Return of The Six

"Princess... we would like to speak to you."

"Of course, my little pony, what's on your mind?"

"I think it's best if I just got straight to the point. My brothers and I... we are warriors." Celestia's brows quirked up. What had this stallion to say? That much was obvious...

"We are not suited for this time of peace. The war is over, and along with Discord, his abominations are also gone. We have no place here. Our presence is wasted."

"I understand that, but what would you have me do?"

The stallion grimaced for a second, as if he didn't want to say what he was going to. "We want you to turn us to stone."

Princess Celestia's eyes widened in surprise. "What? Absolutely not. I will not do that to my champions. I cannot!"

The stallion's expression caused her to pause for a moment. "Princess, just hear me out. Please."

Celestia stopped for a moment, thinking. "This reason had better be good, I am not just going to start turning ponies to stone if they ask to be..."

"What I want to say, and I am speaking for all of us when I do, is that it's the best option. Discord will eventually break free from his prison. It is guaranteed, as not even the Elements can keep him there forever. We want to be able to fight him, so other ponies need not. And also, war is inevitable. Someday, evil will rise again, and we want to be there to combat it. We understand that what we are asking for may not even be possible, but if it is...

Celestia looked at the stallion weirdly for a moment, contemplating. He was right, there was no denying, but how would they fare in stone, if she even could do that to them?

"Alright. You are correct, I will do this. Your logic is correct, and although there may be war later, what's to say there won't be other champions?"

"We know. We are steadfast in our choice."

"Then, Arhim, it's best to do this while the Elements are under our control."

"Princess... thank you. This means much to myself and my brothers. It is the only thing we know, and you are really doing us a favor. I will go inform my brothers."

The stallion turned around, heading for the entrance to the throne room. He strode with purpose, like he was the figurehead of the Equestrian army passing his troops. However, the stride also showed a veteran of many battles and observer of horrible acts of cruelty. His mind had hardened against it, and it was evident in his gait.

"Wait. One moment." The stallion turned around to look at the Solar Regent.

"I have one condition. Tell your brothers to wear their armor. You may need it...."

"Yes Princess, I understand."

---

Celestia entered the throne room of her recently occupied castle. The capital had been moved to Canterlot, on the side of a mountain, to be easily defended against attack. The ponies had all been moved from cities like Prance or Roam to the cities of Everfree and Canterlot, the fortified or hard to reach cities. Everfree was completely self-sufficient, with enough food stores to last for years. Canterlot was similar, but relied on other cities for food. However, it still had stores of food to last.

She looked around her new throne. It was simple marble, barely polished, and not decorated at all. All gems had been requisitioned for the war. Who was the Princess to not set an example for her ponies? Even her crown was just a gold circlet. Her gaze wandered behind the marble throne, to six stone statues. On the outside, two unicorn stood. One was dressed in robes, the other in leather. The first stood on three legs, with one hoof resting on a quarterstaff embedded into the ground. The other also stood on three legs, with the fourth resting on some sort of crossbow. It had a string at the far back attached to a single limb and a piece of metal, with a sort of rack filled with bolts connected to the main body, where it was secured and seemed to load into a chamber, which appeared to be where the bolts came out.

Next to the two, towards the center but not nearly there, stood two pegasi. One held a sort of spiraling spear behind him, point backwards over his left shoulder, with his left hoof. His armor covered his chest and legs, with boots over his hind hoofs, and bare front hooves. The other had a chain resting over his neck, with one side ending in a spiked metal ball and the other in a sort of handle. His armor covered his left front leg and hoof, and the back half of his body, leaving his chest and right front leg exposed. He wore boots on his back two legs, like the other, but very little actual protective armor.

In the center, two earth ponies stood side-by-side. The one on the left seemed to carry no weapons, but upon further inspection, his hooves were each covered in a heavy, spiked metal boot. He wore a full set of plate armor, leaving just the bottom of all four limbs exposed. The other was similarly armored, but with normal metal boots in place of the heavy ones. his weaponry, however, seemed to be an enormous great-axe. The blade, hanging over his shoulder, was the size of his chest, and the handle extended into his upraised hoof.

Celestia stopped walking and sighed as memories of an age long since passed came rushing back to her. It was just like then. Evil and chaos were about to overrun the ponies of good, and the monstrosities of the Nightmare were nearly unstoppable. Champions had arisen, yes, but none could match the Six Brothers. She looked up again, at her long-past champions, the champions of light. Maybe it WAS time... maybe Arhim was right? What if Discord broke out of his prison later, what then? It wouldn't matter if the ponies were dead here...

Celestia made up her mind. It was literally now or never, there was nothing she could do by herself to stop the horde; she needed help. Apparently, Fate had decided that now was the time for the return of the Six.