Queenslayer: The Endless Night

Equiis,
Land of harmony, friendship and magic. Flowery fields as far as the eye could see, magical forest housing magical, strange and esoteric beasts and creatures. A mystical, but yet, sweet energy could be felt in all the realm, and all that thanks to Queen Celestia. The noble, the kind, the beautiful Queen Celestia.

But Equuis was only one kingdom amongst the six countries constituting the continent of Ponytaria. There was also the Crystal Empire, Draquuis, Stoneheart, Moonis and the Shadowlands.

The Crystal Empire was the longest ally of Equuis, it's a peaceful country but aware of their rich land, they've got a powerful army nonetheless to protect them. It is still actually the second most powerful army of the continent. They have helped Equuis countless times before not asking for anything in return as if they were their own. They're part of the triple agreement between Equuis, them and Draquuis. Actually ruled by the Empress Mi Amore Cadenza, the bringer of love.
The Crystal Empire is directly linked by the north to Moonis, but the cold of the Icy Rocks separating the two countries made the land impassable to anyone.

Draquuis, a prosperous land thanks to its flourishing commerce and its numerous guilds, like the Mercenary Guild called the Company of the Golden Lion, the academy of advanced magic founded by Starswirl the Bearded two hundreds years ago, and the Marchants Guild.
But everything as its own parts of darkness like the sadly famous Guild of Thieves and the Black Banner, the guild of assassins. Draquuis also owns Dragon's Island known to be the land where dragons used to live a long time ago. Now, it was a penitantiary island were the prisonners worked hard all days to extract the magical ore buried deep down the earth of this land. Separated from Equuis by the Everfree Forest, Draquuis is actually ruled by the king, Discord Draquuis himself, known to be as old as the country, even if only a few people have already saw him.

Even if Stoneheart isn't actually on the same continent, it is still considered as such because according to ancient texts, Stoneheart and Draquuis were actually the same country a long, long time ago but something, we don't know what, separated them. Stoneheart is a warrior land, powerful and full of pride. Honor is the main word there, and the country is ruled by a stern-faced but a fair King who belives in justice.
The island of Wolf's Creek, even if not directly attached to Stoneheart, belongs to the kingdom. This is a cold, snowy island where the strongest warriors of the country are training.
Even if the country isn't part of the triple agreement between Equuis, the Crystal Empire and Draquuis, it isn't considered as a threat.
Story tolds that the noble family as the power to turn people into stones.

Moonis...
A dictatorial kingdom, ruled by an iron fist and fear bringed by the despot Nightmare Moon, once known as Luna, Celestia's stister who succombed to hatred and darkness a long time ago. Moonis is an isolated country, it is impossible to cross the north border due to the Icy Rocks, and it is also impossible to pass the south border because of the Magical Gate, built by all the might and magic of Queen Celestia.

And last but not least, the Shadowlands.
Once a part of Equuis, a huge magical war between Celestia's and Nightmare Moon's army once stood there. Now it was only desolated lands, only a few, poor people lived there, and if they were, it wasn't by choice.
The country is directly linked to Draquuis but the controls at the border made it praticaly impossible for anyone to pass.
The Queen, Daybreaker, is known to be a heartless demon who once used to be a beautiful woman, but she succombed to hatred similarly as Nightmare Moon. However, she never attacked or declared war to any other countries of Ponytaria.

Many reported that magical anomaly can often be felt toward the Shadowlands, but no one dares to go there and check out what it is... You hear that Spike?" The girl sat on a desk asked to the little boy, lazily lying on a huge bed beside her. "Magical anomaly! Isn't that interesting?" She was beautifuly dressed, and her face showing pure innocence made her irresistible for all men. A crown was laying on the desk next to her.

The boy, growled as he sat on the bed, glaring at her sister, "Twilight..." He pleaded, "Can you put your old books aside for just a minute and come with me outside? It's the Summer Sun Celebretion's preparation! I want to see that!"

"Come on Spike," She replied to him, sweeping his thoughts by a movement of her hand, "We don't need to waste our time like that. I rather prefer stay here and study, don't you?"

Spike as for him, was casually dressed with a brown shirt and a green pants. However, the small crown uppon his head showed that he was a part of royalty.

"Ugh, no..." He said, lying back on the bed in defeat. He glared at her back as she continue her readings, "You know, I think that maybe it's your fault that I don't have any friends."

Twilight chuckled, "Come on Spike, we both know that aren't true, i'm not keeping you here against your will after all."

Spike lets out a 'humpf' sound as a reply, and turned his sleepy glare around the room. It was a big chamber, a noble one like the ones you see in fairy tales, were the princess is imprisoned in the last floor of a huge tower. A funny thought because, it was a princess room, and they actually were on the last floor of a huge tower.

Indeed, Twilight Sparkle was the princess of Equuis, daughter of the Queen Celestia. Spike as for him, was Twilight's little brother, the prince of Equuis. But even if he was the prince, Spike wasn't that comfortable around people, only going outside the castle when her sister accompanied him.

A knock came from the door of the room, getting Twilight out from her studying, "Come on in." She said.

The door opened and a young woman made her appearance. She was a bit taller than the princess, she wore a big armor made of steel, under her helmet long rainbow hair were falling down to her shoulders. She wore a smile at the view of the princess, "Still reading those dusty books, Princess?"

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight exclaimed, getting up from her chair walking towards her.

Rainbow Dash was a knight of the royal guard, and she also was Twilight's best and, Spike aside, only friend. Twilight took her in a warm hug.

"What are you doing here? What about your escort mission in Draquuis?" Twilight asked, surprised her friend was back already.

"Just got home a few minutes ago, I wanted to rest a bit but i Thought I'll check on you both first." She ended the hug and then turned her gaze toward the prince, "Sup' Spike?"

Spike rolled his eyes, smiling nonetheless, "Why are you adressing to Twilight by her title and you just call me Spike?"

"Believe me," Rainbow Dash started, "I saw you grow up and shit on your pants more than once, no way I'm calling you 'Prince'." She said, half-joking, making Twilight repress a laugh. "Anyway," She continued, taking her attention back to the princess, "Why are you still here, I would've thought you'd be outside, checking on the preparations."

"That's what I told her!" Spike exclaimed.

"I don't have time to waste in such trivial things." Twilight stated.

"Well too bad for you," The knight said, showing her a scroll she had in her hand the whole time, "'Cause I got a missive here, given by the queen herself, telling that you were now the head planner of the Summer Sun Celebration! Isn't that awesome?"

The princess sighed, "Ugh."

"C'mon egghead," Rainbow Dash took the princess by the arm and dragged her out of her room, "Let's go, the sooner this is done, the sooner you can get back to whatever you were doing."

Twilight get herself free from the knight's grip but followed her, closely followed by Spike who was closing the door of the princess room behind him, "I guess your right."

As they leaved the room, both of the royal childs followed Rainbow Dash, walking down the stairs of the tower, arriving in the white and clean halls of the castle, crossing path with other guards saluting them.

"Tell me," Twilight started, "How was Draquuis?"

"Have you seen a dragon?" Spike quickly asked, stars in his eyes.

"Ahah, no Spike, dragons are really rare since the purge," The purge she was talking about took place almost a hundred years ago, resulting in the slaughter of many dragons in the continent, Draquuis once was full of them, but the Company of the Golden Lion was engaged by the king himself to take care of that business. "Draquuis was fine I guess, their guards are assholes though."

"And were did you go?" Twilight asked.

"I escorted Baron Blueblood to a town named Blancherive." She then sighed at the memory of her little adventure, "Believe me, traveling with him is hell. Not figuratively, actual hell."

Twilight and Spike both chuckled, "I believe you." The princess said.

"And you? What have you done since I was gone?" The knight asked them.

"You know her!" Spike said, "She studied all day long!"

Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow Dash's laughter, "Ahah, that's the Twily I know."

"As for me, Soarin taught me a few tricks with a sword!" Soarin was another member of the royal guard.

"Oh yeah?" Rainbow asked, a smirk on her face, "You'll have to show me that when we have the time for that."

The three of them arrived in the main hall of the castle, stained glass filled the walls, showing some stories and adventures the queen once lived. The glass on the left showed her and another woman dressed in blue, the queen's sister, defeating a magical beast close to a minotaur, the one next to it showed the queen defeating her sister who had succombed to hatred, the Queen was surrounded by six colored stones that were shooting a rainbow toward Nightmare Moon, of course the story was embellished, the Queen didn't defeated her sister with an actual rainbow, that would be ridiculous. Then the next one was showing her standing next to a knight and a fiery woman, defeating the King Sombra, Twilight knew about him from the story her mother told her. Next was showing the Queen banishing Daybreaker from Equuis, and then the final one showed her with both her child in her arms.
The main room was pure white with banners hanging from the walls with Equuis blazon on it, a white sun on a golden background.

"Rainbow Dash!" They heard someone called the knight behind them, they turned to see who it was and there stood another womand, with the same armor Rainbow and the other guards were wearing but hers was golden instead of grey steel. She had a blade attached to her waist coming from a country far away, if Twilight remembered correctly, the right term was 'Katana'. "Princess, prince." She greeted them.

"Captain Spitfire!" Rainbow exclaimed in surprise, making a salute.

Captain Spitfire was the captain of the royal guard of Equuis, she was known to be a fierce swordswoman. She was tall, a scar planted across her face but it didn't hinder in any way her natural beauty. She had mid-length fiery hair, a bit shorter than Rainbow's.

"Good morning captain!" Twilight greeted.

The captain of the guard took a quick glance at Twilight hairs and asked her, "Princess, still not wearing your crown?"

Twilight blushed and turned her gaze away, playing with her hairs, "Y-you know I'm not comfortable with it..."

The captain smirked but didn't pushed it, it was well known for everybody here that the princess was an humble girl.

"Rainbow," Spitfire said, turning her attention to the princess guard, "How was your little trip to Blancherive?" She then saw the look on Rainbow's face and laughed, "That bad?"

"Please, don't make me escort him again." Rainbow pleaded as Spitfire, Twilight and Spike laughed. "Don't laugh! He was a pain in the ass all long! Especially when we travelled through the Everfree Forest. The good thing is that the return was far more bearable since he stayed in Draquuis."

"It maybe was a pain in the ass like you said," Spitfire replied, "But it was an important mission, and I'm glad that you did it. I can always count on you."

"Yeah, Rainbow Dash is the best!" Spike exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash blushed and scratched the back of her head with a nervous chuckle. "Just doin' my job you know..."

"Well, since you did a remarkable job, how about you take your day off? Spend the day with the princess, not as her guard, but as her friend." Spitfire said, smiling at her.

"R-Really?" Rainbow Dash and Twilight asked in unisson.

"Yes really, I think we can manage without you for a day."

Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle both looked at each other, the later beaming at her friend. "Well okay then, you don't have to tell me twice!" The rainbow haired knight replied to her captain, already taking of her helmet. She took the princess by the arm and dragged her away, "Let's go Twi', before she changes her mind!"

Twilight, as for her grabbed Spike's arm, the poor boy's legs trying to match Rainbow's speed.

"See' ya captain!" He said waving at Spitfire as they disappeared through another hallway.

Spitfire smiled at them, waving, but her smile dropped when they disappeared from her sight, her face becoming more serious. "I'm counting on you, Rainbow."

She turned around and walked toward the entrance gate. Spitfire nodded at the guards posted at the gate and they returned her nod, she walked through the flowery lawns around the castle, walking in the guard's quarters direction. It was a beautiful day outside, birds are singing, flowers are blooming, on days like these, kids like the princess or the prince shouldn't be inside a castle, but they should be outside and have some fun. And even if something happened, Rainbow was with them.

Spitfire had complete confidence in Rainbow Dash, even if she wasn't the best sword in hand, or even if she sometimes get a little too hot headed, she would protect the prince and the princess no matter what. Not because she had to, but because she wanted to. She wasn't just protecting nobles, she was protecting her friends.

"Captain!" She heard someone calling her from behind, she turned around and snickered at who it was.

It was Soarin, a member of the royal guard. It was strange though, he was supposed to be posted at the border between Equuis and the Crystal Empire. He was given orders to wait for the messengers of the Empress of Love.

"Soarin! What are you-" Her smile dropped when Soarin, stopped in front of her, concerned could be read on all his face.

"Cap... Captain!" He said, taking back his breath, it seemed he just ran a marathon. "It's... Bad... Really bad... We... You-"

"Soarin!" Spitfire yelled at him, straightening him up, and she put her hand on his shoulder. "Take your breath." She ordered him.

He did as he was told, slowly retrieving his breath.

"Now, what's all that about?"

"It's bad." Soarin said, "The messengers from the Crystal Empire... Their horses arrived safely and uninjured... But without them."

Spitfire frowned, "What's the meaning of this? Were they attacked?"

"We don't know, we've just sent a few scouts scanning the area."

The captain of the royal guard slowly nodded, "Okay, keep me posted." When Soarin nodded, she stopped him, "Go drink some water and eat some food, you diserved it."

She watched him heading toward the guard's quarters, and she gritted her teeth, irritated.

"Fuck." Was all she said before she walked angrily toward where she just came from.

She needed to report this to the Queen, maybe it was nothing, but in those times, ones never know.

"So? What'ya think?" Rainbow Dash asked, turning herself towards her friends. She dropped the armor off and put on more casual clothes, a brown shirt and a regular pants, she almost looked like a peasant but the fact that she was clean and smelled actually good betrayed her. A chainmail was hidden under her clothes, if something went wrong, we're never too careful. She had her hair in a ponytail and a sword around her waist.

Rainbow, Twilight and Spike were in one of the castle's changing room, the one closer to the back exit.

Twilight was also wearing more casual clothes, even if her face was known in all the country, she didn't wanted to draw unnecessary attention on them. Spike as for him just took off his crown, still wearing the same clothes as before.

"You look... mundane?" Twilight tried.

"Perfect, I'm not actually used to wear this kind of clothes." Rainbow said, sitting down on a chair, putting on her boots.

"Yeah, now that you mention it, I think that's maybe the first time I'm seeing you without you armor." Spike stated, trying to lift up the heavy armor lying on the table next to them. Not having enough strength in his little eleven years old arms, the armor dropped on the ground in a deafening noise.

Rainbow Dash stoop up to retrieve it and put it back in place as Spike blushed, embarrassing himself infront of he coolest girl he knew.

"That's my choice you know," The knight said, "I'm not... that comfortable without it."

"Why?" Twilight asked, "Is that because you feel... Unprotected?"

Rainbow snickered at her, "Yep, something like that. Well, i think we should get going." She gave her arm to the princess who beamed at her and took it.

The three friends leaved the room and exited the castle by the staff back door, taking a path leading to the west exit of the courtyard. They arrived in a bonded street, filled with shops and merchants, they walked through the market taking a look at some interesting things they saw. Even if the Summer Sun Celebration, the longest day of the year, was tomorrow, the citizens were already in a festive mood.

The terrace of the taverns could already be seen filled with people, drinking, chanting and laughing. It made the princess smile, all this hapinness and joy the people were feeling was something beautiful to see. Twilight wasn't aware of how things were in other kingdoms or countries, but in Equuis and in the Crystal Empire, the happiness of the citizens was the most crucial thing for the Queen and the Empress, both of them working hand in hand for that to happen.

"Well if it isn't our sweet lil' princess over there!" She heard someone calling, when she turned around she saw an old woman at a market stall. The woman then noticed the other two who accompagnied her, "And she's with our handsome prince and also with the prettiest knight in the kingdom."

The three of them approached her, Rainbow blushed vehemently as she repeated, "P-p-prettiest?"

Twilight smiled at her when they arrived in front of the market stall, "Hello Granny Smith." She greeted, "How is business today?"

"You should know it! Every year Ah get raid mah stall and Ah find mahself without an apple at the end of the day but mah pockets full of coins!"

"That's good to hear Granny." Rainbow Dash stated, slapping the hand of Spike who was trying to take an apple when nobody was watching.

"Ouch!"

"It's okay Rainbow, let him take it would'ya." Granny said, giving Spike an apple.

"You shouldn't spoil him because he's your prince." Twilight said crossing her arms, glaring at her brother who was fully taking advantage of the situation.

"Meh, he's maybe a prince, but he'll forever be mah lil' Spikey." She said, pinching his cheek, ignoring his look of pain.

"Well Granny, was good seein' you but we've got some things to take care of." Rainbow stated.

"How stingy Ahm I!" Granny exclaimed herself, "Keepin' ya here like ya got all the time in the world." She took a basket full of apples and gave it to Twilight, "Take this, now shush! Got a business to run here."

Spike, Rainbow and Twilight happily gave her farewell before continuing their little gateaway.

"I'm glad, she looks good." Twilight said, "Mother said that her son and his wife got killed when they were delivering apples in Draquuis..."

"Yeah I heard that story, some bandit group ambushed them, killed them and their kids, before taking all their foods and golds. They've found the bodies of the man and his wife, but they never found the kids." Rainbow said in a sad tone.

"She don't deserves that." Spike stated. "She's the kindest woman I know! And I'm not forgeting mother, just sayin'."

"It was a long time ago..." Twilight smiled and brushed her hand in her borther's hair, "But mother would agree with you, I'm certain." She turned her attention to Rainbow and, now that they were in the middle of the town, she asked, "So, where are we going?"

"To the flower shop, they're in charge of the decoration this year, the Queen said that this year's theme was 'Flowery fields in the sunset.'" Rainbow said, reading the notes the Queen gave her.

"What does that even means?" Spike asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Who knows." Rainbow said in a shrug of her shoulders.

Spitfire silently made a nod of her head toward the guards who where watching the throne room's gate. They nodded in return and they both opened the gate.

In front of Spitfire was a huge room, more golden banners and more tainted glass with the Queen's achievements were filling the walls. A long red carpet making a straight line from the door to the throne.

The throne was a ten feet golden throne standing between two smaller one. On top of the throne was a sun engraved on it. And sat on the magnificent throne, was a beautiful woman. Her flawless skin and her perfect face made her, as all men said, the most beautiful woman in the world. Her celestial colored hair waving down her shoulders in a beautiful waterfall of colours. She wore a golden crown on top of her head, and was dressed with a simple white dress.

She stayed silent as Spitfire marched towards her and kneeled when she came close enough to be heard, "My Queen." Spitfire greeted, her voice full of repect for the woman in front of her.

"Please, my friend," Queen Celestia said, a small smille on her face, "None of that today." She said, speaking of Spitfire's manners.

Spitfire got up, when Celestia saw the look on her face, her smile dropped and a motherly concerned look appeared on her face. "Oh no, what is it?"

Spitfire chuckled but didn't smiled, "I'm that easy to read? Anyway, I got a message, from Soarin."

"Soarin?" Celestia asked, scratching her chin, trying to remember, "Isn't he the guard you've sent at the border of the Crystal Empire?"

"Yes, he told me... That the messengers from the Crystal Empire were nowhere to be found."

Celestia frowned, but seeing that Spitfire wasn't finished, she didn't say a word.

"They've sent a few scouts a couple of hours ago but... We still haven't heard from them." She finished in a dark tone.

Celestia closed her eyes, a humming sound escaping from her, lost in her thoughts. Spitfire knew that when she was like that, it meant that she was thinking seriously.

"What if..." Spitfire stated. "What if, they were attacked?"

Celestia slowly opened her eyes, "By who?" She asked, sincerely, "Who could've attack harmless messengers?"

Spitfire gritted her teeth. "I know who-"

Just as she said that, the sound of an explosion could be heard, the walls and the ground started trembling. A look of horror appeared on Spitfire's face when she realized what was happening, she glared at the Queen and said. "Stay here!" Before turning away, heading to the gate of the room.

"Wait Spitfire!" The Queen, now standing up, called her, "I can help y-"

Spitfire turned around ans yelled at her, "STAY HERE!" Celestia looked at her in shock, she never saw Spitfire that panicked. "That's an order, my Queen." She said before walking through the gate.

"You two!" She barked at the nearest guards, they both shivered when they heard her voice, "Get in there and stay with the Queen, No. Matter. WHAT!"

They both gave her a salute and did as they were told, explosions could still be heard, this time coming from the city, it didn't take long before she heard the city alarm.

She ran through the main hall and screamed, "To arms! We're under attack!"

Just a few moments ago,

Twilight took a step out of the flower shop and sighed, "How can you work in that place all day? I mean, one or two flowers, it smells good, but a bunch of them in the same room?" She then made a disgusted face.

"That's why I stayed here." Spike said, sat on the ground next to the entrance door, drawing in the dirt with a stick, eating the last apple of the basket.

"Spike c'mon, you're a prince for god's sake." Rainbow took him by the arm, forcing him to get up.

"It's okay," He started, "Now one saw me."

"Yes, but what if they had?" Twilight started, "You think it gives a good image of our family if they saw you, the prince, playing in the dirt?"

"Oh come on!" Spike retorted crossly, "It seems I'm the prince only when it suits you!"

They both started arguing and Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, it seemed she was going to be the one to separate them... again. But something bothered her, she was hearing something, like a whistle, getting closer, and closer, and closer...

"Well," Twilight started turning herself towards her knight, "Now wh-"

She couldn't finish her sentence when Rainbow Dash took Spiker under her arm and tackled the princess to the ground. Not a second after that, something landed in the flower shop behind them and exploded.
People started to scream in horror and fear, many explosions could be heard and seen in all the city.

Rainbow gets up quickly, and firmly grabbed Twilight who had her little brother in her arms, trembling in fear. "Are you both okay?!"

Twilight slowly nodded, in shock, Spike starting to cry in her arms.

"We have to go!" Rainbow yelled when another axplosion could be heard not to far away from where they were, she took Spike in her own arms, being stronger than Twilight. "Now!"

The princess didn't said anything and followed her knight, firmly gripped to her hand. They made their way through a panicked crowd, and when she turned at the corner of a street, thats when Rainbow and Twilight saw them.

Soldiers, wearing dark black armors, all armed with swords, spears, axes... And all wore devilish grins as they attacked the citizens. Twilight watched in shock when a farmer got struck in the back by one of the soldiers. The farmer looked, at the blade piercing through his chest. The soldier laughed as he sliced the man up, blood spilled everywhere as man's guts fell on the ground. If Twilight's survival instinct wasn't telling her to get the hell out of here, she would've throw up, and that image would never leave her mind.

"C'mon!" Rainbow Dash ordered, resuming their run.

They turned at another street, but when they did, they saw more black soldiers tanding in their way. Killing, stealing... even raping.

"R-Rainbow!" Twilight cried, tears starting to roll down her cheeks, "W-What is happening?"

She didn't replied as she continue her course through the explosions and the flames engulfing the city. Rainbow stopped herself and stopped the princess with her arm, in front of them was the market stall were Granny Smith was getting beaten up by two soldiers laughing at her.
Rainbow watched, and gritted her teeth in pure wrath.

"What are you waiting for?" Twilight yelled, "Help her!"

Rainbow watched the princess and then at Granny. She had to make a choice, now. She looked at Twilight again, and then she looked at the poor old woman. A tear made her way out of her left eye as she closed them and turned around, gripping Twilight hand firmly, Spike seeking protection on the knight chest.

"I'm so sorry..." Rainbow Dash said before running again.

"Rainbow! What are you-" Twilight started.

"I have to protect you and your brother!" Rainbow Dash yelled, she turned her face toward Twilight and the princess saw, for the first time, Rainbow Dash crying. "Both of you are the only thing that matters for now!"

Twilight cried from all her soul because she knew, she knew that Rainbow Dash wanted to help Granny, but if she did she'll put them in more danger. She was doing that, and took the guilt upon her, just for Twilight and her brother to be safe.

Twilight felt something weird and rose up her glare toward the sky. "Uh, Rainbow?" She called.

"What?" The rainbow haired knight yelled.

"Why is it night?"

"The hell are you talk-" Then, Rainbow Dash looked at the sky and saw that it was the middle of the night, the moon high up in the dark sky. "What the..."

"Watch out!" Twilight called, jumping and tackling her friend to the ground, avoiding a black soldier who tried to strike her with his sword.

Rainbow quickly got aware of what was happening and got her blade out of its sheath and strike the man on his chest, but he saw the blow coming and strike on Rainbow's blade with his own. Twilight ran toward Spike, Rainbow quickly made a sweep of her leg, taking the man by surprise when he got distracted by Twilight, and he fell down and Rainbow strike him on his throat as he was on the ground. She watched him spilling blood, his body convulsing before he stopped. She took her blade out of the dead man's throat and grabbed the princess by the hand who was holding her little brother by his hand too.

"Let's go." Was all Rainbow said before they started running again. "Look!" Rainbow called, Twilight rose up her head and saw they were not too far away from the castle.

Spitfire dodged on the left and, with a swing of her katana, sliced her enemy's arm without difficulty. He screamed in pain as Spitfire turned around and cuts his heads off, taking advantage of her momentum to counter an attack from another soldier who was going to strike her in the back, she sidestep him, and cut the man in half.

She wiped off the blood that splashed on her face, and watched in front of her. Soarin was trying his best to repel the invaders at the front gate with other guards. "Soarin!" She called.

The royal guard killed his opponent, striking him in the chest with his sword as he rose up his glare towards his captain.

"I'll go protect the Queen! You're in charge here!" She yelled, in hope to be heard.

It seemed it worked because the man nodded and returned to the fight with a war cry.

Spitfire turned around and ran through the hallway toward the throne room, she dodged an attack coming from a black soldier on the left and, with a swing of her blade, cut the man in half. Spitfire wasn't just strong but her blade wasn't an ordinary blade, it was a legendary blade coming from another country, she had learned that this blade's name was 'Masamune'. The blade that could slice everything.

She arrived in the throne room, and saw the Queen and the two guards protecting her, the three of them unharmed.

"My Queen!" Spitfire yelled, "It's bad! They've reached the main gate!"

Queen Celestia ran toward her faithful guard, concern in her eyes. She took Spitfire's hand in her owns and Spitfire felt the Queen's hands shaking upon hers. "Where are Twilight and Spike?"

"I-I don't know!" Spitfire admitted. "But Rainbow Dash is with them, I'm sure they're okay."

Even if she wasn't trully sure, Rainbow Dash would rather give her life rather than letting Twilight or Spike get hurt. Then, they heard noises coming from the doors and a bunch of black soldiers made their way in the throne room. They all stopped, and devilish smile appeared on some of their faces when they saw Celestia.

"It's her!" One of them said.

"She truly his a beauty, eh?" Another one said.

"Dude, I'll kill another hundred of these peasant for just a night with her."

"Hey, maybe after we killed her, the Queen will let us mess around with her body?"

It was too much for Spitfire. She breathed slowly and then, unstrapped her armor, letting it fell on the ground. She did the same with the pieces of armor she had on her legs. She also took of her shirt, the leather bra she was wearing being the only thing that left her with any dignity. Some of the black soldiers whistles, thinking they'll get a free show.

"W-What are you doing captain?" One of the two royal guards protecting Celestia asked.

"This shit's heavy, it bothers me." She turned around and glared at both of them, "Protect her, with your lives if you have to."

When they both nodded, Spitfire took Masamune in both of her hands, and glared at the black soldiers in front of them.

"Heat up."

When she said that, a pillar of fire appeared around her for a few seconds, taking all the black soldiers aback, when it disappeared, it showed Spitfire with small dragon wings made with fire in her back, not big enough to fly, but it sure was enough to help her getting speed on the ground. Fire was also making its way out of her now golden eyes. Her teeth got sharper and her fingers were now more looking like claws. Her skin now covered with orange scales.

One of the black soldiers, felled on the ground as he pointed her with his finger, "Oh shit!" He screamed, "It's her! Spitfire, the Dragon-slayer!"

It made several of them shivers when they heard that name.

"I heard she killed a hundred men in one night, burning all of them to ashes!"

"A hundred?" Another one said, "I've heard they were a thousand!"

"A thousand? No they were a million!"

"You're taking this shit a little too far boys." She said, rolling her eyes, all of theses rumors were, of course, fake. Not that she didn't killed a hundred people in one night, but she didn't burned them all to ashes.
She also didn't liked the nickname she got some times ago, 'The Dragon-slayer'. Hell, she never saw a dragon in her whole life, and now she was slaying them? That was dumb.
"Now," She continued, "Who wants to die?"

She rushed in front of her, she was so quick that the black soldiers thought she just disappeared and reappeared infront of them. She sliced in front of her, it didn't touched anyone but as she sliced through the air, a trail of fire escaped her blade. The trail cut through the first row of black soldiers, killing at least a dozen of them.

The two guards protecting the Queen sighed in relief, "We're saved." Said one of them.

"Not yet," The Queen said, "She's the stronger fighter of the kingdom but... She can't maintain this transformation very long."

"She's distracting them!" The other guard said, "We should leave your highness! There's a secret door behind the throne, you just-"

"No!" The Queen screamed at him, "I won't leave! Not without my childs!"

She then turned her gaze toward Spitfire who was killing more and more of the black soldiers. Celestia then turned her gaze through the windows and saw it was full moon outside. She frowned.

"Even if I wanted to, I can't escape anyway."

"Quick!" Rainbow shouted to Twilight as they finally made their way to the front door of the castle.

A violent battle was taking place here, but they managed to made their way through the soldiers, ally and ennemy, and entered the castle.

"Rainbow Dash!" When she heard her name, she turned around and sighed of relief when she saw Soarin running towards them. "Princess Twilight! Prince Spike! Thanks all the gods, you're safe!"

"What the hell is happenning here?!" Rainbow asked him.

"It's Moonis, they-" He stopped when he saw a black soldier attacking Rainbow behind, he pushed her aside and stroke his sword in the man's chest, but what he didn't saw was that Rainbow did the exact same thing, cutting the head's off a black soldier who wanted to attack Soarin cowardly.

Rainbow and Soarin smiled at each other, "Listen," Soarin said, not just to Rainbow, but to the princess and the prince too, "Spitfire and your mother are in the throne room! I hate to say this but... We're loosing! And we know how your mother is, she won't leave without both of you!"

Rainbow nodded and grabbed the princess by her left hand again, and took Spike in her free arm.

"Go! I'll cover you!" Soarin said.

The rainbow haired swordswoman quietly thanks him and the knight and her two friends headed toward the throne room.

As they arrived, they got speechless at the view in front of them, Spitfire, coated in flames, around her fifty-ish dead corpses all wearing a blach armor. Spitfire was uninjured but her breathing was heavy. She easily killed the five black soldiers remaining and sighed of relief when she saw Rainbow Dash and both of the royal childs.

"Twilight! Spike!" Spike head quickly rose up at the voice of his mother calling him, he gets free of Rainbow's arm and ran toward his mother, in tears.

"Moooooom!" He cried as he jumped in her warm and loving embrace, "I was so scared!"

"Shhhhh-" Celestia said, her hand slowly making her way through her boy's hair, "I'm here now, I'm here now..."

Twilight joined them and felt relieved at the view of her mother, "Mother... I'm glad you're okay."

"And I'm relieved that you are too, Twilight." Celestia looked at Rainbow Dash who followed the princess closely and said, "Many thanks to you, Rainbow Dash."

"Yeah, don't thank me yet, we still need to get your three royal asses out of here." Rainbow stated.

"Rainbow Dash!" Spitfire yelled, taking back her true form.

"It's okay," Celestia chuckled, but her glare quickly became serious, "But she's right we should leave n-"

"Leave? But I just got here." A voice said.

The atmosphere in the room got heavy, and the room got darker as all the sounds of the war outside became silent. The only sounds was coming though the gate, the sounds of three, maybe four person coming in.

Then, four shape appeared in the dark and as they get closer Twilight could clearly saw who they was.

On the left was a man, mesuring at least 7 maybe 8 feet tall, wearing a big black armor with spikes on his shoulders, helmet and gloves. His helmet was covering all of his face, only his red glowing glare could be seen. He was holding in one hand a black steel two-handed Hammer also covered in spikes.

To his right was a woman wearing a long brown coat covering all her body, her glare was hidden with the hood on her face but she had long gray hair falling down her shoulders. She also had cocky smile on her face.

On the right was a woman Twilight knew. She already saw her picture in many books, she used to be the head of the army of the Crystal Empire. She wore a white uniform with a white cap completing the ensemble, she had long pale blue hair reaching her feet, a rapier in her hand. Esdeath was her name.

An then finally, the one standing in the middle of them was a tall woman from which black magic was reeking through the room.

"Luna." Celestia said, frowning at her sister, putting her son behind her.

"Hello, sister." 'Luna' replied, walking towards them, followed by her strange allies. "It's been a while, I would've said that I missed you, but you taught me not to lie."

"How did you get past the magical gate?" Celestia asked.

"We didn't actually," The Queen of Moonis replied, "We just walked through the Crystal Empire like it was nothing." She finished in a devilish grin.

Spitfire stepped forward, "You should get back to whatever rathole you came from and stay there, or-"

"Or what?" Nightmare Moon asked, "Tell me Spitfire, what are you gonna do?" She sincerely asked, "Because, from where I'm standing, you seem pretty patethic."

Spitfire gritted her teeth in anger, but Nightmare Moon was right, Spitfire wasn't injured, but she just fought a lot of black soldiers and she wasn't used to maintain this form very long now, since she became the captain of the royal guard, her work was more paperwork than anything.

"The Crystal Empire was defeated?" Celestia asked in a tiny voice, with big eyes.

But yet, Spitfire wasn't going to let her Queen get harm by these bunch of woodlice. She was going to transform herself again but someone put a hand on her shoulder she turned her head to face them, "Queen Celestia..."

Celestia had her eyes closed the whole time, she walked past Spitfire, Nightmare Moon grinning intensifies as Celestia approached them.

"You seemed to have forgotten something dear sister." Celestia said, when she opened her eyes, they were bright gold. "I'm more powerful than you'll ever be."

A sinister smile was on Nightmare Moon's face, she took her sword out of its sheath, the sword's blade was blue as night. "Oooooooh, I'm scared."

Celestia held her hand infront of her and said, "Gae Bolga."

Then, golden particules appeared from nowhere and assembled themself to made a golden spear appearing in Celestia's hand.

But the woman next to Nightmare Moon, Esdeath, was quicker than her and threw her hand at the ground. In an instant the ground of the room was covered in ice, covering totally both the royal guards still there, now frozen. It also trapped Rainbow Dash's legs and an ice spike coming from the ground launching at Celestia.

"Fuck!" Rainbow yelled, now trapped.

But a trail of fire appeared and destroyed the spike of ice before it could even get close to the Queen.

Esdeath glanced at Spitfire and smiled, "Is that really reasonnable?"

"Shut the fuck up, you whore." Spitfire said before coating herself in her fire attire like before. She used her fire powers to melt down the ice trapping Rainbow Dash's legs, "Rainbow, you're with me, can't take her on my own."

Rainbow, now free to move, took her sword and frowned at the grinning blue haired woman in front of her, "Yes, captain!"

Nightmare Moon laughed and turned toward the other two of her allies, "You two, don't get involved."

The man in armor just growled in response, and the other woman nodded silently.

Esdeath was the first one to make a move, she launched herself at Spitfire and striked her with a rapier. Spitfire took the hit with her own blade, heat and cold waves emanating from both woman. Rainbow Dash tried to attack her on the back, but Esdeath repelled Spitfire and round kicked Rainbow in the guts, sending her a few feet away.

In the meantime, Nightmare Moon and Celestia were still gauging themselves, "You think you can came here, threaten and kill my people, and I won't do ANYTHING about it, Luna?"

"Dear sister, don't act like this... You had this coming!"

With her blue magical sword, she sliced in the air, and it looked like the air was cut in half resulting in a huge impact to where Celestia was standing.

"H-How did she do that?" Spike asked.

"This... This sword..." Twilight said, between amazed and frightened, "It's the slicer of world... Ragnarok."

"Ragna-what now?" Spike raised an eyebrow.

"A legendary sword, saying that whoever wields it, has the power to conquer any world they want... or destroy them."

Nightmare Moon chuckled as the cloud of dust resulting from the impact disappeared, showing Celestia who didn't moved an inch. "You thought a little trick like this would be enough, that is why you bring this sword?"

"No actually, this sword serves another purpose..." Nightmare Moon explained, "For you, I bringed her."

No one saw that the hooded woman who was standing behind Nightmare Moon has quietly made her way behind Celestia. Her hand just about to reach her, "What-"

"Only loosers plays fair." The woman said.

And just by her touch, Celestia turned into stone.

"No!" Spitfire yelled avoiding a strike from Esdeath, landing next to Rainbow Dash who was getting up from the blow she took earlier.

"Impossible..." Rainbow stated.

The princess couldn't believe it. "H-How... How did she..."

"M-Mom?" Spike asked.

Celestia was now a stone statue standing in the middle of the throne room, the expression on her face was showing surprise.

"Ahahahah!" Nightmare Moon exploded in laughter, quickly followed by Esdeath who was now standing next to her, "Look!" She said pointing in Celestia's face, "This face! Ahahah!"

"It... It wasn't supposed to end this way." Spitfire said, in loss for words.

Spike started to cry again, and Twilight just couldn't believe it, her mother, the strongest magician in all of Ponytaria... beaten just like that?

"W-Why..." Twilight started looking at the ground.

"Hum?" Nightmare Moon ended her laughter and looked at her.

"WHY? AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE SISTERS? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?" Twilight screamed.

It resulted in more laughters coming from Nightmare Moon, she wiped a tear of laughter coming down her cheek, "Listen my lovely niece," She started, "It's her fault, really." She pointed in Celestia's direction, "She started all this, I'm the victim here!"

"You're dead!" Rainbow said, she was going to run towards her but got stopped from Spitfire.

"Can I kill them?" Esdeath asked.

Nightmare Moon shrugged, "Sure, just don't kill the girl, I need her."

"Listen Rainbow," Spitfire said quickly, in a hushing tone that only Rainbow could hear, "There's a hidden door, behind the throne, take it, with both of them, go to the Shadowlands and search for Sunset Shimmer, she will help us."

"Sunset who-"

Then Spitfire pushed Rainbow behind her and put both her hands on the ground, a huge wall of fire appeared, separating Nightmare Moon's group and them.

"Take that!" Spitfire launched Masamune to Rainbow who catched it with her right hand, "I wanted to give it you the day you'd be Captain, but it seems we can't wait till then!" She managed to finish her sentence, gritting her teeth as she tried to held the fire wall as long as she could.

"What about you?" Rainbow asked, tears making their appearance.

Spitfire chuckled and turned around smiling at her protege, "I'll be right behind you."

Rainbow knew it wasn't true. "You better be." She said, turning around and grabbing Spike's hand, Twilight following her closely.

Spitfire managed to hold it for a whole minute before she rans out of magic and felled to her knees on the ground, the wall disappearing. Just in front of her stood the four of them.

"Hum, they're gone." The hooded woman stated.

Nightmare Moon squats in front of Spitfire, took her face in her hand and asked, "Where did they go?"

"Uh, dunno, search in you ass, I heard there's a lot of space down there." Spitfire taunted, half-awake, too tired from her display of magic.

Nightmare Moon snickered before letting her go and stood up, she walked towards the mountain of muscles in black armor, "Lancelot," She asked him, "Make her talk."

The man growled and walked towards Spitfire, every steps he make, Spitfire could feel the ground shaking, and the last thing she remembered was a spiked hammer landing right in her face.