Equestria: The Crystal War

Braveheart woke up to the sun’s rays shining in through his window. It was how he woke up every morning. But today felt different. He had to leave his family and seek refuge in Las Pegasus. He rubbed his eyes and sat up in his bed. He hopped off the mattress and stretched out. He looked to his bedside table, where he had left his bag he had packed the night before. He levitated it to himself and opened it up to make sure he had everything. Spell book from his Mom, written story about the Wonderbolts from his Dad, butterfly comb, toiletries, Royal Guard plushie, and wing and horn care kits. Everything was in order. Braveheart nodded and closed his bag. He slung the saddlebag over his back and walked out of his room.

“Mom!” he called. “I’m headed to the textile mill and then the Apple Acres. I’ll be back in a bit.”

“Hurry back once you’re done,” Pure Soul said from the kitchen. “You don’t want to miss the train.”

“Yes Mom,” Braveheart said. He walked out the door and took flight for the Ponyville textile mill. Valiant Effort came down the stairs.

“Be safe, kiddo!” he called.

“I will Dad!” Braveheart called back. Valiant watched his son leave, then walked up to Soul. She started to cry, and Valiant took her in his hooves.

“It’s going to be OK honey,” he quieted. “We’ll see him again. I know we will.”

“I’m not worried about us,” Soul choked. “I’m worried about him. I don’t want something to happen to him.”

“The soldiers will take care of him,” Valiant assured. “They’ve always made sure the refugees are safe and well.” Soul nodded, tears running down her face. Valiant tried his best to comfort his wife. There was suddenly a hard pounding on the door. Valiant patted his wife’s back and broke the embrace. He walked over to the door and opened it up. Standing there was a black armored pony with a black helmet. The helmet’s mask had horizontal eye slits that lit up green. Black feather plumes hung loose from the back of the helmet. A group of these ponies were standing at the entrance. Valiant knew immediately that these were Sombra’s soldiers. He turned his head towards his wife, not looking away from the black soldiers.

“Dear, would you go upstairs and get my black suit?” he asked. “I think it’s in the back of my closet. You may have to dig around for it.”

“Sure,” Soul said, unaware of the threat at the door. Valiant waited until he heard Soul’s hoofsteps up the stairs before speaking. He turned back to Sombra’s soldiers.

“May I help you?” he asked.

“You can,” a deep voice said from behind the soldiers. The soldiers stepped back, allowing King Sombra himself to pass between them. Valiant bowed briefly.

“King Sombra,” he greeted, straightening up. “What an unexpected surprise. We expected you in Ponyville tomorrow.”

“Dispense with the pleasantries, stallion,” Sombra waved off. “I wish to negotiate with you. Quickly.”

“Of course,” Valiant said. “Let me change into a suitable attire. Make yourself comfortable.” He let Sombra and his soldiers inside, and closed the door once they were inside. He walked upstairs. Once he was out of Sombra’s sight, he ran into his room. Pure Soul was looking around for the suit.

“Oh, there you are,” she said, noticing her husband. “I can’t find your suit.” Valiant closed the door quietly behind him.

“That’s because it’s not there,” he whispered, bringing his wife close.

“What’s wrong?” Soul asked. “You’re flushed.” Valiant looked toward the door, then back to Soul.

“It’s Sombra,” he whispered, a bit panicked. “He’s here with his soldiers.” Pure Soul’s eyes shrunk.

“Already?!” she quietly gasped. “The military said he wouldn’t be in Ponyville until tomorrow.”

“That’s what I thought,” Valiant agreed. “But he’s here, in our house, demanding negotiations with me.”

“What’re you going to do?” Soul asked.

“I’m going to fulfill his wish,” Valiant said. “You need to stay up here. I have weapons behind the dresser. Kept them there for some time. Should he make his way up here, you do everything you can to protect yourself.” Valiant grabbed a simple beige suit from above the clothes rack and slipped it on.

“Be careful,” Soul pleaded. Valiant looked at her and extended his blade.

“I always am,” he assured, retracting the blade. “Love you.” He kissed his wife on the forehead and walked out of the room and downstairs to negotiate with Sombra. He walked down the stairs. Sombra was standing at the dining room table, twirling a fork in his magic. He put it down as Valiant walked up to him.

“Shall we begin?” he asked.

“Of course,” Valiant nodded. He pulled up a seat for Sombra, who sat down. Valiant sat down nearby. The soldiers surrounded the two seats.

“Now,” Sombra began. “I have come here not to bring war, but assurance. Assurance that Ponyville and its residents will not interfere with our effort. We will leave your little village alone. In exchange, you must cooperate with our terms.”

“I’m afraid I’m not in power to make that decision,” Valiant regretted. “You would have to speak to Mayor Mare about this matter.”

“We already have,” Sombra growled. “She was uncooperative.” He tapped twice on the table, and one of his soldiers reached into his saddlebag, then pulled out and held up the mayor’s severed head by the mane. The head was pale from no blood in the veins, and the eyes were rolled back and the tongue hanging out. Valiant kept his wits about him, closing his eyes for a moment and taking a breath to try and not throw up from the horrific sight.

“I see,” he managed to say. Sombra tapped again, and the soldier put the head away.

“I looked through the latest census of Ponyville, and found you as the next pony in authority, Valiant Effort, if I recall?” Sombra asked.

“Correct,” Valiant confirmed. “I am indeed the next pony one would turn to in a…situation…like this.” Sombra pulled out Valiant Effort’s confidential record.

“34 years of age, married to a Unicorn mare by the name of Pure Soul,” Sombra listed. “Bore an Alicorn son named Braveheart six years ago, and he works at the local textile mill and Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Yes, that is all correct,” Valiant nodded.

“Well then,” Sombra said. “Where is your family?”

“My wife is running some errands, and Braveheart has already been sent away to the refugee camps,” Valiant lied. Sombra suddenly jumped up and grabbed Valant by the neck, slamming him down on the table.

“Don’t make up stories!” he stormed. “I know when you lie to me. It’s not that hard.” He let go of Valiant and sat back down. Valiant rubbed his neck and sat down as well.

“My apologies,” he muttered.

“Back to business,” Sombra hissed. “Will you accept the conditions I have presented to you, or will you make the same mistake as your precious mayor?” Valiant took some quick thought. He looked Sombra dead in the eyes.

“Ponyville will not be intimidated by you,” he growled. He promptly extended his blade and lunged forward, driving the blade into Sombra’s chest. Two of the soldiers pulled Valiant away and threw him across the room. Valiant crashed into the wall and fell to the floor. Sombra gripped his bleeding wound. The other two soldiers helped him to his hooves, and Sombra healed the wound with his dark magic. A soldier kicked Valiant in the gut, temporarily immobilizing him.

“Search the house,” Sombra ordered. “Find the other two and bring them to me.” Sombra’s soldiers spread out around the house. They opened doors and cabinets, overturned furniture, and searched everywhere for Valiant’s family. One of the soldiers walked up the stairs after finding nothing. He opened the bedroom door, and was attacked by pure Soul. Soul swung a wooden staff with steel tips at the soldier, who blocked it with his spear. The wood clashed through the room. Both combatants seemed to match each other perfectly. Eventually, Soul got the upper hoof and hit the soldier upside the head with the steel tip of the staff. The guard staggered back against the wall, flopping onto it before hitting the floor in a daze. Soul pointed the staff at her foe, pressing a small switch on it. A blade shot out of the steel tip, and she pointed it to the soldier's throat. The soldier looked up and the tip of the spear immediately found its way into his brain, killing him. The soldier went limp as Soul pulled the blade out of his head. Blood spurted from the wound onto the floor as another two soldiers ran into the room. Pure Soul twirled her staff and swiftly cut open her adversaries' throats. Blood sprayed from the deep cuts as the soldiers fell choking onto the floor. The last soldier ran in, throwing his spear. Soul ducked out of the way as the spear whizzed past, wedging itself into the wall. Soul drove her pointed staff into the guard, impaling him. The guard died fast and fell forward, Soul's staff propping him up. Pure Soul grabbed the soldier's spear from the wall and took a bit of a breather. She sighed heavily, because she would have to clean all the blood up. A cold wind suddenly blew past, and she held up the spear as she lightly shivered. She kept her guard up as she slowly approached the door. Almost like water, a wave of black smoke poured into the room, Sombra's head bursting from it like a shark, jaw outstretched with pointed teeth. Soul didn't have time to react.

~~~Meanwhile~~~

Braveheart landed at the Ponyville Textile Mill. He saw Fluttershy unloading a delivery of wool to the mill. She was having trouble with the last load. Braveheart ran over and used his magic to lift it into the mill.

“Oh, hello,” Fluttershy said. “Goodness Braveheart. I didn't see you there.”

“Sorry about that,” Braveheart sheepishly said. “That's actually going to be my last load.” Fluttershy nodded.

“I heard,” she said. “I received the notice, just like everypony else.”

“I just wanted to tell you goodbye,” Braveheart said. Rarity walked out of the mill.

“Fluttershy, is that the last of it?” she asked. She noticed Braveheart.

“Goodness me!” she gasped. “Braveheart, dear! Aren't you supposed to be on the train to Las Pegasus?”

“I was heading that way now,” Braveheart nodded. “I just wanted to tell you both goodbye.”

“We'll miss you greatly,” Rarity said. “But we'll see each other again. I'm sure of it.”

“And when you do come back, this terrible war will be over,” Fluttershy added. Braveheart nodded.

“I'm gonna miss you guys,” he said.

“We'll miss you too,” Fluttershy replied. “We'll pray for your safe return at the end of the war.”

“So will Ah,” a voice behind them said. They all turned to see Applejack walk up.

“Ah ain't gonna ferget ya, sugarcube,” she said. “You have a safe trip now, ya hear?”

“I will,” Braveheart nodded. They all hugged briefly before breaking the embrace. Braveheart's friends all gave him a warm smile. He returned it.

“Goodbye, you guys,” he said. He turned back around and walked away for home to await the Equestrian Soldiers.

~~~

Sombra angrily threw down Pure Soul's corpse in front of Valiant Effort. Her face was bloody and full of cuts and gashes, as well as her neck.

“NO!!!” Valiant cried. Sombra breathed heavily, his monstrous side subsiding.

“This could all have been avoided if you had just cooperated,” he snarled. “Such a shame. And now, you will tell me where your son is.” Valiant glared at Sombra furiously.

“I won't tell you anything,” he hissed. Sombra's eyes started glowing green, and the purple eye smoke found its way into Valiant's eyes.

“Oh, but I think you will,” Sombra muttered. Valiant's eyes shrunk as his retinas became green like Sombra's. Weak eye smoke trailed from his eyes. Sombra kneeled down.

“Where is he?” he asked again.

“He left for the textile mill a while ago,” Valiant blankly stated, under Sombra's control. “He will be back soon to wait for the Equestrian soldiers to take him to the train station to the refugee camp.”

“Where is this camp?” Sombra asked.

“The camp is in Las Pegasus,” Valiant explained, emotionlessly. “The refugees are being taken there until the war is over.” Sombra stood up.

“Thank you,” he calmly said. “Your usefulness has come to an end.” Sombra's horn crackled, and a massive black scythe materialized from thin air, and came swinging. It impaled Valiant through the chest, killing him. Sombra tore his scythe from Valiant and sent it away. Valiant's retinas faded back to white as his eyes rolled back and he fell dead. Blood spilled from the wound onto the hardwood floor.

“Take the bodies back to the Empire,” Sombra said. His remaining soldier took up both bodies and followed his master. Sombra turned away and walked out of the house. He stepped outside and turned back toward the house. He lit up a simple fireball spell and sent it flying toward the building. It instantly caught fire, and started to burn down. As his minion dashed off, he dematerialized into shadow and flowed back to the base camp to the North.

~~~

At a small camp in the Equestrian Badlands, Equestrian soldiers were guarding the camp. A hooded Pegasus flew into the camp and showed the head guard her dog tag. The soldier nodded and let her inside. The Pegasus hurried into one of the tents in the camp. She stopped inside at the entrance and saluted.

“General,” she stated.

“What've you got?” the general asked. The Pegasus gave the general a folded piece of paper. The general unfolded it and looked it over. Her eyes went wide.

“No,” she gasped. “It's too early. At the pace Sombra was going, he was due to be in Ponyville by tomorrow. How is this possible?”

“It gets worse,” the Pegasus continued. “Undercover Sergeant Valiant Effort has been killed, along with his wife, Pure Soul.” The general slammed a hoof on the table. Nopony flinched. The general swiftly turned to the Pegasus.

“Get to Ponyville now!” she ordered. “If Valiant's son is still alive, bring him here immediately.”

“Ma'am,” the Pegasus said. “He was supposed to make the trip to Las Pegasus tonight.”

“And that is exactly why we need him here,” the general said. “Send word to the troops at Las Pegasus. Evacuate everypony to Vanhoover. Without confirmation, we have no idea if Sombra is aware of the refugees there or not. We can't let him reach those ponies.”

“Yes ma'am,” the Pegasus nodded. She ran out of the tent and took off for Ponyville.

~~~

Braveheart reached Ponyville at noon. He carefully walked into the small town. He took a sniff of the air and smelled smoke. He ran to the source to see what had happened. As he rounded a house corner, he saw his house burned to the ground. He dropped his bag, shaking his head in disbelief. Sombra's soldiers were patrolling the area. Braveheart took cover behind a nearby box. He was trying to mask his breathing, but he was scared senseless. A Sombra soldier came about two feet from Braveheart's hiding place and stood there.

“Oh no,” Braveheart mouthed. “What am I going to do?” Braveheart looked around. He reached out with his hoof and grabbed a small stone. Turning around and taking careful aim, he tossed the stone. It found its target on a light post creating a loud clang. The soldier turned his head and walked over to the lamp post. Braveheart saw his chance and ran. He quietly grabbed his bag and ducked into an alleyway. He was afraid. A faded pink hoof suddenly grabbed him and a mechanical one covered his muzzle. Braveheart didn't scream. He turned around to see a hooded Pegasus.

“Do exactly as I say,” the Pegasus whispered. “Exactly. Can you fly?” Braveheart nodded, panicked. “Good,” the Pegasus said. “When I say, you follow me, got it?” Braveheart nodded again. The Pegasus took her mechanical hoof away and turned towards the back of the alley. She motioned for Braveheart to follow her, and he did. They reached the end of the alley when the Pegasus motioned for Braveheart to stop. She turned her head, checking for Sombra soldiers. A squad of them were patrolling the area. She grabbed a rock and hurled it at an abandoned house. The window she aimed for shattered, and the soldiers took notice. They investigated the house.

“Now!” the Pegasus whispered. She took off, and Braveheart followed close behind.

“Where are we going?” Braveheart quietly asked.

“To the Badlands,” the Pegasus replied. “I'm taking you to my camp.”

“What about my parents?” Braveheart wondered, The Pegasus didn't answer. The two flew to the Equestrian Badlands, away from Ponyville, and away from Sombra.