The horde of chaos marched across another scorched battlefield lead by their commander Valiant Charge. Once a hero of Equestria, now a slave to the dark powers he once fought against and with each battle that came the powers of Crom and his followers grew stronger and Equestrias future grew darker but what the enemy failed to realize is that despite being able to take over his body Crom had failed to overtake the warriors soul and had been secretly fighting him daily for control, leaving him slightly weak but not enough for his men to notice.

While Crom did his best to keep signs of his fatigue hidden a certain draconequs had secretly been skulking around the enemy camp to gather Intel on their movements and battle plans. Discord had been very careful to avoid the various guards dotting the campsite when he heard the familiar scream of his friend followed by a strange light show in Croms tent, the warlord had been pouring massive amounts of dark magic into Valiants body after he had it chained up which seemed to confuse Discord until.

"CROM!! I swear when I break free I'm gonna rip your heart out and feed it to Tirek!!"

For a moment, Discord saw a glimpse of his old friend but knew he could not risk trying to rescue him without being caught and reluctantly he returned to Canterlot to deliver his report.

"What?!?"

"It's true, some part of Valiant is still fighting against Croms control."

The council was relieved to hear some good news but the problem remained that Valiant was still under the influence of the enemy and with no way of countering the dark magic now running through his body it seemed hopeless until Twilight remembered a certain spell that might be able to tip the balance in their favor.

"Spike? Send a letter to Starlight Glimmer, tell her she needs to come right away."

"On it!"

After a few quick scribbles, Spike sent the letter to Starlight posthaste while the rest of the council wondered what Twilights plan was. When Starlight arrived she was quickly escorted to the council room confused to what was going on until Twilight finally divulged her plan to the princess.

"You want me to do what?!?" Starlight shouted in outrage when she heard Twilights plan; Twilight had requested for Starlight to use the spell she cast to rob her entire village of their cutie marks in hopes of using it against the curse put on Valiant but Starlight had refused and a tense argument began between the two of them. Starlight had every right to object to Twilights plan after remembering how she used the spell to enslave an entire village then trying to brainwash the elements of harmony into her way of thinking and the events that followed made it even worse.

"Starlight. I understand your hesitation but if we don't do something soon I fear that Valiant may be under Croms influence forever."

Starlight understood the situation the were facing but could still not bring herself to cast the spell again and stood silent before the council members when a changeling flew into the room to deliver a secret message to Celestia.

"I see..." The princess whispered as the changeling bowed before departing.

"Twilight I must speak with you in private."

The council was quickly adjourned after Twilight and Celestia left, The princesses retreated to a more secluded part of the castle in order to avoid any unwanted ears. Twilight learned that during the council a small group was sent behind enemy lines for a rescue mission to retrieve Valiant, their leader was Thunderbolt Sentinel. Discord had given the group every detail relating to the camp including the time of shifts between guard posts and patrols along with the least crowded areas of the camp.

"Move!" Thunderbolt whispered as they crept through the shadows while a separate group dispatched the lookouts, it wasn't long until they had reached the tent that held Valiant but saw it wasn't going to be easy. Crom had placed several hell hounds and magic wards to repel and would be rescuers or thwart any attempts of escape, it seemed like a good plan had it not been for the abilities of a certain Draconequs who poofed up a large steak to distract the hounds while using his chaos magic to dispel the wards.

"We have about a minuet."

"Understood." Thunderbolt snuck into the tent to find his friend hanging from prison shackles followed by the signs of torture and starvation, the sight alone infuriated him and was afraid he came too late until he heard a faint groan escape Valiant who was too weak to even lift his head.

"Valiant! Hang on I'll get you down!" Thunderbolt quickly cut the chains as his friends body flopped to the ground. Valiants body had become so bruised and beaten that he was already half dead with just enough strength to breath.

"Thunderbolt...."

"Yeah, I'm here old friend." Thunderbolt offered him some water which he chugged down eagerly before sputtering at the last drop and as Valiant felt some of his strength returning he urged the group to leave at once.

"You...you need to go!

"Not without you." Thunderbolt carried Valiant on his back when he heard the signal from the lookout.

"Thunderbolt you don't understand! He knows you're here, he sees what I see!-GAAH!!"

Valiant cried out in agony as the brand on his chest began to glow and his body transformed back into its pique condition but his eyes burned with an evil glow that sent chills down Thunderbolts spine. Discord was brought in along with the other changelings as a band of marauders marched in along with Tirek who seemed to grin in delight at his captives.

"Don't you hate it when somepony gives away the surprise?" He joked as he walked up toward the angered changeling who seemed shocked at his demonized form.

"Tirek....what have you done to yourself?"

"Oh this? It's just the price one pays for serving the powers of chaos. Such power could be yours if you wish it I mean look what it's done for your friend."

Thunderbolt looked at Valiant which seem to make his anger rise as he demanded Tirek to release him.

"Let him go."

"Oh I'm afraid I can't do that my master has plans for him."

"You a servant? You've really hit rock bottom."

The demon centaur growled in anger before his master stepped into the room, all stood at attention while Tirek bowed in respect as he made way for Crom who continued to stare at the prisoners as he asked Tirek a question.

"Tirek? How did these vermin enter my camp?"

"They must have slipped past our sentries my lord."

"Is that so?" Without warning, Crom slammed Tirek to the ground in anger before holding him up by the throat, the centaur flailed and gagged from the force of his masters grip as Crom looked him in the eye with disdain.

"I find your lack of competence disturbing." Crom said before finally releasing him. The group was dragged to a stone circle where a bunch of marauders had gathered and in its was a sword and shield meaning this was some sort of arena and Thunderbolts men were the entertainment.

"Throw him in!"

Thunderbolt was tossed into the circle as the marauders laughed and realizing their was no other choice he grabbed the sword and shield ready to face his opponent until.

"No..." The changeling stood in disbelief when Valiant stepped into the ring armed with a claymore shaped in the form of a serpents tongue and his only piece of armor was a single gauntlet on his right hand.

"I'll make you a deal little bug. If you can defeat him you're all free to go."

"How do I know I can trust you?"

"Hm hm. You can't."

Thunderbolt was suddenly ambushed by a swing of Valiants sword that narrowly missed his stomach as the duel kicked off to a ferocious start. Valiant swung with full force, still trapped in his hypnotized with the marauders cheering wildly yet Thunderbolt refused to raise his sword even once.

"Valiant! If any part of you is left in there, please hear me!" He cried out as another blow sent him staggering back before tossing his own sword out of the ring.

"You can't let these monsters win! Not after everything we sacrificed!"

"RAAGH!!"

Valiants next swing cleaved Thunders shield in two before a surge of pain ran through his arm as he was booted to the ground. Crom and Tirek watched in anticipation as Valiant prepared to deliver the final blow yet Thunderbolt rose to his feet again without fear.

"I know you don't want to do this Valiant. You are a knight of Equestria, a hero but most of all you're my friend." In that moment Valaint hesitated when Crom felt his spell beginning to weaken.

"Thun...der!" Valiant spoke in a strained voice as he struggled to lower his sword.

"What are you waiting for? Kill him!!" Tirek yelled furiously as the unicorn turned around with eyes full of rage. The demon centaur stepped back as he watched Valiant come towards him step by step and in a desperate move Crom poured more of his dark magic into the mark on Valiants chest giving him almost instant control yet the unicorn still continued to defy him.

"You're stronger than he is Valiant! Fight!" Thunder urged his friend as he watched him struggle against Crom but the overwhelming power proved too much for him to handle and using what strength he had left, Valiant did the only thing he could to save his friend and pierced his heart with his own sword.

"NO!!" Thunder could not believe what he had just witnessed, in order to save his friend and redeem his honor Valiant took his own life and freed himself of the dark powers that enslaved him. Using the heat of the moment, Discord gathered the changelings along Valiants body and with a snap of his fingers they vanished without a trace but for Crom and Tirek this was no defeat as the Chaos Lord raised the sword stained with Valiants blood with a triumphant cry.

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!

Canterlot

Twilight was with Starlight and Celestia when Discord poofed into the room with the others. When Twilight saw they had returned with Valiant she quickly urged Starlight to cast her spell before noticing the heartbroken look on their faces.

"Discord what's wrong?"

"Twilight I...I'm sorry, we were too late..." The draconequs sunk his head in shame as he stepped aside to reveal the body of the fallen hero and in that moment Twilight and Celestia fell into despair as Thunderbolt knelt humbly before them with tears in his eyes.

"Your majesties. I return....with a fallen hero."

Celestia simply placed a hand on Thunders shoulder and nodded in approval before kissing Valiants cold hands and placing them upon his chest.

"We must inform the people." She said in a calm distinguished manner but could not hide the sadness behind her gaze.

As the sun rose the next day, all of Canterlot was in mourning as the city streets were filled with its citizens who had received the tragic news of Valiants death, in the center laid the body of the hero himself dressed in his armor atop a funeral pyre and his family standing next to him. Emelyn looked at the lifeless body of her husband with sadness while holding his hand one last time as Celestia gave a speech to her people.

"Great is the kingdom that has its champion and even greater when that champion is loved by his people be they noble or peasant, earth pony, unicorn or Pegasus and today we honor such a champion. Sir Valiant was called many things....a warrior, a hero and a friend...a husband and a father and even when all hope seemed lost he forged onward with courage stronger than anything we could imagine so I ask you: Was his sacrifice in vain?" Celestia was moved when many of the citizens cried out in anger over Valiants death as they begged for a new lord to lead the iron wolves and Emelyn could think of know better successor than her only son.

"Maximus." She called for him as she held her families sword before him but Maximus did not feel he was ready and thought Claire would be a better successor.

"You can do it little brother." She said with a confident smile followed by the rallying cry of the people.

"Lead us against the demons Maximus!"

Before he knew it, Maximus heard the ponies of Equestria chanting his name. With an approving nod from his mother, Maximus raised Blood Bringer high into the air to give a powerful warcry.

"FOR EQUESTRIA! FOR EQUESTRIA AND THE EMPIRE!!" The soldiers raised their weapons in salute as the city thundered with the renewed spirits of the citizens who echoed the young lord.

FOR EQUESTRIA!

FOR THE EMPIRE!!

End.

Author's Note

And the long awaited update has arrived.