"Sorrow will break you but it can also strengthen you."

                                              Celestia Evictus

Day sixty-three of Freedom,

I have happened across an interesting discovery. In an attempt to destroy my sisters little pawns with their own worst fears I have discovered the most perplexing thing. They are so in tune with their elements that they are able to call upon its power without the actual artifacts. This may prove a problem for I have underestimated them. The plan had been to corrupt one of their own with a shadow golem posing as my 'alter ego' and it was going quite well until they had found a way to bring the little white wretch back into the light. Most of it is due to that dragonling's fault. For now I had to play the part of the redeemed hero. It puts a bad taste in my mouth to have had to worked with my foolish sister but I can't risk reveling myself just yet. Luckily I have grown in strength from the encounter and my nightmare forces have absorbed the Harmonious essence those pawns gave off. Now to crush their will again to extract the power.

Spike looked up from the tome at Dr. Whooves, his face unreadable. After a moment of silence he finally spoke," So Luna was never cured then?"

"I believe that was a ruse old chap," Whooves said," I read the entire thing, trust me there was never anything to cure. That alicorn had made backup plans for her backup plans. Not only that but she was behind almost every calamity that befell Equestria back then, Discord's release and the Crystal Empire's return not included of course."

Spike looked back at the tome. His mind was clouded with confusion, back then Luna had seemed truly changed. No malice came off her and she seemed to regret her change all those centuries. The tome brought a dark rage to start burning in the pit of his belly. This tome showed Luna for her true colors. A malicious mare hell-bent on ruling a kingdom even if it meant tearing it down. His train of thought was derailed when the doors to his quarters were thrown open. A pair of Risen walked in with a another pegasus between them wearing earthborn armor.

"My lord forgive our interruption but we found this pony on the main road," one stepped forward and bowed to the dragon," He says he has a message from the Earth Council,"

Spike sat up and walked toward the now cowering pegasus," What is this message?"

"The Council asks to meet with you to end hostilities between our too Houses," he said with remarkable clarity.

"Interesting and why the sudden change in heart?"

"This order comes straight from the Matron sir," he gulped," She say that this bloodshed needs to end."

Spike clicked his teeth, his face neutral but inside he was breathing a sigh of relief. His latest siege had been successful but the loss of life had been sickening for both sides.

"Get food and rest," he finally said," Then return to your Matron. Tell them my army will be at their gates by the end of the week with peaceful intent."

The pegasus released a breathe he hadn't realized he had been holding," Thank you sir."

The Risen led him away and the doors to Spike's quarters fell shut. Dr. Whooves chuckled at Spike's expression. The purple dragon had the ghost of a smile playing on his fanged maw.

"I do believe things are coming together."

"That they are my friend,' Spike said," I'm just glad I can lead this army to a city without intent to conquer."  

"Already getting tired of it all eh?" Whooves asked.

"Yes," Spike sighed," I can only hope that things will stay looking up as they do."

The time lord stayed silent for he had a sinking feeling things would only get worse. And this feeling he got always turned out to be right.

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Soarin' breathed a sigh of relief as a messenger left his office. The mare had arrived that morning with news that Rainbow Dash and fifty of her finest warriors had been able to drive the Moon and Stars army back. Cloudsdale was still intact. Soarin' sank in his seat, his mind taxed from the last few days.

Flash's army were preparing to leave that day to go to Trottingham. They were going to try to convince the riverside city to join them. Soarin' looked out his window as the army began to take off. Several of Soarin's best fliers were among them. Flash also had a missive from Soarin' himself that would help them greatly.

He wished he could join them but he had business to attend to and a journey of his own to make. He would be making wing to Windsoar. He had to try to sway Spitfire to join him. Maybe just maybe he could convince her that this war neede to end and it wouldn't do so if they continued to do what they ahd done for the last thirteen years.

The light blue stallion walked the halls of his air base. He looked back tot he day that he had been made commander of Las Pegasus. It had been a day for sorrow for him. He had lost a dear friend and lover to a particularly gruesome battle against Moon and Stars. He shuddered to remember that day, it had been the first time Moon and Stars had used slave warriors. Soarin' felt his mind go back to that particularly dark day.

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"Hold them back," Soarin' roared over the clash of steel. The battlefield was muddy with the blood of fallen unicorn's and paegasi alike.

Soarin' swirved to the right as a flame spell whizzed past. It scourched the tip of his right wing's primaries but other wise left him unharmed. The light blue stallion raised his spear an sent it hurtling toward it's caster. The unicorn legionnaire raised a bubble shield and blocked it, the steel shaft bouncing harmlessly off. The legionnaire lowered his shield to fire another spell but was found his horn severed at Soarin's hoofblade. His scream of shock was cut short with the another swipe form the light blue stallion.

He picked up his spear and was suddenly blindsided by a pony. They went rolling and Soarin' managed to throw his assailent off him. Jumping to his hooves he then got a good look at who had attacked him. A filly barely older than thirteen at least had a crude spear held in her jaws. She was covered in filth and dried blood, more than likely her own. What caught his eye though was that her cuite mark had been ripped off and replaced by a picture of a pair of shackles.

The stallion stared at the filly in disbelief as she rushed forward. She clumsily raised her spear to strike him but Soarin' stopped her dead in her tracks and ripped the spear from her grasp.

"Please kill me," she whimpered cowering before him," Please."

Soarin' couldn't believe his senses. How could Moon and Stars do such a thing? And to faols no less. She looked as if she had just gotten her cutie mark the day before this.

"I-I," Soarn' stammered, stepping back.

The filly rushed forward a second time and pulled a dagger from her barding. Soarin' dodged and instinct kicked in as he slashed at her with his hoof blade. the filly went down with a gruesome gash to her side. Soarin' rushed to her side.

"I'm sorry I-" he was cut off as the filly raised herself up and impaled herself on his hoof blade. She shivered before falling back with a sigh. Soarin' stared at the filly's prone form.

"Soarin'!"

He turned just in time to see Fleethoof fly in front of a spear that had been meant for him. Time slowed down as he watched it take her through her barrel. She fell to ground with a grunt. The spear's owner rushed her to finish the job. That's when Soarin' reacted. With a feral cry he rushed forward and opened the slave's throat. She fell back with a strangled gurgle.

The light blue stallion rushed to Fleethoof's side and cradled her head," Hey Fleethoof stay with me."

She gave him a pained smile," You idiot. You zoned out again. Thinking about pie huh?" She tried to laugh but just coughed up blood.  

"Your gonna be okay just stay with me okay," Soarin' looked up," Medic! I need a medic over here!"

Fleethoof raised a hoof up and touched Soain's cheek with it, tears forming in her eyes," I think I'm gonna have to punch out early sir," she coughed up more blood," This wound's pretty bad."

"Don't you dare punch out that's an order." Tears started to roll done his cheeks as he took her hoof in his own." Where's the damn medic?!"

"Hey it's okay," she said, her breathing becoming shallower," I want you to know I love you ok. Heh I heard that you were going to pop the question soon."

Soarin' looked down at her his tears falling on her coat," Ye-yeah I was. The whole get up t-to. Candlelit dinner and everything."

"You always were a romantic," she chuckled," Yes. My answer is yes."

"Re-really," his voice cracked and he smiled," Alright we'll get you patched u-up and start l-looking into a gown. How a-about this fall?"

"Sounds li-" she shuddered and fell limp in his arms.

He shook her," Fleet. Fleethhoof. FLEETHOOF!"

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Soarin' was pulled from that painful memory when he felt moisture on his cheek. He brought a hoof up and found that he was crying. He hadn't thought about that day in years. He never did get a chance to mourn because after that he had received his position as Commander and there was another battle to be fought. There was always another useless battle to be fought. Next Chapter: A Hope For Peace Estimated time remaining: 32 Minutes