For the first time since its founding, Canterlot's war horns called the city to battle. Their droning tones, long and low like a bellowing dragon, echoed through the empty streets and across the broken roads to the forces marching in the aftermath of the firestorm's dispersion. In long columns the deer came, singing their song of victory, passing rubble and heat-twisted husks of those who had been unfortunate enough to be at the once grand gates. The sickly sweet smell of burnt flesh intermingled with acrid smoke and bright embers that still rose from the scorched piles of stone. The invaders paid no mind to the destruction they had unleashed, for their objective was finally in sight: Canterlot Castle, the beating heart of Equestria. Upon a distant hill it sat, jutting out defiantly against the foreground of ruination.

From a high window Celestia watched the last of the Equestrian Guard's catapults and ballistae unleash their deadly missiles. They arced into the air, fading against the darkened skies, before crashing down with muffled thumps somewhere beyond. Soldiers rushed into position in a quick but professional flurry of movement, closing the three iron picket gates that separated the main path from the castle's primary and most heavily defended entrance. Each section had been fortified with archer towers, chest-high angled spike walls, and scorpio turrets far in advance of the Cervidaen onslaught, then reinforced with whatever was available upon Celestia's decision to hold out for as long as possible. With grim determination the ponies prepared themselves and their positions, gathering into preemptive shield walls that formed a barrier of spear tips and sword points. They knew this was to be, in all likelihood, nothing more than a delaying action. They were the steadfast rocks that the deer tide would crash upon so that their more numerous Guard brothers might defeat them once and for all at the city's northern reach.

There were no boisterous speeches this time, no rousing words from spit-and-polish officers in spotless armor. These were survivors, veterans of the ongoing war that had claimed so many, and not a one of them desired such frivolities. They came from all branches of Equestria's military, stacked three rows deep, fighting side by side with their brethren in colorful cloaks that were now ragged and dirty, with no sign of the inter-service rivalries that had been such a staple of Equestrian regiments. More unexpectedly, they stood shoulder to shoulder with deer and zebra alike. The former: once hated enemies turned allies, defiant rebels that had taken a stand against the corruption and lies that had seen their prosperous nation torn asunder. The latter: new compatriots from across the sea, foreign in language, appearance and way of life, but strong and brave. They stomped and shouted their war cries as one, hundreds of them spread across the front line, a hauntingly melodious sound punctuated by the click and rattle of stone beads adorned with prayers to the ancestor spirits. It did not take long for the other races to join them, and soon their collective stamps of defiance drowned out the battle march of the invading redtail. Half of the zebras clacked the blunt ends of their spears against the ground, matched by deep, rhythmic chants of "Eyy-yah, Eyy-yah!"while their shamans led the others in a rising, singular voice.

Stoneskin potions were quickly consumed, turning their vibrant stripes an ashen grey that hardened into living armor.
The deer were visible now, antlered silhouettes pouring from what remained of the path to the Coriander Road. Heavy chunks of stone and long ballista bolts tore into their massed ranks while they hurriedly took up formations that stretched to both edges of Canterlot's capitol district. Black and green flags fluttered from their standard bearers -- no quarter would be given.

Cries of "Equestria victor!" rose from the Legion, soon answered by every pony in the line.

"Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh! Hah-ooh!"

The sound was deafening to behold, growing ever louder until Equestria's soldiers were sure the gods themselves trembled at their might.

At once the redtail broke into a sprint, moving with the fluidity and deftness that only they could, their thundering hooves rapidly approaching. Without hesitation they charged into arrow fire and raining pila, rushing headlong into the waiting blades of their enemy.

When they collided, the very earth itself shook.

"First and second contubernia on me! Third through sixth, I need you at the main entrance! The rest of you are to reinforce as needed!" Polaris stood at the center of the second floor balcony overlooking the fountain room, shouting to be heard over the sound of numerous soldiers preparing for combat both inside the castle and beyond. Fully half of the Praetorian Guard force was at his command, a mix of disciplined and battle-hardened warriors from every available barracks.

He surveyed the area with a keen eye, checking again and again for anything he might have overlooked. With all but the highest windows boarded up and reinforced with wrought iron bars there were only three ways into the entrance hall, and one of them could not be accessed from outside the castle. Still he took no chances, stationing a small contingent at the doors that led further into the sprawling structure. The rest of the Praetorians were on alert at the tall doors that had been backed by slabs of heavy stone and thin plates of steel, leaving only a single, heavily guarded side entrance for access. If the deer wanted access to the castle now, they would damn well have to work for it.

"Cygni, Geminorum," Polaris said, turning to face a pair of experienced stallions, "I want you to pull six of your most capable unicorns and keep them up here for support. They should be well-supplied with pila." A large stack of the lethal throwing spears rested against the wall behind them, neatly sorted into bundles of twenty in wooden weapon frames. "Let us hope the deer to not come anywhere near this place, but if they do then I am leaving target prioritization to you. I trust you will provide support where it is most needed."

"You can count on us, Polaris," Cygni replied with a quick salute.

Polaris clapped a hoof on his shoulder pauldron. "I know I can. Best of luck to you, my good stallions. May the gods watch over you." After a final check of his weapons Polaris trotted back down the marble stairs, finding the princess and his familiar friends waiting anxiously near the doors that led deeper into the castle. In a moment of dark humor he reflected on the fact that, only a few months prior, his biggest concern had been keeping Hearth's Warming attendees from wandering the halls. Now he was responsible for over a hundred lives, including the princess herself.

"We're as ready as we'll ever be," he said as he rejoined the others. Just a dozen Praetorians were to be Celestia's personal retinue, the most trusted and skilled of their kind, a quick response bodyguard that would move her to safety if something went terribly wrong. A loud clatter and rising of voices from outside signaled that the inevitable had happened -- the deer were attacking. "Damned tree-rutters are wasting no time, it seems."

"Didn't expect any different," Imperator-General Stonewall said in his rough, aged voice. "Despite the loss of part of the city we still hold the advantage in positioning. The longer they give us to prepare, the worse it'll be for them. Even the royal cunt herself knows that much. Maybe we'll get lucky and she'll catch a stray arrow with her throat." The old stallion had managed to make it to the northern reach and back far quicker than anyone likely had thought possible. Woe be the pony that dared question how he'd done it with a tired body and wooden leg, of course.

"That would be a welcome stroke of fortune," Thunderburst added. Rimeberry snorted in amusement, too preoccupied with double-checking the equipment of those around him to say anything. To either side he was flanked by Marrus and Remedius, pegasus brothers from 5th Barracks and veterans of the assault on the castle by the Nightmare Moon cultists. With them were two earth ponies and a unicorn, relative newcomers who had passed muster only weeks prior, but they struck imposing figures all the same.

"You colts ever fight the deer when you were in the Equestrian Guard?" Polaris asked.

Diomodes, the oldest of the group, shook his head. "Afraid not. Not as a cohesive unit, anyway. We ran into our share of them mixed in with the cults, but that rabble couldn't hold a candle to the Cervidaens."

Polaris pulled his shield against his chest. "Right, a few things to keep in mind: keep your equipment grasped as tightly as you can -- the redtail like to try to yank them from our grip with their magic, but they can't do so for long without tiring themselves. Deer magic is about quick bursts of power, not prolonged use. Don't let your foreleg slip from the brace, understood?" The three of them answered promptly. "Try not to leave any gaps in the formation, even if they seem too small for someone to fit through. What the deer lack in strength they more than make up for in agility. Oh, and if you see something that looks like a clay pot coming at you, make sure it hits your shield and not you, else you'll meet an unpleasant end."

Aspen Tenor, a positively mountainous earth pony even compared to Rimeberry, spoke up for the first time since being assigned to the royal escort detail. His voice was fittingly booming. "Lost a good friend to that green fire. Won't happen again."

"You say that with suspect confidence," Thunderburst said.

The big pony was unfazed. "Let 'em try. The last thing they'll ever see is a burning stallion straight from the nine hells crushing their skulls with a mace. Or the edge of a shield. Or bare hooves. Whatever it takes."
Tercio tipped his spear in Aspen Tenor's direction. "I'm glad you're on our side, friend."

"Mmm. You too, human. Only thing I've ever seen that's bigger than me in this army. Taller, anyway. I've heard tale of your victories over cultist and deer alike. And that assassin; did you truly tear his throat out like a ravened beast?"

Half-remembered glimpses of the past, from a time before he'd truly defeated the evil within. A bright red arterial spray, gurgling screams of pain. The feeling of dying flesh torn from a living stallion's body. It sent a shiver down Tercio's spine to this day.

"I did. Seems like a long time ago. I assure you I am more in control of myself now."

Aspen Tenor laughed deeply. "You misunderstand me. I welcome such base aggression. Anger is a powerful ally."

"You would not say that so assuredly had you'd seen it for yourself." It was inevitable that rumors about Tercio would spread, and in part he welcomed them, if only for how absurd some of them were, but he despised being known as some barely-tamed wild animal. No deer words would hold sway over him now.

Muffled voices from the fortified path called out for long bows, followed seconds later by the collective twang of draw strings as they loosed their missiles at the enemy down the hill. The distinctive crackle and shatter of ice arrows came soon after. Precious few remained.

Torches and fire pits provided just enough light to see the controlled chaos of the Equestrian war machine at work through the reinforced stained glass windows, vertical slits of movement and shapes that flitted betweentimbers. A loud crash echoed through the hall, causing a commotion among the Praetorians. Tercio watched with nervous interest as a pegasus scout landed just outside. It frantically gestured and spoke to a bat-winged guard, then leapt back into the air quickly enough to leave a momentary streak of blue magic. The guard opened the side door just enough to push his head through.

"The first gate has been destroyed," he reported in the matter-of-fact tone of an experienced officer. A murmur went through the room. "Our defenses have stopped the deer from advancing further for now, but the main bulk of the front line has been cut in twain by an Exemplar-led push. We are working to reunite our cohorts. More information as we receive it." The door slammed shut again. It was hard to believe the deer could push through a wall of soldiers five deep so quickly, and speculation was rampant in hushed tones.

"I should be out there with them," Celestia said quietly as the battle raged. Stonewall immediately objected.

"All due respect, Princess, but you're better off with us. Losing you would be a blow we could never recover from. Like it or not, you are Equestria. We need you to survive, at any cost."

"If Luna were here she would not stand for letting her soldiers fight in her stead." Celestia was growing increasingly impatient and worried. That much was easy to see. Months of endless warfare had taken their toll on her psyche, and though she was exceptionally gifted at putting on a mask of unparalleled conviction it could not last forever. The looming inevitability of losing everything she held dear was becoming too much for her to handle.

"Luna was proud and brash. That was her downfall." Stonewall spoke slowly and clearly, keeping his tone even. "There is a reason everyone looked to you for guidance, not her. That guidance is what we need right now."

Celestia took a step forward, the floating ruby of her golden laurel shining with power. "They are dying out there, Stonewall. My ponies. My friends. What soldier wants to follow a coward? Elinwynn is somewhere close, beyond those gates. I can feel her presence. She may be a monster but she is putting her own life in danger to lead her bucks. And what am I doing? Hiding in my castle yet again. This isn't right."

"She might be with them but I doubt you'll find her on the front lines," Tercio said, unsure of speaking out. Perhaps it was not proper for a soldier, but these were not proper times. "Elinwynn is cold and calculating, and manipulative to a degree I have never seen. Am I wrong in thinking that this might be exactly what she wants you to do? To make yourself a target for her brother or her vaunted magii?" When he did not receive an answer he dared to continue. "I have seen your martial prowess improve greatly, but you are not invincible. We fight as one, or we die alone." The phrase that had been pounded into him by over a decade of training had held true thus far. It was the backbone of Equestrian combat doctrine, and thus of Equestria itself. "Isn't that right, lads?" A chorus of 'ayes' answered him.

Celestia began to argue, frustration dripping from every word. "I am aware of that, but Luna would--"

"Luna is gone!" Stonewall had to stop himself from raising his voice to a shout. Even so, some of the Praetorians from the other squads turned to see what the commotion was about before quickly returning to their duties. "She gave in to her impulsive ways. It did not make her strong; it made her weak. If you wish to throw your life away then ultimately that is your choice, but if you truly care about Equestria then you will stay here with us, in this castle, until such time comes that we either fight or flee."

An uneasy silence filled the space between them. The newer members of the group had not yet seen the frank nature with which the Imperator-General spoke to the leader they considered to be nearly a goddess. They looked to each other, but did not speak up. Such harsh truths made even the most veteran among them uncomfortable.

Polaris tapped his shield against the floor. "Stonewall is correct: we must keep you safe. That is what we are here for. And right now our best chance of doing so is to force the deer to fight within the confined spaces we are accustomed to."

A flight of arrows and spears slammed into the thick boards that covered the castle's large, frontal stained glass window. Their impacts reverberated through the room and shook the heavy timbers hard enough to rain dust from the ceiling. The deer might have been preoccupied, but they were making it clear that they had their eyes firmly set upon the ultimate goal.

"You're right," Celestia said. "Perhaps fighting amidst the chaos is not my place, but that does not mean I cannot help."

Light gathered at the tip of her long horn, coalescing into a ball of swirling, luminous magic that lit up the hall like mid-day, bright and warm to behold. She wordlessly guided it above the Praetorians, who watched it pass in reverent awe, bathing the loyal in the first light they'd seen since the fall of premature night. Slowly it rose to the grand circular window, slipped through the intricate glasswork, and disappeared from sight.

"I need the left flank to push into the Equestrian reinforcements! If that gap closes we may not get the chance to open it again!" Corvalix pointed to the mixed element of the 19th Exemplar and 8th Cervidaen Regulars divisions, their once distinct formations now intermingled and facing stiff resistance at the second castle gate. The senior officers under his command passed along his orders with short, sharp bellows from their signal horns. Early gains made against the initial line had quickly turned to a quagmire. The zebras in particular had proven to be a thorn in his side, possessing an almost preternatural quickness of reaction in combat. Their willingness to temporarily weaken a side in order to form a quick flanking charge was something he'd seen in the valley in much larger numbers, but curiously they seemed to be more effective as squad-sized units. The damned potion that turned their skin hard as rock certainly didn't help matters.
He was so close to the castle that he could practically feel the throne against his skin. It was maddening to know that ultimate victory for Cervidae was just beyond his reach. He would remind them, then, that he was not about to be denied.

"Give me a volley on the castle itself," he said to his siege officer.

"I'm sorry, Brother-General, but our trebuchets are still being pulled up the path." The older stag dipped his head apologetically. "It will be some time until they're here."

Corvalix brushed him off. "I am aware of that, Brother-Commander, but it is not stone nor flame that I desire. A simple flight of arrows and throwing spears shall suffice."

The officer nodded. "As you wish, sir."

Seconds later a hail of projectiles was on its way. Most of them skipped off the thick stone wall without leaving so much as a scratch, but some managed to find their way to window boarding or gold and purple roof tiles. "It is about sending a message," Corvalix said plainly. "Once we're past the second gate we will need to advance hard and fast if we've any hope of minimizing our losses. Make sure your bucks are--"

A dazzling flash of coruscating light burst from somewhere ahead, causing him to instinctively turn away and shield his eyes with a wince of pain. The after-image of the scene slowly faded, and when he regained his vision he found the previously steady advance of his troops being rapidly pushed back. He shouted for his sub-commanders to regain control, but the temporary blindness wrought upon Cervidae's forces had given the ponies a chance to shove them back down the hill. Even worse, there was now some sort of shining barrier in place over the front half of the castle. It was a brilliant white, nearly opaque, with edges that faded to rainbow-colored rays. It was like looking into the sun, and he found that he could not stare at it for more than a few seconds before his eyes began to water and sting. The ponies, however, did not seem to have the same problem, for they continued to pour arrows and scorpio bolts into his bucks from beyond the barrier with no indication that the eye-searing spell had any effect on their accuracy. Hastily returned redtail ranged fire punched into the barrier and stopped as if they had been frozen in time, then dropped harmlessly to the ground.

"Ancestors damn that Celestia to the darkest depths of eternity!" Corvalix shouted in a fit of rage, hurling a spear at the barrier in frustration with a burst of magic. It too failed to do anything more than push part-way through before rolling down the hill and coming to a stop against a watch tower. "This is madness. I don't have time for her games." He turned and considered his sister who watched from a rooftop away from the fighting, surrounded by her retinue of guards and magii. Even from here he could feel her gaze burning into him, waiting to see what he would do next, judging his actions as if she had all the answers planned out ahead of time.

Fine, then. If she was waiting for him to come to her for help, he would swallow his pride and do so once more. The downfall of Equestria was far more important than whatever petty squabbles he may have had with her -- if she could even be considered now to be the same sister he'd grown up with. She did not look away when he considered the wisps of black magic that wafted from the corners of her eyes. No, for all of his doubts about her actions it was clear that victory was all that mattered to her. He begrudgingly had to respect her for that.

"No more half-measures," he said to himself, and approached her position as the clashes and cries of battle sounded behind him.

One last effort to bring Celestia to her knees.

One last sacrifice required of Cervidae's sons and daughters.