Look to the Stars

P.M. 989 Twenty-Fourth of March, Balder, Depths of Night

The rasping of blade against sheath, followed by a echoing click that reverberated over the bodies of the dead. Striding towards the door, a Thestral mare, her feet gently lapped at by the pools of blood now coalescing from the veins of the fallen. A trail of scarlet prints behind her, a small peaceful smile upon her face. The dark blue scale armor of the Lunar Guard cloaked her form; Luna's crescent moon embossed above her heart. Her left hand gently easing out a curved dagger, it's very outline alluding to a thirst, a hunger for life's blood inherent in this weapon of murder. Her right hand gently pushes open the door behind which the recently wed couple lay. Anticipation hammering in her veins as she approaches, eyes glinting, arm slowly stretching over the horned head of Freedom Oath, First Prince of Minoshin Kingdom. A sudden rolling across the bed forces her to halt, holding utterly still as Freedoms lady wife Silver Sanction tosses restlessly. After a minute turns to two and then three she slowly lowers the dagger over his throat and quickly snaps her hand back to her side cleanly severing the front half of her target's throat, opening three major blood vessels, destroying the voice box, and splitting open the windpipe. He thrashes awake trying to hold the wound, his consciousness fading into the abyss. All Silver sees is crimson as she screams out for help before the mare, her wings outstretched a visage of death smiling contently,  forever imprinted on Silver's mind. Silver wails before the mare disappears like a phantom down the hallway. The Thestral mare glides through the shadows, leaving behind an echoing song of blood and revolution. As she arrives under open sky, a small soft sigh, "Rest in peace", and into the night she fades, leaving only one living soul behind her.

P.M. 989, Twenty-eighth of March, Canterlot, half an hour before High Noon

"Starburst come in here right now!" Called out Twilight Sparkle, the tinge of distress clear to her daughter. She was adorned in her purple armor and robes, the chest plate emblazoned with her Fate Mark, the Star of Magic. Her hair put back into a long braid and eyes focused and seemingly devoid of her usual mirth. The Tome of the Archmage was suspended by chain against her hip. Here was Twilight as Star rarely saw her, leader of the Elements of Harmony, Champions of Equestria.

"Yes Mom,"  Starburst replied, quickly jogging into the barracks and changing out of her new golden armor and rushing to where her mother stood impatiently tapping her foot. "What's going on, foreign nobles being rowdy again?" Star inquired, slightly off put by her mother's out of character behavior.

" You could say that, Several important figures from Minoshia arrived at the castle today, including Prince Empyrean Pact." Her infamous lecture pose was now fully engaged "The talks will begin in half an hour and I am requiring that you attend."

Starburst let out a sigh "Diplomacy training, I take it?" Her mothers only response was a brief nod. "Alright then," the armor and serious guise now making sense but one thing stood out as off. " So what happened to Freedom's Oath? Wasn't he leading the negotiations before."

Twilight leans forward and pushes open the door revealing the royal dressing room. "Sit and let me brush through this mess you've made of your hair."  Star sits and accepts the hellish mix of fashion and archaic symbolism now adorning her in the traditional style. "Don't worry, I hate it too, but Minoshia still follows the old way and so when meeting them we will as well. Besides it does look rather fitting on you," and by all accounts Twilight was right. The armor of purple base mixed scale and plate with chain, the gold of her new allegiance covering her gauntlets, neck guard and shin plate.  The odd scale skirt adorned with her mothers colors and the arcane symbols of her office a deep purple. The chest plate of lighter purple, embossed with Starburst's Cutie Mark. a tri-colored axis star representing her talent for spreading fear into the hearts of others. The heavily adorned but usable heir's blade at her side and her massive wings out stretched, framed her form. The lean angles of her face and short cropped hair added to her appearance as a bird of prey.  "don't you look wonderful Starburst, Luna made the recommendation saying the former set didn't suit you."

A light chuckle. "I will have to thank her for that, and mom...you know that I can tell when you dodge a question, right?" a note of worry entering Stars voice as it wasn't like her mother to dodge such things.

"Alright, I am worried and as for why, you will know soon." Twilight's tone brooked no argument in a way only a mothers can as she leans forward and plants a kiss on her daughter's head. "Now, see you in a bit Star, I am going to meet up with your father and the others."

"Love you too mom," a smile tinged with worry still on Star's face as she walked towards where the other heirs would certainly be, her best friend included.

P.M. 989, Twenty-eighth of March, Canterlot, quarter of an hour before High Noon

On the other side of the palace strode an odd quartet. In the back a Minotaur, of age having in the least reached his fortieth year of life and more likely was nearing his fiftieth, grey peppering his otherwise black hair. His armor was simple and well used but cared for to the extreme as suited him, the old warrior that he was. Scars littered his form, legacies of battle with everything from griffin soldiers to wandering dragons. His demeanor was focused, his impressive mustache rippling, his nicked and battered horns adorned with the emblem of a legion legate, this was the Bulwark of Minoshia, Granite Barricade and currently he was watching his Prince and the others that had been sent by the king.

Looking forward at the others, he contemplated his companions. First ahead of him yet, the customary distance away from the Prince was Outer Balance, a shapely and thirty-something Minotress with silver highlight running through her hair, horns gently sloped, also adorned with a legate ring and light dragon scale armor covering her form mixed with the monastic robes common to her legion. A known emblem of beauty and a powerful fire shaman by all accounts, her demeanor was jovial and friendly, joking with their escort, a pair of spatha resting gently on her hips.

   Then, at the front, was the Prince,  well muscled, of average frame. His dark eyes were a emerald color uncommon in their kind. The tattoos spiraling his arms depicted a maze of thorns and vines, his breastplate of a fine make which adorned his chest, along with white ribbons of mourning and a red ribbon of retribution. His sharpened horns bore both a legate ring and the ring of first prince now his. A long bastards blade was strapped to his side, bleak in nature with the red ribbon hanging from the sheath. His demeanor was calm for now and yet fire still obviously burned in his heart and tone as he whispered quietly with the one next to him, the one that worried Granite the most.

  A figure adorned in a cloak black funeral shroud, its race not determinable, or indeed its gender, but it was no Minotaur, as it only stood at 5'8. It also lacked either wings or rune. Its clothing was strange under the shroud, leather in make with grayed metal riveted onto the armor, a dagger sheathed somewhere upon its form Granite was sure.  Worse was the death mask of purple crystal that adorned its face. Lines green and black running through it in thin veins, the eyes pitiless orbs of red. It was silent at times, not even its steps seemed to make a sound. In all ways it appeared a wraith and was already quite close to the young prince and the king. Granite had noted that it responded violently at mentions of disloyalty a thing that comforted ever so slightly, but Granite had to know what they were discussing so he strained his ears and listened.

" What do you think?" asked Prince Empyrean, his voice shaking ever so slightly.

The figure seemed to cock its head to the side and then in a strangely melodious voice that sounded as if it came from behind the listener " About the concepts that are bothering you?... I think they are irrelevant. All that matters is who is right."

Empyrean gazes at his companion slight irritation mixed with curiosity entering his voice "And how do you determine who is right?"

His companion chuckles then the gold plated escort call out "Here is the throne room. May your petition be considered fairly." A faint giggle emitted as Outer Balance gave him a peck on the cheek and they moved to enter. Granite collected himself. Now it was time to face the rulers of Equestria.

Starburst watched as the quartet entered and felt her stomach drop as she looked in detail at the Minoshian representatives. She noticed the Illusion also seemed to tense at the sight and Nidra seemed to little pale, but none of them could bring themselves to speak as Prince Empyrean bowed, if only a little, to Celestia and Luna.

"Greetings, Prince Empyrean and welcome. Would you like a seat? " spoke Celestia bringing warmth to any who heard her a sense of warmth, a feeling of kindness and peace but also power beyond mortal ken echoing off of her.

"No, lady Celestia it is not required. We will not be here long." Only a slight edge remained in Empyrean's voice. " As for our purpose here, we all know my brother was assassinated two weeks ago, and whether Princess Luna admits to it or not, it is clear that your sister either ordered the action, with or without your consent. Or perhaps she has a traitor among her Lunar guard that she is protecting, most likely from the Equestria First party."  He breathes deeply and lets the ripple of surprised mutterings and outraged spluttering wash through the lesser nobles and functionaries in attendance. His eyes taking in the shocked looks that swept the heirs and guards in the room. But to Star the looks of grim acceptance that entered her Parents and friends parents faces was the truly disturbing thing. The small grimace on her mother's face awakened unease in Star.

As then Luna stood and spoke not as a ruler but as an equal, honesty and hope ringing in her voice"Prince Empyrean, I assure you that we did not order this foul deed and are not protecting the one responsible for it and should we find them, they will be punished to the full extent of the law. The thing I know you are considering is born of pain. Do not let it blind you to what Freedom's Oath would have wanted. "

Star was worried now, what was happening, there was no way that the princess had done such a thing, and yet only Equestria would have profited from the act. This wasn't Sombra the tyrannical mad stallion, but grieved and wronged folk who were about to declare the first war on equestrian soil in over a thousand years.

"I know lady Luna you are a just and honorable ruler and I am sure you or your sister have reasons for what you have done, but my brother's blood is on one or both of your hands and that is not something I can forgive, even if that is what he would have wanted." A serious and cold look covered his face like a mask of flesh "And so on behalf of the nation of Minoshia and its crown, I declare war on Equestria and all allies of Equestria."

Then Outer Balance spoke, her voice ringing forth "The Spirits of Minoshia also cry out for vengeance for their fallen prince. Nature itself declares war upon you." Her face still smiling and her charm still fully there making what she said only more disturbing " May the wind rip at your wings, the ground swallow you up, the waters drag you into the deep, and the fire burn you away."

Then Granite spoke "The Legions of Minoshia willingly walk to war against you under the crown. Let you feel our wrath." His voice old and gruff full of conviction solid as the stone he was named for.

Finally, the specter spoke. "We the children of Minoshia grieve at the loss of our savior and shining knight. You asked me my prince what defines those who are right, I offer to you my answer, those who win. Those who remain when there enemy has vanished from this world. Let war decide who is right, for victory is truth."

Empyrean spoke one more time. "We will be taking our leave now, I await you on the battlefield, my blade thirsts for your blood" As they left the doors swung shut once closed putting them completely out of sight the room burst into panic. Except for the Princess who simply looked among themselves and sighed deeply before calming the nobles and giving orders. Star eventually turned and left thinking over what she had seen, war had come and she would be fighting it the long peace was over.