Chapter 37

Canterlot city. Capital of Equestria, once ruled by the Princesses Celestia and Luna, now controlled by the military regime under Captain-General Steadfast, self-proclaimed Regent. This magnificent city stands upon a mountain side, bathed in the sun's glorious rays.

To the north the sky had been steadily growing darker the past three weeks, a sign of Sombra's growing influence. Dark clouds had begun to spread shortly after the Equestrian military's retreat from the Crystal Empire, covering the sky in an impenetrable barrier that resisted any who attempted to clear them away.

Green lightning could be seen arcing amongst the clouds accompanied by booming thunder and freezing rain which fell in torrents upon the world below. Strangely the clouds did not cover the city. While the world around succumbed to the darkness beneath the clouds, Canterlot remained untouched. An island of light amidst a sea of shadow.

The gates to the city were closed and barred, the wood and iron inscribed with glowing runes of warding. Engines of war lined the walls. Trebuchets and ballistae. Stacks of rocks and giant arrows lay next to these machines, some glowing faintly with the touch of magic. Earth Ponies in padded shirts of chainmail faced out towards the darkness, their hooves resting on tensioned levers.

Below in the streets Earth Ponies in heavy plate, stood shoulder to shoulder before the main gate along with Unicorns in hooded robes and Pegasus in light plate. Together they all gazed upwards at the figures standing atop the city's gate. One was wrapped in a golden ethereal glow while the other emanated a shadow that no light could touch.

Neither spoke as they gazed out towards the waiting darkness where Sombra's flying fortress could be seen silhouetted by green lightning. Somewhere from within the darkness a horn sounded, a single clear note that sent chills down the spines of all who heard it.

There was a pause as the mournful note faded then the figure in gold raised a hoof skyward. Another horn answered the first, one of resounding defiance. The long note washed away the chill from the first and instilled a sense of hope.

The golden figure dropped his hoof as the horn note faded. "Now we wait." Said Steadfast.

As if on cue, a patch of ground a stone's throw from the gate turned blacker than pitch. The black muck rose up into a column before falling way, leaving the armoured clad figure of Sombra behind.

"I must commend you once again, Captain-General." Sombra's voice said as it carried over the city. "I truly did not expect to find a military mind of your caliber in this day and age." Sombra's eyes flashed a glaring red. "You have my utmost respect."

"Keep your respect, demon! What you say means nothing to me!" Shouted Steadfast, having cast a voice augmentation spell while Sombra was speaking.

"Why General you wound me." Answered Sombra, sarcastically. "You call me a demon even though you keep one in your company." Sombra turned his gaze to the shadowy figure beside Steadfast and even from that distance, Rarity could see that Sombra was smiling at her.

"It’s good to see that you survived my gift, Rarity." Continued Sombra. "Tell me, how do you enjoy it?"

Anger bubbled up inside Rarity's chest and when she answered, she needed no spell to be heard. "What you call a gift I call a curse, and with this curse I shall end your existence!"

Sombra laughed, a twisted malevolent laugh of unequaled mirth.

"Ah! A finer answer I couldn't have hoped for!" Sombra said after his laughter abated. "I chose well."

The wall began to rumble as Rarity took a threatening step forward.

"Ah ah, not just yet, my dear." Sombra said in a chastising tone. "Why I would love to do battle with you there is one more thing I must discuss with your General."

Rarity said nothing as she took another step forward, her eyes having been flooded with green energy but an outstretched hoof from Steadfast stopped her.

"Speak then." Shouted Steadfast.

Sombra's smile was evident to all. "Today I come to you with an offer." Sombra's smile fell away as if it had never been. "I want only the Alicorns, stand your forces down and do not interfere and I swear on my honour as a Warrior and a King all your lives will be spared. In return once the Alicorns lie dead I will withdraw back to my Empire leaving you, Steadfast to rule Eqestria."

"However." Continued Sombra, a hint of a smile creeping over his face. "Should you refuse my generous offer I will ensure that you alone will be left standing in the ashes of everything you hold dear and nothing, not even death will grant you reprieve."

Steadfast could feel a cold sweat forming on the back of his neck as the hopelessness of the situation finally became apparent to him. He could feel the gazes of every single pony under his command, the many lives he held in his hooves, the lives he would order to their deaths in the hope of defeating a being that the Gods couldn't even stop.

But above all others he could feel the rageful glare of Rarity boring into him.

"I will allow you a few moments to gather your thoughts and provide an answer." Said Sombra, smile once more in place.

With a halfhearted nod, Steadfast slowly turned in place and looked out over the sea of ponies gazing up at him expectantly. In those eyes he had expected to see despair and fear, instead he saw courage, resolve, and even hope.

“Remember why we fight.”

It was in that moment, Steadfast found his answer.

In a blaze of white magic, Steadfast drew his silver sword and raised it skyward. The sun's light reflected upon its surface, casting it in a fiery glow.

"Prepare for battle!" Shouted Steadfast as he turned and leveled his gaze and sword directly at Sombra. "If this is to be our end then we will bloody well make sure this tyrant remembers us!!"

An ear splitting cheer arose from the ranks followed by the rhythmic sound of weapons being drawn and readied.

"So be it." Sombra's voice echoed inside Steadfast’s mind with unfettered malice. "I offered you a path to peace but you cast it back into my face. Remember this moment for when this world lies in ruins you will know you were the cause."

The ground began to shake as a roar unlike any had ever heard before came from deep within the darkness. Sombra's form disappeared in a flash of green light just as thousands upon thousands of black armoured ponies came charging out of the wall of darkness, each shouting in an otherworldly voice.