To Die Another Day: Reclamation

Chapter 2: Shattered Empire

Winter's army cut a bloody swath across the Kingdom of Sostice, brutally dealing with any walker or flyer foolish enough to cross them. Their progress slowed as the neared The Crystal Empire, or what was left of it. Winter stepped forward and beheld the desolation before him.

The Crystal Empire lay in ruins. Building of crystal that had stood for millenia now lay shattered and burnt, and headless bodies and body parts littered the streets, their blood that had once flowed like rivers now dry and cracking. All seemed to be dead, as nothing in the city moved.

The castle, though, was a different story.

A pink shield surrounded the Crystal Castle, protecting it from the desolation beyond. Bodies lay piled up against the shield as high as the buildings had once stood.

"Do you think we should investigate," asked Marshal Stormcry.

Winter nodded. "Be careful, though. It will be close quarter once we enter the city. Be weary of ambushes."

Stormcry nodded. "ALL RIGHT, LISTEN UP! WE ARE TO CLEAR AND SECURE THE CITY BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE CASTLE! BE WEARY OF AMBUSHES, AS WE'LL BE IN CLOSE QUARTERS! MOVE OUT!"

The front row of troops raised their swords as they broke into columns, each heading to one of the city's entrances before they all moved in in unison. Occsionally, a large group would break off as they passed a side street to clear it, but rejoined their main foce once the job was done.

Using this method, the city was cleared in less than fifteen minutes, leaving only the castle and it's protective shield to investigate.

"What do you make of it," asked Stromcry as he came up beside Winter.

"I think somepony must be alive," Winter said. "The magical energy of the spell is not coming from a focus crystal. It is too poweful for that."

"Who could it be, then," asked Stormcry.

"Cadence was at Canterlot when it fell," said Winter, "And Spike killed her. As she was the only pony I know of with a pink magical aura, I cannot say who is projecting this shield, as no pony except an alicorn can produce a shield as large as this."

Suddenly, the shield began to flicker, going down moments later.

"Stay here," Winter said, "I wish to investigate this personally."

"As you command, my Prince," Stormcry said as Winter proceeded into the castle.

Winter had difficulty opening the door, but soon figured out why as he finally managed to push it open, spreading the pile of rotting corpses across the entry hall. Winter remained emotionless, as always, but his eyes clearly showed disgust at that moment. There was obviously something in there, and it had killed every other uninfected pony. He quickly closed the door, just in case whatever it was was close by.

Winter began slowly making his way across the hall. There were a few growls and gurgles from down the castle's corridors from the infected that remained, but other that that, all was quiet.

Until he heard a scream.

It was definitely feminine in nature, and was quite distinct as marking it as one of the uninfected. To top that, it was in a tone that was very familliar, as he'd visited her here very often. He quickly sprinted down the halls, cutting down dozens of the undead as he went until he finally came to the throne room, and a sight that defied all logic.

"WINTER! HELP ME," screamed Cadence as she noticed Winter, but was pulled away as she blasted another walker that got too close.

Winter wasted no time, quickly raising his sword as he charged forwand, cutting a walker from the horn to the tail, and blasted through the two halves as he engaged another walker with even greater furiosity. Within moments, the throne room had been cleared. Winter turned to look over Cadence. What he saw shocked him.

Cadence's eyes were milky white, and she had a hole starting under her jaw and ending in the back of her head. It had healed over, of course, but the sheer size of the hole should have killed her, despite the fact she was obviously dead.

Winter raised his sword above her head.

"WINTER! PLEASE NO," she begged.

Winter was again shocked. He faltered, for once unsure of what to do. "Cadence, is that really you?"

"IT IS, I SWEAR," Cadence begged. "PLEASE DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE!"

Winter slowly lowered his sword and extended a hand to the crying mare."I would never hurt you, Cadence."

Cadence looked at his hand repulsively before acknowledgeing the gesture and placing her hoof in it. Winter gently eased her to her hooves, noticing sharp pang of pain cross her face as he did.

"Are you okay," Winter asked as Cadence went to sit in her throne.

"No, no I'm not," said Cadence with a shiver. "I feel so cold, and it hurts everywhere. I remember the faces, biting and tearing into me. I remember dying, and wandering the halls. Winter, I-I killed Shining." She broke down in tears.

Winter came over and kneeled down beside her before pulling her into a hug. "Shhh, it's okay, Cadence. You weren't in control of yourself. There was nothing you could do."

"But I killed him," said Cadence through her sobbing, "I killed my Shiny."

"Shhhh," said Winter as he stroked Cadence's mane, "You weren't in control. There was nothing you could do."

"I know," said Cadence as she finally calmed down, "But I watched. It was scary, like I was watching somepony else through their eyes. Tell me, Winter, how long has it been since Spike..." She trailed off, not wanting to say the last words.

"Since Spike put you to sleep," Winter said gently, getting a nod from Cadence, "Thirteen years. You've been dead thirteen years. Don't ask me how you're alive again, well, somewhat, as I have no idea."

"Do you think anypony else came back like me," asked Cadence.

"We'll find out soon," said Winter with a smile, "Don't worry, I'm sure Midnight found a place to hide."

"She's not the pony I'm worried about," Cadence said as Winter's eyes widened.

"Luna."

Meanwhile, in Canterlot Castle...

"AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Luna's eyes flew open, revealing the milky white pupils of an undead pony. At that moment, though, Luna wished she hadn't opened her eyes.

Almost directly in front of her was her own horn, and beyond that was a horde of infected digging into a flailing Celestia.

"SOMEBODY HELP ME," Celestia cried seconds before a sickening snap was heard, her limbs falling lifeless to the floor.

Luna squeezed her eyes shut as the infected began to spew blood from the dead alicorn across the tiled floor.

The events of thirteen years ago were still fresh in her mind, as she had at least kept that intact until Spike had...dealt with her. Knowing that she was incapable of moving her hind legs, she sat as still as possible while the infected fed upon her dead sister.

'Winter, please save me' she thought as the infected continued to eat her sister.