To Die Another Day: Reclamation

Chapter 3: Onwards to Equestria

Winter stood before his army once again, the undead Cadence standing at his side. Over the last few hour, she told him of the Fall of Canterlot, her infection, death, and perilous journey to The Crystal Empire. She was also thankfull the Solstice had managed to survive this long, as nations coming only second to it fell like dominos.

Winter cleared his throat. "MEN AND WOMEN OF SOLSTICE! IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT ALICORNS CAN, IN FACT, CURE THEMSELVES AFTER BEING KILLED. FOR THIS REASON, WE MUST MARCH ON CANTERLOT IMMEDIATELY! THE 2ND ROYAL GUARD WILL ACCOMPANY ME TO PONYVILLE, THE REST OF YOU ARE TO MARCH ON CANTERLOT! UNDERSTOOD?"

A massive cheer droned from the masses before him.

"YOU HAVE YOUR ORDERS," Winter boomed, "MOVE OUT! AND BE WEARY OF ANY SURVIVORS!"

Flashback, Canterlot, 14 years ago...

Winter stood before Princess Celestia. They were busy discussing the strange virus that was sweeping the nation when General Alexander came in. He had accompanied Winter on this visit, and looked distressed at the moment.

"Prince Winter! Something is happening to the infected," said Alexander, panting as he stopped before the Prince.

"What is happening," asked Winter.

"They're dying," Alexander said, making Winter and Celestia's eyes go wide. "But that's not all. The ones that die are coming back, and they're killing all the ponies in the city below."

Celestia turned to Winter. "Go home, Winter. Seal your borders until this crisis passes."

"I can't do that," said Winter.

"You must," Celestia stated, "I know I've failed you in the past, but I want to rectify my mistakes. Please, Winter."

Winter considered for a moment before he sighed. "Very well, Celestia. But I'm leaving General Alexander here to protect you, and this is not up for debate."

"Very well," Celestia said as Winter nodded before turning to Alexander.

"Keep them safe."

"I will do my best, sire," said Alexander with a salute. "To the last breath."

Winter nodded before turning back to Celestia. "I hope you know what you're doing."

And with that, Winter disappeared in a brilliant flash of blue light.

Winter shook his head as he came back to reality. The main force was barely a glimmering silver dot on the horizon. The 2nd Royal Guard still stood before him, waiting for orders. He turned to see Cadence staring at him, a worried look on her face.

"Just remebering when I last saw Celestia," said Winter with a sigh. "She said she'd have this under control, but look what happened." Winter gestured to the landscape before him. "I know she meant well. I just should have intervened while there was still somepony left to save."

"You don't know that they're all dead," Cadence said in a reassuring tone. "I'm sure somepony made it."

"You're right, as always," Winter said with a smile before turning to his force. "WE MOVE NOW! TO PONYVILLE!"

The guards saluted and began their march as soon as Winter took the lead position, Cadence and General Maximillion close behind.

Some time later, just outside Ponyville...

The fields were peaceful and empty for the first time in a decade, the infected having left hours ago. In this quiet field lay six gravestones, each with a name bearing one of the bearers the Elements of Harmony. One had been apparently dug up, but that was because Rainbow Dash hadn't been properly dealt with at the time.

Suddenly, a lavender hoof shot from the ground under one of the gravestones, this one reading 'Here lies Princess Twilight Sparkle, my closest friend, mentor and big sister'.

Slowly, the rest of the mare began to emerge from the ground. Her head had reformed since Spike's beating, which she remebered all too well.

As soon as Twilight cleared the hole ahe saw the other gravestones as well as her own, and burst into tears. All her best friends were gone, and Spike had killed them all. 'At least it was Spike and not some other pony' Twilight though, realizing she had control of her body.

Back when she first turned, she'd tried desperately to regain control of herself. In the end, she had suceeded, and had allowed Spike to kill her. She'd felt the baseball bat smash her skull to bits, but that left one question.

"How am I alive," Twilight said to herself.

At that moment, something sounded in the distance. It was a horn, and from the distinct sound of it, and the faint yells she could hear in the distance, she could safely guess who was coming.

2nd Solstice Royal Guard, near Ponyville...

For the major part of the journey they encountered minimal resistance, the main force having cleared most of the infected. As they approached Ponyville, though, the resistance began to increase dramatically, reaching into the tens of thousands.

"SOUND THE HORN," yelled Winter as General Maximillion blew into the battle horn. "FORWARD MARCH! KILL THEM ALL!"

The front rows of the formation raised their swords as they began marching forward, Maximillion blowing the horn every so often as the infected fell in the thousands.

"BURN THE BODIES! SHOOT THE FLYERS FROM THE SKY," yelled Winter. "FORWARD! WE MUST TAKE PONYVILLE!"

Within ten minutes the area had been cleared of the massive horde of infected. The troops were clearing up a few stragglers before marching on the town, giving Winter some time to stop and meditate.

Winter sat at the top of a grassy field overlooking Ponyville. Below, he could see the infected moving through the streets, moving ever onward with no destination in mind. Cadence sat beside him, also meditating on what has happened to her and everpony else. A twig snapping behind them broke their concentration. They turned to see a milky-eyed lavender mare staring at them.

"Ah, my dear Twilight," Winter said as if nothing was wrong, "Care to join us? We were just meditating."

Twilight was shock at, well, Winter's lack of shock. That's when she noticed Cadence's milky white eyes.

"She's dead," said Twilight nervously.

"She's dead, you're dead, the ponies down there are dead, everything that wasn't in Solstice as of this morning is dead. Only me and my people still live, as far as we know," Winter said.

"Your people," Twilight asked, as Winter had said it in a strange way.

"Oh, there's General Valor up at Castle Rosethorn, Captain Elegance and Queen Fate, I'm sure you remember those two, and then there's me and those in my city," Winter said. "All that's left of the once great Equestrian Coalition, not that it's not great anymore. We've already retaken The Crystal Empire since we marched out this morning, and the rest of the army is on the way to Canterlot, that is, if they're not there already."

"Wait, weren't YOU in Canterlot," Twilight said as she turned to Cadence.

Cadence nodded. "Spike,' she said, pointing to the bare skin on her head. "Shoved his claw right through."

"Oh," said Twilight in shock, "I'm sorry. It must have hurt a lot."

Cadence nodded. "I killed Shining."

"You WHAT," Twilight said, making Cadence shrink in fear of the purple mare.

"ENOUGH OF THAT! SHE FEELS BAD AS IT IS," boomed Winter.

"Sorry," said Twilight in a small voice.

"It's okay," said Winter. "Now, would you care to join us?"

Twilight nodded as she came and sat between Winter and Cadence, and the three began to meditate.

Canterlot Castle...

Luna dragged herself to the window. The infected that had fed upon her sister had left a short time ago, giving her time to figure out what to do next. That was when she heard a battle horn blare through one of the broken windows. Now reaching the window, Luna was stunned at what lay before her.

Far below, a massive army clad in silver armor was marching on the city, with banners depicting the White Tree of Solstice at regular intervals. Luna had to admit, even after the world ended, the Solstice Army remained as disiplined and organized as ever. She watched as they continued their march upon the city, striking down any walker or flyer that crossed their paths.

Something growled behind Luna, and she pulled her horn close to herself. She had grabbed it the moment the infected had left, but now it seemed that one had stayed behind. She turned to see Shining Armor standing before her, eyes white and teeth barred in a evil smile.

"Fooooooooooooooooooooooooooood," he hissed.

Luna could not so anything as the one she once knew as Shining advanced on her, opening his mouth to bite her and make her a zombie again.

That bite never came.

Luna watched as a sword was thrust through the stallion's head, and watched him fall over limp when the sword was removed. Luna pulled her eyes away from the body of her once good friend to see her savior, and gasped in horror.

Before her stood General Alexander, still clad in his jet black ebony armor. His ebony sword was covered in the fresh blood of Shining Armor, and his armor was coated with layers of dried blood. He was missing an arm, and Luna remembered she was responsible for that. What shocked her, though, was his eyes. They were still normal.

"Princess Luna," asked Alexander, recieving a nod from the disabled mare. "Thank Winter. Can you move?"

Luna shook  her head. "My legs. Spike severed my spine before I died."

"I know," Alexander said, "I watched, and waited until now. I'm sorry I couldn't save Celestia. I may be strong, but that doesn't mean I can't be overpowered by sheer numbers, like back when they took the castle."

Luna nodded. "Did anypony else make it, uh, alive?"

Alexander nodded as he lifted Luna. "Elegance and Fate made a break for Solstice a few weeks ago. Crystalia is in Celestia's chambers. She's been holding a flame shield for the last thirteen years, and I don't think she'll las much longer. Midnight Blue, as per her mother's instructions, is holed up in her shop. That's where I'm taking you now."

"No, we need to get Crystalia first," Luna stated. "If they're still attacking her, then she won't be around much longer."

"But Luna, you can't fight," said Alexander.

"Put my horn where it used to be," Luna stated.

Alexander looked at her questioningly for a moment, then shrugged and took the horn, placing it on the stub where it used to be. Almost instantly, the horn reconnected with the stub, and in a few seconds it appeared as though the horn had never broken in the first place. Luna surrounded herself with a magical aura, fixing her broken back and returning her appearance to normal, except her eyes. No matter how hard she tried, they would always return to that milky white colour.

Sighing, Luna turned to Alexander. "Thank you."

"No need," Alexander said with a bow. "Now, let's save Crystalia."