Chapters Prologue: Crystals Shattered
Prologue: Crystals Shattered
We, the knights of the Blackstone Legion. We, the knights of Ashfield, have always been defenders of our people. We stay strong, against all invaders.
But sometimes, even we must invade to keep our people alive.
(***)
We Vikings are always seeking glory. To see the gates of Valhalla is the reason on why we fight. To die in battle is the greatest death we can expect in our life.
We raid to stay alive, and to fulfill the will of the gods, because even we get hungry, and so do our people.
(***)
We Samurai have always been experiencing hardship at every corner of our history in exile. We are outnumbered, but strong. We must solidify our place on the Myre, so we must invade to feed and to equip our warriors and people.
We will not go back into exile. Not this time.
(***)
The Crystal Empire is a place of love, compassion, and fellowship. It is here that all love radiates, where all hope stays.
The birds were silent, the ponies were scared. It seemed that they were waiting for some kind of hammer to fall.
Shining Armor stood on a balcony with some of his most trusted soldiers, overlooking the walls and the magical barrier that surrounded the city. But it was not the walls or the barrier that worried him.
No, it was the small iron-clad army that stood outside the barrier, their banners flapping in the silent wind.
At the forefront of the army, was a heavily armored knight, clutching a halberd in his hoof. He gave a signal, and the catapults begun to load.
Shining Armor turned and nodded to his soldiers. They bowed and galloped away to finish their preparations. As Shining turned again towards the army, he heard his wife's hoofsteps behind him.
“How are you doing?” she asked. Shining turned and forced a smile.
“Just fine,” he said. “You need to be in the safe room, with Flurry Heart, and our finest bodyguards.”
“I will stand with you.” Shining shook his head.
“We both know that you don't have a talent for fighting,” he reminded. “Please, ease my worries and go to the safe room.” Cadance sighed, and reluctantly nodded. She turned and began to trot to the safe room.
Shining looked down, then turned and saw the army finish loading their catapults. He activated his magic, reinforcing the magic barrier. His soldiers took up defensive positions. The citizens all fled to the Crystal Tower, the only “safe” place within the city, surrounded by the bulk of the small Crystal Empire army.
Outside the walls and barriers, a battering ram was making slow progress with the main gate. On the other side, Crystal soldiers drew their weapons, ready to fight and die for the sake of the Crystal Empire.
One knight, a Warden, approached the knight with the halberd.
“We await your orders, milord,” he said. The knight with the halberd, a Lawbringer, gave a simple order.
“Break it down,” he uttered. The Warden turned and yelled the same command to the entire army. The army shouted their battle cries, and launched the boulders from their catapults. The boulders soared through the air, only to slam into the magic barrier. Small cracks appeared in the barrier, but they soon faded. The Lawbringer frowned underneath his helmet. He turned to the Warden.
“Concentrate on one spot,” he ordered. “Fire all catapults on that one area.” The Warden nodded and shouted the same commands. The common soldiers began to load the catapults.
Shining felt the barrier weaken as his horn dimmed. Sacrificing some of his strength, he powered his horn again. Once again, the barrier was reinforced, but would not last long.
“If only Cadance was here.” he muttered. He then frowned, realizing that the outcome would be the same.
The Warden gave the word, and the boulders were unleashed from their catapults. The boulders struck the same place all at once, causing cracks to appear as each boulder hit the same spot over and over again.
Shining was sweating now. These boulders packed a lot more power than the Changelings did. Shining knew he couldn't survive another catapult bombardment, but he was determined to keep the barrier up.
Again, the Warden gave the word, but this time ordered the common soldiers to light them on fire.The boulders hurled through the air like earth-born meteors. This time, the boulders smashed the barrier, shattering it like glass.
The boulders kept on going, striking houses and causing them to collapse in fiery explosions.
Shining’s head violently jerked to the left, as if somepony punched him in the face. He held a hoof to his snout, and looked at it.
He was bleeding.
Furious, Shining Armour drew his sword, and bellowed a battlecry. Then, the Crystal Empire was filled with her soldiers yelling, just as the ram finally punched through the main gate.
“Kill all those who fight against us,” the Lawbringer ordered. “Spare the civilians, but I want all of them herded to a specified area after we take the city… Warden!”
The Warden knelt at the hooves of the Lawbringer, “Yes milord?”
“You will lead the vanguard. I want a path cleared for my soldiers.”
The Warden nodded. “It shall be done.” He held up his knightly longsword, and gather the vanguard before him. He then charged at the broken gate as his fellow soldiers followed him, shouting war cries of their own. Together, they rushed through the gate.
The Crystal soldiers held their ground.
The Warden swung his mighty sword, cleaving three Crystal soldiers in two with one swing. He turned and sliced the head of another Crystal soldier off and slammed his armored hoof into another. His soldiers fought furiously, using their swords and shields to cut, slash, bash, and stab as boulders rained around them, destroying buildings and groups of enemy soldiers.
In a few moments, the gate was lost.
The Warden and his company galloped through the streets, cutting down anypony that dared to fight the Blackstone Legion. As the streets began to build up in the gore and blood of Crystal soldiers, Shining Armor and a group of soldiers began to make a stand. The Warden quickly spilled the guts of another Crystal soldier with a horizontal slash, then turned and reversed his grip on his longsword, holding the blade instead of the handle. He swung the sword, impaling the side of a Crystal soldier’s with the crossguard. He pulled it out, and the head leaked brain matter.
The Warden continued to cut his way through, and his group were doing their best to keep up. In no time at all, the Warden and his company of soldiers were nearing the castle.
“Hurry!” the Warden yelled. “The Conquerors might get there first!”
Shining Armor was in front of his most elite group of soldiers. His horn glowed and his eyes burned with anger. These warriors were destroying his city, his citizens. He was going to spill their blood, and stop their invasion in its tracks.
Then two rather intimidating stallions appeared. They had shields on one fore leg, and flails in their other hoof. They were Conquerors, the Iron Legion’s juggernaut knights. They charged at their enemies, the Crystal soldiers.
Shining stood in their way and swung his sword, which was blocked by their shields. One Conqueror’s shield bashed Shining, and then smacked him with his flail on Shining’s left hind leg, breaking it. The same Conqueror then shield bashed him in the face, sending him flying. Shining landed, and nearly blacked out. His hearing was ringing and his field of vision was blurry. When he regained his senses, he looked in horror as he saw the Conquerors smashing the skulls of his panicking soldiers to mush with their flails.
He tried to get up, only to cry out in pain. He looked back, and saw his left hind leg twisted in the wrong way. He could do nothing but watch as the Conquerors killed all his elite soldiers.
The rest of the knight host passed him. Shining was screaming furiously as they brutally killed the palace guards. He was literally dragging himself forward, trying to somehow stop the army from entering the castle. He was sure the safe room was well protected, but after seeing these Conquerors in action, he knew that all it would take was one Conqueror, just one to find the safe room, and that would spell death for his wife and daughter.
That's when he noticed the Warden and a Peacekeeper behind him.
The Warden gave the longsword to the Peacekeeper, then he trotted up to Shining Armor. Shining took one look at him, and spat on his armored hooves. The Warden responded by stomping on his leg, making him scream in agony. The Warden grabbed Shining by his horn with his hoof and began to drag the thrashing royal away from the castle.
“Holden Cross wants to speak to you.” the Warden said. Shining Armour stayed still and silent, viewing the destroyed city with horror-filled eyes, and hoping that they don't find his family.
Chapter 1: The Burning Orchards
The sun cast it beautiful rays upon the town of Ponyville as the dawn appeared. These rays of sunlight in turn affected the roosters, announcing the return of day, and waking many souls of Ponyville from their blissful slumber.
It only took one hour for the town to go from silent to bustling with activity. In the market, many merchants sold their wares, and ripped-off a few new customers, and the streets were alive with many ponies going about their business, and catching up with old friends.
“Stay safe, sugarcube.”
“Please darling, we will be just fine. All we are doing is going on a trip to Manehattan to negotiate with the griffons about their stolen idol,” Rarity said to Applejack. “Besides, we will have an armed escort to see us to the coast.” Applejack frowned.
“But it's the second time they lost their idol, stolen by some ruffians with axes,” she said. “Please, let the princesses deal with it.”
“W-why are you so worried about this t-task?” Fluttershy meekly asked.
“They are dreams, nothing more,” Rarity assured. “I promise that nothing bad will happen to us. After all, nothing on this continent could defeat a royal guard escort!”
Applejack shook her head. “Maybe you're right, but I can't shake this feeling of dread.”
“I-I'm sure everything will be alright.” Fluttershy said in her usual soft tone, and Rarity nodded in agreement.
“Well, we must be off,” Rarity said. “Can't keep Twilight waiting.”
“Y’all stay safe now.”
Rarity chuckled. “Don't worry darling, everything will be alright. We'll be home before you know it.”
(***)
“Let me have one last look of you son.”
“Ugh, mother, you have said that for the past hour!”
It's not like she could help it, for Pure Soul was a proud mother. And seeing her son, Braveheart, in royal guard’s armour, brought back lots of memories about her husband.
“Your father would be so proud of you, to follow in his hoofsteps. If only he could see you now…”
Braveheart caught her glancing at his father's picture on the fireplace as she said that. He knew the story all too well. His father, Valiant Effort, was one of the best royal guards Equestria would ever know. When the Changelings invaded the Crystal Empire during the royal wedding, it was his father that led the defense. He was supposedly separated from his fellow guards and was surrounded on all sides. They say he slaughtered up to one hundred twenty-three Changelings on his own before he was finally defeated.
Braveheart shook his head and said, “He probably already sees me.”
Pure Soul smiled, and hugged her son, who returned the favor. He pulled back and said, “Stay safe in Canterlot, dear.”
“I will mother.”
Braveheart turned and trotted out of the house.
Braveheart waited at the train station for his ticket out of Ponyville. As the dark thunder clouds covered the sky, he sighed as he wondered if the train is taking its merry old time getting here. Braveheart wanted get out of this town, for he never been anywhere else in his life. It was why he joined up, so he could travel around Equestria on diplomatic missions, fight the occasional monster, and swap insane stories about tours of duty, and maybe make some new friends since his old one took off to find some forbidden magic secrets that nopony should know about. He felt bad that he was leaving his mother, but he knew he had to leave the nest.
He sat there, staring at the tracks, until he heard screaming. He turned around, hearing a chorus of screams rise from the south side of town. Braveheart grabbed his sword, strapped it to his flank, then galloped towards the sounds of complete and utter panic.
He galloped past various ponies of all shapes and sizes, fleeing from the south of town, trying to get the Tartarus out of Dodge. He made it to the south side of town, and could not believe his eyes.
On a river that bordered the south side, three warships with carved dragon heads were emerging from the ominous fog, the lanterns hanging from the figure-dragon heads casting a dreadful and harsh light in the shadow of the thunderstorm.
He saw the physically imposing earth ponies on the ship, some wearing horned helmets, some not. A majority of them were carrying round shields and swords.
On one of the ships, an earth pony stood proudly on its hindlegs, a menacing spear in on hoof, and a shield in the other. The mare had a helmet with ram horns sprouting from the left and right sides of the helmet.
The Valkyrie yelled a fierce war cry, pointing her spear towards the town, and the two ships surged forward.
Braveheart drew his sword, and was joined by the few guards stationed in Ponyville.
The two ships crashed into the shore, and the screaming bloodthirsty warriors charged towards Ponyville. There were three warriors that stood out from the rest. All three were dual-wielding axes, and wore minimal armour. But that look…, that savage look in their eyes…
They charged ahead of the main body of warriors, screaming something about a place called Valhalla.
One Berserker ran into the group, and the blood began to run. The savage axe-wielder sunk one of his axes into the skull of a guard, and swiftly pulled it out, causing bits of mashed brain and blood to flop out of the gaping gash. The Berserker spun and smashed another axe into another guard’s abdomen, and viciously ripped out intestines. The Berserker was unnaturally fast, swinging his axes with such wild abandon, screaming bloodlust and eyes filled with fury. Soon, all that remained of the guards was Braveheart. Braveheart raised his sword as the twin axes came down, breaking his guard. Seizing this opportunity, the Berserker grabbed Braveheart by his mane with his teeth and threw him through a window, knocking the stallion out, and out of the fight.
Braveheart regained consciousness for a moment, hearing the screams of the Ponyville citizens as they were being slaughtered by the dozens. And once again, he blacked out.
(***)
Braveheart finally woke to the smell of burning buildings and burning flesh. He forced his eyes open, and somehow got up, shaking badly. He was bleeding from the multiple cuts he received from the window, and bits of his royal guard armor was shredded. He peeked out of the shattered window, and immediately wished he haven't.
Charred and mutilated bodies of the ponies he swore to protect littered the streets. Some were beheaded, some were disemboweled, and all died with the most horrified expressions on what's left of their faces.
Braveheart threw up.
Once that episode was over, Braveheart climbed out of the shattered window, glass cutting his flesh again. He stumbled into the grotesque Tartarus that the Berserkers and their warriors left in their wake. Nearly all the buildings were on fire, some already collapsed. Braveheart wandered the town, looking for survivors.
He found none. Almost.
He noticed some rubble moving, as if somepony was underneath it. He limped as fast as he could towards the struggling rubble, hoping to find somepony that wasn't a bloody mess. He activated his magic, lifting the rumble and casting it aside.
It was not survivor, but three. It would of been four, but the body of Colgate acted as a meat shield for the three survivors when the rubble came down. Pinkie Pie, Sunset Shimmer, and Octavia looked at Braveheart with eyes of terror, then it turned to eyes of sorrow as all three nearly tackled Braveheart in a hug, crying hysterically.
“Thank Celestia a guard is here!” Pinkie Pie cried. “We thought we were goners.”
Braveheart took in the image of the three.
Pinkie Pie had her cotton candy-like mane still up, but one could see that she was desperately trying to stay optimistic. Sunset Shimmer was cut up and bruised, but otherwise okay. Octavia was in the same condition as Sunset, except that she looked like she was sompony who just realized the world is gonna end in five minutes.
“What happened?” Braveheart asked.
Sunset spoke this time “We were following Applejack when the rubble came down on top of us. Applejack tried to help us, but was chased by one of those ponies with the dual-axes. We don't know where she Is right now.”
Braveheart looked to the distance, and saw a blaze that was separated from the town, in a familiar place.
“I think I know where she went,” Braveheart said. “Stay here.”
Before any of them could protest, Braveheart spread his wings and took to the skies, heading towards Sweet Apple Acres.
(***)
In a minute, Braveheart landed in the apple orchards.
Scratch that. He was in apple-Tartarus.
The Apple family's barn and house were on fire. The orchards were put to the torch as well. Branches that once gave joy, only give ash that reeked of death.
In the middle of the orchards, were four ponies. Two were alive, two were dead.
Braveheart trotted up carefully to the weeping Applejack and Apple Bloom, mourning the loss of Granny Smith and Big Macintosh.
Macintosh had his head cleaved in two, his brains already steaming within the heat that the orchards cast off. Granny Smith had a gaping hole in her side.
Braveheart was horrified. “What… happened?”
Applejack spoke. “Spears and axes… that's what happened.”
Apple Bloom drew a shaky breath, and said, “They went out to stop the bad ponies from taking our apples. Granny was the first to… die.” She choked out the word “die” like it was a piece of boiled cabbage. “Big Mac tried to save her, and… a-and…”
Applejack let out a mournful wail of absolute heartache as she still clung to the dead bodies of her Grandmare and her big brother. Apple Bloom joined her.
Braveheart bowed his head as a sign of respect to the two corpses. The echoes of the cries of sorrow mingled with the crackling fire of the burning orchards.
Chapter 2: The Day Baltimare Stood Still
“Let me go, you swine!”
“You are in no position to make demands, ‘majesty’, now keep quiet!”
A Warden tossed Shining Armor into a dungeon cell, causing the ruler of the Crystal Empire to hit the stone-cold floor, hard. Shining barely regained his senses when he heard the Warden slam the heavy iron door shut.
He could tell that he wasn't in the Crystal Prisons beneath the castle from the scent of mildew and old bones that have been here for centuries. He breathed a sigh of relief, because that it meant that they haven't found his wife and daughter yet. He gave a quick glance around the cell. It only had one small window, and looked like It hasn't been used for quite a long time.
A voice caught him off guard. “So… what are you in for?”
Shining turned to see an ivory-white unicorn with a shaggy mane and sharp-green eyes sitting in a corner. Shining was silent for a minute.
“I’m in here because I dared to stand against them,” he said. “And because I refuse to let the Queen, my wife, to be found.”
The unicorn grinned. “Well, well, well. So you are Shining Armor then? And here I thought you had no balls.” Shining forced himself to keep his composure after hearing that insult.
“What about you?” he quickly asked. “Why did they throw you in here?”
The unicorn shrugged, “Because I killed two of their hoofsoldiers with a saddle knife.”
Great. The knights locked the King of the Crystal Empire in a cell with a knife-nut.
Seeing the obvious look of concern written on Shining Armor’s face, the ivory unicorn rolled his eyes. “Relax,” he said. “I’m not going to kill you.”
“...”
“I guess I have to open up a bit, do I?” the unicorn said. “The name’s Ashen, Ashen Spectre.”
Ashen smiled, “So now I have a reputation? That’s pretty cool.”
“If by cool, you mean the greatness of everypony fearing for your safety,” Shining Armor scoffed.
Ashen frowned, and looked at the ground, “I have to do it, you know? I can’t stop when I am so close.”
“What do you mean?” Shining Armor asked.
Both sat silently for a couple of minutes, then Shining Armor asked, “Do you have a family?”
“My real family is dead, killed on the streets of Baltimare. I was alone for a long time, until I ran into a friend. His family took me in, and raised me as one of their own. But, because of my quest, I left them to strike out on my own, endlessly searching for missing pages for my ‘book’. I remember the fight me and my brother got into before I left. Plenty of blood from that one. I haven’t made contact with him at all, so i’m pretty sure that I’m dead to him.”
“You there, the white one. Lord Holden Cross wants to speak to you.”
Ashen shrugged, “it’s not like I have much of a choice.”
Ashen got up and trotted out of the cell, with the Warden close behind, leaving Shining Armor to his thoughts, and concerns, for his family.
(+++)
“Wait here.”
The Warden left Ashen Spectre on the balcony that Shining Armor used to survey the battle, the one that overlooked the city. It was a risky move to leave a dangerous prisoner by himself with means to escape. But Ashen knew that escape was nearly impossible, thanks to the place crawling with Peacekeepers. Even If he activated his magic, a blade would find his heart before he spoke the first sentence. The Knights saw what magic could do, so they took “precautions.”
“Enjoying the view?”
Ashen turned to see the Lawbringer himself, Holden Cross. The knight took of his helm, and set it on the table. Ashen examined the stallion, taking mental notes on the leader of this knightly campaign. His mane was completely shaven off, and that halberd of his looked like it could do some serious damage. He trotted up next to Ashen, the latter keeping his eyes on his enemy.
“I heard that you killed two of my soldiers with only a knife.”
Ashen nodded slowly. “Indeed I did.”
Holden raised an eyebrow. “Hmmm… you seem honest.”
Ashen rolled his eyes. “Thank you captain obvious.”
A Warden moved towards Ashen to “correct” his sarcastic remark made to his superior.
The Lawbringer held his hoof up and said, “Peace, Roland. It's only natural that he greets me with this kind of behavior.”
The Warden stopped, then grumbled something before he put his sword point-down in the balcony floor.
Holden Cross turned to Ashen Spectre, “I will get straight to it. I want you to fight for the Blackstone Legion.”
Ashen was silent, then said, “You do know that I killed two of your soldiers, right? Besides, I only work for myself, and myself alone. I have no intention of joining your army's mission to completely sack Equestria.”
Holden smiled, “I knew you'd say that.” He slammed the butt of his halberd into the balcony floor. Moments later, three legion hoofsoldiers appeared, carrying three different glass cases. Curiosity roused, Ashen asked about the cases.
The Lawbringer waved his hoof, and the cases opened. Ashen’s eyes widened.
“I believe that you are looking for these pages of dark lore,” Holden said.
Ashen shook his head in disbelief. “But how? How did you find the missing pages?!”
“My knights raided the library and the official records. Turns out that you have quite the history,” Holden answered. “Arson, assault, thievery, practicing the dark arts; you my friend are rather infamous. You did all of that to find these three pages to your beloved grimoire.”
Holden held out a knight’s great helm, painted black. “All you have to do is fight in my legion. As soon as your service is fulfilled, I will give you the three pages and let you be off. Like you said, you have nothing that you owe your allegiance to. Join us, so we may be able to feed my citizens and drive back the Chosen and Warborn. Join us, so that you may gain what you have searched for all these years.”
Ashen looked back and forth between the black helm and the archaic, ancient pages that he needed to use to avenge his parents. It was here and now, the choice is his. He drew a shaky breath, and reached out with his hoof, grabbing the black great helm.
(***)
Rarity and Fluttershy sat at the Baltimare docks, watching ships come and go. As they waited patiently for their ship to arrive, Rarity began to check her luggage, which could easily fill up a small storage room.
It was so noticeable, a guard from the party that escorted the two Mane Six members shook his head and said, “Is all that luggage really worth it? It seems like an inconvenience.”
Rarity rolled her eyes and turned to Fluttershy.
“Seriously darling,” she complained. “I swear I have gotten this awful question from the Royal Guard too many times.” Rarity then turned to the guard, her chin lifted. “Darling, I cannot stress how important my fashion designs are. I must simply travel with it in case of... circumstances.”
The guard figured that there was no way he could talk sense into her, so he simply shook his head and left her to continue ranting about how important her fashion was. Fluttershy continued to observe the docks, watching ships come and go.
She turned to Rarity. “A-are you sure that our friends are alright?”
“Of course they are, darling,” Rarity said. “It's just Applejack naysaying. I'm sure that they all are perfectly fine.”
But what Rarity didn't tell was that she was wondering the same thing.
Fluttershy continued to survey the bay, and saw an odd ship in the distance. It was oddly shaped like a floating fortress and had an even weirder sail shape. She could see the scrambling warriors dressed in unusual armors commanding the ship.
As soon as that ship began getting closer, she could see an entire fleet of these strange “ship-forts” coming towards them.
Soon the guards and civilian ponies began to see the fleet of ominous ships, making the entire harbor fall silent as ponies stare at the ship with fear and awe.
The guards snapped out of their trances and began to mobilize. Shouting orders to the civilian ponies to get them out of the harbor as the lead ship was about to dock. Instead of using the dock, the ship plowed its way through the docks and smashed aside boats, and beached itself.
The guards have taken defensive positions, aiming ballista and forming a shield wall. Then, a lone warrior jumped from the ship and landed on all four hooves. He stood up on his hind legs and drew a large, slightly curved blade. His red mask his his snout and lower face, but it did not hide the intensity that seemed to radiate off his glare.
“Who is the commander of this rabble? I wish to speak to him.”
Every guards was silent, until one came forward. He was Golden Law, a dear and close friend to Valiant Effort’s family, and captain of the guard in Baltimare.
“Who goes there? Who has the audacity to charge in her and scare the civilians?” The Captain cried out.
The warrior responded, “I am Saburo of the Chosen, and I am hear to make a deal.”
Murmurs erupted from the crowd of civilians and guards alike, speculating.
Golden Law asked, “What is it that you want?”
Saburo replied, “I challenge you to a duel.”
Golden Law gave Saburo a questioning look. “You want a duel?”
Saburo nodded.
Golden Law then asked what the terms were.
“If I win, my army and I take full control of the city. If you win, we leave in peace.”
“And if I refuse?” Golden Law asked.
Saburo got into his fighting stance and said, “Then I storm your city.”
Golden Law turned to his guards, many of them urging him to say “no deal.” But, being on the force for a while gave Golden Law a slight edge in the smarts department. He knew that they knew nothing about this new and strange enemy, an enemy that could wipe them out. So he must play it safe by accepting the duel, so if he should fall, no more lives are lost.
Golden Law nodded and said, “I accept.” the crowd of guards and civilians booed at the captain, hurling insults and calling him many colorful things.
“You chose wisely, commander,” Saburo said. “Let us fight with honor.”
Golden Law nodded and began to draw his sword from its sheathe, when he heard the familiar sound of a spear taking flight.
The spear flew into Saburo’s flank, taking the Kensei by surprise.
Golden Law whirled around to see a guard, spearless, giving cries of victory with his comrades cheering him on.
“You… fools!”
Golden turned to see Saburo pluck the spear out of his armor and swung his nodachi, decapitating Golden Law.
“You fools!” Saburo cried with even more intensity. “You dishonorable curs! I will see you all dead before the suns sets this day!”
The rest of the fleet began to advance, getting closer to the harbor. Then, warriors similar to Saburo hopped off his ship, wielding katanas, naginata, and kanabo gathered around Saburo. Saburo picked up the head of Golden Law and flung it at the crowd of civilians, were it landed on Rarity, splattering her coat and mane with blood.
“Charge!” Saburo cried. As soon as he said it, the samurai charged.
The Shugoki samurai galloped into the shield wall, smashing it apart with their kanabo. These demons personified swung with reckless abandon, smashing many guard heads into mush and popping eyes out of there sockets. The Orochi and the Nobushi were quick to exploit the holes in the shield wall made by the Shugoki, and began to butcher the Equestrian guards with chilling efficiency and accuracy.
The guards were dying off in groups, they were hopelessly outclassed.
The civilians fled in terror as they saw their protectors getting sliced in half and smashed.
Fluttershy grabbed Rarity and pulled her, saying, “come on! We have to get out of here!” Rarity nodded slightly, still in shock, and was shuddering about the feeling of warm blood dripping onto her skin.
Fluttershy and Rarity galloped past confused homeless ponies, office ponies and everypony in between, shouting warnings and such. The ponies looked past them, and shook with terror as they saw galloping Shugoki smashing open windows to businesses and pulling out any guards that were cowardly and ending their lives. Orochi prowled the streets, fighting guards and slipping their katanas through the guard’s rib cages and throats, and chucking kunai at any threat ,civilian or guard, if they dared to hold a weapon.
Nobushi acted more like sentinels and herders. They killed the guards in their way and force the civilians that didn't pick up a weapon to go towards the harbor, often “convinced” by the blade of the naginata.
Through all of this, Fluttershy and Rarity kept galloping. Then a building exploded in front of them, knocking them off their hooves. It seems that the Samurai have landed their catapults.
Together, they got up, and together they attempted to run the gauntlet of collasping buildings and Samurai warriors.
Suddenly, an Orochi appeared behind them and chucked his kunai at them, the blade slicing through Rarity’s hamstring. Rarity flopped and crashed into a street garbage can.
Fluttershy turned and cried out her name. Rarity tried to get up, but, you know, sliced hamstring.
In pain, Rarity gritted her teeth and shouted, “Go, Darling! Get help from Celestia, please!”
“I’m not leaving you!”
“I said go! You are the only one that can get to her. Go!!!”
“But-”
“I said NOW!”
Fluttershy sniffled and spread her wings. She shot herself into the sky, not daring to look back. She was joined by some other pegasi that lived in the city, and managed to not get shot down by the yumi archers.
Together they fled the city-turned-Tartarus, as the screams of the civilians and guards echoed in Fluttershy’s mind.
“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.”
Chapter 4: O Brother Where Art Thou
“Ashen! You crossed the line!” Braveheart shouted as he kicked aside a garbage can in an alleyway.
Ashen turned to see his brother fuming, his eyes lividly lit up with hatred. Ashen tried to look as calm as possible. But deep inside, he was outright terrified. He knew what Braveheart was angry about, and Ashen knew that he couldn’t talk his way out of this one. He still had to try.
“Braveheart, I can explain-”
A hoof met his face, sending him sprawling into some more garbage cans.
“You knew!” Braveheart said. Ashen barely had time to get up before another blow struck him again.
Ashen staggered,“I’m sorry! Okay!? I didn’t think it would happen at all!”
“It was a dark magic charm that housed an evil spirit! Yet, you bought it in some shady alleyway, and gave it to our mother, you piece of shit!” Braveheart then bucked him into a brick wall. “Do you have any idea what that thing made her do!?”
Ashen pulled out a pocket knife and said, “Don’t you lay another hoof on me! I swear, I will kill you.”
When the ultimatum reached his ears, Braveheart growled and said “Come on! Do it!”
Ashen let loose a guttural cry, and charged Braveheart. Braveheart stood still, convinced that his brother would not dare attack his brother, his best friend, a member of his only family. He did not realize that anger and bitterness made Ashen blind to reason.
Ashen slammed into him, driving his knife deep into Braveheart’s belly. Braveheart flopped to the ground, knife still in place. The anger and blindness subsided. Ashen stood there, as Braveheart stirred. “I… am your family.” Braveheart croaked as he tried to stand. Ashen looked on in horror. Braveheart got on his hooves, his wound bleeding profusely. “All I ever wanted was to…” He collapsed, and Ashen fled, tears flowing down his cheeks.
(IV)
Ashen parried one strike, before he could even grin, a poleaxe shaft appeared underneath him, and and lifted him into the air, flipping him over Holden Cross’s shoulder and slamming him into the ground, and shattering any hope of besting the lawbringer.
Ashen staggered as he got up from the vicious beatdown he called training. He dropped his flail and shield and sat down, breathing heavily.
“Our weapons, our fighting styles are completely alien to him,” Roland said, who was watching from afar with Ignatius. “Perhaps we could get Stone to train him?”
Holden frowned. “If Ignatius can’t get to him, Stone can’t either.”
They sat there silently, eyeing the heavily-breathing Ashen, figuring out what to do with him. They needed him in the field with them in two weeks time before they begin their campaign. As their only magical asset, they would need him to help counter the magical power these ponies seemed to wield.
“You know,” Ignatius said. “We could have Marius train him.”
Roland scoffed. “You want him trained as a centurion?! That’s as bad as having him trained as a lawbringer!”
“Think about it,” Ignatius explained. “He seemed proficient with knives when we captured him. All our weapons are bigger than he is used to. If we give him a weapon like a gladius, and train him in the centurion way of fighting, he would probably be better off than fighting with a five-foot blade of steel.”
Holden held his armoured hoof to his chin. “An idea so crazy, it just might work.”
“Holden, are you really considering this?” Roland asked. Holden paused for a moment, then turned to Ashen. “Ashen, report to commander Marius tomorrow. You will be receiving lessons from him.”
(IV)
“So, my guards say that you are the only confirmed survivor of the Ponyville Guard. Is this true?”
“Indeed, I am.”
Celestia and Luna sat on their respective thrones, looking deeply troubled about what Braveheart just told them. He couldn’t blame them, he’d be shocked that an entire group of guards were slaughtered by brutal ponies holding axes and screaming, “Valhalla!” as they jumped from their boats.
Celestia turned back to Braveheart. “What are these warriors like?”
“They are not afraid to die,” Braveheart said. “That answer alone should suffice.”
Luna nodded. “I am equal to the task.”
“Good.”
Celestia got up and said, “Before we engage these savages, I want you to lead the Northern 10th Battalion in a scouting mission to judge the strength of these iron-clad warriors in the Crystal Empire. I want to know if we can liberate the Crystal Empire and save the royal family from captivity.”
Luna nodded, and Celestia made her exit.
Braveheart turned to leave, but felt Luna’s hoof rest on his shoulder.
“I want you to come with me and the 10th Battalion.” She said.
Braveheart frowned. “Are you sure? I mean, I have no problem with it, but I never seen, or fought them before.”
“Braveheart, how did you get those burns?” Luna asked.
“I took some splash from an savage’s incendiary bomb. Nothing too serious.” Luna narrowed her eyes. Before she could press the issue, Fluttershy entered the room. “Princess Luna, y-you wanted to see me?”
Braveheart took this opportunity and said, “If you will excuse me, I must get ready for the trip.”
Luna hesitated, then nodded. She kept her eyes on Braveheart until he trotted out of the throne room.
Thanking Celestia for Fluttershy’s timely arrival, he went towards the barracks to get ready for the long haul.
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