Equestria: For Honor

“Mother!”

Braveheart galloped through the smoldering streets of Ponyville, in a desperate dash to get to his home. He passed corpse after corpse, home after home. His hoofsteps echoed in the streets.

There! His street is just a block away. He quickened his pace and before he knew it, he was in front of his house in no time. He trotted up to his front door, which has been smashed in. Panic descended upon him.

“Mother, you here?!” he cried. There was no answer. Braveheart moved through the smashed door, looking frantically for his mother. Instead, he found a Raider’s body, still clutching its axe with its hooves, a kitchen knife in its throat. Braveheart took his eyes off the corpse and yelled out.

“Mother, are you here? Mother?!” A slight groan caught the attention of Braveheart, coming from the kitchen. He was there in an instant, and was absolutely horrified by what he saw.

He saw his mother almost completely bisected, her spine showing from that gaping wound that was her belly. Her internal organs were spilled and her blood was on the walls. She was still alive through, which went against everything logical. Braveheart rushed to her.

His mother smiled weakly, “heh… beat you to… it.”

“Please mother, don't talk. We will get you through this. Stay with me!”

“I'm... sorry, but... the only thing that is... keeping me alive...is magic, and even…that is beginning to wane. I wanted to say goodbye, so I...waited.”

“You won't die on me! Dammit, I won't let you die!”

She chuckled and said, “I'm sorry, but...it is simply… my time… to go.”

Braveheart’s eyes began to tear up. “Mom, I’m begging you, please don't die”

“Just remember that I… took one of them out,” Purity Soul said.

“Mother, please, don't…”

Purity fixed her gaze on the ceiling and said, “be… strong...for Equestria. Promise me… that you will defend Equestria. This...is my final wish.

Braveheart nodded, tears slipping down his cheeks.

Purity nodded. She then said, “I lo...ve...yo..”

Braveheart’s eyes glowed green as he said, “Fuck that.”

His horn glowed with power as he called upon every fibre of his magic and cast a healing spell that could end his life. He looked up at the ceiling, and let loose a guttural cry as his body smoked. He was burning, but he didn’t care. He will not fail to save this life.

(***)

Tears slipped from Celestia’s eyes as she watched the flame and smoke of Ponyville’s destruction rage on the horizon.

Three attacks. Three different forces have slaughtered so many Equestrians in a matter of days. When she heard about the iron-clad warriors that took the Crystal Empire, Celestia mobilized the 10th Northern Regiment to retake the empire. But, before she could even spread her wings, Ponyville was set ablaze, and Fluttershy came out of the sky bearing news that Baltimare has fallen, and Rarity had been captured… or killed.

The town guard in Ponyville had been completely wiped off the face of Equis, and the citizens that were caught in the crossfire payed the ultimate price. Celestia sent a relief battalion to search for any survivors an hour ago. But they have not reported anything back.

Celestia turned away from the carnage and slowly made her way to her throne. She kept thinking about what would've happened if she responded quicker, a way to prevent all of the carnage and death. She looked at her throne, and instantly felt self-loathing. She should have been stronger for her subjects, should have been there to rain down her fury on the three armies that dared to attack her kingdom. Instead, she sat in her castle and watched her world burn, hoping for peace. She dared not sit on the throne.

“Sister.”

Celestia turned to see her sister, Luna. With a sad smile, Celestia asked, “What is it?”

“I have managed to mobilize two-thirds of the army and the Rangers. However, the other one-third will take two days to become fully mobilized.” Luna said. Celestia eyed her and then looked back to the throne.

“Sister, these barbarians must be dealt with.”

Celestia ignored her and said, “Sister, do you think I am worthy of the throne?”

Luna nodded, “I know you are. Father and Mother would be proud of your rule.”

“Proud?” Celestia muttered. She turned and said, “Not proud, disgusted.”

Luna sighed.

Celestia looked up to the throne again. “For many years, we never had violence like this. My question is… why? Why now? Why couldn’t peace just reign forever?”

“It is not a question about ‘why’, it is a question about how we respond. What are we going to do about it? Because i’m leading our forces against them, with or without you.” Luna said.

“I will establish a peaceful-”

“Sister, open your eyes!” Luna shouted. “We just saw three different cities under our protection burn! You want peace? Then you will be the first to die when they march for Canterlot. I’m going to strike them down before they ever have the chance to do so.”

Luna spread her wings and flew out of the palace to the Canterlot Barracks.

Celestia once again turned to her throne, and said, “Why, my sister?”

(---)

Braveheart staggered through the hellish streets of Ponyville, dragging his mother on an improvised sled made of a garbage can lid, and rope. Her wound was healed, but the scar on her belly would be a very grim reminder of her encounter. Braveheart looked a lot worse than his mother. Third degree burns were in patches all over his body and wings, a side effect of casting a dark healing spell with no training at all. How he didn’t spontaneously combust was beyond him. In his eyes, it was well worth it.

He dragged his mother upon his makeshift sled, his eyes fixed on the train station ahead. He needed to get the train moving, he still had a duty to do.

As he got closer to the train station, he noticed that a large catapult boulder had smashed the station and tracks to bits, making the track unusable.

He forgot to watch his step, and tripped over some rubble, causing him to fall on some of his burns. He felt some pain, but most of the burns damaged his nerves.

He got up, muttering, “The one time I use Ashen’s magic…”

The flames near his location were really irritating his burns, causing his eyes to water.

He got up, and continued to drag his unconscious mother around.

“Hey! Braveheart!”

Braveheart turned his head to see Sunset Shimmer, Octavia Melody, and Pinkie Pie galloping towards him.

Braveheart collapsed, completely exhausted and in much pain.

The three surrounded him, looks of shock and concern on their faces.

“Sweet Celestia! What happened to you?” Pinkie Pie cried.

Braveheart hesitated. If they knew he cast a dark spell, he was very viable to get fired and imprisoned.

“I got hit with a barbarian fire flask. I was lucky to escape with my life.” he said. Braveheart looked around and said, “Where's Applejack?”

“She's burying her dead.” Octavia answered with a sorrowful tone.

Suddenly, lights blinded them, making them cry out in terror. But, it seems that their terror was misplaced when they heard these words:

“This is the Royal Guard! Stay where you are, we are here to help.”

(,,,)

“Again!”

*WHAM*

“Again!”

Ashen raised his shield, and once again, a flail smashed into it, and by extension, sent Ashen back to the ground.

The Conqueror, Ignatius, stood on his hind legs, winding his flail.

“Again!”

Ashen slowly got up. He was not used to this hind-leg-standing-style these knights seemed to use. His armor was strong, bit seemed to weigh on his body. His flail was just as deadly to him as it was to his opponent, his shield was dented and scratched.

In short, he wasn’t doing so well. It also didn't help that there were other knights watching him, curious about the foreigner in their ranks.

His opponent definitely had all the advantages here. If he tried to kill this Conqueror on the day he was arrested, his head would be smashed in within seconds.

Ashen stood on his hind legs, held his shield up, and began to wind his flail.

Ashen circled his enemy, and his enemy changed his stance, keeping an eye on Ashen.

Ashen made one last ditch effort and swung his flail in an overhead arc. Ignatius quickly blocked the incoming attack, then rushed forward and shield bashed Ashen. Ashen was knocked down again, this time landing on his shield and breaking it, getting a chorus of laughter from the other knights.

Ignatius shook his head and said, “What a sorry sight.”

As Ashen struggled to regain breath, Roland the Warden entered the courtyard-made training area. The knights that were spectating the match went back to their training, satisfied about the outcome of the match.

“Ignatius, I got some bad news.”

The Conqueror turned to Roland and said, “Whatever news it is, it can't be as bad as this sorry excuse is at sparring.”

Roland turned to Ashen, who was now getting up, and almost failing to do so.

Roland turned to Ignatius, “Well, Holden plans on using him soon. Whether he's ready or not, he will be put on the front lines.”

Ignatius shrugged. “Just remember that he changes stances like a slug.”

“According to our scouts, the Warborn have raided Ponyville, plundering a lot of supplies in the process. The Chosen have landed as well, but are a bit further away.”

Ignatius sighed. “Holden won't be happy about this.”

“Wait, who attacked Ponyville?”

The two knights turned their heads towards Ashen, who managed to regain his breath. Roland spoke, “Warborn. Bloodthirsty warriors of the icy north. They and the Chosen are the ones trying to destroy us. They must have followed us to this world.”

“Why do you care anyways?” Ignatius asked in annoyance.

“My brother… last I heard, he was In Ponyville.” Ashen answered.

Roland raised an eyebrow under his helm. “A brother, huh? Is he anything like you?”

Ashen looked down. “No, he is nothing like me.”