Chapter 30

The door flew open with a bang, sending a vibration through the floor that threatened to topple the many stacks of books surrounding her.

“Hey Twilight! Where do you want the stiffs?” Rainbow Dash called out.

When it became apparent the books would not fall, Twilight stood on her hind legs to see over the wall of books stacked around her. She saw Rainbow Dash hovering above Arctic Meadow who was carrying five bodies in her lime green magic. “You can put them in a pile over by the desk.”

“You heard the lady, over by the desk.” Rainbow Dash said, pointing in that direction.

“At once, Captain.” Arctic said before depositing the bodies by the desk, sending Rainbow into a fit of giggles.

Twilight smiled at Rainbow. “What’s so funny?”

“She calls me Captain.” Said Rainbow, stifling more giggles.

“Well you are a Captain. I’d thought you’d be used to that by now?”

Rainbow Dash stopped her giggling but retained the large grin. “Well it’s one thing to know you’re a Captain but it’s another thing entirely when someone calls you it. Here let me show you.” Rainbow dropped to the floor in front of Arctic Meadow and pointed a hoof directly at her. “Whom do you serve?” Rainbow said with authority.

“Queen Twilight.” Answered Arctic, turning and bowing in Twilights direction.

“Doesn’t that just make you feel important?” Rainbow asked. She flapped her wings and took to the air again.

Twilight did feel a sense of pride and importance when Arctic called her Queen. “I suppose your right.”

“So how’s the walking dead guy spell coming?” Rainbow asked, hovering over to Twilight.

“Reanimation spell, and I was just about to test it.” Twilight moved over to the pile of bodies and ignited her horn, filling it with dark magic until a thrumming ball of energy rested at the tip of her horn. Slowly the ball lifted into the air and floated gently over to the bodies where it flashed violently, sending five bolts of lightning into the corpses. Two disintegrated on contact while the other three jerked once before lying still again.

Rainbow Dash waved a hoof in front of her face, attempting to clear the air of the burnt body smell. “I’m guessing that wasn’t supposed to happen?”

Twilights sneer was her only answer. Levitating a rolled piece of parchment and quill from the desk, Twilight quickly jotted down a few notes.

The room visibly darkened as a mass of shadows congealed into a writhing mass at its center. The mass rose up and fell away leaving Sombra’s armoured form standing tall.

“Can’t you ever just walk into a room like a normal pony?” Twilight said angrily, placing the parchment and quill back on the desk. Sombra merely grinned as he walked over to her. “Come now my dear.” He leaned down so that they were eye level. “You know you love it.”

“Most days yes.” She replied, glaring at him. “But not today.”

“Her spell didn’t work.” Chimed in Rainbow Dash.

Twilight leaned past Sombra and stuck her tongue out at Rainbow Dash causing Sombra to chuckle. “I take it you’re having trouble?”

Twilight sighed loudly. “No thanks to you.” She walked back over to her stack of books and began to rifle through them. “I distinctly remember you saying something about the two of us figuring out this spell together.” She stopped her rummaging and turned towards him. “Or did I mishear you?”

“No, you heard correctly, my dear. Something tripped the outer wards so I went to investigate.

“Did you find anything?”

“Indeed I did.” A dark grin slowly spread over his face. “A military host is currently marching towards the Crystal Empire.”

“What?!” Exclaimed Rainbow Dash. Twilight however was more collected. “What is it comprised of?”

“Ponies flying the standard of Eqestria.”

“That’s impossible.” Responded Twilight in semi disbelief. “Eqestria doesn’t have a military.”

“It seems it does now, 50,000 at least.”

“Can we handle that many?” Rainbow Dash asked

“Not without risk.” Answered Sombra. His eyes drifted over to Twilight who seemed to be lost in thought. “And I’d rather not take that risk.”

“And the reanimation spell isn’t ready yet….” Twilight mumbled to herself. She glanced over at Sombra. “How many corpses could you reanimate by morning?”

“Very few.”

“Hm.” Twilight said, lapsing back into deep thought. She carefully combed through her extensive knowledge of spells in the hope of finding something that could assist them. The longer she looked the angrier she became, just when she was about to give up her mind fell upon a lone memory stashed in the recesses of her mind. Deep within Fortress Umbra was a small windowless room, lit by a single green torch, inside of which was held a purple and green baby dragon, one whose mind had long since been broken.

An evil smile crept over Twilights face.

The troops were in high spirits right up until they passed into the Frozen North. Stinging wind and biting cold hounded them with every step and constant snow storms threatened to bury them as they marched along. But no one complained.

Steadfast had briefly considered taking the train into the Crystal Empire but he had feared the amount of time it would take to get all the troops into place would leave them vulnerable to attack. So instead he ordered a few Pegasus squads to scout ahead while the army marched on hoof, constantly on the lookout for any signs of trouble.

Steadfast and Rarity headed up the column as they crested a small rise in the land. For a brief moment the sun broke through the snow storm and reflected off of Steadfast’s golden armour, giving him an ethereal glow. Unbeknownst to Steadfast, many of the troops saw him as a celestial figure, one that instilled them with hope, before the storm closed in around them again.

“Hopefully this storm lifts before we reach the city.” Steadfast said, through the blue scarf wrapped around his face.

“We’ll see in time.” Responded Rarity, through her own scarf of deep purple.

They continued forward, heads bowed against the wind. Each step breaking through the hard encrusted snow. At times it seemed the storm would let up, only to increase in its intensity.

“We should be getting close!” Steadfast shouted over the wind. No sooner than the words left his mouth, the wind and snow suddenly stopped. The sudden bright light from the sun, temporarily blinded him as he removed his scarf. After his eyes adjusted he was able to see that the ground was clear of snow and appeared to have been burned recently.

Free from the storm, the order was given for the troops to move into formation. Within minutes, every soldier had gathered behind Steadfast.

“Forward.” He shouted.

Somewhere down the line a drum beat echoed on the still air. On the second beat, the army marched forward, keeping in time with the rhythm they moved forward. Each bang on the drum, sending fear and anticipation down the line. Several yards ahead the ground began a steady rise up to a hill that would overlook the Crystal City. They continued their march, stopping once they crested the hill.

“By Celestia.” Breathed Steadfast.

In the distance, the black crystal dome still surrounded the Crystal City but it was the massive onyx fortress floating in the sky above it that drew his attention. Rarity said nothing as she moved to stand beside him, but one could see the deep hatred seething in her eyes.

“Halt!” Shouted Steadfast. Immediately the army came to a stop.

He nodded to Rarity who raised her right foreleg high into the air. Seconds’ later somepony blew a horn, a single clear note that sent shivers down the spine of all who heard it. Their presence announced, Steadfast carefully scanned the dark fortress for signs of life.
A terrible roar echoed across the land, one filled with pain and rage. Steadfast dropped into a combat stance and drew his dual swords, Rarity followed suit, drawing her bow and nocking an arrow.

“Prepare for battle!” Steadfast shouted. The hiss of steel sounded up and down the line as the soldiers readied themselves.
Rarity carefully scanned the skies for the source of the roar. She felt a nagging sensation in the back of her skull, the same one felt when trying to recall a memory.

“Why does that sound familiar?” She thought. The roar sounded again, this time much louder. A cold sliver of fear and disbelief drove itself into her heart. “No…it can’t be….please.”

As if in answerer a huge column of green fire erupted from somewhere inside the fortress, followed closely by another pain filled roar. Everypony whatched in fear as a giant purple and green dragon clawed its way out of the fortress. Spyraing more fire from its maw, the dragon leapt into the air, unfulring its glistening wings with a snap and began to circle high overhead.

Tears spilled from Rarities eyes as the fear and disbeilf in her heart gave way to sadness. “Oh Spike.”