Sins of the Fathers

"Luna, I get you are trying to help but I feel this is going a little too far" Celestia muttered as she sat across from Luna at a small tea table. It wasn't a fancy one in the ballroom but Celestia recognize it. It made be smaller and had been the site of many spills, but it was the one the two owned when they were small fillies. She was surprised that Luna was able to find it usable.

"Sister, I know the last few days have been stressful and you made it more than clear how it's been affecting your duty. Celestia open her mouth to retort but Luna didn't give her a chance. "You threaten the head of the military for the Griffins in front of several other military leaders. You have been getting closer to the Celestia that ponies wrote horror stories about, not the caring leader that you spent over ten thousand years building. I think that calls for a little bit of tea. They will alert us if anything changes. But you need to take a breath. Remember what father said?"

"That the best time to take out your enemy is when they are too worried to see the knife," Celestia said with a slightly annoyed voice. "You're right. If I want to make the right choice, I need to relax a bit." She took a small sip from her cup. "You know, if dad was here, he said that it was the monster of the magic that was causing all this."

"Oh please," Luna said with an eye roll. "He thought that we would have to fight that to claim this land. But what did we get instead?"

"A whole group of ponies that were almost broken by windigos and lost," Celestia said with a slight sigh. "All the weapon training and what we could use a couple of diplomated ones... and maybe a lesson in friendship."

"But we did use that fighting a couple of times." Luna pointed out. "We defeated both Sombra and Tirek using those skills. If we didn't, we might of need to use the elements of harmony more often..." Luna realized the mistake of mentioning the element as soon as Celestia's small smile drift away. "Look, we know Twilight is your best student and she has her friends with her. Add her trusting student, they will have this solved soon."

"But what if the reports we heard were right?" Celestia asked, her cup slowly drifting down. "What if these enemies are trained in the old way of conflict? It took us years to not always resort to the ways of the blade but I never trained Twilight because I thought she won't have to. But if these villains are around, then I must reconsider this."

"You know the risk of this," Luna said, setting her cup down. "If she learns the way of violence, it will become a tempting voice. We saw where that led for both of us. Mine's Nightmare Moon, do we want to create Twilight's?"

"Do we want to leave her defenseless?" Celestia countered. "The villain won't always be trying to get to us."

✴✴✴

"He trying to get the Princesses!!!" A general shouted before a barrage of arrows fired at Bright Eyes. He cast a simple spell that reflected the arrows, causing a large number of archers to drop, either wounded or dead. The general turn to a small scout, Post Haste. "Go to them! Warn them of the invader. Make sure they reach shel..." Post was covered in blood as the blade of Bright Eyes's weapon easily went through his skull.

"You heard your commander." Bright Eyes said with a small smile. "Run."

Post knew this was a trap, that he be leading the enemy directly to his princesses. But it was also the last order of his commander and he has yet to disobey an order. He also knew how to alert every living being to this monster present. He cast a small spell to amplify his voice and shot down the hallway as if Tartarus itself was chasing him.

"Enemy in the castle!" He shouted as he ran, almost outrunning the echo. "To arms! To arms! An enemy in the castle!"

Bright Eyes was loving this. So far, every guard he ran into has been laughable in their fighting style. It was like slaughtering children, scared and barely able to fight back. As the scout round a corner, Bright Eyes was considering that maybe he should just kill the scout because the hunt is probably the only fun he was going to have when something big and black came out of nowhere. He barely ducked as several claws tear across the air, yellow bird-like claws. Bright Eyes knew a griffin's lousy tactics anywhere, sliding to a stop as the large beast landed.

"I take it your the reason my citizens are being held?" Black Claw said with a growl as he flex his claws.

"Are you what passes for strength in the Griffin lands now?" Bright Eyes shot back with a snare. "I guess everything got soft when I was away."

"Believe me, scum. I'm not weak nor soft." Black Claw said, gearing up for another strike.

"Really?" Bright Eyes chucked. "Because in my day, you would have got a hit off with that surprise attack."

"Who said I didn't?"

Bright Eyes was confused until he heard a slight hissing sound. He looked to see a small stick on his back with a tail on fire. As the tail got smaller, Bright Eyes recognize it as those blasted smoke bombs. He quickly rip it off and threw it to the side but not fast enough. A dark plum of smoke spew out of the stick and blanketed the hallway. Bright Eyes quickly summon a spell to filter the air but quickly realize that it wasn't poisonous. He brought his weapon up, knowing the purpose of this cheap tactic.

"You really think such a ploy could catch me off guard!?!" Bright Eyes shouted. "I would expect better from..." A pair of claws shot out of the clouds only giving him a second to block it. The sound of claws on steel rang out as the two stared deep into each other eyes, each looking for a sign of strain. Black Claw's talons weren't finding any purchase in Bright Eyes's weapon. He decided that he couldn't break the weapon, maybe he could use that. With a strong flap of his wings, Black Claw started to push Bright Eyes backward. If he could get him against a wall, his enemy movement would be limited. But just as he was sure his plan would work, Bright Eyes teleported.

"Curses!" Black Claw shouted, quickly going on guard. "Where did the little pest go to?"

The air was still but still had that sense of danger. He looked around the area, hoping he can catch a hint of where the next attack was coming from. He didn't have to wait long when he felt a change in the air above him. He quickly dodge to the side as Bright Eyes came down like a force of nature from above. Even when his first strike missed, Bright Eyes rapidly followed with a fury of strikes. Black Claw was blocking most of them but a lucky one struck his shoulder, leaving a large gash and blood running down his arm.

"You're not my target." Bright Eyes said coldly to the wounded griffin. "So, I'll make this quick."

He dived at Black Claw, who tried to block the next wave of attack but Bright Eyes kept his word by combining his strikes with his teleporting. With a couple of flashes, Black Claw collapsed to the ground, covered in wounds. He tried to get back up but Bright Eyes thrust his blade into his spine, causing him to suppress a cry of pain. While his glaive blade was deep in Black Claw's back, Bright Eyes lean down to look his foe in the eye.

"Tell me, beast." He asked as started to twist his weapon, his eyes alight with pleasure. "Why did you choose to die here? This is not your fight or land. You could have gone back to your pathetic pile of twigs you call home and live to die another day?" With a surprise burst of speed, Black Claw's talon shot out and grabbed Bright Eyes by his shoulder. They dug in deep but Bright Eyes showed no sign of pain.

"I fight against any threat to the Griffin Kingdom and their subject." Black Claw said, blood dripping from his beak. "I fight for my wife, for my children, and for all those I love. My only regret is I won't see that smirk get wiped off your face."

"So far, this world has shown me nothing but filth and dust." Bright Eyes said, his sadistic grin only growing. "So, you can die knowing you would only be filled with disappointment." With that, he pulled the blade out and without any effort, pull the talons out of his shoulder.

"No, I go knowing when Celestia sees what you have done." Black Claw said as he struggled to hang on for a few moments longer. "You will feel the full wrath of the burning sun."

✴✴✴

"Princess! We need to get you to a doctor!" One of the medics of the army pleaded as Twilight pushed past them.

"I need to get to Canterlot!" Twilight order. "Go to my friends and help them! They are facing villains that have no issues with using deadly force..." Twilight stopped when she noticed the look that cross the medic's face. "What happened?"

"The villains have... been dealt with." He said, looking like he was trying not to be sick. "None of them we found have survived their encounter."

"What are you talking about?" Twilight asked confused. "We plan to just capture them. Like this one." She gestured to Bowtie, still in her block of ice.

"I don't have all the details." The medic said. "But I believe this one is the only one left that alive...or in one piece." Bowtie started laughing with a hit of disbelief.

"You can't possibly be this stupid," Bowtie said. "If you think I'm going to believe not one, not two but all four of my comrades fell to such..." The door to the bank, where Twilight and Fluttershy had dragged the trapped Bowtie, had blown open and the other four entered. Bowtie saw the looks of horror, disgust, and pain on their faces, preventing her from continuing. Twilight saw these faces too and quickly approach them.

"What happened?" She asked. "Please tell me that the medic is exaggerating."

"I wish I could, sugar cube." Applejack said with a haunting tone. "I ain't seen anything like it. It was... so..."

"The blood..." Pinkie muttered, looking beyond shell-shocked. "I've never seen so much blood."

The four just looked at the ground and even a few muttered words of shock. Twilight was stunned and was going to say something when she heard a small chuckle come behind her. The chuckle turned to full-on laughter when Twilight looked over to see Bowtie howling with laughter, not unlike a crazy pony. She kept on laughing when the whole group looked at her and only stop when, almost with the speed of lightning, Rainbow Dash rushed over and back hoofed her quite.

"What...can possibly be funny?" Dash asked with clenched teeth. "All your friends are dead. Not defeated, not turn to stone. Dead. As in they can't be brought and you will never see them again. How can you possibly laugh about that?"

"Simple," Bowtie said, with a little blood leaking at the corner of her mouth. "Like that. Do you think this is the first time I lost warriors on the battlefield? By the dirt, I didn't even like these ones. Surprise was a moron who couldn't water a garden even if you put the direction on the bottom of a pale. The rest were monsters in pony skins if you can even call it that. You all want to know how I got recruited?" Bowtie looked over Rainbow Dash's shoulder and with a couple of bunny hops, move the ice block so she could see the rest.

"I was one of the strongest of my clan," Bowtie said proudly. "I had led them to victory after victory and was about to plan an attack that would have crippled the pegasus. But then Bright Eyes showed up. He walked into my camp like he was just entering his home. My first captain, a pony by the name of Clover Hitch, was the first to try to stop him. This resulted in him telekinetic ripping out even one of Hitch's rib bones and using said bone to impale the rest of my squad. Didn't even kill them, just left them broken to die a slow death. He then approach me and said I either fight him or I will experience death a thousand times." Bowtie, for the first time since this began, looked wounded. "I said no the first five times. He wasn't bluffing. He took me to the edge and even when I beg him to finish me, he use his forsaken magic to repair me. And you want to know the worst thing about all of it?"

Bowtie looked directly at Twilight. "He is only a fraction as powerful as Majesty. So I hope you are right. I hope that your Princess of the sun can kill him. Because if she can't, he will do whatever he can to bring Majesty here. At that point, I will gladly kill you all to spare you the horrors that come."

✴✴✴

Post Haste slid to a stop as he round the corner, seeing the door to the tea room. He was under no illusion that the threat was over. Black Claw was an experienced warrior but this beast seem to be on another level of insanity. He just had to get to the door and alert the princesses. But something was wrong. The sounds of battle were gone. Not muted, not faded but gone completely. He studies his surroundings and started to move quickly but cautiously down the hallway. Maybe one of the castle traps had triggered or maybe he lost him. He was only about five feet away from the door when he felt a rush of wind, followed by a searing pain in his side. Before he could cry out in pain, a force wrapped around his mouth. He was lifted in the air, left dangling when he finally saw Bright Eyes standing in front of him.

"As fun as it is to play, I want a real challenge." Bright Eyes said, with an annoyed tone. "So, tell me where your princesses are and I will give you a quicker death. But lie and I will show you a game I like to call: How far can it bend?"

Post looked behind his attacker and almost pleaded for it to open. Hope that he'd be saved. But instead, he looked back at Bright Eyes and wait for him to be released from the spell. But instead, Bright Eyes seem to cast another spell. The magic seeped into Post's head and after a few seconds, Bright Eyes turned around to the tearoom's door and a small smile grew on his face.

"This is too perfect." He said and Post fell him starting to float away from the door. For a second, Post thought that maybe he was being spared. But he wasn't going down, so why was he pushing him back? The realization of what was going to happen became all too clear when Bright Eyes said with a sadistic smile. "I promise you a quick death and I'm pretty sure you won't live after being a battering ram."

✴✴✴

"I swore I heard something." Celestia said, pushing herself away from the table.

"If it's important, I'm sure the guards wouldn't just sneak up to the door," Luna responded as she also got up from the table. "When have they ever kno..."

BAM

She was cut off when something hit the door with enough force to cause the door to splinter slightly.

"What in the name of..." Celestia started, about to pull open the door. She was a second too late when the second crash hit the door, causing the door to explode into splinter. The body of one of the guards, one she knew called Post Haste, flew through the air and crashed on top of the table. The sound of porcelain smashing and glasses breaking filled the air as Celestia flew over to the guard. "Haste!"

She started to cast a healing spell but as soon as her magic touch the body, she knew it was too late. His neck was broken and his life was extinguished. Luna reacted by jumping in front of the two to face the invader.

"WHO DARES ATTACK?" Luna called, not waiting for the dust to settle. "SHOW THYSELF, VILLAIN!"

"Even the doors are weaker." Bright Eyes said as he walked into the room. He looked at the room and almost felt ill at the sight. All the pink and frilly, it was a disgusting sight and one he plan to fix in a matter of moments. He looked to see Luna and Celestia, the leaders of this so call land, and prepare for the speech that he had been waiting to give since he came to this time. He straighten up and brought his glaive to his side, hitting the ground like he was planting his flag.

"I am Bright Eyes." He said with pride. "The leader of Majesty's Guard, the butcher of her enemies, and her most loyal subject. I have come back to claim this land in her name and put every single creature of this land in their rightful place. Under her honor. Now surrender to her will and I will be merciful." There was a silence that filled the air like smog and for a minute, no pony said anything. Then Luna broke the silence.

"Who is Majesty?" She said with a confused look. At that moment, the small amount of joy Bright Eyes felt was washed away by a sea of rage. He couldn't take another creature ignoring his Majesty's glory. He started charging one of the most powerful spells, which was a large fire spell that could melt the very bones of his enemies. He let out a roar of rage and fired directly at Luna. The fireball raced right at her and Celestia reacted before she could.

"LUNA!" Celestia shouted as she dived forward. There was a split second before the spell ignited when both of them try to shield the other. But the spell exploded.

✴✴✴

A crack of energy flashed at the Cantorlot's train station and in a blink of an eye, Twilight and her friends were in the middle of the deserted station. Plue one prisoner, who didn't want to be there.

"Alright, girls. We are going to split up." Twilight said, moving to the entrance quickly. "We need to find Bright Eyes before he gets to Celestia. When you find him, do not try to fight him. Just alert nearby guards and set off the flares we got."

"But why is she here?" Rainbow Dash asked, glaring at the ice block Bowtie, who just rolled her eyes. "She will help him the second she gets a chance."

"One, she will not cause any trouble stuck in there," Twilight answered. "It will take dragon fire to melt it but I don't want to risk it. Until I know Bright Eyes is dealt with, she staying with us. Two, maybe she will help us with a chance at a reduced sentence."

"Oh no, stuck in one of your prisons," Bowtie said, dripping with sarcasm. 'What are you going to do? Hit me with pillows all day?"

"I don't think she is threatened by us." Pinkie said, a little weakly. She was starting to recover from her shell shock but it was still in the back of her mind.

"That's for later, right now we need to..." Twilight started to say but was cut off by a loud boom cut across the city. The group ran outside to see a large column of smoke rising from a part of Cantorlot's Castle.

"Oh look, I'm guessing Bright Eyes is there," Bowtie said, almost board. "If you hurry, you might be able to catch the end of the fight and see him gut one of your princesses."

"We need to get there now!" Twilight shouted, grabbing the ice block. She just hope she wasn't too late.

✴✴✴

Standing there, looking at the large creator he just created and surrounded by smoke, Bright Eyes started to laugh.

"I can't believe it." He shouted at the smoldering pile. "This is just too easy! The Griffin put up a better fight and he didn't scratch me! You were supposed to be the protectors and you died so easily. Your whelp of a pupil at least landed a hit! Is there any pony that can actually fight!?! Any creature who can make this at all entertaining!?!"

"You hear that, Luna?" A voice suddenly filled the area, catching Bright Eyes off guard. He looked around for the source but all he saw was smoke and fire. "He wants a fight and he thinks no pony can fight him."

"I heard him, sister." Another voice responded, seemly coming from the walls. "Yet he thinks killing innocent guards somehow proves he's a great warrior. I think we should correct this line of thought."

"Show yourselves!" Bright Eyes shouted. "Is this how you defend your citizens? By hiding away and taunting the enemy? Looked what that brought you! Dead ponies who were loyal to you. You disappoint them even in death!" He looked around, hoping one would rush him in rage but instead was met with silence.

"I think I remember Majesty now." The first voice said, this time with coldness it didn't have before. "When I came here with my sister, we were told a pathetic unicorn had convinced the ponies of this land that they were a god. So our father sent us to remove the little pest. And you want to know what she did?"

"Shut up.' Bright Eyes growled, still trying to find the voices.

"She fled, with her tail between her legs." The voice mocked. "Just abandon her castle and left the tribes to deal with windigos. She was not just a weakling but a coward."

"Shut UP!" Bright Eyes shouted, jabbing into the smoke with his glaive. "You don't get to talk about her!!!! She was ten times the leader you appear to be! She trained me to be the best warrior and I carry her will to this time. I am her SWORD!!!"

"You're her sword, huh?" The voice responded. "Then let's see how well she forge you."

The first thing Bright Eyes noticed was a rush of wind coming from his right and left. Almost like they teleported, both of the sisters were at his side. Before he could even react to their presence, both of them hit him at the same time with the back of their hooves. The force was beyond anything Bright Eyes had ever felt as he was sent flying through the air and back down the hallway he came in. He skid across the floor and only came to a stop when he hit the wall with enough force that the stone cracked. He brushed it off and got back up to his hooves, holding his weapon up in defiance.

"Did the rest of the guards get out?" Celestia asked as the two turned to face their opponent.

"I sent the order," Luna said. "They will make sure no more innocent will be harmed by this insect. So, how should we deal with him? He is armed with a magic weapon that has a pretty nasty spell cast on it."

"Then I guess it's time to bring out Corona and old Photosphere." Celestia said, cracking her neck. "You still have Crescent?"

"As I would ever get rid of her," Luna said before the sisters close their eyes, and their horns glowed a dark red. Bright Eyes was a little confused and consider attacking when he heard a small noise coming from behind him. It sounded like glass breaking and something was whistling. He ducked just as three objects came flying from both sides of him. The object in question was a sword covered in deep red flames and a shield that had been forged to look like a large star. The third object was a scythe that was pitch black except for its blade which looked like a small sliver of the moon. The item floated to a stop in front of their owner, the flame sword and shield to Celestia. The scythe to Luna, which she twirled before smacking the ground.

"Alright, what formation should we use?" Luna asked, dragging the blade across the ground.

"I think we should do what we did to those Sombra guards," Celestia responded. "Remember that?"

Luna nodded and started charging a spell. The two dashed forward with speed that most would think was faster than sound. But Bright Eyes was more prepared now, he wasn't holding back. He blocked a strike from Luna and dodge the side swipe from Celestia. They were not prepared for this and thus left open for him to ram the hilt of his glaive into Celestia's face. He missed her eye but caused a gashed right above her right eyebrow. She hissed in pain and pull back her shield to bring it down on his weapon, hoping to break it. But he cast a spell and seem to turn into a ghost. He faze between the two fighters and quickly became solid behind them. He swung his sword right for Luna but Celestia was quicker, blocking the blow. This allowed Luna an opening to swing her weapon under both the shield and his weapon. She only got a small nick because he disengage quickly.

He recovered and threw himself backward, creating a distance between the two. He looked at the small cut and quickly heal it.

"No poison?" He shouted, amused. "I expected more from the ruler of the night!!!"

"You think I would resort to such honorless tactics," Luna said calmly. "I am the walker of dreams and the protector of the night. You have no idea what power I POSSESS!!!"

Her weapon glowed an unearthly glow before several images shot out. The area was filled with images of Bright Eyes and events.

"What is this!?!" Bright Eyes shouted, putting his glaive in a defensive position.

"How long do you think it will take?" Celestia asked, smacking her sword on the shield.

"About five minutes," Luna responded. "I should be able to know most of his tactics by then. Think you can handle him until then?"

"As you said," Celestia said with a roll of her shoulders. "I've been stressed lately, it's time to get some of that aggression out."

✴✴✴

"Why didn't the spell get us closer?" Twilight said with panic when the group ran through the panicking crowd.

"I think it's because of THAT!" Applejack shouted, pointing at the castle. Twilight saw a large golden shield dome covering the area. It was an anti-teleport shield, one that Celestia had made after the wedding attack. She was hoping to get there faster but with how many ponies were fleeing away and guards were leading them away, it was clear this was going to be difficult. She wanted to fly but if she lose her friends, she'd be stuck looking around the castle by herself and waste time. She rushed forward but one of the guards blocked the path.

"Princess Twilight! You can not go any further." He said, spreading his wings to block the way. "Orders from Celestia. No pony, no matter their rank, may enter the castle grounds."

"She needs me," Twilight said, hoping she didn't have to push forward. "I need to help her capture Bright Eyes. If I don't get to her, she might do something she'll regret."

"Good." He said, not moving an inch. "That monster killed five of my friends! I hope she rips him to sherds."

"We don't have time for this!" Rainbow Dash rushed forward and before any pony could react, cold-cocked him. He dropped to the ground like a bag of bricks.

"Dash..." Pinkie started but stopped herself.

"You said we need to get there, we need to get there." Rainbow Dash said, with a distant look. "We can't waste time convincing every guard on the way. Not when another pony could..." She didn't finish and she didn't need to. Twilight was on the same thought pattern. They needed to prevent any more loss of life, even of the one who cause so much of it.

✴✴✴

Bright Eyes started a rain of jabs at Celestia but not a single one pass her shield. She blocked them easily and was able to keep Bright Eyes away from Luna. Most ponies who would attempt this spell would be completely useless in a fight since scanning a life of fighting took time. But what is the life of a unicorn to that of one that lived thousands of years? She will be done with his memories soon and then they will brake this pest and punish him accordingly. Bright Eyes, at the moment, was starting to lose patience.

He had been trying to get a hit on either of them but the sun bitch was preventing every hit. He could do this for at least a while but he knew if he start to lose energy, these two could overpower him. He needs to get them to make a mistake, a misstep. But all he knew about these "alicorns" was how they loved peace, friendship, and their sickening care for their pon... It struck him like lightning. He knew what to say.

"You are an experienced fighter!" Bright Eyes paused his attacks and started pacing. Looking like he was looking for a weakness. But he believes he already found one. "I was quite surprised by this. I figured you for just a figurehead or something." Celestia just kept her shield up, betraying nothing. He expected this and decided to test the waters. "With such skills, I'm surprised these skills didn't pass down to your soldiers... or your student."

A flash of something in her eye and Bright Eyes knew he had his opening.

"I guess you didn't see it important. A shame really." He said a cruel smile spread on his face. "She could have been a great fighter if only she survived."

"You are lying," Celestia growled, her magic gripped tightly on her sword.

"She didn't even put up a fight!" He said, a manic look in his eyes. "She just begged and cried for mercy in the end. All her friends did. Why did you think it took so long for me to get here? I had to get information somehow. She held out giving up anything until the end. You want to know what the last things she said?"

"Tia! He's trying to anger you!!!" Luna shouted, debating if she stopped the spell. "Don't listen to him!"

"She looked me in the eye, covered in blood and vile," He said, drawing out each word. "And she said, "Celestia will save me." and then I gutted her like a fish. Just another one of your subjects you fail..."

A beam of magic shot from her horn and Bright Eyes brought his glaive up to block the hit. It went through the staff without pausing and went right into his shoulder. The pain was beyond horrific; like a red hot poker was jabbed into him. But the pain was second to another thought that cross his mind. His weapon, the tool he used to end all his enemies in the name of Majesty and was forged to take the full force of the dragon's tail coming down on him, now laid broken in front of him. And it didn't even slow down the magic beam.

He looked at the shattered weapon and was expecting a swift end by her blade. But instead, he heard the clatter of weapons on the ground. He looked to see she had dropped her weapons. But not out of knowing her opponent was beaten because she was charging at him with her eyes glowing a deep red. For the first time in a long time of dealing with pain and misery, he was about to be on the receiving end.

"Wait!" Luna shouted, diving forward in hopes to stop her sister. But her rage made her blind to friends. Luna was pushed back by Celestia's magic and could only watch as she use her magic to grip Bright Eyes by the throat and throw him to the ceiling. He crashed through the material like paper but felt several ribs snap from the impact. He didn't even have a chance to catch his breath as she flew up, forcing him into the ceiling of the floor above them. She pushed him through several floors until they broke onto the roof, which seemed to be a tower when she threw him to the side. He landed on the slightly broken roof and quickly heal his wounds.

But as soon as he recovers, he felt the magic wrapped around him again. This time it was around his left front leg and before he could react, a sickening crack filled the air as she snap it like twine. She moved to his right leg and repeated the process until all his limbs were shattered. He lay on the roof, painting in pain. He looked up at his tormentor and saw not the look of fear or panic he had witnessed since he got her, but the look of pure rage. He was expecting the killing blow but she just hovered there, looking down on him like he was nothing more than a peasant. He cast his healing spell but as soon the mending on his first leg was done, she quickly rebroke it. He cried out in pain and throw his head back, trying not to black out from the pain.

"She waiting for me to heal." He thought as he lay there. "She waiting for me to heal so she can inflict as much pain as possible."

He shook it off and with a burst of magic, teleported to one of the smaller rooms, a small guest room, a floor or two lower than the roof of the tower he was just shot through. He quickly reheals and took in his situation. He lost his weapon and clearly outmatch by power. But he could regroup, summon his team and they can take out this beast together. That's what he will do. He steadies himself and casts the mind link he had for Firefly.

"Firefly. The princesses are warriors. I need you all to finish your work and get here as soon as possible."

The silence was deafening and mocking him. He was beginning to think maybe these princesses were able to block this spell. But that was impossible, these spells were direct links to each other. The only way his subordinates couldn't answer was if they were... That's impossible. They were trained fighters. They would not lose to these weak beings. He had to contact the others. He tried the spell again, this time to Sparkle. Again, the silence was the answer. He was now active in a panic. Once was a mistake but twice?

He gear up for one more try, this time to Bowtie when the wall behind him exploded. He dived across the room but as he flew over the bed, the blanket sprung up and wrap around him.

"Hiding like a rat?" A voice similar to the princess but without any mercy or kindness said. "Then let me show you how we put those down."

She swung the wrapped Bright Eyes in the air before bringing it down hard on the carpet floor. There was a soft thud but the pain shot across his body as she repeated the process several times. Eventually, she stop when blood started dripping from the makeshift sack. She unfurled the blanket and watch as the broken body rolled across the floor. Bright Eyes started to crawl away but Celestia simply trot over and raised her front right hoof and brought it down hard on his front left leg. This did not break it, it remove it completely. The hoof shot across the floor and Bright Eyes shrike in horror at the sight of his bloody stump.

"I don't think that will heal." She said coldly. Bright Eyes looked at his tormentor with anger and rage.

"You are going to regret this!" He scream in pain and if he was being honest, fear. "I'm going to rip your horn off your head and..."

He was cut off when her magic gripped him by the throat and lift him from the ground. He felt himself being pinned to the window, the glass starting to give and crack.

"Oh come on, Bright Eyes." A cruel look spread across Celestia's face. "You going to start crying? I thought you wanted to play!" With a final thrust, the window shattered and Bright Eye could only watch as he fell from the tenth floor of the castle.

✴✴✴

The group managed to get to the front of the castle with ease. The guards seem to thin out after a few blocks, seemly clearing away the innocent from this battlefield. That had left the normally busy area in an eerie quiet, almost ghost-like. But Twilight wasn't putting much thought into this, she had a job to get done. They enter the courtyard and still didn't hear a lot of noise, which led to some concern.

"Where are they?" Twilight muttered, straining her ears in the hope to catch the sound of fighting. "It can't be over. Not this quickly."

"Fights aren't like the stories," Bowtie said, almost mockingly. "Ponies that never fight think there all these cool moves and moments of cool lines. In the real battlefield, you want to end your opponent as quickly as possible. We will probably find Bright Eyes standing over the body or maybe..."

"Twilight!" A voice shouted from above. They all looked up to Luna descend in a panic. "Thank the stars, he was lying. I need you to come with me quickly!"

"Luna!" Twilight shouted, not caring for ranking at the moment. "Where is Celestia!?! I need to find her before..."

"She kills the invader." Luna finished. "I fear that may have already happened. He attack us and we were planning on wearing him down but he started taunting her. Claiming to have... killed you. A common tactic but a mistake on his part because she was already worried about you."

"Where are they?" Twilight asked, hoping she could stop the impossible. "Maybe we can still prevent it."

"This blasted anti-teleport made it hard to find them," Luna said. "But I heard them somewhere on the roofs when I sense your presence. We should be able to find if we just listen for..."

A loud crash cut her off and every pony looked up to see a figure falling from the window of one of the towers. Luna saw it was Bright Eyes falling towards them before Twilight, giving her a chance to shove them back.

"Wait!" Rainbow Dash shouted, gearing to dive into the falling villain. "I can catch him before he hits the ground."

"Stop!" Luna shouted. "The fall is the least of our worries because if I know what coming next, I need you to stay here."

"What do you mean coming next?" Rarity asked, not hiding her concern. Luna didn't get a chance to answer as Celestia appeared above. Her eyes were a ruby burning fire and Luna only had a split second to do what she need to.

"COVER THY EYES!" She order before she cased a shield spell over the group. Above, Celestia had the sun behind her back and the enemy in front. She spread her wings as a high-pitched sound filled the air. Her horn turn from a golden to almost white-hot fire before she threw her head back and then unleashed a spell she only cast once before.

"Scorned Earth." She said without any emotion. The beam wasn't just magic but took heat from the sun itself. Celestia was only using three percent, to prevent instant kill and possible damage to the area. That still made it three hundred degrees of pure heat, hitting Bright Eyes dead center. The beam cut through him like he was paper, continuing to melt the ground around him. He felt the feeling leave his back legs and the pain was almost numbing, not realizing it was because the heat destroy all nerves in its path. He smashed the ground and was feeling the magic drain from him. Even if she spared him now, he would be dead in an hour. Two at the most. He closed his eyes, taking the warrior death that he had earned. The ground shooked when Celestia landed, standing over him. He knew she was about to deliver the finishing blow.

"Celestia! Stop!" A voice cried out, snapping both out of the battle. Celestia and Bright Eyes look to see Twilight running across the courtyard to them.

"No..." Bright Eyes groan. "Don't take this from me."

"Twilight..." Celestia said, her voice catching in her throat. She step away from the fallen foe and a single tear started to fall. "I thought... I haven't heard from..."

Twilight ran to her and jump up to hold her. The two seem to freeze for a second before the event of the few days seems to hit them like a storm that finally releases. The two dissolved into tears, both trying to comfort the other.

"I never wanted you to see me..."

"I was hoping to stop..."

The two continue this while the rest join in, believing that the worst is over. The threat was beaten and lay broken behind them. But Bright Eyes was looking directed up in the sky, feeling his magic trying desperately to keep him going. He felt broken and weak, a feeling he thought he carved out of his soul long ago. As he saw a few clouds and a ringing in his ear that was slowly getting stronger, he was going to close his eyes and let his life end. He would accept this defeat, he had failed his queen and deserved nothing but scorn for this. He should of hold his ponies back, he should have killed the brat when he had the chance, he should of, he should of, HE SHOULD OF!

He rammed the back of his head on the cobblestone and heard a small ping near him. He looked down at his broken body, with only one hoof able to do anything and a hole the size of an apple that had been punched through him. He was waiting for the pain to put him out of his misery when he saw what made the noise. His charm necklace. He has forgotten about it because he never thought he need it. He hold it in his only good hoof and saw the swirl of magic in it. He saw them all hugging each other and comforting each other. Rage filled him, a rage that only had one outlet.

"Majesty, in my time of need." Bright Eyes said, pulling all his strength to finish what need to be done. "I call to you, my goddess. I need your guidance and your power."

Most of the group was not looking at the fallen foe but there was one who took a glance. Fluttershy was happy that this nightmare was coming to an end but she notice Bright Eyes with the amulet.

"Um, girls." Fluttershy started to say.

"I call out, oh holy vessel of magic."

"Girls."

"To bring your might..." Bright Eyes raised the amulet as high as he could.

"Girls!" Fluttershy shouted, causing every pony to be startled. Luna looked over to see the manic face of Bright Eyes and the raised hoof. She realize what he was doing a second too late.

"So you may smite my enemy!!!" He cried out before he brought it down as hard as he could on the ground. The glass shattered and blasted out sickly green magic. Celestia went to cover the group, hoping to take most of this attack. But the green magic instead of rushing to them, seem to slink away until it pooled into a swirling vortex. A loud pop came out of it and a rush of wind started to come from it.

"What is that!?!" Applejack shouted as the wind started to howl.

"It's an old summoning spell!" Luna cried over the noise. " A way to bring allies before we mastered teleportation. But there is no way it could still work!"

A bolt of green lighting shot out and struck the ground with a loud clapping noise. Bowtie had a paled face and was shaking her head in panic.

"Get me out of here! Get me out of here!" Bowtie was shouting in the chaos. She watches as a bolt of energy smashed the wall, leaving a large chuck missing. This double her panic and she started to actively tried to wiggle the ice block away. "No, no, no ,no, no, no, no!"

Another bolt shot out and this one was heading right for Bowtie. She knew she was helpless and was about to be killed when she felt something push her out of the way at the last second.

"Watch out!" Pinkie shouted before kicking the ice. It sent Bowtie skidding out of the way and into a small marble post. The ice cracked but didn't shatter. But Bowtie was still trying to get away. "You're safe! I can make sure you don't get hit by the lightning!"

"That's not the problem!" Bowtie shouted. "I would rather be killed by that than..." A loud clap filled the air and Bowtie looked back at the event. "It's too late."

Every pony looked to see the wounded Bright Eyes, having managed to hold themself up on their good hoof, grinning with a blood-soak smile. He was cackling like a mad pony and watched as the magic turned into a portal.

"You all lived in ignorance of the fear that should haunt every waking moment!" He cried out as a form started to come out of the magic. "And now, you will witness my queen, my goddess, my..."

A loud pop followed by a blast of light filled the courtyard. Every pony shields their eyes before an eerie light brought their attention back to the center of the blast to see something floating in the air.

"Majesty."