Chapter 19

Six months have passed since the Grand Galloping Gala. It's business as usual, except for one event: The Royal Summit. Every six years, rulers from almost every nation come together to discuss a multitude of things, such as policies and disputes. The nations held the last Summit in the Crystal Empire. Many suggested to have it there again. The Equestrian royals selected Anon and his unit to be in charge of security, along with 500 Crystal Imperial Marines. Anon's unit moved to the Crystal Empire for a couple of months to train. Anon and the General of the Imperial Marines, Diamond Sword, spent weeks preparing for any possibility, including an attack. These preparations started with more border patrols and tighter security around the capital city. Anon drilled the Royal Vanguard and exercised them in any situation. Several heads of state in one place would be too good for an opportunistic assassin. Absolutely NOTHING could go wrong.

Anon was highly stressed the whole time. This job is the biggest job Anon took on since becoming a General. He knows that one simple mistake can lead to an international crisis kicking off. As the Summit grew closer, the stress increased to the point where Anon didn't sleep. He drank sleeping potions, but not even that worked. Princess Shining Armor temporarily pulls Anon from command so he can rest to avoid any mistakes. This break helps Anon with his sleep. At one point, he sleeps for 24 hours. His return to duty made things much smoother.

In the later stages of preparations, all Anon and other officers meet to establish the final touches for security. However, during a meeting between Anon, Diamond Sword, and Shining Armor, a messenger from Princess Cadance arrives. The messenger hands the note to Shining Armor, who furrows his brow at it.

"Is everything okay, sir?" Diamond Sword asks.

"Tell my wife I need to speak to her as soon as possible," Shining Armor orders.

"Right away, Your Highness."

"What was that about?" Anon asks.

"It was a notice that some of the delegates would be bringing their guards."

"That's a bad thing?"

"Considering the fact we haven't vetted them yet, they present a potential threat," Diamond Sword replies.

"Yeah, I understand that."

"What makes it worse is that each delegate will probably bring as many guards as they want, which can lead to thousands of unvetted guards wandering around the capital. We can't allow those guards to come," Shining Armor adds.

"I agree, but what if the delegates refuse the command?" Anon asks.

Shining Armor sighs, "We'll have to turn the delegates away. They'll be pissed, but I'd rather have an angry prime minister rather than one of my citizens dead."

"Why do they want to bring their guards? In the past, the hose nation's forces have been sufficient," Diamond Sword asks.

"I don't know, General, so that's why I'm asking my wife for some help. Her diplomatic skills are...better than mine."

A few seconds later, Princess Cadance appears in the conference room with a bright blue flash. Anon and Diamond Sword stand up from their seats and salute her. She salutes back, and the two generals sit down.

"You needed me?" she asks.

"We need to talk about this," Shining Armor says as he puts his hoof on the note.

"Right. What do you think we should do? We shouldn't let them bring their guards, personally. We already have enough."

"Not only that, it's a security risk. We don't have the time to vet the guards before the Summit, which is in three days."

Cadance turns to the generals and asks, "What do you think?"

"I agree with Prince Shining Armor," Diamond Sword replies.

"Same here. My question is how the delegates will react," Anon says.

"It depends. The penguins and the yaks won't really care, but the polar bears might," Shining Armor responds.

Anon knows how stubborn the polar bears can be. They mostly isolate themselves more than the yaks and the griffins ever did. Both Equestria and the Crystal Empire have tried to reach out to the polar bears with some success, but this request might push them away. Apparently, both Cadance and Shining Armor understood that situation.

"There goes over a year's work of diplomatic missions," Cadance groans.

"What about a compromise?" Anon suggests.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Allow them to bring one guard. Let's say the commander of their bodyguard detail. Telling the delegates not to bring their guards or don't come at all is a slap in the face."

"That would show our willingness to compromise," Diamond Sword adds.

Shining Armor looks at his wife with an expectant look. She nods in return.

"That works. Approximately 100 guards will be easier to keep an eye on than the original number," Cadance says.

"With the delegates and guards coming to Equestrian ports or train stations, we can relay the message to them there. The remaining guards can be watched closely by the Solar and Royal Guards," Shining Armor adds.

"Sounds good to me, honey. I'll have the letter written up and distributed."

"Princess Cadance, are there any nations that abstained from attending this summit?" Anon asks.

"Take a guess, General," she replies.

"Right. The Griffin Empire."

"At the rate, I guess we can break for lunch," Diamond Sword suggests.

"Good idea. Let's meet back here at say...1500 hours (3:00 pm)," Shining Armor says.

The generals, Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, stand up and leave the conference room.

Anon goes to dinner in the Quartz District, where he ate during his first deployment a few years ago. He orders a cheeseburger with french fries and water. Most of the patrons leave him alone for the most part. As he finishes most of his friends and burgers, a newly promoted Captain Silver Quartz arrives. She smiles when she sees Anon. For the past two months, she has worked as Anon's aide. Silver's perky and "can-do" remained intact despite her new rank.

"Happy noon, General," she says as she waves.

"Oh, hey," Anon replies.

Silver Quartz sits down in the booth across from Anon.

"So...how did the meeting with the Prince go?" she asks.

"I can't talk about it here. It will have to wait until later," Anon replies.

"That's fair. Are you looking to the Summit?"

"Sure. Meeting other heads of state will be interesting but exhausting. I'm sure the interactions will drain my social battery by noon, but I'll be okay."

"What helps my brother since he's like you, which is weird since you two are the same colors, is to go the bathroom, sit in there for a few minutes, and read a magazine. He looks at dirty magazines, but I'm sure you-"

Anon interrupts her by holding up a hand.

"Captain Quartz, we've talked about this. Meals are the only times I get any 'me-time' during the day. Plus, lower your voice. Everyone is looking at you," Anon interrupts.

Silver's ears flatten against her head as she sinks in her seat. She smiles weakly at the patrons who are shooting daggers at her. They quickly finish their lunch before returning to the palace.

For the next two hours, he sits in his guest room reading the new Daring Do book titled Daring Do and the Terracotta Tomb. He sets the alarm so he can get to the meeting on time, which he does.

This meeting is about guard positions during the opening speech that Princess Celestia will give. Stationed at the stage would be a mixture of twenty Royal Guards and Imperial Marines. Lunar Guards would provide security from the balconies of the palace and the rooftops of nearby buildings, while the Solar Guards would act as crowd control. Anon would stand next to the stage along with General Diamond Sword, Captain Silver Quartz, Commander Tempest, Princesses Twilight, Luna, Cadance, and Prince Shining Armor. On the podium would be Princess Celestia, who would give the opening speech.

Once they settle that, the men dismiss for dinner. Anon goes to a restaurant in the Taaffeite Sector. He sits on the terrace where a live jazz band is playing. He orders braised beef tortellini with a Caesar salad. The night goes by smoothly, and Anon enjoys his meal. He reads his Daring Do book, which he brought along to entertain himself while he eats. About an hour later, Anon finishes his meal and returns to the palace. On his way to his bedroom, he sees Commander Tempest standing on one of the terraces, looking down at the city. Anon walks over to her and stands at her side. They don't speak for a while. Then, Anon says something.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" he asks.

"It is, General," Tempest replies.

"Is there something on your mind?"

"Yes, sir. I ran into Princess Cadance earlier this afternoon. She smiled when she greeted me. Hell, she even made small talk. It's been on my mind ever since."

"Okay. Why has that gotten you like this? That's just who she is."

"I don't understand why she was nice to me. It didn't seem like it was for show. I stormed Canterlot, captured all four princesses, stole their magic, and all for some selfish ambition to get my horn back. I had my kind murdered. Yet, she chose to forgive me. All of the princesses did. I fully expected to be arrested and executed for my actions. Princess Twilight vouched for me at my trial, and Princess Celestia pardoned me for my actions. She even allowed me to join the Royal Guard as a Captain 'under supervision.'"

"So, you're struggling with self-forgiveness. I get that."

"Why should I forgive myself, though? I'll spare you the conversation I had with Princess Twilight had with me about that. I can't do that with good conscience. By all counts, I am a traitor. I shouldn't be standing here with my head on my shoulders."

"Commander, understand that forgiveness is a process that includes forgiving yourself. You are being too hard on yourself. What you've done in the past few years has more than made up for it."

"With all due respect, sir, I disagree. My transgressions are too great for a few years of military service."

"What do you believe would count as penance, if you don't mind my asking?

"I owe my life. That's the least I can do.

Anon gets down on one knee. She turns, tears filling her light blue eyes. This is the first time Anon has seen her cry. He uses his thumb to wipe away her tears and pulls her into a hug. Tempest didn't sob like some would have. He pats the nape of her neck before pulling away. He orders her to take the next day off and to get some rest. Tempest nods her head and leaves the terrace. Anon stays there for a few more minutes before going back to his room.

When he arrives, he takes off his equipment and puts it on the armor stand next to his bed. Then, he goes through his nightly routine. Anon finishes what little he has of his Daring Do book before going to bed. He turns off the lamp and lies down. A few minutes later, he falls asleep.

It's the day of the Royal Summit. The first delegates to arrive were Princess Celestia, Luna, and Twilight. Anon spends most of the day organizing the Royal Vanguard while the Imperial Marines patrol the streets. The majority of the Solar Guards patrol the outskirts of the city. The opening speech will be at 1100 hours (11:00 am), so he has over an hour to prepare. As Anon makes sure everything at the plaza where Princess Celestia will give the opening ceremony is going smoothly—Commander Tempest and 1st Lieutenant Red Sun brief all of the NCOs and COs on last-minute adjustments.

For most of the day, Anon wanted to have some alone time with Celestia before the Summit, but as time progressed, his wish seemed unlikely. So far, the only thing they've done is give each other side glances and smiles. Also, as time progresses, the plaza fills up with spectators from not only citizens of the Crystal Empire but also from Equestria, as well.

The last item on the agenda is setting up the stage and podium where Celestia will give the opening speech. The flags of the nations attending the Summit will also be displayed. Both Anon and 1st Lieutenant Red Sun are to oversee the process. The podium is set in place by four unicorns while other ponies place the flags in the flag bases, fifty on each side of the podium. Then, the ponies set up a large, red curtain behind the podium.

Anon checks off the box when he hears someone call out to him. He turns to see Princess Twilight, and when the Elements walk up to him. As per usual, Anon snaps to attention and salutes. She smiles as she waves off Anon's gesture.

"Why do you keep saluting me even though we are friends?" she asks.

"Have to in public—Military Code of Conduct and such. Today is the last day I need to break that," Anon responds.

"Make sense; I see the preparations are going well."

"Yes, Your Highness. The opening ceremony is in less than an hour, so we are getting close to finishing."

"It looks amazing, even more than last time," Pinkie Pie says.

"So, I've heard. I also heard that you had quite the experience last time. Something about your crown being stolen and going to another dimension for a few days," Anon adds.

"Yep. The dimension is similar to this one but with humans, " Twilight informs.

Anon sighs. Of all the places he landed in, why couldn't he land in that one? At least there, he could blend in a little better. There is an awkward pause when someone else calls out to Anon. He recognizes this voice all too well. It's Captain Silver Quartz. However, he's happy to see her only because she saves him from an awkward silence.

"General Anonymous and... oh my gosh! Your Highness!" she exclaims.

Silver Quartz salutes Twilight, who salutes back.

"Who might you be?" Twilight asks.

"I'm Captain Silver Quartz of the Crystal Imperial Marines, Your Highness. It's an honor to meet the sister of Prince Shining Armor."

"You, as well, Captain. So, I have to ask, how is working with Anon?"

Anon winces a little. He knows he hasn't been all that nice to Silver. He shouts to sweat a little as he notices. Silver looks him up and down. The last thing he needs is to get chewed out publically by the Princess of Friendship, despite how much he deserves it.

"I like working with General Anonymous! He's a little rough around the edges, but he's a good commanding officer. I'm not the only one who thinks so," Silver Quartz replies.

Anon lowers his clipboard as he looks down at Silver.

"I...thanks, Captain. I appreciate it," Anon says.

"Anytime, sir," she replies.

"So, you needed me for something?"

"Oh, yes. My report. All gave me the all-clear, which is weird. The Crystal ponies set up the last-minute decorations."

Anon purses his lips. Twilight, Anon, and Silver exchange concerned looks. The Elements are confused."

"Is something...wrong, Anon?" Fluttershy asks.

"Usually, when nothing is going wrong, all hell decides to break loose at the wrong time," Anon responds, "With that said, I need to get in touch with a few of my subordinates. Excuse me, ladies and Your Highness."

Anon salutes Twilight before walking away.

"Hey, Cap'n. Mind if I ask ya somethin'?" Applejack asks.

"Sure," Silver replies happily.

"What did ya mean by 'rough around the edges' earlier?"

"Oh, um. How do I say this nicely?"

"Say it like Anon would say it," Rainbow Dash suggests.

"General Anonymous says what's on his mind. He doesn't care about your feelings."

"It sounds like being a soldier made him even more mean," Fluttershy says.

"Oh, nothing like that. For example, if somepony is being stupid, Anon'll tell that pony that they are being stupid. He's not one to sugarcoat things, either. He'd instead tell it how it is. I think that's what ponies like about him. Not just as a man, but as an officer."

"That makes sense. Anon never took to likin' sugarcoatin' because...what did he say...it was 'inefficient and can cause a misunderstandin'. Whatever that means," Applejacks says.

"However, he is a sweet guy, which leads me to my question: How long have General Anonymous and Princess Celestia been friends?"

"Actually, she was Anon's first true friend here. In fact, she helped him soften his rough exterior," Twilight replies.

"You know, I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but when I went to Canterlot about a year ago for escort duty, I heard a rumor being passed around the Royal Guards about those two," Silver whispers as she looks around.

"Guard gossip. Please, share the details, darling," Rarity says.

Silver Quartz motions for the mares to come closer as she looks around once more to make sure no one is listening in.

"Now, you didn't hear this from me, but I heard that General Anonymous and Princess Celestia were spending a lot of time together. Like A LOT of time," she explains.

"Well, as Twilight said, they've been friends for a long time, and since he's a general, I'd expect them to spend more time together," Fluttershy reasons.

"At night? In her chambers?"

"Are you saying that Anon and Princess Celestia are in a relationship?" Rarity asks.

"That's the rumor."

"There is no way in Tartarus that those two are together. It's Anon we are talking about. An alien from Celestia knows where and is basically Equestria's mom.

"Rainbow Dash, surely you've learned that opposites attract," Rarity says.

"That's only in your trashy romance novels."

"They are not trashy. They have the perfect amount of romance, passion, mystique, and spice."

"Like I said, trashy."

"Speaking of which, there they are now," Fluttershy says as she points her hoof.

The girls follow her hoof and see Anon standing next to Princess Celestia, about thirty feet away. As one could expect, they were acting professionally. Sometimes, they'd share a small laugh but return to their professional behavior.

"I still don't see it," Rainbow Dash says.

"I think they look cute together!" Pinkie Pie exclaims.

They all wince as Anon pauses and turns his head. He says something to Celestia before walking over to the girls. He is unamused and annoyed. As he walks up, he puts his hands on his hips while shooting a stern glare. He narrows his eyes.

"Can I help you ladies with something," Anon asks.

"No, we're good here," Twilight says sheepishly.

They were asking about your friendship with Princess Celestia," Silver adds.

"Uh-huh, sure. Just so you are aware, I'm not deaf. I can hear you throwing my name around."

"You heard all of that?" Rarity asks.

"Besides, I could almost feel you staring at me."

Anon sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose through his helmet. He was about to chastise the Elements when he heard heavy hoofsteps behind him. Anon doesn't even bother turning around because he is who it is."

"Is there something the matter, General Anonymous," Princess Celestia asks.

"No, there isn't, Your Highness. Just attending to a personal matter."

"From what I heard, this matter pertains to you and me."

"I guess that's true. Captain Quartz, go to your position next to the podium. I'll talk to you later."

"But-"

"Go, Captain."

"Yes, sir."

She walks away. When she's out of earshot, Anon continues, but this time, he's less professional.

"I assume you were talking about the rumor about Tia and I dating?"

The girls nod their heads, with some of them flattening their ears. Anon looks at Princess Celestia, wanting her input so he doesn't do all the talking.

"This isn't the time or place to talk about that rumor. I will speak with you about it when the conferences have concluded for the day. I promise to clear things up," Princess Celestia says.

"Want me there, too?" Anon asks.

"Since this rumor involves the both of us, I would appreciate it."

"Okay. Sounds good to me."

"For now, don't utter another word about the rumor to anypony. Understand."

The Elements nod in agreement.

"Now, let us take our places. We have a summit to begin."

Anon follows Princess Celestia to the stage. Commander Tempest, General Diamond Sword, Captain Silver Quartz, Cadance, Luna, and Shining Armor are already at their spots. Anon takes his spot, clasps his hands behind his back, and scans the crowd for any threats.

The minutes tick by as the time for the opening ceremony to start. Anon relaxes a little. Then, Princess Celestia steps up to the podium at the center of the stage.

"Good morning, my fellow delegates and fellow Equestrians. Today marks the start of a great event where nations, both rivals and allies, can set aside their differences in the name of peace and harmony."

Right about then, Anon mentally checks out of the speech. He loves Celestia, but he's listening to enough of her speech to see they all sound the same in some form or fashion. He continues scanning the crowd until something else comes to his mind. The last item on his checklist, which was to check underneath the stage, didn't get completed. There is a giant opening for ponies to crawl through to make repairs, which presents an enormous security issue. He tries to slip behind the stage nonchalantly. Some ponies notice but brush it off as Princess Celestia keeps talking.

Anon removes his helmet and gets down on all fours. It's dark, but the light coming from the opening helps. At first, there is nothing suspicious as he is searching. However, directly underneath where Celestia is standing, his hand brushes against something soft. He doesn't see what he touched. Anon pats the area and feels a piece of cloth. It's not just any piece of cloth. It's invisibility cloth, which is illegal in many nations, and it's the size of a hand towel. He notices the cloth is covering something. He pulls it out of the way and finds something shocking. It's a small crate of dynamite and glass jars of an oily liquid. Attached to the dynamite. It is ticking, and the time is almost 30 seconds away from 1200 hours.

"Bomb," Anon whispers in shock.

He scrambles out from beneath the stage, muttering the word "bomb" over and over again. Anon sprints to the front, and then the ponies begin to notice something is wrong.

"BOMB!! THERE'S A BOMB!! EVACUATE NOW!!!" Anonymous screams.

Silver Quartz and Anon sprint to the stage while the crowds scatter in all directions. However, Silver is quicker than Anon, but that means nothing. The only thing Anon can hear and feel is an explosion and a massive shockwave.

Anon's eyes flutter open as the smell of smoke and gunpowder fills his nostrils. His ears are ringing, and his head is pounding. He struggles to stand up as more distant explosions shake the ground. He can hear muffled screams. He shakes his head to regain focus. His vision is blurry, but he can see guards and citizens running in all directions. The Elements, Shining Armor, Celestia, Luna, and Diamond Sword are tending to wounded civilians and guards. Anon sees a few dead guards lying near where the stage is or what's left of it. Princess Cadance is nowhere to be found, and neither is Silver Quartz or so he thinks. He sees an Imperial Marine with a familiar silver mane and yellow body lying in a pool of blood. Anon bolts over and is horrified at the sight. The Marine is Silver Quartz.

She has several burns across her face, leaving it a bloody mess. Her left leg is missing, and her right leg is barely intact. The worst part is there is a large piece of wood protruding from her neck. Another piece is in her chest. Anon drops to one knee, places a finger on her neck to see if she has a pulse, and prays silently. Unfortunately, he can't feel one. Anon hangs his head in defeat. Captain Silver Quartz of the Crystal Imperial Marines is dead. Tears fall from his face as he prays silently over her. He starts to sob until someone calls out his name. It's Commander Tempest. She gallops up to him.

"General Anonymous, are you-"

She sees Silver at Anon's feet. She removes her helmet in reverence.

"She's gone, Tempest. She didn't deserve to go out like this." Anon says through gritted teeth.

"I'm sorry about Captain Quartz. I really am. Are you injured, sir?" Tempest asks.

"I am a little banged up, but I'll make it."

Anon stands up and retrieves his helmet.

"Where is Princess Cadance, Commander?" Anon asks.

"We don't know, sir. After the initial blast, she-"

"WE'VE GOT ONE JOB RIGHT NOW, AND WE CAN'T EVEN DO THAT. FIND HER, DAMN IT!!!!

"Yes, sir!"

"I'm going to reorganize some of the troops the best I can and find out what the-"

Five more explosions interrupt Anon. Tempest takes off into the smoke without another command. Anon runs over to the Royal Family and the Elements. They mostly look uninjured, aside from smoke and blood stains.

"General Anonymous, it's good to see you are still among the living," Luna says as she helps an injured Crystal Pony to his hooves.

"I can't say the same for Captain Quartz," Anon replies.

"What happened to her?" General Diamond Sword asks.

Anon winces a little as flashes of her burned and mutilated body come to him. More tears fall. He tries to speak, but he can barely utter a single sentence, much less a word. The Elements realize what Anon is trying to say.

"Anon, I'm so-"

"Princess Twilight, don't! We'll grieve later! For now, we need to reorganize the guards and figure out what the hell is going on! Has anyone seen Princess Cadance?! Anon shouts.

"She went to check on citizens after the first explosion!" Shining Armor replies.

"Where is she in relation to the last five explosions?"

"Nowhere near there, but I'm sure she and a few guards are on their way over there now."

"Where is 1st Lieutenant Red Sun?!"

"Here, sir!" she responds.

Red Sun, a large group of Solar, Lunar, and Royal Guards, along with a few Crystal Guards and Marines, are running out of the smoke in front of the small group. Anon is relieved that she's okay. According to her, she collected 250 guards while the rest of the Royal Vanguard were recovering the wounded and dead. Anon orders them to help out the Royal Family and the Elements. However, that order only lasts for a short while.

A Solar Guard, a pegasus mare with a green body and blue mane, runs out of the smoke with shock and fear on her.

"GRIFFINS!! IT'S THE GRIFFINS!! THEY'RE EVERY-"

The Solar Guard is cut short when an arrow slams into the back of her neck. She slides a short distance before stopping. Blood pours from the mouth as she starts twitching. Rarity and Fluttershy vomit while the rest of the Elements stare in shock. Then, as if on cue, some of the smoke starts to clear. On the rooftops and in the street, dozens upon dozens of griffins begin to emerge. The guards, Shining Armor, and Diamond Sword prepare their weapons.

"Someone find Princess Cadance, NOW!!!" Anon bellows.

Ten minutes earlier

Tempest runs through the streets, avoiding rubble and corpses. She has spent the past few minutes looking for Princess Cadance. She asks several ponies if they've seen the Princess. They pointed her in the direction of the city hall. The destruction brings back horrid memories of the Storm King's invasion of Canterlot. The Crystal ponies have the same fearful looks in their eyes. The sound of crying ponies fills her ears. Tempest tries to shut it out, but she can't. She stops and shakes her head. There is a mission at hoof, and she can't lose focus now. Tempest pushes forward, looking for Cadance. Eventually, she finds her, but something stops her. A volley of arrows cut down a few bystanders, one of which is a filly. Many more volleys cut through the smoke, killing more ponies. Tempest draws her sword as dozens of griffins, armed with swords and bows, emerge from alleys and rooftops. Three of them confront her with sneering smiles.

"You bastards! You'll pay for the innocent blood you spilled today!" Tempest growls.

"Bring it on, then, little po-"

A blast of Tempest's magic hits the griffin in the head. He collapses to the ground. The only thing that is left is his heck and the lower part of his beak.

"Who's next?!" Tempest snarls.

The two griffins attack. Tempest engages the one on her right. They lock blades and try to force each other back. The second griffin tries to ambush Tempest from behind, but she bucks him in the stomach. Then, she forces her opponent's sword down, allowing her to headbutt him. Blood spurts from his beak as he instinctively recoils. Taking the opening, Tempest plunges her sword through his chest. She pulls out the sword and turns to the last griffin. The wounded griffin looks up at her with a sly grin.

"Long live King Granger."

"Shut up," she snaps.

Tempest decapitated the griffin. She returns her attention to Princess Cadance. She sprints as fast as she can, ignoring the carnage around her. One thing Tempest notices is that Cadance fights off four griffins. She is pretty impressed that Cadance is doing well, especially for a pregnant mare. Her attitude changes when she sees four griffins on a nearby rooftop with bows aimed at the Princess. Tempest manages to get to Cadance in time and tackles her to the ground—four arrows plinking into the pavement. She stands over Cadance, using her body as a shield.

"Commander Tempest, you saved my life! Thank you!" Cadance says.

"Just doing my du-"

Two arrows slam into her back, cutting her off. Pain courses through her body. Her legs almost buckle, but she musters all of her remaining strength to keep standing. Another arrow slams into her back, and Tempest screams out in pain. She coughs up blood. More blood pours from her mouth as the pain increases. A lot of it falls on Cadance, who is staring up in horror. A fourth enters her back. Tempest's body gives out, and she falls on Cadance. Before the advancing griffins can kill them both, Cadance ignites her horn and teleports them both to where her husband is. When she reappears, she is behind a lot of guards, her aunts, her husband, and the Elements.

"Someone find Princess Cadance, NOW!!!" Anon bellows.

"I'm here!!" she shouts.

Everyone turns around. Shining Armor's eyes widen as she sees his wife covered in blood. He gallops over to her. Anon is frozen in shock when he sees Tempest. He drops his sword and runs over to her. He checks her pulse.

"She's got a weak pulse! We need to get her to a medic immediately!" Anon shouts.

"We've got one in the palace. Auntie Celestia and Luna, will you come with me?" Cadance says.

"We will," they respond.

"We'll stay here and fight these guys!" Rainbow Dash says.

"Right! With the magic of friendship, we can-"

"HOLY FUCK! TWILIGHT, ENOUGH OF THAT SHIT! This fight is one that we can only win with a sword!" Anon shouts, "Shining Armor, you should go with the princesses and the Elements."

"Are you sure?" he asks.

"You are Cadance and your child's last line of defense. We'll die before you need to."

"If that's what you think is right, then go for it. General Diamond Sword, come with me to organize a palace defense force and a counterattack. We don't have much time."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Anon picks up his sword. Then, Celestia calls out to him. He keeps his focus on the griffins, slowly advancing on their position.

"Anon, please come back safe," she says.

"Tia, if there's one thing I've learned from my world, it's never make a girl a promise you can't keep. For you, I'll make an exception," Anon replies.

With that, the small group teleports away. Red Sun doesn't need the order to summon Anon's shield. A red flash later, it appears, and he slides it on his arm.

"1st Lieutenant Red Sun, you are now Acting-Commander of the Royal Vanguard until further notice!" Anon says.

"Understood, General! Your orders, sir?!" Red Sun responds.

"Kill them all except for one! I want answers!"

"Yes, sir!" the guards reply in unison.

The guards start their branch's battle chants. Anon joins with the Royal Guards.

"FOR CAPTAIN SILVER QUARTZ!! FOR COMMANDER TEMPEST!! FOR EQUESTRIA!! CHAAAARGE!" Anon bellows.

The ponies let out a battle cry as they rushed forward. The griffins follow suit. Anon slams his shield into the first griffin he comes across. Then, he plunges his sword into the next one. He keeps going as his instincts and training take over. He ignores every wound he takes.

The guards advance through the city with ruthless efficiency. They move on to other parts of the city. Other isolated units join them in the fight, and units from outside the city arrive to reinforce them. Over the next six hours, the battle rages. Eventually, all but one griffin is dead. He tries to kill himself but is disarmed and captured by Imperial Marines. They drag him away, kicking and screaming.

Bodies litter the streets, many of which are foals. The sounds of crying, screaming, and groans fill the air. The smell of death and smoke lingers. Guards and civilian volunteers begin recovering bodies so they can be transported to medical centers while other guards and volunteers help medics and doctors with the wounded. By orders of Prince Shining Armor, every officer killed in action, the guards transported to the morgue at the Crystal Palace. Anon personally oversees the transportation of Silver Quartz's body. Anon stays with her body until she arrives at the morgue. Then, he goes to the medbay to check on Tempest. According to the doctor, she is stable. The arrows narrowly missed her spinal cord, so they didn't paralyze her. However, she has a long road of recovery ahead of her.

Anon sits next to her while a nurse tends to his wounds. She's surprised by the amount of wounds that need stitching. As the nurse tends to Anon, his adrenaline rush from the battle slowly wears off. Anon falls asleep in his chair. A little while later, a Crystal Imperial guard wakes him up. Anon jumps up, frightened, and draws his sword with a wild look in his eyes. Then, he sees the guard slowly backing away.

"Can I help you, Private?" Anon asks as he sheaths his sword.

"Uhh...Princess Celestia has requested your presence at the Situation Room, sir," the guard says.

Thank you. I'm on my way."

Anon reaches over and squeezes Tempest's hoof.

"I'll be right back, okay," Anon whispers.

He leaves the medbay and walks to the Situation Room.

When he arrives, the Elements of Harmony, Celestia, and Luna are sitting around the table. When Celestia sees Anon, she stands up and gallops over to him. A relieved smile is on her face as she wraps him in a hug.

"Anon, I'm so glad you are okay!" she says.

A blush creeps on his face. He doesn't hug Celestia back and seems annoyed. She realizes this and lets go of Anon. It's her turn to start blushing. She notices the bandages on his arms and legs.

"Are you okay?" she asks.

"A few cuts and bruises, but I'll make it," Anon responds.

He sits in one of the chairs. Instead of sitting up straight, he slumps down and props his head up with his left hand. He closes his eyes. Anon falls asleep until the doors open. Shining Armor, Cadance, and a few of the CIDF generals walk into the room. The couple sits at the head of the table while the generals stand behind them. Everyone looks glum or exhausted. Cadance, in particular, still appears to be in shock. Shining Armor sets a few papers on the table. Then, he notices Anon. His expression lightens a little.

"Oh, there you are, Anon. We couldn't find you earlier," he says.

"I'm sorry. I was paying my respects to Captain Quarz while we transported her body to a makeshift freezer and making sure my second-in-command was going to live. Commander Tempest is fine. She just has a few months of physical therapy ahead of her. Thanks for asking. Not only that, I've been trying to process the biggest fuck up of my career," Anon snaps sarcastically.

One of the generals steps forward to chastise Anon, but Shining Armor holds up a hoof.

"I understand how you feel. The biggest screw-up of my career was when I was assigned to be head of security at my wedding. I was unaware that Queen Chrysalis had kidnapped and replaced Cadance, accused my sister of losing her mind when she was trying to warn me, and let 20,000 changelings into Canterlot almost unopposed. Two thousand five hundred civilians, along with 2,800 guards, were KIA. Six thousand were WIA. Everyponies' death is my head. I even tendered my resignation, but Celestia refused it since she didn't know. Today, we all screwed up, but all we can do is move forward. With that, I have the preliminary casualty reports. Unfortunately, doctors told me that these numbers will increase."

He uses his magic to pass out some papers. Celestia, Luna, and the Elements receive both civilian and guard casualty reports, while Anon receives one for the Royal Vanguard. This is the report:

Royal Guard Casualties:
Killed in Action: 75
Wounded in Action: 152

Lunar Guard Casualties:
Killed in Action: 70
Wounded in Action: 190

Solar Guard Casualties:
Killed in Action: 91
Wounded in Action: 201

Total Killed: 236
Total Wounded: 543

Anon sighs woefully. Twilight looks up at Anon. She can see what little life he has left drained from his body.

"Princess Twilight, What are casualty percentages for my unit?" Anon asks.

"51.93%," she responds.

"Fucking hell. The nobles are going to have a field day with this one."

"Despite all of this, I have some good news. We did get information from the griffin we captured about who planned the attack," Shining Armor continues.

Now, everyone in the room is paying attention.

"King Granger of the Griffin Empire himself ordered the attack. The preparations started a year ago. They slowly infiltrated Equestria while slowly bringing supplies over, including the invisible cloaks. Today, they snuck right past us with those cloaks on and infiltrated the city. The first bomb that Anon found was supposed to kill Celestia, and the rest were to cause enough chaos so the griffins could get into position. They wanted to isolate all of us so that killing each royal would be easier."

"That explains why the griffins boycotted the Summit. That should have been the first clue that something like this was going to happen," Luna says.

"What are the nations who came going to do?" Anon asks.

"Likely nothing, even though some are dead or injured. Some of those nations border the Griffin Empire. If they declare war on them, it's pretty much suicide. The Griffins have increased their army by three million in the past three years. Those nations have no real ability to retaliate, even if they created an alliance," Cadance says.

"So, what are y'all gonna do?" Applejack says.

"An attack happened on our soil and our citizens. They tried to assassinate us, too. It didn't take long for us to make a decision. As of today, the Crystal Empire is at war with the Griffin Empire," Shining Armor says.

Anon isn't surprised, but the Elements are. Even Twilight is shocked. They start talking amongst themselves. Anon looks over at Celestia and Luna. They don't look surprised, either. In fact, Anon anticipates that they will make a declaration of war, too.

"We have enough ponies to maintain our nation while introducing conscription laws. Even without conscription laws, we'd have no issues with getting volunteers to fight. I hope we count on your support on the battlefield, Princess Celestia," Shining Armor continues.

Luna opens her mouth to say something, but Celestia stops her.

"We'll have to consult our nobles and generals before we make a decision," Celestia replies.

Shining Armor sighs. A look of annoyance appears on his face.

"There's the bureaucracy that I've always hated in Canterlot. You already know the nobles will tell you not to go to war because they don't want their 'little filly' or 'little colt' getting killed."

"I agree with Shining Armor! They tried to kill y'all! A lot of our guards are dead! I saw foals dead in the streets! I don't like war, but the Griffin Empire has to pay for this!" Rainbow Dash announces.

"I second that," Anon says.

"I, too, agree. Sister, we must help our allies and show that we will not take this act of war lying down," Luna adds.

"You all make good points, but I will still need to discuss this back in Canterlot," Celestia says.

"This is bullshit. Not doing anything makes us look weak not only to our citizens but also to our allies. We-"

Celestia interrupts Anon by raising her hoof.

"We will discuss this later, General. What I need you to do is escort the Elements of Harmony back to Canterlot within the next two hours," Celestia ordered.

"As you wish, Your Highness," Anon responds dejectedly.

Anon leaves the room. Despite his outward demeanor, Anon is furious with Celestia. His anger boils within him. He clenches his fists. He feels that Celestia was disregarding the 236 guards who gave their lives for her. Seventy-five of them are ones he knew well and trained. In a fit of rage and sadness, Anon punches a wall, causing it to crack. He slumps against the as he begins to sob. He hates that so many of his guards died. Anon blames himself for their deaths. It doesn't help that he found out that Glass Pane, one of the guards he went to boot camp with, was killed while he was with Silver Quartz's body. Even one is too much for him.

Then, Red Sun, who has been searching for Anon for the past hour, sees him leaning against the wall. She gallops over to him to check on him.

"Sir, are you okay?" she asks.

Anon sniffles and stands up. He wipes away from his tears.

"Yes, I am fine. Everything okay?"

"Yes, sir. I've been looking for you. I heard you were in the medbay with Commander Tempest, but you weren't there when I checked. The nurse sent me up here," Red Sun says.

"I apologize. Princess Celestia needed me for a meeting," Anon responds as he motions for Red Sun to follow him.

"How'd the meeting go?"

"Well, Shining Armor is going to war on the Griffin Empire."

"That's not surprising. I'm assuming we are at war, too."

"Princess Celestia needs to talk to the nobles about it even when it's solely her and Princess Luna's decision."

"You're joking, right?"

"I'm not, unfortunately."

"That's a lot of shit. Since when do those bureaucratic assholes get a say?"

"It doesn't matter. Princess Celestia gave us new orders."

"And those are?"

"We are taking the remaining guards in the Royal Vanguard and escorting the Elements of Harmony back to Canterlot."

"That's it? Has Princess Celestia lost her mind? What about our dead and wounded? We can't even mourn our dead, and now we are sent running with our tails between our legs."

"She didn't tell me what to do with them, but I have an idea. Round everyone still standing and meet at the train station in an hour. To hell with being at attention. Just get on the train and try to remain vigilant."

"That'll be easy since most of them are at the hospital waiting on news for their wounded comrades."

"Good. You are dismissed."

Red Sun teleports away while Anon continues walking down the hall to the train station.

It's been four days since the attack on the Crystal Empire. Everyone is back in Canterlot. Anon sent an order to the morgues in the Crystal Empire to send the bodies of the guards who died in battle to their families, along with a letter of condolence that he signed personally. He also ordered that the wounded guards have three months' leave so they could heal. While many officials spent their days sitting in offices or meetings, Anon and Red Sun spent their time in the cities and towns in the area, wanting to hear what the ponies thought about the attack. Most of them were furious and were even more furious that the nobles they had elected had remained silent. Very few wanted to avoid war. Other generals did the same thing when they heard about what Anon was doing. They heard similar things.

Today, every general in the EAF, all of the high-ranking nobles, and the Elements of Harmony are in the throne room, sitting around a large, rectangular table with Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Twilight sitting at the head. For the past three hours, the generals and the nobles have bickered back and forth about going to war. None of the Lunar Guard generals had the slightest opportunity to speak. The nobles always talk them over. Even Luna suffered the same issue. Anon refused to say anything. The way the meeting was going, the Elements and the nobles had more of a voice than any of the generals. However, one noble agreed with the generals. It is Chancellor Neighsay.

Anon is not a fan of Chancellor Neighsay because the pony is an outspoken racist, especially towards thestrals. His appearance reminds Anon of a specific Transylvanian count. Chancellor Neighsay is also no fan of the Elements of Harmony. He views them as almost useless despite the fact that they have helped protect Equestria several times. However, His pro-war stance helps give the generals the voice they need.

"With all due respect, Princess Celestia, the Elements should have little say in this matter. They have little experience with international affairs, much less with the topic of war. They aren't even soldiers, nor do they belong to a noble family. Not even a minor one," he says.

"I disagree with Chancellor Neighsay on a lot of topics, and I respect the Elements of Harmony, but I have to agree with him. They haven't spent years studying warfare, nor have they led guards into battle. If they were here to observe, I'd understand. However, due to their lack of experience in areas in which my fellow generals and I excel, I believe they should not have a say in these matters," General Iron Sides adds.

"I have to agree, as well," General Spear Shaft says.

"All we want to do is talk to the griffins. It's better that way," Pinkie Pie says.

"For Tartarus's sake, spare us the friendship is magic talk, Miss Pie. It's painfully obvious to everyone that we are past the point of talking it out," General Steel Javelin snaps.

Pinkie Pie sticks her tongue out at the general and blows a raspberry. Anon and Twilight simultaneously shake their heads in annoyance.

"Princess Celestia, need to say something," Rainbow Dash says.

"Go ahead, Miss Dash," Celestia says.

"As much as it hurts to say this in front of my friends, I have to agree with the generals on this one."

"Rainbow Dash! We talked about this!" Rarity shouts.

"No, you guys talked about it. I didn't get a chance to say what I wanted to say."

"Now's your chance to speak your mind," General Spear Shaft says.

"What I saw in the Crystal Empire was terrible. I watched innocent ponies die, even foals. I saw guards give their lives to protect everypony. The princesses nearly died. Commander Tempest nearly died saving Princess Cadance. It's not right that we are even sitting here just talking about if we should be fighting back. I didn't fight the griffins, but General Anonymous and his guards did. You guys haven't even asked him what he thinks. I think you should hear what he has to say. I think we have to fight."

Anon is surprised. Despite his rocky past with Rainbow Dash, he expected her to say something completely different.

"General Anonymous, do you have anything to say?" Princess Celestia asks.

Everyone looks at him. His mouth runs dry, and his heart is beating out of his chest. He takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and folds his hands on the table.

"On December 7th, 86 years ago, my country, the United States of America, was attacked and provoked by another nation called the Empire of Japan. They attacked our naval base in a place called Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. 2,393 Americans died. One thousand one hundred seventy-eight more ended up injured. What do you think my country did?" he starts.

No one says a word. The silence is all Anon needed.

"The next day, our nation declared war, entering us in the Second World War, which is arguably the worst war that my world had been in. The US united as one, setting aside our differences to fight for liberty and to avenge those who died. On September 2nd, close to four years later, the Allies were victorious against the evil Axis Powers. Over 15 million soldiers died in that war, but the cost was beating back the evil that was the Axis Powers. No one wants war, but when the time comes, we need to fight. Not because we want to kill, believe I have no joy in taking a life, but because war is a terrible necessity to stop that evil and to defend those who can't defend themselves. Who knows how many more will die if we don't stop King Granger? However, the most essential part is listening to the ponies and knowing what they want. Acting-Commander Red Sun of the Royal Gaurd, 25th Aurora Battalion, and I went to the towns in the area to hear what the people had to say, especially the families who I had to explain why their loved one was coming home in a box. Many of the other generals have done the same. We all heard the same thing. The people are outraged by this blatant act of war. If you don't listen to them, you won't have to fight a war overseas, but you might fight one on the homefront. I know how people get when they don't feel heard by the government. It's why the Founding Fathers built my nation. So people can feel heard. We'll look weak, and we already look indecisive to everyone. Ultimately, the decision is yours, Princess Celestia, but I urge you to listen to the cries of the people. We must go to war."

Some of the nobles talk amongst themselves while others ponder what Anon said. Even the Elements of Harmony start considering Anon's point.

"Well said, General. You've changed my mind," Fancy Pants says.

"Hear, hear," another noble says.

The other nobles start clopping their hooves in support. Celestia, Luna, and Twilight start talking to each other. Anon notices it seems to be more of an argument between the older alicorns and Twilight. Eventually, it ends with Twilight shaking her head in disappointment. Then, Celestia raises her hoof to quiet everyone.

"I must say, General Anonymous. You've pled your case well. I think I speak for everyone when I say I agree with your statements," Celestia says.

"I concur. Sister, I do believe it is time to announce our decision," Luna adds.

"It is. As of today, after one thousand years, Equestria is at war."

Author's Note

Wow! A lot has changed in this story since I first started writing over four years ago. Anon has gone from a stranger in a strange world to a respected and intelligent general.

I apologize for taking so long. A lot has happened in my life that took away my love for writing, but now I'm back in action. If you haven't already, check out a new story I'm working on called The Elemental Bounty Hunter. Here's the link:
The Elemental Bounty Hunter - Fimfiction

This chapter begins a new arc in Anon's life. One that will push him to his limits and test everything he has trained for. It will test everyone he knows and loves. Now for the spoiler of the next chapter name:

Chapter 20: Preparations