Shining Armor fixed his gaze on the paper sprawled across his desk, stained with a subtle veneer of blood. The hurriedly penned words displayed a frenetic urgency, punctuated by numerous grammatical errors—a telltale sign of a frantic scrawl. This letter emerged from within a decimated encampment of his own troops, the site marred by craters and the remnants of obliterated artillery.
The declaration was stark: Celestia had drenched her hooves in the arts long forgotten.
A sharp rap sounded on his office door. "Come in."
A young stallion, clad in the standard green uniform of an officer, entered the room, his bright red coat a stark contrast to the gravity of the situation. The walls adorned with medals, mementos, and images chronicling Shining Armor’s journey through the ranks, each photo marking the passage of fallen comrades, narrating his ascent through sheer resolve and strength.
"You asked for me?" The young officer's voice quivered.
"Yes." Shining Armor gestured for him to take a seat, setting the blood-stained missive aside. "What we discuss here remains confidential. Do you understand?"
"Absolutely, sir," the young stallion affirmed with a nod.
"Good. You're to be deployed on the eastern front soon. Your combat aptitude is wanting, but your skill with chemicals is intriguing. Reports from your school days commend your proficiency in chemistry, even noting an incident involving a mysterious, toxic gas that necessitated an entire school evacuation."
The officer shuddered, recalling the incident vividly.
"That skill could prove invaluable." Shining rose from his seat, pacing behind the officer. "Celestia's blatant disregard for the Red Cross has propelled her to equip our adversaries' armored vehicles with flamethrowers. It's high time we matched fire with fire."
"What do you mean, sir?"
"We've been experimenting with a substance you're familiar with, Green Ash. It's incomplete, dangerous. But now, you'll harness its potential. Instead of the eastern front, you'll work in the factories linked to the Row's railway. Your task: refine and weaponize Green Ash."
"I... I really don't want to, sir," Diaz's voice quavered.
"This isn't open for debate, Diaz," Shining Armor's demeanor remained resolute. "Refusal would land you in Kollaz, the highest-security prison. With your knowledge, you're either a savior or a traitor. Do you comprehend the gravity of your role?"
Diaz nodded, a bead of sweat trailing down his brow.
"Get to chamber seven. Your journey begins there under strict guard. They're your protectors and overseers, ensuring your safety and compliance."
As Diaz left, Shining unfolded the paper, reading the ominous message scrawled upon it.
Shadows in the trees; orange magic everywhere. I feel the radiation. The dead are stirring, shells hold something ominous. Avoid the orange pulse—it's fatal. I was just a medic.
Shining pondered the cryptic note, envisioning the horror it painted: trees shrouded in shadows, radiating orange magic; the eerie resurrection of the dead; shells concealing ominous entities. Celestia's embrace of ancient magic, once dismissed as myth, now appeared to be harrowingly real.
Peering out the window, he glimpsed a nightmarish realm: corpses ambling aimlessly, a blanket of green ash obscuring the skies and earth. Trenches stained with blood, bodies interred in desecrated soil. It was a world he loathed—a world he sought to dismantle. To halt the unending strife, he knew the root cause had to be severed.
Celestia had to be stopped.
Author's Note
This story has been completely rewritten and edited as of 11/10/2023.
If you have suggestions as to what to improve on, please let me know. The original reception of this story was not what I had anticipated, and therefore I have given myself time to rewrite everything. Your feedback is appreciated.
Chapter One - Billowing Smoke
Celestia's words carried a weight of admonishment, her tone laced with disdain as she addressed the assembled group of Stallions and Mares, each donning the uniform of guards. Her eyes blazed a magnificent orange, locking onto each figure in the room. She gestured sharply towards the shattered door in front of them, advancing to it and delivering a forceful kick. "To imagine an intruder slipping past our security, and simply battering through the front entrance is not just an embarrassment. It’s a breach of trust. What would our citizens make of such a security lapse? Would they feel safe? Secure?"
A tremulous response came from a Mare who seemed to be the leader of the security detail. "N-No, ma'am. We deeply apologize for this oversight."
"Your negligence nearly cost my daughter her life," Celestia’s horn ignited with an incandescent orange glow as she seized the mare by the throat, her magical grip choking the air from her. "Sunset managed to thwart the assailant single-hoofedly. A display of strength and adaptability exceeding some of my own soldiers'. I've shielded her from such confrontations, aiming to preserve her innocence amidst this conflict." She released the mare, allowing her to gasp for breath, the experience leaving her visibly shaken.
Stepping over the gasping guard, Celestia's gaze swept across the group. "You will not fail me again. Failure from any of you will lead to dire consequences. Your status won't protect you. Trouble trickles down. Remember that."
With a final, contemptuous glance, Celestia departed, her elegant surroundings quickly disrupted by the arrival of one of her own guards. "Your Majesty Celestia."
Pausing, she acknowledged the guard. "Ah, Knight. What is it?"
"Sunset requests your presence. She is unable to eat and wishes for your company."
Celestia nodded, motioning for Knight to lead the way.
Walking alongside Knight, she took note of his impeccable armor, reflecting her own image in its shine. Unicorn Battle Armor had a unique glow to it, didn't it? "Have you considered my proposal?"
Knight hesitated. "I've contemplated it. I'm uncertain if I'd be comfortable with the shift. I prefer to remain in your detail."
Acknowledging his concerns, Celestia mused, "I trust no one more than you to guard my daughter. You’ve proven yourself to be dedicated and skilled. She needs someone reliable."
"Forgive my candor," Knight glanced back at her, "but I sense that your daughter doesn't trust me. She seems uninterested, as if my presence vexes her. Perhaps Kaymen would be a better choice? She's a capable mare."
Sighing, Celestia considered the paintings lining the hallway as they walked. "Kaymen possesses unique skills, easy to get along with. I'm certain Sunset would appreciate her. However, Kaymen's expertise lies in stealth and espionage. You offer a broader skill set. Besides, Sunset doesn't dislike you. Her disinterest is hardly personal."
They arrived at a pair of golden doors, Knight holding one open for Celestia as they entered the private dining hall. Sunset sat quietly, prodding at her food.
Approaching her daughter, Celestia took a seat. "Sunset, you can speak to me."
"I killed him," Sunset’s voice was strained, her gaze fixed on her food.
Acknowledging her daughter's guilt, Celestia responded calmly, "You defended yourself. It was your only recourse."
"I could have subdued him. I know those spells... Why didn't I?"
Pushing her plate away, Celestia drew Sunset’s attention. "You reacted in fear. You responded to a threat with the means you had at hoof. You did what was necessary. Your training served its purpose in a moment of peril."
Sunset's distress erupted, tears streaming down her face. "Others don’t have to train! They don’t have to kill or hurt ponies! Everypony will know about this and..."
Wrapping her daughter in a comforting wing, Celestia felt the weight of responsibility. "You'll be with me for the next few weeks. You're safe."
"O-Okay.."
"From now on, Knight will be your personal bodyguard. His presence is not a reflection of any weakness on your part, but a measure to ensure your safety, even though you're more than capable of handling situations like this. He will be at your side during every waking hour," Celestia's voice carried both authority and concern, the tinge of fear barely concealed beneath her authoritative tone.
Sunset, with her face buried in her mother's fur, seemed indifferent to the idea of having a personal guard. Her crying had dwindled significantly, and within moments, she composed herself. Celestia gently drew back, revealing Sunset’s teary eyes, her reddened nose making Celestia smile fondly, reminiscent of Sunset’s younger, less war-ridden days.
“Knight, please accompany me and my daughter to my quarters. I need to tuck this little one into bed after all the emotional upheaval she’s just been through,” Celestia said, offering a tender smile. Sunset chuckled faintly between sniffs. Knight stepped forward, presenting himself to both.
“Of course, Your Majesty. It would be my pleasure.” Sunset seemed to avert her eyes, hinting at her displeasure with his presence. Knight was unsure if it was about him personally or if she simply disliked stallions. Nonetheless, he refrained from questioning the daughter of a ruler.
“Let’s go, my child. You need rest after everything. I should have provided better guards for you,” Celestia expressed, gently moving off her chair. She draped her wing over Sunset as they followed Knight out of the dining hall.
“What will you do now?” Sunset asked.
“I must hold the guards accountable for their failure. They’ve been slack, and I have to address it. Besides, I have business to discuss with Knight. I’ll be back by your side in no time. You won’t have to worry about a thing,” Celestia reassured.
Knight’s ears perked up at the mention of his name, but he remained silent. There was no particular agenda that he was aware of, and his new station as her daughter’s bodyguard seemed already settled. He realized he had no say in such matters, as he was a soldier under the command of rulers.
Minutes passed in silence as they neared Celestia’s quarters. But a prickling unease enveloped Knight, causing him to halt abruptly, making Celestia and Sunset stop as well. “Your Majesty, where are your guards?” he questioned, startled by their absence. The two guards posted at her door were a constant, never missing before. Celestia's horn began to glow slightly as she braced herself.
The atmosphere grew heavy and silent. Knight kept his gaze fixed on the door. “Your Majesty, step back,” he instructed, and they followed his command. He approached the door, turning the handle with caution. A faint click sounded as he did so.
In a flash of reflex, he lunged to shield them just as the room erupted in an explosion. A cloud of green smoke emerged, its sharp odor filling the air. Knight, caught in the thick of it, coughed violently, a trickle of blood emerging from one nostril. He struggled to pull Celestia and Sunset away from the fumes. Though they narrowly evaded the smoke's grasp, Knight had already felt its effects.
Displaying deep concern for Knight's well-being, Celestia scanned his body and revealed his condition was worrisome but not immediately life-threatening. The noxious fumes had undoubtedly caused him considerable discomfort. For Celestia, Knight wasn’t just a guard; he was a loyal, excellent protector who had stood by her side for some time. Witnessing his struggle added a layer of anxiety to an already tense situation.
Sunset, just recovering from a recent traumatic assault, felt a surge of fear for her own safety as she observed the unfolding events. Celestia's urgency was unmistakable. With practiced dexterity in her magic, she delicately lifted Knight and drew Sunset closer.
The Royal Wing, previously a secure refuge, was now an area of escalating risk, heightening Celestia's resolve. Her focus remained resolute: securing her daughter's safety and ensuring Knight's recovery. Guards quickly emerged from nearby areas, some of them urging Celestia to stop so that they could assess any possible injures. However, she did not stop, and knew that she had to get out of the Royal Wing, 'less there be any more dangers.
As she rushed forward, her thoughts raced. The attack had been well orchestrated, not solely targeting her daughter. There hadn't been any other reports of danger around the palace. It was clear that the assailants had targeted only the chambers of influential figures—her daughter and herself. They seemed to have considered her daughter a lower priority, presuming she'd be an easier target if taken by surprise.
She was momentarily relieved, realizing her daughter had shown unexpected strength in the face of danger. Yet, her relief quickly dissipated, giving way to concern about the toxic smoke that billowed from the explosion. It was a deadly gas, swiftly affecting Knight the moment he was exposed. The potential impact on her own life chilled her. If she had entered the room first, she might have been engulfed by the explosion, facing a swift end. The assassins had taken careful steps to ensure her demise, which shook her profoundly.
Upon reaching the infirmary, her focus remained resolute. Multiple guards accompanied her, their inquiries and presence met with silence. Knight's well-being was her priority. She ensured he received the best care, unwilling to let his new role as her daughter's bodyguard end before it even began.
Setting Sunset down upon nearing the door, she hurriedly opened it with magic, dashing into the infirmary. The doctors there stared at her in disbelief at her sudden entrance. She gently levitated Knight onto a nearby bed. "We've been attacked. He's been exposed to a toxic gas and needs immediate medical attention."
Without a moment's delay, two doctors rushed to Knight's side, while others scurried into a storage closet to prepare equipment. Turning swiftly to her daughter, she spoke in a soft, motherly tone, a rarity from her. "Are you alright, sweetheart?" Given the current ordeal, Sunset barely acknowledged the warmth in her mother's voice.
She nodded, her face a mix of fear and trance-like shock. "Y-Yes."
It was apparent that the situation was taking its toll on Sunset. Expected, of course. It was her first encounter with an attempted assassination within the palace since her birth, a grim introduction to the reality of royalty. Celestia drew Sunset close under her wing, planting a kiss on her daughter's forehead. On the flip side, the assailants hadn’t targeted anyone else. Common folk weren’t worth the effort of employing assassins or munitions.
Suddenly, Celestia’s face fell into a mask of fear, her eyes locked onto the wall as she pulled away from Sunset, leaving her daughter confused. "M-Mom? W-What... What's wrong?"
If they were targeting royalty, what fate awaited her sister?
With fear evident in her eyes, Celestia kissed her daughter's forehead again, leaning in. "Stay with Knight, please. You’ll be guarded by as many as we can spare. Don’t leave this room until I return. Do you understand?"
The shift in her tone slightly unsettled Sunset, but she nodded nonetheless.
In a mix of anger and fear, Celestia swiftly exited the infirmary. Facing a sizable group of guards in the hallway, she directed a larger group. "All of you, secure the inside and outside of this infirmary. Failure to protect my daughter will result in swift consequences. And for the rest of you," she said, gesturing to a smaller group, "You’re with me, move fast. Prepare for a fight."
Without waiting for acknowledgment, Celestia unfurled her wings and, with a powerful flap, sped down the hallway. The guards she'd assigned followed in quick pursuit. Her mind whirred, thoughts consumed with concern for her sister. If she and Sunset were targeted, Luna would undoubtedly be next on the list.
Or perhaps, she’d already been attacked.
Luna's mystical abilities often obscured her daytime whereabouts. No one would notice if she'd been killed in her sleep while everyone else was awake. The notion twisted like a knife in Celestia's gut, her brow furrowing with anger and anxiety as she neared her door. Her anxiety heightened further when she found no guards stationed outside.
She halted in front of the door, conjuring a golden, see-through spear by her side with magic. Waiting for the guards behind her to catch up, she turned the doorknob from a distance, determined not to repeat the previous incident. Yet, there was no click or explosion this time.
Without delay, Celestia rushed into the room, prepared for battle, more spears materializing beside her in a resplendent orange-gold color. But upon witnessing the scene, her magic dissipated instantly, the knot in her stomach growing tighter.
The two guards who should've been present were inside the room, dead. Both had been mercilessly torn apart, sliced from head to toe. This wasn't Luna's work; it lacked her calculated precision. This was the crude work of someone simply driven to get the job done by any means. The idea that her guards had attacked her sister in bed vanished.
However, the worst of her fears wasn't over.
Lying on the bed was Luna.
She was severely injured, blood streaming from every part of her body. Her horn had been chipped, a chunk missing from her left wing. Celestia rushed to her sister’s side, quickly casting a scanning spell over Luna's limp body. The results were dire. While Luna was alive, she was in a life-threatening condition. Celestia noticed Luna was impaled into the bed by a large spear, rendering her immovable.
Tears welled in Celestia's eyes. She turned to a guard who had followed her into the room, her voice strained. "Get a doctor here, now! B-Bring everything..!"
She couldn’t maintain her royal composure for long and began to break down in tears beside her sister. The thought of losing Luna had long been a fear, but it had never manifested in such a horrifying manner. Luna, the more amiable face of the two in the public eye, was always cheerful. The public adored her, and even the Legion had positive words for her.
The utterance reached far enough to send ripples across the kingdom. Some even dared to suggest that Luna should join them in eliminating Celestia, offering open arms in welcome. A suggestion Luna swiftly repelled with an unprecedented show of force. Luna, despite her ‘nicer’ facade, harbored a well of anger and rage akin to Celestia. She just had a better grip on keeping it contained.
Celestia couldn't bear the thought of exposing her daughter to the horrid state of her aunt. Sunset and Luna shared a closeness, and it was Luna who encouraged Sunset to learn spells for self-defense. Luna had a way of convincing that seemed to surpass her own, but Celestia found solace in their wonderful bond. Luna often recounted how extravagant Sunset's dreams were, filled with vibrant colors, love, and brightness. Despite occasional nightmares or sad thoughts, her dreams remained a joyful escape. Yet, with the current turmoil, Celestia feared this might change. With herself and her mother being targeted and Luna in such a dire state, it seemed unlikely that Sunset would emerge unscathed.
Celestia's mind raced, cursed herself for drifting into political thoughts at such a dire time. She contemplated that it was time for Cadence to return to the capital. Cadence, overseeing a significant portion of their realm, essentially held her miniature kingdom. While Sunset and Cadence were close in age, Cadence, six years senior, boasted more worldly experience. Her rise through the ranks had caught both Celestia and Luna's attention. Cadence's influence was positive for Sunset, likely the only stabilizing force for her.
But bringing Cadence back would take at least a week, considering the impracticalities of immediate travel amidst heightened security due to the current incident. Cadence would have to appoint a substitute, a decision not taken lightly by any ruler. Celestia resolved to send a letter to Cadence at the earliest.
Amidst her tear-stained moments with Luna, Celestia felt a faint sensation on her hair. Looking up, Luna's horn glowed dimly, barely conducting magic but enough to ruffle Celestia's hair. Luna's eyes were barely open, gazing at Celestia as if trying to comfort her. As Luna struggled to speak, her voice strained, "I..."
Celestia's heart quickened.
"Love..."
She stopped herself from reaching out to Luna's hoof, understanding it would cause more pain. With tears still streaming down her face, Celestia nodded. "I love you too, sister... I love you so much. J-just bear with me, okay?"
A cadre of doctors barged in, wheeling trays of equipment. Celestia stepped aside, unable to witness her sister's surgery, pointing at the guards. "P-Protect this room. Ensure no one enters. If anyone tries to harm her, stop them." Her voice brimmed with a mix of urgency and determination. The guards obeyed, some entering the room while others stood vigilant outside.
Celestia realized sleep was out of the question if she witnessed the doctors fighting to save Luna. The sounds of scissors cutting fabric and flesh, the incessant beeping of a heart monitor—it all unsettled her. Instead, she refocused on her daughter, hurriedly returning to the infirmary with a swift wingbeat.
Upon her return, guards flanked Sunset and Knight. Knight, surprisingly awake and watching her approach, seemed in better shape than before. Approaching Sunset slowly, Celestia’s eyes still bore traces of recent tears. "Sunset, I…"
"I-I heard…" Sunset’s voice trembled, her words trailing off. "O-one of the guards came in and yelled for the doctors… He said that Luna was…"
Celestia embraced her daughter tightly, a silent sob escaping as tears streamed down her cheeks. For a brief moment, her gaze met Knight's, reflecting a somber, empathetic look. She quickly shut her eyes, refusing to release her daughter, cocooning them both within her massive wings.
"I love you…"
