Quashed

Chapters

Prologue: Struggle
Chapter the First: Roadside Assistance
Chapter the Second: Coersion
Chapter the Third: Brothers
Chapter the Fourth: The Missive
Chapter the Fifth: Compliance
Chapter the Sixth: Reunion, and Turnabout
Chapter the Seventh: Untrustworthy
Chapter the Eighth: Confronting the Truth
Chapter the Ninth: A Game at Dinner
Chapter the Tenth: Fun in the Shower
Chapter the Twelfth: Among the Stars
Chapter the Thirteenth: The Sky's Call
Chapter the Fourteenth: Capture the Flag
Chapter the Fifteenth: Win the Game
Chapter the Sixteenth: Take the Prize
Chapter the Seventeenth: Tour
Chapter the Eighteenth: Distraught
Chapter the Nineteenth: Relief
Chapter the Twentieth: Punishment
Chapter the Twenty-First: The Box
Chapter the Twenty-Second: Acceptance
Chapter the Twenty-Third: Cry for Help
Chapter the Twenty-Fourth: Shedding Light
Chapter the Twenty-Fifth: Diplomacy
Chapter the Twenty-Sixth: Negotiations
Chapter the Twenty-Seventh: Agreement
Chapter the Twenty-Eighth: Prince Charming
Chapter the Twenty-Ninth: Fort Shire
Chapter the Thirtieth: Hastening
Chapter the Thirty-First: The Siege Begins
Chapter the Thirty-Second: Stalemate
Chapter the Thirty-Third: Broken
Chapter the Thirty-Fourth: Ambush
Chapter the Thirty-Fifth: The Turn of the Tide
Chapter the Thirty-Sixth: Damage Control
Chapter the Thirty-Seventh: Shock and Awe
Chapter the Thirty-Eighth: Back to the Front
DX Chapter the Thirty-Ninth: Driven Back
DX Chapter the Fortieth: The Mountain Pass
DX Chapter the Forty-First: Tales from Another Broken Home
DX Chapter the Forty-Second: Call to Arms
DX Chapter the Forty-Third: Aftermath
DX Epilogue the First: Celebration
DX Epilogue the Second: Exodus
SX Chapter the Thirty-Ninth: The Bottle with the White Label
SX Chapter the Fortieth: The Crystal March
SX Chapter the Forty-First: Lost in Pleasure
Chapter the Eleventh: A Warm Bed in Which to Lie

Prologue: Struggle

Steelhorn walked back towards his home, his four shield-brothers following behind him. They knew not to talk, as their leader was absolutely fuming. All of the other minotaur clans had been given a worthy inheritance, allowing them a chance to take the crown. And what did the dying king leave in his will for the Hornburg clan? Two hundred gold pieces. To be split among five hundred soldiers. This was an outrage.

The bad news didn't stop when he arrived home, either. Word of the King's "gift" had already made it back to the castle, no doubt the work of one of the other clans trying and succeeding to sow seeds of discontent. They were met not with open arms and cheering for the return of their chieftain, but with a closed drawbridge and portcullis.

"Open the damn door!" shouted Steelhorn, throwing a rock at the gate guard. It would have landed, too, were it not for the sturdy construction of the gatehouse.

"I can't do that!" called back the gate guard. "Not until I see the deed of inheritance! Priestess's orders!"

Steel pushed his open hand back, taking a scroll from his lackey. "Here it is! A more insulting document, I've never read!"

The guard nodded, and with a loud crash, the drawbridge was lowered and the portcullis raised. Steelhorn walked across the bridge, posse in tow. He didn't greet any of his soldiers, in part because he was too angry to keep a civil tongue. It would be best if he were to have a night to rest, and perhaps a bath to cool his temper.

He entered the throne room, sitting down in his favoured chair. Three of his crew sat down in their designated seats, but the fourth rushed over to light the fireplace. He was sure they'd be there for awhile yet, and the warm, crackling flame was just what they needed to calm their nerves. Once it was roaring, he took his place, sitting next to his shield-brothers.

They hadn't been sitting for more than five minutes when the doors flew open. Steelhorn stood as the priestess entered the room. "Is it true?" she asked. "Only two hundred?"

"We've been cast aside," growled Steelhorn. "Despite our many grand successes, we've been constantly shat upon. We've loyally defended the king for decades, and what do we receive in turn!?" He grabbed the sack of coins and slammed it hard against the wall. Coins scattered everywhere as the bag burst. "Less than a week's pay for all of our soldiers!" He sat back down on his throne and rubbed his face. "For fuck's sake, we've slain dragons for this kingdom. In the past decade, two coups were put down to prolong his life. And despite all that we've done for him, he not only gave us the least of the inheritance, he gave us so little that it may as well have been a gift of his urine, to be applied directly to my face!"

The priestess nodded her head. "It cannot be denied that under your rule, we've prospered, milord. You've not only brought our mighty fortress back to glory, you've added to our farmlands by damming a river for irrigation. Crime is also down since your rule began. But it seems the old king hated you, regardless. Such is the case when all factions are at odds with each other, and your oldest foe is named the next king."

Steelhorn stood once again. "Not for long."

"What do you mean?"

"I've proven time and again that, despite being the third smallest, my army is the strongest. That makes me seem stronger. When I announce that I will be competing in the competition of kings, so many of our foes will bow out in their cowardice.

The priestess shook her head. "My lord, you mustn't join the competition."

Steelhorn scowled, stomped over to the priestess, and grabbed her shoulder. He towered over her, a rippling mass of muscle. "Why not?"

"Before you arrived, there was a messenger from Stormshroud. He came to laugh in our faces that we'd inherited so little, when they'd been gifted a third of the king's navy. We chained him up and tortured him, and he's revealed that there is a plot to team up against you. We all know you're the strongest chieftain applicable to the royal throne, but even you can't win a ten-on-one fight, especially if they play dirty, which many of them are known to do. If you try for the throne, you will die."

Steelhorn dropped his priestess. "What would you have me do? roll over and let the new crown fuck me over as the last one did? Let him try to wipe us off the map? We are a proud and storied clan! We've always faced adversity!"

The priestess shook her head. "Not this time, Steelhorn. This is too much, even for you. What's worse, our spies have reported back, and there's a plan to unite four other clans to eliminate us."

Steelhorn rubbed his chin. "Strormshroud, Northwind and Ashwolf, probably. What's the fourth?"

"Gemhide," replied the priestess. "If any of their chieftains take the crown, they'll have us branded as traitors and killed. If you or an allied chief become king, they'll wipe us out for sure. I fear this is the death of the house of Hornburg."

Steelhorn reached back and slapped the priestess across the face, knocking her to the floor. "You are a daughter of Hornburg! You will know no fear!" He turned and walked back to his throne, looking up at the tapestry behind it. "Despite my love for my homeland, it seems to have no love for me. It seems that if we stay, our line will die out. I'm sure the men will want to stay and fight, our legacy ending with us going down in a blaze of glory. We take out five for every one of ours they take, until we're all dead." He inhaled deeply, then turned around, facing his priestess. "Except, there will be no poets to tell our tale. No one will honour our memory when we die."

"Surely our allies would--"

"No. They'll either be annexed or killed. They're doomed without us around, and we're doomed either way. We'd need a secondary army to protect ourselves. At least three times the size of our current forces, and that's assuming they're just as powerful as we are. As there is no such force, we'd need, bare minimum, four thousand five hundred soldiers loyal to our cause, or at least easily convinced to join us."

The priestess stood up, and moved over next to her chieftain. "All of our allies combined couldn't supply that force. We'd need to look elsewhere. Gryphon mercenaries?"

Steelhorn shook his head. "They're ridiculously greedy. We can't afford their prices. Even if we promised payment on completion, and more than half of them died, we'd still be in over our heads."

"Hippogriffs?"

"No, they're too few in number already."

"Dragons? We'd need fewer numbers if we had soldiers that strong."

"I would rather die than have to pay reparations on all the invasions we've countered from their kind. Not an option."

"What about ponies?" asked Scrimshaw, the youngest of the shield-brothers. This outburst was quickly responded to with his older brother, Hardtusk, covering his mouth with his hand.

Steelhorn turned and strode over to his underlings, pushing Hardtusk's hand out of the way and glaring into Scrimshaw's eyes. "What about ponies?"

Scrimshaw stood up. "If we were to have the Equestrian army on our side, that's two hundred thousand soldiers. Even half of that would be enough, right?"

"And how would you suggest we pay that army, Scrimshaw?"

Hardtusk stood next to his brother. "What if we don't have to?"

Steelhorn took a step back. "Explain yourself."

"What if we were to conquer Equestria? As the rightful king, you pay the army through the citizens. Taxes, and such."

"How would we go about conquering Equestria?" Steelhorn asked. "As your brother pointed out, their army is four hundred times our size."

"We don't need to conquer all of their army," Scrimshaw said slyly. "We need only take control of the heads of state. If we can seize them, the army will be ours. Princesses Celestia, Luna, Twilight and Cadance."

The priestess spoke up. "If you were to conquer Equestria in such a way, and make it your personal puppet state, we'd not only be able to protect our home, but put an end to all the squabbling. House Hornberg will be on top of the world for as long as we can hold that power."

Steelhorn thought on this, making his way over to the window. He looked out over his men and considered his options. It seemed cowardly not to face this problem head-on. He felt as if he were running and hiding. He'd worked hard to be the chieftain of Hornburg, and he was about to lose it, and all the men he looked down at now were counting on him to keep them and their families safe. He turned back to his shield-brothers.

"Go pack your bags, have a bath, and sleep well, boys. Tomorrow at dawn, we make for Canterlot."

Chapter the First: Roadside Assistance

"Are you absolutely certain that she's coming this way?"

Steelhorn and his shield-brothers huddled behind a row of bushes on the side of the road. They'd spent all of yesterday and half the night running from Hornburg Castle to Equestria, and despite their soreness, they all knew that this was no time to rest. Their situation would become far worse before it would improve.

"This is according to the map the priestess gave us," answered Scrimshaw. "This road is the least patrolled on her route, as it's basically a throughway from Manehattan to Canterlot. There's nothing really on this road, and it's too long to be actively watched. Most travelers will take the slightly longer routes through the cities, but Celestia feels safe taking this one."

"What a fool," grunted Steelhorn. "Feeling safe should be reserved for civilians. Soldiers and kings should always be on their guard."

"Undoubtedly, she'll be surrounded by a guard escort. About a dozen stallions."

"That's no excuse. One must always be in peak condition."

"Hold your voices," called Ironblood, who was looking through a spyglass. "There's a grand-looking carriage being escorted by what seems to be a platoon of royal guards. They're headed this way."

Steelhorn grinned. "All of you into position. Ironblood, Scrimshaw, cross the road. I want bolas prepped on either side in case she tries to fly off. That means you, too, Hardtusk. You and Boneshatter take up positions behind me. Full silence means no call to charge. When I take the field, you jump in behind me. Failure is not an option." With a salute, his men fell into position. "And remember, we need that princess alive."

They sat in silence, waiting for the carriage to inch closer to them. This was not their first ambush, as it was a common tactic for their clan. Being among the smallest armies meant that fighting smarter and harder was necessary in order to stay alive. Especially when you were outnumbered. They sat perfectly still, erasing their breath, so as not to be heard by the guards.

As the guards drew nearer, Steelhorn was appalled by what he saw and heard. Several of the guards were chatting amongst themselves, making jokes and laughing as if everything was going to be fine. How could they be so blasé about this? The trees were so close to the road that an ambush was certainly something to be concerned about.

Just before the carriage passed in front of him, Steelhorn charged. Two of the guards donned shocked expressions as they were gored by his horns and slammed into the side of the carriage, knocking it onto its side. This incapacitated the two guards pulling it, bringing down the count of soldiers by four in a single, decisive blow.

The guards scrambled for their weapons, cursing themselves for not being ready, and rightly so, as by the time they'd prepared, Steelhorn had already brought out his mace and clubbed in the skull of one of the foe soldiers. The other minotaurs had leaped onto the road by now, save for Scrimshaw and Hardtusk, who were hanging back with their bolas. Their job was to watch the carriage and block the escape of the princess.

The remaining guards were quickly dealt with. The minotaurs were bigger, stronger, and more seasoned with battle than the Equestrian forces. Once Boneshatter had appeared with his maul, and Ironblood with his battleaxe, the fight had been over in less than a minute.

"That's all of them," said Ironblood, stowing his axe. "Unless there are more inside the carriage with the princess."

Boneshatter tied up the last two stallions, the ones that had been pulling the cart. "These two will serve as fine leverage, I should think."

Steelhorn shook his head. "Equestrians aren't Hornburgers. She may not care about her soldiers deaths. Hold onto them just in case, though. They may be useful to us down the line."

With Hardtusk and Scrimshaw trained on the doors, they stood the carriage back up. Still concerned that there were hidden soldiers inside the carriage, Ironblood opened the door. He was immediately blasted in the chest with a fireball, sending him a few steps back. Celestia bolted through the opening she'd made, flying off as fast as she could. She didn't make it far before a cable wrapped around both of her wings, knocking her out of the sky. As she careened to the road below, Ironblood rushed to catch her, only just able to make it in time as he slid on his back. Celestia kicked and jabbed at him, hitting repeatedly the burn she'd left on his chest, but Ironblood held tight, knowing the consequences would be far worse if he were to release her.

With Celestia now tied up and her magic sealed tightly away by a horn ring, courtesy of the Hornburg priestess, Steelhorn allowed his heart rate to slow. "Well done, boys. That's one princess down. Only two more to go. An extra half-ration to Hardtusk, for his excellent aim with a bola!" Cheers from the minotaurs rang out. "And double rations for Ironblood, who took a fireball to the chest, and still managed to ensure that the prize remained undamaged!" Even louder cheering erupted form their mouths. "Now, it's time we disappeared for a bit. Hardtusk, take the carriage back to the camp, and don't let them out for any reason."

Hardtusk saluted his chief. "At once, sir." Grabbing the yoke for the carriage in both hands, he began carting it off, the two spare guards and the princess tied up inside it.

"The rest of you, let's clean this place up. Dump the bodies in the forest nearby. We'll let the scavengers enjoy the feast."

Over the next ten minutes, the minotaurs did just that, with Ironblood being sent back to camp early due to his injuries. Steelhorn, carrying the last body to the corpse pile, was gifted with the sight of a pack of wolves, already hard at work destroying the evidence. They stopped to watch him toss the final body onto the pile, but went right back to eating as soon as he turned to leave. What adorable little creatures they were.

Once they were all back at camp, Hardtusk and Scrimshaw guarded the prisoners while Boneshatter lit the fire and started to prepare the rations. Steelhorn, despite his rough nature and strong attitude, cared very much for his subordinates, and helped to make sure that Ironblood was properly bandaged on his back, and even treated his burns with a poultice made from wild herbs. They knew they were just tools to him, but he was a good leader, and knew that he should take good care of his tools, lest they become rusty and break. If they were dead, or even horribly injured, they wouldn't be any use to him. Even if it was for selfish reasons, they knew he'd take good care of them.

Chapter the Second: Coersion

When the stew was ready, Celestia and her two remaining guards were pulled from the carriage and set up around the fire as equals, save for the fact that they were still tied up. Seeing the sky, the guards immediately began screaming for aid. Scrimshaw, having been assigned as their steward, let them scream for the next ten minutes, hoping that they'd wear themselves out. When he was sure this would continue into the night, he gagged them, keeping them silent.

Celestia saved her voice for the discussion she was sure would begin shortly. She knew that there was nopony around for miles from their pickup point, and this encampment wasn't far enough away from that to put them close to civilization. Shouting was useless.

Scrimshaw sat next to Celestia with a bowl of stew, pulling out a spoonful and offering it to her. Celestia turned her nose up at it. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked.

"It's food, Princess," answered Steelhorn. "You eat it, and your body absorbs the nutrients. Tonight's model is called stewed greens."

"I know what food is," growled Celestia. "I want to know why I've been captured!"

Steelhorn chuckled. "You have been chosen to support our cause, princess. Hornburg Castle, our ancestral home, is soon to be destroyed in one of many ways. Having you supplement our army is the only means we have of survival."

"And if I refuse?"

Steelhorn's expression turned sour. "Without the Equestrian army standing beside us, the Hornburg will fall. In its wake, thousands, or maybe even tens of thousands, will die at the hands of our foes." He locked eyes with her. "Myself included. You could say that returning without your support isn't an option."

"Then I suppose you'll have no option, as I'm not giving you my support."

Steelhorn smirked. "No? Then let me tell you what will happen instead. I would rather see my people exiled from our lands than killed. In doing so, I will be stripped of my status as a competent leader, and will have to work my way up from the bottom in our new land. As for where this new land is, We'll have to take it from someone. And that will come from you. Either by support from you, which you refuse, or by force. I doubt you want five minotaur armies marching through your lands, killing your citizens just so we have a place to call home."

Celestia scowled. "That's monstrous! How dare you threaten the lives of innocent civilians!?"

Steelhorn shook his head. "I do not revel in the destruction of civilians, princess. I don't want to harm them. Your citizens will only be in danger if we and our allies cannot hold our ground. Which depends entirely on support from you. If you were to loan us, say... fifty thousand soldiers? No civilian deaths on your end, and minor casualties on ours."

Celestia shook her head. "I'll not send my soldiers off to die for a cause I do not support. If you had come to me in my court, then maybe I could see myself sending twenty thousand at most, on a volunteer basis. Instead, you kidnap me, tie me up, and then have the gall to ask for my help? The answer is no."

Steelhorn stood up. He was a massive brute of a minotaur, muscles rippling beneath his dark brown fur. Grabbing one of the guards by the back of the neck, he sat the guard down in front of Celestia, facing her. He gently removed the gag, dropping it to the ground. The guard took a deep breath to start yelling again, but Steelhorn's firm grip held his jaw closed. "Without yelling, tell me your name, young Equestrian."

Steelhorn could feel the guard trembling in his grip. "A-A-Arrow?"

Steelhorn smiled. "Have you been listening to the conversation, Arrow?" Arrow nodded. "I can't hear you."

"Y-yes, mister minotaur."

"You may call me Steelhorn. Or Chief Steelhorn, if you prefer. Do you have a family, Arrow?"

"N-no, Chief Steelhorn."

Steelhorn looked surprised. "No family at all? No brothers, no sisters? No children? Not even a mother and father? Does nopony care about you?"

Arrow shook his head as best he could. "I'm an orphan, Chief Steelhorn."

Steelhorn's gaze shifted to Boneshatter, who stood up and walked over to Arrow, kneeling down and placing a hand on Arrow's shoulder.

"This is Boneshatter," Steelhorn explained. "When I was very young, and very small, my father found him on the side of the road, begging for any scrap of food we could spare. He is like a brother to me. Are you telling me that not a single Equestrian citizen wants to see you come home safely?" Arrow began to cry. "In the Hornburg, all abandoned children are to be brought up as warriors. They bind together in groups, and are forced to come together to conquer their problems. Their relationship is stronger for it, and despite there being no relation between them, they're all brothers and sisters in arms."

Tears were streaming down Arrow's face. "I'm sorry, Chief Steelhorn. I'm not a minotaur of Hornburg."

Once more gripping Arrow's chin, he shifted his neck until he was looking at the other guard. "I have to worry, then, about your colleague over there. Does he care about you?"

Arrow's eyes shifted from side to side. "I... I don't know. I only met him yesterday."

"What is his name?"

Arrow shook his head. "I forgot."

Steelhorn raised his head and looked down his nose. "So, if he were to die in this very moment, how would you alert his next of kin?"

Arrow and the other guard locked eyes, and it was clear that they were both in fear, likely for their own reasons. When Steelhorn let go of his head, Arrow stared wide-eyed at the ground. He had nothing more to say. Steelhorn switched Arrow out with the other guard, not bothering to restore his gag.

"Please, don't do this," cowered the other guard. "I have a family. My wife and daughter are waiting for me to come back home."

"Where are you from, soldier?"

"T-Trottingham. I'm from Trottingham."

"Is Trottingham a nice place?"

He nodded. "Mhmm."

"So, you'd be pretty devastated if we had to leave our homes and take up forced residence in Trottingham?"

The guard curled up as best he could in his bonds. He trembled and shook beneath the powerful hand of Steelhorn.

"That is what would happen to whatever lands we'd end up in. Imagine, if you will, that one of these border cities was just like Trottingham. With lots of happy fillies and mares walking the streets, minding their own business, having a pleasant day. Then we come in and smash the place up. Is that what you want?"

The guard was in tears. He vigorously shook his head. "No. Please, no."

Steelhorn patted the guard's shoulder. "I don't want that, either. I want to stay in my home, with all my subjects living happy, mostly peaceful lives in our home territory." He stood up and looked to Celestia. "So, what say you, princess Celestia? Shall we stay in our homes, or should we trample yours?"

Chapter the Third: Brothers

The night came and went, with Celestia still unmoving in her refusal to aid, as well as her refusal to eat. The two stallion guards had also refused food, though that was more for the fact that fear had turned their stomachs and stolen their appetites. None of them had slept well, either. The ropes wrapped around them didn't help with that, nor did the loud snoring of their minotaur captors. When it came time to awaken, they were more exhausted than when they'd been put to bed.

The minotaurs set about their camp maintenance, making sure they had enough food and water to make it through another day. They did, but they were running low on firewood. Ironblood, their axe wielder, was still injured, so Steelhorn was reluctant to send him out. Boneshatter volunteered to take his place, a notion that Steelhorn was not against at all.

As Boneshatter was on his way out, Arrow called out to stop him. "Wait! Hold on a minute, please." Boneshatter stopped, and all eyes fell on Arrow. He took a deep breath. "I want to help you gather firewood."

Steelhorn strode over and kneeled down next to Arrow. "Do you really? Or do you just want us to untie you so you can escape?"

Arrow shook his head. "I couldn't sleep last night. Your words were echoing in my head, and they reminded me of the oath I swore when I joined the royal guard. I promised to protect Equestria from outside forces. I had always thought that an obvious statement with the only meaning being face value, but now I see a way to protect Equestria in an unconventional manner. I would be honoured if you would accept my help in defending your lands."

"What brought this on?" asked Steelhorn. "After all, you told me last night that there's no one waiting for you back home."

Arrow nodded at the other soldier. "Somepony is waiting for him."

Steelhorn frowned. "That's a reason for him to help us, not for you."

Arrow shook his head. "I've never felt the love of another pony before. Not the way he has, not the way a parent cares for their child, not the way that a sibling cares for their brother. And if you destroy Equestria..." He took a deep breath and glared right into Steelhorn's eyes. "I will never experience that feeling. My only chance is with you."

The camp was silent, save for the crackling of the fire and the ambient sounds of the wind in the trees and the birds in the branches. Arrow and Steelhorn did not break their gaze. Suddenly, Steelhorn burst out laughing. He reached forward and untied Arrow's bonds. "Take a few minutes to stretch out the tension from being bound. You can accompany Boneshatter in his task." The smile drained from his face. "Know this, though. If you try to run off, he will not hesitate to stop you."

Arrow shivered and swallowed hard, but nodded in agreement. Steelhorn stood and walked back over to Hardtusk and Scrimshaw to discuss what tasks they would be doing that day. After fifteen minutes of stretching and contorting, Arrow approached Boneshatter, who had been silently watching him. "I'm ready."

Boneshatter stood up. Of all the minotaurs, he was by far the largest, with dark auburn fur and dark brown, almost black eyes. From his belt, he pulled out what Arrow would have called a large woodcutting axe. Boneshatter wielded it as if it were a hand axe. Were they enemies, Arrow would have found this sight terrifying, but he reasoned that being an asset to them meant that their immense strength would protect him. He hoped, at any rate.

The two walked into the woods together. Arrow was nervous, something that did not go unnoticed by Boneshatter. "Are you frightened, little pony?"

Arrow nodded. "If I'm not useful to you, I fear that I might be disposed of. What's more, by lending my aid to you, I think I just committed treason. If your plan doesn't work out, or even works out wrong, I'll be a stallion without a country, best case scenario." He shivered. "Dear Celestia, what have I done?"

Boneshatter gave his best reassuring shoulder pat. "If the plan works out in the wrong way, if you've proven the strength of your conviction and defended Equestria as best you could, then you needn't worry about that. Steelhorn will see your worth, and you will be granted a place to live among us in the Hornburg."

Arrow looked up at Boneshatter. "Really?"

Boneshatter smiled and nodded. "We are brave warriors who fight for our honour. If you are much the same, you will be welcomed with open arms."

"But what if your plan fails, and the Hornburg falls?"

Boneshatter stopped in his tracks and took a deep breath. "If the Hornburg falls, I will either be dead or exiled. Should death take me, I shall accompany you in spirit. If exile should befall me, you are welcome to travel with me in search of a new home."

Arrow had no response to that. These minotaurs were quite different than the ponies he'd known throughout the years. It was quite inspiring. He stood a bit taller and nodded, now certain that he'd made the right choice.

They found a few dead trees, and either cut or pulled them down. Between the two of them, in half an hour, they'd gathered more than enough wood. While Boneshatter was certainly capable of dragging these trees back to camp, he wanted to see how far Arrow was willing to go to support them. This was a common test among the younger Hornburgers. Several trees were cut down and bound together. The number was dependent on how many would come together, and their relative strength. They would need to lift together, place the logs on their shoulders, and carry it a fair distance. If one of them failed, it would make it more difficult for all of them. Those who worked together were rewarded with longer breaks, as they finished quickly. Those who failed on purpose were made to restart from the beginning.

Boneshatter remembered back to when he had to go through this trial, with Steelhorn and another minotaur. The other minotaur had dropped the logs countless times. The trio hadn't eaten or slept for over thirty-six hours because of it. When the other minotaur threw them off for the hundredth time, Steelhorn had bashed their skulls together, knocking the other minotaur out and breaking his nose. Now a duo, their task was much harder, but they managed it. Even when Boneshatter had almost lost his grip, Steelhorn had kept the logs aloft. He tore a muscle in his leg doing so, but he hadn't let Boneshatter fail again. When they made it to their destination, Boneshatter knew that he could always count on his younger brother to watch out for him.

"Pick up that side, Arrow. We're carrying this wood back to camp."

Arrow nodded and tried to lift his end of the tree trunks. It took a lot of effort, but he eventually managed. Boneshatter was a bit wary, not knowing the average strength of ponies, but was a bit disappointed. Arrow was struggling to lift three trees, whereas Boneshatter and Steelhorn's trial had been five strong. Still, he had to remember that Arrow was no minotaur, and it was clear that he was putting in the effort. With some encouragement and training, he believed that Arrow could be quite valuable.

Their trek back to camp was slow going, as Arrow wasn't used to this amount of weight. They had spent all of fifteen minutes going out, but just shy of an hour coming back. When they did return, Only Hardtusk and Ironblood were around to see Arrow struggling to carry the logs. Hardtusk stood up to assist, but with a wave from Boneshatter, he sat back down, understanding the meaning behind the task.

When Arrow was finally allowed to set the logs down, he collapsed. He was red in the face, and covered in sweat. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath. Ironblood cheered and clapped, while Hardtusk rushed over with a bucket of cool water and a ladle. Propping Arrow up, he washed his face and offered him some cold water to drink.

"Well done, Arrow," congratulated Boneshatter. "You've taken your first step toward our goal. Keep this up, and you can bet that you'll be counted among us as kin."

Chapter the Fourth: The Missive

On Steelhorn's return, Arrow was met with even more praise, to the tune of an extra ration when dinner came. He was left untied throughout the day, so long as he stuck with Boneshatter. Arrow was more than okay with this, having come to like the burly red giant. He wasn't given any more tasks, not because he wasn't trusted, but rather because everything was going well. The minotaurs could afford to rest for a bit, as the next step required a fair bit of patience. They kept on their guard, however, as the Equestrian forces would surely be out looking for their princess. This was a delicate operation, requiring that they wait, but also requiring haste.

When it came time for dinner, Celestia and the other guard were once again set up around the fire. Arrow, when given his first set of rations, hungrily wolfed down his meal. Wild greens had never tasted so good before. He couldn't tell yet if the secret seasoning was the comradery with his new minotaur friends, or just that he was starving, but he felt that this verdant slop was more satisfying than any meal he'd ever eaten.

Ironblood was still having trouble feeding Celestia. She refused to eat. "Come, now, princess, you must eat something. This obstinance will lead to your doom."

Celestia scowled. "It will lead further to your doom, you curs. Equestria has other leaders that can take my place. I'm your only bargaining chip. You lose me, and Equestria will be ruled by Luna. You'll never have it!"

Steelhorn chuckled. "You think you're our only bargaining chip? I'll have you know, princess, that there are already plans in place to capture Luna, Twilight and Cadence. In fact, judging by the time, it's possible that we've already snagged Twilight in our little trap. Luna will fall soon, as well. If you continue to be obstinate, we will have our other chips. If you all refuse to eat, then Equestria will be left without any ruler, and you can bet that I'll be the first to swoop in and fill that power vacuum."

Celestia turned away, disgusted by his words. "The Equestrian populace isn't as dumb as you think. They'll find out what happened. Even if you do take the throne, it won't be long before you're overthrown by the very forces you seek to command."

A loud screech was heard from overhead. With a fluttering of feathers, a kestrel flapped down from above, landing softly on Ironblood's horn. Being a horn, the raptor's talons didn't dig into the hard bone, making it a wonderful perch. Tied to its leg was a small scroll, which Ironblood promptly retrieved. He unrolled the note, handing it to Steelhorn as soon as he'd read through it.

Steelhorn's eyes lit up as he read the note, then he turned back to Celestia. "It seems you are no longer necessary, princess. I've just received a notice that Twilight Sparkle has been captured, by none other than our dear cousin, Cobalthoof." He turned the scroll around to show her. "You see?"

Celestia's eyes shot open in shock. She scanned the words of the document fruitlessly, as it was written in a language she didn't read. Even if she had, the message was encoded. She had to take his word for it. Unwilling to accept this, she struggled in her bonds, almost falling face first into the fire, had Ironblood not been there to catch her. "Let her go at once!" she shouted.

Steelhorn smirked. "Why in Tartarus would I want to do that? We now have not one, but two bargaining chips. And since Twilight is much younger, and much more naïve, I'm certain she would be much easier to control than you. I wager three sessions of whipping before she caves to our demands." Celestia was in tears. This is exactly what Steelhorn was hoping for. Taking the sachet of herbs from the bottom of the scroll, he tossed the paper onto the fire. "This is a good thing, Celestia. Now I don't have to care whether or not you eat. Your resolve to doom the Hornburg through killing Equestria will no longer be a factor."

Arrow stood up and smacked Steelhorn. This came as a shock, but warranted no real reaction from the other minotaurs. "This isn't right!" growled Arrow. "I joined you to save Equestrian lives! I'll not stand idly by and let you kill Celestia!"

Steelhorn dropped down onto one knee to meet Arrow eye to eye, placing his hand on the stallion's shoulder. "I have no intention of killing her. She is making that decision. She can still be of value to us if she survives, but if she kills herself through starvation first, we now have a backup plan. If she wants to see her beloved student ever again, she should sustain herself. That's up to her, now."

After a few moments of silent reflection, Celestia slowly opened her mouth. She'd come to grips with her situation, and knew that the only way to save Twilight was to submit to their demands. Ironblood brought the spoon up to her lips, and like a newborn foal transitioning to solid foods, spoon fed her dinner to her.

Steelhorn stood and walked over to his pack. He pulled out a kettle, filled it with water, and placed it over the fire to boil. "Do you feel better now, Arrow?"

Arrow lowered his head and nodded. "I apologize for hitting you, Chief Steelhorn."

Steelhorn waved his hand. "Think nothing of it. When a leader is being unreasonable, it is the duty of his advisors to keep him honest."

Arrow shook his head. "I'm not an advisor."

"Not yet, but you may find yourself in that role soon."

Arrow looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not a pony," Steelhorn explained. "I may have need of a pony from Equestria to filter through any faux pas that I may encounter. This needs to be a pony who is loyal to our cause, you see. If, as an example, I were at a birthday party and was told by Celestia that not kicking a dog is rude, and then proceeded to kick a dog, and it turns out that was just as bad in Equestria as in the Hornburg, I would be cast in a very negative light."

Arrow shook his head frantically. "We don't kick dogs for fun, either. Don't kick dogs."

Steelhorn smiled. "I wasn't planning to. My real reaction if I were told as such would be to take insult at the suggestion. But it is clear that our methods of etiquette are vastly different. That's why I'm keeping a close eye on you now. I have to know if you can be trusted, Arrow."

Arrow stood up as tall as he could and puffed out his chest. "I'll give it everything I have, Chief Steelhorn."

Steelhorn nodded and tossed the sachet of herbs into the boiling water of the kettle. "You're a valued asset, Arrow. Let's hope it stays that way. Unfortunately, you're still under probation, so we will have to bind you again before bed."

"Light bindings," interjected Boneshatter. "I will vouch for him, I will be his steward. He shall be in my charge."

Steelhorn raised an eyebrow. "Already? That was fast." He let out a small chuckle. "You may climb faster than expected, Arrow."

Celestia and the other guard were left in their bindings in the carriage for the night, this time without Arrow. Instead, his wrists, knees and ankles were bound, and he lay in Boneshatter's bedroll. It was much more comfortable and roomy than the carriage floor, and the heat radiating off of Boneshatter's body sent him easily into a peaceful sleep.

Meanwhile, Ironblood and Steelhorn walked just to the outside of the camp to speak in hushed tones. "We don't have Princess Sparkle yet, Chief," Ironblood whispered accusingly. "There is no secondary team, and Cobalthoof stayed behind at the castle."

"It was a lie, yes," admitted Steelhorn. "I thought, if only we could convince her to do minimum upkeep, to scare her a bit, we might be able to bend her to our side."

"I'm not comfortable with lies, Steelhorn. Neither are your men. They're all rather confused by your claim that Princess Sparkle is in custody."

"And they'll be even more confused when I tell them that they have to go collect her." Steelhorn sipped his tea. "It feels like being hit in the chest with cannon fire, but without the satisfaction of a target to destroy. I hate lying as much as they hate being lied to. It's awful."

Ironblood grunted. "I don't envy you the punishment coming your way when you have to tell them."

Steelhorn rubbed his forehead, as if the pain was already there. "I'll certainly deserve it. In fact, I welcome it."

Chapter the Fifth: Compliance

The next morning, Arrow awoke to a burst of cold air. Boneshatter had sat up, taking his radiant warmth with him. As the large bovid climbed to his knees, he left a pocket of cold air that came as a rather nasty shock to the little pony.

"Good morning, Arrow, smiled Boneshatter. "Did you sleep well?" Arrow nodded as he struggled to sit up. His arms and legs were still bound, though not for long, as Boneshatter set him free immediately. The two exited the tent to find that Ironblood was already preparing breakfast. His injuries were healing up nicely.

Celestia and the other guard hadn't slept well, though they both had been fed the night prior. Celestia was looking rather stoic, as if she'd steeled herself for what was about to happen.

"Good morning, Princess," smirked Steelhorn as he sat down. "Sleep well?"

Celestia said nothing. While she put up a brave front, Steelhorn could see that she was just about ready to break.

"I take that as a no." He sipped some cold water that was starting to turn stale, as it had been gathered yesterday. "Don't worry too much, Celestia. Soon, we'll have taken Canterlot, and you'll be able to sleep in your bed. Tonight, in fact, if you'll help us to take control of your sister."

Celestia scowled. "Never."

"Never?" Steelhorn raised an eyebrow, then tilted his head back to look up at the sky. "Princess Twilight Sparkle should be finishing her first bout of whipping soon. Her second should begin shortly."

Celestia again said nothing, but couldn't resist biting her lip.

"I can stop it right now, if you want," Steelhorn offered. He lifted up a scroll. "I have here a letter that says you've joined our side, and there will be no further need to harm your protégé. All I need from you is to turn this falsehood into a truth. Otherwise..." He dangled the scroll over the fire. "I could always write one that extends her tort--"

"No!"

The camp grew silent after Celestia's outburst. Tears ran in streaks down her cheeks, washing away the dirt that had gathered there. Her eyes now showed the true vastness of her fear.

"Please, no," she whimpered. "I'll do as you ask, just... Don't hurt Twilight."

Steelhorn stood up and gave the scroll to Ironblood, who attached it to the leg of the carrier falcon. As it flew away, Steelhorn raised Celestia's chin. "That's all I needed to hear." He walked back to his seat and sat down. "We're not going to let her go, of course. If we did that, there's no reason for you to remain in our charge, and you may just revolt again. We can't have that, can we? Call it insurance. The minute you turn on us, she'll be in for quite a harsh treatment. Then again, if that day should never come..."

Celestia nodded. "I take your hint. You have my word, that so long as she is unharmed, I will do as you ask."

Steelhorn reached behind her back and shook her hand. "Deal." He turned to the guard who still hadn't said anything. "And what of you? You've not said a word since the first night."

The guard closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "I swore my allegiance to the Princess. If she orders it, I will march under your command." He kept his head low, as if he were ashamed to be involved in such an arrangement.

"You will do as he says," commanded Celestia. "You will not allow harm to come to Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Steelhorn clapped his hands together. "Excellent. After breakfast, we make our way to Canterlot to bring Luna into our fold. Hopefully, with your help, she will see reason, and there will be no cause for more harm."

The guard was completely untied, and Celestia was given her arms and legs. Her wings stayed bound for now, but she was allowed to feed herself. After breakfast, they tore down their camp and packed their supplies. Steelhorn tossed his into the royal carriage and climbed in with Celestia in tow. The stallion guards were once more secured into their positions at the yoke, and the minotaurs took up defensive positions around the carriage to ensure their safety. Ironblood walked beside the unnamed guard, Boneshatter next to Arrow, and Hardtusk and Scrimshaw at the rear.

As soon as they were back on the road, Steelhorn turned to Celestia. "Without a doubt in my mind, I can safely say that there are guards looking for you, as well as this carriage. When they see it, all beaten up as it is, you're to tell them only half of the truth. You were ambushed on the road, and many of your guards perished thusly. We, the minotaurs, released you from your rope bonds. You are concerned for the safety of Equestria, and are entrusting us with your security. You're also going to send for Princess Luna in a private audience."

"And if they ask of my well-being?"

"Tell them that you have only minor physical injuries, and that the greatest blow you felt is the result of stress. Tell them that a hot shower is more important for your well-being than a physician."

Celestia shivered. Nothing he'd told her to say was wholly untrue. "What if they ask for further details?"

"Defer the question. You are the princess, after all. Tell them that they will hear more when you feel safe. Remember, we have a deal."

"You needn't remind me," growled Celestia. "I remember."

"Now, when we have this private audience with Luna, you are to demand that Ironblood and myself accompany you. For safety reasons."

"Whose safety?" snorted Celestia.

A grin spread across Steelhorn's face. "I think you know who is in a position to be harmed." His mouth straightened out. "And I would ask that you cease with the harsh tone, princess. Our ruse must be believable. The people must believe that you are on their side with this. Such is the face of a politician."

Celestia nodded. "You won't harm Luna, will you?"

Steelhorn shook his head. "Not unless we have to. If she becomes too belligerent, we may have t--"

The carriage came to a sudden stop. Much shouting was heard outside of the carriage, eventually settling down to only a few voices. They were quite angry about the state of the carriage, and who was guarding it.

Steelhorn turned his eyes back to Celestia. "I'm going to hold firmly to your tail, so you don't try to fly off. Remember what we talked about." He untied her wings and wrapped her tail around his fist. She opened the door, leaned out and explained to the captain who had intercepted them what the situation was. The captain sent his fasted pegasus ahead to Canterlot to prepare a private audience chamber, before joining his forces to the procession.

Celestia sat back down as the carriage resumed its movement. "To think my soldiers would walk in formation with the very brigands that absconded with me. It's sickening."

"Don't be too upset, princess. The worst is yet to come. If you behave yourself through it, I'll make sure that it's as painless and quick as possible."

Chapter the Sixth: Reunion, and Turnabout

The carriage pulled into the underground garage. While the standard procedure was to drop the princess at the castle's gate, She didn't want the masses to see her in such a disheveled state. She was covered in dirt, and her dress was torn in several locations. She hoped that seeing her carriage arrive was enough to tide them all over until she could bathe and change clothes.

Certainly, the crowds were gathering and gossiping about the Princess's late arrival, as well as the state of her carriage and the minotaurs surrounding it. The guards kept them back, preventing any incident that may have occurred otherwise. Only the ponies in the castle this very moment would see her so lowered.

Steelhorn exited first, extending his hand to help her step down out of the carriage. That Steelhorn was inside the carriage at all was a shock to the guards that had escorted them back to the castle. One even proceeded to draw his sword, prompting Boneshatter to grip the neck of his maul. Tensions were raised, but as the princess stepped onto the dirty stone floor, Steelhorn issued an order to his men to stand down. The pony guards were not so inclined. They inched closer, not yet trusting of the minotaurs.

"That's enough," commanded Celestia. "Sheathe your weapons. I am unbound, as you can clearly see." She spread her wings and arms, taking a step away from Steelhorn. "I walk of my own accord. These minotaurs are not to be harmed, nor are they to be barricaded of any locations, save for those that the guards themselves are not allowed." The guards sheathed their weapons and stepped back. "Furthermore, Chief Steelhorn is to be given the same respect and pardons as if he were royalty from another nation, because that is his status."

The guards murmured amongst themselves for a minute before falling back into line. Steelhorn was beginning to have his doubts about controlling this military. If this is how they treated a direct order from their princess, they would need a lot of training. Clearly, their power came from their numbers, rather than their abilities. If he were to clash with Equestria now, the only reason he would lose was because they outnumbered his forces four hundred to one. He was, however, impressed with Celestia's display. Had he not known better, he might even believe she was under no duress.

"Now, I've sent ahead to speak privately with my sister," Celestia continued. "Steelhorn and Ironblood, you should come as well."

Ironblood bowed his head. "As you wish, princess." The words fell from his lips as if he hadn't been let in on the plan to begin with.

Celestia turned to one of the guards near the door. "Take me to my sister."

Having heard from the messenger of Celestia's return, Luna breathed a sigh of sweet relief. She'd been so terrified when Celestia hadn't arrived on schedule. Twelve hours later, she knew something had gone horribly wrong, and had sent out multiple search parties. She'd even checked herself, but Celestia either wasn't sleeping or had something that blocked her magic. She was so happy to hear the news of her sister's return, she'd almost missed the fact that she was last seen in the company of minotaurs. She waited now, not in the throne room, but one of several conference rooms, for her sister to return to her.

She'd been in the room alone for almost half an hour when Celestia walked in. "Tia!" Luna jumped out of her chair, sending it flying backwards as she leaped into her older sister's arms. "We missed you so much!"

"I'm okay, Lulu," smiled Celestia, gently caressing her younger sister's mane as Ironblood and Steelhorn walked in behind her. From the hallway, Boneshatter closed the door. With Arrow standing next to him, the guards sat a bit easier.

"We were so scared that we'd never see you again," Luna sobbed into Celestia's dress. It was ruined, anyway, so there was no real harm done.

"Touching as this is," interrupted Steelhorn, "We really should move on to our first order of business. The sooner we begin, the sooner we can move on to pleasantries, such as a bath for your dear sister."

Luna sniffled and nodded. "Of course, of course." She picked up her chair, sitting next to Celestia. "Our first concern is our dear sister's health. We must be sure she is uninjured."

Celestia shook her head. "I'm only very lightly injured, Luna. Nothing big and worrisome, and if there's something small that would be concerning, a bath will reveal it. I'll be fine to continue this meeting, at least."

Luna nodded. "We suppose that solves our first concern. What is the next order of business?"

"The road," answered Steelhorn. "I've been to see the point where the cavalcade was attacked, and it's very prone to attack. On top of that, the two remaining guards confirmed that they felt perfectly safe even as they walked headlong into an ambush. Had my troops been walking through an area with such heavy cover from the surrounding foliage, you can guarantee their weapons would have been in their hands, armed, and ready to fire at a moment's notice."

"The reason they were so comfortable is that there's nothing on that road," responded Luna. "No towns, no homes, no wild animals, nothing."

"First and foremost, that's exactly the reason they should have been on their guard. An attack in town sends an immediate call to arms from passersby. On an empty road, far from anywhere, bandits are free to roam without so much as a report of suspicious activity." Steelhorn turned to Celestia. "If this capture had taken place in town, or surrounded by travelers on a well-travelled road, how long do you think it would have been before reinforcements arrived? Days?"

"Minutes," answered Celestia. "If in town, seconds."

"Furthermore," continued Steelhorn, "I saw a pack of wolves in the area, tearing apart a carcass. Not only are there wild animals on or around that stretch of road, they're active. I'd say I'm surprised that your guard patrols didn't see the wolves, but they didn't see the ambush point, either. This is quite concerning."

Luna was shocked. "We cannot believe that our guards are so inept. Still, we have travelled down that road for several years, and have never been attacked once."

"Just because it's never happened before doesn't mean it cannot happen," replied Ironblood. "I've never seen the Hornburg fall, but that doesn't mean I'll wave off every trebuchet and battering ram that shows up at our doorstep. Some amount of care must be taken in all situations. Would you not agree, Princess?"

Luna nodded. "We shall rethink the royal procession."

"A wise decision," nodded Steelhorn. "I suggest you take into consideration the population density of every aspect of your future paths. On to the next item of business."

The discussion continued for the next hour, detailing Steelhorn's plans to increase the security of the citizens, as well as the nobility. Luna was wildly enthralled with the idea, as it would mean her citizens were safer, without having to give up many of their civil liberties. Celestia listened intently, knowing that if such a plan were in place, it would only serve to strengthen their country. Truly, Steelhorn was a magnificent protector of his people. Were he not responsible for her kidnapping, she might even have viewed him as a valued ally.

"And this leads me into my summary," Steelhorn said, standing up. "I would like nothing more than to raise Equestria's security up to these lofty goals, but there are a few problems with that. You see, my homeland is under attack, and I have nary the forces to repel my assailants. At last count, they outnumber us by a wide margin."

"Eight of them for every one of us," confirmed Ironblood.

"Now, if their force were half the strength, we may be able to secure our survival, but that is simply not the case. What's worse, when our many clans were serving under the same king, the monarchy hated us, despite the fact that we saved his life on numerous occasions. He left us recently, giving my clan of protectors an insult, and the opposing assassins a fleet of ships. Our clan is landlocked, to be certain, but a grand war shall erupt soon. If we are to lose, then all of the noble houses will fall, either to the blade or to corruption. All of my people will be slaughtered in their fields and I refuse to sit idly by while it happens. That is why I come to you, now, as I am in need of an army." Steelhorn had, by now, walked around the table and was standing just in front of Luna and Celestia.

"We would be quite proud to help you, Chief Steelhorn," answered Luna. "It would be a fine repayment for your assistance with the new security detail. However, what you're suggesting will take years to implement properly. Your homeland sounds as if it needs help right away."

Steelhorn nodded as his hands clasped behind his back. "You are absolutely correct, Princess. If I were to take control of the Equestrian forces now, undoubtedly, thousands would perish in the fields. With nine months of retraining, perhaps we could save a great many, but we may not even have that long. The new training has to be implemented right away if we're to have your army survive the battle to come."

Luna stood up, a frown across her face. "We are sorry, Chief Steelhorn, but we cannot grant you your request."

"I see." Steelhorn helped Celestia to her feet, placing his hand at the small of her back. Celestia closed her eyes, as she knew what was soon to follow, having seen Ironblood preparing. "How unfortunate, then, that I have made no request."

Luna felt her hair pulled back, slamming her onto the table. Before she knew what was happening, the magic suppression ring was over her horn and tightened down so as to not be removed by her. Having lost control of her magic, Luna rolled back onto her shoulders, sending her foot right into Ironblood's head. Unfortunately, her ankle was now caught in his horn, and with assistance from Steelhorn and Celestia, Luna was now pinned to the table.

Chapter the Seventh: Untrustworthy

Luna was in tears. She had been coming to terms with these minotaurs so well moments ago, and now they'd tied her up. What's worse, her own older sister had helped them. Celestia hadn't tried to defend her, nor had she called for the guard. What she did was even worse than sitting idly by and watching. Celestia had held Luna down and pulled her arms behind her back while Steelhorn had bound her wrists. She couldn't understand it.

"Why, dear sister?" Luna sobbed. "Have we not done as you asked? Have we done something so vile to make you hate us so?"

Celestia pulled Luna into a hug. "I'm sorry, Luna. This isn't what I wanted to happen."

Luna writhed her way out of the hug. "Do not lie to us, sister! You are responsible for this. If you were truly sorry, you would free us at once!"

Celestia lowered her head in shame. Tears now flowed down her cheeks, as well. "I'm sorry, Luna. I'm so, so sorry."

Steelhorn grabbed Luna by the shoulder, twisting her body to look at him. "Don't be angry with your sister, princess. She's telling you the truth."

Luna huffed and looked away. "And why should we believe you?"

"Don't believe me," chuckled Steelhorn, taking a seat. "Believe your sister. She is here under my orders." He turned to Celestia. "Lift your mane, and show her your horn."

Celestia lifted her mane, and Luna saw the ring that restricted her magic. She couldn't bring herself to look Luna in the eye.

"So you've kidnapped our sister, and now you've kidnapped us. For what purpose? What do you hope to gain from this?"

Steelhorn leaned back. "I think you know. I hoped you would know that by now, actually. The fact that you don't speaks either to your lack of attentiveness, or to the lack of abilities to form memories. What have we been talking about this entire time?"

"They want to take control of our military, Luna," answered Celestia. "He wants our forces to join his war."

"We will die otherwise," scowled Steelhorn. "We seek our survival. We only seek to take your army because you've refused to give it to us. We pride ourselves on our honour, and would have gladly given you any and all protections that you requested. In fact, despite the cutthroat nature of this particular conquest, We would be very willing to reply to your request for aid, should you send it."

"Why would we send a request for your aid?" growled Luna. "Especially after this?"

Steelhorn shrugged. "We did just give you a magnificent plan to aid in your defense. On top of that, we are experts of security, and have pointed out several flaws in your security. A more malicious minotaur might have mangled your marvelous mane and more. The fact that I've not caused you any significant harm stands as a testament to my goodwill."

"Or to your lack of weapons," smirked Luna. "Before long, the guards will come in to check on us. What then?"

There was a loud slam from behind them. Ironblood had dropped his battleaxe on the table. He also lifted his belt to show that he had multiple other axes.

"As you can see," Steelhorn drew his mace. "We have the means of defending ourselves. We do not actually need to keep you alive for this, but it would be much better for you and for Equestria if you simply do as we ask. Most of your citizens won't even be in any amount of danger."

"And if we refuse?"

Celestia shook her head. "Do as they ask, Luna. If you don't, they'll hurt Twilight."

"Au contraire," interjected Steelhorn. "Now that we have Luna bound to us, the stakes are raised. Celestia, any harm you cause us will not only be reflected upon Twilight, but also upon your dear, sweet baby sister. Luna, your contract is much the same. Any resistance to our will shall be met with harm upon young Twilight, but also on Celestia."

"You wouldn't dare!" Luna spat, her saliva landing on Steelhorn's cheek. She smiled devilishly for a moment, until it was cut short by a pined grunt from Celestia. Ironblood had gripped her shoulder and tail, bending her into an uncomfortable, but not necessarily harmful position.

"I most certainly would dare," replied Steelhorn flatly. "I don't have Twilight around to use as a demonstration, but I believe Celestia is enough to prove my point.

Luna was quite upset, seeing her sister in such pain. "Okay, okay. We understand. Forgive our sister our trespass. We will do as you ask, Chief Steelhorn."

"Excellent news," smiled Steelhorn, untying Luna's arms and gesturing for Ironblood to release Celestia. "I do so hate unnecessary conflict. Now, sit, both of you. There is one final item to discuss." Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted them. "Cover your horns with your manes. Not a word unless I command it."

Celestia and Luna nodded, letting Chief Steelhorn take command, for the sake of each other. Ironblood opened the door, letting the guards see into the room. Celestia and Luna both had their hands above the table, where they could be seen.

"We were growing rather concerned," called the captain that had knocked on the door. "We hadn't heard from you for nearly two hours. We thought you might be in some sort of trouble?"

"No trouble here," replied Steelhorn. "We were just about to finish our discussion about tightening security. We don't want some other creatures absconding with the princess, do we?"

The captain smiled. "No, we do not. We like having our princesses around, and it is a massive relief to know that you, a complete stranger, are so concerned for their safety."

"Glad to hear you approve," replied Steelhorn. "As you can see, your princesses are still here, and still safe."

"It's just that the twilight hour is approaching, and many of us are concerned that Princess Celestia may not have eaten well during her absence. We, her royal subjects, insist upon a meal for her."

Steelhorn nodded. "I agree. We shall be done soon, I should hope. If you would be so kind as to prepare a small feast for us, to be ready at the end of this meeting, that would be quite helpful to us."

The captain's smile disappeared. "I'm afraid we don't really know what minotaurs such as yourself are capable of eating. I don't know if we have anything."

Steelhorn snapped his fingers. "Boneshatter?"

Boneshatter stepped forward. "Sir?"

"Follow the guard captain to the kitchens and make sure our feast is safe to eat."

Boneshatter pounded his chest with a closed fist. "It would be my honour, Chief Steelhorn."

The door closed, and Steelhorn turned back to the princesses. "Now then, the ultimate order of business." The conference room, being a room in which business was conducted, had a cabinet with paper, ink, and quills. Ironblood gathered the materials and placed them in front of the princesses. "You are to draft an order saying that you are turning over your Canterlot guards to me for reformational purposes. The soldiers will still be loyal to you, but during the next two years, they will follow my commands as if I were their leader. The document should also grant me full reign of your castle, whose security I am to be tasked with improving. My men and I are to be granted rooms in the castle, and we are allowed to restrict any and all movements of the castle staff for the purposes of making the castle safer for you. At the end of the first month, I am to select twenty soldiers to defend the castle from a force of two hundred guards as a training exercise."

Luna looked up from her frantic writing. "Do you really think you can defend the castle with only twenty soldiers?"

"With a few well-placed defenses, yes. The "invading" party will have three days to capture the flag in the throne room, and if they cannot, I am to be given full control of the entire Equestrian military, for the sake of making the entire country a safer, happier place."

The draft took about half an hour to write without the use of magic. Steelhorn and Ironblood looked over it, and with a satisfied nod, signed the document accepting responsibility for the Canterlot guard for the first month, and the entire Equestrian military for the next twenty-three months. The document was signed also by the princesses Celestia and Luna. Canterlot, its castle, its princesses and its guards were all now under the legal command of Chief Steelhorn.

Chapter the Eighth: Confronting the Truth

When the guards saw the order to give the minotaurs control of their forces, there was a fair amount of confusion. Why would Celestia and Luna give them full control of the castle guard? Some began to question the wisdom of this choice, others saw it as the power grab it truly was. Most, however, saw the document for the words contained within. This was a security upgrade.

"We've come to an arrangement that will benefit us both," explained Steelhorn. "In fact, it's better than that. The citizens of Equestria will be safer as a result of our meeting today. Your families, the rich and the poor, the old and the young, will be better protected, and you shall all rest easier in the coming days. Now, who among you holds the highest rank?"

A captain stepped forward. The scar on his shoulder gave Steelhorn the impression that he was a bit more seasoned than the rest. "Aside from the princesses and yourself, I believe that I am the most decorated in this hallway."

Steelhorn gave him the scroll. "Take this to your records room, then send out messengers around the city. I want every guard to know by morning what my role is, and whose orders they will soon be following. I intend to start the upgrade as soon as possible." With a salute, the captain took the scroll and ran off, making great haste. Steelhorn smiled, as he was already beginning to like this captain.

"Now, then. On to the next order of business." Steelhorn rubbed his hands together. "Is the feast for Celestia's safe return prepared yet?"

"It is not," answered Boneshatter, making his way down the hall. "Five more minutes, they've assured me."

"In that case," interjected Celestia, "I should really go visit the little fillies room."

"Hold." She made it two steps away before Steelhorn's voice rang out behind her. "Take a guard with you. One can never be too careful."

Celestia rolled her eyes and selected a guard to escort her. Luna did much the same, excusing herself to go do some light washing up before dinner.

Steelhorn turned to his men. "Hardtusk, Srimshaw, Boneshatter, Ironblood and Arrow. I would like a word with you in private in the conference room. This will only take a minute."

Arrow and the minotaurs adjourned to the small room and closed the door. Hardtusk was the first to speak up. "Is something wrong, Chief?"

Steelhorn nodded. "Do you recall last night, when a messenger falcon came with a notice that the secondary team had successfully captured Princess Twilight?"

Boneshatter nodded. "We're all rather confused by that. We were unaware that you'd sent out a second team."

"That's because there was no second team. I just needed Celestia to believe that there was. I lied to you." Steelhorn closed his eyes, and held his hands behind his back. "What's more, I dragged you all into this falsehood, especially Ironblood. He was harmed the most by my words, and for that, I'm ready to offer my apology."

Boneshatter stepped forward first. He looked down at the face of his younger brother. "It hurts me to do this..." He reeled back, and slammed his skull against Steelhorn's face. As he stepped back into line, Arrow couldn't believe what he'd just seen. Hardtusk came next, ramming his right fist into Steelhorn's gut. How could they do such a thing to their leader?

Scrimshaw was the next, but rather than strike at Steelhorn, he simply placed his hand on his chief's shoulder. "You've harmed me, but I forgive you. I support your actions, though I disagree with your methods."

Ironblood came next. "In the grand scheme of things, one must sometimes dirty their hands to prevent greater tragedy. I support your actions."

All eyes fell on Arrow. The minotaurs wondered what his thoughts were. Feeling very pressured, Arrow swallowed hard. "If you did it to prevent more violence in the future, I suppose a lie isn't so bad." He looked to Boneshatter, whom he had trusted up to this point. He wasn't sure if he'd just made the wrong decision with that statement.

"Thank you," came the response from Steelhorn. "All of you. I needed that."

"Glad to help," smiled Boneshatter. "So how about we fix this? I volunteer to revoke your lie by making it true. We must collect Princess Twilight right away."

"Hear, hear!" Agreed Scrimshaw and Hardtusk in unison.

"I have a plan for that, actually," smiled Ironblood. "Tomorrow, Boneshatter and I go to Ponyville under the pretense of informing Twilight of the security upgrades. We have her escorted back to the castle to describe to her the finer points, then we bind her in the same way we have bound the other two."

"With Celestia already bound, we may not even need to use force," added Hardtusk. "That would be magnificent."

Arrow couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing. In the span of a minute, they'd gone from trusting their leader, to beating him while he did nothing retaliatory, and then they went back to being almost familial. He'd never heard of comradery like this.

They opened the door leading back into the hallway, and waited for the Princesses to return. As soon as they came back together, they all made their way down to the dining room. Celestia sent the guards away, but Steelhorn instructed two of them to wait outside the door, just in case.

A servant was just finishing up setting out the plates. Every place setting was identical, save for the head of the table, which had a rather large chair with a sun crest carved into the back. At the foot of the table was a similar chair, though smaller and with a moon crest. Before the servant could run off, Steelhorn grabbed her by the wrist.

"This needs a bit of reorganization," he explained. "On the right side of the table, move everything down one chair. Then move Luna to Celestia's right hand. They don't need to be sitting at opposite ends of the table, shouting to hear each other."

"I'm sorry," replied the servant, shaking. "That's the way I usually set it up."

"Celestia just came back from being missing. I'm sure she and Luna would appreciate their reunion more if they were unified for it."

The servant nodded. "Yes, sir. Right away, sir."

As the mare scrambled to shift everything around, Celestia gave a smug smile. "It seems you take to ruling very well, Chief Steelhorn. It's almost as if you've always wanted a castle full of servants to boss around all day."

"I already have a castle full of servants," snorted Steelhorn. "I just think you two would like to spend your reunion together."

As the mare finished moving the place settings, everyone sat down. It was time for dinner.

Author's Note

Greetings to everyone enjoying the story thus far. First of all, let me thank you for your dedication to reading this far, and not clicking off to read something else instead. It means much to me that you've enjoyed enough to read this far.

I've encountered a bit of a problem, you see, and I require the assistance of you, the readers. You see, there's been a lot of back and forth between the writer and the requester about how the story should end. As I'm writing this, it has just been decided that both endings are going to be written, and we will leave it up to the reader which version they like more.

Without going into ending spoilers, the Studio Cut reflects the views of the requester. This is the ending to the story they wanted me to write; the ending that they envisioned before they even came to me. The Director's Cut, on the other hand, is the ending I envisioned as we were brainstorming the outline. This is the version I like more, but don't let that influence your decision. I'm known for having unpopular opinions (which is why I am very keen on the concept of free speech).

Now, if your preferred choice isn't picked, do not despair. Both endings will be written and published here. When the story is complete, you will be able to simply click a link at the point where the story splits, and it will take you to the ending of your choice.

This link will take you to a poll where you will be allowed to select which ending you want to see first, and will be up until the day I'm to write one of the two endings.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for taking the time to vote, if you have done so. There is no obligation to vote, if you do not care which ending you end up with.

Chapter the Ninth: A Game at Dinner

With the chairs properly arranged, everyone sat down to eat. Steelhorn, being the leader, was given a seat next to Celestia, at her left hand. It was a place of respect for a visiting diplomat to be placed close to the princess. This time however, the being who held the most power in the room were not the royals in the fancy dresses and chairs, but the warlord sitting next to them, with only his own shaggy fur and weapon belts to cover himself.

"Let us not waste any more time," Celestia said, picking up her fork. "Please, enjoy your meal. It is the finest Equestria has to offer."

Steelhorn looked over his meal. It seemed to be an open faced sandwich, a toasted spinach and egg on potato bread, with a cheese-covered noodle bake as a side dish. Everything seemed to be in order, but something felt off. He couldn't place it, but he definitely noticed the change in Celestia's mood. He held up his hand, commanding his men to hold.

Celestia looked up from her plate. "Is there something not in order, Chief Steelhorn?" she asked, batting her eyelashes innocently.

"Something is quite wrong, princess, and I think you are well aware of what it is."

Celestia put down her fork. "Whatever do you mean? The meal seems perfectly safe to me."

Steelhorn scowled. He knew something was wrong with the meal, but he couldn't place it. "Are you enjoying your meal, princess?"

Celestia took a bite. "Very much so."

"Good," Steelhorn smiled. He picked up Luna's plate, and switched it with his own. "At you've so enjoyed your meal, I insist that your younger sister join you in its consumption."

Luna glanced around uneasily, but calmed down as she felt the reassuring hand of Celestia on her shoulder. Picking up her fork and knife, Luna cut off a corner of the sandwich, letting the runny yolk of the egg dribble onto the plate. lifting it up to her mouth, she took a bite, and after chewing for a bit, swallowed hard the small bite.

"You see?" smiled Celestia. "There is nothing wrong with your meal. Please, dig in."

Sitting next to Luna, Hardtusk had grabbed his fork to inspect it closely. He was the first to discover what was wrong with the meal. Reaching around Luna's back, he grabbed her left wrist, causing her to drop her own fork. It clattered to the floor.

"Oh, dear," Hardtusk said condescendingly. "It seems as though you've dropped your fork, Princess Luna."

Luna shivered. She'd felt the strength in his hands. She knew that he was capable of causing her great harm. She would have to play along. "We suppose we have. Quite an embarrassment, to be sure."

"Never fear, my dear princess," smiled Hardtusk. "I insist you use mine." He held out his fork for Luna to take.

"NO!" shouted Celestia. Realizing her outburst, she calmed down. "I mean, no, we wouldn't want to trouble our guests with hunger. Please, keep your fork, we'll have a clean one brought from the kitchens."

Steelhorn picked up his own fork and inspected it. Hardtusk was correct. The forks had a light dusting of a white granular powder that could be rubbed off. A quick sniff told him everything else he needed to know. "Now, that certainly seems a good idea, Celestia. In fact, I'd say we all need clean silverware. After all, that servant that was setting the table forgot to mention that she dusted our cutlery with a hazardous chemical substance."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean," Celestia chuckled. The dirt still on her forehead was beginning to clump together, revealing that she'd begun to sweat.

"Oh no?" asked Steelhorn, standing up. He marched over to the door, throwing it open, much to the shock of the guards outside. "Tell me, one of you, what smell comes to mind when you sniff this fork?"

Two of the guards came forward, sniffing at the fork as directed. "Something really bitter," said the first, his nose crinkling at the odour.

"Kind of like an almond? But not quite," added the second, taking a step back.

Steelhorn folded his arms behind his back. "What you are smelling is a chemical compound known as cyanide. It is highly poisonous, and was just found on a multitude of forks surrounding Princess Celestia's table. As security consultant to the Princess I demand to know which of the guards have been assigned to make sure no one tries to poison the princesses through their meals."

The guards exchanged terrified glances. "Nopony is assigned to guard those, sir. In hindsight, it does seem to be a rather foolish design flaw..."

"Foolish, indeed," confirmed Steelhorn. "A new meal is to be prepared, this time under the supervision of two royal guards and one of my men. Scrimshaw, to be precise. In the meantime, send a contingent of guards to ensure that Celestia's bathroom is safe and secure. While her new meal is being prepared, she is in need of a bath and some clean garments to wear. When you're sure the room is safe, I want two guards at least posted outside the bathroom until the princesses exit. Nopony enters without being checked for weapons or chemicals. While she is bathing, check her bedchambers and post guards there, as well. When the new meal is ready, she will eat in there. I want no more risk to her life, are we understood?"

The guards saluted. In unison, they shouted, "Yes sir!" then rushed off to do as he'd commanded. With a smile, Steelhorn closed the door and returned to his chair.

"My, my, my... What a joy it is to have company for dinner," he chuckled, turning to the head of the table. "Would you not agree, Celestia?"

Celestia looked away. She had been found out. This was a shameful failure.

"Of course, that servant mare you had in here before is going to hang for this. What a reward for all of her dedicated service. How long would you say she's had this position, hm? Years? Perhaps just months?"

Celestia scowled at Steelhorn. "That's enough. She's innocent, she didn't even know she was handling poisoned silverware. I had some other servant do it. Let her go."

"I don't enjoy this manner of game, Celestia," chided Steelhorn. "She will be brought under suspicion no matter what I do at this point. If you tell me who really did dust our silverware, I will make sure she's let off with a warning. And of course, there's still the matter of how I will need to bring down a punishment for you for this little stunt."

Celestia swallowed hard. She'd expected them all to die, but they'd slipped through. She didn't want to think about what sort of fate awaited her in the near future. It was time for plan B.

Chapter the Tenth: Fun in the Shower

Celestia followed behind Steelhorn as the group made their way to the royal bathroom. While each of the princesses had their own private tubs in rooms adjacent to their beds, the royal bathroom was more akin to a tiny spa, having everything shy of a mud bath. It even had attendants that would come in for regular treatments. Or rather, that was usually the case. This time, only one attendant had been granted entry, after a very thorough examination, and a few of the grooming stations were sealed up tightly for safety purposes.

"Being that you are the Princesses, I insist that you bathe first," smiled Steelhorn, opening the door for them. "I'm told that your bathwater is already warmed up, and your bathrobes have been safely delivered. Take as much time as you need. My men and I shall shower after you are done."

Celestia smiled, having heard enough to know what was needed. "Thank you, most kind and gracious Chief Steelhorn." With a small curtsy, she stepped through the open door with her sister.

As the door closed behind them, the attendant stepped forward. "So glad to see your return, princess," she smiled, bowing to her tetrarch. "I cannot tell you how much a relief it is to see your safe return."

"It's a relief to return safely," smiled Celestia, undoing the bindings for her dress. Some of them were only just hanging on; these were the ones that simply tore apart rather than waiting to be unfastened. As she slipped out of her covering of destroyed fabric, she was reminded of the colour her coat was supposed to be. A few steps up one end of a ladder, then down the other side, and she was enveloped in the soothing herbs of warm bathwater.

Luna was quick to join her. "We're sure you've heard tell of the new security consultant?"

"Oh, my, yes," answered the attendant, lathering up a soft brush with an oily soap. "They had me searched, you know? Couldn't come in until they were sure I wasn't a danger to you."

"We know you're not a danger to us," assured Celestia, rubbing away the easier dirt on her arms and feet. "I'm certain that before long, they'll see you for what you truly are: a good-hearted mare who has always been loyal to Equestria."

The attendant began scrubbing Celestia's back. "I don't know about all of that, princess. I do have some relatives overseas. If they were ever in danger, my first priority might be to help them, though not at any great cost to you. Still, I certainly do think that, barring some kind of disaster, I'll spend the rest of my days serving Equestria in some way or another."

Luna shook her head. "We certainly cannot ask you to abandon your family for our sakes."

The brush moved to Luna's back. She'd always enjoyed a good back scrubbing. "Now, how in Equestria did you end up so covered in filth, Celestia? Surely this wasn't by choice?"

"My guards and I were on our way back from Manehattan and we were ambushed," Celestia replied. "I spent two days kneeling in dirt. I don't want to talk about it; it was humiliating."

"Say no more," smiled the attendant. "Besides, I'd much rather know about these new minotaur friends of yours. I heard they saved you from the bandits that captured you."

Celestia let out an awkward chuckle as her mane began to be washed. "They're certainly the ones who saw me back to the castle unharmed, that's for sure..."

"I suppose I'll hear more of the story from them," chuckled the attendant. "I overheard that brown one saying he'd be showering after you were done."

"He seems to be their leader," chimed in Luna. "We are not entirely sure, as they wear no badges of office that we can see, but they refer to him as chief, and they follow his orders."

"How very odd," chuckled the attendant. "I suppose that goes to show you that other cultures have their own ways of going about things. What is..." The attendants fingers had made their way through all of Celestia's mane, and now found themselves gently caressing the locked horn ring. "What is the purpose of this horn ring, Princess?"

Celestia had to think quickly. If this attendant knew the truth, she'd come out of the bathroom shouting at the minotaurs. That would perhaps grant Celestia and Luna some time to slip by the minotaurs, but they'd be flying nude into the night. not a pleasant sight to leave their subjects with. Any respect their citizens had for them would disappear, copies of photographs would show up everywhere, and so many ponies would die in the process. These minotaurs had already proven their ability to take on larger forces of ponies, and they'd also claimed to be capable of defending the castle against a still larger force. Plus, they still had Twilight in their custody.

"It's protective," answered Luna. "You see, the kidnappers were able to find Celestia through a magic spell that specifically harms alicorn magic. We have researchers looking into why that is with the aid of Princess Twilight. Until that day comes, these rings disguise our alicorn magic, so they have to be physically close to us to cause harm. It's all very complicated."

The attendant nodded. "Another safety measure, I see. Those minotaurs really think of everything, don't they?"

The rest of the bath continued with nothing of note. After slipping into their bathrobes, the attendant began brushing their manes to ensure their silky smoothness. She started with Celestia, who took a fair amount of time, then moved on to Luna. As she was brushing Luna's mane, Celestia slipped off, taking a small tablet from her destroyed dress and moving back to where the showers were. Steelhorn wanted to have a shower? This would be one to remember.

She opened the small panel that granted access to the plumbing for the shower. There was a small tank that water flowed through that could be opened to stuff in large herbal sachets. Doing so would bathe the user not in water, but in a sort of herbal tea. It was a quick way of ensuring a fragrance permeated your skin while you bathed, and it could also be rather calming. You could close your eyes and imagine yourself in a field of flowers and trees, clad in nothing but the warm rainfall. Celestia tossed the tablet into the tank. As soon as the tablet came in contact with the water, it began to dissolve the water soluble coating. The tablet kept its shape, as it would continue to react with the fresh water being pumped in until it was removed or completely dissolved.

As Celestia and Luna exited the bathroom, now clad in their bathrobes, they were greeted by the happy faces of their royal guards. It was a relief for them to see their princesses in better health and mood.

"Have a nice bath, Princesses?" asked Steelhorn.

"Very much so," replied Celestia. "Please, enjoy your shower."

"I shall," replied Steelhorn. "In the meantime, Ironblood and Hardtusk will escort you to your bedroom. They shall shower after us."

This new plan worried Celestia. "No, no, I insist that you all shower together. We wouldn't want them missing dinner, after all. Besides, there's only so much hot water. You should all go together. There's plenty of room."

"And leave you two unprotected? Perish the thought. I insist on your safety. Besides, Scrimshaw is still in the kitchens. He has to wait for his shower. Off you go, now."

Celestia turned and walked to her bedroom. She would definitely have to answer for this, but having only three minotaurs around would still be much more manageable than all five.

Chapter the Twelfth: Among the Stars

Boneshatter stood with Ironblood and Arrow at the entrance hall for the Castle of Friendship. Well-rested and freshly groomed, they awaited the Princess Twilight Sparkle. Arrow was fidgeting nervously, unsure of whether or not this plan would work. With a reassuring pat on the shoulder from Boneshatter, he slowed his pacing and took long deep breaths.

Finally, the princess arrived to greed her guests by bursting through the doors. "You have news of Princess Celestia!?"

As she skidded to a stop in front of them, Ironblood held out his hand to calm her down. "We do. She's fine for now, but we believe she may yet be in danger. Two attempts were made on her life last night, so she's under our protection for the time being."

"Can you take me to see her? I need to know she's alright!"

Boneshatter stepped forward. "We certainly intend to let you see her. In fact, we've come to escort you to Canterlot Castle, where she currently is."

Twilight spread her wings. "No offense, but I'd rather fly there. It'll be faster."

Ironblood shook his head. "That's not a wise idea, Princess. You see, we minotaurs of the house Hornburg believe that whoever tried to kill Princess Celestia and Princess Luna may also be targeting you."

Twilight folded her wings. "How certain are you of that?"

"Not at all, answered Boneshatter. "It's just a hunch at this point, but if they're attacking Princess Celestia, it's a fair assumption that you're on their list. Have you noticed anything strange lately?"

Twilight thought long and hard, but couldn't think of anything out of the ordinary. "I'm sorry, but I haven't seen anything."

"I see. Well, we'd like to take you to Canterlot Castle anyway. As of this morning, we've begun implementing new safety measures that our leader, Chief Steelhorn, is overseeing."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "I know that name. Why do I know that name?"

"He's the head of house Hornburg," proclaimed Ironblood proudly. "He's lead our clan into a new age of prosperity and safety."

The connection became clear to Twilight. "Wasn't he also the protector of the minotaur king a few years ago?"

Boneshatter and Ironblood nodded. "He's the reason our king died of age, rather than by assassination."

Twilight smiled. "Then I trust that he'll do the same with Celestia." She stepped out of the castle and took her place in the carriage. "Take me to see him, and then to the princesses."

The carriage ride back to Canterlot was a quick one. Twilight was allowed to watch as the guards changed their positions according to Steelhorn's new orders. Even though Canterlot was usually very busy, it was even busier today as the guards received their instructions. While it was certainly hectic, Twilight knew very well the chaos that came from reorganizing anything.

The carriage came into the castle, and after a quick search to make sure nothing had happened to the carriage that could pose a danger, Twilight was escorted to the same conference room Celestia and Luna had reunited in the day before. Steelhorn was sitting behind the table, going over a list of plans with a pair of stonemasons. Seeing Twilight, he hurried along his explanations, pointing out the place where they should begin their work, the gatehouse. Twilight didn't have a great look at the plans, but was able to see the inclusion of a recessed portcullis behind a drawbridge. Very simple adjustments, but no doubt powerful ones.

The doors closed, leaving Twilight alone with the three minotaurs. Steelhorn sat down and gestured for Twilight to do the same, which she did. "I hear you've been put in charge of securing our future," she said. "If what I hear is true, you were also a contractor for the minotaur king until recently."

"You hear correctly," nodded Stellhorn. "King Minos was threatened countless times, and he now rests in his tomb, having expired in his bed naught but two weeks prior."

"I have to wonder, then, what it is that brought you here. Shouldn't you be protecting the next king of the minotaurs?"

Steelhorn shook his head. "The next king has yet to be decided. Indeed, it could come to pass that I am named the next king. In fact, we're all hoping for such a decree. However, there are a few obstacles that I must face for that."

"So, why aren't you facing those challenges? Surely you should be focusing on that?"

"We face a threat greater than we can hope to conquer, Princess. Four thousand warriors are preparing to storm my home and slaughter my family. Our army is only five hundred strong. To face this task alone is suicide. And so, we must take to using a power we do not yet have. We need the magic of friendship."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "The elements of harmony aren't available to be loaned out--"

"I'm not talking about the elements of harmony," snorted Steelhorn. "We need an ally. A strong one. All of our allied states flock to us for our strength because they cannot defend themselves. Were we to ask for their aid, they would send their finest fighters. However, that amounts to little more than a farmer with a pitchfork. We need more than what they can give. On top of that, if we were to be wiped away, there would be nothing keeping them safe. If they are to survive, we must save them. If we are to save them, Equestria must save us."

Twilight nodded. "What can I do to help?"

Steelhorn smiled and slid the third and final ring across the table. "I already have full control of the Canterlot military. In a month, that will expand to cover all of Equestria. In the meantime, I need all of Equestria's princesses under my command."

Twilight picked up the ring and was filled with unease. "This is a magic-blocking ring."

"It is. Put it on."

Twilight dropped it back onto the table and stepped back. "I want to talk to Celestia."

"You will," smiled Steelhorn. "Because I'm going to take you to her. Right after you put on that ring."

Twilight shook her head and took another step back, right into the arms of Boneshatter. He grasped her shoulders and held down her arms. "This would be much easier if you would cooperate with us." Ironblood picked up the ring and brought it over to the princess, grabbing her by the throat and holding her head steady. Her breathing became raspy and ragged as he slipped the ring tightly over her horn.

Steelhorn smiled. "Welcome to my service, Princess Twilight Sparkle."

Chapter the Thirteenth: The Sky's Call

Twilight trembled as she walked down the hall. Nopony could see her horn ring, but she could feel it, and that was enough. The smiling faces of the guards she walked past told her that they didn't know that the princesses were being held prisoner here. They were in the dark, as she had been this very morning.

They came to a door, and Ironblood had to grab Twilight's shoulder to stop her. She'd become lost in thought as she'd been walking, and had almost missed her turn. Twilight looked up at the door. "Princess Celestia's room?"

Steelhorn leaned down, so as to speak directly to Twilight's ear. "You wanted to see her, right? You told me that was the case in our short conversation earlier, yes?"

"Well, yes, but I wasn't expecting to do it like this..."

"This is the safest way. Besides, she's been very eager to see you." Steelhorn reached forward, turning the doorknob and pushing the door open.

The moment Celestia and Twilight locked eyes, they rushed to each other, throwing their arms around one another in a familiar embrace. Neither of them spoke, as their tears were enough to show their feelings.

Luna was the first to speak as the door closed. "We have done as you've asked, Chief Steelhorn." She rolled up a stack of pages and handed it to the minotaur.

Steelhorn looked over the pages briefly, just skimming, until he was sufficiently satisfied. "It would seem so. I'll have Ironblood inspect it closer, but you can see clearly that I've kept my end of the bargain."

"What bargain?" asked Twilight.

"Luna offered Chief Steelhorn a speech announcing him as our regent," explained Celestia. "In exchange, he was to deliver you to us unharmed."

"Unharmed?"

"Yes," answered Steelhorn. "You should be privy to this news as well. Among the three of you, any harm to befall myself or my men is to be met with retribution not for the offending parties, but for the other two. You were meant to be whipped this morning, but instead, you may thank Princess Luna for begging your pardon. Her altruism toward you was quite compelling."

Twilight looked to Luna. "You did that for me?"

Luna turned away. "We had to endure several lashes last night. We would not wish the same fate upon you, dearest Twilight." With a smile, Twilight waved Luna over to join in the hug, but with the raising of a hoof, Luna declined. "Our back is still sore, so we are not in a good place right now to receive hugs. Mayhaps at a later date?"

In truth, there were a few other reasons she didn't want to be involved in the hug. All morning, Celestia had been trying to come up with a plan to be rid of the minotaurs, completely ignoring her objections from the night prior. Luna felt it best if she could distance herself from the other two. If Luna was right, they'd not suffer through this occupation. If she was wrong, Celestia and Twilight would have an easier time planning if they didn't have to worry about seeing her tortured. Now was the time for subtlety.

"I'll allow you three some time to catch up," chuckled Steelhorn. "I'll see you again for lunch." With a quick turn, he left the room, returning to the conference hall.

After lunch with the princesses, Steelhorn met up with Ironblood, who had finished looking over the speech. "Princess Luna seems to have a bit of a weak grasp on public speaking of this era, but with a few modifications, this could be a masterful decree. She's very thorough in her details, and has excellent word choice."

"That's good," replied Steelhorn. "I'll have Arrow help to make it more appealing to the populace at large."

"Is that all you needed, my lord?"

"No, there's one more thing I want you to do for me." Steelhorn reached forward and placed a firm hand on Ironblood's shoulder. "You're going home."

Ironblood's eyes widened as the expression drained from his face. "You're sending me back to the Hornburg?"

Steelhorn nodded. "You're to leave tomorrow morning."

Ironblood's face turned to a scowl. "With all due respect, my lord, this is a mistake. How dare you send me back home with my tail between my legs? I am a proud shield-brother of the house of Hornburg! These injuries I've received are nothing compared to the shame you place upon me now!"

Steelhorn locked eyes with Ironblood. He said nothing, but waved for his lieutenant to continue his argument.

"I was instrumental in the procurement of not one, but two of the princesses. My sweat, blood and tears are all spilled in the protection of our home. My very life exists to secure the future of our people. I am more than capable of continuing this mission, and I insist that I stay here with you."

Steelhorn waited for several seconds, wanting to know if Ironblood had said all he needed to say. When he was sure that it was his turn to speak, Steelhorn spoke calmly, so as to be best understood. "It is not out of shame that I send you back, but out of necessity. You're absolutely right in your claim that you were instrumental in taking control here. However, as we now have control, less power is needed to keep it. We've left leadership of the Hornburg to our high priestess, but she is no warrior, wise as she may be. Right now, I need that wisdom, and the Hornburg needs a warrior seasoned in battle. I know that you're more than happy to protect our countrymen, even if it means your death. That's why you're going to do just that. As I am acting as regent of Equestria, I need my second in command to act as the regent for my people. Can you guarantee their protection, my brother?"

Ironblood was stunned. He couldn't find the words to express himself. Instead, he made his way around the table and embraced his leader. Tears flowed down his cheeks as Steelhorn returned the favour, making clear his mutual admiration.

As they pulled apart, Steelhorn looked his lieutenant in the eye. "Eat heartily tonight, rest well, and stay safe on the road. The Hornburgers need you. You'll be useless to them and to me if you collapse on the road."

With a nod and a salute, Ironblood promised that the Hornburg would not fall while he yet drew breath. Steelhorn knew he had made the right choice.

Chapter the Fourteenth: Capture the Flag

A month had passed since Steelhorn had been named Regent of Equestria. After the first week, rumours had begun to circulate that he was the one behind the princesses kidnapping. Steelhorn had neither confirmed nor denied these rumours, opting instead to dismiss them by stating that his duty is to Equestria and its safety. Many of the citizens saw no real difference to their lives, and continued on as usual, but others began to flee, reasoning that a minotaur could not dictate how a pony should live. Almost all of those fleeing opted for the relative safety of their satellite nation, the Crystal Empire.

More importantly, the day Steelhorn had promised was about to arrive. It was time to test the new defenses he had installed in Canterlot, by way of a wargame. He gathered up the promised two hundred and twenty soldiers, leaving the remainder to their actual duties. Just because there was a wargame going on did not mean the citizens would go unprotected. Neither were the citizens locked in or out of the city. There were two auxiliary entrances where the common citizen could enter or exit the city at will, but the mock invaders were not allowed to use them, as that would defeat the purpose. If this were a real siege, the city would be sealed, meaning that the auxiliary gates would be exactly as impregnable as the one they were supposed to use.

Steelhorn stood atop a platform and looked over the crowd of guards. They all stood completely still, a far cry from when he had first come to Equestria. There was no talking among the ranks, just silence and paying attention. "Today is not a special day," he said, his voice being amplified so as to reach all of them. "Today is an average day. Everypony in Equestria is going about their business as if nothing were wrong. At midnight tonight, that is all going to change. Those of you wearing the blue tunics are going to try to kidnap Princess Celestia!" He held up a stuffed doll that was very clearly some variety of dog. It had the name Celestia crudely painted across its chest in a green acrylic. "Those of you wearing the green tunics are going to try to stop them.

"You've each been given a bow, a foam sword, and twenty suction cup arrows. These represent actual weapons, and I expect you to treat them as such." He picked up a foam sword for demonstration. With a single swing, he smacked at a guard standing next to him. "As you can see, these swords will neither kill nor maim." He dropped the sword and picked up a bow, using it to fire a suction cup arrow that stuck to another guard's breastplate. "The arrows are also non-lethal. We just spent a month training you, we're not trying to kill you off. That said, if you are hit with either of these weapons, it is to be considered a kill, and you must deploy your death flag. You all have, attached to your belts, two tabs. When pulled, they release a red flag, like so." With a firm tug, a guard on stage deployed his death flag, indicating to everyone in the audience that he was officially mock dead.

"Those of you in blue, you are to make your way out of the city. Once you have reached your camp marker, you have until midnight to prepare. At midnight, you may begin your assault. Do not harm any citizens, do not attack regular guards. Your only interactions should be with the other players in this game and Princess Celestia." Once more, Steelhorn held up the doll. "Those of you in green, you are defending only. You are also not to interfere with regular guards or citizens. You also have the added restriction of being unable to leave Canterlot for any reason. This game shall commence at midnight, and will continue until either Princess Celestia is outside the city, or seventy-two hours pass. That's three days. If Princess Celestia is captured, victory will go to the blue team. If she is unharmed, victory goes to the green team. Are we understood?"

Almost completely in unison, the guards all saluted and responded, "Yes sir!"

"Good luck to all of you. To your positions."

Immediately, the green team huddled together and began going over their plan, while the much larger blue team filed out of the courtyard. Steelhorn made his way to the throne room, setting the stuffed doll on the throne as if it really were the tetrarch. With a smile, he made his way up to the residential section of the castle and entered into one of the bedrooms.

"A rousing speech, Chief Steelhorn," said Luna, casually sipping at a cup of tea. "We heard the whole thing from our balcony."

Steelhorn strode over to the small table and unfolded his chair. As he did so, Luna poured him a cup of tea with a small squirt of honey. "I'm glad you found it to be to your liking, princess."

"We do have one question, though. Why didst thou wish luck upon the blue team? If they do manage to take the doll, does that not prove that you failed to protect the castle?"

Steelhorn took a sip of tea. "Yes, it does. But it proves something else, as well. You see, I trained all of the soldiers out there. If they manage to take the castle, it means that I've improved Equestria's assault forces cosiderably. After all, it's not an easy task to take down a drawbridge and portcullis while a volley of arrows rains down on you, fake as they may be."

"T'would be a lie if we said we hoped the defense fails. Tens of thousands of bits went into these constructs. To see them fall would be quite expensive, indeed."

Steelhorn chuckled. "Worry not, Princess Luna. I use these same defenses on my own home. We've repelled many a siege. Those gates will hold. In fact, I'd be surprised if the invading forces even make it back into the city."

Chapter the Fifteenth: Win the Game

At midnight, the game began. Not even an hour had passed before the call to arms went out. Half of the invading force was carrying a large tree cut to be a battering ram. A fine starting move that was undercut immediately by the raising of the drawbridge. With the drawbridge raised, there was no way to bring the battering ram to the gatehouse, which lead to a retreat. By sunrise, none of the green team had fallen, but the blue team was down eight players.

The invaders came back at lunch, launching their pegasi forces to pull the drawbridge down. They managed to bring it down, but ended up with fifty claimed casualties in the process, prompting another retreat. Only two from the green team had fallen by now, so the odds were looking quite favourable.

The third wave was a good concept, but poorly executed. The invaders lined up behind a quickly constructed palisade, and fired four volleys of arrows over the walls. They managed to hit one defender that was unable to find cover in time. Despite not being out of arrows, the assault force retreated again after their elected captain was struck by a returning missile.

Perhaps the most clever of their plans came on the third day. A lone invader came out of the trees, holding a messenger flag. He claimed to be sent by his commanding officer to deliver a message. The drawbridge was lowered so that he could cross, but as they wooden boards dropped into their slot, a fierce charge was started, and the battering ram actually managed to cross the bridge and slam into the portcullis. A dirty move, but effective. The weight of the battering ram, as well as the ponies holding it, kept the drawbridge extended. Unfortunately, this was a crude battering ram, and didn't have coverings from above. Once the ponies holding the ram crossed the bridge, several trapdoors from above were slid open, and scores of mock arrows rained down from the machicolations onto the carriers of the ram.

Steelhorn had overseen the construction of five layers of defense for the castle. By the time the assailants issued their surrender, only one of those defenses had fallen, and the second layer had been damaged, but not broken through. There was still time left, but there were not enough soldiers on the assailant side to operate the ram. What's more, more than half of the defenders remained, and they outnumbered the assailants. The siege had failed, and their best hope now was to surrender. Life in the mock dungeon was better than being mock dead.

The victory came as a big surprise for everypony. It was expected that the force with superior numbers would have won, but with a few well-placed defenses, Canterlot was safer now than it had ever been. The announcement was met with much jubilation from the guards, and some mild joy from the non-militant citizens. Even the princesses were shocked with how well Steelhorn's plan had worked.

"It seems your hands were the right ones to leave our kingdom in," smiled Luna, raising her Champaign flute in toast. "We are quite pleased with your results."

Steelhorn bowed his head, matching her flute with his own, despite the fact that he was confined to seltzer water. "It was not my hands alone that finished this feat," he chuckled. "I owe much to my brothers in making this possible." The other minotaurs in the room gave a short cheer of agreement before taking a drink of their celebratory liquids.

"Congratulations, Chief Steelhorn," sneered Celestia. Her mood had not improved all month. "You've proven your wisdom. Now, as we're done here, I ask that you--"

"We're not done," interrupted Steelhorn. "We've only just begun. We have a contract, signed by you, that says we are to reform the entire Equestrian military to match what we've done here. You signed it yourself."

Celestia scowled. She'd hoped he would have forgotten all about that. Her anger turned to Luna. She'd been supporting this reformation since it had been brought up. To make matters worse, Luna hadn't even tried to escape. She was complicit in Celestia and Twilight's captivity. It was almost as if she enjoyed being controlled by this group of foul beasts. Without another word, Celestia emptied her drink to the floor of the conference room and strode out. She was followed by a small group of Equestrian guards who were now completely loyal to Steelhorn by Luna's command.

Twilight swirled her drink in her hand, having mixed feelings on the entire situation. "I'm glad you've taken the time to improve our quality of life, but I'm not swift to condone your actions. I signed no document giving you anything. I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but you must see that you're causing suffering in your wake. I wouldn't mind the reformations if you still allowed me to see my friends. Keeping us all here under lock and key is what's causing most of your pushback. Surely, you must see that?"

"We do," replied the priestess. "We know why we're unpopular with the ponies of Equestria. We simply don't have a means to solve that problem."

"Yet," added Steelhorn. "We're working on it."

Twilight finished her drink in a single swallow, setting the glass down on the table. "If you were to release the princesses, that would make you seem more benevolent." Without waiting for a response, she followed her teacher out of the room, her own train of guards following behind her.

Luna shook her head. "We cannot deny that her claim is correct. The citizens would feel much safer were we to go out to meet them. One can only glean so much from seeing us atop the balconies."

"A beacon of hope, perhaps?" suggested the Priestess. "The princesses have made public their trust in you, but what if you gave them a stronger endorsement?"

Steelhorn raised his eyebrow. "Such as?"

The priestess pulled Luna forward. "The same way you curried favour with the Ironbeats and Snowcaps."

Luna, being unfamiliar with recent minotaur history as far as alliances were concerned, was rightfully confused. She looked up at Steelhorn, who seemed to be inspecting her. "How did you gain their favour?"

"Trading citizens of value," answered Hardtusk. "My brother and I are Hornburgers now, but we used to be Snowcaps. That's why our fur is thicker."

Luna stared into Steelhorn's eyes. "Are you saying you'd trade one of your citizens for us? We don't think the citizens would be happy with that decision."

Steelhorn shook his head. "We are going to give you a citizen of value. You may make an offer in exchange, but the main goal is to have your citizens see us when they look at you."

Luna nodded. "We shall accept your gift, then. Who is the citizen you're offering to us? When can we meet him?"

The priestess took Luna's hand, leading her back to her bedroom. Steelhorn followed close behind. "You can meet him in about nine months."

Chapter the Sixteenth: Take the Prize

Author's Note

To those of you reading this as it comes out, happy Hearth's Warming! My gift to you is a very large penis and a pair of heavy testicles. Oh, and more breasts.

Chapter the Sixteenth: Take the Prize

In her bedchamber, Luna was stripped down once again. She was almost used to this treatment, as evidenced by the fact that she immediately turned her back to Steelhorn, spread her wings so as to prevent any damage to them, and grasped firmly her bedposts for stability. She no longer needed to be tied up for her whippings. She did think that this was a bit of an overreaction, though. As far as she could tell, the worst Celestia had done was to insult the regent. Surely a spanking would suffice?

There was a muted clatter behind her as the minotaur's gear slid down onto the floor. The sound of steel and leather on stone was quickly forgotten as she heard his hooves clack on the floor as he approached. He was right on top of her, now. She shivered with fear, no longer certain what to expect.

She felt his hand upon her arse. She jumped a bit, but it didn't hurt. This was no spanking, but instead a caressing. Not a punishment, but a compliment. This was confirmed as his other hand slid around her waist, gently rubbing her stomach. Soft pressure pulled her body back toward his, until she could feel his erection pressing against the small of her back. With his horns, he was about seventy centimetres taller than she was, and nearly twice her weight. She'd been with a few stallions before, but they were always smaller than she was.

With a small readjustment, his erection was now between her thighs and she was slid further until her back was pressed against his chest. She could feel the heat ratiating from his thick fur. Her sensitive wings could pick up his heart beating. Her sister would never believe that he had one. His hot breath on her neck relaxed her grip on the bedposts as he wrapped his muscular arms around her body. She felt herself lifted off the floor and moved from the foot of the bed. He carried her slowly to the mattress, twisting her body as he laid her across the bedspread.

She looked up into his eyes. The blue-gray irises staring back reminded her of the moon during the winter months. To others, they may have seemed cold and lonely, but to her, it was much like having a strong, silent companion when nopony else was around. As his body covered hers, she could feel his erection pressing at her gilded entrance. In a panic, she placed her hands against his chest and pushed back.

"Wait, please," she said, her breath heavy with anticipation. "We're not so sure about this. We've never been with anyone so large as yourself before. We are not sure if we can take it safely."

Steelhorn leaned forward, kissing Luna's lips. "I've destroyed the houses of less reputable minotaur lords, only to find pony and griffin sex slaves inside. They were smaller than you, and they were able to fit. You shall be less of a problem."

Luna gave a tentative nod. "Just, be gentle, okay?"

With a grunt Steelhorn slid forward. His first attempt slid right out. He backed up and tried again, only to slip out a second time. Realigning himself, this time he used his hand to guide his tip in, and with a firm thrust, he slid almost half of his length into her quivering, wet hole. For a moment, the room went quiet. The only sound that could be heard was Luna's whimpering as she adjusted to the massive rod she'd been impaled upon.

After a few moments passed, Steelhorn pushed a bit deeper. He'd bedded virgins before, and had two daughters to show for his efforts. This was an entirely different kind of tightness. It was almost too much.

Luna wrapped her arms around his chest, her fingers snaking their way through his back hair, her fingernails digging into his skin. Tears began to form in her eyes as he reached the two-thirds mark. She'd never been so full before. It hurt, but not as much as the whip had. Even so, the warmth of her lover's body helped to soothe the pain away.

He was far enough in now that he could begin pulling back out. As he did, the wave of pleasure Luna felt was quite intense. She involuntarily let out a moan, squeezing around him as best she could to slow his exit, prolonging the sensation. With another slow thrust, he was back inside of her, a few centimetres deeper than last time. Again, he pulled back, letting her feel every bit of him as he went.

Before long, the the room was filled with Luna's moaning and Steelhorn's grunting. These noises drowned out the muffled slaps of his furry hips against her taut buttocks. His left hand had snaked around her chest and was firmly grasping her opposing shoulder, keeping her from sliding away from him, his right arm kept him propped off the bed. Both of her arms were devoted to being wrapped tightly around his barrel. She was so close, in fact, that every gasp of air she sucked in was filtered through his thick, wiry brown coat.

After half an hour of losing themselves to the pleasure, Steelhorn began to pick up speed. Luna could feel his cock throbbing inside of her, and she could hear his heart pounding in her ear. He was close. Her grip tightened around him, as she expected him to fire off his load with such force that she would need to hold on to keep it from exploding across the room.

She was certainly not disappointed. As he pushed his entire length into her, he filled her womb with such force that much of the immense volume travelled back down her vagina and sprayed across his heavy balls. Seven spurts of viscous ooze filled her to such a point that she now had an abdominal bulge, even as large amounts of the liquid dripped out of her now gaping hole.

Luna lay panting and sweaty on the bed. She'd never before had sex so intense as that. She thought she'd been disappointed by stallions not being able to measure up in the past, but now, she doubted she'd ever be able to derive pleasure from one ever again. She needed more than they could offer. She needed a minotaur. She needed Steelhorn.

Steelhorn stood up. He was accustomed to vigorous activity, and was quite capable of going another two rounds before heading off to bed, but he wasn't sure Luna could take him more than once tonight. If the pregnancy didn't take, he'd have plenty of time to try again. He had an estimated five months before he had to go back home. That was a hundred and fifty nights, giving him all the opportunities he would need to give Equestria his seed.

Chapter the Seventeenth: Tour

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter the Eighteenth: Distraught

There was much to do all over the country, but the capital had settled down significantly. Steelhorn was faced with boredom, alleviated mostly by long, one-sided conversations with Luna in which she would tell him about things and he would listen. He would continue to stand up and move around from time to time, but all of this sitting was beginning to take a toll on his back.

After about a week of inactivity, Steelhorn took Luna out into the city again. This time was not so exciting, as there was no peril to save ponies from, but it still improved his mood, and kept him from boring holes into the arm of Celestia's throne with the constant drumming of his fingers. When the date was over, he returned to the castle with a smile on his face.

The smile was not meant to last. As he entered the throne room, Boneshatter waited in Luna's chair, a kestrel on his horn and a large scroll in his hand. The scroll was bound with a black ribbon, never a good sign. This was reflected in Boneshatter's facial expression and trembling fist.

"What's happened?" asked Steelhorn, placing his hand on his adopted brother's shoulder. "What's the bad news?"

"In a moment," whispered Boneshatter, trying hard to keep his voice steady. "I've sent for Scrimshaw and Hardtusk. They need to hear this, too."

As if that was their cue, Scrimshaw and Hardtusk rushed into the room, looks of worry on their faces. They were followed by The priestess, as well as the princesses, and finally Arrow, who had been the one sent to collect them.

"We came as fast as we could," said Scrimshaw, his eyes widening at the sight of the black ribbon.

"How can we help?" asked Hardtusk, taking a deep breath and standing as tall as he could.

Boneshatter shook his head, startling the bird that rested there. "This is not something that you can help," he answered, unrolling the scroll. "The damage is done already. I called for you because you need to be made aware of this." He took a deep breath, and began reading. "From Lieutenant Ironblood of House Hournburg to Lieutenant Boneshatter of House Hornburg. Much has transpired in the past week at a much faster rate than can be accounted for. First and foremost, Houses Northwind and Stormshroud somehow convinced the Black Council to push the moot forward."

"What's the black council?" asked Luna. She was intending for her question to be rhetorical and quiet, but with all ears intently listening to the letter, the brief pause had caused a deafening silence broken only by her voice. She shrank down as Steelhorn turned to her, expecting to be silenced, but instead, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"When the king of the minotaurs dies, he leaves an empty throne," he explained. "His position is not passed down to his son, but instead to his advisors. They become the Black Council until the next king is chosen. That takes place at the moot, a gathering of the provincial lords, a few months after the funeral. It often begins in debate, and ends in contests of strength. Sometimes participants die in the struggle for the crown, but it's not often."

Boneshatter continued. "Having not enough time to send a falcon your way, I did what I thought was best, and sent in our stead warriors Pickhammer and Stonefist."

"Fine choices," nodded Steelhorn. "They're very skilled in battle."

"Pickhammer took to the field and accepted the poisoned arrow meant for Chief Steelhorn. As I write this, his body is being prepared for burial."

Steelhorn took a step back, almost falling to this news. Pickhammer was his cousin, a strong and capable warrior whose biggest fault was his loquacity. For his own flesh and blood to fall was an injury, but a poison-tipped arrow was a heavy insult. Scrimshaw placed a hand on his lord's shoulder, a gesture of support should it be needed.

"Stonefist is recovering nicely, however. The bones in his leg have been properly set, and he should be ready to walk again in a few months. There were no other casualties among the moot, and there were few injuries among those competing."

Steelhorn took a deep breath and nodded. "That's good. Few injuries and even fewer deaths is very good."

"There was some fighting among the gallery, however. As Pickhammer fell, Lieutenant Greystar of House Snowcap castigated House Ashwolf for their use of weapons, especially poisoned weapons at the moot. House Ashwolf's representatives were escorted out by the Black Council, but the shooter was not found until he was able to fire off five more arrows. Lieutenant Greystar's wife and daughter were among those killed."

This was another significant blow to Steelhorn. He dropped down to one knee and placed his hand over his chest. Not only had his cousin fallen at the moot, but now his youngest child, as well. House Ashwolf would be destroyed when Steelhorn came to power.

Scrimshaw couldn't console Steelhorn this time. Greystar had been an idol to Hardtusk and himself for most of their lives, and had convinced the two of them to join the Hornburg in response to Steelhorn giving him a daughter. This wasn't a hard decision, though, as the girl Steelhorn had gifted to the snowcaps was the niece of Hardtusk and Scrimshaw. In one sentence, they had lost their niece and their younger sister, as well as being able to imagine vividly the devastation felt by the man that had for so long been their role model.

Boneshatter was the only minotaur warrior still standing. "There is one more bit of news. This is good news, however. Due to the failure of the moot, houses Ashwolf, Stormshroud and Northwind have been barred from succession to the throne. House Gemhide is still in the running. I am also pleased to report that house Stormshroud in particular is under severe sanctions. I shall continue to watch over your people in your absence. Signed Lieutenant Ironblood of House Hornburg."

As Boneshatter rolled up the scroll, Luna placed her left hand on Steelhorn's back and her right on his bicep. "What terrible news. You must be devastated."

Celestia smirked. "I guess you'd better pack up and go back home. It's pretty clear that your people can't function without you."

She was silenced by the thunderous crash of Steelhorn's fist colliding with the stone floor. He had struck it hard enough to shatter the large stone tile. "Return to your rooms, Princesses," he growled, his rage apparent in his voice. Boneshatter stepped forward and drew Luna back, concerned that she may end up caught in the path of it. Likewise, the priestess pulled Twilight away, keeping her out of the line of fire. Hardtusk pulled Scrimshaw into his arms, trying his best to comfort his younger brother despite his own pain.

Celestia stepped closer. "This is why you do not associate with your soldiers, Steelhorn. They die, and you have to mourn them. If you don't know them, then why should you care?"

Steelhorn stood up and turned to face Celestia. She immediately regretted her words as she looked up into his eyes. There were no more whites, they'd gone red. As he snorted, unable to speak, she could swear he was radiating enough heat to cause a rippling effect around him. She tried to take a step back, but was stopped immediately as he grabbed her by the mane and lifted her off the ground. With a final snort into her face, he began carrying her out of the throneroom at a quickened pace. Before the day was out, she would know not to piss off a minotaur lord.

Chapter the Nineteenth: Relief

By the time his shield-brothers had caught up to them, Steelhorn had dragged Celestia halfway across the castle. It was unclear where he was going, but it can't have been anywhere nice. It took both Scrimshaw and Hardtusk to hold Steelhorn down while Boneshatter separated Celestia from his grip. This ended up meaning cutting off most of Celestia's mane, leaving her horn completely exposed so that everypony could see the horn ring.

Despite her actions, Celestia was now in safer hands. Steelhorn might have caused significant damage in his burning fury, but Boneshatter wasn't nearly so enraged. He was content to tie her up and whip her, though the latter would have to wait until Steelhorn calmed down. Despite his orders, Celestia was not escorted back to her bedroom, but instead to a dungeon cell. She was gagged, blindfolded, and bound tightly in an uncomfortable position until further notice.

Boneshatter returned to where Steelhorn had been. Scrimshaw now had a black eye, and Hardtusk was bleeding from his lower lip. While many minotaurs were prone to going berserk, Steelhorn had been quite proud of the fact that he kept a level head. If Celestia had said nothing, perhaps this state may not have triggered. Luna, despite the inherent danger of doing so, had been on the right track with helping Steelhorn resist himself.

With Boneshatter now on the scene, the three of them were able to contain Steelhorn and keep him pinned to the ground. He was unable to speak, his only audible noises being the sound of his body and equipment striking the walls and floor, coupled with his grunts and bellows. This lasted for a good ten minutes before his eyes returned to normal and his thrashing stopped. His breathing began to slow, and his grunting ceased entirely.

Steelhorn turned to Boneshatter. "Status report?"

Boneshatter held up one finger. Turning around, he pried open Steelhorn's hand, pulling Celestia's clump of hair out of his brother's fist. He held it up on display. "She's safe for now, but you need to calm yourself before you see her."

"And the others?"

"Arrow took Luna to her room, the priestess has Twilight."

"Are they safe?"

Boneshatter nodded. "Let's have some tea."

An hour passed. Much tea was had, tempers were cooled, and the four of them discussed the events that had been taking place in their homeland in the calmest voices they could muster. While Steelhorn had certainly taken it the hardest, Scrimshaw and Hardtusk had also lost significant members of their family. It was a devastating blow, to say the least.

"Ashwolf will pay dearly for this course of action," promised Steelhorn, looking his men in the eye. "This wasn't just a blow against us. This was a blow against our allies. House Snowcap has always been either neutral toward us, or loyal. We cannot abandon them in their time of need."

Hardtusk nodded. "My brother and I grew up in house Snowcap. They don't interact much with the other houses, but they honour their alliances. As do we Hornburgers. Let me send them a letter of remembrance."

Steelhorn nodded. "Absolutely. With Stormshroud under sanctions, we can afford to offer your family additional protections."

Scrimshaw reached forward, wrapping his arms around Steelhorn's shoulders. Steelhorn returned the hug, glad to have been able to assist. "Now then. I need to go speak with each of the princesses in turn. Boneshatter, come with me. I don't want a repeat performance."

Their first visit was to princess Luna. When the two minotaurs entered, Luna was sitting on the edge of her bed. "Have you come to punish us for our sister's actions, Chief Steelhorn?"

Steelhorn approached, gesturing for Luna to stand up. She did so, awaiting further commands. "Your sister cares nothing for you, Luna. She has let your pristine coat become marred with many a scar from the whip. Even today, knowing full well that you would suffer at my hand, she continued her aggressive commentary, far beyond a reasonable point."

Tears flowed down Luna's cheeks. "We know. We feel the same thing. We have grown accustomed to being whipped, but we are powerless to stop her." She dropped to her knees, her face mere centimetres from his groin. "Please, Chief Steelhorn, we humbly beg that you forgive our sister, and do not punish us."

Steelhorn gripped her by the horn and pulled her back to her feet. He then dropped down onto one knee, looking into her eyes. She genuinely cared for her sister, and didn't want to see her suffer, yet knew that such love was not reciprocated by her own flesh and blood. "Do you swear to me that all of your actions henceforth will be for the good of Equestria and its people?"

Luna nodded. "Of course we do. We have always loved Equestria. Even when Equestria has hated and shunned us. We have, in the past, almost given our life for Equestria."

"Even if what is best for Equestria is to do as I say?"

Luna nodded again, but said nothing. Steelhorn gave her a tender kiss, which she was happy to return. As he stood back up, he shifted her mane, and removed the ring that had locked the use of her horn for the last month and a half. She was free to cast her spells.

"We do not understand," said Luna. "You are not going to punish us?"

"Punishing Celestia by whipping you only works if Celestia cares what happens to you. It has become abundantly clear that she doesn't care. And so, you shall be the example."

Luna stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Steelhorn's waist. "We thank you for your generosity, Chief Steelhorn."

"Remember this, though," added Steelhorn. "Even though Celestia's direction of punishment is being changed, yours is not. If you try to harm me, or my men, Celestia will be the one to pay the price."

"As will Twilight," nodded Luna, smiling up at him. "You needn't worry. We will behave ourself. We know you are only doing as little harm as you must."

"You are also free to leave the castle as you so need. You are not to leave the city yet, and you must be escorted by a guard or one of my men, but I'm sure your people would love to see you when I'm not around. You can even use your magic among them, to set their minds at ease."

Luna bowed. "Thank you, Chief Steelhorn."

Steelhorn turned and walked out the door. "Good night, Princess Luna."

As they walked down the hall to where Twilight was staying, Boneshatter spoke up. "Are you sure that was a good idea, chief? You've given our captive a weapon."

Steelhorn stopped and turned around. "Do you remember the campaign my father lead seventeen years ago? He'd captured an enemy Buckwheat trying to kill him in his sleep. He arranged for a prisoner exchange, and when the enemy officer arrived in the ceasefire zone, he killed the prisoner right there, claiming that the prisoner we had was so useless that he may as well be dead. The prisoner pleaded with my father for days to let him go before that, but afterward, he just sat in his cage, not doing anything, until he became chummy with one of the guards. When a hole was blown in the side of the cage, that prisoner picked up a sword and fought for us, against his own countrymen."

"And you think Luna will do the same?"

Steelhorn shrugged. "This is a different situation. That prisoner fought for us because we cared more about him than his own family did. Luna will likely do much the same, but without the need to have her citizens trying to kill her. We can trust her to do the right thing, I think."

"I hope you're right," sighed Boneshatter as he resumed walking.

"I hope I'm right, too," mumbled Steelhorn under his breath.

Chapter the Twentieth: Punishment

Twilight sat patiently in her room. She had heard tales of minotaurs going into anger-fueled fury, but had never seen it with her own eyes until today. She'd have jumped to Celestia's aid in the past, but with no magic, no friends and no elements of harmony, she had no chance. Even so, Celestia's words were deplorable. Twilight knew she was just doing what she thought was best for Equestria, but to insult such a volatile creature who held such immense power...

Twilight was drawn from her thoughts by the opening of the door. She looked up to find Steelhorn and Boneshatter stepping into her room and gently closing the door. The priestess that had been watching over Twilight stepped away, finding a spot by the wall to stand. Twilight was unsure what awaited her, but it couldn't be good.

Twilight stood and faced Steelhorn. "Before we begin, I'd like to apologize. I've made it no secret that I don't want want you here, and I've said and done many things in an attempt to make you leave. In spite of this, I think Celestia made a crucial misstep in insulting your people. That was simply too far. However, while I forgive you your outrage, I cannot condone the actions that followed."

"Nor can I," nodded Steelhorn. "What you saw was the base instinct of a wounded warrior. It is not the precision that a seasoned warrior wields. It is action without thought, an unconscious movement, and I remember none of it. It is the same manner of rage that claims the lives of many warriors. I pride myself on being resistant to such a state."

"I provide medications that help him to control it," added the priestess. "Most of them can be ground into a dust and used to make tea."

"Nevertheless, I have come to you, not to deliver a punishment, but instead to offer a gift."

Twilight was shocked. "A gift?"

"Yes, a gift. You are to be given a citizen from the Hornburg."

Twilight shook her head. "I don't need another assistant. I have one, back home in Ponyville. A dragon, if you can believe that."

"Will you not, at the very least, meet them? Have a conversation with them?"

Twilight shook her head. "I'd rather not meet another minotaur for quite some time."

Steelhorn grinned an evil grin. "It will be many months before they arrive. When you see them, you can look them right in the eye. If you then choose to send them away, they will return to the Hornburg with me."

"I'd really rather not."

Steelhorn gripped Twilight's wrists, pushing her down and pinning her to the bed behind her. "I'm not giving you a choice. You are going to meet them."

Twilight said nothing, but her eyes spoke for her. They showed fear and acceptance. They then showed confusion as the priestess took control of her wrists and Boneshatter began ripping off her clothes. Finally, as Steelhorn's cock slid out of its sheathe, they showed realization, as she now knew how he would give her a citizen.

Twilight squirmed and wiggled, kicking as hard as she could to dissuade the minotaur from doing this horrible thing. Steelhorn countered her kicks by grabbing at her ankles. Boneshatter took control of one so that Steelhorn had a free hand with which to guide his tip.

While he had been gentle with Luna, she had earned it. She had behaved herself, and had also accepted the method. Twilight had given him credit where due, but had lambasted him at every turn. She had offered little in the way of good faith, and was now actively fighting him. He would plant his seed, whether the fertile ground would give way or not. If he had to be rough, then so be it.

Once he was inside, Boneshatter stepped back. Steelhorn now had both hands, and could easily control Twilight's legs. She'd managed to find her voice, and was now begging and pleading for him to stop. While he had become desensitized to the cries of the Equestrian Princesses, he still had an inkling of pity. Had Luna also been here, begging him to stop his current actions, there was a chance he might have listened. Alas, the nature of the Equestrian citizens prompted him to keep going, as they would never learn if he didn't teach them.

Twilight was much tighter than Luna, being a smaller pony. This caused Steelhorn to push harder, trying to force himself further in. He didn't manage to fit the entire thing inside, but he was deep enough to have opened her cervix. He could go no deeper without causing permanent damage. He needed go no further, and thus began his thrusting.

Twilight was in terrible pain. She wasn't a virgin, as she was well into her thirties, but stallions weren't made this big. Even so, she'd never been with a larger stallion, anyway. She was more turned on by intelligent conversation than she was by size. She wondered if she'd ever be able to feel anything again after this. She certainly would have trouble clamping down on a stallion in the future. They wouldn't stay with her for long, that much was certain.

Steelhorn was having his own trouble. Twilight was uncomfortably tight, and was making it difficult to reach his climax. It was difficult to even move sometimes. That said, this would be the most difficulty he would have injecting a child into one of the princesses. Even if this one didn't take, the next attempt would be inside of an already stretched-out vagina. There was something to look forward to.

As his pleasure began to ramp up, his testicles squeezed themselves, and a hefty load of sperm shot deep into her uterus, filling her to capacity and beyond, once more coating his testicles in a spray of overflowing semen. He pulled out, lowering Twilight's legs to the bed. She was no longer fighting him, having lost all of her energy to do so.

Steelhorn stepped back, admiring his work. "In about nine months, you will give birth to my child. It won't replace the one I've just lost, but it will further cement my right to rule, and will grant you extra support from the Hornburg, should you need it. It is the greatest gift I can give."

Twilight said nothing. She instead curled up in the fetal position and wept. Shaking his head, Steelhorn left the room.

"I think that's all we need do tonight," said Boneshatter, as he and Steelhorn made their way into the bathroom. "We can continue tomorrow."

Steelhorn nodded. "Agreed. Besides, there's something I want to have made before we advance."

"Oh?"

"I'm still working out the details in my mind, but I'm beginning to put together a grand idea. One that will specifically cater to what Celestia said to set off this chain of events."

Boneshatter slipped down into the warm water. "Is this going to be harmful?"

Steelhorn began to rinse himself in the shower. "Not permanently. Perhaps not at all. But it's certainly worth a shot."

Chapter the Twenty-First: The Box

Steelhorn hadn't slept that night. He had opted to stay awake, using his hands to create, rather than to destroy. It was good for his mental health, even if it was harmful to his blood pressure. As the sun arose, he'd just finished putting on the final touch. It wasn't completely finished yet, as it would still need to be decorated, but for now, he'd designed and constructed a large box on wheels with a hole drilled on one side. He'd just sanded down and blunted all the sharp edges when Hardtusk came in, rubbing his eyes.

"Good morning," he yawned. "Up all night?"

Steelhorn said nothing, but turned to face his subordinate. The bags under his eyes were a sufficient answer.

Hardtusk chuckled. "Join the club, we have badges." He waved a scroll in front of him. "I've finished your letter to the Snowcaps. Would you care to read it, or--"

"No," interrupted Steelhorn. "I trust you did it right. After all, it was your family that was attacked."

"Yours, as well."

Steelhorn stood up. "I know. I'm trying to put it out of my mind for now. I will come to grips with it soon, but for now, I need to keep moving forward. You may speak for me as far as relations with your home are concerned."

Hardtusk nodded. "So, what kept you up all night?"

Steelhorn opened the lid of the wooden box to show the inside. It was lined with padding to keep its cargo safe from jostling. From several points along the walls came leather straps with tension clasps. Around the hole drilled into the side was a leather pad with a hydrophobic coating.

"All night, Celestia's words have been echoing in my head. Her blatant disrespect for those who would lay down their lives to protect her has given me an idea. If she has no respect for them, then let them show her a lack of respect."

Hardtusk was confused. "How does this show her a lack of respect?"

Steelhorn grinned a devilish grin. "You shall see."

After breakfast, Hardtusk and Scrimshaw escorted Steelhorn down into the dungeon where Celestia was still tied up. She was exhausted, having not slept all night because of the pain in her feet caused by the torturous position she was in. As the minotaurs wheeled the box into the cell, she wondered what was in store for her.

As the gag was pulled out of her mouth, Celestia coughed. "Luna and Twilight must have really pissed you off, if thi--"

A different gag was shoved into her mouth. This one was a ring gag, allowing sound to travel through it, among other things. Celestia was lifted from the floor and placed into the padded box. As her limbs were unbound one by one, they were secured with the leather straps to the sides of the box. Her ring gag was then tightened against the hole in the side. As the box closed, the only part of her exposed to open air was the inside of her mouth.

The latches were closed and locked keeping the princess secured in place as they wheeled her out of the dungeon. She could hear the muffled voices of the minotaurs, but could not understand them through the wooden box. All she knew for certain was that she was not going to be able to move for awhile, and they wanted her mouth open.

After what felt like half an hour, the cart stopped. She couldn't smell anything, as her nose was inside the box, but the air coming in tasted foul. Suddenly, the muffled voices came back. What's worse, there were several more now. A few dozen, at least. Steelhorn spoke for a short while, then presumably stuck one of his rancid fingers against her tongue. She tried to pull away, but was bound tightly to the wall. She had nowhere to pull away to, either. She had to accept his horrid flavor.

He pulled it out a moment later. Unable to close her mouth, Celestia couldn't spit out the taste. There was a bit more speech, then some cheering for some reason. Silence once again enveloped her, and she waited. She didn't have to wait long, as something firm and thick shoved its way into her throat. She choked a bit at first, but after some adjustment, she found the best way to help herself keep breathing. After a few more thrusts, she finally figured out what was invading her body. It was a cock. Steelhorn had turned her into a sex toy for himself and his minotaur buddies.

In actuality, he had not intended for his shield-brothers to use the box. He'd made it too small for that. They would have to crouch down uncomfortably just to align themselves, and then end up stuck in the tight hole. This was not meant for them, but for the soldiers that protected the city. Just the males for now. Steelhorn would later gift the female guards with something to relax them when he thought of what they would enjoy. A spa day would have been a nice choice, except that this was meant to also punish Celestia.

Steelhorn sat and watched as stallion after stallion came down Celestia's throat. As the guards were operating on rotating shifts, some came back after their shifts covered in sweat. With a bit of encouragement, they jumped right into line, giving their extra salty fluids before washing up.

At the end of the day, Celestia had sucked off nearly every single male guard in Canterlot. There were some who vehemently refused, most of whom were happily married. More than a hundred would go to bed satisfied tonight. Not a single one of them suspected who might be inside the box, as Steelhorn had chosen only to describe her as "a first-class whore." The minotaurs wheeled her back to her cell, where her box was opened once again. Having been tied up for the last twenty-five hours, Celestia had voided her bladder multiple times throughout the day, leaving the bottom cushion soaking wet and stained yellow. Celestia's coat was matted backwards where she was bound, showing clear evidence of her struggle to pull free, to no avail.

Steelhorn released Celestia's face from the side of the box, then lifted it to point at him. The princess, still blindfolded, did not turn away. She was treated to a light dribbling of water from a flask, to wash out the taste of so many cocks and to rehydrate her. The gag was removed a moment later.

"This is the treatment we are obligated to thrust upon you," said Steelhorn in a calming voice. "I may not be allowed to kill you, but I can make your life a living hell. You've just experienced a taste of the second circle. There are seven more levels to descend. Are you sure you want to keep up this course of action?"

Celestia couldn't speak. Her throat was too sore, having been rubbed raw. It was taking almost everything she had to keep from vomiting up all the semen she'd swallowed throughout the day. The muscles in her jaw wouldn't allow her to close her mouth. She had tried to bite down on the ring so often that there was a large indent on the roof of her mouth. She'd never been so low before.

Steelhorn checked her vitals, and found that she would be fine. He ordered Boneshatter and Arrow to wash her off and put her to bed. No tying up, this time, just put to bed. He would deal with her tomorrow, but for now, the box needed to be moved, and Steelhorn and Hardtusk were in desperate need of sleep.

Chapter the Twenty-Second: Acceptance

Steelhorn rolled out of bed, picking up his mace and shield and slipping them into his harness. He'd slept well the night prior, having been exhausted from being awake for so long. Of course, his companion had made it a bit easier to have a restful sleep.

"Good morning," smiled Luna, rolling over to look at Steelhorn. "How was your rest?"

"Very lovely," replied Steelhorn, leaning down to kiss her. "What a wonderful suggestion you made. Your bed was very comfortable"

Luna chuckled. "Being a princess has its perks. You can sleep in a nice bed. All you have to do to earn that is to watch over and protect the dreams of all of Equestria."

"A fine trade," nodded Steelhorn. "Is that why I had such a pleasant dream last night?"

Luna blushed and looked away. "Mayhaps..."

Steelhorn gave her another kiss before heading for the door. "I'll see you at breakfast."

After a lovely meal, Steelhorn took Scrimshaw and Hardtusk down to the dungeon to check on Celestia. She was awake, sitting curled up on the bench in her cell. She looked up as they entered, but did not move or speak. Steelhorn approached, dropping down to meet her eye level. In his hand he held a peace offering, a canteen of cold water.

"Are you going to behave yourself?" he asked, unscrewing the cap. "Or would you like to spend another day in the box?"

Celestia snatched the canteen, thirstily gulping it down. When it was empty, she dropped it on the bench. Her breathing was ragged, as her throat was still sore.

"I'm not taking silence as an answer this time, princess," growled Steelhorn. "I need a verbal response, or you're going back into the box."

"No," coughed Celestia. "I'll behave. Don't put me back in the box." Her voice was coarse and rough, and very unbecoming of a princess.

Steelhorn smiled. The look in Celestia's eye was that of a broken pony. He had seen it in Arrow's eye the day he had joined up. With any luck, Celestia would stay compliant this time. There would be no need for the box in the future.

Steelhorn stood up. "I leave you for the day in the capable hands of Scrimshaw and Hardtusk. Your actions harmed them significantly, and you will be made to apologize to them. If they accept your apology, you will be gifted a citizen of the Hornburg. I will return shortly with some food for you."

Steelhorn left, and Scrimshaw took command. He sat down next to Celestia, placing a hand on her thigh. "How do you plan to apologize to us?"

"The same way I always do," answered Celestia. "I will tell you I'm sorry."

"And then what?"

Celestia looked insulted. "I just told you I was sorry. That's what an apology is."

Hardtusk shook his head. "That's not an apology. Sorry is a feeling. Saying 'I'm sorry,' conveys the same level of apology as 'I'm happy,' or 'I'm angry.' It doesn't mean anything to the creature you talked at."

"It makes a good start," argued Scrimshaw, "but alone it means jack shit. A proper apology contains four parts, and feeling guilt is only the first of four parts. It is also the least important of the four parts. Honestly, if you're skipping parts of the apology, that's the part you need to skip."

"I'd even argue that the second part could be skipped," Added Hardtusk, leaning against the far wall. "Feeling guilt and pinpointing what you did wrong are optional if you feel what you did was right. The last two steps are the only necessity in that case."

"And what are these last two steps?"

"The third is promissory," answered Scrimshaw. "You make a vow to set things right."

"Then you hold to that promise," finished Hardtusk. "That's the final step."

"The whole thing can be done without words," added Scrimshaw. "You bump into someone, then pick them up. Not a word spoken, but all four steps taken."

Celestia looked confused. "How is that an apology?"

Hardtusk smiled. "Step one, feel guilt. Step two, realize what you did wrong. Step three, offer to help them to their feet. Step four, help them to their feet. What you did with your apology was to feel guilt, then leave them on the floor while running off to knock over another person down the line."

"You took no responsibility for your actions, so I ask again, what is your plan to apologize to us?"

Celestia remained silent. She had no idea how to make this right.

"Do you have no plan to apologize?"

Celestia shook her head. "I wouldn't know where to begin."

Hardtusk closed his eyes and sighed. "Step two is to realize what your mistake was. Surely you've had time to think back and realize why we're angry with you?"

Celestia cocked her head to the side. "I insulted you."

Scrimshaw nodded. "And how do you intend to fix that?"

"By blowing you," Celestia chuckled. She had intended for it to be a joke, but it didn't come across as such.

"What a wonderful idea," smiled Scrimshaw, standing up and moving in front of her. As his cock slid out of his sheathe, she remembered that step four was to follow through. As she opened her mouth to object, it was filled with minotaur cock. As her tongue worked around it, she realized that it was vastly different from the stallions of yesterday, and a fair amount larger. Only now did she realize that she hadn't had a minotaur inside of her the previous day.

Hardtusk was not the most patient of minotaurs, nor were minotaurs the most patient of creatures. He had learned patience in the Hornburg, but that could only do so much. He didn't want to wait for his little brother to finish. Instead, he reasoned that Celestia was tired of giving head, and would like to do something that didn't risk her already damaged throat. He lifted her tail, prompting a panic from her as he spit on her arsehole. As his finger began to spread the makeshift lubrication, she tried desperately to close up her tail, but it was no use. Her hands were too busy with gripping the younger brother.

Hardtusk slipped in with ease, able to go balls deep on his first good thrust. Celestia had definitely taken a cock up her arse before. Not anything this big, but she clearly knew to relax her sphincter as he pushed in. Her body seemed to enjoy this sort of treatment, as an involuntary moan cascaded up her throat, vibrating her tongue against Scrimshaw's shaft.

The two continued to drill her from both ends until long after Steelhorn returned with Celestia's food. By the time Hardtusk shot his load into Celestia's arse, she had soaked his testicles in her discharge. As she swallowed Scrimshaw's seed, he pulled away and took his seat on the bench next to Steelhorn.

"I think I'm willing to aceept that apology," he chuckled, out of breath.

"As am I," smiled Hardtusk, pulling away.

"What excellent news," smiled Steelhorn. "Congratulations, Celestia. You've earned your forgiveness. Now, it's time I gifted you a citizen..."

Chapter the Twenty-Third: Cry for Help

Rainbow Dash flew over the houses of the Crystal Empire. The chill wind kept her from flying too high, as she hadn't taken the time to dress for the occasion. She was going to see royalty, yes, but this was not a social call. She arrived at the entrance to the palace only to be stopped by the guards at the door.

"Halt!" one of them said, showing off his sword. "With the current crisis, the palace is not accepting visitors. You can come back another time."

"Let me through." growled Rainbow. "I have news for the princess regarding her sister-in-law. Prince Shining Armor's younger sister is in need of aid."

The guards looked at each other, then back to Rainbow. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course I'm sure! Look at this!" Rainbow reached into her satchel and pulled out a scrap of paper. The paper had six lines of library call numbers. "These are the six books she asked Spike to prepare for pick up. That's proof that she needs aid!"

One of the guards raised an eyebrow. "Is it, though?"

Rainbow was starting to become frustrated. "Just show this list to Shining Armor! He'll believe me!"

The guard sighed. "This is a waste of time... Fine, I'll see if he has the time to deal with you." The guard took the scrap of paper and entered the palace. Rainbow stood outside the doors, tapping her foot impatiently.

The remaining door guard was growing annoyed by the tapping. "You know, it's unlikely you'll be allowed into the palace, even with this 'evidence' you brought. Why don't you find a place to rest? I'm sure we have a cot available in one of the longhouses."

"Not necessary," Rainbow huffed. "Shining Armor will listen to me."

"I don't think he will. You'll be lucky if he doesn't have you hauled off for harassing his guards."

Suddenly, the door swung open. Prince Shining Armor himself was standing there. The remaining door guard smirked and prepared to have Rainbow escorted away, but that's not what Shining Armor ordered.

"I need more information, Rainbow Dash. Come with me."

Blowing a raspberry at the guards, she followed Shining Armor to a large rotunda with a round table in the middle. Cadance was already there, staring at the scrap of paper. "It's very odd that she'd pick this order to ask for these six books," she puzzled. "She would have reordered these to be alphabetical before sending this note."

"Or reverse order," added Shining. "That way Spike would go from one end of the library to the other, rather than having to rush back and forth. That's very odd of her to do."

"Spike thought it was weird, too. But he gathered the books anyway. In proper shelving order, of course. The books were all picked up and taken to Canterlot." Rainbow reached back into her satchel and pulled out another sheet of paper. "These are the names of the books."

Cadance read each of the books names aloud. "Pressed into Service, a romance novel. Levels of Saturation in Soil in Regards to Growing Tomato Plants. That's a farming reference guide. Herbs of Southern Course, more farming. Simple Recipes for Young Mares, a cook book. Universally Accepted Mathematics, a treatise on maths. Encyclopedia of Eggs. That's a very odd selection of books."

"That's just the order Spike shipped them in. The order Twilight asked for them was this." Rainbow rearranged the list so that the call numbers aligned with their books. She then pointed to the first letter in every title. The new order read "HELPUS." Cadance and Shining Armor looked at each other. "Twilight's a smart mare. If she were being held captive, and that was kept under wraps, she'd have to be very careful to send out her plea without being noticed. She made a string of odd decisions when asking for her books, and the order she chose was her way of making sure we found her message. She's in terrible danger! We have to save her!"

Shining Armor slammed his fist on the table. "We couldn't agree more. Twily needs us. We can't just leave her there."

"Hold," Cadance called, raising her hand. "While I agree that it would be a good idea to go save our dearest Twilight, I don't know if we can. Many of the Crystal Empire's guards are overworked as it is, as we've more than doubled our population in the past two months. On top of that, we've received reports that Canterlot has been fortified significantly, and its soldiers better trained. We don't have the forces necessary to storm the castle."

"Twily is trapped in the castle, Cadance!" shouted Shining Armor. "We can't just leave her locked in the dungeon!"

"And I don't plan to!" retorted Cadance. "She's my family, too, Shiny! I'm not saying we leave her there, I'm saying a frontal assault would be suicide. I'm reluctant to go in and bring her out myself, as well. Whatever they did to capture Twilight, it must have been very clever. Twilight may be naïve, but she's also very smart. If I go to Canterlot castle to negotiate for her return, I may fall victim to the same trick that captured her. I am Equestria's final princess not under duress. I owe it to the crystal ponies, as well as all the Equestrian refugees, to stay here in the crystal palace, safe from this minotaur regent."

A tear ran down Rainbow's cheek. "So that's it then?" Her voice was starting to crack. "Twilight stays a captive, and we do nothing about it?"

Shining Armor scowled. "No. I'm sending out missives. All guard posts in the Crystal Empire will begin recruiting at twice the rate. We may not have the numbers to march on Canterlot, but we will soon." He pulled out a fresh scrap of paper, beginning his order.

"I'll send out orders to the current guards," nodded Cadance. We'll have the refugees begin working straight away. Armor, munitions, food... We'll need it all to feed our new army."

Rainbow pumped her fist in victory.

"Don't go celebrating just yet," warned Cadance. "Even if we manage to quadruple our army, we're going to have a hard time making it to Canterlot, and an even harder time breaking through the gates. Plus, if the ponies of Equestria don't adhere to our cause, we'll have many more soldiers to contend with. Until we have a better plan, this is only to bolster our defenses against the minotaurs. We cannot yet take them on."

Rainbow slumped down into her seat. "That sounds suspiciously like giving up."

"It's more akin to playing defensively. We have no idea what's going on in Canterlot Castle. We need to wait and see. Go and rest, now, Rainbow. If you think of anything that might help us speed up this plan, or can help with our survival rate, we'll be here."

"I'll issue an order to the guards that you, Rarity and Pinkie are allowed access to the palace as consultants," added Shining Armor. "You'll be allowed to come and go as you need."

Rainbow stood up and saluted. "If I think of anything, you'll be the first to know." She turned and exited the palace. She was quite upset. She hadn't been able to quiet her mind since Spike called for her help. She needed some time to come up with something. She needed advice, too. Perhaps...

She took off for the Zebrican Kingdom. There was somepony she needed to talk to. Somepony who would, when asked what she should do, would give an honest answer.

Chapter the Twenty-Fourth: Shedding Light

Rainbow flew over the city's canopy, trying to remember where Fluttershy and Applejack lived. A decade prior, Fluttershy and Applejack had been kidnapped, and Big Mac had gone looking for them. He'd disappeared, too, leaving no clues as to their whereabouts. Only two years ago had they reached out to her to reveal where they were, and why they were unable to return to Equestria.

Finally, she found the right house. The mask above the door was apple-shaped, and the royal markings adorning it were in a gradient from red to yellow. Out of the roof sprouted a large, well-cared for apple tree. It was a stark contrast to the buildings surrounding it, which all had nut trees.

Rainbow landed and knocked on the door. It was the middle of the day, so she wasn't sure if she'd be met with a response, but was pleasantly surprised when the door opened and a young filly was there to greet her. "Ms. Dash?"

Rainbow chuckled as the little pegasus leaped into her embrace. "Good to see you again, little Tarte. Your parents home?"

"Daddy and AJ are out in the orchards. Shy's here, but she's with a client right now."

"A client?"

"She should be done in a few minutes. She's been in there for half an hour. Come sit down on the couch, I'm sure she'll be out soon."

Rainbow stepped into the house and had a seat on the couch. She really wanted to talk to Applejack, but perhaps Fluttershy could offer her advice, too. Rainbow and Apple Tarte Tatin began discussing how school was going, how much fun flying was, and other miscellaneous topics for the next ten minutes.

The bedroom door opened and out came two zebra stallions. Rainbow could smell the stench of sex on them as they walked past her toward the door. They said nothing, just smiling and nodding as they passed. The taller of the two seemed to be very well-dressed.

"Give my regards to your fath--" Fluttershy's sentence was interrupted as she entered the room, not expecting Rainbow to be there. She leaped back, her wings flapping around quickly to cover her exposed breasts as her hands covered her face. "D-Dashie?"

Rainbow looked over to where Fluttershy was standing. By now, Rainbow knew that Fluttershy serviced stallions for money, but it was a different thing entirely to see her wearing a completely sheer voile top with nothing underneath, and a white dribble dripping from her chin behind her veil. Most shocking of all was how little an effect it had on her daughter. Rainbow did some blushing of her own. "I'll just wait here for a moment while you find a shirt..."

Five minutes passed while Fluttershy cleaned up and stepped into a set of flannel pyjamas. On her return to the living room, she brought out some roasted chickpeas and a pitcher of limeade as an apology for the shock. "I wasn't expecting you to show up today," Fluttershy admitted. "I would have done my laundry yesterday so I had something to wear for your visit."

"It's fine," waved Dash, munching on a handful of chickpeas. "I didn't really give you any warning, either. I just kinda showed up."

Fluttershy began pouring the limeade into a glass for her friend. "So, how's life in Ponyville?"

Rainbow swallowed. "I'll be honest with you, it's been terrible for the last two months. Some minotaurs have moved in, and they've pretty much taken over the whole kingdom."

"Oh my," Fluttershy poured a second glass for her daughter. "Do you think the princesses know?"

"Of course they know," answered Rainbow. "The minotaurs took control of the kingdom by kidnapping them. They're being held hostage at Canterlot Castle!"

"All of them?"

"All but one. Cadance is still in the Crystal Palace. There hasn't been a move to take over the empire yet, but I can almost see it coming. I just know that they're going to try conquering the crystal ponies next. I can feel it in my bones."

Fluttershy sat back in her chair. "I'm sorry, Rainbow. I wish I could help you, but I'm not a combatant. I wouldn't know where to begin. All I can do is offer you comfort and maybe some restorative aid.

Rainbow nodded. "I know. Even if you and Applejack were to come out of hiding, and we still had the Elements of Harmony, we'd still be out of luck, because Twilight's been captured. We're trying to think of something that can bolster the crystal empire enough so that we can go to Canterlot and rescue the princesses. On top of that, the minotaurs have significantly increased the defensive measures of Canterlot, making it incredibly difficult just to enter the castle, much less to look around." She sighed. "I was really hoping Applejack would be around. I feel like she'd know what to do in this situation."

Fluttershy's blush returned. "You might want to wait until after her shower before you try to talk to her."

Rainbow waved it off. "Applejack always had a bad odour wafting about her. It's a sign of hard work and sweat."

"Well, yeah, but these past few days, it's been worse than usual. We needed some extra money for Big Mac, so we've been taking on a few more jobs lately. The one I was working on when you arrived paid particularly well, and he promises to come back tomorrow with the rest of his entourage."

"Wait, wait, wait," Rainbow shouted, shaking her head. "What happened to Big Mac? Why do you need extra money for him?"

"Oh, nothing happened to him," chuckled Fluttershy. "He wants to purchase a few acres of farmland and start up a new apple orchard. The choice of apples around here is limited, so he wants to expand. So many of these zebras have never even heard of a honeycrisp. So Big Mac wants to open it up for them."

"I see." Rainbow leaned forward and took a sip of limeade. "I'm glad you chose to reconnect with me, Fluttershy. I know you want to stay here, and at the moment, I don't blame you. With all that's happening back home, I have to wonder if I wouldn't prefer a life here in the Zebrican Kingdom."

Fluttershy shook her head. "I do, and Applejack and Big Mac do, but I don't think you would, Dashie. Equestria is your home, and I think you'd do just about anything to make sure it stays safe. You're the very embodiment of constancy and allegiance. I think you came here because you're afraid you won't be able to protect those important to you. However, I also think that no matter what, you'll do everything in your power to save Twilight. You're not going to give up, Dash. You're not going to let yourself fail. Even if it costs you everything you have, you won't let the princesses come to any more harm."

Rainbow said nothing. She simply grabbed Fluttershy's wrist and pulled her into a tight hug, which Fluttershy gladly reciprocated. Fluttershy had said exactly what she needed to hear. She even began to rub Rainbow's back when she felt tears running down her shoulder. When Rainbow finally calmed down, she pulled back away from Fluttershy. "If you so much as hint to Applejack that I cried, I'm never talking to you again," she joked.

Chapter the Twenty-Fifth: Diplomacy

Two weeks had passed since Rainbow Dash returned to the Crystal Empire. She was doing her usual flight path of thirty laps around the capitol while she considered options as to how to storm the castle and return the princesses to power. despite their best efforts, recruitment wasn't going well. On top of that, many of the refugees were all either economic leaders or artists. Almost none of them had experience in farming or smithing.

She was called from her thoughts by the sounding of the crystal flugelhorn. It was sounding from the south gate, demanding the attention of a captain or higher. Rainbow didn't fall into that category, but she decided it best that she be in attendance. She flew to the gate, where she saw an approaching army.

Every member of this army was lightly armored, some of them clothed, but mostly not. Their armor consisted of wooden greaves, sabatons and gauntlets. They also carried large wooden shields, which if turned to face one side, could create an armored tunnel through which troops could be funneled safely. The only part they couldn't hide behind their shields were their faces, which had their own forms of shield, by way of large, wooden masks.

As they reached the gate, the leader of the army raised a fist, commanding those behind him to stop. Alone, he stepped forward and removed his mask, the largest and most decorated of them all. It was the taller of the two clients Fluttershy had been servicing when Rainbow had gone to visit. He recognized her as well, smiling and bowing his head in her general direction.

"I hear you're facing minotaurs that have you all afraid. Today, I bring good news, in that I offer you my aid. If what I hear is true, then I request you let us in. If not, we'll turn and walk away, feeling much chagrin."

Rainbow turned to the guard holding the lever. "Open the gate. I'll escort them to the crystal palace."

The captain nodded and the gate was opened. Rainbow flew down to meet the leader as he donned his mask once more and continued into the city, his soldiers breaking formation and beginning the setup for their encampments. There had to be about two hundred soldiers in this party alone. If this was the negotiation party, Rainbow could only imagine how powerful and numerous the rest of the zebra army would be.

Rainbow guided the leader, as well as two of his advisors, to the crystal palace. "What's with the masks?" she asked. "I get that they mean different things, but why are they being worn? Wouldn't it be better if you could see each other's faces?"

One of the advisors turned to face her. His mask had black and red stripes, a black leather bridle, and yellow resin plates covering the eyes. If he could see anything through his mask, it would all be filtered yellow. "We wear these when we go to war. They identify us, no matter the gore."

The second advisor continued. He wore a rounded rhombic mask, blue with white stripes. It was decorated with furs and horns. "We could just carry carved nametags, but these make much more noticeable flags."

When they arrived at the palace, A conference room had been set up, and Cadance and Shining Armor were already waiting for them. "An envoy from the Zebrican kingdom? To what do we owe the pleasure?"

The leader removed his right gauntlet, and shook Cadance's hand. "Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, what a beautiful sight." He turned to shake Shining Armor's hand, as well, "And Prince Shining Armor, her valourous knight." He made his way over to the table and sat down, prompting his followers to do the same. He took off his mask and set it down on the table. "We've come to contend with your minotaur foe. To lay siege to their castle would be terribly slow. My warriors can fight by the light of the moon, meaning you could be reunited with the other princesses soon."

Cadance sat down across the table, with Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash at her sides. "I don't recall sending for your aid. I don't mean that as a complaint, I'm just wondering how you knew we were facing minotaurs."

"I received word from a favoured concubine," answered the leader. "She said her friends' safety was in sharp decline; one captured, the rest frightened by a great bovine. The worry on her face was a troubling sign. To bring back her smile, I'd gladly join your coup. My men, on the other hand, need something more to chew."

Rainbow looked away. She knew he meant Fluttershy, and she knew that Fluttershy had heard it from her. She was glad to know that Fluttershy was watching out for her, but Rainbow had just intended to vent her frustrations and ask for advice. She wasn't expecting an army. On a lesser note, while she wasn't glad that Fluttershy was a sex worker, she did feel a little bit proud that she was a favoured sex worker of a high-ranking zebra such as this.

Cadance shook her head. "Before we go into the negotiations, I'd like to know who you are. You already know who I am, as well as my husband. To my left is Rainbow Dash, we've assigned her as a consultant for her unwavering loyalty."

The leader released a chuckle. "Of course, Princess. What a horrid mistake. To my left is Malakai, charmer of snakes."

Malak stood up and removed his mask, bowing to the princess. "I also dabble in other tasks, as well, but my reptiles' happiness is where I most often dwell."

"On my right is my cousin, Jaxton the grave. Forgive him his coldness, his job's to train slaves."

Jaxton removed his mask for a brusque nod, not bothering to stand or speak.

"Slaves, is it?" Shining Armor had a sour look on his face. "We're not too fond of forcing ponies against their will to do what we tell them. It seems needlessly cruel."

"You don't have to agree with our way of life," replied Jax. "We've found that repeat criminals cause a lot of strife. A system for rehabilitation is good, as it makes them ask whether or not they should. In such, we've reduced our rates for violent crime. All it takes is an investment of my time."

"Well, I still think it's wrong."

The leader stood and bowed. "I am called Jericho, recently returned from a pilgrimage, wherein much was learned. I spoke with the sky, the earth, and the trees. I became one with nature, whom I have now appeased. My army has the will of the earth on our side, and for your cause, her wrath will be plied. She supplies us with strength, which to battle we bring. I shall direct it, as son of the king."

Rainbow's jaw dropped. Fluttershy was sleeping with royalty?

Chapter the Twenty-Sixth: Negotiations

"Now then, to the task as hand," called Jericho. "We are poised to defend your land. However, we shall not work for free. What do you think would be a decent fee?"

Cadance leaned back in her chair and considered it. "It's not a secret that our citizens and yours don't often agree with each other. Certainly, Equestria can claim a few zebra citizens, as well as vise-versa. We have shown in the past that we can come to agreements, but our relationship as countries is not a strong one. I'm not sure what you might want in exchange for your soldiers' efforts."

"We are aware your hands are tied," replied Jax. "With culture differences set aside, the crystal ponies are very rare. We'd ask that some enter our care." Seeing the scowl on Shining Armor's face, he held up a hand so he could continue. "We would not harm them, rest assured, their safety would be quite secured."

Jax's addition did nothing to calm Shining Armor's temper. "The crystal ponies are not to be treated as slaves! They spent enough time under King Sombra's rule, they don't need a repeat performance! Where do you find the nerve to come in here demanding that the crystal ponies become slaves!?"

Cadance placed a hand firmly on Shining Armor's shoulder, and pulled him back into his seat. "What my husband means is that the crystal ponies have endured much in the way of hardship by means of enslavement. They have suffered greatly because of it, and we are reluctant to place them back into bondage. Surely, you can understand that?"

"We certainly do," nodded Jericho, adopting a smile. "We would not dream of marring such a precious gleam. However, we would be remiss if we left our soldiers without their bliss. Can we not reach a compromise? You surely must have some small prize?"

Cadance shook her head. "I'm sorry, but what you are asking is something too grave to give. They are my citizens, and I must protect them. Even the ones that break our laws still have rights. We can't take that away from them. I'm sorry, but we cannot offer you such a gift."

Jericho shook his head. "If that's your final stance, I respect your decision. I trust you've arrived at it with complete precision. If you've nothing to sate us, then it's time that we go. My men and I will be outside your city, encamped in the snow."

"Nonsense," replied Cadance, causing Jericho to look up in surprise. "You shall be granted a room in the castle. We just need to find a way to justify your men working for us, right? We shall meet again tomorrow. I should think of a few options by then."

Jericho bowed. "Of course, princess, it is as you command. We'll meet here tomorrow, a new offer planned. I'm sure we can both benefit from this deal. Whatever you give us, we'll repay with zeal."

The trio of zebras left the room. Malakai returned to the soldiers to relay the situation to them, while Jericho and Jaxton made their way to one of the many guest rooms to discuss their stances.

Shining Armor readjusted himself in his chair. "We can't give away our citizens as prizes. Do you have any idea what the zebras do to their slaves?"

Cadance turned to look at her husband. "Do you? I was unaware that you'd ever been to their cities, let alone interacted with their slaves."

"I know a few of them," volunteered Rainbow. "I've seen Prince Jericho before, when I was in the Zebrican capitol. He was visiting one of the former slaves that still lives there."

Cadance's attention turned to Rainbow. "Are you the one who told him we were in trouble?"

Rainbow shook her head. "I never said a word to him until today. When I passed him last time, I thought he was just some guy in fancy clothes. I didn't know he was a prince."

Cadance nodded. "So, how are the slaves treated?"

"You're not seriously considering this as an option!?" interrupted Shining Armor. "They're people, not property!"

"I've heard your objection, Shiny," nodded Cadance. "I know you're against it. I'm not planning to just hand them over, I just want to know where to draw the line."

"You draw the line at giving the crystal ponies to these slavers! That's too far!" Shining Armor stormed over to the door. "If you find your conscience, I'll be in the barracks." With that, he exited the room, slamming the door behind him.

Cadance returned her attention to Rainbow Dash. "So, how desperate do we need to be before we give in to their demands?"

It was just after sunset now. The zebras staying in the castle had already eaten their dinner, a gift from the princess. Malak and Jax had showered first, leaving Jericho for last. He'd just stepped out of the ensuite bathroom when the trio heard a knock at the door. Covering himself with a towel, Jericho opened the door just a bit to find the princess herself standing outside the door.

"I've come to have a word with you. May I come in?"

Jericho furrowed his brow. "My return from the shower is exceptionally recent. Should I be granted a moment to make myself decent?"

Cadance nodded and closed the door. Two minutes passed, and the door opened back up. Jericho was wearing a thin shirt with half of the buttons undone and the rest so hastily done that they were out of alignment. It was also creased in strange places and wrinkly, as if it hadn't been ironed since being unpacked from a small bag. Sure enough, as Cadance entered, there was a travel bag sitting at the foot of one of the beds, right alongside the shields and masks. Their armor was stored against the wall.

Jericho sat down at the small table in the corner of the room, and invited the princess to take the opposite chair. "Have you come to an arrangement that benefits us both? I should like to see our mutual growth."

Cadance looked deeply into Jericho's eyes. "I want you to tell me the complete truth, Prince Jericho. If you were given a slave who was entirely compliant to your carnal wishes, and would cause you no harm, would you hurt them in any way?"

Jericho didn't break eye contact. He reached forward, taking Cadance's hand in his own. "Compliance in slaves is the most desirable trait. If we didn't have to harm them, that would be great. It's an unfortunate truth that we must face, that this so very rarely the case."

Cadance narrowed her eyes. "But she would be unharmed if she complied with your wishes?"

Jericho nodded. "We may be slavers, but monsters we're not. If she pleases us willingly, she shall want for naught."

Cadance, detecting no lies in his statement, nodded. "In that case, I have an offer for you. Only one slave, but there are a few conditions. First, that she stays here in the Crystal Empire. Every one of us is unique, and it takes all of us to use the protective magic that fuels the empire. She is instrumental to that task. You and your men may come to see her at any time, and if she's not seeing to affairs of state, you may use her body as you so please. She is not to come to any harm from you or your men, unless she breaks this agreement."

Jax shook his head. "You're asking our army in return for one mare? I'm not sure that exchange is so fair. It's unlikely this deal will have us impressed. What makes this mare better than the rest?"

Cadance stood up and took a few steps toward the center of the room. "As princess, it is my solemn duty to protect the citizens of the crystal empire. I cannot give them to you as a gift." Her shoulders shifted, and her dress tumbled to the floor. She turned around and showed her lack of underwear to Prince Jericho. "The mare volunteering to be your sex slave in order to save her entire country is the crystal princess herself."

Chapter the Twenty-Seventh: Agreement

"What do you think of my terms?" asked Cadance, spinning around. Her dress was kicked aside, leaving her in only her jewelry and her shoes. "All of your men in exchange for my compliance in bed."

Jericho leaned back. He'd not considered claiming the princess herself. He was sure that if anything came of this deal, ten crystal ponies with a life sentence would find themselves with a new option. "Two hundred men, and some women as well. Are you certain your body can handle that hell?"

Cadance sat down. "If I have to form lines and service them five at a time, I'd rather do that than harm the crystal ponies. I don't want any harm to come to them, so I must take this route."

"What of your husband?" asked Jericho. "What does he think? Surely this arrangement would cause a big stink. He was adamant that a sentence for life was preferable to enslaving criminals; you're his wife. What makes you so certain that his temper won't rise, when he finds that you're servicing hundreds of guys?"

Cadance turned away. "He'll be exceptionally pissed off, that much is true. I know he won't like this, but he's the one who was so against having our citizens take this burden. He'll have to understand that we must somehow pay the price for using your army to take back Equestria. There are, of course, a few conditions."

Jericho nodded. "Let us hear these conditions before we decide. I'd rather know beforehand whether or not we should take this ride."

"Aside from the earlier conditions involving my staying here, I will give nothing until the objective is complete. Once we have Equestria back in Celestia and Luna's hands, and Twilight is safe, only then will you be gifted with your prize. Starting on that date, I maintain the right to renegotiate this deal every year. If my husband is still livid, he may be willing to grant your request a bit more easily.

"Second, I must still adhere to my royal duties. To that end, I may be unavailable throughout the day, but I will make an effort to afford four hours a night just for this in the beginning. As time goes on, this may change for my health. After all, you promised that you would not harm your slave."

"I did promise that, and I shall keep my word," promised Jericho. "After all, you're just one, and we're a whole herd. However, another condition must be discussed, if our prize is to be you sating our lust. Five sessions, specifically, I'll request in your bed. The last four can be any order, so long as they're fed. The first is the night that we agree and shake hands. That will show us exactly where your experience stands. Three will be granted when the princesses arrive. We'll only collect if they come back alive. The last is for when we take Canterlot Castle. On the day that this happens, I shall cum in your arsehole."

Cadance leaned back. "Just you, or do you plan on bringing friends?"

Jericho smiled. "I'm quite generous to my friends, of course they can join. We'll even provide free contraceptives, so you needn't spend coin."

Cadance nodded. She stood up from her chair and moved over to the bed, where she lay down and spread her legs. "I agree to your terms. Shall we begin?"

Jericho stood and walked to the bed. Standing beside her, he grasped her hand and gave it a firm shake. "It's a deal. You are mine until the sun hits the sky. In the meantime, I'll be committing it to paper with Malakai."

"You're not starting now?"

"Before you can see the prince's erection, you must first satisfy my personal inspection." Jaxton sat down next to Cadance, his hands reaching forward and grabbing her breasts. She flinched, as her instincts demanded, but quickly calmed down. this had been her idea, after all. "Your heart rate is entirely too fast. Calm yourself, this is meant to last."

Cadance nodded and tried to relax. On a carnal level, she was enjoying the act. That much was a good thing. She had just agreed to do this for a year following five sessions, it would be best if she developed a taste for it. Still, her thumb moved to her ring finger, caressing her wedding band to remind her who she really belonged to. She was doing this for him.

Jax's hands moved down her body, caressing every square inch of skin as he went. As his fingers slipped between her legs, she tensed up, biting her lip as he circled her clitoris. She was sure he was about to plunge his fingers in, but he instead continued down her leg, gently massaging her thigh as he went. He didn't stop until her reached her foot.

"A good slave washes before presentation," he chided, taking off her shoe. "An odour can sully your demonstration. Still, there are those who enjoy that sort of thing. Whether it's your feet, your ears, or even your wing." He rubbed her foot, even going so far as to slip his fingers between her toes. There were sweaty bits of lint that needed to be pulled out. He moved on to her other foot, while she tried her hardest not to laugh. She couldn't help it; she was ticklish.

Jax worked his way up her other leg, back to her groin. Now for sure he would stick his fingers in, right? Wrong. He commanded her to roll over, and lie on her shoulders and knees with her wings spread out. His hands ran all over her back and her wings. When he found himself between her shoulder blades, she was unable to stifle a loud moan as her wingtips fluttered. That was a sensitive area for her. Thankfully, he didn't stay for long, running his fingers through her mane and tail. They were luscious and luxuriant. He could run his fingers all the way through without any hint of catch, meaning it would not tangle. With a twist, he could feel its strength. This was very manageable hair.

After checking her arms and finding more ticklish spots in her armpits, he finally slipped his fingers into her pussy. He had no trouble, as the fondling had made her very moist, and she was dripping her musky arousal down her thighs. Her breathing had become laboured, and she was glad to be on a bed. As his fingers explored her caverns, he made sure to caress and massage every bit of flesh he could find. When her pleasure was about to reach a climax, he suddenly twisted his hand around and pressed hard against her clitoral network several times in rapid succession. He knew exactly where to press, how hard to press, and for how long. With little effort, he had caused her to feel immense pleasure to the point where his arm was now drenched in her vaginal discharge, up to the elbow. He withdrew his fingers for a taste.

As she caught her breath, she was presented with the contract. It was already signed by Jericho, meaning it was her turn. As soon as her hand stopped shaking, she signed it. If this was to be the way she was treated in the future, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad after all.

Chapter the Twenty-Eighth: Prince Charming

Jericho climbed on top of Cadance. Until the sun arose, she would have to do whatever he asked. He could live out any of his wildest fantasies, and she could do nothing to stop him. She shivered, suddenly afraid of what she'd just done. She wasn't calmed when he shoved his tongue into her mouth. He tasted mildly bitter and smoky. His saliva was rich and smooth, very different from the taste of her husband.

As he pulled away, he noticed the look on her face. "You're frightened of what this night may hold. I can guess what stories you must have been told. Perhaps you imagine that I'll beat you with a stick, or make you eat your own excrement off of my dick while my cohorts and I coat you in all of our piss. A terrifying thought, but consider this: I've been with countless slaves since my age of consent. All of my sickest of fetishes have been spent. I've tasted the hard stuff, and I think you'd agree, it doesn't do much for pleasuring me. Now, before we begin, a contraceptive is needed. Unless you want my child, this step must be heeded."

Cadance looked up at him, not sure if he was being serious, or if he was just trying to make her feel better. She kept quiet, as she was unsure if slaves were allowed to speak in his culture. All she dared was to nod in acceptance. He reached back, receiving a pill from Malak. He slipped it into her mouth, offering her a sip of water from the remnants of his dinner. She swallowed the pill, trusting that his contraceptive would work. She wasn't sure if she wanted to carry a child that didn't belong to her husband.

He spent the next half hour groping her, as Jax had done before. Having watched his cousin's most reactive moves, he knew exactly where her weakest points were, and he focused on those. He was passing the time to give the pill a chance to kick in. As soon as he was certain that is had taken effect, he plunged deeply into her snatch. She was already soaking wet, and her pussy welcomed his cock hungrily.

He started with slow, steady thrusts, quieting her moans by shoving his tongue into her mouth again. She was much more accepting of it this time, having relaxed considerably. As he broke away from the kiss, he hooked his elbows around her knees, pulling her back onto him and away from the headboard. As he began to pick up his pace, he suddenly jerked his head to the side. A moment later, Cadance found something new to quiet her moaning, as Malakai had stripped down, and was now sitting where her head had been, his heavy balls giving off a powerful musk that filled her nostrils, intoxicating her with lust. The slapping of Jericho's hips against her thighs became more pronounced as she was becoming more aroused.

Without any instruction, she took Malak's turgid penis into her mouth and sucked it down her throat. While she had some experience with deepthroating, this was a brand new experience. Shining Armor had a very sweet taste to him, and a nectarous scent to match. The zebras had a more savory taste, and an herbal, earthy scent. It wasn't wholly unpleasant, but it did not suit her tastes very well. Perhaps it was an acquired taste?

She was surprised at how deep she could take Malak. Granted, he was smaller than the prince, but he was still fairly large. She'd gagged on smaller cocks before, so how was she not choking this time? Could it be that she was upside down? Perhaps the fact that her throat was more open in this position? Maybe it was because she had a larger cock drilling into her pussy, distracting her from her mouth. She couldn't test out these answers now, she was slowly losing her ability to focus as the Zebras continued.

Out of nowhere, Jericho picked up his pace significantly. He was no longer going for long thrusts, instead keeping them short and quick. He stopped suddenly, and as Cadance felt the throbbing of his member, he shot the first load of the night directly into her waiting womb. He didn't stick around, retreating from the bed only to be immediately replaced by Jax, who was now free to enter with more than just his hands. There was no recovery time for Cadance, as she was filled with a fresh cock immediately.

When it came time for Malak to finish, he pulled out, bringing the princess's hands to his throbbing erection and tightening testicles. She began to masturbate him, keeping his tip aimed precisely at her tongue. She was enjoying herself, that could not be denied anymore, and she wanted to know if their semen tasted different from a pony's. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the flavour was very similar to that of her husband, with a few key differences. The key to her pleasure in this experience was in the contrasting flavours of the members. Whereas Shining armor was sweet followed by salty, Malak had been savory followed by salty with a hint of sweet. Fellating a zebra was more akin to a meal with dessert, instead of her husband's snack before supper.

All of them took two turns with her, each finishing in her mouth once and in her pussy once, though only Malak was in that particular order. She was well satiated into the night, having reached multiple climaxes. When they were done, it took everything she had to not pass out. Jericho removed her tiara, setting it on the nightstand.

When she woke up, she found herself sleeping in a bed with three zebras. She turned her attention to the window, noting that the sun was already in the sky. She was no longer bound to Jericho's commands, until one of the other princesses was saved, or Canterlot was reclaimed. Still, as she moved out of the bed, she looked back at the three nude stallions that were still snoring, and had to admit that last night had been fun. She made her way to the bathroom, having a shower to wash away the flood of jizz that had matted down her coat in odd directions. Once clean, she dried off, donned her shoes, dress, and tiara, rolled up the agreement that she'd signed, and waved to the awakening Jericho as she strode out of the room.

She found Shining Armor in their shared bedroom, pacing on the balcony. When she entered, his attention turned to her. "Where have you been all night?"

Cadance stood tall. "I have been to speak with Prince Jericho. We spent the entire night working out an arrangement, and with my signature on this document, I now have their word that they will fight on our behalf."

Shining Armor scowled. "You gave away our Citizens!? Cady, how could you!?"

Cadance raised a hand and closed her eyes. "You misunderstand, Shiny. I gave them none of our citizens, nor have I offered them the citizens of Equestria. All of our civilians are safe from impressment. Our soldiers, too. I convinced them to take something else."

With those words, the smile returned to Shining Armor's face. He walked up and hugged his wife. "Thank you for doing that. I can't imagine what would happen to those they took as slaves. So, what did they end up settling for?"

Cadance gave her husband a deep kiss, allowing him to taste the remnants of zebra still in her mouth.

"Me."

Chapter the Twenty-Ninth: Fort Shire

Jericho wrapped his sabatons in navy blue cloth. He would be leading a five-man strike team comprised entirely of zebras to take over the first of three fortresses blocking his path to Canterlot. He'd spent the last four days sitting idly by and watching how the ponies inside moved around. They were minotaur tactics, of that he was sure. Tonight, they would be changing their allegiances.

As Jericho was securing his armour, Shining Armor entered his tent. "This isn't going to work, you know. They're going to see through your plan within moments. You're only going to succeed in killing our soldiers."

"You have too little trust in me, Crystal Prince. When this is successful, I hope you'll be convinced."

"Let's go over your plan one more time. You're going to have all of your zebra forces act as a plate covering for the crystal soldiers while we batter their portcullis with a ram, which we're only allowed to use lightly because you don't want to damage the gate. Meanwhile, you and four of your buddies are going to disappear up the mountain to watch the battle from above. Is that about right?"

Jericho furrowed his brow. "Not at all, you misunderstand. While your efforts will be low, the result will be grand. You cause the distraction, bringing all eyes to you. While you have all the attention, myself and my crew will storm their keep while they're looking away. We shall have you all inside by the break of day."

"It's not going to work," Shining Armor reiterated. "They have countless arrows that they'll rain down on us. Do you have any idea what a murder hole is?"

Jericho nodded. "As long we keep our shields in the air, from rocks and arrows we needn't despair. If your fear is that we'd be scalded in oil, it's freezing tonight, it'll take time to boil. We'll be done very quickly, you needn't be worried. This blockade will be ours in a manner most hurried."

With a scowl, Shining Armor stormed out of the tent. He hated Jericho, but with his wife's decrees, he had to cooperate with him. Jericho's plan was a good one, anypony could see that. Shiny was just trying to upset him to the point where he would make such a misstep that he was no longer fit to run the crystal army. That would put Shining Armor back in charge of the military, where he belonged. It was of no matter now. He could only do as he was told and hope the losses would be minimal.

Under cover of night, the two groups left, leaving a few dozen soldiers at the camp for the purposes of recuperation should it be needed. Shining's group proceeded with the ram to the gate, while Jericho lead his group up the mountain next to the fort. they would drop in from above and behind, capturing the fort's commander and relieving him of his post.

There was no signal for when to begin. Shining Armor would have to start when they arrived. If they waited, the drawbridge would close, meaning there would be no siege. As soon as alarm bells started going off, Jericho knew it was time to begin. He slid down the cliff face, landing on top of the guard watching the postern. He wasn't dead, merely unconscious. Propping him up against the wall, he waved for his cohorts to join him. Once they did, they were closer to the command center than any of the guards at the gate. With a cursory glance down into the bailey, he guessed about three hundred Equestrian soldiers, holding down their fort quite easily against a force that wasn't really putting in the effort required to take it.

A hand fell on his shoulder, and he returned to the task at hand. He still hadn't reached the command room yet, so the fight was far from over. Luckily, the guards had taken the bait, and there were only a few light patrols around the back entrance. a small, wrought iron gate at the bottom of a long, thin stairwell did not lend itself to being susceptible to siege engines, and could feasibly be protected by a single archer. To top it all off, the outer entrance was obscured by vines, meaning it was difficult to find unless you knew where it was. Two patrols were taken down silently and non-lethally, setting them gently to the side so as not to cause them accidental harm. These Equestrian soldiers would likely be joining their ranks soon enough, it would not do well to kill them.

Jericho reached the main war room and grappled his way up to the window for messenger birds, whether they be pigeons or falcons. The rafters had a few roosts hanging from them, indicating that many messenger birds moved through this particular fort. It would be a fine prize to have control of one of the minotaur's communication network nodes. Jericho slid across the rafters, watching silently as the commander sat at the table, presumably writing up either a report of the incident, or a request for aid. Neither of these would be allowed. Jericho made his way to the wall behind the commander, and slid down one of the banners. Two of his compatriots followed suit. As he landed, the two guards at the door drew their weapons, only to have the last two stealthy zebras drop down on top of them, knocking them out as Jericho grabbed the commander from behind, placing a blade at his throat.

The commander placed his quill on the table and slowly stood up, raising his hands. "I'm not sure what brought you here, but I want you to know that I was just following orders. I never intended any harm on you, whoever you may be. I have a son who needs me to stay alive."

"I know where the guilt lies, don't be afraid. If we wanted you dead, I'd have not stopped my blade." Jericho nodded to his men, who carted the unconscious guards out of the way of the door. "You're to surrender the fort and open the gate. Losing a father shall not be be your son's fate."

The captain nodded and slowly made his way to the door, picking up his pace when the knife was removed from his neck. He was kept in check by a few small crossbows as he made his way out onto the balcony to issue his commands to silence the alarm and open the gate. He also ordered, unprovoked, a stay of weapons, and a return to the barracks for those who were currently missing sleep. As the portcullis rose, Jericho took to the battlements, and looked down at Shining Armor as he entered the bailey. Not a single fatality was recorded in the fortress that night. A few injuries, but nothing permanent. Considering that this was only the first step on their way to Canterlot, tonight was a massive success. There were still a few hours before sunrise, so Jericho adopted a smug grin. He had promised a fortress by morning, and had delivered on that.

Chapter the Thirtieth: Hastening

Steelhorn sat on the throne, watching Luna dance in front of him. She had placed an order with a tailor to have three outfits made. Hers was that of a harem dancer, made from voile and embroidered muslin. Celestia and Twilight, having opted out of working directly with the minotaurs as much as possible, were gifted instead outfits that made them look more akin to what she assumed sex slaves wore.

As Luna danced, her hands would gently caress her abdomen. She was carrying inside of her Steelhorn's child. She knew it was his because only he had been inside of her thus far. She wasn't showing yet, as it had only been a month since their first intercourse, but she could swear that she felt it.

When her dance finished, she bowed, welcoming the applause of the minotaurs. As she stood back up, she moved over to chief Steelhorn and sat down next to him. She was about to ask what he thought of her display when the throne room doors burst open and an armored pegasus darted to the throne, bowing to Steelhorn as he panted for breath. "Urgent news from Fort Friesian!" he gasped, handing a scroll forward.

Boneshatter took the scroll and opened it, reading through it quickly. "That's another fort fallen. This time, we have a description of the assailants. Apparently, it's a mixed army made up of zebras and crystal ponies."

Steelhorn sighed. "Well, the crystal ponies make sense. That's three forts in almost a straight line between here and the Crystal Empire. There's been no deviance from their path to take cities or farmlands, so I have to imagine it's just meant to be a supply chain feeding the crystal army as they make their way here to lay siege to Canterlot. Congratulations to them for such a bold maneuver, but this is where that line stops."

"Shall we cut off their supply chain?" asked Boneshatter. "A quick pincer movement and we'd have them surrounded and unable to return home."

Steelhorn thought for a moment. He turned to the guard who had brought the message. "To the barracks with you. Take some food, water, and rest. You've earned it."

The guard saluted Steelhorn and made his way out of the room.

"If it were just zebras, then I'd agree to that plan," nodded Steelhorn, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "We'd have little issue in dealing with them. The problem is the crystal ponies. If we were to mount a counteroffensive at this juncture, it would likely be seen as unwarranted aggression. There're a few reasons for not sending out a team to collect Princess Cadance, and one of them was to keep the crystal ponies from becoming involved in the conflict. Culturally speaking, they're still a bit too fragile to be placed under my command."

"So what do you plan to do?" asked Boneshatter. "They're clearly marching across Equestria, taking forts as they go. Should we issue a cease and desist order?"

Steelhorn shook his head. "They've made it clear that this is their destination. We'll put forward a command to our own troops to defend against zebra tactics, and increase the guard count around the princesses. If they're en route to Canterlot, I want them at the gate for an open discussion. No bloodshed unless necessary. I want the support of the Equestrian citizens, so I have to ensure that we don't strike first."

Boneshatter stood up. "I'll make sure the word is spread. We'll not fall to the tactics of zebras." He left the room, taking Arrow with him.

Steelhorn turned to Luna. "I was hoping to avoid this, but it seems there is going to be a real battle in the near future, rather than the mock battle we staged a month ago."

Luna steeled herself. "Say the word, and we shall join you on the battlefield."

"No," he replied, "You're too valuable an asset to risk. If you were to be surrounded and captured, we'd all suffer as a result. You may join me for the negotiations, but after that, you must remember that you are carrying precious cargo." He placed his hand on her abdomen, gently caressing her. "This is the key to good relations between the Equestrians and the minotaurs. This child must be protected."

Luna was hesitant to shy away from the protection of Canterlot, but after a few moments, she nodded. "You are correct, Chief Steelhorn. It is best that we stay back a few steps for our own safety. We entrust the protection of the city to you." She hugged him, whispering into his ear, "Do not disappoint us."

Steelhorn stood up. "We have an estimated three days before they arrive. We need to be ready tomorrow at lunch. I'm not taking any risks unless absolutely necessary. I want the towers capped with lookouts at all hours, ready with the bells tolling the moment they see stripe or shimmer. I am to be alerted the very minute they arrive for discussion from atop the barbican."

Scrimshaw and Hardtusk nodded, exiting the castle to spread the second set of orders. The priestess came forward before Steelhorn could issue a command to her. "I will look into the affairs of the zebras, especially as far as the crystal ponies are concerned. There must be something gluing their alliance together, and if I can find it, we can be rid of the zebras without harming the crystal ponies."

Steelhorn nodded. "Do so. I doubt the ponies of Equestria will willingly cause harm to their crystalline friends, and there may even be a bit of carryover as far as the zebras go. If we can return them to their homes without conflict, that would be ideal."

"In the meantime, you need to rest, milord. If you are to head the negotiations table, you must be ready to hold yourself up. We cannot have a tired leader."

Steelhorn rubbed his forehead. "Have some tea prepared for me. I need to calm myself."

Luna slipped her hand into Steelhorn's. "Have it sent to our chambers. We shall do our best to ensure his sleep is very sound. He shall be in a good mood come sunrise."

Chapter the Thirty-First: The Siege Begins

As Steelhorn predicted, the Zebra alliance was within view of the gates by the following afternoon. Portcullises were dropped, drawbridges raised, and the minotaur leader made his way to the gate to gaze out over his new obstacle. Five pegasi were sent from the city with a message to the invasion force.

---***---

Shining Armor once again made his way into Jericho's tent. "They know we're here," he growled, tossing the scroll onto the collapsible cot. "We should have been stealthier! We could have been inside the city tonight, but you had to make this encampment in view of the city walls and not hide at all!"

Jericho gently opened the missive and read it. "He knew we were coming, shortly after we began. This was a direct approach, in a rather tight span. If he were still unaware of us, he'd be quite the fool. I do not think he is, so it's time we switched tools. No more do we rely on trickery and stealth, we must be known to ask the princesses' health."

"He wants us specifically to go into the castle to discuss the terms of our surrender. As if we'd be stupid enough to fall for a trap like that."

"We are going to be alone with him in a room. You need to keep your temper, or it may spell your doom." Jericho began writing on a scroll of his own. "I'll ask him to meet us on neutral ground. I'll have him bring a princess, to ensure that she's sound. We'll ask her directly how the others are faring, and that will tell us how we should be preparing."

"You're not seriously considering talking to this monster?"

"I am, and you should be in attendance, as well. Assuming, that is, you calm down for a spell." He handed the note to Shining Armor. "Send this back with the messenger post-haste. While we wait for reply, let us make sure we're braced."

---***---

Steelhorn received the missive and read it aloud to the court. "We will meet with you as asked, but we have some conditions. First, we request a change of positions. Instead of the castle, which your forces surround, we would ask a location over more neutral ground. Just outside of your gate, under your battery towers, we have the cover of trees, where we can plant ours. With both sides taking aim, but loosing no arrows, we'll meet you unarmed, harmless as sparrows. Second, we ask that a princess be present. The spreading of rumours, while very unpleasant, has lead us to think that she's under duress. We'd like to see for ourselves, we confess. An inspection would put all of our minds at ease, and we'd like some questions answered, if you please. We hope that this ends quickly, perhaps before it even starts. To that end we await your swift response, hope in our hearts."

Boneshatter shook his head. "Why do zebras always insist on rhyming? It's needlessly complicated. Just say the words that make up your sentence. Don't add in all the extra shit."

"I think it's a dominance thing," Steelhorn replied. "They want to prove that they're better than everyone else at talking, so they adopted that ridiculous mannerism." He rolled up the scroll. "More importantly, what do we think of his terms?"

"I'm remiss to send any of the princesses out with you," answered Hardtusk. "Celestia may be behaving herself now, but it took quite awhile to put her in a cooperative mood."

"Plus, we'd have to explain what happened to her mane," agreed Scrimshaw. "She's definitely out of the question."

"One of the pegasi returning with the note said he interacted with Shining Armor," said Boneshatter. "We could send out Twilight. He'd be so happy to see that she's okay, he'd turn around and go back home. No more crystal ponies to fight with."

"You're all wrong," interjected the priestess. "They wanted an inspection. There's only one alicorn princess that can be trusted without a horn ring. Luna has to go, if any of them."

"Yes, obviously, Luna would be the one to go," growled Steelhorn. "That's the easiest decision. I'm asking if you think we can trust this coalition enough to meet them on equal footing unarmed?"

Boneshatter leaned back in his chair. "That certainly is a good question. All I can confidently contribute is that they didn't shoot the messengers."

"I suppose that's all I can say, as well," admitted Steelhorn. "Alright, I'll send them back a missive. Perhaps we can solve this without weapons."

---***---

The missives went back and forth for an hour, culminating in a meeting being set up. In full view of the gate guards, four zebras set up a tent for privacy with a few chairs and a table inside. When it came time to begin the negotiations, Steelhorn, Luna, and Scrimshaw walked through the portcullis and waited for the drawbridge to drop. Steelhorn was wearing his shirt and coat, as he had left his weapons with Boneshatter. Luna wore a somewhat revealing dress, so as to make clear that she was amenable to inspection. Only Scrimshaw was armed with his throwing weapons and blade, as he was to pat down the other leaders for weapons.

The drawbridge came down, revealing that Shining Armor and Jericho were already waiting for them just in front of the tent. Steelhorn's trained eyes easily picked up the crystal archers hiding behind the trees. There was a slight delay in finding the zebra archers, but he found them. He had to admit, their natural camouflage made them harder to spot at a glance. A massive boon for stealth operations.

Scrimshaw went across the drawbridge first, patting down Shiny and Jerry for weapons. Likewise, Malakai was sent across the drawbridge to pat down Luna and Steelhorn. When both sides gave the okay, Malakai hurried back to the open end of the drawbridge, where he and Scrimshaw were designated to wait until the meeting was over. Steelhorn followed at a pace he deemed to be non-threatening.

As he and Luna stepped down from the drawbridge, Steelhorn's ear twitched. He heard the twang of a bowstring, followed by the whistle of an arrow sailing through the air. As he tried to place the sound, the wooden shaft embedded itself in Scrimshaw's thigh. As he cried out in pain, another arrow flew through the air, this one tearing a hole in the shoulder of Steelhorn's shirt, staining the fabric red with his blood.

There was no time to waste. Steelhorn turned around, grabbed Luna, and rushed back to the gate, ordering the bridge be raised. Scrimshaw managed to climb aboard just in time to keep from being trapped outside, sliding down the wooden planks and collapsing on his injured leg as he landed. The gate closed and the soldiers on the batteries opened fire on the trees as Jericho and Shining Armor beat a hasty retreat. There was no more room for negotiations. Blood had been spilled, and the siege of Canterlot had begun.

Chapter the Thirty-Second: Stalemate

Not much happened over the next several months. The zebras and crystal ponies had built a proper battering ram, though they were unable to bring it to the city gates due to the drawbridges being up. The area just outside the walls was deemed a free fire zone, keeping the zebras and crystal ponies back away from the wall. Likewise, nopony in Canterlot left the safety offered by the walls.

Steelhorn had ordered the surrounding and retaking of the fortresses leading back to the Crystal Empire by as non-lethal means as possible. Having a larger army also meant that he could easily surround the invasion force, keeping them all in one location. He dared not issue the order to attack, opting instead to starve out the crystal ponies and zebras to the point where they would surrender their weapons, and the peace talk could resume.

Neither the crystal ponies nor the zebras were starving, however. Many of the crystal ponies, having been slaves before, were not unaccustomed to hard work, and the zebras, being close to nature, were very skilled agriculturalists. They weren't rolling in food, but through their cooperation, they had barely enough to wait out this siege. There were no large farms inside of Canterlot. The soldiers surrounding them would eat, but Canterlot needed a lot of food, and it would run out eventually.

If there was anything for Jericho to be upset about in this setup, it was Shining Armor's constant complaining. In the beginning, it had been about how the minotaurs had been shot at in transit to the negotiations, something that Jericho had not intended to happen. He had prepared a message to be sent to Steelhorn apologizing for the uncalled for missiles, but when a messenger was sent to deliver the message, they had been issued a warning shot in the form of an arrow landing less than a metre away.

After the messenger returned, Shining Armor's criticisms lay in the fact that Jericho had changed his mind and agreed to meet in the castle, as a form of appeasement for the harm caused. Jericho had tried to explain that they were in the wrong in this case, but Shining Armor was having none of that. After two months into the siege, the direction of complaints changed again to focus on how long this was taking. Every moment they sat and waited was another moment of torture for his sister.

In reality, Twilight was doing better after the siege began than she had been before. She still had to wear the ring that blocked her magic, but the tempers of the minotaurs had calmed since Celestia had been moved to the dungeon, and she'd very rarely been punished. She still wished her freedom, but the beatings had stopped. Although, that may have had something to do with the fact that she was now very pregnant. Being the smallest of the three alicorns of Canterlot, she was showing the most growth.

Scrimshaw and Steelhorn had healed up completely, and Luna had even had the clothing repaired. She and Steelhorn were still hopeful that a surrender was coming soon, unlikely as it seemed to be. Her clothing and demeanor had loosened, and she felt more at ease around him. She cared very much for the child she was carrying, and Steelhorn reflected this by helping her to move around with it.

Celestia was not faring particularly well with her child. It had taken multiple attempts to impregnate her, and even when it did take, there were a few problems with its growth. It was undersize, though that may have been a result of Celestia not eating as much as she used to. Some of her mane had grown back, and a stylist had come in to even it all out again so as to arouse less suspicion when she actually did earn the right to exit the dungeon.

Even the soldiers were under tension. After a week of watching each other, both sides were a bit twitchy. After several months, they'd worked out their own rapport with each other. They had utilized the often underappreciated art of communicating via semaphore to establish a line of non-verbal communication. It did quite a bit of good for both sides, organizing ceasefires for medical professionals to pass freely between the two areas.

The siege had been going on for five months, and Canterlot was beginning to run low on food supplies. Some of the citizens had private gardens, and were doing particularly well, canning, pickling and drying their produce. some of them sold at a high market value, others hoarded and kept their food to themselves, but for most citizens, food was running very low. Steelhorn had set up a system for rationing, but it began to fall apart as the citizens stopped listening. The soldiers soon had their hands full quelling a rebellion inside the wall.

This would have been the perfect time for the invasion force to march on Canterlot, but they were having an internal struggle, as well. This wasn't a fight between the soldiers, but rather because Jaxton had barred Shining Armor's entrance into Jericho's tent, and this had caused a scuffle. The bonds between the crystal ponies and the zebras were growing weaker by the day, and their familiarity with each other was beginning to breed contempt.

This distrust came to a head quickly. One night, as Jericho was personally helping an elderly urologist safely cross the ceasefire zone, Shining approached. He was irate because Jericho wasn't using the ceasefire to keep the drawbridge down. If the bridge was down, they could cross with the siege ram, and break down the gate. Jericho tried to explain that such tactics would only harm the civilians if it failed, but was cut off as Shining Armor punched him in the face. The doctor rushed for the gate as fast as his old bones could carry him. In the ensuing scuffle, the two leaders rolled around on the ground, swinging wildly. As the crystal scouts rushed in to pull them apart, Shining pulled out a knife and stabbed Jericho in the gut, kicking him into the river and letting him float away downstream.

Author's Note

The second act is progressing much quicker than the first, so it's almost time for the split. If you still have yet to vote, do so now, or for a few weeks hold your peace.

Chapter the Thirty-Third: Broken

Shining Armor almost felt proud of himself. After Jericho had been sent down the river, he had used a ceasefire to invade Canterlot and take the castle. It was easy. After the first portcullis had been bashed in, no thanks to the cowardly zebra forces, He had marched right up the main thoroughfare, not even breaking his stride as he reached the gatehouse barring access to the palace grounds. The dumb minotaurs had just left the gates open. There weren't even any soldiers defending it.

He sent four teams of crystal soldiers to search the palace. He ordered that if they were to find a princess, they were to return to the gatehouse immediately. The first returned shortly, not with a princess, but instead a note, which had been left sitting on the throne. It was addressed to Shining Armor.

To the indefatigable Prince Shining Armor:

I must assume that Prince Jericho was the brains behind your operation. After you struck him down, your decisions have been far more guttural, and much less refined. The elegant plan to starve us out very nearly worked. I must also commend the manner in which you took our forts before arrival. The lack of any casualties was a stroke of genius. However, we were not at all pleased to find that, en route to your discussion, we were attacked by your forces. Clever plan to have a crystal pony firing zebra arrows, but you underestimate the number of battles I've fought. A well-trained eye can easily find the archer who fired on us.

If you had followed Prince Jericho's lead to begin with, I see it as entirely possible that you might have seen your sister again by now. However, as you have bared your fangs at us, we have opted to let you have the castle. While you were so busy breaking down the gate, we've all slipped out through the back door. It was previously guarded by zebras, but after their retreat, you failed to add a new barricade. The princesses, as well as their personal guards, are no longer in the city.

We have left you with the city guards, who have been charged by the princesses with protecting the citizens at all costs. The castle is in your hands now.

Wishing you better health than your zebra compatriot,
Chief Steelhorn, Equestrian Regent

Shining Armor tore the note to shreds and threw the scraps onto the ground. He was absolutely livid. He called off the search, making his way to the top of the gatehouse. He would need to take over here and deal with the mess that was feeding the citizens.

Steelhorn walked beside the carriage that held Luna and Celestia. They were on their way to Fort Winsome, just on the other side of the Everfree Forest, not too far from the falls. It was a well-made fortress, being built on an island rather than under a mountain. There was no way to be above the fort without flight, and the local pegasi were under command of the princesses' regent. The crystal army would need to make a deal with either the gryphons or dragons to strike from above. More importantly, it would be easier to hold a line at this fortress, as there were two sides to the river surrounding the island, which meant that the ponies could feed their rulers from one side, even if the other route was blocked. It would be much more difficult to starve them out.

Suddenly, Steelhorn stopped. He sniffed at the air, having caught a whiff of something strange. Boneshatter joined him, identifying the smell without a second thought.

"Blood. Fresh blood. Something or someone nearby is injured."

Steelhorn nodded. "Do a headcount. I want to know if it's one of ours. Keep your eyes peeled, too. If it's not one of ours, I'd like to know who it is."

Boneshatter rushed to the front of the group, counting heads as he went back to the end, noting that everyone was present. Furthermore whatever was causing the smell, it seemed to be travelling with them. He looked into the woods surrounding them, and saw nothing on either side. What he saw was a lot of undergrowth, leading him to the conclusion that if there was someone dying in the woods out there, he would be unable to see it. His grip around the neck of his maul tightened and he called out. "Is someone injured out there?"

What returned to him was silence. His first thought was that they were too injured to call back, or it was some kind of animal. That's when he noted something very harrowing about the silence. It was complete. There were no squirrels, no foxes, no twittering birds flapping away in response to his outburst. That kind of silence was a very bad sign.

Panicking inside, but keeping his face straight, he made his way up the line. First to Scrimshaw and Hardtusk, whispering to them the news. Their grips on their weapons tightened, but they otherwise showed no reaction. They did step a bit closer to Twilight's carriage, though. They were tasked with protecting her, and they would do just that, even at the cost of their lives.

Boneshatter moved up the ranks again, joining Steelhorn. "Keep at the ready," he whispered. "There's no wildlife responding to my shouting."

"You think there's an ambush party?" replied Steelhorn, keeping his voice down.

"I didn't see anything, but they could be hiding. There's no way to know for sure until they spring their trap or slip up. For now, I suggest we continue as normal, and keep our weapons out and ready to go."

Steelhorn nodded, and continued walking. He considered his options, eventually coming up with a better idea as they moved through a wider path. "Arrow, come take my place for a minute."

Arrow came rushing over. "Is something wrong?" He'd been one of the few ponies let in on the assumption that they were surrounded.

"No," replied Steelhorn, loud enough that he could be heard if the party following them was in the trees. "I'm just going to take a quick leak. Watch my spot for me?"

Arrow nodded and took Steelhorn's position in the formation. He was shaking, having experienced firsthand what it was like to be ambushed. Every bush he saw made him twitch.

Steelhorn disappeared behind a tree and began urinating away from the group. His eyes were closed because he was trying to listen as intently as he could to his surroundings. As Boneshatter had said, there were no woodland critters about. As he listened closer, he heard the sound of a twig snapping above him. Without waiting for his stream to stop, he wheeled around, slamming the head of his mace hard against the tree trunk. Vibrations were sent up the branches. Two of the zebras above were able to hold onto their footing, but one was not. He fell out of the tree, landing on the ground with a heavy thud. Steelhorn's stream stopped as he shifted his attention, running back to the group, his shield hand holding the zebra up by the neck.

"Ambush!!"

Chapter the Thirty-Fourth: Ambush

Having seen the whole thing, Arrow leaped on top of Celestia and Luna's carriage, lifted his horn to his lips, and sounded the alarm. The leading guards dropped back, focusing their defense around the carriages as zebras sprang from the undergrowth and rushed at them.

Steelhorn cursed himself. The zebra forces had been the bulk of the invading party, numbering over a hundred and fifty. Their party had been limited to forty-five men, not including the minotaurs. He had kept the party small so as to draw less attention as they left Canterlot, but if all of the zebras from the invasion were here, they were outnumbered three to one, without optimal defenses. These were not great odds.

Steelhorn entered the fray with his mace swinging low. The zebras kept their masks on and their shields up, keeping them mostly protected from his faster, weaker blows. Even if he were to strike hard, the worst he could do was to knock them back a few steps. His strikes were regulated and rhythmic, keeping them from coming too close to him. He would have to rely on his allies to aid in his advance.

Arrow was trying to assist in just that. Being a skilled archer, he had the means to take out some of the zebras between Steelhorn and the carriages, but not the time to do so. He was constantly turning around, firing arrows into the zebra archers that had taken up positions among the tree branches. Their decision to go without armor afforded them such a position, but did nothing to protect them from retuning fire. On his own, Arrow managed to take out more than half a dozen zebras.

Boneshatter was having much better luck, having chosen a weapon that was excellent at dealing with shielded enemies. His hammer shattered both shield and bone as he carved a path through the zebras, making his way to the trees. With a mighty strike, he sent shockwaves up the trees, knocking zebras out of the thicker ones and toppling the smaller trees. It wasn't long before he had opened a large hole in the zebra forces.

Hardtusk and Scrimshaw were having a more difficult run at the back of the line. While they did have a fair amount of training for close combat, there were fewer equestrian guards near the back of the convoy, meaning there were no defensive formations around them. Between them, they were managing to hold off several of the melee attackers, but could not switch to their specialty of ranged attacks.

At Arrow's command, Boneshatter switched to the other side of the road, managing to punch enough of a hole in the zebras that Steelhorn could return to the group. "We're outnumbered and they have the advantage," called Steelhorn, only just being able to be heard over the din of the battle. "Make a hole in front and show them our heels!"

Boneshatter nodded, making his way to the front. Steelhorn started back to pick up the rear, but was called from that task by an arrow glancing off of one of his horns. He looked to the source, and saw the zebra that had shot at him reloading his bow. He picked up a rock and lobbed it as hard as he could, showing the zebra archer how to accurately hit a target in the face. As the archer fell to the ground, Steelhorn's attention was again drawn away by a fresh wave of zebra spearmen.

Boneshatter had made his way to the front and punched a hole in the zebra forces. He called out the retreat order, prompting the guards to grab tightly to the carriages holding the princesses and run. A small number of guards heard the message, but stayed behind, holding back some of the zebra forces in order to make the escape easier. Steelhorn took note of them, opting to have them remembered as heroes, whether they managed to survive or not.

Steelhorn ran alongside the carriage holding Luna and Celestia, bashing away any zebras that came close to it. Arrow held his position atop the carriage, firing at any zebras brave enough to come close, and dumb enough to leave any small gap between their shield and mask.

Before long, they exited the forested section of path. Normally, this would be where they slowed their pace, but the fortress was in sight, so they kept going. They had almost made it. The portcullis and drawbridge were open, they just had to reach them to be safe.

As they arrived, Steelhorn gave the order to close the doors and prepare the defenses. Any zebras that had followed them would be subjected to a rain of arrows. However, no arrows fell, as the zebras had not pursued them beyond the forest. Steelhorn sighed in relief at the return of this news.

"We are honoured to receive you, Regent Steelhorn," bowed the fort commander. "And to receive the princesses, as well. However, I'm confused. Didn't your missive state that you were bringing two carriages?"

Steelhorn looked around. Only one carriage, the one holding Celestia, Luna, and the priestess had arrived. The one holding Twilight was nowhere to be seen.

"On top of that," continued the commander, "I'm quite sure you said four minotaur warriors. I only see two. Three, if you count the one in the carriage, but she doesn't look like much of a warrior to me. Where are the other two?"

Just after the retreat had begun, a pair of arrows had taken out the soldier pulling Twilight's carriage. Scrimshaw had doubled back to take command of it, detaching the body of the dead guard and holding the yoke in his hands. As he resumed his running, another arrow had come in, this one finding its home right in Scrimshaw's neck. The arrowhead had cut a hole in his trachea, and severed his jugular vein. In less than a minute, he was suffocating in his own blood.

As for what had happened to Hardtusk, seeing his younger brother killed had sent him into a blind rage. He managed to kill more than two dozen zebras and injure twenty more before they could take him down. As he gasped for his last few breaths, an axe came down, splitting his skull and finishing him before any more damage could be done.

Twilight was terrified as the lock to the carriage door was forcefully broken off. As the door swung open, she peered out. Among the bloody carnage that surrounded her was a platoon of zebra warriors. At the center, one stood particularly tall. He was pale, and wore a large bandage over his abdomen. Seeing her, he bowed.

"Princess Sparkle, might I say what a pleasure it is to see you today. We feared what had befallen you, but now our fear can be subdued. Come, let's take you to your sister. I'd wager that you've sorely missed her."

Twilight felt a twinge of hope. "You're taking me to see Cadance?"

The pale zebra nodded. "Now, we have a very long way to go. But first, an introduction. I am Prince Jericho."

Chapter the Thirty-Fifth: The Turn of the Tide

Shining Armor looked out of the carriage window as the Crystal Palace grew closer. It had been a week since his daring, but fruitless takeover of Canterlot Castle. The citizen's food shortage had been counteracted almost immediately as merchant from the local agricultural society rolled into town and began doling out food at regular market prices. Large shipments went to restaurants, smaller shipments were directed to private citizens, all without much trouble at all. When asked, one of the heads of commerce that rolled into town said their prices were set low by Steelhorn's command.

Shining Armor had left one of his captains in charge of Canterlot when he received a message telling him to return to the crystal palace at once. Steelhorn had taken back the forts, but there were other roads leading back to the Crystal Empire. He wondered what was so important that Cadence couldn't say it in her letter.

His carriage arrived and he made his way to the throne room. Upon seeing his wife for the first time in months, he smiled and approached. She rushed forward and embraced her husband, drawing him into a deep, passionate kiss. "I have wonderful news for you, Shiny," she whispered. "Come, follow me."

She took his hand and led him through the palace, coming to a stop at one of the guest room doors. She gestured to it with an excited smile, indicating that he should be the one to open the door. He took a deep breath, steeling his nerves as the handle turned and the latch clicked into place. The door swung open and Shining Armor looked inside.

His eyes were drawn immediately to the pregnant mare sitting in a chair. A physician was looking over her health, ensuring that she was physically sound. She looked up at Shining, an excited smile on her face. She stood up and wobbled over to her brother, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I missed you so much, BBBFF."

Shining Armor returned the hug, gently rubbing his sister's back. "I missed you, too, Twily." Just as he was about to ask how she managed to escape, he heard the toilet flush and the sink run in the ensuite lavatory. Somepony else was in the room. The door opened, and Shining Armor's eyes went wide. Standing behind Twilight was Jericho, his bandage on full display.

"Prince Shining Armor, don't look so dour. Your sister is safe, here in the tower. Your cunning plan to divide our forces lead to success for both of our courses."

Shining Armor grew silent. He wanted very much to tell Jericho off, but he couldn't do so now. His bride and his sister couldn't know about the attempted homicide. He would have to wait.

Cadance placed a hand on Shining Armor's shoulder, joining the group hug. "Prince Jericho told us all about your amazing strategy to trick the minotaurs into moving away from Canterlot's defenses," she beamed. "How did you ever think of something so brilliant?"

"Uh..." Shining was at a loss. He had no idea what Jericho had told them. "You know, it just came to me."

"And your plan to take the fortresses without any casualties?" added Twilight. "Truly, a genius play. You're so great at this, brother!"

Shining Armor scowled at Jericho. He'd been lying to his family, but to what end? Jericho returned Shining's look with a smug smile, almost daring him to make a move. "I hope this reunion is one you find fun. With any luck, we'll soon have another one."

"Or two." smiled Twilight, returning to her chair. "We still have two princesses to rescue."

"Quite right you are, my lovely mare," bowed Jericho. "Their rescue shall be handled with care. In the meantime, I must take some rest. I'll plan as I tend to this hole in my chest."

Cadance smiled as Jericho walked past. "Don't be too long with your nap. I want you to join us for dinner."

With a silent nod, Jericho closed the door, returning to his room. Shining Armor had many questions for Twilight, not the least of which was the father of her child. She spared him the gory details, but relayed as clearly as she could why she was currently swollen.

A few hours passed. Dinner was almost ready, and somepony needed to go tell Jericho. Cadance volunteered, but Shining Armor overruled her, saying that he wanted to discuss the battle plan moving forward as they were dressing for their meal. Through such an exchange, Shining Armor now found himself knocking at the door to the zebra prince's bedroom.

The door opened just a crack, revealing Malakai in the doorframe. "Prince Shining Armor, a pleasure as always." There was a light rustling behind the door. After it stopped, Malak stepped back and opened the door further. "Please come in, discussion is not for hallways."

Shining Armor entered, only to find a number of zebra guards armed with short spears. Each of them was aimed at him. He made his way through the room, stopping when he came to the table. Jericho was already awake, and sitting on the other side of the table, putting away a deck of cards. "Why did you do that?"

Jericho shrugged. "The game is over, though we have no winner. I assume you've come to escort me to dinner?"

"You know what I mean," growled Shining Armor. "Why did you lie to the princesses about what happened out there?"

The smug grin returned to Jericho's face. "You're under the impression that we're mortal foes. In reality, I do not wish to further your woes. If you want them to know that you tried to kill me, I'll sit and I'll listen, smiling with glee. If not, just take the accolade which to you has been gifted." The smile melted away. "Let it be a reminder to where your loyalties have shifted."

Jericho stood up and moved to the bed, where his suit had been laid out. Cadance had taken the time to have it cleaned and pressed in the several months that they'd been gone. He was looking quite dapper as he brushed his mane as much as his scalp would allow.

"What is it you want from me?" asked Shining Armor.

Jericho chuckled. "My deal's not with you, but with your spouse. We've no intention of splitting your house. However, if there's an order that sets at ease my men," He turned to look Shining Armor right in the eyes. "I'd be very pleased if you wouldn't try to kill me again."

Chapter the Thirty-Sixth: Damage Control

Jericho sat down at the table at Twilight's immediate left. To her right was Cadance, at the head of the table, and then Shining Armor to her right. To Jericho's left sat his officers running down the table, and across from them were Shining Armor's officers. There were strong tensions across the width of the table, but under Jericho and Jaxton's commands, the zebras refrained from showing it. Malak had assured them that they would be rewarded for their patience.

As the staff brought out the meals, Cadance stood up. "Friends, soldiers, visiting dignitaries. We have all gathered for tonight's feast to celebrate not only our first major victory, but our second as well!"

"Lieutenant Colonel Victory," muttered LTC Diamond Victory, earning a chuckle from his younger brother, MAJ Flawless Victory.

"We've reclaimed the Equestrian capitol of Canterlot from the hands of its minotaur captors, and can once more place an Equestrian on the throne," she continued. "If that weren't enough, we have wrenched from their clutches one of the Equestrian princesses, currently the rightful ruler of the land, my dearest sister-in-law, Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

A roar of applause echoed around the room as Twilight stood up. "I want to thank you all for your hard work. From the crystal ponies taking back the capitol to the zebras' altruism in rescuing me at their own expense, you all have my sincerest and most profound gratitude."

She sat back down, disliking being on her feet for too long with all of the extra weight. Another round of applause erupted as the table's attention returned to Cadance. "I have heard from Princess Twilight what terrible things have befallen the princesses. While I am most glad to have claimed this victory, we are most assuredly not done. In taking back Princess Twilight, I have to guess that the minotaurs will be tightening their grips. Undoubtedly, freeing Princesses Luna and Celestia will be much more difficult. Hopefully, when Twilight's account is made public knowledge, Equestria itself will realize how dangerous this minotaur menace is, and we will all come together to drive Steelhorn out of Equestria and back to the Hornburg from whence he came!"

A third round of applause echoed throughout the room as Cadance sat down. Her speech had given the serving staff plenty of time to lay out their dishes to the waiting VIPs. As she began her meal, they followed suit, enjoying the food at their leisure. In an effort to preserve the delicate peace, conversations stayed on one side of the table or the other, and stayed in hushed tones.

Jericho turned to Twilight. "I'm glad to see that you're recovering well. I bet it feels good to be out of your cell."

Twilight swallowed her mouthful of food. "It's nice to be out, but I wasn't really kept in a cell. I was allowed anywhere in the residential wing of the castle, I just couldn't leave that area. That's not to say it was easy to live there, but I can easily imagine it being so much worse." She took another bite. "Celestia was kept in a cell for quite a while, though."

"That's quite a punishment for such a powerful mare. What horrible decision landed her in there?"

Twilight cocked her head to the side. "It was a pretty bad move. She told me later that she was trying to piss off the leader so that he'd go back home. It pissed him off, that's for sure, but he didn't go back home." She continued her meal for a few bites, then realized that she hadn't answered his question. "What she did was salting his wound. He'd just found out that his cousin died by poisoned arrow. It was meant for him, but he was here in Equestria and couldn't make the meeting. Following that, his firstborn child was murdered that same day. Celestia called his people incompetent, and in need of a better leader." Jericho coughed, having choked on his food. Twilight gently rubbed his back. "Are you alright?"

Jericho waved it off. "Nothing I can't handle, thank you for your concern. I'm just shocked that that's a lesson Celestia never learned. Antagonizing your captor is never a smart move. Her choice in doing so, I cannot approve."

"Luna was much more accepting of their takeover. She did as they asked for the most part. In the end, I think that may have been to her benefit. She was allowed to walk into the city, without any horn ring. She even told me she almost met with you. Right before the siege began."

Jericho nodded and locked eyes with Shining Armor. "Yes, that was a mistake best not repeated. We'd prefer, in the future, if things were less heated."

Shining Armor sipped at his wine. "Yeah, we're not sure exactly what went wrong, but one of our archers misfired."

Twilight cocked her head to the side. "Luna said it was two of your archers. In fact, I saw the puncture wounds. Two arrows were fired that day, I'm sure of it."

Shining Armor swallowed hard. Twilight was smart. He knew he'd never succeed in lying to her. "Well, you see... That is to say..."

"What he means is the other one passed," answered Jericho. "Your brother forgives fallen soldiers so fast."

The rest of dinner continued in much the same manner. When it ended, Shining Armor was so glad to be finished that he didn't bother seeing his officers out of the dining hall. Instead, he returned to his bedchambers, ran out onto the balcony, and took several deep breaths. Lying like this was torturing him, and Jericho was delighting in every minute of it. He couldn't take anymore; this experience had thus far been excruciating. He ran his fingertips up into his mane, separating it into small locks as he tried to calm himself.

He was so wrapped up in himself that he didn't hear his wife entering the room until she stepped out onto the balcony. "You've been acting so strange today, dear," she said, gently running her hand up his back. "Is everything alright?"

Shining took a deep breath. It was time to come clean. "No, everything is not alright. Prince Jericho is lying to you, and he's dragging me into it. I feel so awful about it that I just want to throw up." He looked deeply into his wife's eyes. "I don't know if he told you how that wound in his gut came about, but the truth is... I stabbed him."

Chapter the Thirty-Seventh: Shock and Awe

Shining Armor explained to Cadance everything that had happened between the time he'd left to the time he'd returned. Cadance listened intently, taking into account all that had been said between Shining and Jericho, and comparing their stories. They didn't quite add up, but if she had to give one of them the benefit of the doubt, it was her husband.

"You weren't exactly on your best behaviour, Shiny," she said, shaking her head. "The zebras have proven themselves a worthy ally to us. Even before that, I trusted them to take Equestria back, so we could restore the throne to its rightful rulers. I know you don't trust them, but this?" She took a step back. "I expected better of you, Shiny."

Shining Armor fell to his knees and bowed his head. "I let my emotions control my actions. I know it was wrong. Please, forgive me."

Cadance lifted his chin and planted a kiss on his lips. "I already have, my dear." Shining stood up and stepped forward to embrace his wife, but she pushed him back. "Make no mistake, you're not off the hook yet. What you did was deplorable, and we must ensure that you don't do it again." She turned, walked over to the nightstand, and tossed at her husband a pair of fuzzy handcuffs, a blindfold and a ball gag. "My naughty little colt deserves to be punished. Clothes off, blindfold on. I want you hard and ready by the time I return."

With a giggle, she left the room. Shining Armor chuckled as he slipped the ball gag into his mouth. She always knew how to cheer him right up. No matter how dire the situation, if he had her, he could find his smile. If he wanted to keep it that way, he'd do as she asked. Without another thought, he tossed his clothing aside and blindfolded himself. Feeling his way over to the bed, he laid down on his back with his growing erection pointing straight into the air. With everything else in place, he tightened the cuffs with his hands behind his back. He was ready to be her bitch all night long.

A few short minutes passed, though it felt like an eternity to him. When he heard the door open again, he shivered with excitement. He was leaking with anticipation. He felt the tingling sensation of being lifted into the air with magic. He was placed on top of a pillow next to the bed, set upright on his knees. A ring slipped over his horn. He assumed it would block his magic. It was only a temporary ring, unlike the one on Twilight's horn. It would stop him from removing the blindfold and gag on his own, as well as keeping him from unlocking the cuffs. He was unable to make any move.

All of his excitement disappeared as his blindfold came off. His wife was sitting comfortably in front of him, surrounded by zebras of both genders. Of everypony in the room, Shining Armor was wearing the most clothing, followed by Prince Jericho, wearing only his boxer shorts and bandages. Cadance set her tiara on the nightstand and leaned back, spreading her legs to show her husband her dripping cunt.

"I made them a promise, Shiny," she said. "In order to keep to that promise, tonight my body is Jerry's property. As he is still recovering from his injuries, he is unable to participate, but he is more than happy to share me with a multitude of his officers. Your punishment is being made to sit there and watch."

Shining voiced his concerns through the gag, struggling against the cuffs, but they were built to last. He'd broken their first set by pulling too hard, so this set was stronger. He tried to stand, but Malakai grabbed his shoulder and pushed him right back onto the pillow. He and Jaxton had been charged with keeping Shining Armor planted in that spot and looking at his wife.

Cadance began by being pulled back onto the bed by one of the mares. A stallion took his place between the princess's legs and slipped his girth inside. In the meantime, the mare that had shifted Cadance's position had straddled her face, and was making excellent use of her magnificent tongue. Cadance's hands were busy, too, either fingering a sopping wet zebra pussy, or sliding deftly along a turgid zebra cock.

Shining tried to turn his gaze away, but Jaxton proceeded to turn him back to attention. He was to watch as over a dozen zebra stallions proceeded to fuck his wife, orally and vaginally, firing off load after load of semen into her waiting body. He saw her in every position, watching testicles slap against her arsehole, her clitoris, her nose, and her chin. After two hours of activity, her face was pointed at him as one of the larger males rammed into her seeping cavern. She had no idea what she was looking at, as her mind was overflowing with pleasure, drowning out everything else. She'd been fucked silly.

The orgy slowed to a crawl a few hours later. Cadance had managed to stay awake this time, despite her general unresponsiveness. Jericho approached the bed, grabbed Cadance's ankles, and draped her legs over the side of the bed, showing Shining Armor the sloppy white spattered mess that his men had made. He then walked over to the prince and removed the ball gag.

Shining Armor was crying at this point. As the ball gag came out, he sobbed quietly. "This was your idea, wasn't it?"

"You wanted my soldiers to work for no pay. Your wife saw this as the only way to save Equestria from minotaurs, without her citizens becoming common whores. As for making you watch, that idea was also hers. It shows you your place, and our victory assures." Picking up Shining Armor, Jericho escorted him and his cushion until they were between Cadance's legs. His face was pressed against her thigh, spreading semen in his mane and against his cheek. Among it, he could faintly detect his wife's heady scent. "She's quite the sophisticated ruler, you know. She organized this plan to give you a show of exactly what we asked of you, right from the start. You should show her what she means to you, straight from your heart."

Shining was still for a few minutes. Just as Jericho was about to leave and return to his bedroom, he saw Shining Armor stick out his tongue and begin to clean his wife. They were married; anything that she had to weather, he would walk beside her. Considering it was his fault she was in this mess, he owed it to her to clean it up.

Chapter the Thirty-Eighth: Back to the Front

The next two weeks were rife with activity. Twilight had held interviews with every major publication, achieving the desired effect of turning many of the Equestrian forces to her side. It was a very divisive issue among the ranks. While most of them were horrified at Princess Twilight's treatment, some resisted, claiming that Princess Luna was not treated in the same manner, rather obviously. She had been seen interacting freely with the citizens without any sign of restrictions from the minotaurs.

Seeing the division between the princesses and their regent, almost every fortress in Equestria was in a heated debate over whether or not they should pick sides. Many times, it came down to the commanders, deciding which of the two factions they would be joining. Sometimes it was decided right then and there, other times the men would be gathered for a round table discussion, and sometimes there were votes. In the end, just over half of the fortresses rekindled their fealty to Princess Twilight, while the rest stood behind Princess Luna and Chief Steelhorn.

Jericho and many of his men had recovered from their injuries. Twilight agreed to let Jericho take command of the Equestrian forces, with the caveat that Shining Armor join him. Jericho accepted the position, as he'd already agreed to do so by order of Princess Cadance. He didn't ask anything in return for this, as having such a command would make it much easier to complete the tasks he had already promised.

Their base of operations was moved to Ponyville. Twilight's castle was to be their command center, with Princess Twilight herself moving back to the city to watch over it. Jaxton had been assigned to be her personal guard, as he was well-versed in the subject of horn rings, and would be the most helpful regarding its removal. He spent much of his spare time tinkering with it. After a week, he finally found a means of removing it. Several prior attempts to remove the ring had damaged her horn, so she was currently unable to perform any magic, but with time and treatment from qualified medical professionals, she would be back to her old self soon.

Part of the treatment she was receiving for her horn was a witchweed potion she would need to drink every day. In her condition, she was unable to go out into the Everfree Forest, but Malakai and Rainbow Dash were glad to volunteer. They set out for Zecora's hut immediately. It turned out that Zecora and Malakai had a bit of history together, as Malak had helped Zecora on her way to Equestria in a mildly significant way. One of her wagon wheels had broken, and he had helped her by purchasing a new one. She was more than happy to assist in Twilight's recovery.

On the other side of things, Steelhorn was receiving even more bad news. All of the restrictions that had been keeping Northwind and Stromshroud at bay had lapsed, and they were free to march on the Hornburg. Ironblood had even reported a handful of advance scouts that he'd captured. The Snowcaps had already been targeted, and had suffered heavy losses. Many of those left had been demoralized further by the arrival of Scrimshaw and Hardtusk, who had been gathered up and sent back to their home to be remembered as heroes.

Celestia had staged four escape attempts, and had to be kept under constant guard. Thankfully, the soldiers at this particular fortress had remained loyal to Princess Luna, and thus to him as well. Many of the forts leading back to the Hornburg were under his control, as well, meaning he had to opportunity to retreat if necessary. He would be unable to bring as many Equestrian soldiers back with him; the dream of a surviving Hornburg was beginning to crumble in his hands.

He'd sent the priestess back home. She would assist Ironblood in the defense and begin the process of escorting the citizens to safety. A war was marching toward them, there was no stopping it now without a new moot. Considering the failure of the rushed moot, it was unlikely the Black Council would approve a second one before they were ready. If he couldn't gather enough support from the Equestrian army, the Hornburg would fall for sure. Just thinking about it made him sick to his stomach.

He had only two comforts. The first was Luna's support of his status. She had made every effort to keep Equestria on his side. She'd called in news crews to take down her statements, given accounts of Steelhorn's better qualities, and made it very clear that she was glad to be carrying his child. Every night, she slept soundly in his arms, a statement that was further supported by eyewitnesses. His second comfort came in the form of Boneshatter and Arrow, who had not only been doing their fair share of work, but were, in fact, extending themselves in aiding the defense efforts. Arrow had been personally training the other archers, and Boneshatter had been sparring with the ground troops. They were dedicated to holding this fort, no matter the cost.

That was exactly the opposite of the news Jericho wanted to hear when his probe came back from the fort. Taking back the fort for Twilight would be quite the challenge. There were only a few crossing points to the Winsome River, and they were all easily defensible. Encircling them and striking from behind or cutting off their supply train would be impossible this time. A direct assault was their best solution. It wasn't a good solution, but it was preferable to their other options.

Jericho began organizing the soldiers. Some would be ground assault units, others would be organized in firing lines. They would be the least defended, as their main focus was not to be the driving force, but rather to be protectors of the driving force. As he lined them all up in preparations for their formations, construction had already begun on his main units.

The first was a large capped battering ram. Over the top of it were large wooden sheets that would shield the soldiers inside from missiles. This is the tool that would shatter the front gate. This wasn't to be the light tapping he had originally asked for in taking the first forts. This was not the time for stealth. This ram needed to shatter the portcullis.

In order to reach the second gate, he needed his second weapon. Battering rams were useless against drawbridges, everyone knew that from the siege of Canterlot. Now that he had more materials to work with, he had the capability of crafting a large grappling hook. It was meant to rip down the drawbridge, counterweights be damned. It could anchor to any nearby object, or even to the ground itself. Either the drawbridge would come down, or it would be ripped to pieces. If it was ripped apart, they would need to build a new bridge, but that wouldn't be a terrible effort. It didn't need to be permanent, it just needed to escort the ram across the river.

Once they were inside, the real battle would begin. Jericho knew he would need to be leading the charge. This would either be his greatest feat, or his undoing.

Author's Note

This is the point where the story splits into two endings.

The director's cut will be the first ending. If you're reading this story as it goes up, just keep going. If not, here's a link.

Or, if you want to see the ending that my trade partner wanted, you can skip to it with this link.

DX Chapter the Thirty-Ninth: Driven Back

Despite wanting this siege to be over quickly, Jericho did not send out troops until a few days after his war machines were ready. He hoped that making his presence and survival known to Steelhorn after the capture of Princess Twilight would reopen a line of communication, but no such luck. Steelhorn wasn't talking anymore. That ship had sailed.

He began his assault at the first light on the fifth day. At dawn, he attacked from the east. The morning sun would be a significant detriment to the fortress's batteries. He was proven correct, as many of the archers were unable to fire until long after the siege engines were in range, as only then would their view not put the sun right in their eyes.

The first call for a defensive line rang out moments before the first grappling hook struck the drawbridge. The engineer had misjudged the distance and aimed too low. They had to reel in the line and try again. Their second shot, five minutes later, was well aimed and struck right where it was meant to, just above the drawbridge. They began to pull back against the line, but rather that becoming taut, the hook slipped over the side and dragged all the way back to the engine.

Their third shot was a success, grappling against the drawbridge. As the line grew taut, further cranking only served to pull the siege engine closer to the barbican. The ground anchors were not enough, they needed something stronger. As the engineer kept the line tight, several of his subordinates ran to the tree line with cables over their shoulders, their aim to secure the mechanism to the mighty roots if the Everfree forest itself.

As the lines were secured, the anchors signaled their readiness, and the engineer resumed tightening the winch. As he pulled, the siege engine lifted up into the air under the tension of the cables. He managed to stay upright and mostly protected, but he couldn't fathom why the drawbridge wasn't falling.

It was due to the quick thinking of Boneshatter that the drawbridge was still up. Having seen the grappling hook on the second hit, before it had a grip on the bridge, he had ordered a platoon to split in half and add their weight and pull strength to the counterweights that raised the bridge. These were ponies, though, and they didn't have the stamina of a mechanical winch. They would tire out eventually, and the gate would fall.

That's where Arrow's contribution came in. As the engine lifted, he was granted a better and better view inside the vehicle. He couldn't guarantee perfect accuracy from this distance, but he could reliably come close. His first few shots landed in the protective covering for the machine, proving to Jericho that placing them there had been a good idea. The next few flew through the opening in the front, through which the engineer had been able to aim the grappling mechanism to begin with. A few more managed to strike the winch, severing one of the anchors and jostling the engineer. The final shot in his quiver, he kissed. This would need to work.

Suddenly, a large crack erupted from beneath him as the drawbridge shattered into several dozen pieces. As the tension was no longer straining the siege engine, it flew backward, landing upside down about ten metres behind where it had been floating just moments ago. Arrow returned the arrow to his quiver. The engine, as well as the engineer, were beyond his range now. He couldn't hit that target with all the luck in the world.

The assault units holding the gate collapsed to the ground. There was no use holding up the drawbridge anymore. Countless pieces of it had been washed down the river. There wasn't anything to hold up. Steelhorn walked through the ranks, congratulating them on their stall regardless. If Jericho wanted into the fortress now, he'd need to build his own bridge.

Jericho had considered this eventuality. A temporary bridge had already begun construction, and would be ready tonight. He mourned the loss of his grappler, but was rather pleased to hear of the lack of any serious injuries. The engineer had suffered a few contusions, but he'd be healed up in no time.

As he contemplated what tomorrow might bring, Steelhorn heard the screech of a falcon, coming in to land on his horn. On its leg was a note. He read it aloud as Boneshatter, Luna and Arrow rushed to his side. "We are out of time. Stormshroud and Northwind soldiers have destroyed house Snowcap. House Gemhide has completely engulfed house Buckwheat, and reports say they're headed here now. More than half of our civilians have been evacuated, but the rest refuse to abandon their homes. Whatever aid you have, bring it home now. All due respect, Ironblood."

"The gods have damned us," growled Boneshatter, shaking his head. "Only a fool would think our people can survive this."

"I am a fool, then," muttered Steelhorn. "I cannot abandon them. I am going to their aid."

Boneshatter looked Steelhorn right in the eye. "That may be the stupidest thing you've ever said." He smirked. "But I'm about to say something even dumber. I'm coming with you, little brother. Until next week, when we're both dead and rotting, you have my hammer."

"I've never had a family that cared for me this much," said Arrow, stepping forward. "In the six months I've known you, I've come to respect you. If you'll have me as one of your house, I'll take down any foe you point me toward. You have my bow, Chief Steelhorn."

Luna placed her left hand on Steelhorn's shoulder, and her right on her swollen belly. "I shall cover your escape as best I can, Chief Steelhorn. I am truly sorry I cannot do mo--"

She was interrupted as Steelhorn pulled her into a kiss. "You carry my only son, Princess. What more could I ask of you?"

Luna pressed her face against his chest. "It has been an honour to know you, Chief Steelhorn. For what it's worth, I think you'd have made a magnificent king."

Steelhorn rubbed her belly. "Perhaps I made a future king." The ensuing chuckle was akin to a knife in Luna's chest. She knew she would never see him again. With any luck, their child would be a healthy one.

DX Chapter the Fortieth: The Mountain Pass

Steelhorn and Boneshatter came to an intersection and turned left. It was late morning, and they'd been jogging all night. Arrow didn't have the excessive stamina of the minotaurs yet, and had run out of breath after only a few hours. He'd waved them on, saying to go on without him, and he'd catch up, but Boneshatter wasn't about to leave his adopted brother behind. Arrow had spent more than half of the night atop his shoulders, riding his way to the Hornburg.

They were leaving the plains that made up most of Equestria, and were en route to the mountainous area that lead to where the minotaurs held their confederation of duchies. At their speed, they'd be home just before sunset. The first mountain was right in front of them now, and their path began to incline gently as the road grew rougher. This wasn't an oft-travelled path, so no one really looked after this road. It was overgrown with grass in some areas, and large boulders blocked the way in others. This had been their road into Equestria, and it was also their way back.

At noon, they stopped for lunch. There was a small area just before the road narrowed to carve into the rugged mountain terrain. This was the only spot they would be able to rest until they reached the other side of the first mountain. Each of them carried with them two days worth of rations. That was more than enough to make it back to the Hornburg. They sat in a circle around their hexamine pocket stoves as their canned meals warmed up.

Boneshatter turned to Arrow. "I wish you could have seen the Hornburg in it's glory," he lamented. "Banners blowing in the breeze, soldiers of all builds lining the walls, and joyous uproar from the taverns. If we somehow make it through this, I want to take you to see all the best spots still standing."

Arrow chuckled. "You'd better not die, then. I'm counting on you."

"If either of you die, you forfeit your chairs at the victory feast," joked Steelhorn. It was good to chuckle, if only for a moment.

Just as quickly as the mood had elevated, it had fallen back to despair. They ate in silence, wishing that their plans for Equestria had gone uninterrupted. If they had, there would be several thousand ponies already in the Hornburg, ready to fight. With enough of them, they may have even survived. That was all just a memory now of what might have been.

When they had finished eating, the fuel tabs had burned down to nothing, and any remnants were dumped into the dirt and smothered with the stamping of a hoof. Any trash that was not biodegradable was bagged up and added to Steelhorn's pack. With full stomachs and emptied bladders, they set off again. This time, they'd not stop until they reached their destination.

The road grew treacherous the deeper they went into the mountains. On a few rare occasions, the road was smooth and easy to jog down, but most of their path was coarse and rough. They didn't slow down, though. Not when they had to climb, not when they had to descend and not when the air grew thin. They were single-minded in their determination.

At the peak of the third mountain, about half an hour after crossing the Equestrian border, part of the road collapsed. Unfortunately, it was the part Boneshatter had been running on. With no ground to hold him up, he and Arrow tumbled over the edge, only just managing to find their grip against the sheer drop. Hearing the breaking of rocks, Steelhorn doubled back, rushing to their aid.

The only thing keeping them from going any further down the mountain was Boneshatter's left hand. His hooves were unable to find or create any purchase, and his right hand was holding Arrow upside down by the ankle. He looked up at Steelhorn, who seemed to be very worried. "No visible injuries," he called up, a blatant lie, as he'd scraped his entire body against the rocks.

"What about Arrow?"

"I'll be fine," he answered, looking up. "A bit of damage to my knee, but I don't think it's serious!"

Steelhorn breathed a sigh of relief. "Boneshatter, do you think you can swing Arrow up to me? I think I can grab his hand from here."

Boneshatter nodded and began to swing Arrow's body back and forth. Arrow, trusting in his brothers, began to shift with the swinging motion, trying to eliminate drag and build up momentum. On the count of three, Boneshatter pulled extra hard, giving Arrow enough force to propel him into Steelhorn's grip. With a firm tug, Arrow was safely back on the road. However, the extra push had caused Boneshatter to lose his grip and he fell a bit further down. He had started outside of Steelhorn's grip, but now there was little hope of returning to the road.

"Hold onto that wall, Bone!" Steelhorn wasn't about to give up. He had no rope, but he had his harness. He stripped down and secured the leather straps tightly to his fetlock. These were thick, reinforced leather bands, bound together with steel rings. They could easily support his own weight, they would be capable of supporting his brother. He lowered himself over the edge of the cliff, until the only grip he had was his opposite hand. He stretched out his leg as far as it would go, leaving the harness just outside of Boneshatter's grasp. "You're going to have to jump."

Boneshatter shook his head. "You'll fall, too! I'm not going to be responsible for both of our deaths!"

"Do it, Bone!" called Arrow. "You promised me a tour, and a Hornburger always keeps his word!"

"Climb your arse back onto the road, Bone," shouted Steelhorn. "That's a direct order, soldier!"

Boneshatter nodded. With another pull, he leaped upward, grabbing tightly to Steelhorn's harness as the rock he'd been holding onto fell apart. Arrow gripped Steelhorn's wrist, making sure he didn't fall. Now secured to something, Boneshatter began to climb up Steelhorn's body, switching to the cliff face when he reached the ledge. With a nod from Steelhorn, Arrow changed positions, helping Boneshatter up instead. As soon as Boneshatter was back on the road, Steelhorn began climbing, as well.

He had made it as far as his waist when another loud crack rang out. They could all feel the ground falling away. There was no time to react. Releasing his grip on the cliff, Steelhorn pushed Arrow back, knocking him hard into Boneshatter's arms. Hard enough to make them stumble backward over the collapsing road. As they landed, they saw the rocks they'd been standing on break away and fall off the mountain. As the cluster fell, they caught a glimpse of Chief Steelhorn, sailing through the air, plummeting towards the bottom of the mountain. His final act had been to rescue them from harm. With a proud salute, he disappeared from sight, never to be seen or heard from again.

DX Chapter the Forty-First: Tales from Another Broken Home

Boneshatter reached the gate right on schedule, having run the rest of the way to the Hornburg with Arrow on his back. There was nothing they could have done to save Steelhorn. It would have been a waste of time to make their way to the bottom of the cliff and recover his body. Arrow had argued that he was owed a proper burial, but Boneshatter had urged them onward to the Hornburg. They still had living citizens that needed their help.

Once inside the gate, Arrow slipped down to the ground. Their pace slowed to a walk as they made their way to the throne room. Arrow carried with him all that remained of Steelhorn's pack, including his mace and shield. Upon entry, they were reunited with Ironblood, who had healed from his Equestrian wounds entirely. As the doors flew open, he rushed over and threw his arms around Boneshatter's shoulders, embracing his comrade lovingly. He looked around as he pulled back. "Where's Steelhorn?"

Boneshatter gave him a somber look. "He's dead. On the way over the mountains, the road collapsed under our hooves. He saved our lives. Unfortunately, we were unable to return the favour."

Ironblood nodded and lowered his head. "I see. That certainly sounds like something he'd do." He looked up. "What about troops? Did he send any?"

Boneshatter turned to Arrow. "Just one. Equestria fell apart a month after you left."

"Zebras, yes," answered the priestess. "The whole place was in turmoil on my return. No doubt he left the Equestrian military to fight itself, and protect the princesses."

"He gave them orders to hold the gate until their last ounce of strength fails," confirmed Boneshatter. "Along with the order to surrender the instant that gate falls. He didn't want to risk any harm to Luna. I daresay, he might have actually loved her."

Ironblood sighed. "Then there is no hope left."

"Only a fool's hope," corrected Arrow. "It was a fool move to come, but we all decided to do it anyway."

Ironblood turned to Arrow. "You've grown much in our care. You even talk like he would. He'd be very proud of you." He strode back over to the table. "If we survive, we'll try to find his body. Give him a proper sendoff. But first, we are to honour his memory. He wanted his citizens safe? We'll stand guard in his place."

Arrow nodded. "I'm not entirely sure how well I'll fit in, but if you'll have me, I'll gladly join your archers. Just place me on the wall, and I'll keep that field clear as I can. You can count on me."

Ironblood snorted. "I appreciate your eagerness, but it's not time yet. You'll be alerted as soon as we're ready." He looked up as the door opened again. A very young minotaur, about Arrow's size, came running into the room.

"Lord Ironblood, supper is ready."

Ironblood waved the young lady away, returning his attention to Boneshatter and Arrow. "You are welcome to join my table, if your appetites will hold up," he said, gesturing to the door. "I know bad news can spoil it, but a good meal can help clear your mind."

The four of them left the throne room, adjourning to the dining hall. Arrow had assumed that the dining hall would be the same as in Canterlot, where the important ponies such as the princesses would have a grand hall and a long table to themselves, and the soldiers ate separately. This was certainly a grand hall, and it certainly had a long table, but there were four other tables, equally long, and it seemed as though the soldiers and the commanders ate at the same tables. The only difference was a collection of six chairs in the center of the room that were taller than the others.

The biggest chair was left empty. That had been Steelhorn's chair. To his right had been Boneshatter, and to his left was Ironblood. They each took their seats as they always had. Across from Steelhorn sat the priestess, in the second largest chair. On either side of her were chairs for Scrimshaw and Hardtusk, but Hardtusk's chair sat empty. Arrow was invited to sit in Scrimshaw's place. The chair was a bit too large for him, as it was made to seat a minotaur, but it wasn't uncomfortable.

Their meal was an apple and cabbage stew. The hall was quieter tonight than it normally was, as most of the conversations were concerned questions. What had happened to Steelhorn? Wasn't he supposed to be back today? Who was this pony that was sitting in Scrimshaw's chair? Why was he carrying Steelhorn's weapons?

Ironblood was right about the meal improving their mood. They'd been depressed ever since the fall, they hadn't had the energy to process it yet. As their bellies were filled with the warm, sweet broth, their nerves calmed and they could think clearly. This was not the time for mourning. That would have to come later.

Between the two of them, they were afforded a large bottle of rum for their loss, and for their bravery in returning. Boneshatter drank most of it, but there was still plenty for arrow to drown his sorrows in. After dinner, they went to shower, and then it was off to bed. Boneshatter lead Arrow to Scrimshaw's bedroom, a small room with enough space for a bed and a weapon and armor rack. It was a room for sleeping, recreation was to be found elsewhere. Steelhorn's room was larger, big enough for himself and four concubines, though he usually slept alone. It had been built for his great grandfather, and every lord of the Hornburg had slept there since.

Seeing Scrimshaw's room, Arrow took a deep breath. "This doesn't feel right," he slurred. "I don't want to think I'm replacing someone so important."

"You're not," replied Boneshatter, a bit more steady with his speech. "Not exactly, anyway. We reserve this space for the Hornburg's top ranger. With him gone, you're it."

"I'm no one's top anything. I'm a bottom bitch, and I know it." It took a moment, but as he slowly realized what he said, his face turned bright red. He cleared his throat, hoping that Boneshatter hadn't noticed. "I'm just not comfortable with it, okay?"

Boneshatter chuckled. "Is that so? Or perhaps you just don't want to be alone tonight..."

Arrow turned around and hugged Boneshatter. "I knew you'd understand. You're the best."

Boneshatter gently rubbed Arrow's shoulder. He may have been a crack shot with a bow, but Arrow was still a pony. They were emotional creatures. At the very least, Boneshatter had grown fond of him. There was a very special connection they shared. Neither of them would trade it for anything.

They made their way two doors down to where Boneshatter's bed was. Setting their packs on the floor, their armor and weapons on the rack, and Arrow's clothing over the footboard, the two curled up and fell asleep in each other's warm embrace. It had made their second night together a more pleasant one, and tonight, they both found comfort in it.

DX Chapter the Forty-Second: Call to Arms

The next few days passed in a blur. Arrow spent much of his time rushing around the Hornburg, preparing as best he could for the incoming army. Between being outfitted for heavier, more durable armor and honing his skill with his bow, there was no time for any recreation. The closest he came to downtime were his meals and sleeping. While a lesser pony might have thought this to be a cruel treatment, Arrow knew it was necessary.

Boneshatter was less concerned with training and fitting. He already had a suit of armor specifically for the purposes of holding off a siege. He looked quite dashing in it, Arrow had thought. Instead, his tasks were geared more toward strengthening the fort. Extra beams were braced against the walls, the cables supporting the drawbridge were sistered twice for strength, and spare steel reinforced the wooden barricades. These would not come down easily.

Perhaps the most notable event happened two days before the attack. An army arrived at the back gate, but it wasn't the army they were expecting. Two hundred and fifty-seven Equestrian soldiers had marched over the mountains, and were now standing outside the gate, holding the white flag of truce. The gate was opened, and they made their way inside. The leader of this army stepped aside, to be greeted by Arrow and Ironblood.

"I am Sergeant First Class Rockwood, of the Equestrian forces. I've come to deliver aid to the Hornburg under voluntary command of Princess Luna. As the highest ranking member of those who volunteered, I also carry this message, to be given directly to Chief Steelhorn himself." He held up a letter that he'd kept in his chest pocket. "We apologize for not being here sooner. The most direct road seems to have collapsed, and it set us back half a day."

Boneshatter took the note. "Steelhorn is dead. The road collapsed with him on it."

SFC Rockwood bowed his head. "I'm sorry to hear that. His contributions to Equestria's safety were magnificent."

"No sense in mourning just yet," said Ironblood, shaking his head. "We're in the midst of battle preparations. If you wish to have him rest easy, he always wanted his people to be safe from harm. If you're serious about paying him back, I would be honoured to have you fight alongside us."

"That's what we're here for," smiled SFC Rockwood. He puffed out his chest, showing that the insignia that was always painted on the chest had been scraped off, and any distinguishing marks had been removed. This was no longer viable as Equestrian soldier armor, instead looking like a cheap knock-off. It still had all of the protective capabilities, but none of the patriotism. Some of the soldiers had taken to repainting their armor, but the idea was clear. In the event of failure, there was to be no royal decree offering preferencial treatment to the Hornburg. This was a protection for Princess Luna, and Steelhorn would have approved.

Ironblood began filtering the Equestrian soldiers to where they would be most useful. Boneshatter opened Luna's letter and read through it. She was concerned for his health, being unable to find his dreams. Before the fort was taken, she had sent a missive through the forts still loyal to him, asking for volunteers to aid the Hornburg. This was to be kept a secret, and all missives were to be burned after reading and never mentioned again. This was the extent of what she could do for him, as she had a façade to create, in order to feign innocence and regain the trust of the other princesses.

When the day of the battle finally came, Arrow was standing at the top of the gatehouse. The main gate to the Hornburg was at the end of a stone bridge. In order to reach that bridge, one would have no choice but to walk through a narrow canyon. Over the top of that canyon were several fortifications that helped to barricade the entrance. From atop these crenellated batteries, Hornburger advance scouts rained down hellfire on the encroaching Stormshrouds. They were doing a fairly good job of holding them off, too.

That's when the Gemhides came forward. Known for their heavy armors, they managed to block all light fire from the batteries. Arrows and medium boulders became useless as they bounced off the thick metal shields. However, protection wasn't all they had brought to the field. They issued a temporary retreat. Just as the battlements were readying for a second attack, a loud whoosh was heard, and several large boulders sailed through the air, finding their impact points among the stone batteries, shattering their light defenses. The main walls had been built to withstand a siege, but the ambush batteries were lightly made. They were never expected to last against heavy fire.

As what few surviving advance units retreated from the crumbling fortifications, the Stormshrouds returned to their advance. Arrow told the guards atop the gatehouse to open the gate just long enough to rescue the retreating units, and close it immediately after. He had to alert the other commanders about the trebuchet.

He found them in the temple. The Priestess was healing some injured from the day prior, Ironblood was praying for strength, and Boneshatter was praying for survival.

Arrow ran up to the front of the room, so they could all hear him. "Houses Stormshroud and Gemhide are here! They have a trebuchet, and they've taken out the forward battery!"

Boneshatter scrambled to his hooves. "Did you say a trebuchet?"

"That, or a really big catapult. They lobbed a volley of massive stones across the forward defenses. They're headed this way now, we need to sound the alarm!"

"I'm on it," nodded Ironblood, rushing to the belfry.

"This is the big one, little brother," said Boneshatter, placing his hand on Arrow's shoulder. "This is life or death. This is what we've been working toward since we took you under our wings. Are you ready?"

Arrow nodded. "For you, I'd fight the entire army myself!"

"Good man!"

The alarm bells rang out loudly, followed by the din of soldiers rushing to their posts. This was their home, and it would not fall so long as they drew breath.

Boneshatter and Arrow stepped outside. With a final reassuring pat on the shoulder, Boneshatter drew his hammer and rushed toward his post. Arrow paused for a moment to take a deep breath. This was his home, too, now. He'd protect it until his last moment.

Just as he was thinking that, another volley of stones sailed overhead. They collided with the front of the stone temple, shattering the wall. As Arrow looked up, he saw Ironblood falling out of the fragments that, moments ago, had made up the belfry. Falling along with him were several hundred stone projectiles. As Arrow tried to move, he found that he couldn't avoid all of them. With a heavy blow to the head, he fell to the ground, unable to move.

DX Chapter the Forty-Third: Aftermath

Arrow opened his eyes. The afternoon sun glinted off the shattered glass in front of him. He could hear the muffled sound of swords clashing, echoing in the vicinity. He rolled onto his hands and knees. Every muscle in his body ached, but the worst came from the throbbing in his head. As memories of the falling stone came flooding back, he thanked his lucky stars that he'd been wearing his helmet, and that the stone that had struck him was small enough that it hadn't killed him.

As he turned to his left, he saw that the same luck had not been granted to Ironblood. He laid on the steps leading up to the temple, trapped under a stone column. He'd bled out long ago. His massive battleaxe still rested against the temple wall, just begging to be made useful. The temple itself had collapsed. If the priestess was still in there, she was undoubtedly dead. That would certainly explain why no medical aid had come to him. If there was anyone left to give it, they likely would have moved elsewhere.

Arrow stood up and looked around. As the weight of the helmet rested on top of him once more, he felt a sharp pain. He removed it to find relief in the cooling breeze. He gently placed his hand where he had been struck. There was blood everywhere, and definitely a skull fracture. He dropped the helm to the ground. It had saved his life, and for that, he was filled to the brim with gratitude, but the dent that had been left behind was only putting heavy pressure on the wound. It was doing more harm than good now.

All around him were familiar faces, strong and friendly minotaurs he had come to know and appreciate during his time in the Hornburg. All of them were dead. As he walked through the streets that had made up the first bailey, he was haunted by the thought that he'd never have the chance to know them during peace. By cruel twist of fate, he'd only come to know them after they had been doomed.

As he approached the main gate, the sound of steel clashing became louder. He picked up his pace. If the fight was still going, he wanted to contribute. Rounding a corner, he saw a sight he considered strange. He had been lead to believe that the Strormshrouds and the Gemhides were allies, but what he saw confused that assumption. A heavily armored Gemhide minotaur was fighting two Stormshroud minotaurs. Other than Arrow, these three seemed to be the only living beings in the fort and surrounding area.

Arrow reached for his bow. Whether they were Gemhides or Stormshrouds, they were enemies of the Hornburg. They were his foes, and as such, it was his duty to take them down. Rather, it would be, if his bow hadn't broken. He had to retreat and find a new one before he could rejoin the fight. Five minutes later, he had found a bow and a good position from which to fire. In that time, one of the Stormshrouds had been decapitated, and as Arrow drew back his bowstring, the other had been run through. As the victorious Gemhide removed his helmet, his victory was cut short by Arrow's fatal strike.

The city was silent, save for the wind brushing past the empty buildings. Arrow walked through the rubble, listening for any signs that someone, anyone, was still alive. He made his way up to the keep, where Boneshatter had been stationed. Much like the temple, the front wall had been caved in.

He climbed the rubble to the third floor, the first stable entrance found here. Minotaurs and ponies alike were scattered everywhere. Sergeant Rockwood was here, his sword bent and shield lying in fractured shards across the stone floor. His body was pinned to the wall behind him by a spear through his left forearm and chest.

The next room held the first and only survivor of the Hornburg, though Arrow was unable to tell until the stallion placed his hand gently on the minotaur's cheek, prompting him to open his eyes. He was slowly bleeding out, his leg trapped under the collapsed ceiling. "You're alive?"

Arrow buried his face in Boneshatter's chest. "I can't believe it, either..." Tears fell from his cheeks, being absorbed into Boneshatter's fur. He sniffled. "We have to pull you out of there. We have to find a medic for you."

As Arrow ran off to find a cart, Boneshatter picked himself up as best he could. He was unable to shift the rubble on his own, and had felt utterly useless since. "Are there any other survivors?"

Arrow slid a spear under the rubble to use as a lever. "A few Gemhides and Stormshrouds, when I came to, but they're gone now." On the count of three, the rubble came up about half an inch, and Bone was only just able to slide out before the spear broke, spilling a bit more rubble down. "I took the last one out before coming here."

Boneshatter lifted himself onto the cart. "So it really was a fool's hope." He began to tear up. "I spent most of my life here, and now it's gone. There is no more Hornburg. Maybe you should just go back home to Equestria."

Arrow slapped Boneshatter across the face. "The Hornburg was more my home than anywhere in Equestria. I'm just as homeless now as you are." He sighed. "Steelhorn wanted us to protect the Hornburgers, the citizens, more than the castle itself. I just know it. It would be spitting in his face if I left you behind. Now, come on, let's find you a medic."

They made their way down the rubble and across the field. As Arrow pulled Boneshatter's cart along, they discussed their future together. First, it was the location of the nearest medic that could offer them healing, then a trek into the mountains to recover Steelhorn's body and give him a proper send-off, then they would look for a quiet place to settle down. Alone, there wasn't much of anything they could do, but they'd find a way to manage. The conversation came to an abrupt halt, however, as they crossed the portcullis onto the drawbridge. A crystal arrow had embedded itself in Arrow's temple, killing him on impact.

Boneshatter rushed over as fast as the cart could carry him. Arrow was all he had left, and now he was gone. As he turned to see his attacker, he saw Prince Jericho atop the canyon wall, standing next to a crystal pony archer. He smirked and waved down to Boneshatter, said something impossible to hear from this distance, and returned his attention to the archer. Boneshatter closed his eyes, leaned down to give his brother a kiss, and collapsed as he let out his final breath.

The Hornburg's death was now complete.

DX Epilogue the First: Celebration

Hearty chuckles and joyous music were heard at the reunion ball being held in the Castle of Friendship. Celestia wasn't ready to go back to Canterlot yet, as the castle still held a few grim reminders that she wasn't in any mood to face yet. At any rate, Equestria was back under a single banner.

Under secret orders from Luna, all of the fort commanders that had gone along with Steelhorn's plan had claimed that their reason for doing so was because the Princesses Luna and Celestia were still under duress, and they didn't want to risk their tetrarchs' lives by opposing him. The ploy worked, as they had all received pardons. For some of them, it was even a true statement. Those who had volunteered to join Steelhorn were branded as traitors and deserters.

While the mood was quite happy for most, Luna stepped out onto the balcony. Finding herself alone for the first time that night as the band slowly faded, she dropped her smiling façade. She was not glad to find herself in this position. She'd been wearing a false smile since the news of the Hornburg's collapse had come back.

She sighed and recalled the day after Steelhorn had left. Jericho had set up his bridge by daybreak. The guards had been ordered to hold their fire, and take up defensive positions only. It was just a matter of time before the gate came down, so after Luna had sent off all volunteers to join the Hornburg, she had the fort commander tear away her clothing, lock her horn again, blindfold and gag her, and lock her in a dungeon cell, specifically in one where Celestia couldn't see. She had come out of the cell saying that once she had outlived her usefulness, the cowardly minotaur had locked her up again. It hurt so much to tell such a blatant lie, but it was necessary. It had worked, too. Everyone believed her. Celestia and Twilight had been a bit skeptical, but with a bit of coaxing, Luna had been able to make them come around. She said that the only reason she had gone along with his wishes was to keep the two of them from coming to harm.

She looked up at the moon and placed a hand on her belly. The minotaur inside was kicking softly. As much as she wanted to raise it as her own, that was no longer an option. Celestia had decreed that they were to be killed as soon as they were born. Killing them now would only complicate the matter. They were to be kept healthy until they came out, then they were to be disposed of. That would be the easiest for the princesses. Luna had added that she didn't want to see its death, and thankfully Celestia had taken the bait and assigned the duty to the guards. Luna could work with that.

She heard approaching footsteps from behind her. Donning her false smile again, she turned to see Prince Jericho joining her on the balustrade. "Out for some fresh air?"

He shrugged. "I saw you out here, alone and worried. You seemed lonely, so to your side I hurried. So what is it that has your face so soured? Surely you'd be glad to be repowered."

Her smile faded as she resumed looking at the moon. "May I ask you something, Prince Jericho?" He nodded in response. "How did you feel about Chief Steelhorn? As a fellow warrior of the ruling class, what was your opinion of him?"

Jericho looked up into the night sky and took a deep breath. "I have a lot of respect for the things that he'd done. If he'd fought us at the siege of Canterlot, he'd have won. Yet he decided to spare us and hoped we'd give in. His strategies almost had him sure to win. Despite your sister's hatred for the beast, I can't bring myself to condemn him; not in the least. His biggest mistake, looking back at it now, was a fluke. He could not have predicted how we were hiding in the trees, just aside the path. On that day, we lost a good many souls to his wrath."

Luna glanced over. "You didn't hate him?"

Jericho shook his head. "No, I thought his valour was grand. I'd have been honoured to shake his hand."

The two spent a moment in silence. Luna looked behind her, to see if anyone else was in earshot. No one was even glancing their way. "Can you keep a secret, Prince Jericho?"

"I shall take your words with me as I go to my grave. Rest assured, Princess Luna, your secrets I'll save."

With one final look behind her, she whispered. "Twilight, Celestia and I are carrying Steelhorn's children, as you are no doubt aware. I know you plan to spend a good while in the Crystal Empire, intermittently going back to your own kingdom, and that's why I want to ask a favour of you." She locked eyes with him. "I want you to take these three children to your kingdom and raise them to be strong, healthy, and honourable. They are all that remains of him, and it would be terrible to lose that valour forever."

Jericho looked around as well, making sure the conversation stayed quiet. "Killing children doesn't seem a good idea to me, either. I'll ensure they're looked after, by myself and my father. If you alone visit, I'll grant you a pass that will allow you to see them as they're raised as high-class."

Luna smiled and nodded. For the first time since Steelhorn had left, her smile was genuine. "Thank you, Prince Jericho. It means a lot that you'd do this for me." She sighed. "I wonder if we'd have reached the same conclusion if we'd been able to attend that first peace talk in your tent."

Jericho laughed. "I'd like to think so, but it would never work. Shining Armor wouldn't allow it; he's kind of a jerk. I'm glad you asked me in so private a manner. The gears of diplomacy work slow enough, without the interruption of a spanner."

The two spent the next half hour discussing nothing in particular. A new bond of friendship had been forged, and that was good enough for them.

DX Epilogue the Second: Exodus

Jericho awoke to the shaking of his shoulder. He looked up to see one of his messengers standing over him, a sealed scroll in his hand. He accepted the scroll, rolling out of bed. As his cock dislodged from Cadance's arse, the sleeping princess let out a small moan of pleasure. She was absolutely loving this arrangement now.

The scroll was from Princess Luna. It had only three words written on it, but they carried with them great meaning. It is time. It meant that Celestia had gone into labour. She was the last of the three to be impregnated, and thus was the last to give birth.

Wiping his cock clean on Shining Armor's shirt, Jericho dressed himself in a rush and hurried out of the room. He'd taken the responsibility of disposing of the children from Celestia, though his methods of doing so were Luna's instructions. Telling Celestia that he'd take them all out at once allowed him to keep the children in Canterlot for a short time, having three female zebra warriors watching them at all times.

Over the past few weeks, Luna had grown attached to the infants, despite multiple warnings that doing so would only make the separation that much more painful. Even knowing the risks, she kept dropping in to make sure they were alright. If they could stay, she'd end up as a magnificent mother.

Jericho stepped into the carriage with Jaxton and Malak. They would all be making the trip back home tomorrow, spending two days with the minotaur babies as they went. It was beyond the Equestrian border, as Jericho had promised Celestia, and it was safe, as he had promised Luna. Twilight hadn't really taken a strong stance one way or the other, just wanting to be rid of them.

They arrived in Canterlot at dawn. As they entered the keep, they saw the midwife making her way out. They were just in time. Making their way to the room that had been designated as the nursery, they found Luna, softly cooing as she breastfed the newborn. She looked up as they entered. "You're here. I must admit, I was hoping you'd take your time in appearing. I wanted to spend a bit more time with them before they disappeared."

Jericho placed a hand on Luna's shoulder. "You can come see them whenever you wish. Of all I can offer, it's the most palatable dish."

Malak nodded. "We'll make sure they are given the very best care. They'll grow up healthy, you needn't despair."

Luna wiped a tear from her eye. "I know. I really appreciate your integrity with this, Prince Jericho. I shall be in contact with you as soon as I can."

The other two minotaur babies were sleeping calmly, as they had been through the night. Luna's son had been given a jet-black coat with midnight blue highlights. Though his eyes were closed right now, when opened they were a deep sapphire that, even now, were piercing through the hearts of those around him. He would be a very charismatic being when fully grown. Strong, too. The nubs that would one day be his horns were a bright white, and were already beginning to bud. That was a good sign this early in life.

Twilight had given birth to a daughter. She has a pastel lilac coat and emerald eyes full of wonder. Female minotaurs were not blessed with horns. This didn't mean they couldn't grow to be warriors, far from it. There were plenty of female minotaur soldiers. It was simply less common. They typically chose support positions.

Celelestia's son looked almost exactly like his father, with brown fur and dark eyes. His horn nubs had a mild blue shimmer to them, like polished steel. He was a fair bit smaller than his siblings, and the midwife who'd delivered him had noted his lungs being a bit weak. She'd made a statement saying he would need some physical therapy early in life if he wanted to breathe properly growing up, but Celestia had reminded her that the child was to be executed soon, and it wouldn't matter.

As the youngest fell asleep, Luna separated from him and gently handed him off to a female zebra soldier. As soon as she was sure it would be alright, she turned back to Jericho. "If anything goes wrong with them, tell me directly. I want to know the very instant they need me."

Jericho chuckled. "I understand the source of your fears, but worry not for your little dears. I promise, they will be safe from harm. I shall give you no cause for alarm."

Luna returned to her bedroom as the zebras returned to their carriage. From her balcony, she watched as her precious children disappeared down the mountain. As soon as they were out of sight, she dragged herself to her bed and lay down. as she placed her hand on the pillow where Steelhorn used to sleep, she could no longer hold back her tears. They continued to flow until all energy had been sapped from her body, and she fell into a restless sleep.

Over the next few years, the children had grown into shining beacons, pillars of their community. Even at age six, Midnight Raid had a strong grasp on military-grade tactics. The efficiency with which he disposed of building block castles was unmatched. If that weren't enough, his own structures were powerfully built and very rarely toppled. Even when they did, it was to multiple foes at once.

His sister, Soothing Belle, had taken quite the interest in potions. She wasn't all that bad at it, either. Sure, her formulas were simple, but she was also the youngest student in her class by a very wide margin. Her crowning achievement thus far had been her anti-bacterial paste, a simple mixture that all medical professionals could make in their sleep. That's not to say that it wasn't effective. She was always the first one her brothers came to whenever they were hurt. With her standing behind them, they could rest easy.

Finally, there was Steelhorn Junior. While not as handsome or likeable as his older brother, and not as learned as his sister, he was still a force to be reckoned with. He usually kept to himself, not speaking much. He was more content to watch anyway. His silence faded when he saw any form of bullying, though. He didn't have that many friends, but when they were being picked on, he was the first to stand up. Even if he was facing a being more than twice his age, and more than twice his size. He'd even once driven off an adult gryphon who'd been forcing himself on one of the maids. He was small, but he packed quite a powerful headbutt. It was almost as if his horns really were made of steel.

Luna came to visit at the beginning of every month. Every night, she'd watch over their dreams personally, but she absolutely loved seeing them in person. All three of them were precious to her, and she wouldn't ever stop loving them.

SX Chapter the Thirty-Ninth: The Bottle with the White Label

Jericho was growing impatient. There had been multiple delays on his grappler, and in the meantime, the minotaurs had only fortified their position. It would be nearly impossible to take down the gate now. It was time to go back to what had worked before.

Under the darkness of the new moon, he made his way upriver. Submerging himself under the water and breathing through a reed, he floated down the stream, landing on the fortress island. Once there, he pressed himself against the wall and began climbing. He had a few tricks up his sleeves, despite rarely wearing a shirt. He would sneak into the fort and slit Steelhorn's throat during the night.

He made it to the top of the wall with little issue. No one was watching this section, as the patrol had just left. With a quick leap, he was back at ground level, having landed in a pile of hay. With a quick look around, he found that luck was on his side, as no one was looking his direction. On top of that, he was right next to the captain's sleeping quarters. Steelhorn was sure to be here.

He peered through the window. Sure enough, there he was, sleeping next to Princess Luna. Pressing against the window, he found it to be unlocked. He slipped inside, drawing his knife. As he inched closer, Steelhorn rolled over. He was not asleep. As he sat up, Jericho ran at him. This would need to be quick.

It was over in an instant. Steelhorn had grabbed jericho first by his armed wrist, then by the opposite shoulder. As steelhorn bashed his head against that of the prince, they found out whose skull was built for heavy impacts. Jericho fell to the floor, dead.

The next morning, Boneshatter came to Steelhorn's room as he was dressing himself. "You know that assassin you found last night?"

"How could I forget?" asked Steelhorn. "I was his target, after all."

"It turns out he was a zebra prince. The same one that just killed Scrimshaw and Hardtusk. The enemy seems to be in a panic again."

"That's a good thing. We don't want them doing well, do we?"

"That's not all, either." Boneshatter produced a glass bottle with a purple liquid inside it. It had a white label printed on the front in the zebra language. "He was carrying this on his person."

Steelhorn raised an eyebrow. "You know I can't read the zebra script. What does it say?"

Boneshatter turned the label back to himself. "It's a bimbofication potion. It instantly turns any female into a large-breasted, cock-loving, mindless sex slave. It contains three servings, and they last forever. Its name is Deus Ex Machina."

"Why would he have that?" asked Steelhorn. "Was he going to kill me, then use this on you?"

Boneshatter laughed. "No, I don't think so. I guess he might have wanted to use it on Luna to discredit her claims. That's just a guess, though."

"Does it work?"

"You know how zebras are. They do the whole potion thing and whatever they were aiming for happens. It's the one thing they're actually good for."

Steelhorn adopted a sly grin. "I know how we can test it."

The two made their way down to the cells. Celestia was waiting for them. Her mane had almost completely grown back. With the click of the latch, she watched as Steelhorn and Boneshatter walked in. "What do you want?"

"Straight to the point," chuckled Boneshatter. "That's good." He showed her the bottle. "We want you to drink this."

"What is it?" she asked. She could read the language, but it was too dark to make out.

"It's your ticket out of this cell," answered Steelhorn. "Drink this potion, and you can come out into the sun. Do you remember what it's like to feel the sun on your skin, princess?"

Celestia opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue, cupping her hands in front of her so as not to spill any.

"My, my... Someone's eager today," chortled Boneshatter as he dribbled about a third of the potion into Celestia's mouth. As she gulped it down, her eyelids began to grow heavy and a headache began to form. While one of her hands moved to her throbbing head, the other moved to her chest. She could feel her bra growing tighter and tighter. It was all she could focus on, as her head began to bob to the side. Her eyes glazed over, and she let out a coquettish chuckle. Finally, her fingers found the clasp for her bra and released it. Her breasts, which had grown considerably with her pregnancy, were now even larger.

She crawled forward to Steelhorn, pressing her lips against his sheath and digging her tongue down into it. Her pussy was sopping wet as she fondled his testicles, trying desperately to draw out that yummy cock of his.

"I'd say it worked well," chuckled Steelhorn, letting his rod slip out into her wanting throat. Without a single command, she swallowed it whole, sucking as hard as she could to take in the most flavour. When he stiffened up, he had to pry her off. She collapsed to the ground in front of him.

"Please, master," she begged, opening her legs and stretching her labia apart. "My pussy aches for you! Please, master, fill me!"

Gripping her ankle in one hand and her opposite hip in the other, Steelhorn rammed his dick into her as far as it would go. She was much easier to work with now, partially because of the stretching she'd gone through in the dungeon, but also because she was no longer resisting. His thrusts went unhindered as he slapped his hips against her voluptuous arse, and she was loving every minute of it. Eventually, he came inside of her, filling her with his seed. As he pulled out, she rolled forward, and without hesitation, began sucking and licking the cum from his shaft. She was nothing more than a cock sleeve now.

"Do you ever want to taste this cock again?" he asked. She nodded and said something incomprehensible. "Then you'll do exactly as I tell you from now on. You do that, and you can suck me off every morning. Deal?"

She pulled off of him. "Every morning?" She looked excited. "Of course! It's a deal!" She said nothing else, as she had already began suckling again.

When Steelhorn was cleaned up, he directed her attention to Boneshatter. She didn't care if it was master's cock, she needed to taste it. It was all she could think of. Steelhorn took the bottle and removed Celestia's ring horn. "After you're done, let the boys upstairs have a turn. They've earned it. I'm going to go ensure that Luna stays on our side." Exiting the cell, Steelhorn made his way back upstairs. He had a brand new plan to enact.

SX Chapter the Fortieth: The Crystal March

With Luna and Celestia as slaves to his cock, Steelhorn was feeling more confident. A press conference was called, in which both of them denounced Twilight's claims of the events that had transpired. Her statements were declared to be the frightened imaginings of a pony who was in over her head. With both Luna and Celestia claiming Steelhorn as a benevolent regent, many of the commanders that had taken up arms against the minotaurs defected to their side. This was exactly what Steelhorn had asked of them.

With the siege now in remission, Twilight fled back to the Crystal Empire with her brother. The zebra soldiers had scattered again, this time for good. Jericho's autopsy had been made public knowledge, as well as the fact that he had broken into Princess Luna's sleeping chambers and had run at her with a knife. While it's true that she hadn't been the target, that bit of information was not made readily available.

Steelhorn began marching toward the Crystal Empire, Equestrian fortresses falling to him as he approached. Not a single blow had to be dealt, and not a single word had to be spoken. He stopped for the night twice, both times falling asleep inside of Luna, and waking up inside of Celestia. Boneshatter was enjoying the opposite treatment of Luna in the morning and Celestia at night. Arrow had found his enjoyment as well, as he was put in charge of giving them a protein-rich lunch in the hole of their choice.

When the quintet finally came to the Crystal Empire, all the crystal ponies scrambled to stay out of their way. Even the guards were shaking in their boots as the group approached the doors. Pulling his member from Celestia's throat, he brought her gaze up to his face. "You know what to do, right?"

Celestia nodded. "You can count on me, master."

"Good girl." With a smack across her scrumptious arse, Steelhorn stepped out into the street, followed by the two princesses. "We are here because the princesses would like to speak to their contemporary."

One of the door guards stepped forward. "You're not allowed in, m-monster! Only the princesses may enter!"

Steelhorn leaned against the carriage. "That's fine by me. The zebra threat to the princesses has been resolved. They're no longer in peril, so they can go where they please."

Celestia and Luna strode past the guards with haste, wanting to be out of these stuffy dresses and back into their harem clothes for their master as soon as possible. With a guard escorting them, they moved to a large conference room, and Twilight was brought in. Seeing Celestia without bonds, she immediately ran over and wrapped her arms around her teacher. "How did you manage to escape?"

Celestia reached into her pocket and pulled out the bottle. It had one serving left. "They let us go, Twilight. There really was somepony trying to kill myself and Luna, and they were using Cadance as a shield to keep Steelhorn from attacking the citizens. He really did have our best interests at heart."

"Everything he did has served to better Equestria," Luna added. "Prince Jericho came into my bedroom with a knife. At great risk to himself, Steelhorn protected me. And now, he's agreed to return control of the country to us. We can all go home and not have to worry about our safety."

Twilight looked up, confusion and tears in her eyes. "But... He raped me. He raped you, too, Celestia. How can you defend him?"

Celestia nodded. "He's done some cruel things, yes, but he'd like to atone." She held the bottle aloft. "This potion will heal all damage done to your horn, as well as your womb. He also has a way to nullify your pregnancy, if you'll go talk to him outside."

Twilight took the bottle. While she was a bit skeptical, she knew Celestia was trustworthy. Luna would need some time to earn her respect again, but Celestia had always been after Twilight's best interests. Without another thought, she tilted the bottle back and drank the entire thing. It began to work right away. When it was finished, she still couldn't use magic, but she certainly felt hornier.

"Do you feel that itch inside of your pussy, Twilight?" asked Celestia. Twilight bit her lip and nodded, rubbing herself through her clothes. "Master Steelhorn has the cure. Let's go see him, shall we?"

Celestia and Luna escorted Twilight back to the carriage and helped her in. As they turned around and started back toward Canterlot, The princesses couldn't control themselves anymore, throwing their bodies at Steelhorn's hooves and tonguing his testicles. His turgid penis, however, was reserved for little Twilight. She had a tight hole that was just begging to be filled. Impaling herself on his shaft, she bounced up and down on him until they came to a stop for the night.

In celebration of his victory, Steelhorn let all the men in the fortress use the princesses as cum dumpsters all night long. By morning, Celestia had crawled back to Steelhorn's bed and fallen asleep with his engorged fuck stick lodged in her throat. While he was enjoying the vibrations from her snoring, he needed to return to Canterlot. After all, the princesses needed to find a belly dance instructor. Luna was ahead of the game in this regard, having already been working on her form.

The next day, they returned to Canterlot castle and made their way inside. The princesses needed a long bath, and then it was time to lift the restrictions. The battle against the zebras was over now, and the citizens were deserving of freedom.

Steelhorn couldn't let them ride him all day every day. He needed to find some way to satiate them when he was busy. Luckily, he already had something in mind. Leaving them in the care of his older brother, he made his way into town. Without looking around too much, he found a sex shop, and bought four enchanted vibrating dildos, and two harnesses that they could wear in place of their panties. He figured a cock in each of their pussies would keep them complacent, and if that didn't work, he could double the number of inserts. One way or another, he'd keep them tame.

SX Chapter the Forty-First: Lost in Pleasure

Over the next few months, Steelhorn oversaw countless improvements to the Equestrian military. It took almost a year to put together, but when he was done, he felt confident that they would survive the battle for the Hornburg. This war was as good as won now.

Boneshatter and Arrow set out to lead the troops into minotaur territory. Steelhorn would have gone himself, but he had promised Celestia that she could taste him every morning, and Luna every night. Besides, he had three kids he needed to look after, and three more already on the way. Boneshatter was his most trusted confidant. He'd have no trouble going to the Hornburg, especially with an army at his back. There was little to worry about.

While his brothers were gone, Steelhorn hosted a large banquet with what remained of Equestria's high-ranking officers. Many of them were aware by now that Steelhorn was basically in charge, as the princesses were almost exclusively deferring to him. The ones that were not aware yet were made aware as Steelhorn sat on the throne throughout the night. As if that were not enough, halfway through dinner, Twilight slipped under the table and began sucking him off while rubbing herself.

This action caused a bit of a ruckus around the room, as the officers were not accustomed to seeing a princess act like a common whore. Adding to this cacophony were Celestia and Luna, who were absolutely livid at Twilight's behaviour. She, along with both of them, were supposed to wait until after the party was over before being allowed to please their master. She had committed quite the faux pas, having her dessert before dinner was done.

Celestia was determined to have an equal treatment, so she called for volunteers to feed her. As she lifted her dress and spread her legs, several dozen hands shot up, and a line was formed for access to her pussy. Not to be outdone, Twilight lay down across a table and lifted her tail, demanding all able-bodied men to rail her pussy and arse. The order was not to go unheeded, and an orgy began right in the middle of dinner.

Despite her broken mind, Luna held fast to her loyalty. Her grip in her chair was so tight that her fingernails were about to dent the wood. She desperately wanted to join in, but she'd made a promise to her master that she would wait. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried as hard as she could to not listen, but it was no use. Her loins were positively frothing.

Thankfully, she was given relief presently. Steelhorn had cleared a place for her on the table, and guiding her by the hand, he bent her over the edge, stripping off her dress and lifting her tail. He'd have spread her legs, but she was way ahead of him, with her hands already pulling her labia apart. She was ready for him. With such a tasty dish in front of him, Steelhorn couldn't help but to dive right in. Driving his cock deep into her snatch, the two of them were far more vocal than anyone else at the party.

The next morning, as Celestia was licking him clean, Steelhorn looked around. Everypony seemed to have enjoyed themselves and passed out in the dining hall. As he stood up, one of the generals rolled over and extended a hand. As Steelhorn helped him to his feet, the general chuckled.

"Not only do you run a tight ship with the military, you also know how to throw a splendid orgy. You're a good man, Steelhorn. If you can convince the princesses to just hand over their crown to you, I'm pretty sure all the soldiers would support you."

Celestia pulled the cock out of her mouth and took a deep breath. "He can have mine!"

"Mine, too!" called Luna.

"As long as he keeps me filled with cock, I bend over in support of King Steelhorn of Equestria!" giggled Twilight, bending forward and stretching her arse for all to see her gaping hole.

As the officers began to awaken, their voices joined together, chanting Steelhorn's name. He raised a hand to quiet them. "If that is what you all want, then I suppose I have little choice. I accept the responsibility of Equestria's king!" Loud cheering erupted throughout the room as he took all three tiaras and draped them over his horns. He was finally a king.

A few weeks passed, and he'd had the tiaras melted down and reforged as a crown to fit atop his head. He was sitting on his throne, receiving a titjob from Twilight and Celestia while Luna danced in front of him when Boneshatter returned. He approached the throne with a somber expression. "My lord, I have terrible news."

Steelhorn stood up, knocking the sluts aside as he did so. "What sort of losses are we looking at?"

"It's nothing but a pile of rubble and dead bodies," answered Arrow. "When we arrived, the place had long since been levelled."

"And there's more bad news," added Boneshatter. "Chief Brasshoof of Stormshroud is the new king. It's been decided already. You cannot be named king anymore."

Steelhorn placed a hand on Boneshatter's shoulder. "Actually, I can. Equestria handed itself to me. I am the new ruler of Equestria."

Boneshatter looked up. "Are you serious?"

Steelhorn nodded. "And with that, I have a new task for you."

"What task is that, my king?" The title tasted great as it came out of Boneshatter's mouth.

"I want you to find a zebra named Zecora. Apparently, she's an expert when it comes to potions. I want more of that potion we took from Jericho. With the Hornburg gone, we have no minotaur citizens. I want you to help me make more. The Hornburg will rise again."

Boneshatter smiled. "With pleasure, my king. Any idea where to start looking?"

Twilight zipped to his side. "I know where she lives! If you let me ride your cock, I'll take you there."

Steelhorn laughed. "You heard the bitch. Strap her to your chest and make her squeal the whole way there."

"Aye, sir." Boneshatter left the room with a salute, Twilight following close behind him.

Steelhorn turned to Arrow. "You've come rather far, my friend. Why don't you relax for the rest of the day? I'm sure Celestia would love to--"

Steelhorn was unable to finish, as Celestia was already underneath Arrow. She was smelling the intoxicating musk of his ball sweat while tonguing his arsehole. Both of them were loving it. He moved back to sit down on the throne. He was the king now. And it was good to be the king.

Chapter the Eleventh: A Warm Bed in Which to Lie

Ten minutes passed silently with Luna. Then twenty, then thirty. Celestia knew there would be retribution coming her way, but knew not when to expect it. After forty-five minutes, there was a knock at the door. A small crack formed as the doors were opened no more than an inch. "Majesties, are you decent?" came the call of a servant. "I've brought your dinner."

"We are," responded Celestia. "Come in, please."

The door opened further, and in strode a servant with a push cart. On top of the cart were five cloches, underneath was a collapsible folding table with chairs to match. None of this had drawn Celestia's attention, however, as her eyes were pulled instead to the minotaur behind the servant, wearing a big, smug grin. The table was quickly assembled in the center of the room and the cloches placed accordingly. A guard was present to confirm that the food had been untouched since the kitchens, as had the silverware. On top of that, there was a bottle of red wine whose seal was intact.

With a wave from Steelhorn, the servants and guards left the room and closed the door behind them. The minotaurs all took their seats, Scrimshaw being the only one who had yet to shower at that table.

"Surprised to see me?" chuckled Steelhorn, unfolding his napkin. "You were so sure we'd have preished in your little trap, weren't you?"

"How?" demanded Celestia. "How did you know?"

"A cornered rat will always fight for its life, Celestia. And you did just that. Your desperation showed at dinner, but you tripped in your execution this time. You smiled as you told us to enjoy our shower. A smug smile, as if you knew something would happen. I've lived long enough to know a trap when I see it. So I asked your attendant to go over any functionality your shower had." Steelhorn paused. "Are you not going to eat? Your dinner is growing cold."

Luna stood up to move to the table, but Celestia held her back. "That's how you knew what had happened?"

"Well, no. I suspected that something was wrong, but I didn't know what. Your attendant, by the way, is a very lovely mare. So wise in her craft and proud of her work. Rightfully so, too. You should absolutely apologize for what you did to her."

"You mean what you did."

Steelhorn shook his head. "I asked her about the shower. She showed me the mechanism in place for an herbal shower. Quite a lovely thought. And yet, when she looked in, she saw that something was wrong with the water. She tried to flush the tank, but saw some kind of foregn object in the water. She went to pull it out, and now she's in your infirmary. Boneshatter carried her himself."

"Will she be alright?" There was genuine concern in Luna's voice. "We would be very pleased to go and see her."

"She's going to be alright," answered Boneshatter. "Your physician said she's lucky to still have her hand, though it's too soon to tell if she'll ever be able to use it properly again. She should be in surgery now, and I'll be checking in on her after dinner."

Luna breathed a sigh of relief, and once again stood up. This time, Celestia allowed her to walk to the table. Luna had a seat across from Scrimshaw, next to Boneshatter. "We are rather surprised by your calmness in this, Chief Steelhorn. This is the first time we can recall that an enemy of Equestria cared so much as to look over its citzens' well-being."

Steelhorn finished his sandwich. "That may be because we are not truly enemies. I harbor no malice towards Equestria, and, as promised, once I've ensured that my people are safe, we shall negotiate a peace treaty."

"We look forward to the day when our kind and yours are not at odds," nodded Luna, starting in on her meal.

"It's not a day that's going to come, Luna," growled Celestia. "He has shown us that he has no intention of honouring that promise."

"Now, that's not fair," said Steelhorn, glancing at Celestia. "We've only failed to keep two promises that we've made to you, neither of which are valid arguments, as they've not reached their deadline yet. We promised a peace treaty after the war in my home. The war has yet to begin, and thus has yet to end."

Luna looked confused. "What was the other promise?"

Boneshatter gripped Luna's mane in his fist. "He promised that any harm your sister tried to inflict on us would come back to lash out at you and Twilight."

Luna began to tremble, but Steelhorn placed a finger to her lips to stop her from crying out. "I'm sure, because you seemed unsurprised to see us return, and surprised to hear of your bathroom attendant's injury, that you had nothing to do with that. However, you were complicit in trying to poison us at dinner. Celestia will be punished for your actions at dinner, but worry not, as she'll not suffer at all for the second attempt."

Luna swallowed hard and nodded as best she could.

"Of course, as both you and Celestia together committed three acts of attempted homicide against us, I can only imagine what manner of pain Princess Twilight will suffer as a result."

Celestia jumped to her feet, her bathrobe coming undone and displaying her lack of undergarments in the process. "You wouldn't!"

Steelhorn nodded. "I made a deal with you, Celestia. If you behaved, Princess Twilight would come to no harm. You did not keep your end of the bargain, so I'll have to be the bigger man and keep my end of the bargain. Princesses Twilight and Luna will be whipped because of your actions."

Luna shrank down. "Wh-whipped?"

Steelhorn pulled out the bullwhip he'd carried up to the room. "Princess Celestia must learn that we Hornburgers keep to our word. And so she will watch as you are taking your lashings."

Luna quivered in her chair.

"Now, I'm going to wait until you've finished eating, first, as you otherwise might refuse to eat after we're done. Celestia, that includes you. Sit down while you still can, and have some dinner."

Celestia folded her arms, covering up her breasts, and sat defiantly on the bed. Luna, on the other hand, returned to her meal, eating slowly so as to hopefully postpone her punishment. She'd never been whipped before, but she had heard the lamentations emanating from the dungeons below. It was not a feeling she ever wanted to sympathise with.

After Luna was finished, Celestia had still refused to come to the table, leaving her dinner untouched. Luna stood, and walked over to where Steelhorn was standing. Boneshatter had released her mane, as she was now within Steelhorn's grasp. "We are ready," she said, steeling her resolve. "Please, make this quick. We do not wish to suffer any longer than we have to."

Steelhorn grasped her by the neck and shoulders, brought her down to her knees, and bent her over his knee. With a flick of his finger, he tossed aside the lower trim of her robe, exposing her bare arse. "First, for your behaviour in the dining hall." He brought down his hand. It connected to her buttocks, resulting in a loud slap. Luna brought her left hand up to her face, biting down on her knuckle to prevent yelping in pain. Another strike, and then another. Thirty-five strikes in total graced her backside, turning her blue flank to one of deep purple. Smoothing out her skirt and tail, Steelhorn helped her back to her feet. "Let this serve as a warning to you, and to your sister."

Luna nodded and wobbled over to Celestias's bed. As expected, she had some trouble sitting down.

"You're next," grunted Steelhorn, standing in front of Celestia. "Stand."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then Luna and Twilight will be punished once more tonight. Do you care nothing for your own sister?"

With a reluctant sigh, Celestia stood up. Steelhorn sat where she had been, dropping her to her knees and splaying her across his lap. Her robe was lifted, and again the sound of flesh being slapped rang out throughout the bedchamber, only being accented by Celestia's yelping. With every slap, Luna winced, as if a third of all the damage dealt to Celestia was falling on her. What made it worse was that she'd only agreed to the plan to poison them because Celestia assured her that these minotaurs were exceptionally stupid. She would make no such mistake again, as it now meant watching her sister suffer. The minotaurs were in charge now. She had to follow their rules.

With the same count of thirty-five, Celestia was returned to the bed. Just as the sisters were thinking they were done for the night, Boneshatter pulled out some rope. "Time for the second punishment," said Steelhorn, gesturing for Luna to stand. She didn't want to see Celestia's arse become any more red, so she did as she was told, despite the shaking of her legs. Luna was stripped down completely nude, and her wrists were bound to Celestia's bedposts. With a second length of rope, Celestia was bound so that she could not interfere. "It's such a terrible thing I must do now. You truly are a beautiful mare, Princess Luna."

The first lash shot across Luna's back, causing such immense pain to the mare that the only comparison she could make was to that of her banishment to the moon. The scream that she let out to follow it was the most painful sound Celestia had ever heard thus far. But the night wasn't over yet. A second lash crossed the first, sheeting Luna's entire back in immense suffering. Celestia turned away, but Scrimshaw held her head in orientation, and kept her eyes open. This was to be Celestia's punishment. She was not allowed to turn away.

At the tenth lash, Luna was barely able to keep herself up. She begged and pleaded for this to be the end, fluids of all varieties dripping from every orifice of her face, save for her ears. She promised to never do anything harmful to them again if only they would stop. Two more lashings, and she began to offer them her body as payment. Two more, and she was begging for death. Celestia, having seen her sister brought to such a level, was heartbroken. Her sister was suffering because of her. The bathroom attendant was suffering because of her. She was suffering by having to watch this tragedy.

Finally, the fifteenth crack of the whip rang out, and Celestia was mumbling incoherently through her sobbing. Steelhorn bound the whip back into its coil, stowing it away on his hip. With gentle hands, he untied Luna, laying her facedown on the table. With some ointment and gause, he ensured that her wounds from the lashing would heal properly before laying the whimpering princess in her sister's bed, kissing her forehead, and covering her up. The same was done to Celestia, though her hands remained bound for now.

"I will be back tomorrow morning," Steelhorn said. "Rest well, and we shall speak again over breakfast. Luna, you are not to undo the binding's on Celestia's wrists. Are we clear?" Luna nodded as best she could. "I hope you've learned your lessons. Good night, Princesses."

The minotaurs packed the table and chairs back into the cart and exited the room, making it clear to the guards that nopony was allowed in or out until he returned. Having witnessed three attempts at Celestia this week, the two deadliest being today, the guards were quite willing to agree to Steelhorn's commands.

After an hour, both of the princesses had calmed down enough to speak. "My dear Lulu," spoke Celestia. "Do not worry. I have a new plan that will--"

"No," rebuked Luna. "No more of your plans. I have a plan this time. The plan is, we don't piss off the obscenely powerful minotaurs that have dominion over us. The plan is, we go along with them for a bit. We see if this Chief Steelhorn really does what he says he can, and nopony else is hurt in the process."

"Luna, he just tortured you! You're bleeding! Are you really content to just sit there and let him do that?"

"It is precicely because we did what he asked that your punishment was not so severe," chided Luna. "We do not wish to feel the lash again. Can you behave yourself? For us? For Twilight?"

The room fell silent. Before long, the pain subsided a bit more, and the two fell asleep.