Moonlight

“Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires.”

The day is grey and dreary. The Sun hides behind a sheet of thick clouds, as though it is aware of the battle to come.

A careful blend of saving energy and making faster ground made up Luna’s journey to reunite with the Haven Alliance army. The upcoming battle would be the most crucial move of Luna’s entire plan. She had to make sure her friends were ready to fight. And she had to make sure she was ready too.

With how she has been feeling though, it may be easier said than done.

Ever since her return from the Moon, Luna has felt everything from chills rippling all over her body, to a lingering and persistent nausea. Though she voiced no concerns, Liberty and the Sentinels could easily see Luna’s discomfort.

They suggested it might be nerves. Alicorns have never been impervious to the common feelings of anxiety and stress. Knowing the gravity of what is to come, it wouldn’t be surprising if Luna was nervous. Either that, or perhaps it is simply the weather. A cold, relentless gale had been pestering the group the moment they arrived in the Canterlot Valley.

Luna is grateful for her friends’ reassurances. But she knows the real cause of her uneasiness.

Her strange feelings are magic in origin. A mixing and melting of her unshackled inner magic and the growing magic of Phobos and Deimos. The Blades of the Moon are kept safely in their scabbards on Luna’s person, but they have been ‘active’ during the trek. They almost seem apprehensive or impatient, occasionally humming or glowing. It is so subtle, however, that only Luna has taken notice.

It was baffling enough that the swords were so lively, but as a slight chill bounces along her spine, Luna dwells on another thought. Despite being able to feel Phobos’ and Deimos’ unrest, she has not been able to use any of her own ‘unlocked’ magic.

Nightmare Moon wasn’t very clear about instruction, as Luna recalls. Being able to use her magic in ‘arduous bursts’ can mean many things. Though it apparently meant she couldn’t use it at will. Or at least not when she is thinking clearly.

Then there was the unsettling itch in her chest. A tugging and shuffling of the scar upon her heart. Luna is thankful her armor covered it from sight, but the irritation does not rest.

Luna rubs her forehead.

I know you are there. I can feel the blades. I can feel the surging in my very heart, and in the back of my mind. But… Why can’t I use you?

“Princess Luna!”

Luna snaps out of her thoughts and looks forward, moving up to where she was called from. She stands beside Lantern and Liberty as the party stops atop a grassy hill.

Before them lies Canterlot, perched on the side of the great mountain. Even from this distance, Luna can clearly see that the city is but a shadow of its former self.

Similar to the sight of the Crystal Empire, Canterlot is surrounded by a reinforced stone wall, newly built in a design which anchors itself to the city moorings, and in turn the mountain itself. Huge red banners mark it to be the domain of the caribou. Behind the wall, the city’s once alabaster white, gold, and purple stone work is now pale and dull from maltreatment.

The most notable change lies below the city itself. The large waterfalls which once cascaded down into the forest below are gone, leaving the aqueducts completely dry. The rivers within the city must have been dammed after Luna’s escape, in a vain effort to uncover clues on her whereabouts.

Liberty lets out a sigh as she stares at the city, catching Luna’s attention.

“Are you alright, Chorus?”

Upon hearing her name, Liberty perks up, as if snapped out of hypnosis. She weakly nods at Luna’s inquiry.

“Yeah. I just… I was in the middle of the Fall, the day it happened in Canterlot. I felt like such a coward. I couldn’t do a thing to save my friends, when they had done everything to save me."

Luna places her hand on Liberty’s shoulder.

“It may have felt that way. But look at what came of it. You delivered Professor Walnut’s findings to us, and in turn, helped to free Equestria from the corruption of the Crystal Heart. If you had not endured and survived those years, we would not be here. You chose ‘Liberty’ as a name for a reason, yes?”

Liberty’s eyes find their way to Luna’s as she smiles. “Sometimes I forget that I did. Thanks, Luna. I needed to hear that. We should get a move on to the mountain. We still have a city, and a Princess, to save.”

Princess Luna and her group turn away from the city view, circling past sparse trees among the valley fields. As they grow closer to a much thicker tree line, however, bits and pieces of camouflaged metal catch their eye.

Just above them lies the barrel of the Thunderhead, sporting a new coat of forest paint to blend in with the surrounding canopies. The rest of the Thunderhead’s structure is smothered in greens and browns, along with stretched out camo tarps and mounted tree branches. Even with its sheer size, the cannon is very well hidden.

After being greeted by the cannon’s escort team of noctral scouts, Luna hops aboard with Lantern, climbing to the top deck. The crew of griffin engineers relax at their stations, waiting to spring into action once the order is given. At the rangefinder controls is Howie, the only survivor of the previous crew from Tarsus Line. He finishes making some adjustments to his rangefinder equipment before turning around.

“Them bat ponies were supposed to stay on the perimeter! Why are they- Wha… Princess? Why are you down here? Aren’t you supposed to be with your army on the mountain?”

“I fell behind schedule due to complications. The others had to leave before I could join them. Are you and your crew prepared?”

Howie hops off of his rangefinder, his one wing still healing from the battle of Tarsus Line. He hobbles over to the loading mechanisms currently holding a huge shell in que for loading.

The griffin opens its hollow interior to reveal its innards. It is stuffed with three battery charges, all awaiting the turn of their caps to be armed.

“This shell will be used to punch a hole for you and the troops once you give the signal. I never got to thank your second-in-command here for the batteries. Good thinking back at the Line, Lanny.”

Lantern smiles. “It’s Lantern. Thank you, Howie.”

“That’s what I said,” Howie squawks, turning back to Luna, “You know well enough how tough it is to aim my cannon, though. At an angle and range from where we are now… I can’t say if the shell will hit or not.”

Luna nods. “I’m aware. I have faith in your skills, Howie.”

Howie scratches his neck. “Right… No pressure or anything like that.”

“How many shells do you have in reserve?”

“Four. We could’ve stored a dozen but we had to make the cannon lighter on its way here. We were saving them in case of misfires.”

“Roll them out,” Luna commands, “I want you to keep firing until you exhaust your ammunition.”

Howie stops to stare for a moment, as does Lantern and the other griffin engineers in earshot.

“Keep firing? At the city?”

“I’m not sure if that’s a good decision, Princess.” Lantern adds, showing as much worry as Howie.

Luna remains firm.

“I won’t have the Thunderhead sit idle when it can be used. Concentrate your additional fire on the far side of the city, opposite of our advancing. We must sow as much confusion and chaos among the enemy as possible. It is a risk, I know. But it is necessary.”

Howie once again scratches his head, unsure about the orders. Regardless, he accepts her decision.

“Well… alright. Your orders, my job. My crew and I will fire all of our shells, Princess. Then we will pack up and move to the fall back area.”

“Thank you, Howie. Best of luck to you and your crew.” Luna says, nodding before turning back to the ladders.

Lantern says goodbye to Howie before she catches up with Luna, stopping her short of the ladder.

“I’m sorry, Princess, but… Isn’t this order cutting it close? There’s no telling how much damage the Thunderhead could cause to the city. As well as the chance of friendly fire.”

“I ask you to trust me on this, Lantern. We can’t afford to give the caribou any alleviation during this battle. There will be death on both sides, with or without this cannon. This is how war works.”

Lantern remains unsure, but she accepts Luna’s explanation.

“Ok, Princess. I trust your decision. Will you tell Liberty about this?”

Luna pauses.

“She… already knows. Come. We must join the others.”

The climb up to the railways embedded into the side of the mountain didn’t take long, as Haven’s forces had left easy signs to follow when they had found their way up. Mostly in the form of cleared out rocks and rows upon rows of footprints.

Now, Luna moves with her party on one side of the railroad, passing through the train tunnels bored into the mountain’s rock. They soon arrive at a much more open side of the mountain, one which leads directly to Canterlot’s newly created gates.

Before Luna stands Haven’s forces. The combined army of allies.

In an unorthodox method, the army is not separated into blocks based on nationality. They instead have amassed into a single, huge body. Griffins, Saddle Arabians, Zebras, Noctrals, and Ponies, of all colors, sizes, and races all stand together.

At the very center lies Haven’s symbol, mounted high upon a sturdy pole. A gold and white flag emblazoned with the Sun, flowing and shimmering as though it carried rays of light. Other flags fly below it, teal-colored and bearing a symbol of a white shield, wings and star in the center. These flags were only created recently, meant as a way to give the Haven Alliance a more personal and original symbol.

The sky above remains grey and cloudy, though it begins to brighten. The cold wind from the valley gathers in strength at this height.

The army stands like a sea of colors, each speck numbering in the near thousands. All eyes focus ahead as Marshal Mjolna clambers up a small rock to raise herself above the lines, Canterlot’s spires towering behind her. She looks a bit unsteady, realizing the countless pairs of eyes gazing at her.

With a sigh, Mjolna swings her arms loose and pats her legs.

“I’m ahh… Not very good at this speech thing. My special talent is making things out of metal… Not so much public speaking. I had expected Princess Luna to be giving one instead at this time, but… here we are. Someone’s gotta do it.”

Princess Luna leads Liberty and their party forward, descending down the small hill. They begin parting their way through the rows of soldiers as Mjolna’s voice carries through the air.

“There isn’t… There isn’t a way for me to encourage you all with only one or two words. We aren’t all just ponies here. There are so many of us from so many walks of life. And we all have different reasons for being here.”

Heads begin to turn as Luna, her seven Sentinels, Liberty, and her handful of Guardians part though the crowd. Gasps of shock and smiles of relief follow her, as more and more eyes turn to her. Eyes of ponies, griffins, noctrals, zebras, and sand ponies. Though they remain silent, with Mjolna still commanding most of their attention.

“But… perhaps this… No… This IS the advantage we have over the caribou! Our diversity, and our will to come together to fight as one! The caribou have kicked us down in many different ways. But they’ve never faced all of us at once!!!”

The army roars in agreement. Princess Luna continues to make her way closer.

“The caribou have relied on swift victories. Using dirty tricks, cheap tactics, and brute force. They happily bring death and destruction to the griffins in the north, and could care less about the starving sand ponies in the south! They smiled when the noctrals looked on in horror at what surrounded them. And they laughed at how the zebras tore themselves apart.

We fell because of fear. But what the caribou don’t realize is that fear is a choice. Today, we choose to be fearless!”

The army’s combined voice crescendos once again, driven by Mjolna’s brave words.

“None of us would be here without Princess Luna. She sacrificed the most out of any of us. Though she may not be with us… I know that her courage, her conviction, and her will to fight are within all of us!”

We have her to thank for giving us this chance to make things right. And we won’t let her dow-”

Mjolna glances down, seeing the Princess of the Night standing right below her. After greeting the other leaders, Luna looks up with a smile of comradery, joining the Marshal on top of her rock.

The thousands of troops roar and cheer as she rises.

Luna raises a hand to quiet them.

“Not even I could have given a better speech.”

She turns to face Mjolna, placing a hand on her armored shoulder.

“Anything I should know, Marshal?”

“Yes. Commander Skyward sent some griffins to scout from further up the mountain. The city is heavily fortified. Plenty of caribou and enemy stallions. A few war beasts in certain sections of the city. The caribou spotted us as we arrived, and their assembling a force just behind the gate. There are many noncombatants in the city as well.”

“Any sight of Dainn and his council?”

“The scouts couldn’t get any direct confirmation. We can’t tell for sure if any of them are here. The only person of any significance who was spotted was Princess Twilight.”

Without confirmation on the caribou leadership, Luna’s plan could be in jeopardy. Regardless, if they are in the city, Luna will find them. And if they aren’t, then she will hunt them down, to the ends of the world if she must.

Luna looks out once more at the city. She turns back to address Haven’s leaders. Marshal Mjolna, Chief Zavala, Commander Skyward, General Olive, and Liberty look to her.

“I’ll keep this brief. Once we are past the walls, the army will fan out into as many sections of the city as possible. Bring the fight to each and every quarter of the city as we collectively push towards the castle grounds. Each of you should join with an army group and lead them as best you can.

Liberty, take your Guardians and join whatever section that pushes towards the castle. Your ponies are mostly former guards. They are the most qualified to help clear out the castle.

My Sentinels and I will make our way into the castle through a secondary route. We will find Dainn, and end him.”

The plan is agreed.

Luna sighs. “Now… Pray that our cannoneer’s aim is true.”

Returning to the eyes of the many troops, Luna thrusts Phobos into the air above her. It begins to shimmer a brilliant teal, even under the cloud-filled sky.

A moment of silence is followed by an echoing blast from the valley below. A feint whistling rings out in the sky, before picking up in volume as it grows nearer.

The whistling abruptly stops, and is followed by a massive crash of stone and wood. The Thunderhead’s enormous shell impacts the right side of Canterlot’s gates, instantly toppling the massive gate hinge. Chunks of rubble fall to the ground like a rock slide.

Only seconds later, the battery charges within the shell ignite.

A cascade of brick and stone is thrown into the sky as the huge explosion engulfs the point of impact. The entire gate is shredded to pieces, and the surrounding walls tumble upon themselves like dominos.

What is now left of the caribou’s wall is nothing but a cloud of dust.

Luna stares at it. Then, she turns her head to her army. Her friends.

“WITH ME!!”

With her blades drawn, Luna pushes down the hill. The thousands of soldiers behind her follow suit, flowing like a seamless wave down the barren hill and towards the shadows of the former walls. The ground begins to flatten, patted down by their charging steps.

The massive force condenses into a rolling wedge, matching the width of the entrance into the city. They penetrate the haze of dust, filling the surrounding air with cries of battle.

Jumping over debris and skirting around mounds of stone, they find what is left of the caribou force which had amassed behind the wall. The scattered occupiers stumble in the dust, completely shocked from the explosion. Their dread only grows as they see rows upon rows of ponies, noctrals, zebras, griffins, and sand-ponies charge towards them.

The caribou of the destroyed wall are overrun in minutes, cut down and slaughtered as the Haven Alliance troops continue their dash, not slowing for an instant. They emerge from the dust cloud with weapons primed and teeth bared.

As the city interior lies before them, the army immediately fans out in all directions. The already massive army splits into several huge sections, running towards buildings, marketplaces and plazas.

Here, the caribou forces inside the city respond, providing the first real opposition. Their ranks bolstered with traitor stallions.

Block after block, the roving sides clash. The fearless and tenacious Haven Alliance forces engage the determined caribou and their allies all throughout the city.

The Battle of Canterlot has begun.

This day is far from ancient times of war which Luna has witnessed. Times when opponents would do battle on great open fields in customary rituals. Where tradition overcame savagery, despite the hardships and suffering of those eras, more than a millennia ago.

This day adheres to no such civility.

Under the grey sky, Canterlot is subjected to the brutality of urban combat. The fighting transforms into a door-to-door bloodbath, spilling further out into the cluttered roads and battered squares. Clashes spread to every corner and alleyway, turning the city into a chaotic and bloodied labyrinth.

Princess Luna, with her Sentinels sticking close in a tight circle, join the army group headed towards the market quarter in the northern area of the city. Luna knows exactly where she needs to go to access the castle grounds away from the bulk of the fighting. The only issue is making it through the majority of the city. To avoid being slowed down by individual skirmishes, Luna and her Sentinels stay close to the north bound army group, spearheaded by Commander Skyward and a portion of her Red Hawk Regulars.

Most of the griffins are already ahead of Luna, following Commander Skyward’s lead, along with a smaller group of heavily armed ponies. As they progress into the market quarter, the fighting becomes more pocketed as it spreads. The urban combat remains constant, with griffins and ponies engaging caribou troops flowing out from buildings nearby. Ponies toss armed battery charges through windows and doorways, hoping to clear out unsuspecting enemies.

The army group’s push leads them to the market quarter’s commerce plaza, which was once the largest market place in all of Canterlot.

A line of Red Hawk griffins and ponies charges across the plaza, trampling over the dilapidated grass and stone. The griffins in the lead bring their serrated blades and razor hatchets down upon the caribou opposite them, falling into a vicious and bloody close-quarters brawl. Griffin fire dart pistols ring out in the air as they are fired at close range.

Though every soldier in the plaza battle displays valiance and ferocity, the Red Hawk Regulars are the epitome of combat expertise. Caribou generally rely on rune-enhanced armor and weapons, giving them a massive advantage against magic-based enemies. Yet when against more physical attackers, they do little, forcing a caribou to rely on strength alone.

The more advanced caribou legionnaires in the north have adapted to fight the griffins, but those occupying Equestria haven’t. The difference is more than obvious, as griffin steel and agility brutally outmatch their opponents in the plaza. Caribou plate armor folds and bends like tinfoil in the line of fire from griffin pistols.

Though they remain close together, Luna and her Sentinels make their way to cross the plaza, katars and crossbows drawn. They aid in picking off caribou stragglers, steadily making their way further into the plaza as the caribou are pushed back.

There is a sudden break in the battle. The ground rumbles slightly, causing Luna to stop. Her eyes widen as others feel the rumbling as well.

In a sudden crash, a huge and lumbering war beast enters the plaza, utterly demolishing a small building. Several Alliance troops are stunned from its arrival.

With a massive rearing of its head, the war beast spews forth a stream of fire from its maw, torching the open plaza. Several griffins and ponies are caught in the deadly blaze, catching fire instantly. They scream out in pain, running to safety or falling to the ground in an attempt to put themselves out. Those who can try to pat them down with tarps, some even using their bare hands. Most succumb to the flames.

Princess Luna guides her Sentinels to the side as the war beast continues its rampage. A caribou beast master sits atop the creature’s back, directing it against the brave griffins and ponies peppering the beast with fire from crossbows and pistols.

Though as the war beast nears another building, it comes under attack from a more direct source.

With a flap of her mighty wings, Commander Skyward leaps from the nearby rooftop with her serrated blades drawn. She impales them into the war beast’s hide, causing it to roar in pain. It stomps furiously to shake off the unwanted passenger, but the Red Hawk Commander stubbornly refuses to let go.

Climbing onto its back, Skyward dispatches the beast master with a slash of her swords. She tosses off the mount and drives her blades in and out of the beasts flesh, weakening it before delivering a final blow with a fire dart pistol shot to the back of its head. It topples to the ground, shaking the earth and the surrounding stone as Skyward swiftly lifts off, landing beside the beast with true griffin daring.

Her impressive feat rallies the rest of the griffins and ponies.

“Come on!! Nothing they have can stop us!!” she exclaims, as another group of ponies rushes in to support her and the Red Hawks in pushing further into the market quarter. The caribou in the area retreat, pursued by the Alliance troops.

Princess Luna and her Sentinels trail behind, continuing past the corpse of the war beast. As they move, however, a distant shot from the Thunderhead rings out, instantly followed by a shell ripping through a nearby tower and several buildings. The rubble blocks off the street ahead.

Luna veers her team to the side, finding passage in an empty alleyway.

As they cross streets and use the alleys to cut through the main quarter, Luna and the Sentinels come across more pocketed fighting. Small scale confrontations unfold in the wake of the army groups pushing deeper into the city.

One such clash occurs right in front of Luna as she and her Sentinels move past a roundabout. A small group of five ponies slide into cover while under fire from caribou bolts coming from a small inn several yards in front of them. Other groups of ponies skirt around or take up positions behind them, looking for a way to take the inn.

One of the mares in the group of five pulls out a battery charge and carefully sets its cap timer. She arms it and pops out of cover, her throwing arm ready.

Just as she reveals herself, a bolt strikes the mare in her left shoulder, causing her to go down and drop the battery charge. It rolls next to another mare beside her just as she notices, terror struck in her eyes.

In an instant, the ponies are swallowed in the resulting explosion, erasing them from existence. Ponies from surrounding groups continue to push on, but some become visibly shaken from the sight.

Luna casts the sight out of thought and pushes on with her Sentinels as the inn is cleared out. They step past the scorch marks and the charred remains that the blast left behind.

Luna and the Sentinels enter through another alley, which brings them to the fringes of Canterlot’s main street, located in the Sun quarter. The wide street leads directly to Luna’s means of accessing the castle grounds.

Alliance troops of another army group are spread out across the entire length of the street, attempting to advance. They mostly consist of zebras and ponies under the leadership of Chief Zavala.

As Luna brings her Sentinels around and into the street, a hail of bolts and shock javelins rain down from a faraway position, forcing them to dive into another alley. The projectiles assail the ponies and zebras in the street as well, causing them to frantically find cover. Right outside Luna’s alley, a zebra attempts to drag a wounded pegasus mare out of harm’s way, but is riddled with bolts and collapses.

Crowe and Spirit waste no time in reaching out, managing to pull the zebra and the mare into the safety of the alley. Crowe quickly tends to the zebra mare’s wounds with Dew Drop’s help, lying her against the alley wall. Spirit sets the pegasus down on the opposite wall, finding her already dead.

Alliance troops find themselves stuck in pockets all over the street, pinned down behind piles of rubble and overturned wagons. Some take shelter in other alleyways lining the open street, unable to risk crossing over or doubling back without coming under fire from the caribou rangers. Those that risked moving forward now litter the street, their blood soaking the tiled ground.

In the alley directly across from her, Luna spots Chief Zavala and several of her zebra warriors, their backs flat against the walls to avoid being spotted. Some of the warriors take peeks from the alley’s corner, using hardwood shields as cover. The shields are able to block a few bolts, but under constant punishment they eventually crack.

High Tide takes a peek around the alley corner as well, quickly pulling back as a crossbow bolt nearly misses his muzzle.

“There’s no way we can move under this kind of fire. The entire army group will be stuck here if we don’t do something about those rangers.”

Princess Luna collects her thoughts. They have to push down the main street to keep up with the other army groups. More importantly, if the caribou rangers aren’t dealt with, they could cause issues for the other army groups as they come around.

Luna stops thinking. Phobos and Deimos hum with a growing intensity. Her body fills with a sudden surge of energy, every reflex beginning to tune to her mind with utmost clarity.

To her Sentinels’ shock, Luna courageously bursts forward, quickly stepping out into the open street amidst a break in the caribou hail. Luna extends her arms out to her sides, the stub of her horn erratically flinging out sparks of light. They mimic ominous firecrackers as the pain in Luna’s head grows. Her eyes begin releasing feint wisps of cyan aura.

As Luna slowly and tensely raises her arms, massive blocks of stone and rubble become enveloped in a luminous teal and float into the air. They move gracefully together in front of Luna, her arms now fully outstretched. Cobbling together, the thick debris forms an expansive shield of rock which covers the entirety of the street’s width. Caribou bolts and javelins bounce off of the improvised barrier harmlessly.

“GET BEHIND ME!!” Luna commands, under duress from the use of her magic.

Chief Zavala and her warriors spring out from their alley, calling out to those behind them. Luna’s Sentinels follow closely, moving to surround Luna in a protective circle.

The ponies pinned down behind them leave their cover and fall in behind Zavala, creating a tight-knit formation as Luna slowly steps forward, holding the huge stone curtain through sheer magic. She grunts in pain from the mounting pressure in her skull, though remains dauntless.

As the stone barrier passes over more Alliance soldiers under cover, they jump out and join Chief Zavala’s formation. Soon, all of the surviving soldiers trapped in the street find their way to safety behind Luna’s barrier.

Princess Luna struggles with her steps, the pain beginning to blur out her senses. The caribou rangers are just ahead, still maintaining their position around and on top of a large building.

“Ready yourselves!” Luna calls out, the stress in her voice all too clear.

The ponies and zebras draw their weapons.

“Grrraahhh!!!”

With a huge burst in magical energy, Luna dispels the barrier forward. The flying sheet of stone splits into several pieces and slams into the building ahead, sweeping aside any caribou out in the open.

Chief Zavala leads her formation’s charge just as Luna collapses, falling to her knees as she reels from her magic usage. Her Sentinels quickly help her up and shepherd her to safety.

The zebra and ponies dash ahead, some stopping to toss javelins and fire crossbows and pistols at the caribou position. They crash upon them, spearing the enemy as they try to recover from the assault. Chief Zavala fights ferociously, working in tandem with her warriors to quickly dismantle the caribou hold on the building.

Moving away from the fighting, the Sentinels stop at an empty café and set Luna down on the sidewalk.

“Are you alright, Princess?” Star Glow asks, as the other Sentinels form a circle, keeping an eye out for trouble.

“I’m… I’m fine. I wasn’t expecting my magic to be that draining on me. But it is alright. I am feeling better.” Luna remarks as she lifts herself up. The pain was of a kind Luna could not quite put her finger on. The agony had subsided at an incredible rate, and left a strange and wanting feeling in Luna’s mind.

A feeling of pride and power.

On her feet once more, Luna leads her Sentinels onward, finally coming to the very end of the Sun quarter. Before them stands the Museum of Equestrian History. Jutting out from the museum’s second floor and arcing over the nearby buildings is Luna’s means of reaching the castle.

The museum sky bridge.

Approaching from the rear entrance to the museum, Luna notices signs of battle. Dead caribou and ponies litter the sidewalks. Inside the museum building, however, is a menagerie of Alliance activity. A battle medic frantically rushes about, dispensing her care as best she can. One griffin keeps an eye out a front window, his pistol at the ready. Two noctrals make their way to the roof to scout their surroundings.

As Princess Luna and her Sentinels enter, they are greeted by a zebra mare in charge of one of the detachments inside the building. The young zebra, a sharp lance on her back along with a hardwood shield, strikes Luna as someone familiar.

“Princess of the Night! Do you remember me? I am Abéna. I was beside you at the Battle of Savanah Pass, under Chief Zavala.”

Luna nods, “Yes, Abéna, I recall. What is the situation here?”

“When we fell upon the city, I followed the Saddle Arabian, General Olive. We were all mixed together to begin with, so I decided to lend him my support. He is very kind.”

Abéna stops short, stepping to the side to allow two ponies carrying a wounded griffin by. She looks at them briefly before continuing.

“We have made a collection of our wounded here, in an effort to allow our healers to care for them while under some protection. Chief Zavala had just cleared the Sun quarter and has left to circle northward. Once General Olive finishes forming a guard to protect the museum, we will join him in moving to the south quarter, clearing up behind Marshal Mjolna’s army group.”

“Well done. I am impressed that the area was secured so quick-”

A commotion stirs further inside the museum.

Two ponies bring out a green coated mare, brandishing a red collar.

“Please! Listen to me! I’m not lying, I’m trying to help!!”

Luna instantly recognizes the voice.

“Meadow??”

She goes to the two soldiers, having them release Meadow, who wastes no time in going to Luna.

“Princess!! Please listen! There are caribou sneaking their way here! They saw you move the wounded into the building. They’re going to attack any minute now! Please, you have to trust me!”

Suddenly, the sound of shattering windows and breaking doors echo from within the museum, in the direction of the front entrance.

Luna briskly turns to Abéna. “We will take care of the lobby. Make sure the upper floors are secure.”

With a nod, Abéna draws her lance, gathering what troops she can as she departs to the secondary stairwells. After telling Meadow to stay put, Luna and her Sentinels draw their weapons and head directly to the central lobby of the museum.

They arrive in the middle of a hectic brawl. Within the expansive lobby, caribou soldiers fan out and spread to whatever sections of the museum they can get to, fighting Alliance troops as they go. They outnumber the lobby occupants two to one, allowing them to quickly overwhelm most of the defending troops. Save for the Saddle Arabians.

At the center of it all, General Olive braves the attacking force, challenging two caribou with a punch to one’s jaw and a slash of his scimitar to the other. His Saddle Arabian soldiers hold their ground, acting as a bulwark against the brunt of the caribou attackers. Scimitars slice and cleave through their opponents as the sand ponies fight with a graceful and calm demeanor.

Luna looks past the General, eyeing the caribou further towards the entrance to the museum. Many have snatched injured and helpless mares that were left in the lobby, dragging them out into the street as they scream in agony and terror.

With her Sentinels close behind, Luna dashes past the fighting in the lobby and makes for the entrance, intent on giving chase.

As they clear the museum and enter out into the street, Luna’s Sentinels catch several caribou, impaling some from behind with katars while they attempt to haul away the wounded mares.

Several caribou soldiers further ahead stop in the middle of the open street with their captives. With no regard to their surroundings, they shamelessly rut the vulnerable mares, further injuring them as they drive their cocks into any hole they find pleasing.

The sight rattles the Sentinels, but it spurs them to keep fighting alongside Luna. They reach the furthest caribou and eliminate them, saving the wounded mares as fast as they can. To their dismay, three mares were too gravely injured to survive the ordeal.

“These bastards are more desperate than I thought. They don’t care about anything but getting their cocks up? We’re in a battlefield for Moon’s sake!” Spirit exclaims, sheathing her katar to take a mare’s arm over her shoulder.

There is little time to dwell, as Luna spies more enemies approaching from a nearby corner. They charge in her direction, intent on assaulting the museum.

“Get them back to the museum. I’ll cover you.” Luna orders.

Lantern leads the Sentinels and their injured allies back to the building as the wave of caribou and stallions grows closer. Princess Luna draws Phobos and Deimos, their metal frames glowing brightly, ready to receive the first attackers.

Two caribou rear their shock batons, swinging them down upon Luna. Luna raises her blades, blocking both batons and quickly spinning forward, striking the left caribou in the back. She quickly thrusts Phobos into the right caribou, simultaneously withdrawing and slashing the other with Deimos to finish both attackers.

A shot from the Thunderhead tears through the sky overhead, destroying a further section of the city while the fighting continues. Princess Luna ducks to dodge a great axe, swung by a menacing caribou captain. She effortlessly swings her swords into the caribou’s side, staggering him. With another fierce strike, Luna kicks the caribou down, claiming yet another kill.

As more enemy caribou and stallions assault Luna’s position, they are met with a flurry of arrows fired from behind Luna.

General Olive, now reinforced by additional Saddle Arabians, takes command of the fight and leads the combined forces forward, pushing the caribou further away from the museum.

Princess Luna sheathes Phobos and Deimos, turning to jog back to the museum. She regroups with her Sentinels as she enters the lobby. Now cleared of enemies and safe once again.

“We got the wounded back into the lobby, Princess,” Night Seer states, “There are still some caribou in the upper levels though. Abéna is working to eliminate them.”

Luna nods, controlling her panting. “Our path lies on the upper level. We will aid Abéna on our way there.”

They gather to head towards the stairs, passing by the rows of wounded troops recuperating. Meadow is among them, helping the other battle medics with distributing what water they have.

Luna stops for a moment, catching her attention.

“Princess,” Meadow says, her voice a little hoarse, “I’ll be staying here in the museum, if you need to find me later. I promise I won’t get in the way.”

“I trust you to stay safe, Meadow. And thank you.”

With no further time to spare, Luna quickly smiles before joining her Sentinels on the flights of stairs. Meadow smiles back before returning to the wounded.

Her red collar lies broken on the floor.

Ascending to the sky bridge level, Luna and her Sentinels encounter the last pocket of caribou attackers as they battle with Abéna and her mixed squad. The entire floor is embroiled in extreme close-quarters fighting. The small space of the room and connecting halls give the larger caribou the advantage, as ponies and zebras are pummeled to the floor or thrown against walls.

The Sentinels fan out, leaping into the battle with near-instinctual movement. They lift the pressure off of the Alliance soldiers, picking off individual caribou and clearing the nearby halls.

Most of the surviving caribou concentrate around the sky bridge’s entrance, hoping to use it to escape. Both sides inflict severe damage to the other, with both caribou and ponies falling to the floor either wounded or dead. Abéna fiercely battles a caribou captain in the very center of the room.

Past the entrance of the sky bridge, a unicorn mare duels with an imposing caribou, having already taken a beating. The caribou brings his shock baton down upon her after disarming her, delivering blow after blow as she cries out.

The caribou, proud of his victory, drops his own weapon as the mare reels in pain on the floor. He tears off her shoulder plates and works his way further down, ignoring any of his own pain.

As the caribou hurriedly rapes her, the mare quickly reaches into her belt pouch with her uninjured arm. She pulls out a battery charge, and with a cry of defiance, slams the charge’s cap into the bridge floor.

The explosion rocks the museum’s entire structure, sending Luna and her Sentinels flying backwards. The fighting on the second floor comes to an abrupt end as the dust settles.

Luna and her Sentinels recover from the blast, scanning the room for any survivors.

Not too far away is Abéna, having been knocked unconscious from the sudden explosion. The only other survivor is an earth pony mare found by the Sentinels, who only received some shrapnel wounds from the battery charge’s fragments.

“Give her here. I’ll bring her down to the medics. Go on ahead, Princess.” The earth pony says, wheezing as she carries Abéna downstairs.

Turning her attention to the sky bridge, Luna finds it to be a much more hazardous crossing. The explosion left a gaping hole from the entrance to the remainder of the bridge. Pieces of scorched rubble fall from the edges of the gap.

“We’ll have to jump it.” Dew Drop states.

“Go first, my friends,” Luna advises, “You can clear that leap easily with your wings.”

Following their Princess’ orders, the Sentinels make running jumps over the gap, flapping their bat wings mid-way to give themselves a double jump. All seven of them make it with no issue, finding the rest of the bridge to be stable.

“Your turn, Princess! You can make it!” Crowe calls out.

Taking several steps back, Luna breathes slowly before bursting into a full out sprint towards the gap. She leaps into the air, her arms swinging and legs bending as she nears the other side.

Luna falls short, her chest slamming against the very brink of the bridge. She clings on for dear life, almost losing her grip if it were not for Lantern and Night Seer’s quick reflexes. They grab onto Luna’s arms, hauling her up and safely onto the bridge.

Luna pants heavily, recovering from the pain in her chest. “Thank you. I suppose that makes us even for the Crystal Empire, yes?”

Lantern chuckles, nodding. “Indeed it does!”

It is only now, upon the sky bridge, that Luna is able to see the full scope of the raging battle.

Fires burn and smoke billows. Buildings are marred from explosions. Trails of rubble and churned up street stone litter the whole city.

Bodies lie among the carnage. Fallen soldiers and unfortunate citizens alike. Luna laments the loss of so much life. But the voice in the back of her head reminds her of its necessity.

As she and her Sentinels continue across the sky bridge, Star Glow speaks up.

“Princess Luna, look down there! At the river bed!”

Luna gazes down over the bridge’s railing. Their point on the bridge sits directly over what was once the largest river in Canterlot. It is now nothing but a dried out ditch, a shadow of its former glory.

Preceding with a roar of willpower, the largest of the army groups, led by Marshal Mjolna, arrives en-masse at the edges of the riverbed. Not hesitating for a second, Mjolna leads her hundreds of armed ponies down into the hollowed-out channel, leaping onto the dirt.

All the while, stray bolts assail them, though with little effect. The riverbed acts as a massive trench for Mjolna and her troops, shielding them from most of the projectile fire as they cross.

Mjolna and her soldiers wait for no one. They clamber out the other side, finding themselves at the entryway to the castle grounds. The gateway is blocked by a significant caribou force which had only just regrouped.

Wielding a broadsword in one hand and a forging hammer modified for combat in the other, Mjolna lets out a thunderous battle cry. The hundreds of ponies behind her; pegasi, unicorns and earth ponies, echo her cry and charge with her onto the caribou lines as yet another Thunderhead shell streaks overhead.

The subsequent clash of steel and fists erupts into the biggest engagement in the battle thus far. With bravery and fearlessness not seen before, the ponies under Mjolna’s command lash out and throw themselves upon the caribou. Blinding explosions spout from the chaotic fighting, battery charges having been flung at the caribou soldiers. Swords, shields, pikes, machetes, daggers, and every weapon in between are brought down upon the enemy.

The intense fighting pushes back the caribou and shatters their lines, allowing the ferocious battle to spill out into the castle grounds.

Princess Luna and her Sentinels follow the action along the sky bridge, picking up a trot.

As they near the end of the bridge, Luna catches sight of another leader.

Using the chaos in the wake of Mjolna’s charge to burst forward, a handful of ponies clad in dull golden armor and bearing cloth of white and gold dash towards the castle steps.

At their head is Liberty, the cloak of the summer Sun flowing behind her as she holds her double-bladed sword ready. She and her Guardians of the Sun collide with a group of caribou guards on their way to the castle doors, battling them among the many steps at the front of the castle.

Luna watches Liberty expertly wielding her dual bladed sword against the caribou just before stopping at the sky bridge’s exit. She takes her eyes away from the battle below and nods to her Sentinels as they open the door and enter Canterlot castle.

Luna and her Sentinels race their way through the lower halls and rooms of Canterlot Castle. With Luna’s expansive memory of the castle’s layout room for room, they make incredible time. The caribou have been making extensive modifications to the castle itself, but most of it so far still remained in its original design. The walls and structures were in the process of being re-painted. It seems as though the caribou finally had enough of the purple and gold adorning the castle.

In short time, Luna and her team reaches the mid-levels of the castle, skirting around some rooms that were blocked off by construction projects. No enemies had shown themselves yet, the only life so far encountered being several groups of unarmed red collared mares and caribou non-combatants, trying to seek refuge from the battle outside. As the cows and collared mares cower, the stags wisely choose not to challenge Luna or any of her noctrals as they pass through. Luna ignores them.

Continuing to progress deeper inside the castle, Luna and her Sentinels enter into the ballroom, hoping to cut across and through another door. However, they are halted by a new obstacle.

“Stop right there!” a stallion calls out.

Before them stand a dozen traitor stallions, armed with swords and determined looks. Luna and her Sentinels instantly draw their weapons and face down their opponents.

At their center is Captain Shining Armor.

Both noctrals and traitor stallions grasp their weapons tightly, trading glares.

Princess Luna, her katar in one hand, takes a step forward. She leers at Shining Armor as she extends her featherless wings. The other stallion guards give mixed looks. From hesitation, to unshakable zeal.

“…It’s over, Shining Armor. You have already lost. Step aside.”

Shining Armor only stares back, tightly gripping his sword with both hands. Before he speaks, however, another stallion steps forward.

The stallion, a white pegasus donning modified royal guard armor painted in caribou colors, snarls with hatred.

“It is not your place to give orders, you CUNT! This battle changes nothing! You and your army of whores and spineless stallions can do NOTHING against us! When King Dainn claims victory over you once again, your mares will be broken and blanked. Your incurables will be rid of their stallionhood and shown the mistakes they’ve made. And you, and your precious bat ponies will be fucked over and over until you are all nothing but groveling sluts!! None of my ancestors ever stepped aside for a mare!! AND NEITHER WILL I!!!”

Shining Armor remains silent during the stallion’s outburst, though his expression speaks clear as his eyes shift from Luna to the fanatical stallion.

In a burst of strength, Shining Armor swings his sword into the pegasus stallion, slashing across his throat.

Seeing their opportunity, Luna’s Sentinels jump forward, dispatching the other guards with their katars and crossbows. Two of the stallion guards aid in bringing down their comrades. They immediately drop their weapons afterwards to signify their surrender.

Shining Armor stands above the zealous stallion as he chokes in his own blood. The captain of the guard drives his sword into the stallion’s chest, ending his suffering. Luna looks to him as he rises.

“… I should have done that a long time ago.” He says, looking down at the dead pegasus.

Luna’s Sentinels remain cautious, though Luna herself eases her guard.

“Where is Dainn?”

“The throne room,” Shining Armor mutters, exhaustion in his breath, “He’s likely waiting for you, Princess. I don’t know if he is alone or not.”

Luna nods. “… It would be best if you surrendered to the troops outside. Find Marshal Mjolna. Tell her you have spoken with me.”

Luna swiftly turns, moving briskly with her Sentinels in tow.

Shining Armor calls out.

“Princess Luna.”

She turns.

“Is… Is Cadence alive?”

Luna pauses, her memories of the Crystal Empire resurfacing.

“… The last she was seen was in the Crystal Empire. I don’t know if she escaped the city before the winter claimed it. I’m sorry.”

Shining Armor nods somberly. He gives one last look to Luna before turning to leave, the two other guards following him.

Princess Luna and her Sentinels resume their course, the throne room their destination.

“RUN!!”

The muffled blast of the Thunderhead was nothing Luna hadn’t heard before. The shell it launched ripped through the air just outside the windows of the large castle hallway, nearly striking one of the castle’s slim spires.

Luna underestimated the force produced by the shell’s speed, however, realizing far too late that the spire’s support was damaged enough to cause it to topple straight towards Luna and her Sentinels.

Sprinting through the hall for their very lives, the spire crashes into the side of the castle, shattering the windows and causing an avalanche of stone and glass to cascade into the hall.

Luna dives forward, dodging a massive piece of rubble as it tumbles into the hall, leaving a gaping hole in its wake as it crashes further down into the floors below.

More chunks of stone drop into the hallway from above before slowing to a trickle. Lifting herself up and coughing out the dust in her throat, Luna turns back to her Sentinels.

She finds nothing but lingering dust and crushed stone.

“No!”

Luna rushes towards the unsettling dust. As it clears, the massive hole where her Sentinels were but a moment ago is revealed, but it is filled to the brim with broken slabs and pummeled rock. Luna lifts some pieces out of the way, but finds no opening large enough to peer down to find her friends.

Suddenly, her ears twitch. Sounds of muffled coughing from down below barely reaches her.

“Princess Luna?! Can you hear us??”

It is Lantern’s voice. Luna drops to her knees to listen more clearly.

“Yes! Yes, I can hear you! Are you all alright? Are you injured?!” Luna asks, exclaiming as loudly as she can to be heard.

“We’re all ok, miraculously!” Lantern replies, also yelling, “There is a way for us to continue! You go on ahead, Princess!”

Luna shakes her head. “No! I’ll find a way down and regroup with you!”

“You’re the only one who can defeat Dainn! If you don’t go now you could lose him!!”

The faint voices of the other Sentinels can be heard, agreeing with Lantern and encouraging the Princess. Lantern persists.

“We will search the castle to find the caribou council members! We will meet you when the battle is won!”

Princess Luna hesitates. The faces of her Sentinels, her friends, flash in her mind. She does not want to leave them… But Lantern is right. She must find and kill Dainn. She is the only one who can.

“… When the battle is won! Be safe, my friends!”

Getting herself up and clearing out from the hallway, Luna rounds a corner and dashes through the following chambers, racing towards the throne room. The great halls leading to the throne were still several stories above.

Nearing more construction areas, Luna navigates through wooden scaffoldings and rope lifts in search of an easy way up. All she can find are half-finished walls and stairwells, cluttered with dropped equipment or debris.

One set of stairs look to be usable, but they lead in a complete opposite direction, spiraling around and off towards a nearby bridge, before rounding about again towards the center structure.

Luna curses under her breath. “There must be a quicker way!”

Luna hastily scans her surroundings. She spots a rope lift, fitted within a stone channel resembling a chimney that leads upwards. The lift is made of two thick ropes utilized in a pulley system. One rope ends with a large weight tied to it, just in front of Luna. The shaft seems to extend to the floors below as well as up.

Quickly looking up the shaft, Luna grabs hold of the left rope, opposite to the counter weight. She pulls out her katar and cuts the other rope, letting the heavy weight fall. In turn, Luna is pulled up into the shaft.

The channel was still in construction when it was left, however. On the way up, Luna bumps her shoulders on stone bricks jutting from the sides of the shaft. Though her armor helps protect her from injury, the force of the bumps take her by surprise, and causes her to lose grip of her katar.

It falls to the bottom of the shaft.

Luna reaches the very top, grabbing on to the ledge just as the rope slips through the other end of the pulley.

Seconds later, the crashing of the weight echoes from the very bottom.

Luna brushes herself off, noticing she is now just one level below the throne room.

Phobos and Deimos shudder in their scabbards. Itching for the encounter ahead.

The caribou guards at the throne room doors tried their best. Dainn clearly didn’t value their lives if he knew Luna was coming. They stalled her for mere seconds.

Brushing aside the dead guards from the doorway, Luna enters the throne room. She scans the great hall for any sign of the caribou king.

Who she finds instead only makes her frown.

The former Princess of Friendship, Twilight Sparkle, stands alone in front of the throne steps. Like most of the mares found in the capital, she is completely bare, and shivering slightly from the cool interior of the castle.

“Luna, please, stop!! Do you have any idea what you’re doing?!” Twilight pleads as Luna makes her way closer, her blades away in their scabbards.

“Where is Dainn?” Luna asks.

“So that’s it then? You don’t care that you’ve betrayed us and started an entire war that will not only be pointless, but will also annihilate Equestria as we know it?! I thought you were happy like the rest of us!!”

Luna stands right up against Twilight, looking down at her with an intimidating glare.

“You’re mistaken, Twilight Sparkle… I do care about what I’ve started. I’ve started a war that will annihilate Equestria as you know it. I don’t expect you to understand. So let me say this…”

Luna’s eyes shoot like daggers into the younger alicorn, whose ears fold down in fear. Her voice becomes a whisper, filled with spite and venom.

“I can kill you, right now. But killing you does nothing for me, or anyone really. So instead, I want you to run. Run far away from Equestria and find some pitiful, dirty hole in the ground to wallow in. And never come b-”

Luna’s words cut short as she is suddenly tackled by a huge force. Her back is slammed against a nearby column, stunning her briefly.

A voice addresses Luna as a heavy hand clamps down on her throat.

“There’s a reason why we use gags. Some mares simply talk too much.”

The grip on Luna’s throat tightens as she is dragged from the throne room and into a smaller hallway lined with four stained glass windows. One of them is completely shattered; The very same one she had leapt through as her first act of rebellion.

Heaving her off of the ground as she gasps for air, the caribou throws her at the adjacent stained glass window. She crashes through it, falling into the garden courtyard below.

Thinking quickly, Luna tucks into a roll upon landing, tumbling down the dry grass further into the garden. She comes to a stop to see her assailant jump down, unfazed by the drop.

“I always knew you had great strength, Luna, but I never knew you were strong enough to resist for so long. Perhaps I should have decided to wake you up and challenge you, after defeating Celestia. It would have been just as amusing to watch.”

“Dainn.” Luna mutters, spitting as though his name was poison.

The King of the caribou empire stood tall before Luna as she rose to her feet, feeling her neck and cracking it. Even though his taunts would seem to benefit from a chuckle or a dastardly grin, Dainn did no such thing. His mouth remained in a permanent scowl after every word he spoke. If he had no cause to smile when he was victorious, then he certainly has no cause now.

Dainn drew his hammer in one hand, planting it head first onto the ground. The rune markings along its framework glow ominously, rattling the pole handle.

“I received your ‘treaty’, just before you decided to barge in to my capital city. Meaningless scribbles from a hopeful band of leaders. If you think a piece of paper gives you any freedom, you only prove the stupidity inherent in all mares. Now… are you going to come quietly? Or do I have to make you scream?”

Luna huffs. She stands, facing Dainn. Her eyes locking onto his, even at their distance. Her breathing slows to a calm and steady pace.

“… You are correct about one thing, Dainn. Sometimes, mares simply talk too much. Allow me to spare you my thoughts. Instead… let me show you…

…Let me show you WHO I AM.”

Reaching for the hilts of her blades, Luna harnesses the magic welling inside of her. Her horn’s stub crackles light as she unsheathes Phobos and Deimos in a display of fury, holding them at her sides as she lets out a roar to the skies. The clouds above begin to stir ever so slowly, calling forth an infant storm.

Trickling wisps of light bleed from the corners of Luna’s eyes as her pupils widen. Her body tenses with power, Phobos and Deimos melding with her senses. Her spindly wings stretch outward, imitating the days when they still bore their inspiring feathers.

The pain in Luna’s skull rises as her magic is unleashed. Though at the same time, the pain is blocked out, replaced with emotion and a mounting urge for revenge.

Dainn lifts his hammer into his hands as he and Luna exchange hardened glares.

With Phobos’ magic triggered, Luna disappears in a flash of light while dashing forward, reappearing instantly in front of Dainn. She swings Phobos and Deimos in tandem, spinning with unbridled speed.

Dainn keeps his hammer in front, broadly angling it to block each of Luna’s slashes. He shifts his weight to deliver a pommel strike, only for Luna to quickly duck and step behind him. She rapidly follows with a flurry of her blades, forcing Dainn to step backwards and deeper into the center of the garden.

Changing her approach, Luna takes a step back, preparing to bring her surging blades down upon Dainn in an overbearing strike. Seeing this, the caribou king hold his hammer horizontally above his head with one arm, confident in his strength.

Much to his surprise, Luna’s powerful slash foils Dainn’s one-arm defense, causing him to falter. Her swords release a burst of magic following the blow, sending Dainn skidding deeper into the garden center.

Still on his feet, Dainn grits his teeth, rearing his hammer upwards and slamming it into the ground as its etched runes glow. As the earth cracks and splits, a shockwave of rune energy travels with it, headed directly for Luna.

Luna drives Deimos into the ground seconds before the shockwave reaches her. The rune energy smashes into her like a tidal wave against rock, but it does no damage. The bright energy is sucked into the ground below Deimos.

Luna pulls Deimos out of the ground, its metal frame now glowing with the siphoned rune energy, and hurls it at the king with all her strength. The sword scatters its absorbed energy as it spins with incredible speed, arcing like a boomerang towards its target.

Surprised but now slowed, Dainn quickly reacts by shielding himself once again. The head of his war hammer saves him as Deimos bounces off of it with a loud clang. The blade leaves a huge gash upon the hammer’s metal as it careens off to the side, leaving Luna with only Phobos.

Seeing his opportunity, Dainn goes on the offensive, charging at Luna with his hammer primed. Luna dodges his advances, ducking and weaving as the war hammer misses her by inches.

As she tries to find an opening in Dainn’s assault, Luna spins to dodge another swing, only to leave herself vulnerable for but a second. She receives a massive blow to her back from Dainn’s hammer, sending her tumbling painfully across the ground. The air is knocked out of her lungs, leaving her gasping for breath as she skids to a stop near Deimos. She writhes from the intense pain in her spine.

As Luna tightly grasps Phobos, struggling desperately to get up, Dainn makes his way to her, himself panting. Luna’s senses begin spiraling out of control, feeling nothing and everything at the same time. The blaring pain and the numbing ease mix together.

“Enough. This ends now.”

Luna shuts her eyes. Her muscles tense.

“It ended the moment it began!”

Her unshackled magic still spewing from her being, Luna swings Phobos upwards, slicing a brutal gash into Dainn’s left leg. Just as he begins to reel from his wound, Luna sheathes Phobos and grabs onto his hammer’s pole grip with one hand, delivering a vigorous punch to his jaw with the other.

As Dainn staggers backwards, Luna latches tightly onto the war hammer between them, her teeth clenched as she sends a forceful kick straight into his stomach. The blow finally causes him to lose his grip, his hammer now in Luna’s hands.

Luna takes a wide step, gathering force in a spin with the hammer readied. In one mighty swing, Luna slams the war hammer directly into Dainn’s chest, sending him off his feet and flying across the garden, landing with a thud. Luna immediately follows through with another spin, letting go mid swing. The heavy hammer shoots through the air and collides into Dainn as he tries to get back up, knocking back to the ground.

Giving her opponent not a second of respite, Luna draws Phobos, surging with light. She runs as fast as her legs allow and leaps into the air, just as Dainn manages to raise his hammer in defense.

In an over-headed slash, and with a violent battle cry, Luna severs the war hammer in two. Instantaneously, a bright and colorful ether escapes as the runes break. The wispy cloud flees from sight. Luna ignores it for now. Her eyes, widened and strained, remain locked on the fallen king.

With her boot pressing down on his chest, she raises Phobos, and swings it at his head.

Dainn growls in pain as his antlers are coarsely sliced off, leaving nothing but two rough stubs upon his head.

Luna keeps Phobos inches away from Dainn’s throat. She stares at him, imagining the one thrust it would take to kill him. But Luna remains still.

In Luna’s plan, Dainn’s death would come. But not now.

A small group of six Alliance ponies arrive in the garden, led by Mjolna. They move to Luna’s side, their weapons drawn and trained on a defeated and now surrounded Dainn.

Luna smiles.

“Congratulations, King Dainn. You’re now Equestria’s most valuable prisoner.”

Mjolna motions to her soldiers. They move closer, three of them sheathing their weapons as they restrain Dainn and heave him onto his knees while the others keep their weapons readied.

Luna kneels down to his level, glowering at him. Her voice deadly serious.

“…Do you love your people, Dainn? I wouldn’t think you as one capable of love. Though either way, I promise you this… I will make them see their weakness. While you rot in chains, I will make their lives know nothing but war. Your kind will drown in the oceans, and burn in fields of fire. And all the while, I will make them remember… That it was all because of you.”

Deciding their time together is at an end, Luna rises, addressing the group of soldiers with her.

“The six of you. Treat his wounds and detain him in the crystal caverns beneath the castle. Do not leave him until I return. And do not speak a word of this to anyone. Marshal, stay with me for a moment.”

“You heard her, lieutenant.” Mjolna relays, handing the lieutenant a fire dart pistol. The armored mare nods compliantly.

“At once, Marshal.”

The six ponies haul the captured Dainn inside the castle, leaving Luna and Mjolna to themselves.

Luna gathers Dainn’s severed antlers, placing them together along with the two pieces of Dainn’s battered war hammer. The rune markings are devoid of any light, signifying their broken state. Discord was indeed freed the moment the runes were broken, but his whereabouts are unknown for now. Luna decides to investigate at a later time.

As she was gathering up the remains of her fated duel, Mjolna had picked up Deimos from across the garden. She gives the blade of the Moon back to Luna, who sheathes it away along with Phobos. In the thick of battle, she had all but forgotten about it.

The two move to the edge of the garden courtyard to gaze upon the city. The fighting had persisted only minutes longer, before cheering began to carry across the city air. A bell tower from the southern quarter rings out, signaling the capture of the last quarter.

Canterlot has been liberated. The caribou… defeated. For now.

Luna’s rushing thoughts catch up to her, cutting her rest short. She stands up from her seat on the courtyard railing and walks briskly to Mjolna, who has just finished murmuring with another of her soldiers.

Mjolna turns to the Princess a she speaks, doing her best to hide a grimace.

“The battle is won. Send runners to find the other leaders. Make sure they’re well.”

“Princess Lu-“

“We must be wary of a possible counter attack. No rest until we fully secure the city.”

“Princess L-“

“Mjolna, I’ll need a casualty repor-“

“PRINCESS. LUNA.”

Luna stops, attentive of Mjolna.

The Marshal’s eyes look as though she has learned a terrible truth.

“…Princess Luna… You have to come with me.”

“What is it? W-….”

Luna looks around.

“…Where is Lantern? Where are…”

Mjolna only stares at Luna. She shakes her head.

Luna runs past Mjolna, ignoring the ache in her muscles as she finds her way to the lower halls. She retraces her steps, finding the hallway where the spire collided into and making her way to the chambers below. All the while, she utters plea after plea in her mind.

The battle is won. We won. This is our victory. The first step to lead us to freedom. I did everything I could from the very beginning to reach this point. Whether from luck, fortune, destiny, whatever one would call it. We took the dare and rose above. We proved our worth. Please, please, please, let the price we have paid be enough! Let it-

Luna stops.

She enters the large room before her.

Rubble still lies about from the chaos.

An awful stench reaches her nose.

Nothing reaches her ears.

Everything… reaches her eyes.

“N-…N-no…”

Amongst the bodies of more than a dozen caribou, lie her friends. Her seven Sentinels.

Gone.

Luna chokes with her words, as though her throat suddenly clogged. Her muscles tense, her mind failing to accept what it sees.

“…Noo!”

It takes Luna every bit of strength and will to hold back the loudest scream growing in her chest. The fabric of her heart is slowly and agonizingly torn as she steps further inside.

The carnage had engulfed the entire room. Weapons litter the floor. The dead cover nearly every corner.

It is easy to spot her noctrals among them. Their grey coats and blue and purple manes, though caked with blood, stand out amongst the red and brown.

Luna moves slowly. Behind her, Mjolna appears, followed by Liberty and her surviving Guardians, who had just finished clearing out the castle. No one utters a single sound. They only look on, as their Princess stumbles in grief.

Luna sees them. Spirit, Crowe, Star Glow, High Tide, Dew Drop. Each of them had a spot. A spot which marked their demise at the hands of the caribou.

Their eyes are wide and lifeless. As if filled with realization at the very last second that none of them were leaving alive.

Sounds of struggle reach Luna’s swiveling ears from the other end of the room.

Luna rushes to the muffled cries as Mjolna, Liberty, and the Guardians behind start to walk in. They gaze at the death surrounding them. Some among them cannot stand the sight and leave.

Failing in her own words, her lips quivering and her hands shaking, Luna stops before the wall. A corpse of a caribou captain covers the source of the faint voice. A katar pierces through his stomach.

Luna shoves the dead caribou aside, revealing a near-death Lantern.

Beside her lies Night Seer, slumped against the wall with a halberd jutting from his torso. His head hangs low, katar only inches from his cold hand.

Not a single inch of Lantern’s body is clean. Her flesh is torn and mauled, tufts of fur missing and massive cuts bleeding red.

Luna’s breathing sputters and skips upon finding her friend, as if shock and sorrow are collapsing her lungs.

Lantern coughs, gurgling in pain. A gash on her cheek stems from the crease of her mouth, oozing blood and revealing bone, as though whoever inflicted such a wound did so in an attempt to make her jaw open wider. Several teeth, mostly her fangs, were forcefully knocked out. It was clear from the dead caribou’s previous position that Lantern was too late to stop him from taking her.

Her orange eyes look up. The only part of her left untouched.

“Princess…”

Luna falls to her knees beside her. She watches as her friend wells with tears, hacking and vomiting as she tries desperately to breathe.

“Its-Its all my fault! We were chasing after the council when the doorway collapsed. I tried to get us through but we were trapped and then… and then… We failed you, Princess.”

Luna consoles her, grabbing hold of Lantern’s one free hand. She grimaces in pain, but continues to look at Luna.

“No. None of you failed me. You, Night Seer, Star Glow, Dew Drop, High Tide, Crowe, and Spirit… you are all the true heroes of this war. Without you, I would never have been found, and none of what we accomplished would have ever been possible. And I will never find a way to be more grateful for your friendship.”

The gash on Lantern’s cheek prevents her from smiling for more than a second.

“W-we… There was…”

Luna nods, knowing her thoughts.

“Despina. You and the others wanted to go to Despina with me.”

“Y… Yes! The hot springs…”

What small amount of joy the thought brought to Lantern is quickly replaced by dread. She continues to cry, shaking as her eyes fill with fear.

“Oh…Oh blessed Moon. I’m scared. I’m scared, Princess. I’m so scared.” Lantern sputters, her eyes darting frantically. Her voice strains as she continues to cough up blood.

Luna hugs her.

“Don’t think about that. Think about Despina. Think about our travels together. When we found Haven. The game of tag with the foals. The singing and dancing. The time you had with Night Seer. And all of your friends. Think of nothing else…”

Luna pulls back.

She closes Lantern’s orange eyes, and lays her hand on her lap.

“…And you’ll find peace.”

Luna stands. She wipes the tears from her eyes as she looks around the room.

She stares at the mound of stone rubble blocking the nearby doorway, which trapped the Sentinels. What Luna sees in the rubble strikes her.

A heavy weight buried with the broken stone. A cut pulley rope draped on top.

And Luna’s katar. Wedged in between the stone.

The brutal reality hits Luna like a train.

…I did this…

Luna is approached by Mjolna. The Marshal’s mouth moves, but Luna hears nothing. Her head throbs and pounds, her hands shaking slightly. She keeps a calm expression.

“Marshal… Give them proper burials. With all the others killed. Tend to the wounded. Make safe the city, please…”

Nodding with grave faces, Mjolna, Liberty, and the Guardians who remained move to the fallen noctrals. They close the eyes of the Sentinels, and begin to free their bodies of their tormented and mangled states.

Luna rubs her hand along her brow, her head hanging, eyes still misty.

Luna.

Luna.

Luna.

Death is something you have so much experience in.

Why is this so different?

She cannot think.

Luna, as though in a trance, exits the room. She leaves and heads towards a stairwell leading to the upper halls. Liberty takes notice.

Luna climbs the steps. She arrives in the hall containing the royal chambers, her eyes bearing despair and desperation. She occasionally stumbles as she walks, but she keeps walking, all the way to the end of the great hallway.

Her ears twitch as she hears Liberty’s jogging footsteps reaching the top of the stair well, following her. Though Luna does not stop.

Her head feels as though it were splitting in two.

Nothing can stop her now. Even with the cost… Victory is assured.

There is but one more task. And she will see it through.

Liberty catches sight of Luna, spying her at the very end of the hall.

Dragging Phobos at her side, and opening Celestia’s chambers.

“Luna! Princess Luna, wait!!”

Liberty frantically dashes down the hall as fast as she can, but Luna opens and closes Celestia’s door before she can reach it.

Liberty, not stopping, charges the heavy door with her shoulder. The door does not budge, locked from the other side. Liberty quickly hits the frame again, this time budging it slightly enough to peer inside.

Equestria will be saved. This is certain. But no chances will be taken.

Luna stops. The mare she has come for lies before her. Unarmed, collared, and trembling.

She raises Phobos.

Liberty bangs on the door.

“Luna!!

NO, LUNA!!!

NOOOOOO!!!!!”