Nightingale

Twilight’s ragtag army of Equestrians stood defiantly before the gates of Canterlot; they had fortified their position on top of a hill by planting sharpened stakes around the base of the hill. There was no sound whatsoever, no movement, no talking, nothing but defiant stares and quick glances of fear. It was night time and the valley was lit only by the light of the stars and the moon, witch cast an eerie silvery glow to everything.

Twilight only had around two hundred trained guard ponies and as such the rest of her army was a mixture of farmers, sales ponies, nobles, and every profession under the sun that had no idea how to wield a sword or to make use of a spear. They were weak and while armed with the best weapons from the Defiance armory their true weapon was not a blade. No, it was that the ponies of Equestria had a cause to fight for; they had lost everything and as such had nothing more to lose but everything to gain.

Twilight called out to the castle in her royal Canterlot voice, “KING SOMBRA COME FORWARD TO RECEIVE OUR JUSTICE UPON YOU!” The sound of her voice echoed off the walls of the city an reverberated throughout the valley.

Twilight looked at Luna curiously “Where is his army? Why are they not attacking us?” Twilight asked.

“I am not sure, Sombra has always been one to act first and think later, this is… very unlike him.” Luna replied softly looking over at the younger Alicorn. “I do not know what he is playing at but Twilight I urge you to keep your wits about you, there must be some purpose for this.”

A flash of green flashed from behind the battlements drawing Twilights eye, unsure of its nature she called her army to battle positions before taking to the skies with Luna and Cadance. The air was silent but for the slow beating of the three princesses wings and then three horribly familiar screams filled the air taking the breath from Twilights chest.

“So you brought an army to bring me to justice did you?” Sombra asked, his voice echoing through the valley seemingly coming from everywhere at once. “Well I am willing to oblige your lust for battle however I feel it would be kind of me to return something to you.”

The gates opened and out trotted three of Sombra’s mind slaves holding stakes with the heads of three ponies, once the slaves had held them for everypony to see they proceeded to plant them in the ground before returning behind the city gates.

Sombra’s laugh filled the valley once more, however this time it was accompanied by the sobbing of Twilight Sparkle. “I wanted you to see your family one last time Twilight Sparkle before you join them in the green pastures beyond!”

Twilight’s crying stopped replaced by a horrible shaking, her horn began to glow a dark indigo and soon she was enveloped by black magic. When she looked up at the Battlements where King Sombra stood her eyes shone with the brightest white and seemed to burn with unimaginable fury. Lightning clouds had formed overhead and crackled with power as she stared down the Dark King. Princess Luna approached Twilight in order to calm her down but a lightning bolt cut her off.

“Do not try to stop me Luna!” Twilight said in a soft yet terrible voice, one that seemed to harmonize with itself creating a voice much like that of the changeling queen. “This must end now!” with that Twilight launched herself towards King Sombra.

*

“It has begun” Celestia stated simply to Discord “But something is wrong, something has happened, I-I don’t know what but the ether is in turmoil!”

“Twilight has engaged King Sombra!” Discord cheered. “I will finally get to go back! I can already feel him weakening his focus on my bonds!”

“Do not go yet! You must wait for the proper moment and now is not it!”

*

The air was ripe with the sounds and smells of war; the army of Defiance was engaged in a bloody and impossible fight against the daemonic horde of King Sombra. Screams and moans of the dying warriors competed with the clang of steel against steel and the whoosh of unicorn magic as Twilights army fought valiantly against the invaders.

Octavian was in the think of it.

He had been put in charge of the remaining unicorn royal guards to act as a shock unit and break up the enemy lines, however the heat and confusion of battle often makes a mockery of plans and as such he was currently a lone pocket of resistance on the armies right flank along with two of the guards under his command, three Pegasi militia, and four earth pony militia.

“Sir! Watch out!” one of the guards yelled pointing behind Octavian’s head.” Wheeling around Octavian shot a blast of black magic at a daemon warrior that was in the middle of leaping onto Octavian’s back. The blast created a gaping hole through its chest and Octavian smiled before being knocked down as the corpse crashed into him. Sighing the Vampony pushed the daemon off of him with some effort and unsheathed his dagger.

Something growled behind him and Octavian turned once more to find another three Daemons advancing on him baring their horrible fangs, likewise Octavian bared his and charged catching the daemons off guard. Octavian reared his head and shoved his horn through the first daemons chest before lighting up his horn and blasting the beast apart. Turning towards the next attacker Octavian caught a hoof to the face and went down to his knees conjuring a shield just in time to parry a downward stroke from a grisly looking long sword. Octavian growled before expanding his shield outward forcing the monster away and causing it to lose its footing before slamming his dagger home into the daemons heart.

Just as Octavian had finished pulling his now blooded blade from the corpse’s chest he was sent flying by a blast of magic to his flank. Looking around Octavian knew he was done for. He was alone and surrounded by dozens of the devil spawn. Staggering to his hooves he faced his doom with a smile on his face, it was going to be a fun night.

*

Twilight avoided another blast of dark magic from Sombra before returning fire with a spell of her own singeing the paw of discord as he struggled to get away. Pressing her advantage Twilight summoned blast after blast of black wych fire. Her hate fueled fire enveloped Sombra’s possessed body and resulted in an ear splitting scream. Twilight hovered in the air watching as the smoke dissipated to show the charred body of Discord falling to the battle below.

“That was too easy.” Twilight said frowning.

Laughter erupted from behind her, turning Twilight found Sombra, not even a scratch upon him. “Well I would have expected more from Princess Celestia’s personal student, and a Princess of Equestria! However, seeing how easily I defeated her I guess I should give you some credit.” Sombra taunted.

“How dare you!” Twilight growled “Celestia was a thousand times the pony you are!”

“Well yeah, seeing as I am currently in the body of Discord, who is not a pony. I guess you would be one hundred percent correct in that assessment!” Sombra smiled “Come on Twilight, we could end this pointless bloodshed right now, all you need to do is surrender, your ponies will live and you will join me in turning Equestria in to the greatest empire in Equis.”

“Never.” Twilight snarled. “Let’s finish this!”

“As you wish.” Sombra said with a smile before splitting Discord’s body into three, surrounding Twilight.

“SOMBER HEART!” Came a call from below. Sombra turned to face his new assailant, somepony he knew well.

“Hello… Mom.” Sombra said smiling at none other than Princess Luna.

“You lost any right to call me that after you killed my sister.” Luna said glaring at Sombra. “I used to love you like my own child! I trained you, brought you out of that dreadful orphanage and how do you repay me? You turned on my sister and nearly killed her before I intervened! And after a thousand years you do it again!” Luna let the tears run down her face and looked away. “Somber, I love you please just end this foalish farce! Please just come home.”

Sombra smiled at Luna “I think not.” Luna was enveloped in a blinding light, and then she was gone, up above a mare head appeared on the moon.

*

The battle continued as the sun rose in the east and the light weakened the daemonic hoard. Then a war horn rang through the valley and for a moment the sun was eclipsed by an immense dark shape. A titanic roar rang out joined by more of its kind, below the battle ceased everypony, and daemon looking towards the new comers, Dragons.