The Wandering Soldier

The seven ponies arrived at Canterlot castle. The castle appeared to be glowing in the sunlight. There was guards everywhere they looked. Security had been raised around Equestria due to rogue dragon attacks in the west and a zebra uprising in the east. The guards seemed to follow every movement the ponies made as they approached the main gate.

"Who goes there" a voice bellowed out as the ponies arrived at the gate.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends" Twilight shouted back in response to the guard's question. There was a small pause before the large iron gate was raised, allowing the ponies access to the castle. Once all seven of them passed through the gate it slammed shut behind them causing some of them to jump. There was twice the amount of guards on the inside as their was outside. The group continued to walk towards the main doors. A stallion in purple and gold armour came out to greet them. He went out to Twilight and gave her a hug.

"Twily" the stallion said."It's great to see you again. I didn't know you had business in the castle" he said releasing her from his grasp.

"It's great to see you too BBBFF" Twilight said, smiling at the stallion."I'm not actually here on official business. A new friend of mine has come to talk to princess Celestia" she said. She received a troubling look from the stallion.

"That might be an issue" the stallion said."Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have been in the war room all day. Cadence has been taking over Celestia's duties in the royal court" he said."But I'm sure she won't mind an interruption from her dearest student" he said."Follow me".

The ponies followed the stallion through the large golden gates. Eclipse noticed that this castle was much larger than the one in Ponyville. They walked through the long corridors which had a guard every hundred metres. Twilight and the stallion were at the front of the group. They were deep in a discussion that Eclipse couldn't hear as he was at the back. He walked over to Applejack and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Who is that stallion" he asked point a hoof at the unicorn talking to Twilight.

"That's Twilight's brother, Shining Armour" Applejack responded."He's the captain of the guard here in Equestria. He's also married to Princess Cadence" the orange pony said. Eclipse looked at the stallion. He seemed familiar to the pegasus. The ponies continued to walked through the corridors until they came to a set of large iron doors.

"Go on in whenever you're ready" Shining Armour said to his sister and her friends."I have to get back to work. Don't forget to stop by my quarters later. You can see Cadence and Flurry Heart" he said. He then turned around and walked back up the corridor which they had come down. Twilight walked over to Eclipse.

"Are you ready to go in" she asked him.

"I am ready. May I enter last" he asked the alicorn. She smiled at him.

"Of course" she said. Twilight then turned and faced her friends."I think it would be better if you girls stayed out here" she said to them. They nodded in unison to show they understood. Twilight opened the door and went inside. Eclipse followed her inside.

Inside the war room was hectic. Ponies were running around with sheets of paper. Other in deep discusion, completely oblivious to anypony else. A large table dominated the centre of the room. It was in the shape of a pentagon, with a chair at each side. Three of the seats were currently occupied. In one seat was a dark blue alicorn, in another a white alicorn and in the third seat was a yellow pegasus. The three were having a discussion. The pegasus said something which caused Celestia to look down at the table with a worried look. When she looked back up she noticed Twilight and beckoned her over. Twilight walked over to the three ponies. The pegasus got out of her seat and saluted.

"Your majesty" she boomed.

"There is no need for that captain Spitfire" Twilight responded. Spitfire continued to salute for a moment longer before lowering her hoof. Celestia and Luna both stood up to greet the younger alicorn.

"We are pleased to see you again Twilight" Luna said to her.

"Indeed, it is a pleasant suprise to have you here. Why have you come" she asked eying the alicorn.

"I have come here with a new friend I made. He wishes to speak with you" Twilight said to the princess.

"And where is this friend" she asked her dearest student. Twilight called Eclipse over to the table. As soon as Celestia saw him she gasped. She looked into the Eclipse's eyes for a long time. Eventually she sat down without saying anything. Twilight and Luna stared at the alicorn slightly confused. Eclipse cleared his throat. Without looking up Celestia spoke, catching them off guard.

"Why have you returned" she said. Eclipse looked at the princess.

"I am a soldier of Equestria. And as a soldier I am reporting for duty" he said firmly.

"Why would you return now, after abandoning your post so many years ago" she asked. The pegasus retracted in shock. The question offended him. Keeping a firm composure he responded to the princess.

"How are you still ruler of Equestria after betraying your duties" he said. Luna gasped while everypony in the war room stopped what they were doing immediately. They all stared at the white pegasus, who had just spoken against their princess. Celestia still didn't lift her head.

"You would dare to make such an accusation against me" she said, an anger developing in her tone.

"You would dare to claim it as false" the pegasus shot back. There was complete silence in the room.

"You are a brave stallion to think you can defy me" she said, the anger, much more noticable now.

"You are a foolish pony if you think you can hide from your betrayal" Eclipse responded, keeping a calm tone. Celestia's face shot up. There was a flash and a giant cloud of smoke appeared. All the ponies went into a state of panic. They started running around like headless chickens, bumping onto one another. Luna then stepped forward.

"Everypony stop" she shouted, her voice filling the room. Everypony immediately stopped. Luna looked at her sister."What spell did you cast on him" she asked.

"The ultimate destruction spell" she responded, a dark grin on her face. Luna wore a grave look.

"Why would thou do something of such a horrible magnitude. Nopony could survive such a spell" she said. She was cut off by a loud cough. The grin vanished from Celestia's face. As the smoke was clearing a silhouette could be seen. Eclipse stepped out of the smoke.

"Impossible" Celestia screamed."No mortal could survive such a spell". Eclipse was now the one smiling.

"Did you forget that I am not a mortal. I was made immortal by your own hoof" he said."I accept that spell as a punishment for my actions. I was wrong to abandon Equestria, but now it is time for you to face the consequences of your actions" he said to the princess. He lifted a hoof and a small ball of enegry started to form. Immediately Luna stepped infront of her sister.

"Thou shall not harm my sister" she shouted. Eclipse lowered his hoof. Luna remained infron of her sister.

"Do you not recognise me Luna" Eclipse asked."It was not by Celestia's hoof alone that I was made immortal". The blue alicorn looked at the pegasus. She studied the stallion before realising who he was. Tears formed in her eyes.

"But this is impossible. You vanished" she said."How can you be here".

"I am here because of a promise I made to myself" Eclipse said."To show Celestia that she must face the consequences for her actions all those years ago" he said.