Someponies state that battle is the only time when they truly feel alive. The clash of metal and the test of skill is an experience like no other as they would say. However, to me, it is a horrid time of pain and sorrow without equal. It is something only to be conducted when all other options have been exhausted. So many lives have already been consumed by its mad fury and many more are soon to follow in this war with seemly no end. But regardless of my distaste for such things, Canterlot was my home. And by all that is good in the world I shall see it freed or perish making the attempt.

I sat glaring at the city on a hill close to our staging point. We had to wait until Cadence and Shining were in position on the other side of the city, so it had left me with my thoughts. Upon realizing this I had done all in my power to occupy my time. I had helped Twilight and her friend bind their weapons to themselves. I even repaired their armor while we waited, but soon these tasks were complete and I was alone with my thoughts once more.

A dark brood set in as my thoughts swirled with the dreadful task I was about to undertake. I was going to unleash the essence of death itself on our beloved city in hopes purging it of enemy forces. Though, as such thoughts usually turn, my sorrow soon turned into anger, and then to a seething rage. My teeth clenched as I still stared at the city. “You all shall pay tenfold for each innocent who had been harmed. You…all…shall…pay,” I growled to myself.

My blood magic started to spark as a red haze covered my eyes. It remained so only for a few seconds before a hoof was placed on my shoulder. “Eaaasy there laddie. Done’t be blowin’ yer top just yet. Save that fire in yer belly till when it be needed,” a voice said next to me.

While the words were said in a kind tone they still seemed to irritate me. “Why does everypony keep speaking to me as if I were some sort of unstable EXPLOSIVE?! I AM FINE!” I yelled and stomped my left forehoof on the ground. My blood magic surged in response and arced over the plates of my armor. I then turned my head to the right to find Black Hammer taking a few steps backwards. For a split second I saw a glimpse of fear in his eye.

Shame soon overrode my rage when I had realized that I had frightened him. “I…I apologize Black Hammer. I did not mean to speak in such a manner. Please forgive me,” I said looking away in embarrassment.

“Done’t worry about it lad. I be more worried about you is all. Ya been wanderin' off more than usual and I know how ye get when yer alone with yer thoughts. Also beggin’ yer pardon, but ye be lookin’ like shit,” I heard Black Hammer state before laughing a bit.

I laughed a bit to myself at his comments. Black Hammer truly did not like to mince words as it were. Which is quite the statement given he was probably the only other pony with sleeping habits as bad as mine so he rarely looked much better. I sighed and said “Truth be told I feel as such. The stress of everything is taking its toll on me. While normally I would quite like to converse with you as to why, the current…circumstances… do not allow me to do so.”

“Aye, I understand lad. I’ve been here a long while and I’ve learned to keep me mouth shut. But, no doubt it be regardin’ yer talk with the princesses. Ye looked as white as a ghost afterwards and were sweatin’ buckets. I think it best if I done’t know about it if ye done’t mind,” he said walking over to me and nudging me lightly with his shoulder in what I assumed was effort to lighten the mood.

After his comments we just sat in silence staring at Canterlot in the distance. This remained until we were both summoned for the last preparations for battle. However, as we began walking back to camp Black Hammer stopped for moment. “Lad, hold up a second,” he said looking uneasy.

“Yes?” I replied, a tad confused.

“I…I know this not be the right place and…err never mind,” he said shaking his head.

I tiled my head and stated “Is something wrong Black Hammer?”

“Its…this old war pony have been kickin’ around for many years. Too many I’d bet. And I…I never had kids of me own, but down the years…I’ve…I’ve always thought of ye as the son I never had,” he said as I could see his eye start to well a bit before he added “Please done’t go dyin’ out there lad. Ye can be a might reckless and I want us both to be walkin’ out in one piece.”

I was taken aback by his comments. Black Hammer was never one for sentimentality in all the years I have known him. In fact this is was probably one of the extremely rare times I have ever seen him on the verge of tears. His kind words started to make my eyes begin to well after the initial shock. Nothing I could say could adequately describe how I had felt at that moment. So without thinking I walked over him and hugged him. He flinched for a moment before giving me one of the biggest bear hugs I had ever experienced. So much so that shortly after I had to tell him through gasping breaths to let go as breathing was becoming a problem.

He then released me, wiped the tears out of his eye and said “Alright alright that be enough mushy stuff. Everpony’ll think ol’ Black Hammer has gotten soft.”

“You? Soft? Ha, tell that to the all the dark iron you forged down the years you ol’ battle hammer,” I said with feigned laughter and smiled. He chuckled in reply before we made our way back to the main battle camp.

This positive mood only lasted a short while before it had darkened when we made ready for battle. I summoned my scythe right after I checked everypony’s armor in our little group. It was only me, Twilight, Spike, Luna and my lieutenants. Nopony talked among us other than a small murmur here or there. My stomach knotted up at the thought of what we were going to do. Everything was set except there was only one problem that I had not solved, getting inside the city walls without being noticed. The emergency portal gates were a one way passage and Canterlot was warded and sealed the majority of the time. The only reply I received when I consoled Luna about this was that she had some “Friends” that will come to our aid once the battle was underway. This though did little to ease my nerves.

My uneasiness must have been noticed by Luna as I heard her clear her throat behind me. I turned my head to see that she had dropped the normal glamour spell that she usually wore. Dark blue slitted eyes looked bemused at me through her lunar armor. Her mane had taken on a few shades darker as well. From head to hoof she looked ready for war as she tapped her both of her khopeshes on her back. “Do not worry Blood Moon. Our aid shall be ready after the battle had begun. I would imagine you shall be pleased to see them again,” she stated with a fanged smile and a wink.

I was about to further query her on this, but she quickly turned her head and smiled up at the sky. A bright pink orb slowly rose from the other side of the city. After it reached the cloud level it exploded in a crackling pink light. Luna’s smile grew as she whispered “Cadence and Shining are ready. Your turn sister.”

On the front most line of our soldiers I saw a shimmering light that was dim at first and then it grew until it illuminated almost our entire force. Then the glowing ball lifted itself off the ground to which at this point I realized it was Celestia herself. She floated a few meters of the ground before she pointed her brilliant great sword at Canterlot. Her sword, while levitating in front of her, had begun to spin with its point still fixed on the city. Golden arcs and ribbons of energy streamed around Celestia before she spoke.

It was in some strange ancient tongue that I did not understand, but its effects were potent. Each new syllable let out a thunder crack as her power was funneled into her sword. Then on the final word a brilliant golden beam shot forth out of the tip of her sword and screamed towards the city. Right as the beam hit the outer wall it blazed out and covered a now visible golden dome surrounding the entirety of Canterlot. The moment only lasted for a few seconds before the dome burst into countless brilliant sparks which showered the city.

Celestia then pointed her great sword to the sky and then back at the Caterlot before letting out an echoing shout, “YOU WHO HAVE TAKEN FROM US, WE GATHER HERE TO SEEK JUSTICE AND TO RECLAIM OUR HOME! OUR WARDS AND WALLS WILL NOT SHROUD YOU FROM OUR RETRIBUTION! BY THE POWER OF SUN, MOON, AND CRYSTAL, EVERYPONY ATTACK!”

Soon wave after wave of Solar, Lunar and Crystal soldiers poured over the landscape as they rushed their way up towards the walls of Canterlot. Arrows, cannons, and magic spilled forth from the city walls to meet them. The battlefield erupted into a chaos of gore and light as both sides clashed against each other. Our side faltered only for a moment before I saw Discord’s magic alter reality itself to turn our enemies attacks into harmless objects.

While this provided a grand advantage for our forces, the main gate seemed to be stronger then it looked even through the onslaught. To add to our problems it appeared that there were two newly built towers on either side of the gate’s doors that rained down continued punishment. The battle soon turned into a stalemate as our forces were forced to defend themselves more than fight. Even Celestia was using all of her efforts to deflect incoming magic.

I scraped my forehooves on my scythe’s pole trying to hold myself back from trying to aid them. However, after a few moments I heard Luna laugh to herself. I was about to inquire why she was doing so when a rather familiar cannon blast echoed not far off. A blazing fireball flew over us as it screamed all its way to the city. The cannon shell got a direct hit on the left tower gate and erupted into a burning inferno.

A quick laugh left my lips as I turned my head to see on the train track not far from us sat a heavily armored train engine with train team number twelve with her. I then saw one of the train ponies turning a crank that repositioned that lovely cannon called “The Angry Mare”. A malicious grin crept up my face as I heard a “thunk” followed by the cannon belching yet another fireball. The fireball soon screamed through the air and destroyed the second tower that was giving our forces difficulty.

We lost no time in speeding our way to the train as the leader of the train team, Break Runner, had just off jumped the back of armored engine. Luna examined the train engine for a few seconds before stating “Very good Break Runner. It appears you and your team have exceeded my expectations.”

Break Runner looked a bit bewildered as he said “Yeah everything is ready Princess. I still can’t get over the fact that it was you who gave us our cannon and now this.” He then waved his forehooves frantically and added “Not that we mind the help, but…but first you wanted a makeshift battering ram and then later you tell me you all are going to ride it!”

It was my turn to speak up, “Wait wait waaaait a minute. Are you stating we are going to ride this into the city, Princess?!” I fumbled my words for a second and added after noticing something, “And are…are those rockets strapped to the sides of the train?!”

Luna just gave an evil grin and replied with a simple “Indeeeed.”

“Wh…where do you get those?! Those are illegal griffin technology for this very reason!” I sputtered out.

“A certain griffin king owed me a favor…” she replied as her smile grew.

I was too flustered to state anything else, but it seemed I did not need too. Twilight walked up with Spike on her back. Both of them had the same look of disbelief before Twilight spoke up. “Umm and how are we going to use this to get into the city?” she inquired.

Luna continued smiling before stating “By using it for its original purpose, a battering ram.”

Spike’s and Twilight’s expression did not change. “A battering ram…into…into what? The main gate?” she questioned.

“Quite,” Luna replied.

Silence reigned for a few seconds before Shadow Dancer spoke up, “Whoa whoa…okay wait up Princess, let me get this straight. We’re gonna ride this…this armored rocket train engine through the main gate in order to ‘sneak’ in?”

“It is called a distraction. We shall jump off shortly after we get through. While they view the train we shall sneak unseen around the city,” Luna replied like it was some obvious fact.

“Welp ya got my vote,” he flashed a smile and jumped on the back of the train.

My other lieutenants loaded into the train with equal delight shortly afterwards. I believe Night Star even told me to “live alittle” as she passed by. Luna then jumped into the train with similar enthusiasm leaving me, Spike, and Twilight sitting there staring.

“This…this is crazy right? They’re all crazy right? Please tell me this is just some awful dream,” Spike whimpered next to me.

“No…it is no dream…unfortunately,” I said rubbing my face. “Let us go join the madness that has already claimed the others...” I added before I unsummoned my scythe as we climbed into the back of the train and strapped ourselves down.

So there we sat, in an armored train engine that has been rigged with rather large fuse lit rockets strapped to the sides of it. Two rather large rockets to be exact. Two…rather…large… rockets filled with who knows what combustible substance. I tapped my forehooves together nervously at the thought of becoming a smoldering crater. This was the very reason they were outlawed in the first place. Some pony had the delightful idea of attaching some to a carriage in an effort to “go faster” as she put it. From the reports her famous last words were “What could possibly go wrong?” shortly before she became one with a clock tower. What was left of her supposedly resembled burnt strawberry jam. The remembrance of this fact did not ease my nerves in the slightest.

The tapping of my forehooves quickened greatly before I stated, “Sooo princess this is certainly ummm…something.”

She just gave me a wicked smile as she strapped herself down between Gray Mane and Night Star across from me. However shortly after I spoke I thought of a rather unpleasant thought. “Umm just to be clear, Princess. Your sister knows of this plan correct? Just so our soldiers know to move out of the way,” I stated with a hint of worry.

Her expression changed in a manner that I had not hoped for. The color on her face along with the smile she once possessed drained off into a look of pure horror. This of course only lasted for a moment before I heard Break Runner wish us “good luck” with a worried laugh. He then promptly dropped a lit torch on the ends of the rocket fuses before galloping away at speed.

“WAIT!” Luna screeched before she started scrambling with her straps. As she fumbled around I searched for something, anything I could smash the rapid burning fuses to put them out. However it was too late as the fuses disappeared from view right as Luna stood up and triumphantly blurted “Huzzah! Those damnedable straps are oooooOOOOOOOFFF AAAHHHHHHHHH” as the rockets lit.

Without a second thought I grabbed hold of Luna’s right foreleg in an effort to save her. This resulted in her slamming to her back right as I noticed Gray Mane grabbed her other foreleg. She then proceeded to scream her lungs out as her hind legs dangled dangerously close to the legendary amount of flame engulfing the tracks behind us.

Time seemed to slow down considerably at this point as an absurd amount of adrenaline seemed to surge through me. While still holding onto Luna for dear life I got to witness the looks of many faces as we passed by. Each one of our soldiers either had just jumped out of the way in an understandable panic or sat awestruck as we sailed by. The last ones I saw were Celestia who had her mouth gaped wide open in obvious disbelief and Discord who was rolling on the ground in hysterics.

That of course happened right before the truly delightful times started. In the blink of an eye we reached the main gate in record breaking time. The impact let out a thunderous boom before we plowed through it with ease. However the shock of this ripped all of us from our straps as we all got crushed into the front of the train engine. But that was not the end oh no. In some sort of cruel joke the rockets quickly made it known that they were multi-staged. The second stage flared to life and violently flung all of us off the train into a groaning heap.

After we slammed into the ground I could feel Luna flinch next to me every time I heard the train crash through something else. This though only happened about five times before it crescendoed into another thunderous boom that rivaled our impact through the main gate.

I soon heard Luna’s muffled voice next to me as she stated, “And that…was the train yard. My sister is going to be quite displeased with me...”

After a few seconds of discomfort I got up and stumbled around. I then shook my head a few times as panic hit me for a second time. We were completely out in the open. While yes the stone buildings next to us were mostly intact even after the fire took them, we were still exposed. "Everypony off the tracks we are completely vulnerable !" I screeched.

In an amusing display of disorientation and ineptitude we all scrambled into the nearest alleyway. I then held my breath trying to determine if we were spotted. But when no sound was heard other than distant battle my panicked state turned to puzzlement. There was not a soul to be seen passing by us. Nopony was calling for our deaths or other some such.

Soon my curiosity had peaked to the point that I poked my head out of the alleyway to investigate. It was then I discovered what had happened. Our little joy ride incinerated every poor rogue soldier in our path. However they were lucky ones as it appears several others had the misfortune to meet the front of the train. What was left of their bodies was sprayed all over the surrounding charred buildings. I started feeling quite queasy before Twilight had asked me what was wrong. I merely shook my head and hurried everypony away from the nightmarish display.

In turn we rushed through the alleyways until we all slipped into one of the more stable buildings to rest a moment. I then retracted my helm in a futile attempt at purging the recent events from my memory. After the my fifth failed try I stated “Is…is everypony alright?”

“I…I believe I had lost my morning meal sometime on that train ride,” Luna stated as I saw her holding her stomach while looking rather ill.

“Me too,” Twilight replied looking worse than Luna

“Me three,” Spike added before he put a claw to his mouth.

The only pony that seemed overjoyed was Cloud Streak who was jumping in place. “Ooooh that was the best train ride I ever had! Can we please please pleeeeaaase do that again?” she said in excitement. Her prompt response came from Spike after he grabbed some sort of broken flower pot and emptied his stomach a second time. No further comments were made about that awful train ride. But after a few moments of silence Gray Mane was the first to speak.

“So what do we do now?” He questioned.

“We need to get the palace post haste. We cannot afford to delay any longer,” Luna replied pulling herself to her full height.

I rubbed my face a few times before stating, “Princess Luna is correct. Come on everypony, this shall get much worse before it gets better.”

I was going to make this chapter somewhat more gory than it was, but I just could not pass up the rocket nightmare train ride of doom. However do not fret as the next chapter shall be a blood bath in the palace...he...he...he.