It had been nine centuries since Prince Akhel had walked the hallowed old hallowed halls of Canterlot Castle. That is how long he had been estranged from his neighbor to the West. It was with some surprise that Celestia welcomed the crowned stallion. He had a chestnut coat and looked strong and rugged. His face was weathered and he walked with weariness. Celestia had received his letter earlier that day. That evening both she and Luna received him. He bowed as he walked in. They did as well, acknowledging him as an equal. Like them he was an alicorn. Indeed, he was their older brother. Upon his flank was emblazoned a circle and a cross for he was the Prince of the Earth.

“My Sisters, much grief has come to my kingdom. The Bayzantine Empire has fallen.”

Celestia and Luna shared a shocked expression. The Bayzantine Empire, that eastern glory, that shimmering jewel of Equine Civilization whose golden cities shone like stars upon the grassy plains. It was the last remnant of the pre-Equestrian Roaming Empire, founded by the nomadic ponies who had wandered from Dream Valley shortly after Megan had left to return to her own world. For over one-thousand years it had produced scholars and artists. It was home to a vibrant literary tradition and had produced musical forms loved throughout all Equine Nations. All Megan had left behind were the principles of Celestianity, which the Bayzantine Empire had jealously guarded. They and Canterlot were the twin defenders of that true and glorious faith. They had drifted apart after the High Priest of Coltantinople had declared the sun greater than the moon. Celestia had taken this as an insult to their sister and the two sides had exchanged several barbs before severing all ties.

“The Empire? How can this be? How has word of this not come to us before?” Luna asked. “How could it fall? Is it not guarded by the Varneighian Guard, the greatest warriors of the North?”

“Coltantinople yet stands, Sister. The Guard has pledged to defend it with their lives. You know they will not break their vows. As for why you have not heard word sooner, Celestia and I are estranged.”

Luna looked between her and her brother. “How did this come to pass?”

“It’s a long story.”

“A long and ridiculous story.” Akhel said. “For which I was most at fault. Please forgive my foolishness, Celestia.”

Celestia walked towards him and embraced him. He wrapped his hooves around her neck.

“It has been too long, Big Brother.”

Luna joined the hug and for a time they held each other, enjoying the warmth of their siblings.

“But I must know what has occurred.” Celestia said. “For I shall defend your Kingdom as if it were my own.”

“I wonder who could possibly invade, nonetheless, overthrow Bayzantine. Its iron walls have stood against Diamond Dog Raiders and Griffon Warriors. Not even Thorax the Great and his Changeling Army could defeat the Bayzantine Army.”

“It is the accursed Moohamadens from the East. They started upon the plains of Saddle Arabia and at first we paid them no heed. Then they began raiding towns and burning villages. They offered the Celestians two choices-conversion to their false faith or death. They have killed thousands already. I have seen entire cities razed by the armies of Moohamed. Without mercy they have butchered men, women and children. They have bashed the skulls of priests and raped priestesses and ten thousand other foul outrages. Holy Jerustallion, where the Sun was born, has fallen to them and the Celestians within butchered for they would not renounce our holy and ancient faith.”

Luna and Celestia tried to control their anger during the recounting of these horrors, but Luna finally stomped her hoof.

“Enough! We have heard enough! I pledge every Batpony warrior under my command to thine cause! I swear we shall drive out the

Moohamadens!”

“I pledge my whole army to this cause for I fear they may come to threaten Equestria.”

“Oh, they shall. We turned a blind eye when they conquered Jerustallion. What a horrid mistake that was. We tried to appease them, make peace with them. They accepted no peace. Their religion-if a mishmash of foul lies and horrid deeds can be called a religion-calls for total submission to their false god. I’ve read their book. They will conquer and kill till the world bows before them.”

“That will not happen even if I myself must enter the fight.” Celestia promised.

The three siblings embraced once more.

                                                                                                                       …

Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guard, knew that soon he would have to wake. He had a full day of planning and a war council to attend. They were a week away from departing to the gods-forsaken land of Bayzantine. Yet, he did not want to leave the pink alicorn at his side whose wings were wrapped around him. He cuddled into her softness, held her close against him.

'Curse the Guard, curse Bayzantine and curse the name Moohamed, I want to stay right at her side.'

He had known he would fall in love with her from the minute he had first seen her. She had answered the call to foalsit Twilight. His mind drifted back to that. Twilight was in her room, as usual. She didn’t really play with others. In fact she didn’t really play at all. She just stayed in her room reading her books. Occasionally, Shining would be able to drag her out to fly kites or something like that. The only one she opened up to was him. When Shining had gotten back he’d heard the rare, but beautiful sound of his little sister’s laughter.

'Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake,

clap your hooves and do a little shake!'

He watched in amazement as Cadence and his sister did a silly little dance together. His sister who only laughed for him was now laughing for this stranger. He felt a little jealous as he watched Cadence and Twilight roll around on the floor in a fit of giggles.

She had made her laugh. She had drawn out his little sister’s laughter, made her happy in a way even he couldn’t do. She turned and smiled at him and something in her smile filled his heart with joy, eased away his worries.

The very next day he’d transferred to her personal guard contingent. She had cared for his beloved sister so he would spend the rest of his days defending her. At first, he hadn’t even known he was in love with her. It was just gratitude for helping to draw his sister out of her shell.

A nuzzle from Cadence brought him back to the present.

“Hey there, handsome. Sleep well?” She purred.

They were in her wing of the castle, her private bedchamber. It was where Shining spent all of his nights.

He smiled at her. “I always sleep well when you’re by my side.” He frowned. “I don’t know if I’ll be sleeping well the next few months.” Or years.

She nuzzled him again. “You don’t have to go, y’know.”

“Yeah, I do. My purpose in life is to defend those I love. That includes my country. My country needs me and I will not fail her.”

“I need you.”

“This is not a time for selfishness, Cadence.” He gently chided.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and nibbled his ear. “I don’t want you to go. I know I’m being selfish, I’m just scared. What will I do here without you?”

“I’ll send you a letter every week.”

“Every day. I know you know the spell for teleporting letters.”

“Alright, every day.”

“And promise me you’ll come back.”

He hesitated. That might be a promise he could not keep.

He smiled weakly. “Of course, Cady. I will come back to you.”

He arose and she arose after him. As always, they would shower together. Then she would go to her duties as a foalsitter and he would put on his armor and lead his troops. As they slipped into the shower and the warm water cascaded over them he wondered if he was making a mistake. Maybe he should retire for a while. Maybe he should go off somewhere with Cadence.

'No, I can’t do that. I can’t abandon my nation when my nation needs me most.'

'Cadence needs you too. ' A contrary voice replied as the princess rubbed oil onto his back.

Deep in his heart, burned a love for his country. It was his love for his family, for his friends, for his own native city and for the princesses, especially Cadence. As soon as he was able he had joined the royal guard. From the moment he first got his cutie mark defending a classmate from a rabid dog he’d known his destiny. His purpose in life was to protect others. How could he turn his back on his nation at her time of need? At the same time, how could he turn his back on Cadence?

He turned around and placed a hoof to her cheek.

“I’m doing this for you. I will not allow Equestria’s enemies to come here. I will fight for you, my love.”

She rested her head on his shoulder. “Remember the last time you fought for me?”

“We were on that diplomatic trip to Griffonia. I knocked you out of the way of that assassin’s arrow.” He smiled. Though he had taken a blow it remained a fond memory. She had held his head while the other guard had fought off the assassins.

“I was so scared you were going to die. It was the first time I realized I was in love with you.”

“You visited me every day. That’s how I began to fall in love with you. Though I still worry if I’m worthy of you.”

“You are worthy, my brave knight.”

She blessed him with a kiss from her divine lips.

“I still wish you’d stay, but since you won’t, go with my blessing.”

“Thank you.” He said to her.

They stepped from the tub and he wrapped a towel around her.

“Shining, there’s something I want to give to you. Meet me in the cherry blossom grove after the War Council meeting.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll find out after I give it to you.” She responded with a sly grin.

After they dried each other off Shining left to go to the War Council.

                                                                                                                                           …

Shining, clad in full armour, strode through the oak doors of the War Room. All around was stained glass windows decorated with the great heroes of old, commemorating their victories. Emblazoned on the roof was the sun and moon, one carved from gold the other carved from silver. Light from the late morning sun colored the room in shades of greens, yellows, silvers and reds. It was striking and served to remind the warriors of the green of Equestria’s valleys, the red of the blood spilt for Equestria and the yellow and silver of the heavenly bodies they worshipped. A round table was in the center of the room. Around that same table the legendary Knights of Canterlot had once sat. Today, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Prince Akhel, Morpheus High Commander of the Bat Pony Army and Sir Gleaming Shield, General of the Holy Army of the Sun, sat. Morpheus was a grizzled old batpony with a scar across his left eye. His cutie mark was a downward dagger. Gleaming Shield was a white pegasus with a yellow mane and shield cutie mark. He was younger than Morpheus, but renowned as the hero of the Diamond Dog Wars.   Shining Armor took his rightful place among them.

“I declare this meeting of the War Council opened.” Celestia announced.

“Prince, Akhel, please explain the situation.” Shining requested.

“The Moohamadens first attacked the outer cities of the Empire. Our forces repelled the early attacks, but soon they were overwhelmed. Jerustallion fell around a month ago. They’ve been on the move since then. Only Coltantinople and few outlying cities remain.”

“Why weren’t we contacted earlier?” Morpheus demanded.

“We assumed we could handle it. We had several early victories.”

“Pride goes before destruction.” Morpheus said.

“Another tired proverb, Morpheus?” Gleaming Shield asked.

“It’s a true saying.”

“Let’s focus on what we have now.” Shining said, interrupting the stallions before they could begin their customary bickering. “What is our strategy?”

“We could come in from the east and assault their flank.” Luna suggested.

Morpheus nodded. “Yes. A strong offense is the best defense.”

“Are any of the towns they hold on the coast?” Shining asked.

“Several.” Akhel said.

“If we could hold one of those cities we could use it as a base to attack the main Moohamaden army.” Shining said.

“It could work. From there we could advance against their main forces.”

“Attacking from the flank would cause general panic and confusion-especially at night. Leave it to my warriors and in the morning you can clean up the rest.” Morpheus mused.

“A sound plan. I would like to know about the numbers.” Gleaming Shield asked.

“Initial estimates suggest seventy-thousand soldiers.” Akhel said.

“Our combined forces are forty-thousand.” Gleaming Shield said.

“Even more reason for a sneak attack.”

“We come in from the coast, sucker punch the Tartarus out of them and get ourselves a foothold in their territory.” Shining concluded.

Akhel nodded. “That seems like a wise idea.”

The strategy meeting went on for a while working out the kinks of the plan, but the basic idea remained unchanged. The Moohamaden Army was strong, but a flank attack could devastate them. They would go on the offensive, driving them out of the cities and villages they had taken. Morpheus had decided his batpony warriors would carry out night time raids to cause panic and disarray. Then in the morning the main army would attack them. It would be a continuous, unrelenting assault, brutal and efficient. The spear carrying units would be indispensable, constantly thrusting at the Moohamaden forces. To Shining it sounded good, but there were so many unknowns. Most of all, he wondered how the Moohamadens had even managed to take so much in so little time. The Saddle Arabians of half-a-century ago were undisciplined desert raiders who would not even challenge the Zebrica tribes nonetheless a global power like Bayzantine.

“Prince Akhel, will you please explain the Moohamaden battle tactics?”

“I would describe it as swift. They wear very light armor and move very quickly.”

That didn’t sound good. He and Gleaming Shield exchanged a look.

“Our strategy relies on overwhelming force to crush our foe, particularly with our spear-stallions yet…I must admit we’re not the quickest around.” Gleaming said.

“Leave it to the Pegasii and Batponies. We’ll attack from above.” Morpheus said.

Gleaming and Shining nodded. After a few more minutes planning they all felt confident in their plan. The Princesses dismissed the meeting. Tomorrow they would set out to the empire of Bayzantine whose iron walls had never fallen before even the mightiest foe.

And if Shining Armor had anything to say about it, they never would.

                                                                                                                                                   …

Shining Armor made his way through the gardens. All around him bloomed roses and tulips and innumerable other flowers in hundreds of shades and colors. The sweet scent spread over the garden and wafted through the castle throughout the spring and summer months. Cadence was standing in the grove of cherry trees, pink blossoms showering around her in the wind. He trotted into the grove and greeted her with a kiss. She placed a necklace over his head. Dangling from it was a vial.

“Cadence? What is this?”

“It is water, infused with my power. If you are in a situation of great danger drink it and it will temporarily give you the power of an alicorn."

Shining gaped. “I can’t take this. This is…this is a fragment of your soul isn’t it?” He could feel a pulsating heat against his heart.

She nodded. “I give it to you my love. I am yours body and soul.”

“I…I…” Shining was at a loss for words. “It’s a part of your soul.”

“Yes. It is. So that no matter how far you go, even if as far as Saddle Arabia’s sands I will be with you.”

He touched the vial gingerly with his hoof. “Cadence, when this is all over, will you marry me?”

He was answered by her embrace. They kissed once more. Tomorrow he would head out, the strength of the greatest assortment of warriors the world had ever seen behind him. Today he would make love to Cadence as they hid beneath the canopy of cherry flower blossoms.