Remnants of an Empire

Chapter 3- Shattered Armor

~Silksong~

I and some of the other pegasi gave Basil a proper pegasus burial. Celestia cremated her for us, and we threw her ashes in the wind, so she could fly forever. Soarin cried, and I was pretty sure he had a thing Basil.

"Silksong," Celestia said.

I turned around. "Yes, Princess?"

"Did you see the pony that killed Basil?" The alicorn asked.

"The night-crawler was hiding in that shadows." I hissed bitterly. "I threw my knife, but I don't think I hit him."

"It must have been a earth pony or pegasus." Celestia murmured, gazing at the sun locket around her neck.

I flicked my long, white mane. "Coward. Must have fled the scene once he killed her. I'll avenge her. I'll avenge every causality the Solar Empire has ever experienced."

Celestia's purple eyes clouded. "He who fights monsters will become one himself."

I scoffed, fluffing out my wings. "I would never stoop to their level. Trust me."

Celestia sighed, watching me sadly. "I understand. Go and get some rest, you have been through a lot today."

I shrugged, making my way to the sleeping quarters. Some of the members of the Solar Empire chose to live in their own houses, but most of us slept in the bunks on the lower floor where we were promised safety.

We had made our base underground, with a couple small entrances on the surface. It seemed pretty effective so far, the Lunar Republic goons hadn't found us yet. Of course, yet was the keyword. While Nightmare Moon reined, no one was safe.

I was nearly to the to bunks when two ponies burst out of the lower entrance. I gaped in horror.

Flash Sentry supported Shining Armor, the stallion's white coat drenched in blood and his back leg dragging behind him. Some other soldiers ran behind him, some injured, but not as severely.

"Get help!" Flash screamed, "Shining Armor needs medical attention, now!"

"LYRA!" My voice boomed through the narrow passageways, I hoped the unicorn could her me.

Soon, Lyra ran to us, Celestia galloping behind her. The green-furred mare skidded to a halt before the two stallions, a medicine bag slung around her.

"What happened?" She murmured sternly as Flash sat Shining Armor on the floor. She started working on him, bandaging up his chest and neck.

"Was it Nightmare Moon's soldiers?" Celestia asked, stepping forward.

Flash nodded, looking startled. "Yes, your highness."

"Where are they?" Celestia urged, trying distract Flash from Shining Armor's frantic cries as Lyra poured antiseptic on his wounds.

"A couples miles down from Canterlot. We managed to fight them off, but Shining Armor wasn't as lucky as we were..." He trailed off.

Lyra stepped back, Shining Armor's front covered in white bandages and his leg in a splint.

"Take him to the infirmary." She said, pointing at the unicorn soldier that was supporting him. "I just stabilized him. He needs more medical attention." The stallion nodded, stumbling off as fast as he could with Shining Armor slumped on him.

Flash pawed floor, looking anxious. He unconsciously shuffled his wings, a sign, in pegasus body language, meant he was troubled about something. I could guess what he was troubled about.

"Go on," Celestia said, taking heed in what Flash was trying to say. "Shining could use another friend with him."

Flash flew off, the other soldiers going to the infirmary for a little patch up.

"It's something every day, isn't it?" Sighed Lyra, adjusting the strap on her bag. "I guess I will be up for a while. Not that it matters, I can barely tell when it's time to sleep. It's always dark." She murmured, half to herself. She trotted, a bit fast, down the hall.

"Speaking of rest," I muttered. "I was trying to get to the bunks." I said a goodbye to the Princess, going along my way.

Nosing open the door to the bunks, I absent-mindedly glanced at my back leg. I groaned. The holster I held my knife in was empty. I had forgotten.

"Pinkie," I said, squinting in the dark room. A bright colored mare sprung out of a bed.

"Yay! I'm here!"

I inwardly groaned at her freakish cheerfulness. "When I wake up, remind me to get another knife. I lost mine."

"Again? That's like the billionth time!" She giggled.

"Twenty-seconded." I muttered, crawling into a bed. I picked one far from Pinkie Pie, as I knew sleeping near her would encourage her to talk to me for hours on end.