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I step into the Everfree throne room to see that the sisters are at it again. I learned the hard way that it's best to let them be a long time ago. I walk up near the thrones and watch, arms... crossed... Something.... doesn't feel right... this time....
Suddenly, Luna pulls out her sword and strikes at her own sister, who pulls her own out and blocks in an instant. The guards glance at their Princesses and flee while I gape. Celestia shoves Luna back and I see her eyes. And I read them. I dig to their heart. I am lost as the two clash again. I understand. I... understand... "Don't do this, sister! Celestia cries out, snapping me back to reality.
Luna shoves harder only to get shoved away agin. Royal guards return, delivering the Elements of Harmony into Celestia's magical grip. They wpin into place behind her back and her sword takes on a rainbow glow. No, I know what that means! I pull out my sword, leaping between the sisters and blocking Celestia's strike with all of my might. "Princess, run! I toss over my shoulder.
"But-"
"Run while you can!" The royal guards move in on us, lances ready.
I hear her angry sigh. "I will be back!" she yells at Celestia before there's a pop and she's gone. Celestia throws me back and the guards close in around me. I glare at Celestia; if I end this now...
My sword flies out of my hand, knocked aside so fast I couldn't see it. I stare at Celestia, then summon blue flame around my fists, ready to fight. A sharp pain in my left bicep... Shit! She cut me with the Elements! I divert my power to stopping the Elements' magic as I clamp a hand over the wound. I glare at Celestia as I diver the rest of my power elsewhere. A pop and blurry Celestia is replaced with blurry Luna. "Prin...cess..." Blackness surrounds me.
I groan awake, feeling a major sense of deja vu. I open my eyes, feeling grass on my back as I stare up at a blue sky. "Princess, he's awake," I hear someone next to me call. I turn my head to see an unfamiliar woman in leather, reminding me of typical theives-for-hire.
I sit up as Luna walks over, donned in midnight armor over black leather. "I wondered when you would recover, Dage," she says as she stares down at me, hair pulled by the wind. Dage... not the typical nickname of Blue.... She offers me a hand and I take it.
"What's going on, Princess?" I question as I notice the assortment of armored people on the green hillside.
"Building up a force to meet what Celestia has."
I sigh. "I see."
She places a hand on my shoulder and turns me to face her. "Look at me." I hesitate before looking up the inch difference into her eyes. "I will understand if you walk away or even return to Celestia. Just do it now before it's too late."
I shake my head with certainty. "I helped you back there because I chose to. I know what is wrong, and I will not leave your side." I try to translate my full feelings on to her through my stare but it flows past her instead.
She nods. "Then you shall be my advisor in our New Lunar Republic." She starts to turn, then pauses, adding, "One more thing: try not to use your left arm too much; I have stopped it but it will ignore me if you use the muscles." With that, she returns to deal with the few hundred men she has gathered.
I turn to face the woman from when I woke up. "Could you fill in the gaps?" She nods. "What exactly is the New Lunar Republic, how long was I out, and why do all these people look... shifty?"
"You were out for about a week; the NLR, as we call it, is really propaganda to build and army to fight Celestia; any noble people would believe in the Princess of the Day rather than the unknown Princess of the Night."
I nod, staring at the ground. "So Luna gathers the villians of the land to fight the Royal Everfree Guard... And she is using any method to get them on board..." I sigh, watching Luna... my precious Moon....
I plod through the mud, rain pouring around me but not heavy enough to pierce my heavy hood. I watch the passerbies from the shadows of my hood, jusging if we could get another worthy soldier from them. Nothing yet. This town seems to be fruitless. Time for the underground. I turn down an alleyway and follow random routes.
I spin and sidestep, avoiding the jab my stalker attempts. I grab his wrist and twist until I hear a crack and the blade falls. I kick him aways as I drop and twist, narrowly avoiding two new blades. I grab an ankle with my useable hand and pull hile using my foot to break the shin of the other assailant. I jump back to my feet, pinning the one uninjured guy, assailant two, by the wrist. "Just who I've been wanting to find," I comment in mock enthusiasm.
I stand beside Luna as she listens to this greedy lord's whiny complaints on how Celestia taxes him or something; I stopped paying attention when he started. Instead, I observer his signals, understanding who he is, what precisely makes him tick, and what doesn't.
At last, Luna begins to speak. "Yes, you had explained about that already," she says, forcing herself to sound pleasant while gritting her teeth.
"I did?" She nods. "Oh, my bad."
Luna shrugs. "Anyways, will you aid us in bringing down Celestia?"
"There isn't very much benifit in putting myself out there..."
I sigh as I take a step forward, hood up and casting shadows over my eyes. "There is a name we give for her tyranous rule: the Solar Empire. We are fighting to overthrow the Empire and replace it with the New Lunar Republic. If you help us, you will help ensure the job gets done and you will get special treatment for aiding us." I know luna glanced unhappily at me at my promise, but I ignore it; this is for her.
"Special treatment?" he smiles pervertedly, staring past me. I seethe inside; this fat man thinks he can have my Moon?!
I hear a very soft groan from behind me. "Yes, special treatment."
"Then let us talk about this alliance, my dear Princess!" This is only going to get worse....
I knock on the boarded door of a boarded house in the slums of a town. An eye appears in the gap. "The New Lunar Republic desires the services of the Red Cube Mercenaries," I say. The eye disappears and I wait for a couple of moments. The door opens and a hand ushers me inside. I am faced with three men and one woman as the door closes, cutting off the light.
"How do you know of us?" asks the one by the door.
"I'm sure you know about us and all we have been doing; we have the sources to get the best for this war." I look at each of them before adding, "Especially when I am Princess Luna's personal advisor himself."
"Dage?!" gasps the guy on the opposite side of the group from the door. "The one who always is with the Princesses?! And followed the Princess of the Night when she turned?!" I nod. He stares.
"I think we should consider his offer," the woman says, standing just behind the middle guy.
He nods. "You will be compensated based on your work after-the-fact, incase you get yourselves killed. You will need to wear our colors, for recognition. And I am the one you will be obeying. If I fall, then you will be commanded by Princess Luna herself."
"Don't trust your own leader?" the final man asks.
"No, I don't trust anyone besides her." I look at each of them before pulling down my hood, feeling my frown. "I may be on Luna's side, I may be committing sins in her name, but I agree with none of this. I am breaking my morals out of loyalty; she needs what I am providing, if only she could see it. You are one of a few bands I am personally ensuring will be loyal to us incase things go to Hell. " I pull my hood back on. "As a result, wear our colors over your normal attire, incase things do change. Understood?"
"As long as you don't bullshit us and we get paid, we have a deal." He offers his hand and I shake on it.
I am Dage. I stand on a little ledge atop a greenhill. Ahead, the entire might of the Royal Everfree Guard, or the Solar Empire. Behind, the gathered forces of the New Lunar Empire. Beside me, Luna, Princess of the Night, head of the latter forces and sister of the Princess of the Day, Celestia, leader of the former might. I am Luna's advisor. And I am to lead this bunch into the fray against that bunch.
I turn to Luna as she turnes to me, dawned in her armor. She nods. I nod. I put up my hood, shadowing my face. I feel emotions grip at me as I raise my fist, enveloped in my blue flames. The armies tense. I leap forwards, throwing the flame outwards while making it enlarge. It hits with a massive explosion as I swing my blade out with one hand, slicing guards down as I keep my hood in the way of their faces. These were my friends...
I banish such thoughts from my head only for them to return endlessly. Spin, slice, deflect, cut, and on. My friends... I brought everything to here... I helped found the leadership and the royal guard... I helped make both forces... I helped lead so many to their deaths, many by my own blade... I feel the wetness of tears on my cheeks before battle whips them away. But more... is following suit....
I freeze, looking up to the tallest hill where Luna and Celestia are facing down. The Elements of Harmony are in position behind Clestia once more. No! I shove my way through the throng, the two blades clashing. Celestia shoves away Luna and prepares to strike-
Pop! My sword, thrown, teleports to knock Celestia's out of her hands. Pop! I'm inbetween the two. I spin to face Celestia. She prepares her magic. I let out a deep breath and plunge my left arm into her Elements-enhanced shield. It stops me at the wrist. I put all my strength behind it, feeling the Elements spreading from my arm. I ignore it as I strive for Celestia's neck.
"Dage!" Luna cries out. "What are you doing?!"
"Trying to kill Celestia... like you want..." I answer through gritted teeth.
"But... your arm...! The Elements...! Why?!"
"I can't answer that for you..!" I plunge my arm to the forearm now, just short of her neck.
I hear a gasp of realization behind me and delicate arms wrap around my stomach and drag me away. I'm surprised by her strength, but even more surprised when the Elements' magic explodes as my hand leaves the shielf, sending me flying. "Dage!!" she cries out again as she runs over to me. I can feel the Elements have me; it would show on my skin like when it was just my arm.
Celestia keeps her distance as Luna kneels down next to me. "I had to... my precious Moon..."
She turns to Celestia. "Sister! Save him! SAVE HIM!"
Celestia bows her head. "I can't..."
Luna turns back to me. "You can't go! Not when I finally see! I need you!"
I smile softly, sadness written in my eyes. "I'm sorry..." She turns from me. I reach up my hand and rest it against her far cheek, making her look at me again, tears glistening in her eyes. "Rememeber me... and do what you believe is right... my precious Moon...." I sigh as my body turns into blue streams that fade away. This is how I die. This is the death of Dage, childhood friend of Luna and Celestia, advisor of the New Lunar Republic, founder of the Royal Everfree Guard. This is the end.
