The Darkest Star

***No, Fives... I Am Your Father...***

The whole world was lit up like a thousand stars had detonated. The sound of the explosion tore Fives' ears apart. No one could scream. The only noise that could be heard was the crumbling of rubble. The ground underneath his feet began to shift.

"Twilight!" Fives yells.

"Fives, over here! Hurry!" She yells back.

Twilight and her friends were on higher, more stable ground. Fives looks up at them, and he smiles. He only needed to know she was safe. That's all. Celestia was standing behind them, her eyes full of tears. Fives turns around to face Blackstar.

"You will die... if you stay..." Blackstar says as he coughs up blood, standing up shakily.

"Then I will die, but not before you..." Fives snarls.

Then, half of the city of Canterlot began to fall. It fell from its perch on the side of the mountain. Rubble, glass, wood, and fire fell around Fives as he grabbed a hold of Blackstar.

***Part 1: Four Hours Earlier***

"Twi, I know we've been really excited to attend the gala for a while, now, but did you and the girls have to sing the whole musical number?" Fives asks. "I mean, it was good, but-"

"Hey, I don't question your ability to sleep through twelve hours of the day." Twilight snaps. "We just like to... break into song every now-and-then."

They were walking up the steps towards the Royal Palace. Inside, Celestia and Luna were waiting for them.

"Nephew, it is wonderful to see thee!" Luna greets happily as she embraces Fives. "You are wearing the tunic I made for you! Does it fit thou well enough?"

"Y-Yes, Aunt Luna..." Fives lies.

While Fives is distracted by Luna's tale about her most recent raid on the royal kitchen, Celestia pulls Twilight aside.

"How have you been?" Celestia asks softly, not wanting their conversation to be overheard.

Twilight lowers her head. She knew what Celestia meant.

"I... I can feel it growing inside of me every day..." Twilight mutters. "Princess Celestia, I'm scared."

Celestia smiles. It was the warm, motherly smile that Twilight loved about her mentor.

"You have nothing to fear, my student. Your child will be the greatest part of your life..." She says as she looks over at Fives. "Just as Fives is the greatest part of mine..."

"But I hardly know anything about raising children." Twilight protests. "What if I'm a terrible mother? What if-"

"I have many tomes you could read." Celestia says, silencing the panicked unicorn. "In addition, you have myself and Luna to help."

Twilight's grin stretches from ear to ear.

"Thank you, princess."

"Now, let us all enjoy the night."

***Part 2: At The Gates***

Shining Armor and Felix stood at the bottom of the steps, watching ponies and humans as they entered the palace. Felix yawns and stretches his arms.

"Are you going to be alright?" Shining asks, noticing the tired agent. "The night has only just started."

"Hey, I'm not as big of a party animal as you ponies." Felix protests with another yawn.

Shining chuckles.

"Alright, go get yourself something to drink, then I want you back on duty. Command says we have to be ready for anything."

"Really, like what?" Felix asks innocently.

Shining shakes his head.

"I don't know... An attack? Command thinks Simco is going to try something stupid."

Shining's back was turned as he observed more guests. Felix eyes the door. A human and unicorn were walking in side by side. Felix grins and waves them along.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear..." Felix mutters.

***Part 3: Silver Bells***

"Hey, Twilight," Fives whispers. "I'm going to get a drink. Do you want anything?"

Twilight smiles and nods.

"Yes. Thank you, Fives."

"I'll be right back." He says as he backs away into the crowd.

It didn't take him to long to find the refreshments table. Luckily, it wasn't crowded, either. He spots Lyra, a friend from Ponyville, and gives her a wave. The sea foam-colored mare smiles and waves back. Fives approaches the bartender.

"Good evening, sir..." The unicorn says, his back turned to Fives. "How may I help you?"

"Uh... I need a couple of drinks."

"What would you like?" The bartender asks.

Fives was stumped. He didn't actually think about what he wanted before he got there.

"I... uh... Hard Apple Cider?" He throws off of the top of his head.

"A classic choice... I'll have what he's having." An older man says as he sits on a stool next to Fives.

Fives' heart pounds heavily in his chest. He knew that voice. He knew both of them. He turns to face the older man.

"Simco..." Fives snarls. "Silvershield..."

The bartender turns around to face Fives, an evil grin showing on his face.

"Your drink, sir..." He says sarcastically, thrusting the red beverage towards Fives.

"Now, now, Silver..." Simco waves his hand. "Let's be good guests and be nice to our gracious host."

Fives shakes his head. He couldn't believe what was happening. His head spins around, searching for any guards or even Celestia herself. None.

"I'm not your... your damned host... How did you get in?"

Fives flinches as an aggressive hand grabs his shoulder.

"They had my help." Felix says. "And if you want to keep your head on your shoulders, you'll keep your mouth shut."

"Felix..." Simco hushes him. "Do not threaten Fives. He is smart enough to not alert the princesses."

Simco chuckles as he stands.

"Ah, yes..." He sighs. "The princesses... There is one princess in particular I really wish to see suffer, and you are going to help with that, Fives."

Fives' face lights up red with anger and embarrassment. He lunged forward, but Felix grabs him from behind and holds him still.

"W-What do you... want w-with Celestia?" Fives demands as he struggles against Felix's grasp.

"What I want is a simple thing, Fives... I want to see her dead. I want to snap her neck with my own bare hands and watch the life drain from her eyes."

"Y-You... You're a damned, sick monster-"

Simco strikes him, hard. A few Royal Guards notice, and they begin approaching them.

"Uh... Boss..." Felix warns.

"You don't know what I am..." Simco growls. "You don't even know who I am..."

"B-Boss..." Felix nervously backs away as the guards get closer.

"Did your traitorous mother ever tell you what happened to your father?" Simco asks. "Did she ever tell you how she betrayed him?"

Simco groans as he holds his hands up to his face.

"He fell, Nova..." The old man mutters.

He continues to rub at his face, clearing the makeup away. He reveals the deep, jagged scars on his face, one-by-one.

Fives' heart stops. No one had ever called him 'Nova'. Only Celestia did, once.

"W-Who are you?" Fives asks.

"I... am... Blackstar..."

***Part 4: The Battle For Canterlot***

Those last four words rang inside Fives' head over and over again. He couldn't shake them away. His mother had told him the stories. He just stared at Blackstar, the man who just claimed to be his father. Fives couldn't speak. Luckily, he didn't have to.

"You, freeze!" A unicorn guard shouts to Blackstar. "You are under arrest!"

More guards begin to surround them. Including Shining Armor.

"Release Fives!" Shining demands.

Felix only tightens his grip on his hostage.

"RELEASE HIM!" Shining orders again.

"Captain..." Felix sighs. "I'd watch my tone if I were you. Fives is only a knife thrust away from oblivion."

Fives flinches as he feels the pointed blade poke his back. Twilight, her friends, Celestia, and Luna quickly race towards the bar. All of the other guests had now backed away, forming a huge circle around the refreshments area. Celestia stops in front of the scene, and she snarls at the old man.

"Simco..." She growls.

Blackstar chuckles as he turns around to face her.

"It has been a long time, princess, since I have gotten to see you face to face..."

Celestia gasps, and her heart nearly pounds out of her chest. She approaches Blackstar slowly.

"B-Blackstar?" She asks softly. "Wha... What has happened to you?"

Blackstar lets out a horrific and barbaric yell

"Don't you dare pretend like you still feel anything!" He cries.

"Princess, do you know what is he talking about?" Shining asks, not taking his eyes off of the disfigured human.

Celestia nods.

"I... I do... He is Fives' father..."

Both Twilight and Shining's jaws hit the ground.

"You mean..." Twilight mutters. "You and Simco... What?!"

Celestia turns to look her former lover in the eyes.

"I thought you were dead..."

"I was dead, Celestia..." Blackstar snarls. "I died that day, but on that same day, I was reborn."

Celestia was in tears. Luna stops her hooves angrily.

"I don't care who you are," She says. "But no one can make my sister cry like that but me!"

She charges forward, but she doesn't get very far. Luna's charge is cut short, and she backs away from Blackstar, very slowly.

"This city is delicately balanced on the mountain side. If you want to keep it that way, you will keep your distance." Blackstar threatens, showing everyone the detonator in his hand.

"Sim- I mean... Blackstar, stop this madness!" Commander Appleton shouts.

The Royal Guards were tightening their circle around Blackstar, Felix, and Silvershield. They were waiting for Celestia's order.

"You're out numbered, you bastard..." Appleton threatens.

"Am I?" Blackstar replies mockingly.

At the 'snap' of his fingers, two cloaked men drop onto the bar.

"The extraction team is ready, Felix." One of them says as he takes Fives.

Felix nods his approval and turns his attention back to the growing tension. The other two hooded agents take their places around the first who had Fives.

"Shining, stop them! They have Fives!" Twilight shouts, but Shining doesn't move.

"It's alright, Twilight..." Shining mutters.

The purple mare cocks her head as she eyes the masked men.

"What?"

Fives was struggling against the cloaked figure who held him. A firm hand rests on his back.

"When I say 'down', you get your sorry ass to the ground." The cloaked man whispers.

Blackstar turns to face them, sensing something was wrong.

"DOWN!"

Fives dives for the ground, and all three hooded figures pull out their pistols. The first takes two shots at Blackstar, only for him to be protected by a shield generated by Silvershield. The other cloaked man charge Felix. The first pulls his mask off.

"Toby?!" Fives gasps.

"I told you I'd see you again." He says. "Just in time, too. I would have gotten here sooner, but I needed backup."

"Him?" Fives asks as the other man fought Felix.

Felix was an amazing fighter. He blocked every punch and evaded every kick. Blackstar tightens his grip on the detonator and ducks behind the bar.

"Do something! Help them!" Celestia shouts.

The grand hall was a frenzy. More of Blackstar's agents were appearing everywhere, challenging the Royal Guards where ever they could. Party guests had no direction and no order. That didn't help either.

"You call yourself a fighter?!" Felix mocks as he easily beats the impostor back.

He gives a warrior's yell and punches the second masked man hard, knocking his mask off. Andre rubs his jaw, wiping away the blood. He quickly recovers and tackles Felix to the ground.

"We need to get you to safety." Toby says.

Fives shakes his head.

"No, I need to find Blackstar. He has the detonator that can destroy the entire city!"

"Maybe there is another way..." Toby says.

Fives looks over at him, confused.

"I can try to find the bombs and disable as many as I can. You keep Blackstar distracted. Don't let him decimate this city. If we are lucky, I can take out all of the bombs before he has a chance to blow them up."

Fives nods quickly.

"That would be good..." He agrees.

Toby pats him on the back before running into the fray.

***Part 5: Out Of The Frying Pan***

"Where is he?!" Celestia shouts. "Where is my son?!"

"I don't know, your highness!" The guard next to her says. "Every pony is engaged right now. We need reinforcements!"

"There are none!" Another guard shouts as he fires a bolt of magic through an attacker. "The army is still in the Everfree Forest!"

Commander Appleton sprints up to Celestia, avoiding bolts of Magic and fists as he went.

"Commander, we need to get the guests to safety!" Celestia says.

"Already on it, your majesty."

A loud whistling noise sounds overhead. They look up just in time to see a large team of Wonderbolts soaring into the grand hall. Leading them was...

"Rainbow Dash!" Appleton shouts, wearing the biggest smile on his face.

The Wonderbolts begin dive bombing Blackstar's agents, harassing and disarming them.

"We just may survive this..." Appleton mutters.

***Part 6: Bomb Baby***

Toby whistles as he sees the first explosive device.

"Hello, beautiful..." He mutters.

He gets down on his knees and gets to work. He didn't know a damned thing about building bombs, but he sure as hell knew how to tear them apart. Wire by wire, Toby dismantles the bomb. In a matter of minutes, the first bomb was offline.

"One down..." Toby says as he stands and exits the room. "No idea of how many more to go..."

He follows the black wire into another room, a small closet, where another bomb was waiting. Just the same as before, he tears the bomb apart, cutting the delegate wires.

"Blackstar..." He mutters. "Simco... Whoever you are... You're a damned madman..."

Toby had, literally, no time to lose. Huffing and puffing, he sprinted through the corridors. Just as he was about to pass out from exhaustion, Toby finally reaches the third bomb, inside the dresser in a servant's quarters. It was the biggest by far.

"This could still take out a large chunk of the city..." Toby curses.

Just like before, he gets on his knees to to operate in the massive explosive device.

"You..." A voice behind him growls.

Toby turns around just in time to see a fist. That fist knocks him in the jaw, hard. Toby rolls away as fast as he can and regains his footing.

"So, this is where you were sneaking off to, you damned traitor..." Felix says.

"Felix Rogers..." Toby says. "Please, you have to trust me... Blackstar is going to kill us all!"

Felix shrugs.

"Maybe, but you won't be alive to see it."

In the blink of an eye, Felix draws a knife and thrusts it at Toby. Toby avoids the blade, but his gut catches Felix's fist.

"You disappoint me, Toby... You used to be like me. You were a soldier, a killer. You were ruthless. Now, look at what you have become."

Toby gives an angry cry before kicking Felix in the jaw, making Felix drop the knife.

"You aren't a soldier, Felix..." Toby snarls. "You're a murderer and a coward. You're to afraid to own up to what you've done. I used to be a real jack ass, like you, but at least I'm trying to do something about it."

Felix yells and tackles Toby to the ground.

***TO BE CONTINUED***