The Devil You Know

The first rays of the sun rose over the blasted battlefield that had once been Ponyville. The last embers from fires set during the night were still smouldering, sending faint trails of smoke into the sky. The stench of blood, sweat, and death drifted in the wind as a sickly miasma.

Bodies of the dead and dying lay scattered about in clusters. The soft moans of the wounded rose up from the shattered landscape in a terrible cacophony of pain. Overhead, the carrion birds circled hungrily, awaiting their chance to feed.

The true victors of this battle.

A battered and bloody Sunset Shimmer sat amongst the carnage, gazing despondently at what remained of her knights. Her helmet lay scoured and broken at her hooves, her well-groomed mane now a frazzled, sweat-soaked mess. Her blood-caked sword rested beside her, its edge chipped and blunted from the night's bloody work.

Of her proud army of knights, only a score were still standing, mere ghosts of their former selves. Of the wounded, only a few would leave this place, the rest not likely to last the hour. Only by the blessings of Celestia, was she herself unscathed, a small comfort amidst all this suffering.

The Celestial Knights, the army she had trained personally, had ceased to exist.

Malice lay behind her, battered and bleeding but unbroken. Even he was quiet as they surveyed the battlefield together. He had not even gone off to partake in his usual pastime of scavenging the dead. This was different—he knew these ponies lying broken at his feet. Perhaps even his black heart was capable of remorse from time to time.

Sunset let out an angry snort, kicking her helmet away.

All this death and sacrifice and they had achieved nothing!

The Umbra had fled the field the moment the Mare in the Moon had fallen from the sky, leaving Sunset and her knights stunned but alive. That welp had succeeded once again, and the thought enraged her.

“Hark, it’s the Princess!” somepony called, all eyes turning to see the graceful form of the Sun goddess swoop overhead, accompanied by her royal pegasus guard and a hundred other ponies riding on air chariots.

Celestia arced over the battlefield, her white coat and rippling mane bathed in the golden hue of the rising sun.

“So, the coward makes her appearance,” Malice muttered as Celestia landed amongst her soldiers, the cheer rising from them as loud as the few could muster.

“Guard your forked tongue,” Sunset growled. “I am in no mood for your nonsense.”

He simply chuckled. “At least I get to watch you fawn over your beloved princess.”

She gave him a scowl before trotting towards the princess, who was amongst the crowd that had rushed to greet her as she landed.

Sunset swallowed, a bitterness in her mouth as she approached Celestia, the goddess, standing pristine amongst the carnage around her.

“Your Highness,” she said, dropping to her knees.

“Ah, my dear Sunset,” Celestia said, relief pouring from her voice. “I knew no Umbra could best my most faithful student.”

“Forgive me, Your Highness,” she said. “I have failed you.”

Celestia frowned. “Failed me? How?”

“Despite all that you have taught me, I could not carry the day,” she cringed, clenching her eyes tightly.

There was a soft sigh, and she felt a hoof gently rest on her shoulder. “No, my dear Sunset, you have performed your task admirably,” Celestia said softly. “It was not an easy one; that was why I gave it to you.”

Sunset looked up to see Celestia give her a sympathetic smile. “You and your knights fought bravely. You should be proud.”

“I am, Your Highness. But we have suffered grievously for the night’s work. Many will not last long.”

“Fear not, I will not allow my subjects to suffer, especially those who have fought so valiantly.”

Celestia closed her eyes and stood straight, her horn beginning to glow with a piercing golden light. “Let that which has been broken be mended. Let my light ease your pain, my little ponies. Sano!”

A golden light swept forth from the alicorn, warm like the sun in mid-summer. Sunset felt her fatigue vanish, her wounds healing instantly. As it swept over the field, those that were dying rose to their hooves, completely healed.

For a moment, all her doubts were swept aside by her princess’ majesty. She felt the same awe she’d felt meeting Celestia for the first time as a filly—that overwhelming sensation of being in the presence of divinity.

As the light faded, a cheer rose up once again, “Helios Aeternum!”

“Thank you, my princess,” Sunset said, bowing once more.

“I only wish I could give you more,” Celestia sighed, looking away towards the Everfree. “It would seem our gambit was a success.” Her expression hardened. “You felt the Nightmare’s awakening, did you not?”

Sunset nodded. “Yes, I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like it.”

“I expect not.”

Even in Celestia's presence, she could still feel that terrible cold that swept over her when the Nightmare had descended, a deathly chill that made her shudder involuntarily.

“What are your orders, Highness? Shall we go and confront the Nightmare?” she asked, eagerly.

Celestia closed her eyes. “No, the time has not yet come for us to meet once again. Let her sate her bloodlust amongst the Umbra; it will grant us the reprieve we need.”

“But what if she turns on us? Will she not gain strength if left unchecked?”

“Do not fear, my student. I did not spend these millennia idly awaiting her return,” Celestia replied. “When her foolish desires bring her to our door, I will have need of you, my student.”

Sunset ignored the twinge of anger simmering inside her.

“By your will, Your Highness.”