The Devil You Know

Twilight Sparkle had been prepared to ask a million questions when she burst inside Princess Luna's chambers, two million even. What was going on, who was behind it, have the guards gone out, what's the casualty number, so on and so forth. Instead, what came from her mouth was nothing but silence as Twilight realized that Princess Luna was out on her balcony. The smoke rolling by almost seemed like an inky ocean, the smell choking with things she didn't want to consider the possibility of.

Eyes watering, she ventured forth carefully and paused a few feet from Princess Luna. With her back to Twilight, it was impossible to discern Luna's current mood aside from the stiffness of her legs and the quivering muscles jumping beneath her flank. "Good morning, Twilight," Princess Luna said quietly. "Though it is most certainly not actually a good morning."

"Morning, Princess," Twilight replied, inching closer to the taller mare. "Do you happen to know what's going on?"

Silence reigned for several moments.

"I have an idea," Luna said finally, turning to face the young alicorn before moving past her and back indoors. Twilight Sparkle was hot on her hooves, and absently Princess Luna used her magic to close the balcony doors then cleared the smoke out of the room. Moving over to a nearby settee, she gracefully sat down upon it, then swiveled a hoof to indicate that Twilight should sit as well.

Her eyes were huge as she waited for Luna to tell her what the idea was. Princess Luna didn't seem to be in any hurry to tell her though, floating over a teacup and saucer for them both before filling them with a fresh pot of tea. Milk and sugar were added by taste, and then the brew was artfully stirred and sipped daintily. Twilight Sparkle was dying to know by now, but manners meant she had to wait. For all she knew, the princess was using this ritual to compose her thoughts before beginning. She would also be correct.

"I believe this to be the work of one of our great enemies," Princess Luna began after what felt like the longest interlude of Twilight Sparkle's life. "King Sombra, Queen Chrysalis, Lord Tirek, or perhaps The Storm King." Pausing to drink some of the tea, her expression was thoughtful as she regarded Twilight Sparkle. Twilight's eyes were about as big as the saucer held afloat by her raspberry magic while she absorbed this information.

"...So, you think it could be one of those four?" Twilight asked slowly, trying to make sure she had heard the princess correctly.

"Yes," Luna replied, the word spoken somewhat softly before she took another drink. "Since this attack was sudden, with no prior arrival or announcement, it makes sense that it could be one of them."

"I see," Twilight said, not entirely seeing but she was grasping the idea. It made sense, from a logical perspective. The kingdom had been mostly peaceful as of late, so a surprise incursion felt like it had to be one of their greater foes. It certainly couldn't be someone who hadn't thought this through carefully, knowing to strike when they'd been sleeping and therefore at their most vulnerable.

As she drank deeply of the rather delicious tea, Twilight's thoughts drifted inward as she tried to analyze the situation. In the past their great foes had struck hard, aiming for Equestria for reasons that invariably led to conquering the kingdom, it was a powerful nation and a jewel to any monarch's crown. While she considered the various motivations of the villains Princess Luna had named, Twilight couldn't help but think that none of them quite fit.

Sure, they were all capable of something like this, but by now a declaration or at the very least a summons would have been sent to the castle. An expectation of surrender, the prequel to a fight. Unless a guard burst through the doors at that very moment with the document suggesting that very thing, she was almost certain it wasn't--

Her thoughts were interrupted by a guard bursting into the room. Twilight nearly dropped her teacup in surprise, while Princess Luna calmly glanced in his direction as he skidded to a stop some feet away and dropped into a breathless bow. She waited for the poor stallion to catch his breath, knowing that he was about to inform both mares of something incredibly important in the wake of abandoning protocol.

"Your Majesty!" The stallion began, clearly struggling with his words. "The.. the enemy has been located!"

Twilight wanted to reach into his mouth and drag the words out across his tongue, but she had to be patient. This was critical, and their next steps depended entirely on what he was about to say to them both.

"In the plaza, in the center of town near the fountain! A great, flaming horse is there, surrounded by the corpses of those who were unable to avoid their wrath!"

Princess Luna slowly put her teacup and saucer on a low table, giving the guard her full attention. Her gaze was intense, face hard like the steel that lurked beneath her fur. "How many dead?" She asked, the words steady though the tone was terrifying.

"We don't know yet, every time any of us gets close the terrible blade wielded by the horse slices through the air with magic and cuts down anypony who gets too close," the guard explained, eyes welling with unshed tears. "Their skill is beyond ours, though it is a sole being, they have completely overwhelmed our forces. Their violence knows no bounds, young and old alike have been struck down in a bloody path to where they rest now."

Twilight Sparkle's jaw dropped, and she looked visibly horrified. Princess Luna was pale, but her composure held. "I see," she replied quietly. "Have ye been able to make any headway on protecting those from approaching the fountain?"

"No, your Majesty," the guard replied solemnly. "We had to retreat for the time being, to escape the laughs as our friends and loved ones were struck down as though they were nothing more than a mere irritant." He paused in his report, rubbing his eyes with a hoof as he choked up. It was difficult for him to relay the information, but his princess needed to know everything that they did.

When he spoke, both princesses slowly got to their feet. Anger burned through them like fire flashing along oil, quick and hot with a dulling to the logic portion of their senses.

Daybreaker chuckled as another foolish pony met their end, impaled on her sword and lit on fire like a macabre marshmallow. They had been trying to sneak past the fountain behind her, doing what she didn't know but she'd seen them in her peripheral vision when she'd shifted slightly. The sword had sliced through the air, abruptly spilling lifeblood onto the cobblestone like emptying a water skin. It was delightful entertainment, their screams a symphony to her ears.

She waited patiently for her true prey to get word of her arrival, since she had plenty to occupy her in the meantime. This was like a game of chess, not to be rushed while moves on both sides were calculated. Daybreaker was simply confident she was going to win, though the game had only just gotten started.