SaberStar didn't want to leave Fluttershy alone and without protection. He didn't know what to do. So the night before he left, he visited her. He knocked on the door three times

"Fluttershy?"

"Come in." said her soft voice. When he walked into the room, she was reading a book on gardening. She looked up and said, "I don't want you to leave any more than you do. But there's nothing we can change about it."

"That's not it." he said taking off his helmet

"Then what is it?"

"I can't leave you unguarded. I'm the best at reading movement and detecting Changeling presence. Without me, it would be hard to protect you, maybe even impossible."

"Saber, you know I can take care of myself."

"Not against the Changelings."

"Me and my friends did."

"That was different."

"How so?"

"You had a powerful unicorn to discern the Changelings from the other ponies. Now you don't. And now she can't help you. She must put her royal duties first."

"But she can still help me."

"Not forever."

"But we defeated them last time. I saw them being blasted away."

"But Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor are in the Crystal Empire. They can't come here now."

"Then I'll come to battle with you."

"No."

"But I'll hide as a tree- "

"No."

"Bu-"

"I said no."

"I'm just scared for you," Fluttershy said, "I want you to come back." she wrapped her wings around him and kissed him. He kissed her back on the forehead.

"I will make it back. I promise." He switched the blades on his wings to flight mode, wrapped them around her and they kissed.

Adamant Shadow trotted towards SaberStar's room in the Canterlot Castle. The place had an extraordinary laboratory. But that wasn't what mattered right now. Saber seemed very distressed. He knocked on Saber's door.

"Come in." came Saber's voice. It sounded tired, sad, and depressed. Adamant opened the door. The room was as unkempt as his laboratory and that was saying something. A lamp was shattered, his scimitar (which he didn't use) was broken in pieces on the floor. Aqua had seen him use those wings and he would not want to be the pony being at the other end of the bladed feathers. His helm was on the floor tilted but not cracked. The training dummy was on it's side. Saber was just as unkempt as his room. His normal spiky glacier mane was messed up. There were circles under his red eyes. His once bright and alert eyes were now dull and tired.

"Oh. Hello Adamant."

"What's wrong with you? You seem...........distressed."

"Well I'm just tired from worry. I just wish there was a safer option for me to protect Fluttershy. She wanted to go with me to war."

"Yeah, no that's not going to work." Adamant replied

"It's just I don't want to leave her. She'll be in danger as soon as I leave."

"You're damn right about that," Adamant said, "We- no you must protect her." Saber stared at Aqua. The scientist never swore.

"Well do you have any ideas?" the scientist thought for a moment, then replied "I got nothing. Nothing safe at least." Saber thought for a while.

"Nothing."

"And why did you break your scimitar? I know they're not your weapon of choice, but a weapon's a weapon."

"I was mad at the moment and if you look, it's not sliced. It's bent. I-I broke it with my hooves." Aqua stared

"But that's impossible! That sword is made from pure diamond!"

"I just bent and well.." he waved at the remains of the sword.

"Alright. We need to get some rest if we're going to leave tomorrow."

Saber didn't sleep much that night. He couldn't. Not with the prospect of Fluttershy being captured by the Changelings. Even with the Pinkie promise of Pinkie pie to keep her safe, he still didn't want to leave. It wasn't only because he wanted to protect her. It was because he would miss her more than anything in Equestria. The most disturbing part was when he actually slept. He saw a shadowy figure with blood-red eyes, unlike his flame colored ones. It was holding a long knife and was over another pony. He couldn't see who they were, but he could see the rounded muzzle of a mare. The dream ended. He woke up and got ready for battle. he styled his mane in the usual Mohawk that most guards had and put on his armor. When he got to the group of soldiers. something was different. Not in a-Changeling's-going-to-attack but more like all the guards seemed to salute to him and him only. So when he met up with Vinyl, Rainbow, Rarity, Twilight, and Applejack, he asked Twilight

"Why are all the soldiers saluting to me and me only?"

"We didn't tell you? you've ranked up. You are now their commander,"

"What? You mean to say I lead a group of about one-hundred soldiers?"

"Toldja he react this way," Applejack said "Mighty amount o soldiers even fer you."

"Oh Applejack, be quiet! Saber is very stressed about Fluttershy right now, and he's probably thinking that however many of soldiers die, that it's his fault they died!"

"Wait on minute," Applejack replied "Now why on Earth would he be stressed about Fluttershy?"

"We didn't tell you?" Twilight said "She and Saber are kind of a couple."

"Well I'm happy fer her. Does she seem happy?" Saber noticed that Rainbow's expression hardened to steel at the mention of him and Fluttershy. She hadn't talked to him since he arrived which was weird for her. She wasn't even flying. He could not understand why. He walked over to Rainbow and when he got close, she said,

"Go away from me. You ditched me for her."

"What do you mean?" he said confused.

"You abandoned me for Fluttershy." Now it made sense. Rainbow had liked him. Over the years, the feeling must've grown.

"She's lucky she's my friend or else-" before she could react, both wings were in blade mode and centimeters away from her face.

"You lay one hoof on her and I will kill you. I don't care who you are." he saw her reach for her spear. He waited until she had it pointed at him.

"Looks like we're at an impasse." she said.

"I would agree," Saber said "If it weren't for this!" and in two quick movements, he switched one feather on each side and cut her spear of pure steel in three pieces and knocked the other two parts out of her hooves "Like I said. You lay one hoof-"

"Stop it you two!" Twilight yelled "What is the matter?"

"This is a private conversation" one wing folded and the other stayed pointed at Rainbow "How long until we leave?" He asked.

"About two hours."

"Good." And with that he flew off without a word.

SaberStar flew in silence. Not thinking at all. He landed on a balcony and stormed through the library not caring who stared at his glowing armor or his spread wings in blade mode. The glowing runes reflected on his emotions. Right not they were blood-red which meant pure anger. He flung open the door to his room. He sliced a training dummy in half and then kicked it at the wall. There was a knock on the door. He maintained his anger and put on a calm voice and face but his armor was still blood-red "Come in." to his surprise Princess Luna opened the door

"Your Majesty," he said bowing, "With all due respect, why are you here?"

"I saw you storming through the library. Could your name possibly be SaberStar?"

"Yes that's me." Saber replied.

"You do not seem the happiest. Is this the wrong time?"

"No of course not it's just-how do you know my name?"

"Twilight Sparkle has told me and my sister about you. Is it true about the robotic wings?

"Yes." he said unfolding his wings. Unfortunately they were in blade mode. "Sorry, Your Highness. I'm just stressed out. And scared for a few ponies. Well one in particular...."

"Who is it?"  Luna asked cautiously as the blades were still out

"Fluttershy," he said miserably as his armor turned from red to purple. Dark, dark purple. The color of misery.

"Your armor is changing color. Why is that?"

"Princess Twilight made it so the color of the runes reflected my mood. Dark red is anger, blue is sadness, dark purple is misery, sea green is fear, and gold is happiness. I have yet to find out about the rest."

"But why are you so miserable? You may be going to war but with your fighting abilities, you will make it back to see Fluttershy."

"It's not that. I know I'll make it back. I promised her that. In person. But when we were at the Grand Galloping Gala, two Changelings attacked us. One of them tried to kidnap her. Something tells me she still isn't safe."

"What makes you say that?"

"Ever since a Changeling cut off my wings, I've been able to discern Changelings from other ponies and sense their movement better than anypony else. If I leave, who will protect her?"

"I'll send Discord in to protect her then."

"No."

"But she knows Discord."

"But that doesn't mean she's not scared of him."

"What do you mean?" Luna asked.

"Fluttershy still has nightmares about that monster. If he were to lay a hoof on her, he would die, reformed or not. I'm not letting him anywhere near her."

"It may be the only way."

"I'd rather get eaten by a Timber Wolf." he growled, his armor turning dark red.

"Maybe you should go visit her." Luna suggested.

"Hm. Probably." and he left without a word.

When Saber got there, forty-five minutes had passed. He was about to knock on the door when a voice said,

"You won't find her there." Saber whirled and Adamant Shadow was standing behind him. "Hey now," he said as a wing flipped up to his chin "Let's try not to kill me."

"Adamant," Saber sighed, his wings changing to flight mode "Your lucky I saw you before I attacked. What did you mean by 'I wouldn't find Fluttershy here'?"

"She's at the palace gardens. I'd get there fast. There's a guard who keeps stealing glances at her. Glances that sense he likes her." Saber's armor changed from dark red to bright red. Embarrassed.

"How did you...?"

"I saw you two together at the Gala."

"Oh." Then he remembered the guard and his armor turned blood-red again. "Are you coming? He asked Adamant,

"Oh might as well. I have a feeling this will be very........interesting."

SaberStar and Adamant Shadow galloped to the palace gardens.

"Watch to the side until I clear everything up," Saber whispered when they arrived, "I don't want you involved."

"Won't even notice me." he said smiling.

"Okay. Who's the guard you were talking about?"

"He's blue, with a red mane and green eyes. I don't see him. Hurry! you must find him!"

"Agreed." Saber ran into the garden. He concentrated and the lights on his armor dimmed. He kept his wings in flight mode. He walked, well more like ran, into the forest. He saw a flash of yellow and pink behind a bush. He walked backwards and peeked over the bush. There was a guard talking with Fluttershy, making her blush, smile and stare at the ground. Saber caught parts of the conversation.

"How about we talk about this, over dinner maybe?" Fluttershy's blush and smile disappeared instantly and she looked the guard in the eye. She replied with a sharp

"I'm spoken for."

"Don't see him."

"He is preparing for war."

"So he's a soldier. Well he may be a soldier, but I command twenty-five other soldiers." he was about put a hoof under her chin. That was past the line. His armor glowed dark red, along with the Fire Ruby in the shape of a star in the center of the chest as he jumped out.

"You put one hoof on her, I'll remove both your front hooves." The blades on his wings flipped to attack mode and for some reason glowed dark red too.

"SaberStar?!" Fluttershy said in shock. The guard laughed

"She's 'spoken for' so don't try." Fluttershy said later that his eyes glowed completely red.

"I'm the one she's 'spoken for'. You make a move, it will not end well for you." as if to make a point, the wings shot forward and hovered unmoving, a centimeter from the guard's face. The guard backed away and made a signal with his hoof. Five other guards came out, spears in hand. From the guard's wrists two blades appeared and he tried to stab Saber but he cut both of them in half, smacked the guard with unnatural speed and strength and he went flying. Then the guards charged Saber. While he was busy, Saber hadn't noticed that the first guard had gotten up and was walking towards Fluttershy. Saber knocked down a guard and saw him walking towards her. He slashed a guard and the guard screamed with pain. Saber didn't understand why. Then one of his wings touched the ground and the grass burned up. Somehow, a metal fire had started on his wings. He charged towards the first guard. But he was too late. The guard grabbed Fluttershy and kissed her on the lips. Rage filled Saber and his tail and plume became fire. In two lightning quick cuts, the guard was writhing in pain. Fluttershy was frozen in fear. Saber's eyes glowed even brighter. He picked up the guard and tried to get his wings to cool down. They obeyed. He jabbed the guard in the side and then slashed at his stomach. The guard wasn't to badly injured, but he was unconscious. Saber looked at the other guards and said,

"Go. Take him to a damn hospital. Go away before I change my mind on sparing you." The guards looked at him in terror, picked up the unconscious guard and ran. Fluttershy started to sob. Saber flipped his wings around, wrapped one around her and pulled her closer. He was still energized from his fight.

"Adamant, you come out now. The situation's taken care of." A white unicorn with a navy blue mane and a lab coat walked out from the bushes.

"That was interesting. I had no idea your wings could light a metal fire on themselves."

"Neither did I." he looked down at Fluttershy who was sobbing even harder.

"Shhh.....it's okay.........it's okay." She looked up.

"Y-y-y-y-your w-w-wings..... th-they were on f-f-fire a-and y-y-your eyes........."

"What about my eyes?" he asked,

"Th-they w-were c-c-completely r-r-red...."

"But my eyes are always red."

"She means completely red. Iris, pupil, everything."

"Y-y-y-your m-m-mane and t-t-t-tail were m-m-made of f-f-f-fire."

"I just don't know how it happened. The guard just kissed her and I attacked.

"Metal fire," Adamant mused "A fire that not event water can put out."

"Wh-what does that mean?" Fluttershy asked. She had stopped crying and now she was leaning on Saber.

"It means that the fire is so hot, it uses the oxygen in water to fuel itself. It's that damn hot." Fluttershy looked up at him. This was the second time he had cursed in front of her but she didn't seem to mind. He looked into her blue eyes and saw fear, shock, and even misery.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"It's just that.............I feel like I'm betraying you and Rainbow Dash. I know that she liked you too, and I know I wasn't the one who kissed that guard it's just........." she shuddered and looked like she was on verge of tears.

"Hey it's okay. You're not betraying me. I don't know what Rainbow thinks. But as long as your happy, I'm happy." he said. She smiled at him and they both walked towards the castle.

Saber paced his room, Fluttershy and Adamant with him.

"I still don't know how to protect you," he addressed Fluttershy, "Adamant you're the genius. Any ideas?"

"Well she could come with you..."

"Okay scratch that. You are the mad genius. Are you CRAZY?! She'd be safer with a pack of Timber Wolves!" his armor glowed ice blue. He guessed that meant 'protective'

"You mention 'being with the Timber Wolves a lot.' why?" Adamant questioned,

"I hate Timber Wolves. I have no parents because of them. They are evil. I don't know where the hell they come from but wherever it is, I hope they go back and never come here again." he replied sharp as a razor blade.

"They're MONSTERS!" He was breathing heavily. Fluttershy stared a Saber in shock. "Sorry Fluttershy. I just.." he inhaled deeply "I hate the Timber Wolves more than anything. More than the Changelings even."

"Wow, that's a strong hate." Adamant replied.

"They gave me this too," he pointed to his belly. A long scar marked his underside. "We'd better get going." Saber and Adamant were about to walk out the door when Fluttershy said

"Wait!" she galloped up to him, "I'm going with you."

"If it was safe, I would agree. But it's not!"

"I don't care! I want to be with you!" she looked him in the eye. He saw that she really wanted to come.

"She makes a valid point." Adamant pointed out, "You didn't want to leave her either."

"I know it's just that-" he was interrupted by a messenger guard who was looking very nervous.

"Uh, message for SaberStar!"

"Yes?" Saber asked.

"I am to tell you that you and the soldiers going to war must be prepared by tomorrow because the Changelings are going to attack first and their first target is Canterlot." Saber's eyes widened.

"How long until they attack?"

"About twenty-four hours." "Thank you for the message. You may go now." the guard galloped away.

"Changelings?! Here in Canterlot?!" Adamant exclaimed, looking surprised, "Didn't they learn their lesson last time they came here?!"

"We need to prepare. Fluttershy, Adamant come with me. We need to get you ready for battle."

When they got to the armory, even Adamant was impressed. Blades that came from a mechanism strapped to the pony's wrist, armor that had spells cast on them to light up and only the pony wearing them.

"Hey uh, Adamant. Did that robotic wings powered by your magic thing ever work?"

"Not quite yet. Lyra is trying to find a solution to make them lighter."

"Oh." Saber searched for a light enough and small enough suit of armor for Fluttershy. While Saber was looking for certain pieces, an unexpected visitor came in.

"S-saber?" Adamant stammered "Look behind you." Saber turned around to see the spirit of chaos, Discord himself.

"What are you doing here?" Saber growled.

"Why I came here to ask Fluttershy something of course." the draconequus said, in his best gentlemanly voice. "Fluttershy," Discord asked, "Would you be my very-special somepony?" Saber saw fear in her eyes.

"I don't know," she mumbled. Discord was about to put his eagle claw around her when the blades on Saber's wings flipped around to full out rage and his armor matched them.

"If you put on claw or paw around her or make a move, you will be a lot more uncomfortable than a stone statue. Imagine you with no head, then you become a statue." he growled, his wings flipping back to normal. "Now if you would excuse us, we have to get ready."

"Fine," Discord sighed "I guess being headless would be very uncomfortable." he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

The trio stayed up all night, planning, thinking and training. Saber taught Fluttershy some defense tactics just in case the Changelings found her in her hiding place that him and Adamant discovered. That morning they were all tired. Saber escorted Fluttershy personally to the hidden room they had found. He flipped one wing to blade mode and placed it on imprint of a wing just like his. The outline of the shape glowed silver. Fluttershy walked in to the room. A bed, kitchen, and cabinets filled with food.

"I will make it back safely."

"I know you will." She replied. "But what if he comes?"

"Take this," Saber said, handing her a reflective gem. "If he comes, say 'help' into the gem and it'll teleport me to you."

"Isn't that dangerous?"

"No. Not for me. I'd better leave or I'll be late." then: "Stay safe." he said it like a soldier going to his doom. Saber was about to leave. "Oh! I almost forgot!" he pulled out a box and handed it to Fluttershy. She opened it and gasped, putting a hoof over her mouth. A silver necklace with a sapphire flower glittered in it Saber put it around Fluttershy's neck and said, "I promise." He kissed her on the cheek and flew away.

When he got there, Adamant was already there. "How much longer until they attack?" "Ten minutes I would guess at the least." he replied,

"Everypony, can I have y'all's attention please?" shouted Applejack. She stood on a tall rock and called out "Soldiers of Equestria! I seen y'all's eyes the fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the kindness of ponies fails. When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of loyalty, but it ain't this day. In an hour of haters and broken hearts, when the day of ponies comes crashing down, but it ain't this day! This day we fight for our friends and family, by all that you hold dear in Equestria! I bid you stand, the Guardians of Equestria!" All the soldiers cheered and raised their spears. Saber flipped his wings to attack mode and spread them. He walked towards his group of soldiers. He noticed that one of the guards was the one that had kissed Fluttershy. The guard's eyes widened when he saw them.

"You." the guard said.

"Me." Saber replied coldly . "You are court-martialed to the lowest rank for what you did. Don't think I will forgive you."

"You can't do that! You're not even the commander of us!" He protested,

"Actually, he has every right. He is your commander and you would do well to listen to him." Adamant replied, walking up to Saber, "Or else. Your lucky this war is coming up. If not, Saber would kick you out faster than you could react." The guard looked scared. He had been on the other side of Saber's wings and it had not ended well.

"What's your name soldier?" Saber demanded.

"LunarSun." the guard replied,

"Well LunarSun, I hope you like the mess you've gotten yourself into. Now go back to work!"

"Yes sir." the guard trotted away.

"Nice use of your rank." Adamant chuckled. Saber sighed.

"I'm not used to being in charge like this," he said "commander of one hundred soldiers?! If any one of them dies, it's my fault!"

"Look Saber, nopony can guarantee that there will be no casualties, only hope that they will be low." Adamant replied, "Now let's go meet Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, and Vinyl at the front formation." they walked towards what was the front lines of the army. Tents, wooden stakes and trenches crisscrossed the entire camp. "Here." the scientist said, walking towards the biggest tent. Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Vinyl, and a small purple and green dragon were looking at a map, pointing out locations, and murmuring. "We're here." Adamant said.

"Good, SaberStar, you're here." Twilight replied, addressed Saber.

"So what are we looking at?" He asked.

"Here are where the Changelings are camping out." Rainbow said, pointing at a group of caves on the other said of Canterlot. "We've got good news and bad news. Good news: the Changelings are tired, and exhausted. They haven't fed on emotions for ten years. Bad news: Chrysalis is leading them and all Changelings are all in full armor."

"The Queen is here. Why is that bad news?" Saber asked.

"She wouldn't come to battle unless she was sure she and her subjects would be victorious." Rainbow replied. She and the others were in black battle armor so that the armor wouldn't glint in the sunlight or moonlight. All of a sudden, an hideous sounding horn sounded from the top of a hill. A tall, gangly shape with holes in the hooves. Queen Chrysalis.

"Inhabitants of Canterlot! Surrender now and you will not be killed! We will spare you if you cooperate, you will be happy beyond measure!" She called. Saber didn't believe her one bit.

"Yeah right," Rainbow yelled back while flying up, "You won't kill us, you'll torture us!" all the soldiers murmured in agreement.

"We will give you an hour to surrender. If you have not, we will destroy you." Chrysalis called back. She walked down the other side of the hill and left.

"We won't let them take us, will we?" Saber said, confidence in his voice. "Course not," Rainbow replied, grinning at him for the first time in a while, "You think we would let the likes of them take us or even Fluttershy?"

"Then let's get in formation." Saber said, standing tall as a true guard.

They all galloped towards their groups of soldiers. When Saber arrived at his, they were practicing fighting by training with each other.  

"Attention!" he yelled. The soldiers stopped and stood up straight, saluted him and stayed in that pose. Even LunarSun did it (although he was very reluctant). Saber walked in front of all one-hundred. "Today, we battle to defend our homes and loved ones. Nopony can promise that there will be no deaths, only to hope that they will be very low. You must fight to defend. Dying in battle is honorable when you are defending those you care about. If a Changeling captures you, do everything in your power to escape. if you are weaponless, well you won't unless they find these, which is very unlikely." He tossed the hidden blades that he had found in the armory. There was barely enough for everypony, but he managed. 'Strap these around your wrists. When you need to use them, there is a button on the wrist. Press it and the blade will come out. Now let's get in formation and send the Changelings back to their wasteland of a home!" all the soldiers cheered and shouted and raised their spears. The got in formation and started marching towards the hill.

When the large group of soldiers approached the hill, Saber saw the other leaders or 'Centurions' with their groups of one-hundred soldiers. Saber flew up and saw spears, horns, wings and banners. The markings of an army. He, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Vinyl, and the small purple and green dragon who was now clad in armor holding a spear his size were standing in front of their groups.

"They'll rue the day they messed with us," the dragon said,

"Agreed Spike," Twilight replied, "but would you stand a chance against a Changeling?"

"Probably not." Spike sighed.

"What are we waiting for?" Rainbow called, "Let's kick some Changeling rear!" As if on cue, the Changeling horn blew. Chrysalis flew over the hill with her bug-like wings.

"What is your choice?" she called to the army of Unicorns and Pegasi. "We would never surrender to you disgusting creatures!" Twilight yelled, "Very well then! You will not survive this!" Chrysalis replied, her gnarled black horn glowing green. And with that, the two armies charged and clashed