Author's Notes:

Context: on the Isle of Wight, the PHL have set up a base and training facility, where their troops are drilled on Solaminan tactics. The Long Watch of Britannia are on the island. ~Jed

Well fuckdammit.

I had fun writing this, you know? I really did. I liked writing Sanderson's monologuing, I liked the atmosphere. I liked a lot of it. Did you know Kraber was meant to die here? The original Kraber, not the AoA version. I figured that I wouldn't be able to get in touch with Proud to let his character die, Red would be a pigfucker if I suggested Marcus dying, so that meant I had to draw the short straw here.

Shame we never got to do this. ~Fluffy

The Battle of Wight.

Newport, Isle of Wight, April 3rd 2030, 8am. 'Avatar' Earth.

It’s hard, Sir Sanderson Dryden reflected, flexing his muscles slightly as he walked along High Street in the town of Newport, frowning slightly at the surroundings. To be old these days.

Even harder to know what would happen after he was gone. Children too young to remember before the Barrier, before the world died, would ask about the old world. Was there really TV for everyone? What was Legoland? Was it true there was more food than anyone could ever dream of eating? Why can’t we make any more of this toy? What was Poland like?

Dryden had never actually been to Poland. He had only visited Amsterdam, actually. But, he would answer these questions as best he could, silently cursing how the children would imperfectly remember it all, and tell stories of a world that might as well have never existed.

Who knew, maybe in time there’d be people that believed there was never life before the War in the first place. All of this, he thought, is going to be the last of its kind.

But he did not come out for patrol just to soak in memory. No, the grey haired, bearded Knight of Albion had been feeling altogether uncomfortable for the last five minutes, as though there was an itch just under the skin he couldn’t scratch.

He was an older man, but he had joined the Knights of Albion upon their formation - alone amongst all the various military forces, they had agreed to take him, and having seen the blessings of Albion in action, having felt their power, having felt like he could run rings around men half his age under their influence, he believed. He half suspected that it was the blessings that were warning him that something was coming.

He brought his radio up, dialling the frequency of Sir Thomas, his immediate superior, an Iron Clad Knight. Sanderson had not qualified for the Clad program, but in his tough leather coat, battered chainmail and greaves, longsword and pistol girt at his side, he felt able to face most threats. He tapped the radio to make sure it was working.

"Sanderson to Thomas, Sanderson to Thomas, can you read me, over?" he asked.

There was nothing but static. Now, Sanderson felt worried: any loss of communication was never a good sign. A moment later, a few soldiers in the red coats of the Long Watch jogged past him, their short coats unbuttoned and flapping in the wind - they looked like they were in a hurry.

Frowning, Sanderson followed, jogging to keep up with them. A few civilians, looking panicked, ran the other way, seemingly heading in the direction of the town's exit. A few moments later, he turned onto Pyle street, where his jog slowed, before stopping entirely.

There was a bright, crackling white portal ahead of him. A half dozen warriors of the Long Watch were stood near it, along with a Resistance P220a that had been brought in with the last garrison. The pony aiming it, an enormous Earth Pony Resistance Sergeant named Claw Hammer, threw a glance back at him - unlike a lot of ponies, Claw Hammer had a tendency to use the P220a alone. He had the size for it.

"Sir Sanderson," the Earth Pony said respectfully. "What do you make of it?"

Sanderson scowled. "Hammer, keep this thing covered." He pointed at one of the Long Watchmen, a boy of no more than seventeen, the blue bar tattoo across his face still bright and fresh. "You there, name?"

"Reed, sir," the boy said.

"Reed, go get Sir Thomas, tell him to ring the evacuation siren and get the civilians out," Sanderson said quietly. "This is an attack."

Reed nodded, before jogging off. Claw Hammer looked at Sanderson, eyes wide. Claw Hammer had fled Equestria with the last arrivals, and had just arrived - as a family man (well, stallion), he had chosen to come to Wight because nopony had attacked it since the Plymouth front had opened.

"How bad d'you reckon?" he asked.

"They're attacking us," Sanderson said quietly. "There's no way to tell."

He drew his sword and held it in a high-guard stance, waiting patiently.

A moment later, an equine figure stepped out of the portal - tall, wings spread wide, a long, thin horn upon her head and a flowing ethereal mane behind her. A long bladed weapon was held in her telekinetic grip and golden armour covered her body, and she was smiling almost lazily at the human and pony soldiers that were staring at her with shock at horror.

All but Claw Hammer. There was almost no delay between the time she stepped out of the portal and the time he bit down on the triggers and fired. A hail of bullets poured out the barrels, and he didn’t so much as flinch.

A moment later, the soldiers of the Long Watch opened fire, but the glaive moved quicker, blocking the bullets. The P220a barked, but the bullets seemed to swerve in mid-air and fly into walls. A glow surrounded Hammer's P220a and yanked it off of him, smashing it into a wall. The glaive spun three times, and suddenly the three Long Watchmen fell to the floor, spurting blood.

There was a sudden silence.

"Hell," Claw Hammer swore in a whisper.

"Well," said the armoured figure of Astra Solamina Maxima said, smiling beatifically. "Now that we've gotten that particular futile gesture out of the way, do we have any others?"

"Hammer," Sanderson said quietly, keeping his sword aimed, "get out of here, get everybody to Yarmouth and off this island."

Without arguing, Claw Hammer turned and ran, as fast as his legs could carry him.

Solamina watched him go, then looked at Sanderson, who had moved into a mid-guard.

"Ah, so here's another futile gesture. And who might you be?" she asked politely.

"Demon-Empress," Sanderson said with a growl.

"Demon Empress? What an unfortunate name," Solamina grinned.

Sanderson spat. "My name is Sir Sanderson Dryden. Remember that name."

"How can I, when you keep changing it?" Solamina chuckled, and then bowed her head slightly, almost in respect. "Joking aside, be assured that I will remember you, Sir Knight. I remember all my brave, foolish enemies."

She spun her glaive and swung it at him. He moved the blade up to block, and then blocked another blow from above. She stepped back and stabbed forward, and Dryden dodged, barely. He lashed out, and she blocked, but he brought his blade down again and again, forcing her back.

Irritatingly, she was smiling, as though this were merely a game.

"Decent form," she commented. "If I'm not mistaken, you're an older human - your skill is to be commended."

Growling again, Sanderson clashed with her glaive, before pushing it up and stabbing forward. She dodged, before swinging the glaive at him. He brought his sword up to block the blow, but the glaive cut through the sword, hacking into his chest and knocking him to the floor.

Smiling tenderly, Solamina brought the glaive out of him, and he coughed as blood spurted from the gash in his chest.

"You were brave, Sanderson Dryden," she said quietly. "For that, you get to witness the force that will bring fire upon first this rock, and then all your pitiful islands."

She raised her glaive in the air, as though signalling, and then armoured forms began marching in every unison from the portal. Sanderson caught sight of one of the pony's faces... and then he thanked God that he was about to die.

***

Archives.

“We’re dispatching troops!” someone was yelling. Lyra jogged through the command centre, trying to find someone - anyone - who could tell her what was going on.

She found Hell Blazer and marcus Renee in the command centre, as well as Celestia Gloriana (resplendent in her armour and cloak) and - to her mild annoyance - the other, Avatar, Lyra.

“What's going on?” she asked.

“Report’s come in from Wight,” Hell Blazer said at once.

Incomplete scene

***

SCENE TRANSITION

***

PHL base, outside Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, April 3rd 2030, 10:30am. 'Avatar' Earth.

It was an unusually grey, cold day for April.

A battered transport helicopter landed on a helipad, disgorging its contents: David Elliot looked around, scowling slightly, his green military coat blowing in the breeze. Behind him, Stephan, in full armour, had a hand on the hilt of his machete, looking more than a little uneasy. Bringing up the rear was Viktor Kraber, looking altogether uncomfortable without Aegis behind him, and Lieutenant Kellman, frowning somewhat as he he held his assault rifle. A half dozen Iron Clads followed them, weapons at the ready,

As they stepped off the helicopter, a man in an archaic red military jacket, vest and black trousers jogged up to them, a blue bar tattooed over his eyes and across his face. What was most notable about him was the rather gaudy crucifix hung about his neck. He saluted them as they stepped off.

"Captain Stark, Long Watch," he said smartly. "Take it you're here about the attack."

"That's correct," Elliot said automatically. Stephan let him take the lead - the Long Watch, like others of the various paramilitary cult-organisations, was under his command. "What's the sitrep?"

"Newport fell first," Stark replied grimly. "We have a bunch of refugees led by a Sergeant Hammer of the ER incoming from there - but we lost a lot of people."

"How many?" Elliot asked quietly.

Stark sighed. "Hammer reports getting two hundred twenty civilians out, plus about fifty Long Watchmen, twenty other troops, and a half dozen Resistance. They're on their way now. That's less than half the military complement, and over seven hundred dead civilians."

Elliot closed his eyes. "Jesus. What about Cowes?"

"We had men reporting evacuating from there," Stark said, "but nothing's been heard for a while. The Little Big-E and the Thunderchild are near the port -"

"The Thunderchild?" Kraber repeated, raising an eyebrow at the name. Elliot didn't blame him - it was the name of the ship where the great Ambassador Lyra Heartstrings had died.

"Wrong Thunderchild," Elliot said with a slight grin.

"Constants and variables," Kraber said with a smirk. “If only Aegis was here. He’d just give this knowing look, and we’d laugh at the looks on your faces.”

Ignoring this, Elliot turned back to Stark. "Continue, Captain."

"Sir," Stark said, frowning in confusion. "The Thunderchild is trying to make sure nothing gets out without approval." He paused. "So far we're getting reports of fire and smoke rising from the town, no survivors. That's four hundred and fifty civvies, a hundred soldiers."

"Over a thousand dead all told, then," Elliot said, putting his head in his hands and running them both through his hair. "What about Yarmouth's sitrep?"

"We've cleared out the civvy population on the ferries," Stark said, "and the PHL lot are holding a perimeter on the approach. Good lads and lasses."

"What do we have here?" Stephan asked, frowning at Stark.

The Long Watchmen threw a glance at Elliot, who nodded, before answering. "Two hundred Long Watchmen, twelve Iron Clads, about fifty Resistance ponies, ERAF Sigma Squadron, forty Royal Marines, and of course we had seven hundred PHL ponies and humans in training here. They're bulking out the perimeter."

"Good," Elliot said. "We'll hold while the civilians get here and evacuate, then pull out."

"We should be pulling out now," Kellman said quietly. "Waiting for a handful of evacuees isn't going to preserve more lives in the long run."

"We are not leaving sovereign human soil until everyone we can save is out of here," Elliot snapped. He turned to Stephan. "You staying?"

Stephan smirked tiredly. "Can't let you have all the fun, Brigadier." He turned to Kraber. "Come on, Kraber - we need to get to the perimeter."

"Sir," Kraber said uneasily, looking around.

Elliot held up a hand. "What's up, Kraber?"

"This all feels... weird," Kraber admitted. "Like there's something sneaking up on us."

Stephan frowned. "Weird feeling? So?"

"There might be more to it," Elliot said quietly. He looked at Stephan with a grim expression. "Kraber's seen my world before."

"Well, hallucinated," Kraber clarified with a shrug. "I saw him attacking Canterlot once."

"How is that...?" Stephan asked, frowning, but Elliot cut him off.

"What's more interesting is that he can do it," the Avatar said. "I was talking with Giles - he said it might mean Kraber's got a sixth sense of some kind - something to do with all this multiverse crap, no doubt. In any case, we should be on our guard."

"Sirs!" another voice called. Another Long Watchmen ran up to them, his uniform - apart from being more shambolic - identical to Stark's save the Star of David around his neck in place of the crucifix. "Sergeant Claw Hammer's just got here with his convoy - there's four hundred in total - he pulled some Cowes escapees out."

"Good," Stark said with a grin, but it faded as the large figure of Claw Hammer jogged up to them. Kraber's eyes widened, and a grin was on his face.

"Aegis!" he called. "Fok me, you're here! I've missed you!"

The grim looking Sergeant Claw Hammer frowned at Kraber as he trotted up to the group, cuts across his body and his shirt torn. Sure enough, he was Aegis, massively oversized, P220a on his back, and looking somewhat less cheery than his counterpart.

"Do I... know you?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. “You look kind of familiar. Have we met?”

"Ja and no," Kraber said, his smile fading somewhat.

"Report, Sergeant," Elliot said quietly, ignoring the little bit of personal drama.

"Sir," Claw Hammer said, his eyes wide and full of fear. "Whatever the Solaminans are using, it isn't Convies, it isn't Guard. They're in cobalt armour like Guard armour, but they're... they're..."

He swallowed, visibly rattled. Kraber put a hand on his shoulder.

"It's ok," he said softly. "You can keep it together, bru."

Hammer nodded, visibly grateful for the support, even from a stranger who didn’t quite seem so unfamiliar. He fixed his gaze on Elliot.

"It's her," he said quietly. "She's here."

Elliot paled. "Solamina."

Hammer nodded. "She killed three Watchmen and fought with Sir Sanderson last I saw her, but she was on the ground. We didn't see her or any of her False Alicorns after that, just the Cobalt Guard, but I swear to you, sir..."

"Why didn't you report this?!" Stark said, eyes wide.

"No confirmation from anyone and I didn't want to panic everyone in the convoy," Hammer said with a scowl. "There was enough panic at the Cobalts."

"You did the right thing," Elliot said quietly, flexing a fist. He threw a glance at Stephan. "This isn't how we want to play this, I assume."

"We should call in a fujin, or an air strike," Kellman said, eyes wide with horror. "It's the only way to be sure."

"We can't call in a big strike while there's civilians still on the ground," Stephan countered, frowning thoughtfully. "And all the artillery we had back home couldn't kill the clone of Celestia, what makes you think that this Solamina can die to what we have here?"

“It's better than being on the ground, sir!” Kellman retorted. “You were there at Boston when the Clone came down - you know what she can do!”

“You're right,” Stephan said, and then he grinned. “But I also know that she can die.”

"Then it's up close and personal with a Tyrant again," Elliot murmured. He nodded, looking around. "Right. Claw Hammer, Stark, get the evacuees onto the ferries and out of here. Kellman, Kraber, Stephan, with me - we're holding the perimeter. Iron Clads, on my lead!"

"With Albion!" one of the Clads called. The cry went up, and Bauer couldn't help but grin.

***

The perimeter, such as it was, was not impressive. It was only a short jog from the port where Elliot and the others had landed, and was mainly improvised. The PHL on site were scantily equipped - a variety of modified assault rifles. RPGs, other such things, but nothing big. A single BDF tank, easily forty years old, stood nearby, aiming towards the dusty, empty streets of the rest of the town.

When Stephan reached the perimeter, he started barking out orders.

"You, trooper, tighten up - they can't be allowed past this line! Someone get more snipers in the buildings, now!" he yelled. "Do we have anti-Alicorn ammo on standby?!"

"No sir," one trooper, a young man, said, frowning slightly. "We didn't think -"

"Clearly, you didn't think, dummkopf!" Stephan snapped. "Colonel Renee ordered AA ammo as standard in case of attack - we're not on holiday here, people!"

"Sir, it was due on Tuesday," the trooper said quietly. "The supplies come in every Tuesday and we ordered the ammo for then."

"Hooray for supply snafu," Kraber muttered. "So that bitch is coming here and we've nothin' good to fokkin' welcome her with, apart from my gun?"

“Seems like it,” Elliot muttered.

"The bi - the Tyrant?!" the young trooper asked, eyes widening. "She's here? Why is she here?!"

"It’s Astra Solamina," Elliot clarified. "Not your Tyrant."

The trooper looked slightly less worried for a moment, before his eyes widened.

"Wait, that one?!" he said. "Shit!"

"What's the fokking betting he forgot her name," Kraber said with a grin.

Eliot didn't comment. The streets beyond the perimeter were empty and silent as the grave, and it was all Elliot could do to not feel a clutching sense of fury grabbing at him. That rage was not his friend.

"Our forward positions report something!" one of the PHL troops, a Unicorn mare, yelled suddenly, distracting Elliot from his anger. "Enemy troops inbound!"

Stephan jogged over to the trooper, grabbing her radio. "This is Major Stephan Bauer. I need a report - what are you seeing?"

"Yes sir - we're seeing what looks like Guards, sir!" the male voice of what sounded like another pony spoke. "Lots of ponies, armour - wait…"

Stephan paused. "What?"

"There's a roll of fog coming in," the pony reported, sounding confused. "It -"

There was a sudden burst of static and Stephan scowled, putting the radio down.

"There's something incoming," he said to Elliot. "Might be this 'Cobalt Guard'."

"Right," Elliot said, drawing his dagger and pistol. "Time to get serious then."

Stephan nodded, frowning and keeping his eyes open. He drew his machete, and in a flash it had turned into the claymore. He unholstered his pistol, feeling suddenly itchy, like he was waiting for something. The old nervousness, the emptiness before the rush of adrenaline… did that ever go? He shared a glance with Elliot, who smiled wanly. No. He supposed it never did.

There was something on the air. A kind of low droning, humming through the thick air.

"That an engine?" Kraber wondered aloud.

It got closer, louder - there was the sound of stomping with it, like the sound of marching hooves in unison, coming closer and closer. The droning became more distinct, and now they could make out the noise.

Words.

"Mortis Gloriana.
Astra Solamina.
Stella Rex Victores.
Stella Rex Supremes."

They came into view. Cobalt armoured figures, marching in perfect unison, spears held underneath their forelegs, pointed forward like lances at the PHL and BDF troops.

"They're fokkin' singing?" Kraber asked.

Elliot scowled. "Yup." He aimed his pistol. "You might wanna line up your shots, lads!"

"Pick your targets!" somepony yelled.

Stephan aimed his own pistol. Nearby, Kraber brought his MG2023 to bear, a vicious grin on his face.

"Wait for my order," Stephan called out. "We don't want to waste any shots here."

The Cobalt Guard kept marching, that same droning song leaving their lips.

"Sidus dei gloriousum.
Stella Imperator.
Astra Solamina.
Mortis Gloriana."

There was something wrong with them, Stephan noted as they marched. Their march was too perfect, their steps too in synch, and now that they were getting closer, he could see their faces: uniformly blank, unfeeling, uncaring, not even the rictus grins of the Newfoals - merely empty.

"Something's wrong," he said quietly. Elliot threw a glance at him.

"Yeah," he said softly. "There is, isn't there?"

"What the fok…?" Kraber whispered, eyes widening as the Cobalt Guard got close enough to see properly.

Their faces weren't just blank - they were dead. They marched with uniformity like machines, and from what could be seen of their bodies, many of them had brutal injuries - rotting injuries.

They were goddamn zombies.

"Jesus fucking Christ…" someone said.

"I second that sentiment," Kraber said numbly. "Fok me, that's… I've not seen anything like that since Reaper..."

Elliot growled. "Everyone sharpen up, aim for the heads like in every other zombie movie, and keep it the fuck together!"

“Remember your protocols!” Stephan yelled. “If the head shot doesn't work, aim for the legs. Less armor to deal with. Grenades throw when they are within 15 meters! Anyone with a shotgun, hold fire until they are close! Remember to fall back to the second line if they are about to breach!”

Elliot raised an eyebrow. “You actually have a zombie protocol.”

“You’d be surprised,” Stephan said with a wry smile.

“Spines work too,” Kraber said. “I’ve seen this sort of thing before. You shoot out their spines, they collapse. Also, if you kick them in the face hard enough, they die again.”

“Not even going to ask,” Elliot said. “Just remember not to panic. Support each other, watch each other’s backs, and keep frosty.”

Stephan nodded. "You heard the Brigadier, keep your shit together!"

The troops along the line kept their weapons at the ready, none of them looking particularly comfortable. Kraber was scowling, aiming the MG2023 with his teeth bared.

The Cobalt Guard kept marching forward, their spears lowering as they did so. The troops facing them kept their aim as the zombies advanced, but Stephan could tell there were more than a few troops whose nerve was breaking.

“Hold your line!” he yelled. “On my mark, weapons free, pick your targets!”

Elliot sheathed his dagger, before bringing his hand up. A moment later, Excalibur appeared, glinting in the sun.

“Good thing I brought a tesla,” Kraber said, staring down the reflex sight.

“Thought lightning wasn’t good on the undead?” someone else asked.

“No, electricity makes muscles contract,” Kraber explained. “I should be able to use this thing to keep them down. Aim for their heads and joints when they’re spasming. I’ll move to the rear. Work as support.”

“This is surprisingly well-thought out,” Stephan said.

“I told you, Major,” Kraber said. “I’ve fought the undead before. Why do you think I wanted a lightning gun so much?”

“You’re going to make a reference, so I’m just not going to answer,” Stephan said.

Kraber nodded. “Ja.”

And opened fire.

The MG2023 sounded like someone taking a sledgehammer to a steel wall. Its bullets punched through limb after limb. Zombies dropped, one after another, but they didn’t stop. On fractured forelegs and punctured hind-limbs they forced themselves forward. Shots that impacted faces and chests stalled them or even knocked them over but the ragged column of the living dead continued on. Only the shots that penetrated the top of their skulls had an effect.

“How we supposed to hit their brains when they’re wearing fuckin helmets?” a Long Watchman screamed as his own rounds dented the thick metal helms the dead were wearing.

“By aiming, dummkopf!” Stephan snapped. He fired his own weapon off.

***

Reports going into the Archives. Lyra prepares to go, but Celestia Gloriana says she will go instead.

“What do we know?” Celestia Gloriana asked quietly.

“Only that the Isle of Wight is under attack,” Lyra said grimly. “And - well, we have scattered reports that Solamina is there.”

Gloriana cursed. “That creature. I knew this smelled familiar - she is making an example of you.”

“You’ve done this before?” Renee asked.

“Putting down rebellions isn’t always pretty,” was all Gloriana said in turn.

Lyra sighed, shaking her head. “I’m having forces mobilise as fast as I can, but -”

“It will be too late,” Celestia Gloriana said, frowning. “You will not get there in time.”

Lyra cursed. “What the hell are we supposed to do?! Leave them to die?!”

Gloriana pursed her lips, before turning and heading for the door.

“I can get there in time,” she said. “I will reinforce them.”

“Alone?” Lyra asked. “You’re -”

“I am Gloriana Regalia Celestia,” the Alicorn cut her off, and the ice in her voice suddenly reminded everyone in the room that, in another life, this mare had become Solamina. “Armies burn before me. I can help hold the line until your reserves get there - and if the whorse is there…” Gloriana gave a sudden, almost feral grin. “She will burn too.”

And she was gone.

“Well, that’s not ominous,” Renee said, folding his arms. “How soon can you get those reserves out there?”

“I can scrounge together enough for serious reserves in about an hour,” Lyra said grimly. “We’re understaffed as all hell.”

“What a time for manpower shortages,” Renee cursed. “I’ll get on the horn to PHL command, see if I can’t get some reserves from Downtime.”

***

A Battle now occurs.

It was a strange feeling, as Elliot brought a brutal hack down on one of the Cobalt Guard. He could see the PHL forces thinning out, the fighting scattering through the streets, and he turned around, the feeling of something coming getting stronger.

And suddenly silence fell, and he knew who it was.

Her.

***

There would likely have been a chapter break at this point.

***

Her arrival was altogether quieter than the clone of Queen Celestia’s had been. Where Queen Celestia had announced her presence with bombast and displays of power, she simply walked, trotting through the devastation with a vaguely amused look on her face. Her eyes wandered hither and thither, taking in everything.

Astra Solamina Maxima, golden armour glinting in the sun, her glaive resting on her shoulder.

Stephan stepped up behind Elliot, his eyes narrowed in contempt at their enemy.

“This isn't exactly how I’d have wanted to do this,” the Brigadier said quietly, keeping his eye on her.

Stephan nodded. “Any idea how we should proceed?”

Elliot flexed his shoulders, his grip on Excalibur tightening slightly as he began glowing. “One.”

And suddenly, he glowed, before exploding into light. Stephan held up a hand for a moment, and then in Elliot’s place stood the armoured form of the Avatar of Albion, his armour glinting slightly.

“Get Kraber into position, he’ll want to have his shot and we might need it,” the armoured figure said. “I shall… say hello.”

Stephan nodded, tapping his radio. “Kraber, sitrep.”

“These guys are still being a fokkin’ pain but we’re holding them - why?” Kraber replied.

“It's time for your second Alicorn,” Stephan informed him grimly. “We’ve confirmed Astra Solamina on the ground.”

There was a pause, before Kraber finally spoke. “Give me a minute to get into position. Try not to kill her without me.”

“Shouldn't be a problem,” Stephan said quietly.

The Avatar approached Solamina, pointing Excalibur at her in challenge. She brought her glaive from its resting position in response, grinning at him and narrowing her eyes at him.

“Avatar,” she greeted genially.

“Tyrant,” he replied in a level tone.

And then the two charged. Their weapons clashed, and a flash of energy blasted out. Solamina swung her weapon down, but the Avatar dodged, only for her horn to glow and a blast of magic to flare out and send him flying. Growling, Stephan drew his pistol and fired at her - but her glaive was moving, and she seemed to be blocking the bullets themselves.

Growling, Stephan drew his own sword and charged. He swung the blade at her, but she blocked easily. He swung again, but she seemed to almost be bored by the move, casually parrying and then hitting him in the face with the glaive’s shaft. He stumbled back, but came on again, swinging his sword in a vicious arc - that she blocked easily.

“Your technique needs work,” she commented.

“Fuck you!” Stephan snapped, swinging again. In a deft motion, Solamina caught the blade, spun it until Stephan was wide open, and then hit him with a spell that sent him flying backwards.

Just as she did so, however, the Avatar was on her again, bringing his blade to bear in a heavy downward hack. She blocked gracefully, then stabbed forward with her own weapon, forcing him to parry. He span around with the momentum of the parry and lashed out at her again, and she blocked, before he unleashed a devastating series of strikes that she had to move furiously to avoid, slowly stepping back under the pressure.

Groaning, Stephan got up. He brought his pistol up, firing at her, but she either dodged or blocked the shots - he couldn’t tell which. He growled in frustration, before moving to charge Solamina again. He reached her just as the Avatar backflipped away from one slash, and he stabbed forward, forcing her to party his blow. Overbalanced by his strike, he stumbled forward, and she hit him in the chin with the haft of her glaive, before blocking the returning swing of the Avatar. Grinning, she spun her glaive around, sending the Avatar off balance, before bringing her weapon down in a harsh overhead hack that the Avatar blocked. Stephan swung at her, and she easily blocked the blow, then blocked the next blow from the Avatar, before spinning and kicking Stephan backwards and following the spin with a hard slash at the Avatar, who was forced to dodge backward again.

Bringing her glaive once more into a guard stance, Solamina glanced from Stephan to the Avatar.

“Well?” she asked coyly. “I don't have all day.”

Growling, the Avatar charged, forcing her on the back hoof once again. Stephan, groaning, commed Kraber.

“You in position yet?!” he snapped.

“Very nearly, sir!” Kraber replied. “Just give me a few minutes!”

The Avatar was suddenly backwards past Stephan, who found himself forced to block another blow from Solamina. He grimaced under the pressure, but then the Alicorn was blasted backwards by a spell from the Avatar, who slammed into her and forced her back on the defensive. Stephan growled.

“We don't have a few minutes!” he said. “Hurry the fuck up!”

“Gotcha!” Kraber said.

***

From one of the nearby buildings, Kraber got into a firing position, bringing his MG2023 to bear. He frowned as he looked out at the battle going on - in the streets all around them, BDF and PHL were still battling those Cobalt Guard things for their lives. But - tellingly enough - a wide berth had been made for Solamina to fight Stephan and Elliot.

Watching them fight - it was surreal. When Elliot had fought the clone of Celestia, it had been difficult to follow. There'd been flying, zaps of magic: basically the sort of thing you'd expect from God-like beings fighting each other. This, though…

As he watched, Stephan charged at the bitch. He brought his sword to bear, bringing it down in a powerful downward arc - but faster than Kraber could even see, the bitch had brought her glaive up, blocking the blow. She pushed and stabbed forward. Making Stephan step back with a desperate, clumsy parry, and then she slammed one forehoof on the ground, a small shockwave making him stumble backwards before she spun and kicked him, sending him flying. As she did this, she brought her glaive up and parried an attack by the Avatar.

There were a few brief, blurry moments where Kraber couldn't see the moves the two were making, and then her horn flared and the Avatar was thrown backwards to, in time for her to turn and spin her glaive faster than the eye could see, as Stephan fired his pistol. Impossibly, she seemed to block the bullets, before she dashed forward, the butt of the glaive slamming into Stephan’s chest, doubling him over. Her horn flared again, this time blasting into the ground, creating what could almost be an eruption of dirt and debris that sent Stephan reeling backwards.

“Motherfokker,” Kraber said. He brought his MG2023 up, aiming at her. “Alright - time to level the playing field.”

***

The Avatar parried another blow, stepping back and riposting, only for his opponent to neatly leap over him, her wings flaring outward. With a single flap, she sent a gust of wind downward, causing the Avatar to stumble slightly and Stephan to be knocked off his feet, before she landed, spinning her glaive and aiming it at the two men in challenge.

“Really, gentlemen,” she said with an easy grin. “I’m disappointed.”

The Avatar growled, before charging her again, only for her to block his strike, before her horn glowed and a spell bore him backwards. He smashed through a building some thirty metres away, and did not emerge.

Stephan let out a yell, before bringing his pistol up again, firing at her. With a sigh, she deflected the bullets, her glaive dancing hither and thither, soft pings the only indication that the bullets were making contact with anything. Suddenly, her horn glowed, and a spell blasted the pistol out of his hand.

“Is that it?” she asked. “Guns? I would have thought you’d learnt that they were useless.”

Stephan, to her surprise, grinned. “That depends on the gun, don’t you think?”

She frowned, but before she could respond, there was a crack of gunfire from nearby - and a hail of bullets lanced towards her. Several bullets slammed into her torso, with others tearing into her legs, mane, wings and one managing to graze her skull, rupturing one of her eyes. Her remaining good eye widened, and she stumbled slightly, though somehow she stayed on her feet.

“Major!” Kraber’s voice came on the comm. “Can you confirm the hit? I say again, can you -”

“She’s hit, Kraber,” Stephan said heavily, breathing out.

As he watched, Solamina stumbled slightly again, and suddenly she brought her glaive close to her, leaning on it, but to Stephan’s consternation, she did not drop. He brought his sword up, approaching her, and he brought it down on her head in a heavy strike -

And she blocked it.

“You… fool...” she hissed, before a sudden shockwave of power pushed Stephan back, sending him crashing to the ground. Grimacing, he sat up, his eyes widening as he watched her.

The ragged holes in her body were filling with… something. It was black, almost liquid, and it filled the ruptures and tears in her body until they were exactly the same shape they had been. As he watched, her ruined eye was replaced by… something that was the same shape, except it, too, was jet black. And then the liquid solidified, before shifting colour. In a few short moments, Solamina was entirely healed, save that her new eye was a cold grey, rather than the pink it had been.

“Did you… really think… that bullets... even those aggravating things you have... would kill me?” she asked, her voice tinged with some unnatural power. Stephan shivered as he felt a cold, cloying presence ooze over him with every word the Alicorn spoke.

“Kraber,” Stephan said, his eyes wide, “hit her again, now.”

“Wilco!” Kraber said. Sure enough, another hail of bullets shot towards Solamina - but this time, she slammed her glaive into the ground, haft first, and suddenly a shield of semi-opaque energy, tinged black, appeared around her, shielding her from the bullets, which slammed harmlessly into the shield. She grinned, an almost feral thing.

“You homo sapiens and your guns,” she hissed, before her horn suddenly glowed. A shockwave of energy smashed outward, blasting buildings apart and sending debris flying.

Stephan raised an arm to shield his face, but could only grimace as he was thrown backwards, landing heavily against a wall. He fell to the floor, using a hand to try and keep himself from completely collapsing. There was a ringing in his ears from the impact.

“How the fok is she still standing?!” Kraber’s voice was yelling.

“I don’t fucking know,” Stephan said, grimacing, “why don’t you ask her?”

A hand placed itself on Stephan’s shoulder, and he looked up, to see the Avatar scowling at Solamina. He brought his sword up.

“Tyrant,” he said, slowly approaching her. “I see now that you truly are more than you seem.”

“Why thank you,” she hissed. “Now, are you prepared to do this properly?”

The Avatar looked at Stephan. “Will you be alright?”

“Yeah, yeah,” Stephan said, pulling himself to his feet. “Get going - I’ll try and pull together some more guys. Maybe more firepower will do it.”

“Perhaps,” the Avatar said, before raising his sword at dashing towards Solamina, their blades clashing. Wincing at the sound, Stephan began limping away from the fighting.

“Kraber,” he said, “regroup with the rest of our forces. I don’t know how the hell she did it, but she healed.”

***

“She healed?!” Kraber repeated as he jogged down the steps. “How the fok did she do that?!”

“I don’t have a gottverdammt clue!” Stephan bellowed. “Some magic we’re not familiar with or something, God only knows. Point is, without bigger guns on the ground we can’t hope to put her down!”

Kraber nodded slowly despite himself. “Never thought I’d see the day when ‘more gun’ wasn’t the answer.”

“Well, we’ll see how it works as an answer when we rain a fujin on the bitch,” Stephan hissed. “Once the entire island’s clear, we’ll be able to start bringing some serious hell down on her.”

“My kind of thinking, sir,” Kraber said. “I’m on my way to you now -”

He stopped, his eyes widening as he reached the bottom of the stairs and the doorway leading outside. He could hear the sound of blades clashing, and with a sudden sinking feeling, he realised that it was closer than he would have liked. He hefted his MG2023, a feeling of grim determination settling over him.

“Sir,” he said softly. “I might be a little late.”

***

The fighting was still raging - most of the “Cobalt Guard”, as they’d been informally referred to, were being bottlenecked, but they were still gaining ground, forcing the defenders back. The conservative estimate was that they would have to abandon the island within the next hour.

A small group of reinforcements in helicopters had managed to make it to Wight, deploying mainly to help with the evacuation. Among them was Operative Lyra Heartstrings, who was stood with a group of PHL and BDF troops, including Aegis, as well as Sir Frederick of the Knights of Albion, an Iron Clad, and ten of his men. Also with them, sent ahead of a larger force, was Downtime Luna, who was speaking softly with marcus Renee.

“Alright,” Renee said softly. “We’ve got to set down some priorities. The first has to be pulling everyone out of here before we’re overwhelmed.”

“I’ve got people on that,” Lyra assured him. She turned to Frederick. “Go lend those troops some backbone.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Frederick said tersely. He set off at once, his contingent following him.

“We also need to know what the hell’s going on with Solamina,” marcus added. He turned to Luna. “Princess?”

“I will find the Tyrant,” she assured him.

“Remember, no heroics,” he instructed. “We’re not sure what the hell’s happening out here, but -”

Before he could finish, a battered looking Long Watchman jogged over to them.

“Report!” marcus snapped at him. “What’s your name, trooper?"

“Watchman Brook, sir!” he said hurriedly. “We’ve been trying to get these people out of here, but there’s been some fierce fighting!”

“Great,” Aegis said grimly. “Tell us what else is new.”

“Any word from Major Bauer and Brigadier Elliot?” marcus asked.

“Major Bauer pulled back to the main defensive position, but he was alone, sir,” Brook said grimly. “We’ve not seen Brigadier Elliot.”

“What about Celestia Gloriana?” Lyra asked. “She was going to come reinforce this positions last we heard.”

“Uh, no ma’am,” Brook said with a frown. “We’ve had no reports of any other Alicorns, friendly or otherwise. It might be that she did get here and we haven’t heard from her, but -”

“What about Viktor Kraber?” Aegis asked worriedly, cutting him off. marcus threw him an irritated glance, but he ignored it. “Was he with them?”

“Uh, I don’t -” Brook began.

“Mad Afrikaner man, wild beard, big gun,” Aegis described quickly.

“Oh, him? Major Bauer ordered him to support him with an action, but we’ve not seen him since,” Brook said quickly. He pointed down the road. “Major Bauer’s overseeing the defences from over there.”

“Gotcha,” marcus said. “Luna - get going. The rest of you, with me!”

He jogged ahead. Lyra followed, Aegis close behind her.

“You think they’re alright?” the big stallion asked.

“No way to tell!” Lyra said grimly. “All we can do is try to find them!”

***

The Avatar ducked under one blow, before slashing at Solamina’s side, forcing her to block. She grimaced and stabbed forward, but he parried the blow and hit out with the pommel of his Zweihander, striking her in the face. She stepped back, stunned momentarily, but managed to block the next few strikes he launched with practiced ease.

“So much better now the chaff is out of the way, isn’t it?” she asked, grinning slightly. “Let us be honest with ourselves, now - you and I were meant to fight this battle alone, without any of these lesser things getting in our way.”

She stabbed forward, her grin widening, before hacking down, forcing the Avatar to dodge backwards. She launched a series of brutal hacks with her glaive that forced him to step back as he blocked. He growled, interrupting one strike and lashing out with his gauntleted off-hand, striking her across the face. She snarled, and her horn flashed, a spell slamming into his shoulder and knocking him off balance.

She swung her glaive at him, and he blocked it one-handed, grimacing as she hit him in the chest with the haft of her glaive. He brought his weapon up again to strike, but this time her glaive intercepted the strike not at the blade, but at his right wrist. There was a brief flash of agony, before Solamina’s horn flared, blasting him backwards, where he landed in the dirt. He gave a groan of pain, staring at the ruin of his wrist.

“You are certainly a tenacious opponent,” she said quietly, spinning her glaive casually. “But tenacity can only take you so far.”

She brought her glaive up, about to strike, - but before she got the chance, a hail of bullets slammed into her again, blood splattering from the injuries. At the same time, the Avatar raised his remaining hand, firing a spell at her that threw her backwards, through the wall of a building. A moment later, Kraber appeared, hefting his MG2023.

“Fok, Elliot…” he said, approaching the downed Avatar. “I’d ask ‘are you alright’, but even I don’t state the obvious that badly.”

The Avatar got to his feet. “You need to get out of here.”

“We need to get out of here,” Kraber corrected. “You lost a hand, chommie - you’re hardly in any fit state to -”

A dagger-thin beam of energy shot through Kraber’s throat, and his eyes widened, his hands reflexively dropping the MG2023 and going up to the gaping hole in his throat. A second beam suddenly lanced through his chest, and his arms fell slack to his sides, his eyes bulging before rolling into the back of his head. He collapsed backwards, falling to the floor.

“NO!” the Avatar yelled.

He looked up from the fallen soldier to see Solamina, her body covered in slowly shifting patches of blackness. She was grinning maliciously, her cold grey eye blazing at him in fury.

“I’m starting to think your people are a little low on imagination,” she hissed. “Guns, more guns, more guns after that, maybe an idiot who thinks swinging a sword like a three year old with a stick is enough to threaten me, just to spice things up, but then - surprise, surprise! - more guns! Honestly, didn't anyone tell these people what I am?!”

The Avatar growled. He held out his hand, and Excalibur materialised there. He held it out in a one handed guard, cradling his ruined wrist slightly.

“That was a good man you just killed,” he said.

“I’m sure he was, for what it is worth,” she said. “It matters not, however. What matters now is that I am going to slay you - and then there will be no one who can stand before me.”

“You will not touch him, creature!” another voice called out.

Solamina paused, a frown gracing her features. She turned slowly, and found herself facing an angry-looking Alicorn, clad in alabaster armour, a cloak flowing from her shoulders, and wielding a glaive, which she was pointing at Solamina in challenge.

“So,” Solamina said. “You have come to face me, finally.”

“I have come to kill you, wretch,” Gloriana Regalia Celestia retorted. With a sudden burst of speed, she had slammed into Solamina and borne her upwards.

The Avatar winced as he stood up. He closed his eyes, and a moment later it was David Elliot standing in his place, coughing and clutching the cauterised ruin of his wrist with a grimace. He tapped his ear receiver.

“This is Elliot,” he wheezed. “I’m… injured. Kraber’s down. We need evac, now. I say again - we need evac now.”

He didn't wait for a response before he dropped his hand, his vision blurring. A moment later, he slumped to the side, falling into unconsciousness.

***

Celestia Gloriana fights Solamina.

Solamina slammed into muddy ground, far from the urban environments. The other Alicorn landed opposite her, breathing heavily - whether from exertion or anger, it was impossible.

“So much anger,” Solamina commented, a little mocking grin on her face. “It can’t be good for your blood pressure.”

“Shut up,” Gloriana hissed. “You are a mockery of everything I stand for. You’ve brought disgrace to the Adamantine line, to our family’s history, to everything. You’ve destroyed all the good work we’ve done.”

“I am fighting to protect that work,” Solamina retorted. “I exist only to protect my little ponies. That is the only thing I have left.” She snorted, bringing her glaive up into a guard stance. “I have no family, I have no heir, I have nothing but them! Every action I take, no matter what those of lesser power and responsibility think of it, is for them, for their wellbeing, for their joy.”

“How is what you have done for them?!” Gloriana yelled. “You have waged a war of destruction - gone against everything we believed in!”

Solamina growled. “I don’t have to justify myself to you. I answer to no one.”

“You will answer to me,” Gloriana said, before she suddenly dashed forward. She stabbed forward with her glaive, but Solamina parried the strike, before slashing at Gloriana, who dodged backwards. Solamina hacked at her, but she blocked the strike, before blasting the Tyrant backwards with a spell.

Solamina grinned. “Good, good! This will be a challenge!”

She threw a spell at Gloriana, who deflected it lazily, before throwing her own, which Solamina blocked in turn. Solamina’s grin widened, and she threw a more powerful spell at her counterpart, who grimaced as she tried to block it with a shield. The spell fizzled as it made contact with the shield, a crackling filling the air, before the two spells detonated in a massive explosion of energy.

Dust filled the air for a long moment, but when it cleared, both Alicorns were still standing. Gloriana was breathing heavily, and Solamina had a scowl on her face, a cut on her cheek slowly fading away as it healed.

A moment later, the two charged again.

***

Lyra finds Elliot and Kraber’s body.

Lyra dashed ahead of the main body of the evacuation forces. Elliot’s message had come in a few moments ago, and it hadn’t even been a matter of thinking. She had simply needed to go, like her body was on autopilot. She had been vaguely aware of Renee ordering troops to follow her,

It was amongst the rubble of a couple of larger buildings that she found them. Kraber was already gone - his skin was bloodless, and he was utterly still. Lyra spared him a glance before looking at Elliot, and she felt a wash of nausea.

He was pale, shivering slightly, blood running down from his nose. His right wrist was a bloody, cauterised mess.

“David,” she whispered, horrified. She shook her head, turning to yell back the way she’d come. “They’re over here!”

A few soldiers jogged up, looking grim. Aegis was with them, and he immediately rushed to Kraber’s side, moving to listen to his friend’s chest.

“No, no, no…” he whispered. He began compressing his friend’s chest. “Fuck. Come on. Come on..”

Ignoring the desperate Earth Pony, Lyra looked down at Elliot. He was still shivering.

“You’ll be alright,” she said softly to him. “I’ll look after you. I promise.”

She laid her head on him, listening to his shallow breaths, and closed her eyes, even as a medic moved to check Kraber properly.

“I’m here,” she whispered to him. “I’m here.”

***

So… boom.

It would have been Pretty Shocking to kill off a major character, not least one as well received as Kraber. I hope this sequence maintains some of the shock value for you. So after this, there were a few cursory plot points the next chapter or so would have engaged with:

***

Solamina keeps a scar.

For context: she would have been injured by Gloriana Celestia during the fighting. This is her examining the injury afterward.

Solamina stared at the scar that ran over her eye, feeling a wave of something unfamiliar run through her. She had not healed the wound, unlike all the other injuries she had suffered during the battle of Wight - instead, she was merely scrutinising it, trying to decide what about it was holding her attention.

“My lady?” the voice of Twilight Sparkle asked. “The High Command are assembled, as per your instructions.”

“Good,” Solamina said softly. “I will be along in a moment, Twilight. Please tell them to await my arrival.”

Twilight said nothing more, and Solamina heard her walk out. She paid it no mind, still focusing on the scar.

I was given this by an equal, she thought. By myself, in another life. Perhaps that is why I see it differently.

Or perhaps, another voice, from somewhere deep inside her, said, you keep it because you feel guilt. Perhaps you should.

She shook her head somewhat.

She was right, the voice continued. You have taken everything we built and perverted it. You are not fit to wear the mantle of -

Enough.

She glared at her reflection.

Plague me no longer, voice of the past. I am Solamina. I am in control.

But you will keep the scar.

She nodded slowly at the reflection of herself. If nothing else, the scar would serve as a reminder to her troops that she had stood in battle - the advantage of such things was that it would show solidarity, comradeship. Once, she had believed such things mattered on principle, and even now she admitted to their use in maintaining loyalty. Between that and her other eye - which stubbornly remained grey despite her every effort to change it - she had truly not come out of this battle unchanged.

We were changed a long time ago.

Yes, we were. But for the better.

She smiled. Certainly, this scar was a sign that she had not emerged unmarked from battle.

But neither did their mighty ‘Avatar’, she thought, a twinge of amusement on her face. We have met in battle, and I bested him. Now, we can but wait to meet again.

Satisfied, Solamina turned to leave the room. Her High Command awaited to hear her decrees - and she had two wars to win.

***

Elliot, after meditation, decides to leave the military in the capable hands of his friends and the PHL forces and take a leave of absence to search for what it means to be an Avatar. He and AOA!Lyra have a final conversation. She admits she loves him.

Jed - I wish we’d have finished this scene. This was a beautiful storyline in the making.

He was sat alone when Lyra found him. He had his sleeves rolled up, and his stump was crackling with energy. As she watched, a new limb began weaving itself into existence, silvery and metallic. After a moment, it had finished.

“That's a neat trick,” she commented. He didn't turn.

“Lyra,” he said, his voice a bland monotone.

“I've seen you make proper hands before,” she pointed out. “Why is that one so different?”

“A reminder,” he replied quietly. “Of my failure.”

“You're not a failure,” she said softly, as he flexed the silver hand, his eyes still hard and cold.

“Am I not?” he asked quietly. “Look at this. Look at me. One thing I’m good for on this sodding rock, and I didn't do it. I couldn't. I wasn't strong enough to finish her.”

“You saved Stephan Bauer,” Lyra pointed out. “You saved the islanders. You got most of your people off of there. That's a victory.”

“Not all of them,” Elliot said with a sigh. “Not all. Not even most. We lost a lot of good people - too many.”

He slumped into the seat, hand over his eyes.

“You've always been too hard on yourself,” Lyra said softly, her eyes wide and full of something unidentifiable. “It's one of your most endearing traits, actually.”

Elliot laughed. “Endearing. That's a word.”

“One of many,” Lyra agreed. “You -”

She paused, and Elliot looked down at her with a frown.

“What?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”

Lyra said nothing for a moment, and he placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Are you alright?” he asked her.

She laughed bitterly. “Shouldn’t it be me asking you that?”

“Yeah, I’ve got a new hand, I’m fine,” he shrugged. “You - you look like you want to break something.”

“You could say that,” Lyra chuckled bitterly. Her smile faded. “I want to break Solamina for what she did to you.” She paused. “What she’s done to all of us.”

“Ha,” Elliot chuckled weakly. “You’ll have to get in line.”

***

- Conference between all allied leaders. Agreement is made: the allies have to end the war.

***

***