Crystal Knight

“Someone get that tent pitched.”

“Hey, we need these picked up already you lazy bums!”

“Is this some foal’s schoolyard? Clean it up, now!”

Spear Tip watched as squad leaders yelled at their subordinates to keep things neat and ready for tomorrow. Most of them moved slower than they honestly should, but he couldn’t blame them as even his battle hardened hooves were sore from the almost two weeks of hard marching. One pony though was putting his whole squad to shame and at this point was almost pissing off the sergeant. He strode over to the squad and put on his best sneer. “Private Shield, follow me. As for the rest of you lazy idiots, get moving and clean this place up!”

Most of the squad scrambled to their feet and clumsily saluted as the only standing member strode over to him and slammed his hand into his forehead. “Yes corporal?”

The blue soldier wrapped an arm around Knight’s neck and started pulling him along. “That would be colonel, kid.”

Knight waited for when his face wasn’t caught in the captain’s armpit before replying. “Sorry colonel. Also, I’m twenty-five sir.”

Spear rubbed his forehead as the the other stallion simply stood there. “Doesn’t matter. What does matter is that you need to stop letting those layabouts avoid their duties and make them do their jobs.” He scowled further as he remembered his own posh living space back home in Canterlot. I hope Celestia and Luna whip us back into shape after this because this is embarrassing.

“It keeps me busy sir.”

The sergeant spent a moment searching Knight’s face for sarcasm but soon dismissed the idea. Spear wasn’t one to pass up a hard worker, and this private had just been outdoing his captain. He jerked a thumb to a large tent towards the center camp. “Go get yourself some food and relax. You’ll need it tomorrow.”

“But it isn’t my squad’s–”

“Get moving private!”

Knight stood there for a moment and bit into his cheek before shrugging and moving along. As much as he had been trying to be a good cog in the military machine, this definitely wasn’t where he wanted to be. He glanced to the grass underneath his hooves as he tried to stop the memories and thoughts from rising back up. That had been the real reason why he always worked so hard in camp, to keep himself distracted.

It didn’t always work though, especially since everyone expected the fight to come tomorrow. Sombra had let them enter the empire, even get to grass and warmth instead of keeping them on the frozen tundra like the war commander had expected. The flags the scouts reported in the distance proved that Sombra was active though and had an army coming. Knight bit into his lip as he wondered just how many would die the next day, but immediately tried to push the thought away and focus on surviving more army rations first.

Walking into the mess tent almost gave him a heart attack as he saw who was serving lunch. Knight had seen them around before of course, but that had only been momentarily at best. Here though, they simply stood for all to see and were even talking to any soldier who came up. Come on Knight. You’ve fought dozens of monsters before, you can take something as simple as this. He tentatively picked up a tray and walked forward.

Celestia gave him a warm and inviting smile before asking, “Liver or fish?”

For a moment Knight thought about how good ribs would be, but didn’t dare say that to the princesses. “Fish please.”

Celestia took the tray and kept her eyes down on the task of finding the best she could since no one else was in line. I really should look into getting better food for our forces. It has been too long since I checked on their regulations for things like this. She sighed for only a moment, but it was just long enough to catch the warrior’s attention.

“I’ll take liver if we’re out.”

She let out a slight chuckle. “No, it’s nothing like that.” A slight glance back over to him caused her to nod. “You drafted yourself. That is mighty noble of you sir…”

Knight shook his head vigorously. “Just Knight Shield princess, and please, don’t call me noble. I am merely doing my job as the one who guards my family. I merely never thought I would be doing it here.” He tried to chuckle slightly but soon had his eyes shut.

A soothing aura encased the soldier as Luna stepped over. “None of us did, but tomorrow we will prove to our enemies that they picked the wrong fight.”

The confidence was almost infectious as Knight smiled. “That… that is good to hear Princess Luna. May I get some corn please?”

She nodded and took the tray after Celestia. It was now Luna’s turn to look at the soldier, but her focus was more directed at the stallion then her job. “Your sword, it isn’t regulations, is it?”

A hand instinctively put itself just over the hilt. “It is mine. It has done me well for a long time and I’m used to it. I wish I hadn’t recently lost my shield, but I’ve been getting better at swinging one of the regulation heavy kite shields.”

“Swinging? Whatever do you mean by-”

A gray pegasus chose that moment to burst into the room and run to the counter. He collapsed against it in a panting heap and Luna immediately check for injuries. The tray levitated to Knight as she prodded the messenger and frowned. “Why are you in such a rush and yet not even covered in a comrade’s blood?”

Celestia put a hand on Luna’s arm. “Sister, do calm down.” Slowly a golden aura covered the scout and his breathing evened. “What do you have to tell us?”

The messenger swallowed hard. “It… it’s Sombra. He waves a white flag. He wishes to discuss with both of you a deal. At least… that is what we hope.”

Luna scowled. “It could be a trap, but I will admit the idea of avoiding a war from happening after so little time being back…” She turned as a hand gripped her shoulder.

Celestia ripped the hair net free from herself and erased any emotion from her face. “Get our armor prepped. If we go to talk to him, we will at least go prepared.”

======+++++======

Celestia scowled as she walked up to the black tent in the middle of the open plain. In the distance she could see banners held high and large tents pitched to house enemy troops. Enough to hold thousands, if not more.. “Luna, your thoughts?”

Luna came up beside her sister and grimaced. “I only feel two presences within the tent, but I can’t say I like this. Sombra never was one to give up, especially since I doubt he considers himself in the wrong, just as I did not when I first came back. We should just leave and not give him a chance to kill us out here.”

Another glance at the armies told Celestia that they were out ponied. Even if a thousand years has made us better, an army of that size could overwhelm us. And the death toll… She shut her eyes. “Sombra, come out here. We are not so foolish as to allow you to get us as we enter.”

A deep chuckle could be heard from within the tent and soon the flaps unfolded. He wore no armor, instead wearing a slightly ruffled white dress shirt and long black pants. A small smile from him sent a chill down Luna’s back. Both mares glared at him as their armor shined in the light.

“Hello Princesses. It has been too long.” Sombra’s smile quickly faded and he held up two fingers. “I have two deals for you. You can take either one, but I will take no deals or pleads that you have to give. Understood?”

Luna nodded while Celestia stood still. “Where is the other one?”

Sombra nodded and snapped. A toned, pink, pegasus mare came out of the tent and bowed to both of them in her gothic black dress. “Hello my ladies. I am Surefire and would like to apologize for worrying you.”

Celestia’s magic extended for a moment to help the small mare to get her hair out of her eyes, but a growl from Sombra stopped her. “Apology accepted Surefire, and I was not about to attack. You know that.”

“I haven’t seen you in a thousand years. From what I hear though, you turned into a bit of a tyrant while staying pathetically weak.”

“I have not!”

“Your sister?”

“She did that because I forced her to!”

Sombra licked his lips as Luna fumed and Celestia scowled. “Such things don’t matter here though. We have more important things to discuss, correct?”

Celestia forced herself back. Sombra was too confident and she was letting him toy with them. It doesn’t help that we both have been having a hard time hiding the stresses of war. “What are your two deals?”

Sombra nodded and assumed his colder manner once more. “My first is that you two submit now and become my royal concubines. From there you can attempt to advise me, but you will have to listen to everything I say and be stripped of your powers. Most likely, those powers will be into me.”

Luna stepped forward and growled. He pat her head and Celestia saw red tendrils flow out of Luna. “Sombra, we aren’t supposed to attack each other here.”

The lunar princess was shoved away as he scowled. “Do not accuse me of such a thing. Princess. I know the rules, but it is not my fault that you two are weak minded fools who cannot control your anger or fear.”

Celestia took another breath and kept her rage inwards. “Your next offer?”

Sombra resumed his own composure. He may think of the two as incompetent, but… No, that does explain why I don’t care about insulting them. I need to hide my hand or the whole ruse will be a failure “My second offer is for you to fight me. A one on two duel, me against you two. Whoever loses dies, and the winner of course gets the other's kingdom.”

Luna looked away in disgust. “Why would we do something like that? No matter the circumstances, Equestria won’t be-”

“Luna, be quiet.”

Sombra smiled as he heard the Celestia stop her sister. Luna wouldn’t like the idea because to do a noble duel like this counted on both sides being noble. However, not only is Celestia already annoyed and probably wants to shove a magical blast through my sternum, but she also values a chance to save her people too much. In just a moment or two, it should be coming.

“Why would you care about protecting your people when you could easily weaken us with them first?” Celestia kept her face a mask as she considered the proposition.

Surefire spoke up at this point. “He wishes to rule an empire that expands over all that he wishes. One cannot rule without people or an army though.” She glanced at Sombra and nodded to herself after he did the same.

Celestia bit into her finger while Luna fumed. It ultimately was up to her in making the choice, but that only made this harder. She looked back to her own meager encampments and looked to the ground. “We bring the weapons we plan to use and no one interrupts. With those rules set… I will fight.”

“It would not be a proper duel otherwise.” Sombra’s gaze turned to Luna. “And you?”

Luna puffed out her large chest. “I will not allow my sister to walk into danger without help, so yes.”

Sombra nodded. “I will see you tomorrow then.” He watched them turn away and start to walk away from his tent. Purple vapors came from the top of Sure’s shirt and he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Wait for tomorrow, and then do as you please.”

A sigh escaped her lips. “Yes, my lord.” With that said, she went to take down the tent. Tomorrow was to be a busy day and the two of them had to make it back to base so her lord may sleep.