Chapter I: A garden of statues
THE RETURN OF THE DARK LEGION
Chapter One – A garden of statues
I
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were exploring the surroundings of Celestia and Luna, their princesses and rulers, former castle, somewhere at the fringes of Everfree Forest, hell-bent looking for something that could bring them their cutie marks; it was quite advanced in the evening and all was getting dark.
“How are we going to get cutie marks here?” asked Sweetie Bell, visibly nervous.
“Yeah, ah don’t think we’d get one for getting lost in the forest” exclaimed Applebloom “Perhaps we should get back, pronto”
“Fraidy kitties, we have nothing to fear here” said Scootaloo, trying to calm her friends “Besides, if we want to get our CM’s, we must get radical, more than we have been or tried before”
The other two fillies gazed each other and continued after Scootaloo, not noticing night was falling and that the road was, each passing moment, darker and harder to follow.
After a short time of wandering, Scootaloo gazed this way and that, as if looking for something but it was useless.
“Acknowledged, gals, we are lost!” sighed desperately Applejack’s kid sister.
“What do we do now?” sobbed Sweetiebelle,“They’ll never find us here”
“Let me think, let me think, will you?” puffed Scootaloo, more nervous by the moment “What would Dash do in such a case? Mmm… I’ve got it: girls, raise me over your backs.”
Sweetiebell and Applebloom looked at each other and shrugged, accepting their fate. Standing side by side, they allowed Scootaloo to climb over the improvised pyramid/launching pad and jumped as high as she could, flapping frenzily her wings; alas, her efforts just raised her a couple of feet, landing heavily over her friends.
“Oooooohhhh! It’s useless, girls; haven’t the foggiest of where are we.”
Aw, come on, there MUST be a way of getting out of here” said Sweetiebelle.
“Wait a sec, I have an idea” smiled Applebloom “We can make a fire; perhaps AJ and the others will see us…. Just need a place where we can do it, so it doesn’t spread.”
Scootaloo raised as if hit by a lightning bolt.
“I know where! I saw the perfect place, just before going down, follow me!!”
Little pegasus stormed road down, followed by her enthusiastic friends also at full gallop behind her. They advanced some 100 feet till they arrived to a small clear; getting some firewood, they formed a crude pyramid. Applebloom began to scrap two pieces of wood, one against the other.
“Do you know how to make a bonfire?” asked Scootaloo.
“Applejack taught me, but is just for emergencies” A few minutes later, a small flame crackled and a short time later they had a happily burning fire.
“Now to wait they come for us!” said triumphantly Applebloom
II
Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash raced to Everfree Forest, searching for the fillies; they knew they had to arrive quickly, before the flames of the bonfire would be out or, worst, began to spread out of control.
“Thanks for a-coming with me, gals” said Applejack “The moment I saw the fire, knew them gals were in trouble”
“Nothing to thank about, hon” replied Rarity “as older sisters, is our duty.”
“Less chattering, more moving, you are as fast as molasses” mocked Rainbow Dash “have to hurry.”
“Chill a bit, hotshot” said Rarity “Running in this darkness is not easy, barely can distinguish my own mane.”
“Remember the way are taking, ladies” counseled AJ “This part o’ the forest is thicker and more treachorous than or’nary, we haven’t explored here yet.”
“Another day we can do it; meanwhile, for the kids!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.
The ponies advanced, steady in their purpose, taking the trail, following the bonfire’s grayish-white smoke.
III
The three fillies lied down around the warm flames, as bored as they came, while added more firewood to maintain the bonfire alive.
“This is more boring than the Marejor’s speeches” yawned Scootaloo “Any idea of how to pass time?”
“We can’t” Replied Applebloom “We have to wait the girls arrive here, looking for us”.
“I am also bored… and hungry” sighed Sweetiebelle.
Quietly, Applebloom raised and began to check their whereabouts, to see if she could find something to eat; without a second thought, she passed some shrubbery and found a trail half choked by the shrubs and dead branches. Without a word, she began to walk through it…
Suddenly, a few yards ahead she found herself before a stone construction, almost covered by scores of weeds and vines, a building reminding her a fort of some kind; crossing the entrance arch, she reached a wide courtyard, full of vine-entagled statues. The little filly watched the stone sculptures, noticing with a dash of pure fright many had terrified expressions: wherever she turned, she found more statues, all with naked terror or unabashed sadness in their faces. Beginning to desperate, trying to flee from the place, she crashed against another statue, bigger than the rest.
It was a stallion, a huge unicorn stallion standing on his hind legs, screaming, wearing a battle armor quite similar to the one used by the Royal Guard. He was covering his face with a foreleg, a failing defense against some unavoidable, impeding doom.
All pretense of bravery was scattered to the winds; in blind panic, the little filly fled from that accursed courtyard.
Meanwhile, the older ponies had arrived to the bonfire; they saw Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle… but no trace from Applebloom. Applejack began to desperate.
“Kiddies, where is mah sister?”
Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle gazed each other.
“Why, she is here right he…” Both turned around, noticing for the first time their teammate had vanished
All turned around and began to search desperately, but without results.
“Pay attention, gals, we must spread and track here before it is too late” began Applejack, ordering a full scale search “Rainbow, fly overhead to se if you can locate them; Rarity, use a spell to light the area! Am gonna…
At midsentence, her little sister bolted cannonball-like from the bushes and rammed her head-on in her blind race. Both rolled head over heels in the floor. One second later, Aplejack hugged her little sister with all her forces.
“Where in tarnation were you?!? Where?!? I was death worried; never, NEVER pull this stunt again, d’you hear me?!?” sobbed she.
“Sorry, sister, but I found something… p-please, follow me.”
All followed the trail than Applebloom had discovered, arriving to the gloomy statue garden. The place exuded a tenebrous, suffocating atmosphere.
“What a bunch of… of weird statues; who could have left them here?” Asked Rainbow Dash.
“Whoever sculpted them, lacks the minimal sense of taste” snorted Rarity “Just watch them; I’d never ornate my home with such as these”
“Nobody of these is familiar ta me; besides, they seem pretty old” said Applejack
The ponies forwarded to the construction at the bottom of the yard: it was a small battlement, quite in the style the ones at Their Highnesses ancient castle, at the rear of same. They reached a heavy wooden door, locked with heavy padlocks and rusted chains. Beside there was a wall with a cryptic sentence on it: “Noctum gladius ets”.
“Can’t understand that sentence, somebody here knows that language?” asked Rarity.
“Not da foggiest, sugarcube” replied AJ
“Don’t look at me, I’m not a brainie” snorted Rainbow “Though I know who certainly is!”
All turned, nodding. They well knew whom they’d see to share their finding.
“Well gals, let´s get back. It’s kinda late” said Applejack to her friends; turning to the fillies, she added sternly “Better this to be a lesson for the buncha you: don’t get exploring where yer li’l noses shouldn’t be. Get it?”
“Yes” answered meekly the three kids.
Applejack traded her stern gaze for a happy one and all left the place.
Chapter II: Noctum gladius ets
Chapter Two: “Noctum gladius ets”
I
From Princess Twilight’s library came the noises that signaled a hell of a ruckus: magically she opened a book, checked it and sent it aside, time after time, as she did when was enthusiastic about something. Floor was literally carpeted with books, while her friends watched amused… from a safe place. Spike bring new books but no sooner he had stockpiled them at one side, when Twi was alreading checking them. After a while, the new princess closed the last volume.
“Sorry, girls” uttered a defeated Twilight Sparkle “I have checked and rechecked the subject, but haven’t found any references to either sentence or statues.
“Can it be” replied Rainbow Dash “That they are ancient than your books?”
“I’m afraid so” replied Twilight, “perhaps is something even older than Ponyville itself”
“What if it’s something never meant to be known?” mumbled a frightened Fluttershy.
“Could well be” said Twilight “There is a lot of dark knowledge out of reach for many but the most gifted and studious and directly forbidden to anypony else. It’s the only thing I can thing about”
“Hey, what if you ask Princess Celestia?” said Spike, lifting some books “You have a meeting with her today, don’t you? You could ask her, especially if it’s related with her former castle”
“Spike, you are a genius!” laughed Twilight, attracting him with her magic and hugging him happily, making him both happy and blushing “I’ll do so and get answer from a more trusted source. If somebody knows Equestria’s ancient history, that one is her”
“We’ll await yer answer impatiently, sugarcube” said Applejack
“Better with muffins, wait is sweeter” said Pinkie Pie, munching one; to their collective amazed “how-did-she-do-that” gaze, she raised her eyebrows “What? I bought them before coming!”
Hilarity engulfed the room, while Pinkie devoured muffins left and right.
II
Evening was falling over Canterlot; Twilight approached to Princess Celestia’s castle aboard a carriage like the one that had taken her to Ponyville that first time, also pulled by two robust Pegasis guards. Overflying the castle twice, as protocol demanded, they descended softly, before the main entrance. Twilight debarked, flanked by the reverence of the winged guards. She walked slowly, deliberatedly, toward the ornate, huge doors, whose bronze panels depicted several scenes from Equestria’s long past: the arrival, the migrations, the dreaded Winter Famine and… she blushed: her battles with Nightmare Moon and Discord. Her eyes moistened for a moment: Relentless foes yesterday, her best friends today, notwhitstanding her five beloved companions: Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash … and her sweet Spike.
Two elite guards stood at attention before the heavy blades. She remembered well their silver armors, even from the time she was just a student: Cygnus Damocles Squadrons, the best of the best of the Princess Celestia´s personal Royal Guard.
“I am here to see Princess Celestia”
“Princess Twilight, Her Majesty awaits you” said one of the guards, bowing his armored head.
Both Cygnus Damocles stepped aside, bowing deeply their heads as a reverence for the newest princess in Canterlot. The young alicorn didn’t get accustomed yet to the royal treatment given her by every guard and servant in the place… even by those who in days past had been friends, companions and accomplices in her many adventures. Moving downstairs, she arrived to the main hall, where the royal throne formed the cuppola of a cascade of scarlet and mahogany carpets, leading from the hall floor to Princess Celestia’s presence. Equestria’s sovereigness descended to meet the new princess.
“Princess Twilight” hailed she with her characteristic smoothing and motherly tone, while she caressed her former student with her head. “I am quite pleased with your arrival. I am glad you have come”
“Pleasure is mine as well, my Princess” replied the little alicorn, bowing herself slightly to her former mentor.
“Pass, please. I have an exquisite tea and your favorite pastries as well, so we can chat”
Leaving the main hall, both alicorns entered into a small but comfortable room with a center table, delicately prepared harbored a Haybarian porcelain tea kettle, specially prepared watercress sandwiches with various Hors D’ouvres and delicate, almost translucent dishes; flanking the luxurious set there was two swan feathers-filled pillows for both princesses to rest. Using her magic, Celestia served tea for both; making themselves comfortable, they drank silently, leaving the tea cups over the table.
“Tell me, my dear, is there any affair you’d like to discuss with me?”
“In fact, it is” replied Twilight “My friends found something near your former castle and I haven’t been able to find anything in my books that could dispel our doubts… I’d like to know if you can help us with this”
“Of course, my little one” replied Celestia, raising her cup to take another drink “What information do you need?”
“Well, the first thing we want to know is… who placed a lot of statues amidst a deserted fortification, and the second, if you know what these words mean… ahem… hope to pronounce as it is… ‘Noctum gladius ets”
Upon hearing the words, Celestia inmediately spat the tea, almost choking in the attempt; she left the tea cup aside, while ringing a little bell with her magic. A royal guard appeared and flanked her.
“Guard, tell my sister, Princess Luna, I request her presence at once” ordered she with an unnatural, stark tone.
“Aye, Your Highness!” replied the guard, leaving the hall at once.
Twilight was confused; never before had seen such a change of mood in her mentor.
“I am sorry, Princess Celestia, I apologize. It wasn’t my intention to offend you or anger you in any way” whispered she, lowering her head.
Celestia approached Twilight, caressing her right shoulder with her right forehoof.
“Nothing to be ashamed of or to offer apologies for, Princess Twilight” said Celestia, retaking her sweet tone “You just touched something even I had forgot for a long time; this is the moment to resolve it. I’m afraid we’ll finish this tea in another moment”.
Princess Celestia raised, returning to the throne room, followed by her faithful student, now with more questions than answers.
III
Both princesses returned to the throne room; Celestia returned to her throne with Twilight beside her. Once they sat, Equestria’s sovereigness began to talk with her disciple.
“One of the duties you will have as princess is to face challenges that will put your courage, strength and beliefs to an acid test, as I did in her moment with my sister. This story comes from the dawn of Equestria itself: our nation was passing one of its most critical moments: as a new princess, you are in the duty of knowing all about our kingdom, its dark history included”
Nearly at the same time Celestia finished her speech, Princess Luna arrived, her stature serious and refined at the same time, but her fine features veiled by a subtle expression of concern.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle, it’s a delight to have you among us once again” began she, doing a reverence, as protocol demands “Sister, I received your call and I came at once; what affair requires my presence so immediately?”
“Approach further, my beloved sister; we must talk about something that pertains us both, especially you… something that cannot be delayed further”
Luna neared the throne, so as to finish almost face-to-face with her sister. Twilight was between them, watching attentively, eager to know what followed.
“Noctum gladius ets” whispered solemnly the ruler of Equestria
Luna was shocked upon hearing the phrase, an uttering ancient as time, but one she remembered perfectly well.
“Tia…… do you mean…….the Dark Legion?
“Yes, little sister, I refer to them”
Twilight observed both, having no idea of what were they talking about. Celestia turned to see her disciple and began to talk again, remembering eons old events.
“See, Twilight, centuries ago, when Canterlot was a young kingdom, we lived a very dangerous time, practically in war with every other kingdom, country or colony, we faced multiple enemies… danger was present day and night, our lives all –both rulers and people- in perpetual risk; Royal Guard itself wasn’t enough for our permanent protection. As an aditional measure for our safety, two elite groups were created, far older than Cygnus Damocles itself: For my protection and under my command was the Golden Legion. For Luna’s protection, under her direct command was... the Dark Legion!”
“Dark Legion was one of the many armies I have had the privilege of commanding” said Princess Luna “Strong, stalwart warriors, always ready to give their lives for me and the kingdom. I commanded them in countless battles, from all of which we emerged triumphant. They were famous – and dreaded – because they never retreated and didn’t stop before anything or anyone till their objective was achieved. They knew how to strike fear in our foes’ hearts and respect among our allies: the Gryphon Empire, Procyonia, Swandor, Aerie, Vulperia*… They were commanded by a mighty unicorn, legendary General Grey Shadow, a superb military strategist, who led the Legion to victory after victory against our enemies. Always loyal, always obedient, he was beside me in even the worst moments, following all my orders without a complaint. A warrior as I never had seen before, utterly devoted to my personal protection. He created the oath of the Dark Legion, and wrote it in an ancient, elfic-like language spoken a long time ago in Canterlot… it was like this: “Night is my sword, Moon is my shield, Darkness my armor, Stars my cloak; let our enemies fear the night, our friends respect it and our protected ones venerate it, we will defend the honor and glory of our kingdom and our princess, we will offer our own life before surrendering to the enemy, long life to the night, long life to Princess Luna, long life to Equestria”
*Kingdoms of Raccoons, Swans, Eagles and Foxes (more details coming soon)
“Even so” Luna paused briefly “that loyalty was their doom as well”
“Wha… what happened, Princess Luna?” Asked Twilight terrified.
“Nightmare Moon” said Celestia, complementing her sister.
“When I… I turned into Nightmare Moon, I adressed the Dark Legion and ordered them to swear loyalty to their new sovereigness; for my surprise, all the legion -and Grey Shadow as well- did so, because their tradition commanded them to follow their new princess, no questions asked. The order they received was…” Luna hesitated, full of shame for her following words “….destroy Canterlot, raze all in their path, spread darkness and destruction across all Equestria… that order was to be fulfilled once I defeated Celestia, so they were to await me to direct the final strike or continue, and avenge me, if I fell in battle. Nevertheless, I was defeated and banished to the moon. From there on, I didn´t know what happened; I had forgotten their very existence, till now you mention them. I guess they were defeated a long time ago and they only exist in… oblivion” finished she, meekly.
“Not exactly” said Celestia “You don’t know the rest of the story”
Luna turned to face her sister, amazement permeating her face, almost demanding to know what had happened, what was that part of the tale she ignored and that soon would be revealed. Celestia retook the story from the point Luna had finished it and began to evocate the ancient memories once again…
“Well, you see, after I… banished you to the moon, the Golden Legion came with the news of Dark Legion’s orders, so I raced to meet them before their attack was launched. I tried to persuade them of the futility of their orders, that Nightmare Moon had been defeated, that they should surrender… but all was in vain: their oath forced them to follow their orders to the hilt: since they were determined to continue that madness, they left me no choice… I used the remain of the Elements of Harmony´s magic and turned them into stone, and they have been so for more than a millenium. I ordered all their records must be destroyed and their legacy hidden, so our subjetcs, our people, would never know their heroes had turned into traitors, jeoparding thus the fragile peace we had finally obtained after all those years of war and bloodshed…
“Then, they are still alive?!?” Luna sprang to her hoves in a blink “ALIVE?!?”
“Aye, my sister, indeed they are but their loyalty to your former self makes them twice as dangerous; that’s why I haven’t freed them. I must acknowledge that, with the pass of centuries, I had forgotten them completely; even so, their worst punishment is to have been erased form their own people’s memory, the people they had sworn to protect. Now you are back, though, we can seek a solution, so we can free them from their stone slumber.
“The less we can do, sister” nodded Luna “After all, is my fault for them to be in such a state”
“Princess Twilight” Celestia turned to her disciple “It´s my wish that you and your friends come with us; perhaps we will need your help to face this”
“Of course, Your Highness” nodded Twilight “I’ll seek them all at once and return in no time. We can meet in the premises of the old castle”
“So be it, go on and take care of yourself, my faithful student” smiled Celestia
Twilight made a sligth reverence to the princesses and departed at full gallop, leaving Luna and Celestia alone in the main hall. Once the Young alicorn left the place both went to their rooms.
“Prepare your best elements from the Night Guard” ordered Celestia “I’ll check my own; we’ll go this very evening”
Both sisters walked one beside the other, in silence. Suddenly, Luna broke the uncomfortable, tense silence.
“You know that persuade them will not be easy, don’t you? I know them well; for sure they’d prefer death first and will not fall without a fight… and that could be a butchery among the Royal Guard”
“I hope and pray, we shan’t have to reach such extremes, my sister” sighed Celestia “Just the thought of combat against them frightens me, remembering what they could do with their enemies in battle”
“I agree. Their fame, the all-conquering fear they instilled, even within the kingdom… I know that… very well”
Both retired to their bedrooms by different aisles, but with a single thought in mind.
END OF CHAPTER TWO
Chapter III: Awakening from a stony slumber
Chapter Three: Awakening from a stony slumber
I
Evening was falling with merciless pace near the ancient and broken castle, former quarters for the mystical sisters; both princesses, as well as Twilight and her friends, were near the dread Garden of Statues, the very same place where the Dark Legion had met its fate. All followed the trail found by Applebloom till they found themselves face to face with the former military headquarters. Scores of statues were scattered along the courtyard, all with sad expressions, anguished gazes. Both Celestia and Luna fell very sad reliving the drama a millennium before had taken place over these very same cobblestones, musing and thinking in the fate suffered by these warriors in the futile fulfillment of Nightmare Moon’s insane commands.
A small squad of soldiers from the Royal Guards and the Night Guards surrounded the perimeter, in case a battle started, and behind and at their flanks, a squad of Cygnus Damocles warriors, with their hooves crushing the cobblestones, state-of-the-art armors bristling with magically loaded assault weaponry, virtual four-legged living tanks, provided an additional measure of protection… and an avalanche of power enough to stop in its tracks practically anything foolish enough to face a strike force famed and feared across a score of kingdoms, just in case of the worst scenery happen.
“Uuuuuyyyyyyyyy... look how many statues” whistled Pinkie Pie, looking and prancing to and front of them.
“They seem… so… so… terrifying” shuddered Fluttershy, almost grazing the cold stones in fright.
Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity, having been here previously, nodded, concurring with the mauve-and-gold sweet little pegasus.
“It’s far more impressive, awe-inspiring than you had told me, girls” said Twilight “I can’t imagine what they have had felt after more than a millennium of foul imprisonment.”
Luna and Celestia moved to a safe distance, gazing the Stone figures. Luna looked with immense melancholy the statue that was, indeed, her old general.
“My loyal Grey Shadow, you were the best of my warriors: wholesome, loyal and brave, you didn’t deserve this destiny.”
Celestia lowered her head, agreeing with her sister.
“It’s time, my sister” said Equestria`s sovereigness. Both retreated a couple of steps.
“Princess Twilight” asked Celestia, addressing her star student “Did you study thoroughly the spell I sent you?”
“Indeed I did so, Your Majesty, I memorized it entirely” replied the little violet-hued pony, approaching her master.
“My dear ponies” said Celestia with a sweet but anxious voice “I beg you to stay at a safe distance for your own safety: we don´t know what could happen.”
The rest of the ponies bowed in obedience and protected themselves behind a tree, far enough to be safe but near enough to watch the proceedings and, if the need arose, to succor their friend and princesses.
“Very well, let’s begin” nodded Celestia.
The three princesses closed their eyes and began a summon an incredibly, ancient, powerful and inspiring magic, channeling through their horns a magic as powerful as that of the Elements of Harmony themselves, the mystical alicorn’s might complemented by that of the new princess, Twilight Spakle. After a few moments of concentration, gathering the necessary magic, the three released an energy beam, as blinding as sun itself, bathing the whole courtyard with an eerie rainbow-hued mist. Little by little, the blinding light began to diminish, fade and die. The three princesses checked carefully the statues, which seemed unchanged. They continued their watch for a couple of minutes… only the cold whistle of the evening breeze and the noises of nature released around them and throughout all Everfree Forest hailed them. All of a sudden, some statues began to crack.
“Stay alert, troops” ordered Celestia to the Royals Guardsand the Night Royal Guards who was behind them. “Sis, behind me!”
“WHAAAAT?!? Forget it!! I’ll do no such thing!!” replied Luna angrily “It’s MY duty to face them; They are MY troops, MY RESPONSIBILITY!! I have no reason to remain hidden.”
Celestia turned, watching sternly her kid sister, who scowled momentarily.
“Hear me, my love” continued Celestia sternly “They are expecting Nightmare Moon, not you; if they choose to attack, I’ll not let them hurt you. If necessary, I’ll face them first: DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
Luna didn’t answer, merely nodding to her sister’s orders.
III
One by one, all statues began to crack, freeing the warriors trapped inside. The snap of the stone mingled pitifully with the wailings of the ponies free at last from their stone coffins, a spectacle both terrifying and astounding. Luna was especially aware about her former general, the last one to be free amongst a soul-shattering wail. Ponies and princesses were transfixed, rooted to their spots, watching how the former captives fell down with a dull thud, totally drained. Some struggled to regain footing, while others just stood down. They seemed confused, trying to assimilate what was happening. General Grey Shadow stomped his four hooves on the cobblestones, struggling to regain footing.
“UUUURRGGHHHHH, my head… where… where am I?”moaned Grey Shadow, caressing his head with his right forehoof, turning to see his groggy troops, still under the effects of the awakening spell.
“General Grey Shadow” said Celestia, stepping forward a few feet “Long time no see you.”
“Princess... Princess Celestia?” asked the groggy stallion; a blink later he fixed an angry gaze upon his rightful ruler and remembered the entire scenario trapped among his remembrances, an eternity back in time: “Aye… I… remember… remember all what transpired that day… VERY, VERY WELL!!”
Suddenly, Grey Shadow recovered his martial air and changed to an attack posture; though he still appeared dizzy and hesitating, he gazed Celestia with a fury born from the pits of Hell.
“Hear me, General, more than 1000 years have passed since Nightmare Moon was defeated, it’s time for you to divest of your weapons, her orders are not valid anymore.”
“LIES! THE ORDER STILL STANDS FOR US!!” roared Grey Shadow, eyes ablaze “And, as long as I still breathing, nothing will prevent us from fulfilling it!”
“It’s just the truth; more so, as you can see, my sister is again Princess Luna. Check yourself.”
She lowered her left wing, revealing her younger sister’s presence. Luna stepped forward a couple of strides and watched her former officer.
“General Grey Shadow, cease and desist from this ludicrous order. Nightmare Moon is no more. You must surrender to avoid a massacre.”
The grey unicorn gazed her sideways.
“Is some kind of insane joke?!? This weakling cannot be our Princess Luna! She was powerful, strong, imposing terror and respect amongst her subjects! This is a cheap imitation, an impostor!!!”
Luna was astonished: she couldn’t believe the same stallion that had cared for her and protected her for years wouldn’t recognize her; she turned around, struggling not to burst in tears.
Celestia covered her sister with her own wing, shieldlike, seeing combat unavoidable.
“Last warning, General! Desist from carrying out that order. If you force me, I’ll have no choice but to send the Royal Guard against you and place you under arrest.” Celestia wasn’t the one to make hollow threats; if Grey Shadow wanted things the hard way, it suited her fine.
“Those weaklings?!? Those… those… greenhooves?!? You can bring all your vaunted Royal Guard if you want! Not even all of them will stop us! You are welcome to try; we’ll show them the power that is Dark Legion’s birthright, why we were feared, why we were called “The Night Terror”, smiled wickedly the old unicorn. Using his magic, he started to levitate two huge knives from their scabbards at his flanks: For the Princess´s amazement, the two blades was morphed into two long, curved swords, one was pure white, almost translucent, a straight, double-edged blade; the other, as black as the starless sky above them, a blade that widened as it curved, ending in a sharp and serrated point, something designed to tear apart flesh from bone in the most cruel way, his legendary weapons, ”Day Justice” and “Nigh Vengance”; with this huge swords, Grey Shadow was ready to fight.
“TROOPS!! PHALANX FORMATION!!” cried he.
His troops were still trying to stand up and apprehend what was transpiring.
“I SAID PHALANX FORMATION, NOOOOOOOOOOOOWW!!!” His powerful neigh echoed along the entire place, a martial, irresistible call to arms, equal to the Canterlot traditional royal voice, used as well as Luna herself.
The warriors finally reacted and formed behind their leader: at least 50 seasoned fighters, between bat ponies, earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi, both stallions and mares… and they weren’t alone!! At the rear, the unequivocal silhouettes of at least two griffons, as well as a young armored dragon at their side, all following to the hilt his General’s commands.
“Great!” puffed Rainbow Dash for herself “As if Haytila here weren’t enough, his gang of freaks has its own Close Air Support!”
“Prepare for imminent battle!” – ordered Grey Shadow
Claws and muzzles grabbed dreary-looking war weapons: Axes, swords, spears, crossbows… all Middle Ages equipment… all perfectly workable, as deadly as the day they were forged in rage and fire ten centuries back… Without warning, beside the phalanx, a small, delicate filly appeared; she was as young as the CMCs, wearing a full combat armor. Such an incongruous vision made Twilight’s friends leave their post behind the tree and approach her to see better the apparently so out of place cutie.
“Daaawwww, how beautiful!” smiled Rarity
“She is so petite, delicate and adorable!” Fluttershy thought she was seeing a new CMC, as zany and full of happy zest as Applebloom and the rest.
“Aaaaaaww, she is as tender and delightful as a cream muffin!” Pinkie Pie’s eyes sparkled, considering a new partner for jokes and merriment.
“Now, mah stars and garters… what’s a pipsqueak like her doing here?” wondered Apple Jack.
“Aw, come on, AJ! Perhaps serving tea, she doesn’t seem with strength enough to sharpen a pencil!” mocked Rainbow Dash.
One of the warrior stallions approached to the little filly, and whispered to her ear: “Show them”.
The small filly grabbed with her teeth a Morning Glory, a middle-age weapon, extremely heavy. Raising her head with disdainful easiness (and, to general consternation, the deadly spiked ball as well) she began to twirl in it, faster and faster, until it was a lethal blur of forged iron and bronze: whatever entered in its radio of action would be pulverized… as a big rock, remnant of Grey Shadow’s millennia-old prison could attest a second later. The bone-jarring impact almost vaporized the boulder, now turned into a small mound of dust and pebbles. She turned to watch the numbed, mutually embraced Elements of harmony bearers with a fun-filled expression, smiling maliciously.
“Eeeeeerrrrrhhhh, I retract completely” stuttered a wild-eyed Rainbow Dash.
“Ok, she is a LOT less tender to me” said Rarity.
“She’s frightening!” whispered Fluttershy, hiding behind her friends
“Man!! I’d hate to meet her at a dark alley!” Applejack suddenly wished Bic Macintosh would be here… and considering that this micro-Haycules could probably tear him in half, wished he would better remain at home.
“If she does that to a rock, how’ll she do with a piñata?” Said Pinkie, while everyone, friend and foe alike, turned to see the pink pony, trying to find some sense in the words of the crazy filly: Griffins looked each other, Grey Shadow crossed glances with Celestia, the superstrong little filly with Applejack… and the shoulders shrug was unanimous “I didn’t understand a thing”.
“Enough of non-sense distractions” yell Grey Shadow, while he pointed his two swords to the princesses, “it´s time to finish this”.
Celestia noticed the imminent peril: a no mercy given battle was ready to unleash… and Grey Shadow by no means would be an easy enemy to tackle, much less defeat: his reputation as vanquisher of entire armies of centaurs, chimeras, changelings and virtually every other creature in Equestria with a name between “A” and “Z” preceded him… and, just to make things more interesting, the Chronicles stated he had faced King Sombra and his army… and had won! If the same texts were accurate, thought Celestia nervously, Sombra himself had escaped by miracle from a certain death. This would be a suicide mission, then.
“Twilight, Luna!! Behind me!!” ordered Celestia, taking some steps back. “Troops, prepare to defend your position” ordered to her Royal Guards and the Night Royal Guards,” no pony can´t left this place!!”
“Maintain the Phalanx! Once I begin my attack, stay behind me and advance; as soon as I am through with these meddlesome imposters, I will join you, and remember: eradicate anyone and anything in your path!!” finished Grey Shadow sharply.
He magically raised his two lethal swords and began the attack at once: Lightning-like he began to gallop directly against Celestia.
“FOR THE GLORY OF NIGHTMARE MOON!!” roared he at full stride; as one, his troops, screaming, yelling, neighing, advanced behind their commander, ready for a direct attack.
Celestia adopted a defensive posture, preparing her magic for a swift counterstrike, when Luna jumped before her, with her gaze steeled against the approaching army.
“Luna!! What are you doing?!? STAY BACK!!”
“Once more, oh sister of mine, I’ll resolve this! I am not a filly, NEVER UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER!!” screamed Luna, eyes blood-red. She watched her former general approaching like an avalanche, with his twin swords leaving vaporous contrails, one ivory-hued, the other as dark as midnight. She opened her powerful wings, bounced skywards till she almost vanished from view, jackknifed like an acrobat and dived straight toward the vanguard of the Dark Legion… and Grey Shadow!
Celestia gasped, terrified, and Twilight had forgotten to breath.
The Elements of Harmony bearers watched that scene, and Rainbow Dash, recognizing that maneuver, cried to her friends - “Brace yourselves! She’ll strike like a meteor!!”
Just in time! Luna delivered a mountain-crushing, all-shattering blow, its tsunami-like wave sending everyone flying head over heels, out of control: Grey Shadow and his swords tumbled all in different directions, while his troops rolled and tumbled and crashed like crazy domino pieces. The whole Everfree Forest shook and trembled, many of its inhabitants hugging each other, in near panic, convinced the world had come to its end. Nobody had expected all this: not Luna’s reaction or her devastating strike. The princess of the night rose gracefully, advancing majestic and terrible toward the falling unicorn, who was still struggling to come to his senses.
“GENERAL GREY SHADOW!!” roared she, with the traditional command voice of Canterlot, eyes ablaze with rage “HOW DO YOU DARE TO CHALLENGE YOUR SOVEREIGNESS AUTHORITY!! HOW DO… YOU… DARE TO DISOBEY DIRECT ORDERS!! AND WORST, TO INSULT YOUR PRINCESS, THE VERY SAME PONY YOU HAVE SWORN TO PROTECT WITH YOUR LIFE!! YOUR CONDUCT IS A DISGRACE, A SHAME FOR YOUR RANK!! YOU SHOULD BE EXECUTED ON THE SPOT FOR THAT BETRAY!!!”
Grey Shadow was in shock, paralyzed upon hearing such harsh statements, recognizing in each and every word the princess he known and served centuries ago.
“Princess Luna!! It’s really you, you are back!” said he, eyes full of tears.
“SHUUUUT UUUUP, YOU DOLT!!” – roared Luna, using her magic to bodily raise the fallen unicorn, moving him inch by inch over the stone-streaked ground until his pulsing neck grazed her royal horn, honed to razor-sharp keenness - “HEAR ME AND HEAR ME WELL!! NIGHTMARE MOON IS NO MORE; SHE HAS BEEN DEFEATED AND VANQUISHED FOR ALL ETERNITY!! THE ONLY PRINCESS OF NIGHT IT’S ME AND NOPONY ELSE!!! THEREFORE, FORGET THAT ABSURD ORDER AND SURRENDER YOUR WEAPONS IN THIS MOMENT, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWW!!!” finished Luna with a menacing tone, framed by the lightnings that streaked the bleak sky, and throwing the grey unicorn to the ground again.
“Aye, my Princess, at your command” replied he with a meek attitude, so different from his belligerent tone of before “Troops! This is you general speaking!! Weapons on the ground… we surrender to our sovereigness!!”
All at once left their weaponry on the ground and divested themselves of their armors, kneeling in reverence to the princess that had commanded them a millennia back…
“Princess Luna, forgive me by my reprehensible conduct… I… I don’t deserve your mercy… if it’s your decision me and my troops must be punished, we’ll accept our sentence with pride and resignation” muttered Grey Shadow, closing his eyes, ready for the penalty he deserved.
Luna approached her faithful guard, gazed him a couple of seconds and sat before him, as her sister had done when she herself had been freed from Darkness’s clutches by the Elements of Harmony. Touched by the gesture, her tone was sweeter, tranquilizing.
“No, my General, it’s me who owes you an apology… to you and all your soldiers”
Grey Shadow looked amazed his Princess, don’t wanting to believe this was the same Luna that had scattered the full Dark Legion alone some minutes ago.
“It’s my fault and mine alone, that you were punished so harshly. I should have managed things other way, with the maturity and strength a princess true must show; instead, I allowed darkness to flood me, my choices, my decisions, my very heart… I left it to take control, make the choices and involve you in something sinister and evil. It’s me who begs you for forgiveness, for my terrible orders... For my failure as your princess…” concluded Luna, closing her lovely eyes, lowering her head as well.
“We accept your apology with humility and joy, my Princess, if you accept ours for our failure as your guardians, allowing therefore placing Equestria in danger” continued Grey Shadow, his head low “My duty was to show you the mistake, convince you, to stop you… I permitted things to run out of control, so is my fault as well”
“Apology is gladly accepted. Please stand up, my general, my friend”
Both ponies stood face to face, head down eyes closed, in a formal salute; a few seconds later, they opened their eyes, smiling.
“My Princess, we await your orders. What do you wish us to do?” asked Grey Shadow.
“I offer you the opportunity of going forward: both of us are strangers in a new era, one we don’t know, to which we do not belong –to a certain extent – and both have the chance of start again, a new beginning, correctly. What do you say, general?” finished she with the happiest gaze anyone had seen on her in a long, long time.
“Your Highness, your wish is my command!” replied Grey Shadow, with a formal reverence.
Celestia had stayed at a prudential distance, unable to contain tears of pride, seeing how her sister had acted in a death or life situation: so mature, so brave… she dried her tears with a foreleg, advancing toward the Dark Legion, still bowed.
“Your Majesty, I owe you an apology as well by my rudeness… a general, an officer, must be that and a gentlehorse… I was a complete uncouth, a savage… I beg your pardon as well” he made a reverence to his sovereigness.
“What’s done, it’s done, General, apologies have been abundant and enough this day. The point here is to begin again, now we live in an era of peace and harmony, an era you should be ready to defend.”
“As in ancient times, as it was, is and it will be, we’ll do so with our lives… FOR OUR BELOVED PRINCESSES, FOR GLORIOUS EQUESTRIA!!” roared happily Grey Shadow.
“FOR GLORIOUS EQUESTRIA!!” -replied as one the Dark Legion.
Twilight approached her mentor; the Elements of Harmony bearers, seeing danger had passed, raced beside their friend.
“Princess Celestia, then is all… over?”
“Indeed it is, my dear Twilight: this only could be solved thanks to my courageous sister, her bravery and decisive movements: I am proud of you, my little sister… you showed the maturity and command presence worthy of a queen true” whispered Celestia, caressing tenderly her sister with her chin.
“Thanks, sister, I am also happy all it’s over and satisfactorily” replied Luna, caressing Celestia with her cheek.
“Now what will be of the Legion?” asked Twilight, watching the warriors chatting amiably with their counterparts from the Royal Guards of day and Night, which had been held in reserve by express command of Celestia herself “What will be of them?”
“They’ll have to adapt to this new age, as I am still doing” replied Luna “They’ll need time; 1000 years asleep… to find yourself a stranger in a strange land… a world so changed… but I am confident they’ll do well”
While they chatted, Grey Shadow approached silently, as if unwilling to interrupt their conversation.
“Permission to speak freely, my Princess” began shyly Grey Shadow.
“Permission granted, General” said Celestia with a voice tone as kind as a summer breeze.
“Now that we are free, we’ll need shelter, quarters… but our own are locked by a very powerful magic. It would be possible..?”
Before he could finish, Celestia advanced a few steps, forging a key from light itself with her magic: the luminous key flew to the padlock, entered in the keyhole… and produced another copy of itself, which promptly flew to the door’s lock: a twist, a clank and chains fell noisily to the ground while the door creaked softly, allowing the soft, silky light of the night to caress its interiors for the first time in ten centuries. Grey Shadow was openmouthed.
“Thanks a lot, my Princess” said Grey Shadow “If you allow us, we retire”
Both princesses nodded with a warm smile.
“VERY WELL, TEAM!! WE HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO, BARRACKS MUST BE CLEANED AND CONDITIONED!! AT MY COMMAND, ON THE DOUBLE…FORWARD, LEGION!!”
All warriors raised their right foreleg hailing their general, turned as one and began to march to the former fortress, following their leader. As soon as the last one entered, door closed and all was silent once more.
“Well, let’s return to Canterlot; let them be getting accustomed to their new surroundings” Celestia gazed the now closed quarters, still admired, impressed and proud of her sister
“I begin my appointed duties, sister” Luna opened her wings “As soon as I can, I’ll visit them to check their progress”
“We will go to sleep, my princess, it has been a really hard day” said Twilight, while her friends yawned, all bone-weary.
“Rest well, my little ones” replied Celestia sweetly.
When they began their march back home, Rainbow Dash felt a small tug in her tail. Turning around, she saw the little super strong filly, without weapon or chainmail, watching her with limpid blue eyes and a shy, sweet smile. From her former combat stance, not a trace could be found: she was only a child, a gifted child, looking for a place for those exceptional as she herself was…
“Would you like to be my friend?” said she, eyes bright in expectation “I don’t know anyone out of the Dark Legion and I would like to have someone to play with…”
Rainbow Dash barely contained her tears. Here was a little creature, a filly nice, pure, and eager of a friendship… “Why, of course, sweetie. Best friends forever… and I think I speak for everypony here: by the way, my name is Rainbow Dash, call me Dashie, ok?”
All the Elements of Harmony bearers nodded in unison:
“Mah name is Applejack; AJ for my friends”
“I am Rarity, i’m sure my sister will be your friend as well”
“Hehe… I am Fluttershy, honey…”
“And I am Pinkie Pie… WHEEE!”
“I´m Half Moon, nice to meet you all” said with a reverence. “By the way, my new friends” asked the little filly “… what is a piñata?”
Each and every gaze centered, maliciously, over the startled Pinkie Pie, each one with the same thought: “Let’s see how do you get out of this one, Miss Iron Tongue!”
All ponies returned home by different trails, Everfree Forest returned to night silence, only broken by the noises coming from Dark Legion’s newly inhabited quarters, where they prepared for a new life in a new world.
The End… for now !!!
