An Elite Guardian

Sweet Apple Acres

Applejack, her brother, Big Macintosh, her little sister, Applebloom, and her sister's two friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were gathered in the family room of the home. Her grandmother, Granny Smith, had died a week earlier, leaving Applejack as the matriarch of this portion of the apple family. The reason being was that the Guards that lived here- stationed after the incident with that monster to protect the young ones- told them that a broadcast spell would be used today to transmit the battle of the Empire. No pony was scared of scarring children, not when so many had either died or been scarred themselves.

"I wonder if we'll see Ruso," Scootaloo said. "Even for being an alien, he isn't in the news much. Rainbow Dash either, for that matter."

"Maybe they're on some kind of secret mission," Sweetie Belle replied. "I mean, Ruso, carrying the three of us, was able to outrun a pack of timber wolves and still kill them with ease from what we saw."

"Now, don't go talkin' 'bout that thing, y'all," Applejack said. "Fr all we know, it could have escaped from the Princess, and had ta be put down. Now, hush, it's startin'." The spell beginning was indicated by a shimmer in the air in front of them before an image of a snow covered ground came into view, along with the visage of a large city made out of pure gems and dark armored guards around the center. This was just the center of attention for a moment, though, as it quickly changed to focus on Celestia, who wore her golden battle armor, a halberd held in her magic, the end embedded in the ground.

"Ponies and citizens of Equestria, we have finally reached where the dark tyrant Sombra lives!" she announced. "Today, we fight him here where he least suspects it, and finish his rule before he can kill any other ponies! On this day, Equestria will win, and peace will return to Equis! There can be no retreat! No mercy, for none will be given. Should we fail, citizens of Equestria, it will fall to you to defend your homes. I have the utmost trust in the abilities of my soldiers, however, and know Sombra will terrorize you no more!" All across Equestria, if the apples could see that far, ponies cheered. Though what none saw was a small, devious smirk on Celestia's face.

Crystal Empire- in front of the crystal palace

Onyx, Quartz, and Emerald, the three generals of the crystal army, and their forces stood in front of the palace, waiting for King Sombra to arrive to address the troops.

"You think that alien's gonna show up?" Onyx asked his female counterparts.

"Who knows," Emerald replied. "Neither field reports or  agents in Celestia's army have had sightings of him or two of Celestia's lieutenants in months."

"Might be that they found something and had to be killed," Quartz commented. "Maybe the truth about Celestia?"

"Might be," Onyx said, shrugging just as horns were heard from the balcony. "Think on it later, he's here."

As Sombra-along with his wife and daughter- walked out onto the balcony overlooking the army, Onyx shouted, "ATTENTION!" causing all soldiers to stand at attention.

"At ease," Sombra said. "You all know why you're here: the solar tyrant has decided to face us here at our home, where we are strongest. She thinks that because this is our home, we will avoid damaging it, when in reality, we would gladly destroy our homes to ensure she can not rule anymore! Today, we show Celestia that we, the Crystal Empire, is a force to be reckoned with! Give no quarter, for none will be given to you! If we win today, we will no longer need to fear what Celestia may do to us to ensure her vision of a perfect Equis!" The army cheered at this. "Now, report to your posts! If we are to win this, everyone must perform above and beyond what you have before! For the Empire!"

"For the Empire!!" the army shouted back before dispersing to their posts, the three crystal Generals making their way to where the fighting was expected to be the heaviest.

"Anypony else find it weird?" Emerald asked out of the blue.

"What do you mean?" Onyx asked, confused.

"The king said anyone, implying there are more than just ponies in the army," Emerald said. "And we know that isn't the case, seeing as how we have records for who is in the army, and all of them are ponies."

"We may have a few agents or something that aren't on the rolls, Em," Quartz said. "Besides, you really think we've read the entire lists?"

"No, but anything of note is passed to us," the crystal pegasus replied. "And that would include non-ponies."

"Well, let's just hope that it is some kind of secret agency, then," Onyx said. "Otherwise, who knows what could be going on."

East of the Empire-Ifrit army

Laval took in a deep breath of the air, the last time had had been in this snowy land thousands of years ago at the side of the Queen, the crystal city being the final battle in the first war, and the only one of the second war, which was about to begin. Only this time, the equines would not have his father to save them, and his mother would be victorious. "I am going to enjoy seeing them burn," he whispered to himself. He then turned to face the Ifrit army.

"My brothers and sisters, now is the time we finish what Queen Fernis and King Ashen began so long ago," he began. "The extermination of the pony race and any allied with them." He need not speak loudly, his voice itself carrying weight. "The impure have been left for extermination back where we arrived under the hand of the king himself, and will no longer burden us. Unfortunately, a small group of dragons were seen, and our king decided to remain to face them so as to buy us time to summon more troops, and purge this planet. Today, we march on where we lost the first war so many ages ago, and we will show the equines who the true masters of this planet are!" A cheer from the crowd followed this. "Then let's begin." With that, he turned to face the direction the Empire was in, and began to march there, the army following behind.

Ruso-1st

As me and my forces flew in formation north, avoiding any known settlements, I had discovered each ship had a communication device allowing pilots to speak with one another, so I decided to open a channel with Archivist. "Archivist, can you hear me?"

"Indeed, Ruso," he replied. "Do you have something on your mind?"

"No, I simply wish to say that should I fall in this fight, you, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Fleur De Lis are to take up my post."

"You trust me with a position such as that?"

"You have not yet given me a reason not to," I replied.

"Fair enough," he said. "There is actually something I need to tell you."

"And what's that?"

"Something about the potion to awaken Ashen."

Crystal Empire-Onyx-two hours later

It was absolute Tartarus in the Empire. The battle had started as hoped, with the walls of the Empire holding strong against the Equestrian attacks, but after thirty minutes, Celestia had grown tired of the attempts, and destroyed the wall herself, opening a hole and killing those stationed at it, while any injured nearby were killed by her two remaining Lieutenants, one of which was currently battling Onyx.

The one facing him was Pinkimena, and both were growing weary from their fight, which had been going on for an hour and a half, their armor dented, bones broken, and faces bloody. Onyx smiled-a small one showing bloody teeth- and said, "You know, this is the first time in this war I actually feel threatened by somepony I've faced."

Pinkamena returned the smile, hers also a bloody one. "Yeah, me too. Still gonna kill you though."

"You can try," Onyx said, and the two charged at one another and resumed launching punches and kicks at their opponent, but the two were evenly matched, and the only attacks that hit were those out of luck, just as the previous ones had been. After what looked like their twentieth round, the two stopped, panting from exhaustion as they had to lean on one another to remain standing, much to their dismay at having to rely on an enemy. "You know, your sister's probably going to die, seeing as how she's going against two."

"I have faith in Maud," Pinkiamena said. "She's gotten out of tougher situations before."

Onyx was about to reply before the two heard a large explosion to Onyx's right, the towards the Eastern wall.

"What the?" he said in surprise, as intel reports had said the Equestrians had no major weapons, and yet there was a large explosion. This thought, however, was quickly dashed out of his head and replaced with pain as he felt something hit him in the head hard enough to make him lose vision temporarily. A think almost immediately after told him that Pinkamena had the same happen to her. "Two of the five," he heard a voice say. "The Inquisitor wants them brought to her."

"Then what are we waiting for?" a second voice said before Onyx was picked up, and he began to feel as if he was moving. A minute after being hit, his vision returned, and he saw that both he and the pink pony were being carried towards the center of the Empire, and were far enough off the ground to know that it wasn't a quadruped carrying them. Eventually, the two were dumped, and Onyx saw, along with him and Pinkamena, were Emerald, Quartz, and Maud, each bound. In front of them was a large, two legged creature with orange skin and wearing elegant armor that seemed to flow, and he could tell from his angle to the thing's head that it had four jaws.

"These are the five?" it asked.

"Yes, Inquisitor," the first voice said from behind. "If I may, we expected your sister."

"She had to go to the north where those damned soul thieves and mercenaries are. Those six are proving to be quite troublesome," the Inquisitor replied. "Go, and continue with the objective. The broadcast spell is still active, and all of Equestria is witnessing this."

"Yes, Inquisitor Laval," the second voice said before heavy foot prints were heard going away from the location of the five Lieutenants and one Inquisitor.

"I can see why my sisters picked you five to be second in commands," Laval said. "Strong and capable. Not strong enough though. Still, you are lucky they wish you reborn, or you would die here," he said before he had his right hand go to his back, and bring out a large sword with a curved blade and one hand grip, the edges flaming. "Of course, there's nothing saying I can't torment you." With that be went over to Emerald, and, after grabbing a wing binder and ripping it free, grabbed one of her wings, holding it open, and brought the blade up before bringing it down.

"INQUISITOR!" That yell stopped the blade just above the flesh as another two legged being came running in.

"You had best have a good reason for interrupting me, or you will not live to regret it," he threatened.

"Sir, the rear guard. They report our fighter craft approaching rapidly," the exhausted soldier said. "Full speed from the south. Current reports say it is enough for every convert form our main camp."

"What?" Laval said, shocked enough to release Emeralds wing. "Gather what forces you can, and prepare to fight them off. The Queen does not wish us interrupted."

"Yes sir," the soldier said. "Another thing. Some of our troops have reported seeing something moving in the shadows," he reported just as the air behind Laval shimmered.

"Where?"

"All across the Empire, but it seems a path is evident."

"Then where is it going?" Laval asked.

"Here," a voice- one familiar to the Pie sisters- said before the shimmer behind Laval seemed to morph colors, and a blue blade ignite out of thin air. The soldier that rushed in pushed Laval to the side before getting skewered by Ruso's blade as Ruso became fully visible, only this time, he had on a purple cloak.

As the ponies looked at him in surprise, Laval growled. "How are you here?"

"I walked," Ruso replied. "As for how I escaped the dragons? I left before they got there. Plain and simple. Now then, how about you tell me just who the other Inquisitors are, and perhaps even Fernis' identity. Maybe I'll make your death a quick one."

Laval just chuckled. "You think I would betray my Queen's trust? You truly are a fool."

"And yet I was able to get here against your plans," Ruso said.

"You'll still die," Laval said.

Before Ruso could reply, a dark blue sword emerged from his chest, spraying purple blood over the ponies. "You wanted to know my identity? Well, Ashen, here I am," a voice said from behind Ruso before the blade was ripped out, and he fell down, revealing Luna wearing flame patterned armor. "Inquisitor, take these five to the arctic camp. I will convert them myself."

Laval bowed. "Yes, my queen," he said before he became a pillar of flame which soon encircled the five ponies, and spritied them away.

As he left, Luna- or, rather, Fernis- heard Ruso coughing. "And to think you were a threat," she said, scoffing. "Still. I should thank you for allowing us to return." With that, she walked away as she became encircled in a pillar of blue flame. When it vanished, instead of Queen Luna stood a regal Ifrit wearing blue armor with flame patterns on them, and an etheric, flaming sword in her right hand, and a flaming shield in her left.

Queen Fernis had returned.

Crystal palace-three hours later

The Ifrit showing up heralded the end of the conflict between the Empire and Equestria, far as the soldiers were concerned. Most worked together, but just about all were killed quickly by the raging fires the Ifrit could control. A glimmer of hope did arrive an hour after the Ifrit's appearance. A fleet of crystal like ships that flew faster than any airship appeared on the horizon in formation, Most were shot down, but the pilots somehow survived, and those on the ground began a ground battle, pushing the Ifrit back to the east wall. Of course, it's still hell out there, given a few Ifrit agents are in the Empire's border still

The Palace was even worse off than the outside, as almost none of the staff had training for more than a dagger, and those that did were quickly cut down. Now, only a few had survived, and they were all hiding.

Among them was a red mare named Ruby, who hid in a supply closet as she heard her husband, a guard for the palace, killed by the flame walkers, waiting for them to either leave, or to find and kill her next.

She had been silently praying to Harmony to protect her when the noise outside just stopped. There was no ease of it, it was just quiet in a moment. She went to open the door, but jumped back upon hearing two thuds outside.

Then to her horror, the door opened. To her surprise, though, outside were two unicorns and one pegasus, each wearing the standard armor for the Equestrian army.

"We got another one," the pegasus said.

"Obviously," one of the unicorns said. "Rainbow, get her to the evacuation groups. We'll will search the rest of the palace."

"Not much left to search," the other unicorn said. "This is the top floor."

"Then we'll all escort her down," the pegasus said. "What's your name?"

"R-Ruby," the crystal mare replied.

"Come on, then, Ruby. We stay here longer than we have to, the bastards will kill us all."

Just wanting to get out of here as quickly as possible, she nodded before she was picked up in a lavender aura, making her squeak in surprise as she was carried through the palace, passing dead guards and those two legged beings alike, wondering just how three ponies could do this when even the three Generals had been taken. Eventually, though, the four reached the area just under the palace, and made their way south, with Ruby seeing a large crowd.

As she was let down, a changeling- much t her surprise- came over to the three mares. "This is the last one we could find."

The changeling nodded. "That brings non-combatant refugees to about a fifty. Probably all we're going to get."

"Should we move out then?" the pegasus asked.

"We don't have a distraction, and we'll lose a lot of soldiers, but if we don't, we'll all die. So yes," the changeling replied. He then went to turn around and make his way to the front of the group, but stopped. "Are you sure? He was stabbed in the heart. . .Seriously? He's facing the entire Ifrit army himself. Either he's suicidal or he thinks he invincible! . . .Yeah, you're right. Even if he doesn't actually win, we'll have a window."

"What is it?" the pegasus asked.

"It's the Field Marshal," the changeling said. "He's alive, and heading to the east of the evac group to attack the Ifrit army."

"But he's dead!" the unicorn who had levitated Rose shouted.

"Apparently not. I'll tell Archivist about this so we can get moving."

Ifrit camp-two minutes later

"What!?" Fernis yelled before her hand went to the throat of an unfortunate Ifrit soldier. "I stabbed him in the heart! He should not be alive!"

"I-I don't know how he's alive, m-my queen," the soldier choked out. "I just know he-he's com-coming here."

Fernis growled before taking her sword, and cutting off the soldiers head. "Laval, take whatever forces you want, and kill him. Burn his body until nothing remains. There are two things which can stop us, and he is one of them."

"Yes, my queen," Laval said as he bowed. "What of my sisters and brothers?"

"They are going to establish a full base in the south part of Equestria. Once we are done here, we are to move there, and finish Equestria off. With both of the armies gone, they stand no chance."

"And is the broadcast spell still going, my queen?" Laval asked.

"Yes," Fernis replied. "It is showing the converted efforts, but it will soon show their defeat."

"And the Generals?"

"Use them as bait for Ruso. Ensure that he is not of a calm mind. That is how he beat me before he knew of the Ifrit. He will not do so again."

Laval bowed. "At once my queen." And with that, he left to collect the bait.

Sweet Apple Acres-meanwhile

Applejack and her family, now along with the guards at the farm were on the edge of their seats. The battle had gone from something fitting a final battle to a slaughter in the first two hours, then those. . .things showed up, giving the two different armies a chance to evacuate, and now, it only showed the large group of evacuees, those odd craft flying above them. "What do you think those are?" Scootaloo asked.

"No idea," Sweetie replied. "But if I know my sister, she's fawning over how they look."

"Ah just wonder if Ruso's there," Applebloom said.

"If he is, he's probably on the sid eof those flame things," Applejack said. "They look like him, after all."

"So?" Scootaloo asked. "The crystal ponies look like us. Doesn't change the fact we were enemies with them yesterday."

"Eeyup," Big Mac said.

"Quiet, y'all," Applebloom said. "Look!" Those present looked, and the image showed a single, red armored figure striding through the ruined city, a purple cape-though Sweetie could tell it was drapes improvised to look like a cape- towards the east, where the large horde of creatures were.

"So that's the demon," a female guard said.

"The demon?" Sweetie asked.

"Yeah," the guard replied. "Never saw him in action, but I heard that when Canterlot was attacked a few months back, he was able to beat the leader of that force in a duel. Plus the fact he killed an Alpha timber wolf after nearly being swallowed by it."

"Don't forget that spike weapon of his," a male guard said. "I heard that it fires some kind of crystal that causes explosions. Don't see them though."

"The only things I see on him are the supposed hilts for the swords he uses," a second female guard commented. "Either he's confident or suicidal." Little did she know this was a thought shared by many in Equestria at this point.

"Well, ah jus' hope he's able to win," Applebloom said, a thought shared also by many in Equestria.

Crystal Empire-eastern gate-five minutes later

Ruso stood at the remains of the eastern gate, his arms crossed and improvised cloak flapping in the arctic wind.

"You know this is suicide, right?"

"Yes, I do," he replied to the voice in his head. By no means was he crazy, not for a second. He had simply awakened something inside him. "But you said it yourself, Ashen. If we do not provide a distraction, there is no chance for the civilians to get out of here."

Ruso had, not really by choice, awakened Ashen soon after he had been stabbed in a heart, thinking back on what Archivist told him.

"What about the potion?" Ruso had asked.

"I mixed some healing herbs in with it," the turncoat Ifrit replied. "It will heal any and all wounds, but only if the entire thing is swallowed. This will also awaken Ashen."

"So if I have to use this, I either die from refusing to drink it, or have a backseat driver?"

"I don't know what that means."

"Someone who is annoying and trying to guide you through something," I informed him.

"If so, then quite possibly, yes. Still, I would recommend using it only when you know it will be needed. Only one bottle of it. . . .You do have it, don't you?"

"In my pocket dimension I'm able to access thanks to the seeds within me."

"I still don't know how you have two, nor do I want to."

Ruso was brought out of his thoughts as he saw the Ifrit army approaching, and stop a few miles from the gate. "Looks as if it is time," Ashen said.

"Obviously," Ruso replied under his breath as he reached up to where the cloak was held on his armor, and released it, allowing it to fall to the ground.

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For a few seconds, there was tense silence. Ruso stared down the army, and the army staring him down. Ruso then closed his eyes to prepare himself for the battle, the silence and his heightened senses-a result of Ashen being awoken- allowed him to hear the curses sent to him.

"Traitor."

"False king."

"Coward."

"Cursed king.

(1:15)Ruso ignited the sword in his right hand, causing a single Ifrit to roar before they charged him. In response, Ruso began to walk their way, bringing the blade across his chest before letting it hang to his side as he ran to face them. As he approached, fire spells were launched at him, but he avoided many of them, deflecting those he didn't avoid before reaching the army. He jumped into the air as he pulled his arm back before gravity brought him down onto an Ifrit soldier, the blades hissing as they entered the skull and fried the brain. Using the momentum, he released that sword, and rolled as he drew the second one.

As the roll stopped he swung the blade, slicing three Ifrit in half at the knees, waist, and torso in that order before revering the strike and cutting one face in half. Still moving, he continued to slice up any Ifrit who got close to him. Eventually, one dumbass charged him, Ruso's first blade raised high. "FOR THE QUE-" his shout wasn't finished as Ruso jumped at him as he ignited the left energy dagger in the gauntlet and stabbed the soldier in the head. As the hilt dropped and the blade vanished from safety measures built into the hilt, Ruso grabbed the hilt, and, turning to face another group of four Ifrit, ignited the blades, cutting the four in half before bringing the right sword across his chest and killing three others. He then crossed the blades, and killed two more in front of him before jumping and spinning, still going forward, and creating a tornado of death, killing any that neared him.

Eventually, as he neared the center of the army, he jumped into the air, his trajectory taking him up, then down and onto two more Ifrit soldiers, who received plasma blades in their skulls as thanks for being his cushion. He got up and turned to face the half of the army had had torn through, the swords by his side before they were crossed. His attention, though, was brought to the main part of the army as he heard footsteps. As he turned, he saw Laval charging him with a dual sided heat sword, the blades straight.

Using his momentum, Laval went in for a stab, though Ruso avoided it and tried to cut off the blade hand, but, to his surprise, his sword bounced off and he had to bring the left one up for defense as Laval retaliated, the Sangheili not noticing the smile on Laval's four lipped jaw just before the Ifrit Inquisitor swept his legs, knocking Ruso's out from under him an dmaking him drop the sword in his right hand to avoid hitting the snowy ground, which would have left him open, and he jumped back, doing a flip to land on his feet and Laval picked up his sword, ignited the blades, and switched it for his own sword before charging at Ruso again. Again, Ruso blocked, but this time, Laval followed up with a hit to the flat of Ruso's sword, knocking it from his hand. He then drew his arm back, and went to stab Ruso's head, but, at the last second, Ruso ducked and ignited the right gauntlet blade, and drove it into Laval's chest cavity, making him scream in pain before the blade was brought out, and Ruso delivered a roundhouse to Laval's chest, igniting the left blade as he did so.

Laval slid to a stop on the snowy ground as he saw Ruso in the air, and raised his stolen sword to skewer him, but was surprised when Ruso vanished in a small shimmer before the air in front of and below him shimmered, revealing Ruso low to the ground, both wrist blades active. He grabbed Laval's right arm before stabbing it in the elbow, causing another scream of pain and the sword in that hand to drop. Ruso then delivered two more jabs to the chest, causing two more holes to appear before slicing Laval's throat with the left blade, and stabbing his skull with the right.

Ruso saw the life leave the Inquisitor's eyes before removing his hand and picking up the sword from the ground as Laval's lifeless body fell to the snowy ground, the snow crunching under the weight. Ruso then looked at the Ifrit army. "If you wish to live, I suggest you run and release the five you captured," he said in an even tone, though there was a noticeable undertone of seriousness. Combine that with what they just saw, and the army made haste back to their camp, leaving five ponies- bound and gagged- in the snow.

Ruso made his way to them, and used his wrist blades to cut the ropes. "Come," he said. "We must leave the Empire." Not waiting for a reply, he turned around, made his way to the hilt for the other sword, deactivated the one he caught from Laval's lifeless body, and put both on his thighs before making his way to the eastern gate, picking up his makeshift cloak and putting it on, and made his way to the evacuation area.