Chapter 39

The streets of Canterlot flew past him in a blew as the only sound to be heard was the thunder of his racing heart and his ragged breaths. Stumbling and catching hold of a corner, Dux struggled to regain his breath, gasping and stuttering all the while.

A horrible roar sounded high above him accompanied by horrendous screams. He dared glance upwards, seeing a squad of Pegasus engulfed in green flames, spiraling towards the ground. The dragon, fire leaking from its rotting body, flew after the other airborne Pegasus as they broke formation and headed towards the main gate.

“Need...to...hurry.” Dux thought, mustering his strength and pushing away from the wall. He staggered down the street, slowly working his way back into a full on sprint. His goal only a few blocks away. Coming to a four way just as the edges of his vision were beginning to darken, Dux saw the castle’s gates. Allowing himself a slightly slower pace, Dux made his way to the gate.

Up on the wall, a soldier spotted him and shouted. "Its Lt. Col. Dux! The Colonel! Open the gate. Quickly!"

The gate opened before him as Dux staggered inside where several Royal Guards were waiting anxiously.

"Sir! Whats going on?" One guard, a sergeant asked hurriedly. Dux did not respond, focusing on catching his breathe. Allowing ample time for another sergeant to voice her own questions.

"Colonel! Is the Captain-General dead?! Is the city breached?! What's-?!”

Dux forcibly placed a hoof over her mouth, silencing her.

“You.” Dux said, addressing the first sergeant. “Lock down this gate and prepare everypony for combat.”

“Yessir!” Shouted the sergeant with a quick salute before rushing away.

“And you.” continued Dux, moving his gaze to the mare he had silenced. “Tell the mages to ready the MDP.” Dux removed his hoof from the mare's mouth and turned away, looking out towards the main gate where explosions and screams could be heard. Smoke could be seen rising into the air.

“We still have a fight ahead of us!”

The creatures soulless eyes widened in surprise as the spear head was buried deeply into its chest. The mare wielding the spear grimaced as she twisted the shaft with her magic, pushing it deeper into the Maletha’s chest.

“Foul cre-”

A armoured hoof burst from her neck, silencing her words forever. The Maletha pulled its hoof free as the mare staggered forward, blooding pumping from her neck. She tried to halt its flow with a hoof but her spear, previously forgotten, was momentarily remember as it was driven up into her skull. The last thing she saw as the light was leaving her eyes was Celestia’s sun slowly being eclipsed by writhing black clouds.

Grunting triumphantly, the Maletha lifted the lifeless mares body high into the air, drenching itself in her blood. After it was thoroughly coated, it released its hold on the spear shaft, allowing the body to fall to the ground. Something slammed into the creature's back, drawing its attention behind it where a battered Unicorn stallion was standing with a grin on his face.

“Smile bastard!.”

The Maletha launched itself forward with a roar only to have its flight halted by a powerful magical blast that disintegrate its upper body. The rest of its body followed after.

Drawing a sword from a sheath attached to his back, the stallion ducked to avoid a pair of hooves that attempted to entrap him. Turning quickly, he rammed his sword up into the creature's neck, destroying it.

Two more Maletha rushed to fill the place left by the other as the stallion attempted to distance himself from the creatures. Quickly backstepping the stallion raised his sword while simultaneously readying a new spell. Unfortunately his back hooves caught on a mangled torso of a fellow soldier, causing him to land heavily on the blood soaked ground. The impact jarred his concentration, dissipating his spells. Defenseless, he sneered up at the creatures as they fell upon him, tearing him apart.

A bloody helmet was thrown into the air, it arced over the body strewn street before landing with a splash in a pool of blood. It rolled once, spattering the already bloody armour of Captain-General Steadfast, causing him to glance down at the helmet.

“Dammit!” swore Steadfast, glancing around at the throng of black armoured ponies mixed with his golden and blue.

“Fire at will!” He shouted, turning and motioning the few battle mages forming up behind him to fire. Steadfast knew it wouldn't be enough to break the Maletha's lines but it would buy Dux time to reach the castle.

Their spells ready, the mages launched them over the heads of their comrades to land with resounding explosions of fire and electricity among the Maletha. Even with such a small number of spells, the ground still shook from the force of them, causing the ruins of the gate to groan loudly with strain.

As spells continued to explode around the gate, its surface began to crack. Small pieces fell to the crowded street below, followed shortly by large pieces weighing several tons which crushed all caught beneath it.

Thirty seconds after the limited bombardment began, the gate fell in upon itself bringing most of the wall on either side with it. Blocking the way into the city.

With enemy reinforcements cut off, morale soared allowing the defenders to push the remaining Maletha back against the wall. For the first time since the gate was destroyed, the battle turned in their favor.

Steadfast turned his attention to the sky, where half a dozen Pegasus were flying around the dragon, poking and prodding it with their weapon in an attempt to lead it closer to the area above the gate.

“Call them back then focus fire on the dragon!” ordered Steadfast. Seconds later a red and white flare soared into the sky. Seeing this, the Pegasus clapped their wings to their sides and fell from the air. Once they were clear, Steadfast gave the order.

"Now! Fire!"

Two dozen energy balls streaked through the air, directly for the dragon. Its attention still on the retreating Pegasus, it failed to notice the missiles until they slammed into its side and chest.

The first explosions tore large chunks of flesh from the creature's hide but didn't seem to affect it, apart from drawing its dead gaze to the streets below. With a loud bellow and plume of fire, the dragon angled its massive girth and dove towards the ground, completely disregarding the magical spheres which continued to explode around it as it rocketed towards earth.

Showing no signs of breaking even as it came within four hundred yards of the street, the dragon roared defiantly.

Suddenly, a lone spell found its way through one of the rotting holes in the creature's chest, passing deep inside where it released its energy.

The sky momentarily ilt up as a towering lightning bolt erupted from the dragon's chest and back. The blast sent it into a tail spin, shearing it in half. Its upper body, minus one wing, was sent spiraling off course where it landed with an earth shattering thud somewhere in the city. Its lower half fell along the outer wall, well away from the battle.

With the dragon no longer a threat, full attention was again focused on the remaining Maletha trapped within the city. Despite their strength and immunity to pain, their numbers were rapidly dwindling as Steadfasts soldiers pressed them, again and again until the last creature fell to the ground in a pile of dust.

With the streets clear of all enemies, the defenders were finally able to breath. Many collapsed to the bloody ground, exhausted while others used their weapons or each other to prop themselves up.

With a sigh of relief, Steadfast tried to wipe the blood from his face but only succeeded in smearing it. Giving up, he opened his mouth to give a order but a familiar voice in his head stopped him cold.

"You never cease to amaze me, General." Sombra's voice said.

A low chuckle filled Steadfasts head, causing him to sneer.

"There's more where that came from." He thought, vehemently.

"Ah yes." Sombra said, thoughtfully. "I assume your refering to Rarity? While she put forth a valiant effort, her skills were sadly lacking."

Steadfast felt his blood run cold, eliciting another chuckle from Sombra. "Fear not, General. After some...conditioning she will make a fine servant."

"She would die before serving you!"

"While that may be the case I assu-" Sombra trailed off, going silent for several seconds. "It seems our discussion will have to wait." Sombra said after a moment.

Dark clouds blocked the last of the sun's rays as a cold downpour began to fall on the city.

"General, I will see you very soon." Sombra's voice said before fading from Steadfasts mind.

With the rain falling heavily, Steadfast augmented his voice to be heard over the downpour.

"Everypony! Fall back and regroup at the castle!" Ordered Steadfast, waving a hoof in the air.

Through the rain, he could see dozens of his soldiers shuffling forward. Those who couldn't walk were supported by others while some were carried. A Pegasus mare stumbled and fell into him. With a grunt, he lifted the mare unto his back. She moaned quietly, whether from exhaustion or pain he couldn't tell. As the rainfall increased, he and the others slowly made their way further into the city.

A gleeful smile stretched across Twilight's face as Celestia's sun was finally eclipsed by her dark clouds, casting the world into darkness.

To her left, stood Arctic Meadow's and to her right, Rainbow Dash. The latter who had leaned back from the balconies rail and whistled in surprise.

"Wow. I did not expect that." She said in amazement.

"I agree, Captain." Responded Arctic with a quick nod of her head. "Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the Equestrians still managed to secure the city and regain air superiority."

"Yeah, but did you see that!" Rainbow turned towards Arctic and gestured out towards Canterlot. "They blew Spike in half!"

Arctic's expression did not change. "Indeed. Though whether intentional or by accident, I cannot say."

"It doesn't matter." Twilight said suddenly.

Arctic bowed her head low. "As you say, my Queen."

Rainbow proppered her head up on the rail with her left hoof and looked at Twilight. "Something wrong, Twi?"

"I sense a disturbance." She said, quietly. Drawing a confused look from Rainbow Dash. "Whadda mean?"

The balcony suddenly grew darker as a shadow appeared at its center, quickly materializing into Sombra's armoured form.

"I felt it to."

"Sense what?" asked Rainbow, looking between the two as Twilight turned away from the balcony to face Sombra.

"A fluctuation of magical energy from the castle. I only noticed it a moment ago but its quickly growing stronger."

Sombra nodded. "No doubt it's the Alicorns."

Rainbow Dash jumped into the air excitedly. "Then what are we waiting for?! Let's go and stop them!"

"That would be problematic, Captain." said Artic. "With the destruction of the Lich, we have nothing to counteract their MDP with."

"Save for Shadowbolt." added Sombra.

Twilight sneered at him. "I already said-"

"Come on Twilight! I got this." Rainbow Dash hovered over to her friend and placed her hooves on her shoulder, looking her squarely in the eyes. "Let me do this."

"Rainbow I-" Began Twilight but was shushed by Rainbow. "Please, let me do this. I wanna help you."

Twilight closed her mouth as Rainbow's eyes bore into her, pleading with her. After a moment, Twilight sighed in resignation.

"Alright. Just promise me you'll be careful."

Rainbow Dash grinned before wrapping Twilight in a tight hug. "I promise." She whispered into her ear.

Releasing Twilight from her grasp, Rainbow turned towards Sombra and saluted. "Orders?"

"You shall be our vanguard." Sombra said with a malicious smile. “Do whatever you deem necessary to prevent them from activating the MDP. Once their capabilities are crippled, Commander Meadows will secure the city.” Sombra paused before adding. “One more thing, should you face, Captain-General Steadfast leave him alive. I have plans for him.”

“Understood! What about you two?” asked Rainbow, still holding her salute.

“Once we are sure they cannot disrupt our magic, Twilight and I will join you.” Sombra placed a hoof on Rainbow’s head. “Go now, Shadowbolt. Shows these fools the true might of the Pegasus!”

“Yessir!” Shouted Rainbow before vanishing in a puff of shadow’s.

“Commander be ready to move into the city at my command.” Sombra said to Arctic as he moved to stand beside Twilight, draping a hoof over her shoulder.

“At once, your grace.” She said with a bow before leaving the balcony.

As the sound of her armour hoofsteps faded into the distance, Sombra gripped Twilight closer to him as they both shared a single thought.

“Our time is nigh.”

The castle gates were barely visible through the downpour, so much so that Steadfast nearly walked into it. Looking up at the walls, he augmented his voice and called out loudly.

“Open the gates! We have wounded!”

Steadfast spotted movement up on the walls seconds before the gates swung open. Inside, Dux and several battalions of soldiers were waiting. At the sight of Steadfast and his band, they rushed forward to help them inside the safety of the walls.

“By Celestia it's good to see you, sir!” Dux said, grabbing Steadfasts shoulder while two other Royal Guards removed the mare from his back. “When we didn't receive a signal from you, we assumed the worst!”

Steadfast looked down at the mare he had carried. “See to it she receives medical treatment.”

One of the guards kneeling by the mare placed a hoof at her neck. With a sad nod he looked to Steadfast. “I’m sorry General but she's dead.”

Steadfast sighed sadly. “So what's the situation here?” He asked Dux, watching as the two guards carried away the body of the mare.

The castle gates closed as the last of Steadfasts troops made their way inside.

“We have archers manning the walls and Pegasus squads surveying the skies. When Sombra decides to attack, we’ll know about it.” Dux jerked a hoof towards the center of the courtyard. “The Battle Mages are preparing an MDP and will be ready to fire it at your command. With the dragon taken care of, we can save that for Sombra.”

“That will be our last resort.” Steadfast said, gently rubbing his right eye. He gazed up at the castle, its highest towers barely visible through the rain as he felt something out of place. “Dux, I’m placing you in command until I return.” He said without looking at Dux.

“Sir?!” Dux said in surprise as Steadfast began to walk towards the castle. “Where are you going?”

Steadfast didn't answer as he disappeared into the rain.

She flew undeterred, a thin layer of shadow preventing the rain from touching her. Below, Rainbow could see several Pegasus slogging through the air, slowed by the rain weighing down their wings with moisture. Making them easy prey.

The first she killed by piercing his heart. His body jerked once before going still and with a gentle nudge, sent careening down into the city, where it would go undiscovered. The second caught a glimpse of her before a flick of her blade severed his neck. His body too fell to the earth.

And so it went. One by one, the Pegasus patrolling the skies fell silently. When the last had been sent to the earth, her head removed from her body, Rainbow Dash sheathed her sword and shadow stepped down to the castle walls. When she materialized, she found two Earth Ponies armed with crossbows, looking out over the walls.

“Too easy.” She thought, smiling.

Creeping up on the pair, Rainbow lightly tapped one on his shoulder, immediately drawing his attention.

“Hm?” The stallion said, turning behind him and finding nothing.

“What is it, Glitz?” The other asked.

“I'm not sure, Glam. It felt like somepony tapped my shoulder but no ponies here but you and me.”

The one called Glam opened his mouth to respond but a fine pain in his neck prevented him from doing so. Curiously raising a hoof to his neck, Glam felt the long gash in his neck a few seconds before he collapse with a soft gurgle.

“What did you say, Glam?” Glitz said turning back. His eyes widened in horror at the sight of his friends body. “GL-” He began but a sudden weight on his back and hoof over his mouth stopped him.

“Scream and you're dead.” A raspy, mare's voice said in his ear. He tried to glance back at his captor but a sharp object was pressed against his throat.

“Now, I'm going to ask you a question. If you know the answer to it I’ll let you live, if you don't you'll die. Understand?”

Fearing for his life, Glitz nodded his head slightly.

“Good. How do I stop the MDP?”

Glitz’s heart rate skyrocketed. He didn't know the answer to that! All he knew was that the mages cast a spell, nothing more!

“Ok, I'm going to take my hoof off your mouth. If you say anything other than what I want to hear, I'll cut your throat.”

The mare removed her hoof, allowing Glitz to take a shuddering breath before speaking.

“I don't know exactly how to stop it, all I know is it takes most of the Battle Mages to cast. Their down in the center of the courtyard right now getting it ready. That's all I know! Please don't kill me!”

Rainbow placed her hoof back over the stallion's mouth. While he hadn't given her much information, the little he did was useful nonetheless.

“So I just have to take out most of the Unicorns. Easy enough.” she thought. Turning her attention to the stallion in her grip, Rainbow noticed he had started crying and his tears were mixing in with the rain.

“There, there.” She said soothingly, removing her sword from his neck and placing it back in its sheath. “You've been very helpful.” Rainbow patted his head gently. “Thank you.”

Grinning, she grasped his head and twisted sharply, instantly snapping his neck. She shadow stepped to the side as his lifeless body slump to the ground.

“Let's see.” She walked over to the edge of the wall and peered down into the courtyard. At the center, roughly four hundred or so Unicorns in soggy robes stood clumped together, all with their eyes closed and their horns charged with magic. Around them were other Unicorns in silver plate, along with Earth Ponies in heavy grey armour and the odd Pegasus in light chainmail. Checking carefully, Rainbow saw no signs of Captain-General Steadfast.

“Oh this is gonna be fun.” she said, pulling her sword from its sheath. In a flash, its surface ignited in red flames, evaporating the raindrops that fell on it with a loud hiss.

From somewhere in the courtyard, a stallion's voice floated up to her. “Look up on the wall! Sound the alarm!”

As the courtyard erupted in activity, Rainbow unfurled her wings and launched herself from the wall, trailing fire and shadow behind her.

Steadfast navigated the long hallways of Canterlot castle, meeting nopony. Everypony having either been evacuated or called out to fight. Save for one room and it was this room that was Steadfasts destination.

The rain beat silently against the windows. Thick glass and heavy drapes prevented the sound from penetrating the corridor where the only sound to be heard was the soft clank of armour and the thud of his hoofall’s. As Steadfast made his way to the residential wing of the castle, the odd candle illuminated his way. The weak flames flickering widely, barely holding on to what little life they had.

They guided him to a side hallway with a single door standing at its end. This particular door had a slight glow to it, indicating an enchantment of some kind, but also he could feel a strange power radiating from beyond. Walking faster, he moved down the hallway, noticing the power becoming stronger as he approached. Coming within reaching distance, Steadfast extended his hoof towards the knob.

“There is no hope to be found beyond.” A voice suddenly said behind him.

Whirling in place, Steadfast drew his sword and readied a spell but stopped when he saw who it was.

“Why are you still here?” He asked in mild shock.

The Element of Laughter, Pinkie Pie stood a few feet from him. Mane and tail perfectly straight and a deadened expression on her face. “To flee would have been pointless.” Her head twitched suddenly before returning to its previous position. “The darkness is unavoidable.”

A quiet whimper sounded from behind Pinkie’s tail. Craning his head slightly, Steadfast made out the quivering form of Fluttershy, cowering on the floor.

“Fluttershy?! You're here to!”

A large, frightened blue eye peeked out between the strands of Pinkie's tail. “Oh...please don't be angry. We wanted to help and….” She whimpered softly. “Can you please put away your sword, you know...if you want to….”

Though shocked at their appearance, Steadfast found he couldn't resist Fluttershy’s pleas. The magic dissipated from his horn as he sheathed his sword. Seeing that he was no longer armed, Fluttershy timidly stood up, though she continued to hide slightly behind her own mane.

“The two of you were suppose to evacuate with the others. Why did you stay behind?!” asked Steadfast.

“Well...I...I wanted to leave….but Rarity was helping you, and….Pinkie said she couldn't leave so...” Fluttershy lowered her head further into her mane. “I decided to stay to.”

“It is unavoidable.” Pinkie said with a slight nod. “All will perish.”

“No!” Shouted Steadfast, startling Fluttershy. “We’re not through yet! The princess-”

“Abandoned you.” Pinkie Pie interrupted. “You knew this already, having renounced them as the fickle Gods that they are. Now in your desperation you come crawling back to them, praying that they will save you.”

Pinkie Pie advanced on Steadfast, her right eye twitching violently and her teeth occasionally grinding together. “Stay back!” Steadfast said fearfully, backing away from Pinkie as she continued towards him.

“There is no hope to be found beyond.” Repeated Pinkie Pie. “I have seen what is coming.” Steadfast felt his rear collide with the door. Unable to go any further, he drew his sword and leveled it at Pinkie, thinking she would stop. “Come no closer!” He said, fear dripping from his voice.

To his horror, she merely pressed her chest into its point, impaling herself. Blood gushed from her chest and mouth as she pushed herself farther up the blade, ever closer to Steadfast. A shriek from Fluttershy went unheard.

Coming to the hilt, Pinkie Pie finally stopped. Small rivulets of blood seeped from her expressionless eyes as they bore into him, flaying his soul even as the light was leaving them.

“Bear witness for this world's end is nigh.”

At the last word, a large bubble of blood burst from her mouth, coating her neck. Her body went limp, suspended only by the blade of Steadfast’s sword before he released it from his magical grip. Slowly, Pinkie Pie’s body fell to the floor, landing with a small splash amidst the growing pool of her own blood.

Stunned beyond words, Steadfast could only look down at the pink mare, now stained red. Somewhere far away, an explosion sounded, jarring dust from the ceiling. Moments later another sounded, then another. Growing in frequency until they were constant. Dust rained from the ceiling, along with small chunks of stone and wooden beams as the explosions drew closer.

Sliding down to the floor, Steadfast came to a rest beside Pinkie’s body. Some feet away, Fluttershy lay crying, her bloodshot eyes resting on him. Screams sounded close by as explosions continued to rock the castle. Extending a hoof, Steadfast beckoned Fluttershy towards him. Without hesitation she crawled towards him, careful not to disturb Pinkie Pie’s body, until she rested up against the door beside him.Eyes still wet with tears, Fluttershy pressed her face into Steadfasts bloodstained chest where he could hear her sobbing even over the screams and explosions.

Frantic shouting was heard at the end of the hall as several soldiers, their weapons at the ready, backed into few.

“Stand firm!” One shouted. A mangled body appeared over their heads to slam into the wall behind them, showing them all in blood. One soldier at the front screamed and charged forward. Their was a bright flash, two of the soldiers at the rear threw themselves into the side hallway as a wave a fire engulfed the others. The corridor became filled with the smell of burning flesh as their screams rang out only to be lost in the roar of the flames.

The remaining two scrambled away from the charred skeletons of their former comrades as they fell, clattering to the ground.

“NO! NO! NO!” One shouted, dropping his halberg and making a beeline towards Steadfast. He made it several steps before a green aura enveloped him. Screaming and squirming frantically, he tried to escape as the aura lifted him into the air. His screams of terror turned to pain as the aura began to compress him. Steadfast watched as the stallions body split open like a pumpkin, coating the walls in pulpy gore.

The green aura encasing the body vanished, dropping it unceremoniously to the ground. Within view and just at the end of the hall, stood three figures. Sombra, twisted smile in place and burning red gaze which was fixed on Steadfast, Rainbow Dash, flaming red sword grasped between her teeth and shadows swirling lazily around her, and a third which Steadfast did not recognize. A purple mare, dressed in black robes and a spiked iron crown adorning her head. Her features bore an uncanny resemblance to Sombra’s own.

Unlike Sombra, this mare did not pay Steadfast any attention, instead focusing on the other soldier who now lay prone on the floor, begging for his life. Steadfast now saw that it was Dux.

The mare walked to stand overtop of Dux, gazing down on him with piercing eyes.

“I surrender! Please don't kill me! I'll do anything you want!” Dux stammered, barely coherent in his fear. The mare’s sadistic smile slowly turned down into an annoyed grimace. Her horn sparked green, encasing Dux’s neck and lifting him into the air. Dux futicly clawed at the magical noose to no avail.

The mare lowered him down so that he was eye level with her. “I want you to die, screaming.” She said in a menacing tone. Multiple green tendrils erupted from her horn and latched onto Dux’s body. The magical noose vanished just as the tendrils burrowed into Dux’s skin and eyes. He screamed until a single tendril burst out from his throat, silencing him.
The dark mare held the spell, finally releasing it once his body ceased all movement. Dux’s body slumped to the floor, immediately forgotten as the mare now turned her gaze towards Steadfast and Fluttershy.

“It's good to finally meet you, Captain-General Steadfast.” The mare said, almost cheerfully as the trio made their way down the hall. “Sombra’s told me all about you, how your the greatest military mind he’s ever seen.” She glanced back down the hallway as the distant explosions stopped. “Though judging from how easily we took the castle I'm having trouble seeing it.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Oh well. I guess it really doesn't matter now.”

Rainbow Dash sheathed her sword and tapped the mare on the shoulder lightly, indicating Pinkie Pie’s body. “Twilight look, it's Pinkie.”

At the mention of Twilight's name by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy suddenly looked up.

“No.” she whispered, upon seeing two of her closest friends, twisted and corrupted, standing with Sombra. “It can’t be.”

Twilight shifted her gaze from Pinkie to Fluttershy. “Hello, Fluttershy. I didn't see you there.” She moved closer, stepping over the body of Pinkie to kneel on the ground in front of Fluttershy and Steadfast. “It's been awhile.”

Steadfast instinctively pulled Fluttershy closer causing Twilight to move her gaze to him. “How sweet.” she said, the beginnings of a smile forming on her face. “You two really make a great couple.” Twilight glanced behind her to where Pinkie still lay with Steadfast’s silver sword embedded in her chest.

Magic sparked from Twilight's horn as a green aura encased the hilt of the silver sword. Slowly the blade was pulled from Pinkie’s body. Once free, Twilight levitated the blood caked sword in front of her.

“So, General. Sombra offered you a deal already but you turned it down.” She angled the blade so that its point was facing Fluttershy. “Now I'm offering you one of my own.” The sword moved closer to Fluttershy who merely stared at Twilight in silence. “Since you've failed in your duty as a soldier and leader by single hoofedly getting everypony under your protection killed, here is my offer.” Her eyes flashed red. “Rencounce the Princess’s, swear sole allegiance to Sombra and myself as your King and Queen. Prostrate yourself before us and kiss the very ground we walk upon. Venerate us as Gods! Then and only then will I spare Fluttershy and allow you to leave with her.”

Steadfast glanced down to Fluttershy who had pressed herself back into him.

“Heres your chance to finally save somepony, General.” said Twilight.

A quiet whimper from Fluttershy gave Steadfast the answer he needed. He began to stand up, gently prying Fluttershy's hooves off of him. She pressed against the door and hugged herself fearfully as Steadfast reached his full height.

“Well?” asked Twilight, quirking a brow upwards.

“Your royal highnesses, Queen Twilight and King Sombra.” Steadfast said, slowly and respectively, bowing low before them. “I renounce all prior oaths to the lesser beings known as Celestia and Luna and hereby humbly pledge myself to your most venerable selves until, in your all seeing wisdom, see no further use for me.”

“I accept your pledge, Steadfast.” Twilight said with a regal nod. “You may rise.”

As Steadfast righted himself, deep booming laughter filled the hallway. Once upright, Steadfast saw that it was Sombra, head flung back, laughing maniacally. This continued for several moments until finally, Twilight glanced towards him. “You ok over there?” She asked.

Lowering his head, Sombra fought to contain himself, succeeding after several seconds. “My apologize for ruining your moment.” He grinned maliciously. “I just wasn't expecting that.”

“Your grace?” Steadfast said, drawing their attention back to him. “May we now take our leave?”

Twilight looked from Steadfast to Fluttershy then back to Steadfast, where she smiled pleasantly.

“I think not.”

There was a flash of green and a tiny pained squeak. Time seemed to slow for Steadfast as he turned around, allowing him to see every painful moment.

His sword was buried in Fluttershy, pinning her to the door. Her hooves tightly grasped the hilt, wanting desperately to pull it from her body but lacking the strength to do so. Steadfast fell to his knees beside her and placed his own hooves on hers.

“Forgive me.” He said.

Blood bubbled from her mouth as her blue eyes met his grey one. She blinked, staring intently into Steadfast’s eye, before growing still.

Armoured hoof steps slowly approached him as he continued to stare into Fluttershy’s dark, unblinking eyes. A sharp pain suddenly entered his shoulder. Tearing his eyes from Fluttershy, Steadfast saw that a small black crystal had been driven through his armour and into his skin. Even as he watched the crystal began to pulse, bury itself deeper while also spreading rapidly. Steadfast managed to stand just as the crystal encased his entire body.

Sombra smiled at the newly formed crystal stallion, completely immobilized save for the left eye which moved frantically in its socket.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash moved to join Sombra by the statue.

"I thought you wanted him alive?" asked Rainbow, glancing over the golden armour adorning the statue.

"He is alive." Sombra said, moving to the front of the statute. The single grey eye halted its frantic movement and focused directly on Sombra. "He will exist with the pain and guilt of his loss forever."

Sombra placed his hooves lightly on either side of the statues face as magic was channeled into his horn. There was a bright spark and a pool of shadows materialized beneath the statue, swirling lightly.

"Welcome to eternity."

With that, the statue began to sink into the shadows as Sombra stood over, smiling. As the statues head passed into shadow, the grey eye saw only blackness.

In the silence of his mind, Steadfast screamed.

Author's Notes:

This took waaaaay to long. Apologies.