Author's Note

Here it is, the next chapter with no warnings so far
Sorry if this and the next chapter are a bit short!

Have fun!

Magic and Fire (Night Watch)

Chapter Twelve: Magic and Fire (Night Watch POV)

“Blue,” I growled, “We had this discussion already. I have to lead our army.”

“But this is just a small battalion! I’m sure somepony else can do this,” my wife said quietly before adding, “It’s not safe.”

“Nothing is safe anymore, and now they’re even openly attacking a princess. This is getting out of control and we have to end it. Now.”

“You haven’t even healed yet, and you’re still out of breath from the fight!” she complained.

“I know that, my love, but we have no choice. Once this is over I’ll go to the medical wing, I promise.”

“They will slow you down! You’re just going to get hurt more! Please be reasonable and stay here,” she cried. “What if you don’t come back? What am I supposed to tell our filly about you?”

Blue quickly pulled me into a winged embrace, content to never let me go. I gave her a soft kiss before wiggling myself free. “I’ll come back. I promise that I will come back to care for you and our filly.”

“You better hold onto that promise,” she scowled. “Or I’ll ask Luna to bring you back so I can kick your sorry flank!”

“I know,” I smiled before backing away. “I should go. Before you know it, I’ll be back.”

I noticed her worried and longing gaze on me as I grabbed my armor and bag before making to leave the room, stopping short at the door. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

As soon as I closed the door, I heard quiet sobs, but I couldn’t waste any more time, no matter how much it hurt.

I’ll come back, my love.

We were truly at war.

Everywhere I passed along my way, ponies were hurrying around. From guards to maids, they all were informed and hurried to get everything ready. As I surrounded a corner, a harsh voice stopped me.

“Hey, Night!”

Looking to my left I noticed Red Wave and Moon Shield in each others wings.

“You better bring Wave back or I’ll play hoofball with your ass!” Shield glowered at me. “And you come back as well to tend to my cousin!”

“I will, don’t worry,” I gave her a mock salute before she sauntered away and Red Wave joined me.

“Ready to kick some royal guard flank, boss?” she asked eagerly.

“You’re way too eager. Think you can control your bloodlust this time?” I shot back.

“I’ll try.”

I only shook my head as we finally stepped outside the castle, just to jump in shock upon the massive shadow that was cast upon us. Directly over the castle ground hovered a giant airship, clad in the colours of Luna’s guard.

“I see the Moonlight is finally done,” I greeted Luna as we approached her.

“Yes. We will use her to rest our wings to Ponyville. It takes around an hour longer, but we won’t be as tired,” she said before addressing all of us. “Guards of our Night. We have hard times upon us. Those we thought to fight at our sides betrayed us, but we won’t tolerate it anymore. Today, the Royal Guard went too far and attacked one of our fellow Princesses. Ponyville and Princess Twilight are in danger, but we will free them from the traitors. Tonight, we will go to war against our own kind, but fear not my children. Tonight, the moon shall shine for us to slay those that betrayed us. To save Equestria!”

We all cheered as Luna was bathed in the light of her moon, stealing her from our views just long enough to come back, clad in silver and purple armor, a long sword in her magic grasp. “Board the airship! We will show these fools what it means to stand against the Night Guard!”

***

We could see Ponyville around half an hour away, marked by several fires and smoke rising into the air. The biggest fire came from the north, outside Ponyville and just short of the Everfree. Our camp.

Luna ordered us to ignore the camp and fly straight to the city. The living ponies were more important now. And we knew they were alive. The biggest indicator was the purple shield around Princess Twilight’s castle. Survivors from the camp could be rescued later.

It wasn’t easy for us to just ignore the camp. Many of us had family or friends within. There was hope that some of the twenty-nine had survived, but I tried to withhold my enthusiasm. With the Royal Guard standing in Ponyville and the ones from the camp, they stood against nearly fifty enemies. Not counting Twilight’s honor guard, if they had betrayed us as well.

“Luna,” I said silently as we neared the city. “Do you know if Princess Twilight’s guard stayed loyal?”

Luna concentrated into the distance to the castle before sighing, “Honestly, I have no idea. But neither my sister nor I chose the candidates for Twilight’s guard. It was Twilight herself who built it up.” She turned to Wave and nodded.

“So we have to believe that the trust of that young princess was rightly placed. This so sucks,” Red Wave commented before going to the starboard side of the ship. “Alright you lazy maggots. Get the hatches ready, we’re nearly here. On the mark of our general you fly out. First priority is to protect the castle, but don’t forget the civilians of the town!”

My gaze wandered over the ponies checking their equipment for the last time. It was only a small group, around a sixty ponies from different specialisations. Luna even ordered ten from Blue’s Linebreaker unit to come with us, our heaviest guards.

I just hope this will be enough, we have no idea what awaits us.

Time seemed to slow down from that moment on, and I couldn’t help but think back to home. It was ridiculous, I knew that. I had ten of the best and heaviest armored ponies at my side plus Luna’s and my own experience.

Yet, I couldn’t help but yearn to back home and under the sheets right at my wife's side.

“Already homesick?” Red Wave nudged me.

I glared at her, half on my way to snap at her because I suspected another joke. It wasn’t one. Her expression was that of pure sadness, but also hope. Hope to go back to a beloved one.

“I understand how you feel,” she whispered. “I never thought I would ever say this. I miss Shield. Don’t get me wrong, I love her with all of my heart, but you know me. I’m not one to be sappy.”

“I know. Usually, I have no problem with being away on a mission. I always know I’ll come back.” I sighed. “This time… this time is different. I can feel that something is wrong here.”

“We know what you mean,” Luna startled both of us as she stepped up. “There is something amiss with the magical flow, yet we cannot see what it is.”

“I have the feeling that this day will end badly,” I growled. “And I mean really badly.”

“General! Princess!” one of the ship's crew bowed before me and Luna. “Captain says we are at the border, he turned the ship so the hatches will be in a protected position.”

I thanked him before turning “Open the hatches, we are at the border!” I yelled and the soldiers scrambled in motion. “Protect the Princess and all civilians, but I want no hotheads this time!” I glared especially at Red Wave who only blew a raspberry back.

The airship suddenly shivered, sending a lot of us tumbling. “General, we are under magical attack!”

“Blade, get your group out! Take the anti-magic shields and protect the Moonlight!” I yelled and seven ponies, carrying round formed, glowing shields dropped out the hatches. “The rest of you head to the castle and repel the enemy! For Equestria!”

The next that was heard was an enormous ‘Skreee’ as the rest of the troops exited the hatches, heading for the ground. I could see more than a few golden armoured heads turning and running away.

They didn’t expect us. Something is very wrong here.

“Luna! Look at those Royal Guards. They even attack ponies in the streets. Now they run as if they never expected us. Something is very wrong here!”

“I see it, General,” she spoke softly, her eyes gazing around the city. “Capture one of those fools and bring him to me!”

I saluted before dropping out of the hatch and spreading my wings, quickly screaming in joy as they finally felt the wind again. The city was a big mess with most of the royals on retreat, the bulk of our army already heading for the castle. “Two linebreakers, to me,” I yelled.

It took a while for the heavy armored soldiers to reach me, but I knew that they were more than a match for some royal guards.

“How can we help you, General?” the left spoke, immediately telling me who it was. Lightning Spear was the first mare Blue had drafted and trained for her new unit.

“Lightning, our Princess wants us to take a Royal Guard to her so she can interrogate him,” I said as my eyes roamed the streets. “And I think I already found a nice candidate,” I smiled and waved for them to follow me.

A Royal Guard tried to hide himself under a cart full of apples. Sadly, his armor stuck out between the wooden cart and the red apples. As soon as we touched down, he tried to scramble, but Lightning and her fellow soldier quickly surrounded him.

“Surrender, traitor, and you will live. You are hereby ordered to interrogation by our Princess, Luna of the Moon,” I growled, my hoofblades extending to his throat.

“Traitor? You are the traitors!” the stallion shrieked, his eyes lifeless and dull. “You help Nightmare Moon, she possessed Princess Twilight and planned to kill us all!”

I scowled at him. “Soldier, you will come with us before I transform you into a bloody puddle to my hooves!”

The stallion didn’t seemed to mind. “You are betraying all of Equestria by helping Nightmare Moon and her minions! The princesses will punish you for this! I-” his eyes rolled back and he sagged down as Lightning quickly hit him with the wooden end of her spear.

“Sorry, General. He was getting pretty noisy.”

“Don’t worry,” I sighed. “Grab him and get back to the Moonlight.”

They saluted and left with the unconscious stallion, leaving me alone on the ground. The castle wasn’t far so I decided that it would be my next goal, but the way was quickly blocked by two pegasi, clad in the armor of the Royal Guard. They both wore the same lifeless eyes as the one we had captured.

“Any pony that helps Nightmare Moon will be treated as her minion and killed!” the left one said. “Surrender or die.”

I smirked before extracting my hoof bladed. “I am General Night Watch. Leader of Equestria’s armies and loyal soldier to Luna, Princess of the Moon. Surrender or I’ll leave nothing but pieces of you that your families won’t recognize anymore.”

Both stallions paused, a hint of something in their eyes before they became lifeless again. “She is a minion of the Nightmare! We have to kill her!”

I sighed. Normally, my threats always worked. Whatever magic was in play, it would cause trouble, that was already clear. It was just sad that those ponies would pay for it.

Please, Luna. Whatever your plan is, be quick.