"Sir, catapults are reloaded and ready to fire!"

"Ballistae report Whitetail infantry are within range!"

General Phalanx looked over the battle that was raging below, where thousands of deer and ponies were engaged in vicious combat. It had only been a few minutes at most, but already the losses on both sides were staggering. The deer fought with tenacity and a strikingly offensive style, but Phalanx's soldiers were giving just as well as they were getting. Maces and war hammers had proven to be particularly effective against the tough but brittle armor of the deer. He only wished he had more.

White cloak flowing behind him, even in the pouring rain, he set in motion the first phase of his battle plan.

"Catapults, target their siege engines! Ballistae, I want you to hit the second tier of their infantry! Archers, you're to target your counterparts in the deer lines! Let's see if we can't reduce their ranged abilities!"

Hundreds of arrows were readied, long bows levitating in front of unicorn archers or firmly secured in place with spikes stuck into the ground for pegasi and earth ponies. Siege weapons sounded the all-ready to their commanders. The straining of strings and groaning of ropes sounded as one.

"All ranged forces...fire!"

"Victus, left side!"

A large deer wielding a long, narrow blade bounded over a dead pony, stabbing it forth in an attempt to get the advantage over Victus and his allies. Victus managed to dodge to the side, deflecting the weapon off the side of his shield, only to be met by furious kicks from the twin conical blades of the deer's armor. The rain of blows was keeping Victus on the back hoof, and for every stab he dodged or blocked two more came his way. A momentary opening let him thrust his gladius at the deer, only to have it bounce off the crystalline armor that made their kind so infuriating to fight. Suddenly the attacking buck let out a yell of anguish and fell to his side, blood pooling under him from a vicious wound. A thrust to the deer's neck put a definitive end to the fight.

"My thanks, Chiron!" Victus said above the din of battle, already searching for his next foe. There was no shortage of potential targets -- countless deer were fighting along a massive line of shields and weapons that extended as far as the eye could see. Already he and his squad-mates had accounted for two dozen deer vanquished, yet still it seemed like so little. A shouted order came from somewhere behind, an order for the second tier -- the princepes -- to ready their throwing spears.

"Pila incoming, shields up!" he yelled to his squad. A makeshift roof of tower shields went up along the first four ranks. Someone nearby let out a cry as a deer pike found a gap in the shield wall. The well-trained legionaries immediately took his place, making sure the wall stayed closed.

Dozens of pila arced over the formation, falling amongst the ranks of the Whitetail. The heavy spear heads had the power to pierce the thinner armor on the backs and helms of the deer, and many fell in an instant. Immediately after there came a loud, collective whistle as hundreds of arrows and dozens of heavy ballista bolts flitted into the air. A rain of iron and wood lanced through the deer, impacting with wet thumps and the sound of metal tearing through flesh. Victus chanced a look between shields and watched a squad of deer fall to the ground, some dead from multiple arrows to exposed areas, others pierced through by long, deadly bolts. A buck several rows back had been impaled through with such force that he was now uselessly squirming half-way up the shaft of a ballista projectile, blood seeping from his mouth and running down from both sides of his body. He shouted something in an agonized voice. A soldier beside him turned, nodded sharply, and immediately ran his long, narrow blade through his impaled comrade's heart. Seconds later, the struggling ceased.

Without delay or warning, the heavy-sounding passes of catapulted boulders and projectiles drowned out the battle with impacts so loud they could be heard, and felt, over the clashes of steel and screams of the dying.

"Squad, hold the wall! Spears up!"

Ponies grunted and strained to keep the deer from breaking through, pushing back with all of their might. Behind the first line Ceraunius, Sertis, Steel Spark and others set their thrusting spears into their shoulders, held tight in their forelegs.

"Hold! Hooold!" A small step of momentum came, and Victus took full advantage of it. "Now!"

Victus, Chiron and the entire first row of shield-bearers momentarily parted their tower shields. At the same time, the second row thrust their long weapons through, aiming for unarmored necks and gaps in armor. As soon as they did, the shield wall formed back into an impenetrable barrier. The Equestrians moved up a precious pair of steps, finishing off any who lay wounded.

"Stay strong, brothers! Fight until your last breath!"

Tercio and Rimeberry had just finished piling the bodies of the three attackers in the corner when another scroll popped into being with a flash of magic. Imperator Stonewall snatched it up, unfurled it, and swore at the news it contained.

"The eastern entrance has been compromised. Praetorians from barracks four are heading over to reinforce it, but they fully expect some opposition to have already passed through." If the eastern entrance had fallen, it meant there were now less than sixty defenders between the throne room and the palace foregrounds. "Damnit all, I wish we had a better idea of the traitors' numbers. They have to be running low on forces by now!"

The sounds of battle drew ever closer as they waited, anxiously, for another attack. It was only a matter of time. Where, and when, it would come from was the single greatest unknown. For a group of skilled soldiers so used to the steady ebb and flow of combat, the uncertainty was almost unbearable.

Tercio kept his head on a swivel, expecting a pegasus to fly through the window once more, or a deer to appear in a flash of light behind him, or perhaps even a griffon to crash through the roof.

Long minutes passed in uncomfortable silence. No one said a word, but they all knew they were likely to see more combat before the hour was through. What was once a distant murmur had grown into a far closer cacophony of clashing weapons and cries of battle.

"Bastards can't be further than the garden entrance," Stonewall finally spoke up. Once more a scroll appeared before him, this time bearing the red stamp that denoted utmost urgency. He read it aloud, making sure to direct most of it at Celestia.

"Palace safety is compromised. Most of the attackers are dead but a large group has managed to fight its way past the initial defenses. The Royal Guard commander expects them to be upon us shortly, and advises evacuation. Western stations are on their way to reinforce, but until then we are effectively cut off."

He stuck out the scroll, letting the princess levitate it in front of her. She quickly looked over it, a shadow of worry crossing her face.

"Princess Celestia, this location is no longer secure. We must retreat to the tunnels."

Celestia frowned, hesitant to leave.

"Are you sure we cannot hold here, Stonewall?"

"I cannot say with certainty, but I believe it better to be safe than sorry in this situation."

"I will need a few moments to gather some things from Luna's room. If those fanatics should find her things, I can only imagine what will happen to them."

Stonewall cleared his throat, still trying to be gentle with his persuasion.

"With all due respect, Your Highness, I'm not sure such a thing is wise at this time. We can come back once the attackers have been dispatched."

"The rest of the praetorian reinforcements are on their way, perhaps we can--"

"Princess!" Stonewall interrupted, finally raising his voice. "We have to go, and we have to go now! Your life is not worth some of Princess Luna's trinkets!"

"They...they are not merely trinkets, Stonewall," she insisted, "they are all I have left of her." She bowed her head in respect. "Please. I ask only for a short time."

Stonewall tapped a hoof on the ground, sighing deeply.

"You have one minute, nothing more. I apologize for my demeanor, Princess, but my only concern in life is your well-being."

"I know," she said in reply, "and thank you. I promise, we will evacuate before anything can happen."

"Very well. Venerin, Thunderburst, you're with the princess. One minute. Understood?"

The praetorians nodded, trotting alongside Celestia as she headed through the entrance at the back of the throne room.

"The rest of you, form up on me! I want your shields at the ready and in formation!"

Commotion, not far now. Heavy and rhythmic it came, joining the sound of death and battle from just down the hall. A series of loud cracks sounded, followed by a resounding thud as something large crashed down and shook the floor.

The outer doors had fallen.

"It is just up ahead. Please, wait here. I will only be a moment."

Princess Celestia let her two faithful praetorians at the entryway to the royal chambers, but she was not alone. At her side, Luna kept pace with a smug smirk.

Really, sister? Bits and baubles? I am surprised by you.

They are all that remains of you. If anything should happen to them...

So melodramatic. Whatever happened to the stoic leader of Equestria?

She lost her sister.

Celestia stood in front of the large doors decorated with a carved, crescent moon that marked Luna's personal quarters. For the better part of three months she'd hardly set a hoof inside, not wanting to face the reality of her sister's banishment. In some small way, Celestia hoped that, if she kept Luna's room just as it was when she'd changed, the events of that fateful night might undo themselves, and she could return to life as it had existed for hundreds of years.

You are deluding yourself. Are you both a fool and a dreamer, Celestia?

Cautiously, she nudged the doors open and stepped inside. The air was stale, the room dark and cold. The once ever-present scent of night lilies was gone, leaving in its place a heavy blanket of dust that swirled and flowed with her every movement.

Luna was gone. In her place, Nightmare Moon stood in glowing armor.

Do you see now? Trinkets. Nothing more.

Celestia bathed the room in the first light it had seen in many months, a casting of yellow energy that glowed from the tip of her horn. It reflected off glass vases and delicately sculpted gifts; presents from admirers and dignitaries. In the corner, a stylized painting of her and Luna circling a half-sun, half-moon on a field of stars sat on a night stand, surrounded by wilted flowers.

Somewhere in the distance, a booming rumble shook the walls and floor.

Even in banishment you torment this city. Is it not enough to make me grieve for you?

The ghostly image smiled like shark moving in for the kill.

I do not make empty threats, sister. And yet...it is not only I who occupies your thoughts these days, is it? You still worry for another...

Beside Nightmare Moon another figure appeared, tall and strong.

In time, you will regret letting him live. You know what he is, the danger he poses. Let him die believing he is protecting you.

He deserves a chance. There is good in him. I have seen it.

How honorable of you. And yet, you have seen the darkness that resides within his very being. End him, Celestia. End him, and be done with it!

"I will not!" Celestia shouted, stomping a hoof on the marble floor. The shadowy forms drifted away in the wind as Thunderburst and Venerin burst into the room, swords at the ready.

"Princess! Are you alright?!" Thunderburst asked, surveying the room.

It took Celestia a moment to realize what she had done; she fought to hide her embarrassment and had to look away lest her guards see the tears in her eyes.

"Yes...I'm fine, thank you. I apologize for my outburst, I was simply overcome at seeing Luna's belongings in such a condition."

Venerin motioned with his weapon. "Your Highness, it is time to go. The outer doors have been breached and there is now little standing between us and the remaining extremists."

Celestia wished she had more time. There were so many memories to be revisited, centuries worth of keepsakes and possessions. She feared she may never see them again.

A blue and white saddlebag floated to her side, and inside it she placed a few precious bits of her past. They clinked and rustled as they jostled against one another, and when she was satisfied she secured the flap and strapped the bag around her waist. A loud battering on the throne room doors drove the severity of the situation home, and Celestia and her guards headed back to the throne room proper with all due haste.

The struggle of combat had already ceased as Tercio ducked low behind his shield. There were no more praetorians guarding the hallway; their brief fight had lasted no more than half a minute. Now they were certainly dead, leaving only the heavy, barred doors to keep the attackers at bay. Something heavy and powerful was bashing against them, spraying splinters of wood with each impact and buckling the ornate doors little by little.

"Stonewall!" Tercio turned briefly to see Celestia and her escort galloping in. They closed and barred the doors behind them, then immediately took their places beside their brothers.

"Have you found what you were looking for?" Stonewall asked, a spear tucked against his side.

"I grabbed what I could," Celestia answered, already beginning the process of revealing the escape tunnel that had existed, but never been used, for the last two hundred years. It was times like this she wished she was still at the castle of her parents, far off in the Everfree forest. The countless hours her and Luna had spent exploring the myriad passages and secret paths would have served her well for escaping.

"It will take some time to bypass the magical barriers in place. I will require some time!"

"Time is not something we have a lot of, Princess!"

The heavy beating continued -- WHAM, WHAM -- and with each strike the door give a tiny bit. Venerin focused his magic to try and reinforce it as best he could, but it was only a temporary measure.

"It would be easier if Polaris were here," he said between clenched teeth.

Polaris. Tercio had scarcely thought of him since the incident with Celestia. He hoped the unfortunate unicorn was well, carried off to safety by the apothecaries. He would have to wait to find out.

Celestia wrapped the royal dais in a cloud of sparkling magic, slowly sliding it out of place. Underneath the throne, what appeared to be a solid floor soon began to shimmer and ripple like expanding rings in a puddle, the strange forces at work reacting to her power. She called out to Stonewall, telling him it would only be a moment, when the barred doors finally gave way.

"Cover!" Stonewall shouted, stepping back with his tower shield to avoid the large chunks of debris that rained down as the final line of defense shattered. A volley of arrows immediately flitted through the doorway, bouncing off the impromptu shield wall or clattering off the floor.

Tercio held his pilum tight, and upon the imperator's orders heaved the heavy projectile with all his might. It struck solidly into the unarmored chest of a unicorn, burying itself deep. The unicorn immediately dropped to the floor, the energy around his horn ceasing in an instant. Without sufficient support, the battering ram -- really a crudely torn-out and hastily shaped tree trunk -- wobbled as the remaining unicorns strained to support it. A pair of pila found their marks, and the ram fell to the ground with a resounding crunch and snapping of bones as it crushed anyone who was unfortunate enough to be under it.

"Praetorians, blades front!"

Tercio set his gladius against the side of his tower shield, waiting for an onrush that seemed to number in the dozens. Few of them wore armor, most choosing to don simple blue cloaks and whatever weapons they could levitate or grasp in their mouths. They fell upon the shield wall like a crashing wave, pushing against the semi-circle the praetorians had formed around the door's entrance to funnel the attackers into a killzone. Half a dozen swords thrust out against the wall of bodies that were trying to break the formation, with echoing yells or sharp exhales of pain marking each strike. The fanatical ponies wildly swung their weapons, finding only shields and parrying blades where they lashed out.

A griffon took to the air over the masses, sharp talons extended like daggers, and threw itself against the praetorians. Tercio barely kept upright, swearing between gritted teeth as claws dug into his leg. The griffon managed to get its head over the top of his shield, and it snapped at Tercio viciously, trying to remove his eyes with its sharp beak. Tercio turned his head at the attack, hearing the sharp clangs of his helm as it blunted the griffon's attacks. His gladius went sliding across the floor, and the griffon mocked him in its own language. Still fighting the weight of his attacker, Tercio reached for the small of his back, withdrawing a long, slender dagger, and jabbed it upward into the griffon's neck. The creature shouted in shock and panic, clutching for the blade as it was driven into its throat over and over again. Dark, red blood poured over Tercio in a small torrent, spraying his armor and skin with gore. The griffon ceased its attack, and Tercio tossed its body off his shield.

The wall had held, but the attackers were taking their toll on the brave praetorians. Each and every one of them now sported gashes in their flesh, cuts and stab wounds that turned their steel armor a dark crimson. Still they fought.

Venerin was the first to tire. His weapon lodged in the skull of an opponent, he now resorted to rough bashes and powerful, crushing blows from his tower shield to hold his position. It, too, was soon lost. He grabbed a mace from a mangled body, deflecting blows with his small buckler shield strapped to his right foreleg.

"Hold the line!" Stonewall shouted, stabbing his weapon into the spine of an earth pony that had nearly ended Morning Star's life during a brief moment of tunnel vision. Another volley of arrows zipped through the air, impacting against friend and foe alike. The fanatics were getting desperate, but they could smell blood in the water. It drove them on, their bodies forming a literal mound that reached as high as the praetorians' shields.

"HOLD THE LIIINE!"

A long, curved blade found a gap in Tercio's defenses. It slashed into the unprotected back of his upper arm as it was yanked back against his shield, eliciting a shout of pain. Within seconds there were numerous forelegs pulling at his shield with all of their might, and he could feel himself losing his balance. With only a brief hesitation Tercio removed his arm from the shield's inner straps, letting it fall with the mob. Furious with both himself for letting them get the best of him, and with the fanatics for threatening the very soldiers he cared about, he lashed out with his long dagger at any target he could find. Necks, forelegs, chests, it mattered not. What blows came his way were batted aside with his buckler. He fought like a man possessed, thankful that he was still in control of himself. A short axe fell at his feet from a slain opponent, and he alternated powerful, chopping attacks with swift, precise strikes from both weapons.

A bright flash filled the throne room, and Celestia shouted across the distance.

"The passage is clear!"

Clutching at his side, Stonewall ordered an organized retreat. The praetorians immediately began a quick but methodical retreat, keeping their remaining weapons and shields toward the enemy. For a moment, it looked like the attackers had finally run out of bodies to throw at them. That was the moment the traitorous guards made their move.

Clad in piecemeal Equestrian Guard armor flecked and spotted with dried blood, they advanced without delay, swords slick with gore clutched tightly in their mouths.

"Halt! By order of the Praetorian Guard, I order you to halt!" Stonewall shouted, some small part of him hoping they would listen. Instead, they picked up their pace, coming to a full gallop with loud war cries. They clambered up and over the mound of bodies in the doorway, rushed past the sobbing and dying ponies on the ground around them, and struck the tired, wounded defenders. It took only seconds for their first victim to fall. Venerin blocked a sword swing with his shield, only to find a second pushed up through the gap in his cuirass. He let out a horrible, pained sound, then fell silent as the traitors buried their weapons up the hilt.

"Venerin!" Morning Star shouted, letting his guard down for only a moment at the loss of his friend. An arrow pierced through his right wing and stuck at an angle into his right hind leg, and he tripped over himself and tumbled to the ground. A quick roll was all that saved him from having a sword plunged through his skull.

"Into the passage! Move!" Stonewall struck out with his weapon, but he was losing his focus. His vision swam and his heartbeat pounded in his ears. A heavy weapon smashed into his right foreleg, shattering bone. Only vaguely aware of what had happened, he attempted to lift his shield back up, but it refused to move. Then, all at once, the pain hit. It washed over him like a screaming river, and he fell to the ground clutching at his shattered limb. A stallion wearing a torn cloak and battered armor stood over him, mace raised, and Stonewall prepared to accept his fate.

Behind the deer lines, Brother-General Felnaris stood beside his adviser, looking every bit the commander with his glimmering, crystalline armor laced with gold and inlays of small, purple gems. He had watched the carnage unfold before him for some time, unphased by his losses. His soldiers were holding strong.

"The Equestrians fight well," he said. Pieces of green and white fabric hung from the tips of his tall, wide antlers, a symbol of status among his people.

"Indeed they do, sir. Are you not worried?"

Felnaris gave a short, humorless laugh. "Worried? No, not for a moment, Brother-Captain. We will destroy the Equestrians to the last, and when none stand between us and their paltry capital it will be as if they had never existed."

Brother-Captain Corvalix looked at his commanding officer with an unsure eye.

"Forgive me, Brother-General, but I do not think the ponies will give up so easily. They are tenacious fighters, despite rumors to the contrary. I see that, now, for myself."

"You mean from your time in the forest?"

"Yes," Corvalix said. "They did not give up their pursuit of me, no matter the terrain, and even as their numbers dwindled to my attacks they fought on." He pointed to still-healing wound at his shoulder. "I will carry this scar as a reminder of that for the rest of my life."

"With respect, Brother-Captain, it is not that I doubt such things, but in open battle it is clear they must resort to gimmicks and trickery to win," Felnaris retorted. "Do you see, there? On the western end of the formation?" Corvalix strained his eyes; multi-colored spots were just barely visible, flying high over the battle lines. "General Phalanx has no-doubt created a formation of pegasi to attack our forces from the air. They know we cannot counter them in an equal manner, but they make the mistake of thinking such an attack to be untouchable. Observe."

The distant figures were rapidly growing closer, flying at great speed. Scattered arrows flew up to meet them with no effect, and they answered the volleys with weapons of their own: bundles of short, sharp darts held together with twine. A firm tug released the bundles carried on the sides of each pegasus, and within seconds hundreds of small, lethal projectiles were falling to the earth. By sheer number alone they had proven to be effective, causing entire clusters of deer to collapse with puncture wounds.

"Sir, I don't see how--"

"Patience, Brother-Captain."

In front of the assembled deer officers the most powerful magic users were lined up. They wore no armor, for it would only dampen their concentration. With a simple, spoken order they each focused on a pegasus, their antlers glowing green with crackling energy that arced through the air around them. Immediately, the pegasi stopped in mid-air. They struggled against unseen forces, thrashing wildly. Some managed to escape, but many did not, and moments later a volley of small pots were flung in their direction, lit fuses hanging from their sides. They exploded among the pegasi with loud pops and flashes of light, showering them with shards of glass and jagged metal shavings. With the ponies now wounded or dead, the bucks let their limp forms fall to the earth, where masses of blades made sure they would not get up again.

"You see? Gimmicks. The pegasi have contributed nothing but a few casualties, and now their ranks are asunder. We will not be seeing them again, not in such a formation."

Corvalix took a small step back, out of view of the General. The Equestrians had just launched another volley from their siege weapons, more bundles of darts like those carried by the pegasi. They fell well short of the officers' lines, and those that did come within range were halted in mid air by a shimmering wall of green magic.

"Sir, why not deploy such a barrier among the front lines? Surely it would save many lives."

"Because the rank-and-file are disposable," Felnaris answered coldly. "We can always recruit more. What few gifted magic users we have must be deployed to protect the senior cadre. Namely, you and I. Myself particularly, of course."

"Of course, Brother-General."

An orderly ran up and dropped to his knees, a small cup floating beside him. He offered his thanks as the General took the drink and dismissed him with a wave, and just as quickly as he'd appeared he was gone again.

"Sweetbark tea," Felnaris said over the lip of his cup. "Let me ask you something, Brother-Captain Corvalix."

"Sir?"

"Do you know why I am so confident in victory?"

"I...I could only venture a guess, Brother-General."

"By all means."

Corvalix thought for a long moment, then answered.

"The bravery and tenacity of the Whitetail soldier?"

Felnaris chuckled. "No, no. It is far simpler than any descriptor. So simple, in fact, that even the most uneducated farmer could understand it." He did not wait for Corvalix to respond. "The simple fact is that I have seen combat, commanded soldiers on the battlefield, and General Phalanx has not. He has crushed small bands of extremists or criminals, but open warfare? Not even once. He commands only from training, not from experience."

"I see..."

A ballista bolt arced through the sky, lost behind a volley of arrows. Too heavy to be stopped by a single buck, and noticed too late for the gathered line to focus on it, the missile tore through the magical barrier and removed the head of an unfortunate Whitetail officer.

"Sloppy," Felnaris said, sipping his steaming tea. "The Equestrians, for all their fighting spirit, are a nation of soft bodies and softer hearts. Their much-beloved 'princesses' preached love and kinship, and yet they could not even keep their own relationship from tearing apart at the seams. They are, all of them, hypocrites -- even if they are not aware of it. And that is why we will destroy them to the last."

A wave of light and a force, as brilliant as the sun, rushed through the throne room, tossing back the attacking traitors and slamming them against the far wall in disoriented heaps. Imperator Stonewall wasted no time, taking advantage of the temporary distraction to get back on his hooves with the help of the remaining praetorians.

"Please hurry," Celestia said, the strain of such a show of power heavy on her voice, "I cannot do that again for some time."

The praetorians limped to her side, remaining weapons and shields still trained on the enemy. The attackers had not yet recovered, still lying on the ground and groaning or flailing their limbs in confusion, but Stonewall knew it would not last forever.

"Everyone into the passage," he ordered, weakly lifting his gladius with his remaining, functional foreleg. "Thunderburst and Morning Star, you're the least injured. You have point."

"Sir," the answered as one. Morning Star was the first to make the short fall into the tunnel, landing with a resounding thump. A few seconds later he gave the all-clear, and Thunderburst followed after him.

"Your Highness, if you would."

Celestia took a cursory glance back at the throne room entrance, then jumped down with a brief flap of her wings that kicked up a small gout of dust and dirt from the old, unused passage.

"Rime, Krosus, you'll have to help me down. I fear I won't make such a landing in one piece."

Tercio and Rimeberry nodded, then grabbed hold of Stonewall around his good foreleg and shoulders. Behind them, the stallions were finally regaining their senses, and they shouted to one another as they grabbed hold of whatever weapons they could find. It wouldn't be long before they were on the offensive again.

"Shit," Tercio swore, gradually lowering his commander down. "Sir, they're--"

"I'm well aware, Krosus! Hurry it up!"

Blood dripped down from his cut arm, making it hard to keep a solid hold of Stonewall. He strained and sweated, feeling his muscles beginning to give way under the weight of the injured pony and his armor. The loud, clacking sound of armored hooves on tile echoed through the room -- the traitor guards were coming.

"Fuck it, that's close enough! Let me go and get your asses in here right now!"

Stonewall fell the remaining few feet and landed hard on his haunches, exhaling sharp and harsh as the air was knocked from his lungs. Above him, a tossed axe whipped by the entrance and narrowly missed Tercio and Rimeberry. They threw themselves into the hole, landing hard enough to warp their segmented shoulder armor.

Celestia began to close off the entrance as soon as her personal guard was with her, first bringing the magical barrier back into being, then sliding the heavy dais back into place. The stallions above shouted and swore viciously, trying to stop the escape. One of them managed to get his armored forelegs into the entrance, up to his knees. The wall of energy enveloped him and coursed through his body like lightning, and he screamed as the dais slid into place, crushing him into place, bones shattered, where he would remain until the barrier shocked the very life from his body.

Celestia flinched at the sound. She hated to inflict suffering on anyone, even those who would end her life, but she knew she had no other choice.

"Poor bastard," Thunderburst said, helping Rimeberry up from the heap of limbs he'd crumpled into on landing.

"A fitting death for a traitor and a murderer." Stonewall pulled a pair of small vials from under his armor, wrapped in cloth, and uncorked them with a tug from his teeth. A pair of torches stood in sconces on the rough, dirty stone walls. The air smelled stagnant and earthy, and he hoped the old torches would still hold a light. Carefully, one liquid was poured in a small amount over the cloth and sap torch heads.

"Stand back," he ordered. A second liquid, more viscous and tinted red, was then poured over the first. The chemicals bubbled and fizzed for several seconds, then ignited with a flash of red-orange flames. "Well, at least one thing today hasn't gone to shit. Princess, I take it you know your way around?"

"Yes, but it has been some time since I was last down here with Luna," she answered, adding her own yellow glow to the torchlight glinting off the walls.

"Is everyone still able to fight?"

They answered affirmative to the last, even as Morning Star wrenched an arrow from his hind leg with gritted teeth.

"Right. Krosus, do your grotesque monkey paws still work?"

"Sir?"

"Your hands, Krosus! Stop staring at me like a wide-eyed cow and grab a torch. You're the most inviting target so you get to take point. Do you still have a weapon?"

"Just a dagger, sir. Lost the axe in the melee."

"Good enough. The rest of us will form up around the princess. It should only take a short time to reach the cavern. We'll wait there until the other praetorians and what's left of the Royal Guard can wipe out the remaining traitors."

The dug-out tunnel was barely high enough for Tercio to stand up in, and the walls felt cramped and claustrophobic as he made his way through the old passage. Celestia was quiet for much of the journey, saying very little as she followed behind Tercio with the battered, bloody remnants of the praetorians at her side. On they walked, passing through an additional barrier that was quickly cleared by royal magic, and soon the air became lighter and cooler. There was an entrance near-by, or some sort of ventilation chamber, Celestia mentioned.

"I can't believe they got into the throne room," Rimeberry said, walking on three legs with the fourth clutching the gash on his chest.

"Bastards ran Venerin right through! We made them pay for every step, though." Morning Star kicked at the dirt with a frustrated swear, bloodied gladius still clutched in his mouth.

"That we did." He looked up at the princess. "You are unharmed, Your Highness?"

"I am, thanks to all of you," she said as comfortingly as she could manage. "Thank you for protecting me. Although..." her voice trailed off.

"Princess?"

"Decanus Venerin's death weighs heavily on me," she said with a tinge of sadness creeping into her voice. "I feel I bear responsibility for him. If I had not returned to grab some petty items from Princess Luna's room, he might still be alive."

Imperator Stonewall answered her as his torn cloak dragged on the floor behind him.

"Do not burden yourself with such thoughts, Princess. We are sworn to protect you to our last breaths. Venerin died as well as any of us could ever hope. He did not object even once, for he knows the value of family. In truth, I rejoice for him, for he is with his now. Any of us should be so lucky." When Celestia did not speak further, Stonewall continued. "He will posthumously be made a full-fledged Praetorian, and buried with all the honors that entails. On this, I give my word."

The winding tunnel eventually opened into a wider path, tall enough for Tercio to finally stand up straight. He rubbed the soreness from his neck as he stepped over a small boulder -- and stopped.

"Gods," he whispered in awe, "what sort of place is this?"

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Lacertus Praxis heard distant voices coming from somewhere beyond the expansive cave he'd found his way into. For some time he'd simply lied upon his back and taken in the sights and sounds around him; a cavern of the most beautiful crystals and clearest water he'd ever seen. Old and jaded though he considered himself, somewhere in the back of his mind he still felt a child-like wonder at the spectacle.

Above him, long crystals, as big around as his great sword, jutted from the ceiling, surrounded by patches of smaller crystalline shapes that looked as delicate as blades of grass. The large formations glowed a soft, almost ethereal blue that radiated to the surrounding walls, themselves seemingly polished to a near-mirror shine by some unknown element. Below his well-hidden perch, pools of perfectly clear water stood motionless. Tiny, purple shards added just the smallest hint of color from the bottom. A cool wind blew in from limestone tubes leading to the outside world, adding a relaxing, almost nurturing feel to the cavern.

And then there was the sound. He'd missed it at first, too busy climbing up to his ambush point and subsequently breathing heavily from exertion, but as he'd regained his senses it came to him. It was barely noticeable at first, like a mis-heard sound or a trick of the mind. Then it had started to grow, carried on the cool breeze, a soft twinkling of harmonious notes from the most delicate chimes he could imagine. Always they were there, just at the edge of his hearing, and when he'd closed his eyes he could imagine himself floating over an endless ocean with the sun rising over the horizon. For the first time in many years, he'd felt truly at peace.

Then came the voices from the tunnel. The crystals slowly, subtly changed color to a radiant yellow as the sounds of steel and hoof approached ever closer. Carefully he chanced the smallest peak over an outcropping, and within seconds a limb appeared. Long, well-toned, covered in armor plating. No mere pony limb. He smiled to himself -- the waiting was over.

"In all my years I have never seen such a place!"

Tercio and his compatriots stood in slack-jawed wonder at the sight of the cave around them. Stonewall urged them to stay sharp, but even he had to admit to the beauty before his eyes. Still, his duty came first, and he ordered the remaining praetorians to take their places around the tall, echoing chamber. They would be safe here, he said, until the fighting had passed.

"It's quite something, isn't it?" Celestia said with the first smile she'd managed since the fighting began. "Many years ago, when our mother and father still ruled as King and Queen, Luna and I would venture down here. We shared countless stories and played many games, just the two of us." The glowing crystals turned a dark blue at the mention of the fallen Princess' name, then faded back to yellow. "This place still remembers those times, just as much as I do."

"I don't understand," Tercio said, bending down and sliding his fingers through the cool water. They tingled, like the kiss of winter ice, and soon the blood had been washed from his hand like it was never there. "What do you mean 'this place still remembers'?"

"This cave is very special. It is a font of magical energy, a wonder of the natural way of things. My father said it used to be a unicorn holy site, back before the three races united under a single banner. That was many centuries ago."

She reached out and touched an armored hoof to a long, multi-faceted crystal. It shined brilliantly though all colors of the sunset.

"There is a consciousness about this place, one beyond my understanding, and I think it beautiful. At one time, so did my sister." She turned and motioned to Tercio with a slight nod of her head. "Come, see for yourself."

He cautiously approached her side, unsure of what he might feel once he made contact with the strange surface. Slowly, he pressed his fingers to the hard face of the crystal. He could feel a vibration, like a hum, pass through his arm and over his body.

"It is unsure of what to make of you," Celestia explained as the crystal ceased to glow. Tercio frowned, disappointed, and the humming sensation left him. "You are conflicted."

"Should I not be?" he asked quietly, remembering only small flashes of how he'd once again lost control of himself and attempted to harm the very princess he was sworn to protect.

Celestia hesitated before answering.

"Only you can know the answer for sure. It is not my place to say."

She placed a hoof against the back of his hand, and together the crystal glowed with a faint yellow-orange.

"Perhaps one day you will know. On that day, we will return here, under happier circumstances."

Covered in blood, both his and his enemy's, bruised and cut and broken, Tercio found it hard to think of such times. He missed his brother, missed his parents, feared for their safety. He wondered if he would be able to truly protect the princess, or if he was even truly cut out for the Praetorians. Still, there was something about Celestia that radiated confidence and comfort, even in her own moments of self-doubt, and he was thankful to have her encouraging words.

"I would like that," he said just above a whisper.

The hum stopped, suddenly replaced by a sound like a shrill scream. Tercio jerked his hand back as the crystals suddenly changed to a harsh, ugly red, bathing the entire cavern in a crimson light. Then there was a wet, sharp tearing of metal slicing through flesh, and as he turned around he glimpsed Morning Star's head falling to the ground.

There, beside the body of his comrade, stood an earth pony. He was covered from muzzle to tail in thick armor, his face hidden behind a mask of polished silver, and in his mouth he clutched a massive sword that glistened with fresh blood. Red light cast a harsh, dark shadow upon him, his armor glowing like the flames of the underworld, and when he gazed upon Tercio he struck a strong, imposing silhouette.

"M-Morning Star?" Thunderburst said in shock, watching the blood pour from the severed stump of his friend's neck. Overcome by grief, he pulled the gladius from his side and lashed out at the unknown attacker, yelling as he stabbed his sword into the thick chest armor. There the blade stuck, and with a single, powerful strike the assassin severed the right foreleg from his body in a spray of blood and shattered steel. Thunderburst fell to the ground, screaming, clutching at his wound.

Stonewall and Rimeberry were on the attack before Thunderburst could suffer a killing blow, and together they deflected the massive weapon. Stonewall held fast despite his shattered limb and painful wounds, but he knew he was no match for his opponent. With Rimeberry distracting the assassin with a series of furious blows, Stonewall grabbed the now-unconscious Thunderburst's hind leg in his mouth and dragged him away. Rimeberry took a long gash along his side, and he was forced to retreat to protect his wounded comrades. Celestia shouted something to Stonewall, but Tercio could not make out the words over the clashes of combat and the pounding pulse in his ears as he rushed over. He would have to worry about Thunderburst later.

Whoever the large, powerful earth pony was, Tercio thought him surprisingly quick for wielding such a large weapon. He parried and blocked like it was a simple dagger. Any attack he missed simply bounced off his armor, and even as Tercio fought he found the heavy blade carving through the air at his chest. He jumped back, then lunged forward with his long reach to stab at his opponent with his dagger. It may as well have been a toy.

The dagger stuck firmly into the back of the assassin's armor, finding some small gap between plates, and blood seeped out in long rivulets. The big earth pony did not even flinch, and swung his weapon around in a short arc to remove Tercio's head. Tercio ducked and moved back again, barely avoiding having his throat severed.

"Tercio, quickly!" Celestia shouted, levitating the weapon from its sheathe around her neck. Tercio ran toward it as fast as he could, grabbing it out of mid-air with a lunge. The assassin's weapon passed by so close he could feel the wind on the back of his head. He landed roughly on his shoulder, rolling on his side to avoid a killing strike, and hurried back to his feet, placing enough distance between him and his opponent to even the odds -- or so he hoped.

"Fancy sword you've got there," the assassin said, his voice distorted from his face-obscuring mask. Tercio turned the blade in his hand, and it was unlike any sword he'd seen before; three times as long as a gladius and made of the finest steel, sharpened to a nearly perfect edge, just as deadly with slashing attacks as it was with stabbing thrusts. It glowed faintly with an inner yellow light and felt warm to the touch. A beautifully carved, stylized sun -- the same image that graced Celestia's flanks -- was engraved just above the golden hilt. It burned a luminous orange.

Tercio struck out with it, and the weapon seemed to slice the very air itself. Again he lashed out, but the great sword of his opponent countered it.

"Who are you?" Tercio asked, circling the assassin. "What is it you want?"

"Nothing you can provide me, human." He laughed, pulling the dagger from his back. He tossed it aside, where it skidded into a pool of water. "I was told I would likely encounter you. You are even more grotesque than I had heard."

"Petty barbs mean nothing to me, murderer."

"So you say. If you must know, my name is Lacertus Praxis of Canterlot. Slayer of a dozen kings, terror of the Eastwald, the finest mercenary in Equestria. Perhaps you have heard of me?"

"No, but you seem to have quite the high opinion of yourself for a petty sell-sword."

"Petty? You know nothing of me, boy. But it matters little," he said, hefting his weapon, "for soon I will drink the blood of your beloved goddess from your skull!"

Lacertus swung his weapon far more quickly than Tercio had thought possible. It caught him in the shoulder, slicing through his armor strips and gashing open the top of his arm. Tercio immediately struck back with a powerful, hacking slice. The royal sword carved through the face of one of Lacertus' decorative lion pauldrons, leaving it briefly glowing bright red as the blade imparted the heat of the sun with its strike. Lacertus swore loudly.

"You'll pay for that!"

A long, arcing swing came Tercio's way; he dodged to the side and brought the sword down hard. Lacertus deflected the weapon and planted his blade in the ground, using its momentum to swing himself up and around for a vicious buck of his hind legs. Tercio blocked it at the last moment with his buckler shield, only to have it shatter into pieces. The force of the impact threw him back, and as he struggled to regain his footing another strike lanced through the armored leather straps of his pteruges skirt, narrowly missing his thigh.

"For the love of the gods, Krosus, focus!" Stonewall said from the princess' side, where he and Rimeberry were frantically trying to stop Thunderburst's bleeding. Lacertus promised the old imperator that he would be next, once he'd dispatched the repugnant creature before him.

Tercio forced himself to calm down, despite the pain, despite the blood that now ran from multiple places on his body. Lacertus may have had the advantage of raw strength, but his movements, quick though they were for having such a large sword, still could not match the speed and agility Tercio's body provided him. The big earth pony had to swing his weapon using his head and neck, which left very brief gaps where he could not see what was happening. It would have to be enough.

"Are you one of them? The traitors who slaughter our citizens in the streets?" Tercio asked, trying to stall for time, checking over Lacertus' armor for any weak point. It looked as solid as a block of steel.

"A traitor? Ha! Those undisciplined rabble who don their old armor and long for the glory days. They are a useful distraction, a sacrifice."

"For what?"

"For me."

Lacertus swung his weapon wide, cleaving through a cluster of glowing crystals as Tercio jumped back. Sparks shot out from the clashing blades as a series of blows were parried and blocked. Tercio studied the armored assassin intently, finding no obvious place where he could slip his blade through. A rush of adrenaline forced him forward, and he struck a furious string of stabs and slashes. Some of them found their way through Lacertus' defenses, but all were defeated by his armor, leaving only glowing gashes and long scrapes against the hardened steel. A slight opening showed itself, and Tercio kicked at the side of Lacertus' head as hard as he could, sending the other's neck craning back and to the side. In that moment, he brought the sword up and through the black leather and iron plates. It dug deep, but not deep enough, and as Lacertus twisted his head back the sword carried up through his helm and sliced off one of his ears. He gave an angered yell, tossing the glowing, ruined face guard to the ground. A burning, steaming gash, from the bottom of his neck to the tip of his head, dripped blood in long rivulets and streams of crimson. Tercio moved in for another strike, hoping to put an end to the battle, only to have Lacertus spin around and deliver a crushing buck of his powerful hind legs. Tercio was thrown back, his chest armor dented and distorted, and he landed in a pile with the air knocked from his lungs.

"Not bad, human" Lacertus said, wincing in pain. "I may just give you the gift of a quick death after all." Reaching into a pouch along his side, he pulled out a flask of dark, thick liquid. He popped the cork out and poured it down his head, over his bleeding wounds, gritting his teeth as the fluid began to sizzle and bubble. Within seconds the wound was cauterized, his skin fused together with ugly, black lumps of gelatinous liquid and congealed blood.

"Fucking zebras never said it would burn that much," he swore. Bathed in the light of glowing crystals, Tercio finally got a good look at his attacker -- an older face, worn and scarred. A long, pink line ran down his cheek and a close-cut, gray mane stood in sharp contrast to the dark brown of his coat. Lacertus laughed in amusement as Tercio studied him, the jagged scar on his face distorting his smile into a lopsided grin that pulled his face tight on one side.

"She said I might run into you, that Nightmare bitch. Said you were probably a good fighter." He hefted his great sword over his back, its edges shining faintly with silvery runes. "It is not often I compliment a victim, but in this case I think you've earned it. Too bad it's about to mean shit."

"Enough!" Tercio shouted, rushing forward with his sword at his side.

"Yes, I think you're right. Enough."

As Tercio approached Lacertus, weapon held high to deliver a deadly blow, Lacertus uttered a single word.

"Fal'naas."

For a brief moment Tercio staggered, the trigger word blanking his mind like a lightning flash. He stumbled and fell, his helm crashing to the ground beside Lacertus, and as his head slammed against the crystal formations he simply stopped moving.

"Well look at that, it actually worked." Lacertus considered taking Tercio's head right then and there, but decided against it. The princess was still breathing, and Lacertus intended to put an end to that very soon. "Now, Princess Celestia, you and I have some unfinished business. I tell you what: you lie down on the ground and accept what's coming, and I'll make sure you don't feel anything more than is necessary."

"You take one more step toward her and I'll run you right through, traitor!" Stonewall yelled, hefting Rimeberry's buckler in his remaining good foreleg. Rime and Thunderburst were completely helpless from shock and blood loss and, even though Celestia had managed to stop their bleeding, their unconscious forms would not be lifting a sword any time soon.

Lacertus cocked his head, chuckling at the sight of the bloody, broken old stallion before him. He would not even be a threat, and they both knew it. Lacertus suddenly broke into a sprint, charging the distance between them, and hefted his sword around for a powerful strike. Stonewall lifted his small shield up, but it was a futile gesture against the mighty swing of the great sword. It shattered into splinters of iron and wood, and the massive blade carried through as if nothing had stood in its way at all, severing Stonewall's foreleg above the knee. Stonewall gasped at the cold, sharp blade cleanly cutting away his limb, and as he fell to the ground he looked into Lacertus' eyes and saw only hatred. The menacing assassin raised his weapon once more, but something caught his attention. A sword flew through the air wrapped in a sheen of yellow magic, slicing a deep gash into the flank of Lacertus' armor that burned red-hot.

"You get away from them right this instant!" Celestia shouted, sword levitating before her. She stepped forward and sliced the air just in front of him, narrowly missing his exposed, bloodied face. "Stop this madness and surrender yourself to our custody, Lacertus Praxis of Canterlot."

Lacertus growled at the searing pain along his side.

"I gave you the chance to end your life with dignity, Princess. Now I am going to see to it that you die screaming, begging at my hooves."

"You are a monster," Celestia answered defiantly, "and if you truly do this on behalf of my sister, then you have been lied to. She cares only for herself now."

"I don't give two shits about you or your sister and your petty squabbles."

"What did she promise you? Gold? Fame? A place at her side?" Celestia asked, watching nervously as Imperator Stonewall pulled himself up against a rock and began wrapping a tourniquet around his bleeding stump with torn lengths of his cloak. Lacertus looked in his direction, but obviously didn't consider him to be a threat.

"Something much simpler than any of those things, Your Highness: the pleasure of watching you die before me."

Pushing himself off with his powerful hind legs, Lacertus sprung off a stalagmite with his weapon clutched in his mouth. Celestia jumped to the side with a flap of her wings, bringing her sword around to counter attack, but it found only air. Lacertus was up and moving before she could recover, missing her neck by mere inches. She stabbed the gleaming weapon out in a decisive thrust, carving through the steel and leather armor and plunging into the knee of his right hind leg. Lacertus yelled and delivered a series of crushing blows, each one meeting the royal weapon with a clash of steel and a flash of magical energies that lit the cave for the blink of an eye. For the first time since he'd arrived, he truly had to focus on his target. Celestia was far more adept with a blade than he'd thought, but he remained confident -- she had to have a weakness, everyone did. He just had to find it. Briefly his weapon glowed yellow, and he could feel it yanking away from his grip. He bit down on it harder, the magical runes countering Celestia's power.

"Nice try, bitch," he muttered.

A split-second later he was tearing through the air from a blast of light and fury directed from the tip of Celestia's horn. The heat burned his skin and singed his short mane before his back smashed into a cluster of crystals, shredding them apart and scattering their remains across the ground like a thousand shards of glass. The impact left him dazed for the briefest of moments, and Celestia shot out her sword across the cavern in an attempt to end the fight. It scraped across Lacertus' armor, and he stuck out a hoof and trapped it against the ground. His great sword glowed silver and, in a single, massive strike, he shattered the magical weapon into pieces. It died with a flash of orange and yellow, and he kicked the hilt into a pool of water.

Now without a weapon, Celestia felt helpless as the assassin stood back up, limping toward her, with the tip of his blade dragging along the ground. She lowered her head and unleashed another blast of magical energy, but Lacertus was prepared and blocked the beam with the broad side of his sword. Again she tried, and again there was no effect. She looked around for somewhere to go to, but the ceiling was not high enough to fly.

"Come now, Princess," he taunted, "surely you see that further struggle is pointless! All of your vaunted praetorians are dead or dying. No one is coming to your aid." Another burst of light and heat was sent his way. "That fancy magic shit isn't going to save you!"

Lacertus galloped forward, swinging his weapon at Celestia's neck. She disappeared in a flash, reappearing some distance behind him, where she picked up a fallen gladius and struck out with it immediately. It clanged off his back armor, then off his chest. As he turned around she aimed it directly for his face, where it connected with a wet impact and tore away a large chunk of his left cheek.

"You fucking bitch!" he slurred as blood seeped into his mouth. A follow-up from Celestia was blocked by his greatsword, and the gladius dug itself into his thick chest armor and came to a stop. It jiggled in place as she tried to yank it back out, and Lacertus was immediately upon her, far faster than he'd moved since being wounded. Furious, angered blows rained down around her, slicing through crystals and spires of stone and gouging deep gashes in the floor as she barely avoided each attack. She knew she was running out of space, but she was too exhausted, too drained, to focus enough magic to teleport out of harm's way. She turned to try and run back toward Stonewall, desperate for help, and that was when the great sword found her at last. It carved into her shoulder, tore through the flesh of her side, and cut a horrible wound all the way down to the sun on her flank. With a scream she collapsed against the semi-reflective walls, tears in her eyes from the pain that shot through her like the very soul of a raging fire.

Then she heard it. The horrible, familiar yell, the pounding of footsteps rapidly approaching. Lacertus turned to look, and in that very moment Tercio was upon him. They went sprawling to the ground as Tercio tackled the assassin with all of his might, skidding to a stop near the edge of a clear pool of water.

Lacertus' eyes were wide at the sight of the human atop him, and he instictively swung his sword around. It stopped in mid-air as Tercio grabbed onto the long hilt that protruded from Lacertus' mouth with both hands, and with a shout he ripped it away. Shattered teeth and streamers of blood flew through the air. Lacertus screamed in torment.

With no weapon left to fight with, Lacertus tried to slide back, away from the rampaging prateorian that roared with blood lust like an angry lion. Tercio grabbed him by his mane and slammed his head into the ground, over and over, an unrelenting rage screaming through every fiber of his being, then held Lacertus underwater up to his neck. Lacertus thrashed and kicked his legs, water filling his lungs, desperately hoping to get Tercio to stop his attack, but his armored hooves found only unrelenting steel. With one hand Tercio reached for Lacertus' neck and squeezed as hard as he could. He could feel the muscles flexing against his palm, and he dug his fingers into the flesh hard enough to draw blood. The sight of it pushed him on, until it was all he could focus on, and with a terrible shout he clenched his fist together with all the strength he had within him, tearing Lacertus' throat out in an arterial spray of bright red blood.

The assassin thrashed for a few seconds more, and then it was over.

Now lying on her side, her vision growing blurry, Celestia had seen the entire thing. Tercio stood up from his kill, covered in blood, and locked eyes with her.

"Please..." she whispered, "remember who you are."

Celestia closed her eyes , feeling so exhausted she couldn't have ever imagined it, and, before her sight turned dark, heard only the sound of approaching footsteps.