Twilight was in complete shock as she stared at the blood on her hands. There laid Valiant now wounded and bleeding to death, his blades now shattered to pieces. Never before had Twilight experienced killing, much less killed another being with her own two hands.

"TWILIGHT!!" Applejack ran to the princess as she fell on her knees, quivering in complete shock. All Twilight could feel was the coldness coursing through her body when Applejack managed to snap her out of it.

"TWILIGHT!! Come on sugarcube get a hold of yourself!!"

"Wha....Applejack? Valiant he...I-I didn't mean to I-!"

"Hey don't you worry now it was just an accident." Applejack then embraced her friend in a hug in hopes of calming her nerves while the others went to check on Valiant. Having some medical expertise, Fluttershy decided to check on his wound as well as his breathing when she began to pick up a strange odor.

"Huh?"

"What is it Fluttershy?" Rainbow asked as the yellow pegasus swiped some of the blood off of Valiants chest. At first she examined the red liquid carefully before giving another whiff and just like that she tasted the blood, completely freaking them out.

"UGGH!! FLUTTERSHY WHAT THE HAY IS WRONG WITH YOU?!?"

"SHE'S GONE VAMPIRE AGAIN!!" Pinkie shrieked as she hid behind Rarity.

"This isn't blood, It's wine!"

"AAUGH!!" The girls freaked out when Valiant suddenly sprang back to life while holding his chest as he began to groan in pain before he realized he was covered in wine. Twilight was relieved.

"Valiant?!? B-but you should be dead!!"

"You only managed to graze my shoulder. However." He stopped to reach into his shirt to pull out a wine flask now sliced open.

"My flask got the worst of it." He said in regret as he tilted the now empty flask before Twilight hugged him tightly, sighing with relief.

"I'm SO glad you're not dead!"

"Good to hear but if you squeeze me any tighter I will be!!"

Later

The group had returned to Ponyville to treat Valiants' wound while settling down for a snack lunch at Sugarcube Corner and though Twilight was relieved he wasn't badly hurt she still felt guilty for shattering his twin swords. The princess had brought the shards of the blades with her in hopes of getting them repaired but the local blacksmiths told her it was impossible.

"Oh don't feel bad Sugarcube. I'm sure Valiant can find himself another sword or two."

"But these swords were probably special to him! I gotta do something to pay him back I mean-!"

"It's no problem Twilight." The girls were surprised to see their friend walking up the street with his now bandaged shoulder and a particularly angry Emelyn at his side.

"Emelyn! how's his shoulder?"

"Oh it's nothing to be concerned about. What DOES concern me is that my husband was sneaking alcohol during training hours!!" Emelyn's eyes shot daggers at her husband as he gave a sheepish grin when they noticed the shards of Valiants swords on the table. He gave a smile as he looked toward the princess who had looked away from him in shame.

"Twilight it's fine. If anyone should be blamed it's me, especially for going up against one of the legendary Rune Fangs."

"The What?" Twilight's ears shot up as her curiosity was piqued and knowing her love for history Valiant and Emelyn sat down with them as he began his tale.

"In the first year of Sigmars Reign, twelve counts were selected to be his personal advisers and during that time the Griffons began to forge each count a blade that would symbolize his authority to help govern the land and people; The Rune Fangs. Each blade was given a unique spell that matched the power of its wielder, you Twilight now possess one of those blades. It is called 'Dragon Tooth'."

Twilight was shocked for a moment when she remembered that she did feel a strange power emanating from the blade during their battle.

"However. Before the blades could be finished, all of the counts were killed and so they were passed on to the next generation and it was in that time that The Empire began to crumble."

"What about the blades?"

"Once the two sisters took over, the monarchy disbanded and the blades were all but forgotten. Celestia however discovered one of them and kept it in the royal treasury until she could find someone worthy to wield it. In this case, you."

Twilight then turned her attention to the blade and could not believe what she had just heard. She held a piece of Equestrian history that was lost for over a thousand years and was now using it in a war that could decide the fate of her entire nation.

"Valiant...if It's okay, I want you to have it."

"What?" He asked in surprise as she bowed down, handing over the blade.

"I don't like the idea of killing or using a weapon and you have more experience in battle than me plus I shattered your swords so I'd feel better if you would take this."

The black unicorn rose from his seat with a serious expression on his face when Twilight looked him in the eye.

"I can understand that princess. You have a noble heart and because of that you despise the loss of any life be they enemy or ally but this blade has chosen you for a reason. True, a sword is a tool mainly for killing but in the right hands it can also be a tool used to protect those who can't protect themselves." Valiant then gently pushed the sword away, still seeing the doubt on Twilights face.

"And besides a count can only possess ONE Rune Fang." The group suddenly stared in shock when they caught his hint. A soldier carrying a large box was running up the street when he knelt down before Emelyn.

"My lady! A gift for your husband, From your father!"

"My father?" Upon opening the box, Emelyn gasped in shock to see a magnificent blade encased in its' scabbard; It was her families sword.

"Why would my father send this?"

"My lady brace yourself for I bring news. Your father has fallen ill." Emelyns' body suddenly began to tremble when Valiant managed to catch her as she collapsed and soon tears began to fall from her face.

"My Lord Valiant. The baron has chosen you as his rightful successor should he not survive and in honor of all your years of loyal service to him and his daughter; The Rune Fang is yours." The soldier bowed his head as he presented the blade to him.

Twilight and her friends comforted Emelyn as she continued to mourn her fathers condition while Valiant gently removed the blade from its' case. At first he stared at the scabbard before slowly drawing the sword itself. The blade reflected the sunlight as the runes began to appear one by one and for some strange reason Valiant was able to read the name of the blade aloud.

"Blood Bringer."

CLING!

In that moment, Valiant knelt before his wife and friends as they began to stare at him in confusion.

"Emelyn my beloved, I swear upon this blade that I will do all in my power to protect your fathers lands and his people just as you have protected me." Just like any knight, he had sworn an oath that he was honor bound to fulfill even if it would lead to his death. Emelyn began to feel a surge of strength rise within her when she held him tight. Her face still aflood with tears.

"I know you will." She told him with confidence as he brought his eyes to meet hers. Rainbow of course gagged at the romantic scene while the others smiled when suddenly the sound of war horns began to fill the air. It was a horn call that filled Valiant with dread.

"No! They can't be here already!"

"What is it?" Pinkie asked as Valiant sprang to his feet and began calling out to his troops.

"MAN THE WALL!!! ALL UNITS BATTLE POSITIONS!!!" Without a moments hesitation, the entire army and militia were martialed to the defense. A look out pointed towards the hilltop as he handed Valiant a telescope.

"Valiant what's going on?" Twilight asked as he continued to look through the scope.

"Brace yourself Twilight....we got company."

From atop the hill, a band of minotaurs lead by a slightly larger one began pounding their weapons and roaring out to the frightened town as they began to charge.

WAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

"Here they come..."

End.

Author's Note

The Rune Fangs from Warhammer don't actually HAVE magical properties. They are mainly symbols of a counts authority and status.