The smell of fire, sweat, and blood filled the night skies over Canterlot. Neither the moon, nor the stars appeared in the night sky, for only the blaze of the invader’s torches and illumination of unicorns' horns quelled the surrounding darkness. The city walls were guarded by a legion of unicorns taking pot shots at the massive hordes that got too close to the moat of the unicorn capitol. On the high towers and on the cliff face, Royal Canterlot unicorn sharp shooters fired bolts of lightning at gryphons and pegasi patrols that might get close enough to consider an aerial assault.

On the dark grassy fields two minotaurs loaded a large boulder, the size of a small shed, onto an enormous earth pony catapult. A dark red earth pony mare stood between a small campfire and the just-loaded catapult. Off the glow of the fire, you could distinguish her dark red coat from her light brown cloak which barely covered her dark orange mane, and just make out her cutie mark with four apples on it.

She looked behind her to see that the two minotaurs had successfully loaded the catapult properly and were now dumping crude oil onto it. She then looked over to her target; two miles away, was the wooden draw bridge for Canterlot. Though it was very dark, her vision had long since adapted to the lack of light and her memory of close calls also confirmed her aim was true. She looked over to another Earth pony and nodded. From the warm glow of the torch he held in his mouth, you could see his honey colored coat, and his red mane. He, like the mare in front of him, also had an apple cutie mark on his flank. The stallion tilted his head so the flame of the torch lightly tapped the fire onto the oil coated rock, setting it ablaze.

The mare closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. She trotted over to the lever and gave it a pull. The last part of her job was the worst, watching the sky light up and hoping for the best. With a loud ‘wooph’, the fireball was lobbed into the air and sailed towards the gate. The apple mare looked on with giddy anticipation as her fireball, unlike the many others that flew alongside hers, was about to hit its mark, only to be disappointed when her projectile was wrapped in a purple glow, instantaneously stopped and harmlessly set aside. The apple mare sighed and waited for the next boulder to be loaded.

On top of the Canterlot gates, a purple mare by the name of Twilight Sparkle let out sigh of relief as her horn dimmed, losing its purple hue. She lifted a trembling hoof up and wiped some of the sweat from off her brow and onto her robes; a traditional set of soft blue cloth worn by the high mages of the Stardust Clan.

“Greetings Lady Sparkle,” a voice called out from behind her, “how do you fare at this hour?”

Twilight looked over her shoulder to find a familiar face. After recognizing a medium build stallion, with a sea foam coat and a mane and tail of mint green and white, she redirected her gaze back to the camps of the invaders.

“You are a strange one Baron Heartstrings. From the first day since the ensuing revolution within Canterlot, your behavior is as if nothing were amidst, still finding time for pleasantries such as titles and idle chatter, but here I am, only now fully adjusted to my new duties.”

“It must be from taking comfort in knowing such a beautiful and capable mare is in charge over defense of the gates.” Heartstrings cooed as he trotted over to Twilight’s side.

Had this been anypony else, Twilight would have blushed furiously, and likely tripped over herself, but she was used to this sort of flirting from the stallion.

“Oh, Baron Heartstrings, such the charmer,” Twilight said in a playful, mocking tone, “Hadn’t not for the fact we grew up together, I might have swooned at your words like so many other mares have, before you would have taken me on an ‘expedition’. I am curious how thou always got a different mare to explore the same beach cove with you on each weeks end and come back with nothing, but a long smile on your face. Did you ever find what thou were looking for?”

“Unfortunately, any remaining legacy of the sea ponies has still eluded my watchful eyes, leaving much work to be done and many more trips to be had,” Baron Heartstrings chuckled, “but thou still have yet to answer my question.”

Twilight sighed, “I don't think I can keep this up for much longer.” She looked over to the field hospital behind her. Lined up outside the tents were many unicorns either bathed in sweat or coated in blood. Some old veterans were wearing their outdated guard uniforms, while others weren't given armor to begin with. Young or old, they were all unfit for duty, be it from magical exhaustion or from pushing back the latest raid that was attempted on Canterlot’s walls.

She sighed, “Then again, I don't think any of us can.”

Baron Heartstrings looked over to the sight of the wounded and sighed as well while Twilight returned to her vigilant state overlooking the gate.

“Oh, I think thou art correct once again, Twilight. This whole upheaval was doomed at the start with the failure to capture Star Swirl and his apprentices. It was still worthy of sufferage as to relinquish without resistance, the sun, moon, and stars would be worse than the troubles we suffer now.”

Twilight was about to answer when a blaze of light hurdling towards her caught her attention. She elicited a high pitched ‘Eeep’ before she grunted with effort to stop yet another blazing boulder that was heading straight for them. Meanwhile, the baron didn't even register the near loss of his life and trotted to face the horizon to the right of Twilight.

“I’m not a doomsayer nor am I a member of the Sky Houses, but I can see it plainly as I can see the sun rising over th-”

The sun was peering over the horizon, casting its rays of warmth over the land, but its very sight froze every unicorn in place. Harpo and Twilight, along with every other pony withing Canterlot's walls was in a state of shock over the sudden arrival of the sun. There was no signal by the high council’s that they would raise the sun, which only left one impossible option. The fears and suspicions of the three ruling aristocratic families were finally confirmed.

Then there was a break in the silence as the invading, multi-racial horde let out a large cheer. The cheers soon turned into shouts and commands as the enormous horde started scrambling into formations. Rows and columns of Earth ponies formed, clad in golden armor with lances strapped to their side. The minotaurs started gathering for their line of heavy steel claymores and mauls. They were grouping into a single herd, ready to stampede and let loose their barbaric fury. Meanwhile the sky was filling up with wings of Gryphons and Pegasi filing in V-formations below the cloudlines like angry nest of bees. 'They are going to make their final push'.

Baron Heartstrings was brought out of his trance when he had to avert his eyes from the harsh glare of the sun. His mind was in a state of panic before he returned his sights to the purple mare by his side. He put both of his front hooves on her shoulders snapping her out of her shock. His voice came sharp and quick, and tone was serious.

“Now listen here Twilight, I need you to go over to the main chambers of the Royal Castle, demand to meet with whoever is highest standing and get yourself into an teleportation chamber as soon as possible. You art a very important unicorn Twilight Sparkle, so I doubt that they would deny you access to a safe place right away.”

Twilight inquired, “But Harpo, what of my post?”

Harpo turned his attention to the enemy movements across the moat outside of the Canterlot walls. “Don’t worry about the gate. I may not have the power nor the skill you possess when it comes to magic, nor do I hold a rank as high as thine, but I am still capable mage and leader, if I do say so myself. Which I do,” He assured her.

“But Harpo, I can’t, I shan't let you to die doing my duty,” Twilight said with a mixture of concern and determination. Harpo turned his gaze to Twilight, almost becoming trapped by her lovely, lavender eyes.

He closed his eyes, “Twilight, don't you remember what I’ve been telling you all these years?” He then opened his eyes, now burning with a new-found passion, and gave Twilight a sly grin,

“I’m going to live forever.”

He kissed Twilight on the forehead, before shoving her off, “Now go! And please stay safe!”

Twilight heard her friend yelling out commands to the Unicorn Guards who were stationed at the front walls as Twilight made a gallop for the heart of Canterlot. All around her madness consumed the city as stallions and mares were either heading off to their posts to die valiantly or their families to hold them tight one last time.

Everypony knew that it was the beginning of the end.

Author's Note

~~First off, "Ye Olde" speak dialogue sucks to write.~~
Secondly, thanks to Sapphic for editing this monster.
~~Third, there are a lot of "thou"s, so sorry about that.~~
Fourth, please comment and tell me what you think.
Fifth, lol, editted