Blackness ran over Princess Luna's body, dying her coat and corrupting her jewelry. Dark blue armor covered her skull and cheekbones first, then stretched down her skeleton. With a mighty flap of her wings, she extended her power across all of the castle, blinding even the Changelings as a feral roar escaped her maw. By the time the changes had completed, Nightmare Moon let out a sickening giggle.

And every bat pony heard her call. The Nightmare was too much for the unprepared, unrested, Night Guard. Above the fighting, Reddling suddenly reached a hoof out and dug it into the side of the commander's face, tearing his cheek open and sending him tumbling down towards the foreyard. Monsters crawled about in the land below- their fangs mutating into knifelike teeth that could not be contained in their mouths, claws extending from their hooves and new shadow armor augmenting their suits. Seemingly dead or dying monsters sprung up from the ground, biting into the necks and clawing at the backs of anything passing close by.

"Defend this place, Night Guard!" Nightmare Moon screamed to the heavens. "This is our most sacred home, the birth of the night and the birth of the Guard! Do not let these creatures defile our holiest shrine! They hast come to us seeking destruction, invading us! Let those who leave their homes to destroy us find naught but death in ours!"

Reddling abandoned his crossbow, jumping off the keep battlements and charging at the Alicorn leading the enemy forces. The tide had turned with Luna's spell, and the Royal Guards were now simply trying to get away as quickly as they could. Those who could fly were trying to avoid divebombs from the monsters, and those who could not fly were trying to run out the front gate before meeting a brutal death at the claws of nightmares. Reddling spared no thought for the alicorn as he ripped into her neck, eviscerating her carapace and then tossing her down on the battlements. Her spine connected with the rocks below and there was a sickening crunch before she tumbled into the shroud of the Everfree. Not one to miss out on the fun, soon Reddling had joined Bruiser, Midnight, and Nightshade in divebombing the fleeing pegasi. Reddling let out a squee of joy as he wrapped his hooves around one and bit into the base of their wing, crushing the hallow bone to fragments.

No mercy was spared to the pegasus as Reddling tore their wings away, tossing the broken earth pony down to the feasting nightmares below. None of the Nightmares could count how many ponies they killed, how many wings they tore off-- it did not much matter. The battle was quickly won, and the few surviving ponies screamed as they looked true horror in the eye. Awful ponies with their features twisted beyond that of a mortal tore into their chests, ripping out muscle and organs as their victims stared in shock, still waiting for death's embrace.

The bloodlust-- The Nightmare-- showed no signs of stopping as Reddling sank down to chewing on pegasus wings, ripping and tearing violently at them. From somewhere far away, he could hear Princess Cadance calling out. He looked up to see her standing nearby, trying to call out to Luna. She had such perfect pink wings- and behind the haze of bloodlust, they looked almost red. They were red wings- red feathered wings ripe for tearing apart...

Reddling looked to his dark queen with a grin as he stood up, ready to tear apart any who would challenge the Goddess of the Night. Luna had become dark and terrible, her eyes glowing with power as her mane sucked in and blotted out all light around her. Nightmare Moon hesitated for a few moments, but then continued, ignoring Princess Cadance.

"No longer shall we run and hide whist our kingdom stands usurped! Tonight!" Nightmare Moon nearly screamed the word, cackling madly as the insane light of the moon broke through her hazy shadow magic, illuminating all of her shiny armor and blackened coat, "Tonight, we shall take back what is ours! Tear down this facade!"

"Alright, enough is enough!" Cadance's voice was audible as she took a stand, approaching Nightmare Moon and assuming a fighting stance. Reddling bit down into a dead soldier and began gnawing on the hallow bones, watching to make sure that the queen of the night would not need assistance. "Shining, c'mon!" Princess Cadance's husband took a stance at her side, the two of them looking small in comparison to Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon took a single look at Cadance and emitted a guffaw, "You're kidding. You're kidding, right?"

Reddling looked up at that statement- something had stirred inside his mind. Another terrible queen had said these exact same words once when challenged by what seemed like an absurd attempt to defeat her. Mantidae.

Suddenly the situation was a little more lucid- why was Princess Luna about to fight Princess Cadance? Weren't they all on the same side? Reddling gave himself one shake, holding his body back as he felt the Nightmare urging him to attack the two ponies. He did not want to fight them, and now he felt stuck and conflicted in the spell.

"Then you've made your choice! Stand against the night, and you shall be swallowed by it!" Nightmare Moon declared. There were hisses all around as Princess Cadance lit up her horn, blinding the world with a pink aura and a striking light. Reddling was forced to cover his face, holding a claw covered hoof up to shield his eyes. The last thing Reddling could see was Nightmare Moon shielding her own face with a wing as the light grew to an unbareable intensity. He tore his eyes away and stumbled over a corpse as to flee from the light. There was a flutter of wings, and then a loud smack sounded silence across the foreyard.

Princess Cadance towered above Princess Luna, the light and the Nightmare both gone now. The real Princess Luna, not her nightmare incarnation, was keeled over on the ground with a red hoof-print from a vicious smack branded on her cheek.

The Night Guard's bloodlust faded, and where there had been the sounds of violence before there were now only sounds of terror-- screams of shock and explanations of horror. Although Reddling was mainly staring at Cadance and Luna's standoff, it was also a good excuse not to look at the carnage around him. He could feel blood-- which he guessed was probably not his-- dripping across his body. Beside him was a dead pegasus pony that had it's body eviscerated and the wings torn and splayed from some unethical dissection. This scene was much the same around the killing field, with the dead looking as though they had been torn apart by starved hyenas.

"Luna, pull yourself together!" Princess Cadance's voice was concerned, but still held an urgent tone as she grasped Luna's shoulders.

Reddling stumbled towards the only ponies not covered in carnage, trying to ignore what looked like another rendition of Luna's quarters after Web had, had her fun. Ignoring the cries of some of his friends-- Bruiser was the loudest, with his holy fucks and queries for what had happened drowning out many other bat ponies-- Reddling licked some blood off his lips as he stood above Luna. the Princess was rubbing a bruise starting to form on her cheek, and did not meet anypony's eyes.

Reddling took a deep breath, and announced his presence by clearing his throat. The ponies not covered in gore turned to look at him. "Princess Luna- Princesses, we- we should leave this place." Reddling had many reasons for why they aught to leave-- the gore splattered foreyard doing nopony favors, the idea that more troops might foolishly be thrown at them by the Changelings, and the fact that nopony seemed to be fit to fight anymore.

Luckily he didn't have to try to reason with Princess Luna's stubbornness this time- she simply nodded, a defeated look on her face. This was favorable indeed, as Reddling looked out across the field of corpses. "N-Nopony can or should have to pull themselves together in this carnage- I..." he felt his voice weaken, and wasn't sure the others heard him as he closed his eyes, trying to blot out the gore everywhere.

"Luna- we need you- oh for goodness... Night Guard, pull yourselves together!" Cadance cried out at the yard. a few heads perked up, but just as many others stayed where they were sitting or laying, looking completely shell shocked at what had occurred. Reddling could not help but shake his head as he stared around at his friends, sitting down in some unstained grass. Everything seemed to be falling apart.

Cobalt Flare, the well studied and calm scholar now lay on her side, her eyes staring forward blankly at the carnage as she struggled to come to terms with what had just possessed her. Web was laying nearby, spread eagle on the ground and staring up at the sky while giggling softly and shaking ever so slightly. Tops was laying against a wall with Nightshade pressing her face into his chest, her hooves nursing him gently as she rocked back and forth against him. Nightshade seemed to simply be broken, and Tops looked little better- the left side of his face was covered in blood, and he had removed his destroyed helmet-- which judging by the axe gash on the top, had been only just enough armor to save his life this time.

"We need to get out of here, right- anywhere safe that isn't here." Princess Cadance said, looking at various guards before ducking down and looking at Twilight-- who had hidden from the Nightmare due to lacking her full strength. "Twilight, is there anywhere safe in Ponyville that we can go?"

I gave them a safe place to go before we came here-- well, safe from the Changelings. It's safe enough, but Luna wouldn't listen to me... Nopony here trusts me. No matter what I do, I'm never going to have their trust.

Twilight seemed totally off put by everything that had happened, and stammered to find an answer for Princess Cadance. "We could- maybe Applejack's farm. The library certainly won't- at least not without being noticed and it isn't big enough anyway- A-Applejack's is the best bet."

Reddling cleared his throat angrily, stepping forward and staring at each of the damned royalty in turn. Princess Cadance turned her attention to the blood covered bat pony.

"I know a place that is a night's fly from here. The Changelings will not follow us there. It is one of my safehouses." Reddling looked down, biting his lip. He was suddenly a little unsure about how Rainy- or indeed, the town of Fervor, was going to react to having a platoon of thestrals living in a keep on the edge of town, but Reddling also knew that he didn't have much of a choice. Ponyville was a deathtrap, and he wasn't familiar with any other towns nearby. Even then, they were still in Equestria, and undoubtedly still within the reach of the Changelings quite effortlessly.

"You can't stay there long though. A few days." Reddling amended himself.

"That should be all we need." Cadance replied. Reddling gestured over to Tops and Nightshade, who still looked a mess.

"I can lead the way, those two know it as well. We need to get the carriage hooked up too- for those who cannot fly." Reddling felt his voice strain as he glanced around at the still incapacitated bat ponies.

"Where exactly is this place, Reddling?" Cadance asked.

"It's to the south." Reddling said, beating around the bush a little. "Old crumbly fort place. Not the kind filled with bats- well, not yet. On the edge of Silverfield."

Cadance gave Reddling an incredulous stare, blinking twice before she found her words. "To the south... You're sure Silverfield is safe?"

"Would you rather head north to Canterlot? We have a mountain range on one side of us, the Equestrian Military on the other, and Canterlot to the north. We're not in any condition to fly over mountains or fight." Reddling reasoned, nodding to himself soundly. "The royal army is probably combing the rest of the forest and surrounding lands already- we should try to stay one step ahead of them and that means going south."

"Alright!" Cadance said, clearly having heard her fill. She surveyed the Night Guard- who still was in absolutely no state to move out. "Reddling- help get ponies back on their feet, we're moving as soon as we're able."

Reddling did his best to get the ponies going-- helping them off the ground, using any discarded clothing or rags from the dead that weren't covered in blood to clean bats off as best could be done, and then organizing groups to fly. When enough of an effort to get the majority of the bats was moving, Reddling turned his attentions to his friends, who looked much the worse for wear-- indeed, he was sure he looked little better-- and approached Tops and Nightshade first, looking down at them. Tops seemed distant and almost misty-eyed, staring out over the carnage nonsensically.

"Your helmet is ruined." Reddling said to Tops, gesturing at his destroyed helm. Tops just blinked confusedly, looking at his closer surroundings.

"...Oh? I don't- I don't remember what happened." Tops sounded like he was lost, like a traveler who had taken a wrong turn.

Reddling looked down at Nightshade, unsmiling. "We made Web proud, I'm sure of it. Each and every one of us." Nightshade gave a loud sob, visibly shuddering against Tops as he hugged her closer. Reddling turned his attention to Tops and continued, "You don't remember any of the parts where we attacked ponies?"

"Ah- ah, yes... I mean, yes." Tops rubbed his head. Although there was some blood, his head wound did not seem like it was anything that would leave lasting damage.

"Things just blacked out- yeah, think of it like that. You two need to be ready soon, I need you to help me guide everypony out of here." Reddling explained.

"Go?" queried Tops.

"I've recommended that we hide in Silverfield before attacking Canterlot. The royal guard will be back." Reddling said plainly. That's what we should have done to start out.

"Silverfield-- oh, that's... a good idea?" Tops seemed to be talking to himself as he gave a little push to Nightshade. "Nightshade, c'mon, let's get ready..."

Nightshade did not move and continued hugging Tops, who looked up apologetically at Reddling, giving him a half hearted smile. "We'll be ready in a minute..."

You seem dazed-- I just hope you can fly, because you certainly can't stay here. Reddling tried to return the smile, but could feel an aching in the muscles on his face as he did so. Turning to look at Nightshade, he patted her on the shoulder. "It's over Nightshade, forget about it."

Reddling turned away from Nightshade, weaving his way through the bloody messes. Bat ponies were beginning to stand up and gather inside the keep-- away from the carnage-- but there were still stragglers. Reddling stopped in front of Web, who was laying in a pool of other ponies blood and giggling up at the stars. She herself seemed unhurt.

"Heh, hehe... Juuuust like-- the first time-- hmm?" Web tilted her head as Reddling approached. Poking forward, Reddling offered her a hoof to help her up from the ground.

"Just like the first time?" Reddling queried her.

"The first time-- when She came back. Ah, it felt like, the first time I had ever been really alive." Web looked through Reddling, still smiling to herself.

Reddling put a hoof on Web's foreleg, squeezing blood between their hoof-guards. "It's over now though. We have to go, Web."

"So soon?" Web's voice leaked a feeling of distress.

She's like a drug addict. "The sooner you get moving, the closer you get to the next time."

"The--" Web's smile twitched to a frown briefly, and her eyes focused in on Reddling. Reddling returned her stares, trying to hide his disapproval behind a stoic and neutral expression. Web continued looking on for a moment before her normal smile returned, bringing some false light back to the foreyard. Web rolled over-- revealing her back to be soaked with other ponies blood-- and stood up. Web brushed herself off, doing little more than smearing blood across her chest. "Well, where are we going?"

"Silverfield." Reddling said, a tinge of over-eagerness leaking into his voice. "Can you maybe help get the rest of these ponies into the keep, and ready to go?"

"Oh, of course." Web was back to her bubbly, floaty self, and turned to look happily across the carnage.

Reddling turned his attention away from Web and the carnage, and trotted towards the keep. It was insane that Web was able to keep a cool head in all of this-- but then, she was truly not all there in her mind. Reddling stopped at the broken archway that led inside-- Midnight was blocking the way slightly, staring proudly out at the killing field.

"You look ready." Reddling said to him mildly.

"How many of them were there?" Midnight asked proudly. " Five score? Ten score?"

"How many-- royal guards?" Reddling asked, blinking. Midnight gave him a nod to continue and Reddling motioned at the carcasses. "Hard to tell. Scores though, for sure."

"And yet, we stood." Midnight said, stomping a hoof.

"We brutally slaughtered manipulated and weak minded ponies." Reddling said. More like a massacre than a battle...

"Is it not right for the strong to triumph?" Midnight's question was rhetorical. "Though they had strength in numbers, our was far greater."

"Just because you have strength does not mean that you should use it." Reddling replied. "Because I did not use mine, Luna and Cadance are both still alive."

"To have strength, but fail to use, ...is a weakness, Reddling." Midnight looked over his own shoulder, deeper into the keep. The wagon had been pulled inside and Luna was standing next to it, organizing ponies with the help of Princess Cadance. Midnight only had an eye for Luna right now, staring at her as she worked to get ponies ready to leave.

"I won't debate you. Go on." Midnight said, waving a hoof to Reddling.

When everypony had been accounted for- from Star Shine with a broken wing to the most unassuming bat ponies, they all gathered inside the keep and began organizing into flight groups. Reddling, Nightshade, and Tops would all be in charge of three groups and would navigate towards Silverfield, while Luna's carriage would be between the three groups.

Before the group was to be off, Luna cleared her throat, addressing everypony as a whole. "What happened tonight is a terrible tragedy. A senseless waste of life. I am not proud of the depths to which I sank in the name of self-preservation, and that I dragged you all down with me. I am eternally sorry." Luna looked away slightly, shame reeking from her voice. "I hope that you can forgive me for what I have done..."

Just don't do it again?

"We shall be taking refuge to the south, where we have been offered asylum and the promise of respite from assault. Know that soon, this ordeal shall be finished. If you would stand with me for just a bit longer, then we shall triumph against our aggressors and restore Equestria to as it should be. Night Guard, and esteemed guests, prepare to move out!" Luna broke away from her speech, giving a nod to Reddling. "Lead the way."

Reddling nodded, and flapped his wings as he took off into the sky, Nightshade and Tops quickly joining him. The crowd below was silent sans for a few claps from Twilight Sparkle, which died almost as soon as they had begun. The other parties took to the sky, setting a course southward as the moon set behind them.

Once a solid course for Silverfield had been established, Luna gave a call for several ponies to join her. Reddling, Tops, Nightshade, and Bruiser joined Lunar, Web, and Cobalt with the carriage passengers. It was awkward to say the least, and they all barely fit. Lunar and Bruiser were both pulling the carriage, just to make sure enough room existed for everyone to be gathered close.

"Although I know some of you have been to Silverfield before, I felt that we could benefit by learning more about the place to which we must visit." Princess Luna said solemnly, looking down at the bottom of the carriage. Reddling could barely hide his disappointment. He had been hoping that perhaps they would discuss the counterattack on Canterlot, but no such luck was to be had.

"Reddling, would you please tell us about the history of Silverfield?" Princess Luna queried. Reddling blinked, looking upwards and staring at everyone. This was not something he ever wanted to talk about, and certainly not after being narrowly forgiven for his crimes.

"Silverfield has little history worth knowing if you are an outsider. Suffice to say that we believe when Equestria invaded us and then raped, murdered, and pillaged the countryside. To this day, we have never fully recovered." Reddling couldn't look at anypony as he talked.

"Do you believe this story, Reddling Rain?" Luna asked.

Reddling's response was a concise no. Luna let out a deep sigh and cleared her throat. "I would like to share my own story about Silverfield-- set over a millennium ago." Everypony was silent-- they dared not speak. Luna's face had become dark and moody, and from her horn, she produced flowing colours. Reddling closed his eyes as the colours swept over the nearby ponies.

While he could not have known they would be trapped in a collective unconsciousness, nor so could any of the other ponies, sans Luna.

Luna took a deep breath, then let out another deep sigh as she began to explain her own encounter with Silverfield.

Long ago, the Three Tribes existed in the Frozen North. The Pegasi, the Unicorns, and the Earth Ponies were locked in eternal discord and disharmony. This is the story that most of us know-- what most forget to mention is that before the Pegasi were all united under one banner, they were but several warring cloud-states, constantly locked in turmoil. They fought over the earth ponies that produced food for their armies, and constantly attempted to intercept other cloud-state's tributes to the unicorns.

Naturally, some pegasi realized that this was not sustainable. As tribes began to defeat each other and solidify into bigger tribes, a small group broke away from the north and headed south. I believe that they headed along a route that today comprises modern day Manehatten. At some point, they settled between the badlands and the coastline.

Luna stopped here, musing over her history for a moment. She explained that for some reason, the pegasi gravitated away from the coastline and moved inland. This was an oddity as even they would have been able to farm in the tropical coastline. Even if they had failed to try even basic farming techniques, the natural greens and fruits should have made them settle in this land. Cobalt and Lunar both raised questions to further press Luna here, but she merely explained that she could not answer the question. She could not even suggest that the coastline was more treacherous at this time...

The pegasus tribe moved into Silverfield and settled in what today is known Cyric Valley. With a mountain range casting a shadow over some plateaus and the valley, the land was protected from natural disasters, but still benefited from the trade winds of the sea passing through from the coast. What would become Silverfield blossomed in the valley under this small pegasus cloud-state. At some point, other ponies must have made some perilous journey to join such a place, as there are records of Earth Ponies and Unicorns aiding such a place in flourishing.

Reddling opened a dispute at this point with Luna, debating about how she had placed the Mountain Range on the wrong side of Silverfield. Luna explained that as she had remembered the country, it had two halves-- The east side, and the west side. Both operated independently of each other but recognized each other as the same nation, allowing for uniform laws across the land with a system of checks and balances. Indeed, their advancements in law and philosophy had seemed oddly out of place for such a time. Again, Luna failed to cite a reason for why this was, despite her best attempts.

The eastern side of Silverfield would eventually develop a city beside the mountainside, sprawling out in the area between the valley and the mountainside. Blessed with the military tactics of the Pegasus and a perfect land for growing food, they seemed to be set to become what Equestria would eventually evolve into.

However, this was not meant to last. Even with a few earth ponies and unicorns, they were not able to produce enough food in order to feed all those who lived in the area. The grass was poisonous, and the plants quite hostile to ponies. It was perplexing why they stayed in such an area, but for their efforts they were rewarded. Silverfield eventually crossed the mountain range and craved out an impressive city state that rivaled the power of the three tribes. Peace reigned across the land, and even if food was scarce for most of their history, it was never to the point of starvation.

This was a happy Silverfield that existed for three hundred years. After that-- the wars began. Equestria had been established to the north, and with such a lush land of so many more ponies working together, eclipsed Silverfield. The two had a very close working relationship.

Luna quickly recalled the story of how she and Celestia had defeated Discord, and knew of many friends that Celestia and herself had made in Silverfield. With their support and some training on their part, they were able to find an element of harmony and combine it with the other five to rescue Equestria.

After Equestria had been rescued from Discord, other nations wanted their piece of the rich, lush land that became Equestria. For many decades, Equestria was locked in a bitter conflict with the Griffon Empire to the north, the Kiwians of the South Luna sea, Early Yakistanian tribes, and even Saddle Arabians who came from far away to establish colonies of their own. Through alliances with the Crystal Empire-- Which I doubt anypony can remember-- and Silverfield, their enemies were held at bay. Silverfield had access to deep recesses of silver and iron in their mountains-- for which they might have inherited their name from, if it was not from the grass-- which provided Equestria with the ability to pay it's troops and for Silverfield to develop weapons for the alliance. With Silverfieldian weapons and armor and their southern border secure, Equestria could focus on fighting on fewer fronts. Silverfield aided in the battle against the Kiwians and Griffons, and the Crystal Empire under Princess Amore fought back the Yakistanians and Griffons.

The Saddle Arabians, who had seen Celestia and Luna as an illegitimate government, conceded to their power with their allies and withdrew, facing troubles at home that made it difficult to continue their campaign in any case.

This was not the turning point in the war, but the battle that followed was. The fleets of Lord-Commander Reddle and Princess Luna engaged the massive Kiwian invasion force outside of Los Pegasus. It was a three day battle that would condemn the Kiwians to failure. On the first day, Princess Luna sailed most of her ships as derelicts past the enemy fleet. Seeking to eliminate their enemy, the Kiwians fired arrows at their foe. The arrows fell on straw ponies, picking apart nonexistent foes. Princess Luna now had enough ammunition to feed both armies. On the second day, Reddle had his pegasi create a wicked wind from the south to blow the Kiwians off course. In order to stay their course for the mainland, the Kiwians chained their boats together and set a path straight for Los Pegasus. Had they reached the shores, Equestria's west coast would have been overwhelmed.

On the third day, the Lord-Commander and Princess ordered their troops to coat their arrows in pitch and fire. The Equestrians rained disaster down on the Kiwian boats, leaving them dead in the water. The Silverfieldian forces followed by sailing their boats in a circle around the trapped Kiwian forces, using their crossbows to prevent a retreat.

The great armada of the Kiwians was destroyed. Equestria's western, northern, and southern borders were all secured. The Crystal Empire, Silverfield, and Equestria all doubled their efforts against the Griffons, using advanced alloyies for their weapons and armor, Crystal Empire ingenuity, and Equestria's force of will to overwhelm their foe. Equestria finally knew safety, as did all of it's allies.

Luna's face grew dark here.

The Lord-Commander Reddle, who was doomed to be behind his older brother for stewardiship of western half of Silverfield, returned home. Through his own machiavellian scheming, he seized control over his older brother and claimed half of the country. He was disgusted by how pegasus ponies were mistreated-- they were veterans of war who had returned home and had no work, little money, and discrimination from more capable earth ponies and unicorns. Soldiers that he served with were starving to death in the streets, suffering in the cold and being mocked and mistreated by the more fortunate.

By this point, it was clear that Luna was in pain, and her voice cracked as she tried to maintain regal strength.

With the war over, Equestria had no need for iron or silver. Trade died between our two countries... Silverfield had been requesting one commodity in exchange for it's mineral resources, one that it could not survive without-- Equestrian food. The war with the griffons had not been ended with a treaty for but six years when the Lord-Commander amassed an army and marched on a small fort in Southern Silverfield. This particular fort belonged to Equestria, and held a large arsenal. The Lord-Commander armed his forces and turned northward, marching into Equestria. His family commanded his forces and razed town after town, burning Equestria to the ground.

It was Reddling's turn to grow dark, looking down at the bottom of the carriage. There was no way to justify these actions-- the worst of ponies had been brought to bare with this individual-- and his manipulation of others had cost the lands so much.

Although outmatched by Silverfieldian metal and their tactics, they were pushed back through a combination of numbers, magic, and a betrayal. The Lord Commander's own son, Drizzle, defected in a crucial battle just south of Canterlot. He sided with the Vigils-- which would be later be known as the Night Guard-- and defeated the Lord Commander's shock troopers. The war turned against Silverfield, and Equestria marched into their lands, burning everything they came across. Revenge was swift and merciless, and within but three months, the capital of western Silverfield was under siege. Princess Luna, her Vigils, and Drizzle confronted the Lord-Commander and bound him within the mountains.

Drizzle was installed as the new leader of Silverfield. Peace returned to the realms. Silverfield struggled along, and ponies grieved for those who had died. Silverfield's economy was left in complete shambles, and failed to develop agriculturally due to poor farmland and industrially, as we had seen fit to destroy every machine of war that existed in Silverfield. Our vengeance had been complete-- For the few towns that Silverfield managed to burn while fighting their way to our castle, we erased half of their nation.

Forty years later, Drizzle, -- my friend-- died. With the great war hero who had helped negotiate a peace between the Silverfieldians and Equestrians gone, diplomatic relations broke down. Silverfield withdrew from the world and began consolidating itself. A series of natural disasters destroyed the eastern part of Silverfield, leaving it in ruins. With no money, no economy, and no food, the place was left to be a barren wasteland.

And I did nothing. My sorrow for the loss of yet another of my friends was great-- and I came to terms with my immortality. I staged my coup in Equestria and was defeated by Princess Celestia.

With that, the group could tell that Princess Luna's tale was concluded. Below them the grass had begun to change from green to grey.

"Reddling Rain. We are about to arrive at Fort Celes-- for it was a fort in my time, and no castle. It was the last line of defense before Equestria entered Silverfield. One thousand and fourty two years ago, I destroyed Silverfield's final line in the sand. It was with the brutal slaughter here that Equestria brought peace to the realms-- no matter the cost." Princess Luna looked up at her commanders, who all bore different emotions on their faces. Web was twiddling her hooves, trying to hide a smile, while Cobalt looked shocked at such an uncannily dark episode in Equestria's early history having been revealed. Lunar had his helmet on, and displayed no emotion. "By the time my sister tried to restore diplomatic relations, Silverfield had heard word of my banishment. Without my influence-- for Drizzle and I truly were close-- they would not speak to Equestria on any terms. Rather than invade again, Celestia left them to their devices. It was around the same time as my banishment that the Crystal Empire vanished-- within the same year, my dear sister too had to confront her immortality."

"Do not think immortality a blessing. There is no end... and until these Changelings intervened, I at least did not have to face this prospect alone..."

Luna's voice regained some of it's regal strength as she turned, looking out at the countryside. In the distance a small town full of deserted buildings haunted an area between rolling hills and a distant river. Almost directly below rose the broken wreckage of what one might have called a keep a very long time ago. A few of the bat ponies exchanged glances, but nopony dared to break the thick silence. Princess Luna's face was one of resignment-- for she could not change the past, but she could accept it and find strength from the acceptance.

Next Chapter:
The Silverfield Gambit