The Devil You Know

As they stepped out onto the cobblestone path which led towards the central Canterlot marketplace, a terrible sight caused the air to catch in Twilight’s throat. The whole of the eastern horizon was ablaze, thick black smoke rising high into the sky. The scent of burning wood permeated the air all around them as motes of ash fell down like snow.

“P-Ponyville…” she stammered, her voice timid like a foal’s. The humble village was somewhere within that black cloud of fire, death, and destruction.

Shining nodded, “Sweet Apple Acres, to be precise. The bastards lit up the whole orchard."

It had been years since Twilight had been to Ponyville. She had taken very little interest in the goings-on of the backwater community of mostly earth ponies who had carved out a life at the edge of the Everfree Forest. Supposedly, even their library was so small it fit inside a tree. Still, they didn’t deserve this. She stared silently for a moment as the town burned, the roots they had so lovingly laid down being torn away without a care.

“Why would they do such a thing?” she asked, feeling hollow inside.

“Because they’re monsters and simply because they can,” Shining said with a sigh. “It’s a hard world out there, sis.”

He trotted away, heading towards Canterlot castle, which loomed in the distance. Twilight lingered, looking back to her beloved archive before heading after him.

Canterlot’s streets bustled with refugees displaced from other cities and kingdoms. Proud Griffons from the far east rubbed shoulders with brooding Yaks from the Frozen North. Twilight’s ears were assaulted by a hundred different dialects from across the world.

Most of all, there were ponies of every tribe, huddled together in a vast sea of tents that lined Canterlot’s boulevards. Those that were lucky had been taken in by generous families, her own included. Most, however, were left outside, destitute and broken, desperately clinging to fragments of their former lives.

Twilight tried to look straight ahead as they trotted through the throng. Shining cut a path through the crowd with grim determination, nopony willing to stand in the way of a Royal Guard. He was not alone; the streets were heavily patrolled by guardsponies of the city watch.

The stench of so many bodies crammed together was overpowering, and Twilight had to struggle not to gag. The scents of cooking food, smoke, sweat, and filth all merged into a sickening aroma. Disease was rampant, despite the efforts by the clerics of Celestia’s Mercy. They passed by a cart hauling bodies away for burning, as all the cemeteries were full. Scenes like this were why Twilight hid in the archives.

It didn’t take long before Canterlot castle was before them. Twilight had seen old murals of the castle before the war, a royal palace with ivory towers clad in pristine white marble. Now, all that finery had given way to the practicalities of war. The battlements of the walls that had once been for show were now crammed with catapults and other siege engines. Grim-faced guards stared down at them from the arrow slits, and the skies were full of patrolling pegasi.

They trotted across the drawbridge that reached across a moat drawn from the river that serviced the city. Two imposing towers protected the main gate and portcullis that were the only way into the castle proper.

Twilight hesitated as she watched her brother talking to the soldiers guarding the gate. The last time she had been here was for her final exam to enter Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. That had ended in humiliation for her which she had never been able to live down.

“Come on, Twilight, best not dawdle now,” Shining said, motioning for her to follow.

“R-right,” she said, rushing to join him while trying to avoid the stony gaze of the guards.

The main keep towered above them, the path which led to the keep squeezed between the outer and inner walls. Twilight didn’t fancy trying to pass through this gauntlet of bolt throwers and archers.

They trotted by four earth pony mares breaking down rocks for the battlements. It seemed impossible, given how scrawny they were, but Twilight knew to never underestimate earth ponies. Three were varying shades of stony colours, but the last mare was a bright pink with the deepest blue eyes.

All their manes were straight cut, drooping down over their faces as they worked. What shocked Twilight the most were the scars on their bodies, claw marks racked down their flanks leaving patches of bare skin. The pink mare cast a glance over to Twilight as they passed by, her empty gaze seeming to pass right through her.

"Stare into the abyss too long and it might stare back..." the pink mare said, a grin stretching across her muzzle.

"What?! Did you say something to me?" Twilight asked, scooting a little closer to Shining.

“Pinkamena,” the mare with a slate grey coat warned in a gravelly voice. “Stop staring and get working.”

The spell broken, the pink mare got back to work without a word, crushing a boulder into small chunks with a single punch.

Soon, they were through the final gate and into the castle proper. The place was just as imposing as she remembered, drab walls draped sparingly with the red banners bearing the sun sigil of the princess.

All the while, Twilight was growing more and more anxious. She had only ever seen the princess once in her life—the day she had flunked her exams. The thought of meeting the ruler of Equestria and guardian of the Sun was, frankly, terrifying.

“Shining, do you have any idea what the princess might want with me?” She asked.

“No idea. Knight-Commander Sunset asked me to bring you here on behalf of Her Majesty,” he replied. “She put in for my recall herself, so you being here must be connected somehow.”

“But I’m just an academic. I’m not a soldier,” she said.

He shrugged. “Wars are fought with more than just strength of arms, Twilight. The princess wouldn’t have sent for you without a good reason.”

Twilight fell silent as they continued on their way. Her hooves were aching by the time they finally arrived at an oak door bearing a mural of the sun princess’ first raising of the sun.

“Now Twi,” Shining said, “I won’t be able to help you in there. Answer anything the princess asks and be as courteous as you can.”

“Right.” Twilight nodded, swallowing to try and get some moisture into her drying mouth.

“Good luck, you got this,” he said with a smile before knocking on the door.

“Yes?” came a feminine voice from inside.

“Captain Shining Armour, Commander, I have brought Twilight Sparkle as you requested.”

“Excellent, please come in.”

Shining cast one last supportive look to his sister before pushing open the doors.