Nightingale

by apaulingbrony

Rating: everyone
Tags: Romance, Adventure, Tragedy, Sad, Dark
Length: 16199

After Twilight Ascended to Alicornhood it seemed like the future would be bright for her, However When Discord attacks the City of Canterlot during Twilight's Coronation, her world is turned upside down.

After Twilight's ascension the future looked bright for the lavender mare. However when Discord attacks the city of Canterlot during Twilight's Coronation Ceremony her world is turning into a living nightmare. With the death of her mentor at the hands (Paws?) of Discord she is forced into the Everfree, and to the ruined castle within. Her enemies are many and her allies are few, can Twilight and a mysterious pony named Octavian Nightingale restore Equestria to its former glory?

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-08-06 18:45:48 UTC

Octavian

Nightingale

Twilight gasped as she woke, the events of the last few days replaying in her head. The stars were obscured by the high tangled trees of the Everfree and the clearing where they had made camp was still dark. Sighing as she got up, she called upon her magic and soon enough a purple fire burned in the center of camp. The fire cast an eerie light upon the trees and shed light on Twilight's coat, her face had several cuts running across it, her wings were ruffled and dried blood matted her mane and fur. Mud had also left its mark on Twilight; the once pristine lavender coat that had defined Equestria’s third princess was now a mix of brown and red.

As light filled the camp Twilight found herself surrounded by almost a hundred lumps of brightly colored fur. The lumps represented both Twilights success and her failure, she was bound by oath to protect Equestria from it enemies, but what about from its friends? Nopony saw discords betrayal coming; he had truly become a productive member of society and Twilights friend. When Discord had attacked Canterlot during Twilights Coronation she had hesitated, and her mistake had cost her Mentor her life. Twilights actions had led to Celestia’s death. Twilight felt the warmth of tears upon her face as she remembered Celestia’s last moments.

*

Celestia, Luna, and Twilight were losing. Badly. Luna had already taken several magical blasts that would have killed a normal pony and Twilight too had been injured fighting Discord and the army of Daemons he conjured out of the rift around Canterlot. Celestia was the only one unmarked, her pristine white coat shone in the sunlight and her eyes blazed with the terrible fire of a mother whose children were in danger.

“Discord! This is not the side of you I called friend! This is not the side of you that deserved Fluttershy’s friendship! I beg of you! Please for yourself and others STOP THIS MADDNESS!” shouted Twilight as tears came to her eyes, Mere hours ago she was shaking Discords paw, now she was evading his efforts to kill her.

Discord refused to speak as he had for the last few hours, ever since the battle began. The city of Canterlot was burning and the screams of the townsponies could be heard below. With a glance at each other the three goddesses leapt into battle with discord once more, showering him with stunning spells and binding spells. Discord however, was going for the kill, blasting death magic and the raw stuff of chaos and the Ether at the princesses.

A black and purple beam nearly missed Twilight as she spun to avoid the blast, Celestia infuriated at Discords actions sent a killing curse towards his heard only to have Discord swallow the blast and throw it back at Luna.

Time slowed as the beam neared its target Luna’s face slowly comprehending that this was the end. However right as the beam neared Luna’s heart a white blur intercepted the blast before falling to the ground unmoving.

“Twilight go to Celestia, get her and as many ponies as you can out of Canterlot, flee to the Everfree forest and to the Castle of the royal pony sisters, as the Everfree is already chaotic Discords magic cannot reach you there, I will hold him off” Luna told Twilight telepathically, giving her a look that said not to argue.

Twilight nodded before rocketing down to Celestia as the magical blasts still reigned over head; she touched down roughly and stumbled over to Celestia’s still body.

“Celestia? Please, look at me! Please you can’t be dead; you can’t leave me here without you!” Twilight said softly as tears dropped from her eyes and onto Celestia’s mane, which was slowly receding into the locks of a normal mane, no longer the arcane brilliance that Twilight had grown to love.

“Please Celestia… I-I… I Love you! You can’t leave me now!” Twilight sobbed

“Twi-Twilight? Please, come closer” Celestia muttered her eyes white with blindness. Twilight crawled closer to Celestia, before hugging her tightly, Hugging her as if to never let her go.

“Twilight Listen to me, my time has passed in this world, and you are the future of Equestria. Please do not morn my death, but celebrate my life! And do that by defeating discord, and making Equestria safe for ponies to live and love again. I’m proud of you Twilight, and I love you.”

Twilight was crying and as Celestia said her last words she buried her face in her mane once more before getting up, a strong defiant look upon her face.

**“Citizens of Canterlot, evacuate the city, and head towards the Everfree Forest! We will be safe from Discords magic there!”* She yelled in her Royal Canterlot Voice!*

The citizens of Canterlot ran towards the Gates with Twilight at their head, blasting the Daemons in front of them as to clear a path, as the last of the pony’s exited Canterlot Twilight sent a telepathic message to Luna.

“Luna flee, I have evacuated the City, FLY YOU FOAL!”

And with that Luna nodded and shot off away from Canterlot with Discord following her. Twilight in turn flew with the refugees to the Everfree.

*

Twilight woke the rest of the group, and led her followers to the ruined castle of the royal pony sisters, while trotting to the castle a mysterious pony joined Twilight. He was a Unicorn and had a blue coat with white and silver streaks in his mane and tail, and his cutie mark was that of three musical eighth notes and a half note.

“Hello, Princess Twilight, wonderful night isn’t it?” the stallion said looking at Twilight curiously, as if he found her the most intriguing thing in all of Equis. Twilight looked at him with anger.

“A wonderful night is it? I’ve just lost Canterlot, and all of Equestria for all I know, my friends might be dead, Celestia is dead, and for all I know Luna is dead too! I’m alone against the most powerful being on equis! So forgive me if I don’t think this is a wonderful night!” Twilight yelled, losing her cool for the first time since Discord attacked. The pony merely stared back at her with a calm voice and spoke again.

“And who do you think brought this night to us… ON TIME? My dear princess, Luna is alive, and the way I see it surrounded by protectors or else she could not have brought us this beautiful night.” The stallion looked at her with an expression of kindness. “My dear Twilight, do not lose hope.” Twilight looked at him thoughtfully.

“And what is your name sir?”

“Oh… I have gone by many names princess… but you can call me… Octavian.”

*

“Octavian? What do you mean you have gone by many names?” Twilight asked as she walked by her new companion. They we still a day’s walk away from the ruined Castle and Octavian had been a great comfort along the route. His charm was quiet invigorating and for the moments that they could talk Twilight felt like she could forget about the pain of Celestia’s death or the loss of Canterlot.

“Well let’s just say that Alicorns are not the only Immortals in this world.” He replied staring ahead, not looking at Twilight. “Immortality came to me; I did not seek it out as many ponies do, because I have to admit I was a rather clever stallion in my youth, and realized the two things ponies want most in life, immortality and wealth is the worst things for ponies.”

“What? You’re Immortal? But… but how? This doesn’t make sense! You look like a mortal pony!” Twilight exclaimed, looking Octavian over for and form of abnormality.

“Do I?” Octavian asked before smiling at twilight showing her the set of fangs that had plagued him his entire life.

“What? You’re a Vampony? I thought they were just an old mare tale?!” Twilight replied intrigued, not fearing the supposedly deadly hunter mere feet away from her.

“Well obviously not, however one could associate the disappearance of Vamponys from fact and into legend with the decline of our power and influence” Octavian said, looking away from Twilight. “We were created from normal loyal ponies during the first reign of Nightmare Moon; she created us to be utterly loyal to her.” Octavian explained “During the war we were her shock troops, one Vampony equal to a dozen regular ponies in battle. However after Nightmare Moons defeat, we came to our senses. The horror of our actions drove many of my brethren to suicide, while the rest of us were hunted like animals by the unforgiving members of the hunter’s cadre.” Octavian looked up at Twilight sadly “We had been normal ponies, Bakers, Farmers, Husbands and Wife’s, but after the war the ponies that sided with Celestia could not see past our misdeeds and condemned us to death.”

“What about Celestia? I’m sure she would have helped you! Hay, she gave Discord a chance why not you?” Twilight asked.

“We reminded her of her sister’s failure. She could not bear to look upon us because of our eternal connection to the evil of Nightmare Moon.”

Twilight looked at him thoughtfully before continuing on the trail to the Castle, her followers were tired and hungry, and they needed to get to the castle before sundown before an animal from the Everfree had them for dinner. Twilight was contemplating her next move when she heard a shout behind her.

“Princess Sparkle!” Prince Blueblood shouted with a look of disgust on his face. “I demand to know when we will arrive at the Castle and when I will receive sustenance!”

Twilight looked at him with a look of distain before answering. “I am truly sorry if your current conditions are not to your liking Prince Blueblood, however as you may not have noticed Canterlot has been taken and we are in a state of open war against a god. So I have to apologize that I may not give a rat’s flank about YOUR problems because I currently have so many of my own, so until further notice STUFF IT!” Twilight yelled her eyes burning with fiery hate.

“Well I do not think that an Alicorn who has no biological right to the throne should be giving orders to us of noble blood! Why I am Princess Celestia’s nephew!” Blueblood retorted before being cut off by a roar to his right. Night had fallen.

A huge hydra had trampled out of the dense trees of the Everfree forest and was roaring with all its might as it attacked the convoy of refugees, its five heads smashing to the earth in attempts to devour the ponies below. Twilight leapt into action followed closely by none other than Octavian, Twilight flew circles around the hydras many heads firing beams of magic towards the beast, severing several of its heads only to have them grow back stronger and meaner than before. Meanwhile Octavian was dashing between the hydras legs sending black blasts of dark magic towards the hydras belly and legs.

“Twilight!” Octavian yelled “Twilight we can’t kill it! It regenerates to fast!”

As Twilight turned to Octavian one of the Hydras heads slammed into her knocking her out of the sky only to be caught in the mouth of one of the other heads. Twilight was forced down the throat of the Hydra fighting the whole way down until she landed in the hydras gullet the stomach acid burning away some of her fur. Twilight’s eyes turned white as she focused her magic into a fire storm around her, black and purple flames licking at the insides of the hydras stomach.

Meanwhile, Octavian was confronting the Hydra head on the rest of the refugees hiding behind him or running towards the castle. Octavian charged the Hydra once more firing blasts at the hydras belly in order to save Twilight. Then with a flash of bright light the hydras stomach exploded, black and purple flames burning the Hydras body to a crisp as an angry Purple unicorn flew from the burning remains.

“Oh you did NOT just try to eat me!” Twilight yelled only to be greeted by the laughs of Octavian below. “And what do you think is so funny mister?” she yelled at Octavian her eye brow raised.

“You went all sassy black mare on that hydra!” Octavian replied chuckling “That and it is just our luck to be attacked by a Hydra fifty feet from our destination!”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked Octavian before following the direction of his out stretched hoof. There, not fifty feet from the burning body of the hydra was the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters main gate.

The Extent of Madness

A lone horn light shone against the darkness in the sewers beneath Canterlot, Illuminating five ponies trudging thru the waste. The sewers of Canterlot were truly cavernous and would be a world wonder in their own right… if it wasn’t covered in the waste of thousands of ponies that used to live above. The engineering brilliance that created the sewers was demonstrated by the great flowing arches that acted as supports for the sewers. Leading in front was a white unicorn mare who looked like she might be sick, followed by a pink earth pony who looked like she would like to be nowhere else than a stinking sewer running for her life from evil daemons.

“Pinkie! Quit bouncing your splashing this muck into my mane! I am already covered in so much muck I will have to bathe for a lifetime, no need to add any more!” Rarity whined at Pinkie Pie. “How much further Fluttershy? This sewer smells!”

“Oh… um sorry Rarity!... I think it’s just a little bit farther!” Fluttershy replied “Sorry to drag you girls down here I just kind of panicked once the battle started.”

“Oh it’s quiet alright dear! I am just worried is all; I do hope Twilight is alright, it looked like quiet the battle.”

The group was silent as they came to a stair case at the end of one of the many long and winding tunnels that snaked through the Canterlot sewers. Though they had been led through the sewers by Fluttershy’s freakishly immense and complete knowledge of the sewer system, the fear of the dark unknown around them had set the ponies on edge. Torches lined the walls as the steps ascended, the lights at the top a mere pinprick against the darkness. The stair case was long enough to make King Sombra proud and Rarity whimpered as a drop of goddess knows what dripped on her head. As the five companions slowly climbed the stairs to the surface Rainbow Dash contemplated the previous day.

“Hey girls?” Rainbow asked “Anyone notice that Discord wouldn’t speak to any of us during the battle yesterday?”

“Well yea RD! he was kinda busy layin waste to the city and the Princesses!” Apple Jack responded “He didn’t exactly have time to say howdy girls!”

“Well yea! But he just didn’t seem like the Discord we know!”

“Well yea sugarcube the Discord we knew wouldn’t have attacked Twilight like that! The Discord we knew, the Discord we loved, is dead.”

“Exactly AJ! Even when Discord took over Equestria the first time he never killed anypony! He just caused so much Chaos that nopony could mess with him! The old Discord was Chaotic, but never evil! This new Discord… well he is just blatantly evil!”

“And what is your point dear?” Rarity interjected “Discords changed!”

“Gah! For once am I the smart one?!? Discord hasn’t changed! Something has changed HIM!”

*

Luna was nervous. Her secret fort from the lunar rebellion would not hold for long against the amassed forces of Discord and she would have to wait until daybreak to move her forces towards the Everfree. Discords daemons could not move far from the rift in sunlight so tomorrow morning would be the best time to join Twilight. Twilight had sent her a message through a seeing mirror at the old castle that they had arrived and had begun to renovate the old fortifications and gather supplies and weapons.

It was a strange thing, preparing for war. Luna had not had to for over a millennia, war in Equestria had become little more than a concept, a myth, the closest thing to war the citizens of Equestria had experienced was the invasion of Canterlot by the Changelings. However even that conflict paled in comparison to the full scale war that was to come, and Equestria’s guard had been overrun in a matter of minutes when the rift had opened over Canterlot.

Luna trotted over to the portcullis and looked out over the lands that once belonged to her, Trottingham was burning in the distance, and a Cullum of ponies were fleeing from the city to the citadel. Discord had followed her all the way to Trottingham before she had escaped through a secret tunnel to the Citadel, and in his fury Discord set fire to the city and was slaughtering the inhabitants. A breeze picked up and blew Luna’s mane around her.

“To positions! They are coming! Quickly now! All Ponies to the walls! Get somepony on those ballista! Mages to the moon tower! Pegasi to the skies!” Luna Yelled

“The Enemy believes us beaten! Believes the age of ponies is at an end! My subjects! Show them different!”

It was then that she heard it. A buzzing sound growing in intensity as the horde of daemonic flyers flew towards the citadel, while the sound of claws scraping on rock rose from below. Thousands of daemonic red eyes blazed with the fire of Tartarus through the darkness, and for the first time in a thousand years Luna felt the nauseating embrace of fear grasp her. It was going to be a long night.

*

On Mane Street in Canterlot a trapdoor was opened and a blue head with a rainbow mane poked out. The street was deserted, or so it seemed at first, then the mare noticed that the bodies that littered the streets were being cleaned away by ponies. In fact they were being cleared away by ponies the mare recognized, for a moment she was elated, Twilight and the other princesses had obviously won the war. That was until the mare looked closer at one of the ponies. A certain grey mare had turned towards the trapdoor. What Rainbow Dash saw chilled her to the very core. The grey mares lips had been sewn shut with black string while her normally derpy eyes were a solid black. The Rainbow mare suppressed a scream before retreating back into the darkness of the sewers and closing the trapdoor.

“Well Rainbow? Who won? What’s going on up there?”

Rainbow shook her head allowing a tear to fall from her eyes “Canterlot is taken. Celestia help us, what has Discord done? Derpy Hooves… she… she wasn’t the same… her mouth was sewn shut for goddesses sake!” Rainbow sobbed “How could he do this!”

The girl’s suppressed screams at Rainbows break down. Rainbow was usually the solid calm rock in the group, if she was scared the girls were in real trouble. Apple Jack turned to Rainbow before speaking.

“Well what do we do now hun?” AJ asked “You think it is safe to go up there?”

“AJ I just said there were mindless slaves with their mouths sewn shut. Do you think it’s safe to go up there?”

“Well what else are we supposed to do?!” AJ yelled, her eyes blazing “Stay down here for the rest of our lives? What will we eat? Are we just supposed to sit down here and do nothing?”

“Look AJ the war is over! The Princesses are probably dead, Twilight is probably dead too” Rainbow countered before being slapped across the face by an orange hoof.

“Don’t you dare Rainbow Dash!” AJ yelled “Don’t you dare say that! How can you… how can you just give up like this!? Where’s the brash egotistical brave Rainbow Dash I know? For goddess sake the five of us could take on an army of changelings!”

Rainbow Dash looked taken aback at AJ’s outburst, tears fell freely from her eyes and she turned away from her closest friend. The group of friends was stunned in to silence; the only sound the soft drops of tears into the muck of the sewer. Rainbow Dash wiped the tears from her face before turning back to face the girls.

“Okay girls, this is the plan.”

*

Twilight and Octavian sat on the balcony of the castle keep, the moon hung in the air and its fullness illuminated the shapes of the ponies below. A mix of the remnants of the Royal Guard and a large group of volunteer militia lined the outer walls of the ancient castle. Shapes moved through the courtyard as ponies moved to begin renovations on the castle. Barrack rebuilt, living quarters refurbished and mess halls roof fixed. The refugees of Canterlot were turning the run down ruin into a home.

“So Twilight, what are we going to call it?” Octavian asked silently.

“What do you mean Octavian?” Twilight asked inquisitively, turning to face Octavian.

“The castle, what are you going to name it? We can’t exactly go on calling it the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters can we? Such a long name.” Twilight looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before replying.

“We will call it Defiance.”

*

Luna kicked another one of the foal daemons away from her before lighting up her horn and bathing it in concentrated moonlight, the daemon sizzled as is burned away, banished to whatever realm it came from. Smoke and flames flickered at the edge of Luna’s sight; the foal beasts had set fire to the barracks. Luna’s forces were broken and many were already falling back to the keep.

“Fall back! Back to the keep! Hurry back to the keep!” Luna commanded

Luna’s forces were in full retreat, many were brought down by the marauding daemons before they could make it to the keep. With an angry glare towards Trottingham Luna teleported into the keep, instantly appearing by the two large doors that provided access to the keep.

“I want those doors closed, now!” Luna commanded “Brace the doors; we must hold them here for a little longer! Sunrise is not long my little ponies!”

The remains of Luna’s rag-tag army braced against the doors as the daemons on the other side pounded away at them. With hoof and claw the daemons tore at the door, the ponies on the other side barely holding the forces of chaos at bay. Luna turned from the battle and sent a telepathic message to Twilight.

*

“Twilight, I need you to raise the sun NOW.”

“What, but Luna I don’t know how to! What if I mess up?”

“Then you fry the enemy as well as us, please Twilight, if that sun does not come up in ten minutes hundreds of ponies are going to die.”

“Alright I will try.”

Twilight got up from Octavian’s side her movement waking him from his slumber. She stretched her wings before lighting up her horn, concentrating on the psychic waves of the ether and finding the blazing brilliance of the sun. Reaching out to the Celestial body she cringed as her magic reached the sun, its heat warming her to the core of her being. Slowly she forced the sun out of its slumber early bringing it into the night sky as the moon descended.

“Twilight? What are you doing? It’s still like three hours until sunrise!” Octavian asked shying away from the bright, weakening rays of the sun.

“I just saved several hundred lives apparently.” Twilight said nonchalantly.

“Yea and gave me some nice burns while you were at it!” Octavian replied sticking out his tongue.

*

Luna looked towards the doors as light shone in through the many cracks and holes the daemonic horde had made while trying to break through. Then in are rare showing of emotion from the Princess of the night Luna began to cry as she smiled, relief flowing through her as she realized the battle was finished. A cry went up through the crowd and they pushed the doors open to let in the sunlight. The courtyard of the Citadel was covered with the dead and Luna found her smile cut short, she had lost many ponies but she had dealt a great blow to Discords army and may have stalled an attack on Defiance for a few months. She turned to her weary followers before addressing the crowd.

“My subjects, we have won!” Luna shouted to the cheers of her army. “We have dealt the enemy a grievous blow but now we must retreat to the Everfree to regroup with Princess Twilight at the new Capital of Equestria! Defiance!”

Within the hour a column of ponies headed out from the Citadel, laden with weapons, food, and other supplies bound for Defiance. Pegasi scouted the air looking for any sign of trouble and Luna was at the front of the column with a look of determination on her face.

*

A guard of Defiance was galloping through the courtyard and up to the keep; Defiance had changed over the last week as more and more refugees from all over Equestria had shown up. The old ruin was now a bustling city with upwards of 8,000 occupants in it and the surrounding refugee camps. The guard slowed as he entered the keep and continued at a trot towards the throne room.

“Princess Twilight, you may want to see this.”

Possession

The morning air was cold on Twilights neck, Celestia’s- no- Twilights sun was just beginning to climb into the air. She was trotting across the courtyard with the guard who had so rudely interrupted her and Octavian’s discussion about the ramifications and hardships of immortality. Twilight glared at the Guard, this had better be good, she thought to herself, if not I wonder if I could learn how to send ponies to the moon? The thought made her laugh, only a week of raising the sun and already shes thinking like her mentor! The pony refugees that were already up and about looked up at Twilight curiously as she went by some bowing to the lavender Alicorn. As Twilight and the Guard approached the gate Twilight watched as the night guard switched with the day guard, and slowed to a stop as her appointed Captain of the Defiance Guard approached her.

“Good morning your highness, sorry to have disturbed you but we have a rather pressing matter at hand.” The Captain said as he walked towards the gates, Twilight following close behind. “There was a group of refugees that arrived about an hour ago, and they said they were friends of yours.” He hesitated before continuing “They also said the have news from Canterlot.”

“Really? Where are they now?” Twilight asked, a glimmer of hope filling her.

“Well we put them in a holding cell by the gate, would you like to see them your highness?”

“Yes, I would, bring me to them.”

The Captain nodded and took her to an old cellar built in to the outer wall, the soft clicking of their hooves on the cobble stone echoed of the walls as they approached the cellar. Unlocking, and opening the door, the captain stepped aside to reveal six familiar mares inside. Twilight’s five friends as well as Octavia, the cellist from the Gala were sitting in a circle in the cellar. Upon seeing Twilight Pinkie dashed towards her and wrapped her in a tight embrace.

“TwilightIthoughtwewouldneverseeyouagainhowareyou?wheresLunaandCelestia?ohwehavesoomuchtotellyou!DiscordisntDiscord!wellheisbuthesposessed!” Pinkie rambled on until Twilight stopped her with a hoof.

“Pinkie, I’m glad to see you girls too but I think it would be easier if you just started from the beginning.”

“I can fill you in Twilight dear.” Rarity said “Well after the battle started Fluttershy pulled us down into a sewer. After a while down in the muck we found the way out…”

*

The five companions slowly exited the sewers through the trapdoor, before running to the nearest alley before one of Discords slave ponies could see them. The Sun was shining down on them and Canterlot smelled of death and decay. Slowly and quietly they walked through the alley, the five ponies shaking of the muck of the sewer. As they came to the other side of the alley and to the street they found it deserted, Rainbow Dash looked at Apple Jack before shrugging and walking into the street. Reluctantly the rest of the mares followed her. As the group slowly trotted down the street towards the main gate of Canterlot they heard the clopping of hooves behind them. Rainbow looked at Apple Jack.

“Do I dare look?” Rainbow asked with worry etched across her face.

“Well sugarcube we are gonna have to if they mean trouble!” Apple Jack replied with false bravado in her voice.

The group turned to see a group of around twenty ponies following them, all staring blankly ahead with the terrifying black eyes of Discords slaves and the mouths of the ponies were all sewn shut. The five companions stopped and turned to face their attackers, taking up fighting stances as the mob advanced.

“Girls hold your ground! We beat an army of Changelings we can take on a punch of mindless slaves!” Rainbow Dash yelled

“Yea… but- uh Dash? When we beat the Changelings we didn’t know them… I mean that one on the left is Donut Joe! We can’t hurt our friends!” Fluttershy replied.

“Oh. Right. Okay girls, new plan. RUN THE BUCK AWAY!” Dash yelled before turning tail and running away with her friends right behind her.

“DASH! THEYRE FOLLOWING US!” Rarity yelled fear creeping into her voice. Sure enough the slaves were chasing the mares down the black, unblinking eyes boring holes into the mares backs.

“HEY! Girls over here!” came a cry from Rainbow Dash’s left. Over by a trap door was a mare in a black cloak, beckoning to the fleeing mares. With a look at Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash led the group over to the mysterious pony and followed her down the trapdoor and into a massive chamber, filled with an assortment of weird magical items and scientific equipment. As soon as the last of the five companions were inside the pony closed the trapdoor and sealed it, the sound of hooves passing over head filled the chamber for an instance before disappearing.

“Wow thanks stranger! We would have been toast if you hadn’t helped us!” Rarity exclaimed.

“What is this place?” Rainbow demanded “It looks like some sort of evil scientists lair!” then Rainbow thought a bit more “or Twilights basement!”

“heh I suppose it does Rainbow Dash, bearer of the Element of Loyalty.” The stranger replied before lowering her hood to reveal a gray mare with a long flowing black mane.

“Octavia?” Rarity asked “is that you?”

“The one and only” Octavia said unsmiling, before turning to Rainbow Dash. “and to answer your question Rainbow Dash, this is the home of the Order of the Blue Sun.”

“The what?”

“The Order of the Blue Sun. It was a secret organization founded by Princess Celestia after the fall of her sister to dark magic.” Octavia explained “Its purpose was to find, understand and root out evil where ever it may be.” She hesitated “Discord and I were recent additions to the Order; in fact Discord was reformed exactly to fulfill this purpose. You see after King Sombra was defeated by Twilight Sparkle, hundreds of dark and mysterious items were handed over to our custody, the most dangerous of which being the horn of Sombra himself, in which he was imprisoned.” Octavia looked up at the five mares “Celestia wanted to destroy Sombra permanently. The problem was that Sombra could possess those who got too close to the horn. Celestia thought that the immortal mind of Discord would be immune to such a possession and as such Discord began to study the horn intensely for the past few months.” A tear fell from her face “You see he worked so hard because he wanted to show Celestia and Twilight that he HAD changed. He wanted to earn their love.”

“I think that the possession happened after his last experiment, it had seemed to go so well! He thought that instead of destroying Sombra outright, that it might be possible to separate his spirit from the horn and send him directly into the ether. When he tried the spell it knocked everyone in the room out, and when we came to the horn showed no magical signature!” She smiled “Celestia was so proud!”

“So wait a second! You’re saying that Discord is being possessed by Sombra? Like when Luna was possessed by Nightmare Moon?” Rarity asked

“Well sadly no. Luna was possessed by her own emotions given sentience, Nightmare moon WAS Luna whereas Discord was possessed by an outside entity.”

“So what does that mean for Discord?”

“What it means Rarity is that the Discord we knew is dead, his soul devoured by Sombra” Octavia replied her voice cracking as tears ran down her face.

*

Silence filled the room as Rarity finished her tale, tears were on everyponys face and Twilight turned curiously toward Octavia.

“So who else was in this Order of the Blue Sun?”

“Um, there weren’t many of us there was Discord and I obviously. Night Light, your father, was as well. Oh! And this weird guy, he seemed to be Immortal, saw him take some hits that would have killed any normal pony. Oh what was his name!”

“Octavian?” Twilight deadpanned

“Yea! That was it!”

At that moment the door to the cellar opened again, the sunlight from outside blinding everypony as a figure trotted in the room.

“There you are Twilight! I was wondering where you were! Oh who else is here? Wait- is that you Octavia?... Oh horse apples.”

*

Darkness filled the sky over the Crystal Empire as the shield projected by the Crystal heart held it at bay. The crystal ponies inside were terrified and were gathering outside the royal palace to beseech Princess Cadence for answers. Meanwhile inside a husband and wife were pacing in their quarters, every few seconds sending glances outside towards the dark foreboding sky.

“Honey Twilight hasn’t answered any of my letters!”

“Shining, Spike is on a diplomatic mission to Dragonia remember? He probably still isn’t back yet!”

“Yes but nothing has been heard from Canterlot after the Coronation and Twilight has always been good at keeping me up to date I haven’t  heard from her since we left Canterlot!

“What can we do Shining? We can’t travel by land or air because whatever is out there has blockaded us!”

     “Our first action is to put the guard on full alert, and mobilize the reserve and get every citizen armed in case of an invasion. Second we need to get a message to Somepony in Canterlot or my sister, and third we need to prepare a way to escape from the city in case of being overrun.”

The couple trotted over to the balcony and looked out over their city. The streets had emptied as the guard sent everypony to their homes. The sky had turned black as the darkest night and rain had begun to pound at the shield before the silence was broken by a familiar laugh.

“So my dear Crystal Ponies you think you have been saved from me by this Twilight Sparkle? Be warned my slaves I am coming, and when I come nopony will be spared from my wrath!”

Shining Armor and Princess Cadence looked at one another before hugging each other tight and not letting go. And when the servants came in the morning they found the couple still in each other’s hooves asleep.

*

Luna flew up above the trees looking back she saw the long column of ponies that had fled with her from Trottingham and the Citadel, looking forward she could see the large imposing shape of Castle Defiance. She teased herself by thinking that if she looked close enough she could see the shapes of Ponies moving along the walls. With a faint smile she turned back to the column.

“My subjects! We are nearly to Defiance! Once there we can join our forces and put a stop to the madness caused by Discord! We will continue to march through the night and we shall be at the castle by morning!”

*

It was dark in the dark, cold in the void, and lonely with no name the spirit decided. The ether was all that was and all that will be to the spirit and it was all it could remember. Not the warm embrace of a friend, not the sweet taste of joy, and never the feel of love, only the dark coldness of the void, alone.

“Hello old friend”

The spirit turned to find a tall mare of incredible beauty smiling at him, the white of her coat lit the darkness and warmed the spirit. Though they had never met to the spirits knowledge the spirit could feel love emanating from the mare. It was then that the spirit remembered how to speak.

“Who-who are you?”

The mare smiled “a friend”

“Then who am I?”

“Ah well that is quite the question isn’t it? Well you are a being capable of immense good or terrible evil, a loyal friend yet a tricky and backstabbing enemy. Yet the answer I think you want is your name.”

“Then what is it? What is my name?”

“Why your name is Discord”

And with that the spirit- Discord smiled.

Heart Strings

Twilight paced in the throne room, her friends and Octavia off to one side while in front of her stood a terrified looking Octavian. The guards had been ordered out of the room and the room was silent, the only sound the clip clopping of Twilights hooves on the stone floor of the throne room. Twilight stopped in front of Octavian and gave him a look comparable to Fluttershy’s famous stare.

“So, what you are telling me Octavian is that you KNEW WHY DISCORD WAS ACTING LIKE A CRAZED EVIL MANIAC!”

“Well… not exactly Princess I just had a hunch that Sombra’s horn had possessed him. I had no real evidence one way or the other.” Octavian replied. “And technically you didn’t have the proper clearance to know.”

“I DIDN’T BUCKING HAVE THE RIGHT CLEARANCE!” Twilight yelled the tips of her mane beginning to light on fire and her coat turning white. “I AM A BUCKING PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA AND I DON’T HAVE PROPER CLEARANCE?!?!?!”

“Well yes only Celestia had clearance to know what the order was up to, she never even gave Luna clearance.”

“And it never crossed your mind ONCE to tell me this, never crossed your mind to tell A PRINCESS OF EQUESTRIA who is currently trying to SAVE EQUESTRIA something like this? Something of vital strategic importance like this? Even if it was just a hunch it could still be important!” Twilight yelled getting inches away from Octavian, their noses touching.

Octavian smiled before leaning in to kiss Twilight, their muzzles locked together as Twilights eyes went wide. A collective gasp was heard from Twilights friends as Twilight returned the kiss, her eyes closing then shooting open wide as she realized what she was doing. Twilight reached up pushing Octavian away with one hoof before whacking him upside the head with the other hoof.

“WHAT THE BUCK OCTAVIAN!” Twilight yelled her face reddening with a telltale blush. “Why did you do that?!”

“Just trying to diffuse the tension!”  Octavian replied before turning to face Twilight “That and you are quite cute when your angry” Octavian said with a wink.

“Wha- What? GUARDS!” Twilight called answered by the sound of hooves on stone “take this stallion to a holding cell! I-I don’t want to see him right now”

“Aww come on Twi! You know that was funny! Oh get your hooves off of me! Come on! You know you liked it!”

“Oh shut up! Be glad that I don’t know how to send you to the moon! Because if I did know you would be eating moon dust right now!” Twilight yelled back in anger.

“Maybe I like moon dust! Huh have you thought of that?!” Octavian replied defiantly, bearing his fangs.

“Well you can find out on the MOON!” Twilight replied, lighting up her horn.

“Um- Twilight?” Fluttershy said trotting up and placing a hoof on her shoulder. “Don’t you think your being a little harsh?”

Twilight looked down at Fluttershy and saw a set of big pleading eyes staring back at her. She sighed before signaling the guards to bring Octavian back, Octavian was smiling as he returned, and shook the guards hooves off of him.

“What Twilight? You miss me already?”

“Um- Octavian… I don’t think that now would be a good time to- um mess with Twilight, she’s not exactly in the mood.” Fluttershy said before Twilight could respond. Twilight just sat behind her literally frothing at the mouth with rage. “In fact I think it might be a good idea to go back to your chambers for the rest of the night.” Octavian smile faded and he nodded before turning and leaving the throne room only pausing to turn his head and stick out his tongue at Twilight who responded in kind. After he left the throne was silent once more, everypony stunned by what just happened.

“Sooooo uh Twilight you and Octavian have a thing?” Rainbow Dashed asked breaking the silence.

“Wha- What! No nonnononononononono no.  Not at all. Never in a million years. uh nope.”

“Yea they totally have a thing. TOLD YOU AJ!” Rainbow Dash responded before collecting twenty bits from Apple Jack.

“Gosh darn it ah thought she was just too bookish for that!”

“Wait you girls BET on my love life? And just what do you mean by that Apple Jack!” Twilight asked unbelievingly. “You know you girls might just join Octavian on the moon if you keep that up!” Twilight said straight faced staring back at her friends who all stood there with their mouths agape. Twilight raised an eyebrow before cracking up filling the throne room with laughter, soon she was joined by her friends and Octavia and for the first time since Celestia’s death she felt happy.

*

Spike found Twilights last letter confusing. He had been receiving a erratic supply of half-finished notes on his way to Dragonia after the main ceremony of her coronation. But after her last letter Go to Everfree the letters stopped, almost as if the magic supporting the connection had died out. It had worried him the entire time he was in diplomatic meetings with Dragonia’s Tzarian Drascour’ Turan and as such he left for Equestria as soon as possible. He had also noticed some weird things along the road to Canterlot, all the villages were deserted and wild animals ran free. At night he heard strange sounds outside of his tent and at time he caught glimpses of strange pony like figures with the heads of Flies or some other deformity. In fact by the time he had reached Canterlot Spike was willing to say he was scared, terrified in fact. So in his terror he resorted to what he did best- following Twilights orders- so instead of heading up the mountain to the shining city of Canterlot he headed towards Ponyville and from there would head into the Everfree.

*

Prince Shining Armor stood by a window overlooking the city, the power of the crystal heart was failing, the faith of the townspeople was fading and in this hour of darkness a rebellion was brewing. A young charismatic leader had arisen from the slums of the crystal city and was calling for the poor to join King Sombra and over throw the oppressive upper class. He believed that a life as Sombra’s slave while hard he would be equal with everypony else, and sadly many had flocked to his cause. The guard had been arresting all ponies suspected of rebel activity but the rebels were still able to gather and set fire to the town hall. The sound of hooves behind Shining Armor made him snap back to reality and turn to face a guard that had just walked into the room.

“Prince the rebels have captured the town square, we tried retaking it but were repelled. We have gathered the citizens still loyal to you and retreated to the palace” The guard said his voice laden with fear.

“Right, any word from my sister?”

“Actually yes, she sent word of Canterlot’s fall to King Sombra. Apparently they have retreated into the Everfree forest because King Sombra has possessed the body of Discord, whose magic cannot work in an area already chaotic. She also says that if you can find a way to reach the Everfree you and your people may reside in her new seat, Castle Defiance.”

“Very well” Shining replied curtly before turning to find his wife. He had thought of an idea that could possibly save their people from King Sombra’s wrath but it was a long shot and he would need Cadance’s help.

*

Luna trotted over the hill her subjects close behind her, in front of her was her destination, the imposing walls of Castle Defiance. When the guards upon the walls caught sight of Luna’s host she raised her banner signaling to the guards to open the gates and allow her through. Soon the gates were open and from them Twilight Sparkle and her friends trotted out to meet Luna and her army. Twilight embraced Luna with a smile before berating her.

“Took you long enough! You scared me half to death! I thought I was going to lose you too!” Twilight said before nuzzling her mentors sister.

“Well if it wasn’t for you none of us would be here right now so I guess I have you to thank for the continuation of our lives.” Luna said seriously before breaking into a smile “By the way congratulations on raising the sun, Celly would be so proud”

Twilight blushed “Well when several hundred lives are at stake I think it comes a little easier!” then Twilight frowned “So how many did you bring with you?”

Luna sighed “Only eight hundred, we lost to many fighting Discords daemons! How many ponies do you have here?”

“Just a little over nine thousand including your forces, Luna with so few we can’t beat him. Twilight replied as tears fell from her eyes. “Only a month after I’m crowned a Princess  of Equestria the entire world goes to Tatarus! I’m supposed to protect Equestria and its citizens and already thousands have died because of my hesitation!”

Luna slapped her with a hoof. “Twilight Sparkle! Do not talk like that! You have done all that you could to protect Equestria!” then Luna embraced the lavender Alicorn “I need you to be strong Twilight, your all I have now.”

*

“You want to do WHAT!” Cadance yelled at her husband.

“Honey you have to trust me, if we use the last of the Crystal Hearts power we can create a portal to the Everfree to meet up with my sister and her army!”

“Yes I understand that but the problem is that doing that would break the shield and would let King Sombra in!”

“That’s why I will be the last one through! I can cast a strong enough shield and buy enough time to get everypony through the portal!”

“I see… Do you think this is the only way? Can’t we just stand and fight?”

“Cadance… Canterlot fell to King Sombra’s horde… it isn’t like before okay? He possessed Discords body, do you get what that means! He has all the malice and hate of King Sombra with all of the god like powers of Discord!” Tears filled Shining Armors eyes “Cadance… he killed Celestia! If we stay here… if we don’t try this… he will kill us all.”

“oh-okay, we will do it at sun up.” Cadance replied turning away from her husband. Shining Armor sighed before lifting her chin to look at him.

“Cadance look at me” Shining Armor said with compassion in his voice “We will make it through this mess, and we will make King Sombra pay for this. I promise.”

*

A knock sounded on Octavian’s door and reverberated throughout his room waking him from his sleep. Sighing he rolled out of his bed and trotted to the door.

“I swear this had better be important! I’m not exactly in the mood right now!” he yelled as he approached the door. His voice caught as he opened it to reveal none other than Princess Twilight with an extremely pissed off look on her face.

“How dare you!” She shouted at him with venom in her voice “How dare you!”

“How dare I what?”

“How dare you!” Twilights eyes softened “How dare you kiss me and leave me all flustered! Defiantly in front of my friends, you made Apple Jack lose twenty bits!”

“Okay um Twi- I am really confus-“ before Octavian could finish Twilight reached in and kissed him, two quick pecks on the mouth before turning from him and trotting out of his room.

“Uh what the buck Twi?”

“And now you know how it feels!” Twilight replied grinning at him before sticking out her tongue and walking away.

“Bucking mares” Octavian said under his breath as she walked away. Before turning and trotting back to his bed.

“Can’t believe I got up for THAT.”

Cracking Crystals

Octavian paced in his room. Ever since Princess Luna had come to Castle Defiance he had felt a creeping anger slowly building up within him eating away at his soul. Twilight too had noticed a change in his demeanor and during their times alone together often asked why he was so distant, so depressed; only to be met with the fake smile of Octavian and a reissuance that everything was all right.

Sighing Octavian left his room and trotted out into the calming embrace of the silent castle. The clip clop of his hooves reverberated throughout the ancient halls as he trotted towards his destination, the private gardens. Looking out a window Octavian was greeted by the twinkling of the stars and the bright fullness of the moon, both sadness and joy filled his heart as memories from a thousand years ago rushed to greet him.

“Daddy? Why does the day have to end?” Daybreak asked looking up at Octavian with her beautiful green eyes.

“Well honey our world lives in balance between both night, and day, with Princess Celestia raising the sun every day and Princess Luna raising the moon every night. For life to go on all over Equis we need both night and day.” Octavian said with a smile “That and if there was no night then daddy would have to get a new job wouldn’t he? Nobody wants to hear my music during the day!”

The sun never rose the next morning, or the next morning, or for the three thousand, three hundred and one days following that one fateful night. Instead of growing up in the beautiful rays of the sun Daybreak would know no more of the sun until her final moments at the end of it all. When the sun rose behind her father’s imposing presence and as the blood flowed from her neck. The last thing Daybreak would ever see would be her father’s tears as the sun set him free.

Octavian turned away from the window with tears in his eyes, the light of the moon making his tears appear silver upon his face. Wiping his tears from his eyes Octavian continued out into the night, trotting into the gardens before finding the tallest tree and sitting under it. The tree was a willow, and its spread made a room out of the vines trapping Octavian in its green embrace, finally Octavian was alone with his thoughts.

“I thought you may be here.” Said a voice from behind him, turning to face his visitor he found the source of his troubles, Princess Luna, staring at him with a worried smile. Octavian turned back around silent. “Do you know why I am here?” Still more silence “Twilight sent me to talk to you… she said we might have some- unspoken issues between us.”

“Nope. We’re fine.”

“Octavian, I have lived for thousands of years” Luna began before being cut off by Octavian.

“As have I thanks to you.”

Luna sighed “Ah I feared that would be the problem.”

“What would be the problem? You only turned me into a monster in front of my family! Forced me to obey your every command! Forced me to kill my friends!” Octavian began, his voice slowly getting louder. “But that isn’t even the worst of it, no; you let me keep my consciousness throughout the war, made me watch myself commit horrible atrocities, and made me watch myself kill my family!” Octavian yelled with tears in his eyes. “I watched myself kill them, watched the tears of my daughter begging me to stop.” Octavian looked up at Luna his voice suddenly quiet. “How can you live with yourself after all you have done?”

Luna was aghast at Octavian’s outburst; she turned away from Octavian before letting the tears fall from her eyes. “I- I don’t know. I’m so sorry I just- I couldn’t control myself! I was like you trapped in my own body watching as I turned Equestria into a waste land.” Luna turned back to Octavian. “Is it too late to say I’m sorry?”

Octavian looked at her before sighing “No, it is never too late.” Then Octavian walked away, back into the castle, leaving Luna sitting in the gardens accompanied only by her tears.

*

Shining Armor was awoken in the dead of night by a guard telling him of the crystal hearts imminent failure. Quickly getting out of bed he sounded the alarm, waking everypony in the palace and sending them to the caverns beneath the palace. Nodding at the guard he galloped to the armory where he had gathered a group of 12 of his best fighters to lead a rear guard action with him against King Sombra. A purple unicorn in the group stepped forward, she was wearing a black cloak that covered her cutie mark and wore an expression of distaste when she approached Shining Armor.

“So what has our Prince called us up to do in the middle of night? Patrol the corridors, check under his bed for grumpkins?”

“No Midnight Bloom I woke you all because King Sombra will be attacking this castle in a matter of minutes, and it is up to the thirteen of us to hold him back long enough for the citizens of the crystal city to escape through the portal to safety.” The Prince replied calmly staring back at Midnight with an un-amused expression.

“So why are we staying behind?”

“Because I know that together the thirteen of us could hold back the armies of Tatarus if we had to, in fact that’s pretty much what we are doing!”

“Yea and why don’t WE go through the portal and meet up with this sister of yours, if we are worth an entire army why save citizens who can’t defend themselves?”

“We said the Oath did we not?” Shining Armor began before being joined by all else in the room “I will do no harm to our friends and do every harm to our enemies, I am the defender of the light against the dark, the watcher on the walls, while I stand tall hope shall not fall and I will not falter, I am a Crystal Guard!” At first the words were silent, barely spoken but by the end it was more than an oath, it was a battle cry, a shield against the horrors to come.

“Any more questions?” the Prince asked with a smile on his face answered by the determined looks and shaking of heads of his company. “Good. Now Midnight I want you to take a group and guard the halls while the citizens flee to the crystal caverns. I will take the rest down to the entrance to the caverns, we will bottle neck them there. Midnight, once all of the citizens are in the Caverns retreat and regroup with me.” The group nodded before splitting up Midnight Bloom taking six others to the halls while Shining Armor and the rest of the ponies galloped down to the caverns. When he reached the caverns he met with his wife and directed her to turn the shield energy of the Crystal heart into a portal to Castle Defiance.

As Cadance lowered the fading shield of the Crystal Heart a battle cry could be heard from King Sombra’s army outside. With a scared look to her husband Cadance turned the Crystal Heart into a Portal and began directing ponies through it and on to Defiance.

“Shining?” Cadance asked “Are we going to live to see tomorrow?”

“Cadance don’t talk like that! Of course we are going to see tomorrow!” Prince Shining Armor said with compassion “I swear Cadance I will not let him hurt you!” Shining’s stare hardened “I failed you once, in Canterlot, I will not fail you again!”

*

Midnight and her companions galloped as fast as they could to the upper levels, she had taken with her three other unicorns a Pegasus and two Earth Ponies she ordered the Unicorns to take up positions in the tower and use magic to take down the advancing enemy horde while her and the rest of the group defended the hallway and stairs to the tower. The buzzing of daemon wings and the sound of the marching of hooves soon filled the palace and next to her the Pegasus was praying to Celestia. Looking out of one of the crystal palaces many windows Midnight saw thousands of burning torches slowly approaching the palace. The torches illuminated the army of King Sombra; thousands of daemonic ponies were charging towards the gates and behind them just barely illuminated was Discord. Discord had been changed by his possession, his eyes now burned with the fires of hate that King Sombra was known for and he seemed to pulse with a dark power.

Midnight Bloom’s eyes widened before hardening. “Okay ponies! Unicorns begin fire! I don’t want stunning spells; we are going for the kill tonight! The rest of you get ready for daemonic fliers coming through these windows! I am going up top!” And with that the spells began flowing from both sides and as Midnight reached to roof she could see the distinctive shapes of daemons coming through the windows.

Midnights reached the roof and moved to the edge watching the battle play out below her. With a quick prayer to Celestia she began chanting ancient words of power passed down to her from the elders of her clan. Below the fight was quickly deteriorating the two Earth Ponies already down and the tower was going to be taken soon. Finishing her chant Midnight opened her eyes, a glowing white light coming from her mouth and eyes filled the battle and for a moment the night was pierced by day. Then with a scream Midnight directed fiery meteors down upon her enemies from the heavens, pulverizing Sombra’s daemonic army, cleansing the daemonic filth from the empire with fire. Slowly levitated into the air Midnights eyes burned black and she ripped open a portal to the Ether pulling the rest of King Sombra’s horde into the Ether.

A scream of fury was heard from King Sombra as his army was decimated, and with a pop he teleported behind the weak Midnight Bloom and pierced her heart with a spear of black magic. Growling he pulled the spear from the dying pony and teleported to the caverns, appearing before Shining Armor and Princess Cadance.

“So my Crystal Ponies have escaped? Hmmm, I guess I have to congratulate you on your… victory, however it seems that the two of you are stuck here... with me.” King Sombra smiled “Oh this is going to be fun.”

“Cadance run! I can hold him off!” Shining Armor said lighting up his horn. “What are you waiting for? GO!” With a last look at her husband Cadance teleported from the palace and into the mountains surrounding the Crystal City.

King Sombra laughed “Honor is useless when death is staring you in the face!”

“I have nothing to fear from death unlike you Sombra!” Shining Armor said before firing several blasts of magic at King Sombra.

“Hmmm we will see about that!” King Sombra said evading Shining Armors attacks before teleporting behind the Prince and conjuring magical chains and binding the Prince to the floor.

King Sombra laughed “You may not fear death, but I do not intend to give you the privilege of release!” Then the silence of the Crystal Palace was pierced by an agonizing scream.

*

Twilight watched the refugees arriving from the portal silently, waiting for the moment that her brother and sister in law would come through. Planning for them moment that Twilight could wrap them in a tight embrace and never let go, never lose them again. She watched as the last refugee exited the portal and watched in silence as that portal closed. Twilight sat down and looked around for her brother and sister with the hope that had filled her heart slowly deflating like one of pinkies balloons. Then when twilight had all but lost hope Cadance appeared with a pop in front of her with tears in her eyes, looking around before her eyes latched onto Twilight.

“Cadance!” Twilight yelled before rushing up to hug her “Oh I am so glad to see you! I was so worried! Hey where is my brother? Didn’t get lost did he?” Silence greeted her.

“Where’s my brother Cadance”

Silence

“Cadance where’s Shining Armor!”

Silence

“WHERE IS HE!" Twilight yelled in her Royal Canterlot Voice

Cadance looked up “I’m so sorry Twilight.”

With that Twilight screamed.

The Calm Before the Storm

Octavian huddled in the corner of his room grasping his stomach, his eyes were bloodshot and he was visibly shaking. The lights around the room were snuffed out and darkness had enveloped Octavian in a cocoon of silence. The silence was broken as a gentle knock sounded on the door, when Octavian gave no reply light flooded the room as the door opened and Princess Luna entered his Chambers.

“Octavian, you did not show up to this morning’s military planning session. I don’t know if you remember but that was kind of important, you know with the invasion of Canterlot and everything.”

“…” Luna stepped forward, carefully trotting into Octavian’s room looking around for the stallion. She found him in his corner and began to trot towards the silent stallion.

“Go away! You can’t be here! Just leave me alone!” Octavian replied curling deeper in to himself as if to shrink into a singularity. Luna moved closer before putting a hoof on Octavian’s shoulder.

“Octavian we need you what’s wrong?” as soon as she finished the sentence she was on her back with Octavian standing over her menacingly baring his fangs.

“What’s wrong she asks!” Octavian said spitefully “Your BLESSING is what’s wrong! I haven’t been able to feed since the sack of Canterlot!” Then he looked away from Luna. “I wished to spare Twilight from seeing that side of me.”

“Octavian, I am truly sorry surely we could find some sort of substitute for you or something to tide you over!” Luna said in a panic “Animal blood perhaps!”

“No. It is not the same. YOU made sure of that when you created us, you made sure that we had to feed on living ponies to live. YOU made us that way to fight for YOUR war and for YOUR cause!” Octavian yelled. “No. I think it is only suitable that you provide for your pet, your creation, your abomination!” Octavian said before lowering his mouth to Luna’s neck. “I hope you realize how much I am going to enjoy this.” Octavian whispered in Luna’s ear before slowly sinking his fangs into her neck.

Warm blood met his lips and filled his mouth, the familiar metallic sweet taste of blood driving him into frenzy. Octavian tasted the blood of an immortal for the first time in his life and it was sweet and exhilarating, the strength of the Alicorn was absorbed into Octavian’s body. Luna squirmed under the strength of the Vampony struggling and kicking against him until with a curious suddenness Octavian stopped and retreated away from the blood stained mare.

Luna breathed. She realized that she had not been breathing, nor thinking for the entirety of Octavian’s assault. Her horn glowed as she used her magic to repair her wounds and clean the blood from her coat. Groaning slightly she sat up to face Octavian who sat across from her looking away, chastised, almost shy in his manner.

“I’m sorry”

“I know you are.”

“I don’t know what came over me. I just… stopped thinking and acted.” Octavian looked up at Luna. “I hate you, do you know that?”

“Yes, you have made that very clear.”

“and yet- I see myself in you. Clear as day.”

“…”

“We are the same you and I, doomed to subjugation by our vicious id’s, condemned to prejudice and fear from those around us.” Octavian said “We are the same because even though we are hated and feared by those we strive to protect we still continue to be the shield that protects Equestria from harm.” Octavian looked at Luna thoughtfully “I guess that is why I hate you, because even after all you have done to hurt me, I identify with you, I pity you.”

Luna looked back at Octavian calmly “I do not blame you for your hate or for your unprovoked assault; no I know too well how such emotions can cling to your heart and corrupt your thoughts. However I do warn you that this path of hate that you tread so easily is a slippery slope, it may end up hurting those you love more than you intend.” And with that Luna turned from the Vampony and walked out of his chambers.

*

Spike stood in front of the gates of Dragonia’s capital Drakograd, this city its self was a world wonder. The entire city was located in a dormant volcano and the crater walls had been reinforced with stone and dragon fire had hardened them to be some of the strongest walls in the world. The city was only accessible through one gate: the gate of fire. The long narrow path that leads to this one gate was perilous and made the city more of a fortress than a city. It was unassailable by land and plain stupid to attack by air, the city had never been taken by outside forces. Shadows loomed overhead as some of the largest dragon guards patrolled the skies, and once again Spike was scared.

He was scared for good reason; the nation of Dragonia and Equestria had always had diplomatic issues in the last great pony war the dragons had sided with the rebels in hopes to over throw Celestia and Luna. Even when the rebels had been defeated the dragons had continued their attacks on Equestrian lands, leaving the eastern country side a burnt crisp until Celestia and Luna ended it themselves.

Spike remembered reading about that last conflict in some of the forbidden books that Twilight had studied in Canterlot. They were forbidden because Princess Celestia had wanted her subjects to know her as a benevolent ruler, not a terrifyingly powerful goddess of death and destruction. Celestia had entered the fray with only her sister beside her against the combined might of Dragonia, a full thousand dragons against the power of the sun and moon goddesses. Sun fire and moon beams had danced from the pair and laid waste to the amassed horde of Dragonia.

It was a story Spike remembered well, the mix of pride and fear of Princess Celestia had stayed with him his entire life. To think that Celestia, who had been always been a constant force in Spikes life, had been defeated was hard to believe. To think that now Twilight was faced against the same foe was frightening. It shook him to the core, how could Twilight stand up to a being that defeated Celestia? Spike did not know. He could not see a happy ending to this darkness.

Spike was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of the gate of fires creaking heralding their opening, snapping to attention Spike straightened his spines to show a position of strength and prepare himself for what was to come. As the gates opened Spike was greeted by a Dragon dignitary and a guard of four red dragons- the royal guard.

“Ahhh Spiknovar! How very good to see you! How long has it been hmmm?” The dignitary said in his thick Dragonian accent.

“Only a month I fear Crukvia, but we have very important matters to discuss, recent events in Equestria have the potential to threaten Dragonia and the rest of Equis.” Spike replied “in fact I need to speak directly with Tzarian Drascour’ Turan.”

Crukvia stood in front of Spike for a full minute with his mouth agape. “The Tzarian is not just a dragon to pop in and visit Spiknovar! There is protocol and procedures that one must complete!” Crukvia replied.

“Look Crukvia how do I get this through to you.” Spike started angrily “Princess Celestia has been killed and Equestria has all but fallen to Daemonic infestation. After Equestria, Dragonia is next in line for the slaughter, and then the rest of Equis. So unless you want the blood of Equis to be on your claws because of protocol and procedures I would recommend that you let me in to see Tzarian Drascour’ Turan.”

“I-I uh well… Um… very well, Guard escort Spiknovar to the Tzarian.”

*

Twilight had gathered the ponies of Defiance and the surrounding Everfree villages to the courtyard to address the refugee’s. Luna and Cadance stood to her left while Octavian was to her right, the four ponies stood on a raised platform overlooking the crowd below them. The ponies of Defiance were ready to fight, determination and hope was on their faces and they adjusted their armor and readied their weapons for the battle to come. Spear tips lined the air and axes and swords were sharpened; for the first time in a thousand years Equestria readied itself for war.

“My fellow Ponies!” Twilight began “I know that all of you have lost you homes, that many of you have lost family and loved ones.” Twilight paused giving her words time to sink in “But I know that you have not lost hope! Hope for a new life, hope for light against the dark, hope for the future! However the time to act is now! We must march on Canterlot and reclaim it in the name of Equestria!”

“The time is now to crush the daemonic wrongness that has invaded our lands. The time is now to throw down the shackles of darkness from our lands. The time is now to re-forge Equestria with the blood of our enemies!” Twilight paused. “My Friends, my Ponies, my subjects, march with me now! To Canterlot! To Hope! To Glory!” With a roar the crowd followed Twilight through the gates and toward Canterlot, heads high with vengeance in their hearts.

*

Discord and Celestia sat across from one another planning the return of Discord to his body, and the defeat of King Sombra. Discord, while happy that he would be returned to the world and to his body he was also dreadfully sad that he could not take Celestia with him.

“So what do you think?” Celestia asked snapping Discord out of his daze.

“I-I don’t know”

“You weren’t listening were you?”

“I uh… No.”

Celestia sighed “Okay let’s go through this again. Twilight will be forced to commit to battle soon if she wants to win the war, the resulting tides of emotion will ripple through the ether signaling you to act.” Celestia paused “This is the hard part, you have to wait until Sombra is locked in combat with Twilight only then will you be able to overpower Sombra’s spirit and retake your body.”

“What will happen to King Sombra?”

“What we hoped would happen initially, his spirit will be cast into the ether.” Except he doesn’t have anypony to remind him who we was.”

Discord smiled “Thanks for everything Celestia.”

“It’s what friends are for.”

*

Spike stood before the Tzarian his head tipped in a low bow, before him the massive shape of Tzarian Drascour’ Turan was veiled by a large mesh curtain that hung across his throne. Guards lined the walls and the torches that lined the walls were blazing.

“So Spiknovar, Crukvia tells me you have come to me with a threat.” Drascour’ Turan said his voice booming throughout the throne room.

“It is no threat my lord Tzarian, only a warning.”

“So tell me pony hatchling what is this warning.”

“Equestria has been overrun by a daemonic horde of a size Equis has never seen. I ask for your help in routing the daemons from our lands.”

“Tell me Spiknovar why should I help the same dictators who laid waste to our empire who left me with this scar?” as Drascour’ Turan finished his response he pulled back the veil displaying a jagged and vicious scar that ran across the brilliant blue scales on his face.

“I ask you to help them because these daemons already killed one of our dictators.”

“Oh really? Which one?”

“Princess Celestia.”

“You lie.”

“I do not, that is why I ask for your help. The one who conjured the daemons is King Sombra, he possessed Discords body and single handedly defeated three Alicorns, and killed Celestia.” Spike replied “King Sombra is not one to be content with a single conquest, after he conquered the Crystal Empire the first time he then invaded Equestria, forcing Celestia and Luna to act.” Spike hesitated “without your help King Sombra will take Equestria. Without your help his army will continue to grow.” Spike looked up at Drascour’ Turan and their eyes met. “If you do not aid us now King Sombra will lay waste to your empire and kill everything you hold dear to your heart. I beg of you join forces with Equestria and defeat this darkness before it is too late.”

Beginning of the End

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.

Broken

Twilight sat in her quarters, the gas lamps that usually filled the room with a serene dull glow were snuffed out and the room was dark. The room was a mess, the magical objects and books that normally sat neatly on the shelves and dresser were scattered about the room broken and torn. In fact the only thing that was more broken than the objects around the room was Twilight.

The term broken heart could be used to describe how Twilight was feeling but that could not come close to the actual suffering that Twilight was feeling. Twilight was a goddess, a being of great power, however that power can corrupt at the slightest sign of weakness and while mortals can fall to great lows during times of strife and heart break, Twilight fell further than any conscious being should. Twilight’s heart broke and instead of letting the wound heal slowly and naturally, she cauterized the wound with the fires of rage and then froze it with the cold embrace of hate.

Twilight had lost Celestia and Shining Armor; she could not find Spike or her parents, thousands of ponies had died under her watch and under the strain of loss Twilight lost her self. Both Luna and Octavian had come to her quarters to try and get through to the Lavender Mare but the door would not open for them. Twilight a magically sealed the door from the inside encasing herself in her room as if to stop the world outside and live out her immortal life in blissful ignorance. So When Twilight finally did come out of her room it was a surprise to everypony.

Octavian, Luna and Cadance had taken over the ruler ship of Defiance, and were poring over over the strategy board in the war room. The board was a complete map of Equestria showing the mountains, forests, towns and castles of Equestria; the board was dotted with tiny figures of ponies in both black and white. Most of the white figures were clustered around the Everfree forest and the black were scattered about Equestria.

“King Sombra’s forces are growing daily! We have to do something about the rift over Canterlot! It must be closed!”

“Luna, we don’t have enough ponies for an assault of that scale! Our forces would be slaughtered! We need to fortify Defiance against further attacks from Sombra and his horde!”

“Fortification does us no good if we are overwhelmed Cadance” Octavian said before turning to Luna “You are correct with your decision to attack Canterlot however Cadance is also correct with her evaluation of our limited numbers.”

“So what would you have us do?” Cadance asked annoyed “Attack? Not Attack? Whats your bright idea Octavian?”

“Dragons.”

“Dragons?”

“Dragons.”

“But how! The dragons and ponies have had rather tense relations the last few decades, how are we to persuade them to help us reconquer our own territory?”

“King Sombra is not going to be content with anything less than world domination and with Discords god like power at his command it will not be hard to conquer a divided Equis. Discords power stems from chaos, what do you think would happen to that power if the entirety of Equis united under one banner?” Octavian explained

“And who would be our envoy to the Dragons?”

“Well Twilights dragon Spike! He would make a great diplomat and as I understand hes already been sent there!”

“Spike is gone.” Said a voice behind them “He is probably dead.”

The trio turned to find Princess Twilight leaning against the door frame. Her coat was clean; her mane flowed as if in a spectral wind but her eyes… her eyes betrayed her heart, they spoke of cold of longing and of loss. Her eyes were hard and cold and held no love.

“Spike might be gone but you must keep hope Twilight!” Octavian said in a low voice “Hope is all we have.”

“I hoped for Celestia to live, she’s dead.” Twilight started “I hoped for my brother to return safely from the Crystal Empire, he’s dead.” Twilight sighed “I’m done with hoping all it does in the end is make the loss a thousand times harder.” With that Twilight turned and trotted out of the room and back to her chambers.

*

Cadance sighed. It was her fault Shining wasn’t here with her, if she had started the portal earlier, during the light of the sun like Shining had asked her to he would be by her side now. He had begged her to begin the portal spell that day but Cadance was scared. She admitted it, she was scarred out of her mind and now because of her lack of courage her husband was dead.

Plus now on top of it all Twilight was lost to her, Twilight blamed her for her brother’s death just as much as she blamed herself. It was too much; Cadance had to find a way to show Twilight that not all is lost.

And with that she began writing a letter.

*

Spike had finally reached the outskirts of the Everfree forest when he belched. It was not a normal belch but rather one of a magical nature. He was surprised because he had not received a letter in several months and instead of the normal fiery red that marked the arrival of a letter a heart lifting pink flame filled his vision for a brief moment before a scroll fell into his hands.

Dear Spike,

I hope you get this letter and you have not fallen prey to the many predatory beasts that now roam the land. As you may have noticed Equestria is in a state of open war against the horde of Discord (who is possessed by a fragment of King Sombra… Kinda hard to explain) Anyways most of Equestria’s civilian population has retreated to Castle Defiance in the Everfree forest, and while our ponies are determined to fight and win back Equestria we are too few to defeat the army of King Sombra.

This is where we need you Spike, more than ever. You have the ability to turn this war in our favor and save Equestria from destruction.

Spike I wish for you to return to Dragonia and persuade them to help us defeat King Sombra. It is no easy task I have put before you Spike but the fate of Equestria is in your claws. We attack Canterlot in one month. We will look to your arrival.

HRH,

Princess Cadance

Spike read the letter twice absorbing every word, and every syllable, before turning around and heading back to Dragonia, the letter in his claws and worry in his heart.

*

Discord smiled at his friend, his white goddess. The story she- Celestia had told of him and his life was captivating, at times he cried at his mistakes and other times her smiled and brought his friend into a hug.

The ether was a much brighter place with Celestia with him, in the beginning it was a dark place darker even than his heart, but now it was a beacon of light a warm embrace against the cold of death.  She had told him that he was dead, that the evil being known as King Sombra had killed him and Celestia and laid waste to Equestria- Discords home.

Discord at first did not understand the feeling that overwhelmed him when he thought of this King Sombra; it was cold, yet fiery and filled his every thought. How this Pony- King Sombra had taken everything from Discord, and from Celestia without a thought.

“Dizzy, we need to talk… I must confess that I have not been entirely truthful about the events that transpired in our lives.” Celestia started saying

“What do you mean Celly?”

“King Sombra didn’t kill you and he didn’t kill me. He possessed your body and forced your spirit into the ether.”

“What? So I’m not dead? What about you why are you here?” Discord asked. Celestia turned away

“You killed me.” Celestia said silently “You were not yourself but still it was you that killed me.” Celestia paused before continuing “I’m telling you this because I believe there is a way for You to return to Equis.”

*

Twilight once more lay in her room however this time the room was put together and everything was as it should be. Except for the broken heart in the room, the wound in Twilights heard had festered and had turned black with infection.

“I thought I would find you in here Twilight.” Luna said opening the door of Twilights chamber before trotting in and sitting across from the Lavender Mare. “You know you can’t stay locked up in here forever don’t you? Your ponies need you!”

“They are not MY ponies; they will never be mine to me.” Twilight replied looking at Luna calmly “They will always be Celestia’s ponies to me, and look at the horrible job I have done babysitting them.”

“Twilight you are a crowned princess of Equest-“

“I DON’T CARE WHAT THE BUCK MY TITLE IS!” Twilight yelled “it doesn’t matter. Equestria is lost. Our old lives of peace are gone. Gone forever, burned to ash by the flames of war.”

Luna sighed and looked away, worry etched on her face, she knew this sorrow that consumed Twilight and knew it intimately. She looked deep in thought before replying.

“I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Twilight. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Twilight, I do understand. I know now. Ponies in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.”

“What are we holding onto, Luna?

“That there's some good in this world, Twilight... and it's worth fighting for.

*

King Sombra sat in Celestia’s- no his throne, a smile etched upon his- no Discords face. The King was good at taking things he wanted and he always got what he wanted no matter the body count. Daemonic guards patrolled the corridors and his puppet slaves toiled in the streets below and in the crystal caves beneath Canterlot. Attached to a support column by a thick moon steel chain was none other than the “Prince” of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor. No pony would have known the prince upon first glance, his normally alabaster white coat was stained red with his own blood and chunks of fur were missing from his coat. Scars and open wounds ran across his body and his eyes were shut silently wishing for death.

“So my… Prince… you said something about not fearing death if I do remember correctly? So I am sure now that you do not fear it… in fact I am sure now that you wish it upon two ponies.”

“And who would that be your highness?” Shining armor spat back at King Sombra, distaste etched into every line on his face.

“Why me of course! Why wouldn’t you want to kill me? I’ve taken everything from you! Your kingdom, your wife, your family, and now I’ve taken your physical well-being!”

“My family is still alive! My sister and wife will beat you!”

“Are you so sure Shining Armor? How do you know that your sisters head is not currently on a spike outside with your wife’s head beside her?”

“YOU LIE!”

“Maybe, or maybe not how can you know? Your trapped here broken in both body and mind with no one but me for company, the perpetrator of your despair.” King Sombra replied solemnly before turning to leave

“Wait!” Shining Armor yelled at Sombra

“Yes?”

“You never told me the second pony I want dead!”

“Ha! Yourself of course! Who would want to live like this? Your every breath denies you peace your heart beat is just another moment spent without your family.” Sombra replied “You do not fear death because you died a long time ago.”

And for the first time since Twilights coronation Shining Armor cried.