A War of Attrition

How long has it been?

In the deepest depths of the Canterlot Castle resided a lone prisoner. However this was not just any prisoner. This was Adamantine Steel, the once great God of War. Now he sat there, head hanging low and his muzzle pointing straight down at the dirty stone that he now knew as a resting place. His entire body frozen in place, feeling nothing but the rotten air that occasionally blew past. A single torch hung from across the iron bars of the cell, illuminating everything that it could reach.

One thousand years? Maybe two thousand years?

These were the questions that continually circled in his mind, never leaving, never to be answered by his captors to quench the thirst of the forgotten knowledge he will never know. He'd do anything to stretch his wings and allow them to breath. How he longed to once again feel the purity of the outside air instead of this putrid smell. The cracking of the fire was the only other thing he heard aside from his own shallow breaths. The Pegasus was pulled from his thoughts as he heard hoof steps approaching from the left. As they nearer and nearer he could only imagine who it was. Probably just one of those ignorant guards He thought to himself. He could now see the shadow of the invader created by the single torch, a long horn protruding from the head of the quickly approaching pony. He soon realised that this horned pony also had wings. An alicorn.

I wonder which Princess has come down here this time

As the hoof steps stopped right in front of his cell, he slowly started to lift his head up. When he finally saw who it was he felt nothing but emptiness. Her dark blue coat almost matching with the walls, her ethereal mane filled with constellations seemingly floating in pace. Her royal regalia reflecting what light the torch emitted straight into the cell. Princess Luna. His cold brown eyes soon met with her teal orbs. I was starting to forget how another pony looked. They remained in a silent state before the Gray Pegasus spoke up.

"What do you want?" His voice dark and raspy.

"Making sure thou art still here" She replied keeping a stern look on her face. Her voice was surprisingly gentle and almost sincere to the other God. Adamantine chuckled to himself staring back at her eyes strengthening his glare. "Drop that royal speech, anyways do you really think that I can escape from here in my state?" Luna returned the glare before sitting down on her haunches.

"Would it not hurt to check if your prisoner has escaped or not?" She asked raising her muzzle as if she was speaking to a subject.

"Do you really think I can escape from here?" He shot back at her, standing up. Luna herself now wore a smug grin on her face. "Of course not, just had to make sure an evil one like you is behaving" This statement angered him to the point where he had enough. He rushed towards the iron bar before slamming into it causing the entire frame to shudder. The sudden impact caused the princess to stumble back a bit, letting a gasp of shock escape her muzzle. She stared back at the now angered Pegasus, his black mane now in clear view.

"You watch me Luna! I'll find a way to get out of here and plunge Equestria into my image!" He shouted at her shaking the iron bars that separated the two gods. The Goddess of the Night looked back at the enraged stallion waiting for his next move. However he didn't move, he just stared at her waiting for a response. Luna quickly scrambled to her hooves before looking back at Adamantine.

"Why do you want this?" She asked

To that he remained silent and only continued to eat into her soul with his eyes. Soon she couldn't find the power to stare back and instead turned towards the exit. At this point the Pegasus calmed down and sat back down. He stared at Luna as she left. He soon heard the dungeon door slam shut as it echoed throughout the walls. What he wasn't expecting soon came to him. He felt power. Power from out of nowhere. He shook his head thinking he was dreaming, but no. This was real. He slowly raised himself to his hooves and unfurled his wings to their full length. The tip of his wings touching the walls of the cell. And at the front of his wings and thin line of steel. Adamantine Steel slowly started to laugh and cackle as he felt his powers returning. He then called upon his unearthly magic. A black mist rose from the cracks of the stone surrounding him. He gave one last look around the cell before smiling. As soon as the black mist appeared it had gone leaving nothing behind but a single gray feather.

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A mass of ponies marched down the street. Their hoof steps echoed throughout the city of Königsberg. They all chanted the same name.

"GLADIUS! GLADIUS! GLADIUS!"

At the front of the march stood a lone Pegasus dressed in a red robe. Gladius. They all continued, heading to town hall with one goal in mind. Take the town hall by force and take control. Out of the shadows of an alley stood a Gray Pegasus of a tall stature, smiling at the event. The corner of his eyes now leaking black smoke. He was finally free and now he could once again be remembered as the God of War. He quickly retreated back into the shadows and followed the mass of ponies laughing to himself. At the very front of the mass with Gladius marched alongside him a small personal guard. All holding foreign weapons that took Adamantine by surprise. This is where it will start.

Oh, Celestia and Luna. What will you do now that I am free?