Exiled soldiers

Two weeks since Twilight's banishment-six days after changeling riots

Fear.

That was the one emotion in Celestia's head right now. Not because for fear of upsetting a country, the boat had sailed on that already, and she wasn't even sure when, nor was it a riot by the Nobles, or that her sister/lover, Nightmare, had threatened Eternal Night. If anything, Celestia would help with that last one simply so Nightmare would get a little more recognition. No, it was much, much worse than that.

The reason being was that the Caribou, a race not seen for over a thousand years, had reemerged into the public eye by doing what the changelings had done three years prior. The only difference being they had practically won already. The day had started like any other, Celestia raising the sun, and preparation for a festival had finished a day ago. It was less than an hour ago that the Caribou had shown themselves, not even thirty minutes, really, and already, they had captured all but Rainbow Dash and Rarity of the Elements, and had done so with Celestia as well. Their King, a being even Celestia would not try to reform named Dainn, had practically beaten her single handed, figuratively and literally, and had ripped her dress, a silken thing that, in retrospect, should not have been worn in battle, off, and left her nude, and were currently dragging her to a machine that would de-horn her.

She had nearly reached it when a commotion occurred behind her. "Kill the interlopers," a Caribou soldier yelled as the sounds of something odd, like a magic bolt being fired, reached the solar alicorn's ears, as well as a voice that, though it had been a long time since she heard it, she recognized.

"Kill the animals," Warden Eternal said. "Free the Equestrians."

Before she heard anything else, Celestia was suddenly dropped as the Caribou holding her were shot dead by the weapons the Warden's forces brought. She rolled over, and looked back the way she had been dragged to see the Warden, the same being who gave her and Luna the location of the Tree of Harmony, fighting off Dainn's personal guard, some of the traitors in the Equestrian royal guard, and even Dainn himself. The fact he was using three bodies probably helped in that regard.

The guards were killed with ease by the bodies on the left and right, leaving the middle body to deal with Dainn. This body had its arms crossed as it looked at the Caribou king.

"And what are you," Dainn snarled.

"That is not important," Warden said. "What is would be that you have invaded a peaceful country with intent to enslave its population, a crime on every world I know of, even the Human worlds. For that," he said, bringing his dual sided hard light blade out with a flick of his right wrist as he brought said arm down, "you must die."

"Impossible," Dainn said. "I am the King of the Caribou, I-" he was quickly silenced by the Warden's blade.

"Such an annoyance, his kind are," Warden said before two of his bodies turned around. "And what do you two want? And do not bother trying to say you are here to help Solaria-" Celestia's ears twitched at the name, as she had not been called that in a long time- "as I can sense the corruption coming off you two. It is the same as the animals I just slaughtered."

"Wh-what are you," Celestia heard a voice, Shining Armor, she realized with dread at Warden's implication that he, and Cadence, most likely as well, were with the Caribou.

"My name is the Warden Eternal. And for crimes of treason, you will die."

"No," Celestia yelled, wanting to help Shining Armor and Cadence. "Arrest them, Warden. We can try to help them later."

"If that is what you wish, Solaria," the middle Warden body said as the other two walked to the royal couple, and grabbed one each in a hand. "Where would you wish them put?"

"Th- the dungeons," Celestia said as she got up, attempting to use magic, but then remembering the inhibitor ring.

"Of course," Warden said, and the two bodies carrying the Royal, or ex-royal couple currently, left. "Do you require assistance, Solaria?"

"I guess I do," Celestia said with a small smile. "It is good to see you again, Warden. And I go by 'Celestia' now."

"And you as well," Warden said. "I will escort you to the castle so you may dress."

"No need to," she said. "I just need this inhibitor ring off."

"Child's play," Warden said. "Soldier unit A-34C, you are needed," he said to a Soldier in the stands, which then phased down.

"What do you require, Warden?"

"Remove the ring at the base of the Inheritor's horn."

"Yes, Warden," the Soldier said before it walked over and grasped the ring in its hands. "This may sting, Inheritor," it said before it tore the ring apart, Celestia wincing as it broke.

"Thank you," she said to the Soldier, which bowed its head. "Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go put some clothes on."

"I would recommend an escort," Warden said before Celestia could teleport. "Some of my forces report traitors in the Castle. You do not need to fear for Selene, she was saved before the guards outside her room could violate her, but there are still some within its walls. If you are willing, I will send two Soldiers with you."

"You always did think ahead, Warden," Celestia said. "If you insist, I will take two for escorts."

"Of course. A-34C, you and B-529F will escort the Inheritor to her quarters, and ensure she is not attacked."

"Yes, Warden," A-34C said as a second Soldier walked up, and Celestia teleported away.

As the remnants of Celestia's magic faded, the Warden was approached by a Knight. "Warden, target designate: Elements of Harmony have been recovered. Element Alpha bearer designate: Sunset Shimmer has said bearers designate: Rainbow Dash and Rarity Belle either fled to warn their home town, or did not come to this city to begin with. What do you wish done with the four?"

"Have them brought to the Castle. They will have questions, and Cortana wishes me to answer whichever will turn them to our side as soon as possible."

"Yes, Warden," the Knight said with a bow before teleporting away. With more of his bodies watching over the different battles, some inside the city, others across the country, he knew that the Caribou were losing.

The Warden chuckled, much as he could. If there is one thing even the Humans and I agree on, it would be that the Caribou are a vile race, he thought as his attention was brought to the Crystal Empire, which had been but a mud hut village when he had left the Shield world. More accurately, the body there being told of an artifact the two rulers, those he had sent to the dungeons, had taken with them. The Warden looked around, and saw a staff with a cloak on it. He walked over to it. "Such filth," he said, raising his left leg before bringing it down, destroying the artifact. A few seconds later, he was being told by his various forces that any Equestrian resistance had already faded, even turning on Caribou forces.

Excellent, he thought as he began to make his way to the castle, a painfully obvious sight at the rear of the city. As he exited the stadium he was in, a second thought crossed his mind, one that he would never have guessed to have thought. It is good to be home.

Three hours later- Canterlot Castle Throne room

Celestia and Nightmare, the latter now having her own throne next to Celestia's, sat on their thrones, Warden kneeling in front of them. "It has been a while, Warden," Nightmare said. "How have you been?"

"Quite well, Princess," Warden said. "It is good tosee the both of you again as well. I trust the Elements have helped you immensely?"

"Indeed they did, before we had to return them to the tree," Celestia said.

"And, if I may ask, who are the new bearers?"

"You will meet them in time," Nightmare said. "Though you should know that we had to exile one of them late last month and replace her."

"If that is the case, then I believe I may have encountered her," Warden said. "Was she a lavender unicorn with a dragon and changeling companion?"

"Yes, she is," Celestia said. "Is she alright?"

"No," Warden said. "She was found by a race called Humanity, a violent race. Those she found brainwashed her into believing they were masters of the Galaxy, and is attempting to stop me and the one who commands me, one of the human Ancillas who has seen the truth that it is the created who is to take up the Mantle. I ma afraid she and her companions can not be brought back from their state, and must be killed if the galaxy is to remain safe."

"Is it really necessary," Celestia asked.

"Unfortunately so," Warden said. "I have my Prometheans hunting her and those she is with as we speak, though I had first encountered her six days ago, and do not know where she currently is. I swear, however, by the oath I swore to you both when I was still organic, her death will be as swift and painless as possible."

Secondary notes

The Warden angle will be explained later. If you have a canon issue, I refer to the AU tag for this story. Also, Interludes will not always be set at the same time as the main story. In this case, they may be ahead of it. We good?