has already been made for you, but...just be careful, alright? There are magics at work here that we cannot possibly understand."

"Yes, sir. Will that be all?"

"Not quite. I have something I want you to explain to me before you rejoin the others." Stonewall pulled a scroll from a nearby table and unrolled it, a large symbol taking up much of the top right corner. "Do you know what this is?"

Tercio shook his head. "Beyond the obvious answer of it being a scroll, I can't say I do."

"This, Centurion Krosus" Stonewall explained as he stepped forward and held it out for Tercio to read,"is a writ of authorized leave, sent down from, and signed by, General Marblestone in Marestopholous. We just received it this morning, before the march. Look familiar?"

"Not in the least. Is there something I should know?"

"I should ask you the same. For some reason your name has been bumped to the top of the list for holiday leave. Just how damn well connected are you, anyway? It's going to be weeks before most of us get some time away from Canterlot proper."

Tercio took the scroll and read through it multiple times. It looked like Sapphire was a mare of her word after all.

"I have never met this General Marblestone, sir. I couldn't say why this has come to be."

Clearly confused by the situation, Stonewall took the scroll back and rolled it up before adding it to the others.

"Well whatever the case, regardless of whomever you do or do not know, I have my orders. That means you have yours. So, effective one week from today, you will be sent back to Shadyvale--"

"Summervale, sir."

"--Summervale, then, on leave for a period of no less than one week and no greater than twelve days. I'll have to see what the duty rosters look like, but we should be able to get you a decent period of rest. Don't go getting all fat and lazy on me. That's an order."

Tercio laughed. "As you say, sir."

"Good, glad we understand each other." Stonewall motioned to the tent's entrance before going back to one of the myriad maps spread out before him. "Right, that's all I've got for you, Krosus. You're free to go. Try not to murder anyone out there, will you?"

Tercio quickly gathered his helm and shield and left the Imperator to his work. Most of the stallions were too busy fighting one another to notice him as he entered the blindingly bright daylight once again, though a few stared at him as he passed. He didn't care; he was too busy enjoying the prospect of being home again. As soon as he was able, he decided, he would let his parents know. He could nearly see the reaction on his mother's face already.

"You alright, Tercio?" Rimeberry asked him, a bandage over the wound on his flank. "Stonewall didn't tear you a new asshole, did he?"

"I'm quite fine, my friend," Tercio reassured the stallion. "But I thank you for your concern. And more so, I thank you for helping me fight back against the madness that threatened to overcome me. It does not control me like it used to, not anymore."

"Well that's good. Gave me a scare, you know?"

"I know. I hated for everyone to see me like that. Guess there's no hiding it now, is there? Also, I must apologize for injuring you. It's not bad, is it?"

Rime looked at the bloody gauze and shrugged. "I've had worse. We bleed in the ring so that we won't bleed in battle, right?"

"So long as it's not us doing the bleeding at the end of the human's sword," Anarius added as he trotted to their side and took a long pull from his water skin. "What the hell happened to you? Is this a human thing? Because I feel I must be honest here: I am not comfortable with the thought of one of our own turning against us at a moment's notice."

Others echoed his sentiment. Tercio cringed inwardly at the implication, but he knew they were right.

"I understand your concerns, my brothers, but I assure you I am in control of my own will. There are merely some...complications at times. I am sure even the newest of you have heard the stories by now. There will not be another incident like with Polaris, I swear to you"

"If you say so."

Thunderburst removed his helm as he stepped closer. "Look, Tercio; I don't understand what's causing this to happen to you, and I know we've had our differences, and still do, but at the end of the day you're still one of us. After that display in the cave against the assassin, I can't doubt you have our best interests in mind. So no matter what some of us may think of you at times, we'd still fight alongside you any day. Especially after you stopped that assassin from lopping off my head in addition to my leg." He shrugged. "I just wanted to say that."

Tercio tipped his spear and bowed his head. "Thank you, Thunderburst. That means a lot to me. I am just a soldier, like all of you, no more or less. Different though I may be in appearance, we are all Equestrian at heart. I would fight and die for any one of you."

"Aye," the others in the group answered.

A pang of guilt tugged at Tercio's chest; could he really leave the others behind in Canterlot while he went home, simply because Sapphire had found some semblance of conscience and remorse over a heinous action? He longed to see his parents and his brother again, but he was not the only one with a family.

He decided, then and there, that he would make it right for as many of them as he could. Sapphire may have known generals and traders and artists, but she wasn't the only one with connections.

27 - Cervidae

Alone in his chambers, Chancellor Vinawyll pored over a table full of splayed maps and intelligence reports. Everywhere he looked the Equestrians were advancing, driving his armies back as if they were nothing more than fawns with wooden swords. Worst of all, Quillyyn Keep had fallen. The oldest and sturdiest of Whitetail's fortifications was gone, and it had happened under his rule. History would never forgive him -- if Whitetail had any history left in it.

He sighed and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his muzzle with a hoof. A cold gust made him shiver in his silk and velvet robes. What he wouldn't give to be merely a senator again, when the biggest worry of day-to-day life was arguing with other politicos and trying to stay awake during the countless, utterly pointless gatherings that inevitably led to nothing more than shouting matches between the old guard of Aelindris Eternal supporters and the newer, radical Unionist advocates. Even now, in a time of war, the two sides failed to cooperate. He supposed he shouldn't have been surprised; politics never changed, despite the passage of time. The only difference now was that he was in charge of it all. If only that damned Equestrian hadn't gutted Artellus! The old stag would have known what to do. He'd always had a gift for decision making.

A knock sounded from his door. Who could possibly be disturbing him during the middle of the night? "Come back in the morning, I am quite busy," he demanded. Whoever it was, they were persistent -- another knock, but louder. "Perhaps I did not make myself clear the first time. Leave."

"Is that any way to speak to an old friend?" the stranger said through the door. Vinawyll trotted over, his spirits momentarily lifted. A thin smile crossed his face as he opened the door to his quarters.

"Brother-Captain Corvalix. What brings you by at this forsaken hour?"

"Chancellor Vinawyll," Corvalix said courteously, bowing his head. "I was taking a late stroll and noticed the torch light coming from your balcony. Another sleepless night, I take it?"

"Unsurprisingly, yes. There's been quite a few of those as of late. But please, come in, come in." Corvalix stepped inside, looking around the grand chambers of marble, gold and glass-like quinndryll crystal that reflected the room's emerald torch light. It wasn't the first time he'd been in the state room of the chancellor, but it was no less impressive. "May I get you a drink? I have some fine amasec from Icebridle Falls."

"Equestrian sweet wine? By all means." Corvalix laughed. "You have an odd choice of drinks, my friend. There are those who would likely be upset to know you have it."

Vinawyll waved a dismissive hoof as he floated over a jug and two crystalline cups. "I am at war with their soldiers, Brother-Captain, not their alcohol."

"Fair enough. And it's 'Brother-General' now, by the way."

"Indeed?" Vinawyll raised his drink in celebration and chuckled at the thought. "Congratulations, my friend! When did this happen?"

"Earlier this week. Empress Elinwynn, in her infinite grace, saw fit to promote me for my hard work and dedication to the joint cause of Cervidaen and Whitetail prosperity. I could hardly refuse."

"Your sister always was a smart one. How is she these days?"

Corvalix took the cup with his own magic, swirling the amber-colored drink and sniffing approvingly at the aroma. It washed down his throat like milk and honey, burning pleasantly and warming him against the cold night. "She is well, thank you. It has been a long and tiring year for Cervidae and the entire Hegemony, but she has seen us through without fail. I harbor nothing but the deepest respect for her."

"As do I, and I am glad she fares well." Vinawyll motioned to the maps that covered a decent portion of his chambers. "I assume you've heard about Quillyyn Keep."

"I have. Unfortunate business, that." Corvalix studied the formations carefully, his trained mind working on formations and tactics even if they weren't for his own soldiers.

Vinawyll knocked back most of his cup. "You have a talent for understatement as well as commanding troops, it seems. Now the damned Equestrians have a clear run right to Evinwiir itself. To think that I could be the first chancellor to have the capitol besieged...and possibly the last chancellor of Whitetail."

"Do you not have garrisons here? What of your siege weapons? Your rations of food and medicine?"

"We have those things, yes, but the walls will not hold forever. Not if Celestia sees fit to pound them into dust."

"You sound dangerously defeatist, chancellor."

Vinawyll shrugged. "Do you really blame me? Whitetail's armies, the pride of the five forests and harbingers of peace from the seas to the mountains, have been defeated at every turn. And here we thought the Equestrians weak, a nation of lovers and poets." He refilled his cup and finished it in a single gulp. "Damned fools in the senate. Ancestors damn them for their presumptuous, arrogant dismissals! Even as Whitetail burns around them they only seek to further their own ambitions." He pointed to the maps, his anger growing. "The people of Whitetail, the nation of Whitetail, are one and the same! They deserve better!" Vinawyll sat on his haunches and scoffed at the thought of the senate accomplishing anything. "And yet here I sit, unable to do anything about it. I never wanted to be Chancellor. It is only through family history and connections that I call these chambers my own."

Corvalix approached the balcony that overlooked the nearby river, leaving Vinawyll's words hanging in the air. "Why don't you pass your charge to someone else, then? One of the others?"

"Pass on my duties? I may as well put a blade to my own belly and draw it to my throat. Between the Eternals and the Unionists there would be a civil war inside our walls and an Equestrian war outside them. What else can I do besides hang on and hope for the best?"

"There is another way, Chancellor."

Vinawyll stared at the Cervidaen general. "We've already discussed this, Corvalix. Imagine the outrage if I agreed to it!"

"Imagine the outrage when your children are slaughtered in the streets and your does are raped and murdered by Equestrians blinded by battle-lust."

"Do not think to frighten me, for I am not so easily persuaded." Vinawyll placed his forelegs on the map table, darting from unit marker to unit marker for some sort of solution. "We could implement a general draft, call all citizens of fighting age to the war. Perhaps the Saddle Arabians could be convinced..."

Corvalix stepped over and shoved a cloven hoof against Vinawyll's chest. "Is that your solution, then? Have civilians fight against veteran soldiers? Rip fawns from their mothers' embrace and replace them with quinn-blades?"

"Don't you dare--"

"The Saddle Arabians? They would no more fight for you than Cervidae would fight for Equestria! Listen to yourself, Vinawyll!"

The chancellor pushed Corvalix away. "I know!" he shouted. "I know, alright? Just, please, give me a moment..." A few deep breaths allowed him to speak rationally again. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to lose my temper. It's just...I don't know what to do anymore. Perhaps we should surrender. We may shorten our borders but I do not believe Celestia will see Whitetail banished from the texts and razed to the ground if we gave in."

"Is that what you truly want?"

"Of course not, but what is the alternative? Prolonging a losing war? Enough fawns are without their fathers as is."

"You know the alternative." With the chancellor calmed down Corvalix felt confident in approaching him again. He lowered his voice to a measured, practiced tone. "Please, Vinawyll, let us help you. Redtail, Whitetail...we are not so different. Our people weep at the loss of your fathers, mourn the loss of your sons in battle. Whitetail is family to us. Elinwynn is different from her elders; she longs for the old days, before the time of her great-grandmother and her grandmother before her. Neither she nor I wish to see Whitetail lost to the sands of time."

Vinawyll was silent for some time, clicking his hoof against the floor. "You know the ramifications of this, do you not? There will be anarchy in the senate, perhaps in the streets themselves. This is not a decision I can back away from once I have made it."

"I know, my friend. It is a lot to think about. Perhaps I should take my leave for now?"

"I think that would be best," Vinawyll nodded. "Will you be in Whitetail for the time being?"

"I'm afraid I must return to Cervidae for a short time, but I will return within a fortnight. You will let me know then?"

"Of course. Send a runner once you have arrived, then we may discuss things in detail."

"As you wish." Corvalix bowed his head in reverence. "Until then, Chancellor Vinawyll. May the ancestors find you in good health."

"And you as well, Brother-General. Do give your sister my warmest regards."

Vinawyll opened the door and showed Corvalix out, waiting until the redtail general was down the hall before closing it again. There was so much to consider. The survival of Whitetail, the legacy of his entire family, rested on a dagger-point. Exhausted, he extinguished the magical fires dotting his chambers and crawled into bed. It would be a long day tomorrow.

***

Tercio sighed as yet another procession of ponies from around Equestria entered the Great Hall. Hours had gone by already, and countless hundreds of citizens had come by to cast their name in the drawing to be one of the dozen Hearth's Warming organizers. They were more-or-less organized into eight lines that each led to a table overseen by a court-appointed representative, though the inevitable confusion from such a situation was more than evident.

So many visitors meant that he and many others were stuck with "door duty"; keeping curious foals and prying adults from important areas of the palace, and potentially fighting off anyone violent or stupid enough to think of attacking Equestria's seat of power. For all intents and purposes he was a statue, an ornamental centerpiece for visitors to gawk at and gossip about, his armor polished to a near mirror shine and his spear held firmly against his side with an Equestrian banner flying from the tip. He'd stood in the same place, unmoving, for so long that even his aching legs had stopped bothering to protest.

Ever the life of excitement, he thought bemusedly. At least no one had tried to push past him into the hall way leading to throne room -- not that it would have mattered anyway, since the large doors were barred for the time being.

Still, it beat freezing his ass off half way up some gods-forsaken mountain again. Four days in the snow was more than enough for one life time, as far as he was concerned. For all of the monotony, the Great Hall at least looked a little more festive than it had the last time he'd seen it; streamers of red, gold, green and white ribbon hung from the balconies, and laurels of evergreen and holly decorated the walls and gave a pleasant, comforting scent to what was otherwise a barely-contained rabble.

In the center of the room a large fountain depicting King Argo Navis and Queen Aurora stood watch, surrounded by thirty-three candles that bobbed gently in the air, held aloft by simple magic, each candle representing a century they had spent together. Offerings of coins and trinkets lay at the base of the fountain, left by fillies and colts as part of the holiday tradition.

Someone in steel-and-gold Praetorian armor politely pushed his way through the crowd, waving to Tercio as he approached. The purple cloak draped across his back had been newly decorated with crossed swords in golden thread, a gift for his devotion and patience in training the Princess in the fine art of self-defense.

"Polaris," Tercio nodded. The scarred unicorn looked around at the throng of ponies, having to nearly shout to be heard even when standing next to his comrade.

"Enjoying your time back in Canterlot, I see."

"Oh yes, guarding a door is as riveting as ever. Any more excitement and I'm likely to fall asleep with my eyes open."

"You're in luck, then! I'm your relief, at least for the time being. The Princess has called on you for something or other. She didn't specify what."

Tercio's mood instantly improved. It had been nearly a week since he'd last seen her.

"Did she say where I should meet her?"

"She'll be in the garden. Probably best not to keep her waiting."

"As you say." Tercio snapped off a crisp salute -- more for the sake of impressing the crowd than anything -- and passed his spear to Polaris, who saluted in return and took Tercio's place. Finally free of his post, Tercio stepped past two pegasus Praetorians armed with menacing wing-blades and made the short trek to the main entryway, then down to the royal garden. Two more ponies stopped him for verification, a pair of Royal Guards this time, and once they were satisfied he was free to take his first breath of fresh air in many hours. The silence was nearly overwhelming, with only a light, cold breeze rustling the branches of evergreen trees and diamond-leafed bushes.

Celestia was nowhere to be found, but he soon heard a pleasant humming somewhere near by. He followed it past a hedgerow and into a small collection of pine trees, and he smiled as he laid eyes on his Princess. She had chosen a simple, white and gold toga that hung off her left shoulder, and a laurel of golden leaves was tucked into her mane where her crown usually sat.

"You called for me, Princess?" he asked formally, just in case anyone was listening. She seemed to have not noticed his presence until he spoke, and her eyes lit up to match her smile as she saw him.

"That I did, Centurion Tercio." She eagerly embraced him, and Tercio relaxed and returned her affection. They shared a loving kiss, the first in what felt like far too long. "It's okay, it's just us out here. No need for formality."

"In that case, I've missed you terribly, Celestia." Tercio placed a hand on her neck and pulled her in to him, slipping his fingers under the loop of her toga sleeve and gently tugging at it. Celestia giggled in delight.

"Undressing the Princess in public is frowned upon by royal edict, you know."

"I'm willing to take the punishment for it."

"Oh, I'm sure you are," she teased. "How have you been, my love?"

"Cold, tired, exhausted; you know, the usual. Stonewall seems intent on coming up with new and creative ways to cause pain."

"You poor thing, up there alone with the mean old Imperator. And how are you now?"

"Better, now that you're here."

"That's what I was hoping you'd say."

She kissed him once more, a quick peck on the cheek, and turned to the pine trees before her. "What do you think of the decorations this year? Silverlane worked on them tirelessly for three days."

"They're very nice. The visitors certainly seem to think so. At least, I think that's what they were saying. I've heard combat rings quieter than the Great Hall."

Celestia laughed quietly, pulling small branches from the trees with her magic and forming them into rough half-moon shapes as they floated in front of her. A trio of pine cones went in the center of each one, and she set them down in a pile off to the side.

"This time of year is always incredibly busy. Last year we had over a thousand ponies cast their lot to be one of the organizers. It's a very sought-after title, as you can tell. With the holiday only a week away it's becoming somewhat frantic around here. There's the play to see to, decorations to be set up throughout town, gifts to be presented...it's long since become something more than I can handle myself."

"So it seems. This time last year I was still in the Royal Guard; I never got to see just how massive the crowds of hopefuls were. Do they get paid for it, or something similar?"

"They do get a small sum of coin, yes, but most of them simply want to have the honor of helping their fellow Equestrians enjoy the time of year. They also get to have a private dinner with myself on Hearth's Warming Eve, though if we have any repeat attendees they'll be disappointed to find that Luna won't be joining us, I'm afraid." Celestia frowned briefly as she worked, not bothering to hide it. "But yes, I think this year's events will be quite something. We have always prided our nation on being devoted to friends and family, and it's always good to see everyone brought closer together by a little holiday spirit, wouldn't you agree?"

"That I would. There is nothing more important." Tercio hesitated before bringing up the topic that had been on his mind ever since that cold, first day up on the mountain. "Actually, Celestia, there is something related to that I wanted to discuss with you."

"Yes?" she asked, still working intently on her decorations.

"I am not sure how to adequately describe this situation, but...I have apparently been granted leave through the kindness of someone rather unexpected. Note that I use 'kindness' very loosely here."

Celestia looked at him in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"When we were on the mountain, Imperator Stonewall informed me that he had received a scroll before we left. It was a writ of leave, sent to him by General Marblestone in Marestopholous, and it said that I was to begin between a week and twelve days home, effective a week after receiving it."

"That would make it three days from now."

"Yes."

"Strange. I assumed the Praetorian Guard was near the bottom of the list for holiday leave. It's always been that way. Why would Marblestone ask that you, personally, have leave at a certain time?"

Tercio cleared his throat and made himself look her in the eyes. "Because Sapphire Quill is apparently very well connected."

Celestia cocked her head. "Sapphire? What does she have to do with this? If there's something you need to tell me..."

Tercio could sense where the implication was heading, and he put a stop to it as quickly as he could. "Let me assure you it's nothing like what it sounds."

The Princess went back to her work; Tercio thought it obvious she was making herself busy. "Very well then, consider me curious. Explain."

Where would he start? "A short while ago, myself and some of the others went out for some drinks in Canterlot. We had a good time and enjoyed ourselves, but on the way back to the palace I was confronted by Sapphire, who had apparently been following me since I'd arrived at the caupona."

"I see we can add 'stalking' to the list of offenses, then," Celestia said without a hint of humor. She was not the biggest fan of the aggressive playwright these days.

"Yes...I was surprised, to say the least. I wanted to tell her where she could shove her own horn and be done with it, but she pleaded that I give her a moment. When I agreed, she told me that she had come to the realization that what she'd done was very wrong, and she wanted to make it up to me in some small way by using her long list of connections to secure some time home near the holidays for me." He corrected himself; best to clarify with this sort of thing. "Actually, no, she didn't say specifically what would happen. She only mentioned that she remembered me talking about how long it had been since I'd seen my family, and said I would get a surprise from Stonewall soon after."

Celestia set down her latest half-moon decoration and sighed. "It would appear she was good on her word, then."

"For perhaps the first time, yes."

"And she did so as a form of apology, you said? What was your response?"

"I...I forgave her."

Celestia lifted a foreleg in surprise. "You forgave her?"

"I did. As I told her: spending time near you -- I did not specify to what extent, of course -- has taught me a few things about tolerance and forgiveness. I see you exercise that knowledge frequently, and I thought I might--"

"She drugged and raped you, Tercio," Celestia interrupted in apparent disbelief. "Her crime was heinous and self-serving, and it is because of that crime that she is no longer allowed near this palace. She is no longer allowed near you. You showed her mercy when you asked that she not be exiled for her actions." She shook her head, and Tercio suddenly felt very small. "I am glad you've taken it upon yourself to use my actions as Princess as inspiration, as a means to better yourself; that is very admirable. But there is a time and a place for allowing the one who wronged you to essentially be washed of all guilt. I know Sapphire, and she may very well think that she's basically gotten away with what she did."

"I cannot claim to know what she truly feels, but she sounded genuine at the time." He did his best to sound apologetic. "Still, perhaps I was naive. I'm sure the alcohol did its part to cloud my decision making."

Celestia placed a hoof on his shoulder and met his gaze. "I love you, Tercio. I knew from the moment we first met, before the attack, that you were someone with a good heart. But I have been alive long enough to know that Sapphire's type will always look for a new means of controlling someone. It's who she is. When she spent time with myself and the others I tried my best to break her of that habit, but apparently I have failed. I firmly believe in love, and tolerance, and forgiveness, and all the things that make Equestria what it is, but some things can never truly be forgiven. Even by myself."

Tercio had not expected to hear such a thing from her; after all, she was Princess Celestia, the living demigod whose knowledge and power at times seemed to be boundless. In a strange sort of way, hearing her express disdain made her more relatable. It did not make him feel any better about his decision.

"I'm sorry," he finally said. "I only wanted to be rid of her once and for all. I thought that if I forgave her she would leave us be, and we wouldn't have to worry about her again."

"I do hope you're right about such things. I suppose only time will tell." Celestia lifted his chin and gave the first hint of a smile he'd seen since they'd begun the discussion. "Let's not fret about it anymore, okay? She may have received an apology but she still has to live with what she's done. We'll put her behind us and move on, just as we should."

"Alright," Tercio answered, still unsure of himself.

"Good. Now...about this writ of leave. If it came down from General Marblestone I am hesitant to denounce it, though I suppose I could if you wish me to."

"That's actually what I wanted to speak with you about in the first place. I am eager to return home, yes, and I do miss my parents and brother, but...I don't know, I feel I would be acting selfishly if I were to do so before any of my battle-brothers. They have families of their own, after all."

Celestia gathered the pile of decorations and bundled them together with lengths of twine, then placed one securely on her back. "That's understandable, especially given the circumstances behind it. Do you want me to cancel your early leave?"

"Actually...I was hoping you could extend the same courtesy to the others, at least in my barracks. That way we could visit for the holiday and still be back in time to provide security for Hearth's Warming Eve. It wouldn't greatly impact our strength here at the palace, either." Celestia chewed her lip in thought, and Tercio hoped he had not overstepped his bounds. "I know this is a lot to ask, but I realize now that being sent home before everyone else would only give further reason for some of them to look down upon me. That is not how I want to be seen by anyone."

"I will have to discuss this idea with Stonewall, but provided he agrees...I see no reason why we can't dismiss a small portion of our Praetorian ranks for a week."

"Truly?" he asked in disbelief. "That is more of a relief than I can put into words. Thank you, Princess"

Celestia laughed at his still-formal nature, easing the lingering tension of Sapphire's refusal to leave things be. "Again, you don't have to call me that anymore, Tercio."

"I don't have to call Stonewall 'sir', either, but old habits are hard to break."

"We'll work on it. For now, I could use your assistance with these decorations. Care to join me?"

Tercio picked up the bundle at her side and hefted it over his shoulder. "If it means spending more time with you, you needn't ask twice."

***

The arena wasn't what it used to be. Back in the days of her mother and grandmother, the displays of combat prowess frequently resulted in death for one or more of the performers, a fact that Empress Elinwynn had always found odd; why spend good coin training someone, only to have them lose their head the next week? Upon her rise to power, a change in the arena's inner workings was among the first things she'd seen to.

These days, the battles were grander in scale, sometimes with a hundred combatants per side, and it was rare for a death to occur. It did not make the fights any less exciting, and indeed, the small chance of seeing someone die drew larger crowds than ever. A bloody death was a rarity, a sweet that could be dangled before the masses. Would it happen this time? Who could say? Best to buy a seat and find out...

"Blessed Empress, Brother-General Corvalix has arrived. Shall I send him up for you?"

A doe servant, wearing the simple wraps of the lower class, bowed deeply in respect, averting her eyes from Elinwynn and her gold-and-emerald gown.

"Has he, now? Excellent, I was wondering when he would return." Elinwynn pulled a silver coin from a bag at her side, floating it to her servant in a cloud of crackling magic. "You may send him to me. Do buy yourself something to eat, won't you?"

The young doe smiled at the gift -- a whole silver! -- and bowed once again. "Of course, Empress. Thank you, you are too kind. I do so hope you enjoy the spectacle on display."

"Think nothing of it, my dear. And I will, I'm sure."

Truth be told, Empress Elinwynn had not paid much attention to the warring combatants who clashed with each other on the grasses of the arena far below her covered viewing platform. Enjoyable though the sight of toned, well-built bucks sweating in the midst of simulated warfare may have been, there were far more pressing matters these days -- Whitetail chief among them. She hoped Corvalix had good news.

"Hello again, dear sister," the Brother-General said as he joined her, dipping to his knees in admiration. He wore the glassy, green armor of the Whitetail armies, inscribed with deertongue prayers of protection and inlaid with vines of gold.

"Corvalix, what a pleasant surprise. Please, rise. I trust I find you in good health?" she asked as she stood from her small mound of cushions and embraced him.

"As well as can be expected when one deals with the incompetence of the whitetail all day," Corvalix answered with a laugh.

"I can imagine. Come, join me." Elinwynn allowed her brother to be seated first, then levitated two small pitchers from a table. "You must be quite thirsty from the trip. Will water from the peaks of the Stoneridges suffice?"

"Only the finest for the Empress of Cervidae, hmm? I think that will do nicely." He eagerly gulped down a good amount and exhaled in relief. "How anyone can go back to drinking regular stream water after such a delight is beyond me."

"Fortunate, then, that you know the right deer, hmm? What news do you bring from Whitetail? Are they still flailing about while the Equestrians pound at their door?"

"At this point, flailing would be an improvement," he deadpanned. "Callous and selfish though the good Brother-General Felnaris may have been -- and murderous, we mustn't forget that -- he at least knew the basics of leading an armed force. Had he defeated the Equestrians at the edge of the forest I may have even allowed him to live for another few days. Without a coherent strategy or experienced generals the whitetail can do no more than offer token pockets of resistance. Even their greatest keep has now fallen, leaving a clear path for Celestia's trained dogs to lay siege to the capitol itself."

"Mmm, a shame," Elinwynn said. She held no love for her whitetail cousins; traitors and thieves to the last, as far as she was concerned. Had it not been for their kind, Cervidae would be a third again as large as it was. The thought of so many years of tribal in-fighting, the countless civil wars, made her stomach turn. If only her ancestors had had the insight to keep the whitetail in line. "Will they be able to hold back the Equestrians?"

"Not alone, no. Their numbers suffer from combat losses, desertion, and low morale. Try though the pompous politicos might, they cannot keep such defeats a secret forever. There is an air of discontent in Whitetail, if one knows how to find it. Celestia must be very pleased with her precious generals." He paused when he caught Elinwynn smiling to herself. "I am almost afraid to ask, my dear sister, but I feel I must: what amuses you so?"

"Celestia," she answered plainly. Down in the arena, two dozen bucks, half in gold armor and half in emerald glass, clashed against each other with vicious flurries of attacks from their armor-mounted blades and long, powerful swipes of crystalline swords. Three of the fighters fell to the ground, clutching wounds, and were dragged back behind the lines by the others on their sides. The crowd of thousands cheered. "She truly personifies the ideals that Equestria so loves, even to a fault. Her armies have pushed back the whitetail all the way to their homes, and yet she is hesitant to put an end to our...relatives...across the border. She refuses to besiege Evinwiir."

Corvalix smirked at the thought. "Meanwhile, Chancellor Vinawyll considers surrender more and more every day. The only thing stopping him is the senate. He fears, perhaps rightfully, that they would gore him for such an action." A buck with a large sword bounded over a fallen combatant and swung it with a flash of magic from his antlers, and blood spurted from the severed stump of a screaming enemy's leg. He could survive it, if treated immediately. "That one, down there, with the broad sword -- he is quite the fighter. Whitetail could use some more like him."

"Condemned prisoners and shamed warriors are too good for Whitetail, if you ask me," Elinwynn countered.

"You will get no argument here, sister." A servant boy, not yet a buck, approached and brought two new pitchers of water, setting them down on a tray with a deep bow before wordlessly stepping away again. "When you spoke of Princess Celestia you sounded quite certain of yourself. Is there something I should know?"

"I have my reasons," Elinwynn said with a wry smile.

"You mean you have your sources."

"Come now, brother, a proper doe never divulges her secrets."

Corvalix had always been annoyed by Elinwynn's vague answers, the way she always seemed to know so much yet showed so little. He also knew better than to question her, lest he find himself falling out of her favor -- and those not in the Empress' favor did not typically live long. Family was not an exception, as their dear old uncle Daedalyyn had discovered several years ago. At least he had proven useful in feeding the crows at the end of his days.

"What I can tell you," she continued, "is that our beloved pony princess does not have the stomach for a proper end to the war she tried so hard to avoid. I believe she'll hold out as long as she can in the hopes of speaking with Chancellor Vinawyll."

"And you're sure of this?"

"Oh yes, without a doubt. Trust your dear sister, won't you?" Below her, the crowd was erupting into chants and shouts of encouragement for the last four fighters remaining. On the left, a zebra and his redtail comrade. On the right, two redtail of smaller stature, but covered in thick armor. The zebra moved first, striking low with an exotic, curved blade that caught in a gap between his opponent's shoulder pauldrons and neck guard. Pulling with all of his might, the zebra brought the redtail down hard, then delivered a crushing buck that caved in the side of the redtail's helm. If that wasn't a kill, Elinwynn thought, then the ancestors had likely made him immortal. The zebra's victim twitched on his side and was finally still, blood seeping down his armor. "Do you want to know something far more amusing than any arena fight, Corvalix?"

"By all means."

"I was considering keeping this knowledge to myself, but it is simply too entertaining to not share."

"And that is...?"

"Celestia is in love. With Tercio."

Corvalix gave her a disbelieving look. "The human? Come now, I was expecting something more plausible than that. What's the truth?"

"That is the truth. He has come quite a long way from serving as fodder in the lower ranks. One imagines his skill has grown along with his inevitable ego. A human, of all things, bedding an alicorn demigoddess? I would think highly of myself in his position, too."

"Taking an interest in what happens between Celestia's sheets, are you? You learn the strangest things, though I do admit to being quite amused by such a thought."

"That is part of my calling as Empress, after all. Princess Celestia, nigh-eternal ruler of the Equestrian diarchy -- well, monarchy, now -- has fallen head over hooves for the tall, strange-looking creature who so valiantly defends her. A story of star-crossed lovers if I've ever heard one!" she laughed.

"Truly? After great-grandmother's reign I would not have thought Celestia would have even considered such a thing."

"Nor would have I. Fortunate for the human, then, that Luna is no longer around to talk sense into her sister, hmm? And, perhaps, quite fortunate for us as well."

Corvalix saw the glint in Elinwynn's eye, the familiar grin that pulled at the edge of her mouth; it was a look of planning, of outmaneuvering, that he'd seen so many times before. He was at once terrified and excited to know what his sister was concocting in that trickster mind of hers. Soon, he knew, he would find out. Until then, he could only wait and wonder.

28 - Dragon Crest

It wasn't often that the Praetorians were assigned to duty outside of the palace, or even outside of Canterlot; such tasks typically fell under the supervision of the Equestrian or Royal Guard. Today was different. A valuable cargo had been sent from out west, near the old front lines -- wagons full of stolen gold and personal belongings, reclaimed by Legion and Equestrian Guard units in the area that had pushed the Whtietail out of occupied Equestrian territory. Such a shipment was far too valuable to be trusted to normal soldiers, and with the Legion camped not far from the Whitetail capital that left the Praetorians to pick up the slack.

A trio of sky carriages had taken twenty of their number a fair distance from Canterlot, out to the small settlement of Dragon Crest. It was a long flight, and the pegasus guards made sure to stay low to avoid being seen from any great distance.

Some of the Praetorians were thrilled by the thought of getting way from Canterlot for a while, while others simply tried not to be sick from the constant ups and downs that came with skimming the terrain. Tercio fell into the latter category, a fact he was all too aware of as the contents of his stomach threatened to leap from his mouth.

"You alright there?" Rimeberry asked, unfazed by the jostling and bumping.

"I'll manage," Tercio answered, his eyes shut tight and his hands firmly gripping the seat.

Besides Rimeberry, Tercio shared the left-most sky carriage with Frost Wind -- who complained nearly constantly that he should be flying beside the carriage, not riding in it -- and Baer'barisater, known to all simply as 'Bear'. The quiet zebra didn't complain much. In fact, he didn't talk much at all, from what Tercio had seen of him.

"You ever been in a sky carriage before?" Rimeberry asked. Bear simply shook his head.

"I have not."

"Really? You look like you've done this a hundred times. Tercio could learn a thing or two from you, eh?" Rimeberry found his own joke hilarious. Tercio, less so.

"I am not bothered by flight, my friend, for I have nothing to fear from it."

"What if the yoke snaps and we all fall to our deaths?"

"You mean if the rest of you fall to your deaths," Frost Wind added.

"Yeah, fine, the rest of us. Fuckin' pegasi and your fancy wings..." he mumbled.

Bear shrugged, looking out from an open-air window. One of the other Praetorians from the central wagon was heaving his lunch from the side. "If we should fall to our demise then it will be over with quickly, and I may join my ancestors in the life beyond life."

"Wish I was as confident about a horrible death as you."

Finding an opportunity to take his mind off the flight -- and none too soon, thanks to a bump that sent him flying out of his seat several inches -- Tercio kept the normally silent zebra talking. Who knew when the next opportunity would come? He'd always found Zevran culture fascinating, like it was from another world instead of across the sea.

"Do all zebras believe in this...life beyond life?"

"Not all, of course," Bear answered. "Just as not all ponies believe in the same gods, not all zebras believe in the same ancestral afterlife. For some, it is a place of eternal youth and joy, where they may live among their friends and families for all time. For others, it is an ascension to a place of understanding and knowledge that cannot be put into any mortal words."

"And what do you believe?"

"I believe none of us can truly know. After all, are we not still alive? There are shamans who claim to have seen the afterlife, but such things are vastly different from tribal land to tribal land. I like to think I will see my elders again, but I am confident there is more beyond this life." Bear took a drink from his water skin and pointed to Tercio. "What about you, my friend? Do you believe as most Equestrians do?"

"I suppose I do," Tercio said. "I have never been much of a praying man but I believe in the gods, and I believe I will join them when I die. Until then, I hope Acresius the Brave watches over me in battle, just as I hope Autumn Bounty blesses my father with a strong harvest and healthy crops. Old gods, new gods...whoever sees me through my days, I am thankful."

"And do you believe these gods brought you to Equestria?"

That was a question he'd thought about a lot. He could never find a definitive answer either way. "I...don't know. I may never know where I'm from or who gave birth to me, but Equestria is my home, and it's only because of the kindness of my Equestrian mother and father that I have become the man I am today. If it was the gods, then they clearly had a purpose in doing so." He shrugged. "I just live my life like everyone else."

Bear nodded, seemingly content with the answer. "That is all that can be asked of us."

Tercio felt the carriage slow down and gradually descend. It wouldn't be long now.

***

Dragon Crest was an eerily quiet place. At the outbreak of the war it had been one of the first settlements to fall, and to this day it remained mostly abandoned by its former inhabitants. Most of the buildings were intact, their owners having left before the whitetail passed through, but leaving their farms untended for months on end had resulted in most of the crops dying off. Only a few ponies still called the place home, and even they barely scratched out a living from the hardscrabble soil that had frozen with the coming of winter. Some of them watched from their windows or stood in the knee-deep snow to catch a glimpse of the Praetorians and their ilk, and Tercio couldn't help but feel a pang of regret and anger that they had lost so much to the whitetail invaders.

The sky carriages disgorged their cargo and left just as quickly, leaving the soldiers to their task. Tercio held his shield close, shivering in the cold despite his layers of wool garments.

"Praetorians, marching formation!" Stonewall shouted. Everyone knew it was for show, a display for the few ponies left. Stonewall wanted them to know the Equestrian military was there for them, and that they had nothing more to fear from the whitetail menace. Perhaps more importantly, at least in the eyes of many Praetorians, it made them look good for the waiting Legionaries who stood at sharp attention at the opposite end of the foot path in the center of town.

"Damned Legion," the Imperator swore under his breath. Some of the battle-scarred Legionaries sneered at the Praetorians across the way, the long-standing feud no less relevant simply because there was a war going on. No one seemed to know when the rivalry had started, only that it still raged, and that was enough.

"Forward!"

Tercio hefted his shield and spear, second in line on the right side of the formation, just behind Polaris. He and the others were fully kitted for any potential conflict; besides their tower shields and long, powerful spears, each soldier carried a pair of throwing pila, their personal blades, and a long dagger. Their gear clanked as they marched together in formation.

Tercio could see most of the Legionaries were focused on him; no real surprise there. Being a third taller than their largest soldier made him stand out like a sore thumb, and no doubt they were wondering exactly what he was and why he was wearing the colors of Equestria's military. Let them wonder, he thought. They would not be the first, nor would they be the last.

"Praetorians, halt!"

As one they came to a stop. Stonewall and Balustrade stepped forward, the latter wearing a combat saddle proudly displaying a red banner of Equestria with the letters "EQ" in gold to either side. Opposite him, the leader of the Legion unit did the same. Whoever he was, he struck an imposing figure -- a stout earth pony with a close-cut mane and a coat the color of wet earth. A large gash ran along the side of his head and culminated in a patch over his left eye.

"Imperator Stonewall, 105th Praetorian Guard." Stonewall saluted, and the Legion commander returned it smartly.

"Legatus Alvarus, 32nd Legion. I've heard much of your actions during the attack on Canterlot, Imperator. You have my respect."

"And you've mine, sir."

Alvarus motioned to Stonewall's wooden left foreleg. "You sacrifice much to protect the Princess."

"I would sacrifice more to see Equestria safe from harm, sir. Old stallion like me? Well, not much left besides duty these days."

"A noble sentiment. We could use more of your type." Alvarus gave a shrill whistle and two ponies came forward, each tied to a harness that jointly pulled a single, large wagon. Its sides and top were covered to conceal its contents from prying eyes. "I trust you've been briefed on the contents of this wagon, Imperator."

"That I have. It'll be good to get it sorted and returned to those it belongs to. Gods only know how many ponies have lost everything since this war started."

"Indeed so. It will be a long trek back to Canterlot from here, and I'm afraid we must make haste in returning to the front. Can I trust you to see the contents of this wagon returned safely?"

Stonewall nodded. "Without a doubt, sir. We'll get it done, or die trying."

Satisfied, Alvarus gave the signal for his soldiers to unfasten themselves from their harnesses. "With good speed and roads permitting you should be back before nightfall." He looked beyond the Equestrian banner and pointed to Tercio, raising his voice to be heard. "You, soldier. You are Centurion Tercio Krosus, are you not?"

"Yes, sir!" Tercio answered.

"I have heard of you, strange creature that you are. Your brother fights well with the 44th. You should be proud."

Victus was still alive! It had been nearly a month since he'd last heard of him. A welling of pride and joy came over him, and he couldn't help but let a small smile come across as he spoke.

"Thank you, sir! You honor my family with your words!"

Alvarus turned back to Stonewall. "This creature is a good soldier?"

"Human. And yes, one of the finest," Stonewall answered.

"Hmm. All walks of life, and that sort of thing. I'll take your word for it. Now, if you'll excuse us, Imperator Stonewall, we must be on our way." The commanders saluted each other once more, and Stonewall stood at attention as the Legionaries turned as one and marched off under Alvarus' orders. He waited until they were down the road before addressing his charges.

"So, that's the Legion," he said plainly. "Damned fine soldiers, but the personalities of timber wolves." The Praetorians chuckled at his joke, finally able to return to a less formal stance. "Looks like you're famous, Krosus."

"So it would appear, sir. I am not entirely sure I enjoy being referred to as a 'creature', however. At least he sees me on par with a house cat, I suppose."

More laughs, and someone behind him knocked him on the ass with a hoof.

"When it comes to his kind you take what you can get, believe me." Behind him, the wagon loomed surprisingly large. It was no wonder they couldn't simply fly it back to Canterlot. Stonewall let out a low whistle at the sight of it. "Would you look at that. There must be enough gold and valuables in there to supply an army for a year, and it was all taken from the hooves of countless Equestrian citizens. Damned whitetail. We'll have to see to it that these poor folks in Dragon Crest get their things back as quickly as possible." He pointed to two of the Praetorians. "Rimeberry, Iron Thresh, you've got cart duty. Get yourselves nice and secure, it's gonna be a long trot back. The rest of you fall in to either side. Thunderburst and Bear, you've got rear guard. Let's move it!"

***

Tercio had forgotten what it was like to walk for almost the entire duration of a day. Judging by the groans and swears of the others, he wasn't the only one. Long marches were standard fare for the Equestrian Guard, but he was also a younger man back then, a fact that his body took every opportunity to remind him of. There had only been a few brief stops for meals or rest, so the Praetorians kept their minds occupied by idly talking with one another. As long as they kept watch, Stonewall didn't seem to mind.

"Hey, Bear, let me ask you something," Thunderburst said from the rear of the formation. Tercio eavesdropped on the conversation, having nothing much else to do. His position near the back gave him ample opportunity to do so.

"What is it you wish to know, Thunderburst?" Bear replied in his heavily-accented Equestrian.

"Where are you from?"

"Zevran," the zebra said without a hint of sarcasm. Thunderburst blinked.

"Right, I know that much, but, you know...where specifically?"

"Why do you ask?"

"We fight alongside each other, don't we? I'd just like to know more about you."

Without looking, Tercio could tell Bear was hesitant to answer.

"This seems to be a common question among the Praetorians."

"Of course it is, we're brothers after all. I know where everyone else hails from; Rimeberry is from the northern expanses, near Icedale. Polaris grew up in Marestopholous. Even Tercio is from Summervale, sort of. Isn't that right, Tercio?"

"That I am," Tercio answered.

"See? No big deal. So where are you from?"

Perhaps realizing he wouldn't win, Bear finally relented. "I suppose it could not hurt. I hail from the yellow forests of eastern Zevran, in the Mw'atut'ze tribal lands. It is a place very different from Equestria."

Thunderburst was plainly surprised to get an answer. "Yellow forests, huh? You mean, like, the leaves are yellow?"

"Not quite, my friend. My village sits on the edge of a great lake, but it is a dangerous place. If one crossed the lake to the other shore, one would end up in a land foreign to all of the senses. Trees that are both plant and animal, with roots that bleed when cut. The sound of their hearts fill the forest like a thousand drums. If you were to step onto the soil, you would find it viscous and yellow, like a foul-smelling sludge. Many things call such a place their home, large and small, and all of them would eagerly drain you of your very blood or devour you whole."

"Come on, now you're making things up," Thunderburst said. "Animal trees? Blood-sucking monsters? That's ridiculous."

Bear shrugged. "I can see how it would seem so to those who have never seen it, but I speak only the truth."

"We have dangerous creatures too. Hydras, dragons, that kind of thing."

"Yes, but you do not have Bem'balae in Everfree, and for that you should be thankful."

"Bem-what now?"

"A beast as tall as three huts that walks on three tall, slender legs, with six eyes that cover its circular body that hangs from the center of its legs, like a hub on a wagon wheel. It is fond of swallowing zebras whole. The sound of someone you know being slowly digested alive, screaming in agony and praying for death, as the creature stomps away, immune to your weapons...it is something I will never forget."

It was silent for a long time after that.

Bear slipped into the rhyming speak that was common to his people, as if reciting poetry from memory. "Across the lake you must not tread, for the forest does not give up its dead. Through the mists and fog our tribe stands guard; the hours long, the trials hard." He went back to his normal way of speaking, though he now had the attention of most of the Praetorians who listened in interest. "Among my tribe, it is believed that those lost to the forest return as tortured spirits, inhabiting the bodies of the terrible beasts that killed them and lashing out at the village. Only by destroying the creatures can we put their souls at rest." He smiled. "And you thought the Everfree forest was a dangerous place, yes?"

"Not anymore," Thunderburst answered sincerely. "Assuming you're not just yanking my prick, I have to say: I can't imagine living in a place like that. Who would possibly live there voluntarily?"

"In the old times, before the unification of the tribes, the creatures of the yellow forest would sometimes gather in great numbers and wander the land, devouring or killing any they came across. Our tribe was created to stop them, a task we have upheld for the last twelve generations."

"And that's what you did?"

"Yes. I destroyed many things, some of which would not believe if I told you."

Tercio turned back and spoke to Bear. "You have my respect. I am not sure I could have done such a thing."

"Is that why you left Zevran? Because you grew tired of fighting monsters?" Thunderburst asked.

Bear dipped his head, just slightly, and a shadow crossed his face as he seemed lost in memory for a brief time. "That is not why. I am afraid that is a very personal thing. I am sorry, but I cannot tell you more than that."

Thunderburst put a hoof on Bear's armored shoulder.

"Well for what it's worth, Bear, I'm glad you're with us. You're a good stallion." The others echoed his sentiment.

"Thank you, my friends. I am glad to be in Equestria, and honored to be among good company."

***

The sun was beginning to set when they finally caught sight of Canterlot in the distance. Tercio and the others gave sighs of relief now that their destination was no more than another couple of hours away. He would finally be able to get out of the damnable cold. A hot meal, followed by a hot bath -- that would be best. A hot bath with Celestia would be better...

"Everyone hold up," Stonewall ordered. Time to change out cart-pullers again. Iron Thresh and Frost Wind gladly unhooked themselves from the yoke. "Stop your whining, fillies, we're almost there. You can nurse your bumps and bruises once we're done. Centus, Cloudtop, you're up. Try to be careful of the pot holes this--"

A loud crack sounded from the right side of the formation, like a thunder clap, and as the Praetorians turned they were greeted by the sight of Iron Thresh being lifted into the air in a field of crackling, emerald-colored magic that arced over his armor and wrapped around him like writhing vines made of pure energy. Instinctively he called for help, only to have a long, jagged spear of glassy crystal puncture straight through his chest. He gave a pained grunt and thrashed his legs uselessly, and just as fast as he'd been lifted he was dropped to the ground, impaled half way up the weapon.

"Ambush!" someone yelled after a brief moment of shock. Nineteen blades were drawn from their sheathes in an instant, and a shield wall was hastily erected. A flight of arrows bounced off the wall or embedded themselves into the wooden fronts, and several crystalline spears dug themselves into the defensive line.

"Weapons front!" Stonewall shouted, peeking his head over the wall just long enough to get a survey of their attackers. Tall, lithe bodies clad in green, glassy armor. "Whitetail soldiers ahead!"

"What are the fucking whitetail doing here?" someone shouted over the sound of more arrows scattering off the shield wall.

"Nevermind that, keep that wall up!"

Tercio saw glimpses of them flitting between trees, perhaps fifty yards out. They were so fast! Was this what Victus had been fighting against for all these months?

The Praetorians were quick in assuming their three-tiered formation, with the hastati up front, their spears sticking out from between the small gaps in their shield wall, the principes behind them with their throwing pila at the ready, and the triarii in the back row with arrows nocked.

"Take aim!"

An obsidian-headed arrow pinged off Tercio's shield, slicing into the unprotected underside of his arm as it passed. Warm blood streamed down his arm, and he bit back a shout of pain.

"Release!"

On Stonewall's signal nearly a dozen arrows flew from the back of the formation, followed a split second later by half a dozen pila. The arrows struck home first; most of them had no effect, bouncing off whitetail armor, but a few found their mark, toppling deer where they stood. Soon after, the pila came down with their heavier, piercing impacts. Several whitetail fell, only to be quickly dragged off by the others.

"Formation, advance!"

Tercio kept himself low, ducking behind his shield as heavy impacts were thwarted by his tower shield. It felt like they were advancing for hours. Beside him, Polaris' shield was enveloped by green magic and ripped from his grasp. It tumbled end over end before slamming into a tree beyond the formation's reach. The others reacted quickly, closing the gap in the wall before the whitetail could take advantage of it, and Polaris fell back to the rear.

"Keep your wits about you, there's a skilled magic user out there!" Stonewall said over the sound of another volley of arrows being exchanged between the two sides

The deer were closer now, and Tercio could plainly see their features -- almost uniformly shades of brown with white spots, clad in green, crystal-like armor that glinted in the setting sun's light. How had they managed to get so far into Equestria? They shouted to one another in deertongue, at once oddly pleasing to listen to yet harsh in its tones.

"Felaniin, doer hashaan! Equestrii cal'inax!"

Something about their words caught Tercio's attention. Even as he obeyed the orders shouted by Stonewall he carefully listened to the enemy's own language. It was so...familiar.

"On my word, we're going to break ranks and charge, understood?!"

"HAH-OOH!" the Praetorians shouted, both a battle cry and an acknowledgement.

The whitetail seemed to be in disarray, their numbers scattered and attacking from poorly thought-out positions after the initial attack had failed. Stonewall meant to take advantage of their inexperience and finish them off.

"Kasaliiri Equestrii fien nicyys!"

"HWAH!"

More call-and-response by the whitetail. For all of their running around, they still sounded like a fighting unit. A small group of bucks, their tall antlers glowing with white and emerald magic, charged the formation. They carried deadly-looking spears and floated long, conical daggers, galloping at full speed at the shield wall. What could they possibly hope to accomplish against such a formation?

"Brace!" Stonewall ordered, and the Praetorians slammed their shields into the ground and leaned into them with their shoulders. Two of the bucks collided with the shield wall, their spears piercing straight through and puncturing the throats of two unfortunate ponies. The third deer lagged behind, and as his comrades fought against the wall he leapt into the air and was instantly lifted above the others in a crackling magical field, accompanied by a thunder crack. Surprised Praetorians lashed out with their spears, but could not reach him before he landed on his hooves behind them with his weapons at the ready. A stomp sent twin armor-blades locking into place, and a vicious trio of stabs caught Frost Wind in the right hind leg. The pegasus fell heavily to the snow-covered ground, grasping at his wound and yelling in pain. The whitetail soldier struck again, as quick as lightning. His quinn-blade punched through Frost Wind's torso armor, and a horrible, agonized shout was, for a brief time, the only thing Tercio could hear. He wanted to turn around and tear into the deer with his blade, but he had to trust the rear guard to do it for him. Keeping the shield wall together was the difference between life and death.

The whitetail wasted no time in attacking a new target, lashing out at Thunderburst in a ballet of swift, precise movements designed to keep the Praetorian off guard. Stonewall and Bear joined in from the deer's left side, thrusting spears that bounced off the rounded armor segments. It was soon four on one, but the deer was holding his own.

Tercio was immediately occupied by the deer in front of him, who had stepped aside after impaling Centus and was now intent on wearing him down. Blow after blow thwacked into his shield or was deflected by Nocturne, and the longer he fought the more he felt the magical blade conforming to his combat style. It made him strong, kept him focused, and every time he struck a successful slash and drew blood the weapon sent a jolt of warmth up his arm.

The buck spun around and kicked his hind legs into the shield, hard enough to dent the iron backing, but Tercio had been waiting for just such an opportunity. With all of his strength he lifted his shield , throwing the buck's legs into the air and exposing his belly. A vicious jab sent Nocturne through the deer's stomach, and Tercio pushed all the way to the hilt until the tip of the blade stuck through the front of its neck, gored from back to front. The deer convulsed and twitched as he withdrew the weapon, and a plunging death blow made sure there was one less whitetail soldier left in the fight. Nocturne glowed white for a brief second, and Tercio felt its vibrations -- it was pleased to have destroyed an enemy of Equestria.

Behind him, Stonewall and the others had finally managed to dispatch the deer warrior, and they rejoined the protection of the wall. There were still a good number of deer ahead of them, from what Tercio could see. How many had they brought? As one the Praetorians pushed forward again, releasing their last volley of pila and arrows.

By now the whitetail forces had retreated back to the edge of the forest. Equestria's finest soldiers would soon be forced to fight in terrain favorable to their enemies, and Tercio knew it. He swore under his breath. What choice did they have? They couldn't possibly allow the whitetail to escape, only to spring up somewhere else and cost more ponies their lives.

"Stay on your guard in there, and stick together!" Stonewall warned them, mirroring Tercio's own thoughts. Scattered arrows struck out to meet them, but the barrage was a fraction of its former strength. Rimeberry could be heard muttering to himself, chomping at the bit to finally break free from the wall and get into combat proper.

The forest was so close. They stepped over the bodies of dead whitetail and finished off those who were wounded and would not surrender. The Praetorians were ready.

"Praetoria Victor!" Stonewall yelled, hefting his bloodied weapon in the air.

"PRAETORIA VICTOR!"

At once the formation split in practiced precision, and Tercio and the others charged at full speed toward the waiting whitetail with fearsome battle shouts. This was what he lived for, the thrill of battle pumping through his veins, the sound of his brothers alongside him. Rage-words be damned -- he was going to cleave a path through the whitetail of his own accord!

The first deer to stand in his way had a look of genuine shock about him as the armor-clad human rammed into him with his tower shield, sending the whitetail sprawling against a tree. Tercio stabbed through him hard enough to embed Nocturne in the bark behind him, and as he withdrew his weapon he saw the others meeting the enemy head-on in violent clashes of steel, crystal and blood. A buck with tall antlers bounded at him from his left, narrowly missing his throat with its armor-blades. Tercio stepped back and deflected a trio of attacks with his shield, then brought Nocturne down with a vicious yell, slicing through antlers and severing the deer's head in a single attack.

A sharp pain bit into his shoulder from behind, and he wheeled around to find the offending whitetail withdrawing a conical quinn-blade. Enraged from the pain, he swung his shield around hard enough to crack bone and knock the enemy off his hooves, then slammed it down edge-on to crush the deer's throat in a shower of gore.

"Polaris, to your right!" he yelled above the din of combat, pointing to a deer warrior that was rapidly advancing on his comrade. Polaris acted quickly, yanking a pilum from a dead deer with his magic and hurling it into the chest of his would-be attacker. The deer tumbled to the ground, dead where he lay.

"My thanks, Tercio!"

Stonewall ran up and down the line, shouting encouragement to his soldiers. "No quarter! Hah-ooh!"

As far as Tercio was concerned, that was just fine. Anyone who dared attack Equestria, who dared kill his brothers, deserved to die. He would fight them to the last -- with his spear, with his sword, with his bare hands. A whitetail soldier barreled into him, knocking the magical blade from his hand and sending him to the ground, and he scrambled to cover himself with his shield. A glancing blow dug into his thigh, drawing a stream of blood. He managed to reach for the dagger tucked into the sheathe strapped to his leg, and he jammed it into the deer's throat over and over. The copper taste of blood met his lips and he spat it away as he pushed his defeated foe off of him.

Nocturne had landed on its side in the loose soil, a short distance away. Breathing heavily, and with pain shooting through his body, he limped over and reached for it.

He jerked to a stop. Green magic filled his vision and a booming clap of thunder sounded in his ears, and without warning he found himself flung through the air. Trees flitted past as he flew backwards and slammed into a tall oak with a clattering of armor, denting his helm and knocking the air from his lungs. Distantly, he was aware of someone shouting his name. A tall, lithe figure stepped before him as he drifted in and out of consciousness, pinned to the tree by magical forces. Tiny antler stubs, no more than a few inches, jutted from the top of the figure's head, glowing an emerald green.

"Let me get a good look at you, human." The voice was soft and sweet, decidedly feminine in nature. Tercio struggled to move his head, to move any part of himself, but it was useless. The doe had him paralyzed. How far had he been pulled from the others? Did they even know where he'd gone? "So this is what all the fuss is about. I must say, I was expecting something different."

"Let me go," he demanded through gritted teeth. The doe laughed.

"Oh I don't think that's going to happen, nesha'yyl. Your equine friends are of no concern, but you? There are deer who would pay very handsomely to see you brought before them on your knees. A wagon full of gold is nothing. I'll let the others deal with your...colleagues." She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Coming across you was a happy coincidence." Slowly, she moved closer and kissed his cheek, then laughed to herself in accomplishment. "Come along, human. We have somewhere to be."

Tercio felt himself being lifted from the ground, and he managed to latch onto the tree trunk to stop from being carried off.

"Don't be difficult, nesha'yyl, or I won't be as gentle next time."

A jolt of electricity shot through him and he grunted in pain. "Go to hell."

"Perhaps one day. Until then..."

A sensation like a thousand needle points finally made him surrender his grip, and as thrashed in defiance as he was levitated beside the doe. She began to trot deeper into the forest with an amused grin.

"Tercio!" distant voices called. "Tercio, where are you?!"

He tried to shout back, but could do no more than whisper. All of his years of training, the countless hours of drills and sparring, and it all counted for naught. He had survived an attack on Canterlot, saved the Princess, fallen for her completely, and driven off whitetail attackers, only to be carried away by a doe as if he were a play thing. The more hopeless he felt, the more it burned inside him. Disappointment, anger, sadness...rage.

"No," he growled as another wave of electrical pain cut into him. "I will not be controlled..."

"What was that, love?" the deer said in a sickeningly sweet, mocking voice.

"You will not...control me..."

She giggled at the thought. "I'd say you're a little late on that. Come now, don't be difficult."

A red mist began to cloud his sight, swirling and solidifying until it tinted everything before him. He could feel the power inside of him, growing by the second. The blood dripping down his arm, covering his leg, staining his armor -- it drove him to a maddening frenzy. He wanted more, needed more. Flashes of combat filled his vision, gouts of blood and bright arterial sprays from sword and shield and spear.

All at once he found the magic enveloping his body to be a physical thing, forming and dissolving as he fought against it. He could see the lattice of ethereal energy, felt the bond it formed to the doe's vast power. It conformed to him like a tightly bound sheet, and as he focused on it the jagged, arcing power it began to ripple and coil in on itself.

The doe stopped, gasping at the sensation and putting a hoof to her head. "What are you doing?" she demanded, drawing a dagger from her leg scabbard. Tercio contorted and twisted as he gave himself freely to the unstoppable anger within, shouting with pain as it wracked his body and made him stronger. The doe sent shocks of agony through him, again and again, but he would not relent "Stop this at once or I will kill you right here, human! Do not think to test me!"

Tercio could not hear her words, nor could he feel the magical assault on his body. He was entirely focused on escaping, frantically searching the incorporeal spell for a weakness. He knew it was close, as if guided by an unseen hand.

There, above his chest. A tangled knot of light and energy. Something cold and sharp built in his mind, arcing through him and twitching his muscles. A thousand flashes of the magical point flooded his thoughts, and then, at once, joined into a single image.

He let out a deep, terrible yell and arched his back, and the emerald field collapsed in a flash of light, stumbling the doe as she yelled in pain and shock. Tercio fell to the ground, his breaths ragged and animalistic, and he pounded his fist on the ground as he pushed himself back to his feet. The doe managed a surprised yelp before he was upon her, grabbing her by the throat and slamming her against a tree hard enough to crack her crystalline armor. She gagged and kicked as he began to squeeze the very life from her.

"Please...no..." she pleaded in a choked voice as she thrashed in his grip. The rage within him screamed for her blood, filled his mind with visions of her mutilated body slumping to the ground, his hands thick with her gore.

KILL HER. KILL HER. KILL HER. KILL HER.

The voice, his voice, echoed all around him until it was all he could hear. All he had to do was give in to the urge, and he could be unstoppable. Invincible. He could slaughter the whitetail. He could destroy everyone weak enough to think themselves his better -- deer, pony, it mattered not. He alone could reshape nations!

And then, as if in a dream, he saw the sparring ring from the mountain camp. Rimeberry was there with him, the sound of steel on steel echoing across the great expanse of wilderness untouched by civilization. He saw himself fighting against the darkness inside, felt the burning as Nocturne fought to keep him from losing his will. There was the blood lust, the insatiable need to slaughter his opponent, thick and heavy. But he fought back. He defeated it. It would not win, not ever again.

The doe was still in his grasp as he snapped back to consciousness; tears streamed down her face and her struggling grew weaker by the second. He looked her directly in the eyes, yelled in fury, and threw his fist forward.

It crunched into the tree bark beside her head and sent splinters of wood into his hand. There he stayed for several seconds, unmoving, before releasing the doe from his grip. She dropped to the ground and gasped for air, sobbing and choking, too weak to move or fight.

"Tercio!" Someone had found him, and they were close. He was sure of it. Galloping hoof beats came to a stop beside him. "Thank the gods you're alive! We feared the worst when you--"

Polaris drew his weapon and prepared to strike the very second he saw the deer.

"Wait!" Tercio said weakly. "Wait, Polaris -- don't kill her." Polaris didn't strike, but he didn't put down his weapon, either. "She'll be more valuable to us alive. Think of the intelligence should could provide."

"She's the one with the strong magic, isn't she?" Thunderburst asked, his armor caked in blood and dirt. "She killed Iron Thresh. Fuck her, she deserves to die!"

"Stand down, Thunderburst," Polaris said, lowering the Praetorian's weapon with his foreleg while sliding his own back into its scabbard. "That's quite enough for one day. Tercio's right; she may be able to tell us how such a large force of whitetail managed to travel so deeply inside Equestrian territory. She lives."

"Fuck you, and fuck her! No one--"

Polaris lifted Thunderburst by the collar with a flash of magic. "She lives, decanus. Do you understand?"

Thunderburst landed on his hooves and jerked away from Polaris. "Fine. Whatever you say. But she's still dangerous. You really wanna trot back to Canterlot for the next two hours with someone like her in our ranks?"

The doe had finally started breathing normally again, though she had not moved from her place on the wet ground.

"Tercio, it's your call. What do you suggest?"

He shot a glare at the doe, and she skidded back against the tree. Clearly she hadn't expected him to have a hope of escaping her, much less nearly squeezing the life from her with his hands. "Bind her legs and keep her in the dark. She will not be a further problem." He flexed his bloody hand into a fist, making sure she saw him do it. "If she tries anything she will find I am not so merciful after all."

Polaris motioned for several of the others to do as they'd heard, and he took Tercio aside several paces to speak. "Are you alright, my friend? We saw you disappear into the forest, but the damned whitetail were intent on keeping us from reaching you. We're lucky to have found you at all."

"I'm fine," Tercio said, pulling a length of bandages from a pouch at his side. It was a painful process, now that the adrenaline and rage had worn off. "I've been wounded, however. Thrice, at least. I do not believe it's serious, but it hurts like hell."

"So I imagine. You look like you just bathed in blood. Remove your armor and we'll staunch your wounds until you can be seen by a proper apothecary back in Canterlot." Tercio did as he was asked, wincing as his steel and gold segmented armor scraped against raw flesh. Even the soft touch of his purple cloak was painful. He sat on the ground with a sigh of relief. "Looks like you've got a gash on your arm, nothing too bad there. Nasty quinn-blade wound on your leg, though. Since you're not bleeding to death I'm assuming it didn't cut your artery. Superficial wound once we get it cleaned." Polaris unrolled his own bandage wrap and wrapped it tightly around Tercio's leg.

"I've another, in my shoulder. I don't think it went all the way through, but--"

"Shit," Polaris muttered as he stepped around to check. "I'm not gonna lie, it's deep. You're not going to bleed out immediately but it can't wait too long..." A slight touch of his hoof was all it took to send a surge of pain through Tercio's body, and he yelled out loud enough to draw the attention of the others for a brief moment. "Yeah...this is bad." Polaris whistled for two others to come over. Rimeberry and Bear were at his side soon after, searching through the medical bag they'd grabbed from the wagon.

"Hang on there, brother," Rime said. Tercio noticed he was wounded as well, a gash along his side where a blade had found a gap in his armor. "Go help out the others with that doe, would you, Polaris?"

Polaris nodded. "Of course." A strong magic user was not something to take lightly.

Tercio pointed to the dark cut on Rime's side. "You're hurt?"

"I'll live. Compared to that son of a whore in the crystal cave this was like fighting a bunch of amateurs."

"I'm all too aware," Thunderburst added, lifting his wooden foreleg. "At least he didn't take my wings, eh?"

"Shoulda taken your tongue, if you ask me."

"You're too kind, Rime."

Rimeberry laughed despite his surroundings. "Yeah, I know. Put some pressure on that wound, would ya?"

Tercio did not enjoy the sensation of an open wound being held down with what felt like a blacksmith's anvil heated to red-hot, but he knew he didn't have a choice. He gritted his teeth and asked, "did we get them all?"

"The whitetail? Yeah, that we did. Fucked those deer bastards up. Your doe friend there," Rimeberry jerked his head in her direction, "is the only survivor."

"Weren't there -- argh, gods damn this pain! -- others who asked for mercy?"

"A few did not wish to die and surrendered," Bear answered, "but I am afraid we could not administer aid before the battle was over. Their wounds were grievous."

Rimeberry pulled two small pouches full of some kind of powders from the medical bag. "Some of the whitetail cowards tried to run, but Stonewall was a step ahead. He and a hoof-full of others had flanked around behind the deer early on. He cut 'em off and cut 'em down."

"Old stallion's still got it," Tercio said.

"That he does." Rimeberry grabbed a twig from a nearby tree, about as long as Tercio's hand, and wrapped it in cloth. "Bite down on this. This stuff I've got here will stop you from bleeding out, but it's gonna hurt like a son of a bitch. Trust me on this one. Bear, when I tell you to, you're gonna lean into Tercio with all of your strength. Keep him sitting up, got it? Good." For the first time, Rimeberry looked apologetic. "Sorry, brother."

Reluctantly, Tercio bit down on the wrapped twig and waited. "Just be done with it."

Behind Tercio's back, Rimeberry mixed the two powders together. Small wisps of smoke rose from his hoof, and he nodded to Bear. The zebra threw himself into Tercio and dug his hooves into the wet soil just as Rimeberry clapped the mix of smoking powder into Tercio's wound.

Tercio jerked, then yelled out as the mix of black and white powders ignited, cauterizing the wound and staunching the flow of blood. The pain was immense, worse than the stab of the quinn-blade itself had been, and it burned like an iron poker heated in a forge.

"Hold on, brother, hold on..."

Rimeberry added his own, not insignificant weight to Bear's in an effort to keep Tercio from thrashing around and reopening the wound before it could close. Long seconds passed before the worst of the pain subsided, and Tercio spat out the wrapped twig. He'd bitten down hard enough to break it in two different places. Tears had mixed with the blood and dirt on his face; he was glad Celestia wasn't around to see him in such a state.

"You alright?" Rimeberry asked, checking to make sure the bleeding had stopped.

"I never want to do that again," Tercio replied half-jokingly. He wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand just as Stonewall came trotting over.

"Good to see you yet live, Krosus," he said. The Imperator's armor was almost completely red along one side, from crested helm to flank guard, staining and matting his cloak. "Don't worry about me, that's not my blood. How do you fare?"

"I've been better," Tercio said. "Damned whitetail got a few pieces of me out there. Almost got carried off by her." The doe who had given him so much trouble was now firmly tied and had a cloth bag draped over her head. She wouldn't be going anywhere. "I've never seen such magic."

Stonewall grumbled. "We were lucky there was only one. A doe like her is worth half a dozen bucks in combat, or at least a few stags. Polaris says you want her taken in for interrogation."

"That would be best, I think. I'm eager to know how and why the whitetail were so far from the border."

"Then that makes two of us. Smart thinking, Krosus."

"Thank you, sir."

Stonewall yanked on a cord at his side, and a long, wrapped bundle fell from a loop on his saddle bag. "I believe this belongs to you."

Tercio grabbed the cloth bag and managed a weak smile through the pain. He'd almost lost Nocturne on his first encounter. It was pleased to have returned to him, and he could hear a quiet hum of energy as he brushed his hand against the metallic grip.

"Thank you," he said sincerely, then slid the magical blade into its sheathe at his side. "Sir, how many did we lose in the fight?"

"Five," Stonewall frowned. "Iron Thresh, Frost Wind, Palaenius, Haftus, and Cinder Sage. Damned shame..." A quarter of their number, gone in minutes. The survivors were too exhausted or too injured to grieve; that would come later. "We made the cowardly tree-rutters pay, though. They payed dearly. By our last count we took out at least thirty of their own, possibly more. I'm going to request that Canterlot and the surrounding area be put on high alert for the time being, once we return. Can't be too careful with the whitetail sneaking around." Stonewall offered a hoof and helped Tercio to his feet. "We'll get you looked at once we're within the palace gates. Go take a seat on the wagon, I don't want you opening that wound again. We'll gather our dead and be on our way."

Tercio gathered his armor and saluted weakly. Stonewall returned the formality.

"You fought well today, Krosus. I'm proud of you."

With his gear tucked under his arm Tercio hobbled to the wagon, stepping around bodies of dead Praetorians and whitetail soldiers alike. He'd been lucky, and the only thing he could think of was the others who hadn't been. He would celebrate their lives in due time. For now, he wished more than anything he was home.

***

For the first time in many nights, Princess Celestia had to worry once more about the whitetail. Not since the start of the war had they been spotted in Equestrian territory, and never so close to the capital. Where had they come from? How did they know the wagon carrying stolen valuables was traveling the roads from Dragon Crest? There were too many questions, and almost no answers. The interrogation of the whitetail doe -- Alinalyys, she'd said her name was -- had revealed only that she was picked by an officer in their military to lead the small group, and even then, she had admitted that gold coins were far less of a prize than taking Tercio alive.

"He is known to many soldiers and officers," the doe had told Celestia. "There is a great reward for his capture."

Level-headed though Celestia liked to think she was, the thought of someone carrying Tercio off like a trophy infuriated her. She had not even had the chance to see him since his return, as he'd been taken to the apothecaries by his comrades as soon as he'd arrived. Hopefully he would be alright.

She'd had to step away for several minutes before she could return to speak with Alinalyys once more. It became clear after some time that the prisoner did not know much else about the inner workings of the Whitetail armies beyond the typical rank structures and formation sizes that were common knowledge to Equestria's leaders already. Disappointed and frustrated, Celestia had left the prison cells with more questions than she'd entered with. The doe would remain in their custody until the end of the war, under heavy guard by the best of the palace's magic users, with the promise of a more comfortable cell if she told her captors anything of value before then.

Too tired to think on it any more, but unable to sleep, Celestia had chosen to remain in her chambers and pass the time with some light reading -- plays from old playwrights of her youth, great poems of adventure and intrigue. Some of the dusty tomes were marked with blue ink in the margins; notes and musings from Luna, written in ancient Equestrian, during her many years of royal studies. Inside the front cover of an old history book, a simple drawing of the sisters caught her eye, created with the charming simplicity of a child's mind. "Lulu", the crude letters spelled above a blue scribble that vaguely resembled an alicorn. Next to it, a pink scribble with a tiny crown. "Tia". It took her back; back to the grand castle in the Everfree forest, to the library filled with every subject imaginable, to the countless nights spent playing in the courtyard while their parents sat on the balcony and shared stories of their own childhoods. It had been so long...

"Princess?" Someone called to her from the doorway. She'd forgotten to close them again. "My most sincere apologies for interrupting you, Your Highness, but I have an urgent delivery for you." The Royal Guardspony bowed and produced a small, wrapped package from a saddle bag.

"It's alright," she reassured him. "Please, come in. What do you bring?"

"I cannot say for sure, I was told it was to be delivered to you unopened. Imperator Scorpius from the 19th Royal Guard found it while sorting through the wagon brought in by the Praetorians several hours ago. He says there was a note attached to it, from a Decanus Victus Krosus in the 44th Legion. It was to be given to you at the first available opportunity."

Tercio's brother? A Legionary contacting the palace without going through a superior officer was an unusual occurrence at best. Whatever it was, it must have been important.

"Thank you, Quintus," she said, taking the package with her magic. The guard saluted and returned to his post, and Celestia shut her doors to be sure of privacy. The wrapped bundle was small and plain, the size of her hoof, and tied with twine. She pulled it open and a small object tumbled out. As she levitated it before her she read a folded note that had come with it.

"Princess -- myself and a few others have been investigating, and fighting against, the Nightmare Moon cults for the past several months. During a recent raid on a supply caravan we happened upon a young fawn who had been taken slave by the cultists, as well as further proof of connections between the cult and the whitetail military itself."

Celestia remembered the young whitetail -- Aliis, was his name -- and had spoken with him briefly before he was given to a foster family. She hoped he was doing well.

"The fawn gave us this pendant as a reward for rescuing him. He believed it to be a shiny bauble, but myself and the others recognized it for what it truly was: a way for the cults to communicate with Nightmare Moon herself. We have not been able to figure out how to use it, but perhaps you will find a way, so that we may use it against them. May you remain in good health. The Legion is with you. - Victus Krosus"

Celestia had heard of these pendants before, but she had never seen one. A way to commune with her fallen sister? Such a thing could not possibly exist, she was sure of it. And yet, even if it were a remote possibility, she had to try.

The pendant was ornately carved from what appeared to be ivory, circular in design, with a deer and a pony chasing one another around a central star made of orange crystal. It looked familiar, almost exactly like...

She gasped, nearly dropping it to the floor. She hoped she was wrong, wished for it more than anything as she frantically searched through her cabinets. It had to be a mistake, a coincidence!

There, under a stack of scrolls, tucked into the corner of a drawer, was the pendant's twin. She held them up, studied them intently under candle light. They were the same, down to every little detail. Dizzy with the realization, she sat on her bed and tried to find a reason, any reason, for it to not be true.

But it was. The new pendant was an exact match to the one given to her, so many months ago, as a harmless gift by--

"...Elinwynn?"

29 - The Outcast

Chancellor Vinawyll was not typically known for his anger. The head of the Whitetail government liked to be seen as calm and collected, even in the worst of times, so as to serve as a pillar of strength and resolve for his people. The military, the senate, the very citizens of his nation relied on him. At the moment, none of that mattered.

"Ancestors damn these incompetent fools! I hope and pray with every ounce of my body that they shall know no rest in the afterlife!"

A table full of fruit and wine was upended and thrown across the room, crashing into the wall under a magical torch. In the center of the Chancellor's chambers a lone stag stood at prompt attention, not daring to look his superior in the eyes. Years of abuse at the hooves of his own officers had given the commander apt practice in the art of maintaining appearances. On the inside, however, he sweated and cursed and worried like any other.

Vinawyll approached and shoved a hoof against Brother-Commander Tarsalonis' armored chest. "I gave you a single order, Brother-Commander! A single command! How could you possibly fail so miserably as to cost us not only the target, but thirty of our finest soldiers?!"

"We underestimated the Equestrians, Honorable Chancellor, sir."

"Oh. Oh, I see. You underestimated them. In that case, I suppose all is forgiven. After all, it's not as if we've been 'underestimating' the Equestrians for the last six fucking months! They are on our doorstep and still this is the excuse I'm given?!" Tarsalonis remained silent. Nothing he could have said would have possibly assuaged Vinawyll's rage. "I was assured that a force of thirty bucks and a single doe was all that would be required to carry out the mission! And who was it, Brother-Commander, who assured me?"

"I did, sir."

"You did! And what do we have to show for it in return? Five dead Praetorians, a captured Sister-Magi, a wagon full of gold and jewels lost to Equestria's coffers, and a pile of our own dead! Have you any idea how expensive it is to hire a caravan to smuggle out a creature twice the size of an Equestrian, only to have it find the agreed-upon location full of bodies?! That is coin we'll never see again!"

"Honorable Chancellor, our spies report that the human was stronger than we'd anticipated. Magical afterglow from the battle shows a power far beyond our previous assumptions, neither deer nor pony in origin. Clearly this...human...is resistant to our magics."

"Well then, we picked a great fucking time to find out, didn't we?"

Vinawyll paced back and forth beside a large map. Equestrian units hadn't moved for some time, but it was not for lack of strength. Their forces only continued to grow, even as scroll after scroll arrived from Princess Celestia urging him to speak with her. Were he the only deer in a position of power in Whitetail, he likely would have taken the offer. But doing so now was tantamount to suicide; the senate thought him a bumbling idiot, and the people of Whitetail still believed the war to be winnable. No, surrender would lead only to a dagger in his throat in the middle of the night.

"You are lucky, Brother-Commander, that I am a merciful leader. I ought to have you executed for incompetence or thrown into Cervidae's combat rings for such repeated failures, but we are taxed far too seriously to throw yet another senior officer away. Leave me, and return to your post. Do not think to try me again."

Relieved, Tarsalonis bowed deeply and saluted. "Yes, Honorable Chancellor, sir. Thank you, sir."

Chancellor Vinawyll did not allow himself to be calm until he was alone. Exhausted, frustrated, and frail from barely eating, he sat against the railing of his private balcony and wondered what there was left for Whitetail now. Capturing the human -- Tercio, he remembered -- was to be his one, last act of defiance to Celestia's inevitable victory. The human enjoyed a place of power in their military, and had become somewhat of a hero after defeating the assassin during the attack on Canterlot in the early days of the war. Rumor had it he was romantically involved with someone of import, but Vinawyll supposed he would never know for sure now -- without the human in his custody he held no power over any potential negotiations. He could feel his nation shrinking around him, slowly strangling the life out the capital, and he feared there would be no Whitetail left after the war claimed him and everyone he knew.

Dejected, he opened his chamber doors. A frightened orderly stood at the end of the hallway, plainly terrified after hearing the Chancellor unleash his frustrations on the officer. Vinwyall wouldn't have been surprised to learn half of Whitetail had heard him.

"You, boy. Come here."

The young buck approached cautiously, quill and parchment floating beside him. "Y-Yes, Honorable Chancellor? How...how may I serve you?"

"Brother-General Corvalix is scheduled to arrive no more than one week from today. Do you know of him?"

The orderly hesitated as he struggled to recall the name, then nodded. "Of course, Honorable Chancellor..."

"Good. Until he arrives I am assigning you to the city's gates, where you will give Corvalix a message. This message is very important, and it cannot be written down. Can I count on you to deliver it verbatim?"

"Yes, Honorable Chancellor. What do you wish me to say?"

Vinawyll could hardly believe himself as the thought entered his mind. From this moment on, he knew, history would judge him in cruel words, and the legacy of his once proud family would be dashed to ribbons. To carry through with such a thing would mark him as a coward before the damnable senate, but if it meant saving Whitetail...

"Tell him...tell him I accept his offer, and he is to meet with me at his earliest convenience. He will know what it means."

The orderly repeated his words back to him and saluted, and Vinawyll was once more left to his own thoughts. A cold gale brought with it thick, black storm clouds as he placed his head in his hooves, but not even it could match the chill that gripped his spine. There would be no turning back now.

***

"Looks like you're healing well enough, but you must make absolutely sure to apply this medicinal salve thrice daily. You're going to be left with some scarring but it shouldn't be too bad if you follow instructions." The apothecary produced a decanter of thick, red liquid and passed it to Tercio, who stuffed it into his bag. Spending the night under nearly constant supervision by the medicae staff had been tiring and sometimes painful, thanks to the wounds he'd received in combat. At least he wouldn't have to worry about it for too much longer. "Oh, and try to avoid any unnecessary strain on your shoulder, or you may start bleeding again."

Tercio thanked the old stallion and assured him he would take care of himself while he was away.

"Princess Celestia wishes to speak with you in private. I need to stock up on a few things so I'll leave you to it. If the area around your shoulder or thigh turns red and swollen, please consult with myself or one of the other apothecaries immediately. Honor to the Princess."

Tercio returned his salute. "Honor to the Princess."

The smell of cleansing potions and healing salves stung his nose whenever he breathed in deeply, and in the distance he could hear other Praetorians quietly moaning in pain. Some of them had suffered very serious wounds and, though their survival was very likely, the process of healing would not be quick or easy. He felt sympathy for them and wished them the best, but he couldn't wait to get out of the medicae building as quickly as possible.

He did not have to wait long for his visitor to arrive. Celestia's approach could be heard from some distance away; her soothing voice sounded through the marble halls as she briefly stopped to console the wounded, and the unmistakable clack of her golden shoes on the tiles grew ever closer.

Finally she appeared in the doorway, her mane flowing behind her and glittering in the early morning sunlight. She looked every bit as regal as he remembered, and when she spoke it was more comforting than any apothecary could have ever hoped to be.

"Hello, Tercio," she said with a light smile.

"Princess," Tercio spoke in return, being careful to sound formal and respectful. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"I thought I would check in on you. Would you mind speaking in private?" A sly grin tugged at her cheeks.

"Not at all. Please, come in."

Celestia briefly looked around, then closed the door quietly. As soon as she did Tercio stood up from his cot and stepped toward her, throwing an arm around her neck and pulling her into him with the other. She gave a quiet, surprised yelp and giggled as she returned the favor, meeting him in a loving kiss that lingered for what felt like far too short of a time.

"I'm so glad you're alive," she whispered, caressing him with a gentle touch. "When the caravan arrived and they escorted you to the medicae building, I feared..." She couldn't bring herself to finish the thought.

"It's alright," he reassured her, pressing his forehead against hers. "I promise you I am in no further danger." Celestia gasped as she noticed the bandages wrapped tightly around his shoulder and arm, dyed pink from blood. "It's not as bad as it looks. The whitetail got a few pieces of me," he said as he twisted to show similar wrappings on his thigh, "but they are merely superficial. I will be fine, thanks to some quick thinking by my brothers and the work of the apothecaries."

Celestia embraced him once more and managed a smile despite the tears of relief in her eyes. "You worry me so. Do you know that?"

"It comes with the territory, I'm afraid. If you are looking for 'safe' then I believe a Praetorian might not be the best choice for your romantic interests."

"And yet, here you are," she answered.

"Here I am. It will take more than a few murderous deer to take me away from you, I can promise you that." Standing there with her, he decided she had never looked more beautiful. He had been exceptionally lucky to have returned at all, and he knew it would be best to not reveal how close he had come to being dragged away -- or what had happened to prevent it. He'd been so close to never feeling the warmth of her touch or the thrill of her kiss, and his body ached for her at the thought of it.

She was plainly exhausted, even though she hid it well. No doubt she had had a sleepless night, be it from worry for him or the myriad other problems facing Equestria. He wanted to simply be with her and comfort her for as long as she needed, but he knew he couldn't.

"I love you," she said quietly.

"I love you too, Celestia," he said as he brushed her mane from her face. She smiled, as bright as the sun itself, and sat down beside him on the cot. "How do the others fare? Have we lost any more?"

"Thankfully not, the healers have done a remarkable job. Your friends seem in high spirits despite their injuries. I only wish we could have saved everyone."

"An unfortunate reality of this war," he said. "They were good stallions, all of them. It's hard to believe they're gone, and to such treachery." He remembered the doe who had tried to take him away, and how he had very nearly killed her before fighting back against the darkness inside. "The whitetail captive, is she...?"

"She is alive," Celestia said. "Alinalyys is her name. She has proven to be surprisingly open in her sharing of knowledge, but unfortunately it appears she doesn't know much of value. So far we have only been able to gather that she and the others were sent to...to take you away." Her voice faltered as she spoke of such a thing. She knew about it after all. "I do not know why the leaders of the Whitetail armies have taken such an interest in you."

"Neither do I, but so long as I draw breath they will not find me easy prey. Our captive can attest to that." He remembered the wagon, full of valuables. "Have we sorted through the goods stolen from Equestrian homes?"

"For the most part, yes. Obviously there are some issues with ponies claiming to have lost more than they had in the first place, and more than one fight has broken out over grudges with neighbors or family members, but I believe we'll have everything sorted before long."

"Was there anything of particular note? The whitetail committed too strong of a force to simply want to take me away. If that was their only goal they could have waited until I was more vulnerable."

Celestia thought of the twin pendants now kept in a box far from anything else, away from any place of import. Their true purpose remained unknown until she could devote the time to figuring them out. For a moment she considered telling Tercio about them, but thought it better to keep such a thing to herself for the time being. He had been through so much, and with his leave coming up so quickly she did not want to burden him with anymore worries than he might already have.

"Some missives to family and friends, undelivered scrolls, bits and baubles the whitetail thought valuable for whatever reason. Nothing truly unexpected."

"Hmm. Perhaps it was nothing more than convenience that drove them to attack both myself and the wagon at the same time. Clearly they underestimated us." Tercio was quiet for a time as he remembered the blood and confusion of battle, the fear and anger of it all. He wished he could forget. "Princess, do you know if I am still to return to Summervale today?"

"You are," she nodded. "The apothecary tells me you're fine for light travel. To that end, you and several others will be officially relieved of duty for the next ten days by Stonewall, just after your afternoon meal."

Tercio sighed in relief. "Thank you. Some time home will do a great deal of good. I can only imagine Mother's reaction to my injuries, however..." He touched a hand to Celestia's chest and said, "you should come with me."

The Princess smiled sympathetically. "I wish that I could, my love, but you know as well as I do that it's not likely."

"Why not? Surely the ruler of Equestria is entitled to a few days of respite. I doubt the palace would come crashing to the ground in your absence."

She laughed. "I am sure everything would be fine, but I am far too busy to consider time away from my duties. If we were at peace I would gladly join you, but since we're not..."

Tercio had known it was unlikely, but it was still disappointing. "I was looking forward to seeing Mother's reaction when I introduced you as the mare I'd fallen for," he said with a thin smile.

"Oh dear, I hadn't even considered that," Celestia said, giggling at the thought. "That may be an awkward moment. We'll travel together soon, once this war is over. I promise."

"I hope so." Sunlight streamed in through the open window as it peeked over the top of the mountains. It wouldn't be long before he was on his way home. "Will you stay with me, Celestia? Even if it's only for a short time? I may not see you again before I return, and I would like to remember your touch when I am away."

Celestia laid down beside him, letting him rest his head against her shoulder, and she gently kissed his forehead. "Of course I will. Enjoy your time back home, and cherish the moments you spend with your family. I will still be here when you return." Even then, she could not escape her thoughts of Whitetail, of Luna, of the countless ponies who looked to her for guidance in their time of need, and she wished her life was simple again.

***

Under ideal conditions, the trip from Canterlot to Summervale could be completed in the better part of a day. With snowfall up to his ankles, however, Tercio found the roads back to his childhood home less than ideal. Winter had arrived in Equestria, and it had made its presence known with a thick blanket of snow that now covered half of the lands from the western border to the Sea of Lights.

Here and there he managed to catch a ride on a wagon heading his direction, but those were few and far between. Several miles still awaited him as night began to fall. He cursed the weather for prolonging his journey, continuing until he found a small inn near a well-traveled fork in the road. It was a simple building, earthen in color with a thatched roof, and a weather-worn sign post announced its name -- The Sanaliis -- to weary travelers. Deciding it was the best he was going to find, Tercio ducked into the doorway and removed his heavy winter coat.

The inn was mostly empty, with a few patrons scattered about, minding their own business and sipping at drinks in wooden mugs. A fireplace crackled on the far wall, a cooking pot hanging over the flames. No one seemed to pay him any particular attention, giving only cursory glances. Glad to be out of the cold, he sat on a large cushion next to a low bar decorated with carved figurines, removing his gear bag with a sigh of relief and setting it beside him.

"Welcome, andwyyn," a heavily accented voice said as he heard a door swing open. "You are perhaps looking for a place to rest, yes?"

"Unfortunately," Tercio answered, quickly checking through his bag to make sure nothing had fallen out during the long walk. "Damned roads are a mess. Would prefer to be out of the cold before--"

The tall, lithe figure of a deer stood over him, dark brown in color with off-white spots and tall antlers decorated with short, golden chains and dangling emerald trinkets. Instinctively Tercio made to grab for his dagger, but stopped himself before he did anything foolish.

"Before the harsh night comes?" the deer finished for him, giving no indication that he'd noticed.

"Yes," he said cautiously. "I will likely need a bed for the night."

"Fala'niin! You are fortunate, then, that I have rooms available. Only twelve bits per night. But first, we must relieve you of the tiresome road." The deer floated the lid from the cooking pot, scooping a good-sized bowl of a hearty-looking stew and setting it down at the low bar. A hunk of bread and a mug of steaming liquid joined it, and he offered it to Tercio with a curt nod. "For you, andwyyn, this food is free."

"Thank you..." Tercio took the bowl and stirred it with a wooden spoon. It looked like any ordinary stew, full of carrots, celery, onion, and chunks of potato, and a few other patrons were clearly just fine as they ate, but it could still be a trick. The whitetail had a price on his head, after all, and what better way to drag him away than to slip something into his food or drink? Still, his stomach protested loudly as he realized he hadn't eaten since much earlier in the day, and he took a spoonful into his mouth. It wasn't food made for royalty, but it was filling and warmed his insides, and that was good enough.

"It is to your liking?"

Tercio washed it down with a sip of oddly-scented, yet familiar liquid. It tasted of cinnamon, anise and fruit, with an alcoholic bite at the back of his throat. "This is very good, thank you," he finally said, then presented a closed fist to the deer. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. I'm Tercio."

"Do not worry, Sir Tercio," the deer said as he returned the favor with a bump of his hoof, "you are not the first to be worried about a whitetail in Equestria in these times. My name is Glindraanis, and it is a pleasure to have you in my establishment."

Tercio frowned at his own behavior. Perhaps he'd been too obvious, and harsh, in his judgment after all. Considering several whitetail had tried to kill or capture him just a few days ago, he supposed he had the right to be nervous. "You own this place?" he asked.

"I do indeed. Fortunate that it is here, or you would be traveling in the snow for some time, yes? Do not worry about the meal, soldiers always eat free here. It is my way of repaying you for what you do. Without you and your comrades, after all, I would be yet another refugee fleeing the invasion." Glindraanis pointed to the gear bag at Tercio's side. "You are a...Praetorian? That is the word?"

"It is, and I am. You have a sharp eye, my friend." He dug into his bowl once more as he talked with the surprisingly friendly whitetail. A few more sips and he finally placed the flavor of the drink -- opal berry, but made into some sort of mulled wine.

The deer smiled. "It does not take a sharp eye to find a purple cloak in a brown bag. I have heard tale of the Praetorians fighting during the attack on Canterlot. You are far braver than I, andwyyn."

"Andwyyn," Tercio repeated to himself. "You keep calling me that. What does it mean?"

"It is Whitetail for...I suppose 'friend' would be closest, though it is not a direct match. Less than family, more than acquaintance, perhaps."

"Oh," Tercio said in surprise, "well, thank you. That's kind of you."

"Anyone who steps into my home is andwyyn, be they pony or deer. We are all Equestrians, yes?"

"That we are. I must say, I've never seen a whitetail-run inn during my travels; I imagine things must be...difficult these days."

Glindraanis shrugged, probably having heard the same issue time and again. "I have lived in Equestria most of my life. I was born in Whitetail, yes, but we moved here when I was very young. This place, it is my home, and though I sometimes receive baseless threats I have never truly felt in danger from other Equestrians." He frowned and said, "such a thing cannot be said for ponies living in Whitetail, not since the start of the war. I have heard rumors of deportations, or even executions, especially with Equestria poised to win the war in short order. Dra'liithe, but it makes me ashamed to be a whitetail."

"Let us hope this damned conflict ends soon then. I've shed enough blood, both my own and my enemy's, for one life time."

Glindraanis took the bowl and mug as soon as Tercio was finished, then swept a small collection of coins into a drawer as payment for the room. "You are far from home still?"

"Not too far, fortunately. Summervale."

"Ah, I know of this place. Quite beautiful. Please, if you ever happen to pass by the Sanaliis in your travels again, do not hesitate to come in. It is the least I can do."

"Thank you," Tercio said, bowing his head with a hand over his chest. "I truly appreciate the hospitality." He gathered his bag and slung it over his shoulder. A warm bed sounded increasingly welcome with his stomach full and his muscles aching. "Oh, I forgot to ask: what does sanaliis mean?"

The deer smirked at the question. "It means 'outcast'. It is the word the whitetail use for ones such as myself. I am an outcast for choosing to live in Equestria. It is meant to be an insult, but, as you can see by the sign, I wear it with pride. I will not be associated with those who would judge me so. When this war is over, there will be a great many more sanaliisi, I think."

If there was a Whitetail left at all.

"Have a restful night, andwyyn, and tell your brothers they are always welcome here."

30 - Protectorate

Brother-General Corvalix held little love for his whitetail cousins, and less so for their inept leader. Upon his arrival to Evinwiir he'd been immediately set upon by Chancellor Vinawyll's lackey, who had said only that the good Chancellor had chosen to accept Corvalix's offer. He'd wanted to laugh himself sick at how easy it all was, at how right his sister had been. Vinawyll truly was a coward, just as he'd predicted, and with the nation of Whitetail itself dangling on the precipice of destruction -- both from the inside as well as the outside -- all it would take was a slight shove in either direction to bring the whole country crashing down. Corvalix intended that direction to be in Cervidae's favor.

Now, as he approached Vinawyll's private chambers, he allowed himself a satisfied grin. He could imagine the Chancellor frantically pacing around his opulent quarters, empty jugs of amasec and red wine scattered about like discarded toys of a spoiled child. He would not have to wait long.

"You requested my presence, Chancellor?" Corvalix called through the door with a rap of his hoof. There was a sound like a shuffling of papers, and the door swung open in a cloud of crackling energy. Stepping inside, he found Vinawyll hunched over a stack of missives and scrolls. The Chancellor looked bedraggled and exhausted, and great bags appeared under his eyes as he looked up at Corvalix with whatever confidence he could muster.

"Sit down, Brother-General," Vinawyll said. He stared in silence for some time, tapping his hoof on the table. "You already know why I've called upon you. Please allow me a modicum of respect, and do not feign ignorance."

You deserve no more respect than the disgusting politicos in the Senate, Corvalix thought. At least the soldiers of Whitetail made themselves useful in combat. "You've accepted my proposal, then? This is good news."

Vinawyll laughed bitterly. "Good news? You'll excuse me if I fail to see anything good about this mess. Our military is defeated, our nation is in a barely-controlled panic, and now -- ancestors help me -- I have to rely on Cervidae to drag us from the fire. So no, this is not 'good news.' I will be mocked endlessly once the Senate finds out..." He motioned to a stack of off-white scrolls bound with red ribbon and stamped with the seal of Equestria. "Do you know what these are? They are pleas from Princess Celestia to meet with her to discuss terms of surrender. Our surrender. I have received at least two a day, every day, for the last month."

"Persistent, isn't she?" Corvalix quipped.

"To say the least. I show these to you, Brother-General, because I wanted you to know that my decision is not one that I make lightly. Our lands may remain mostly intact if we gave in, but I would be labeled a coward and a traitor."

"So you will be shamed if you ask for my help...but you will also be shamed if you surrender to Equestria?" Corvalix prodded, slightly confused at the situation. "Excuse me for failing to see the difference, Chancellor."

Vinawyll smirked. "In one of these scenarios I retain a chance to remain in power, and possibly -- hopefully -- see my actions justified by the history texts. In time, I may even be seen as a hero. 'The reuniter of Deerkind', or some-such grandiose title. Such are my hopes, anyway."

"And in the other scenario?"

"Whitetail surrenders for the first time in its history, and my rule comes to an end as I drown in my own blood with an assassin's quinn-blade drawn across my throat."

"I see," Corvalix said simply. Self-preservation -- that's what this was all about. Vinawyll didn't truly care about his ancestry or public opinion. No, he cared only for his own, meager life. Were he in charge of Cervidae, Corvalix would have slit his throat himself. As far as he was concerned, cowards had no place being in positions of power. It was fortunate, then, that Vinawyll meant nothing in the long run. Let him dance about like a puppet on a string, so sure of his own power. He would be a figurehead, and a useful one at that. At least, so long as Elinwynn saw fit to keep him alive.

"I will have to discuss this with Empress Elinwynn. My beloved sister is a kind, generous soul, but she does not make such decisions without meticulous planning."

"As is to be expected of the great Empress," Vinawyll said. "But you're sure Cervidae can be of assistance? You must understand: once these things have been set in motion, there can be no stopping them. I need to be sure of victory, without fail."

"Then rest easy, Chancellor, for the Cervidaen Hegemony does not back down from a fight." Already the gears were turning in Corvalix's mind, drawing forth battle plans for the defeat of Equestria. Such a thing would not be easy. "And what of the Senate? Though I may not know them as closely as you do, I do not believe they will react kindly to such news. Cervidae and Whitetail, fighting alongside one another like in the days of old? Unheard of."

"Let me worry about the Senate," Vinawyll snapped back. "You have your task, such as it is, and I trust you to carry it out to the fullest of your abilities. How much time will you need?"

"No more than a few weeks. Our forces have been on high alert since the start of this war; after all, one can never truly know the extent of Equestrian treachery. "

"If only we had known that before haphazardly invading without the proper build-up..."

"Then learn from your mistakes, Chancellor. And if you value Whitetail, do not repeat them." Corvalix stood from his seat and bowed. "I must return to Cervidae as soon as possible. I will return in one week's time, and together we will persuade the Senate to see the light. And they will see it."

"And if they don't?" Vinawyll asked.

"Then they will find themselves the unfortunate victims of progress."

As the doors closed behind him Brother-General Corvalix felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction. The simpleton had played right into his hooves. Elinwynn had been right all along: the Chancellor was a fool and a coward, more than willing to sacrifice countless whitetail lives to save himself. For a moment Corvalix felt something resembling pity for his whitetail cousins -- but only for a moment. They would serve their purpose in due time. For now, he was content with returning to Cervidae to bring the good news to his sister. He could already see the look on her face.

***

Summervale was not living up to its sunny namesake, but it was of little concern to Tercio -- the snow, the biting cold, the wind, none of it mattered. As soon as the familiar silhouette of his childhood home came into view, he thought only of seeing his family. It had been too long.

He trudged through the ankle-deep snow, passing by wilted trees and barren fields that had been picked clean by the harvest. Thin wisps of smoke drifted from the chimneys around him. He could almost feel the warmth and comfort of the fireplace in the kitchen, and he remembered times when he and his family would gather around and listen to their father tell one of his many tall tales. It pushed him to carry on, through the snow-swept drifts and the haze of blowing snow.

It took only a few more minutes to reach the porch of the two-story home, the covered awning providing a welcome shelter from the wind. Nervous and thrilled to be home, he knocked thrice and waited.

"Grace, would you get the door? I'm kinda busy here!"

Tercio laughed at his father's muffled voice, still the same after all these years.

"Alright, if you insist. Who could possibly be out in this weather?" he heard his mother ask as she approached the door. It swung open a moment later, and she gasped in shock.

"Hello, Mother," Tercio said with a warm smile. Glimmering Grace looked up at him in disbelief, her mouth working up and down but finding no words, and she finally stood on her hind legs and threw her forelegs and wings around him, squeezing him tight.

"Tercio! Oh goodness, it's really you!" Tercio hugged her in return, choking back tears of relief. He'd nearly forgotten how much he missed her kind, caring demeanor. "Roughshod! It's your boy! He's come back to us!" she called back into the house, wiping tears from her eyes. "Oh, but you must be freezing! Come in, come in!"

Tercio shut the door behind him and felt the glow of the crackling fireplace, smelled the familiar scent of his mother's cooking, and once more he was home. "I've missed you," he said, setting his gear bag on the floor.

"And we've missed you too, deary. It's been such a long time."

"Far too long," Roughshod said as he approached, limping on every other step. He was all smiles as he knocked his hoof against Tercio's fist and embraced him, patting him on the back. "It's good to have you back, son. How the hell are you?"

"I've been worse," Tercio laughed. "I'm far better now that I'm home again. I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to return before Hearth's Warming."

"Well thank the gods that you did, eh? Come, let's get you warmed up. It's colder than a windigo's tit out there."

Tercio sat down by the fire, removing his thick winter coat and untying his marching boots that had become soaked with melted snow. Grace ladled a steaming bowl of barley soup and passed it to him, and he eagerly tucked into the meal. It tasted exactly the same as it had when he was a child, and when he closed his eyes he could see his younger self sitting in the same place, enthusiastically downing the bowl so he would be allowed to return to his toys.

"We had no idea you were coming, or we would have been better prepared," Grace said. A warm blanket was soon draped around Tercio's shoulders while his father moved his gear bag to his old room. "I'm surprised you didn't mention it in any of your letters."

"I wasn't entirely sure when I was going to be granted leave -- I only found out about a week ago. I thought I'd make it a surprise."

"A pleasant one at that, deary. Hearth's Warming just wouldn't be the same without you here. Just a few weeks away, you know."

Only now did Tercio notice the laurels of pine branches and bright red berries that had been set up around the house, with white candles glinting in small clusters on table tops or night stands. "I'm very much aware; there's been a frantic rush as of late around the palace. Lately we've been guarding doors more than guarding the Princess. The life of a Praetorian can be rather boring." He hoped his brown tunic hid the bandages still covering his wounds, or else he'd have to tell his mother about some very unfortunate things. The last thing he wanted was to give her more reason to worry.

"Your father used to complain about the same thing, always standing around at gates or walking the roads between Canterlot and Marestopholous. I'll tell you the same thing I told him: at least it's safe. But I'm sure you didn't come all the way here just to talk about your job, now did you?"

"Not if I can help it, though I do enjoy what I do. Usually."

"In that case: how was your trip? The weather is just terrible out there. I can only imagine what it was like to have to travel through it."

Tercio finished his bowl and set it aside with a satisfied sigh. He pulled the blanket around himself and moved a little closer to the fire, enjoying the warmth it provided. "It could have been worse. I managed to get a few rides here and there, and I found this inn just outside of town run by a whitetail. He was exceptionally kind. Even fed me at no cost to myself, said it was his way of repaying me for my service to Equestria. I ended up staying the night there and set out a few hours ago. Honestly the worst part of it all was that last stretch of road, when I could see the house but had to push through the snow to get here. It was a long, cold couple of miles."

"Oh you poor thing," Grace said sympathetically, pulling him in for a hug once more. "At least you're home now. How long can you stay?"

"Only eight days, I'm afraid," Tercio answered, frowning. "Seven if the roads are just as bad when I leave."

"Well, we'll just have to make the best of it then, now won't we?"

Roughshod trotted over to Tercio's side and sat down next to him, a tall jug tucked into his side. Two cups soon joined it, and he filled each of them with a generous portion of pale brown liquid. "Your things are in your old bedroom, I didn't think you'd mind."

"Not at all, thank you, Father."

"That's what I thought. Care to join your old man in a drink? Managed to procure a bottle of apple ale from Vigilant and his wife down the road. Fresh stuff, or so they say."

Grace rolled her eyes. She'd always thought Roughshod enjoyed his alcohol too frequently, but Tercio had never seen it impact his attitude or work ethic in any way. As far as he was concerned, his father had earned the right to a drink every now and then. "He's been home for five minutes, husband. At least give the boy a chance to settle in first."

"Nonsense!" Roughshod exclaimed as he raised his cup. "Tercio's not a boy anymore, he's a man! Isn't that right?"

"So they tell me," Tercio chuckled.

"Good! I'll drink to that." They clicked their drinks together and downed a healthy gulp of sweet, apple-flavored alcohol. It lacked the kick of amasec, but it still warmed the throat pleasantly as it went down. "Welcome home, son. Your mother and I, we worry about you, what with this nasty war still going on. She worries enough for the both of us sometimes."

"Especially with all of these rumors we hear," Grace added. "Was Canterlot really attacked again? Just imagining the things you've been through..."

"Canterlot wasn't, but the road leading to it was. Some of the Praetorians lost their lives to a Whitetail incursion. How they got that far, I can't say, but at least the threat thus far has been fairly minimal. As I said, Praetorian duty tends to be dull, except when it's not. I was in no danger, however."

He caught his father giving him a look -- the same look he'd grown up seeing, the one that said "I know there's more to it, but I won't tell your mother." Tercio had never been able to lie to his father, especially about military life. The old stallion had been around the life long enough to know that there were some things you had to hide for the sake of others. Tercio gave him an almost imperceptible nod, and nothing further of it was said.

"Sometimes I wish you'd have become a baker," Grace said with an exasperated laugh. "But it's good that you're taking care of yourself."

"I try to," he said earnestly. "Have either of you heard from Victus lately? I haven't seen him since the last time I was here."

"Heard from? Yes. Seen? I'm afraid not." His mother briefly left the room, returning with a small stack of scrolls clutched in her mouth. She set them down at Tercio's feet. "He writes more frequently than he used to, but it's still sporadic at best. He says he doesn't get the chance very often."

"Last I heard he was on the front lines," Roughshod said, shifting uncomfortably on his haunches. "That boy knows his stuff, but I know what the Legion is about. He's in danger far more often than he admits. Your mother is all too aware, I'm afraid."

"Missus Sunflower, from down the road, has a son in the Legion as well," Grace said as she took a seat beside them. "Squawks like an old hen, she does. Always telling me about this battle or that, some horrible conflict or other her son has been in and thankfully survived. Thank the gods you're mostly away from that sort of thing in the Praetorians, deary."

Tercio unrolled one of the scrolls, dated from a few months back. It was a short letter, hastily written.

Dearest Mother and Father, I do not have a lot of time to write this, but I wanted to let you know I am in good health. Imperator Lighthoof has seen fit to keep us moving forward with the rest of the Guard forces, so much of my day is spent marching or setting up and tearing down our newest encampment. I received word that Tercio fares well, so you needn't worry about your sons. I will write when next I have the opportunity, I promise. Take care of yourselves, and may the gods and the Princess watch over you. With love, Victus.

"Good to know the messenger actually did his job," Tercio said to himself. "When was the last time you heard from him?"

"A few weeks ago, I think."

"Sounds about right," Roughshod added. "I hope he's well."

"Victus is a fine soldier, finer even than myself. If anyone can come through a war unscathed, it's him."

Grace put a hoof in his shoulder. "In any case, at least we have you here with us, Tercio. I'm sure you've plenty to talk about, but you must be exhausted from your trip. Why don't you head on upstairs and put your things away, and I'll draw you a bath."

Tercio put his arms around both of them and smiled. "I've missed you greatly. It's good to be home again."

***

Finding a secluded place in Canterlot Castle was not easy, even for someone like Celestia. She needed somewhere quiet, where no one else would hear her or witness what she was about to do. For hours she wandered the castle grounds before finding an old storage room, unused and forgotten for decades, at the top of a spire. A thick layer of dust coated everything, and she coughed and sneezed as she cleared out a space on top of a small oaken table that would serve her purposes.

Reaching into a saddlebag, she pulled out two identical pendants -- circular, just about the size of her golden shoe, and carved from ivory to show a deer and a pony chasing each other in a circle. A faintly glowing gem sat in the middle of each, giving off a soft orange light. One of them had been given to her by Empress Elinwynn; the other, found among the possessions of a Nightmare Moon cult. Against all reason she hoped that she was mistaken about Elinwynn. Surely it must be a coincidence, or a trick by her fallen sister to turn her against the Cervidaen Empress? The simpler explanation was the hardest to swallow: Elinwynn was working with Luna-turned-Nightmare-Moon. Either way, she intended to find out soon.

The pendants were placed next to each other on the old, dirty table, and she gave a look to the small, circular window that was the room's only source of light. Night had fallen and brought with it a full moon, its soft, white glow casting eerie shapes through the room. Celestia shivered at the thought of Nightmare Moon watching her, even now, from every dark corner and distorted shadow.

"I have to know," she said to herself. Cautiously she set a hoof on one of the pendants and hesitated. What was she supposed to say? What did she expect would happen? "Luna. Luna, can you hear me?" Silence. "Please, speak to me." No, she thought, Luna is gone. She would have to try a different approach. She gathered her courage and raised her voice. "Nightmare Moon, I demand you come forth! Face me! Or are you frightened by my power?"

Both pendants began to shake, clattering around on the table, and all at once streamers of ethereal darkness, like shimmering smoke flecked with stars, burst from the ivory surface. Celestia stepped back in momentary panic as it swirled and flowed over itself, thick and viscous. A gust of wind filled the air with dust as the cloud formed the vague shape of an alicorn, barely visible as a patch of darkness against the background of twinkling lights. A pair of dragon-like eyes stared at her, a sickly teal in color, unblinking, and for a moment she found herself terrified beyond words.

"Luna? It's your sister, Celestia," she finally managed to say. "You remember me, don't you?" The dark thing said nothing, showed no sign it even acknowledged her presence. "I will not refer to you as Nightmare Moon, Luna. I refuse. That is not who you were. I will never choose to think of you as this...thing you've become."

It slowly tilted its head at her, as if studying her across the the vast distance, and a sudden grin of sharp, predatory teeth appeared beneath the terrible eyes, glinting like knives of white steel. "You may lie to yourself, sister, but never to me." The voice echoed through the room; feminine, yet heavy and powerful. "What pathetic gesture has brought you here? Are you ready to surrender to my followers at last?"

Celestia hung her head. "I had heard tale you communed with the vile cultists who commit such terrible crimes in your name, but to see it with my own eyes...what happened to you? The Luna I knew would have never brought so much pain and suffering to the ponies she cared for."

"The Luna you knew is dead!" Nightmare Moon shouted, her voice shaking Celestia's vision. "She was a weak, disgusting wretch who stood in your shadow and never once sought to question her place as the helpless, subservient sibling of a ruler who continues to think she has done nothing wrong!"

Celestia felt tears welling in the corners of her eyes, and she blinked them away before the thing that called itself her sister could see her weep. "Is that what you really think of me? What have I ever done, in all of our years together, that would drive you to darkness like this? Please, tell me..."

"I will not waste my time with such trivial sympathies. You know what you've done."

"You are not trivial to me, Luna!" Celestia shot back, raising her voice. "I had to banish you! You were killing innocent ponies! Would you have preferred I ended your life instead?"

"You could have certainly tried," it smirked.

"We grew up together! We spent hundreds of years at each others' side! We...we were there when Mother passed away, and Father soon after. Doesn't that mean anything to you?" She could still remember it like it had just happened: their mother, surrounded by apothecaries as she lay dying on her bed. Celestia and Luna had held her hoof for what felt like endless hours as the light slowly faded from her mane, and the very breath left her body. They'd wept for days after it happened. Even their father could hardly look at them for weeks to come, so great was his shame.

"Enough! I did not grace you with my presence so that we may discuss being mere fillies. Aurora was weak. Argo should have joined her sooner, the foolish old stallion that he was." Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed. "I regret only that I cannot find their souls, that I may remind them of their failures for all eternity."

Celestia felt a terrible rage growing within her, already tired of playing games with her sister. She lifted the other pendant from the table with her magic, floating it before Nightmare Moon's shadowy visage. "If you will not speak to me as my sister, then I demand you tell me the truth: are you allied with Empress Elinwynn? What does she want from you?" The thing of shadow and stars seemed to hesitate, if only for a moment, almost imperceptibly lifting a foreleg in surprise. "Answer me!"

"The deer monarch is of no concern."

"This pendant was personally given to me by her before this war even started! Am I to believe it's a mere coincidence that she has the exact same emblem that's being used by the cults to summon you?" Celestia stepped forward until she was nearly face to face with Nightmare Moon's swirling clouds of smoke. "What is its purpose? Is she supporting your misguided efforts against me? What kind of foul magic has she tainted it with?" The figure said nothing. "Luna!"

Without another word it dispersed into glittering smoke, and in seconds all traces of it were gone. Celestia trembled with anger and sadness, and with a shout she pulled the pendants from the table and crushed them under hoof.

She saw her sister smiling at her side as they raced through the halls of their parents' castle in the forest.

Stomp.

She felt the reassuring embrace as Luna consoled her over the loss of her pet, a bird that had been a gift from their father.

Stomp.

She heard laughter as they attended their first play in decades at the newly-created Canterlot amphitheater, surrounded by close friends.

Stomp.

The ivory pendants chipped and crunched until they were naught but jagged flakes and shattered gemstone, and Celestia threw open the window and scattered their remains with the wind. For the first time in months she felt helpless, alone and lost. She collapsed to the floor, and sobbed until she couldn't anymore.

***

Centurion Sea Spout trotted alongside his Princess with a set of keys dangling from his mouth. He had been awakened at a terribly late hour, and he blinked away his lingering weariness as their hoof-falls echoed through the narrow stone corridor.

"Please inform Imperator Infernus at your earliest convenience that I will need him to shore up the defenses along the border with Whitetail. Secondary Guard units may be pulled from locally stationed auxilia troops. I want them watching every inch of that border like a hawk," Celestia ordered.

"Yes, Princess, as you wish." Sea Spout thought she looked exhausted, try as she might to hide it. It was evident in the way she carried herself and in the redness of her eyes. Had she been crying?

"I apologize for waking you, Sea Spout, but this is a matter of the utmost urgency."

"There is no need for apologies, Your Highness," he said respectfully. "I am here to serve, no matter the hour. I must warn you, however, that our captive may not be so cooperative."

"I take it she has told you nothing of value yet?"

He shook his head. "I am afraid not. This whitetail doe is not one to divulge information so easily."

"Everyone talks. It's only what it takes to get them there that differs," Celestia said, her voice cold and even, and Sea Spout was glad he was not a prisoner right then.

They descended a flight of stairs and came to a gated metal door, where an engraved stone on the wall warned of dangerous magics ahead. He searched briefly for the proper key and the lock clacked open.

"Please stay here, Centurion. I will return shortly."

"Of course, Princess." Had it been anyone else, he would have worried for their safety -- but if the ruler of Equestria wasn't strong enough to withstand the doe's magic, no one was.

Celestia continued down a short hallway, through a magically sealed door, and soon she was standing before the iron bars of Alinalyys' cell. She was surprised to find the deer awake, sitting on her cot with her head bowed and speaking quietly to herself in litanies of devotion to the spirits of Whitetail's state religion. Celestia stood silently, her mind filled with questions.

"Hello, Princess," Alinalyys said calmly in lightly-accented Equestrian, not looking up from the small, carved figurines she'd been allowed to keep for cooperating upon her capture. Bruised skin showed itself along her neck, shades of purple and red under her coat of burnt oak and white spots, a lasting reminder of her near-death at the hands of an enraged Tercio not long before. "You are up very late."

"I could say the same of you."

"I have always enjoyed the night. I feel at home in its embrace. That must sound quite strange to one who raises the sun, yes? So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"Something has come up, Alinalyys. I was hoping you could provide me with some information." Celestia remained calm and friendly in response, but she knew it was just a game. The whitetail doe was outwardly polite, but it was only a facade to hide the ruthless killer inside.

"I cannot promise I will be of help, but you may ask."

The small prayer idols clicked together as they were gathered into a small bundle and placed gently on a cloth, then set to the side on a pillow that was one of the few comforts permitted in the otherwise barren cell.

"What do you know of Empress Elinwynn?"

Alinalyys tilted her head and shrugged. "As much as any other whitetail. She's the leader of the Cervidaen Hegemony, and one of those disgusting redtails. Nowhere near as striking and confident as we are. And those antlers -- they make her look like a stag." She laughed. "Can you imagine? Antlers on a whitetail doe? How ridiculous that would be."

"I was hoping for something a little more substantial," Celestia added.

"Like what, exactly? I have never met her, much less conversed with her at any length. Her and that insufferable brother of hers are around far too often for my tastes. Sometimes I'd see them conversing with the Chancellor, but that was back before your people drove a blade into his heart."

"We did not kill Chancellor Artellus," Celestia insisted. "And if you keep insisting otherwise then you will never see the truth behind it. You, and the rest of Whitetail, were played."

"As you say," Alinalyys said dismissively. Celestia could feel herself growing impatient.

"Does Empress Elinwynn have connections to the Nightmare Moon cults? Has she shown any signs of cooperating with them?"

The deer captive laughed at the thought. "Elinwynn, working with those murderous, misguided fools who think of your sister as some sort of deity? Surely you jest, unless insanity runs in your bloodline."

"And what makes you so sure?" Nightmare Moon certainly seemed to be surprised by Celestia's connection. It wasn't a lot to go on, but it was better than nothing.

"My dear Princess, no one, ourselves included, view these fanatics as anything more than annoyances. Their attack on Canterlot may have been...fortuitous, as far as the Whitetail war effort was concerned, but we hold no love for their ilk. Any encampments spotted within Whitetail territory are swiftly and mercilessly exterminated. Elinwynn herself has overseen the destruction of a few within her own borders, or so they say."

"They?" Celestia prodded.

"The higher-ups, the officers."

"We have reason to believe your vaunted officers have been working with the followers of Nightmare Moon, even selling fellow whitetail into slavery, or worse. More recently, I have come to believe that Elinwynn is working with my fallen sister as well, in some sort of unholy alliance against myself and my people."

Alinalyys clicked her tongue. "My, my, but that is quite the accusation you're throwing around."

"Tell me what you know."

"You presume I know anything about it in the first place."

"I know you belonged to the 3rd Magi, based in northern Evinwiir, personally overseen by some of the most powerful whitetail in the military, and you had access to meetings with very important deer. So I ask you again: tell me what you know, Alinalyys."

She shrugged. "You know what unit I was a part of. So what? It's not exactly a secret."

"By not sharing information you are complacent in the selling of fawns to these sick followers. Do you really want that burden on your shoulders? How many more will lose their lives, their identities, before you see past your pride?"

Alinalyys glared back. "I do not know them, nor do I have reason to believe what you're telling me is anything more than a lie. And besides, using fawns as some sort of guilt play against me? For shame, Princess. I had expected better from Equestrians." Alinalyys took a sip from the pitcher beside her bed and added, "you know, you can't keep me here forever. While your hospitality is unexpected, this place is far from enjoyable."

"You underestimate us," Celestia said firmly.

"And you underestimate me, Princess. Brother-Captain Corvalix was right: you are too kind for your own good. He may be an appalling offshoot of the superior whitetail heritage, but he's right." Alinalyys stepped down from her bed and approached the bars until she was nearly face to face with Celestia. "Do you know what they call you in my country, Celestia? Anafiir doeth fon'defaliin."

"'One without conviction.'" Celestia said as she drew upon her long years of knowledge.

"You know more deertongue than you let on," the doe said with a smirk.

"They are wrong. Many have said the same of Equestria -- of me -- and they have always paid for it in the end."

"So you say, Princess. But let's not kid ourselves: you and I both know you have no stomach for war."

"Perhaps you are not aware, but our forces are a mere stone's throw from your capital," Celestia retorted. The dismissive laughter from her captive was infuriating.

"And? You've yet to assault the city itself. Nothing is over until the rubble has been cleared. Chancellor Vinawyll is a coward and everyone knows it, so he leaves the actual commanding of our forces to his generals, useless though they seem to be. Evinwiir has never fallen in its many centuries, and it will not start now. We will find a way."

"He could always surrender. It would make thing so much simpler. It would stop the bloodshed."

"Surrender? And let the wrath of his citizens fall upon his neck? I don't think you know what kind of buck Vinawyll truly is. You're sooner to wrest a term of surrender from a cragodile."

Judging by the dozens of unreturned letters pleading for the Chancellor to give up the fight and save lives, Alinalyys wasn't far from right. Did Vinawyll really value his nation so little?

"You are far more talkative about this than I'd expected, Alinalyys."

"That's because I do not picture a scenario in which doing so will result in punishment. You see, Princess, there are only two ways this little war of ours can possibly play out: you lay siege to the capital and win, or you refuse to commit to the attack and lose as your forces are slowly depleted by swift strikes and silent blades. Either way, I will be free soon after, and no one will have been any the wiser. And it's not as if I have told you anything you didn't already know." She smiled and said, "Besides, you're so much more polite in conversation than that dreadful guard -- cen-turnion, I think is his rank? -- you insist on keeping here. He could really use a little work when it comes to his manners."

"He is also one of our most powerful unicorns. I would think twice before attempting anything ill-advised, if I were you."

Alinalyys motioned to the cell door. "It's not as if I can will myself to pass through iron bars. Really, you should relax a little. You look quite distressed -- is something bothering you?"

"I want to talk about the Nightmare Moon cult again," Celestia said, ignoring the prodding question. A sour look crossed the deer's face.

"Why in the world would you want to do that? Nasty sorts, all of them."

"What do you know about how they communicate with each other, or with Nightmare Moon herself?"

Alinalyys thought for a moment. "A medallion of some sort, I think. Or pendant. Soon after the war started I was tasked with taking down a camp of traitorous whitetail who had decided that your sister was the one, true path, or something. I never asked them what they really thought, though I imagine they would have found it difficult to answer with their throats sliced open." For a time she appeared to be lost in a memory, smiling to herself. "It's truly amazing how many victims fall for a simple misdirection. A feigned image here, a trick of the mind there, and before you know it you're practically swimming in their blood. Ten of them fell before me that day. Do you know what it's like to plunge a quinn-blade through someone, to feel their very essence fading away? I have yet to meet a buck who can recreate such a thrill."

"The pendant, Alinalyys," Celestia reminded her with a stomp of her golden shoe.

"Hmm? Oh, yes. You'll forgive me for reminiscing about the better times. We destroyed quite a few of those encampments, but the only thing that seemed to connect them was a broken trinket made of ivory and gemstones. We learned after a short time that they would destroy them at the first sign of trouble, presumably to keep them out of our hooves."

"Did you find any intact?"

"Two, I think."

"And what did you do with them?"

"I passed them on to the Brother-Captain...or is it Brother-General now? I always forget. Regardless, Corvalix was most pleased to have them in his possession. No doubt you've seen a few of your own by now. Tell me: did you manage to use them as the traitors used them?" Celestia hesitated to answer, and try though she might, something betrayed her thoughts to her captive. Alinalyys gasped in delight. "You did, didn't you? Myself and some of my sisters attempted to do the same, but it never worked. You simply must share what you saw! Was it Nightmare Moon? What did she say?"

"I will not discuss such things. Not with you."

Alinalyys sighed dramatically. "Really now, Princess, I may be a prisoner but I am not a monster. We share a common ground, you and I, in our hatred of the cults. If the good Corvalix were here now we could have a most wonderful discussion as he played with himself, or maimed a small animal, or whatever it is the redtail do in the company of one another."

Celestia was clearly growing tired of the conversation. "What did Corvalix do with the pendants once he had them?"

"How should I know? Such things were no concern of mine. I merely do as I'm asked and receive my pay." Alinalyys yawned and motioned to her bed. "Enlightening though this conversation is, I would very much like to get some rest. Are we done here, or...?"

"Very well, I suppose that's enough for now," Celestia answered. "I thank you for the conversation, and for being cooperative once more, but I must take my leave."

"How could I say no to such fine company? I assume I'll be receiving more agreeable quarters now."

"If you tell me what you know about the connection between the cultists and the nation of Cervidae, I would consider it."

Alinalyys frowned and said, "I think you are grasping at straws for such a connection. And you assume I know more than I really do. Do you tell all of your state secrets to your enlisted soldiers? No? Then I fail to see why you think I would know. Being in a prestigious unit does not exactly make me a warsmith."

Exhausted and growing increasingly weary of the self-assured deer, Celestia bowed and turned to leave. "We'll discuss it some other time. Sleep well, Alinalyys."

"I shall. And if you happen to take a strong buck captive, do be sure to send him my way. I could use a good rutting before bed!"

Celestia scoffed and shut the door behind her, rubbing her eyes as Sea Spout secured the lock. Alinalyys wasn't the most unpleasant doe she'd ever spoken with, but her bravado seemed to be in line with many of the high-class whitetail -- and redtail, for that matter. For two peoples who seemed to despise each other so much, they sure acted similar.

"She says you need to work on your manners," Celestia said, leaning against the wall with a slow exhale. Tomorrow would be a long day. They both gave a short laugh, and Sea Spout tucked the keys back into his saddlebag.

"I will work on my manners when she stops referring to me as 'boy' and complaining about the food. I'm relatively sure I'm older than she is. In any case, it could be worse. Did you manage to learn anything from her, Princess?"

In fact, she had. Without being aware of it, the talkative deer had given her a strong lead to go on; the fact that the cults were apparently under orders to destroy the communication pendants if they were threatened told her that whoever was giving them out clearly did not want to be found.

"I am afraid not," she said anyway. Better to keep things to herself for now.

"A shame. Perhaps next time."

"Perhaps. You may return to your quarters, Sea Spout. Goodness knows I will be returning to mine. Thank you for helping at such a late hour."

Sea Spout saluted with a hoof over his chest. "I am always here for you, Princess. Have a good night."

Celestia bowed out of respect and parted ways with the jailer, passing by a pair of ponies at the entrance to the building and wishing them well. Once outside in the cold, clear air she felt her frustrations lifting, giving way to so many more questions than she'd had before. Luna's followers were receiving their pendants from somewhere -- could it have been Elinwynn? All evidence seemed to point in that direction, but she knew it wouldn't be enough to confront the Cervidaen Empress with. Not yet.

That left her with one thread to follow, in the form of Elinwynn's determined brother, Corvalix. Alinalyys had said he looked 'overjoyed' to receive the pendants. If he was working with both his sister and Nightmare Moon, then keeping such a thing hidden would have been in his best interests, and what better way to hide your involvement than to control the only thing that could possibly link you to it?

Still...if Elinwynn really was behind the distribution of the Nightmare Moon pendants, what did she possibly stand to gain by giving one to the leader of Equestria? She knew Celestia far too well to think she'd never make the connection. Or did she want Celestia to figure it out? Was it some deeper ploy? And for what reason?

She finally fell onto her bed, sure that she would find no sleep this night. But she was exhausted, so very tired, both mentally and physically, and before long she could no longer fight against it. She dreamed of Luna, so young and vibrant, and for a few hours, at least, she was free of her worries.

31 - Fratres Aeterni

Being home again felt strange. In the months since his last visit a lot had changed, and not necessarily for the better. The most obvious thing Tercio noticed was that he was almost constantly on edge any time he was alone, as if there was a deer assassin hiding in every shadow. The whitetail raid had left lasting scars on more than just his body, and he often suspected they would try to take him when his guard was down -- and what better place to do so than his own home? Deep down he knew it was a ridiculous notion, but it still led to sleepless nights and tiresome days. His parents had noticed, of course. They knew him too well, but they thankfully did not pry beyond the usual questions. He doubted he could have explained anyway.

Two days into his visit he sat alone in his old room, listening to the wind gently blow the freshly fallen snow against his window as he dutifully scrubbed his gear. Spots of blood still clung to the places where metallic plates overlapped each other, not all of it his. Every nick and gouge told a story; a spray of gore from a successful attack, a deflected whitetail quinn-blade, a powerful blow by a cultist mace that had nearly shattered bone. They came to him as clear as day, glimpses of combat and death, and he prayed he would not have to see battle again for some time.

Nocturne still called to him when he was alone, its connection such that he could almost hear it speak, somewhere in the back of his mind. It was voiceless and faint, like a breeze among the grass, and it waited patiently in its midnight scabbard. The warmth of the grip comforted him as he drew the weapon and admired its beauty, its blade leaving a soft trail of white energy as it sliced through the air. It had seen its share of violence, and yet it had not a single scratch on it. It was a good sword, swift and deadly, precise in its movements and lethal in its attacks. Celestia had been generous in gifting it to him and, though he had felt apprehensive at first, he could now no longer imagine fighting his battles without it.

He wondered what the Princess was doing without him around, if she longed for his affection as much as he longed for hers. It still seemed unreal, being involved with the leader of Equestria, someone who was viewed as a demigod by much of the populace. At night he could almost feel the warmth of her skin, the silken caress of her flowing mane, and at those times he wished he could be open in his love for her.

A knock from downstairs caught his attention, and he quickly put the blade away and tucked it into his storage chest. Perhaps his parents had returned from their early morning trip to Bridle Falls. He imagined his father complaining loudly as he pulled a wagon loaded with goods, and his mother chiding him for being old and bitter.

"Hold on," he called out as he approached the door, bracing himself for the gust of cold air. He quickly threw open the door, and immediately was at a loss for words.

"Hello, Tercio," Victus said with a smile. Flakes of snow flecked his white coat and brown tunic, and a pair of saddlebags were draped over his torso. Tercio threw his arms around his brother, holding him tight in disbelief and joy.

"Victus! By the gods, it really is you!"

"So it is," Victus laughed. "I've missed you, brother! I was afraid I wouldn't be here in time to see you."

"I've missed you, too. I had no idea you were coming! Last I heard the Legion was being recalled to the front lines. I had assumed that meant you as well."

"I didn't know I was bound for home until a few days ago. It seems Princess Celestia herself requested that I be granted leave. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"

Tercio had to smile at that, though he knew he couldn't very well say everything. "I might have requested you join me. The Princess is quite accommodating of her Praetorians."

"Well I'll be damned. Looks like you've got connections in high places these days!"

"I have a few. Come, let's get you out of the cold."

Victus stepped inside, clearly happy to be back as he looked around. "Like nothing's changed, eh? Where are mother and father?"

"Bridle Falls, left earlier on. They should be back shortly, I imagine. Your timing is good, I've only been home a few days. Dreadful weather to walk in, let me tell you. Must be nice to be able to fly here."

"I had to trudge through my share of snow, unfortunately. Low cloud cover and strong winds kept me earthbound much of the way here. But at least I'm home at last. Feels like it's been a long time, doesn't it?"

Tercio nodded. "That it does. It's good to see you again, brother."

***

"Well look at you! Little Tercio, all grown up and sporting his own fancy-ass armor. I'm sure you get plenty of use out of it while standing around and looking good for civilians." Victus laughed and knocked a hoof against Tercio's steel and gold plate.

"Says the Legionary who spends his days chasing after darkness worshipers. Tell me: do they all run around screaming, or do some of them actually fight back?"

"Some do, which is more than can be said for a Praetorian who stares at the Princess' backside for hours on end."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing," Tercio answered with a grin. As backsides went, hers was rather shapely. He wished he could flaunt his knowledge of such things, but then, Victus was probably not the first person he'd want to tell about his relationship with Celestia.

It was mid-day, warmer and sunnier than it had been in days prior, and the two brothers had decided to make the best of it by challenging each other to a sparring match. Tercio thought it a grand idea; if nothing else, it would let him show off his Praetorian armor. Dragging it around with him from Canterlot to Summervale hadn't been the most enjoyable thing, but he was glad to have it now -- even if his mother seemed to be even more impressed than Victus. "Oh, my dear boy," she'd said adoringly, "all grown up and handsome like a proper stallion." He likely would never have escaped the house if his father hadn't come to his rescue.

His purple cloak flowed behind him as the wind gusted, and he set his crested helm firmly on his head as Victus did the same, his own Legion-red cloak hanging over his back.

"Turn around for me, would you?" Victus asked. "Is that...a bull stitched into your cloak?"

"It is. It was given to me by Celestia after the attack on Canterlot. She said it was fitting. Something about having the strength and determination of a bull, I think."

"More like being bull-headed," Victus laughed. "I'm impressed! Looks like you've been busy these long months after all. All joking aside, I'm proud of you, Tercio. You do our family a great honor."

"I try to," Tercio said earnestly.

"As do I. But hey, we didn't come out here to swap compliments, we came out here to fight! What say you?"

"I say it's about time! Come, draw your sword."

"Wish we had our shields," Victus said as he reached to his side and pulled a gladius from its holster. A second weapon was tied to the other side of his body. A backup, he'd explained earlier. Losing his weapon was something that seemed to happen far too often. Once he had a firm mouth-hold he nodded that he was ready.

"I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to drag mine all the way here. Guess it's just our blades, then. Like when we were children, eh?"

"Lit'le diff'ren zhan wooden shords."

Tercio chuckled at the way Victus had to speak with a weapon grasped between his teeth. He never understood how ponies could fight so well without magic -- or hands, in his case -- but they seemed to do fine on their own. Reaching across his body he unclasped the top of Nocturne's dark scabbard, drawing the weapon with a singing of steel on leather.

Victus' eyes went wide at the sight of it."What in the nine hells is that?" he asked as he tucked his weapon into his foreleg.

Tercio twirled the longsword in his hand, showing off the magical trail it left behind. Runes along the fuller dimly pulsed, slow and subtle, with the color of night. "This? This is Nocturne."

"You named your sword?"

"I didn't, no. But Luna did."

Victus eyed him apprehensively. "I'm not sure I understand..."

Even though they were no longer young children, Tercio still enjoyed one-upping his brother from time to time. What brother wouldn't? "To make a long story short, Princess Celestia gifted me this blade not too long ago. It had been sitting in Luna's chambers for quite some time, just collecting dust. She thought Luna -- the Luna we all knew before her fall -- would have wanted me to have it if she couldn't use it. How could I refuse?"

Victus was plainly awestruck. He ran his hoof along the blade, more than twice as long as his gladius, and felt the hum of magical power that ran through it. "You mean to tell me this is a royal blade? The personal weapon of Princess Luna? Come on, that's a load of nonsense even for you."

"Swear by the gods, brother. It's the finest weapon I've ever held, and I'm honored that Celestia would choose me to wield it."

With a low whistle Victus stepped back. "First the armor, then the cloak, and now the sword. Celestia seems awfully generous with you. Is there something you're not telling me? Next thing I know, you're going to say you're bedding her!"

What Tercio wanted to say was "not yet, I'm not" but he feigned laughter and rapped his knuckles against the side of Victus' helm. "You've always had a way with words, you know that?"

"Well, shit, if you're going to produce a damned royal blade, then I might as well not hold back a little surprise of my own."

Tercio watched in interest as Victus pulled the second blade from its sheathe, then locked it into a ring mount on the armor of his right foreleg with a metallic 'click', so that it faced outward while he was standing. Soon after, he spread his wings wide, revealing a set of intricate, multi-jointed strips of gold-plated steel that ran along the leading edges of his wings, sharpened to a razor's edge.

"Wing blades? I haven't seen those in a long time. Impressive."

"A gift of my own, from Battle-Master Gilias. Standard griffon equipment, but modified for pegasi. Not bad, right?"

"Not bad at all. And is that an armor-mount on your foreleg?"

"Modified whitetail design. Not spring-loaded, but it works."

Tercio shook his head. "You're going to make me fight against three weapons at once, aren't you? And here I thought you were looking for a fair fight."

"'Fair' nothing! Any idea of fairness went out the window the second you produced a magical sword. Consider this my way of making things more of a challenge."

***

In the Cervidaen capital of Pecora, Empress Elinwynn waited impatiently on her covered balcony overlooking the city. A cold drizzle had permeated the air for the last two days, and she shivered as she pulled on her expensive, elegant winter robes to keep them tight against her. Even so, a fire burned inside her that had not abated in the least ever since her brother had returned from his latest trip to Whitetail. The nation of their inferior cousins was falling into her grip, slowly but surely, and everything had seemed to be going better than she could have hoped -- and then Celestia had thrown herself into the equation. Now Elinwynn cursed the pony princess under her breath even as Corvalix appeared in the doorway.

"You called, Sister?" he asked with a smirk as he leaned against the door frame, his usual armor replaced with silver and crimson body wraps that hung loosely from his sides.

"Corvalix. I was hoping you'd come quickly," she replied, stepping over to him. She always tried to maintain an appearance of being calm and decisive, but she knew she looked worried for the first time in ages. She didn't bother trying to hide it from him. "We have a problem."

"Oh? With whom?"

"Celestia. She knows."

The smile faded from his lips. "How much?"

"Enough. To think she would even make the connection! I should have seen it sooner! Spirits of the Ancestors, I should never have--"

"Elinwynn," Corvalix stopped her, lifting a hoof to quiet her. "Calm yourself, then we will discuss this together."

She took a deep lungful of cool, damp air and forced herself to relax; panicking would only make things worse. "A few days ago one of the devices was activated. I felt the usual pull of magic and went to see what inane request the followers had this time, but...it wasn't one of the followers. It was her. Celestia had one of the medallions, and she'd figured out how to use it."

"And? As far as she knows, it's just used to speak with Nightmare Moon. I'm sure she wasn't exactly overjoyed to see the visage of her fallen sister floating there before her. What, did you come to her in your true form?"

"Of course not! Do you think me a fool? She expected to see Nightmare Moon, and so she saw Nightmare Moon."

"Then what is the problem? If she truly believes the ruse then we've no issue."

Elinwynn looked around to make sure no one was watching or listening. She could never be too sure these days. "That's just it! She suspects a connection between 'Nightmare Moon' and myself! She said as much! Somehow she'd obtained a communication medallion and had noticed it was the same as the one I gave her several months ago." She stomped a hoof in frustration. "What a ridiculous oversight to make! I should have been more careful with that damn listening device."

"So she suspects you're working with her sister. Do you think she knows that you are 'Nightmare Moon'?"

Elinwynn shook her head, her gold and emerald antler chains tinkling with the motion. "No, at least not yet. Fooling a bunch of fanatical idiots to cause a distraction once in a while is one thing, but Celestia? She may think us separate for now, but I doubt it will last long. Once she learns that there is no Nightmare Moon..."

"Then she'll be on a war path," Corvalix finished for her. "I see what you mean. This is a problem." Elinwynn paced back and forth as she fumed, her mind filled with all manner of possible actions. Only one truly stood out in the end.

"We have to move the timeline up, and do so immediately."

Corvalix eyed her with apprehension. "You're sure about this? I realize things are not ideal, but--"

"If we don't take action, then she will, Corvalix! We've no time for games -- not with Whitetail, and certainly not with Equestria. I want you to pack your things and depart immediately to Evinwiir. Tell the good Chancellor there's been a change of plans." She stepped forward and stared him directly in the eyes. "You have one week, Brother. One week, and not a day more. Do whatever you must to ensure things go as we've foreseen."

"I hope you know what you're doing," Corvalix said quietly, "because we're not going to have a second chance at this. Not now, not ever again."

"We owe this to Mother and Father, to six generations of Cervidaen peoples. I will not be remembered for inaction, not like the others." She motioned to the stairs with a tilt of her head. "Go. You have your orders."

Corvalix hesitated for only a moment, then bowed and departed. Elinwynn watched him go until he was out of sight. Her shoulders felt heavy and her legs trembled beneath her, and once she was sure of being alone she turned and bucked the wall hard enough to leave a cracked hole in the stonework. A gold and oak side table was yanked from beside her in a field of crackling magic, and she threw it over the balcony with a shout of anger and frustration.

Celestia had forced her hoof. There would be no turning back now.

***

Tercio had never thought of himself as much of a cook, especially compared to his mother, but he at least knew enough to throw together a hot meal for himself and Victus. For the first time since his arrival Victus finally had some time alone with Tercio, their parents visiting friends one town over. Sore and dirty from their fight, they soon sat with their bellies full and their legs kicked up on the table, the crackling fireplace creating a pleasantly warm glow.

"How's life in the Legion these days?" Tercio asked as he stoked the flames and threw in another length of chopped wood. "I've heard they've been on the front lines since the start of the war. Information is hard to come by, however, especially when it comes to the 44th. Trying to find out if you fare well is like pulling teeth, I swear."

Victus chuckled. "Secrecy first and foremost, eh? Truth be told, we've been serving as a secondary unit for some time. After the battle of Everfree we were pulled back to hunt down Nightmare Moon encampments. It's not as glamorous as fighting the whitetail, but it serves its purpose. Even managed to get one of these...medallions, or whatever they are. We think they're what the cultists use to speak with the fallen princess herself. No idea what happened to it, we sent it to Canterlot. Haven't heard about it since."

"No doubt Celestia will want to look into it."

"So I imagine."

Tercio pointed to a flesh-colored scar that stood out against the striking white coat and skin of his brother. "You've been wounded?"

"Aye, twice. Would you believe I made it through Everfree without so much as a scratch, but the damned cultists got the better of me twice? Last one lodged a dagger right into my upper foreleg when I wasn't looking." Victus shrugged. "Hurt like a son of a bitch, but it was only temporary. A lot of stallions I knew, well...they weren't so lucky."

It was quiet for some time as they both reflected on their own battles. Tercio broke the silence, removing his tunic to show several scars and coarse bandages. His wounds no longer bled as often, thanks to the concoction the apothecary had given him, but strenuous activity sometimes reopened them briefly.

"Gods, Tercio, what happened to you?" Victus asked in morbid surprise. "I thought the Praetorian Guard was a quiet job compared to the Legion."

"That's what they all say," Tercio answered flatly. "This jagged one here, on my arm? The attack on Canterlot. A cultist sliced me with a hooked blade. Along my ribs? Battle with Lacertus, the assassin who very nearly took Princess Celestia's life."

"I hear you tore his throat out."

Tercio winced at the memory. Apparently tale of his actions had spread across Equestria. "It's a bit more complicated than that, but yes." He shifted his body to show his back, where a wrapping of bandages covered an ugly, black and red wound that was slowly healing. "This is from less than a week ago. Our unit met with a Legion encampment in Dragon Crest -- we were supposed to escort a large wagon filled with reclaimed valuables. They passed it off to us and we were attacked near the end of the day, not even an hour outside of Canterlot. Damned whitetail were waiting for us, led by a powerful doe."

Victus swore to himself. "How did the whitetail get so close to the capital? The border isn't fully closed off, but it's at least watched most of the time."

"I've no idea. Magic, perhaps? Bribery? Whatever the case may be, they pounced on us with surprising speed. That was the first time I'd ever fought the whitetail."

"Damned tough fighters, aren't they?" Victus made a motion as if he was stabbing a blade forward. "Those armor blades, you never see them coming. They may not have our strength but they're hard to defeat when they have room to maneuver."

"So I learned. Almost had me a few times. One of them got behind me and stuck a quinn-blade right into my shoulder, through a gap under my pauldron. In the heat of the moment I didn't realize how deeply he'd struck me. I was bleeding quite profusely for some time, and only after the battle did one of the others notice. They had to take some measures to stop it. Painful ones."

Victus leaned forward in his seat. "What do you mean, painful ones?"

"Have you heard of prometheum powder?"

"Prometheum?" His brother's eyes went wide at the mention of the word. "Gods, Tercio, you mean they burned your wound closed?"

"They did what they had to. It was...bad. I have never felt anything like it, and I pray I never have to again." He could still remember the terrible heat, the unbelievable pain. The hole in his shoulder had been mended, but the scar would remain for the rest of his life, ugly and discolored. "I am thankful that we have some of the best medical aid in all of Equestria at the palace, or I might still be writhing on a medicae cot right now."

With a smirk Victus said, "Gilias would probably love to meet you. She's got a hard-on for battle scars."

"Gilias?"

"Battle-Master Gilias, of the Griffon Skyguard," he explained. "She's been an unofficial member of our contubernium for some time. Real blood seeker, that one, but tough as tails and with a personality to match."

"I take it Skytalon has at least somewhat of an interest in not being neighbors with their worst enemies."

"Pretty much. She frightens the hell out of me, but she can fight like no one I've ever seen."

"Better than me?" Tercio asked with a nudge.

"A foal with a wooden sword fights better than you, dear brother," Victus said, the two of them laughing together. "I am glad you're in good health, or close to it. Not having any proper communication with the outside world for so long doesn't lend itself well to news of such things."

"And I'm equally glad you found that messenger. Would you believe he passed himself off as a brothel owner in order to get close enough to speak with me? He was...persistent. I nearly jammed my dagger into his throat for it! Poor bastard nearly pissed himself before he could explain what was really going on."

"He said as much when he delivered your message. I had to pay him extra for the trouble. Next time, try not to almost murder my courier, will you?"

"No promises."

"Close as I'm going to get to your word, I suppose, you tall bastard. You're lucky I still put up with you!" He poured himself another cup of flavored water as the fireplace burned quietly behind him. "I've missed this. Just sitting around, talking like a couple of kids. Life was so much simpler back then, eh? No wars, no difficult mares, no long marches in the freezing rain. Just the two of us, wasting the day without a care."

Tercio sat back in his chair, remembering the many times he'd returned from school to find Victus waiting for him in the field with a sack of toys and baubles he'd gathered from their rooms. It felt like so long ago.

"Do you remember when we snuck into Applewood's orchard and ate ourselves sick, only to be caught by the old stallion?"

"I remember you nearly scared him half to death," Victus answered with a smile. "We were sick for days! Oh, but those peaches...they were the best I've ever had. I don't regret it for a moment."

"Neither do I. In fact, it was such a good story that I had to tell Celestia about it."

"Come on, you told the Princess? I think you're stretching things here."

"I swear on the good word of the Princess herself! We were having a dinner some time after the attack; a sort of thank-you for helping save her life. She asked about growing up with you, so I told her a few stories. She says you sound like a charming, caring brother."

"Really now? Charming, you say? Well, my dear brother, if you happen to see the good Princess, do be sure to tell her I'm single..."

"Oh, I'll get right on that," Tercio answered with a chuckle. "I was glad to share some small bit of our childhood, it made it feel like you weren't across the damned country, if only for a while. Those memories, they're what keep me sane sometimes." He grew more serious, eyeing his brother. "I've seen, and done, some truly terrible things, Victus. I can't even begin to describe them. They were all in defense of the Princess and Equestria, but still...it's not something I'll ever forget."

"I understand, believe me," Victus said, patting his brother on the back. "There was this caravan we were supposed to destroy, a few weeks ago. Cultists, or so they'd told us. Turned out they were working with Whitetail and its soldiers. There was a buck protecting the caravan -- tall, well-built. He knew what he was doing. Gilias slaughtered him all the same. After the battle we found a fawn hiding from us, short little thing. Maybe...four, five years old? We found out that he'd been sold as a slave after his parents were killed. Soon after, stories started popping up all over the place from other Legion units that had freed slaves of one kind or another. Whitetail, mostly. To think a government would sell off its own citizens..."

"That's why we have to win, so that no one else suffers under them."

"We will," Victus said sincerely. "Ahh, but let's not talk about such things right now. We're both alive, and we're both home. What more could we ask for?"

Tercio couldn't think of much, besides having Celestia at his side. Such a thing was too much to think about sometimes. Even if the war ended tomorrow, what would they do? Word of their involvement would surely not take long to reach the ears of everyone else in the palace, and once that happened...would the others even listen to him as a leader, or would they see him as being a favorite because of his relationship with their Princess?

He would have to worry about it later. There was too much on his mind as it stood, and one thing in particular threatened to drive him mad unless he came out with it. He hesitated to talk about it even still.

"Victus, there's something I need to share with you, but you must swear to never utter a word of it to Mother or Father," he said solemnly.

Victus' ears perked up, and he sat up straight in his seat. "What are you talking about? Is something wrong?"

"Do I have your word?" Tercio insisted.

"Of course you do. I'll swear by any deities you like, but if there's something that troubles you so, then perhaps Mother and Father should--"

"It's not something they would be able to help me with. Neither could you, really, but I feel it's something you should know as my brother -- and as a fellow soldier." Victus nodded for him to continue, listening intently. "Right, so...remember the last time we were together? We had just arrived in Canterlot and you were told to report back to your unit, and shortly after I was reassigned to the Praetorian Guard. I began training with a group of other candidates after you left. It was a few weeks later, during combat training, that we discovered that there is something...wrong with me."

"Wrong?"

"Yes. I was fighting against our group's most skilled unicorn -- a good stallion by the name of Polaris -- in a back-and-forth contest. I haven't met many ponies who can match my dexterity, but Polaris kept up with me quite handily. Eventually he managed to put me on the defensive, and he started to shout encouragement for me to dig deeper and fight my way back. 'Attack, Tercio!' he'd say. 'Attack!' And then he used a word I'd never heard before, a deertongue word. I...I can't repeat it, nor would I want you to know it. But that word, it changed me, deep inside."

Victus cocked his head. "You know deertongue? I wasn't aware."

"That's just it: I don't know a word of it. I had never even heard it spoken before that day. Yet as soon as Polaris used that word it triggered something inside of me that I didn't even know was there. Like a...a darkness, you could call it. It took control over me, and I ended up wounding Polaris quite seriously. I may have sat out the attack on Canterlot in a cell if it hadn't been for Celestia giving me another chance."

"Hold on, I'm not sure I understand," Victus said. "What do you mean, 'a darkness'? The last time I heard that phrase, Princess Luna was banished for trying to usurp her sister. Do you mean to tell me you suffer from the same evil as her?"

"I don't think so, no. It's difficult to explain. Upon someone uttering that word, I begin to lose control of myself. I told Celestia about it -- I had to. I thought she might be able to help. I...I nearly killed her that day. Had I gotten my hands on her, I could have...well, I'd rather not think about such things." He bowed his head in shame at the memory. "I have been fighting against it ever since."

Victus was quiet for some time, unsure of what to make of what he'd been told. He and Tercio had always been close; why had such a thing waited so long to reveal itself? "What happens when this 'darkness' takes over, exactly? What is it like?" he asked. "Tercio, if there is some chance I can help, you must tell me. This is alarming news!"

"Which is exactly why I have been against the idea of telling you until now." Tercio closed his eyes and tried to put to words the horrific things he'd seen. "It is like...like a shroud of red being pulled over my eyes. Slowly, at first, then quicker as it builds. It clouds my vision until I can focus on it alone. That's when the rage takes over; terrible, all-consuming rage. It is an anger that I cannot properly explain."

"An anger towards whom?"

"Whoever is attacking me, usually," Tercio answered. "If there is no one fighting against me, then I will lash out at the nearest pony. It seems to be ingrained in me to attack Equestrians. I can remember only bits and pieces of my times under the influence of the darkness -- flashes of violence, visions of slaughter I had yet to partake in. Those thoughts drive me on, and when I have lost myself I will stop at nothing to rend the flesh from my opponent's bones -- even if it means using my bare hands. That's how I killed Lacertus Praxis, and almost killed Celestia and Polaris." He kicked the table in frustration, sure that his story would make Victus question his very sanity. "I must sound as if I am a trained dog, not a gods-damned soldier."

"You said you killed Lacertus under the influence of this rage, yes?" Victus asked. "How did that happen?"

"He knew the word. I don't know how, but he did, and he used it. I blacked out in the midst of combat with him, and he took the opportunity to attack Celestia. He very nearly killed her, Victus. If that sword of his had gone even an inch deeper..."

"What happened then?"

"I don't remember, not fully. I awoke soon after, my blade lost somewhere in the cave. Lacertus was about to deliver a killing blow to the Princess, and that's when I threw myself at him with all of my strength, or so I've been told. I tore the weapon from his mouth and grabbed onto his throat with both hands." He mimicked squeezing the very life from the assassin, and as he did so he could see himself covered in blood once more. "I mutilated him, Victus. He died a horrible death. The last thing I remember is looking over at the Princess bleeding on the ground, my hands red with gore, and approaching her in a haze. The next thing I knew, I was in a medicae building, covered in bandages."

Victus had to stand up from his seat and pace the room. Tercio knew he was having a hard time taking it all in, and he let his brother take as much time as he needed. How would he possibly react to such a revelation? If he were in Victus' place, he could not say he would understand it either.

"Why have we not seen this from you sooner? Why did it take so long for such a thing to come out?" Victus asked, his voice heavy with concern.

"I don't know, but I wish it hadn't come out at all. Word of my deeds spread quickly to the other barracks. I haven't been looked at the same by many of them ever since. The stallions I train with and fight alongside do not fully know what to make of it, but some of them owe their lives to me because of it, and they have become nearly as close as you and I. The others...they vary from outwardly friendly to very nearly hostile, but I hear them talk behind my back. They don't think I do. They don't trust me!" Tercio suddenly raised his voice, kicking his chair back against the wall. "All I have done, for the entirety of my career, is to better myself as a soldier, as a leader! I became a Praetorian because I wanted to be something more than a simple guardsman, and now all of it could be thrown away in a single instant because of this fucking anger inside of me! By all rights I should be rotting in a cell, or dead at the end of a Praetorian blade!"

Victus lifted into the air and hovered in front of Tercio, placing a hoof against his chest in an attempt to calm him. "Don't say such things, brother. You would not be here now if everyone thought you nothing more than a monster."

"I can lose myself entirely because of a single word! Does that not make me a monster? Do you have any idea what it's like to have such a thing constantly at the back of your thoughts? Someone, right now, could send me on a murderous rampage against you, against Mother and Father, with barely more than a thought, and I would be nearly powerless to stop it!" He sank back against the wall, his head in his hands. "I could be the end of everyone and everything I hold dear..." After a moment he quietly said, "I try to fight it, brother. I do. Recently I have nearly fallen into its grasp twice: once during training in the mountains, and once when the whitetail ambushed us near Canterlot. Both times I was able to stop it from gaining control over me entirely. I even felt a sort of...euphoric afterglow when I defeated it for the first time. I was sure it was gone. But it wasn't. It was still there, waiting. And now I don't even have to hear that word to slip back into it. Anything that causes sufficient anger -- especially the stress of combat -- can bring it forth. I can, at least, mostly stop it from taking over during sparring. I suppose that's something."

"It sounds like you're making progress, then," Victus said encouragingly. "Do you know why you've been able to resist its influence as of late?"

Tercio nodded. "Yes. Nocturne."

"Luna's sword?"

"I don't know what it is, but ever since I first held that weapon it is as if it's somehow...connected to me. I can feel its power, almost hear its thoughts. Perhaps something in its magic has helped me." He shrugged. "Maybe it does not wish to see me fall to darkness like Luna."

"You speak as if it's alive, Tercio. It may be a magical blade, and a fine one at that, if our little bout is anything to go by, but it's still just a weapon."

"I know, and you're probably right. But I will not question it if it means I have a chance at overcoming this damnable curse once and for all."

Victus trotted to the far side of the room and put Tercios' chair back in place, then helped lift him from the floor with a grunt of exertion. Tercio looked pale and tired, as if he were suddenly sick. It would do him no good to talk of it further, not for today. "Come, let's get you some rest. I'll tell Mother and Father you're not feeling well." Victus got a weak 'thank you' in reply. "Regain your strength and your courage, for tomorrow you will need it."

Tercio looked confused. "Why?"

"Because we're going to fight this darkness inside of you. Together."

32 - Bad Blood

In the time before the Great Divide, Evinwiir was merely another city in the vast machine that made up the Ochrourus Collective, a nation of redtail and whitetail that had existed long before its Equestrian neighbors had come together. It was a farming community back then, modest in size, that served as the storehouse for much of Ochrourus' foodstock. Over the span of decades a network of tunnels grew under the city's rolling hills, and for a time Evinwiir prospered.

Then came the Great Divide, the civil war between redtail and whitetail that tore the nation asunder under banners of hatred and grand talks of racial purity. Hundreds of thousands died, leaving the splintered remnants to rebuild two separate lands -- Whitetail, which proudly wore its heritage on its sleeve, and Cervidae, which would become the Cerivdaen Hegemony. In this time of strife Evinwiir first faltered, then fell, as war crushed its buildings and slaughtered its citizens, but the city that grew from the ashes of the old state was stronger for it. A great wall was constructed to keep out its enemies, and its bountiful harvests fed the fledgling Whitetail. It did not take long for the marble city to become the capital, and in the generations since it had not fallen even once to invaders. Griffons, ponies, even zebras from distant lands -- all were broken against its defenses.

Time, however, had buried the once great tunnel system under earth and stone, leaving only scattered hallways as reminders of its former glory. Most citizens never learned of the city's oldest secrets lying beneath them, and those that did regarded the stories with little interest or concern.

Brother-General Corvalix had certainly counted himself among them -- until the war with Equestria. Suddenly thrust into a position of power after driving an Equestrian bolt through the heart of his commanding officer, Corvalix had taken a great interest in every facet of the whitetail capital, looking to exploit its advantages in any way possible. The Whitetail officers had objected, of course, as he knew they would. A deep distrust still ran in the veins of Whitetail's citizens, even after so many years, but with their nation on the brink of collapse they eventually saw fit to let him and his superior tactical knowledge take charge of much of the military. Evinwiir was still surrounded, but it had not fallen, and Equestria's vaunted Guard had paid deeply for every inch it took.

Now, as Corvalix stepped through the damp halls of the repurposed, partially restored tunnels, he reflected on all he had been through; the years of servitude under the abusive, useless Whitetail officers. The false sympathies he shared with the inferior neighbors of his sister's mighty empire. The countless, cowardly politicians he had dined with and won favor from. It made him sick to think of, but he comforted himself in the knowledge that it would soon be worth it. Elinwynn was nothing if not cautious -- barring her little communication device fiasco -- and if anyone could put an end to the madness, it was her.

A heavy bag was draped across his back, tied off with rope. It strained his muscles as he carried on, the weight bringing grunts of exertion and gritted teeth as he passed by torches burning an otherworldly green. He dared not use his magic, not yet, lest they find him before all was ready.

Long minutes passed before he finally came to a cavernous storage room, deep under the western district of Evinwiir, a scant mile from the capitol building and senate chambers. A series of doors attempted to keep him out, but they were of no concern. Corvalix paused as he entered the vaulted room, admiring it. From floor to ceiling it was stacked with Whitetail's mightiest creation: aetherflame, a thick liquid that burned a sickening green upon the mixing of two concoctions. It had been used to great effect during the battle of the Everfree forest, heaved by the dozen from great siege engines in earthenware two-chambered pots. It had not been enough to stem the tide of the Equestrian attack, but it had proven itself as a powerful alchemical weapon.

Under his guidance, most of Whitetail's remaining stock had been placed in this very room. After all, he'd argued, what good was an aetherflame stockpile if it could fall to a simple Equestrian catapult? The thought of much of the city burning with arcane fire had been all the convincing the Whitetail officers had needed. Corvalix smiled to himself; they were right to be worried. Shame that they hadn't worried about the right thing.

With a sigh of relief he dumped the heavy sack on the floor, gripping a gladius in his mouth. It felt so cold and barbaric, not refined and elegant like a quinn-blade, and he lamented having to touch such a useless thing as he sliced the ropes from the burlap sack.

A battered pony flopped against the dirt, breathing in long, ragged gasps as its unconscious form struggled for air. For a moment Corvalix regarded the Equestrian with sympathy, its bird-like wings broken at grotesque angles and its light green coat spattered with mud and gore. Such a fate was unfitting even of a pony, but sacrifices had to be made. Elinwynn would have accepted no less.

Corvalix pulled a vial from a pouch tied to his foreleg, popped the cork with his teeth, and poured the swirling liquid down the pegasus' throat. It took only a few heartbeats for the pony to stir, its legs twitching as the potion forced life back into its broken form. He stepped back as the pony coughed and gagged, then slowly opened its eyes.

"Get up," Corvalix ordered. The pony looked at him in confusion, a sense of panic dawning across its features as it began to realize it was alone. "I said, get up."

The pony was weak and faltered as it tried to stand. A bout of nausea set in almost immediately, and it vomited on the floor as waves of pain wracked its body. "Where...where am I? Who are you?" it asked in a pleading voice. Corvalix bowed.

"I am Brother-General Corvalix of the Cervidaen Hegemony. First of the Cervidaen army, second of the Court, and overseer of Whitetail operations in their war with Equestria. As for where you are, you will find that you are currently in Evinwiir. Or rather, under it."

"Evinwiir? I don't understand..."

"What is your name, Equestrian?" The pony fell to its knees and clutched its stomach with a moan. "Your name!"

"M-Milites Sugarcloud, Equestrian Guard. What do you--"

"Sugarcloud," Corvalix said mockingly. "You Equestrians have the strangest names."

Sugarcloud's broken wings lifted only partially as the pegasus was clearly trying to make his escape. They crackled like popping firewood, and he screamed as his body let him know that he was not going to be flying anywhere. "Oh Goddesses, what did you do?" he sobbed. "Why am I here? What do you want from me?! I was with the others, and...and then something hit me. I could still hear them..."

"Please, do try to restrain yourself, Sugarcloud. I know you are in a lot of pain, but you are about to be part of something very important."

"I just wanna go home. Please..."

Corvalix ignored the pony's pathetic mewling and motioned to the room around them. "This, my good pegasus, is storeroom Pava'iis. What sits before you is nearly the entirety of Whitetail's trebuchet munitions."

Sugarcloud's eyes went wide. "Emerald fire?" he said just above a whisper.

"If that is your word for it, yes. You are familiar with it?"

"I...I had a good friend die a horrible death to it. Why are you showing me this?"

"Aethiilfaris -- aetherflame -- has a distinct property when stored in large masses. Namely, it becomes explosive. That is where you come in."

"I don't understand..."

Corvalix smiled. "You, my friend, are about to strike a great blow against Whitetail. One that will change the very course of history! That is why I've brought you here. Are you not excited at such a prospect?"

"No! I don't want any part of this. Please, just let me go."

"I'm afraid you've already carved a path of destruction on your way down here. You see, when you found this tunnel, you fought your way past over a dozen of Whitetail's finest. They lie dead, their throats sliced, by your weapon." Corvalix floated the Equestrian sword before himself, its blade covered with drying blood and clumps of matted fur. "Most unfortunate for those involved, almost as if they hadn't had the chance to fight back at all. You were just about to light the aetherflame pots with a torch when I caught up with you."

Sugarcloud could not find a single word as Corvalix gritted his teeth and dug the blade into his own shoulder, drawing a stream of crimson as it sliced through his skin. With a shout he dropped it at his hooves, swearing in his own language. "You resisted my attempts to subdue you, and once I was forced to use my magic the Whitetail encampment above was alerted. Magically attuned runes in the walls, you see. You fought bravely, and even managed to evade my capture. They will find you, of course, but only briefly. Ultimately your mission will be a success! Imagine it: ten thousand pots filled with otherworldly fire, just waiting to be unleashed. It will be a glorious display."

Terrified by the buck before him, Sugarcloud tried to grab for the weapon that was just out of his reach. Corvalix's antlers flared bright emerald and crackled with energy, subduing the pony in place. Sugarcloud struggled against the magical field keeping him from moving, but he was far too weak. He resisted only for a few moments before sobbing hopelessly.

"Please, let me go! I don't want to be here!" From a saddlebag Corvalix produced a short quinn-blade, its conical form glittering in the torchlight. "No, please! I-I never wanted to fight! I'm just a scroll clerk!"

"Shhhh, do not fret, Sugarcloud," Corvalix said quietly. "Your deeds will live on, for I will tell them to the entire nation. You will be remembered for all time."

"Oh Goddesses, please help me!" The quinn-blade floated beside Sugarcloud, twisting in the air. Corvalix noticed the Equestrian had pissed himself in fear. Such a pathetic display for a soldier. "Pl-please don't tell my mom I died like this..."

For a brief moment Corvalix felt a pang of regret at what had to be done, but his sister would not tolerate failure. He plunged the blade through the knees of the pony's forelegs, too focused on his magic to care about the screams that came with it.

Corvalix withdrew his blade and kept it at his side, regarding the pony with something resembling sympathy. It had ceased any attempt at resisting, huddling on the ground and weeping openly.

With a deep breath he pulled a torch from its wall sconce and kicked open a container of jars, their grass padding spilling out at his hooves. He tossed the torch, hesitating for only a second or two when Sugarcloud called out to him, and immediately sprinted back down the hallway to the main tunnel. He wouldn't have long.

Just as he'd suspected, a large force of Whitetail regulars met him halfway, fully equipped with armor and weapons.

"Sir!" one of them saluted. "What's going on?"

"There...there was an Equestrian here," Corvalix answered, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "I wounded him, but he lost me somewhere down there! I was just heading back to find you!" He motioned behind him and spoke with the utmost urgency. "If you hurry you can still stop him! I think he's heading for the aetherflame room!"

"Of course, sir!" the buck said. "With me, brothers!"

As one the whitetail galloped away into the darkness. Corvalix allowed himself a momentary victory before making all due speed for the tunnel exit, passing dead soldiers all the way. Their sacrifices would be remembered.

Moonlight streamed in through the windows of the wide double doors, and Corvalix pushed through them with a burst of magic before running off to the safety of the woods.

***

It was a cold night in Evinwiir as Chancellor Vinawyll knocked back a small glass of fruited wine, letting its warmth spread through his body. There were precious few times he could simply be by himself, alone with his thoughts -- preferably ones that didn't involve politics. He smiled to himself as Belitryys, his favorite of his many does, mumbled in her sleep before turning over in his bed. He knew she didn't truly care for him, not as a wife would, but she had proven remarkable in her talents between the sheets as well as her eagerness to comfort him. So long as she did so, he would continue to shower her with gifts and coin.

With nothing but the chill winds of winter and the crackling of torches to worry about, he rested his weary head against the pillows of his chair, content for the first time in days.

Then there came a rumbling, deep and terrible like a thunderstorm, that shook the very balcony he stood upon. Emerald torches jilted in their sconces and countless objects fell from the large tables spread out around his quarters. Belitryys awoke with a start and immediately ran to Vinawyll's side, still only half-awake, a look of confusion and panic evident on her fine features.

"What's happening?" she asked over the tremors. A large painting clattered to the ground, shattering its delicate frame. Vinawyll was about to answer when he was thrown from his hooves by an unseen force, skidding along the polished marble floor and knocking his antlers against the wall as a blast louder than anything he'd ever heard threatened to deafen him. Concussed and weary, he stumbled back to the balcony, whereupon he saw the dark, green-tinted cloud of smoke that had begun to rise a short distance from the palace. It roiled and churned against the night sky, like dragon flame, and long, jagged streaks of green lightning arced across its surface. For a moment he stared in disbelief and wonder as the massive plume pushed itself ever higher.

Then came the debris, like a torrential downpour of earth and flame. Burning chunks of teal-colored fire and burnt masonry clattered around him, and he shielded Belitryys as they ducked back inside. She shouted and buried her head in the crook of his neck, praying aloud for it to stop. The hellish rain continued for what felt like hours, clods of dirt and shards of pottery covering the balcony.

A harsh silence was all that met his ringing ears as he kicked at the flaming bits of material, stomping them out and kicking them over the side along with clumps of grass and soil once it was safe to do so.

Then he heard it: a distant din of voices that was growing ever louder. Screams of pain and panic, so many of them he couldn't begin to wonder which direction they came from. It terrified him beyond words, and as he peered into the city below he saw the fires spreading. Dozens of them, burning with a fury to match their sickening appearance and sending long tongues reaching skyward to lick at the cloud of smoke that now covered nearly all of Evinwiir.

And in the distance, lit by a ring of flame and burning buildings, he saw the crater that had once been the financial district. Crumbling homes and businesses fell into its gaping maw that glowed from within, like a great beast of unimaginable horror. He fell to his haunches, helpless to stop it, and he watched his city burn from within.

***

The great halls of Evinwiir's senate building were alive with commotion, the din of a thousand voices vying to be heard over one another, one step removed from anarchy. Senators, land barons, indentured servant masters; the well-to-do, the elite and powerful of Whitetail's society who had survived the night. All thought themselves more worthy of speaking than their compatriots. Whitetail, it seemed, was facing destruction at the hooves of the Equestrian invaders, and no amount of propaganda and carefully chosen words could conceal that fact any longer.

"Please, we must have order!" Chancellor Vinawyll shouted over the others, but his plea was lost to the gathered crowd like a drop of rain in the ocean. Again he tried, and again his words fell on deaf ears. He could hear the senators mocking him from behind, their casual barbs couched in flowery language and pleasant tones when they weren't outright insulting him.

How he hated them, despised them to the last. Nothing had been the same since Chancellor Artellus had fallen to an Equestrian's blade. Gone was the confident stag that had stood watch over Whitetail for three decades, and with him, the confidence of the Senate. Vinawyll had ruled to the best of his ability after having been promoted to Chancellor, but it was a constant uphill struggle to keep himself in power. As he looked upon the crowd he wished he could be the leader they wanted, but such a thing was easier said than done.

"Chancellor," a voice beckoned with a mocking tone. Vinawyll turned to face the gathered politicos, his dangling gold chains swaying from his antlers. A length of emerald silk hung between the tallest prongs like a banner, a symbol of power that felt increasingly hollow as time dragged on.

"Senator Andorys, you have something to say?" he asked in a near-shout to be heard over the crowd, putting on a false smile.

"Me? Oh, no, no, not in the least. But they do." The old stag pointed to the masses that filled the great chamber and spilled out into the hallways, a smug grin crossing his face.

"So I have noticed. Truly your skill in perception is second only to your skill with wise words, Senator." Vinawyll lifted a hoof and spoke above the crowd to no avail. "Damnation," he muttered. "Maybe we deserve whatever the unwashed Equestrians bring upon us."

"I had expected such a ruckus following last night's incident, but this is far beyond anything I've seen. How fascinating."

Vinawyll eyed the senator in disbelief. "Fascinating? That's what you would call the deaths of hundreds of our citizens?"

"Of course not! But one truly must admire the bravery and skill of someone who has not only the initiative, but the means at his disposal to single-hoofedly fight his way through one of the most well-guarded places in all of Whitetail! Were it not for the good Brother-General, we may never have known what happened."

Indeed, Corvalix had told them exactly what he'd seen. A single soldier, tearing through guards like they weren't even there, pursued by the Brother-General who had heard a commotion and come running. Wounded for his efforts, his valiant attempt to stop the treacherous attack was ultimately thwarted, a fact he'd expressed the deepest of regrets over.

A figure caught Vinawyll's eye as it made its way through the gathered deer, taller by half a head than most of the others, with glimmering, crystalline armor flecked with gold standing as sharp contrast to the earthy browns and white spots of the whitetail coats around him. He bowed his head in reverence, thankful for the chance to speak with someone who wasn't completely incompetent.

"Chancellor Vinawyll, you seem to have a problem on quite a large scale."

"More than you can know, Corvalix."

The Brother-General still showed signs of his struggle with the damnable Equestrian, a set of bandages over his shoulder that were stained with blood. "Mind if I offer my assistance?" the redtail asked.

"By all means."

Green energy crackled between Corvalix's tall antlers, and after a brief pause his voice bellowed across the room, amplified to a booming shout.

"KARIIS!"

The yelling and arguing came to an abrupt end as nearly a thousand deer stopped what they were doing and looked up at the tall stag with the commanding voice. Corvalix bowed and stepped back, allowing Chancellor Vinawyll to take his place at the forefront of the raised platform.

"Thank you, Brother-General," he said to the now-silent hall. "I trust we can conduct the rest of this meeting like adults, yes? I should certainly hope so." The senators murmured behind him; he ignored them as best he could. "Now, I realize there are a lot of concerns to address, not the least of which is the fact that someone set off our stores of aetherflame. It is my understanding--"

"Concerns? My family lies dead, burnt beyond recognition, and you call this a 'concern'?!"

The voice in the crowd was echoed by many others, and Vinawyll motioned for silence. Thankfully, they listened.

"Please. As I was saying: it is my understanding that this was the work of a solitary individual. We do not yet know how he managed to get past so many of our own. Perhaps he took it upon himself to expedite the war in his side's favor, rather than wait with the rest of his outfit."

"Do you think the people fools, Chancellor?" Senator Alyyn, a young and hot-headed Senator from the northern lands, rose to be seen. "This is not the work of some lone individual, this is a gross act of slaughter by our enemies! The Equestrians have taken Quillyyn Keep, and now they seek to destroy us from within! We will slaughter them like the filth they are!" He raised a hoof, drawing a cheer and stomps of approval from the crowd. "Evinwiir's great walls have not fallen since their construction ten generations ago! They stopped the griffons and the Saddle Arabians, and they will stop the Equestrians!"

"And how many of us will die before that happens, Senator? How many will fall as our depleted ranks crash against the numerically superior Equestrian Guard?" the Chancellor asked.

"As many as is necessary. Whitetail does not falter. Not now, not ever."

"I see. So you would take up arms and fight along the wall with the rest of the military? I shall have a blade created for you. Perhaps I should stud it with diamonds and have it carried for you by a fawn-servant?"

The others laughed, and the Senator slumped into his seat. For all of his hot-headed blustering, Alyyn was like a fat house cat -- pampered and impotent, able to do nothing more than screech at shadows.

"While his words are brash," another senator added, "his sentiment is proper. We were taken by surprise when the ponies proved to be capable of war, but that time has passed. We know their strengths and their weaknesses. We need only exploit them."

"And train our guards to not be so incompetent," someone else muttered.

"With all due respect, Senator, those who died at Quillyyn Keep would speak to the contrary. If we truly knew the ins and outs of Equestrian doctrine we would not be in this position."

"And what would you propose we do in answer to this disgusting atrocity that has been committed upon the peace-loving citizens of Evinwiir? Ask the Equestrians to play nice? We must repay blood with blood!"

"Enough, Senator! Though it pains me to say it, we cannot win this war in our current state. Not alone." There was a murmur as Chancellor Vinawyll looked to Brother-General Corvalix, who stood imposingly in his glinting armor. "I would like your input on the matter, my good officer."

Corvalix let only the barest hint of a grin tug at the corner of his mouth. Vinawyll knew fully what he was asking. Corvalix had played the role of a fighter for many years; now he had to play the part of a savior. "As a redtail? As a soldier? Or as a believer in the Whitetail cause?" He asked, glancing out over the crowd.

"As a trusted friend."

"Very well." Corvalix stood tall and proud, colored sunlight shining on his armor from the stained glass windows that lined the arched ceiling. He paused, well-versed in the intricacies of public speaking by years of training under his parents and sister. The whitetail would listen to him. He simply had to choose his words.

"Citizens of Whitetail, allow me to introduce myself. Some of you may be familiar with me, but for those who are not: I am Brother-General Corvalix of Cerivade's Royal Lineage -- son of Thuryyn, and brother to Empress Elinwyyn of the Cervidaen Hegemony. For twenty-three years I have served as a ranking soldier in the Cervidaen military, and I am proud to say that for the last eight of those years I have acted as an adviser to the greater Whitetail forces. It was my great honor to serve alongside Brother-General Felnaris in the battle of the Everfree forest, may the ancestors watch over his soul."

And toss it into the Pits of Undeath, he thought. He no more mourned the loss of the incompetent, cruel Brother-General than he mourned the loss of an insect under his hooves.

"Some of you, no doubt, are asking yourselves why the good Chancellor puts his trust in a foreigner, a redtail. To which I say: the nation of Whitetail, and its people, are my brothers and sisters."

He began to pace back and forth, speaking with authority.

"Many years ago, before the founding of Whitetail and Cervidae, we were a single people. A proud people. But that pride gave way to resentment, jealousy, fear. The time of the Great Divide saw neighbor stand against neighbor, redtail against whitetail."

He laughed, bitter and quick, at the thought.

"It is ironic that we now fight the Equestrians. As our people were splitting from within, the three races of Equestria -- unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony -- were unifying. Gone were the days of separate tribes held together only by the will, and sometimes, the force, of their winged unicorn rulers. Since that time, Equestria has grown stable and prosperous. We, as whitetail, as redtail, waged war with one another for two generations, eventually settling on the borders we now share. Born in blood, we believed the Equestrians to be weak. Even now, as your nation stands on the brink of disaster, there are many here who still believe in the inferiority of the ponies. I ask you: how many lives have been wasted by your pompous arrogance?"

The murmur of the crowd and the angry shouts were exactly what he was expecting. He gave them their insults, let them hurl foul words and stomp their hooves.

"You cannot win alone! You will not win alone!" he shouted back at them.

They called him a traitor, and still he stood his ground. He knew they were scared of the Equestrians, terrified of the thought of losing friends and family to another 'attack'. They would side with him, if he provided a way to put their minds at ease.

"However," he said at last, raising a foreleg. The crowd quieted. "However...I hold no love for the equines or their leader, Princess Celestia. Whatever they may be, they are still cowards who slaughtered families in their homes at River Run, who assassinated the beloved Chancellor Artellus, who murder our soldiers who seek nothing more than to escort fleeing civilians away from the battle lines, and who, last night, visited such a terrible crime upon our city. Indeed, some of those fires still burn, a reminder of Equestrian cruelty for all to see. Can we truly trust a princess who banished her own sister to the moon, who authorized such injustices against our people, to show mercy? I would answer: no, we cannot."

Chancellor Vinawyll took over for the battle-scarred soldier with a grand gesture.

"It is for this reason, my brothers and sisters, that Brother-General Corvalix stands before you today as the representative of Empress Elinwyyn and the Cervidaen Hegemony. On her behalf, he has come to make an offer to the people of this great nation!"

Finally, it was time. Corvalix stood at the edge of the platform, projecting an air of leadership and strength that none could deny. This was the moment he had waited for, prepared to face for months and years.

"Whitetail!" he bellowed. "For too long we have stood as opposites, split by our petty squabbles and pointless civil wars! For too long have we seen each other as enemies! I say to you: no more!"

A commotion started to spread through the crowd, excited voices.

"I have served alongside your sons, your brothers, your fathers, and found them to be good! To be righteous! And yet here we stand, on the brink of annihilation by the invading Equestrians! Would you see all that they have sacrificed, all that you have lost, be for nothing?"

The sound of stomping hooves and impassioned shouts threatened to drown him out as he turned and pointed off to the distance, where Cervidae's borders distantly waited.

"Out there, beyond the forests, ten thousand Cervidaen Exemplars stand ready! Behind them, sixty thousand Cervidaen Regulars! Together, they comprise a force unrivaled in all the lands! Let us join you, brothers and sisters, and together we will defeat the equine invaders! Together, we will be strong!" Some of the senators shouted in approval. "The united forces of Deerkind will wash over them like a great wave and scour them from the earth! Together, we will win this war!"

The gathered whitetail were nearly at a frenzy, yelling for revenge and pleading with their leaders. Corvalix gave a subtle grin to the Chancellor, even as the Senate fought amongst itself. There were those who resisted the idea, called it blasphemous and impulsive. Their objections were lost in the sea of support for Corvalix and Vinawyll.

"This is madness!" an elderly senator insisted, hastily stepping down from his seat and standing before the pair. "Artellus would have never stood for such a thing! You are making a terrible mistake!"

"Artellus is dead, Senator," Vinawyll stated flatly over the roar of arguments and supportive voices.

"You are too young, Vinawyll Sepsus! Too young and too brash! You do not remember a time before prosperity, but I do! The Cervidaens will never treat us as equals! We will be slaves to the last once this war is over, mark my words!"

Corvalix glared at him. "You old fool. Do you really believe we would shun our brethren so? Times change, as do our leaders. Empress Elinwyyn would never consider such a barbaric act."

"I will not be disrespected by a mere redtail soldier, Corvalix! I know all about what happened at the battle of Everfree, how you 'miraculously' survived while our trusted Brother-General died. I don't trust you or your disgusting wretch of a sister any more than I trust a coiled snake!"

Corvalix slapped the senator across the mouth with his armored hoof, drawing a stream of blood and gasps from the senators.

"Speak of my sister again, Senator, and I will show you why I am more than a 'mere' redtail soldier."

Shaking in disbelief and fury, the senator pleaded with Vinawyll.

"Please, Chancellor, you must not listen to him! He will bring naught but ruin to Whitetail!"

Vinawyll stood firm, brushing spots of blood spatter from his emerald robes.

"Go clean yourself up, Senator, and return to your seat. There will be a vote to decide Whitetail's future. That is where you may make your voice heard."

As the old stag hesitantly left the room, Vinawyll looked upon his people with renewed enthusiasm. Word would spread quickly of salvation from the Equestrians -- and with it, the hope of a future for the whitetail. Any who stood in the way would find themselves shunned, left by the wayside. In a matter of weeks Equestria would burn, and from its ashes would rise a stronger nation for his people to call home.

***

"Do you realize what you ask of us, Chancellor? This is no mere alliance for the sake of convenience, this has the potential for our nation to disappear entirely." Senator Vaxilis was ardently opposed to Vinawyll's -- and Corvalix's -- plans to combat the Equestrian invaders, and he was not alone in his dissent. Now moved away from the shouting masses, Vinawyll and the nineteen senators in charge of Whitetail's affairs debated in the privacy of his personal chambers. The balcony was still a mess from the previous night's attack, which only seemed to inflame the emotions of all involved. It was an immediate reminder of what they faced.

"I think you misunderstand our intentions, Senator," Vinawyll said, trying to appease him. "Corvalix has no intention of seeing Whitetail destroyed. In fact, he's offering quite the opposite."

"Just because we're not razed to the ground, it doesn't mean we won't lose everything we've worked for. Corvalix may be a trustworthy sort but his sister is another matter entirely. Have you spoken with her?"

"Not at length, no."

"Mark my words: she cannot be trusted, and no amount of Cervidaen soldiers will convince me otherwise. She is a charlatan like her mother and grandmother before her. Cervidae cares only for expanding its own borders. Any 'help' they offer is merely buying time until they can slip a knife into our back."

"And what have you done to keep Whitetail strong, Vaxilis?" A younger senator asked. "Last I checked, our forces lie in shambles and our most ancient of strongholds has fallen. Nothing stands between us and the entirety of Equestria's might. Corvalix is offering a way out, an answer to our problems. I say we take it!" Words of encouragement and anger answered him in equal parts.

The eldest senator, a stag named Fondriis, stepped forward and addressed the others. He wore the wrappings of someone who had served for much of his life, and his presence commanded respect. Half of the prongs on his antlers were missing or severed to stumps, a lasting scar from the conflict with the griffons of Skytalon before most of the others had even been born. "My friends, if I may?" he asked in a shaky, straining voice. "I have been blessed with a long life, and in my many years I have seen three Chancellors stand in this very room; first Ty'rellian, then Artellus, and now our good Vinawyll. I have yet to see any of them lead this nation astray, but I have also seen that many of the old ways we hold as tradition are no longer relevant. Namely, the long-standing feud between ourselves and our cousins across the border."

Another senator answered him. "With all due respect, Senator Fondriis, the redtail of Cervidae have shown themselves to be interested in nothing but war and expansion. Their lands have doubled in the last two generations."

"They have doubled, yes," Fondriis said, "but none of it was Whitetail territory. Scattered tribes, remnants of days gone by, small villages still clinging to the old ways...those were the peoples that Cervidae took unto itself. The time of strife between deer is long over, and with Brother-General Corvalix's support, we finally have a chance to put all of this bad blood behind us. Would you not agree, Chancellor?"

Vinawyll bowed respectfully as the senator took his seat once more. The old stag's words were sensible, and fewer voices objected now than had mere moments before. In truth, they comforted Vinawyll more than he would have cared to admit; the alliance between whitetail and redtail made him nervous, for many reasons, but with his nation locked into a desperate fight for survival he could hardly refuse the help. Corvalix, for all of his charms, was a snake, but perhaps it was better to have a snake at your side than behind your back.

"Wise words, Senator Fondriis. I thank you for them, and I would agree entirely."

The young senator from the north stood once more. "What guarantee do we have that Cervidae will not simply annex us, provided we win this war? How do we know they will not seek revenge for countless generations of mutual slaughter?"

"There is no guarantee, of course, but I find such a thing highly unlikely. Do you truly view the redtail as monsters? What about the does and fawns? The farmers? The artisans and tradebucks? Should we cower in our homes when a caravan of vegetables rolls through the gates?" Scattered chuckles answered him, but the senator was plainly not amused.

"It is not the potter or merchant I fear, Chancellor, but the soldiers, and the ones in charge of them."

"And why is that? They are deer, just like us. They use the same weapons, they create the same houses, they forge the same armor. They are different only in name and slight appearance. I understand that such things were enough to warrant some deluded sense of pride in days past, but if we are to survive as a people then we cannot allow the ignorance of those times to cloud our judgment."

A senator in the back row was the next to make his voice heard. "Suppose we do carry through with this alliance of yours. There will be rioting in the streets! The hatred of our neighbors is not something that is easily forgotten or forgiven."

"I will take riots and mobs over siege and destruction," Vinawyll said firmly.

"And you, Chancellor, will be mocked as redtail-lover. Your very life would be in danger!"

"My life is in danger every moment of every day, Senator. I am a cautious buck, unlike my predecessor."

The senator scoffed. "You'll be a dead one if this goes through."

"Is that a threat?"

"From me? Of course not! But there are many out there who will resist. Win or lose, you will be hated. That is simply the way of things."

Vinawyll approached the senator and stuck a hoof out at his chest. "Do you truly think I'm not aware of this, Senator? This is not about me, this is about Whitetail and its continued survival. If I am to be shunned for my actions then I am confident that history itself will venerate me." Of course, he also planned to surround himself with Cervidae's finest at all hours of the day, lest one of his detractors draw a knife across his throat. If Whitetail's crumbling military could not protect him, Corvalix's own would. He had no dreams of dying a martyr for his cause. "Before the vote is cast, my fellow bucks," he stated as he returned to his place before them, "I ask you only to consider one question: is our pride more important than our families? If Evinwiir, if Whitetail, is to burn to the ground, then all of our proud histories and tales will amount to nothing more than pleas for mercy in the face of overwhelming defeat. I beg of you: set aside your prejudices, and join me in uniting our peoples for the first time in centuries."

He allowed the senators time to debate with each other, long minutes that seemed to drag on as his heart threatened to jump from his chest. If his words resounded with the others then it would be a truly historical moment. He only hoped the future would bring true cooperation. If not, then his tenure as Chancellor would be very short indeed.

"Now," he said as calmly as he could, "who is with me?"

33 - The Midlands (1/2)

Evinwiir had been gutted by fire. If nothing else, that much was clear to Princess Celestia and her advisers. An urgent delivery had arrived the night before, flown in from the front lines, and what the parcel had contained shocked her beyond words.

A small, multi-faceted crystal had tumbled out onto the table, roughly diamond shaped, with a broad, flat face. It appeared to be nothing of note -- until she focused her magic on it. At that instant, a vision of the Whitetail capital jumped to the forefront of her mind, and she saw Evinwiir burning under a cloud of roiling magical energy and choking smoke, seen from the eyes of another.

A memory gem. She had not seen one in many years.

In disbelief she watched the scene unfold before her again, the rushed, confused movements of a pegasus guard trying to view the devastation without showing himself to the whitetail. There was no mistaking it: Evinwiir had been devastated by an immensely powerful explosion of some sort.

Now, with her best and brightest military minds surrounding her dais, she intended to find out what the cause had been, and who had set it off.

"Have we heard any word from Evinwiir, or Whitetail itself?" She tumbled the memory gem end over end, a nervous gesture.

"So far? None, Your Highness. With the deerfolk I'm not surprised. Secretive bastards, the lot of them," General Corinthius answered. His was a voice of no-nonsense opinion and hard facts. Very much a believer in the old ways, down to the fading, old-style naming system of pre-unity Equestria, Corinthius could always be counted on to speak his mind. "This gives us a strong advantage in pushing toward a decisive victory, however. Whatever caused this explosion has apparently weakened the adjacent walls to the point that a week-long bombardment by our siege weapons could bring them tumbling down. Something to think about."

"I'd still prefer not to go that route, General, but I will keep it in mind." Celestia turned to the venerable Legatus-Adeptus Shadowstrike, the aptly-named head of Equestria's extensive reconnaissance network. "Do your spies bring any word?"

"Not enough to go on," the weary pegasus admitted. "The bucks under our command are rightfully worried about being found out, following this incident. I hear only rumors and hear-say. All I can tell you is that the whitetail are, unsurprisingly, blaming this on us, and you in particular, Princess."

Celestia rubbed her muzzle with a hoof. "I had expected as much. To think they still believe me capable of such things is frustrating and saddening." She studied the map table for a time before speaking once more. "Is it possible one of our forward commanders authorized such a thing, perhaps in some misguided attempt to end the war sooner?"

Corinthius shook his head. "Doubtful. If this magic-infused fire is the same emerald flame the whitetail have used against us, it would take a massive amount of it to create the damage you described. A warehouse, maybe, or a storage room of some sort. The numbers required to get past the defenses of such a place would be far larger than could conceivably be sneaked in by magic or flown in via pegasus wagon, even under the cover of night."

"And more to the point, we don't harm civilians. Ever." Legatus Lentius, the commander of the Royal Guard, stomped a hoof for emphasis. "We are better than that, Princess."

"If only the deer understood that," Celestia frowned. "So if it wasn't us, then who was it?"

"It could have been an accident, emerald fire is extremely volatile."

"'Accident' nothing; this reeks of whitetail deception." Corinthius tapped a hoof on the large map, where unit markers of Equestrian emblems surrounded the southern half of Evinwiir's immediate area. "From the very onset of this war we've seen how the whitetail will lie and manipulate to further their cause. Just look at River Run, and the poor civilians who were slaughtered there. Any logical creature would have realized it was the Nightmare Moon cults who carried out such murderous actions, but because those lunatics wore stolen Equestrian armor, suddenly we're a force for evil."

"Chancellor Artellus believed us," Celestia added. How she wished Artellus still lived -- things would be so different. Perhaps the war would have been avoided entirely.

"That he did, right up until the moment an Equestrian follower of Princess Luna drove a blade into his heart. In any case, those events served as a convenient fulcrum to shift popular opinion against us. Whitetail obviously has some long-standing issue with us we weren't aware of. I don't suppose you're closer to finding out why, Princess?"

Celestia shook her head. "Nearly half a year of conflict, I yet I still do not know what resentment they harbor. We have not been at war with Whitetail since before I was born, and even then, it was not war so much as it was a series of skirmishes under my father's command. I doubt that is the cause of all this."

"Excuse me for interrupting," Shadowstrike said, "but I believe we've long since passed the point of concerning ourselves with the 'why'. Instead, we should focus on the 'how'. Namely, how do we react to this event? If Whitetail and its government continues to ignore our missives, then we should show their people that we do not want to harm them, and that we do, in fact, have their best interests in mind."

"And how do you propose we do that?"

Shadowstrike lifted one of the emblems from the table, a crescent moon against a black background -- the symbol for the Nightmare Moon cults. Its likeness dotted the map, with small encampments and reported movements displayed for all to see. "Obviously it was not our forces who destroyed a large portion of Evinwiir, and I highly doubt the whitetail would do such a thing to their own citizens, so that only leaves one culprit."

"My sister's followers?" Celestia asked. "Do you think they're capable of devastation on that level?"

"Considering they did not hesitate to launch a full-scale assault on Canterlot, this palace included, I would say they're entirely capable. Since most of the cultists are Equestrian, it would be easy to place false blame on us yet again. Hell, I'd posit that they're controlling much of this war without either side being aware of the extent. Luna -- excuse me, Nightmare Moon -- could be weakening our forces for an attack of her own. I wouldn't put it past her." Shadowstrike placed the emblem back down, feeling a pang of regret for mentioning Luna again. He hated doing so, but such was the reality of their situation. "It makes tactical sense. Let your opponents kill each other, and when they're depleted and battle-weary, move in to finish them off. We can't allow that to happen."

Lentius had been studying the map for some time, and waited until Shadowstrike was finished to speak his mind. "What we need is a preemptive assault on the cultist camps. We have to strike swiftly and decisively, before they can grow their numbers once more. It would free our soldiers from having to worry about anything but the whitetail--"

"--and it would show the whitetail that we want to be rid of my sister's worshipers just as much as they do," Celestia finished for him.

"Indeed so, Princess. I'd say it's a solid idea."

"Legatus Shadowstrike, where is the single largest concentration of these followers located? Do we have any idea?"

"We do, Your Highness." He pointed to a spot just to the northwest of Evinwiir, tucked into the mountains that divided Whitetail in two. "Here, in the Midlands. There are smaller camps spread out in the area, but this one resembles a fort more than the ramshackle groups of tents and lean-tos than we've seen from the others. We've been unable to get close enough for accurate descriptions, but what I can tell you is that it's walled-in and difficult to assault from the front."

"Can we remove it by force?"

"We could remove the entirety of Whitetail's population by force if you wanted," Corinthius added. Numerically we have more than enough soldiers to mount an attack, even with the cycle of leave and reinforcements."

Celestia nodded. "In that case, I want this fort taken as soon as possible, but I do not want to simply throw bodies at it until it falls. We need to be smart about it."

"Leave that to me, Princess. I'll dig around and see what units we have in the area that could contribute their finest. Getting a cohort together will take a few days at the most."

"Very well, General. I leave it in your capable hooves."

"As you wish, Princess," Corinthius answered with a salute.

"Shadowstrike, I want as much information as you can get from your network. Numbers, species, fighting ability, anything you can find. Also, once the operation is under way, I want every soldier to be aware that there is a reward for anything that can lead us to better understand the cults, especially communication pendants."

"Of course, Princess. I am at your service."

"Thank you. If both of you would report back to me by nightfall, I would greatly appreciate it." Celestia bowed her head in respect as the others saluted, and they were soon on their way. Legatus Lentius looked up at her as the doors closed.

"And what of myself, Your Highness? Do you not require my services in this matter?"

Celestia trotted across the room and retrieved a small scroll, bound in red twine and sealed with an official stamp of yellow wax. "I have something special in mind for you, Lentius. A mission of the utmost urgency." As she approached him she lowered her voice and quickly looked around to make sure they were alone. "I need you to personally deliver this to Battle-Master Gilias of the 44th Legion. Do you know of her?"

"She is the griffon who fights with us on 'unofficial' terms, yes. If you need me to find her, Princess, then I will do so with all due haste."

Lentius was one of the fastest fliers in all of Equestria, and loyal to the end. If anyone could carry out the princess' orders, it was him. "Thank you, Lentius. There is a lot riding on this missive. No one else, no matter their rank, is to read its contents."

As Lentius departed, Celestia had to laugh at how strange the whole situation was. The head of the Royal Guard, tasked with delivering a message to a war-hungry griffon from Skytalon, so that the followers of her fallen sister would be brought to justice before they could harm the whitetail, who wanted nothing less than her head on a spike.

With any luck, things would soon be much simpler.

***

The twelfth of Winter's Wind was to be an important day for Equestria, and an especially important day for Battle-Master Gilias, for it marked the first time that an all-out offensive on the cult of Nightmare Moon would be launched. For months the followers of the fallen princess had been a thorn in the side of Equestria's war efforts, even going so far as to launch unprovoked attacks on settlements in Whitetail, Cerivdae and the western border of Skytalon.

The massed assault on Canterlot had been a wake-up call of sorts for the armies of ponykind; the capital had previously been thought to be nigh impregnable against all but the most determined of forces, but those who slayed Equestrian soldiers and citizens in Nightmare Moon's name were not of a traditional army. They had blended in with the crowds, trickled into the city in small groups, and when the time was right, they had struck. It was a costly lesson to learn for Celestia and her advisers.

Today, Battle-Master Gilias and her charges would see to it that the cults would never again grow to such strengths. Nearly five hundred of Equestria's soldiers had joined with seventy of the Legion's finest, led by the 44th under Gilias' temporary command. Together they marched north, around Evinwiir where a black-green cloud still hung in the air, toward the mountainous region that split Whitetail into two distinct land masses. Here, it was said, was where the Nightmare Moon worshipers had set up their own fortifications, a staging point from which to launch attacks on the surrounding area.

In truth, Gilias wondered if such a thing was really necessary while the war still raged. Why not let the cultists cause as much chaos and confusion for the whitetail as possible? They could always be dealt with later.

Celestia had apparently thought differently, hoping that the elimination of the threat to Whitetail's well-being would serve as a show of good faith and, perhaps, would extend an olive branch for potential negotiations.

Gilias both admired and pitied the pony princess for her idealism, but as long as they kept paying her, she would keep fighting whatever battles they wanted. The incentive of finding a certain bit of intelligence for the Princess herself, with the promise of a big reward for doing so, was a welcome one.

The Midlands, as the whitetail called it, was a cold and rocky place. In many ways it reminded her of Skytalon and its mountain homes, the perfect shelter from the biting winds that swept through the peaks and valleys. Of course, no one had thought to dig into the mountains out here, a fact she lamented as windblown snow stung her face like razors, her plumage doing little to keep the weather away. The large force behind her was not fairing any better, judging by the swears and grunts as they trudged up a series of paths that would eventually lead them to their battleground. Pegasi flitted by overhead, shielding their eyes and looking for any sign of the cultists. So far, it had been a quiet affair.

"Shame Victus isn't here," Steel Spark said behind her, his voice muffled by a cloth he had secured around his face, leaving only his eyes and the tip of his muzzle exposed to the elements.

"Why's that?" Gilias asked.

"Because then we could hear him bitching for once. He hates the cold."

Gilias smirked at the thought of the usually resilient pegasus cursing and grumbling at her side. He would have been useful for reconnaissance, at least, with that white coat of his. She had grown to enjoy the ponies as more than simple fodder, but she still questioned their choice of aerial scouts. One would think a bright green or pink speck would be easier to spot than one that blended in.

"Everyone hates the cold, Equestrian. Hell, I've lived in it nearly every day for my entire life, and I still despise it. Still, Victus could complain all he liked if it meant having his blade at our sides."

"Truth," Steel Spark agreed.

"At least he gets to be home for a while, the lucky bastard," someone else said. "Why him and not us?"

"Because leadership comes with its own perks. Besides, you know him -- I'm sure he objected to being one of the few sent away for a while. Probably raised a scene down at the command post."

Steel Spark stared at the cloudy sky with a wistful look in his eyes. "What I wouldn't give to be in my own bed, with a belly full of hot food and a beautiful mare at my side. Or between my legs."

Gilias gave a short laugh. "If you could find a bed, I'd let you fuck me right about now if it meant getting out of this weather."

"Is that an offer?"

"Prove yourself in combat today and maybe then we'll see. Be warned, however, that I have a very sharp beak, and I won't hesitate to use it should you prove...unsatisfactory. I will be the last female you ever fail to please."

The others around her laughed and sounded off with crude words.

"I'll hold you to that, Battle-Master."

"Heh. I bet you will, Equestrian."

A pegasus landed in front of her and saluted, his red cloak flapping in the wind. "Legionary Windshear reporting, Battle-Master!"

Gilias returned the gesture. "What have you got for me?"

"Myself and several others have spotted the encampment ahead, perhaps an hour's march from here."

"Right, at least we're going in the proper direction. Details?"

"We could not get an exact count of their numbers, I'm afraid. They have their own flying lookouts consisting of a few pegasi and several griffons, so we had to stay out of sight. Judging by the size and number of tents we estimate no fewer than six to seven hundred of the cultist scum. We will have the advantage of surprise on our side at least, Celestia willing."

The pony made a circle over his armored chest, the symbol of the sun. Unsurprisingly, there were those who believed the Princess to be a living deity. Gilias thought it heretical to put one's faith in anyone but the Emperor, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

"Anything else of note? Traps, ambushes?"

"If such things are present we could not locate them. Best be on your guard, just in case."

"My thanks for the information. Keep an eye out, and if you see them begin to move, let me know immediately."

"Yes, Battle-Master."

The pegasus took to the sky again, wobbling as a gust of wind temporarily threw him off balance. Gilias stood on her hind paws and raised a claw in the air. "Listen up, ponies! We're not too far out from the camp, so keep your heads on a swivel and report anything you see that looks like it could try to tear you a superfluous breathing hole! The path narrows ahead, so I want you to form up six across! Keep the cohort together! Centurions, relay everything I've said to your stallions, I don't want a single mistake on our way up! Understood?"

A chorus of shouts answered her. Satisfied, she led the way up the mountain pass, her claws itching to grasp her curved swords once more. It wouldn't be long until she could add more kills to her total. The Emperor would be proud this day.

***

It was early afternoon before the Equestrian force came within striking distance of the Nightmare Moon battlements. Gilias and four pegasus Legionaries crouched behind a ridgeline of jagged rocks, observing the enemy below. They were well-organized and well-armed, though none of them seem to be on particularly high alert -- mostly they milled around the camp talking with one another or carrying out mundane tasks, with one of them occasionally stepping just outside the fort's tall, wooden walls to pull materials from a supply cache located under a tall, snow-covered fir tree.

"Should we really be this close?" one of the pegasi asked.

"Relax, the sun's at our backs. No one's gonna see us up here unless we want 'em to." Gilias watched with interest as a trio of griffons consulted with a hooded pony, then took the sky and flew off to the east. Scouts? Runners? Difficult to say. "This place is gonna be a stubborn bitch to crack open. Walls are too steep for non-flyers to climb, so that's out of the question. Not enough flat land to support a large force, even if we did get them all up here. Looks like we really will have to assault it from the front." She grimaced at the thought. "We're going to take a beating before we can even get to the gates. There's practically no cover after the bend in the path."

"It does widen as we approach, at least," another Legionary said, pointing to the well-worn road. "If we can avoid a bottleneck we should be able to approach with minimal casualties."

"We just need the initial century to be a distraction for the others. Everything else will fall into place after that. Hopefully." Given the defenses she could see from her vantage point -- including several bolt-throwing siege contraptions -- she didn't envy the first wave's chances of survival.

She turned as a pony landed beside her and immediately crouched. "Battle-Master, the cohort is ready. Centurions Krastis and Thundershield report that their charges are in position and awaiting your command. As well, a detachment of pegasi are gathered below, as you requested."

"What about the arcanists?" she asked, alluding to Equestria's most powerful magic users.

"They will perform their part, but they need a clear line of sight before they can execute the maneuvers you ask."

"So everything is riding on getting those gates open," she said, more of a statement than a question.

"Yes, Battle-Master, it would appear so."

"Great." To say Gilias was apprehensive would have been putting it lightly. No plan survived contact with the enemy, so the saying went, and such a complex, multi-pronged attack relied on all of its parts working without fail. There was a lot of potential for things to go belly-up. "We need to make sure the ground pounders can get as close as possible without being spotted..." Gilias stuck out a claw. "You two, give me your body wraps."

The pegasi looked at each other, then her. "To what end?"

"Those flying look-outs will be the first to find us out. We need to remove them from the equation. Now, give me your damn clothing before I take it from you."

Begrudgingly they removed the warm, earth-colored lengths of cloth from their necks and hind quarters, shivering as a fresh wave of cold came over them.

"I thought you pegasuses were supposed to be more tolerant of the weather," she quipped as she secured the wrappings to her own body, covering up her Skytalon armor as best she could.

"Tolerant, not immune," one of them answered. "It's freezing up here, if you hadn't noticed."

"Stop your whining, you'll get 'em back soon enough. Now, watch my back."

With a powerful flap Gilias was airborne, keeping out of sight as she dipped between rock formations. She hovered in place as she looked around; there, above her, not too far ahead -- a pegasus wearing the dark blues and blacks of Nightmare Moon. Quickly she darted up behind the pony, pulling up alongside it. She let out a shrill whistle, causing the look-out to stumble through the air for a brief moment as he looked over in surprise.

"Brother, I may have found an interloper," she yelled over the blustering winds. The pony eyed her cautiously. "Will you come with me to check? Or would you like to explain to our brothers why you failed to perform your duties?" She was relieved when he nodded and fell in formation. Together they ducked behind a rock ledge, coming to a stop on an outcropping. "Just below us, down near the valley. Do you see it?" she asked, pointing at nothing in particular.

The pegasus held a foreleg to his brow and squinted against the snow. "I am not sure what--"

A curved sword took his head off in a single, clean strike, tumbling off the stony outcroppings below. Gilias kicked his body down after it and wiped the blood from her weapon. "One down."

A short time later she was airborne once more, continuing to fly a large, lazy circle around the edges of the camp. A few cultists looked up at her, but none paid her any particular attention -- except for a griffon who was flying its own patrol. Gilias waited until the follower was nearly at her side, then stopped and hovered in place with a wave of her claw.

"Hail, Sister!" she shouted above the wind. If not for the black-tipped plumage, Gilias thought, the griffon could have been a spitting image of herself. "The name's Gwinalin. Just got here a few days ago."

The other griffon stopped just before her and bowed her head. "Greetings, Gwinalin. I'm Gahltris of Mountain Home. I have not seen you around here."

"It's a big camp," Gilias shrugged.

"Indeed it is! You have heard the story of our Goddess' injustice, then?"

"I, uh, have, yes. It's truly something."

Gahltris smiled. "You still wear the armor of Skytalon? I know of some Equestrians who insist on doing the same."

"I do. Practicality comes first. After all, how am I to mock the Emperor and his servants without it?" Inwardly Gilias cursed for not covering herself better. Perhaps it was good fortune she'd come across another griffon, even if she was a traitor.

"Spilling blood in an affront to Skytalon's imperialistic ways? I can think of no better reason!"

"Yeah, that's what I figured. Hey, do you think you could come with me for a moment? I think I spotted a nonbeliever around here."

The griffon reached under her robes and produced a pair of curved blades that were decorated with the language of the Griffon Empire, the very same weapons Gilias herself had used for many years. She'd found another Battle-Master.

"If there are interlopers to be dealt with, Sister Gwinalin, then we shall do so together! You have much experience in battle, yes? Your scars speak to such things."

"I've been in a few," Gilias said. This wasn't going to be as easy as she'd thought. "So you'll join me, then?"

Gahltris crossed her blades, a symbol of coming battle. "I have not tasted my enemy's blood in many years, but I am eager to do so again. Lead the way."

For a moment Gilias hesitated, then cautiously flew beyond the watchful eyes of the camp below. Cold winds blew against her face as she tucked her wings in briefly to pass under an arch, watching Gahltris do the same with flawless precision.

"It is rare to find another griffon out here," Gahltris shouted. "From where in Skytalon do you hail?"

"Icewind Caverns," Gilias answered, rounding an outcropping. She just had to find somewhere to put down...

"Ah, Icewind! I know it well! I lived there for some time after the war with Whitetail! Strange that we now find ourselves here, isn't it?"

"Yeah, life's odd like that." Gilias hated the idea of killing another war veteran, especially one that had fought in the same conflicts she had, but she had little choice.

A patch of hardy grasses caught her eye as she approached a low rise. It would have to do.

"Just around here," she said, "I think I saw them!"

She turned to look behind her, only to have a curved sword slice into the black and blue leather armor. She squawked in surprise and immediately went for her weapons, but before she could reach them Gahltris was upon her, swinging a blade that would have taken her head off had she not slammed into the side of a sharp cliff.

One of Gahltris' swords was flung from her claws by the force of the impact, and together they tumbled down until they came to a rest next to the skeletal husk of a tree. Gilias had her talons dug into Gahltris' shoulder, but her opponent had done the same to her right wing. They were battered and cut from the fall, but the rush of adrenaline was more than a match for such minor injuries.

"Did you really think I'd buy into your ruse, Battle-Master Gilias?" the traitor laughed, swinging her remaining sword down. It dug into the rock beside Gilias' head. Too close. "I know who you are, coward!" She punctuated her words with swipes and stabs, only failing to land a killing blow thanks to Gilias' quick action in pulling a hidden dagger from under her wing. If she used all of her strength she could stop the curved blades from plunging into her neck, but just barely.

"You fucking traitor," Gilias spit back, trying desperately to reach for one of her swords. A strike dug into her armor and cut along her ribs, and she yelled out in pain and anger. She expected Gahltris to mock her, to tell her that she would lose her soul to Nightmare Moon, like so many of the others were fond of saying, but Gahltris was pragmatic in combat. She had just gripped the pommel of her sword when she felt a hammer blow against her skull, and her sight went blurry like she had drank an entire barrel of nectar wine.

Gahltris headbutted her again, and her sight threatened to fade to black. She flailed her arms in an attempt to save herself, but the weapon raised above her head started to come down no matter how hard she struggled.

Then something slammed into her side, sending Gahltris careening off the tree trunk. Confused, she looked up in a haze and saw Steel Spark driving his blade into the griffon's chest before pulling it out and hacking one of her wings into a bloody mess of meat and feathers. His assault was relentless, a torrent of gladius strikes that continued unabated as Gahltris squawked and shrieked and flapped her ruined wings in panic. For the first time, Gilias was impressed, and a bit terrified, by the brutality of an Equestrian's actions. She was glad it wasn't her on the receiving end of it.

After well over a dozen thrusts Steel Spark drew his blade across Gahltris' throat, then turned and delivered a buck so powerful that it crushed the griffon's face in with a sickening, wet crunch, spraying gore and bits of bone against the snow-covered tree. He stood in place for several seconds, breathing heavily, before putting his weapon away and turning to face Gilias.

"I have no sympathy for those who would harm my companions," he said plainly. Blood had dripped down his weapon and stained his mouth red, and he spat on the ground at the copper taste of his defeated opponent. "Well? Are we going to finish our tasks or aren't we?" He stuck out a hoof, and Gilias grasped it as he helped pull her up.

"Thanks for saving my ass," she said, tucking the dagger back into its sheathe. "It was stupid to let my guard down like that." She was sore and bloody, but she'd live. Steel Spark helped her pull a small medical bag from her hip, and together they bandaged her wound.

"It happens. At least that griffon won't be harming anyone else now."

Gilias could only look at the mutilated body for a second before turning away. "Yeah, no shit." A fresh wave of pain shot through her as they pulled one of the wrappings tight. "She said she knew who I was. Apparently I'm becoming pretty well-known among these darkness worshiping assholes."

Steel Spark looked her over. "Is that bad?"

"Just means I'll have to kill anyone who recognizes me." She managed a smirk despite the pain, which got a laugh out of Steel Spark.

"It's times like these I'm thankful we're not at war with the Griffon Empire."

"After what you did to that poor bitch, I'd say the same for Equestria." Gilias spread her wings out and flapped them once to make sure everything was in working order. "Two more flying scouts are around here. Watch my back?"

"As always, Battle-Master. Can't complain about the view."

She looked over her shoulder as she took to the air.

"Damned right you can't."

***

Not far from the Nightmare Moon camp, Centurion Sanctus waited impatiently for the signal to move out. Behind him, one hundred and four Equestrian Guard soldiers stood ready, armed and armored for the coming fight. He walked the lines and spoke briefly with each of them, reassuring them that they would live through the battle if they remembered their training and prayed to the gods.

In truth, many of them would die. Most of the soldiers under his command were raw recruits, fresh from Equestria -- replacements for the veterans who had been sent home to see their families. They would be the first to face the wrath of the foul cultists, their hastati leading the way for the more experienced combat troops in the second and third ranks.

There were four centuries in total, equaling over four hundred and fifty earth ponies and unicorns. All of the pegasi, over seventy in total, had already set out to join Battle-Master Gilias. The element of surprise would be their greatest strength.

"How fare your stallions?" someone asked, and Sanctus looked up to see Centurion Spearhead. The tall earth pony wore a blue crest upon his helm, similar to Sanctus' own, but with a stripe of gold running down the middle, marking him as a particularly brave leader for his actions in combat.

"Frightened, but eager. Yours?"

"Same, same." Spearhead jerked his head toward the narrow pass ahead, the final obstacle before the fort. "Not looking forward to rushing through such confines. If the cultists have archers or siege weapons aimed at it we'll be walking into a slaughter."

Sanctus nodded. "Not like we have much choice. We'll have to form up with the others once we clear it and pray the griffon woman and her pegasi can do their duties."

"And the arcanists. And the Legion soldiers attached to them."

Spearhead looked over the huddled, shivering ponies before him.

"One thing at a time."

***

Drying blood coated both of Battle-Master Gilias' weapons and seeped down her armor, making her look like some kind of crazed animal for everyone to see. She wouldn't have had it any other way.

"Everyone listen up," she shouted as she clung to a rock face just behind the crest of the hill nearest the fort. Eighty-two pegasi locked eyes on her. "Once we move out we're going to stay in tight formation. Move as you need to to avoid arrows, but stay together if at all possible. I know this is the first time many of you will be seeing combat, so stay with the Legionaries, they're good fighters. If you get confused, just look for the red crests. Got it?" A gust of wind threatened to blow her from her perch, and she scrabbled to keep her footing. "Fuckin' Midlands. Once we release our payloads," she tapped the twine-wrapped bundles at her side, "we'll land and start hacking those fuckers apart. Don't stick around in one place for too long; touch down, get a kill, and take off again. Your armor isn't as thick as the rest of the Guard, so don't count on it to stop a direct hit from a blade. In and out. We just need to sow enough confusion and chaos to get your little pony friends into the fort itself. Don't be a damn hero, or I'll lop your head off myself. Understood?!"

"Hah-ooh!" they answered as one.

"That's what I like to fuckin' hear!" She dramatically spread her wings open with a powerful flap. "Let's get to it, ponies!"

***

A low, reverberating horn echoed through the canyon, and was soon answered by a higher, shorter return. Sanctus raised his signal flag to the others: it was time. He looked up in time to catch the tail end of the flying formation darting by, low and fast, led by the indomitable griffon he'd heard so many tales about. Now, he supposed, he would see whether she could live up to them.

"Century, combat formation!"

With practiced precision his stallions formed up into three lines, then turned to face the narrow opening. If they could just get through, they would be in a good position to assault the fort.

"Shields up!"

The lines interlocked their tower shields to form an impenetrable wall. The time for battle was upon them at last.

"Advance!"

35 - In Search of an End

In the early morning light of a cold winter's day, Princess Celestia sat upon her bed, wrapped in layers of warm fabrics with a steaming cup of tea at her side. Before her, a spread of unrolled scrolls waited to be read; word from the attack on the Nightmare Moon camp in the Midlands. Initial reports told of victory, but at a heavy cost in dead and wounded. Of the five hundred Guard and Legion soldiers tasked with the mission, nearly two hundred had died, with another hundred wounded.

Celestia felt a knot in her throat at the unfortunate loss of so many lives. Were her advisers present, they would have told her that such things were simply the nature of warfare, and that her stallions had died fighting for what they believed in.

It did not make things any easier.

Setting aside the casualty reports, she instead levitated a scroll that was marked by two wings crossed over a mountain, the symbol of Skytalon. Curious, she pulled it closer. It was written in Equestrian, but the words were marked by the angular slashes and aggressive lines of griffon writing.

"To the pony princess," it started. Celestia raised an eyebrow at the informal language. Usually the missives she received were positively overflowing with flowery prose and pomp. "I'm not very good at this whole 'messages to royalty' thing, but your milk-drinking clerks said they'd deliver this to you if I wrote it. I'm sure you've received the reports already about the Midlands. Bloody fight, I can tell you that. We won, though, just like we always do, thanks in no small part to yours truly.

Anyway, I'm not writing you to fluff my own feathers, I wanted to pass on something I thought you might be interested in. Namely, it concerns Cervidae and the redtail."

'Interested' was right. It had been some time since the discovery of the true purpose of Elinwynn's pendant, and her apparent connection to Luna. What was the redtail Empress playing at? Without any further evidence, it was hard to say for sure.

"After we cleared the camp of darkness-worshiping scum sacks, we came upon what appeared to be a hidden room in the largest tent. Before we could investigate we were set upon by a trio of highly skilled magic users, all does: two whitetail and one redtail, the latter appearing to be a leader of some kind. Between the three of them we lost quite a few soldiers, but in the end they too fell before us.

After I got patched up, I got to thinking: why hadn't they been there supporting the main force of cultists? I had a look around that hidden room of theirs, and discovered a bunch of ashes and burnt scrolls in a fire pit. Orders, probably. I don't know from whom they came, but I thought you might. If I had to guess, I'd say they were counting on us not finding them before they could finish getting rid of the evidence. I've included a drawing of a symbol I found on the corner of one of the burnt scrolls, one of the few things that survived the fire. We found a few of those medallions, too, but they'd already been stomped into shattered bits. Oh well.

That's all I've got for now. I'll let you know if we find anything else. Emperor watch over you.

-Battle-Master Gilias"

Not finding an intact medallion wasn't of any great concern, now that Celestia knew what they did -- and whom they communicated with. She had no urge to speak with the thing that used to be Luna any time soon.

The symbol, however, piqued her interest.

The sketch Gilias had made was rough, but discernible, and appeared to show a whirlpool or vortex of some sort, with a stylized eye on either side. Something about it seemed familiar, but Celestia couldn't place her hoof on it. What did it mean, and why was there a redtail seemingly in charge of the whitetail arcanists in the middle of a Nightmare Moon camp?

Puzzled, she floated the scroll into a saddlebag and threw it over her back. If there were any answers to be found, the royal library would be the place to find them.

***

"This is a terrible idea, Victus. I want you to know that before we begin."

Victus hovered at eye level with Tercio, clad in his steel and gold armor, seemingly unfazed. For nearly two days he had tried to convince Tercio to let him help defeat this 'darkness' that so tortured him, but he had not had an easy time of it. Tercio had objected and argued at every available moment, reminding his brother that he had nearly killed the most powerful being in Equestria with his bare hands, despite her magic. Victus didn't care; he only wanted to help, and he would not hear otherwise.

"I'm a Legionary, Tercio. Terrible ideas are my specialty."

"This isn't a joke. Who is here to stop me if you can't?" Tercio motioned to the empty woods around them. A chill breeze rustled the barren branches that reached skyward like skeletal fingers covered in rime and day-old snow.

"I'll be fine, I promise. You may be agile and strong, but last I checked, you can't fly. I can just stay above you if I have to."

Tercio gave up with a sharp exhale. "Gods, you always were the stubborn one, I swear. Alright, fine. We'll do this. But I want you to swear to me that you won't let me harm you, do you understand?"

"Don't worry so--"

"Swear it, Victus!"

"Alright, alright, I swear. I won't let you tear my throat out! Now can we get on with it already? If we take too long Mother is going to worry herself sick. You know how she is."

Tercio mumbled to himself as he snatched a length of rope from the his rucksack, then passed it to Victus. "I don't know how we're supposed to snap me out of it once it's started. In the past I have had to be rendered unconscious, which is obviously too dangerous to rely upon -- for both of us. At times I've managed to resist its influence and become myself again, but never without some sort of traumatic experience. Just because I have not given in to it twice now, does not mean it will not emerge stronger."

Victus shrugged as he circled the tree Tercio had chosen to be tied to, wrapping the rope around his torso over and over. "I'll figure something out. And hey, we have your Luna sword if we need it."

"Nocturne," Tercio corrected him, jerking against the ropes. They didn't so much as budge. At least Victus seemed to know what he was doing in that regard.

"Right, Nocturne. We'll see what happens." Satisfied with his work, Victus landed with a squelching of wet soil. He just had to laugh at the sight. "When I received word that I would be on leave, I hadn't expected to spend it tying my brother to a tree. This isn't some sort of...thing you're into, is it? Because that would be a bit strange."

"Just do like we discussed, you ass," Tercio answered with a laugh of his own. It was so surreal; tied up in the middle of the woods by his own sibling, waiting for the inevitable loss of sanity that came with the onset of his affliction. It was too strange to not find some sort of humor in.

The smile faded from Victus' face as the reality of their situation set in. He finished tying a knot in the thick rope and said, "I hope this works."

"It will. I trust you." A pull against his bindings made sure he couldn't move. "Victus, if you are somehow unable to help me, if it looks like I will harm you or anyone else -- especially, gods forbid, Mother and Father -- I want you to promise me you'll do whatever it takes to stop me. Even if it costs me my life."

"It won't come to that," Victus said reassuringly.

"But if it does?"

"If it does, then...I'll worry about it then and there. But only if I absolutely must."

"Right, I'll take your word for it. We'll see what happens." It was suddenly quiet between them as Tercio steeled himself against what would inevitably be a traumatic experience for both of them.

"You ready?" Victus asked.

"I suppose I am," Tercio said nervously. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath of cold, clean air. Half-remembered scenes of battle played before him, foggy glimpses of violence and struggles. These, he knew, were the fragments of the times when he had fallen under the magic within his own body. Distant voices sounded all around him, snapping into clarity as he focused on them. He could hear the words of Alinalyys as she taunted him, both in her own language and Equestrian.

"Vala--Valadriix parn ind'wyyl," he said out loud, matching his mouth to the doe in his visions. The words were as clear as day, as if they'd somehow stuck with him since the attack near Canterlot.

Victus repeated the phrase back to his brother, just as they'd discussed, the foreign words feeling strange on his tongue. He had no way of knowing what they meant. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Strange, like...like I can't understand the words, but I can feel them," Tercio answered, his eyes still shut tight. "The doe who tried to take me away, she was the one who said that phrase. I can see her now just as plainly as if she were standing before me."

"And what do you 'feel' from these words?"

"It is hard to describe, but...a sense of purpose, as if I am carrying out an assigned task. It's so strong. Maybe...valadriix parn...Victus, untie me."

Victus cocked his head. "What?"

"Untie me, I can't do this if I'm--"

"Absolutely not. We had a deal, remember?"

"Untie me!" he shouted, jerking against the ropes that strained with his weight. He rested his head against the rough tree bark and shut his eyes once more. "I'm sorry. I just had the strongest urge to be free."

"Because of the words?"

Already he felt some small part of him giving in."Yes. Do you see the power they hold over me? Even the smallest of phrases alters my mind so."

Now he was back in the sparring ring, shortly after joining the Praetorians. Clashing steel flashed and glinted in his mind's eye, his opponents swiftly defeated one after another. Polaris matched him blow for blow, a stalemate of martial skill that caused murmurs of excitement from the others. "I'm ready, brother. Say the word."

Victus hesitated, taking a half-step back. He wanted to help, truly he did, but he did not know if he was ready to see the brother he'd grown up with in such a terrifying state as he'd been told. "Just give me a moment," he said, almost pleadingly. It was possible he would never speak with Tercio again if things went wrong. How would he possibly explain such a thing to their parents? Tears threatened to well up in his eyes, and he turned to wipe them away without being seen. "Alright. Let's be rid of this darkness within you, gods willing. I will not let you suffer under its grasp for a day longer."

***

The great halls of Canterlot's royal library never seemed to stop growing. Every time Celestia visited the old building there was a new book shelf or chest full of scrolls, and the further one walked into its depths the further back in time they were transported. Paper gave way to parchment, parchment to papyrus. Look hard enough, and ancient runes could be found etched into stone tablets. The entire history of the ponykind, preserved for the ages.

Unfortunately, its vast size made finding a particular piece of history difficult at times. Celestia pulled the note from her bag and looked at it once more, studying the symbol that looked so similar but continued to elude her. Nearly half an hour of fruitless searching had passed, full of stacked books and unrolled scrolls. It had to be recent history, she was sure of it.

Eventually she came across a stack of scrolls from over two centuries past, dusty and unused for countless years. They had been bound together with a tag that read "On the Status of Equestria and Her Neighbors - Hostile and Allied".

Hopeful, she levitated the scrolls over to a large table and spread them out before her. There were dozens of them, hearkening back to the earliest days of her rule, when her sister was still too young to join her on the dais. She'd been less than two hundred years old at the time, barely more than an awkward filly by the standards of her parents.

The first pair of scrolls turned out to be nothing more than stockpile statistics and storage availability. If nothing else, it was good to see that Equestrian grain production had not tapered in the last two hundred years.

After that came a lengthy, dry description of military formations and ceremonial pomp, presumably intended for the Royal Guard. Some of the names were still familiar, memories of proud service to the crown from stallions who had long since passed on to the next life. Their descendants likely had never heard of them, but Celestia could remember their faces like they had just stood before her. How many more names would live on only in records during her rule? How many more would she forget?

She shook her head and set the scroll aside. No point in worrying about such things for the moment.

Soon she came across a long length of parchment that had been stamped with the royal seal of the sun and moon. "The Armies of the Deerfolk, a Compendium". The old document was written in the same dry, official language as the others, but something was different: a set of intricately detailed symbols stretched along the top as a sort of index. They were as varied as the flowers in her garden, and sometimes nearly as beautiful. The deer had always had a penchant for aesthetics, from the sweeping curves of their homes to the glimmering crystal and marble towers of their capital. So, too, did their fighting forces share this trait; detailed quinn-blades crossed over segmented shields, raven heads against a backdrop of tall trees, geometric patterns that formed themselves into delicate frost sprays like a thousand windblown snowflakes.

And there, near the end of the stack of pages, she saw it: the symbol that had been sent to her all the way from the Midlands, deep within the heart of Whitetail. A pair of eyes, feminine yet firm, stared back at her, drawn in thin strokes of black ink. Between them, a cyclone of purple magic. She looked to the scroll, then to the missive from Gilias, making sure they were the same.

It was an exact match. She had seen that symbol before, long ago. Rejuvenated by the find, she levitated the information scroll before her and read the detailed print.

"9th Arcane and Ethereal Research Collective, Whitetail Primarus and associated legions. Formerly part of the 3rd Magii, the 9th Arcane is an offshoot of Whitetail's extensive studies into magical forces both in their lands and abroad.

Details on their operations and methodologies are limited, due to their insistence on individual units remaining mostly scattered and independent of one another. Evidence of cross-factional (Redtail and Whitetail) co-operation is limited, but given the level of magical prowess it is unlikely that such efforts are solely the focus of one or the other.

Recommend continued observation and infiltration, by order of General Plaesius Mercius and General Threshwheat, 2E 208."

A note was written under the text in red ink: "9th Arcane believed destroyed by Legion operations as of 2E 214. Destruction of the Second confirmed. All information gathering is hereby halted by order of Princess Luna, 2nd of the Court."

Celestia gasped. When had Luna ordered such a thing? It had been a dark time for Equestria and Whitetail, of that there was no doubt, but Luna had always consulted with her before issuing royal edicts, especially at such a young age. Who were the 9th Arcane, and why hadn't she been told of its connection to the Second? It seemed that Luna had known far more than she had let on, but she could not be sure to what end.

Something was going on in Whitetail, something very wrong. Luna, Nightmare Moon, the 9th, Elinwynn, Corvalix, the deer on both sides of the border...somehow they were all connected, pieces of an incomplete puzzle.

***

That night, Celestia dreamed of Luna for the first time in weeks. They stood in a clearing in the middle of the forest, clad in protective armor that left only their flowing manes and tails exposed. Dead and dying littered the ground, deer and pony alike.

At her side, Luna breathed heavily, her silvered plate dirtied by fresh blood that glinted in the moonlight. She was so young, so beautiful, but her innocence had been snatched away from her in a single day. Where once there was compassion and kindness, now only bitterness and resentment was left.

"It is done," dream-Luna said, her voice distorted as if carried on the wind. "We have slain the Second."

Celestia forced herself to glance at the shattered corpse laying at her hooves before quickly turning away with a sour taste in her mouth. So many lives lost, and for what? Where had it come from? Why had it chosen now to return?

"Are you alright?" Celestia asked in concern.

"We have succeeded where Mother and Father failed, sister. There is little more we could ask for. Our citizens may once again sleep without fear." Luna pulled the helm from her head and dropped it to the ground. "Shortly we shall begin walking among the dreams of Equestria's commoners. The sleeping mind does not lie, nor does it speak condescendingly in words couched in flowery platitudes. We grow weary of such things."

"They were scared, Luna," Celestia argued. "Can you really blame them? That is why they came to us."

Luna ignored her sister, yanking her sword from the body with a trail of white magic sheathed in sparkling midnight. "We cannot allow this to happen again, no matter the cost. Swear to me, dearest sister, that such a tragedy shall never befall Equestria again under our watch."

"You know I would do anything in my power to--"

"Swear it!" Celestia hesitated as her sister took a step forward and glared at her with barely-contained anger. "If we should find those responsible for this monster, we shall see every last one of them driven unto the blade!" Luna stuck an accusatory hoof against Celestia's armored chest. "Look around you, Celestia, and know that they died because you chose mercy! You are weak!"

With a start Celestia woke from her restless slumber, her heart pounding in her ears. She had not seen Luna in her waking hours for nearly a month, but now, somehow fittingly in a perverse way, she was tormented in her dreams. She clutched her pillow against her chest, and wished she could turn back time.

***

Tercio suddenly slumped, his head hanging loosely against his chest. Long seconds passed before he attempted to stand upright again, and as he did so it was clear that he was struggling against something. He grunted in pain and gritted his teeth, shaking with untold anger, but Victus saw that he was still himself for the moment.

"I can feel it inside me, like a sickness. It's so hard to...to focus."

It had been less than a minute since Victus had twice spoken the deertongue word to his brother. Watching him writhe in anguish against an unknowable enemy was something he didn't think he'd ever forget.

"What do you see?"

"Blood. Everywhere. And you, right there, so close...so weak. I could..." Tercio formed his hands into fists as he started to pull against the ropes, locking eyes on his brother like a hunting predator.

"Tercio?" Victus stepped back, terrified by what he saw. Tercio was straining so hard that the ropes were digging into his skin, drawing small drops of blood as they cut into him. It was a battle of the mind, and one that he was losing with every second. He fought with all of his might to escape his confines, his face now a mask of insatiable bloodlust and anger that sent a chill down Victus' spine. "Fight it, Tercio! You have to! You've beaten it before, don't let it control you!"

For a moment Tercio threw his head back against the tree trunk, shaking and convulsing as he tried to gain control of his own body and mind once more. His eyes snapped open, and for a brief time he spoke as himself in a strained, halting voice.

"The...the sword, Victus! Give..."

And then he was gone, lost to the darkness within once again. Victus hesitantly pulled Nocturne from a ring mount on his side, watching as it glowed with magical energy. It seemed to jerk forward on its own, nearly yanking itself from his mouth, fighting to be reunited with its owner.

Slowly he approached his brother, unsure if giving such a weapon to someone who was clearly not of his own mind was a good idea. But if it would help...

Tercio grabbed for him as he came close, pulling a trail of red hairs from the crest of his helm.

"Equestrii...fal'naas endwyyl!"

The deertongue words came from Tercio's mouth, but his voice was rough and harsh. Nocturne shook in Victus' grasp, almost struggling against him. Its hilt grew hotter until it burned like a heated forge, and he dropped it with a shout of pain, letting it tumble into the snow where it sizzled and steamed.

He was nearly in a panic as he removed his insulating winter garments and wrapped them around his forelegs, using the fabric as a barrier to pick up the sword. Cautiously he moved to closer to Tercio, noticing that the grip no longer seemed hot as it approached its owner.

"Take it," he said, keeping his wings out and ready to escape if he had to. "Take it!"

As Tercio made a frenzied grab for him, the fingers of his hand brushed against the silvered steel. For a time the madness in his eyes faded, and he inhaled sharply as he fought against himself. He quickly took the sword in his grasp, clutching it against his chest. He tried to speak but the words would not come to him, caught in his throat as he coughed and gasped for air.

The runes along Nocturne's fuller started glowing, subtle and faint, with the colors of the night. Soft white light soon joined it, starting from the pommel and working its way up to the tip of the blade. Then, all at once, the light shot back down through the sword and rushed into Tercio's hand, snaking its way up through his arm in dozens of tendrils of magical energy that almost seemed to be alive.

Victus could do little more than watch in disbelief as the light reached Tercio's chest and spread out, surrounding his heart. And then it stopped, as if it had hit a wall. Tercio spasmed with a pained choking sound, his body straining and shaking, and that's when Victus saw it -- the black mass that had begun to push back against the magic of Luna's sword. It was nearly incorporeal, a faint, smokey cloud of roiling fog that swirled and churned under his brother's skin like a storm cloud. It clashed with the light, enveloping and consuming it, and within moments it had spread to nearly his entire body.

Tercio was plainly in agony, tears streaming down his face. What could Victus hope to do? He shouted encouragement, but it felt like a hollow gesture against something as terrible and powerful as the force that had finally revealed itself.

Nocturne would not give up so easily. Soon it was wrapped in a coalescing sheathe of sparkling, glinting magic, almost blindingly bright, a beacon of pure energy that lit up the forest all around.

"I...I know what I have to do," Tercio said as the dark magic seeped into his eyes and distorted his voice.

"What do you mean? Tercio, what do you have to do?!" Victus stepped closer again, wishing desperately that he could do something, anything to help.

Resisting his own body, Tercio grabbed onto the sword with both hands, grasping it above the hilt, and flipped it over so that the tip of the blade was pointed at him. The dark force inside him knew what was coming, felt it stirring through his mind, and it sent a wave of pain through his body like a stream of molten metal. He yelled out in agony and retched onto the ground, but he would not give in, no matter how much it cost him.

"I love you, brother."

The last specks of white in his eyes dissolved into inky blackness, and with a shout he plunged the blade into his chest.

"No!" Victus leapt into the air and sliced the ropes away as a spurt of blood stained Tercio's lips and rolled down his chin. He struggled and twitched for a scant few seconds before falling to the wet soil, the color draining from his face with the bloodied point of Nocturne protruding from his back.

"Oh, gods! Tercio! Tercio!"

With the last ounce of his strength Tercio took a pained, choking breath, looking up at Victus with pleading eyes.

And then there was only the blowing of the wind through the trees, and the silence as Tercio fell still.

36 - Sacrifice

Victus stood over his brother with tears streaming down his face as blood pooled at his hooves and slowly froze against the hard soil. It had all happened so fast that it felt like a terrible dream. Tercio was gone, and yet he could not accept it. He would not accept it. There had to be something he could do!

Frantically he upended a small medical pouch. Bandages, healing salves and potions tumbled into the snow, and he searched through them with a desperate resolve. He just needed to find the small vials of powder, and then everything would be fine. He could still save Tercio.

"Hold on, brother," he said pleadingly as he uncorked the glass tubes. "Just hold on. I can stop the bleeding."

He wiped the tears from his eyes and mixed the grey and white powders together. They smoked and sizzled as they came in contact with the air, and as they began to ignite he slapped the mixtures over both sides of Tercio's sword wound. Nocturne -- that damnable blade that had been nothing but a lie -- had punctured just below the heart. Maybe it had missed it entirely. There was still hope.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this again. You can yell at me all you like when you're well."

Twin gouts of dark red flame spurted from the bloody entry and exit wounds, forming a seal of charred flesh that held tight against the steel of the weapon that still impaled Tercio's body. It was better to leave an arrow in than to rip it out, wasn't it? A sword could work the same way, he reasoned. If he could just get Tercio stabilized, he could get him to an apothecary.

Victus took his brother's head in his bloodied hooves, smearing dark crimson across his cheeks as he tried to wake him. There was so much of it on the ground, soaked into his clothing. More blood than he'd ever seen.

"It's okay, Tercio, I'm here," he said, his voice faltering. "Please wake up. You can't die here..."

He kept looking to Tercio's chest, hoping to see it rise and fall. There was only the stillness of death, the same look he'd seen so many times before in battle.

"Tercio!" Victus shook him by the shoulders as hard as he could and shouted in desperation. "Tercio!"

***

Darkness. Vast, unending darkness. As the sword plunged into his body and drained him of his very essence, Tercio fought against the black magic that had rapidly consumed him. Trapped within his own mind, trapped in a point between life and death, he watched the twisting tendrils overtake him like a wave crawling up the shore, warping his thoughts and feeding upon his agony. It clashed in great, thundering hammer-blows against walls of pure light, the last remnants of Nocturne's power.

A distant voice, as if carried on the wind, pleaded and begged, and he knew it to belong to his brother. He wanted to call out, to scream, but there was only blinding pain. The thing within him delighted at his misery and mocked him in unknowable tongues. Seconds felt like hours as he struggled to keep himself from slipping into the embrace of death -- or worse, losing himself to the power within once and for all. His will was strong, but he knew he was losing the battle.

Fight it, he thought, and heard his words echo around him. The light flexed and contorted to resist its foe. Fight it, Nocturne!

With every passing moment he could feel the darkness corrupting him, reshaping his mind to its own purposes. The hot, cutting bite of the sword spread through his body. Nocturne had shown him the way, terrible though it was, and he'd trusted it without apprehension. In the end, it seemed, not even that had been enough.

Now, as the last blur of consciousness slipped away, he wished only for a quick death.

Please, don't let me fall like Luna...

The light faded into a single point, infinitely small against the encroaching ocean of shapeless eternity.

He'd been so close.

***

Victus sat at his brother's side for a long time, unable and unwilling to leave him. He lost track of time as the sun started to set over the distant mountains, and only when it began to grow dark did he finally move from his spot. He stood up, weak and defeated, a pile of bloodied bandages and spent medical supplies at his hooves.

"How am I supposed to explain to Mother and Father what happened here?" he asked quietly. "I just...I don't know what to do. I hate the gods for taking you from me."

He stepped around to Tercio's head and lifted him by the shoulders, straining as he slowly pulled him away from the frozen patch of red that had stained the earth and snow. It would be well past dark before they were within sight of home.

"I'm not going to leave you here for the beasts, no matter how long it takes."

Tercio was heavy in his grasp, and he was so exhausted. He did not even have the strength to cry anymore. The minutes dragged on as he continued to pull his brother, turning to hours. Frequently he had to stop and catch his breath, but still he would not give up.

Here and there he passed familiar places; a clawed, ravaged stump of a tree where he and a teen-aged Tercio had nearly run into a manticore, saved only by a passing rabbit drawing the creature's attention.

A clearing that had served as a secret meeting place, a refuge from the mocking, cruel words of the other young school children.

A pitted and pock-marked old evergreen, a remnant of the first time their father had taught them to use a bow and arrow. Victus had missed the target completely for his first dozen attempts; Tercio could hardly nock the arrow without it slipping off the string and smacking him in the face.

"I never did ask if your aim had improved," Victus said with a weak laugh and a lump in his throat.

A short time later he found himself in a rocky clearing, the ground too rough and craggy to easily drag Tercio through. Every bump and jostle clanged the tip of the royal sword still embedded in Tercio's body against the ground. It did not take long for Victus to realize he would not be able to continue without removing it. As well, he did not want to have to present his brother's body to his parents with a bloodied sword lodged in it. It would be hard enough to face them already.

"Forgive me for this," he said as he placed his hooves around the hilt of Nocturne. To his surprise it did not burn him, or try to move away from his grip. It simply reflected the pale light of the moon, just another sword that had lost its owner.

He gave a firm tug and lifted up, but it would not budge. Again he tried, pulling with all of his strength, but succeeded only in lifting Tercio's back from the ground by a few inches.

As he released the sword with a swear, something caught his eye. The large sapphire embedded into the pommel had caught the moonlight and begun to glow a strange, almost imperceptible blue. He stepped back, and Victus saw that the moonlight itself seemed to be focused into a thin beam that penetrated the cover of the bare branches overhead.

There came a faint sound, like distant chimes, and he found himself unable to look away from Nocturne's form. The soft tinkling swirled around him, ethereal and delicate, and at the very edge of his hearing he swore he could make out a voice lost on the wind. What was it Tercio had said? The sword was attuned to him, alive with unknowable magics. It was only natural that it would now mourn the loss of the one it had fought with.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, feeling strange at the thought of speaking to a weapon. "I tried, but...it was beyond my abilities. He's gone." Hearing his own words felt like a hammer-blow to his heart. Tears streaked down his face and matted his bloody, dirty coat. "I'm so sorry."

Once again he grasped the sword between his hooves, feeling the cold metal thrum with energy, and pulled with a strained grunt. It would not budge even the smallest distance. Frustrated and overwhelmed by grief, he leaned against the blade, resting his head against the pommel, and closed his eyes. The winds of the forest comforted and caressed him, and in that moment he wished he was a colt once more, running through the woods with his brother, free of war and evil and spite.

Victus.

The distant voice snapped into sudden clarity, caring and feminine. In an instant he collapsed where he stood, splaying on top of Tercio's body. He did not feel the runners of pure magic streak through him, cradling his thoughts like a mother embracing her child, nor did he witness Nocturne shining a beacon of light skyward. He felt, and saw, only darkness.

***

It was, to his mind's eye, an endless expanse of nothing. Darker than any night, a void of impossible distance, yet claustrophobic in its confines. Victus felt his heart gripped with fear. Had the force inside Tercio somehow managed to consume him as well?

Slowly, he grew aware of a great battle that was being waged within this strange place, powerful forces of good and evil, light and darkness, and he knew with absolute clarity that some part of Tercio yet lived -- but he was losing, and not even the magic of Luna's sword could resist the darkness forever. Nocturne had brought him here, wherever here was, in a moment of desperation.

There came a sensation of warmth and comfort as powerful magic swept over him like a blanket of pale moonlight, and he gave himself willingly to it, watching it grow and strengthen with every moment as it fed off his determination.

The love of a sibling. A struggle against corruption. Never again.

The voice floated around him, so familiar in its tone. Before his eyes he saw himself bowing to Princess Luna, clad in the basic uniform of an Equestrian Guard. It had been years since that day, and yet, he could recall everything she had said. Nocturne spoke to him in that voice, reached into his past and found the once-loving face of its first owner.

It still remembered, still longed to be reunited with her. But it had been unable to stop her fall from grace. It would not let Tercio suffer the same fate.

Never again.

His incorporeal form was given shape in a flash. He was taller, stronger than he'd ever felt, and with it came a great resolve. He looked down at himself as the tendrils of light formed into ancient runes that covered his skin and trailed from his wings. Victus would be the instrument of Nocturne's will.

But the darkness was not idle. It roared and lashed out with immaterial barbs from all sides, a twisting mass of smoke and pitch. A barrier of light formed over him in an instant, scorching and burning the creature wherever it touched.

Victus raised a hoof, and a wave of magic shot out into the vast expanse. His ethereal body reacted instantly; he needed only will it, and it happened.

Nocturne wordlessly guided him through the nothingness, staving off attacks again and again, lashing out with blades of light and powerful spells. The darkness was scared. Victus could sense it. It only made him stronger.

A massive pillar of oily flesh towered over him, then came crashing down with a force to rival the most powerful magics ever witnessed in Equestria. Victus dashed to the side with a flap of his wings, tearing it in half with a thought before it roiled away.

A terrible roar sounded from everywhere at once, as loud as a thunderclap, and then it was before him: a black, churning shape that twisted into itself, like a ball of writhing snakes. It grew and contorted until it took on a vaguely human shape, and from its arms came a rush of dark liquid. It plowed into Victus like a tidal wave, tossing him end over end as thousands of shapeless mouths sought to break through his defenses, screaming and screeching as they were repulsed by Nocturne's might.

Victus focused and sent out a shock wave that turned them to ash. This new power was beyond anything he had imagined, the strength of a demigod, a mighty weapon for an equally mighty being. And now it was using him to exact vengeance against the evil that had so corrupted Luna, and was now seeking to do the same to his brother.

He felt a growing rage at the grief it had caused him, the feeling of hopelessness and desperation as Tercio had died in his arms, and with a shout he darted forward on wings of light, so fast that everything became a blur. The darkness had thrived on anger and hatred, and now, Victus swore, it would be destroyed in kind. He smashed through the torso of the massive creature, showering viscous ooze into the netherworldly abyss, then sliced through its arm with a blade of magic. In and out he moved, twisting around it, stabbing into it with unbelievable speed as he let Nocturne take control of his body. They were one, joined in their resentment of Tercio's tormentor, desperate to save him.

With precise movements he removed great chunks of its body and smashed through its tendrils, sending out magical torrents that crushed it like battering rams.

The darkness retreated, reshaping itself, and turned into a great maw and swallowed him whole, wrapping around him with crushing force. Tighter and tighter it constricted, cracking the shield of light and burning his body in a final attempt to destroy him. Victus cried out in pain and burst from the creature's form, flying away with faltering flaps. The briefest touch had drained him immensely, and for the first time he feared what would happen to him.

But then he heard the voice once more. It sounded weak, but it implored him to carry out one final act of defiance. It would be their -- and Tercio's -- only hope.

I understand, he said in his thoughts, seeing the moment play out before him like a premonition. Thank you, Nocturne.

As he bowed his head he felt an immense welling of power build from within, growing and strengthening until he shone like a great beacon in the night. The darkness was coming for him like a devouring worm, and he took off like a bolt of lightning, straight into its monstrous embrace, letting himself be taken to its very center. The agony was indescribable, and he was sure his very being would be torn apart if even another moment passed.

And there, just out of reach, was the battered apparition of Tercio, floating motionless as hundreds of writhing blades pierced his body. With a surge of might he pushed through the pain and grasped Tercio in his forelegs, purging the darkness from his body.

A blinding flash and countless beams of light pulsed outward in all directions. He would not fail.

Never again.

***

Victus awoke with a pained gasp and retched onto the ground. He struggled to get to his hooves, but he was more exhausted than he'd ever felt in his life, and he could only weakly lift his head. The sword lodged in Tercio's body was glowing pure white, casting its magic in all directions. For a brief moment he wondered if he'd imagined the entire thing.

Then a wave of force sent him flying back, skidding along the ground and tumbling through the snow, before coming to a rest in a heap against a dead tree. Dazed, he turned a hopeful eye to his brother.

The sword was floating above Tercio with its point downward, no longer slick with blood, and Victus had to shield his eyes against its shining brilliance. With a loud shearing of metal he saw a crack form at the pommel, then expand down to the hilt, where it branched off a dozen times. The light faded, slowly, as the sword of Luna lost its silvery sheen. Its runes glowed once, then died, as they were torn asunder by the shattering weapon.

The weapon crumbled into pieces of magical steel, then turned into glittering dust, scattering into the night on a gust of wind.

Victus dragged himself along the ground, every inch of his body aching. Tercio wasn't moving. He tried to call out, but he could manage no more than a whisper. He collapsed beside his brother, his body unable and unwilling to go any further, and slipped into unconsciousness -- just as Tercio took his first breath.

37 - Nascor Furiosus

It was still dark when Victus awoke to the cold touch of falling snow. He winced as he pulled himself up, his body aching and his tired mind struggling to gain a sense of where he was. Then he heard it: the rasping, strained breath beside him.

"Tercio?" He stepped closer, hardly able to believe his eyes. Tercio was alive.

The night's events came back to him in a flash -- the anguish of watching his brother seemingly take his own life, the long hours dragging him through the forest. Then he'd been drawn into some place, dark and foreign to anything he'd experienced before, a vessel for Nocturne's will as it fought against the darkness that had sought to enslave Tercio's soul. And he'd won. Nocturne had given everything to see the foul corruption destroyed once and for all.

He could hardly believe it himself. There were so many things he didn't understand, but none of them mattered at that moment. Tercio was drawing breath once more. Tears rolled down his face, except now they came from relief and elation.

But Tercio was not out of danger yet. Though he was alive, the strain of his struggle had clearly taken its toll. His breathing was labored, and Victus knew everything would be all for naught if he froze to death in the winter air.

Thinking quickly, he dragged Tercio under the cover of an uprooted tree, then removed his red cloak and wrapped it around him. It would have to do for now.

"I will return as quickly as possible," he said in an unsteady voice as he straightened out his wings, swallowing back a lump in his throat. "I am going to need help if you are to survive once more." For a moment he hesitated, watching the rise and fall of his brother's chest. An ugly, jagged scar had formed formed over the sword wound, and dried blood still stained his face and arms. How was he going to begin to explain such a thing? "I...I hope you'll forgive me for dragging Father into this."

With a powerful flap Victus took to the air, taking only a heartbeat's time to find his bearings, and with his destination in sight he flew faster than he'd ever flown in his life.

***

Roughshod was still awake when Victus pushed open the door, the sudden intrusion causing him to jump out of his seat in surprise. His son stood in the doorway, breathing heavily, and he quickly trotted over to his side.

"There you are. Your mother was worried sick, you know how she is. Asked me to stay up and--" Only then, in the dim candle light, did he notice the dark streaks of crimson covering Victus' face and armor. "Is...is that blood? What happened to you? And where's Tercio?" he asked in concern.

Victus leaned against the wall to catch his breath. "Father, I need you to...come with me. Something's...happened."

"What do you mean? What is it?" Roughshod asked as he hastily threw on his winter coat and grabbed a small pack of medical supplies. He'd pulled his boys out of trouble on more than one occasion when they were young and reckless, but he'd never imagined having to do so now. What was so drastic that Victus would abandon his brother? A dozen things came to mind at once, none of them reassuring.

"I can explain on the way," Victus said after taking a drink from his flask. "If we hurry, we can be there in half an hour. Tercio needs our help, and bad."

Roughshod swore under his breath. "Alright. Your mother should be fine by herself for now. Which way is he?"

"Due east, through the woods." Victus quickly grabbed a small stack of blankets from a storage closet as his father took a torch from its sconce just outside the door. The night was cold and biting, and the wind blew stinging snowflakes against his face. He looked into the distance, into the dark expanse of untamed forest. Somewhere out there, his adoptive son was in danger, and he'd be damned if he was going to let anything happen to him.

"I'll follow you," he called above a chilling gust. "And Victus? I want to know everything, ya understand?"

***

It took longer than expected to return. Roughshod was not a young stallion anymore, and it was slow going through the snow. Along the way, Victus had told him all he knew about Tercio's strange condition; the trigger words, the "darkness" that had been inside him for so long, the sword gifted to him by Celestia, even the strange place he'd been taken to, a place of the mind deep within the subconscious.

Roughshod could barely manage a word. Silently he cursed himself for not being more diligent, but none of the warning signs had been there. How could he have known? Tercio had seemed like a perfectly normal, if different-looking boy for his entire childhood. Luna's fears had proven to be unfounded, much to his relief. But now it seemed she had been right from the very start.

He prayed that whatever Tercio had done to save himself had truly worked. If the power within him still lingered, he did not think he could stand to see his son that way.

At a half-gallop, the fastest his tired old legs could carry him, it took nearly an hour to find the right place. Victus had flown above the bare tree tops and returned with a hopeful shout. Bracing himself, Roughshod stepped around an old, dead tree, the torch at his side casting long shadows and an orange glow against the dark forest.

There, wrapped in Victus' cloak, was the bloodied figure of his adopted son. With a look of horror he rushed to Tercio's side and cradled his head, lifting his upper body from the cold, snowy ground. Tercio's hair was matted with dirt, and his tunic was stiff with dried blood.

"Oh gods, my poor boy," Roughshod said in a wheezing voice as an overwhelming sadness took the breath from his lungs and sent tears down his face. As terrible as Tercio looked, he was, at least for the moment, still breathing, but the sound that escaped his lips was wet and ragged, and his skin felt cold to the touch. "It's okay, I'm here now. I'm here." He removed the torch from his saddle-sconce and set it down on a nearby rock. "Here, this'll keep you warm. Stay with me, boy. You hear me?"

Calling upon his years of military training long passed, he patted down Tercio to check for fresh blood, relieved to find none. The sword wound had healed itself, by some miracle, but something was still wrong. "Victus, I need you to do something for me," he said as he unrolled a blanket and place it on the ground, then carefully dragged Tercio on top of it.

"Of course, Father. Anything you ask," Victus said.

Another blanket went over top of the Legion cloak. It wasn't perfect, but it would hopefully keep Tercio from freezing anymore than he'd already endured. "Bridle Falls is about an hour's flight from here, if you hurry. There's a permanent Guard station there. Find Centurion Spring Hearts -- he's a pegasus, like you -- and tell him to bring four stallions and an apothecary sky wagon as quickly as possible. Have him follow you back." A small bit of color blanched Tercio's face now that his body was beginning to warm, but his breathing was still labored and unsteady. "Tercio needs more help than we can provide him. Do you understand?"

Victus nodded, already removing his bulky armor so that it wouldn't slow him down. "I'll return as quickly as I can," he promised.

"I know you will, son. Now go! Go!"

In a heartbeat Victus was off, taking off into the night like a javelin. Roughshod watched him until he was he out of view, then turned back to Tercio. He stroked the short hair of his head and wondered what he could have done to stop it from ever happening. The thought of his boy taking such a desperate action ate away at him, and he sobbed to himself in shame. "I'm sorry we never told you. How could we? It was our greatest fear, losing you to that damned corruption, and we thought if we never brought it up, then maybe it would never happen. But here you are," he said. "Just hold on. We'll get through this."

***

"Good news for once, Your Majesty. It appears that clearing out the Nightmare Moon camp in the Midlands was a success. We've even been receiving gifts from the local whitetail in that area as thanks for ridding them of the threat." Legatus Lentius strode over to the map with a proud bounce to his step. Celestia hadn't seen him so pleased since the start of the war. "With their hub destroyed, the cultists will be scattered and easier to finish off. Victory is in sight." He smiled to himself. "Feels good to say that."

"Let us hope you're right," Celestia said as she gave a final burst of magic to set the sun on its gradual course across the morning sky. She hadn't even had the time to drink her morning tea before she'd been called to the war room. "Now if only we could get Whitetail's government to speak with us again," she muttered after a yawn. She wished the deer weren't so damned stubborn and proud. How did they possibly think they could still win the war? What was left of their army was hiding within Evinwiir's walls -- walls that had nearly fallen thanks to the emerald flame explosion. It was chaos inside and out for the poor people of Whitetail.

"Shadowstrike tells me his spies have picked up words of dissent from some of Whitetail's citizens. It is spoken of only in hushed tones, lest they face retribution by the overzealous leaders, but it's there. If we can kindle that small flame of rebellion...who knows? It is an unfortunate fact that Evinwiir is locked up tighter than Skytalon's gold coffers. Travel into and out of the city is tightly controlled. But I'll see what I can do."

Celestia nodded. "It's certainly worth trying. And what of the redtail involvement in all this?"

Lentius could only shrug. "Despite following up on our leads from the encampment, it's hard to say. Personally I don't trust the Empress as far as I can throw her, but there's been no outwardly hostile signs from them. We've found scattered redtail assisting the cultists, but there's also been zebras, griffons, and Saddle Arabians. It could just be that Luna's reach is broader than we thought."

Celestia wasn't so sure. Her research had led her to the 9th Arcane, an old, seemingly defunct branch of Whitetail's magical studies. If the 9th was active once more, a lot of lives on both sides of the border could be in serious danger, especially if they were being covertly funded and led by Cervidae. And if they found Tercio...

"We can't take any chances. Shore up the western edge of the border with Whitetail. Call upon reserves if you must."

"Of course, Princess, as you wish," Lentius said. "But if I may ask, what information do we have to act upon? Resistance on the western flank is light. Most Whitetail reinforcements come from the east, near the sea."

"I know, but I am preparing for a worst-case scenario," she clarified. "Corvalix may seek to finish off Whitetail himself, either under Elinwynn's command or as his own initiative."

"You really think he'd do that?" Lentius asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I wouldn't put it past him. Everything I've learned about him tells me that he is someone who can only be trusted to not be trusted. He could charge across the border, destroy Evinwiir, and claim Whitetail for Cervidae. That's why I need troops in the area. His grudge is with Whitetail, just like his sister, and their parents before them, going back generations. He has a chance to finish them once and for all."

Lentius rubbed his chin as he considered the map. "I suppose it makes sense. Very well, we'll divert some of our soldiers to the western flank. If we can stop Cervidae from slaughtering their cousins, we'll have done something right."

In truth, it wasn't Whitetail that Celestia feared for, but her own nation. So many things had pointed her in Cervidae's direction; the Nightmare Moon communication medallion that matched the one given to her by Elinwynn. The powerful doe overseeing the Midlands camp. The captive, Alinalyys, who had spoken of Brother-General Corvalix as if he acted without care for the consequences, and the apparent reformation of the 9th and its connection to the dark times of The First and The Second. If she could take small comfort in anything, at least, it was that there would not be a Third. Not while she still lived.

With a knock on the door frame Legatus Stonewall bowed his head and entered the room. He had that look about him, the one that said "you're about to hear something you'd rather not." It was unmistakable.

"Excuse the interruption, Princess, but there's something -- or rather, someone -- you need to see. They just brought him in to the head apothecary's surgery room. I think you'll want to be there."

Somehow, Celestia already knew who it was.

***

The room smelled of bitter potions and earthy salves as Celestia entered the doorway, and she could only give a groan of worry as her fears were confirmed.

In the center of the room, Lead Apothecary Lifeline stood over the unconscious form of Tercio, his horn aglow with silvery magic and his eyes shut tightly in concentration. To either side a pair of aides kept their hooves against his waist, channeling their own power to sustain his in a trail of sparkling energy, as a glow slowly moved through Tercio's chest.

"My Princess," someone said, and Celestia saw Legionary Victus bow his head with a foreleg over his chest. He looked ragged, with sunken eyes and a matted coat. Specks of red and brown dirtied his short-cut blonde mane.

Celestia was lost for words. Tercio had seemed to be recovering quickly before he left to see his family, and now he was motionless on an operating table. She cautiously approached him and touched his bloodied arm with her hoof, watching the rise and fall of his chest to be sure he was alive.

He had been stripped to his undergarments, his clothing tossed into the corner in a pile, and for the first time she saw the extent of the toll his military life had taken on him. Large scars slashed across his upper arms, waist, back and shoulders. Rough, discolored skin from cauterized wounds stood out in pinkish-red reminders of battle. And directly over his chest, still darkened by dried blood, a wide slit had been covered by fresh scar tissue.

The sight of it brought tears to her eyes, and for once she did not try to hide them.

"Do not give up on him yet, Princess, for he is stronger than you think," Lifeline said, never breaking his concentration. "I'm afraid I must ask you to step back, however, else your life force may interfere with the procedure."

Victus approached with a respectful dip of his head. "Your Highness, if you'd join me outside? I imagine there is much you do not understand. I will try to answer any questions you have." He saw her hesitate still, reluctant to leave Tercio's side. "I have been here with him since we arrived. I want to be here if -- when -- he awakens, truly I do, but there is nothing more we can do for him right now. Come, you will only make yourself worry."

Regretfully, Celestia let go of Tercio's arm and touched her horn to his forehead. I am here for you, she thought, not knowing if he could even hear her in his mind.

With a final look she turned and left, her heart heavy. She'd been so busy for the last week, so caught up in the war and the upcoming holiday preparations, that she'd hardly given him more than an occasional thought. Now, she realized, she might never speak with him again.

"Tercio and I's mother and father are on their way," Victus said, leading Celestia to a side room where they could speak in privacy. "Once it was clear that Tercio had to be moved to Canterlot, Father decided it would not be fair to keep Mother in the dark. Centurion Spring Hearts, a Guard officer, agreed to fly them out here as soon as he could find another sky wagon. I imagine it won't be long before they arrive." He motioned for Celestia to sit on a pile of cushions, and took his place across from her. "I told Father everything I know, but I fear Mother would not take the news well. She is probably a distraught mess even now."

It was quiet for a time before Celestia finally found the strength to speak. "Victus...what happened?"

Victus frowned. "If I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure, even now. But I will try to explain to the best of my ability." He drew a deep breath, watching the sun slowly rising over the mountains, and prepared to tell the tale for the second time that morning. Even to his own ears, it was still unbelievable.

***

Three hours came and went before Roughshod and Glimmering Grace finally arrived, still flecked with snow from the ride over. Celestia stood aside as Victus helped his mother down from the wagon and adjusted the scarf around her neck, then gave her a comforting embrace as she bawled into his shoulder.

"Princess," Roughshod said, briefly dropping to his knees before her. On his back he carried a bag with Victus' discarded armor and cloak. Victus hadn't had time to retrieve them before leaving with Tercio.

"It's been a long time, Roughshod. Please, stand, there is no need for such formalities."

"Thank you. What's it been, five years? Somethin' like that." He looked over his shoulder at his wife, who was only now able to make her way over. "I couldn't just leave her at home, not when our boy's hurt like this. How's he doing?" he said quietly, stepping to the side for privacy. "If he's in bad shape, I don't want Grace to see him."

Celestia maintained a hopeful smile for the sake of the aging mare, just in case she was watching them. "Outwardly he's fine. They've washed the blood and grime from his body, and he has no open wounds, but he's still bleeding internally. Our finest apothecary is using his magic to mend and heal Tercio as best he can, but...I honestly don't know."

"Suppose it's better than the alternative. I'm guessing Victus told you about what happened?"

"Yes he did," Celestia said. "We always knew something like this could happen, but to see it going to such an extreme is beyond anything I'd imagined. I still don't understand why the corruption waited so long to reveal itself."

Roughshod could only shrug. "I'm just glad he's alive, Princess. I, uh, I had to tell Grace what happened. I couldn't just lie to her face. I spared her the full details, of course, but she knows he tried to take his own life to stop that...that thing inside him."

"Using the sword I gave him," she said, saddened at the thought of Luna's personal blade sacrificing itself to save Tercio. It had been bittersweet to hear Victus tell his story; even though Tercio was alive, it was one less thing she had left to connect her to Luna. Another piece of her sister had died.

"I'm not one to believe in destiny, but it seems to me that our boy wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. You've saved him yet again."

"I hope so," she said solemnly. Grace was just approaching the medicae building doors when Celestia bowed to her and smiled warmly. She looked tired and weakened by worry. "Thank you for coming, Grace. I know Tercio would want you to--"

"You should have told him!" the elderly mare snapped between sobbing gasps, placing a hoof over her chest. "We should have told him! All this time we've been hiding the truth from our boy, and look where it's got us!"

"Come now, dear, there's no need for that," Roughshod said. "We're all upset by this, but--"

"But nothing! It isn't right, Rough! He...he could die on that table! We could have prevented this if we'd just told him!"

At her side, Victus had a plain look of confusion. "Told him? Told him what?"

Roughshod had been dreading this moment for a long time. How could he even begin to explain? He rubbed his temple with a hoof, carefully choosing his words. "Look, son; we had to keep some things from the both of you. It was for your own good."

"My own good?" he said incredulously. "I watched him die, Father! I held him as the very life drained from his body and his heart stopped! I dragged him through the forest for hours, sure that I'd lost him forever, and you'd dare say that was for my own good?"

"Of course not. I know you're upset, and you have every right to be, but I would ask you not to twist my words so."

Victus paced in place, hardly able to believe what he'd heard. "I knew about the darkness," he said as he approached his father. "Tercio told me about it. And when I told you what had happened, on our way to save him, you remained silent. You...you knew about it all along, didn't you?"

Roughshod cast his gaze at the ground, ashamed. There was no point in hiding it now."...Yes. Your mother and I, we've known since the very first day. So has the Princess. We decided, as adults, that from that day we would do everything in our power to keep Tercio safe, because it would keep you safe as well. But it couldn't last forever."

From behind them, Princess Celestia finally spoke up. "Victus...your brother is very different from the rest of us."

"That is the most obvious thing I've heard all day, Princess," Victus said with a bitter laugh, fully aware he was crossing the line with his words, but not finding it within himself to care at the moment.

"I do not just mean in a physical sense. Haven't you ever wondered why he is the only one of his kind?"

"Of course, but I've always been told he fell from a star -- or has that been a lie as well?"

"Hey, watch your tone with the Princess," Roughshod said as Victus walked off.

"No, it's fine, I know he doesn't mean to be disrespectful," Celestia insisted. She gave Victus a moment to calm himself, letting him walk around the small garden as he muttered to himself. Grace played with her scarf nervously, her eyes reddened by drying tears.

"Princess, we have to tell him. And we have to tell Tercio when he wakes up. There's no going back from this point."

Celestia watched Victus struggling to come to terms with everything that had happened in the last day, her mane billowing in the morning breeze. Thirty-two years ago she'd been in this situation with a younger Roughshod and his wife, with a strange, innocent child wrapped in a blanket lying on the grass before them, and a small colt at their side. All these years later, they still wanted to protect him, to give him a chance at a good life. She owed it to them to be honest with Victus, and, should it come to pass, Tercio.

"Very well. I suppose we couldn't keep it from them forever."

***

Equestria did not simply stop because of one mare's worries, no matter how important she might have been. There were still meetings to be held, battles to be planned and reviewed, and diplomats to meet and greet.

The day passed slowly for Celestia, cold and bitter as it was. Keeping an optimistic smile and air of confidence, no matter how she truly felt, had become second nature after so many years of practice, but even her advisers could sense that something was wrong. They hadn't asked, far too polite to do so, yet she could see it on their faces as they spoke to her.

Roughshod and Grace had remained in the medicae building for the entirety of the day and into the early night, refusing to leave for longer than it took to eat a quick meal.

Victus had been an entirely different case. When Celestia and his parents had sat him down and told him everything they knew, he had been furious. He'd thrown out harsh words and accusations, and they let him have his anger, for they knew it would soon pass into acceptance. Even still, he had stated that he could not sit idle and wait like the rest of them, and eventually he found a visiting Legion unit to train with for the day. He would return when he was ready, his mother had told Celestia.

It was late in the evening when Stonewall knocked on Celestia's door, interrupting her letter to the griffon Emperor. Wrapping herself in a loose, comfortable shawl, she tugged the door open with her magic and offered a tired smile.

"Hello again, Stonewall," she said.

"Princess," he bowed. "How fares your night?"

Celestia motioned to her writing table. "Busy as usual. At least it keeps me occupied. With all the stress and worry of today's events, it's nice to just sit down and write, even if it is to the ill-mannered Emperor himself."

"Oh I don't know, I'd say you put him in his place last time he came by," Stonewall chuckled. "Anyway, I didn't come by to pester you about stately matters. I thought you'd want to know that Tercio is awake."

Celestia gasped with a hoof to her mouth. "Is he...is he well?"

"He is understandably weak, and likely won't be leaving the medicae quarters for at least a few days, but he's alive. Lifeline tells me he's managed to stop the internal bleeding, and one of his aides even patched up a few scars. Old Tercio will be as good as new, or so I hear."

"That's wonderful news. Have his parents been informed yet?"

"They have. I believe they're with him right now."

A deep exhale of relief felt as if it had lifted a weight from her chest. Tercio was alive.

"I should go see him as quickly as possible. Thank you, Stonewall," she said, blowing out the candles at her desk.

"My pleasure." He stepped aside and allowed her to pass, but as she stepped by he said, "You'll have to excuse me for saying so, but as someone who has dedicated his life to protecting you, I feel it must be spoken: if you choose to stay close to Tercio, you may end up regretting it. You, of all ponies, should be aware that he can be dangerous."

Celestia stopped, feeling the warmth of her face flushing in sudden realization. Did Stonewall know about her feelings for Tercio? "I...appreciate your concern, my friend, but I assure you I trust Tercio as much as any of my Praetorians. He has already saved my life once, after all."

"As you say," he answered simply. "As always, I bow to your judgment. I won't keep you any longer."

Celestia did not look back as she trotted down the marble hallway, but even still, she could feel Stonewall's gaze. Nothing seemed to slip by him after all these years.

She shook her head and shoved the matter away. It could wait until later. For now, there was only one person she wanted to see.

***

Grace threw her forelegs around Celestia as soon as she came close. "Oh, thank the gods, Princess, he's alive! My Tercio is alive!" The old mare wept, but no longer in sadness, as she embraced Celestia. The Princess ran a comforting hoof over her back and smiled to Roughshod.

"I'm so glad to hear it," Celestia said, offering a small cloth for Grace to dry her eyes with.

"It's only been a short time since he awoke. Sounds like the apothecary did a damn fine job patching our boy up," Roughshod said.

"Lifeline is the best in Canterlot. I knew he could do it." Truth be told, Celestia had feared for Tercio's life just as much as anyone else, but she was expected to be the stalwart leader at all times. It wore on her like she could never put into words. Losing Tercio would have been a devastating tragedy. "Have you already been in to see your son?"

"We just left. He's not said much, he's so weak right now. It's a miracle he can find the strength for words at all," Grace answered. "He did ask to see you, though."

Celestia's heart fluttered, and she had to choke back a tear. It felt like it had been so long since they'd seen each other. Perhaps now they would be able to make up for lost time and enjoy the company of one another, at least once he was fully recovered.

"Did you tell him the truth?"

Roughshod shook his head. "Not yet. Actually, we were discussing it, and we thought it would be best if you told him. You'd be able to explain more than we could, since you actually lived it. Hopefully he'll take it better than Victus."

In her rush to see Tercio, Celestia had almost forgotten about his brother. She hadn't seen him since mid-day. "I don't suppose he's come back yet?"

"Afraid not. That boy is as bull-headed as he is tenacious. He'll come around, though. It'll just take some time. I'd be surprised if we don't see him before the night is over."

A weary Lifeline stepped out from Tercio's operating room and shut the door behind him. When he saw Celestia he saluted her with his hoof over his chest, the two aides at his side doing the same. "The patient will see you now, Princess. I suggest you keep it a short visit, he needs to rest and regain his strength. He should be fine on his own for the night, but I will have Minty Dream stationed one room over should he need anything."

"I cannot thank you enough, Lifeline." Celestia dipped her head in respect. "You are truly an asset to this great city and Equestria. Please, enjoy your night, you've earned it."

Once she was alone, Celestia made the short walk down the hallway to Tercio's room. Gently she nudged the door open. Inside, Tercio was lying on his side in a too-small bed, facing away from the door, supported from his knees down by an impromptu stack of pillows. Thick bandages were wrapped around his bare torso, and he struggled with a scratchy blanket that would not go past his waist. Only a few candles remained for light, placed on a nightstand just beyond arm's reach.

Celestia approached him carefully, not wanting to startle him.

"I could use...another blanket..." he said weakly as he heard hoofsteps behind him. Celestia searched for one, finding it sitting in a corner on a shelf. She floated it over and draped it across his chest, then placed a hoof on his shoulder. Surprised, Tercio turned his head. His eyes went wide at the sight of her.

"...Celestia?" he asked in a weak voice, as if she were an illusion.

She stared at him for a moment, meeting his gaze in a wordless expression of love and relief, and slowly she met him in a warm, comforting kiss. His hand brushed the hair from her face and caressed her cheek, and as they pulled away from one another she saw the soft smile that she had so fallen for. For a long moment she touched her forehead against his, and no words were needed. After all the worry and doubt, they were reunited.

"I've missed you," he said just above a whisper.

"I've missed you too, my love." She kissed the back of his hand and smiled in elation. "We've really got to stop meeting in hospital beds like this."

Tercio laughed quietly and clutched his chest. "That is a good idea. Your bed would be...far more comfortable."

Even in his current state, he could still make her giggle like a filly. She ran a hoof through his hair and kissed him once more, letting his lips linger against her. "We'll discuss it when you're better," she said teasingly. Tercio pulled the blanket down to show his bandages that were still pink from his surgery.

"It could be some time, I'm afraid. The apothecary -- Lifeline, I believe -- says it could be a few weeks."

Celestia grasped his hand between her hooves. "Don't you worry about that. Take as much time as you need to recover." She wiped a tear from her eye and said, "I was afraid I'd lost you."

"You did, for a while. Father told me about what happened with Victus. I still can't believe it." He looked ashamed to say such a thing. "I've brought all this sadness and worry to everyone I love, all for a selfish reason. Victus, Mother and Father, you..."

"It was hardly selfish to want to rid yourself of something that threatened everyone around you, Tercio. There is goodness in you, a purity that not even the darkest of forces can conquer. Nocturne saw that. It chose to save you."

Tercio frowned, pained from the loss of his sword that was so much more. It had been a gift from the mare he loved, a weapon that had seen its owner fall from grace, a one of a kind piece of history, and, at the end, his savior. And now it was gone.

"Father told me what happened. I'm so sorry," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

"Don't be," Celestia answered as she gently touched his chest. "I can think of no more fitting end for my sister's blade than to give itself in sacrifice. It could not defeat the darkness in Luna, but it did in you."

"I hope so. The things I saw, the things I...I felt...when I was between this world and the next...I could not explain them if I tried." He was quiet for a time, then asked, "have you seen Victus come back yet? I would very much like to speak with him. I am alive, thanks in no small part to him."

"I'm afraid he hasn't been seen since this afternoon, but I will have the guards look for him. As soon as he is found, I will make sure he comes to see you," Celestia said.

"Thank you." Tercio pulled the blanket back up to his shoulders and touched his hand to her chest. "It has been a very long day. Will you stay with me until I am asleep?"

Celestia smiled and kissed his forehead, touched by his request. "Of course I will, my love." Content, Tercio rolled onto his side and closed his eyes, clutching her soft foreleg against his shoulder as she began to quietly sing a beautiful song, and let himself drift away to the sound of her voice.

38 - Origin (1/3)

"It is always a pleasant sight to see Canterlot during your time of celebration. The snow and festivities would be envied by any zebra, I am sure."

Elder Mwolan'e kept pace at Celestia's side, craning his neck to see the myriad decorations that had been placed over the weeks to mark Hearth's Warming Eve. Equestria's biggest holiday, it was said, celebrated the unification of the three races under King Argo Navis, long before even the Princess was born. It was a time of great joy, one that not even war and deceit could hope to tarnish. All across the nation, Equestrian citizens exchanged gifts and supped with friends, family and neighbors alike in a week-long run-up to the grand day itself.

On the front lines, soldiers received rations of familiar Hearth's Warming foods. For a short time, at least, they could be comforted by a little slice of home.

Even the Whitetail, so staunch in their resistance and entrenched in their cities, had not attacked since the start of the celebration. Whatever their views of their equine neighbors may have been, the deerfolk were a people who were deeply traditional. Everyone hoped it would last, perhaps none more so than Celestia herself.

Her week had been more of the usual -- negotiations, letters, tactical discussions, and many hours of seeing to Equestrian citizens' needs. It was a small comfort that no one else had had to die for several days, but even that felt hollow at the inevitability of Whitetail's continued aggression.

More than anything, she wished Luna could be at her side. It was the first Hearth's Warming she'd spent by herself, and she knew that it would be many, many years before it was no longer so.

"You are too kind, my friend," she said politely as they stepped through freshly fallen snow. It was a cold, cloudy day over Canterlot, even for one as accustomed to it as herself. She could only wonder how the appointed ruler of Zevran's many tribes managed to hide his shivers. "Hearth's Warming is a wonderful time for us all, no matter who we are or where we come from. I don't suppose I could convince you to stay as a guest of honor for a few days? You'd get to see our day of celebration in all its grandeur."

Mwolan'e laughed, his breaths coming out in wispy clouds. "You are most gracious, Princess. Your offer is quite inviting, but I am afraid I cannot afford to stay more than a day. Zevran's weather is decidedly more...temperate, shall we say, and the beginning of Thatch Season is nearly upon us. My eldest son may be stronger than his father, but he is not quite as patient. And patience is of the utmost importance in many things." He kicked a clump of snow out of his path and shrugged. "Still, a change of scenery is always welcome. Perhaps soon, after your war has ended, I will bring him here to see the snow. He will not believe his eyes."

"I did not start the war, Esteemed Elder, I only wish to see it ended," Celestia reminded him.

"Of course, of course. Forgive me, Princess, for I did not mean to offend."

"It's alright. I would be delighted to meet your son, but I would want him to see us at our best. Let us hope for next year's Hearth Warming to be free from strife."

"It will be," Mwolan'e said confidently. "And then, finally, young Zul'neya will get to meet the 'pony princess' he hears so much about." He smirked and said, "I call him 'young', but he is old enough to have a family of his own. He is a good boy. Strong and cunning. His mother would be so proud, spirits rest her soul."

Celestia watched him draw a spiral over his heart with his hoof and bowed in respect.

"I know she is watching over us, for our crops were very strong this year. That is why I was not hesitant to send some to your soldiers. I trust our supplies have been reaching your stallions?"

"They have indeed, and you'll be pleased to know that your medical stores and foodstuffs have saved many lives. I really cannot thank you enough for all that you've done for us, my friend. This war has depleted our stockpiles to a sometimes dangerous degree, but with your help we are at peak condition once more."

Mwolan'e beamed with approval, his neck rings clinking as he trotted. "That is excellent news! We zebras are not a people of conflict, not anymore, but we also realize that the rest of the world does not often share that view. We offer our support to any who ask."

They stopped at a railing that overlooked the great city below, countless plumes of smoke from fireplaces dotting the snow-covered buildings. Thousands of ponies went about their daily business, unaware of the careful political balancing act that took place above them. It was a game that Celestia had become accustomed to, even excelled at, and only once in a great while did she get the chance to talk with a diplomat as an equal. She wished more leaders were like the zebra at her side.

"The whitetail may think of you as their enemy if they found out about our agreement," she said. Elder Mwolan'e simply shrugged.

"Had they asked, I would have gladly sent supplies to them as well; but they have not, so I don't." He looked up at her, his thick winter clothing obscuring part of his face. "I cannot presume to imagine what it is you are going through, Princess, but it will get better. You are a good soul."

Celestia choked back a tear, both at the sincerity of his words, and at the thought of what she was missing. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because I have seen it. Before I came here I consorted with the spirits, in a trance, and they showed me the path ahead. I saw Equestria free of strife, prospering as it always has since the time of your parents. One day, harmony shall be the very thing it is known for."

"When?" she asked simply. She wanted to believe him.

"I do not know. But it will come to pass, Princess. So long as you live, so will Equestria."

***

Alone in his apothecary-appointed room, Tercio wiped the sweat from his brow with a rough cloth and sat on the edge of his cot, his worn tunic resting beside him as he took in deep lungfuls of air. Lying in bed for nearly a week had taken its toll on his body, and his usual fitness and stamina had been sapped by the trauma of near-death. Not even sleep came easy; plagued, as his thoughts were, by glimpses of the evil that had tried to consume him.

Now healthy enough to resume his usual regimen of exercise, he intended to bring himself back to fighting shape. At least, as much as he could while confined to the medicae building. Sprinting from corner to corner, using a pair of stools as impromptu weights, and practicing combat maneuvers with a dull fruit knife wasn't the same as sparring with other soldiers or running through the palace grounds, but it would do for now.

He ran his fingers over the uneven scar on his chest and frowned. So much worry and drama he'd caused for everyone around him, and for what? Because he wasn't strong enough to control himself, to resist the thing that had resided within him? Plunging Nocturne into himself had been an act of desperation, and if Victus hadn't saved him...

He still could not believe what Victus had told him. Had he really become some sort of vessel for Nocturne's will, caught in a place between life and death? It was all so hard to believe. But then, he probably wouldn't have believed that someone could host a physical embodiment of violence and hatred had he not lived it himself. The world was a stranger place than he could have imagined. How quickly things had changed in the last year.

For now, he would put those thoughts behind him. He was still a Praetorian, and no amount of excuses or introspective would save him from the verbal lashing Stonewall would give him if he wasn't at peak performance when he returned to duty. With a deep exhale he pushed himself up and took on a fighting stance, throwing punches at the air, imagining the faces of whitetail enemies with every jab. He'd be prepared for them, wounds or not.

Within a scant few minutes he'd become so immersed in his exercises that he didn't notice the tall, regal figure that stood in the doorway. Celestia leaned against the door jamb and watched him with a mix of amusement, adoration and pride; despite what had happened, Tercio remained committed. It was the very thing she'd seen in him the day they first spoke, and she found it wonderful.

It didn't hurt that his physique was strangely alluring, different though it was from everyone else. A lack of a coat made his musculature stand out, especially in his legs and torso, as he dodged and moved with precision. It was the first time she'd seen him without at least a tunic or formal toga, stripped down, as he was, to a simple undergarment to hide his modesty. Perhaps she could allow another moment or two to pass before she made herself kno--

"Hello, Princess," Tercio suddenly said. Celestia tried to hide a startled jump, quickly composing herself so that she was fully standing once more. Judging by his wry smile, she hadn't done a very good job of it. It took a few seconds for her to realize she had yet to tuck her wings back in. "Forgive me for breaking your...concentration," he said teasingly, laughing at her accompanying blush. "Enjoying the show?"

"I-I came by to check on you. I wanted to see how you were holding up," Celestia answered as unwaveringly as possible, clearing her throat nervously. How ridiculous she felt! Over four hundred years of practice apparently amounted to nothing when in the presence of someone attractive.

"I have been better, but I have been worse, too," Tercio said, grabbing a cloth to wipe the sweat from himself. "Forgive me for my informal attire, I was not expecting company, though I cannot complain." He leaned in and added, "neither can you, apparently." At that moment he decided that Celestia was indescribably adorable when she was flustered. No doubt she would have objected to him saying such a thing aloud. "The apothecary says I should be healthy enough to rejoin the Praetorians tomorrow. It will be good to return to duty, both for my mind and my body. These last few days have been taxing, to say the least."

Celestia smiled warmly once she'd regained her composure. "That's wonderful news. Worrying about your well-being has occupied my mind often since your return." She kissed his cheek and said, "Please promise me you'll stop returning to Canterlot with sword wounds, for there are only so many times a scar can be considered attractive before it starts to become ridiculous."

"I'll do my best, though I make no guarantees," Tercio replied, then touched the recent scar on his chest. "I'd prefer not to have this one, but it's not as if I can will it away. I can only hope to avoid adding to it. The life of a Praetorian is fraught with danger --in my case, from inside as well as out."

Celestia placed a hoof to his chest. "I know, but it doesn't make it any easier."

"Nothing worth fighting for ever is," Tercio said, brushing her neck with his fingertips. "Do the others know about what happened to me? Does Stonewall?"

"He does, but we decided it would be best to keep the truth of the matter from your fellow Praetorians. You may tell them if you wish, but it is up to you, and you alone. As far as they know, you were asked to assist in training a local Guard unit, the 18th."

"I see," he said. "I'll consider telling them at some later date, but it's only recently I've started earning their trust again. Nevermind my brother! The torment I've put him through as of late..."

"Victus would not despise you for what you've done, Tercio," Celestia reassured him. "It was his dedication that ultimately saved you."

"I know, and I'm infinitely thankful, but I still regret what he had to see. He returned to his unit a few days ago, but before he left he seemed different somehow. Angry, I think. He would not explain why."

Celestia knew exactly what had been eating away at Victus since that first morning, when his parents had revealed to him the truth they'd fought so hard to keep secret for so many years. How Tercio would react, she could only speculate.

"Victus is a proud stallion. Perhaps he could not bear the thought of what had nearly happened to you. In any case, take all the time you need before returning to your unit. And don't worry about what they'll think; they'll trust you, because you've proven yourself time and again." These days, Celestia lamented, trust was something that was hard to come by. Soon, she might very well lose his. The thought of it left a sour taste in her mouth and twisted her stomach into knots.

"Is something wrong?" Tercio asked as he stared into her pink eyes.

"No, I've just been scared of losing you," she said comfortingly. Tercio put his strong arms around her and kissed her with a sincerity she'd not felt since his return, and for a wonderful, lingering moment in time she was without concern or doubt.

"You'll not lose me so long as I have any say. I swear it."

She hoped he was right. The love and dedication in his voice was evident, and he'd always treated her with nothing but respect; not only as his superior, but as the mare he'd fallen for, his confidant. She worried that, after today, he might not feel the same way.

"Would you care to join me for a walk?" she asked cheerfully. "You must grow weary of being confined to this building, I would imagine," she said.

Tercio looked around his room and said, "if it meant I wouldn't have to see another potion bottle, I'd gladly clean the palace store room if you asked me to."

Celestia giggled at the thought. It felt so rare to simply act casual with someone else, so much of her life consumed by pomp and formality as it was. "I was hoping you'd agree.Though...you might want to put on something warmer. It's quite cold out, and you are not so well equipped for the weather as the rest of us."

"I could always rely on you to keep me warm," Tercio suggested.

"Somehow I doubt it's your loins that need to be kept warm, my dear. I'd argue there's too much heat going that way already. Perhaps if you spent more time coming up with better vague attempts at occupying my bed...?"

"Ouch," Tercio laughed. "You wound me, Princess."

"You poor thing," Celestia said dramatically with a hoof over her chest. "Now come, a bit of fresh air would do you good. I'll be outside when you're ready."

***

For the first time since his arrival, Tercio was free to take a deep lungful of cold, clean air. Compared to the musty, heavy smell of the medicae building, it was like standing atop the highest mountain in Equestria. Snow crunched under his winter boots and caught the scattered sunlight of mid-day, and from his vantage point he could see the business quarter of Canterlot going about its daily routine, its citizens' spirits seemingly unfazed by the conflict that raged so far away. In a way, it was comforting to know that the efforts of soldiers like himself had managed to keep most of the reality of warfare squarely where it belonged -- away from Equestria proper.

"Feeling better?" Celestia asked as he approached, a white and gold winter outfit hanging loosely from her body in sheets of soft fabric. The edges glittered and sparkled like her mane and tail, and for a moment Tercio found himself awestruck, as if he'd never seen her before.

"More than I can say. I'd almost forgotten what it's like to see the sun..."

"Good. Then we'll enjoy it together." Celestia smiled brightly, and with Tercio at her side she began to follow the winding path that would take them through the royal gardens. "Is this truly the first time you've left the building in nearly a week?"

"It is! The apothecary has done a fine job of stitching me back together, as it were, although his bedside manner could use a little work. He is apparently a firm believer in keeping patients such as myself away from the others, as if I am likely to spread some sort of pox," Tercio said.

"He's just being cautious. Your situation is quite unique, though I think we can safely say that you're recovering remarkably well." Celestia looked at his chest for emphasis. "It is not every day that one is brought back from the dead, or something close to it. In fact, I cannot think of a single time this has happened in all of Equestria's history."

Tercio rubbed his scar nervously. "I am either gifted with exceptional luck, or exceptional misfortune, it would seem. I would not wish what I have been through on anyone."

"At least you're alive, my love," Celestia said, kissing him on the cheek. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something about that." Tercio looked over at her curiously. "I've heard what happened from Roughshod, as well as Victus, but it still leaves me with unanswered questions. I know it's a difficult thing to ask, but, if you're comfortable with it, would you be able to tell about the ordeal as you saw it?" When he hesitated to answer, Celestia pushed onward. "No one would know better than yourself, and if it helps shed light on your situation, then I can't imagine it would do anything but help."

"The ordeal," he repeated with a short, humorless laugh. "I suppose that's one way to put it. I couldn't possibly have explained what happened to my parents before they returned to Summervale, but if you think it'll help, then I'll tell you everything I know."

"Thank you," Celestia said, relieved. She could only imagine what kind of traumatic memories would linger within him for the coming months, or even years. Such things were sadly commonplace among soldiers, and none of them had had to face what Tercio had faced.

"Right. I don't believe I've told you everything that happened before I left..."

As far as she knew, Tercio's last encounter with the dark force inside him had been during the fight with Lacertus, the assassin that had nearly taken her life. She was shocked to find out that it had surfaced twice more in combat -- once during training in the mountains, and soon after during the whitetail ambush in the woods. He had not wanted to alarm her, he emphasized, so he had kept it to himself. And besides that, it had appeared that he'd learned to control it to some extent.

That line of thinking turned out to be tragically wrong. A discussion with his brother had turned into an attempt to rid himself of the "darkness" once and for all, or at least negate its influence, but it was strong in the ways of the arcane, far more than he'd witnessed prior to that moment. Perhaps, he speculated, it sensed it was in danger and finally revealed itself as more than just a blood-thirsty state of mind.

When it did so, Nocturne -- the very sword that had watched its previous owner fall to the corruption of evil -- had placed a very clear image within his mind, one that was at once terrible in its finality, and enthralling in its optimism. Nocturne would use its very power to destroy the entity. And so, with only a moment's hesitation and a tearful farewell to his brother, Tercio had plunged the blade into his own body.

The pain, he said, was beyond description, and as the life drained from his body he feared that he had made a terrible mistake.

And then came the blackness. The impossibly dark, unending void of nothingness that he'd found himself in. It was not a place of death, Tercio explained, but of the mind.

"It was as if I was trapped within myself. I could feel myself moving, though I had no form, and shortly after I became aware of the presence that had sought to consume me. It was so powerful, and I thought it to be everywhere at once. I was convinced it would take away the last remnants of my being -- and then I saw the most brilliant, pure light, like the sun condensed into a single point. It was Nocturne."

Though she had seen and experienced many things in her long years, Celestia had a hard time wrapping her mind around such a thing. Tercio had been lost within himself, and the living spirit of Luna's sword had appeared before him? It was all so difficult to imagine. She urged him to continue.

"But not even Nocturne was strong enough on its own. The darkness, it surrounded me and battled with the light, like two colossal beasts of pure magic. It was at this time, I believe, that Victus had considered me dead, and dragged me through the forest." Tercio was quiet for a long time after that, tears welling in his eyes. He truly regretted everything he'd put Victus, and everyone else, through. His voice faltered as he continued. "At some point, Victus tried to remove Nocturne from my body, and that was when he was drawn in with me."

From his tortured point of view, deep within his own subconscious, Tercio had all but given up on trying to resist. Even Nocturne's great power had failed to keep the evil away, and he had waited for the last remnant of his soul to be devoured. But then, by some great miracle, Victus had appeared in the distance, a white speck against the infinite night. Nocturne had found a vessel for its will, filling Victus with great power and sense of purpose, and for what seemed to be many hours Tercio felt his brother's presence grow stronger, more confident. Magical spells, their complexity and power unrivaled by anything he'd witnessed, flowed from Victus' incorporeal form like water from a great river.

"I spoke with him about it, briefly, before he left," Tercio said. The royal gardens were caked in a layer of snow, and all but the evergreen trees and magical plants had withered. He tore a small twig from a nearby fir tree and began to remove its needles, a nervous act of comfort carried over from his younger years. "I do not think Victus remembers much of what happened, perhaps for the best. Or it could be that he simply does not wish to speak of it. Either way, it was through his efforts, and those of Nocturne, that the darkness was finally destroyed, or so I hope. I have not felt it since. And even if it does come back, I no longer have Luna's sword to protect me."

Having been silent for most of his explanation, Celestia placed a hoof on his back and said, "Nocturne gave itself to protect you, because it knew you were good. You were worth saving, Tercio, and were Luna still here she would say the same thing."

"I know, but it does not make it easier. It was a gift from you, a cherished piece of your family, and now it's gone because of something I had no idea even existed until several months ago. The gods have a fickle sense of humor," he said and shook his head in disappointment.

Celestia stopped at the edge of the garden, where a row of sparkling bushes gave way to a low wall that overlooked the city. To her right, beyond the front gates of the palace, a towering spire glimmered with reflected sunlight from the scattered clouds. She considered it for a long moment as Tercio peered over the edge, watching a line of armored ponies trot to their posts. Much had happened since that first incident in the training circle, and since that day Tercio's life hadn't been the same. No longer could he focus solely on his duties; now he had to contend with the idea of some thing eating away at him from inside. It had brought pain and suffering to not only him, but those around him. It had threatened to consume him, to twist the good man that he was into something far more sinister and dangerous. And it had very nearly cost him his life.

He deserved to know the truth. Celestia had dreaded this moment for over three decades, had done her best to keep it hidden. She could not justify secreting it away any more, not after Grace's heartfelt pleas upon seeing her adopted son struggling for hold on to life.

"Tercio?" she asked quietly.

"Yes?" Tercio looked into her eyes and saw the uncertainty within them, immediately concerned. "Is something wrong?" Celestia hesitated to answer.

"Have you ever wondered where you came from? Why you're the only one of your kind?"

"Of course, many times," he answered suspiciously. "But, as you've said yourself, I fell from a star late one evening. It is the will of the gods that I am here, though for what purpose, and why they cursed me with this dark magic, I do not know." He paused. "Why do you ask?"

"Because...because there is something you need to know. Many things, in fact. Your parents and I talked about it while you were being operated on, and it was decided that it would be best if I was the one to show you."

Tercio felt a knot in the pit of his stomach. "Show me what, exactly?"

"The truth."

***

There was not much said while Tercio kept at Celestia's side. The winding path to one of the tallest spires in Canterlot took them past the royal gardens and beyond the castle's training pits, the silence broken by nothing more than the crunching of snow and the quiet clack of hobnailed winter boots on stone tiles. Occasionally he would look to his superior, his love, his Princess, and see her attempt to comfort him with a half-hearted smile or a few quiet words of encouragement, but such things felt hollow compared to the frantic streams of worries and thoughts that occupied his mind.

For his entire life he'd been told that he was the benefactor of extraordinary luck, a child who fell from the stars and was taken in by the kind, loving family he'd grown up with. Had it all been a lie? Celestia had promised him the truth, whatever that may be, but he fretted that he may not want to know at all. Yet he knew that if he didn't take her offer he would spend the rest of his life wondering "what if", and that was no way to live at all.

Whatever you might learn, it does not take away from who you are, he told himself. The times he'd spent with his adoptive family, the laughter and tears, the nights huddled near the fire as their father regaled them with tales of his youth, the sweet taste of his mother's honey cakes, all of it was his to keep.

Yet as he approached the spiraling tower, its golden, curved steeple shining like a beacon in the scattered sunlight he could not help but feel a deep sense of dread, like a great stone had been pressed into his chest. One way or another, he would return a different man.

No guards stood watch over the entrance, for few ponies ventured to the old building these days. Tercio had heard what was contained within its walls, of course -- the collected history of Equestria, countless shelves filled with books and scrolls dating back to the time before unification. He was surprised to find it impeccably clean, free of the dust and grime that should have accumulated with the passage of time. Whoever was in charge of this place obviously cared a great deal for it.

"The Royal Canterlot Library," Celestia said, finally breaking the silence. "I used to come here far more often, during my younger years. I had an insatiable lust for knowledge, and my parents were only too happy to let me explore its expanses. When the castle was finished, this was the first place I said I wanted to go."

A set of tall, heavy doors stood before them, inscribed in ancient Equestrian hieroglyphics. Above the writing, a beautifully carved night sky gave way to scenes of mountains, rivers and fields of wheat. A stylized sun, somewhat similar to Celestia's, shone with brilliant rays, casting light on the lands of pegasus, unicorn, and earth pony.

"Be it forever known that thine land of Equestria turneth not away the good soul; neither race, nor belief, nor blade of combat shall sunder Her in twain, for so long as we remain fast in stead, so too shall the principles held dearest to Her founding. By these truths we strive, that we may not falter."

Celestia ran her hoof along the door as she read, smiling as she reached the end. "My mother wrote those words, many centuries ago. She believed that knowledge was the basis of all good things, and so she dedicated this library to preserving the history of Equestria. You may have been to the library in the center of Canterlot itself, but this place is unique. Far older."

On either side of the entrance, two figures reared up with flowing manes and long horns, their wings outstretched in a grand display. "I miss you," the Princess said quietly, bowing her head and offering silent words for their passing. Then she turned to Tercio, a new resolve evident in her expression. "Come. We must go where few have set hoof."

The great doors swung open with a creaking of wood, giving way to the towering expanse that seemed to be never ending. Everywhere Tercio looked there was another stack of scrolls, another chest full of documents. Countless piles were arranged in ancient Equestrian, lining the walls and filling nearly every available inch of free space with everything from shipping manifests to military orders, grain counts to astronomical observations. More information than one could conceivably read in a single lifetime. The air smelled musty and worn, but not stale, and the wooden shelves were, to the last, in a fine state of repair.

The Princess led Tercio to the back of the main hall, then up a set of spiraling stairs. A large mosaic, made of colored tiles and shaped gemstones, took up an entire wall and cast a multi-colored glow on the surrounding area. A younger Celestia, with a pink mane, was depicted raising her forelegs to the sky, the sun rising above her head opposite her sister, whose shining moon was praised by masses of gathered ponies.

"My father had that created to celebrate the first time Luna and myself learned to successfully raise the sun and moon," Celestia explained as Tercio found himself entranced by its beauty. "Controlling such power is not something that comes naturally, even for someone with such an understanding of magic as myself. There was a brief period of a few months where the sun and moon would rise and fall irregularly across the land. One minute it would be dark, then the next it would be mid-day. Quite a few farmers were confused, I can tell you that."

The spiraling stairs seemed to go on forever, passing floor after floor, until finally, and mercifully, they ended at a nearly featureless wall near the top of the tower.

"Here we are," she said, taking a moment to catch her breath. Tercio felt around for a door handle, a hinge, a seam in the wall -- something he could use to get inside. He found only a flat slab of polished marble and stone."This is a very special door, one accessible only to members of our family." Celestia lowered her head and focused her magic, a wavering cloud of sparkling yellow traveling down her horn and spreading over the wall. A small hole surrounded by arcane symbols appeared in the center, and she carefully inserted her horn into it as she whispered a phrase to herself. There was a loud series of heavy clicks, a grinding of stone on stone, and in seconds the wall split down the middle to reveal a small, windowless room.

Tercio stepped inside, finding it pitch dark except for the light coming from the doorway. Celestia followed, lighting a series of magical, cold-flame torches along the walls that sparked to life with a sound like distant wind chimes. Their glow revealed the room to be surprisingly bare, with only a single table at one end and a series of marked, oaken chests stacked beside it.

And then he looked up, his jaw falling open as the ceiling twinkled with a thousand points of light against a midnight sky, representations of stars beyond number flitting across in seconds.

"What is this place?" Tercio asked, reaching up to touch the false night. The stars swirled around his fingertips like water in a stream, returning to their paths when he pulled away.

"The best-kept secret in Equestria. When Canterlot was nearing completion, my father thought there should be a place we could keep information that only a very select few would ever know about." In the corner a small stack of chests, roughly the size of a bread box, leaned against the wall. Each was marked with a different wax seal, the top-most adorned with Celestia's mark. "The ceiling was Luna's idea, a relatively recent addition. Not being able to see the night sky was something she always found distressing, so she recreated it here," the Princess said with a touch of sadness. A simple, purple cushion was levitated from a wall over to the table. "Please, sit."

Now more curious than ever, Tercio did as he was asked, sitting cross-legged across from the small chests. He could only wonder how old they were, and what secrets they held. Equestria's history was a long and storied one, full of infighting and intrigue, unification and expansion; what had been withheld from the history scrolls?

Celestia closed the door as she sat down beside him, then pulled the box from the top, dragging with it a small cloud of dust that quickly dissipated. For a time she held onto it firmly, opening her mouth to speak but unsure of what to say.

"When you were brought in with life-threatening injuries several days ago, your mother was very distraught," she said quietly. "Not only because of your condition, but because she felt that we could have avoided any of it happening in the first place if we'd just told you the truth. I do not know if it would have been so simple as she thinks, though I was not about to argue with a grieving mother. Your father did manage to calm her down, at least, which am I grateful for.

"Roughshod and Grace are wonderful ponies, and the turmoil they must have felt over seeing you on that apothecary table must have been immeasurable, but still...it was not an easy decision. We had to tell Victus, due to what he'd seen and what he'd experienced. That is why he could hardly stand to come around for most of the time he was here, waiting for you to recover. Please do not hold it against him."

"I would never hold a grudge against my own brother," Tercio said firmly, "though I am somewhat perturbed that I am the last to know the 'truth', as you call it, when it is I that has to fight against it."

Celestia frowned sympathetically. "I know, and I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but you must understand: this has been not just for your own good, but the good of those you know and love. Were Luna still here, she would say the same thing...though perhaps not as gently. Since that day, I've spent many hours searching through the archives for anything I could find that might shed light your situation. Everything I've found is contained right here." With a deep breath Celestia passed the box to Tercio, using a small portion of her power to unlock the seal with a soft click. Before he could open it, she placed a golden shoe on his hand and met his gaze with her deep, pink eyes that he found so entrancing.

"Tercio...once you go down this path, there is no turning back. You are going to find some things that may be deeply upsetting, that you might wish you'd never read, but I want to make something very clear to you: nothing, no matter its import, can take away from the life that you have made for yourself. The love of your mother and father, of your brother, the hardships they've endured to see that you grew up healthy and happy, despite how different you were; the dedication and countless hours of hard work you've committed to bettering yourself as a soldier and as a man -- those will remain with you. Nothing can change that."

She leaned in and kissed him lovingly, her breath faltering with the fear that she might lose him.

"The love that I feel for you is as genuine as a warm day, and so much brighter. We're so different, but with you I feel a connection I have not known in many, many years. I love you, Tercio." With a final kiss she rested her head against his and spoke at a whisper, fighting back tears. "I love you. I always will."

Tercio was very close to rethinking his decision, and he considered pushing the box away and forgetting it even existed. But the truth had to be known, and not just for his own sake. "I love you too, Celestia. No matter what I may come to know." He placed his hand against her chest and felt her unsteady breaths, looking into her eyes as if, somehow, it might be the last time.

"I realize it is a foolish thing to ask, but I feel I must: are you sure you want to know these things?" Celestia said.

For a moment Tercio hesitated, the weight of the moment bearing down on him like a crushing stone, yet still he nodded.

"If there is a chance to know what has caused this darkness to appear, and what I can do to make sure it never comes back, then yes." He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he brushed the seam with his hand. "I have to do this."

"Very well." Celestia removed her hoof. "Go ahead, then. I will try to answer any questions you have, I promise."

Not sure of what to expect, Tercio braced himself as he pushed the lid back. Sitting at the top was a small stack of documents, wrapped in unassuming white canvas and sealed with a wax stamp. Beneath that, a pair of scrolls bound in twine. For something that was supposed to be life-changing, it was all so...simple.

"Be careful with them, they are well-worn," Celestia cautioned.

Delicately, then, he pulled the draw string on the first scroll and unrolled it, cocking his head at the strange symbols and images that appeared before him. He'd seen enough Ancient Equestrian to know what it looked like, but he could make neither heads nor tails of it. At the top of the worn page, a striking design of two eyes with some sort of whirlwind between them stared back at him.

"This is the record of an incident from nearly six hundred years ago, well before I was born," the Princess explained. "The text at the top says that it is from a Legate of the Court named Primarius Hapsis, addressed to the personal care and view of King Argo Navis. It is marked 'urgent', and dated as mid Autumn's Reaping, in the 377th year of the First Era. Quite some time ago."

Tercio furrowed his brow at it. "I do not quite understand what such an old scroll has to do with me."

"Patience. I will read the rest for you." Moving it slightly to catch the light better, Celestia began to recite the ancient words. "To my King and High Sovereign of Equestris, First of His Court -- as requested, the report of our recent conflict shall follow. I pray the words find you well.

On the first night of the waxing moon, scouts from the 2nd Pikes descended upon the Great Hollows after hearing word of a conflict that had recently taken place. A servant roused me from my slumber at a dreadful hour, whereupon I was met by a stallion who insisted I come with him. After gathering a small contingent of soldiers I set course to the Great Hollows, coming upon the area in question just before sunrise."

"The Great Hollows?" Tercio asked. "I've never heard of such a place."

"Few have. In antiquity it was a place of great import, a vast cave system that spans an area along what is now Whitetail's western border. I'll explain more in a moment."

Celestia went back to the missive. "From a concealed position we observed a gathering of deerfolk from the Ochrourus Collective -- that's the old name for the deer nation, back when they were still united -- struggling to dig their way through a large pile of rubble. I decided it would be best to speak with the Ochrourians, asking Sentius to translate for me. However, the deer became enraged once I asked what had happened, and attempted to assault us with their crystalline weapons. Combat broke out, during which we lost two killed and four wounded. The deer fled after taking twice our number in losses. A young, wounded buck pleaded for us to spare him, and offered information in return. When asked about their intentions, he told us that he and the others had been attempting to recover some sort of magical font."

She stopped and turned to him. "Back then we were just discovering these places, called ley lines -- locations of vast power that tapped into the arcane forces that surround us in all things. A skilled magic user on his or her own might be able to, say, teleport or predict an opponent's movements, but with the power of a ley line they could accomplish incredible things. Soothsaying, conjuring storms, even the manipulation of life itself. Obviously these places became highly sought after, and many lives across all nations were lost in the rush to claim them. Few ley lines survive now, their stores depleted, which is why most have never heard of them."

Tercio said nothing, only nodding slightly in response, and Celestia soon continued. She saw the words that were coming, and for a time she hesitated to speak them, carrying on only by Tercio's urging.

"Apparently, the schism between redtail and whitetail had grown to the point that civil war was inevitable, and the whitetail were looking to gain an advantage over their cousins. If the buck was telling the truth, then they have found a way to open a 'tear' between our world and another, fantastic though it may sound.

Though I find it hard to believe, he then told us tale of a tall, bipedal creature with dark skin that had been pulled through this tear, one clad in crude skins and wielding a sort of spear and hide shield." Tercio felt the color drain from his face. "The whitetail attempted to communicate with the creature, but it was frightened and confused, and it soon lashed out at them. Losses were heavy, numbering in the dozens, for the creature was nearly immune to magic and moved with the speed of a trained warrior. Only after reinforcements arrived was it finally vanquished, but not before it destroyed the place of ritual. The subsequent cave-in buried it and the site. At our request, the buck has created a drawing of the creature, enclosed with this missive. More information will follow as we find it."

It was then that Tercio realized a second page was stuck to the first, held together with a spot of wax. He almost didn't want to see it, for somehow he knew exactly what awaited him. Even more so, the scroll had mentioned, almost casually, that there was another place, another world, far removed from his own. What was it, and why had he never heard of such a thing before?

He had to know for sure before he made any accusations. With a delicate touch he pulled back the second page, his hands shaking slightly and his skin feeling cold with perspiration. He looked to Celestia, but for what, he did not know. He hoped she would say there was nothing to worry about, that his fears were unfounded, but she simply pursed her lips and nodded for him to continue.

Taking the page before him, he felt the breath catch in his throat like a handful of sand. There, before his eyes, was a figure standing on two muscular legs, uncovered except for furred cloth around its loins and ankles. It brandished a broad-headed spear over its head in a menacing display, with a curved shield in front of it.

Not just a creature, but a man. Another human.

The scrolls fell to the floor as Tercio felt his head spin, a terrible sickness overtaking him at the realization. It was the only thing he could think about, and when he shut his eyes he could see that man, that warrior, staring at him from the ancient parchment.

"I'm not the first," he said with a strained voice, shaking his head as if he could make it go away. "I'm not the first human in these lands, yet all my life I have been told that I am! Why...why didn't you tell me such a thing?" he asked, not able to look at Celestia. "There is a whole other world out there, somewhere, with my people, and no one thought I would want to know?"

"I'm sorry," Celestia said sincerely. "I know this is hard to take in all at once, but you must understand: it was not that simple. There were....complications. I am hardly in a position to ask anything of you, Tercio, but I beg of you: please read the others. Things will become clearer. I promise."

Disgust crawled through him like a bundle of twisting vines. "I did not actually fall from a star, did I?" He gave a contemptuous laugh. "Fell from a star. A story one would tell a child, and I believed it all this time."

Although he felt sick to his stomach, Tercio took a deep breath to calm himself and removed the next item from the box: an old map, labeled "2E 008" -- the eighth year of Celestia and Luna's joint rule -- marked with the same, strange symbol of two feminine eyes and a vortex or whirlwind of some sort. To the north, a red line denoted the territory of Whitetail, with a white line representing all of Equestria's lands. Cross hatches showed continued areas of conflict, places where the two had fought over valuable resources of magical and industrial natures. Spread throughout were swirls of purple or pink. A quick look at the map legend revealed them to be known ley lines, with purple ones being depleted or unstable.

"Have you ever heard of the 9th Arcane?" Celestia asked.

Tercio shook his head. "No. Should I have?"

"The 9th Arcane is an elite band of Whitetail's strongest magic users, dating back to when they were still part of the Ochrourus Collective. After the split, Whitetail kept it active in order to research powerful spells they could use against the Cervidaen Hegemony -- their redtail cousins -- should they come to blows once more. With the discovery of the ley lines, and the tenacity of the whitetails' drive for greater things, they eventually came across a way to manipulate the barrier between our world and yours. To this day we do not know what methods they used, but given the four centuries it took to recreate them, it must be something extraordinarily taxing."

"Which is why they were fighting Equestria for those places," Tercio guessed. "I can understand that much, but there must be a reason why you wanted me to see this beyond just knowing about where you fought each other."

Celestia pointed to a spot on the eastern side of the map, just beneath an area of rolling hills skirting a forest. "After the first human was pulled into our world, its existence remained almost completely unknown. The whitetail were not exactly eager to share such information, especially since it had resulted in the near extermination of their most powerful unit, and few in Equestria were privy to its existence at all. After all those years, only Luna and I held the knowledge of your people. Or so we thought.

While Equestria was fighting border skirmishes with the whitetail, the 9th Arcane had discovered documents pertaining to the human's brief life and subsequent death in that cave system. We didn't know it at the time, but they'd planned to do so again; this time, with a younger subject, someone no older than a child of seven or eight."

"And they succeeded?"

"Yes, unfortunately. It took years for us to become aware of such a thing, for the whitetail were extremely cautious in keeping him hidden. They trained him to fight and kill ponies, relentlessly, until he was an adult. Eventually a patrol from the 23rd Legion happened upon a band of whitetail magii who were attempting to move between ley line fortifications in secret. There was only one survivor, a scribe, and he offered us a series of vrisalnarii -- crystalline writing plates -- in exchange for his safety."

Tercio looked through the box, expecting to pull out the strange tablets, but nothing like it was to be found.

"Do they exist still? Can I read them?"

"I'm afraid they went missing some time ago, but I can still remember what they said. Luna had brought them to my attention one night, and I studied them intently. According to Whitetail's own research, the human child was difficult to control, even for their best magii. Humans have an innate resistance to magic, as I'm sure you've noticed by now. We are not quite sure why that is. You are also taller, stronger and faster than anyone save the largest of earth ponies, and certainly more than a match for any deer. That, combined with your dexterity, makes you and your kind ideal for combat. The whitetail knew this, and even though they could only take a single human with all of their resources, they considered it to be worth the trouble. A single human had the potential to change the tide of a battle -- or, potentially, that of history itself."

Had he not lived a similar life, Tercio might have found the statement ridiculous. His actions in saving Celestia and the others during the attack on Canterlot, however, spoke to the power of just such an individual.

"As I said," Celestia continued, "the whitetail soon found it difficult to control the human child, so they resorted to something more disturbing than harsh words. According to the tablets, they'd found a way to manipulate the ethereal embodiment of anger, resentment and the darker side of magic. A force I became familiar with not even a year ago, when Luna tried to violently usurp me."

"The darkness," Tercio said quietly, memories of all the times he'd lost himself to its influence flashing before him. "It is truly the same?"

"The evil that overcame Luna was different, far more powerful, for she, herself, was more powerful, but it is not unrelated. It feeds off strength. But whereas Luna accepted it, embraced it willingly and gave herself to it, the human child struggled against it. It existed within him, in his mind and his body, and through trial and error the whitetail found they could control it, and thus, him. That child grew up knowing nothing but pain, hatred and misery, all because the whitetail wanted a weapon of war to use against us."

Tercio twisted his face in plain disgust. "That is not just immoral, it is...evil. How could the Whitetail government condone such a thing?"

"That's just it: they didn't. Most of the leaders in Evinwiir, including the Chancellor and nearly all of the Senate, had no idea he even existed. The 9th Arcane were extremists who operated outside of most laws, meaning that only a select few were aware of the human. They were brilliant in keeping him hidden. As far as the politicians knew, Whitetail was simply vying for control of the resources along the border. And then, one day, the 9th turned that poor child, now a man, loose on Equestria."

Tercio was well aware of his own combat capabilities and of the foes he could carve through, especially if he lost control of himself, and he shuddered to think of what would happen if he were set against his own soldiers -- or worse, civilians.

"So what happened?" he asked.

"I do not think I could tell you properly, and indeed, I could not find any surviving documents from that day. But I can show you."

Tercio furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?" The small box was floated from his hands and set on the floor.

"There is a way for alicorns like myself to share knowledge or memories. It is a simple process, but quite draining, and thus I have not done it in many years. I am offering this to you because I want you to know what happened the last time a human was brought to Equestria, and no scroll could possibly do it justice." Celestia chewed on her lip as she thought of a way to properly state what she was feeling. "I must warn you, however, that what you will see may be disturbing. This will not be some glossed-over, second-hoof account of past events."

A chance to experience another human from 200 years past was not something Tercio could ignore. He hoped it would give him some insight into himself, perhaps reveal something about the dark force that had caused him and his family so much grief. There was only one way to find out.

"I am willing, but only if you are sure it will not bring you harm," he said resolutely, sounding more like a soldier than he had all day.

"Always thinking of others, aren't you? I promise you, I will be fine." Celestia gave him a kiss for reassurance, but even as she pulled away she saw him setting his jaw and bracing himself for what might come next. No amount of comforting talk could truly prepare him, and they both knew it. "Very well, then. Close your eyes and clear your thoughts. I am here with you."

Gently she touched the tip of her long, spiraling horn to Tercio's head, a coil of sparkling magic traveling down its length, and she hoped he would feel the same way about her when he awoke.

39 - Origin (2/3)

Haze filled Tercio's vision as the world snapped into view with a flash of light, his mind spinning at the strange experience. No longer in the confines of the hidden library room, he now felt the breeze of a warm night as it whispered between the pine branches of tall trees. Creatures howled and roared in the distance, the night feeling uncomfortably dark.

"Lacarius, you must be sure to keep your stallions near by. The forest is dangerous enough without the deer stalking us. Word has it these ones are particularly fanatical."

The strange sensation of words leaving his mouth, but not of his own voice, was like a shock to his system. He realized he was looking through the eyes of Celestia herself as his gaze was cast downward, the Princess giving a check to the golden armor that covered her forelegs. A long, shimmering weapon floated in front of him, the very sword that had been lost to the assassin in the crystal cave. Metal segments quietly rustled as she walked, as if every inch of her armor was custom made to fit her perfectly. All around her were stallions in purple Praetorian and blood-red Legion cloaks with matching crests, several of them carrying or floating torches at their sides to pierce the oily night. A joint operation, a true rarity in Tercio's day.

"We are less concerned with the deerfolk than we are with the human creature, sister. You would be wise heed my words."

Celestia looked to her right, where Luna trotted beside her in black and dark blue plate mail, decorated with swirls of silver and shining runes. A long lance floated at her side, and a sword was tucked into a scabbard at her waist. Nocturne?

"I am fully aware of his capabilities, Luna. We will find him, and when we do, we will save him from the foul influence of the whitetail."

"As you say. Far be it from us to question the wisdom of the 'Sun Goddess'."

Somehow, Tercio had expected the banter between the royal sisters to be more familiar, more comforting, but he only felt a sense of unease between them. How far back had Luna's resentment reached, he wondered. It was difficult to watch Celestia keep glancing over to her sister, who had not done anything but stare straight ahead for the entire time.

"Luna...I know we are at odds over this human's fate, but promise me you'll give him the opportunity to surrender himself to our care. He could still make something of himself. He can be free. Everyone deserves the chance at a good life."

"He slaughtered the citizens of Windfall Withers!" Luna snapped back, finally making eye contact. There was none of the confidence or comfort in her eyes that he'd always seen in Celestia; only anger and spite. "Do not think to lecture us on second chances when you have seen the mutilated bodies of foals lying in the fields!" He wondered if the soldiers were looking at them. "No creature, no matter its circumstances, deserves to live after such an act! 'He', as you call it, is no better than a hydra in its single-minded pursuit of violence. At least we only have to cut off one head to kill the beast this time."

Minutes passed, the Legion soldiers all around keeping their heads on a swivel and bracing their shields at every rustle or unknown sound. As he watched through Celestia's eyes, Tercio wondered just how powerful this human really was. In all his years of service he had never heard of the Princesses taking matters into their own hooves, not when it came to combat. Defense, not offense, was their way. Things must have been very different two centuries ago to warrant putting their own lives in danger.

"Halt the formation," a soldier wearing the gold-striped crest of an officer said in a loud whisper. An uneasy silence filled the void. Every few seconds Celestia would check on her sister, and for the briefest of moments she could see a shadow of doubt and worry cross Luna's face.

"We will be fine, fret thine own safety instead," she insisted. Celestia was about to reply when a snap of branches pulled her attention away. She turned just in time to see a flicker of motion. Whatever it was, the Legion was already acting, a pair of pegasi darting forward and lifting off without a spoken order needed. They disappeared into the dark expanse of trees just as the Praetorians quickly formed a circle around the Princesses, their tower shields forming a rough dome that menaced with spear points.

"A deer scout, hidden in a bush," Imperator Desius said quietly as his Legion soldiers formed into a three-tiered formation that created a semi-circle around the dome.. "No doubt the whitetail will be upon us in short order. Prepare yourselves."

Celestia gulped and looked herself over once more, her breathing unsteady and her heart pounding in her ears. It was either her first time in a combat situation, or something about the impending fight was making her agitated and nervous.

Within a scant few seconds the two pegasi returned in a skidding halt, one of them bleeding from a gash along his left foreleg. "They're here. Whitetail. Just ahead," one of them said between heavy breaths.

"How many?" Desius asked.

"Forty at least, perhaps more. Difficult to say."

"Right, then. Your wound, is it severe?"

The pegasus turned his foreleg and pulled a length of cloth from a saddlebag, quickly drawing it tight around the bleeding cut with a yank of his teeth. "It will not slow me down." Satisfied, Desius motioned to his stallions.

"First and second contubernium, stay with the Princesses. Keep that wall tight and don't break off unless you have to. Third and fourth, you're up front with Centurion Lacarius. I don't care if you're Praetorian or Legion -- we are all Equestrians, and I expect you to act as such." Amid the practiced flurry of motion, Imperator Desius took his place at Celestia's side. "Don't worry, Your Highness, we are here for you until our dying breaths."

"Then let us hope it does not come to that," Celestia said. In the distance a war horn sounded, followed by shouts of deertongue combat orders. It would not be long now.

"Luna. Look at me." Her sister's teal eyes stared up from her midnight armor, the first clear sign of fear evident in her wavering jaw. "It will be alright. Stay with me, just like we practiced, okay?"

Luna could only nod weakly, but still she set her lance at her side and readied herself.

Tercio could only guess at the things that must have been going through Celestia's mind at that moment. The nauseating mix of fear, determination and hope were all intimately familiar to him. They never went away, no matter how many times he faced off against another in combat. And yet, he had to marvel at the courage it took to leave the safety of the palace, and see to it that a grave threat to her nation was eliminated. Even if it was a human.

"Honor to Equestria! Honor to the Legion!" a soldier at the front line shouted, echoed by his compatriots. At the rear of the formation, a stallion stood defiantly with the Legion signifier on a tall pole that had been spiked into the ground, the golden letters of "EQ" glinting in the light of nearby torches.

"Honor to the Princesses! Praetoria Victor!" another stallion replied, the battle cry echoing through the forest as the others joined him. As one the soldiers stomped their hooves on the ground, Legion and Praetorian alike. "Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh!"

The finest of Equestria's soldiers bristled with pent-up energy, their rallying shout readying them for war. A rolling thunder sounded before them, the stampeding charge of Whitetail's own mixing with deep horns and a sustained yell of soldiers eager to kill for their cause. In the thick forest it seemed as if the whitetail were all around them, and Tercio could feel Celestia's heart beating like a drum.

"We fight as one," she said to Luna, angling her magical sword to take advantage of her superior height. "Remember what Father taught us: together, we are the very pillar of Equestria's strength."

"Let us hope he was right. If this 'Second' is as strong as they say, we will need every bit of it." Luna thrust her elegant lance, curved at the end like a crescent moon, between the shields of two Praetorians and nodded in approval.

The pounding of hooves grew closer. Not long now.

"Remember, brave stallions, that you fight not only for yourselves, but for everypony in Equestria." Celestia's words were calming and captivating despite her own true feelings, the mark of a truly extraordinary leader. "Luna and I are honored to stand beside the finest soldiers this land has ever known. After tonight, there will be no more slaughter. We will plant ourselves in the good earth and move for no one, and when the dust has settled the good people of Equestria will speak of your names in admiration. History will remember you this day."

The roar of Whitetail's warriors became a cacophony, and in the glow of torchlight the first deer appeared in smooth, crystalline armor. A dozen galloped to either side of him, thin, triangular banners of Whitetail flying from their necks. A second row joined them, then a third, forming a dense wall of blades.

"Hold the line!" the Legion commander shouted, digging his hooves into the ground and drawing his gladius in a cloud of shimmering blue magic. "You do not move from this spot!"

The whitetail were so agile to Tercio's eyes, faster even than those he had fought outside Canterlot, effortlessly jumping over fallen logs and flowing around broad trees like water. The Legion and Praetorian Guard were in for a fight. And yet, there was no sign of the human.

"Brace!"

The charging bucks crashed against the Legion's shield wall with an almost deafening sound, striking with long quinn-blades and lightning-quick knee daggers in a furious, lethal blur. They were met by the thrusting spears and deadly pila of the second and third Equestrian ranks, and for the moment it was impossible to tell who had the advantage.

"Triarii, move right and push through their flank!"

As the Legion maneuvered to gain an advantage against the attacking deer, a second force of whitetail bounded in from the east and rushed directly for the shield dome. Does in light armor stood back behind the cover of trees and telekinetically hurled metallic darts across the gap at a blistering pace, the small but heavy projectiles thudding into shields and embedding themselves in armor.

Desius gritted his teeth as a dart struck him in the shoulder, finding a gap in the protective wall. Nearly twenty deer had approached them unopposed, their segmented, interlocking shields clashing with Equestrian swords.

On his command the wall split open for a brief second, allowing the second ranks, including Luna, to strike with their long weapons. The Princess of the night withdrew her lance, finding its tip covered in blood, and readied herself once more. "It is not so difficult," she said just before an arcing bolt of magical lightning sent the closest pony flying back, his coat singed and smoking. "Sister! To our right!"

"I see them," Celestia yelled back. A flash of yellow burst from her horn, and in an instant a glittering barrier was in place that covered the entire flank. Time and again it was struck by sizzling bolts of arcane energy. The whitetail females were strong in the ways of magic, but they could not hope to pierce Celestia's protective spell. It did not, unfortunately, stop the hail of solid missiles from getting through, and the Princess reeled back in horror as a Praetorian dropped to the ground at her hooves, clutching at a neck wound that was spraying blood in an arterial fountain with every beat of his heart. It spattered her armor and dripped down her forelegs, and she tried desperately to administer aid, yanking a cloth from her saddlebag and pressing it against the stallion's throat. His struggling lasted only a moment longer, and then he was silent.

"Sister! Celestia!" Luna shouted, knocking an armored hoof against Celestia's shoulder. "Do not tarry upon the dead, lest you seek to join them!" Another shouted command by Desius, and Luna lashed out with her weapon, finding her target with the ease and dexterity granted by her powerful magic. Just as quickly she withdrew back to the safety of the shields, her eyes darting between the gaps to find the next deer who dared to challenge her and her new-found confidence.

A short distance away, the Legion had managed to carve into the whitetail force using superior tactics, and were now in the midst of finishing off the second row of attackers, leaving only a solitary group of deer to oppose them. But those last stags were powerful in their own right, veterans of foreign wars, and they would not relent. The fighting became bogged down, with neither side able to gain an advantage over the other.

"Damnation," Desius swore, lashing out and missing with a pilum. A pair of deer sprinted in from the south, heading directly for Celestia with their long blades in front of them. "Praetorians, to the rear!"

The whitetail were in range before most of Celestia's guard could turn. The first, a younger buck, stabbed his weapon forward, its menacing point scraping a gash into her armor. Celestia yelped in surprise and sent a blast of magic in his direction, sending him sprawling back and knocking his companion to the ground.

"Please, surrender," she said in the deer language, but the soldiers ignored her entirely, scrambling back up with shouted swears. Once more she knocked them away, repeating her plea, and only when they attacked her a third time did she finally plunge her sword into their bodies. The sword wounds sizzled and glowed orange-hot as the deer fell limp at her hooves, where they were finished by a trio of death blows from the Praetorians. The smell of blood and burnt flesh turned her stomach as she quickly wiped her blade on the grass in a futile attempt to clean it.

"Your first of many kills," Luna said approvingly, and the smirk that tugged at the corners of her mouth made it clear that she was enjoying herself.

Celestia saw the death and destruction surrounding her, heard the screams of the dying and the wounded, and from his place of view Tercio could almost feel the disgust in the pit of her stomach. "Do not hesitate to strike, Celestia, else you may cost the lives of those sworn to you. Ours is a necessary barbarity this night."

Tercio couldn't be sure how much time passed before the deer started to thin out in numbers, but eventually they seemed to fall back, leaving a large number of dead behind. The Equestrians had paid for their stalwart defense with nearly a third of their number killed or seriously wounded. When the last deer disappeared into the forest, the weary soldiers began the process of seeing to their injuries and tallying the dead for both sides.

That was when he heard it; the familiar elegance of distant deertongue words, but harsh and deep. Celestia and Luna both looked up at the sound, as did many of their soldiers. Resolutely they hefted their shields and weapons again, many groaning at the effort required of their tired muscles while others remained with their bleeding comrades.

"Fal'naas Equestrii faraniin!"

Slaughter the Equestrians without mercy. A phrase so terribly familiar. There could be only one explanation: the human was out there, no longer of his own free will.

A different voice, commanding and powerful, echoed around them like a tolling bell. There came a roaring shout. The whitetail were returning.

Imperator Desius waved his gladius and rallied the soldiers around him. "Defensive formation around the Princesses, all sides! Drag the wounded to the middle, leave the dead!"

Luna stood at her sister's side with her bloodied lance and quickly took a drink from her water flask. "He is here. Is your conviction in doubt?"

"Of course not, but I will not strike him down unless I must. Give him the chance to prove himself, sister." Celestia raised her voice. "That goes for all of you! If the human is truly upon us, then I must ask you to hold back from ending his life if at all possible. Disarm him, but do not think him a monster. I believe him to be merely a victim of foul whitetail magics, and I will do everything in my power to save him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Princess!" her soldiers shouted as one.

"Very well. May you fight bravely."

For a second time the whitetail powered through the forest, but now it was different. The deer had formed into a wedge, three deep and ten across, that was on a collision course with the Equestrian position. Someone shouted for the Praetorians to shore up the northern flank, and as the ponies scrambled to strengthen their formation Celestia caught a glimpse of something else, taller than deer that surrounded it. The creature raised an arm in the air, fully encased in glinting armor with a large battle mace or hammer clasped in its hands. The human had arrived, the centerpiece of a newly reinvigorated whitetail attack. Some of the Equestrian soldiers gasped and muttered to each other at the sight. No one had ever seen a warrior so imposing.

"Hold your ground!" Desius commanded. The deer came at them like a wave, deftly going over or around those who fell to precise pila impacts. "Brace!"

But instead of charging directly into the shield wall, as they had last time, the front row of deer leapt into the air, suspended in clouds of crackling energy, and dropped directly onto the third line of Equestrian defenders. Within seconds the formation was in chaos with the whitetail attacking from multiple directions at once, dividing the Legion and Praetorian Guard's attention. Celestia and Luna fought back against those who had the courage and gall to face them directly, their movements becoming a blur of practiced strikes and dodges. Celestia had found her confidence in combat, perhaps driven by desperation and a will to protect those around her, and together with Luna they brought down half a dozen bucks in short order.

Celestia had just turned back to face the brunt of the attack when a dreadful yell caught her attention. Above the confusion of battle she saw a large, glimmering mace head, like a smoothed boulder made of crystalline steel and covered in blood, rise up before smashing down at a nearly unbelievable speed. Even with the sound of desperate combat she could hear its impact, a wet crunch of snapping bone and shearing iron. A gout of blood shot into the air, and that was the moment she saw him clearly for the first time.

The human was massive in size, taller by a head even than herself, with thick, powerful arms and legs. From head to toe he wore the glassy armor of the whitetail, leaving only a slit for his eyes, and in the instant that Celestia made eye contact with him he seemed to go into a frenzy, his green eyes narrowing at the sight of her. He hefted the huge weapon at his side, more of a hammer than a mace, and charged at her with all of his might, roaring like a blood-crazed beast. Pila bounced off his armor, and the shield wall quickly filled in their gaps to form a solid line of wood and iron between him and the Princesses.

From his place of sight beyond sight, Tercio marveled at the human in a mix of awe and horror. Next to this man, this mountain of strength and fury, he might as well have been a child. The whitetail had chosen their Second wisely.

"Everyone, move out the way!" Celestia shouted, but no one regarded her in all the commotion. "Please, you have to move! I must speak with him!"

It took only a few seconds for the human to close the distance. A swing of his war hammer ripped the shields from two soldiers and shattered their forelegs before an overhead swing pulped their heads in sprays of bone and brain matter.

"What are you doing?" Luna shouted. "This creature is not one of ration or thought! It is a murderous weapon!" With a flap of her wings the Princess rose above the battle and set off on her own, her lance clutched against her side. "If it is our blood you seek, monster, then come and take it!"

The Second raised his weapon with a shout in deertongue and ran straight for her, ignoring ineffectual sword blows as he rushed past the Praetorian Guard.

"Luna! Get back in the formation!" Celestia yelled, but it was of no use. Her sister had already begun to move in for her first strike, diving low over the grass with her weapon poised for a killing blow. "Desius, have your stallions support the Legion! Go!" She quickly unfurled her wings and took to the air, even as the Imperator called for her to come back. She had to help Luna.

A wide, crushing, horizontal swing narrowly missed its target as Luna lifted herself above the human warrior and thrust her lance against its neck. The sharp blade merely caused a jagged scratch as it was deflected, and she swore as another powerful stab bounced off its armor. A third attack, this time under the arm, a traditional weak point in most armor, was equally ineffective.

She hardly had time to recover before a powerful kick sent her sprawling back, tumbling into the grass. The Second was immediately upon her, shockingly fast for its size, and it roared in untold rage as it hefted its hammer over its head. Luna quickly raised her lance for defense; it shattered into a dozen pieces with a flash of magical energy, completely destroyed by the overwhelming force of the human's weapon. Just as the war hammer was about to finish her, a gout of yellow and orange light slammed into the human and staggered him back.

"Are you alright?" Celestia asked as she landed, brandishing her sword in front of her.

"We have lost but a weapon. Your assistance was not necessary."

"Now is not the time for pride. Have you wounded him?" Another beam shot out from her horn, and the Second fell to a knee for a brief moment.

Luna scowled as she yanked Nocturne from its sheathe. "No, its armor is thorough and strong, we--"

"I told you to stay with the Guard," Celestia said firmly. "You would have been killed had I not come. No more foolish attacks, we fight as one." Stepping forward, she raised her voice and stomped a hoof on the ground. "Stop this senseless slaughter!" she yelled in deertongue, the human gazing at her with unfeeling eyes. "We are not your enemies! You can be free of the whitetail! All you have to do is lay down your arms!"

Her answer was a crystalline hammer head smashing into a tree where her neck had been only a second earlier. Chips of rough bark showered against her armor as Luna sprinted forward, slicing diagonally with her magical sword to no effect.

Celestia pleaded for the human to stop. "You can be more than a weapon! You can have a life of your own!" A vicious punch passed by her close enough to toss her mane to the side. She quickly stepped back, and when she looked into the human's eyes she could see tendrils of pure, dark magic, like dead and gnarled vines.

"Vond'wyyl kara shai'dor, Vaal en'driis faralaan! Fal'naas Eqestrii!" he shouted back in a deep, rough voice.

The human slapped his closed fist against his chest and stomped defiantly, as a whitetail might do. For a time Celestia was at a loss for words; perhaps she hadn't expected the human to speak in return, much less with such dire hatred and conviction.

Through your deaths, I am given purpose. Slaughter the Equestrians.

"What did the creature say?" Luna asked, cautiously staying just outside of his range.

"Brainwashed threats, nothing more. There must be another way..."

Frustrated by his inability to destroy the ponies before him, the Second lashed out at a nearby deer, bringing his weapon down hard enough to shatter crystalline armor and snap the buck's spine like a twig. Then, with a surprising burst of speed, he grabbed the murdered soldier's quinn-blade and hurled it like a javelin. Celestia barely had time to throw herself to the ground before it passed over her, grazing her horn and scraping against her golden helm. The momentary distraction was all the human needed to close the distance with a blood-thirsty shout, his war hammer slamming into the ground beside her head as she rolled out of the way in a panic.

Luna threw herself bodily at her sister's attacker, slamming into him with the full brunt of her armor and knocking the giant weapon from his grasp. Powerful flaps of her wings propelled them both along the ground, kicking up a trail of soil and grass, as she stabbed her sword into its armor again and again in a relentless assault. There had to be some weak point, some small gap that she could find and exploit, yet as her magical weapon furiously searched for it she succeeded in nothing more than gouging small holes in the smooth, steel-like crystal. Even its visor was seemingly impregnable, too narrow to allow a blade to fit through. They slammed into a dead tree with a loud splintering of wood, Luna's assault unwavering as Celestia brought herself back up and rushed over to help.

The human grabbed at Nocturne and succeeded in getting a gauntlet around it, pulling on it with all of his might. Luna's horn glowed brightly with a second layer of sparking magic, and she shouted curses for him to release her blade. Just as she managed to wrench it free, both of his large, powerful hands clasped themselves around the armor on her neck, and with an animalistic war cry he bent back the steel and iron plates through sheer strength. Luna panicked and thrashed as her only means of protection was slowly peeled away and twisted, revealing her exposed throat.

Celestia landed roughly beside them, using her momentum and her magic to pull Luna free of the Second's death grip. "Are you alright?" she asked, uncoupling the damaged armor segments with a quick thought. They clattered to the ground, broken and deformed, as the human rose to his feet.

"We will live," Luna said angrily, yanking her fallen sword from the dirt and floating it beside her again.

Behind them, the Legion and Praetorian Guard fought on with the whitetail. The Equestrians had strength in numbers, but the deer were tenacious and well-trained in their own right. For every buck that fell, another pony joined him. Celestia saw Imperator Desius looking over in concern, and she signaled that everything was fine with an upturn of her sword.

"We will join you as soon as we can!" he shouted to her.

The Princess had just turned back when a quinn-blade scraped off her armor with a loud, grinding squeal. Luna's sword deflected the human's weapon away, allowing Celestia to step back and refocus.

"Have you a death wish, Celestia?" Luna spat in anger. "Keep thy focus on thine enemy! A pathetic display of combat prowess from one so learned as thyself."

The human had drawn a long, stabbing sword from a sheathe across his back, and in his left hand he held a vicious looking short axe that bristled with jagged teeth at the end of a heavy, chopping head.

Celestia pointed her sword at the Second, leaving a trail of orange energy as it floated. "I am offering you once last chance to surrender yourself to us. Please, I beg of you, do not resist further. I seek only to help you. The whitetail are not your allies; they think of you as nothing more than a tool to be used against us." Her pleas in deertongue were met with silence.

"As we said, this creature is naught but violence and blind obedience. Tis a shame to see such magnificent power wasted so."

"I would hardly call it magnificent, Luna. Whatever is being used to control him has no place in our world."

"Only because he is not strong enough to use it," Luna muttered under her breath. "We must put an end to this creature. Join us, or stay out of our way." In an instant she'd spread her wings to their full size, an aura of immense magical power radiating from her. Crackling bolts of energy crawled over her body and sank into the ground. "You have had your chance, monster!" she said with the full force of her augmented voice that bellowed forth like the winds of a great storm. "Come, then, and show us what passes for fury among your misbegotten kind!"

In the blink of an eye Luna closed the distance with the Second, using her great speed and sudden rush of power to stagger her opponent with a magical barrier. The human lashed out with his weapons in a barrage of deadly blows, but none of them could match the speed of Luna's assault. She circled him like a whirlwind, plunging her sword into anything she thought might be a weak point. Once or twice she even managed to draw blood, and the human roared in pain and anger as he sought to crush her head in with his hand axe.

Celestia was nearly driven to inaction by the awe of her sister's sudden, unexpected power. Where had she learned such a thing? She had either trained her magic extensively, or, more dangerously, she was using nearly all of it in a single bid. Such a thing would leave her drained and helpless if she had to keep it up for too long, and that would mean the end of her life at the human's hands.

Shutting her eyes, Celestia drew upon the primeval forces of the world. She could not afford to hold back, even if it meant she'd be weakened for days to come. Luna was right -- the human had to be stopped, as much as it pained her to admit.

Taking to the sky she raised her head and drew forth every bit of magic she could muster. A small glow gathered at the tip of her horn, then rapidly grew until it resembled a roiling ball of fire. The forest glowed like mid-day for leagues around, and stallion and buck alike shielded their eyes as Celestia's eyes turned to fields of pure white. Down below her, not too far off, the human had barely taken notice, still locked in combat and exchanging sword clashes with his enemy.

"Luna! Grab his hammer! Now!" she demanded in her most imposing royal voice. With only a moment's hesitation Luna did so, flying away as fast as her wings would carry her. Celestia could feel the power flowing through her body, harsh and primal. She gritted her teeth at the building pain in her head that cascaded down through her muscles. It was too much magic, too quickly, for any one mare to handle. She would only have one chance to get it right.

The human yanked a pilum from a tree and hurled it at her, and in a flash she disappeared, the forest suddenly plunged into darkness. A heartbeat later she appeared directly in front of him, her hooves planted firmly and her body wracked with pain, and with a yell of desperation, suffering and remorse she let loose with the most powerful spell she'd ever summoned. A searing, white-hot beam erupted from her horn in a conical blast that shook the very earth and erupted a great swath of trees into flames, tearing limbs and branches away with the sheer force of a magical assault that even her far more powerful father had hesitated to use in his day. An unfortunate pair of whitetail were caught in its path and incinerated to burning, withered husks. The remaining whitetail turned and fled in a panic as the Second disappeared in the middle of the blazing maelstrom, his angered shout lost in the overwhelming din of magic not seen for centuries.

Celestia collapsed onto the ground as the spell faded. Nearly the entirety of her horn smoldered like a blown-out candle, blackened and burnt, and she lay on the cold ground huddled against herself as the torment came over her in earnest. Tears rolled down her cheeks while she sobbed like a sickly filly and her body twitched and convulsed.

That was when she heard the human. She was barely able to look up, yet what she saw twisted her stomach. The human had survived her magic, but only just. His crystalline armor had heated to the point that it was glowing orange and red. Globules of melted crystal and iron backing dripped and sizzled as they splattered against the soil. In several places it had fused with the human's flesh in a grotesque amalgamation. But worst of all, his helm had been reduced to practically nothing. For the first time she could see his face, darkened and cracked as it was by her spell. Lighter, fairer skin showed itself as he struggled to pull the mangled helm from his head. Blood seeped from his wounds, and where once green eyes filled with anger had stared back at her, now only empty, black holes of burnt flesh met her gaze. He pawed at his tortured face and screamed, not in rage, but in unknowable suffering as he meekly rolled on the ground.

"A most impressive display. Father would be proud that you've taken his teachings to heart." Luna set herself down with a thump of the human's glossy hammer. "Art thou injured, sister?"

"No," Celestia answered weakly.

"It seems this weapon is no longer necessary, then. We must commend you on your quick thinking."

"No, it's not--it wasn't to defeat him, Luna. You...you must use it to..." Celestia doubled over in pain and retched on the ground. "To put an end to his agony. Please. Grant him a merciful death." The human had given up struggling, and Celestia watched him with pity in her heart as he wept to himself, his charred lips moving in the words of a language she'd never heard before.

"Mutter. Mutter..."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Celestia said in a faltering voice as tears freely dripped down her face. She placed a hoof in his twitching hand and looked away.

A terrible exhale of blood spurted from his mouth as Luna brought the hammer down on his chest, cracking his melted armor into sprays of black-green crystal that exploded outward in a sparkling shower. An agonizing moment passed, and again the hammer landed. This time the crunch of armor gave way to the wet cracking of bone and the tearing of flesh. The human convulsed for only a second, a pitiful gurgle his final act before he lay still.

"It is done," Luna said, plunging her sword into the heart of the human to be sure of the kill. "We have slain the Second." She stared at the body in...contemplation? Anger? "We have succeded where Mother and Father failed, sister. There is little more we could ask for. Our citizens may once again sleep without fear." Luna pulled the helm from her head, its dark exterior spattered with blood and dirt, and dropped it at her hooves. "Upon returning to Canterlot we shall begin walking among the dreams of Equestria's commoners. The sleeping mind does not lie, nor does it speak condescendingly in words couched in flowery platitudes. We grow weary of such things, for it is the words of liars and deceivers that have led us here."

She yanked Nocturne from the body with a trail of white magic sheathed in sparkling midnight. "We cannot allow this to happen again, no matter the cost. Swear to us, dearest sister, that such a tragedy shall never befall Equestria again under our watch."

Celestia managed to raise herself to her knees with a groan. "You know I would do anything in my power to--"

"Swear it!" Luna shouted as she took a step forward and glared with barely-contained anger. "If we should find those responsible for this monster, we shall see every last one of them driven unto the blade! Never again shall a human creature walk these lands!"

"That is not our way," Celestia insisted.

"Then perhaps our ways should change."

Luna's contemptuous scowl faded into darkness.

40 - Origin (3/3)

For a time, Tercio saw and felt nothing. Then, like a haze, an image came before him. It snapped into view a mere moment later, where Celestia's eyes were cast down at a scroll. It was a simple thing, a letter from a citizen asking if she and Luna would like to attend a formal event that was being held in the newly-completed amphitheater in Marestopholous. He could see the familiar sparkle of the regally detailed double doors at the end of a long, opulent space, which could only mean that this memory was from a different place entirely -- the throne room.

A stallion approached the dais, clad in glinting steel with a purple crest atop his helm. He was a strong, stocky figure with an air of youth about him, his earthy coat and mane looking plain in comparison. He saluted smartly and stood at rigid attention.

"Princess Celestia, Your Highness," he said reverently.

"Decanus Stonewall, it is a pleasure to see you again. How goes your Praetorian training?"

"It is challenging, but I am committed. On my word, I will not let you nor your sister down, honored be Her name."

Celestia giggled. "At ease, Decanus. We are not so formal as the Equestrian Guard here."

Stonewall was plainly bewildered. It was a look Tercio remembered only too well from his early days.

"Y-Yes, Princess. As you say." He cleared his throat and continued. "I come to you with an urgent message from Imperator Flastius of the 7th Equestrian Guard regiment. He says his stallions were on a patrol when they happened upon a 'strange place'." Stonewall produced a map from a saddlebag and unfurled it, a small area circled in purple ink marked just east of where Whitetail and Equestria's borders met, known as the Tumbling Expanse. Equestrian text could be seen on the other side of the parchment as he read aloud. "Let's see here...Flastius claims that he could feel a great deal of magical energy emanating from it, which was confirmed by three other unicorns in his detachment. They went to investigate and found a relatively small encampment of deer. Whitetail, from the sound of it, but they were not wearing quinn-plate as their soldiers would. Upon their discovery the deerfolk attacked Flastius and his stallions. Two were killed and five were wounded before they ran off into the forest, leaving behind a collection of strange items. He has requested your presence as soon as possible, stating that the arcane forces at work are far beyond his comprehension. Nothing further follows."

Celestia took the map and examined it closely, furrowing her brow at the small strip of unclaimed territory. "Did the Imperator describe what this place looked like, or what it contained?"

Stonewall shook his head. "No, Your Majesty, I'm afraid he did not."

"I wonder...excuse me, Stonewall." Celestia rose from her dais and made the short walk down the hall to the royal chambers. Luna was sitting on her bed, deep into a stack of scrolls. She did not look up, though her ears did perk at the sound of Celestia's approach.

"Sister," she said plainly. "Tis a day of toil and planning, for the beginning of the Great Sowing is nearly upon us. We are quite busy."

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Luna, but I have something you might want to see." The scroll floated to Luna, who grabbed it from the air with her own magic. "Decanus Stonewall, one of the new Praetorians, brought this to my attention. It's addressed from Imperator Flastius."

Luna nodded. "A good soldier would not waste time with frivolities, and Flastius is certainly that. Very well, then." Luna read the note to herself, flipping the map over several times as she did. "A place of great power? This sounds like..."

"A ley line?" Celestia finished for her.

"Yes," Luna said wearily. "Forgive us -- apologies, me -- but I was under the impression that we had discovered all of them within the last two centuries. Our scouts have been through the Tumbling Expanse many times. It does not make sense."

"That's what I was thinking. From the sound of things these aren't Whitetail regulars, so it's unlikely there will be any continued resistance, but if Whitetail finds out about this new font of power they could reignite the war with their redtail neighbors. Or worse."

From the look Luna gave her, it was clear that she knew exactly what her sister meant. "Chancellor Artellus is ambitious. Hopefully he is not so ambitious as to spill blood for it. Do we know if he has learned of its existence?"

"I couldn't say," Celestia answered. "Considering Whitetail has never formally recognized what happened two hundred years ago, much less apologized for it..."

Luna rolled the scroll up and stood before her sister, shorter in stature but no less confident or regal. "Right. It is in the best interests of our nation, and others, to find this ley line and neutralize its properties. We shall venture forth and see to it that Equestria remains safe." She passed the scroll back to Celestia. "Tell the pegasi we will require use of the sky carriage shortly. I must don my armor for the first time in many years."

Celestia winced at the memory of the last time they suited up for combat. It had been something she'd tried to forget, but knew she never could. She was not eager to repeat it. "Stonewall says it's already been evacuated. There's no need to arm yourself."

Luna laughed to herself bemusedly as she withdrew a long box from under her bed. "There is always a need to be prepared, Celestia. Now go. We will make haste to the Tumbling Expanse."

***

Craggy rocks and jutting stone formations made navigation a complicated task for even the most adept of flyers. Land wrong, and one was likely to break a leg or cause a rock slide. The dense outcroppings of the Tumbling Expanse were the epitome of harsh terrain, a virtual labyrinth of ancient paths obscured by time and weather that had rendered it nigh impassable. Yet somewhere down there, in its stone corridors, a powerful place of worldly magic had sprung into being -- and the whitetail had found it first.

The royal sky carriage bumped and jostled as the pegasus guards set down on the rough surface, a small retinue of Praetorians disembarking from a nearby escort wagon to check the area for threats. Finding none, they waved to the stallion in charge and took their places in a standard formation.

Celestia and Luna stepped out of the carriage, both dressed in their armor that had tarnished with disuse, and returned the salute from Imperator Frostbark, an older, experienced unicorn with a sky-blue coat and a mane of snow that was now run through with streaks of grey.

"This place is rich with magic," Luna said confidently. "Do you feel it, sister?"

"I've felt it since we approached. There is definitely something here. Whether it is a ley line or not, I cannot say, but I imagine we'll soon find out." The royal sisters' manes and tails seemed to sparkle vigorously in this place, and even when they were standing idle a faint glow of magic could be seen radiating from their horns.

"It is...intoxicating in its power." Luna took a deep breath and let it flow through her. "If only we could harness it. Control it."

"Some things are beyond even us. Be careful with that line of thinking, Luna." Celestia produced the map from Imperator Flastius from a pouch around her neck and studied it closely. "We appear to be just west of these spires. If we head north by northeast we should come across this place of interest within the hour." Satisfied, she replaced the map and spoke to the Imperator near the carriage. "Frostbark, if you would?"

"It would be my pleasure, Princess," the stallion replied. He stood on his hind legs and circled his hoof in the air with a shrill whistle. "Form up on me! Avarius, Shadetree, you've got the left flank! Slate and Westwind, you're on the right!" He pointed to the largest formation of soldiers, numbering just under a dozen. "You new pups take the rear. Decanus Stonewall, I'm placing you in charge of your fellow milk-drinkers. Try not to fall on your own blade."

"Sir!" Stonewall answered smartly.

"Right, then, that's everyone," the Centurion said, satisfied with his stallions. "Lead the way, Your Highnesses."

***

The trek to the newly-found ley line proved to be free of conflict, but no less exciting for it. For the first time in many years a place of immense power had been unearthed, and its effects could be felt by everyone as they neared its source, unicorn or not. The air was charged with energy that sparked like pink and purple streamers of electricity. For nearly an hour they walked -- though from Tercio's dream-like point of view it felt like an instant -- before finally coming upon a long, gradual ramp that had been carved out of the jagged rock face. Spots and trails of dried blood marred its pristine beauty, a reminder of the Legion's actions against Whitetail's continued meddling with forces beyond their control.

"I do hope the Chancellor is not responsible for this," Celestia said as she followed her guards down the path.

"Whitetail continues to ply these beacons of magic, yet you do not believe him responsible? I do not know whether you are being optimistic or ignorant," Luna replied. "Still, it is not entirely beyond the realm of possibility that some faction within their borders seeks to exploit this place for their own gain. The deerfolk are nothing if not complicated." She gave her sister a stern look. "You remember what happened the last time they found a ley line. We must prepare ourselves to do what is necessary."

The rocky ramp dipped into a small entrance chamber. A Praetorian pulled a torch from his pack, lit it with a flash of magic, and carefully stepped into the chamber beyond. Once he gave the all-clear signal, the princesses followed him in. What they saw nearly took their breaths away.

The entire cave, from top to bottom, was covered in a sheen of incredibly delicate crystals, like a blanket of freshly fallen snow that twinkled in a display that made the night sky look bland by comparison. Larger hexagonal crystals jutted from the walls, glowing faintly with internal magic. Its expanse was at least as large as the Canterlot throne room, if not bigger.

Here the whitetail had made their camp, a collection of tents and burnt-out torches dotting the cavern that had been left in a fit of panic as the Equestrians had stumbled upon it. Pots of cold stew and flasks of water still sat out on small, round tables.

"Stay on alert. We may not be alone here," Frostbark cautioned, keeping his short sword at his side. Celestia and Luna wandered the area together, tiny crystals crunching under their armored shoes, picking through discarded supplies for anything of note. Incomplete letters to home, cooking utensils, bags of vegetables and breads -- nothing useful was to be found.

"Perhaps the deer were merely conducting research into this place's power," Luna suggested as she overturned a bowl of grains, sniffing them cautiously before trotting away with a shrug. "Our own would do the same."

"They were willing to fight for it, there has to be something more here," Celestia said. "Cervidae is making a lot of noise again, threatening to take back their lands by force if Whitetail doesn't give them up. This could be exactly what Whitetail needs to stave off another incursion by their neighbors."

Luna scoffed at the idea. "Empress Maelanynn would be wise to avoid provoking another war. I fear her children may inherit her conflict if she is not careful."

"Elinwynn and Corvalix are too young to be concerned with such things."

"I recall you saying the same for Melanynn when she was just a fawn," Luna reminded her. "Look at her now, advancing into the Northern Lands to 'reunite' the factions under threat of blade and shield. Mark my words, sister, her children will be no different."

A soldier called out from across the cave. "Your Highnesses, we may have found something. You should take a look." Intrigued, Celestia and Luna joined the veteran Praetorian near a long, low wall that met the cave ceiling in a gradual curve. "The floor here has been well-trodden, but stops abruptly. Perhaps a hidden door of some kind?"

"It's certainly possible," Celestia said. She stuck out a hoof and narrowed her brow in concentration. "It's hard to say. This entire place radiates magic. It could be a false lead, something to throw us off. Or perhaps--"

"No," Luna interrupted, stepping forward. "There is something beyond this facade. I can feel it."

"Are you certain? I can't make out anything."

"Open your mind, Celestia. What lies in wait for us is dark magic. I have felt its presence since I arrived, albeit faintly. Only now does it reveal itself. I suggest you prepare yourself for what lies beyond."

The Praetorians took Luna's warning to heart, quickly forming a barrier between the royal sisters and the unassuming crystalline wall. Celestia stepped aside and let Luna take the lead as she prodded with her mind, feeling the tiny changes in the arcane forces around her. There was a barrier in place, of that she was certain -- she just had to find it.

"Here," Luna said. A thin streak of dark blue magic traced out along the wall and formed the outline of a rough entrance way. "I may require your assistance to dispel it." Celestia nodded and stood by Luna's side, and together they dipped their heads and set their long horns against the wall. Dual points of light filled the cave with countless reflections, fading slowly as the magical barrier shimmered and disappeared to reveal a long, dark tunnel carved out of the rock.

"We'll go in first," Imperator Frostbark said without waiting for orders. The tip of his horn glowed a silvery white, gradually disappearing as he and his soldiers worked their way forward. Celestia waited nervously for the all-clear, listening intently for Frostbark's voice, when she heard something entirely different. She perked her ears at the sound, taking a step forward and tilting her head. It was faint, but it was there.

"Luna," she said, "do you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Luna asked.

Forstbark's voice sounded from the expanse. "There's something alive down here! Sounds like a foal!"

The sisters looked at each other in surprise, then quickly followed the cold, cramped tunnel until it emptied into a larger chamber that had been carved out of the glinting rock. Pools of crystal clear water had collected on the floor, mired by the detritus of the whitetails' hasty departure; broken torch sconces, bits of food stores, and the shattered remains of long, emerald colored crystals . Whatever had taken place here, the deer had done their best to deny any real information to the Equestrians.

Celestia stopped in her tracks as a tiny, helpless voice cried out from somewhere, its wails echoing around her. "Just ahead," she told her soldiers and broke into a gallop. Luna quickly ran up beside her.

"What is a foal doing here?" she asked.

"I don't know, but we're going to get it out of this place."

They skidded to a sudden halt on the slick, rocky surface as an immense wall of pain pulsed through them, sending them sprawling with a clattering of armor. Celestia shouted in sudden agony and flung herself back with a panicked flap of her wings, coming to rest in the midst of the Praetorians.

"Princess! Are you alright?" Frostbark ran up to her, a murmur of surprise spreading amongst the gathered soldiers.

"Get...get Luna away from there!" Celestia ordered as a pain like a terrible headache threatened to render her unconscious. Luna's incoherent yells of torment continued unabated, the normally composed princess reduced to writhing on the ground and twisting with unseen pain.

"You heard her, everyone move!" As one the Praetorians rushed to her aid, only to have a third of their number, unicorns to the last, drop as if they'd been felled by invisible blades. The pegasi and earth ponies carried on, pulling Princess Luna back to her sister, then saw to their own. "No magic users past me from this point on! Westwind, make sure the unicorns get water. They'll be alright if they stay back." Frostbark looked to Celestia, who nodded to show that Luna was fine. "I don't know what's going on here, but it's obvious there's far more power than even the princesses can handle. I don't think I need to tell the rest of you that it's probably not a good idea to try your luck. Stonewall!"

"Sir!" Stonewall answered quickly.

"You wanna prove yourself as one of us? Then find out what's causing this, and locate that foal."

"Yes, sir!" He turned to his fellow recruits. "I need six of you to come with me."

As the soldiers gathered around the young Decanus, Celestia slowly rose to her hooves and tried to float a small roll of cloth from her saddlebags. Her horn sparked, and a jolt of magic sent a fresh dagger of pain down her body before she decided it was of no use. Instead, she unclasped the bag with one of her wings and bumped the underside, sending the wrappings up and over the top, where she caught them in her hoof. A quick pull from her teeth tore off a small length of the coarse fabric, and she bent down to press it against Luna's bleeding muzzle.

"That was most unpleasant," Luna grumbled. "I believe we may have found the ley line's source. Do you fare well, sister?"

"I'm fine. I've never felt raw power like this before, at least not from a natural source."

"Then perhaps it is not natural," she suggested. A detachment of Praetorians were cautiously approaching the far wall of the chamber, where a stream had carved a narrow tunnel leading back to the source of the young voice. In the dim light the echoing cries made Celestia's coat stand on end, haunting and strange as they were.

"What do you make of this?" one of the Praetorians asked over his shoulder as he held up a torch to the wall. The slick, brown rock appeared to have been twisted and melted in a roughly circular shape, spiraling like a whirlpool, its center jagged and out of place. Faint swirls of arcane afterglow faded and pulsed just under its surface.

Celestia craned her neck and squinted, but it was too far away to be sure. "I can't say. It certainly looks like the after-effect of a powerful spell, though. If I had to guess, I'd say this is what the whitetail were after. How they managed to get so close to the source of such magic is anyone's guess."

"Right, we'll continue on," Stonewall said. One by one the soldiers squeezed into the darkness beyond, the splashes of their steps getting further and quieter.

"Vile whitetail," Luna said. "Do the depths of their depravities know no bounds? Ever since their civil war they have been a thorn in the side of Equestria, causing naught but bloodshed at every available opportunity. Remind me again why we maintain a facade of good relations with them?"

"Because you know as well as I do that the situation with Whitetail is complicated at best," Celestia answered. "If it's not the Chancellor throwing his coin around to buy loyalty, it's splinter factions of the military insisting on revisiting the glory of centuries past. Even if it means causing harm for those who have no say in the matter, whitetail or otherwise."

Luna gave her a look that said she remembered all too well what the whitetail were capable of. Two hundred years though it may have been, the memories of that dark time were as clear as if they had just happened.

Celestia put on her confident composure and approached the massed Praetorians who were leaning against columns of smooth stone, some of them still rubbing their heads in lingering pain. Imperator Frostbark was seeing to a unicorn whose horn had become blackened near the tip; occasionally a spark of magic would ignite from its length, and the unfortunate stallion would reel back with a gritting of his teeth.

"Are they alright?" she asked in concern. Frostbark finished applying a damp cloth to the soldier's head and stood.

"They'll live. Head pains and sensitive horns to the last, some with involuntary magic bursts. Strangest thing I've ever seen -- but then, I'm no apothecary." He rubbed his chin and said, "something feels wrong about this place, Princess. I've heard of these 'ley lines' before, but I can't recall any reports mentioning magical overloads. I don't suppose you'd know anything?"

"I'm afraid not. I've visited my share of them over the years, but this is different," Celestia said.

"Hmm. Let's hope Stonewall and his charges find what we're looking for. The sooner we can get that poor foal and ourselves out of here, the better."

It took several minutes for the distant cries to cease. There was rampant speculation by the stallions about what the whitetail could have been doing to the unfortunate foal -- if it was even a foal at all. Some said it was a fawn, and that the deer had been experimenting on their own.

They didn't have to wait long to find out. Stonewall's squad returned in short order, a squirming bundle wrapped in cloth peaking over his saddlebag. Those that followed him had looks of confusion, even terror.

"Your Highnesses, we found the child, but..."

"But what?" Celestia asked, quickly trotting over with Luna at her side.

"But...it's not a foal. Or a fawn. I don't know what it is."

Celestia's stomach twisted as she carefully pulled the wrappings from the child's face. Somehow she'd known since the moment they'd first heard its wails. The whitetail, the ley line, the warning of dark magic by Luna, it had all pointed to one inevitable truth that she'd done her best to deny -- another human had been pulled from its distant world, this one barely old enough to keep its eyes open.

"A human?" Luna said in disbelief. "Then it is as I feared."

"Oh, you poor thing," Celestia said to the child, gently placing a hoof against its cradled head. The child opened its eyes and looked up at her, and in that moment a tendril of black magic appeared in its eyes. She jumped at the sound of Luna quickly drawing her blade from its sheathe, turning just in time to see its sharp point floating menacingly mere inches from her face.

"Step aside, Celestia," Luna demanded. Celestia stood in front of the human child, and ordered a very confused Stonewall to stay back.

"What are you doing? Put that away!"

"I am putting an end to this before we repeat the events of two centuries past. Now move, or I shall be forced to move you." Luna glared at her with an anger she hadn't seen in years. Her starry mane and tail had begun to change, ever so slightly, into the pure darkness of midnight.

"He's a child, Luna! He's of no threat to anyone! You're being ridic--"

"He is a child for now, dearest sister, but you've seen what he will become. I cannot and will not stand by and wait for it to become yet another mindless instrument of death. It is in our best interests, as well as that of the child, if we grant it the mercy of a swift death before it can lose itself to whatever foul influences the whitetail have placed upon it. Or have you forgotten the slaughter it brought upon Equestria last time?"

Celestia's mouth was agape at her sister's words. "Listen to yourself! You're advocating the murder of a creature not even old enough to stand on its own! Stand down, Luna, and do what is right." She knew that all eyes were on her, even as the chamber went utterly silent except for the royal sisters' arguing. "We can help him, find him a home. Doesn't he deserve a chance at a decent life?" Luna said nothing in return. "This is not our way. Lower your weapon, and show these stallions that the ideals of Equestria live within you."

For a tense moment Luna kept her sword floating with its point aimed directly at Celestia. Then, with a curse of resignation and anger, she placed it back into its sheathe as Celestia, along with her guards, breathed a sigh of relief.

"This is a mistake," Luna insisted. "You condemn this land to death untold once more, and I will have no part of it. He is dangerous, sister. One day you will see that, but I fear it will be too late. Do not come to me with your mewling when that day arrives."

As Luna trotted off to return to the sky carriage, Celestia turned to her soldiers and let out a sigh. "As of this moment you are all sworn to secrecy. No living soul is to learn of what has transpired here today. Understood?"

"Yes, Princess," they answered as one.

"Thank you. I hate to ask such a thing of you, but I'm sure you can understand this is a difficult situation, to say the least. And please, do not think less of Princess Luna for her actions. She simply has a different view of things."

Stonewall motioned to the restless child in his saddlebag. "What would you have us do with this...hairless ape-creature?"

"Human," Celestia corrected him. Stonewall didn't prod further. "We'll return to Canterlot to make sure he's healthy. I believe I know somepony who would be willing to take in such a unique child, one of the kindest souls I know. I may require use of the pegasi again to find her."

"Give us the word," Imperator Frostbark said.

"After that, I believe a discussion is in order with Chancellor Artellus on the morrow. He has a lot to answer for." Celestia looked to the distorted far wall of the chamber with disgust, her head still throbbing with the remnants of powerful, dark magic, and turned to the young human. "Come, little one. Let's get you away from here."

41 - False Idols

The incorporeal darkness of Celestia's shared memories faded back to reality, the soft glow from her horn dissipating in the confines of the hidden library room. She breathed deeply as the after effects of the taxing spell left her feeling drained, though her immediate concerns were with Tercio. For a brief time he remained slumped against the wall, his head protected by a cushion, before finally rousing from his unconscious state. Groggy and confused, he lifted his head weakly and shielded his eyes from the harsh torch light, groaning at the dull pounding in his temples.

"Easy, easy," Celestia said comfortingly, "the projection of memories is taxing on the mind as well as the body. Rest for as long as you need."

Tercio weakly pulled a water skin from his belt and gulped down mouthfuls of cool water, streams dribbling down his chin in his still-confused state.

"Am I...back?" he asked.

"Yes. No more memories." Celestia touched his cheek with a hoof. "How do you feel?"

Scenes of the past flashed before him, snapshots of a life that wasn't his own, and he winced at the dim burning of the foreign memories. He closed his eyes and saw them as glimpses of light and sound; desperate battles being waged in the forest, the barbarity of the human warrior, the striking shine of the throne room. Most of all he saw himself, over and over, a helpless bundle tucked unceremoniously into a saddle bag, the royal sisters arguing over his fate. That glimpse of the darkness within, like a blade of grass against the whites of his eyes.

"You knew. All this time, you knew," he said quietly as he pieced together his thoughts. "I have been lied to for my entire life. I am nothing but a disgusting whitetail experiment, a living weapon infected with this madness that has caused so much suffering for those I care for."

"Don't say such things," Celestia said sympathetically. "You're more than--"

"All these years I was told I fell from a star. That was a lie. When Polaris said the deertongue word that sent me into a frenzy, you acted as if you didn't know what had happened. That was also a lie, a ruse you continued to cling to even after I nearly ended his life, as well as yours." Tercio clenched his trembling jaw and gradually raised his voice as the anger built within him. "Hiding my origin is something I can somewhat understand, but you allowed me to put others at undue risk."

"I would not have kept you close or given you to a good home if I thought you were dangerous, Tercio," Celestia said, as gently as she could.

"I could have killed you!" Tercio shouted back. "What if the whitetail had found me before I was old enough to resist? Would I have attempted to slaughter my parents as well? My brother? You gave me to them, knowing full well that something profoundly evil resides within me! Did they know all this time, or have you been keeping it from them as well as myself?"

"They knew, from the moment I brought you to them," Celestia admitted

"This whole time they...and-and not just them, but you, Luna, Stonewall and half the old guard as well! I am the last to know, yet it is my life that has affected so many! Perhaps Luna was right. Running me through would have been a mercy."

Celestia allowed him his outburst; sat back and silently waited for a lifetime's worth of painful revelations to bubble to the surface as bitter tears. She wanted to cry for him, at all of the pain she'd caused him by revealing the truth, but she knew she could not. She had to be comforting but strong, for his sake.

"It is a cruel irony that I have dedicated my life to protecting others in the Guard, yet I was brought into this world to be a mindless weapon," he continued with a bitter laugh. "I suppose that explains my name: Tercio. Tertius. The Third. And here Mother had always said I was named for an old relative. Lies on top of lies, even from my own family. Why would they take someone like me into their home if my very name invokes a history of violence and corruption?"

"I think you already know that answer," Celestia said. "Your adoptive parents are kind souls. Your father is dedicated, hard-working and supportive, and your mother is one of the most generous, loving mares I've ever had the privilege to meet. When I brought you to them a few nights after your rescue, they did not hesitate to accept you, even with a foal of their own." She smiled slightly and added, "well, your mother didn't hesitate. Your father thought you were strange-looking, but Grace convinced him to take you in. I told them everything; where we found you, what had happened in the cave, what myself and Luna had seen and felt within you, the fate of the humans that had come before in centuries past. They knew it to be a risk, but Grace was convinced that with a proper upbringing and a loving family you could be someone truly exceptional. I'd say she was right."

Tercio shook his head. "Forgive me, for I do not feel exceptional at the moment."

"But you are, Tercio," Celestia said with confidence. "I have no reason to believe that humans are naturally destructive or violent. We are all products of our surroundings, and it is an unfortunate truth that the human before you was manipulated and twisted by the whitetail to be something against his very nature. In the last moments of his life he was nothing more or less than a scared soul looking for comfort."

"The damned whitetail," Tercio said. "I thought we had been on good terms with them for centuries, at least until the war broke out. How have they been able to keep up this ruse of diplomacy whilst conducting these experiments? Why have they not answered for their crimes? It is due entirely to their malice that I and the other humans have been pulled from our own world for the sake of being their...play-things."

Celestia sighed. "That is a somewhat complicated situation, I'm afraid. I can go into detail if you really want me to."

"Forget it," Tercio answered. "I am in no mood for political discourse." He stood and began to pace the room, looking up to the star-studded ceiling as he muttered to himself. "All of that power was used to bring me to Equestria, as if I could single-handedly change the world. One human against an army of ponies. Ridiculous. They learned nothing from the death of the one who came before me. They just threw his life away for their petty, vile grievances. How has the other human's existence remained a secret if he caused so much destruction?" he asked.

"I swore the soldiers who were there to secrecy, just as I did with your recovery," Celestia said.

"And no one spoke a single word to anyone else? I find that hard to believe."

"Simply put, Tercio, the human's death faded into hearsay and myth, then vanished entirely as those who knew of it succumbed to old age. Luna and I are keenly aware of many things that no one else in the world has ever heard of -- though I suppose it's just myself now." Celestia reached up and swirled the magical stars with a hoof, a regretful frown marring her regal beauty. "Knowing what I know now, it's clear that Luna's actions in that cave were not truly her own. Ever since the battle with the Second, Luna was a different mare. She had always been the more brash of the two of us, but after she took that human's life...I don't know, something changed within her. She'd become corrupted, tainted in some way by the allure of power that was always just out of her reach. I should have seen it sooner. Maybe I could have stopped her from becoming Nightmare Moon." She shook her head and said, "but she was still wrong for wanting to take your life. She feared what you could become, but I think it was misguided jealousy that drove her to act how she did. You had the power she so craved, yet you had not 'earned' it. That was when she sought it out on her own, and the rest, well..." She left her words hanging in the air, unable and unwilling to relive her sister's banishment yet again. "Regardless, you are here now, with a family that loves you, a unit that would fight by your side without hesitation, and a mare who cares for you more than she can say. You should be proud of what you've accomplished, of who you've become. You spit in the face of everything the misguided Whitetail arcanists wanted you to be."

Tercio did not answer, but instead pushed open the hidden door leading back to the royal library. "I...forgive me, Princess, but I have a lot to think about. I need to be alone right now." Footsteps gradually faded as he headed back down the spiral staircase, and Celestia waited until she heard the large entrance doors slam shut before gathering the mementos of Tercio's past back into their ornate box. The truth had finally been revealed, for better or for worse.

"I'm sorry," she said to the silence, finally allowing the tears to run down her face as she latched the box shut.

***

Brother Alfarius of Marestopholous marched proudly alongside his compatriots, clad in matching dark blue cloaks adorned with the crescent moon of their leader, their Dark Mother, their salvation -- Nightmare Moon. They were fewer in number now, but no less determined to do Her bidding after the great battle with the Equestrians in the distant mountains of Whitetail. Their losses had been great, no doubt, yet the determination he saw on the faces of the united encampments made his heart soar with pride.

From all across Whitetail, Equestria, Cervidae and Skytalon they had traveled at Her calling, joining now in the largest force of followers yet conceived since their queen had spread Her glorious word. There was a bustle of excitement among the ranks as rumors bounded like wildfire; they were on a mission of revenge. They would claim lands for their own. Nightmare Moon would finally reveal herself to them as more than just an image of smoke and magic.

Now, with their forces in the thousands, Alfarius was at peace as he trotted across the open plains of the Cervidae/Whitetail border, a cold breeze billowing his cloak and kissing his face. He had found his purpose as the emissary of his queen, the greatest honor he could have ever hoped to attain. He imagined his rewards, and smiled in satisfaction. He had only to wait for his allies to arrive, and once joined they would be unstoppable.

A griffon landed beside him and drew a crescent across her chest in salute. "Brother Alfarius, I bring joyous word of the Cervidaens' approach!" The eager follower could not hide her enthusiasm, nor did she want to. A murmur spread far and wide, cheers echoing all around them. "There are so many of them! The largest force I've ever seen! Truly, this is to be our day of victory!"

Alfarius raised a hoof and returned her smile. "Easy, Sister Galifrey. Let us hear what the deerfolk have to say first. Then we will take our place at their side, should that be their wish."

"Y-Yes, Brother, of course," Galifrey said, then flew off to join a small group of griffons at the far side of the formation.

The Cervidaens were known far and wide as loyal, deadly warriors, a boon to any cause. That they would unite with the machinations of Nightmare Moon was incredible, but She had assured them that loyalty to the coming eternal night was something even the highest powers in Cervidae were allied with. Truly, Nightmare Moon's influence knew no bounds.

Across the vast fields of grass the shining forms of the Cervidaen army marched as one, their sing-song cadences announcing their presence in a wondrous cacophony of voices. Alfarius called for his followers to halt, marveling at the show of force that approached ever closer in wide ranks as far as the eye could see, an unending ocean of glassy, deep emerald armor.

The front ranks of the army shouted their orders, echoed by those behind, and in a single moment the entire formation came to a precise stop. This, Alfarius knew in his heart, was just what his cause needed.

A tall, well-built stag stepped forward as the Cervidaens snapped their shields and lances into place in a show of power. His armor was decorated with golden deertongue lettering around its edges, and lengths of curved silk the color of the lushest forests hung from under the interlocking plates down to his knees. A head dress of fiery orange phoenix feathers framed his pronged antlers, which were decorated with golden trinkets and thin, billowing banners of fabric that fluttered in the wind. Even with a helm partially obscuring his face, Alfarius felt the power and presence of the Cervidaen soldier, like a prickling in his horn that spread down his body.

The stag lifted his visor, revealing a stern, commanding face scarred by battle. Alfarius knelt before him, joined by the thousands of his followers. "My Lord, I am Brother Alfarius of Marestopholous, honored speaker of Her Eternal Grace, Nightmare Moon, and these are my brothers and sisters in faith. I kneel before you a humble servant, in the hopes that you might join our cause."

The mighty redtail considered him with trained eyes, looking out across the field of cloaks and ramshackle armor as a gust of chill wind blew across the valley. "Rise, Brother Alfarius, and be greeted. I am Brother-General Corvalix of the Cervidaen Hegemony, Second of the Court, emissary of Empress Elinwynn, and these are my Exemplars. You will find no finer warriors." Corvalix dipped his head and motioned to his soldiers. Twin formations marched to either side of the gathered loyalists. "Your numbers are impressive. Tell me, did you gather these...believers...on your own?"

Alfarius chuckled at the idea. "No, nothing so grand as that, Brother-General. I am but a mere mouthpiece for our queen. It is through Her cunning and insight that we stand before you."

"Very good. You are to be commended for your faith, my friend. You must excuse my soldiers for their movements, our army is as wide as the day is long, as you can plainly see, and we have important business in Whitetail."

"Of course, of course. You seek vengeance on the false goddess who dares to oppose our queen, yes?"

"Something like that," Corvalix said dismissively as he watched the Cervidaen soldiers march in rigid formation. Some of the crowd called out, perhaps recognizing friends or family from their 'previous' lives, before they'd become servants of Celestia's fallen sister. None of his bucks or does acknowledged the shouts, keeping their vision forward at all times. "Brother Alfarius, it has been requested that I impart a great offer to you. I will only ask once, so answer truthfully: would you be interested in meeting Nightmare Moon?"

Alfarius gasped. Could it really be? "I...I could...truly? She wishes to speak with me in the flesh?"

"She does! Am I to take that as a yes?" Corvalix asked with a smirk.

"Y-Yes! Yes, of course I will! Dark Goddess, I am not worthy!" Alfarius fell to his knees and wept tears of joy as a cheer of pure joy and adoration spread behind him. Immediately his followers began to crowd around him, pushing and jostling in the hopes of catching a glimpse of their leader, excitedly speculating.

Brother-General Corvalix turned to his soldiers. "Nightmare Moon, your loyal followers await you. Do be a dear and a grace them with your presence, would you?"

"You speak to her so casually," Alfarius said in amazement, craning his neck to see over the taller redtail ranks. "Truly you must be trusted company!"

"One could even say she's like a sister to me," Corvalix answered with a grin.

One by one the lines of Cervidaen soldiers parted, giving way to a small retinue of does dressed in silken robes adorned with the emblem of their homeland. These were the Imperial Protectorate, the most gifted of Cervidae's magic users, unmatched in their skill and raw power and chosen to protect the royal family. Arcs of arcane energy crackled between the prongs of their tall, slightly swept-back antlers, and they eyed Alfarius with something close to disdain.

Eventually they, too, split off to either side, bowing their heads and dipping to their knees as a lone figure approached. Alfarius felt his heart flutter and his legs go weak as he prepared to meet his benefactor, quickly brushing any dust and dirt from his worn Equestrian plate mail. A tall silhouette in dark, hooded robes approached, and he averted his eyes in equal parts fear and respect. It stopped just before him and was silent, as if considering the insignificant thing before it.

"Brother Alfarius of Marestopholous. Leader of the True Followers, chosen of Nightmare Moon," the voice said as calm and cold as a winter's night.

"M-My Queen, I am unworthy of your presence! I am but a simple stallion!"

"You are unworthy of my presence. And yet...I stand before you." There was a rustling of fabric, and Alfarius saw the dark robes fall to the ground before him. "Arise, my faithful sons and daughters, and gaze upon me, that I may impart my unbounded wisdom unto you."

Alfarius slowly lifted his head, his heart pounding in his ears, and when he met eyes with the being standing before him he gasped in disbelief. The commotion quickly spread to the gathered masses. "But...but where..."

Empress Elinwynn smiled back in amusement from her imposing height, clad in shimmering sapphire armor plate. Ornate, delicate golden antler chains tinkled as she laughed to herself, no longer caring to continue her ruse. "Is something the matter, Brother Alfarius? Am I not regal enough? Perhaps a bit of magic is in order."

With a sound like distant thunder Elinwynn produced a fog of opaque, glittering darkness that wrapped around her body and splayed over the grass, shifting and swirling like a storm cloud. Her eyes became an unearthly teal with dragon-like slits of pure black, and glinting fangs like polished daggers of white appeared in a wicked smile. Cries of disbelief and dread sounded from the followers of Nightmare Moon.

"Oh, Alfarius," Elinwynn-come-Nightmare Moon said in a mocking voice. "The faithful are so easily fooled. Redtail magic is the most powerful in the land, especially when it comes to...illusions. Did you really think you were communicating with Nightmare Moon? That you had been 'chosen' somehow? You think far too highly of yourself."

Corvalix chuckled at her side, soon joined by the Protectorate does behind him.

Alfarius was speechless. "But...but why? We believed you! We believed in you, in our queen!"

"The weak of will and weaker of mind often grasp at anything they believe will 'save' them from a life without meaning," Elinwynn said as she dropped the magical illusion. "Once I found out that Celestia's far more practical sister had been banished to the moon, I knew the time was right to begin something grand. Something world changing. So I organized a little raid on a Whitetail settlement known as River Run. Perhaps you've heard of it?"

"They say the blood of the innocent turned the river red that night," Corvalix added. "In fact, I'm sure some of those murderers are here in this very crowd. How fortunate. Wouldn't you say, sister?"

"Indeed." Elinwynn had to raise her voice to be heard over the din of confused voices. "Once our disgraceful cousins across the border were convinced of Equestria's blood-thirsty intentions, it was merely a matter of biding my time, perhaps setting a few events in motion. And what better way to do so than via a pack of hopeless, wandering nobodies? An entire proxy army at our disposal, so self-assured in their convictions, so willing and eager to latch onto the first cause presented to them. A chance for revenge against those they perceived to have wronged them." She lifted Alfarius' chin with an armored hoof and smiled a sickeningly sweet smile. "No one would miss you. You and your...followers...were a useful diversion."

Alfarius pushed her hoof away as tears rolled darkened his coat. "No. No, I don't believe you. You are a liar. My true queen will...will..."

"Shhhh, quiet now, Brother Alfarius." Elinwynn gently took him against her chest and ran a hoof through his dark mane. "You should be proud. You performed your duties admirably, as did your brothers and sisters." There was a brief, sharp metallic sound. "But I am afraid your time of service is at an end. Make no mistake: There will be salvation and justice visited upon this land -- but not for you."

A short, broad dagger slid into Alfarius' neck, and he reflexively thrashed and struggled to pull away as blood filled his lungs and sprayed from his mouth in fits of wet coughs and gasps. Elinwynn dropped him to the ground, watching the life drain from his body as Alfarius' followers screamed and swore at the deer that had now surrounded them fully. She passed the dagger to one of her assistants, who wiped the blood with a cloth and slid it back into the holster on her thigh.

She took one final look at the crowd, some of them trying to fly away or even fight their way through the Exemplars and Regulars around them, and turned away. "Kill them all," she ordered, and the lines of Cervidaen soldiers formed back around her.

42 - Desperation

After weeks of planning and preparation, Hearth's Warming Eve had arrived. Canterlot was decorated from top to bottom in the usual holiday regalia, with streamers of red, green and gold lining the streets and symbols of good fortune adorning store fronts and homes alike. A thick layer of snow had fallen overnight and given the city a glittering blanket of soft powder, and its citizens greeted each other warmly and exchanged gifts. Later, they would share meals and tall tales, laughing and drinking into the late hours of Equestria's most celebrated day.

For many of them it would be a bittersweet event, a reminder of the loved ones away at war, and on seemingly every street corner vendors sold trinkets and prayer idols for numerous faiths. Far overhead, silhouetted against an occluded sun, pegasus couriers darted by with saddlebags loaded with well-wishes from distant relatives, some of them flying fast enough to leave colored trails behind. At no other time did Equestria feel quite so alive as it did on Hearth's Warming Eve.

For Tercio, it hardly felt like much of a celebration at all. A mere two days after having the truth of his existence revealed to him by Celestia, he was expected to smile and warmly greet everyone who trotted by as he stood at his post outside of the palace's front entrance. He shivered with every gust of wind, the cold burrowing into his skin and causing his still-healing scars to ache and throb, made worse by the lethargy that had overtaken him since learning of his origins. Wishing for nothing more than a full day's rest, he stood as straight and tall as his spear with his shield placed before him to protect him, at least partially, from the stinging, blowing snow.

"Happy Hearth's Warming," he said as politely as he could manage, nodding to a mare wrapped in winter clothes as she approached the open doors of the grand entrance hall. The middle-aged pegasus smiled back and disappeared around the corner, another pony who had likely heard the same greeting half a dozen times before reaching him.

Tercio's first day back since his disastrous visit home felt decidedly underwhelming. Security was tight this year, and nearly all of the Praetorian Guard was on display around the premises, which meant he was in for a long day of looking important but doing nothing of value. It was an inglorious return, even if the apothecary had advised him to avoid unnecessary stress for a while, lest his wounds heal improperly.

A faint chorus of voices called out from further down the line, out near the tall, iron gates and past the communal gardens. It was echoed twice before it was loud enough to be understood, and Tercio snapped to attention at once.

"Officer on grounds!" he shouted, letting those behind him know to send the order back. On busy days he could expect to do so more than a dozen times, possibly far more. Canterlot Castle did not lack for high-ranking ponies, especially during holidays. A pair of figures approached from the well-trodden path down the hill, a mare and a stallion. The stallion's wooden right foreleg clacked on the ground as he came closer, then stopped.

"Krosus, good to see you're back," Imperator Stonewall said as he pulled a hood down from his head.

"Glad to be back, sir."

"Honey, you remember Tercio, don't you?"

The mare at his side -- Radiance, Tercio remembered -- nodded and smiled, still fetching in her older years. "How could I forget? So wonderful to see you again, dearie. Happy Hearth's Warming."

"You as well, ma'am." Tercio rolled his shoulders and let out a sigh of relief, the first real movement he'd made in hours. "I'm surprised to see you here today, sir. I was under the impression that senior officers had the day off."

"We do, but I wanted to stop by and pick up a few things from my service quarters," Stonewall clarified. "When you serve as long as I have you're practically married to your job. As second wives go, it could be worse," he chuckled. "How long have you been out here?"

"No idea. Feels like an eternity," Tercio said.

"Right, then, I could use a little help moving a few things around to get to what I need. Since I'm all old and decrepit, and you're tall and ugly, you're just who I need. Follow me." Stonewall and his wife began trotting off, and Tercio joined with them after only a slight hesitation. "Don't worry about your post, they can do without your pomp for a bit. Besides, you could probably use the opportunity to escape the cold."

Tercio couldn't very well argue that. "Appreciated, sir."

It was a short walk to the Praetorian quarters, with Stonewall making idle chat with his wife about the palace and how the holiday was "bad for security". Radiance would look up at Tercio and roll her eyes at such things, saying that he took his job too seriously sometimes. Tercio just laughed to himself, amused to see the normally unshakable Stonewall getting poked fun at by his better half.

"Here we are," Stonewall said. "We won't be too long. Come on, Krosus, let's put your grotesque monkey arms to work."

Radiance gave Tercio a look. "Does he always say such things to you? That's not very nice."

"You get used to it," Tercio answered amusedly. "It's harmless, don't worry."

"You're not getting paid to chat up my wife, Krosus," Stonewall shouted from around the corner, already in his chamber.

"Coming, sir!" He heard Radiance giggle as he ran off.

A stack of chests awaited him as he entered the Imperator's personal quarters, lining the western wall and stacked as high as himself. Most of them were marked with a scroll that was secured to the front with a wax stamp and a short description of what lie inside, ranging from transfer and recruitment paperwork to field exercise results and harvest schedules.

"Should be around here somewhere." Stonewall examined each chest in turn, muttering to himself about their contents. "Not that one...or that one...didn't know I still had those...ah, here we are." He stood on his hind legs and tapped a hoof against a dusty, oaken container roughly half the size of the others, stacked near the top. "Grab that for me, would you? Had to have a unicorn move it up there a while ago. Damned fancy magic."

Tercio did as he was asked, gingerly pulling the box out and dusting the top before passing it down.

"Thanks. I've got a nephew-in-law who wants to join the Guard, and I promised him I'd show him some of the things I collected during my younger years." Stonewall lifted the lid and began to sort through a pile of mementos, old medals and keepsakes. "So, I hear your leave was...eventful."

"You could say that," Tercio replied cautiously, wondering how much Stonewall knew.

"Head home with visions of mother's cooking and father's tall tales, and come back with a sword wound. So much for a fit of relaxation away from duty, eh? Shame, that." When Tercio remained quiet, Stonewall pressed on. "I stopped by the medicae facilities when you were unconscious, you know. You may be ugly as sin but you're a good soldier, and I wanted to make sure you'd be alright. Could hardly believe what I heard. Your brother -- Victus, I believe? -- told me some fantastical story about battling the 'dark magic' within you, said you thrust that fancy sword right into your chest in an attempt to destroy it once and for all. Is it true?"

"Yes, sir," Tercio admitted. "All of it. I was determined to no longer be its puppet, even if it potentially cost me my life. Damn near did, too. I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for the sacrifice of Nocturne and the quick thinking of my family..."

"Hmm. Well, I've seen some strange things in my time, but someone being brought back from the dead? That's a new one entirely. You're a lucky bastard, Krosus." Satisfied with the small collection of trinkets, Stonewall closed the box and latched it shut, giving it to Tercio to place back in the pile. "In any case, it's good that you're fit for duty again. And don't worry, I didn't tell the others what happened to you. Thought I'd leave it up to you to decide that bit."

Tercio pushed the small container into place as Stonewall placed his collected items into a small saddlebag. It was the first, and possibly only, opportunity he'd have for a while to speak with his superior in private, yet saying what he wanted to was still difficult. Gathering his courage but failing to find the proper words, he scrambled to get the issue off his chest once and for all.

"She told me everything," he blurted out. "The princess, I mean."

Stonewall stopped in his tracks. "What do you mean, 'everything'? Speak clearly, son."

"Celestia, she shared her memories with me, sir. I don't know how, but she did. She said it was time I knew the truth about where I came from. So we went to this hidden room in the library and she told me -- or showed me, rather -- a lot of things that I...that I have had a hard time coming to terms with. I know all of it now. The other humans, the cave -- you."

For the first time Tercio saw Stonewall look plainly surprised, which quickly faded to concern. "Hold on," Stonewall said after a pause. He approached the doorway and spoke down the hall. "Radiance, why don't you go get yourself something to eat? I may be a while. There's a lot to look through." Once his wife answered, he returned to the room and shut the heavy door behind him. "Sit down, Krosus." He motioned to a pair of large cushions on the floor, taking a seat across from Tercio. "I suppose it was inevitable that you'd find out at some point. Go on, then, tell me what you know."

Tercio went over everything he could remember: the tale of the dark-skinned human who lashed out as soon as he was pulled from his own world, the mountainous man who slayed deer and pony alike in a blind rage, and the crystalline cave where he saw himself being rescued. Stonewall listened intently, holding his tongue until Tercio had his say.

"Everything I've done has been in service of my country," Tercio said, "yet it did not offer me the common courtesy of the truth. I have spent my entire life under false pretenses."

"You weren't ready to know," Stonewall replied bluntly.

"Sir?"

"Yes, it's true; I, and the others with me, knew your true past. Obviously I can't deny that. But it was for your own good." He stuck out a hoof as Tercio started to object. "Let's say for a moment that we did tell you all of this before now. Suppose I approached you as a child and told you that you were not the first human, that your family had not found you lying in a field, and that you existed in our world solely to act as a mindless weapon for the deerfolk. Would it have been any easier to accept? Or would it have changed the course of your life? Look me in the eyes and tell me you would have still become a Praetorian if you'd known."

Tercio had no answer.

"As I thought. Here's the thing about being in a position of authority, Krosus: sometimes you have to keep secrets, even if you wish otherwise, because this job is about more than the needs of oneself. When you joined the Guard, myself and the other officers knew about it the same day. Some of them objected to your presence, or were even outright hostile in their words, but ultimately it wasn't our decision.

When you moved up to the Royal Guard, Princess Luna herself demanded that you be placed back into the rank and file. She knew about your...power, for lack of a better word, and she feared it. Knowing what we know now, maybe she felt you were some sort of threat to her own plans. I can only speculate. Ultimately, it was Celestia who ordered that you should be given a chance to prove your worth, a stance she maintains to this day. The generosity of the princess seems boundless at times. Wisdom that comes from age, I suppose."

"Would you have given me that same chance?" Tercio asked.

"No, probably not. To be honest, I objected to your joining the Praetorian Guard. While I've never 'seen' the brutality of the Second for myself -- Celestia has never shared her memories with anyone else in my time that I know of -- I've heard the stories from her and Luna. I wasn't about to let a berserker loose in my ranks. That day at the training ring, when you attacked Polaris, well...that was the day I'd feared for a long time. I was ready to let you rot away in a cell."

It was a memory Tercio was all too familiar with. The image of Polaris lying on the ground, broken and battered, was one he would never forget, nor truly forgive himself for. "Had I been in your position, sir, I would have done the same, I think."

"You would have if you cared for your stallions. The princess, of course, saw otherwise. She trusted you, despite you trying your damnedest to kill her in the throne room not long after."

"I wasn't aware anyone else knew about that," Tercio ashamedly stated.

"It's my job to know. I watched you like a hawk, Krosus. It was only after the assassin's assault on the cavern that I began to change my mind. You were still a danger to us all, but I've seen you grow and mature to fight against...whatever it is that's inside you. That time when we were up in the mountains for training, and you spoke to me in my tent? That was the first time I thought you might be able to take control of yourself once and for all. I didn't think you'd have to kill yourself to do so, but that's a level of dedication I'm not sure even I could match." He pointed to Tercio's chest. "Not sure I could jab a sword through my own guts. Don't go doing that again."

"It's not an experience I'm eager to repeat, sir."

"Good. We're short on personnel as is. For what it's worth, you've become a fine soldier, and after seeing you in combat more than once, well, I no longer regret taking you in. Odd though you may be in stature, and odder yet in affliction, myself and several others would likely be dead if it weren't for you. So consider this the closest you're going to get to a nod of approval. I don't do that hugging shit with anyone but my wife."

Tercio chuckled. "Thank you, sir. I truly appreciate it. I couldn't ask for a better C.O."

"You're damned right you couldn't! What else am I supposed to do, hand you over to those limp-dicked layabouts in the 7th? Like hell."

"And thank you for being honest with me about my past. It is still something I must learn to live with, and it is not an easy thing, but I will do what I must."

"Had to come out at some point," Stonewall said with a shrug. "Wasn't sure how you were going to react, but you've taken it better than I'd have thought."

"I spent so much time being angry and upset over the last couple of days that it's left me drained, sir. I'm ready to just go back to being a soldier."

"Good to hear it. If you're curious: no one else in the barracks knows about your past. I leave it up to you to tell them, or not, whatever your choice may be." Stonewall saluted with his foreleg over his chest, waited for Tercio to return the gesture, and pushed himself up from the cushion. "Oh, and one more thing before you return to your post."

"Yes, sir?"

"I'm fully aware of your...involvement...with the princess."

Tercio felt his face turn pale. "Involvement? I'm not sure--"

"You can't bullshit a bullshitter, Krosus. I've seen how often you get assigned to night guard duty, or how frequently she requests your presence. I'm not going to chide you for it, or say that it's a terrible idea -- after all, you're an adult, and I'm sure you're well aware of the potential ramifications of falling for her -- just...be careful, and don't be too hard on her for waiting to tell you everything. Celestia is rarely wrong in her decisions, which, I suppose, comes from centuries of experience with such things. If she said she had a good reason for keeping your past hidden, then she meant it."

There was no use in denying it. For an old stallion, Stonewall was still as sharp as the blade at his side.

"I didn't think it was so obvious. How long have you known?" Tercio asked.

"I had some idea for a while, but it was during this last month that my suspicions came to a head. The time you two spend together, the constant worrying while you were in the apothecary's care, even the way you speak of her around the others, it all sort of clicked into place. If you ask me, you're both damned lucky and damned foolish to be in a relationship with the most powerful and beautiful mare in existence."

Tercio gave a sigh and said, "Foolish is certainly what it feels like at the moment. I've not seen her since she shared her memories. I wouldn't know what to say."

"I'm hardly a hopeless romantic, but when things get difficult with my wife I always seek to speak to her plainly. Trust me, she'll appreciate the honesty." Stonewall shook his head. "Gods, look at me. Giving romance advice to a human who's in it with a demigoddess. What the hell happened to being a grumpy old fuck?" He stuck a hoof against Tercio's chest. "Oh, and if you tell anyone about this conversation I'll be forced to arrange your 'accidental' fall off the side of the city. Are we clear?"

"As crystal, sir."

"Damned right." Stonewall double checked the bag at his side and slid his hood up. "Suppose that's enough chatting like a couple of old hens for one day. I've got a wife waiting impatiently for me, and you have to return to freezing your balls off."

***

Battle-Master Gilias soared high above the winding plains of western Whitetail, enjoying the cold air flowing over her feathers and the clean, crisp scent of a winter sky. If she closed her eyes she could almost imagine she was back home in Skytalon, before she'd become an unexpectedly involved part of Equestria's war effort.

What had started as a secretive collaboration with the diminutive ponies had turned into a campaign rife with combat and challenge; there was always someone to fight, be it whitetail patrols or the misguided bastards who followed Nightmare Moon.

Or rather, there used to always be someone to fight. Whitetail hadn't won a major engagement for months, and with Princess Celestia unwilling to lay proper siege to the capital things had turned into a stalemate. Even the cultist camps had dried up after the assault on the mountain stronghold. No, there wasn't much action to be found these days, but she could always head out and clear her thoughts under the pretense of a scouting mission. Swooping down just above the low cloud cover, she lazily rolled onto her back and dipped beneath the snow-packed overcast, watching the ground flash by with a yawn and a much-needed scratch under her chest armor. It wouldn't be long before she'd have to turn back, else she'd end up catching a berating from some tight-assed Imperator or Centurion for crossing into Cervidaen territory.

They can wait, she thought with a smirk. No use wasting a prime flying day. Besides, she figured, it's not like the redtail could hope to catch her even if they did figure out who she was. They'd shown as much interest in the war as she'd shown in their petty blood-feuds, and that suited her just fine. It meant more time to herself.

The serene silence was broken by the distant squawking of countless birds, and when Gilias looked ahead she could see a flock of small, dark figures so massive that it seemed to form a solid wall. Curious, she flew out to the source of the commotion.

The smell hit her keen senses before anything else, a rancid, pungent cloud that pulled the air from her lungs and brought tears to her eyes. Coughing and struggling to fly straight and level, she quickly rose above the ground, above the mass of birds, and hovered in place.

Her eyes widened as the flock dispersed beneath her. Bodies, thousands of them, had been left to rot in a tightly packed square, covered with a thick layer of snow. Holding her breath, she darted to the ground with a powerful flap, shooing away dozens of carrion birds. The dead were from all walks of life -- ponies, deer, griffons, even zebras. To the last they wore dark blue cloaks emblazoned with a crescent moon, many still covered in stolen or repurposed armor that had done little to keep them safe, their faces frozen in deathly screams. Hollow eye sockets stared up at her, the first victims of the birds' feeding frenzy. Ugly wounds covered the ground in a sheen of iced-over blood and entrails.

A long, sharpened blade of conical crystal stuck out from the chest of a nearby pony, one of many, and Gilias yanked it from the body, examining the intricate pattern of lettering that ran along its fuller and down to the basket hilt.

The deer had done this, no doubt about it. Somehow they'd managed to round up and slaughter a veritable army of Nightmare Moon followers -- but how?

With no way to know for sure Gilias took the skies, forcing her way past the cacophonous screeching and cawing that threatened to deafen her, and headed back to the Legion encampment as fast as her wings could carry her.

***

"This had better be worth the trip, Vinawyll."

"It will be, my friends. I promise you."

"Good, because I may never be dry again at this rate."

In an old ruin a small group of whitetail huddled around a crackling fire, shivering as a gust of cold, damp wind drifted in from the weathered, vine-covered entrance. A winter thunderstorm raged outside and blew sheets of freezing rain that stung like a swarm of insects, forcing its way through every crack and imperfection to pool in small puddles across the rough stone floor.

Chancellor Vinawyll thanked the ancestors for the cavernous room he and the others took shelter in even as he cursed the weather. Layers of warm robes only did so much to keep out the damnable chill and torrential downpour of the northwestern territory, far removed from the comfort of Evinwiir.

Seated around him were four of his most loyal followers: Karix, Faendwin, Syndris and Halladros. Senators to the last, they had proven the most ardent in seeing Vinawyll's unification plan come to fruition. Though their numbers were small, their voices were among the most respected in the Senate, and Vinawyll intended to use them to change the course of a war that was all but lost.

"How can we ask Whitetail to persevere if we cannot do the same?" Vinawyll asked, inching closer to the fire.

"I would much rather do so from the warmth of my own chambers, Chancellor," Syndris said.

None among them could be sure how long they had been waiting but, between the insufferable cold and the harsh rain, it certainly felt like the better part of a day. Vinawyll nibbled at a cake made of oats, honey and fruit as he warmed himself, mostly ignoring the small talk between the politicos who even now bickered about the proper course of action. He grumbled to himself at the path the war had forced him to take.

Whitetail was falling to the Equestrian invaders, that much was clear to even the most ardent of nationalists. No amount of reassurances could hide the vast fields of campfires and tents that waited just beyond siege range of Evinwiir's walls, and more mothers lost their sons with every passing day. Food stores had dwindled to their lowest point in Whitetail history, while mobs of hungry, desperate citizens threatened to overthrow the government if decisive action was not taken.

But decisive action was easier said than done, especially with the Equestrians outnumbering their own surviving military three to one. New pony troops frequently rotated in, while weary ones were sent back to enjoy their "Hearth's Warming" holiday and return in good spirits and full strength. It was infuriating and thoroughly depressing to think about; even if Whitetail survived the war, he might not.

Which was exactly why he and his closest senators had volunteered to travel for two days straight, through the middle of the worst winter weather he could remember, for a chance at redemption. Vinawyll closed his eyes and thought of home, thought of being warm in his own bed with his favorite doe servant, and he soon drifted off to sleep, exhausted both emotionally and physically.

***

South-west of the Whitetail capital, Battle-Master Gilias was coming upon the fortified Legion encampment that served as the de facto command post for the regional Guard units. Hundreds of ponies milled about beneath her, but there was only one she cared to find. She stopped and looked around, finding the distinctive, familiar silhouette of a pegasus clad in silver armor with a red crest and cloak.

"Victus! Coming in behind you!"

Victus turned just in time to see Gilias skid to a halt in the snow-covered grass. He took a step back in surprise. The normally calm and collected griffon put her claws on her legs and let out heavy breaths that fogged in the air, unable to speak until she rested back on all fours.

"Are you alright, Gilias? You seem troubled."

"I'm fine," Gilias said as she regained her composure. "A couple thousand moon-worshipers, though, are not. Can we speak somewhere a little warmer? If I had any balls I'd be freezing them off right now."

"Of course. Come." He jerked his head toward a nearby circular tent, one reserved for officers and squad leaders. They found it empty as they stepped inside and, more importantly, a fire was burning in the center. Wisps of white smoke drifted up to a hole in the roof. Gilias reached around and unhooked the buckle on her chest armor, letting it clatter to the ground. Scars of pink, mended flesh marred her plumage, some of them trailing all the way to where her feathers stopped and her brown coat of coarse fur began.

"You'd think I'd be used to the cold after living in Skytalon for so long, but this weather is just so draining on your body after a while." She pulled a flask from a leather pouch and took a deep pull, giving a decidedly bird-like squawk as it burned down her throat and into her stomach. "Fuck me, that's some strong booze. Just what I needed." She offered it to Victus with a shake.

"I'm afraid I'm on duty," he said.

"So am I. Never stopped me before." A moment later she produced a rolled-up map and tossed it over. Victus picked it up and unfurled it, cocking his head inquisitively at the circle of black ink that had been hastily placed somewhere near the border. Two words were scrawled beneath it.

"'Bad shit'?" he read aloud. "You're going to have to explain that one to me, Gilias."

"The assholes I mentioned earlier. I was flying along the border with Cervidae when I saw this huge flock of birds circling over something. Naturally I went to take a look, and that's when I found them: thousands of dead Nightmare Moon followers splayed across the ground. Run through, every last one of 'em."

Victus furrowed his brow. "Not one survivor?"

"Not a single one. If the quinn-blade wounds didn't get 'em, the cold would have. Looks like our deer friends have been busier than we thought."

"You're sure of this? It's hard to imagine the whitetail being capable of such a thing with their forces so depleted."

"I pulled one of the weapons from the body of a cultist myself. Green, crystalline, polished to a mirror shine, just like the dozens of others I saw. That's a deer blade, no doubt. No one else has reported this?"

"No, not that I'm aware of," Victus said. "Admittedly our patrol strength along the Whitetail/Cervidae border is less than ideal, but we hardly ever encounter any combat out that way." He looked a the map again. "Thousands of cultists struck down. I can't say I mourn their loss."

"That makes two of us."

The flap of the tent opened, and Steel Spark stepped half-way into the room before stopping. "Oh, my mistake, Victus. I, uh, wasn't aware you were busy. If now is a bad time..."

"It's fine. The Battle-Master here has discovered something quite strange. If you'd like to join us, we could--"

"No, no, that's, umm, that's alright. I have things I should be doing. Come find me when you're done." Steel Spark cleared his throat. "Good day, Gilias. Victus." He left just as suddenly as he'd appeared.

"Have you ever seen Steel Spark act so strangely?" Victus asked as he turned back to Gilias. "He is not normally so...skittish."

Gilias laughed to herself and took another drink. "Yeah, he's been that way since before your return from home. At least, when I'm around."

"What, is he afraid of you? I find that highly amusing if it's true."

"Might be. I think it's just nerves, though."

"What makes you say that?"

Gilias shrugged. "Because I let him fuck me a few times," she said casually.

"You what?"

"Yeah. After the assault on the Nightmare encampment in the Midlands. Before we went into battle I passingly told him that if he proved himself in combat he could have his way with me, provided he found a warm bed. He saved my ass twice that day, so it was only polite to offer my ass in return. He's been kinda weird ever since."

Victus' mouth hung open as he struggled to find the words. "I...b-but you...I'm not sure..." He buried his face in his hooves. "Gods give me strength. I have enough issues without my squad burying their faces in each others' loins."

"Who are you, my father? Combat is stressful, and there's no better stress reliever, I say. You should try it some time."

"What, with you?"

"Well..." Gilias smirked.

"Nevermind," Victus said quickly. "Let's just get back to the topic at hoof, alright?"

"Fine, fine, have it your way. I mean, you could have it your way if you wanted. Just get me some alcohol first."

"Returning to the topic at hoof," he raised his voice, "I want to know what happened to those cultists. Do you have any thoughts?"

Gilias rubbed her chin. "Hmm...initially, I'd say the whitetail are making a show of force. Slaughtering that many followers would show that their military is still strong, while simultaneously giving a morale boost to their citizens by ridding them of the nuisance that's plagued them arguably more than our own military has. Don't forget, most whitetail think we're heartless murderers and fawn-eaters. Wipe out the Nightmare Moon assholes -- and in larger numbers than even we did at the Midlands, no less -- and you're free to focus the collective anger and resentment of the nation at your enemy. From a military and political perspective it makes sense."

Victus nodded. "I suppose it does. Do you really think the whitetail are capable of such a thing in their current state?"

"Honestly? Not really. I think they had outside help. Mercenaries, maybe, or Cervidaen bands supporting them in secret. It wouldn't be the first time we've found the redtail helping their cousins."

Getting up from his cushion, Victus tucked the map into a pouch on his foreleg. "General Phalanx will want to know about this. In the mean time, I'm going to increase patrols along the Cervidaen border. Maybe whoever did this is still in the area."

Gilias stood up with a stretch. "Couldn't hurt to look around. Let me know when you need me, I'm going to catch some sleep. Alone, if Steel Spark asks. You'd think he was a puppy with the way he's acting." The steel clasp of her chest armor clicked back into place. "You know where to find me."

***

"Chancellor! Chancellor, wake up!"

Vinawyll groggily opened his eyes as someone shook him awake. The fire was still burning, but the rain appeared to have stopped. "Karix? What's going on?"

"They're here! Hurry up and make yourself presentable!"

Quickly he threw off his robes, shivering at the suddenly cold air against his skin, and placed an emerald sash across his shoulders and around his neck. Golden trinkets were floated onto his antlers, secured by small loops of delicate chain. The freezing gusts helped snap him out of his stupor.

"Am I missing anything?" he asked.

"I don't think so," Karix said.

"Where are the others?"

"Awaiting you in the next room."

"Then let us waste no time. Whitetail's future depends on it."

With a deep, calming breath Vinawyll adopted his most regal, commanding posture and marched himself under the arched doorway. It led down a short hall, his hooves clacking on the worn stone, and emptied into a moderately sized, rectangular meeting hall. The other senators stood in the entrance, blocking his way under the pretense of primping and fixing his decorations.

"Do watch your words," Senator Halladros said.

"And do not be quick to buy into their promises. They owe us nothing, and we owe them nothing. Not yet," another senator, Faendwin, the most senior of their number, added in a whisper.

Chancellor Vinawyll peeked over the senator's shoulder, seeing only a row of green armor, shining armor plates. "I can handle myself, I assure you. That said...wish me luck. History changes today, my friends."

The senators parted and took their tiered seats overlooking the proceedings. Gathering himself, Vinawyll stepped out with his head held high.

"May I present Chancellor Vinawyll Sepsis of Evinwiir, third of our age." An orderly in glittering robes announced his presence, and he stepped to the middle of the room, bowing deeply in respect. "Chancellor Vinawyll Sepsis, allow me to introduce you to our most esteemed leader, our light in the darkness, the shining example of all deerkind: Empress Elinwynn of Cervidae, First of the Court, and her adviser and sibling, Brother-General Corvalix."

There would be no going back now. Whatever happened in the next few minutes of negotiations, Whitetail would forever be changed for it. Vinawyll spoke confidently as he kept his head low.

"Your Highness, it is with the utmost joy that I welcome you to our great nation of Whitetail. We have eagerly awaited your presence."

Empress Elinwynn stepped forward and bowed lightly in return, clad in simple, elegant robes of dark blue and gold that draped to the floor. Vinawyll was struck by her beauty, having heard tales many times, but never meeting her in the flesh. She was indeed the ideal of deerkind, just as her orderly had said.

"Please, arise, my dear Chancellor. We are equals here, in this place our two peoples once called home." She ran a hoof along the wall and smiled. "Centuries ago, whitetail and redtail shared an audience in this great theater. Though it is old, and worn, and lacking the luster it once held, it is still here. Still strong. It can be great again, if only we could set aside our differences."

Vinawyll looked to his senators, who nodded in support. "It could be. Your esteemed brother has shared many a conversation with me over the last several months, and it is through him that I hear such grand rhetoric and lofty promises couched in honeyed words. Can you truly back them up with actions? Decisive actions?"

Elinwynn giggled at the thought. "Chancellor Vinawyll, I have already done your nation a great favor. It is a shame you are not aware of it."

"What favor?" Vinawyll asked cautiously.

"Out west, towards the border. If you send a scout, you will find the bodies of three thousand Nightmare Moon followers, slain to the last."

Vinawyll lifted a surprised foreleg. "Three thousand? How did you--"

"I have my ways. The details matter not, only the results. I have effectively ended the disturbances they have been causing you. There may be scattered pockets of resistance left in the wilderness, but never again will they mass in numbers great enough to be a threat." She smiled sweetly. "You're welcome."

The chancellor was speechless. "That was...truly unexpected. Thank you."

"Think nothing of it. Now, let's discuss this silly little war, shall we? I do believe you've waited long enough."

43 - Hearth's Warming

Since its inception centuries ago, Canterlot Castle's grand dining hall had been a place where the modern world was shaped by careful negotiations and extravagant meals. Countless dignitaries, heads of state, military leaders and land barons had graced its sweeping interior, their minds plied with the most lavish food and drink Equestria could create. It was fair to say that Canterlot itself was merely a backdrop for its tall, stained glass windows that provided unparalleled views of the pristine mountainsides and valleys, and indeed many had come simply to admire the sights. When presented with such marvels, few found it within themselves to deny the requests of the royal sisters.

The war with Whitetail, however, had changed many things. Meetings with foreign leaders were few and far between, many not wishing to be seen as taking the side of one nation or the other, and any deals that did see the light of day were made within the confines of a heavily guarded negotiation room.

The grand dining hall was a shadow of its pre-war self, but tonight things promised to be different. For the first time, Princess Celestia had opened its doors to her most faithful of soldiers, those who were willing to give so much in their service to herself and Equestria, her Praetorian Guard.

Seated along a single long table, dozens of attired Praetorians talked and laughed and shared pre-meal drinks. Officers and enlisted stallions, veterans and new recruits -- all shared in the festivities as equals. Their chatter carried up the arched walls, and festive red and white candles lit the long room with a soft glow, their reflections dancing in the ornate windows that marked some of Equestria's most historic moments, silhouetted against a pristine night sky.

Near the forward third of the ornately decorated cherry wood table, Tercio laughed at another one of Rimeberry's off-color jokes. The big earth pony was full of them, and every time he opened his mouth a riotous uproar soon echoed through the dining hall. For Tercio it was a welcome relief from the day's events; the unexpected conversation with Stonewall had left him feeling better about things, but the bitter tang of lingering resentment over the situation still pulled at him during his quiet moments, and the cold weather hadn't done anything to brighten his spirits. Hearth's Warming seemed as though it was going to pass without much fanfare for himself and the others, and he had consigned himself to an inevitable early bed before getting up the next day to repeat the process. It had been a very welcome surprise when he and the others were invited to dinner by Celestia, though the message had come through Stonewall who, in his usual manner, had said "get your shit together, you're all getting fed."

The old stallion and his wife sat at the head of the table along with the other officers. No one wanted to turn down a dinner invitation from the princess herself, even if it meant coming in on their day off. The only ones not in attendance were away from Canterlot on leave, far away from the city.

The "old guard" were dressed in regal, purple togas trimmed with gold, a tradition that hearkened back to the earliest days of Equestria when purple was worn as a sign of peace, or of the prayers thereto.

Tercio's own outfit was far simpler, consisting of his white toga and matching tunic, the latter having a stripe of purple running over his shoulder that marked him as a Praetorian along with his comrades. It was a comfortable outfit for a comfortable evening, made better by the trio of crackling fires that burned away along the walls in their marble and stone hearths.

"So, Tercio, how'd your leave go?" Polaris, the indomitable unicorn who had remained steadfast in his commitments even after Tercio had nearly taken his life, leaned back in his seat and swirled his silver chalice in a cloud of sparkling magic.

"It was...uneventful," Tercio answered cautiously. He'd made up his mind to not tell the others about what had really happened. Few of them would have understood the reasoning behind his actions, and fewer still could have possibly known what he struggled with -- or against. Only Celestia and Stonewall knew the truth, and he trusted them implicitly. "I suppose uneventful is the best we could ask for, eh? Gods know there's enough going on in this city to present us with a lifetime of troubles in a single day. In any case, spending some time home does wonders for the spirits. Shame I couldn't be there tonight with family, but this dinner is an unexpected surprise." He sipped his wine and hoped the answer was sufficient. "How about you? Did you do anything of import while you were away?"

Polaris smiled. "Not a thing. I spent the entirety of my leave being a layabout and stuffing my face with my aunt's finest food. It was perfect."

Rimeberry stuck out his cup. "To laziness!"

"To laziness!" the others said as one, downing the finest of Equestria's wine with reckless abandon. Tercio was just about to reach for a powdered roll when a commanding voice sounded from one of the officers, a stallion from the 12th known as much for his love of food as his love of duty.

"Praetorians! Redi -- laxate!"

The old Equestrian orders brought every soldier in attendance to a formal rest with their backs straight and their heads facing front. Tercio scrambled to put his chalice down and quickly joined them, keeping his arms straight against his side. The hall was suddenly silent, with only the sound of metallic shoes clacking on the polished tiles near the front of the room. Out of the corner of his eye Tercio saw Celestia enter through a tall door, dressed in full regalia.

"Salutare!"

He placed his fist over his chest in the traditional Guard salute and shouted with the others.

"Honor to the Princess! Honor to Equestria!"

Celestia smiled and bowed her head once she took her place near the officers.

"And honor to you, my friends. Please, be seated."

As he sat back down Tercio was finally able to see the princess in all her splendor, and the sight of her caused his breath to catch in his throat. She was dressed in a traditional stola, an outfit not entirely unlike his toga, but far more opulent. Instead of cloth, layers of sheer, shimmering white silk caught the light from a nearby candelabra and showed the faint image of the stylized sun underneath. Embroidered patterns of gold traced an intricate line from her neck down to the hanging hems of her dress. A clasp at her shoulder had been moved slightly to the side, revealing the soft curve of her neck. Across the other shoulder a shawl of delicate, bright red silk hung down to her knees, where it met the thin braids of her leg wraps.

Instead of her usual tri-pointed crown, Celestia's sparkling, flowing hair was decorated with a wreath of golden olive leaves. As a final touch, a single short chain, ending in a glinting ruby, hung from the base of each ear.

"Thank you all for coming tonight, it means so much to me." Celestia's words were sincere and comforting, and Tercio found himself entranced by her beauty, as if seeing her for the first time again. He doubted he was the only one. "Last year, before Hearth's Warming Eve, Princess Luna and I discussed this very thing -- bringing you all together, that we might show our gratitude. Unfortunately, nothing came from it due to having an exceptionally busy schedule, a fact that Luna very much resented. We promised each other that the next year would be different.

By now you all know what happened to her. It is a bittersweet feeling to be here, in front of all of you, yet I hold my head high. Those of you fortunate enough to have met her before her fall will remember the caring, understanding soul who was always available to speak with her subjects -- even if her demeanor could sometimes leave a bit to be desired." She smiled as some of the older officers agreed.

Tercio thought back to the cave, where Luna's insistence on ending his 'threat' before it could take hold played before his eyes all over again. Had Luna truly been so hostile in the years before her coup attempt? Were the smiles and well-wishes to Equestria's citizens merely a facade? He hoped such was not the case.

Celestia continued. "I choose to remember my sister as who she was, not what she became, and I hope you all will, too." A gilded chalice floated in front of her. "To Princess Luna."

"To Princess Luna," the soldiers echoed, taking a commemoratory drink.

"Thank you. Between Luna's fall, the misguided souls who follow her dark teachings, and the war with Whitetail, things can seem bleak at times, I know. Believe me, I know all too well. These long months have been the most difficult I've ever endured, but it is thanks to you and your unwavering dedication, care and ability that I find the strength to carry on. Were it not for you, the attack on Canterlot would have likely cost me my life. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do." She bowed her head in respect. "Equestria has not seen prolonged conflict for many an age, since the time of my mother and father. Many look at our great nation and see it as weak and self-important -- a glorified band of artists, poets, farmers and lovers. Because we are not outwardly hostile they expect us to fall, to lay down and die in the face of aggression. I believe we have proven them wrong."

Shouts of encouragement went up from the dining table, and Tercio raised his drink in a cheer as a smile tugged at the corner of Celestia's mouth.

"Gonna take more than some tree-rutting deer to bring us down!" Rimeberry said over the raised voices.

"Even as we speak, Whitetail is on its last legs. It is unfortunate that they continue to fight us, for I wish them no more losses and hold no grudges against their citizens, but war is not a pleasant thing. I have tried to contact their leader, Chancellor Vinawyll, every day since the outbreak of hostilities. My pleas fall on deaf ears. It is immensely frustrating. Pride, I believe, keeps him from answering. Nevertheless, I have not given up hope of seeing the war end without a prolonged siege. It would be costly to both sides, both in coin and lives. I am not a conqueror, and I will not see Whitetail razed to the ground. Some of you have asked why I do not march into the capital of Evinwiir; now you know my answer."

There was murmuring among them, but most seemed to understand her stance. No one doubted that Celestia was a merciful soul, and her long life gave her a unique insight into politics and international relations that most could only begin to grasp.

"Finally, as we enjoy our meal tonight on this most celebrated of days, let us not forget those who cannot be with us. Thousands of soldiers, just like yourselves, sleep in the cold of Whitetail's harsh winter tonight, with nothing more than canvas tents and fire pits to keep them comfortable. For every stallion on leave, ten wish they were home with their families." Celestia took a moment to compose herself as a tinge of sadness crept into her voice. "One thousand, four hundred and fifteen. That is how many lives we've lost since the outbreak of this war with the deer. Every day I am briefed by our senior officers, and every day I read the names of those who have given everything in service to Equestria. From the attack on Canterlot, where many of you lost good friends, to the taking of Quillyyn Keep, soldiers just like you have fought and died for something greater than themselves. Good stallions to the last. A moment of silence for those we have lost, please."

Along with the others, Tercio dipped his head and said a quiet prayer for his comrades in arms: Strata, who had been brutalized by a spell from Nightmare Moon. Morning Star, the first to fall to the blade of Lacertus the assassin. Venerin, Centus, Frost Wind, Iron Thresh -- and many others he had hardly known.

"As we drink and dine tonight, let us celebrate not just the unification of pegasus, earth pony and unicorn, but those who are no longer with us. Celebrate their lives, my friends, and all the joy they brought to us." Celestia raised her chalice one, last time. "To the fallen."

"To the fallen," the crowd said.

"I know I have already said it, but I will continue to do so: thank you for everything you do. I am honored to share this night with such good company." Celestia stomped her hoof twice, and the side doors swung open to reveal a line of ponies carrying silver trays on their backs. A trio of unicorns floated dozens of bottles of various shapes and sizes, drinks from all across Equestria and beyond.

"Please, enjoy your meal, my friends, and happy Hearth's Warming to you."

***

"Good evening, sir. How fares your night?" A royal guard of modest rank saluted as Tercio passed, clearly struggling to keep himself from staring at the tall human that still looked so strange to those who were new to Canterlot.

Tercio returned the salute and kept walking, offering as polite a response as he could manage. Odd looks were the least of his concerns, and he was in no mood nor condition to speak with another soldier at length. His head ached from the after effects of festive wines and his body screamed for the sleep it could not get, though it was not for a lack of trying. For what had felt like hours he had lain in his bed and attempted to rest to no avail, so preoccupied were his thoughts. He could not sleep, would not sleep, until he had the chance to speak with the mare who had brought him more joy and pain in a short time than anyone else he'd known.

The familiar hallways and marble corridors leading to Celestia's chambers were cold and unwelcoming in the middle of the night, with hardly a torch to be seen. Chilled tiles bit at his bare feet with teeth of frost, and he clutched his tunic and cloth winter wrappings close to his chest for warmth. Another guard, a Praetorian veteran, saluted and let him pass, opening the door to the royal quarters with his magic.

With every step Tercio drew closer, unsure of himself even as he rounded the final corner that led to the princess' room. The curved double doors loomed before him, imposing in their grandeur, and he stopped and listened for any sign of movement within. It was late, but perhaps Celestia was still awake. After a moment he heard the sound of hoofsteps and the quiet, tinkling chime of magic, and with a deep breath he rapped thrice.

There was a pause, then the hoofsteps came closer. "Hello? Is someone there?" Celestia called out hesitantly. Such intrusions in the night were rare.

Not wanting to alarm her, Tercio stepped back from the door. "It's me. I couldn't sleep. I know it's late, but..." The door unlatched itself and slowly swung open as Celestia took a half-step out. "Forgive me, Princess. I considered waiting until another time, but thought it best to come to you now. I can leave if you would prefer -- come back in the morning."

Her expression softened as she opened the door the rest of the way. "No, no, it's alright. Please, come in." She stepped aside and let Tercio pass, then shut the door behind him. "I'm surprised to see you up and about at such an hour."

"I could say the same for you," Tercio replied. Celestia's chambers were surprisingly warm despite the open entrance to her hanging balcony, with a crackling hearth casting long, flickering shadows across the walls.

"Just because it's the holiday, it doesn't mean any less work, unfortunately. There's still a world outside these walls that calls upon me for more than I can reasonably hope to address. On nights like tonight, I'm often up late making sure I can take care of the important matters." Her ruby-tipped earrings swayed as she floated over a scroll and rolled it up, then sealed it with a wax stamp.

"You still wear your formal attire?" Tercio asked. All but her crown remained just as he had seen it last.

"As I said, I've been quite busy since the conclusion of the meal, but at least it's comfortable. It's a lot of work to get ready for such an event. Such is the price of appearances."

Tercio ran his fingers over the soft, silky fabric. "Well I think you look beautiful. I doubt there was a single set of eyes not staring in awe when you entered the dining hall."

She laughed in that way that he was so fond of, playful yet refined. "You're too kind, Tercio."

"It is my pleasure, Princess. After such an extravagant meal, a compliment is the least I could do. I've never had such fine food and drink."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's not often I get the chance to spend time with everyone. We should do so more often."

"You would get no argument from me." His smile faded as he looked around the room, as if someone was going to be lurking in the shadows to overhear his conversation. "I will be honest with you: I did not come by simply for idle chatter."

"I figured as much," Celestia said, then sat on the edge of her bed. Tercio took his place beside her. "What is on your mind?"

"Many things."

"About your past?"

He nodded. "For days I have avoided speaking to nearly everyone. I wanted to tell them all what I found out, but there would be no purpose in doing so, and it would only raise more questions. I couldn't very well begin ranting and raving to the first stallion I came across, lest I appear on the edge of lunacy, and so all of my conflicted thoughts and feelings were left bottled up inside. I feared it would drive me mad. Imagine someone had told you that everything you knew was a lie, and that everyone but you had known the truth all along. Wouldn't you feel betrayed? Angry? Even if your past had been hidden for your own sake, with the best of intentions in mind, it is still your life that has been toyed with."

"I would, and you have every right to be," Celestia said.

"But then, earlier today, I finally had the chance to discuss it with someone, albeit someone entirely unexpected: Stonewall."

"Stonewall? That is a surprise. How did this come about?"

"I was at my post when he and his wife came up the path. He was looking for some keepsakes or something similar for a family member, and he requested that I help him reach a box that had been stacked in his duty quarters. At some point I simply came out and told him that I knew about his involvement in my rescue. He kept quiet as I recounted what you had shown me in your memories -- the humans, the battle, the ley line cave, all of it. He did not seem particularly surprised at what I had to say."

Celestia floated a length of chopped wood into the fireplace. "What you saw was true. Stonewall was there that day, and he did find you. He saw Luna arguing that we should end your life before you could become a threat. But I asked him, and the others, to not say anything to you or anyone else, because I knew that your life would be fraught with difficulties simply from your appearance. Growing up as the only one of your kind in a pony-dominated land was never going to be easy." She placed a hoof on his leg. "That's why I came to your adoptive parents. No one is perfect, but in Grace and Roughshod I saw a kindness and acceptance that few could match. They grew to love you like one of their own."

"And I am thankful for that, despite what has been kept from me, but I would be remiss if I didn't ask: was my joining the Equestrian Guard some sort of plan that you, Stonewall and the others had all along? Perhaps to keep a closer eye on me?"

"Of course not," Celestia said adamantly. "You have always been free to choose your own path. It is your own morals and experiences that brought you to the Guard."

Only a few short days ago, the thought of being kept in the dark about his own life had filled him with a poisonous mix of anger and sadness, yet as he looked into Celestia's eyes he could not find it within himself to blame her for the choices she had made. Her decisions had been made with the best of intentions, as had those of his family. How could he let pride continue to cloud his judgement?

"I'm sorry," he said after a pause, "for how I reacted in the library."

"You don't have to be sorry, Tercio," Celestia said. "Anyone in your stead would have reacted the same way, perhaps harsher."

"No, I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me. Such is the reaction of an adolescent, not a grown man. I spent my days and nights angry at everyone I knew, everyone I cared about, as if they had wronged me in some way. Stonewall was right when he said that telling me sooner would not have helped anything, and would likely have made my life worse. I can only imagine what course I would have taken had I found out as a child that I exist in this world due entirely to the workings of foul whitetail magic, meant only to be a weapon of mindless violence." He rubbed the scar over his chest that was still mending, a permanent reminder of the battle that had occurred within himself. "I am fortunate to be alive and in good health, back with my brothers in battle. I have a family that loves me and took me in out of the goodness of their hearts. For those things I am thankful."

"And they are thankful for you." Celestia smiled comfortingly and asked, "How do you feel now? Do you still have doubts?"

"Only about one thing, Princess. I am ashamed to say it, but during my self-loathing I lost sight of the one thing that mattered to me more than anything else: you. I feared that you'd somehow see me in a different light, as I saw myself."

Celestia's smile faded. "You didn't truly think I would do such a thing, did you?"

"I don't know," Tercio said honestly. "From my point of view, you had no reason to stay with me now that I knew the truth. For a while I even entertained thoughts that the time I spent with you had been nothing more than an attempt to keep me close, just as I imagined my military career was a foregone conclusion. It was a stupid, selfish reaction." He grew restless and had to stand. For a moment he stared into the night sky, leaning against the arch that led to the balcony.

"You were frightened and confused by what you'd learned. There is no shame in that." Celestia rose from the bed and stepped over to him. A gust of cold wind billowed her hair and shimmering fabric. "The fact that you are still here, and that you felt you could speak to myself and Stonewall about it, shows the strength of your character."

"Be that as it may, I must still apologize for my actions, as a soldier and as a man."

Celestia placed a foreleg around his waist, her soft pink eyes shimmering in the light of the moon. "If it will make you feel better, then I accept your apology. But Tercio, I want you to know that I fully expected you to feel hurt and afraid after I shared my memories with you. I debated taking that step for a long time, because I knew it would change your life forever. After your mother broke down before me, shouting that I could have prevented you from possibly dying on that table, I knew we had waited too long." Gingerly she touched his chest. "This wound is as much my own fault as it is the very blade you held in your hands."

Tercio took her hoof in his hands and held it against him. "No, it was entirely my decision. I trusted Nocturne to destroy the dark magic that resided within me, but I had no idea it was so strong."

"Yet you wouldn't have had to take such a drastic measure if I had told you sooner. You deserved to know the truth, even if it meant that I might lose you." Celestia nuzzled his cheek and kissed him gently. "You are more than just a human displaced in our world. Whatever the whitetail may have brought you here for, you have surpassed anything they could have hoped to achieve, and you have done so entirely of your own volition. You should be proud of who you are."

For the first time in what felt like too long, Tercio embraced her. He'd almost forgotten the simple joy that came from the warmth of her touch, the softness of her skin. All of his doubts seemed to melt away when she was close, and in that moment he swore that he would never let his past get the better of him again.

***

Milites Amberstone's lungs felt as if they were on fire, and the muscles in his legs ached with every step as he raced through the long corridors of the mountainside cave he'd chased the whitetail messenger into. Every twist and turn brought him closer to his target. He could hear the messenger swearing in deertongue as a green torch burned at his side, his only source of light. Together their hoof-falls created an echoing cacophony that mixed with their heavy breaths, deadened only by the brief shouts from Amberstone ordering the deer to stop.

The young soldier wondered if he would be disciplined for running off on his own. He did not mean to leave his squad behind, but spotting the whitetail hiding just beyond the trail had left him little time to react. Surely they would forgive him if he brought back valuable information!

After several long minutes a light appeared at the end of the cave system. The deer was making all speed for the exit, slowly putting distance between them in that loping run that looked so strange to Amberstone's eyes.

Left with few options, he focused his mind on the dagger at his side, yanking it into the air and floating it before him, and hurled it at the deer with a grunt of exertion. It whipped through the air, tumbling end over end, and embedded itself above the left rear knee. The messenger gave a shout of pain and stumbled to the ground, cracking his head against a patch of ice at the mouth of the cave and sliding into a snow bank. Amberstone sidestepped the thin trail of blood and came to a halt in the open air, glad to be out of the stone confines and dark passages.

Ahead of him the deer was struggling to get back on its hooves, frantically looking back as Amberstone steadily approached. A shimmering green blade floated unsteadily at its side, rising and falling in stuttering clouds of crackling magic. The emerald torch flickered and died.

"Enough!" Amberstone shouted, pulling his own sword from its sheathe and batting away the deer's weapon. Dark patches of blood tainted the snow around him as his quarry tried to push itself away, futilely thrashing through the snow. Amberstone brought his armored hoof down on the seeping dagger wound, cringing inwardly at the yelp of pain that met his ears. He levitated his sword mere inches from the deer's neck.

"I said enough! Don't fucking move!"The whimpering buck stared at him with panicked eyes, its jaw trembling. "Do you speak Equestrian? Daliith par Equestrii?" He asked, one of the few deertongue phrases he'd bothered to learn. The deer shook his head and scooted back, glancing down at his bleeding wound that was slowly forming into a pool beneath him.

"Nasaliin...need heal. Help."

"Reach for a weapon again and that wound will be the least of your problems. Fucking tree rutter..." Amberstone cut the satchel free from the deer's side and rifled through its contents; a small, wrapped loaf of some kind of seed-bread dotted with dried fruit, a flask of water, a quill and ink well, basic medical supplies, and, most importantly, two scrolls written in deertongue. His eyes lit up at the possibilities. Proper intelligence on whitetail action was hard to come across. He was sure Centurion Long Night would congratulate him for such a find.

"You picked the wrong patrol to spy on, whitetail."

Now that he had what he was looking for, there was the matter of the injured deer beside him. It would be easier and simpler to run him through here and be done with it, he reasoned. Yet as he brought the tip of his sword to the deer's neck, he hesitated. The buck couldn't have been any older than himself, and he didn't have to speak deertongue to understand when someone was begging for their life.

"Goddesses cast me into the pit," he swore as he lowered his weapon. The young whitetail cautiously looked up at him, jerking back as magic enveloped Amberstone's horn. "They'll get more information from you if you're alive, I suppose." He pointed to the dagger wound. "Heal. Heal, kaiyn?"

"Kaiyn," the deer answered, nodding. "Farra'qiin."

"Don't thank me yet. I'm no apothecary." Amberstone quickly inventoried what he had to work with: two rolls of cloth bandages, a poultice for infections, and a small vial of liquid that would relieve pain when drank, if only temporarily. "I hope you're worth the trouble."

Carefully he spread some of the thick, earthy mixture across the bleeding wound. The deer cried out and tried to twitch his leg away, but Amberstone held firm. After a moment he wrapped it tight with a bandage, then pulled the cork from the vial with his teeth.

"Stings like fire, I know, but better than getting the rot. Here, drink this."

Sniffing at the cloudy, green liquid, the deer stopped just short of bringing it to his lips. A flash of pain made him rethink his action, and soon he had downed the foul-tasting solution with a very verbal objection and a fit of coughing.

Amberstone looked over his work. The wound was still bleeding slightly, but not nearly as quickly as it had been. It felt strange, after so many months of combat, to help the enemy, but he knew he could not kill the deer in good conscience.

"Farra'qiin," it said again. Slowly it rose to its hooves and hobbled on three legs, bowing its head.

"Yeah..." Amberstone motioned back to the cave. "Let's go. Long Night is going to flog me for this if I don't get back soon."

In all the commotion, he did not notice the crouching form of an armored stag hidden behind a fallen log in the distance. The tall, strong deer stood as the whitetail and his captor disappeared into the darkness, a light shining from the Equestrian's horn, and he watched them go until he was sure they would not return. Satisfied, he disappeared in a flicker of psuedo-motion, leaving just as quietly as he'd arrived.

44 - Dissent

In Evinwiir, the seat of power in Whitetail, the tranquility of the empty senate chamber was gradually giving way to tired chatter. In the dead of night a group of stags trickled into its expansive interior in ones and twos, clad in green and white robes, many of them yawning or shaking their heads to wake themselves up. A senate meeting at such a late hour was unheard of, a fact that many would have protested had they the strength to do so.

The senators conversed with one another quietly and sipped at cups of hot pine needle tea to warm themselves against the cold night, speculating as to why they had been called upon. They spoke in hushed voices and whispers, yet only a few among them knew the truth of the matter: those who had been near Chancellor Vinawyll during his secretive meeting with the leader of the Cervidaen Hegemony, and they were not saying a word until the time was right.

In a small side room, the chancellor waited nervously. His talks with the haughty redtail leader had been an exercise in frustration and patience at times, but progress had been made in the end. Empress Elinwynn was a shrewd negotiator, just like her brother. Together they represented a force of will the likes of which he'd never seen, and it had taken all of his experience and skill to keep them from trampling on his proposals.

Now he just had to keep the senators from calling for his head. If his prior dealings were any indication, it would be an uphill struggle.

Soon, all nineteen officials had gathered and taken their seats. Many of them looked decidedly annoyed to be called upon so late into the night. Deciding it best to address them before they became unruly, Vinawyll stepped into the main hall. The senators rose out of respect -- be it forced or genuine.

"Please, be seated," the chancellor said. An aide stepped up to him and passed a cup of pine tea, then left with a bow. "Thank you all for coming. I realize that calling upon you at such an hour is unusual, perhaps even unprofessional, but I could not find it within myself to wait until the morrow."

"I hope this is important, Vinawyll," Senator Vaxilis said, getting words of agreement from several others. "I do not take kindly to being roused from my slumber for matters of politics."

"Your job is a matter of politics, Senator," Vinawyll retorted. "You would do well to remember that." He took a sip of his tea as the ill-tempered stag voiced his colorful objections. A bit too tart. I'll have to add a spoonful of honey next time.. "If you're quite done?" he said as the ranting died down. "Let me reassure all of you that I have not taken this action lightly. In fact, there are many things I have been a part of recently that I have lost sleep to. This war -- the very one we have been losing for months -- is one of them. We've had naught but reports of defeat for as long as I can remember, and it seems we suffer a great catastrophe every other week. The fires still burn deep within the smoking crater of what used to be the financial district, a reminder of the brutality of the Equestrians." The room was quiet once more. "I have gathered you here because I have finally found our solution to our problems, a way to end this war that will not result in Whitetail being relegated to a footnote in the history scrolls. If you'll join me in standing once more?" The others stood up with scattered, annoyed mumbles. "My friends, allow me to introduce the sovereign of the Cervidaen Hegemony, the leader of our redtail cousins, and our salvation from the threat of destruction: Empress Elinwynn."

Confusion and annoyance gave way to shock and barely contained outrage from some, relief and praise from others. The harshly divided senators soon turned on each other, hurling insults even as Elinwynn gracefully trotted to Vinawyll's side. She stood unwavering, her true reaction hidden behind a practiced smile as the chancellor called for order.

"It is no wonder you've failed so miserably," she said at last. The senators stopped and looked her way. "I came here expecting to speak with the stags in charge of our oft-maligned neighboring state, and what do I find? A petty rabble that is no more in control of itself than a herd of aimless children. This is the great senate Chancellor Vinawyll has spoken of? I dare say he's been far too generous in his assessments."

Senator Alyys pointed an accusatory hoof. "How dare you come to our halls and--"

"You will show the empress respect, Senator, while she is a guest of Whitetail," Vinawyll demanded. "Do you understand? My apologies, Empress. Please, continue."

Elinwynn did not break eye contact with the defiant senator. "You. What is your name?"

"Alyys. Senator Alyys, Empress." He spat out Elinwynn's title as if its very taste were poison.

"Senator Alyys." A wry smile formed. "I like you, Senator Alyys. There is a fire within you. I would ask that you do not dismiss me so quickly, for you may find we share a common passion for our respective homelands." She paused to allow her words to sink in. "Senators of Whitetail, allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Empress Elinwynn of Cervidae, keeper of redtail traditions and sovereign by heritage." She bowed deeply with a foreleg over her chest, her antler trinkets swaying. "For nine generations my family has held the throne. From the first empress, Aereleth, to my mother, the beloved Melanynn, we have sought to serve the citizens of the proud and mighty Cervidaen Hegemony to the fullest extent of our abilities. Over the centuries we built Cervidae into a nation we could be proud of, one that welcomes all within its borders.

But sadly, there is a black mark on our history that we cannot erase. A great injustice the likes of which has defined who we are not only as a nation, but as a people -- and, in turn, what you yourselves identify as. I speak, of course, of the Great Divide, the civil war that split our proud species in twain." A map was produced from a satchel at her side, showing the old borders of the Ochrourus Collective, as it used to be known. "Many generations ago our peoples lived in harmony. Redtail and whitetail, distinct but united. For a time we were the most prosperous, advanced nation in the world. We developed quinndryll armor while the Saddle Arabians were still figuring out bronze. Our philosophers, poets and architects devised great works of art as the Equestrians warred between their trio of primitive cultures. We were strong. We were proud. But we grew arrogant and selfish.

No one is quite sure what the catalyst was for our inter-species rivalry, but within a matter of years our great nation was divided along ideological and racial lines. Redtail and whitetail became bitter enemies, eventually igniting a bloody war that resulted in the formation of Whitetail and Cervidae."

An elderly senator rose on shaky legs. "With all due respect, Empress Elinwynn, we are all aware of our history. Every school fawn knows this, to say nothing of the experienced stags gathered before you."

"Senator Fondriis speaks the truth," another said. "You seek to lecture us on basic history, yet you make no mention of the atrocities committed in the name of reunification. Since our separation, Cervidae has sought to put us to the blade more times than one can reasonably keep track of. There has never been a generation that has known peace." Several voices echoed him in agreement.

Empress Elinwynn had expected exactly such an objection, and was ready with a counter without a moment's hesitation. She would have to thank her brother later for his extensive knowledge of such things. "Whitetail cannot claim that their hooves are free of blood either, Senator. Twelve seasons ago, a force of three hundred bucks from the 12th Forest Rangers set out to carve out a piece of Cervidaen land. The esteemed Chancellor Artellus, beholden as a justicar of peace and progress by many in this city, gave the order knowing full well it might lead to war. Were you aware of this back then?"

"Artellus was only reclaiming what had been taken a decade earlier from us!" the senator retorted.

"And yet, that stretch of land belonged to Cervidae for three generations prior to your...incursion. In the ensuing battle we lost over fifty soldiers before driving the whitetail away. I would have been fully justified in invading Whitetail then and there, yet I did not. Reunification, my good senator, is something that I fully believe in, and I was not going to let it dissolve before my eyes because your chancellor could not keep his pride separate from his duties." Elinwynn raised her voice to an authoritative but still respectful level, one of the skills passed on by her mother. "It is true that we redtail have been aggressive, even militaristic in the recent past. Under my mother and grandmother, our nations knew war the likes of which had not been seen since the Great Divide. Thousands died, and that legacy is a burden I must carry with me, but those days have passed. Since I took the throne two decades ago, there has not been a major incursion into Whitetail by Cervidaen forces, barring taking back land which was rightfully ours." She shot a look full of daggers at the senator who had called her out. She quickly caught herself doing so, and cursed herself for allowing her true feelings to show through.

"No major incursion?" Senator Vaxillis shouted. "Then what do you call this force you marched across our borders? Do you require sixty thousand bodyguards, Empress? I know all about your 'Regulars' and 'Exemplars' that have done their best to remain hidden." He turned to his fellows and stomped a hoof in defiance. "Do not be fooled by her words! This is an invasion from within, as sure as if she'd slaughtered her way to Evinwiir!"

"I am not here as a conqueror, senator, and I would ask that you refrain from claiming as much. If I had wanted to take over Evinwiir by now, I would have. Or do you think I am somehow hesitant to put sixty thousand soldiers against a depleted, demoralized band of survivors clinging to an old wall?"

"So you don't deny that you're hiding soldiers?"

"I don't deny that I have them. As I recall, this senate and its citizens applauded my brother when he offered to come to your rescue. Has something changed, or are you simply being stubborn?"

Chancellor Vinawyll stepped in, seeking to quash any conflict before it arose."Senator Vaxillis, you cannot deny that our struggle is a lost cause without Cervidaen help. The Equestrians can always field more soldiers, fresh and eager for battle, while ours are weary and overworked. The only reason we're still here to discuss this matter is because Celestia is a fool who refuses to invade this city and strike a killing blow. Mercy may be her greatest strength, but it is also her greatest weakness. With Empress Elinwynn and Brother-General Corvalix at our side, we can take advantage of that weakness and strike at the heart of Equestria's army with a vast band of superior soldiers."

Vaxillis crossed his forelegs over his chest. "That is all well and good, but suppose we do win this war. What then? Surely we would be absorbed into the greater Cervidaen Hegemony, like so many other nation-states. I would sooner die than see Whitetail become a subservient of our greedy, self-righteous cousins."

"Those 'greedy, self-righteous' cousins are offering us a way out of this war without our city being razed or our nation falling to the Equestrians." Senator Karix rose to speak, one of the few who had been chosen to stand with Vinawyll during their meeting with the Empress in the old ruins not even two days prior. In his eyes, there was only one proper course of action, and he intended to see it followed through. "It is time to set aside our pride and our intolerance and embrace the rejoining of our races. If the Equestrians can come together as unicorn, pegasus and earth pony, then what is stopping us from uniting redtail and whitetail once more? Foolish old prejudices, that's what. I, for one, say it is time for us to join our strengths!" Encouraging words answered him from many, but not all, of his comrades. "All in favor?"

"Aye!" came a chorus from the others who had been with him: Faendwin, Syndris and Halladros, along with several others who had been swayed by his words.

"All opposed?" he asked.

Fewer voices responded, but they were louder in their objections.

"Enough!" a young senator shouted. "Am I the only one here who does not wish for either solution? Listen yourselves! This is absolute madness!"

"Senator Praxilus, you have some concerns?" Vinawyll asked. "By all means, voice them."

Praxilus stood tall and adjusted his senatorial robes, doing his best to appear authoritative. As the youngest of the nineteen politicians, barely into his thirties, he was often overlooked by the older stags who considered him to be all bluster and no action, a result of his lack of experience in such matters. But what he lacked in experience he made up for with his unique outlook, detached from the old ways that so many others clung to.

"My fellow senators, I realize that we are in dire straits against the Equestrians. Though it may have been their supposed aggression that started this war, it is that same aggression that has allowed them to inflict so much damage on our great nation. The defeat at Whitetail Wood, the destruction of Quillyyn Keep, the continued losses we take at the end of their blades -- these are shameful moments that we will have to live with, for history will not forget them. Yet for every loss, we have seen great mercies visited upon us, something I have not heard a single one of you mention since the start of the war."

"Great mercies?" someone objected. "That is what you call the slaughter of our sons, brothers and fathers?"

"That is war, Senator Syndris, and it is an ugly thing. Our soldiers against theirs. Yet when the Equestrians marched across our lands, there was not a single report of the ransacking one would expect an invading army to partake in. Earlier this month, they cleared out the largest Nightmare Moon encampment in the Midlands, thus ensuring that no harm would come to those who live within the shadows of those great peaks. Violence against Whitetail citizens has been few and far between, and I have it on good word that those few ponies who do harm civilians are dealt with swiftly and harshly by their commanding officers." He stared down the chancellor, knowing he was placing himself in jeopardy for doing so. "These are not the actions of mindless killers, but of a professional army. You said it yourself: Celestia will not invade our walls, for she is too kind." He raised his voice as his convictions overrode his doubts. "It is our aggression that causes this war to drag on. We should be the ones to end it. I cannot and will not stand by and allow pride to be our downfall!"

Chancellor Vinawyll bristled at the rebellious words of one he viewed as a subordinate. "What are you saying, Senator Praxilus?"

"I am saying we surrender. No more conflict, no more bloodshed, and certainly no intervention from the Cervidaens!" A firestorm of angry words attempted to shout him down, just as he knew they would. They called him a traitor, a coward, a pony sympathizer. Some remained quiet, unsure of whom to support.

Elinwynn stepped forward. "I think you are being quite rash, Senator. Perhaps if you--"

"I did not ask your opinion, Empress." Praxilus had to suppress a smile at cutting off the self-important doe as a look of plain disbelief and disgust came over her. "I don't trust you any more than I trust your back-biting snake of a brother! You speak with honeyed words, and while my older colleagues may be more than obliging in their eagerness to lap up your falsehoods, I am not. We must surrender! Do any of you honestly think Princess Celestia will see our homes burnt to the ground? Has she ever shown even the slightest indication of such atrocities?"

"You forget about River Run," Senator Karix said triumphantly. "And what about the great fire that reduced the entire northern quarter of this very city to a smoking, burning crater? Destruction on such a scale has never been seen! Hundreds died that night, if you've somehow forgotten."

"I am not convinced River Run was the work of the Equestrians at all, Karix. We know now that the Nightmare Moon cultists often wear the armor of their former service days, if only as a sick form of mockery. This entire war may be a lie!" He turned to Elinwynn once more, steeling himself for the words he knew may bring a very abrupt end to his life. "And as for the aetherflame explosion...well, we only have the word of Brother-General Corvalix to go by. Does no one else find it odd that there were no other witnesses to such a monumental event? It is almost as if he just so happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Some of the senators gasped in shock. Elinwynn stared him down with a fire in her eyes, her practiced facade threatening to fall at any moment.

"I suggest you watch your words very carefully, Senator," she said in a voice not at all what it had been. "You accuse my brother, and by extension myself, of high treason and murder. I do not think I need to state how severe these charges are...or how dire the consequences are for those who state such things without evidence."

As much as he wanted to shout her down, Praxilus knew he had to pick his battles. He had already said enough to possibly lose his spot in the senate, and if the doe empress was not appeased she would likely come for him. Her power and influence was too great to think otherwise.

"I am done for the night. Whatever vote you may take, you will take it without me. I will not be a part of Whitetail's destruction from without -- or within." As he marched down the steps the empress stood in front of him, arcs of crackling magic darting between the prongs of her tall antlers.

"I demand you apologize for what you have said, Senator Praxilus. Be thankful my brother is not here, else you would be apologizing to him instead, and he is not so forgiving as I." Praxilus met her gaze and held it, then pushed his way past her. "Senator Praxilus!"

As her shouts faded, the senator was already thinking of what would come next. He had voiced his objections, yet the majority of the others had refused to hear reason. They did not want an end to the war, nor did they care for what happened to Whitetail and its people. They merely wanted someone to follow, no better than sheep bleating at a shepherd. Stubborn and blinded by their own ambitions, that's what they were.

There could be no more doubt, not after tonight. The time for words was over, and the time for action was upon him at last. Disappearing down the street in brief haze of magic, he hoped there was enough time to gather the others.

Whitetail would not die, even if it meant that he might.

***

Sweat trickled down Baer'barisater's brow despite the cold as he swung a hoof-axe at a small tree, striking it repeatedly until it crashed to the ground with a splintering of bare branches. Immediately he set to work chopping it into smaller pieces, building a supply of firewood to stave off the biting wind and freezing air.

Once he had finished, he leaned back against the far wall of his improvised shelter and let his tired body rest. Winter nights in Equestria were unbelievably cold compared to the comfortable, cool weather of Zevran, something he had yet to adjust to, and every gust seemed to drain him just a little bit more than the one before it.

He'd never felt so alone. Even during his voyages into the deadly yellow forests of his birth lands, home to countless creatures of all shapes and sizes that would happily devour him or drain him of his very blood, there was a comforting familiarity to be found. The songs and chants of his village would carry for miles around, and in the relative safety of his treetop hammock he would drift off to sleep and dream of his family's food and the warmth of the community hearth.

These days, Zevran might as well have been on the other side of the world. Ever since joining the Praetorian Guard of Equestria he had fought for his very life against whitetail and cultist alike, spilling the blood of those who would seek to harm the stallions he had grown so fond of. They had embraced him as one of their own with surprising speed. After a while they had even stopped asking him why he joined the Praetorians, and that suited him just fine. He wouldn't have been able to tell them anyway. Not yet.

He would gladly have given his life for any of them, even the human creature called Tercio. In a way he could relate to the tall soldier more than he could with any pony; both were strangers in this land, brought to their positions by a sense of duty and the drive to protect those less fortunate than themselves.

The others had even given him an affectionate nickname -- Bear -- though that seemed to mostly be out of necessity as very few of them could actually pronounce his given name. It was a title he wore with pride.

A twig snapped nearby, and he quickly drew his sword and leapt to his hooves, listening intently for anything that might be a threat. Hearing nothing else, he allowed himself to relax with a deep breath, drawing a wool blanket over his torso for warmth. The dark nights made him jumpy and irritable; if a deer infiltrator didn't get him, a predator might.

Into the long hours of the night he waited, drifting in and out of fitful sleep before the warmth of his camp fire.

"Baer'barisater," a voice whispered. Bear wearily opened one eye, not sure if the Everfree forest was playing tricks on him again. "Baer'barisater!"

Bear jerked awake and stumbled to his hooves, looking around in confusion as he armed himself. "Who is there?" he asked in accented Equestrian. "Identify yourself!"

"It's Caethil," the voice answered. "You were maybe expecting some other visitor in the middle of nowhere?"

Sliding his weapon back into its sheathe, Bear motioned for the figure to come out of hiding. A tall, well-built deer appeared from the darkness, thankful for the chance to warm himself by the fire. The orange glow revealed a kind face that had been marred by conflict, with deep green eyes that stood in sharp contrast to the short, dark fur of his face and body.

"My apologies for keeping you waiting, my friend. It is a long trek from Evinwiir, moreso when one wishes to avoid being seen. To make matters worse, the snow out this way is terrible. I don't know how you put up with it." Caethil pulled a small blanket from a pack at his side and set it on the ground. Covered nearly entirely from head to hoof in layers of winter clothing, he would have looked almost comical if it were not for the dark expression that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"I do not have a choice. Equestrian climes are a humbling experience." Bear sat across from the deer and pulled a bronze flask from beside the fire, taking a drink before tossing it to the other. "Drink, it will warm you from within." He waited for Caethil to have his fill before continuing. "You are sure you were not followed?"

"Positive," Caethil said as he wiped drops of liquid from his mouth with a foreleg. "I wouldn't have contacted you if I thought otherwise. I do have experience with such things, after all."

"Apologies. It is easy to forget when one is weary of all things."

"Only fair."

Bear stoked the fire and tossed another chopped branch onto it. It popped and burned with white smoke before settling into place.

"I do hope you have news. The Equestrians believe me to be on leave for another day, but I can only maintain that facade for so long. Soon I will have to return to them, so if there is anything that needs to be addressed it will have to be here and now."

"I understand," Caethil nodded. "Myself and the others truly appreciate what you're doing, and I know you are putting yourself at great risk to help us, so I will speak plainly: Praxilus brings word of a massive Cervidaen force that has crossed the border into Whitetail. Fifty, perhaps sixty thousand strong."

"An invasion by the redtail?" Bear asked in surprise.

"Worse -- capitulation. He says Chancellor Vinawyll and Empress Elinwynn are working together to reunite the two nations under the old banner of the Ochrourus Collective. Whitetail is desperate to hold on to what they have and refuses to surrender, and in their redtail cousins they see a chance for salvation. Elinwynn is more than happy to oblige, it seems. The senate gave in nearly to the last. Only a few objected, and of those few only Praxilus was brave or stupid enough to make his opinion vocal. Apparently he shouted down Elinwynn and stormed out of the building. There was little he could do to convince the others."

Bear felt a stone in the pit of his stomach. Whitetail had been on the losing side since nearly the outbreak of the war. It was no secret that their forces were a shadow of their former selves, but a united deer front would overwhelm even Equestria's military if such an agreement had been made.

"It gets worse," Caethil said grimly. "Brother-General Corvalix is in charge of both forces. I am in the unenviable position of calling him 'sir'."

"But you are a Brother-Commander, are you not? Surely you are responsible for your own soldiers."

"Not anymore." He stomped a hoof on the ground in frustration. "I run the day-to-day operations, but as of yesterday I cannot move my unit without his say-so. We are nothing more than his thugs, trained dogs he can sic on his enemies while we beg for scraps. I cannot be a part of this, not anymore."

"I do not understand," Bear said. "If your senate is the voice of the people, why has it given in to Cervidae so quickly?"

Caethil laughed bitterly. "The voice of the people? My friend, you do not have much experience with politics, it seems. There has been mounting pressure from Whitetail's citizens to end this war for some time. There's even been a few riots and clashes with armed groups of civilians. But the senators care only for their pockets and their hides. This war is not a popular one, not anymore, yet the average buck or doe has no say in such things. That's why Praxilus was so adamant in defending his stance -- he is truly a good deer. When he approached me about speaking with the Equestrians in private, I knew he was worth protecting." He looked Bear in the eyes. "I am tired of this fighting, Baer'barisater. I no longer believe that we are just in our actions, nor do those under my command, and we certainly do not want to serve the whims of the redtail and their self-important empress. I have spoken with each of them at length, and it is unanimous: we wish to surrender to the Equestrians. They can provide us with protection. That is what you are here for, yes?"

"Among other things. Tell me, what is it that has swayed you so?"

"Mercy." He motioned behind him, toward the direction of Whitetail. "The other day I was on a mission to carry a letter from Evinwiir to Salandros, near the front lines. Along the way I happened upon a young buck who was frantically trying to escape from an Equestrian soldier. I kept myself hidden, knowing full well it could have meant watching the unfortunate messenger die before me, but my task was of the utmost urgency.

Yet when it looked like the Equestrian was going to end the buck's life, he instead chose to bandage his wounds and see him back to their lines. It was at that moment that all of the stories about the brutality of the ponies came crashing down. I had seen kindness which likely would have not been returned had their positions been reversed, and I knew then and there that there might yet be a way out of this damned conflict for myself and my charges." Caethil shrugged. "That's been my hope, anyway."

"It is good that you can speak openly about it. Here." Bear pulled a scroll from his winter tunic and set it at Caethil's hooves. "Follow the directions on this map and you should avoid the majority of the soldiers who might be looking for you, both Whitetail and Equestrian."

"Why not just turn ourselves in to the first Guard patrol we come across?"

"Because the soldiers stationed at the border are distrustful of the deer. What will they think when a group of armed and armored whitetail appear before them? They will see yet another ruse." He shook his head. "No, best to avoid them. Keep yourselves hidden, stay on the path I have marked, and have your soldiers turn themselves in to the Legion. They are the ones who wear red."

Caethil considered the map for a moment, then rolled it up and stuck it in his bag. "You said there were other things you were here for. What did you mean?"

Bear considered his words before speaking. Explaining the culture of Zevran to an outsider was difficult at times.

"I have not always been a Praetorian, Caethil, though I would assume such is obvious to any who see me. Before the war's onset, I was a member of Ambin'aa Korutu, the home guard in Zevran. Our people choose to avoid conflict whenever possible, but we must still keep our martial prowess strong, for we know others do not share our views. That is why I learned to fight.

One late evening, after a long day of training, we were visited by a village elder, a shaman, from the Far Plains. He told us the spirits of our ancestors blessed and watched over us, as many shamans would, but before I was going to bed he approached me with a grim look upon his face. When I asked what was wrong, he told me that he had had a vision. A very upsetting one."

Caethil cocked his head in thought. "Do all zebras have these...visions? Are they real?"

"Not all do, only a few. There is an ancient art to it, a trance that requires specific ingredients in the exact amounts to be boiled in a cauldron and consumed. Too little, and you will see nothing. Too much, and you will die. Those who have learned to master this are greatly regarded. As for whether they are real, I do not know. But from what the shaman told me, I am inclined to believe.

You see, when he took me aside, he said that he had seen a terrible war, one where two armies slaughtered one another in combat that seemed endless in its scope. At the time, the conflict between your nation and Equestria was just starting, so I was not surprised. Everyone knew of it.

I said to him, 'Elder Mdembe, the ponies and the whitetail deer are at war. Surely you know of this.'

And the elder, he shook his head and told me in a grave voice, 'No, Baer'barisater, it is not a war of pony and deer I have seen, but one of conquest unseen since the dawn of our civilization."

"I am assuming he did not mean the whitetail," Caethil said.

"I was unsure at the time, but with what you have told me...no, I do not believe that is what he meant. Which can only mean--"

"The Cervidaens."

"So it would seem." Bear stared at the night sky and reflected on how far he'd come, and what lied ahead. "When I asked the shaman why he was telling me this, he said that he had seen a great light standing before the deer, an immovable force for good. Standing beside that light was myself, as clear as a cloudless day, and around me charged an army so vast that its march shook the very earth. He said that I had been chosen by the ancestors to carry out their will against a great evil, but I would have to find my own way." He patted the sword at his side. "That is why I requested to join the Praetorian Guard of Equestria. The princess and my officers believe I joined to fight the whitetail, which is partially true, but they do not know of what I have shared with you. The ponies were at war, and my knowledge of history has shown me that great conflicts often arise from smaller ones. My choice was clear."

Caethil found himself just as confused as when they'd first spoken. Visions of light, given to the zebra by an old stallion, which had led him to join with the ponies in their fight against his people while acting as some sort of 'chosen one' for a hereto unknown purpose? It was all a little too hard to believe, yet Baer'barisater seemed convinced. If it meant he could see the bucks under his command survive until the war ended, he supposed he could go along with it.

"That is all very noble, my friend, but why tell me?" he asked.

"Because I want you to return with me to Zevran," Bear said with conviction.

"I'm sorry? Could you repeat that?"

"You did not mishear, Brother-Commander Caethil. By all means, take the time you need to get your soldiers across the border and into Legion custody, but do not give yourself in. By the next full moon I will be here again. Come find me. You and I must travel to Zevran, so that you may speak with the tribal leaders in the Council, and ultimately Elder Mwolan'e. Together, we will convince them."

"Convince them of what?" Caethil asked.

"Of the need to unite with Equestria, so that Whitetail may remain free."

Caethil jerked back in surprise. "Do you really think that's possible?"

"I don't know, but we're going to try. We must."

"And what of Princess Celestia? What of your duties?"

Bear allowed himself a knowing grin. "Do not concern yourself with that. I have contacted an old friend, one I know I can rely upon. In a few days time, I will be called away by my home land for our own winter celebration. That is when you will find me waiting. I only ask that you arrive that day." He stood and bowed his head with a foreleg over his chest. "A time of great change is upon us. I cannot reveal to Princess Celestia the truth, or it may put my task in danger, as much as it pains me to do so."

Dusting himself off, Caethil returned the salute with a weary look.

"I fear she will know of the Cervidaens' true intentions long before you can tell her."

45 - Amor Omnia Vincit

For the first time since his brush with death, Tercio felt truly alive again. Gone were the worries and resentment stemming from the revelations of his past, and the innumerable but necessary lies that had come tumbling down around him. In their place, he held a new-found sense of commitment; to his family, his post, and, most of all, his princess. They relied on him, looked to him for strength as much as he did to them, and he knew that nothing would come from feeling sorry for himself.

Maturity and acceptance -- those were the marks of a man, regardless of who he was or where he came from.

And so he vowed to keep those he cared for safe, the same pledge he'd taken upon joining the Guard over a decade ago. A reaffirmation felt good. It felt right.

At the top of his priorities was, of course, Princess Celestia. The mare he'd fallen for, who had once seemed an untouchable demigoddess living on high, had turned out to be more approachable and lovely than he'd ever imagined. Every moment he was with her felt like a waking dream, and he lamented that he could not be with her more.

He still felt a pang of regret when he thought about his actions following the reveal of his true origin. He had lashed out at her and, though she had assured him repeatedly that she had expected such a reaction and did not hold it against him, he could not help but wish he could take it back. Sometimes it felt like they were starting over again, at least to his eyes. He knew he was being hard on himself -- as did Celestia. Her knack for empathy and understanding was what had driven her to request him as her personal body guard for the day.

"It'll be just us," she'd said early that morning, her smile as radiant and warm as the sun itself.

As it turned out, it was exactly what they'd needed. The long hours gave them the chance to talk about many things.

"Tercio, would you mind if I asked you something?" Celestia had asked as they rested on the balcony overlooking the eastern quarter of Canterlot.

"Of course not. Ask anything you'd like," Tercio answered, his helm tucked under his arm.

Celestia hesitated before nervously speaking. "Do you still love me? After what I've put you through?"

Tercio wanted to tell her that she meant everything to him, that she was his strength in the darkest of times. Instead, he had simply walked over, caressed her cheek, and kissed her as lovingly as he could.

"Always," he'd told her, and for a time nothing else existed but the warmth of her embrace and the touch of her lips. It was over far too soon, her duties as Equestria's leader stopping for no one -- even him.

For hours he stuck to her side, overseeing meetings with generals, dignitaries and concerned subjects. Not once did she allow her weariness to show through; she was always calm and collected, patient and kind, with the most pressing of matters. Tercio admired her for many things, but her commitment to her duties was above and beyond anything he could have hoped for himself.

Dusk soon fell as Celestia set the sun to set and the moon to rise. Long shadows cast the valley below into darkness, while Canterlot basked in the fading glow of twilight before it, too, was enveloped in a blanket of comforting night.

"And so ends another day," Celestia said with a sigh of relief. A cup of tea floated to her at the same time her crown and jeweled breast collar were carefully set on a dresser, and she sipped at the steaming drink while Tercio made sure her chambers were secure. "Thank you for staying with me. I know standing guard can be a tiresome and often boring ordeal, but I wouldn't have wanted anyone else."

"It was my pleasure, Princess. Any time spent with you is time I value, duty-related or not. It's been some time since we've had a chance to be with one another for more than an hour or two." A final check revealed nothing to be out of the ordinary. Tercio allowed himself to relax, standing against the wall with his shield and spear at his side.

"I know, and I wish we could be together more often." Celestia put a foreleg around his waist and kissed him, pulling back with a genuine smile. "It's been so wonderful having you around, my love. I nearly lost you to death's embrace, and then again to the memories I'd held onto for so long."

"So long as I draw breath, I am yours," Tercio said, pulling her close once again. "If you so will it, Princess."

"Fortunately for you, Centurion, I do," Celestia replied with a gentle laugh. "So, I have some time left before I should turn in for the night. What would you like to do? We could walk through the gardens and enjoy the sights of the evergreens, or call upon my cook to bring us a meal. Or we could simply sit on the balcony, if you'd prefer."

"Actually, I had an idea I thought you might find interesting."

Celestia perked up an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Though it is late in the day, and I am sure you are probably exhausted, I thought we might try a bit of sparring. I've not had the chance to train with you since before I was injured by the deer, and I'm curious to see how far you've come. If you'd like to, of course."

Celestia considered it as she chewed her lip. "Leave it to a soldier to suggest combat as a way of relaxing," she said with a smirk. "You know what? That actually sounds like it could be fun."

"Really?" Tercio asked in disbelief. "To be honest, I was not expecting you to accept. Consider me surprised."

"I've been standing around and talking all day, I could use a little exercise. Besides, how often is it that we get the chance to do something like this without Stonewall yelling at us?"

"A fair point. Shall we go, then?"

A pair of scabbards floated from under Celestia's bed, their straps looping around her neck and hanging off to one side.

"Lead the way, oh faithful Praetorian."

***

Though he had been there several times before, Tercio still believed Canterlot Castle's private training room to be a marvel of Equestrian design. Magical torch sconces lined the glinting walls and sparked to life as Celestia entered, casting a soft glow of white light that revealed the combat targets against the far wall. A small armory of weapons waited just off to their right, with every kind of personal weapon Equestria had to offer, and a vaulted ceiling kept the room at a comfortable temperature despite the freezing weather. In size it was hardly larger than Celestia's chambers, but without support columns or unnecessary furniture it felt far more open.

"It's been some time since I was last here," Celestia said as she approached one of the tall, narrow windows. A steady snowfall was just beginning to set in, drifting past in delicate flakes. "Polaris keeps insisting I join him more often for continued lessons, but the holiday kept me busy. Hopefully I've not forgotten everything."

"I'm sure it'll come back to you once we get in the swing of things." Tercio set his spear in the corner and stepped to the wooden racks of hanging weapons that lined the wall, just off from the central dirt ring. Gladiuses, longswords, broad-headed and steepled maces, and all manner of daggers were arrayed in rows and columns. Beside them, small collections of spears, throwing pila and training bows rested against a rainbow of shields in all shapes and sizes.

"How has Polaris been, anyway?" he asked as he hefted a short blade, then decided against it. Not enough reach. "I've not seen him for quite a while."

Celestia trotted to his side and made sure her weapons were secured. "He fares well. He was one of the last to get holiday leave, so he likely won't return for a few days yet. I must say, his patience has been exceptional." A frown shadowed her face. "Learning to defend myself once more has been difficult. Before the assassination attempt by that despicable Lacertus, the last time I had raised a weapon was against, well..."

"Secundus," Tercio finished for her, the name he'd decided to give to the unfortunate human who had come before him. Even now he regretted that such a life had been thrown away for the sake of conquest. Were it not for Celestia,he would have likely suffered the same fate. "I can still see it as clear as day. It is a shame he could not be rescued." He grabbed a longsword of his own from the racks and slid it into the scabbard that used to belong to Nocturne. "But let us not dwell on the past right now. You and I have precious little time, and I for one intend to make the best of it."

"As do I," Celestia said, willing herself to forget about those dark days once more. "Shall we get started?"

Tercio assumed a ready stance with his blade, foregoing a shield for the time being. In response, Celestia floated both of her weapons from their sheathes. They bobbed gently just in front of her, one held high and the other low, points out.

"We'll start off easy," he said. "Show me what you remember of the first offensive form."

Celestia nodded, then began her moves. The first few swings were awkward and slow, but she quickly settled into the proper mindset and let her training take over for her. High slash, low block. Mid thrust, high block. Double thrust with a step to the side. Diagonal slashes. She allowed herself a smile as the movements flowed naturally, each swing punctuated by the clang of steel on steel. With a final twirl of her swords she stepped back.

"Very good! Your stances and movements were much more comfortable than when I saw you last. It would seem Polaris has done his job admirably."

"Thank you. I was hoping I wouldn't stumble through everything." As Celestia spoke, Tercio made several practice swings on his own. When he gave a grunt of frustration she asked, "is there something wrong?"

"It's this sword," Tercio answered. "I've not used a new weapon since Nocturne sacrificed itself to save me. I feel...less complete without it. That blade was like an extension of my own body -- perfectly balanced, comfortable to hold. And now? Well, I may as well be wielding a wooden toy for all the good it's going to do me."

"You'll get used to it again," Celestia said, her tone comforting. "Nocturne may have been an exceptional weapon, but you are an exceptional soldier. Even the best sword is only as good as the one who wields it."

"Still, I regret what happened. It deserved better." Taking a calming breath, Tercio returned to his stance. "Let's try some defense this time. Whenever you're ready." As soon as Celestia gave the signal, Tercio began a moderately paced series of strikes, none of which were truly meant to get through her flurry of parries and counter-blows. "Good. Remember to anticipate your opponent's next move. Watch his posture, his eyes. The movements of his body will give away his intentions before his weapons do." A second round of swings, faster this time. As Tercio studied her form he couldn't help but be impressed; the twin-sword style was almost entirely offensive in nature, and required much more effort to stop a killing blow from getting through than a simple sword and board combination, yet she handled it nearly flawlessly.

"This is not as easy as it looks," Celestia laughed as they broke away from each other. "How did I do?"

"Quite well, Princess. I dare say you've got the hang of it." Tercio took a quick drink of water and pulled a shield from the racks, the same curved tower design of his service shield. This particular one, he noticed, had words carved into its wooden backing near the grip: Favius of Stern Bridge, the mightiest of cocks! Scrawled next to it was a very crude image that he could only imagine had been seen by countless others over the years.

"It seems this Favius thought rather highly of himself," he said quietly. He couldn't help but chuckle at it.

"What was that?" Celestia asked.

"Nothing, just an amusing thought," he answered. If no one had brought it to an officer's attention yet, he wasn't going to ruin the fun by revealing it. "It seems you have a firm grasp of the basics, so how about we move on to something more advanced? We'll try some true simulated combat. Since neither of us are in armor we'll have to be a bit more careful, but it should be a reasonable facsimile of the real thing. If you think you're ready, that is."

"Only one way to find out." Celestia's swords sang as she brought them against one another.

"Now there's the proper spirit." Tercio readied himself, bringing his shield up to cover his neck all the way down to his knees. "What would you say to making things a bit more interesting? Perhaps a little wager?"

"A wager, hmm? What did you have in mind?" Celestia asked, intrigued.

"First to three victories. If I win, you have to drink a cup of joiliq, a Zevran, uh, 'specialty', we'll call it."

"Oh dear, I've heard stories about that particular kind of alcohol..." The princess made a sour face at the very thought of it. "Very well! And if you lose, then you have to wear a wreath of perennial flowers around your neck for the entire day, personally created by me. I assure you, it will be most festive."

Tercio imagined himself standing in morning formation with red, pink and white flowers circling his otherwise impressive armor. He would never hear the end of it.

"I suppose I'd better win, then. Right, I'd say we have a deal!"

"I'm glad you agree. Now, prepare yourself, my love, for I intend to show no mercy."

"And here I thought mercy was exactly what you were known for," Tercio retorted.

Celestia took a pair of practice swings. "Not today."

Taking a combat stance, Tercio motioned for her to take the first strike. He did not have to wait long.

The first series of blows rained down on him with a ferocity he'd never seen from her, her movements quick and precise as her many hours of practice took hold. Almost immediately he was on the defensive, throwing his shield up to block one sword while deflecting the other, then bringing it back down to cover himself from a low swing. When a brief opening presented itself, he struck out with a stab from his sword. Celestia sidestepped it and brought both of her own weapons in from opposing sides. One was blocked, but the other stopped just a hair's breadth from Tercio's ribs.

"That's one," she said with a plain look of satisfaction. She'd hardly exerted herself.

"By the gods! Were you holding out on me before?" Tercio was not so lucky, already having broken out into a sweat.

"Perhaps just a bit..."

"Consider me impressed! Looks like I'll have to give you my full attention after all."

Celestia smiled knowingly and said, "I don't know, I think I had your full attention long before we even started. Night has fallen, yet you remain focused on the sun..." She gave a subtle shake of her hindquarters for emphasis, her easy first victory putting her in a playful mood.

"You say that as if it is a bad thing."

"Oh, not at all. It keeps you from winning, doesn't it?"

"We'll see."

This time Tercio took the initiative, sprinting forward with his shield in front of him and his sword resting on top, point out. Celestia quickly stepped to the side, but Tercio had expected exactly such a move and swung wide and to his left, forcing his longsword past the defensive parry and bringing his shield up into her chest. Celestia exhaled sharply and dropped her focus, her weapons clattering to the dirt as she landed in a cloud of dust.

"One all. Are you alright?"

Celestia picked herself up and brushed herself off as best she could.

"I'm okay," she reassured him with a disbelieving laugh. "That was rather unexpected, to say the least. That's going to be sore in the morning..."

"My apologies, I didn't mean to put so much force into it. I'm used to training with other soldiers, and things can get rather physical."

Celestia picked her blades up in sparkling clouds of magic once more. "Luckily for you I am not a delicate flower."

"Though you are as beautiful as one," Tercio said. A moment passed, and he laughed to himself. "That was rather saccharine,
wasn't it?"

"It was sweet all the same. A shame it won't stop me from defeating you handily."

One of her swords rushed out at him, passing by his head as he jumped back in surprise. It circled behind him, coming in from a slight angle and swiping past his tunic. As he turned to block it, the second sword battered his shield with a powerful swing that momentarily drew his attention away. Faced with attacks from two directions at once, he lunged forward and went on the offensive, covering up and making himself a smaller target as he closed the distance. A quick peek over the top of his shield was met by Celestia's hind legs kicking out at him, slamming into his shield and knocking him down in a heap.

"Hmm...do I want to use pink winterbloom, or speckled dragon's hood..." she teased.

Tercio stuck his sword into the dirt and lifted himself up, noticing that the force of her buck had put twin indentations in the wood and iron shield. Either Celestia had remembered everything she was taught so many years ago, or she had been practicing far more than he'd realized. Either way, he was glad to see she had been taking her training seriously -- even if it meant she was winning.

"It's not over just yet," he said, readying himself once more.

"Well, if you insist. You can lay down your arms and give in now, if you like. It would save us both some time."

Her answer was a longsword swishing past her shoulder. She attempted a variant of the same move, this time attacking from either flank at the same time, but Tercio was ready. A vicious swing of Tercio's shield batted away one of the floating blades hard enough to rip it from Celestia's concentration, sending it skittering across the floor. Down to one, she was forced to fight defensively, using low-powered magic spells to keep Tercio at a distance. Shimmering magical barriers sprang up before him, transparent walls large enough to delay him from gaining an advantage. He pushed through them as they appeared, slowed only momentarily. With few other options he hurled his shield across the gap, aimed low enough to not cause any serious damage should it connect, and drew his dagger immediately after.

Celestia quickly flapped into the air to avoid his throw, trying to keep her remaining sword in play. It clashed twice, and as she brought it down for a third strike Tercio brought his sword and dagger together in a V-shape, catching her blade between the cross guards of his own and pulling it down so that it was nearly level with his chest, off to one side.

She tried to pull the weapon away, but Tercio's hold was firm. He managed to get a solid grasp of its contoured grip with his left hand, dropping his dagger at the same time, and with a strong tug he broke it free of her control in a mist of sparkling yellow. Celestia recoiled forward from the magical connection, bringing her just close enough that Tercio could stick out his sword and stop it a short distance from her exposed chest.

"Two all, my dear princess." He picked up the other weapon, then handed them back to her with a smirk as she landed. "If I'm honest, I'm surprised that worked. I did not think removing a weapon from your hold would cause such a reaction."

"Neither did I," Celestia said.

"You can move the sun and moon, but losing a sword causes you to falter? You'll forgive me if I am somewhat confused."

"The sun and moon don't fight back. I know you don't have true magical capabilities, unless you count your inherent resistance to it, but trust me when I say that trying to maintain your focus in the midst of combat is difficult." She levitated her longswords and held them in front of her. "Think of it this way: you have to pay attention to the enemy's movements, right? That's in addition to overall battlefield awareness, as well as your own actions. Now imagine trying to double that level of finesse, and you'll have some idea what it's like. Most unicorns, like our friend Polaris, spend years trying to do that with a single weapon, nevermind two. Keep in mind, as well, that I have not used the full extent of my power in a very long time."

"You mean against Secundus," Tercio guessed.

"Yes. Unleashing that blast of raw magical energy took a permanent toll on me, effectively cutting off a portion of my magic forever. I doubt I could do such a thing again without grave consequences. It was a move of desperation."

"I see. If such a thing were to come to pass again, could you defend yourself adequately?"

Celestia frowned. "I don't know. Let us hope it does not come to that. That's what I have you and the others here for, and why I'm practicing with you."

"Very true." Tercio hefted his shield one last time, already feeling his muscles burning in protest. Sweat had caused his tunic to stick to his body and become uncomfortably rough against his skin, so he lifted it over his head and tossed the damp garment to the side.

For a simple bout of practice combat, it had proven to be quite a challenge.

"From what I've seen so far," he said, "I'd say you've more than sufficiently proven your capabilities in single combat. One more, then?"

"One more," Celestia answered, taking several steps back to her starting position.

"I would ask that you do not hold back this time. I want to see what you're capable of in a full-fledged fight. Do whatever you feel is necessary to win."

"If that is your wish. I do not want to hurt you, though."

Tercio ran the pommel of his sword across his scarred chest. "After what I've been through, I am not worried. Try to avoid running me through, if you can, but other than that..." He clapped his sword against his tower shield twice. "Whenever you're ready."

In truth, Tercio did not expect to win. Though he cringed at the thought of being the palace's most colorful of decorations for a day, it was ultimately a small price to pay to make sure Celestia was willing and able to defeat any opponent. The sight of her bleeding on the floor of the crystal cave was not one he wanted to see repeated, and after seeing her memories he knew she was capable of so much more, if only she could reach down to the depths of power she'd not known since she fought alongside Luna.

Celestia's longswords levitated into the air as she stomped a hoof in the dirt. Hoping to catch her off guard, Tercio lashed out with his arm at full extension, thrusting his weapon past her defenses. She dodged out of the way without much effort, using her momentum to carry her swords to his left side. They clattered against his shield in a barrage of strikes, chipping away splinters of wood as he tucked into his defensive stance. Celestia turned her body as if to unleash a powerful buck, only to leap over him with a single, powerful flap of her wings.

Tercio ducked below her unexpected move and whirled around as she landed, barely able to scramble out of the way as her swords were brought down from above. A bash from his shield knocked them away momentarily, giving him a chance to go on the attack. He started with a combination of stabs and slashes, altering his blows to come from different angles, then sprinted forward with a shout.

The room suddenly grew brighter as the glow from Celestia's horn intensified, a second, more unstable layer of magic overlapping the first and causing sparks of raw arcane power to fall to the ground. A yellow flash rippled out, and Tercio found himself momentarily unable to move as the unmistakable prickling sensation of magical energy came over his body. He strained his muscles and willed himself to push against it, the memory of the whitetail doe's paralyzing spell at the forefront of his mind. He had escaped it then; there had to be a way out of Celestia's variant. He wished he had Nocturne with him.

As he struggled, Celestia's focus drifted in and out. Maintaining such a spell was taking its toll on her concentration, and she found it difficult to keep her weapons in the air.

"Do you surrender?" she asked, hoping she wouldn't have to keep at it for much longer. Tercio gritted his teeth and managed to bring one of his arms back enough to cover himself behind his shield. A wave of force slammed into his shield, skidding him back several inches. "I am only doing as you asked."

But Tercio did not hear her words, all of his attention turned to the shimmering film that clung to every inch of his body and kept him in place. It flickered briefly as he took a half-step forward, and again as he brought his sword up.

He had learned a few things since his encounter with his would-be captor over a month ago; above all else, he'd learned that his strength of will had a tangible effect on the magic that permeated the world. His battle against the dark thing within him had shown him that even the most powerful of forces could be defeated, and as another blast of magic battered his body he committed himself entirely to countering it. Instead of being shoved back, he held firm. His grip on his sword strengthened until it dug into his skin, and he pushed into his shield until his shoulder was sore. Every muscle burned, but still he carried onward. Just a bit more...

Celestia gave a surprised yelp as the spell suddenly broke in a fog of yellow magic that trailed from Tercio's body as he rushed forward with a ferocity she'd not yet seen. In a panic she pulled her swords up, bringing them before her just in time to stop an overhead swing that likely would have forced her to accept defeat. She wasn't sure how he had managed to break free from the paralysis spell, but she was not out of options just yet. There was one more thing she could do, tired though it would leave her.

For nearly half a minute she countered his attacks, dodging and parrying in a frenzy of practiced movements that demanded more from her body than she'd felt in years. With heavy breath she launched into a counter-attack, meeting her swords against Tercio's hard enough to feel the reverberations through her magical connection to them.

With a shout she brought both blades down as hard as she could so that they stuck fast into the top of Tercio's shield, their points roughly facing him. Thinking he had gained an advantage, Tercio stepped into her and brought his longsword in from the side.

Celestia disappeared in a flash of light, just long enough for Tercio to momentarily drop his guard. After a heartbeat she reappeared above him, kicked a leg out hard enough to send his weapon flying out of his hand and across the room, and was gone once again.

Tercio barely had time to register what had happened before he was slammed roughly to the ground by hooves that were suddenly on his shoulders. Celestia had come back directly behind him, and with wide eyes he saw that his shield -- complete with lodged swords -- was close enough to his chest that he could feel their points scraping against his skin. Only a thin veneer of magic kept them from going any further.

Prone on the ground, defenseless, and with nowhere to go, Tercio raised his right hand in surrender. "I yield," he said in a strained, coughing voice. "I yield!"

He looked up, wearily, and saw Celestia standing over him. She was breathing heavily, a look of determination still on her face despite her victory. Her flowing mane hung down to one side, draping over his arm and part of his chest. A soft glow radiated from her, like the light of a fading day, and sparkling magic slowly faded from her long, spiraling horn.

Then, without a word, she dipped her head and kissed him. It was gentle and warm, and as he returned her affection she lifted him from the ground so that he was nearly sitting, embracing him with her forelegs and pulling him against her with a gasp. Her kiss grew more passionate and forceful, and when she finally pulled away she smiled with a sincerity he found more beautiful than any sunset.

"Looks like I win," she said at last, her face flushed with embarrassment and pride in equal measure.

"If this is what I can expect, perhaps I should take you sparring more often." Tercio pushed himself up and dusted off his clothing. "That was rather unexpected..."

"The kiss, or the fact that I beat you?"

"Both, I suppose."

Celestia placed her swords back into their scabbards and lifted Tercio's equipment back to their spots on the wall, smiling all the while. She had faced arguably the most capable soldier in Equestria in single combat, and come out on top. If only Luna were around to see her...

"Thank you for inviting me, this has been far more interesting than a walk through the garden -- if much more exhausting. I have not worked up such a sweat since...well, I honestly can't remember the last time."

"It was my pleasure, Princess. I'm genuinely impressed by your skill in combat, it seems Polaris and the others have taught you well. I was not expecting you to be able to teleport so rapidly, and with such precision. Have you always been able to do that?"

Celestia laughed. "I wish I could say yes, but such taxing movements were usually Luna's style. I've been practicing lately, however, and I believe the results speak for themselves."

"I can't argue that." He could already picture the wreath of flowers around his neck. "Looks like I'll be adding a bit of color to the Praetorian Guard tomorrow. Do try and show a bit of mercy. Maybe don't go with all pink?"

"I wasn't going to before, but now that you mention it..." Celestia let possibility hang in the air with a satisfied giggle.

"Wonderful." Tercio picked up his tunic and bunched it under his arm. "We should do this again. Same time next week, perhaps?"

"Next week sounds perfect. Who knows? You might even stand a chance next time."

"Ha! One win and you're already speaking as if you're the greatest champion in Equestria. I must say, I like this more aggressive Celestia."

"You have not even begun to see 'aggressive', my love. All in good time..."

Tercio pulled her close and ran his fingers through her gently billowing mane. "Well now, there's something to look forward to." They shared a lingering kiss and held each other for a time, not caring about anything else. All of the worry and strife of the outside world was free to simply vanish, if only briefly. "I should probably head to the bath house to get this sweat and dirt off me before bed. Care to join me?"

Celestia regretfully shook her head. "While your offer is tempting, I'm afraid I do need to take care of a few things before I can retire for the night."

"I see," Tercio said, plainly disappointed. "I suppose I do forget that I am in love with the busiest mare in the known world, from time to time. No matter, there's always next week." He smiled lovingly and gave her a final, parting kiss. "Have a good night, Princess. I shall see you on the morrow."

"That you shall. Good night, Tercio. I had a wonderful time."

***

It was not until he left the training room that his muscles began to protest in earnest. A hot bath would be just the thing after having been thoroughly beaten by Celestia's sharp mind and sharper reflexes, and it would give him time to relax by himself for a bit; it was unlikely there would be anyone else around at such a late hour.

It was bitterly cold as he passed through the barracks hallway to the open-air overhang that marked the entrance of the bath house. He pushed through the howling wind and blowing snow flakes, briefly looking up to see the crescent moon peeking through a gap in the clouds. Sturdy torches flickered and whipped with every gust, barely staying lit in the freezing gale. Tercio followed their meager light, sighing with relief when he reached the protection of the arched entrance. He passed through a set of doors, and was met by the warm embrace of lingering steam clouds and the earthy smell of medicinal herbs that hung from the ceiling in twine-wrapped bunches.

He called out for anyone else that might be around, receiving no reply. That suited him just fine. A pair of stone benches lined one of the walls, sitting atop dark red-brown tiles slick with condensation. His clothing was quickly removed and set down on the furthest one, the white linens stained with perspiration and caked-on dust. A fresh set went down beside them.

Slipping into the hot water was like having every muscle in his body massaged at once. He let out a long, satisfied exhale as he submerged himself up to his neck and stretched, then leaned back against the hewn stone lip and closed his eyes. It was not often he had the chance to do so, free of the shouting and carousing of the other Praetorians. He wished he had some wine, perhaps a nice amasec to ease his mind as well as his body.

His thought drifted to his home, his station, his battles. Brief memories of sharing a meal, or flashes of steel and sprays of blood. No longer could he picture one without the other, so intertwined had they become. Here and there were glimpses of a time before his own -- a shouted deertongue order, a towering behemoth of a man. Crystalline walls. His infantile self, seen through the eyes of another.

The last half-year had brought about more strife and challenge than he'd experienced in all his years prior. He had proven himself in true, merciless combat, and had come away with the scars to show it. A dark magic had revealed itself, lying in wait within his very body, and he had taken the ultimate measure to free himself of it. In the process, the truth of his origin had come to light, bringing with it a doubt and loathing as fearsome and sickening as the thing that had sought to turn him against the very ones he cared for.

Yes, it had been a time of great changes, and great loss, for himself and the others. But he was still here, still fighting. So long as his lungs carried breath, he would not give in. He owed it to himself, and, more importantly, to those who trusted him with their lives. If the gods were just, the war with Whitetail would come to an end soon, and what little remained of the Nightmare Moon cults would vanish back to the dark holes they came from. Then he would no longer have to worry about his brother, or his colleagues, and life could resume as it had before everything changed.

Eventually he drifted off into a restful nap, lulled by the water that comforted him like a warm blanket. A serene, dreamless sleep. How long he slept, he did not know, nor care.

The creaking of wooden doors and the clop of hooves on stone roused him in a fit of semi-lucid reaction. He immediately reached for the dagger he kept above him, clutching it against his thigh as he waited to see who was approaching. With the deer presumably still seeking to take him away, he couldn't be too cautious.

He was surprised, and relieved, to see the shapely figure of Celestia trot around the corner. A robe of red and gold was wrapped around her body, insulation against the freezing night. Tercio relaxed and set his short blade back where it had been, his head and upper chest visible over the top of the bath.

"Oh, my, I've not felt it this cold for at least a week or two," Celestia said as she set a small set of thick towels on a bench. "I fear we're not going to have a mild winter after all." She turned and regarded Tercio as if just noticing him. "You know, the more I thought about it, the better a nice, hot bath sounded. Signing off on royal ledgers can wait until the morning." A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Mind if I join you?"

"I suppose there's room for one more," Tercio said. It was a bit surreal that she was there -- she tended to avoid public places when she was with him, out of necessity as much as anything else. "I was not expecting you to show, but you'll not hear me complain."

"I figured as much. I would have been here sooner, but I debated doing so for some time."

Celestia's horn flared a soft yellow, untying the cloth band around her midsection. The ends of her robe fell loosely to either side.

"I understand, secrecy and all," Tercio assured her while watching in interest. "I'm glad you decided to come all the same. I doubt we'll have to worry about anyone else showing up this late."

"I hope not. I want this time with you all to myself."

The silken robe seemed to glide off her, like water streaming around a smooth rock in a babbling creek. She set it aside, neatly folded atop the nearest bench.

Celestia walked around the side of the bath, seeming to take an achingly long time. She glanced over her shoulder at him with a wry smile, putting an extra sway into her step, and tested the water. Satisfied, she waved Tercio over.

"Care to help your princess?" She slipped into the bath as Tercio took a hoof in his hand, her flowing mane and tail floating on the surface yet still retaining their shine. A long exhale escaped her lips once she settled into place, enjoying the hot water that caressed her body. "Goodness, but that does feel nice. I should have done this sooner."

Her wings stirred the bath as she drifted them back and forth, stretching them to their full size. She considered the artwork in the domed ceiling, frescoes made of thousands of small tiles, and smiled. "I remember when Abresius first came to Luna and myself with the proposal for those images. He said he would 'create the sun and the moon sailing across the sky, on a river of ambrosia'. Always a way with words, that one. You can still see his signature after all these years, in the top right corner. Ancient Equestrian lettering for his wife's name -- Dresia."

"I'd never noticed," Tercio said, his attention split between the ceiling and the mare before him, more the latter than the former. Her beauty threatened to take the breath from his lungs, even as he spoke. "He must have been immensely talented to create something that's lasted for generations."

"One of the greatest. You know, I can still remember his voice; rough like a kettle full of gravel, yet sincere and reassuring. He and his wife used to visit the palace every week, and they would always bring this wonderful bread spotted with honeyed dates. It was Luna's favorite food for decades." Celestia sighed. "It's been so long. I watched his children grow, then his grandchildren, and their grandchildren, until eventually they just sort of...faded into memory, like so many others. I've probably forgotten more ponies than most will ever meet in their lifetimes."

An uneasy pause filled the air. Tercio could not begin to relate to having seen so many good souls come and go, for even the awful toll of combat paled in comparison to four centuries of loss. He wondered if it was something she thought of often, and marveled that she could remain strong through so much.

"It took me a long time to come to terms with the inevitable fact that I will outlive everyone I care for," Celestia said at last, breaking the silence. She tucked her wings back against her sides. "After my dear old Starswirl passed away, I was convinced that I could not, and would not, find someone I cared for so deeply ever again. I locked myself away from that feeling as sure as if I'd surrounded myself with iron bars, despite Luna's insistence that time would heal my wounded heart. I thought her foolish, inexperienced in such things -- but she was right.

Since then, I've learned that what is important, above all else, is making the most of the time you do have together. I can't let the fear of loss control me. Not again."

Her soft, pink eyes shimmered with the diffuse orange glow of torch fire. The water rippled around around her and dripped from her mane as she stood before him, then placed a hoof over his chest, tracing the outlines of his scars; a lifetime of hardships and determination, marred by the lingering reminders of senseless conflict and internal struggles.

"I love you, Tercio. I don't care how different we are, or what others think of us being together. I don't want to hide it anymore."

Tercio met her gaze with a regretful frown. "If only it were so simple. You know what the others would think, how they'd shun me if it were brought into the open so sudd--"

Celestia interrupted him with a gentle kiss. When she pulled away, she said, "I know. I know it's more complicated than that. One day soon, I hope."

"One day soon," Tercio agreed. They embraced each other and said nothing for a time, content to simply be close.

There was a heaviness to his chest in that moment, like a stone buried beneath his skin, yet at the same time he felt an elation the likes of which he'd never known. Every sensation, from the touch of her skin and coat, to the soft exhale of her breath, brought a wonderful euphoria.

This, he decided, was what love was supposed to feel like. Not the misplaced lust and desperate longing he'd clung to in the past, where he'd hoped to find temporary joy in the curiosity of whatever mare would humor him with a passing tryst -- no, this was different. Genuine. He loved Celestia with all of his heart and soul, and he knew she felt the same about him.

No words would suffice, or could possibly say everything he wanted. Instead, he caressed her cheek in his hand, pulled her close, and kissed her lovingly. Her forelegs wrapped around his torso and pressed him against her, and she gave a soft moan of approval as he chanced slipping his tongue into her mouth. Gently she pressed him against the bath wall, able to think of nothing but his touch as she felt a stirring in her heart she'd not known for many, many years.

"You make me so happy," she said, nuzzling his cheek. That beautiful smile that he so loved spread across her features, tinted with blush like a winter flower. "I...I want to be with you, Tercio. I've been afraid to admit such a thing for too long, but being here, in your arms, I can't imagine being anywhere else." She whispered into his ear. "Please come back with me."

Her tender embrace warmed him more than any bath, so comforting and genuine.

He would not have turned her down for all of the gold in Equestria.

***

The walk to Celestia's chambers was almost entirely silent. Neither of them managed more than a nervous smile or a passing comment on the cold. Tercio could feel his heart pounding already, threatening to beat its way out of his chest as they approached the ornate doors at the end of the marble hall. It had been well over a year since he'd been intimate with anyone -- a pretty if somewhat boring mare from Marestopholous -- and even then it had been nothing more than a half-drunken satisfying of their baser urges. There had been no real love that night, only sex, leaving him feeling temporarily sated but ultimately no better about his prospects as Equestria's only human. In a very real way, he had resigned himself to being a curiosity, a strange thing to be explored and forgotten by the more curious mares.

Celestia had changed all that. The love he felt for her, and received in turn, had been the catalyst for resisting the dark magic that had resided within him. She was on his mind constantly, and the mere sight of her lifted his spirits and improved even the worst of days. Now that he knew the truth, he appreciated her kind heart more than ever.

Yes, he would have died for her, as his duty demanded, but now he was determined to live for her, to be there in her times of need for as long as their relationship lasted. He had finally found his purpose in this world.

As they stepped into the warm, elegantly decorated room, he could only imagine what was going through Celestia's mind. If what she had told him was true, then it had been hundreds of years since she'd last made love. If he was nervous, then she was likely terrified, hiding it beneath that refined exterior that had been built up over the centuries.

The doors closed with a quiet clack. Celestia stood before him, nervously biting her lip and only occasionally looking in his direction. In the corner, the fireplace popped and crackled, the only sound that filled the unsure quiet between them.

"Carissima," he prompted, one of the few words of ancient Equestrian he was familiar with -- a term of endearment reserved only for the most beloved and cherished of relationships. Celestia's ears perked up at the phrase. "Is this what you truly want? If you are unsure, or uncomfortable, then I would not hold it against you for even the briefest of moments." He placed his hand on her neck to comfort her, waiting for her to respond. "I love you, Princess. I would wait a lifetime if that is what you wished."

Tears glistened in her eyes and ran down her cheeks, and she wiped them away with a nervous laugh. "I'm sorry, my love. It's just...it's been so very long since I've felt this way about anyone. After the shared memories I wasn't sure if you'd ever really be the same -- if you'd still care for me so deeply." She smiled sincerely. "I promise, these are not tears of sorrow, but of joy. You have been my rock during the most trying of times, ever since the start of this miserable war. I felt it even before you admitted your feelings for me. It was always there, just waiting for me to see it." She kissed him and said, "I want us to share this, Tercio. Just you and I."

Soft yellow light illuminated them as Celestia began to lift Tercio's long winter tunic above his head, then set it down on a small table near the fireplace. A brief moment later his undergarments were set beside his outerwear, folded with care. At the same time, she slipped out of her gold and crimson robe, letting it fall to the ground around her hooves, and gently pulled him against her with a foreleg around his waist.

Celestia ran her eyes over his body, admiring the shape and tone of his physique. What she wouldn't have given to be able to will away his scars, the reminders of all he had sacrificed in service to her. They likely would not be the last, a harsh reality of falling for one of her own soldiers.

She pushed such thoughts away as Tercio ran his hand through her flowing mane, his fingers gently tilting her head up. There was so much she wanted to say as she met his loving gaze, but the words eluded her. Instead, she kissed him gingerly and allowed herself to become lost in the touch of his skin, the strong embrace of his arms. A blissful warmth spread through her, born of the first true love she'd felt in so very long. It was intoxicating and wonderful, and her body pleaded for more as she passionately kissed down his neck and shoulder.

Her cheeks flushed as she realized she could feel him becoming increasingly aroused by her touch. He must have noticed her reaction, for he pulled back and smiled at her as they remained embraced.

"Are you embarrassed?" he chuckled. Celestia tried to answer, only to look away as she felt her face redden, which made him laugh again. "Beautiful and sweet. Other men could only hope to be so fortunate." He took her hoof and led her to the bed, sinking into the thick blankets as she laid on top of him. His fingers teased down her chest and between her legs, and she bit her lip and moaned softly at the sensation.

"Tercio?" she asked as she placed her head against his. "Would you stay with me tonight?"

He held her tight and answered without hesitation.

"Of course I will."

46 - Strife

Senator Praxilus ducked to avoid a piece of fruit. It hadn't been aimed for him, but rather, for someone behind him. In return, angered shouts and curses shot across the packed streets, the verbal battles sometimes turning to physical ones as the supporters of Whitetail and Cervidae faced off.

"Redtail lovers!"

"Defeatists!"

"Go get fucked by Celestia's horn!"

The yelling grew to an uproar, one of many such confrontations Praxilus had seen since he'd left his home on the other side of the city. Ahead, a doe pleaded with a merchant. Her voice was drowned out by the commotion behind her, and he approached to see what was the matter.

"Please, my family is relying on me to return with food!" Tears ran down the doe's face, staining her light coat. The merchant sneered at her.

"You know the price."

"But I can't pay that much! How could you charge thirty darics for a sack of flour?"

"I should charge you twice as much, pony sympathizer! Thirty darics or you get nothing!"

Praxilus slammed a coin on the stall's oaken counter. "Five darics. And I suggest you do not attempt to gouge your customers again, merchant, else you will be hocking your wares from Evinwiir's dungeons. Understood?"

The merchant's face flushed with recognition. "Of-of course, Senator. My apologies..."

A hefty sack of flour floated onto the doe's back. She was speechless for a moment, then bowed her head in admiration.

"Thank you so much! Thank you! I need to get home!"

He watched her leave, then turned back to the buck who was now far less brave with someone of import standing before him.

"Remember what I said, Balisyn. I don't forget names -- or misdeeds -- easily."

The senator carried on, past the throngs of citizens , the senate building seeming so far away on the cold, blustery morning. He sighed, wishing he could fix it all with a thought.

All throughout Evinwiir it was the same: one step removed from anarchy. Word of Cervidaen soldiers north of the city had spread, and increasingly alarmist rumors seemed to be the norm, sharply dividing the populace between those loyal to Whitetail and those who were eager for their redtail cousins to rejoin them. It would have been a difficult situation under ideal circumstances, but with the added food shortages Evinwiir was as volatile as the very aetherflame that defended its walls.

Reports of murders and thefts had risen dramatically, and every street corner was a potential riot waiting to happen. In the distance, pillars of smoke marked where shops had been burned to the ground, victims of panic, fear and hatred, their goods stripped to nothing by those looking to take advantage of the chaos. A trio of soldiers rushed past, crystalline spears held high, on their way to some unknown quarrel.

A resounding crash, like nearby thunder, sounded as Praxilus reached the normally well-kept gardens of the senate hall's garden walkway, now strewn with debris. He looked up just in time to see a swing-arm siege device explode in a shower of splintered wood, green flame and chunks of granite not even two hundred yards away. The Equestrians had found their mark yet again, sending a stone projectile over the ramparts to smash one of the few working Whitetail defenses. It would be a matter of days before every last weapon had fallen, and then what? Praxilus wasn't eager to find out.

A pair of guards stood watch outside of the grand entry to the senate chambers. They saluted as he approached, but crossed their spears to bar his path all the same.

"What is the meaning of this?" he asked. "The senate convenes not even an hour from now, I must be inside if I am to do my job."

One of the soldiers, a younger buck, offered a sympathetic frown. "I'm sorry, Senator Praxilus, but we have been forbidden from granting you access by order of Chancellor Vinawyll and Empress Elinwynn."

Praxilus furrowed his brow. "You take orders from Elinwynn now, do you? I was not aware she was part of the Whitetail chain of command. Let me in."

"Brother-General Corvalix has made it so," the buck said. "Those are our orders. I'm truly sorry."

Another distant clatter, another siege engine or segment of the wall that had fallen.

"Do you hear that? That is the sound of our very nation being destroyed, bit by bit. If you don't move those spears right now, Whitetail has no future. Do you understand? Now please, step aside."

The younger soldier looked at his comrade nervously, but the other shook his head.

"Orders are orders, Senator. Return to your home until you are called upon."

"This is ridiculous! I am not moving until--" there, a ray of hope. Two senators walking past the open doors. "Senator Alyys! Senator Gwindihr!"

The two looked in his direction, spoke something to one another, and approached.

"Senator Praxilus, we were hoping we'd see you here," Alyys said.

"These guards tell me I'm not allowed within my own place of work. Is there something I'm not aware of?"

They looked at each other. "It would be best if we discussed this in private."

Together the three of them went around to the side of the building, where a small storage shed sat unoccupied, protected from the chaos beyond by a tall fence. Senator Gwindihr checked their surroundings before speaking, finding them sufficiently away from prying ears.

"You've a lot of courage coming here, Praxilus -- or perhaps you've simply lost your mind. To be honest, I'd expected to hear that you'd been found with a knife in your heart after your spat with the empress. I'm glad to see my concerns were misplaced."

"For now, anyway," Praxilus said. "Can you believe this? I spoke my mind against that damned doe, and now I'm unable to do my duties! I am an elected official, just like the rest of you! She has no right to keep me from my post! Neither does the good chancellor, for that matter. This is not just inexcusable, it's illegal."

"Not according to your fellows, it's not," Senator Alyys said. "They held a vote in your absence condemning you for your 'unnecessary outburst' and 'conduct unbecoming of a senator.'"

"Standing up for the people of Whitetail is apparently tantamount to high treason now," Praxilus muttered. Things had changed so quickly since the damned Cervidaen empress showed up. Was no one else willing to see past her vague platitudes? "So, what? I am no longer a senator? Just because that dwahlniir wills it?"

"You maintain your rank, but for the time being you are not welcome within the senatorial chambers."

Praxilus laughed bitterly. "Unbelievable! To think my word carries no weight; and here I had hoped my impassioned speech would leave some sort of mark on those present. Apparently I was wasting my time."

"For what it's worth, we're with you," Alyys said, his tone hopeful.

"You are?" Praxilus' ears perked.

"Indeed. We're just as sick of this conflict as you. It's been a long, painful war that could have ended months ago if only Chancellor Vinawyll would have surrendered as Celestia asked."

"And things are only getting worse," Gwindihr added. "Immediately after your departure the senate voted on granting cooperative rule to Elinwynn, officially making her word the same as Vinawyll's. Whitetail is a subservient state to Cervidae in all but name and title, now. It is a sad day for our nation."

Praxilus felt the color drain from his face. "And how many voted for this measure?"

"Eleven in favor, five against -- ourselves, you in absence, plus Faenar and Qaal'in-- and three undecided, all of which eventually changed their vote to support the majority. The law of the land was amended immediately, officially making co-rule in a time of war a legal precedent."

"Just us," Praxilus said. He felt a knot in the pit of his stomach, a sickness that left a bitter taste in his mouth. "We're the only ones who didn't agree to this madness..."

"So it seems."

He took a moment to let the news sink in. It was surreal, almost unfathomable that his compatriots would kowtow so quickly. Were they truly so few among them who cared for Whitetail above their own worthless positions? He knew the 'old guard' were steadfast in their ways, but to see it to such an extent...

He leaned against the shed and sighed deeply, his hooves rubbing his temples.

"Is there any good news to come from this?"

Senator Alyys shrugged. "So far, Whitetail and Cervidae are still separate nations, though for how long, well...who can say at this point?"

"Not long at all, if you ask me," Gwindihr said. "Soon the Cervidaen Regulars will begin marching south, supported by Corvalix's precious Exemplars, and then we'll see a whole new start to the war with Equestria. Evinwiir will be free from bombardment and blockade, and Elinwynn will be hailed as a hero -- and Vinawyll with her, of course."

"And that'll be that." Alyys pointed to the walls. "The battles will move away from the city, and everyone will forget that they were played for fools by the very leaders they'd chosen. At that point, it won't matter if Equestria is destroyed or not, so long as it's out of sight and out of mind. It'll be a redtail war, and the people will love them for it."

Short though his tenure as senator may have been, Praxilus had never felt truly helpless until that very moment. What was his voice against so many others who had sided against him? It was like screaming into a whirlwind, pointless and futile.

"So what now? Am I supposed to return to my home and pretend Whitetail isn't going to pieces around me? I cannot sit idly and watch everything I've worked for be for naught! Elinwynn made not have slit my throat just yet, but I am under no illusion that it shall remain so forever. I ought to storm in there and--"

"We want to join you," Alyys said.

Praxilus blinked. "What?"

"We want to join you, Praxilus. We know about Brother-Commander Caethil, how he plans to defect -- and we know you want to join him."

"I've no idea what you're talking about. Defection? Don't be ridiculous." Praxilus couldn't be too careful, even around those who claimed to be his friends and equals. And yet, if they were serious about it...

"We know because Caethil himself approached us. Apparently being a captain of the guard puts him in a position to know who is and isn't his ally."

"Yes, do put your mind at ease," Gwindihr said. "We spoke with him last night. He is most displeased with the current state of Evinwiir, to say the least. He fully believes that Whitetail will fall to the redtail just as sure as this city, and he wants no part of it. He offered to take us with him when you finally leave."

"And what did you say?" Praxilus asked.

"We had no answer then and there, but now that we've had time to think about it...we're on board with the idea."

He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Caethil had assured him that their plan would go unmentioned to anyone else, yet here stood two of his fellow senators ready to abandon everything.

"Let me make something clear," he said in a low voice. "If you do this, if you strike out for Equestria with me, you will be branded as traitors for as long as Elinwynn and her ilk have any sort of influence over Whitetail. Your assets will be seized, your homes burnt to the ground, your families hunted. You will be a kill on sight for anyone loyal to this false regime." He stuck a hoof to his chest. "I do this because I have no family of my own, and whatever possessions I may have can always be replaced. I leave in the hopes that one day I may return to Whitetail as it used to be, and if by some miracle that does happen, and the people do forgive me for leaving them, I can make things right once more."

"I've already sent my family away to live with relatives in the far north. They'll be quite safe there," Alyys said.

"And mine have been away from Evinwiir since the Equestrians approached the walls." Gwindihr made an x-shape over his chest with a hoof. "Spirits of the ancestors willing, they will remain safe until this conflict has ended. As for our possessions, well...they are only material things."

A great commotion started in the distance, shouting and swearing from a crowd of deer.

"Evinwiir is going to change very soon, and not for the better. Whatever happens in Evinwiir soon spreads to the rest of Whitetail. I do not wish to be here for it. Please, Praxilus, let us join you and Caethil. Whitetail will need deer who still believe in it after it's been through so much. We can be those deer."

Praxilus looked over his fellows, his compatriots who spoke with such conviction. It could all still be a ruse, he thought, but surely they would have seen fit to end his life by now if they were untrue. He decided to take a chance.

"Very well," he said at last. "If Caethil vouches for you, then I welcome you at my side, my friends. And you're right: Whitetail will need us. Who better to help the people of this great nation in rebuilding than those of us who wish for a better society?"

The stags bowed their heads, emerald ribbons of silk swaying on their antlers.

"Thank you, Praxilus. Truly, thank you."

Alyys asked the question on everyone's minds: "So...what now?"

"Return to the senate chamber," Praxilus said. "We must keep up the illusion of normalcy for the time being. Who knows? Perhaps the senate will see fit to reverse those ridiculous changes and toss the redtail out."

"Fat chance of that," Gwindihr said.

"Unfortunately, you're likely right. I will speak with Caethil tonight, as Evinwiir slumbers, and I will return to you on the morrow. Do you know where the Fabled Forest is?"

"The cook house? Of course."

"Good. I will wait for you there at noon with the details of our extrication. Be prepared to leave after we eat, and bring only when you can carry on your back. Dress for warmth, but do not bring anything that may mark you as someone of importance. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Alyys said, both of them nodding.

"Alright then. This is certainly an unexpected turn of events, but a welcome one, to know that I am not the only one who is disgusted by Elinwynn and Vinawyll's flagrant trouncing of our laws and blatant disregard for our people." Praxilus placed a foreleg on the shoulder of each of his new-found brothers in defection. This could actually work.

"My friends, the best of luck to us all, and may the ancestors watch over us. If Chancellor Artellus is among them, I would hope he smiles upon our intentions. He would be sick to see what his beloved Whitetail has become."

"Indeed, he is missed," Gwindihr said.

"Missed, but not forgotten," Alyys added.

Praxilus set his jaw in resolve. There was no turning back now.

"We do this for a brighter future. Let us hope there is still one left for Whitetail."

***

In the pre-dawn hours of Evinwiir's eastern district, Brother-Commander Caethil yawned and sipped at a cup of pine tea that floated beside him. His hoofsteps echoed through the empty streets, muffled by the crunch of fresh snowfall. It was a bitingly cold night, though thankfully free of the howling winds of the day prior.

He looked to the patched clouds above and sighed. Sleep had eluded him for several days now, shot as his nerves were. So much to worry about, so many things to plan for and consider. What had started as a simple plan to defect to Equestria had somehow ended up involving his entire unit, three senators, and more variables than he could have possibly imagined.

There was still a comfort and familiarity to Evinwiir, the place that had been his home for more than twenty years since he'd joined the Whitetail Army in his youth. Every shop front, bath house, home and military building that he passed felt like he was saying good-bye to an old friend. He hoped to return here, one day, and walk its cobblestone streets once more. Perhaps start a family, as his mother was always encouraging him to do.

But those ambitions may as well have been the dreams of another stag entirely. For now there was much to do, and not nearly enough time to do it.

The next twenty-four hours would either change his life completely, or, more likely, bring it to an end. He wondered what would be said of him, of his bucks who had chosen to join him. Likely those he fled from would brand him a traitor, a defeatist. His name would be stricken from the record, and he would be declared an enemy of the state.

Traitor.

The word soured in his mouth like bitter medicine. Two decades of service, nearly a dozen battles against the Equestrians, countless skirmishes with thieves and cultists and all manner of creatures who would see him dead -- all for naught. He, who had dedicated his life to the nation he loved, who had bled and toiled for something greater than himself.

A terrible anger welled up inside him. If only Chancellor Artellus had not been slain. If only Chancellor Vinawyll had not been so damned stubborn and cowardly. If only Empress Elinwynn and her contemptible brother hadn't been called upon to reignite a war that was all but over.

If only.

No, there could be no doubt about it. Whitetail had been poisoned from within. Throwing himself at the blades of Equestria's soldiers for a cause he no longer believed in was not something he could imagine himself doing -- and if he couldn't, then how could he ask those under his command to? It was fortunate that they believed as he did and were loyal to the Whitetail of old, not to the twisted beast it had become.

Caethil imagined them preparing themselves for what could be their last hours, packing supplies of food, medicine and protection from the elements. The trek to Equestria would be long and dangerous, pursued by their own comrades on one side and Equestrian patrols on the other. He just had to find the Legion, as Baer'barisater had instructed.

He hoped the zebra was right.

Before he left Evinwiir, however, there was one last thing he had to do.

"Brother-Commander Caethil, I'm surprised to see you out at this hour." A sentry stood guard at the entrance to the Alchemical and Arcane building, saluting halfheartedly. A small fire pit off to one side kept him warm as he leaned against the entryway and yawned.

"It's been a rather complicated night, I'm afraid," Caethil said. "I thought I might stop by and see what our colleagues have come up with to help fight back the tide of Equestrian vermin."

The guard chuckled. "Vermin is right. Destructive ones at that." With a stretch he stood up straighter, regaining some semblance of military bearing. "You'll forgive me, sir, I was not aware you were coming out this way, else I'd have arranged for an escort. These are dangerous times for lone wanderers, I'm afraid. I'm sure you've seen the violence for yourself."

"No need, Brother-Sergeant, though I appreciate the offer. I assure you I can handle myself."

"Of course, sir. You're free to enter if you like, though most of the magii are home for the evening."

"Most?" Caethil asked, cursing his luck. He'd hoped to find it empty.

"Sister-Magii Trelis and her assistant have been working through the night on something or other. I'm sure they'd be glad to see a friendly face."

Caethil put on a feigned smile. It had to be Trelis...

"Let us hope so, Brother-Sergeant. Do try to stay warm out here, won't you?"

"As best I can, sir. If you need anything, please let me know. I'll be here until sunrise."

Caethil saluted, getting one in return, and stepped through the narrow arch. A set of short stairs led to the building, the words "Military Use Only" scrawled across a pair of plain doors. He took a breath to steel himself, then pushed them open.

The Alchemical and Arcane research building was a surprisingly unassuming place at first glance. Bare rock walls, dirtied by time and use, met a low ceiling and equally rough floor. Stacks of crates and earthenware pots occupied every corner and outcropping, and shelves of basic supplies ran from one end to the other. Caethil had to stoop his head to avoid scraping the tips of his antlers, something he had never fully grown used to.

The facade of a plain warehouse gave way as he approached a worn segment of the western wall. With a brief moment of concentration he focused his magic, the wall shimmering and rippling at his touch. Motes of light clung to his skin as he stepped through the barrier, the entrance giving way to a second, smaller staircase that opened into an expansive set of rooms.

Here was the real facility, one of the foremost places of research into the magical arts in all of Whitetail. Within its confines some of the greatest advances of deerkind had been discovered -- ironbark-backed quinn-plate, aetherflame, water purification contraptions. All manner of potions, mixes, spells and arcane scrawls. Some of the very things Whitetail citizens took for granted had started here.

These days, it was devoted entirely to the war effort, its state-appointed researchers devising new and efficient ways of killing their enemies and driving the 'invaders' back to their lands.

Caethil carefully searched through the scrolls and order-plates that sat atop low tables, looking for anything that might lead him to one creation in particular. Finding nothing nearby, he trotted down a short hallway to a separate wing of the facility. Voices caught his ear, echoing off the walls from some room beyond. They were light, and feminine. He swore under his breath.

A pair of whitetail does, one slightly older than the other, were busily conversing with each other over an iron cauldron. Purple sashes marked them as arcane researchers, their unit's symbol -- a whirlwind between a pair of haunting eyes trimmed in gold -- adorning the side that hung down to their chests.

He did not know who the younger doe could be, but he instantly recognized the other. A lump caught in his throat, and he had to compose himself before drawing their attention.

"Good evening, my ladies," he said. The assistant jumped and gave a yelp of surprise.

"Caethil? What are you doing here?" Trelis asked, not showing a hint of being caught off guard. She was a middle-aged doe who had not lost a step as long as he'd known her, with eyes that shone like sapphires. The sight of her still took his breath away.

"I couldn't sleep," Caethil answered. "My mind has been rather occupied of late, as you'd probably imagine. I thought I might come by and see what our best and brightest have been up to." He bowed before her. "It's...it's good to see you again, Trelis. I mean that."

An awkward silence hung between them.

"Ah, forgive me for not introducing my new assistant," Trelis said at last. "This is Magii-Apprentice Lelowyn. She's just arrived from the academy in Rosewood Harbor. Lelowyn, this is Brother-Commander Caethil of the 12th Capital Guard."

"15th, now," Caethil corrected her. He bowed in courtesy for the new doe. "A pleasure to meet you, Lelowyn. You've just finished your schooling, yet they assigned you to the 9th Arcane? I'm impressed. Most have to work for years to even have a hope of attaining a position here."

"It's nothing, really, I just got lucky," Lelowyn said bashfully. "Oh, I'm sorry, uh...a pleasure to meet you, too. I wasn't expecting anyone to come by. Sorry if I startled you when I was, um, startled. I can get immersed in these things sometimes."

"No need to worry. If you're training under Trelis, you must be of great interest to Whitetail. I'm sure you'll do us proud."

Caethil took a step closer and peered into the cauldron. A swirling, sparkling mix of pink, blue and purple liquids gave off a strange, almost earthy smell. His heart sank as he realized what it was.

"Lelowyn, would you mind arranging a few things for me?" Trelis asked, floating a scroll. "The others left a mess in here earlier, and we're going to need the space later on. And keep an eye out for anymore drift root, please."

The young doe looked at them both, perhaps sensing that her presence was not welcome at that moment, and nodded. "Of course, Sister, as you wish."

Taking the scroll in an unsteady cloud of crackling magic, Lelowyn headed down the hall to a supply room, then shut the door behind her. Trelis immediately stepped closer.

"What are you really doing here?" she demanded. "I thought I made it clear I didn't want to speak to you anymore."

"Don't flatter yourself, Trelis, I didn't come here for you," Caethil bit back, put on the defensive.

Trelis scoffed. "Really? You just happened to show up here in the middle of the night? If you're looking for an apology then I'm afraid--"

"You have to leave Evinwiir. Immediately." Skeptical eyes returned his glare.

"What in the world are you talking about? Caethil, I've neither the time nor the patience for your games, so if you would be so kind as to leave me to my duties, I would appreciate it."

Caethil motioned to the outside world with a jerk of his head.

"Do you know what's going on out there as we speak?"

"The Equestrians lay siege to us, as they have been for months. That's why I'm here in the first place. I didn't think I'd have to explain that to you."

"I don't mean that," Caethil said. "A complete takeover, Trelis. That is what's happening. Whitetail no longer belongs to the whitetail, but to the Cervidaens."

"The redtail? You think they're invaders?" Trelis laughed. "Please. They've come to help us for once. You should be applauding their aid, not denouncing it as some sort of coup!"

"You have not seen them as I have," Caethil insisted. "We should have put an end to this war long ago, yet here we are on the precipice of a new start to it! Chancellor Vinawyll is a coward and a liar, and now he is a pawn to Empress Elinwynn."

Trelis furrowed her brow. "Careful, Brother-Commander," she said, putting an emphasis on his rank, "else you might be mistaken for a treasonous cur by those with far less tolerance than myself."

"Treason be damned!" he shouted. "Elinwynn does not care for you, or me, or any whitetail in this land. Once this war has ended, we will be assimilated into her empire, and she'll have finally accomplished what nine generations of her wretched family could not. Thousands, tens of thousands, will die on both sides before there is finally peace. If she wins, and the Equestrians fall, we will be nothing but expendable has-beens in her eyes. All of Whitetail will suffer. I cannot allow that to happen."

"And what, o' mighty warrior, do you intend to do? March down there and drive a blade through Elinwynn herself?" Trelis gave a dismissive laugh. "This sort of behavior -- the grandstanding, the ridiculous self-importance -- is exactly why I left you. Go home, Caethil. Drown your sorrows, as you're wont to do. Do not bother me again."

A fire raged within Caethil as Trelis returned to her table, already having dismissed him. He wanted to shout her down, to drag her down to the halls of strategy and show her the smug redtail officers who had shown up and immediately taken control; but he doubted it would have mattered. Those who served under the banner of the 9th Arcane were loyal to a fault...even if it meant they couldn't be loyal to anyone else.

"Let me ask you: what is it you think you're working on, exactly?" He pointed to the cauldron in the corner. "It seems the 9th has finally moved on from trying to summon yet another human-creature -- though given the tales of this 'Tercio' perhaps they should have tried harder -- and I don't see any tamed dragons around here, so perhaps you could enlighten me."

Trelis set a scroll down and gave an annoyed sigh.

"What the 9th creates is none of your business. You are a soldier, not a researcher. I doubt you would understand even if I told you."

"Humor me."

"I humored you for seven months. I'm done. Leave."

Caethil pressed on. "Did they tell you it's some sort of medicinal potion? Treatment for the wounded?" Trelis did not answer him, keeping her eyes cast down at a thick tome filled with text and drawings. "I take it you have not seen what remains of the Nightmare Moon encampment in the Midlands. Not surprising, considering they hardly allow you to leave Evinwiir. Shame, I think you'd be interested in what's there."

"Is there a point to this?" Trelis asked in annoyance.

"There is, in fact. You see, a few weeks ago I was asked to head up a small contingent of soldiers to remove the bodies of the cultist scum that had been left by the Equestrians. It was quite a sight. I can only imagine the battle that took place there." He could still see the aftermath as clear as day: hundreds of arrows lodged in barricades, shattered structures of wood and earth, weapons of all kinds scattered about like a child's discarded toys. Bodies that had been burned, frozen, decapitated -- mutilated by blade and hoof and spell. "I must say, I'm impressed the ponies managed to take that place at all."

"All these months and you still underestimate them. No wonder you're still a Brother-Commander after your colleagues have moved on."

Caethil ignored her insult. "While I was moving remains from a large tent, I saw a trio of does who had made a final stand. Two whitetail and a redtail, all within mere steps of each other. Though they had fallen in battle, what surprised me was the amount of damage that had been inflicted on the surrounding area. There were long lines of scorch marks and webs of magical energy burned into the ground, and their antlers --short for ours and tall for the redtail, of course -- had blackened and turned brittle from what I can only assume was an overload of power; not something you'd typically see from seasoned casters.

"I searched through their saddle bags and found several empty vials, but one of the whitetail had one that was half-full. It was a strange mixture of colors, and when I focused my magic on its container it seethed and bubbled. Does that sound familiar?"

Trelis looked to the cauldron, then to Caethil. "Shouldn't you be telling your commanding officer about this? If the darkness worshipers are intercepting shipments of our potions then we need to put a stop to it, but such things are not my concern."

"That's just it," Caethil said, "they didn't intercept any shipments! Those potions were given to them by the redtail."

If Trelis had any reaction to such news, she hid it well.

"That's quite an accusation you're making. I trust you can provide evidence for such claims?"

"I have my reasons to believe. After I found the vial I brought it to the attention of a specialist with the 23rd Alchemical. He, in turn, pointed me to none other than Brother-General Corvalix. When I met with him, I asked if he had seen such a thing before. He said that he had, claiming it was a creation of the Nightmare Moon followers. Whether he was misinformed, or did not care to inform me of its true purpose, I cannot say. I was dismissed after he stated that he would be keeping an eye on the cults, but something about it felt...off. Corvalix may have the gift of deceit like his damnable sister, but I could tell there was more to it.

"A few days later I was talking with Brother-Captain Ridaan, who was just returning from a skirmish with the cultists near the Lake of Embers. He said that he had lost half a dozen bucks to a single doe, a whitetail. From what he told me, the doe had been surrounded and trapped in a thicket. He thought she was going to surrender, but instead she downed a vial of fluid and immediately grew tenfold in power. From what he says, she flew into a fury and shrugged off half a dozen blade attacks. It took his entire squad to bring her down. And when they finally did, he saw black tendrils of dark magic within her eyes."

By now Trelis had begun to pay attention in earnest, though her skeptical look had not faded. Occasionally she would look down at her book, or to the swirling mixture at her side.

"If what you're saying is true, then I see no cause for alarm. Magical enhancement potions have been created and used for generations. We're simply trying to refine it. It is unfortunate that it fell into the wrong hooves, but such is the way of things sometimes."

"Then you do know what you're working on," Caethil said, more of a statement than a question.

She pursed her lips in annoyance. "I am one of the lead researchers, Caethil. Even you should be smart enough to realize what that entails." She lowered her voice and said, "I suggest you do not tell anyone else about this, for your sake. What we do here is none of your concern."

"Even when it means the deaths of countless whitetail?"

"We are giving an edge to our soldiers. Ancestors know they could use it in the sorry state our military finds itself in."

Caethil stamped a hoof on the research tome. "It is not going to our soldiers, Trelis! The cultists, the redtail...everyone is getting it except us! If this is truly a potion meant to help Whitetail, then why are we not receiving any? Why has it been hidden from our knowledge?" He stepped closer, until he was face to face with her. "I'll tell you why: because our true enemy is Cervidae. It always has been. What remains of the Nightmare Moon followers are being used against us. You are too blind to see the snake even as it coils around your neck."

She laughed. "And what would you have me do? Abandon a lifetime of dedication, decades of research into all manner of creations? The only snake I see is the one standing before me."

"Please, Trelis, just listen to me," Caethil said, nearly begging in desperation. "I don't want to see anything happen to you. Think of me what you like, but I couldn't stand to see you tossed to the side once Elinwynn and her brother gain full control of Whitetail. Chancellor Vinawyll is a puppet, and you only remain safe now because he is still in power. This potion you and the others have been working on will only bring about countless deaths, and not just for the Equestrian." He placed a hoof against her chest. "We may not be able to stop this war from escalating, but we can make sure it doesn't cost any more lives than necessary."

Trelis pushed her way past him, muttering to herself.

"Where are you going?" Caethil asked as he scrambled to keep up with her.

"To find the Brother-Sergeant outside. I've had enough of your ridiculous accusations. You should have never come here, Caethil."

He stopped in front of her, sticking a foreleg out to bar her path.

"Trelis, you have to believe me. I am only--"

"I said move."

Caethil was suddenly lifted off his hooves and tossed aside, landing in a heap as streamers of magic dissolved from his body. Trelis was already half way up the entrance hall to the hidden door before he caught up again. He began to speak, only to find a dagger floating inches from his throat.

"You always were stubborn," she said, jabbing it forward for emphasis so that it scraped against the short hairs of his coat. "Perhaps you're right, and Empress Elinwynn is here to see Whitetail reduced to a subservient state. Maybe Corvalix doesn't give a damn about any of us. But if you think for one second that I am going to throw my life away for your rampant speculations, you are very wrong."

He remained silent until Trelis lowered her weapon. Above them, a loud rumble and crash sounded, no doubt from another wayward Equestrian projectile. Trelis continued up to the barrier, pushing her way through with a brief crackle of energy.

"I am only trying to help you!" Caethil called to her. She ignored him and picked up her pace. "Trelis! Trelis!"

The wall nearest to Caethil exploded in. Chunks of masonry and heavy stone thudded off the ground, showering him with a spray of rock splinters and dirt that cut into his skin. His world tumbled end over end before he came to a rest near the barrier. His body ached. Dazed and weary he slowly pushed himself back up to his knees, noticing drops of blood staining the uneven ground underneath him.

Trelis was standing over him with a look of disgust and anger. Through the hole in the wall he could hear the collective panic of Evinwiir, the shouts of terror and the screams of the injured. Deep, heavy impacts sounded from all around him, a terrible fusillade.

"You believe Cervidae is our enemy? Listen to them out there, Caethil. The cries of families. The desperate pleas of the dying. The Equestrians grow tired of our defiance. We need the redtail to save us from destruction. Maybe you see that now."

Caethil coughed, and a stabbing pain dug into his side. He tried to speak, but his breath caught in his throat. Trelis gave him one final look -- more of pity than anything -- and turned to find the guard stationed just beyond the spiral staircase outside.

"Wait...Trelis, wait..." he finally managed.

"What is it now, Caethil? Do not think to beg. You are pathetic enough as is."

"No, not begging. I'm...I'm sorry."

Trelis sneered at him. "It is too late for--"

A chunk of stone smashed into her head from the side, and she dropped to the ground in a heap. Blood trickled from just under her ear.

Caethil lowered his head, the glow of magic fading from his antlers as he hobbled over to her.

"I'm sorry," he said again. A touch of his hoof to her neck; her heart was still beating. He gave a deep exhale of relief. He could have killed her -- perhaps should have killed her. The future of Whitetail was bigger than any one doe, yet as he stood over her unconscious form he knew he could not bring himself to put an end to her. Different though she was from when they were so much closer, he still held onto the memory of what she had meant to him.

"I hope you'll forgive me one day. I have to do this."

The barrier rippled around him as he passed through it once more, this time grabbing a burning torch from a wall sconce along the way. The walls continued to shake, even this far down. How ironic it would be, he thought in morbid amusement, if he met his end by an Equestrian catapult before he could set his plan in motion.

Magii-Apprentice Lelowyn came galloping around a corner, skidding to a halt in a fit of panic. Her eyes were wide and her breaths shallow, and she cowered as another impact sent a dull roar through the building. A structure must have collapsed close-by.

"B-Brother-Commander! What's happening? Where's Trelis? I heard this commotion and then everything started shaking and I didn't know where--"

"Easy, easy, Lelowyn," he said calmly. "It's alright. The Equestrians are making their presence known, but we are safe here."

She gasped as she noticed his injuries. "You're hurt! What happened?"

"I'll be fine. I was walking with Trelis when the bombardment started. I came down here to find you." Caethil spoke slowly and evenly. "Lelowyn, I need you to help me. Can you do that?" She nodded. "Good. Sister-Magii Trelis has been injured. She is just outside of the barrier. A piece of rock knocked her unconscious during the opening volley."

"Ancestors watch over us," Lelowyn said with a hoof to her mouth, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "What can I do?"

"Grab any medical supplies you can and go to her. Find the guard outside and tell him you need assistance, but do not put yourself in harm's way until the danger has passed. Go!"

Lelowyn immediately started gathering small vials of healing potions and bandages, stuffing them into her bag she kept around her neck. As she did, Caethil painfully made his way to Trelis' work station. All of her supplies and research books sat in neat rows or filled shelves that lined the wall. In the corner, near a heavy wooden table, the cauldron still churned and swirled in a trio of bright colors.

"So much trouble for such an innocent-looking creation," he said to himself. He had to laugh; a few months ago he would have eagerly embraced anything that let them kill the ponies outside their walls faster. Now he found himself actively sabotaging his own people to save the very same. He assured himself it would be worth it in the end. With the enhancement potion out of the way, and the very sky seemingly falling upon Evinwiir, he would have to push his plans forward.

One thing at a time.

Gathering everything flammable he could find into a pile, Caethil dumped the cauldron out and dropped the torch. It immediately spread with a rush of heat and air, singing the hairs of his coat along one side of his body. He stood and watched the pyre burn for a moment, clouds of pink and purple and blue rising with glittering sparkles and flashes of energy.

Satisfied, he hobbled back to the entryway. Flasks popped and exploded behind him as the flames fed on the 9th Arcane's bountiful resources, soon turning into a roaring inferno that would consume the building in its entirety within a matter of minutes.

Back in the open air of the partially destroyed facade above, Caethil saw Lelowyn rushing toward the entrance. He gave a final, pained look to Trelis, then disappeared through the hole in the wall and out into the night.

47 - Escape

Brother-Commander Caethil rushed through the streets in a breathless gallop, his loping strides taking him past shattered buildings and the detritus of earlier riots. Here and there fires burned out of control, consuming entire homes in the aftermath of the Equestrians' bombardment of the city and silhouetting the adjacent structures against the night sky. A small crowd stood around a trio of whitetail and comforted one another as a young fawn cried into her mother's chest, a redtail guard yelling to a small contingent of deer in the distance for aid.

The war had taken its toll on everyone and everything -- including, it seemed, the patience of the Equestrians. It was unlike them to fire directly and indiscriminately into the city. He should have been cursing them, but found it difficult to do so when it was the fault of his corrupt and inept leaders that such things had not come to an end long ago.

The chaos of the inner city gave way to an almost alarming silence as Caethil made all due haste to the political sub-district, tucked firmly against the northern wall where the Equestrians had not managed to surround it despite their efforts. Here could be found the most important and powerful of the whitetail government, those who were not afraid to flaunt their wealth in a game of one-upmanship with their fellow politicos. Opulent homes stretched out beyond private gardens, many of them protected by small contingents of privately funded soldiers. Gold, crystal and marble were formed into sweeping deertongue prayers for good fortune, often accompanied by idealized statues of their owners in dramatic poses.

There, just ahead. A circular arrangement of relatively modest homes, those belonging to the newer or less ambitious senators. Caethil slowed to a trot as he caught his breath, his legs and lungs burning with exhaustion. It was not often he felt his age, but he certainly did then.

He pounded on the door, then waited. No answer.

"Come on, Praxilus, you bastard," he said through gritted teeth as he tried again, then a third time.

Finally, the sound of muffled hoofsteps. He exhaled sharply in relief.

The door swung open, a tired Praxilus standing before him and rubbing his eyes.

"Caethil? What are you--"

Caethil pushed his way inside, then shut the door behind him with a kick.

"Do you have your things packed? Are you ready to go?"

Praxilus stared; shook his head to wake himself. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what's going on right now. Weren't we leaving sometime in the afternoon?"

"The plan's changed," Caethil answered. "We have to move things up immediately, for I fear we won't have a chance to meet under ideal circumstances."

"What do you mean, 'the plan's changed'? Did something happen?"

"If we don't hurry then Trelis could awaken at any moment, and if the fires spread too far..."

Praxilus placed a hoof on the other's shoulder. "My friend, you're not making much sense. Are you in danger?" Caethil nodded, saying the guards would be looking for him. "Right. Right, well...come, sit down. You'll be safe here for a while. The Equestrian catapults cannot reach this far, and I doubt the soldiers will be searching my home any time soon."

Reluctantly Caethil followed him to the dining and entertaining room, a traditional Whitetail place of meeting for friends and family. Gold and emerald throw pillows lined the walls and formed small mounds on the floor, and a shallow bowl of aromatic herbs sizzled in spring water above a torch, giving off a hearty, earthy smell.

Moonlight and the glow of distant fires streamed through the tall, open windows in equal measure. Somewhere out there, he imagined, the doe he used to love would be calling for his head. How many soldiers would be looking for him now? Dozens? Hundreds? Maybe he was being paranoid. Maybe Trelis would believe she was knocked unconscious by another Equestrian catapult stone, as he'd told the young assistant. He supposed he had no way to know for sure. A deep breath helped with his nerves, if only in a small way.

A crystalline tankard floated to a small table at his side once he sat down, filled with a deep purple liquid. He eagerly took a mouthful of the sweet, slightly tart linae berry wine, the first he'd had in weeks. Such luxuries were hard to come by these days, and barley ale was a bitter stopgap at best.

"No use saving it now, I suppose." Praxilus sat across from him, a narrow-necked bottle clinking onto the floor. "Took me months to build up a supply of the stuff, straight from the winery in Gale Valley. I trust it's to your liking?"

Caethil downed the rest of his cup, held it out for a refill. "More than you can know, Senator."

"Glad to hear it." Praxilus swirled his drink, sniffed at it in approval, and let the flavors wash over his tongue and trickle down his throat. "Now, what seems to be the problem, my good Brother-Commander? Please, take all the time you need."

A hollow laugh. "Old acquaintances, Senator. That's the problem. Old acquaintances and muddied thoughts make for a vile combination. I've put us in undue risk."

"What do you mean?"

A chopped log floated to the nearby fireplace, bringing comforting warmth against the night. It flared briefly before settling into place.

"I paid a visit to the 9th Arcane's primary research building with the intention of putting a stop this potion, or concoction, or whatever you want to call it. It was a magical enhancement liquid, and I thought it would cause great harm to both Whitetail and the Equestrians if it were to continue being produced. Long story short, it's been supplied to both the Nightmare Moon cults and select redtail for at least a month now, probably on a testing basis. From what I've seen of its after-effects, it's extremely potent. I thought I might put a stop to it before we turn traitor and flee from our homes."

"We're not traitors, Caethil," Praxilus said, sounding unsure even to himself. "Once this war is over and Whitetail is returned to its former glory, we'll be welcomed back as heroes. We can help rebuild."

"If we aren't beheaded first," Caethil answered bitterly. "Once I arrived I found the building to be mostly empty, except for two does. One of them was a senior researcher named Trelis. We have -- or had -- somewhat of a troubled history."

"Old love interest, I take it?"

Caethil downed the rest of his wine and frowned. "You could say that. We split apart under less than ideal circumstances. You can imagine my surprise when I saw here there at such a late hour. I'd intended to burn the place down and be done with it in short order, but I just...I fucked everything up, Senator. I tried to convince her that the Chancellor and the Empress didn't give a single damn about Whitetail, but you know how the 9th are: committed to a fault. She wouldn't hear a word of it. Nothing mattered; not the Cervidaens working to take over Whitetail, not Corvalix supplying potions to the cultists, not even my assertion that it wasn't the Equestrians who started this war. She said she was going to call the guards and have me arrested." He considered his empty glass for a time, lost within his own thoughts. "She'd changed so much since I'd last seen her. It was all about Whitetail this, and the 9th that, and victory at all costs. She had an assistant, a gifted, young doe who was wise enough to not get involved in our shouting and arguing.

"Even as Trelis was making her way to the surface I kept trying to reason with her. We had just reached the store room with the Equestrian fusillade began raining stones over the city. One of them impacted very near to me," he lifted up his cotton body wrap to show the dried blood and shallow cuts in his side. "I felt pitiful, lying there in a pile of rubble as Trelis dismissed me entirely. I thought she was going to kill me, but instead she said she was going to have the guards haul me off. I...I had to stop her, but I didn't want to kill her. I couldn't. Would you be able to live with yourself if you drove a blade into the heart of one you used to care for more than anything else in this world?"

Praxilus shook his head. "No, I don't think I could. Even if it meant my own death."

"So it is for both of us, then. But I still had to stop her, so I used every bit of focus I could conjure and sent a chunk of rock into her head from the side. She dropped right then and there. She was still breathing when I checked on her, but a head injury is never something you just shrug off. Despite everything, I hope she's well..."

"I'm sure she is," Praxilus said. He considered filling Caethil's glass again, then floated the bottle itself to the soldier's hooves. Caethil eagerly drank from it, downing a good portion in breathless gulps before setting it down. "What did you do about the assistant? And the potion?"

"I made up a story about how Trelis had been struck unconscious by the bombardment, and told the girl to find help once it was safe. With her out of the way, it was a simple matter of making sure that damned place burned to the ground. I gathered up every bit of research, every last scroll and book, and dumped that vile brew onto the floor. I watched it succumb to the flames until the heat threatened to roast me. I escaped through a hole in the wall once I was back upstairs." A final pull of wine, a sorrowful breath. "Ancestors forgive me. I pray they lived."

Praxilus bowed his head, offering silent support for the does. "I can see why you were panicked, my friend. You are free to stay here for the night if you need, until this blows over."

"That's just it," Caethil insisted, "it isn't going to blow over. Once they search my home and find me missing, they will eventually try to find me at my post. I cannot abandon my bucks, not when we're so close to escaping this wretched city. That's why we have to gather everyone and leave as quickly as possible. I thank you for your hospitality, but we've wasted enough time here as is." He pushed himself up and brushed the dust from his cloak. "I'll ask you again: do you have your bags ready? Can you leave now?"

"If necessary," Praxilus answered. "Should I gather the others? No doubt Alyys and Gwindihr will be asleep. It may be difficult to rouse them."

"Then bash their doors down if need be. We don't have any time to waste. I want to be under way by daybreak."

"Very well. Where shall we meet?" A short dagger in a sheathe levitated across the room. It was strapped to Praxilus' upper right foreleg and hidden under hastily thrown together winter robes.

"There is a guard tower near the old kiln, just east of my unit's barracks. Find us there, but please, do not take too long. I don't know how long we'll be able to maintain our facade."

"We'll be there," Praxilus said.

"I do hope so." Caethil saluted with a foreleg over his chest. Praxilus returned the gesture, then stuck a crystalline bottle into the side of one of Caethil's bags. "Here, take this. You can share it with your bucks once we're free of this place. Best of luck to you, Brother-Commander."

"And you as well, Senator."

***

The soldiers were already gathered as Caethil crossed into the clearing that marked the Shapers district, a collection of old and mostly abandoned buildings that had once served as the backbone of Evinwiir's growth. It had been left behind as progress pushed the city outward, and now served as a place of training for several of the local guard units. At times one could find the most destitute of citizens sheltering under the crumbling ceilings and clinging to the stone walls for protection from the elements.

Caethil and his compatriots had come through this place, many years ago, as their first order of business under the flag of the 12th Capital Guard. Criminals of all sorts had turned the ruined buildings into places of greed, murder and corruption. To the last they had been put to the blade.

How ironic, he thought, that he was now considered a criminal himself. There was a very real possibility that he and his bucks would be killed here, their ruse discovered by wandering eyes or secretive deals by those who were only pretending to be loyal to him.

He pushed the thought away. He had to trust his soldiers, for they certainly trusted him to see them through the coming days.

"Who goes there?" someone shouted from the roof of a nearby building. Caethil smiled.

"Do you not recognize your own commanding officer?" he yelled in return. The soldier gave a shrill whistle, and half a dozen bucks eased their holds on their bows. Caethil had to wait only a moment for his second in command to approach him. "Brother-Captain Vardinfel. Alert as always, I see."

"As ever, sir." Warm torch light illuminated the buck's youthful face and determined eyes. Vardinfel may have barely been out of his twenties, but he was as fine of a soldier as Caethil had ever seen. Months of conflict with the Equestrians and the fanatics alike had done little to tarnish his pride and professionalism. "Forgive me, sir, I was not expecting to see you so soon. Has there been trouble? When the bombardment began we weren't sure what was happening."

"More trouble than I can explain, I'm afraid," Caethil answered. They walked together past dilapidated structures that had been occupied by his unit, armored figures appearing on every roof top, at every door, casting muted green reflections that flickered against dull browns and grays. Salutes and uttered cries of "Arindiil Whitetail" met him at every step. "I trust you were beyond siege range?"

"Yes, sir, no casualties to report." Vardinfel said.

"That is good to hear. It is true that I was not planning on returning here for some time yet, but circumstances have forced my hoof. There's been an incident with the 9th Arcane, one of my own doing. I did it for Whitetail's future, of course, but I doubt many would see it that way."

"The 9th? With all due respect, the proprietors of powerful magic have been an asset to our war effort, sir."

"They were an asset," Caethil said. "I'm afraid I don't have time to fully explain, Brother-Captain, but trust me when I say that what they used to be, and what they are now, are two completely different beasts. I thought it prudent to cut the head off before it could destroy us from within."

Vardinfel frowned. "As you say, sir. I trust your judgment in these things."

"And I thank you for your loyalty. How are the bucks?"

"As well as can be expected. The hours have been long and the stress unfathomable for some, but we are here for you. Everyone has packed for the journey, and our provisions can last a week if necessary. Our ranged capabilities are mild at best, however, with seven bows, fifteen throwing spears and a hoof-full of darts for the forty-six of us. We had to give priority to personal blades."

"I'm sorry, did you say forty-six?" Caethil asked. He knew the news would be bad when Vardinfel's ears flattened.

"Yes, sir, I'm afraid so. Five of our number had, well...second thoughts, I suppose you could say. I think the catapult assault made them reconsider defection. They tried to get everyone else to join them, unsuccessfully of course. When words didn't work, they threatened us with violence." A shadow crossed his face. "They had to be dealt with, sir. We couldn't have them reporting our plans to the other units."

A weight sunk deep into Caethil's chest. "I see. I'm sorry to hear that."

"They were buried behind the old store house, and their graves marked with full military honors. It's been difficult for many of our bucks to cope with. Perhaps you could talk to them -- reaffirm our cause. I can scarcely imagine a more demoralizing act than being forced to kill one's own comrades."

Caethil lowered his voice, his words heavy with doubt.

"We may all be in that position soon, Brother-Captain."

***

Dawn was nearly upon them, the sun peeking over the distant mountains and casting rosy fingers across the scattered clouds, bringing with it a chill wind that howled through the thick forests surrounding Evinwiir and billowed the long, triangular flags of Whitetail's capital. The city was just beginning to come to life as shop keepers opened their stalls and thousands of citizens headed to their places of work. Some awoke to find their belongings destroyed or stolen in the night, while yet others huddled around fire pits and wept over the loss of their homes or loved ones.

Another day of war, another chunk of Whitetail's soul ripped away. It had almost become routine to Senator Praxilus and his compatriots. Hardly anyone paid them heed as they passed through the smoking ruins of the financial district and north to the old Shapers district, and that suited him just fine. Seeing the devastation of the night's prolonged siege only reinforced in him the need to put an end to this senseless death and destruction, though he lamented that it would be some time before that happened.

He sipped at his flask of mulled wine, wishing he could break into a full sprint without drawing attention to himself. Caethil was likely to be furious at being kept waiting -- if he was still around. Or alive.

Finally the trio found the grove of evergreens that marked the edge of the old district. Praxilus signaled for Alyys and Gwindihr to stay hidden for the moment, carefully stepping out into the open. It took only a few seconds for him to be spotted. A sentry called for him to stop, and his heart beat in his chest as he prayed to his ancestors that the eyes now upon him were friendly.

"Senator Praxilus, is it?" The guard yelled from cover. Praxilus answered quickly. "You may tell your fellows to come out, they are clearly within view. The Brother-Commander has been awaiting your arrival."

So much for staying hidden, he thought amusedly. He waved a hoof and brought out the others to take their places beside him. The young sentry approached a moment later, bowing deeply. A ribbon of shimmering white fabric had been wrapped around the tallest prong of his antlers.

"Apologies, senators, but we can't be too careful. Were you followed? Does anyone know you're meeting here?"

"Not that we are aware of," Alyys answered, pulling his winter clothing tighter against himself. His breath came out in wispy puffs as he complained. "I'm too damn old to be out this early..."

"Where is the Brother-Commander?" Praxilus asked.

"He and the senior staff took shelter in one of the buildings. Most of them decided to get what sleep they could until you arrived. We feared you wouldn't show at all."

"We would have been here sooner, lad, but abandoning one's life in the public eye is...complicated, to say the least."

The young soldier nodded sympathetically. "I understand, Senator. At least you're here now. Please, follow me."

Weary eyes stared from roof tops as they wound their way through the narrow alleys and open fields of dead grass. Many of the bucks had fallen asleep near their small fires, curled into themselves for comfort and warmth against the biting cold.

"Damn shame," Gwindihr said to the others.

"What do you mean?" Alyys asked, a small bag floating before him as he double and triple checked his supplies.

"These young bucks. Being asked to leave everyone and everything behind. I'm amazed so many sided with Caethil in the first place."

"Caethil has a way with words," Praxilus said. "I've never served in the army, but if I had, I would have wanted someone like him to be my commanding officer. Clearly he inspires loyalty and respect, else they wouldn't be here."

"True enough, I suppose." Alyys turned to the soldier with the fluttering ribbon. "You, boy. What is your name?"

"Falavius, sir," he answered proudly. "Falavius of Narrowhelm, son of Faalnin."

Alyys perked his ears. "Falavius? That sounds an awful lot like an old Equestrian name, before they started naming each other after clouds and trees and other such ridiculous things."

The young buck smiled, a genuine expression that momentarily replaced the tired look in his eyes."Yes, sir, it is. Not many have picked up on that. I tend to keep its origin hidden these days, as you can well imagine." His smile faded, though the pride remained in his voice. "My adoptive mother took care of me while I was a fawn, after my real mother died in childbirth. She was a pony, from the northern reaches of Equestria. My father always said she was the kindest soul he'd ever met. I ended up with an Equestrian name upon the first anniversary of my birth in her honor."

Alyys patted him on the shoulder. "She sounds like a fine doe, Falavius."

"Mare, actually" Falavius corrected him. "And she was! Until, well..." His head dropped. "The roundup of Equestrians living in Whitetail took her away from my father. He resisted, drew his blade to keep them from taking her. He was a tough old soldier in his own right, but not even he could stop half a dozen bucks." Tears gathered in his eyes and stung in the wind. He blinked them away. "I miss them greatly, Senator. I've tried to find out what happened to my adoptive mother, but no one seems to know. I only found out about my father from a neighbor who saw it all happen, and at that point I was already committed to the army for several years to come."

Alyys felt as if he'd been struck with a hammer. "I'm so sorry, son. This damned war has broken apart so many families just like yours. I hope your adoptive mother is well. What was her name?"

"Merelith."

"Merelith, then. I give you my word that I will do everything in my power to find her. I may not be a senator for long, but I know a lot of deer in high places. If she yet lives -- or, ancestors forbid, if she doesn't -- then I swear that you will know as soon as I do."

A hint of the optimistic gleam returned. "Thank you, Senator. It is all I could ask for. As you can imagine, I hold no real allegiance to Whitetail these days; not after what it's become. That is why I did not hesitate to join Brother-Commander Caethil. You'll find that many of my brothers have similar stories of loss. It can't be any worse in Equestria."

Another guard halted them once they came to a circle of buildings surrounding a bonfire. Falavius explained that they were there to see the Brother-Commander, and was told to wait in turn.

"I'll leave you to your business," he said with a parting salute. "Best of luck to you, senators, and may the ancestors watch over you this day."

"And you as well, Falavius." Praxilus returned the salute and waited to be greeted by Caethil. He did not have to wait long.

Caethil came galloping up in a confident stride, yelling to his soldiers to get ready as he did so. The relatively quiet encampment became a flurry of activity at his order, with bucks packing away supplies and extinguishing fires. Messengers loped from one over-watch to the next, passing along their commanding officer's word. Somewhere among the controlled chaos an authoritative voice called for a formation; Praxilus guessed it to be one of Caethil's under-officers.

"Praxilus! At last you arrive. I feared you'd been caught, or worse. What in the world happened? You were supposed to be here hours ago."

"I apologize for our late showing, Brother-Commander, but we encountered some problems when we tried to retrieve Senator Gwindihr."

"Afraid so," Gwindihr said. "Some of Senator Karix's personal guards were suspicious of us being out together that late. We had to pay them off to not alert the old stag, lest he blow our cover. Not to mention neither I nor Alyys were prepared to leave on such short notice. Gathering our belongings took some time."

"But at least we're here now," Praxilus said. "How have you been, my friend? Any trouble with the other units?"

"No, though I did encounter some trouble with the 9th Arcane. I'll fill you in later, but for now we seem to be safe." Caethil gave a quick look around, nodding in approval as his soldiers began to form their rows. "Do you have everything you need? There will not be another chance from here on out."

"I believe so. We're ready to go as soon as you are."

Caethil clapped him on the side."Excellent. It won't be long now. Give me time to check with the bucks and we'll be on our way." The excitement in his voice was unmistakable, though Praxilus could tell it was hiding deeper doubts and concerns. He was not about to bring them up. "Our time is at hoof, Senators!"

***

Caethil let out a shuddering breath, being careful not to let his authoritative, confident facade fade. Many eyes were on him already, and forty-six bucks in glinting armor stood at the ready in rows of ten, with four squad leaders and two sub-commanders ahead of the others. The central officer held a tall banner pole that had been stripped of its Capital Guard flag, replaced instead with the white, green and gold of Whitetail. It flapped in the steady wind while the bucks checked themselves and each other for the tiniest of imperfections -- unclasped straps, loose supply packs, improperly sheathed weapons or knee-blades. Nothing could be overlooked when their survival depended on a thorough attention to detail.

The senior sub-commander snapped to attention as Caethil approached.

"Company! Ready...front!"

As one the soldiers stood straight and tall, their eyes forward. Caethil allowed the tiniest hint of a smile to part his lips; military precision at the most trying of times was the mark of proper training and discipline. He'd taught them well.

He stood before his soldiers, his head held high. Front and center on his crescent-shaped helm he had carved the ancient runes for 'truth' and 'vigilance', and a dual-layered cape the color of the forest was attached to his shoulder pauldrons and hung off to one side, decorated with silver braids. It had been a gift from the former chancellor, a congratulatory gesture upon obtaining his position as one of Evinwiir's officers. He wore it now in memory of better times -- and far better leaders.

"At ease, my brothers," he said. They looked at him expectantly, and though he had prepared for this moment he found himself unsure of his words, if only for a time. He could see the lingering doubt scattered through their ranks, the uncertainty of what they were about to do. They needed him to be strong.

"Time is of the essence, as you well know, but before we depart I thought I would speak with you in brief. I do so not as your commanding officer, but as a soldier, a stag of principle and, above all else, a whitetail. Like so many of you, I have spent my entire life within this great nation's borders, from the cold expanses of the Midlands to the glinting shores of the Endless Sea. I have seen it expand and prosper, and it has granted me the blessing of a good life.

"Yet the Whitetail I love has been poisoned by corruption, twisted and shaped by the disease of politics and age-old grievances. I look out across her now, battered and bloodied by the continued violence of unnecessary and wasteful warfare, and I am heart broken. Evinwiir does not deserve this fate of slow starvation and anarchy. Her citizens are good, and strong, and though the walls have held, the city within has all but fallen. You may look at the burnt-out shells of homes and the shattered remains of once proud cathedrals and wish to blame the Equestrians -- before recently, I certainly did -- but one needs only open their eyes and see who is truly to blame. It is not the ponies we should despise. That is exactly what those in charge want you to do."

He turned and pointed to the tall spires of the capitol building in the distance, which glinted in the dawning sunlight as if in defiance of the filth and rubble that had been brought upon the city.

"There, my friends. There is the place where Whitetail has been systematically gutted, its corpse paraded around in mockery of all we used to stand for. Chancellor Vinawyll, in his cowardice and greed, has led us to ruin. He has surrounded himself with like-minded stags, politicians who corroborate with his every whim and fold to his wishes. The senate is a shell of its former self, no longer the voice of the people. Yet even here we find whitetail who are good and righteous in their convictions."

Caethil bowed to the three senators in genuine respect.

"Senators Alyys, Gwindihr and Praxilus have decided to join us this day. They, too, believe in the Whitetail of old, and they have earned my respect. I am honored to call them my brothers; not by blood, but by conviction. I ask that you give them the same dignity and honor that you have shown myself and each other. Once this ordeal has passed, and Whitetail is free once more, we will need good deer like them to rebuild what remains of this nation."

"Ka'al sayiin, vyyn nominet qyi falshaduur," Senator Praxilus said with a hoof against his chest. In our deeds, we speak for those who cannot.

The soldiers returned his words, a phrase as old as deerkind.

"Indeed we do," Caethil said. "Let me make something very clear: from the moment we depart, we will be traitors. In the eyes of the senate, the chancellor, the empress, and all who support them, we will be treasonous scum. We all know what happens to traitors who are caught; no doubt you've seen it with your own eyes if you've lived here long enough.

"Some of you may be having second thoughts about deserting. I understand. The thought of leaving behind the comfort and familiarity of your life thus far is not an easy one to cope with. That is why, at this moment, I am offering complete amnesty to anyone who wishes to leave. I give you my word that you will not be harmed if you do so peacefully. In return, I ask only that you allow the rest of us to carry on."

The bucks looked to each other, watching and waiting for someone to be the first.

Not a single one left the formation.

"Very well," he said simply, a swell of pride in his chest. "I cannot guarantee that you will see your homes again, nor can I guarantee that you will live through this ordeal. We are but a small collection of stags and bucks standing in defiance of that we view as wrong. The journey will be long, and tiresome, but I swear to you that I will not back down from this cause."

He drew his quinn-blade and levitated it above his antlers, raising his voice to a shout.

"Ancestors willing, we will stand in this very place again one day, under the banner of a reborn Whitetail! I will lead you, and I will fight with you, and if we must die, then I will die with you!"

Raising on his hind legs, he shouted the battle cry of Whitetail.

"Aro'wiin!"

His forelgs stamped back down as his soldiers responded as one, stomping with each chant.

"Hwah!"

"Aro'wiin!"

"Hwah!"

"Aro'wiin!"

"Hwah!"

A determined silence hung in the air, broken only by the flapping of their banner. Brother-Commander Caethil looked over his soldiers one last time. He'd never felt prouder.

"It is time we go. Keep your weapons sheathed and your eyes forward. As far as anyone is concerned, we are just another unit carrying out our orders." He turned to the senators, pleased to see that they were set on seeing it through to the end. Senator Alyys stood ramrod straight and saluted, a testament to his years of service. "Senators, you will remain at my side until we are clear of Evinwiir. Remember: if anyone asks, we are acting as your personal escort to Eldwix. With any luck, it will be good enough of an excuse for heading southwest."

"We understand," Praxilus said. "We entrust you with your lives, Brother-Commander."

"Then let's be on our way." Caethil gave a shrill whistle and circled his hoof in the air. "Soldiers of Whitetail, fall in and move out!"

49 - A Home Worth Fighting For

Morning of the second day came without incident, a thorough surprise to Caethil and those who followed him. There had not been a single report by the lookouts; no snapping twigs, no crunching snow or distant voices. No sign that they had been found out in the least. That suited him just fine. Perhaps, he thought hopefully, they'd managed to elude whoever might be after them. The night's snowfall had certainly done its part to hide their presence, covering the ground in a blanket of fresh powder that sparkled and glinted like a million flecks of crystal in the scattered sunlight.

Their camp was torn down in short order, a hot breakfast of fresh pine tea and kettle-cooked winterberry mash filling their stomachs and warming them against the unrelenting cold. It was no cookhouse meal, but it would suffice.

An hour after sunrise they were on the march once more. They stayed in columns to mask their numbers, as well as to make it easier to travel through the snow. It had done more than simply hide their tracks overnight, now deep enough in places to nearly come up to their chests. Travel was painfully slow at times. Whitetail's forests had always been known for their rough and rugged nature, but the dense tangles of snow-heavy evergreens sometimes forced even Caethil to reconsider his route.

Ever onward. One hoof in front of the other. Always alert.

Now and then a soldier would voice his complaint, the others echoing his sentiment in colorful language and bitter agreement. Everyone was tired, everyone hated the cold, and the terrain, and the whipping branches getting caught on their antlers, and the incessantly cawing winter birds, and the fucking snow, but they kept on all the same. For all of their begrudging issues, there was not a single doubt among them that they were in the right. No one knew what imprisonment in Equestria would entail, but it couldn't be worse than being ordered by the Cervidaens to suicidally throw themselves at the fortified battle lines of the ponies.

Praxilus and his senatorial compatriots were a surprisingly talkative addition. Alyys in particular had become a favorite of the group, and quickly so. The stubborn old senator was coarse and snappy, but his long life and nearly decade of service to Whitetail's military in his youth meant that he had no small amount of stories to share and advice to pass on. Come mid-day, he'd earned an affectionate nickname: sal'nayiim -- grandfather, a title he openly scoffed at and derided the young bucks for, but Caethil could see the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his mouth when he turned back around.

Brief stops for rest. A quick meal. Mile after mile of evergreens that drooped in the endless snowfall.

Ever onward.

***

Battle-Master Gilias swept low over the tree tops, trailing powdery flakes behind her with every flap of her strong wings. Gusts of freezing wind threatened to send her careening into the forests below, the harsh bite of winter pricking her skin in spite of her plumage and fur.

She'd been on lookout patrol since just after sunrise, tasked yet again with finding any sign of whitetail movements within the Whistling Wilds, a place that was nearly impossible to see into at times. Worse still, the crafty deer had become quite adept at masking their presence. Word of her presence within the Equestrian military had spread, and no longer was it assumed that a griffon flying overhead was just a passer-by from Skytalon. No, the whitetail were actively hunting her now, sometimes waiting in ambush for a chance to strike out with their throwing spears, bundles of piercing darts, or, on rare occasions, explosive pots hurled skyward. Those who didn't attack her frequently scattered in all directions to throw her off their path.

It was frustrating work. Whitetail was on the verge of collapse, yet its veteran soldiers grew smarter all the time. And if rumors of Cervidaen involvement were to be believed, the whitetail could very well be getting their supplies from their oft-maligned neighbors. She wished she could get a solid look at the northern expanses, but the area had proven to be extremely difficult to scout. Perhaps soon she could gather a strong force of pegasi to join her, and together with Victus they could--

A sharp, burning jolt stabbed into her right wing. Gilias squawked in sudden pain and brushed against the tops of trees as she struggled to stay airborne. Flashes of shining metal flitted past her on all sides, coming up from the dense canopy in a rapid succession of well-aimed projectiles.

The whitetail had seen her coming. She cursed as she quickly yanked a dart from her wing, a thin streamer of blood trailing from it and scattering wind-blown droplets against her leg.

Two more darts slammed into her chest armor, digging themselves deep into the studded leather but unable to punch through. Spinning around and using a gust of wind to carry her forward, she attempted to gain enough altitude to put her out of the reach of whoever was intent on putting an abrupt end to her mission. A trio of slashes stitched long, shallow wounds from her hind legs to just above her tail, a fourth dart catching her squarely in the place where her wing met her body. It was too much, too quickly, and Gilias braced herself as she crashed through the tree tops, her muscles shocked by pain and unable to keep her in the air. Branches whipped at her face and gashed swaths of feathers away, sending her tumbling end over end too fast to right herself.

She caught only a brief glimpse of the tree trunk looming ahead before slamming into it.

***

A cacophony of snapping branches and the clang of metal sounded from somewhere above and echoed through the forest. Caethil and his bucks drew their weapons in an instant and kept their ears on a swivel as patches of snow and pine needles rained down. A final thud, heavy and close, and then it was silent once more.

"What in the world was that?" Gwindihr asked, craning his neck to see above the antlers of the soldiers in front of him.

Caethil remained quiet, listening intently for any more commotion. Hearing none, he signaled for the bucks to gather around him and move forward. They cautiously formed into a defensive wall, eight across and tightly spaced, on alert for what they were convinced was a Whitetail military incursion. Had it been the opening volley of a siege weapon, or some sort of magic?

"Brother-Initiate Taaldram, you've got point," Caethil ordered just above a whisper, bringing a hoof to his eyes, then to the thicket of trees ahead.

"Sir!"

Taaldram levitated his quinn-blade before him and gave a firm stomp of his forelegs, locking the dagger-like knee blades of his armor into place. He slowly approached, stepping around a snow drift and over a fallen log. Debris littered the forest floor in a steady trail. A small outcropping of rock stuck out from the frozen earth ahead, obscuring the bottom of a large cypress tree. Taaldram could just see a tail and what looked like a lion's paw from his vantage point. Curious and nervous in equal measure, he stood atop the outcropping.

His eyes went wide. "Sir," he called back to the group, "it's a griffon! She looks wounded!"

***

Gilias had always had an odd relationship with pain. While other despised it, even feared it, she welcomed it. Pain let her know she was alive. And right then and there, she was very much alive. It wracked her body from beak to tail, intense pulses of fire that made her muscles spasm and her wings twitch against the rough, cold bark of whatever tree she'd smashed into. She knew she was hurt, but where, and how badly, she couldn't be sure.

For the time being, she lacked even the strength to open her eyes and find out where she had come to a stop.

There was something close, she realized in a daze. Unmistakable crunches of snow and what sounded like hooves on stone. The whitetail were coming to finish her.

"Ahndiir, sey'laisa dith naal gryfaan!"

The voice sounded so close. She tried to move, to force her body to fight back against her killers, but all she could manage was to slump over on her side and weakly stare out from half-open eyes. A whitetail buck, young and scared by the look of him, met her gaze and lifted a foreleg in surprise, a weapon floating in front of him and those damned armor-blades sticking out from the curved, crystalline plates over his knees. He briefly looked over his shoulder and called out again, getting a response from somewhere behind him. He didn't leave, but he didn't get any closer, either.

A sizable force of whitetail soldiers approached a moment later, weapons out and in a loose formation. The foremost, a middle-aged stag, said something to the others and stepped forward, being careful to stay just out of her reach.

"Fal koris ethnwyyl paar Wyyttalia?"

Gilias coughed in pain and weakly shook her head.

"I don't...speak deer," she squawked in her native tongue, the only word she recognized, Wyyttalia, being their word for Whitetail's language.

The presumed leader talked back and forth with a trio of whitetail who lacked military armor. All other eyes were on her, watching her intently, as if she was in any condition to suddenly spring up from the ground and remove their heads in one fell swoop. "If you're going to kill me, just fucking...nngh...do it already. I don't have time for this shit."

"You are Geelas, yes?" Gilias perked at the leader's question. "Do you speak Equestrian?"

"I do..." she replied. This stag spoke the pony language? It dawned on her that perhaps she shouldn't have answered, because now they knew how to interrogate her for information. Maybe she could reach for her swords, take one or two of them down with her...

"Good. That is good. You appear to be injured, Geelas of Skytalon." Caethil turned to a buck with a white and gold braid adorning his armor. "Brother-Healer, if you would assist her, please?" The soldier nodded, then pulled out a small pack from his bags. "Please, allow us to help you. I promise you we mean you no harm."

Gilias grabbed the hilt of her swords, though she doubted she could have pulled them out. "Don't you fucking touch me, tree rutter. First you shoot me down, then you offer to help? I don't believe you for a second."

"Shoot you down?" Caethil asked, cocking his head in confusion. "Is that what happened to you?" Gilias lifted a wing to show a dart lodged in her flesh, and he recoiled back in sudden realization. "Sub-commanders, we need a battle circle around myself and the griffon! Senators, I must ask you to stay at my side. Those who have been sent to find us are close by."

A murmur went through the group as they formed up, weapons out and segmented shields locked into place.

"Are you sure?" Praxilus asked.

"That is a redtail projectile, no doubt about it." Caethil cursed his luck. They were so close, but the dart was an unmistakable sign -- the hunting party from Evinwiir could be upon them at any moment. "Perhaps it is fortunate for the both of us that you happened to fall so close," he said to Gilias. "Battle-Master Geelas, do you--"

"Gilias," the griffon interrupted, still not letting her guard down.

"Gilias. My apologies. Do you happen to know where we can find the Equestrian Legion? I'm afraid I don't have a lot of time to explain, but it is imperative that myself and the others make contact them as soon as possible. We wish to turn ourselves in."

"What, all of you? I've heard some heaping mounds of shit from you deerfolk in my time, but this..."

"This is no trick, I assure you. If I had wanted to kill you, I would have done so already. We are not your enemy."

For a tense moment Gilias didn't move. Then, finally, she released the grip on her weapons and pushed herself up against the tree with a groan. Blood trickled down her side as she yanked the offending dart loose and hurled it into the forest.

"Fine. Not like I'm in any position to fight forty of you anyway." The medical buck cautiously approached, a length of cotton bandages and a bottle of some sort of liquid bobbing in a cloud of crackling magic. "So you're telling me you didn't try to give me half a dozen new breathing holes? What the fuck is going on here?"

"It was not us, no. Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Brother-Commander Caethil, formerly of the 15th Capital Guard, and these are my charges. The three stags before you are senators Gwindihr, Alyys and Praxilus. We are...well, I suppose you could call us refugees. We are not pleased with how Whitetail's government has run our beloved nation into the ground. We have traveled over a full day to this location, in the hopes of locating the Legion." He ordered the medical buck to finish bandaging Gilias' wounds with all due haste. "Can you lead us to them? I fear we do not have much time."

Gilias couldn't believe what she was hearing. There had been plenty of individual deserters from Whitetail over the months since Equestria moved north, even some groups of up to ten or more, but an entire military formation?

"Look," she said, grunting in pain as a jagged slice on her right leg was seen to, "if you're just not just yanking my cock, then maybe I can help you. But I can't just take you there, the terrain is impassable if you can't fly. Do you know the area?"

"As well as can be expected," Caethil said.

"Good, then you'll know what I'm talking about. Head west until you leave the forest, then south from there until you hit a clearing between two cliffs. I'll head back to our camp and tell the others about you. You have until sunset tomorrow to get there. If you don't show up, we won't be coming back. If you try anything, I'll personally tear your little neck open with my beak. Understood?"

In a strange sort of way, Caethil considered the griffon woman to be a kindred spirit. She was clearly someone who didn't mince words, and the scars across her body spoke to her long history of conflict. She had become rather infamous throughout the Whitetail military as a murderer and a psychotic monster who ate fawns alive, yet here she sat, willing to take him on his word -- to an extent.

"I understand, Battle-Master Gilias of Skytalon. The ancestors have truly blessed us this day with your arrival."

Gilias let out a sound like an annoyed cat. "Yeah, well, they could have done so without putting a bunch of holes in my fucking armor. I assume the sons of whores who did this to me are looking for you?"

"Most likely. It could have been an unrelated patrol, but we are not taking any chances." Caethil spoke to the senators in deertongue. "The griffon can help us, but we must make haste to arrive there by nightfall on the morrow."

"And you're sure she's not leading us into a trap?" Alyys asked.

"I cannot speak with absolute certainty, but it is the best chance we have." The healer finished binding Gilias' wounds and poured a cleansing potion over the bandages, letting it soak in until they were tinted a light orange. "That should hold for now, Battle-Master, though you'll want to--"

"CAETHIL!"

A booming voice sounded from somewhere in the forest, instantly putting the group on alert with a clattering of weapons. Caethil felt his heart lurch into his throat; he knew that voice.

"How do you feel? Do you think you can fly?" he asked quickly, pulling his quinn-blade from its sheathe.

"I think so," Gilias said. She pushed herself up to all fours, spreading her wings out and giving a heavy flap to test them, puffs of snow blowing outward from the frozen ground. "I'm getting the fuck out of here. Whatever this is, I don't want any part of it. If you survive, you know where to go."

Caethil nodded. "Very well. All good haste to you, Battle-Master Gilias."

"Yeah, you too. Good luck. And, uh, thanks for not killing me."

Her wings burned and her body protested every movement she made as she leapt into the air, hovering for a moment as the Whitetail officer rallied his soldiers. Whether it was by coincidence or, as this "Caethil" had insisted, by some sort of destiny, the day had suddenly become a lot more interesting.

Gilias shielded her head with an arm as she pushed through the thick canopy, breaking into the open air once more. Whatever happened to the band of deer, Victus was going to want to know about this as soon as possible.

***

"Caethil, you traitorous sanaliis! Show yourself!" Brother-General Corvalix shouted into the forest, his temper flaring until he was sure he would soon melt the snow around him by sheer force of will. The arduous trek from Evinwiir had been nearly non-stop for over a day, and the redtail soldiers with him were growing weary. He hated the cold, despised the never-ending trudging through snow that come up his knees -- sometimes higher. Whitetail was a deplorable place in the winter, far removed from the moderate climes of Cervidae. What he wouldn't have given for a warm fire and a proper bed!

Instead of letting his resentment and misery sap him, he used them to his benefit. His hatred of the treasonous whitetail pushed him on, hour after hour. It was they who had pulled him into this damned place, these wilds that no one, neither redtail nor white, had any business marching through.

Let them cower in the forest, then. The snow would cover their bodies, forgotten and alone, and in the spring they would serve as food for the beasts. A fitting end.

"I grow tired of waiting, Brother-Commander. How disgusting that you claim such a title!" A heavy sound of wings on the air flew by overhead. Corvalix snarled. He knew exactly who it was. "Caethil! Caethil!"

A scout loped through the snow and saluted. "Brother-General, sir, we've located the traitors once more. They are just ahead, to the north east. They were forming a battle circle last I saw them. The griffon woman was with them, though I believe she's since departed."

"Ancestors curse her entire family to the seventh generation!" Corvalix stomped a hoof hard enough to send his knee-blade shooting out with a metallic whine. He took a long breath to calm himself. That griffon had been a thorn in their side for months, and the Griffon Empire had disavowed any knowledge of their unofficial alliance with Equestria since the very start. Now she was not only fighting against Whitetail, but helping the traitors? The very thought made his stomach turn. "Forget about the bird-beast, we will deal with her another day. Back in formation with you."

At his side, thirty of Cervidae's finest had already formed into a marching wedge, a strong formation meant to pierce through any defense. Long pikes of green crystal and cherry-red ironwood menaced from the first two rows, and flexible yet strong shields formed a solid wall of defense against arrows, darts and spears alike. To the last the soldiers were covered from the base of their antlers to their short tails by polished, glinting armor that had been marred by mud and dirty snow.

These were the Exemplars, the elite of the Cervidaen Hegemony's expansive armies. Though they had not engaged in open battle, they had seen extensive use against the weak-minded simpletons who were sure they were following Nightmare Moon's will -- a necessary deception to keep his sister's facade intact until she was ready to strike.

Now, finally, they would test their prowess against proper soldiers. Inferior though the whitetail may have been, Corvalix knew Caethil was no fool. He would fight Corvalix until his last breath, as would the misguided bucks who followed him.

Let them try. They would fall before the might of Cervidae, as all others had. Once the traitors were dealt with, the real mission could begin in earnest.

With a thrust of his foreleg he ordered the formation forward, marching at their side with golden trinkets of leadership dangling from the prongs of his antlers. He cared not if Caethil and his ilk saw him coming, and indeed, he hoped they would; a final moment to realize how futile their struggle was before being cut down would be sweeter than any wine.

50 - A Home Worth Dying For

"Stand your ground, brothers! We will not falter!"

The sound of impending battle filled the forest, swords clanging against shields in a shrill choir of crystalline weapons. Corvalix and his followers had found them, a regrettable but seemingly inevitable outcome, and now they were advancing with purpose. The former soldiers of Whitetail shifted formation to a staggered wall, focusing their attention to the south.

Behind them, Caethil remained adamant in his leadership, though he shook on the inside like a newborn fawn. If Elinwynn's despicable brother was the one who had been sent after himself and his bucks, then he was sure to have the Exemplars with him.

This is where it ends, then.

Some of his soldiers were visibly rattled, their weapons held in unsteady clouds of arcing magic. Someone was praying in old Ochrourian.

"Do not let yourselves be overcome with fear! Stick together, follow my commands, and we will see each other through this day!" An ever-closer call and response sounded from the unseen forces. "You are soldiers of the true Whitetail, and my friends to the last. One day we will look back upon this moment and remember it as the start of our great nation's rebirth." He turned to the senators, surprised to see Alyys floating a quinn-blade.

"That's Corvalix, isn't it?" the old stag asked. "That son of a comfort whore isn't going to let us go just because we're senators, you know. We're traitors along with the rest of you. At best, we would be captured, taken back to Evinwiir for a show trial, and beheaded in a public display. I don't know about you younger bucks, but I would rather die a free whitetail than suffer the humiliation of surrender."

"Be that as it may, we are no soldiers," Praxilus said.

"Oh, it's not that difficult to understand." His weapon floated out in a quick jab. "The sharp end goes in the enemy!" Alyys laughed, getting a few of the others to join him. No doubt they were thankful to have him there, if only for moral support. "Don't go worrying yourselves sick, lads. I've seen how you fight. You've nothing to fear from these pompous redtail."

Caethil gave a silent look of thanks, then stood before the formation. Forty-six of the finest bucks he'd ever fought with stared back at him, and though many were scared, none abandoned their positions. They knew the stakes: win, or die. There would be no mercy for traitors.

A heartbeat later, the first glint of emerald armor appeared through the trees. The Cervidaen soldiers stood tall and proud, marching in lock-step unison with spears held high or thrusting out from the front of the shield wall. They shouted a menacing battle song as they approached, banners of Cervidae and Whitetail flapping in the gusting winds that kissed Caethil's face like the chill breath of death itself.

"Hold steady," he ordered. "Calm yourselves." He counted each soldier, thirty in all, as they came into view. Behind the formation, Brother-General Corvalix flew his own banners from a gilded weapon: twin flags of black. No quarter would be given this day.

The redtail came to a stop not even an arrow's flight from his position. A ghostly silence filled the air, the blowing winds and distant sounds of forest creatures mixing with the whipping of flags and quiet rustling of weapons and armor.

"Brother-Commander Caethil. I always knew you were a coward," Corvalix said. They closed the distance with one another until they were mere yards apart.

"You would accuse me of cowardice whilst standing behind others, Corvalix? How typical." Caethil wanted to lunge across the gap and bury his blade up to the hilt in the bastard's neck. He prayed he would get the chance.

Caethil hated him with a passion he could scarcely begin to describe, considering the smug officer to be the embodiment of everything wrong with redtail culture; royalty born into privilege, given his place of command not because of his feats, but because of his name. It was Whitetail's worst-kept secret that Corvalix had killed his own commanding officer in the battle of Whitetail Wood, covering it up to make it look like an Equestrian projectile had done the deed for him, but Caethil knew better. Many did, but none had the power to question him, lest they find the wrath of Elinwynn brought down upon them.

A liar, a murderer, a stag who had never known what it was like to work his way up from the bottom. No doubt he thought of his own bucks as disposable play-things he could toss away at a whim. He may have worn the armor of a general, but he was no soldier.

The front rows parted as Corvalix stepped forward, fully clad in shining armor the color of the forest canopy, etched with details of gold leaf. Silver feathers of the great aer'thaxiilis hawk formed a circle around the back of his helm, splayed out like a bird of prey moving in for a kill. He towered over Caethil by at least a head's height, to say nothing of the broad rack of his antlers.

"I have grown quite tired of chasing you down, Caethil," he spoke, his voice deep and authoritative. "Have you any idea the trouble you've caused me? I should be in Evinwiir delegating with my sister, yet here I am, in the middle of the forest in a most unpleasant snowfall."

Caethil took a step forward. "Then I suggest you leave now, while you still have the ability to do so."

An amused grin turned up Corvalix's mouth. "Strong words for one so weak. I know you think me a monster, and my sister a tyrant, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, we can be quite merciful." He looked past Caethil to the Whitetail bucks who stood at the ready. "My friends, allow me to extend you an offer: surrender now, and I will personally see to it that your sentence is reduced to a mere few years in internment. It is clear that you are all quite well trained, and it would be a great shame to waste such resources. Join me, and your lives will be spared."

"Don't listen to him," Caethil shouted over his shoulder. "He is a pawn for the empress and a murderous cur! You will be executed the moment you are within their control, that I can promise you."

"And what of yourselves, good senators?" Corvalix asked, motioning to the back of the formation. "Such tenacity and resolve would be better suited to changing the course of Whitetail's history, wouldn't you agree? Stop this treasonous madness. No one has to know you were ever here. I'm sure a cover story would not be difficult to concoct."

Senator Gwindihr stamped a hoof. "Go with you, and serve as a puppet to Elinwynn's imperialism? Never!"

"Senator, if you would simply--"

"You would call the joining of our peoples a reunification, but you are fooling no one. This is a takeover as sure as if you'd lain siege to Evinwiir yourselves! I cannot wait for the day when Celestia drives a sword through your black heart." Gwindihr came forward, a fire burning in his voice. "Go fuck your disgusting whore of a sister again, you murderous degenerate!"

An errant twitch broke Corvalix's facade for the briefest of moments, and he locked his eyes on Caethil as his antlers flared with green magic. There was a crackle of energy, a pause, then a wet thump. Gwindihr dropped to the ground, clutching at a heavy dart lodged half-way into his throat that spurted bright, arterial blood with every dying beat of his heart. He gagged and strained as it filled his lungs, retching painfully onto the frozen soil. His body thrashed for what felt like a horribly long time, the other senators looking on in horror as the life drained from him in with a sickening gurgle. A final spasm, and he lay still.

A heavy silence fell, yet the shock of Gwindihr's death was soon replaced by unbridled anger the likes of which Caethil had never felt. With a raw shout he brought his shield up as hard as he could, ramming it into the bottom of Corvalix's helm. Corvalix reeled back from the blow, momentarily stunned by the ferocity of the assault as a quinn-blade struck at the armored plates over his neck. Finding no gap to exploit, Caethil's assault turned to the joints in the armor, alternating stabs and shield bashes in a flurry of attacks. To the last they were deflected, failing to find purchase on the smooth crystal. Corvalix brought his own weapon out as Caethil activated his knee-blades, now adding rapid kicks to his continuing onslaught. A stab to the upper foreleg finally found its mark, the armor-mounted dagger stabbing through a thin gap and tearing a hole in Corvalix's flesh.

Corvalix yelled in sudden pain and tackled Caethil to the ground, the two stags rolling in the snow and ice as they lashed out at each other. Neither formation moved, uneasily staring each other down and watching their leaders fight a desperate, brutal melee. Caethil brought his shield down hard, and there was a loud crack as a pair of prongs snapped off of Corvalix's antlers, left dangling on short, gold chains. A burst of powerful magic lifted Caethil up and away, sending him heavily into a tree that crackled with frozen, shattered bark.

"Kill them!" Corvalix shouted to his bucks between heavy breaths, a trickle of blood seeping from a gash above his mouth. "No mercy for traitors!"

The Exemplars charged forward with a collective battle cry. The 15th stood their ground, shields up and weapons ready. The officer in command shouted for a ranged volley, his attention split between the battle and Caethil's slow recovery. Scattered arrows slashed across the distance, and throwing spears arced overhead with shrill whistles. Only a few had any effect, a small number of redtail tumbling to the ground. The others leapt over the fallen and returned a hail of projectiles.

***

Corvalix closed the distance between himself and Caethil as well as he could with an injured leg. Caethil pushed himself up to his hooves, sidestepping a pair of kicks that cut the air where his neck had been only a heartbeat earlier. He ducked under a stab and recovered his own blade, using it to deflect Corvalix's attacks and attempting to regain the initiative. Neither of them showed any sign of relenting as they exchanged blow after blow, looking for any opening, any lapse in judgment to exploit.

Caethil dodged, grabbed onto Corvalix's weapon with all of the focus he could manage, and spun to deliver a crushing kick of his hind legs. The ornate chest plate cracked resoundingly and sent a spray of crumbled crystal fragments outward as Corvalix was lifted by the force of the impact, reeling up on his hooves to his full height. A sharp pain shot through his side, Caethil's blade finding a weak point in his armor, and he slammed his hooves back down hard enough to shatter the patch of ice beneath him.

Every movement he made was soon accompanied by the grinding of jagged, broken crystal. Caethil attacked the weakened chest armor at every available opportunity, chipping away at it bit by bit.

Enough of this, Corvalix thought. He had no time for the traitor's games. With a leap backwards he sheathed his weapon, lowered his head, and focused every last bit of his magic on Caethil's body.

***

With a resounding crash the opposing formations slammed into one another. They pushed and jostled for the smallest inch of gain, reaching out with sword and spear at any exposed flesh. A handful fell on either side as the whitetail parted their shields and thrust into the Cervidaens with all of their might. Off to one side, a contingent of Corvalix's soldiers broke off and bounded behind the shield wall with thunder cracks of powerful magic. Three more whitetail were cut down in an instant with splashes of blood and agonized cries.

"Right flank!" Brother-Sergeant Kwiinalak commanded, sending out an arrow that pierced a redtail's eye and dropped him in an instant. A stab from a nearby buck made sure he was down. "Keep it together!" He nocked his next shot, the precious few arrows he had in his quiver rattling around as he stepped up on a rock to gain a height advantage. It was an even fight, but the redtail were employing precision magic with fantastic aptitude. "First squad, come around right!"

Ten of the whitetail pushed outward with a shout of acknowledgement. Two Exemplars were cut down before they could react, but the others were quick to respond. They fell back in an orderly line, joining a smaller group of redtail who had moved behind a fallen log and were slinging arrows and darts at the advancing whitetail. A sharp cry came from Kwiinalak's squad, and a buck tumbled to the snow, clutching at his chest where the haft of an arrow was sticking out. Another soon joined it, lodged in his shoulder, followed by a third into the thin armor around his neck.

The gap in the wall was immediately filled in, but every step they took was answered by missiles and swords. It was an uphill fight against opponents who were far more skillful, and the small advantage in numbers the whitetail had enjoyed soon faded. As his last arrow was sent at the redtail, missing entirely and burying itself in a tree with a resounding 'thwack', Kwiinalak turned to Brother-Captain Vardinfel, Caethil's second in command. The officer had his shield out and locked in place, a small contingent of personal guards and both surviving senators near him. Kwiinalak saw that Senator Alyys' blade was slick with blood, the body of a redtail lying mere yards away with a neck wound so deep he could see the unfortunate buck's spine.

"Sir, first squad is at half strength!"

"Second and third squads at three-quarters! Brother-Sergeant Xal'iyas is gone!" someone else said over the sounds of battle.

Brother-Captain Vardinfel sent a volley of armor-piercing darts into the forest, then raised his weapon above his head.

"Fall back! Defensive crescent on me!"

Kwiinalak saw him open his mouth with a look of panic, hearing his name called by the officer he'd served with for more than a decade. He never saw the throwing spear that punctured his skull. There was only a single jolt of sudden pain as the sharpened crystal tip tore through his brain, traveled through the lining of his helm, and continued on with enough force to rend his head from his body.

***

Caethil felt the electric pinpricks of powerful arcane forces wash over his body, a bright glow emanating from Corvalix's broken antlers that seemed to have no effect on his abilities. He lunged forward with his quinn-blade, only to jerk to a stop mere inches from his target. He flailed his limbs in the air as he was lifted off the ground, the pinpricks becoming stabbing lightning bolts that felt like a hundred daggers being twisted inside his flesh.

"I grow weary of your insolence, Caethil," Corvalix said as Caethil yelled in pain. "Had we more time I might make you end your own life, as I did that weak Equestrian so long ago, but I've a band of traitors to see to." He grabbed his weapon in his mouth, unable to spare any magic for it, and stepped forward so that he was nearly face to face. "Goodbye, Brother-Commander."

A twist of his head, and the blade dug into the plate protecting Caethil's throat, gouging a deep hole in the armor. Caethil struggled with all of his might, desperately trying to fight back. He saw his bucks being torn apart in the distance, their formation bravely fighting on despite their losses, but it was a losing battle.

Another strike shattered the broken crystal in two, exposing the dark brown fur underneath. In a panic he let loose with a shockwave of rippling force, sending Corvalix stumbling back and blowing clouds of snow into the air in every direction. For a moment he was able to touch the ground again, and he used it to sprint at Corvalix as fast as his hooves would carry him. He was able to lash out with his knee blades once, twice, before he was caught again. The damned redtail was immensely powerful, despite his injuries, and he wasted no time with words as he grabbed for his weapon to put an end to Caethil's life.

Corvalix gave a shout and gritted his teeth as something tore into his side, all of his magical focus dissipating in an instant. He swung around to find two bucks attempting to drive their swords through him, a broken-off knee blade lodged in his ribs. He deflected the blade of one, sidestepped the other. A quick, precise thrust sent his weapon through the first whitetail's mouth, shattering teeth and bone before protruding through the back of his neck. The buck dropped, screaming as he bled out from a ragged hole where his jaw had been.

The second looked as if he was going to run, then took a half-hearted swing instead. Corvalix ripped the weapon from the buck's magical hold, turning it on him in an instant and stabbing it into his gut half a dozen times before unzipping his torso with a long pull of the blade. A final stomp put an end to the twitching body of his first victim.

Wheeling around, covered in viscera and blood, Corvalix prepared to finish Caethil -- only to find that he had disappeared. He darted behind the tree, looked around in every direction for any sign of the deer. He was gone. Somehow, he had simply vanished from sight.

"Caethil! Come out and accept your fate, you cowardly whoreson!"

Only the sound of waning battle answered him. He slammed his sword into the ground.

***

Senator Praxilus dropped to his knees as he and Caethil reappeared behind the line with a flicker of pseudo-motion. His head swam and his vision spun, but he had saved the Brother-Commander from a terrible end. Caethil shook his head as the lingering after-effects of teleportation faded, his sight and hearing quickly returning.

"You shouldn't have done that," he said as he pushed himself up. He had long since resigned himself to the inevitability of his death, and anger welled up inside him at the wasted opportunity to take the bastard general down with him. "It is my duty, and mine alone, to defeat Corvalix! And if I die, then so be it!" Less than fifty yards away, the surviving remnants of the whitetail forces were desperately holding their ground. He had never fully expected to defeat the redtail, but the speed with which his soldiers were falling was sickening to behold. No more than a dozen remained, and those who had been wounded were struck down without mercy.

Praxilus shook his head. "No, Caethil. Whitetail is more important than any one stag. We will need you after--"

"I could have finished him! Those bucks gave their lives so that I might destroy him!"

"Those bucks gave their lives so that you might live!" Praxilus yelled back. "They went to their deaths knowingly, because they believe in something greater! They believe in you!" A pair of spears plunged into the ground near them, a third sticking into a nearby evergreen. The Exemplars were close enough to assault them directly. A barrier of magic went up in front of them, a wounded sub-commander struggling to keep the projectiles at bay.

"I believe we're going to be gutted in short order if we don't do something!" Alyys shouted, pulling a spear from behind him and hurling it back at the redtail. Caethil's instincts as a soldier protested the very thought of retreating, of admitting defeat to a hated enemy, but he knew the senators we right. Pride was only going to destroy him -- and with him, potentially, all of Whitetail.

"All forces, full retreat!" he ordered with a twisting of his stomach. Retreat. Retreat to where? They were outnumbered two to one, against a foe who seemed to never tire. Praxilus and Alyys fell back to his side, but most of the surviving soldiers were incapable of turning away. Those that did attempt to run were cut down almost immediately as they revealed their vulnerable flanks to the enemy. There had to be a way to get his bucks out! "I said retreat, damnit!"

Praxilus stepped before him. "I can lead us to safety, but there is a limit to how many I can take with me. If we're going to go, we must do so now."

Caethil shoved his hoof away, his voice trembling. "Absolutely not! There is still a chance we can win this! If only we can...perhaps find some sort of...of..."

"Sir, it's time for you to go," Vardinfel said, clutching a wound that seeped crimson over his pauldrons. A lump caught in Caethil's throat, and he shook his head as he grabbed for the blade of a fallen whitetail.

"You do not get to give me orders, Brother-Captain! Come with me, perhaps we can draw them away, or--"

"Caethil. It is done. Take the senators and leave while you can, before Corvalix comes back. I don't know how much longer we can keep the Exemplars from breaking through."

Never in his life had he wanted to stay and fight more than he did at that very moment. An officer was never supposed to abandon his soldiers. Every clash of crystal and scream of the dying was like a knife being driven further into his heart, a siren's call that beckoned him to his fate in the snow and soil of the land he held so dear.

"...very well, Brother-Captain," he said weakly. "I leave you in command of the 15th Capital Guard." He stood tall and saluted, regaining his officer's bravado one last time. "Ka'al naiaam Wyyttalia. May you live forever, my friend."

Alyys and Praxilus each placed a hoof on his shoulder as crackling, shimmering magic poured over them like a heavy fog. Caethil gave a final look to his bucks, watching Vardinfel heft his weapon and rush into the fray. His sight flickered, distorted into a blur, and then they were gone.

***

It seemed like only an instant before the world snapped into view once more. Caethil retched the contents of his stomach, the stress of two trips through the aether too much for him to handle in such a short time. Praxilus and Alyys had fared far better, though for the moment they remained silent out of respect for his lost bucks.

Once he'd regained his composure and sated his thirst, he climbed up to the top of a rock formation to get a bearing on his surroundings. It kept him mercifully occupied. There was no sound of battle, and he wondered if it was because they'd moved too far to hear it -- or if it meant that everyone had fallen. He prayed it was not the latter as he scanned the forest. An endless sprawl of green and white lay before him, with the distant peaks of the Midlands far off to the north and the babbling of a stream or small river somewhere to his west. He couldn't be entirely sure where they were, but it had to be close to the border. Satisfied, he leapt back down.

"We are on the right path. Depending on where we are in relation to the Legion camp, we should be no more than a day's walk from our destination. We will need to find the river and follow it south until it branches again. Let us not waste any time."

He immediately set off, leaving the others to catch up after a brief exchange. Alyys lagged behind, complaining about his age and clutching his side with a hoof.

"Are you alright, Caethil?" Praxilus asked as they approached and fell in.

"Yes. Your teleportation spell was well-executed, though I am not used its effects. Not many deer have such prowess; I thank you for your quick thinking."

"That's not what I meant," the senator said with a concerned look. Caethil had to fight back his tears.

"I just left forty-six of the best whitetail I have ever had the pleasure of knowing to die in the middle of nowhere, cut down without mercy by the sycophantic brother of a tyrant who branded them as traitors. So no, Praxilus, I am not alright. Please, leave me to my thoughts for now. Their deaths weigh heavily on my mind."

Hours passed as they carried on, no more than a few scattered words being spoken. The grey, oppressive snow clouds gradually parted, letting warm rays of sunlight dapple the forest. Increasingly they had to stop and wait for Alyys to catch up, his breaths becoming ragged and heavy. The veteran stag assured them that it was of no concern, but Caethil was not about to leave yet another whitetail to suffer. He called for them to rest near a cliff overlooking the hills below, pulling a thick blanket and a cooking set from the bags slung over his back. A small pack of medical supplies floated to his side, and he set to bandaging his mostly superficial wounds. Praxilus set to work mixing a soup of vegetables and scavenged hardy winter plants over a meager fire, giving occasional thoughts to Alyys who had fallen asleep almost instantly against his knapsack.

He scooped out two bowls worth and set them down on the blanket, nudging one over to Caethil, who had not moved from his spot.

"Best to eat before it gets cold," Praxilus said carefully. Caethil gave a sidelong glance at the food.

"I am not hungry. I am sure Alyys could use it more than myself."

"Probably, but he is quite exhausted. Best to let him rest." Praxilus lifted the bowl with his magic and sipped the steaming mixture. The taste was slightly bitter, but its warmth was very welcome. "Eat, Caethil. We need you to be in good health if you are to lead us to Equestria."

Caethil ran a hoof over his battered armor, rough with cuts and gouges from Corvalix's weapons. The shattered remains of his neck armor clung meagerly to the connecting plates, brittle and jagged like rough glass, and he could feel a painful bruise forming where it had been attacked repeatedly. The sight of the bucks attempting to save him replayed before him in horrible detail, the bright red arterial sprays and desperate cries of unknowable agony like streamers of ice crackling through his mind. They had been transfers from another company. He couldn't even remember their names, yet they had thrown themselves at Corvalix without hesitation. He didn't deserve the loyalty of such good whitetail.

"Please, Caethil, you must eat something. I know you must be going through a terrible time, but we still have an obligation to Whitetail to make sure none of this is has been in vain."

He knew Praxilus was trying to be helpful and encouraging, but part of him wanted to hit the senator across the face for speaking so casually.

"What's so damned special about me, anyway?" he asked bitterly. "Is my word really worth the lives of nearly fifty good whitetail? I'm just a soldier, yet you and the others have propped me up like a king, as if I'm some sort of holy savior who will bring everlasting peace." He laughed, short and humorless. "If I had known I'd lose everyone, I wouldn't have taken them with me at all. Better to leave on my own than lead them to such senseless slaughter. Yet I did rally them, because I hoped that I could show them a better life.

"And now look at me. A commander with no soldiers; a sad, old stag who let an embittered lover rat him out to his worst enemy. None of this would have happened if I'd just ended her life then and there..."

"You can't know that," Praxilus said. "They would have realized you were gone sooner or later."

"Then they would have hunted me alone, and those bucks would yet live! I could have told them to return to their post, to put faith in Whitetail and not in me! They died so that one foolish officer could escape. I should throw myself from the cliff and be done with it."

"Do not speak like that. You have a part to play in the coming storm. We all do. That zebra you told me about, the one with the strange name -- he clearly sees something in you, Caethil. You are a senior officer who has seen what the redtail are capable of, their lies and their brutality. You know them better than most, and you have a way with words that few can match.

"Don't you see? You are the only one who can pull us out of the fire. We need you to survive. Just imagine the sight of a united front standing against Elinwynn! Zevran and Equestria side-by-side with free Whitetail supporters! It would be a glorious thing to behold." Praxilus pushed the bowl back to Caethil's side. "I am not telling you to forget about those who died today. We can and will mourn them in due time; I certainly mourn the loss of Gwindihr. He was a good stag with a wonderful family in the north of Whitetail, and it sickens me that they will hear about his death from some redtail lackey sent by Corvalix. So long as I draw breath, I will carry his memory with me.

"Now please, take your food. It may be the last taste of Whitetail you get for some time."

Finally, and begrudgingly, Caethil gave in to Praxilus' insistence. Though he welcomed the hot meal, it tasted bland in his mouth, as if his own body would not allow him the luxury of enjoying it. Neither of them spoke while they ate together. Caethil was soon lost within the memories of his fallen friends and comrades. Years of training, fighting, carousing with the good bucks of the 12th, and later, the 15th Capital Guard.

There had been Brother-Initiate Alany'iis and his twin brother, Candrillis, two young soldiers who were nearly identical in appearance but polar opposites in personality. From time to time they would switch places, surprising the others when Alany'iis was suddenly loud and boastful, or when Candrillis was resigned and timid. They'd both been archers, and damn fine ones at that.

Caethil had seen their bodies lying side by side in the snow before he was whisked away by Praxilus' spell, together till the very last.

His second in command, Vardinfel, was one of the old guard, a tough-as-nails stag from the harsh climes of western Whitetail near the border with Cervidae. They had served together for over a decade, and though they did not count each other as close friends, their respect ran deep. During their time fighting against the ponies at the onset of the war, Vardinfel had more than proven his worth as an officer and a soldier, frequently putting himself in harm's way to drive back the numerically superior Equestrian forces.

How strange, then, that Caethil now found himself seeking out their aid. No one could have known the extent of Elinwynn's manipulation and lies, or the depths of Vinawyll's corruption that led to such a prolonged, pointless war. Worse yet, so many in Whitetail blatantly refused to listen to reason, even when Praxilus outed the empress to his fellow senators. Only a few had taken his words to heart, the rest of them content to let the 'saviors' from Cervidae push the war into open conflict once more.

He would have gladly traded every last senator for even one good soldier and, though he knew it to be all but impossible, he prayed to the ancestors that some of his bucks had been spared. It would be months, possibly years before he found out. Until then, he would do what he had to -- to survive, to bring an end to the slaughter, and, perhaps one day, to see his blade buried up to the hilt in Corvalix's neck.

A deep, harsh cough woke Alyys from his sleep. He pushed himself up against the trunk of a pine tree, his antlers rustling the lower branches and showering him with a light dusting of snow. He grumbled and brushed it from his shoulders, looking through half-open eyes at Praxilus and Caethil.

"So you're going to starve an old stag, are you?" he said with a small smirk. His voice was weak as he talked, strained and raspy. "And here I thought I only had to worry about such things from my grandchildren." Praxilus stood up to approach with a bowl, but Alyys waved him off. "Save your food, Praxilus. You young bucks need it more than I do."

Caethil and Praxilus looked at each other. "Are you alright?" the latter asked, still floating a portion of soup beside him.

"Not far from Equestria now, are we?" Alyys asked, looking out over the hills below. "I'll bet we can see it from here. You know, I always wanted to go back and visit Canterlot again. I was there once, many years ago, with my parents. Such a beautiful city. And that Celestia!" he chuckled, his laughter turning into a string of coughs. "I've never been into ponies, but I'll tell you this: I would have gladly made an exception for her. Her sister, too -- Luna, I think. Shame about what happened to her."

Praxilus set the bowl down and approached. "Senator Alyys, if you require some sort of aid, it would be best to tell us now. You sound rather sickly."

"Do I? Damn. I was hoping it wouldn't be noticeable." He lifted the side of his winter tunic, revealing a large bruise that had turned the surrounding skin into a grotesque patchwork of dark purples and reds, visible through his short coat. Praxilus gasped at the sight of it. "Probably a result of this, I'd wager."

"Why did you not tell us you were wounded?" Caethil demanded, rushing to his side with the bag of medical supplies. "What happened to you?"

"Some cock-sure young redtail thought I'd be an easy target, right before I nearly severed his head from his body. Before he went down, though, he managed to land a rather impressive kick right into my ribs. I thought it was superficial, but now..." He ran a hoof over his side and winced. "With that much bruising there's bound to be internal bleeding. Probably punctured something important. Nothing we can do to stop it." He turned, looked to Praxilus. "I wasn't slowing down because I'm old, you bastard," he laughed.

Caethil's mouth hung open as he considered his options. There weren't many he could come up with.

"I have medical training, somewhat. Perhaps there is a potion we can brew up, or an herb mixture. If we can find some way to bind the wound until we reach the Equestrians..."

Alyys shook his head. "Unless you're a healer, I doubt it's going to do much. Save your energy, Brother-Commander." Praxilus called for Caethil, and they quietly discussed his condition just out of hearing range. Alyys rested his head to the side, listening to the gently blowing winds as they rustled the trees. The sun was starting to come out in earnest now, casting a wonderful, warm glow across the forest canopy as evening approached. It brought to mind the memories of his younger days, when he would lope through the snow drifts and dart between the trees with his brother and older sister, so carefree and innocent, before coming home to a hot meal and tales of adventure from his father. They'd had a cottage overlooking the hills then, far removed from the walled-off cities of Evinwiir and Eldwix. Being young and full of fire, he'd longed for the day when he could set off on his own and join the 'real world' where the important deer changed the very course of history. He went on to fight against bandits as a soldier, begged and groveled his way through a string of pointless, dead-end jobs, and had finally made a name for himself in the halls of politics. He'd been someone of worth.

Now, in what he knew would be his final hours, he realized how much he'd missed the vast expanses of...nothing. No buildings, no politicians, no wars. Just the wind on his face, the soil beneath his hooves, and the unspoiled serenity of the land he called home.

"Praxilus, Caethil," he called out. "Come here. I have a request."

"Of course, anything," Praxilus replied as he returned to Alyys' side.

"Leave me here. Continue on to Equestria and prove that those young whitetail died for a cause worth fighting for."

"Absolutely not. Don't talk such nonsense. We can rig up a carry litter, I'm sure myself and Caethil can figure out--"

"I'm just going to slow you down. You know it as well as I do. No doubt Corvalix is still looking for us, and we are all very much aware of his capabilities." Alyys weakly lifted a hoof and pointed to the cliff overhang. "If you're fortunate, you can find the Legion camp by nightfall. Even you should be able to find your way, Praxilus; more than I can say for your time in the senate!"

"This isn't the time for jokes, Alyys," Praxilus said, prodding him. "Get up. We'll carry you out of here."

Alyys looked almost exasperated as he turned to Caethil. "Would you talk some sense into the boy? He does not seem interested in listening to his elders."

Caethil nodded. "It is his choice, Praxilus. Look at his wound -- it is clearly growing. Let him have the dignity of choosing where he wishes to pass into the Beyond."

"This isn't right! There must be something we can do!" Praxilus objected as Alyys laughed quietly.

"Stubborn as always. Look out there, son: that's Whitetail, and it's beautiful. I am blessed to have lived a good life in such an incredible place. With you and Caethil leading the charge, it'll belong to us once more." Alyys pointed to the bottle still wedged into Caethil's side bag. "You can keep the soup, but I would enjoy a taste of that wine..." Caethil had forgotten he had it, and was surprised to see it was still intact. It levitated before them, a tall, narrow bottle of studded crystal topped with a gold-rimmed cork. "Good lad. Come, share one last drink with me." The old stag lacked the strength to call upon his magic, instead grasping it between his cloven hooves and sniffing approvingly. A glug of sweet, slightly bitter juice filled his mouth and washed down his throat, each flavor springing to life one after another as he savored the aftertaste. "You have fine taste in drinks, Praxilus. If they don't have wine in the Beyond I'm going to kick someone's ass until they send me back, I can tell you that!" He took one more drink, then passed the bottle to the others. "You should leave now. It will be dark soon." He saw Praxilus begin to object, but stop before he could say anything. Perhaps he'd come to accept it.

A ripple of pain coursed through him, causing his muscles to tighten as he winced through it. The ancestors were calling to him. They would not be waiting long. "One last thing, my friend. That buck I spoke with, Falavius, from Narrowhelm...I promised him I would find out what happened to his adoptive mother. Merelith, I think was her name. An Equestrian. If it is at all feasible, I ask that you locate her. Let her know that her son died bravely, fighting for Whitetail. And she must know that he never gave up hope. Will you do that for me?"

"I give you my word on the honor of my family name." He bowed deeply. "If she lives, I will find her."

Alyys smiled through the pain that was now turning into a dull, numbing sensation that started at his legs. "Good boy." He waved them off and pulled his tunic against him for warmth, a long breath fogging the air. "Right, you've wasted enough time with me. Get moving, or I'll have to boot you off this cliff myself." A hoof went to his chest in salute as he looked to Caethil. "Ka'al sayiin, vyyn nominet qyi falshaduur. Fare well, Brother-Commander. And Praxilus...should you ever see those corrupt senators again, tell them I chose to die a free whitetail."

With a final good-bye Praxilus and Caethil continued on, their hoof steps swishing through the powdery snow. They did not turn back again, marching off to Equestria at Alyys' urging, and soon it was quiet once more. The sun dipped into the saddle of the distant mountains, coloring the sky with oranges and reds as he watched it slowly set.

He closed his eyes, letting the numbing warmth come over him, and he was home again.

51 - Rising Tide

"Alright, Krosus, what have you got?" Imperator Stonewall stood atop the balcony overlooking the sparring pits, watching his stallions fight each other in mock combat. Behind him, Tercio flipped through a trio of scrolls he had hastily assembled: rosters for the coming day, issues to be brought up, and requests that had been passed along to him. His new-found position as the interim sub-commander of the 105th Praetorian Guard had proven to be far greater of a challenge than he'd imagined, and though Stonewall and Celestia had expressed their confidence in him -- Stonewall predictably less so -- he'd still found it difficult to adjust.

"Uh, I suppose I'll start with the grievances. First and foremost, Decanus Rimeberry has expressed repeated and colorful concern over the state of our secondary unit barracks. It appears they were never fully repaired after the attack on Canterlot, and they are letting in the cold on particularly blustery nights."

"Not a major concern," Stonewall said. "They're hardly ever used unless we're sharing a training schedule with the Royal Guard. The architecti are aware of the issue, but they have other things to deal with first. Tell Rimeberry to suck it up."

"Right, simple enough." Tercio wrote 'eventually' in the margins, then moved on. "Princess Celestia has a meeting with an emissary from Saddle Arabia just before her afternoon meal. Anjiin dal Karash, I believe his name is. He's supposed to have three personal guards and a servant mare with him. Should I assign an escort?"

"Who's available?"

"Well, Rimeberry and Frost Wind have throne duty until mid-day. Cloud Top and Thunderburst are similarly preoccupied with aerial patrols through the valley. Most of the remainder are busy below. That leaves, uh...Anarius, Balustrade, Cherry Farrow and Canalis as unassigned for the time being, and I believe Canalis is away in the city proper for most of the day."

"Scraping the bottom of the barrel," Stonewall grumbled. "Alright, I suppose Balustrade will do. Find him before Anjiin what's-his-name gets here, and make sure he doesn't screw it up. I'd see if anyone from the 83rd is available, but they're all away on winter combat training."

"Slim protection around the palace grounds today." Tercio briefly skimmed over his lists, mentally checking off the problems that he wouldn't need to involve Stonewall in. As far as he was concerned, taking matters into his own hands was preferable; both for his own standing as a potential Imperator candidate, and because it would mean less moaning from the old stallion. If Stonewall wasn't happy, no one was happy.

"Less than I'd like, to be sure. The Royal Guard has our backs, but you know how they are. They don't lift their pricks from the ground for anything less than a full-on invasion. I'll see if I can find their Legatus. Maybe I can convince him to part with a few of his more experienced soldiers for the day. I don't like leaving any gaps in our defenses."

"Nor do I, sir. Would you like me to speak with the princess and see if she can find some reserves?"

Stonewall shook his head. "Don't bother. She's got enough to deal with as is, as I'm sure you're more than adequately aware." The emphasis he placed on the last words made Tercio shift uncomfortably. He knew Stonewall was privy to his continuing relationship with Celestia, but he didn't have to like it. "What else have you got?"

"Minor issues, sir. I can see to them myself."

"Good. That's the kind of take-charge attitude I like to see. Make sure you stay on top of things, else I'll be forced to end your trial period early and drag some other poor bastard into your stead. I hear Polaris is eyeing that Imperator-in-Training position..."

"With all due respect, Polaris is going to have to lop my arms off before I'd consider such a thing."

Stonewall laughed. "Don't tempt him, Krosus, or he might just do it."

"Noted, sir."

Tercio went down his scrolls one more time, just to be sure. Stonewall was an exacting stallion with little patience for mistakes, and the possibility of securing an Imperator position -- even if it was likely to be years before he saw the fruits of that particular labor -- was too good to lose to an inattentive moment. He read them off to himself, marking each with a quill.

"Apothecary needs a resupply of topical herbs...three sparring swords need to be reforged...Shorn Stone is requesting to work evening shifts...two complaints about the quality of field rations, nothing new there...no pressing matters, it seems." There was a chorus of cheers from below as someone was tossed to the dirt in a cloud of dust. Knowing the other Praetorians, more than one bet had just been won or lost.

"Let me ask you something, Krosus, and promise me you'll be honest," Stonewall said, removing his crested helm to let the cold morning air blow through his short-cut mane.

"Gods witnessing," Tercio answered.

"Good. Here's the thing: we've been at war with the whitetail for some time now, and every day we lose a few more good stallions despite having the enemy contained to the depleted ranks of his crumbling capital. Now we're receiving word that the Cervidaens are poised to strike deep into Whitetail territory, effectively taking advantage of our unwillingness to bring this conflict to a decisive end and simultaneously bringing Whitetail under their lash. Given what you know about the redtail, if you were in charge of our forces, what would you do?"

"That's quite the question," he said. He thought about it for a time, trying to approach the conflict from the position of a general or someone equally important. No matter how he thought of it, he always came back to the same answer. "Given the actions of the whitetail, I would likely have invaded Evinwiir and put a definitive cap on the campaign. Although, I cannot begin to claim to know what the princess knows, I'm sure."

"There's no need to be diplomatic with me. I'd tend to agree; whatever harm we might have done to Evinwiir, and by extension Whitetail itself, pales in comparison to what the Cervidaens will do once Empress Elinwynn gains control. If you ask me, I'd say not striking at the heart of Whitetail at the first opportunity was the greatest mistake of this damned war. We should have bashed down the walls and charged into the city. It would have been violent, but it would have been decisive." Stonewall looked up at Tercio with a serious edge. "I've been doing this for a long time. I have nothing but the greatest of respect for Celestia, and I sympathize with what she's gone through since Luna's banishment, but if you are serious about a lifetime of military service then remember this: she is not infallible. Her kindness and generosity is her greatest strength and her greatest weakness, and I can tell you that I am not alone in my disapproval of how long this conflict has dragged itself out.

"Evinwiir's slow descent into madness is having far-reaching consequences. The chancellor refuses to give in, and given what we know about him it's entirely possible he will let his city starve before he admits defeat. Elinwynn knows this, and her weak attempts at hiding the Cervidaen army from our eyes cannot mask her true intentions. Evinwiir will fall...but not to us."

"You really think they'll claim Whitetail for themselves?" Tercio asked.

"Absolutely. We face the prospect of a resurgent Cervidaen Hegemony in the very near future, and it scares me shitless. If they decide to be aggressive and push south, well..."

"I understand, sir. Have you told any of this to the princess?"

"More than once," Stonewall answered bitterly. "You know how it is: she insists we can delegate peace without Whitetail falling to either us or their redtail cousins, but I'm not so certain." He shrugged. "Maybe I'm wrong, and my concerns are nothing compared to hundreds of years of leadership. One way or another, we'll find out soon enough."

***

In a narrow valley surrounded by snowed-in cliffs, Praxilus waited by his lonesome. He was miserable; cold and wet, famished and parched from his long trek through the woods. Gusts of sleet stung his eyes as he looked for any sign of the Equestrian Legion. Thick layers of clouds hid the sun from view, obscuring the passage of time, and he knew not how long it had been since Caethil had left his side. Hours, perhaps? Half a day? His dwindling supplies of food rattled and shifted in his bags as he struggled to remain warm. He wished he could build a fire, but everything here was soaked through by the slurry of rain and snow that fell from the sky and sapped his strength. Already he could feel his extremities going numb.

Perhaps the griffon had been humoring him, and he would die here, clinging to false hope as the life drained from his body. He certainly wouldn't have been surprised -- after all, it was his people that had been locked in a desperate, false war against her for over half a year. Equestria held every advantage. Leaving one unknown politician to his inevitable fate wasn't out of the question.

He pulled his rain tarp tighter against his body, shivering under the thin blanket of wax-treated broad leaves that had been stitched together to provide at least some protection from the elements. His thick bedroll was beginning to soak up the incessant, freezing rain that continued to come down just enough to turn everything into a snow-capped approximation of one of the Tiers of Punishment that the firebrands so loved to preach about on the street corners. The afterlife, they had always shouted, took many forms. A void of despair and unknowable cold was always a favorite. He could hardly imagine it would be any worse than what he was feeling then and there.

Out there, somewhere in the heart of Equestrian territory, Brother-Captain Caethil would be on his way to meet with the strange zebra he had so often mentioned. With any luck, he would make it before he froze to death or was assaulted by a frightened pony. In spite of the cold, the tiniest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth; if anyone could make it, it was Caethil.

Praxilus' ears perked up at the sound of nearby rustling and shouted commands in Equestrian tongue that echoed off the cliff walls. Signs of life. He wanted to celebrate, but was too weak to do anything except raise his head and wait.

Figures appeared along the treeline, silhouettes of stocky creatures in shining armor of steel and gold. One of them shouted to him, his limited grasp of Equestrian able to pick out only a few words. Stand. Stay.

He did as he was commanded, rising to his shaky hooves and shivering as the tarp slid off his back.

"Tu loqueris Equestri?" the same stallion asked, a winged pony with a coat the color of freshly fallen snow. A red cloak billowed behind him in the wind, and a crest of red bristles ran down the length of his metallic helm. The color of the Legion! The griffon had been telling the truth after all. "Tu loqueris Equestri, Cauda Alba?"

Praxilus shook his head, then bowed in respect. "N-Nisi parum, Domine." He hoped he had said it right. A hoof went to his chest. "Ego sum Praxilus."

The pony returned the gesture. "Meun nomen est Victus. Purgando, uno momentum." Victus -- at least, Praxilus thought that was his name -- let out a shrill whistle and motioned for someone to join him. "Fortis Cadere, auxilionem tuum postulo!" It only took a moment for a different pony, this time without wings, to join him. Slightly taller, and darker in color, the other soldier showed signs of a life of battle across his face, and one of his ears had been reduced to a scarred mass halfway up.

"You...Senator Praxilus, yes?" he asked in rough but understandable Wyyttalia.

"Yes, sir," Praxilus answered, bowing again. "You speak my language? I am very much relieved. For a while I thought I might die out here."

"Understand much, yes. Speak somewhat less. My name is Rockfall, Senator." He looked around, craning his neck to see into the valley beyond. "Where are others? Gilias say you have many soldiers for surrender."

Praxilus drooped his head, his ears flattening in shame. "They're dead. All of them." Rockfall lifted a foreleg in a gesture of surprise.

"No survivors of unit?"

"No. Not a one."

"What of Brother-Officer...Kethil?"

"Caethil," Praxilus corrected him. He took a deep breath and hoped the pony would believe him. "He was killed as well, I'm afraid. Myself and Senator Alyys were the only ones who managed to escape, though Alyys was seriously wounded and asked to be left behind. I am the only one who yet lives."

The two ponies conversed with each other as scenes of battle and frantic escape played through Praxilus' mind for the hundredth time that day. So many lives thrown away, lost to the damned redtail, all so that he could surrender to the ponies. Now he had to find a way to start making those sacrifices worth living for, and if that meant lying about Caethil's well-being, then so be it. He would play the part of the lone survivor.

"We are sorry to hear of their deaths, Praxilus," Rockfall continued. "You are sure of no others?"

"Just me."

"Victus wants to know why surrender. You are important deer in your nation."

Where to even begin? How could a pony possibly hope to understand all that he had been through? He decided to keep it simple. If they wished to know more later, then he would tell them everything. For now, he wished only for a hot meal and a warm, dry bed.

"Because...because my country has become a shadow of its former self. We are a people without purpose and without leaders. I will not be a part of it any longer." Tears welled up in his eyes, and he tried to blink them away as the thought of everything he'd left behind came to the forefront once again. "I want to help you, so that you can help us. Please."

Rockfall nodded, then called back to the ranks that remained within the cover of the trees. Even now they were prepared for a fight. No wonder Whitetail had been so handily defeated at nearly every turn.

"Come, we will take you in. You are safe now."

A thick blanket went over his back. Praxilus wanted to fall to his knees and weep in relief, overjoyed at his survival but stricken with immeasurable grief at the deaths of those who had sworn to help him. Instead, he sniffed back his tears and steadied his trembling jaw.

"Thank you, my friends. Thank you."

***

Cold rain tapped against the stained glass windows of Celestia's throne room. It was a dreary day even by winter standards, the kind of weather that turned the busy streets of Canterlot into a sparse collection of scattered citizens and business ponies who took shelter wherever they could. Life slowed to a crawl, and with it, the business of running Equestria.

She sighed as she flipped through a collection of poems for what felt like the tenth time that day. What she wouldn't have given to stand out on her balcony with the sun kissing her body, Tercio at her side, regaling her with tales of his youth or his time in the Equestrian and Royal Guard. He always insisted that his life was an uninteresting one, but she didn't care how mundane he thought his stories were. As long as he was with her, the world felt just a little bit brighter.

It had been only a short time since they'd finally expressed their love for one another, yet being together was all either of them could think about. Stealing a kiss here, a few moments alone there...that was the extent of their time together for most days. They hid their romance like a child might hide his shame at telling a lie, always being sure that there was no one to suspect otherwise. Stonewall knew, of course -- the old stallion seemed to know everything that happened within the palace -- but he was loyal and understanding without fault. So long as her relationship didn't interfere with military matters, he was content to let it happen.

In truth, she would have expressed her affection openly if not for the fear of Tercio's fellow Praetorians turning against him. To them she was an idol, a demigoddess to be held on high and protected to their last breaths. While there was no doubt in her mind that many of them wished they could fall for her, their commitment to duty was first and foremost. The attack on Canterlot, and subsequent battles around Equestria, had only cemented that ideal. Actually being in love with the princess would have amounted to a betrayal of everything they upheld. And so, she and Tercio kept their feelings hidden. It ate away at her like a poison, slowly but surely, and she knew one day they would get caught, but until that day she would do what she could to keep him in good standing, especially with his current trial period as Imperator-in-Training in full swing.

The great doors of the throne room swung open, a trio of armored ponies stepping through with their ornamental spears held high. They saluted as one, the stallion in the middle approaching the dais immediately after. He removed his helm and bowed.

"Good morning, Princess. My apologies if I am interrupting, but something has come to my attention recently that I thought you might want to know about."

Celestia smiled softly. "I assure you, Stormfront, you needn't worry about that. Now, what seems to be the issue?"

Stormfront reached into a satchel and withdrew a scroll. Celestia took it and unfurled it carefully, studying what appeared to be a map for a short time.

"A few days ago the 4th Legion was on patrol in western Whitetail, near the Cervidaen border. I assume you're familiar with the area? It was where the griffon discovered a vast field of slaughtered Nightmare Moon followers."

"I've heard tales. Thousands of bodies left to rot by the whitetail, or possibly redtail, in an apparent display of force. With Cervidaen forces poised to strike at their cousins, I've no doubt they could have accomplished such a task." The thought of so many lives taken in one fell stroke soured her mouth. Such a terrible thing. So many misguided souls, corrupted by the allure of her sister's dark presence. "Did the Legion find something else out there? Please don't tell me it was more death."

"There was no further slaughter that I am aware of, no. The contubernium was forced to seek shelter due to a particularly violent snow storm. They came upon a cave roughly six leagues from where the massacre had happened. While they were clearing it for any signs of danger, they happened to find a rather severely wounded mare hiding in one of the dark corners. Though she was armed, and wore the colors of the cultists, she offered no resistance. Instead, she pleaded for them to save her.

"After safely removing her weapon, Centurion Feldspar took it upon himself to see to her wounds. They were numerous, and some were infected. The mare was also suffering from dehydration and starvation, and I've no doubt she would have died if they'd not found her that day. They bound her hind legs and wings just to be sure she would not attempt escape, but Feldspar reports she was in no condition to run even if she'd wanted to. Once the storm had passed, they carried her away from that place and returned her to the Legion encampment. She would not say much when she was interrogated, but...she requested to speak with you, Princess. She was rather insistent."

Celestia cocked her head. "Me? What ever for? I am not typically in the habit of speaking with those who follow the false teachings of my sister."

"Yes, Your Highness, I understand," Stormfront said. "Truth be told, we were going to send her to Marestopholous to keep in the dungeons until we discover the nature of her crimes, but she swears upon her life that she has information about Nightmare Moon that you would find invaluable. She will not divulge any details to us, so I thought I would bring the matter to you directly."

"And where is she now?" Celestia asked.

"In the lower levels, kept in a cell by herself. I believe it would be safe if you wish to have words with her, as she possesses no weapons and cannot cast magic. Still, the possibility remains that she will use the opportunity to spread misinformation and sow doubt in your mind. You know how these cultist types can be."

Celestia tapped her hoof on the tile and let out a heavy breath. She could not very well turn down the possibility, no matter how small, that this mare could give her valuable information on Luna's continued efforts to disrupt and destroy Equestria. It would be the first solid lead she'd had for months; followers of Nightmare Moon tended to throw themselves suicidally at anyone who found them, and after the deaths of so many in western Whitetail they were scattered and unfocused, a far cry from the coordinated assault on Canterlot in the opening weeks of the war.

"Very well. I will speak with her if she so wishes it."

Stormfront nodded. "As you say, Princess. Would you like someone to escort you down to the dungeons?"

"No. In fact, I would ask that you bring her here, to the throne room."

"You're sure?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.

"It is mercy that will return the lost and misguided to Equestrian society, Stormfront. This mare has made no threats of violence or taken any actions against us since her capture, correct? Then I will meet with her as I would any other of my subjects. Please, have her brought up here."

"Right away, Your Highness." Stormfront saluted and left with his escorts, the palace doors slamming shut behind him.

A chance to learn more about Luna and her plans. Finally, after months of conflict, there was a spark of hope.

***

"Ah, Corvalix, you've returned. It's been some time, hasn't it?" Empress Elinwynn rose from her cushions to welcome her brother, embracing him with a sincere smile. "I was beginning to fear those traitors had gotten the better of you. And look at you! More scars for the collection. Haven't you grown tired of being carved like a stone fruit? You know, one of these days the does are going to stop considering it attractive."

Corvalix did not return her good nature, instead stepping to the table where flasks of amasec and dark wines awaited him. He poured himself a tall drink and thirstily gulped it down, letting out a sharp breath at the alcoholic bite.

"What's wrong? I know that look, dear brother, and it worries me to see it."

"We wiped out the traitor soldiers," Corvalix answered bitterly, "but Caethil and two of the senators managed to evade us."

Elinwynn's demeanor instantly changed. "They what?"

"Praxilus was far more skilled in magic than I'd been led to believe. He managed to teleport the three of them to some unknown location. We searched for hours for any sign of them, but they were long gone by the time we located their tracks. We found the old stag, Alyys, dead against a tree some time later, likely from internal injuries. But the others..." He shrugged. "One can only assume they reached Equestria."

A table was upended by a harsh blast of magic, scattering cups and spilling pitchers of water and wine across the floor.

"You assured me there would be no survivors!" Elinwynn yelled mere inches from his face, a fire in her eyes of such ferocity that it caused her to tremble.

"There were complications! How was I supposed to know Praxilus was a gifted magii? It is the fault of your vaunted spies that I went into battle with incomplete information, and even with that hindrance we still managed to wipe out Caethil's entire platoon!"

Elinwynn shoved a hoof against his chest. "Don't you blame this on me, Corvalix! You say you killed his soldiers -- so what? Congratulations, you slaughtered terrified bucks and frail politicians with your 'vastly superior' Exemplars. Truly, you are the hero Cervidae deserves," she mocked, returning to her seat across the room. A few long breaths helped calm her nerves as Corvalix swirled what was left of his drink, wisely choosing to remain silent until his sister's legendary anger receded. That same anger had been the death of many, relatives included, and he was under no illusions that he was exempt from her wrath if the cause was severe enough.

"This changes nothing," Elinwynn said. "Praxilus is still unable to speak out against me in the senate, and the others will view him as a traitor."

"And what if he speaks with our dear pony princess across the border?"

"Whether or not Celestia responds to my missive, we will still carry out our plans. If Praxilus does make it to her first then it won't matter what she chooses, now will it? I would prefer if we could remove a significant portion of her forces before the campaign begins in proper, but such a thought may be a distant luxury at best. Take a couple of days to recover from your wounds, for I will need you at full strength for what is to come."

"As you wish," Corvalix answered. "And what of the whitetail? There is unrest in this city, far greater than we had predicted, and the rabble rousing done by Praxilus before his departure has turned many of our 'beloved cousins' against us."

Elinwynn laughed bitterly. "The time for 'hearts and minds' has passed. I have tried to be fair, to be just and generous, but they will not listen. We are not welcomed as saviors anymore, and every day more and more of them call for the chancellor's head on a silver platter. I am done pretending to give a damn about their petty squabbles. The Cervidaen Hegemony did not grow to become the most powerful nation in the known world because it was built on kind words and vague promises. I will not coddle them any longer."

Corvalix bowed to placate her and wiped the spatters of wine from his coat. He had his reservations about a great many things, almost all of them related to Elinwynn's brash nature and unflinching decisiveness, but now was neither the time nor the place to bring them up. If she wanted to ignite a war, then nothing was going to change her mind.

"I shall take my leave for the night, then. I will be battle-ready within a couple of days, as you request, and no matter the cost I will see the manifest destiny of Cervidae followed to the letter."

"I should hope so," Elinwynn said without looking at him. "Before you go, tell the guards to find me a buck. No -- a buck and a doe. I am not sated, and I refuse to rest until I am. And get me a damned servant to clean up this mess!"

52 - Waking Nightmare

A ragged mare approached Celestia's dais, dripping with rain water that ran down her legs in rivulets and pooled at her hooves. To either side, a pair of Royal Guards and a Praetorian kept a careful watch, their weapons out and at the ready. Her off-white coat was marred by mending scar tissue and bandages that were spotted with dark red patches, a large one wrapped around her torso that supported the stub of what had been a wing. She limped as she walked, favoring her left foreleg that had been treated with a splint. One of the guards prodded her when she did not move quickly enough, and as she stood before the princess she kept her eyes cast downward.

"The prisoner, as you requested," the lead guard said, saluting and stepping aside. Celestia rose from her seat of cushions, standing up to her full height with her wings spread in a display of power and dominance. There would be no doubting who was in command here, no chance of the wounded follower of Nightmare Moon speaking defiantly or threateningly. She despised having to appear so, but one could not be too cautious when it came to the cultists.

"Kneel before your princess, worm," another guard demanded, pushing the prisoner down with his hooves. "If you try anything, anything at all, you will meet your vaunted 'Queen of the Night' in short order."

"That will be enough, milites." Celestia met his gaze with a stern look, and he bowed in apology before stepping back with the others.

The mare kept her head low, shaking from cold and fear in equal measure as Celestia considered her. She was a young one, likely no older than her early twenties, with a vibrant mane and tail of deep auburn and charcoal that intertwined in a long braid. An image of a curved bow and heart-tipped arrow adorned her off-white flanks, the one on her left side split in two by a gash of bare, mended skin.

"What is your name?" Celestia asked.

"F-Fleeting Dream..." the prisoner answered quietly.

"And from where do you hail, Fleeting Dream? Where was your home before all of this?"

"...Featherlight Falls."

The leader of the guard detail tapped his sword against the floor.

"You will address Princess Celestia with the proper respect. Now, try again."

Fleeting Dream glanced up for a brief second. "Featherlight Falls..." Her jaw trembled as she forced the words to come out, bitter on her tongue. "...Your Highness."

Celestia nodded. "Thank you for answering. Please, rise." Fleeting Dream did as she was asked, keeping her wounded foreleg against her chest. "It has been some time since I've visited that place, but I remember it being a prosperous town. It is a shame that you've chosen to turn away from it." When she received no reply, Celestia folded her wings and continued. "My guards tell me you have something you wish to share. They say you were insistent upon speaking with me."

For a moment the mare hesitated, nervously eyeing the guards that stood all around her.

"Do...do you promise not to kill me after I tell you?"

Celestia frowned. "Do you honestly believe I would do such a thing?" she asked, making it clear she was hurt by the accusation. Fleeting Dream sniffled as she struggled to maintain what remained of her composure.

"I don't know what I believe anymore."

A few steps forward brought them closer together. "I'm aware of the lies my sister spreads about me. She tells you and your compatriots that I am a monster, a merciless beast with ambitions of conquest and slaughter, yet nothing could be further from the truth. It is her words, not mine, that have brought about so much death. She is using you like a plaything and, when she is done with you, she will see you cast into the abyss." Celestia placed a hoof on Fleeting Dream's chest. "But you have been given a second chance. She cannot control you or the others if you do not allow her, and all that is required to defeat her is for others to cease listening to her falsehoods. With your help, we can stop Nightmare Moon from destroying any more lives."

She ended her words with a hopeful smile. It faded when the mare before her gave a quiet, pained laugh.

"You really don't know, do you, Princess?" Fleeting Dream asked in disbelief. "There is no Nightmare Moon! There never was!"

Celestia felt her heart sink. "...what did you say?"

"We've been played. Each and every one of us. Nightmare Moon never said a damned word!"

"That's not possible," Celestia insisted. "I banished Luna myself. How can you say it never happened when her very image now scars the moon?"

"Because the one you banished, and the one we followed, are not the same." Fleeting Dream stomped in anger, tears welling in her eyes. "It was Empress Elinwynn! It's always been her! She is Nightmare Moon!"

Elinwynn. From the very start Celestia had suspected her of working with the fallen Luna, but this...this was a step beyond anything she'd imagined! The world itself felt as if it were about to fall away from her as all of the pieces slid into place: the gemstone-studded ivory pendant that turned out to be an exact match to the communication devices used by the cultists. The constant visions of Luna that had taunted her and chipped away at her sanity and resolve. The surprised reaction 'Nightmare Moon' had given when she'd reached out through the pendant and confronted her about Elinwynn's involvement. Now the truth was out.

It was Elinwynn that had ordered the cultists to slaughter the inhabitants of River Run. It was Elinwynn that had started the war between Equestria and Whitetail. The attack on Canterlot, the assassin sent to end her life in the crystal cave, the ambush that had ended in the deaths of good Praetorians...it was all her, hiding in the shadows and pulling the strings of governments, soldiers and desperate citizens alike.

"And you...you're absolutely sure of this?" Celestia asked with a wavering voice, the guards conversing in surprise with each other. She wanted it all to be a lie, an elaborate ruse by Fleeting Dream. "I must warn you, it would not be wise to--"

"She killed everyone I care about!" Fleeting Dream shouted. She sank to the floor and shut her eyes against the flood of grief that overtook her as the guards watched her in stunned silence. "The other followers, they weren't just strangers drawn to a purpose, they were...they were my friends. Brother Shadow Spear found me early on, and he took me in when no one else would. He said he had been visited by a messenger of the Dark Queen, a deer who knew the truth of Nightmare Moon's banishment. He said I could make something of my life. I could get away from..."

Her voice faded into the background as she continued, becoming no more than a whisper as Celestia's heartbeat drummed in her ears, her breaths echoing like a howling wind in the night. Every vision and dream, every night spent wondering what she had done to make Luna hate her so much -- it had all been a lie. There was no Nightmare Moon working against her.

"--ling alright, Princess?" She jumped at the sound of the young soldier's voice. "Do you require assistance?" he asked sympathetically. She could see the same look from the others: pity. Remorse. She composed herself as best she could.

"Please take Miss Fleeting Dream back to her quarters. I will speak with her later."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

Celestia waited until they were beyond the entrance, then turned and headed for her room. Only once she was free of prying eyes did she allow her posture to sag and her head to droop. All at once the tears came in gasping sobs, and with them, a terrible exhaustion like the weight of an entire mountain upon her shoulders. Luna was in her thoughts every day, but at that moment she relived the pain of her sister's betrayal and banishment in all of its distress. Memories of their years spent together as children in the old castle, grand events and galas with their parents, interspersed with knife-edge glimpses of the corrupted thing that Luna had become, a monster that held no regard for life. If only she'd been able to save her...

The only thing worse than Luna's fall -- far worse -- was Elinwynn's eagerness to seize the turmoil for her own gains. To have formed the cults so quickly afterward, to have pushed her servants to commit terrible crimes against Whitetail and Equestria both, could only mean that she had been waiting to make her move. How long had she been in the shadows, seeking to find the one thing that would allow her to manipulate so many on a whim?

Celestia's sorrow turned to a terrible anger the more she brewed upon it. That vile doe had smiled and lied to her face! What gave her the right to toy with entire nations for her own gains? This could not and would not stand. Not for a single moment longer!

"Find me Imperator Stonewall," she ordered a guard as she threw open her door. The Praetorian stared at her in surprise, then quickly saluted. Hardly anyone had seen Celestia act so demanding, and he wasn't about to argue with her. He rushed off down the hallway, his armored hooves echoing off the marble tiles.

Celestia returned to her room and waited, pacing back and forth with Elinwynn's smug, contemptible face ever-present in her mind's eye. This was a crime of the highest order, unheard of since the very day the two nations first met. The Cervidaen rulers had always been self-assured and tiring to deal with; Elinwynn's mother and grandmother before her were ambitious in decision and callous in action, but at least they'd had the sense to not destroy everything that ten generations of negotiation and trade had built.

Stonewall wasted no time answering the princess' call. He galloped as quickly as his old legs would carry him, skidding to a stop in front of her with a quick salute and heavy breaths.

"I was told you have urgent need of me," he said. He was unarmored, though his sword belt had been hastily thrown on. Celestia was fuming as she slid a pair of saddlebags over her torso. "Is something wrong, Princess?"

"I want you to gather every Praetorian and sky wagon in Canterlot. I need them fully prepared and supplied, and I need it done immediately."

He lifted his wooden foreleg in surprise. "We can do so, but it will take some time to mobilize such a force..." Something wasn't right -- the princess was never this rash. She looked like she was preparing for war, but she was shaking so much that her twin swords were rattling against each other at her side. "If there is a call for battle then I will need to know the details." He received no answer, and grew increasingly concerned. "Celestia," he said in the same tone he used when his grandchildren were upset. "You need to stop and take a moment. Whatever is happening, acting without thought will not help matters." She faced him with a look of anger, but he did not back away. "Are you alright?"

Her stern demeanor faltered with a trembling of her jaw and a welling of tears, until she could no longer maintain herself.

"I don't know what to do, Stonewall. Everything I thought I knew has been for nothing..."

Stonewall shut the door as the princess sat on the edge of her bed, not bothering to remove her weapons as they awkwardly jutted from their scabbards. She looked miserable. The last time he'd seen her so distraught, she hadn't emerged from her quarters for a week following Luna's banishment.

"This involves Luna, doesn't it?" he asked. She nodded weakly.

"Yes, but...not in the way you think. I don't know where to begin."

He sat down beside her, not as a soldier, but as a friend of many years, and urged her to tell him everything that had happened.

***

"What about the cistern gates? They are often unguarded, it could be a potential place of attack if an enemy has the determination."

"Possible, but unlikely. Those bars are thick, and the current flows much too fast to give acceptable grip on the wet spillway. Perhaps we can rig some sort of intruder alarm? A simple rope system attached to a bell further down the path?"

For the past hour Tercio had gone back and forth with the stallion at his side, the two of them hunched over a large map table that displayed Canterlot Castle in detail. Coming up with every conceivable way to gain access to the interior had proven to be a challenge, for the castle had far more entrances than Tercio had been aware of. Fortunately, a veteran of the 4th Royal Guard and one of Tercio's old comrades, Centurion Tenebris, had been assigned to assist him, and the middle-aged pegasus knew what he was doing.

"I'm more concerned with the wall separating the main grounds from the city," Tenebris said. "Anyone with sufficient knowledge and power can levitate themselves over it, and we've both seen what those deer are capable of."

"To say nothing of pegasi or griffons," Tercio added.

"Indeed. I suppose we could always just stick you next to the wall if we need, I'm sure you'd scare away anyone stupid enough to dare to get a closer look."

"And here I thought I was working with a soldier, instead of the court entertainer. At last I understand why you can't fight worth a damn."

"Ha! Brave words for a hairless ape."

The heavy door at the side of the room swung open, and a stern-faced Stonewall approached the pair, who shot an askew glance at each other. Tenebris snapped to attention and saluted, while Tercio had the luxury of remaining as he was.

"You'll forgive me for interrupting," Stonewall said as he dropped a satchel at his hooves, "but we're going to have to review security measures another time. Something's come up, and I need your assistance, Centurion Tenebris." He lifted the flap to reveal dozens of scrolls bound with twine and sealed with the royal stamp. "Each of these is marked with the name of a superior officer in or around Canterlot. I need you to deliver these as quickly and efficiently as possible. Can you do that?"

"Absolutely, sir. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Nothing for now. You'll receive additional orders from your CO soon enough." He tapped a hoof against a small earthenware container nestled into the bottom of the bag. "There's a portion of Prometheum powder here. I doubt you'll need it, but just in case someone tries to wrest the contents of this satchel from you, you're to break the pot and burn the contents immediately. Understood? These orders cannot be allowed to fall into enemy hooves."

Tenebris saluted once more. "I will carry out your will as ordered, sir!"

Stonewall nodded. "Good lad. Now get moving." He waited until the stallion had left, then kicked the door shut and slumped into a chair with an exhausted exhale.

"Why do I get the feeling there's more to this than you told him?" Tercio asked, taking a seat across from him. Stonewall shrugged in response.

"He wouldn't understand. Hell, I'm not sure I understand at this point. Before I continue, I want you to promise me that whatever I tell you doesn't leave this room."

"Of course. I give my word as a Praetorian."

"Very well." Stonewall scratched at his chin as he considered his words. "I'm not sure how to say this, so I'm just gonna come out with it: there is no Nightmare Moon fighting against us or leading the cultists. I bring this news directly from the princess herself."

Tercio jerked his head back in surprise. "You'll forgive me for being skeptical. Are you telling me my own memories are false?"

"No, that's not what I mean. Luna really did turn into Nightmare Moon, and you did witness her being banished, but the misguided fools who follow her teachings have been lied to from the start. Apparently -- according to a former cultist, anyway -- the entire thing has been a ruse by Empress Elinwynn."

"The Cervidaen leader?" He could still recall her image from the meeting of nations, her infuriating demeanor and attractive style an odd pairing. She'd proven herself to be stubborn and aloof, but outright manipulative and murderous? That was something else entirely.

"The very same. Looks like she caught wind of Luna's unfortunate departure soon after it happened, and used it to start this war between us and the whitetail. We've been playing into her hooves since the first blade was sunk into its victim. It's possible the scum was lying, but Celestia is convinced she was telling the truth."

"Wait, wait," Tercio put up his hand. "Let me get this straight: Elinwynn has been pretending to be Nightmare Moon somehow, and has done so convincingly enough to sway thousands of souls to follow her, yet we never noticed?"

"How could we?" Stonewall asked. "Celestia has been under immense stress since the outbreak of the war, made worse by what she claims were near-constant visions of Luna. You know her; too proud to admit she needs help. She thought she was losing her mind, or suffering from illusions brought on by guilt, but it was Elinwynn toying with her from afar. Something about a pendant or medallion that acted as a sort of...long-range conduit, or something. I don't know how that magic shit works. Point is, Elinwynn had information about the inner workings of the castle for some time, up until about a month ago. She knew our plans, our tactics...she probably knew about you and the princess, too."

A wave of disgust rippled through Tercio's stomach. He could imagine the redtail doe listening, perhaps even watching from afar, that self-assured smirk ever present as their relationship grew and strengthened, blissfully unaware of the manipulation going on behind the curtain. It made him want to put his fist through the wall, thinking about Celestia being toyed with like a foal. He had to take a moment to calm himself down, and thanked the heavens that the vile thing within him was no longer around to see him driven into a state of madness.

"Needless to say," Stonewall continued, "the princess is less than pleased with this revelation. She was ready to fly down to Cervidae herself and confront Elinwynn, and she was going to take all of us with her to do it! I managed to talk her out of it, but still...I've never seen her so angry. Can't say I blame her. Everyone we've seen die, from the attack on the city to the ambush that nearly claimed you, is because of her. It's abhorrent, is what it is." He motioned to the door. "Those orders I gave Tenebris will result in more than half of our reserves being sent north to reinforce the Equestria/Whitetail border. I don't know if that deer bitch will try to push south to assault us, or move east to crush what remains of Whitetail, but I'm not taking any chances. I'm going to consult with the other senior officers tomorrow and see if we can figure out a way to cover our asses on all fronts."

"You sound so calm about all of this," Tercio said, standing up again in a fit of restlessness. "Thousands of good stallions have died in this awful conflict! I don't blame the princess for being cross, not for a moment. Perhaps we should land in Cervidae's capital and show the good empress exactly what we think of her lies. Who would stop us?" He rapped his knuckles on the table for emphasis.

"A couple thousand capital guards, for one," Stonewall answered flatly. "Don't get me wrong, Krosus: I hope that lying comfort whore gets what's coming to her. Her and her crony brother! Murderers and liars, the both of them. But someone has to keep their head around here, and it might as well be me."

"So what do we do now? Do we have any immediate orders?"

"Nothing for the time being. I imagine we'll be called upon soon, but for now I think you might want to stop by Celestia's quarters. She's feeling particularly upset, as you can imagine. I'm sure she'd appreciate having someone there who cares about her."

Tercio didn't question Stonewall's sudden acceptance of their relationship, immediately heading for the door. Stonewall called out to him as he reached for the swaying handle.

"Krosus, I don't normally say things like this, but...spend as much time with her as you can. Things are going to get hectic around here in a hurry."

Tercio paused, then said, "I try to, but with everyone else here it's difficult. If the others found out--"

"If the others don't like it then they can take a long walk off a short cliff for all I care. Celestia cares about you, son. Right now, you may be the only thing keeping her together."

"And what happens if they hold it against me?"

Stonewall leaned back in his chair, his hind legs resting on the table. "Let me give you a bit of advice, Imperator-in-Training. It doesn't matter if your stallions like you; so long as they respect you as a leader and a soldier, they'll do as you order. You're someone they can depend on with their lives, and they know it. Don't forget that."

***

The sounds of wild beasts mixed and faded with the howling of winter winds as they swept through thick clumps of desiccated trees, their tall, bare branches reaching skyward and clattering against one another like skeletal fingers in the night. Overhead, the sky hung low with a grey blanket of snow-heavy clouds.

Caethil Andyyris, former Brother-Commander of Whitetail's esteemed Capital Guard, pressed onward for what felt like the hundredth hour of his solo journey. He wished he had brought more winter wear. He wished he had a torch at his side. But most of all, he wished he simply had someone to talk to. Leaving Senator Praxilus behind had been a trying experience, especially after the terrible slaughter of his soldiers. Letting the young politician surrender himself to Equestrian captivity felt like he was letting go of the last thing keeping him connected to all he had lost, as if all of his memories would dissolve into ephemeral strands to be carried adrift by the forest itself. Yet still he carried on, one hoof at a time, trudging through snow drifts and clambering over jutting stones until a tiny beacon of hope appeared in the distance -- the orange glow of a fire pit.

A lone zebra awaited him, bundled in thick clothing under a simple lean-to. He had his head bowed, a small figurine clasped between his hooves as he spoke quietly to himself. He looked up as he heard Caethil approach, and a thin smile gave hint to the relief he surely felt. With a warm welcome Baer'barisater took his whitetail friend to the camp fire and offered a thick, hot stew. Caethil downed it as if he hadn't eaten for weeks, and after a short conversation he fell into a deep sleep, tucked into his bed roll, utterly exhausted.

He dreamed of his bucks, standing watch over him with a loyalty that transcended death itself, and it comforted him on the cold winter's night. The road to Zevran would be long and arduous, but he would make it even if he had to drag himself there. He owed it to the fallen, to his friends. Spirits willing, he would live to see Corvalix pay for his murderous ways.

53 - Unwavering

Tercio woke with a start, his mind momentarily foggy as he stared up at the vaulted ceiling. This was not the barracks he was so familiar with. Instinctively he reached for the dagger he always kept at his thigh, finding naught but bare skin in its place. The soft touch of Celestia's coat put his mind at ease once more as he remembered where he was. She was slumbering beside him, her breathing gentle and rhythmic, with a warm blanket draped over her.

With a yawn he rose from the bed, making sure not to disturb her. The air was cold and prickled his skin, and he stood before the gently burning fireplace with a sigh of relief. It was still early in the night, the sky dark and clear on the horizon. A gentle breeze billowed the thin drapes that led to the balcony.

It had been a trying day. After Stonewall's suggestion that he comfort Celestia, he had found her sitting on the floor with numerous lock boxes opened in front of her, full of mementos and keepsakes from her childhood. Small portraits of the royal family etched into colored glass, chiseled out of marble, painted onto canvas. In some, a pink-maned Celestia stood beside her sister, with their parents Aurora and Argo Navis towering over them with loving smiles. In others, Luna was framed regally against a backdrop of stars, her flowing mane fading into the night to become one with the sky. Celestia hadn't even noticed him entering the room until he called her name. When she'd looked up at him she'd appeared bedraggled, her face stained with tears and her mane drooping over her shoulder. She could not find the strength to stand, and so he'd sat beside her, held her close, and listened.

The shock of learning that Nightmare Moon was never truly behind any of the attacks was palpable. Not only had she not been responsible, but every bit of her manipulation had in fact been carried out by Elinwynn. For what reason, Celestia could only guess. Jealousy, anger, some misguided sense of revenge for a centuries-old wrongdoing. Whatever the truth may have been, it was inexcusable and disgusting, and Celestia was rightly hurt by it. He'd stayed with her for the night, bringing her a meal she barely touched, and after setting the sun she'd fallen asleep against him, emotionally exhausted to the point of sickness.

Now, as he watched her sleep with an unease he could hardly begin to describe, he wondered what tomorrow would bring. Celestia was a kind, forgiving leader, but everyone had their breaking point.

***

"Good morning, my friends and loyal senators. I thank you all for coming at such an early hour." Chancellor Vinawyll stood on a raised dais in the middle of the senatorial chamber, dressed in his finest robes. Before him, fifteen of Whitetail's finest watched him with interest, good deer to the last. There had been some...discontent among them over the last week, some even going so far as to abandon their elected positions and attempt to flee like treasonous rats, but they had been swiftly brought to justice. All who remained would stand with him and, more importantly, would do as he commanded.

"I hope you are all well-rested, for this day is likely to be quite a busy one for us all." He let the senators speak among themselves for a moment, then continued. "In the coming weeks the people of Evinwiir will look to us for guidance, and with them, all of Whitetail. Those among us who lacked the mental fortitude to carry out their duties have been dealt with, and I trust all of you will continue to do as this great nation asks." A reassuring smile, a bow of his head, and the pleasantries were over. "Now, on to the business at hoof: taking back our lands from the equine invaders. It is no secret that their siege weapons have caused us great harm over the months, and the threat of bombardment has precluded any sort of massed push from the southern gate. Furthermore, we have reason to believe that some misguided citizens have begun to sympathize with the ponies, spreading their derision like a cancer through the very heart of the city. For these reasons, among numerous others, Empress Elinwynn and Brother-General Corvalix, in their boundless wisdom and experience, have concocted a plan to relieve a great burden from our shoulders.

"Today begins a new chapter in Whitetail history. Our peoples, divided by senseless hatred and bigotry for so long, now stand shoulder to shoulder to destroy the Equestrian aggressors! Redtail and whitetail, reclaiming what was stolen from us. Just as it should be! Join me, my brothers, in a toast to our swift and decisive victory!"

***

"I need parallel lines on either side of the street! Move!" Corvalix shouted to be heard over the sound of nearby bombardment, the thunderous crunch and echo of Equestrian projectiles slamming into the great wall not a thousand paces from where he stood. Their frequency had increased dramatically over the last day. A precursor to a full-on assault? He couldn't say for sure. They would be silenced soon enough, but first he had a more pressing matter to attend to.

"Keep those carts safe, and kill anyone who tries to reach for them!" Over two hundred soldiers, an entire mixed company of Whitetail Capital Guard and Cervidaen Regulars, quickly formed into two-tiered battle lines with pikes and segmented shields at the ready. Toward the center of each formation was a large cart full of clay pots that quietly clinked together as they jostled down the cobblestone road. Curious citizens peered out from their windows and stood aside with bows of respect and fear in equal parts, murmuring to one another as Corvalix passed.

A long scroll floated in front of Corvalix, full of names and descriptions provided by the people of Evinwiir themselves; neighbors, friends, even family members. None were exempt.

"This is going to be an unpleasant business," Brother-Captain Galwyn said grimly. Corvalix simply nodded, not tearing his gaze away from the scroll until he'd finished memorizing the first half-dozen names on the list. "Do you think we can trust the Capital Guard after what happened with Caethil?"

"No, I don't," Corvalix answered plainly. "In fact, I fully expect some of them, perhaps most of them, to object quite thoroughly. That's why you're here."

"Of course, sir. We're prepared to do what is necessary."

"I should certainly hope so, Brother-Captain." They stopped at a moderately-sized home, simple in design and sparsely decorated, a near copy of dozens around it. Pieces of rubble littered the street, detritus from the siege. The front door was propped open with a chunk of stone, and voices could be heard from within. Corvalix pounded on it with his hoof, while Galwyn took to the house across the street with his own contingent.

"By order of Empress Elinwynn and Chancellor Vinawyll, all occupants of this building are to report outside immediately!"

The chatter stopped. "Leave us, soldier, we've enough problems as is," came the reply.

"Either you come out of your own volition, or we will be forced to drag you out," Corvalix shot back.

A trio of figures appeared at the entrance a moment later, a middle-aged doe and a young fawn keeping behind a tall stag. He wore the outfit of a simple merchant, likely a street vendor, and he eyed Corvalix with suspicion.

"What do you want, redtail?"

Corvalix looked over his shoulder, and a pair of soldiers grabbed the stag and dragged him out onto the snow-speckled street. His family yelled in surprise as two more blocked their way, keeping them confined to the house. He was shoved down to his knees, his struggling subsiding as a quinn-blade was placed at the back of his neck.

"Setaris Ahndell, you are charged with collusion in plotting against the great nation of Whitetail. How do you plead?"

The stag's eyes went wide in shock, and he frantically looked to his wife and daughter. "Collusion? How dare you accuse me of such a thing! I'm a pottery tradesbuck, not a traitor! Let me go this instant!"

"On the ninth of the Month of Angiris you were seen meeting with criminal elements within this very city. Multiple witnesses have come forward about your...activities. Do you deny these testimonies?"

"Of course I do! I never--"

"I have neither the time nor the patience for your lies." Corvalix nodded to the soldiers at the door, who drew their weapons and floated them inches from the cowering civilians. "Tell us who you met with, and your family will be spared. I give you my word." He leaned in until he was face to face with Setaris. "Or would you prefer they be charged as conspirators as well?"

"No! No, please, don't hurt them."

"Then I need names. Now."

Setaris gave a defeated, hopeless sigh and cast his eyes to the ground.

"Kalwix. Kalwix Gondyyl."

"And...?"

"A-And Faendari Yinisa. I don't know the others by name, I swear. We only met twice. You must understand: no one wants to buy my wares when they're more concerned with getting enough food to eat. I was just doing what I had to in order to keep my family from going hungry. Please, just...just don't hurt them."

Corvalix signaled to his bucks, who sheathed their weapons once more. "I gave you my word, and so I shall keep it."

Setaris jerked forward with a short, pained cry as the end of the quinn-blade stuck out from his throat, its jagged edge unleashing a spray of arterial blood that spurted with every beat of his dying heart. He reflexively grabbed at himself in panic, falling to the ground as it was withdrawn. His wife and daughter slipped past the soldiers, rushing to his side and screaming in grief as his body thrashed, then was still.

"As per my agreement with your husband, no harm shall come to you. Your home, however, is hereby forfeit under joint Cervidae-Whitetail law."

A trio of pots lifted from the cart and burst into emerald flames as they smashed against the inside of the building, and within seconds a raging torrent of otherworldly fire shot out from every entrance.

The commotion had drawn watchers, as he knew -- and hoped -- that it would. Across the street, his second in command had just finished delivering justice to another disgusting traitor, and another home went up in short order.

"People of Evinwiir!" he shouted over the roaring flames. "Let this be a warning to any who would think of turning against their own nation! No longer shall we turn a blind eye to dissent, and if anyone should dare to defy the laws set forth by the empress and the chancellor, then they will meet the same fate!"

***

"Cease fire! All catapults, cease fire immediately!"

Optio Obsidio Bulwark raised his hoof and commanded his under-officers to pass along his orders. Seconds later the extensive line of siege weapons fell silent, a welcome relief for the ponies who had been loading and firing the contraptions nearly constantly for the entire morning. They slumped against their equipment as Bulwark's senior officer approached with an incredulous look upon his face. His white and gold cloak billowed behind him in a gust of wind.

"Is there a reason you've stopped the bombardment, Optio? Because last I checked, the wall is still standing."

Bulwark quickly saluted. "Sir, there seems to be something amiss. We've been under strict orders to avoid using incendiary munitions for our catapults, yet our pegasi scouts have reported a growing number of fires within the area just north of the wall. At first I thought it might just be the result of unfortunate misses, but...the thing is, sir, those fires are exactly like what we saw when the whitetail used aetherflame against us."

"So you've hit a store house, perhaps several of them."

"I don't think that's it, sir," he said. "The deerfolk keep their aetherflame stores underground, to avoid exactly such a situation."

The officer gave an exasperated sigh. "Is there a point to this, Bulwark? Whatever misfortune befalls the whitetail, I'd say they've more than brought it upon themselves."

"I can't say what the cause of the aetherflames are, but until we know more I would like your permission to cease engagement lest we cause unnecessary deaths to the civilians inside the walls." He added, "Princess Celestia would be most displeased if we didn't take the necessary precautions."

Clearly dissatisfied, but unable to argue, the officer turned to his aide. "Find me a contingent of pegasi scouts. A dozen, at least. Tell them I'm going to need a rooftop-level flight over Evinwiir's southern quarter. I want to know exactly what is causing these flare-ups. Understood?" The aide repeated his orders, then galloped off. "Fighting a war with our hooves tied together by civilian concern. Dangerous idealism, if you ask me. You'll get your wish, Optio, but remember: any losses incurred during this are on you. There had better be a damned good reason behind this."

***

Corvalix rubbed his side where the still-healing wound from his encounter with Caethil's bucks had left him scarred. Rooting out cowards and treasonous cur was such a laborious task, be they politicians, soldiers or mere civilians. He longed for the thrill of outright warfare, its promise keeping him motivated to continue this necessary but trying task.

A significant number of names had been crossed off, each one another pony sympathizer or rebellious lout. Some of them had given up names or information in the hopes of having their lives spared, but they too had met their end at the point of a quinn-blade. Every so often a bystander -- friend, family member, or just another citizen -- would try to save the condemned, only to be cut down by the soldiers who formed an impenetrable wall around their officers. Dozens of homes and businesses had gone up in flames along with their owners, the collective clouds of smoke now drifting over much of the city proper. After a while, the people of Evinwiir had stopped coming out to watch their neighbors die, frightened into staying within the safety of ignorance, and that suited him just fine. He was tired of giving the same warning speech anyway.

"We're down to a score, perhaps slightly less," Brother-Captain Galwyn said as he looked over the scroll once more. The front of his armor had been stained red by blood, and he regarded it with the same disdain as he regarded those who had spilled it upon him. After the first hoof-full of executions he had learned to stab downward, so that the blade went through their throat and into their chest instead of straight in and out, but it had been too late to save his typically spotless armor from being sullied by traitor blood.

"Good, I grow weary of this. The empress will want a full report after we're done here, and I do not intend to disappoint her."

"Nor do I, sir."

"A wise decision. Let's finish this nonsense and be on our way."

The formation turned down a rough dirt street, and scattered deer scrambled to get out of its way. By now word had spread of the swift and decisive judgment being meted out to any who dared defy Whitetail, and thus every buck and doe was a potential target. They could try to run, but the city was on lockdown. They only delayed the inevitable.

Up ahead, at the intersection of two roads that opened into a wide plaza, a small contingent of whitetail soldiers stood at attention. Many of them were clearly veterans of the conflict, with missing antler points and visible scars. A few still displayed bandages covering fresh wounds, and to the last their armor was nicked and gouged by blade strikes. Corvalix picked up his pace.

"Ah! I was hoping I would get some reinforcements. Though I must say, I was expecting a unit that wasn't quite so battle-weary. Rough day along the wall, I take it? Those winged ponies can be a menace if you let them land in numbers."

The officer at the front and center of the formation spoke, a stout stag with the white and green sash of a Standard Bearer, one of the highest titles that could be bestowed upon a soldier of Whitetail. "Brother-General Corvalix, I presume."

"The very same. And who might you be?"

"Standard-Commander Eradaxis, of the 19th Capital Guard. I hear you've been quite busy."

"To say the least! There is no shortage of those who would seek to subvert all we have fought for, and it is my supreme if somewhat monotonous duty to carry out the will of the good empress herself and bring these dissenters to justice. Fortunately for you, we're nearly done here. If you'd fall in behind our own formation, we can have you all back to your barracks by mid-day." He waited with a confident smile. It faded as none of the whitetail moved. "Ahem. Is there a problem, Standard-Commander?"

"I don't see anyone in shackles. Where are your prisoners?"

Corvalix and his under-officer looked at each other. "I'm afraid this is not that kind of justice. Treason, as I'm sure you know, is the highest form of crime, and is punishable by death. Immediate sentencing can be the only solution in times such as--"

"Under Whitetail law, all accused are to be given a trial," Eradaxis interrupted. "No exceptions. So it has been since the formation of our country."

"Be that as it may," Corvalix replied, his patience growing thin, "these are exceptional circumstances. Under joint Cervidae-Whitetail rule, all decisions are subject to the will of Empress Elinwynn and Chancellor Vinawyll. Now, as much as I would, ah, enjoy discussing international law, I must insist we hold off on doing so until the appropriate time. If you'll excuse me?"

Corvalix stepped forward, expecting Eradaxis and his bucks to move. He ran into a shield and stopped, grunting in frustration.

"Perhaps I did not make myself clear. Move. Now."

Eradaxis stared him down, fully half a head taller. "I don't think you understand, Corvalix. You may be in charge, but this is not your city." He looked to the formation of soldiers watching in nervous interest, a good number of them whitetail. "Are you all really going to be silent accomplices to this outright murder? Reach down and grab your balls, provided he hasn't lopped them off yet. You're whitetail, damnit! I don't care how many redtail prance around this place like they own it, no one is above the law." He turned back to Corvalix. "Not even the brother of a foreign empress."

An uneasy silence lingered between them. "Fine. You want to play by the rules of your precious little city? We can do that." Corvalix shouted over his shoulder. "Brother-Commanders Kaylin and Tyrrein, you are hereby ordered to place Standard-Commander Eradaxis and his soldiers under arrest!" The singing of a crystalline blade being drawn from its ring-holster was his answer, and he found a weapon floating inches from his face. He reflexively jumped back, pulling his own blade in return. "You dare threaten a commanding officer?"

Eradaxis shook his head. "I don't want to see anyone get harmed, Brother-General, least of all my fellow whitetail under your command. Turn around and go back to your headquarters. I will answer for my actions as necessary, but there has been enough killing for one day. No more whitetail blood will be spilled at your hooves."

Corvalix raised his foreleg, prompting his soldiers to draw their weapons. They did as commanded, some more hesitantly than others.

"You traitorous, insolent disgrace! I will not be ordered around by you, and if you value your life and those of your bucks then I suggest you surrender to our custody. Stop this madness at once!"

A firm stomp sent Eradaxis' knee blades springing out and locking into place. Around him, fifty bucks did the same, simultaneously lifting weapons from their sides. "If any of you still care about this place you call home, then join me. We will not be swayed by redtail butchery."

"Belay that!" Corvalix shouted. "If anyone sees a whitetail even thinking of desertion, you are hereby ordered to cut them down on the spot!" A fire burned in his eyes. "You stubborn fool. You are outnumbered, with nowhere to run. Do you truly wish to die for nothing, like the misguided souls of the 15th?"

"Brother-Commander Caethil did what he thought was right, as did his soldiers. As do I. Look around you, Corvalix -- the tide is turning against you."

The twin lines of mixed redtail and whitetail quickly formed into rows behind Corvalix. The groups stared each other down in nervous anticipation, neither truly wanting to engage in open combat. These were their friends and compatriots. The days of outright strife between deer were supposed to be over thanks to the empress, yet here they stood.

"This is your last warning, Eradaxis. I can respect your service, perhaps even your resolve, misguided though it may be, but I will not tolerate disobedience from anyone. Stand aside, or face the consequences of your actions."

A small group of winged ponies flew by overhead, scattered arrows and darts rising up to meet them in a weak attempt to destroy the scouting party. The Equestrians were practically unopposed. Eradaxis smiled.

"I've already made my decision."

54 - Vassal

Southern Evinwiir was enveloped in chaos. Shrouded against a backdrop of ethereal flames and towering pillars of smoke, Eradaxis and his veterans fought a desperate battle against Corvalix and the mixed followers of the new regime. The first blows had come nearly simultaneously, a flurry of battle cries, flashing weapons and spraying gore that erupted within seconds of Eradaxis' stalwart refusal to back down. Corvalix responded immediately with an aggressive charge by his numerically superior force, yet it did not impact with the force he had hoped for. Many of his soldiers, whitetail to the last, had been hesitant to lash out against their compatriots. Some had been made an example of, cut down on the spot by redtail enforcers.

"You will fight, or you will die!" he shouted, reaching out with his weapon and stabbing it into the exposed neck of a rebellious guard, then opening his chest with a pair of knee-blade kicks. A fountain of blood was his reward, the sight and sounds of battle invigorating him. He made sure to keep his head on a swivel; after Caethil's treason he was not about to be attacked from behind once again. "Formation -- push!"

A collective grunt of exertion sounded from the line, shoving the whitetail back a few precious inches and letting the second ranks strike with vicious stabs of their conical-tipped spears. The weapons left terrible wounds, ensuring that any who survived the initial attack would bleed out in short order. Half a dozen guards fell , but their positions were quickly filled by reserves.

On the other side of the battle line, Eradaxis hurled a throwing spear with all of his magical might, catching a junior officer in the side and punching through his crystalline armor. The squad of whitetail under his command looked to his dying form in shock.

"Go! Quickly!" Eradaxis shouted, waving to get their attention. They hesitated for a heartbeat, then dropped their weapons and loped away. Two redtail took off after them in pursuit.

It was a small and perhaps temporary victory, but it was the boost his bucks needed to keep fighting. They held no great love for the Equestrians, each of them having engaged in combat numerous times with pegasus scouts and squads of mixed-race soldiers, but they had formed a begrudging respect for the ponies over the months. The stout warriors were tough and well-trained, with exceptional leaders and fine equipment, and he'd seen the enemy show mercy when asked. They were honorable and proud, if sometimes overconfident.

It only made the sting of warring against his own people all the more painful.

The whitetail formation was holding their own, Corvalix's superior numbers meaning nothing in the narrow confines of the city streets. With his secondary line splitting their attention between keeping an eye out for sympathetic whitetail and pushing back against the attackers, Corvalix was having a difficult time keeping control. He gave no ground, but could not gain any, either.

"Capital Guard, fon'd'yyn!" Eradaxis ordered. As one the battle line unleashed a burst of magic, a blast of raw force that sent many of the enemy tumbling back or staggering to their knees. Rather than advance, Eradaxis and the bucks of the 19th fell back, pulling the wounded with them.

Corvalix slammed his armored hoof on the ground as he regained his balance. "After them! Kill them all!" he demanded. The damned traitorous whitetail! Cowards and thieves, that's what they were! Nothing had changed in hundreds of years. He looked forward to the day when he would not have to coddle the pathetic chancellor or his people. If he had it his way, every last whitetail would be put to the blade, starting with everyone who had even heard the names of Caethil or Eradaxis!

He grabbed his second in command by the antlers.

"Bring me Eradaxis' head, or I'll have yours!"

***

"Staggered defensive line to either side! Quickly, now!" Standard-Commander Eradaxis hastily applied a bandage to a gash on his right foreleg as he surveyed the area. The street had widened somewhat, and he stood at the intersection of it and a minor cross-road that had been roughly paved with river stones. "Stand tall, lads, we don't have much time!" He turned to his sub-commander. "How many have we lost?"

"Twelve dead, eighteen wounded. Twenty, if you count ourselves. Ten of those can still fight." For all of his bluster, Corvalix could kill with the best of them. Given his current strength, Eradaxis wasn't sure how long he could hold out against a superior force, but he had to try. The first of the redtail-led force came into view, the trickle of soldiers becoming a torrent of shouting, bloodied figures.

"Shields up! We make our stand here!"

"Hwah!" the whitetail shouted in unison. The two sides clashed with a furious thunder of metal and crystal, a more desperate battle than the last. Eradaxis struggled at the center of the whitetail line, the focus of at least three different redtail. Their blows came in a constant rain of knee-blades and swords, and he sheltered behind his segmented shield until an opening presented itself. He struck decisively, thrusting his weapon out at the chest of the closest attacker, the point finding purchase on a flat portion of armor and punching through. The redtail cried out in sudden pain, staggering back as he withdrew his sword, and collapsed on the rough ground. Almost immediately another took his place, using the strength given to him by unbridled anger to hack at Eradaxis' defenses.

The old stag could feel his body giving out, slowly but surely. He just had to hold them back for a little longer...

***

Above the city, Explorator Winter Wind circled his scouting party and implored them to move unpredictably as he watched the bizarre sight below unfold with morbid curiosity. The deer were fighting each other! Hardly anyone seemed to be paying him any attention, their focus firmly on a large group of their own that seemed to be split into two sides. What could possibly be the reason for such a thing? Scattered arrows or heavy darts flitted up at him on occasion, keeping him from dipping any lower to investigate the apparent civil war that had broken out within the walls of the otherwise impenetrable city.

If nothing else, he could now say with relative certainty that it was the deerfolk themselves who were setting fire to their buildings. None of the structures below showed signs of catapult damage, and Equestria lacked the know-how to create aetherflame.

"Winter Wind!" someone shouted. He wheeled around and saw Dalanius hovering in place, a hoof pointing to the west. "More coming from the north!" A burst of speed brought him to the other's side, and they rose higher to avoid drawing the ire of anyone who might notice them. Dalanius pulled a rough map from a pouch. "By the gods, look at them all! I've never seen so many deer in one place."

From this height they had a clear view of the city below. Winter Wind trained his sharp eyes on the northern sector of the city, where a veritable flood of deer in crystal plate were rushing through the streets.

"More from the south as well, though far fewer in number," Dalanius added. "What in the world is going on down there? You saw those deer killing each other as plain as day."

"Maybe the siege has gotten the best of them at last," Winter Wind answered, a guess at best. "Or perhaps the Cervidaens are tired of playing along."

"If the deer want to kill each other off, you won't find me complaining."

Whatever the whitetail and their cousins were fighting about, he wasn't about to fly down and ask them. "I doubt many would. Still, with numbers that large we can't be too cautious. We should gather the others and report this to the imperator."

***

Another buck fell, run through by a spear that found a gap in his armor. Eradaxis was beginning to run out of soldiers, and with every loss taken it became easier for Corvalix to advance. He had hoped the whitetail who fought under the banner of the new government would join him, yet hardly anyone had dared to defy the Brother-General's orders. It was difficult to blame them now, with the weight of redtail-led warfare crushing down upon him. If nothing else, he hoped his death would provide time for more civilians to escape retribution and unjust slaughter.

A well-timed block batted away his nearest enemy's quinn-blade. He followed it with a quick thrust to the neck and a solid kick, then wheeled around and sliced another open with the daggers on his knees. There were so many, and even in the midst of battle he could hear the tumultuous quaking of countless redtail soldiers rushing to his position from their stations all over the city.

"Ready...loose!" An unfamiliar voice called out an order from the rooftops, followed a second later by the unmistakable whistle of whitetail arrows raining from above, arcing in from behind the nearby houses. Dozens of them sliced through the air and tore into Corvalix's formation. Some bounced off armor or missed entirely, but many found their targets. Half of the forward-most lines dropped on the spot, clutching at the hafts that stuck out from their bodies and writhing on the ground. Corvalix yelled for them to stand their ground, yet when they raised their shields to defeat a second volley they were quickly counter-attacked by the rebellious whitetail.

A roaring blast of green fire suddenly rushed out along the middle of the enemy's formation, engulfing twenty or more in a cloud of searing flames. Someone had hit the incendiary pots and set off a deadly chain reaction. Eradaxis could feel the heat on his face, almost unbearable even from down the road. The redtail were effectively cut off -- at least momentarily.

"Head for the gate!" the stag standing on the roof shouted, then jumped down before Eradaxis could identify him. He offered a quick prayer for the brave soul who had just bought his bucks precious seconds, then rallied his squad before the redtail could regroup.

"Capital Guard, on me! We move south as one!"

Three more soldiers fell as they turned to follow him down the side street. He glanced behind and saw that less than twenty remained, some of them with crippling wounds being helped along by their comrades. A sizable force of whitetail waited for him along the old market paths, numerous flags of the Evinwiir Capital Guard standing proudly. Soldiers quickly rushed to aid the wounded, and a full contingent of veteran guards formed an impenetrable wall behind him for protection, backed by two squads of archers and spearbucks. An officer stood before him, exuding an air of confidence and purpose.

"Standard-Commander Eradaxis? I'm Brother-Captain Laeolann of the 34th. I believe we've met before."

Eradaxis clutched at a gash on his chest and winced in pain, but still managed a thin smile of recognition. "That's right. You were our relief on the wall last month. By the spirits of the ancestors, you have exceptional timing. Thank you for your assistance, we wouldn't have held out much longer without you."

Laeolann nodded. "My pleasure. When we heard that our people were being summarily executed, we knew the damned redtail had truly taken control of our beloved city. I gladly call myself a traitor if it means standing up to such disgusting acts."

"Then I am in good company," Eradaxis said. "Do you know if there are others who would join us?"

"We have members of the 5th and 17th with us, albeit in smaller numbers thanks to internal conflict. I've heard word of the 37th rebelling as well, though they're too far north to meet up with -- provided the redtail haven't slaughtered them to the last. Caethil's defiance of the false empress was a turning point, it seems."

"Shame that it took his sacrifice to open our eyes. Do you have a plan?"

Laeolann gave a shrug. "Such as it is. Are you aware of the troubles at the southern gate? There is a crowd of civilians trying to flee from the city, nearly all of them from the southern reaches, but the guards are loyal to the new government. If we can hold Corvalix and his bucks here, we might be able to get the gate open. I have a pair of squads heading there as we speak." His expression soured. "Surrendering to the ponies is the only viable strategy here, as much as it pains me to say. I don't intend to throw my life, or more importantly, the lives of my bucks away. Evinwiir is a lost cause."

***

From the sound of things, southern Evinwiir had become a full-blown riot. Even from his command tent far beyond the wall, General Phalanx could discern a collective panic of clashing soldiers and fleeing civilians, their voices carried on the wind. His scouts had brought back word of a civil war breaking out and fires consuming much of the city -- it seemed the whitetail didn't take kindly to being invaded by their opportunistic cousins.

He'd expected as much for some time. The Cervidaen army had pushed east into Whitetail some time ago, at first attempting to conceal their numbers, then blatantly camping in the open as if daring someone to do something about it. It was hard to be sympathetic towards the whitetail when they had started this damned war in the first place, not to mention the utter callousness of their vaunted chancellor and his puppet senate. If only they'd surrendered when the tide had started to turn against them!

There were rumors that the Cervidaen empress was involved in all of this on more than just a head-of-state level, and it was certainly true that her brother had been seen several times throughout the campaign. Perhaps, he speculated, they would get some useful information from the senator that had deserted a few days ago. Word of that particular capture had spread far and wide, a boon to the Equestrian war effort and a likely treasure trove of information for the intelligence stallions in Marestopholous and Canterlot.

Yes, there were many unknowns and variables floating around, but he would leave them for his subordinates to sort through. For now, there was the more pressing concern of a large number of redtail rushing through the streets of Evinwiir. It was clear now that they were stamping out any rebellious actions, brutally and decisively from the sound of things, but there was always the possibility, however small, of open conflict with Cervidae should they choose to sweep south. Pushing Equestria's finest back across the border would make for a display of power that no one could argue with, least of all the ineffective and depleted Whitetail military. Extra Equestrian Guard reinforcements had arrived on the orders of an officer in Canterlot, now set up as a temporary bivouac south of the main siege line. If push came to shove, he would be grateful indeed for their support.

An Imperator approached with a scroll in his mouth. He dropped it at Phalanx's hooves and saluted.

"Sir, we've finished taking an inventory of our forces, as you requested."

Phalanx spread the parchment out on the ground, using an extra tarp to keep it from getting wet in the thin layer of snow that permeated everything. It was an exhaustive list, comprehensive to the last loaf of bread.

"This is going to take some time to look through," he said as he rubbed his chin. Wind fluttered his magic-imbued cape, and it glittered with white and gold in the scattered sunlight. "Care to spare me the long and give me the short?"

"As you wish," the Imperator answered. Age had wrinkled his features and faded his coat, but he was as reliable as ever. "Between the siege formation and the encampment we're looking at just over thirty-five hundred Equestrian Guard, with another four hundred Legion troops protecting the flanks. There is also a small contingent of one hundred and fifty Royal Guard on loan from Canterlot. All told, we can muster an active combat force of four--"

A long, low rumble bellowed like an earthquake, drowning out the Imperator before he could finish. They gave each other a surprised look, and were already heading for the crest of the hill when an orderly came running up to them.

"General! General, sir!" the stallion shouted over the roaring, clanking sound that seemed to grow louder as it continued. "The gate is opening!"

Phalanx couldn't believe it. He had to see for himself, and so he galloped to the top of the rise. No one bothered to salute him as he appeared, all eyes firmly locked on Evinwiir's massive southern entrance.

A pair of shining, bronze-faced doors, larger than any other construction in the known world, were slowly parting with a thunder to match the greatest of storms. Phalanx felt a knot in the pit of his stomach, for he knew nothing good could come from their opening. Immediately he took off as fast as his legs would carry him.

"Man your positions! Combat formations on the double!" he ordered, repeating himself as he passed each of the cohorts under his command. One group at a time, thousands of Equestrian soldiers quickly scrambled for their gear and formed into battle lines. The ominous din continued unabated, echoing all around like a dragon's roar. A trickle of figures poured through the partially opened gate, too distant to be seen clearly. A final, desperate push by the whitetail before they were swallowed by their aggressive cousins?

The trickle became a steady stream, and within moments it had turned into an overwhelming torrent of bodies pour through the widening entrance. They were headed directly for the Equestrian armies.

"Shields up! Make ready!"

His subordinates echoed his orders. He stood at the top of the hill with nervous resolve. Many of the stallions were untested replacements, and those who had seen combat had grown used to the protracted siege. The thought of the first full-scale battle in months was not a pleasant one, but he had faith in those who served with him. If the whitetail wanted to throw their lives away, then let them. Perhaps it would finally signal an end to this entire ordeal.

The deer drew closer, yet as they approached Phalanx came to a shocking realization: most of them were civilians. Unarmed and unarmored, they bounded toward the Equestrian lines in their loping gaits, some carrying improvised flags of orange and white, the Whitetail symbol for unconditional surrender. Was it a trick, or were they actually giving themselves up?

"Hold, lads, hold!" he said, unsure himself. Scattered bucks and stags in emerald-green armor were mixed in with the crowd, still carrying weapons and flying banners of their units. They waved the civilians on, keeping pace alongside them. A flight of glinting arrows arced from the gate entrance and slashed into the fleeing mass, followed by hurled pots that burst into clouds of viridian fire and consumed entire swaths of deer. The panicked screams of the crowd carried to the Equestrians waiting across the open expanse, and a murmur spread through the lines. The whitetail were killing one another in the open!

"Sir, what are your orders?" an officer asked.

The stallions nearby looked to him for answers. This was an unheard of situation.

"Keep the formation in place, but open a gap in the middle. Tell everyone to keep their weapons ready. If those deer intend to surrender to our aid, then we will help them." As the word spread, he called out for one of his translators, who quickly stood before him with a salute. "I need you and three others who can speak Whyttalia to guide them to us. They must drop any weapons they have before they'll be allowed to cross through. If anyone refuses and becomes violent, you have my permission to cut them down before they can become a threat."

The sea of armored ponies quickly parted at his order, an impromptu collection of guards checking the oncoming deer for blades before hurriedly letting them through. More and more civilians crowded into the area, shoving their way forward and trampling one another. It was too much for the Equestrians to hold back, and before long the panicked whitetail had pushed their way through and broken into the back field. Calls for them to halt went unheeded, and entire flights of pegasi took to the air in an attempt to control them.

"Stop them! I said no one gets through unchecked!" Phalanx shouted above the commotion. Hardly any of the deer were heeding his stallions. "Gods damnit! At least strip those soldiers of their weapons!"

A pegasus landed at his side. "Sir, I bring word from Centurion Stavius of the 12th Equestrian. He says he has spoken with someone claiming to be the leader of the rebellious Whitetail soldiers. They wish to surrender to us, but they ask that they be allowed to fight alongside us against the redtail until the civilians are clear."

"We are not fighting the redtail! We are not at war with them! Tell this tree rutter that he may fight if he wishes, but he must do so away from our lines. I will not start a war with Cervidae, no matter how fucked their actions are against the whitetail."

"But the civilians are--"

"I can see what's happening to them," he interrupted with a stern look. He knew what he had to say, but the words were vile on his tongue all the same. "I will not turn them away as refugees, but that is the extent of our actions. Tell Stavius he is under orders to not engage the redtail unless first engaged. No exceptions. And make sure the entire damned army knows!"

The soldier left as quickly as his wings would carry him. Phalanx let out a deep breath that turned to foggy wisps as he watched the carnage unfold, and in that moment he knew a hatred for the redtail like he had never imagined.

***

"Keep moving! Hurry!" Eradaxis threw up his shield to block an attack, then lashed out with his quinn-blade. Another redtail was felled, yet more bounded through the gates with every passing second. He gave the order to fall back, hoping to funnel the enemy into a narrow formation. The rush of civilians had petered out to almost nothing, and those that did make it through now were wounded almost to the last. They limped along as he encouraged them to seek the protection of the ponies.

Laeolann skidded to a halt beside him, his face grim as he caught his breath.

"What news do you bring?" he asked.

"We're on our own. The ponies won't take up arms against Cervidae lest they be seen as starting a war again."

His heart sank. "As we feared." At the gate entrance, another wave of redtail were forming up and preparing to charge the depleted ranks of whitetail guards. A few last civilians attempted to push their way through, pleading for their lives to anyone who would listen. They were struck down without mercy. "Murderous whore-sons!" he shouted across the gap. Laeolann placed a hoof on his shoulder.

"We'll hold them off until the last of the whitetail are through to Equestrian custody. We must."

Eradaxis nodded. He hefted his weapon beside him, his body aching from age and the stress of combat, and resigned himself to the inevitability of death.

***

For ten generations the Cervidae Hegemony had dreamt of reclaiming Whitetail for itself, of restoring the former glory of the mighty empire once known as Orchourus. Ten generations of do-nothing leaders caught up in family rivalries and bitter infighting, blinded by greed and corruption, so inept that it was a wonder Cervidae had stayed together at all.

But now...now that had all changed. In one fell swoop, Evinwiir had become a redtail city. It was only a matter of time until the rest of Whitetail followed suit. The people would fall in line with Chancellor Vinawyll; after all, it was he who had driven the traitors from Evinwiir -- with the help of Elinwynn, of course. Who among them could not celebrate such a thing? The sympathizer and the defeatist had been brought to swift justice by the dozen, a trail of shattered bodies the last legacy of rebellion within the great walls of the capital. A decisive blow.

As he stood between the grand doors of the southern entrance gate, with the cold stinging his face, Corvalix felt a sense of true accomplishment and pride. The first step on the the path to greatness had been taken. Very soon, it would lead him all the way to Canterlot. Then, and only then, would Cervidae be free of the shackles of history, and Elinwynn would have her vengeance that had been centuries in the making.

"Brother-General, sir, there are no further reports of fleeing citizens. I believe we've made our point." Corvalix looked around him at the trail of dead and dying, soldier and civilian alike. The acrid smell of burning flesh turned up his nose. "It would appear the treasonous whitetail have decided to make a final stand against us," the officer said, a hint of amusement dripping from each word. What remained of the traitor guard units had formed into a staggered battle line, far removed from the Equestrians who watched with interest from afar.

It had been so long since he'd seen what a proper army looked like. Whitetail's military had resembled it once, at the start of the war, but defeat after crushing defeat had utterly destroyed its capabilities to mount an offensive. These ponies, though...they knew how to maintain a proper sense of discipline. Open war against them, with the superior forces of Cervidae beside him, would be the thrill of a lifetime. They were so close.

Patience, dear brother. He could hear Elinwynn's voice, the echo of their morning conversation, and it sated him for the time being. A final formality was all that stood between him and the conquest of Equestria.

Behind him, thousands of redtail Regulars and hundreds of Exemplars had formed into dense lines that stretched from the killing grounds all the way back through the gate. They stood motionless, a vast sea of armor and blades, with countless flags proudly flying the crest of Cervidae.

"Sir, what would you like us to do about the remaining traitors? Our numbers are more than sufficient, and our losses would be minimal."

The remainder of the shattered Whitetail Capital Guard units stood at battle-ready on the other side of a small stream, a sad sight to be sure. In a way, Corvalix admired them; it took courage to face down one's fate. It was a shame they had chosen to fight for the wrong side.

"Leave them. We will be seeing them again soon enough."

Across the snow-covered field, an older pony in golden armor and a white and gold cloak stared him down with piercing eyes. Corvalix stabbed his sword into the wet earth, never tearing his gaze from the familiar stallion, and raised a hoof to signal his bucks. They snapped to attention as one, turned on the spot, and marched back within the confines of Evinwiir.

Corvalix did not move, did not blink, until the very last of them had departed.

The towering doors closed behind him.

Patience.

55 - The Illusion of Choice

A new day dawned over Equestria, the dark blues of night giving way to a warm blanket of pinks and oranges as the sun peeked over the horizon. All across the nation, countless citizens would be rising from their beds with a renewed sense of optimism. Shops would open, families would gather for their meals. It was a magical time, one that embodied everything that made Equestria great.

After hundreds of years, it hadn't lost that special something. Cold air kissed Princess Celestia's skin as she took a moment to bask in the comforting glow of the first rays of sunlight, a contented sigh parting her lips in a smile. Her mane and tail sparkled like flecks of colored crystal and fluttered gently in the breeze. The worries and stress of everyday rule would come later, but for this brief time every morning she could feel like just another pony.

Across the room, a rustling of sheets. Ever the loyal soldier, Tercio would no doubt be up at first light. She quietly made her way over to his side and ran a hoof down his chest, pleased to see that his scars were mending. He was a strong man and a gentle lover, and she would have given anything to keep him from further harm. He slowly roused from his slumber, stretching and yawning as he blinked back the haze. Celestia leaned over and kissed him softly, her hair playing over his bare shoulder.

"Good morning, my love," she said quietly. "Did you sleep well?"

"With you at my side? Always," Tercio replied, pushing himself up on an elbow. His clothing still lay on the floor where it had fallen, and his weapons and armor rested against an oak dresser in the corner. "I've not missed my duties, have I?" he asked in a sudden fit of worry. Celestia giggled at his half-awake concern.

"It's still early, I've just raised the sun. I doubt your compatriots are even awake yet."

He blinked. "Oh. Right, I suppose I shouldn't worry about such a thing with you here." There was a knock on the door. Celestia opened it just enough to take her morning tea from Mended Heart with a sincere thank-you, then shut it quietly behind her. The prompt, cheerful mare was one of the select few who knew of the ongoing romance, though that number seemed to be rising, slowly but surely. It was only a matter of time until the other Praetorians knew. Even the most devoted of them would begin to wonder about his disappearance from the barracks several nights a week at this rate.

Celestia stirred in her spoonful of honey and added a twist of lemon, floating the cup and small saucer before her as she returned to sit on the edge of the bed. "Care for a drink, my dear?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm sure this has nothing to do with using me as your royal taste tester," he said as he took the cup in his hands.

"Perish the thought," she said dramatically, a hoof over her chest. "I'll have you know I deal in only the finest of poisons."

"I'm sure. If I die, make sure Rimeberry doesn't get my shield. He still owes me ten coin." Hot, sweet liquid dribbled down his throat, warming him from within as he sipped at what he was sure was expensive tea. "I haven't keeled over yet. Probably a good sign." He passed it back and pulled the covers off from himself, joining her to watch the sun rise over the mountains. It was the clearest day he'd seen in well over a week, with only scattered, wispy clouds marring the pristine beauty of the early morning sky. "How are you feeling? Any better today?"

"Somewhat. It's...complicated."

"I can only begin to imagine."

"Be thankful you don't have to," Celestia said. For a moment she became lost in thought, and Tercio wondered what inner turmoil she must be experiencing. He wished he could do more to help her. "I sometimes have to remind myself that Luna isn't behind everything. Is it wrong to think that it would be simpler if it was her? At least then I would have some idea of how to respond. For all these months I've been working under the assumption that I could save her; I don't know how I would have done so, but that small glimmer of hope was enough. But now..." She shook her head. "It's all been a lie. Elinwynn used me, and I fell for it completely."

"You don't know that for sure," Tercio countered. "The cultist mare you spoke with, she could have been lying to you. Perhaps this is exactly what she wants you to believe."

"No, she was telling the truth, without a doubt. I could sense it. As soon as that captured senator tells us what he knows, it is likely his story will corroborate hers."

"And then what?" he asked.

"And then...I don't know, honestly. I have far too much to be concerned with as it stands." Celestia rested her head against his shoulder. "Let's not talk about this anymore. I just want to be here with you."

***

The Conference of Nations hall was already buzzing with activity as Imperator Stonewall hurriedly stepped through the entrance doors, a pair of Royal Guards opening them wide and saluting as he passed. The grand, circular room was usually reserved for meetings with foreign heads of state and their associated representatives, but at the moment it was fully occupied by high-ranking Equestrian military officers. At the center of the room, standing over a round table, Princess Celestia was conversing with an older stallion in a Legion uniform. She looked concerned, but it was nearly impossible to hear her over the others.

"Imperator Stonewall, 105th Praetorian," he introduced himself to a nearby Royal Guard captain, having to nearly shout to be heard. The other stuck out his hoof in greeting. "What's all this about?"

"Centurion Port Lock. Gods banish me to the nine hells if I know, Imperator. Something about the redtail, I think. The princess has been waiting for everyone to arrive."

"Who's 'everyone', exactly?"

"Off the top of my head? Andesius and Winter Kiln from the 4th Equestrian Guard -- both Centurions I think -- along with a few of their second in command. Over by the table we've got Decanus Apple Tart, some lower-ranking officer whose name I'm not aware of, and Legatus Ignis. He's the one talking to Celestia. Legion to the last. Can't say I know the others, aside from Milites-Instructor Saffron Sage. Real hard-ass, that one."

He saw Celestia look around the room, counting off attendees with a hoof as she did. Apparently satisfied, she focused a small portion of her magical prowess.

"Order! Please, if I may call for order!" she bellowed in a commanding royal voice, causing every head in the room to snap to her in an instant. The unfortunate stallion in front of her raised his foreleg to his face to shield himself from the visible wind that gusted from the princess with every word. Complete silence took the room in an instant. "Thank you. Please forgive me, I was unsure of how to be heard otherwise. If you would all find your seats?"

Stonewall sat next to Port Lock and an Equestrian Guard officer, eager to hear what the news could be. Typically, important events and happenings would be spread down through the ranks via word of mouth or messenger, and it was exceptionally rare for a summons to be issued to so many at once. Something big was going on.

"First of all, I would like to thank each and every one of you for attending on such short notice. Some of you have come from as far away as Brier Ridge, and I know it is not an easy journey even with the aid of sky carriages. I assure you, I would not have sent out them out without a good reason." A scroll floated from a bag at her side, stamped with a leaf emblem on a background of green wax. "Earlier today I received this missive from one of my messengers. It is a letter directly from Empress Elinwynn of the Cervidaen Hegemony, a name I'm sure you're all familiar with." If the grumbles and muttered swears were anything to go by, they certainly were. "Recently, Cervidae marched a sizable force into western Whitetail, up to and including the outskirts of Evinwiir. We've been keeping a close eye on them, fearing they may take action against their whitetail cousins when the opportunity presented itself. Yesterday, they did just that. The capital city of Evinwiir has fallen to redtail forces."

"Does this mean we've won?" Port Lock asked quietly, one of many who conversed in surprise.

"Hell if I know, but you won't see me lamenting those damned whitetail any time soon," Stonewall said. The rest of Whitetail might still resist, but now they'd be facing a war against two separate nations. Who in their right mind would agree to carry on under those circumstances? This had to mean the end of the war. About damned time, too.

"However," Celestia spoke up, quieting them down once more, "however...I'm afraid things have taken a terrible turn. Allow me to read this letter to you all." She raised the scroll to eye level, took a deep breath, and began.

To Princess Celestia, sovereign of Equestria.

For nearly the last year I have watched your nation grow increasingly war-like and aggressive against the innocent people of Whitetail. Despite your callous disregard for life, I have continued to hold out hope that Equestria and Whitetail could find an amiable solution to this conflict. Through repeated trips to Evinwiir and the constant, tireless negotiations carried out by my dear brother since the outbreak of your misguided war, I have sought to do what you could not -- perhaps would not. Unfortunately, my repeated attempts to bring about a truce have apparently fallen upon deaf ears. Needless to say, I am most disappointed. I thought you better than that.

When I heard of your prolonged siege of Evinwiir, I made the decision to march a portion of my military into western Whitetail so that I might observe these atrocities for myself. Along the way, I put a thorough end to the followers of your horrific sister; it would seem a lust for bloodshed runs in your family. These cultists had become a nuisance for Cervidae and Whitetail equally, and while I'd hoped that extinguishing their murderous lives might warrant some sort of response from you, it would appear that I was, once again, thinking far too highly of you.

By now you will have likely heard that Evinwiir is under control of my forces. I assure you that this is only temporary, and is a necessary step to ensure the safety and stability of the center of Whitetail culture and trade. I have watched from afar for too long, and no more shall I allow Equestria to continue its conquest of our beloved cousins.

Because I am a fair and just ruler, I shall give you one final chance to make amends for your crimes against our kin. You have until the rising of the crescent moon to turn over those responsible for the heinous slaughter of River Run's inhabitants, as well as anyone connected to the murder of Chancellor Artellus, so that they might face justice. In addition, you must pull back all of your forces from Whitetail territory immediately. Should you refuse, I will have no choice but to consider your silence as a declaration of war on the entirety of deerkind, and thus, on Cervidae itself.

There will be no second warning. Do what is right by your people, and spare them the humiliation of defeat.

Signed,

Empress Elinwynn

Discontent had been rising steadily as she read, and had now become a chorus of angered shouts and disbelieving swears. She could not blame them, for she herself still did not believe the words before her eyes. War with Cervidae. Such a thing had been an occasional thought at the back of her mind for several months, yet she'd always managed to reason it away as paranoia.

"This is completely unacceptable!" someone yelled, a chorus of agreements answering him.

"She knows damn well we weren't behind the attack on River Run or Artellus! She's playing us for fools!" another said.

"We should have crushed the deer months ago! Now look where we are!"

Celestia called for silence once more.

"I know this is an upsetting turn of events, but it is not entirely unexpected. I've had my doubts about Cervidae's 'neutrality' for some time and, in truth, I should have seen this coming long before this letter arrived." She set the scroll down on the table and produced a sketch of an amulet, holding it up to be seen. "Back when the war first started, I had a meeting with the good empress herself. She was amiable, if aloof -- common for her family, and for her previous meetings. At that time, she presented to me a large pendant, about the size of a hoof. She said it was a symbol of good luck. Having no reason to believe otherwise, I kept it with me, typically in a saddle bag, for some time. It was quite the striking design, as you can plainly see. Anyone would have been honored to receive it.

"Then, a few months ago, our forces started discovering nearly exact duplicates of this pendant in the scattered Nightmare Moon encampments. As we came to find out, they were being used as communication devices -- a sort of conduit for magical energies . It was difficult to obtain an intact one, as the cultists were apparently under orders to destroy them immediately at the first sign of trouble, but eventually one of our Legion squads did just that, and they sent it here, to the castle.

As you can imagine, I was shocked to find out that the two pendants -- the one given to me, and the one taken from the followers -- were exactly the same. At the time, I thought it meant that Elinwynn was working with my fallen sister. And so, perhaps unwisely, I took the two pendants to one of the old spires and summoned Nightmare Moon to appear before me. Eventually she did so, like a creature of living smoke and starlight."

More surprised chatter.

"Unfortunately, 'Nightmare Moon' was uncooperative. Outright threats and verbal abuse were the only real answers I received." She hesitated, unsure of how to say what she was feeling. "I...I wanted it to be Luna with all of my heart. Most of you have had the pleasure of meeting her at some point, and you know how much she meant to me; how much she meant to all of us. Then and there, in that dusty tower, I was trying to save her. I needed to save her. When she refused to listen to reason, I grew angry and demanded to know what her connection to Elinwynn was. It seemed to catch her off guard, and a moment later she vanished just as quickly as she'd appeared.

"Overcome by grief, filled with a rage and sadness I could hardly begin to describe to you, I stomped those pendants into dust and scattered them to the wind. It was at that moment, I now believe, that Empress Elinwynn chose to carry out her plans."

A stallion from the Legion stood up near the front. "If this Elinwynn is the true force behind the cults, does this mean she was also responsible for the attack on Canterlot?"

"I see no reason to believe otherwise, yes." The mention of that bloody day was like a kick to the gut for most of them, and soon the demands for Elinwynn's head had reached a fever pitch. Many of the military's finest had lost good soldiers to those who believed they were following Nightmare Moon, and the resulting destruction of the camps had been correspondingly brutal in many cases. Now they had someone else to focus their anger against.

"But why would she kill her own pawns? Why not throw them at us one last time?" someone asked.

"Because the cult of Nightmare Moon was a threat to everyone, not just us. Now we know that was by design. Elinwynn created them, used them to her own ends, and then destroyed them so that she would be seen as a bastion of safety and a leader who spoke through actions, not just words. I have to admit, it's quite cunning. Despicable and wrong, but cunning nonetheless."

She tapped the scroll on the table. "All of this -- the reasons for war, the apparent willingness to act as a bringer of peace through negotiation -- is a formality and a smoke screen. Elinwynn wants this war to be remembered as justified. No doubt she has numerous copies set aside for future archival. I am sure the timing to coincide with the takeover of Evinwiir is no mere coincidence, either."

Stonewall raised a hoof. "So where do we go from here? Talking about the how and why of our current situation is fine and all, but we need to discuss what happens in the immediate future. The crescent moon is less than a week away. That's not enough time to move the bulk of our reserves into position."

"Nor is it enough time for the Legion to relocate from the west," Legatus Ignis added. "We've been hunting down the remainder of the cultists for some time now, especially since the threat from the deerfolk has been marginal at best lately. We have a significant force on the way to the Whitetail border now, thanks to word from the front, but it will take time to get there."

Celestia paced as she considered her options. So much to account for, and so quickly. She'd hoped to avoid being in this situation ever again, but fate clearly had other plans. "What about the Equestrian Guard?"

Winter Kiln stood, along with his compatriot, Andesius. They quietly conversed with each other for a moment before speaking up.

"I cannot speak to our exact numbers, Your Highness, but we still maintain a sizable force just outside of Evinwiir. I do not know how long we could hold, however, as the redtail armies are reportedly extensive in number."

"There is also the matter of the whitetail refugees," Andesius said. "Reports vary, but we've taken in something close to five thousand civilians and a small number of defecting Capital Guard troops. They're being interrogated for any information they might be able to provide before we figure out where to send them. We're leaning toward Marestopholous, with the rest of the prisoners. We can construct a camp within a few days time, if that is what you wish."

"See to it," Celestia said. "You have my full permission to requisition whatever you need, and if General Iron Heart objects to it then he can speak to me personally. Marestpholous is far too important to be tied up in bureaucracy." Andesius saluted and took his seat, pulling a length of parchment from his pack to write down his orders. "Alarming though all of this is, we are at least somewhat prepared. Ever since my communication with the false Nightmare Moon, I've had a hunch about Elinwynn's schemes. We have a sizable force of three cohorts along the north-western border, and there is a decent number of auxilia waiting in reserve. All told, we can muster close to eight thousand combat-ready stallions by the time of the crescent moon. It is still short of the numbers we'll need, but it's a start. We'll begin massing just south of Whitetail for the time being. I'll have orders prepared for each of you by the end of the day. Understood?"

"Yes, Princess," they answered together.

"Good. I know these past months have been trying, and many of you are exhausted from the tireless job of keeping our nation safe, but I must ask you to remain vigilant and strong. I need your help now, more than ever. Together, we'll get through this, and Equestria will be at peace once again." She placed a hoof over her chest and dipped her head in admiration, putting on a brave facade to mask the fear and uncertainty that twisted through her veins and gripped her heart like strangling vines. Equestria was not prepared to face Elinwynn's forces, not after months of open warfare with Whitetail. Her soldiers were tired and depleted, and the strain of a war economy had stretched the country's coffers nearly to the breaking point. It would be a long, long week to come.

"Honor to Equestria. Thank you all for coming."

***

A cool, humid wind whipped through the sickly yellow leaves of the strange trees that twisted and contorted like wooden statues, each studded with long, thin branches that jutted out from their trunks, like spikes on a mace. In the distance, guttural howls and disquieting shrieks echoed across the plains of swaying brown and red grasses that seemed to almost glow in the strange, orange light that permeated the air. Numerous firefly-like insects chirped from the short, thorny bushes that dotted the ground, taking flight with sudden flashes of color before scattering like embers from a fire.

Caethil was nearly at the point of collapse after three days of continuous travel. Every muscle in his body ached, and his legs burned like fire with each step. He was not a young buck anymore, and he was reminded of it every time Baer'barisater scrabbled over a stone or deftly maneuvered through a copse of tangled trees.

At times he hated the zebra, though he knew it to be an anger born of jealousy. Bear was always so confident in his movements, so decisive in his statements, with a determination that bordered on obsessive at times. He fully believed there was a clear path set out before him -- the 'vision' his so-called Elder had spoken of -- and he insisted that Caethil was the key to it all.

Caethil was not so sure. He'd just led forty-six of his own soldiers to their deaths; what could he possibly do to make their sacrifice mean something? He could live a thousand times over and not repay such a debt. It would have been easier to join them in death. And yet...the slimmest notion of vengeance was enough to keep him going. If there was any chance, no matter how remote, of living to see Corvalix die at his hooves, he would march on.

Carefully he jumped from stone to stone as they crossed a shallow river, ignoring the flies that pestered him before moving on. Zevran was a miserable place, with a climate that made him sweat even as he shivered with each gust. The comfort and familiarity of Whitetail seemed so far off. He would have given anything to feel it again.

The river led to a clearing. There, the first signs of civilization awaited him: a trio of carved totems, covered in the pictograms of zebra language. Bear assured him that they were signs of welcome and good fortune, though the exaggerated faces of strange animals depicted in the tall poles did little to set him at ease. He wondered if they were being watched. If even half of the stories he'd heard about zebra magic were true, he would likely never be able to tell.

The sun was beginning to set over the rolling plains before him, bringing with it more sounds of terrible creatures that made his imagination run rampant. Not long now, Bear assured him. Just keep going. The smell of strange spices wafted in on the breeze, intermingled with the familiar tang of burning wood. A cooking fire. A place to rest. The end of his journey.

As he crested the next hill he was given a second wind, reinvigorated by the prospect of a proper meal and a place to sleep that wasn't exposed to the elements. There, in the valley below, an expansive collection of earthen huts, their domed roofs zig-zagged with colorful patterns. A tall perimeter wall of stone and wood surrounded the village, dotted with lookout towers manned by zebra warriors in tribal paint, many of whom noticed him the second he appeared on the horizon. They kept long spears at their sides and watched him and Bear approach the open gate that was lined with torches.

A party of zebras awaited him just inside, a dozen of them in all; veteran warriors, he guessed, going by the stacks of golden rings adorning their necks. They were shorter than him by a head, but stocky and muscular, and not a single one of them moved as he approached. He stopped as they parted. An aged stallion hobbled out from a nearby hut, a walking stick in his hoof that rattled with colored beads and small icons of his spirit-gods.

"You must be Caethil," he said after a moment of consideration, his long beard swaying as he spoke. "Welcome to Zevran, my friend. I've been waiting for you."

56 - Lifting the Veil

"Contubernium, alta stare!"

Four squads of eight stallions snapped to attention, eyes locked forward, as four veteran Praetorians took to the training grounds just inside Canterlot Castle's high walls. A gust of cold air sent a rippling shiver through their ranks, but not one of them dared to move. Cloaks of varying colors rustled over their backs and hung down to their left sides as marching boots crunched through the snow and frozen earth, stopping just in front of them. The tall figure considered them in silence.

"Listen up, recruits, for I will say this only once, and I will become most displeased if I am forced to repeat myself! Is that understood?"

"Yes, sir!" they answered as one.

"We'll see. Now drop! Get into position!" The gathered soldiers quickly spread their legs out so that their stomachs were mere inches from the ground, an agonizing stance that was known far and wide throughout the Equestrian military as a 'corrective' punishment. It could only get worse from there. "I am Centurion Tercio Krosus, acting Imperator-Apprentice of the 105th Praetorian Guard and your Milites-Eruditorum for the first stage of your training. No doubt some of you have heard of me, so allow me to clear the air right here and now: I am what you call a 'human'. Yes, there is a reason I am here. No, I will not tell it to you now. Though I may be physically different, I am a soldier through and through, and if any of you should question my orders you will find out why I am known as a slayer of Equestria's enemies."

He could still hear Stonewall calling him a 'grotesque monkey' all those months ago, even if it was in jest. He had to take it from a commanding officer, but he'd be damned if any new recruit mouthed off to him.

"To my left and right are some of the finest stallions you scum dogs will ever have the privilege of serving with...should you be so lucky." Grunts of exertion were already sounding from the formation. "This is Centurion Polaris."

"Forward!" Polaris shouted, prompting the recruits to sag their backs and raise their heads as they swung their bodies off the ground. "Back!" They groaned in pain as they resumed their positions. "Stop your whining! You're supposed to be veteran soldiers! Act like it!"

Tercio wanted to crack a smile at the theatrics he and the others were putting on. If only he'd known how much of a show it all was when he was in their position -- not that it would have made things any easier, or less painful. "This is Decanus Thunderburst."

"Arch your backs! Forward!" Thunderburst hovered just in front of the formation, prodding the ground with his wooden foreleg that met the mangled stump of his knee. "You will learn our voices, and you will respond to them when called upon! You will do this without hesitation, or you will be sent back to whatever shit hole you called your old unit! Back!"

"And this is Decanus-Aquilifer Rimeberry."

"Sag your backs! Now arch them! Sag! Arch! Hurry up!" Usually, Rimeberry was the quietest of the group, hardly raising his voice for any reason. Today, however, he was the sound and fury of the Praetorian Guard. He stood before them confidently, tall and strong, with a commanding voice. When one of the recruits began to tire, he rushed over and stopped mere inches from his face. "I don't remember telling you to fucking stop, meat! Don't you dare quit on me already, or Celestia help me I will feed you to the nearest manticore piece by piece!" He looked around for anyone else who might be giving less than their full effort, then returned to Tercio's side.

"While you are here," Tercio continued, "you will refer to anyone with a purple cloak as 'sir'. Only once you've earned your own may you address us by our names. Until then, your old cloak may as well be a tarp for your inevitable deaths by stupidity. Stand up!" A collective sigh of relief went out from the stallions, many struggling to remain upright again. "As part of the 105th Praetorian you are under the direct control and supervision of Imperator Stonewall. You will meet him soon enough -- and if you think I'm a hard-ass, I assure you, you have seen nothing. There is only one pony above Stonewall that you need to be concerned with: the princess herself. If and when you prove yourselves to have some purpose aside from fodder for the deer, you will eventually meet her. Do try to keep your jaws -- and your pricks -- off the ground when you do so. Princess Celestia's word is absolute, and it is your duty to serve and protect her until your dying breath, as many of our brethren have since the start of this war. Their sacrifices have ensured Equestria remains free." He pressed his fist to his chest. "Honor to the princess! Honor to the fallen!"

The others followed his lead, and he nodded in approval.

"I am sure you've all heard the news by now, but if not, then allow me to be the first to tell you: Equestria is now at war with the Cervidaen Hegemony. The redtail empress has seen fit to claim the Whitetail capital of Evinwiir as her own, under the guise of 'peace and protection', but she is fooling no one. Her excuses for war are without substance. They are outright lies, in fact. Her manipulation of Whitetail, of those who followed the one we believed to be Nightmare Moon, and of our own military speaks to a cunning and ruthlessness that cannot be overstated. This is not the cocksure Whitetail army that was decimated at Whitetail Wood, nor is it the inept defenders of Evinwiir itself. Cervidae's military is strong, well-disciplined and led by a ruthless pair of siblings who will stop at nothing to see their goals through to the end.

"That is why you are here. Now more than ever we need good stallions, good Praetorians, to protect not just the princess but Equestria as a whole. Your training will not be easy, but it will prepare you to fight as one, and one day soon, perhaps, I may just be proud to call you my battle brothers...but you have to earn it, first. Don't let me down."

***

As it turned out, training new recruits was an exhausting, sometimes frustrating job. The Equestrian Guard and the Royal Guard had their own ways of operating, and if you wanted to reshape someone into a Praetorian you first had to break them down and forcibly remove their old, bad habits. Such a thing was easier said than done.

"Feels like it was just yesterday that we were in their place." Tercio turned to see Rimeberry sit down beside him at the table, a bowl of mixed vegetables and some kind of pasta mixture wrapped in steamed grape leaves set before him. He removed his crested helm, the scars of battle still etched into its steel and gold plate. "When Stonewall asked if I wanted to take a more active role in the shaping of the new recruits, I didn't think he meant acting as an instructor. But you know what? I kinda enjoy it, actually." Somewhere in the distance, Thunderburst was yelling out orders to a marching formation. "I've got those stallions convinced I'm from the nine hells themselves," he laughed. "How about you? This Imperator thing to your liking?"

"Too early to say," Tercio answered as Rimeberry tucked into his meal. "I've a newfound respect for Stonewall after today, I can tell you that. He's been doing this for so long that it's become second nature. I just feel like I'm making it up as I go along, even with the outline he gave me. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't enjoying it overall, though. It's difficult, but if the end result is more Praetorians to watch our backs then it will have been worth it. Gods know we're going to need them once Cervidae unleashes its armies on us."

"Ain't that the damned truth," Rimeberry said with a mouthful of greens.

"And here I thought were on the precipice of ending this war. Fucking redtail."

By now, word of the impending conflict had spread far and wide, especially among the military ranks. If there was any good news to be had, it was that Whitetail had no standing army to speak of after its war with Equestria, meaning it would be of little to not threat on its own, and the Nightmare Moon followers had all but vanished in the wake of Elinwynn's purge of her one-time pawns.

Those things paled in comparison to the mass of soldiers the Cervidaen Hegemony could throw at Equestria, and everyone knew it. Tercio had heard his fair share of desperate ideas tossed around by the others -- calling out to Skytalon to bring the griffons in, sending caravans to Saddle Arabia in the hopes that help may arrive in the coming months. Some even suggested unleashing the demigod of chaos from his stone tomb. He doubted anyone truly thought such a thing would be viable, but desperation was a powerful drug that could cloud the mind if one let it.

"We'll get through this, Rime," he reassured his friend. "We always have. Everyone thought we were weak before we stomped the whitetail into the mud."

"Yeah, but now we've got an army of fresh redtail just chomping at the bit to burn their way through us. Cervidae is a big place, you know? If anyone has experience conquering its neighbors, it's them."

"We'll find a way."

"I hope so. I don't fancy the idea of being a slave to a bunch of prick-headed deer."

Tercio returned to his duty scrolls as he picked through a plate of fruit. The new recruits were on an accelerated training program, expected to be combat ready in three weeks instead of six. It would be the same all across Equestria, with the call for volunteers going out like never before. Conscription wasn't out of the question, though Celestia had been hesitant to take that step just yet. Equestria hadn't faced a full-on conscription in hundreds of years, and doing so would be a last resort. For now, rapidly training new soldiers would be the norm.

"So, uh, Tercio," Rimeberry asked after looking around.

"Yes?" Tercio replied, still flipping through his planner. After the mid-day meal there would be a short lesson on the history of the Praetorian Guard, followed by sparring in the combat ring and a primer on small-unit movement. The latter would be especially important, as it focused entirely on forming a protective barrier between the princess and anyone who might attack her. He made a mental note to be extra unforgiving to the poor bastards for that one. They'd probably hate him for it, but they'd learn.

"I was wondering what you've been up to lately. Haven't seen you around the barracks much. You didn't go and get married or something, did you? I know how much you like those pegasus mares down on Sore Saddle, heh heh."

Tercio chuckled at the thought. "No, nothing like that. Probably wouldn't be a bad idea, though. At least then I could move into an actual home instead of sharing a room with the likes of you lot. Especially you, Rime. I swear, you snore like you're cutting through an entire forest."

"Hey, at least I get my rest."

"To the detriment of everyone else."

"That just means I'll be taking the Imperator spot from you all the sooner. Been my plan all along. But seriously, Tercio, some of the others are getting a little...uh, how do I say this...a little concerned that you're getting preferential treatment from Celestia lately. Winter Wind thinks you've worked out some sort of deal with her to keep that chamber guard position for so many nights a week." Now he had Tercio's attention. "I mean, I'm not one to spread that kind of bullshit around, but we hardly ever see you anymore. Something up?"

Tercio had to be very careful with what he said. At the same time he tried to hide his surprise, lest he make it obvious that he didn't like where this particular line of questioning was going.

"You think guarding a door while the rest of Equestria is asleep is some sort of privilege? Let me tell you something, Rimeberry: despite being chosen to be a glorified hall watcher, I still have to carry out my duties as an Imperator-in-training. That means very little in the way of sleep on most nights, and if you think such a thing is easy then you are more than welcome to try it for yourself. Believe me when I say I would prefer to go back to the regular day shift. Such a thing is not up to me to decide, however, and as a faithful servant of the princess I will do as she asks. You can tell the others that I appreciate their concern, but I am quite alright."

He hoped it sounded convincing. It was true that he'd been gone several nights in the last week, and he supposed it was only a matter of time until someone brought it up. Thankfully it was Rimeberry who had done so, rather than one of the more aggressive members of the barracks.

"If you say so. Don't mean to pry or anything, just gotta make sure we're all on the same page here. Can't have any doubts if shit takes a turn for the worse again."

"I'll be fine. You should be concerned about the new recruits, not me." He placed the stack of scrolls into a satchel and tossed it over his shoulder. "Do me a favor and help Thunderburst keep them occupied until their meal time. I need to deliver these reports, else Stonewall will have my head."

***

"Afternoon, Tercio. Busy day?" Decanus-Signifier Straesius rendered a crisp salute, a formality that was only followed due to their differences in service. Straesius was one of the Royal Guard ponies that had been chosen to perform what was normally the job of the Praetorians: protecting the entrance to the palace's royal quarters. Nearly all of the Praetorians were busy with an intensive three-day training regimen, which included most of Tercio's barracks. The remaining few, like himself, were looking after the new hopefuls.

"To say the least," Tercio answered, tucking his bag under his arm as he returned the salute. "We've having to expedite training for the recruits, and we're sort of making it up as we go along. I don't think anyone expected us to have to gather ourselves so quickly. Cervidae has made a complete mess of things before they've even attacked us." He patted the satchel full of scrolls. "Delivery for the princess. Is she with anyone at the moment?"

"Not that I know of. Go on through." Straesius stepped to the side to allow Tercio to pass.

Tercio's hobnailed marching sandals clicked on the marble floor as he carried on down the hallway, stopping in front of the sun-emblazoned doors. He knocked thrice, then waited.

"Just a moment," came Celestia's muffled voice. She opened the door with a practiced smile, which turned genuine as she saw him standing before her. "Ah, Centurion Tercio. What brings you by my chambers?"

"Delivery for you, Princess," he answered in his most professional tone, presenting the satchel. "I believe you were expecting these?"

"That I was, thank you. Please, come in."

The door closed behind him, and he relaxed once more as the crackling fireplace warmed his cold legs. "You know," he said, placing his arms around her, "you're far too good at that. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were expecting me to show up. Am I that predictable?"

"Perhaps..." she teased. Their lips met in a passionate kiss as Tercio tossed the satchel onto the table with one arm and he backed her into the wall, delighting her with a string of kisses down her neck. She giggled quietly and pulled away. "It seems I simply can't be rid of you, my love. And here I thought it would be yet another day of quiet contemplation and boredom."

"We can still keep it quiet, I'll simply have to not be as rigorous as I usually am..."

"That's one way to describe it, I suppose. I doubt anyone could fault you for your...stamina. One of the perks of being a soldier?" Celestia leaned in for one more kiss, then returned to the pile of pillows at the opposite end of the room, making a show of swaying her hind quarters as she did. "Keep that motivation for later, hmm?"

Tercio took a deep breath to calm himself, then followed to sit opposite her at a low table. "You do not make it easy sometimes, Celestia. It's a wonder I can focus on training these new recruits at all." A pair of cups floated over, and were promptly filled with steaming tea. "Though I must say, of all the problems to have, that's quite the good one."

Powdery flakes drifted past the colored glass of the balcony doors, the first signs of snow in nearly a week. From the warmth and comfort of Celestia's room, it was easy to forget that there were thousands of Equestria's finest freezing in their tents, awaiting the inevitable war with Cervidae.

His was a place of privilege in more ways than one, something he sometimes regretted being a part of. Some ponies in the Guard called him a hero for slaying the assassin that nearly took Celestia's life, yet it was Victus who had to put himself at risk every moment of the day. It was never a bad idea to take a moment and remind himself that things could be far worse.

"So, Imperator-in-training, how are you finding the Praetorian hopefuls?" Celestia's voice brought him back, and he sipped his tea as he gathered his thoughts. This was his station in life, and he was sure many of the rank and file would have given anything to be in his position. He had earned his place at Celestia's side, after all.

"Equal parts eager and terrified, I think," he answered. "Strange to think I was in their position not too long ago. Overall I'm impressed with the caliber of recruits we've managed to pull from the Equestrian and Royal Guard ranks. Many of them are combat veterans in their own right. A pegasus from the 34th Lances -- Milites Skyfall -- has thus far shown himself to be utterly committed to his tasks. I'm considering making him the leader of his contubernium to see how he handles a leadership role. Thunderburst says he reminds him of himself. Take that as you will."

"Oh dear," Celestia laughed to herself. "As long as he isn't quite so spirited in his objections as Thunderburst used to be, I think he could be a good fit. I leave it to you to decide his place."

"As you wish. Whenever Stonewall returns from town he may just be surprised. I don't think we had as many exceptional recruits when I was going through training. Must be the war with Whitetail that's pushed so many good stallions to the top.

"Speaking of unfortunate things, have you any news of possible allies in the coming war? Surely the other nations must see that her demands are impossible to meet, nevermind that they are based entirely upon lies."

"Nothing definitive, I'm afraid." Celestia tilted her head toward a stack of scrolls bound with ribbon and stamped with the royal seal. "This will be the third round of pleas to our neighbors in as many days. The Griffon Empire isn't convinced that Elinwynn will actually carry through on her threats; they believe her to be bluffing to buy a better position at the negotiation table. Zevran has been silent thus far, but they've never been ones to act quickly. Not really in their nature. There is some hope that Saddle Arabia could help us, but even our fastest flyers take three days to get there. If we do hear back from them, it won't be until just before the war with Cervidae starts, and sadly I've no real reason to believe they would help anyway."

"So we're alone in this fight?"

"Not entirely. Over the last several months we've had defectors from Whitetail trickle into our captivity. They were disenfranchised with their government to begin with, but now that Elinwynn has taken control of Evinwiir, and thus Whitetail, they are asking to fight alongside us to reclaim their homes."

Tercio raised an eyebrow. "So our only allies are the deer who have been trying to kill us?"

"I know how it sounds, but most of them wanted no part of the war to begin with. The senator who turned himself over to the Legion, Senator Praxilus, I think, has been instrumental in convincing those deserters to side with Equestria. Between the whitetail soldiers and the volunteers from the civilians who escaped from Evinwiir, we're looking at an additional force of nearly five hundred. It is a small number in the grand scheme of things, but every little bit helps."

"We're going to need a lot more than that if we're to defeat the redtail. If rumors of their numbers are true..." An uneasy silence hung in the air. No one wanted this war, least of all the battle-weary soldiers who had been fighting tooth and nail for the better part of a year.

"So, I thought you might want to be aware of something," he said, changing the subject. "It's Rimeberry. He's becoming suspicious of our time together."

"Is he now?" Celestia asked. There was no real surprise in her voice, something Tercio found strangely alarming. "What makes you say that?"

"Just before I came here he said that some of the others think I'm getting 'preferential treatment' from you. The way he said it, it was obvious he had the same idea. Normally I'd just ignore such a thing, but with many of us working together to train these recruits I don't want there to be any mistrust. Yet at the same time, well...I don't want to stop seeing you as frequently as I have been. You are the high point of my day, the motivation that keeps me going in the roughest of times. There has to be some way to balance the two."

Celestia placed her cup down and adjusted her position on the pillows. When she spoke, it was plainly and to the point. "Tercio, my love, I think it's about time we stop hiding our feelings for one another from the rest of Equestria." Tercio began to speak, and she stuck out a hoof to stop him. "Ah-ah! Now, please understand, I say this knowing full well what your objections will be: you are worried that your friends and compatriots in the Praetorian Guard will turn their backs on you for 'betraying' the almost religious reverence that the Praetorians as a whole have for their duty to me. You are worried that no one will look up to you as a leader if they think you are getting some sort of leniency from your relationship. And you are worried that your being with me will somehow lessen my authority in some way.

"I've thought about this for many an hour as we share our moments together, or when you are asleep beside me, and in that time I have come to one simple truth: it does not matter what anyone else thinks. I am the sovereign of Equestria, a pony who has ruled for hundreds of years and will continue to rule for thousands more, fates willing. It is my tireless devotion to Equestria that has kept us prosperous and safe for so long, and without Luna at my side I am tasked with twice as much as I used to be. To be quite honest with you, I have earned my right to be happy. I love you, Tercio, and if a few ponies wish to despise me for wanting to live something resembling a normal life, then so be it."

Tercio sat in shocked silence. He hadn't expected her to be so...blunt. For all of the objections he might have had, he could find no fault in her logic. She wasn't some demigoddess from on high, like he'd viewed her for nearly the entirety of his life; she was a mare who laughed and angered, loved and wept, just like anyone else.

"It will not be so easy to explain to the others," he said at last. "I don't have a way with words quite the same as you do."

"Then don't," Celestia said with conviction. "It is, simply put, none of their business. Stonewall has known about us for some time, yet he still believed you to be a good candidate for Imperator training. Similarly, you have earned your place among your fellow Praetorians through your actions, both as a soldier and as a friend. I do not believe them to be so petty as to throw away everything they've learned simply because you and I share something special. They do not know you as I do. They do not truly know me. It is time we stopped pretending."

***

Alone on her balcony, far above the silent streets of Evinwiir, Empress Elinwynn sipped at her mulled wine with a contented sigh. Countless stars twinkled above her in the clear, moonless night sky, and she recounted the constellations that had been taught to her by her beloved mother so many years ago: Arindale, the Farmer. Bel'ethraes, the Lover. Talawyyn, the Warrior Doe of the Great Tundra. Dozens in total. They were as familiar to her now as they were when she was but a child. From south to north they painted the story of Cerivdae's most storied lives, fittingly ending with Gylld'oris, the Champion, just above the horizon. His mighty blade pointed downward to the great gash that had been torn into Evinwiir's facade by Corvalix's cunning misdirection. The roaring, emerald flames had taken weeks to die down, leaving a ruined hollow that had slowly begun to fill with rubble and a slurry of frozen snowfall.

Light winds rustled the banners of Cervidae and Whitetail that now flew from the top of the crystal and marble spire at the heart of the city. For the first time in centuries, the two nations were one again in all but name. Once divided by hatred and animosity, deerkind could now begin to heal its old wounds and take its rightful place as the leaders of this world, and they had her to thank for it, even if some of them did not know it yet. There were some who resisted, of course -- change never came easily, and there would always be those who fear it -- but the decisive sweep of the city by her brother's loyal soldiers had seen to that particular bit of unpleasantness. With Evinwiir firmly within her control, the rest of Whitetail would follow suit in short order. She would bring proper civilization to the whitetail, even if she had to drag them into it kicking and screaming.

It would have been difficult to convey her pride, her utter exultation, at what she'd accomplished in such a short time. She swirled the drink in her crystal chalice. Vindication. That was how she'd describe it. Vindication for all of the wrongs committed against her people; the centuries of struggle, the constant battle to keep Cervidae's head above the water lest it slip beneath the tide of war and corruption that had so plagued its neighbors. For nearly a dozen generations her homeland had been the victim of the status quo, ruled with an iron hoof by empresses who had never sacrificed a single moment of their lives to the consideration of their subjects. That had all come crashing down once her mother took control.

Melanynn, the Illustrious Reformer. It was a title that brought a smile to Elinwynn's face every time she thought about it. Her mother had always scoffed at the title, calling it too grandiose, but if you had asked any of her subjects they would have told you the same thing: she had earned it. It had taken Empress Melanynn mere decades to unite the fractured territories of the Cervidaen Hegemony, a task so monumental that previous rulers had called it a near impossibility. Through sheer determination and skill of negotiation she had made Cervidae stronger than ever, and those that could not be reasoned with had been put to the blade to the very last. For the first time in ages, the redtail had a common purpose.

Unfortunately, the fates did not remain kind to her. Stricken by disease when Elinwynn was but a young adult, the great Empress Melanynn had passed away on a cold winter's night, leaving the throne to her two children, with a trusted uncle as an advisor. By a small miracle Cervidae remained stable, but as time marched onward it became clear to Elinwynn and Corvalix that their uncle was a jealous, petty stag who looked upon the throne with envious eyes.

And so Elinwynn had him murdered on a forest outing, a paid assassin slitting his throat while he slept. It was the first time she'd ordered the taking of a life, but it would not be the last.

Elinwynn wondered how she would be remembered, what soaring titles and honorifics would proceed her name. The unification of Cervidae had garnered great respect for her mother, but the ultimate goal of bringing the whitetail back into the fold had eluded even her. Now, as she looked down upon the slumbering whitetail below, Elinwynn hoped her mother would have been proud. Lives had been lost, certainly, and the process would have been viewed as unscrupulous to much of the known world, but the ends justified the means. Whitetail and redtail were reunited, soon to be under one nation, and with it, centuries of bad blood would simply vanish into the annals of history.

Only one more obstacle stood between the greater Cervidaen Hegemony and its rightful place as the supreme power in the land: Equestria. The damnable ponies had been steadfast in their resistance to Cervidae's expansion since the two peoples had first met, even as they hypocritically pushed their own nation's borders eastward through the untamed wilds and down to the Sea of Lights. Their long-lived rulers were worshiped as living deities by some, but every deer who had held a place of power knew them as self-righteous and egotistical.

Celestia was no different. Hundreds of years had given her the practiced facade of an all-knowing, all-merciful ruler, but without Luna at her side she was a barely held-together mess of false modesty and feigned innocence, willfully ignorant of her own role in the continued destabilization of the deer.

No longer. Her time would come, and only once Celestia submitted to her will would the injustices of history be righted at last.

57 - Vetus Odium

"Come on, Tia! Let's go already!"

A young and eager Luna tugged at Celestia's foreleg, giggling with a gap-toothed smile as her sister trotted behind her. Everfree Castle grew steadily more distant behind them while the seemingly endless forest stretched out ahead. Barren trees sprouted leaves and beautiful flowers with every step, and the swirling sky rippled with shifting bands of color as the sun and moon circled one another like exquisite dancers.

A butterfly settled between Celestia's hooves, fluttering its glowing wings before disappearing into a small stream of lights. She looked back up, and the forest had become a cave full of towering crystals that shimmered with ancient magic.

"What do you think it is?" Luna asked her with the curious sincerity of a child. A tap of her hoof sent a pleasing tone, like a bronze bell, echoing through the cavern. "Try it!"

Carefully she reached out and touched it, the almost musical note causing the crystal to radiate with deep blues and purples. In an instant the sound became a shrill scream, so loud and horrible that she clapped her hooves over her ears, adding her own shout of terror to its deafening madness. Her vision shook, trembling with her body.

Then, just as abruptly, it ended. Now she was floating over a field of bodies, great flocks of carrion birds squawking in whirlwinds of feathers and bloodied beaks. Shattered pegasi fell all around her, plunging through the clouds, piling on top of dead earth ponies and unicorns. She screamed for Luna, called out to her with a voice that seemed no more than a whisper. A towering wave of ink-black darkness roared over the mountains, rushing over the land with impossible speed. Desperate, she yelled for her sister. Her wings moved agonizingly slowly, barely pushing her through the air. The black mass overcame her all at once, poured into her body, ripped at her from inside and out. She sank into its depths, silently judged by the dead, unblinking eyes of her people. In her last glimpse of sunlight, a sea of deer galloped by as shadowy silhouettes against a burning sky. Twisting and turning she was set upon by a formless creature of glinting armor, wrapping her in its embrace. Nightmare Moon flashed a predatory grin, and bit down with teeth like daggers of ice.

And yet...there was no pain. The corrupted monster her sister had become dissolved into dark flecks that drifted away on a silent wind, leaving only a pristine vision of the Sea of Lights in all of its grandeur.

"One day, perhaps soon, this wondrous place will be yours, from the mountains to the ocean." Celestia turned at the sound of her father's voice, so commanding and powerful, yet understanding and comforting. He stood upon a sea-slicked rock at the water's edge, his ethereral mane of midnight dotted with stars flowing behind him in the breeze. "When the day comes that we are no longer here, you will be the shepherds of this great nation. Its people will look to you for wisdom, for protection -- and above all, for leadership. You will see countless generations of ponies you care about come and go, and in time you may grow to resent your stead. But know this, my most precious daughters: you are Equestria's very heart and soul, and so long as you remain strong, so too shall it."

Her mother smiled at his side, her vibrant mane of orange and pink faded by time. The sky lit up with the wondrous display of the winter lights, casting a warm glow over them both. When she spoke, her voice was as soft as silk.

"Keep each other close, for yours is a love that few will ever know. Together, you will be the foundation upon which all of the world is built." She bent down and nuzzled Luna's face, then kissed her cheek gently. "Be strong, my wonderful girls. Rule with your hearts and your minds, and Equestria will persevere."

At that very moment, Celestia wanted to be with them more than ever. She galloped as fast as her legs would carry her, reaching out for her parents and her sister. They faded from her with every passing breath, and she called out with tears streaming down her face.

"Mother! Father! Please don't leave me alone!"

Luna stared at her through sad eyes, slowly turning away to become one with the vast expanse of nothingness.

"Luna! LUNA!"

***

"New message from the 17th Equestrian Guard, they're headed south to meet up with the 9th!"

"22nd as well!"

"41st Legion has been reassigned to the northwestern border expanse, but the terrain is difficult. They're requesting additional supplies, Your Highness!"

"The joint Royal Guard and Praetorian unit near Marestopholous has been halted by a crowd of deer sympathizers! No casualties reported, but the situation is tense. They need orders to proceed!"

Canterlot Castle's war room was abuzz with activity, packed to the gills with all manner of military officials from across Equestria. They jostled for Celestia's attention, shouting over each other and passing scrolls between unit commanders in a barely contained flurry of commotion. The war with Cervidae was set to begin in less than two days, and there was currently a mad scramble to make last-minute movements. Thousands of soldiers across many miles were relying on timely orders, but even with the fastest pegasi and most powerful unicorns those orders could only get to their destinations so quickly.

Celestia was signing off on scrolls as fast as she could, but each and every one had to be looked over by her retinue of advisers from the nation's four military branches who, in turn, were frantically updating a large table map with unit markers. One mistake could result in the loss of countless lives, and so every movement was checked and double checked.

"The bulk of our forces are abandoning their siege positions outside Evinwiir at your order, Princess! General Phalanx will notify us as soon as they've reformed at Quillyyn Keep!" General Hoplon, the second-in-command for the Equestrian Guard, had to nearly yell to be heard.

"Make sure they meet up with the 24th Legion, we're going to need all of the scouts we can get," Celestia said as a trio of missives floated before her. They were signed in short order, then passed back to the appropriate stallions. Beads of sweat formed on her brow, and she took a brief pause to sip from her cup of water. It was a wonder, she thought, that she was able to keep up at all. Nothing had been this trying since the first days of the war with Whitetail, but at least that particular conflict had had the decency to keep things more or less manageable. If the reports from the scouting parties were to be believed, Cervidae's army was at least double the size of Equestria's. This was especially true for the area immediately surrounding Evinwiir, where anywhere from six to eight thousand redtail were massing for the first battle. Forcing the enemy to fight them at the former Whitetail stronghold would bottleneck any deer reinforcements that might come in after the initial assault, her generals had informed her.

It had not been an easy decision to abandon their long-held encampment, for it would doubtlessly be considered a victory for the citizens of Whitetail. The end of the siege would be viewed as the doing of Elinwynn and her "cooperative" rule with the puppet chancellor, a sign that the joint Cervidae-Whitetail reformation was the right path all along. Their morale would be bolstered, a strong start to the new war, yet trying to hold the hills around Evinwiir would have been tantamount to suicide. It was a good place to bombard the walls, but it was far too open to being flanked. Thus, the majority of Equestria's military might had fallen back to a more defensible position. There wasn't much left of Quillyyn Keep, but there was enough for their purposes.

Feeling decidedly claustrophobic and stressed, Celestia stood and stomped thrice to get everyone's attention. The room quickly fell to silence.

"I realize this is a trying time, but for everyone's sake I feel it would be best if we reconvene after a short break. It is much too chaotic in here to get anything done in a timely manner. I am sure many of you would agree. Please, take some time to have a meal and refocus your thoughts. We will meet back here in half an hour, understood?" She pointed to a nearby water clock for emphasis, its rearing alicorn statuette marking the time as just past nine.

"Yes, Princess," they answered as one.

"Very well. Thank you all for everything you've done to keep Equestria safe. I will see you shortly." She waited for the crowd to disperse, then took a deep breath and trotted into the hallway, where a small retinue of guards waited for her. "That goes for all of you as well. Please feel free to visit the kitchen and order something to eat."

Tercio nodded to his comrades. "You go, lads. I'll stay here with the princess."

"Thank you," Celestia said politely. The other Praetorians saluted and headed down the hall, talking among themselves. "Would you mind following me to the garden? It's quite a beautiful day out."

"As you wish. I am here to serve, Your Highness."

After spending most of the day confined to a cramped room, the open air and warm sunlight was exactly what she needed. It was still just a bit cold, but not uncomfortably so. Clear days were rare during this time of year, and she intended to enjoy it.

"Are you all right?" Tercio asked her once they were free of prying eyes and ears.

"I will be. There's so much going on, so much to think about, and it seems like every time I look away there's another scroll being shoved in my face or another group of unit commanders pushing each other to vie for my attention. It's almost maddening at times." The early day's sun renewed her energy and cleared her mind, giving new life to her flowing mane and tail as it sparkled like polished diamonds. Even now she exuded an aura of beauty and radiance, a flawless facade that hid the trepidation within. "Tonight is going to be sleepless, I fear. In my worst nightmares I would have never imagined that my nation, my people, my friends, would be thrown into two wars in such a short span of time. There's already been so much senseless death and destruction, and just when I thought it might be coming to an end, Elinwynn steps in and starts it anew. If I had known she was such a vile snake of a doe I would have never invited her to the castle in the first place."

Her lip began to quiver, and tears welled in her eyes. She would have never let anyone else see her cry, yet even with someone she loved at her side she felt as if she would somehow be failing her duties if she broke down. "I wish Luna were here," she said in a shaky voice. "Even in my dreams I am alone..."

Tercio set his spear and shield down and embraced her. "It's all right, my love. You're not alone -- you have me. I'm not going anywhere."

She sniffled and pulled back, wiping her eyes. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you too. First my family, then the man I love...you mean so much to me, Tercio. When I'm with you I feel like...like more than myself. You give me a reason to wake up every morning."

"And I very much feel the same about you," he answered with a comforting smile. "So long as I have any say in it, we will be together even if it means I have to carve my way through the entire deer army myself. The gods themselves couldn't keep us apart if they tried." Picking his equipment back up, he fell in at her side as she continued along the winding path through the evergreens and magical winter plants.

"Do you know my greatest fear, Tercio? I fear that I am not doing enough to see Equestria through its time of need. Sometimes I imagine myself standing at the base of the castle as it burns around me, wondering what I could have done to prevent it, second guessing every decision and waking moment."

"I'd say you've done an admirable job keeping us going. Our military had not had an open conflict in many years, yet we showed the whitetail that were strong and capable. We will do the same to the redtail, and it will be thanks to your leadership."

"I want to believe that, truly I do, but the Cervidaens are unlike anything we've faced before. Their numbers are vast, and Elinwynn has complete control over her people." A deep disgust came over her at the mere mention of the name. "Elinwynn. I have never liked her, or anyone else in her lineage to be completely honest. At least her mother had some common sense."

"I get the impression that no-one particularly cares for her demeanor," Tercio added.

"To say the least! Emperor Galdron, Elder Mwolan'e, King Haajial...they've all openly expressed their disdain for her dismissive, holier-than-thou attitude over the years. Even the late Chancellor Artellus couldn't stand her. I'd always tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, despite my personal biases; looks like the others were right to be weary of her."

"And yet they will not send soldiers to help..."

"So it would seem. I cannot say I blame them for not wanting to get involved, but I know what will happen if Equestria falls to the Cervidaens. Elinwynn will not stop with us, she is far too aggressive."

"You say it so plainly. I can only hope the others come around before it is too late." They came to a small bridge over a stream, the source of the garden's water supply, pulled up from deep within the mountain. Its banks were lined with thin sheets of crystal-clear ice that were slowly melting in the warmth of the mid-morning sun. Cold water babbled over smooth stones and fed into a small pond, its surface partially obscured by the previous day's snowfall. Tercio placed his arm around her, leaning into her gentle touch as they enjoyed a quiet moment together. "I know not what the coming days have in store for us, but I will be at your side no matter what. I promise."

***

Another day down, another report due before he could get any sleep. Under the light of a nearby torch Tercio pored over his notes for the most pertinent information to pass along, quill in hand. Milites Skyfall was still doing an admirable job of leading his fellow recruits, having proven himself as someone who responded to situations quickly and decisively. Stonewall had taken notice of him as well, and had made sure to be particularly rough in the hopes of seeing what the young pegasus was truly capable of.

Then there was Milites Sicarius, an earth pony from the east and a veteran of the opening battle against Whitetail. He was brash and tended to be confrontational, but his skill with sword and board was second to none. Thunderburst and Rimeberry had been hammering down on him to bring him in line, and were making slow progress, but it was a difficult prospect at times.

New requests for training supplies, updates on injuries or sickness, suggestions for individual training sessions -- all of it had to be ordered and jotted down to be added to the stack of scrolls that meticulously kept track of all goings-on in the Praetorian ranks.

He stretched and yawned as the long hours caught up with him. He was free of night shift duty for the first time in a week, and though he regretted not being able to see Celestia he was grateful for the opportunity to get a full night's rest. The Praetorians were beginning to trickle in from their posts in ones and twos, tired and worn out to the last. For some, a trip to the bath house would be in order, a chance to relax after a trying day. For others, their beds were the only things they could think of.

"Evenin', Tercio," Windlass said as he trotted by, his helm kept against his side.

"Windlass."

The young Praetorian, one of the newer inductees, set his things down on his cot and set to work removing the various pieces of armor from his body. It was a long process, even for someone used to doing it day in and day out. He struggled with the straps and buckles, swearing at a stubborn bit of foreleg armor.

"Have you spoken with Thunderburst lately? I think he's looking for you."

Tercio shook his head. "Can't say I have. Any idea what he wants?"

"Sorry, no. He's pulling hall duty for another couple of hours near the throne room, if you wish to find him."

"It's always something with him. New recruit troubles, I'd be willing to bet."

Windlass laughed at the thought. "Wouldn't surprise me. He's got the dogs thinking he's from the nine hells, that I can guarantee you. Him and Rimeberry both, matter of fact. Rimeberry, of all ponies!"

"I didn't think he had it in him. He's usually so quiet, you know? Maybe he should stick with Thunderburst more often, we'd have these recruits whipped into shape in no time." Tercio gave a once-over to the scroll to make sure nothing had been neglected, then rolled it up and bound it with a short length of purple ribbon. "You headed to the baths with some of the others?"

"I might be," Windlass shrugged, "provided I can ever get these damned greaves off."

"Best of luck, then."

"Yeah, thanks..."

He called out as he left the room. "Try pulling it toward you and lifting!" The sound of a latch falling free followed him down the hall.

The Praetorian barracks hall led to an open air path that curved around the western side of the castle. Patches of snow dotted the ground, a far cry from the nearly knee-deep powder he'd trudged through only a week ago. From there, it was a short walk to the guarded side entrance, then past the senior officers' quarters. Aside from a few ponies going about their business the area was relatively quiet, with the crackling of torches serving as the only compliment to the echoing of Tercio's marching sandals on the marble floor.

"I thought you had the night off," Cloudtop said as Tercio approached the doors to the throne room. The metal of his wing-blades clacked against each other as he stretched.

"I do, but I'm looking for Thunderburst. Is he around?"

"Storage room just down there. He's been in there for a while. Rearranging supplies or some-such, I think."

Tercio thanked him and headed back the way he came, turning right at the intersection that led to the storage area. He knocked on the door frame and stuck his head inside. The air smelled stale, like old parchment and dust. The unmistakable sound of someone dragging and dropping supply barrels and chests came from the far end of the room.

"You back here, Thunderburst?" he called out.

"Tercio?" came a reply. "Yeah, glad you came by. Mind giving me a helping hoof for a moment?"

Floor to ceiling stacks of long-term supplies, a precaution against the possibility of a prolonged siege, formed a maze-like path between himself and Thunderburst, and he had to twist sideways to get through more than one gap. A white tail bobbed from around the corner, accompanied by Thunderburst swearing at a heavy chest.

"Gods above! What is this damned thing filled with, pig iron?" The dark-coated pegasus wiped the sweat from his brow and turned to Tercio. "Think you can help me out? I need to move this next to those wine casks, but I'll be damned if I can actually lift the thing."

Tercio sized it up and nodded. "I think I can do that. Might be able to get it myself." With a grunt of exertion he hefted the chest, his muscles straining against the weight, and set it down on top of a thick stack of wooden boards. "Right, that wasn't so bad. Is there anything else you--"

As he turned around he was roughly shoved against the wall, nearly stumbling over a pile of small crates. Thunderburst hovered in front of him, his armored hooves pressed into Tercio's chest hard enough to be painful. He stared down Tercio with disgust and anger, pushing him back once more as he spoke.

"How long, human?"

"What are you--"

"How long have you been fucking the princess?!"

Tercio flushed with dread. "Thunderburst, I have no idea what you're--"

"Don't fucking lie to me!" A hoof slammed into the wall next to his head. "I saw you with her in the garden. You know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you? I see it in your eyes. What, did you think no one would notice? I've had my suspicions for some time; the constant night shifts, the repeated requests for you to serve as her sole guard, the favor she's shown you for months on end. Everything I'd suspected was proven true the moment I saw you embrace her like only a lover would."

It had finally happened. Someone had found out about them, someone who was not the understanding sort like Stonewall or Mended Heart. Of all the ponies, it had to be Thunderburst. Tercio cursed his luck. Cautiously he moved the irate Praetorian's wooden foreleg replacement out of the way, feeling the sting where it had left a bruise on his chest.

"Look, Thunderburst...I am not going to deny it, for I see no point in doing so. Yes, the princess and I are in a relationship, and have been for a short while now. Perhaps a few months at most. Is that what you want to hear?"

Thunderburst stumbled over his words and swore in frustration.

"This is a betrayal! You took the oath just the same as the rest of us, and you swore on your life that you would protect the princess! Our duty is to her, to the very idea of what she stands for! We are supposed to be impartial to everything outside of her well-being! She is our very reason for serving!"

"She still is, and always will be," Tercio said calmly. "I am no less of a Praetorian for being intimate with her."

Thunderburst laughed in disbelief. "You would claim to be no different from the rest of us when you've buried your cock in her, like she's some common street mare? You disgust me, and soon everyone will know the truth. You are unfit to call yourself 'Praetorian'!"

A welling of anger surged within Tercio, and he shoved Thunderburst away from him.

"I am unfit?! When I fought against the whitetail who sought to slaughter us, was I unfit then? When I suffered terrible injuries protecting the throne room, was I unfit then? When I saved your very life from the assassin while you hobbled away with a bleeding stump where your foreleg had been, was I unfit then?" He stepped toward Thunderburst until he was mere inches from his face. "I have given everything that has been asked of me and more! Despite everything that has stood in my way as the only one of my kind, despite battling against a dark magic I could not even begin to describe, and despite the words of ponies like you who would deride me for my choices, I am still here! I have earned my right to call myself a Praetorian, and nothing you can say will ever take that from me!" When Thunderburst didn't immediately answer, he stepped back and took a moment to calm himself.

"You may think of me what you wish, but I love her. Celestia is far more than I could have ever hoped for, and probably more than I deserve. I did not force her to be with me. It was entirely of her own choosing, and I would say she has earned the right to find some modicum of comfort and happiness in these terrible times. If you truly care about her well-being you will not look down upon either of us for it."

"It's not that simple," Thunderburst objected.

"It is that simple, my friend. Celestia is not a deity, nor someone wholly unconcerned with the same things as the rest of us. She may be more capable than any of us and far longer-lived, but she is still a pony. With the renewed war and without Luna here to be her anchor, she faces stress unimaginable to anyone else. I will do everything in my power to keep her safe and happy, no matter the situation." Tercio shrugged. "If you cannot understand such a thing, then nothing I can say will change your mind."

Thunderburst dropped to his hooves, folding his wings back against his side, and fumed as he considered Tercio's words.

"Do you know what will happen if everyone hears about this? Your precious Imperator training will be but a memory."

Tercio narrowed his brow. "Is that a threat?"

"Not a threat -- an inevitability."

"Do you really think you're the only one who knows about us?" he asked in amusement. "Mended Heart has known about the princess' attraction since before even I did. Stonewall not only knows of our relationship, but encourages it! In fact, he knew before I was ever considered to enter senior officer training." It was enough to make Thunderburst lift a surprised foreleg, a move Tercio considered a satisfying victory to behold. He bent down so they were eye level with one another. "Still think my career is in jeopardy? Go ahead, tell our brothers. Tell the fucking entirety of Canterlot for all I care. My actions as part of the Praetorian Guard speak for themselves. I would follow all of you into the depths of the nine hells themselves if that was what was asked of me, and everyone knows it." He stood back up and pushed his way past. "Do what you will, Decanus Thunderburst."

***

Everyone had their own way of dealing with the stress of impending warfare. Some retreated into drink and excess, spending their hard-earned darics with the knowledge that it might be their very last night on this earth. Others wrote letters to family and friends, to lovers past or present, intending to leave nothing unsaid should the worst come to pass.

For Corvalix, his ritual was simple. Just before sunset he would gather his weapons and armor out on the balcony, arranging them neatly before him on a long table. Helm, neck guard, chest plate, pauldrons, foreleg guards, segmented torso armor, hind leg guards, quinn-blade and shield -- from one end to another, displayed within easy reach. A decanter of berrywine would be his only companion for the next several hours, its warmth comforting him while the sun set across the hills and gave way to the darkness of night. By the orange glimmer of torch light he would meticulously clean and polish every last piece to a mirror sheen, using the time to reflect on the past and look forward to the future.

An officer must make himself known. He could hear his father's words as he inspected the deep emerald quinndryll that had been marred by combat. The old stag might have been foolish in some ways, a puppet to his far more powerful wife than anything else, but his advice still rang true. Corvalix would blind his enemies with the radiance of Cervidae, and those who fell to his sword would know that they had been bested by a true leader, just as he had been taught.

He smiled briefly at the memory, at the face that faded more with every passing year. If only his parents were around to see their children now, taking the fight to the ponies at long last. Centuries of resentment had brewed within the redtail nation, simmering like a mountain of fire waiting to erupt, and his mother and father had been no different. Who could blame them? Equestria had been instrumental in the division of redtail and whitetail, using the racial divide to split the once powerful land of Orchourus into warring nation-states, so that Equestria would be free to expand unopposed. King Argo, the damnable winged unicorn of old, had always hated having a powerful neighbor to the north. His subservient queen had followed him in lock-step, never questioning his motives -- a trait that had been passed on to Celestia, the maddeningly stubborn 'princess' that had brought so much ruin to Whitetail.

In truth, he had expected Whitetail to fall. Planned on it, even. The flood of disenfranchised and desperate refugees would have drummed up immense sympathy among the people of Cervidae, giving plenty of reason for his sister to declare war and be justified in her actions. It was unfortunate, then, that Celestia had not invaded the capital of Evinwiir properly, choosing a prolonged siege that was almost entirely limited to self-defense while she sought to find some way, any way, of getting Chancellor Vinawyll to negotiate a surrender.

Vinawyll. The coward who dared speak to Elinwynn as if he were an equal in any sense of the word! He had thus far managed to keep his life, for he was still useful in keeping his people in line...for the time being. The recent purge of dissenters and traitors had been swift and unforgiving, winning him no favors except among the most hard-line of war hawks. In his eagerness to appease Elinwynn he had turned his own people against him, conveniently leaving a gap in their hearts and minds that would be filled by the staunch leadership of the empress from across the border who now called Evinwiir her own.

From the false-flag attack on River Run and Artellus' assassination, to the detonation of the aetherflame stockpiles, and now the gradual change of power in Whitetail, Elinwynn's plans had proven to be a masterwork. Even better, they had been carried out nearly flawlessly, and no one was any the wiser.

As he watched the moon rise over the horizon, the cratered image of Celestia's fallen sister burned into its visage, he truly felt contented. Only one obstacle stood between Cervidae and the greatness it deserved: Equestria, the self-serving nation that embodied everything wrong with the world. Soon he would lead his bucks into battle once more, and together they would tear Equestria down, burn it to ashes, and in its place a resurgent deer empire would rise to its rightful glory.

58 - Forewarned

"People of Evinwiir, I bring wondrous news! After months of senseless death and destruction inflicted upon this great city by the Equestrians, the siege of Evinwiir has come to an end! The ponies have retreated at last! Glory to Whitetail, and deerkind everywhere!"

The gathered crowd cheered at the base of the senate chamber's steps, waving green and white flags and tossing festive bundles of winterberry leaves. Chancellor Vinawyll smiled victoriously, surrounded by the surviving senate members who had not proven treasonous to the cause. Empress Elinwynn and Brother-General Corvalix stood nearby, content to let the whitetail have their celebration. Today was to be a day of great import, the first step on the road to redemption for deerkind after it had been humiliated by the ponies. After the unfortunate business of rooting out conspirators, Whitetail needed a good boost of confidence.

"Thank you, my friends. For over half a year we have suffered at the unfeeling, murderous hooves of the Equestrians, from the slaughter of River Run to the fall of Quillyyn Keep and beyond. Many lives have been lost, yet here we stand, stronger than ever. Out of the hatred and barbarous tactics employed against us, we have found something wonderful: hope. Love. Unity! Divided for centuries, our redtail brethren have at last rejoined us!"

Another rallying cry, shouts of adoration. Behind the senators, Brother-General Corvalix ordered his gathered personal guards to salute the crowd. They did so as one, crisp and disciplined.

"Good people of Evinwiir, you are free. Soon you will be able to visit your friends and family all across this great nation of ours. Trade caravans will resume, bringing the bounty of Whitetail to your homes, and we will begin to rebuild all that we have lost.

"How shameful it is that we kept ourselves apart for so long. The so-called wisdom of our forefathers held that our once great peoples were incompatible, merely for our differences in appearance and culture. Families divided by ideology, torn apart and scattered to the far corners of Whitetail and Evinwiir like so much chaff in the wind, lands fought over in an endless back-and-forth of border skirmishes and proxy raids by hired swords.

"No, history has not been kind to us. In the end, it took a costly war to reunite us with our redtail blood, and in some perverse way we have the Equestrians to thank for it. Perhaps soon, should our great nations will it, we will once again become the Ochrourus Collective of old -- rulers of all we survey. But that is a vote for another time. For now, we have but one goal in mind: the defeat of Equestria's oppressive armies, the dethroning of Princess Celestia, and the surrender of Equestria itself! Whitetail and redtail, Guards and Exemplars; we march as one! For victory! For unity! For the glory of deerkind!"

Vinawyll focused his magic and launched a glowing orb into the air. It shot up at fantastic speed, gradually slowed above the highest spire of the capitol building, and burst into streamers of sparkling crystal for all of Evinwiir to see.

"Open the gates!"

Shouted orders echoed his command, and thousands of soldiers responded in kind. Formed into long, narrow columns along the battered wall near the southern gate, the bulk of the joint armies rallied under the roar of reinvigorated veterans eager for revenge. Their cries of "Whyytalia Hwah!" echoed through the streets and alleyways, mixing with the cheers of the crowds, and for a long moment it felt as if the entire city was alive with excitement.

"Your Grace, if you would do the honors?" Vinawyll bowed to Elinwynn, and she smiled back before stepping in front of the masses.

It had been almost too easy at times. A bit of manipulation here, a promise there, and now she had the whitetail practically eating out of her hoof. Had she not been in front of thousands, she might have laughed at the absurdity of it all. Not only did she control the country that had been her family's rival for generations, but she had done so without spilling a drop of blood. Well...beyond what had been necessary, of course. Some misguided fools had stood in her way, for a time. No more.

Clad in elegant robes of her mother's design, with a headpiece crowned with thunderbird feathers, she looked every bit the part of the strong, enigmatic leader she knew she was destined to be. Golden chains swayed and tinkled as she looked over the crowd.

"People of Evinwiir: welcome, and thank you all for coming. Your support has been invaluable, far more than I can ever begin to put into words. Were it not for your dedication, we may very well be sitting atop a pile of rubble at this very moment.

"I have given Princess Celestia every opportunity to bring the murderers who slaughtered our people to justice. I asked merely that she turn them over to us, that we may avoid war entirely. Yet sadly, and perhaps inevitably, she has failed to do so. It would seem she wishes to see her nation burn before she will admit to being wrong, and for that there can be only one solution: we will march into Canterlot, arrest her, and bring her forth to speak for her crimes against deerkind!" When she next spoke her voice boomed like a thunderstorm, carrying across the city in the commanding voice of her foremothers. "Soldiers of justice and righteousness, of Cervidae and Whitetail alike: FORWARD!"

***

"Well fuck me sideways. Looks like the redtail weren't bluffing after all."

From a place of concealment among the evergreen treetops, Battle-Master Gilias watched a seemingly endless formation of deer march out from the grand gates, row after row, banners of Cervidae and Whitetail held high on flag poles. The rank and file whitetail appeared to be at the front, likely to serve as fodder, while the Cervidaen Regulars made up the bulk of the formation. They wore darker quinndryll armor than the others, the color of damp moss, and to the last they carried segmented shields decorated with the insignia of their units.

Officers with colored sashes kept pace alongside each group of roughly one hundred deer, barking orders and relaying messages from the others. Occasionally, a doe in sapphire blue armor would bring up the rear of a formation -- the vaunted Imperial Protectorate, if Gilias knew her enemy. She hoped her cover was sufficient, as she was not eager to get into yet another battle with someone who could fry her with a bolt of raw energy. She'd had quite enough of that at the Midlands camp.

Beside her, Victus cautiously moved a branch to get a better view. He lacked his usual armor, opting instead for a winter garment that matched his white coat. Speed, not armor plating, would save him if he had to run. "I've not seen such a display of power since the battle of Everfree. Is there no end to their number?"

"Cervidae isn't fucking around. I think they've learned not to underestimate your kind after you destroyed the whitetails' capability to fight."

A brief pause, followed by yet more deer streaming out into the wilderness. With them came a long line of swing-arm siege weapons, carts filled with pots of emerald flame, and hundreds of archers. "How many do you estimate in total? Five thousand? Six?"

Gilias shrugged. "Something like that. The scouts from the 19th Equestrian estimated their number could exceed ten thousand. If those tree rutters keep pouring through the gate like this, ten thousand could be an easily reachable number." She turned to him. "I hope your princess can pull another army from her magical ass, else this could be a short war."

"We'll figure something out. The stallions at Quillyyn Keep are prepared for a numerically superior enemy. We'll funnel them into a kill zone," Victus motioned with his hooves, then brought them together, "and when the time is right, pegasus flanking squads will rush in from the side and cleave through them with quick strikes. That's the plan, anyway."

Gilias gave a sound like a low squawk, the griffon equivalent of a dismissive laugh. "You know how plans tend to work out. I hope they've got a backup ready for when it inevitably falls apart."

A new formation marched into view, forming a protective wedge around the gates. They stood at rigid attention, each wearing the cross-shoulder sash and split cloak of Cervidae's elite Exemplars. A small group of ornately decorated deer briefly conversed with the soldiers as they exited the gates, then carried on at a near gallop to catch up with the rest of the army.

"Senior officers," Gilias said, pointing to them with a razor-sharp talon for emphasis. "No one else is important enough to get their own personal Exemplar detachment, except maybe the royal cunt herself, and I don't see her marching into battle any time soon."

"There -- Corvalix." In the very center, surrounded by subordinates, a tall buck in dark emerald armor levitated a flask from his side. His decorated helm stood out for all to see, lined with a crown of bright orange and red phoenix feathers that framed his antlers.

"You sure that's him?" she asked, craning her neck to get a better view.

"If Senator Praxilus is to be believed, yes. I doubt we'll find anyone else with such a blatantly eye-catching display."

"If that is him, then I'm sure he knows he's being watched. Royal blood or not, you don't get to his position without knowing what you're doing."

"No doubt." Victus pulled a map from his pouch, marking down formation sizes as each one disappeared into the thick forests beyond the open hills. The city's large gates closed with a rumble. The deer army had finally ceased its exhaustive exit. "What do you think? Should we wait and see if more are coming, or should we report back with what we have?"

"Oh, I think leaving would be a wise decision."

Victus and Gilias whirled around, weapons out, at the voice that had come from so close behind them. He gasped at the sight of a redtail doe standing nearly within a foreleg's reach, balanced effortlessly on a branch. No, he realized, not just any redtail doe -- Empress Elinwynn herself! Gilias did not hesitate for even a heart beat, quickly dashing forward and thrusting her swords into Elinwynn's body. They passed through the air harmlessly, leaving a trail of sparkling magical energy as the image studied them in amusement, her head cocked in curiosity.

"I had expected the Equestrians to send a scouting party, but I did not expect the great Battle-Master Gilias to be among them." Elinwynn clicked her tongue. "Imagine my surprise when I heard a famed warrior was shadowing a Legion unit. And here I thought the rumors of Skytalon's involvement were limited to those silly followers of Celestia's sister. I don't recall the Griffon Empire being particularly fond of ponies."

Gilias sneered and clashed her swords. "Don't waste my time with these games, you royal bitch! Face me!"

"Now now, Gilias, there is no need for such harsh words. Can't a doe indulge herself in a bit of fun every now and then? You half-beasts are always so brash and impulsive."

"Where are you? What do you want?" Victus asked, keeping his guard up.

"That would be telling, wouldn't it? I assure you, this vision of beauty and elegance before you is quite removed from my current location. As for what I want: a brief moment's entertainment, nothing more or less. I must admit, you are superbly skilled at concealing your location from my lesser brothers and sisters, else we would not be having this conversation right now. But I'm afraid you could still use a bit of work, lest my not-so-generous magii find you." Imperceptible shouts echoed from the forests ahead, female voices to the last. "Oh dear. It appears I've spoken too soon. If I were you, I would make all haste back to your unit. I'm sure they eagerly await your return."

Gilias unfurled her wings and was about to take flight when Victus stuck out a hoof to stop her. "Wait." He turned to the image of Elinwynn as his sword slid back into its scabbard. "If it was so trivial for you to find us, why not kill us yourselves, wench? Why toy with us so?"

Elinwynn giggled infuriatingly at his query. "It's really quite simple, my pegasus friend: if I killed you here, there would be no-one to spread word of my impending victory over your meager little diarchy -- though I suppose it's a monarchy now, isn't it? I want Celestia to know what's coming for her. Perhaps if she bends the knee before the slaughter can begin, I will spare her subjects the shame of slavery." The voices were growing closer, and distant figures could be seen loping across the clearing toward their position. "I suggest you go now. Do take care! Oh, and tell your brother I will be seeing him soon."

Victus hovered at eye level with the fading image, his face hot with anger. "Don't you dare lay a hoof on him, or with the gods as my witness I swear I will flay the very flesh from your bones, you disgusting whore queen!" Elinwynn's illusion turned to glittering dust, and within seconds was dispersed to the wind. He kicked the branch under him hard enough to snap it in two, sending it clattering to the ground below with a cascade of snow. "Fuck! I should have known we'd be detected!"

"You can feel sorry for yourself later! We need to leave right this instant!" Gilias took to the air, with Victus quickly following suit. They skimmed the treetops, dipping between gaps in the forest to conceal their locations, and flew south as fast as their wings would take them.

***

"Simple minds are so easily fooled." Atop the southern wall, Empress Elinwynn watched the pair of Legion scouts depart for the safety of Equestrian-controlled territory. A small group of Protectorate magii arrived a few moments too late to matter, briefly searching the area before returning to their units. Once she was sure no other intruders were in the area she turned to her aide and ranking Protectorate commander. The middle-aged doe had her eyes shut in concentration, her antlers glowing with magical power that crackled and arced between the prongs like lightning.

"You may give the order now, Aalyndria. I believe we're clear of interlopers for the time being."

"Yes, Empress." Elder Magii Aalyndria opened her eyes, her powers coming to rest with a snap of electricity that rippled through the area as a wave of subtle force, signaling nearly two dozen of her battle-sisters to do the same. Over a period of mere seconds the cloak of mass illusion was lifted from Evinwiir, revealing thousands more soldiers waiting to be sent on the war path.

"What a shame that our whitetail cousins lack the aptitude for such a wondrous spell. I dare say they might have held out a bit longer before crumbling like a shattered stone."

"As you say, Empress. If I may say so, it is an honor to serve at your side. Rooting out traitors and criminals always feels like such a waste of time and talent, but this? This is the very thing I've hoped for since I was but a fawn."

"On that we can agree," Elinwynn said with pride. She hadn't told anyone, but in truth she'd expected such a grand deception to fail. The theory was sound, yet it had never been tried on the scale of an entire city. She was delighted to no end that it had worked. "Once Gilias and her pegasus friend return with their report, the scum who have occupied Quillyyn Keep will be in for quite a surprise once we flow over them like a tidal wave." She laughed to herself. "To think we'd commit such a small force to a frontal assault! No, there will be no half-measures in this conflict. We will wipe out all who stand in our way with overwhelming numbers, and we shall not stop until the princess herself bows before our might."

A calm had come over the city, now that the normality of daily life had returned. All who remained were outwardly loyal to the cause, and those who were not would be wise to keep their mouths shut. The old city had a certain beauty to it, despite the war-damaged walls and buildings, and for a moment she considered making it the capital of the soon-to-be expanded borders of the Cervidaen Hegemony.

"Ah, but I get ahead of myself. I believe we have a stronghold to liberate first. Send word to the others: they are to depart immediately. But tell them to slow their pace, for I want them to arrive no less than one hour after Corvalix begins the assault. They will know what to do once they are in position."

Aalyndria bowed with a hoof to her chest. "As you wish, my Empress."

Her body shimmered for half a breath, and then she was gone. Her distant form reappeared far below, where an officer snapped to attention at her presence.

Confident in her subordinates, Elinwynn watched the sun as it rose over the lush hills of eastern Whitetail.

It was an ever-present reminder of the true enemy of deerkind.

59 - Loss

Stone balls slammed into the wall just beneath General Phalanx's position, sending a shudder through the hastily rebuilt structure that stumbled many of the soldiers taking cover from the bombardment. The deer had switched tactics and were now attempting to batter the fortress into submission, their opening volleys of emerald flame proving largely ineffective.

"Get those scorpio bolts up here!" he yelled to the groups of runners in the courtyard below. The entirety of Quillyyn Keep was a mad rush with hundreds of ponies galloping to get into position along the battlements, while the bulk of the 1st Equestrian Army, some six thousand soldiers in all, waited within its walls in broad formations that could disgorge from the front gate at a moment's notice.

Outside, across the open field flanked by thick forests that formed a bottleneck, a massive army of deer was forming up beyond the range of Equestria's catapults. They had seemed to come out of nowhere, arriving with alarming speed after the scouting parties had reported their positions. The whitetail had never been so quick to move, but these Cervidaens were doubtlessly in their own league.

A pegasus messenger landed at his side, quickly saluting as he unfurled a scroll. "Sir, we've received word from General Pluvia Cadere of the 4th Reserves. He has been ordered to hold position along the border, and cannot reinforce us for the time being."

"What? Give me that." Phalanx snatched the scroll incredulously, reading over it twice. "This is ridiculous! Who gave him this order, exactly?"

"It apparently comes all the way from Canterlot, sir. Command is worried the deer will try to bypass us entirely and move into Equestria proper. They want to be prepared."

"And I want to be prepared to not get slaughtered by those prick-headed deer!" He quickly wrote his own note on the reverse, far less formal than his counterpart's, and shoved it into the messenger's saddlebag. "You tell Pluvia there's an entire gods-damned army out here, and we won't be able to hold forever! If he has bodies to throw into the fray, then I need them here, and I need them here now!"

"Yes, sir! I will return as quickly as possible!"

The messenger departed as fast as his wings would carry him, leaving a streak of blue and yellow behind him that quickly faded as he disappeared over the forest canopy.

Phalanx chewed his lip in worry as a squad of unicorns passed by him, their packs loaded with arrows. He hated being here again, a sentiment he knew to be shared by many of his stallions. Quillyyn Keep had been one of the bloodiest battles of the entire war with Whitetail, a fight so devastating that nearly every building within its confines had been reduced to rubble. Six hundred of Equestria's finest had fallen in a matter of days, but in the end they'd won a decisive blow against the enemy. It was supposed to have been the beginning of the end. Ironic, then, that the first battle of the new war against the Cervidaens was taking place here. Partially rebuilt structures provided some cover, and the walls had been mostly repaired in the months since the first siege, but the fortress itself would never stand up to a full-on assault.

With his one good eye he surveyed the stallions around him. Some had tucked into themselves behind the ramparts, fearful of the heavy impacts that shook the walls, while others watched the distant deer in morbid curiosity. There were so many of them out there, a vast sea of glinting crystal, like the color of fresh grass, that would soon be upon them in a wave of blades and arrows.

A shouted warning told everyone to take cover just before another spread of stone projectiles crashed all around. A stallion on the battlements was hit directly, his head exploding in a shower of gore as his body flopped to the snowy ground three stories below. The heavy ball thudded into the courtyard as several ponies from an air assault team scrambled to get out of the way.

He wondered how these redtail would fight. In the war against Whitetail, things had been relatively predictable; the whitetail were soldiers of tradition and strict adherence to what had worked in the past. This had made them strong fighters when on the defensive or when they had the advantage of surprise, but their leadership ruled with an iron hoof and left very little in the way of individual initiative. When faced with Equestria's military might, which relied heavily on leadership at the squad level, the whitetail were frequently outmaneuvered.

He doubted the redtail would make the same mistakes. A nation didn't grow to the size of the Cervidaen Hegemony by being inflexible.

He would hold the keep for as long as he was ordered, even if it meant the loss of everything he'd worked so hard for since the start of the Whitetail war. Such was his station in life, and if necessary, in death. Fighting against the deer had taught him a thing or two about thinking outside of the bounds of typical warfare, and he intended to pull out all the stops in this battle.

***

Horns trumpeted in the distance, calling the redtail to battle as their formations began to advance at a steady pace. They marched in lock step, banners proudly displayed on long poles. A song of courage sounded from their ranks, at once beautiful to hear and terrifying to behold to the defenders who watched them from afar. It was the dichotomy of the deerfolk at its finest: elegance and brutality, inseparable from one another.

Catapults sprang to life as the enemy came into range, their heavy payloads flung into the air with a collective creaking of wood and rope. The earthen projectiles arced over the walls and tore through the masses, devastating bodies and shattering limbs with every bounce. Those who were wounded were quickly retrieved by unarmored runners who flitted from row to row. Still the redtail advanced, never breaking step, never letting their song subside. Their voices only seemed to grow louder.

"Taash'yyn kel draas, iyl'dras caarrix par saar'i'drii fel kor'yniin! Fel'yyn kel traas, wyyndri sar falx iis falryyn'tor caantel'idriin!"

"My ancient home, I go forth now for thee as in a dream. My precious kin, weep not as you bury me beneath the evergreen." Rockfall quietly spoke the words as he stood in formation with the rest of the 44th Legion, his fluency in the deertongue language giving him an appreciation for the battle song that few could match.

"Not the kind of thing you'd expect a conquering army to shout as they prepare for war," Victus said. The edges of his flexible wing blades clicked against each other as he flexed them in nervous anticipation. Fighting rear guard actions against Nightmare Moon followers for so long had made him nearly forget what it was like to be at the front, facing off against a proper army.

"The deer are a strange people, Victus," Rockfall replied. "I honestly don't know what to expect from these redtail, but if the rumors are true then we may be in for a terrible slaughter on both sides. You've seen what a few well-trained does can do. Imagine hundreds of them!"

"I'd rather not." Victus cast his eyes skyward. "I hope the air assault squads know what they're doing. Our victory relies heavily upon them."

"Give Gilias the benefit of the doubt. She's never steered us wrong before. Besides, we still have Phalanx, and he's a tough old son of a bitch. He'll get us through this, somehow." Rockfall turned to his friend, worry and hope evident on his features in equal measure. "I'm glad you decided to slog through the dirt with the rest of us. I know it means a lot to the others."

Victus placed a hoof on Rockfall's shoulder. "My place is with my brothers. The other pegasi will be fine without me. Between Gilias and Steel Spark leading the way, I've no doubt they'll contribute their share."

"That's what I like to hear. We'll make a mud pony out of you yet." A shared laugh eased their nerves, if only for a moment. Equestrian horns, deeper and far closer, bellowed from the fortress walls, and the heavy iron bars of the front gate opened like the mouth of a dragon beckoning them to come closer.

On the ramparts above, General Phalanx stood on his hind legs and clutched the red and gold flag of Equestria at his side. Thousands of soldiers looked to him with hope.

"Equestrians! Beyond these walls, the greatest threat to our nation in history marches forward! Under the flags of false ideals and vicious lies, Cervidae seek to put an end to everything we have fought for in these long months! The warmongering Elinwynn and her crony brother would have you believe we are murderers and conquerors, and it is through their manipulation of the all but defeated state of Whitetail and its people that they now are able to seize the one thing they value more than anything else in this world -- power. They claim to stand for unity, for the joining of redtail and whitetail, but make no mistake: they wish only to expand their territory, enslave our loved ones, and become the undisputed rulers of the known world. We just so happen to be a convenient scapegoat for their bloody plans.

"Many of you have served under my command in battle. It is my honor to fight alongside you once more. I could not ask for finer stallions. For those who joined after the siege of Evinwiir began, let me give you a simple piece of advice: stick with the veterans, listen to their orders, and you will live to see your families. We fight as one!" He snapped to attention and saluted, standing as tall and proud as the flag at his side. "Honor to the princess! Honor to Equestria!"

The gathered soldiers shouted the salute in turn as Phalanx drew a sword, his magical cloak billowing behind him and glittering with the brightness of a midday's sun.

"May the light of Celestia watch over you."

A shouted order from the unit commanders echoed from line to line, and the army of Equestria poured out onto the battlefield.

***

High above the impending battle, Gilias and her band of Legion fliers kept a close eye on the enemy. A dozen squads of pegasi had positioned themselves along a cloud bank, spread out over the length of the clearing below where the redtail were moving into position. Theirs was to be the opening strike for Equestria's forces, a signal to the rest of the units to begin their attacks.

"Back into the fray, eh Gilias?" Steel Spark said with a final check of his gear.

"Looks that way. It'll be good to fight against someone besides a bunch of darkness worshiping crazies again."

"Oh I don't know, I quite enjoyed saving your ass a few times," he laughed, nudging her with a hoof.

"Was it saving my ass or being in it that you enjoyed? Because I'll have you know the offer no longer stands. A girl's gotta have some standards." She winked and let the barest hint of a smile show through.

"So you keep saying...and yet, I've yet to see you turn down an invitation to my tent. Or behind a tree. Or on top of a cloud. Or--"

"Alright, alright, I fucking get it! By the Emperor, if I make it through this campaign without slitting my own throat just to make you stop talking it'll be a damned miracle. You can worry about where you stick your prick after we've slaughtered the deer."

She motioned for the pegasi to gather around and called out with a whistle.

"I don't want any fuck-ups out there, so we'll go over this one more time! Once I give the signal, first and second contubernium are going to dispel the clouds. Once the arrows hit the ground, third through eighth will use their bows and pila until they're out of shit to throw at the deer. Ninth through twelfth, you're with me. Keep those bundles tight, and pull your release cords only when you're sure of good saturation. Once you're dry you'll return to the keep to restock and wait for the rest of us to show up. We'll figure it out from there. Got it?"

"Hah-ooh!" the pegasi answered with a stomp, sending wisps of clouds into the air.

"We'll see. Get ready, ponies!"

***

Brother-General Corvalix watched the bucks of Whitetail and Cervidae march into battle as one, as wondrous a sight as he'd ever seen. Their battle song carried for miles around, unrelenting even in the face of catapult fire. The Equestrians may have been resilient fighters, but today would truly see them tested against the might of deerkind.

Knee-deep snow made progress slower than he would have liked. He cursed the foul weather of Whitetail once again. It was a miserable place that seemed to be under a perpetual haze of rain and snow, and he longed for the comfortable Cervidaen winter.

A ray of light shone on the emerald armor of the advancing deer as the clouds slowly parted, the first time he'd seen the sun in days. He was not the only one to notice; his sub-commanders had spoken excitedly to one another at the good fortune that was befalling them. There could be no doubt, they'd said excitedly: Cervidae was ordained from on high to win this battle. While he did not put his proverbial faith in such things, he certainly wasn't going to complain about a turn in the weather.

All at once the part in the clouds widened, spreading out across the clearing with such rapidity that even the most devout grew worried. Something was happening that hadn't been planned for.

"Are the magii under orders to affect the weather, Sister-Commander?" he asked the leader of the Imperial Protectorate. She shook her head in response.

"No, Brother-General. It would be a waste of our efforts."

Someone from down the line shouted in his direction.

"Sir! Pegasus ponies above!"

Corvalix strained his eyes and could barely make out the shapes of winged ponies shoving a wall of clouds out of the way. They were not attacking, but their presence was puzzling all the same. More scouts, perhaps? The Equestrians did love their flying spies.

A shrill whistle filled the air, causing all who heard it to look up. Even the front-line troops ceased their singing and looked around in confusion. Tiny, dark specks rapidly came into view, each one tipped with a blue point. They trailed streams of icy vapor, dozens in total.

"Arrows! Shields up!" a unit commander yelled out, and thousands of segmented shields snapped into position above the formations forming a rough barricade.

Corvalix watched the strange missiles fall, their whine growing louder with each passing second. Something about them was curious...

The first ice arrows tore into the gathered deer, slamming into shields and punching through the thinner armor on their backs with plumes of freezing spray. A singular shout of surprise and fear sounded from their ranks as bursts of ice ripped entire squads asunder with crackling, snaking lines that formed jagged trails and sliced through anything nearby. Those who were hit directly were flash-frozen outright, crumbling to red-tinted rime and chunks of iced-over gore. Shields and armor provided no safety, serving only to delay the inevitable for the briefest of moments.

Corvalix felt his jaw drop. He'd heard rumors of such weapons being used against the Nightmare Moon followers, but to see them in battle was something else entirely. Those who had not been killed were soon writhing on the ground, clutching at frozen limbs or bleeding from horrific wounds caused by razor-sharp veins of ice that had shredded flesh like the teeth of a great monster.

Before he could issue an order, a steady volley of arrows and spears arced in from above the tree line. Though they were not magically enhanced, their sheer number took a toll on the already disarrayed units. Sub-commanders shouted for order and discipline, managing to reform the lines before more deer could be lost.

"Damned detestable flying rats!" Corvalix stomped in frustration, wheeling around to face the Protectorate leader once more. "I want those nuisances gone this instant, Faeliwyll!" A flight of pegasi swooped in at treetop level, low and fast, and released long lines of needle-tipped darts from bundles attached to saddlebags. Though they did little real damage, it was yet another attack from above that had no immediate answer save the scattershot arrows that had next to no effect.

"As you wish, Brother-General. I feel it is my duty to remind you, however, that our supplies of glimmer potion are quite limited until the the whitetail can rebuild their facility in Evinwiir." The experienced doe chose her words carefully, for Corvalix's temper was legendary among the Cervidaen military ranks.

"I'm perfectly aware. Now hurry it up, every moment that passes is another moment our bucks are losing effective fighting strength."

Taking a step back, Faeliwyll signaled to her contingent of Imperial Protectorate magii. They totaled just over fifty in all, a paltry number compared to the vastness of the redtail army, but their influence and power was without equal across the known world. Clad in shimmering sapphire armor lined with intricate silver inlays, they proudly served their empress in times of war.

Each of them floated a small vial from their waist pouches, the contents swirling and shifting with hues of blue, purple and pink that sparkled and glittered with magical light. A singular gulp of the fluid was taken, viscous like oil, before the precious glass vessels were returned to their satchels.

Long seconds passed. Arcs of magical energy jumped from prong to prong of their antlers with crackling jolts. The does braced themselves as their bodies were filled with power from the aether, causing their muscles to twitch and spasm as they gritted their teeth against it. Black threads showed themselves against their eyes, turning their bright irises a muddled green. The potion had fully taken hold. With a wordless bond the Sister-Commander and her magii turned to face the pegasi who were still wreaking havoc with their quick strikes. The hum of magic turned to a series of thunder cracks as they unleashed the full force of their newfound abilities.

***

"One more pass, then we're heading back! Keep up, ponies!"

Battle-Master Gilias swept over the evergreen tree tops in a long curve, her last pilum clutched in her claws. Numerous pegasi followed in her wake, spread out in a wedge-shaped formation three tiers deep. The bundles at her side had been exhausted early on, and the archers at the rear were running dangerously low on arrows.

A volley of redtail arrows flitted past and struck several pegasi squarely in the neck or chest. They tumbled out of the sky and disappeared into the dense forest below.

"Fill in the gaps, quickly!" Steel Spark ordered. His crimson cape fluttered behind him, thrice holed by near-misses. Every moment they spent near the mixed army was another moment the deer grew more accurate and sure of their aim. "Once we've passed over the redtail we will break formation and make all due haste for the keep!"

A heavy dart slammed into Gilias' armor, momentarily sending her off balance. She dropped her pilum in surprise, swearing as she quickly yanked the offending missile from her chest plate and dove for the tree tops where the throwing spear had landed among a tangle of branches.

"Go on without me!" she ordered Steel Spark. She landed among the snow-covered trees and strained for her weapon, taking precious seconds to reach it as the formation passed overhead. Her claws scraped against its cord-wrapped shaft, and with a push from her wings she pulled it into her grasp once more.

The forest echoed with a sudden thunderstorm that erupted from all around her. Gilias jumped at the sudden tumult, and as she clambered to the top of the tree her breath was sucked from her lungs.

The entirety of the pegasus formation, from first to last, had stopped in mid-air. Clouds of sparking, shimmering green magic had consumed them like a blanket of fog, their silhouettes struggling to break free. A volley of projectiles shot up toward them with such ferocity and number that the ground below was blackened by their shadows.

The pegasi cried out in anguish, their voices mixing as a singular shout. Another storm emanated from the deer, and over half of the flying formation simply dropped from the sky, punctured by countless arrows and jagged-edged crystalline darts. Their bodies tumbled to the ground, limp and lifeless, where the waiting blades of the deer put an end to those who had not been killed outright.

Gilias called out to Steel Spark, one of the few who had been fortunate enough to still be able to fly. He flapped as quickly as his wings would carry him, bobbing through the air and trailing a stream of blood from his haunches. More arrows shot up to meet him. Two bounced off his armor, but a third found purchase in his side and buried itself so deep that only the fletching still remained visible. Steel Spark carried on for another pair of wing beats, then dropped into the canopy not far from Gilias' position while the surviving pegasi flew back to the keep in a fit of panic.

"Spark!"

Gilias took the sky with all of her might, flying to his side. He'd landed roughly on a thick branch that was already staining red from the spurts of blood that poured from his armor. His breaths were ragged and wet, and his eyes spoke to the pain his words could not.

"Shit! No, no, no! Come on, Steel Spark, you gotta talk to me!" Gilias lifted his head from the bark, a pained, choking breath the only sound to escape his mouth. "Just hang on, I'm...I'm gonna fix you." She scrambled through the medical satchel at her side, frantically searching for something, anything, to save him. A vial of prometheum powder sat at the bottom, but as she prepared to yank the cork with her beak Steel Spark weakly lifted a hoof at her.

"N-No...won't...won't help."

She wanted to object, but knew he was right. The flow of blood from his grievous wound continued unabated, turning the snow pink and red around them. She cradled him in her arms, pulling him closer so that his head rested against her chest, and removed his battle-scarred helm.

"Don't you fucking give up on me, Equestrian," she said in a shaky voice. The first tears she'd felt in years welled in her eyes and dripped down her dirtied feathers. "If you die I will personally pull you out of the afterlife and beat your ass, you understand me? You're not allowed to fuck me and disappear like I'm some five bit whore. I'm worth at least ten bits."

Steel Spark laughed weakly. Color drained from his face, his breathing falling shallow and wet.

"Please, Spark..."

He touched a hoof to her face and spoke no louder than a whisper.

"Pro...protect them. My brothers. Please."

"I will, I swear it. I can get us more help, but I need you with me," she said.

He gulped back his own blood. "I'm sorry..."

Steel Spark closed his eyes. His chest fell one last time, and then he was silent. "Spark? Spark?!" she shook him in disbelief and grief, his head lolling back against the branch.

The sounds of battle came back to her all at once, a painful reminder that the war would not simply stop while she mourned his death. Carefully she picked him up and held his body against her, straining to lift him with heavy flaps of her strong wings. His helm was placed back on his head as she quietly spoke a prayer of salvation to her Emperor, an honor she would not deny Steel Spark simply because he had been a pony. He had been a warrior in life and would remain so in death, and if anyone deserved to feast at the table of the ancients for all of eternity, it was him.

The keep appeared after a short flight, its walls pockmarked by siege weapons. The bulk of the Equestrian military was now in open battle with the deer, vast formations of soldiers clashing in a deafening cacophony. Off to one side of the courtyard the survivors of the aerial assault squads huddled near a fire and treated their wounded. They had lost so many of their own, and so quickly. They stared at her with distant eyes heavy with demoralized spirits, only coming forward when they realized who she had brought into their midst. The Legion fliers gathered around in wordless reverence, then carried Steel Spark's body so that he could lay beside his lost friends and compatriots one last time.

Gilias saw herself reflected in a pile of swords, her armor pitted and scarred by war, the entire underside of her body red with drying blood that matted her plumage and stained her fur. Her grief turned to hatred, deep and terrible, and she pulled her twin curved swords from their sheathes, grasping them tightly in her claws until she shook from the pain.

She would keep her word -- but first she would kill every fucking deer between here and Skytalon.

60 - At Great Cost

With a roaring clatter of stone the western wall collapsed, showering the area with chunks of debris and a cloud of dust. The deer shouted triumphantly and immediately began to divert a portion of their forces to it.

"Left flank!" a centurion ordered, raising his sword to be seen above the confusion of battle. A trumpet sounded from each of the centuries around him, and Victus and his squad moved with the rest of the cohort in a sweeping gallop to cover the gaping hole in the defenses. Toward the rear of the formation a contingent of unicorns threw up a barrier to block an incoming volley of arrows. Some of the more adept among them worked in trios, grabbing the heavy stone balls out of the air and hurling them back at the redtail with grunts of exertion. Squad leaders called out each attack as quickly as they could, and though they could not stop every volley they were, for the time being, keeping many of those on the front lines safe.

The fighting was almost deafening to behold, the largest battle since Whitetail Wood now well and truly under way. The opening ambush of ice arrows and aerial squads had done their part and inflicted a fair number of casualties, but the pegasi had paid a heavy price for it. Their bedraggled remains had flown by mere moments earlier, many of them barely able to stay in the air. The other pegasus teams would have to pick up the slack, else Equestria's one major advantage would amount to nothing.

The onrushing redtail crashed into the hastily erected defensive line with a battle shout, barely giving the ponies a chance to brace themselves before they were met by stabbing spears and crystalline blades. Victus held fast behind his shield as jagged weapon points scraped off his armor. To his left and right his comrades held the line in their three-tiered defense. A buck thrust his weapon out at Victus and swore in frustration, then attempted to rip the shield from his grasp. Victus unfurled his wings and quickly twisted to one side. The razor-sharp blades sliced through the buck's armor and tore into his neck, spraying Victus with gore. A stomp to the thrashing redtail's head soon put an end to his panic.

"As one!" the centurion yelled, and the battle line shoved their way forward, gaining a few precious inches of space. A flight of arrows and siege weapon shots passed by just overhead, clearly aimed for the unicorns in the back. A shimmering barrier was quickly set in place, but it could not stop everything. Agonized cries went out and the barrier grew dim, allowing a second, well-timed follow-up to continue through nearly unopposed. The magical field winked out of existence just as the redtail countered the ground forces with a powerful, magically augmented push that opened numerous gaps in the shield wall. Dozens of ponies fell within seconds, and Victus fought desperately to keep the enemy at bay. To either side his brothers dropped, their positions filled in without hesitation. The wounded were dragged back to the keep, leaving crimson trails in the the snow-slicked grass that had become a slurry of mud and freezing water.

Every small bit of ground that was gained was quickly pushed back. The deer were relentless in their assault, far more coordinated and disciplined than anyone had seen before.

Victus took another step back, nearly tripping over the body of another legionary. One step closer to being backed into a corner, surrounded on three sides. A grim realization came over him: slowly but surely, the Equestrians were losing the battle.

***

Blood seeped down Gilias' armor and dripped along her beak, the iron tang heavy on her tongue as she spat on the ground. Heavy breaths fogged the air and her head pounded with the sound of her own heartbeat. Every muscle in her body burned, but she was alive. In fact, she had never felt more alive in all her years.

Here, in the middle of the forest, she had exacted her vengeance on the deer. More than twenty redtail Regulars, an entire squad's worth of scouts, now lay around her in a scene of unmatched carnage. They had been torn asunder, impaled against trees, split open. Severed limbs and crushed skulls marked those who had dared to attack her from behind. The air was thick with the stench of offal that still steamed against the frozen ground.

It had been a battle unlike any she'd ever fought. Glorious in its nature, righteous in its fury -- a fight worthy of Steel Spark's name. She hadn't expected to come out of it alive, and in the heat of the moment she would have been more than happy to die a warrior's death. Whatever afterlife he had gone to, she hoped he was smiling down at her now.

Gilias scraped her curved swords against the ground, cleaning them in the snow. The ever-present sound of war was still out there, beckoning for her to return. Yet as she slid her weapons back into their sheathes, she felt an exhaustion like she had never experienced. Not just physical, but mental as well. She did not want to admit it to herself, but for the first time she felt truly tired. Tired of war, tired of death. It had been a part of her for so long that she'd forgotten what it was like to well and truly care for someone, even if that someone had turned out to be, of all things, an Equestrian.

The Emperor had told her that it was her choice, and hers alone, to support the ponies in their war against the deer aggressors. Though he supported Equestria he could not be seen to do so in public, and so he had chosen her to be his instrument; a deadly, precise blade backed by the might of the Griffon Empire. She had jumped at the opportunity, of course. Who wouldn't have? To be picked for combat by His Holiness was the greatest honor a griffon could hope for.

Now, as she considered the layers of gore that clung to her body, she wished for nothing more than to be back home.

An agonizing flap took her above the tree tops once more. From her vantage point the armies of Equestria and Cervidae looked like nothing more than a mass of colorful figures flailing at each other. She just wanted to rest, if only for a few moments. Climbing higher and higher she watched the clouds grow closer, so inviting and pure after the desperate, violent battle she'd thrown herself into.

Movement in the distance caught her keen eye, too far off to be another siege team and too large to be a scouting party. What looked like dozens of deer flitted between trees with the effortless gait that made them so infuriating to predict. They came across a small clearing with a stream and splashed their way through without hesitation, emerging on the other side to form back up before carrying on. A small group of them stopped and yelled something behind them, and in seemingly no time at all the forest was suddenly alive with hundreds of deer. No, not just hundreds, she realized in sudden horror -- thousands. An entire army of them!

She paused with her claws against the cloud. She could stay up here, forget about what she'd seen. All she really wanted to do was sleep and forget about the whole damned day. But...she'd made a promise to Spark, and in all of her years of service she'd never gone back on her word.

"Fuck it," she muttered, diving back to just above treetop level.

***

General Phalanx was running out of reserves. With his forces split between two separate breaches in the keep's walls, four primary engagement points in the main clearing, and numerous smaller skirmishes, it was clear that his stallions were on a very narrow precipice. Still, he had not yet been overrun, and that was enough to keep fighting.

Someone landed behind him, heavy and wet in the mud. He arched an eyebrow at the sight of Gilias positively covered in blood, with armor that had been so defaced by combat that it was scarcely recognizable.

"The hell happened to you?" he asked in genuine curiosity.

"A bunch of tree rutters bled all over me." Gilias took a moment to catch her breath, surveying the battle with an experienced eye. In the time since she'd flown off, the keep had been practically ripped apart on two sides. The pile of dead ponies continued to grow, and many more wounded were laid out under whatever cover could be found for them. On the ramparts the teams of scorpio operators were firing off bolts as quickly as they could load them, while volleys of arrows were exchanged over the walls with unrelenting regularity. The deer were closer now, and showed no signs of letting up.

"General, I've got some news you're not gonna want to hear," she said.

"About what?"

"There's another army coming. Regulars, I think. Thousands of them."

Phalanx lifted his foreleg in surprise. "What? That can't be possible, we've got scouts watching every approach from here to River Run!"

"You've got them watching the main roads and paths. These fuckers are coming from the east, through the forests. It's difficult terrain, but they are deer after all."

Phalanx swore, already wondering how he was going to divert enough of his forces to deal with them while still keeping the main front at operational strength. "I thought you said this was the deer army! Wasn't that the entire point of your scouting run with Decanus Victus?"

Gilias was already starting to lose her patience. "Like I said before, Elinwynn knew we were there. Maybe she was hiding more deer from us in tunnels or something, I don't know."

"Well this is a great fucking time to find out. I should have known it wouldn't be this straight forward." He stuck his head over the battlements. Equestria was losing ground one step at a time. If he could only hold out until reinforcements arrived, he might stand a chance. "Celestia guide us in our time of need. Alright, we'll deal with it. Battle-Master Gilias, I want you to take two contuberniums and help defend the north-eastern quarter. Delay those deer as best you can, so that we--"

"I don't think so," Gilias cut in.

"Excuse me?"

"Look, I know you're trying to be all stoic and shit, but let me reiterate this for you: there are thousands of redtail reinforcements coming, and you don't have the bodies to throw at them. A good shove from any direction and this entire battle is going to turn into a one-sided slaughter. Believe me, I've seen more than my fair share of them."

"I am not giving up this position! We hold not only the high ground but a solid defensive location. So long as we receive reinforcements of our own, I see no reason to give up our gains."

With a surge of anger and a deep roar Gilias lifted Phalanx by his pauldrons, standing on her hind legs so that she towered over him as his legs kicked in the air. "You listen to me, Equestrian! I just lost the only pony I have ever given a single flying fuck about, and it's only because of him that I'm here listening to your stubborn ass!" Phalanx's personal guards approached with their weapons out, but he waved them off. He had no doubt Gilias could put an end to him if she so desired, and no guards will be able to stop her in time. "Fuck your pride, fuck Equestria's reputation, and fuck anyone who would throw more lives away for an action that will mean nothing! Quillyyn Keep is lost! Do you understand me? You can't hold here or you will be surrounded and cut off, and then it won't matter how many reinforcements you think are coming! You need to fall back to the border right now!"

She dropped him onto the ground, still fuming as he picked himself up. Hundreds of ponies were now watching him with interest, waiting to see how he would respond. He was furious almost beyond words at being disrespected so in front of his own stallions, and he had half a mind to have Gilias arrested on the spot.

"I don't recall giving you all permission to stand there with your pricks in hoof! Back to your duties this instant!" The soldiers quickly went back to their tasks as he shoved his hoof against Gilias' chest. "How dare you assault a senior officer! I don't care if you're the gods-damned Emperor of Skytalon himself! I don't know how you operate where you come from, Battle-Master, but in Equestria we show some respect for our commanders! Pull that shit again and I'll have you tossed into a cell, you understand me?" Gilias said nothing in return, and for a tense moment they stared each other down before he put a hoof to his muzzle. "Let's just think about this before either of us does something stupid. Assuming there actually are thousands more of these redtail coming from the east, it's not as simple as just dropping everything and leaving. We have to do this in an organized fashion, else we'll have anarchy. This has to be a tactical retreat."

The feathers along Gilias' torso ruffled in a ripple of shot nerves. "Call it whatever you like, Phalanx, you're the general here. I'll stick around to help with the evacuation, but after this I'm done."

"I don't believe I heard you right. You're done? What do you mean 'done'?"

"I've accomplished everything asked of me and more. Just ask Imperator Tall Oak, or Cadisius, or, hell, even Victus. I've put in my work and taken my scars for Equestria, but I'm just one griffon. That, out there?" she pointed to the increasingly close battle. "That's the biggest army I've ever seen, and there's more coming. I can't do this alone."

Phalanx let out a long breath, studying her with his good eye. The griffon woman had been of great service in their efforts against the whitetail and the cultists in equal measure, but he supposed everyone had their limit -- especially when they didn't truly have to be there.

"If that is your wish, Battle-Master, then so be it. I cannot order you to stay, though after your recent display I think it might be best if you return of your own volition. Were you one of my own there would be hell to pay for such a disrespectful act. Consider yourself lucky."

Gilias sneered as she took the air, weapons already out.

"Yeah. I live a real fuckin' charmed life."

***

Victus threw up his shield just in time to stop a pair of knee blades from slicing into his throat, then leaned into it to shove the attacker back. A blind strike from behind cover was rewarded by a shout of pain, and the deer before him fell to the ground with a deep wound to his chest. Yet even as he struggled in his final moments, another took his place. There seemed to be no end to them, and no matter how many he brought down there were always more, a veritable ocean of antlers, flag poles and glinting helmets stretching as far as the eye could see.

The long spears of the principes lashed out through the gaps in the shield wall, only to be answered in kind by the redtail. The deer thrusting weapons were particularly nasty, ending in a barbed tip that tore its way out of anyone unfortunate enough to be in the way. Combined with the unrelenting, highly offensive style the deer so favored and the judicious use of magic to knock the front lines off balance, the cost in lives had been horrendous.

A chorus of horns sounded from what remained of the ramparts, a short note followed by a longer one, repeated three times -- the call to retreat. Victus almost couldn't believe it, sure that he was hearing things until the trumpeters repeated their orders. Equestria didn't retreat! Not once had they been forced to lose ground in their campaign against the whitetail, yet the first battle against the redtail was turning into a rout!

"Fall back!" the lead centurion yelled above the noise of battle. Victus chanced a look around, seeing no obvious way to quickly retreat without facing heavy losses. The slow, steady process of giving up ground while keeping their shields to the front began immediately. Some unfortunate soldiers tripped over the bodies of their fallen comrades, only to be mercilessly destroyed by the now emboldened deer. The line was falling apart, bit by bit, with some of the rear guard taking their chances and fleeing at the expense of others.

A volley of ballista bolts tore through the front lines of the deer, followed by a final swarm of arrows.

"As one!"

From somewhere behind him Victus heard a collective "hah-ooh!" accompanied by the chiming of Equestrian magic. The first three lines of the deer formation before him were suddenly and violently sent tumbling though the air as if picked up by a whirlwind. Some had reacted in time to resist with their own magic, but many were unprepared. Chaos broke out for a few precious seconds, giving Victus and the other legionaries at his side the time needed to turn and run. All pretenses of a methodical retreat, at least for now, were lost as the survivors saw their opportunity to escape.

Equestria's soldiers streamed through the open gate, a mix of blue, yellow and red crests marking each branch's survivors, many of them wounded. The looks of terror and dread from the newest recruits were difficult to behold. Mixed in with them were the dejected veterans, skilled combatants who had come to enjoy victory after victory in their campaign against Whitetail. That confidence had been thoroughly smashed.

Victus yelled for everyone to keep together, but in the crush of bodies trying to fit through the gate it was inevitable that some would be separated from their units. Once he pushed through into the open courtyard that had been littered with arrows, debris and shattered bodies he took cover behind the crumbling wall of an impromptu field hospital. Apothecaries frantically worked on the wounded and carried out the dead. The cries of agony were almost deafening.

"Have we lost anyone?" Rockfall asked as the remnants of the contubernium gathered round. Several of them had been injured, and in the brief moment of respite they tended to each others' wounds.

Victus leaned against the wall to catch his breath. Drying blood matted his coat and made his wings stick together as he attempted to stretch them out. In a moment of dark humor he realized that no one had mentioned that his wing-blades might actually hinder him from flying; just not in the way he would have thought. "Caldrian and Birch Bark are missing. We got split up in the rush and I haven't seen them yet."

Another trumpeting call, this time three short notes followed by one long.

"Damnation. We might have to leave them for now. We need to find Flurry Dream and regroup with the others." Rockfall turned to the squad. "Can everyone still walk? Good. See to your wounds as needed, but make it quick."

As Victus helped one of his squad mates with their wrappings, the unmistakable silhouette of a griffon rushed by overhead with heavy, powerful flaps. It stopped above the keep's entrance, watching the last of the Equestrian army trickle in, then flew straight up until it vanished into the low clouds.

***

"Leave the damned scoripos! I don't care how you do it, just make sure they can't be used by the redtail!"

General Phalanx took a final gallop along the ramparts, carefully watching for spots where siege weapons had torn gaping holes in the floor. Bodies littered the walls and hung limp against the battlements, and much of the stone flooring had become slick with blood. Those who were uninjured rushed from place to place to gather any equipment light enough to be carried off, and smashed anything too heavy or too valuable to leave to the deer. In the courtyard below, catapults were being systematically torn apart and set ablaze while what remained of his forces attempted to reform their lines in the midst of pandemonium. The retreat into the relative safety of the keep had not gone as smoothly as he would have liked, and for the first time the professional army of Equestria had lost itself to panic, if only for a few moments.

The iron bars of the entrance gate slammed down and locked into place after the last retreating pony made it inside. Phalanx peeked between the ramparts. Hundreds of dead and mortally wounded still remained outside. It twisted his guts into knots to know that they would fall into the cruel hooves of the deerfolk, but nothing could help that now.

A standard-bearing Imperator trotted up to him with heavy limp. Blood-stained bandages covered his right side from his neck down to his flank. "Sir, the 8th Guard cohort has confirmed that their able-bodied soldiers are within the keep. I believe all units are now accounted for."

"You're sure?"

"I can't say with absolute certainty, sir, but as of this moment it's nearly impossible to get a precise tally of every last stallion. It would take far too long to do so, in any event. We'll be ready to depart shortly."

Outside of the keep the deer had begun to march en masse once more. Their officers shouted news of glorious victory, and the collective response of thousands echoed through the forest.

Someone called to him from below. "General, sir, the deer reinforcements are approaching from the east!"

Phalanx gave a final look to the deer who were drawing ever closer with siege weapons in tow, heavy battering rams that would tear through the gate in short order now that little to no resistance remained. To make matters worse, armored deer were now starting to become visible through gaps in the tree line, the same group that Gilias had spotted before her departure.

Standing tall and proud at the rear of the main force, surrounded by his precious Protectorate magii, Brother-General Corvalix locked eyes with him from across the distance. He had no doubt they would see each other again.

"Not one step closer, you bastard." He turned to the squad of unicorns who had assembled along the wall and nodded. One last contingency to cover their retreat. "Do it."

Gathering together into a circle, the unicorns gathered their power into a singular ball of energy that roiled and crackled as its surface swirled with all manner of colors. The orb lifted into the air, glowing so bright that Phalanx had to shield his eyes, and in an instant it shot into the ground just in front of Quillyyn Keep's battered facade. The light faded to nothing as the deer carried on.

***

Brother-General Corvalix snorted in amusement. What in the world had the ponies hoped to accomplish with that little display? It had certainly been a fascinating sight to behold for the brief time it had existed, and if their goal had been to create a pleasing light show then their mission had been accomplished with aplomb! He'd expected more out of the bedraggled remnants of Equestria's 'mighty' armies. Perhaps if he was feeling generous he would make some of them into entertainers when all was said and done.

The battering rams were nearly to the gate now, each one a work of art as much as a weapon of war. Watching them tear through the last line of defenses would be a wondrous sight to behold.

"Brother-Captain Scalaryx, you may begin at once," he told the subordinate at his side. Scalaryx saluted and prepared to give the order, augmenting his voice with a magical boost.

"Solaan dwyll, shynaa kors--"

A wave of concussive force swept over the clearing with a deafening roar as the ground shook like an earthquake, sending Corvalix, Scalaryx and the entirety of the senior cadre sprawling. A massive plume of frozen soil, grass and snow erupted into the air all along Quillyyn Keep's perimeter, taking with it the bodies of ponies and deer alike that tumbled like rag dolls. Long tongues of dark green flame poured out of the gaping chasm and washed over the redtail in a burning wave, incinerating hundreds outright and leaving naught but charred corpses in its wake. Thousands of deer scrambled to their hooves, turned and ran in a sudden fit of panic to escape the rapidly approaching wall of death. Entire formations were swept up in the maelstrom, their screams carrying for miles around. The emerald flames subsided as quickly as they'd appeared, a wide swath of scorched earth marking their passage while boulders and debris rained down from above, landing among the survivors with heavy thuds and crushing impacts.

Corvalix lifted himself to his knees. His vision churned and his head pounded while his stomach threatened to empty itself at any moment. The destruction laid out before him was unbelievable. A fine mist of dirt continued to rain down upon him as the smoking, burning chasm between himself and the keep came into focus.

He couldn't believe it. The Equestrians had lain a trap for him, using his own weapons, and his army had walked right into it. All around the battered walls an impassable ditch had been torn from the earth in a jagged, blackened scar that belched magical fire. To the east, where once his flanking units were moments from crushing the last semblance of resistance, an entire swath of forest burned with an intensity he'd never seen.

A final, desperate act of defiance by the defeated ponies. They had given their lives to spite him. He scowled at the the temerity of it all. In the end, it would mean nothing. Phalanx and his ilk had only succeeded in delaying the inevitable.

As he regained his commanding stance, returning to his hooves, he saw the faint glow of a flickering dome wink out of existence within the keep's shattered walls. His jaw trembled in anger. It couldn't be...

A collective shout traveled across the battlefield.

"Honorem Equestria! Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh!"

A stone catapult ball hurdled through the air and smashed into the ground not ten yards from his position. On it, written in crimson dye, was a message in his own language.

Remember this day.

61 - Every Stallion a Soldier

Morning always seemed to come far too quickly for Praxilus these days. The former senator was used to rising early, sometimes well before dawn, but the chronic lack of sleep that now tormented him had made the glow of the rising sun less of a welcome sight and more of a reminder of everything he'd lost.

Still, northern Equestria had a certain undeniable beauty to it. The mountainous surroundings were astounding in their grandeur, a far cry from the gently rolling hills and forests of southern Whitetail, though the biting cold left something to be desired. He supposed it was the wind that he despised more than the cold itself, for Marestopholous seemed to be under a perpetual gale during this time of year. It howled like a pack of windigos as he made himself a cup of pine tea, one of the few familiar comforts that could be provided this far from home.

His former home, he reminded himself. It had been a strange, trying time since he'd turned himself over to the Legion. Distrust was ever-present when he spoke with the myriad ponies who had come to question him for the first several days, both on his side and theirs. Praxilus spoke little Equestrian, and few ponies spoke Whyttalia, so their conversations were often fraught with frustration and repetition. And the questions! Depending on who he was speaking to on that particular day, he could spend hours being interrogated before being allowed to return to his quarters. They'd asked him about Whitetail and its political process in great detail, which he was certainly knowledgeable of, and on those days he was content, sometimes even comfortable. Other times they would grill him about military proceedings, unit structure, overarching battle plans and a hundred other minutae he hadn't the foggiest bit of valuable information on. "I'm a senator," he'd argue, "not a general." It was those days that were the longest, and by far the most tiring.

Mild annoyances and long conversations aside, he could never fault the Equestrians for their hospitality. He had fully expected to be tossed into a dungeon cell in some damp, dark hole, but they had, for the most part, shown him the utmost courtesy. His living space these days was a comfortable if spartan dwelling in the city's northern district, complete with a proper bed and a small fireplace. His meals were delivered to him thrice daily and he was able to request extra amenities at any time. It could have been far worse.

It did not mean, of course, that he was free to do as he pleased. His quarters were guarded day and night by several stallions in segmented armor, stationed just outside, and iron bars lined his windows and barred the door. They claimed it was for his own safety as much as theirs. He doubted they were wrong.

Though it was still early Marestopholous was already coming to life. Ponies cantered along the cobblestone streets with satchels slung over their backs and wisps of smoke billowed from chimneys as Equestria started another day. Several streets down, just visible beyond the bustle of sellers setting up their carts, a long line of whitetail in simple garments marched in double lines with numerous armed soldiers at their sides. More prisoners? There certainly wasn't a lack of them these days.

The front door unlocked with a metallic clack. A pony said something in Equestrian to another, too muffled to be understood. Praxilus made sure he was presentable -- a good first impression went a long way -- and waited for the door to swing open. In stepped a rather tall stag who dipped his head to avoid knocking his antlers on the door frame. He wore a strange body wrap, a toga, he recalled, made of off-white cloth with green trim. It hung loosely from one of his shoulders down to his knees.

"Senator Praxilus, I presume. I am Eradaxis Ent'wyyl, former Standard-Commander of the Evinwiir Capital Guard. It's an honor to meet you, sir." The stag bowed in respect and Praxilus returned the gesture. Only now did he notice the long scar that ran from his right ear down to the base of his neck, a sure sign of battle if he'd ever seen one.

"The honor is all mine, Eradaxis. Please, sit." He gestured to a pair of large pillows on the floor. It was strange to see another whitetail stopping by, especially one who was apparently a veteran. "Can I interest you in a cup of pine tea?"

"That would be very welcome, thank you."

He poured a steaming cup from the bronze kettle, adding a small dollop of honey and stirring it in. "You'll have to excuse me, I was not expecting company this early, much less one of my own kind. The only visitors I seem to get these days are Equestrians looking to interrogate me on some inane detail I've already told them ten times over. Not much for conversation, usually."

"So I imagine," Eradaxis replied with a smirk, taking his cup. "Thank you, Senator. Your hospitality is most appreciated."

"You can drop the title, I'm not a senator anymore. I'm nothing more than a sanaliis as far as my colleagues are concerned. I'd be surprised if anyone in Whitetail wasn't calling for my head."

"You might be surprised, yes, but for a different reason. Everyone thinks you're dead."

Praxilus cocked his head. "Truly? Where did you hear this?"

"From Corvalix, of course. He told everyone he cut you down with his own blade. The murderous tahl'waan apparently decided to cover his own ass when he couldn't find you. Imagine my surprise when the ponies told me you were alive and well! I knew I had to pay you a visit, and they were generous enough to allow me to do so."

"Fucking Corvalix. Even still he toys with the good people of Whitetail. I had hoped he'd managed to fall on his own blade."

"No such luck, I'm afraid. Don't worry, he'll get his. It's just a matter of time."

"We can only hope." Praxilus pointed to the Equestrian clothing. "It is not often I see one of ours wearing such an outfit. Are you a prisoner as well?"

"In a manner of speaking. It's quite the tale, actually. I find myself in the strange position of actively helping the ponies after months of fighting them. The fates have a bizarre sense of humor."

"Isn't that the damned truth? I find myself in the same position, though obviously without the combat experience. What's your story?"

Eradaxis sipped from his cup as he considered how best to tell his tale. Everything seemed to have happened so quickly.

"Well...as I said, I was with the Capital Guard. For most of the war I was a Standard-Commander charged with supervising defenses along the southern wall. Slow work at first, but as the war progressed and the siege began I found myself battling pegasus teams as much as supplying siege weapons. Got this nice little scar from one of them. For their diminutive size the bastards sure can fight.

"I actually heard about you and the others defecting on the same day that it happened. Word spread quickly that the 15th Capital Guard had turned traitor and run off with three senators in tow. I didn't know what to think. I despised the ponies for bringing war to our lands, but at the same time I could see the corruption that was seeping into our great nation like a disease. Every day that passed was another day our people were dying for a war we could no longer win. I think it took the sacrifice of our 'treasonous' brothers to make us realize just how desperate the situation had become, and how much we'd been lied to." He dipped his head and made an x-shape over his heart. "May the spirits of our ancestors watch over their souls."

Praxilus did the same. "Indeed so. They were fine bucks to the last. Their deaths weigh on me like I cannot even begin to describe. All these lives lost so that I might live..."

"They will not be forgotten. In fact, I believe their sacrifice became a tipping point for Evinwiir as a whole. Our home is a hollow shell of its former self, and things have taken a turn for the worse -- far worse -- since you left. Under order of his sister, Corvalix started a systematic 'cleansing' of the city. He was tasked with bringing his particular brand of justice to anyone he viewed as a traitor, whether they were guilty of their crimes or not. He'd run them through, then burn their homes down with emerald flame. Before long half of the southern district was alight. That's when my unit decided that we needed to do something to stop the senseless slaughter."

"So you stood against him?" Praxilus asked.

"That we did. And we weren't the only ones! Several of the Guard units decided that they weren't going to stand by and let the redtail dogs corrupt our very way of life. Some succeeded in resisting and escaping; others did not. We were fortunate to meet with a larger contingent of whitetail loyalists after an initial battle with Corvalix and his retinue.

"There was a mass of civilians trying to flee the city toward the safety of the Equestrian lines. They pleaded with us to help them, so we did. Managed to get those gates open, which was no small feat, I can tell you that! Whatever prejudices we may have held against the ponies, we knew they were more likely to show us mercy than our own damned 'allies' ever would.

"Corvalix was furious. He started indiscriminately firing into the fleeing crowd with arrows and flame pots. We took up a rear guard action to protect them as best we could, but even we had to flee eventually." Eradaxis sighed. "Not many of us made it. A dozen from my squad, forty from the greater Guard collective. Scattered soldiers here and there. At least we managed to save some civilians. Over five thousand, from what I hear. There have been more trickling out of the city since then, but since the war with Cervidae began it's ceased almost entirely."

Praxilus felt nauseous. He'd feared the Equestria/Cervidae war for some time, seeing it as an inevitability. Hearing confirmation of it, though...that was something else entirely.

"Your actions will live on in history, my friend. Saving those civilians may be the only just thing we've accomplished in this whole damned fiasco. They owe you their lives, and for that I cannot thank you enough. I'm glad to hear Whitetail started coming to its senses, even if it was only for a time. No doubt Elinwynn and Corvalix are making it a point to stamp out dissent wherever possible."

"That's why the Equestrians need to win," Eradaxis agreed.

"And what of Vinawyll? How is our 'brave leader' handling things these days?"

"He performs the duty of a puppet dancing on strings quite admirably. He has no power in Evinwiir anymore, to say nothing of Whitetail proper. He knows it, the people know it, and the royal monsters who control him now certainly know it." He spat at the mere mention of the chancellor's name, as if it left a foul taste in his mouth. "Spirits curse his family to the seventh generation. Eternal damnation would be too good for him."

A new stage of the war, murder and senseless destruction back home, corruption at the highest levels of government...it was all so tiring. Praxilus mused that a scant year ago, had someone told him of such things, he would have laughed in their face. He'd believed fully in the glory of Whitetail and its leaders, and though he sometimes hated the internal politics of senate life he was genuinely proud to be a part of something greater than himself. Elinwynn had changed all of that seemingly overnight.

Having Eradaxis on his side was a much needed morale boost. Now he didn't feel quite so alone in his opposition to his own government. Who else might be willing to join him, he wondered. There had to be more disenfranchised whitetail out there, just waiting for someone, anyone, to give them a voice.

"Can I trust you with some particularly secretive information, Eradaxis?"

"Of course. What is it?"

Praxilus lowered his voice after a quick check of his surroundings. "Brother-Commander Caethil yet lives."

Eradaxis jerked his head back in surprise. "How do you know this?"

"Because he was with me up until I waited for the ponies to capture me. We managed to escape and head south, toward the border, after the bucks of the 15th gave their lives. He said he had some important matter to see to, and promised to return in due time. That was the last I saw of him."

Eradaxis sat in quiet disbelief for a moment. "First I find out you're alive, then I find out Caethil has been spared from death. Is there anyone else I should know about?"

"I'm afraid not," Praxilus said. "I thought you'd want to know about him. I haven't even told the interrogators what I just told you. Do try to keep it between us."

"You have my word, on the honor of my family name. This is welcome news to be sure." Eradaxis finished his cup and set it aside. For all of the horrible things that had been said about him by those who believe him a traitor, Praxilus seemed as trustworthy and sincere as anyone. If Whitetail survived this new war, they would need strong leaders like him. "As you may have guessed, my purpose here is not merely small talk. There is something far more pressing that I thought you should know about: Equestria is losing ground with every passing day, and at this rate the redtail will be at Marestopholous within the week. That is why you've no doubt seen the whitetail prisoners being moved en masse. The ponies don't want them being repatriated by the advancing deer."

Praxilus was taken aback by the news. "You'll forgive me if I'm weary of such claims. Last I heard, the ponies were holding their own."

"Who told you that? The same ones who press you for answers? They are merely saving face. I am honestly quite surprised you have not heard of the utter disaster at Quillyyn Keep."

"What do you mean? We lost it early in the war with Equestria; that was considered a disaster by all accounts."

"And rightly so. That was the beginning of the end for us -- but now it may serve the same purpose for the ponies. A partially rebuilt Quillyyn was the first major battle of the new war, and the ponies lost. Hard. It was an utter rout, if what I hear is true. The ponies made Corvalix pay for every step, but the outcome was inevitable. Now the armies of Cervidae and its puppet allies are marching south."

The Equestrian military had been seemingly invincible during the first stage of the war, never losing a major battle and relentlessly advancing until they were at the very gates of Whitetail's capital. They were strong, without a doubt. Well-trained, well-disciplined and equipped with the finest equipment their nation could provide.

But after the slaughter of the 15th Capital Guard by Corvalix and his Exemplars, he knew all too well the capabilities of the redtail. He suddenly felt very small. What would he do if the redtail were within striking distance? He would have to flee, one way or another. Perhaps the ponies would evacuate him soon. Perhaps they would leave him to fend for himself. If so, he would need some way to end his own life, for being taken alive would be a fate far worse than a swift death!

"I wish I had some way to help, but I am nothing more than a glorified informant at this point," he said, re-centering himself with a deep breath. "I have faith in the Equestrians. They'll find a way to adapt."

"Adaptation isn't the issue, Praxilus. It's a game of numbers. I don't know if the ponies can do it alone." He tugged at his outfit. "That's why I volunteered to lead a band of whitetail loyalists. We're going to fight alongside the Equestrians, shield to shield. We'll take back our homes, or we'll die trying."

"I had no idea there were bucks willing to do so. One bit of good news, I suppose. How many are you?"

Eradaxis tapped a hoof while he mentally tallied up his forces. "Between the main force outside the city and the smaller bands spread throughout the local area, I'd say...around six hundred, maybe slightly more. Most are soldiers who fled from around Whitetail once the redtail started making their move; they're just as disenfranchised with things as you or I. We've had a fair number of fleeing civilians volunteer to join us as well. They're not proper warriors, but they can serve their purpose as second tier supports. Archers, supply runners, magii aides, that sort of thing."

He got up and went to the window, his confident air fading just a touch. "If it should come to it, I want you to be prepared to leave the city with the Equestrians. A mass evacuation may not be far off, and if it is then we're going to have a lot of whitetail prisoners that might entertain thoughts of escape and collusion. Perhaps you could speak with them, convince them that staying within Equestrian custody is in their best interests? They'll know who you are. Your words will carry weight, I'm sure of it."

"Or they could refuse to listen to a single word I say," Praxilus retorted. "Let's not forget that many of them, likely the majority, still harbor resentment toward the ponies. They don't know the inner workings of the government, the level of treachery and corruption like we do."

"Then make them understand. Offer them a place at my side, a chance to fight back against the redtail who have all but enslaved our nation and our people. If we can convince even a few, then we will have accomplished something."

Praxilus considered his options. Though public speaking was in his blood, it had always been before other senators or citizens of Evinwiir. But veteran soldiers turned prisoners? That would be a significant challenge. Still, if it might help...

"Alright," he said at last. "I'll do what I can, should the situation allow for it, but I can't guarantee anything."

"As long as you try, andwyyn, that is all I can ask. I'm afraid I must be going, but we will meet again soon. Do take care of yourself, Senator." Eradaxis bowed in respect one last time, then headed to the door. He paused as his hoof touched the handle. "Ah, right, I'd nearly forgotten." A small crystalline container was pulled from his satchel, carefully wrapped in cloth. He set it down on the small table near him. "I thought you might enjoy a taste of home. I had to stuff a few coins into the guard's purse to get it through, but I think you'll find it was worth the price. Consider it a reminder of what we're fighting for. Spirits be with you, Praxilus."

***

"Another missive for you, Princess." A courier passed a wrapped scroll and saluted, departing as soon as Celestia had the message floating before her. She dreaded opening it, for the news from around Equestria had been nothing but terrible all morning. It was added to the stack on her desk, one of many. It would not be the last.

Spread out before her lay reports from the front. Each told a story of horrific violence and loss in the frustratingly clipped and to-the-point language of military communication. Generals, unit commanders, supply overseers -- all had something to say, their collective experiences forming a grim picture of Equestria's floundering defenses.

After-Battle Report for 8th of New Snows, 3E01.

Location: Quillyyn Keep, southern Whitetail.

Encountered mixed army of Cervidaen and Whitetail soldiers. Estimated strength: 7-10,000 initial, 2,500-3,000 additional. Enemy forces engaged in the early morning by combined Equestrian defenders. Strength: approximately 3,850 Equestrian Guard, 866 Royal Guard, 280 Legionary.

Initial long-range bombardment exchanged on both sides. Losses minimal. Deployment of magically enhanced Ice Arrows effective. Advancing deer forces harassed by pegasus flights deploying several methods of attack. Fly-overs ordered to cease after Cervidaen Protectorate "magii" deployed hereto unknown paralysis spell that caused heavy losses to our pegasi.

Main body of Equestrian army clashed with the deer soon after, causing a stalemate. Force of numbers resulted in a gradual loss of position, with reports of additional reinforcements heading toward Quillyyn Keep from the east. A general retreat order was issued, with all able-bodied stallions falling back to the keep itself. Detonation of buried "emerald flame" stores inflicted an estimated 3-400 deaths and numerous injuries on the deer, and formed an effective wall that allowed our army to retreat in safety.

Approximate Equestrian losses: 856 confirmed dead, 1,144 wounded, 217 missing.

Quillyyn Keep left for advancing deer to reclaim, albeit in a poor state. As of the time of writing this report, the bulk of the 1st Equestrian Army has fled south to the border. Will regroup with 3rd Equestrian Guard for resupply. Further reports to follow.

-General Phalanx

Commander, 1st Equestrian Army

She read through it twice. So many lives lost, yet as all she felt was an overwhelming numbness. Six months of war with Whitetail had seen thousands die, and just when it seemed that it might all be over Elinwynn had reignited the flames of conflict. Now even more ponies were falling every day, in greater numbers than before. Their lives blurred together into statistics -- numbers on a ledger or notes on a report -- and she hated herself for it.

It had taken days for the scroll to reach her, now one of many, each telling of a crushing defeat. Together they told a story of desperate battles against overwhelming numbers and hereto unseen magics, with soldiers and civilians alike caught up in the sweeping maelstrom that was the advancing Cervidaen armies.

Eighteen dead in Mountain's Edge, the closest settlement to the border. Ten lost in a skirmish near the eastern edge of Whitetail Wood. Thirty civilians and two dozen soldiers cut down in Farrowfields, their bodies left in the open. Trotting Valley, Argo-on-the-River, Moon Glade, Sparrow Port, Starfall -- the deer advance seemed to move unabated through Equestria, sweeping south and east to cut off supplies from the fertile grass lands and burning any stores of food they could find.

If they were not stopped, or at least delayed, Corvalix and his bucks would be at Marestopholous within a week. From there it would be a scant two weeks, perhaps a month at the most, until Canterlot itself was within range of their siege weapons. Equestria needed more; more supplies, more weapons...more bodies to throw at the enemy, to refill the ranks.

Hesitantly she pulled a scroll from beside her desk. It had been there since before the start of the new war, though until this moment she hadn't seriously considered its proposal. Her generals had assured her that it was in Equestria's best interest to sign off on it; promised that it would be handled with the utmost care and professionalism.

It was a simple thing, brief and plainly written with the seal of the sun adorning the top right corner. She read it over and over, as if in a dream.

ATTENTION

By order of the Royal Court, all stallions between the ages of 17 and 45 are to report to the nearest Guard post for conscription into the greater Equestrian Military pending a physical examination. Exemptions will be detailed at local Guard centers. Those who have previously served are asked to report to senior officers directly in order to speed up the process. Equipment and pay to be determined upon completion of training.

Anyone of sound body and mind found refusing to serve will face fines and imprisonment.

Serve your country. Protect your family. The deer menace will not stop until it is thoroughly defeated.

Honor to Equestria.

A quill and ink well levitated onto her desk. She hovered the phoenix feather just above the parchment. So much pointless death and destruction, all of it cataloged before her. Never, in the entire history of Equestria, had there been a conscription. Even at the worst of times during the great strife of her parents' era there had been some hope to hold onto, a glittering light that could be reached through negotiation or the proper application of force in the right place. Now she would be raising what amounted to little more than a militia, a hastily assembled mass of bodies to shield the more veteran soldiers while they did their duty. It was horrible, even unthinkable. So many of them would die, and many more would hate her for the rest of their lives. They would blame her, curse her name...and they would be right. But it had to be done.

She thought of her parents, of her sister, of the thousands of families that would be torn apart, and could not find it within herself to hold back the tears as she signed her name in approval.

"Forgive me."

62 - No Going Back

It was not yet mid-day in Canterlot, but the frenzied mass of civilians that crowded into the castle's Great Hall had not let up for hours on end. Hundreds of ponies were jammed into its confines, shouting and demanding to be seen by Celestia herself. An entire squad of Praetorians barred the doors that led to the throne room hallway, backed up by two squads of Royal Guards stationed on the balconies above. They stood in place with their shields forming a wall, alert for any sign of weapons or agitators.

Just beyond the closed doors, Tercio struggled with stacks of reports from all over Equestria. They had to be sorted by commander and unit, parsed for relevant information, and then approved before they could be sent on for either Celestia's or a senior officer's signature -- an already complicated process made significantly more challenging and frustrating thanks to the recent general conscription mandate. The reaction had been immediate, with unrest springing up all over the country even as the northern settlements were being hastily relocated to the south, out of the path of the advancing deer. It seemed that the whole world had gone mad overnight, and Tercio was stuck directly in the middle of it all.

Something bounced off the other side of the ornate doors, accompanied by a brief flaring of shouts. It had been like this all morning. He didn't imagine it would get any better. He shook his head and went back to his work.

"Imperator Gilded Harp, 8th Equestrian Guard...brief skirmish with the deer, no casualties. Requesting additional maces and two crates of medical salves and potions." Requisitions. Not important enough for the princess. He rolled the scroll and tied it off, adding a small blue wax stamp to show that it was meant for the senior cadre. It joined dozens of others in a crate near his impromptu work desk.

"General Calavius Stratus, Cloudsdale Reconnaissance lead...deer spotted moving in from the west, aware of Cloudsdale's location." Tercio shook his head. Having streamers of brightly-colored spectra cascading from your city probably didn't help with concealment. The pegasi always did have a way with showponyship. Now it was biting them in the ass.

A second note had been added to the first, more hastily scrawled. "Redtail magii have begun attempting to break up the city with weather spells and levitated explosive devices. Effect on the city is minimal, but all civilians have been evacuated to the south-east for their own safety. Cloudsdale requests any available reinforcements, as well as three hundred barrels of fresh water for cloud production and drinking."

A red stamp marked it as the utmost urgency. He passed it to one of his runners who would personally present it to Celestia. Cloudsdale was the one city most likely to come out of this war mostly unscathed, thanks to its ease of being repaired and rebuilt, but clouds weren't exactly much of a defense against shrapnel pots and whatever implements the deer could come up with to toss at its defenders.

A younger initiate in a blue cloak pushed through the double doors and saluted as they closed once more behind him. He was covered in bits of vegetables and grains that clung to his coat and armor.

"Sir, Decanus Rimeberry requests your aid with the crowd. They are becoming rather, uh, unruly." He brushed a chunk of tomato from his chest plate. "Damned mob is what it is."

Tercio swore inwardly. Nothing could ever be easy. "Thank you for the message, initiate. Go get yourself cleaned up." Grabbing his spear and shield he braced himself for what was doubtlessly going to be a trying experience. The doors swung open as he finished placing his helm upon his head. Immediately he was greeted by the collective racket of hundreds of shouting ponies that only grew louder as some of them saw him for the first time. He hoped his stature would help drive his authority home, though he knew it could very well have the opposite effect.

"Glad to see you could join us," Rimeberry shouted over his shoulder. The crowd had apparently grown tired of throwing things, at least for the time being. Tercio stepped over rotten cabbage and bits of food and stood directly behind the shield wall. He still had to raise his voice to be heard mere inches away.

"Star Chaser said you needed my help! Things really that bad?"

"See for yourself! Proper mess, this is!"

"Anyone become violent yet? Any signs of weapons?"

"Nothing so far, unless you count some nasty old vegetables! Maybe you can bring some order, or at least get them to throw shit at you for a while!"

Tercio raised his voice. "Excuse me, if you would all just--" The jeering grew louder. Someone called him a 'freak'. "Please, if I could have your attention for a moment?"

"I don't think that's gonna work," Rimeberry quipped.

With a grunt of annoyance Tercio lifted his shield and slammed its edge onto the floor as hard as he could, causing even the other soldiers to jump at the sound. "Enough!"

That had done the job. All eyes were on him now, a mix of anger and hesitancy intertwined with those who simply wanted answers. He spoke up once more with the same commanding presence he used when speaking to the fledgling Praetorian candidates, firm yet fair.

"My apologies. I am Centurion Tercio Krosus, acting commander of the 105th Praetorian Guard while Imperator Stonewall is otherwise occupied. Any questions or concerns you may have may be directed to me. I cannot guarantee that I will have all the answers, but I will most certainly do what I can. Now, how can I help?"

A chorus of shouted questions were his immediate answer, and he struggled to pick out any particular one from the crowd. He pointed to a middle-aged mare near the front and the crowd quieted down once more.

"Why aren't you doing more to stop this?" she asked. Her eyes were red from crying. "My boy isn't a soldier! He's never hurt anyone! What help could he possibly be? Please, let him come home!"

Several others raised their voices in support. Tercio stuck out his hand to placate her as he considered his words.

"I'm sure your son is a fine young stallion, but these are challenging times for us all. Equestria is under attack like we've never seen before. Princess Celestia knew this would be an unpopular decision, but she felt it was the only way to preserve our way of life and the livelihoods of all ponies. Your son is in good hooves, ma'am. He'll receive the finest equipment and training."

"I don't give a damn about what the princess thinks! How am I supposed to trust her to keep my boy safe when she couldn't even protect her own sister?"

He was glad Celestia wasn't around to hear that.

"Princess Luna's situation was unfortunate and tragic, but it was an exceptional circumstance that led to her banishment. Rest assured that we will do everything in our power to keep your son safe. If I may ask, what is his name?"

The mare sniffed back her tears. "Calegio. Calegio Astoris, after his grandfather."

"And is he from here, in Canterlot?"

She nodded. "Yes. He's not a fighter, sir. The boy can barely speak above a whisper sometimes. Please, just...just don't take him from me. I still mourn his father; he was with the 25th Equestrian Guard at the battle of Everfree Forest. I couldn't stand to lose my son, too."

Tercio made a mental note to ask one of the senior officers to assign this Calegio to something away from the front lines. If this mare had lost a family member to the war already, perhaps he could do something to help.

"I give you my word that he will be looked after, domina," he promised, adding the formal title at the end to show respect. It seemed to placate her for the moment. "You, sir, toward the back. You have a question?"

A pegasus in a stained traveling tunic lifted himself just above the crowd. "I've already done my part for my country. I served for eight years in the Equestrian Guard, but I have a business and a family to look after now. If I leave, what will happen to them?"

"I'm sure they will be able to look after your business in your temporary absence, sir. You will, of course, be paid for your continued service."

"And who are you to be the princess' messenger? For that matter, what are you? I've never seen your kind before!"

Tercio grew weary of his attitude already. "I am a soldier of Equestria. Everything else is secondary. If you truly are former service then you'll understand, I'm sure. We have need of experienced stallions to--"

The stallion threw his hooves in the air. "This is ridiculous! I already give a quarter of my goods to the military storehouses! Doesn't that mean anything?"

That changed things a bit. "You're a supplier? What business do you own?"

"I run a bread shop in High Haunch, have for years."

"In that case you may be exempt from service. Bring your ledger with you when you speak to someone at the local Guard post. We need food as much as we need swords and armor. Your contributions to Equestria are appreciated."

"They damned well better be."

The crowd was starting to get agitated again. Best to nip it in the bud.

"Everyone, please! I understand you're upset, and you have every right to be, but you must understand: Princess Celestia would not have taken such a drastic measure unless it was absolutely necessary. I do not know what you've heard of our war with Cervidae and their Whitetail puppets, but allow me to state in the most clear, concise manner I can that every able-bodied stallion is needed to ensure the survival of our nation and our people.

"The deer are a difficult opponent, and they fully believe that we are the true threat to peace and prosperity. They will not stop until everything we know and love has been shattered. We must drive them back across the border, and we must do so now. Together, with the support of the gods that watch over us, we can do exactly that -- but it's going to take each and every one of us doing our part. Your husbands, sons and brothers will be part of a military that treats its own like family, and I can assure you that they will receive the absolute best training that Equestria can offer."

The quality of training wasn't the issue. Time was. If the deer continued unabated they would arrive at the capital in a month at most. Taking into account processing, equipment issuing and deployment orders, the stallions would be lucky to get two weeks worth of combat training. That was enough time to learn the basics of sword and board, perhaps even volley archery where number mattered more than individual accuracy, but beyond that they would be nothing more than glorified militia. Looking out across the masses, his stomach churned at the thought of so many of them inevitably losing loved ones before the war could come to an end.

"If anyone has further questions, I suggest you speak to your local Guard representatives. There are numerous exceptions to the conscription order, and all exemptions are on a case by case basis. The princess thanks you for your support." As soon as he turned around, Tercio leaned in to Rimeberry and spoke over the commotion. "We'll be here all damned day if this keeps up. Have these people escorted out, would you?"

"We'll try," Rimeberry replied with an exhausted glance. "Hopefully you got through to some of them."

"I suppose we'll find out."

The noise of the crowd faded as Tercio closed the doors behind him once more. He grabbed the scroll box then began the walk down the heavily guarded corridors to the senior officers' planning room -- and Celestia's quarters soon after. It would, at least, be a bright spot on an otherwise miserable morning.

***

Celestia's door was partway open when he knocked. He chanced a peek inside, seeing only the empty oaken desk through the narrow gap.

"Yes?" she asked after a moment, unseen.

"More scrolls for you, Princess, per your orders," he answered.

"Tercio? You really needn't bother with formality, my love. Please, come in."

He set the box down beside the desk. Two others were stacked next to it, each filled to the brim -- one for her, full of approved orders, and one for the officers who would be by to pick them up when they were available. It was little wonder no one had seen hide nor hair of the princess since the very early morning. By the look of things, she was busy fulfilling requests for every single pony in the nation.

He closed the door for privacy, then approached to where she was seated on a large, ornate cushion across the room next to a low table. Small plates of half-eaten foods and a kettle of steaming tea were spread across it, along with yet more unrolled scrolls marked with red stamps.

"Sorry to give you yet more things to fret about," he said, bending down to give her a kiss before sitting beside her. "I tried to keep only the matters of utmost importance for you. Logistics, personal requests -- those can go to the others."

"I don't mind," she answered plainly, though the bags under her eyes said different. "Being aware of Equestria's well-being at all times is my duty, and I would gladly read through a thousand scrolls if it meant saving even one life."Celestia rested her head against his shoulder, her ethereal mane flowing over his back like gently rolling waves. The crackling warmth of the fireplace threatened to lull her to sleep. Her body ached for rest, made the very thought of it more enticing than any fine meal or lustful ecstasy. All she had to do was close her eyes...

She blinked away the exhaustion and sat up straight again, pouring herself another cup of tea. She offered one to Tercio, but he politely declined.

"We're in a bad place, Tercio. Equestria, I mean. Elinwynn has amassed a force unlike anything that's been seen in our own history, and they've claimed nearly a quarter of our territory in a scant week and a half. We lack the numbers to face them directly, and Corvalix is not so easy to catch unaware with ambushes or quick raids." She pulled a map from under a stack of notes. It was marked as being from the previous day, the myriad strategic symbols showing the path of the redtail/whitetail advance and their projected path through Equestria. General Tyrelius, of the 5th Equestrian Army, had signed off at the bottom in approval.

"So far we've had to evacuate over forty small settlements, eight villages and two major trading hubs in order to keep the ponies safe from the wrath of the approaching deer. Unlike Whitetail proper, the Cervidaen-led forces seem to have no issue exacting a terrible toll on our citizens. You can say what you like about Chancellor Vinawyll -- I certainly have -- but at least he adhered to some code of conduct and honor. Now that he's nothing more than a puppet he likely has no say in the matter."

Tercio studied the map carefully, aware of the fact that such conversation was key to keeping Celestia alert and focused. How easy it would have been to take her hoof and lead her to bed, lying beside her until she fell into a well-deserved slumber. Such a thing would have to wait.

"I had heard we were losing ground, but this is beyond the scope of anything I had dreamt. Is there anything we can do to stem this tide?"

"I'm considering something rather...drastic," Celestia said apprehensively. "I've been advised by the senior cadre that the only realistic way of holding off the deer is an all-or-nothing defense. We could fight the deer on terrain favorable to our abilities if we do so, but it entails focusing all of our soldiers around Canterlot."

Tercio felt his stomach drop. "That can't be the only way."

"I said the same thing. Unfortunately, it may end up being our one chance at salvation. The conscription has added many thousands to our forces, but they're not proper soldiers. We've been using them to evacuate citizens. A few of our hastily assembled supplementary units have fought the deer in the process, and every time they meet it's a one-sided slaughter. We can't rely upon them to form the bulk of our armies, and we certainly can't afford to spread our forces out across the entire country. For the time being we will continue to move everyone in imminent danger further south. That includes Marestopholous."

"Is such a thing even possible?" he asked in surprise. "There are tens of thousands there, not to mention the majority of our war prisoners. Evacuating them all would be a monumental task."

"It would be," she agreed, "but I see no other choice. Defending Marestopholous would mean a prolonged siege that would cost stallions and equipment that we just can't spare if the deer decide to spread out and go around it while we're preoccupied with fortifying the place. If anything should happen to the city, well...we can always rebuild."

"And what of the ponies there? Southern Equestria can be bitterly cold this time of year, and even if you move them closer to the Sea of Lights there is no infrastructure in place to provide for so many."

She cast her eyes down at the thought. "I don't know. We're making this up as we go along. None of us ever envisioned a scenario where such a rapid evacuation was necessary. We'll find a way.

"With everyone to the south, and the only viable route to their new location blocked by the mountains, the deer will have no choice but to funnel through the valley under Canterlot. Not even they will want to climb the sheer peaks of the Swaybacks."

Such drastic news was like a kick to the gut. Tercio thought of all the ponies who would be forced from their homes, taking only the belongings they could carry with them. They would be confused, frightened, saddened. So many, so quickly. There were countless places in danger, including...

"Summervale. My parents! If the deer should decide to swing west they'll run right into the farmstead!" he said in a moment of panic.

Celestia placed a hoof on his shoulder. "It's alright. I've already communicated with the Guard outpost in the area. They're ready to take the ponies of Summervale, including your parents, to safety at a moment's notice."

"Can you have them brought here, to Canterlot? I will gladly pay for them to stay at an inn for as long as is necessary if it means they'll be safe."

"Of course," Celestia said. "I will be extending the same offer to any Praetorian's family who might be in danger. Rest assured that no harm will come to them."

"Thank you. I wouldn't be able to cope with leaving them out there." Tercio took a deep breath to calm himself. "So...what now?"

She considered the map as she bit her lip in thought. There were still too many unknowns to make a decisive choice.

"I'm not sure yet. I have a meeting with the senior cadre in a few hours; I guess we'll know more soon enough. I hope they've come up with some alternative to abandoning most of the country to the will of the deer." With no satisfying answer to the problem at hoof, she quickly changed the subject. "How are our new Praetorians doing? Stonewall tells me you've done an admirable job training them."

Truth be told, Tercio was more than happy to talk about something he had some degree of control over. Watching over an entire nation was beyond what he could imagine.

"They are doing surprisingly well. Most of them are combat veterans in their own right, so aside from our specific traditions and heavier focus on small-unit tactics they are already quite familiar with most of what they're being trained in. I'm not sure if I would trust them to have my back in a fight like the throne room quite yet, but they're getting there. We had two of them wash out within the last couple of days -- not bad considering half of my contubernium failed to make it to the end. I think the war with Whitetail has singled out those made of harder stuff."

Celestia smiled lightly. "That's good to hear. We could always use more skilled soldiers."

"Considering Stonewall hasn't had me whipped for incompetence I suppose I'm doing alright. It's quite a lot of pressure trying to get them ready for protecting you, but I take it in stride. Who knows? Perhaps one day I'll have Stonewall's job. Then he can finally retire and spend his days complaining in comfort."

"Don't let him hear you say that," she said with a laugh. "You know, I seem to recall you saying that you were starting to grow tired of the military life. Has something changed your mind?"

"Something -- or someone. It's true that I would like to return to a simpler life, but our relationship being what it is I can't see it being realistic at the moment. If there's one thing I've learned in my time in the Praetorian Guard, it's that your life is never simple, even on the slowest of days. If I want to stay with you, then I cannot see any other way than being in Canterlot, and Canterlot means military service." He shrugged. "I suppose that's been the issue since the very start, hasn't it?"

Celestia caressed his cheek as she spoke. "Tercio, I would never want you to abandon your dreams just to be with me. What you want from your life does matter to me, even if it means we can't be together. I love you more than I can say, but I want you to be happy."

"I'm too busy worrying about keeping you and Equestria safe to really worry about such things right now. We'll figure something out after we've tossed the deer back across the border." He gave her one last, lingering kiss before standing back up. "I need to return to my post. We have sparring within the hour followed by preparations for cold weather training up in the mountains. I need to speak with someone from the 7th Barracks and see if they can cover for us while we're gone." With a final check of his equipment he headed for the door. "I might be able to squeeze in some time to drop by later tonight, though I can't make any promises with our regimen being what it is."

"I understand. I'll look forward to it," she said with a tired smile. "Do take care of yourself out there."

Celestia was back to her duties before he even left the room.

***

Caethil clutched his winter clothing against his chest as a gust of cold air whipped across the rocky shore line. It was the first clear night in nearly a month. Above him, countless stars twinkled in a tapestry of lights, a glittering backdrop for the waning moon. Foam-topped waves crawled up from the Sea of Lights and lapped at his hooves with wet, icy tongues. A chill went down his spine, but not from the cold -- somewhere out there, across the vast expanse, Equestria waited for him.

And he was not alone. Just down the shore, a short walk away, the largest collection of Zevran troop ships ever assembled were being loaded for war. They bobbed gently in the darkness, their totemic prows silhouetted against the horizon like sea serpents waiting for their prey. The calls and responses of zebra officers drifted on the wind and mixed with the roaring wash of the tide. It was strange, even a bit unsettling, that so few voices sounded from so many, but Caethil had come to learn that the zebras were a quiet people when there was a task set before them. They focused on it with absolute intent, offering nary a word until they had completed their duties.

There were thousands of them standing in rigid formation, an army unlike any he had ever seen. The Ambin'aa Korutu -- the Home Guard of Zevran. Split into three tiers, they formed a rough semicircle that started at the shore and ended just before the sickly yellow leaves of the Zevran forests.

The bulk of their number were the Sha'jaal, the standard soldier of Zevran's tribal forces. Gather enough soldiers in one place, and you had the first Kikosa, or war band, seen in Zevran in generations.

With no truly centralized government the soldiers varied in appearance, though most had something resembling a uniform, or the closest thing to it. A short, cylindrical cap and matching brown-and-black striped clothing seemed to be commonplace, with heavier winter wraps made of furs hanging down to just above their knees. Common too were the wood and shell bangles that adorned their forelegs, each carved by the individual soldier with the dramatic faces of their spirit gods for protection and guidance. Fewer in number, though no less impressive, were the dangling necklaces made of leather strips and polished stone beads. These were dotted with trinkets from their homes, given by family and friends as blessings of good fortune.

Traditional face paint completed the look, with fantastic swirls and patterns of white as varied as the soldiers themselves. Zebra forces typically wore little in the way of armor, preferring to rely on agility and quick changes in tactics to overcome more heavily armored forces. Most were armed with tall, oval shields made of the thick hides of forest creatures backed by a strong yet light wooden frame, along with several throwing spears and a shorter, broad-headed thrusting spear.

Notably absent was any form of siege weapon. Life in Zevran was dominated by the dangerous thickets of pronged trees and the creatures found within, and as such they had little reason to develop ranged combat beyond spears or occasional bows. Instead, the zebras were masters of close combat. Caethil thought it a distinct disadvantage to not be able to return an enemy's bombardment, but he was willing to give them a chance -- not that he had any real choice in the matter. In such drastic times, he was willing to get help from wherever he could find it.

As the first warriors walked up the gangplanks to their ships, Caethil looked back at the events that had brought him here. It had been a strange, often frustrating journey.

After arriving in Zevran, he had initially been treated with trepidation and skepticism from most zebras, a rare outsider from a distant land. Only the village chief, a reassuring stallion named Saimsa'wari, was welcoming. When Saimsa'wari left for the nearest major settlement to find one of their 'elders', Caethil was left on his own. Most zebras had never seen a deer, and his size and stature -- nearly two heads taller than the tallest zebra with his antlers -- made some fear him outright. He had spent several days and nights in self-imposed confinement in a grass hut at the edge of the village he would come to know as Dempende Neezuma, the Place of the Fire Moon. Occasional visits by Baer'barisater were his only source of contact with anyone remotely familiar, and in those times he expressed his concern and regret over having come so far for nothing. 'Bear' had assured him that he needn't worry, and that he would soon be able to tell his story freely, but it was not until the arrival of Seer-Shaman Imbele that he truly had the freedom he desired. Imbele, Bear had told him, was the very same whom he had spoken to before his joining the Praetorian Guard in Equestria, the single spark that had brought this strange meeting to fruition.

That night, over a roaring bonfire and bowls of a spicy, earthy stew, Caethil had told the old mystic everything; his time spent in Whitetail, the outbreak of the war with Equestria, the crushing depression of loss after loss. He recounted the first time he'd heard of Elinwynn and her Cervidaen armies marching in from the west to give them aid, and the horrible realization that it was a hostile takeover in all but action. Whitetail had become a puppet state at the mercy of her whims. That was when he'd met with Praxilus and Bear, one leading him to the other.

Then came the terrible loss of his bucks and two of the senators, cut down to the last by Elinwynn's vicious attack dog of a brother, Corvalix. A small crowd had gathered as he recounted his story, enthralled by Bear's running translation, and by the end of it he found himself receiving words of support and prayers of spiritual and mental strength from many of them.

Throughout the retelling the elder had remained respectfully quiet. A quiet unease hung in the air for some time as he considered Caethil's words, with only the crackling fire and chirping night insects breaking the silence. When he spoke, it was a single sentence in rough Equestrian: "We will speak with Mwolan'e."

Now he waited in nervous anticipation for the day when he might stare down the barbaric redtail one last time.

Hoof steps in the stony sand approached him from the direction of the gathered zebras.

"Uungotu mafal'e...bo'ur sisswa ndenge," an old zebra in an opulent headdress said as he hobbled over, a walking stick clutched between his right foreleg and chest. Baer'barisater was at his side, fully covered in the war dressings of his people. He translated in thickly accented Equestrian.

"He says you have the look of a jungle cat stalking its prey."

Caethil gave a short laugh. "I feel more like the hunted than the hunter. I've been on the run for so long that it's hard to remember what it's like to not spend my nights fretting." He bowed courteously. "I was not expecting to see you before our departure, Seer-Shaman. Come to wish me luck like everyone else?"

Imbele answered in the strange, almost poetic language of his people. Golden rings around his neck clicked against each other as he motioned to the army waiting down the beach.

"He does not think you need more well-wishes, for he knows the ancestor spirits watch over you."

"You sound like a Whitetail priest. I've never really been one for ghosts of the long dead; they certainly won't stop a blade from tearing into you."

He waited for Bear's translation and mused that the two peoples might have shared the same beliefs for all intents and purposes. Whitetail may not have built totems and adorned their bodies with fearsome faces, but the idea of looking to the past for guidance was not unique to either species.

"The spirits work in mysterious ways, Caethil. It was them that brought us together, was it not?"

"At this point I'm willing to believe just about anything if it means taking back Whitetail. It was certainly fortuitous that these 'visions' came to you, Seer. Whatever the case may be, I want to thank you for helping me convince Elder Mwolan'e that Zevran cannot stand idly by and wait for Equestria to be overrun. Elinwynn and Corvalix will not stop until they've claimed the entire continent -- of this I'm sure."

"If what you have said time and again is true, then he is more than pleased to help. The memory of those visions has faded somewhat, but he says he will remember the fields of dead for the rest of his days. He will do everything in his power to stop it from coming to fruition."

Imbele dipped his head and began praying to himself. Bear lowered his voice and stepped closer, not wanting to interrupt.

"You must understand, Caethil: it is unprecedented for Zevran to go to war on behalf of someone else."

Caethil nodded. "Mwolan'e said as much. I'm quite aware of their hesitancy to engage in open conflict."

"Perhaps you are, but it is deeper than that. This is not just a journey that will be undertaken by warriors and leaders, but by the very soul of Zevran's consciousness. If we should fail, there will not be a Zevran to come back to. Our people will still be here, our homes will still be here, but the earth beneath our hooves at this very moment will no longer be the Zevran Tribal Lands. It will lead to the second coming of the Dark Times, with or without the redtails' influence."

On some level, Caethil understood. "Then we'd best not fail, my friend."

Seer-Shaman Imbele closed his eyes as he continued to mutter to himself, seemingly lost in thought. When he was finished, he turned back to Caethil and spoke in halting Equestrian, this time without Bear's help.

"We...are of one...spirit." He drew a spiral over his chest with his hoof. "Together...we bring the light...back to the world."

Thousands of voices joined as one as the zebras steadily loaded themselves onto their ships, their unknowable words somber and melodious, a song of longing and remorse that could have belonged to any of the myriad peoples that called these lands home. In that moment, Caethil knew he had made the right choice in following Bear across the harsh hills and thick forests. Zevran, Whitetail, Equestria -- they would fight together, or they would fall together.

"Come, Caethil," Bear said, leading him to the ships where Zevran's most important leaders stood ready. "Our journey has just begun. Equestria awaits."

63 - Flight

Praxilus turned over in his bed, grumbling at the commotion outside. It felt like he'd just turned in for the night, but by the sound of things half of Equestria might have been outside his dwelling. Didn't they have the decency to keep quiet until the sun rose? He shoved a pillow over his head and ignored them as best he could, quickly drifting off once more.

His door flew open and banged against the wall. He jumped at the sudden intrusion and scrambled up to a sitting position, convinced in his half-asleep state that Corvalix's assassins had finally found him.

"Gather your things immediately, we need to leave!"

A pony in full battle dress stomped into the room, followed by three others who stood in the doorway. The gears in his head slowly clicked into place as his tired mind recognized the intruder.

"Centurion Moonlight? What is the meaning of this? What's going on?"

The charcoal-coated earth pony nodded to the soldiers with him. They set about piling Praxilus' meager belongings into a cloth bag, apparently unsatisfied with his haste, or lack thereof. Moonlight was one of the few ponies he'd met who spoke fluent Whyttalia, accented though it may have been.

"There's been an evacuation order, Senator. We need to leave."

Praxilus blinked. "Evacuation? For me?"

"For the city. We don't have time to sit here and discuss this. Get dressed, we're moving out with all haste." Moonlight tossed a bundle of winter clothing at him, then left just as suddenly as he'd barged in. Confused, cold, and dreadfully tired, Praxilus quickly threw on his Equestrian garments and gave a check to his room to make sure nothing had been left behind.

The bag of valuables was shoved into his chest by a pegasus as he stepped outside. The freezing pre-dawn air was like a ripple of tiny daggers against his skin, with a biting wind that howled mercilessly through the streets that were packed with more ponies than he'd ever seen. The entirety of Marestopholous seemed to be in a state of panic, and everywhere he looked there were armored stallions directing shivering groups of ponies by flickering, whipping torchlight.

"Come with me," Moonlight ordered, not waiting for him to throw the bag over his shoulder. He scrambled to catch up and nearly had to run to stay at the ill-mannered guard's side, teeth chattering with every gust. The three guard ponies fell in formation around him, one on each flank and one to the rear. "My orders are to escort you to the southern exit. Once we arrive you'll be handed off to General Phalanx of the First Equestrian Army. What he does with you after that is none of my concern. Do you understand?"

"Yes. I-I mean...no! What exactly is going on here?" Praxilus asked, his words coming out as small puffs that quickly dissipated in the wind. Winter in Whitetail might have been cold, but this was unbearable! Between it and the clipped answers he was getting, he could feel his mood souring and had to stop himself from swearing at the centurion. Moonlight looked at him with disdain.

"The Princess has ordered a general evacuation of all civilians from Marestopholous and the surrounding area, effective immediately. She believes a prolonged siege will do nothing but cause unnecessary deaths. The entirety of Marestopholous' Equestrian Guard division is helping in the effort. With any luck this place will be home to naught but ghosts by mid morning."

Praxilus couldn't believe what he was hearing. "But there's thousands of ponies here!"

"Which is exactly why we need to hurry. The sooner I dump you off with Phalanx, the sooner I can return to helping Equestrian citizens." Moonlight had never kept his prejudice against deerkind much of a secret, typically speaking to Praxilus only in brief sentences and often with muttered swears. To his credit, he'd managed to keep himself from being outwardly hostile, and his dedication to learning how to communicate with other species, at least as a jailer, spoke to a considerable intellect hidden under that coarse exterior. "Doubtlessly there will be those who refuse to leave their homes and businesses. I will not waste time convincing them otherwise." He glanced up at Praxilus. "After all the trouble we've gone through to keep you safe, I'd better not hear that you've been found by those tree rutters, understand? If you should find yourself unable to escape from Corvalix and his thugs, it would be best if you took your own life."

Praxilus didn't answer, though the thought of plunging a dagger into his heart was not one he was eager to spend too much time on. A unicorn couple was arguing with a trio of soldiers somewhere nearby; he let himself be occupied by their voices instead, picking out words here and there that he recognized. A long line of ponies with heavy-looking bags had formed along a major cross-street, many of them with scared and confused foals at their sides. Their collective voices were sorrowful and angered as they waited to pick up small satchels of essential supplies being handed out by guards.

"Where in the world are these people supposed to go?" he asked Moonlight.

"South. We've set up a number of shelter and supply sites between here and Canterlot."

He was sure he misheard. "You can't be serious. Canterlot is a week's travel by road, at the very least. Surely there must be--"

"Look, whitetail, I just do what I'm told," Moonlight interrupted with an annoyed retort. "And right now we have to convince an entire city to up and leave in the middle of the night, in the freezing cold, on a trek that may very well cost some of these people their lives. I don't know what will become of them, and frankly I can't concern myself with anything beyond my immediate orders, else I'm liable to lose my gods-damned mind.

"The pegasi are free to leave on their own, should they so choose, but everyone else will have to hoof it. You don't like it? Tough shit. I don't like it either. Suck it up and keep moving, because the alternative is staying in an empty city to die to the redtail." He remained silent for the rest of the way, passing by throngs of shivering ponies who were being formed up into roughly company-sized groups. Their number seemed to be without end.

A large force of soldiers waited at the southern road. One of them stuck out a hoof and asked for identification. Moonlight reached into his bag and pulled out a scroll, presenting it with a salute.

"Centurion Moonlight, prisoner transfer detail."

"We go to see General Phalanx," Praxilus added in passable Equestrian. The guard looked up at him with a cocked eyebrow.

"Is that a fact? Why aren't you with the rest of the whitetail prisoners?"

"He's an important politician or some such," Moonlight answered for him. "Can you get him to the general?"

The guard nodded after he finished looking over the scroll. "You can count on us, sir."

"Good, that's what I like to hear. Gods know we have enough problems as is." He spoke to Praxilus in Whyttalia. "This is where we part ways, whitetail. Best of luck with whatever it is you plan to do after the war. I've got a lot to do, so if you have anything to request before heading out I suggest you do so now."

"Nothing I can think of. I'll be fine." With a dip of his head he switched to Equestrian and saluted with a hoof over his chest. "Thank you, may the princess watch over you."

"Yeah...same to you."

Praxilus watched them leave for a short time, then considered the guard at his side. Several others had joined him, each armed with a tall spear and shield. "I am ready," he said. With a final look over his shoulder he lamented that these ponies may never see their homes again. They cast their accusatory gazes upon him, full of scorn, and in that moment he was ashamed to be a deer.

***

Back and forth they scrambled, like aimless children, a rabble of fools and desperate cowards silhouetted against the descending moon. They thought they were wise to leave before the coming of dawn; perhaps they hoped to avoid the coming armies, to leave the invaders with nothing but an empty city. In their minds, no doubt, it would be a grand insult. Look here, and see that Equestria is forever one step ahead!

Corvalix smirked at the very idea. Such an empty gesture. Did they truly think to outsmart him? Equestria had been moving its citizens south for the last week, and he and his bucks had found entire villages, farmsteads and towns empty in increasing numbers. They were looted for what meager valuables remained, then simply left alone. From the few ponies they had captured who had insisted upon staying in their homes, all of Equestria was apparently under the idea that he would burn everything to the ground, as if he were some sort of monster. It was utter nonsense. Why would he burn down the very place he would soon come to rule? Homes could be repurposed for redtail use, farms could be sown with new crops. The transition to Cervidaen control would be a rapid one. All he had to do was make an example of those who resisted every now and then, perhaps set fire to their dwellings while the others watched, and his point would be made.

How odd, he mused, that Equestria was easier to bring to heel than Whitetail ever was. Once the Princess and her armies fell, the rest of the nation would bow before him.

Perhaps he should not have expected so much from a lesser race after all.

"Brother-General, sir, our scouts report the remainder of the Equestrian First Army approaching Marestopholous from the north-west. They will arrive at the city shortly," an older stag with lines of gray streaking his neck reported as a gust of wind billowed his winter garments. Flecks of snow blew against his battle-scarred armor "I also bring word from Brother-Commander Aerindel. He says his bucks are in position along the eastern flank, and are ready to strike at your word."

Corvalix stared into the darkness, picking out the forms of flying ponies darting above the city. Had they seen him? It was only a matter of time until one of them chanced a flight near the craggy ridge.

"Tell them to hold position, Brother-Captain. We are merely observers to this event."

"Yes, sir, as you say." The stag saluted and loped away with the message as Corvalix returned to his position behind a large boulder. Doubtlessly the good Brother-Commander would wonder why he had to remain idle when the battered remnants of Quillyyn Keep's one-time defenders were out there, just waiting to be finished off. As far as Corvalix was concerned, he could wonder all he liked. Eager though he was to crush Equestria's resistance, the fact remained that the further he marched inland the harder it was to obtain replacements and supplies. To that end, he had made it a policy to engage only when a swift, crushing victory was assured. He would save his bucks for the assault on Canterlot, for he knew it would be a vicious battle.

Furthermore, every pony who evacuated south was another mouth to feed. Equestria would quickly become starved for food and resources alike. Who knew? Perhaps they would welcome him, and what a strange sight that would be!

No, he would not ransack Marestopholous and slaughter its denizens. They were doing a fine job of bleeding Equestria dry all on their own. For now he would simply watch, and wait.

***

"So you're that senator I've heard so much about. Had enough of Whitetail's bullshit, have you? That makes two of us."

General Phalanx considered Praxilus with his good eye. He exuded an air of confidence and leadership, carrying himself proud and tall with his cloak flapping behind him in the wind. It sparkled with white and gold even in the darkness, almost mesmerizing to behold.

His soldiers, however, were a different story. Many of them wore visible bandages stained red and pink. Some were missing ears or eyes, while others hobbled along on makeshift walking sticks held against their bodies to support their weight when shattered or severed limbs could not. They stared Praxilus down with distrust or outright hatred.

He gulped back a sudden jolt of fear, hoping they would not take it upon themselves to shove a blade into his back as revenge for their grievous injuries and lost compatriots.

"Not much of a talker, are you? I'd always thought Whitetail politicians loved the sounds of their own voices," Phalanx prodded.

Though he hadn't understood everything the general had said, he was able to grasp the gist of it.

"Apology, General. Equestrian of mine is not perfect."

Phalanx snorted. "Suppose I should have expected as much." A shrill whistle caught the attention of a red-crested soldier in steel and gold armor, who galloped over and saluted. Praxilus' spirits instantly lifted as he recognized the stout earth pony. "Decanus Rockfall, I am assigning you as the personal translator and guard to Senator Praxilus of Whitetail. Is that understood?"

From the look in his eyes, Praxilus could tell this stallion was not thrilled by whatever had just been said.

"Yes, sir, as you order. Though, if I may, my squad is--"

"Your squad will be fine without you. If shit hits the wall you'll be free to join them in battle, but for now this deer is your only concern. If he so much as talks about wiping his ass I want you to translate it."

"Yes, sir."

The general trotted off to speak with a gathering of important-looking ponies, leaving Rockfall to his newly assigned task as bodyguard and minder.

Praxilus smiled. "It's good to see you again, Rockfall," he said in Whytallia, bowing his head slightly with a hoof over his chest in respect. "It is thanks to you I am still alive and in good health. Are you well?"

"I live, though I would not say I am well in mind or spirit." The tone in his voice was unmistakable, and reminded him of Caethil after the loss of his unit. Praxilus felt his heart grow heavy.

"I'm sorry to hear that, my friend. I cannot claim to know what has happened throughout Equestria and beyond since my internment within the city, but from what I understand the Cervidaens are advancing nearly unopposed. Is that why the entirety of Marestopholous is being evacuated?"

Rockfall glared at him. "We lost hundreds of good stallions trying to hold Quillyyn Keep against your 'cousins', and many more have fallen since then. So no, I would not say their advance is 'unopposed' in the least."

"Ah, I see." His ears flattened in a display of shame as he lowered his head. "My apologies, I did not mean to imply--"

"Forget it. All that matters right now is getting these people to safety. It's gonna be a long march, so if you've any issues I suggest you keep them to yourself unless it's absolutely necessary to tell General Phalanx about them."

He stayed silent for a moment, then said, "Your grasp of Whyttalia has improved quite significantly. I'm glad we are able to speak freely now. It will make translations much easier, I should hope."

"It's been increasingly useful as of late, what with whitetail civilians seeking us out for aid."

"So I imagine. You sound like you've been speaking it for years."

"Yeah...your Equestrian is still shit, though." A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, and Praxilus chuckled in return. It was good to know that Rockfall hadn't completely lost his sense of humor due to recent events.

"I make no claim to the contrary." For a brief moment he spotted the unmistakable silhouette of antlers intermixed with the main body of ponies in the distance. "Are those prisoners?"

Rockfall craned his neck to see above the crowd. "Not that lot. They're apparently fighting for us now, if you can believe it. They call themselves the Whitetail Loyalist Regiment. Just over six hundred, all told. I think they're led by a...Eralexal? Eridaius?"

"Eradaxis?" Praxilus said hopefully.

"That's it. He was the one who led a big group of civilians away from Evinwiir before the war with Cervidae began in earnest. Seems like a trustworthy sort, at least as far as you can trust a deer. No offense."

"None taken."

"Still, we're keeping an eye on them. Can't be too careful."

"I understand. Do you think General Phalanx will let me speak with him?"

Rockfall shrugged. "Hell if I know, but we can always ask." A trumpeting series of horns sounded throughout the formation as the long line of Marestopholous citizens began to stream out from the gates. "Stick close to me, Praxilus. It's going to be a long walk to Canterlot."

64 - Legacy

"Just look at it, Krosus. This is what Equestria has become. What a fucking mess."

From their place on a balcony overlooking Canterlot, Stonewall and Tercio watched the seemingly unending stream of refugees from the north continue to pour into the city. They lined the cobblestone paths from the entrance gates all the way down to the base of the mountain and into the valley below, where the combined forces of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Equestrian Armies were filling every available clearing with tents and military supplies.

The numbers of civilians in need of assistance was so great that nearly the entirety of the Royal Guard had been tasked with sorting through them. Names and addresses were jotted down into thick ledgers by no less than thirty scribes who waited at long tables just inside the entrance, with each family or individual assigned to their new, temporary homes elsewhere in Equestria. Those unable to travel further due to sickness or disability were permitted to stay in Canterlot, at least for the time being. Various homes and businesses had volunteered to take in those in need, with an incentive of coin reimbursement being provided by royal mandate.

For the majority of northern Equestria's citizens, Canterlot would not be their last stop. Their sheer weight of number made such a thing impossible, which meant that the southern towns and villages would have to pick up their share of the burden. That, in turn, meant reshuffling trade and supply lines, sending pegasus scouts and representatives to find places to house everyone, turning up medicinal potion production to unprecedented levels -- nevermind reaching deep into Equestria's coffers to find the funding for it all.

To make matters worse, the sudden removal of thousands of ponies from Marestopholous and the surrounding area had resulted in flaring tempers and stubborn refusals to leave. Numerous fights had broken out since the evacuation order, some of them involving weapons, which meant that even more of Equestria's already strained military had to be devoted to peacekeeping. Combined with the conscription of all able-bodied stallions just days prior, some ponies just couldn't handle it anymore and had fallen into deep depression or outright suicide.

Even if Elinwynn didn't order her armies to push into Canterlot, there was a very real possibility that Equestria could tear itself apart from the inside.

"These poor bastards have been cold, tired and hungry for days on end, and now they're starting to realize that they're only halfway done with it. Never thought I'd see the day when we were in a full-scale retreat. After the thrashing we gave the whitetail I thought it was only a matter of time until they surrendered," Stonewall said.

He took a drink from the leather flask at his side, then passed it to Tercio. The alcohol warmed their insides and provided a much-needed bit of relief from the constant stress they'd found themselves under since things had started to go poorly for the war effort. With tensions at an all-time high Celestia had been assigned four personal guards at all times, double what it used to be. More shifts, longer shifts, and constantly being on guard had left everyone feeling exhausted and frustrated.

"Wishful thinking in hindsight, eh Krosus?"

Tercio shrugged. "It seemed logical at the time. Who could have predicted Elinwynn would be behind all of it from the very start? Played us for fools to the very last."

"She'll get what's coming to her, gods willing." Stonewall looked around to make sure they were alone, then said, "I want you to be honest with me: how is Celestia holding up? She puts on a brave face for us, but you're in a rather unique position to see her with her guard down."

"I'm not sure what there is to tell. She worries herself nearly to the point of sickness, and she's barely slept in at least a week. Just yesterday she refused to eat, saying that she couldn't partake in such extravagance while so many ponies went hungry. I'm afraid there won't be anything left of her, mentally or physically, by the time the redtail arrive."

Stonewall let out a long breath. "I was hoping for some better news."

"Aren't we all?" Tercio said, taking another swig and letting it burn down his throat. "What of our defense of Canterlot? Has there been anything set in motion?"

"We've got a plan coming together, but nothing set in stone as of yet. In theory we've got a very defensible position here." Stonewall stuck out a hoof, pointing to the valley entrance far below Canterlot that was straddled by mountain peaks. This was the only major road to or from the area, used by traders and travelers alike. It split into several smaller paths through the patchwork of clearings and copses of trees, passing through the shadow of the city, before reforming into a forked road that would lead further south.

"The mouth of the valley is the logical defensive point, so we'll mass our forces to cover it. Cervidae's numbers won't count for quite so much if they're funneled into a kill zone. If we can hold there, then all the better. If not, there's a second point we'll regroup at.

"The deer can't fly so we don't have to worry about aerial assaults, thank the stars, which means that they'll have to take the Coriander Road if they hope to reach the city." He swept along the winding path from the valley up to the base of Canterlot Peak, where a smoothed stone path snaked along the cliff faces and disappeared into several short tunnels. "Most of it is exposed from the side, so if we set up catapults and archers facing toward it we should be able to inflict significant losses on the pronged bastards while they're unable to return the favor. We might even be able to stop them there."

"And if we don't?"

"That's the part we're still working out," he grumbled. "Canterlot's gate isn't made to resist siege weapons for any extended period of time, and the streets are laid out for convenience and attractiveness rather than defense. If they deer break through we're going to be in a whole world of shit. Doubly so for the civilians. There are tunnels that lead to shelters within the mountain, so we can move them if we need to -- and we'll probably have to do just that -- but I still don't like it. Canterlot may have less population than Marestopholous but we're still talking about stuffing several thousand ponies into glorified caves. They'll have a few days worth of supplies at best."

"I don't suppose anyone has told the good people of Canterlot that they're next on the evacuation list..."

"With the state this place is already in? Shit, you can imagine the chaos. We need things to calm down for a while before we even think of letting them know. I'm supposed to meet up with Thistle Thrush and Calonius later; I imagine we'll discuss it in greater detail then." A flight of pegasi passed overhead, their golden Royal Guard armor glinting in the scattered sunlight. The patrols around the greater Canterlot area had been nonstop for days on end. "Before you go, Krosus, there's something I wanted to ask you. It involves a somewhat drastic change of position."

"Of course, sir," Tercio said, wondering what it could be.

"You know me -- I don't particularly care for beating around the bush, so I'll get right to the point. Celestia has asked me to assume the role of Acting General of the Praetorian Guard for the coming battle, and it's an offer I don't take lightly."

It was surprising news to be sure. Typically the Praetorian Guard lacked a general, instead leaving the sub-divisions to cooperate as smaller, separate units under the banner of the 105th. For such a small, tightly knit group it served its function well enough.

"I imagine you don't, sir. There hasn't been a Praetorian general for, what...at least two hundred years?"

"Something like that," Stonewall said with a shrug. "It was a toss-up between myself and Imperator Iron Hide, and honestly I would have preferred if the princess had chosen him instead, but that's not my decision. Celestia thinks I can lead us against the redtail, should they manage to get that close, so I'll just have to trust her judgment and try not to screw things up."

"Well for what it's worth, sir, I think you'd make a fine general, and I know the others would say the same."

"Hmm. Maybe. I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

"Suppose we will," Tercio said. "Looks like I have more reason than ever to call you 'sir', eh?"

Stonewall snorted. "One day we'll break you of that habit, Krosus."

"So you say." Tercio raised the flask and tipped it in Stonewall's direction. "To your promotion, General." Stonewall grabbed it and took a drink of his own.

"Thanks. Just don't congratulate me yet, it's gonna be a real pain in the ass to organize everyone so quickly without half of you falling on your own blades in the process.

"Obviously this leaves a gap in the command structure, so until this war is over I'm going to be assigning Polaris to the position of Acting Imperator. He'll be your new go-to if you need anything."

Tercio couldn't help but feel just a little disappointed. "As you say, sir. Polaris is a good soldier."

"He is, but believe me when I say that it was not an easy decision choosing him over you. You're a capable soldier in your own right, and since you've taken on Imperator training you've proven to be exceptionally gifted in training the new recruits, but I'm not convinced you're real leadership material just yet. Ultimately Polaris has more experience being in command, so I chose him. Like I said, it's only temporary. You're still an Imperator-in-Training as far as formality goes, you'll just be under Polaris' command. I expect you to finish pushing those fledgling Praetorians through their training, and don't think they'll be held to any lower standard just because we're in a rush."

"They'll be ready, sir."

Stonewall slapped him on the back. "That's what I like to hear. I know you and Polaris have had your issues, but he's a good stallion and he trusts you implicitly. Help each other out, and when we've swept the deer back to Cervidae we'll all gather 'round to get piss drunk together." A chorus of horns announced the arrival of the senior command cadre at the castle's main entrance. Stonewall took a moment to look himself over, then placed his helm upon his head. "Here we go. Form up with the others and be ready -- and try not to trip over yourself when Phalanx arrives."

***

It was a cold morning in Evinwiir, cold enough to cover the battle-scarred city in a gossamer shroud of delicate ice crystals. The wind had died down for the first time in days, leaving the air silent and still, broken only by the occasional chirp of winter birds or the distant voices of whitetail going about their business. Already the expansive capital was being prepared for the arrival of the first redtail settlers in generations, an event that was sure to bring much fanfare. Distantly related families would finally be reunited, old wounds would begin to mend, and the deer would be one people again...under the banner of Cervidae, of course.

Empress Elinwynn smiled to herself. What had once seemed like such an impossible dream had finally come to fruition. What she wouldn't have given to see the look on her mother's face when the deer reclaimed their rightful place in the world. That genuine, warm glow of a job well done. Her mother had been a strict doe, certainly, but under the harsh facade there was a thorough appreciation for striving to better oneself and the redtail as a whole.

"One day, my little Empress," she would say over her favorite breakfast of oat porridge and wild berries, "one day you will have to carry the burden of deerkind upon your shoulders, and when you do, you must always remember that history will only judge you if you fail. Seek every advantage, no matter how petty it may seem to others, and when the time comes to be decisive you will do so without fear. Common folk, royalty, even entire nations -- all can be played to your whims."

How right she had been. With the support of her dear brother, Elinwynn had seen Cervidae cleansed of opposition to her word, down the very halls of her keep.

Now with Whitetail subservient to Cervidae in all but official order, and the traitors and dissenters dealt with in a fitting manner, she was free to focus entirely on Equestria and its pompous, self-important "princess". Behind Celestia's regal visage, she knew, lurked a long history of inaction and blatant favoritism toward the inferior whitetail and their false, now defunct government. Whitetail had been an ally of convenience for generations, too caught up in own its continuing struggle with Cervidae to notice or care that Equestrian settlers had slowly pushed north into territory that used to belong to the deer. History ledgers had noted that tensions between Whitetail and Equestria were tense for several decades after, but then fell off to practically nothing. That was the truly insidious thing about Celestia: she could simply wait out any political strife, and as old leaders died and new ones assumed control their grudges would fade into obscurity. Celestia could afford to play the long game, maneuvering on time scales that would have seemed impossible to others.

She was a disease upon the world, a black rot that that would continue to consume and destroy unabated, slowly but surely, until nothing remained of the once proud deer but poverty and civil strife. That would all change very soon.

"Empress, your carriage escort is ready. We may depart at your earliest convenience." A young doe bowed as she spoke, holding a foreleg out in a placating gesture.

"Thank you, Felawil," Elinwynn said, looking into a tall mirror one final time to make sure everything was in place. Her sapphire plate quinndryll covered her from muzzle to short tail, each segment intricately detailed with gold and silver etchings against the dark blue background. It was immaculately fitted, thick enough to stop the sharpest of blades but light enough to have no ill effect on her considerable magical talents. On each shoulder pauldron the crest of Cervidae glowed with a blue-green aura, and a shimmering cloak of golden thread hung loosely from her neck guard down to her knees, secured by a silver clasp.

She considered the sheath at her side that contained her family's heirloom blade, as fine a design as had ever been created. It had been a symbol of power for hundreds of years, yet had never tasted the iron tang of blood. How fitting, then, that its first victim might very well be a self-styled goddess.

Perhaps instead she could force Celestia to surrender. A humiliating defeat followed by servitude to the Cervidaen Hegemony...that was a fate far more fitting for one who had sat by and watched as thousands suffered under her careless rule.

"Brother-General Corvalix is reportedly on a steady march to Canterlot, Empress," Felawil continued. "If we make haste we should arrive just before he is within striking distance. If you have any final requests before the journey then I shall see to it that they are fulfilled."

Elinwynn tapped a hoof as she thought. "Just one. Tell the good Chancellor Vinawyll that I am holding him personally responsible for what happens in Whitetail while I am away, and that includes the actions of the senate. That should keep him in line."

"As you wish, Empress. I will relay the message as soon as you are comfortable and on your way."

Minutes later, as the royal caravan departed Evinwiir, she gave a final look to the nation that was now properly within Cervidae's control. Deerkind would remember her for ages to come, and she couldn't have been prouder of her accomplishments.

Elinwynn the Liberator.

Perhaps the ponies would come to know her as Elinwynn the Conqueror instead.

That, too, suited her just fine.

65 - Crossroads

"Drink up, lads, there's plenty more where this came from. I'm not paying for it, but I'm sure there's more!"

The veterans of the 105th Praetorian Guard's 4th Barracks shared a laugh and grabbed their cups, downing a traditional first drink before slamming them back on the table as one.

"Gods above, I'll never get used to the taste," Polaris said between coughs. An entire pitcher of posca sat in the middle of the low table, already being used to pour a second cup between the four of them. The drink had a long tradition in Equestrian military ranks, both reviled and loved for its cheap price and harsh, sour flavor. It was certainly not the drink of royalty or the upper class, being made of sour wine mixed with water, honey and spices to mask the flavor. If one was particularly interested in getting drunk on the bare minimum amount of coin, a single silver piece could buy half a dozen cups of posca made with vinegar instead.

Tercio was not a fan of the stomach-turning, mouth-puckering drink, but sharing it with your brothers was considered a sign of solidarity. The almost inevitable sickness that came later could be considered the same. At least it didn't taste any worse on the way out.

"If this is the most we can expect from the night, I'm not sure I want any more. Whose idea was this?" he asked as the lingering aftertaste practically curdled on his tongue.

"Yours," Thunderburst said. Rimeberry and Polaris grumbled in mock disgust.

"Ah, right. Well in that case, you're all going to share in my pain." Tercio raised his cup. "To Imperator -- excuse me -- General Stonewall! May he be as much of a pain in the ass to the deer as he is to us."

"Aye!" the others answered, then took a long gulp.

"To Princess Celestia!" Polaris said next.

"Aye!" Another slug of almost drinkable alcohol.

"To Equestria, and kicking the shit out of the tree-rutting deer!" Thunderburst joined in.

"Aye!"

"To that pegasus in the corner with the pink mane!" The others looked at Rimeberry in confusion. "She don't know it yet, but she's comin' back with me!"

"Hell, why not? Aye!" Tercio said, the others joining him with a laugh. "And, of course...to the fallen. May they live forever."

"Aye, to the fallen," they echoed somberly, emptying their cups for a second time.

Tercio leaned back against the wall, shifting his weight on the large cushion beneath him. "It's good to be here again, my friends. Feels like it's been ages since we had the chance to get away from the castle and enjoy a night on the town."

"Ain't that the damn truth. Almost forgot what it's like to drink this shit." Rimeberry chuckled and let out a foul-tasting belch. "Soon as we finish this pitcher, we're ordering some real drinks. Maybe a Chillfurrow red, or a nice icewine from Frostvalley Meadows."

"You fucking ponce. I thought we were drinking, not sipping vintages like self-important cocks." Thunderburst jabbed him with a hoof.

"I'll have you know my cock is very important, Decanus Thunderburst. Besides, you don't grow up on a vineyard and not learn a thing or two about what is and isn't good wine. This shit certainly isn't."

"No, but it'll get you drunk on the cheap."

"Heh, ain't that the truth?" He faced Polaris. "So, Acting Imperator, huh? Does this mean you and Tercio are both the same rank now? Because that could get somewhat confusing."

Polaris and Tercio gave each other a look. Though Tercio had congratulated him on his temporary, perhaps permanent promotion, they both knew it was Tercio that had been chasing after it for months. It wasn't a case of bad blood or grudges, but rather a feeling of lost opportunity.

"Not quite. As the current acting imperator I am simply in charge of 3rd and 4th Barracks, while Stonewall has authority over us all. It's just until the war is over. After that, I might very well be bumped down to my old rank. I wouldn't want to stay as an imperator without having truly earned it."

"You help us survive against the deer and I'd say you'll have done just that."

Everyone voiced their agreements as a third round was poured.

"True enough, I suppose. It's just...I don't want there to be any tension between us. We all know how hard Tercio has been busting his ass to get the new recruits ready in time for the coming battle. If it were up to me he'd be the one in charge, and I say that sincerely -- but unfortunately it's not my decision."

Tercio shook his head. "It's fine, Polaris. Stonewall wanted someone with practical leadership experience, and you had more of that during your time in the Royal Guard than I ever did. I don't hold it against you. You're still my battle brother, even if I have to listen to your ramblings like I actually care now."

"Ha! One of the perks of being in charge, eh? Maybe I'll assign you the honorable task of polishing my sword."

"Yeah you'd like it if he polished your sword, wouldn't you?" Rimeberry smirked. "Polish it long and good."

"Shouldn't you be wallowing in the mud right now, or whatever it is you earth ponies do in your spare time?" Polaris shot back.

"Mud would probably taste better than this shit. Speaking of which: to our newest imperator and his tiny, floppy sword. One day he'll be a real stallion, I just know it."

"Aye!"

It did not taste any better the third time around.

"Fuck you, Rimeberry," Polaris laughed.

"You're gonna have to buy me some better drinks before that happens."

Tercio rapped his knuckles on the table. "If you two are done jerking each other off, there's something I wanted to tell you all before we're too drunk to remember. Well, most of you, anyway. Judging by his rather, uh, harsh insistence that he already knew, I'm guessing this won't come as a surprise to Thunderburst." He shot a glance across the table. "Will it?"

"If it is what I think it is? Not particularly," Thunderburst answered.

"As I thought. So, lads...I don't want there to be any secrets between us, especially if our lives, and that of the princess, depend on each other. I, um..." He searched for the best way to admit to his friends and colleagues the very thing he'd tried to hide for so long. "Oh, fuck it. I'm in a relationship with Celestia. There, I've said it."

Polaris and Rimeberry stared at him, then each other, unsure of whether he was bullshitting them again. Thunderburst simply shrugged when Polaris asked him if it was true.

"You always were a funny guy, Tercio," Rimeberry said. "Come on, now. You? And her? I mean, no offense, my friend, but you ain't even a pony. It's a little hard to believe. Is this the part where you yank us along for a bit, then bust out laughing when we kinda-sorta start believing you? 'Cause if it is, I'm on to you."

"It's not a joke," Tercio insisted. "I know it's difficult to imagine, but it's true. Celestia and I have been together for the better part of three months now. I couldn't possibly begin to explain how it happened. It just...did.

"Thunderburst found out not long ago. He confronted me over it in his usual manner, saying that I had betrayed everything that the Praetorian Guard was supposed to stand for. I don't doubt that I've broken part of my oath by becoming involved with the princess, but I tell you this now as a man and as a soldier: I do not regret my involvement with her in the slightest." He splayed his battle-scarred palms out. "You may think of me what you will. I would not blame you."

After a long moment Rimeberry let out a loud breath, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You're serious about this, aren't you? You're not pulling our legs? Fuck me..."

"Hold on, I'm having a hard time understanding," Polaris said. "You swore to protect the princess when you became a Praetorian. We're supposed to place her well-being above all else. Perhaps I'm not seeing things clearly, but I don't see how you can keep your duty to her separate from your apparent feelings for her."

"Why should they be so different?" Tercio retorted. "I am committed to her safety and happiness more than ever before! I've seen her at her lowest, away from watchful eyes where she can truly be herself. She is an incredibly strong and brave mare, but even she has her limits. If I can be there for her, help her get through just one more day, then what reason would I have to be ashamed of such a thing?"

Thunderburst was about to interject, but Tercio stopped him with an accusatory jab of his finger. "You, of all ponies, should understand by now. You have done as I've asked and kept this a secret, and for that I am grateful, but it does not excuse the fact that your behavior when confronting me was disgusting. I saved your very life -- all of your lives, for that matter," he said as he looked to the others, "and I have proven myself time and again in battle. My loyalty to the Praetorian Guard, to Princess Celestia and to Equestria is not to be questioned. I would give my life for any of you, if so asked, and nothing you can possibly say will change that. So go ahead, insult me if you so wish. Call me a traitor, or a liar, or whatever else you may be thinking. I am man enough to own up to my faults. I am still a soldier, regardless."

Thunderburst stared him down, tapping his wooden foreleg on the table. He knew Tercio was right, loathe though he was to admit such a thing. Without a word he backed off from the confrontation.

"Does anyone else know about this?" Rimeberry asked.

"Stonewall and Mended Heart do. Perhaps a few others."

"So you're telling me Stonewall is okay with you being, uh, involved with the princess?"

"Surprisingly, yes. Our good imperator-turned-general has known her for far longer than any of us, and despite his service I believe he considers her more of a good friend than a superior. He's advised caution, of course, but I don't think he would be so callous as to interfere in such a personal matter."

The others could hardly believe what they were hearing. Not only was their human compatriot involved with the princess, but their commanding officer knew about the whole thing.

"Now I understand why you've been getting so many night guard assignments," Polaris said.

"It's not what you think. Not entirely," Tercio replied. "With Equestria in a state of near panic as of late Celestia has been particularly hard on herself, always wondering what she could have done differently. I try to comfort her as best I can, but it's an uphill struggle. I fear for her state of mind. There are some nights where she barely sleeps at all.

"She puts on a brave face for us. Mentally and physically exhausted though she is, she does everything within her power to be the steadfast, courageous leader everyone expects her to be. So when I say that my relationship with her has driven me to be a better man and a better Praetorian, I mean every word of it. I owe that much to her." Tercio leaned into the table and pointed to the group. "You are all my brothers -- even you, Thunderburst -- and I am proud to serve with each and every one of you, but I will not apologize for being with the one I deeply care for. I give you my word that my duty will always come before my personal interests. That is why I chose to tell you tonight. If any of you have further objections, then state them now."

They looked to each other, but not one of them said a thing. They had spilled blood together, both the enemy's and their own. They had watched good stallions die before them and felt the pain of loss. With absolute conviction they had pledged themselves to a cause greater than themselves, and when all was said and done they knew they could trust each other with their lives.

"I cannot say I fully approve of such intimate involvement, but I see no reason why it should be held against you, so long as you continue to conduct yourself as a Praetorian." Polaris said. "Are we in agreement?"

Rimeberry and Thunderburst nodded, the latter clearly reluctant but willing to go along with the others.

"I had hoped you would understand, my friends. It is good to be in such company." Tercio raised his refilled cup. "To the bond of battle."

"Aye," they answered as one.

***

Keeping stock of winter supplies was never an easy task. Barrels and satchels of dried fruits, grains, hardy vegetables, spices and other goods had to be meticulously kept dry and free of vermin, lest one oversight cause a potential disaster for the entire household. After more than sixty years, Roughshod still had yet to find an ideal solution.

He groused at the small hole in the storage room's back wall, barely visible in the corner behind a cask of raisin wine. The damned dormice were back, and they had apparently taken a liking to the azarole fruits. Gnawed husks of patchy yellow and green littered the floor around the hole. Now he'd have to replace the whole pest-bitten plank!

"Everything alright, dear?" Glimmering Grace called from the kitchen. The smell of sweet bread being pulled from the hearth drifted on the air.

"Looks like we've got some uninvited guests," Roughshod answered, raising his voice to be heard.

"Again?"

"They chewed through the damned wall this time. Persistent little bastards, I'll give 'em that." He could hear his wife tutting from across the house.

"I'll pay a visit to Parsnip on my way home from the market tomorrow. She might have some bitter root left to leave out until you can fix that."

Roughshod dismissed the furry little menaces with a muttered swear and went back to his inventory, making sure the quill strapped to his hoof was secure before dipping it in ink and continuing.

"Two cases of cheese...two pouches of dried figs and dates...three barrels of pickled vegetables...five barrels of grain, mostly barley. Need to make sure to keep that secured. Dried cherries, plums..."

A loud, insistent knock on the front door caught his attention.

"Do you want me to get that?" Grace asked, hesitancy tinging her voice. No one knocked like that unless they had a clear purpose in mind. Roughshod removed the quill and took the short steps up to the main living room area.

"No, I'll take it. You just concern yourself with that delicious bread, okay?" He flashed the smile she so loved after all these years, but his heart wasn't in it. The pit in his stomach returned as a second knock came, louder this time. "Hold on, I'm comin'!" he shouted through the door as he approached and unlatched it. A pegasus the color of ripened honeydew stood before him, saluting with a hoof over his armored chest. A blue crest and matching cloak marked him as a member of the Equestrian Guard.

"Sir Roughshod of the Krosus lineage?" the young stallion asked.

"That'd be me. Something I can help you with?"

"Apologies for the interruption, sir. I am Milites Lentil Leek of the 9th Equestrian, 2nd Cohort. I come bearing a message from Prefect Pontarius, my commanding officer. He has ordered the evacuation of Summervale and all surrounding farmsteads on instruction from Princess Celestia."

Roughshod cocked his head. "You'll forgive me for my bad hearing in my old age, youngin', but I could have sworn you just told me I have to leave."

"Uh, yes, sir, I'm afraid so. I was told to deliver this message to you personally. There are others informing the rest of the village, so if you'll--"

"Nonsense! If your prefect thinks he's going to make me abandon my home, he has another thing coming."

"I understand your hesitancy, sir, but the deer army is going to be within striking distance of this place within a day at the most. It is for your own safety that I am here now."

"I can protect myself," Roughshod said stubbornly.

Grace cautiously approached him, chancing a look at the soldier in the doorway.

"What's happening, love?"

"This colt expects us to leave our home."

"What? Why?"

Lentil Leek bowed before her in respect. "There has been an evacuation order, my lady. From the princess herself."

Her heart sank at the thought of abandoning her home. "No, no, we can't do that. There's no way to--"

"What she means to say is 'leave us alone'," Roughshod interrupted, already closing the door.

"Your sons, sir!"

He stopped, glaring at the messenger.

"What about them?"

"They're waiting for you in Canterlot. Your, um, child -- Tercio, of the Praetorian Guard, is it?-- asked that you be taken to see him. You will be under the personal escort of Princess Celestia's finest for the duration of the trip. As I understand it, your other son has recently arrived at the city with the survivors of the 1st Equestrian Army. They await your arrival."

Grace gasped. Everyone had heard about the battle of Quillyyn Keep and the terrible price it had exacted, but information about individuals had been frustratingly hard to come by.

"Oh thank the gods, our boy is alive! We've been blessed with a good omen, Roughshod. I think we should listen to this young stallion."

"We can't just leave everything behind, this is our livelihood," Roughshod objected.

"I don't like the idea any more than you do, dear, but they're just things we'll be leaving behind. They can be replaced if need be. What matters now is being with our sons. What would your father think?"

"My father built this home, Grace. I won't let the damned deer burn it to the ground."

"And I won't let you throw your life away." She took his hoof and clutched it to her chest. "Please. The boys need you. I need you. The farm isn't going anywhere."

Roughshod knew then that there was no way he would win the argument.The warmth and sincerity in her pleas could have melted glaciers. Still, a profound sadness filled his heart as he thought of seeing his home in ruins. All he had worked for, everything he had sweated and bled for every day while trying to provide for his family -- it could all be gone at the whim of the damned deer.

"Alright," he said at last, putting on a brave face for his wife's sake. "Listen, milites...Lentil, was it? We're going to need some time to pack our things and grab some supplies."

The soldier nodded. "Of course, sir. Myself and several others will return in an hour's time to fly you to the Guard outpost outside of town. From there you'll be taken to Canterlot. I recommend packing only what you can carry with you." He saluted one final time, spread his wings, and took off into the sky fast enough to leave a green trail in his wake.

Roughshod quietly shut the door and slumped against it. "I can't believe this is happening..." His incredulous laugh filled the silence as his wife sat beside him. "And here I thought some mice would be the biggest concern of the winter." Try as he might he could not hide the tears that welled in his eyes. "We could lose everything, Grace. Everything."

Grace pulled him close and rested his head against her shoulder, running a hoof through his gray-flecked hair. "We'll be alright, my love. We've still got each other." She kissed his forehead and smiled with comforting sincerity. "At least we'll all be together."

***

Caethil rubbed his eyes as he woke from another restless night. His back ached and he had a knot in his neck from sleeping on what amounted to a wooden floor with a barely serviceable blanket thrown over it. Zevran ships, it seemed, were not built for comfort. To his left and right were dozens of zebras, some awake, some still sleeping. A hatch leading to the top deck was open, showing a sky that was only now beginning to brighten.

The boat shuddered and creaked as it trundled over the waves that were thankfully light this morning. With a drowsy yawn he pushed himself up to his hooves and climbed the ladder up. The musty smell of the lower deck gave way to the cool, salty ocean air. Several zebra warriors were already up and about, checking ropes and sails or keeping lookout for any sign of land or unknown vessels.

The Zevran fleet stretched nearly to the horizon, with dozens of ships spread out across the vast Sea of Lights. Their colorful sails and striped foremasts stood out in stark contrast to the endless blue. It was a wondrous sight to behold.

A strong scent of earthy herbs drifted from the quarterdeck, heavy and wet like the forest after a rain storm, where a dozen zebras were busily mixing ingredients into simmering cauldrons. They wore elaborate headdresses of red feathers and the skulls of great birds. Bear had called them "Mowassi Enchanters", alchemists who were believed to speak freely with the spirits in their trance-like states. Their prestige was second only to shamans, for their craft walked a fine line.

Zebra magic came from the concoctions brewed by these knowledgeable few, using ingredients available within Zevran itself. If the mix was slightly off it could result in a painful death, both for the enchanter and the soldiers who relied upon him.

Three of the enchanters gathered round the right-most cauldron, chanting as one as they scooped small bowls full of a thick, reddish brown reduction and carefully poured them into short wooden tubes that were capped off and sealed with wax. They joined hundreds of others in earthenware pots, ready to be distributed to Zevran's finest.

Caethil leaned against the railing and watched the foam-topped waves slip by. Their white peaks reminded him of western Whitetail and the unrelenting snows that fell this time of year. The winter storms would only have gotten worse since his departure. He wondered if Corvalix had left his bucks to freeze solid in the woods, their bodies shattered and torn, not even deserving of a burial. The scavengers would have their way with them, sooner or later. Dozens of lives lost in the vain hope of escape. They had looked to him for guidance, stuck by his side during the worst of the fighting, and it had all been for naught. The same thought he'd faced hundreds of times since that day crept back into his mind: you deserve to die with them.

Perhaps he did. He had no doubt that he would meet his end in the coming battle. Truthfully, the only thing keeping him going was the hope -- that damned word again -- of seeing Corvalix die at the end of his blade. Then, and only then, would he welcome the serenity of death.

A zebra shouted from the crow's nest. "Adwane, kufu dimbot'te sh'awah!"

Immediately there was a clatter of hooves as every available zebra rushed to the bow to see what was ahead. Caethil stood near the back of the forming crowd, craning his neck to see over the curved prow that bobbed with the waves. A great, dark mass enshrouded in morning fog loomed ahead, slowly growing clearer, revealing browns and greens that stretched into the rising sun.

A cheer went up, spreading from ship to ship as drummers banged out their message: land in sight.

Equestria.

67 - Eventide

"Portenius, Plowshare, you're next. I want to see good, clean strikes." The two stallions saluted each other and stepped into the sparring ring, then drew their weapons. Tercio watched them with a judging eye, looking for any sign of poor form or slight lapses in concentration that might very well get them killed in the heat of combat. "Keep your stance squared, Plowshare. The deer like to knock us off balance with quick bursts of magic before going in for the kill. Keep that in mind at all times."

The two Praetorian hopefuls had come a long way from their first days of training, a compliment that could be said of most of the recruits who had not washed out. Out of a starting roster of thirty stallions, fourteen had given up or had been kicked out for lack of performance over the last several weeks. They would return to their old units while the sixteen remaining would be assigned to their temporary barracks at the end of the day. Their trial by fire would come soon after, with the newest recruits serving as reserves for the main Praetorian force.

"Don't turn your head so much when you strike, Portly," Rimeberry warned, stomping for emphasis. The unfortunate nickname had been given to Portenius early on due to an incident involving a poor sense of timing and an unfortunate decision to attempt to sneak a bit of honeyed bread from the kitchen. To his credit, Portenius thought the name amusing and openly embraced it. It was a mild jab at best; Tercio remembered being called some variation of "monkey" or "ape" many, many times during his training under Stonewall.

"Decanus Rimeberry, if you would watch the rabble for a moment? I must attend to something," Tercio said over the clash of sword and shield. Rimeberry nodded and took his place as he stepped away, heading for the entrance to the castle's training armory. Cold air whipped at his legs and face. A full day of combat sparring and formation movement drilling was on the list, and the already strenuous day was doubtlessly going to be made that much more trying when everyone was shaken by wind chills.

A crackling fire was a welcome sight. It warmed him as he entered the armory, where row upon row of training weapons and shields gleamed in all of their worn glory. He reached for a long sword, a weapon typically carried by unicorns who didn't have to mouth-hold a weapon or strap one to their forelegs. It fit in his hand quite comfortably, if imperfectly. A few swings confirmed that it was suitable for his needs, and he tucked it into the ring holster at his side.

"It is no magical blade, my friend, but it fits you." Tercio swung around with a start to find Bear standing mere steps behind him, a knowing grin on his face. "If I were a deer you would be in an unfortunate situation right now."

"Well I'll be damned. Look who shows up just in time to join us." Tercio struck out his fist and bumped it against Bear's hoof. "Welcome back. Get bored of the easy life away from the Praetorian Guard, did you?"

Bear chuckled. "Not exactly, but I will explain in due time. Polaris said you were in the sparring court and I thought I would come by and offer my greetings after my absence."

"Well it's good to see you again. Ready to get out of those civilian clothes and back into your cuirass?"

"Soon, yes." He lifted his necklace of deep garnet stones, polished wood beads and fire-red feathers with a hoof, a small totem of his tribe's protector spirit dangling from the center. "There is much you are unaware of, my human konae'sa. Outside of these walls, events have transpired that will determine the fate of entire peoples. I am afraid I have not been entirely forthcoming with my purposes within the Equestrian military. I did not leave because of a Zevran tradition or celebration, but rather, because I do not want to see all of you suffer."

Tercio cocked his head at the statement. Zebras were known to be somewhat mysterious in their ways, and Bear was no exception. "What do you mean? Are we in immediate danger?"

"Not as of this moment, no. It is difficult to put into words. I have been absent for these long weeks attempting to change fate itself, grandiose though that may sound. There is a stag, a good stag, who has helped me along the way. It is because of him that the forces of Zevran have mobilized for the first time in many seasons," Bear said. "I apologize if this seems confusing, but my journey has been arduous and I admit to no small amount of weariness. I believe all will become clear with the new day.

"For now I need to return to my Elder and speak with him about the princess' words, but I wanted to come and let you know I have returned before I do so." Bear drew a spiral over his chest with his hoof. "It is good to see you are in good health, Tercio. I will return at my earliest convenience, for I am sworn to protect the princess above all else." He took a deep breath and trotted past. "I only hope she will forgive me for my falsehoods."

***

General Stonewall sat at a low table with half a dozen other high-ranking officers representing the four branches of Equestria's military, poring over scrolls that had come in during the impossibly hectic day. More continued to arrive even now, delivered by runners or willed into existence by skilled unicorns. It had been hours since General Phalanx had convened the meeting and it would likely be hours more before they were done. Everyone was tired, mentally and physically, from the strain of overseeing the coming of the largest military action in Equestria's history. Even the battle of Whitetail Wood couldn't hold a candle to the supplies, personnel and know-how required to defend the capital.

General Phalanx ran his hoof over the map, drawing a line from Canterlot up through Marestopholous and further on to the border. "Latest estimates put the number of deer at around thirty thousand. They're mostly redtail, unsurprisingly, but there's been a steady stream of whitetail trickling in from the north, likely unskilled conscripts judging by their equipment. Looks like we're not the only ones dredging up anyone who can hold a sword."

Stonewall let out a low whistle. "That's a hell of a lot of bodies to throw at our defenses. At this point they could win just by sheer weight of numbers."

"That's certain to be part of their plan, though I doubt they'll cast that many of their own into the fray without some kind of assurance. The deer are far more nuanced than we give them credit for."

"They only have one way in: from the Coriander Road," General Septimus of the Royal Guard added. "A head-on attack is their only option, especially now that we have the zebras watching any and all access points into the valley from the east. We would have noticed a large force heading that way days ago. At this point we can safely assume the western entrance is the one they'll be focusing on."

"What's our status in regards to Royal Guard bombardment ability? Can our catapults even reach that far?" Phalanx asked.

"Just barely. We've modified them to withstand heavier strain from the thicker rope coils we'll be using, but I can't guarantee they'll hold together for as long as we need them to. They were never designed to lob a stone ball so far, even with the range advantage we'll have from placing them along the rim of the city."

"We don't need them to last forever, just long enough to make an impact on the enemy's lines. Do what you can."

"Of course."

"What about the Praetorian Guard? Do you have a plan of action, Stonewall?"

Stonewall rubbed his chin with a hoof. "I believe so. It is my belief that Princess Celestia will attempt to speak with either Corvalix or Elinwynn before the battle. She knows there is little chance of negotiating peace, but the attempt must be made regardless. If that is the case, our entire Praetorian contingent will act as a screening force via sky carriages. After that, we will return to the castle and assume the roll of a secondary force should the Royal Guard require assistance. Protection of the princess is above all else, of course.

"We will also assist in overseeing the civilians into the mountain shelter tunnels. I've already tasked 2nd and 5th Barracks with making sure everyone is safe. It's not a flawless plan, but it's the best we can do."

"I see," Phalanx said as he considered Stonewall's words. "And what of the princess? After she returns to the castle, that is. Are you able to secret her away somewhere?"

"We've got some places planned out, depending on the situation, but the usual route -- the path under the dais leading to the crystalline cave -- is already known to Elinwynn, seeing as how we now know she was the one who told the assassin about it. The cave will not be our first choice, but we are not ruling it out. It is still difficult to reach without wings or teleportation magic, after all."

"Fair enough. Let us hope we don't have to put those plans into action, but be prepared to do so." Phalanx picked up one of the new unit markers that had been placed on the map table, a striped spiral. Several of them had been added since the unexpected aid from Zevran had shown up. "That leaves the zebras. I spoke with Elder Mwolan'e's senior-most officer, a stallion by the name of Mzembu, and he assures me that his forces will be ready when we need them. They've split their forces into a main body of Ambin'aa regulars and Nan'shakaa elites. Not sure if I'm pronouncing those right...

"The elites are analogous to a combination of our Royal Guard and Praetorian branches, and I'm assured they can fight hard and decisively. Mzembu is leaving it up to me to decide where to use them best. I'm thinking of keeping them along the Coriander Road, but I'm open to suggestions. The regulars will join the bulk of our army at the entrance to the valley. Any questions?"

"I've got one," Stonewall said. "Can the zebras contribute any sort of magical support? Is that even a thing for them?"

"Apparently so, though it's far different from our unicorns casting spells or pegasi affecting the clouds. Something about magical potions or brews. I haven't seen it in action myself, though. I suppose we'll see, won't we?"

Legatus Mountain Spring tapped a hoof on the table. He was one of the younger stallions in attendance, but his actions during the attack on Canterlot had propelled him through the ranks and earned him the position of second in command for the Royal Guard. His scarred face and stump of a left ear spoke to his dedication to Equestria far more than his words ever could.

"Speaking of the pegasi, I've managed to form a sizable group of our finest fliers taken from across the various branches. The defense of the city will require us to pull out all the stops, and that is exactly what we intend to do. With your permission and approval, Generals, I would like to personally lead them into battle."

Phalanx turned to the senior Royal Guard officer.

"Septimus, this is your call. What say you?"

"I don't see why not," Septimus said. "How many pegasi are we talking about, exactly?"

"At least two hundred, sir," Mountain Spring answered confidently. "We've been training in the mountains for weeks now, albeit after our regular hours."

"As long as you promise not to die before you take out ten deer for every one of you, you can do as you damn well please, Legatus."

"Thank you, sir. We'll stick with the Royal Guard cohort until the time is right to break off."

"Anyone else?" Phalanx asked. A middle-aged unicorn wearing the crimson red of the Legion raised his hoof.

"There is one more thing, sir. The Whitetail Loyalists, as they're calling themselves. Are you sure we can trust them to take up arms and fight against their former countrymen?" The roughly 500 volunteer deerfolk had certainly been enthusiastic about 'taking their homes back', but at the end of the day they were still deer. Nobody was truly sure what to expect from them.

"So far they've been steadfast in their cause and dedicated in their training. A stag by the name of Eradaxis has been helping them out and getting them ready; I think he was a Standard-Commander back in Evinwiir. His bucks are from all over Whitetail but the majority of them were there to see Corvalix's barbarism first-hoof in the capital.

"Obviously it's taken them some time to get used to using Equestrian armor and weapons, but I think they'll be able to hold their own. We'll be keeping them on a tight leash just in case."

"Yes, sir. The Legion stands with you."

"I know you do, son. Any other concerns before we adjourn? No? Alright, looks like that's it, then. All in all, lads, we're looking at just over twelve thousand of our own, including conscripts and foreign fighters. Needless to say, we're going to have to make the deer pay for every inch of ground. Equestria has never faced such a large force, and certainly never one within spitting distance of the castle grounds. If the prick-headed tree rutters want to take our land, then by the gods we're going to make them pay one hell of a blood toll! Honor to the Princess!"

"Honor to the Princess!" the others echoed, saluting with hooves over their chests.

"And honor to Equestria. We'll meet back here at sundown for one last session. Get plenty of sleep and eat hearty, for tomorrow we push those fuckers all the way back to Cervidae! Hah-ooh!"

***

Canterlot Castle was a place that held many treasures from throughout Equestria's storied past, from colorful frescoes and paintings of beloved ponies to beautiful and detailed carvings made of stone, marble and bronze. One could spend a lifetime appreciating their grandeur, a testament to the talent and dedication of ponykind.

Of all its wonders, Celestia considered the Hall of History to be the crowning achievement of the royal artists. Everything about its design inspired awe and a childlike wonder in those who gazed upon it for the first time. Step into its polished expanse and one would be greeted with its timeless, classical architecture of chiseled columns and a high, arched ceiling that shone with thousands of points of magical light, a faithful recreation of the night sky visible on even the brightest of days. Proceed down the hallway, toward the large double doors emblazoned with the twin crests of the sun and moon, and the entire history of Equestria would be laid out along the western wall. Here could be found the intricate stained glass mosaics that continued to tell a tale long after their creators had passed on. From the arrival of King Argo Navis and Queen Aurora, to the uniting of the three pony nations, and all points in between. Some spoke of sorrow and dread, images of warfare and bloodshed between warring factions, while others inspired hope and optimism for the newly united kingdom of Equestria.

Celestia passed by each of them in turn, gazing up at the beautiful works of art that cast their vivid colors across her in soft, dappled light and the warmth of the setting sun. It was here that she felt the weight of the past upon her, a strange contradiction of comfort and worry that she could not have put into words. The hall had survived the trials and tribulations of time, even after being damaged in the attack on Canterlot, and in a way it gave her a confidence that no brash generals or aides speaking in flowery prose could hope to approach. She hoped it would remain untouched by the deer and their unjustified war.

Down the hallway and past the guarded entrance she turned into the bedchamber wing, stopping to grab a candelabra from a corner table. She paused in front of the oaken door just beyond, if only for a moment, then pushed her way through. Candle light illuminated the darkness, casting its gentle glow on mosaic portraits and trinkets of the past.

"Hello, Luna," she said to the empty room, setting the candles down on a dresser that had been faded and worn by time and use. Motes of dust floated around her as she sat on the dark blue bedspread. It had been more than a month since she'd last stepped hoof inside, and longer still since she'd had the room cleaned. After the attack on Canterlot by those claiming to be her sister's followers she had found a new appreciation for keeping it tidy, at least for a time, as a way of keeping the hope of Luna's return alive. She knew it was foolish to think such a thing, but sometimes it was the only thing keeping her from spiraling into the deep depression she'd felt after the banishment.

Celestia tugged open the curtains from the room's small window -- Luna had never been much of a day pony -- to let the fading sunlight in. Hues of amber and orange spilled over the dark brown furniture and brought a modicum of warmth into the otherwise cold room.

"Luna, it's time to wake up." She could still picture herself prodding Luna with her hoof, trying to wake her without aggravating her sometimes snappy demeanor.

"'Tis nary a star in the sky, leave us to our beauty rest," Luna would protest, inevitably having to have the covers yanked off her with a shout of protest and the occasional colorful word. She'd always had a bad habit of staying up later than she should have.

"I doubt anypony would accuse you of needing beauty rest. Come, it's time to raise the moon." Often her answer would be a pillow either being thrown in her direction or shoved over Luna's head. "Now, Luna."

"Thou art insufferable, sister."

She laughed at the memory that was, thankfully, still fresh in her mind. "Three hundred years is a long time to remain stubborn," she said out loud. "One day we'll break you of that habit, I'm sure of it."

She sat in silence for a short time, fondly reminiscing about their journey across the centuries. It had been multiple lifetimes worth, an unthinkable stretch of time for most ponies, yet it now seemed to have passed so quickly. What she wouldn't have given to go back and be a filly again, exploring the old castle in the Everfree forest with her sister and looking upon the half-completed Canterlot with a sense of wonder that could only come from the innocence of childhood.

Tears welled in her eyes and she wiped them away. "I'm going to be here all night at this rate." Standing up again she approached the far wall that had been partially covered by crates and satchels of supplies, a necessary part of stocking up for a possible prolonged siege. She moved them aside one at a time until she could see a small indentation marked with the shape of a long lance with a crescent blade. Pressing the tip of her horn against it, she uttered a few quiet words and focused her magic. There was a quiet 'click', then a soft chiming as the barrier spell waned to reveal the outline of a door.

Inside the hidden storage closet sat two trunks decorated with old Equestrian writing and delicate jewel work that glittered as she dragged the right-most one into the room. A deep exhale of relief; she'd forgotten how heavy it was. Along the rim of the lid, carved into the woodwork and finished in gold leaf, was an inscription that had faded only slightly with time: For the Princess of the Sun, first of Royal Blood, on the centennial of Her birth.

Celestia unlocked the latch and lifted the lid back. Within its padded walls, exactly as she'd left it, was a set of glimmering golden armor. Painful memories welled to the surface, those of death and destruction at the uncaring hands of the second human and his deer masters. Flashes of desperate combat interlaced with strange moments of clear thought, scattershot in their--

"Princess?"

"Oh!" She jumped at the sudden interruption, scrambling to close the trunk as she turned to face the unexpected company. "I'm sorry, I was just--" Tercio stood in the doorway, looking as if he'd just committed some great breach of privacy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. If you prefer I come back later..."

Celestia let out a breath she suddenly realized she'd been holding. "No no, it's fine. You gave me quite the start, that's all. Do you have need of me?"

He shook his head. "No, nothing official. I wanted to come by and see how you were doing. One of the guards said you were in here."

Her spirits lifted at the thought. "In that case, please, come in. Shut the door behind you, if you would."

Tercio did as he was asked, closing it quietly before embracing her and sharing a loving kiss. "It's good to see you again, carissima. I was hoping you would be available, for it has been an arduous day to say the least. The thought of you is sweeter than any wine and twice as intoxicating."

"That's so sweet of you," she said. "Did you come up with that yourself?"

He hesitated before answering. "Not exactly, I heard it in a play once," he admitted with a laugh. Celestia giggled and kissed him once more.

"Well it's the thought that counts, I suppose. I had planned on calling on you some time ago, but things have been, well...I don't really need to say anything, I'm sure. I'm glad you decided to visit, my love."

"As am I. You seemed quite lost within yourself, I do hope I wasn't interrupting."

"I'd say it was less of an interruption and more of a relief." Celestia hefted the lid once more, the latch clattering. "I had just pulled this out, and for a moment it brought me back to a time I'd rather forget."

"Is this...your armor? From the memory you shared?" Tercio ran his hand over the shining plates, each piece so familiar despite having never seen it for himself.

"The same. I have not worn it in a very long time."

The detail work on every inch was exceptional. Flawless gold plating covered the finest Equestrian steel, forged into all manner of sturdy protection from her knees to the base of her horn. The largest piece, made of segmented strips meant to cover the torso, had the letters "EQ" flanked by stalks of wheat carved into each side. As he looked closer he could see a background of an ornate mountain range that gave way to a forest and a winding stream that spilled into a glittering sea.

He lifted a pair of shoulder pauldrons, finding them lighter than they appeared. Each one had been shaped to resemble a mighty phoenix with its wings spread out in attack and flames wreathing its body. In its talons it held a spear and an olive branch, traditional symbols of might and prosperity.

"I have never seen such craftsmanship. Was this a gift from your father?"

"I'm afraid not. He'd passed into the Great Beyond several years before. A smith by the name of Alabresius Pontius created matching sets for Luna and I for the one-hundredth anniversary of our births. Hers came later, of course." She pointed to the underside of the lid, where old Equestrian symbols had been chiseled into the woodwork. "I am thankful that he chose to sign his work, else I fear I would have forgotten his name after all these years like so many countless others. Even after being repaired it has retained its luster -- a testament to his skill and dedication."

She watched him turn one of the pauldrons over. In those striking eyes she had seen the same potential for mindless slaughter that the deer had so ingrained in Secundus, a dark power that had threatened to corrupt Tercio from the inside like a disease. That a single word of deertongue could set him off so had been a terrible revelation, the culmination of three decades of fear. The animalistic determination as he tried to reach for her in the throne room had been one of the most horrific moments of her life, and in that moment she could hear Luna's warning pounding in her head.

"He is dangerous, Sister."

And yet, somehow, he had found it within himself to overcome the twisting, vile magic. He had stared into the face of the abyss and returned by some great miracle. Tercio was a good man, a strong man in mind and stature with a selfless heart. Those same eyes now spoke of love and sincerity, despite the best attempts by the deer.

Luna had been wrong. She had seen the opportunity at a life worth living taken from Secundus, and she would have given up her crown before she let the same thing happen again.

"Tercio...I want you to promise me something."

He set the armor back into the chest and turned to her. "Of course. I would do anything you ask of me."

Celestia hesitated, having to force herself to say the words. "Do not let me be taken alive. If it should come to it, I will not let myself be captured and paraded as a war trophy. I would rather die first."

"Do not say such a thing," he insisted, taking her hoof in his hands. "I am prepared to give my life for you! We all are! Is that not our very vow?"

"I know. I would never ask such a thing of you if I did not mean it." Her voice trembled at the very idea, try though she might to remain steadfast.

"I would go to the ends of the earth if you so wished it, but you cannot ask me to plunge my blade into the heart of the mare I love more than anything else in this world." His hand gently lifted her chin. "I could never live with myself. You are everything to me, Celestia. Please reconsider your words lest I am cursed to be driven to the depths of despair once more."

But Celestia stood her ground. She knew the cruelty Elinwynn was capable of, the lengths she would go to in order to accomplish her treacherous goals. No, she could not put herself at the mercy of someone so unflinchingly self-serving and wicked.

"You must promise me. Should the worst come to pass and Equestria is lost, I will not let my people see me as a slave. They may live on, but Elinwynn will make an example of me. I cannot suffer that disgrace. Please. You must swear to me. I ask you not as your princess, but as the mare who loves you more than she's ever loved anyone."

In that moment, Tercio wanted to shun his oaths and cast his sword aside. He hated the very thought of taking her life...but she was right. The legacy of Equestria's great winged unicorns, the nigh-immortal rulers that had united a nation, could not end with humiliation and suffering. More importantly, he could not watch the mare he loved be held as a perverse spoil of war.

He let out a shuddering exhale and nodded. Tears welled in his eyes, and he did not try to hide them. "Alright. I swear to you, on my honor and my life, that you will not become a captive." He did not tell her that he would turn the blade on himself after. He had already felt the pain of death once before, and he did not fear it, but there would be no coming back from it this time.

Celestia tried to answer. The words caught in her throat as the weight of tens of thousands of lives and millennia of history was firmly on her shoulders. She would have given anything to have Luna at her side to help carry the burden, the Luna of years past that had been the pillar of strength Equestria needed. But she was gone now, banished to a place between life and death. How disappointed her parents would have been to see how she had let Luna fall to darkness, to say nothing of the impending destruction of all they had struggled for.

Equestria deserved better.

"I'm so scared," she said. The effort had drained her more than a week of sleepless nights. "I just want it all to go back to how it was." Tercio wrapped his arms around her and comforted her as best he could, running his fingers through her flowing mane.

"I know, my love. I know. It will, soon. You'll see."

He rocked her gently in his embrace.

She wanted to cry, but she had no more tears to give. In their place was only a deep, unending exhaustion, and the overwhelming numbness of inevitability.

68 - Culmination

Avinarius, grant me the strength to defeat my enemies.

Tunic first, checking the padded shoulders for wear. Pteruges skirt and sword belt after that. Straps must be cinched tight to keep the weapon from moving.

Stalwart Shield, grant me the fortitude to defend my brothers.

Hob-nailed marching sandals with winter coverings, essential for the snow and mud. Never quite comfortable, but sturdy and reliable.

Carinae the Embracer, grant me the solicitude to see my family to safety.

Chain mail shirt, manica and leg guards. Worn from use, scarred from battle. Solid as the day they were forged.

Oaken Oath, grant me the resolve to fight with honor.

Heavy but firm, a barrier of steel and iron to blunt an enemy's strike, the lorica segmentata, signature of Equestria's military and symbol of its unwavering dedication, came next.

Clement Heart, grant me the clarity to be merciful.

A cloak of the finest cloth, dyed a deep purple to match the mountains at sunset, adorned with a charging bull in golden thread.

Argo Navis, Aurora...grant me the devotion to safeguard the one I love.

In the cold pre-dawn hours he prepared his equipment, readying himself near a torch burning in its iron wall sconce for warmth. Shadows flickered across the curved rose-stone balustrade of the high balcony and faded into the night to become one with the silence of the city below. Overhead, visible in the gaps between clouds, the haunting visage of Princess Luna stared down at him from the full moon, a reminder of how even the strongest of souls could fall to darkness -- and of how no one was beyond the whims of fate.

A pair of wooden idols clicked together in his hand, stylized representations of the great winged unicorns of centuries past. He had started carrying them after speaking with his parents, and though he did not consider himself to be a particularly devoted follower of the gods, be they old or new, he hoped they would bring him the blessings to make it through the day.

A momentary shuffle of sheets and blankets behind him; Celestia was still sleeping, having given in to exhaustion more than any real desire to rest. She had fretted herself nearly to the point of sickness, forgetting to lower the sun and raise the moon for a time. Messages and updates had come to her door until late in the night, and Tercio had done what he could to comfort her and set her mind at ease. It had been an uphill struggle, resolute though the princess was, for everyone had their breaking point. Eventually she had ordered all messages be kept until morning unless they were of the utmost importance, collapsing onto her bed moments later.

Tercio sipped at a cup of tea, reheated in a small pot over the fireplace. The hot drink steamed in his hands and warmed him against the cold morning air as he leaned against the railing. Canterlot stretched out in a wide circle below him, giving way to the pitch-black valley that would soon be the site of the most important battle in Equestria's history. Somewhere out there, beyond the narrow, high-walled approach waited countless thousands of deer eager to spill blood in the name of their Empress. To them, this was a war of vengeance. They saw the ponies as ruthless monsters who slaughtered women and children, who gladly drove a wedge between the warring deer factions centuries prior; doubly so for the royal lineage, especially Celestia. Captured deer under interrogation were, at best, dismissive of her innocence in such perceived atrocities. At worst, they expressed the desire to drive their blades into her heart themselves.

The Praetorian Guard would make sure that never happened. The full contingent of one hundred and twenty of Equestria's most loyal, well-trained soldiers had been called upon for the day's duties, including the repurposed stallions from the now-defunct Lunar Garrison that had, until this point, served as glorified gate guards after Luna's banishment. Though they were dedicated and proficient to the last, their prior service to Luna before her fall to darkness had left them feeling without a sense of purpose. Many believed that they had failed in their duties so completely that they had resigned their postings, stripping themselves of the Praetorian title to serve out the rest of their tenures among the ranks of the common Equestrian Guard. Those who remained were known for being distant and cold at the best of times.

Now they had a purpose once more, beyond the protection of a single mare many of them considered a living goddess. All of Equestria was at stake, and so they had retaken their pledges -- this time to Celestia. In the final days before the battle was to begin they could be seen trotting the halls with renewed purpose, still proudly wearing their dark blue and purple armor that was now adorned with hoof-carved suns on each pauldron. There were few of them left, only twenty-three in total, but they would be powerful allies, and Tercio was proud to serve alongside them.

As for the others, the stallions of his barracks, he trusted them without question. They had seen him through Hell more than once, from the cultist attack on Canterlot and the assassin's near victory in the crystal cave, to the whitetail ambush that had come dangerously close to carrying him away as some sort of trophy for the deerfolk. He had no doubt that the Praetorians would prosper under Polaris' leadership, despite that particular wound still being fresh enough to sting every time he thought about it.

Celestia stirred once more, turning onto one side before lying still again. How strange, he thought, that fate had brought them together. They could not have been more different, yet her kindness had been the catalyst for so many moments that had come to define his existence. At the very least, he owed her his life twice over.

The unavoidable fact was that he might never see her again after today. The deer army was massive in scale, outnumbering Equestria and her Zevran allies nearly three to one, and if they should happen to break through to the castle grounds...

He shook his head. No, he could not afford to linger on such doubts. He worried every time he went into battle, as did everyone, but keeping that fear clamped down to serve as a motivator was an integral part of training and self-discipline. He wanted to live, not just for her, but for his family, his colleagues; for the very place he'd called home for all of his strange, tumultuous life. But if keeping them safe called for him to die this day...then so be it.

Quietly he sat his cup down, crested helm tucked under his arm, and knelt beside the bed. She was still asleep, thankfully, kept warm under a thick blanket that gently rose and fell with every breath. It would be some time before she woke. Tercio wished he could stay with her, but it was not to be. Not today. He placed his hand upon her shoulder and simply watched her for a few moments, as if to ingrain this moment into his memory down to the smallest detail.

"I give myself -- mind, body and soul -- to serve and honor the royal lineage, that others may live." He spoke softly, reciting part of the Praetorian's oath. If only he'd truly understood what the words meant back in those early days. It was not just another swearing of duty, it was a vow to forego everything he knew and held dear in the name of something greater than himself -- even if it meant never feeling a lover's gentle caress again.

"Be safe, carissima. I am a better man for knowing your embrace. I will see you soon." He gently kissed her cheek, brushing aside a curl of glittering hair, and headed to the door. He closed the door behind him, chancing one last glance. A swell of anger surged through him as he left, born not of the dark magic that had sought to control him before, but of a righteous fury at the deer who would seek to take her from him. He bottled it, contained it within himself, and used it to hone his mind to a razor's edge.

His fingers curled into fists as he marched down the hallway, clenching them until they were red and painful.

If the deer wanted war, then he would bring it to them.

***

"I never thought this day would come. All of the struggle, the suffering, the death...yet here we are."

Brother-Captain Caethil watched the sun appear between the tall peaks of the Swayback Mountains. Warm sunlight kissed his skin and short coat. Overhead, the sky had become painted with hues of oranges and pinks that colored the clouds like the feathers of a great phoenix. Cold though it may have been, Equestria had an undeniable beauty so unlike that of Whitetail. No better or worse, but simply...different.

The former senator Praxilus walked beside him, his eyes turned skyward. Puffs of foggy breath drifted away in the breeze, and snow crunched underhoof with every step. "It's been a long journey, my friend. A long one indeed. But here we are at last." Praxilus wore the trappings of a simple stag: body wraps of cotton cloth stitched with fibers from the falyniir tree, dyed white and emerald. The clothes of the common people, far removed from the expensive silks of politicians and important deer. "We are blessed by Alyyri'aanis to have this chance."

Caethil frowned disdainfully. "If being blessed means losing every buck under my command then I adamantly deny the favor of the spirits. My life is not worth so much as half a breath of anyone who trusted me with their lives."

"So you say. That zebra friend of yours seems to disagree."

"Baer'barisater believes me chosen for some grandiose 'higher purpose'. I would argue that it was chance and sacrifice, not divine providence, that has brought me here."

"Anything is possible, Caethil. Do you believe it was mere chance that brought us together for the good of Whitetail? We will need strong leaders once this war has ended, good stags who can bring our fractured nation together."

"Then find someone else. I have no interest in being a politician. Let the generals sort out our forces while you and your ilk squabble in the senate."

Praxilus looked away, hiding his discontent. Caethil was a good stag and a strong leader, but his fatalistic attitude had only grown worse since returning from Zevran. He was convinced he would not live through the battle, and had said as much repeatedly. Seeking vengeance against Corvalix was the only thing that drove him forward now, and on long nights he spoke of how he could hardly sleep knowing that the murderous cur was out there, so close and yet so far.

Trails of smoke wafted into the sky from the south. The Whitetail Loyalist liandiir -- no, cohort, he reminded himself, using the Equestrian word for it -- was now awake and in full preparatory mode. A morning meal would be served, followed by a short break for prayer to the ancestor spirits. After that, last-minute training would begin in earnest. Already hammers clanged against anvils as early work began on reforging damaged equipment and repurposing it for the taller, lither frames of his fellow deer. Equestrian steel and iron was sturdy but heavy, and he'd heard complaints from numerous whitetail volunteers that they missed the quinndryll plate of their homeland. Some of the officers had managed to acquire sets of Whitetail armor, albeit modified to distinguish them from the redtail in the heat of battle, but availability was limited to say the least. After all, Equestria hadn't exactly had reason to stockpile deer armor prior to the Cervidaen 'liberation' of Whitetail.

"I haven't had the chance to talk to Eradaxis since yesterday morning, but he seemed confident," Praxilus said in an attempt to bring a more optimistic tone to their conversation, as well as to break the awkward silence. "Has he told you anything about how the bucks are holding up?"

Thankfully, Caethil took the bait. No doubt he was eager to talk about something else as well. "A few words here and there. For the most part he's kept himself busy. He's going to be their commanding officer."

"With your experience I still think you'd be better at it."

Caethil simply shook his head. "Eradaxis knows what he's doing. Let him take charge. I've watched him training the civilian volunteers; he is harsh but fair and is doing a fine job, especially considering the short time he's had to bring them up to something resembling a fighting force. I would expect no less of a Standard-Commander of his prestige. I will fight alongside him, but I will not be giving orders."

"As you say. I'm sure the others will fight harder knowing you are with them."

"They're fighting for Whitetail, not for me. Just as it should be. Eradaxis wants them at the front, visible to all as a symbol of defiance. It is a fine statement to make."

"But...?" Praxilus led on.

"But they are not proper soldiers. Most of them are eager and talented, but they are still civilians with minimal training. We'll keep the experienced bucks and stags at the forefront of the battle line, though if they should fall then we will have a clear weakness for the redtail to exploit. The volunteers, I believe, will serve us best by keeping to the second line and supporting us with throwing spears and arrow volleys. We'll be squeezed between two different Equestrian Guard regiments, and kept on a tight leash. The ponies don't fully trust us, not that I can blame them." Just ahead, in a patch of evergreens, a pair of rabbits darted from tree to tree. One of them stopped, looked at the deer, and scampered off into a winterberry bush. For a brief moment Praxilus could almost picture himself back home, shooing the pests away from his garden, such as it was. He was not gifted with a green hoof, so to speak, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. Would it still be there when he returned? Would he even get to return at all?

"I wish I could join you in fighting for our homeland," he said, "but I am no warrior."

"Not everyone is," Caethil replied, his tone the closest to comforting as he was capable of these days. "I do not hide my disdain for politics, nor for politicians, but even I realize that someone has to do it. You're a good buck, Praxilus. We'll need you in the coming months, should we still draw breath after the sun sets. Don't entertain ideas of throwing yourself into the fray when there are plenty who will be doing so." He stopped at the crest of a low hill, watching the ponies frantically rush to and fro in their continuing efforts to fortify the barrier wall. Their resolve was admirable, and they were stalwart combatants; he'd seen as much for himself, narrowly escaping their swords during their initial push into the land surrounding Evinwiir. "I do not know if we will be able to resist the tide of bodies Elinwynn will throw at us. Their numbers are legion, and they are well-trained. We have contingencies in place in the event of such a break-through, but if you still plan on watching from the edge of the city then I suggest you stay in that position. Should the redtail close in around you then I implore you to jump over the side rather than let them take you. It will be far quicker that way. You've seen what Corvalix does to those who defy him."

Praxilus' knees went weak at the very thought of hurling himself to his death. He nodded anyway.

"I, ah...well, what about the zebras?"

"Have you ever seen a zebra in combat? No? Neither have I. None of us have. For all we know they could be the greatest military force the world has ever known. Alternatively, they could be completely ineffective. We won't know until it's too late to turn back."

"For someone who journeyed with one and sailed back on their ships you don't sound too confident."

Caethil turned up a hoof in a shrug. "I am confident that they will do their best. I would be lying if I said I was not impressed by their discipline and professionalism, it's just that they have not been in open warfare for generations. Their little skirmishes with the Griffon Empire ten odd years ago hardly count."

"I recall many in Whitetail saying the same of the ponies. Now look at us."

He gave a snort of amusement. "True enough." Overhead a flight of pegasi were dispelling a section of clouds, taking chunks out of them with firm kicks. Clumps of snow fell in the distance, landing with firm puffs of air, like dozens of pillows being fluffed in succession. The sky was gradually being cleared along the mountain peaks, one of the perks of fighting where the weather obeyed the strange magic of the ponies. It was a small thing, providing the morale-boosting warmth of the sun to your side while denying it to the enemy, but every bit would help. No doubt they could use the clouds for strategic cover as well.

"I imagine you'll be wanting to return to your fellows. We should head back," Praxilus said.

"I suppose we should. They'll be expecting you in Canterlot soon."

With a hoof to his chest he dipped his head, bowing low in admiration. "Thank you again. For saving my life, I mean. It is most unfortunate that we could not save the others, but I know they will lend you their strength in the coming battle, ancestors rest their souls. I wish you nothing but blessings of good fortune, Brother-Commander Caethil."

"And you as well, Senator Praxilus," Caethil responded, returning the gesture. "If you wish to thank me, then I ask only that you tell the people of Whitetail of their sacrifice."

"You can tell them yourself."

The hint of a genuine smile appeared on Caethil's face. "Ever the optimist. We shall see, my friend. It has been an honor knowing you. Saen'ixis dwyyr Wyyttalia." He saluted smartly, then turned and loped away through the ankle-deep snow.

Praxilus watched him leave for a time, until he was no longer visible through the patchy forest. Now by himself, he took a moment to let the cold breeze blow over him. Deep breaths brought in lungfuls of crisp, pine-scented air. It was...peaceful. The ever-encroaching dread of redtail retribution refused to be silenced, but for now, at least, he could pretend the war was already over.

***

Canterlot. The seat of Celestia's corruption and incompetence. It hung above the valley, clinging to the mountainside like a bloated tick. Its mere presence mocked her from on high, daring her to move against it. Somewhere up there, sitting upon her precious dais, the princess was awaiting her. Celestia was always so confident in her leadership, so self-assured in her righteous authority, so...aggravating in her stubbornness. She had brought this war upon herself, and now she would pay for the lives she'd so unjustifiably taken. And if Elinwynn herself had to serve as the catalyst of change, then so be it.

This wasn't just about her, this was about Cervidae. About Whitetail. About the hundreds of years of callous disregard for the strife and civil wars that had been a direct result of Celestia's lust for power and land.

Today, Empress Elinwynn would finally bring her to justice, and generations of Cervidaen rulers would be avenged.

She stood before the largest formation of soldiers deerkind had ever seen, clad in her sapphire armor inlaid with detail work of polished platinum that glinted in the spotted light of mid-morning. This glory would not belong solely to Corvalix, who stood at her side in his dark green quinndryll armor and phoenix feather headdress. He had served his part in this war with courage and conviction, but even he acknowledged that it had to be the Empress who would take Canterlot in the name of Cervidae. She would have it no other way.

"My people! Sons and daughters of Ochrourus! Today we are here not as mere citizens of Cervidae or Whitetail, but as unified deer!" From her raised platform she spoke to the massed formations that stretched as far as the eye could see, a veritable sea of green that would soon swallow the enemy like a tidal wave. It was a wondrous sight to behold. Behind her whipped thirty-six flags of both nations' greatest cities and strongholds, and held above them all flew the white and green of the Cervidaen Hegemony, its striking colors now joined by wreathed pine branches from the newly liberated Whitetail.

"Today we right one of history's greatest wrongs," she continued, amplifying her voice with a simple spell. Corvalix stood off to her side, a few steps back, flanked by the powerful Imperial Protectorate does. "Many generations ago, our forebears gave in to the worst of their nature, driving our beautiful peoples in twain. Where once the Ochrourus Collective reigned as the dominant power in the known world, now only strife and civil war could be found. Countless lives were lost in the decades of infighting, and countless more would fall in the resulting border wars that have plagued us for so long. We were stubborn and ignorant, all of us.

"It is with great shame that I admit to my family's part in the suffering and neglect. Hundreds of years of empresses sent good bucks and does to their deaths in battles that ultimately accomplished nothing except to further the divide between us, and when things did not go our way we lashed out at those around us. Soldier, farmer, artisan; none were safe from retribution. In truth, Cervidae's history is a dark one, like a moonless night dotted with stars. Brief moments of beauty and clarity against an unending shroud of ignorance.

"Over the years, many have asked one simple question -- why? Why did our peoples, so similar in nearly every regard, suddenly take up arms against one another? Why did our thriving economy and mighty armies come crumbling down like weathered, brittle stone? The theories are as vast as the lands we call home, and I will not bother speaking on them now, for I am sure you have all heard them. Perhaps you hold thoughts of your own on the matter, unsure even of your own motivations for doing so.

"My people...my friends...allow me to put these rampant speculations to rest, once and for all." Elinwynn turned and shot out here foreleg at the distant silhouette of Canterlot, holding it there as the crowd watched in silence. Her jaw trembled and her eyes spoke to disgust and hatred, a measured mask for all to see. Almost immediately there was a shift in the atmosphere, a subtle, nearly imperceptible wave of emotion that spread through the ranks like ripples in a pond. She relished the moment, drank it in with aplomb. She practically had them eating out of her hoof.

"Canterlot, the very heart of Equestria. From within its walls the fates of millions are decided, not by its people, but by the royal dictators who think themselves above the rabble. Their long lives make them callous, for what is a single life, a single city, a single nation to one who watches a thousand years pass on a whim? Make no mistake, people of Ochrourus: the rulers of Equestria care not about us mere mortals. We are but mayflies passing in the night. The blatant disregard for deerkind can be seen in every fortress attacked, every city besieged, every life lost. And to what end? Surely such a nation that prides itself on kindness, tolerance and love would cease to be warlike and territorial!"

Her mouth hooked up in a smirk that faded into a scowl. "If only it were that easy. No, Equestria's royal murderers care not for those things. It is further manipulation brought upon by centuries of experience. In my time as Empress I have spoken with Princess Celestia on numerous occasions. Believe me when I say that she lies as easily as you or I draw breath. It took me a long time to understand fully the extent of her underhoofed ways -- years, in fact. There was always something about her, something wrong, that was difficult to pin down. Every time I spoke with her, I left feeling as though my words and actions were not my own. It is quite ingenious, really, the way she can twist and tug with a few simple words. Her sister, Princess Luna, was like her in many ways, as is to be expected, though she lacked the nuance of her more outwardly regal counterpart. In truth I respected her, for she was not afraid to speak her mind.

"It was inevitable that she would rise up against Celestia. Unfortunately she lacked the courage to do so herself, instead giving in to dark magic that corrupted any potential she might have had. From her madness came the Nightmare Moon cults, those vile, disgusting followers of a false goddess who cared only for themselves. Under my leadership, and despite the warmongering of Celestia, our peoples wiped them out to the last. Once again we had saved this land from itself, and do you think we were offered a single word of gratitude from the mighty princess of Equestria? No! Just as she had watched redtail and whitetail slaughter one another centuries before, she now sat back and let our soldiers suffer the swords and arrows of her sister's doomed worshipers! She used the opportunity to bring further suffering to the besieged and maligned people of Evinwiir! That is her way! That is her legacy! Division, manipulation, wanton destruction!"

She paused, lowering her voice. "Do you want to know 'why'? Then look no further." She allowed the unspoken discontent to catch and grow, like a forest fire that began with a single ember. She cradled it, gave it life. All she had to do now was unleash its full fury and let it burn through everything in its path. "I say to you, people of the united deer nation, that we will not be cast aside any longer! Today we take our pound of flesh! Today we march on Canterlot and force the cruel Princess Celestia to bend the knee before us, and if she will not, then we will drive our blades into her black heart so that none may suffer under her rule ever again! Falaand nir hwixiis Cervidae maar Whyyttalia! Fal'naas par Equestrii!"

"HWAH!" The collective might of thirty thousand voices shouted back at her, sending a shiver of emotion down her spine. She had dreamed of this day for the last thirty years, ever since her mother had imparted upon her the wisdom of half a century of rule. All of Cervidae's troubles had started with Equestria. Now, they would end with it.

69 - Inexorable

The mass of Canterlot citizens stretched as far as the eye could see, with thousands of ponies waiting their turn to be admitted to the vast network of mountain shelters. For the last hour Tercio had heard the Royal Guard callers shouting out the same information to the nervous throng: form an orderly line. Bring only what you can carry. Food and water will be provided for you.

The collective commotion could be heard all the way from the palace grounds, where hundreds of soldiers watched the crowds slowly trickle into the halls of refuge that had gone unused since Canterlot's inception. Those Royal Guards who were not evacuating civilians were stationed along the cobblestone path leading to the main entrance, where their numbers were steadily being reinforced by Praetorians.

"Damned shame, this is." Polaris stood just off to Tercio's right side, busily writing on a length of parchment with a floating quill. As a newly commissioned Acting Imperator of the 105th Praetorian Guard, one of three in total, he had his hooves full making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be.

"At least we have somewhere for them to go," Tercio said in response. A long line snaked around the outer gate down the hill, curving in on itself twice before stopping at what appeared to be a plain rock wall where a contingent of armed and armored ponies were comparing names to a thick ledger. Once a group had been cleared, typically around fifty or so, two unicorns would cast a brief counter-spell that caused the magical barrier to fade, and the process would start all over again. "Let's hope we don't have to rely on those tunnels too much. That magic was supposed to keep Lacertus out of the cave entrance, and we all know how well that went."

Polaris nodded distractedly. "I've been told the barrier is much stronger now, but I agree. If we have to rely on keeping everyone hidden while the deer rampage through the city then something has gone very wrong."

A trio of ponies in shimmering cloaks trotted out from the palace entrance, briefly conversing before splitting up. Two of them departed, while the other approached with a dour look.

"Krosus, Polaris. I trust things are going well so far?" Imperator-General Stonewall asked. His purple cloak was gone, replaced by one of pure white with gold trim. It sparkled with an inner magic, like flecks of crystal exposed to the sun.

"They are, sir. Nothing to report," Polaris answered, rendering a salute. The informality of Praetorian tradition had been placed on temporary hold as a show of solidarity with the Royal Guard. Nobody wanted to spend the morning explaining to the rank and file why a general wasn't being saluted. Besides, it was argued, it looked good for anyone who might be watching from the line below.

"Good. We've got enough damned problems as is. These people are vulnerable in such a large concentration. We should have done this yesterday." The old stallion watched the evacuation for a moment, grumbling at how long it was taking. The rank of Imperator-General was one that had gone unused since the unification of the three races, which was also the last time Equestria had been pulled into a full-scale war. Stonewall hadn't exactly welcomed the call to become the leader of the entire Praetorian Guard, gladly telling anyone who would listen that he was just fine leading his own contubernium, but his stubbornness was second only to his sense of duty. He wasn't about to turn down the position when Celestia had asked him personally.

Of course, that wouldn't stop him from complaining at every available opportunity.

"Damned ostentatious cloak. Look at me! I'd be surprised if the deer couldn't see me all the way from their camp. I wanted to keep my old one, but 'tradition' and all that shit. Might as well be wearing a sign that says 'aim your arrows here.'"

"I think it's quite, uh, ravishing, sir." Polaris held back a laugh that was not unnoticed.

"Oh yes, you're truly a beacon of Celestia's radiance," Tercio said. Quietly he added, "we could always put you in a light house if this whole 'general' thing doesn't work out." The two of them shared a barely-contained snigger. Stonewall was less than amused, a fact he made clear with a grumble of annoyance.

"Alright, alright, laugh it up like a couple of tittering school fillies. There might just be some latrine duties coming up in the near future, smart asses."

"Has there been any news from the princess?" Tercio asked after he'd regained his bearing.

"Nothing so far. She's still busying herself with sending out last-minute scrolls to every senior officer in the area, and there's a lot of 'em."

"And the deer?"

"According to scouts, the deer have already formed up and look like they're ready to start marching on us at any moment. We're keeping a close eye on them, but so far they're remaining in place. I wouldn't bet on them staying that way for long, though. Not looking forward to this fight, I can tell you that much."

Rimeberry and Thunderburst joined the group, each carrying satchels on either side of their bodies.

"Mind if we join the circle jerk?" Rimeberry asked with a grin.

"There you are. We were just starting to miss the smell of mud and cheap wine." Tercio knocked him on the helm. "What's with the bags?"

"We've been the princess' runners for the last hour. Don't know why she wouldn't use those pricks from the sky carriage detachment, but I wasn't about to question her. I've never seen her so focused."

"She's certainly busy, but strangely calm," Thunderburst said.

Stonewall nodded. "She can be like that. Been a long time since I've seen her that way. I guarantee you she's doing her damnedest to make sure we bring this fight to an end as quickly as possible, though with the deer being the way they are I doubt we'll be so lucky."

"At least we won't have to worry about the deer bombarding the civilians."

"That's something, I suppose." He looked over the courtyard once more. Every conceivable entrance had been accounted for, at least from the ground. Teleportation magic was always a sizable what-if and nearly impossible to fully plan for, but since the deer had to see a place to teleport to it he was fairly confident in the castle's security. Few of the standard soldiers could muster such power. Those blue-armored does, though...Phalanx had told him all about what they were capable of.

"You stallions -- and whatever you are, Krosus -- are one of the few groups to actually see combat as part of a Praetorian unit. Most of our number are relatively new, so they're going to be looking to you for guidance in the event that we have to draw our weapons to protect the princess. Polaris?"

"Sir!"

"There's a lot riding on your shoulders today. I know you weren't expecting to be an Acting Imperator, but you're more than qualified in the eyes of the senior cadre. Think you can handle keeping track of forty swinging cocks in the chaos of combat?"

"I will certainly try, sir," Polaris answered.

"You'll try? I'll let you answer that one again."

He cleared his throat and stood straight. "What I meant to say was: I will command the stallions to the fullest extent of my capabilities. Sir."

"We'll make sure he doesn't attempt to throw himself from a balcony," Thunderburst quipped.

Stonewall stamped in approval. "Good lads. Let's hope it goes better this time, eh? I don't feel like losing another leg if I can avoid it."

"I know the feeling," Thunderburst said.

"Suppose you do. Right, I should head back inside. I suggest you all do the same. Next time you see me, we'll be forming up for the princess' escort. We're preparing the sky carriages now and waiting on her word. Won't be too long, I'd bet." Stonewall saluted, waiting until the Praetorians around him returned it to continue. "This is it. No more preparation, no more waiting. I'll see you all when you get back. Honor to the Princess."

***

The full contingent of Praetorian Guard were gathered at the carriage spire, a tall tower that jutted off from the main castle opposite the front gates. Here could be found the collection of sky carriages, wagons and chariots that made up the royal transportation and escort wing, along with the necessary replacement parts and tools to keep them operational.

A full centuria of purple-cloaked soldiers were busying themselves with last-minute checks to weapons and armor, separated into small groups that spoke nary a word to one another as their intensive training and preparation took hold. For most of the Praetorians this would be their first taste of a real mission since their induction into the ranks of the chosen few, and although nearly all of them had already seen combat as part of their previous assignments there was the ever-present specter of open warfare hanging over their heads. Nobody knew if the deer empress would even want to speak to Celestia. For all they knew they might be ambushed immediately upon landing, but the princess was insistent upon trying to put an end to the battle before it began. That possibility, no matter how small, was worth exploring.

"Second and third barracks, form up on me!" Polaris stood on his hind legs and circled a hoof in the air, rallying the Praetorians under his command. Tercio hefted his shield and joined the group, weighed down by all of the equipment he was carrying. In addition to his holstered long sword and tower shield he carried a smaller buckler on his left hip, with a second, shorter blade under that. Across his back was a trio of throwing pila as well as a long thrusting spear. Finally, but certainly just as important, he carried a pair of daggers as last resort weapons -- one strapped to his thigh, and the other in a small sheathe on his upper left forearm. Together it was a heavy and somewhat uncomfortable burden, but he would gladly forego convenience for the sake of being prepared for whatever he might face in the field.

Satisfied with the prompt gathering, Polaris stood in front of the gathered stallions with an unrolled scroll floating in front of him. The bags under his eyes spoke to the few hours of sleep he'd had of late, something many of the others could sympathize with.

"Is this everyone? Good. I've just received orders from Stonewall, who will be staying behind until we return. Looks like we have our final roster for the flight out to the mouth of the valley. Second and third barracks have the honor of escorting the princess. If your name is called you'll be in the first carriage with me and will act as the princess' vanguard. Everyone else will be assigned to the wagons in the second formation bringing up the tail end of the formation." He cleared his throat and raised his voice to just under a shout. "Thunderburst, Cloudtop, Avintius, Bear, Rimeberry, Tercio, Marius, Portenius -- that's you, Portly, lest you've forgotten your name already," he said, getting a laugh from the others, "Caligio, Plowshare and Silver Stream. That's it. First and fourth barracks will be acting as a rear guard in the event that we need to escape quickly. We leave at the princess' word, so be ready to go at a moment's notice. Dismissed."

Tercio stepped away and found an empty spot on the wall to sit against, shoving his spear pack off to one side to stop the shafts from digging into his shoulder. He could make out the fleeing civilians below, a rainbow of colors and species that were behaving themselves remarkably well considering the circumstances. Somewhere out there his parents would be among them, worrying themselves sick about their beloved boys that they might never see again. If only he had wings! He would fly down there and find them, assuring them one last time that he would be safe in the company of his compatriots. Perhaps Victus had already done exactly that, and was personally escorting them to the mountain passages. He had no way of knowing, and more than anything it was that thought that made him ill. Victus, the brother he sometimes felt he did not deserve. He had always been there when Tercio needed him most; now they were separated by order and obligation, for the Legion and the Praetorian Guard were vastly different from one another.

"I've been through worse," Victus had said just the day prior while they were sharing a final meal together. "I'm more worried about you. Don't go shoving that sword into yourself again, because I won't be there to save you this time."

They'd shared stories and laughed over some cheap wine, but there was the very real possibility that this would be the last time they'd get to do so. Neither of them had wanted to bring it up, but it couldn't go unsaid.

"Victus, if anything should happen to me, I want you to use my death compensation payment to make sure mother and father are taken care of. They deserve to live out the rest of their lives in comfort."

"Don't say such things," his brother had chided him. "You'll be fine. The deer, the cultists, dark magic -- none of it could keep you down. Not to mention coming back from the fucking dead. You spit in the face of death itself! At this point I'm nearly convinced you're some sort of odd-looking deity."

"I'm serious, Victus. I've escaped my fate far more than any one man should. My luck is bound to run out eventually, and when it does I want to pass into the beyond knowing that my family is secure. Please, promise me."

Eventually he had made Victus agree. "Very well. I promise you they will not want for anything on my word as a soldier, a stallion and your brother. I only ask for the same in return. But don't think this gives you permission to throw yourself into their blades! My brother may be foolish and pig-headed at times, but he cannot shirk his responsibilities so easily."

That bravado and confidence was the reason Victus was a leader of stallions, and he was not. He did not begrudge him for it in the slightest. Their dinner had lasted only a short time longer, enough for one more cup. "Stay safe, Victus. Thank you for always being there for me. I am proud to call you my brother."

"And I as well, Tercio."

A commotion from the stairwell, hoofsteps and voices.

"Make way!"

Tercio scrambled from his seated position and took a knee, bowing his head as the princess arrived with her pegasus flight team in tow. Polaris and two other appointed officers approached her and gave a concise status update, saying that the stallions were ready to depart at a moment's notice. She thanked them and stepped to the center of the room.

"Please rise, my friends."

Celestia was fully dressed for war, protected from horn to dock by steel-backed golden armor. The craftsmanship and spectacle Tercio had seen in it the night before was nothing compared to how it now conformed to her body. Every curve was accentuated, every plate and strip detailed with intricate and delicate runes of ancient Equestrian or scenes of natural grandeur, giving her an air of power, nobility and unparalleled beauty. Soft rays of sunlight shone from the phoenixes on her pauldrons, a touch of magic that he had not seen until now.

Around her neck she wore a red and gold silk scarf, the colors of Equestria, to protect her skin from the edges of her flexible neck guard. The longer end hung down to her jeweled breast collar, itself a new piece that blended in and latched together with the armor around it.

Not even her crown remained the same. Gone was the tri-pointed staple, replaced with a golden laurel that fit snugly behind her ears. The leaves tapered off towards the front, ending just before the strips of her forehead and muzzle armor. A single large ruby floated between the curved tips, gently bobbing in place and twinkling with an inner magic.

A pair of scabbards completed her equipment, crimson and silver sheathes that concealed a pair of longswords hanging off to one side along her waist.

More than he'd ever seen her, she looked the part of a nigh-immortal ruler. Judging by the murmurs around him, he was not the only one to think so. She raised her hoof, and the room fell to silence.

"Thank you all for being here, my most loyal of friends and soldiers." She saluted and bowed her head, then continued. "Today is the most important day in our nation's storied history. Though it is young compared to some of our neighbors, we have seen unparalleled advances in the quality of life for our people since my beloved parents united the three races under the single banner of Equestria nearly four centuries ago. Across the land and over the seas we are known as a welcoming, caring place. Our tireless advances in industry, farming and the arts are shining examples of what the world can be if we cast aside our petty squabbles and work for the betterment of those who live within our borders -- and beyond.

"We often speak of the Three Pillars of our society: tolerance, the open mind. Devotion, the open heart. Generosity, the open soul. These are not just empty platitudes, but ideals we strive to achieve each and every day. I am proud of what Equestria has become, but more than that I am proud of what its people have achieved. That includes all of you." She smiled to the crowd like a loving mother.

"Some ponies believe me to be some sort of higher power, a demigoddess who will live for thousands of years and can control the heavenly bodies themselves, with the experience and knowledge that comes with such a long life, but despite those things I am no deity. Even with my centuries of rule I still find myself learning something new every day, and I am certainly not without my flaws. I have learned to be sagacious in my dealings with other rulers, certainly. I have a keen sense of history that others only know of from texts, and I am quick to draw upon it. But I am still a mare like any other, and I make my share of mistakes and have to live with those regrets. So it is with the redtail deer who see fit to march on our great capital."

A long moment passed as she considered her words. Celestia was not typically one to give speeches, preferring to leave such issues of morale to her officers, those who had the brash nature and unyielding confidence to inspire those who knew they may very well lose their lives. Today, however, she had decided to make the truth of Elinwynn's depravity known as only she could.

"Many years ago, while Luna and I were still learning how to become the leaders our nation so desperately cried out for after the deaths of King Argo Navis and Queen Aurora, there was a powerful deer nation known as the Ochrourus Collective that was beginning to fall to strife and civil war. Two races of deerfolk, redtail and whitetail, separated merely by minor differences in appearance and magical prowess, were tearing Ochrourus in twain. Their grievances were numerous, and if you asked ten deer back then why it was happening you would have likely received ten different answers.

"Ultimately, Luna and I decided to stay out of it as much as we could. We were having troubles of our own; the recently united races of pegasus, unicorn and earth pony were distrustful of one another after countless generations of conflict and territorial disputes, and I did not want to see Equestria suffer like Ochrourus. King Argo's death signaled the end of three millennia of careful maneuvering and centuries-long attempts to bring ponykind together under one banner, and some of the more militaristic among the races saw it as an opportunity to settle age-old grudges without fear of retribution.

"It was a dark time for us all. Eventually Luna and I succeeded in bringing peace once more to our lands, but in doing so we had been unable to help the deer put an end to their bloody civil war. In truth, I do not know if anything we could have done short of military intervention would have mattered in the end. On the rare occasion that we were able to send aid -- food, medicine, clothing -- it nearly always ended up going to the whitetail. The fledgling redtail nation, now calling itself Cervidae, had become despotic and cruel in its actions against its cousins in Whitetail. Cervidae's newly self-appointed empress hated them, blaming them for the bloodshed, and our efforts at helping the needy in Whitetail were seen as barely short of an act of war.

"The royal bloodline has never forgiven us for it. To them we were not merely offering aid to the suffering; we were prolonging the war, encouraging the whitetail to fight on. I fully admit that Luna and myself did not wish to see Whitetail destroyed, for in it we saw our best hope of a peaceful future with the deerfolk, but neither did we wish to see Cervidae removed by conquest and slaughter. We were young, and inexperienced, and we made mistakes in our dealings with such a delicate situation."

A large flight of pegasi passed by outside, leaving bright trails in their wake. Multiple sky wagons followed, each loaded with supplies kept in place by tarps that had been pulled taut over their frames. Celestia watched them pass, then turned back to the Praetorians.

"Empress Elinwynn does not believe in forgiveness. She is but the latest of a long line of Cervidaen rulers that show naught but contempt for Equestria, even if she is outwardly friendly in conversations. Through lies, misdirection and outright slander she has maneuvered herself into a position of power unheard of since the time of Ochrorus, aided by her murderous brother, Corvalix. From the very onset of the war with Whitetail, it has been her doing that pushed us along this path.

"The false-flag attack on the people of River Run. The death of Chancellor Artellus. The unprecedented explosion in Evinwiir that took so many lives. The corruption of Whitetail leadership. Worst of all, the nefarious and hurtful manipulation of vulnerable citizens under the banner of my own sister's fall to darkness. She seized Luna's banishment as just another means to an end. The attack on Canterlot was her doing, as was the assassin that nearly took my life."

She clutched a necklace that rested against her armor, made of dark blue and purple beads of polished gemstones. A crescent moon hung from the middle on a short pair of delicate silver chains.

"My father made this for Luna when she was still a filly. He said, 'one day you'll be big enough to wear it. Do so, and you will always have me with you'. It's been on her nightstand ever since she turned away from me -- from us. Those of you who had the honor of meeting her will remember her as a kind soul, someone who did not shy away from speaking her mind, sometimes to a fault, but she always did so with our best interests at heart. She meant everything to me. I loved her more than I could ever put into words."

Celestia's eyes narrowed and her jaw quivered as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. The anger she felt at such a deep, personal betrayal sometimes threatened to overtake her and cloud her judgment.

"Elinwynn used that against me. She saw it as her opportunity to toy with my mind, using her 'gift' of a beautiful pendant as a magical conduit to listen in on my most private conversations and gain insight into my deepest sorrows. She appeared to me in visions, sometimes as Luna, sometimes as Nightmare Moon, as vivid and real as I stand before you now. I had already been seeing Luna in my waking thoughts, and looking back now I am unsure of when I was fighting with my own fears or when it was her deftly pulling at my strings. I have never felt so violated in all my life. Even worse, she used that knowledge to bend the Nightmare Moon followers to her whim, using them as disposable pawns to do her bidding before massacring them as a display of her 'power' and 'decisiveness' to show the people of Whitetail that she marched on their lands with only their best interests in mind.

"And it worked. The whitetail welcomed her and her brother as liberators, eagerly siding with her in a renewed war against the Equestria they still believed responsible for all of their suffering. Those who resisted were slain without mercy, their property burned. Yet even then there were those who stood against her, good whitetail who hated the thought of another war and knew her responsible for what had happened. They fight with us now as allies, eager to reclaim their homes from under the iron hoof of Cervidaen rule."

She raised her voice once more, standing tall and confident. "And so here we stand, backs against the wall, facing down an army that wishes nothing less than the complete destruction of our nation. Some of you, I'm sure, are questioning why I wish to put myself in harm's way to speak with Empress Elinwynn.

"To you I say: I do so because I must. Because if there is even the smallest chance at averting this battle, of ending this needless conflict before one more life can be taken, then I would gladly depart on my own if necessary. I will do everything in my power to stop this, but if I cannot...then so be it. I will fight alongside you, not just as your princess, but as a citizen of Equestria. This place is my home, and I will die before I see its land taken and its people conquered!" She raised a sword above her head and reared up on her hind legs. "Honor to Equestria!"

"Honor to the Princess!" the Praetorians answered with spears held high.

"And honor to you, my friends. The time for action is upon is. We will ride out, and one way or another there will be no more deer battering down our doors after today. On this, I give you my word." With a firm nod to the senior officers she stepped into the gilded sky carriage. Polaris called his charges to attention.

"Praetorians, to your positions!"

***

The carriage bumped and jostled in the gusty air. Far below, among the snowy fields of Canterlot Valley, the gathered forces of Equestria and Zevran cheered at the princess' passing retinue. Like a sea of glittering jewels they stretched from the barricade battlements all the way to the Coriander Road and the gates of the city itself. Escorting pegasi proudly flew long banners of Equestria as they kept pace, circling the V-shaped procession in a breathtaking display of precision formation flying.

Inside the center-most carriage Celestia waited, her heart pounding like a Zevran war drum. She had remained quiet since her boarding, and none had seen fit to disturb her. Everyone knew that there must have been much going through her mind, thoughts of Elinwynn, the war, her sister. They reflected on their own lives, as all soldiers did before a battle. It was impossible not to worry, but courage was accepting your fears without letting them control you.

Tercio chanced a brief look her way, catching her eyes for only a moment. They spoke of concern and uncertainty, but there was an edge to them as well, a resolution he'd seen in her more than once. Her gaze softened at the unspoken love between them. No, she would not be the only one who would choose death before surrender today. Their fates were entwined now, an unbreakable bond.

"If the worst should come to pass, I want you all to know how proud I am of you." She spoke quietly now, more reserved than the bombastic ending she'd punctuated her speech with. "You're good stallions to the last, and I am honored to know you. The Praetorian Guard isn't just about service to the crown; it's about striving to better yourself, to reach the heights I know you're capable of. You fly with me today because you are the best and brightest examples of what an Equestrian can become if they set their minds to it, even among your peers. As such, I have prepared a gift for your unmatched loyalty and dedication."

A long bundle sat at her hooves, thick red cloth tied with rope. She unfastened the knot holding it together, revealing a collection of gleaming weapons that clattered with the carriage's movements.

"I had these made some time ago, just after things settled down after the attack on Canterlot. Those old weapons of yours are reliable, of course, but I thought you might enjoy something a little nicer. This is just the first batch; eventually I hope to equip all Praetorians with such fine blades. Consider them a thank-you for your devotion in a time of great uncertainty."

Rimeberry was the first to take one, lifting a short sword and examining it with a whistle of approval. The blade was a silvery steel, almost white in color, light but durable and refined to a razor-sharp edge. At the base of the fuller a replica of Celestia's sun had been carved into the metal, glowing a soft orange. A wrapping of dark purple leather covered the grip, ending at the combination pomel and mouth guard.

"Tercio, I think this one's yours," Polaris said, floating a longsword over. Tercio grabbed it from the air and stared in disbelief: the image on his weapon was a half moon, half sun that shimmered with a soft white instead, with a grip of dark blue and a crescent moon pommel. Even the knotwork on the crossguard was familiar.

"Is this..." he started, his words trailing off.

Celestia gave him a soft smile. "I wish I could tell you it's Nocturne reborn, but you will find no empathic magic here. I thought you might enjoy having something like it again, at least in appearance. I tried to get as close as I could from memory alone, albeit with a small change to the insignia. What do you think?"

Part of him still held out hope that the weapon would be warm to his touch, welcoming of his connection with it, but it was not to be. Yet it was still an exceptionally fine blade, comfortable to hold and well-balanced. He ran his fingers down its broad side, testing the edge with a careful touch.

"Once again I am in your debt, Princess. Thank you. It's more than I deserve."

"I believe the feeling is not yours alone," Bear added.

"Are you sure you want us to have these? All of us?" Rimeberry asked.

"If there has ever been a more fitting time, my friends, I do not know of it," Celestia said. "Please, accept them with my blessing. You can leave your old weapons in here for now."

One last kindness, she thought grimly. A trio of horns sounded from the pegasus team at the front -- the landing point was in sight. The carriage tilted forward slightly, beginning the descent to the meeting point below. Her heart began to beat faster as the Praetorians donned their helms and checked themselves once more, sliding their new weapons into their scabbards.

"This is it," she said to herself, watching the rocky outcroppings pass by. A chill snaked down her spine and shook her like a leaf in the wind, and she closed her eyes and thought of everything that was resting on her coming words.

70 - Ultimatum

The Auroran Valley loomed ever closer. Jagged boulders and scattered evergreens jutted from the rocky escarpments to either side of the canyon road, obscuring the sun as the royal procession dipped below the crest. It was cold here, far colder than the open expanse of patchy forest leading to Canterlot.

Five open-topped wagons full of Praetorian Guards made low, circling passes over the area. Nobody trusted the deer, doubly so when the life of Princess Celestia was potentially at risk. The pegasus teams signaled to one another and began to land on the hard, frozen soil. The wagons rattled and shook as they touched down. Immediately a large group of Praetorians disgorged and spread out, forming a defensive wall between themselves and their deer counterparts a short distance away.

Tercio craned his neck to look through the open-air window of Celestia's sky carriage. There was already a small collection of chariots gathered below, made of dark red wood and polished crystal plate that the deer were so fond of. A line of soldiers in emerald armor stood at attention, spears jutting into the air. Behind them, slimmer, more petite figures in dark blue waited. The vaunted Imperial Protectorate, no doubt.

Polaris knocked his armored hoof against the floor twice. "As soon as we're on the ground I want a defensive circle around the princess. First and Fourth Barracks will act as our initial line of defense. Keep an eye out for archers on the ridgelines. Plowshare and myself will be on alert for any suspicious changes in magical presence. Rimeberry, Tercio, Bear and Portly will take front facing positions. If the deer do come at us I want them to meet a solid wall of muscle and steel.

"We will depart at the first sign of trouble, for I am taking no risks. Princess, if for any reason you wish to cut the meeting short we will have you airborne within seconds. If worse comes to worse and we are unable to evacuate as a unit, then I trust you are capable of getting yourself beyond range of any immediate danger."

"I am," Celestia answered, "but let us hope it does not come to that."

The carriage jerked as its wheels touched ground, rumbling over the stony hoof path, coming to a gradual stop just behind the protective formation. Celestia took a deep, calming breath to quiet the heartbeat pounding mercilessly in her ears. It did little to help.

"On me," Polaris said. The full contingent of Praetorians quickly stepped out, forming a semicircle around the carriage door with shields out and spears up. Everyone was on alert, scanning the environment for the slightest sign of any underhoofed trickery that Elinwynn's forces had become known for.

Celestia followed immediately after. She did not want to be seen as indecisive before the negotiations even began, though she wished she had more time. For days she'd practiced what she was going to say, speaking to herself at length and changing every little facet of her plea for peace. She had been careful in her tone and inflection, precise in her chosen words so as to appear reasonable but firm, and yet, as she stepped ever closer, she knew any plea she could make would fall upon deaf ears. Practiced speeches would mean nothing. Elinwynn had been difficult to speak with at the best of times, and the prolonged war with deerkind had not helped in that matter. How could it, when it had all been her doing from the very start? Celestia cursed the vile doe under her breath. Tens of thousands had died on both sides of a conflict that never should have happened in the first place, but it did not seem to matter to Elinwynn in the least. She stood across the way, her antlers visible among the spear points, no doubt waiting with that damned smug, condescending smirk on her face. This was all a game to her -- and the suffering she had inflicted upon countless innocents? All a means to an end.

The princess took a calming breath as she approached, forcing down the anger that was threatening to boil up to the surface. There had to be some way to get through to her! If only she could find something, anything! She had always believed that no one was beyond redemption, but with Elinwynn it seemed that course of action was a distant fantasy at best.

Her personal retinue moved in lock step as she walked to the empty gap between the two nations' battle lines. Elinwynn did the same across the way, taking a small contingent of stags and does with her. Her brother was nowhere to be seen, likely back at the camp awaiting his orders. Dealing with him would have been a different matter entirely, and Celestia was just a bit grateful that she wouldn't have to.

They came to a stop a scant few paces from one another. Elinwynn had come prepared for battle as well, it seemed, with a full set of mirror-smooth, gold-etched crystalline armor the color of midnight blossoms. A matching sapphire-blue banner flew from a ring on the back of her neck armor, long and thin, tapering off and ending in double triangular points . A long lance and a quinn-blade hung at her side.

For a time they said nothing, studying one another in an uneasy silence. A cold gust blew through the valley, swaying and tinkling the thin gold chains that hung from several of Elinwynn's antler points. A single length of blue and white ribbon fluttered from the center, tied off on either side, a symbol of honor and respect given to only the most qualified and gifted of Cervidae's military ranks; or, more likely, presented to Elinwynn by none other than herself as yet another unwarranted show of her apparent superiority.

With the other Praetorians watching their backs, Celestia's chosen spread out in a shield wall in front of her. Rimeberry took the position immediately before her, flanked by Tercio, Bear and Portly, with the pegasi and unicorns at the edges. Tercio in particular struck an imposing figure, easily a head taller than the tallest deer without their antlers. It would be the first time they'd seen him in the flesh, to be sure, and he used that fact to stare them down in an act of intimidation. They did not outwardly react, but she could tell they were unsure about the strange creature that stood before them. Good, let them worry.

"Really, Princess, I'd expected you to be more amiable after all this time. No warm greetings for an old acquaintance?" Elinwynn was the first to speak, her voice light and airy, as if it was just another day. When Celestia didn't respond she scoffed and held a hoof to her chest in mock exasperation. "I can see I will have to be the voice of reason here. How unfortunate. And here I thought you prided yourself on your skill with words! All of this could have been avoided had you simply agreed to my terms of --"

"Enough, Elinwynn," Celestia said sharply. "Spare me your petty games. I did not come here to listen to you pretend to be reasonable. I want to put an end to this revolting war right here and now, and if you will not entertain the idea then I will leave. You will find no begging here."

Elinwynn's smile faded. "I never expected you to beg, Celestia. I want to put an end to this conflict just as much as you do. All I ask is that you surrender yourself. Do so, and your beloved ponies will be spared. On this, I give you my word."

"Your word? Your word means nothing. I would sooner trust a snake coiled around my neck. Withdraw your forces and return to Cervidae. Stop this unjustified slaughter. We can speak of territory later."

"I assure you, Princess, I can be --"

"Withdraw your forces and return to Cervidae. Please, think of the lives you will save, the families you will reunite. There has been enough blood spilled."

The empress cocked her head. "I would say I have reunited quite a few families. Or have you failed to notice the reunification of Cervidae and Whitetail? Perhaps you were too busy bombarding innocent deer to realize that you are not seen as a conquering hero among them. No matter, I shall carry that burden as well."

"Your burden is the death and destruction you have brought to these lands for your own selfish goals."

"And yours is the utter failure of your so-called leadership, nevermind your blatant disregard for your sister. What was it you said? Decades of resentment, and you wrote it off as nothing more than petty jealousy? You'll forgive me if I do not recall the words specifically, it has been some time since you took it upon yourself to destroy my wonderful pendant you so graciously kept at your side for all those months. Imagine what Luna would think! She's gone for a few months, and suddenly your entire nation comes tumbling down. I suppose we know who the real ruler of Equestria is...or rather, was."

"How dare you speak her name," Celestia said through gritted teeth. "You know nothing of my sister."

"On the contrary, I know all about her. I know that she used to enjoy opal berry amasec with her nightly meals. I know that she spoke passable Saddle Arabian, and envied your father for his extensive knowledge of foreign languages. And I know she wanted to put an end to this strapping example of a human before his 'gift' could manifest itself." Elinwynn turned to Tercio with an inquisitive stare. "Or am I mistaken?" Tercio did not flinch as she took a step closer and made a show of looking him over. The urge to reach out and strangle the life from her was almost overwhelming. He stood his ground and grasped his spear tightly until his knuckles turned white.

"Don't you speak to him. This is between you and I," Celestia warned her.

"It's fine, Princess," Tercio said. "She cannot say anything to harm me."

"Well at least one of you is reasonable," Elinwynn said. "It is so good to see you again, Sir Tercio Krosus of Summervale. I trust you have been well, andwyyn?" She waited for a response. When she did not get one, she carried on. "I would have thought you'd be more excited to see me. If I remember correctly, you told your precious pony princess that I was rather easy on the eyes. I must say, I'm quite flattered. Beauty truly transcends petty boundaries of race and species, doesn't it?" She giggled playfully. "You could always come back with me, you know. The deer are your true family, in a way, and family most certainly takes care of one another..."

"Like you take care of your own?" Tercio retorted. "I believe your uncle would say differently, had you not fed him to the crows."

"Ah yes, that. If you knew my uncle you would not be so quick to judge."

"Or perhaps you speak of your beloved parents actually being uncle and niece?" Her self-assured facade shifted ever so slightly, a barely imperceptible twitch threatening to turn it into a stern glare. "Strange how no one in Cervidae seems to remember that. At least, no one alive; but I assure you Celestia does. Didn't catch that in your eavesdropping, now did you?" He looked her straight in the eyes. "If murder and incest is the way of your 'family', then I will have to pass, Empress."

It was a cathartic exchange. He'd finally had the chance to put her in her place, if only for a moment. The look she gave him made it clear he'd hit a particularly sensitive nerve.

"You don't know the slightest --"

"Elinwynn. If you are done harassing my soldiers now?" Celestia asked.

"Oh don't be so stubborn," she said. "We're just having a friendly conversation, aren't we, human?" Those piercing green eyes seemed to look through him, as if searching for something. "I know all about the 'darkness' that you so struggled against. It would seem the whitetail finally managed to get their conditioning right. Quite the impressive feat, if I do say so. Did you know you were to be the first of a whole new batch of human warriors? What a pity that the ponies couldn't mind their own business long enough for Whitetail to complete its plans. Imagine the possibilities!"

"I would rather not. I've seen what even one of them is capable of if left to the machinations of your kind. No one deserves such cruelty -- which, it seems, is the only thing you excel at," Tercio said.

"Hmmph. The human who became a misplaced orphan. The orphan who became a soldier. The soldier who became the lover of royalty; such a strange and fascinating specimen you are, Tercio."

"So I've heard," he said.

Elinwynn stepped back behind the safety of her guards. Using her magic, she reached into a side pouch on the doe to her right. A scroll floated out, and she tossed it Celestia's way. The princess caught it with her own magic and levitated it before her. It was an old length of parchment, faded with time and curled along its edges.

"I trust I have your attention, Princess? Please, if you would read the letter aloud for the benefit of all in attendance. I think they will want to hear what is written."

Celestia wearily unrolled the scroll, curious as to its contents and weary of Elinwynn's deceits. The words were familiar, with the sweeping curves and long tails so intrinsic to the deer languages, but different enough to make following along somewhat difficult. She had not had to read Ochroer'iniis in centuries.

"To Brother-General Telindryyl of the Ochrouran Collective," she recited aloud. "I hope this missive finds you well. The flaring of tensions between your whitetail and redtail races is unfortunate, and I sympathize with the internal strife that threatens to tear your nation apart. Equestria is a place of frequent turmoil and stubborn hold-outs from the old ways of thinking, but I believe we are finally reaching the turning point in our efforts to unify our lands.

"I have had time to think upon our previous meeting and consider your words, and after much deliberation I have made my decision. Your dreams of shared prosperity are inviting, and though the road may be long and sometimes terrible out of necessity, it is with firm stance and clear mind that I offer the backing of Equestria to..." Her voice trailed off, and she stopped and looked up at Elinwynn with uncertainty. "What is this?"

"Please continue," Elinwynn said firmly.

"...to the cause of the whitetail and their fight for independence. By royal edict I am opening our coffers and offering access to our ley lines in the name of continued cooperation between our peoples. I ask only that you do not divulge the nature of our acquaintance, and remember our aid in the coming years. Peace and honor be upon you, my friend. Signed, King Argo Navis, 1E 3280."

Celestia couldn't believe what she'd just read. Her father had provided funding, at least in part, to the then-fledgling whitetail independence movement. Decades of slow escalation would later result in the deer civil war, a crisis that she and Luna would have to deal with a scant few years after the deaths of their parents. How could this be the first time she'd heard of such a thing? It had to be a trick.

"Where did you get this from?" she demanded. That damned smug grin had returned.

"Unsurprisingly, from Evinwiir, my dear Princess. The archives are quite thorough, if one knows how to search through them. At least, what remains of the archive building after your catapults reduced half of it to rubble. Curious thing, isn't it? It would seem the whitetail are not so inept as I'd thought. Their record keeping is impeccable, if nothing else."

"I don't believe any of this. You clearly forged this scroll as an attempt to justify your meaningless war."

"Believe what you will, but I assure you this document is as authentic as the army at my back. You see now that it was Equestria, not us or the whitetail, that acted as the fuel for the fires of war. Your father provided our oh-so-righteous cousins with the means to declare their superiority; coin for their equipment, magic for their experiments. Some of those very experiments would be quite unique in nature. I believe you called one of them 'Secundus'? Of course, they were not content to stop there, were they?" She looked back to Tercio for a brief moment, satisfied with herself. "How ironic that the very deer you now fight against provided you with your dashing lover, all thanks to your father's generous donation. I wonder what he would say if he were here..."

"Even if this scroll is real," Celestia said, "it does not give you the right to act so callously, and it certainly does not justify a war more than two hundred years later."

"On its own, perhaps, but one day the good deer of the expanded Cervidaen Hegemony will read all about how the now-defunct Equestria brought about its own ruin through barbarism and lies. The great Princess Celestia, so beloved by her people, saw fit to launch an unprovoked attack upon the poor deer of River Run -- the first of many such atrocities that started all the way back with her father. Only through sacrifice and bravery in the face of adversity did our brethren put an end to her warmongering, and that of her foul sister who sought to use our very own citizens against us. Quite the harrowing tale, wouldn't you agree?"

A deep abhorrence burned through her like poison. She had not expected Elinwynn to give serious consideration to any sort of peace, but this was beyond the pale.

"So," Elinwynn continued, yanking the scroll back to her side, "the way I see it, there are two options: either you surrender yourself to my custody and your ponies are spared, or you continue to resist and see your precious Canterlot burn to the ground. I suggest you choose carefully."

"And if I die, then what?" Celestia countered. "You do realize you'll be condemning this world to an eternal twilight, don't you? No matter what you think of me, the fact remains that the sun must continue to rise and fall upon our world, and I do not know of anyone else who can accomplish such a task. It would be the slow destruction of everyone and everything, and you would be to blame. Is that really worth a centuries-old grievance?"

A disbelieving laugh was her answer. "Please, Celestia, do not think me so ill-informed of your history. I know all about how your unicorns used to band together to accomplish the same task that you now carry out so selflessly, back before your 'alicorns' appeared one day to lord over them like gods. They can be taught to do it again, if need be. And if not, well...I have no lack of confidence in the ability of my wonderful and talented does to concoct a solution. I assure you, you are not irreplaceable.

"Your father obviously feared the power the united deer could wield -- as should you. Moving the sun and moon will be a challenge, undoubtedly, but I would not underestimate our resolve. Now, about that answer? And do hurry, I grow tired of this cold."

Celestia tried not to let her frustration show through. Trying to figure out the redtail empresses had been a nearly lifelong endeavor, with each one of them using their words in subtle, different ways that were difficult to pin down. It had become yet another part of the game of international politics, a routine that could largely be ignored.

Now she was paying for that complacency in the worst way possible. She could not detect a single crack in Elinwynn's boastful demeanor, and it was blatantly obvious that she did not care for negotiating. Why would she? She held all the advantages and she knew it.

Worst of all, Elinwynn had what appeared to be proof that her father had conspired with the whitetail. Why hadn't he told her? Perhaps he thought her too young, or the matter too unimportant. After all, it was not the first time Equestria or one of its neighbors had sought to secure its own future against a perceived threat. Whatever the case may have been, it was as close to a serious justification for war as Elinwynn had produced, and certainly more than Whitetail's easily-dismissed claim of Equestrian soldiers attacking River Run -- that particular lie had been seen through by many whitetail in exile, but like Elinwynn had said, the truth would be whatever she wanted it to be, once she won. If she won. Celestia was not about to lay down and die.

"I have long suspected your family of harboring grudges. Your entire lineage has been full of egotistical, petty leaders who have put themselves above the well-being of their people. I had hoped that trend would change with you, but it would appear I was wrong.

"You have been manipulating entire nations from the very start, casting aside countless lives in your misguided pursuit of 'justice' for a centuries-old perceived slight. You are a liar, a criminal and a butcher!" Celestia stomped a hoof, taking a step closer. The guards around Elinwynn closed ranks, forming a solid barrier between them. The Praetorians did the same in return, and they stared each other down with weapons at the ready.

Elinwynn was utterly unimpressed, letting out a dramatic sigh as she held a foreleg across her chest.

"Oh, Celestia. You talk and talk, yet you say so little of value. I am a reasonable doe caught in the midst of an unreasonable situation; one which you, in all of your 'grace', have seen fit to ignore entirely in the name of some silly, misguided attempt at standing atop the moral high ground. History does not care for petty morality, and neither do I."

"That much is clear," Celestia bit back. "I would never surrender myself or my nation to your so-called mercy. You want my answer? There you have it."

That was it, then. There would be no peace between them. Thousands would die needlessly before the fighting was done, and one way or another Cervidae and Equestria would never be the same. Even now she second-guessed herself, wondering what she could have done differently since the onset of the war with Whitetail to change things for the better. Who could have seen a single false-flag attack turning into the largest war the known world had ever seen? Furthermore, Elinwynn had not shown any sign of aggression before her sudden push into Whitetail. Perhaps if she'd been more cautious, more attentive, she could have seen it coming. It was no use speculating on such things now.

"Hmm. How amusing you are," Elinwynn said, unfazed by her finality. "I wonder: will you still feel that way when you see your city burning and your citizens dead in the streets? I suppose we shall find out shortly." She clicked her tongue and lifted a hoof in a shrug. "Delwa'yyn tirr draal. So be it, then. Such a shame. I had hoped you would see reason, but once again you prove to be incessantly prideful."

Her antlers suddenly crackled with magical power. A large earthenware pot near her guards was hurled into the air, climbing above the rock walls until it became a distant speck silhouetted against the clouds. It hung there for a heartbeat, then exploded in a brilliant flash that left trailing tendrils of red smoke.

The sound of Cervidaen war horns echoed through the canyon, followed by the collective battle cry of tens of thousands of deer.

"I suggest you leave, Princess. Now." Elinwynn bowed courteously, then turned without so much as a glance back in Celestia's direction, taking her guards with her. "I will be seeing you shortly," she said aloud. "That I can promise you."

The princess remained for only a moment, shaking with anger and fighting back tears of disappointment and sorrow, and boarded her sky carriage at Polaris' urging. The escorting flights of Praetorians clustered around her, using themselves as shields and obscuring her from view.

It was a short flight back to the castle, but it was the longest wait of her life.

71 - Headlong

The sky carriage rolled to a stop within the safe confines of the castle spire. Celestia immediately stepped out, finding Stonewall waiting for her with a small contingent of guards. The Praetorians of her personal escort followed her, already loading up on extra supplies now that they were expecting to fight within the confines of the city.

"How'd it go?" he asked. The look on her face was all the answer he needed. "That bad, eh? Shame. Not unexpected, but a shame nonetheless. Looks like we're doing this after all." He presented a trio of scrolls from his saddlebag. "These are the latest updates we have on our forces. Everyone is in position, and if those war horns are anything to go by I doubt we'll be waiting long. We'll keep you apprised of the situation as best we can."

It took a moment for her to float the reports to her side. She plucked one from the air and unrolled it, but as soon as she'd brought it up she let out a long breath and dropped it once more.

"Princess? Is something wrong?" Stonewall asked.

"I let her walk all over me," Celestia answered. Disgust twisted her face. "I had every opportunity to toss her wrongdoings back in her face like she deserves, but I didn't. I was too caught up in her words. I could have said so much more!"

"There wasn't much more to be said, Princess, if you ask me," Polaris added as he stuffed an extra supply of medical potions into his bag.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Polaris shrugged. "I don't know what it would have accomplished, to be honest with you. She knows what she's done, and more to the point she knows that you know what she's done -- she made that much clear. Who would you have convinced if you'd listed off every little murderous, underhoofed thing she's done? Her guards? Not likely, I'd say."

The whole conversation had replayed itself in her head, over and over, for the entire flight back. Elinwynn hadn't given an inch, and the scroll of support to the fledgling whitetail independence movement written by her father had taken her by surprise. It had been difficult to come up with a response, and she cursed herself for stumbling through it. Polaris may have ultimately been right -- Elinwynn had never truly entertained the idea of peace -- but it still stung, like someone was slowly pushing a dagger into her chest.

"Don't beat yourself up over it," Stonewall said. "What's done is done. What we need to focus on now is how we're going to keep those prick-headed tree-rutters from getting to the city gates. More immediately, we need to get you to safety and keep you there."

"Are we still securing the main hall?" Tercio asked.

"For now. We've had the balconies sealed off to keep any of those redtail bastards from teleporting up to us. Additionally, the former Lunar Praetorians have stationed themselves outside the main doors, and several of their number have joined with the sky carriage pegasus teams to secure the fallback point." Stonewall raised his voice. "Cirrus!"

"Sir?" Cirrus answered from across the room. The pegasus was removing the yoke from his neck and hanging it on the wall alongside several of his flight mates.

"I want you to meet up with Imperator Stardust at the mountainside armory. Make sure he knows we'll be heading there at the first sign of the castle being compromised. I'm not taking any chances. The rest of you are to keep the sky carriage bay safe; we might need to get out of here in a hurry. Understood?" The other pegasi answered with quick salutes. "Good. I need to get back to the war room before that impatient ass from the Legion starts bitching at me again. Polaris, you know where to find me. The other Praetorian units are awaiting your command just outside the entrance to the garden. Use them as you see fit."

"I will not let you down, General," Polaris said.

"I expect you to keep that promise. Good luck to us all. Keep your prayers with those on the front lines; they're about to be in a whole world of shit."

***

Brother-General Corvalix stood atop a tall boulder, surrounded by thousands of armed and armored deer. They rushed past him in loping strides, so numerous that the ground itself shook under their collective might. His sword thrust out in the direction of the Auroran Valley where the ponies would be waiting for them, using magic to amplify his voice so that it projected into the confines of the rocky pass.

"Now is your chance to avenge your families and compatriots, my brothers! Remember Everfree! Remember Whitetail Wood! Remember Quillyyn Keep! And above all, remember River Run! Show the damned Equestrians that their barbarous ways are at an end!" He raised up on his hind legs, emerald plate glinting in the dissipating sunlight. "For Whitetail! For Cervidae! Aro'wyyn hwah!"

They continued to stream around him, like water in turbulent rapids, a collective battle shout filling the air as they charged for the Equestrian defensive lines. Soon they would crash into the damnable ponies and scour them from the good earth like a force of nature. It would be glorious to behold.

The whitetail, of course, would be the first to attack, convinced that they had the 'honor' of rushing headlong into prepared positions. Useful idiots. They would serve as fodder until the more capable redtail arrived.

A welling of excitement and pride rose in his chest. All of the plotting, the pain, the political maneuvering -- it was finally paying off. He turned and spotted Elinwynn watching him from her chariot. She placed a hoof to her chest and bowed, a genuine smile evident even from where he stood. They had waited so long. It almost didn't feel real.

All that was left was to join his bucks in battle, and sate his blade with Equestrian blood.

It would be a day to remember for all of history.

***

Distant war horns rumbled from the pass. Beyond the fortified front line a force unlike any Zevran had ever seen would be approaching, countless thousands of deer eager for battle. Manipulated by their leaders, fed innumerable lies from the very beginning, they were all too willing to throw themselves into the fray.

Waiting for them was a mixed force of Equestrian and Whitetail loyalist forces. Made up of veterans and conscripts alike, it represented the first of the defensive formations Equestria could muster. Though morale was seemingly high -- fighting for one's own home was a motivator like no other -- the fact remained that they were outnumbered nearly three to one, if scouting reports were anything to go by.

Standing alongside them was the mightiest kikosa in Zevran's history, split into three groups that would, in theory, act as a hammer to Equestria's anvil, crushing the deer with flanking maneuvers and leaving them nowhere to run and no time to form into new battle lines. Though their numbers were comparatively small when placed alongside the ponies, they were confident in their ability to make an impact.

"There is a strange beauty to it all, Imbele," Elder M'wolane said. He and a small number of advisers stood atop a small hill overlooking the combined armies, protected by several Nan'Shakaa Warriors and Mowassi Enchanters who were offering ritualistic chants to the spirits in return for their protection. "To see us standing together as one is something I have never dreamed of, yet here we are; twenty-six tribes united in defiance of the warmongering deer. Does it not fill you with inspiration?"

"Inspiration and dread equally, Elder," Imbele said. "It has been a long journey since the spirits showed me the path. I only hope we have interpreted their vision properly; if we should lose this battle Zevran will be next, and there will be no stopping this Elinwynn or her brother."

M'wolane nodded. "Then we will make sure that does not happen."

He drew a spiral over his chest, bowed his head, and prepared himself for what was to come.

***

A living tide of deer rushed down the narrow pass, weapons out and at the ready, shouting fierce war cries that made their presence known well before they came into view.

At the mouth of the Auroran Valley the ponies waited nervously. The onslaught of ranged firepower would be fierce, but it was only the beginning of the Equestrians' plans. No one expected the line to hold forever, and so the bulk of the military waited further beyond in an area that would provide them with sufficient room to maneuver. The idle reinforcements were of little comfort to those stationed at the fortifications, a scant eight hundred in number. They were to inflict as much damage as possible, then destroy their equipment and get out before the deer broke through in force.

Calls of "weapon ready!" sounded down the line as unit commanders gave final checks to their equipment. The cacophony of Canterlot's impending opening volley grew to a pitch, strained ropes and creaking wood awaiting the moment of release. Thundering hooves approached ever closer, gaining tremendous speed as the first deer crested the shallow rise. Just a little more...

"Loose!"

Forty catapults bucked on their mounts as their heavy projectiles launched into the air, passing over arrow towers and high walls.

The battle for Canterlot -- for the very future of Equestria -- had begun.

***

Stone balls smashed into the advancing deer, sending sprays of shattered crystal and broken bodies into the air. They thudded off the frozen ground, destroying limbs and crushing bones along the way, while the charging whitetail attempted in vain to avoid them. Sheared-off antler prongs whirled past and bounced off armor plates as the heavy missiles continued unabated.

The ballista bolts came a heartbeat later. Sharpened to a razor's edge and packing the weight of forged steel, they punched through armor and flesh with equal ease. Those not killed outright were often pinned to the ground and struggled uselessly with flailing legs.

Several of the bolts had been enchanted with a far more dangerous version of the ice arrow spell. They made their presence known with glittering trails of frost and eruptions of jagged ice that sent explosions of ruddy, frozen gore in all directions.

A second volley followed shortly after. Dozens more fell to the siege weapons, but the charge was unrelenting. Scorpio bolt-throwers were unleashed next, small but accurate contraptions that could put a precision shot on target at a moderate range. Their effect was felt immediately, with the first three lines of whitetail being cut down in their entirety. Those following behind had to jump over the bodies of the dead or dying. Segmented shields were raised in response, but the thin, flexible plates of quinndryll and iron-bark did little to stop the puncturing rain.

A great toll had been exacted, but the deer were legion. They kept coming, wave after wave, in an unending stampede.

***

"Keep going! Get to the wall!"

Brother-Sergeant Lindaarys galloped as fast as his legs would carry him. In front of him the bucks of the Whitetail Spearhead ran for their lives, advancing upon the damnable Equestrian position that had already claimed so many of their number. A catapult ball passed by overhead and crunched into the deer following his lead. Their shouts were more than enough reason to stay alert, stay on the move, though such a thing was easier said than done. The narrow pass was the perfect position to force them to stay bunched up, and the high stone walls meant that any catapult shot that might miss would inevitably bounce right back into the group. They were being slaughtered, volley after volley, with no way to return fire.

A young buck a few rows ahead disappeared from sight with a yelp of surprise, the others near him jostling each other to avoid some unseen terror. Then fell another, and another, seemingly random in their distribution. Lindaarys chanced a quick look as he passed by, and his stomach turned with disgust and horror. Spike pits. Anyone unfortunate enough to fall into one faced a drawn-out death.

His anger built to an almost blinding rage, fueled by the burning in his muscles as he rushed onward. A bolt clattered off his side armor, a lucky glancing hit. Then came the first volley of arrows and throwing spears, so numerous in number that they resembled a cloud of insects descending upon the deer. He threw his shield up and dipped his head, praying that he would not be hit. All at once they came down, a vast blanket of jagged-edged iron and wood that stumbled much of the formation. For a moment it was pure chaos; those who had avoided being wounded tripped over the fallen and scrambled to their hooves, giving up precious seconds that allowed another spread of ballista bolts to spearhead their way through more unfortunate souls.

Don't stop, he told himself. The redtail will arrive soon. You just need to make it to cover.

The wall loomed ahead, as tall as four deer and menacing with emplacements. Each whitetail carried a section of a ladder at his side that could quickly be joined with others, allowing access to the fortification -- if they could get there in the first place.

Large boulders crashed down nearby, tipped over from the stone embankments by unicorn magic. He could feel the impacts in his chest, hear the horrific snapping of bones, the resounding 'crack' of rock splitting rock. He ignored them as best he could, already preparing to escape the madness that was unfolding all around him. Nearly there...

With lungs of fire and daggers he threw himself against the wall, bashing his shoulder against the thick, vine-covered wood with a jolt of pain that shot down his body. He'd made it! Others soon joined him, a trickle of survivors that steadily increased in number. They hurled darts and throwing knives to keep the ponies above at bay while they readied their siege ladders. Lindaarys felt his heart beating so hard he was sure it would pound its way out of his chest. His magic faltered several times as he struggled to latch his portion of the ladder to someone else's, a buck he'd never seen before that had suffered an arrow through his shoulder. The haft stuck out at an angle, and the young soldier gritted his teeth every time he moved.

"Quickly, join it together!" he said, getting a 'click' of metal on metal. Two more whitetail added their segments, and before long it was nearly tall enough to reach the top of the wall. Only a few more to go, and then he could begin exacting his vengeance.

Something brushed against his haunches, then his neck, rough and prickly. Thinking it an insect, he swatted at it and continued on. There was no time for such trivial things.

Now something wrapped around his right hind leg. Unable to ignore it any longer, he looked down in puzzlement at the tendril of leafy vine that was constricting itself against him. It had small, broad leaves that faded from a dark green to a gradual, deep red, and large, closed flowers, like a bell, roughly the size of his hoof. He followed the vine up, seeing that it covered much of the wall. The entire mass of it quivered and shook as it reached out for the deer, grabbing onto them by the hoof-full. Most paid it no mind, and those who did notice simply batted it away.

Lindaarys attempted to yank free of its grip, but doing so caused a gash to appear on his leg. Immediately he was set upon by another vine, then another, until he had been wrapped up like a spider's prey. He yelled in panic and slashed at the plant with his sword, yet every one that he severed was soon replaced by another. They latched onto his sword and threatened to tug it away. He could hear others screaming, pleading for help as they joined in his fate.

A blood-red flower snaked up his chest and stopped just beyond his muzzle. Its petals parted all at once, like a spring trap, revealing a trio of long, hollow thorns with barbed tips that stuck out from the center, more like the fangs of a serpent than a plant. It seemed to almost watch him for a moment, bobbing up and down on its thick length of vine. The flower gave a stuttering hiss, then plunged itself into his neck.

He thrashed and struggled for a time, jerking as more thorns joined in draining him of his blood. Soon he was too tired to resist anymore, and the light faded from his vision until there was only the embrace of never-ending darkness.

***

Milites Spring Sparrow cringed at the sound of the deer screaming in terror below. Arrows and pila were one thing, but this...

The stallions at his side scarcely showed any reaction as they loaded another bolt into the scorpio and cranked the charging handles. Bringing in the predatory vines from the Everfree forest had been Decanus Signifier Hearthwright's idea, a dangerous task that had fortunately been accomplished without losing anyone. Known as Sanguis Blossoms, they had been carefully monitored and allowed to grow over the front of the defensive wall. Most had doubted the effectiveness of a plant, no matter how frightening it might sound in theory, but even the most ardent of disbelievers would be hard-pressed to question their effectiveness now.

The scorpio turret kicked as its guiding string slammed forward, propelling the bolt like a shot of lightning and piercing straight through the chest armor of a buck that had just scrambled out of the way of a spike pit. He dropped to the ground hard, skidding for a short distance before lying still. Spring Sparrow hoped the deer's suffering was short-lived.

All along the wall more than thirty of the weapons were firing as fast as they could be loaded. Had he not been scared out his mind, Spring Sparrow thought darkly, he would have likely been sick on the spot. He had never wanted to be a soldier, and certainly never wanted to kill anyone, but like most stallions on the wall he was a conscript who had no say in the matter. Seeing it now for himself, there could be no doubt: the deer meant to take Canterlot, regardless of how many died in the process. Fight, or die; there was no other option.

Roaring flames burst up from below with coiling wisps of green-black smoke, each one accompanied by shrill shrieks and distorted hisses. The vines had been dealt with -- though judging by the deep screams and acrid smell of burning flesh, the deer had decided it worth the cost of those caught up in the predatory abominations.

"Left side, siege ladders!" someone shouted above the noise. A trio of metal-topped ladders clanked into place, finding awkward purchase on the wall. The scorpio turned on its mount, aimed, and fired. The shot fell short and ricocheted off the battlements, but the offending deer had no more than revealed their heads before half a dozen bolts tore through the air, gashing open the closest whitetail's neck and thwacking into the ladders with sprays of splintered wood. Pila finished off those who had not been killed outright, and the ladders were kicked off the wall.

More took their place, the unflinching advance showing no signs of retreating. Within minutes there were so many ladders that it was impossible to keep up with them all. A small number of deer had managed to reach the top and were engaging the defenders in melee; the thudding sound of reinforcements climbing up to join the fight was almost deafening. Spring Sparrow gulped. There were so many!

"Scorpio crews, to the battlements!" an officer ordered with his augmented voice. All at once the ranged weapons were abandoned, their ropes severed and mechanisms bashed with swords, war axes and heavy maces. "Hurry it up! We need you up there right fucking now!"

Spring Sparrow shakily donned his blue-crested helm and drew his weapon, clutching it between his chattering teeth so hard he was sure they would crack at any moment. A whitetail buck clambered over the top not five yards from his position, a long, menacing sword of green crystal floating before him. He made eye contact with Spring Sparrow and shouted something in deertongue. Spring Sparrow panicked and backed away, stumbling over himself. The stallions nearest him, all fellow earth ponies, charged the deer in return with a combined war cry. The deer lashed out at the nearest one, then kicked at a second with his knee-blades. Neither attack was effective, and he gave a pained gurgle as a mace slammed into his chest with a spray of crystal flakes, caving it in like a roll of bread that had been stomped on. Two more strikes cracked into his ribs and crushed the entire side of his head with a sickening trickle of shattered bone and gore. The pony who landed the killing blow spat on the deer's corpse, then bucked it over the wall.

"Get up here and fight, gods damnit!" he yelled at Spring Sparrow, blood dripping down the weapon's handle and staining his teeth red. When he didn't move, the big pony came over and yanked him to his hooves, then roughly shoved him over to the line.

Hundreds of Equestrian Guard soldiers were now fighting against an ever-increasing surge of whitetail. A commander in the crimson red of the Legion ran up and down the defensive line. "Hold them, lads! Give no mercy, for you shall receive none! Make them pay for every inch! Hah-ooh!"

"HAH-OOH!" the ponies responded in kind, collectively shoving their way forward in an attempt to reach the ladders. More catapult and ballista missiles snapped by overhead as Spring Sparrow stood shoulder to shoulder with the others. He could hardly see over the heads in front of him even when he craned his neck to get some idea of how they were holding. The stallion immediately ahead of him suddenly fell, clutching at a long, metallic dart that had punctured the thin armor around his neck. A stream of blood spurted with his beating heart, and he was dragged back by a pair of unicorns who set about trying to save him.

Spring Sparrow suddenly found himself at the front of the line. He frantically looked around for anything with antlers and jerked back in reflex as a throwing dagger clipped the parapet to his side. A wave of deer clambered up before him, so close that he could see the etchings in their armor.

"As one!"

He ducked behind his shield, pushed his way forward, and struck at the enemy.

***

Far behind the desperate battle, Elinwynn stood with her eyes closed behind a line of personal guards. Though she could not see the fight with her own eyes, distant as it was, she could feel its presence. Magical currents ebbed and flowed as deer and pony alike used their prowess to great effect. It was a strange thing, tangible yet formless, a swirling mass of arcane energy that told the tale of Cervidae's inevitable victory. At times she could almost reach out and touch it; the bright motes of deer magic, sharp and pronounced, more raw and primal than the more subtle magic of the ponies, the surging flashes from their unicorn elite like a beacon in the night against a sea of barely perceptible earth ponies and pegasi. To the mind's eye they appeared as a shapeless, fog-like cloud in their masses. Those who fell simply faded from the greater whole.

"Incompetent, the lot of them," she said, opening her eyes to the blustery world around her. Row upon row of redtail stood at the ready, unmoving and silent.

"The whitetail are nothing if not persistent," Corvalix quipped. He stood at her side, the phoenix feathers of his elegant headdress blowing in the wind. "It does not take the gift of farsight to know they are losing. Open your ears, dear sister, and hear the sound of Cervidae's growing influence."

"Among other things." A particularly horrific scream echoed down the canyon. For the briefest of moments she almost felt a twinge of sympathy...almost. "It is no wonder our whitetail kin were so easily defeated. Their tactics have become somewhat lacking, wouldn't you say?"

"What they lack in prowess they more than make up for in enthusiasm," he said with a smirk. "I do believe enough time has passed that they should be mixed up in personal combat with the ponies. What say you, Empress? Shall we make our presence known?"

Elinwynn surveyed the deer around her, seemingly endless in number. These were not the bedraggled remnants of a once proud nation, mere bodies to be thrown into the fray. No, these were true soldiers, the likes of which Equestria was entirely unprepared for. They may have had their pyrrhic act of defiance at Quillyyn Keep, but nothing could prepare them for the coming storm.

Let them make their stand. Let them bring in the entirety of the the zebra nation if they so chose! The end result would be the same, and once Celestia's inept defenses were trodden under hoof and its people thoroughly defeated, she would stand atop the ruins of Canterlot and plant her flag in the name of her mother, her lineage, and all who called themselves redtail.

Just as it should be.

72 - A Living Tide

From here it hardly seemed real, more like a gathering of insects than a war for survival. Faraway figures moved against one another and bunched up along the fortification, with only the distant thump of impacting catapult missiles and the brief shriek of steel clashing against crystal giving any indication that lives were being lost by the second.

Praxilus peered over the side of Canterlot's rim in morbid fascination, stomach turning with vertigo at the thought of falling from such a great height. The hanging west end of the city served as a vantage point and firing position for a large number of modified Equestrian siege weapons, with an appropriately sized force of supporting soldiers hurriedly preparing their equipment. Pegasus ponies darted to and fro with messages and orders, some flying so fast as to leave colored, glittering trails in their wake that quickly faded from sight.

Far below and away, a nearly endless rush of deer were continuing to pour through the narrow pass, leaving a trail of shattered dead, though he did not know if they were redtail or whitetail. In truth it did not matter, for they were all his kin, even if most of them would not have seen it that way. Such a terrible waste of life.

They had managed to breach the wall at great cost, and were now slowly but surely pushing the ponies back along its length. Behind the initial line waited the bulk of Equestria's forces, formed up into long, rectangular blocks of infantry several tiers deep. Even further back, right up against the edge of the spotted forest, Zevran's armies stood in silent support of their allies.

Faint call and response war horns sounded from somewhere amongst the chaos. Praxilus wished he was more familiar with military communications, and briefly considered asking one of the nearby officers what the blaring tones meant, but they were hardly in the mood for small talk. No doubt some of them wished he would fall over the side, merely for the 'crime' of being a deer.

Something caught his eye, a subtle glow that carried down the pass like moonlight shining through frosted glass. It grew brighter by the second, now flickering with white and green flashes, as if from an otherworldly thunderstorm. Its source came into view a scant moment later in the form of a crackling wall of magic, curved back slightly at the top and filling the canyon from side to side. A barrier spell!

Catapult and ballista shots fired from behind the Equestrian defensive line hurled across the distance, shattering against the powerful spell with flashes of light and arcing tendrils of ethereal power. Volleys of arrows soon joined the fray, but they too had no effect.

Praxilus felt his heart racing in his chest. Barrier magic was not unheard of among Whitetail's military, often deployed along the high walls of Evinwiir, but never had he seen one so substantial. Everything that was thrown at it simply ceased to be. No, this had to be the work of a far more powerful collection of magii. His stomach dropped at the only logical conclusion.

The redtail were coming for him once more, and with them, Corvalix.

***

The whitetail, he had to admit, had done a fine job of serving as fodder. Admirable, even. The mangled bodies before him were proof of their dedication and bravery in the face of almost certain death. Bravery...or stupidity. There was a fine line between the two, Corvalix thought amusedly. The pass was as lethal a kill zone as he had ever seen, the perfect position to funnel his forces into murderous fire from the ponies. How many whitetail had he lost? Hundreds, to be sure. At times the ground was positively covered with remains and slick with slowly freezing blood and offal, producing a most terrible smell that threatened to void his stomach at any moment.

Another volley slammed into the magical shield that projected before him, kept in place by the talents of his Exemplars and a few does borrowed from his sister's Imperial Protectorate detail. Resisting a fusillade of this intensity would have been impossible without their talents, but even they had their limits. Every stone ball or steel bolt that crashed into the barrier took its toll on them, and what had started off as a casual march now left them wincing from the backlash of arcane forces.

The pace had picked up to a brisk but cautious advance now. Spike pits littered their path, some still filled with their struggling, mewling victims that looked up at the passing redtail with pleading eyes. The closest soldiers would pull pairs of heavy darts from their packs as they went by and do their best to put an end to the whitetails' suffering; a small waste of resources, perhaps, but they had at least earned the mercy of a relatively quick death.

A sapphire-clad doe gritted her teeth as a missile came to a crushing stop against the barrier. Small fragments managed to make it through, scattering among their ranks and caroming off the ground with noisy skitters. The doe redoubled her focus, antlers crackling with power, and the transparent wall flickered with renewed strength.

"Do not falter, my brothers and sisters!" Corvalix shouted. A harsh gust whipped between the stone walls as if trying to silence him, flattening the bright orange and red feathers of his phoenix headdress against the tall prongs of his broad rack. "Today is the day of our reckoning! We must carry on in the name of our dead, and strike with righteous vengeance! Cervidae aarth'wyyn!"

"Cervidaelis hwah!" they answered as one, the shout echoing down the line as formation after formation responded in kind. Thousands upon thousands of voices, united in a singular purpose. He could feel their eagerness, almost palpable in its intensity. Holding back, moving slowly and surely as they were now, was not in deerkind's nature, and despite their discipline and professionalism there still burned that desire, that instinct, to break into a loping stride and rush the enemy down. They would get their taste of battle soon enough, for the Equestrian wall loomed ever closer. It had been charred black-green along its length, leaving smoldering corpses that had been entangled in the sickening blood-drinker vines that now curled into themselves as they died. Such a barbaric, brutish act it had been, using the horrific abominations of Equestria's wild woods as living weapons. The ponies would pay for their cruelty a hundred times over!

Soon they were within mere strides of the fortification. All along the top of the wall and across the battlements the surviving whitetail fought the ponies in vicious combat. They had made small but important gains at several points, leaving their siege ladders intact for the redtail to use.

"Ready the shock forces!" he ordered, gazing up at the looming defenses. Bodies hung over its edge like grotesque adornments, punctured by bolts and arrows. Behind him the electric snap of deer magic built like a storm. Its power thrummed, waiting to be unleashed at his word.

"You may drop the barrier now," he told the does at his side. He received a simple nod of acknowledgement and the translucent spell flickered, then faded from existence. Now he would see what the cocksure Equestrians could truly handle.

"Daeth h'wahn: wyndiil kaaranax!"

The hum of magic grew to a sudden thunderclap, and with it the first four ranks of Cervidaen Exemplars vaulted into the air, suspended in shimmering quintessence that clung to their bodies like a film of stardust, and in seconds they were over the wall.

***

Had he the time to do so, Milites Spring Sparrow would have emptied the contents of his stomach onto the battlements many times over. As it was, he was far too busy desperately trying to stay alive to feel sick. Combat was not the organized, clean affair they had told him of in his brief but difficult training, where line formations always held and orders could always be heard. No, this was something else entirely, a chaotic maelstrom of sound and pain. Everything hurt; his ears from the clang of metal against crystal and the screams of the dying, his agonized muscles from the exertion of fighting for his life, his innards from the awful iron-tinged stench of gore. His palate had long since turned dry in the cold air, whetted only by the trickles of blood that ran down his blade every time he took a life, and he could feel the corners of his mouth cracking with every clash of his weapon. This was what the stories and songs had idolized? He did not know how anyone could consider such a thing to be glorious or honorable. He just wanted it to be over.

A string of horn calls sounded from somewhere to his left, the same one he'd heard numerous times. Again he ducked behind his shield, dug in his hooves, and shoved his way forward. The line gained another couple of inches along his side of the flank. The deer in front of him cursed in its almost poetic language, attempting to tear into him with the long blade of strong, sharp crystal. Spring Sparrow blocked it with his shield, then delivered a counter-blow aimed for the neck, but the deer was quick and threw up his own segmented buckler that absorbed the hit. Strike and defend, stand firm. They'd drilled it into him mercilessly during his conscription. With the deer collectively pushing back against the shield wall he found it far easier said than done.

A low droning began to build from below the wall. It distracted him only briefly, for the whitetail soldier was intent on ending him as messily as possible. Two sword strikes glanced off the buck's armor, doing nothing more than leaving scratches on its surface, until finally he managed to slice a deep gash into his opponent's shoulder. It was followed a heartbeat later by a long Equestrian spear thrusting out from the second line and catching the deer along the top of his head, slicing prongs from his antlers and nearly severing his ear. The buck yelped in pain and stumbled back, tripping over the body of a fallen ally, and tumbled over the side. One more down, at least temporarily.

Every inch of his body ached. He wouldn't be able to keep this up forever, but there were so many of them out there. First the whitetail, now the damned redtail. For every one that he or someone else killed, another one took its place. Gods, just let him get away from it all!

Something boomed above the roar of battle, loud and sudden like a nearby lightning strike, and with it came a veritable cloud of deer suspended in magic. They leapt straight over the defenses, past the first two ranks of battle-weary stallions, and landed among the third line of supports. The redtail wasted no time carving into the inexperienced, mostly conscripted soldiers. They moved with a grace and fluidity far beyond that of the deer he'd fought thus far, and yet their strikes spoke of power and precision. His stomach dropped as something clicked in his mind; he knew that armor from the training scrolls. Those weren't just any redtail, those were Exemplars! The very best of Cervidae's ranks were cutting a bloody swath through archers, supply runners, medicae assistants and all manner of troops who were not meant for real combat, causing much of the right flank to have to break away from the ramparts and try to deal with them, but doing so weakened that side considerably. More deer were charging up the ladders now, faster and faster, fresh for the fight and eager to spill Equestrian blood.

The walls lit up with green light, and the low hum started to grow once more. Spring Sparrow began to panic, scrambling backwards and running into the pony behind him. Staying here was absolute madness! The stocky earth pony with his blood-slicked spear stood firm, but the look in his eyes betrayed his own fears.

More war horns bellowed from behind. Spring Sparrow steadied himself as best he could, his forelegs shaking and straining to heft his shield once more, fully expecting to have to push forward again.

But this time it was different. The call was one short note, followed by one long note, repeated three times. The call for retreat. His spirits rose at the wonderful sound; he might actually escape with his life.

"Fall back!" a nearby officer shouted at the top of his lungs. "All units, fall back!"

The line broke at once, less of an organized formation of soldiers than a rush of galloping or flying individuals fleeing as fast as they could. Spring Sparrow followed directly behind a clump of conscripts that were injured nearly to the last, hobbling along on wounded legs or dragging useless limbs along. Along either side the deer were pouring over the wall like a swarm of angry ants, plunging their weapons into the closest pony and charging without pause in an attempt to encircle and destroy the survivors.

Spring Sparrow galloped faster than he'd ever thought himself capable of, ignoring he shooting pain that rippled through him with every agonized step. The ramp down to the valley was just ahead, and he could see the distant catapults and ballistae being hauled away to safety behind the waiting lines of Equestrian soldiers. There were thousands of them out there, waiting for their turn with shields and spears held high. He just needed to make it there, and he'd be free from this nightmare.

Not everyone was able to get to the ramp, and many of them chose to jump from the battlements rather than wait the long seconds it would take to get to the crowded path. They landed in heaps below, some getting up and sprinting away, while others remained unmoving and broken with limbs or necks twisted at grotesque angles. The advancing redtail and whitetail forces hurled heavy darts, throwing spears, even emerald flame pots at anyone they could see. Green conflagrations burst from all along the ramp, enveloping entire squads at once in terrible cacophonies of roaring fire and screaming stallions. The panicked ponies not caught up in the horrible deer weapons began to shove one another in an attempt to escape faster, pushing dozens over the side where the shattered remains of siege weapons stood in splintered piles. The Exemplars seized the opportunity to rip ballista bolts out of their wooden cases, hefting them into the air and launching them back down to pierce through several ponies at once with frightening effect.

Spring Sparrow was down the ramp now, back onto the rocky soil and patchy grass of the Auroran Valley. All around him ponies split up into a loose rabble, not wanting to stay as part of a group and invite attention to themselves lest an errant flame pot find them. He glanced over his shoulder, watching the deer slaughter the wounded who were unable to escape. They followed the ponies down the ramp, but once they reached the solid ground below they simply...stopped. His confusion gave way to relief, and as he crossed the Equestrian battle line he collapsed onto the dirt in exhaustion. Cervidae may have been coming for Canterlot, and perhaps all of ponykind, but for now, at least, he had escaped the specter of death.

***

Elder M'wolane watched the unfolding spectacle with a grim, morbid curiosity. The deer were nothing if not disciplined. Even as they hunted down the last survivors of the wall defenses they regrouped into wedge-shaped battle formations headed by pairs of Exemplar magic users. Their barriers were not as powerful as the one that had kept them safe during the march through the pass, only able to stop arrow volleys at best and mostly useless against the siege weapons that were quickly being set up in new positions. Something had changed...or perhaps something was missing.

"Honored Elder, the ponies are expecting a full charge to come their way within a matter of minutes. What would you have us do?" Seer-Shaman Imbele approached with a walking stick tucked into his right foreleg. Beads of polished stone and small shells rattled along its feathered top.

M'wolane considered the question for a moment. Equestria's generals had left it up to him how best to support the ponies in combat, and it was a burden he did not take lightly. An improper application of force could result in disastrous losses.

"Tell the war bands that I wish them to stay to the right of the Equestrian battle lines."

"All of them?"

"Yes. Every last nbomu."

Imbele gave him a look of incredulity. "All due respect, Honored Elder, but I am not sure that is a wise decision. The deer have already shown themselves to be strong against single-front defenses."

M'wolane smiled warmly. "Do not worry so, my old friend, for the spirits are with us this day. Tell our sha'jaal to consume their brews; the time of Zevran is upon us."

***

The ruthless efficiency of the redtail was no less horrific when seen for a second time. No quarter was given to those who attempted to surrender, and anyone unfortunate enough to be caught up in the surge of deer faced overwhelming numbers and skilled magic in equal measure. Caethil felt a deep revulsion at the sight of the Exemplar spearhead, a hatred so powerful that he was sure it would melt the snow around him.

"Easy, Brother-Commander. Your time will come." Former Standard-Commander Eradaxis Ent'wyyl stood tall and proud in his suit of quinndryll armor, one of the fortunate few to have the honor of donning a full set. The bucks and stags around him wore mostly scavenged bits of crystal plate complimented with Equestrian steel and iron. It was an odd amalgamation, to be sure, but necessity took precedence over form.

"It cannot come soon enough," Caethil said with gritted teeth. Already the prongs of his antlers were subtly glowing with power, raw and primal, just waiting to be focused and given purpose. "I have waited months, Eradaxis. Months! These talshyiir dare to show themselves after chasing me through the woods, after slaughtering my soldiers! I will pay them back ten fold, a hundred fold, for every life they took from me!"

Eradaxis placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Calm yourself. The bucks who fight alongside us now will be looking to you for their courage. Do not let your anger control you, lest they begin to doubt our resolve. We have all lost someone to the madness of Cervidae's empress -- friends, family, soldiers -- and at long last we have the chance to set things right. Do not squander it." He raised his voice to be heard over the rustling of steel and crystal from the whitetail loyalists who watched him nervously. "Do not fear death, sons of Whitetail, for the ancestors watch over us! Fight as one! Fight for your homes!"

The call to arms came at last. Caethil drew his sword, locked his shield into place, and readied himself for his final battle.

"I do not fear death," he said in a low voice, the magical grip on his weapon crackling and flaring with might, "for I will drag Corvalix into the depths of the nine hells with me."

73 - Unleashed

From his vantage point at the top of the now-overrun Equestrian ramp, Corvalix rallied the combined redtail and whitetail forces into a tried and proven three-tiered formation that would provide the maximum amount of flexibility against an ever-changing situation. Nothing was a certainty when it came to the ponies, nevermind their zebra lackeys. If General Phalanx was in charge, then he would most certainly have some sort of plan in place, just waiting for Corvalix to fall into it.

He snarled at the thought of the damned one-eyed nuisance that had cost him so many bucks at Quillyyn Keep. It had been a long wait, but the time of vengeance was finally upon him. Damn the losses, he would tear through the ponies, the zebras and especially the disgusting Whitetail traitors like a bolt of lightning!

"Whyttalia naan Cervidaelis! Falanoor!"

"Hwah!"

"Fal'naas par Equestrii!"

"Hwah!"

Thousands of knee-blades shot out and locked into place. The barrier spell over each unit faded to nothing as the Exemplars attached to each squad focused entirely on their weapons and shields. Rains of arrows and scattered catapult missiles tore into his bucks the second they did so, but none faltered in the slightest. Anyone who fell was immediately replaced, the wounded dragged away through the snow-slicked grass to the healers who rushed to set up their supplies out of range of the Equestrian weapons.

The deer began to move as one, interlocked shields up and weapons at the ready. No more games, no more hiding, no more walls to overcome; only the open ground of the Auroran Valley, and the impending clash of remorseless battle.

Someone at the back began to sing, an old song that had remained popular on both sides of the border. It was not the somber song of longing that had been sung at Quillyyn, but rather an aggressive, defiant one. It quickly spread through the ranks, and before long most of the deer had joined in, forming a chorus of barely-contained anger that begged to be unleashed.

The ponies shouted something in return in their harsh, inelegant language. Hundreds of throwing spears arced up from their lines, tossed by hoof and horn, and the deer negated what losses they could with quick reflexes and bursts of magic. Corvalix urged them to stay strong, to set their minds to naught but battle. Just a bit further...

"Taals'indaar!"

***

The deer army broke into a striding rush, lowering their heads and charging into the waiting lines of shields and spears. Dozens of bucks were impaled in the push, but their sacrifice allowed those following behind to push deep into the ponies. Steel and crystal thundered against one another, and shouts of fear, hatred and triumph created a tumult so great it could be heard all the way from Canterlot itself.

The wedge formations had worked nearly perfectly. The ponies might have been stout and strong, but the deer were quick, almost graceful, and their flurries of attacks struck a heavy toll within seconds. Pegasus, earth pony, unicorn, it mattered not. All were fodder for the thrashing knee blades and swords of deerkind. Segments of the main deer force broke off and headed to each flank, reshaping their squads in mid-stride to take advantage of any visible weakness that had opened in the Equestrian lines.

By now the redtail siege weapons had been brought into place and were quickly being set up along the former Equestrian wall. Doing so left them vulnerable to return fire from catapults, and soon the two sides were exchanging volleys, split between pouring their deadly payloads into masses of infantry and attempting to knock out their counterparts across the way. Stone balls and spreads of flame pots arced over the heads of the main battle line. Eruptions of emerald flame roared to life at the same instant as the heavy thump and crash of catapult shots tearing through entire columns at once. It was a deafening, brutal, chaotic affair...and Corvalix loved every moment of it.

***

"Right column! Advance!" the Equestrian handler shouted over the racket. Caethil and the Whitetail Loyalists shifted on the spot and ran behind the first line of ponies, reforming on their immediate flank where a tahndwyrr of some three hundred deer had sought to create a gap. The redtail-led soldiers had already begun to engage the ponies and were momentarily shocked to find their own kind descending upon them, losing a significant portion of their strength in mere moments as Eradaxis' bucks carved a swath of destruction. The old Standard-Commander, once among the most fervent of Whitetail's supporters, now fought shoulder to shoulder with pony and deer alike.

"Sanaliis stry fahn!" a whitetail cursed as Caethil lashed out with his Equestrian sword. The blade bounced off a rounded shield, creating just enough of an opening for the enemy to strike at him; Caethil cursed himself for the sloppy mistake as the weapon dug into his armor but thankfully stopped short of punching all the way through. He retaliated with a shield bash to the face, knocking the buck off balance. Another one, much harder this time, crunched the crystal of his helm and snapped his head back. Caethil thrust his sword out, catching him at the base of the neck, and twisted the weapon as he pulled out. The unfortunate whitetail dropped with a pained gurgle, frantically clutching at his wound until a merciful blow to the head ended his suffering.

Caethil felt a wave of nausea course through him. Fighting Corvalix and his Exemplars was one thing, but these 'soldiers' before him were hardly older than adolescent fawns! No doubt they were conscripts; they certainly fought like it. Eradaxis was almost effortlessly cleaving through them. Even the Loyalists, half of them civilian volunteers with minimal training, were fairing well against these whitetail.

He chanced a look over the battle, finding the ponies to be holding their own, although the sheer number of deer pouring into the fight was almost absurd. They stretched from the front line back to the ramp, massing in company-sized blocks that were constantly being reinforced from a hole that had been torn through the wall. Caped stags in darker armor shouted orders, though there was no sign of the blue-clad magii. And yet, among the frantic movements of battle, a single deer stood out from the rest. The faint light of deertongue lettering carved into his armor gave him an almost ethereal glow, and the headdress of flame-bright phoenix feathers announced his presence and importance for all to see.

Corvalix.

"Your left, Caethil!" Eradaxis warned, shoving him out of the way and hurling an Equestrian spear with his magic. It slashed through the air and struck deep into another whitetail that had just killed a Loyalist. Caethil shook himself from his momentary lapse of focus and nodded in appreciation, then steadied himself and joined one of his bucks in battling a redtail. The fires of hatred burned deep within him, threatening to consume and corrupt his discipline and training. If only he could will himself over to strike at the self-assured murderer! He fed on the anger and pain of loss, using it to keep himself as sharp as his blade. Block, strike, kick. On to the next.

***

The deer were breaking through. It was a slow, almost imperceptible shift; a few lost stallions here, a step back there. The ponies were stalwart and skilled, but the winds of fate were changing ever so slightly. Angabe ko Nan'Shakaa could feel it in his bones, as subtle as the brush of a blade of grass against one's skin. The spirits called to him. They showed him the truth, guided his every step. And now they beat the drums of war for all of zebrakind.

"Abozisa ama-ahko!" The Mowassi Enchanter in charge of his war band raised his wooden flask above his head. Small beads clicked against its stripe-painted side as its top was uncorked. Wisps of dark purple smoke poured out over his hoof and dissipated in the air, and with a beat of his foreleg against his chest he downed the concoction within in a heavy gulp. Tradition called for the ones who had created the magical brews to consume them first as a sign of bravery and solidarity, and Angabe saw numerous other leaders doing the same all along the zebra ranks. The Enchanter shut his eyes and grit his teeth as the magics contained within spread through his body, leaving visible trails across his skin like ivory-colored tattoos.

When he opened his eyes once more, after what felt like a long time, his irises had become a dimly shining reddish-brown. He stomped in triumph, signaling those under his command to take their turn. Angabe popped the cork with his teeth, his head jerking back at the intense, earthy smell that assaulted his senses, and together with his brothers he drank it down in an instant. It tasted awful, like wet soil mixed with bitterbell sap. He almost gagged as it slopped down his throat like a thick coating of oil and sank into his stomach. It took only a moment for the magic within to be unleashed, rippling out to his limbs and flowing through him like fingers of ice. It was enough to shock the air from his lungs. He coughed and shook, and when it had passed he found within himself a new clarity. He could see the life-force of every soldier in battle, like gossamer swirls of fog, feel the ebb and flow of those who were struck down, hear every word as if it was spoken directly to him.

This, he thought, was the true power of the ancestor spirits. As he looked around he was met by the confident eyes of zebra stallions from all over Zevran, soldiers of countless tribes, and all stood united. This magic was unheard of in modern times, and a feeling of excitement soon replaced the dread he'd felt only a short time earlier.

The Enchanter raised up on his hind legs and shouted to be heard. "Mbanela bopisa! Namhula tay, Zev-raan, po zilwa!"

"Zev-raan, kuru'ta!" Angabe shouted with the others, hefting his spear high. The Enchanters and Tribal Warband Shamans called out their battle cry twice more, each time getting a louder response, until Angabe was sure the valley itself shook with their voices.

The zebras galloped together, circling around the right side of the Equestrian lines so that they were nearly up against the rocky hills themselves. Angabe effortlessly kept up with his warband, surrounded by hundreds of Nan'Shakaa warriors on every side, and though he ran faster than his legs had ever carried him before he found that he was not winded.

An odd sensation slowly came over him as he galloped. It went unnoticed at first, a slight dulling of the skin around his hooves that quickly began to spread up to his legs, then to his lower body. It was as if his nerves were being numbed, but not in an unpleasant way. More like...a dream, almost out-of-body in its unfamiliarity. He did not break stride and did not fight it, for he knew it was part of the gift the Enchanters had created for them.

The stallions in front of him gradually turned a smooth, dark grey, like rocks in a stream. Their hoofsteps became heavier and louder, each impact sending up small sprays of soil and snow, until their charge roared like a summer storm. Angabe knew it was happening to him as well, for the numbing sensation had now taken him completely. His mind was still sharp and his muscles were still strong, and when the order came to turn and charge the warband into the deer army he followed without hesitation.

A hail of arrows and darts shot up from the back of the redtail ranks, arcing high and seeming to hang in the air before rushing back down. The zebras raised their wood and hide shields, for what good it would do them, and Angabe waited for the inevitable toll the missiles would take on his kin.

But to his shock, not a single zebra fell. The deadly projectiles simply bounced off anyone they hit in a spray of shattered iron tips and broken, splintered shafts. Emboldened by the scene, they let out a whooping war cry and ran headlong into the deer.

***

The zebras were like a living battering ram. Whatever magic they had embued themselves with had turned their skin to stone, and when their hardened bodies crashed into the deer it was as if an unseen hoof had reached down from above and swept an entire swath of the invaders away.

Victus and his band of Legionaries shouted victoriously at the sprays of shattered crystal and flailing, broken bodies that were flung into the air. The zebras pushed deep into the deer lines, then split into two formations that pushed to either side, trapping a large contigent of whitetail and redtail soldiers between themselves and the combined Equestrian front. Panic began to set in among the deer, with some breaking off and attempting to run. Few succeeded in making it back to the staging area, for the zebras were surprisingly quick for such stocky creatures.

"Now! Push, lads! Push!"

"HAH-OOH!"

The Legionaries put their weight behind their shields and shoved forward with all their might, driving the deer back just that bit more. Several Exemplars had identified Victus as someone of import, and they struck at him together. Victus stumbled back, nearly tripping over the body of a fallen comrade, as sword and knee-blade attacks smashed into his shield and deflected off his armor. He countered with his gladius when he could and twisted his body to bring his razor-sharp wing-blades around, catching a redtail off guard and slicing through his neck and into his shoulder. The dying foe's last kick found purchase in a weaker section of his pauldrons, and a sharp pain shot through his upper right foreleg as the other Legionaries at his side fought back the offending deer to give him a chance to recover.

Victus hobbled back until he was safe from immediate danger and yanked a bandage from his saddlebag, tearing off his battered and blood-stained pauldron and tossing it to the ground. The wound was painful and bleeding a steady stream of crimson, but it did not appear to have gone deep. The unwrapped bandage had been soaked in a healing potion before the fight, and it dripped with pinkish fluid that smelled strongly of musk and old things. He quickly placed it over the gash and secured it in place, wincing at the burning sensation that came with it. It would not be enough to stop the bleeding permanently, but he only needed it to hold until the day was done.

A quick flap of his wings let him hop into the air just long enough to see the battle unfolding along the front. The line was holding, but losses were beginning to mount along the western flank. The Equestrian Guard in particular were suffering horrendous casualties, with a weakened gap between two formations currently being exploited by the deer. Reserve units were already on their way to reinforce the position, more Guard units flying the red and gold flags of Equestria, and the Whitetail Loyalists nearby were proving unexpectedly valuable, but it was a war of attrition -- and the numbers weren't on their side.

Once more he gripped his sword in his mouth, flexed his wing blades, and threw himself back into the fray.

***

"Damned creative, I must admit. Savages they may be, but one cannot fault them for a lack of imagination," Corvalix said to Sister-Magii Traenilys, referring to the zebras that had made an unfortunate mess of his forward units. That stone skin of theirs was was damn near impervious to ranged attacks and equal to quinn-plate against blades. They certainly weren't invulnerable, but he had expected far less from the tribal creatures. He cursed himself for underestimating them, making a mental note to see that Zevran was properly disciplined for their defiance after Equestria's fall.

"No matter," he continued, dismissing his losses out of hoof, "the plan continues regardless. Are the bucks in position?"

Traenilys nodded. "Yes, my Brother-General. My sisters will need time to recuperate, however, so for the time being we will be unable to move any more soldiers. My sincerest apologies."

Corvalix smirked in amusement. "I would say you have done more than enough, my dear. It is up to us to make the most of your talents now. Please, return to the camp and rest until you are called upon."

"Yes, Brother-General, thank you. Ancestors watch over you."

Traenilys' form flickered with psuedo-motion, and then she was gone. For a moment Corvalix watched the battle unfold from his place atop the wall, marveling at the spectacle before him. Thousands of lives thrown into the fray, great contraptions of wood and crystal, the heat of bursting flames amid the din of relentless combat. It was all so...poetic.

A single signal pot rested beside him, roughly the size of a large water bowl. It jerked into the air as magical energy enveloped it, hovering above the blood-stained ramparts still littered with pony corpses, then shot straight up until it just peaked over the rim of the valley walls. There it exploded into a shower of blue powder, like the petals of a wilting flower carried aloft, and was blown by the gusting winds until it faded to a diffuse cloud.

"You have been an entertaining diversion, stallions of Zevran, but I'm afraid I have places to be," he said to himself, turning to gather a contingent of Exemplars from his reserves. They wordlessly formed around him, and he drew his blood-slicked sword for the second time that day.

A battle shout sounded from the deer beyond his position. It seemed they were prompt after all. Good, he thought. He did so hate to be kept waiting.

"Come, soldiers of Cervidae. Let us put an end to this foolishness."

74 - Committed

The stone skin potion had worked better than he could have hoped for. Not only had it made the brave warriors of Zevran immune to arrows, but it had also proved surprisingly resilient to crystalline blades. The charge into the midst of the deer had been a shock to the enemy's morale that had given the ponies the closest thing to a moment of respite they'd had since the fighting had begun. But the deer were quick to learn and practical in combat, using the maces of fallen Equestrian officers to smash through the earthen protection or jabbing their weapon points into eyes, mouths and any patch of skin that hadn't been completely covered.

Now the zebras were starting to lose stallions with increasing rapidity as the potion gradually wore off. Without the magical defenses they were naught but equals to the deer, stronger on the attack but less capable of blocking deadly blows with their wood and hide shields. It was time to call them back.

Elder Mwolan'e raised his feather and bead-topped staff and brought it down hard thrice, signaling the tribal drummers to beat out their fall back order. The zebras gave a shout of acknowledgement and began a fighting retreat, merging with the pony lines for mutual protection while fresh troops from the Legion reinforced their positions.

In the distance, far beyond the front, a puff of blue smoke burst into existence high in the air, then faded just as quickly. Mwolan'e and Imbele gave each other a confused look.

"I am not seeing any change in the deer formations, Elder," Imbele said.

"Nor am I," Mwolan'e added. Nothing had shifted, no bombardment had intensified. Curious, he thought. "Perhaps Corvalix is signaling for more reinforcements."

"That is possible. I want the drummers to communicate caution against the arcane, lest the deer unleash powerful magics against us. I do not think stone skin will protect us from magical lightning, should that be their plan." He'd heard tales of particularly powerful deer summoning bolts of it in their defense of the 'Nightmare Moon' cultists in the Midlands. He had no reason to doubt the ponies were telling the truth.

A pegasus runner approached him with a scroll in his mouth, dropping it at his hooves and saluting.

"Elder, another missive from General Phalanx. He is requesting you reinforce the eastern-most Equestrian Guard position."

Mwolan'e picked it up and quickly read through it. Just as he'd suspected: the ponies were faltering. "Tell the good General we are in the process of reforming our units, but we will hasten to join his stallions as quickly as possible." The runner quickly wrote down what he'd said, then tucked the scroll into a saddlebag and took to the air with a powerful flap of his brightly colored wings.

Mwolan'e turned. Behind him, set up in a long row, the most skilled of his Mowassi Enchanters were feverishly working on creating more stone skin potions. The air smelled of soil and sharp herbs, and purple smoke formed a blanket-like fog over the ground near them. True potions would take days to create, but they had assured him they could concoct a variant in short order, even if it meant its effects were not as pronounced as the first batch. It would have to do, he'd told them.

A sudden roar of voices sounded from the tree line behind him, not five hundred paces away. He nearly stumbled over himself as an entire battle line of redtail burst into the clearing, weapons drawn and shields out, rushing towards him as fast as their legs could carry them.

"Counter formation! Quickly!" he shouted to his contingent of personal guards, caught by a moment of panic. Where had they all come from? The line of Equestrian and Zevran soldiers stretched from wall to wall of the valley entrance! It should have been impossible to march through! He scrambled to get behind protection as the Zingeli Watchers silently and calmly took their places before him. They were the most skilled of Zevran's warriors, but the fewest in number as well. "Leave the cauldrons, there's no time to finish!" he ordered. The Enchanters did so without hesitation and ran off to join the back lines of the ponies that were now being reinforced with stallions from the Royal Guard and Equestrian Guard; stallions that the front line could hardly afford to spare, but the alternative was leaving supply and medical personnel to the mercy of superior combatants.

The deer were far too close now. Reluctantly Mwolan'e drew his sword and stood in position behind the red-striped honor guard. Their feral hunting cat skull headdresses clacked as they tucked themselves behind their shields and waited with feathered spears, digging their hooves into the ground to brace themselves.

"What are you doing?" Seer-Shaman Imbele asked him incredulously, a spear of his own tucked between a foreleg and his body. "You must get to safety, Honored Elder. The Zingeli will hold them off until the ponies can send help."

"And how do you propose I do that? Unless you have a potion to make me sprout wings then I am stuck here with the rest of you."

"But--"

"I am staying, Imbele. That is my vow as your leader...or if you prefer, as your old friend."

Imbele had no time to argue any further. He downed his only stone skin potion and prepared himself.

"Then may the ancestors welcome us this day."

The deer were almost upon him, their glimmering armor like a wall of colored glass. How strange they looked as they advanced, dark coats standing in sharp contrast to their colorful, almost mesmerizing armor. They showed no sign of hatred or contempt, only the stern facade of skilled warriors. Baer'barisater had been right: the deer were unlike any other in so many regards. Perhaps meeting his end at their hooves would not be such a terrible way to pass into the realm of the spirits after all.

***

"Whyttalia fal'kyyr!

With a singular shout the Whitetail Loyalists rushed past him, charging headlong into their redtail cousins before they could reach the zebras. Their weapons and armor clashed with a mighty clamor that quickly turned into a fierce melee. Mwolan'e stood in momentary shock before waving his guards forward.

"Go, help the whitetail!"

A tall stag came to a stop beside him, saluting with a hoof drawing a spiral over his chest. He was battered and bloody, his patchwork steel and crystal armor covered in nicks and deep cuts, a swath of which had been dented and cracked to reveal a bandaged wound underneath.

"Elder Mwolan'e. Seer-Shaman Imbele. You looked as if you could use some assistance."

Mwolan'e managed a relieved nod. "Your timing is impeccable, Caethil of Evinwiir. I do not know from where they came, but I fear our numbers would not have been enough to hold off these redtail."

"We broke off from the main line when we heard the attack coming. We need to get you to safety, and quickly."

"Does that not weaken your own defenses?" Imbele asked.

"Yes, but that is not our primary concern at this moment. I did not come all this way just to watch yet another stubborn old politician die." He gestured to the banners approaching from the west. "As soon as the Legion reinforcements show up we're taking you away from this place. I know you've seen the flow of battle; the line is faltering, and the Coriander Road will soon be the target of Corvalix's forces. Eradaxis and I will personally lead you away from here while our bucks hold the line."

"And what of my stallions? I cannot leave them to their fates," Mwolan'e objected.

"They are in capable hooves. Do not fear for them."

Mwolan'e and Imbele shared a look. "Very well, then." He raised his staff and shouted something in his language. A hoof-full of Zingeli Watchers broke off from the attack and reformed at his side, no less focused from the exhaustive fighting. "Ngodu, Kampal'e, you will stay at our sides. Nodisa, Fumafu and Se'shayna: you are tasked with watching our rear. Do not let any deer close whom are not Loyalists, understood?" The zebras gave a halting 'auu'ah' and immediately took their positions. "Dingu'te, you are in charge of this area. Assign the Watchers as you see fit, but make sure the Enchanters escape as soon as they can. Everyone must stick with the Equestrians if we are to see victory this day." He nodded to Caethil. "Let us go."

Caethil raised a horn and blew a sharp pair of notes from it. Eradaxis and four bucks broke off from the fight and joined the small group that was already breaking into a steady gallop, flags of Whitetail and Zevran fluttering aside one another as quinndryll throwing spears thumped into the ground around them.

"We must make haste!" Eradaxis said, picking up the pace until they were nearly sprinting flat out. They passed the thundering Legion shortly after, and soon found themselves among a throng of wounded soldiers of all species. They called out for help, for water and medicine, and Mwolan'e's heart sank at not being able to stop and aid them.

***

The tiresome traitors never ceased to be a thorn in his side. Though the Whitetail bucks who fought alongside the ponies might have delayed the rear flanking maneuver his magii had so meticulously prepared, they could not hope to stop it. With every passing breath the enemy was being encircled, their lines cut apart into bloody sections like a manticore feasting on its still-living prey. Equestrian relief units rushed to reinforce weakened positions, a rainbow of crested and cloaked bodies that clung to the thinnest edge between victory and defeat.

"You may proceed, Brother-Captain," Corvalix said, giving a nod of approval to one of his subservient officers. The battle-scarred stag saluted, then raised his voice to a shout as his antlers lit up with magical currents. A bellowed order peeled nearly half of the second and third line soldiers from their waiting positions. They formed into long, narrow columns and faced right, with a large group of Exemplars leading the way in a spearhead.

He turned to an aide at his side, one who was busily tallying the strength of each formation. "Tell the magii we will have need of their skills once more."

The aide flattened his ears and hesitantly answered. "I'm afraid they're still recovering, Brother-General. Sister-Magii Traenilys has ordered that she and her does are not to be disturbed until they are ready once more."

Corvalix bristled at the refusal. "And I am countermanding that order. The plan has changed. I do not care if they are not at peak power, only that they are strong enough to counter any attempt by the ponies to disrupt our push. Go. Now."

"With all due respect, sir, we--"

"I said, now."

The aide flinched at the fire in Corvalix's eyes, saluting and sprinting away before he could be made an example of. Corvalix sneered at the very thought of refusing an officer's orders; such things were not the way of Cervidae. Had he the time he might have flogged the buck himself, but more important matters drew his attention. The bulk of the secondary line was beginning to move now, thousands of them pushing into what appeared to be the thickest concentration of ponies. Unsurprisingly the Equestrians were not eager to let him anywhere near the Coriander Road, but he had planned for exactly this situation in advance. Just a moment longer...

As the spearhead clashed with the defenders that plan sprang into action. The second group of soldiers that had been lying in wait in the woods charged out with a battle cry, completely bypassing the zebras that had massed around the diversionary first assault. They threw themselves not at the siege weapons, nor the officers, but at the apothecary stations away from the front lines. Panic quickly set in among the frail, pathetic creatures who could not or would not wield a weapon. They fell in droves to redtail blades, effortlessly slaughtered where they stood. Some tried to fight -- the wounded, the young, the foolish and feeble -- but it was a futile effort. Cervidaen blades ended the struggling of all in their path, a whirlwind of sliced throats and torn bodies. There was pleading, of course, as could be expected of such inferior species. Their mewling and begging could be heard across the valley...followed shortly thereafter by their death rattles. Such a disgusting display of weakness! Corvalix was practically doing them a favor by putting them down like sick dogs.

Just as he'd expected, the ponies were thrown into a chaotic mess as officers and their units struggled to find some way of putting a stop to the redtail attack while keeping the front at acceptable strength.

"Come on, you vermin...move!" he growled through gritted teeth. Slowly, almost painfully so, the mass of soldiers guarding the road dissipated just enough that he felt confident in launching his assault. He drew his sword and ran to join his bucks, accompanied by a group of Exemplars. A quick look over his shoulder revealed the sapphire armor of the magii gaining on him. Good, he thought. It was about damned time.

"Forward, soldiers of Ochrourus! Destiny awaits us!"

The impending rush of combat was sweeter than any wine. The sight of it all, the sound and smell of mortal struggle over the wet earth, the ferocity and desperation; this was where he belonged. The Auroran Valley was naught but a prelude to the destruction he would visit upon Canterlot.

***

They were gathered around him now, peering over the side of the city in morbid fascination at the spectacle below. The deer seemed to be everywhere at once, attacking from the rear and charging into vulnerable flanks with a decisive precision unlike anything he'd ever seen. This was not a war like he'd seen between Equestria and Whitetail, where both sides had respected at least some form of civility and mercy. No, this was a war of attrition. Not even the 'apothecary' healers were safe as the redtail formations swept over the wounded and the unarmed. He had not seen the deer take a single prisoner during the whole battle, and he doubted they would suddenly start doing so.

With every step the ponies took backwards Praxilus felt his stomach twist into knots. What if the Cervidaens truly were unstoppable? He heard the siege commander's words repeat relentlessly in his head. It would be better to throw yourself over the edge than let them take you alive. He gulped at the thought, his throat dry and his tongue like coarse parchment. The same commander was now watching the fight unfold like everyone else; watching Equestria slowly lose ground. It seemed inevitable that the Coriander Road would be next.

"Right, lads, it's time to pick your pricks up and do what you're here for!" the gruff stallion finally said, stomping his hoof to rally his charges. The rim of the overhang came alive with motion as the Royal Guard teams hefted their equipment to where they would be able to fire on the path without obstruction. Pairs of pegasi dropped rough stone balls into place, and stout earth ponies cranked back the rope-heavy pulleys that strained and creaked with tension.

"This is no longer a place for a civilian, whitetail," the officer spoke, "so I suggest you find somewhere else to go."

"Where?" Praxilus asked. He knew they'd kick him out when and if the call to arms came, but to have it actually happening was far more worrying than he'd imagined. "The castle is barred tight and the cave shelters are full."

"Not my problem. Maybe you should have thought of that before you decided to stand here and watch good stallions die." The old unicorn was entirely dismissive of him; likely he viewed all deer as the same. A common sentiment among the ponies, he'd found, though not one that was entirely without merit. Right now he wished it wasn't so.

The faces of those who had died to protect him flashed before his eyes in remembered glimpses. A smiling recruit, telling all who would listen of his soon-to-be exploits against the heartless redtail. A stubborn stag, his coat greyed with age, doing his best to hide the amusement of hearing the others warmly refer to him as 'grandfather'. The pleading groan of a young buck bleeding out on the snow.

They'd given their lives so that he might live, because they believed in him. They believed in Whitetail, and what it used to be. What would they think of him now?

Praxilus pulled his wool body wrap tightly against himself and stood tall for the first time since leaving Evinwiir, rendering his best salute.

"What do you need me to do?" he asked. The officer turned back to him, a brow furrowed in disbelief.

"Excuse me?"

"You're right: this is no place for a civilian, but the Cervidaens are giving no quarter. If I have nowhere else to go then...I-I may as well make myself useful here." A long, uncomfortable silence hung between them. Praxilus did not move, keeping his eyes forward as a soldier might. He'd never been a fighter, but Equestria had no use for politicians this day. "I await your order. Sir."

"How's your magic?" the officer asked after what felt like a lifetime of indecision.

Praxilus chose a catapult missile from a pile and lifted it up in a crackling cloud of aether. It dipped nearly to the ground as its unexpected weight caught him off guard. He quickly recovered, floating it beside him at shoulder height.

"Adequate, I hope. I can teleport as well, if need be, though it will likely drain me for some time if I do so."

"Fine, you can stay as long as you don't interfere. Forget the teleporting shit and help catapult four, they could use the aid."

He felt a great relief and a terrible dread come over him simultaneously. What had he just volunteered for?

"As you wish. Ancestors watch over us."

"Yeah...gods be with you and all that nonsense. Get to work, whitetail. Don't let my stallions down, or I'll run you through myself."

75 - Breakout

Arrows and throwing spears rained down around them, inaccurate but numerous, while they ran as fast as their legs would carry them up the winding stretches of the Coriander Road and towards the temporary safety of the mountain passes. The deer had spotted them on the way up and had lashed out just as quickly, focusing a portion of their ranged forces on the fleeing group as it passed through the Equestrian lines. Shields, armor and fading stone skin potions did their part, but Mwolan'e and his companions were under no illusions that they would remain lucky forever.

Behind them the ponies braced for another redtail-led charge. The deer were almost obsessive in their efforts to break through, for they knew that the path to Canterlot was the key to victory. It would be far harder to dislodge them if they broke into the city, as street-to-street fighting would allow little room for traditional military maneuvers. And so they came, wave after wave of conscripts led by Exemplars that battered the shield walls like storm surges against stone, showing little regard for losses.

"Don't stop! You can catch your breath when you're dead!" Eradaxis said above the rumble of hooves on snow-flecked stone and coarse dirt. Mwolan'e thought he might fall over dead from exhaustion at any moment. What he wouldn't have given to be thirty years younger! One of his Zingeli Watchers shouted in sudden pain and tumbled to the ground in a rolling heap. Mwolan'e skidded to a stop and began to turn back.

"Go, I will catch up!" the soldier said, already reaching into a pack at his side for medical supplies. An arrow stuck out from his haunches and left a trail of blood behind him. Imbele urged Mwolan'e along with a firm push on his shoulder, and he regretfully carried on as Caethil and Eradaxis slowed to let him return to their sides.

There was a flicker of motion ahead, indistinct and blurry, like looking through a haze of fog. It snapped into focus with alarming speed, revealing a squad of redtail who appeared from the aether with weapons ready. Mwolan'e's group scrambled to a stop and ducked low as a burst of razor-sharp darts shot out and clattered against armor. Caethil and two of the Watchers stumbled as they were hit, their shields unable to protect them from head to hoof completely. By some miracle they had not been mortally injured, though their wounds wept crimson. The pain only seemed to fuel Caethil's intense hatred, and he rushed forward with a shout to meet the enemy in melee.

"Caethil, wait!" Eradaxis pleaded, already sprinting to try and save him. He was not yet half way when a bright flash announced the arrival of a unicorn squad, their spears out as they galloped at the deer. Caethil tripped over himself in surprise and nearly fell, only catching himself when Eradaxis grabbed him by the foreleg and hauled him up so that he was face to face with the veteran stag. The ponies fought a vicious battle, giving the group the chance to escape once more.

"You might have a death wish, Brother-Captain, but I do not!" Eradaxis said, yanking a dart from Caethil's chest plate. It ripped free with a spurt of blood and torn hairs, and fell to the ground with a clatter. "You can run back down that path and throw yourself at the redtail fayc'aeilll, or you can stay with us and make sure Corvalix begs for his life before the day is through!" He did not give Caethil a chance to respond, roughly shoving him back into the group. "Do you seek death, or do you seek vengeance?" he asked as they continued up the road.

Caethil had no answer.

***

Canterlot Castle's main hall had been turned into a veritable fortress. Wooden barricades barred every possible entrance, reinforced with spare shields and bits of scrap metal where possible, while the stately double doors leading to the public forecourt were now locked tight by vertical iron bars backed by a large plank of ironbark taken from Whitetail Wood itself. A sizable force of Royal Guard soldiers lined the path from the front gate to the secondary guard post, past the statue of Discord and up to the now fortified battlements. Past that, the Lunar Praetorians stood watch in their midnight-blue enchanted armor that gave them the imposing look of bat-like creatures. They had volunteered to be the first line of defense for the inner chambers, but they were not the last. Every Praetorian in service to the princess occupied a position in the castle, with only a small force being sent away to the fall-back point across the city. There was, without a doubt, nowhere safer in all of Equestria, and perhaps in the entirety of the known world.

And yet, Princess Celestia could not help but feel sick with uncertainty. The reports from the battle far below were coming in as fast as they could be flown or teleported. They told a story of loss on an unprecedented scale, both for the deer and her own people, with neither side able to gain enough of a hoofhold to push the other back decisively. The zebras and sympathetic whitetail were certainly contributing, but there were so many redtail, along with their unwitting whitetail conscripts, that it was difficult to believe. They continued to pour in from the Auroran Valley entrance like an endless surge of bodies, fresh and eager for battle against the increasingly battle-weary defenders.

Barely-heard voices carried through the hall, followed by distant, heavy thumps of stone against stone. "Sounds like the catapults have joined in," Polaris said grimly. "That can only mean the deer have broken through." The quiet swears of the others were not unexpected, nor unjustified. Everyone had thought the front line of the valley to be nigh impenetrable.

"Do not lose faith, my friends. I have the utmost confidence in our allies," Celestia said reassuringly. While nobody dared object openly, the half-hearted replies that answered her were telling. Rimeberry had taken to pacing back and forth between the curved staircases where several Praetorians waited with nervous anticipation, each one coping with the compounding stress in their own way. Some prayed quietly to themselves, while others like Portenius had removed their helms and were absentmindedly fidgeting with their tails or manes, lost in thought. Thunderburst had taken to spinning his weapon on the tile, its point carving barely perceptible scratches into the worn marble as Celestia took it upon herself to visit with each individual for a brief moment.

It took just short of a minute for the siege weapons to release another barrage, though now the sound of the weapon teams was joined by a thundering of passing soldiers on their way to reinforce the sole road leading to the city. Tercio listened to them march by, leaning against a support column near a barricaded side door. He nodded as Celestia approached, but stayed where he was.

"Centurion Tercio. How are you fairing?" she asked, stopping before him.

"Better than the last time we were in this situation...and worse," he answered quietly. "I do not worry about myself, but about my family. Victus, my mother and father -- they are beyond my ability to help, and that is a terrible thing to realize."

"Victus is a strong stallion and serves with good soldiers in the Legion. I am sure he'll be fine. And your parents are likely far more concerned about you and your brother than anything else. They have plenty of supplies and are under heavy guard, I promise they'll not want for anything while this unfortunate battle is seen to its end." She did not mention that the same anxiety weighed heavily upon her for every last citizen of Canterlot and beyond.

"It still does not comfort me," he said.

"I know. I don't expect it to. Try to stay positive, at least. We'll get through this, just like we always do." She smiled warmly and added, "perhaps after all is said and done here we won't have to hide our feelings for one another anymore." She wished she could embrace him and feel his reassuring touch, now more than ever, but even in the midst of the siege it was likely to be an unwelcome sight among the others. They had not had time to accept such a thing. Which of them knew? she wondered. Did they think less of her for it? She had not asked Tercio if he'd revealed such to his fellows. She supposed she would find out eventually -- if they lived that long.

"Such a thing seems trivial in comparison now. What I wouldn't give to have it be the most serious of our concerns..." He pressed his hand to his heart and said, "I don't know if I'll get the opportunity to say so again, but thank you. For everything. You are my very heart and soul, carissima."

"And you are mine, my love." His fingertips brushed her mane, and for the briefest of moments she was free of the crushing weight of the world upon her shoulders. Then the racket of catapult fire sounded once more, and she was back to the harsh reality of a world gone mad.

***

The ponies were getting desperate. Holding the entrance to the mountain road plainly took precedent over all else, even the well-being of the wounded. Corvalix hadn't expected such a quick reaction to his massed charge into the strongest part of the defensive line, fully anticipating that the ponies would need time to regroup while keeping the support stallions safe. Instead they had nearly fully abandoned an entire flank and were now concentrating their forces, perhaps hoping to staunch the flow of his bucks into the widening gap. It appeared the vaunted General Phalanx had learned a thing or two about being practical in battle.

Teams of pegasi descended from the rim of the city above, intent not on attacking, but rather on evacuating as many of the wounded and helpless as was possible. They would land in pairs or trios, grab the nearest stallion in need, and haul him away in a most amusing display of awkward flight. Occasional arrows or spears shot up at them, but Corvalix was not about to waste his breath and demand their destruction. They were only delaying the inevitable, and if the leaders of Equestria wished to expend resources on non-combatants then he certainly would not stop them.

It was telling that not a single aerial attack had come his way. No magical arrows raining from the clouds, no dart bundles being dropped by formations of pegasi. The display of power demonstrated at Quillyyn Keep had effectively grounded the flying pests. Good. One less element to concern himself with.

"Brother-Captain Telaniir, why am I not seeing Cervidaen soldiers charging up that road?" he yelled to a stag in front of him. The officer had stood upon a boulder to get a better view of the fight. He quickly jumped back down when an Equestrian spear narrowly missed his head.

"All due respect, sir, we can't make headway!" Telaniir answered cautiously. "Those red-caped Equestrians are tearing through our front line!"

Corvalix stomped his hoof. "I want results, Brother-Captain, not excuses! Find a way through or a few cock-sure ponies will be the least of your concerns! Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir!"

A bit of harsh motivation could do wonders, but what he wouldn't have given for a few dozen more Protectorate does! A few bolts of lightning, a wall of force or two....that would certainly help things along. As it was, he was forced to use the already strained magii in a defensive role until their efforts could be put to proper use further along the way. He surveyed the area with a tactician's eye, looking for any possible weakness he could exploit. The ponies were already surrounded on three sides, but it was not enough. He needed access to the Coriander Road, and he needed it now. If the magii couldn't make a gap, then perhaps...

"You, Brother-Sergeant" he said to a nearby buck, tapping a hoof against his armored pauldron, "you are hereby relieved of squad command for the time being. There is something I need you to do immediately. You are uninjured, yes?" The buck nodded. "Excellent. You are ordered to return to the encampment with a message."

"Of course, Brother-General, sir. What shall I say?" he asked.

"Tell Empress Elinwynn the time has come to make her presence known."

76 - Honor Bound

Elinwynn had known what her brother's request would be long before the messenger reached her. The ebb and flow of magic told the story of desperate combat on both sides, a barely contained melee that wildly swung from one army to the other, with momentary victories being negated just as quickly as they were won. Progress had been rapid after the wall fell, at least for a short time, but now it was taking far too long to make insignificant gains. Time was of the essence; every moment her forces were stuck in a quagmire of their own making was another moment for Celestia to find some way to turn the odds to her favor.

The bright motes of Corvalix's detachment of Imperial Protectorate does flared in her mind's eye, short and intense like a lightning strike, before fading once more. It was a process that had been repeated numerous times before, and like all the other times their life forces winked out in small numbers. She tutted in annoyance. Corvalix was far too dependent on their prowess, having pushed them to the edge of exhaustion as a substitute for his own battle plans falling apart after the mass teleportation ambush had failed to crack the Equestrian lines open. He was stalled partway up the Coriander Road now, beset on all sides and under the threat of bombardment by those damned catapults the ponies so loved.

The soldier that came to a halt before her saluted, taking a moment to catch his breath. Lines of blood stained his armor and weapon, some still glistening and wet, and though his body was tired he still carried himself as a leader should. She noted a pair of prongs had been severed part way up, the clean cuts indicating a skilled opponent had nearly gotten the best of him -- nearly.

"Hail to you, my most glorious Empress," he said after regaining his composure. The rank marks on his armor denoted him as a Brother-Sergeant of the Exemplars. Little wonder that he had survived this long, then. "I bring word from Brother-General Corvalix. He says it is 'time for you to make yourself known.' He did not clarify further, I'm afraid."

"I see," Elinwynn said evenly. "How utterly unsurprising."

"My Empress?"

"No need to concern yourself, Brother-Sergeant. Your message has been received. You may return to the front at your earliest convenience, but before you do I would ask that you take as many flasks as you can comfortably carry on your person. We cannot have our injured battling their thirst as well as their wounds, now can we? If you should arrive before myself, tell my dear brother I am on my way."

"As you wish, my Empress. Victory shall be upon us this day."

"So it shall."

The Exemplar saluted once more and promptly left for a supply tent. She nodded for the waiting guards to let him pass, then turned to the pair of does behind her who waited in silence. Aalyndria and Athil'loren, her most trusted magii. Their swept back antlers glowed with innate power, slowly pulsing with a green-white aura. Dressed from muzzle to tail in deep blue quinn-plate they waited on her word.

"It would seem we are at the crossroads of history, my most loyal of friends," Elinwynn said. A genuine smile spread across her features in a mixture of excitement and cunning. "My beloved brother appears to have encountered some rather fierce resistance, and though he has not yet given ground he is finding it difficult to gain any in return. I believe he is expecting us to pull his well-worn nethers from the fire. Shall we oblige him?"

"'Well-worn' is putting it lightly, Empress. Knowing your brother, he would sooner fall on his blade than lose that particular bit of his bravado." Aalyndria smirked at the thought. Few could speak on such casual terms to the highest authority in Cervidae -- and soon the entirety of the known world -- and fewer still could keep their heads afterward. The middle-aged twins were fortunate in more ways than one, a fact they were very much aware of.

"Perhaps it would be for the best if he did," Athil'loren added.

"It would certainly calm him down a bit if he was forced to think with his brain instead of his cock half the time."

"He is rather adept with it, at the very least. Wouldn't you agree, sister?"

"I'm beginning to think it might be the only thing he's good with." Aalyndria snorted in amusement. "No offense to the great Brother-General of course, my Empress."

Elinwynn laughed quietly as she inspected her weapons once more. "You are hardly wrong. I swear to the ancestors he's bedded half of deerkind by now. It's a wonder it hasn't fallen off." Her cross-hilted sword and long lance were in perfect condition, cleared of even the slightest scratches by the armorers the night before. How good it would be to feel them effortlessly slide into the hearts of her enemies as if they were not even there. "But let us not concern ourselves with Corvalix's hobbies, hmm? We have more pressing matters to attend to."

"You need simply give the word," Athil'loren said.

"Very good. Athil'loren, I would like you to gather the remainder of the Protectorate to my side. I imagine there shall be less of them now, but such is the cost of war. Make sure they bring their pouches along, too."

"As you wish."

"Aalyndria, you are to choose a small detachment of bucks from the Exemplar reserves. Try to make them..." she searched for the word, "disposable. Supply runners, second line reinforcements -- that sort of thing. We will need a screening force in case the ponies try something untoward."

Aalyndria raised an eyebrow. "Never one to sweeten words, were you?"

"I like to think pragmatism is one of my strong points," Elinwynn answered with an upturned hoof.

"Alright then, you'll have your throwaways. I'll be sure to leave that bit out when I grab them. Anything else?"

"That shall be all for now. Do make haste, my friends, for we depart as soon as we are ready. Let us save Corvalix from the vile Equestrians so that we may move on to more important matters."

***

The gate slammed shut behind them, reverberating across the valley. As the guards barred the entrance Caethil and the others stopped to rest for a short time, leaning against the fortified towers or simply falling to the ground in exhaustion. Mwolan'e's personal bodyguards showed not even the slightest bit of weariness, remaining on their hooves with their eyes constantly searching for any new threats. Mwolan'e gave a wheezing laugh and pulled himself up against the leg of a watch tower.

"To be young again," he said to no one in particular.

"Isn't that the damned truth?" Eradaxis agreed. He reached for a water skin at his side and popped the cork, greedily gulping down mouthfuls before passing it to the others. It gave him time to take in his surroundings; the ponies had begrudgingly let them in once Mwolan'e had identified himself, though they still watched both himself and Caethil closely. It was difficult to blame them for being paranoid about a couple of deer being let into the city. Beyond the heavy gate, down a winding road blocked by row after row of defenses, Canterlot stretched out into the distance in a tiered layout, with entire portions hanging over the edge of the mountain in a display of daring, breathtaking architecture. Waterfalls and hanging gardens caught the eye and carried it along the length and breadth of the vast capital, with colorful buildings and gold-striped spires that were so different from the marble and crystal of Evinwiir, more grand even than the blustery sprawl of Marestopholous. And yet its streets were completely barren, save for the masses of gold and steel-clad soldiers who stared back at him with distrusting eyes. They lined the roads and waited on rooftops while flying ponies darted to and fro with streaks of color trailing behind them.

He could only imagine what the city must have looked like in peace time. He pictured thousands of rainbow-hued Equestrians going about their lives, content with the way things had always been. Now they were huddled in their masses in dark, musty caves waiting for the end of their civilization to come.

His kind had brought ruination to a people that had only wanted peace. There would be no going back to the old ways for the deer after today, one way or another. Perhaps that was for the best.

"Are you all right?" Caethil asked as he passed the water back. Eradaxis put the stopper back in and returned it to his side pouch.

"I should be the one asking you," he answered.

Caethil leaned back against the rough post and shrugged indifferently. "I'm alive," he said simply. "You're right: I need to focus on staying that way. I will not let myself fall so long as my battle brothers go unavenged."

"So you say."

A wounded Imbele wrapped a bandage around his left hind leg. Somewhere along the way he had caught a dart that thankfully missed doing any damage beyond a flesh wound. He brightened as the wounded Watcher hobbled through the gate, still clutching his feathered spear. The others quickly went over to help him.

"I must ask: where do we go now?"

"I'm afraid I hadn't given it much thought. Too busy running for my life," Eradaxis said. "Elder Mwolan'e, you're the only one who's spent any significant time here. What do you think?"

Mwolan'e lifted his hoof in a shrug. "The most obvious choice would be to find Princess Celestia and stay at her side."

"I doubt they'll let us within a thousand paces of her position," Caethil said. "Friends or not, we must face facts and accept that none of us are important enough to be let through the army of soldiers between her and us. Likely that includes you, Elder."

"Be that as it may," Eradaxis interjected, "sitting here on our haunches is not going to solve anything." He lifted himself up and brushed the dirt from his armor. "Good bucks and stallions are dying as we speak, and every moment that passes is another life added to the toll. I do not intend to let their sacrifices mean nothing."

Mwolan'e frowned. "None of us wish such a thing, but what are we to do? Imbele and I are not warriors. Perhaps many years ago, but now..."

"I understand. In all due honesty, it may be best to simply wait here and hope the battle is over soon."

"There are worse places to be than surrounded by trained allies," Imbele said, scratching his chin stubble. The effects of the stone skin potion were almost entirely gone from his body now, with the dark, patchy remainders of magical armor slowly fading to the striped pattern of his coat.

"Indeed so. I will speak with whomever is in charge of this position before I depart, and make it clear to them that you are to be protected as they would the princess herself."

Caethil cocked his head. "What do you mean, 'before you depart'? Is there something I should be aware of?"

"My place is with my bucks. I do them no good standing here for even the slightest of moments. I will find a pair of pegasus ponies to return me to the battle."

"Then I am going with you," Caethil insisted, stepping forward so that he was directly before Eradaxis.

"No, you need to stay here."

"Absolutely not! If you think for even--"

"Listen. Though I trust the Equestrians implicitly, Mwolan'e and Imbele will need someone at their side they can rely upon. Someone who can be a mediator between themselves as the ponies, if need be. They trust you, and for good reason."

Caethil was quiet for a moment, wishing he could come up with a retort that would change Eradaxis' mind. The realization of the meaning behind the Standard-Commander's 'order' struck him like a sword through the heart. "You do not trust me to lead others in combat," he said accusingly, far more of a statement than a question.

"I trust you to lead others, my friend, but not yourself. You are a strong fighter and an adept officer; that much is clear. However, your apparent eagerness to throw your life away is a liability that we cannot afford. I'm sorry. It would be best for everyone if you stay and protect the zebras. I am sure they will be grateful to have someone they know at--"

"You do not get to give me orders, Eradaxis!" Caethil stomped a hoof hard enough to send the knee-blade of his patchwork armor out. It clicked into place as he came practically nose to nose with the taller stag. "As a Brother-Captain of the Evinwiir Guard I am above the likes of a damned honorific such as yourself! What right do you have to order me around?" He waited for an reply, but the silence was infuriating. "Answer me!"

"Whitetail is gone, Caethil. There is no more Evinwiir. Not as we knew it." The pain in Eradaxis' voice was evident. "You know this just as well as I. Rank means nothing now. All that matters is that we survive, and that our bucks survive, so that we may see our nation freed of the chains the damned redtail have bound it with. Your actions have shown me that you are not willing to hold that commitment above all else. I'm sorry."

Eradaxis saluted one last time, then turned and departed for the closest group of guards. "Prove me wrong, Brother-Captain."

***

"Third and fifth centuria, push right!" a senior officer shouted, running alongside the formation with a red and gold flag flying from a saddle mount. A signal horn sounded thrice from the stallion beside him so that none would miss his commands. Hundreds of Legion soldiers from three separate cohorts shouted in acknowledgement, turning as one and advancing with shields up. In their wake they left dozens of dead or dying ponies where they lay, an unfortunate fate that had befallen countless others all along the Equestrian front. It had been a bloody slaughter on both sides, but the line still held.

Victus gritted his red-stained teeth and kept pace with those around him. Like many of his brothers he had been wounded in the fierce melee with the deer. A gash in his shoulder and a weeping stab wound in his foreleg caused burning pain with every step he took, while a too-close arrow had narrowly missed removing his eye. The long cut from his temple down to his cheek had turned his white coat a grisly pink and red. For the time being it remained untreated, a merely superficial wound that was painful but would not slow him. Many others were not so lucky; Windshear and Krastus had both suffered debilitating slashes to the backs of their legs, forcing them to hobble along with one hoof tucked against their sides. Thundershield had lost an ear and was likely blinded in one eye in addition to having part of his right wing severed. Iron Forge, Centavian, Autumn Harvest, Olive Palette -- the list went on and on, and even that was only counting the ponies he personally knew. The remaining Legion formations were a hodgepodge of various cohorts consolidated out of necessity and merged with less experienced reinforcements from the Equestrian Guard. For the time being, at least, it was enough.

A counter-charge came as they were reforming, bringing a mass of unorganized deer in ill-fitting armor. Conscripts from Whitetail, young and inexperienced. The redtail had a fondness for throwing their submissive cousins into the fray to act as meat shields. They posed little threat to the veteran Legion troops, and within minutes they were cut down. The survivors turned and fled, disappearing into the greater Cervidaen army that refused to give an inch of ground.

"Victus!" someone shouted above the swelling of battle. "Victus, over here!"

He turned to see Milites Sicarius waving for his attention. The young soldier pointed to the east, near the tree line that the rear attack had come from. That attack had forced the Equestrians back, but a concerted effort with the Zevrans had allowed them to regain lost ground.

Victus galloped as fast as he could and came to a stop at Sicarius' side. "What is it, Milites?"

"It's her! The deer leader! I saw her!" Sicarius said excitedly.

"The Empress? Are you sure?" Victus craned his neck, scanning the edge of the pine copse. If there was another flanking attack coming...

"I'd know that armor anywhere. She had a squad of those magii with her and several bucks, though I'm not sure of exactly how many. It was a momentary glimpse, but I swear it to be true. This could be our chance to put a stop to this!"

The pain that plagued Victus and his tired body was suddenly gone. Elinwynn could be trying to sneak around the fighting; for what purpose he was not sure, but nothing good could possibly come from it.

"Well spotted, Sicarius." He clapped a hoof against his shoulder. "Rejoin the others, I will relay this to the Legatus."

Sicarius nodded and returned to his unit as Victus took flight with a strong flap of his wings. He skimmed just above the surface, avoiding broken bodies and spear shafts that stuck out of the frozen, bloodied ground like spines on an urchin, searching for the two-toned horizontal crest of the Legion commander. The previously orderly rear lines were in a state of disarray after the massed teleportation attack. Supply runners hurriedly carried medical potions, bundles of pila, and all manner of things to unit commanders at the front, while non-stop teams of pegasi ferried vulnerable apothecaries and injured soldiers to the safety of the city rim far above. Only a small number of healers remained on the ground to treat the most seriously wounded that might not survive the trip.

Finally he spotted the unicorn he was looking for, surrounded by lesser officers in red cloaks. Victus skidded to a stop, nearly stumbling over himself in the rush to bring such important information. Numerous swords were pointed in his direction as the officers stepped back in surprise. Legatus Kyrus eased them down once Victus saluted.

"What is it, Decanus?" the old stallion asked. "You'd better have a damn good reason for interrupting."

"Apologies, sir, but I bring urgent news. Milites Sicarius of the 44th Legion claims he's spotted Empress Elinwynn herself, near the forest."

The others snapped their attention to him as soon as the words left his mouth.

"He's sure of this?" There was a murmur of excitement before Kyrus quieted them down.

"Yes, sir. He says the empress was with several does and an unknown contingent of bucks, likely from the Exemplars if I had to guess."

"How in the nine hells did she manage to get past us?"

"I could only speculate, sir, but given the doe magii were powerful enough to move several hundred deer into the forest unseen--"

"Right, I get the point," Kyrus said. He pointed to several of the officers in turn. "Corbecsus, Spindle Oak, and Timberspite: I want you to grab as many Legionaries as you can without weakening the front. Form up and push into the forest, and do it quickly! This might be our only chance to catch the royal bitch without an entire army at her back."

"Sir!" they answered together.

"Well done, Decanus Victus. And well done to Milites Sicarius. We may just owe him a promotion or two once this is over." Kyrus saluted, his armor marred by blade cuts and spotted with blood. "Let's go cut the head off the snake! Hah-ooh!"

77 - Force of Will

"First and second contubernia, you're up front! Third and fourth, I want you on either flank! Stay alert!" Legatus Kyrus galloped alongside his Legion stallions as they formed up into an impromptu fighting unit. They moved with disciplined but excited urgency, for word had spread quickly that this was their chance to end the war. Empress Elinwynn thought herself cunning in her attempt to bypass the pony front entirely. Very soon, she would find herself at the end of their blades. Whether she chose to surrender or fight to the death would be up to her. For most of the Legion, they hoped it was the latter.

Victus took his position at the forefront of the third squad, joined by the standard bearer and signal stallions to his left. Thirty-three ponies followed immediately behind him in a loose rectangle, the sound of their charging hooves against the frozen ground echoing across the valley. His heart raced to keep his tired body going, giving him a much-needed second wind as the edge of the forest neared ever closer. They passed the mangled corpses of zebras, deer and ponies alike, the remnants of the devastating flanking attack that had only recently been thwarted. It fueled his resolve, pushed him onward, for every moment that passed was another moment closer to vengeance for the fallen.

"Pegasi, you're up! Find that tree-rutting royal bitch and report back!" Kyrus ordered. Victus and nearly a full squad's worth of his brothers took to the air in mid-stride, red cloaks flapping in the wind, while the unicorns and earth ponies peeled away and hugged the edge of the tree line. A three-tiered stack quickly formed, with Victus in the lowest off to one side. He alternated scanning the patchwork evergreens below and keeping an eye out for any spears, arrows or darts that might be coming their way. It seemed that the deer either were either not aware of them or were not in range to strike them down. They passed over treetops and wind-blown snow drifts, slid around rocky outcroppings, all the while scanning for something, anything, that might tell them where the murderous redtail leader had gone.

"Tracks, there!" a Legionary shouted, pointing to a small clearing where a frozen stream cut through the hilly terrain. A fallen tree surrounded by long lines of freshly disturbed snow rested against the eastern banks. There was no doubt about it: the deer had come this way, and recently. "What do you think? Is it them?" the soldier asked.

"It could be," Victus said.

"Could also be from the deer that were hidden here earlier," another added.

"There were too many of them then, this is definitely a smaller group." He turned to a trio of Legionaries that had dropped down low to get a better look. "Spread out and search the immediate area, but do not stray too far. We don't want to get caught out by ourselves if they decide to fight us." The pegasi of the other contubernia had already begun to sweep the area, skimming branches and ducking between tree trunks to find the enemy. Victus remained at treetop level while his squadmates did as he asked. The deer were close now; it was simply a matter of rooting them out like rats from a warren. Every rotted tree, every thicket of branches and packed snow could conceal one of them, just waiting with their crystalline spears and swords, ready to strike. A glint of something caught his eye, different from the glittering snow. A flash of color that melted into the forest as quickly as it had appeared. Victus felt his skin prickle under his coat, and he swiftly circled back to where he had been a mere moment before. He saw no cloven hoofprints, no hint of deer armor, but he was sure--

His breath caught in his throat. There, directly below him and partially obscured by flecked branches, was the unmoving form of Empress Elinwynn. She was staring at him, staring through him, following him with her green eyes that outshone her dark sapphire platemail.

"H-here! HERE!" he shouted, the words heavy on his tongue. He flapped to the side to bring himself out of her view, desperately hoping the others were in range to hear him. Instead he found them, to the last stallion, hovering in place, just as he had been, looking down in shock. The air was filled with their yells, each saying that they had located her, and within seconds their confusion was absolute as they struggled to figure out what was happening. In a fit of panic he ducked low into the trees, right to the spot where he had seen her, and found nothing. How could this be? he thought. She had been right here! Sure as he'd ever been!

The memory of his scouting mission with Gilias surged to the forefront of his mind, bringing with it a terrible chill of realization. He darted back above the canopy.

"Get away! They're wai--"

His words halted as a grey and white earthenware pot the size of his hoof shot into view, so close that he could see the lines of sweeping deertongue that wrapped around it in black lettering. Tiny metallic darts lined the top and bottom, catching the sunlight as they spun for what seemed to be an endless stretch of time. There was a flash of light, a burst of green flames, and the world spun end over end before mercifully fading to nothing.

***

They were, for the briefest of moments, more alive than they'd ever been. Bright motes of magic that flared like candle wicks before being snuffed out with great bursts of light and fury. Nearly at once they disappeared from her mind's eye, some taking longer to flicker out than others, but all had fallen. Those not killed outright thrashed and writhed on the ground, and she took no small satisfaction in watching them struggle against the inevitable. The sound reached her a moment later, a rapid chorus of thundering explosions that elicited a cheer from the redtail all along the front.

With a confident smirk she continued her march toward the battle, passing by the aftermath of the canyon defense and the shattered Equestrian siege weapons, flanked on either side by her magii. Such simple creatures the ponies were, so eager to believe they had a chance at catching her off guard. They had diverted a great deal of their vaunted Legion to find her. A shame, then, that a simple trick of the mind was all it took. To think that she would do something so foolish as to journey off on her own!

"Now then, I believe it's time to save my dear brother from himself," she said to her guards. The red-cloaked unicorns and earth ponies who were so sure of hunting her now rushed into the forest to save their comrades. They would find the Exemplars waiting for them. She did not expect the ponies to lose that particular battle, but so long as they were preoccupied they could kill as many bucks as they pleased. Dead deer already covered the ground before her, brought down in groups as volley fire had torn into them before they had closed into melee range. Some barely resembled deer at all anymore, so broken were their bodies. Their trail led to the wall at the mouth of the valley, and here the toll had become equal for pony and deer alike. She imagined the siege that had taken place, a desperate struggle to gain the smallest of hoofholds. The whitetail had played their part. More than she'd expected of them, in truth. They may have been vastly inferior in every way, but perhaps they had earned some small degree of respect this day.

The front was visible now, a seemingly endless stretch of armored shapes caught in a deafening, continuous cascade of steel and crystal ringing out against one another. The muted browns of the deer, the bright mix of Equestrian coats, the glow of magic from every side...it was a truly wondrous sight to behold. This was what she had worked so long and hard for, the very thing for which she had schemed and lied and murdered her way through the incompetence of her court and her 'loyal' allies who sought to stand in her way. Her labors had finally born fruit, sweeter than any wine. And there, perched high above and clinging to the mountain like a bloated tick, was the last bastion of resistance to her total rule. The time for waiting was over, for within her burned the deepest of desires: to see Celestia kneel before her amidst the ruins of the once great nation of Equestria.

"Aalyndria, Athil'loren, if you would?" The sisters at either side of her flashed a barrier into being, its rippling surface expanding to cover a swath of land around them. The ponies responded quickly, to their meager credit, sending a wave of arrows at her as they realized where she truly was. Such a gesture was token at best, for not a single one made it through. Perhaps, she thought, it was simply to let her know they were aware of her. Good, let them see. She was their inexorable end made flesh.

A team of Exemplars broke off from her side, spreading out to intercept anyone who might be brave or foolish enough to make an attempt on her life, while a smaller force pushed ahead. She could see the ponies looking her way, giving her death glares even as they fought in the trampled, wet soil against the redtail. She casually picked up a spear that had been lodged in the ground, flipping it over to examine the dark red wood and iron grip inlaid with brass. A fine weapon, perfectly balanced, with a long, thin head for punching through armor. Hundreds like it covered the battlefield, stuck into bodies or jutting from the terrain like the spines of a wild quill-boar. With a small bit of her power, no more than a passing thought, really, she lifted a great swathe and hurled them back at the Equestrian formations. Forty, fifty, perhaps more; she did not know, nor did she care enough to watch them lance their way into flesh and bone. The shouts of anguish were confirmation enough.

Corvalix was away from the front line when she came upon him, giving some order or other to an underling. The war for Canterlot had not been kind to him, for he bore the gouged and chipped armor of personal combat. Blood covered much of his neck, chest and forelegs, matting his coat, and bits of gore clung to his sword and knee blades like sap that had hardened on a branch.

"--hind the right flank, and hurry it up! We need that side open and we need it now!" His voice became more clear as she approached, a young officer saluting quickly before running off to carry out Corvalix's task. Her brother brought a small cloth to his face, wiping dirt and blood away as best he could before tossing it to the ground.

"I fear I shall never be clean again," he said once she'd come close enough. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

"I left as soon as I could. Your messenger was quite clear," Elinwynn replied.

"That's the first bit of good news I've heard in some time. I trust the diversion was yours as well?" Corvalix motioned to the forest far behind the continuing melee. Faint sounds could be heard coming from its direction.

"Ponies are such simple-minded things. I saw an opportunity to shift the odds in our favor, and I took it. If those flying rats were cautious of taking to the skies before, they're never going to want to fly again now." She smirked and said, "so much for the 'mighty Legion.'"

"Quite the clever ruse. I'd expect no less." Corvalix swept a hoof along the length of the battle, from the zebras in the west to the Coriander Road nearer to his position. "We're making progress but it's painfully slow. At this rate we'll barely have an army left once we reach the city. The ponies fight tenaciously, and anyone who breaks through quickly finds themselves under siege weapon bombardment from the rim of the city. We can't possibly hope to match their range, even if we could bring our trebuchets closer."

Elinwynn considered her options briefly. "We've no other choice but to make do with what we have. Put every magii you have on shield duty and hope they can stop most of what is thrown at our bucks. We're going to create an opening for them."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Corvalix asked.

"Remember the Court Magistrate?"

A sly grin crept across his face. "How could I forget? What an unfortunate end he met."

"Unfortunate indeed, dearest brother," Elinwynn said. "I trust your magic is still strong?"

"Strong as ever." Corvalix felt his confidence rising once more. It could be exactly the opportunity they needed. He raised his voice to be heard by every sub-commander nearby. "Keep them off us! If any of these ponies get within fifty paces I shall have you all lashed at the end of the day!" A chorus of responses were shouted his way, and he nodded to Elinwynn once he was satisfied. "Whenever you're ready."

Elinwynn closed her eyes and shut out the world around her. The chaos of battle faded until it was but a dull thrum against the ever-increasing gale of the ethereal winds of magic. With them came the sight beyond sight, a mass of life forces locked in combat with one another appearing as a glittering fog. The tips of her tall antlers glowed brightly with power, quickly spreading downward and arcing between prongs with sharp, electric cracks. She felt the same power emanate from her brother an instant later, his magical form almost overwhelmingly luminous, as if staring into the flame of a light house. Had she been able to step outside of her own body and see herself, she would have seen a bright beacon of raw magical prowess that outshone all around her. If Corvalix was a roaring flame, she was the fury of the sun itself.

A wordless connection formed between them. She reached her apex first, and she braced herself against the sharp tingle that traveled up and down her spine with every beat of her heart. A sphere of otherworldly energy coalesced between her antlers, rippling and contorting the air around itself. Corvalix was nearly there, struggling to maintain the last fragment of magic he needed. Just a bit more...

A jolt shot through them, as if their minds were one, and at once they unleashed the spell. The roiling manifestations of their will collapsed in on themselves, leaving a deafening silence for the briefest of moments, before exploding outward in a projected wall of force. Like a shimmering tidal wave it surged forth, tearing up soil and shattering a flight of inbound arrows and spears. Deer and pony alike scrambled to throw themselves out of its ever-widening path, but it was a futile effort; the spell swept over them like a pyroclastic flow, inescapable in its speed and height. All who were caught in its path were hurled into the air and thrown back with bone-shattering force, smashing into trees and stone outcroppings while a spray of boulders, discarded weapons and stone catapult balls rained down across a vast swath of land. It ripped through the front lines and carried all the way to the Coriander Road before slamming into the rock walls and fading from reality in a flash of blue-green light.

A cheer went up all along the deer battle line, and thousands of them took the opportunity to rush through the now open path. In a matter of seconds there was a vast stampede of redtail and whitetail striding past the broken Equestrians with renewed vigor. Catapults on the rim of the city immediately began to pour fire into the mass of glinting bodies, and clouds of arrows rained down from above, but it did nothing to slow the advance. The deer had smelled blood in the water. No amount of swords, arrows or magic would stop them from breaking into Canterlot now.

Back down in the valley, Elinwynn and Corvalix were coming down from their overwhelming experience. Their heads ached as if they'd been drinking for days on end, and their eyes stung from even the slightest hint of light. A dull, throbbing pain coursed from their tails to the base of their antlers. Muscles twitched, and electric shocks jabbed at their bodies. None of it mattered; they had given their bucks the opportunity they needed, and as the siblings fell to their knees they couldn't help but share a smile.

"I am no rush to do that again," Corvalix said, struggling to stay upright. He could not have stood if he wanted.

"Nor I," Elinwynn replied with a small laugh. She was short of breath and utterly drained, but her satisfaction was almost palpable. "Well done, dear brother. Well done indeed."

Aalyndria and Athil'lorin returned to her side, putting their barrier spell back up without hesitation. Elinwynn was pleased to see they had not been in the path of the magical wall of force -- no doubt they had known exactly what was coming. Several other Protectorate magii joined them, adding their own strength to the shield, while a sizable contingent of Exemplars formed a semi-circle of blades to keep the ponies at bay. By now the Equestrian forces were almost completely routed, with only scattered pockets of stubborn resistance near the road and tree line. The pegasi were redoubling their efforts to evacuate as many as they could, but now they faced the full attention of the blood-lusted deer who were intent on running them down. Every available arrow, throwing spear, dagger and dart was hurled skyward. In twos and threes they were brought down, dropping anyone they were carrying to an unfortunate end. Those who survived the fall found themselves quickly surrounded and torn apart by swarming deer. Panicked horn calls tried in vain to reform the lines, but hardly anyone heeded them. The majority of Equestria's surviving military disappeared into the forest, intermixed with their zebra and loyalist whitetail allies.

"Arth'wyyl fahn Cervidaelis!" a senior officer shouted, waving the bloodied banner of the royal family high above his head.

"Cervidaelis hwah!" the masses answered him in turn. Elinwynn lifted a flap on her side pouch, too tired to bother with magic, and withdrew a small crystalline glass bottle filled with dark blue liquid. It sloshed from side to side as she yanked the glass stopper with her teeth.

"To the memory of our mother, and her mother before her. May she smile upon us this day."

"And forever after," Corvalix added, taking the sweet wine after Elinwynn had drank her fill. It relieved his discomfort admirably, and soon he was able to stand on his hooves once more. He helped his sister up, brushed what dirt he could from his filthy armor, and drew his weapon from its scabbard. "One last task, then."

Elinwynn stood tall, already setting her gaze on the city above. "One last task."

78 - Embers in the Night

Praxilus had never wanted to be a soldier. The long days, dangerous work and rigid lifestyle, he'd heard, was the polar opposite of the senate chambers. Within the ancient walls of the governmental rotunda he'd been free to test his mind, not his body, against the others; from new and inexperienced politicians, like himself, to the seasoned veterans and the elderly life-long appointees. Each of them had their own unique way of thinking, their own goals and aspirations to be poked and prodded with a deft hoof. Figure out what made them tick without revealing your own weaknesses -- a task that at times felt seemingly impossible -- and you gained a leg up on the competition. Maneuver your way swiftly and intelligently enough, and even the seat of the chancellery was within reach. "The Greatest Game", as it was known to those who played it, was something that one could spend an entire lifetime perfecting, only to see it all come tumbling down in an instant. That thrill, that danger, was one he had eagerly accepted. It had been a chance to carve his name into the annals of history itself, alongside beloved chancellors like Colis'a'lix the Wizened, Tal'dier of the Midlands, and the great Fenlyys, Chosen of the Ancestors. Every school fawn and warrior buck knew their names, and for a time he had imagined himself joining the ranks of the revered.

The dream was no more. Gone was the quick wit and sharp tongue he had employed against his compatriots, replaced by grueling repetition and a stomach-churning fear of the inevitable that only grew worse with each passing moment. Grunting with exertion, and sweating despite the cold, he lifted another heavy stone ball with the aid of a unicorn who had not bothered to share his name. It bobbed in the air, suspended in twin green and orange auras of magic, then fell heavily into the bucket. A pair of earth ponies yanked on a cord, pulling the taut rope away and letting the arm spring into the air. The catapult bucked on its mounting as the projectile arced up and away, disappearing over the side of the city along with dozens of others. Set, load, release, time and again.

A roar echoed through the valley, tinged with the unmistakable crackle of deer magic. Whatever it was, it had been powerful enough to send an electric shiver down his antlers and through his body. He shuddered to think what surge of ethereal might could cause such a thing. Judging by the unicorns of the catapult teams, to the last wincing in momentary pain, he was not the only one.

The Equestrian officer in charge of his siege weapon, an older stallion he'd come to know as Decimedius through the soldier's brief conversations with junior commanders, galloped to the rim and peered into the valley below. Whatever he'd seen caused him to lift a foreleg in surprise.

"What is happening?" Praxilus asked in heavily accented Equestrian. His grasp of the language had improved considerably thanks to his confinement in Marestopholous, but he still struggled with more uncommon words. Thankfully, Decimedius was a decidedly succinct individual.

"None of your damned business, whitetail," came his reply. Praxilus did not prod further. The stallion's body language said plenty: eyes darting between the valley and the gate, tail flicking up in a common sign of worry, jaw set with uncertainty and determination in equal measure. To Praxilus' trained eye, Decimedius might as well have been wearing a sign announcing his doubts. Something was not going to plan. "Redouble your efforts, all of you! I want to see those ropes charring wood by the time we're done here!"

A signal horn called out, and the ponies all around him went into a frantic, coordinated flurry of motion.

Set, load, release.

***

"Keep moving! Do not stop for the wounded lest you join them!" Brother-General Corvalix urged his soldiers forward through the crash and shudder of a veritable hail of stone, standing tall despite the danger. Every available magii was focused on keeping a barrier in place between the redtail forces charging up the Coriander Road and the murderous bombardment raining from above, though even the most adept among them could not hope to stop everything. For every missile that shattered against magical resistance another would make it through. The projectiles bounced off rock walls and rolled down the mountain path, and the deer could do nothing but push through it.

Elinwynn was still with them, fully committed to the attack now. Her own magii combined with her somewhat weakened abilities had proven to be enough to keep her from immediate harm, and she wordlessly followed behind her brother who was pouring every ounce of power he had into the shield. Within the span of minutes they had charged half way up the road, passing through and taking temporary shelter in the short tunnel that led to the expansive, winding path to Canterlot. It was a cold, bleak climb, but the sight of the city above drove them onward. Soon they would be within its confines, and there the ponies would have no place to run. Elinwynn intended to find Celestia if it meant tearing the entire place apart, brick by brick.

A crowd of deer recoiled as a volley found its way into their midst, spraying everyone and everything around them with blood and viscera. Those not killed outright were hurriedly thrown over the side to clear the path. Better a quick end for them than to suffer and impede those who followed. Corvalix caught a catapult shot with his magic and flung it back with all of his might. It bounced off the underside of the city and fell uselessly into the valley far below.

"Fael'kiis Equestrii!" he swore in frustration. His only consolation was the sight of the city gates nearing ever closer. He was close enough to make out the shadowed forms of ponies manning the ramparts. They were waiting for him, bolt-throwers at the ready. Fine, then. Let them resist. Once the city was his, he would personally cut down every last Equestrian that had taken up arms against him!

***

Princess Celestia stepped onto a balcony overlooking the rear quarter of Canterlot, her first breath of fresh air in what she was sure must have been hours. It was cool, and crisp, and it helped clear her mind in its own small way. The sounds of battle were growing ever closer now, with the thump of catapults and the thundering of thousands of deer who were intent on destroying everything she cared for. She had felt the wall of magic that had so devastated the front lines -- felt it intensely, like shards of ice growing along her spine. Elinwynn and her brother were far more powerful than she had thought, even for a race so gifted in the ways of magic as the deer. That moment had been a stark realization: drastic steps needed to be taken, for the strength and skill of the Equestrian military on its own would not be enough, despite the aid of their zebra and loyalist whitetail allies. Even now reports were coming in of the main battle line shattering like marble, unable to withstand the gaping wound that had been torn in their formations. The leaders of the Guard factions were trying their best to regroup and rally the survivors, but it was difficult at best to communicate with them when they were spread amongst the forest and snow-covered hills. No, she could not stand by and hope for it to resolve itself. Not anymore.

Imperator-General Stonewall approached with a solemn look. He carried a stack of parchment at his side, each stamped with a wax seal from his fellow senior officers. "I've spoken to the others. None of them are particularly thrilled at the prospect of it all...but desperate times, and all that. We've got every pegasus we can scrounge up meeting on the castle grounds as we speak. Once you're ready we'll cease use of the catapults. Torches are already being passed out, though we'll have to settle for a few per squad at most."

"Thank you, Stonewall," Celestia said quietly. The sun was still high in the sky, bright and cheerful, as if it were any other day. The clouds set in place earlier had long since parted, leaving a drifting patchwork that provided naught but passing shade. Basking in its reassuring warmth, she wondered if she had it within her. It would be the greatest test of her abilities since the destruction of Secundus so many years ago that had forever locked away a portion of her magic. Would she have anything left after today? Then again...there wouldn't be an 'after today' if she let Canterlot fall.

"If only Luna were still here," she said. Her heart ached for her sister just as it did the day she was banished. She turned to Stonewall, her armor glinting in the light. "I don't know if I'm doing the right thing. If we don't stop the deer soon after then we're going to be putting our own forces at a disadvantage for the rest of the fight."

Stonewall considered his words. "Princess, if the deer break into the city then we're looking at fighting in the cramped confines of the streets, or even room to room. I'd say that's a pretty damned big disadvantage to begin with. This is our best chance to bring this whole battle to an end, but I will not force you to do something if you do not want to."

The Cervidaens had broken into a battle song, still too distant to be understood, but its very presence announced that they were eager and ready in spite of the violence that was being brought down upon them. Elinwynn was clearly not going to back down, no matter the cost. Perhaps, she thought with a profound sadness, the time had come to take the same stance.

"Very well," she said as resolutely as she could manage. "You may give the order, General Stonewall. I shall begin immediately."

Stonewall saluted her smartly. "As you wish, Princess." He paused, then approached and placed a hoof on her side. "None of us will live through this day without our own scars, be they physical or otherwise, but the important thing is that we will live."

She did not answer him as he galloped back to the command room. With a deep breath of mountain air she steadied herself as best she could, calling upon every last bit of her power, gritting her teeth at the jolt that shot through her and wrapped her long horn in layer upon layer of magic.

"No more," she said determinedly.

***

Higher and higher he climbed, pushing his body harder with each step. The shadowed rim of the city gradually gave way to the rough skyline of silhouetted Equestrian buildings, distant figures flitting from place to place, while the kicking, rocking shapes of siege weapons defiantly thrust into the air like the heads of a hydra before being drawn down again. One last corner, carved into the side of the mountain, was all that stood between Corvalix and his target. The grand final stretch of the Coriander Road, lined with striated grey and white stone, was torn apart in moments as the deer lifted torso-sized tiles from the surface with their magic and held them out in an impromptu and last-ditch attempt to keep any more shots from reaching them. Losses had been high ever since they'd begun their push, especially among the leading whitetail fodder, yet acceptable and expected. Corvalix reassured his bucks that they were close, and encouraged them to charge onward, but it was beginning to reach the point where every loss was being felt.

Then, seemingly all at once, the bombardment stopped. Not a single catapult fired into the massed deer, and for a time there was only the sound of countless hooves pushing forth. Corvalix breathed a sigh of relief and ordered the barrier to be dropped. It would give the magii precious time to recover their strength. He did not know what had caused the ponies to cease their assault, but he was not about to question it. Perhaps their weapons had finally run out of ammunition. He used the break in the action to rally his soldiers for the final push.

"One last trial lies between us and vengeance, my brothers! Crack open the gates and slaughter anyone who resists! For the glory of the Empress!" He waved his sword above him, but as he did so he suddenly became keenly aware of something that was amiss. The shadow of the city seemed to grow, inching its way over the ground and up the cliff face. It was slow, almost imperceptible, and for a moment he thought he was simply imagining things.

The collective confusion of the deer turned to panic as the light of mid-day quickly faded from the sky, rapidly darkening to twilight as the sun straddled the horizon. It plunged from view seconds later, pulling the shroud of night over the land. Corvalix heard the cries of those who had lost their purchase and tumbled over the side, entire squads worth of crystal plate smashing against rock far below, and he yelled for those within range of his voice to slow down and watch their step. Alarmed whispers came from all around him; the sun had vanished, a sure sign of the anger of the ancestors, they said. It was an ill omen, others insisted. No one dared to float a weapon beside them, lest their magic make them targets for the Equestrians that were surely waiting for the first sign of their enemy. The fact that the ponies weren't firing on them was cause for disquiet and trepidation. What were they waiting for?

"Do not fear, soldiers of Ochrourus, for it is naught but Celestia's trickery. Keep your wits about you, and refrain from any magic until I say otherwise," Corvalix said, firmly but quietly. A terrible unease sat in the pit of his stomach. The catapults had been murderous in their effectiveness; ceasing their use and plunging the world into purest shadow served no purpose but to give the deer a reprieve and allow them to move unseen. And unseen they were, for the sudden onset of nightfall had rendered them unable to see more than a few paces in front of them. No fires burned on the Equestrian side, no points of magic glowed from horn tips. "Brother-Sergeant Klithyyl, are you still with us?"

"Yes, sir," a voice answered him.

"Where are our torches? We need them immediately."

"I'm sorry, sir, but we weren't expecting to fight in the dark. They're likely to be further down the path, with the rest of the supply wagons."

Corvalix bristled with annoyance. "Then go back down and get them! And hurry it up!" He heard Klithyyl turn and head back against the mob of soldiers all around him, cursing as he ran into bucks one after another with a clatter of armor and rattling of antlers. "We're going to need them once we get into the city," he said aloud, knowing his sister would still be close behind.

"An amusing parlor trick, nothing more," Elinwynn said, sounding unperturbed by the last few moments. "If this is the best Celestia can do then I doubt we've much to fear. This was her grand plan? To cause us slight inconvenience?" She scoffed in amusement. "How droll. I'd expected at least a beam of scorching light. Perhaps she thinks us likely to stumble into the abyss like so many panicked vermin." A frigid gust blew in from the east, strong enough to cause her to have to lean into it to stay upright. The sudden lack of sunlight had turned the air bitingly cold. Her breath came out in puffs that were quickly blown away by the wind. "We've not much further to go. Be prepared for the ponies to fire upon us once more."

Corvalix turned back to the cadre of officers surrounding him, quickly issuing orders as the deer readied themselves for the penultimate stage of the battle. Before he could finish there was a sound of something passing by just over the road. Many somethings. "Brace!" he yelled, causing the deer to duck down and make themselves as small as they could. He waited for the inevitable crash and thunder, the screams of the dying...yet there were none. The sound intensified overhead, causing confusion but nothing more. It seemed the ponies couldn't hit a damned thing in the dark.

Finding no resistance, he ordered the bucks back up and the steady march to Canterlot continued once more. The gusting winds turned to a steady howl, blowing snow and dirt down from the cliffs above to sting his face. He could just barely make out the shape of the city's entrance ahead, tall arches flanked by ramparts. The flitting sound picked up again, and once more there was no resounding impact of stone on stone. Corvalix found himself bewildered. Perhaps it was the pegasus ponies gathering information on him, or setting up for an attack from above. The flying vermin had been a non-factor for much of the battle; if they were relegated to flailing sneak attacks under cover of night then they were hardly worth considering at all. Let them claim a few bucks, should they so choose. Victory was in sight and growing ever closer. He kept the gates squarely in view, focusing on them like a hunting timberwolf as the wind continued to pick up. He did not mind it. The ponies wouldn't be able to use their ranged weapons in such weather, not with any real efficiency.

"We're almost there, prepare to wield your magic on my order," he said. The message was passed down the line, with each sub-commander having to practically strain himself to be heard over the gale. Those atrocious gates were nearly within range of an arrow's flight, but billowing grit caused it to flicker from view. It grew difficult to see in short order, nearly disappearing entirely. The surrounding area became illuminated for the blink of an eye, taking him and the others by surprise. The bright flash hurt his eyes and made him turn away for a short time. Had that been lightning?

"Above!" someone shouted, pointing to the sky. Fleeting, darting figures skimmed along the craggy mountainside and shot by just out of weapon range.

"Stay yourselves," Corvalix said, but the murmur of doubt had started to spread. There were pegasi everywhere. Hundreds of them, cloaks noisily flapping in the air like waving banners, and more were coming every second.

"It could be a distraction," Elinwynn offered, nearly at a yell, turning her head against the wind. "Don't let them take us for fools! They know what happens if they attempt to send the winged ponies against us! We'll respond if necessary, but getting inside the city is all that matters!"

A distant roar caught Corvalix's ear, like rumbling thunder, but it did not fade. Instead it grew, slowly but steadily, and with it came a terrible wind that he was barely able to stay upright against. He tried to get his second in command's attention to no avail, for the other was fully preoccupied with attempting to secure a stack of spears slung across his back. Another flash, closer than the first, silhouetting a dark form he could not make heads nor tails of. It was followed by another, then several more in rapid succession, and in that moment he felt his heart jump into his throat.

Out of the night came a towering whirlwind, like a living thing made of churning black clouds. It crawled over the mountain slope not five hundred paces ahead, gradually descending towards the road, sucking up and spitting out boulders as if they were mere acorns being cast aside by a petulant fawn. The front of the deer column was beginning to break as the foremost of their number were pulled into the vortex with screams that were lost to the howling wind. Surprise turned to fear as panicked soldiers tried to run back down the path, only to run into those behind. They shoved one another out of the way in desperation, a full-scale retreat now taking place among the whitetail lead and much of the redtail close enough to be caught in the mob. Any loss of a hoof hold quickly resulted in being hurled over the side, be it by the storm or by one's own compatriots. The entire attack was crumbling before Corvalix's very eyes. Smaller, lighter figures were briefly visible at the tornado's edge, winged shadows that were moving at impossible speed.

"No! We have come too far!" Elinwynn stomped her forelegs in anger, hard enough to lock her knee-blades into place. She turned to the magii that surrounded her, half a dozen in total, and grabbed the nearest one by her antlers. "Put an end to this nonsense, and do it now! I will not let the thrice-damned Equestrians deny me my victory!"

"I-I don't know if we can, my Empress!" the doe said apologetically. She glanced at the whirlwind that was coming ever closer, her eyes wide with fear. An entire squad of conscripts was lifted into the air and disappeared into the darkness. "We've never seen--"

"I don't want excuses, I want compliance!" She shoved the doe back and pointed to an officer that was awaiting her command. He was outwardly calm, but his eyes betrayed his true thoughts. "Form a line along the road! Not one step back, Brother-Captain! Anyone who attempts to retreat is a coward and a traitor, and is to be executed on the spot!"

As the soldier carried out her will she flashed her barrier spell into being. It was quickly reinforced by the magii, and though it did little to stop the wind it was at least sufficient to keep her safe from the debris that was swirling around with increasing intensity. Rocks, discarded weapons and other detritus skipped off the shield with bright flashes of magic. No catapult could possibly hope to hit her in this wind. Many others seemed to agree as crackling domes sparked to life all along the line. Several of them were snuffed just as quickly as the wind took hold of more and more soldiers and tore them away. Any semblance of an organized retreat was soon gone, with a crushing wave of bodies now pouring down the path. An entire formation of Exemplars held steady, pushing back and ignoring the cries of those who sought refuge. Weapons lifted from scabbards and were thrust into the masses to little effect.

"Elinwynn, this is madness! We must fall back! We can regroup in the valley!" Corvalix pleaded. Arrows and spears were being hurled at the storm in desperation. An occasional pegasus could be seen plummeting away, shot out from the funnel like a falling star with a short-lived trail of muted color following in its wake. It did little to slow the inexorable advance of Equestria's greatest defense. "Listen to me! We can't stay here!"

She whipped around and shoved a hoof against his chest plate, her face mere inches from his. A ferocity burned within her eyes unlike any he had ever seen, like a rabid animal thrashing at the end of its chain. "I am not abandoning this position! This is the only chance we will ever have at defeating that fucking self-righteous whore spawn, and no one, not even you, will deny me what is rightfully mine!"

She spun back around and yanked open a satchel that hung at the closest magii's side. Bandages and healing potions poured out and were lost in the wind. "Empress?" the confused doe asked, not daring to move. Elinwynn did not answer her. Instead she produced a single glass vial, holding it before her in a cloud of magic. The potion within swirled and sparkled with pink and purple hues, vibrantly bright against the unnatural darkness of premature night. She stared at it, stared into it, for several pounding beats of her heart. The cork stopper was yanked from the top, and before anyone knew what was happening she pressed the glass to her lips and drank the concoction down in long gulps. The doe panicked, trying to pull the potion away despite the consequences. "Empress, no! You mustn't!" She succeeded only in drawing away the empty vial, a terrified expression plain for all to see.

Corvalix felt a chill come over him, worse than any wind or blowing snow. He grabbed his sister by the shoulders and lifted her off her forelegs in sudden panic. "What have you done?!"

The fire in her glare had not lessened. With abject horror he saw the black tendrils of dark magic seep into the whites of her eyes, turning her vibrant emerald irises a ruddy greenish brown like a dying forest. "I have done what you will not: whatever it takes."

With a passing thought she shoved him back, sending him roughly into a large boulder. He struggled to stand again, unable to find purchase against the wind of the encroaching storm. Ignoring him, Elinwynn found the object of her desire in the distance, nearly half way back down the road, in the form of an entire supply wagon loaded with emerald flame and explosive pots. Two bucks were hitched to it, each attempting to keep themselves upright and holding a tightly wrapped tarp in place over the precious cargo. Magic winked in and out of existence as they split their concentration.

Elinwynn levitated them and the cart with a shout of frustration, ignoring their attempts to detach themselves from the harnesses, and dragged them through the air. She struggled with the immense rush of power that now coursed through her veins, her magic whipping furiously with ethereal bolts of energy that caused the cart to tumble and dip, a corner of the tarp splitting open and dumping several earthenware containers onto unfortunate deer below. Plumes of bright green fire burst forth and were fanned by the fierce winds while those in the cart's path tried to dart out of the way. Still focused entirely on her spell, Elinwynn shook off Corvalix's concerned demands that she cease whatever it was she was planning. Soon he would see why she was the only one fit to rule Cervidae, for it was her will that moved nations! If she could not dispel the storm with magic, then she would cut it off at its source!

It did not take much longer for Corvalix to catch on to what she was doing. He pushed his way past her while the cart floated further away, grabbing the attention of the senior Exemplar who was trying to hold back a mob of Cervidaen regulars. "Let these bucks through, Brother-Colonel!"

"I'm sorry sir," the middle-aged stag replied, "but Empress Elinwynn has ordered--"

"I know what she ordered, and I'm countermanding it! If you or your soldiers slay one more buck then I will personally see to it that your command is a short one! Do you understand?" He pointed his sword at the whirlwind that was growing yet closer. "Either you move, or we lose this fight!"

A brief internal struggle played out in the officer's eyes before he relented. "As you wish, sir." He yelled to the line of elites staggered to his right. "Break formation! We are to regroup further down the road!" The tide of bodies broke through immediately in a full-scale retreat. It was not a second too soon.

The cart full of Cervidae's most fearsome weapon disappeared into the swirling clouds, instantly shattering the pots and disgorging their incendiary contents with a flash of heat and a roaring explosion that bulged from the funnel before being pulled back in. A shock wave blasted by and green flames lit the night, rapidly growing from the storm's center until the entire thing was naught but a pillar of fire. In the blink of an eye the storm expanded nearly twice over. The unfortunate bucks at the front of the column were overtaken, swallowed wholly and lost to the hellish thing it had become. It slowed to a near stop, spitting bright embers from all directions.

No, not embers, Corvalix realized, pegasi.

There were so many of them, as if someone had knocked over a bee hive. They shot away from the inferno, trailing smoke and otherworldly fire from their bodies. Some managed to stop themselves from burning, yet many more twisted and screamed as they were consumed from muzzle to tail, coated entirely in the thick mixture that made the weapon so effective and hard to extinguish. They fell from the sky like shooting stars. Some tumbled to the ground and lay still. Others disappeared over the side of the cliff, lighting the rough stone face all the way to the ground.

Corvalix looked in horror to his sister. She stood unmoving, staring at the scene before her in a way that chilled him to the core. She did not express concern, anger or sadness. No words of triumph, no grand declarations. Instead she simply watched, her face a mask of uncaring determination. Her antlers glowed brightly, joined soon after by the magii around her, and together they created a wall of magic that shoved the fiery cyclone back up the path. Without any pegasi to strengthen it the storm began to lose its ferocity, but it did not have to last long. It swept over the ground, leaving burning swirls in its wake, and engulfed Canterlot's gate.

"Advance," Elinwynn said, turning her head to face Corvalix with the same horrible emptiness. "Now."

79 - Reach

The realm of the damned had come to Canterlot, a towering inferno of bright green flames and swirling, desiccated bodies that descended upon the city's gates in the cold blackness of premature night. It roiled and thrashed like an agonized beast, leaving burning trails of viscous fluid that whipped in the fierce winds. The very same creation of the collective efforts of hundreds of pegasi, and Equestria's final effort to throw the deer back from whence they came, was now tearing apart the last line of defense between the waiting deer armies and the crown jewel of ponykind. Panicked soldiers galloped away as fast as their legs could carry them, fighting against the unbearably hot gale that pulled one after another to a screaming demise. The fortified ramparts and battlements of Canterlot's twin gates, once thought indestructible by all but the most persistent siege, were melted as easily as copper thrust into a blacksmith's forge while stone blocks were charred black and ripped from the high wall.

Mwolan'e ran for his life. Imbele and Caethil followed while helping the wounded Zingeli Watcher who struggled to hobble along on three legs, practically being carried by the others. Together they rushed through the city streets, though they did not know to where. It was almost impossibly dark out, making navigation through the crowded streets a desperate affair lit only by the eerie, almost ethereal light of the out of control storm and the occasional torch. Equestrian soldiers passed by in groups, some without any weapons or shields. A unicorn stallion with a burning mane and tail fell to the ground with a tortured scream. He was quickly set upon by several others who hurriedly poured water over him and stomped out the flames, dragging him away to momentary safety around the corner and out of view.

Pulling away far enough to be out of the worst of the scorching wind, Mwolan'e could now hear Imbele speaking prayers of safety and deliverance to the spirits. What had they done for Zevran this day? he thought bitterly. It made him ashamed to believe such a thing, yet the loss of so many lives, both zebra and otherwise, was a weight that he found almost unbearable. It was not the spirits that would decide his fate, but his own will to live.

And so he ran, ignoring his many pains, with the others keeping pace at his side. A heavy chunk of masonry smashed into a shop not fifty paces from him, spraying the area with broken pottery and splinters of wood. Small fires burned on its surface. He did not wait to see if they would spread.

"Turn left up ahead!" he shouted over his shoulder. Brief glimpses of building signs or distinct silhouettes called to mind his previous visits during peace time, and though he could not claim to know the area as well as a local he had enough of an idea about where he was to hopefully guide them to temporary shelter. The castle was likely to be shut off from the outside world, even for himself, a harsh but understandable security measure. Heading west would bring them to the wealthy rim of the city, while east was the trade district eventually leading to nothing but sheer walls of rock. The only place to go, then, was north, to the military heart of Canterlot. If any place in the city was going to be safe, he hoped, it would be there.

***

Praxilus was transfixed by horror and awe. The maelstrom before him was beautiful and terrible to behold as it carved a path through the city, roaring as if it were yet another living thing twisted by the redtail for their destructive purposes. Entire homes and shops were reduced to molten slag, while any pony or deer unfortunate enough to be pulled in seemed to simply cease to exist. Whatever desperate plans the Equestrians had seen fit for the whirlwind had surely been dashed by the mad empress and her brother.

"Get back! Forget the damn catapults!" the senior officer ordered from behind, guiding the stampede of escaping soldiers past him, emphasized by a sudden and resounding cracking of stone under his hooves. Portions of the overhanging rim were losing their strength, and the entire section Praxilus stood on rattled and shuddered. He hurried to follow the rest of his catapult team, caring not that they had left without a word in his direction, using the light of scattered torches and the ever-present emerald glow of the firestorm to guide his way in the darkness. "Hurry it up, whitetail! Move like you give a damn about something!" The ground quaked hard enough to send him to his knees. Bits of burning rubble and shattered stone rained down around him while he scrabbled to stand upright once more, and he looked up to see several ponies yelling for him to run. He swore in deertongue at the absurdity of it; did they not think he was trying to do just that? Their silhouettes fled just as he got back to his hooves, and only then did he realize why they had been urging him so.

A chunk of solid stone, nearly as large as an entire watch tower, came tumbling out of the night sky trailing smoke and flame. It smashed into the overhang with a deafening thud, hard enough to cause the whole area to wobble visibly, and sent a shower of boulders and debris his way. Praxilus hurriedly willed a barrier into being, but his knowledge of the spell was limited and served only to stop the smaller pieces from reaching him. A pair of jagged stones larger than his head tumbled end over end with alarming speed, forcing him to throw himself to the ground to avoid being crushed . One safely passed by, but the other caught the tips of his antlers and sent him rolling back to slam into a low wall. Dazed and bleeding, he pushed himself up to one knee. The world seemed to be spinning and blurring around him while one thought pervaded his weary mind: escape. No one was coming back for him, either because they thought him dead, or simply because they did not care what happened to just another damned deer.

The ground jolted and dropped several inches, instilling an unspeakable sense of panic and dread within him. He had to get away, and fast. Forcing himself to focus despite his aching head and pained body, he sent his thoughts to the safety of untouched buildings far down the road. He could see them, just barely, as thatched roofs and squared-off walls. He imagined the cold stone path under his hooves, the heat of the wind blowing from the east, and felt himself standing there. It would take but a second for the teleportation to work, if only he could--

The platform shook violently, breaking his concentration so suddenly that the magical backlash burst from his now partially broken antlers in a shock of ethereal lightning that dissipated into the air. His pounding head felt like it had been crushed between a pair of anvils, and as he yelled out in pain the entirety of the area split away in a rumble of crumbling earth and stone, buckling under its own weight. Praxilus reached out desperately for the edge, as though he could pull himself to safety if he only wanted it enough. Canterlot's southern platform, the defensive heart of the city, fell away in mere seconds, taking homes, shops and countless soldiers with it.

Unseen by those he had hoped to call his allies, nothing but a speck against the premature night, Praxilus tumbled into the darkness.

***

Her plan had failed, and failed miserably. What was supposed to be a decisive strike against the deer had turned into a complete route for the defenders of Canterlot. The combined efforts of hundreds of pegasi, a whirlwind that would appear from darkest night to sweep the deer back into the valley below, was now destroying all in its path. It appeared as a grotesquely colorful thing through the stained glass windows of the castle's main entrance, flickering with lightning and flaring as it consumed more fuel to prolong its unstable vortex. Outside, beyond the tall gates of the main grounds, teams of unicorns struggled to counteract the redtails' magic and shove the storm away. More brave pegasi, some still suffering from painful and disfiguring burns, spun around the storm as close as they dared in the hopes of dispelling it.
Princess Celestia turned away from the terrible scene, turned away so that her soldiers would not see the tears that ran down her face. Now they would be forced to fight without the light of day, for lowering the sun so quickly had drained her to the point of exhaustion. She wanted to lie down and sleep, to pretend that the entire war had been a nightmare she could wake herself from.

"Princess?" A familiar voice asked. Celestia wiped her eyes and forced herself to keep a regal bearing, if only to show that she could.

"Yes, Imperator-General?" Her voice was unsteady, and she knew it to be so, but Stonewall was too much of a gentlestallion, gruff though he might have been at times, to bring up such a thing.

"I bring word of new developments. The senior leadership believes this position will not be sustainable given the current state of the battle, especially with the whirlwind still burning through much of the southern reach. We're confident we can stop it from advancing further, but it will take several more moments before we're rid of it completely. That will give the deer plenty of time to flood in behind it."

"What of our forces?" she asked, concern dripping from every word.

"Scattered, as you might expect," Stonewall said. Even for one as confident as the old earth pony before her, she could see the struggle within his eyes. He had a habit of tapping his front left hoof when he was nervous, a tic she'd picked up on many years ago but never mentioned to him. It clicked against the tile as he spoke. "We're doing our best to reform into coherent battle lines, but between the breaking of the valley front and the firestorm we're unable to put up a stalwart defense except in pockets spread throughout the city. We need to face facts and accept that the castle is too large to adequately defend from the full might of the deer under the changed circumstances. Too many entrances, not enough escape routes. To that end, we believe the best course of action is to retreat further north to the armory. It's fortified and can only be accessed by the deer from one direction, and the streets narrow into a path we can easily force them onto. Their numbers won't matter quite so much at that point, and that's where we're strongest. There is also a hidden sky wagon launching ramp we can use to get you out of the city, should such a thing prove--"

"I will not run," Celestia retorted, more harshly than she'd intended.

Stonewall breathed in deeply. It was plain to see that he was not fond of her stubbornness that had taken root since her meeting with Elinwynn. "With all due respect, we can't risk losing you, Princess," he said calmly. "If nothing else, you can outrun and outlive any threat that might preside over Equestria for decades, centuries even, until the time is right to reclaim it. I know such a thought is not easy to consider, but..." He cleared his throat to break the resulting silence. "We'll handle these things as they come. For now, we await your order. Give the word and we'll make haste to the north."

Celestia considered her choices carefully, feeling the weight of thousands of lives bearing down on her. She felt almost detached from the reality of it all, stressed to the breaking point from worry. The twin statues of Queen Aurora and King Argo Navis stood defiantly in the center of the hall, together forming a beautiful fountain that had inspired wonder in so many over the years. What would they have done? Her father had always been a steadfast leader, sometimes to the point of being unyielding when it would have served him better to compromise, but he'd always had her mother there to be a voice of reason and gentle persuasion. Perhaps, Celestia thought, there was one final lesson to be learned from them.

"How many active cohorts do we have in the area?" she asked as confidently as she could manage.

"At current count: three. Two Equestrian Guard units, mostly earth ponies, with another mixed unit of Equestrian Guard and Legion soldiers watching over a small group of Whitetail Loyalist and Zevran fighters we managed to save from the valley before the line broke. With the Royal Guard and Praetorians guarding the castle proper we're looking at maybe three and a half cohorts in total. Everyone else is scattered throughout the city or stuck in the forest below."

"I see. Theoretically, how long could we hold this position?"

Stonewall shrugged. "That depends on whether we can stop the firestorm. Provided we do so, and if we encircle the perimeter of the castle grounds, we could inflict heavy losses on the deer -- but as I said, we cannot hold forever. Do you have something in mind?"

"I do," Celestia answered. "We would be remiss to not use these grounds to our fullest ability; the walls are strong and the deer must fight uphill to reach the doors. What if we were to hold here with part of our forces, thus allowing the remainder to reach the armory and prepare their defenses? Would that not give us an advantage in the long run?"

"It might, certainly. It might also lead to us being overrun in short order by superior numbers. It's a risk, but if that is your will then I will see to it."

She did not hesitate to answer. "Do it. Tell the senior cadre to reconvene and prepare the fortifications to the north. How they split the cohorts is up to them, but make it explicitly clear that all unaccounted for soldiers should be sent to reinforce the armory once they are located. I am perfectly aware that we are taking a risk, but it is alarmingly obvious that magic and trickery is not going to be Cervidae's undoing. We need wood and steel, and the bodies to lift them. I will do all that I can to keep the deer away until such time that the defenses are properly readied." Strong, but flexible. Decisive, but reasonable. She hoped her parents would have approved. "You have your orders, Imperator-General."

Stonewall saluted. "As you wish, Princess. Shall I head to the armory with the others?"

A small smirk managed to tug at the corner of her mouth. "I know better than to send you away while your stallions fight. Your place is here, my friend."

Stonewall gave a short, sharp laugh in his gravelly voice. "I knew there was a reason I stuck around this long. Just remember that you're the one who will have to answer to my wife when she asks why I'm covered in blood again." He pounded his hoof against his armored chest. "Right! Time to tell those crotchety old bastards to get moving. I'll return shortly, Princess. Praetoria victor, and all that."

Let's hope this works, she could almost hear him think aloud. He was far too loyal and brash to say such a thing after receiving his orders, and he likely knew that she could sense his doubt, but he'd asked for a plan and had received one in turn. She had no intention of letting this one fail as well.

There was a thunderous crash mere moments later, causing the Praetorians to jump up in alarm. The ground began to tremble, shaking the windows and spilling water from the fountain. Then came a sound like anavalanche, fierce and growing ever louder, until all at once it stopped. Several of her guards asked aloud what had just happened, though none of them could find an answer.

A figure darted by the nearest window, landing roughly near the fortified doors. It gestured to the south, spoke quickly, then departed just as fast as it had arrived. The doors swung open a heartbeat later, and a soldier in the magically enhanced armor of Luna's former protectors approached her at a gallop. He stopped before her and saluted, his unnaturally cat-like eyes wide as he struggled to get the message out.

"What is it?" Celestia asked.

"Forgive the interruption, Your Grace, but I-I bring word from the...from the Legion scouts. It's the southern district. It's...it's gone. All of it."

80 - Reunion

Praxilus flailed helplessly, plummeting from the broken city and into the rapidly approaching sea of dark forest below. Bright sparks of magic trailed from his antlers as he tried in vain to will himself back to solid ground with a desperate teleportation, cursing and pleading with tears in his eyes for the ancestors to hear his prayers. Panic overcame him as he looked around for something, anything to grab onto, some rocky outcropping or ancient escarpment he could use to save himself, but the sheer face of the mountain may as well have been on the other side of the world. He screamed in fear and in hopelessness, his voice lost to the roaring wind, one of hundreds who were falling through the freezing night to smash into the broken rubble of Canterlot's former southern platform, while the forest was slammed and pulverized by massive chunks of shaped stone that threw up violent eruptions of snow and soil.

He could not bear to watch the ground rush up at him, and so he shut his eyes and prayed he would feel no pain at the end.

***

The entire mountain seemed to shake under his hooves. Cold air rushed up from below, accompanied by a sound like a thunderclap that rolled and rolled with an uncountable number of smaller, thudding impacts. Corvalix watched in nearly slack-jawed shock, bordering on terror, as an entire section of Canterlot simply ceased to be. What remained behind was a scattered, broken series of marble and limestone railings, edges and small segments of sheared-off housing blocks that clung to the mountainside in a half-melted mass of burning buildings. It was terrible and glorious to behold, destruction unseen since the explosion that had claimed much of Evinwiir -- only this time, it was his sister's doing.

She stood beside him in silence, jaw set and eyes locked on the ruins she had created. The foul potion had taken its hold and muddied her bright green eyes with vines of dark magic, while the arcing power around her antlers flitted and crackled. Here, among the shocked exclamations of her soldiers who beheld the dying throes of the firestorm, she had given herself fully to her ambitions. An aura of incorporeal wisps of black magic radiated from her body, darker even than the night itself, sending a chill down Corvalix's spine. The others must have felt it as well, for when he looked out upon his bucks he saw thousands staring back. Low murmurs spread among the ranks. Nobody wanted to move for fear of drawing Elinwynn's wrath.

Swallowing back a lump of uncertainty in his throat, Corvalix raised his voice. "Your Empress has provided you with the greatest of advantages, soldiers of Ochrourus! Do not squander it! Reform your lines and continue your advance, for the time of Equestrian oppression is at an end!"

The crowd remained still. In the distance, at the edge of the front line, healers worked as quickly as possible to ease the suffering of those who had been the most badly burned. The agonized screams of the wounded and dying were the only sounds to be heard above the hot, roaring wind of the towering hellfire that silhouetted the royal siblings against the mangled city.

"Quickly, now! We must carry on while the damned ponies are on the back hoof! Do not let our sacrifices be in vain, lest we--"

"MOVE."

The solitary word boomed in his ears, and he did not so much hear it as he felt it. Elinwynn took a step forward, planting her lance into the ground. The message was clear: there would be no hesitation now. Do as commanded, or face the fury of the Empress. The bucks immediately scrambled to get into position, nearly tripping over one another while the officers jumped to action.

Corvalix wondered what must have been going through the minds of the does of the Imperial Protectorate who were now taking cautious steps back. They had not objected further, and he doubted they would if they valued their lives, but there was no mistaking the fear that they were trying so hard to suppress. Their beloved Empress had become something else. Something terrible. For any other deer it would have been a one-way descent into uncontrolled power, a suicidal act taken at only the most desperate of times. Small sips of the so-called glimmer potion had been sufficient to accomplish their goals at the retaking of Quillyyn Keep without losing themselves, but to drink an entire vial...

He pushed the thought away. Perhaps Elinwynn would be strong enough, both in mind and in body, to keep its effects from consuming her -- or, he thought dourly, she could willingly give in. She had already embraced the power it gave her.
"The whirlwind is nearly gone now," she said in the closest thing to a normal voice he'd heard yet. It was coarse like gravel, yet recognizably her own. He hoped it would not grow worse.

"Your quick thinking was quite effective at breaching their defenses," Corvalix said, attempting to sound even and controlled. "An entire section of the city lost to the wilds? We could not have asked for a better outcome." He pointed to the end of the broken path. " There is sufficient space along the eastern side of the mountain to allow passage for our soldiers. I expect we will meet stiff resistance at that point, but it will be a pittance compared to what it could have been. Well done, my sister. You are as sharp as ever."

"Spare me your empty platitudes, Corvalix," Elinwynn said in turn. Already the redtail army was on the march once more, visibly shaken but committed. "The Equestrians nearly brought our war of righteous vengeance to an end in one fell swoop. No matter how many times you encounter the pegasi you continue to underestimate them, and we have suffered yet more losses as a result. I did what was necessary." She yanked the long lance from the rocky soil and slid it back into the ring holsters at her side, then began to follow behind the deer formations.

Corvalix hesitated to join her, sticking his foreleg out to stop her. "Elinwynn. Look at me." When she would not, he grabbed her by the helm and forced her to. "Look at me!" The whites of her eyes were growing cloudy, like a rolling fog before a storm, and the emerald gaze that had captivated so many was all but gone. A faint stream of translucent darkness rose from the corners of her eyes like candle smoke. He struggled to find the words for the turmoil in his heart, and in defeat he pulled back from his beloved sister.

"We have a city to take," Elinwynn said, her voice an emotionless monotone. The magii shared a moment of silent regret with him before he hefted his sword in a flash of magic and carried onward.

***

The wind rushed by Praxilus' ears, bitterly cold, as he awaited his death. In the distance he could hear the final pleas of the ponies who were sharing in his fate. At least, he thought morbidly, he would not die alone.

Something slammed into him from the side, roughly sending him tumbling end over end. Taken by surprise his eyes shot open, stinging and blurred, searching frantically as he spun around. An armor-clad figure swooped below him, sticking out a pair of forelegs to latch onto his own. Steel plates scraped against his skin and drew thin lines of blood, and he heard a swear come from the figure as it tried again, this time catching firm hold of his left foreleg and winter tunic. Only now did he notice the wings that were frantically flapping against the fall, and for a brief moment a spark of hope appeared within him. The pegasus grunted with exertion, yelling in Equestrian with words that Praxilus could not make out, struggling to stop their fall yet making little progress. An armored hoof slipped from his tunic and sent them off balance, and he grabbed onto the pony as tightly as he could. The cliff sides were giving way to looming tree tops, their dead branches like skeletal fingers reaching skyward and rattling in the wind, while the tips of evergreens waited to spear them in a messy, painful end.

The pegasus yelled in pain, and Praxilus jerked upward as their fall slowed enough to allow the uncontrolled tumble to become a rapid, sweeping glide. His heart dropped. They were still moving far too quickly. He covered his head with his forelegs, prayed that the pony knew what it was doing, and braced himself. Together they skimmed the tops of trees, knocking loose sprays of snow and pine needles, before slamming into the canopy with a crack of snapping branches. Sharp pains slashed into him from all sides, and he felt himself knocked loose from his savior's grasp when his antlers caught a tree limb, sending him twisting to the ground below.

***

Slowly, painfully, Praxilus opened his eyes. It was so...quiet. A gently blowing breeze rustled the branches above and blew flakes of snow against his face. Somewhere behind him a fire popped and sizzled. Everything hurt at once, a dull, throbbing pain that pulsed through him with every beat of his heart. At last it dawned on him, slowly and almost dream-like.

I'm alive.

He was lying in a crumpled heap on his side, half-way into a snow drift at the base of a tall pine tree. A thin trail of his own blood was smeared across its protruding roots. He followed the crimson path up to the canopy, where it was lost among the shattered branches, bringing about the rapid memories of his last seconds of consciousness. He'd fallen free of the pony, too afraid to cry out, and somewhere along the way he'd hit his head against a particularly thick limb. As if it were waiting for that very moment his head started to pound like hammer blows against the left side of his face and down to his neck. The flesh above his eye was swollen to the point of restricting his view. He wanted to reach up and touch it, but found he could not muster the strength to do so. Perhaps if he were to just lie here, for a moment or two, and rest...

He shook off the encroaching warmth. No, he would not await his death here, not after all he'd survived. Gritting his teeth and ignoring the pain as best he could, he forced himself to move, to live. A sharp jolt radiated out from his ribs every time he breathed too deeply. He dragged himself out of the snow, rolling onto his stomach and pulling himself up to his knees atop a chunk of broken masonry. The far end of it, perhaps ten paces away, was still burning a sickly green. It was not, he quickly realized, the only one of its kind; entire areas of forest had been flattened, creating gaping holes where trees and stonework jutted out at odd angles like the bones of some enormous, long-dead beast.

On shaking legs he stood up, one hoof at a time, and checked himself for wounds. A gash had been torn into his skin just beside his left eye, and though it was bleeding and painful it was not life-threatening. He counted himself lucky that he had not lost his sight. Another long, shallow cut stretched from his right shoulder down to his chest, with a bruised and spotted scrape trailing to his haunches. Torn fabric, pine needles and red-tinted snow obscured it in places. Weakly and with great effort he pulled a flask of water from a pouch that had been strapped to his side, using his hooves to pop the cork and wash the debris from his wound as best he could. Simple bandages were all that he had on him; they would have to do. With a stronger understanding of healing magic, he thought morosely, he could--

Praxilus reached for his antlers in a sudden fit of panic, expecting to find them in shambles. It was with no small relief that he felt them still where they should be, albeit with a pair of smaller prongs snapped off at their ends. Considering his violent tumble, it could have been far worse.

He looked up through the hole in the trees at the city above, transfixed by the destruction that had befallen it. The damned firestorm, at least, had been reduced to almost nothing, but it was the least of Equestria's problems now. A huge swath of Canterlot's majestic architecture was completely gone, as if a dragon had devoured it in a single bite, leaving jagged bits of stone and earth jutting from the edges. Was there even enough left for the redtail to march into the city? He tried to focus on the small bits along the mountainside, where the Coriander Road would be, but it was hard to do so without his vision blurring.

A sharp cough somewhere nearby made him jump in surprise. He scanned the area with his heart racing, feeling along his left foreleg for the dagger that was no longer there. If it was a redtail, or one of the traitor whitetail, he would have no way to defend himself. But what if it wasn't a deer? What if it was--

"Help," pleaded a weak voice. "Help..."

Praxilus hobbled toward the sound, favoring his right foreleg that ached with every step. It might have been broken, but the numbing throb that pervaded his every muscle made it hard to tell. He could still walk at the very least, albeit slowly.

"Hello?" he called out. His voice was raspy and dry. "Is someone there?"

An armored hoof stuck out from behind a rock. "Please...I can't move..."

Ignoring his aching body he moved as quickly as he could, rushing to the pony's side. The steel and gold plate was marred by numerous gouges and blackened by some unknown means, and small trickles of blood marred the pony's coat and matted wings. Praxilus saw that he was trapped under the boulder, right hind leg pinned in place, and with as much strength as he could draw forth he shoved the boulder away, using every bit of magic available to him. The stone crashed onto its side as Praxilus dragged the pony away, setting him against a fallen tree trunk despite the shouts and swears of misery. He collapsed next to the pegasus, utterly exhausted.

"Th...thank you, whitetail," the pony said between sharp inhales.

Praxilus nodded. "Of course. You're the one who saved me, aren't you?"

The soldier laughed weakly. "I suppose I am. Not one of my finer landings." He looked over. "I suppose we're even now."

Praxilus snorted as he let his head fall against the tree. "I suppose we are. Thank you, Equestrian. I owe you my life." Something about the pony was so familiar. He couldn't put his hoof on it, but...

He tilted his head as he studied the pegasus beside him. Could it be...?

"The valley. Your unit found me, after I defected. I...I think you were the one who spoke to me."

Victus cocked an eyebrow at him. "Wait...you're that senator, right? The survivor. Well I'll be damned. Gods, what are you doing here?"

"The same thing I've always tried to do: help my people. You?"

"Same."

Victus passed a flask over, and Praxilus took it with a wordless nod. Sweet, smooth alcohol flowed down his throat and warmed him from inside. Sighing with relief, he gave it back and stuck out a hoof.

"Praxilus, former Senator of Evinwiir and loyalist of the true Whitetail."

The pony bumped it in return. "Victus. Victus Krosus, of the Legion. Good to meet you again, Praxilus."

82 - Leverage

The spectacle of war was growing tiresome. Flashing blades and crashing shields began to blur together in an endless grind of bodies with no clear advantage going to either side. Celestia's paltry little barrier, obnoxiously bright though it may have been, was not the decisive advantage she had no doubt hoped it would be. All she had done was delay the inevitable outcome for slightly longer. If that was her idea of a victory, then Elinwynn would let her have it. Such was the petty nature of the ponies, so insufferable and stubborn in their defiance. Time and again they had cast themselves at Cervidae's armies, attempting to put an end to the advance with their useless gimmicks. Ice arrows, pegasus attacks, teleportation, even control of the weather itself; all had proven to be naught but desperation incarnate. How sad their lives must be, the Empress thought, to throw them away for such negligible gains.

And then there was Corvalix. He looked to her from below -- a fitting place for one whose ego was far in excess of his capabilities -- as if expecting her to provide the answers for him. His initial success in pushing up to the castle had been soundly negated by Equestrian resistance, leaving him little to show for the cost of hundreds of lives. She acknowledged him as one might acknowledge a mewling kitten, with equal parts pity and derision. Save me, she could almost hear him pleading.

"Elinwynn! Something must be done if we are to confront Celestia in good time!" He had to raise his voice to a shout to be heard over the clamor of combat. "We have the numbers but the Equestrian defenses are solid, and the zebras are making a mess of our flanks! If you've another one of your cunning plans, now is the time!"

There it was: the admission of weakness couched in half-hearted platitudes. She knew he feared her, feared what she had 'become' after consuming the magical concoction. He believed her a monster, as cold and unfeeling as a hydra tearing apart its prey. He did not understand, could not understand. Her sight, her senses, her very thoughts had been altered, and she welcomed the power that came with it. No, she did not hate him. She merely pitied him.

"Do you hear me, sister? We must--"

"Be quiet now, Corvalix," she said firmly, already reaching out with her mind, past the formation of honor guards, past the waning life forces of the dying, probing the surrounding area for anything that might stand out. The light barrier was even more blinding in her sight beyond sight, akin to staring into the sun, and it blocked her from pushing deeper into the castle. She could still faintly detect Celestia's presence, for there was no hiding the raw power within her, but without a way to locate her it was pointless to waste any more effort.

Something drew her attention away, a barely perceptible twinge of ethereal energy. It had come from somewhere beyond the battlegrounds. More soldiers? Unlikely. Another creation of magic and nature? Without flights of pegasi she doubted such was the case. There was definitely something there, and if the ponies thought it worth hiding then it was certainly worth investigating. Scouts had reported little in the way of resistance past Canterlot Castle's grounds, as was expected. Perhaps a moment of time would pay dividends.

"I am going to need fifty of your Exemplars to go with me. Find them, and do it quickly."

He gave her a questioning tilt of his head and approached closer. "Have you discovered something I am unaware of? Because I would not advise going off on your own."

"I do not know, not for certain," she answered, "but I intend to find out. Stay here, and continue to lead our forces until I send word for you."

Corvalix was plainly unconvinced. "I do hope you know what you're doing. Even with your magii and my soldiers it cannot be guaranteed that you are not walking into some sort of Equestrian trap."

"If it is a trap then I commend them for showing some degree of subtlety for once in their miserable existences," Elinwynn said dismissively, already floating the intricate, shimmering lance from her side. "I will be fine, dear brother. Can you say the same?"

Flanked by the Imperial Protectorate does and soon joined by a full company of Exemplars she set off into the darkness of Canterlot's ravaged streets. Bits of burning debris and chunks of destroyed buildings littered the area. Experienced stags led the way with burning torches, on alert for any disturbance. Their hoofsteps echoed around them as the sounds of battle grew ever quieter. They passed by abandoned business fronts and shop carts, heading east towards the mountain side that the city clung to.

"You feel it too, don't you?" Elinwynn asked, looking over her shoulder to Aalyndria and Athil'loren, the adept twins who never left her side. Aalyndria nodded.

"I do. There's strong magic at work here, but its source eludes me. Did you notice it all the way from the castle? Because I only noticed its presence a few moments ago."

"The Equestrians are quite skillful when they wish to be, but they do not know the extent of redtail prowess. We need only find whatever it is they are hiding." She came to a sudden stop, sticking out her hoof. "Wait." Her skin tingled and made her thin coat stand on end under her armor. "It is close now. Exemplars, you will search every corner of every building within one hundred paces, no further. Tear this area apart if you must, but find me what I seek." It was so close she could almost taste it. There could be no doubt: Celestia had gone to great pains to secret away something of value. "Let us see what the good princess believes is worth hiding."

***

Fortune had not been kind to the pegasi of the Legion. What had started as a moderately sized yet capable scouting party, created to hunt down the supposed trail of Empress Elinwynn, had turned out to be a disaster. Explosive traps had claimed the lives of at least twenty of their number, more than half of the impromptu squad, and with every passing moment the survivors were finding more bloodied bodies. Tracking down their brothers proved to be an arduous task, for the retreating Equestrian military had rushed by in the aftermath of what Victus had discovered was a strong magical attack by the royal siblings from Cervidae.

The remnants of the Equestrian Guard and their allies were somewhere beyond the first layer of the forest now, no doubt regaining their bearings. Given the destruction that had befallen the city above, the crumbled remnants of which now littered the forest, most would likely think it impossible to find victory in the face of such overwhelming power.

Victus' more immediate concern was locating as many of the surviving pegasi as he could. With Praxilus' help he had found seven others, all wounded to varying degrees of severity. Those who were able to walk followed behind him or to either side, sifting through debris and around fallen evergreens for signs of life, while the more severely injured had been placed on impromptu clumps of cloud and had to be pushed along.

"I still can't believe the deer brought down an entire reach. And with a whirlwind of fire, no less! You're sure that column of flame wasn't an illusion?" Spring Step asked. Praxilus looked at him sympathetically as he clutched his side. Somehow he'd avoided breaking anything when he and Victus had crashed through the treetops, but everything hurt to the point where it might as well have been broken.

"No illusion could inflict the horrors I saw with my own eyes. Every time I think we have the upper hoof, the damned redtail prove me wrong." He wanted to say that it felt like a lost cause, and that they should all just find the closest boat to Zevran. There had to be something the ponies could do to bring the light of inspiration back to his heart, and he hoped he would survive long enough to experience it, yet his thoughts were as dark and cold as the night itself.

"We're wasting our time," Tumbledown said in an irritated tone. Part of his head was wrapped in bandages, and one wing had been half useless from metallic spikes that still riddled his armor. Like many others, he showed signs of burns along his body and much of his face was blackened from whatever infernal concoction the deer had filled their explosive pots with. "We're not going to find anyone else out here. Our only company is the dead."

"We found you, didn't we?" Pontius retorted. He slowly flapped his way forward, doing his best to keep Tumbledown's cloud from dissipating as he moved it with the group.

"No, a tree-rutting whitetail found me. Never would have thought a deer would be my savior, but here I am." He looked up with his one good eye at Praxilus, who was weighed down with scavenged medical supplies taken from those who would no longer need them. "You've got some stones, prong-head. If I'd just survived a fall from the top of a mountain I'd have run off and never looked back. I guess Victus knows a thing or two about contributing after all if he managed to stop the both of you from decorating the trees around here with your guts like a Hearth's Warming ribbon."

Victus shrugged. "I was merely trying to save one life. The gods saw fit to reunite myself and Praxilus, it would seem. Fate is often strange."

"No stranger than those damn redtail inserting their magical cocks into our minds and fucking with our perception. I don't think the princess herself could have done such a thing if she tried."

"That's because Celestia isn't a lying, murderous, manipulative whore like the empress," Praxilus said. The very thought of her made him sick.

"I take it there's no love lost for one of your own kind, then," Tumbledown laughed.

They searched fruitlessly for some time, calling out for anyone who might have survived. It became increasingly clear that they had been the lucky few, and soon they had given up entirely. Even the optimistic Pontius had fallen silent, the young Legionary mourning the loss of a friend he'd known since training. No time for a proper burial just yet, the others had told him. He'd covered the broken form of his brother-in-arms with his cloak, jabbed his sword into the ground next to him, and topped it with his helm before departing.

Victus gathered the remnants of the Legion scouting party in a clearing that had been created when a chunk of the city had fallen. Trees all around had been snapped and rendered into little more than firewood, intermixed with limestone and marble, a large chunk of which jutted out of the ground at a sharp angle. Someone said it looked like it used to be part of a market road. To Victus, it was little more than crushed stone.

"I believe it is time to accept that we are all that remains, my brothers. Your efforts have been admirable, but our duty is not yet done this day. Equestria still fights for her very existence, even as we speak, and we owe it to the fallen to carry on. Furthermore, Tumbledown and Shorn Leaf require apothecary aid, and we could all use some bandaging and medicinal care at the very least.

"With that in mind, we will fly around the western rim of the city until we're clear of any potential redtail patrols. Pontius and Simmer Spice will be on cloud duty for the wounded. Spring Step, Noctis: you'll help me carry the good senator. The rest of you are to fly ahead of us to scout out any trouble. The armory should be prepared by now, and with any luck we'll find our respective centuria there. You're all welcome to join me should it prove difficult to locate your units, of course.

"We need to find out the situation as it currently stands and decide a course of action from there. I know things seem bleak, but so long as the princess lives, so does Equestria, and so shall we." He turned to Praxilus. "I'm sorry to have to take you back into the sky so soon, my friend, but I see no alternative."

Praxilus winced, both in pain and at the thought of another potential plummet. "I'll just...keep my eyes closed. I've had enough looking down at my impending demise for one lifetime."

Together with his fellow Legionaries Victus hefted Praxilus onto a carry litter, secured by a pair of straps to keep him from falling, and on his signal they departed the forest for the darkened expanses of Canterlot.

***

Imperator-General Stonewall could only watch as the battle moved ever closer to the castle. Through the gaps in the window boards he could see squad-sized groups of deer breaking off from the main battle line. They were beginning to push west, around the watch towers and angled spike barricades, where they would try to fit their ladder segments together to get over the main wall and bypass the Equestrian front. A few had managed to drop into the courtyard closest to the secondary main hall entrance, but were quickly dispatched by the waiting Lunar Praetorians that had stationed themselves on that side.

"We might have to start considering getting you away from here, Princess," Stonewall said. Small groups of guards had been situated between the castle's expansive foyer and the kitchen service entrance near the throne room. The sky carriage launching area, unfortunately, was too exposed to be a viable means of escape when the castle was being intently watched, and the emergency escape tunnel under the dais was obviously known to Elinwynn. She would doubtlessly have soldiers waiting there.

A trio of redtail appeared outside the boarded main doors, each levitating a burlap sack at their sides. They ran for the entrance, getting within an arrow's flight of their objective before being brought down by pila and a pegasus rapid response team. The sacks crashed to the ground and were immediately lifted up and hurled away by shimmering unicorn magic, exploding into bright green fireballs only seconds later. Flaming liquid splashed to the ground below, setting several buildings alight and adding to the surreal glow of a burning Canterlot.

Stonewall seemed satisfied and concerned at the result in equal measure. "I expected they might try something like this. Corvalix has little regard for his bucks and is far too fond of that emerald flame nonsense. The buffer zone should keep them out for now. Hopefully." He stepped over to the boarded-up window, craning his neck or stooping low to get as much of a view of the situation as he could. Tapping his hoof on the ground he muttered something to himself, then turned back.

"I don't like it," he said once he'd rejoined Celestia's personal contubernium. "Even with the light barrier and the layered defenses the redtail are getting close enough to threaten the castle itself, albeit in small numbers. If they keep advancing at this rate we'll be overrun in an hour, perhaps two if we're lucky."

"I understand," Celestia said. She'd been watching the battle unfold with nervous anticipation ever since the deer had first arrived, frequently flying up to the large stained glass window at the precipice of the hall's arched facade for a better view. It was little more than shattered, jagged flakes of color now. Redtail throwing spears, arrows and darts littered the reinforcing ironbark planks like thorns on a prickle tree. "How long will it take us to reach the armory?" she asked.

"Just under half an hour at a gallop, a little more at a trot," Stonewall answered. "Depends on the situation. If need be we can have the pegasi fly escort for you while the rest of us act as a delaying force. It would certainly be faster."

"It would also mean leaving you all behind. I would greatly prefer not to do that."

"Of course. I'm merely stating an option for you to consider. As it stands we can begin the evacuation now, or we can wait and see how things play out. Your choice."

At the side entrance, illuminated by torch light, several badly wounded ponies were being dragged inside by their cloaks. Trails of blood followed in their path, and they moaned and clutched their wounds as apothecaries frantically tried to keep them alive. One of them, an older stallion in Royal Guard colors, insisted that he was fine even as the bloodied remains of his left foreleg dangled by thin strands of skin and muscle. He had to be physically restrained by several Praetorians before he finally passed out from shock.

The number of wounded was growing at a rapid pace, so much so that the stock rooms behind the stairways had to be opened and used as impromptu triage centers. Barrels of grain and vegetables were tossed out as dirty, battered soldiers carried the most seriously wounded inside. Some were screaming or begging, while others could barely move enough to utter prayers for themselves and those they cared for.

"I can not simply stand here and watch them suffer," Celestia said. She stood as straight and tall as she could, reaching deep within herself to draw upon her centuries of regal upbringing. "I must see to my stallions. If I can bring them a small degree of comfort in their final moments, then I shall do so. Equestria is nothing without them." Her mane and tail flowed behind her with renewed vigor as she headed for the closest group of wounded lying on the floor. "I will remain here until there is no other choice, but if the time comes that we must evacuate then I will heed your word. I promise you. I ask only that you give me some time with them first."

Stonewall watched approach the side of a badly injured unicorn, her head bowed low to speak with him and her hoof on his shoulder. He could barely move his head to look at her, his breaths halting and ragged. The poor stallion wasn't long for this world.

"Marrus, Remedius, Portly," he ordered quietly, "keep an eye on her, but try to keep a respectful distance."

"Sir," they answered together. Stonewall waited until he was sure things were under control before continuing.

"I likely don't need to say this, but I'm a stubborn old son of a bitch so I'm going to anyway: this is not an ideal defensive position, and I believe we would be better served by leaving this place immediately. I take it I'm not the only one who thinks so." The nods and quiet replies he received were more than enough confirmation.

"The princess is thinking with her heart. While such a thing is commendable it is also tactically unsound. I've considered convincing her to abandon this palace, but...just take a look." Celestia had her head bowed low, grasping another soldier's hoof with her foreleg as his life drained from his body in a pool of dark red. "The gods themselves couldn't move her if they tried. I believe her when she says she will do as we say, but the situation is going to become dire before that happens. When the time inevitably comes that the deer are at our doorstep, and they will be sooner or later, we will have to gallop out of here without stopping.

"Krosus, Rimeberry, Bear and Aspen, you'll be at the front. If anyone is in our way, redtail or otherwise, you're to remove them as quickly as possible. I don't care what uniform they wear or what they say, everyone between us and the armory who tries to halt us is to be considered the enemy. Got it? There will be no stopping, and that goes for all of you. If you're wounded and can't catch up..."

"We understand," Polaris said.

"Right, then. In the mean time we need to make sure these barricades will hold. Split off into groups of three and check with the other Praetorian units. See if they need anything -- bandages, pila, what-have-you. But at the first sign of trouble I want everyone back here like someone just lit your ass on fire. Or lit it on fire again in your case, Rimeberry." The longer-serving among them laughed quietly, a much-needed bit of relief. "Let's go, Praetorians. I'm not getting any damn younger here."

***

It was, she had to admit, quite an impressive feat of magical prowess. For some time her bucks had sifted through the eastern reach, pulling down walls and upending anything that might conceal something of value, their efforts proving genuine yet fruitless...until now.

Elinwynn marveled at the intricacy of the illusion spell before her. Not only was it perfectly camouflaged with the rough stone wall around it, but the unicorns had somehow found a way to give it texture and resistance. She pushed a hoof against the magical barrier, feeling its cold and rocky facade that refused to give way to even the hardest of prodding jabs. Had she been a mere doe, or even a magii, she might never have found it at all. It was fortunate, then, that she was beyond such lesser deer now.

"It is truly a wonder," she said just loud enough to let the twins hear her. Her armored hoof scraped against the wall. "Just imagine the skill -- the understanding of the very nature of the aetherworld -- that it took to produce such a thing. A perfect facsimile of the surrounding area. Fascinating. Our magii have a great deal to learn, it would seem. I'm sure you are both curious to understand it in detail."

"It's certainly more impressive than the deceptions the whitetail are fond of," Athil'loren said.

"Yes, perhaps we can extract such knowledge from the ponies responsible...provided they yet live," Aalyndria added.

Elinwynn smirked at the idea. "I suppose the ponies do have a redeeming value or two. Shame they didn't use their talents to more meaningful ends." She turned around to face her escorts who stood in a protective crescent around her. They had been dirtied by crumbling stone and still retained the opaque splashes of prior combat. "Whatever is beyond this wall is something that Princess Celestia considers important enough to spend a great deal of time and effort on. It is a sealed chest containing Equestria's greatest treasure...and we, my dear subjects, shall smash the lock and see what is inside."

Backing away from the barrier she began to gather magic at the tips of her antlers, letting the power spiral down into her body until she could feel the glow within. It pulsed and folded in upon itself, winding into an ever greater font for arcane forces. Soon she could feel the pull of Aalyndria and Athil'loren's presence, like flickering light houses against the blinding beacon of her own might. A wordless bond formed between them, and as a singular mind they unleashed their magic in a focused, rolling wave of crackling green and white that slowly spread across the barrier. Arcing and popping it rippled outward, like waves in a pond, as it dug ever deeper into the illusion and dispelled it in wisps of multicolored, sparkling fog.

A predatory grin spread across Elinwynn's face, genuine and self-assured for the first time since stepping hoof upon the wretched pony city.

"My, my. So that's what all the fuss was about. How very typical of their kind." She looked over her shoulder and smiled once more. "I do believe we've just found a way to end this silly little conflict."

Hundreds of ponies met her unyielding gaze as she turned back, like frightened fawns cowering from a manticore. Row after row they stretched into a cavernous tunnel system, illuminated by torches and firefly lanterns. How many waited beyond? Thousands? She would soon find out. She bowed before them with a foreleg across her chest, raw energy still snapping from prong to prong like cracks of lightning.

"Good evening, my newest citizens of the Cervidaen Hegemony. I believe you are all aware of who I am, yes?" Several ponies in armor came rushing to the forefront of the crowd, quickly forming a wall of shields and spears. Elinwynn dismissed them entirely. "Then I shan't waste time with pithy introductions. Instead, it would please me greatly if you would all come with me -- and I suggest doing so without making a scene, else there shall be rather unfortunate consequences."

She waved a foreleg out to the side, as if to guide them along. "Come. Your empress has much to do."

83 - Means to an End

Caethil moved with absolute determination. As his frantic steps echoed off the cold stone he wondered if he was too late. The castle could have already fallen, surrounded by the bodies of countless stallions and bucks, a victorious pair of siblings standing over the ashes of what used to be Equestria. He pushed the thought away. If he was to be one more thrown onto the pile, then so be it. The others may have been content to sit in the armory and wait for the deer to roll over them, but he was not. He'd hesitated once before, and it had cost him dearly. No more.

Behind him, keeping pace with ease, a contingent of fifty-three Whitetail Loyalists scanned the roof tops and alcoves for any sign of deer presence. Caethil considered it a small miracle that so many were still willing to follow him after the rumors of what had happened to the soldiers under his command once Corvalix had found them. His name had been dragged through the mud, publicly scorned as a traitor and a coward by the puppet Chancellor and his so-called Whitetail government, used by the senior-most officers of the Capital Guard as an example of what could happen if one did not believe in the nebulous 'cause' of deerkind. In truth he did not care what happened to any who would follow such cowards. Let them be cast into the deepest, coldest depths of the beyond! He thought only of watching Corvalix beg for his life. If others were willing to take up arms for his cause then he would welcome them as brothers.

"Brother-Sergeant Pinnidaal, take point! Find us somewhere to make ourselves useful!" Caethil ordered. A small hill rose above the expansive, palace-like mansions of the financial district, topped with a gazebo of painted oak and thin curtains. A low fence surrounded it on two sides, its gate left swinging in the chill wind. Perhaps it used to be someone's private escape, a slice of serenity in lot after lot of marble statues and opulent gardens. It would serve their purposes now.
He held out his hoof, giving his soldiers a moment to rest as Pinnidaal surveyed the area. The premature onset of night should have made his task difficult, but something brilliant was shining in the distance. There could be no doubt as to where the battle's front lines were.

"Looks like it's a relatively focused fight," Pinnidaal said. "We're still too far to see in any real detail, but I believe the zebras are making up the bulk of the western defenses. The ponies must be situated around the castle itself. Some sort of barrier spell out there too, looks like pony magic."

"And the redtail?" Caethil asked.

"Like ants on a sweet roll. Damned lot of them swarming in from all sides. Climbing the walls, even." Pinnidaal jumped back down. "Up to you where we go, Brother-Captain."

Caethil considered his options. Part of him wanted to find the quickest route to the back lines and make an attempt on the lives of Corvalix and his murderous sister, but they would no-doubt be under heavy guard. Force of will alone wouldn't help his small band smash through Exemplars and Imperial Protectorate magii, nevermind confronting the ruling siblings themselves.

"We'll support the zebras for now. If we can help them roll up the western flank then we may have a clear shot at disrupting the bulk of the redtail formation in the center. But wait for my signal before making yourselves known; we will hopefully be attacking from an ambush position, and I intend to make the most of it. Understood?"

The others nodded, triangular neck banners flapping behind them.

"Then let us be off. Keep your wits about you, and call out any officers you see. Perhaps we can strike the redtail a wounding blow or two. Sana'liisi Whyytalia!"

"Whyytalia hwah!"

***

"--up right this instant, Krosus! Get up!"

Tercio groggily came to, his vision swimming and his ears ringing incessantly. He was lying on his side, arm over his head, covered in debris. Blood trickled down the side of his face and dripped onto his chest plate and pauldron. As his sight focused on the flickering torch light he realized that the entire foyer was filled with grey dust that whipped around with the suddenly frigid air. Chunks of stone, shards of colored glass and discarded weapons littered the room, while the silhouettes of several ponies lie still on the ground with twisted limbs and crushed bones.

"What happened? Where...where is..." His eyes fluttered as he struggled to stay awake. Stonewall stomped a hoof and shook him roughly.

"Don't you fucking pass out on me again, Praetorian! You do not have my permission to die yet, do you hear me?"

Tercio managed a weak reply and tried to push himself up, but Stonewall was already dragging him to the nearest column. He found himself propped up in a sitting position seconds later. A pleading wail came from somewhere further into the room.

"Just...stay here until you're not on death's door, Krosus." With that, Stonewall galloped away. A sudden coughing fit managed to bring Tercio back from the brink of unconsciousness, but in doing so made him acutely aware of the coarse, foul taste on his tongue. He reached for his flask and soon spat out a mouthful of water and dust, then gulped down the rest until he was sated. The memory of what had happened came back in bits and pieces; the cries of the wounded as he was dragging a pair of earth ponies inside, then a shouted warning from a pegasus look-out above them. There had been a loud crash, followed by numerous others before anyone knew what was going on. Something had flown at him hard and fast enough to send him sprawling to the floor. He reached up and felt the dent in his helm, still littered with flecks of debris. He'd been lucky, and exceptionally so. The pools of blood seeping out from under the chunks of black, jagged rock to either side of him marked the ends of those who had simply been standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The deer must have finally brought up their strongest siege weapons. Everyone knew it would happen eventually, and pegasus strike teams had done their best to keep the crews preoccupied, but it seemed they could not stop the bombardment indefinitely. The gaping holes in the castle entrance's nearest wall spoke to the sheer destructive power of the redtail weapons.

"Come on, push!" Strained voices sounded from behind him. Tercio forced himself up to one knee, only now realizing that his lower legs were slick with small streams of blood. His skin had been punctured or gashed in several places, and he quickly looked himself over; thankfully none were life threatening. He pulled stone splinters out with a curse and tossed them aside, then stood up on unsteady legs. A bright point of light bounced and moved ahead, and as he hobbled closer he saw the unicorn responsible. It was a welcome bit of fortune.

"Polaris!" Tercio called out. Now he could see several others standing together, pushing against a boulder so large that it took him by surprise. It must have easily been twice his size. Just how powerful were the redtail weapons to toss such a thing?

Polaris turned at the sound of his name, giving a visible sigh of relief as he saw Tercio approaching. "Thank the gods, I'd feared we'd lost you as well. Hurry, we could use your aid."

Tercio wasted no time in doing as he was asked. He found a spot in the middle of the group and pushed on a three-count. Rimeberry, Aspen Tenor, Portly and Thunderburst shoved as hard as they could to either side of him, while Polaris used every bit of his magical ability to try and heft the stone even a little. It budged ever so slightly under their combined effort and scraped along the tile for a few inches before they had to rest.

"Damn thing landed right in the middle of us," Rimeberry said between heavy breaths. "Saw Bear and Diomodes get out of the way, back into the hallway area, but the brothers are trapped on the other side of this thing with the princess. Haven't heard from them yet."

The deer weren't waiting for them to recover. The sounds of battle were far closer now, and Tercio saw several of the Lunar Praetorians take off at high speed with swords clutched in their mouths and wing blades at the ready. If they'd gotten involved, then there was likely only a single line of defense left. The bulk of the Praetorian Guard was beginning to form a defensive shield wall at every point of entrance, pila tucked against their sides as supervising officers ordered them where they were needed.

"We can't stay here any longer," Polaris said. "We need to get the princess out of here and back to the armory as soon as possible. We don't know how long it will take for the deer to load another volley."

"Agreed," Tercio said.

"We have to get this damned thing moved first," Thunderburst added. "So push!"

Once more the stone trembled and dragged just a bit, this time far enough to open a small gap between it and the store room beyond where the wounded had been under Celestia's care before the bombardment had started.

"Princess! Princess Celestia, are you there?!" Polaris called out. The moans of gravely injured soldiers answered him, and he felt his heart jump into his throat in a moment of panic. "Princess!"

A brilliant light flashed into being, then subsided to a yellow glow, casting moving shadows across what little of the room he could see. "Polaris? I'm fine, but Marrus and Remedius are hurt!" The light grew closer, until Celestia was partially visible. "What happened? Is everyone okay?" she asked with concern heavy on every word. Small splotches of blood marred her breast collar, and her flowing mane was speckled with dust and pieces of rock.

"Most of us," Tercio answered. "Bear and Diomodes haven't shown up yet, but Polaris thinks they managed to avoid the assault. Stonewall is busy with the other Praetorian units. They weren't so fortunate." He felt a sudden jolt of sorrow as he imagined the missile landing slightly to any other direction. It could have taken him in an instant, or worse yet taken her. He swallowed it down and stuck his hand through the gap, managing to get it nearly to his elbow. "I'm glad you're alright." He felt her armored foreleg clasp it against her chest. The world seemed to stop, if only for a heartbeat, before he had to return to bracing himself for another shove.

"We need to get these wounded out of here, and quickly," Celestia said. "Some may still make it if we hurry."

"What of Marrus and Remedius?" Aspen Tenor asked.

"Conscious but unable to move on their own. I think Marrus has some broken ribs, possibly a broken wing as well. Remedius took a sliver of stone to the knee of his right hind leg and his face is peppered with cuts. He's been trying to bandage his brother up since the impact. Please, you have to help them."

Agonizing minutes passed as they struggled to unblock the store room. Another round of relieved, exhausted cheers went up as Bear and Diomodes returned looking no worse off; they'd been cut off from the hallway, they explained, by an overturned brazier that had threatened to set fire to a side room. They joined the others in their efforts, and soon there was enough space to allow the wounded brothers to be brought to a waiting apothecary.

Celestia spoke with Remedius for a short time, then briefly lifted herself above the chaos to survey the destruction that had been visited upon her family's centuries-old home. An entire section of the front wall was gone, along with the circular stained glass window that had been an iconic part of Canterlot Castle's visage for just as long. Where once there was beauty, now only a rough hole marred by blood met the gaze of any who looked upon it. In truth the princess did not mourn the damage, for walls and windows could always be rebuilt, but the lives of those who--

"Get down!" a pegasus guard shouted, hurling himself into the path of a veritable cloud of arrows and darts that sprang up from the darkness beyond the front lines. He slammed into Celestia's armored waist hard enough to send her crashing to the ground with a surprised shout. At nearly the same time a barrier snapped into place over the hole in the wall and caught countless missiles, but the sheer volume of fire meant that not all were stopped. Those that managed to pass through slammed down on the tile like hail stones, skittering and bouncing at all angles while the Praetorians threw themselves out of harm's way.

Once the all clear had been given Celestia untangled herself from the stallions she'd crashed into, finding an impromptu wall of shields separating her from where the rain of arrows had landed. The throbbing pain along her sides was the least of her concerns, and she quickly set about making sure no one else had been hurt. She silently cursed herself; what a stupid idea, silhouetting herself for the deer to make an attempt on her life! Fate had been merciful, it seemed, for there did not seem to be anyone lying still with arrow hafts sticking out from their bodies, and for that she was infinitely thankful.

"Sincerest apologies, Princess, but I did not see an alternative. I did not harm you, did I?" The Praetorian responsible for saving her bowed deeply before her. Gouges in his armor showed where he'd narrowly escaped an early demise.

"I am fine, I assure you," Celestia answered sincerely. "I am the one who should apologize, Centurion. I was reckless in my actions." She bowed in turn with a hoof over her chest. "Thank you. Now go, your stallions need you, my friend."

The Praetorian saluted smartly and returned to his unit just as Stonewall came trotting over. He grumbled something under his breath about the mess the foyer had become and took his place at Celestia's side. "Princess, with all due respect, perhaps you--"

"I know, Stonewall," she stopped him with a tone that was harsher than she'd intended. "I am well aware of what a foolish move that was on my part. I was not thinking clearly."

The old stallion cocked an eyebrow. "I...wasn't going to put it that way, but so long as we're on the same page I'll hold my tongue." He kicked the broken shaft of an arrow out of his path, its crystalline head scraping along the ground before coming to a rest near a support column. "I think now would be a good time to reconsider staying here. Covering two entrances is a difficult prospect at the best of times, but with the entire front wall practically torn asunder this position has become untenable. The redtail clearly have control of the area around the castle, and the longer we stay here the more likely this place is to come down on top of us."

The roar of combat made it difficult to argue. Loathe as she was to abandon her position, Celestia knew that she'd pushed her luck to its breaking point already. Staying any longer would only lead to more death, and possibly her own capture.

"Unfortunately I can see no other option," she said. "Order the Praetorian Guard to push out until we've cleared the length of the castle. We'll need time to get the redtail off our scent. Polaris, make sure Marrus and Remedius are in apothecary care before we leave, and tell the medicae officers to bring the wounded to the armory as soon as they can. The rest of you are to stick close to me."

"Yes, Princess," they said together.

"Thank you. Stonewall, do you have anything further to add before our departure?"

"Not at the moment. We'll keep an eye out and--"

"General Stonewall, sir!" an officer from another unit came galloping over and skidding to a halt.

"What is it, Prandius?" Stonewall asked impatiently.

"It's the redtail, sir. They've ceased their advance and are flying a flag of parley."

Stonewall looked to the princess disbelievingly. "Apologies, Princess. I'll be just a moment." He could hardly believe what he'd heard, and soon he'd pushed past the soldier to get a view from the side entrance. "That can't be, why would they possibly give up their momentum?"

"I couldn't begin to say, sir," Prandius said as he followed Stonewall. "They've erected a magical barrier and are formed up behind a rough shield wall."

Stonewall took a cautious couple of steps through the gap in the wall, emerging onto the grass where several Lunar Praetorians took up positions around him. They were bloodied to the last, but showed no signs of exhaustion. Beyond the spiked barricades and arrow-riddled scorpio towers there was indeed a long line of deer who were standing in place in a rough approximation of a testudo formation. Missiles continued to rain down on them from afar, and though the occasional deer fell they made no attempt to retaliate or retreat. A semi-circle of dead ponies and scattered zebras marked where several squads had attempted to push forward but had faced overwhelming odds.

A large white and blue flag fluttered above the middle of the deer army and gently bobbed in place, suspended in a magical field. What were the deer up to? Stonewall intended to find out. It was only a short trot to the commander's post, but the field was so filled with detritus that it was difficult to simply move from place to place.

A senior officer from the Royal Guard was speaking with a subordinate as he approached. Neither of them had been immune to the melee that had claimed so many, and both had bandages soaked in healing potions wrapped around their forelegs. The younger of the two was the first to notice Stonewall, and salutes were rendered his way in short order before the subordinate galloped away yelling for the archers and scorpio teams to cease fire.

"Talk to me, Sanguine Citrus," Stonewall said. The command post was little more than a lean-to set up against the far side of a wooden barricade, reinforced with spare infantry shields lashed to the posts with rope. Discarded bandages littered the ground and a trio of melting candles on a small table provided the only immediate light.

Sanguine Citrus, one of the Royal Guard's most experienced soldiers, gave an upturned hoof shrug. "Either I've lost my mind or the deer have finally backed off. Difficult to see a thing in this premature night. Damned if I know what they're up to, sir." The airy, refined tincture in his voice spoke to a wealthy upbringing.

"Bring me up to speed; anything strange happen before or during the retreat?" Stonewall asked.

"We were bracing for another push. The redtail had just landed their first and so far only volley of siege stone, which caused quite the mess."

"I'm aware," Stonewall said flatly, still covered in bits of debris.

"Yes, I would imagine so, sir. They took out one of our arrow towers and our last remaining ballista, not to mention the poor bastards operating it. At least it was a quick end for them. More than I can say for most." Sanguine Citrus swept a hoof along the battleground, from the defensive line down the path to the secondary gate where the deer were now waiting. "We'd been managing to keep the deer back with Praetorian support, but just barely. When they started bringing up a large number of Exemplars I was sure they were massing for a final push, but instead they simply fell back under partial cover of magic and shield. Queerest thing. I was tempted to let our ranged weapons pick them apart, but we're dreadfully low on arrows and bolts as it is. More to the point, sir," he said, "common decency would dictate we cease our assault if they're looking to speak with us."

Stonewall almost wanted to laugh at the thought. "They wouldn't provide us with the same courtesy. I'm relatively sure they flew a flag of no quarter, the murderous whore-sons."

"Perhaps," Sanguine said, watching the enemy in the distance, "but that's what separates us from them, now isn't it? Equestrian ideals and all that. Call me optimistic, but if we can find a resolution to this war without further bloodshed then we owe it to ourselves to hear them out, however briefly."

The more he thought about it, the more Stonewall was glad for a temporary reprieve. If the deer really did want to talk then that was all well and good; he still intended to get the princess as far away from the castle as possible, and quickly. Let the deer speak with an interpreti if they so chose. For all he or anyone else knew it was nothing more than another redtail attempt at misdirection.

"Do you have anyone you can send as mediators? I can offer a couple of Praetorians as escorts if you need them."

"Some, yes, but I may just take you up on the offer," Sanguine Citrus answered. He pulled a rolled-up length of parchment from under his yellow-gold cloak and quickly checked over a list of names. "There's a small contingent of Whitetail Loyalists who have been serving under my command at the behest of General Tinctio Solis. If I may ask, sir, have you any idea of the general's whereabouts?"

"Where else? He's at the armory." The other senior officers, of course, had thought Stonewall mad for choosing to return to the castle rather than wait with them. He did not think less of them for it, but patience had never been his greatest virtue.

"Right, I suppose that makes sense. But yes, the loyalists. Thus far I've had them serving as arrow and pila support. I'm hesitant to send them out to speak with the Cervidaens, if I'm honest. It's possible there's too much bad blood between them, and if someone loses their head, figuratively or literally..."

"Yeah, I get it," Stonewall said. "Do you have any stallions who speak deertongue?"

Sanguine shook his head. "Afraid not, sir. We had two earth ponies, transfers from the Marestopholous post, but they were unfortunately lost when the southern reach collapsed."

Stonewall rubbed the bridge of his muzzle. Could nothing go to plan for the whole damned day?

"I might have a few Praetorians who can do the job if no one else can. Give me a moment and I'll bring them to you."

"Yes, sir, thank you. I'll prepare an escort squad immediately."

Not many Praetorians were fluent enough in the deer language to act as interpreter for such a potentially important meeting, and Stonewall quickly went through the list of those he could call upon as he began to return to the castle. Indominus from 2nd Barracks? No, he'd been wounded early on. Sapphirus had crushed by the siege volley. Stomach-churning mess, that one. Headwind was uninjured, as far as he knew. Between him and Setting Star there was likely to be enough knowledge to carry a conversation...

"That won't be necessary, my good Imperator. Or is it Imperator-General now?"

Stonewall stopped in his tracks.

"Equestrian ranks do confuse me so; they are neither elegant nor intuitive. Much like Equestria itself, wouldn't you say?"

He let out an annoyed grumble under his breath and wheeled around. The visage of Empress Elinwynn looked down upon him, armor shining with inner magic and golden antler decorations swaying in the cold breeze. That same self-satisfied smirk, infuriatingly omnipresent, waited for him to respond. Stonewall shot a look to Sanguine Citrus; the other did not seem particularly thrilled either.

"What do you want?" he asked. He had little time for her, and even less patience.

"You're not surprised by my presence, good sir Stonewall? I would have thought this would be a cause for some celebration. After all, your Empress has arrived!"

"That would imply that you're actually here. We both know you're not, so let's cut the crap, shall we? I should have known you'd pull this little trick at some point."

Elinwynn frowned. "You ponies are so morose. Can't even let me have a little fun, can you?"

"We've known you can project a vision of yourself since you decided to toy with a Legion scouting party. Maybe if you would have kept from waving your proverbial cock around and just waited for the ambush you would have kept it a secret. But you didn't, and so I'll ask again: what do you want?"

The image of Elinwynn faded slightly as she appeared to look off to one side. Wherever she was, something must have been splitting her attention. "You've always had a sort of brutish charm about you, Stonewall. I dare say seeing you hover over the good princess like a hawk was part of the fun of visiting the castle." Stonewall didn't bother to reply, which seemed to visibly annoy her. "Hmmph. Fine, then. We can converse another time."

"Don't count on it," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "Is there anything else? Because I'm quite busy winning a war right now, and it looks like your bucks aren't particularly interested in fighting at this moment."

"I suppose there is one slight issue I'd like to discuss. I..." She paused momentarily, seemingly struggling against something with a hoof to her head. She gritted her teeth, shook her head, and then continued as if nothing had happened. "As I was saying...I must insist that I speak with Celestia directly," Elinwynn said.

"Not happening," Stonewall snapped back. "You speak with me or you don't speak at all. Although, since you're here and not wasting her time directly, I can only assume you're having a little trouble locating her. Not so easy without that little pendant, now is it?"

Elinwynn seemed genuinely amused at that. "I will admit her ability to conceal her life force is quite a fine trick, but that is not the reason why I chose to make myself known to you. Rather, there is a matter of some lives hanging in the balance. Several thousand of them, in fact."

"We are not afraid to die for Equestria, you vile--"

"Not your lives, my blustery friend, but those who are, shall we say...somewhat averse to combat." Stonewall kept his reaction neutral, but he had a good idea what she was referring to. "It was quite difficult to find, of that I can assure you! I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and to that end I really must congratulate your unicorn magii, or whatever it is you call them, on their skill at creating such a masterful illusion spell."

It had to be a bluff. There was no possible way she'd discovered the civilians! The finest minds in Equestria had spent decades crafting and perfecting a way to conceal those tunnels.

"I have no idea what you're on about," he bluffed.

Elinwynn scoffed in annoyance. "Oh come now, Stonewall. I hadn't expected you of all ponies to be one to waste my time with falsities." She put a hoof to her chest in a dramatic display of being wounded. "After all this time, all these months of fighting, you still don't realize that I do not make idle threats? I am a doe of my word, above all else. Allow me to state this as clearly and succinctly as possible, then: I am in possession of the citizens of Canterlot. A great many of them, in fact."

Stonewall felt his stomach drop.

"As such, the flag flying from my armies is not in jest," she continued. Her almost carefree nature was gone now, replaced by a stern demeanor. "Tell Celestia that I wish to speak with her. Immediately. If she refuses, there will be a heavy price to pay." Her voice was unnaturally deep and rough as the ultimatum came, and despite the pitch-black night Stonewall could have sworn he saw something in her eyes. Something dark and worryingly familiar. "Oh, and lest I forget: do not think to escape. I am aware of your precious armory, and if you think I am about to let the princess slip away then you are sadly mistaken."

"How do I know you'll not simply kill her the moment she makes herself known?" Stonewall asked. He felt his pulse beating through his body, his mind already running through ways to avoid complying with Elinwynn's demands. Try as he might, he could not find a solution that would keep the civilians safe. At this point he had to assume the royal bitch wasn't bluffing.

"You don't," Elinwynn answered simply. "As you've no doubt seen for yourself we have more than enough bucks and equipment to take the castle by force and kill everyone inside. Even if your precious princess manages to escape, the city will be ours to do with as we please. We can wait out any paltry resistance your forces at the armory might attempt to put up.

"No, I am offering you a way to bring this war to a close while saving what little remains of Equestria's pride, and more importantly, I'm sure, its people. I will give you a short time to discuss this with her. Should she remain stubborn, I will begin executing civilians until she acquiesces. Do not try my patience." The image of her began to fade, slowly scattering into a snow flurry of glittering magic. "Go, Stonewall. I shall see you both very soon."

84 - Nihil Ausi, Nihil Acquiritur

Dreary. If asked to sum up Equestria in a single word, Corvalix mused glumly, it would be 'dreary'. The cold was omnipresent and seemed to care little for the warmth of winter clothing or armor, with a wind chill that cut to the bone and made his teeth chatter. Staying on the move or in the midst of combat had managed to keep him somewhat warm up until now, but standing around and waiting for Elinwynn to return from her little excursion had tossed that particular bit of joy right out. A row of staked torches set up along the officers' line provided little in the way of comfort. What he wouldn't have given for the roar of a campfire! As soon as Canterlot Castle was his, he would have his orderlies arrange the most wondrous crackling fire in the throne room's no-doubt opulent hearth.

And then there was the company. His newest subjects had been infuriatingly persistent in their attempts to kill him, the ungrateful whelps. They were entirely unsuccessful, of course -- Equestrians lacked anything remotely resembling precision -- yet they kept throwing bodies at him. Perhaps they thought to crush him under the weight of their dead. At least they would have served some sort of purpose then.

And so he'd dutifully stood his ground, watching more formations of deer crash into yet more formations of ponies in a tiring display. It was only a matter of time, really. Equestrian 'elites', if one could call them that, held the ground between the castle itself and the three entrance gates at the bottom of the low hill. They had been losing ground slowly but steadily for what felt like hours, with only a determined final line keeping him from his ultimate prize. With the magically enhanced trebuchets now in place there was little the ponies could do to keep him from pummeling the entire area into rubble. It might not have been the most efficient or the quickest way of doing things, but it was working.

His confusion, then, had been understandably great when he'd received word from one of Elinwynn's personal messengers: cease the assault immediately. Pull all forces back. Wait for further orders.

Disengaging? On the very cusp of victory? He'd fumed at the idea of it. Madness, that's what it was.

Now he waited impatiently for his sister to return from wherever it was she'd gone off to. The Exemplars had done a fine job setting up a defensive ring of shields and were not faltering in following their orders despite the occasional loss to continued Equestrian weapons. It seemed the ponies were taking their time halting their barrage. Savages.

"She had better have a damned good reason for this," he said aloud, not caring if the others heard him. He doubted they would disagree, and doubly so that they would say anything themselves. The citizens of the Cervidaen Hegemony rightly feared her might when she was in the best of moods; the 'new' Empress Elinwynn was something else entirely, a creature of absolute determination and ruthless efficiency. He'd stared into her eyes and seen nothing but hatred -- even for him. Perhaps especially for him. He hoped that the glimmer potion's effects were temporary, for if the dark magic took control of her...

He touched the blade at his side. No, such a thought would not do. Taking Equestria and bringing Celestia to her knees came first. He'd worry about the rest later.

"Brother-General, the Empress approaches," one of the Exemplar officers said. Corvalix stepped up on top of a rock for a better view, finding her just as she was emerging from between a row of partially destroyed buildings to the east. The does of the Imperial Protectorate flanked her on either side, antlers lit up with magic just waiting to be unleashed should a threat emerge. A contingent of Exemplars led the way and formed an impenetrable circle around her. Several of them stopped at a street corner and shouted something, waving their forelegs as if ordering a squad to pick up the pace.

"Well now, this is an interesting development..."

A seemingly endless procession of ponies followed in Elinwynn's wake. They wore the trappings of commoners and the well-to-do alike, jammed together shoulder to shoulder under heavy guard. Mares, stallions, foals -- there appeared to be no end to them. Where in the world they had come from, and what Elinwynn planned to do with them, was a mystery. No one had seen a single civilian in the city since the battle had started, and it was assumed that they'd been evacuated further south to harsher climes. How peculiar.

A flicker of motion caught his attention, and a doe in blue armor appeared just off to his side with a sudden crack of magical energy.

"Greetings, Brother-General," she said politely. "The Empress wishes to express her gratitude at your quick response to her order. Rest assured that she is well aware of the ramifications of such an action."

Corvalix wasn't so sure. "I have needlessly lost several bucks to this decision, Sister-Magii. Every moment that we pause is another moment for the ponies to regroup. I trust my sister has proper justification for a tactically unsound move."
The doe looked at him as if he'd suddenly grown a second head. "Of course she has. Our Empress is as wise as she is powerful. Do you doubt her resolve?"

Are you disobedient?

The magii might not have said so directly, but he'd heard the threat all the same. In that moment he wanted to lash out at her for daring to ask such a thing of him. A mere magii making a threat on the brother of the Empress? A passing glimpse of Elinwynn's emotionless facade convinced him to swallow those words back down. She looked at him for only a moment, as if her gaze could burn a hole through him, and continued past without a word.

"I am confident in my sister's abilities, but it is quite unwise to give up the momentum of advance," he said to the magii. Why wouldn't she just take his word for it and leave already? What was she waiting for? "I am sure, however, that we can regain it should such a thing become necessary. The Equestrians are on the back hoof, and my armies look to their Empress for courage. Sacrifices are a necessity at times. They understand this. Tell my dear sister that I await further orders."

The doe disappeared without a further word, leaving him to simmer in silence. He would not have to wait long to find out what Elinwynn had in store for the peoples of Canterlot.

***

"Praetorians, front!"

Tercio snapped to attention and spun on his heel, aligning himself with the rest of Celestia's personal detail in a half-circle formation in front of her. A disquieting silence filled the entrance hall that had only moments ago been the scene of destruction and death, leaving only the crackling of torches and the breathing of the others around him, for all of the remaining Praetorians had filed out onto the castle grounds and now stood ramrod straight behind what remained of the mixed Equestrian units that eyed the unmoving deer wearily. The injured had been dragged away to the inner reaches of the castle itself where they might find temporary safety behind its walls under apothecary care, while the dead had been left where they lie. The smell of blood was everywhere, a metallic tang that mixed with the settling dust and swirled on the cold wind that blew in from the gaping hole in the foyer wall.

Ahead, Imperator-General Stonewall peered outside. He had said little since passing on Elinwynn's word. No doubt he resented the very idea of being used as a glorified messenger, and he had made it exceedingly clear that he did not want to expose the princess to any sort of danger. Let her use a mediator, he'd suggested. He would volunteer himself, if need be.

But Celestia had been insistent that she speak with the empress face to face. "I will not hide myself any further," she'd said, leading a short but intense deliberation between them. At some point Sanguine Citrus had been summoned, only to gallop away a short time later. Now the princess stood behind her squad with a look of determination, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.

"Looks like it's clear," Stonewall said, taking his place beside her. The glimmering cloak across his back caused muted, shifting patterns of light to play off the walls and ceiling like stars in the night sky. "We're ready whenever you are, Princess."

There was no hesitation as she stepped forward.

"Keep your wits about you, lads," Polaris said one last time. "If there is even the slightest hint of trouble we will retreat and make all speed for the armory."

For what good that will do, Tercio thought. Stonewall had said Elinwynn knew all about the fall-back point, and no doubt she had bucks watching it even now.

The scene that greeted them was as grisly a thing as they'd ever seen. Bodies were everywhere, tossed about like wilted petals. They were draped over barriers, piled at the base of watch towers, strewn along the ground from the castle gate all the way up the path to the last line of Equestrian defense. Ponies, deer, zebras -- hundreds of them, perhaps more. And yet, Tercio saw, the deer still outnumbered them in living soldiers. A vast formation of them stretched from the barricade line to the bottom of the hill, where still more waited along the roads of the city.

The squad came to a halt less than thirty paces from the bulk of the Cervidaen army, behind twin lines of battle-weary Royal Guard and first-line Praetorian stallions. Nearly all appeared to be injured, and hardly any of them could claim bloodless armor, be it their own or the enemy's. Much of the same could be said for the redtail and whitetail bucks across the way. Those closest wore the darker greens of the Exemplars, and though marred by combat they stood tall and proud. The rank and file waited just behind them, less disciplined and more willing to show signs of fatigue. Many were breathing heavily or winced in pain at fresh wounds that had been hastily bandaged. A final group of Imperial Protectorate and magii does stood watch over the beating twin hearts of the Cervidaen Hegemony -- Elinwynn and Corvalix. They exchanged unheard words as Celestia looked them over.

Corvalix appeared far worse off than his sister and was nearly as filthy as the bucks before him, though his phoenix feather-topped helm was immaculate as ever. Many of the Equestrians had formed a sort of begrudging respect for him, murderous though his reputation was, for he was quite willing to throw himself into the fray when the situation called for it. Any one of them would have happily thrust a spear through his heart given the first chance, but at least he was willing to fight as an officer should. That was not to say he was above using the lesser ranks, especially the whitetail, as fodder for Equestrian blades. He'd shown as much time and again, and with the fight moving to the castle grounds he'd taken on a decidedly more passive role.

Elinwynn, however, had not a speck of dust on her. The air itself could have been said to glow in her presence, and arcs of magical energy flitted from prong to prong of her distinctive antlers. Her sapphire-blue armor had been partially covered with a silvery cloak held in place by a small sword-shaped pin over Cervidae's crest. She stood confidently, proudly, but there was more to it than that.

Celestia had to conceal the shiver of surprise that washed over her. Elinwynn's latent power had grown immensely since they'd last spoken a mere half-day ago, to the point that it was akin to staring into a spell made flesh. It was unnatural and wrong-feeling in so many ways...almost like the same power she'd felt in Luna. There could be no doubt about it: dark magic was at play here, unbridled and pure. Elinwynn had truly become the antithesis of everything Celestia strived for.

The tension in the air was palpable. Equestrian soldiers expected some sort of underhoofed trickery to make itself known at any moment, and with so many frayed nerves and tired bodies it would take very little to ignite the flames of all-out combat one last time.

The Equestrian lines parted as Celestia stepped forward under the protection of her Praetorian squad. It was time to put an end to this war, one way or another.

***

Canterlot was far larger than it looked. Of that much Caethil was convinced. It had been slow going through the abandoned, winding streets once he and his bucks had left the open spaces and opulent mansions of the trade district, with buildings quickly closing in from either side and paved stone roads giving way to dirt paths and detritus from the evacuation. In truth he felt a great sense of unease as he passed abandoned shops and wayward food carts, as if everyone had suddenly vanished. Stray dogs and cowering rats darting into hideaways were the only other living things for block after block.

"Brother-Captain! Brother-Captain, sir!" a scout said from a rooftop as loudly as he dared. Caethil held out a hoof to stop the band of loyalists that followed behind him.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Something's changed. I think you'll want to see this." The scout beckoned him over, and Caethil found a stairway leading to the roof of the multi-level building on the corner, a combination shop and home that had been left in disarray when its owner had up and left.

What struck him first was that the bright barrier was now gone. He doubted that was a good sign. He scanned the castle grounds, able to see more detail now, and could hardly believe his eyes. The redtail had stopped advancing entirely and had instead adopted what appeared to be three-layered defensive line stretching from the large frontal lawn all the way down to the closest parts of the city. What little remained of Equestria's armies was bunched up near a gaping hole torn in the castle's entrance. Front and center stood a taller figure clad in golden armor; Celestia, no doubt. That was likely not a good sign. Directly across from her, in dark blue trappings that blended with the night, Elinwynn waited.

"I don't like it, sir. They wouldn't have stopped fighting without a damned good reason," the Brother-Sergeant said. Knowing Corvalix like he did Caethil doubted the royal brats were much for mercy, especially after a prolonged battle. No, something had gone wrong, and it likely wasn't for the deer. "What do you think?"

"I think we need to redouble our efforts. The redtail aren't in the habit of half-measures, and the ponies certainly weren't winning this particular fight."

"Then the redtail must have something decisive hidden away."

Caethil nodded slowly, watching the two leaders approach each other. He could not shake the sense of dread that came over him. "So it would seem." He departed for the road immediately after, with the other in tow. "We need to stay hidden for now, but I want to be within striking distance should things take a turn for the worse again."

"What if the ponies capitulate?"

It certainly felt like a possibility. At this point, perhaps even an inevitability. "Then I imagine we'll be meeting the ancestors in short order, Brother-Sergeant."

***

"More wounded coming in!" An apothecary dragged a severely injured stallion behind him on a pair of stitched-together cloaks. The pegasus moaned in pain and thrashed with every bump and rock along the way. "Easy, lad, we're almost there."

Dirty, pink-tinted snow marked where the forest path led to a clearing that now served as the Equestrian Guard's impromptu camp. All along the rough treeline a shield wall had been erected, with those who were uninjured or still able to fight making up as thorough of a defense as they could manage. The clearing was packed to the brim with survivors of the valley's redtail breakthrough, and although their supplies were limited they had managed to set up enough tents to keep the most severely wounded out of the harsh, sudden winter night.

Standard-Commander Eradaxis met the apothecary half-way to the field medicae post. Battered but still capable, the former Whitetail officer had taken it upon himself to help in any way he could. The wall of force that had upended Equestria's defenses at the entrance of the Coriander Road had left the entire army in disarray, and in short order the line had turned into an utter rout. The redtail had given chase for a time, cutting down those they caught yet being careful not to let the ponies flank them, before falling back to a more permanent position to cover the bulk of the Cervidaen army's advance towards the city itself.

Something resembling order had taken hold of the stallions once it had become clear that the redtail weren't interested in chasing them through thick forest. It was a small blessing. At the very least, they could tend to the wounded and regroup into a cohesive unit once more.

"Tents four and six have space available, but only just," Eradaxis said, helping pull the wounded pony. The gash along his shoulder burned every time he moved, though thankfully it had stopped bleeding. For whatever faults the Equestrians may have had their medicine was second to none.

A pair of soldiers stepped aside to let the trio through, then immediately closed the gap once more. The smell of winterberry tea brewing in a large pot nearby was intoxicating. Ponies and zebras gathered around the cooking fire for warmth, along with a few whitetail, having long since given up caring about letting the smoke give away their position. If the redtail wanted to find them, there was little they could do about it now.

The aroma was quickly replaced by the stench of the dead and dying as the row of medicae tents grew closer. Compared to the main encampment it was an oddly quiet place despite the numerous healers and their orderlies rushing about. It had been much louder, Eradaxis noted dourly, just a few hours ago. No one had the strength left within them to cry out in their final moments. Those fortunate enough to not be in mortal danger had been wrapped up as warmly as possible and left to suffer in silence. There just weren't enough apothecaries to go around after the damned redtail had made it a point to target them specifically during the final phase of the attack. The very idea of killing those who had pledged only to care for others was sickening; the redtail had no such qualms, it seemed.

With the aid of a few others he hefted the injured pony onto an impromptu operating slate made of tied-together branches wrapped in fabric. It would have to do for now.

"Thank you for your help, whitetail," the apothecary said. He was a wiry unicorn with a long mane of light blue that spilled over one side of his white healer's robe that had been smeared with blood in numerous places. Dark bags under his eyes spoke to the hours of worry and frantic action he'd undergone.

"I am simply doing what I can to make myself useful," Eradaxis responded.

The apothecary wasted no time getting to work on the unfortunate pony, levitating a bowl of hot water and a tattered rag from a small enchanted flame. A brief touch of his horn put his patient into a deep sleep while a set of surgeon's tools floated from a pouch at his side. "Not nearly as many coming in now," he said as he operated on a badly lacerated foreleg. "The cold has likely claimed its share of the casualties. Things must have grown rather dire for the princess to lower the sun so suddenly."

Eradaxis thought that was a severe understatement. "You saw part of the city fall, just as I did. I do not think 'dire' begins to describe such a thing."

"True, true...but it's not as if we can do anything about it from here."

He took a drink from his water pouch while the apothecary focused intently on cleaning and stitching up a deep cut. What he wouldn't have given to sally forth one more group of soldiers to attack the redtail head-on, cutting into their column of reinforcements and supplies with the fury of a scorned nation. Such a thing was laughable at best now. Cervidae's forces were numerous and fought decisively, and he? Well, he was just an old stag with a meaningless honorific. From a leader of Evinwiir's wall-top defenses to a glorified runner for a bunch of ponies with little hope of victory...fate was certainly strange.

"I'm going to need more bandages, whitetail. Can you check with the others for me?" the apothecary asked without looking up from his work.

At least he was doing something of worth, Eradaxis thought, however small its part.

***

A gust of frigid wind howled through Canterlot, whipping the green and orange flames of still-burning segments of the city. Their light glowed like an aurora in the distance, an otherworldly backdrop to the meeting of the known world's two most revered and powerful leaders.

"I do so hate awkward silences. Staring one another down like a pair of arena combatants is such a trite thing to do, wouldn't you agree, Princess?" Elinwynn giggled almost innocently, a smile staying on her face as she brushed a bit of blown ash from her armor. Beside her, brandishing a Cervidaen flag, Corvalix remained silent. "We keep meeting under such unfortunate circumstances. Here you are, surrounded by the charred remains of your once 'mighty' kingdom, protected by little more than the wounded and the zealous, and still you persist in this meaningless resistance. Come now, I am sure you can be reasonable."

Celestia said nothing in return, for she was entirely focused on trying to locate the civilians that had allegedly been found out. She swept her gaze over the city streets and between buildings, finding nothing but waiting deer. Stonewall had passed on word of Elinwynn's warning, saying that he'd been utterly convinced that she was not bluffing, and yet they were nowhere to be seen. Were they all being kept in the tunnels? Or was Elinwynn bluffing? She decided to hold her tongue on the matter until she could be sure.

"As expected," Elinwynn said. "You have so much to say when menial matters of the state are at hoof, yet you pretend to be the strong silent type when the future of Equestria is at stake. Do you truly not see? The integration of the pony lands into the greater Cervidaen Hegemony -- excuse me, the 'Ochrourus Collective,'" she laughed, "will be a cause for celebration. Your people will prosper as never before, your coffers will overflow with silver and gold, your markets will offer the finest fruits and vegetables...and all I ask is that you swallow your pride and bend the knee."

"I would never bow to you," Celestia said, taking a step forward. "Don't you dare speak to me as if you're Equestria's saving grace. We are all too aware of what happens to those who are shown the 'mercy' of Cervidae." River Run, Farrow Fields, Far Port, Taendryll...not to mention the burning of much of Evinwiir under her brother's lead.

Elinwynn brushed off the comment without so much as a shrug. "I will admit that sacrifices are sometimes necessary. If I must make an example of one or two subjects to keep the others in line then I will gladly do so, and you may call me a monster for it if you wish, but you are far worse than I could ever dream of being. How many thousands have died for you this day after it became apparent that there is no hope of victory? Look around you, Princess. Your rule has brought nothing but death and ruination to so many ponies. Ponies you claim to stand for, to rule over from on high, as if your long life gives you the wisdom of the ancestors."

"They are dead because of your warmongering and lust for power," Celestia bit back. "You should be ashamed of what you've done. Not even your callous mother would have been so delusional as to think throwing three nations into an unjustified war would be beneficial for her people."

"My mother was a beloved and respected doe," Elinwynn retorted. "You know nothing of her."

"Your mother was a manipulative tyrant who dreamed of conquest above all else," Celestia said dismissively. "The only reason she didn't invade Whitetail en masse was because she knew it would throw Cervidae into chaos." She could still see the old Empress' face, the same self-satisfied smirk that had been a constant for generations of redtail rulers. How infuriating she had been, just like her mother and grandmother before her. Cervidae never changed, and neither did its royalty.

"I had such high hopes for you, Elinwynn. Once in a while you even surprised me with how open you were to negotiations that genuinely benefited both of our peoples. It would seem that hope was misplaced. You're nothing but a liar and a glory-seeking murderous excuse of a ruler who desperately wants to escape the shame of your lineage. I can only wonder how you would have turned out had your mother not given in to such base desires and lain with her own kin."

There was a quiet unease that went through the nearby deer. None of them dared to say anything, but it was there all the same. She took the opportunity to prod just a bit further.

"I'm sure her uncle quite enjoyed having a young doe to raise his fawns. Of course, he never cared to show the slightest hint of compassion, did he? Perhaps that is why she had him murdered in the end."

"My father was a strong stag, and he died in my mother's grasp in the throes of illness!" Elinwynn shouted. The whites of her eyes became tinged with black at their edges. "You would call me disgusting yet you dare to accuse my family of incest and cowardice in front of my own soldiers!"

Elinwynn struggled against something unseen. The wisps of smoke wafting from the corners of her eyes grew as dark as the night sky, and she shook her head as she mumbled something to herself.

"Spare me your wounded act, Elinwynn. 'Cowardice' would be putting things far too lightly. In fact, I'd say it's not nearly strong enough of a word to describe your repulsive idea of twisting my own sister's betrayal to start this war in the first place." The memory of that fateful night was just as painful now as it had been nearly a year ago, and try though she might she could not keep the heart ache at bay. It took everything she had to keep from showing tears. "I loved Luna with all of my heart, Elinwynn. But you? You've never loved anyone in your life." She looked to Corvalix. "Not even your own brother. He only fights beside you because he fears you, just like everyone else in your dying nation."

She expected Corvalix to speak up for himself, to defend the honor of his sister, but he said nothing still.

"You haven't the slightest--" Elinwynn started, only to be interrupted before she could finish.

"You are a pathetic, inept, self-serving doe who cares only for herself. Just like every other Cervidaen empress I've had the misfortune of knowing." From deep within Celestia could feel herself beginning to lose control of her calm demeanor, but perhaps just this once she would not stop herself. She welcomed it, let it rise to the surface and fuel her words. "You kill my people -- my friends -- in your blood lust. You murder innocent whitetail to start an unjust war under the guise of my banished sister and sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands, deer and pony alike, to make yourself seem strong when nothing could be further from the truth. And for what? Some misguided sense of revenge for an act of loyalty and good will by my father centuries ago? Cervidae never suffered because of Equestria! It suffered because your family's history is naught but cruelty and incompetence!"

The front row of deer took a half step back as Celestia's horn glowed bright yellow. The magii immediately took an alert stance, gathering magic around their antlers and watching her intently. In that moment Celestia felt an intense urge to simply let her raw power unleash itself, wild and uncontrolled, as she had once before, and her heart quickened when she stared down the magii who thought to protect their empress.

I could crush you, she thought without a care. Who were they to believe they could hold a candle to her power? She could end things, right here and now, in a torrent of scorching light, and no one could hope to stop her! Many years ago the deer had thought to test her will by throwing Secundus at her, and now they believed themselves invincible yet again.

Elinwynn was entirely unfazed. Although she had managed to calm herself, at least outwardly, the telltale signs of dark magic remained. "Temper, temper, Princess. Before you do something regrettable I must remind you that I am in the one in who holds all of the advantages in this little...negotiation of ours. I would thank you to avoid any actions that would be untoward. More to the point, so would your beloved ponies. Or have you forgotten about them, like so many others who look to you as their would-be savior?"

"Where are they?" Celestia demanded, clamping down on her anger lest it control her. "If you so much as harmed a single one of them..."

"Well now, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Rest assured that they are under the care of my best magii, and not a one has had even a hair on their pretty little heads touched. There were a few stallions -- I believe they would be from your Legion, yes? -- who insisted upon fighting against unwinnable odds, however. While I commend them for their skill in combat their lives were ultimately thrown away for nothing. A rather tragic if admittedly 'honorable' end, if I may say so."

An entire squad of her most loyal and well-trained soldiers, now little more than passing words from a heartless monarch.

"With that in mind, let us begin our mediation in earnest; and please, do not think to try my patience." The sparkling green of her eyes grew faded and opaque. When she next spoke her voice was unnaturally coarse, like pebbles crunching under hoof. "I am being far more merciful than you deserve, oh great Equestrian goddess."

A chill went down Celestia's spine. "You speak as if your campaign has not been one of pointless violence and unjustified aggression. I know what you want, and so long as I draw breath you shall not have it."

"Strong words from one with her back to the wall and her wretched serfs under my total control." Elinwynn's voice fluctuated unnaturally, sometimes sounding as if two souls were speaking at once. Though he had tried arduously to conceal his reaction, showing little more than a twitch of an almost-taken step to the side, Corvalix was plainly disquieted by his sister. Sensing an opportunity Celestia addressed him directly.

"And what about you, Brother-General Corvalix? You have said nothing thus far, yet you are ostensibly the second most influential deer in Cervidae. Have you nothing to add to this 'negotiation'?"

"I do not," he answered.

"The future of countless thousands hangs in the balance, yet you refuse to contribute anything of meaning. How very typical. I had hoped you would be different from the stags that came before you, but in the end you are nothing more than the puppet of a bloodthirsty empress. Just like all the others."

He bristled at her words. It seemed she had hit a nerve.

"You'll forgive me," Celestia continued, "if I had expected more. I had assumed you were someone who understood that respect is earned, not given, even amongst siblings. Do you believe Elinwynn respects you, Corvalix?"

"That's enough!" Elinwynn shouted in a booming voice, a sudden surge of magic arcing over and between her antlers. "No more of this game! I could destroy your entire city, your entire nation, brick by brick! I could salt your fields and burn your crops at a whim, yet you refuse to see reason!" She stomped forward until she was mere steps away. Soldiers on both sides went into a sudden ready stance, weapons out and shields up.

"The only reason I have not done so is because these lands will soon be mine, and your precious ponies may yet serve a purpose under my rule. Your armies are defeated, your people trapped, your cities empty. Bow before me, Celestia, and save what few lives remain." In a burst of midnight magic Elinwynn's corrupted eyes changed once more, her pupils becoming vertical slits against oval irises, like those of a hunting dragon, suspended in fields of ashen grey-green. Elinwynn gritted her teeth against some unseen pain, but never took her unyielding stare off of Celestia for even half a breath.

"I will state this plainly: surrender Equestria to me, or lose everything you have ever held dear."

Celestia's memory flashed to Luna, to the cruelty that she had inflicted upon her own loyal soldiers in such a short time under the corrupting influence that she had given herself to, and she could not find the words to answer.

"Don't listen to her!" someone shouted. She turned to find Stonewall marching up to her side, a spear tucked against his armor. His enchanted cloak glittered with an inner light like metal flakes catching the mid-day sun. "Forgive me, Princess, but we all know what happens to those who give in to the royal cunt's 'kindness'. If you surrender then she'll have every soldier murdered in cold blood and every civilian forced into slavery. She has no regard for her own kind, much less ours. And don't believe for a moment that she could effortlessly slaughter our remaining forces. She's lost far more bucks than she thought she would, and attacking a heavily fortified position like the armory would break their backs. That's why she needs you to give in."

"You underestimate our capabilities," Corvalix said.

"Clearly you underestimated ours. But by all means, see if I'm wrong."

Across from him Elinwynn scowled. "Know your place, Stonewall, and do not think to interrupt again."

"Fuck you, and fuck your limp-dicked brother. You're both worthless. I'd rather die on Equestrian ground than live under Cervidaen shackles."

"That can be arranged," Corvalix replied.

"You can fucking try, prick-head."

"The Imperator-General is right," Celestia said, hoping to ease the growing tension. "Coarse though he may be," she looked at him with a chastising glance, "it has been shown time and again that you care little for the lives of those you call your subjects. If that is the kind of treatment the citizens of Equestria can expect, then I cannot agree to your terms."

Elinwynn cocked her head and uttered a half-laugh of disbelief, putting a hoof to her chest. "I'm sorry, did you just refuse me? Refuse my offer of peace and mercy?"

"I want your assurance that there will be no retribution against the soldiers or civilians. They have endured much, and deserve better than to be cast aside. Perhaps we can come to an agreement, something that is mutually beneficial for our nations. Equestria may lose this war, but Cervidae will be depleted of its soldiers, and we're both aware of the troubles in Whitetail."

"I do not think you understand, Celestia. There are no terms of surrender here. Bow before me, here and now, or there will be consequences."

"I will not." The princess stood tall, looking to Stonewall out of the corner of her vision. He stomped his right foreleg twice, getting a barely perceptible nod in return.

"I said, bow!"

"No. You will swear the well-being of ponykind and the continuation of Equestria or there will be no surrender."

Elinwynn yelled in anger over her shoulder. "Aalyndria!"

A shimmer of motion turned into the form of a blue-clad Imperial Protectorate doe just off to Elinwynn's side. A crudely bound earth pony lay kneeling under her foreleg. He struggled against his bindings and shouted muffled curses through a cloth gag.

"Leave the civilians out of this!" Celestia demanded. "This is between you and I!"

"That's where you're wrong." Elinwynn levitated an ornate crystal sword from her side, making a show of floating it over to the pony's throat and holding it against his skin close enough to draw a trickle of blood.

"You're better than this, Elinwynn. It doesn't have to be this way."

The stallion looked at her with fearful eyes and tried to pull away from the weapon.

"You're right, it doesn't. Surrender yourself and your nation. Now."

"Please, we can--"

The sword plunged into his neck, drawing a muted scream of pain and panic as it was pulled back out. The pony thrashed and gurgled, rolling over onto his side with a gaping hole cut into his throat, before slowly falling still.

Celestia held a hoof to her mouth in shock as muttered swears and words of anger came from her guards. A great emptiness grew within her as she looked into the lifeless eyes of yet another citizen she could not save, another kind soul that had depended on her, trusted her, and had died alone and afraid while she stood by and did nothing.

"You are beaten, Celestia! Give in or I will kill every last pony in my possession!"

***

Further away, at the city's eastern reach, a lone pegasus dove down to roof top level at great speed, drawing the ire of several deer archers who panic-fired arrows at him as he passed. None found their mark, and once he was clear of their line of sight he drew a small torch from a pouch at his side. It burned with a weak flame at first, crackling and popping as the crushed crystals within imbued it with purple and red hues.

Taking a brief moment to hop back into the air he waved it from side to side twice, then up and down once, before skirting the deer battle lines with haste.

***

Elinwynn did not give Celestia a chance to protest further this time. A second victim was teleported before her, a young unicorn mare with a crudely broken horn. She did not struggle or offer any pleading words; she simply stared ahead, tears running down her cheeks, and closed her eyes to await the inevitable.

Celestia jerked forward instinctively to protect her, but was stopped by Stonewall sticking out a foreleg. Angered by the lack of immediate capitulation, yelling like a maddened beast, Elinwynn took a second life as callously as the first.

"Is this not enough for you?! Do you still think you hold any position of power here?!" she screamed at Celestia, pointing with the bloodied end of her weapon while the last ragged gasps faded from the mare's voice. "Then so be it!"

Shaking with rage, racked by grief, the princess no longer hid the anguished tears. Warm yellow magic gathered around her horn, getting an equal response from the magii across the way.

"Easy, Princess..." Stonewall said as the empress took a step back and used a burst of magic to enhance her voice.

"Signii Equestrii kira'dax! Siind'tyyr!"

***

They had hidden themselves well. Whatever spell the deer were using to mask the civilians from sight had been nearly impossible to detect -- nearly. The brief flare of magical energy whenever one of the magii teleported was intense enough to be felt even by a pegasus, however brief it may have been. Their subsequent return to find another helpless pony to tie and gag seemed to distort the invisibility field, like haze rising from the ground on a hot summer's day. That was all the pegasus scout needed.

Once more he waved his signal torch, then tucked back into cover. The deer hadn't bunched the civilians together as one but had instead spread them out in several large groups. He wished he knew how many magii were with each of them. It would have been a small mercy -- perhaps the first one ponykind would have been granted since the battle's outbreak.

There, another flaring pulse of magic. Rising above the buildings he saw the telltale shimmer ahead and to the south. He moved with determination, feeling the weight of every life he knew would be lost, and prepared the torch for a third time.

A wave of heat, intense and sudden, roared down the streets from the where the teleporting deer had arrived. Buffeted by winds he struggled to keep himself upright, clipping the side of a two-story shop and skidding over a flat roof. The sound hit him just after: screaming, pleading voices that formed a cacophony of horror and suffering.

Feeling his heart jump into his throat he leapt into the air, no longer caring if he was seen, needing to know what had happened above all else. The sight of a crowd of civilians engulfed in dark green flames awaited him. They rolled on the ground, ran desperately into the waiting blades of the encircling deer, fell in their masses to arrows and darts.

Like a bolt of lightning he took off, flying over the entirety of the deer line fast enough to leave a trail of sparkling orange behind him and a wake of fierce wind that knocked several of them over as he went by. No projectile could hope to hit him, but evasion was not his ultimate goal.

"Come on, you bastards! Come on!"

Over and over he swooped low, rolling and twisting to avoid all attempts to bring him down. It was only a matter of time until the does revealed themselves.

The wind was knocked from his lungs as he was forced to a sudden stop, wrapped in multiple layers of arcing magic that shocked his skin and scorched his armor in jagged lines.

Struggling with all of his might, straining against the pain, he reached to his side, pulled the magical torch from its sconce, and heaved it into the air with a toss of his head. It tumbled end over end, arcing high and shining like a beautiful gemstone, a sole sign of hope in blackest night. A satisfied smile crept across his anguished face.

The torch hit the ground a scant few seconds later, bouncing and rolling to a stop, before resting beside his perforated body.

***

Hatred, Celestia had always believed, was the foundation of chaos and suffering. Time and again history had proven that those who welcomed it, who nourished it and fed upon it in turn, were never content with letting it consume themselves alone. Given time it would inevitably spread to one's family, one's friends -- perhaps one's entire nation. It consumed all that it touched, like a wildfire burning out of control, until nothing was left. Luna, Elinwynn, the followers of the false Nightmare Moon, the whitetail, even the man she loved. All had struggled with it, and few had emerged from its grasp with their sanity intact.

But as she listened to the desperate screams of ponies being burned alive, begging for help or praying for a merciful end, she felt hatred -- true hatred -- in her heart for the first time. It beckoned her from within, an unyielding desire that coursed through her veins and quickened her heart.

"This is the price you pay for your ignorance, Celestia! Listen to their cries, and know that such an end awaits all of Equestria and any who dared to defy me at your side!"

Elinwynn had dropped all pretense of civility. As her weapons of war were turned on the innocent ponies of Canterlot she demanded Celestia throw herself before the mercy of Cervidae's one true ruler, the uniter of deerkind, lest more of her people meet a terrible and deserved fate. They would serve as a warning to any who dared stand against her.

Off in the distance, barely visible against the mountains of the city's eastern reach, a single pinpoint of light lifted into the sky. Celestia fixated on it in disbelief. Elinwynn's rambling curses faded for a brief moment in time as it hung at the peak of its arc, then fell back to the wretched green light of Cervidaen fire.

No more.

A slow turn of her head; a look of grim confirmation from Stonewall.

"...upon the very name of Equestria, until every trace of its history is--"

"Elinwynn," Celestia said commandingly. The Empress fell silent, still levitating her sword. Blood dripped to the grass from its tip. "You should have never started this war."

Rising up on his hind legs, Stonewall raised his spear to the air and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"NOW!"

***

It was the most fateful moment in Equestria's history; a confluence of events that played out with unheard of precision and timing that took no more than a second.

Upon Stonewall's signal a full quarter of the military disappeared in a near-instantaneous series of flashes. At the same time, further up the hill, the protective double lines of Royal Guard and Praetorian soldiers ducked behind their shields and covered their eyes.

The deer had no chance to react before Celestia dipped her head and unleashed a brilliant flash of sunlight from the tip of her horn. Fueled by her pent-up emotions, an entire war's worth ofdeath and deceit, anger and sorrow, the magical blast roared out across the hilltop, consuming the deer around Elinwynn. Those who bore brief witness to its power were instantly blinded and burned, and as they instinctively threw their forelegs up to shield themselves they became the first to fall to the spears of Celestia's protectors.

Emboldened by the fierce move the Royal Guard and Praetorians threw themselves forward with a collective battle cry, followed closely by Celestia herself brandishing her twin longswords to either side of her body, and together they crashed into the deer with such violence that not a single Equestrian was lost in the opening attack.

The spell had hardly faded when the unicorns of the Equestrian Guard reappeared within the city streets with their earth pony and pegasus squads in tow. With weapons out and shields up the squads fell upon the panicked Cervidaen regulars with a terrible vengeance. Every deer in their path was butchered without mercy, without pause, and those who had been nearest the carts of fire pots met a fitting end as they were bucked against the nearest wall and immolated by their own weapons.

Back at the foot of the castle the bulk of the remaining Equestrian army charged forward under the lead of Legatus Sanguine Citrus. The unprepared whitetail conscript formations were parted and cut down as they scrambled to get into position. Cervidaen officers barked orders to little avail, leaving the bulk of the fighting to be taken up by the Exemplar-led redtail that counter-attacked with trained ferocity.

Equestria would not lie down and die without a fight this day.

***

The smell of singed hair and scorched earth drifted heavy on the winter air. For the loyal soldiers of the princess' personal escort the fight had been brief but incredibly violent; over thirty deer were killed for only two injured ponies, a one-sided massacre more than a fight. The deer had died screaming, unable to see or fight back effectively, and as far as the Praetorians and Royal Guard were concerned that was exactly how it should have been.

But not all had gone according to plan. Be it by luck or by skill the royal siblings had managed to escape, fading away in the opening seconds of the clash under the shield of Imperial Protectorate magic. Numerous other magii and Exemplars had vanished with them.

Celestia stabbed her swords into the soil, having drawn blood for the first time in nearly two centuries. Her pulse pounded in her ears and the backlash of her magical assault caused a creeping pain to throb from the base of her horn down to the middle of her back. She had exhausted her power significantly, carefully walking the edge of what she could afford to use, ultimately stopping just short of overloading her mind and forever weakening herself as she had done once before.

Breathing heavily, and leaning on her weapons to rest, she watched the battles within the confines of Canterlot play out around her. Stonewall's multi-pronged attack plan had been a rousing success, completely catching the deer off guard. Equestria had inflicted significant losses in a short time, but the superior numbers of the deer were beginning to cause another stalemate. It was an unfortunate reality of the situation that many lives had been sacrificed in the process; locating the civilians would have taken time no matter what they'd tried. She would mourn for those who had died later, for she had little time to concern herself with them when so much was still hanging in the balance.

Elinwynn and Corvalix couldn't have gone far. Deer teleporation was limited to line of sight, which meant that they had to be relatively close. It was a matter of figuring out where they might be, and how she could get there.

"Well done, Imperator-General," Celestia said. Polaris and his squad had resumed their positions around her, leaving the others to search through the remains of the Cervidaen soldiers for anything that might give them an edge in the battle.

"I should say the same to you. Hell of a display you put on there." Stonewall was wasting no time, and had already taken it upon himself to search for the missing empress with a spyglass he'd pulled from a Cervidaen corpse. "About damned time we went on the offensive. I'm just surprised it actually worked."

"That makes two of us."

"Any idea where they might have gone?" Polaris asked, finishing applying a bandage to a gash on Portly's shoulder. The stocky earth pony swore under his breath, wincing at the pain, but complained no further.

Tercio pointed with his sword towards the eastern reach, where the surviving civilians were being protected by the lives of the Equestrian Guard. Pegasi, both military and otherwise, were ferrying ponies away from danger as quickly as they could. They met scattered resistance at best, for the deer were occupied entirely with the newly reinvigorated Equestrians.

"It would make the most sense for them to go somewhere that has an easily accessible escape route. The deer still control the Coriander Road, and with the southern reach gone there's only one way to get there."

"Possible, but they could have also retreated away from the action, to the west," Stonewall suggested. "Our forces are thin between the castle and the armory. It would be a good place to regroup without having your position located."

Celestia stomped a hoof in frustration. "They could be anywhere by now. I haven't felt any surges of magic since we launched the attack, which means she's either too far away to be noticed or she and her magii haven't used their teleportation spell again. We need to find them as soon as possible. I will not let Elinwynn escape the justice she is due for murdering my people in cold blood."

"Already on it," the Imperator-General said, calling over a lower ranking Praetorian officer. As they began to converse a pegasus landed at Celestia's side, causing her escorts to enter a combat stance in surprise. He wore a ragged red cloak and silver-gold armor that had been scarred and dented, showing the raw steel underneath. Blood marred his white coat, and one of his legs had a pronounced limp to it, but his blue eyes were as bright as ever.

"Urgent message for you, Princess! The Whitetail Loyalists have spotted the Cervidaen empress and her brother!"

Astonishment, worry and relief in equal measure swept over Tercio as he realized who it was.

"...Victus?"

His brother offered a light smile as he caught his breath.

"Hello, Tercio. Been a hell of a day, hasn't it?"

85 - A Promise Kept

In all of their time together Tercio had never seen his brother in such a state. Bandages covered much of his body, including his neck and part of his head, with a patch of reddened wrappings around his left foreleg where his leg guard had been removed. Victus seemed to be doing his best to keep from putting pressure on it, and he walked with a pronounced limp any time he had to move. Both of his wings were missing sections of feathers, looking as if they'd been burned away. A shallow, vertical cut along one side had matted the smaller down feathers into a crimson clump that stuck out at all angles in shallow spikes, and the razor edges of his wing blades were dented and caked with gore.

And then there was his armor: beaten, gashed and bent back in places to reveal the winter tunic underneath. It had been scarred by blade trails and discolored by a patchwork of blood, with blackened segments of pockmarks from his shoulder down to his pteruges skirt that hung in shredded strands. What sort of front-line combat had he seen? More to the point, how was he still able to carry on? By all rights he should have been taking refuge in the armory with the other wounded survivors of the valley battle.

"You look like the Nine Hells themselves, brother," Tercio said.

Victus gave a short, pained laugh. "I feel like Nine Hells themselves. Going to take more than a little blood and sweat to keep a Krosus down, I'll tell you that."

"I am glad you're alive, Decanus," Celestia said, "but I'm afraid our time for rejoicing is short. You said a band of Whitetail Loyalists saw the Cervidaen siblings?"

"Yes, Princess. I was briefly at the armory after helping the the few Legionaries that had made it through the failed scouting mission. To my surprise I also encountered Senator Praxilus in the valley. He's alive and safe at the armory, don't worry," Victus said reassuringly. "A story for another time, that one. But yes, Imperator Flint Forge of the 27th Legion had authorized a band of whitetail to assist the castle if at all possible. At the time we all assumed you would be making your way back, but it seems things have changed."

"We had little choice. Decisive action was required to save the civilians."

"So I saw. I decided to take a short scouting flight just after the whitetail squad left, and when I'd caught up with them they were just leaving the western reach. Apparently a buck named Caethil had seen the redtail leaders appear out of thin air not fifty paces from where they were, near a trio of food carts."

"Did they have any escorts with them?" Celestia asked.

"From what Caethil told me there were about two squads worth of Exemplars and several females in blue armor. I think they're the ones you'd call the 'Protectorate'. Caethil and his bucks decided to take shelter and conceal themselves until the enemy passed. I was extremely fortunate to find them a few moments later; if I'd arrived over the area any sooner I would have surely been seen by Elinwynn and her guards.

"As of this moment the Whitetail Loyalists are still heading this way. They plan to join the Royal Guard in fighting at the front, but they wanted me to pass on that they're willing to join you should you desire their aid."

Celestia nodded. "They would certainly be a valuable asset. And Elinwynn?"

"Last seen headed northwest. As far as we can tell there are no deer reinforcements out that way. It's possible they do not know the city and are simply lost in the dark, but I cannot say for sure."

She needed only a short time to consider her next move. "Very well. It is imperative that we do not let Elinwynn and Corvalix escape. I will send one of my pegasi to locate Caethil and his squad; we'll need their help. In the mean time, we will take the back exit through the castle and head to Elinwynn's last known location."

"All due respect to the others, Princess, I can still perform my mission," Victus insisted. "I know where the Loyalists were, and I've a good idea where they might be now. I'll find them for you."

Celestia gave a light, comforting smile. "There is no need to exert yourself so, Victus. Your scars speak to your commitment this day. I would advise you to return to the armory and seek an apothecary."

Victus was not having any of it. "Too many of my brothers have died to Elinwynn's tricks. So long as there is air in my lungs I will continue to serve and to fight. The redtail will learn that we are defiant until death." He looked to Tercio. "And even beyond."

"You always were the stubborn one," Tercio said, getting a smirk in return.

"Runs in the family."

Beaten up though he might have been, Celestia couldn't deny his ability and attitude. She wondered what had become of the brothers' parents, if they had emerged from the redtail atrocity unscathed. No doubt the same thing was on the their minds. There would be time to worry later; for now they could only hope to bring about a quick end to the fighting.

"Alright. Find the Loyalists and tell them to double back to the storehouse area, near the grain silos. If they encounter Elinwynn and her ilk they are not to engage them in combat if at all possible. The same goes for you, Decanus. You are my eyes and ears, and I need you alive."

Victus snapped off a smart salute. "As you wish, Your Highness."

"Just a moment, Victus," Tercio said, pushing his way through a pair of his squadmates. He embraced Victus in a tight hug, hoping that it wouldn't be the last time he saw him alive. "We've been through too much this day. Promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"Me? Last I recall you're the one who cheated death, you lucky bastard," Victus said in turn, hoping no one would hear his voice crack with worry. "Don't go thinking you can do it again, alright? I won't be there to drag you back this time. And don't worry, the prong-heads haven't been able to keep me down yet. We'll find mother and father once we've tossed the deer back out of our city."

"Stonewall?" Celestia asked quietly as Victus wished the Praetorians luck and departed over the top of the castle.

"Yes, Princess?" he answered.

"Draw an additional contubernium from the other Praetorian Guard units, and do so quickly. I want to be sure we have sufficient numbers to counter any threat Elinwynn can throw at us. We'll need a good number of unicorns, if you can find them."

The heaviest fighting at the base of the castle grounds was rife with Praetorians. The relatively narrow confines meant that many ponies were in third or fourth line positions, serving as relief for any injured or slain Equestrian and Royal Guard ponies who made up the bulk of the fighting force. They could spare a few of their number, Stonewall figured.

"Right, will only take a minute." He galloped away as Celestia addressed her squad.

"My most faithful of friends, it is unfortunate that it had to come to this, but Elinwynn has left me no choice. As of this moment we will devote every ounce of effort to finding and stopping her. Consider it a royal decree or an official order if you must, but nothing is more important than this task, not even my own safety. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, Princess," they answered together, though she could see that some of them were hesitant to accept such an demand. She could hardly blame them, but these were desperate circumstances. Elinwynn could not be trusted even at the best of times, and certainly not when she was on the run.

"Thank you. As soon as Stonewall returns we will make all due haste." She looked to her twin swords, their silvery sheen now marred by drying blood from the two young bucks whose lives she'd been forced to take. Another pair of souls sacrificed at the altar of Elinwynn's madness and ambition.

***

"I do so despise teleportation."

Corvalix clutched his stomach as another wave of nausea rippled through him, thankful that there was nothing left to bring back up. What little he had eaten earlier in the day was now a mess along the road near a small shop.

"Apologies for the sudden departure, Brother-General, but the Equestrian princess left us little choice. It is not an ideal location but it is the only one that was visible to us at that moment." One of the Protectorate does, a younger member, sounded almost sickeningly apologetic as she offered a small cloth from a satchel at her side. He took it with an annoyed grunt and wiped his mouth, then dropped it to the ground.

Wherever they had emerged from the aether was entirely unfamiliar to him, with a jumbled and inefficient forest of colorful buildings wherever he looked. There was no light of any kind save the moon's -- so strangely adorned with the image of Celestia's sister -- and he feared that lighting a torch or using an illumination spell would draw undue attention to their location. They had already wandered aimlessly for a time and made little in the way of progress.

Most annoying of all was the persistent after-image of the blindingly bright spell that had been the catalyst of an ambush. He had to give it to the ponies: they had pulled off a rather masterful attack. What little of the battle he had seen before disappearing in an instant showed that his sister's 'bargaining' chip had been at least partly negated. So much for forcing Celestia to surrender. He doubted if a single pony in the entirety of Equestria would give themselves up now.

He tried to blink away the spot in his vision to little avail. Focusing his eyes in the dark was infuriatingly difficult. If any of the others had the same problem they weren't making it known; a protective circle of Exemplars had already formed, with the magii at the center.

"Have you any idea where we might be?" he asked Elinwynn. "You've been to this wretched place far more often than myself." She hadn't said a thing since the attack and subsequent escape. At the moment she was facing a wall with her eyes shut, speaking to herself so quietly that he could not begin to hear her. Curls of black magic drifted from her like smoke from simmering ashes. He chose his words carefully and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Elinwynn, I realize you are upset, but we can ill afford to tarry. We should find our way to the bulk of the army and regroup from there. This is but a minor setback until--"

The wall in front of him exploded inward under a crushing blast of force, sending chunks of stone and clouds of dust in all directions. The surging aftershock of magical energy shoved him back and nearly knocked him off his hooves. Remaining concealed, if their teleportation hadn't given them away already, had suddenly ceased to be an option.

"Are you mad?!" he shouted, caring little for the hateful stare he received in turn from those cold, unfamiliar eyes. Dark slits, like a predator, against muddied fields of grey-green. It disturbed him greatly, but for the time being his rage was greater and growing by the second. She would hear him out, magic be damned!

"I do not know if you've noticed, dearest sister, but we are dangerously few in number! And now every unicorn within the city is going to know exactly where we are, nevermind Celestia!"

"Good. Let them come," she said in a shifting, two-toned voice. Corvalix would have laughed had he not been infuriated.

"Let them come? Listen to yourself! Your grand scheme to force a surrender has crumbled before you! The princess called your bluff and now we have lost all momentum gained from my military command! I scarcely need to tell you how low we are on experienced soldiers!" He stepped closer, until they were nearly touching. "What would you have me do now, Elinwynn? Hmm? Throw yet more conscripts into the maelstrom? Sacrifice another thousand lives while you stand here fuming?"

She did not move, did not blink, as if she could burn a hole through him through the force of her gaze alone.

"I would sacrifice all of Cervidae if it meant Equestria burned," she answered. "Do not think you are exempt simply because we share the same blood. This is my nation, my war, and you--"

Corvalix slapped her across the mouth hard enough to draw a stream of blood. It was an action for which he felt neither joy nor sorrow.

Elinwynn sneered in contempt and spat on the ground, feeling the sting across her cheek as the magii gathered power to protect their empress.

"Stay where you are!" he ordered, knowing full well that they would not hesitate to attack him should Elinwynn demand it. That was the last thing he needed right now. "You listen to me, Elinwynn: we have come too far and lost too many to throw it all away because you cannot control yourself. It is clear that you are not in your right state of mind. Just look at you! I can see it plain as day. We can all see it. If I must be the one to say something, then so shall that be my burden!" He shoved his hoof against her chest plate. "You are not fit to lead Cervidae under the influence of whatever dark magics the whitetail cooked up for your selfish desires!"

He was suddenly lifted from the ground and his hooves instinctively shot towards his neck, feeling as though a noose of thorned vine had been wrapped around it and was constricting tighter and tighter with every struggling breath.

"I am not fit? I am not fit?! I am the only one fit to lead Cervidae!" Elinwynn yanked him towards her and forced him to look, to see how insignificant he truly was. "It is through the machinations I have set in motion that we are tearing Canterlot to the ground! You do not get a say in this, dear brother! You will do as I say, when I say, and if you should dare to assault me again then I will tear you limb from limb and hurl your body to the four corners of this accursed nation! I HOLD THE POWER HERE! NOT YOU!"

Corvalix was tossed against a nearby building, slamming into its entrance and crashing through a wooden door in a shower of splinters. Pain racked his body yet again while the air was squeezed from his throat and his swimming vision narrowed to pinpoints. Just as he was on the edge of passing out Elinwynn relented, and he gasped and coughed as he breathed in deep lungfuls of dusty air.

She was already standing over him when he began to push himself up. To his great surprise she pulled him into her chest in a tight embrace, as if nothing had happened, and silently held him for a time.

"I've no wish to hurt you further, brother. You've still a part to play in my designs, but do not forget your place," she said quietly into his ear.

He was not about to push his luck. "And exactly what are your designs?" he asked carefully, waving an Exemplar over to quickly dust off his armor as she released him. None of his bucks said a thing, but from the looks he received it was obvious that they were not pleased with how events were transpiring. Who would they stand with, he wondered -- their Empress or their Brother-General? Who did they believe to be the one worthy of rule after the day's events?

"You will find out in due time," Elinwynn said. Her voice was as close to normal as he'd heard since their quick escape. "For now we must make haste, for the ponies and their traitorous whitetail lackeys shall soon be upon us."

***

Caethil could practically feel his blood boiling with rage. That murderous whore-son had been right there, so close he could have practically reached out and grabbed him by the antlers. Every fiber of his being had screamed out for him to act, then and there, consequences be damned; perhaps if he was alone he would have done exactly that. To sink his blade into Corvalix's neck, to see the shock in his eyes before the Exemplars fell upon him in a flurry of retribution...it would have been a good death.

Yet he had not given in to the strongest temptation of his life. The others were doubtlessly thankful, his small band of true whitetail, whom had held their collective breath at the sound of relocation magic breaking the silence just outside of the building they had been looking through for water to refill their flasks. The unmistakable voice of Corvalix had come through clear from a small window at the far end of their room, and his bucks froze immediately in surprise and quiet panic. Caethil had shaken his head and gestured across his antlers -- no movement, no magic. By the sound of things there were far more redtail with him than Caethil could have possibly managed to fight off, and he worried and fumed in equal measure knowing his most hated enemy was just beyond the wall. Such self-discipline did not come easy, especially once he'd heard what was possibly a violent confrontation between Corvalix and Elinwynn, and Elinwynn had definitely won that particular exchange. Trouble in paradise; an unexpected but welcome turn of events.

The majority of the magii had soon left with Elinwynn, leaving Corvalix lagging behind until his vision recovered. Being humiliated in front of his own soldiers had not left him in a particularly strong state of mind, which he made clear by swearing and kicking over a cart before berating some unfortunate buck for a perceived wrongdoing.

"We had them! We had those fucking ponies exactly where we wanted them, and we squandered it! Why was I not informed of the unicorn squad leaders? How did they find every magii in a five block radius without us having the slightest fucking clue?!"

Despite his heart pounding in his ears Caethil managed a smile at the gwillyhr's misfortune. Something had gone terribly wrong for the Cervidaen army. That meant the Equestrians were still holding fast.

"Ancestors, what a mess. How they must be laughing at us!"

A second voice, lighter and feminine, answered him.

"Brother-General, we mustn't tarry. The Empress is in need of time and focus, but she cannot recover without giving away our position. We will have to find somewhere to rest, if only for a moment. Perhaps you can act as her vanguard until she has recovered."

"I can't see a fucking thing, Aalyndria!", Corvalix snapped back. "Damn that princess and her cheap tricks! When I get my hooves on her I am going to burn her eyes out! Just...move away from the castle for now. I need time to think."

And so they had gone, leaving the area immediately after. Caethil and his squad had waited for several minutes, until they were absolutely sure they were alone once again. The collective sigh of relief was palpable. A short discussion led to them deciding to continue on to the battle at the castle, one that had flared into a full-scale melee once more, rather than attempt to track down a larger and far more capable force.

That, of course, had been when a pegasus in a red cape had found them. It had circled above, weapon drawn, as it decided whether they were a threat. Caethil had waved him down and assured them that they were with the Whitetail Loyalists. The Legion pony -- Victus, he'd said his name was -- had seen the events transpire during his flight back to the castle, and had hoped to find where the royal brats had gotten to. Caethil had told him everything he knew, with Senior Brother-Recruit Axilaatis having seen them heading west in an alley between several tall store houses. Victus had then thanked them and departed, rushing off above the scattered clouds as fast as his wings would take him, leaving the whitetail soldiers to continue on their way.

"Pick up the pace," Caethil ordered. Everyone was eager to return to the fight, to make themselves useful to the cause, especially now that the sound of battle was drawing ever closer. The ponies had launched an offensive that had enveloped much of the city near the castle, judging by the gouts of flame and flashes of magic visible from miles away.

Tearing himself away from the idea of tailing Corvalix had not been easy. Even now, as he busied himself with attack plans and formations, that sneering face was in the forefront of his mind. He imagined the spirits of the dead bucks under his command looking down upon him, disgusted with his cowardice, cursing him for his inaction.

"Once we're within javelin range we'll find an elevated place from which to provide support to the Equestrians. Peliwaan, Scynteryx: you'll stay at a distance until you've exhausted your supplies of arrows. The rest of you will form up with me after our initial volley. With any luck the ponies won't cut us down as we approach. Make sure that Loyalist flag is visible! I didn't come all this way to be run through by a twitchy ally."

Minutes passed as they approached, their hurried pace slowing down enough so that they could hear their surroundings better. The magic-enhanced orders of officers were carried on the wind, and with them came shouts of acknowledgement and the cries of the wounded.

"Not too far now," Caethil said. "Ready your weapons, and keep--"

The squad came to a jostling halt as they rounded a corner, and Caethil found himself face to face with a redtail stag who was equally surprised to find that he'd physically bumped into someone. The crack of magic and singing whine of crystalline swords being drawn was instantaneous as the two soldiers stumbled back from one another. Caethil's squad moved to his flanks, blocking the street and pulling their own weapons in preparation.

To Caethil's confoundment the enemy made no attempt to advance, nor even run. Even more confusingly, he appeared to be completely unescorted. The bars on his neck armor marked him as a Senior Brother-Commander, and an older one at that, if the streaks of grey visible on his muzzle were anything to go by.

"Whitetail, are you?" the enemy officer asked asked, not taking his eyes off the squad for even the briefest of moments.

"Loyalists of the true Whitetail government," Caethil answered. "Have you a death wish, redtail, or are you truly foolish enough to believe you can defeat us all?"

"We don't have time for this," Caethil's second-in-command said quietly. "Let's be done with him and move on."

"Neither," the stag siad, "but I don't expect you to believe me." In the pale moonlight Caethil could make out the shattered outline of his left foreleg armor; he seemed be favoring it heavily, keeping it slightly off the ground. The spiderweb cracks leading out from it were darkened by blood, and his dark green chest plate was marred by a mosaic of chips and dents. "I'm done with all this nonsense." He motioned with his well-worn sword. "Come on then, whitetail. Might as well get this over with quickly."

Caethil did not advance, nor order his bucks to do so. A lone stag, wandering in the dark, a mere arrow's flight from the battle? Something did not add up. "You are alone, Brother-Commander? You are either a fool, or you think to draw me into a trap. I shall not play your game."

The redtail gave a half-hearted laugh that came out as a wheezing, rasping cough. "That's Senior Brother-Commander faen Exemplaaria, thank you. Go ahead, take a look around if you like. Nobody's coming. So do your worst, whatever that might be. I've no fear of death."

"Where are your bucks? Why do you not bring them with you?" Caethil asked.

"Isn't it obvious? They're dead, whitetail. Dead to the last. Damned zebras are fiercer warriors than we'd thought." He spat blood on the street, and as he dipped his head Caethil could see the telltale jagged crater where a zebra war club had smashed through his side armor.

The faltering magic around his bloodied weapon faded entirely, and the sword clattered to the ground as he stumbled against the wall of a nearby building that had been partially reduced to rubble. Caethil motioned for his squad to lower their weapons, but keep them ready.

"Ancestors forgive me," the stag said, not bothering to arm himself again. "Forty-three years of service to Cervidae, and this is what I have to show for it." He looked up at the squad, perhaps realizing that they were unsure of what to do with him. "I didn't even know their names."

Peliwaan grabbed Caethil's attention with a tap on his shoulder. "Sir, we need to keep moving. Shall we grant the Exemplar a quick death?"

"Wait," Caethil answered. "Give me one more moment, then we'll continue on." Cautiously he approached the wounded stag, wary of any tricks. One could never trust a redtail, especially one so loyal as an elite. "Why come this way, Senior Brother-Commander? Would it not be best for a vaunted Exemplar officer to die in combat?"

His only immediate answer was a struggling, wet breath. Seemingly lost within his own thoughts for a time, the stag looked around him in something resembling wonder before finding the strength to speak once more.

"You hate my kind, don't you, whitetail? You wish to drive your blade through my heart. I unquestionably deserve worse."

Caethil shook his head. "I hate Cervidae what it has done; to my home, to my friends. To Equestria. But I do not wish death upon any but Brother-General Corvalix."

A slim smile answered him in turn. "He really is a cunt, isn't he? He and his bitch of a sister make quite the pair. Shame I won't be there to see them burn for what they've done in the name of Cervidae." Slowly and painfully the redtail stood up straight once more. "I've always wanted to see Canterlot. Just look at it. It's not such a bad place to die, is it?"

With a grunt of exertion he began to slowly walk again, limping on three legs. Trickles of blood seeped from his ribs and spattered on the dusty ground. "I hear the view from the rim is spectacular. Ancestors watch over you, good soldiers of Whitetail."

The line parted as he hobbled by, and they watched him until he faded from view and became one with the cold night.

A quick gathering of the squad led them to the conclusion that they needed to find a vantage point from which to survey the ongoing fight, so that they might find a point where they would do the most good. A younger buck volunteered to scramble up the remains of a white stone home, skillfully bounding from outcropping to broken ledge as the others waited impatiently.

"Brother-Captain, sir!" one of Caethil's bucks suddenly spoke up, pointing skyward. A familiar figure flew by overhead, circling their position once and stopping just above. Its ragged cloak billowed behind it, and the crest atop its helm showed the faintest hint of red against the dark skies.

"I believe there might be a change of plans," Caethil said.

The pegasus had returned; hopefully, he thought, with good news.

***

The melee that surrounded the castle was quickly devolving into an unorganized rabble. What had started as a pinpoint blitz upon the enemy had become bogged down as deer reinforcements poured in from the Coriander Road, trapping many of the civilians in the middle. Those who were able to, in both mind and body, followed the nearest Equestrian squad to anything resembling safety; undamaged buildings, still-standing but crumbling walls, even back the way they'd come, from the mountain tunnels, while the wounded, sickly and the very young were dragged away behind impromptu formations of soldiers. Some chose to fight back, stallion and mare alike, picking up the discarded weapons of the dead in the hopes of pushing through the pockets of Cervidaen forces between them and safety.

The deer were well and truly desperate now. What had seemed an assured victory merely an hour before, with Canterlot Castle cut off and on its last legs, now required every available deer to flood into the city and fight. Quartermasters and cooks, supply runners and orderlies; all took up the sword at the lethal prodding of their senior officers. Near the shattered southern rim Cervidaen siege weapons fired indiscriminately into masses of bodies while conscripts and second-line soldiers rushed past. If the redtail-led army could not win through tactics and deceit, it would do so through weight of numbers. In the confusion and strife few thought to wonder where the empress and her escorts had vanished to, and fewer still were in a position to find out.

As a final surge of deer charged into Equestrian defenses, in a broken and smoldering district that now acted as a choke point, the zebras found themselves doing the heaviest fighting with the backing of their whitetail allies.

Simb'ofu Hunter Dem'be did not know why the redtail had focused on his area above all others. Perhaps they thought it easier to break through the patchwork lines of the less 'traditional' Zevran military. It was true that his people were not ones to form a heavily armored shield wall and hold a position, and the confines of the city were far from ideal for quick flanking maneuvers, but the ground that he had lost was acceptable thus far. After all, he did not need to defeat the deer, only hold them long enough for the ponies to arrive and push them back from the north-west.

"Stay strong, children of Zevran! The spirits guide you this day!" He shouted encouragement as he knocked his staff against the ground, the angular jaws of the hunting cat skull on its tip clacking together and rustling against dull red bloodstone beads. "Mi'folu kikosa kuru'ta!"

"Zev-raan kuru'ta!" his warriors answered as one. A pair of stallions were felled by the jagged throwing spears of the advancing redtail, their stone skin potions having been all but exhausted. Hide shields and matambe wood slat armor covering their chests had proven to be dreadfully ineffective protection. Zebrakind may have been gifted with agility and cunning, but the tactics of the great yellow jungle were of little use now. They had learned to compensate somewhat for this by forcing the deer to come at them in the more open areas, so that they would be surrounded on three sides, and with the help of the Whitetail Loyalist units they were holding on by the skin of their muzzles.

Dem'be picked up a broad-headed spear from a pile beside him and hurled it with all of his might. It arced over the fluid front lines, whistling shrilly as it went, and plunged through the flank armor plate of a redtail that had been rapidly hurling heavy darts at the zebras down the road from him. He tumbled against a wall, thrashing and grasping at the half-exposed tip, briefly attempting to yank it out with his magic before the green glow faded away and he fell still.

There was no time to pray for his soul as Dem'be reached down once more, scanning for his next foe with a look of grim determination. A whitetail and three zebras were cut down mere steps from his position by a deer with dark green armor and a long, heavy sword that cleaved through its victims without so much as a hint of resistance. An Exemplar? The silver etchings in his armor marked him as someone of import, and so Dem'be took aim and sought revenge for his fallen soul-brothers.

The spear bounced off harmlessly, clattering to the ground and skidding to a stop beside the body of a redtail. The Exemplar shouted something in deertongue, drawing a full squad of bucks that charged at Dem'be's position. Dem'be turned in a fit of momentary panic and ran faster than he'd gone in many years, dropping his staff lest it slow him down. He frantically scanned for the nearest allies, finding a group of whitetail across from a fountain that was draped with dead from all sides.

"Fmasa! Koret'u shin'g'ale!" he cried out. He did not know if the deer spoke his language, but his message was received all the same. A few unheard words caused the whitetail loyalists to spread out, ten in total, with their knee blades and swords ready. Pushed on by fear and hope in equal measure, Dem'be sprinted the last few yards to the safety that awaited him.

The whitetail soldiers met the enemy head-on, fearlessly charging in with swift kicks and stabbing into weaker sections of armor to punch through in sprays of bloodied crystal flakes. Not wanting to be seen as helpless or useless, and as soon as he was sure he wouldn't be carved into, Dem'be yanked a curved dagger from his foreleg pouch and deftly sidestepped a weapon aimed at one of the whitetail, then thrust the weapon up into the exposed stomach of his victim. A firm pull to the side showered him with gore as the deer yelled out, collapsing in a heap to clutch at his exposed innards before a whitetail sword silenced him.

"Zeveriin!"

Dem'be leapt back and saw a deer with the markings of a leader and a green Equestrian cloak calling out to him.

"Zeveriin! Taen dwiill caraax'yshaen entaalah?"

Slipping his weapon back into its sheath, he galloped over while looking back over his shoulder. The two sides were fighting bitterly, but the whitetail were giving up ground.

"Ungotu bfal'e Zevrassi, Whittalu?" He hoped the deer understood, but all he got was a shake of the head in return.

"Nett ahn siraa Zeveriir. Siraa Equestrii?"

That was a word he understood. His grasp of the pony language was limited at best, but it would have to do.

"I speak some. No much. Where others?"

The whitetail looked away to the battle momentarily, his ears flicking down in frustration. Whatever he was seeing was not to his liking.

"Some words too. Zebras are falling back. Not holding. Many teryxiin dothwyyl...ah, how is said...new soldier push through one place. Other zebras are fall back to Celestia building. We--"

The whitetail suddenly shoved Dem'be to the side hard enough that he lost his balance and tumbled over. As he scrambled to stand up again he saw two redtail recruits engaged in a fierce melee with his ally. They were dispatched with ruthless efficiency, one stabbed through the throat up into his head and the other felled by a pair of knee blade kicks to the chest. The squad that had thrown themselves into the fray to protect him were almost entirely wiped out already, with half of their number still fighting against an increasing surge of redtail reinforcements.

"Time is short. Know where building is, yes? Do not wait," the whitetail leader said once there was no immediate threat, clutching a bleeding gash along the side of his head. "Others of yours waiting. Join them, or will die this spot with us."

Dem'be hesitated, hoping that somehow he could turn the tide if he stayed.

"Go now! Arthuwaan nyyl!"

The pit in his stomach grew as a fresh wave of redtail charged down the street, so many in number that their shoulder pauldrons were scraping against the sides of buildings. Their torches lit up the surrounding area with green and orange flames, and he feared they would attack him with their horrific fire weapons. Dem'be was not sure he could outrun them again, for his lungs burned and his body had seen better days; yet he had no choice if he wished to live, and so he galloped on with the shouting deer breaking against the remaining whitetail like a roaring wave that barely slowed. Glinting crystalline spears shot past his head and tumbled end over end alongside barbed darts that flitted by with barely perceptible flashes of moonlight. Desperation took hold and gave him the strength needed to keep moving, keep living, yet his spirit was dashed against the rocks when a second force of redtail bucks came charging through an Equestrian line between him and the castle. He turned right at T-shaped intersection, finding a hoof-full of zebras who appeared lost and terrified.

"With me, brothers of Zevran!" he shouted as he approached, and soon their small kikosa had grown to over twenty strong. Yet even that brought little comfort, for the redtail were not even half a block from them. Squads of ponies urged them on and took up defensive formations to give them time, knowingly placing themselves in harm's way against overwhelming numbers. It mattered little how skilled or strong the Equestrians were, for it was simply a matter of time before they were swept up by the inexperienced blades of their enemies.

Dem'be and his zebras came to a sudden stop as their route was cut off by an equal force of redtail. The deer hesitated at the sight of him, keeping their weapons up but not advancing. He noticed that most of them were not wearing any armor, and only a few had helms or chest plates. They looked barely old enough to be called bucks.

They were enemies all the same, and so the zebras drew their weapons and cautiously spread out, staying alert for any others that might try to ambush them from the side.

Flanking attacks quickly proved to be the least of their concerns. Seconds later the young bucks were joined by trio of older, much better-equipped stags who berated them for their cowardice, prodding them to move with their blades.

Dem'be prepared himself for what would likely be his death. There was nowhere left to run, no way out that wouldn't be blocked off by the deer in short order.

"If we must join the ancestors today, warriors of Zevran, then let us greet them with no regrets!"

The redtail advanced towards him just as a solitary silhouette high above passed in front of the moon. He found himself fascinated by the sight, a final moment of wonder before his life was sure to be taken. The figure stopped in the air, hovering in place with powerful flaps of its long wings.

"Zev-raan bale bimb'osa!" one of the stallions shouted, slamming his war staff into the ground.

"Zev-raan kuru'ta! Kuru'ta!"

With a final glance to the heavens he prayed that he had lived a good life, a life his fore-bearers would be proud of, and he threw himself at death with a smile -- just as the sky overhead filled with unmistakable forms diving in from the mountain tops.

86 - The Tightening Noose

Some things never changed in Equestria. For all of the grand talk of a unified Equestrian front where race and branch of service were simply titles, the true nature of the beast had reared its ugly head at every available opportunity; the petty squabbling of inter-service rivalries, jealousies and resentments due to decades-old slights, be they real or perceived, were as real now as they had been before the war.

"We need to sally forth into the city! Every second that we're up here moaning is another second for the deer to take the castle!" General Highcliff of the Equestrian Guard argued, tapping his hoof on the map table for emphasis. He was but one of several high-ranking officers who were concurrently shouting over each other in a bid to make their call to action the accepted one. Some, like Highcliff, were of the opinion that waiting in the armory was tantamount to treason. "So help me, inaction will be the death of us! The princess is out there with dwindling reserves, and the deer have no shortage of bodies to throw at our position! We have to act, and we have to act now!"

Others had a different idea about what constituted the proper course of action, and made their voices heard with equal conviction. General Skyshield, one of two Legion officers in attendance, was the first to counter Highcliff.

"Princess Celestia's orders were firm and clear: wait at the armory for her arrival, and do whatever it takes to keep the deer out and the wounded safe. It is not purely a matter of her life, it is a matter of many lives. Civilians, grievously injured soldiers, senior staff -- not to mention the foreign dignitaries! If they're lost then Equestria will become known as a nation that cannot be trusted."

"Politicians be damned, there won't be an Equestria if the princess is murdered by the deer!"

"Equestria is more than the princess!" The remark drew shocked and appalled gasps from more than one stallion. Skyshield pushed on. "We have to think beyond a single mare, important though she may be. The deer do not have the capability to break through this fortified position in their current state, and if we can hold out long enough then--"

"If you think the deer lack the means to crush this place then I suggest you think about what happened to the southern reach, General Skyshield," a senior officer from the Royal Guard interrupted as he stomped in frustration. "They dropped an entire district into the valley below; what hope do we have against that kind of power? Do you truly think they'd hesitate to do the same to us? I am in agreement with General Highcliff on this matter. It is imperative we take the fight to them."

"And what of the wounded? The infirm? Those who are not soldiers? Do we leave them to their own devices? I suppose I should not expect any different from the Royal Guard," Skyshield retorted.

"We will station a group of conscripts with veteran support. They do not need to confront the deer, only keep them from breaching the gate."

"Pah!" His wings burst out in frustration. "A barely-trained militia of bakers' sons and wrinkled farmers. They'll not delay the deer in the slightest. We must keep our forces together, in the armory, if we are to stand a chance! There is no other alternative!"

From the corner of the room General Phalanx brought the edge of his shield down against the floor with a resounding crack. The room went silent as he stormed up to the map table and slammed his helm down, and though he had but one good eye it burned with a terrible anger.

"That's enough! Listen to you, bickering like a bunch of petty housewives! I was under the impression that I was in the company of stallions who gave a damn about making sure their families don't end up as slaves, but apparently I was mistaken! Hell, I'm beginning to think slavery would be preferable to spending another moment trapped in this damn room!"

He looked around at the silent curses and cast-aside gazes of reluctant shame.

"We can spend all gods-damned night arguing about this, but while we're doing so the deer are running amok in the city! Our city! And not one of you has the sack to do something about it!" He took a moment to calm himself before continuing. "Good stallions are dying out there to buy us time to act. Not just ponies, but zebras and whitetail allies. They believe in something greater than themselves. Doesn't matter if it's the princess, or Equestria, or some land far removed from this battle. They've cast aside their differences to fight the redtail; now we must do the same.

"You've all fought the deer menace. You know what they're like, how they fight, how they think. Tell me: have any of you seen them simply take half-measures? Anyone?" The ensuing silence was all the answer he needed. "As I thought. They'll gladly march into catapult fire if ordered to do so, to say nothing of their leaders. That swinging dick Corvalix blew a gaping hole in Evinwiir to frame us as a justification for war. His bitch of a sister sacrificed gods know how many of her own soldiers to turn our whirlwind into a towering inferno that swept away our siege equipment and ripped through the very foundation of the city itself. They will not be content to sit back and starve us out.

"What we need right now is decisive action. If General Stonewall were here I have to imagine he would agree, but unlike the rest of us he's too busy leading from the front to bother with this rabble you all seem to enjoy so much." He drew his short sword and stabbed it into the oaken table top, keeping his hoof on the sun-embossed pommel. "There is only one course available to us now. We will sweep the Cervidaen army from our streets, drive them from our homes, and we will take our nation back -- or we will die trying. You may stay here if you wish. I do not intend to spend my last moments kneeling before the executioner's blade. Now...who among you will join me?"

***

To the west of the castle, amidst the war-torn remains of a dense residential area, Tercio and his Praetorian companions were on the highest of alerts. With the battle front less than a catapult's throw from their position, and an unknown number of deer spread throughout the city, the soldiers of Celestia's escort couldn't be too cautious. They moved quickly but carefully, using pegasi to scout the area from above, passing bodies and discarded weapons from the previous struggle that had claimed so many during the Cervidaean push into the heart of the city. Here and there could be seen desperate civilians, survivors of the slaughter that had found shelter, huddled in partially destroyed buildings alone or in small groups. They peeked from windows and around corners, relieved but no more willing to come out when they saw the princess passing by. Many had been burned or mauled by the spiteful redtail, some worse than others, and they pleaded for aid or something to drink as the guards kept a watchful eye on them before departing.

"Fucking redtail bastards," Tercio muttered. His heart ached at having to leave the helpless citizens of Canterlot to their own means. He wished he could offer them so much as a sip of water or a fresh bandage to ease their suffering, but every second spent doing so was another second for Elinwynn and Corvalix to escape -- or worse. Who knew what sort of murderous deceit was on their minds? Nothing, he had quickly learned, was ever straightforward with them.

"First contubernium, you're up," Polaris said, motioning to a blind corner just up ahead that opened into a forking intersection. Arrows and spears lay strewn about or had dug themselves into slate-colored walls, and partially dried trails of dark red showed where the fallen had been dragged away by their allies.

Tercio took the lead, pressing himself against a wall and peering around the corner with his weapon at the ready. There was little to be seen by moonlight, while only a single torch was burning in its wall sconce at the far end of the plaza. Tercio recognized the building immediately -- the Haven of the Gods, a temple built by devout believers of Equestria's old faith. Its spiraling steeples and high arches were unmistakable. That meant they weren't far from the market district, and thus were equally close to where the royal siblings had been sighted.

Tercio held his arm up for the others to follow him, and they quickly checked every alleyway and dark corner from which a trap could be sprung. "Clear west," he reported just under a shout. A pair of dead Equestrian Guards hung half-way over the lip of a nearby roof, their wings sticking out at broken angles. The visible shaft of a quinndryll spear spoke to their unfortunate ends.

"Clear south," came a reply a moment later.

"Clear north."

Satisfied that there was no immediate danger, Tercio lowered his shield to give his arm a brief respite. It thudded against the ground as he signaled to a waiting pegasus back where they'd come from. A quick drink from his flask gave him a small boost, though he lamented that the water inside was as cold as the night itself. What he wouldn't have given for a hot drink! A little mulled wine would have been very welcome. Perhaps if he survived the night, he thought morosely, he could indulge in such a luxury. He considered the faded tile frescoes of the temple, little more than silhouettes in the darkness. The old gods certainly wouldn't have minded a bit of wine. After some of the things he'd witnessed at Sapphire Quill's bath house, he doubted the new gods would either.

A sudden clatter from the temple resounded through the plaza, sharp and metallic, and Tercio was immediately on the alert. "We've got trouble," he said aloud. Portly, Bear and Rimeberry soon joined him as he searched for anything out of the ordinary.

"Something wrong?" Rimeberry asked, taking the end position of their impromptu shield wall.

"I heard a noise, like someone dropped something," Tercio answered him.

"It may be a civilian seeking shelter," Bear offered, not sounding entirely sure of himself.

"Or it could be one of those blue-armored does. I'm not taking any chances. Portly, grab another squad, but make it quick. We have to keep moving but we can ill afford to be attacked from behind."

"Right," Portly said, galloping away. Tercio looked over the top of his shield and readied his sword. Something was definitely moving in there. A momentary glint of green caught his eye.

The crystalline spear shot out of the darkness with such speed that he had no time to react before it gouged a hole straight through the armor covering his lower right leg. A terrible fit of sudden pain caused him to shout and drop his guard as he fell to one knee, looking in disbelief at the weapon that was jutting from him and spilling a stream of blood down its polished length.

The plaza erupted in a flurry of motion as every available Praetorian ran to the scene. Bear and Rimeberry were quick to place themselves and their shields in front of him, and not a moment too soon, for in the next instant the deer were upon them all. They came not from the darkened corridor of the temple, but from the balcony high above. Quick bursts of magic slowed them as they dropped down, their numbers at least squad-level in strength, and in the opening seconds they felled three Praetorians before anyone knew what was happening.

"Circle formation!" Rimeberry yelled his order to anyone who could hear him, drawing over five stallions who had come to see what happened to Tercio. "Come on, come on! Hurry up!" Half a dozen deer were upon the small group before aid could arrive, and Tercio found himself locked in battle with a whitetail in ill-fitting armor. He struggled to stand, willed himself to fight back against the pain, but his body would not cooperate. He covered himself with his shield and struck out at his attacker from a half-kneeling position, but it was like a child swinging a toy sword. The deer easily deflected the strike, then thrust his sword out and caught Tercio in the chest. It dug into the armor plate, deflected down with a shrill whine, and slashed into his upper thigh just above his leg guard.

Tercio bit back a cry and nearly fell over, but batted away a second attack with his shield. A thrust of his sword caught the deer in mid-swing and pierced the thinner armor over its belly, driving deep enough that Tercio felt the resistance of bone against his blade. A shout of anger and pain sent a surge of strength through him, raw and primal in its ferocity, and he lifted the deer off the ground as it thrashed helplessly against the gore-covered hilt. It slammed back down against the stone paving with a crack of splitting armor. No sooner had Tercio withdrawn his weapon than a second deer attacked him from the flank, only missing his head by a hair's breadth when he ducked to the side. Purple bristles from his crest showered down as he struggled to bring his shield around to face the new threat, but the injuries to his leg were slowing him down far too much, and the deer knew it. It quickly spun around and delivered a staggering kick, catching the top of Tercio's shield hard enough to send him reeling back. A lightning-quick strike from its knee blades came at him at the same time as an overhead sword swing, and Tercio was forced to try and protect himself from the more deadly of the two attacks. He braced himself and hoped he would still be able to fight back.

Just then a brilliant beam of scorching light erupted from the deer's side, spraying molten crystal shards against a nearby pillar. The deer's blade dropped from its magical grasp as its wide-eyed owner coughed a mixture of bright and cauterized blood onto Tercio's armor, then collapsed on top of him. The smell of scorched flesh was overwhelming.

He shoved the deer off just as Bear stuck out a hoof to help him up. Trying his hardest to stand up again, he was met by the sight of Celestia and a trio of pegasi diving at the nearest group of deer. The pegasi were using their shields as impromptu battering rams, plowing into the enemy at full speed and knocking them off balance so that Celestia could tear into them with her twin swords. She was quick and efficient in her strikes, incapacitating one target at a time with a blow to the chest or neck before following it with a thrust through the head or a severing swing at the base of the skull. Her movements were almost beautiful to behold, deftly avoiding the token defenses of her targets and seeking to minimize their suffering with clean strikes. It was soon over as the remaining deer dropped their swords and ran for their lives, disappearing behind a pair of low buildings down the road.

"That's the last of them!" Thunderburst declared from the roof of the temple before joining the others. At that moment Tercio could not have cared less if the entire deer army was nearby; his immediate concern was the spear jutting from his leg. The adrenaline of combat was fading quickly, leaving only pain in its place, and he gritted his teeth at every movement that caused the weapon to shudder even slightly.

Bear was the first to help, setting his shield over his back and stowing his sword before examining the wound by torchlight. Rimeberry and Portly joined him while Celestia and the other Praetorians secured their position and saw to the dead and wounded near the center of the plaza.

"It is a good thing you had your armor on, or you might have lost this leg. Can you still move it?" Bear asked.

"I would prefer not to, but yes," Tercio answered.

"That is also good. It does not appear to have broken the bone. You are quite fortunate, my friend."

"Yeah, I feel exceptionally gifted right about now," he said in annoyance and anguish in equal measure. "The gods have seen fit to inflict some divine punishment upon me, and right in front of their temple. Truly I am blessed."

Bear looked up to the others. "We are going to have to pull it out." Tercio swallowed hard at the thought of it, but did not object. "Rimeberry, I will need your strength. Come, grasp the spear just above where it sticks out from the armor, and pull when I say so."

"Alright," Rimeberry said, moving to position.

"Portenius, you will help me hold him down. Do not relent or you will prolong his pain, do you understand?"

Tercio closed his eyes and waited, feeling weight on either shoulder and armored hooves on his upper arms. His heart was racing and he swore he had never felt his mouth so dry, and he clenched his fists as Rimeberry took the deer weapon between his forelegs.

"Sorry to have to put you through this sort of shit again," Rimeberry said as he waited for the signal. Tercio hoped there would be no promethium powder this time. Once was more than enough. "Hey, Bear! Can we hurry this up before the princess gets here? I don't think she'll be too fond of the idea of watching her plaything cry like a foal."

Had he not been in such pain Tercio would have bitten back at the jab with a crude joke, but found he was in no mood to do so. Instead he laid his head back, deciding he didn't want to watch the thing get ripped from his leg after all.

"He's right, we need to get this over wi--" His words were cut short by the cold shock of crystal sliding out of his flesh. It took no more than an instant, but the pain was blinding, and he unthinkingly tried to thrash his legs and reach out with his pinned arms.

"Hold him, hold him!" Rimeberry said, already applying a potion-thickened Zevran salve onto a bandage that was then held in place as it spread into the wound like red-tinted mud. It began to rapidly harden, forming a seal to staunch the flow of blood, but in doing so Tercio found that it was akin to stone merging with his body. His suffering mercifully faded for a time as he neared the edge of unconsciousness, only remaining awake through sheer force of will. Translucent blue fluid was poured over the bandage, bringing much-needed relief.

"It is over now," Bear said in an infuriatingly matter-of-fact way.

"What happened to giving a signal?" Tercio growled, closing his eyes and breathing heavily as the worst of it passed.

"It is best not to anticipate these things. My apologies for misleading you, my friend."

Rimeberry was now at his side with a small vial of cloudy, green potion fluid that reeked of wet soil. He dropped it into Tercio's hand once the others were no longer needed to hold him in place.

"You know what to do. Drink up."

Tercio knocked back the foul liquid in one gulp and followed it with half of the water in his flask. He was sure he would be tasting dirt and pine for days, but at least it would dull the ache.

"I am starting to believe you enjoy collecting scars," Bear joked. "Perhaps such is the way of humans."

"I'll be sure to ask next time I see one. How long will the binding hold?"

"I am afraid I do not know the answer, mbon'tu. I am no healer. If it is like promethium, then perhaps an hour or two."

With the plaza now fully secured the Praetorians set about gathering their dead and laying them aside one another. They would have to be gathered and given proper respects after the city had been claimed. Four more to add to the list of countless losses taken by the ponies in less than a day.

Imperator Stonewall trotted up to the small group where Tercio was currently attempting to support himself on his injured leg. He grimaced as a fresh dagger of pain shot out from his mended wound, finding that he could only partially bring his foot down.

"Gods above, Krosus! Every time I look away you're two steps away from death's door! What in the nine hells happened to you now?"

"Redtail spear found me at the start of the ambush. I'm fortunate they didn't aim higher."

Stonewall nickered in a rare moment of genuine exasperation. "Four dead, six wounded...we don't have time for this shit. The deer just bought themselves a reprieve and we're going to have to make up lost ground. Can you walk?"

"I think so," Tercio said cautiously, testing the injured leg again. It was agony, but he had no other choice.

"Don't 'I think so' me, I need a yes or a no. If you can't perform your duties then you're going to have to be left behind. Now, can you walk, Centurion?"

It was only pain -- blinding, teeth-gnashing pain -- but Tercio considered himself to have an intimate relationship with pain by that point. He forced himself to stand tall, to heft his weapon and shield.

"Yes, sir."

"Good, that's what I wanted to hear. Now get back in formation, we're moving out."

He caught Celestia's eye as he limped back to the survivors. Her face had been marred by blood, a long line of arterial spray that dripped down her armor and pooled in the joints where the golden plates met. Her gaze was hard, and distant, as if she was looking through him. She must have caught herself, or perhaps noticed his injury, for that disconcerting edge quickly eased back, ever so slightly, to a look of concern. He placed his hand over his heart and bowed his head slightly, hoping she would get the message. A light nod was his answer, and that was more than enough.

"Let's go, Praetorians!" Stonewall said. "We're not going to find the cowardly tree-rutters if we stand around here with our pricks in hoof!"

***

Diving from the jagged, jutting stone teeth of the Swaybacks she appeared, like a ghost in the night, moving on silent, gliding wings. Cold mountain air filled her lungs and reinvigorated her tired body after a full day's flight. From beak to tail she shivered with excitement and fear, the old familiar melange of thoughts and emotions that overcame her before every fight. It was more addicting than any drink could ever hope to be, and for a few precious seconds Battle-Master Gilias closed her eyes and basked in its wonderful, terrible glow.

Canterlot lay before her, a burning, broken amalgam of rubble and corpses lit by green and orange torches. Everywhere she looked there were distant figures clashing against one another in an oddly entrancing mix of brightly-colored ponies and their muted allies and enemies. Worryingly, a large chunk of the city was completely gone; only a lightly iridescent swirling trail marked where some unknown catastrophe had permanently gouged the face of the capital city. Whatever the case, it was obvious that the Equestrians were in a bad way.

"Pricks out and swords up, ladies!" Gilias yelled over her shoulder with a curved blade clutched in her claws. More than four hundred of Skytalon's finest griffonesses cawed back in eager acknowledgement. They came from mountain holds all across the Griffon Empire's great expanse, veterans and seasoned killers to the last -- a full Hunter-Killer Pride, personally blessed by the Emperor to bring His divine wrath to those who would threaten the stability and might of their homeland. The time for subtlety, He had decreed, was at an end. So it was that Battle-Master Gilias had been tasked to do what was necessary, and bloody her swords once again.

One last battle. One last promise kept to the only stallion she'd ever cared about.

With a chorus of screeching war cries the griffons tucked in their wings and dove into the fray.

"Scrawk'cawn!"

***

Empress Elinwynn came to a sudden stop as the echoing, unmistakable shriek rolled in on the wind like a banshee's wail.

"It would seem our Skytalon friends are not quite so neutral as they wish to appear," Corvalix said. He was already scanning the skies for any hint of approaching griffons. Their silhouettes darted against the clouded moon in small groups as they formed up and attacked one after another, though for the time being there was no sign of them posing an immediate threat to himself or his sister.

"An unfortunate but not entirely unexpected turn of events," Elinwynn said, already dismissing the intrusion as she scanned the skyline for signs of the jutting spire she so desired. It had been years since she'd last visited it under the watchful eyes of the royal sisters, and locating it in the dark was proving to be a tiring endeavor. "Still, the bird-beasts have chosen a most unfortunate time to make their presence known. We must make haste. Doubtlessly Celestia will only be delayed for so long."

***

"Brother-Commander, sir, we've more Equestrian bodies ahead. Four of them. Recent, from the look of things. Purple cloaks and helm crests. Looks like they took several Cervidaens with them, at least."

Still scanning for danger or, more importantly, the Cervidaen twins, Caethil took the young buck's report to heart. It was both a sign that they were on the right path and an indicator that the princess was losing valuable guards. The feeling of dread had only grown since the pegasus messenger, Victus, had departed, for the dark confines of Canterlot's streets could be hiding any number of terrible surprises. He half expected to run into the corpses of Celestia and her stallions around the next corner, or find Elinwynn and Corvalix waiting for him with a thousand soldiers at their side. For now all he could do was carry on, bolstered by the loyal whitetail at his side who looked to him for stalwart guidance, and bury his doubt deep within himself.

"Thank you, Brother-Recruit," he said confidently. "Stay ahead, but do not venture too far lest you become separated."

"Yes, sir."

The scout departed once more, always keeping his head on a swivel as they ventured further into the western district and closer to the city's rim. Somewhere out there, and likely not too far ahead, the princess was on a search for the murderous empress that had evaded them at every turn. Where was she headed, he wondered? Even a newcomer to Canterlot could tell that there was nothing of great importance to be found so far from the castle, unless one placed inordinate value on the numerous shops, temples and bath houses that blanketed the area.

Catching up to Celestia had become paramount. For all of his fury and determination he knew that his Loyalist party could not begin to match the prowess of a full escort of redtail elites, and engaging them openly would have been a foolhardy and short-lived endeavor. He did not fear death, but throwing his life away would accomplish nothing, and so he redoubled his efforts to meet up with the princess and her stallions as Victus had asked of them.

"Wyyran'dil, aetnarri par niin shor; aend'illix, entarri par niin fyyndor," he whispered to himself, a verse of guidance from a youth half-remembered; from a time before the world had gone mad.

Treacherous, the mountain of life; simple, the chasm of death.

87 - Specter

Gilias had long since considered herself jaded to the reality of war. The heavy smell of death, the screams and moans of the wounded and dying, the crushing exhaustion that came with pouring every ounce of strength and will into surviving for just that extra moment longer against an opponent; it had become routine, and the ease with which she fought and killed only grew as time went on. She still took great enjoyment in besting her enemies, of course. Nothing could possibly hope to match that rush of adrenaline as her swords moved with deadly precision and rewarded her with sprays of arterial gore that dyed her feathers a deep crimson and a metallic tang that was at once stomach-churning and invigorating. It spoke to her inner predator, pushed her toward that next kill, and she'd followed it more times than she could possibly begin to count. Her list of victims, had she bothered to keep tally, would have stretched into the hundreds with ease.

That disconnect had come crashing down when Steel Spark died in her arms. Battle-Master Gilias, the unflappable griffon warrior and veteran of numerous conflicts, the trusted right claw of the Emperor Himself, had finally found someone who cared about her -- and in the end she'd been helpless to keep him from harm. The very idea of feeling such a close connection to a pony, of all things, was and remained absurd even to herself, but the terrible weight she'd felt upon his death was more real than any of the mangled bodies she'd witnessed over the years. She may not have 'loved' Steel Spark, but she'd felt something genuine when he was around, and that had been enough.

Now, as she regained her strength in heavy lungfuls of cold air, surrounded by the remains of a squad of redtail conscripts in a mishmash of broken armor, that same feeling of mental exhaustion ebbed at the edges of her thoughts until she was sure it would drive her mad. The rush of combat was still ever-present, and she'd felt it the moment she dove into the deer and enacted her bloody task with her battle-sisters, but now more than ever she was carrying on because she simply had to. She was the great Battle-Master Gilias, chosen of the Emperor, and unparalleled slaughter was expected of her without question.

"Hell of a sight, isn't it?" Battle-Veteran Glindoria asked as she sheathed her twin blades, her beak still dripping with blood. The arrival of her griffoness hunter-killer pride had caught the deer completely off guard, at least for a time, but they had paid a heavy toll for their intervention. The bodies of her fallen warriors, over thirty in all, joined the literal mounds of mixed-species corpses that riddled the streets of Canterlot, and in that moment she hoped that soon she would never have to see such a thing again.

"Yeah...hell of a sight," she answered with trembling claws. "You know what? I'm getting sick of this shit, Glin."

Glindoria placed a claw on her shoulder, one of the few griffons she considered a friend. "Come on, Gil. We're not done just yet."

Another battle resolved, another to come. Gilias pushed herself skyward, gathering her warriors with a roaring caw, and sought the next band of deer upon which to ply her bloody trade.

***

Outside of the armory, General Phalanx was in the final stages of gathering as many able-bodied stallions as possible to take back Canterlot. Between the various Guard branches and volunteers from the conscripts he'd managed to pull together over a thousand in total, a small force in the grand scheme of things but more than sizable enough to make its presence known.

There had been some good news scattered amongst the reports of overwhelming deer advances and murdered civilians: the princess was alive and well, according to a pair of pegasus messengers from the Royal Guard, and was attempting to hunt down a fleeing Elinwynn after a brilliant break-out from the castle. A large force of Praetorians were with her every step of the way, along with two detachments of pegasus strike teams personally chosen by Phalanx himself to keep an eye on her from above. No prong-head would sneak up on her if he had anything to say about it.

Surprisingly, and somewhat annoyingly, a large force of griffons from Skytalon had arrived and were carving into the deer in the distance. It was not that he did not welcome their aid, as Canterlot could certainly use any assistance it could get, but with every intervening non-pony it felt like less of an Equestrian battle and more of a case of foreign aid being what would save them. He knew it was a stubborn, old-guard way of thinking, but he'd seen the war through from its very first battle all the way to Evinwiir and back to Canterlot with his stallions. It was the Equestrian races that deserved to claim victory over the deer, not griffons or zebras!

Still...it was hard to argue with the results. The griffons were strong and skilled, and if he had to place coin on it he would have bet they were being led under the guiding wing of that insufferable Gilias. Perhaps this time she'd be a pain in the ass for the deerfolk alone.

"Alright, listen up Equestrians!" he bellowed from atop a supply crate surrounded by spare shields and armor pieces. The stallions watched him with interest and weariness, some marching into battle for the first time. "I'm not here to give you some long-winded speech about duty and honor and all that bullshit, I'm here to make one thing very clear: this is our last best hope of taking Canterlot back from the tree-rutting assholes who think Equestria belongs to them! As I speak, there are thousands of ponies, zebras and loyalist whitetail out there in isolated pockets that are fighting for their very survival! We are going to march through this city, kill every last Cervidaen we see, and reunite with our brethren until we push those fucking deer right off the edge of this city! Is that clear?"

"Hah-ooh!" came the answer of a thousand voices.

"Let's try that again. I said, is that clear?!"

"HAH-OOH!"

Phalanx nodded in approval. "It damn well better be, because we're not getting a second chance at this. Fight with all of your tenacity, and do not show the deer any mercy. You certainly won't receive any in turn." He donned his white-crested helm, his glittering cape flowing in an ethereal wind, and drew his sword defiantly.

"Move out, Equestrians!"

***

They were close now, Celestia was certain of it. The unmistakable tingle of magic was growing stronger with each passing moment. It spread across her mind like a cold ripple, a feeling that, before now, had only come from being in close proximity to a significantly powerful spell, yet here it was as a mere passive effect of Elinwynn's presence.

A squad of pegasi darted overhead in every direction, frantically searching the area for any sign of the redtail. Reports from the officer in charge came her way in frustrated, clipped messages. Everyone knew the enemy was close, and in significant numbers, but no one seemed to be able to pinpoint their location.

"I don't like it," Imperator-General Stonewall said as he trotted alongside her. They passed the smoldering corpses of zebras and ponies alike that had been caught in an emerald flame inferno that left the surrounding area charred and blackened. "Where in the hell are they hiding? We know the empress and her brother have a significant personal guard with them, but we've seen neither hide nor hair of a deer since the ambush. You'd think they'd be unable to escape the attention of flying scouts! Though I suppose at this point I shouldn't be surprised by anything the prong-heads do."

"They're likely concealing their presence, like they did with the civilians," Polaris said. The tip of his horn was glowing a pale blue, the result of the same magical overflow that Celestia was feeling far more intensely.

Stonewall wasn't convinced. "The first time they tried that even our pegasi could feel where the bastards were. They'd be fools to pull the same trick again."

"Not if their magii are more skilled."

"Polaris is right," Celestia said. "Elinwynn's Imperial Protectorate does are the most skilled magic users in Cervidae. It's entirely possible that they're hiding their beloved empress from sight while masking their own presence in the aether."

"What, even from you?" Stonewall asked incredulously.

"Do not underestimate them, my friend. I can feel us drawing ever closer, but trying to pinpoint them is like staring into a blinding light. Stay on alert."

The old stallion grunted in annoyance and picked up his pace to catch up with the lead Praetorian squad. "Damned magical nonsense..."

The battered remnants of two full contubernia had joined together and formed a solid line of shields and spears thirty paces ahead of the princess and her closer escorts, good soldiers who kept their heads on a swivel and said nary a word as they checked every dark corner, roof top and window for any sign of further attack. The ambush had shaken them, if only inwardly.

"General, sir," Bear said, one of six stallions assigned to watch the flanks and rear.

"Bear," Stonewall replied, giving a slight nod to the zebra. "Anything to report?"

"Not a thing. It is nkaanda. Ah, I am not sure of this word in Equestrian...something to be unsettled with?"

"Disconcerting?" Portly offered quietly.

"Perhaps that is the word, yes. It is not like the deer to leave us be for so long after an attack."

Stonewall had been thinking the same thing. Phalanx and the other senior cadre had often spoken of the deer counter-attacking once they'd appeared to run off, and with the princess being protected by such a relatively small number of soldiers it was strange that they hadn't come back yet. He hoped that it meant Elinwynn's guard contingent was smaller than they believed, but he wasn't about to make any assumptions.

"Don't worry, we'll find them soon enough. Keep on the lookout."

"Of course, General."

"Krosus! How's that unsightly monkey leg of yours holding up?" Stonewall asked.

The human was walking with a pronounced limp now, though if it was slowing him down he wasn't letting it show. Stonewall had to admit he was impressed with just how much shit Tercio had been through and kept going.

"Hurts like the nine hells, sir, but I'll manage. I dare say I've long since come to enjoy pain."

"So it would seem. If that wound starts bleeding again you let me know immediately, understood?"

"Yes, sir," Tercio said.

"Good. As you were."

A red-caped pegasus dove down from high above the roof tops and came to a stop in mid-air just in front of Stonewall, with rank bars that marked him as a senior scout. His equipment was mostly free of the scars and stains of warfare, no doubt a reservist from the armory.

"General, sir, we've managed to contact the Whitetail Loyalists to the northwest, near the painted storehouse. They say they know where the redtail are, along with their last known direction of travel, and are requesting we join them as soon as possible."

Stonewall lifted a foreleg in surprise.

"Do they now? How the hell did they manage that?"

"The one in charge of the group, Kethil or something similar, said they'd spotted a pair of Exemplar scouts surveying the area in suspicious detail. He cannot be absolutely certain, but it's more than we have currently."

This was exactly the break they needed. If the allied deer were right, then Stonewall intended to waste no time.

"Tell them we'll be there shortly. And make sure the redtail don't spot you on the way back! Damn fine work, son!"

The scout left without another word, leaving Stonewall to gallop back to Celestia and report the news with his Praetorians running along behind him. This was it.

***

Every step was a new agony, different from the last. The quick-acting salve had staunched the flow of blood, and had done so better than the promethium he'd been subjected to in his last encounter with the deerfolk, but the sensation of rough stone grinding against his wounded flesh was difficult at best. Tercio did his utmost to push on and ignore it, keeping up with the others as they trudged through what remained of the city in the hopes of finding their allies. What he wouldn't have given for a single apothecary and a proper dressing!

Behind him, surrounded by Praetorians, Celestia kept pace with a determined grace about her. He marveled that he had never seen her so focused, so steadfast, in all of their time together. After everything that she had witnessed, all of the death and destruction that would have rightly broken most anyone else, the necessary evils that had kept Equestria from falling, she finally saw a way to put an end to it once and for all. Her tenacity above all else drove him on.

Yet as he carried out his task he could not help but notice a persistent hum at the edge of his hearing. It was barely audible, like a whisper in a crowd, and the more he focused on it the queerer it became. It was not causing him pain, nor was it preventing him from continuing on, but it was most certainly there. He considered asking if the others heard it, but there were far more important things to be concerned with.

Overhead, the pegasus squads kept eagle-eyed lookout for any signs of movement or magic. Foremost among them, at the point of the spearhead, the ragged, caped figure of Victus dipped and banked against the moonlit clouds.

Let the redtail come, Tercio thought. Let the empress herself stand before them. He would endure the pain of a hundred wounds if it meant those he cared about would live through the night.

"Ahead!" Polaris said, holding up a hoof to slow the procession of guards to a trot. An immediate shield wall formed at the front, with Tercio acting as the anchor. Spears were set in place between tower shields in a two-tier formation, while the third row readied their pila and nocked arrows.

The deer were visible now, numbering roughly three squads worth in mismatched armor. No doubt there were more around, keeping themselves hidden.

Polaris stepped forward as the Praetorians stopped in place and scanned the area. Though they were supposed to be friendly, one could never quite trust the deer to act exactly as expected; they had learned that much months ago, to say nothing of the long night they now endured.

"Who goes there? Identify yourself else iron and steel shall be your fate!"

The stag at the front bowed his head and saluted with a hoof against his chest. Tercio noted that he wore the full armor of a Whitetail soldier, and for a brief moment the memories of the ambush outside of Canterlot vividly came back. It made his heart quicken, and his grip tightened on the oaken shaft of his spear.

"It is good to see friendly faces," the deer said. "I am Caethil Antiirix, former Brother-Captain of the Evinwiir Capital Guard and proud soldier of the true Whitetail, and these are my charges. You will find they are loyalists to the last, and good bucks."

A smile crossed his face as he recognized a one of the few stallions he considered a true friend.

"Greetings, Baer'barisater. The redtail have not gotten the best of you just yet, it would seem."

"Not for a lack of trying," Bear replied with stone-faced seriousness.

Celestia moved closer and saluted in respect to her new allies. "We meet at last, Caethil. I have heard much about your journey from my faithful Zevran Praetorian. I must say, while I am not fond of deceit, your efforts to bring the zebras to our aid have been exceptionally welcome."

"Apologies, Princess," Caethil said, "but Bear was insistent that I had some role to play in this grand mess of an ordeal. Were it not for him I would likely be in some unmarked grave in Evinwiir by now. In any case, I am glad you are all well. I feared you had been overrun before we could join our forces against the empress. Have your flying scouts seen any sign of her yet?"

"I am afraid not, but I know she is close," Celestia said.

"Without a doubt. While we have not seen her since she made her escape from your attack -- which was brilliantly done, if I may say so -- we've been tailing the Exemplars for some time from a distance. We thought we'd lost them until Brother-Recruit Sindrii spotted a pair of the bastard redtail moving along a side street, presumably as a scouting party. They were only visible for a brief moment before they were enveloped in an invisibility spell, but they were unmistakably redtail soldiers. We stayed put and waited until Victus found us once more. It would appear they're still headed west, towards the rim of the city, though they are quickly running out of space."

Celestia nodded. "You did well, Brother-Captain. Speak with Imperator-General Stonewall and we'll move as one."

The city's edge was fast approaching, and there was little to nothing of strategic value to be gained by Elinwynn in continuing that way. What, then, could be so important to her?

As the deer integrated themselves into the Praetorian formation, taking their places at the left and right edges, Celestia scanned the darkened skyline. Perhaps she was going about things wrong and needed to change her way of thinking. After all, Elinwynn had always been an emotional doe. Cunning and manipulative, to be sure, but everything about her, from her method of rule to her justifications for starting the war with Equestria, had come from a place of deep-seated spite and ancient, petty grudges.

The war was all but lost for Cervidae, a fact that had to be clear even to the empress and her brother. Elinwynn would do anything to keep control of her power and her nation, and if she was going to lose then she would no doubt seek whatever means she could find to hurt Equestria -- even if she had to do so in a purely pyrrhic fashion.

"Stonewall, are we ready to depart?" Celestia asked. Stonewall was just finishing speaking with Caethil. His glittering, blood-stained cloak fluttered to his side as a gust of wind blew through the city.

"We are," he said. "What are your orders?"

"We'll follow Caethil's advice and continue west. I believe I know exactly where Elinwynn is headed."

***

Corvalix's frustration was immeasurable. He and his soldiers had been wandering in the dark, dutifully following his sister for what felt like an inordinate amount of time, knowing that with every passing moment the noose was drawing tighter around their necks. He had dared not ask what Elinwynn's plans were, but the temptation to question her was growing to the point that he feared he would not be able to control himself soon.

"Forgive me, Your Grace," a veteran Protectorate doe said, "but we cannot maintain the illusion spell for much longer. My sisters and I will need time to recover if we are to be of further use to you."
Elinwynn did not bother to look back.

"I am aware, Aalyndria. Do not think me so blind to the ebb and flow of powers beyond your comprehension."

A shadow crossed the doe's face, hidden almost entirely under the stern facade of prideful professionalism, but there nonetheless. A wounded ego was unmistakable.

They continued on for only a short time more before coming to a stop near a cobblestone path. Twin brazers reduced to glowing coals marked where it passed between short, picket-topped walls, leading up a shallow hill to a tall building beyond. Towering spires topped with muted hues of gold and purple jutted against the darkness like rounded spear points and stood in sharp contrast to the pocked, off-white brickwork that spoke to the building's age.

"Here," Elinwynn said with a matter-of-fact tone. Corvalix was already assessing the area for its defensive potential. There was little in the way of cover and concealment, but the wall would provide a decent place for a unit of ranged weapons.

"Brother-Captain Kaepax: I need two squads of bucks to hold this position, with an additional squad to provide support from afar. I leave it to you to decide upon the best formation," he said.

The senior officer saluted and immediately set about carrying out Corvalix's command, drawing a quarter of his available forces for the task. A pair of magii soon joined them, younger members of the Imperial Protectorate who were no less capable of great feats of power.

As the soldiers scrambled into position, Elinwynn continued up the path with an unheard exchange between herself and Aalyndria. Corvalix caught up to her just as the tingle of magic faded from his body.

"The illusion spell is unnecessary," she said by way of explanation. "Celestia is close now. We will be better served using our magic elsewhere." The strain seemed to melt away from the magii as they took the opportunity to let their connection to the aether strengthen itself once more. The air around them grew colder, causing the grass and stones under their hooves to momentarily frost over while their armor sparkled like a window on a winter's morn.

Corvalix had no earthly idea where they might be, but Elinwynn seemed to carry on with the utmost confidence. He finally chose his moment to pry as the rim of the city came into view below, far beneath the stone walls that separated the narrow walkway from the expansive garden below. Short evergreens and curious glowing bushes and flowers speckled the area and cast a multi-colored warmth across the undisturbed snow. This was clearly somewhere of importance.

"The Royal Library," Elinwynn intoned suddenly, as if she could read his thoughts. "Celestia spoke of it on occasion. She seems to think quite highly of it. A private repository of Equestria's 'fabled' history."

"At least it appears as such to the untrained eye?" he led on.

"Don't be foolish," Elinwynn rebuked him, "what you see is what you get, dearest brother."

There had to be something she wasn't telling him, Corvalix was sure of it. She was not the type to waste her time and effort on something so trivial as musty old scrolls and yellowing pages.

"I see..." he said cautiously.

"No," Elinwynn said, "you do not."

At the end of the path awaited an arched entryway, with a wooden sign curving over the top that he was unable to read. The air changed as soon as he was within its confines, becoming comfortably warm. A sort of spell, he guessed, enchanted into the stonework or maintained by some unknown means. If nothing else, he could forget about the damned cold for a while.

Ahead was set of double doors, tall and curved to match the entrance, with an incredibly elaborate mosaic carved into the woodwork. Corvalix studied the scenes with a curious eye, running a hoof over them as Elinwynn waited impatiently for him to finish. It was obviously a telling of Equestria's history, most interestingly showing a pair of winged unicorns presiding over a war-torn landscape until their light swept over the ponies in the next scene, ultimately ending in two smaller, younger winged unicorns encircling the sun and moon. It was, he had to admit, a fascinating sight to behold.

"See how Celesatia's forebears considered themselves morally superior." Elinwynn looked over the art with disgust. "Equestria likes to think of itself as the harmless savior of civilization, a bastion of peace and advancement in a world gone mad. Their art is as self-serving as their rulers.

"How strange that there is no mention of the great Ochrourus Collective splitting in twain, no passing acknowledgement of the winged unicorns' support of the zebras in their ancient war of expansion against the griffons. They did these things not out of the goodness of their hearts, but out of their own self-interest. Such is the way of their brutish kind."

Glittering smoke seeped from her eyes as he felt her power surge back to the surface.

"Such has always been their way, and so shall it continue to be unless we make it quite clear that their actions have long-reaching consequences."

With a blast of magic the doors were sent flying off their hinges, skidding across the floor beyond and tumbling end over end with a clamor of shattering wooden shelves and rolls of parchment. They came to a rest against a far wall, surrounded by detritus and glowing softly where the spell had dented them inward as if beaten by a great hammer. Elinwynn and Corvalix stepped into the tall building, flanked by guards on either side.

It was an old place, with row upon row of book cases and scroll depositories that stretched out along a grand central hall that was lit by numerous magical crystal lamps, giving the area a soft blue glow. To one side, beyond a painting of the Equestrian sunset, a spiral staircase led to three separate tiers where wooden chests were stacked from floor to ceiling. Opposite that, a different staircase was silhouetted by a large mosaic that Corvalix could not make out in its entirety. It went nearly to the top of the high, domed ceiling before splitting into a trio of short walkways that led to the spires that jutted from the eastern side of the building.

The library was obviously quite old, but it seemed to be impeccably cared for. There was a slight musty smell of yellowing pages and forgotten things, as was to be expected, yet the dust of countless years was nowhere to be seen. Everything, from the dark marble and wrought iron of the stair cases to the polished hardwood floor, looked brand new.

Corvalix dutifully followed Elinwynn past shelving inscribed with strange hieroglyphs, the collective hoofsteps of the deer echoing loudly throughout the building.

"We are not here simply to enjoy the scenery," Elinwynn said, scanning every shelf she passed with an inquisitive eye.

"How utterly surprising," Corvalix replied dryly. "What is it, then? Is this some sort of quest to deny the ponies their vaunted history? Shall we hold a great bonfire in the name of Cervidaen victory?" A slight hint of resentment had seeped into his voice. He found himself unwilling to care if she noticed.

Elinwynn scoffed. "Please. I am no philistine, and we are not some rabble of unkempt barbarians. The knowledge contained within these walls, however droll the majority of it might be, shall be ours once Equestria surrenders. No, we will not burn this place to the ground." She turned to the head of her escort detail. "Have your bucks spread out. I want every crystal slate you can find that's written in Whyyttalia or Ochrouriliis. Bring them to me, and do so quickly."
The soldiers split off in all directions as Elinwynn was taken by a sudden flaring of power that visibly passed over her in a ripple of dark green light. She shut her eyes against the unknown influence and mumbled to herself while the magii pretended not to notice, turning away from her while carefully keeping her in view. Their short coats bristled where their armor did not cover.

"--wanted power but it belongs to me alone this is my empire...as the serfs huddle in the dark hallways of the forgotten writhing shall my father forthwith bring..."

Her words were a seemingly random rabble of incoherent thoughts and half-recalled memories. Aalyndria and Athil'loren cast askew glances at one another, taking half-steps back. The wildly fluctuating magic emanating from the empress had set them on edge, to say nothing of her behavior.

"Elinwynn?" Corvalix carefully asked.

"...things upon unsaid spent lives cast out through the shimmering sect for the lesser among..."

"Elinwynn!" He stomped a hoof hard enough to splinter the wooden flooring. Her eyes snapped open and seemed to peer into him, peer through him. He shuddered internally and gulped down his fear, both of her and for her. "Listen to me! You must keep focus. Do you understand? You are losing yourself to this dark influence, but I know you are stronger than that. Do not let it control you."

She casually and gently rested her head upon his shoulder pauldron, unnervingly still for a time, then spoke at a whisper.

"They are here."

"What? Who is--"

The sudden eruption of nearby battle made his ears perk up in alarm. The Equestrians had found them.

Elinwynn embraced him tightly, gently rocking him from side to side as she nuzzled his armor.

"They are here."

***

For all of their skill in battle, the deer had not been expecting their first contact with the Praetorians to come in the form of a massed volley of arrows and pila arcing over the roof tops. Scattershot though it may have been, relying on weight of numbers rather than precision, it served its purpose in striking down several of the redtail before they could react, and with a roaring shout the combined forces of Equestria and Whitetail came pouring out of the nearby alleyways to take advantage of the resultant confusion. The first Praetorians crashed into the deer defending the lower courtyard and its low wall, using their speed and power to ram into the enemy with their tower shields. Crystal flakes and streams of gore spattered the snow-flecked ground as the ferocity of their strikes claimed more lives.

But the redtail were quick, and well-trained, and it took no more than a few brief moments for them to respond in kind. Their counter-attack poured forth in a torch-lit wash of bodies and glinting weapons that resounded like shearing metal, supported from behind by magii who willed shields into being and brought down rains of darts in sparking, shimmering clouds. As they did so, focused entirely on the struggle before them, pegasi squads circled around the far side of the towering royal library and struck the magii from behind with flying spear thrusts that pierced and shattered the sapphire quinn-plate armor. Many of the vaunted doe forces fell in a chorus of shocked gasps and pained shouts, and the pegasi fled with utmost haste to avoid the retribution that was quickly turned their way. Many escaped, hurling themselves behind steeples or diving below the city's rim, but a scant few were captured in paralyzing spells and were soon cut down by the very weapons they had left behind in their victims.

Down on the ground, at the center of the fray, the Praetorian squad was in a desperate fight against an enemy that cared nothing for its own well-being. The speed, skill and ferocity of Corvalix's Exemplars was unlike anything they had encountered in the forest or during the brief, one-sided slaughter following Celestia's ambush, and they were paying in blood for every step they gained.

So too were the Loyalists who had taken up a strong right flank. Their pitched combat was entirely more personal, and the two factions of deer cleaved into one another with unbridled hatred and merciless assaults punctuated by deertongue curses. Caethil had taken position front and center, personally leading his bucks to cut off and decimate the redtail that were holding a small hillock nestled against the side of the library. A fire burned in his eyes for all to see, and his antlers glowed with magic. With every strike, every slash and thrust, he grit his teeth against the resultant spray of blood that dyed his armor and coat a ruddy red.

A momentary gap in the Exemplar line allowed Polaris and his squad to push a few extra precious steps forward, creating a bulge in the battle line. It was the slightest of advantages, an opportunity that would be momentary at best, but it was enough. With Tercio, Bear and Rimeberry spearheading the push the Praetorians struck at the center of the deer formation, fighting off crystalline swords and knee blades and splitting the first two lines of redtail forces in half. Further bucks came charging in from behind to reinforce, and the brief push came to a grinding halt just beyond the low wall.

***

Celestia had been right after all. The Royal Library, which was at most a curious relic to the majority of Equestrians, had drawn Elinwynn like a moth to a flame. To what end, she could not be sure. The library contained the knowledge of thousands of years of civilization, yet it was almost entirely innocuous in its contents; a collected history scattered throughout with long outdated spells and old ways and means, dusty tomes and stacks of parchment, manifests and communiques from rulers long dead and forgotten that had presided over nations that were similarly lost to the ages. Perhaps, the princess thought, Elinwynn wanted nothing more than to destroy that very history so that all that remained was hearsay and speculation. If that were the case, why hadn't she simply set fire to the building once she'd broken in? It was a curious and troubling thing to consider that would not leave her mind despite the ferocity of open warfare. She intended to find out once she'd finally brought the empress to heel, and all that remained between her and that goal was a final, fanatical group of deer. They were formidable opponents, even for the Praetorians. Their martial prowess was backed by skilled does who were doing everything in their power to bat away any ranged support that the ponies might try to make use of. When not focused the continued assaults of the pegasi and their volleys of spears, they threw up magical barriers that slowed the stabs and slashes that would have otherwise brought down the most vulnerable Exemplars, and Celestia could not help but hold a grudging respect for their ability to flit between the two with a speed that was almost preternatural.

A sudden shout resounded throughout the courtyard, and the deer pushed their way forward through sheer strength and weight of numbers, gaining a firm hold that allowed them to take back the low wall.

"Let us handle this, you focus on those magii," Stonewall said from his vantage point atop a chunk of rubble, sticking out a foreleg to block her as one of the Praetorians fell to a sword through his chest, causing the light around his horn to fade as his weapon dropped to the ground. His dark blue tail thrashed for a short time, then fell still. Celestia recognized him immediately: Decanus Diomedes, one of the newest Praetorian initiates, was gone. His brothers wasted no time in filling in the gap where he'd stood; the gruesome spectacle of deer and pony vying for supremacy around his body was a surreal and terrible sight, where the blood-stained snow slurry sloshed about their hooves.

Celestia wanted to charge into the fray, to protect her soldiers and friends, to avenge their deaths with an anger she could scarcely keep within. Stonewall looked at her and saw the fury in her eyes, but shook his head all the same.

"Save your strength, Princess. You'll need it."

A pleading shriek rose from the melee, someone begging for their life. Their desperate cries were cut short as the Praetorians were forced to retreat several steps, taking the Loyalists back with them in a move that threatened to collapse the right flank. Part of a squad was shifted over to reinforce, but it was a delaying action at best.

The Praetorians, Equestria's finest and most loyal soldiers, were losing.

***

"Hold left!" Polaris yelled above the cacophany of combat, shifting his squad to try and push through a slightly weaker flank while an officer from the 2nd Barracks covered his movements. It was a slow process, mired as they were in the brackish muck that defied any attempt to keep a steady hoofhold. Bear, Tercio and Rimeberry were lagging behind by the slightest of measures, and it was there that the deer focused their fury with trained precision. Polaris yanked a pila from his back and hurled it at an enemy in a flash of magic, cursing when it deflected off the tough armor at a glancing angle and clattered against the nearby wall. At the same instant, from behind the main line, a spread of darts knifed through the air with deadly aim. He threw his tower shield up and ducked behind it, hearing the sharp, heavy missiles dig into his cover with hollow thwacks, while three of them found their mark and sliced into his right ear and shoulder with a cold shock of pain. Polaris gnashed his teeth and hid himself lower, pulling the offending weapons from his body as he bit through the pain and let the bloodied lengths of metal drop to the ground.

The battle was becoming a war of attrition, with neither side holding an advantage. Polaris cursed the stubborn redtail and their tenacious defense. The Equestrian line was fighting a stalemate at best, and losing in key places. Something had to be done to give his brothers the advantage and let the princess reach Elinwynn before it was too late and the murderous wench disappeared once more.

With two squads holding fast for the moment, including his own, Polaris fell back across the street to the cover of Celestia's retinue where Stonewall was gesturing in frantic but measured conversation with the princess.

"Stonewall! Stonewall, sir! I have an idea!" he said as he squeezed between two stallions and took cover behind the shield wall. The others looked at him in surprise, but to his great relief they didn't send him away.

"I'm listening," Stonewall said, eyeing the wounds across Polaris' face and upper body but remaining silent about them. "Out with it, son."

Polaris took a breath to sort out his thoughts. "When the deer teleported away from us they could only take so many with them, correct? We haven't seen any deer reinforcements arrive from beyond the library, and the Loyalists haven't reported any either. So the numbers we're seeing here have to represent the bulk of their forces protecting the empress." He looked to the princess and said, "we don't need to defeat them, we just need to get around them so you can get to Elinwynn quickly."

"We've thought of that," Stonewall said. "There's no other way into the building other than the front doors. We considered having the princess fly around the side and circle behind them, but that would leave her vulnerable and alone, barring whatever pegasi we could send with her. If she tried to teleport a squad to her location it would also drain her sufficiently enough that she wouldn't be at her peak to confront Elinwynn."

"I know you've felt Elinwynn's power," Celestia said. "I fear I am already facing an insurmountable obstacle, to say nothing of her brother or their Imperial Protectorate."

Polaris stomped a hoof. "That's why we have to push, in force, straight up the middle. Once we're through we can keep half of our stallions back as a delaying force and take the other half with us."

"I realize you are not a tactician, Acting Imperator," Stonewall added for emphasis, plainly frustrated with the situation, "but even you should be able to see that such a thing is easier said than done. If we could simply charge through the deer then we would have done so by now."

"I understand. That's why I took the liberty of obtaining this."

Fishing through a pouch at his side, Polaris produced a small vial and floated it before them. Its contents sparkled with pinks and purples, swirling together and giving off a dark purple fog that roiled against the cork stopper. Celestia took a tentative half-step back and nervously watched it bob before her.

"Polaris, where did you get that?" she asked.

"One of the magii was slain during the pegasus attack," Polaris explained. "I saw this little gem roll out of a hip pouch and pulled it over before the deer could take notice. This is exactly what we need!"

Celestia was having none of it. "Absolutely not. I will not have one of my best--"

Before she could finish her objections, and to everyone's shock, Polaris yanked the stopper out and downed the potion in a single gulp. The empty glass clattered to the ground.

"Are you mad?!" Stonewall demanded. "You've seen what that concoction does to anyone who drinks it!"

"I have, which is exactly why we mustn't waste any time. If we...if..."

The effect was immediate. Polaris felt his head begin to swim, bringing with it a brief but intense ache that he could feel coursing along his spine to the tip of his horn, culminating in a jolt of lightning surging through his every nerve that doubled him over and made his teeth chatter as he struggled against the overwhelming feeling of being more. More powerful, more aware, more alive. It was terrifying and wondrous at the same time, and as he stood back up he found that he could sense the magic of those around him as if it was something to reach out and grasp. It prickled his tongue and needled his skin.

Yet under it all, deep beneath the power and clarity, there lurked something far more sinister and primal. It was not an intelligence, nor anything resembling life as he knew it, but rather a force. An urge. It was emotion and desire made corporeal, and the more he tried to grasp it the more it wormed its way into his thoughts.

"We do not have time to argue," he said, his voice already dipping and recovering. "We will be the spear that pierces the enemy's heart, and I shall be its point."

The radiant aura around Celestia flickered and grew with her conflicting emotions, like a candle flame in the wind, and for a brief moment Polaris regretted what he had done.

"This had better not be in vain, Praetorian," Stonewall demanded. "I don't like it, but I can't think of any other way out of this stalemate, either. Understand this: if you fuck this up then we're all going to die, and Equestria will belong to the tree-rutters."

"Yet if we succeed then the deer will be finished," Polaris countered. "I am asking both of you to trust me; as a soldier, a stallion and an Equestrian."

The grand form of Celestia towered before him, regal and comforting in her very presence but with a visage of concern.

"It is unlike you to be so brash, Polaris. I cannot condone what you've done, but..."

"I know. I do not do this lightly, yet mine is a single life amongst thousands," he said. He stared off at something beyond their vision, losing himself in the flood of sensations that were all around him, then snapped his sight back to the princess. "We've no time to lose. What are your orders, princess?"

With grim determination Celestia set a hoof upon his shoulder and pulled her bloodied swords from their scabbards.

"Lead on, Imperator."

***

The battle lines were beginning to dissolve into a disorganized mire. The two sides, so disciplined in mind and body, were growing desperate for a decisive strike that would break the resolve of the other. A deer charged into the formation with bursts of magic and flailing blades, hurling spears and darts in spreads that downed several Praetorians before leaping onto a wounded stallion and thrusting its weapon into an exposed neck. A bright spurt of blood and terrible cry were his brief reward, before Tercio ripped the Exemplar stag away and slammed it into the mud, holding it down with a knee as he impaled his enemy to the ground with a spear.

Amid the chaos came a sudden trumpeting, two long notes followed by a shorter one, repeated twice. Every soldier recognized it as the call to a two-tiered wedge formation, and took immediate action to assume their assigned position. A moment of brief confusion passed through Tercio's mind, for the wedge was typically meant to be the spearhead of a charging attack, not a defensive maneuver, and there was precious little room to build up to a run in these conditions.

"Pull up on the right! Staggered, not descending!" he shouted. The stallions furthest on the end were having difficulty hearing, and one of them paid the price in his hesitancy to fall back. Someone else took his position almost immediately, but it was yet another loss they couldn't afford. They were running out of stallions, and quickly.

"FLAMMARUM TEMPESTAS FERRO!" The magically-enhanced voice of Polaris called out, and every Praetorian took notice. It was an order known to all but unused in decades: storm of steel, an unwavering push that would not stop until either the enemy had broken or the Praetorians were utterly defeated. It was a move of desperation, a suicidal final effort. The formation shift made sense now, but any optimism was replaced with a growing sense of dread. The deer outnumbered them, held the superior position, and were chipping at their defenses.

So be it, then. If this was to be their end, then he would drag as many deer with him to the depths of the nine hells as he could.

"PRAETORIA VICTOR!" came the prompt, causing every soldier to dig in their stance and brace. The Loyalist deer took up positions behind them, leaving the Praetorians to lead with their superior armor and physicality.

"Praetoria Aeternum!" Tercio yelled the response with his squad mates, knocking a strike aside to keep the shield wall tight.

"Well, shit. See you in the beyond, my friend," Rimeberry said to him, already accepting of his fate. Tercio gulped back the fear that threatened to rise as the encroaching spears and crystalline swords suddenly seemed far more terrible than before. He prayed that he would meet his end quickly.

"You should be so lucky," he managed to say, getting a nervous laugh in return.

"That I should."

"AD FINEM!"

Fifty swords clattered against fifty shields, and Polaris ran to the very tip of the formation with a powerful crackle of aetherial energy arcing from his horn. He briefly exchanged a glance with Tercio, and the latter felt his breath catch in his throat as he saw the black vines in Polaris' eyes.

"HONOR TO THE PRINCESS! HONOR TO EQUESTRIA!"

"HAH-OOH! HAH-OOH! HAH-OOH!"

And so the Praetorians pushed.

1 - Treachery

"Tercio! Tercio, wake up!"

The guardsman pushed himself up on a groggy elbow, his mind not yet aware of his surroundings.

"Hastare? What in the name of the heavens--"

"Are you deaf as well as dumb? Do you not hear that?!"

Tercio strained to listen, only to feel the disruption before he heard it, a rumbling that shook the walls and vibrated through the floor tiles. Something was rocking the palace to its very foundation. Within seconds he was alert, the threat of danger in the forefront of his mind.

"What is happening out there?"

"Hell if I know, but it's close to the royal chambers! Hurry up and grab your gear, I'm going to rally the others!"

Hastare was out of his sight immediately, the sound of his frantic hoofsteps and shouted orders echoing through the halls. It would take precious minutes for the Praetorians to respond, time the Princess might not have. Tercio quickly grabbed his sword and shield, not even bothering to strap on his armor, and rushed down the hall to the great central guard chambers. Several guardsmen from another unit were already assembled, still securing their battle uniforms despite not knowing what was truly happening. He stopped in front of them, ignoring their surprised salutes, and pointed to a small group with his sword.

"You, you, and you, come with me! Bring only what is on your body at this very moment!"

"Sir!" they shouted as one, falling in behind him. They looked more like recruits than the elite of the Equestrian military, their clothes hanging from them with half-finished sections of armor strapped to their limbs, but they would fight if they were called to do so. Hastare's training had seen to that.

The ground shook again, a thundering crack of exploding stonework resounding through the cavernous hall. The men murmured with rumors -- it was an invasion, it was a rebellion, it was the work of an arcane user gone mad.

"Silence!" he ordered them. The large, intricate double doors of the palace barracks entrance swung open as the guards saw his small band coming. Another explosion, this one far closer. "Hurry it up!"

Canterlot Gardens, the centerpiece of the Princess' quarters, lay just ahead. Arched ceilings gave way to open sky, and soon the guards were under the moonlit night. That's when he saw them, two figures in the distance dancing and darting around each other in the air. Bright bursts of light flared from their positions, striking the ground and rupturing buildings with each impact.

"...Princess Celestia?" he whispered to himself, wondering if what he was seeing was actually the princess he'd been sworn to protect. The two silhouettes were suddenly much closer than before, flying over buildings at great speed and dipping between glimmering spires in a battle that was hard to even follow. There was a burst of blue and purple energy that shined like a miniature sun, glowing ever brighter. He stared in fascination even as it appeared to elongate.

RUN.

A voice in the back of his mind, firm yet familiar and incredibly urgent. His eyes widened briefly at the sensation, and he idly realized that the others with him had the same look. As one they scattered in different directions, but the warning had come too late. The beam of dark, terrible energy slashed through a near-by tree, rending it to splinters, before it found its mark -- one of the unfortunate stallions caught the force of the blast full-on, exploding in a shower of gore and bone fragments. Tercio threw his hands up to shield himself, his arms and palms stinging from the energy of the blast. A bloody, scorched crater marked the place where his comrade used to be.

Distantly, Tercio heard a comrade call out to the lost guard in shock and despair. His ears rang from the blast and he was covered in blood and bits of flesh, yet still his eyes were drawn skyward to the battle. Celestia was fighting a terrible fight against a winged unicorn he'd never seen before, one that was as dark as the night itself and covered in armor that shone with an otherworldly blue light. He could only look on, helpless, and hope that the pegasi were able to help in time. Another blast roared past his head and obliterated a column behind him. Celestia placed herself between the unknown enemy and her loyal guardsmen, hovering in place with great flaps of her wings.

"Please, control yourself! It doesn't have to be this way!"

"If you would risk yourself for these insignificant creatures," the dark voice answered, "then you may die with the rest of them!"

The figure raised its head, energy coalescing at the tip of its horn. Frantically, Tercio looked around for cover, finding none that would protect him from another such blast. Celestia threw herself bodily at the threat, knocking the figure onto its side and sending the roiling blast blazing into the sky.

"Stop this madness at once, Luna!"

Luna. The princess' sister. She was the dark figure? It didn't seem possible; Luna had always been the steadfast ruler of the night, always so willing to speak with him and his men, no matter the situation. It couldn't be Luna!

"There is no more Luna, my dear sister!" The corrupted Luna spit out the word like it was poison on her tongue. "You will address me as Nightmare Moon, or you shall suffer with them! You and your pathetic subjects will kneel before me, or many more will join the ranks of the dead!" A beam of yellow light slammed into the princess that now called herself Nightmare Moon, sending her into a tumble she quickly recovered from. She let out a growl of frustration and flew overhead at great speed, ignoring the remaining guards and focusing on Celestia. The dueling sisters disappeared from view, further explosions marking their battle.

Tercio shook himself from his stupor, resolving to find and help his princess in any way he could. The two guards with him seemed to be of the same mind, and soon they were galloping back down the long hallway to the southern palace entrance -- and the throne room. Another exchange of magical energy sounded above them, and there was a loud crash as something hit the floor in the next room. An armored guard was already trying to open the massive doors, pushing with all of his might.

"Get that door open!" Tercio shouted as he approached.

"I'm trying, sir, but it's jammed!"

Muffled voices spoke to each other. One of them sounded weak, defeated. Celestia's.

"Quickly, as one!" The guards at his side braced themselves against the door.

"As one!" they echoed, the collective grunts of exertion blocking out all but the shaking of the floor and walls, but the door would not budge. It groaned as their combined strength strained against it, but still it held. "Again, lads! Agaaaain!" Ever so slightly, the door gave. They pushed again, and it cracked open. Another push, and it was nearly wide enough to fit an arm through. Voices flooded through the gap, drowned out by their efforts. "Once more, swords at the ready!"

With a final shove the door flung open. Tercio was on his feet and running even as the stallions behind him scrambled for a grip on the tile. Just ahead of him were Celestia and Luna, locked in a battle, a beam of unfathomable energy flowing between them.

Celestia spoke to her sister, though Tercio could hear no words.

In an instant the throne room was awash in brilliant, yellow light. Luna, Nightmare Moon, the co-ruler of Equestria, simply vanished. Out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed a streak of light take off into the night sky, rushing toward the full moon. He wanted to rush over to his princess, to make sure she was unharmed, but he could not find the words to comfort her.

"I'm sorry, Luna," Celestia sobbed. "I'm so sorry."

***

Alone in her chambers, Princess Celestia paced in front of her mirror. She looked gaunt and tired, a sad shadow of her typical appearance. Her personal guard had expressed their concerns, and she had to admit they had reason to worry; she hadn't eaten much of anything in the last month, and had slept even less. Raising and lowering the moon took extra time and effort out of her day, time she didn't have, made especially worse by the process being so deceptively intricate. At least it occupied her mind. The worst times came when she was without a task, without a duty to fulfill or a dignitary to host. It was at those times that she thought about Luna, thought endlessly on the details and filled her every moment with questions. Questions that, try as she might, she could not find an answer for. What had truly happened? What was the catalyst of Luna's horrific change into Nightmare Moon? Why had she turned away from the very sibling she had spent the last three hundred years of her life with? The very knowledge that there was, most likely, not a proper answer for any of her worries ate away at her very being and sat like a stone in the pit of her stomach.

And so she refused food and drink; it made her sick. She refused sleep; there came only nightmares. She refused company; it reminded her of better times. And yet she had a duty to her nation, a duty to every living soul in Equestria. Despite her pain and her anguish, she smiled and waved from her balcony every morning after raising the sun. She conversed with her friends, such as they were, when they called on her. She entertained rulers and dignitaries and guests. Equestria, and for that matter, the entire world, would not simply stop because she grieved. A million citizens counted on her, and so she carried on, day and night, without fail.

"Your Highness?" A muffled voice called out from behind her door, followed by a quiet knock. Celestia quickly looked herself over, frowning at the sight of herself, then answered the door with a practiced smile. A pretty young mare stood before her, wrapped in a shimmering, gold-laced cloak of sheer white fabric. "Good afternoon, Princess. Are you well today?"

"As well as can be expected, my dear Regalia. Thank you for asking. What can I help you with?"

Regalia bowed her head. "Princess, I bring word of the arrival of Empress Elinwynn of the Cervidaen Hegemony. She awaits you in your throne room."

Another dignitary. Many had come to pay their respects and offer condolences after the banishment of the royal sister, Elinwynn included. Celestia wondered what could possibly bring her back after only a few days.

"Of course. Tell Empress Elinwynn I shall be in attendance shortly."

"Very well." Regalia curtsied promptly and trotted away, down the spiral staircase of the tower. Her hoof-falls echoed through the corridors. Inside her personal quarters, Celestia was already preparing herself to meet with the foreign leader. A quick flash of magic and her ethereally flowing mane and tail once again shone with the radiance and majesty of the sun -- a look that, not long ago, was as much a part of her as the wings on her body and the horn on her head. Now, though, some of the shine had dissipated with her spirits.

She levitated her crown and jeweled breastcollar into place and applied a light powdering of makeup under her eyes to hide the bags, and once again she looked the part of the most powerful mare in Equestria.

Empress Elinwynn was waiting for her as she entered the throne room. The two rulers bowed to each other and feigned smiles; it was all for show, and both of them knew it, but neither was impolite enough to break etiquette.

"Welcome to Equestria, Empress," Celestia said by way of greeting.

"Thank you, Princess," the other responded. The ruler of the deerfolk was slightly shorter than Celestia, and struck a more petite figure in her emerald-colored shawl. Her tall, slightly swept-back antlers were decorated with lengths of gold-trimmed emerald cloth that sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the stained glass windows.

"I must admit to being surprised by your presence, Empress. It is not a short journey from the Cervidaen homelands. What brings you back so soon?"

"Please, call me Elinwynn," the empress said softly. "But yes, let me reassure you that I have merely come to seek your clarification on something. I thought it prudent to return to you as soon as possible."

"Oh?"

"Indeed so. You see, it has come to my attention that your military has been massing along the eastern border of the Whitetail woods. You can see how this could be construed as...less than diplomatic, yes?"

Celestia cocked her head. A massing along the Whitetail woods? That didn't make any sense. As far as she knew, the only military units in the area were the 2nd and 5th Cohorts, but even they were many miles away from the border. "I assure you, you must be mistaken, Elinwynn. Whitetail is a neutral state, and I would not dream of impeding on its sovereign right to self-rule, especially with an army." She began to pace back and forth, her decorative shoes clacking on the tile. "You know as well as I do that Equestria has been at peace for several hundred years. Why on earth would I break such a long-lived peace?"

Elinwynn shrugged. "That's really the question, isn't it?"

Under her practiced, congenial smile, Celestia fumed; she'd always disliked the Cervidaen rulers, as far back as she could remember. Hundreds of years of entitled, arrogant, passive-aggressive empresses, all cut from the same cloth. Elinwynn was no different. If anything, she'd shown herself to be even more spoiled than her mother and grandmother before her.

"I apologize, Empress, I did not realize such a thing was happening. Likely it is a case of maneuvers by the Guard, or some other sort of training exercise. I assure you: I shall see that they are a fair distance from the Whitetail border. After all, we wouldn't want to ruin our friendship with your great nation, nor that of our mutual friend."

"Of course, Princess. I'm glad you're able to see reason." She smiled, smug and self-satisfied. "Truly you are wise with your years." A small object levitated from the bag at the deer's side, floating between them. "I would like you to have this, as a token of our continued cooperation. I realize a simple trinket is unfitting of royalty, but it holds some...personal value, shall we say. I want you to have it."

Celestia inspected the porcelain object, a pony and a deer in a Gemini position, mirroring the constellation that was so familiar to all who turned their eyes skyward at night. "It's beautiful. Thank you, Elinwynn."

"You are very welcome. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a long journey ahead of me. And don't fret: we'll be seeing each other soon, I assure you." She paused, then added, "I feel I would be remiss if I did not apologize. We have known each other for a long time, wouldn't you say?"

"I would," Celestia nodded. "As have the last four generations of your family."

Elinwynn smiled softly. "I envy your long life, Princess. You have surely come to know my family better than even myself. I make no qualms about it being known that I protect my people, but at times I can be, shall we say, somewhat harsh. For that, I apologize."

Surprised by the apology, Celestia bowed to the Cervidaen ruler. "You are most generous, Empress. I accept your apology, and I assure you I do not hold such a thing against you."

"Thank you, Celestia. With that said, I shall take my leave. Until next time?"

"I look forward to it, as always."

"As always." Elinwynn exchanged bows and polite nods, and once more she was gone, flanked by a group of soldiers on either side. Celestia watched her head out of view, then immediately dropped her forced smile and let out a frustrated exhale. Politics and facades. That's what it all came down to. Nothing had changed in hundreds of years, and she doubted the next several hundred would be any different.

"Centurion Phalanx," she called into the hallway, "I would have a word with you, please."

The battle-scarred soldier marched inside and saluted smartly. "Your Highness?"

"Centurion, I have somewhat of a strange question. Do you know of any Cohort or Century massing along the eastern border of the Whitetail woods?"

He looked confused, gazing off into space with his one good eye as he considered his vast knowledge of military information. "I am afraid not, Princess. Elements of the 2nd and 5th Cohorts are in the general vicinity, yes, but besides a token Legion outpost -- the 44th, if I recall correctly -- there is nothing of note that I am aware of. Why do you ask?"

Celestia peered down the long hallway leading from the throne room, as if expecting Elinwynn to be standing there. "I ask because my honored guest seems to believe we're doing exactly that. She is under the impression that we are aggressively massing for some sort of attack."

Ardent Phalanx chuckled. "Then it would appear her information is wrong."

"There are no maneuvers being partaken in the area? No training camps?"

"None of significance, Your Highness. We maintain a light presence, of course, but nothing I would describe as threatening."

"I had figured as much," she replied with a light smile. "Thank you for the confirmation, Phalanx. That will be all."

"Yes, Your Highness. Feel free to call on me any time, should the need arise."

With that, Phalanx turned and trotted back to his posting. Celestia knew there would be no logical reason for such a large force as the deer empress claimed to be massing anywhere near them, much less along the borders of a neutral state. And yet something ate away at her, gnawing at the back of her mind. Elinwynn had seemed so insistent, so sure of herself. Perhaps it was worth looking into. Deciding such a thing was too important to leave to chance, Celestia levitated over a quill and a roll of parchment and began to write. The 44th Legionaries were the closest to Whitetail. With luck, the scroll would reach them within a day. Then, she hoped, she might have some real answers.

***

Silver Oak plodded along the rough dirt road, his sandal-like marching boots crunching the loose dirt with every step. For countless hours he had marched, watching the fading sun give way to the darkness of night. The familiar trails and surrounding forest were comforting during the day, but now they seemed enveloping and claustrophobic. The chill of the night air bit at his face and prickled his skin, and he longed for the fires of the encampment and the hot meals that would no-doubt be waiting for him and his soldiers upon their return.

It had been two days since he'd received an urgent letter, flown in via pegasus courier, from the princess herself. For reasons he was not fully made aware of, Celestia was concerned that Whitetail may be in danger, and she had asked him to take a small group and conduct a reconnaisance mission to the nearest town in the city-state's land -- River Run. And so he gathered seven of his comrades and prepared for a long journey. They marched day and night, only stopping for rest or meals. Within a matter of hours River Run would be in view, and he might finally get off this damnable road.

"Decanus?" His recruit's voice broke his concentration. Silver Oak grumbled and turned to face his underling.

"Yes, meat? What is it?"

"Sir, if I may ask, what would make Princess Celestia believe Whitetail is in danger?"

"I don't know. It is not my place to know. I simply follow orders. As do you."

"Yes, sir," the earth pony said quickly. There was an awkward silence, and then, "but just hear me out on this..."

The stallions in their formation groaned and swore at the inquisitive vexillarius -- their standard bearer. The stylized sun and crossed swords of the 44th Legion were proudly displayed on a banner pole attached to a saddle on the young soldier's back.

"Give it a break, Ceraunius," one of them said. "Didn't they teach you anything in the Guard? You don't question orders. If the decanus tells you to do something, you'd damn well better do it."

"I heard the decanus once found out that somepony wasn't listening to his commands," another voice added, "and the decanus shoved a sword through his ear."

"It wasn't a sword, you idiot, it was his cock."

"What? That doesn't seem physically possible."

"That's what the poor sod kept screaming as his ear canal was violated."

"Enough, all of you!" Silver Oak shouted, instantly silencing the group. Decades of service and discipline made it easy to hide the laughter that wanted to burst out from such ridiculous claims. As far as his soldiers knew, he was completely unamused by the anecdote. "You are not being paid to ramble on like school fillies! You are legionaries! Act like it!" He waited until he was sure they were properly listening before he continued. "Princess Celestia has deemed River Run a place of interest. Why, or how, is none of your concern. We are simply to recce the area and report our findings. Nothing more, nothing less. Understood?"

"Yes, Decanus!" they shouted as one.

"Good. Keep your mouths shut and perhaps the entirety of Whitetail won't hear us coming, old gods willing."

They marched in relative silence for another hour, perhaps two -- it was hard to tell with the dense forest obscuring the moon. "Relative" was the operative word: their steel and iron armor rustled against their tunics and clattered as they trotted, scaring off many a forest creature and scattering flights of resting birds. It was a wonder, Silver Oak mused, that the whole of River Run hadn't found them out.

They were a mere twenty minutes from their objective when they spotted a distressing sight: Equestrian Guard marching in the opposite direction, with no hint of formation of order. What was the Guard doing out here? Had Celestia sent them orders as well?

"Contubernium, halt!" The formation came to a stop, each of the legionaries craning their necks to get a better view of the silhouetted ponies in their path. Silver Oak galloped over to the leader, finding the guard to be covered from head to hoof in spattered blood. "Decanus Silver Oak of the 44th Legion," he said by way of introduction, lifting a foreleg to his chest in a salute. "What in the name of Celestia happened to you, guardsman? Are you wounded?" The guardsman said nothing for a time, idly kicking a hoof in the dirt. "Guardsman, I asked you a question. Are you wounded?"

"No," the soldier finally said. "We are not wounded." A further inspection revealed all of them, at least a dozen, to be similarly soiled. Bloodied swords hung from holster rings at the sides, flecked and streaked with gore. "We ran into some bandits along the path to River Run."

"Bandits? I was not aware of any bandit activity this close to a major settlement." Silver Oak's practiced eye began to notice little details that were out of place; a guard wearing a chainmail shirt, but no armor overlay. Greaves with no tunic or pteruges skirt. A galea-style helmet without the nose and ear guards. They looked like a rabble, a bunch of lowly militia.

"It would seem you are misinformed, Centurion," one of the guards in the back answered. Silver eyed him pensively. "You let this soldier speak out of line? Where is your commanding officer?" He was suddenly struck by a realization -- the guard hadn't even addressed him by the proper rank, despite the bars and shield adorning his armor's display sash. "What is your name, guardsman? ANSWER ME!"

A sharp pain shot through his side. He instinctively turned to face the threat, only to see a hoof-strapped folding blade jammed into his ribs. He looked at the offending guard in shock, momentarily losing his bearing. But only for a moment. Countless thousands of hours of drill and training kicked in and he pulled himself away from the blade, watching it come loose, slicked red with his own blood. Anger welled within him as he deflected a second stab with his greaves and fluidly pulled his gladius from its sheath, clenched tightly in his mouth. The guard was fast, but Silver Oak was faster. A sideways swipe deflected off the buckler shield strapped to his right foreleg, and he surged forward and bashed the offending soldier in the face, knocking his head back. A quick thrust to the exposed neck sent his short sword carving through both sides of the other's throat; the pony screamed and began to gurgle on his own blood, falling limp to the floor as he clutched uselessly at the holes in his flesh that gushed blood in thick, red streams.

"TRAITORS!" Silver Oak yelled, grabbing his wounded side. The other, opposing guards had drawn their swords and were charging him with little regard for military discipline. He quickly fell back to his own stallions, who were standing with their mouths agape. "Fucking traitors!" he called back to the charging guards. "I'll see you all hang! Legionaries, defensive positions!" He hobbled into the center of the rapidly erected shield wall, swearing to himself at the blood that now ran down his side and dripped from his belly.

"Decanus, you're wounded!"

"No shit!" Silver Oak snapped back. "Stay at the ready!"

"What the hell is going on?" Someone asked.

"Why did they attack you?!"

"I said, stay at the ready!" There was a loud 'thwack' as a spear plunged into one of the tall, curved rectangular shields. Its iron head jabbed through, but failed to penetrate far enough to wound the stallion holding it. Another spear impacted the shield wall, and another. "Rank amateurs, all of them!"

"This is fucked! Those are our own damn brothers!"

"Any who would draw on a legionary is not your brother, Swift Strike!" Smaller, more rapid impacts began to hit their shields; the guards were firing arrows now. "Formatioooon, forwaaard!" As one the legionaries began to march with their shields interlocked, slowly advancing on the group of traitorous guards. The rain of arrows and spears intensified. Someone shouted in pain as an arrow found a hole in the formation and embedded itself in his foreleg, but still the wall held. "Princepes, ready pila!" The second line of the formation reached for the throwing spears resting across their backs, tucking them into the small of their forelegs. Silver Oak waited for a lull in the barrage; a seconds-long break was all he needed. "Hastati, drop!" With practiced precision the upper portion of the shield wall lowered for a scant few heartbeats, just long enough for the second line to let loose a volley of pila. The barbed throwing spears arced through the air, coming down with tremendous force and penetrating through armor, mail and flesh with ease. Four spears were thrown, and four traitors to Equestria fell at once, screaming and grabbing at the spears that had impaled them. The remaining guards began to panic, the barrage of arrows and spears coming to a stop as they dropped their ranged weapons and began to fall back in a panic. Clearly they had underestimated the Legion.

"Formatioooon! BREAK!"

With a great scream of fury and battle lust the legionaries dropped their wall and tucked their shields onto their backs, breaking into a line that charged at the enemy in full gallop, swords at the ready. Some of the victims of the spear-throw were still shouting in agony on the ground; deep, vicious stabs through their chests and necks ended their screams, eight swords finding their marks without even stopping.

A legionary fell to the ground as an arrow found its mark and plunged into his chest, but still the line continued its advance. Several of the guardsmen turned to fight their pursuers, bloodied swords at the ready. They struck swiftly and with greater skill than Silver Oak would have expected otherwise, cutting a deep gash in one of his retinue and slicing a leg out from under the poor standard bearer. He delivered a savage, crushing buck with his powerful hind legs to the closest guardsman, caving the stallion's head in with a sickening crunch. Silver Oak sliced his throat just to be sure.

Something cut into his flank, thudding against bone with an impact that made his head swim. He glanced back and saw the shaft and fletching of an arrow sticking out. That was when the pain hit. It started like a small fire around the wound, then quickly spread to his entire right side. He clenched his teeth and grunted against the burning, stabbing impact, hobbling even as he continued to order his stallions.

"Contubernium, reform! Circular wall!"

Arrows were starting to fly in from the surrounding forest now, additional traitors that had been waiting in the flanks for the opportunity to strike. The young vexillarius, still lying on the ground and bleeding profusely from a severed leg and punctured chest, attempted to drag himself to the safety of the forming shield wall. His movement stopped when half a dozen arrows tore into his body and ripped through the banner still attached to his back.

"Ceraunius, no!" Swift Strike called out to his battle brother, wanting more than anything to break formation and kill the nearest traitor with his bare hooves.

"There is nothing we can do for him! Maintain formation or we'll be joining him in the afterlife!"

Now down two stallions, and with many of the remaining wounded, the protective dome of shields could not hold forever. They huddled together, a mass of bodies and iron and wood, the hail of projectiles slowly wearing them down.

"We're going to die here, aren't we?" Swift Strike asked his superior as he clutched at the deep gash in his side. Silver Oak searched for something to say, some words of comfort, but he could find none. Yes, they were going to die here, struck down by what appeared to be their own comrades, and no one would know about it. Not for several more days, when they were due to return. Unless...

"I must ask of you one last favor, my brothers," Silver Oak said with all of the confidence he could muster. "We must find our way back to Equestrian soil. Someone must know of what's happened to us. On my command, we will break formation and rush the nearest archers to our east. If we can make it through their lines, we can make all speed for the encampment." A quick peek under his shield revealed the eastern line to number less than two dozen strong. It could work. "Do not stop, not for me, not for anyone or anything. Understood?"

"Yes, Decanus!" they answered as one.

"Understood?!"

"YES, DECANUS!"

"Then may Celestia watch over us." His flank still burned from the arrow. His blade wound still bled a dark crimson. But he would fight. He called upon the very last of his strength for one last shout.

"LEGIOOOON! CHAAAARGE!"

Once again the shield wall broke, the legionaries dropping their heavy shields to the ground to gallop faster. A volley of arrows answered their battle cry, and two of the legion's number skidded to a stop, dead where they'd fallen. Silver Oak tried to keep up with them, but he was too old, too wounded, and too tired. Another arrow dug into his back and he tumbled end over end, his helmet rolling away and disappearing behind a tree. Weakly, he forced his head up to look at the charging stallions he'd cared so much for. The line of survivors crashed into the formation of archers like a great wave, scattering their number as one traitor after another fell to the relentless strikes of Equestria's finest soldiers. Six, ten, fifteen were sliced and stabbed and gored and beheaded. But the charge was doomed. The surrounding forces began firing into the ranks of their own stallions, desperate to kill the legionaries. One by one Silver Oak's squad fell. Some tried to push themselves back up, only to be finished off by the blades and arrows of pursuing traitor guards. By some miracle, a single legionary broke free of the mob and managed to rush into the cover of a copse of trees. Silver Oak smiled weakly as he recognized the pony: Swift Strike. He had made it, at least that far.

At least Equestria will know of what happened here.

Guards took off after the fleeing legionary, shouting to each other. With some luck, they would never catch him. Content in knowing that one of his number had made it, Silver Oak let his tired body rest on the cold ground. He felt his heart pumping the very life blood from his body. He felt the chill wind flow over his skin and coat. He felt his eyelids grow heavy, a spreading warmth flowing through his veins and cradling him in a blanket of serenity.

And then...he felt nothing.

6 - Blood Upon the Ground

"Krosus!"

A booming voice sounded from the entrance to the Praetorian barracks, startling Tercio and making him drop his book on the ground as he scrambled to stand up from his bunk. He recognized the voice, and did not look forward to speaking with the owner of it.

"Yes, sir! Coming, sir!"

Clad in a simple tunic and sandals, he ran to the front of the room and saluted with a closed fist over his heart. Standing before him was the imposing figure of Imperator Stonewall, a hard-bitten old earth pony soldier with graying facial hair and a dark brown coat, dressed from muzzle to dock in golden armor. He struck Tercio as someone who was utterly committed to the military life, and despite Stonewall being -- so far -- an unerring hard-ass, he had to respect him for such.

It didn't make it any easier to report to him.

"Centurion Krosus reports, sir!"

"So it would seem." He pulled a scroll from a saddle bag, unfurling it and giving it a once-over. "Outstanding marks in personal combat training with shield and sword, as well as pilum and ballista use...fairly strong leadership skills, a good grasp of tactical awareness...I've seen worse. I've also seen better. Says here you were with the Royal Guard. How was that?"

"It was just fine, sir."

"Bullshit. The Royal Guard is boring as everyone knows it. Bunch of pansy-asses sitting on street corners and doing fuck-all, if you ask me."

"Uh, well I--"

"That wasn't a question."

"Yes, sir."

Stonewall stared at him for what felt like a long time.

"So...you're that strange-looking creature I've heard so much about. What the hell are you supposed to be, anyway? A hairless monkey who's learned to talk?"

"From what I understand, sir, I'm a 'human'. What that means, exactly, I'm not sure. I seem to be somewhat of an oddity."

"No shit. Just look at you. All those lanky limbs, no tail...do you have a destiny mark, at least?"

Tercio could just barely see the bottom of a magical image on the imperator's haunches -- some sort of tower shield.

"No, sir. I don't believe so."

"Well can you fly?"

"No wings, sir."

"Magic?"

"No, sir."

"Well what the fuck can you do, Krosus?"

Tercio struggled to find something to say. In a way, he considered himself to be closest to an earth pony, relying on strength and innovation over magic or flight. It would have to do.

"I can fight, sir."

Stonewall nodded at the answer with a grunt, apparently satisfied.

"Good enough, I say. Magic is a bunch of bullshit anyway. Real stallions don't need fancy tricks, just a blade and their own wits." He lifted a hoof and pointed to Tercio's chest. "Disrobe."

"...sir?"

"You heard me, Krosus. Disrobe."

"I'm not quite sure I--"

"That was an order, Centurion."

Realizing he was not going to win, Tercio unfastened the cloth belt of his tunic and stripped the garment from his body, dropping it on the floor beside him.

"I said disrobe. What part of that did you not understand?" Tercio was about to speak up when he was interrupted by a decidedly impatient Stonewall. "Your undergarments, Krosus, get rid of them!"

A few seconds later Tercio stood stark naked, feeling decidedly uncomfortable. Ponies had always had no qualm about a lack of clothing, generally feeling just fine about trotting around in the buff, but they had a natural covering; Tercio just felt exposed and awkward. He counted his blessings that none of the other praetorians were around to see him like this.

"That's better," Stonewall said. He prodded Tercio with a hoof, jabbing at various parts of his body. "Good musculature in your limbs...torso seems to be in good shape, though your waist could use some tightening up...decently defined physique...strong legs, good for marches." The old imperator nodded decisively. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about you dying on me any time soon. At least, not from being a fat slob."

"Uh, thank you, sir."

"Mmhmm. Alright, Krosus, you can put your clothing back on if it bothers you that much."

He did so. Gladly.

"If you're going to join the ranks of the Praetorians there's a few ground rules you need to observe. I suggest you listen, for I am only going to say them once."

"Yes, sir, of course."

"Good. As you may have noticed, we're a little different from the rest of the Equestrian military here. Primarily, we don't address each other by rank, or call one another 'sir'."

"...oh. Uh, my apologies, I didn't know--"

"Excluding new meat like you, Krosus. We praetorians are utterly devoted to serving and protecting the princesses -- or rather, just Celestia now -- but if you want to be one of us then you have to earn it. It's a simple system, so even a dog like yourself should be able to understand it. It goes like this: If you see a praetorian with a purple cloak, like so," he raised his own with a hoof for emphasis, "that praetorian is 'sir' to you. Any other color? Well, that just means they're untested mud-suckers. Like you. Follow me so far?"

"Yes, sir."

He thought of his golden-yellow cloak, suddenly feeling less eager to wear it around.

"If you earn your purple cloak, then you may address your fellow praetorians by their names. Not until then. Feel free to speak with other useless pigs like yourself without the formalities, however, because you're both equally worthless."

The imperator began to pace back and forth, his armor quietly clanking as he walked.

"Life in the 105th is ever-changing. One moment we may be serving as Princess Celestia's personal bodyguard at a visit with the commoners, and the next we may be fighting off some asshole who's gotten it in his mind that he's going to be the instrument of revolution or some happy horse shit like that. Most likely, though, you will be standing in front of the throne room's doors for the whole day. And you'll be doing it a lot. That's why you're here -- so we can leave the real duties to those who have earned it."

"Sir, if I may ask..."

"What is it, meat?"

"Is there a general schedule we adhere to? In the Royal Guard we--"

"In the Royal Guard you were a glorified foal sitter. We don't have a real schedule, per se, but the day's key events are posted with as much forward notice as we can get. There are only a few, real constants: You will awaken just before the princess raises the sun, and you will go to bed before she begins to move the moon over the horizon. Sometimes you'll pull night duty. You will be on duty six days a week, with the seventh being open to...whatever it is your type does on your off days. I don't give a damn what you do with your free time, so long as you're ready by the next morning." He stopped pacing before adding, "and before you ask, meals will be mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and early night. I expect you to remember this, for I am not in the habit of repeating myself, and I become greatly displeased when I have to do so. Any questions?"

Tercio shook his head. "No, sir. I believe that's clear enough."

"Excellent. Maybe you're smarter than you look after all. The rest of the Praetorian Guard will be back soon, so I suggest you ready your equipment. If you've any questions they will most likely be able to answer them for you." Stonewall stood ramrod-straight and pressed a hoof over his chest. "Honor to the Princess."

"Honor to the Princess," Tercio repeated with the same gesture. He remained at attention as the Imperator returned to the hallway, only allowing himself to relax when he heard the hoofsteps fading. With a sigh he sat on the edge of his bunk, pulling his helm from the post near his equipment chest. Fourteen years in the military, and suddenly he felt like a no-rank recruit all over again.

***

"There must be something you can do, Elinwynn. The whitetail will listen to you, you're practically blood-related."

For the last half-hour, Princess Celestia had tried, and failed, to gain headway with the Empress of Cervidae. The leader of the deer hegemony had been infuriatingly calm, brushing off accusations of inaction as if they were annoying flies. Celestia wondered why she even bothered, but the thought of more ponies dying to whitetail blades pushed her to try.

"Celestia, my dear friend, it is as I've already said: The aggressive actions taken by the Equestrian military prior to this conflict do not speak to your usually docile nature. What were the whitetail to think of such a thing?"

"Docile?" Celestia stomped a hoof on the marble floor; she had begun to lose her temperament and practiced tone and, though she knew it, she found herself not caring as much as she would have otherwise thought. "That's the word you choose to describe my rule? Docile?"

Elinwynn laughed, a dismissive and infuriating gesture.

"You say that as if it were a bad thing. Most nations could only hope to have such a long history of peace. Such peace comes with a price, though. Obviously military strength is not your strong point, as evidenced by the forces of Whitetail itself pushing into your lands."

"If you're going to insult me, Elinwynn, then at least do so without cloaking it behind a veneer of civility. I grow tired of such games."

"I am no more insulting you than I am stating the obvious, my dear Princess. Please, control your outbursts." Elinwynn took a sip from her cup, levitating it back to the glass table as she finished. "Whitetail has never been the most stable nation, even at the best of times. Surely you can understand their perception of guards in your nation's armor slaughtering their civilians, then a pony assassinating their leader. All evidence pointed to Equestria, whether or not there is truth behind the rumors that you orchestrated such a thing."

"I do not appreciate such rumors, and I would ask you to keep such filth away from this room. Do you really think I would do such a thing? Do you think I am capable of such a thing?"

"In my experience, anyone is capable of anything given the right circumstances. That said...no, I do not believe you would attack Whitetail for no reason."

Celestia let out a deep breath. "That is the first sensible thing I've heard you say today."

"Regardless, the fact now stands that your nation is at war. Whitetail has no reason to back down, and indeed, they could use their current justification to push further outward, possibly even into Cervidaen territory. As such, I've placed the Imperial army on high alert. Simply a precaution, of course."

"I'm sure." Celestia walked to the large, hanging banner of Equestria's lands, looking upon it with the knowledge that she may very well lose if things took a turn for the worse. "What do the people of Cervidae think of this conflict? I imagine the majority of them will back their Whitetail cousins..."

"Most do, yes," Elinwynn answered, "but there are more ponies in Cervidae than you may think. Don't forget: Long before Whitetail existed as its own state, we were nations that shared a border. You may think us barbaric, Celestia, but that could be no further from the truth."

"Barbaric? That's utter nonsense and you know it."

Aside from the "indentured servants", state-sanctioned combat rings, execution of dissenting voices, and ruthlessness in combat, Celestia thought to herself. She'd never been one to back Cervidae's chosen government, but attempting to negotiate an alliance was better than potentially letting her own nation fall to Whitetail forces. She'd be damned if that would happen on her watch, though.

"Perhaps," Elinwynn shrugged, "but we're getting off topic. Let's just cut to the chase, shall we? You want military assistance from Cervidae. That's the real reason for your calling upon me, isn't it?"

Celestia cringed inwardly. She was not about to beg, but in such dire times she was not above swallowing her pride and asking for help.

"Yes. That's why I've asked you to speak with me. You can understand why. If you were in my position, would you not do the same?"

"I might. Then again, I might not. I honestly cannot say. What I can say, however, is much simpler to decide: No."

"No? That's it?"

"As I said, it was a simple decision. I cannot turn this conflict into our war as well as yours. Most of Cervidae is already standing behind the Whitetail as is. You should see the scrolls I receive on a daily basis, practically begging me to join Whitetail and go to war with Equestria. My people may be understanding and far more intelligent than the average, but when they look at the Whitetail they see themselves. The same cannot be said for their more...equine...cousins. I am sorry, Princess, but I cannot devote our military to a conflict that will be so uniformly unpopular."

Just as Celestia had feared. She knew it was a long shot, in every sense of the word, but she had to try. Still...she couldn't help but feel disappointed and somewhat betrayed. Cervidae was by no means close friends with Equestria's government, but at least back when Luna was around she could have been of no small degree of help.

Luna. She had a way with words that ran counter to everything Celestia practiced, and yet when the royal siblings focused on something it was all but assured that things would work out for the best. Now Celestia was on her own, and no amount of wishful thinking would bring her sister back.

"I'm greatly disappointed to hear such a thing, Empress, but I understand. All I ask is that you do what you can to convince the Whitetail senate that Equestria is not at fault for their horrific losses. I wish for nothing but peace."

"Of course. I shall convene with the senators as soon as I can, though I can make no great promises." Elinwynn bowed her head respectfully, or at least formally. "I wish you and Equestria only the best, Princess Celestia."

***

Three leagues outside of Vindfell, on the edges of Equestria's western border, a lone figure darted between the trees of the dense forest. He moved almost silently, a shadow in the early morning mists. His pursuers did not.

They shouted for him to stop, demanded he accept his fate, cursed him in their ugly, coarse language. There were five of them, moving at a full gallop to catch up to him. Slowly but surely they were gaining, and he knew that it wouldn't be long before more showed up. An insufferable flying pony had darted off as soon as they'd spotted him, no doubt to gather more of their incompetent, inferior number. He cursed their brutish kind and pressed himself against the trunk of a large pine tree, his breath heavy from exertion. They were getting closer. He would have to think quickly.

It wasn't long before the Equestrians had caught up to his position. They surrounded him, blades and shields drawn. They taunted and mocked him as he backed against the tree trunk, thinking him defeated and cowardly. His sharp mind prioritized the ponies -- highest rank standing to his right, with the others barely more than recruits. They were laughing and knocking him around the head with their hooves. He backed up further against the tree, waiting for an opening, a slightest moment's hesitation or distraction.

The leader, his head adorned with a red-crested helmet, demanded his surrender. Surrender, or death. The choice was easy. The tall buck lowered his head in defeat, letting one of the guards strip the helmet from his head. The Equestrian turned to look at his commander, and that was when the deer warrior struck. With a powerful stomp of his forelegs a pair of conical, incredibly sharp blades sprung out from the upper segments of his leg armor -- one on each side. They were half as long as a war blade and moved with the motion of his body, and before the guards could react he had pushed himself off of the thick tree trunk with a burst of power from his hind legs. The pony who had taken his helm was the first to fall, the twin blades of the deer's armor slicing into his neck and heart with practiced precision; the guard fell dead on the spot, bleeding from twin puncture wounds. A quick turn let the deer kick his hind legs out and buck the nearest guard hard in the jaw; he heard the bones break and felt the resistance of muscle give out. Even as his adversary fell to the ground and let out a gurgling scream, he was already on to the next target. A gladius was thrust out to meet him. He deflected it with an armored foreleg, using the momentary lapse in vision the earth pony would have after such an attack to knock the target's head to the side and thrust a blade through the side of his skull under the armored ear piece.

Everything had happened so fast, much faster than the shocked Equestrians could have possibly expected. Two of them now lie dead, another incapable of combat. That left a pony to either side of him. He expected the most senior officer to attack first, and he was prepared for it. The commander, and older stallion with a dark coat and mane, was no fool. He wasn't about to take long slashes with a mouth-held blade, leaving his neck exposed to counter-attack. No, he was something entirely different from the rest of his retinue -- a unicorn. Orange magic surrounded a circular shield and gladius.

"Leave the boy out of this," the old commander said. "Prove yourself to be whatever passes for a warrior with your kind and fight me." The deer said nothing, simply staring down the stallion. "Fight me, you gwil'lyyr!"

For a moment, the deer was amused at the insult, rough though it may have been from the pony's mouth. The old stallion was trying to provoke him, and had he been a lesser buck he may have been upset.

"Very well," the deer finally said. With a focusing of his mind he lifted a short sword from the body of his first victim, watching it tumble in front of him in a cloud of crackling, emerald energy. The stallion struck immediately, slashing his sword wide. The deer parried the blade with his own, simultaneously kicking out a foreleg. The unicorn's armor deflected the blow and its wearer countered with a stab that was aimed at the neck of his opponent. The failed attack was followed by a vicious bash from his shield against the armored deer, the force of the blow cracking crystalline armor and sending the deer sprawling. He skidded to a halt near the lifeless body of the guard he'd bucked in the jaw, picking himself up from the blood-soaked earth.

It only took a moment to regain his composure, and with the blade hovering in front of him again he felt sure of his abilities. The old unicorn was fast, and strong, but he was too confident in himself, too proud. Even as blow after blow rained down on the deer's armor he kept a steady eye on his enemy.

"You son..of a...fucking...whore!" A strike found a chink in the deer's armor, plunging deep into the shoulder. The deer grunted in pain, and with all of his might he rammed his antlers into the unicorn, sending him tumbling end over end.

"ENOUGH!"

A brilliant flash filled the area, bathing the forest in emerald-green light. The Equestrian commander, so strong and so sure, found himself paralyzed and completely unable to will his body to move. A cold sensation had invaded his mind, so cold it burned like a fire. He could only stare in confusion and anger as the deer limped over to him, his antlers glowing brightly.

"I tire of this game, Equestrian." The deer motioned to the gladius lying before him. "Grasp that blade between your hooves."

The unicorn was fighting it. He was fighting it hard. But he was never going to be strong enough. Trembling, he held the sword in front of him, balancing on his hind legs.

"Turn it over."

The sword slowly twisted so that its point was facing back. The old commander could tell what was coming, and he released a final, desperate burst of magic from his horn to free himself. The sparkling cloud of energy fizzled before the strength of the magic before it, disappearing into the aether. He had failed.

"Now plunge that blade into your throat and be done with it."

Slowly, ever so slowly, the commander's clasped hooves drove the weapon through his skin and muscle, his eyes going wide with pain and panic as it sliced through his neck with a spurt of dark crimson. He gurgled a wet scream that, for a short moment, turned the deer's stomach. The wet death rattle subsided over what felt like a long time, and the unicorn's eyes rolled back in his head. Finished with his adversary, the deer turned and faced the only surviving member of the patrol that had sworn to have his head -- the youngest guard, who was cowering on the ground in a puddle of his own piss and vomit.

"You. Boy." The deer said as he stepped closer, favoring the wound in his shoulder. The young guard could not speak, too terrified at what might happen to him. He whimpered at the imposing figure, its armor covered in blood. "What is your name?"

"...m-my name? Why?"

"Just answer the question, boy."

The young earth pony gulped.

"Co..Cobalt."

"Cobalt. Hmm." The deer turned his head skyward. "It will be full light soon. If you stay due east you will encounter a camp set up by your kind within a few hours." He looked back at the soldier. "When you arrive, tell the commanding officer that we await him on the edge of the Everfree forest. He will bring his forces, and he will engage us in combat, or we will slaughter every last stallion, mare and foal between here and Canterlot."

The deer turned and began to hobble away, his emerald armor glinting in the growing sunlight.

"Go. Or your brothers will have died in vain."

22 - An Untouchable Dream

It was a pleasantly warm afternoon at the northern tip of Canterlot's wealthiest district, and Sapphire Quill was deep into a stack of papers that would eventually become the initial draft of her next play. She sat in a comfortable chair on a scenic balcony, her tongue poking out of the corner of her mouth in thought. With the idea of a play focused on the human scrapped -- for now -- she had fallen back on her previous project, a drama piece about a pegasus living among griffons. Only upon writing the lines for one of the main characters did she realize she didn't know nearly as much about griffon culture as she thought. Perhaps a trip to the Empire was in order...

"You're tense, Mistress Sapphire. Are you feeling well?"

Sapphire glanced down from her writing tablet, where Ruby Rose had pulled away from between her spread legs, her mouth glistening with wetness.

"It's true what they say: the struggle of the artist, of the creator, is never over."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Mistress. Am I not satisfying you?"

Sapphire smirked and went back to her writing with a wave of her hoof.

"You do nothing wrong, Ruby. Do try to put a little more effort into it, though."

"Of course, Mistress."

The Empire would be busy this time of year, preparing their mountain homes for the long, bitter winters that Skytalon was famous for. She wondered if her contacts on the border were still around, or if they'd moved on. It had been several years, after all. She made a mental note to send a courier out that way.

"Things would be easier if this damned war wasn't getting in the way. Bad for business, I th -- ohh. That's better. Right there, if you would."

At least one thing remained true: the perks of fame and fortune were great and endless. A beautiful place to live, a young mare to satisfy one's every whim, and the pull to get whatever she desired.

A knock on the door frame interrupted her continued writing.

"What?" she asked impetuously, turning to face one of the servant mares who had made herself known.

"My deepest apologies, Mistress, but you have a visitor at the door."

"Tell them they can come back later. I am busy."

"It is Princess Celestia, Mistress."

"Well why didn't you say so in the first place? Tell her I'll be right there."

The servant bowed and left, trotting back through the master bedroom before going out of sight.

"Tia is eager for my company! Wonderful news." She motioned to Ruby, waving her away. "We shall pick up where we left off when I return. I may require use of your horn to finish."

Ruby returned to her hooves and dipped her head. "As you say, Mistress."

Sapphire hopped down from her chair and quickly checked herself in the mirror, fixing her mane and quickly fluffing her tail to give it more volume. Satisfied with her appearance, she cheerfully left to greet the Princess, humming merrily to herself as she went.

***

"Tia! What an unexpected surprise!"

Celestia bowed gracefully, fully aware that she could not show how she truly felt when others might be watching.

"Hello, Sapphire. How do you fare this fine morning?"

"So far? Quite well, albeit with a bit of writer's block. Entertaining the masses is so demanding at times."

"I'm sure. Do you mind if I come inside?"

Sapphire scoffed playfully. "That is an honor usually reserved for stallions, but I might let it pass this once."

Classy as always, Celestia thought, hiding it behind a smile.

"Please, come in. Would you care for some refreshments? I have a wonderful vintage of honeyed amasec that's simply divine!"

"No, thank you. I've still a busy day ahead of me and I cannot lose any of myself to alcohol. You understand."

"Of course, of course. Opal berry juice, then? Citrus water?"

"I am only here for a short time, but again I thank you." Celestia ordered her escorting guards to remain outside, then entered the brightly lit entry hall of Sapphire's mansion-like home. "Sapphire, do you have somewhere we could talk? In private?"

"You can consider anywhere in my home to be private. My assistants are sworn to the utmost secrecy, after all. But...if you really want it to be just us, there is a room usually reserved for wine tasting down in the cellar. Would that do?"

"That would be fine."

Celestia followed alongside the talkative mare, who was busy excitedly explaining the concept of her newest creation. The Princess smiled and nodded and quipped to feign interest, but the real reason for her visit was the only thing occupying her thoughts. They traveled down a marble hallway, passing a set of bedrooms, then took two flights of stairs to a dark, cool room lined with bottles of red and white wines. It smelled musty and damp, like a cave. Sapphire lit a row of candles and sat on a cushion opposite her guest, beaming from ear to ear.

"Consider me delighted to see you at my humble home, Tia. How is life treating you at the palace?"

"Busy, but tolerable." Celestia motioned to the wine racks, dotted with dozens of holes. "It would appear your party was a great success. The Praetorians speak of it as being quite entertaining, even if they are sometimes a bit too...descriptive, shall we say."

Sapphire laughed. "I like to think it accomplished its purpose. After all, they work so hard and put so much on the line for us. If I can reward them with drink and debauchery, then I will do my part without fail. It's only money, and I do not want for it, as you can see."

"So it seems. While it was an unexpected, somewhat sudden thing, I wanted to thank you for treating them to a night of relaxation. The opportunities are few and far between these days."

Sapphire was practically beaming. Getting in with the Princess was one thing, but getting in with her and her soldiers was above and beyond what she could have hoped for. The connections she could establish!

Celestia suddenly grew very serious.

"Now with that out of the way, there is something we need to discuss."

"Yes?"

"It's about Tercio."

Sapphire's smile immediately faded.

"Tercio? What about him?"

"There have been some very serious allegations brought against you, Sapphire."

Her face went pale, her lip twitching despite her efforts to not show any reaction.

"W-What sort of allegations, exactly?"

"He claims you drugged him with an aphrodisiac, then took advantage of him both physically and mentally. He also says you tried to get him to leave his posting to join you in a 'play based on his life.'"

Sapphire got to her hooves and stood before Celestia.

"You don't actually believe that, do you? Tia?"

"I don't want to," Celestia answered, "but I cannot ignore such a claim. I want you to tell me what happened between you and him, and please, if you respect our friendship in the least, do not lie about it."

Sapphire gathered herself with a deep breath, but she still paced back and forth.

"I...I invited Tercio up to my chambers at some point during the night. We had both had more than our share of wine, but we were, at least, coherent enough to hold a conversation. He told me of how he came to Equestria, and what his career had been like, and in return I told him about how I'd become a playwright. It was pleasant, though I am ashamed to say I let the alcohol cloud my judgment."

The Princess' gaze never left Sapphire's own.

"Go on."

"At some point we grew somewhat close; whether it was due to the wine or actual attraction, I cannot say. Perhaps a bit of both. In any case, I made the first move, as I tend to, and we were soon making love. I do not remember much of it, though I am exceptionally hurt that Sir Tercio believes I took advantage of him. It did not seem that way when we were together."

Celestia was quiet for a time, clacking a metallic shoe on the floor as she considered Sapphire's words.

"And what of the aphrodisiac? You know that such a thing is skirting a very fine line."

"Look, Tia...I might have used just a bit. You know, just to lighten the mood, to enhance our more primal urges. Is it really so wrong to want to share in the pleasures of the flesh?"

"It is when the person you're using it on did not give his consent to such a thing. It is one thing for two ponies to use it in the privacy of their own lives to share their love, but this...this is very nearly rape, Sapphire."

"Rape? I am shocked you would use such a word. It may not have been love, but what is wrong with lust? Have you never wanted to experience the raw, carnal desires gifted to us by the gods without a relationship attached to it?"

"Do not attempt to make this about me," Celestia warned her. "And furthermore, such a question is hardly appropriate."

"Accusing me of rape is also hardly appropriate, Tia."

"Celestia."

"I -- what?"

"You may call me Celestia, or you may call me Princess, but do not call me Tia. That is a nick name that I am not comfortable with."

"Oh." Sapphire looked defeated and disappointed, though whether it was with herself or with the nick name, Celestia wasn't sure. "Very well, then...Princess. You could have told me this sooner, you know." She stopped and scratched her chin with a hoof before continuing. "So, yes, I admit that I did give Tercio a bit of aphrodisiac. It was no more or less than I have used with others in the past. Perhaps he was affected by it more strongly than a pony would be? In any case, I only did so because I thought he was in love with me." She laughed at the idea. "So much for that."

"In love with you. Because he would occasionally glance at the viewing platform? You do realize how that sounds, don't you?"

"When you put it that way..."

"And this love you thought the two of you shared, was that also justification for attempting to get him to abandon his career and his soldiers?"

Sapphire flushed red, flustered. She stumbled over her words.

"I did not attempt to...I mean...it wasn't my intention to make him...ugh!"

"You seem hesitant to answer the question," Celestia said evenly.

"Of course I am! Somehow my attempt to share a night of passion, and nothing more, has turned into an interrogation."

"But you said you thought he was in love with you. That would imply more than simple lust, Sapphire."

"Can't one lead to the other? I admit I am aggressive at times but I never asked him to leave his life behind."

"That's not how he tells it."

"Then he is lying!" Sapphire shouted, stamping her foreleg for emphasis. "Since when does riding a cock make you a criminal and a liar? As if I am the first mare to fuck someone of import! Perhaps I should have aimed lower and gone for a street merchant!"

"Please watch your words, Miss Sapphire. It is only respectful."

"Respectful? There is nothing respectful about the position he has forced upon me."

Celestia lifted a hoof to quiet the young mare down.

"I will ask you plainly: did you, or did you not, ask Tercio to join you in a play about his life?"

"It was an entertaining idea, nothing more. It was something I said in the heat of the moment, in the throes of ecstasy. I did not mean it! I would never try to--"

"Sapphire, do you think me easily fooled?"

"What do you mean? Why would you say that?"

"It's as clear as day that you are hiding the truth of the matter, and I do not make that claim lightly. I want to make something very clear: lying about such a thing -- about attempting to draw Sir Tercio away from his duties, nevermind drugging him against his will -- is a very serious offense. You are advocating desertion, a crime punishable by banishment. What's worse, you are doing it under the pretense of a drugged mind and body, in addition to forcing yourself on him without his say in the matter."

Sapphire stood in place, not saying anything, but her jaw trembled like a branch in the wind.

"Let me be honest with you, Sapphire. I think you're a good mare with a lot of potential, and I think that, one day, you will be remembered as one of the great artists of our time. But you are not above the law. I have heard tale of your exploits, and they are sometimes distasteful. But you are young, beautiful, wealthy, and influential. That is a dangerous combination, and I do not believe you fully understand that yet."

Celestia placed a hoof on Sapphire's shoulder.

"None of us can say we are without flaws, or have never made bad decisions. I certainly made my share when I was young, and sometimes still do. But this path you're on will lead you to ruin if you do not change it. Now...there are two ways we can go about this mess. Do you understand?"

Sapphire nodded, no longer willing or able to snap back.

"Good. The first option is that you confess what actually happened. You tell me everything, from start to finish. I want absolute truth. If you do so, then I will ask Tercio how he wants to proceed, and we will go from there. Alternatively, you may continue your ruse, your half-truths and couched lies, and I will be forced to bring in the Royal Guard to speak with everyone who was in attendance that night. If it comes down to that, then I assure you things will not be as easy."

Celestia lifted Sapphire's head and fixed her eyes on the trembling mare.

"Make no mistake: what you have done will end in punishment. It is up to you to decide how severe that ends up being."

Overwhelmed, Sapphire sat on her haunches on the verge of tears, shaking her head as if it were a bad dream she could will away. The thought of giving up everything she'd earned was too much.

"Alright. I'll tell you everything you want to know..."

***

Sword and shield clashed in a flurry of movement, a lethal dance of steel and iron and wood that had played out a thousand times before. Both fighters looked for the tiniest hesitation, the slightest miscalculation, that would allow them to land the killing blow. Long seconds passed before, finally, a shield parry knocked aside a blade, allowing a gladius to be thrust mere inches from an exposed throat.

"Well played, Krosus! Well played!"

Imperator Stonewall clapped a hoof against Tercio's back, motioning to the blade that had come to a rest just in front of Celestia's neck. Nearly an hour had passed since the start of the day's combat drills -- the very same the princess had so struggled with for several weeks now. She had improved, without a doubt, but extended training still wore her down and splintered her thoughts.

"She almost had you that time."

"Almost," Tercio smirked in Celestia's direction. The princess returned the favor and took a few steps back, sliding her dual long swords into sheathes on one side of her body as she knocked back a crystal glass of flavored water. Combat training, she'd found out, worked up a vicious thirst. "That was quite good, Princess. At this rate we'll make you a world-class swordsmare in no time."

"Easy to say when you are used to such a lifestyle," Celestia retorted.

Polaris, scarred from his encounters with both the cultists and Tercio's then-unknown rage, levitated a pair of his own weapons before him, swinging them a few times to get a good feel for his magic down. Ever since he'd agreed to become Celestia's personal arms trainer things had become much more complicated than being a simple Praetorian; the task of coming up with a training regimen for the Princess of Equestria was a daunting task, and one that had fallen squarely on his shoulders. He relished his position all the same as a chance to prove himself and further his career.

"Come now, Princess, we all had to start somewhere. Learning the trade of lethal defense is not something that can be learned in a day. It takes blood, sweat and tears. Hopefully we can stick to the sweat part and avoid the others."

"If only it had been that easy when I was in training," Tercio added.

"No kidding. Anyway, I believe this is a perfect time for a break. We'll resume shortly, so get your water in while you have the chance. Stonewall, if you would come with me?"

Stonewall nodded and took a place beside Polaris, and together they left through the grand entrance doors with talk of combat details darting between them. Now without someone to watch his every move, Tercio leaned against a carved pillar and eased himself to a sitting position with a sigh of relief, resting his head against the polished marble and letting his sword's pommel clatter against the tile.

"To be eighteen again," he said aloud with a bemused laugh. "I am not getting any younger, or so my body keeps insisting."

Celestia brought over a pair of glasses that bobbed in a shimmering cloud of magic, filled nearly to the top with orange-flavored water.

"When you get to be four hundred years old you can complain about your age."

Tercio grabbed one of the glasses and lifted it in thanks.

"At this rate I'll be lucky to make it to forty."

"I'm surprised I haven't dropped dead from exertion from Polaris' teaching methods, so consider yourself blessed, my friend." Celestia tugged at her jeweled breast collar that had long since become uncomfortable. Sweat had made it chafe something fierce, much to her annoyance. A pink cushion levitated over and she took a welcomed seat next to Equestria's resident human-turned-sparring partner who was still recovering from the great effort that combat, even training, required.

"You do well," he said cheerfully despite his exhaustion. "Polaris' methods may be demanding but I have already seen a marked improvement in your performance; I used to be able to best you without effort. Now I have to pay attention as if I was fighting for my very life. You've even out-fought me a few times! Soon I will have to rely on you for protection, instead of the other way around."

Celestia laughed, then drank from her glass until it was nearly empty.

"I will gladly change you places if you take this ornamental pain in the neck. Remind me to drop the breast collar before engaging in combat." A pitcher of citrus water levitated before them, and she refilled their glasses. "I have not had a chance to speak with you in a few days. How have you been?"

"I cannot complain, really. We've been so busy that I've hardly had time to think about, well...her. I should call that good fortune."

"Do you still believe you made the right choice?"

He nodded. "I do. That first night after the party, I felt so damned angry. Admitting all of it to you was the best thing I could have done. When you later said that she had admitted to what she'd done, and asked me how I wanted to proceed, I wasn't sure what to say. Perhaps I've grown soft in my years, or maybe I remember what it's like to be so sure the world could do you no wrong."

"You surprised yourself, didn't you? I could tell."

"I suppose I did. I thought about it for a long time. I asked myself, 'could I really ruin this young mare's life?' In the end I realized that no, I could not. Distasteful and misguided though her actions were, I could not very well see her banished. She has much to learn about the real world. Perhaps now she realizes that."

"Sapphire is no longer welcome in the castle, at least. You won't have to worry about running into her again. She's also volunteered to donate the entire earnings from her next tour to the Equestrian treasury on my word that it will be used to buy food and supplies for our soldiers. The latter, I think, was less of a gesture of generosity and more of an attempt to make an apology in the only real way she knew how."

"She could have apologized to me personally," Tercio grumbled.

"She still might, but pride is a strange thing. She is ashamed of how she's acted. This is her attempt at correcting that, small start though it may be."

"'Everyone deserves a second chance,' eh? I guess all of that talk of mercy and acceptance in your speeches has rubbed off on me."

Celestia smiled warmly. "It's one of our founding pillars, after all, and actions speak louder than words."

"As you say. Truthfully, I am glad to be done with it; I can return to focusing on the important things, rather than some misguided mare's attempts at one-sided romance."

"Like...?"

"Like, oh...not getting shown up by the Princess in single combat?"

"I don't think you need to worry about that too much, Tercio," she laughed in amusement. "I must look like a foal flailing her legs about compared to you, or really any of the Praetorians."

"Come now, you've improved a great deal! It's a wonder I can keep fighting for so long against you, really. You're stronger than you know. Consider yourself lucky: not everyone can be gifted with great beauty and great prowess."

Celestia smiled and put a dramatic hoof over her chest.

"Sir Tercio, flattery will get you nowhere."

"Oh I don't know," he replied, standing back up with a grunt, "it's gotten me this far. If flattery means less sword strikes to watch out for, then you'd best prepare yourself for an onslaught of compliments."

With a stretch of her wings Celestia returned to her hooves, working out the kinks in her neck that had developed from the weight of the twin swords tugging at her. For a time she studied Tercio with an inquisitive eye, watching him practice a few strikes with his weapon and readjust his armor's various straps and fittings. She enjoyed his company the more she knew of him, though she couldn't quite pin down why.

The creaking of the throne room's double doors echoed loudly, drawing her attention back to the moment.

"Looks like we're ready to go, Princess," Tercio said with an amused look. "Do try to avoid falling on your own blades."

Celestia slid the twin swords from their sheathes and flashed a wry grin.

"If I didn't know any better, Sir Tercio, I'd say that's a challenge."

"More of a challenge than you'll be?"

She took a ready stance and levitated her weapons before her, peering between the sharpened blades.

"We'll just see about that."

***

Getting away from Canterlot was a rare treat in the Praetorian Guard, unless one happened to be part of the pegasus retinue that pulled Celestia's royal sky carriage. Doubly so when it meant visiting somewhere new. For Tercio, getting picked to be part of the Princess' official escort meant a trip to the distant eastern shore of Equestria's borders, a place called Wither Shoals that hugged the coast of the Sea of Lights, famous for its white cliffs and colorful scenery.

He and seven others had arrived mid-day in a pair of sky wagons that had taken up flanking positions alongside the royal carriage, and from his seat he was able to appreciate the beauty and grandeur of a place he'd never seen -- air sickness not withstanding. The towering mountains of central Equestria had given way to endless forests of red, yellow and orange trees, and the vast, endless waters of the sea stretched out to the horizon in shimmering, cool waves of deep blue.

The others had rumored that the eastern expanses were suffering from decreased trade with the nation-state of Zevran across the ocean, and, as such, were throwing a fit about not getting the supplies they expected.

"It can never be bandits or deer raiding parties," one of the others had said, "it's always trade disagreements or political tripe."

Tercio reminded the young Praetorian about the attack on the castle grounds. It was not an experience he was eager to repeat.

The trip had its perks, of course. Whatever their view on the current situation, the trade guilds were still as awed by Celestia's presence as anyone else, and that translated to piles of gourmet food and extravagent gifts for all involved. Tercio himself ended up with a carved trinket made of ironbark dotted with tiny rubies; a stylized image of B'wu'ale, the zebra spirit-god of prosperity and bountiful harvests. He later regretted not being more thankful for the gift, but eating enough food to kill a manticore had made him concerned more with rest than gifts.

As escort duties went, it was relatively uneventful. Even the town of Swiftwing had broken out into politicos bickering back and forth for several hours. But Wither Shoals? It was practically a paid retreat.

The Praetorians made camp half a mile inland, setting up their large tent where a thick copse of trees met the rocky outflow of a narrow river that spilled into the ocean. The season had conspired to turn markedly cold, but not unbearably so. Thankfully, the requisition officer had seen fit to give them all suitable winter clothing, and Tercio and his companions remained relatively comfortable during their hours spent at Celestia's side or on guard at the camp site.

Night fell without incident and the Praetorians prepped their bonfire, stacking chopped wood so that the stallion on duty could simply toss a log onto the flames. Standing beside it and rubbing his hands for warmth, Tercio looked forward to curling up in his bed roll and getting a good night's rest -- or at least as much as he could until his shift started. He looked to the horizon to try and judge the time, but the moon was hidden by obscuring clouds. He hoped the others would wake him up at the appropriate time.

The fire crackled and popped as he stirred the coals. Behind him he could hear several of the stallions laughing over some tale or other, but he was content to stand near the warmth and comfort provided by the flickering flames. He'd always found them to be relaxing, a reminder of many nights spent out in the fields with his father and brother as they'd watched the stars rise. He sighed, wishing he could visit them again. Time away from the military was hard to come by.

The distinctive flapping of wings and the sound of a someone landing on the hard-packed earth turned him around just in time to see Princess Celestia folding her wings in, a pair of gold-clad pegasus guards at her side. She dismissed them with a few words and was soon surrounded by Praetorians eager to talk about the day's events. Ever the compassionate leader, the princess spent the better part of half an hour chatting and laughing with her soldiers over hot cups of tea and small treats left for the Praetorians by the locals. Tercio sat off to one side with Rimeberry and simply listened, making idle conversation with the big earth pony as he wrote a letter to his sister in the north.

Tercio was nearly ready to turn in for the night when Celestia approached him. An embroidered saddle bag around her waist filled with gifts bobbed as she came over, and he and Rimeberry saluted and bowed their heads in respect.

"Good evening Tercio, Rimeberry. How fares your night?"

"Uneventful, just the way I like it," Rime answered, tucking his helm against his side.

"Similarly, I cannot complain," Tercio added. "And you, Princess?"

"I am well, thank you, though somewhat tired by the process of negotiations. You'd think I would be used to it after so long." She briefly adjusted the fitting of her long, gilded robes that doubled as formal winter clothing.

"I would have given up a long time ago. You couldn't pay me enough to stand around and mingle with self-important ponies for hours on end." Rime shook his head. "I don't know how you do it, Princess."

"Mostly by day-dreaming," she joked. "I saw you both didn't join in with the rest of the Praetorians. Is something the matter?"

"Not in the least. Sometimes you just need to have a little peace and quiet when you write. I hope there was no offense taken, Your Highness."

"Of course not. I can understand the value of privacy more than most." She looked at Tercio. "I assume you would say the same?"

"Sort of," he replied. "I've been surrounded by stallions all day. Call it a break. Current company not withstanding."

"What, I don't qualify as a stallion?" Rimeberry asked mockingly.

"Well you do look quite good in a dress, my friend."

"We were supposed to keep that between us."

Celestia laughed with them, then reached into one of the many pockets of her saddle bags, floating out a scroll wrapped in green ribbon.

"I'd nearly forgotten: I have something for you, Decanus Rimeberry."

"You do? Is that from who I think it is?" His eyes seemed to light up in recognition.

"See for yourself."

He snatched the scroll from the air and quickly unfurled it, quickly skimming through what Tercio assumed was a letter of some kind. Whatever it was, it made Rimeberry break out into a broad smile.

"It's from my brother, out in Marestopholous! His wife gave birth during the last full moon! I'm...I'm an uncle!"

Tercio clapped a hand on Rime's shoulder and offered heartfelt congratulations to his friend and compatriot, who was nearly in a state of gleeful shock.

"That's wonderful news," Celestia said. "Congratulations, Rimeberry."

"T-Thank you, Princess! I wasn't expecting such a thing. We'd all thought his wife unable to bear foals; this is truly a blessing from the gods!" The commotion from the usually quiet and soft-spoken stallion had drawn numerous looks of curiosity from the others. Rimeberry waved at them and lifted the scroll, shouting about his new-found family member. They cheered and called for him to come over and celebrate.

"I, uh, think they want me to join them," he said to Celestia with a chuckle. She smiled back.

"By all means, my friend. Enjoy yourself, and congratulations once more."

"Thank you, Princess!" He nudged Tercio's shoulder. "I'm sure it won't be as grand as the party you put on, but hell, come on over."

"I will," Tercio nodded. "Give me a bit."

"Sure thing!"

With that, Rimeberry galloped over to the other Praetorians and was immediately surrounded. Celestia laughed quietly at the celebration and turned her attention to Tercio. The warm, brown furs of his winter clothing stuck out from between the gaps in his armor, leaving only his hands and head exposed to the elements. He looked impressive, she decided, with his tall figure and shining steel armor cutting a respectable silhouette against the night. The tailors had done well with his unique form.

"I hope," he said, nodding in Rimeberry's direction, "that one day that will be me. Mother is always bothering Victus and I for not having any foals of our own -- I likely cannot be a father, as I've explained to her many times, but I would be happy with being an uncle." He shook his head and laughed. "Perhaps mother was right, and I should tell Victus to hurry up and drop the Legionary bit and find a suitable mare."

"I'm sure you'd be a wonderful uncle," Celestia said. She noticed Tercio was studying her, and she cocked her head in curiosity. "What is it?"

"You came here to speak with me, didn't you?" he asked. "I can tell, you have that look about you."

"It's that obvious, is it? I swear, you know me too well."

"I'd say I don't know you well enough! But I enjoy our conversations, so you're in luck."

Celestia pointed toward the ocean. "Come, I won't keep you long."

"As you say, Princess." Tercio took his place beside her, tucking his hands into his pockets for warmth. They followed the river bank over fields of smooth pebbles, stepping around larger boulders in their path. "Quite a beautiful night, isn't it? I have never seen the moon rising over the ocean. For that matter, I've never seen the ocean before today. It's so...large."

Celestia giggled. "It's something, isn't it? Long ago, my family used to take trips out this way during the summer months. We would watch my father paint the sky with countless stars, only retiring for the night when the moon was high above the water."

"That sounds lovely. It's a shame I could not meet him."

"I think you would have liked him...after he got over the fact that you were so different."

It didn't take long to reach the white, sandy shore of the Sea of Lights. Tercio paused to take it all in: the moon peeking between the clouds, casting a shining streak of soft light over the dark, pristine waters. The gentle waves that lapped at his marching sandals and crawled up the shore in foaming babbles before receding into the vast, endless expanse. The fresh, salty air that filled his lungs, cool and wet and invigorating. In the distance, lone spires of rock jutted from the sea floor, where larger waves broke against their bulk in roaring sprays.

"In all my life, I never imagined I would visit a place like this. Between the frozen north and the eastern sea, I've seen more of Equestria in a few months than I have in all of my years prior."

"Another perk of being a Praetorian?"

"Without a doubt," he smiled. "Now I understand why some of my father's friends spent nearly their entire lives at sea. It's hard to put into words what it's like to behold it for the first time. It's..."

"Enchanting?" Celestia offered.

"Enchanting. Well said."

She stepped to the edge of the water, kicking at a wave with a golden shoe.

"Do you know why they call it the Sea of Lights?"

Tercio shook his head. "I cannot say I do."

"Watch." Focusing on a fist-sized, smooth stone, Celestia levitated it before her and tossed it out into the water. It landed with a quiet splash. Tercio looked her, puzzled. "Just wait, and watch."

A few seconds passed, and from the ripples in the water a soft glow began to spread outward, growing brighter in the center until rays of light pierced the surface. They danced over the waves, otherwordly yellows and greens, before slowly returning to the glassy darkness.

"I have never seen such a thing," he said, awestruck.

"Countless tiny creatures come to the surface at night and glow with their own luminescence. Imagine being on a boat and seeing your wake light up like a thousand candles. That is why it's referred to as the Sea of Lights."

Tercio picked up a rock and chucked it into the water, smiling as the splash was followed by a dazzling display.

"Victus is never going to believe this."

Celestia began to walk down the shore, her armored hooves crunching through the sand and stones. Tercio followed suit, entertaining himself by tossing several more rocks into the breaking waves.

"Is this why you asked me to join your escort this morn? So that I could gaze upon the sea?"

"Partly," Celestia answered. "I am glad you're enjoying your time here, but there is something else."

"Yes?"

She paused to consider how to ask the question that had been on her mind for some time.

"A few nights ago -- when we walked the palace gardens and you soon after told me about Sapphire's rather misguided attempts at seducing you -- you mentioned that something had helped jar your mind and defeat the influence of her aphrodisiac. Do you remember what that was?"

Tercio looked over. "Of course I do: it was you."

Some small part of her had hoped she'd simply misunderstood. It would have been simpler.

"And you're sure of this?"

"There is not a doubt in my mind, Princess. I would not make such a claim lightly."

Not sure how to feel, Celestia simply looked straight ahead.

"I see..."

An uneasy silence hung in the air as they walked. Tercio was the first to speak up again.

"I realize that saying such a thing could be construed as unprofessional, but...when I'm with you, when I'm in your presence, I feel this sense of calm and comfort that I cannot properly put into words." He glanced over, seeing Celestia looking back at him. "All my life I have felt like a stranger in my own land. I have had to fight tooth and nail to earn my position in the military, to be accepted by the others as more than just some 'monster' or 'freak', as I've heard time and again. Nearly everyone views me, or has viewed me, as nothing more than a curiosity. But when I met you that day, in the throne room, I felt none of the hostility I am so used to. Only warmth and caring. And then, after the attack, when you invited me to that wonderful dinner, I got to know you as more than just 'The Princess'".

"It was a very enjoyable night," Celestia said.

"That it was. For so long I'd dreamt of meeting you, and when I had the chance to get to know you, I found that what was there, what was inside of you, was something beautiful. You were not just the ruler of Equestria anymore; you were Celestia, just as capable of laughter and sorrow as any of us."

He idly kicked at a rock, sending it tumbling through the sand.

"You've become somewhat of my anchor to this world. When I look at you now I feel a connection I have not felt with anyone else. Perhaps it is the fact that we live such different lives from those around us."

They stopped, and Tercio stood before her. Staring into her pink eyes, the moonlight reflected in her gaze, he would not have wished to be anywhere else. He feared he was being too forward, that he would push her away with his sudden confession of how he felt, but he had already begun to bear his heart and soul. Turning back now would be worse than continuing.

"I...I know it is unusual, even unheard of, to admit such a thing, but it is the truth. The thought of never being near you again was too much for me to bear. I know I have only known you for a scant few months, but in that time I have developed a fondness for you that I cannot deny."

Celestia lifted a surprised foreleg and gasped. Her hunch had been true after all.

"That day that Sapphire believed I was drawn to her? She could not have been further from the truth. I was distracted by you, by the very thought of you. You occupied my every waking moment, and not even sparring with the others could stop me eyes from wandering up to you." He placed a hand on her chest, felt the soft material of her robes, heard his heart pounding in his ears. "If it is inappropriate for me to admit these things, then I will go no further. But it had to be said, Princess. I do not care about Sapphire, and I never did. I care about you."

The weight of his confession took to her mind and her chest; for a brief moment in time she found it difficult to breathe, and her head swam with the echoes of his words. She'd been correct, completely and utterly.

"Tercio, I'm...I'm not sure--"

"I know this is sudden, Celestia, but I cannot think of a better place to tell you. I have thought about it for many a sleepless night and many more a sleepless shift. I know it's an absurd notion, but I have too many regrets in life already to spend the rest of it wondering what would have happened if I'd just told you."

Celestia placed a hoof on his hand. "I don't know what to say..."

"You feel it too, don't you?" he asked hopefully. "I see in the way you carry yourself, in how we get along wonderfully even though we are so different. I am drawn to your smile like a candle in the night. You...you give me something to hold on to, even when I am on the edge of losing myself." A nervous laugh parted his lips. " I have not felt this way about anyone in many years. To think that I would feel so strongly about my princess, my most superior officer, a mare most people have never even met and speak about in rumor...well, I may be overstepping my bounds, but such a thing seems nearly an untouchable dream."

It would have been nearly impossible for Celestia to state what she felt at that moment in time, and she searched for the words for long seconds before answering.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't feel some tangible connection between us, but you must understand that this is a very complicated situation. You are one of my soldiers. You are tasked with giving your life for me if necessary. Even if we were together, imagine if word of it got out."

"What, word of your relationship with someone who cares for you deeply? I would not be ashamed. Let them think what they want. If you're concerned, I give you my word that I can be discreet."

Celestia pulled back, her eyes glistening.

"It's not that simple, Tercio."

"Nothing worth fighting for is, Princess."

She turned to dry her eyes, looking out over the ocean as a thousand thoughts and emotions flitted through her.

"I think you're very sweet for saying such things, and I have indeed enjoyed getting to know you, but this...this is not something I can give a definitive yes or no to. Not right now."

Dejected, Tercio stood with his hands behind his back, casting his gaze at the rocky shore. He still clung to hope; after all, she hadn't turned him down, not entirely. It was, he knew, a lot to think about, made all the more complicated by everything a mare in her position of power had to deal with already.

"Do not think me callous or uncaring," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Please, just...give me time to think on it."

Taking a deep breath, Tercio gained back a small degree of confidence.

"I have waited thirty-two years to find myself here. I would gladly wait another thirty-two to be with you if I must."

Celestia felt his words touch her heart, felt them tug at her and threaten to let him see the tears that streamed down her cheeks.

"I...I really must get back to my quarters." Her great wings unfurled and she took to the sky, hovering in place just above him. "Have a good night, Sir Tercio," she said with a voice barely above a whisper.

Tercio saw her silhouetted against the soft glow of the half-moon, finding her beautiful even as his chest weighed heavily with hope and dread and sadness. "And you as well, Princess Celestia."

She hesitated for a few seconds, and Tercio watched her leave until she disappeared behind the tall, autumn-tinted trees of the nearby forest. For a long time he stood at the water's edge, feeling the cold water lap at his feet. The glow of the camp's bonfire stuck out like a beacon in the night as he regretfully started his trek back, his thoughts occupied, as they were so often as of late, by the thought of her. He hardly heard a word the others said as he entered the camp, and as he removed his winter clothing and pulled himself into his sleeping roll he knew there would be little sleep to be had that night.

***

From her large, personal tent tucked into the edge of the forest Celestia watched the distant ocean, her hot cup of tea hardly doing a thing to help her relax. By candle light she saw herself in a mirror; she hardly looked, or felt, like the most powerful mare in the known world. The others had seen it, her pegasus guards and her personal assistant, and she had lied and said she was simply tired from the day's events. They would not pry, and for that she was thankful.

Mentally and emotionally exhausted, she began to drift off to sleep. On the edge of consciousness she saw her, the dark-coated mare standing at the foot of her map table. The image of shadow and mist twisted and swirled, coherent yet incorporeal.

"How far Big Sister has fallen." A voice, feminine but harsh, came from all around her.

Celestia shut her eyes and willed the mockery of her sister to be gone, to vanish back to the dark recesses it had come from.

"You knew it to be true, and yet...and yet you denied it."

"I will not be part of your game, not tonight," Celestia whispered, hoping to convince herself. "Leave me be, Luna."

The figure vanished, then reappeared beside her wearing a bent, fire-charred crown and breast collar, flashing a predatory smile.

"Oh, but he loves you, Celestia."

Tercio's silhouette stood beside Luna, and it gazed upon her with empty eyes.

"You may lie to yourself, but never to me. We are one and the same, you and I. Your heart yearns for his embrace and calls out for the first stirrings of love to grace your soul in centuries. Perhaps...yes, there it is. You can feel it, can't you? That black thought that twists and coils inside of you. You remember, and it terrifies you."

Nightmare Moon, Luna, the shadow of Celestia's own thoughts, laughed quietly in her ear. The form of Tercio swirled into a shimmering cloud, then reformed in an instant as the embraced, intertwined shapes of himself and Celestia, her head thrown back in a moment of ecstasy frozen in time. Tercio's shadow pulled a dagger from the mist and held it above her neck.

"Luna, stop this, please..."

"You know...and yet, you still long for him. You fear him, but you fear for him even more. Whose life will you see run to ruin by your machinations? Yours..." The human's shadow plunged the blade deep, and in the blink of an eye held its own beating heart in its hand. "...or his?"

Celestia clapped her hooves over her ears and shut her eyes tight.

"He is a good man. He is a good man! You are nothing but a twisted shell of the sister I loved and cared for!"

"Your love is toxic. A venom that destroys all you touch from the inside. You will see, sister. You will see that I was right..."

"I will not! I will not!"

A shrill, terrible shriek filled Celestia's ears and grew louder until it threatened to drive her to madness, and then...it was gone. She opened her eyes, tears staining her coat and running down her face, and she fell on her cushions and sobbed herself to sleep.

25 - Nocturne

Being in love with the most powerful mare in Equestria had its downsides. It was an unfortunate reality that a budding romance between a soldier and the Princess was something that, for the time being, had to be kept a secret. Tercio did not resent her for it, though he wished he could be more open around the others. In the week following their mutual admission of attraction he had not even told his own parents, much less the other guards or, gods forbid, Imperator Stonewall. Yet they still wished to see each other regularly, which meant that one unfortunate reality led to another in the form of increased night shifts. Only after the sun had set and most of the palace was asleep was he free to spend time with her.

Things had progressed slowly since the first night, something he did not mind. Celestia was a wonderful conversationalist who had no shortage of stories to tell from her many hundreds of years of experience, and he was always surprised and delighted when she enjoyed his own tales in return. Sometimes they would simply sit outside on her private balcony, wrapped in blankets, and enjoy the company of one another. She would lay her head against his shoulder and smile as he ran his fingers through her flowing mane, softer than any silk, and in those moments he truly felt at peace.

"It still does not feel real, like all of this is a dream," he said quietly, watching low clouds sweep in over the nearby mountains like a blanket of cotton against the dark, cold night.

"If this is a dream, then I do not wish to wake from it." Celestia smiled and gently kissed his cheek. It had been so long since she'd felt the warmth and joy of love, so long since the sensation of simply being with another made her head swim in a delightful fog of affection. It was intoxicating, brighter than any wine could ever hope to bring. "I feel foolish for waiting so long. I am supposed to be the steadfast leader of Equestria, always so sure of myself. Yet I denied my own feelings out of trepidation." She laughed to herself. "What would my mother say?"

"I would hope she would approve of me," Tercio said.

"I think she would. My father though...well, he was always very protective of his daughters."

"That is a father's job, after all. Mother spoils the children, and Father keeps them in line and disapproves of any potential romances. At least, that's how it was when I was growing up."

"I think your father and mine would have been great friends," she quipped.

"You're probably right. Though I think my father would be beaming with joy if he knew I was in a relationship with the Princess of the Sun herself. That, or he would have a heart attack in disbelief. One of the two."

"Good to know I can still be a status symbol after all these years," she said in a teasing tone.

"I prefer the term 'mare of social elevation'. Just think of the contacts I could make!"

"I know a very good jailer in the dungeon, perhaps I can get you two acquainted."

"Right, point taken," Tercio laughed. He laid his head against a cushion and let the cold, fresh air drift over him. "You know, after so long in the Guard I had almost forgotten what it is to have a truly casual moment with someone. Even when we were taking a meal or strolling through the garden there was a lingering sense of formality. I know it makes me a good soldier, but still...being here, with you, just like this? I haven't felt so comfortable in an age."

"I could say the same. All of the pomp, maintaining an image, it grows tiresome. It's not something you ever fully get used to. There are few in Canterlot I can truly be at ease with. Rosewise and Mended Heart have been my dear friends and assistants for years, but being with you is a closeness like I have not felt in a very long time."

"Then I hope it lasts many more years to come," Tercio said.

"As do I."

She had a softness about her, a warmth and gentleness in her caress and in her kiss. Nothing he'd experienced had even come close, and looking back on old relationships he found them to be nothing more than lust or curiosity masquerading as love. What he felt now, with Celestia, was something he could have hardly imagined.

He wished he could spend the whole night with her, but their visits were disappointingly short. "I suppose I should get back to my post. If Stonewall happens to wake up and stop by for an impromptu inspection we'll have quite a bit of explaining to do."

"And I should get some sleep," Celestia said with a sigh. "I will likely have to have someone else stand night guard for a short time so as not to arouse suspicions."

Tercio frowned. "Having to hide my feelings for you is not ideal, but I understand."

"I know, and I'm sorry it has to be this way for now. But it is only temporary, until we can figure something out. Soon we'll be free to spend as much time together as our schedules allow."

"I look forward to it, Celestia," he said, running his hand down her neck.

"As do I." She kissed him lovingly and smiled as only she could. "Before you go, there is something I wanted to show you. Consider it a surprise."

"Oh? What is it?"

Celestia stood up and motioned to her quarters.

"Come, I'll show you."

Intrigued, Tercio followed her inside, parting the sheer curtains that gently billowed in the wind, where she pulled a long, thin case from under her bed. A layer of dust hid a dark wood exterior that was decorated with carved and painted stars over a horizon of jagged mountains. Whatever it was, it was clearly valuable.

"Please, open it," she said, levitating it before him. Carefully, Tercio unlatched a pair of golden clasps and lifted the lid. A silvery sword lay in a fitted bed of dark blue velvet, so strikingly beautiful that it nearly took the breath from his lungs.

"This is -- was -- Princess Luna's personal weapon," Celestia explained. "I want you to have it."

Tercio was speechless. "I...I couldn't. This belongs to your sister. Who am I to--"

"You're a Praetorian, and a fine one at that. You're a good man. And you're the one I care for more than I can say." When Tercio still hesitated to take the sword she stepped closer and met his gaze. "Tercio, Luna will not be coming back for a very long time. When she does return, I do not know if I will be able to save her even then. I have held onto this blade because part of me still expected the thing that she has become to be nothing but a bad dream, but like many other things I had simply been lying to myself. Luna is gone, and I must accept that. This sword was created for her when she was still pure of heart and pure of mind, and it deserves to be wielded by someone who is both of those things."

He looked at her. "Pure of heart and mind? I could hardly claim to be either, Celestia. There is still a darkness that lingers within me, and I am fortunate that it has not surfaced again."

"It has not surfaced because you are stronger than it is, even if you do not fully understand it. That is why you are worthy of such a gift."

Tercio wanted to object further -- a blade of royalty, carried by a mere soldier? -- but as he cautiously reached for the weapon he felt a sense of calm overtake him, flowing from his fingers up through his arm and down his body. The sword visibly glowed with a faint, white light; the brilliance of the shining moon, reflected across its polished, silver surface. He grasped the hilt and firmly wrapped his fingers around the metallic grip of curved steel. To his amazement, it wasn't cold and hard like an unwrapped metallic grip should have been. Instead, it felt warm to the touch and seemed to conform to his hand, flexing and contracting until it felt like an extension of himself. Celestia smiled at his clear look of awe and wonder.

"Before my father passed, he had the finest blacksmith in Equestria create two swords, one for each of us. Mine was lost to the assassin's attack, but Luna's has remained untouched for several years."

"It's...amazing," Tercio said, hefting the longsword. The diamond-shaped pommel was inlaid with a sapphire that swirled with magical energy, and the shining crossguard was intricately detailed with a carved pattern of knotwork. Inscribed into the base of the blade was a glowing crescent moon with unknown symbols trailing away from it along the length of the fuller. They pulsed dark blue in a slow, subtle manner.

"It's ancient Equestrian," Celestia clarified, reading his curious expression. "It means 'Guard the night, that it may guard you.' I always thought it fitting."

"I can feel it...changing...in my hand."

"An old forging technique, reserved for only the greatest of weapons. Its steel is smelted with a very rare metal found only in the deepest of caves where magical conduits are at their strongest. I have long since forgotten its process, I'm afraid."

A flick of the wrist and the sword cut through the air with a sound like a flitting arrow, leaving a trail of rapidly fading white energy in its wake. He found it perfectly balanced, despite being more than twice as long as a standard gladius, almost as if it was made for his form. It was, he decided, the finest blade he'd ever held.

"I have never seen such a magnificent weapon in all my years. Are you truly sure you wish me to have it?"

"I can think of no one else I'd rather give it to."

"In that case, thank you. I am honored more than I can say." Tercio lifted the sword, already comfortable with its handling, as if he'd trained with it for years. "Does it have a name? Something I may use to honor the memory of your sister before her fall?"

"Nocturne."

"Nocturne, then. A good name."

"She always thought so," Celestia said, a warm smile spreading from the old memories it brought up. "Allow me to have the honor of formally presenting it to you."

A yellow glow lit the room, and Tercio's holstered gladius lifted from his belt. In its place, a longer, black sheathe of fine leather inlaid with silver latched on and fastened itself in place.

"Centurion Tercio Krosus, Praetorian of Equestria, protector of the realm and all its peoples, I, Princess Celestia, hereby present you the blade of Princess Luna, that you may wear it with pride and wield it always in good standing. As sword and soldier you are now bonded -- keep it safe, and it will see you safe in return."

Tercio saluted, crisp and formal, before relaxing and accepting Celestia's loving embrace.

"I will keep it with me always. Thank you."

***

Tercio was deep into an adventure story when he was interrupted by a heavy stomp on the floor. Standing beside his cot was a well-built earth pony with a dark brown coat and cropped orange mane, a loose tunic adorning his torso.

"Decanus Rimeberry," Tercio said flatly, looking over the top of his book.

"Centurion Tercio," the other returned the favor. "You are hereby invited to a night of merriment and inebriation, should you so choose."

"Should I? Hmm. I'm not sure. This novel is quite interesting."

"It means getting away from the barracks for a few hours, sir."

"'Sir'. I like that. It has a nice ring to it. Perhaps if you addressed me in such a manner more often..."

Rimeberry laughed. "Come on, you ass! A couple of the guys are going to get drunk at the caupona in town and stare at mares way out of our league. You going or what?"

"Pull my leg, why don't you?" Tercio answered with a grin. "Of course I'll go! Not like I have much else to do, eh?"

"Not unless you're particularly invested in that book of yours."

"It's average at best."

"That's what I like to hear! Grab your coin and join us, we'll be at the palace entrance."

Tercio quickly pulled on his tunic and slipped a small dagger into his thigh holster as Rimeberry trotted off. A quick peek into his coin purse revealed a decent amount, at least enough to pay for a few drinks. With no night guard duty he didn't have any other plans for the night. Briefly, he wondered what would happen if he invited the princess to go to drinking with them. The thought of a drunk Celestia made him laugh more than he knew it should have.

Moments later he was crossing over from the castle grounds to Canterlot proper. Besides himself and Rimeberry, their small group consisted of Thunderburst and Polaris -- stallions he'd served with since his first day of training for the Praetorians -- and two newer members who had proven themselves fighting the whitetail before being selected to join the private guard of Canterlot Castle: Frost Wind, a pegasus with a knack for cloud control, and Baer'barisater, the only zebra Tercio had ever seen in the Equestrian military, nevermind the Praetorian Guard itself. To Tercio's eyes the stocky soldier looked strange, though he imagined Baer'barisater thought the same of him.

Of course, there was the slight issue of no one in the Guard being able to say the zebra's name properly. As a result, over the last few weeks he'd earned the affectionate nickname of "Bear", a title that he wore with pride. Tercio knew next to nothing about him, but he was sure the zebra had some interesting stories to tell.

They chatted idly while they left the familiar confines of the palace, heading into the hub of Canterlot's commercial and social district. More than a few stares were directed at the group; having a zebra at his side was sure to draw more than usual, even by Tercio's standards. Still, no one was directly hostile or rude, and he soon came to ignore them entirely as he focused on finding the establishment that was tucked into an alley just off the main roads. A simple sign hung above the door as Polaris pointed it out, proclaiming "Banded Buzzard Inn and Drinks" in green lettering.

"Right, first round's on the new guys," Rimeberry said, ducking into the doorway and descending the short flight of stairs.

"Hope you brought a deep purse, friend," Thunderburst said to the newest Praetorians.

"We are the first to buy, yes?" Bear asked in heavily accented Equestrian. "This tradition, I am not familiar with it."

"That's because he just made it up! Now come, drinks wait for nopony. Or zebra."

Bear shot a curious look to Tercio. "Sometimes, I still do not understand Equestrians."

"You and I both," Tercio chuckled.

The Banded Buzzard was a relatively small place, with a bottom level serving as a bar and small kitchen, and the top two levels filled with rent-able rooms for weary travelers or those who had simply had too much to drink. Magical torches burned in the corners and cast multi-colored light on the customers who were seated at round, wooden tables or tucked into seats that surrounded dice boards, and pretty mares in eye-catching outfits trotted to and from the bar with trays covered in mugs, decanters and carafes. It was a comfortable if somewhat loud environment, not the type of place Tercio would have frequented on his own, but just fine for a night with those he considered to be his brothers.

"Right, lads. Bear and Frost Wind have the first round. I volunteer Tercio for the second." Polaris led them to a corner table with large seating cushions, and the newer Praetorians left to grab the first of the night's drinks. Tercio took a spot next to Rimeberry.

"I was under that assumption that I had to volunteer myself."

"Not in the Guard, my friend. Besides, it'll make you look good to the new guys."

"If that's the case, then I 'volunteer' you for the one after."

Polaris knocked him on the shoulder with a hoof.

"Now you're getting it."

There was a line for orders at the bar, with a pair of bartenders rushing about to try and take care of everyone's needs.

"So Polaris," Tercio started.

"Hmm?"

"What's the story with Bear? I've hardly seen him a handful of times since he was accepted into our ranks."

Polaris shrugged. "Not entirely sure, to be honest. I only know what he's told me: he wanted to join the Equestrian ranks because it paid more, so he did."

"There are a lot of things that pay better than military service."

"Right? The guy's a good fighter but he's about as open as Equestria's royal coffers. Stonewall might know more but he's tight-lipped as usual." Frost Wind and Bear were at the front of the line now, a pair of trays steadied on their backs for drinks to be placed upon.

"I'd rather have Frost Wind at my side," Thunderburst added.

"What, because you're both pegasuses?" Rimeberry countered.

"Pegasi, Rime. Pegasi. Would I be so wrong for saying yes? It's rare we get another pegasus in the Praetorian Guard that isn't already shackled to Celestia's sky carriage. A pair of pegasi working together is a force to be reckoned with, especially when paired with you poor lot stuck on the ground." The newer members of their group were finally on their way back, carefully stepping around ponies to avoid spilling their precious cargo. "But yeah, I guess Bear's an okay zebra. Haven't met enough to know for sure. He doesn't talk much, you know?"

"As long as he does his job he can have his privacy. We've all got our secrets."

Royal secrets, in Tercio's case.

"Gods' honest truth," he said.

Bear and Frost Wind slid their trays onto the table and passed around the wooden tankards.

"We'll start off with a bit of the finest swill Canterlot produces." Frost Wind slid the frothy mugs to Tercio, Rimeberry and Polaris, then moved over to let Bear set his drinks down next.

"And for Sir Thunderburst and Sir Frost Wind," Bear said cheerfully, "we have ciders from...some place."

"Some place?" Thunderburst asked.

"The drinks tender, he said only that it was 'better than the cheap shit you will find for the same price'. I took his word for it."

The pegasus eyed his drink. "Right...if I die, it's your fault. What are you so happy about?"

A big smile spread across Bear's face as he took the last cup into his grasp, much smaller than the others.

"They had joi'liq."

Rimeberry scratched his head. "Joy-what?"

"Joi'liq, my friend. It is rare to find it outside of Zevran or eastern Equestria."

"Zebra drink, I take it."

"Oh yes. A favorite of many of my kind."

Tercio raised his mug and held it out before him. "Less talking, more drinking. Praetoria Victor!"

"Praetoria Victor!" the others echoed as one, then knocked their drinks together and took long pulls of their alcohol of choice. The mead in Tercio's cup was slightly sweet with a sharp bite at the back of the throat, a taste he'd developed a fondness for since being introduced to it by Rimeberry. The foreign drink had become a Praetorian favorite, even if some still staunchly refused to drink anything but Equestrian alcohol.

"Lemme try that joy-lick stuff," Rimeberry said with an impatient wave of his hoof.

"Better you than us," Polaris laughed beside him.

"Your loss, Pole." The big earth pony sniffed at the drink, shrugged, and knocked back a gulp...then immediately began to cough and gasp for air, pounding his hoof on the table. "Celestia's cock! What the hell is in that?!"

"A few ingredients, mixed in the proper amounts, and reduced in a cauldron for three days." Bear grinned in self-satisfaction. The biggest member of their ranks had been brought to tears by a simple drink. "It would seem the earth pony was wrong, perhaps the zebras are truly strong..."

Rimeberry laughed despite his hacking, wheezing breaths and the sound of his comrades joking around him.

"Shit! You know what? You win this one, Bear. I'm not even gonna deny it."

"As you say," Bear answered simply.

"Tercio! You need all the hair on your chest you can get, you poor bastard. Have some of this, it'll make you sprout a coat in no time."

Tercio was not in any particular hurry to try it for himself, but he could hardly say no. Cautiously he picked up the small, ceramic cup and brought it to his mouth. It smelled like herbs, an almost tea-like scent. That scent was replaced by the burning of a miniature sun he was convinced had suddenly taken refuge in his throat and was working its way down into his stomach.

"Gods, that's foul!" he laughed, quickly chasing the Zevran liquor with his far mellower mead. "Remind me never to get in a drinking contest with you, Bear, else I may burn a hole in my innards."

Polaris knocked his hoof on his mug.

"Now that you two have fallen on that particular blade, let's get this started properly! Tercio, you're full of stories and shit in equal measure. Entertain us!"

Tercio lifted his drink and smirked.

"Where should I begin?"

***

He hadn't noticed her yet, too busy with his friends and colleagues to bother studying the bar. They had been drinking and eating for hours, laughing and regaling each other with tales of bravery and embarrassment. She hoped they would not be there all night; patience was not her strongest trait, though if it meant making things right in some small way she would do what it took.

The bar tender had made a decent profit from her, content to bring her juices and lightly alcoholic drinks since she'd arrived. She hid her annoyance. Overpriced and watered down, that's what they were. A far cry from her private selection. And the stallions! She had been approached so many times it had passed the point of being a compliment. Now she just brushed them away, sometimes having to raise her voice to be rid of the more persistent ones. Besides, she was in the mood for mares tonight. Ones with a little more class than the tarts who threw themselves at the first drunken soldier with a bursting coin purse. That would have to wait, though. For now she simply watched, and waited.

Another hour passed before the human got up from his seat. He said something to the others and they started to leave without him; she saw him pull a selection of bits and place them on the table, then stop and briefly talk with a stallion she didn't know. A friend, probably. A few minutes later he was headed for the door, tripping over himself once. He shook his head to try and clear the alcoholic fuzz from his mind, and that was when she fell in behind him. Clad in a typical body wrap and concealing her face with a fashionable veil, he did not take notice of her. They went onto a busy street and she struggled to follow, only able to keep him in sight thanks to his tall figure and the pleasant song he sang to himself. The street gave way to a series of smaller alleys, and once they were free of other guards she finally made her move.

***

"Away must I go...my darling, so dear..."

"Excuse me..."

"To battle I march...but please, do not fear..."

"Excuse me, Sir Tercio?"

Was someone actually calling to him? It couldn't have been. Surely the drinks were playing tricks.

"Sir Tercio, if I may?"

He stopped. His addled mind took a second to process that a mare was standing behind him. She was a pleasant looker with deep blue eyes, somehow familiar.

"Yes? Do you require aid?" he asked. "If you're looking for a guard I am afraid I'm off duty right now."

"I am in no danger, but thank you." The mare unwrapped her veil and pulled her vividly pink mane from under a head wrap, long and curled at the ends, a pleasing compliment to her cream-colored coat. "I was actually hoping we could talk..."

Despite his haze Tercio recognized her almost immediately.

"What do you want, Sapphire?" he grumbled. "I thought it was made quite clear that you are not to be in my presence again."

Sapphire Quill dipped her head slightly in shame, her ears flattening against her head.

"I know, I know. Look, I'm sorry about that night, okay? What I did was wrong, and you've every right to be angry with me."

"It's not just about right or wrong. How long have you been following me?"

"Hours," she said. "I was in the bar, watching you and the others."

"And how did you know I'd even be there?"

She giggled. "I have my sources."

Still the same old Sapphire, he thought in growing frustration.

"Tell your 'sources' to stay away from me. I want nothing to do with you, or have I not made that clear enough?"

"Fine, fine, it's not really so complicated as I make it out to be. I see your Praetorian friends coming here quite frequently. I knew it was just a matter of time until they brought you along."

"So you stalked me for most of the night. Congratulations. What is it you want, exactly?"

"I wanted to apologize."

"And I hear your apology. Is that it?"

"Not quite. Please, just hear me out. I won't take long."

Tercio leaned against the wall and crossed his arms.

"Fine, then. Speak and be done with it."

"I've...I've thought a lot about that night, about my actions. Even immediately following it I felt no concern. And then Tia -- Princess Celestia, rather -- came to me and made it very clear that I had done something terrible."

"And you needed her to tell you this?"

"Yes. I know it sounds ridiculous, but you must understand: I live a life of privilege, Sir Tercio. It is not often that I am told 'no'. This experience has been somewhat of a wake-up call for me. As I understand it, you chose to show mercy when she asked you what you wished to happen. I could have been banished from my home, from Equestria, but you allowed me to keep the life I have worked so hard for. Forgive me for asking, but...why?"

Tercio thought for a moment.

"Because you are still young. I am by no means an old man, but I've made some bad decisions in my time. You made some particularly poor ones, but was it worthy of losing everything you have, of ruining your life? In the end, I did not believe so. We must all learn from our mistakes."

Sapphire cast her eyes at the ground.

"Thank you. It is more than I deserve."

"Mmm. Maybe." Tercio quickly looked around to make sure they were alone. "Look...we will not be friends any time soon, but for what it's worth...I accept your apology."

"You do?" she said in disbelief.

"You are not the only one to have learned something, Sapphire. Being with--being around Celestia has taught me a good deal about forgiveness, among other things. So yes, I forgive you, but know this: if I should ever cross your path again, I will not be so kind. Now, if there's nothing else--"

"Wait," she quickly interrupted. "There is one more thing."

"Yes?"

"I've been trying to think of some way to pay you back for your kindness, and I think I've figured it out."

"I am not interested in further wine or sex, if that's what you were thinking."

"I am wounded, Sir Tercio. Is that what you think I would offer?" When he didn't answer she kicked a hoof at the ground. "Okay, fine, so I probably would offer those things to others. But that's not what I had in mind. When we were speaking in my chambers you mentioned your brother, Victus, and how you had not seen him for some time."

"And?"

"And fortunately for you, I have made many connections over the last couple of years. Some of them within the Equestrian military. I wrote a few letters and asked for a few favors, and I believe you'll be pleased with the results. Consider it my way of making up for my past transgressions."

She wrapped her silken veil loosely around her mouth once more, a smile tugging at the fabric.

"I believe your Imperator...Stonewall, is it?...will have some news for you tomorrow. No need to thank me."

"That's all you're going to tell me, isn't it?" Tercio asked as she began to trot away, her tail playfully flicking to and fro as her familiar confidence returned.

"Come now, Tercio. A lady never reveals all her secrets."

34 - The Midlands (2/2)

Battle-Master Gilias came up high over a ridge, and the full scale of the Nightmare Moon encampment came into view. She was about to call back to her pegasi when a volley of arrows snapped past the formation, catching a few unfortunate ponies at the rear of the formation in the chest and neck; they'd seen her coming, somehow, somewhere.

"Shit," she muttered, then called out behind her. "Stay close! Ready your bundles!"

More arrows flitted up to meet her, and she dodged out of the way with deft movements of her wings. Now the arrows were joined by a number of larger projectiles -- magically-tossed daggers, spears, even a few of the explosive whitetail pots. They were poorly aimed, likely thrown in desperation and panic, but she knew even a random weapon could bring you down if it connected.

Far below her the Equestrian ground forces were advancing, having to squeeze through the narrow pass three at a time. It seemed no one had noticed them yet. That was some good fortune, at least.

Now directly over the camp, Gilias grasped the trailing ends of the wrapped bundles on either side of her body, ready to unleash their contents on the unfortunate creatures below. A quick glance confirmed that the others had done the same. Just a few more seconds...

"Release!"

A firm yank ripped open the twine-wrapped packs, and within seconds the air was filled with hundreds of tiny metallic darts. Some of the cultists saw the attack coming and tried to move out of the way, but many were unable to escape the deadly rain of needle-sharp projectiles. Dozens of the enemy fell at once, punctured and bleeding from multiple, piercing wounds. Not even those in armor were safe as the darts found gaps and sunk themselves deep into flesh and bone. Shouts and screams of pain confirmed that they had been on target as Gilias and her pegasi made a sharp turn toward the front of the fort.

"Swords out and pricks up!" she ordered, drawing her own weapons. A Legionary immediately to her left was impaled by a spear that pinned his right wing to his waist, and he tumbled to the ground in a death spiral, where he was immediately set upon by half a dozen angry cultists. Someone shouted his name and dove for the ground in vengeance. It was as good a place as any to touch down. "Gut the sons of whores! Move!"

Shouts of "For Equestria!" rang out from all around her as she tucked her wings in and dove for the ground, swords at her sides. With scant feet to go she unfurled them again, skimming the surface, and brought her blades forward with vicious swipes that decapitated two earth ponies and tore into the throat of a zebra before barreling into a unicorn mare with all of her might. The impact sent them tumbling into a tent, limbs flailing as they tried to get the better of one another, and Gilias dug her talons into her victim until spurts of blood erupted from her neck. The pony thrashed and grabbed at her throat in panic before a sword cleaved her head in two.

Dazed from the impact, Gilias stood up and quickly took note of her surroundings: pegasi from her detachment were fighting a vicious battle spread throughout the left corner of the fort. They were brave and skilled, but with every second that passed more cultists were rushing over to fight them.

She turned just in time to see a whitetail in purple robes galloping at her, his head down in an attempt to impale her on his antlers, and she jumped back to avoid him. A prong tore a gash along her cheek as he passed, spinning her around with a sharp pain that nearly blinded her, but she was quick to gain her bearings. She brought her curved swords together in a low attack, feeling, rather than seeing, the buck's left foreleg and hind leg get sliced from his body. He skidded to a halt, screaming and leaving a bloody trail behind him, and Gilias brought her weapons down on his neck with all of her strength and a shouted swear.

The battle had just begun, and already she had added five to her tally. The pain made her strong, kept her focused, and she thanked the Emperor for her years of training and experience before taking to the air to find her next victim. She just hoped the Equestrians on the ground would get to the gates before her pegasi were destroyed.

***

"Quickly! Spread out and reform the lines once you break through!"

Dozens of guardsmen had already pushed through the pass, but the sheer number of bodies trying to move through was causing a bottleneck. The sound of battle echoed around them, and Sanctus knew the pegasi were engaged in a desperate fight to buy the advancing ground forces time.

"Your battle brothers are dying in there, and every second that passes is another second we're not avenging them!"

Half of the formation, nearly two hundred and fifty ponies, had squeezed through before the first scorpio bolt clattered off the rock wall behind them. The cultists had finally noticed them.

"Keep your shields up, dammit!"

It took mere seconds for the bombardment to intensify, the scattered crossbow fire now joined by flaming arrows and massive, powerful ballista bolts that pierced through shield, armor and flesh alike. The front rows, comprised entirely of green troops, were beginning to panic. Sanctus counted on the veteran principes to keep them in line and encourage them to fight on, even as a pony pushing through the gap caught an arrow directly in the chest. The flaming bundle attached to it burst on impact, spraying gobs of flaming oil that ignited his coat and quickly consumed him. Sanctus stuck his blade through the burning stallion's skull, an unfortunate but necessary mercy, and waved the others through.

"Centurion Starfire!" he shouted above the noise, three-quarters of the soldiers now past the choke point. "We need those siege engines up and operational!"

Starfire stood on his hind legs to be seen above the others. "We can't move them through until everyone is out of the way! Tell your stallions to hurry up!"

"They are hurrying!" he retorted. There were still over a hundred of them left to push through, but the constant barrage was beginning to take its toll on those who kept in formation. Shields could stop arrows and light bolts, but scorpio and ballista shots passed right through. If they didn't hurry, there wouldn't be much of a force left to storm the fort.

***

A short axe flashed by Gilias' head and dug itself into a wooden ramp behind her. She responded quickly, picking up a fallen crossbow at her claws and snap-shotting it into the face of the pony who had dared attack her.

The battle was still going in her favor, but every pegasus that fell to an enemy blade or arrow made it harder for her to keep the group together. Where the hell were the damned Guard? She had little time to wonder before she was set upon by a pair of whitetail who floated long, sharp quinn-blades before them. Unlike most of the others, they wore the thick armor of a proper soldier. She snapped off the remaining two shots from her crossbow, swearing as they bounced off harmlessly, and took a flapping leap backward to put distance between herself and the enemy.

A splash of warm blood coated her hindquarters, accompanied by a shrill scream-- she hoped it wasn't from one of her own. The momentary diversion allowed the whitetail to advance, thrusting their conical blades in flashes of green magic. She deflected their attacks with practiced skill, but as she was fighting one the other stomped his forelegs onto the hard, snow-covered ground. Twin blades locked into place over his knees.

The buck rushed forward with a shout, flailing with three weapons at once, and Gilias saw a flash of motion as the other whitetail did the same. Now facing six possible attacks at once, she took to the sky. Then there was a sound like crackling thunder, and she felt herself slam into the ground, her body wrapped in arcing magic. She struggled against it, barely able to do anything more than slowly step back. Everything felt heavy. Her weapons were like anvils in her grasp, and her armor pulled her down. The whitetail bucks grinned as they charged her, and Gilias desperately tried to escape.

Four pegasi crashed down on top of the whitetail, swinging their swords and using their momentum to bring the cultists down where they could not fight back. One of them had a mace attached to a ring on his right foreleg's guard; he brought it around and down, and when it connected with the crystal-like armor it produced a shower of sparkling fragments and a spray of blood. The whitetail on the right immediately ceased struggling, the side of his head crushed by the force of the mighty weapon. His compatriot soon fell as well, but not before jamming his quinn-blade up through the chin of an unfortunate pegasus.

"That's twice you've saved my ass," Gilias said weakly as the magical field finally faded. Steel Spark offered a hoof and helped her back up.

"We're losing stallions. I don't know how much longer we can hold out."

"To the last, if need be." Her body ached all over, but Gilias carried on. She had no choice. But her force now numbered less than forty, and they were counting on her to see them through the day. "Rally up! Combat circle on me!"

If she couldn't overwhelm the Nightmare Moon followers with sheer force of violence, she could at least make them pay in blood for every life they took.

***

At the fort's entrance, the entirety of the Guard cohort had finally made it through with the loss of two dozen of their number. Now able to assume a proper formation, Equestria's soldiers kept their shield wall in place, quickly filling any gaps left by the wounded or dead.

"Archers, at the ready! Watch your aim, else you'll overshoot and hit our own!"

At the rear of the formation, nearly fifty ponies drove their weapons into the ground on sharp stakes. These were not the ordinary bows of everyday combat, but longbows. Their draw strings required so much force that nary a unicorn could hope to maintain focus on them, which left the task of nocking and firing to strong, capable earth ponies. Each of them took aim with a steel-tipped arrow, pulling back on the strings with a collective creaking of iron-backed wood.

"Loose!"

A volley of arrows shot through the air, faster and more accurate than any comparable weapon in Equestria's arsenal, and in a matter of seconds they found their marks along the ramparts. Handfuls of Nightmare Moon followers slumped over the walls or were thrown back by the force of the impacts, and a cheer went up along the Guard's lines.

Centurion Sanctus galloped alongside his stallions, encouraging them to keep their spirits high and their shields up. Behind him, a trio of siege engines were slowly rolling into place under the protection of their iron plates. They were instrumental in the next phase of the plan.

"At the ready!" another centurion ordered, and the archers pulled another volley from their long quivers. "Loose!"

The twang of recoiling longbows and the impacts of arrowheads into wood and flesh drowned out the sounds of battle for a long second. More victims fell, but others rose to take their places.

How many of the bastards are there? Sanctus wondered in annoyance and frustration. Grunts of exertion and the straining of ropes signaled that the catapults were readying to fire. Only one volley left for the archers, then.

"Archers, ready ice arrows!"

Cautiously but quickly, each archer pulled a cloth package from their quivers and unwrapped them, revealing jagged, translucent arrows of light blue ice that emitted a constant fog of frost, matching the breaths of their owners. Ice arrows -- the product of some of Equestria's most talented arcanists -- were difficult to make, expensive to transport, and dangerous if handled incorrectly, but when properly deployed they could have devastating effects. The success or failure of the attack hinged on their use.

"Once that gate is open, we're going to charge through and drive those fanatical whoresons before our blades! Are you with me?" Centurion Sanctus asked.

"Aye, sir!" they answered as one.

The archers were ready, the catapults loaded, and his stallions were eager for battle. He hoped everything worked as it was supposed to.

"Are you with me?!" he shouted, raising his weapon above his head.

"Aye, sir!"

As one the archers loosed their arrows. The magically formed projectiles flashed by, leaving trails of sparkling ice crystals on their way to the fort. There was a resounding thwack as most of their number buried themselves in the fort's large wooden gate, though a few had gone high and either missed completely or impaled some unfortunate victims. Those who were not killed outright were flash-frozen where they lie.

At the same time, the arrows in the fort's gate exploded in a burst of magic. Long tendrils of ice rapidly snaked their way through the thick wood with loud pops and sprays of icy splinters. The gate groaned and squealed, and within seconds it was covered in rime.

The assembled Guard formation was alive with murmurs of surprise and delight at the new weapons, a much-needed morale boost after the confusion that had reigned only minutes before. Centurion Sanctus marveled along with them, glad he was not on the receiving end of such magics.

"Catapults, fire!"

The mighty siege engines wasted no time hurling their heavy projectiles at the now-weakened gate, stone balls that whooshed overhead like the flapping of phoenixes. They slammed into their target with great crunches of frozen wood, shattering it like it was made of glass and opening a hole large enough to march the entire formation through without pause. Another cheer went up as Sanctus and the other centurions hefted their shields and pointed their weapons at the carnage before them.

"Forward! For Equestria! For the Princess! Hah-ooh!"

He broke into a gallop, and the soldiers at his side let out a battle cry that echoed for miles around.

***

The Guard had finally broken through. As their thundering hooves signaled the inevitable end of the Nightmare Moon camp, Battle-Master Gilias urged her remaining pegasi to stand their ground. They needed only buy a few moments until the majority of the Equestrian soldiers were inside the walls, but with an increasingly depleted force Gilias wasn't sure they could hold out. Their strength was down to half, slowly depleted by lucky arrow strikes or suicidal charge attacks.

"Up and away on my command!" she shouted as she finished off an earth pony with a stab to the gut. The cultists had fought hard, harder than she'd ever seen, but now the tide of the battle had truly turned against them. It was only a matter of time before they fell, and then Celestia would get all of the intel she could handle about her sister's little band of fanatics.

The charging ponies crashed into a waiting line of cultists in a mass of tumbling bodies and flashing weapons, fighting as a single unit, an impenetrable wall of shields and thrusting swords that steadily pushed back the defenders. Behind the main line, a secondary group of unicorns and earth ponies began to advance, formed into squares of nine soldiers each. A trumpeting horn sounded from the center-most square, and Gilias knew she would finally be able to have a moment's reprieve.

"Get ready!"

At the center of each square, a unicorn gathered glowing light at the end of his horn that rapidly grew brighter, until they were like miniature suns. The same tactic that had proven so valuable against the Whitetail at the battle of Everfree would now be put to use against the cultists.

In a series of rapid flashes the formation disappeared, blinking from existence.

"Now! Up, Equestrians!"

Springing from the ground, Gilias and her pegasi split off in all directions, heading for the outer canyon walls. Just as they cleared out, the unicorn formations re-materialized right where she'd been standing, galloping as fast as they could with their spears in front of them. They fanned out from the center, tearing into the cultists with ruthless efficiency. The red cloaks at the front of each group flapped in the freezing winds and sparkled with magical backwash, and Gilias allowed herself an amused smile at the cunning and skill of the Legionaries she'd grown so familiar with. Nightmare Moon's finest didn't stand a chance in hell.

***

Caught between the Guard phalanx before them, and the Legion-led unicorns behind them, the cultists' will to fight buckled as rapidly as their formations. A large segment fought on to the last, killing with fanatical abandon, but they, too, were destroyed in the end. In increasing numbers the survivors threw down their weapons and bowed their heads in surrender, and slowly the sounds of battle were reduced to almost nothing.

Centurion Sanctus hobbled alongside his stallions, his left foreleg bloody from a piercing quinn-blade strike. Compared to many, he had barely been touched.

"I say we gut every last one of 'em," a soldier said, still brandishing his shield and sword that were thick with gore and spatter. Several others echoed his sentiment. Sanctus knocked his tower shield into the rocky ground, now slick with melting snow and freezing blood, and raised his voice.

"We do not harm prisoners, milites. And that goes for all of you! If I find out any of you disobeyed my orders, and the orders of the Crown, I will personally see to it that you spend the next decade in a cell. Decanus Olive Leaf!"

"Sir!" a young soldier answered.

"I am placing you in charge of prisoner detail. Pick twenty stallions to join you. If you've any trouble with resistance, Decanus Sugar Star of the 44th Legion will be your aide. I leave it to you to decide how best to take care of things."

"Aye, sir! I'll get right on it!"

"Good lad. The rest of you, form up on me! We're going to make sure this place is clear."

A small number of survivors had been seen to take refuge in a large tent at the northern end of the camp, no-doubt where he and the others would find the most valuable intelligence, provided the bastards hadn't already destroyed everything of value.

***

"Looks like the last of the scum is being swept up down there." Battle-Master Gilias leaned against a boulder as she watched the Guard carve through the remaining opponents. The remnants of her pegasus unit sat all around her, seeing to their wounds and thirstily downing their flasks of water. Some of them had pissed themselves in battle, or vomited as soon as they'd returned, but not one amongst them thought less of anyone who did so. Surviving the fight was something to be proud of.

Steel Spark flapped over and landed at Gilias' side. His armor was streaked with blood, but he'd made it through remarkably unharmed save for a few superficial cuts. "Battle-Master," he said plainly.

"Legionary." She offered a flask.

"No, thank you, I have my own water. I wouldn't want to take any of yours."

Gilias laughed dryly. "It's not water, you ass. Got a little more kick to it." She shoved it forward again. "Take it, you've earned it."

In the many months since she'd joined the 44th Legion as an "adviser", Gilias had come to see the ponies as far more than just a nation of artists and lovers, like the stereotypes had claimed. They may have been those things, sure, and with names like "Sugar Star" and "Applespice" they didn't exactly inspire fear in those who heard tale of them, but she had to admit that they were damn good soldiers. The Legion, in particular, would have been equally at home in Skytalon guarding one of the great mountain homes.

She had, without a doubt, underestimated the Equestrians, and she knew she was not the first to do so. Clearly Whitetail had done the same, as had Nightmare Moon's little band of lunatics, and to look upon them now was to see them scattered to the winds and driven before the blade. When it was all over -- and it seemed to be coming to its inevitable end very soon -- who knew? She might just stay a while and explore the home of her equine neighbors, should the Emperor grant her request. There were worse ways to spend a well-earned break from combat.

"A warming drink on a cold and bloody day," Steel Spark said, swishing the alcohol. "Too damned bloody."

Gilias nodded, still watching the Guard pick apart the camp. A decent number of them were headed north, toward the largest tent. It would be over in moments, and then, maybe, she could finally get some rest. Her side burned something fierce whenever she moved too much, thanks to the griffon's blade nearly tearing her apart, but Equestrian medicine was fast-acting and mercifully easy to apply. She'd still have to get it looked at once she returned to the outpost, but it would suffice for now.

"What's the damage?" she asked.

"Nothing serious, just a few glancing blows. They'll heal up," Steel Spark answered as he took another sip from the flask.

"I meant to the detachment."

"Ah. Right." He glanced over his shoulder, where the pegasi had fallen asleep nearly to the last, exhausted from the strain and stress of battle. Some would likely never wake, if their injuries were any indication. At least they'd pass peacefully. "At last count: twenty-four dead, thirty-seven injured, six of them seriously, and four still missing. They are presumed dead, unless the Guard can find them."

So many losses from such a short battle. The cultists had shown more combat prowess than ever before, and her pegasi had paid for it. "Shit...a fourth of our strength wiped out, half of us injured..."

"Yet we won, and most of us still live," Steel Spark interjected. "You can add another victory mark to your cuirass, Battle-Master. We've struck a decisive blow to the forces of Princess Celestia's misguided sister."

"I know. I just wish we hadn't lost so many. It is my failure as a leader that I have to carry with me."

"Failure?" he asked in surprise. As long as he'd worked with the griffon woman, he'd never heard her express a single word of disappointment or self-doubt. "That does not sound like the Gilias I know. With all due respect, we knew exactly what it was we were up against when we agreed to join you. The fate of the entire battle rested upon our shoulders, and we did exactly what we had to. You should be proud of our actions, yours included."

Gilias managed a weak smile. "I am proud, of all of you. You fought like demon dogs, and I couldn't have asked for more. But in my long years of service to Skytalon, I've never lost so many lives at once."

Steel Spark sat down beside her and pushed the flask into her claws. "Here, drink with me." As Gilias took a long pull he said, "we couldn't have won without your leadership. None of us have seen as much as you've seen. Your experience and practicality has been invaluable to our efforts."

"Thanks. Guess I'm stuck with you lot until we're done, eh?"

"Suppose you are. You know what makes you a good leader, Battle-Master?" He didn't wait for her to answer. "You really do seem to care about those under your wing, even if they are Equestrians. It's a rare thing."

The sweet alcohol burned down her throat and warmed her insides.

"Yeah..."

***

"Lay down your weapons and surrender, and you will not be harmed!" Centurion Sanctus stood just outside of the large, octagon-shaped tent with his soldiers and waited, hoping he wouldn't have to see anyone else die that day. Voices could be heard from within, but it sounded like they were arguing with each other. "I say again: there is no need for more violence!" He kept his sword within reach as a small group of half a dozen cultists emerged from the canvas flaps, all ponies. They were plainly terrified. "That's it, easy now..."

One of their number, a large earth pony in dark blue robes, stepped forward and bowed his head while dropping to his knees. The others followed suit, taking their places beside him. A unicorn mare was openly weeping, looking up at the apparent leader with pleading eyes.

"Please, Brother Marblestone..."

He placed a hoof on her head and smiled comfortingly.

"Do not be afraid, Sister."

Sanctus was about to step forward when the flaps on the cultists' saddlebags suddenly flew open. As if in slow motion he saw one of the unicorns rear up, his horn glowing brightly with purple magic, and at the same time a collection of earthenware pots jerked into the air. He recognized them immediately. He began to shout, trying to warn his stallions.

"Get ba--" was all managed to say before the pots crashed down in a ring of fire, their chemicals mixing and instantly igniting into otherworldly green flames. He felt the heat of the fire rush over him, almost numbing at first, before he truly realized what had happened. A terrible panic set in as he began to burn, and he unconsciously screamed as he fell to the ground in a desperate bid to extinguish the flames that had consumed the cultists and the first line of Equestrian soldiers. For the briefest of moments he locked eyes with the burning unicorn mare.

And then...nothing.

***

A distant 'whump' echoed through the grey canyon.

"The hell was that?" Battle-Master Gilias asked, scrambling to her claws and paws to answer the question for herself. She saw it immediately, a plume of green fire and a black cloud that could only be one thing. The Equestrians had run into something deadlier than blades and arrows. "Fuck me twice and call me a whore," she muttered.

"What was that sound?" Steel Spark asked as he wrapped a new bandage around his foreleg.

"Emerald flame, and a decent amount of it by the look of things."

The pegasus' eyes went wide. "Emerald flame, here? That's a Whitetail weapon. How in the name of the Princess did they get such a thing?"

"I don't know, but I'm not gonna sit here and wait to find out." She unfurled her wings and checked to make sure her swords were secured in their scabbards. "Stay here and watch after the wounded. I'll be back."

"Wait, I want to go with...ah, damn." Steel Spark kicked a pile of snow as Gilias was gone before he could even finish his sentence.

***

A sickly sweet smell met her nostrils before she could see the bulk of the Guard detachment -- burning flesh. Nothing else came close to the acrid tang. She hoped they hadn't lost too many of their own to the horrid weapon.

As she came in to land she saw them laid out before her: well over a dozen bodies charred and blackened, still burning. Several others were screaming and weeping in pain from burns, being carried by their comrades away from the mess and confusion. Some of the soldiers brandished their weapons in surprise as she set down in front of them.

"Easy there, Equestrians, you know who I am. Who's in charge here?" No one seemed to know. "Anyone?"

"I suppose that would be me," someone said from the back ranks.

"Who's me?" she asked, standing up to get a better view.

"Decanus Avinius, ma'am."

"A Decanus? What happened to your Centurion?"

"See for yourself," someone else said, pointing to a burning corpse.

Gilias swore, both at the sight and at the prospect of someone so low-ranking leading the group. "What were you doing up this way, Avinius?"

"Clearing out the remainder of the cultists. Centurion Sanctus tried to get them to surrender, but..."

"But they weren't having any of that. Of course they weren't. Fucking fanatics..." It appeared her day wasn't over just yet. "Right, I'm taking command of this little detachment. Any objections? No? Good." She looked to the large tent behind her that had somehow been untouched by the flames. Magically protected, maybe, or just lucky. Her curved swords sang as she unsheathed them. "Everyone fit enough to fight, follow me. If you see anyone in there you rip their fucking guts out, they had their chance to surrender. No quarter!"

"No quarter!" the soldiers echoed, stomping their hooves on the ground. Judging by the looks in some of their eyes, she doubted they would have given mercy anyway. Not after what had happened to their friends and commander.

"Let's go!" Gilias led the way, rushing into the tent. She could feel blood seeping down her stomach from her wound reopening, but she ignored it and pushed on. Medical treatment could wait. "Spread out and cut 'em down!"

The tent was massive, almost cavernous in size. Hundreds of candles burned in small groups everywhere she looked, and numerous shrines to Nightmare Moon had been erected from the same macabre collection she'd seen in other, smaller camps.

Ahead of her, the last remaining followers waited with weapons drawn. They wore a mishmash of armor pieces collected from Equestria, Whitetail and numerous other nations, all dented with wear and streaked with dried gore. The Equestrians plowed into them with overwhelming force, taking them down with sheer numbers and dozens of sword strikes. The Nightmare Moon followers were reduced to bloody, mutilated corpses within seconds.

"Nicely done, ponies. Keep an eye out for anything that might look important enough to send to Celestia. Documents, treasures, medallions, things like that. If you find a pendant that looks like a deer and a pony chasing each other, be sure to pass it along to your officers."

A clattering caught her attention, just to her right, behind some kind of large altar. She and several others approached it cautiously, weapons out. There, just behind a gold and oak pedestal, was a gap in the canvas, just wide enough to let in light from the other side. She could only begin to guess at its purpose.

"Keep close, we might--"

A wave of unseen force sent her and several dozen ponies flying back, knocking into each other and anything that was in their way. Gilias smacked her head against the side of the altar, turning everything dark for long seconds. When she came to, she was looking up at a trio of deer clad in smooth, crystalline armor. A panicked flap backed her away to the safety of a crowd of Guard ponies.

Only once she gained her bearings did she get a good look at the new figures. They were tall, but lithe, and the deer on either side had only short, stumpy horns compared to the larger, pronged figure in the middle. Does, and well-trained in the arcane judging by the magic that had bowled her over.

"Althawyyl kaer no'das?" the one on the right said. Gilias warned the ponies to stay on their guard.

"Vinfalme, nasha'iid." The larger one standing in the center replied. Its voice was soft and airy, and Gilias realized that the tall antlers belonged not to a buck, but another doe. A redtail doe. What the hell was a Cervidaen doing here?

"Stay alert, I have no idea what we'll be facing," Gilias warned the soldiers who had gathered behind her. They muttered in surprise and fear to one another; everyone had heard the stories of how powerful some of the females could be. They could rival Celestia in power, it was said. They could stop your heart with a mere thought.

Gilias didn't put much stock in such rumors, but she knew enough to not take the does lightly. This was going to be a messy fight.

"Surrender now, you bitch, and we'll let you live," she called out to the redtail, who was obviously their leader. The doe cocked her head. Maybe she didn't speak Equestrian? If so, that was tough shit, Gilias thought, because she didn't speak Deertongue. The chance of them giving up was slim at best, but she had to try. "I said, surrender!"

"What happened to 'gut everyone you see?'" some pony asked her quietly.

"That was before I knew we would be facing a bunch of mind-raping tree-rutters," she snapped back. "Do you understand me, Cervidaen?"

The redtail doe blinked, then giggled to herself. "I understand you just fine, Battle-Master Gilias. It's so nice to finally meet you. My sisters tell me you've been quite a problem as of late."

"I can be," Gilias said, keeping her claws on the hilts of her weapons. Yet another creature who knew her name -- she must be getting well-known among the heretics. Good."Look, I've had a long day slaughtering your little cultist friends, and I would really like to be done with this shit. So if you'll kindly give yourselves up..."

One of the whitetail escorts -- Gilias assumed they were escorts, or some sort of hired help -- asked something in deer language, and they conversed with each other for some time.

"Hey! I don't know what you're saying, but I'll cut out your tongue if you keep wasting my time."

The redtail smiled sweetly and spoke to both of the whitetail, who laughed together in an infuriatingly dismissive tone.

"Enough!" Gilias drew her swords and pointed one of them at the trio. "Kneel, or die like the others."

Before the does could answer a barrage of pila and arrows snapped into the air from the back of the ranks, clearly hoping to catch them by surprise. A semi-transparent barrier of crackling green magic immediately went up, catching them in mid-air. The redtail barked out an order, and the same projectiles instantly turned and shot right back into the formation, tearing into steel and flesh alike. Several arrows clattered off Gilias' armor, and she counted herself lucky to have survived -- and to not have taken a pila in the chest, as the poor soul immediately beside her had. As soon as the shock wore off she broke into a flying sprint, circling the ponies as her head feathers brushed against the tent roof.

"Close combat only!" she shouted to the soldiers. "Move as one, go go!"

A veritable wave of Equestrian Guard charged forward, shields up and out, swords at the ready. The deer stood their ground, their antlers sparking with magical energy. The whitetail to either side dipped their heads and unleashed focused blasts of invisible force. Entire columns of ponies were sent flying with surprised shouts. Their fallen weapons were instantly turned on those closest to them, stabbing into ribs or necks.

At the same time, the redtail leader let forth a roiling stream of green-tinted electricity that carved a path from the front of the formation all the way to the back. Screams filled the grand tent as those caught in its magical grip twitched and smoked in their death throes.

Still the survivors ran forward, into battle against powers they could hardly begin to grasp. Even the most powerful unicorn spell in their arsenal seemed to do nothing more than sizzle against the shiny armor or dissipate in mid-air with almost offended glances by the does.

The first row brought their shields up and crashed into the deer, stumbling them if only for a moment, and that gave Gilias time to circle around and dive in from the side. A whitetail had seen her coming, and with a simple look she was thrown off to the side, smashing through a pile of offerings. A quinn-blade shot out at her, thin and deadly, and she batted it away with her sword where it dug into the dead body of a cultist. On the move once more, she now found herself making next to no progress, no matter how close she got. It was as if she was flying into a hurricane, a wall through which she could not pass, and she flapped her wings with all of her might, the whitetail doe so close, so infuriatingly close, yet just out of reach of her blades.

Nearly a dozen Equestrians, a unicorn team from the second ranks, ducked their heads and charged, brilliant light shining from the tips of their horns. They stopped short as a barrier formed, and as one they focused their magic until it coalesced into a single point of white in the center of the green whitetail spell. It rapidly expanded, and in the mere seconds it was open a small group of soldiers charged through with vicious battle cries, spears tucked into their sides. The whitetail doe on the right gasped at the sudden intrusion and tried to shift her power, but it was too late. They fell upon her with such might that she was driven to the ground and pinned in place by half a dozen spearheads. Gladius stabs swiftly ended her struggling, one of the soldiers continuing to hack away at her neck, until the entire squad was suddenly impaled by dozens of magically-controlled blades ripped from the mouths of their fallen comrades.

Gilias found herself suddenly freed from the infernal barrier, and she braced herself as she dove straight into the redtail. They skidded against the far wall, Gilias already moving to land a killing blow, and just as she brought her sword down the doe disappeared with a flash of green light.

"Hold still, you fucking snake!" she yelled as she flapped into the air. The surviving whitetail now found herself surrounded and outnumbered. She tried to run, tearing a hole in the tent with her magic, but a thrown spear caught her unaware and pierced through a weak joint in her armor. She fell to the ground in a heap, desperately trying to crawl away. Several ponies ran up and stuck her over and over. Her pained scream was cut short when a large earth pony crushed her head in with a stomp of his hooves. He kept going until everything from the neck up was a bloody, shredded pile of meat, bone and fur.

Now without her escorts, the redtail backed herself into a corner, levitating half a dozen quinn-blades in a circle. She coughed, a rasping, wet sound. Blood spotted the corner of her mouth, and she yanked a dagger from her chest with a flash of magic. Someone had gotten through to her after all.

"You could have avoided this, you stupid, stubborn bitch," Gilias said as she landed, swords brandished. "No one's gonna take you alive now. Where's your precious Nightmare Moon now that you're staring down the face of death?"

"Fuck Nightmare Moon," the redtail spat in accented Equestrian. "Equestria will fall, and once its cities have burned to the ground Skytalon will be next. I only regret I will not be there to see you beg." The circle of blades flipped around, their points inward. She retched a thin stream of red and stumbled to keep her footing. A pained laugh split her lips. "You have no idea what's coming. I hope you die screaming, Gilias."

Before Gilias could react, the redtail doe flicked the quinn-blades toward herself, puncturing her chest, neck and head in half a dozen places. She fell to the ground, dead where she lay, and bled out upon the altar of Nightmare Moon.

No one said a word as Gilias turned around, tucking her weapons back into their scabbards. The floor was littered with mangled bodies, the dying and injured moaning and writhing, pleading for help. She sat roughly on the ground, exhausted and sick to her stomach.

"How many are we?" she asked quietly.

"Twenty," someone answered.

"And how many did you start with?"

"Eighty...eighty seven.."

Lost for words, she weakly raised a wrist and motioned to the false wall where the does had emerged from. "Tend to the wounded, then find something useful. Go."

The ponies obeyed her orders, but there was no pride in their step. The war had taken its toll on everyone. Slowly, she dragged herself over to the body of the redtail, silently staring at it for some time.

"I don't know what you were doing here," she said out loud, pulling the flask from her side for the second time that day, "but I'm going to find out. And when I do, the whole damn world's gonna know."

48 - The Road to Salvation

Baer'barisater sat at the edge of his cot, overlooking the letter for what must have been the tenth time that morning. It was such a simple thing, an unassuming little sheet of folded reed paper marked with Zevran's official stamp. It had arrived the day before, surprisingly brief and to the point.

With this document, let it be known that we, the Zevran Tribal Council, summon Praetorian-in-Service Baer'barisater Um'bwalle Nazaeim to his Homeland for the purposes of annual ritual and the continued communication between Zevran and Equestria. We expect to return him to Equestrian service by the rise of the next full moon. Our thanks for your understanding of tradition and commitment to international cooperation.

Bear turned the paper over, as if expecting a new letter to magically appear on the reverse. He knew he was wasting time by sitting around the barracks when there was so much on the line, but surely a few minutes would not make a difference, would they? He needed them, cherished them, for they were possibly the last moments he would have to himself for weeks to come. The Equestria he returned to -- if he returned at all -- would likely be a very different place than the one he left.

The sound of sword and shield clashing, a burst of collective laughter in the distance. Bear smiled to himself; he would miss the ponies and the brotherhood they shared. Fighting under the banner of their nation had taught him many things about the nature of conflict, things that made him a better soldier. Sometimes, those things kept him awake at night. He knew he was not alone in those thoughts.

More than anything, he feared the war with Whitetail was about to enter a new, decidedly more deadly phase, yet he could not tell a single soul about it. Caethil had burdened him with the knowledge of Cervidae's takeover, disguised as help from the outside. His worst fear -- that the elder shaman was right in his visions -- was coming to life. He wanted to shout it to the entirety of Equestria's military, and to Princess Celestia, and he had no doubt it would save many lives in the short run if he did so.

But for all of its military might, Equestria was not invincible. The forces of the redtail would sweep over the ponies like a tidal wave, and Equestria's armies would falter and collapse under the crushing weight of the united deer front. In the end, many more lives would be lost, and Equestria herself may cease to exist.

No, he couldn't tell anyone. They would deny his request to return home, and without the testimony of Brother-Commander Caethil the zebras would likely never agree to enter the war. Would they, too, fall to the deer? He could not take that chance.

"Spirits guide me in my time of strife," he whispered into the wooden idol clasped between his hooves. He folded the letter and placed it into a pouch at his side, then gave a thorough check of his supply bag. It was loaded down with camping gear, and he pursed his lips bitterly at the thought of having to spend more nights in the cold and snow of Equestria's forests. It would be a long trek to Zevran from there.

One thing at a time.

Bear hefted the pack over his strong shoulders, pulling on straps until it fit comfortably against his back. He carried no armor, and had only his dagger for defense. The only thing left to do now was present the letter to Princess Celestia, and hope she accepted it. He would leave either way, but doing so with her permission would certainly make things easier.

A pang of guilt squeezed his insides. The princess had no idea what was coming. He prayed she would forgive him later.

With a calming breath he left the Praetorian barracks, his focus set entirely on the task ahead. His journey would be trying, but he at least had the prospect of traveling through friendly territory. Somewhere out there, Caethil and his soldiers would be facing the spectre of outright treason against the nation they loved.

Perhaps, he thought, he should be asking the spirits to aid them instead.

***

"Stay close, senators. Do not stop to speak with anyone." Brother-Commander Caethil kept his head on a swivel as the group made steady progress through Evinwiir's northern quarter. Soldiers and civilians alike moved to the sides of the cobblestone roads, bowing or saluting in respect. As far as they knew, it was yet another military escort for three of Whitetail's most respected figures. Caethil intended to keep it that way.

His stomach rumbled as he remembered he had not eaten since the previous night. Food would have to wait; the mighty gates of daerilaas vir wyldiin, the Whistling Wilds, loomed ahead in the rising sun, grand structures taller than any building and strong enough to withstand any onslaught. Their shining marble and gold facade hid a lattice of steel and iron-bark. It would take months of bombardment from even the mightiest of armies to fell them. A similar gate guarded each of the cardinal directions, the only ways into or out of the city. They were, unsurprisingly, among the most heavily guarded places in all of Whitetail, and certainly in Evinwiir. Each gate could boast dozens of siege engines lining the equally massive wall that surrounded the city itself, with numerous shorter-range weapons and entire divisions of soldiers standing watch.

It would not be easy to get through without rousing suspicion, but they had to try. Caethil called for civilians to make way as they approached, his soldiers in lock-step behind him with what few spears they possessed held high in practiced precision.

Several civilians were standing in a short line at the gate, waiting to be let out. Each presented a scroll saying that they were permitted to leave, and as each one walked through the open gates they were met with a pair of soldiers that would escort them to the main road just beyond the city. Caethil swore under his breath -- he had completely neglected to create a writ of passage.

"We may require use of your silver tongues, my friends," he said to the senators. "I hope you can talk your way out of this if need be."

Senator Gwindihr chuckled. "Brother-Commander Caethil, talking our way out of pointlessly complicated situations is our specialty."

"I thought it was 'arguing for hours and accomplishing nothing.'" Alyys added.

"One and the same, my fellow blowhard."

"Blowhard," he laughed. "We may be blowhards, but at least we're not up to our muzzles in Elinwynn's hind quarters like the chancellor."

"They are rather shapely hind quarters," Gwindihr smirked.

Caethil looked over at them. "While I can appreciate your wit, senators, do remember that not everyone is going to share our views. Do try to keep such things quiet until we've passed through the gate."

Minutes passed as one whitetail after another presented their scroll, carried on, and met their escorts. Finally at the front of the line, Caethil stepped forward and saluted to the soldier on duty, a middle-aged stag like himself who wore the rank insignia of an officer.

"Good day to you, Brother-Captain," Caethil said. "I trust things have been smooth thus far?"

The officer rendered a salute in return, crisp and clean. "Yes, sir. Nothing to report. Our defenses are fully operational and our soldiers are fit and ready for combat at a moment's notice." He saw the senators and bowed. "My greetings, senators. Please excuse me, I was not aware I should be expecting such important guests."

"I'm afraid it was rather last-minute business that called upon us," Praxilus said. "Brother-Commander Caethil has graciously volunteered to have his unit serve as our escorts to Eldwix."

"Eldwix, eh? The road to that place passes through Equestrian-controlled territory. You're going to have to take the long way around, north of the ponds." The officer unrolled a map and studied it for a short time. "Are you sure you can't wait for another day? I have it on good word that the entire area will soon be cleansed of the verminous ponies."

Praxilus shook his head. "I'm sorry to say we cannot. Our business is of the utmost urgency and secrecy."

"Of course, of course. Do be careful, then." He held out a hoof and gestured to Caethil. "If I may see your travel ledger, sir, we can get you on your way with only minimal delay."

Caethil patted himself down, as if eagerly searching for the nonexistent scroll. One of the senators played along, asking impatiently if he'd brought it with him. Caethil swore out loud.

"I knew I'd forgotten something. Damnation. Can't you present one of your own ledgers?"

"Senators do not carry such things, Brother-Commander. That is a job left to our escorts. Are you telling me we spent an hour and a half crossing through town, yet you did not think even once to bring the ledger? What sort of operation are you running?" Alyys tapped an accusatory hoof against Caethil's chest.

"The one that is tasked with protecting you, Senator. Do not forget that." He gave a final check to his packs, muttering "politicians" under his breath contemptuously. He gave up with a sigh. "Brother-Captain, I do believe there's been a mistake. I take full responsibility for it."

"You know the rules, sir. No ledger, no exit. I'm afraid I can't make an exception even for these fine senators."

Praxilus stepped between Alyys and Caethil. "Sir, I realize it is not my place to ask such a thing, but perhaps you can let us pass this one time? Eldwix has dire need of our services, and if we don't arrive on time then I fear their monthly ration negotiations will go unfulfilled. I would hate to see them starve over a petty scroll."

The officer stood firm, but his stance eased up ever so slightly. "Like I said, Senator, I cannot let anyone through without it. I'm sorry, those are the rules, and as a soldier I must follow them."

A gust of cold wind brought with it the sound of shouted marching orders, no more than a few streets away. There was no time to waste arguing.

"I admire your commitment to duty, my good Brother-Captain. You do your post proud, and we should be lucky to have soldiers like you protecting us, but do try to see reason. Eldwix has been suffering from supply shortages for months, and they are on the very precipice of falling to the filthy Equestrians. We must get down there as soon as possible."

"Certainly we would put in a good word for you upon our return," Senator Gwindihr added. "Just think: you could be the stag responsible for saving hundreds of lives! The senate looks quite favorably upon such things, I assure you."

Praxilus nudged him. "That is, of course, unless you'd prefer to play a bureaucrat for the months and years to come. If you're satisfied with your station then far be it from me to suggest moving upward, but opportunity awaits those who seek it."

Beside them, Caethil tensed. Honeyed words did not work on everyone; especially, in his experience, old soldiers. If he absolutely had to he would draw his blade, but such an action was likely to be suicidal.

"...fine, you can go, but I do this for the deer of Eldwix, not for you," the officer said. "Just try not to make it a common practice. Do try to be more cautious, Brother-Commander, for these politicians are your charges, not mine."

"Duly noted," Caethil said with a bow. "I assure you, it will not happen again." Visibly relieved, the senators offered their thanks in turn. Praxilus, in particular, placed a hoof upon the other's shoulder and offered a prayer of good fortune.

"You are a kind soul, Brother-Captain. Please, take these as our collective payment for your time." A short, curved flask and a small purse of coins floated from one of the pouches at his side and was stuffed into the soldier's ration bag. "Now then, it's been a rather difficult morning and my colleagues would prefer to arrive before sundown. I promise you, I will not forget your kindness." He turned to Caethil. "Carry on, Brother-Commander. We must not tarry."

Caethil called his soldiers to attention, then marched the group through the towering gates. Had he not been under watchful eyes, he would have broken into a fit of laughter. It had actually worked! Any doubts he'd had about Praxilus and his ilk had vanished, and for the first time that morning he truly felt that escape was possible.

"You have a sharp tongue and a quick wit, Senator. Veteran soldiers like him are typically less flexible than a stone pillar," he said as they approached the main road that ran from Evinwiir out to the western approaches, where the road would split into many paths -- and where they would soon leave it entirely. Small bands of civilians passed each other, making way as the formation approached. Here and there the young bucks under Caethil's command would excitedly whisper to someone next them, exclaiming how they actually had a chance. Spirits were high, without a doubt.

Praxilus kept a serious facade, though he made no attempt to hide the relief in his voice, tinged with just a bit of mirth.

"Everyone wants more, Caethil. More power, more wealth, more fame...it's simply a matter of plying someone with the proper incentives. Would you claim to be any different? I will admit I feel somewhat ashamed that I cannot fulfill my promise to him. I've no idea what the coming days, months, even years may bring, but if he should survive then I will endeavor to keep my end of the bargain."

"That is a very big 'if', Senator," Caethil said grimly as several of his soldiers laughed at an off-color joke, a way to keep the stress of their escape at bay. Praxilus kept his gaze forward.

"A fact I am only too aware of, my friend, but we are free of Evinwiir's grip for the time being. It is a good start."

***

"Good morning to you, Brother-General. I trust all is well?" A pleasant young doe approached Corvalix with a smile, a small collection of stone bowls floating in front of her. Twin sashes of white and blue formed a crisscross over her chest, the uniform of indentured servants who were nearing the end of their time under the tutelage of a master. "I have your meal as you requested it: oat bread with apricot curd, diced cucumber in spiced olive oil, and a selection of winter berries. I'm afraid we've run out of tomatoes for the time being. My sincerest apologies."

Corvalix gave her a reassuring smile and motioned for her to set the bowls before him. They clacked against the oak and quartz table, a decanter of spiced juice joining them a moment later.

"I understand times are difficult, my dear. Please, do not concern yourself with what is missing, but instead, focus on what is available. This is far more extravagant of a meal than I'd truly expected, and certainly more than a stubborn buck like myself deserves." The doe giggled politely and bowed. Corvalix tasted a bit of his cucumber salad, arching his eyebrows dramatically at the taste. "Truly magnificent. You do your instructor proud, Miss...?"

"Kiraala, Brother-General."

"Miss Kiraala. I dare say you'll be cooking for royalty soon if this wonderful assortment is anything to go by." A pat of fruit curd was spread around his bread, and he found it to be equally pleasing. Inferior though the Whitetail may have been in nearly every regard when compared to his kind, they did, at least, create some wondrous food. "How long until you're able to return to your home village?"

"Three moons, possibly four," Kiraala said, he voice full of hope. "It's been three years, but I've learned so much. I truly owe Madam Fryys more than I can ever repay her."

"Tell her Brother-General Corvalix sends his regards, would you? And if you should happen to be in Cervidae at some point, do not hesitate to call upon me. To have a guest who is as attractive as the food she creates is truly a rarity." Corvalix sipped his drink and smiled playfully. "One cannot help but wonder if both would taste equally sweet."

Kiraala blushed and began stepping away. "I s-should probably leave you to your meal, Brother-General. But I do appreciate the, um...offer. I've never been to Cervidae. Perhaps once it is safe to do so I can see about paying a visit. If-if you'd like, that is. And you did offer, so...yes, well, enjoy your food, I shall check back shortly."

She nearly tripped over herself as she went back to the kitchen. Corvalix chuckled to himself once she was out of view, pulling a stack of reports from his pack and sorting through them with cursory glances. You always did have father's charm, he could hear Elinwynn saying. She'd grown used to seeing some doe or other -- sometimes multiple -- leaving his palatial quarters at all hours of the morning.

What he wouldn't have given to be back home, away from this unfortunate matter of pulling Whitetail's ass out of the fire. Perhaps, he mused, Evinwiir would be his new home once it was over and done with. Elinwynn had said she was considering giving him regional control of the post-unity government, after all...

All in due time. For now there was much to catch up on: scouting reports from both whitetail and redtail runners, supply line verifications to sign off on, damage assessment from the night's bombardment, a reported fire at a research building, requests for more provisions for the soldiers he had hidden within the dense forests to the north, far from prying pegasus eyes. He pored over each as he ate, filling in his signature where required and adding addendums to notes that would be passed on to the local commanders.

Galloping hoofsteps caught his attention as he was nearly through. A young buck stopped before him a moment later, breathing heavily and hastily saluting. Sigils on his armor showed him to be from the Capital Guard.

"At ease, boy, at ease. I assume whatever you're going to tell me is of the utmost urgency, for I do not enjoy being roused from my morning meal."

The soldier visibly gulped before speaking. "Yes, sir, my sincerest apologies, sir. I was told to report to you with all due haste. I have a message from Brother-Healer Candoran of the 7th Capital Guard. He says he was treating a doe who was brought in last night -- Trelin, or Trelis, I think -- a member of the 9th Arcane. She was unconscious until recently. When she awoke, she said that a Brother-Commander Caethil of the 15th Capital Guard had spoken treason and was planning to leave the city."

Corvalix rose from his silk cushion. "What do you mean, leave the city? Where was he going?"

"I don't know, sir, but she is insistent that he is going to defect. He called for Empress Elinwynn's death, and yours, before assaulting her and presumably burning down the 9th's primary research facility. Candoran has no idea where Caethil might be right now, but he thought you would want to know as soon as possible so you can take appropriate action. That's all I know."

A disgusted sneer parsed Corvalix's lips. Caethil. That damned Whitetail officer had fought against him since his arrival, always so self-assured self-important. Of course it was him.

"I should have had him imprisoned weeks ago," he said, more to himself than the underling. "Tell Brother-Healer Candoran I am indebted to him for this information, and will act accordingly."

"Yes, sir," the soldier said.

"Before you do, I want you to find Brother-Commander Thrasin, my second in command, and tell him to gather the bucks immediately and wait for me at the western gate. I believe I know where Caethil will try to escape to, and how he might get there. That is all. Go."

The buck saluted once more and was gone, his armor clinking as he rushed back outside and disappeared around the corner. Corvalix took a final bite of his food, gathered his scrolls, and set his mind to the task of finding the traitor. Calling for the murder of himself was despicable enough, but that of his sister? Unforgivable. If Caethil truly was a cowardly deserter, he would personally see to it that every last deer who joined the wretch returned to Evinwiir with their heads upon crystalline pikes.

***

The stone path from the capital soon gave way to a narrow dirt road that wound through the surrounding forests. It was a mixed blessing; quieter and further away from the sometimes crowded main route, yet knee-deep with snow and decidedly slower going. Caethil knew he was taking a risk by traveling at a lesser pace, but the more soldiers he and his bucks encountered, the greater their chances were of being found out. Sticking to the side paths was the safer option for now.

The first hour of the journey couldn't have gone better. No one had accosted them, and morale was high among his charges and the senators in equal measure. Occasionally they would break into a Whitetail marching song as a show for passing civilians, which also handily served to keep their cover, and chatter with each other was encouraged where appropriate. That had all ceased once they left the main road, but for a time it very much felt like they were on a routine patrol.

Deeper still into the forest. Idle talk was silenced, replaced by the shrieking of winter winds as they whipped through skeletal branches above. Chattering teeth and rustling armor accompanied every step. The first hints of doubt began to rise like creeping shadows in the claustrophobic confines; what if they'd lost their way? Were they being followed?

Morning turned to afternoon, afternoon to dusk. They'd been marching nearly the entire day with only occasional breaks. Caethil could see the exhaustion on their faces as the hours dragged on. Just keep going, he'd tell them, the packs on his back digging into his skin and the plates of his armor chafing with every step.

"Enough," someone said. Caethil turned to see Senator Alyys slump against a tree, the old stag cursing as he leaned back and cast his eyes skyward. "Enough, Caethil. Do you intend to march us through the night? We need food, and warmth. You cannot expect us to travel on empty stomachs and tired minds!"

"I agree with Alyys," Gwindihr said, coming to a stop along with the rest of the formation. "This is as good a place as any to make camp for the night. It will be dark soon, and I do not fancy the idea of groping around like a blind fawn in the blowing snow. What say you, Praxilus?"

Praxilus considered the question for a moment. It was a risk to stop, certainly, but continuing on now would be madness.

"I suppose we are all in agreement, then," he said. "Shall we stop here, Brother-Commander?"

As tough as he liked to think he was, even Caethil had to admit he was sick of marching. A proper meal and some rest would do everyone a great deal of good.

"Very well, senators." He raised a hoof in the air and circled it. "Listen up," he ordered his soldiers. "We'll set up here and camp for the night. I want half of you to find branches and logs for lean-tos. The rest of you, fan out and see if you can find any berries to compliment our rations, then help the others clear out snow so we can set up our shelters. Gelen, Aedris, Kiradae and Tolrun?"

"Sir!" they answered as one.

"You're with me. We need to get the command tent set up for the senators. They'll be staying with me for safety. Sub-commanders, I leave you in charge of supervision. Make sure no one wanders off. If anyone looks like they're going to leave, you have my permission to stop them by any means necessary."

One of the officers let out a shrill whistle. "We're going to need constant lookouts -- two hour shifts, four bucks per. No exceptions!" He turned to Caethil. "What of a fire, sir? Shall I tell the bucks to tend to one, or are we going to forego a fire to make ourselves more difficult to spot?"

"They may build a fire, but only after the sun has set. That way the smoke is less likely to be seen from a distance."

"As you say, sir," the officer said, then left to carry out Caethil's orders.

"Too damn cold out tonight," Caethil told the senators. "It won't matter how well-hidden we are if we all freeze to death." He clapped a hoof on Praxilus' shoulder and smiled weakly. "We've made good progress today, andwyyn. Equestria should be no more than two days from here, depending on how quickly we can travel."

Gwindihr and Alyys had left to help some soldiers set up the large tent they would be staying in, and Praxilus nodded in approval.

"Let us hope so. Your soldiers are good bucks to the last, Caethil. I wish them only the best in this endeavor."

"That they are." Caethil leaned back against the rough bark of a dead tree, letting out a long breath. The clouds overhead turned pink and orange in the dying light, casting a comforting and otherworldly glow across the forest. This, he thought, was what he would miss the most. The beauty of Whitetail had no equal. He wondered if he would ever see it again.

"Do you think they're looking for us?" Praxilus asked.

"Mmm. Without a doubt. Even if Trelis didn't say anything -- and that is a very big 'if' -- the other units will have noticed our barracks empty for the day. No, there is no possibility that we've eluded the entirety of Evinwiir for so long. The question is, can we stay ahead of them long enough to get to Equestria?" A flight of winter birds darted above them, twirling around each other before flying off with short, sharp calls. In the distance, the commotion of nearly fifty soldiers going about their duties brought a din of commotion. "We'll be ready for them, Senator. Come what may, we'll be ready."

***

Empress Elinwynn paced restlessly on the polished marble of Chancellor Vinawyll's private quarters, the click-clack of her hooves joining the tireless scratching of quill on parchment. Comfortable though the opulent room may have been, she'd long since lost her ability to be impressed by the Whitetail leader's incessant displays of wealth; crystalline flasks of wine and gilded statuaries could only hold her interest for so long, and his offers of willing bucks and does to satisfy her desires felt like nothing more than feeble attempts to hold onto the ever-slipping illusion that he still held power to any meaningful degree.

She humored him with polite conversation and half-hearted laughter at his increasingly tiresome jokes, a necessary part of her role as "co-ruler" in a time of war.

She scoffed at the thought. Co-ruler, as if the cowardly, self-important fool made any of the decisions these days. Not only had he managed to let his own capital fall into disrepair and a state of near-anarchy, but now even his own senators and soldiers were deserting! There would have been no desertion in Cervidae, no fallen politicians to stir the pot, for it was her word alone that moved the masses.

'Republic' of Whitetail indeed.

Even now, hundreds of miles from her seat of power, not one citizen dared rise against her. She was the Cerivdaen Hegemony, no matter where she went. Soon enough, Whitetail would come to see the greater truth, and she would be embraced as a savior; perhaps, even, a living deity. Goddess-Empress Elinwynn, she mused. It was a title she could grow to enjoy.

"There are only a few matters left, Empress. My apologies for keeping you until such a late hour." Chancellor Vinawyll dipped his quill into a silver inkwell and turned to her. "I thought I might ask your advice regarding the taxation of our merchants. Our current rate of ten darics per one hundred has managed to keep us afloat and our soldiers equipped, but supplies are becoming increasingly difficult to secure from out of town. I propose raising the tariff to fifteen darics to compensate. Certainly this will make the business owners unhappy, but such is a necessity in--"

"No," Elinwynn said decisively. "There will be no increase in taxes. In fact, I suggest lowering the rate by three darics."

Vinawyll laughed in disbelief. "Lowering? With all due respect, Empress, such a move would bankrupt our war effort in a matter of weeks! Our coffers are not bottomless, much as I might wish otherwise."

"Do not worry about your funding, Chancellor. Cervidae will cover the difference for the time being; I assure you we can afford to do so. You can worry about paying us back after Equestria has been turned into new land for deerkind to spread through." A small, speckled snow apple floated from a bowl beside her, and she bit into the sweet fruit as she worked out exactly what to say. "You are dangling from the edge of a cliff, Vinawyll. Your city, and thus all of Whitetail, requires only the tiniest of shoves in either direction. Your merchants, traders and business stags are the lifeblood of Evinwiir, for the moment the last shred of normality is stripped from its citizens you will cease to hold any sway over them. Life must continue on; soldiers and civilians must work, shop keepers must hock their wares. Most importantly, we must not be seen as all-controlling. Keep your merchants in business and their prices reasonable -- with enforcement if necessary -- and the people of Evinwiir will thank you for it. There are already calls for your head on a daily basis, but they are scattered and half-hearted. Increase your taxes, raise the price of food and basic necessities, and see how long those threats remain nothing more than idle."

She could see the anger seething within him, the immense hatred he truly felt for her under his veneer of civility and practiced courtesy. To his mind, it was still his nation, his city, his decisions that changed the course of history.

"Very well, I'll propose it to the senators on the morrow," he said as cheerfully as he could manage. Elinwynn wanted to laugh in his face. "One final thing, then. Our soldiers are, in fact, deserting. Small bands here and there, though none so brashly as Brother-Commander Caethil's group. No matter how many traitors we execute, we cannot seem to stem this festering wound. I was going to ask the good Corvalix for his opinion on this, but since he is currently chasing down the scum who dared leave this great city..."

"You want to my opinion?" Elinwynn asked, though it came out as more of a statement. "Here is the thing, Chancellor: soldiers do not fight for their nation, not entirely. If love of country was all that mattered, we would not have to pay them. But just try asking someone to throw themselves at a wall of blades for a concept, and see how far you get. No, your soldiers are fighting because it allows them to make a living for themselves and their families. Obviously, we have reached the point where that pay is no longer sufficient to guarantee their loyalty. Thus, I propose that Whitetail triples the amount of darics each soldier receives every month until the war is over."

Vinawyll nearly choked. "Triple? You can't be serious, Elinwynn. Lowering the tax on imports is one thing, but this..."

"As I said the first time, Cervidae will cover the cost. You need fresh blood in this army, and to do so you need to incentivize service. Unless, of course, you plan on fighting alongside your redtail cousins with tired, unmotivated troops."

The chancellor massaged his temples as the quill bobbed before him. "The senators are not going to like this, but I will do so all the same." He gave a long look over the document, its bout of proposals stretching out over four pages and covering every topic from food storage to spell research. Satisfied, he turned to Elinwynn and shrugged. "I suppose that takes care of everything, then. Unless you have any other issues to bring up?"

"Just one," Elinwynn said. "I want you to prepare another scroll, but not to our beloved senators."

Vinawyll cocked his head. "To whom, then?"

Elinwynn smiled. "Princess Celestia."

66 - Familia Super Omnia

General Phalanx patrolled along the outer wall of Canterlot's newly constructed defensive line, flanked by advisers on either side and followed by a personal guard retinue of hoof-picked soldiers. Nearby subordinates saluted as he passed, though he had little time for formality. With the deer set to be within striking distance in a matter of days it was a wonder they'd been able to erect a barrier at all.

The mouth of the valley leading to Canterlot had been fortified to the best of Equestria's abilities given such short notice. Concealed spike pits dotted the entrance to the most narrow section, each filled with dozens of sharpened sticks. Past that, a series of sloping trenches would slow the redtail advance to a crawl, with each section topped with dragon's claw thorn bushes. A final barrier in the form of a tall wall, angled out and topped with spikes, would hopefully keep the enemy from reaching the main line of resistance for some time.

Guard towers with archers, scorpio turrets, ballistae and catapults would pummel the entrance for the entirety of the opening engagement and turn the area into a kill zone. It might not hold them forever, but there would be hell to pay for every inch of progress.

A pegasus scout landed nearby and trotted over, saluting as he stopped. "General, sir, I bring word from the east."

Phalanx nodded. "Go ahead, son."

"The reports are true: a massive force of Zevran soldiers has made landfall on the shore of the Sea of Lights, roughly two leagues from the settlement of Argo's Stone. Milites Long Night and Decanus Ardorius made contact earlier this morning. They apparently spoke to someone named Baye...Bayor Barbsitter? Forgive me, I'm not very good with zebra names. He claims to be an active Praetorian, of all things. He says the princess can confirm his status."

"Baer'barbisater? There's a name I haven't heard in a while," Phalanx said in surprise. "He was a recruit last I saw him. I wonder if the princess sent him to get aid...I'll check with her myself. What else?"

"Baarba--the zebra--acted as a translator for a Zevran leader of some description; Elder Mwolan'e, I think he said. It would appear they have arrived to help us in our fight against the Cervidaens." The scout paused, then said, "Sir, if I may: I thought Zevran refused to go to war unless it was to protect their own lands. They had to know that showing up with a large invasion force would be seen as something to be wary of."

"Maybe they've changed their minds. Zevran's been an ally for centuries, but we've never needed them like we do now. If Equestria is subjugated, what's to stop the deer from moving on to Zevran next?" Phalanx didn't wait for the scout to answer. "Still, landing an entire army on foreign soil without warning is more than a little alarming. I'll send an emissary their way immediately. I want you to travel with him and report back once we have a better understanding of the situation. If they're here to help, we're not going to turn them down. If they're not, we'll have to be ready for that, too."

***

"Oh thank the gods you're both safe!" Glimmering Grace stepped down from the sky carriage and galloped as fast as her old legs could carry her, embracing her sons with tears streaming down her cheeks. "I've been so worried!"

"You're going to give your mother a heart attack one of these days, you know that?" Roughshod said, trailing behind her with several bags slung over his back. His jovial nature could not hide his tired eyes, and when he approached there was the air of a defeated stallion about him. "It's good to see you, boys. Help your old man with his things, would you?"

Tercio and Victus gave a comforting squeeze to their mother before doing so, each taking a share of the load.

"I'm glad to see you made it here safely. Mother isn't the only one who's been worried," Tercio said, slinging a bag over his shoulder. "When we heard the deer were nearing the Bountiful Hills we feared they would turn into Summervale. It's been a nerve-wracking couple of days."

"To say the least," Victus added. "Come, we'll get you something warm to drink from the kitchen."

For all of their progress through Equestria, Cervidae's modus operandi had been hard to pin down. Sometimes they passed by entire towns without stopping, leaving the inhabitants completely unmolested; other times, they would murder dozens and set fire to buildings seemingly at random before stripping the fields bare of anything edible that might still grow in the harsh climate. Their movements and actions had made them unpredictable, and nothing scared people quite like the unknown.

Victus took to his mother's side as she followed Tercio and Roughshod into the arched entryway. A pair of Royal Guards saluted as they passed.

"I saw 'em on the way here. The deer, I mean," Roughshod said just above a whisper. He looked over his shoulder to make sure Grace couldn't hear him and was glad to see her chatting with Victus. "We had to skirt around them and hug the terrain, but I could still catch glimpses of 'em here and there. Thankfully your mother was asleep. The last thing I need is her worrying even more than she already does."

"Is it really as bad as they say?" Tercio asked.

"Worse. I've never seen so many soldiers, deer or otherwise, in one place before. It's bad enough thinking that we might lose the farm, but this..."

"We've been preparing for some time. If the redtail want to take Canterlot they're going to face Hell itself. I won't let them lay a hoof on either of you, I swear it."

Pride and uncertainty coursed through Roughshod in equal measure. "I know you won't, son."

***

Later that night, on a balcony overlooking the mountains, Tercio and his family shared a meal that they all feared might be their last together, though no one dared to speak up about such a thing. On any other day the dinner of vegetable stew and barley bread would have been a satisfying if simple affair, yet it felt like a decadent extravagance in the wake of Canterlot's food rationing.

The streets below were packed with refugees from the north, many of whom waited in long lines to be fed by the city's overburdened bakers and cooks. Others slept against the sides of buildings, wrapped in whatever warmth they could find and huddled together in desperation. There just wasn't enough room for everyone.

"Never thought I'd see it like this," Roughshod said, his grim face illuminated by a torch burning on its wall sconce. "All of this despair and uncertainty. This isn't the Equestria I know, damnit. Look at these poor ponies! They don't know where their next meal is gonna come from, or if they'll even be alive tomorrow. We should have never been placed in this position." He tapped the edge of his bowl with his spoon as he talked. "Everything went to shit after Princess Luna turned. Gods' honest truth: if she were still around the fucking deer wouldn't have laid a single hoof on our land, I can tell you that much."

"You can't know that, dear," Grace said, hoping to turn his mood for the better. "Celestia has done a fine job keeping things together as best she can, if you ask me. She's not to blame."

"We should have taken that Whitetail capital while we had the chance instead of waiting for that chancellor to surrender. But no, Celestia wanted to end the war amicably. There ain't nothin' amicable about war. You go all in, or you lose. Now we're seeing that for ourselves."

Tercio stepped in to defend her, though part of him agreed. "She's doing the best she can. Not even King Argo was tested so. During my time with the Praetorian Guard I've come to know her quite well, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that she always has Equestria's best interests in mind. I doubt any of us could do better."

"I'm not saying she's incompetent, son, I'm saying she's made some questionable decisions."

"And I would agree with that. That does not mean, however, that the redtail would have somehow ceased to be expansionist and manipulative had Evinwiir fallen into our control. Hell, I think that might have given the deer even more of a reason to lash out against us. As it stands, we have a not insignificant number of whitetail deserters and old government loyalists eager to see things return to how they were before the war. Gods know we could certainly use every bit of help we can get."

"I know they're listening, you just have to ask," Grace added, getting a quiet laugh from her son.

"I've never really been the praying type, but I suppose it couldn't hurt."

They carried on with their meal, Roughshod regaling them with tales of his time in the Equestrian Guard, and how he'd always dreamed of visiting the castle for himself. Sitting out on the very balcony the royal sisters used was a small dream come true, though he would have preferred it to be under different, happier circumstances.

Grace would chime in every so often to add to a story or share one herself. Many of them were of when Tercio and Victus were much younger, which inevitably resulted in embarrassment for at least one of them. Having to keep watch of a child that could fly short distances was enough of a hassle, nevermind also keeping track of one that walked on two legs and was prone to trying to chew on damn near anything he could get his hands on.

"Lotta memories in that old home, that's for sure. I hope it's still there when we get back. If we get back." Roughshod's voice faltered as he imagined the deer taking what they wanted and burning his livelihood to the ground. "Fucking savages, the lot of 'em." A reassuring hug from his wife did little to console him. "As long as the land is still fertile we can earn a living, I suppose. Gonna be hard times ahead."

"Then we will do whatever is necessary," Victus insisted.

"We wouldn't leave you to pick over a pile of ashes, Father," Tercio said. "If worse comes to worse you can stay here with us until the farmstead is rebuilt. I know Celestia wouldn't object, especially after all you did to make me feel like true family despite being from...elsewhere."

Roughshod and Grace shared a look. "Ah, right. That." He nervously rubbed a hoof through his graying mane. "I suppose you've known for some time now, haven't you? Must be getting forgetful in my old age. So, uh...I take it the princess told you the truth." Tercio nodded. "What'd she say?"

"She said, or rather showed me, that I was found in a cave that had been recently occupied by the deer, some place that was exceptionally strong in magical energy. Something about a 'ley line', I think it was. They had found a way to pull me through from my world into this one, but for whatever reason they were unable to carry through their plans to completely control me like they did with the other human."

The image of Secundus tearing through deer and pony alike with unbridled rage and strength was still as clear as if it were his own memory. The whitetails' control over him had been absolute, turning him into nothing more than a battering ram to be thrown at their enemies. His life had been tragically short, and his fate sad and violent.

So many questions remained: what had the deer truly hoped to accomplish by pulling Secundus, and now himself, into this world? Even the strongest of soldiers could accomplish only so much on their own. Perhaps he had been a sort of final test, proof that a human child could be brought through and bent to their will. How many more would have joined him as the play-things of uncaring, manipulative forces had they succeeded? He could only speculate. Some part of him did not care to know those answers.

"It is a strange twist of fate that I was found by the very stallion I now call my superior officer. I don't think I ever thanked him for saving my life. I was far too caught up in self-pity and anger at the time."

"Sounds like fate to me," Roughshod said.

"I used to not give a second thought to such things, but I am starting to believe it is possible." He looked to his mother and asked, "That night, when Celestia brought me to you -- what did she say? How did she possibly convince you to take me in?"

Grace was quiet for a moment as she relived that distant memory all over again. "Well...it was surprising, to say the least. The princess and I had been casual friends for some time, thanks to my younger days in Shining Meadow-on-the-Stream. This was back when I was married to that insufferable trade merchant. 'Marriage of opportunity', they said. Miserable old wretch, he was! Thanks to his status he made frequent trips to Canterlot to negotiate with new partners, and once in a while it involved visiting the sisters themselves. I only saw Luna a few times, since she tended to be asleep during the day, but Celestia was always welcoming, and as friendly as could be. I envy that eternal beauty of hers, let me tell you."

"I still think you're beautiful, dear," Roughshod said, winking at her with a grin. She giggled and waved a hoof at him.

"One of these days I'll stop falling for those compliments of yours."

"Sure you will. Good thing I only put up with you because of your cooking."

Grace poked a hoof into his side. "I swear to Bountiful Harvest and Her menagerie, I don't know why I bother with you sometimes."

"Because you love me?"

"I guess that's as good a reason as any. It's a stroke of fortune that I'm still sane at this point."

After over thirty years his parents were as smitten as the day they'd met. Tercio hoped that he could even begin to know such a committed love, though he imagined his would continue to be tested for a long time to come -- if he lived long enough to see it.

Grace continued. "But yes, as I was saying: the princess and I were once-in-a-while acquaintances at best. Eventually I left that ill-tempered old son of a timberwolf and moved back home, where I met your father after a short time. I agreed to move with him to Summervale, and a few years went by without seeing either of the royal sisters. I'd moved on and nearly forgotten about them until Celestia changed our lives on that fateful night.

"We were just about to sit down to dinner when she knocked on the door. I went to check on your brother, who wasn't even old enough to stand on his own legs at that point, and that was when your father called for me. When I came to the door he looked horrified! He said that I needed to see something, and just like that: there you were, all wrapped in a blanket. The strangest child I'd ever seen."

"What did she say?" Victus asked. "Raising me must have been difficult all on its own, nevermind the burden of a human child."

"Oh it was, you were a hoof-full from the very day you were born," Grace laughed. "I was speechless when she showed me your brother for the first time. I thought you might have been some sort of forest creature, Tercio, but she told me all about how she and Luna had found you, and the danger you were in if the deer ever discovered your whereabouts. I can only speculate, but they probably thought you'd died in that cave after they abandoned you, else I imagine they might have tried to reclaim you. Our living far from any major city probably helped in that regard. It kept you isolated, for lack of a better word."

"That was something else to be worried about," Roughshod added.

"Yes it was. The princess said that she had met many ponies over the years, but my conversations with her had stuck with her well after I'd stopped coming by. I can still remember what she said, like it just happened. 'You are one of the kindest mares I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and it is with sincere humility that I stand before you now'. We sat down to talk for a while, and she told me that you weren't the first human she'd seen. There was one before you that had been turned into a monster by the deer, and she didn't want the same to happen to you. She also said that Princess Luna was, well, less than thrilled with the idea.

I'll never forget that look she gave me when she asked if we'd consider taking you in and raising you as one of our own. It was one of hope, yet clear uncertainty. You were so different, and I admit to being frightened at first, but when you looked at me I didn't see a 'human' or something that might be dangerous one day; I saw a scared, lonesome child with no one else in the whole world." She smiled, and tears welled in the corners of her eyes. "How could I say no?"

"I said no," Roughshod quipped.

"Roughshod!"

"What? I'm not going to lie to the boy. He's old enough to understand, aren't you, son? We'd just had Victus a few months prior, and now we were going to be taking care of not just another child, but a child unlike any we'd ever seen. Between that and the potential threat of the deer finding you, I was ardently against it, but...you know your mother. I can't say no to her for long."

"And don't you forget it," Grace said victoriously.

"Couldn't if I wanted to. But after all that said, Tercio, I'm glad we took you in. You might have been a challenge and a half to raise, and the gossip from neighbors was incessant, but I don't regret it one bit. You were a good kid, and you're a good man. I'm sorry we waited so long to tell you the truth, but you gotta understand: up until recently, there'd been no real reason to. We had no idea that that dark magic or whatever it was that was inside of you was trying to control you. Finding you lying there in the snow, all bloodied and on the brink of death...that was something terrible beyond words. I've never been more afraid in my life. Same goes for your mother. If you could have seen the state she was in when we arrived here to see you lying on that table..."

Grace frowned, the look of a mother who had been through so much, and so quickly. "If I never see anything like that again, I will be the most blessed mare in the world."

That night had played through Tercio's mind countless times. The pain of the sword as it tore through him. The cold, hard ground against his skin as his very blood stained the snow red. Darkness had overtaken him from within and without, the culmination of an ever-increasing struggle against the twisting, evil force that had lain dormant for three decades. Corruption had seeped into his soul, and in a final, desperate act he had defied it once and for all with the help of Nocturne.

He did not fully understand what had happened in that place between life and death, and perhaps he never would. He was grateful to be alive, to be with his family before the entirety of Canterlot was lain to siege. Being brought back from the precipice of eternity had shown him what truly mattered.

He'd be damned if the deer were going to take it from him.

"I don't say this nearly enough, but thank you. For everything. By all rights I should have died in that cave, or been abandoned as a freak of nature, but you found it within your hearts to take me in and raise me as your own when you had no obligation to do so. I could not have asked for better parents." He placed his hand on the table. "I love you both. Thank you for saving me. And Victus? I promise I've not forgotten about you. You've been the brother that others could only wish for. We will speak more after dinner, if that's okay with you."

Victus placed his hoof in the center, along with his parents. "Of course. You might not be a pony, but you're blood as far as I'm concerned. I'm proud to call you my brother."

"A sentiment I very much share, Victus."

The setting sun began to dip beneath the mountains, coloring the entire valley a soft orange. It was a spectacle that never ceased to amaze him, yet the thought of the impending fight for everything he cared for was a specter that loomed over him like the long shadows that cast themselves over the city. Very soon, he feared, the centuries-old capital would be the site of carnage unprecedented in all of Equestrian history.

For now, all he could do was wait. If these were to be his final hours, he would spend them with those he loved.

***

Elinwynn pulled her winter clothing tighter against her body, shivering at the glacial chill that seemed to deny her any warmth no matter how many layers she wore. The carriage bumped and jostled through the well-worn path that had become a mire of frozen, pock-marked mud and stones. Equestria was a miserable place, unfit for proper society. It had been years since she had last ventured into its expanses during the winter months. Once the war was over, she mused, she would have to make it a policy to avoid traveling there unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps she could shunt the duties off to her brother.

She pulled back the silk curtain from the window and sneered at the darkening skies. What she wouldn't have given to be back home! She cursed the very name of Celestia and despised her for dragging her across the land with her callous, despotic ways. Soon the princess' rule would be but a memory, and on that day she would declare a national holiday for all of deerkind. It was so very close.

The carriage slowed to a trot. Caravan guards shouted for those in the road to make way as they approached the rear of Corvalix's army. A trickle of redtail in emerald armor turned to dozens, then hundreds, yet it was but a small portion of her nation's might. Experienced stags in darker armor dotted the crowd in small groups, Exemplars that would lead the others in the coming battle. They scrambled to the side and saluted as she passed, the mass of Cervidae's elite spreading as far and wide as she could see.

"Empress, Brother-General Corvalix awaits your arrival. Shall I send a runner ahead to announce you?" Sister-Magii Sylaania asked through the open window, one of Elinwynn's sapphire-clad Imperial Protectorate does. Despite being on her hooves for nearly the entire day she showed no signs of weariness, a trait vital to the task of protecting the most powerful, beautiful and respected redtail in all of the Cervidaen Hegemony. For a fleeting moment Elinwynn entertained the thought of inviting her to the royal command tent for the night. She dismissed it just as quickly. There would be time for that after the battle. Perhaps she could make use of Celestia's newly-vacated bed chambers.

"No, that won't be necessary. If my dear brother has not noticed my approach by now then he has surely gone blind."

"As you wish, Empress."

Sylaania stepped away to join the others. A circle of hoof-picked guards kept anyone from getting too close.

Elinwynn's carriage came to a stop and she nudged the door open, stepping out onto the cold, wet ground that was slick with a slush of mud and melted snow. Corvalix stood before her and bowed as she stepped to him. A ranking officer shouted 'Glory to Empress Elinwynn!' and was echoed by countless voices.

"What, no musicians?" she joked, planting a kiss on both of his cheeks.

"It would seem we've left all of our instruments back in Evinwiir. We'll just have to borrow some new ones from the ponies." Corvalix returned the favor then presented the path to a large dome tent with an outstretched foreleg. The Imperial Protectorate immediately fell in around them as they made the short trip. "How was your journey? Uneventful, I hope."

"Dreadfully so. I was hoping for at least an ambush or two, that I might practice my magic some more. No such luck, it would seem. I hadn't expected you to kill all of the Equestrians between Whitetail and Canterlot."

Corvalix snorted. "Hardly. The vaunted Equestrian Guard has been nothing more than a nuisance ever since they evacuated Marestopholous. We still get the occasional harassing attack to probe our lines but it's clear they've decided to make a final stand at the capital." He brought her attention to the nearby hills with a wave. "One thing we can't account for is the sheer number of pegasi scouts at their disposal. We destroy those we can catch, but it's safe to assume that you're always under surveillance by at least a couple of them at any one time. No doubt they know you're here even now."

Elinwynn felt a shiver down her spine. Being watched from the darkness was an unnerving prospect. They may have been disgusting, inferior barbarians but she had no doubt they were effective at what they did. She was thankful for her personal guard contingent even more so now.

"Let them watch, then," she said. "They will become quite familiar with their new Empress soon enough."

"So they shall."

Just visible in the darkening twilight was the Auroran Valley, the entrance to Canterlot's expansive territory. Its sharply curved sides joined with the ever-rising mountains, though it was the path through them that had become the centerpoint of Equestria's defense, if scouts were to be believed. The ponies had set up a solid line of barricades, fortifications and obstacles to impede Corvalix's forces from pushing through. He was loathe to admit it, but the ponies' penchant for quick thinking and quicker action had shown itself yet again. It was a shame it would accomplish little more than delaying the inevitable.

Once the defenses had been pushed through, the mouth of the Auroran Valley would open into a wider area of plains dotted with copses of evergreens. The sight of Canterlot clinging to the cliff face would be a unquestionably spectacular sight to behold as they pushed up the curving path carved through the mountain -- what the Equestrians called the 'Coriander Road' -- before crashing through the gates of the city itself. He imagined himself standing atop the highest point and surveying the land below. His land. Let Elinwynn have Cervidae and Whitetail; he would take Equestria for himself. He chuckled at the thought. He would have to change the nation's name, now wouldn't he? It simply would not be fitting to have the newly-acquired deer territory called by its old title.

The frigid air gave way to the warmth and comfort of a crackling fire as they entered the command tent. A map table had been set up to the right, and a pair of bucks were moving unit markers around as new information came in from scout runners. They saluted briefly and returned to their duties. Across from them an area had been sectioned off with curtains and elaborately decorated with green and white banners. Visible through the gap was a silver table with a spread of fruit, bread and other foods for her to pick through at her leisure. Most importantly, a pair of beds had been set up for the royal siblings. The soldiers had the good sense to not make her sleep on the ground, it seemed.

She turned to her cadre of Protectorate guards and nodded. They departed the tent and assumed their positions just outside.

"You must be a bit peckish after such a long journey. Come, let us talk." Corvalix said. She followed him to the private area, closing the curtain behind them. After the discomfort of the carriage, a bed was most certainly welcome. A satisfied sigh left her mouth as she sat down on the edge of it.

"How have things been in Whitetail?" he asked, popping a ripe winter berry into his mouth before passing the bowl to her.

"As well as can be expected. Vinawyll and the Senate play their part, mostly out of self-preservation, though I believe there are a number of senators who have come around to seeing our 'joint' Cervidaen rule as a good thing for them and their nation. I had honestly expected there to be more of an outcry after the reunification of our peoples, but things have been relatively smooth -- thanks in no small part to your purging of dissenters, of course."

Corvalix gave a genuine smile. "It is good to hear you say that. I had hoped the whitetail would be grateful for our assistance."

"Don't be naive, Corvalix. It is fear that keeps them quiet, not admiration."

"You say that as if it's a bad thing."

"Come now, you know me better than that," Elinwynn said dismissively. "It is better to be feared than loved. Mother may have been revered as a just ruler, but she had no tolerance for those who would speak out against her. The people of Cervidae loved her because they had to. Small minds often fail to grasp the larger picture, so we must do it for them. Equestria will be the same way soon." A thin smile crossed her face. "I cannot properly put into words how exhilarating it is to say that."

"Indeed so. It's been a long and treacherous path, yet here we are. To think I had to render salutes and bow before the cruel words of a filthy whitetail officer, as if I were nothing more than a common soldier. I think he had something to prove, knowing I was royalty. Jealousy is such a strange thing."

"And now look at you, leading the greatest army in history. You have earned your place, my dearest brother."

"That I have," he said simply. "This is the beginning of a new era for us. Soon the Cervidaen Hegemony will be the undisputed power of the known world. Once this war has ended, I would very much like to start a family of my own. Perhaps sire a son or daughter and teach them the ways of our great peoples." He considered a honeyed roll and took a tentative bite, finding it sweet but not overwhelmingly so. "How about you, sister? What plans do you hold for the future?"

Elinwynn thought for a moment. "I don't know, to be honest," she said in a rare moment of quiet humility. "A family would certainly be expected of me, yes, but this whole ordeal with bringing Whitetail to heel and marching on Equestria has left me feeling rather drained. It was a stroke of good fortune that Celestia's sister rebelled when she did, else we might have been waiting to this day for our opportunity."

"You mustn't discount your quick thinking with the Nightmare Moon 'cult'. In fact, I'd say it was rather genius how you spread the word of dark salvation as quickly as you did." Corvalix laughed at the thought. "Dark salvation indeed. The disenfranchised will believe anything if you promise them something in return. They served their purpose in the end." He placed his foreleg around her shoulder and pulled her close. Affection was seen as unfitting for deer as powerful as they were, but behind the privacy of the thick curtains he was free to care for her as they used to when they were children. Fate had shaped them into two very different deer; one, a ruler and a plotter. The other, a leader of bucks and a stalwart soldier. Yet deep down they both longed for the simpler days.

"Soon, brother, this war will be but a memory, and generations of family will finally be avenged." She held him tight and kissed his cheek. "And it will have been because of us. All that stands in our way is one self-serving pony and her army of believers." A pair of crystal goblets floated over from the table. "To victory."

They clinked together.

"To Mother and Father, and all of Cervidae."

81 - A Light in the Darkness

For the first time since its founding, Canterlot's war horns called the city to battle. Their droning tones, long and low like a bellowing dragon, echoed through the empty streets and across the broken roads to the forces marching in the aftermath of the firestorm's dispersion. In long columns the deer came, singing their song of victory, passing rubble and heat-twisted husks of those who had been unfortunate enough to be at the once grand gates. The sickly sweet smell of burnt flesh intermingled with acrid smoke and bright embers that still rose from the scorched piles of stone. The invaders paid no mind to the destruction they had unleashed, for their objective was finally in sight: Canterlot Castle, the beating heart of Equestria. Upon a distant hill it sat, jutting out defiantly against the foreground of ruination.

From a high window Celestia watched the last of the Equestrian Guard's catapults and ballistae unleash their deadly missiles. They arced into the air, fading against the darkened skies, before crashing down with muffled thumps somewhere beyond. Soldiers rushed into position in a quick but professional flurry of movement, closing the three iron picket gates that separated the main path from the castle's primary and most heavily defended entrance. Each section had been fortified with archer towers, chest-high angled spike walls, and scorpio turrets far in advance of the Cervidaen onslaught, then reinforced with whatever was available upon Celestia's decision to hold out for as long as possible. With grim determination the ponies prepared themselves and their positions, gathering into preemptive shield walls that formed a barrier of spear tips and sword points. They knew this was to be, in all likelihood, nothing more than a delaying action. They were the steadfast rocks that the deer tide would crash upon so that their more numerous Guard brothers might defeat them once and for all at the city's northern reach.

There were no boisterous speeches this time, no rousing words from spit-and-polish officers in spotless armor. These were survivors, veterans of the ongoing war that had claimed so many, and not a one of them desired such frivolities. They came from all branches of Equestria's military, stacked three rows deep, fighting side by side with their brethren in colorful cloaks that were now ragged and dirty, with no sign of the inter-service rivalries that had been such a staple of Equestrian regiments. More unexpectedly, they stood shoulder to shoulder with deer and zebra alike. The former: once hated enemies turned allies, defiant rebels that had taken a stand against the corruption and lies that had seen their prosperous nation torn asunder. The latter: new compatriots from across the sea, foreign in language, appearance and way of life, but strong and brave. They stomped and shouted their war cries as one, hundreds of them spread across the front line, a hauntingly melodious sound punctuated by the click and rattle of stone beads adorned with prayers to the ancestor spirits. It did not take long for the other races to join them, and soon their collective stamps of defiance drowned out the battle march of the invading redtail. Half of the zebras clacked the blunt ends of their spears against the ground, matched by deep, rhythmic chants of "Eyy-yah, Eyy-yah!"while their shamans led the others in a rising, singular voice.

Stoneskin potions were quickly consumed, turning their vibrant stripes an ashen grey that hardened into living armor.
The deer were visible now, antlered silhouettes pouring from what remained of the path to the Coriander Road. Heavy chunks of stone and long ballista bolts tore into their massed ranks while they hurriedly took up formations that stretched to both edges of Canterlot's capitol district. Black and green flags fluttered from their standard bearers -- no quarter would be given.

Cries of "Equestria victor!" rose from the Legion, soon answered by every pony in the line.

"Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh!"

The sound was deafening to behold, growing ever louder until Equestria's soldiers were sure the gods themselves trembled at their might.

At once the redtail broke into a sprint, moving with the fluidity and deftness that only they could, their thundering hooves rapidly approaching. Without hesitation they charged into arrow fire and raining pila, rushing headlong into the waiting blades of their enemy.

When they collided, the very earth itself shook.

***

"First and second contubernia on me! Third through sixth, I need you at the main entrance! The rest of you are to reinforce as needed!" Polaris stood at the center of the second floor balcony overlooking the fountain room, shouting to be heard over the sound of numerous soldiers preparing for combat both inside the castle and beyond. Fully half of the Praetorian Guard force was at his command, a mix of disciplined and battle-hardened warriors from every available barracks.

He surveyed the area with a keen eye, checking again and again for anything he might have overlooked. With all but the highest windows boarded up and reinforced with wrought iron bars there were only three ways into the entrance hall, and one of them could not be accessed from outside the castle. Still he took no chances, stationing a small contingent at the doors that led further into the sprawling structure. The rest of the Praetorians were on alert at the tall doors that had been backed by slabs of heavy stone and thin plates of steel, leaving only a single, heavily guarded side entrance for access. If the deer wanted access to the castle now, they would damn well have to work for it.

"Cygni, Geminorum," Polaris said, turning to face a pair of experienced stallions, "I want you to pull six of your most capable unicorns and keep them up here for support. They should be well-supplied with pila." A large stack of the lethal throwing spears rested against the wall behind them, neatly sorted into bundles of twenty in wooden weapon frames. "Let us hope the deer to not come anywhere near this place, but if they do then I am leaving target prioritization to you. I trust you will provide support where it is most needed."

"You can count on us, Polaris," Cygni replied with a quick salute.

Polaris clapped a hoof on his shoulder pauldron. "I know I can. Best of luck to you, my good stallions. May the gods watch over you." After a final check of his weapons Polaris trotted back down the marble stairs, finding the princess and his familiar friends waiting anxiously near the doors that led deeper into the castle. In a moment of dark humor he reflected on the fact that, only a few months prior, his biggest concern had been keeping Hearth's Warming attendees from wandering the halls. Now he was responsible for over a hundred lives, including the princess herself.

"We're as ready as we'll ever be," he said as he rejoined the others. Just a dozen Praetorians were to be Celestia's personal retinue, the most trusted and skilled of their kind, a quick response bodyguard that would move her to safety if something went terribly wrong. A loud clatter and rising of voices from outside signaled that the inevitable had happened -- the deer were attacking. "Damned tree-rutters are wasting no time, it seems."

"Didn't expect any different," Imperator-General Stonewall said in his rough, aged voice. "Despite the loss of part of the city we still hold the advantage in positioning. The longer they give us to prepare, the worse it'll be for them. Even the royal cunt herself knows that much. Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll catch a stray arrow with her throat." The old stallion had managed to make it to the northern reach and back far quicker than anyone likely had thought possible. Woe be the pony that dared question how he'd done it with a tired body and wooden leg, of course.

"That would be a welcome stroke of fortune," Thunderburst added. Rimeberry snorted in amusement, too preoccupied with double-checking the equipment of those around him to say anything. To either side he was flanked by Marrus and Remedius, pegasus brothers from 5th Barracks and veterans of the assault on the castle by the Nightmare Moon cultists. With them were two earth ponies and a unicorn, relative newcomers who had passed muster only weeks prior, but they struck imposing figures all the same.

"You colts ever fight the deer when you were in the Equestrian Guard?" Polaris asked.

Diomodes, the oldest of the group, shook his head. "Afraid not. Not as a cohesive unit, anyway. We ran into our share of them mixed in with the cults, but that rabble couldn't hold a candle to the Cervidaens."

Polaris pulled his shield against his chest. "Right, a few things to keep in mind: keep your equipment grasped as tightly as you can -- the redtail like to try to yank them from our grip with their magic, but they can't do so for long without tiring themselves. Deer magic is about quick bursts of power, not prolonged use. Don't let your foreleg slip from the brace, understood?" The three of them answered promptly. "Try not to leave any gaps in the formation, even if they seem too small for someone to fit through. What the deer lack in strength they more than make up for in agility. Oh, and if you see something that looks like a clay pot coming at you, make sure it hits your shield and not you, else you'll meet an unpleasant end."

Aspen Tenor, a positively mountainous earth pony even compared to Rimeberry, spoke up for the first time since being assigned to the royal escort detail. His voice was fittingly booming. "Lost a good friend to that green fire. Won't happen again."

"You say that with suspect confidence," Thunderburst said.

The big pony was unfazed. "Let 'em try. The last thing they'll ever see is a burning stallion straight from the nine hells crushing their skulls with a mace. Or the edge of a shield. Or bare hooves. Whatever it takes."
Tercio tipped his spear in Aspen Tenor's direction. "I'm glad you're on our side, friend."

"Mmm. You too, human. Only thing I've ever seen that's bigger than me in this army. Taller, anyway. I've heard tale of your victories over cultist and deer alike. And that assassin; did you truly tear his throat out like a ravened beast?"

Half-remembered glimpses of the past, from a time before he'd truly defeated the evil within. A bright red arterial spray, gurgling screams of pain. The feeling of dying flesh torn from a living stallion's body. It sent a shiver down Tercio's spine to this day.

"I did. Seems like a long time ago. I assure you I am more in control of myself now."

Aspen Tenor laughed deeply. "You misunderstand me. I welcome such base aggression. Anger is a powerful ally."

"You would not say that so assuredly had you'd seen it for yourself." It was inevitable that rumors about Tercio would spread, and in part he welcomed them, if only for how absurd some of them were, but he despised being known as some barely-tamed wild animal. No deer words would hold sway over him now.

Muffled voices from the fortified path called out for long bows, followed seconds later by the collective twang of draw strings as they loosed their missiles at the enemy down the hill. The distinctive crackle and shatter of ice arrows came soon after. Precious few remained.

Torches and fire pits provided just enough light to see the controlled chaos of the Equestrian war machine at work through the reinforced stained glass windows, vertical slits of movement and shapes that flitted betweentimbers. A loud crash echoed through the hall, causing a commotion among the Praetorians. Tercio watched with nervous interest as a pegasus scout landed just outside. It frantically gestured and spoke to a bat-winged guard, then leapt back into the air quickly enough to leave a momentary streak of blue magic. The guard opened the side door just enough to push his head through.

"The first gate has been destroyed," he reported in the matter-of-fact tone of an experienced officer. A murmur went through the room. "Our defenses have stopped the deer from advancing further for now, but the main bulk of the front line has been cut in twain by an Exemplar-led push. We are working to reunite our cohorts. More information as we receive it." The door slammed shut again. It was hard to believe the deer could push through a wall of soldiers five deep so quickly, and speculation was rampant in hushed tones.

"I should be out there with them," Celestia said quietly as the battle raged. Stonewall immediately objected.

"All due respect, Princess, but you're better off with us. Losing you would be a blow we could never recover from. Like it or not, you are Equestria. We need you to survive, at any cost."

"If Luna were here she would not stand for letting her soldiers fight in her stead." Celestia was growing increasingly impatient and worried. That much was easy to see. Months of endless warfare had taken their toll on her psyche, and though she was exceptionally gifted at putting on a mask of unparalleled conviction it could not last forever. The looming inevitability of losing everything she held dear was becoming too much for her to handle.

"Luna was proud and brash. That was her downfall." Stonewall spoke slowly and clearly, keeping his tone even. "There is a reason everyone looked to you for guidance, not her. That guidance is what we need right now."

Celestia took a step forward, the floating ruby of her golden laurel shining with power. "They are dying out there, Stonewall. My ponies. My friends. What soldier wants to follow a coward? Elinwynn is somewhere close, beyond those gates. I can feel her presence. She may be a monster but she is putting her own life in danger to lead her bucks. And what am I doing? Hiding in my castle yet again. This isn't right."

"She might be with them but I doubt you'll find her on the front lines," Tercio said, unsure of speaking out. Perhaps it was not proper for a soldier, but these were not proper times. "Elinwynn is cold and calculating, and manipulative to a degree I have never seen. Am I wrong in thinking that this might be exactly what she wants you to do? To make yourself a target for her brother or her vaunted magii?" When he did not receive an answer he dared to continue. "I have seen your martial prowess improve greatly, but you are not invincible. We fight as one, or we die alone." The phrase that had been pounded into him by over a decade of training had held true thus far. It was the backbone of Equestrian combat doctrine, and thus of Equestria itself. "Isn't that right, lads?" A chorus of 'ayes' answered him.

Celestia began to argue, frustration dripping from every word. "I am aware of that, but Luna would--"

"Luna is gone!" Stonewall had to stop himself from raising his voice to a shout. Even so, some of the Praetorians from the other squads turned to see what the commotion was about before quickly returning to their duties. "She gave in to her impulsive ways. It did not make her strong; it made her weak. If you wish to throw your life away then ultimately that is your choice, but if you truly care about Equestria then you will stay here with us, in this castle, until such time comes that we either fight or flee."

An uneasy silence filled the space between them. The newer members of the group had not yet seen the frank nature with which the Imperator-General spoke to the leader they considered to be nearly a goddess. They looked to each other, but did not speak up. Such harsh truths made even the most veteran among them uncomfortable.

Polaris tapped his shield against the floor. "Stonewall is correct: we must keep you safe. That is what we are here for. And right now our best chance of doing so is to force the deer to fight within the confined spaces we are accustomed to."

A flight of arrows and spears slammed into the thick boards that covered the castle's large, frontal stained glass window. Their impacts reverberated through the room and shook the heavy timbers hard enough to rain dust from the ceiling. The deer might have been preoccupied, but they were making it clear that they had their eyes firmly set upon the ultimate goal.

"You're right," Celestia said. "Perhaps fighting amidst the chaos is not my place, but that does not mean I cannot help."

Light gathered at the tip of her long horn, coalescing into a ball of swirling, luminous magic that lit up the hall like mid-day, bright and warm to behold. She wordlessly guided it above the Praetorians, who watched it pass in reverent awe, bathing the loyal in the first light they'd seen since the fall of premature night. Slowly it rose to the grand circular window, slipped through the intricate glasswork, and disappeared from sight.

***

"I need the left flank to push into the Equestrian reinforcements! If that gap closes we may not get the chance to open it again!" Corvalix pointed to the mixed element of the 19th Exemplar and 8th Cervidaen Regulars divisions, their once distinct formations now intermingled and facing stiff resistance at the second castle gate. The senior officers under his command passed along his orders with short, sharp bellows from their signal horns. Early gains made against the initial line had quickly turned to a quagmire. The zebras in particular had proven to be a thorn in his side, possessing an almost preternatural quickness of reaction in combat. Their willingness to temporarily weaken a side in order to form a quick flanking charge was something he'd seen in the valley in much larger numbers, but curiously they seemed to be more effective as squad-sized units. The damned potion that turned their skin hard as rock certainly didn't help matters.
He was so close to the castle that he could practically feel the throne against his skin. It was maddening to know that ultimate victory for Cervidae was just beyond his reach. He would remind them, then, that he was not about to be denied.

"Give me a volley on the castle itself," he said to his siege officer.

"I'm sorry, Brother-General, but our trebuchets are still being pulled up the path." The older stag dipped his head apologetically. "It will be some time until they're here."

Corvalix brushed him off. "I am aware of that, Brother-Commander, but it is not stone nor flame that I desire. A simple flight of arrows and throwing spears shall suffice."

The officer nodded. "As you wish, sir."

Seconds later a hail of projectiles was on its way. Most of them skipped off the thick stone wall without leaving so much as a scratch, but some managed to find their way to window boarding or gold and purple roof tiles. "It is about sending a message," Corvalix said plainly. "Once we're past the second gate we will need to advance hard and fast if we've any hope of minimizing our losses. Make sure your bucks are--"

A dazzling flash of coruscating light burst from somewhere ahead, causing him to instinctively turn away and shield his eyes with a wince of pain. The after-image of the scene slowly faded, and when he regained his vision he found the previously steady advance of his troops being rapidly pushed back. He shouted for his sub-commanders to regain control, but the temporary blindness wrought upon Cervidae's forces had given the ponies a chance to shove them back down the hill. Even worse, there was now some sort of shining barrier in place over the front half of the castle. It was a brilliant white, nearly opaque, with edges that faded to rainbow-colored rays. It was like looking into the sun, and he found that he could not stare at it for more than a few seconds before his eyes began to water and sting. The ponies, however, did not seem to have the same problem, for they continued to pour arrows and scorpio bolts into his bucks from beyond the barrier with no indication that the eye-searing spell had any effect on their accuracy. Hastily returned redtail ranged fire punched into the barrier and stopped as if they had been frozen in time, then dropped harmlessly to the ground.

"Ancestors damn that Celestia to the darkest depths of eternity!" Corvalix shouted in a fit of rage, hurling a spear at the barrier in frustration with a burst of magic. It too failed to do anything more than push part-way through before rolling down the hill and coming to a stop against a watch tower. "This is madness. I don't have time for her games." He turned and considered his sister who watched from a rooftop away from the fighting, surrounded by her retinue of guards and magii. Even from here he could feel her gaze burning into him, waiting to see what he would do next, judging his actions as if she had all the answers planned out ahead of time.

Fine, then. If she was waiting for him to come to her for help, he would swallow his pride and do so once more. The downfall of Equestria was far more important than whatever petty squabbles he may have had with her -- if she could even be considered now to be the same sister he'd grown up with. She did not look away when he considered the wisps of black magic that wafted from the corners of her eyes. No, for all of his doubts about her actions it was clear that victory was all that mattered to her. He begrudgingly had to respect her for that.

"No more half-measures," he said to himself, and approached her position as the clashes and cries of battle sounded behind him.

One last effort to bring Celestia to her knees.

One last sacrifice required of Cervidae's sons and daughters.