Author's Note

Hello! Before you read the latest Chapter of Blight of The War Horse, I'd like to say a few things.

I apologize for not uploading recently. Between a family member going to the hospital, going on winter break, and getting some downtime, I'd let myself procrastinate again :p. On another note, I sincerely thank all who took time out of their lives to read my- admittedly -flawed story. But I plan on trying to improve on future projects. Your support for this series helped me through doubt and prevented my writing career from taking a nose dive. I finally found something I love doing thanks to you guys and gals.

So, if you're sticking around, I hope you enjoy part one of the finale.

Chp 23: Perfect day- part 1

Two grueling days came and went, and ponies’ excitement for the momentous day grew alongside the waning hours.

Canterlot streets were littered end-to-end with decorations and food stalls, noble and commoner alike banding together on this joyous occasion, surrounded by a festival rivaling any preluding it. Even royal guards on duty couldn’t resist indulging themselves.

Nonetheless, no other place was more alight than Canterlot Castle, the wedding’s location, staff ponies checking every speck of detail. Storm Breaker found it hard NOT to ignore them, the sounds of frantic shuffling hooves and barking orders distracting her while she polished Olive’s gifted armor. Sky Slicer perched upon his savior's withers, resting his head on her Vanguard emblem seared upon aged flesh. And while a radio blasts today's current news and latest music, nothing could hinder the warrior mare’s cloth gliding across spotless midnight-colored metal. Screw the wedding and whoever judged her potential lateness, Storm Breaker rarely cared about her looks outside of battle scars.

Celestia and her younger sister were in high spirits as well. The general air around them maintained a lighter air than the aftermath of day/night court, not that anypony can tell through their ever-present masks of calmness. Some ponies say a prince called ‘Blue Blood’ displayed similar changes; however, Storm Breaker didn’t bother herself to remember anypony significant with that name.

Still, a stirring within her stomach nagged her following Candence’s arrival a day prior.

At least her worries were confirmed, in a way: Cadance is a total bitch.

Since the love Alicorn's advent appearance, she’s acted cold and cruel to all castle servants. She constantly berated them for minor mistakes and treated everypony like bugs underneath her horseshoe when nopony else was watching- hiding malice behind poor sincerity. Maybe Celestia’s image was her goal, down to her get-up, a cheap imitation with a superiority complex and slimy attitude.

Although disappointing, It is not shocking a country bumpkin would turn rotten after achieving an ounce of power.

The warrior mare knew the feeling all too well.

Apart from her entrance, Celestia and Luna were blessed by a resemblance of politeness from Cadenza if around, her attitude taking a sharp one-eighty. Everypony else on their own be damned. Strangely, Storm Breaker noticed Cadenza’s unwillingness to face the warrior mare, always seeking an excuse to leave the same room or change her path. It’s almost like the love alicorn’s fearful of her, but Storm knew that wasn't the case. Her eyes held something much crueler.

She wanted to ignore her gut instinct’s warning, but Storm Breaker felt like a predator was sizing her up, judging how to handle an unknown creature bigger than itself.

“Having fun?” Olive Branch, entering Storm’s room, said, shutting the door. “You should stop now- your ankle won’t take kindly to arthritis.” He joked, flexing his left fore-ankle with audible popping of bones. “Otherwise, it’s looking sharp.”

Storm Breaker huffed in amusement. “Came here to check on me?” She asked, setting the polished chest plate on the bed.

“You could say that,” He nodded, leaning against the door, “Celestia needs you in the throne room. The elements are about to show, and she wants you to join the welcoming committee.” While she couldn’t complain, Storm Breaker resisted eye-rolling at the mention of Sparkle and her friendly gaggle of lunatics. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, though, darling. Sadly, weddings are social events, and you need more socializing experience instead of hiding away.” He chuckled.

Reluctantly leaving her bed, Sky Slicer hopping off, Storm Breaker swiftly attached her chest plate, uniting it with her already equipped outfit. “Not like I have a choice.” She muttered unenthusiastically, Olive turning to leave. Then, a memory resurfaced, causing Storm to sigh.

“...Actually, wait.”

At her request, the old coot halted, returning his attention.“Yeah?” He said.

Shifting on her hooves, she rushed to her nightstand, throwing the top drawer open and retrieving an item from its depths.

Olive Branch watched in startled bewilderment as the massive pony moved like a floating feather dancing on the wind, grabbing his hoof and holding it out as she gave him the item. Peering down, Olive’s face reflected profound surprise, seeing a silver flask resting comfortably in the frog of his hoof, begging to hold his precious moonshine.

“Darling. Storm. I, uh, why do you have this? ‘Didn’t know you drank.” He stuttered.

“I…It’s not mine!” She sheepishly spat, her fake annoyance faltering. “I thought your ridiculous keg was weighing you down, so I got that as a Hearth's Warming gift.” She pointed to the flask.

He blinked twice, “Well, I’ll be damned! You didn’t have to, darling.” Olive thanked.

“No, I did.” Storm retorted, diverting her eye, “I wanted to say thanks, for sticking by me all this time. I couldn’t gather the courage back then to give it.” She apologized.

Before she could speak any further, Olive closed the distance between them and hugged her, making the titanic mare jolt. “Well, now you did. Thanks, darling.” He said, smiling warmly. “I’ll make sure it sees as much action as you have. For now, let’s head out before Luna chews you out.” He snickered, backing away. At this, Storm Breaker showed a tiny smile.

“I implore you to try, old coot.”

Glancing out her room’s window, she made out the distant pillar of smoke carried along by a colorful locomotive approaching the city.

Yet, as the old guard and warrior mare left, both missed a band of pegasi guards flying toward the train station. Upon closer inspection, their flawless white coats were disheveled and stained by blotches of gray dust. Armor was dented- mainly near the back of their helmets. A dark greenish hue surrounded the edges of each pair of dull, lifeless eyes, the four guards resembling dolls more than living ponies. No resident of Canterlot, due to their distractive festivity, noticed the unnerving guards, letting them easily trail the chariot unbothered.

In a nearby ally, the ends of broken, white hooves poked out of a dumpster, with enough blood covering the ground for four stallions.

‘You learn something new every day!’ as the modern saying goes.

Twilight and Shining armor were related, Storm Breaker pondered, the head of the royal guard and Celestia’s student sharing blood. Their family had to have connections to royalty or were as lucky as anypony could be. Did this mean every member of the Sparkle family is considered nobility? It matters not, anywho- Shining’s marrying Cadance, which would make their family nobility either way.

Storm Breaker quietly groaned, maintaining a straight poster as she trailed behind a fuming Twilight and her brother. Goddess, that’s still weird to say. The purple unicorn and her posse arrived minutes ago and- not surprisingly -already started a commotion, Sparkle herself, to be specific.

Sword at her hip, the warrior mare watched as the irritated mare complained about not being notified earlier of the wedding, Shining trying to defuse the situation while giving orders. The blue sky, blocked out by a shimmering pink dome of protective magic produced by Shining armor, still shined on the encased mountain-side city. As impressive as his magical prowess was, Storm hated the stenchful magic in the air: the smell of soiled earth and ozone. Strong magic always gave off a faint scent, a trait she sorely regretted learning during Vanguard training.

Nevertheless, Olive said it’s in case anything happened during the wedding, for what, she didn’t know. Storm theorized its purpose was to keep creatures of evil like Discord from interrupting the wedding and causing harm. How an oversized ball of magic is supposed to protect everypony from a beast like Discord, she didn’t know, but it wasn’t her exact field of expertise. Otherwise, the only plausible dangers would be drunkards or two mares catfighting over the bouquet.

“Yeah, there’s a big wedding coming up. Maybe you heard about it?!” Twilight snides angrily, brushing past a troubled-looking Shining armor and stopping just before the guard-infested stairs leading to the castle’s main hall.

Captain Shining Armor frowned, moving to his sibling’s side. “It has nothing to do with the wedding.” He said.

Well, now, this is interesting. Storm thought, raising a suspicious brow.

“A threat’s been made against Canterlot.”

Huh? She didn't remember anypony saying anything about a threat; things like that should be easy to remember. She didn’t think Olive lied. Captain Shining Armor reported directly to the princesses, same with the old coot- did the princess not tell her the truth on purpose? The warrior mare wouldn’t put it past Celestia specifically, but it made sense. Who would cause panic on a wedding day, especially when it’s your niece’s? Keep as little ponies informed as possible. Plus, ponies of her rank had no reason to receive orders or messages like Olive or Shining. Yet, who made this threat? A terrorist? Whatever idiotic creature idealized such a plan would surely fail, considering this event’s likely the most secure place in Equestria, given the number of guards.

Twilight lowered her head, dropping her look of ire. “We don’t know who’s responsible for it, but Princess Celestia asked that I help provide additional protection.” The guard captain added, his hoof raising Twilight’s chin.

“This you need to see.” Shining’s expression hardened, backing away slightly.

Storm Breaker and Twilight's eyes fixed with anticipation as Shining's features contorted, his sharpened horn humming and gaining a pinkish aura surrounding it. She’d witnessed unicorns in action many times before, on the battlefield and not, mostly enemies, but the air vibrated oddly so. Neither mare had a chance to think as a powerful pink beam shot forth from his horn, aimed straight at the dome above. It struck the dome viciously, a thunderous boom reverberating throughout Canterlot’s entirety, ripples descending its surface before fading away. When all was said and done, a disoriented Shining Armor dimmed his horn, causing sparks and him momentarily swaying before regaining balance.

Moving from the courtyard and ascending the stairs, Storm Breaker trails the sparkle siblings, reflecting on the older brother's recent display. Admittedly, Shining showed remarkable magic abilities nearly rivaling a trained, pre-unity unicorn soldier. Keyword: nearly. If somepony were to attack, he and other soldiers might do a decent job defending Canterlot, but it still unnerved how surprisingly weak modern unicorns became.

Well, not weak, per se. Sparkle and her brother were plenty powerful. However, there’s a problem with that. The sparkle siblings were RENOWNED for their magic, as in, they were supposedly first-class mages in regular unicorns’ eyes. To Strom Breaker, their magical abilities were above average at best.

Excluding Celestia and Luna as alicorns, was this the pinnacle of modern pony magic?

No, of course not; she’s being cynical again. Strong as her? Highly debatable. But weak? No. Not that Storm would admit, even with the threat of unending torture, Sparkle might defeat her in a one-on-one battle if she gave it her all. Then again, it’s highly debatable. Besides, the chances of Canterlot getting attacked were slim to none. Storm felt sure the guards could protect ponies.

Then again, you would have to be either stupid or over-confident to threaten-

!

“What in Hades!?!” Storm Breaker mentally shouted, each muscle tensing tightly; she and the sparkle sibling halting on an overlooking archway. Knocked back into reality by a vile sensation of tainted mana, Storm Breaker quickly found its source approaching the trio: the pony Sparkle happily sang praises about during Storm’s thinking, jumping in circles. Incidentally, Sparkle noticed as well, coming to an abrupt stop.

“I hope I’m not interrupting something important.” Cadance said, glancing down at Sparkle and switching to Shining, raising a brow.

Sparkle gasped excitedly, “Cadance!”

Running up, Storm Breaker had the great displeasure of watching a…peculiar dance. Is she trying to seduce the bride, she thought, perplexed. It didn’t help that the singing lavender unicorn, without a shred of decency, shook her bare rump at Cadance on full display, smiling like a witless child. Including the discourteous love alicorn, Storm Breaker failed to resist a bewildered scowl.

“What are you doing?” Cadance questioned. Second, Storm commented silently.

Hurt flashed across her face, but Sparkle stood up to face Cadance, smiling. “Cadance, it’s me, Twilight!” She said.

Cadance blinked once, “ Uh huh?” She half muttered.

Even Storm Breaker shared Sparkle's pain as Cadance casually brushed off the now-frowning lavender unicorn, walking over and hugging Shining. “I got to get back to my station,” The guard captain exclaimed, “But, Cadance, I’d like you to meet one of the new night guard’s first’s member’s: Storm Breaker, since you’ve been busy in Mexicolt.” He grinned. Cadance subtly flinched, eyeing the titanic mare wearily as Storm watched her flatly.

In spite of her detestment toward her, Storm Breaker bowed before the love alicorn, then stuck out her hoof.

“It’s a…pleasure to meet you, Princess.” She forced herself to say, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m sure you know my unique circumstance. I’ve learned that it’s polite to shake hooves in today’s age as a sign of peace.” She lied numbly.

Unsurprisingly, Cadance grinned smugly, taking Storm’s hoof. “Aunty Celestia informed me of your existence while I was abroad. It’s nice to see Aunty Luna roping in like-minded ponies into her pet project.” She said, the sweet, condescending tone daring Storm to punch the princess’s pretty mug. What did surprise her was Cadance’s unnatural grip, outperforming her intentional vice-like hold.

It took everything she could muster to keep it from breaking!

Letting go, Storm Breaker backed up until she stood by Sparkle's side, Shining’s smile unchanged. “Now that introductions are out of the way, I wanted to tell you Cadance will check in with all of you to see how things are going. I think I speak for both of us when I say we couldn’t be more excited to have you here.” Shining turned to his soon-to-be wife.

“Absolutely.” She replied, her sinister smile making the fur on Storm’s neck stand up.

Who was she?

Well, being bound and gagged while sitting center-stage inside a dark, damp basement isn’t Trotselot’s exact idea of a fun night, but it could’ve gotten worse. Wait, yeah, it did.

Feeling as though his bloody, chipped hooves were engulfed by hellfire, the fancy stallion whimpered quietly as snot, mucus, and vomit caked his blindfolded face. The chains binding every limb against the moist concrete floor rubbed them raw, blood-born rust threatening to infect open wounds. Screaming and crying for rescue became fruitless when his torturer nearly caved in his windpipe with a metal bat, plus the disconnection from the outside world.

Celestia knows how long Trotselot suffered since his and Brandy's quaint get-together was interrupted by Iron's grunts. Hours? Days? Each unrelenting assault smitten his woeful self like an unrelenting typhoon without end, whips, knives, pliers, and hammers chiseling his crumbling marble pillar of flesh. Pain swirled around inside Trotselot's thought cage, clouding every other thought with searing-hot pain and wordless pleas of mercy. He wasn't a fighter, nor the stallion his father dreamed him of becoming. Trotselot's life would end here, amongst the rotting moss and roaches, screaming for death's sweet embrace. What of Brandy? Had that monster dealt with her? He should've never spoken to him and followed his parents' wishes- nothing was worth this!

Countless mistakes left unchanged, endless relationships abandoned behind bed sheets and cigarette smoke, bridges long since burnt, Trotselot wasn't as picturesque as ponies made him out to be, far from it.

His parents disliked him, and vice versa, but they didn't hate each other; there were chances to patch things over. His idea's folder for new clothing designs was begging for his attention and craft. And it wouldn’t have been so bad to reconnect with old college friends, right? Yet, whatever spirit responsible for Trotselot's current predicament seemed delightful, seeing his life constantly roll downhill.

No, he only had himself to blame, nopony else. After all, hubris is the bane of all prideful fools.

"Rise and shine, fruitcake," A voice beyond the basement's thick wooden door announced gruffly, "Boss's here." He added.

Eyes shooting open behind the dirty rag blindfold, Trotselot let out a sharp gasp and scampered away until hitting the back wall, minding his broken wings and- recently -fractured left hind leg. The door's unoiled hinges squealed loudly, making Trotselot's ears press flat against his skull, quickly followed by heavy hoof steps. A thundering click of a lock marked his true loneliness.

Wretchful cigar smoke flew into his muzzle, "So, my useless mutt finally grew a backbone, and this is what he uses it for?" Iron Hoof said incredulously, almost mocking. "I'd say I was sad once I heard the news. However, that implies I ever gave a shit about you to begin with, Trot. Not that any of this surprises me, mind you."

Trotselot sneered, "Go to Tartarus, you foul ghoul!" He wheezed pitifully, shooting a glob of blood-soaked spit in Iron Hoof's general direction, only to receive a solid kick to the jaw.

“You like flapping that tongue of yours, son. It would be a crying shame if it was ripped out, inch by inch, until I reached the back of your shit-filled throat.” Iron sneered, Trotselot coughing roughly. “I do all of us a favor then.” There was an uncaring tug and jolt forward as a hoof snatched Trotselot’s blindfold off, revealing the tyrant stallion looming over him. “It’s a blessing or a curse that you made it this far. But all things, good or bad, must end eventually.” He said.

Labored breath crawled out of Trot’s mouth, his dual black eyes scowling at Iron, “H-How…did y-you kn-know?” He questioned.

Iron Hoof snorted, digging out something from his inner breast pocket. “For such a pretty colt, you sure left a mess.” His retrieved item raised to meet Trot’s gaze, forcing a shocked sputter, a lone feather matching the fancy stallion’s. “Aren’t your uptight bunch supposedly well-groomed like show dogs? This is why pegasi make bad hit-stallions.” He chuckled.

Ragged, uneven breaths escaped Trotselot, scowling deeply, “You accursed beast! What was the point- of any of this?! You’ve wasted your time, and for what? Even that savage mare is smarter than you.” He roared, pulling pitifully at his bindings.

“I agree, I was careless.” Iron replied without hesitation, tossing the feather. “Anger blinded me, leaving me to fret over lost bread crumbs when she went psycho. However, I see this as an…opportunity for growth.”

Slowly, the aged stallion began to undo the remaining buttons of his jacket, eventually letting it join the loose feather’s position. Trotselot’s breathing hitched, seeing him crack his hooves. “See, snakes outgrow their dead, decaying skin, purging impurities. My time on this planet is also decaying, Trot, and I must outgrow and remove impurities so my empire lives on. You, Brandy, and Silver are all in my way- but a simple obstacle I’m willing to bloody my hooves with.”

Stepping closer toward Trotselot, the fancy stallion’s cries increased in volume with every clopbouncing off the basement walls. But, before he could react, Iron’s left hook connected with his jaw, sending Trotselot crumbling. However, there’s little time for preparation as the tyrant’s assault rained, battering and breaking Trot’s body like a sledgehammer striking railroad spikes. How an old stallion like Iron could hit this hard were lost thoughts, Trotselot curling into a protective ball, covered in fresh tears and purple bruises.

A minute later, Iron Hoof rose, panting while checking his gruesome progress. Tears poured out Trotselot’s swollen eyes, clouding whatever he barely saw moments prior, his attacker chuckling again, grinning.

“I forgot. Don’t worry about dying too soon, son.” He said, wiping sweat from his forehead. Bending over, he roughly yanked Trot’s mane, electing a louder yelp, and pulled him up, meeting at eye level. “Doc says stress increases my terrible blood pressure.” Despite being near-blind, he dreadfully observed Iron removing his half-burned cigar–and pointing directly at his right eye.

“And I haven’t had time to relax yet.” Iron chuckled gleefully.

Trotselot released a barely audible snivel of protest.

Nearly going against her kind’s nature for a moment, she came close to dropping her disguise and bursted out laughing, Twilight’s friends, Shining, and the celestial demons abandoning the wedding hall.

Judging their looks of anger and distant muffled cries, she’d done what most Changing would’ve considered impossible. Break the elemental weapons bond! At first, she desperately desired a challenge, each of Twilight’s friends seeming more gullible than her magic-leashed Shining. When she disposed of the apple mare’s repulsive treats, she conveniently wasn’t looking. Her venomous disgust went unnoticed by the clothesmith, too enamored and distracted by perfecting Cadance’s dull dress. The hyperactive dolt wasn’t worth mentioning. Tartarus, by then, she didn’t bother seeking out the egotistical dove or cowardly flying rat.

No, the fun came from knowing Twilight’s awareness, suffering alone, surrounded by her friends and family’s ignorance.

When the lavender blunder appeared inside Shining’s residence, Cadance couldn’t help herself, secretly involving Twilight in the following argument over that stupid crest Shining wished to bear.

For all things revolting and distasteful about ponies, she saw why the real Cadance wanted an attractive specimen like Shining despite his sickening, preachy standings on justice. So, repairing her decorative piece’s mind-veil spell and ridding him of that trash, she’d been granted the pleasure of enjoying Twilight's fleeing figure. No doubt she headed straight for her friend to warn them, but it didn’t work out, did it? Even the sun demon or her Tartarus spawn sister were woefully unconvinced.

The ‘kicker’ arrived minutes ago when Twilight proudly crashed her bridal walk practice, looking full of herself. Drinking her shocked expression following her proclamation of ‘she’s evil’ like a grub and Shining shielding Cadance, the false bride metaphorically sat back and watched everybody present mumble. Even after she shed tears and fled because of Twilight’s cruel words, Anger and hurtful scents almost produce a shutter in delight.

Hiding and slipping past the leaving party of miffed ponies was a breeze, teleporting back into the wedding hall. There, lying across her red carpet, weeping and sniffling pathetically, Twilight tearfully sang how AWFUL she’d been to her brother, a song Cadance disregarded.

She brushed a tender hoof across Twilight’s head, letting the doe-eyed unicorn stare lock gazes with her, smiling. “I’m sorry!” Twilight cried.

Chrysalis’s eyes flashed briefly.

“You wouldn’t.” The bug queen spat, frowning.

Reacting faster than the surprised Twilight, Chrysalis’s disguised horn produced green flames, which shot the lavender unicorn. Sadly, a still-living Twilight sailed through the open air, landing unceremoniously on the red carpet’s middle point, nasty scorch marks adorning her smoking chest fur. “None of you were then.” She said scornfully, her horn glowing again.

Chrysalis watched the unicorn's disbelief, writhing in agony. “W-What…?!” She pushed out. A ring of emerald flames surrounded Twilight, instantly forming a dome that sank her into the ground.

Once alone, her spell leaving no trace behind, Cadence monetarily sighed a pleased respire. Finished dealing with one nuisance, the faux princess’s mind switched to the other: The ancient one. Months earlier, when Princess Cadance announced her plan of marrying Shining Armor in advance, Chrysalis sent her drones out to study the Canterlot guard population while finalizing her separate wedding plans. Unfortunately, Learning about an ancient foe’s member in Celestia’s possession became a problem, putting it lightly. It seemed a peaceful death for the Vanguard following the sun demon’s ascension wasn’t suitable. Did Faust resurrect it so Chrysalis would suffer and fail her plan, making it the sun demon's lap pet to rub salt in the wound?

Other changeling hives were destroyed by the vicious pony breed, their specialty over camouflage crowning Chrysalis’s hive as the sole survivors. Her silly children warned her, begging her to delay the play until a viable solution for this unexpected error showed. No matter, come the right time, nothing on this planet would rival her. An oversized donkey wielding a kitchen knife will be but a minute annoyance.

As ‘Cadance’ began nearing the grand hall doors to leave, a towering pony shadow swiftly disappeared around the corner.

This day’s going to be perfect.