The Republican War: The Fall of Heaven's Spire

The wind whipped past as I fell from the castle heights, my crystallized hooves glinting in the sun’s rays. The once proud courtyard, filled with exotic flowers and a hedge maze, now glows a deep black. The remains turned to ashes, leaving only an empty field filled with knock over or destroyed statues. All along the grounds swarmed with griffon soldiers, surrounded by machines of war. Gatlings, cannons and rifles glinted as I fell. Some far off to the west as if their army was near. That’s impossible, the Coltumbia river is further than that. The griffon army wouldn’t be this close unless the…

I grinned at the revelation. Shifting my form into black fire as I descended, I took flight. It was weird that my familiar buzz of my wings was gone, replaced with the constant roar of fire. It was so effortless to move, as if I was a pegasus effortlessly breaking the sound barrier.

I turned my (eyes?) downward towards the gathering forces. The griffons seem to hastily be setting up their cannons and gatlings, all facing outwards. They're preparing for the coming storm. Let’s give them a warm welcome back.

Their blood will spill just the same.

Shaking my blackened fire form, I tried to push that voice away.

What makes you think you can get rid of me. You’re already mine.

I tried to shut that dark voice but his voice kept on whispering in my ears. I need more time. I only need a little longer.

Reforming into my physical form I fell upon a gatling crew. With quick precision I cut the gun in half, making sure the firing mechanism can never be used again. The crew that was once manning it screamed in terror and for backup.

One even tried to raise his revolver at me as I stood over splintered metal. He never had a chance as I cleaved the revolver in half, right down the cylinder. I could see his surprise grow. Realizing the revolver no longer worked, he threw it aside to swipe me with his claws, but I was already gone.

Leaping from heavy weapon to heavy weapon, disabling them as I went. A cannon’s wagon destroyed, a gatling’s mechanism melted, every gun a target. I deliberately avoided killing as many griffons as I can, to try to starve the blade from its bloodlust.

It didn’t seem to work, I kept catching myself slicing off claws and stabbing griffons I didn’t intend to. With every swing I could feel my resolve fade. I broke arms, sliced off wings and burned those who got in my way.

I’ve taken down dozens of heavy equipment by now that the griffons have noticed that they’re no longer safe behind these stolen walls. Riflemen lined up in formation and fired, their bullets acting like improvised grapeshot and near impossible for me to avoid. Jumping through the hailstorm of bullets, shifting my form into shadow, nothing seemed to work as red hot searing pain erupted from multiple points in my body. I slammed into the ground with a hard thud as the pain broke my concentration.

Those damn bastards!

Gritting my teeth, I recollected my thoughts. My job isn’t done, I need to get up. Gritting my teeth, and pushing on my cracked new crystal leg, its jagged edges burying themselves into my skin deeper. I felt every edge, a painful edge for every lost life.

I couldn’t keep the sword's dark mind at bay forever, it kept crawling its way back in control. My magic is already in its control. looking up I could see the griffon formation look uneasy.

They should be for they are met with a Shade.

I nee… I stumbled a bit as I slipped, my legs struggling to support my weight. I gave a promise to get my stallions home. No matter the cost to myself. My stallions aren’t safe yet until the Equestrian army gets here. GET UP.

I struggled to my hooves. I raised the sword high, as if I was ready for a duel that would never come.

Why struggle and feel the pain? It would be easier to just give in and lend me control. No more pain, no more suffering. Why not join the symphony and never have to feel loss again?

How selfish could you be? My job isn’t done. I must get them home. When I took command, I promised them.

We could do this. You’ll never have to be alone. Our strength is unmatched.

The griffon’s lowered their rifles as they finished reloading. All of them waited for the command to fire.

Allow us to take control and this will all be over. There will be no griffon that will stand in OUR way. You, as you are now, have nothing left to give. Your body is failing and no magic reserve left. You’ll never save them. You almost failed them by leading them to slaughter.

“Ready! Aim!” I held my breath at the griffon commander’s orders. There was nothing I could do. I could barely move. The only reason I wasn’t bleeding out or dead is because of this sword. It healed my wounds and has kept me alive this long. I’ve done feats that I could barely do with ease.

The Griffon raises his claw as a signal. I need to buy time but what can I do? With a downwards motion the commander lowered his claw, “Fire!”

The sound of a chorus of guns fired. All aimed at me. Slinging hot lead. It was inevitable. The billowing smoke from their rifle blocked their view of what would become of their prey.

Once the smoke cleared there was only a black bubble sitting where I once stood. Their conical musket balls were suspended all along our shield. In an instant the balls sprang back at their owners, cutting into their forces.

Those that survived could only look upon me in terror as my shield dissipated. What was once a grey stallion with a white mane and green eyes was now one of their nightmares. A blackened crystal stallion with a blood red mane stood before them. His deep red and sickly green eyes scanned them. Sharp fangs protruded from his muzzle, no longer was he the prey they once knew.

It seemed to smile, a sickly and evil smile. A griffon raised his rifle to fire only to be met with a blade to his throat. It seemed to blink from existence in an instant.

Screams of terror rang out like church bells as I chased them all down like dogs. How dare they touch my city. Every gun raised was met with extreme violence; every insult taken with vengeance.

Some were brave enough to stare me down, to never scream at the sight of me. They were fools. Fools that will bow down to me. I will break them. I could only grin at the thought.

Spotting their ammo depot, I charged forward. It was roughly made from how much time they had to move here. Only a few barrels of gunpowder, shells and a few cartridges here and there. It will all go up all the same. Igniting my hoof I stamped down upon a trail of gunpowder. With it lit I ran, even I can’t withstand what is to come.

I dove into a fountain pond. Its cool water protecting me from the scorching heat that is to come. In an Instant, as if my breath was taken away, I couldn’t breathe. The ground and water shook violently. I couldn’t hear as the ringing wouldn’t stop. The flames washed over the pool in a fury of flame. The red and orange light blinding to all those who looked upon it.

Lifting my head above the water, I coughed. I coughed until my throat hurt. I could barely breathe. Opening my eyes I saw what I have wrought. It was a blackened hole of a shed that once stood. It was reduced to a blackened cloud and a crater. The cloud rising high up into the sky for all of those to see. I grimaced as I looked at myself. A board of wood has lodged itself into my leg.

I sat there for a while as I pulled the wood out and let the crystals reconstruct themselves. The sound of claws marching shook me from my stupor. I could barely hear it with the ringing in my ears. Their claws shook the entire platform. Looking over to where they gathered. A thousand griffons lined up in line formation. All staring at me. They were taking no chances. All their guns lowered and ready.

Even some of their aerial fighters took flight, their wingblades glinted. Some seemed to be in the atmosphere high above with their silver glinting high above. One griffon who seemed important strode forward. His blue and white combat uniform is dusty but in good condition.

“I’m Commander Greyson of the thirty second infantry assault battalion. You are to surrender immediately and lay down your arms or you will be fired upon,” He commanded, his voice clear but unsteady. He was clearly putting up a brave face. His saber in his claw had an ever so slight shake. The men behind him weren't faring any better. All of them wanted to run after seeing what I did to their comrades.

I slowly got out of the pool with the blade held aloft in my magic behind me, my crystals sparkling in their wet state. I stared down their commander, licking my fangs in full view for them to see. An eerie silence befell us. We both stared at each other to see who would make the first move. To see who had the nerve. IF they won’t make the first move, I will.

I readied my blade in front of me, magic burning hot. I could see the commander raise his saber to signal. I grinned, this will be fun! Lowering myself to charge.

*crunch*

A body fell from the sky. A griffon fighter. Wait, I didn't kill him. Looking up I could see the pegasi and griffon in the sky fighting for air superiority. Tracers from gatlings and grapeshot filled the sky. The golden armor of the royal guard and the silver armor of the Equestrian army glinted blindly.

Looking down, the commander's saber has already fallen. In a moment a thousand guns fired. SHIT! I threw up a hasty shield, its power and durability limited. With a crack of a thousand booms, the air filled with a virtual wall of lead. The first ten shoots were absorbed. The next hundred sent cracks along the shield. Each bullet determined to imbue themselves into my crystal hide.

Each crack sent a throbbing headache to my horn. Like shards of glass the shield shattered. Hundreds of bullets swarmed around me. Many landed. My crystal skin cracking and shattering with the force they emitted. Once again my breath was stolen from me. I struggled to breath. Barely standing with my broken and shattered limbs.

Slamming my hoof down I sent black crystal underneath the commander. Erupting from the ground, the crystal stabbed straight through his chest. Stamping down once more I sent more crystals along the entire battle line.

Why won’t they run?! These damn republican dogs!

“For the republic!” one screamed out. His bayonet was ready as he charged me. Others followed his example. As a group they charged. Activating my magic, I sent wave after wave of black fire in their direction but not one turn and ran.

Bodies dropped whether that be from the sky or from their charge. They drew closer. I used my crystals from broken limbs as daggers. Stabbing at those that seem to try to stab me. Either by moving the blade or dodging they missed but some got through. They stabbed me all over. My face and body were riddled with bayonet wounds. My healing could keep up. I was standing on top of a mountain of griffons and they still kept coming.

Summoning a wave of wind I blew some away but more kept coming.

You are nothing! No worse than nothing! You will die like the bastards you are!

They wouldn't stop coming. Even with the pegasi now sweeping low and taking some of them out, there were too many.

Gathering up the remnants of my magic, I held it ready for my last resort. My blade blocked dozens of stab attempts but another got through. I closed my eyes. My horn lit up for the final time.

A wave of blackened magic burst out. Sending all those that surrounded me flying. I was breathing hard. I open my eyes to see a cleared field. There was no creature left standing. Taking a step forward to finish what I started, I collapsed. I left unable to move an inch. My chest burned and my horn was on fire.

I could only look around with my eyes as I watched my sky bound brothers drop off earth ponies and unicorns onto the field. Their golden armor announced them as the royal guard, the Solar monarchs personal elite units. The unicorns immediately set upon casting magic together as their brethren defended them from the remainder of the griffon army.

With a swoosh a portal started to appear. Its red sparks that lined the outside of the portal looked like fireworks as it went round and round. I could see one earth pony bring a halberd down upon a griffon's skull. The griffons looked desperate to stop the unicorns. Shots rang out, banging against metal and flesh.

One griffon attempted to stab at one of the unicorns. He didn’t get far as a blade shot out from the portal, a twin blade blade made of pure plasma. A unique blade to only one Unicorn. As he stepped out of the portal he grabbed his blade.

His golden coat and deep royal purple mane flowing in the wind. His golden armor with enchanted rivers of lava flowing through the armor. He could only be one stallion, the general. General Sword Strike.

“Move your damn hooves! We don’t have all day. Retake this city! For Crown and Country!” He commanded. He charged forward with a line of troops filing out of the portal behind him, whether royal guard or army.

The blade no longer responded to my attempt to get up. It was no longer connected. I could feel it laughing at me. My misery was just a funny joke to them. It gave up on me. Damn it. Coughing up blood I could only watch.

Stepping out from the portal was one I’d never thought would come here. Her ivory coat and rainbow mane shining in her brilliant sun. Her body is covered in elegant golden armor. A golden halberd by her side with a lever action slung across her back. Her golden crown still laid atop her head, a symbol of the monarchy against the tyranny of the republic.

She strode forward with her personal body guards by her side. I raise my hoof to get her attention, I need to see her.

“Celestia,” I croaked. My voice was rough and quiet. I doubt she could hear me but I need to see her, “Celestia.”

She stopped, unsure where the voice was coming from. I raise my hoof a little higher. Spotting my attempt she rushed over. A look of concern crossed her face, then realization and then finally fear. She knew what I did. She didn’t look away. She held her magenta eyes to mine, locked for eternity.

“You came back,” I croaked out. I tried to touch her, to believe she was actually here. She understood what I was trying to do and held my hoof in hers. She held tightly and never let go.

“Yes I did. I came back,” She told me her voice croaked out. Tears crossed my eyes. I couldn’t believe it.I could sense her regret for leaving, her anger for bastards that made her and her compassion for those who fell. That wasn’t all I felt, I felt her love for her country. Her love for her fellow ponies. I only grinned at that, if she only knew what I was.

The unyielding hunger I felt all my left fled, so did all the pain. All that I could see was the enchanted eyes that stared down at me. Maybe she wasn’t so bad. Solar monarch I don’t hate y…

We sat in silence against the roaring engines of war. She never left my side as I bled all over her as she held me in her hooves.