***

Black Eye wished that her shift would end soon. She hated the evening shift more than anything else. Her time off duty, dinner, booze, maybe a chance to have a fling with one of the stallions stationed at the castle, they were all just within her grasp. Just a couple more hours and she could let herself unwind.

In the meantime she stood to attention, her ornate Night Guard armour chafing slightly from where it rubbed her stomach and under her forelegs. That was another reason she looked forward to her off duty time: she hated this uniform. It was horrid.

With no officers about, she decided to let herself relax a little. Leaning on her spear she let out a sigh and then reached behind to tug at her tabard, giving up when she realised it was wedged between two of her armour’ plates and steadied herself, sighing once again.

There was nothing more boring than the evening shift, except for the morning shift where you were usually still waking up, or the afternoon shift where you were still digesting lunch. The night shift was unbearable since all you could ever do was stare into the darkness and listen to other ponies living it up in the city below. The fact that Castle Midnight was also the residence of the Prince and all the other higher ups of the Midnight Guard meant that the sergeants and other tight arsed officers also kept a close eye on her.

Leaning on her spear Black Eye yawned, ignoring the unbearable itch that her armour and tabard were now causing and did her best not to think about how many more hours it would be before her shift ended.

A moment later, there was a slight whoosh sound and Black Eye felt a sharp stinging sensation on her neck. She blinked, frowning. She looked down at her armour, and noticed the deep red liquid gushing onto it. A moment after that, she realised that was her blood, spilling from the ruptured artery in her throat. She looked around, uncertain as to what had hit her, then frowned as she saw somepony on the inner walls cutting another Guard’s throat.

She had little time to wonder exactly what was going on before she collapsed to the ground. Her last thoughts as her vision dimmed were wondering exactly how important this was that it interrupted her booze time…

***

Captain Callow Shield looked around. All around him, his loyal Guards dispatched those among the Midnight Guard who were not part of their glorious coup.

“Grave Note,” he said to one of his troops. “Inform Lady Ever Essence that the outer and inner walls are secured!”

“Sir,” Note, a surly stallion, replied, before heading off. Callow Shield grinned. For once, he felt like he was doing something right - for the first time in years, the Midnight Guard felt like they might do something proactive against the Solaminan Empire. It was why he had joined the coup after all - it was time to make a difference.

It was time to take back Equestria.

***

Royal Duty’s lungs burned as he ran for all he was worth. He had abandoned the safety and anonymity of the woodland paths in favour of the more easily negotiable roads. He didn’t care who he ran into so long as he could make it to the castle in time to do… something, anything.

Traitors were in their midst. Royal Duty had always known it. There were far too many cadres and factions within the Midnight Guard that had been disobeying the prince and far too many that waged indiscriminate war on everypony around them. This treachery had been coming for a long time but the actual knowledge that a coup was about to take place had almost been too much to bear. The Midnight Castle, his home, was threatened and he was stuck beyond the outskirts, trying his best not to get lost in the woods.

The trees began to thin as he belted down the road, panting and struggling not to trip. The forest finally cleared and the familiar gothic towers of the castle came into sight. his home now right in front of him he redoubled his efforts and made his way to the main gate.

The city that was attached to the Midnight Castle was by no means a rude affair. It had originally grown around the castle at the same time that the Midnight Castle was being built, as one expanded so did the other and so the castle had come to rely on the Midnight City just as much as it relied on the castle. Here lived the soldiers that guarded the castle, the artisans who built and maintained it, the servants who cleaned it and countless other civilians who were intrinsic to the castle’s survival.

Therefore the city had been built into the castle. A formidable curtain wall surrounded the entire settlement and was also staffed with Guards from the castle itself to protect the dutiful citizens within.

Royal Duty finally began to slow as he approached the gate. Only now, as he made his way to the guardhouses in front of the main gate did he begin to doubt what he was about to do. Could he trust them? Had they already been bought out by Red Ribbon, Ever Essence or any of the other possible traitors?

Swallowing audibly he walked towards the guardhouses, his legs shaking from both fear and exertion. His breath was ragged as he finally felt the toll his sprinting had taken on his body.

“Who goes there?” one of the Guards, a thickset Earth Pony mare, asked in a low and somewhat masculine voice.

Taking both a deep breath and a moment to collect himself, Royal Duty spoke in a clear voice.

“I am Royal Duty of his Highness’ Midnight Guard,” he said, “Midnight Castle battalion, necromancer acolyte 1st class, service number 2GEA-42266. I was sent to scout the surrounding forest and have urgent news for his Highness and the Guard commanders.”

He hoped that they weren’t traitors and held his breath as the Earth Pony checked a registry list. She slowly scanned the names, checking for his name and service number.

“Alright,” the mare replied, “you’re clear.”

Royal Duty thanked the Guard and trotted through the gate, taking a second to check the murder holes and portcullises, hoping they weren’t compromised in any way. After seeing no sign of any suspicious activity, or any activity for that matter - the city never had enough Guards to properly station every defensive point - he picked up speed once again.

He ignored the buildings of the cityscape around him and only kept his eyes forward, only ever looking for the signs that would lead him to the local barracks and the city’ commandery.

All around him the bustle of a city in transit between the regular activities of daytime and the ever active nightlife could be heard. It was an omnipresent cacophony that Royal Duty recognised and felt comfortable within. Ponies everywhere gave him a wide berth, recognising both his uniform and the various paraphernalia of a necromancer.

Running around another street corner, Royal Duty finally found a guard post. He galloped even faster, noticing several ponies in the Midnight Guard uniform of the city watch. They in turn noticed him running at them and grew worried, several of them pulled their weapons close to their bodies, ready to lower them.

“Halt,” said one of the Guardsponies, his elaborate helmet crest indicating he was an officer.

Royal Duty skid to a halt in front of the officer and stood gasping for breath as he collected his thoughts.

“I… I am Roy… Royal Duty, necromancer first class of Midnight Castle,” he struggled to speak as he still tried to recover his breath. “ My service number is 2GEA-42266. I have something important to say. The castle is under threat. We’re about to be betrayed.”

The Guardsponies in front of him shared a look of incredulity though a few also looked worried.

“What do you mean were about to be betrayed?” the officer asked.

“The Guard contingent that just arrived are traitors. They’ve come here to depose the Prince and take control of the Midnight Guard. They’re already in the castle and could strike at any minute now.” Royal Duty stammered out, hoping that he sounded believable to them.

The officer shared a look with the Guards around him that showed they weren’t taking him that seriously. “Listen son I don’t think you should just be saying this out loud in the streets you…”

“Are you going to question a necromancer of his highnesses’ Guard?” Royal Duty interrupted, straightening himself out and putting his most authoritative look on his face. “You are members of his highnesses’ personal battalion and you are supposed to take any possible threat to the Prince as seriously as if Solamina herself were bearing down on us,” he shouted at them.

The Guardsponies once again glanced at one another, the same sour look on their faces as they digested what Royal Duty had said to them.

“You’re right” the officer admitted. “Alright lads,” he said, turning to the Guards behind him, “spread out and alert the rest of the garrison. Get the civvies indoors and out of the fights, call up the militia as well while you’re at it.”

Royal Duty sighed in relief as the Guard detachment dispersed to follow their commander’s orders.

“Alright you,” the officer then said as he turned back to face Royal Duty, “Since you know what to expect I’m sticking you at the main gate into the castle. See if the Guards stationed there are safe and try to get them to secure the area.”

“Sir,” Royal Duty replied before rushing off towards the castle.

No sooner had he rounded a corner onto the main street leading to the castle than a great flash of light went off in the sky. A flare spell had been launched into the sky. Barely a second later Midnight Guardsponies burst out from the castle, carrying bloody weapons and with murderous expressions on their faces. They all wore a horse skull on their tabards revealing their allegiance.

“To arms,” Royal Duty shouted, amplifying his voice with a quick spell. ”To arms Midnight Guard. We’ve been betrayed. The castle is under attack. The Prince is in danger. the city is in danger. Kill the traitors.” Finishing his declaration and hoping it didn’t sound as ridiculous to everypony else as it did to him now that he had said it, he pulled a short blade, a weapon he had never used before, out of his cloak, projected a shield in front of himself and clenched his teeth as he ran at the enemy.

***

Magnus frowned as he heard a commotion outside his room. His trained ears picked up the sound of clanging metal and the strangled cries of dying ponies, and he smiled cruelly. He had expected the coup to be soon, but he hadn’t expected it to come now. Naturally, they intended to kill him, hence why he could hear the fighting and the death of his personal Guards. He knew he was not the most important target in the castle - that was reserved for Prince Blueblood himself - but he flattered himself that he was somewhat important. He was, after all, the pony behind the raid that had reclaimed Princess Luna’s revered corpse.

Taking a minute to compose himself, he stood up from his studying chair and set it aside. He took several deep breathes, preparing for whatever would come through his door and went over in his head what possible responses he should give to his would-be assailants and what he should expect from them in turn.

A moment later, the door to his private chambers burst open, and two Unicorns moved in, scowling at him.

“In the name of Lady Ever Essence,” one of them said, “surrender immediately or be killed!”

Magnus’ lips curled into an even crueler smile at this fool’s impudence.

“You have made two mistakes,” he said softly, speaking slowly so they understood. “Firstly, you have given me the name of your leader - now, she has no chance to escape the justice of his highness Prince Blueblood.” The two of them made low growls at that name. “Secondly…”

He turned quickly, his horn flashing as he sent spells of absolute agony at the two Unicorns, faster than they could react.

“... you assumed I would simply lie down and die when you came for me,” he finished. “You should have killed me when you entered.”

The two writhed in pain as he trotted toward them.

“Get away…” one of them murmured, sounding as though he could barely talk. “Get away from me…”

“Poor deluded fool,” Magnus said. He stamped on the pony’s throat, and the Unicorn gurgled in horror as his windpipe filled with blood. He repeated this on the other, and, with the sound of dying Unicorns in his ears like the sweetest of music, he left the room, seeking his Prince.

***

Fighting engulfed the interior of the Midnight Castle. Chaos reigned as groups of Midnight Guard grappled with one another in the corridors and halls of the immense fortress. For the local guards and regiments it was confusion as former allies turned on them. For the traitors it was sport. Agents they had planted into loyalist groups misinformed officers, assassinated commanders and turned on their comrades.

In the central audience chamber, the great hall where Prince Blueblood received his subjects and vassals, stood the largest group of traitors, an ivory coloured horse skull emblem etched into their armour. The corpses of Guardsponies that wore the compass rose of Prince Blueblood were all piled on the sides of the room in haphazard heaps. Sitting on the large silver throne at the centre of the room that was Blueblood’s seat of office was an elegant white coated Earth Pony mare.

Lady Ever Essence, arch-hierophant of the Ivory Shell cadre of the Midnight Guard sat with a poise she had practiced for years. She enjoyed this seat and found it fitting for a mare like her. Pathetic weaklings like the contemptible false prince did not deserve such luxuries like this and it was high time someone more deserving received them instead. She had always known that she was a much more appropriate occupant.

She was stirred from her thoughts by an approaching Pegasus. He bowed as he came near her, lowering his body to his stomach and extending his left foreleg.

“My Lady,” he respectfully intoned, “we have secured the outer and inner walls and the external courts. However the outer city and the inner sanctums remain in the Prince’s hooves.”

Ever Essence’s brow creased at the news. She had thought that they had already secured the sanctums and the city should have been easy to capture, there were only a few guards stationed in that slum.

“What do you mean we haven’t taken the sanctums?” she said, struggling to keep her voice calm at the news of her followers failure.

“The enemy have rallied at every single corridor, our forces are currently bogged down and we can’t break through their barricades,” the Pegasus replied, looking rather nervous as he stared at the floor, remaining in his position of supplication.

“Then redouble your efforts,” Ever Essence replied, menace lacing her voice as she stared down from the throne. “I want those towers cleared, I want that dungheap of a city leveled and I want this castle in my hooves right this instant. If you can’t accomplish that simple task then I can assure you… I will find somepony else who can.”

With that final note the Pegasus and every other Midnight Guard in the audience chamber stood up, turned on their heels and rushed out of the door, leaving Lady Ever Essence alone.

Taking no chances she took some oddly coloured powder from her lavish mage coat and blew it from her hoof. A shimmering wall grew around the dais the throne was set upon until a bubble surrounded it and her as well. Safe within her shield, which was as strong as any Unicorn’s defensive enchantments, she returned her thoughts to victory, the great cause and the glamour of seizing the Solaminan Empire and with it… the world.

***

Blueblood was disturbed from the paperwork he had been staring at, in the vain hope it would somehow disappear, by several loud noises coming from beyond his study. A few tense seconds later a dozen thestrals piled into his room, slamming open his doors, before immediately locking and barricading them. His two guards were shaken slightly by the disturbance but immediately joined in when they recognised the looks on the Thestrals’ faces.

Something was terribly wrong.

“Your highness,” one the Thestrals, a commander if the insignia on his armour was anything to go, respectfully greeted Blueblood. “Enemies have penetrated our defences.”

Blueblood’s eyes widened and his stomach churned at those five words.

“Who? How?” he asked.

“We don’t know, sir,” the Thestral commander said. “Right now, our primary priority is to see to your safety.”

“What of Commander Magnus?” he asked, frowning. He didn’t think Magnus would turn on him, but if he somehow had…

“We don’t know sir,” the Thestral said, sounding disturbed. “We were cut off from reaching his quarters.”

Blueblood cursed. If Magnus was somehow in on this treachery then that would be the end of it. That was the end. If Magnus were not, but had somehow been caught flat-hoofed and killed - well, again, that would be the end.

He was distracted from these thoughts by sudden series of yells, spell sounds then screams from outside his doorway.

“What is that?” one of the Thestrals asked. A moment later, there was a polite knocking at the door.

“Who’s there?” Blueblood called out.

“It is I, Magnus,” a familiar voice called out.

One of the Thestrals looked to Blueblood questioningly. Blueblood gave him a sharp nod, and he opened the door. A moment later, Magnus entered - apart from the splatters of blood on him, he looked utterly unruffled.

“We appear to have a traitor in our midst,” he said conversationally. “Lady Ever Essence has betrayed us, my liege.”

Blueblood scowled. Ever Essence had always been one of the more ambitious of his followers - clearly, her ambition had gotten the best of her.

“What now, Magnus?” he asked.

“Simple, my liege,” Magnus replied. “They have revealed their hoof to us. I wholeheartedly suggest that we sever it with extreme prejudice.”

***

The loyalist counter attack was as devastating as it was unexpected. Led by Magnus and Prince Blueblood the castle garrison found a second wind and threw themselves at the ponies of the Ivory Shell cadre with wild abandon, matching the traitor’s bloodthirsty fanaticism with their own determination.

Magnus led the charge to the main audience chamber, a group of Midnight Guard and thestrals at his back. He wielded an immense blade he had grabbed from the wall with his magic and now swung in massive arcs that cleaved through steel, flesh and bone. A manic grin of sadistic glee and fervour was spread across his face and he seemed to laugh as he cut his way through his opponents.

“Come traitors.” He shouted at the Ivory Shell Guardsponies that remained in his way. “Come and face my wrath.” He punctuated every sentence with another mighty swing that severed limbs and cut ponies apart. “You first dare to turn against his highness, and now you have the temerity to stand against me as well. You fools deserve the fate that shall be brought down upon you all.”

Finishing off the last of the Ivory Shell ponies in front of him he looked around the corner of the corridor, the same expression still on his face, and spotted another group of traitors. They had probably been trying to rally at the audience chamber but they instead had the misfortune of running into him first.

“Hello there traitors,” he said. Without wasting a second the unicorns in the Ivory Shell group all fired spells at him. Magnus shook his head and lit up his horn in reply and a thick shield sprung up in front of him, absorbing the spellfire. Beads of sweat began to trickle down Magnus’ forehead as he finally began to feel the exertion of projecting such a strong shield whilst wielding a massive weapon. however he barely slowed down as, without a single word, he lowered his shield and fired waves of agonising energy at the ponies in front of him. The entire group of Midnight Guard were struck down in debilitating pain as the energy washed over their bodies. They tried to scream but the excruciation was too much for them to do more than struggle to breath.

“Deal with them. Continue on down the hall and sweep the Midnight Castle clean of these scum,” Magnus told the loyalist Guardsponies that had finally caught up to him. Not bothering with replying the infuriated Guards ran over the group of ponies that convulsed on the floor of the corridor and proceeded to butcher them where they lay. Once they were finished they ran down the corridor and turned the corner, spreading out in search of any other remaining Ivory Shell contingents.

Turning away from his subordinates Magnus walked towards the massive double doors that led directly into the main audience chamber.

His horn lit up.

***

Ever Essence rubbed her temple with a dainty hoof as she tried to ignore the migraine that was developing. her followers were idiots and obviously weren’t capable of doing anything without her there to make sure they did it right.

Suddenly the doors to her new audience chamber burst open and slammed against the walls with very audible bangs, causing her to wince as the sudden noise exacerbated the splitting headache she was developing.

“Oh what now?” She said, annoyance very obvious on her face and in her voice. Almost automatically she also took another pinch of magical powder from her coat and threw it at her invisible shield. The bubble of esoteric substances shimmered and seemed to visibly thicken as the powders layered over one another. She didn’t care to take chances after all.

***

Royal Duty screamed as he thrust his blade at another one of the treacherous Midnight Guard. The short sword immediately glanced off of the pony’s armour and Royal Duty tried to step back only for the ponies behind him to press him forward. Desperate he threw up a new shield spell, the old one having been broken a long time ago, and tried to weather the blows that the infuriated Earth Pony was now trying to rain down on him.

The traitor in front of him pounded at the shield until a stray shot from a unicorn’s spellwork hit him in the face, imploding his muzzle and forehead.

Dropping the short sword from his telekinetic grip, Royal Duty grabbed the heavier sword his opponent had been wielding. Struggling to right himself whilst he held it, he began to lay into the enemies that remained in front of him.

Around him were dozens of Guardsponies that had been rallied by the officer he had warned and countless townsponies that had noticed the threat, heard his cries and grabbed whatever could qualify as a weapon. The fight had been fairly one sided with the loyalists barely managing to maintain any cohesion before the Guards had finally arrived to reinforce them. After that the Ivory Shell ponies had started to fall back as the weight of numbers and sheer savagery of the townsponies began to work against them.

Royal Duty raised his sword in a clumsy swing that managed to crush the armour of a Guardspony that had stood in front of him but been distracted by another combatant. The sword crumpled the plate steel and proceeded to snap his spine, dropping the pony in an instant. Royal Duty staggered slightly, feeling the strain of carrying such a heavy blade for so long in such a strenuous situation.

The press behind him pushed him forward again and he tried to raise the blade, bringing it up quickly enough to ram it into the Guardspony in front of him. The ponies around him were starting to pass him by as they laid into the traitors. Pulling his sword out of the front of the Guardspony he had felled he raised it once again. Turning back into the fray, following the ponies around him in search of a new opponent. However there weren’t any.

It was at that point that he realised that the fighting had stopped. The last of the traitors had been killed, the streets were cleared and many exhausted townsponies were starting to drop from the fatigue of combat.

“The gates are clear!” a Guard shouted. “Secure the castle! Secure the Prince!”

The Midnight Guard picked themselves up and rushed for the main gate into Castle Midnight. The battlements were empty of traitors, the towers all flew the compass rose and loyalist ponies could be seen putting down the remnants of the Ivory Shell Guardsponies on the walls.

Catching his breath, Royal Duty strengthened his magical grip on the sword he was now carrying and then paused. He went back a few steps and found his service issue blade, knowing the trouble he would get into if he left it and then turned around. The loyalist Midnight Guard were already moving into formation and several groups were rushing towards the castle. Sheathing his blade and steadying his new sword, Royal Duty charged off towards Castle Midnight, ready to help crush the coup and save the prince.

***

Magnus stepped through the doorway into the main audience chamber. The massive sword he had appropriated was still wet with the blood of the traitors and he knew that it would take at least one more pony’s life before the battle ended.

The room was dark, the compass rose and crescent moon banners had been torn down and piles of bodies filled the aisles to the side. The only thing that had been untouched by the blasphemous touch of the traitors’ hooves was the beatific rug leading up to the silver throne that presided over the entire chamber.

“Who are you?” a voice cut through the shadowy darkness of the chamber. “How dare you enter my chamber?”

The voice was imperious and had an affected hint of aristocratic bearing, not unlike his highnesses’ own speech patterns.

Glancing across the room in the direction the voice had come from Magnus saw a pony sitting on the throne his highness was supposed to occupy. She was a tall and thin Earth Pony mare. Her pristine white coat and shining ebony mane were well groomed. Her mane was braided with silver clasps that had been crafted into the shape of miniature rearing ponies and her body was covered by an elegantly designed mage coat. Her face was locked into an arrogant expression of contempt and she regarded him as if he were an unpleasant insect or a stain on the upholstery.

“I,” he said in reply, his voice dropping to a controlled growl, “am the right hoof of his highness. I am the sharp blade of the Midnight Guard. I am a true and loyal servant of Equestria.” He drew himself up. “I am a pony that is proud of his place in life and, unlike you, traitor, I am a pony that will live through this night.”

He raised his heavy blade in preparation for whatever she would send his way.

Ever Essence smirked in response. “A pony proud of his place in life? I wish there were more of them. You and your ilk have caused me nothing but trouble tonight. So many of you seem to have forgotten your place, and you, sir, are the worst offender. I will suffer your presence no longer!”

She reached into the coat and pulled out a leathery brown bag.

Magnus, realising what was in the bag, immediately fired a spell directly at her. The magical energy rocketed towards Ever Essence and then suddenly arced around her. Flowing energy rolled over the bubble of enchanted powders that floated around her. Magnus cut off the flow of magic to his horn, realising that the attempt was pointless.

Nonchalantly, Ever Essence emptied the bag onto a dainty hoof and blew it out into the room around her. The powder spread fast - much more quickly than it naturally should have.

Magnus raised his guard as the motes of powder settled on the corpses. Lady Ever Essence threw her head back and bared her throat. Closing her eyes she began to speak. A series of terrible and blasphemous words escaped her lips, tearing their way from her throat and harshy spitting themselves out into the reality around them.

Magnus immediately jumped into action and charged an immolation spell. A ball of fiery energy collected on his horn and grew in size as he built up the strength of the spell.

As Ever Essence continued her incantation the corpses that littered the room began to twitch. Low moans were emitted from ruined throats and collapsed chests and tangled limbs clawed at the stone floor of the chamber. Magnus released the spell at the nearest pile of bodies, incinerating them with the arcane fire he had been generating. Flesh burnt and peeled off of bone that began to crumble from the heat. The bodies he had struck ceased their feeble movements but it was already too late. The other corpses around the room had pulled themselves to their feet, blank expressions frozen on their face as their lifeless eyes stared at him.

Magnus turned his head, sustaining the spell with his remaining strength. The fire turned with him, strafing the resurrected Guardsponies in a ragged stream of flame. Many of the corpses the stream hit were set alight as their manes, tails, uniforms and coats were set alight by the flames and the ambient heat. Others weathered the flame with their coats smouldering in a few places or minor burns that failed to incapacitate them.

Magnus' assault was cut off when the corpse of a large Pegasus mare, whose limbs jerked unsteadily like a marionette, swiped at his head. Magnus took the blow hard and was sent reeling by the blow to his horn. His head was spinning and he struggled to repress a scream of pain as the nerves in his horn felt like they were on fire. Shaking his head he recovered his grip on the immense sword that had almost slipped from his control. The blade was swung around in a wide heavy arc that connected with the mare’s face. Her muzzle crumpled before the blade and the rest of her head was caved in the sheer weight of the weapon that had plowed into her. The corpse dropped instantly as the damage rendered it immobile.

Wheeling around Magnus brought his sword close to him. Stabbing would not achieve anything as he recalled the inherent weaknesses of the moving dead.

His blade lashed out, catching a Unicorn that had opened its mouth to let out a loud groan. The blade connected with its open mouth and cut the top half of its head off, causing the Unicorn to collapse. The blade continued its arc and crashed into an Earth Pony, cutting through the thick metal gorget of the former Guardspony and almost cutting its head off completely.

Magnus began to sweat as he continued to swing the sword around him. He effortlessly cut through the dozens of corpses that were slowly shambling towards him thanks to the weight of his massive blade. Limbs and dismembered body parts began to accumulate around him in a grotesque ring, several of the parts still twitching with unnatural life. the strain of fighting with such a weapon was beginning to tell on him and drops of sweat appeared on his brow. Still he fought on, never once pausing as he destroyed every single foe that approached him. The moving dead were simple and the spell that had animated them was rudimentary at best, depriving them of any greater combat skills other than slow, shambling movement and crushing bites.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the corpses lay still. A few of them continued to twitch or shuffle on destroyed limbs but most had been returned to true death.

“So, witch,” he sneered, enjoying the look of incredulity that had marred Ever Essence’s features, his words punctuated by laboured breathing. “What do you say to this? Does my defiance still frustrate you?”

“Unimaginably so,” she replied, venom dripping from every syllable. “However I don’t believe you will be a problem for much longer. Your castle is already mine. It won’t take much longer for my loyal followers to finish purging it of the idiotic mules who were dumb enough to follow the fool prince. Once they arrive I doubt you’ll be able to put up much more of a fight.”

Magnus wearily raised his blade into a guard position as he studied the shield that surrounded Ever Essence. He warily eyed the shadows in case of any more tricks or assailants. As he did this he let a smirk crawl up his face.

“Is that so?” he said in the most condescending manner he could possibly muster. “When I came to these chambers I found many of your subordinates dead. Quite a few of them at my own hooves. His Highness has rallied and has already begun the counterattack that will sweep this castle clean of your traitors.”

Ever Essence’s eyes narrowed in hatred and disbelief.

“You’re wrong,” she shouted, “my forces already had the castle under our control. Your prince’s dogs only held a few towers. How could he possibly have launched a counterattack?”

She finished her tirade with a finality that revealed her disbelief. She could not even comprehend the possibility that her attack was failing.

“I’m sorry to say this, but he’s right,” another voice came from just outside the door. A squad of Thestrals, their blades and armour coated with blood, stalked into the room, their heads lowered, eyes narrowed in anger and their weapons clenched in their teeth. In the centre of the group was Prince Blueblood, most of his armour was strapped to his body but he was obviously missing several components that had been left behind in the rush to get him out of his office.

Magnus smirked and straightened at the sight of so many loyalists as well as his prince. If they were here that meant that the castle, or at least most of it, was now clear. Ever Essence’s eyes widened at the sight.

“Y-you’re supposed to be dead,” she stuttered. Her face was now stuck in a manic expression of fear. “You’re all supposed to be dead. How are you here? You’re not meant to be here. This is my chamber. You’re not allowed in my chamber.”

“Sire,” Magnus said, turning to Prince Blueblood and bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment. “She has locked herself within a shield enchantment. It is quite sturdy but she cannot move outside of it now and I have dealt with her defenders.” He punctuated his statement by sweeping his hoof across the room, indicating the piles of limbs and bodies that now surrounded him.

“Is that so,” Prince Blueblood replied, his expression turning dark as he turned to look at the mare in front of him who was beginning to shrink in her seat. “Well we’d better get her out of there then. Guards!”

The Thestrals around him all moved to stand around the throne, surrounding Ever Essence. Once they had all taken position they held their weapons ready and waited.

A team of weary Midnight Guard Unicorns walked into the chamber, ragged expressions on their faces.

Prince Blueblood turned to them. “This is their leader. She appears to have locked herself inside this shield here.” He waved his hoof in the general direction of the shimmering bubble. “Do you think you could get her out of there?

“Yes your highness,” one of the Unicorns, who was dressed in a uniform that revealed his status as an officer, answered. “It shouldn’t be too hard. Company,” he shouted, “take position.”

The unicorns moved to stand in line.

“Shield breaker spell lads. Ready,” the line of Unicorns lit up their horns. “Nexal point, take aim on my mark.” The Unicorn at the centre of the line stepped forward. The energy that the unit was building up streamed towards his horn, concentrating into a large ball of swirling pinkish energy. “Take aim.” The Unicorn lowered his head at the shield. Ever Essence was frantically trying to search for more powder.

“Fire.” At the officer’s command the energy was unleashed in a massive beam of light that impacted on the shield like a battering ram. The bubble of powder and light held for several seconds as the spell continued to hammer at it. Sweat began to appear on the brows of the entire Unicorn team as they struggled to feed the spell. The nexal Unicorn’s legs began to shake from the strain of containing and concentrating so much energy.

Then suddenly the bubble shattered. The energy beam dispersed as the substances it was counteracting spread outwards.

“Cease fire,” the officer shouted and the beam was cut off. The Unicorn team all gasped as they released the breath they had been collectively holding in. The Nexal point struggled to stand and the Unicorns next to him quickly moved to support him.

“Restrain her,” Magnus shouted as Ever Essence, having recovered from the shock of seeing her barrier shattered, moved to grab some other kind of powder. The Thestrals moved quickly and struck her, throwing her from the chair. They grabbed her, restraining all of her limbs and holding her to the ground.

Magnus stepped forward. Looking down at her with a look of utter contempt.

“Your highness,” he suddenly said, never once looking away from Ever Essence. “What should we do with her?”

Prince Blueblood walked up beside him. He glanced at Magnus and then looked down at Ever Essence.

“I would love to see her head on a spike right now,” he whispered, just loudly enough for Magnus to hear. “However,” he continued, his voice becoming loud enough for the rest of the room to hear. “We are currently a nation of laws. We are not the Solaminan Empire and we will uphold the laws that I have inherited. Take her away, confiscate her belongings and put her in the dungeons."

Ever Essence began to say something before one of the Thestrals jammed his hoof in her mouth. They hauled her to her hooves and dragged her out of the chamber, several other Midnight Guard following them to ensure she made it to her cells.

“Ponies of the Midnight Guard,” Prince Blueblood suddenly shouted, turning to face the ponies in front of him. “We may have been betrayed. The ponies we thought were our allies may have turned on us but we have survived, we have persevered and we have come out victorious. We have defended our home and proven that nothing will defeat us. The Midnight Castle is ours.” A loud cheer erupted from every pony in the room that spread throughout the castle.

Blueblood glanced at Magnus. “This isn’t over.” He said. Magnus nodded slightly, his eyes narrowing as he too pondered how widespread the treachery within the Midnight Guard now was.

“Indeed, my prince,” he replied after a moment of thought. “Ever Essence would not have been smart enough to orchestrate an infiltration of the castle. It is obvious she had assistance.” Magnus shot a quick look at the figure of the prisoner as the Guardsponies dragged her down the corridor. “We must find who is still loyal. The plan must be begun now.”

“Now?" Blueblood asked, concern evident in his voice, for what exactly, was unclear.

“Yes your highness,” Magnus confirmed with another small nod. He leaned in a little closer, hoping that the ponies around them hadn’t noticed the slight change in their mood and demeanour. “I will seek out the traitors as promised. It would be best if you sought out assistance from our allies. We must come together now or we will fall.”

“Very well,” Blueblood agreed.

“You should start with the Dead Men, your highness," Magnus suggested. "Their dedication and determination are invaluable. It would be best to…”

“No,” Blueblood interrupted him. “The Dead Men are in dangerous territory right now. We don’t have the numbers right now to find their strongholds.” His eyes wandered to the ceiling for a moment as he quickly thought of an alternative. “We already have contacts with the New Resistance. I will head for Horssia instead,” Blueblood finished, with a finality in his tone that brokered no argument.

“Very well your highness.” Magnus bowed his head and moved for the chamber doors.

Blueblood took one look at the Unicorn and shook his head. Walking up the dais he sat down on the silver throne and looked over his ruined audience chamber and the cheering ponies that were clearing out body parts and organising parties to finish clearing the castle. He raised a hoof to his temple and began to rub it. Everything was about to get difficult from here.

***

Deep in the darkest woods...

She screamed.

She was in pain. No, that wasn't adequate - she was in absolute agony: every nerve ending felt like it was on fire, her very being felt like it was tearing itself apart as she desperately tried not to slip into unconsciousness, as she desperately to push, harder and harder...

Pain was good. Pain meant she was alive, and while she was alive she could bring death upon those who had harmed her kin, harmed her... but that didn't mean it wasn't pain.

She screamed again.

"You're doing well," a voice spoke, and she gritted her teeth and pushed harder. She had to do this. She had to. She had not come this far just to fail now. “Just keep pushing and it will be over soon!”

She had done this so many times before and yet this was so difficult. She had understood that this time it would be different (for how could it not be?), but she now felt completely unprepared as she convulsed and writhed as much as her body would allow her to.

With a sonorous groan of pain she pushed and felt it moving, felt it forcing its way out of her body. She screamed and pushed with it, fighting the intrinsic panic as the thing that she had gestated separated off from her and became a life all its own. She pushed once more, gave a final scream of effort…

And her companion grinned at her, holding a small, squiggling lump of purplish fur in its clawed appendage. Several other Anthroponies, each one of them a grotesque amalgam of human and equine body parts, stared at her in concern and anticipation.

“Congratulations,” he said with a slight chuckle. “It’s here.”

She sat up, smiling with relief as endorphins flooded her body.

“Can I…” she gasped. “Can I hold it?”

Her companion smiled at her, a warm grin spreading up his lopsided face. “Of course, Penny dearest. This is your child. Who could deny you the right to hold your child?"

He handed her the squiggling lump, and she cradled it to her chest. She frowned slightly as she looked at it. There were no distinguishing features - it looked for all the world as though it were merely a squirming lump of fur. No face. No mouth. No limbs. No anything. Were it not for the fact that it felt solid underneath her hands, she would have thought it a soft toy or a shaped skin.

“I don’t understand, my lord,” she said softly, her breath catching in her throat as she held her child. “Didn’t it work?” She suddenly felt so vulnerable. So weak. Tears began to well up in her eyes. “Did I fail you? Did I fail the child?”

“Oh, on the contrary my darling Penelope,” her companion said, stepping into the light. The pony head, griffon claw and dragon tail were somehow ominous in the half-light of her sanctum. He smiled, revealing a snaggle tooth, and yellow eyes gleamed, catlike. “You have succeeded.”

Penelope frowned in confusion, before looking down at the ball of fur as it suddenly began to squirm. There was a momentary shaking, as though it were convulsing, and then it seemed almost to unfold... revealing her child.

Eyes that seemed to hold hidden depths and yet contained such… innocence. Pink fur and a bouncy purple mane greeted her, and the new life smiled with such pure childlike joy at seeing her, its mother, that she could not help but beam with joy in return. Finally she noted the cutie mark, an oddity on one so young and yet oh-so appropriate. A screw next to a baseball. Soon, she knew, this would be the very banner of chaos incarnate.

“You have given birth,” her Lord, Discord the God of Chaos, continued, “to the child of chaos. To the mother of our future. To the cloven hoof, the malformed hand, the bountiful spirit of vengeance. You have birthed an army, Penelope.” He grinned, a thing full of malice and fury and the promise of retribution. “And with it, we shall crush Astra Solamina Maxima, once and for all!”

***