Since it would take time for the others to bring their forces, Ember and Spike headed out for the Dragon Lands as soon as possible with their entourage. Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts were accompanying them, with the former asking to temporarily be re-enlisted as an "advisor" to avoid the paperwork and get back into action. The current Wonderbolts didn't even argue since Rainbow Dash was considered a legend among them, and many remembered her feats as both a performer and a hero.

Thankfully, by the time they arrived, Ember's advisors, ministers, and generals had already prepared themselves for war the moment word was heard about The Wall's downfall. Torchstone was in emergency war mode, with dragons joining the armed forces and various clans arriving with their hordes to swear their fire and claws to the cause. Spike, having been assigned to organize them, walked around as he saw the various clans interacting outside the city's border. On a typical day, these dragons would either glare at each other or insult them due to the clan rivalries and alliances they all had. With the threat of the Behemoths, however, they were now helping each other and preparing themselves for the battles ahead.

"Clan Thornclaw just arrived five minutes ago," Smolder said as she walked alongside her friend. "They brought their allies, Clan Redblood and Clan Icevein. We also just got word that the Southland Clans are coming but will arrive three days late. Apparently, some of the Behemoth forces are already attacking their borders, and they want to secure them before joining the main force."

"Any word on our Alliance allies?" Spike asked.

"You're the one who burps magical messages, you tell me," Smolder pointed out.

The two then spotted Rainbow Dash flying towards them as she landed nearby and nodded. "Ember's given the order. The Wonderbolts are going to assist with the first wave to focus on helping refugees fleeing the breakaways armies from the main horde. We're leaving in three hours."

"Just be careful out there, Dash," Spike said with a heavy sigh. "It's been a while since you were in the field, and you're not getting any younger."

"Please, I've still got the old Dash in me. Besides, knowing Applejack, she'll head to the afterlife to nag at me for getting my butt killed and drag me back, put me in my body again, and give me double the chores at home," Rainbow Dash chuckled before saluting. "We should be there for the main battle. See you two there."

The two dragons saluted before Rainbow Dash took off and soon saw her join the other Wonderbolts as various companies of armed dragons took off. Smolder sighed and shook her head. "Always figured there would be a day when we would have to fight the Behemoths. Just didn't think it would be this young in my life."

"Combined with what we know about Tyrus and his plans to get Imperiax? Kinda feels like we're back to saving the world, huh?" Spike suggested with a smirk. "You ever wonder when fate will be tired of using us?"

"Maybe when she gets off her rear and fixes shit herself," Smolder joked before getting serious. "In all honesty, I'm expecting the worst. No matter how prepared the dragon's lands have been, there has always been a major loss whenever we battle with the Behemoths to the point that we're expected to lose half our population."

"I know, but we're not alone this time. We have our friends coming to help us," Spike pointed out.

"Yeah, but are they ready for this?" Smolder sighed before rubbing the back of her head.

One of the Scale Guards then walked over and saluted. "Sir? Ma'am? The leaders of Clan Grindtooth and Lockheart wish to speak to you. Something about sleeping arrangement issues?"

"Ugh, fine. Let's get this over with," Smolder moaned as they followed the guard. "I swear dealing with all the demands and issues with these clans is a battle."

"Makes you wish we were battling the Behemoths right now," Spike chuckled.

***

After the incident with Redskull and Crystalis impersonating Silverback, Ember carefully chose her advisors and counselors going forward. It helped that she used the scepter to ensure that those who served her were loyal and not resenting her or secretly trying to assassinate her. Or evil changelings. That was also important.

Her war council was gathered over a large map of the Dragon Lands with various stone figurines to represent their forces, their upcoming allies, and the Behemoths already swarming the surrounding lands near the Wall. It was much bigger than her. So much so that she could walk across it with the stone figurines being about her size. Around her were the dragons, all older and bigger, each in armor or robes.

"Based on the recounts from survivors fleeing the destruction, the Behemoth Army is indeed being led by the Overlord, and they are massive in size," Ember said as she walked along the map. She paid particular attention to the figures representing the main Behemoth Army. "Most of the horde is slowly moving as one, but breakaway armies are rushing in and causing as much destruction as possible."

"Do you think the armies that separated are under orders from the Overlord or acting on their own destructive nature?" One crimson-scaled dragon with orange armor asked in thought.

"The former is likely," A gray and blue-scaled female dragon with a winged helm answered. "However, even if the latter was true, the Overlord could use it to test our forces, lure a sizable army into a trap, and then damage it by sending the main horde against us."

"The good thing about such a large horde is that they move slowly and are currently still in the Wall's surrounding provinces," Ember said as she paused at the borderline. "How have the evacuation procedures been for the provinces around them?"

"Mostly good, but some areas are stubbornly refusing to move," A dark blue dragon answered in annoyance. "They refuse to leave the land of their ancestors. Fools."

"They better hope we make it there in time then. Or they're going to be meeting their ancestors," Ember grumbled. "How soon can the main army move out?"

"Tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."

"Alright, we'll establish a front base at Thunder Mountain. The area is well defensible, and the other provinces will be open to us for use," Ember said as she flew over and landed where she wanted them to head on the map. "I've already sent forces to help the refugees and deal with some of the smaller bands of Behemoths. We shouldn't engage the main horde until our allies arrive. The Ponies and Changelings will be first, followed by the Hippogriffs, Griffins, and Yaks."

"What will we do regarding the army until they get here?" One dragon asked.

"We're going to whittle down their numbers. Hit-and-run tactics. Ambushes. Traps. This is what we'll be doing in the beginning stages to slow them down and reduce their numbers. We should avoid full-on conflict unless we have no choice or until we get our reinforcements."

The council all agreed with this plan as they nodded to each other. One stepped forward. "How are we going to handle formations and battle tactics?"

"That's the hard part," Ember sighed. "The military and clans both have their own ways of doing anything. Combined with the clan rivalries..."

"Why not put the clans under military authority?" an indigo-scaled dragon asked. His companion, a similar-scaled female dragon with a green-scaled belly, rolled her eyes.

"Because dragons clans are a bunch of stubborn prideful rock-heads who do not like taking orders from someone they don't respect or is lower than them."

"Then, should I let the clans operate on their own?" Ember asked.

"Doing so might cause confusion in the ranks and allow the clans to act in whatever manner they want, which could be detrimental to us all," one advisor said while shaking his head. "I would suggest having them placed under the control of military commanders from their respective clans, but not every officer is from a clan."

"Multiple clans are allies," Another dragon pointed out. "We could get them to work as a group and assign one of the officers from one of those dragon clans to command them. Granted, some clans might want their own kin over others, but honestly, I can't see a better solution."

"I guess we'll have to go with that suggestion," Ember said as she tapped the scepter on the table. "I want a list of all clan alliances and officers in our military forces by my desk before the evening comes. I'll decide in the morning to assign who to which alliance before we head off."

Her advisors looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Satisfied that they had a plan, Ember asked, "Anything else?"

"Yes, what are we going to do regarding Tyrus and his legion?"

Ember growled and looked down in deep thought. The timing of all this couldn't have been worse. Much as she liked to go after Tyrus herself and stop him, she could not leave her subjects to the Behemoths without her being there. But if Tyrus was indeed planning on crossing the western sea and if there was only a short time where the endless storms would fade away...

If he crosses it and the storms happen again, then nothing will stop him from finding Imperiax, Ember thought bitterly. And I don't want to risk if he'll get killed trying to find it. I know Tyrus. He would only follow through with a plan if he was confident of victory.

But she couldn't spare the troops to go after him. Especially if he was in the Griffin Republic's territory. The best she could do was hope the Senate would do something or, if he was crossing around their territory, the Hippogriffs could stop him. Then she got an idea upon remembering that there was one person in the oceans who could help them. Ember had only met her twice, but Spike and his friends had done so many times and even saved Equestria with her from the Storm King.

She knew the seas better than most and was a well-respected Captain who would be worth the pay.

"I need a letter prepared. We're going to look for a certain pirate," Ember said with a grin.

***

Erebus had known that there would be certain danger when he became a guard for the Crystal Empire. Among those was the possibility of war. Erebus had fought, bled, and killed before. He had faced bandits, orc parties, yeti attacks, and even some upstart terrorist groups here and there who didn't like the idea of "outsiders" as their new leaders over actual Crystal Ponies. Erebus did not fear death or even pain. Having lived a colthood where he was constantly at risk of being attacked by crowds of angry ponies who hated his father, it was a familiar feeling.

However, war was different. At least, according to the veterans. War was not as glorious or honorable. It was a time of pools of blood, ripped guts, smells of death, wails of dying ponies screaming for their mothers, prayers to the gods for salvation, and the aftertaste of waste coming out of corpses as their organs failed them.

War was hell.

And Erebus was marching into it.

Or at least he would be if his fiance didn't stop making a big deal out of this.

"You are not going!" Flurry Heart demanded as they stood in her personal room.

"Flurry-"

"Don't Flurry me!" She shouted as she marched towards him and glared. "It's bad enough I have to worry about my Dad going out there and risking his life against an army of monsters that are so feared that even dragons are afraid of them. But you? The one I love? No, I refuse to let you go!"

"You don't have a choice," Erebus sighed as he shook his head. "I'm part of the army. I am duty-bound to go where I am needed or ordered. And my orders are to head to the Dragon Lands to assist in the battle."

"I am your Princess. I can command you to stay," Flurry Heart pointed out.

"And your father can counter that order since he's King-Consort and Grand Commander of the Imperial Armies," Erebus replied in a heartbeat.

Flurry Heart tried to say something but couldn't. She screamed in frustration before turning around and wrapping her wings around her. A tick of her's she had ever since she was young as a means to deal with her emotions. Erebus gave her a few seconds alone before she walked over and hugged her. She whimpered and let out a soft sob before nuzzling him.

"I don't want you to go..." She whispered as she looked into his eyes. "What if I lose you?"

"Then I'll wait for you in Elysium forever," Erebus whispered as he kissed her. "But I'm not going to die that easily. And I'm going to fight like Tartarus itself is behind me. I will do my best to come home, but I need you to be strong regardless of the outcome."

"Let me com-"

"You're the heir, and you need her with your Mother." Erebus shook his head. "It's too much of a risk."

He took her paw and held it close to his heart. "I promise, Flurry. I'll do what I can to come home. Just promise me that you'll stay strong."

"...Okay," Flurry Heart whispered as she used her wing to remove tears from her eyes. "I...I will..."

The two hugged each other close as she buried herself into his chest. "Stay with me tonight?"

"Of course."

Author's Note

Yes I am still alive and working on this. Sorry guys. The truth is MLP doesn't interest me as much anymore but I still like working on the stories I have. So don't worry, updates might be slow but not abandoned.