Vindicta et Iustitia

Eros was really getting tired of this.

Umbra had returned to attack th Crystal Empire twice before, and her third time was the charm. She successfully snuck in and destroyed the crystal heart. Which destroyed the spirit of the crystal ponies.

Gleaming Shield had gotten herself caught, and now Umbra was doing to her. Eros had managed to get their son out with him. Now he was being watched by Dusk Shine while Eros went about his vengeance.

His uncle Solaris lent him an army, and said to return with good news. He intended to.

Now, the day of Reckoning was upon them.

The Empire looked different, it was different. Gone were the colours of bright, beautiful crystals, now they were the black of cruel Obsidian. And more than that, the entire city had been surrounded by a large, black wall. And on top of it were armored figures, ponies.

Are those Crystal Ponies? Eros thought to himself. What did that monster do to them?

A hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to look over at the guard captain behind him. A stallion with a white coat and black mane, a stallion know as Phalanx. He was the one sent to help lead the army in the Crystal Empire, the one who was the seniormost officer in the army that the soldiers knew. In other words, he was just as important as Eros was, if not more so.

"Prince." Phalanx said simply. "Not yet. I know you want to go in now, but if you do that we lose. This needs to be thought out more carefully."

Eros took a deep breath and replied, "You're right. When will the Trebuchets be completed?"

"A week from now, your majesty." Phalanx informed him.

"Are you sure they'll work?"

Phalanx gave a dark chuckle, "Please, obsidian is known for being brittle, a few good whacks and that whole wall will collapse without ever having stood a chance."

Eros returned his gaze to the now black city. "I hope you're right Captain."

The way back to the camp was uneventful, no words were exchanged, no attacks from enemy scouts came. Nothing. It was simply a quiet trek through the white snow that blanketed the Frozen North. Their hoofprints soon to be erased by the coming snowfall.

The army was camped a good ways away from the city, but well within sight of it. Far enough away to be unreachable. But close enough to be a threat should any try to leave it. Two hundred thousand soldiers were camped there, along with two hundred knights from Canterlot. Solaris had sent his best, and for that he had Eros's gratitude, with an army like this, he'd take the Crystal Empire back with no issue. More importantly, he could rescue Gleaming Shield.

With nothing to do but wait, he returned to his tent, and began again what he'd spent his days doing, maintenance on his armor and his sword. Oiling and polishing the metal to fend off rust, and sharpening his sword to make sure it would bring proper ruin to any who thought it a good idea to fight him. When a week was up, he'd be using these.

It had been three days, and while he was in the command tent planning for the assault on the city, the army outside continued to assemble the trebuchets they'd use to crush the city's walls. He was placing pieces on the map to show where the trebuchets would be placed and what units would go where when a soldier came into the tent.

"Prince Eros, a message."

Eros looked up at the soldier, "Yes?"

"It's Queen Umbra sir." The soldier informed, grabbing the attention of everyone present. "She wants to speak with you."

Eros's face fell into a deep scowl. "Where is she?"

"Outside the camp sir." The soldier informed. "We already have a unit making sure she doesn't try anything."

"Lead the way." Eros replied, his left hand landing on the hilt of his longsword.

The soldier bowed his head and stood up to do as Eros had said and lead the way out. Following the soldier Eros passed a number of tents, and a number of soldiers, all of whom looked ready for a fight. As well they should be, with Queen Umbra here who knows what she might try to do. It wasn't until he reached the edge of the camp that he finally saw the Despot Queen and her entourage.

The ponies with her showed nothing, they were clad in all-encompassing armor, carried shields and spears. All looked identical in their dark grey armor, but he was certain that these were indeed Crystal Ponies. Then there was their charge.

Queen Umbra stood front and Center, in a relaxed, commanding stance. She wore armor of steel plate and a red cape lined with white fur. On her head was an iron crown resting just above her curved, red horn. A mace hung at her right hip, ready for use if needed. Her face was set in a smug smile, a self assured one that portrayed her arrogance perfectly.

"Ah, Prince Eros. I don't believe we've ever properly spoken with one another." She said, voice smooth, calm and powerful. "I don't suppose we need introductions."

"No, we don't. What do you want?" Eros demanded.

In response to this Umbra crossed her arms. "Well someone's impatient. Very well. I'm no fool, and neither are you. The both of us are very much aware that I cannot best your army's numbers."

"If you're here to surrender then Don't beat around the bush."

Her eyes narrowed at this. "I have no intention to surrender. But I am willing to make an agreement. You're here for your wife no doubt." She gestured to the soldiers behind them. "And they, no doubt, would rather not die here. Even if I'm fated to lose I can still kill a great many of your soldiers before I do. And they will have to kill each one of my soldiers, all of whom are your crystal ponies. I don't think you want them dead either."

"Get to the point." Eros ordered, earning a scowl from the queen.

"I'm offering you a win-win scenario. I will give you back your wife, and an oath that I will make no attempts to expand my domain. In return you give your oath that you will make no attempts to usurp my throne."

"Counterproposal. You surrender to us and we won't put you back in that glacier." Eros suggested.

Umbra sighed in annoyance. "I take it that's a no."

Eros gave no response, and simply stood there. Result being a look of disappointment from Umbra, "I expected more from you."

With that she turned to march back to the city.

Once Umbra was out of earshot Eros turned to Phalanx. "How many trebuchets are done?"

"Two." Phalanx reported.

"It'll have to do. Get the soldiers mobilised, we assault the walls today."