Survival of the Fittestby Shadowpony300ChaptersAmbushPonyville... Or what's left of it.The SurrenderAmbushZEBRA TERRITORY In the huge jungle of the zebra empire was a 50 man group of equestrian royal guard and 25 griffin mercenaries walking in three lines trying to find a way out of this jungle. A head of the guards and mercenaries was none other than Shining Armor himself with his right hand on the handled of this sword and looking around the jungle making sure that nothing happens to himself and his men. While the royal guard was here because they want to make their home safe again and the griffon mercenaries was here because of gold coins, Shining Armor himself was here because of a different reason... Revenge. ___________________________________________________ 2 YEARS AGO It was the coronation of Equestria's newest princess, Twilight Sparkle, she was wearing a nice light blue sun dress which was made by Rarity herself. Over at the stage Princess Celestia was looking down at the huge crowd of ponies from all over Equestria just to see their new princess. Then the princess of the sun turned to her former student and said. "Twilight it's time." "Coming Celestia." Twilight said and soon both of them was outside looking at the crowd. Then Celestia stepped forward. "My little ponies I have called you all here for a one important reason. A few days ago my former student has past all the trials and became a alicorn like myself and that of my little sister Luna. Allow me to show you the new princess of Equestria Twilight Sparkle." That made Twilight to forward and all of the ponies started to cheer for her with all smiles. After a minute or two of the cheering there was a... GAG And a few seconds later there was nothing more than screams of shocked and terrible from the crowd when out of nowhere a arrow hit Twilight right on the front side of her neck and fell to the floor. Soon some royal guards came and made a shield wall around the two alicorns while Celestia was trying to help Twilight. "Twilight listen to me. It's going to be alright ok. Just try to keep your eyes open." But how Twilight can both of her hands were on arrow out of a force of habit. Soon the purple mare's eyes began to close and that made Celestia's eyes widen in fear. "No Twilight stay awake please." Then they were closed. "NO TWILIGHT." Celestia yelled just as a royal guard doctor got to Twilight's side. He put two of his right hand's fingers on Twilight's wist before he puts his left ear to her chest where the heart would be. Then he brings his head up and look at Celestia with a sad face. "I am sorry your highness." He said. "But it's too late." That made Celestia's eyes tear up before she puts her hands to her face and cry quietly on the spot. Then after a minute of crying Celestia brings her head up to look at the arrow and wanted to have a better look at it. She carefully remove it from the no longing living alicorn with her magic and finds a note on it. The princess of the sun then unties the letter from the arrow, opens it, and was shocked to find inside the letter. "War has come." With the zebra empire's royal seal on it. ___________________________________________________ 1 YEAR LATER The zebra empire attack equestria one week after Twilight Sparkle's death and already took three major cities. After a year of fighting the first three alicorn princesses knows that they need a new way of fighting against the zebras. So they made a news report that if any mercenary groups would like to help in the war against the zebra empire they be paid with the giant crystals that was underneath Canterlot castle. Many mercenary groups came far and wide to help the ponies but they just did it because they want the crystals for themselves. One of these mercenary groups was the Golden Claws a griffon mercenary group with a history of never leaving any survivors when they are fighting on the battlefield or raiding a town. Soon after a year and a half of fighting the Golden Claws was going with Shining Armor's squad to take a fort in the jungle area of the zebra empire's back to attack the royal zebra castle and bring an end to this war. ___________________________________________________ PRESENT Shining Armor was close to having his revenge he can feel it after two and a half years of war he was going to make the finishing blow on the zebra empire after they took his only little sister from him and the rest of his family. All he has to do was cut through this jungle, take the fort, and march to the zebra's royal castle. The unicorn captain then look behind him to see the Golden Claws second in command walking behind him. The griffon's name was Talon, he was a griffon with both of his feathers and fur was pumpkin orange all the while he was wearing a full suit of steel but there was holes in the back that way he can still fly and he didn't wear a helmet because he doesn't like them. Shining Armor turned back to the road a head to see anything strange. He didn't see anything around but he did hear a snap of a stick which made the unicorn stallion to bring his right fist up singling the guards and mercenaries behind him to stop and have their weapons ready. Talon came up to whispered to Shining Armor. "What is it. Zebras." "I don't know." Shining Armor whispered back. "I did a snapping sound but I don't see anything." That made the griffon mercenary to reach behind his back and brings out a very big battle axe ready to cut any zebras that might be out there. After a few minutes of nothing but the sounds of the wind every stallion and griffon was beginning to think there was nothing out there... until. BANG Two royal guards and griffon mercenary was blow to ash which to Shining Armor it only means one thing. "AMBUSH." Soon there was bangs going around the three lines and the small army was getting cut to ribbons when zebra soldiers came out of the trees and was killing his men. But the unicorn stallion noticed something the zebras was using black powder weapons like muskets and flintlock pistols instead of using swords and arrows. All of the stallions and griffons was started to find a way out of their problem but any means of escape was impossible. The pegasus and griffons tried to fly out but the trees was too thick and ended up being shot down. The unicorns of the royal guard tried to used their magic to teleport away but somehow their magic wasn't working all they did was make their horns glow for a couple of seconds before the glow died down. Shining Armor was seeing how all of his men was being cut down like ragdolls in a shudder until finally he sees a small openly in the zebras left firing line which means a way out of this mess. "Everyone this way." He called out before running towards the openly with his long sword out. He as he running to the way out the unicorn captain can see how the zebras got the drop on them. They were wearing wooden armor with dark green stripes painted on them making them look like their part of the trees. Then two troops see the unicorn stallion running at them before they fixed their bayonets and charged at the running unicorn. Soon Shining Armor can see the two zebras coming at out of the treeline and was running at him but he was ready. The first zebra tried to thrusted his bayonet into Shining's chest but Armor just blocked that attack with his long sword, punch the zebra stallion in the face, and brings his sword though his enemy's gut making the zebra to couch out some blood before falling to the ground dead. Shining Armor brings his sword out of the dead zebra to see the second zebra was fixing to take aim at him but good thing was ready for that too because he always have a throwing knife in his boot. Shining Armor brings it out and with one quick twist with the wist the throwing knife was in the second zebra's right eye before falling on the ground. Now Shining Armor was doing nothing more than running, running, even more running he even didn't look back the battle all he did was trying to the hell out of there. After like ten minutes or more of running Shining Armor finally ran out of breath and stopped running. He put his hands on his knees to tried to catch his breath until he hears a bush shaking behind and that made him ready for a fight any second. Shining Armor ready his long sword and... "Wait it's only me." Came Talon's voice and sure enough the griffon mercenary came out of the bush all sweaty. That made Shining Armor breath in a sigh of relief until he notice something... Both he and Talon was the only ones out there alone. "Talon where is the rest of our men." The unicorn captain asked the griffon mercenary. "Didn't make it." Talon replied. "The zebras was freaking everywhere. I only managed to get out of that hell storm because I saw you running over here and I tried catch up to you the best way I can." That made Shining Armor's heart dropped like a rock in a river. The whole plan was a complete bust and now he and the griffon mercenary was the only ones left of the 75 strong attack force. But the zebras know about the plan. The only ones that know the plan was himself and the princesses. "I believe that we should head back to Equestrian lines Armor." That made Shining Armor to look at the griffon mercenary in disbelief. "What do mean head back." The unicorn stallion asked. "Come on Armor even a military commander like you can see that there's no point of continuing going forward. I believe the only way for us to survive is to head back to friendly lines." "But there's gonna be a other." Shining Armor snapped. "I came so close..." "To your revenge." Talon said making Shining Armor look at him in shocked. "H-how." "Please Armor I know that look on your face back when those two zebras was gunning for you. And we griffons know this better than anyone." Then Talon came face to face with the unicorn stallion. "And I know how you want nothing more but to kill the zebra emperor with your bear hands. How you want to slowly gut him like a rat, how to make him suffer like you have suffer all because you couldn't save your only sis...." SMACK Talon was on the ground with some stars going in circles around his head before he shakes his head to stopped the stars and look at the unicorn captain. Shining Armor was breathing heavily with eyes narrow, his nose fairing, his teeth bear, and his right hand was in a fist. Talon only look at Shining with a smirk. "I see that I must have hit a nerve." "You don't you what it's like." Shining Armor snapped once again. "To have the greatest little sister who fought and won so many villains. Who became princess in only almost four years. Who was fixing to replace both Celestia and Luna one day to become soul ruler of Equestria only to be taken away like if she was killed by the executioner's axe." Then Talon got off the ground and brushed himself before looking back at Armor. "Oh come now." Talon said. "You are only fighting out of pure hatred. You think that you are fighting for justice but you aloud yourself to become a cold blooded killer with no mercy like that archer that shot Twilight." That was the last nerve. Shining Armor brings arm back left hook but Talon caught it and brings his right knee into Shining Armor's mid section forcing the unicorn stallion to bend over before the griffon mercenary brings his right elbow on his back making him fall down. Shining Armor was about to get back up to show this mercenary how to fight until he was being held down by Talon's knee on his back. "Look at yourself. You can't even fight the right way without letting your hatred getting the best of you and nothing not a thing you can do about it unless you let go of your hatred but I believe that not happening soon." Then Talon got off of Shining Armor's back allowing the unicorn stallion to get up and look at the griffon mercenary with a hateful face. "If you have a sister of your own maybe you're understand why I have to fight for my kingdom, for Twilight's honor not like you that only fight for money and gems." Shining Armor whispered. "I am will keep that in mind." Talon said smirking all the while. "Now come on let's go back to more friendlier lines." And soon the both begin the way back home but as they were doing Shining Armor tried to use his magic again only to died out like the last time. "How is that happening." Shining Armor thought to himself unknowingly that got a other smirk from his new griffon partner. Ponyville... Or what's left of it.Both Shining Armor and Talon was getting close to borderlines between Equestria and the Zebra Empire. Both of them thought it was best to lay low until they reach to the border. As the unicorn stallion and the griffon mercenary was getting closer to the zebra front lines Shining Armor noticed that the only zebras he sees was supply trains which got him thinking why he was only seeing supply trains. Soon he got his answer as they hid behind a nearby bush, look at the other side, and Shining Armor couldn't believe his eyes. The zebras have broken though the entire Equestrian front lines and was taking a lot of pony prisoners of war. The zebras was diving the pony stallions from the pony mares. The stallions was getting forced to stand in front of a brick wall with their hands tied behind their backs, faced the wall, and have blindfolds over their eyes. Then a line of zebra troops would come up behind them with guns at the ready just a few feet away. As the zebras present their arms before they take aim and finally Shining Armor turned away as the order to fire was given. After a minute of hearing gun fire the unicorn captain then look at the mares was being forced to stripped their armor and their clothes underneath leaving them with the only thing for them to wear was their underwear and bras. Then the blushing mares was being forced into a caged wagon to be locked in and moved away. Shining Armor then noticed that the unicorn mares had magic blocking rings on their horns to make sure that their magic won't work and the pegasus mares had their wings tied to their backs from stopping any of them to fly. Shining Armor tried to shake his head in hopes that this was a bad dream but it was all too real. Then the unicorn stallion feels a tapping on his left shoulder and he turned to face Talon. "Clearly this was a bad idea to come." The griffon mercenary said. "I think that we should stay here until night comes." "B-but my people." Shining Armor said in a shaking voice. "We can't just leave them." "Look at those lines Shining Armor the zebras clearly are winning this war thanks to those new guns of theirs. We are going to be cut down if we stop to help those ponies. Remember this Shining Armor it's 'survival of the fittest' those ponies wasn't strong enough to hold their lines so we are staying here to survive." As much Shining Armor hates it the griffon mercenary was right. He'll be killed on the spot if the zebras saw the both of them in a slit second so he and Talon waited out until night. _______________________________________________ 2 HOURS LATER After waiting for two full hours night has finally come at last and with Luna's moon hidden behind some clouds it was the perfect time for both the unicorn captain and griffon mercenary begin to sneak though the zebra lines. Shining Armor can see that the zebras was taking their time to make plans to attack Equestria again with all of the supply wagons all over the place. Soon both of them begin smell something very very bad and was wondering what is that smell. Then the unicorn stallion and the griffon mercenary got their answer after them a left turn and found dozens of dead stallions. All had been stripped of their armor and was left to rot in the battlefield. Shining Armor couldn't help but to slowly walk through the piles of his brothers in arms feeling both a hatred to the zebras for this slaughtered mess and a sad feeling for not being here to at least try to fight off the zebra's attack. Then Shining saw one all to familiar face that belongs to a wonderbolt flyer. It was Soarin the second of command of the wonderbolts with his eyes open and with four bullet holes in his chest. Both Shining Armor and Soarin became good friends when the war started and the unicorn stallion promised the wonderbolts captain, Spitfire, to make sure that Soarin comes home safe because both the pegasus was fixing to get married once the war was over. Then Shining feels a hand on his right shoulder and turned to see Talon. "Are you gonna stand there like a sank of potatoes." The mercenary said coldly. "Or are you going to escape back to your home land." Than the griffon mercenary started to walk over the former Equestrian lines. Shining Armor turns back to his dead pegasus friend with a sad look on his face before juggling to his griffon partner. _______________________________________________ 1 WEEK LATER Both Shining Armor and Talon was on the run for one whole week with the both of them getting very tried. After they both ran out of food from their packs they started to look for more food. Since Shining Armor is a unicorn pony and eats anything that is like a plant he just eats some grass, flowers, and wild berries he finds. But for Talon it was a different story because he is a meat eater and he would go hurt along and comes back with some mice, or a fox, or a bobcat which made Shining Armor almost throw up the sight of the griffon mercenary tiring the dead animal's flesh with his beak. So they were like this until finally they reach Ponyville and that made Shining Armor's blood run ice cold. Ponyville was more like Wreckville because most of the buildings had fallen down and the entire village was like a ghost town. The streets was completely deserted and there was bricks, paper, and everything else just laying all over the place. Shining Armor heart begin to beat faster and faster because he remembers Spike and the rest of Twilight's friends live here and he didn't hear a word from them back when the war started. He begins to run with Talon right behind him and the first place Shining stopped was the Ponyville library where Spike was living at. One half of the library was missing but the unicorn stallion didn't found a body anywhere so that means must have escape at that's what Shining Armor is hoping for. Then came the homes of Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. The first four houses was nothing more than giant piles of wood and bricks showing no signs of life anywhere before he begins to run over at Sweet Apple Acres. As the unicorn captain and the griffon mercenary was on their way to the apple farm Talon noticed something that Shining Armor didn't. "Hey Armor hold it." Talon said with his left clawed hand grabbing on to Shining Armor's shoulder making them both stopped in their tracks. "Not now Talon." Shining Armor said. "I have to make sure that my sister's friends are alright." "Maybe so but did you notice that there are no dead bodies anywhere in this town." That got Shining's eyes to look around town once again and the griffon mercenary's words we're true there are no bodies anywhere just prices of brick and trash. Soon the both of them started to run again and when they reach Sweet Apple Acres Shining Armor's eyes popped out from his head. The once great apple farm was nothing more than a giant graveyard of pony stallions all over the place. Shining Armor and Talon slowly walk through the bodies trying to not breath in the smell of death and rot. Then Shining noticed that not only stallions but also older mares that should live in a retirement home. And a other familiar face came up to him like a stab to the heart. It was that sweet old mare Granny Smith she still had all her clothes on but she did had a sword made hold in her side where her stomach should be. Shining Armor turned his eyes away trying not to cry as he was still moving forward. Soon both the unicorn stallion and the griffon mercenary reach the barn where they found a huge pile of clothes... clothes that belong to mares and fillies. There was shirts, skirts, shorts, coats, jackets, pants, shoes, and hats. There one thing in the pile that made Shining Armor's heart skipped a beat. It was the cowgirl hat that belongs to Applejack resting at the base of the pile. "They got Applejack." Shining Armor thought to himself. "And the rest of the young mares they wanted." Then Shining Armor put up the hat and was about to put it in his pack until.... WRACK The unicorn captain landed on the floor with some of his blood going down the side of his head. Shining Armor look behind him to find the face smirking griffon mercenary. "Talon what was that for." Shining ask as he got back up on his feet. "(chuckle) Oh come on Armor you haven't thought it yet." Talon chuckled. "Think of it. Your magic not working right, that I'm the only griffon that made it out okay from the ambush, and how I was able to sneak the both of us though the zebra lines." That made Shining Armor's mind click before his widened in shocked. "You told the zebras about the plan." The unicorn stallion snapped. "Why of course. Before this war began the zebra emperor himself came to me and made me a offer l just couldn't refused." Then Talon brings out his battle axe and Shining Armor takes out his long sword. "A perfect deal that has one little catch." "Oh yeah what's that." Talon smile with those words. "The death of your weakling little sister." Now bells was in Shining's head as he looked at the griffon in disbelief. Then his shock begin to slowly to into anger. "You... your the archer that kill the only sister l had." The unicorn captain yelled. "FINALLY YOU ARE STARTING TO GET THE PICTURE." Talon yelled out in voice of satisfaction. "I'm might be a mercenary but the money wasn't good enough for my needs so I wanted more. All I had to do is eavesdrop on your little plan of attacking the zebras back door, poured a potion I got from the zebras into the soup that we had on the night before the ambush to stopped your magic, and here we are right in the middle of your greatest failure. If that attack of yours work this here town would still be safe." Soon the both of them started to slowly walk in a circle. "And what was this deal you made with the zebra emperor who bastard." Shining Armor cursed. "Oh nothing more than the crystal empire... your thrown... and your wife." That was the final straw and the unicorn captain attack. The long sword and battle axe made a big crashing sound when the two weapons hit each other as it was starting to rain. But that didn't matter if Shining Armor gets wet because all he wanted to kill this overgrown bird for his sister. The unicorn stallion then rise his long sword again to strike downwards but Talon just duck to his left and give Shining Armor a fist to his face. Shining was forced a few steps backwards but he didn't care as he duck his head to avoid a swing from the battle axe and took the opportunity to kick Talon in the leg to forced the griffon mercenary to one knee. Shining Armor then tackle Talon leaving the long sword and battle axe on the ground. Talon on ground with his clawed hands covering his face to block the pouches with the angry unicorn stallion. Then the griffon mercenary brings his tail up to wrapped around Shining's neck making him gagged before he was tossed straight into a nearby table. Shining Armor crashed into the table like a boarder and his left leg got stabbed with sharp broken wood. Shining bear his teeth as the pain was going through out his entire leg before he spotted something he didn't believe underneath a larger part of the broken table. He began to slowly crawl to it as Talon got back up and walk over to the injured unicorn. "Don't worry Shining Armor." Talon said as he brings out a dagger from behind his back. "The only reason why I don't kill you this past week is because when somebody finds you here in Ponyville the rest of the world would believe that you died here trying to safe those ponies and died a warrior's death. But once I take Cadence as my slave I would tell her that you died like a outcast weakling and l would be her new lover... the griffon that took her husband's life." Then Talon grab hold of Shining Armor's neck just as the unicorn stallion grab something underneath the broken wood. The griffon mercenary then forced Shining to look at him straight in the eye. "Any last words Shining Armor." Talon mocked as he puts the dagger on pony captain's throat. "Before I end this little game of ours." "Only two." "What are they." Then Shining Armor pointed a flintlock pistol to Talon's head. "For Twilight." BANG Shining Armor fell on the ground with a thud fellow by a other thud as a dead griffon mercenary fell on the ground as well. With that settle the unicorn captain forced himself to walk over to the main house even his leg was coursing a lot of pain to the rest of the body but he manage to get inside. Shining Armor then finds a first aids pack in the kitchen, sits down, and begins to stopped the bleeding. It took roughly around a hour to do that but Shining did it thanks to his military training and then he broke off some wooden sticks from a chair, grabs a bloom and some tape to made a makeshift walking stick and put it underneath his left armpit. Shining Armor then walks outside, takes one more look at the dead griffon who took his sister before he begins the walk back to Canterlot. The SurrenderCANTERLOT CASTLE 9:00 PM The entire capital of Equestria was on high alert after hearing the fall of Ponyville three days ago. Every way into the city was being guarded by two or three guards and at the southwest gate Flash Sentry along with a red unicorn stallion and a light blue bat pony mare was with him. While the red unicorn stallion was looking out in the night air, Flash Sentry can feel that the bat pony mare was looking at the pegasus stallion with a hunger in her eyes which everything she does that it makes Flash's true red a little. "Damn, why that mare makes me want to be with her in a large bed." The orange pegasus thought to himself before the red unicorn bought out his spear and get into a fighting stand. "What is it." Sentry asked as he brings out his twin daggers and the bat pony mare readies her bow and arrows. "Someone is coming in." The unicorn stallion said as all three of them is getting ready for a fight to the death a shadow of a stallion appears. As the shadow was getting closer and closer they can hear grunts and very hard breathing from the shadow. Until finally after a minute the shadow came into the light and all three ponies gasped to see who it was the shadow. "Captain Armor." Flash Sentry said as he puts away his weapons and went to help his captain with the other two ponies behind him. The pegasus stallion took away the makeshift walking stick and puts Shining Armor's left arm around his neck. "What happen to you. We all thought you were dead after we didn't hear from you after a week and a half." "Believe when l say this, it's a long story." Shining Armor reply as Flash Sentry was taking him inside while the other two ponies stayed at the gate to continued guarding it. "Why is the whole city is on high alert." Armor asked as he notice the city walls was armed to the teeth with both soldiers and their weapons. "After the fall of Ponyville Celestia ordered to be prepared for the worst. So everypony started to get ready for a attack any day now." Flash said as they was getting closer to the castle. "But there is a rumor going around the ranks that the princesses will surrendered to the zebras in return for the territorial we lost." That got Shining Armor's eyes to be part of a confused face of his as both the unicorn and pegasus stallions got inside the castle. After many lefts and many rights Flash Sentry got Shining Armor to the doctor's room of the castle. Flash Sentry got his captain in one of the empty beds before he called for the doctor. A yellow unicorn stallion came and started to look over Shining Armor's leg before the unicorn stallion asked Flash Sentry. "Flash can you get me the princesses over here on the double." "No problem sir." Flash Sentry reply as he begins to run down the hallway to the throne room. As Shining Armor was waiting he notice that the bed to his right had someone in it. His eyes widened in shocked to see that it was Zecora the only the zebra the princesses trust was covered from head to toe with slash and burn marks. Zecora was asleep of course but she looks like she had a fight with a dragon and lost the fight. "What happen to her." Shining Armor asked the doctor. "She was tortured." The doctor answered. "A special opps group of unicorn stallions and diamond dog mercenaries got the drop on a zebra camp two nights ago and found her in one of the tents with her begging for death. My best guess is that because she lives here with us that got the other zebras to feel hatred for that and tortured her for it." That got Shining to look at Zecora again as just noticed the cloth wraps around most of her body. "Will she survived." "Most likely but she will bear the scars the rest of her life." Shining Armor just couldn't that the zebras would be willing to tortured one of their own for living in Equestria with the ponies and made him wondered if they are that right now to any zebras who wants to help the ponies out. Soon the door opened and all three princesses came in wearing wonderful sun dresses. The doctor saw them as he finished looking over Shining's leg then he made a bow and left to look over a other pony three beds away. The first princess that said something was Cadence as she wraps her arms around her husband's neck and hugged him. "Oh Shining l thought you were lost forever." "Don't worry Cadence I'm right here." The unicorn captain said. "I have to say Shining Armor you are one very lucky stallion." Luna said. "I agree with my sister." Celestia said. "How did you manage to survived a whole week and a half out there." That's when Shining Armor tell all three alicorn mares about the ambush, the equestrian lines, the week with Talon, the ruins of Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres, and avenging his sister's death after he killed Talon. All three princesses was shocked to hear that both the zebras killed all of the stallions and it was Talon who killed Twilight Sparkle. "How did the zebras got their hands on black powder weapons. They only exist in the donkey and mule union territories." "I wish I know." Shining Armor said. "But after I saw the zebras cut down my men and the griffon mercenaries like nothing but air they have become more stronger than ever." "Then my sister we have no choice." Luna said to her big sister. "Our magic can only hold the zebras a little longer but with black powder weapons they will overpowered us." "What are you talking about." Shining Armor asked with one of his eyebrows rised. It was Celestia who answered his question. "The zebras sented a messager to us one day after the fell of Ponyville. The massage said that if we surrendered to them they would give back all of our lost territories and in return they would keep all of the mares, fillies, and colts they have capture and taken back to zebra territories." That got the unicorn captain's eyes to look at Celestia in disbelief. "You are letting the zebras win the war." Shining Armor snapped at the alicorn sisters. "The war is already loss Captain Armor." Luna snapped back. "Sure own magic is strong but how long do you think that will last against muskets, flintlocks, bombs, and canons. Those black powder weapons is something that gives magic a run for it's money. We have no choice." "But there is something else too." Celestia stepped in. "They have killed all the stallions of fighting age, capture all of the mares of fighting age, and have taken hundreds fillies and colts to be rise to be more zebra than pony. Have don't have the man power to fight the war anymore even with the mercenary groups help." Shining Armor can understand now why Celestia and Luna wants to surrounded but... "Cadence what about you." The unicorn stallion asked his wife. Cadence just looked away and said. "Even if we bring in the armies of the crystal empire they were be ended up be killed like the soldiers out there now. The crystal ponies don't know about black powder weapons and they just be shot during battle." That was it Shining Armor was outvoted and that made him to rest his head in defeat. "I always that we will win this good for nothing war." He whispered. "I thought that I could make Twilight's death was to be avenged by wining this war." "I am sorry Shining." Celestia said. "But if we continue this war it will be the end of Equestria." Then she and her sister made they're leave to sent a messager of their own leaving the alicorn princess of love and the unicorn captain along with their own thoughts." _______________________________________________ TWO DAYS LATER In the throne room of Canterlot castle Celestia along with Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor was waiting for the zebra emperor himself to come walking through those doors any minute now. While the three alicorn princesses was sitting in their thrones Shining Armor himself was standing up next to his wife. The unicorn captain's leg was completely healed thanks to Celestia's magic making him walk the right way again all the while he drinking a green potion, that somehow taste like watermelon, to help have his own magic come back. During his time here in Canterlot Shining Armor was happy to hear that Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash was here safe and sound after they escape the attack on Ponyville. But he was also sad that he heard that Pinkie Pie was killed during the canon shelling when the attack begun. Shining Armor made a note to himself to show the others Applejack's hat sometime after this war ends. But he also heard that his friend Big Macintosh made it out too but no sign for the little earth pony filly Applebloom anywhere which for Shining Armor that she must have been captured too along with her big sister. But no pony had since Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle like their friend so they were both capture like their best friend or was out there alone but safe from the zebras no pony can tell which one. Soon the giant double doors opened making Shining Armor to stopped thinking about the others and at the few zebras coming into the throne room. A head of the group was the zebra emperor himself, Emperor Zaka the first, leader of the zebra empire but to Shining Armor it was the bastard who ordered his sister's death. Sure it was Talon who killed Twilight but it was this very zebra who plan her death. Emperor Zaka was wearing a very dark green loincloth, a black wooden chest armor with blood red stripes on it, and a scar over his left eye making it gray while his other eye is a light blue. "Princesses of Equestria I have come." Zaka said giving a short bow. "Your message says that all three of you have agreed to my terms yes." "Yes Emperor Zaka." Celestia said as she gets up from her throne and walked over to the zebra emperor. "If we surrendered to you will give back our lost territories and in return you can keep all of the mares, fillies, and colts in your empire." "As my honor of being a zebra to heart l will." The zebra emperor said as one of his troops came up with a small table and place it down between his emperor and the alicorn princess of the sun. Then a other zebra troop came up and places a scroll on the table along with some pens. "This treaty here will be the peace between our two nations and bring a end to this war." Then Emperor Zaka puts up one of the pens and sighed the treaty. After he places his name on the scroll Celestia puts up a other pen and sighs it too followed by her little sister Luna. Then Cadence sighs the treaty and the war was finally over. "May be your lives be happy and well." The zebra emperor said before he makes one more bow and he along with his troops made their leave though the double doors. As soon the doors was completely closed with a loud thud Shining Armor couldn't help be say. "This is not the way to end a war." "I know how you feel Shining Armor l really do." Luna said. "If the zebras don't had their muskets and canons I would personally lead a all out attack on Zaka's castle myself." "It's too late for that sister." Celestia said to her fellow alicorns and the unicorn captain. "But now the peace treaty is sighed and we have a lot of work and recovery to do though out of Equestria." "Then where do we begin." Cadence asked making the other two alicorns to think for a minute until Shining Armor came up a idea. "Ponyville. That is where we should begin." "Why Ponyville." Luna asked. "Because once you see it for yourselves then you know why we need to start there." By Shining Armor's words the three alicorn princesses feel like that should be a good enough reason to start at the small town. But as for Shining Armor he will always feels like this surrendered will be cost of Equestria's newest princess and his little sister's live because the zebras... Forever.
AmbushZEBRA TERRITORY In the huge jungle of the zebra empire was a 50 man group of equestrian royal guard and 25 griffin mercenaries walking in three lines trying to find a way out of this jungle. A head of the guards and mercenaries was none other than Shining Armor himself with his right hand on the handled of this sword and looking around the jungle making sure that nothing happens to himself and his men. While the royal guard was here because they want to make their home safe again and the griffon mercenaries was here because of gold coins, Shining Armor himself was here because of a different reason... Revenge. ___________________________________________________ 2 YEARS AGO It was the coronation of Equestria's newest princess, Twilight Sparkle, she was wearing a nice light blue sun dress which was made by Rarity herself. Over at the stage Princess Celestia was looking down at the huge crowd of ponies from all over Equestria just to see their new princess. Then the princess of the sun turned to her former student and said. "Twilight it's time." "Coming Celestia." Twilight said and soon both of them was outside looking at the crowd. Then Celestia stepped forward. "My little ponies I have called you all here for a one important reason. A few days ago my former student has past all the trials and became a alicorn like myself and that of my little sister Luna. Allow me to show you the new princess of Equestria Twilight Sparkle." That made Twilight to forward and all of the ponies started to cheer for her with all smiles. After a minute or two of the cheering there was a... GAG And a few seconds later there was nothing more than screams of shocked and terrible from the crowd when out of nowhere a arrow hit Twilight right on the front side of her neck and fell to the floor. Soon some royal guards came and made a shield wall around the two alicorns while Celestia was trying to help Twilight. "Twilight listen to me. It's going to be alright ok. Just try to keep your eyes open." But how Twilight can both of her hands were on arrow out of a force of habit. Soon the purple mare's eyes began to close and that made Celestia's eyes widen in fear. "No Twilight stay awake please." Then they were closed. "NO TWILIGHT." Celestia yelled just as a royal guard doctor got to Twilight's side. He put two of his right hand's fingers on Twilight's wist before he puts his left ear to her chest where the heart would be. Then he brings his head up and look at Celestia with a sad face. "I am sorry your highness." He said. "But it's too late." That made Celestia's eyes tear up before she puts her hands to her face and cry quietly on the spot. Then after a minute of crying Celestia brings her head up to look at the arrow and wanted to have a better look at it. She carefully remove it from the no longing living alicorn with her magic and finds a note on it. The princess of the sun then unties the letter from the arrow, opens it, and was shocked to find inside the letter. "War has come." With the zebra empire's royal seal on it. ___________________________________________________ 1 YEAR LATER The zebra empire attack equestria one week after Twilight Sparkle's death and already took three major cities. After a year of fighting the first three alicorn princesses knows that they need a new way of fighting against the zebras. So they made a news report that if any mercenary groups would like to help in the war against the zebra empire they be paid with the giant crystals that was underneath Canterlot castle. Many mercenary groups came far and wide to help the ponies but they just did it because they want the crystals for themselves. One of these mercenary groups was the Golden Claws a griffon mercenary group with a history of never leaving any survivors when they are fighting on the battlefield or raiding a town. Soon after a year and a half of fighting the Golden Claws was going with Shining Armor's squad to take a fort in the jungle area of the zebra empire's back to attack the royal zebra castle and bring an end to this war. ___________________________________________________ PRESENT Shining Armor was close to having his revenge he can feel it after two and a half years of war he was going to make the finishing blow on the zebra empire after they took his only little sister from him and the rest of his family. All he has to do was cut through this jungle, take the fort, and march to the zebra's royal castle. The unicorn captain then look behind him to see the Golden Claws second in command walking behind him. The griffon's name was Talon, he was a griffon with both of his feathers and fur was pumpkin orange all the while he was wearing a full suit of steel but there was holes in the back that way he can still fly and he didn't wear a helmet because he doesn't like them. Shining Armor turned back to the road a head to see anything strange. He didn't see anything around but he did hear a snap of a stick which made the unicorn stallion to bring his right fist up singling the guards and mercenaries behind him to stop and have their weapons ready. Talon came up to whispered to Shining Armor. "What is it. Zebras." "I don't know." Shining Armor whispered back. "I did a snapping sound but I don't see anything." That made the griffon mercenary to reach behind his back and brings out a very big battle axe ready to cut any zebras that might be out there. After a few minutes of nothing but the sounds of the wind every stallion and griffon was beginning to think there was nothing out there... until. BANG Two royal guards and griffon mercenary was blow to ash which to Shining Armor it only means one thing. "AMBUSH." Soon there was bangs going around the three lines and the small army was getting cut to ribbons when zebra soldiers came out of the trees and was killing his men. But the unicorn stallion noticed something the zebras was using black powder weapons like muskets and flintlock pistols instead of using swords and arrows. All of the stallions and griffons was started to find a way out of their problem but any means of escape was impossible. The pegasus and griffons tried to fly out but the trees was too thick and ended up being shot down. The unicorns of the royal guard tried to used their magic to teleport away but somehow their magic wasn't working all they did was make their horns glow for a couple of seconds before the glow died down. Shining Armor was seeing how all of his men was being cut down like ragdolls in a shudder until finally he sees a small openly in the zebras left firing line which means a way out of this mess. "Everyone this way." He called out before running towards the openly with his long sword out. He as he running to the way out the unicorn captain can see how the zebras got the drop on them. They were wearing wooden armor with dark green stripes painted on them making them look like their part of the trees. Then two troops see the unicorn stallion running at them before they fixed their bayonets and charged at the running unicorn. Soon Shining Armor can see the two zebras coming at out of the treeline and was running at him but he was ready. The first zebra tried to thrusted his bayonet into Shining's chest but Armor just blocked that attack with his long sword, punch the zebra stallion in the face, and brings his sword though his enemy's gut making the zebra to couch out some blood before falling to the ground dead. Shining Armor brings his sword out of the dead zebra to see the second zebra was fixing to take aim at him but good thing was ready for that too because he always have a throwing knife in his boot. Shining Armor brings it out and with one quick twist with the wist the throwing knife was in the second zebra's right eye before falling on the ground. Now Shining Armor was doing nothing more than running, running, even more running he even didn't look back the battle all he did was trying to the hell out of there. After like ten minutes or more of running Shining Armor finally ran out of breath and stopped running. He put his hands on his knees to tried to catch his breath until he hears a bush shaking behind and that made him ready for a fight any second. Shining Armor ready his long sword and... "Wait it's only me." Came Talon's voice and sure enough the griffon mercenary came out of the bush all sweaty. That made Shining Armor breath in a sigh of relief until he notice something... Both he and Talon was the only ones out there alone. "Talon where is the rest of our men." The unicorn captain asked the griffon mercenary. "Didn't make it." Talon replied. "The zebras was freaking everywhere. I only managed to get out of that hell storm because I saw you running over here and I tried catch up to you the best way I can." That made Shining Armor's heart dropped like a rock in a river. The whole plan was a complete bust and now he and the griffon mercenary was the only ones left of the 75 strong attack force. But the zebras know about the plan. The only ones that know the plan was himself and the princesses. "I believe that we should head back to Equestrian lines Armor." That made Shining Armor to look at the griffon mercenary in disbelief. "What do mean head back." The unicorn stallion asked. "Come on Armor even a military commander like you can see that there's no point of continuing going forward. I believe the only way for us to survive is to head back to friendly lines." "But there's gonna be a other." Shining Armor snapped. "I came so close..." "To your revenge." Talon said making Shining Armor look at him in shocked. "H-how." "Please Armor I know that look on your face back when those two zebras was gunning for you. And we griffons know this better than anyone." Then Talon came face to face with the unicorn stallion. "And I know how you want nothing more but to kill the zebra emperor with your bear hands. How you want to slowly gut him like a rat, how to make him suffer like you have suffer all because you couldn't save your only sis...." SMACK Talon was on the ground with some stars going in circles around his head before he shakes his head to stopped the stars and look at the unicorn captain. Shining Armor was breathing heavily with eyes narrow, his nose fairing, his teeth bear, and his right hand was in a fist. Talon only look at Shining with a smirk. "I see that I must have hit a nerve." "You don't you what it's like." Shining Armor snapped once again. "To have the greatest little sister who fought and won so many villains. Who became princess in only almost four years. Who was fixing to replace both Celestia and Luna one day to become soul ruler of Equestria only to be taken away like if she was killed by the executioner's axe." Then Talon got off the ground and brushed himself before looking back at Armor. "Oh come now." Talon said. "You are only fighting out of pure hatred. You think that you are fighting for justice but you aloud yourself to become a cold blooded killer with no mercy like that archer that shot Twilight." That was the last nerve. Shining Armor brings arm back left hook but Talon caught it and brings his right knee into Shining Armor's mid section forcing the unicorn stallion to bend over before the griffon mercenary brings his right elbow on his back making him fall down. Shining Armor was about to get back up to show this mercenary how to fight until he was being held down by Talon's knee on his back. "Look at yourself. You can't even fight the right way without letting your hatred getting the best of you and nothing not a thing you can do about it unless you let go of your hatred but I believe that not happening soon." Then Talon got off of Shining Armor's back allowing the unicorn stallion to get up and look at the griffon mercenary with a hateful face. "If you have a sister of your own maybe you're understand why I have to fight for my kingdom, for Twilight's honor not like you that only fight for money and gems." Shining Armor whispered. "I am will keep that in mind." Talon said smirking all the while. "Now come on let's go back to more friendlier lines." And soon the both begin the way back home but as they were doing Shining Armor tried to use his magic again only to died out like the last time. "How is that happening." Shining Armor thought to himself unknowingly that got a other smirk from his new griffon partner.
Ponyville... Or what's left of it.Both Shining Armor and Talon was getting close to borderlines between Equestria and the Zebra Empire. Both of them thought it was best to lay low until they reach to the border. As the unicorn stallion and the griffon mercenary was getting closer to the zebra front lines Shining Armor noticed that the only zebras he sees was supply trains which got him thinking why he was only seeing supply trains. Soon he got his answer as they hid behind a nearby bush, look at the other side, and Shining Armor couldn't believe his eyes. The zebras have broken though the entire Equestrian front lines and was taking a lot of pony prisoners of war. The zebras was diving the pony stallions from the pony mares. The stallions was getting forced to stand in front of a brick wall with their hands tied behind their backs, faced the wall, and have blindfolds over their eyes. Then a line of zebra troops would come up behind them with guns at the ready just a few feet away. As the zebras present their arms before they take aim and finally Shining Armor turned away as the order to fire was given. After a minute of hearing gun fire the unicorn captain then look at the mares was being forced to stripped their armor and their clothes underneath leaving them with the only thing for them to wear was their underwear and bras. Then the blushing mares was being forced into a caged wagon to be locked in and moved away. Shining Armor then noticed that the unicorn mares had magic blocking rings on their horns to make sure that their magic won't work and the pegasus mares had their wings tied to their backs from stopping any of them to fly. Shining Armor tried to shake his head in hopes that this was a bad dream but it was all too real. Then the unicorn stallion feels a tapping on his left shoulder and he turned to face Talon. "Clearly this was a bad idea to come." The griffon mercenary said. "I think that we should stay here until night comes." "B-but my people." Shining Armor said in a shaking voice. "We can't just leave them." "Look at those lines Shining Armor the zebras clearly are winning this war thanks to those new guns of theirs. We are going to be cut down if we stop to help those ponies. Remember this Shining Armor it's 'survival of the fittest' those ponies wasn't strong enough to hold their lines so we are staying here to survive." As much Shining Armor hates it the griffon mercenary was right. He'll be killed on the spot if the zebras saw the both of them in a slit second so he and Talon waited out until night. _______________________________________________ 2 HOURS LATER After waiting for two full hours night has finally come at last and with Luna's moon hidden behind some clouds it was the perfect time for both the unicorn captain and griffon mercenary begin to sneak though the zebra lines. Shining Armor can see that the zebras was taking their time to make plans to attack Equestria again with all of the supply wagons all over the place. Soon both of them begin smell something very very bad and was wondering what is that smell. Then the unicorn stallion and the griffon mercenary got their answer after them a left turn and found dozens of dead stallions. All had been stripped of their armor and was left to rot in the battlefield. Shining Armor couldn't help but to slowly walk through the piles of his brothers in arms feeling both a hatred to the zebras for this slaughtered mess and a sad feeling for not being here to at least try to fight off the zebra's attack. Then Shining saw one all to familiar face that belongs to a wonderbolt flyer. It was Soarin the second of command of the wonderbolts with his eyes open and with four bullet holes in his chest. Both Shining Armor and Soarin became good friends when the war started and the unicorn stallion promised the wonderbolts captain, Spitfire, to make sure that Soarin comes home safe because both the pegasus was fixing to get married once the war was over. Then Shining feels a hand on his right shoulder and turned to see Talon. "Are you gonna stand there like a sank of potatoes." The mercenary said coldly. "Or are you going to escape back to your home land." Than the griffon mercenary started to walk over the former Equestrian lines. Shining Armor turns back to his dead pegasus friend with a sad look on his face before juggling to his griffon partner. _______________________________________________ 1 WEEK LATER Both Shining Armor and Talon was on the run for one whole week with the both of them getting very tried. After they both ran out of food from their packs they started to look for more food. Since Shining Armor is a unicorn pony and eats anything that is like a plant he just eats some grass, flowers, and wild berries he finds. But for Talon it was a different story because he is a meat eater and he would go hurt along and comes back with some mice, or a fox, or a bobcat which made Shining Armor almost throw up the sight of the griffon mercenary tiring the dead animal's flesh with his beak. So they were like this until finally they reach Ponyville and that made Shining Armor's blood run ice cold. Ponyville was more like Wreckville because most of the buildings had fallen down and the entire village was like a ghost town. The streets was completely deserted and there was bricks, paper, and everything else just laying all over the place. Shining Armor heart begin to beat faster and faster because he remembers Spike and the rest of Twilight's friends live here and he didn't hear a word from them back when the war started. He begins to run with Talon right behind him and the first place Shining stopped was the Ponyville library where Spike was living at. One half of the library was missing but the unicorn stallion didn't found a body anywhere so that means must have escape at that's what Shining Armor is hoping for. Then came the homes of Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. The first four houses was nothing more than giant piles of wood and bricks showing no signs of life anywhere before he begins to run over at Sweet Apple Acres. As the unicorn captain and the griffon mercenary was on their way to the apple farm Talon noticed something that Shining Armor didn't. "Hey Armor hold it." Talon said with his left clawed hand grabbing on to Shining Armor's shoulder making them both stopped in their tracks. "Not now Talon." Shining Armor said. "I have to make sure that my sister's friends are alright." "Maybe so but did you notice that there are no dead bodies anywhere in this town." That got Shining's eyes to look around town once again and the griffon mercenary's words we're true there are no bodies anywhere just prices of brick and trash. Soon the both of them started to run again and when they reach Sweet Apple Acres Shining Armor's eyes popped out from his head. The once great apple farm was nothing more than a giant graveyard of pony stallions all over the place. Shining Armor and Talon slowly walk through the bodies trying to not breath in the smell of death and rot. Then Shining noticed that not only stallions but also older mares that should live in a retirement home. And a other familiar face came up to him like a stab to the heart. It was that sweet old mare Granny Smith she still had all her clothes on but she did had a sword made hold in her side where her stomach should be. Shining Armor turned his eyes away trying not to cry as he was still moving forward. Soon both the unicorn stallion and the griffon mercenary reach the barn where they found a huge pile of clothes... clothes that belong to mares and fillies. There was shirts, skirts, shorts, coats, jackets, pants, shoes, and hats. There one thing in the pile that made Shining Armor's heart skipped a beat. It was the cowgirl hat that belongs to Applejack resting at the base of the pile. "They got Applejack." Shining Armor thought to himself. "And the rest of the young mares they wanted." Then Shining Armor put up the hat and was about to put it in his pack until.... WRACK The unicorn captain landed on the floor with some of his blood going down the side of his head. Shining Armor look behind him to find the face smirking griffon mercenary. "Talon what was that for." Shining ask as he got back up on his feet. "(chuckle) Oh come on Armor you haven't thought it yet." Talon chuckled. "Think of it. Your magic not working right, that I'm the only griffon that made it out okay from the ambush, and how I was able to sneak the both of us though the zebra lines." That made Shining Armor's mind click before his widened in shocked. "You told the zebras about the plan." The unicorn stallion snapped. "Why of course. Before this war began the zebra emperor himself came to me and made me a offer l just couldn't refused." Then Talon brings out his battle axe and Shining Armor takes out his long sword. "A perfect deal that has one little catch." "Oh yeah what's that." Talon smile with those words. "The death of your weakling little sister." Now bells was in Shining's head as he looked at the griffon in disbelief. Then his shock begin to slowly to into anger. "You... your the archer that kill the only sister l had." The unicorn captain yelled. "FINALLY YOU ARE STARTING TO GET THE PICTURE." Talon yelled out in voice of satisfaction. "I'm might be a mercenary but the money wasn't good enough for my needs so I wanted more. All I had to do is eavesdrop on your little plan of attacking the zebras back door, poured a potion I got from the zebras into the soup that we had on the night before the ambush to stopped your magic, and here we are right in the middle of your greatest failure. If that attack of yours work this here town would still be safe." Soon the both of them started to slowly walk in a circle. "And what was this deal you made with the zebra emperor who bastard." Shining Armor cursed. "Oh nothing more than the crystal empire... your thrown... and your wife." That was the final straw and the unicorn captain attack. The long sword and battle axe made a big crashing sound when the two weapons hit each other as it was starting to rain. But that didn't matter if Shining Armor gets wet because all he wanted to kill this overgrown bird for his sister. The unicorn stallion then rise his long sword again to strike downwards but Talon just duck to his left and give Shining Armor a fist to his face. Shining was forced a few steps backwards but he didn't care as he duck his head to avoid a swing from the battle axe and took the opportunity to kick Talon in the leg to forced the griffon mercenary to one knee. Shining Armor then tackle Talon leaving the long sword and battle axe on the ground. Talon on ground with his clawed hands covering his face to block the pouches with the angry unicorn stallion. Then the griffon mercenary brings his tail up to wrapped around Shining's neck making him gagged before he was tossed straight into a nearby table. Shining Armor crashed into the table like a boarder and his left leg got stabbed with sharp broken wood. Shining bear his teeth as the pain was going through out his entire leg before he spotted something he didn't believe underneath a larger part of the broken table. He began to slowly crawl to it as Talon got back up and walk over to the injured unicorn. "Don't worry Shining Armor." Talon said as he brings out a dagger from behind his back. "The only reason why I don't kill you this past week is because when somebody finds you here in Ponyville the rest of the world would believe that you died here trying to safe those ponies and died a warrior's death. But once I take Cadence as my slave I would tell her that you died like a outcast weakling and l would be her new lover... the griffon that took her husband's life." Then Talon grab hold of Shining Armor's neck just as the unicorn stallion grab something underneath the broken wood. The griffon mercenary then forced Shining to look at him straight in the eye. "Any last words Shining Armor." Talon mocked as he puts the dagger on pony captain's throat. "Before I end this little game of ours." "Only two." "What are they." Then Shining Armor pointed a flintlock pistol to Talon's head. "For Twilight." BANG Shining Armor fell on the ground with a thud fellow by a other thud as a dead griffon mercenary fell on the ground as well. With that settle the unicorn captain forced himself to walk over to the main house even his leg was coursing a lot of pain to the rest of the body but he manage to get inside. Shining Armor then finds a first aids pack in the kitchen, sits down, and begins to stopped the bleeding. It took roughly around a hour to do that but Shining did it thanks to his military training and then he broke off some wooden sticks from a chair, grabs a bloom and some tape to made a makeshift walking stick and put it underneath his left armpit. Shining Armor then walks outside, takes one more look at the dead griffon who took his sister before he begins the walk back to Canterlot.
The SurrenderCANTERLOT CASTLE 9:00 PM The entire capital of Equestria was on high alert after hearing the fall of Ponyville three days ago. Every way into the city was being guarded by two or three guards and at the southwest gate Flash Sentry along with a red unicorn stallion and a light blue bat pony mare was with him. While the red unicorn stallion was looking out in the night air, Flash Sentry can feel that the bat pony mare was looking at the pegasus stallion with a hunger in her eyes which everything she does that it makes Flash's true red a little. "Damn, why that mare makes me want to be with her in a large bed." The orange pegasus thought to himself before the red unicorn bought out his spear and get into a fighting stand. "What is it." Sentry asked as he brings out his twin daggers and the bat pony mare readies her bow and arrows. "Someone is coming in." The unicorn stallion said as all three of them is getting ready for a fight to the death a shadow of a stallion appears. As the shadow was getting closer and closer they can hear grunts and very hard breathing from the shadow. Until finally after a minute the shadow came into the light and all three ponies gasped to see who it was the shadow. "Captain Armor." Flash Sentry said as he puts away his weapons and went to help his captain with the other two ponies behind him. The pegasus stallion took away the makeshift walking stick and puts Shining Armor's left arm around his neck. "What happen to you. We all thought you were dead after we didn't hear from you after a week and a half." "Believe when l say this, it's a long story." Shining Armor reply as Flash Sentry was taking him inside while the other two ponies stayed at the gate to continued guarding it. "Why is the whole city is on high alert." Armor asked as he notice the city walls was armed to the teeth with both soldiers and their weapons. "After the fall of Ponyville Celestia ordered to be prepared for the worst. So everypony started to get ready for a attack any day now." Flash said as they was getting closer to the castle. "But there is a rumor going around the ranks that the princesses will surrendered to the zebras in return for the territorial we lost." That got Shining Armor's eyes to be part of a confused face of his as both the unicorn and pegasus stallions got inside the castle. After many lefts and many rights Flash Sentry got Shining Armor to the doctor's room of the castle. Flash Sentry got his captain in one of the empty beds before he called for the doctor. A yellow unicorn stallion came and started to look over Shining Armor's leg before the unicorn stallion asked Flash Sentry. "Flash can you get me the princesses over here on the double." "No problem sir." Flash Sentry reply as he begins to run down the hallway to the throne room. As Shining Armor was waiting he notice that the bed to his right had someone in it. His eyes widened in shocked to see that it was Zecora the only the zebra the princesses trust was covered from head to toe with slash and burn marks. Zecora was asleep of course but she looks like she had a fight with a dragon and lost the fight. "What happen to her." Shining Armor asked the doctor. "She was tortured." The doctor answered. "A special opps group of unicorn stallions and diamond dog mercenaries got the drop on a zebra camp two nights ago and found her in one of the tents with her begging for death. My best guess is that because she lives here with us that got the other zebras to feel hatred for that and tortured her for it." That got Shining to look at Zecora again as just noticed the cloth wraps around most of her body. "Will she survived." "Most likely but she will bear the scars the rest of her life." Shining Armor just couldn't that the zebras would be willing to tortured one of their own for living in Equestria with the ponies and made him wondered if they are that right now to any zebras who wants to help the ponies out. Soon the door opened and all three princesses came in wearing wonderful sun dresses. The doctor saw them as he finished looking over Shining's leg then he made a bow and left to look over a other pony three beds away. The first princess that said something was Cadence as she wraps her arms around her husband's neck and hugged him. "Oh Shining l thought you were lost forever." "Don't worry Cadence I'm right here." The unicorn captain said. "I have to say Shining Armor you are one very lucky stallion." Luna said. "I agree with my sister." Celestia said. "How did you manage to survived a whole week and a half out there." That's when Shining Armor tell all three alicorn mares about the ambush, the equestrian lines, the week with Talon, the ruins of Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres, and avenging his sister's death after he killed Talon. All three princesses was shocked to hear that both the zebras killed all of the stallions and it was Talon who killed Twilight Sparkle. "How did the zebras got their hands on black powder weapons. They only exist in the donkey and mule union territories." "I wish I know." Shining Armor said. "But after I saw the zebras cut down my men and the griffon mercenaries like nothing but air they have become more stronger than ever." "Then my sister we have no choice." Luna said to her big sister. "Our magic can only hold the zebras a little longer but with black powder weapons they will overpowered us." "What are you talking about." Shining Armor asked with one of his eyebrows rised. It was Celestia who answered his question. "The zebras sented a messager to us one day after the fell of Ponyville. The massage said that if we surrendered to them they would give back all of our lost territories and in return they would keep all of the mares, fillies, and colts they have capture and taken back to zebra territories." That got the unicorn captain's eyes to look at Celestia in disbelief. "You are letting the zebras win the war." Shining Armor snapped at the alicorn sisters. "The war is already loss Captain Armor." Luna snapped back. "Sure own magic is strong but how long do you think that will last against muskets, flintlocks, bombs, and canons. Those black powder weapons is something that gives magic a run for it's money. We have no choice." "But there is something else too." Celestia stepped in. "They have killed all the stallions of fighting age, capture all of the mares of fighting age, and have taken hundreds fillies and colts to be rise to be more zebra than pony. Have don't have the man power to fight the war anymore even with the mercenary groups help." Shining Armor can understand now why Celestia and Luna wants to surrounded but... "Cadence what about you." The unicorn stallion asked his wife. Cadence just looked away and said. "Even if we bring in the armies of the crystal empire they were be ended up be killed like the soldiers out there now. The crystal ponies don't know about black powder weapons and they just be shot during battle." That was it Shining Armor was outvoted and that made him to rest his head in defeat. "I always that we will win this good for nothing war." He whispered. "I thought that I could make Twilight's death was to be avenged by wining this war." "I am sorry Shining." Celestia said. "But if we continue this war it will be the end of Equestria." Then she and her sister made they're leave to sent a messager of their own leaving the alicorn princess of love and the unicorn captain along with their own thoughts." _______________________________________________ TWO DAYS LATER In the throne room of Canterlot castle Celestia along with Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor was waiting for the zebra emperor himself to come walking through those doors any minute now. While the three alicorn princesses was sitting in their thrones Shining Armor himself was standing up next to his wife. The unicorn captain's leg was completely healed thanks to Celestia's magic making him walk the right way again all the while he drinking a green potion, that somehow taste like watermelon, to help have his own magic come back. During his time here in Canterlot Shining Armor was happy to hear that Spike, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash was here safe and sound after they escape the attack on Ponyville. But he was also sad that he heard that Pinkie Pie was killed during the canon shelling when the attack begun. Shining Armor made a note to himself to show the others Applejack's hat sometime after this war ends. But he also heard that his friend Big Macintosh made it out too but no sign for the little earth pony filly Applebloom anywhere which for Shining Armor that she must have been captured too along with her big sister. But no pony had since Scootaloo or Sweetie Belle like their friend so they were both capture like their best friend or was out there alone but safe from the zebras no pony can tell which one. Soon the giant double doors opened making Shining Armor to stopped thinking about the others and at the few zebras coming into the throne room. A head of the group was the zebra emperor himself, Emperor Zaka the first, leader of the zebra empire but to Shining Armor it was the bastard who ordered his sister's death. Sure it was Talon who killed Twilight but it was this very zebra who plan her death. Emperor Zaka was wearing a very dark green loincloth, a black wooden chest armor with blood red stripes on it, and a scar over his left eye making it gray while his other eye is a light blue. "Princesses of Equestria I have come." Zaka said giving a short bow. "Your message says that all three of you have agreed to my terms yes." "Yes Emperor Zaka." Celestia said as she gets up from her throne and walked over to the zebra emperor. "If we surrendered to you will give back our lost territories and in return you can keep all of the mares, fillies, and colts in your empire." "As my honor of being a zebra to heart l will." The zebra emperor said as one of his troops came up with a small table and place it down between his emperor and the alicorn princess of the sun. Then a other zebra troop came up and places a scroll on the table along with some pens. "This treaty here will be the peace between our two nations and bring a end to this war." Then Emperor Zaka puts up one of the pens and sighed the treaty. After he places his name on the scroll Celestia puts up a other pen and sighs it too followed by her little sister Luna. Then Cadence sighs the treaty and the war was finally over. "May be your lives be happy and well." The zebra emperor said before he makes one more bow and he along with his troops made their leave though the double doors. As soon the doors was completely closed with a loud thud Shining Armor couldn't help be say. "This is not the way to end a war." "I know how you feel Shining Armor l really do." Luna said. "If the zebras don't had their muskets and canons I would personally lead a all out attack on Zaka's castle myself." "It's too late for that sister." Celestia said to her fellow alicorns and the unicorn captain. "But now the peace treaty is sighed and we have a lot of work and recovery to do though out of Equestria." "Then where do we begin." Cadence asked making the other two alicorns to think for a minute until Shining Armor came up a idea. "Ponyville. That is where we should begin." "Why Ponyville." Luna asked. "Because once you see it for yourselves then you know why we need to start there." By Shining Armor's words the three alicorn princesses feel like that should be a good enough reason to start at the small town. But as for Shining Armor he will always feels like this surrendered will be cost of Equestria's newest princess and his little sister's live because the zebras... Forever.
