Darkest Hours in Equestria

When she arrived at the gates of the castle with her impromptu bodyguard, she walked past the gates that had been blown clean off their hinges as she walked past smoking craters that dotted the palace grounds. She saw strange machines with large, protruding pipes dominating the side of Canterlot that was on the cliff edge and as she walked along, she watched ponies load objects into the machines before standing back.

She was just about to wonder what on earth they were doing when suddenly an explosion erupted from the long protruding pipes as she watched the objects be hurled far away from Canterlot and though she didn't know where they were headed, she had a uneasy foreboding that whatever they hit wouldn't survive. She tried to ignore the ringing of her ears as she winced and continued on and she soon reached the main doors into Canterlot itself, guarded by what looked like two groups of those ponies in blue and as she walked by them, they bowed to her and said, "Princess." before they continued to watch the way she had just come from.

Inside, it was surprisingly quiet but as she neared the throne room, it became ever clearer that there were ponies having quite a debate inside the throne room and she recognized the voice of Princess Celestia amongst the many she heard. She stopped as she took a slow breath before she pushed open the doors that lead into the throne room and though she wished she could've been more prepared for what was to come next, she couldn't help but feel stiff and shock at what she saw.

The beautiful window panes that had once covered the walls around her were just about all smashed to ruins and pieces, the one beautiful stain glass now no more than mere wreckage in the aftermath of what just happened. She saw dark splotches and craters along the wall where conflict had been and though she saw no bodies, those dark stains seemed very reminiscent of blood and she slowly walked down through the throne room as she caught sight of the arguing figures.

One was a blue armored earth pony except he wore no helmet or at least it wasn't on his head but then she noticed it on his battle saddle and it had red, menacing eyes on it. His armor of blue was emblazed with a winged Omega symbol that also had a stallion skull on it. He had a sword on his flank attached to a battle-saddle and on the other flank was another of those strange contraptions. He had a very chiseled face for a pony and his mane was cropped close to his skull while two, stud piercings of gold were on his brows. She noticed some scars traveling down his jaw towards his temple and figured he must have gotten that after something bad had happened.

Another of the figures was a pegasus mare who wore armor of white, black and red. She had her wings sprouting what looked like blades from the wing-tips and she also had another of those dangerous contraptions on a battle saddle. She wore no helmet and instead upon her face was a X-shaped scar on her left cheek and a tattooed, black tear beneath her right eye. Her mane was short but not as cropped short as the stallion and her mane was a pure white, like the fur of Celestia's.

Finally, the last pony was a stallion that wore green armor over some tan clothing and he had attached to his battle saddle one of those contraptions the other ponies besides the blue one used. He wore his helmet and his mane was completely covered by it. He had not as chiseled of a face as the other stallion but he still had some handsomeness to his complexity. He had what looked like two alicorns, both white, emblazed on his armor shoulder pad, the one wing outstretched to span the width of the pad.

And finally, Princess Celestia herself was looking down upon a hastily made table with Equestria on it and there seemed to be markings all plastered across it. And she was having a ferocious argument from the pony in blue and though the one in green armor seemed to be trying to calm her down respectfully, the one with red and white armor stayed silent nearby until she noticed Twilight approaching. She gestured to the others that she was there and all of the talking stopped as Celestia sighed and said, "Twilight, you are well I presume?"

"I could be better... What's going on? Why is there so much arguing going on?" She asked as she looked around at the other ponies while the one in green armor dismissed her temporary bodyguards.

"They're asking me to prepare everyone for a war we have no need to be in! We don't even have weapons to defend ourselves!" Celestia said with a frustrated tone. "And by that, they mean to take every pony and force them into service to make up for their dead!"

At first, it seemed reasonable enough for her. But as Twilight looked at the other ponies, she suddenly realized what Celestia was saying and she looked back at the other ponies as she asked them, "But why drag us into something you can win? You look like you can handle yourself quite well."

The one in blue almost smirked with pride or arrogance, it was hard to tell because just as it appeared, it also vanished into thin air and the pony took a step forward as he said, "You all don't know anything about war. War's need soldiers to fight and it would be much easier to deal with this war if you and your fellow inhabitants could either help us fight or join in the fight. This isn't something that can be won in a day."

"Besides, it's mostly us Guard that takes the brunt of the fight compared to both of them. We need replacements much more and, honestly, forcing people to join isn't exactly what I like to have happen." Said the pony with green armor.

She heard a hmmph! from the pony in blue armor and she saw the other stallion shoot a look before he said to Celestia, "Look, in order for us to win this war, we would like to have all of the inhabitants here be with us in this fight. That means you have to allow us to take in some to replenish the front lines. If we lose even a company, even a platoon, we'll lose ground and we won't bring this war to an end as quickly as you want to."

Celestia sighed as she turned her head back towards a nearby destroyed window and through it, Twilight could see smoke rising up from somewhere off in the distance along with the distant sounds of explosions. But then, Celestia looked back at the three ponies in armor as she said, "What exactly makes this war so bad you need help fighting it?"

"As we have said, the Tyranids have overtaken the nearby forest and we have Chaos in the outskirts of what looked like a farm. We think they may have some prisoners but we don't know for sure-" Began the pony with green armor when Twilight said, "Prisoners?" Her mind drifted to Applejack and she realized that they needed to save Apple Jack before this "Chaos" possibly hurt them, or worse killed them.

Celestia also came to that conclusion as she said, "Very well. But remember, most of our ponies don't know how to fight. Only one pony does but he's a special case."

"Who is that?" asked the stallion in blue armor.

"His name is Steeltrix... In fact, I haven't seen him all day.. Must've gotten onto our frontlines-" Celestia began when the stallion with blue armor said, "We found him protecting her with a Guardpony lasrifle. He's currently recuperating in our temporary hospital."

"As for you, I think I should take you in considering that you seem like you could handle yourself quite well." The pony in green armor put his hoof around her when Celestia said, "Before you forget, she is a princess of this land... please, don't try and get her killed."

The stallion took his hooves away from twilight and said, "As you wish, Primarch." As he soon lead Twilight away from the throne room and back outside into the world.

****** ******

She dressed herself as best as she could into the uniform as she soon put on the flak armor of the Imperial Guardponies. She put on a battle saddle and onto it another mare put on a sharp bayonet, a collapsible shovel called an "E-tool", a lasrifle, and a few las clips for the gun before she was given a helmet to wear. Then, she was lead back outside, where Guardpony Commander Draco stood waiting for her.

"My, you look fairly nice in Guardpony uniform. Now, follow me to the range, so I can show you how to shoot your rifle." Draco said as he turned around and lead her from the armory.

She obeyed, knowing she had no real choice, as they soon came upon the makeshift shooting range. It was merely some targets set up against one of the walls surrounding Canterlot and as they approached a nearby bench, a group of Guardponies were bunched up near the far end as it seemed that there was a competition going on. She got out her lasrifle as Draco slowly helped her through the basics. She leaned how to switch the energy output, meaning how much damage each shot did, she learned how to aim it with her hooves, she leaned how to fire it and leaned how to reload it. But it was very difficult because of the other Guardponies and as she looked at them, she suddenly saw a familiar face amongst them.

Steeltrix was firing away with his lasrifle and was nailing almost every target with each burst. He also wore Guardpony armor but as she watched him, she saw he was relishing in what he was doing. And as another blast tore down another target, he gave a fiendish laugh that made her whole body cringe.

"It seems like he would be a good compatriot for you to have. I shall transfer him to your group." Draco said as he soon walked away and before she could protest, he said to her, "You are a fine shooter. But on the battlefield, you will be tested."

She merely nodded as Draco left but then she noticed it had gotten quiet around her and she looked to see Steeltrix alone at the bench, sorting through his stuff from his battle saddle. She hesitantly approached, not sure why she was doing it at all when she finally came to where he stood and asked, "Are you Steeltrix?"

Steeltrix looked over and nodded as he opened his mouth to say something when he froze and then he suddenly bowed as he said, "Princess Twilight!"

She didn't expect him to automatically recognize her in her armor, let alone address her in such a manner. Nor did she really want to tell how she knew his name but he soon got up from bowing and asked her, "What are you doing as a Guardpony?"

"Well, since this war has started, everyone is going to become one from what I hear... Plus, I think one of my friends has been captured by this Chaos." Twilight admitted as she looked around.

"Captured by Chaos? Where?" Steeltrix had gone from normal to something close to a panic attack.

"Sweet Apple Acres. Why?" Twilight asked him, unsure of what he would do.

He seemed to bristle as he asked her, "Do you know who is in your squad?"

Twilight took out what was called a "Data-slate" as she looked up who she was with in her squad.

"Well, there is myself, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and.... you." She said as she wondered why the Cutie Mark Crusaders were even part of the Guardponies. Weren't they still children? She looked up from the data-slate and saw Steeltrix blushing beneath his helm as he said, "Oh... alright then, ma'am. I'll follow where you go to find the rest of our squad...." And he soon packed up his stuff onto his battle saddle as he put the battle saddle back on himself.

***** ****

They met Pinkie Pie and Rarity, along with the Cute Mark Crusaders, outside of a temporary barracks and as she lead Steeltrix to them, Rarity looked at Twilight and said, "Twilight! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Rarity. How are you and Pinkie holding up?" Twilight said as the CMC swarmed her with sudden hugs.

"I'm doing fine in these wretched clothes. Pinkie is also recovering from nearly dying in that explosion." Rarity said as she fidgeted with her battle saddle.

"Are you sure you put that on properly?" Asked Steeltrix to rarity.

"Yes, why dearie?" Asked Rarity.

Steeltrix sighed as he trotted over and he undid the straps to Rarities battle saddle as he re-strapped it onto her body the right way and then he stood back as he said, "No need to have a squad mate die early on in the war."

"Squad mate?" She exclaimed suddenly and Pinkie Pie asked Steeltrix suddenly, "Hey! Do you like parties?"

"Ummm...." Began Steeltrix when Seetie Belle said, "Wait, your Steeltrix, aren't you?"

He nodded.

Everyone stopped as Scootaloo said, "You... You're the psychopath that loves war.... why are you in our squad?"

"Like I know! Maybe it's because the commander knows I'm the only one who can fight!" Steeltrix shouted and Twilight watched as everyone cringe from the shout.

"I'm going to the frontlines at Sweet Apple Acres to get your friends. Come along if you want but don't let my scariness cause you second thoughts." Steeltrix suddenly snarled as he began to trot away.

"Steeltrix! Wait up!" Shouted Twilight as she looked at her friends and said, "Come on! We better go with him!"

And they all sighed as they followed Steeltrix off to the frontlines.