Twilight strode confidently through the open field, mentally taking stock of her surroundings while she did so. Three dead, seven injured, only one of which was in critical condition, and over a dozen of the strange winged creatures subdued. One of which had been killed, though no one was about to shed a tear for the animalistic murderer.

Secure in the knowledge that the captured creatures had been safely contained beneath a barrier shield Twilight glanced at the train. Where her guards were rounding up those in need of assistance and leading them towards a now empty car near the front. The other travelers aboard had mostly remained inside, but those few who were armed now joined the guards outside.

“This is no time for heroics, stay with the others,” barked a guard, who pointed to a burly earth stallion wielding a sword.

“Did you see those things? You’re going to need help and we can fight,” he retorted, pounding a fist against his chest.

Having swiftly gathered what was going on, Twilight strode up to the small group, making her presence known.

“My princess,” murmured the guard.

The others bobbed their heads in respect.

“I know you want to assist in any way you can, but you cannot join the guard. However-” Twilight held up a finger. “We will need someone to stay with the train should we come across any others in need of assistance.”

The man slammed his hand against his chest with a thump. “You can count on us princess! Let's go boys!”

Twilight merely nodded, watching the small group leave before turning to her guards.

“We’ll drop the civilians off at Easthaven before continuing on to Canterlot,” Twilight declared.

Spike sprinted up to the group, huffing and puffing. “Does that… include me?” he asked between breaths.

“I’m afraid so Spike,” Twilight whispered, leaning down and ruffling his head fins.

Spike sighed. “Figures.”

“You remember visiting mayor Tall Tree last winter, right?” Twilight asked.

Spike nodded.

“Go to city hall and offer him your services. I’m sure he would appreciate your orgnizational skills,” Twilight declared.

The dragon snapped off a quick salute. “Yes ma’am.”

“Good, now everyone else get back on the train and be prepared for another attack,” Twilight began, pointing to her guards one by one. “I want the civilians pulled up to the front and at least two pegasi positioned atop the first car. I want to know the second you see one of those creatures swooping down on us.”

A flurry of agreements sounded throughout the small group and in no time at all they were all on the move. The train’s engine was stuffed with coal, its boiler burning hot as the guards swiftly moved everyone further up. Though there were some complaints, no one was brave enough to voice those sentiments in Twilight's presence.

The alicorn herself took position near the front of the train, standing next to the engineers as they monitored the engine.

“Are ya sure about this princess? If they damaged the track further up then I doubt we’d be able to slow down in time,” offered a scruffy faced unicorn.

“If it comes to that I’ll evacuate everyone myself. I’m more worried about the potential lives lost if we do not get to the bottom of this attack as soon as possible,” Twilight stated.

“Are you sure it's not an isolated incident?” offered the unicorn’s shorter, feminine assistant.

Twilight shook her head and pointed off to the right. “Something is going on in Canterlot, and I have a feeling it is the source of these creatures.”

“Right. Fireman White, let's get the princess to her destination right quick than,” barked the unicorn.

“Aye boss,” replied the mare.

Twilight ignored them and continued to stare out the window, peering intently towards the distant rust colored glow. It was an unpleasant sight, one that filled the alicorn with a palpable sense of dread the likes of which she had never felt before. Something big was happening, and she wasn't sure if it could be fixed by a firm talking to or a friendship lesson.

“Bit for your thoughts,” remarked Twilight's guard captain.

“I’m just worried, Stalwart Steel,” Twilight replied. “Whatever’s going on, it's big.”

“It seems focused on Canterlot for the moment,” Stalwart replied. “At least they’ll have the other princesses on their side.”

“Still,” Twilight murmured. “Lets just focus on dropping off the civilians and disengaging the other cars. I want to get to Canterlot as soon as possible.”

“Of course my princess,” Stalwart replied, bowing his head.

Twilight drummed her fingers on the windowsill, watching as the civilians disembarked at a quick pace. They were swiftly met by a flustered looking pair of guards, and the station manager, who ushered them all inside. Though there were no blood or bodies, Twilight could tell there had been fighting in the area, especially near the train yard.

Gouge marks were visible in several surfaces, and doors were knocked down, having been left toppled on the ground. Windows had been shattered, and the glass ceiling which covered the train station had suffered considerable damage. There were no fires visible, and they had cleaned up the majority of the glass though, so Twilight assumed things had been handled in the town’s favor.

A question she was able to ask a few seconds later when the guards she had seen earlier began approaching her.

“Princess Twilight. Hot damn am I glad to see you,” proclaimed the younger of the two.

“What happened here?” Twilight demanded.

“Some creatures showed up and just started attacking everyone,” the short haired stallion replied immediately. “We fought them off, but they keep trickling in from further north.”

“Canterlot,” Twilight muttered.

“That's the running theory, yes,” offered the slightly grey haired town guard. “The mayor’s got everything locked up tight and is evacuating the nearby farms but its slow going.”

“Casulties?” Twilight asked.

“Minimal,” replied the older of the two. “They don't seem organized, or at all interested in team work.”

“They just fly in here and attack the first person they see. It's crazy,” muttered his partner.

“Good. Well it seems you have everything handled here. Could you watch over my assistant for a little while?” Twilight asked, turning to a random box.

“Oh uh sure, where is the little guy anyway?” muttered the town guard.

“Right… here!” Twilight declared, reaching into the box and pulling out a surprised looking Spike.

“Aww come on! I want to help you this time!” he yelled, flailing around in Twilight's grip.

“It's too dangerous, besides. I’m sure the mayor really does need your help,” Twilight retorted.

“Oh fine,” Spike muttered.

Twilight placed him in front of the two guards and gave them a nod. “Thank you gentleman, now if you’ll excuse us. We need to get to the bottom of this.”

“Wait, can't you send letters to Celestia? Doesn't she know what's going on?” asked the younger of the pair.

Twilight shook her head. “I’m afraid whatever’s caused this mess has created too much magical interference. Long range teleportation is impossible, as is scrying, and sending spells. We need to do this the old fashioned way.”

“Understandable. We should have known you would have thought of that already,” remarked the grey haired guard. “Come on kiddo, let's go see what the mayor needs help with.”

Twilight leaned down and planted a kiss on Spike’s head. “Be good, now.”

Spike wiped his forehead vigorously. “Aww come on. I’m not a kid anymore you know.”

Twilight chuckled as the dragon was led away by the guards.

“You’ll always be a kid to me,” Twilight whispered.

After they were gone, Twilight sighed, and turned towards her guard captain who was waiting patiently to her right.

“I’m assuming you detached the other cars, and escorted the engineers to safety,” Twilight offered.

The stallion nodded. “We did, my princess.”

“Good, then start shoveling. I’ll watch the boiler,” Twilight proclaimed, rolling up her sleeves.

“Private Bulwark, get on it,” Stalwart barked, turning to one of his subordinates.

“Yeah, yeah,” muttered the male.

As Twilight began to familiarize herself with the many leavers, knobs and switches, she couldn't help but glance out the window. The reddish orange glow had become brighter, but it’s origin, and by extension Canterlot, had yet to become fully visible. When that changed Twilight was certain that she was going to witness something truly terrible.

Only time would tell however.

“Ready when you are, my princess,” Stalwart exclaimed.

“Right, let's go,” Twilight muttered.

“We’ll be able to see Canterlot shortly,” shouted a voice over the roar of the engine.

Twilight wiped the sweat form her brow, and took a step back, walking away from the rattling machine. Maneuvering around the other guards she had shanghaid into serving as her firemen, Twilight peered through the window. Sure enough the Canterhorn was clearly visible, though Canterlot itself was slowly coming into view. What could be seen was the strange orange red light that was emanating from, Twilight assumed, somewhere above the city.

The mood on the train was tense, and nearly all eyes peered intently at the walled settlement slowly coming into veiw. Nearly everyone held their breath, while occasionally inspecting the strange shapes which flitted about the sky above the city. Most were of the same bladed fliers Twilight had seen many times now, though there were strange levitating clyclopean orbs of red flesh in their midst.

She could barely make out any details at such a distance, but each one of these creatures radiated an unnatural hatred. Thankfully they were seemingly quite lazy and unhurried as they drifted directionless towards some unseen location. They also didn't seem to have much in the way of combat ability, that is until a bird strayed near one and was consumed with a belch of purple plasma.

Twilight shuddered, silently quite glad that Fluttershy had not accompanied her on the trip.

“There it is,” Stalwart murmured.

Twilight turned to see the edge of the city begin to appear, its towering walls of resplendent white coming into view. Or at least they were supposed to be an imposing, bleached expanse of indestructible protection. That had changed however, as chunks of stone were missing, other sections now bore blood red runes written in viscera.

“By the stars,” muttered someone.

Another guard vomited, though Twilight resisted the urge, biting down hard on her tongue.

She did her best to ignore the heads sitting on pikes, or the bodies hanging from balconies. There were other atrocities littering the streets, but thankfully they were easier to avoid looking at for the alicorn. Falling back into the cold, and calculating embrace of her more mathematical mindset, Twilight searched for signs of combat.

And she found them in spades.

The royal guard stood side by side with the city guard, who in turn were bolstered by remnants of the reservists. Twilight could even tell that a full platoon of the edf was engaged with the enemy on the main highway leading up to the castle. Despite the slaughter around them, the defenders were holding out, their formations solid and at least for the moment, unshakable.

“Uncoordinated, and interested more in causing terror then wresting control of the city. Strange,” Twilight murmured.

Stalwart stepped closer, handing a pair of binoculars over to the alicorn. “Here, these might help,” he offered.

Twilight took them and immediately continued her inspection, doing her best to ignore the many atrocities now on full display.

The creatures arrayed before her were numerous though they were also similar in some key ways. They were almost all red, and had spikes, or more angular features then most Equestrian denizens had. None were particularly intimidating, large, or intent on creating order amongst the ranks of their demonic brethren however. Almost every one of which was winged or otherwise capable of flight, with only a few implike creatures not falling into that category.

Most concerning of all was the enormous tear in reality that had appeared above the city, bathing everything in a hellish light. The sickly, unnutaral illumination coated everything in an aura of sin that Twilight found utterly repugnant. Though the monsters pouring out of it were clearly important, it was the portal itself which was the most ocncerning aspect of what she had seen.

The gaping wound in reality was easily large enough to fly an airship into, or at least that would be possible, if it was wider than a narrow slit. Whatever force had created was evidently trying to widen it even now though as lightning arced off the side, and the entire thing undulated. When this happened a golden aura sprung into existence and fought back, keeping it from widening anymore.

“Celestia,” Twilight muttered.

“So do we… keep going?” someone asked.

Twilight nodded. “Celestia’s still fighting, and I can see some blue flashes coming from the castle.”

“Meaning princess Luna’s still out there,” Stalwart reasoned.

“Exactly,” Twilight replied. “And if they are fighting back then they must know something about this new threat.”

“Which means hope lives on,” Stalwart declared.

“That's right captain, and so long as hope still exists. We will fight,” Twilight concluded.

Author's Note

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