Crimson Night

Twilight and the rest of Team One spent the next two and a half weeks recruiting. Most of them passed, but some couldn't handle it or died before they could intervene. They were returning to Canterlot for their next batch of dossiers when a letter suddenly appeared in front of Twilight.

“Is there something wrong?” Chrysalis asked. Twilight's face went from worried to horrified.

“There is an attack at the Grand Library going on. An attack on Ponyville...EVERYONE HUDDLE AROUND ME!” she yelled. In second they did and she teleported them all inside the library.

“Thank the Moon you are here!” Varus said, they had barricaded the Library and there were what seemed to be all the residents of Ponyville going into the Crystal caverns.

“What happened?” Twilight asked.

“They came out of nowhere...three fully grown Wraiths swooped in and dropped bags of Ghouls...Literally huge fucking bags filled with fucking Ghouls! There are Liches now and Ghoulified Griffons in the fight as well...it was all we could to do evacuate everypony we could.” Mordekaiser said.

“We just rebuilt this town...I can't let it be destroyed again.” Twilight said. She sank to the ground as her horn nearly exploded with black Necromancy as it filled the room. With it, she pushed all of the evacuating ponies safely into the caverns as all of the crystals began turning black. Once they had turned completely solid black they moved. Some of them formed protective walls around the survivors, but most of them blasted out of the caverns and out into the Trench, going upwards and gathering above the Library. Then all of the crystals shot towards all the dwellings of the town, putting a protective shell of the nearly indestructible crystal around them. There was not nearly enough to guard the Library so she stood in the large doorway.

She sent the bridge crashing down with a horde of Ghouls with it, but three blasts of fire and black were heading straight for her. Her magic had been strained and unfocused with the massive burst from earlier so she did the only thing she could. Her armor appeared and she spread her wigs high, taking the blast in the Chest.

She skidded backwards a few steps but quickly took the place. She sent hundreds of Spectral Moons out to counterattack the Ghouls, but currently they were not the problem. She took another three bursts, this time completely holding her ground. Her friends gasped as they noticed it now sported a slight spider web of cracks. Burst after burst hit Twilight, but the enemies gained no ground. Soon the blasts stopped coming, the enemies had finally run out of steam. At that the spectral Moons, coupled with an armor of spectral Centaurs from Hecarim, smashed through the lines of enemies. Vayne and Varus were at her side launching bolts and arrows at an amazing pace. Galio had taken his Gargoyle Stance in front of her just in case while Vlad and Illia came over.

“Twilight, are you alright?” Illia asked. Twilight didn't answer, she just continued panting, not moving from her spot.

“Twilight...your job is done...you protected us, we are winning.” Vlad said.

“Twilight go, we have this.” Vayne said.

“Come now...Twi-...” Illia started, but cut herself off as she got a good look at the front of her General. The cracks were no long minor spider webs, the armor was practically shattered all around the front. The Helmet slid open to reveal her face was covered in blood as a gash followed her old scar but broke off and went down her muzzle, creating what looked like a bolt of lightning. There was blood oozing quickly from all of the cracks and her eyes were blank.

“Where...Prin...Luna...” Twilight wheezed in her semi-conscious state.

“She is in Canterlot, safe.” Varus said. Twilight sighed, whether it was relied knowing her lover was safe or the relief of falling into bliss unconsciousness her friends never knew.

“She...oh...oh Twilight...” Star said in horror and tears as the survivors, her and her husband being two of them, came back up after the Crystal protecting them shattered. They arrived to see Twilight's armor in bloody pieces and the Mare herself in worse shape. Illia and Fluttershy had glowing hands- or hooves, as they slowly healed their friend and Vlad attached a blood pack to an IV.

“Where is she?!” a familiar voice called.

“In here Princesses.” Varus called, they were in Twilight's quarters. Celestia and Luna barged into the room.

“...We see crystal covering all the buildings...what...what happened?” Luna asked.

“They attacked with an army...an organized army...the Wraiths and the Ghasts (undead griffon) were carrying Ghouls and Liches.” Varus said.

“and why is the town covered in Crystal and Twilight seriously hurt?!” Luna asked.

“She used all of her power to raise the crystals form the caverns below to protect the city...then they just start boombarding the Library with everything they had...she took out the bridge and took every hit they shot at her until they ran out of energy...then we all charged and eliminated the threats.” Hecarim said.

“We've got a live one!” Cassiopia's voice called.

“B-bring it up...” Twilight wheezed.

“Twilight!” everyone exclaimed.

“H-h-elp-p m-me...” the Lich breathed, tears going down it's rotting face.

“It must have released it's mental hold on whoever it was controlling...I am sorry, but there's nothing we can do to help...but you can help us...who is leading the Undead?” Celestia asked the bound Lich.

“D-d-dim...S-sun.” the Lich said. Celestia and Luna's faces fell instantly.

“U-u-underworld...L-lair.” it continued.

“P-p-please...k-kill me...” it finished. Celestia nodded to Varus, who put an arrow in it's head.

“Who is Dim Sun, and what is the Underworld Lair?” Twilight asked. Her regeneration skills had grown exponentially, but she was still bedridden.

“the Underworld is like Tartarus, only it is a created Hell...we will need to go through Tartarus to get to it though...and Dim Sun...Dim Sun is my Nightmare Moon.” Celestia said.

“What?” they all gasped.

“Long ago, before Equestria was so prosperous...war and hate consumed my mind...and I felt her Manifesting similarly...but I fought it and won...I thought it faded away...but it must have just taken up residence in the Underworld...” Celestia explained.

“So...we've all gotta get stronger.” Twilight said.

“That is correct...” Luna replied.

“Well then...looks like we need to train as much as possible...There's something I have to do though regarding my team.” Twilight said.

“What is that?” Hecarim asked.

“We have the Changeling Queen and and Timberwolf Pack Leader here...you need to gather and train your own armies, so we'll need two replacements-” Twilight started, but the rest was blocked off by a mass of ponies barging into the room.

“Twi what the hell were you thinking?! You locked us all in the buildings so we couldn't help you!” Dash exclaimed. Fluttershy was already looking her over while Pinkie just bounced in. Rarity was eying the bloody shattered armor while Applejack was with Dash right up in Twilight's face.

“Sorry girls...I wanted to protect Ponyville...I didn't think about that.” Twilight said with a sheepish grin.

“Girls we should let her rest...she's still recovering.” Fluttershy said.

“...Fine...but you're gonna get it when you're all better.” Dash said with a growl.

“Don't worry girls, I'll make sure not to do something stupid like that again.” Twilight said.

“Good...come on y'all.” Applejack said as she led them all out.

“I'll go oversee the change in your team.” Celestia said.

“We'll go make sure they're strong enough and not mind numbingly annoying.” Vayne said.

“Thanks guys.” Twilight said.

“I'm still mad I wasn't here to help you and you almost died for the fourth time this month...I think you really are an Alicorn.” Luna said jokingly.

“Why do you say that?” Twilight asked.

“Well you're more resilient than one...stronger than one...you care about everyone, pony or not, and you've sacrificed so much already...You've done far more for Equestria than Tia or I have in many long years.” Luna said.

“I'm just protecting what I love.” Twilight said.

“Then I think you deserve to be a Princess.” Luna said, snuggling up to her Lover.

“General is just fine Love...come on and sleep, let us dream together.” Twilight said. Luna smiled and did what she was told.