Who Rules?: Shattered Hearts

Who Rules: Shattered Hearts

by Nom deCheval

Chapter Five

“It was a slaughter.”

Luna stood perfectly still, her head up, facing forward as she spoke. The room was dim, a single light shining down on her while Luna went over what happened. Her voice was rough, a raspy sound rattling from somewhere deep behind it.

“We were prepared. All of us. Shining Armor had readied the troops, both ground and aerial. Celestia and I had talked at length of strategies and plans. Cadance was at our side. The battle lines had been drawn. All that was needed was the moment to begin.”

She took a deep breath. “And it did begin. Shortly after dawn, when Celestia and I are still at our best, the forces crested the horizon. Our scouts reported back to us immediately, but we questioned their reports.

“A force of only one hundred. A hundred ponies marching on Canterlot, where we stood with nearly fifty times that much waiting for them. It would have been silly if not for hindsight.”

Raising her head, she stared up into the light that shined down from above. “I should have known better. I had the experience, but I chose to ignore it. One hundred ponies, marching directly towards what we all assumed to be their doom.”

* * * * * * *

“Honestly, at first I thought it was a formal negotiating party. That maybe everything was going to be resolved peacefully.”

Shining Armor paced back and forth, twisting his head from side-to-side as he spoke. It was a quiet, calm room, the window’s letting in the dim light of the setting sun. His face was solemn, and his voice was sharp.

“When they started their charge, I could hear the surprised sound in the ranks. Even from my position, at the rear of the deployed forces, I could tell that these ponies were in way over their head.”

He turned and looked directly at his audience. “A straight-on assault? Against a fortified opponent that had the advantages of numbers and familiar terrain? That’s just madness. It was like they were possessed.” His head shook. “And I suppose they were.”

“I didn’t give the order to return the charge, there didn’t seem to be a need, but some damn fool at the front of the line did give it. Some pony too anxious to be in a fight responded with his own stupid yell and galloped out into battle, and the others fell right in behind.”

He stamped a hoof down onto the ground, hard enough to cause the others to jump slightly.

“You train and lecture, but unless the ponies are ready to listen, all you get are a bunch of colts with overactive hormones and adrenaline. Rushing into a fight that could have been easily controlled.”

Closing his eyes, he stopped pacing, making sure to keep his breathing steady.

“Still, even with the anxious colts, it looked to be a sure victory. Our forces rushed into the fray, the sound of armor and weapons crashing into each other, and the inevitable that happens after that.

“I kept my eyes open, watching the conflict, and honestly, very confused by what I was seeing. That’s when I noticed that every pony on their side was an earth pony. No unicorns, no pegasi. I sent word to watch the skies and check for magic on the fringes of the fight. I could feel it in my gut that something was wrong.”

He grit he teeth. “I hate it when I’m right.”

* * * * * * *

“The first sign of trouble came at the rear of the deployment.” The rasp in Luna’s voice grew stronger. “I was scanning the troops when I saw a battery breaking rank on the left side. They were turning and moving away from the battlefront, and then a second group did the same--and a third and a fourth.

“Turning to the other side of the field, the same was occurring. Three points on the right where it seemed as though an arc was forming, pushing into our forces. Immediately I pointed it out to Celestia, but of course she had already seen it. In the light of the sun, she can see everything.”

There was a long pause before Luna resumed speaking.

“Each point was a single pony--or pony-like creature, in any case. They were hitting strong and accurate, disabling the ponies they came across, taking out their legs. They were not taking time to finish the soldiers off, but making sure that they were down and unable to move.

“And they were fast. Unnaturally fast. The rear guard never saw them coming, and by the time they had hit all they could do was react--and it was already too late. The attack on the front was pulling our forces forward, and the battle was happening at the rear of the deployment.

“Of course, the army of Equestria is one of the best trained and most effective fighting forces in the world, so the shock wouldn’t last forever. Already our commanders were assessing the situation and adjusting, readying for the counter to this new attack. The shock was working, but we had numbers and we had training. Ultimately this battle was going to be ours.”

Her hoof stamped repeatedly on the ground, tamping in place as she tried not to pace. She stayed in the light shining down on her, her wings flaring out as she resumed speaking.

“Celestia saw the flash of color first, but it was so bright that I couldn’t help but notice it myself. Bright pink. I heard Cadance gasp when it happened. She had been silent through this whole ordeal, staying in the background and observing the battle, but there was something to that flash of light that resonated with her, and unfortunately, I knew exactly what it was.”

Her wings rustled as she gently brought them back under control, folding them down to her side.

“The flash of light echoed, arcing from that one point out to two others, and then moving from there to two more, and finally two more. Unicorns, picking up the magic and carrying it from the spell’s originator, creating an arc that was large enough to surround the entire portion of our army that had rushed out to the attack. And then it spider-webbed, filling the gap and covering that same army in a bright pink shower of magic.

“I think I heard Cadance scream. I was too angry to pay attention, though, and started to take wing--only to be pulled down by Celestia. Always the tempered one. Always thinking four steps ahead. I was ready to act, but she was ready to respond.

“Coldheart’s power overwhelmed them, and they fell to her love. They were hers. The forces that we had sent out suddenly became the very thing that we needed to fight against.”

* * * * * * *

“Chaos. There really isn’t a better way to describe it. We went from organized and prepared to lost and confused in a matter of minutes. These beasts that attacked our flank were...different. They weren’t ponies, but they were. They looked like a dragon laid out over a pony’s body.”

Shining Armor’s face was tight and controlled. He watched the reaction of his audience, trying to gauge their response to this news.

“The individual commanders of the forces were responding as well as they could, but those things were moving through us like nothing I had ever seen. They were acting and moving, not staying still long enough for anypony to get an even bead on them.

“And then everything changed at the front. Our enemy gained control of our own army, twisting their minds and making them turn and attack their own. My own forces hesitated, not wanting to strike against their own comrades--but the mind-controlled ponies didn’t have that issue.

“I was high enough up that I saw the wave pushing back against us, our own forces flinching. I sent pegasi to strafe the front line, dropping smoke bombs for confusion and ordering a regroup at the first fallback. At the same time we sent out a counter-attack against the dragon-pony things, ready to destroy them, or at least drive them back.”

He scanned everypony, looking at their eyes.

“It turned out that they had pegasi, too. They weren’t dropping smoke, though. No, these were bringing fire. Just as our forces moved up to the attack, they suddenly found themselves in a conflagration engulfing everything around those pony creatures--including them.

“I won’t lie. I wasn’t sure what to do. I had never seen an attack that was seemingly meant to sacrifice your own troops to destroy others like that, and I hesitated. And then again when I saw the dragon-ponies still moving in the fire.”

He shook his head, breaking view of the group as his eyes fell down. Slowly he raised them up again.

“Flames were dancing all over them, licking up their sides and across their claws as they began to run ponies down. It was like the fire only made them stronger, and they relished the idea of using it to destroy their enemies.

“And that was when I got the message from Celestia. We were to retreat to the castle immediately.”

* * * * * * *

Luna’s eyes caught the light, glimmers reflecting in them as she spoke.

“Shining Armor is an excellent Captain of the Guard. And what’s more, he is an excellent leader. Ponies respond to him when he speaks. And when he gives an order, they move.

“Leaving a strong line out, he ordered the remainder of our forces back to the outer limits of Canterlot. Celestia wanted to regroup completely, reassess and give everypony a chance to catch their breath before things continued.

“Cadance had been shouting about the overwhelming love magic that was unleashed on the battlefield. It seemed to strike her deeply, unsettling her in ways we didn’t expect. I was doing my best to ignore her, but Celestia stepped over and simply spoke to her, softly and quietly. And after a moment or two, Cadance calmed down, nodding.”

Luna echoed that motion, her own head bobbing up and down in a positive message.

“Her job was now clear, and perhaps the most important one we had. She had to keep any more of our forces from falling to Coldheart’s love magic, at least as much as she could.

“In the meantime, Shining Armor had pulled everypony back--or at least, as many as he thought he could get back in time--and then he unleashed his protection spell. The giant sphere of magical power surrounded the entire city, cutting it off from the invaders, as well as our own corrupted forces.”

She smiled.

“It was magnificent. His previous experience with having an attack against it still haunted him, and he had improved it tenfold. We watched as dozens of their army flung themselves against it, only hurting themselves in the process. Even the dragon-ponies had no success. They moved up, clawing at the shield and doing nothing but scraping their talons dull. We had gotten the respite we so desperately were seeking.”

The smile went away.

“Or so it seemed.”

* * * * * * *

“Ever since the changeling invasion, I had been working on my protection spell. I didn’t want another event like that happening. There was no way that I was going to let my shield be broken by having bodies flung against it, no matter what.”

His eyes were half-closed, shifting from one pony to another as he spoke.

“The shield was up, the enemy stopped, at least for the time being. Unicorns were desperately trying to counter my spell, unleashing their own torrents of magic against it, but I knew they would fail. We had been testing it against the combined might of the Equestrian Unicorn Task Force for the past several months, and that had taught me everything that I needed to do to make sure that it was immune to their assault.

“Sure, given enough time, they would have been able to wear it down and break through, but that was assuming that I wouldn’t be available to reinforce the spell periodically. And that just wasn’t going to happen.”

He stood proud, staring at the gathered group.

“The various commanders of the separate divisions gathered together, giving me their assessment of what had just happened and our current level of readiness and strength of forces so that I could report it to the Princesses. We were down to less than half strength in only a matter of minutes. And to make things worse, most of those losses were now sided with the enemy. I asked for thoughts, plans, suggestions, anything that I could present to try to turn this thing around quickly.

“I wish I could tell you that I had too many options to choose from, but we were all still just a little stunned by what happened. Overconfidence, I suppose, but you just don’t think that things can go that bad that fast. It was like there was a wave of defeat that started to sweep over everypony in the field, and it hadn’t stopped when the shield went up to separate us from them. Everypony inside was still stuck in the thought of the battle that had just ended so badly.”

He looked over the gathered ponies.

“That’s okay--for a moment. It was my job to snap them out of that moment and get them back on the right track. Protecting Canterlot is my responsibility, and I am not going to let that fall down because of a bad moment. One battle does not make the war, and I was determined to turn the tide of this around so that, in the end, Equestria was standing tall and strong.

“There are good ponies in the guard. Mares and stallions that I am very proud to call my friends and compatriots. I addressed them, standing at the top of one of the stairways, addressing as many as could hear my voice. I told them directly the situation.

“We had not lost. The only way that we were going to lose was to let ourselves fall victim to defeat mentally. Now was the time that I needed everypony to rise up to their potential and exceed it. Canterlot was under siege, and if we fell to the mentality that we had lost, then that was definitely going to be the truth. The only way to guarantee failure is to give up, and the finest of Canterlot--the finest in all of Equestria--were not going to let that happen. This was the time to become what we all thought of ourselves to be when we joined the Guard, the defenders of the realm! Heroes to ponies everywhere! A cheer rose up. I had gotten them back. They were smiling up at me.”

His teeth grit, his eyes focused like a fine spyglass, and he growled out his next words.

“But all I could see was her, as she stood just outside my shield, with a smug smile that I will never forget. She looked so familiar, and like no pony I have ever met.”

Turning his head, he spit on the ground, his mane falling down to cover part of one eye as he turned to look back at his audience.

“She raised a single hoof, and struck my shield.

“If felt as though a thousand shards of glass shot through my brain, and the magic that we thought was going to protect us while we regrouped shattered. Like a swarm of ants, they came pouring in before the last of the magic fell. I collapsed to a knee, stunned from the backlash that shot through me. From where I fell I heard her say one thing:

“Break them.”

* * * * * * *

“Celestia couldn’t stop me this time.”

Luna snarled, her fangs bared and her hooves raking along the stone. Her wings were high, and her head down, her body reliving the moment.

“I could hear her calling me, telling me to come back, but I was already in the middle of a fight in my mind. There was no turning back.

“Coldheart was walking into the city, her forces rushing around her, creating a bubble around her as they swarmed. They didn’t want to touch her, and I don’t blame them--but I wanted to touch her. I wanted to drive her head through the pavement.

“I arced up, folded my wings back, and dove. I knew how much punishment my body could take, and I was willing to share that experience with her, fully and completely.

“I was almost on her when her faithful interfered. A flash of yellow, and a pegasus was in my path, ready to sacrifice himself for his Empress. I was fine with that thought.

“He was just enough to push me to the side. I hit her. I hit her hard...but not directly. I glanced off her, knocking her to the side, but not off her feet. She spread out her wings, catching herself and turning around to see me standing there. The ground beneath me had not taken the impact well, and it was fractured and crumbling under my hooves.

“Power welled up around my horn, but I knew that a direct attack was pointless--I had already been down that road. But now we were in my arena--my Canterlot--and I was going to use that to my advantage.

“She laughed. She laughed AT me. And I think you understand how that would infuriate somepony like me, but I took that anger and channeled it, and sent the magic that I had already been building into the ground, and under her hooves. The ground exploded.”

Rearing her head up, Luna’s lip curled up in a smile.

“This time I surprised her. The stones flew up, battering her and sending her flying into the air. She might not have made a noise, but I knew that she held it in. She felt the pain.

“Unfortunately, she also recovered very quickly. Her wings unfurled again, and she held herself in place, her eyes narrow and staring down at mine. I wasn’t going to wait for her to respond, and I launched myself into the sky and directly at her.

“She, on the other hoof, came down towards me. We met in the middle, our bodies colliding, the impact shattering nearby windows.”

There was a pause as Luna turned her head away, hiding her face as best she could--but her grimace was still visible.

“It was the fact that she was falling. She had the pull of the ground on her side. That’s why she drove me down. I will admit that she is...stronger than I expected. The impact drove my breath from me, and gave her an opportunity that I regret allowing.

“Her hoof came down on my throat, shattering my windpipe.

“The breath that she drove from me wasn’t returning. I lay there gasping for air as she raised her head high, and looked down on me. Again I saw the look in her eyes, the conceit and disdain that she held, and worse, I saw her turn away, content that I was no longer a threat to her.”

A growl rumbled from deep inside Luna.

“That is a mistake that she will come to regret. I swear it.”

* * * * * * *

“We watched Luna fall. A fight that was over far too quickly, just like the rest of this battle. She was lying there, motionless, while Coldheart turned and began to walk towards the tower holding Celestia.

“I wanted to run after her, but we were having enough problems of our own. The troops that came stampeding into Canterlot were taking Coldheart’s command to heart, and were breaking everything they could get their hooves on. Doors, windows, the buildings themselves, were all being trampled, and some set on fire.

“As were the ponies defending them.”

Shining Armor was pacing back and forth again, his hooves clattering on the wooden floor, keeping his eyes on a very attentive group of ponies.

“Canterlot is...beautiful. One of the most majestic cities in the world, but these ponies were ransacking the place with total disregard. They didn’t care what they destroyed or who they hurt in the process. The more innocent the better, it seemed. What kind of pony would do that?”

Shaking his head, his voice became more terse.

“I wasn’t going to let them destroy my home. I knew there was nothing that I could do to stop Coldheart. She shattered my spell easily, and I saw what she did to Luna, so...so I let her go. She was out of my league, and I could possibly do some good with my immediate surroundings.

“I grabbed a squad of guards that were near me, ordering them to follow me, and took off towards one of the main thoroughfares of Canterlot. Towards the area where I ate lunch almost every day. At that moment all I cared about was that one block of that one street. We were going to win something, dammit!”

A hoof stamped down solidly.

“I don’t know how many ponies there were. I can’t tell you what we did. But I can tell you that no group of ponies under my command have ever fought harder or more passionately than those ponies did that morning in Canterlot.

“We started with one building, right in the middle of the street, and then let the battle carry out away from it. Our entire goal was to force the ponies away, establish a hoof-hold, and then fight out from it. Win back the city one building at a time if we had to, by Celestia!

“And we did it. We won the block. Two other squads saw what we were doing and came in to help us, and we beat them back. We had our line, and they were NOT going to cross it!”

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment. When he started speaking again, his voice was even and centered.

“They kept coming. We held the line against them, but they wouldn’t stop. Wave after wave of pony--most of them my own troops--battered against us as we fought to hold that one spot. Fought to control one block of sanity in a city that was quickly becoming ablaze.

“And I began to realize that it was only a matter of time before it was over.”

* * * * * * *

“Coldheart still has not learned that I do not die easily. She left me there, gasping for breath, feeling more than slightly content that I was finished. One more head for the wall, I suppose.

“I cannot wait to disappoint her in that regard.”

Luna was once again standing forward, the tone of her voice doing everything she could to not reflect her heart with her next words.

“Looking up, I could see the dragon-ponies, leaping from building to building, their claws gripping into solid stone as they climbed the walls of the towers, ambling up towards Celestia.

“My body was still betraying me. I found my magic, and channeled it inwards, concentrating it in the damage in my throat. I am something of a master of transformative magic, after all, and healing is just a matter of transforming the damaged part into something healthy. I was determined to get to the tower to aid Celestia. I was not going to let her...”

She paused for a moment, clearing her throat.

“I would not abandon my sister. I will not abandon her.

“As it turns out, I was in no rush. The first of the dragon-ponies that went over the balcony towards her and Cadance were quickly sent back over, in a less than dignified manner. It is a shame that Coldheart didn’t choose to bring some that had wings on them, or they may have landed safely.

“Whether under command, or because they realized the foolishness of their actions, after two of the creatures were sent tumbling, no more followed. They waited, biding their time out of view of my sister, but still fully in my line of sight.

“I stood just as Coldheart flew up to hover in front of the balcony. The city was in chaos, so I could not hear the exchange between Coldheart and Celestia, but I could read the passion in both of them. Coldheart with her calculative disdain, and Celestia with her unquenchable sanctity for goodness.”

Luna leveled eyes at the other being in the room.

“And do not speak ill of that, or this conversation will end poorly.”

She straightened herself up, continuing.

“I took to wing, weak and still trying to get my throat completely healed, but unwilling to let my sister handle this horrible wench alone. Unfortunately, the sight of Coldheart and Celestia locked in verbal sparring kept my eyes off the dragon-ponies, and when I looked for them a moment later, they were gone. And a moment after that, the conversation between Coldheart and Celestia stopped--and the battle began.

“It is no secret to either of us how powerful my sister truly is. She keeps that carefully controlled, so as to not frighten anypony, but there are few beings in this world that can stand against her for longer than a few moments if she unleashes her full strength.”

Luna smiled at the thought--which quickly faded.

“But Coldheart is something else. She has the power of three goddesses inside her, amplified by the might of the Nightmare. I believe Celestia understood that from the beginning. She knew that we would have to face her as one, but...but I flew off, leaving her and Cadance alone. She kept telling me that we needed to stay together. That we had to be ready and unified. My damn temper said otherwise, though! I flew off, letting the anger take over, and...”

A single shake of her head stopped her.

“And I’m getting side-tracked. I flew up, and saw a display that I have never seen from the outside. Coldheart and Celestia were both ablaze in power, magic cascading from them in a spectacle of might that may never be duplicated in Equestria. Sparks of sunlight showered from Coldheart where they struck her, while lightning danced around Celestia’s body.

“Behind my sister, Cadance stood, her gaze fixed and fierce, sweat beading on her brow as her horn shone like a beacon. I have never seen her channeling her energy so strongly, so defiantly. But in her own passion, she did not see the dragon-ponies approaching her from behind, and I did not have the voice or strength to warn her myself.

“Two of them fell on Cadance, forcing her to the ground roughly. They piled onto her, claws and fangs ripping into her flesh as they sought to disable her--or worse. Her scream was piercing and raw.

“And it was in that moment that Celestia faltered. Her head spun around, seeing what befell our niece, and she took a second to free Cadance from the creatures that were assaulting her--and Coldheart took advantage of Celestia’s sympathy.

“A beam of white energy pierced through my sister’s wing. I can only assume that Coldheart was aiming for the head or chest, but Celestia’s movement caused her to miss. Whatever the case, it was a painful attack, and my sister fell back several steps, putting herself over Cadance’s fallen body, while returning her attention to Coldheart’s attacks.

“But the tide had turned. We both knew it. Celestia looked up at me, and I saw the resolve in her eyes. She nodded, her horn flaring to power once more as she did two things.

“I heard her voice in my head, clearly and perfectly. She said to me, ‘lead them.’”

* * * * * * *

“Canterlot is an ancient city, despite its modern appearance. And in that ancient design are things that are meant to be used in times of dire emergency, even though most ponies don’t even know they exist.”

Shining Armor was still. He no longer paced, no longer moved his head back and forth. He looked out at them, a need in his eyes.

“The Great Horn sounded. It can be heard at every corner of the city, and for a half day’s travel beyond. It rang out, filling the city with a deep, resonant tone, and freezing everypony--both attacker and defender--in their tracks. I had spoken with the Princessess well before the battle had begun, and I knew what that meant.

“Celestia had signaled the retreat. I was to gather as many of our troops as I could and fall back to the pre-appointed meeting place, where we would regroup and plan our next action.

“I sent word along the line, sending my fastest ponies out to get the message to the troops to fall back.

“We had lost Canterlot.”

His voice stopped. He coughed, clearing his throat.

“It was my duty to obey. My responsibility was to thousands of ponies that were under my command, and to the countless more throughout Equestria that would need me to keep to my post and do what needed to be done.

“But there was another problem, and I took a moment to look back up at the tower that held my wife.”

* * * * * * *

“I protested, of course. There was no way that I would leave Celestia behind. She would not do it to me, so how could I do it to her? Coldheart was pressing the attack, her horn sending out ribbons of magic that cut through the bulwarks surrounding Celestia, and burrowed into the stone and the mountain beyond the tower. It was only the shield that Celestia was maintaining over herself and Cadance that kept them alive.

“I was flying in, as fast as my body would allow me, when a look from Celestia stopped me cold. For the second time that day I heard her speak in my head. This wasn’t a statement, it was a command. ‘Go!’”

Luna was pacing, her hooves echoing off the stone flooring.

“I do not respond to orders well, and my sister and I have a...unique...relationship. One that defines our borders very well, but I knew this tone, and I knew that this was more than a simple statement. I paused, still considering the order that I was just given, and in that moment it happened.

“The mountain collapsed, sending the tower down in a avalanche of rock and stone. A tower that had stood for hundreds of years toppled, falling in on itself and sending up a shower of dust and debris that filled the sky.”

“In the shadows of the dust I saw two figures, one holding the other aloft. And as the dust moved away from them, they were revealed. Coldheart holding Cadance aloft in her magic.

“Celestia had fallen with the tower.”

The words dropped out of Luna’s mouth coldly.

“She had fallen. And I...I turned and flew away.”

* * * * * * *

“I looked up and saw the tower collapse, falling into the mountain that had held it so strongly. Or so we thought.

“My last vision was of Cadance being held up by that witch. And then I came here, as instructed. I met up with the remainder of our forces and we began to plan what to do next.”

Shining Armor didn’t move. His words were even and controlled as he spoke.

“Luna and I formulated two different strategies, agreeing that they both held the promise that we needed at this point. I was to come to you, to tell you what happened and give you an idea of what we felt needed to be done. I’m sorry that we’ve invaded your home, and taken over your city, but Celestia knew that this was the right place. And I know that you are the right ponies for what’s next.”

“And what is next?” A mare asked.

“We need The Elements of Harmony, and for that to happen, we need my sister. We need Twilight Sparkle. But that isn’t going to be an easy task. She’s on the other side of a magical portal in a world that is already controlled by Coldheart and her minions. We need a rescue party. Are you up for the task?” he asked.

“Sugarcube,” Applejack stated, “did you really think that we were gonna say no?”

“A party? YAY!” Pinkie shouted. “I’ve never thrown a rescue party before!”

“Indeed,” Rarity agreed, “Twilight is our dear friend, and we will get her back home.”

“Dang straight!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “And I can’t wait to whoop up on anypony that tries to stop us!”

Six ponies stood there, five of them the bearers of Honesty, Generosity, Loyalty, Laughter and Kindness, along with a sixth pony that they all knew very well.

“Now,” Trixie stated, “tell us what we have to do.”

* * * * * * *

“That was three days ago,” Luna stated as she continued her constant pacing. “Our army is a fraction of what it once was, and our resources are very limited. We needed to find a new tact.”

“Well, aside from this being a wonderful tale filled with adventure and happiness, what does it mean to me?” the voice asked, echoing in the stone room.

“As of right now, Coldheart is still sitting on the throne of Equestria in Canterlot, not extending her reach any further,” she looked up, “but that time is coming. And there is nothing that any one pony can do to stop her. Trust me, I’ve seen what happens to those that tried to stand up to her before.”

“She hasn’t dealt with me,” the voice answered.

“Don’t be so quick to assume that,” Luna stated. “And you know that I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think that this was a dire situation. The idea of coming here is rather distasteful to me, but this is for the safety of the whole world, and so I will do whatever must be done. Whatever Celestia would do. As I said, there are only a hoof full of beings that can stand up to a power like this, and we are two of them, but we must work together if this is to work. We need an army, and you have one. So, I have come here asking you for help. What do you say?”

“If I help, it will come at a cost,” the voice buzzed.

“Name it,” Luna answered immediately. “I will pay it.”

The light played over the large figure as she moved forward. The white of the light shining off of the slick carapace on her body. Stepping up next to Luna, Queen Chrysalis smiled, her own fangs teasing at the edge of her lip. She looked the alicorn in the eye, standing muzzle to muzzle.

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” she laughed.

...to be continued.