Warhammer Equestria

The doctors frantically rushed their patient to the emergency room after seeing his condition, Valiant had suffered severe burns to the left side of his body along with the arm that once bore his cutie mark. While he was being taken care of, Twilight and her friends rushed over to the palace to see her sister in law; Cadence without taking the time to change out of their armor and to their surprise they found the crystal princess sitting on her thrown with a little bundle gently wrapped in her arms.

"Hello AUNTY Twilight." Cadence said with a smile when she showed her the sleeping foal all wrapped up in a warm blanket and suckling on a pacifier, Twilight was hesitant at first when Cadence offered her a chance to hold the baby but the moment it was placed in her arms she became more happy than she had ever been before.

"What's her name?"

"Flurry Heart."

"Hi Flurry Heart!" Twilight whispered to her baby niece while gently rubbing her nose, the baby stirred for a bit and went back to sleep before being handed back to her mother. After catching up with Cadence, the friends quickly told her of the encounter back at the underway and of Valiants condition when shining came into the room all dressed in his soldiers uniform with a shortsword strapped to his side. The prince greeted his sister with a hug before turning his attention to his wife and his newborn daughter who he held in his arms before sitting on his throne.

"How's Valiant?"

"Mmm...not good I'm afraid. Doctors said the explosion broke a few of his ribs and there's a good chance he'll be half blind when he wakes up, he'll be even lucky if he can walk."

The news was indeed grim, without their leader the iron wolves as well as the royal guard were demoralized after seeing one of their strongest champions blown halfway to tartarus and to make matters worse the city was in the middle of a siege and the soldiers of the empire were at their breaking point after having to repel wave after wave of enemy attacks and carrying the dead bodies that followed after but it be all over soon now that the elements of harmony and the two sisters had joined the fight along with Spike who was even given his own custom made armor and weapon as a gift from the crystal ponies since he saved not only the empire but the Equestria Games as well. The armor had been finely crafted and polished but the weapon itself was yet to be finished and Spike knew he would be needing it once the enemy began their siege again.

Castles Medical Wing

Valiant laid in his bed covered in bandages and was given an oxygen mask to regulate his breathing while two of the elite guards stood by the entrance to his room and only allowed doctors and nurses inside unless others were given special permission to visit him, Twilight and her friends were such an acception and they would often visit him after a day of meetings and drills but each time they came to see him nothing changed; it's as if he were already dead. His body would not move save for the rising and falling of his chest when he breathed.

During their next visit, the girls had noticed lieutenant quartz scolding a few foot soldiers who were attempting to visit him, they argued to the point where it would break out in an all out brawl until they stepped in.

"Stop! This arguing isn't going to help any pony!" Twilight pulled them apart with her magic. When they realized it was the princess, all of them kneeled with their heads down in shame and quickly apologized for their behavior.

"Now what's this all about?" Rarity inquired as one of the soldiers explained the situation. It seemed the men had left their posts to check on their commanders health but were caught by the lieutenant who then replied that there was no logic in their decision when they knew that he was already in poor condition and would take some time for his wounds to heal.

"I know it seems heartless but right now our morale is at an all time low. What would the others think if they saw you checking on his lordship?"

The lieutenant had a point, though their concern was admirable the fact that they were constantly checking on Valiant did nothing but instill fear and doubt. Once the argument had been settled, the soldiers apologized once more and returned to their posts while the girls proceeded to enter Valiants room and were greeted by an unexpected surprise.

"Hey girls..."

Valiant had finally regained consciousness but was still a little too groggy to move but they were happy to see him all the same. The visit started with Rarity opening the curtains to lighten up the room while the rest took a seat where they could find it. Pinkie had come with some balloons to decorate the room while Fluttershy brought some flowers from the gift shop and Twilight gave him a book to help pass the time while he rested yet all he could seem to focus on was his burns.

"I got careless..." He said to himself while looking at his bandaged hand after remembering what happened back at the caverns.

"Aw don't feel bad sugarcube it was just-what in the hay seed are you doing?!?" Applejack was suddenly cut off when she saw her friend trying to get out of bed, the girls forced him back in with ease even as he continued to struggled against them.

"Dang it girls! I'm fine!" He stubbornly insisted while trying to push off Rainbow Dash but the mare held him down easily with just one arm and proceeded to give him a single jab to his wound which made him cry out in pain.

"You sure about that tough guy?" She sarcastically asked with a smug grin once he ceased to struggle and laid back in the bed.

"The doctor says you need to rest for a few months."

"We don't have that kind of time! The empire-Rrr!-is in danger!"

Rainbow forced him to lay down once more and gave him an annoyed look before finally releasing him. Valiant had never felt so useless before and was growing more frustrated by the minute, not just because he wouldn't be able to join in the final battle but he would have to let his friends put themselves on the front lines and though it was the last thing he wanted he knew he could trust in Twilight and the others. It wasn't long until Twilights brother came into the room with the guards saluting him before being allowed to relax.

"Prince Shining Armor." Valiant bowed his head out of respect when the prince gave a bit of a chuckle.

"Please there's no need to be so formal. You are friends with my future brother in law but I do need a report."

"Sir. We have fifty thousand troops under my command and if you'd like I'd gladly relinquish them to yours."

Shining Armor accepted his offer and promised to lead the men well in Valiants stead before departing back to the throne room.

That Afternoon

A war council was assembled to discuss plans for the next siege once the princesses had been debriefed on the situation. After the enemy took the fields surrounding the empire they began a series of attacks on multiple sections of the wall as an attempt to find a weakness, when that failed they had tried bombarding the city using the very ice that surrounded it but were thwarted by Shining Armors shield spell, unfortunately the fighting had left the prince to weak to cast another and forced the soldiers to face their troops head on and while they were able to hold the wall they grew weaker with each clash and the numbers were beginning to dwindle. They had given up all hope until their allies from Canterlot arrived.

Celestia and Luna agreed to keep up the defense in hopes of wearing down the enemy forces while fortifying parts of the city in case the wall was breached, Twilight, Shining Armor and Blueblood would lead their own units and coordinate the defenses and had also been ordered to take out as many enemy officers as possible once the battle started but the council seemed to be in objection of this.

"Your majesties be reasonable! These tactics are brutal!"

"Brutal, yes. But effective." Luna also failed to see the problem with this battle plan but like always the nobles put their pride over their reason.

"I dare say that brute of a soldier came up with this?" Twilight gave a short gasp after hearing the way they had addressed Valiant, Celestia was not pleased and stood from her seat with a murderous gaze.

"His name is Sir Valiant Charge and you will show him respect!" There was anger in the princesses voice as she glared at the council members, even her halberd began to burst into flames until she seemed to calm down instantly. The nobles quickly apologized and were dismissed to prepare for battle.

Later

All was quiet save for the rustling of the flags in the wind, both armies stood armed and ready; waiting for the battle to begin. On one end stood the soldiers of Equestria and on the other was King Dain himself leading the invading army.

The tyrant had noticed Shining Armor was on the battlements along with his elite guard and raised a white flag to parley with his adversary and as much as he wanted to shoot the bastard, the prince rode out on Fenrir to meet him. Both parties stopped a short distance away from each other before standing face to face.

"Shining Armor; Prince of the Crystal Empire, I am honored. Allow me to introduce myself I am-!"

"Dain Stonehoof; The bastard who invaded my homeland without just cause. I know who you are."

Even Fenrir was less than displeased about meeting him in person and growled menacingly towards the tyrant who laughed at the princes proclamation.

"Without just cause? Ha ha! That's where you're wrong my boy; I do have a cause. I seek to rid this land of its unjust rulers who presume they are superior to men! Those four bitches must be put in their place!"

"AND YOU NEED TO BE PUT IN YOURS!!" Shinings voice thundered with such fury that even his men were startled.

"You invaded our land, murdered our friends and families, brought suffering to your own men! For what?!? Just so you could steal another throne?!? I know what happened to the previous King and I must say: He'd be very disappointed in you now." The prince could see the fury in Dains eyes and felt a small bit of satisfaction before turning back to rejoin the defense while Dain rode off in fury towards his generals.

"Damn that prince!" Dain cursed Shining Armor as he watched the prince enter the safety of the gates.

"Gustav!!"

"Sire?" A large muscular caribou kneeled before the king as he sat on a mobile throne.

"I have no interest in prisoners this time; Kill them all!!"

Gustav grinned in delight after hearing those words and signaled for the attack to begin. The first wave was a set of siege towers and battering rams sent against the wall while it was being bombarded by catapults and with no magic barrier to protect the equestrians the fight seemed one sided yet the soldiers fought on and kept repelling the attacks. Shining Armor used the gatehouse as a forward command base while Twilight and Blueblood commanded two sections of the wall.

"All units!! Prepare to engage!!" Blueblood called out to his men as the first of the siege towers made it to the wall. The fighting was bloody and fierce as men were thrown from the walls while others were struck by arrows and blades while on another section of the wall was Twilight and her friends fighting alongside the iron wolves who demonstrated their valor by seizing one of the towers and sending the enemy falling to their deaths.

"OIL!!" An officer called out to a set of sappers that began to drench the top of the tower in oil, once their comrades had fallen back the tower was set ablaze and the enemy reinforcements cut off but many more still remained and down below was the enemies battering ram pounding against the gates while archers fired down on them from above the wall. The siege had lasted for hours with both sides showing signs of fatigue when the enemy did something unexpected.

"General Gustav! We are ready!"

"Good. SUICIDE BOMBERS!!" A group of crazed caribou began charging towards the gate carrying large leather sacks and torches. At first they didn't seem like a threat when Shining realized what they were carrying.

"THOSE ARE BOMBS!! Don't let them reach the wall! Kill them!!"

The archers focused their fire on the bombers while the rest continued to hold the defense. Dain watched with confidence, thinking their superior numbers would give his men the advantage they needed until Princess Luna flew from the safety of the wall and in one clean swipe decimated the line of siege towers while creating a trench to slow down the enemies movements, after having their towers destroyed and the bombing off the gate failed the enemy was forced to retreat.

"Princess Twilight! They're retreating!"

Twilight could see for herself as the remaining troops ran away in fear while the men cheered. It seemed like victory was there's but while they cheered a bomber from the previous attack crept up towards the gate with a lit torch and set himself ablaze.

KABOOM!!!

The force of the explosion blew the gates wide open, the enemy had done it. They had gained entry into the crystal empire.

End.