Casus Belli I: Shining Armor`s Last Battle

“Captain the changeling army arrived. They prepare for the assault.”

“I can see that, private.”

“But why let the general the force field down?”

“I don`t know private. It will most likely be a tactical maneuver.”

“Tactical maneuver? He makes the castle vunerable against their artillery attacks. Doesn’t he see the army right in front of our gates? Where is he?”

“Thats what you will find out, private, because youll report the changeling arrival to the general immediately.”

“But where should I look for….”

“Private, if I knew that I would give him the report myself. And now search the castle and don`t come back until you found the general!”

“Where is Shining Armor? We need his orders now" the lieutenant told his captains. “Have anyone of you seen the general?”

“No, lieutenant, I sent a guard to report but the general is not in his office. We can`t find him anywhere…”

“Thats it. Ill take command of the defense until the general returns to his duty. Move the forces to the gates. We will hold them off at the very entrance of our castle.”

“Lieutenant, Princess Celestia has fallen. The force field is down. The general is gone. Do we… do we have any chances left?” one of his captains asked.

The royal guard lieutenant didn`t reply to that question. But his silence was answer enough.

The changeling attack was devastating. Heavy artillery brought down every defenses and barricades the royal guard built in the hours before. Soon it was a fight stallion versus changeling. The changelings were due to their new found power equal even to the best royal guards. It was raining dead pegasi guards from the skies. The unicorn guards behind the lines overused their magical skills until they suffered deadly exhaustion. And the brave earth pony guards in the first lines of defense were torn apart by the endless waves of attacking changelings. It was a lost cause.

The battle raged on. Canterlot was filled with blood, debris and bodies of fallen ponies. Due to the absence of Shining Armor the royal guard lieutenant coordinated the defense. Even though he did his best his skills could never compare to the tactical genius Shining Armor. The soldiers fought with fury and anger. They were ready to die to redeem for their failure of protecting Princess Celestia. But even this heroic attitude couldn’t stand against the hate of Queen Chrysalis.

A field hospital was established in the Canterlot Garden. This garden was probably the largest in Equestria but it was overcrowded with wounded stallions in no time. A group of volunteers under Princess Cadence leadership tried to help those ponies in their fight with death. But even though she was a princess with magical abilities Cadence couldnt do much more than watching those brave soldiers die. Canterlot wasnt prepared for such a thing. There wasnt enough medical equipment. There wasnt enough skilled personal. Most of the volunteers didn`t have any medical background. The only thing they could do was to be with the dying ponies, holding their hoove when they fade away.

The northern gate was protected by Luna and her night guards, still decimated by the treachery of general Nightfall years ago. Luna fought with the wrath of Nightmare Moon, but still she and her forces were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of the changeling army.

Soon the defense lines were overrun. There was chaos and confusion in the royal guard forces that fought shattered over Canterlot a hopeless battle. When only a handful of his royal guards remained captain Armor Shard gave the order to retreat to the last defense line, the royal palace. Princess Cadence and most of the mares were already evacuated in the palace, but all the wounded soldiers who could not walk by their own had to be left behind. Luna still fought against the invaders, but her force got weaker every second and her night guards fell one by one.