And They Shall Know No Fear

Surrounded by permafrost, the Crystal Empire has always been an island of hope for the lost. An island of peace and security in the middle of the dead cold. Once captured by the evil king Sombra, and now led by the descendant of the first Princess Amore, the kingdom of crystal ponies radiated joy and prosperity, led by the princess of love. Securely guarded and seemingly impregnable, it was chosen as a testing ground for a new type of weapon for the three legions. The convenient landscape and, in some cases, inaccessibility, coupled with the harsh environmental conditions, made this place an ideal repository of Equestria's secrets and secrets.

Covered by Shining Armor's magical dome, it was no longer accessible to visitors from other kingdoms. Document verification and magical scanning prevented any attempts at espionage by the Changelings. The belligerent Yaks were also cut off from looking towards the Empire, and a huge ice wall erected along the entire border also made any attempts at intelligence and data collection impossible. The inhabitants of the Empire themselves did not attach much importance to all these events, completely trusting their princess and her offspring, whom they reverently called Angels.

Sitting in a comfortable armchair next to her husband, as well as Celestia and Luna, who had arrived from Equestria, Cadance, along with the others, watched the testing of the weapons created by her beloved aunt. Celestia called this miracle a Bolter and firmly assured everyone involved of its effectiveness. It was a heavy barrel weapon that fired no less impressive bolts. Even an ordinary unicorn pony wouldn't be able to control its recoil with its magic, the weapon would just fly off to the side. But not in the muscular arms of the legionnaires. The legionnaires from the three fraternal legions, who were lined up three meters apart, took a fighting stance and waited for the command. And as soon as the whistle sounded, the roar of bolter fire immediately rang out. The rockets flying out of the barrel, having exhausted their fuel charge, continued to fly straight towards the target, after interacting with which they exploded with a bang, leaving monstrous holes in place of the iron targets.

Celestia, who was looking through binoculars, couldn't hide the joy on her face. The knowledge that the Emperor of Mankind had given her hadn't let her down. From now on, their children have the tools to give them a huge advantage on the battlefield, destructive and powerful. Now the legionnaires will not have to rush at the enemy in hand-to-hand combat, getting wounded or dying from huge monsters. With bolters in service, monsters will only be left with torn pieces of flesh and bones.

"Aunt Celestia! It's just incredible!" Cadance shouted, a little deafened. "Weapon that you have created is simply amazing!"

"With these weapons, our children will crush anyone who dares to attack us!" Princess Luna supported her niece's joy.

But Celestia just remained silent. The roaring sounds of gunfire and exploding metal were music to her ears. The Alicorn simply couldn't get enough of the weapons created by her hooves. Those terrible memories of the deaths of their sons and daughters at the clutches of Grogar's nightmares still surfaced in her memory. So many legionnaires died in senseless close combat. The magical spears and swords that the princesses had placed great hopes on proved to be almost useless against such a terrible enemy. Now everything will be different!

"I agree, Sister!" she answered a little later. "Nothing's going to stop us now! There is no escape from this weapon! No amount of shields in this world can hold back this unbridled might! Even dragons with their tough scales won't be a hindrance to us!"

"Mom!" suddenly, a voice was heard from above, which made Celestia smile.

Solar... The first among equals! The first of the Firstborn. A beloved son and the pride of Celestia. The hero of Canterlot, who survived a monstrous battle with the titan-like golem of a warlock. In that battle, the stallion lost his right arm along with his left eye. And despite this, as well as bones broken in several places, he continued the battle by beating the head of the last creature with his hooves. As a beloved mother, Celestia, blessed with the knowledge of the Emperor, created a mechanical prosthesis for her son, paired with a bionic red eye. With his whole appearance, the alicorn inspired fear and awe, ordinary ponies fell to their knees at the very sight of him, which he, in his characteristic manner, did not pay attention to. The proud warrior's armor was also damaged in places, but these damages were more decorative, because Celestia's son wanted to keep at least something from that brutal massacre as a souvenir.

Just like his two brothers, who were flying down next to him. Sunny and Light were also from the First Hundred and, like their older brother, retained their battle scars adorning their armor and faces. In that ill-fated battle, Sunny lost his right hoof, as well as both hands, and only thanks to the sisters' selfless attack was he able to stay alive. Light would have almost lost its head if it hadn't been for the Solar that arrived in time.

After landing next to the royal family, the trio knelt down, mostly in front of their mother, whose single hoof gesture ordered them to stand up immediately.

"Oh, my beloved children!" smile never left Celestia's face. "I take it you have something to report to me?"

Getting up from his knees and hitting his chest with his metal hand, Solar began his report: "Mom! Intelligence reports that mobilization has been announced in the Changeling Kingdom! Everyone is put under the gun, even small larvae that have just hatched from eggs! The hippogriffs are also strengthening their naval and air fleets! The griffins are also preparing for war! These greedy feathered bastards started looking for any metal that could be melted down into armor and weapons!"

"Oh, what a shame..." mother said theatrically, which caused a note of irritation to be heard in her voice. "Well, if they don't want to live peacefully with us, then we'll have to bring them to an agreement by force!"

Solar, as well as his two brothers standing behind him, only responded with stony expressions.

"We'll bring them to their knees, Mom!" stallion announced solemnly. "For you and our whole family!"

"I don't doubt it, dear..." Celestia got up from her chair and went over to her son and hugged him with her love. "And now that you have this weapon, no one and nothing will stand in your way!"

In mother's loving words, there were clearly hints of a maniacal desire to start a war against the whole world. Everyone present, even Sister Luna, noticed this, which made the three of them feel uneasy. After the War of the Creatures, Celestia became even more secretive and suspicious. Her desire to protect her children and unleash the biggest war in Equus' history at the same time only strengthened her faith in the correctness of the chosen path. All that remained was to take one last step and the world would roar with horror and pain as the Three legions marched victoriously across the planet! Oh yes, it will be Equestria's greatest triumph!

"By the way, son, why don't you try out your new toys?" Celestia said lovingly, wanting to defuse the disturbing atmosphere in the air.

Without waiting for a separate order from his mother, a young legionnaire named Sparkling, who was standing next to Solar, loads a new magazine and hands the weapon to his older brother with a smile on his face. Solar responded emotionlessly and, nodding briefly in approval, picked up his bolter, after taking a fighting stance, firing three shots, which hit exactly the target to the delight of Celestia.

"Now tell me, son, how do you like guns?" Celestia expected an honest answer.

"I have no complaints about the weapon you created, Mom!" faithful son answered honestly and impartially. "It's comfortable in hands and shoots well! As always, you have created perfection!"

"Son," - mare took a step forward, "only perfection I've created is you! Bolters are just tools! And without a master using them, they are useless! I can create a hundred of them in a day, it's not a problem for me to make them! It's different with you! I have raised and protected each of you, although at first not with love in my heart, over time I became imbued with maternal love for you! And the only thing I care about is you! That is why, together with Cadence and Luna, we feel the deepest pain when at least one of you dies! I know you hide your feelings for me and your siblings under a mask of detachment, and it's my fault, I created you, the First Hundred, just like that! Detached death machines, going berserk in the heat of battle! And I want you to at least try to show your emotions, like all of you! That's why I'm not ordering you, but I'm asking you to smile for me..."

Solar didn't even know what to say. It was as if time had stopped for him. A seemingly simple request was the ultimate challenge for the First among Equals. The stallion did not particularly like to show emotions, especially in the presence of outsiders, because he considered himself nothing more than a weapon created by Celestia. And not only was he like that, the entire first hundred followed the image of silent and deadly warriors, because their mother created them like that. But now the pony that created them, their mother, their Goddess, wants him, the Captain General, to take the first step towards resisting his nature.

The alicorn's heart began to beat in a frenzied rhythm, he tried with all his might to restrain his trembling, the muscles on his face began to move slowly until a slightly silly but sincere smile of a loving son appeared on his face. Giving her son a smile in return, Celestia couldn't hold back her tears.

"It was difficult..." smile slowly began to fade from Solar's face.

"Don't worry, honey, you'll get used to it soon, just like all of you..." Celestia did not want to let go of her son.

Suddenly, a parchment with the seal of Princess Twilight herself materialized in front of her face in a green haze, slightly alerting those present. The text was short, bordering on a request and an order.

"Sister," Luna stood up from her seat, "Has something happened?"

"Yes, Sister, Twilight wants to see us, all three of us!"

"Is something wrong, Aunt?" Cadance asked.

"I can't say for sure, Cadance... She wrote to tell the three of us to come to her throne room immediately!" Celestia paused, thinking about what was happening. "Okay! We will consider the tests successful! Shining Armor - you and the guards hide the weapons in the castle!"

"Yes, Celestia!" prince nodded, ordering the guards to carry the boxes.

"Luna, Cadence, Solar- you're with me! Sunny and Light - help Shining Armor!"

"Yes, Mom," legionnaires replied, hitting their chests with their fists.

***

Twilight sat on her throne with determination in her heart and hope in her soul. Spike, the dragon sitting next to her, couldn't help but notice the note of excitement that slipped across the princess' face. There was tension in the very surroundings of the throne room before the upcoming conversation. Even the ten legionnaires of Legiones Solaris assigned to guard the peace of their older "sister" felt it.

"Don't worry, Twilight," Spike hugged his friend, "I'm sure that even if Celestia is against it, she will still accept your choice!"

The mare exhaled. "And if it doesn't? What if she decides to do things her own way again and says her emphatic no?"

"Come on, Twilight! Are you really going to give up the crown?"

"Of course not, Spike! "she answered firmly. "Not now, when Equestria is in even greater danger! And yet, I can't do this anymore! I can't sit in the castle signing some papers while their children shed their blood for me! What would ordinary ponies think of me? What kind of princess will I be in their eyes? The one who hides behind her "brothers and sisters"?"

"Well... Come to think of it, that's probably what Celestia was counting on... I mean, you'll be protected by her children, and you'll be safe!"

Princess was silent for a moment, looking around at the legionnaires nearby. One could clearly see how their eyes turned towards Twilight, who was sitting on the throne, for a second. Their scarred faces were stern, but not devoid of anxiety. Each of them lost something in the battles with the hideous monsters of Grogar. Those who lost an arm or a hoof received mechanical prosthetics from Celestia, someone was missing half of their face, and they covered it with a sealed helmet. It was not a symbol of shame or defeat for them. They weren't afraid to scare ordinary ponies with their terrible wounds, but for the sake of their "sister's" peace of mind, they decided to cover them up.

On the right, brothers and sisters without helmets stood at attention, while on the left, those who wore them.

"Maybe you're right, Spike," Sparkle continued, "but I can't do this anymore! I can't do nothing while others are suffering! I've made my decision! And Celestia will have to accept it! Even if she's against it!

Finally, the weary wait was coming to an end, as hoofbeats began to be clearly heard in the corridor leading to the throne room. They grew louder and louder until finally the doors of the hall opened and four alicorns entered.

A small smile of joy appeared on Twilight's face as she came down to the guests. As usual, Solar chose to stay away, not seeing the need for hugs. Just like the Spike left behind.

"Thank you for coming," Twilight hugged the three alicorns, "How did it go?"

"Wonderful, Twilight!" Celestia replied calmly. "The weapon has passed all the tests and proved its usefulness! Soon I will put its production on a mass stream!"

"I am very glad to hear that!" Sparkle smiled in response. "I will appoint responsible persons to help you today! And yes, I called you for a very serious conversation!"

Twilight returned to her throne. "Is something wrong, Twilight?" Cadance asked first.

Taking a deep breath, the young princess exhales, gathering her thoughts and trying to find every word. "I decided to create my own legion!"

The princess's words echoed in the air. It shocked all three of them, and especially Celestia. Even Solar's face showed a little surprise. He, like everyone else, could believe that she would take such a step.

"You... have already created the first hundred, haven't you?" Twilight only nodded dumbly at Celestia's question. "Why?"

"Celestia, please try to understand me! I can't do this anymore! I can't sit in a corner while you and your children suffer!"

"You can't even imagine the agony you're going to experience, Twilight..." tears flowed down the cheeks of the white mare. "Death of each of them will cause you incredible pain! I tried my best to protect you from such a fate!" she paused. "And yet I couldn't..."

"And I'm ready to accept it!" Twilight's words were all about determination. "I'm sorry for hiding it, but there's no other way! You wouldn't have let me do that with all your might! Right?"

"Right..." Her mentor's voice was trembling. "Have it your way, my student... I won't bother you, what's the point now? And since the first batch is already ready, would you mind showing us one of them?"

The lavender alicorn just silently closed her eyes, the horn on her head flashed with a bright aura, as immediately in a flash of teleportation, a muscular anthropomorphic stallion in sea-green armor appeared in front of the audience, very similar to the Pharaohs, from the Homeland of Pegasus Somnambula. He held two crescent-shaped swords in his hands, a sealed helmet covered his face, and huge maternal wings were folded behind him. Unexpectedly for the audience, he fell to one knee as a sign of respect, humbly lowering his head.

"Very unusual..." Luna studied the warrior.

"I see you've been inspired by the culture of the Somnambula people, haven't you?" Celestia looked at him with no less interest.

"I wanted to create something special!" Twilight turned to her son. "Each of your Legions embodies something of you, and I wanted to do the same! They embody magic!"

"And what's his name," Cadance asks with interest.

"I named him Ramesses! " there was love and affection for his creation in the alicorn's voice.

"In that case, I suggest we have a test match!" Celestia's words shocked the princesses. "My Solar is against your son! Right here and now! And no deaths!" she obviously addressed the last words to her son.

"I agree!" Twilight answers almost immediately, interrupting Spike who wanted to say a word with a hoof gesture. "Legionnaires! Line up at my throne!"

Without any words, the sons and daughters of Celestia follow the order lined up at the throne of the princess. The others climb higher to witness the duel. Solar, who had been standing at attention, flexed his broad shoulders, similar to his cousin, who was gripping his blades tightly. A tense silence hung in the hall, broken by Twilight's son's swift attack.

The Captain-General, who was clutching his golden spear tightly, quickly dodged the blow, then again and again, to then hit the stallion in the face with his shield, fortunately he was wearing a helmet. The alicorn, which flew up to three meters, did not lose its head and, using teleportation magic, began to appear and disappear instantly, striking weakly protected areas of the armor.

Blood splattered on the floor as he hit the joint of the armor in the area of the right hoof, but even this was not a hindrance for the Head of the Legion. After suffering another series of blows, he waited for the moment and grabbed the insolent man's outstretched arm and threw him away from himself towards the throne, but he did not fall.

"You're not a bad fighter, kid!" Solar forced a smile. "But that's not enough to defeat me!"

And again the attack, this time head-on, and again another mistake. Another blow to the muzzle with a shield and the young warrior makes a greasy step back, landing to the surprise of those present on his hooves, and not on his back. Solar's eyes began to light up with pleasure. For no reason, he throws his spear and shield to the floor, flexing his fists.

"Stop pretending, brother!" his voice was like a thousand fanfares. "Show me everything you can do! Don't hold back!"

"Have it your way," he says with a smile from ear to ear, throwing away his weapon.

Using their huge wings, the two warriors rushed towards each other with great speed. Hit. And now they're both flying off to different sides of the hall. Twilight and Celestia, who were watching this, were seriously scared. The white alicorn was already beginning to regret her pride and desire to test them, as was her student's decision to allow it.

The smile on the First Son's face grew even wider as he tasted the blood flowing from his nose. The princess's son, who took off his helmet, had similar feelings. Standing on his hooves, he kept his eyes on his opponent, clearly wanting to continue, but their mothers had other plans.

"Enough!" both alicorns speak loudly, causing the stained glass windows, already trembling from the battle of the angels, to crack. The audience has their ears blocked, and the sons of the princesses dutifully slap their chests as a sign of humility.

"Well, Twilight, I've seen enough!" Celestia sighs with relief. "I take it they'll be your guards now?"

"Actually," Twilight calmed down a little, "I'm thinking of dividing this responsibility between our children! And yes, I was so scared for you!" teleporting to her son, she hugs him tightly, receiving hugs along with a loving smile in return.

"Mom, please, I'm okay!" warrior replied with a blush on his face.

"Don't lie to me! Your nose is broken!" having teleported the napkins, Sparkle begins to treat the wound to the general emotion of those present.

"True mother," Celestia says grandly, "You see, Solar, it's not so hard to smile!"

"Yes, Mother!" he come up to brother and shake hands. "You're doing great, cousin! Thanks for the fight!"

"And thank you too, big brother!" Ramesses continues to smile. "Still, you might as well not give in!"

"In that case, it would have been a one-way fight, and besides, what kind of brother i was be then just beating you up? We have inherited a lot from our mother, and the most important thing is mentoring! As the most senior legion, we are obligated to guide and train you so that you can become the best warriors in this world!"

"And we will!" Ramesses declares emphatically.

"I have no doubt, brother!"