Starlight, Trixie, and Tempest stood huddled together in the dark halls of the abandoned Crystal Castle, deep in thought. On the table were city maps of Canterlot and its defenses, scribbled over with red markings. Their faces were illuminated only by the dim light of the Cutie Map, which flickered and buzzed with barely concealed anxiety. The castle had been abandoned by its Princess long ago when she was converted by the Empress to serve as her Grand Inquisitor. It's a shame that the bomb Starlight had planted didn't kill her. The thought of facing down her old friend was eating at her core.
Friendship was no longer an answer to the Civil War. The three ponies knew that all too well. Instead, they had to rely on strategy, tactics, and brute force to take back what was rightfully theirs. Starlight peered over the maps once again, refocusing herself.
The mountains over Canterlot were defended by the best of the Royal Guard, who knew that the HRM would shell the city from above if given the chance. The railways into Canterlot had been fortified with a tunnel network, and a heavily armored frontal gate. The first key-switch was inside the tunnel itself while the second one was in the train station within Canterlot, only unlocked via specialized keys or cards. The tunnel also has walkways into the Crystal Caverns, but not to the train station itself.
The Train Depot was designed as a killzone deathtrap. It had all open space, with very few train cars kept out in the open to deny cover from potential attackers. The Station was designed to be as difficult to hold as possible with most of its walls replaced by large modern glass panes, making angles of fire impossible to cover from within. With the few structural walls and pillars left, any well-placed explosion would likely collapse the whole station and send shrapnel of glass in all directions.
The main bridge into Canterlot and its walls had been fortified, and the path to the drawbridge had been turned into a fortified hellhole of tank traps, landmines, and barbed wire off the main road. The drawbridge was now raised and lowered with electrical motors that could only be turned on with a keycard carried by the specific royal guards subunit, the Gatekeepers.
Starlight's concentration was broken as Tempest spoke up. "As crazy of an idea as this is, we need to seek the assistance of the Pie Sisters or other rock farming specialists. They could help us find new ways into the Crystal Caverns or positions where we can strategically blow up fortified enemy positions."
Trixie shook her head. "We lost track of, ugh, the 'P-Team,' as Pinkie calls them, after they caused a major rockslide in Solar-occupied Yakyakistan. It was to deny reinforcements from Equestria and give Yona's uprising a better chance of success. They could still be up there, but we don't have much time to go looking for them. The Solar Forces have armies closing in from our south, and there's a possibility they have an entire army in teleportation reserve, waiting for us to siege the city so they can launch a counterattack!" Trixie slammed her head into the Cutie Map, causing the overview of Equus to flicker before stabilizing again.
Tempest pulled closer a map of the batteries overlooking Canterlot. "Not to mention that even if we got our hooves on the Gatekeeper's Keycards and managed to overrun the entrance to the city, these batteries would not hesitate to shell us and any remaining civilians. We would be dealing with entrenched Solar positions and potentially facing loyalist civilians who blame us for the hardships they've endured. Moreover, those batteries would prevent us from utilizing Cloudsdale too closely to the city."
Trixie lifted her head, pressing her chin firmly against the table map. "As if Cloudsdale's aid would even matter. The old airship docks have been retrofitted with advanced airfields housing the most sophisticated fighters and bombers the Empress can afford. Not to mention the presence of Inquisitional Strike Teams based there. Even if we manage to land, we won't just be fighting auxiliary units, but the best shock units she has. It would be an anti-air suicide mission that I don't think Spitfire would agree to."
Starlight lowered her head, a sense of defeat in her voice. "Even if everything went perfectly—if the people welcomed us, if the Solar Guard turned their backs on the Empress and joined our cause—even if we managed to overtake the docks and airfields flawlessly, knock out the batteries and royal guards on the mountains... it wouldn't solve the fortress within a fortress that her castle has become. I can barely even see the stained glass windows anymore... She has even replaced the ones from when she was Celestia." Starlight sighed, burdened by the weight of their predicament. "We would be facing down the power of the Sun incarnate, and what do we have? Bullets?"
Tempest paused for a moment, contemplating. "...I have these orbs of petrification I helped create during my time with the Storm King, but I doubt they would keep her restrained for longer than a minute before she breaks free." Trixie's mind seemed to be working, ideas forming on how to defeat Daybreaker and Starlight pondered as well, even just a minute of holding her still would be enough to perform a spell ritual, it wouldn’t be as simple as a banish to the moon either. “You might onto something, Fizz-” Starlight’s ears perked up as they were disturbed by the sound of hooves approaching. Princess Cadence stepped into the dimly lit room, her warm glow providing a stark contrast to the cold darkness. She walked over to the table where Tempest, Trixie, and Starlight had gathered, their faces etched with concern and frustration.
"Shining is managing to keep the shield up for now," Princess Cadence began, "It'll buy us a few hours before he needs to rest. Have any of you found any weak spots?"
Starlight shook her head. "Daybreaker has thought of every possible angle of attack. How can we possibly siege this?" Cadence raised a hoof onto the table before pointing towards the cliff face. "There, the old sewage drains. Daybreaker can fortify the city all she likes, but there is little she can do to infrastructure like the underground sewage of a city of that size. It would be a monumental task to fortify them all. I reckon that maybe they have grating over the drains to keep anyone from climbing in them. Cutting them open would definitely draw attention from the cliffside fortifications. So teleporting through the bars and then cutting them open would be the best way to start."
"We don't have any sort of maps of the sewer system to truly know what's down there," Tempest spoke up. "However, if it lets us set up a base under the Empress' nose, then it's an opportunity we should take."
"I don't want to send our best into a trap. There are so many factors we don't know," Starlight responded before Cadence countered. "You know more than anyone here that we need to take risks against a foe like her. In the same manner, you took the risk to divert your forces to save my family from Solar captivity. If I must, I will lead the strike into the sewers."
The Cutie Map suddenly hummed to life, making the half-awake Trixie recoil off the table as the map of Equestria shifted and zoomed in towards Canterlot. Though it made no attempt to call upon any cutie mark to answer it, it showed a red glow of the labyrinth of tunnels under Canterlot. Granted, the Canterlot in the display was old, but how often does a sewer system change? Starlight smiled for the first time in a long while.
However, for Cadence, this was more than just a revolution and a long road to harmonic recovery. It meant saving her daughter from the manipulation of a tyrant who sought to turn her daughter's heart as cold as the north. She and Shining had to come to terms with the fact that their daughter might stand against them. The thought weighed heavily on her mind and Shining's, even if he refused to show weakness in times like these.
Author's Note
My first ever real fanfic. Hope ye enjoy.
A new day had dawned, the radiant light of the Goddess casting its glow upon the halls of Canterlot Castle, now transformed into a formidable fortress. Though the architecture had undergone significant changes, Sunset found navigating its familiar layout a relatively easy task as she made her way to the throne room—a place she had entered countless times before. However, the atmosphere was tense; the Civil War had not progressed in their favor, and expressing such concerns to Daybreaker could jeopardize her reputation and status.
Passing through the double doors, Sunset momentarily slowed her advance, taking a brief moment to gaze upon the stained glass windows. It could very well be the last time she saw them intact.
The first window depicted a sorrowful Celestia standing amidst the skeletal remains of ponies, with a raging inferno burning in the background. The eyes were drawn upward to a towering Daybreaker, her stretched wings silhouetted by the sun, emanating an aura of burning rage.
Across the hall, the stained glass window that once showcased Twilight's ascension to an Alicorn had been transformed into a depiction of her role as an inquisitor within the Empire. The insignia of the Inquisition dominated the background, surrounded by shades of red, orange, and yellow. A confident portrayal of the once Princess of Friendship showed Daybreaker's wings extending down from the top, enveloping the sides of the glass, while her head looked down at Twilight with a motherly smile.
Continuing along the white marble columns, She encountered the next window; which portrayed a beach scene with the sun setting on the horizon. Daybreaker stood triumphantly before a less-than-enthusiastic depiction of Queen Chrysalis being impaled upon a piece of ship fencing before a wrecked submarine.
Lastly, a pane depicted Solar Troopers on the right side with a jagged blackened crystal representing King Sombra across from them. In the backdrop, a ruined Crystal City served as a stark reminder of the empire's heroism. However, it conveniently omitted the fact that they were the ones who summoned Sombra in the first place and used him to weaken the Crystal Kingdom’s defenses, leaving them desperate and unable to fight back.
But enough time had been wasted admiring the windows; it was time to focus on what lay beyond them. She pushed open the doors, entering the Empress's throne room. The echoing sound of her hooves filled the air as she made her way toward Daybreaker, who sat atop a throne adorned with a semi-circle of fire at its back. As her chosen's arrival caught her attention, Daybreaker straightened herself, her expression transitioning to one of neutrality, yet still radiating the authority of a disappointed parent.
Her voice resounded through the room as she uttered a single word. "Report."
Sunset paused before the throne, just outside the reach of the radiant heat from the flames. It served as a gauge of Daybreaker's anger, should she sense the heat intensify. Clearing her throat, Sunset spoke sternly, "Daily duties have been carried out as expected. The Imperial Guard has been mentally reinforced and is prepared. The shelling of Ponyville continues, although we are starting to deplete our reserves in the Caverns to sustain it." Sunset paused briefly, noticing no change in the heat, before continuing, "Prince Blueblood and Marshal Eclipse have relocated their army group to Trotland and are fortifying their positions along the Ghastly Gorge." Her tone shifted, displaying a mix of confusion and confidence, which piqued Daybreaker's interest as she raised an eyebrow and looked down at Sunset. "You may ask your question."
"It's just... Why? Why not have them attack Ponyville now? Prince Blueblood has a significant number of veteran troops from the Changeling Occupation Zones at his disposal. They could easily overpower the rebel soldiers. And why even redeploy them? I know you could destroy them all right now, and yet we're simply waiting. Why?" Sunset began to shift uncomfortably, her posture becoming tense as she questioned her Empress's strategy, but she desired to understand nonetheless. Surprisingly, the flames did not grow hotter.
"You're correct. I could obliterate them all in a glorious inferno. To claim the lives of these misguided children in one fell swoop. However, it wouldn't be a victory; it would be a massacre. By effortlessly killing so many of my own without remorse, it would only fuel further bloodshed as they are made martyrs and everyone loves a good underdog story." Daybreaker paused, taking a deep breath before exhaling loudly. "As for my nephew and his ‘wife’, their position is deliberately conspicuous and open to reconnaissance. I want them to know we're here and to provoke them into action. They've come too far to abandon the siege now. To be either caught between the most fanatical and experienced armies of the Solar Empire or alternatively, they could choose a suicidal charge and break themselves against the fortress we've built here. Our defensive stance portrays our actions as self-defense, making them less impactful even if the casualties are equivalent to a massacre caused by my own hooves."
Sunset nodded and replied, "But what about the Changeling Occupation? Can Lightning Dust handle that on her own?"
"Lightning Dust has the necessary resources to maintain control over the hives for a few months at most, until the Prince resumes his duties there. Moreover, it will provoke the Changeling loyalists to act recklessly in their attempt to seize this opportunity."
"Understood, my Empress. I have no further concerns."
"Keep in mind, Sunset. I want the Royal Family captured alive, along with most of the command, for interrogation. The presence of foreign equipment will serve as ample justification. First-hoof confessions regarding their dealings will be more than sufficient for conquests across the sea, reminding the world that no one is beyond the reach of MY wrath." The heat intensified as Sunset nodded. "If that's all, you are dismissed, my Guardian."
Sunset bowed her head and turned to leave. "Yes, ma'am. May your light guide us to a brighter future."
The Empress smiled, "Leaving no shadows for our enemies to hide in."
Shined Armor, Weakened Spirit
As the sun's rays bathed the ruins of Ponyville, Shining found himself squinting against the increasing brightness. The gradient illumination served as a constant reminder of his responsibility to prevent their location from being bombarded during the night. The mental strain he experienced now paralleled the challenges he faced when maintaining the shield during his wedding years ago. However, he took solace in the fact that he was no longer being mentally drained by the wicked Changeling Queen. The reality of her possible demise still astounded him. There was a time when he questioned the audacious infiltration work of Thorax, and the consequences had been severe. His once thriving kingdom now lay in ruins, his own child had been taken, and his people were oppressed under the ruthless reign of a tyrant, only to be replaced by the merciless Tyrant of the Sun.
Shining's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a paintbrush being cleaned in a cup of water. He had forgotten that Spearhead was even there. Shining didn't move from his position on top of a slab of marble that once held a statue of his sister in Solarist attire. It was a symbolic victory that Spearhead was determined to capture on canvas. Shining sighed and broke his silence after six hours. "How is it coming along? I thought painting at night would be challenging."
Spearhead cleared his throat, maintaining his cheerful demeanor. "Nah, Shining. I can use a lantern since you're blocking any potential shots, but it's strange how they haven't fired a single round tonight."
"Good, the less stress for me, the better. They won't waste shells as long as the shield is up, but the moment we lower it, we'll be bombarded," Shining remarked, feeling a throbbing pain in his head. Thankfully, his shift would be over soon.
"Gotta say, Cap, this might be one of my best paintings yet. I've captured the distant view of Canterlot and the mountains in the background. You standing so stoic on top of the marble slab, with the statue beside you... I had to adjust the angle of the statue to include Twilight's face. I hope you don't mind," Spearhead said.
"I don't mind. I'll have to face her eventually. I don't know if I can confront her directly, but if it means reuniting with my daughter, I'll fight to bring her back," Shining replied.
"She'll be fine, Shining. She's not a helpless foal; you and Cadence have taught her well," Spearhead reassured.
"I hope you're right, Spearhead. Otherwise, you'll be the one buying the next round of Apple Cider," Shining said, smiling.
"Hah, you're on."
More members of the Harmonic Army began to wake from their restful slumber, and Spearhead would occasionally glance at Shining before continuing his work on the painting. It wasn't long before he heard the familiar sound of hoofsteps approaching from behind, followed by a cheerful "Morning, Shiny!" It was his mother, Twilight Velvet, and Shining visibly relaxed his posture. Spearhead let out a grumble.
Twilight Velvet walked over to admire Spearhead's painting with a gasp. "You've improved so much over the years, Spearhead. I can't wait to see the finished piece properly, hopefully before we reach Canterlot."
Spearhead nodded, while Night Light joined them on the platform and acknowledged his son with a nod. Shining didn't say anything in response; the dark bags under his eyes stood out against his white coat. Night Light ignited his horn as Shining transferred the Shield's conjuring to him.
"You go and get something to eat and some sleep, Shiny. Cadence also wants to talk to you. I'll make sure your mother doesn't talk Spearhead's ears off," Night Light said.
Shining managed a weak smile before making his way back towards the Castle of Friendship, as he walked through the desolate town and encampment, the journey proved uneventful. The weight of immense stress was evident, with the bags under his eyes failing to conceal it meant few stopped to greet him. Nevertheless, Flash Magnus approached him offering a tin mug filled with the delightful aroma of coffee. "Morning, Commander," Magnus greeted. Shining yawned and accepted the mug. "You don't have to call me Commander, Flash. Shining is good enough. How's the training going?"
"They're not the worst bunch I've seen, but some lack discipline, as expected. But I'll make sure to drill it into them," Flash nodded, taking a sip from his own tin mug.
Shining chuckled softly, his smile weak. "You should meet Spitfire someday. You two would be a force to be reckoned with in training." He gestured towards the Castle and began walking in that direction, with Magnus following suit.
"She's got pegasi to train in that cloud fortress of hers. I'm honestly surprised the Solarists allowed them to break away."
"I'm not. That place is like a miniature Canterlot in the sky. The resources required to reclaim it would be enormous, and even then, I doubt the proud ponies of Cloudsdale would relinquish their home without a fight."
"Hah, I wish it had been that way over a thousand years ago. It would have made battling dragons much easier," Flash sighed.
"I sometimes forget that you're technically as old as Celestia, considering how long you've been alive. But I do have one question: Where are the other pillars?"
“After Daybreaker seized power, Starswirl vanished without a trace. His location has remained unknown ever since. Rockhoof sought refuge in Hippogriffia and currently holds the rank of Rear Admiral in their navy, surprisingly.” Flash Magnus would take a sip of his coffee as they reached the Castle, “Meadowbrook and Mistmane have joined up to run a triage hospital located outside Baltimare, where they provide care for both Solarists and Rebels. As for Somnambula, she has returned to her homeland and is actively involved in a civil war.”
"Mmm. And what about Stygian?" Shining asked, ascending the steps toward the door, with two crystal royal guards saluting as one of them opened the double doors for them.
"Stygian, the last I heard, left for New Mareland. He didn't provide any specific details only that he had to help someone over there," Flash replied as they entered the building. Shining's mind began to ponder the possibilities. There was a chance that Stygian was helping 'her,' but he couldn't be certain. They walked the rest of the way to the map room with little more to say while Shining downed the rest of his coffee.
Another pair of crystal guards saluted and opened the doors for them. Inside, sitting or leaning against the map table were Cadence, Starlight, Trixie, and Flash Sentry. Crystal braziers were positioned around the room, providing additional light to the otherwise dark interior. Shining felt a sense of warmth as Cadence smiled at him, surpassing even the comfort offered by the coffee. He walked over to stand by her side, while Magnus took a seat between Trixie and Sentry.
Starlight cleared her throat and addressed Shining, "Good morning, Shining. I wanted to update you on the details. We're finally ready to make our initial attempt to infiltrate the city's defenses." Shining nodded, indicating his attentiveness, and Starlight continued, "We will be utilizing the remaining members of the Crystal Mountaineers. Under the cover of darkness, they will scale the cliff sides below Canterlot, until they reach a point approximately 40 feet below the castle's lower fortifications. There, we have discovered an old sewage drain that we can use to gain access to the city's infrastructure." Shining raised an eyebrow, revealing his doubts, but he remained silent, allowing Starlight to finish her explanation. "However, there is a grate blocking the drain, which must be removed in order for us to proceed. Normally, this would be impossible due to the noise it would generate and the risk of alerting the guards. But we have Cadence."
Cadence nodded while still embracing her husband, exuding confidence as she spoke about the plan. "I will teleport through the grate and begin working on removing it to allow our mountaineers to enter. Once inside, we can establish a base of operations utilizing teleportation as our method of access. After all, who would question teleportations occurring within the lower levels of the Castle? The only concern is whether the drain connects directly into the Castle or if it is patrolled by the Imperial Guard."
Shining offered a small smile, but his face still displayed concern. "It's undoubtedly risky, but every move we have made thus far has involved calculated risks. Have any other ideas been brought to the table?" Tempest shook her head in response. "This is the plan we currently have. By infiltrating from beneath the city, we can strategically target and detonate key structures."
Shining nodded wearily. "It's a start, but it won't matter if we can't disable their shield protecting the city and secure the bridge crossing to gain entry into Canterlot."
"We're still working on that part. The Gatekeepers seem impenetrable, unless..." Trixie paused for a moment, contemplating her next words. "Unless?" Shining inquired, leaning forward in the crystal chair. Trixie sat up straight, her eyes focused. "Starlight, do you think there might still be Changeling operatives in Canterlot?"
"Even if there are, Trixie, we have no way of knowing who they are, how to communicate with them without exposing ourselves, or if they would even be willing to negotiate without jeopardizing their cover by attacking us," Starlight responded. Shining's exhaustion began to consume him, causing him to tune out of the conversation. However, Cadence nudged him, bringing him back to reality. She turned to address the others. "I'm going to help my husband to bed. I'll be back in a few moments."
Cadence kept her front-leg wrapped around Shining as they walked through the halls, his legs feeling weak and unsteady. He nearly stumbled into a crystal brazier near the entrance to their quarters. "Take it easy, my knight. We're almost there," Cadence said with a smile, although he could sense the underlying concern. Shining wanted to say something, but exhaustion overwhelmed his thoughts, so he simply nodded. They entered their room, and Cadence gently helped him onto the large alicorn-sized bed. He laid back, gazing up at the ceiling, and let out a deep sigh. "T-thank you." She moved around to the other side of the bed, snuggling up against him. "Shining... I don't think you can handle this for another week, even with your parents' help," she said, her voice filled with deep concern. Shining nodded in agreement. "Well... I know you can. You managed to shield the entire Crystal City, and you're not the one with a shield cutie mark. After you're finished setting up beneath Canterlot, you can switch with me, dear?" Cadence placed a gentle kiss on his neck. "That sounds like a plan."
The gentle warmth of the bedding and the softness of the bed enveloped Shining, coaxing him into a deep slumber. Cadence delicately withdrew her hoof from his side, her movements graceful as she effortlessly rose from the bed with the assistance of her wings. Casting a tender glance at her exhausted husband, she smiled fondly before quietly closing the door behind her. Returning to the map room, she adjusted the position of the crystal brazier, ensuring it was slightly further away from the door.
