Celestia’s sun barely scraped the horizon when there was a rapid knock on Bardac’s bedroom door. The Nord let out a snort, jerking awake in his chair, a chair that was ten times more comfortable than any bed he’d endured back home. “Coming, coming,” grumbled Bardac, rubbing his eyes as he swayed over to pull the door open. “Yes?”

A familiar fire red unicorn stood in the hallway, an irritated expression on her muzzle. “We’ve got a problem General. Ponies are gathering outside the front of the castle,” Blast Burn said, glancing passed the Nord to the stirring lump surrounded by at least a half dozen blankets. “Give you one guess what they’re here for.”

Bardac let out a sigh, his eyes were having trouble focusing on Blast Burn. “Is it something that can wait until after breakfast?” he asked, rubbing his eyes with a knuckle.

Blast Burn just shook her head. “They ain’t crystal ponies, but it’s a damn big group. Countin’ twenty, maybe thirty strong? Ain’t violent so far, but I dunno how long that’s gonna last,” she muttered.

“Give me five minutes,” replied Bardac before walking back into the room and giving the lump on the bed a hard poke. “Chrysalis, up.”

The lump hissed loudly, a deep green hoof shooting out to swat at anything that might have been near. “Begone,” growled Chrysalis, “A queen needs he-wait!”

But it was too late, Bardac had already started to tilt the bed and with a crash of flailing limbs, Chrysalis was out of bed. “You can sleep when you are dead,” Bardac said.

“Still can’t believe you let her sleep in the same room,” said Blast Burn, watching Bardac gather his various pieces of armour and clasp them on with remarkable speed. “And let her have the bed no less.”

“The chair was more than comfortable,” said Bardac, his voice ever so slightly muffled behind the ebony metal. Turning to watch Chrysalis untangle herself, he let out a low chuckle. “Besides... then I would not have the fun of doing that.”

“Just mind the woodwork, those beds ain’t cheap,” replied Blast Burn. Seeing that Bardac was ready to go, she lead the Nord through the corridors with Chrysalis following close behind. It wasn’t difficult for her to follow by noise alone, Bardac’s boots made a clear, crisp sound against the stone floor.

Outside, all was quiet, yet the crowd of ponies were growing by the minute. Aela was already there, as was Shining Armor. “Spotted any potential troublemakers?” Shining Armor asked as Aela landed beside him.

“One or two... a huge earth pony near the back and a shifty unicorn in the middle, but I don’t think they’re the leaders,” replied Aela. Her ear flicking. So far there had been no attempts to breach the line of guards across the street the ponies had gathered in.

The large main doors to the castle slowly creaked open. Wider and wider until finally groaning to a stop. “You bastards better have a damned good reason to wake me up and drag me out here before breakfast!” Bardac’s voice boomed across the courtyard, causing even some of the more senior guards to jump. Hoisting Volendrung onto his shoulder, he made his way down to where Aela and Shining Armor were standing.

“You don’t do subtle entrances, do you,” said Aela, shaking her head slowly.

“Wait, you didn’t bring her out here with you?” asked Shining Armor, looking behind the Nord in alarm, though breathing a sigh of relief a second later.

“She is near, but out of sight,” replied Bardac, finally casting his gaze over the crowd. “That... is a lot of ponies. I see at least sixty.”

“Too well organized for just a rag tag group either,” Aela pointed out. “They haven’t said a word since they arrived. Just been growing steadily ever since.”

Shining Armor let out a loud snort, hoof scraping against the stone. “Not only that. They’ve got mares with young foals near the front too. If the ponies from behind start to push them towards the guards, I’m worried they’ll be trampled.”

“...Is that so?” Bardac asked, a slight dip in his voice. “How many?”

“Six, seven? One or two foals can’t be much older than a year,” Aela answered, “If we’re not careful, we’ll be swarmed by sheer numbers, plus we’re not sure what the unicorns in the crowd can do. Some look... sketchy.”

“As long as they’re being peaceful, there’s not a whole lot we can do,” Shining Armor muttered. “I can give you three guesses to why they’re here, but until they say something, we’re in the dark.”

“Have you dealt with anything like this before Bardac?” asked Aela, looking up at the towering mountain of armour and hammer.

“None that were peaceful,” replied Bardac, lifting Volendrung off his shoulder to rest the end of the shaft against the ground.

Shining Armor eyed Volendrung carefully. “You don’t plan to actually use that thing are you?” he asked.

“Depends if they give me a reason to,” said Bardac and with a flick of his hand, disappeared from view, even the sound of his boots had completely vanished.

“You know? I’m not even surprised,” sighed Shining Armor, still staring at the spot where Bardac vanished from.

“You get used to it,” said Aela, chuckling to herself. “He’s probably gone to take a closer look for himself without freaking everypony out.”

Shining Armor gave a slow nod. “I hope so,” he muttered. “Last thing we ne—”

A blood curdling screech pierced through the air. Aela and Shining Armor almost gave themselves whiplash as they stared over at the group. Their hearts stood still, until they saw Bardac just... standing there, doing nothing directly in front of the crowd.

“Sweet Celestia,” breathed Aela, clutching her chest. “He must have scared the crap out of somepony when he reappeared.”

“...I wouldn’t blame them,” said Shining Armor quietly. “Wait... what is he doing?” Walking over for a closer look, Shining Armor couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Bardac was crouched down, his finger extended towards a foal barely a year old. The young colt was babbling happily, swaying a hoof at a small ball of light bobbing around the Nord’s fingertip, which much to the colt’s delight, now stuck to his own hoof.

Bardac returned not long after, crossing the heavy line of guards blocking the way. “Three to the left, purple pegasus. Twelve back and two right, green unicorn. Ten back, pink earth pony,” he barely breathed, kneeling down in front of Aela and Shining Armor. “Aela, go high. Keep an eye on them.”

Aela saluted and took off without a second to spare. About thirty feet up, Aela could see clearly the three ponies in question. Why Bardac had singled those three out she didn’t know, but if he felt they were worth time, then she wasn’t one to question his order.

One of the pegasus flying above soon landed in front of Bardac, throwing their wing into a salute. “Morning General. Anything we can do? Our wings are itching,” said Sun Spot, the pegasus from the bath.

“Morning Sun Spot,” replied Bardac, “Nothing for now, but keep an ear out for Shining Armor or myself.”

Sun Spot saluted once more and took off to rejoin the pegasi flying above them.

All was quiet, the occasional rush of wings from the pegasi, the light tap of hooves against the stone. Then, the crowd of ponies started to split down the middle. Making their way up the middle was a single pegasus, almost chocolate in colour and at least twice the size of the pegasi in the crowd. A single wing folded tightly against his left side and on his right, instead of a wing, a contraption that reminded Bardac of Light Flight’s underwing blades was strapped against him.

“Here we go,” muttered Bardac, walking through the blockade and approaching the pegasus with Shining Armor by his side.

“Where is the changeling queen?” asked the pegasus, his voice as rough as though he’d been gargling stones. His fur was a patchwork, missing chunks where thick scars zigzagged across the pony’s flesh.

“In the castle,” replied Bardac, resting Volendrung against his shoulder. “What is your business with her?”

“None of yours,” said the pegasus, his voice as calm as a river. “You have half an hour to bring her to me.”

Shining Armor slowly raised an eyebrow. “I’m sensing an or,” he muttered.

The pegasus turned his attention to Shining Armor. “Or we enter the castle and get her ourselves.”

Bardac drove Volendrung’s shaft at least a foot into the stone, his body flaring in intense flame. The affect was instant. The pegasus jerked forward, the contraption on his right side sprung open, three blades extended and stopped barely a hair’s breath from Bardac’s neck. The contraption now visible as a makeshift metallic wing, blades adorning its length instead of feathers.

“Interesting...” murmured the pegasus, slowly looking down the bridge of his snout. The point of a shimmering aetherial dagger just as close to the flesh between his eyes.

“What is your name?” asked Bardac, drawing Volendrung out of the stone, the dagger still held steady.

“Swift Wing,” replied Swift Wing. “This changes nothing.” Pulling back his metallic wing, he folded it carefully against his side. “...You have an hour.”

Bardac watched as Swift Wing returned to the crowd and kept his back towards them, tapping Volendrung against the ground in thought.

Shining Armor looked up at Bardac, his eyebrow raised. “How’d you know he’d react so violently?” he asked.

“I did not,” replied Bardac quietly. “Do pegasi usually grow that large? Call me curious, but having met Stampede I do wonder about how large you ponies can get.”

Shining Armor just looked back over at the crowd, now that he’d seen him, Swift Wing was pretty easy to spot. “Not usually, but it entirely depends on their family. If they’ve got large earth ponies in their bloodline, they can inherit their size,” he said, scratching his chin. “You might have seen one in Ponyville now and again. A white pegasus called Bulk Biceps.”

“The one with tiny wings? Sounds like an angry wasp flying by?” asked Bardac.

“That’s the one,” said Shining Armor, walking back through the line of guards with Bardac close behind. “At least you’ve bought us another half hour, Bardac.”

Bardac just sighed in response and lifted his wrist to his lips. “Celestia, Luna, any captains listening in. I need as much information as you can give me on a large, brown pegasus named Swift Wing,” he said quietly, “We have a situation at the Crystal Empire, a large group of ponies have arrived, sixty at least, wanting Chrysalis.”

The bracelet remained quiet for a few seconds before crackling into life. It was Light Flight who spoke. “He was part of the royal pegasus guard when Chrysalis invaded,” she said. “He lost his wing in their attack, he wanted to go after Chrysalis, kill her for what she’d done. Princess Celestia and Swift Wing... well...”

Light Flight’s voice broke off and a few seconds later, Celestia’s voice rung clear. “He wanted to divert too much pony power into searching for Chrysalis. He blackmailed other guards into the search, resulting in unnecessary injury and retirement for several ponies,” she said. “I had no choice but to banish him from the royal guards. He believes I wasn’t doing enough to track her down.”

“That crowd of ponies you’re encountering are more likely than not other ponies who’s lives have been ripped apart by Chrysalis and her changelings,” said Light Flight. “It’s not the first time he’s done this... but never with so many.”

“If he was a royal guard... and an expert at manipulation. Then it is no real surprise that he has managed to gather this many in such a short amount of time,” muttered Bardac, staring down at the ground in thought,. “Anything else you know?”

“Nothing that would be of any use to you,” said Celestia sadly. “Bardac, please don’t hurt any of them, if you have the chance. They’re good ponies.”

“I will do what I can Celestia, but no promises,” replied Bardac before lowering the band and letting out a long sigh.

“What’d you learn?” asked Shining Armor, ears perked as far forward as they could get.

“He was a royal guard when Chrysalis invaded, lost his wing during the fight,” explained Bardac. “Long story short... a lot of guards got hurt because of him, Celestia banished him from the royal guards and by the looks of it, he has been gathering followers who have been harmed by Chrysalis in one way or another.”

“Gathering ponies to a cause isn’t illegal and as long as he doesn’t hurt anypony... we’ve got nothing, again,” sighed Shining Armor, shaking his head slowly. “Damn it.”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t get something,” came a growling voice from behind. “I swear I’ve seen that fat earth pony loitering around the back before.”

Bardac looked around and came literally nose to nose with a monstrous, light blue earth pony, his cutie-mark a length of tendon stretched taut. The only thing that gave him away as a guard was the helmet crammed over his skull. “I do not think I will ever get used to looking you ponies in the eye,” he muttered.

“Rampage reporting for duty, sorry I’m late. Somepony hid my helmet,” growled Rampage, staring up at a particular orange pegasus flying above them.

Shining Armour gave a knowing nod and said, “Not to worry. You’re here now. Rampage, I’d like you to meet General Strongarm. Bardac, this is Rampage, it’ll probably come as no surprise that you’ve already met his brother in Canterlot.”

“So this is the Bardac Stampede’s talked about?” asked Rampage, his eyes widening as he looked at Bardac, his hoof flying into a salute with enough force to bring down a cart. “I’ve heard a lot about you General, glad you’re on our side.”

Bardac shook his head slowly, smirking underneath his helmet. “I do worry about what you lot talk about behind closed doors,” He’d pause, tap his chin and chuckle loudly. “Probably well deserved.”

“You have no idea,” said Rampage, dropping his hoof with a thud. “The news of your fight with that... two legged cragadile thing spread like wild fire.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “There’s even rumours that you’re stronger than the princesses.”

“Rampage,” groaned Shining Armour.

Bardac just clapped Rampage on the shoulder hard enough to stagger the pony. “It is good to meet you Rampage,” he said, eyeing the pony in thought. “I want you behind the line crossing the street. Make you presence known. It should deter some of the smaller earth ponies from acting out.”

Rampage saluted and near on galloped towards the line before patrolling back and forth behind the guards already there.

With a nod to Shining Armour, Bardac returned to inside the castle where Blast Burn and Chrysalis were waiting in silence. Both seemed exceptionally bored. Blast Burn perked up first when she saw Bardac approaching. “Anything to report General?” she asked.

“It is as you thought. They want Chrysalis,” replied Bardac, taking off his helmet before putting it down on a nearby table. His gaze then settled on Chrysalis. “The leader calls himself Swift Wing. He was crippled during your invasion and is set on getting his revenge on you.”

Surprisingly, Chrysalis looked up and snorted, loudly. “Chocolate pegasus? Twice as big as he should be? Yes... I remember him, vividly,” she hissed. “As dangerous in the air as a Roc. He killed many of my children.”

“I am sure he will be thrilled you remember him,” said Bardac, “He has given us an hour to hand you over to him, or he shall be coming into the castle to get you himself. With a herd of sixty ponies behind him.”

Blast Burn sighed loudly, looking over at Chrysalis with a scowl. “Can crap not follow you where ever you go? Please?” she growled before sighing deeply. “Well, either way it’s the General’s call.”

Bardac slowly rubbed between his eyes. “Easy now Blast Burn,” he said. “The moment he steps foot inside the castle to get Chrysalis by force, we can arrest him for trying to break out a prisoner, regardless of what he wants her for.”

“I doubt it’ll be that easy,” said Blast Burn, “What I wanna know is how in Equestria he managed to get here so quickly and with such a large crowd. You two only arrived last night and I’m pretty sure we didn’t get any alarms sayin’ the teleportation spell had gone off.”

“Spells like that are just asking to be broken,” said Chrysalis, rolling her eyes. “All it takes is some clever little unicorn with their nose buried in a book somewhere.”

Blast Burn smirked, wide, “You mean like Ms Sparkle seein’ straight through you?” she asked innocently.

Chrysalis bared her fangs and just hissed loudly in response.

“I am going back outside,” grumbled Bardac, picking up his helmet before jamming it back on. “Do not kill each other while I am gone.”

A sharp crack echoed through the main hall as Bardac left. A black stain on the stone and a tingle in the air was all that remained.

“I think he’s about ready to start tearin’ some tails off,” said Blast Burn. “Was that lightnin’?”

“Don’t talk to me,” Chrysalis muttered, moving off to sulk by the fire.

Outside, Bardac’s mood wasn’t improving. Several of the ponies in the crowd had started to grow impatient, throwing jeers at any nearby guards. Once again, there was nothing he could do until things started to turn violent, locked into the laws of another land. Thick arcs of lightning passed between his fingers, enough to catch the attention of Aela flying nearby.

“Something on your mind?” she asked, pulling up to hover in front of him. It was difficult to tell Bardac’s mood due to the helmet covering his face. What she didn’t expect was a hand to be placed on her head.

“A lot to do and precious little time to do it in,” replied Bardac, rubbing Aela’s head gently. “One delay after another. It is growing tiresome. Any development on those three ponies I asked you to keep an eye on?”

Aela leant into the head rub for just a moment before pulling back. “Nothing so far, but I saw them talking to that big pegasus with the missing wing not long ago. They didn’t seem too happy with him for some reason,” she said, scratching at her ear a little.

“He originally gave us half an hour,” said Bardac, lifting Volendrung onto his shoulder. “Raised it to an hour. I doubt they are enjoying the wait. Chrysalis also came up with a good theory to how they are here in the first place.”

“Oh? This I’d like to hear,” murmured Aela, her eyebrow raised.

“All a spell takes to be broken is a unicorn with their nose in a book somewhere,” said Bardac, glancing over at the crowd. “Somewhere in that crowd, is a unicorn with the possible power to teleport themselves and others in and out of the Crystal Empire without raising an alarm.”

“Anyway of finding out?” asked Aela, landing softly. “It’s not like we can question each and every unicorn before the time runs out.”

Bardac thought for a moment, knuckles rapping against the side of his helmet. “I have one idea...” he muttered, making a bee-line for Shining Armor with Aela in tow. “Time to see what these ponies are made of. Shining Armor! I have a plan!”

“Glad one of us does, my hooves are tied,” Shining Armor replied as Bardac approached. His horn pulsing in frustration. “What is it?”

“I am going to give them a choice,” said Bardac, “Leave or fight. It seems pointless in waiting for them to decide themselves.”

Shining Armor raised his eyebrow slowly, “The idea is to avoid fighting them Bardac, there are mares with foals out there if you’ve forgotten,” he said. “And I doubt they’ll let you take them on one after another.”

“Then I hope, for their sake, that they make the right choice,” Bardac growled, magic surging through his body in the form of thick flames licking around his limbs. “You two wait here.” With flames still licking at his limbs, Bardac made his way towards the crowd. “Shield the guards.”

“Really think he’s got what it takes to intimidate a group of sixty strong ponies, some of which are probably as strong as my guards... into giving up?” asked Shining Armor, glancing at Aela. Despite this, he did what Bardac requested. His horn erupting in light as a rose coloured bubble soon enveloped him, expanding and stopping just beyond the line of guards crossing the street.

“He’s either going to succeed, or look incredibly stupid,” replied Aela, flicking an ear. “You know? I’m quite excited to see which it is.”

As Bardac approached the line of guards separating the crowd from the castle, he took a moment to stop next to Rampage, “Bored, Rampage?” he asked.

“Just a little, General,” Rampage replied, slowly stretching out each limb. “It isn’t any fun if they don’t put up some sort of fight. My hooves are going numb.”

“Do not worry...” muttered Bardac, “Things are about to get much more interesting. Keep the guards in the shield. Do not let any pony pass.” Taking a few steps forward, Bardac inhaled deeply, then bellowed with enough force to blow several ponies backwards a good few feet. “SWIFT WING!”

In the middle of the crowd, the pressure wave from the shout caught Swift Wing off guard, skidding a few feet on the stone before he could regain his balance. He looked around to see ponies picking themselves off the ground, having lost their balance. “This gelding has some balls,” he murmured to himself before making his way through the crowd, standing just close enough that he could stare at Bardac without looking up. “Are you giving up the changeling?”

Holding Volendrung upside down, Bardac dropped the hammer, cracking the cobblestone path. “That will never happen,” replied Bardac, slowly raising his hand above his head. A small orb started to form, swirling slowly. A faint light started to radiate from it, as well as an unsettling heat. “So, I have decided to speed things along a little. Now you have a choice. Leave, or fight.”

Swift Wing’s eyes flickered up to the orb glowing in Bardac’s hand. “How fitting of a changeling lover to resort to violence,” he said, snorting loudly. “We will not leave.”

“I was hoping you would say that,” said Bardac, the orb expanding explosively. It filled the space between the houses. Ponies scattered backwards, staring up in horror at the floating sun above them. Even the guards behind Bardac were having second thoughts about staying. “Leave.”

It was as though time had frozen in place. Ponies from the guard and crowd alike could only stare up at the swirling orb above them. Even in the castle, Chrysalis felt an unnatural shiver run up her spine.

“Sweet Celestia!” gawked Shining Armor, shielding his eyes as best as he could with his forelimb. “I’m starting to regret this!”

The heat was more of a concern to Aela, beads of sweat were already coating her forehead. “That’s a bucking sun! Please don’t tell me he’s going to make it go nova!” she cried out. “This shield will do bugger all next to that!”

“Bardac!” bellowed Shining Armor, “Are you planning on taking out half the damned empire too?!”

Even Swift Wing’s stoic expression cracked at the sight of the swirling sun above him, the heat beating down like an unrelenting wave. “Kill us and you’re no better than the changeling you’re protecting!” he hissed, flaring out his wing. “But by all means. Let us see if you have what it takes, mustang.”

“Do the lives of the ponies around you mean so little, Swift Wing?” asked Bardac, his voice cold. “Are they merely expendable for you to achieve what you desire in the death of Chrysalis?”

“Every single one of these ponies want to see Chrysalis hang,” said Swift Wing. “They’ll gladly die to see that happen!”

Bardac slowly looked around. Mothers clutched their foals, stallions and mares comforting one another. “I wonder what their loved ones would have to say... needlessly throwing the lives away that they gave theirs to protect,” he said. “Very well, so be it.” Dropping his arm, the ball of fire and light slammed into the ponies in front of him, exploding in a towering inferno that engulfed everything in sight. “Tiid Klo Ul.”

The next few seconds felt like hours. Shining Armor shrugging to process what he’d just witnessed. While the shield protected him from the flames, it couldn’t drown out the piercing screams that echoed in the air.

However... as the flames died, so did the screams. As the last lick of flames vanished from the air, nothing was burnt, nothing destroyed, not a single hair was out of place on any pony. “What... just happened?” murmured Aela, looking around. Confusion ripe in every face she saw until she spotted Bardac, still standing exactly where he was before the explosion. Except for a slight change. An unconscious unicorn draped over his shoulder.

There was no doubt. The power behind that spell was colossal. “I don’t wanna know,” Shining Armor muttered, his horn pulsing with the residual magic in the air. “I’m having a little bit of trouble thinking right now.”

“That makes two of us,” said Aela. “I’m... I think I’m gonna go speak to Bardac. Seems right.”

“Good idea,” replied Shining Armor. “I’m... going to check on the guards.”

Going their separate ways, Aela approached the armour clad Nord and stood silently by his side. Only on occasions glancing at the unicorn on his shoulder. Still in front of Bardac was Swift Wing, both wings, natural and mechanical twitching wildly by his sides. A small, green shield surrounding him as well as three other ponies behind him.

“Fear can be a powerful tool,” said Bardac quietly, picking up Volendrung. He followed the faint glow of a horn back towards the green unicorn he spotted earlier. Next to the unicorn was the pink earth pony and the purple pegasus. “I wonder how the others will respond knowing Swift Wing would easily give up their lives... but keep his in return.”

The three ponies behind Swift Wing approached, the horn on the green unicorn still alight. “Buck me sideways boy,” said the unicorn, he sounded old... older than Bardac even. “You had me panicking for a moment there.”

Bardac raised his eyebrow. Perhaps he hadn’t given these ponies enough credit. “It was the general idea,” he replied, “You are?”

“Nopony special,” replied the unicorn with a shrug. The pegasus next to him pulling out a piece of paper, holding it out with a wing. “Just here to collect on a bounty. Never thought we’d actually have a chance to claim on it though. It’d set us for life. Three and a half million bits, dead or alive.”

“I didn’t think there were any bounty hunters left in Equestria,” said Aela, raising her eyebrow. “They must keep themselves well hidden...”

Bardac slowly looked around. Ponies were slowly starting to gather their senses, some already taking shelter by the guards, others were staring daggers at both Bardac and Swift Wing. He didn’t care, the solidarity of the crowd had been split. “It is a dangerous job,” he said quietly, resting Volendrung on his free shoulder. “Three and a half million? I cannot imagine there being many creatures on Equus with that many bits...”

“You’d be surprised,” said Rampage, glaring at Swift Wing as the colossal pony walked up next to Bardac. “Plenty of rich business owners in Canterlot have that kinda money laying around as spare change. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of them who put the bounty out after the Canterlot invasion.”

“At least bounty hunters are easier to deal with,” said Bardac, looking down at Swift Wing. “Drop the shield. I doubt he will do anything stupid.”

How wrong Bardac was. The instant the shield dropped, Swift Wing took flight... right at Bardac. “OVI SUCKER!” he all but screeched. Metal wing extended before smashing into Bardac’s metal helmet, a hideous screech rang out as metal scraped against metal. Swift Wing landed on the other side before spinning around on his hooves.

“Talos help me...” growled Bardac, knocking his helmet back into place with a firm tap before turning to face Swift Wing. “Aela, Rampage. Stand back.”

“Not a chance, you’re one of us,” argued Rampage, snorting loudly as his hoof scraped at the stone, leaving thick tracks every time he did so. “You attack one of us, you attack all of us.”

Bardac put his hand on Rampage’s neck. “As honoured as I am to hear you say that. I simply think you two look better in your natural colours,” muttered Bardac, slowly lifting Volendrung off his shoulder.

“What in tartarus is that suppose to mean?” hissed Aela, not taking her eyes off Swift Wing. For a one winged pegasus, he was insanely fast.

“Meaning,” said Bardac, placing the unconscious unicorn that was on his shoulder on Rampage’s back before slamming Volendrung down, stopping the head barely an inch from the ground. The pressure wave alone was enough to crack the cobblestone and blow both Rampage and Aela several feet to the side. “You two would not look good in red. Clear the street.”

Rampage skidded to a halt before hooves pounded the cobblestone. His pride wasn’t worth having innocent ponies caught in the crossfire. “Everypony, back! Get back!” he shouted, pushing, pulling and even carrying as many ponies as he could away from the circling two. Even the three bounty hunters followed sharply behind. Those who resisted were simply thrown, caught by unicorn guards behind Shining Armor’s shield.

Aela soon joined Rampage, herding as many as she could away. “You heard the General. Get a move on!” she called. It took a little longer than she wanted, but soon the street was empty. The only two remaining outside Shining Armor’s shield was Bardac and Swift Wing. “Princess Luna is going to have my flank for this...”

Landing hard next to Aela, Sun Spot ruffled her feathers. She didn’t look amused at all. “That little stunt the General pulled almost gave half these ponies heart attacks,” she snapped. “One I think actually did. We had to take him to the infirmary.”

“He didn’t give any warning,” retorted Shining Armor. “None of us knew what that spell would do. Let alone what he actually planned on doing with it.”

Down the street, still circling one another, Bardac finally broke the silence. “Swift Wing. I give you one last warning. Do not attack me again,” he said, voice like ice. “I do not want to kill you... but I will.”

“Why should I listen to you, damned changeling lover. I’ll kill every last one of them!” Swift Wing spat, his wing twitching by his side, hooves scraping at the stone. “And any who protect them!”

“Then you are a damned FOOL!” thundered Bardac, the windows in the surrounding houses imploding violently. “Blades, Forsworn, Stormcloaks, Thalmor. Do you have anyidea how many have tried to kill me before because of those ideals?!” It brought back painful memories... enough so to cause Bardac to swing Volendrung violently at a nearby bench, obliterating the stone structure into nothing but pebbles.

Swift Wing had no choice but to take to the air. Years of training as a guard screaming at him that if he remained grounded, he was done for. His metal wing more than just a weapon. While he wasn’t as agile as a two winged pegasus, he could still fly rings around the Nord. That is, until a shimmering arrow grazed his cheek, slicing open the flesh like razor sharp steel.

“Do not think being in the air gives you an advantage,” called Bardac. An aetherial bow shimmering in his hands with Volendrung stood upside down by his side. Pulling back the string, he lined up another shot, tracking Swift Wing’s every movement. “Consider that a warning.”

“Aren’t you just full of tricks,” replied Swift Wing, wings beating slowly. Suddenly, he dove and started to fly in sharp, tight circles around Bardac, kicking up stones and dust until the Nord was trapped in the middle of a violent vortex fifteen feet wide, being struck by every side by flying debris. “Suffocate!”

Behind the shield, Sun Spot’s eyes widened in horror. “Drop the shield! We need to get him out of there!” she shouted, “No matter how strong the General is, if he hasn’t got any air to breath, he’s done for!”

Shining Armor didn’t need to be told twice. Bursting the shield, he led the charge, hooves pounding the street as the guards rushed the vortex, his orders came swift and certain. “Aela, Sun Spot! Dive in from the top! Rampage, see if you can’t slow Swift Wing!”

“VEN GAAR NOS!”

They never even got close. What ever vortex Swift Wing created was a mere dust devil compared to the cataclysmic tornado that rose to life. The wind screeched, threatening to tear apart the buildings on either side of the street. Something was spat from the tornado before smashing into the ground and skidding to a halt in front of Aela. Swift Wing hadn’t stood a chance.

The tornado disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Debris rained from the sky, the street ripped to utter shreds. Standing in the centre of the destruction was Bardac, Volendrung held loosely by his side. It took a moment, but eventually he walked over to where the twisted body of Swift Wing lay. He didn’t give it a second look. Stepping over the body, Bardac headed back towards the castle. Guards and civilians alike backed away as he walked through. Only when he was on the steps to the castle, did he turn around and address them all. “Never let revenge take what your loved ones died protecting. In the end... it is never worth it.” Stepping into the castle, the doors slowly shut behind him.

A hushed whisper started to circle around the crowd. Rampage scuffed his hoof against the ground in thought before glancing at Sun Spot. “So... what do you think? Category three or four?” he asked, it was the only question he could think of right now.

“Three, tipping four? Maybe?” Sun Spot replied, nodding slowly. “Yup... The General can make category four tornados. Nothing strange or terrifying about that. Nope.”

All Shining Armor could do was sigh, a large cover conjured with a pulse of his horn to cover the twisted pegasus. “Investigation’s going to have my horn over this one,” he muttered quietly. “Rampage, Sun Spot. You two make sure these ponies get themselves out of the Empire safely. Aela, we better go make sure Bardac’s alright. There’s a reason that technique was outlawed.”

Sun Spot and Rampage saluted and returned to the crowd, ushering them along as carefully as they could. Aela meanwhile fell in step behind Shining Armor as they made their way back to the castle, opting to go through the narrow guard door to the left of the larger, main doors. Inside, they were met with a strange sight. Bardac was sat, cross-legged and bare from the waist up in front of the fire keeping the main hall warm. Spike was sat on his thigh while Cadence was behind him, her hooves wrapped around his neck and her chin resting on top of his head, her horn pulsing slowly with bright blue light.

“Oh dear... I haven’t seen Cadence cast this spell in some time,” murmured Shining Armor, ears folding back. “We better not disturb them.”

“What’s she doing?” asked Aela, making their way to where Blast Burn was, the unicorn busy playing cards with Chrysalis, and losing badly.

“I don’t fully understand this spell, but what I do know is it helps with heartache,” replied Shining Armor. Soon, a large bubble rose from the top of Cadence’s horn. Taking it carefully in his magic, Shining Armor brought the bubble over. Inside was a swirling black mass, as thick as tar. A single name was visible spinning in the black mass. “Delphine. A place?”

“A Breton,” replied Bardac quietly, his hand resting lightly on Spike’s head.

The bubble vibrated softly as a sharp voice rang through the halls. “There’s one more thing. We know about Paarthurnax,” said the voice. It went silent for a few seconds, then spoke once more. "That’s fine. We needed his help. Now we don’t, and it’s long past time for him to pay for his crimes. And he’s not just any dragon. He was the right hand of Alduin. He committed atrocities so infamous they are still remembered, thousands of years later. He needs to die. He deserves to die. And it falls to you to kill him. Until he’s dead... well, I’m sorry, but we would dishonour our oaths as Blades if we continued to help you.”

By now even Blast Burn and Chrysalis had put their card game on hold to listen. Bardac sighed deeply, earning himself a light nuzzle to the top of his head by Cadence. “Why does he need to die?” asked Bardac quietly to no one in particular.

Once more, the orb spoke, loud and sharp. “Here’s the big picture. He helped Alduin enslave our ancestors. He may have betrayed Alduin in the end, but that makes him worse, not better. We can’t afford to give Paarthurnax the opportunity to betray us in turn, and return to his old master. Make your choice, Dragonborn. You’re either with us or against us.”

“Paarthurnax... my mentor and friend,” said Bardac. “A dragon who went against his own kind to protect Nirn... who I had called a friend for years. I was being told to betray him, to kill him. Were it not for my powers... would I have been just as disposable to them? To those who I had shed blood and sweat for and with?”

Another bubble soon rose from Cadence’s horn. Unlike the other, this rose high into the air as a deep, booming voice rang out. “The Blades are wise not to trust me. Onikaan ni ov. I would not trust another dovah.” The bubble shook violently. “Dov wahlaan fah rel. We were made to dominate. The will to power is in our blood. You feel it in yourself, do you not? I can be trusted. I know this. But they do not. Onikaan ni ov dovah. It is always wise to mistrust a dovah. I have overcome my nature only through meditation and long study of the Way of the Voice. No day goes by where I am not tempted to return to my inborn nature. Zin krif horvut se suleyk. What is better - to be born good, or to overcome your evil nature through great effort?”

“The Blades made their choice,” murmured Bardac. His mind filled with the voice of his mentor. “I had made mine.”

“What’d you do?” asked Spike, his eyes wide as he gazed up at Bardac.

Bardac looked down at the young dragon and gently rubbed the spines on his head and whispered, “Sometimes... young dovah. Choosing to do nothing is the hardest choice in the world.”