The day started out like any other. As Celestia’s sun rose, it gave off a beautiful orange aura. All throughout Canterlot, ponies could be seen crowding the streets. Fillies and colts were on their way to school to learn. Nothing seemed out of place. The night guard were being relieved of their posts by the day guard. Nothing seemed at all out of place.
Canterlot castle was also bustling with activity this morning. Ponies going here and there to make the morning as pleasant as possible for Princess Celestia, as well as ensure Princess Luna got as comfortable a rest as possible. Both princesses were actually still in the throne room, discussing about whatever came to their minds. After a short while, and a nice breakfast, Luna finally headed off toward her room to rest for the day, while her sister prepared herself for the craziness of day court.
The first matter to be brought up was a property dispute… oh how Celestia loved those. Both property owners were unicorns, and both were very upstanding citizens in Canterlot. So what was the dispute about, you ask? One of the unicorns loved nature almost as much as anything else. He wanted to plant another garden, but the other unicorn claimed that doing so would be an intrusion on his personal property that he simply didn’t want. This dispute did not have the chance to be settled as a guard ran into the throne room in a panic.
“I apologize for the intrusion, your highness, but Canterlot is currently under attack,” The guard said.
“By who?” Celestia asked.
“We don’t know who it is, but they blew open the main gate and started destroying the city,” The guard said, “The other guards have been able to do only nothing, and the individual is on his or her way here as we speak”.
“Only one pony?” Celestia asked under her breath.
“Your highness?” The guard said, snapping Celestia back to reality.
“If you have not already, I need you to wake my sister and bring her here,” Celestia said, “After which, you are to escort these citizens home”.
The guard then saluted and turned to run towards Luna’s room. Celestia sat down on her flank, pondering the situation. According to the guard, there was only one assailant. They had to be strong in order to get through EVERY guard they came across. Few guards here and there, she could understand, but Canterlot had a small army within its walls. After only a few minutes, the throne room doors flung open, alerting Celestia and causing her to light her horn for an attack of her own. She lowered her guard a little when she saw it was only her sister with a decently sized escort. As soon as Luna joined her sister’s side, the escort wrapped around the two unicorn citizens and started taking them to as safe a location as possible.
“Who do you think this attacker is?” Luna asked.
“I do not know, but they have to be strong,” Celestia said, “And we need to be ready should they come through those doors”.
And come through the doors they did. A very audible noise was heard as the doors flew from their hinges and smoke flooded in. Both princesses lit up their horns and prepared for an offense of their own. The throne room guards surrounded the smoke, but were flung to the side as it cleared. Once every last bit of smoke dissipated, there stood only one single unicorn stallion. He had only his left ear, and his body was covered from head to hoof in scars and arcane symbols.
“Princess Celestia, it’s been quite some time,” The stranger said, “And I see you have your traitorous sister here as well”.
“Who are you, and what do you wish to accomplish?” Celestia asked.
“You do not recognize me?” The stranger asked, “I must say, I am hurt now. You have wounded deeply with that”.
“Explain yourself at once, intruder!” Luna called out.
“My name is Arcane Shade, and I am here to claim the crown for myself,” Arcane Shade said.
“Arcane Shade? What has you believing you should hold the power of the crown?” Celestia asked.
“Do I have to spell everything out for you?” Arcane Shade asked, “Well, if you really don’t know… I suppose I’ll show you”.
With that, Arcane Shade cast a bolt of magic right towards princess Celestia. The bolt moved too fast to avoid, and ended up striking the solar princess in the chest. Enough power was contained within the bolt to force Celestia to fly backwards, clean through the throne and wall behind it. After her brain registered what had just happened, Luna wasted no time in launching her own attack. Arcane Shade just stood there, not bothering to move at all. What happened next confused Luna greatly. Mere seconds before the bolts struck, Arcane Shade lit up his horn, caught each bolt in his aura, and fired them right back at Luna. The princess of the night was in too much shock to respond and was struck by her own bolts as a result.
“You wanted to know what gives me the right to claim the power of the crown as my own… well, there it is,” Arcane Shade boasted.
As Celestia managed to reach the room again, she noticed that Arcane Shade was standing too proud and oblivious. She lit up her horn and captured Arcane Shade in a solid yellow aura.
“You will never have the power of the crown while I still draw breath, traitor,” Celestia said.
“Well then, challenge accepted,” Arcane Shade said as he began his attempt at breaking free.
“Even I can not break free of this aura, Shade,” Celestia said.
Arcane Shade paid no attention as he kept doing everything he could in failed attempt after failed attempt to break free. After a short few minutes, Luna got back up and joined in her own magic to strengthen the aura cage. Now, Arcane Shade knew there was no breaking free here, so he did the only thing he possibly could: teleport. He could not risk being trapped like this a second time, so he teleported as far away as possible. He strained against the dampening energy of the aura cage, but he eventually got away. Needless to say, both princesses were in utter shock.
“Sister… what… what just happened?” Luna asked.
“He managed to actually get away,” Celestia said, “But I do believe he’ll be back if we do not do something”.
“And what should we do, sister?” Luna asked.
“He focuses a lot on his magic defense, and that could leave him open to physical attacks under the right circumstances,” Celestia stated.
“Need I remind you how many guards he took out?” Luna asked, “We’ll need more than that”.
“The guards operate on rules of engagement and follow the Equestrian law to the dot,” Celestia said, “And I can not ask them to do otherwise”.
“Then what do you suggest?” Luna asked.
“It has been a few long lifetimes since this action was required,” Celestia said, “But, dear sister, I believe it is time to bring in a mercenary… a bounty hunter”.
“Are you sure that is wise?” Luna asked.
“It is our only choice,” Celestia said.
“And do you have one in mind?” Luna asked.
It took some time, but the mercenary Celestia asked for, an alicorn named Thunder Dasher, was eventually located deep within the Everfree Forest. The guards sent as his escort had to fight through manticores, timberwolves, hydras, and whatever else is contained within that forest. Now, he was standing in the royal throne room, ready to accept a mission from the royal sisters.
“What is it you request of me, your highness?” Thunder Dasher asked.
“I’m sure you noticed the state of Canterlot as you walked the streets,” Celestia said, “Well, about thirty three hours ago, a very powerful unicorn by the name of Arcane Shade attacked Canterlot and made an attempt on my and Luna’s lives”.
“Well, I am glad to see he failed,” Thunder Dasher said.
“He escaped, though we do not know where to,” Celestia said.
“Given enough time, he will return,” Luna said, “And at that time, we may not stand a chance”.
“So, you want me to track him down for you?” Thunder Dasher asked.
“And kill him,” Celestia said, “He is much too dangerous to be kept alive, and must be killed if Equestria is to continue to know peace”.
“You are being given the title of mercenary,” Luna stated, “This title will allow you to operate outside Equestrian law, allowing you to handle the mission however you see fit”.
“This title, however, does not excuse everything,” Celestia explained, “Murder, unreasonable theft, or any other act as such will cause you to be stripped of your title, and a new mercenary will tasked to hunting you down”.
“I understand, your highness,” Thunder Dasher said, “And fear not, for my loyalty to the crown is rock solid. Should I fail in my task, all I ask is that the funeral be held here in Canterlot, and my body to be lain in the royal cemetery”.
“As a former member of the guard of our parents’ rule, you already have a spot in the royal cemetery reserved for you,” Celestia said, “Though, I believe it shall not hold any contents for many years to come if your reputation is anything to go off of”.
“When shall I take leave?” Thunder Dasher asked.
“As soon as you feel you are ready,” Celestia said.
“Very well, then I shall as soon as I have filled my belly,” Thunder Dasher said, “I can not fathom questing on an empty stomach”.