A silver light in the dark

Smoke washes over the field in waves. Even under a half-moon, the light it casts catches the armor of the fallen who lay dead and motionless. A young Celestia and Luna gallop hard toward the sounds of the battle in the valley beyond. Tartarus had come to Equestria. Horrid, clawed, misshapen creatures battle ponies in every direction. Small winged beasts dart back and fourth, they tear pegasi from the sky and scratch at their faces and eyes. The smell of brimstone permeates the nostrils of all in attendance. Many soldiers fight and win their encounters, despite being grossly outnumbered. Other soldiers aren't so lucky, they are caught and drug into one of the dozen rifts, which had opened up in the ground.

A battle cry echoes across the field. Queen Galaxia and her captain stand back to back, cleaving and crushing all who came near. The Queen raises her warhammer and shouts a word of power. The battlefield lights up with holy fire from the sky. For a moment, the blood stained valley is as bright as the morning sunrise. The fire consumes an entire group of enemy, leaving all other demons blinded. The captain holds up his enchanted silver anklet, the sign of is Paladin-hood, and shouts as well. Despite him being an earth pony, there's magic in these words, ancient magic. Ponies who had staggered and fallen, pull themselves up and their wounds begin to heal. They stand, ready to fight by their queen's side once again.

Celestia and Luna ride toward their mother, slashing and stabbing the dazed demons with their arcane blades along the way. Celestia hesitates for a moment, but it's enough. A fallen monster reaches for her leg, tripping her sending her toppling to the ground in a flurry of flying limbs. The Queen notices instantly.

“Tia, Lulu?" The queen quickly looks between the two mares. "What are you doing here!?”

Luna parries two creatures, cutting them both down with one wide arc of her sword. She helps her sister to her hooves.

Celestia snarls. “Mother, we told you we can fight!”

The queen begins to yell again but stops and turns an ear to the wind. Her eyes jerks to the outskirts of the battle where she spots a ring of hooded figures, chanting. She turns back to her daughters.

“You want to help?! Stop them! Do NOT let them finish!”

Tia nods and looks at Luna, they rear up and gallop hard toward the chanters.

“Sister, look!” Luna shouts, pointing toward the center of the circle where an enormous rift was beginning to form.

Celestia slashes downward, dropping one of the defenseless chanters. Luna runs down another, wincing as her hooves crush the pony's chest. The two continue dancing around the circle, felling one right after the other until Celestia reaches the final figure. Inches from dealing the fatal blow, the chanter stops and the ground explodes. The hooded figure is consumed in the blast. The shock wave sends Celestia flying back into the trailing Luna. The sisters shake off the hit and stagger to their hooves. A giant claw as long as a pony's forearm grips the rim of the rift. A creature nearly three stories tall slowly rises out of the flames.

The queen's captain arrives at the edge of the pit and brings his sword to bear.

"You shall not win this day creature." He says calmly, shaking his head. He turns his eyes to Luna and gives her a wink. She blushes and turns away slightly. Her champion was here.

The demon is the first to move, he inhales a deep breath and unleashes a torrent of flames at the captain. He gracefully hops left, still not taking his eyes off the creature. Upon landing, he springs forward, leaping across the pit, landing a deep wound in the hip of the monster. It shrieks a cry of pain as the enchanted metal bites into its blacked flesh. The two were evenly matched at first, the demon slicing at the pony but only hitting air. The captain took this opportunity to cut and stab at the offending hand, slicing off its pointer claw. The monster howled in protest. As the skirmish went on however, the demon scored a few lucky strikes. The cuts were small, but they were enough. The evil beast had a paralytic poison in its claws. The captain did his best to fight the beast despite not being able to move but it proved too much for him.

The large demon, seeing his victory imminent, smiles and lets out a frightening laugh. The massive claw glows red and swipes at him. The metal armor splits under the attack. To the princesses there seemed to be no pain. The creature had killed him instantly. He brings his gored claw up to his mouth and licks, slowing turning his eyes to Luna.

“No”  Luna whimpers, Tears welling up in her eyes.  Her captain, her Paladin... Her love.  The only pony left that was more powerful than he, was mother. The strongest pony on the face of Equis... was cut down like wheat at harvest.

“Tia, get your sister out of here, NOW!” The queen commands, positioning herself between the demon and her daughters.

“Myyy, Myy.” The large demon says in a golden voice. “How old you have gotten my queen.” He bows low still waist deep in his hole. His claws and mouth dripping with the fresh blood of her captain.

“Tia!” The queen repeats, still not taking her eyes off the towering creature.

“Oh and who is this?” The demon asks, peering over the queen's head at the two young Alicorns. “My queen, you have been busy." He winks at her. "Hmm, they have their father’s strong chin, his magnificent horn... humph everything”  He laughs a deep, rich laugh that vibrates the air.

"Abomination! Do not DARE speak of my husband in front of me! He gave his life to protect his family!" Queen Galaxia screams.

"Oh yes my queen... I know." The demon grin never leaving his horrid face. He reaches into his pit and tosses out a mangled hunk of onyx colored pony armor. He smiled again as understanding crept its way to her face. His sadistic eyes soaking in her grief.

“Mother we can fight!” Luna insists, readying a spell. Celestia nods, agreeing and raising her magic blade. Luna ached for the blood of the creature.

Galaxia turns with tears in her eyes and her last sweet smile on her lips; she speaks to the two loves of her life. “My beautiful Sun. My stunning Moon… I need you to live.”

Luna looks at her mother with confusion, when she finally realizes what her mother is saying it was too late. Before Luna can protest, Celestia's blade winks out. She uses all the magical strength she had left to restrain Luna and drag her up on her back. With tear filled eyes and knowing in her heart she gallops away. This is the last time either one of them will see their mother again. The Queen drops her head and pick up her beloved captain’s sword. With both warhammer and broadsword gripped in her magic, she shouts another battle cry and charges towards the fiery pit.