The Piebald diaries

by ScarecrowJack

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Main 6, Romance, Princess Luna, Rarity, Other, Scootaloo, Adventure
Length: 34046

An Epic tale of love, betrayal and adventure

When Luna escapes an attack from her sister, it is up to her to bring Celestia to justice. But not all is as it appears as she gatehrs the mane six and a young colt names Noble Spirit to save Equestria.

Published 2012-11-06 07:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2012-11-16 17:09:26 UTC

Chapter 1

The lives we live or sometimes so short. I have to admit that, in the time we fought in the war, so many things happened to change how we live. From the day I met my wife that Night Mare Night all those years ago, to the day I helped to end the war. I had no idea events would transpire as they had after Princess Luna arrived wounded in Ponyville. I guess I should probably be more specific, so I'll start from the beginning of my journal. This is the diary of the earthpony, Noble Spirit, and these are the piebald dairies.

It is my birthday today! I turned nine years old! And all I got was a dumb diary. My dad told me that us colts call it a journal, but it's still a diary. I probably won't write in it that much, but Mom and Dad told me that I should at least try once in a while. They say it will make me feel better when something bad happens. I'm not sure I believe that, but I'll still try to write in it at least once in a while. Everypony thinks I'm so small, but I'm gonna show them! I'm gonna go to Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow help Big Macintosh in the orchard. I'm gonna grow up to be big and strong just like him!

I broke my leg today while helping Big Mac in the orchard. I'd been helping him for the past few months. I've already grown three inches since then. I was in a tree picking apples when a limb snapped and I fell. He rushed me to the hospital as fast as he could, which was really fast. I told my parents that it was all my fault, but Big Mac tried to take the blame instead. We went back and forth on that for a few minutes, even though he almost only said "eeyup" and "nnope". Mom and dad said that they didn't care who's fault that it was ad that I wasn't allowed back on their farm. I begged them to change their mind, and they did. I don't know why, but they did. So I'm writing here. Big Mac has been coming to visit me almost everyday since I broke my leg. I still hope it heals soon though.

It's harvest time at Sweet Apple Acres, so I'm gonna be going there a lot more. Applejack says she appreciates the extra help, and she's even gonna pay me! I couldn't really help last harvest because my leg was broken, but nothings gonna stop me this year! Night Mare Night is in a few weeks. I hope Princess Luna shows up like she has the past few years. It's always so much fun when she shows up and scares everyone. After we finish harvesting the apples, we're going to use some of them for cider. Big Mac even said that if we make as much as we did that one season the Flim-Flam brothers showed up, we might even have a cider festival! Or at least sell a whole bunch at the Night Mare Night Macabre celebration. I can't wait!

I can't believe how much money I had saved up from harvest time! I must have made at least 200 bits! My mom says hat I should put it all away for a "rainy day", but I wanna spend it sooo bad! I guess I could always go to the arcade during the winter, but I made so much money I'm not sure what else I could do with it. Big Mac said that I could go home early today. He told me that he had something important going on this evening and that he was meeting somepony. But I didn't listen, so I stayed behind and watched for the first few minutes. The somepony turned out to be one of Applejacks friends, Fluttershy. I didn't know that she had anything to do with growing apples, so I left. On the way back home, I ran into Apple Bloom, Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo. It looked like they were headed to where I was just leaving. When I asked they were doing out here, they asked me the same thing. I told them that Big Mac was talking to Fluttershy about apples, and then they got all excited. I don't really know why. Girls are weird.

It's finally here! Night Mare Night is finally here! This is going to be so awesome! I've spent hardly any of the money from working in the orchard and now? Now I'm going to have the time of my life! First? First I'm going to do the rock climbing and then I'm going to do all the racing events! I can't wait to see Princess Luna. She always makes Night Mare Night so much fun!

Night Mare Night was amazing! I won almost every contest, including all of the "young runners" competitions! I even got my cutie mark! It was a dust cloud, because that's all I left behind for the racers, in the dust! I even saw Princess Luna. She turned all of our candy into small monsters and made all of us think it would it us. It was funny. I saw Big Mac and Fluttershy watching the full moon. I'm starting to get the feeling that he's interested in more than what she knows about to apples. I also saw the cutie mark crusaders watching them. I wonder why they're so interested in them. Then I saw Scootaloo start to look at me. She did it for a few seconds. Not really sure what that means.

It's spring time in Ponyville, and that means that soon I'll have to get back to working in the orchards. Nothing really important happened since I last wrote except for one or two things. Big Mac finally told me what exactly was going on between him and Fluttershy. It's weird how quiet he is except around me. I thought it was weird, but he told me that when I'm older, I'll get it. There was one other thing: On hearts and hooves day, Scootaloo took me behind the school house and kissed me. I was really surprised and didn't know what to say. I didn't really have time though, because then she took off again on her scooter. Girls are still weird.

I finally found you, journal! I lost you over three years ago and now I've found you again! Wow, there is so much to write. I swore that I wouldn't write in another journal until after I found you again, and I've finally found you! First things first, though. Just over a year after I last wrote, Big Mac proposed to Fluttershy. He asked for Rarities help on what to do. She designed the dress and the ring and then he proposed to her while they were having a picnic while the orchards were in full blossom. I'm a colt and even I thought that was romantic. I was Big Macs best man, since I was the closest thing he had to a brother. Rainbow Dash was Fluttershys maid-of-honor. She had been offered a spot with the wonder bolts, but then decided against it, realizing that she would have to leave her friends behind, so she started a flight school for small young pegasi. Scootaloo was her first student, since she never had been able to fly very long distances. She became her most devoted student and graduated with honors. And how do I know this? Because me and Scootaloo started dating soon after Big Macs wedding. She got her cutie mark only a little while after I lost you. It was a scooter, go figure. She might have had issues flying early on, but one thing was for sure: she could practically soar on her scooter. Twilight Sparkle became an aunt from what I heard. I saw what they looked like when we all went to Fluttershys birthday. They were beautiful. They were twins, one boy and one girl, one white alicorn and one pink. Pinkie Pie told us about when she used to babysit the cakes twins. One unicorn and one pegasus seemed like enough fun, but both at the same time and in the same package? No thanks! I don't get to see Big Mac nearly as often as I used, and that makes me kinda sad, but at least I have Scootaloo to keep me company. Someponies think it's weird because she's a couple years older than me, but I don't let what other ponies say bug me. I never have, even when they made fun of me for being little. Fluttershy is pregnant, by the way, and Big Mac has gotten really, REALLY protective of her. I guess this means that I'm gonna see less and less of him AND I'll have to put more hours in on the farm. I have gotten to be pretty strong, though, thanks to Big Mac.

Today is my 15th birthday! And it was so much fun, too! All of my friends were there. Scootaloo, Rain Flash, Sweetie Bell, Apple Bloom and Spike, among others. Big Mac couldn't be there, 'cuz of Fluttershy being super-pregnant. He lives in her house now. I only get to see him at work now, and even then he hardly ever shows up. I miss him a lot, too. The running of the leaves is in a week or so, and Applejack said she would help train me for it so I can win, so I won't be able to write in you for a little bit, between work and practice. I also hear that Rainbow Dash will be training Scootaloo for it. I guess the rivalry between Applejack and Rainbow Dash still stands.

I did it! I won the running of the leaves! It was super hard trying to get past Scootaloo, but I did it. Scootaloo wasn't happy in the least, being the super competitive pony that she is. I'm super tired though, so I'm gonna end this entry kind soon. I'm still looking forward to Night Mare Night, but I think I'm gonna spend less money than I did the past few years. I also hear rumors that Twilight Sparkle hs been eyeing another pony. Not sure what his name is, but he has an hour-glass cutie mark on his flank along and his hair is kinda... messy. I think he's doctor or something. He seems smart, though, if not a little bit crazy.

Today, something terrible happened. I guess I should start with the very beginning. Princess Luna arrived in Ponyville a few days before the Night Mare Night. She was brought here by her scary bat-wing guards, but I learned a long time ago that there not really bad ponies. She looked really hurt, so Twilight took her in to help heal her. She hadn't aged a day in all the years that she had been coming here to Ponyville. I tried to ask what was going on with the princess, but I was stopped by her guards. They let Miss Zecura in, so this had to have been pretty bad. Scootaloo wondered why I was so concerned and I answered because she is a princess of equestria. I have a feeling that something real bad is going to happen real soon.

Get to da tunnle

Celestias guards came to town asking if we've seen her sister. My gut told me to tell them no, but I had a feeling the word of a teenage colt wouldn't be enough for them, so I ran for Twilights house tree. They had Lunas chariot hidden away in the Everfree forest, so they probalby wouldn't find it, but still. When I told Twilight, Lunas guards pleaded with her not to tell, and that she would know everything once Princess Luna had awoken. She had been asleep for three days now, but her wounds had been healing, the guards told me. They thanked me for my help and asked me to tell them anything else that would help. I swore that I would do what I could. After I left, Scootaloo confronted me again about why I was there. She doesn't believe me when I tell her that I'm just making sure the princess has everything she needs to recover. She demanded to know why or else she would break up with me. I didn't, I COULDN'T tell her, so she broke up with me. It hurt, but I had to do it. The princess matters more than any relationship I have going on right now. I'm sure I'll feel more pain later, but right now? Right now I have my duty for my princess.

Winter has begun in Ponyville, and with it came Princess Lunas awakening. She told us about how she found out what her sister had been doing for the past 1000 years. A few hundred years after she had banished Luna to the moon for trying to usurp the thrown, Celestia had begun to ensure that would never happen again. She instigated a war between the griffons and dragons, ensuring that the griffins would never become a threat and sent somepony to kill anypony who got used to the truth. Each one of the Twilights best friends was there, and they were all as shocked as I was, especially Twilight, who had been the personal student to the princess. She began to cry and would have continued if Fluttershy hadn't gone into labor at that very second. It was... messy. I was told to find any old sheets that I saw lying around. Big Mac was right next to her the whole time, helping her get through it. Twilight used all of her knowledge on the topic and Rainbow Dash fainted... twice. By the end of it, Princess Luna decided to give up Twilights bed. I admit that I saw somethings that I really wish I hadn't, but their child was beautiful. It was a small mare, apple red with Fluttershys pink hair. She was a pegasus. When I asked what they were going to name her, they both looked at each other and then their new mare and said simultaneously "Apple Blossom". They both smiled as they felt what I think was a surge of pride and happiness. With all the worries we've had, the new life brought in a tree seemed like the last great victory in a coming storm.

I don't have long! Celestias guards have found us! Spike is outside holding them off, but we are unsure of how long he can do it. The guards demanded entrance after they heard Luna yell in her sleep. Spike slipped out to explain the situation, but they didn't believe him. He may be twice as big as he used to be, but that won't mean much against the might of Celestias army. So unless he can find something to hoard fast, we're sunk. We are currently walking in a tunnel beneath Twilights home. It had been only a few days since Lunas recovery, and I was happy to see her back on her hooves once again. Twilight, Big Mac and all the others are with us. I'm only with them because I happened to be visiting the princess at the time. I hear banging on the door and yelling to bust it down. I also see what looks like tears on Raritys face. Twilight says that we're not moving fast enough, and Big Mac agrees apparently, so he handed his sister Apple Blossom and placed Fluttershy on his back. We all started running for what seems like miles. I think it was, because by the time we were outside, Ponyville was so small. The only reason I was able to tell where we were was because I saw a huge purple dragon being attacked by a swarm of dots of what I assumed was Celestias pegasus squadrons. I didn't think he had hoarded anything, but I just occured to me: Rarity. I might get more philosophical than I'd like, but he grew because the more he thought about what he wanted to do most, the more he got it, and the more he got it, the more he wanted it. And what he wanted to do most of all at this very second was to protect Rarity. I don't consider myself a sensitive colt, but I shed a tear when it dawned on me. I looked over to Twilight and Rarity and found out that they were weeping. We were all crying at least a little bit. Even Big Macintosh and Princess Luna. Things changed today, and I don't think they will ever return to the way they were.

It's been over a year since we fled from Ponyville. I turned 17 as we traveled. We've been doing our best to rally support, but it's been slow going with out us showing the Princess to tell her story. But that's about to change. There was a unicorn named FancyPants that gave us a chance. He met us in an ally, saying that if we can get enough ponies to believe our story, he'll back us. I don't know who he is, but Rarity trusts him, and if she trusts him then so do I. He gave us an abandoned warhouse to tell our story and started to use underground channels to spread the word. I'm not sure what kind of ponies he attracted to show up to our "sermon" for like of a better term, but if we can get enough ponies to believe us, it will go a long way to bringing Celestia to justice. I'm the one they use as a scout for guards, since Princess Celestia doesn't really know who I am in the least. That will also help. I find myself wondering what Scootaloo is doing and how she's doing. I know we'll ever get back together, but, strangely, I'm alright with that. Besides, even if we did find each other, I might only get her caught in the cross fire. Rainbow Dash decided to be the one to teach Apple Blossom how to fly, but it's been slow going. Maybe she's shy like her mother, or maybe she's just too young. I dunno. Hopefully, by the end of the night, we'll have more support. FancyPants said he wouldn't protect us if all we did was get caught. I don't blame him. He's got a lot riding on this.

The seminar was more successful than we could have hoped, but not for the reasons we all thought. The princess told her story to almost a thousand ponies. About what Celestia had done and had tried to do to her. They didn't believe us. At least, not until the guards came. They came in the traditional golden armor and demanded our arrest. I was kept behind the scenes so they wouldn't find me. I understand why, but I'm getting tired of running. At an rate. After they demanded our surrender, the crowd turned on them. I'm pretty sure they would killed them had Princess Luna not stopped them. I guess she wants to end his with as little bloodshed as possible. I don't blame her. After we tied the soldiers up, Luna told all of the ponies who had sided with us to try to rally support, but quietly. She finished by saying that she was not interested in a full blown war. I hope that's possible. With all the hay that's going to be flying in the future, I really hope we're able to bring Celestia to justice without a prolonged conflict... I guess the tutoring that Twilight's been giving me has sunk into the way I write. Applejack recommended that we take shelter in Appaloosa. She has family there, she said. Weirdly enough, Rainbow Dash seemed especially receptive to this idea. I wonder why.

We've made it to Appaloosa. I admit that when I got here, we all dog tired. AJ was right, though. They treated us like family there, and the respite was well needed. We do have to work for our keep though. Not a problem for me, seeing as how Big Mac taught me how to work a farm pretty well. I'm almost as big as he is now. We've been here for three days now. Apple Blossom has begun to try to fly for real now. Rainbow Dash won't leave it alone in the least. She's been particularly interesting lately. Not that I'm attracted to her, but she's just been contributing more. For example, the other day she flew over to the Buffalo tribe with Luna to tell them of our "plight" as she put it. Last night at supper, Braeburn, AJs cousin, finally asked us why we, ALL of us, was here. Applejack explained what the situation was and what happened between the royal sisters. Braeburn was shocked speechless. The rest of our dinner was quiet. It wasn't until morning when he told us that we had to leave town before we got anypony hurt. I guess, since he was sheriff now, the safety of his town was his highest priority. I couldn't blame him for wanting to protect his own. Rainbow Dash finally returned with Luna and said that the Buffalo would side with us. A little good news in a sea of doubt, I guess. He laso decided to let Fluttershy stay for the duration of the conflict. She and Big Mac had a fight about that, well as much of a fight that Fluttershy could get into. All Big Mac wanted to do was protect her, and I can relate. I, too have something that I'm here to protect. We hardly had anything to pack, except some books and some food that Braeburn gave us. He was also able to reserve us a private train cart, which was nice. It's where I'm writing from now, waiting for it to depart to a small, kind of obscure train stop. Then I saw something wierd. As everypony entered the train, Rainbow Dash took longer to say goodbye to Braeburn. We were all watching them, even Princess Luna, who had, for some reason or another, decided to sit next to me. Then we were shocked... Braeburn and Rainbow KISSED!!!! We all had no idea what had just happened. After that we all looked at her until AJ finally asked her "What in tarnation was that?" to which Rainbow answered "We've been doing long distance since that family reunion you invite us to a few years ago. Deal with it." She sat down next to Twilight and proceeded to fall asleep. We were all dumbfounded (another Twilight word) as she did it. AJ was just shocked. No other word for it.

I am currently writing out of boredom now. Everypony else is asleep. Big Mac was sitting alone, half-awake half asleep. Twilight is KOed with a book on her face. AJ is mumbling something in her sleep resembling "No, Braeburn, Don't! She ain't the right mare fer ya!" I laughed because I find it amusing. Rarity is also asleep. I think she's having a nightmare because I can hear her whispering Spike. Spike was in love with her, but since he was dragon and not a pony, I kind of wondered how that would work. Would Twilight have been able to figure something out? I vaguely remember her saying something about Star Swirl the bearded dabbling in transmutation. Her book on obscure unicorn history was one of the books she was able to bring with her. Pinkie Pie was snoring. I've slept through worse, though. In fact, I had been asleep only a few minutes ago. I woke up. And then I go to the princess, who is asleep on my shoulder. I think I'm blushing. She's the most beautiful mare I've ever seen. Her eyes were like the full moon reflecting in a pure, untampered pond. Her mane was as though somepony had placed the night sky in it. Her coat reminds me of sapphires of the highest caliber. I wonder if she would have gone evil if she had simply had somepony to love. I notice that she's shivering so I very carefully reach for a blanket above our heads. I tuck her in as well as I can and she smiles slightly and cuddles up more to my shoulder. I think my heart may have just exploded. I'm happy that everypony is asleep because my face is probably the most vibrant shade of red to than has ever existed. I think I should maybe put up my pencil and journal before anypony, and by that I mean Luna, wakes up. I know this moment has to end sooner or later, so I smile content and bask in my good fortune.

We've been on the run for the past month since we left Appeloosa. Fancypants sent us a message via messenger bird saying that he has made contact with the Buffalo and the others followers of Luna. I wouldv'e killed to have seen his face upon meeting the buffulo. Seriously. Before I go on, I want to say what happened when Luna woke up on my shoulder When she woke up, first she looked around and then noticed her on my shoulder. She blushed and her face turned purple (red and blue makes purple, I guess) and sat straight up. Big Mac was the only one who saw us together like that. I couldn’t get a good read on his expression, but he looked like he was trying to keep a bad poker face. As we exited the train, I swore I saw the Princess smiling wryly. Sweet mother of Celestia, I hope it was about earlier. Soon after we left the train, we went to get some lunch at the train station. We were all starving, even Rarity, who tried to act "like a lady" and deny it. Then we all heard her stomach growl and all laughed. Maybe it was because we were all so emotionally strung out from being on the run for over a year, but it was the first real laugh any of us had shared in a long while. It felt good. It really did. As we ate some wild fruits, we discussed our next move and decided on taking a route through the mountains. Rarity adamantly opposed it, but we all saw that coming from a mile away. To avoid suspicion, we've decided to split up into separate groups to help avoid detection. Big Mac is kind of unknown, so unless they were briefed in depth, Celestias guards won't really know what their looking at if they do see him. The teams are Twilight, Rainbow, AJ, and Big Mac and the two guards, and then Me, Luna (YES!!!!!), and Rarity. I hope I'll be able to help Rarity with Spike. He meant more to her than anypony else. Both teams are to take a different route to a town called Foalboken. It's not a big town, and ponies usually say that town is a myth. It isn't, it just isn't well known. At any rate, we're camping in the woods now. I offered to take first watch, so that Luna and Rarity could sleep more. It's what I was just doing. Also, we got lost a couple times. Anyway, As I was watching out, Luna flew into the tree I was watching in. I did my best not to look into her eyes, because if I did, my poker face would surely melt away from gazing upon the stars in her eyes. We spoke for what seemed like only a few minutes, though in truth it was a few hours, about what we'll do after this whole thing is over. I talked about acting as a scout for her army. I can't go back to the farm life, I think. Once I get acclimated to a certain way of living I can't ever go back fully to the way things were. It's one of the reasons I never stopped working with Big Mac. She asked if I had a special somepony to come back home. I told her about Scootaloo and me and what happened. She apologized and said it was her fault. I told her not to worry about it and that I've been currently considering other... prospects. Even though the only source of light was coming from the moon, I would have sworn I saw her blushing. I then changed the topic to something less interesting and there we sat until morning. I am dog-tired right now, so I think I'll go to sleep for the next little while.

I awoke that morning with a start. I sleep like a rock, but if something disturbs me, I wake up surprisingly easy. I saw Rarity scrambling around the camp, making what looked like a black utility suit. It looked like it had a whole lot of compartment meant for something small, but a lot of that something. Then I see her levitate a few large clusters of gem stones of various colors. Then it finally hit me: She was going to war. I startled her as I asked her what she was doing. All she tells me is that she's going to take care of some business in another town. I point out the razor blade jewels and she obviously lies through her teeth when she answers that they're for an ensemble she's making. I ask her why she's going alone and she lies still, stating that the client needs to be met alone. I decide to drop it, but make one last request: that she write an entry of it in my journal. She sighs and takes it from my saddle bag. As she walks away, all business, she tells me something that I don't think I'll ever forget. Something that I think she knows more than any other pony in Equestria. She told me not to give up on the princess, because Spike didn't give up on her. No matter what.

Noble Spirit requested that I catalog my quest in his diary. I was honored to oblige the young earthpony. He may have a thought of what I intend to do, but he has no idea of what I really aim to accomplish here. The other night, I noticed something strange: I saw a golden glimmer reflect moonlight. Curious, I followed to see what had been the cause. It had been the exquisite golden armour of the Canterlot Royal Guard. Since I was in black, always in style and as stealthful as can be, I took a moment to listen to what they had to say. I had overheard them speak of a dangerous prisoner captured a few months ago. This piqued my interest, so I stayed. As I listened further, I payed attention to every detail, no matter how minor. For what seemed like an eternity, I heard them speak of naught but crude things like "Play Colt" and "Mares Gone Wild". I was disgusted in every sense of the word and was about to give up and leave. It was then that I heard them say that they had a captured dragon. Was it Spike? My mind raced with thoughts of how this could be! I thought I had seen him fall during our escape. He must be saved! My heart ached as I realized what they must have done to him in there torture chambers. Rage then replaced my hurt. He must be rescued! I stealthfully and gracefully snuck my way back to camp where Spirit and Luna were sleeping, an idea had come to mind. I emptied my purse of all the gems I possessed and began to modify outfit to be both fabulous and functional. I began to sharpen my jewels into an arsenal of lovely death. Spike would be saved this night. And if not, he would, as Celestia as my witness, be avenged one hundred fold! And as that thought entered my mind, I realized that Celestia could no longer be the object of our admiration. I looked at Luna and smiled. She had begged for forgivness after being purged of the evil that had plagued her. Equestrias night time guardian. She tried so hard to make amends over the eight years she had been back. And even though there were still those who feared her, she still strove to protect her subjects. A true princess. And then there was Noble Spirit who, in every sense of the word, deserved his name. The princesses knight in shining armour. He thought I was asleep the whole time on that train, but as he was sleeping, I woke up and saw the princess upon his broad shoulders. They reminded me of Spike and I. He tries so hard to hide his feelings, but fails. It is plain as day how he feels about her.
As I left the encampment in the early morning, before the sun had even arisen, I strode to where I had seen the entrance the night prior. Under normal circumstances, I would be tired beyond compare. But my mission was my strength as I had been Spikes. I saw two guards there, the same crude guards I had seen the other night, evident by the voices. I approached them and as they questioned why I was there, I answered with a ruby to each of their throats. "I'll let myself in, thank you," I uttered as I entered the dungeon to rescue my beloved. All the times I had rejected him, I had secretly been waiting for him to be old enough for me. It was a harsh pain. The age difference AND the fact that he aged much slower than I. It was tantamount to watching a beautiful diamond come close to you, only to be pulled back twice as fast as it had been coming. To having the chest that held the most beautiful jewel ever, but not possessing the key to open it. He was the kindest being in Equestria and treated me like the lady I had so desperately wanted to be. He deserved better than me. But he would never give up. He would wait to the end of time and follow me to the ends of Equestria, even if it meant simply standing by my side. But soon, oh so soon, I would see him again and I would beg for his forgiveness.
Guards came and went, and I did my best to avoid detection by the brutes. The few who did see me met an early fate at the tip of an emerald dagger I had kept in my mouth. Each gem went back into my suit pockets. Such beauty shant be wasted, afterall. Eventually, I had walked into a barracks of royal guards by bad luck... for them. "How quaint," I stated, fully knowing what was about to happen. With but a thought, I sent a vortex of beautiful death flying towards each and everyone of the colts. Saphires became a deeper violet and rubies became a darker shade of scarlet. The few that had managed to fire off their blasts missed extravagantly. I was an unstoppable force of devine death. Eventually, I had passed through the interrogation chambers. Brutal, crude and uncouth, my princess. There were ponies, dragons, and griffons of every race. To my horror, I saw Fancypants. His body was mangled and bloody and broken as though they had tortured him for information until his mind was gone, and then killed him as a mercy. The kindest unicorn in Canterlot, our first ally and the noble who was the savior of my friends from Canterlot elite, and my dear friend, dead at the hands of our princess, the butcher. I wept like a small filly as I saw his coat, covered in crimson blood. I kneeled over his body and cried like a foal. Celestia WILL pay for this! It was at that moment when I heard my salvation. His voice came from the other side of the room and was sweeter to me than the finest honey and more precious than even the largest gems. But when I had turned, it was not the expected scaly face I loved, but a green mane with a purple coat. I simply whispered the word no as I stared for what seemed like aeons at the unicorn trapped there. I wept once more when I heard five words leave his mouth. "Hey, Rarity. I missed you."

I was in a state of pure shock when I saw him like that. My Spikey Waikey, once a magnificent and powerful dragon, now a unicorn. My mind raced at what could have transformed him. He had been captured over a year ago now, but how could this have happened? I had finally asked as I looked into his beautiful emerald eyes. He told me that it was Celestia who did this. After we had left ponyville, Princess Celestia had appeared and used her magic to reduce Spike to his natural size. He told me that he had endured the worst tortures and the harshest punishments but would not break. His dragon scales protected him from the worst of it. Eventually, Celestia addressed this problem. She appeared before him and began speaking of permanent transmutation spells, first pioneered by Star Swirl the bearded over a thousand years ago, and proceeded to turn him from a formidable dragon, to a powerless, and much more easy to torture, unicorn. He had cuts all over his body, from his mane, to his tail. His face had been beaten bloody and it had clotted his fur. He wept as he told me that he had never, not once, stopped thinking of me and my eyes. And how he knew I would save him. Had he not been in such a terrible state, I would have been elated. My Spike, now a handsome Unicorn. He told me that his love for me became his strength, and even when he was turned from dragon to pony, he stood tall, not once surrendering to her. I wept again as the words left his mouth. I told him I would get him out of here, no matter what the cost. And then he told me that the princess was still here, and that it was a trap! As he finished speaking, an explosion blew through the wall next to us. "Miss Rarity," the butcher princess had said expectantly. She had planned this. All of this. Everything that had happened to us. The death of a dear friend, the loss everything we knew. It was all her fault! Righteous fury flowed through my vienes as I brought out every last jewel at my disposal, intent on killing the monster. Using my magic over the gems, I unleashed my fury upon her. She would die this day for what she had done to FancyPants and to Spike!
"Ahhhhhhhh!" I let out a scream, a battle cry as I sent death to the tyrant! I charged at her, a vortex of precious stones surrounding me. She would be eviscerated for her sins! But with every attack, she moved out of the way. "You won't escape me, Celestia!! I shall end you for what you have done!!" I ran at her again and again, but it was all for naught. She unleashed a wave of her own magic at me, slamming me against the prison walls, knocking me out cold and sending me falling to the cold, bloody floor.
I awoke in chains. "I had thought a companion of my ex-pupil would have been smart enough not to fall for such an obvious trap. Apparently, I was wrong." She had said arrogantly. "I would have thought that you would have been happy to see Spike like this. The young dragon would not stop talking about you and your infallible generosity, and that you would come to save him, no matter what." I could only listen as she began to explain her actions. "You think me a monster, don't you?" What I desired to say was 'Really? However did you come by that idea?' but she must have put a magic seal on my mouth, for the words would not be spoken. "I did what I had to in order to protect Equestria. To think my dear sister would think herself infallible after what she had done all those centuries ago. But perhaps she justifies herself by saying she did not harm anypony else in her brief bid for power." She turned around, grabbing what looked like a knife meant for her brutal interrogations. "She is a fool to think our worlds peace did not depend on the bloodshed of others. The near genocide of the griffons as they were about to make war on everypony in Equestria. Pitting the splintered and ununited dragons against them. I stepped in to stop their whole sale slaughter in a bid to end the war that I had caused. But, I suppose as the watchpony of the night, she felt a duty to protect her subjects from the darkness." She walked ever closer to me as I felt my heart beating out of my chest. I had never felt fear like this before. Pure trepidation and horror at what she might do to me replaced the earlier fury that had been coursing through my body. "FancyPants was a friend of mine, but you, of course, had to get him involved. He was a paragon of what the upper classes should be. And in his treason that YOU caused, Rarity, he died, believing that I was better off dead." She took a brief pause and gave an evil smile, "And now? Now you will tell me where my sister and her companions are, or else something might happen to your, now powerless, Spike. I DID turn him into a unicorn for a reason, Miss Rarity. I would imagine that adjusting to life without hands would be difficult, so I gave him magic, which is something that I can, and have in the past, stop cold. Though if you tell me, my little pony, you both will be able to lead a life together in Canterlot. I'll erase your memory of this whole ordeal, and everything could be as it was. Minus Spike being a dragon, of course. Think of it. All your friends back home, living happily ever after, never knowing of the secret atrocities I have committed to protect them all." She lifted the anti-talking spell on me and then finished her speech, "Well? What do you say?"
All I could do was think back at all he have sacrificed. FancyPants could not be brought back to life, but Spike and I, living together happily in Canterlot as a family, truly in love. We could be together now. To have and to hold. A single tear fell from my indigo eyes. I wish I could say that I did not falter, but I cannot for I wanted with all my heart to accept her offer. To say yes and to finally start a life with my noble Spike, but I know that Spike would not want it this way. Too bad for him. I wasn't going to lose him again. As Luna as my witness, I would never let that happen to my dear Spike again! I simply nodded as I looked at my love next lying asleep next to me. "Alright, Princess. We have a deal."
"Excellent," she smiled evilly at me. She was cruel and sinister, but she knew what leverage to use against me. "Now," she said, still holding on to the knife, let’s talk about where we can find my sister, shall w-?" Another blast rocked the building as she heard a familiar voice call out.
"Somepony need a rescue?!"

Somepony to Rescue

As Princess Luna fired through the dungeon wall, unsure whether or not there was actually somepony important beyond the smoke, I remembered what it was like finding this place. I went for a walk with Luna to forage for food. She agreed and I was ecstatic. As we wondered through the forest, we found a peach grove. It's fall, so the peaches were nice and big. The laves were also a beautiful combination of gold and orange. I was a smooth talker, and as we spoke, I think we got closer, at least, I hope we did. At any rate. As we walked through the peach trees, we saw a chariot flying over our heads. We both knew what that meant: Princess Celestia. Our time together would have to wait, Rarity was in danger. We tailed her back to this prison, being extremely careful not to get caught by her pegasus guards. They were the tell-tale sign of Celestia, for she was one of the only ponies who used pegasus guards. As we followed her, I wondered exactly how far down the Equestrian chain of command Princess Celestias corruption went. Did it extend down to the police or the normal guards? Did they understand what they were doing? They probably thought they were doing the right thing, and that they were just following orders. Did the wonder bolts know? Race pegasi would be an excellent cover for special operation missions. As we neared the door way, we saw two dead guards. "These cuts look fresh," I said, bending over to take a closer look at the bodies. "They look like they were made with something real sharp." Then I remembered Rarity putting the razor sharp gems inside her suit. "Rarity did this."
"I concur, Spirit." Luna took a look around and then lowered the sun and replaced it with the moon. "We will need the cover to make an effective escape," she explained.
"Huh, smart." We entered the prison and we passed by many dead unicorns while exploring. The corpses hadn't begun to stink yet, which was nice. As we ventured forth, we saw only a few traces of Rarity. Some hoof steps coated in blood. As always, she pain attention to almost every detail. As we explored the prison more, we passed through a barracks. There must have been at least 20 dead unicorns in there. The floors were drenched in blood. For Rarity to have done this, all of this death in the wake of her arrival, her mission must have been important indeed. But then I realized something... Most of these guards weren't wearing any armour. Which meant they still had armour in here. Before we left the room, I had to salvage some supply. "Luna, wait."
"Hmm? What is it, Spirit?" she inquired.
"This could be the last time we get this opportunity. There aren't many hostiles here. So we can... you know..."
"I'm sorry?!" She blushed at my poorly worded request. "Spirit. I like you, but not that much."
"Um, I meant we could take there armour and mod it with your magicto make it more, I dunno, 'Lunar-ee." Then I paused as I considered what I said earlier. "What did you think I meant?"
She blushed even more as I asked that. "Nothing! We-I wasn't thinking of anything!"
"I'll take your word for it, your majesty. We really could use some armour, though."
"Right, good idea, Spirit." She used her horn to open up the armour lockers on the other side of the room and coated me with the enchanted steel. As she clothed me in the armour, it changed, going from a golden and silver style, to a deep blue and silver motif. On my chest was a shield was her own personal emblem: A crescent moon with wings.
"Hmm, not bad." I lloked over the whole of the armour. It looked like she put blades on the helmet for the future battles we'll no doubt fight. There were three, one on each side and one on the top of my head. They were slightly curved and extended slightly past my snout. "Yeah, I like it!"
"I thought you would, Spirit." She walked around me, looking at all the details, making sure all the details were the way she expected. "You're an earthpony, so I enchanted it to help protect you agianst spells and blasts. We believe we may hath outdone ourselves." I wasn't sure whether or not she let the royal canterlot voice out on purpose to be playful, or by accident. "Now, let us have our turn, shall we?" She took the remaining armour from the other armour lockers and covered herself in a set of armour meant to allow her a full range of movement, flight, legs, the works. It was vaguely remenisent of hat she had looked like as the dreaded Night Mare Moon, but differnt. Itmatch my own armour pretty well, only the winged moon was on the helm, with a hole to allow her horn to extend properly. It was a slightly darker shade of silver with the same shade of indigo as my own. "Well? Do you like our armour?"
I returned the favor and looked over to see if all the details were good. "Good maneuverability, and aerodynamic. Looks like it covers up everything that needs it and, on top of that, the craftscoltship is beautiful." I smiled as I prepared for a compliment. "It matches you perfectly."
I think she was about to say something else, but then we heard a loud bang come from inside the prison. "Did you hear that, Noble?" I only nodded as she took on a serious countenance. "We must make haste if we are to save Rarity! Come, my friend!" We both ran as fast as we could until we heard some faint talking on the other side of the wall. We both nod as her horn glows a deep shade of violet. I back and prepare to charge in. When I am finally able to make my attack, she makes her own, blasting through the heavy stonewall.
"Somepony need a rescue?!" I asked triumphantly as I ran through the smoke and the fog of the blast. I saw five ponies in there. Celestia, Rarity, somepony with a green mane and purple coat, and the mangled, bloody body of what I think was once a white unicorn. His horn had been cut off. Ouch. Then it registered who it actually was: Fancypants. Damn it. I actually kind of liked him.
"Celestia!" Luna said, shocked at what she had seen. She saw the same picture I did. A dead pony, a tortured pony, and a pony about to be executed by the tip of a knife. "What have you done?!"
"Hello, little sister." She took a smug attitude as if she had been expecting this all along. "Miss Rarity was just about to defect to my si-" But before she could finish her sentence, Luna fired a blast of purple magic at her, knocking her to the other side of the room.
"Spirit! Get Rarity, we're leaving. NOW!"
"Yes, ma'am," I answered, kinda shocked. It was first time she ordered anypony around like that. I briefly wondered if it was weird that I got turned on by that, but then quickly regained focus. "Rarity! Time to go!" I cut through her restraints as I ordered her.
"No! Not with out my Spike!" She answered adamantly. But Spike was dead, wasn't he? We all saw him fall back in Ponyville almost two years ago. And then it hit me.
"Sweet mother of Luna!" I wasn't sure what to think when I saw him. The purple unicorn WAS Spike! I was speechless, but not frozen. I quickly exercised my helmets blades to cut through the leather straps keeping Spike in place. I moved quickly to make sure he fell on my back. "Alright, we got him. Now?!" Rarity nodded, gathered the jewels scattered across the floor, and then ran through the hole in the wall. "Luna?! Time to get out of here!"
"Right!" She let out a flash from her horn, blinding her sister still on the floor from the earlier blast. We made a mad dash for the exit, following Rarity. She was great at remembering details, so we all trusted her directional instincts. As we left this heinous place, three Celestias pegasus guards appeared from on high. They attempted pursuit, but Rarity used what little strength she had left to gun them down with her jewels. Clever, converting a normally innocent, if not slightly greedy, special talent into a weapon of war like that. But love makes you do clever things.
We disappeared in the night, with the princess of the moon as our ally, and the ball in our court. It would be foolish for Celestia to attempt a search at this time. So as long as we kept moving, we would be safe, at least for a while.

We all stopped for rest after nearly a day of traveling later. Rarity was drained of her last once of strength nearly seven hours ago. Luckily, I was able to easily carry both her and Spike on my back. Strength earned from years on the orchard was finally earning it's keep, I guess. Even so, I was exhausted. Luna offered to take one of them a few times, but of course I had to act like a big strong colt and do all the work for her. I am an idiot. I dropped like rock after she said we could stop. We were near the top of the mountain, overlooking the town of Foalbokin. I shook my helmet off and took a good long nap. I think I deserved it. It wasn't until after I woke up when I fully took in all of Spikes transformation. Rarity had apparently woken up moved next to him while I was asleep, evident by the fact that I dropped her (Yes, dropped her. I was carrying two full grown unicorns for almost 24 hours. Get off my back.) I think three or four trees away. It was good news for Spike, I guess. I mean, other than the cuts and bruises and maybe a few cracked bones. He was in terrible condition, but look at him and Rarity. Everypony in Ponyville knew how he felt about her. A few of us even though Rarity harbored the same feelings. She just kept a better poker face about it. She almost never went out with anypony except her friends. I guess she was holding out for a miracle of some sort. Well, happy birthday, Rarity. You get a miracle. I sound mean because I'm still tired. You try sleeping in armour. The princess took watch as we rested. We couldn't really move anywhere until Rarity woke up, and this armour wasn't really inconspicuous. I hovered in a state of half-asleep for almost an hour. It was then that Rarity decided to wake up. She walked over to me like she wanted to say something. "I wanted to say thank you, Noble."
"For what, exactly, Rarity? All I did was save another pony for a friend. You would have done the same for anypony else." I saw guilt all over her face as the words left my mouth.
"Yes, well, you see..." I knew then that she was about to tell me something I really didn't want to hear. "I-"
"Rarity?" we both heard Spike call out from under his tree. Wierd. I thought he would be asleep for at least half a day. I guess his spirit still retained some of that famous dragon resilience.
Rarity immediately stopped her sentence to go tend to the former dragon. "Yes, Spike?" I had to get up to see him, too. This was way to interesting an opportunity to pass up. "What is it, my love?"
"I just wanted to say," he grunted as he spoke. He was in terrible condition, to say the least. "I'm glad you came. Love you"
"So am I, Spike." A tear formed on the white unicorns cheek. I had to fight back own tears, as well. "And I love you too."
"Didn't you used to be a dragon?" I had to kill that much sweetness right there, or else I might be sobbing by the time Luna got back.
Spike just gave a wry smile as he answered the stupid question. "Yeah. I got better."
"Hmph, not by much, Colt." I looked over his injuries again. He can move, but he'll slow us down, probably by a couple of days. And we were supposed to meet Fancypants in Fo-... "CRAP!!!" Then it hit me. Fancypants is dead! Who'll be waiting for us now? "Rarity, who's gonna be waiting for us now? Fancypants was going to meet us in Foalbokin, but now he's dead!"
Rarity wasn't sure what to make of the situation. "We shall go anyway! I doubt the princess knows of our secret meeting."
"But wasn't that prison relatively close to where we were heading?"
"There was a document stating that he had been captured in Canterlot, not Foalbokin. Even so, he had been captured days ago. He would not have stayed in a town like Foalbokin for long."
"Documents could be easily faked, Rarity. And if we're wrong, then we would be walking right into a trap. Celestia might be a monster, but she isn't stupid. She's been doing this kind of thing for over 1,000 years."
Rarity took a moment to digest what I just said. She knew I was right. The meeting wasn't for a two days, but still. Celestia was as cunning as hay. "Very well. We shall decide upon our next course of action when Luna returns from her scouting mission.
"Hello, everypony," She dropped out of the sky like a rock with legs. "Did I miss anything?" We all looked at her, surprised at what had just happened. And perhaps a little amused.
"We were discussing our next course of action, Princess." I said, sounding official. "We were supposed to meet the unicorn, Fancypants, at the inn in Foalbokin, but he was killed in Celestias dungeons. Rarity thinks the documents stating his death are official, but I say it's a trap. What do you think we should do?"
Princess Luna considered for a moment at what she should do. She knew, or thought she knew, her sister better than anypony else. She knew she had to take some caution as leader, but still. "Noble Spirit, did Celestia get a good look at you?"
"What?"
"You were wearing armour, were you not? Hence, the chances of her knowing who you are is slim."
I stood up as straight as I could. I was being given a solo mission. I was honoured that my princess would allow me such liberties to act on her behalf! "No, Princess Luna. She did not get a good look at me."
"Very well. You, Noble Spirit, shall go to the village of Foalbokin to rendezvous with whatever representative that Fancypants may have set up in the event of his absence!" She paused as she searched for the next words to say. "Should it be a trap, you shall have the least chance of being discovered among any of us. And should the worst befall you. Well, make sure it does not! Do you understand, Sir Noble Spirit?"
"My princess, I shall not fail you. Simply allow me the time to get my effects together and I shall depart within the hour!"
"Very well, Sir Spirit. Carry on."
It took a few minutes to get all my armour off. Rarity helped with that. She also took out some of the gems that had not had blood spilled on them and broke them to be less... weapony. She told me to sell those for food and other essentials. I'm running out of pencils, so I guess I should probably get some of those as well. As I was about to leave, saddle bags with a small amount of food, I approached Luna. "Princess Luna. In my journey, I think it best to leave behind my journal behind."
"And why is that, Sir Spirit?" She was still speaking all official.
"Well, in case I get captured, they would find out who I was and use my journal against you. Also, would you do me the honour of writing in the next passage of it?"
"Sir Spirit, I would be elated to record my personal thoughts in your journal."
"Thank you, Princess, also," I paused, not quite sure how to say it. "I'm not really a knight, though."
"Is that right? Well, then you should kneel before your princess." I kneeled as she commanded. "Do you, Noble Spirit of Ponyville swear to protect and serve your Princess Luna and her kingdom from evil?"
"I do so swear, My Princess."
"Do you swear to safeguard the helpless and speak the truth, even if it leads to your death?"
"I do, My Princess."
"Then that is your oath." I rose from the floor and she walked ever closer to me. "And this is so that you remember it." She lowered her head and kissed me on the cheek. "Arise, Sir Noble Spirit, First Knight of the Order of the Silver Moon." I simply nodded as I then turned around to head to the town, blushing. I need to remember not to fail her.
As I walked away, knowing my mission, I could barely hear her utter the words "Please come home, Spirit."

As I strode through the camp, I had recalled the last thing I hath said to Spirit. "Please come home." Few accepted us, the princess of the night, as readily as he had. He had been our friend for ages, and now he was willing to die for my cause and me. He trusted me to write in his journal, so I shall have to remember not to abuse his trust and read further into his own personal thoughts. He has said that his records of his life date back to a time when he was just a young colt, so I are, indeed, curious. Nevertheless, I shant do it, for he has blessed me with a sacred trust, and to break that trust would be tantamount to betraying Spirit himself. So instead I shall record the events leading up to the day my guards and I crashed into Ponyville. Hmm. My guards. This was the first time in many months since I had considered them. I remember my captain, Maelstrom, and how I saw him fall. His dying orders were to scatter so the princess would not be able track me down so easily. My own fifty elite guards, scattered to every corner of across Equestria. But I have begun rambling as well as allowing my Royal Canterlot seep into my writing. So I will now tell the beginning of this tragic tale. And the story of my sisters tragic fall from grace. It was a day like any other. My sister had just concluded her raising of the sun, and I had just completed my watch of the night. As I was walking to my quarters to get some rest, I noticed my sister, walking through the royal bush maze. She was wearing an odd green cloak to allow her to blend in with her surroundings. Indeed, it was only because of her mane protruding slightly that I was able to see her at all. "Curious," I had said to myself as I saw her. I wondered what possible reason she could have for sneaking around as such. So I had decided to follow her. There must be a reason, I thought. As I flew down to the maze, flying from cloud to cloud, I eventually saw her each a pair of statues. They were over a thousand years over. Built by Celestia to commemorate our victory over the vile Discord by Marble Column, famous architect and sculptor. She twisted my statues horn, her statues right wing, and discords manticore paw. A secret entrance opened in-between all of three of the status. "Interesting," I whispered under my breath. As she entered the underground tunnels, I waited. For nearly five hours, I waited for her to exit what may be either a secret get-away from her responsibilities as head princess, or something else entirely. As she exited her catacombs from within her cloak, I bided my time. As soon as I saw that it was safe, I swooped in, quiet as a fox in the night. I used the same combination as she had done. Horn, then wing, then claw. A secret entrance opened up. How exciting! I had not felt a burst of adrenaline like this since the failed Changeling invasion at my nieces wedding a few years ago. As I walked through the underground tunnels, I noticed few guards stationed here. And the few that I had noticed, I avoided. It seemed to me that if Celestia kept only few guards around this place, she wanted to keep this place as secret as possible. I thought I heard screams coming from across the halls, dismissed it as my own fears taking hold of me. I know now that it was as I thought, but I could not conceive of it back then. I trusted my older sister implicitly. She had forgiven me and given me a place at her side, as it had been before jealousy took my soul. But I ventured forth, knowing that while I may not like the answers to my questions, I had to know. For the sake of our kingdom, I had to know. I wondered for what seemed like ages until I saw door with two guards keeping watch over it. They did not matter, for I would find the deep dark secrets my sister had kept from me. I moved swiftly and silently through the shadows, and appeared just in front of them. Before they could even respond, I cast a spell upon them. I did not wish to harm them, so I used a simple stasis/memory wipe spell. There they stood. Unaware that anything had even happened. As I walked through the heavy marehogany door, I noticed a desk. Curious, I opened it to find some royal scrolls with what I feared: my sisters own royal seal. Scared to death, I opened the first scroll. It spoke of a war nearly caused by the griffons and how she saved Equestria. It told of how she instigated a war between the dragons and the griffons, although it was vague on the details. Griffons are faster than the pegasi, to be sure, and with nearly three times the ferocity. But even they could not survive the dragons as an enemy. The dragons caused a near genocide of their race and it was only the timely intervention of my sister that protected them from total annihilation. The was more, as well. Assassination orders dating back hundreds of years. I could not believe it. I remember wanting so badly to scream out to the heavens, to vent all my sadness right there. But I could not, for that would alert the guards. But what I could do was escape the palace of the butcher and find the six bearers of the elements of harmony. Even if I could not find the elements themselves, I was still powerful enough to challenge my sister for the throne and take it from her vile, blood stained hooves. I made haste as I flew through the underground corridors to find the exit. And as I reached the exit, I met my sister.
"Luna," She gave a look of disapproval as she greeted me. "You have found out?"
"Found out what, Sister?!," The anger seeping into my responses mattered little now, for now she knew that I was aware of what she had done after my banishment. "Found out how who murdered an entire civilization?! How you have secretly been murdering innocent beings of every race across Equestria?! How could you have done this?! ANY OF THIS?!
"Ironic, isn't it? You tried to make yourself the sole ruler all those centuries ago, and yet here we are, discussing my crimes." She took a pause as if she were going to tell a long story. "Nearly 200 years after your imposed exile, the griffons began a forced incursion into our lands. And as you know, they are faster and more ferocious than almost any pegasus. But that was when it occurred to me. Dragons hold little loyalty to outsiders. Rather, they based it upon either honour, or payment. I offered them a mine filled with gold and gems, and they obliged the obliteration of the griffons."
"What?"
"Really, it only took five full grown dragons to do the job. They are almost invincible in battle, you see. And after only a few thousand griffons were left alive, I stopped them appearing the heroine of their race. Me, the very pony they sought to take the land of. And ever since then, I've kept them from uniting by-"
"By assassinating any griffon among them who could take command!"
"Yes. Griffons are a brutal race, but they are also a splintered society. It takes a truly strong griffon to unite them. And so long as I could keep them from uniting, they could never again be a threat. As for all the other assassinations, they were made to look like accidents. Anytime time somepony got two close to knowing," she walked next to me and put her mouth next to my ear. "Well, pop went the weasel."
"Monster!"
"Well, isn't that the night calling the kettle black. You, who only a few years ago, was force of legendary evil, whom plotted to thrust Equestria into eternal night."
"Jealousy tainted my soul, Celestia. And perhaps fear invaded yours where faith should have been! Please, stop this!" I pleaded with her, tears welling up in my eyes. "We are together again! We can defend our land together! Like we did against Discord!"
"My naive little sister. You are now in the same boat as I am. Even if we did stop the assassination of griffon leadership, anypony who finds out would have to be dealt with in order to preserve Equestrian law and peace. You have no choice but to side with me, for the sake of peace, we must stand together."
"Does Cadance know?"
"She does not, but then, the Captain is very good at keeping secrets."
"Shining Armour knows?!"
"Now don't think that he is an assassin, dear sister. As captain of my royal guard, he is privy to details like that. And besides, he understands the necessity of this..."
As Princess Celestia struggled to find the right word, I took the liberty of helping her to find the perfect one, "Corruption?!"
"Sister, we had no choice, the Griffons were at our door step. Besides, standing against me again would only show you to be a monster, like all those years ago. Now, stand by me, Princess Luna. Because for us to preserve the peace, there is no other way."
At that second I took a moment to stare into the fountain that hid the gate way to the underground. I looked at my reflection and considered what could be done. Do I save Equestria by protecting the sins of my sister? Or do I thrust Equestia into a civil war? And then my answer was as clear as day. "Sister, I have made my decision."
"And? What have you decided, Luna?"
"I cannot allow your corruption to continue. I'm sorry."
"I see. And there is no changing your mind?"
"There is not."
"Well, then. I'm sorry to say that your services as princess will no longer be required." And then she sent me flying through the maze, obliterating all in the path of the mighty beam of her magic. I had to escape. I wasn't to terribly injured, so I struggled to my hooves. This time, she will not merely send me to the moon, but kill me instead! I opened up my wings and took to the skies, quick as I could.
I soared as fast as I could to the clouds. My older sister might be more powerful than I, but she was a fool if she thought I merely slept during my banishment those years ago. Besides, in my spare time, I had practiced weather control in Cloudsdale. If she intended to take me, she would have to work for it. But first things came first. "I have to find my guards!" I whispered under my breath. I doubted they could do much, but they could spread word of my new found cause to bring my sister to justice! And even though my sister had the trust and adoration of the masses, I had something she did not! I had friends across the whole of Equestria, of which she had no idea. "I have to find Maelstrom!" I flew through the Canterlot skies, manipulating the weather as I went.
"You can't hide from me, Luna!" She shouted as she searched the cloud coverage for me.
I knew I couldn't take the defensive forever, so I decided to take the fight to her, at least for the moment. "Who said we were running, Sister?!" I appeared in front of her like a wraith and unleashed a powerful flash, blinding her, at least for now. I had the momentum, so I had to find a way to keep it. I fired a beam of my own at her torso. It was not strong enough to kill her, though that's how I intended it. Instead, it sent her plummeting to the earth. As she fell to the cobble stoned streets of Canterlot, I realized something. There were innocent ponies down there. I swooped down to the city as fast as I could, causing a sonic boom in the process, and knocked my sisters trajectory off just before she landed on a small family of unicorns, the apparent father bearing a small blue mustache. She crashed into a small cafe and I landed triumphantly. "Ugh," my injuries had been more serious than I had thought. I touched my hoof to my side where she had shot me, and I was bleeding more than I had thought. I stuggled to stay as stoic as I could. I had to show her that I would not be such an easy prey. "Remember this day, Celestia! For this day, We struck you down and spared you. And on this day, you have brought upon your own reckoning!" She just laid there, injured and angry beyond compare, glaring at me with the hateful intensity of one thousand suns. Now was my time to make my escape. She would no doubt send a few of her strike teams out for me, so I had to make sure she couldn't catch me. As I entered my own guards barracks, I nearly collapsed on their stone floors. My captain, Maelstrom, ran to my side. I explained everything to him and he called all guards to the barracks. There, he developed plan. 24 teams of two would take as many chariots as they could to every corner of Equestria. As I faded in and out of consciousness, he used whatever first aid her could to stop the bleeding. The wound was not a mortal one so long as I rested, but he had to first get me to safety. As each and every one of my guards prepared to disembark, we were met by Celestias own elite pegasus corps. 15 of them stayed behind to confront them. All 50 of them. I tried to cry out but I hadn't the strength. Maelstrom sent his two finest soldiers with me: Thunder Striker and Wind Flash. As we fled, a few of them tried to follow us, but they were all struck down by Maelstrom.
Eventually, after personally sending what I had assumed was 17 of Celestias pegasi of the gates of Tartauros, I heard him shout to the heavens. "I'm ready! How 'bout you?!" The next thing that I knew was Twilights home with bandages on my waste and the face of Noble Spirit watching over me. But I have written enough of this, I think. If Spirit reads this, he will know greater than anypony else of the reasons I fight. But for now, I have some feelings that must be confronted.

I guess I should probably start off from when I left the camp, so I guess I'll do that. As I walked for nearly three hours to Foalbokin, I couldn't help but realize that my birth day was the day of the alleged meeting. Wow. Over two years of running from Celestia and her royal guard with Princess Luna. Although, there are worse ponies to run from evil alicorn princesses from. Heh. You know, if not for her, I wouldn't have even joined up on this epic adventure to over throw Celestia. In fact, she was the whole purpose of my being here. To protect her, the noble princess who would protect her subjects from the tyrant of the day. She is my weakness and my strength. My first and last priority. She is my purpose. Strange to think I could adequately protect the only possible rival to the strongest being in all of Equestria. But love does that to a pony. Did I seriously just say love? Heh. Well, my expertly executed poetry aside, I should probably get on with the story. As I entered the village of Foalbokin, I wondered whether or not it was really a trap. It seemed perfectly normal here. No guards, just police. And there wasn't even that many of them. But Celestia has perfected her craft over a thousand years. She for sure would have learned how to make a flawlessly constructed trap. And then I remembered Fancypants, the unicorn that was supposed to meet us here. Rarity had held him in such high regard. The spirit of generocity, taken aback by the kindness of one of the most important ponies in Canterlot. The image of his decimated carcass clung to my mind like a fly to honey, only not nearly so sweet. From what I read in Lunas entry, she had saved him that fatefull day she rebelled from her sister. As I walked through the town, I stumbled upon a bakery. I counted my money and realized that I had just enough for a small cake. My first thought was immediately to get it for Luna and myself to share. She would like that, I think. So I walked in and purchased it. It was a red velvet with chocolate, her favorite, if I remembered right. I then realized that since the meeting was in the morning, I probably ought to call it an early night and rent a room at the local inn. So I rented one at the Foalbok Inn. The fairs were cheap, but clean. At least that was what the sign said. As I set the cake down upon the night stand of the room I rented, it occurred to me that the cake probably should have waited until tomorrow when I left. Oh well, can't change the past. When I woke up the next morning, I remembered the meeting place. Rarity seemed sure that Fancypants would have set up an alternative person to meet. She was sure it would be his wife, Flur De Lis. I wasn't so sure he would put his own wife up to this, but I've been wrong before. Like thinking that Scootaloo wouldn't break up with me. Of course that was sheer stupidity on my part. She has NEVER been one for bluffing, and I shouldn't have called it. As I walked to the outskirts of town, I took in the surroundings carefully. There were plenty of trees. Excellent for an ambush. There were hills everywhere. Easily defensible in case there was an attack. If this was a trap, it wouldn't be a mere ambush, it would be a slaughter. I didn't like this at all. But there was still no signs that they were setting up for an attack. I kept my guard up anyway. As I entered an old house that had seen much better days, I noticed a simple shadow in the old home. Strange. It looked like a cloaked figure, so I persisted. Eventually, when I was a mere few yards away from the shadowy figure, I called out. "Are you a friend of the unicorn once known as Fancypants?"
"No, but you are," The cloak was shed, and it was royal guard. I recognized him as the one and only captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard: Twilights brother, Shining Armour. "Colts! Sieze this terrorist for treason!"
"Crap, I knew this would happen." I did too. I guess Luna was banking on the belief I was smart enough not to make it so obvious. I was too. I was wrong. And that always seems to happen at the worst times. "Well, you got me, Armour."
"You know me?"
"Sure! You're Twilights sister aren't you?" Then it hit me. It was time to play a game that I always won but hated being so good at. It was time to play evil psychologist. "Tell me, Shining. Does Twilight know who's side you're on?"
"My loyalty is to the princess."
"Right, but why? Is it because you choose to be her little toy soldier?" The guards began to restrain my body with their magic. No matter. My greatest weapon was my tongue right now." He was only silent. "Does Twilight know what you do?"
"Traitors have no right to speak. You will be sent to the royal Equestrian prisons for processing and interrogation. And you WILL tell us everything you know about Princess Lunas plans."
"I'd be more concerned about your own princesses plans, as oppose to mine. Now what about your parents? They probably don't know about your work as the leader of the princesses thugs. Tell me, what would they think if they found out?"
"You're wasting your time, Foal. I don't break so easy." But he was breaking. Any sibling of Twilight would not have given up their conscience so easy for the sake of "peace and order". No, I had to push further until I made him snap. Until I made him \i hurt\i0 . It was fighting dirty, but sometimes, you have to in order to make a pony see the error of their ways. In other words, I was going to take him on a huge guilt trip.
"No, you’re probably right," I said nonchalantly. This next move was sure to make him give. He budged a little bit when I mentioned his sister, so this next move had to make him squirm. "I mean, if even Princess Cadance feels fine with you doing this, I guess you should feel fine about it."
"Be quiet." I felt a brief surge of emotion in his voice. Bingo.
"But I guess being practically raised Celestia, not having a heart will eventually happen to a princess." I knew what I was saying wasn't true, but if I could just get him to release his bubble shield, it would be an even fight.
"I said shut up."
"But you know, I'm surprised she isn't here herself. I guess she was to busy, or too afraid," and this next part might even make the colt go mad with blood lust, but that was the point. "Of what she would want to do if she ran into Twilight. And you know what? I bet that she would like it!"
"That's it!" And with that, he slammed me into the wall with his bubble shield. I did not know he could do that. "I'm sure Celestia wouldn't mind you being a little bruised up!" He released me from my bubble. My time to shine.
I was laying on the floor, playing the weak helpless earthpony until his colts went to lift me up so that Shining Armour could kick my ass. Bad mistake on their part. "Bad move, friend." I wriggled free easy and then rammed into Armour. He was knocked down, but not out. As his colts came from behind me to provide back up, I jumped back to get a extra close shot at their faces and kicked with strength that Big Mac would be proud of. As they fell to the floor, still breathing, I saw Shining Armour standing on all fours. We circled each other for a few moments. I had an idea of what he was capable of, but he was sizing me up. He expected an easy capture. Earth ponies aren't supposed to be able to fight that well. He had to have been in his mid-thirties. Just past his prime. But maybe he was allowed eternal youth, as the husband of a princess. Either way, this wasn't going to be easy. I had already given myself an edge the way I didn't like. Which meant he was angry. Which made him predictable. And on that thought, he attacked. He tried to ram me with his horn. I backed up, dodging just in time, and slammed on his helmet with both my front hooves. Now! He was disoriented, so now I had to make my final move! As his ears were still ringing, I charged at him, intending to knock him out and leave. Twilight was a friend of mine, so I couldn't bring myself to kill her brother. But then HE fought dirty. He used his horns magic to throw my cake at me. Red velvet blindness coated my eyes. It was a delicious disaster. I heard him running at me, so I instinctively jumped to the side to avoid get skewered... and instead leapt straight into a table. There I laid, ready to get captured and interrogated by the evil princess. All the things I left undone or unsaid to all my friends. I wouldn't get to see Apple Blossom grow up. Or see what would happen with Rarity and Spike. I wouldn't be able to see Luna or tell her how I really felt about her. Luna. That one name repeated itself through my mind over and over and over again! I was wrong to give. I was still in this fight! Come the gates of Tartouros or the end of Equestria, I was still in this fight! I rolled to the side to avoid getting struck by Shining Armour, and prepared to wipe the scarlet pastry from my eyes as I prepared for round two. That was, until, I remembered something that just came back to me.

I heard a huge crash through the door. I also heard the flapping of a few pegasi. As I wiped the cake from my eyes, I saw all my old allies in front of me, forming a phalanx of friendship. I saw and noted each and every one of them. Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Thunder Striker, Wind Flash, Big Macintosh, Pinkie Pie, some blue unicorn with blue a blue mane, and Scootaloo, surprisingly enough, were all in front of me, defending me. As they stood there, Shining Armour and the two colts under his command regrouped and took positions next to him. Twilight looked shocked and in awe of what she had caught her brother doing. Neither of them could really think of anything to say. Applejack came over to help me up while we all watched for what would happen next. "Big Brother?" Twilight started timidly. She couldn't fathom having to actually fight her brother. I guess Luna left that part out. I would have too "Shining? What are you doing?"
"Twilight. I'm sorry you had to see this." He took a solemn pause. He was struggling to think of an explanation that would suit his sister. I doubt he would have been able too. "But this? This it what it takes to keep Equestria safe." Poor answer. I probably couldn't have done any better, though.
"And what is "this", Shining?" She desperately needed to get to the bottom of this. If she didn't, she would burst into tears. I think we were all on the verge of seeing them like this. "This assault on an earthpony trying to stop a tyrant that we trusted?"
"Twilight, what we are ordered to do saves Equestria from anything that would harm it. From within, or from without." He looked to the side because he couldn't bear to look her in the eye. "We need to do this. For the sake of everypony."
"Is that what Princess Celestia told you, Shining!?" Anger crept into her voice. But so too did more sadness. "Is that why she killed all those ponies?!"
"She's protecting Equestria, Twilight. It's steep cost, but it has to be do-"
"Is that what she told?!" She cut him off abruptly. "Do you have any idea what you sound like? You sound like a, like a-"
"Like a toy soldier?" He was staying calm. New respect was found for him. I'm not sure I could have stayed stoic like that. "You don't understand, Little sister. Equestria needs to be protected this way! If not for what Celestia has done, we would have fallen centuries ago!"
"Is that the lie she told you, Shining? Is that how she chooses to convince you?" The first tear fell from her cheek. "Or is that what you tell yourself so you can sleep at night?" She was fighting back the tears with every ounce of strength she had left. "Brother, please! Don't do this! You're a good colt! And you have Cadance and a family! You can join us and help sa-"
"Help save Equestria? Equestria is already safe, Twilight. It took sacrifice, but I guess you never understood that, did you?" He started to show his anger. "You were taught by the princess! You got everything you ever asked for! I had to work for my position! You think everything happened because it was meant to? NO!! It happened because Princess Celestia took it upon herself to sacrifice a few to protect the many!"
Twilight bowed her head down, trying to hold back the tears. I totally forgot. Celestia was like a second mother to her. She had practically raised Twilight. So now, it was like she lost two of the most important ponies to her. In one foul swoop, she had lost almost everything. I saw crystals fall from her face. Her eyes began to flood. I would have stood up and struck him down right then and there, but Thunder Striker beat me to it. He landed in front of Twilight, rage burning within his eyes. "Shining! Heads up!" He plowed into him as fast as he could. All we saw was a grey blur. As he held up Shining by his armour, we all thought Twilight was going to lose a brother in more ways than one this day. "Talk to her like that again! See what happens!" The rage in his voice was greater than anything I had heard before. "I DARE you, Captain!" But his anger was distracting him, for he was flanked by both of the captains colts, their horns charged for a blast at point blank range.
"Thunder," we all heard Twilight speak out against Lunas guard defending her. "Don't. Please." She turned around and so Thunder threw Shining to the ground. Twilight acknowledged me and motioned for me to follow her. "We're taking him with us."
"You know I can't let you do that, Twilight." Shining Armour tried to deny her.
"You want him, Captain?" She turned around to look at him, rage now filling her eyes and her horn glowing brighter but also more controlled than the two guards' horns. "You are more than welcome to try and take him." Shining Armour was stunned to see his little sister like this. "No? I didn't think so. Come on, everypony. We are leaving." As we left the house as we found it, in disrepair, Captain Shining Armour of the Royal Canterlot Guard just stood there and watched dumbfounded. That's when I think it occurred to him: his little sister was all grown up.

Up in Flames

As we walked back through the town, we noticed the eyes of everypony upon us. Surely at least some of them heard what had happened. Maybe some of them had even been told ahead of time what was going to happen so that no innocent ponies would be harmed. Interesting. Very interesting. But even if those were orders given by the princess, she had still killed to many innoscent ponies to cover up her sins. Doing the wrong things for right reasons was still the wrong thing. But even still, I remember in Twilights lessons that nopony who is evil ever thinks that they are evil. They usually still think that what they're doing is best. There are a million shades of grey, I was told. I dunno. But one thing was for sure: I would never betray Princess Luna. She would have tried to find another way. Even if it meant an actual war with the griffons, it would have been preferable. But then many lives would have been lost. What she did saved many lives, right? So was this more grey than dark for the lives saved? Or more dark than grey for the lives it cost? Would Luna and Celestia been able to easily repel the invasion together had the former been appreciated like she deserved? Questions riddled my mind about what was right and wrong. Maybe ordering no civilian casualties was just an act to make her look better. But if she wanted to be a full-fledged tyrant, she would have done it by now. These are not thoughts I want to have. But even if I did keep thinking them, I have but one goal: protect the princess. I then recalled Fancypants and how he had been brutally murdered by her majesty. Execution was one thing, but that? That was just sheer brutality. Regardless, she had to be brought to justice for the measures she took. But that is enough of those thoughts, I think. I probably ought to keep telling the actual story.

As we walked back through the camp, I saw Rarity caring meticulously, in true Rarity fashion, for the now unicorn Spike. Princess Luna was right next to her, making sure to keep him under constant watch. For nightmares, no doubt. I'd probably need the same if I were in his position. But if Luna were my nurse, then worse things could happen. Wow. My journal entries have started to get kinda flirty. I hope to the heavens that Scootaloo doesn't read them. Scootaloo. Hmm. I needed to tell her about me and Luna. She deserved to know. Anyway, as I walked back through, Luna was the first to notice me. She ran over to hug me, and my face turned kinda red. She had apparently been worried. "Spirit! We-I was so worried for you! Twilight Sparkle told me of the waiting trap soon after this morning had passed! She told me that there was a chance you might not have been saved!!" She began crying. It wasn't until now that I realized something: we had been traveling with each other for over two years, almost three now. I'd known her since I was just a foal. I knew she had become an irreplaceable part of my life, but I had no idea how important I'd become to her.
"It's alright Luna," I started off. I had to make her feel better now. It tore me apart to see her like this. "I volunteered and walked right into it. I should have been more careful an-"
"No!" She was really upset. I almost started crying too. Almost. "No, it is not alright! I had nearly gotten you killed because I did not think this through! And you might have been captured and become like Fancypants!" She was flat out sobbing now. "It was my fault!"
I couldn't say anything. It was just as much my fault as hers. I was there and didn't think of a discreet enough way to contact the pony we were to supposedly meet. But she didn't need somepony to tell her that she had been wrong. Right now, she just needed somepony to hold her and be there. And I was the somepony she wanted. So I obliged her. We held each other for what seemed like an eternity. It was at that moment that a tear fell from my own face. I have no idea what she saw in somepony, an earthpony of all things, like me, but I didn't question it. And then I realized something. Everypony was watching us. Even Scootaloo. As I turned to look at her, she was already flying away, crying. Bawling. I felt bad. Really bad. She didn't break up with me because she didn't like me anymore. She broke up with me because I wouldn't tell her why I was always going to Twilights house. Actually, I'm kinda curious as too how she got here.
"You must speak with her, Noble." It was Lunas idea. I smiled at her when she said that. She was kind, kinder than most ponies I've met. "She needs you right now."
"You're right, Luna." So we released each other from our embrace and began to run after her. Then turned back at Luna. "Thank you, for, well," I mimicked the final part of the oath she gave me upon leaving on my mission and kissed her on the cheek. "Being you." I didn't stick around after I did that, but I know she was blushing under her indigo coat. And so I ran after Scootaloo, prepared for whatever punishment she felt like doling out.

There she was, her orange coat blending in with the sunset flawlessly and sitting on the face of a cliff. She was still crying. As I walked up to her, a twig snapped and she noticed me immediatley. She didn't turn though. I think she just wanted to sit there and be alone, but that wasn't going to happen. We needed at least some closure. "What do you want, Noble?" She sighed as she asked me. I've seen her angry before when she didn't want to be moved. This wasn't it. She would usually throw things when she wanted to be left alone. "You come to rub your princess in my face?"
"Not at all, Scooter," She had always hated when I called her that. But she could never be annoyed and angry at the same time. "I just wanted to sit and talk, if you're alright with that."
"Do what you want, you're 18."
"Scootaloo, what happened with us?"
She just gazed blankly at the sunset. "You found yourself a princess to replace me with was what." She took a pause then continued. "Isn't it that obvious?"
"Scootaloo, you know that's now how it happened." We were both looking at the sunset now. "We both know that you broke up with me."
"It's not like I wanted to, Noble. But you didn't tell me why you kept going to see the princess. And now I know why!"
"She was injured, Scooter. You know that as well as I do."
"But you could have told me!" She wasn't yelling to the sunset anymore, but to my face. "You could have trusted me!"
"I couldn't take that chance, Scooter. We needed to keep that information as secret as we possibly could."
"Hmph. Whatever." her face retreated into her arms. "So why aren't you talking with your princess now?"
"Because I'm talking to you." I stared into the glorious gold and orange that pained the clouds. "Scootaloo, I didn't have time to be in mourning over our break up. We had to move fast and I couldn't have you hurt. You still meant a lot to me then. You still do now. I didn't want you hurt. Besides, I need to be there for Luna. You saw how she acted when I came back to camp. And I would have felt the same way about her in that situation. I have to be there, as her knight in shining armour."
"But you were MY knight first!"
"I know I was, Scooter. But now I'm hers. And I'm sorry, but that's it."
"Figures. With everypony else having somepony to miss or have a shoulder to sleep on nearby. Applejack has Soarin'."
"Who?"
"He's the blue pegasus. Wonder Bolt. Apparently, soon after Princess Cadances wedding, AJ and him started doing long distance. They've been secretly married for seven years."
"What the hay?!"
"Yes. AJ married a wonder bolt. When we asked she never said, she just said "Y'all never asked" And then gave some answer about Soarin' not wanting her harassed by the ponyrazzi." She took a breath and continued. "Between them, Big Mag missing his, ugh, 'Flutterpie', Rainbow being upset and worried about Braeburn, Twilight and Thunder Striker finding out they were meant for each other, then getting married on a whim because they "didn't know how much longer they each had left in this world together"".
"Wait, what?"
"Apparently Thunder is the exact same pony as Twilight only not a unicorn and with scary looking bat-wings. Both are nerds, he's just a more active one."
"Huh, that seems really out of character for Twilight to do."
"I know. We all said the same thing." She stared back at the sun set, now turning a deep violet, showing it was almost finished. "And then I find out that Spike has somehow gotten himself turned into a unicorn. Still working that one out. And now him and Rarity are gonna be all up in everyponies face about it. And now? Now the only reason I joined you guys has gotten himself a princess to replace me with!"
"Scootaloo, you know I still care about you. But I'm Lunas now."
"But you were mine first! And I still love you!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she made a confession she had, not once, made when we were together. "And to be so close to you and not be able to have you?" She was gasping for air now. "It just sucks, you know?!"
I took her in my arms as she said that. She needed a hug more than ever now, so I gave her one. "I know it does. And believe me when I say that I would never want to hurt you. But all I can say is that I'm sorry. I really, truly am."
"I'm sorry too!" she accepted my embrace and wouldn't let go. She knew I was off limits now, but she would heal. I never realized it hurt her that much when she ended us. I guess I wasn't as good at reading the ponies I cared about as I thought. As she let go, she looked up into my eyes with hers full of regret and of sorry and of forgiveness. "Okay, well, I'm gonna go say hey to everypony and tell them I'm alright."
I just smiled as she flew off. She'll be okay. Now, I thought, time to go figure out everything that had happened while me and the others were seperated from the rest of the herd.

As we walked through the mountains, I was sure to remember to ask everypony what happened while the group was split. Scootaloo, who didn't join the team until after we seperated, eventually set out to find us maybe six months ago. Since she learned to use her wings for things other than flight when she was younger, like propelling her scooter or running faster, she was able to travel much faster over land than Celestias guards. She said it took forever to track us, though. I guess we covered our tracks better than we thought. Although it might have helped that we tried to avoid taking the roads. As for Applejack and Soarin' getting married, that was a story that ought to get turned into movie after all this chaos with Celestia has been taken care of. Turns out, they met the first time Twilight and all of her friends went to the Grand Galloping Gala together. He ate one of her apple pies and it was, as he said, "love at first bite". He would have made a move on her at Princess Cadances wedding, but then Rainbow Dash grabbed him by the wing and made him dance with her. He didn't get another chance to see her again until the next gala. And when he saw her again? He tried his best to make sure he got to spend the whole evening with her. He even worked to make sure that all of her apple products got sold. Within the first hour of the gala. That's what you call persistence. As they walked together that evening, they spoke together, and that was when she fell for him. He knew he wasn't the shiniest apple in the barrel, but he really turned on the charm that evening. And, as AJ said, he plum forgot to turn it off ever since. They became pen pals after that, and AJ did her best to have her "business meetings" match up with the wonder bolts tour schedule. And when he proposed? He waited until the next gala and spent most of his money on a solid. gold. apple. He handed it to her and to her and she read the engraving. "I'm sorry that I can't give you the world, so I'll just have to make you mine". He asked her to marry him and she shrieked yes. And Applejack does not shriek that often. They made their marriage a small, private ceremony in Manehatten. Ponies didn't really recognize him without his flight suit, so they were left alone for the most part. The only ponies each of them invited was Granny Smith, who desperately wanted to see her granddaughter married before she died, Luna rest her soul, Big Mac, who didn't talk much, Spitfire, the wonder bolts team captain, and his own grandfather, Glides. After they told me that story, it totally explained where Applejack went on those four day "business trips" every month. I had to admit, the gold and blue couple did look great together. Besides, after I thought about seeing Rainbow Dash and Braeburn together, I realized it wasn't that wierd. Rainbow and AJ were basically the same pony given different circumstances to live with. If you gave AJ a set of wings when she was born and put her in Cloudsdale she would have been exactly like Rainbow. And take away Rainbows wings and put her on a farm? You've got yourself an AJ. As for what our next move was, that something that was going to be very difficult to pull off. As it turns out, Fler de Lis was Fancypants' replacement contact, should things have gone awry. Twilight and the others found her camping out in the woods, waiting for the night of the meeting. I should have done that. What she said rocked the whole camp. What she said could mean the end to all this running once and for all. Her husband had a source within Celestias inner circle of friends. It was somepony who knew for years what had been going on but couldn’t do anything until all the pieces were in place for a successful coup. She knew not the name of the contact nor even whether or not it was a pegasus, earthpony, or unicorn. All she knew was that she went by her contact name: Singing Sword. The contact told Fler that Princess Celestia was going to a routine military inspection of the Royal Guard base in Maredrid. She also told her that Lunas guards had been successfully rallying support behind the scenes. Amazing. The buffalo in Appaloosa were also informed of the coming battle were preparing for the engagement. Altogether, it was a force of nearly three thousand collective buffalo, pegasi, earthponies, and unicorns. It would be more than enough to overwhelm the garrison there. Hopefully with minor casualties to both sides. But Maredrid wasn't going to be an easy fight, that was for sure. It was the sight of one of the biggest and baddest pegasus bases back before all three pony races rallied under one flag. It was especially known for the Sky Spire, at one time tallest structures in Equestria. It had once been home to the high command of the pegasus nation. Now it was used as a secondary palace for when impotant diplomats or nobles were in the area. It was also where the princess was staying for her duration there. It all seemed too good to be true. To get there, we had to pass Mount Killmarejaro in the north. Finally. It would finally be over soon. We would draw battle plans once we got there into the general area and rendezvous with the Buffalo Chief, Little Strong Heart. The operation was under his command until we arrived. But until then, we still had a mountain to cross over.

"I hate this!!" We were crossing the mountain pass as I said this. It was freezing cold. And windy. And it was a blizzard. I am currently writing this entry from a cave called "Blizzards Haven". "I really, REALLY hate this." My complaint fell on deaf ears, no doubt because everypony else felt the same way. Still, it made me feel better to say it outloud. Besides, the wind was so loud, I doubted anypony else could here me. As our intrepid party of thirteen crossed through the frozen over Tartouros, I couldn't resist stopping to think about how far we've come from Ponyville. I was now a full grown colt, Scootaloo and I had finally let the past go and become best friends. She still feels a little bit of a grudge against Luna, I think, but I don't think it's anything to bad. She knows what's at stake here. I think I'm finally able to tell how Spike became a full grown unicorn as a oppose to his comparable dragons age. Since he was raised by ponies, he grew up more mature than mst dragns, since they grow up slower and all. When he was still a baby dragon, he was smarter than the cutie mark crusaders. He must have been only 15-17 in dragons years when all of this happened. As for how he got to be full grown, I think it was because he was inducing growth out of an engineered greed to protect Rarity. I'm gonna go ahead and guess that he aged himself to about his mid-twenties in dragon age before Celestia turned him, and since he was that old biologically when she turned him, it must have translated. I was helping to lead the herd, such as it was, through the path right alongside Princess Luna. It was bitter work, especially considering that I was carrying maybe a third of the supplies, along with Big Mac and AJ, but it was worth it. I was the youngest, after all, and I hardly thought that I had proven my worth to the team at large. I mean, everypony else on the team was known for doing something amazing. I mean, we had two royal guards, the best unicorn wizard in Equestria, two super strong work horses that could basically bench press most of the team if they worked together, the master of the legendary sonic rainboom, a kick flank pegasus scout, a wonder bolt, a pony that predict short range disasters, a-
"Look out!" Pinkie Pie shouted as a tree tumbled down in front of Luna and I. "All good!" She said with a perky smile on in spite of the bitter cold. As I was saying, an important source of information, a jewelry based assassin, a beautiful alicorn princess, and then me. The youngest member of the team. I can't fly. I'm not as strong as AJ or Big Mac o do magic. The only thing special I had was some killer armour. Maybe the cold is getting to me because I am not usually this whiney. That's Raritys job. Heh. That was mean, but it made me feel better when I wrote that down.
As we approached the cave, Luna used her horn to light up the path and show us all the cave. As we all entered, we read the sign that called it "Blizzards Haven" and took a break from the cold. "We shall rest here until the storm subsides. Take your respite, everypony. You have all earned it."
I dropped like a rock in a lake when she said that. To hay with the baggage. They could pick it up off of me if they felt like it. And that's what they did. In fact, every five minutes, somepony else got something, keeping me from sleeping. So I just walked over to where Twilight and Spike was trying to start a fire. And failing. Wet kindling. And matches. Kinda sucked. "Twilight, don't you know any spells that can help?"
"I'll try, Spike." Twilight tried to warm her horn to try to dry the everything. It didn't work. She was too exhausted. "I'm sorry, everypony. We'll have to tough it out in the cold tonight." There was a resounding groan from over half of us.
"Hmph, too bad we didn't still have dragon with us." I muttered under my breath as every pony tried to huddle together for warmth. That's when it occured to me. "I'm a genius!" I shouted as everypony tried to lay down for some sleep. They looked at me like I just fell off the face of Equestria. "Spike! You don't have a cutie mark yet, do you?!"
"No, why?" Spike wasn't sure he knew where I was going. But I knew.
"Because! You were a dragon! More importantly, you were a FIRE breathing dragon!" I paused as everypony else began to put two and two together. "Which means, my formerly scaly friend, that YOU might have a special talent that has something to do the fire! Go ahead, try to heat up that log."
"Spirit, do ya really thank that'll work?" AJ asked me, unsure of my idea. I did not blame her, but it was cold in here, and I didn't like it.
"It's worth a shot!" Spike answered for me. He concentrated on the log placed in front of him as he tried to either heat it to dry, or set it on fire. "Ugh. Nothing."
"Try harder!" I ordered.
"Alright," He focused even harder on the inner fire I knew was in him. Soon, we all saw a green glow from within the piece of wood. And soon after that, he set it ablaze in a glorious green hew. "I did it!" And then his cutie mark appeared on his flank. Huh. You know, it has been years since I thought of that phrase. You would have thought that a more colt friendly term would have come up in the hundreds of years that that has been called that. Weird. "My special skill is... Fire!" Spike took a moment to take in the fact that he still had fire powers, albiet from his horn and not his mouth.
"Fabulous, Spikey!" Rarity ran over to him and clung to him like a wet blanket. "And such and lovely tone of green as well!" She still wore her black suit filled with death gems. Any time it tore, she repaired it, and anytime it needed something new, she added it.
"Heh" Spike blushed as Rarity expressed her appreciation. We all got a kick out of it. Amd after that first burst of fire power, Spike went ahead and lit three more, then practiced deeper in the cave to make sure it didn't just come and go. After a few minutes, everypony gathered around the fire to get warmer. Eventually, they were all reminiscing about the "good ole days". Rainbow and AJ even shared some of the memories they had with their own colts. Like the time when AJ and Soarin' got into a pie fight. Or when Rainbow and Braeburn went buffalo tipping. And then got chased out of town. She said it what his idea, but none of us believed her.

As everypony was laughing and enjoying themselves more than they had in years, I took a moment to go look into the blizzard. I couldn't even see five feet into the icy maelstrom, but I still just sat there, staring into the frozen desolation. "They say that this mountains storm was caused by First Snow, greatest unicorn of her age. She placed it here as a test to those who try their own resolve." Luna had snuck up behind me. It was nice that she held me in that kind of regard.
"Is that right?" I asked, trying and failing to sound interested.
"What troubles you, Noble?" So she knew there was something off with me tonight. She must have heard my earlier dragon comment. "Why do you wish to be left alone?"
"What makes you think that I'm troubled?" I was hiding it badly. Even I could see that.
"Spirit, please. After all the years we had known each other, do you really think that I would not know when something was on your mind?" She sat down next to me as she plied me with questions. "What is it that ails you?"
I took in a deep sigh as she asked. She deserved to know. "It's just... everypony else is either super strong or skilled at flying or magic or just being really strong. I don't get any of that, Luna. I've hardly done anything except haul luggage. I'm just the regular earthpony that tagged along for the ride."
"But you have heart, and you have spirit." She looked deep into my eyes as she continued. "And you have me."
"What are you...?"
"Spirit, ever since you swore to keep my presence a secret, you have been to protect me, an alicorn princess. You could have easily walked away from all of this for the longest time. You have shown naught but valour and courage in a battle that was not yours to wage. You have always been there for me and have always shown me the one thing that might have saved me from the jealousy that entered my heart all those centuries ago: love."
"Luna." I wanted to interrupt, but something in my mind wouldn't let me.
"You have been my friend from the very beginning and..." She kissed me before she even finished her sentence. "I love you, Noble. More than anypony should be able to love another."
"I..." I didn't know what to say. I knew we liked each other, but I had no idea her feelings ran so deep. As deep as my own, in fact. I kissed her back as she looked into my brown eyes. "I love you too, Luna. Ever since we first, met I've loved you." As I took her hooves into mine, I stared into the sapphires that resided within her eyes. I wanted to say more, but I couldn't even think of the words to express how I felt. So we just sat there, leaning on one another and watching the light from the fire bounce off the frozen and desolate beauty of the mountain. Even with all the cold raging around us, the moment was more perfect than I could have ever hoped.

True Colours

We walked for what seemed like days after night in the cave. As we walked into the forests surrounding Maredrid city, we were "greeted" by our friends, or allies, at least. There they all were. Thousands of buffalo, pegasi, unicorns and earthponies, gathered beneath the indigo banner of Princess Luna. The 13 of us starred in awe of what lay before us. Beautiful, in a way. True, the death that would be seen today was a tragedy in the gravest sense, but that wasn't what was beautiful about it. All these brave equestrians, prepared to fight and die for a regime that they now knew was corrupted, not to the highest level, but from it. Everything that we had fought for, ran from, and killed for. It was now all culminating in this moment, this final battle. I shed a tear from the anticipation. So much death would both stop and begin from this day. "Almost there," I whispered. "Almost done. Almost won."
"Hmm?" I hadn't expected anypony to hear me, but Applejack must have at least caught a little bit of what I just said. "Ya say sumthin', Spirit?"
I just looked at her with a face full of relief. "It's almost over, AJ." I looked back to the camp in the woods. "I just can't believe it. It's almost over."
"I know watcha mean, Spirit." She looked at the scenery as solemnly as I did. "we've runnin' fer what seemed like years. And now's the final hurdle. Soarin' told me that if we survive this, he'll settle down on the farm with me and we can live our lives together, all proper like."
"Luna knows you two deserve it."
"Well, what about you and the princess?" She looked at me with eyes that said I probably do something about that. "I was the only that saw the two of ya."
"And?" I was genuinely curious where this was going. I know it was kinda wierd. Princess Luna was over 1000 years old, and here I was only 18. But I didn't care about that. All we knew was that we loved each other. To hay with orthodox romance.
"In case thangs don't go our way, there anythang you wanted to say to her?" Oh. She was just concerned about me.
"I'll be fine, but thank you, AJ." I walked past through the trees and she followed. "I'm kinda really wondering how a wonder bolt would adjust to farm life. I might actually pay to see that." I ended that sentence with a laugh on purpose.
"Heh, you'n me both, partner. I'm gonna buy myself a camera just to record it!" She let out a hearty laugh after she said that.
"Well, Luna went ahead to organize a meeting of the leadership of the battle, so we should probably be there."
"Right," she answered. Luna and the pegasi all went ahead to inform the army of her arrival and to oganize a meeting. She really wanted this thing to go off with a win. Anything else would escalate into a full-fledged civil war. So we had to win.

"Mares and Gentlecolts," Luna shouted from inside the commanders tent. Each of the main six of the group was there. Luna, obviously, Twilight, Rarity, AJ, Pinkie, and Rainbow. There was also Little Strong Heart, the buffalo chief, and me, her knight in shining armour. "We are here today to plan the first, and hopefully last, battle of this conflict. No doubt the whole of you has heard of the terrible sins that my sister has committed for the peace of Equestria. T'is a peace built on lies and blood. Hence, we must finish this battle successfully so as to not draw Equestria into a prolonged conflict. Any questions?" She looked around the room so as to assess whether or not everypony understood. We all did. "Good. Now," she placed her hoof on a map of the warzone. "Scootaloo has scouted out the terrain and has discovered something disturbing. The town is empty."
This was met with gasps from everypony in the tent. I had an idea what this meant: Celestia knew we were coming. Not surprising though. "And what does that mean for the battle, Your Highness?" The buffalo chief inquired. Good question.
"We have developed a plan to counter this. Twilight Sparkle? Please explain." She moved to the left as Twilight took the stage, so to speak.
"Thank, Your Majesty." She levitated a rod and began to point at the map. "Alright, everypony. As you can see from here," she pointed to the southern region of the map. "We are right here, just south of the city. Now, we are currently up hill, but this doesn’t matter, as the city will be on a higher cliff above this small valley. Now normally, this would be suicide ponies to charge into, but we are sending in the buffalo first." The Chief was unsure of how to accept this, but kept listening. "They are stronger and more resilient than almost anypony else. The charge uphill would hardly affect them at all. Behind them would be the unicorn battalion. Now most of the unicorns sided with Celestia, but many more powerful magic wielders sided with our leader, Luna. They will be led Rarity." This was apparently news to her, given the look on her face. "Her experience in meticulous detail and her ability to read situations exceptionally fast will be a great asset in this fight. They will be throws rocks and stones at the guard, then switch to blasts at close range. As for the pegasi forces..." She nodded to Rainbow Dash. "They will be led by Rainbow Dash. She, as the best flyer in Equestria, will be indespincible in this battle. Now, 223 pegasi rallied under our banner. It might have been more if we could reach Cloudsdale, but we were branded enemies and thus would have been instantly recognizable upon arrival."
"What about all of the earthponies, Twilight?" I had to ask. Maybe one third of our forces were earthponies, so we naturally needed a way to press that.
"I was just getting to that, Noble." She sighed and continued. "Maybe one third of our army is made up of earth ponies. Now, since the buffalo tribe will be taking on the main charge, that would distract much of the Equestrian guard forces and make it more difficult for them to counter anything else. Which brings me to my winning point in this fight." She looked at Big Mac and I in that order. "You two will lead a flanking maneuver into their formation. Pegasus guards are not that common across Equestria, and even if they do have them among their ranks, they would be otherwise engaged by our own air forces. Any questions?" She looked around the tent and then smiled. "Good."
"Well done Twilight Sparkle. Now, I will lead a small group of volunteers to help lead into the thickest of fighting and get me to the citadel of the spire. Thunder Striker, Twilight Sparkle, Scootaloo, Applejack and Pinkie Pie will be a part of that team." She looked across the tent solemnly. "This is the beginning of a new age in Equestrian history. Good luck everypony."
I wanted desperately to say something to her, but she was immediately bombarded with questions as she led the tent. Tomorrow would be the end of this all, or the beginning of something else. For better or worse. So I went to my own tent, such as it was. I needed a good night’s rest to be able to live through the next 24 hours.

I woke up early that day. It was more or less what I wanted, but it was an accident. I remember a dream where I was flying through the air and when I landed, I woke up. I decided it was time to check out everything for the biggest fight of my life. Of all of our lives. I walked around the camp and saw each of my companions in a set of armour that looked tailor made for what they were doing. Something sleek for Rainbow Dash, a minimalist approach for Scootaloo, reason being she was more agile than most pegasi and armour would just ruin it for her. AJ was wearing some heavy armour, as was Big Mac. I eventually found Twilight who helped me put on my armour. The battle would happen at late morning, so we still had a few hours to go. So I walked around for a few of those hours, seeing what everypony was brining to the party. The buffalo had some wooden armour on, painted with some tribal stripes on them. Not sure if that was going to do much good, but alright. I saw Rainbow Dash drilling some of her subordinates on how to fight in the air. Many of these guys were really green, but, hopefully, the strategy that Twilight and Luna came up with would make that a moot point. Speaking of which, I saw Twilight and Thunder together in a tree. They were just watching the beautiful rolling hills before all of us. I made my heart ache to know that this was to be the final resting place of so many. Hopefully, most of these recruits remembered to let their loved ones know what was to happen today. I'd hate to be left waiting at home if AJ or Big Mac left and didn't tell why. And then it occurred to me. In case things went south for either of us, I needed to see Luna. If it was one last time, I needed to see again. So I combed the camp for nearly an hour, looking for my love, the princess. Eventually, I found her, looking at the battlefield and wacthing the guards prepare for our assault. That settles it. They knew. "Luna?" I called out timidly.
As she stood there, I swore I saw her crack a faint smile. "Hello, Noble. Come to admire the view?" She was somber. More somber than I had ever seen her in the years we've known each other.
"I have," I walked up next to her to join her in this, a prebattle meditation. "Sad, isn't it?"
"It is. Such beauty, soon to be ruined and marred by bloodshed." She took in a deep sigh as she continued. "I wish there were another way, Noble. But here? In a battle that would end the lives of so many? I never wanted this."
"I don't think Celestia did, either, Luna."
"Hmm?"
"Celestia evacuated the city. That means she didn't want anypony getting hurt, right?"
"It does. I know the thoughts you harbor, Noble." I knew what she was talking about. It was the 'million shades of grey' thing I wrote about earlier. "And I want you to know that I have them too. How I wish so badly that I didn't rebel 1000 years ago. Had that not happened, we could have stood united and defended Equestria from the griffons. But now? Now we are forced to battle each other once again."
"Luna," I called out, trying to change the subject. "Would there be time for us after all of this is over?"
"I hope so, Noble." It was the best truthful answer she could give. I would have said the same thing. "With everything that has occured, I pray to the heavens that we may find solace within each other’s arms after terrible chapter in our history is over."

There it was, the main force. Thousands of Equestrians prepared to fight and die for what they believed in. It was truly a sight to behold. But then was not the time to admire the resolve of the ponies I had to send to their death. No, now was the time they needed to hear their princess rally them. They needed words before the actions. So I flew ahead of them as they stopped their march to war and bloodshed. I was wearing my battle armour that I had crafted during when Sir Noble Spirit and I had braved a prison to rescue our friends, Rarity and Spike. "My fellow Equestrians! I beg that you hear me this day!" I shouted to them all in my loudest voice, augmented by my magic. "You have all traveled far and wide to help me see the end of my sisters rule, and for that, I am more grateful than you could ever know! And today, we stand upon the threshold of a new Equestria! There are those that say that we are in the wrong! That the deaths Princess Celestia caused are justified because they saved the lives of many a pony, but we know that cannot be true! For a peace built upon lies and bloodshed should not stand! And there may be a day when WE are in the wrong! When Equeatria faulters and loses sight of the true path under my protection! But it is not this day! For on this day, we know what must be done! And with this first and last battle, we end my sisters tenure as leader of Equestria! We end her murderous prosperity! For the sake of peace, we fight to end the lies! Are you with me, everypony?!" I heard a resounding cheer from each and every one of the colts and mares that had committed themselves to my cause. But even still, I could taste the hypocrisy on my tongue. It was that profound. What I had done, everything from the past few years, had begun to combine into one, single, dreadful memory. The ponies killed to fight my sister. The blood on my hooves and what I had forced an innocent young colt to become an adult in. Some would say I helped to make him a hero, but I would not. I was lucky to have him on my side as well as in my heart, and I in his. "Over," I whispered to myself. "It's almost over." And then I prepared some of what I had so dearly hoped would some be the last words of this horrible ordeal. "CHARGE!!"

And so we charged. The pegasi would hold off their own assault until the buffalo and unicorn forces had met the guards in battle. I myself flew close to the ground, leading the vanguard of the forces. Twilight was to my right, Pinkie Pie to my left. Then to Thunder and Scootaloo. Behind us was a great line of buffalo with a force of unicorns behind them. As they ran, they used their magic to through polished rocks at the unicorns. But as soon as we finally engaged the guard, they ceased, no doubt realizing that continuing that tactic would surely result in a loss of lives on both side. As the buffalo slammed into Celestias line, my vanguard acted as a lance going through wooden armour, penetrating through their forces easily enough. The buffalo army itself took very few casualties by the looks of it. They had been running so fast, it had felt like thunder had happened on the Equeatrian earth itself. The guard stood little chance. Even with the wall of magical beams headed straight at them, most of the bison simply shrugged it off. Only strikes to the head seemed to prove fatal to them. As we engaged the enemy, they proved to be much more skilled in close quarters than expected. Their horns were coated in it's own razor sharp tip, with a small hole in the tip so as to be able blast through the enemy. But regardless of their own armour, mine proved to be better. Each blast simply deflected off my own shields and they themselves fell easy to my alicorn magic. But eventually, I was made seperate from my team and found maybe fifty guards colts prepared to attack me all at once. I thought I may have well and truly been done for had it not been for a vortex of green flame incinerating all of them, along with a swath of their forces. "Twilight and the others are already on their way to the Spire! Go!" Spike demanded. Thank the heavens for the mistake my sister had made in turning him into a unicorn.
I simply nodded as I took flight to find my team of elites. There they were, fighting to the gates of the city. I flew down to the circle they had formed, fighting off the never ending assault of the enemy. Scootaloo, with her razor sharp wing blades, now stained scarlet. Twilight Sparkle, with a pile of corpses facing her and a line of carcasses that seemed to go on for miles. Applejack, with her back hooves crimson and the bashed in heads of her unicorn opponents. Pinkie Pie, with a battle ax in her mouth and an entire army afraid to face her in battle. And Thunder Striker, staying a close to his new bride as he could, keeping anything that tried to attack her at bay, showing them the true meaning of "vengeance from above". They fought off wave upon wave of enemy. All the more impressive, considering the force we were attacking had been nearly twice the size of our main force. I rushed into to join them, clearing the way behind them with a mighty and powerful shout decimated the soldiers nearest the gate, also forcing open the gates. "We end this now, everypony! Come with me, so that we may end this bloody conflict!" And so my elite vanguard rushed through the breach and into the city, prepared to end this fight.

"Follow me, everypony!" We rushed through the breach into the city itself. It was naught but a ghost town. Interesting, so Noble would say. I would find myself agreeing with him. But now was not the time. We had to ascend to the spire. To save Equestria, and to stop my sister. We ran as fast as we could through the abandoned city, slaying all who tried to stop us, and sparing all who surrendered. Cowards or not, they deserved at least some measure of mercy. Perhaps my sister wouldn't agree, but that was why I was there, was it not? As we approached the sky spire, we were approached only a few that dared to challenge us. Curious. I did not like this at all. But not just this, everything about this day. The empty town, the army outside of the walls of the city, and the minimal use of tactics for the entirety of the battle. Any first year cadet at the Royal Canterlot Guard Academy would know that the effectiveness of any army would be dampened considerably if it were a siege. Or perhaps Celestia knew that Twilight was among us or that I or her would easily be able to take down nigh any wall she set before us.
"This is a trap, Princess." Twilight Sparkle had stolen the words from my very mouth. "I don't think we should any further."
"No, Twilight." I took in as deep sigh as I could. It would be a grave mistake to turn back now. After the cost we had already paid to get here. "No, it must be now."
"But, Princess Luna," She began to argue. This could not be easy for her. She was usually the one in control of these situations. Being the subordinate could not have been harder. "Princess Celestia has obviously planned this entire battle through. And it stands to reason that she would have planned for a fight with you."
"And I have considered this, and she no doubt has realized that we would learn of this as well. But we must end this here, Twilight. For if we do not, then the whole of Equestria may be consumed by a never ending civil war."
"But!"
"I also have faith that the seeds of my rebellion may might have spread both farther and wider than I wanted. And if so, it would be fuel for the flames of war. It must this day, Twilight Sparkle, for there is no other option."
Twilight Simply resigned herself to my decision, accepting it as truth, albeit not a wise one. A wise alicorn would have heeded her warning and retreated to prepare for a battle of her choosing, but that would draw out this bloody war and cost many more ponies their lives. And I would not, could not allow such a travesty to occur. "I understand, Your Majesty."
"T'is alright, my friend." We continued to walk up the stairs, still being met by no resistance of any sort. I did not like this at all, but what did the great pegasus leader, Commander Hurricane, do when she knew she would be walking into a trap? She sprung the trap. As we approached the final set of doors to what would undoubtedly lead us to the roof of the tower where my sister was no doubt watching the battle, I took a moment to review my friends. To look at my comrades in arms for what could be the last time. They needed to hear me. Not as a commander or princess, but as a friend that they had been there for through both the thickest and thinnest of it all. "Everypony, hear my words."
"Uh, sure, Princess." Applejack answered, unsure of what this could possibly be. "Wadga need?"
"You all have been the best friends anypony could have asked for. You all have been there and left behind your lives for what many would consider a pariah. An outcast of the royal court. You all have been my friends and for that, I am more grateful than any of you could ever know." I bowed to all of them, showing how dearly I held them all and how close they were to my heart. "Thank you all." And they all bowed in turn, content with what may have been my goodbye. "Now! Let us end this!" I slammed the doors open, but what I had seen had not been what I had expected. Not in one thousand years and not in ten thousand years.

I had thought it impossible. It could not be. It simply could not be. But there he was. Alive after over one thousand years. I was at his burial. I was in a state of awe never seen in Equestria, but even as I denied his very presence, I knew my eyes had not failed. There he was. The greatest wizard in equestrian history. Mine and Celestias teacher in the magical arts. Star Swirl the Bearded, standing triumphantly over my sister. "Welcome, my old student!" He welcomed with a jovial conceit. "How good it is to see my one of my best pupils! How have you been?"
"You! What hast thou done?!" I was so enraged that my habit of using archaic Equestrian had seeped upon my tongue. "How art thou still alive after a millennium!?
"Careful, Student Luna. Your old equestrian has begun to infect your speech." He took a pause, and then began to answer my question. "As for what it is that I've done, It would seem that that is obvious." He looked upon my sister, her horn blackened with soot and her wings injured. "A powerless alicorn. What a paradox. But then, she had begun to rebel, so it was time for her fall."
"What do you me-" And before I had even the time to finish my question, my answer had revealed itself to me. Everything up to this point had been his doing. The treachery, the war and murder, and this moment had all been a part of this, an ingenious plot. "No..." It was the only word that I could utter.
"That is it, my dear Luna." Everything that had happened to me. It had been his doing. "My burial was merely an illusion, like those I would show you and your sister as foals. And after your defeat of that fool, Discord, it was all just a matter of time. And these!." And then I noticed for the first time: black wings, like those of my guards, had opened up from his sides. "Magnificent, aren't they? It took centuries to gather the magic to turn myself into an alicorn, but now? Now I have all the power in the world!" And then he took an insidious smile. "And with the stronger sister down and defeated, it would be an easy enough matter to eliminate the weakest link of the royal chain."
"You..." It was him. It was all him! Fury coursed through my veins in ways I had not thought possible. I then funneled all of my power and every single ounce of my strength into a single magical blast! "My life! My banishment! 1000 years of my life gone!" Tears flowed from my eyes, or they would have, had the enchanted energies being released from my horn not evaporated them. "My entire life has become an undone miserable wreck because of you!" I continued to try and pour all of my power into that one blast. "I was prepared to kill my own sister because of you! You monster!!! I'll kill you!!" But my blast was held back by his own defenses. He had not even needed to create a blast of his own. He had needed only to stop it a mere inches from his head. Even with Twilight jumping in to help me, we were severely outmatched.
"Really, I thought I had taught you better than that." He sent a shock wave of his own power to me. To all of us, knocking each of us to the cold floor of the spire. "But YOU!" He turned his attention to Twilight Sparkle, as though she had somehow earned his approval. "You have just matched the power of an alicorn princess. Only briefly, but even still..." He knelt above her, smiling as she cringed in terror. "Would you ever consider becoming my apprentice?"
And his answer was something I had not ever expected Twilight Sparkle to do. She spat in his face. "Go clop yourself," she commanded with a dead serious expression.
He simply wiped the saliva from his onyx face. "Very well," he responded with an abrupt strike across her face. "You would do well to learn respect, Mare."
Before he even had a chance to lower his arm, Thunder arose from the floor and charged at Star Swirl with all the strength that he had left. "Don't you dare lay a hoof on her!" But he was forced back with out even a thought on the part of Star Swirl.
"My, my, my. All of this power!" He looked down at the fallen guard of the night princess and continued his arrogant smile. "And to think that a member of the night-breed of pegasus would fall so easily to me! It is..." he paused a moment in order to search for the right word. "Intoxicating! But you know... the name Star Swirl the Bearded doesn't really suit an alicorn king of my stature, now does it? And yes," he looked at the fallen Princess Celestia. "I did just say the word king. Does it not suit me? Because as the most powerful being in Equestria, I would most certainly think that anything less would be a insult." The colt was drunk with his newfound power. A unicorn had become an alicorn. What was worse was that the unicorn had been the most powerful sorcerer of his day. And in over 1000 years, his wisdom and prowess would have becoming all the more adept. "Now about the new name... I was considering something more along the lines of... Samarus Night. Ooh! Doesn't that name send chills down your spine?"
"You are insane!" I shouted, or at least meant to. I was weaker than I had thought. "You are insane if you believe we will allow you to do this!"
"Oh? And why is that, Princess Luna?" He turned to me, his coat of black showing brilliantly. "Because as far as I could see, nopony among you is in any position to threaten me." And then he turned menacingly to my sister once more, kneeling next to her and placing his mouth right next to her ear. "Would you like to know happens next, my old student?" I had never seen my older sister with so much fear in her eyes, and because of it, I was filled with trepidation of my own. "Let me tell you. I will turn around, and reduce them to almost nothing. Then I will take them all to the dungeons you had built to protect them and break them. Even your most prized student. And then I will take you and your sister and torture you until you beg for death. And then you will be denied."
Celestia began to cry as she asked the simplest question in the world. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because I have been away for too long, child." He turned around to look at all of us. "And it was time I took equestria by the neck and showed everypony how a true leader does things."
"No!" He had earned the last amount of anger that my sister had possessed. "You seem to forget, Star Swirl!" She struggled to her hooves as she prepared fo what I had assumed would be one last gallant stand against the chess master. "I am still alive!" Celestias magical energy swirled like a tornado around her. "And you have not yet begun to taste my power!" This was it. Her greatest power. The strength trained by lifting the sun and moon for one thousand years! "And I shall be damned if I allow you to harm any other pony ever again!" Her eyes glowed pure white, and her body illuminated the cloudy skies. It even appeared that Samarus was taken aback by the sheer volume of energy. "Luna." She spoke without turning to me. "I am truly sorry for what has happened between us. I know you may never be able to forgive me." A single tear fell from her right eye. "But you have made me more proud than I could have ever thought. Thank you for trying to save Equestria."
And those were the last words I heard her speak, for she had teleported to an airship miles away. The next face I saw was my niece, Cadance, along with her twins, Fluttershy, Appleblossom, Braeburn, Shining Armour and everypony of my party. "Cadance! Turn this ship around!"
"Aunt Luna?" It was obvious that she was still reeling from the shock of my more than unexpected arrival. "What are you-"
"Turn. The ship. Around!" I wish I could say that I was not blinded by anger and by desperation, but I could not. "NOW!"
"Luna, listen!" Twilight cut in now. "Princess Celestia knows she might not be able to win against Star Swirl. We need to take the chance she gave us to escape and plan. We need to think this through!"
I could not argue with her, for I had known that she spoke the truth. We were so terribly outmatched in this fight. But I had only just found out that my sister was not the monster that I had thought. So I bit my tongue, knowing there would be other opportunities to fight the newly discovered evil.
"Um, guys?" And now Soarin' felt the need to cut in. Although this news would not bring wisdom, but only more grief. "I'm not sure exactly how long we'll last to plan, 'cuz there's a whole fleet tailing us!" And so there was. Maybe 15 airships accompanied by dozens of chariots, piloted by unicorns. They were probably still acting on previous orders from Celestia, or perhaps they were being manipulated by the master manipulator, Samarus Night. That mattered little, though, as we were there targets. I looked around to see the shape everypony was in. All the pegasi were in some many of injury and the unicorns were all drained of their powers over use. This did not bode well for any of us. And then I heard the words that seal the final nail in this days coffin of despair.
"Get Shining Armour up. I'll take care of the fleet." Everypony looked at him as though he had dropped off the face of Equestria. Noble Spirit was a great fighter, to be sure, but even he could not face off against a whole Equestrian armada.
"NO!" I could not let him do this, as it would be signing away his life for a only a small chance at our escape. "I shall not allow you to do this, Noble! T'would be a useless gesture and-" And then he kissed me, not a deep and passionate kiss, but a kiss goodbye.
He took a rope from the starboard side of the of the ship. "Shining, for what it's worth, I'm sorry for those things I said to hurt you in that shack. I mean that." And then he turned to me, then placed his bladed helm upon his head and turned back around to look into the skies that may very well become his grave. "And Luna... take care of yourself."
"Noble, don't!" I struggled to my hooves, but my strength had failed me. "I love you!"
He only smiled wryly as I said that. "I know." He placed the rope in his mouth and swung from the starboard side of the ship, landing on an over eager chariot that flew by, high jacking it and send it straight into the heart of their fleet. That was the last thing any of us saw of him, as Shining Armours shield had been raised, obscuring everything. Equestria had lost its greatest hero this day. And I cried. And we all cried.

Like a Phoenix

We were unsure how to proceed after our defeat at the spire. So we rested back in the foot hills of Mt. Killmarejaro. Our party is 20 now. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Me, Thunder, Soarin', Braeburn of Appelousa, Big Macintosh, Appleblossom, a zebra called Zecura, two other fillies of about Scootaloos age, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo, Cadance, Shining Armour, their twins, Shooting Star and Shining Star, and I believe that that is all of us on board Princess Cadances airship, The Soaring Song. I believe this would be the best place to begin since our loss. I am currently writing this from my own quarters aboard this ship. Everypony else is at a makeshift funeral on the deck of this sky vessel, but I fear that I could not keep my wits about if I spoke a eulogy for my departed beloved. Or everypony lost in the battle for the spire. After we had escaped aboard my nieces ship, we witnessed an explosion of which even I had never seen. My sister or Samarus Night had created it. If my sister, then she knew we would escape and was willing to sacrifice the entirety of two armies and herself to kill one monster, and if Samarus, then he knew he would survive and live to kill us another day. Everypony there's death, there very blood, was on my hooves. All because I had been inpatient in bringing Celestia to justice. And only to find out that she had been secretly manipulated all along. As I had been. By our own teacher. The very unicron that had taught us to fight and to win against Discord. My whole life had been naught of a cruel joke played upon me by the a monster whom we all thought had perished over 1000 years ago. I then heard a knocking at my door. I am trying to ignore it, but it still persists. Who would bother me now, when there had been a funeral for a dear friend to us all. So I finally decide to open the door, and to my surprise, it is Scootaloo. "What is it you want?"
I might as well had invited her in, as she clearly had no qualms about inviting herself in. "We're missing you at the funeral." She refused to make eye contact to me, implying she had also been going through a difficult time from Nobles passing.
"What do you mean, "missing"?" It was a valid question, I had thought.
"What I mean, Princess, is that we're not done. We won't finish it with out you, Luna." She paused and gulped. "We all agreed that it's what Noble would have wanted."
"What does it matter?" I couldn't bear to look at anypony in the eye. I had only wished to be left to stew within my grief. "A funeral would not bring him back."
But Scootaloos response had taken totally off guard. She struck me across my cheek and pressed me against the wall. I had suddenly gotten the feeling that I had angered Nobles former flame. "You just don't get it, do you, Princess?" Rage entered her voice like I had never heard from her. "Noble gave his life for all of us! He gave it for you! And do you know why?! Because he believed in what you were fighting for! Because he loved you in a way that he never loved me back!" All I did, all I could do, was stare into her eyes as anger and sorrow were forged into one emotion. "And all you want to do is sit here and write about how bad you feel? He bucking died for you, and that's your game plan? Hmph, well here I was thinking that he traded up from little ole' me, but it turns out I was dead wrong." She released me from her vice grip and turned her back on me. "We still haven't read out his final words. Turns out he slipped them into AJs armour before the big fight got rolling. I came in here to tell you, since you were the person he cared about most, but I guess if you want to sit here in your little puddle of tears, I won't stop you." She had said that with so much hatred in her voice. She left the room after she had said that, and all I could do was weep. Not for Noble Spirit, but for myself. She had been correct in every way. What a wretched thing I had done, choosing to feel naught but sorrow when there were much bigger problems underfoot.
"Where's Princess Luna?" Applejack had asked, concerned.
"Don't worry about her." Scootaloo had stated bitterly. "She has more impor-"
"No, Scootaloo," I interrupted her as I set hoof atop the deck of the Soaring song. She had been completely and utterly correct about me. And if Noble had stayed with me after they had been reunited from a separation that neither truly wanted, than I had to make damn certain that I had been worth it. "I am here. Noble would not have it any other way, I think."
"I'm glad to see you changed your mind, Princess."
"Well, I had just remembered some good advice given to me."
She only smirked as she mumbled "Yeah, I'll bet."
"Well, if we're all done with that, Ah'd like ta start readin' out Nobles final words, if that's alright with y'all." Applejack cut in.
"No, please. Continue." I requested.
"Well, alright then. Hurkhmh" She cleared her throat as she began to read aloud my loves final thoughts. "If you all are reading this, then I have either died in the Battle of Maredrid, or had been captured. If it's the former, then I hope my sacrifice will be worth it. And if the latter, then I will get to that later. Applejack said that I should say something in case things went south, so here goes. I'll try to be brief. First, I wanna say to Applejack and Big Macintosh, and Applebloom if you guys see her, that you guys were like the brother and sisters that I never had. You guys made me strong and made me the colt I am today." Applejack took a moment to choke back her tears as she read, but she continued. "Thank you. Rarity, I never want you to forget the miracle that Princess Celestia gave you. You and Spike were made for each other. I genuinely believe that. And lastly, to my dear Princess Luna. I never could fully let you know how much I loved you. Even with Twilights tutoring while we were on the run, I never found any words strong enough to describe how beautiful you were or how I felt. Even to my last breath, I never stopped thinking about your face, and how it would be you that saved Equestria. And that is why I must say this. If I failed to survive this battle, it would have been because there were more powerful forces behind what had made Princess Celestia corrupt, and possibly what made you jealous all those years ago. And if my suspicions are confirmed and I have survived the battle only to be captured, then, as much as it pains me, I must ask this of you all. Do not try to find and rescue me and do not storm the castle to try to end whatever evil has been behind all of this hell. I didn't give you the chance to escape just to get captured or killed or broken. Live to fight another day. With all of my love and from the bottom of my heart, goodbye, everypony. This is Sir Noble Spirit, Knight of the Moon, signing off." Everypony then realized that Noble had an idea of what was to happen, at least in the back of his head.
"Crazy bastard knew all along, didn't he?" Shining threw in after a few moments of silence.
"Shining!" my niece scolded her husband for what he had said.
"He had an idea all along of what would happen and he didn't tell any of us." Shining Armour was bitter at the loss of what may have been his rival. From what I understood, he and Noble had faced each other twice before. Once in the trap where he intended to capture or kill him, and then at the battle for the spire. "Crazy-flank son of a griffon." I could see the anger in Shinings eyes after losing a chance for a real fight with Noble.
"So what's the game plan, guys?" Scootaloo asked. It was a good question. "We'll need one if we're going to bring down Samarus whatever."
"Everypony," I announced, struggling to keep my emotions hidden from them. "It is late, so I suggest we call this a night and continue this discussion come the morn. Get some rest, my friends, for tomorrow, we shall plan a revolution." An insane plot began to unfold within my head. Perhaps Noble had rubbed off on me.

T'was the dead of night when I had all of my belongings prepared for departure from the ship. I had not packed much, just a loaf of bread, for I knew there had still been fruit trees we still had not picked clean from our previous time here. And it was still autumn, so they shall be nice and ripe. If Noble had an idea of what would transpire, he no doubt knew his demise would serve to strengthen the resolve of the team. Forever the fox, ever the trickster. Shining Armour was right. Noble Spirit was crazy. I think he had always been that way. But in each fight he arose from, his insanity had always served us well. He knew exactly what to do. And in each fight, you need only look into his eyes to know that you had, in one manner or another, already lost. But we lose this fight, and his life would not be forfeit. It was my sincere belief that if had fought hard enough, he would have no doubt have caught Samarus Nights attention. And if that were true, then he would have no doubt noticed the more intricate armour he had dawned for that fight. No doubt linking the armour to me. He was still alive. I was certain of it. As I crept past each door of the ship, I spotted the door to the deck. I had left a note on my door, stating what I aimed to accomplish. "Goodbye everypony." I whispered as I exited the interior of the ship.
"And where do you think you're going, Princess?" Scootaloo had been waiting the whole time behind the door to the inside.
"Scootaloo..." I suppose she could get an explanation here and now. "I was going to..."
"Going to rescue Noble from Samarus? You know I can't let you do that alone." She paused, with me curious at what she had last said. What did she mean, alone? "I'm coming too."
"Wait, what?" It was only suitable response to what had just happened, I think.
"I got my saddle bag rocked and ready to roll. In fact, I'm looking forward to this party so much, I invited some friends." And as she finished those words, I had known exactly what she meant. "You mind, Princess?" And they all piled in, from port, starboard, and from the inside of my nieces vessel.
"I am afraid that I cannot allow this. You all will be outmatched in every sense of the word. And I cannot allow 16 of my dearest friends to fall for my own folly." I had to argue this fervently, for there would most likely be no homecoming this time. "I am sorry, but no."
"And I'm sorry, but we didn't recall asking your permission, did we?" I could tell right then that this would not be an easy argument to win. "And besides, Noble was our friend before he was your "beloved." Hay, he'd been there for all of us longer than we'd care to remember. He saved all of our flanks up on Killmarejaro."
"But the castles defenses shall be nigh impregnable!"
"So we bring Shining. He's got a force field." Then she turned to Shining Armour. "Hey, you got us covered, Soldier Boy?"
"Yes, I have it covered." I could tell his irritation at being called "soldier boy". "Besides, I still owe Noble a beat down."
"His heart is in the right place." Scootaloo stated defensively, giving a wry smile.
"But the corridors will be crawling with guards of the highest calibur!" I needed to dissuade them somehow.
"So we'll be better."
"But if I were to face him, I would be totally out matched. You all saw how easily he had me at my knees! And that was after a fight with my sister!"
"Well for one thing," I could tell right then and there that I would lose this debate after she said that. "Celestia wasn't giving it her A-game the first time around. Second, nothing could have survived uninjured after she actually did, meaning Samarus or Star Swirl or what ever he feels like calling himself right now won't be able to play at his own absolute best. And third, Princess Cadance?" She pointed to her left to where Cadance was standing, holding an intricately decorated and jeweled chest. And within it were the elements of harmony. "Boom. Any more questions you wanna ask there, Princess?"
"You all really will not allow me to leave without any of you, will you?"
"You got that right, Princess. Noble is our friend, through and through, and thick and thin." Scootaloo took a determined smile as she continued, not just speaking, but stating as though it were a law. "And we would follow you to the gates of tartouros and back if it meant bringing him back safely. Because he would do the same for any of us."
I simply took a smile as she finished her winning argument. There they all were. My comrades in arms, and my brothers and sisters in this, Equestrias most dire hour of need. My heart filled with pride as I looked upon them. Ace fliers and farmers. A fashion designer and an honor guard. And even a sheriff and wizard. Never has a team of this been assembled, and I would doubt that another one would ever exist like this again. They were to save Equestria or avenge it. But for now, I could not even deny my anticipation of the upcoming battle that would decide not just my fate or Nobles fate or even their fate, but the fate of the entire world. And so I issued one last order: "Very well! Then rest tonight, everypony, for tomorrow we shall fly straight into hell itself!"

A Brave New World

T'was the early morn when we had departed the base of Mount Killmarejaro. Each of my companions had been preparing for the inevitable battle all morning. Armour was being polished and blades were being sharpened. Pinkie, having finished her axes sharpening, had already gone ahead and began sparing with Thunder. Twilight Sparkle had been looking over more spells that could be used against Samarus. Princess Cadance had undoubtedly known that we would have needed to be prepared for this fight, for she had brought myriad supplies and equipment for this quest. Armour polish, good food, a sharpening stone, and spell books. Twilight Sparkle had nearly made a complaint that she was a something of a 'deus ex machina', being an archaic pony term meaning an unexpected solution to what might have otherwise been a serious problem. But I was greatful for her help none the less. I was surprised that, however, that she had knon of the first layer of this plot without my sisters knowing. Perhaps she had just been more careful, or maybe she just had a much better 'poker face' than I would have imagined. I suppose that was the second rule of intelligence gathering, though. The first being don't get caught and the second being never allow anypony else to know how much you know. After flying at for nearly five hours at full steam, we had finally spotted the castle. T'was time for another rousing speech, I think. My soldiers, such as they were, needed that. And even if they did not, I had rather enjoyed giving them. T'was fun. "Mr. Braeburn!"
"Yes, yer Highness?" he responded diligently.
"Gather the crew!" I demanded. "I would like to have words with them."
"Yes, Ma'am!" He had obliged my request, gathering each and every adult pony before me on the deck of the Soaring Song. There they all were, some in armour, and some just as they were. The 'Mane Six', as Spike had decided to call Twilight and the other wielders of the elements of harmony, all adorned in golden armour. I still remember back to the day when they had been using those against me. But now they wore them better. They each looked more imposing, more confident and more resolved than I had ever seen them before.
I summoned my strength to my voice and prepared one final rally cap to prepare them for this fight. "Everypony, hear me!" They were all attentive, even Scootaloo. They all knew what was at stake here. "Today is the day of our retribution! For for over one thousand years, Equestria has been led, not by the fair hand of my sister, but by one who would use Equestrias wrath to commit genocide and atrocities on a scale that not even Discord would have executed! So on this day, we shall march to my castle, to our fair city of Canterlot, and say neigh! I will not lie. Some of us may not survive to see this victory that might not even come!" They were unflinching, all of them. "But today, we move on Samarus Night with one purpose! To save our world, and to rescue our friends, from an unyielding evil and unabiding hatred. Are you all with me?!" I heard a resounding cheer from everypony, even Fluttershy. "Good! Now, I have a guest in my home, so let us give him a warm welcome!" The planning had been done, so half the battle had been won. All that remained was the other half.

The enemy armada approached ever faster. The ships were blacker than any night that I could shroud the world in, and more red than even the most crimson blood. As we flew into the center of their formation, Shining Armour raised his shield as they began to open fire upon us. "Aunt Luna! They enemy outnumbers us ten to one!" Princess Cadance shouetd as Shinings shield took hit after hit of magic to his magical barrier. It would hold. He had dealt with much worse during the Changling Crisis.
"Then it is fair fight!" Our banner would not fall this day! The moon of the princess of the night would not surrender, even if death fast approached her! "Shining, maintain your shield until I say!"
All I could here was a grunt as he obeyed his princess. We were attacked n all sides by the enemies ships as they closed in on each side of my nieces grand vessel. We had obviously been expected, but when you expect a trap, you spring the trap! "Yes, Princess!" Oh the irony it was. Laying siege to my home with the captain of my sister whom I had sworn to defeat for the sake of peace in order to save it from a mad-colt.
I could not get a good enough look at the enemies soldiers, for my view had been obscured by Captain Shining Armours shield. But no more! "Shining, NOW!" By my command, he had lowered his shield and prepared for a massive turning of the tables. "Spike, Twilight! Open fire on everything that lays before you!" Viridian flames and violet ruin left the starboard and port sides of the ship, incinerating five ships immediately. "Cadance, take us to the heavens!" And so she did. She had steered the ship further into the sky, giving us excellent cover to secure a victory over the villain, Samarus. "Rainbow?!"
"On it, Princess!" She had already known her part in this. She flew up to the skies and began a lightning storm, striking any ships foolish enough to try and follow us. Then, she began a dive. Faster than I had thought she was even capable of, she dove into the fray. The enemies black chariots began a chase, but it was naught but a fruitless attempt to catch the fastest thing alive. And then she unleashed her deadliest weapon of all: her Sonic Rainboom. A great ring of every colour began to speed through the sky burst through the balloons of perhaps half of their remaining ships. Only four remained in the skies above Canterlot Castle. They remaining four retreated, or at least they had tried to. They had been shot down by their leader, standing atop the castle. I could see the crimson within his eyes. He had known we had come for more than just his head. And he know doubt knew what we were capable of with the elements of harmony. And so he elected to be prepared. He fired upon us.
"Brace for impact!" Shining Armour shouted out as he raised his shield as quick as he could. It had not totally dissipated the blast, but he had traded a death stroke for a passing blow. The Soaring Song would not soar anymore however, as it had still taken heavy damage and began to crash into the city of Canterlot and into Canterlot Castle. "Hold on, things are gonna get a little-!"
"Bumpy?!" I had asked. Seemed to me a good enough guess at the time.
"Crashy!" And then came the boom. We struck with such force that I was not sure that everypony had been alright. At first I had thought of the children on board, but then realized a protective charm had been placed on all three by Twilight and Cadance to protect from this should the ship not make it in this fight.
The ship had slammed into the front of Canterlot castle, totally obliterating the whole frond doors to the once grand throne room of my sister and I. "Is everypony alright?" I had asked a standard, yet rediculous question. I had heard a resounding grunt from all of them, but they were all still fine. "Then let us end this!"
I leapt from the wreckage to see an army of what had appeared to be pegasi and unircorns born of pure malice. A small inferno had been were their eyes should have been and they all bore the same cutie mark, the same symbol that had been on the flags of the Samarus Nights ships: an alicorn marked by surrounding by red flames. As my allies arose from the broken boards of our vessel, the enemies made their ways toward us. They had spewed fire at us, but with Shinings shield we were able send a shock wave to stun them. All who facd us were slain, but even so, there was no end to them. It was as though they were a manifestation of their own dark masters will and magic. Wave upon wave fell at my hooves. We were wasting time! We had to move on Samarus now! But how could we even make a move at him if we could not even get near him? T'was then that the nigh impossible happened. Although, I had begun to get used that.
A flash as pure as the whitest snow filled the room, blinding, then incinerating, everything evil that had looked upon the white light as a silohet burst through what had been the stained glass window that celebrated Discords defeat at the hands of Twilight Sparkle and her friends. It had incinerated all darkness within the once great hall and light filled each and every crevice. T'was nearly too bright for my eyes to handle, but even as I squinted to see, I could tell who it had been. "Does somepony need a rescue?!" The familiar words of one loved one mixed with the voice of another. But the speaker as not who I had hoped for. She had merely borrowed his words.
"Celestia?!" I was shocked, happy, angry and few other mixes of emotions that confused and befuddled me. But the happy had won out, it had seemed, as tears of joy ran down my cheek. I ran in to hug her as her stance became more relaxed upon the obliteration of the shadow ponies.
"Hello, Little sister," She gave a simple and satisfied smile as she accepted my embrace.
"We all thought that you had been lost in Maredrid!" My sister whom I had been prepared to end had returned to all of us. It was one small victory after what had seemed to be a sea of defeats.
"You know, for a second there, so did I." She was reserved as always, but we could all see the happiness in her eyes. For three years, we had been running from her for the sins of a cause not her own. "But we don't have much time, and I have much to tell you."
"What of Noble?!" I had hardly cared for wht she had to say. Now that my sister was safe, I knew that there had to have been a chance of my beloveds survival. "Has he survived as well?"
"Luna..." I had a feeling she was about to tell something that I had not wanted to hear. I was correct. "The young earthpony survived when I had attempted to bring down Sta- I mean Samarus Night. His armour saved his life." A brief thought of satisfaction crossed my mind as she told me that, then left as I remembered this was to be ill news. "He saved my life at what had certainly been at the cost of his own. I am sorry, Luna, but he's gone."
"Were it so easy." I was not sure whether or not my faith had been misplaced in what a mere earthpony could do against the demonic alicorn, Samarus Night, but I simply knew. Something in me would not allow me to stop believing.
"Luna, you and I could do next to nothing to Samarus, and you still think he's alive?"
"I do. Noble Spirit does not die so easy."
"Why?!" She may have been angered by my simple response, but I honestly did not care in the slightest. "What, by our mothers grave, makes you think that an earthpony could live against what wewo of, could b?!"
"Because, Celestia," I would simply tell her why, but I had no idea that what I would say would leave such an impact upon her. "I have faith."
And there she stood, in awe of the three word answer to her question that demanded more evidence, but received none. And then she smiled. "You've grown up, Little Sister..." I could see her eyes beaming with pride as she said that. "I wonder..." she touched her horn to mine and it had begun glowing.
I fell to the floor exhausted, yet strangely invigorated. Power surged through me in ways that I had never imagined. It felt glorious. "What, what just happened?"
"I think I finally understand why Star Swirl made sure to send you to the moon instead of I to the sun. You were always more powerful than me, Luna. You just needed some help to reach your full potential."
"I do not understand." I was truly at a loss for what she had told me.
A single tear fell from her eye. "Luna, you were as strong as me when we faced Discord, while being even younger. When jealousy tainted your heart, it took the elements of harmony to banish you. And it had been you that Samarus Night chose to get out of the way first." She then placed a solemn smile on her countenance. "Defeating Samarus is your destiny. I think it's always been. But this?" She turned to see an army of shadow ponies swarm through what had once been a grand door way. Celestia only smiled with a great hint of excitement. "This is mine. Go now, Luna! Go and banish this evil from our kingdom once and for all! And good luck!" And so we ran up the stairs, resolve strong as steel and willing to make any sacrifice in order to save our kingdom.

The mane six and I ran up the stairs and through the cooridors of what had once been our grand palace. The stairs were just as winding as I had remembered them nearly three years ago. These would likely be my last serene moments before we faced off against the evil of Samarus Night, so I took a moment to ponder what had brought us, all of us, here. Closure for some. Retribution for others. And justice. Not just for everypony, but every griffin as well. And here we all were: adorned in armour of either gold or silver, prepared to pay the ultimate price to rid our fair lands of this vile colt who had once upon a time been a dear friend and ally of my sister and I. The very colt who had taught us the magics to seal away discord. This was it. At the entrance to the final arena to decide the fate of Equestria, I gathered my wits about me. T'was time for fate to run its course.

"Samarus Night!" I shouted with a voice that shook the ceiling. "We have come for you!"
"Well, it was about time you all showed up." He responded with his arrogant snide. "I was getting bored with my entertainment." And as he turned, I could feel my blood boil. He turned to show us a battered and broken Noble Spirit. "You know this one single handedly brought down six airships? You really should not have let this one out of your hooves, my old student. He really is quite the catch."
I could see a mild electrical current running over him, then his wounds constantly healing then reopening. For Noble to endure this and still be not have passed out from the sheer pain of it all... truly he was made of the stuff of legends. His armour was broken in several places, but the shield on his chest was still miraculously intact, albeit covered in dents and scratches and soot.
"Thou..." I struggled to keep my rage from controlling me. T'was not easy in the slightest. "WHAT. HAST. THOU. DONE TO HIM?!"
"Now, now. Inside voice, Luna. Please." He went back to looking over his work on Noble Spirit, then through him aside as though he was naught but a rag doll. "I was bored of him, anyway."
I lost what little remained of my composure and ran to intercept my beloved. He landed upon my back and laid him slowly on the floor. "L-Luna?" he called out weakly. He was still alive, but only just. He need much in the way of time to recover later after we were finished. He managed a weak smile to try and reassure me that he was alright.
"T'is I, Noble." I held him close to my heart, hoping to give him the strength to see himself through this. "Your princess of the night is here to protect you."
"Hmm, that nice." He would be fine, for all he really needed was his rest. He took a moment to gather his strength for more words. "Hey, Luna?"
"Yes, My love?"
"Kick him in the nads for me, k?" The words made us both chuckle. A small tear left his eye and mine as well. Even after hell, he was still the same pony that I had fallen in love with.
"Of course, Noble." I smiled at his request. Still a sense of humor after all that had been done to him. Amazing.
"Thanks. And Luna?"
"Yes, Noble?"
"I love you too."
I smiled as I heard the words that he paroted back to me. The last words I had said to him before we had thought him lost was that I loved him. And so I gave him the same wry smile he gave me. "I know." And with that, he fell asleep with a smile upon his countenance. There would be time for us later, I think. But for now, there were other priorities...
"I haven't seen a love story like that since Gaius and Celestia." Samarus through in, offering an unwanted opinion. "But then, I had to test out my transmutation spell and we got Discord. Poor Celestia had no idea what or who he was when they battled. But then, neither did he..." He gave a devilish grin. Samarus had proven once more that he was a monster through and through. As Noble would say, he had kicked the dog one to many times. "You desire revenge, no? Well, then," a sinister dark silver aura erupted around Samarus Night. "Have at you!"
"No..." I had t be careful to keep my wits about me for this bout, for he would have no doubt use any edge he could to put me down.
"No?"
"Revenge is not why we have come here. Revenge is all consuming, like fear or jealousy or greed." I dug deep to find the depths of my power until I had thought that I found enough to start with. "This is not revenge. Nor is it rage or retribution. This. is. JUSTICE!!!" My on aura exploded and seemed to rival his own. It flowed from my horn like a river and glowed with an indigo hue. My eyes glowed and I could see the elements of harmony flowing to me from their inheritors. A spiraling vortex of power pure in every way raged around me like a hurricane. "Now, let us end this!" And so he did. His first move was to send a blast of his heinous power at me, but I dodged it as though it was nothing. He took to the skies as I had, and then pursued me through the city.
Razor sharp blades of magic were sent my way next. "You will have to try better than that to defeat me, Princess!"
"How is this?! I flew straight toward him as his discs gained on me in an attempt to cause his own attack to backfire. And it may have worked, had they not have dissipated into magic dust just before impact. "Damn," I muttered as my simple tactic failed.
"Please, Child! Did you really think that that would honestly work?"
"Hmph..." It seemed as though the only way I was to win this fight was in close range. So be it. I flew into the sky to the heights of what an alicorn could accomplish, expecting him to follow. It worked. "If thou intends to make us a trophy... thou has to find us!"
He flew up to the cloudy skies of Canterlot, intending to catch his prey. He had no doubt known about my duel with my sister years ago above the castle during my escape, but perhaps I could use that to my advantage. "Really, Luna? The same old tricks as before? I thought I taught you better than that?!"
The fool had not known what my plan was. I began a swan dive to build up speed and to increase the power of impact. If I could not best him the magic of sorcery, I would best him in the magic of fighting. "HOW ART THIS?!" I rammed into him at what I had thought was nearly Mach three, nearly three times my earlier record. "HOW MANY POINTS DO I RECIEVE?!" He was sent flying at speeds not even my mind’s eye could track and was sent plummeting through one of the towers of Canterlot castle to the cold equestrian earth. I gave a confident smile, knowing that it had not been over by a long shot, but content at what I had done to displease him.
As the smoke cleared, I could make out his body, standing but he was coated in scrapes and scratches from being plowed into the earth. "Alright, my dear..." he states with an eerie calmness. As Noble would say, this had just gotten "real". "If you wish to play with the big ponies... THEN I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO OBLIGE YOU!!!"the dust cleared instantly as his power poured from him, his eyes glowing a hellish shade of crimson. Wave upon wave of what seemed like the hurricane force wind buffeted me, but I still stood tall. I had to. For everyponies sake. "YOU MAY THINK YOUSELF IN THE SAME LEAGUE AS ME, BUT I WILL SHOW YOU EXACTLY HOW WRONG YOU ARE!!"
"Then enough talk, Old colt." He was angry, which was good. Rage would make him sloppy and predictable. "Or is that all thou art capable of in thous old age? After all, if thou cannot perform, then thou must teacheth."
"Oh, I can perform," He was almost literally drooling his anger. I had not only injured him, but I insulted his pride as well. "And you will see just how well!" He sent a sloppily placed blast of his evil magic at me, one that was easily enough intercepted by my own. I took to the skies once more, but he followed me and the beam struggle continued. It continued for what had seemed like hours, and almost appeared as though we were dancing to a deadly sonet. And when the beam struggle ended, we took to the heavens even deeper and jousted, neither holding an edge and our auras flaring as though we had been set ablaze. Indigo blue and hells own silver. The princess of the night and the bringer of darkness and damnation, warring over the soul of Equestia. T'was poetic in a way. "You die now!" He sent a shock wave of his malice toward me, but was deflected by my own.
"We think not, Villain!" As the surrounding clouds were disipated by the two blasts meeting head on, I took the time to use a technique I had not used in what seemed like ages. "How art this?!" I thrust at him with my horn, barely missing his heart, or where it should have been, and and instead grazing his shoulder.
"Gaah!" And then he sent me plummeting with a powerful shockwave to the earth and straight into the center of Canterlot, creating a crater in the wake of my crash.
As he landed on the outside of the crater I had made in the wake of my impact, I attempted to recover and take to flight once more. As I tried to escape the mad colt, he grabbed a hold of me with his magic and slammed to the cold shattered cobble stoned streets of Canterlot. "It is not your end yet, my dear. Wait until all you hold close to your heart is either dead or dying," Samarus Night began to press me against the wall of the nearest structure. "Then you have my permission to die!" His eyes narrowed as he forced my eyes open to gaze into my soul, peering into my deepest memories. "Hmph. How is it that the younger sister to the great Princess Celestia is able to challenge me! Tell me, what makes you so much better than Celestia?!" I struggled not to show weakness and, failing that, not to scream. T'was a battle all in itself. "What makes you think yourself strong enough to think you could defy me and not only live, but win?!"
Amidst the pain of his magic and the actual difficulty of the question posed to me, I found it hard to answer. Then something happened. The reason I fought, the very reason we laid seige to Canterlot was made as plain as the day. Waking up on the train on Nobles shoulder. Looking for food to forage at the base of Mt. Killmarejaro with the young earthpony. Content in each other’s love and staring into the frozen oblivion in the mountains. And the last time I had seen Noble before today. Risking everything to save what he believed in. To save me. All my memories of Sir Noble Spirit flooded my mind without end. At first I had thought it to be my life flashing before my eyes, but then I realized something. It was HIM. It was my own Noble Spirit that had kept me fighting no matter how insurmountable the odds or uncertain the victory. Suddenly, the pain was meaningless as I found a second wind, a second wave of strength to fight with and to win with. I broke free from Samarus Nights hold of me and my eyes and coat glowed a pure white. "MY SPIRIT!!" I answered with a wave of my own power knocked him clean across the street and through several others. "SPIRIT IS WHAT BROUGHT US HERE, AND SPIRIT IS WHAT SAVED US FROM A HORIZON OF DESPAIR." I flew above above him and sent blast after blast at the fiend. "T'WAS A NOBLE SPIRIT THAT UPHELD MY HOPES AND DREAMS TO SAVE OUR HOME, AND T'WAS NOBLE SPIRIT THAT WILL SAVE US FROM YOU!!!"
"Wha-GAAAAH!!!" He was in some tremendous pain from the constant blasts of blessed and sacred power that buffeted him. He was weakening now. And now was the time for retribution at last. "Impossible!" He fired a blast of his own, beginning another beam struggle, although the struggle had been mostly futile on his part.
"And this... IS FOR MY SPIRIT!!" My blast had cornered him to the side of the mountain that held the east side of the city. He was hardly able to hold his own against the combined strength of myself and the elements of harmony. "THOU HAST WANDERED INTO THE WRONG NEIHBORHOOD, MOTHERBUCKER!!"
"GAAAHHHHHHHG," And with one final push, Samarus Night was defeated, leaving naught but a pile of rubble where he stood.
Content in my victory and totally exhausted, I fell to the earth. The last thing I remember seeing was all my friends and my sister running to me, along with the whole of Canterlot.

Sweet mother of Celestia! Luna really took off when I was captured. Haha. Wow. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything less from mare I fell in love with. This will probably be the final entry in this thing, seeing as how I'll be way to busy helping my dear Luna rebuild Canterlot. I should probably finish by telling what happened after Samarus Nights defeat and when Luna woke up.

It'd been two days of her solid sleeping and I didn't leave her side once. Neither did Celestia. She explained to me everything. "Samarus Night had been behind everything, it seems. From Lunas corruption to this dreadful war."
"So that means that it wasn't really your fault, right?" I tried to console her. To make her think that she had been played like a fiddle. "You were a victim just like everypony else."
"It's not as simple as that, Noble. The things I've done..." Princess Celestia looked out the window at the sunrise solemnly. "I may have been manipulated, but I still had some control of my actions. I should have been stronger. The blood on my hooves, and the sins I have commited, can't be washed off so easily."
"So what're you gonna do?"
"I think it was time I left Equestria for a while. To sort some things out."
"What about the sunrise?"
"Cadance can take care of that. She's stronger than she thinks. And if not, Luna is more than ready. This crisis proved that."
"Are you sure there's nothing I can say to change your mind?"
"Haha," she let out a laugh as she went to answer. "Noble, you remind me of a young earth pony I fell for hundreds of years ago. Totally insane, but reliable as well." And then she took a sad face. "He disappeared shortly before the arrival of Discord. The very day before our wedding." There was a heavy hint of remorse in her voice, as if she had really known what happened to him.
"Exactly how old are you, anyway?" I know it's bad manners to ask a mare, let alone a princess, how old she was, but I really wanted to know. I couldn't help it.
"It's a secret." She said with a smile as she began to exit the room and as Luna began to stir. "And by the way... the answer is yes."
"Princess?" She had a wry smile on her face like she knew what I wanted to ask, but couldn't find it in myself to actually say.
"You have my blessing to marry my sister." She stated calmly, leaving me 50 shades of red. So she did know. Heh. "I think it's time I made my leave. But before I go..." She kneeled over to give me a hug as she continued her far wale. "Thank you."
"For what, your highness?"
"For being what my little sister needed most." She paused as she searched for the right words. It was amazing to think that I was just hugged by the very princess that we had sworn to defeat. "Not a champion, but a friend that wouldn't leave her. And a love that would never disappoint." She turned to exit the room. "Goodbye, Noble. It was fun."
I looked at my princess as she woke up from her deserved sleep. "Noble?" she gave a smile as I took her hoof in my own. "Is that you?"
I smiled and nearly cried as I answered. After experiencing every hell we could, we could finally be together. "Yeah, Luna. It's me."
And she closed her eyes once more with a smile on her face. "Good. T'is good to have you back, Noble."
One tear escaped as I held her hoof close and gave the most sincere six words I ever spoke. "It's good to be back, Luna."

The next day, she was able to walk by herself around the castle. And that was when I had everything planned out. There she was, watching the amber coated sky after she had lowered the sun that day. The clouds were beautifully bathed in the goldenrod of the evening sky. "It's a whole new world out there, isn't it, Luna?" I could see her jump slightly at my voice, showing I had startled her.
"It is, Sir Noble. And yet..." she took on a sad face as she continued. "All the death that insued in the wake of this revolution... it wieghs heavy on my heart. And with my sister gone, I am uncertain as to whether we-I am up to the challenge of ruling and rebuilding."
"Well then, I guess that makes it a brave new world as well, doesn't it? Speaking of which..." I reached into my saddle bag to pull out a small velvet pouch.
"Noble?" She was confused, no doubt. But if there was anything I learned from Rarity, environment can be just as important as the actual execution of what you're trying to do. And I could think of no better time to pop the question. "What art thou..." I knew she had a feeling what I was going to do. She only let her old Canterlot slip into her voice when she was emotional, regardless of which it was.
"Luna, in this brave new world, there are bound to be a few new beginnings, right? So believe me when I say I want to begin a brave new world of my own." I took her hoof in my left and placed a blue diamond ring on it with my right. "What say you to sharing it with me? I guess what I'm really trying to ask is..." I got down to my knees as she stared at the ring I just placed on her hoof. "Princess Luna, will you marry me?"
She was dumbstruck, totally and utterly. No other word for it. And yet, her beautiful blue eyes said everything she wanted too. She shed a tear of pure joy, pulled me close and kissed me, not deeply, but more passionatly than ever before. "Sir Noble Spirit, nothing would bring us greater joy in all of Equestria than to be thous bride." And there we stood for what seemed like hours, staring at the sunset, and then the stars and full moon of the cool October night. Best Night Mare Night ever.

And that is how an orchard working earthpony with almost no special skill aside from running fast and an outcast alicorn princess saved the Equestria. And of everything that happened, I wouldn't have changed any of it. We never saw Celestia again after that, although I know she's still watching over us as a guardian of the light. Nopony could turn her back on her subjects like that. I should probably stop writing now. My wedding starts in a few minutes and I really shouldn't be late. It's hard to believe that I started out as just a run of the mill runt earthpony who worked at an apple orchard, and now I'm marrying an alicorn princess. Life has a funny way of working itself out. I wish I could end this epic tale of love and war with something profound or intrinsic. Something better than just an old and stale goodbye. I always did hate endings, after all. But I guess I don't have think of this as an ending, but the beginning something new. Goodbye everypony. It was fun.
Signed,
Noble "Pipsqueak" Spirit