Verve

Arin didn’t immediately respond, as Tempest’s thoughts reeled in desperation. They needed a plan. They needed something. They needed soldiers, backup, they-

The Ranger bumped her side with his elbow, giving a little cough. From behind the conjoined barrier before them, Flash Sentry - the traitorous Pegasi - couldn’t spot his movement, but he quietly lifted his right arm.

The bracer. His enchanted bracer. The jewels gleamed softly, reminding her of a very important detail.

White Tail had grappling hooks.

Tempest froze - then relaxed on the spot, regaining her confidence at a moment's notice. She lifted the helmet’s visor off of her muzzle, showing her dominant glare as she strode forward - mere hooves from the deadly reach of the spears.

“I’m so glad you asked. Flash Sentry, is it? I’ll be happy to tell you - at the cost of your complete and total surrender.” She didn’t even smile when she said this, only glare right through him with an unwavering will that couldn’t be shaken.

“Oh? Are you sure we can’t just… talk this out?” He laughed, stepping down the last few steps in stride, head held high above the dark armor he wore. “It’s not like you’ll be going anywhere, anytime soon. Unless you count a body bag, of course.”

“Oh goodie, a fair fight. Here’s the deal - I need all of you to drop your arms, please. Or we make this difficult. For everyone.”

“Don’t make me laugh - what are you going to do, bleed out on my army’s spears? Decorate a pike with your head?” Flash chuckled in confidence, as another rattling BANG shook the door. The hinges cracked as stone fell from above, coating their Mountain in a fresh layer of debris - a large chunk of stone bouncing off of Tempest’s armor.

“Oh, I was hoping you’d choose difficult. Oarkin! Wings!”

The struggling Seraph bolted forward as the party split - a massive billow of his powerful pinions shaking the courtroom in a riptide blast of disorienting winds. Immediately, all pegasi were knocked to the floor - Flash Sentry included - as several unicorns faltered and fell back, barrier weakening.

Tempest flicked her visor down again and grabbed the rock that nailed her plate with a single hoof - jumping high over the staggered unicorns as all at once, the party fell into action. Her leg kicked the stone as hard as she could manage into the group - a few off kilter Unicorns darting to the side to avoid the lethal boulder hurtling towards them. A silver soldier failed to react in time, and stood up as nothing more than a useless spirit.

Arin’s vine latched into a far right pillar - wings billowing as he used the hook to make a normally impossible turn for his massive wings - spiraling around the crowd as spare bolts of magic cleanly missed him. He drew the blade at his side, aiming to impale the winded Knight Captain with his blade - but Flash recovered quicker than he thought, and managed to pump his wings out of the way of the deadly blow.

Pumpkin ripped two vials from her sash, and with a double click of glass - tossed them into the stirring crowd before jumping for her broom - Umbra’s magic forming a barrier between her and a scant few spells that would have made contact.

With her Sister in the air, Vee shot after her - batting away a pegasus with the haft of her spear, and spinning to catch another of the recovering guards in their chest.

The chaos was perfect for the Umbrum, who was completely unaffected by smoke and shadow both - her emerald aura swirling over her scythe as she stepped into the disoriented and coughing soldiers, cleanly reaping souls aplenty.

Flash Sentry stumbled out of the way as Arin dashed into another well timed slash - the Pegasus using his teeth to clutch at his hooked blade and deflect the blow. But Arin had grown immensely over the past few weeks - and just as Flash made distance to fly, Arin would pop an arrow into his plate. Just like the now former Seraph Captain would do to him, not more than a week ago.

“You’re a menace who lacks empathy,” Arin growled, not in anger - but righteousness. “A Knight fallen far from his duty! You submit so eagerly to Nightmare Moon - because you can’t succeed on your own merit, only when others fall do you thrive!”

Arin’s leg kicked out hard at the plate, staggering the Knight Captain with his ferocity. “You’ve worked only for your own ill-gotten gains, at the cost of other’s efforts! And you stand here now, calling this your victory!? A disgrace!”

He flashed another arrow - the last from his quiver, before roughly parrying Flash’s blade with his shield. His arming blade darted for a gap in his armor - the pegasi desperately twisting out of the way before it could strike home.

“I worked for everything I have now - and I learned from my failures! But you - you never learn, and you never will!”

A pegasus shot forward to come to Flash’s aid, spear in hoof - but Arin knew this would happen, and launched his vine into the Knight Captain’s chest. The staggered warrior stumbled back, before Arin reeled him in - throwing the black armored pony into the intruding guard with every fiber of his strength.

The duo crashed into the floor at the bottom of the stairs, Arin panting in frustrated exertion. “Ponies like you are what plague this society. Greed. Envy. Jealousy. The want for more. I would have been happy living in a shack in the woods - I would have been happy with just the clothes on my back! You are no better than the Seraphs of my world, Flash Sentry - and if the world wasn’t on the brink of total collapse, I would kill you like one, too.”

Arin stepped over the winded Knight Captain, roughly yanking his mane up to rest eye to eye with the traitor.

“This isn’t over. I almost wish you were asleep, so I could impale you on my sword.” the Seraph snarled, popping his knuckles before roughly dropping Sir Sentry to the marble floor.

WHAM!

Arin’s armored fist collided hard with the once cocky soldier’s face, leaving Flash entirely unconscious on the tile. Just to be sure, he gave two more swings - maybe a third, but that one was simply out of spite. And the fact that his pretty little muzzle lacked a few teeth afterwords felt really good.

Above, Vee growled as another pegasus soldier caught her pristine wing with his blade - forcing her to crash and roll across the stairs. Before the same sword could impale her, Arin’s right hand shot forward - the vine hook lancing through the air to seize the intruding Pegasi’s hoof in a gush of blood. He yanked back hard, grounding the soldier with ease before drawing his bow again.

With a glimmer of magic, he formed an ethereal arrow and shot it forward, creating a ghost of the would-be murderer.

Without ammunition, he’d have to waste precious magic to be useful from afar. A flash of Resurgence caught the panting Vee, the witch nodding her thanks before she quietly flapped back onto her wings, to chase down some annoying Pegasi.

Turning back towards the now thinning crowd, their team had managed to clean up nicely. But there was one cruel problem; massive fractured heaps of stone from a local trebuchet had managed to form solid holes through the oaken barricade, and several hinges were snapped clean off. Oarkin had to resort to using his magic to force the left door in place, as it had long since given out.

Another rattling BANG of stone on wood followed - a chunk of the castle’s fortified walls crashing in on itself, exposing a wagon sized hole on the leftmost front. Immediately, dozens more soldiers barreled through the fresh entrance, the frozen moat making it relatively easy, though somewhat risky to cross.

In seconds, they would be surrounded. And even as Umbra, his shadow - worked tirelessly to thin the crowd, Tempest was struggling to keep up with the demand - blades and spears rattling off her armor with few finding their mark.

“Falon, Aster, please - hurry,” Arin whispered. And almost like a gift from lady luck herself - the throne room doors slammed open in a flurry of hooves, bucks aplenty pouring from the chamber in droves. Rainbow Dash took to the air above them, before crashing into a gold helmed guard without worry of prosecution.

“Aw yeah! I’ve been looking for a good fight since the Changeling Invasion!” she called, easily dodging a spear to retaliate with a strong buck of her hooves.

“Falon!” Arin called, as the General darted forward to hug his son softly.

“Arin, you’re alright! By my boughs, I was worried - and…”

He turned to the likely dozens of transparent spirits floating through the room quietly, many sharing angry glares with the party - a few more in shock as the deer ran amok through the entry hall.

“...I see you’ve been busy. That… how many?”

“I have no idea, but I don’t suppose you have a quartermaster with arrows to spare?”

Falon quickly nodded, reaching into a feywild leather satchel on his side. “I thought I taught you better than to prowl the battlefield lightly armed! What were you thinking, son?” The buck laughed, hoofing Arin a fresh quiver of the deadly ammo.

“I tell you what I wasn’t thinking about. Running out of arrows, dad!” They shared a laugh, keeping their spirits high as no less than a hundred bucks - and more, began to trickle in. They lined up in the main hall; lancing arrows into the disorganized and soon spirited Equestrians. Dozens flocked to the side passages, bows in hoof - plenty more securing themselves to rafters and pillars around the towering archways by the aid of their vine hooks.

Even King Aster made an appearance, galloping to join the duo as arrows rained on the straggling soldiers from all around. Pumpkin squeaked from her broom above, as an arrow narrowly missed her cheek - taking out the pegasi behind her with expertise.

“We’ll hold off the dull minded armies - I’m not sure what these… ‘Elements’ are good for, but if they can defeat Nightmare Moon - you and your friends will have to find them,” King Aster stated, a massive greatbow settled over his shoulders. The arrows themselves almost looked like giant umbrellas! How could he even pull that thing back?! Could he pull it back?

“On it! Umbra! Tempest! Vee! Pumpkin! Let’s regroup!”

Sweat-dripping sighs from the two frontline mares soon followed, Vee flapping tiredly to the floor before them. Pumpkin settled in next to her armored lover, as Umbra did much the same - letting the adrenaline dissipate enough to think. Rainbow Dash, seeing them huddle up - flapped her wings in too, ready for the plan.

“We need to find the other Elements of Harmony. They’re likely somewhere around here - doing what, I’m not sure. Does anypony have any ideas?” the confident Seraph asked, looking to Tempest for guidance. Tempest, in turn, let her eyes fall on Rainbow Dash - as all five the party soon did the same.

“Uh, what? Why are you all looking at me?”

“Rainbow Dash, you were imprisoned here. You’re the one most likely able to tell us where to start looking. What did Nightmare Moon do to your friends?”

“I… hm.” She paused, letting her slightly slower brain catch up to her lightning fast body. “Well, I know Pinkie Pie was working in the kitchen… At least, I could tell from the cupcakes Twilight dropped off at my cell. Applejack was doing… I think she was chopping trees on the hill for firewood, ‘cause it was super cold in the castle. Fluttershy is probably like… outside, too, helping the animals hibernate. Rarity was forced to go make winter gear for everypony. Twilight… I don’t know. Probably the library. Nightmare Moon was weird. She wouldn’t hurt us, for some reason - though she definitely thought about it. A lot.”

Arin knew the Elements well enough to come to a decision, settling his thoughts as he gave guidance. He wasn’t a leader - but he knew his friends well, and the strengths they carried. So before Tempest could offer any suggestions - he took the lead, and spoke first.

“Okay, kitchen, library, gardens, forest, and… Rarity could be anywhere. Rainbow, you’ll have to search every spare room for her and her sewing shop - if you come across any guards, you know what to do. Pumpkin, if Fluttershy is in the garden - you’ll have an easy chance spotting her on your broom. Go with Umbra, she’ll be able to defend you if there’s trouble - and can show you around the castle. Umbra, Pumpkin could easily spot Applejack in the forest - you’re fastest in your shadow form, find her and grab her. Tempest, you’re on alicorn duty; she’ll likely listen to you, as somepony she’s reformed. Vee, sniff for coffee - you’ll find the kitchen in minutes, and grab Pinkie Pie. I’m going to bring our traitor here to the dungeon. Any objections?”

“I couldn’t have worded it better myself,” Tempest said, smiling at the Seraph with pride. “I was going to order the exact same thing. Now, Falon - are you sure your forces can handle this? We spotted several thousand Equestrians haunting those grounds. Even if you funneled them in, that’s seven ponies for every deer you have - and none of you can risk dying. Are your bucks prepared?”

By now, over a third of the White Tail forces had stormed in; many more grappling along arm rails and drawing their bows with freshly fitted arrows, ready for combat.

“Every buck and doe beneath my boughs are trained to the highest degree; our fighting force is small, but highly skilled, and long lived. And you have two Rangers on your side - one of them just so happens to be our King.”

He nodded to King Aster, who swelled with pride; he was proud to carry that title.

“If any deer die, we will both work tirelessly to resurrect them on the spot. Once the door falls, expect this to be a quick victory on our parts.”

“I trust it will be.” Tempest bowed her head with respect, before throwing her hoof into the circle of her friends - and Rainbow Dash.

Arin, Umbra, Pumpkin, Vee, and Rainbow Dash joined the call. “Ready? Meet in the throne room with your elements! And break!”

They threw their hooves up, before splitting in a rush. Vee put her snoot to the floor in search of the sacred bean, Pumpkin floated up to the air as Umbra led the way - rocketting in her shadow form towards the Celestial gardens. Rainbow Dash began the boring process of scouting rooms, Tempest jumped up the flight of stairs with practiced ease - and Arin seized the unconscious Flash with a flick of his grapple. Dragging him along the way towards the dungeons.

“ENOUGH WITH THESE GAMES, SISTER! FACE ME AND DIE!” Nightmare Moon called, flashing the Slumber spell across Celestia for the seventh time. Not even a yawn! Nothing! She was immune! Snarling, she charged forward for another blow at Celestia, but the sun princess was ready to contest it with her halberd.

But Nightmare Moon saw this coming a mile away, and twirled the tang of her blade around the golden haft of Celestia’s weapon - with a practiced flick of her magic, she disarmed Tia with ease. The golden weapon was sent spinning through the air far, far away.

This did nothing to stop Celestia - who spun with a flick of her wings and landed two solid kicks from her powerful legs. A trick she picked up from Tempest, as she dented her cursed Sister’s chestplate and landed a jarring blow against her unsuspecting cheek. The sheer strength of it rattled Nightmare Moon to her core - her jawbone jarring out of place as the Princess shot forward for her halberd - seizing it once more in her magic.

“YOU WRETCH! YOUR WHORSE! YOU ARE SCUM, THE MUCK BENEATH MY HOOVES!” Nightmare Moon screamed, after fixing her jaw with an aggravated click of her magic.

“There’s no need to use your Royal Canterlot Voice, dear sister!” Celestia giggled, spinning the golden blade in her. “Whatever happened to the martial master you claimed to be? Yet you can’t even best me - an untrained, pampered foal who spent her life on her golden throne. I guess Luna is the stronger half, Nightmare Moon. She would have defeated me ten times over by now.”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes gleamed a deadly white, as rage boiled within her core. That… was not a good sign. Perhaps she touched a nerve. A really, really strong nerve.

Immediately, Celestia’s wings billowed in a frenzy as a beam of concentrated lunar malice seared through the sky in icy blue - the Princess narrowly avoided the magic as she was forced to dart down for speed. The blast just narrowly missed the mountain - but the new angle was going to be her downfall. Magic scorched through the halls of the castle’s housing wing - cutting through her own tower and a few of the guest wings with ease - destroying a swathe of the distant woodland in absolute destructive might.

From this, several things happened, much, much too quickly. The vast destruction eviscerated a frozen path through the trees towards Silversun - and traveled leagues beyond, a distant river erupting in splinter ice. Immediately, a world shaking FWOOM followed, as a blast of magic from the wilds crashed into them - rocking the duo in the air and sending them tumbling.

By the time they recovered, a curious sight greeted the Nightmare. An entire civilization, far in the distance - had seemingly sprung up before her very eyes, leaving her dumbstruck as Celestia watched on in horror. In one move, Nightmare Moon destroyed the last fragments of the Feywild’s power - plunging the Autumn Court into the prime.

“By my very stars, what?...” Nightmare Moon gazed on in shock, rage temporarily forgotten as the sight befell her. But another thing drew Celestia’s eye, as her room in the castle fell to absolute shreds - crashing down into the guest quarters.

In the spare guest tower, where Umbra had once claimed her abode - came a small scream, a little white pony clinging on to the railing of her partially collapsed structure. Rarity! What was she doing there?! Sure, it was the same guest tower she stayed in years ago, before Twilight’s birthday party - but - why there?! Why NOW!?

She billowed her white wings forward to catch the flailing unicorn before she fell, but Nightmare Moon crashed into her side - her blue horn hooking into Celestia’s armor with a furious pounce.

By sheer dumb luck, the potent magic coursing through that deadly spike caused the arcane reflective armor Celestia beared to reject it - instead forcing a massive bruise into her white furred side.

“You will NOT ignore me! I may have spared them, but their lives are NOT for you to protect! I will… They...” The Lunar pony’s snake-like eyes flicked back to Luna’s own, before the slits returned once more. Nightmare Moon snarled, catching Celestia’s side with a gash of Nocturne - but once more, her cloth armor cleanly deflected the blade, giving Celestia time to make distance.

Tia remembered all too fondly of a time long ago, in the Young Flyers’ Competition, when Rarity - the very same Unicorn before her - nearly plunged to her death. But this time, there was no Rainbow Dash to save her.