These were the dawn lands. Here the realm of twilight brushed up against the other nations of Equestria. From where the sun rose there lay Chimeron, realm of the manticore and griffin. The Armies of the Dawn, the last remaining vestige of Canterlot’s past, had warred here with the other nation for decades. The battle had come to be known as the Glorious Challenge, but the other nations called it simply Blueblood's Folly. He was a charismatic leader and self-proclaimed true heir to the Equestrian throne. Many followed him for memories of glory and a past long ground to dust. Many others turned against him and fled into the arms of the waiting enemy. There it was said they would become slaves, forced to work the fields and serve the larger and more powerful chimera. So the Armies of the Dawn fought on, to free their erstwhile comrades and to secure supplies from lands still blessed by the light of day. Or so they had been told.

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“Charge!” The order came loud and clear as it always did. A line of pony’s of every color charged down the hill, sunlight in their eyes and darkness on their heels. Ragged as their armor was they were still a fearsome sight. A small regiment of lesser chimera had been stationed at the entrance to this canyon for some time now. It had never been considered an important military target, the choke point of the gash in the earth making it naturally defensible by a small force. A few hundred could hold an army of thousands at bay here indefinitely, and had done so for nearly a hundred years.

This new attack however made no sense. These ponies had no magical or aerial back up and no hope of breaking through. Wave after wave of hooves crashed against tooth and claw as manticore’s and the more common chimera fought back. After a short skirmish the ponies receded as swiftly as they had come. No one had noticed a small shadow slipping through the lines of combat and charging into the gloom shrouded canyon.

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Here, far from the front-lines of battle there was never even the glimmer of sunlight. The horizon, kissed with the promise of a morning nearly a century delayed, was a grim reminder that for every parcel of land the Armies of Dawn gained, the unnatural darkness that plagued them stretched that much further to embrace them. Here a collection of tents stood elaborate and proud against the darkness. Though many thought Blueblood an idiot, it was true that within his city of tents none had seen so much as a trace of the twilight-folk who haunted the rest of Equestria. There was safety under his leadership. A lone captain moved to the main tent, larger and more finely decorated than any other, as suited royalty. The herald announced his coming, even so his leader looked shocked when he entered.

Prince Blueblood had changed little over the years since the fall of Canterlot. Many had regarded him as a spoilt brat then and that had never really left him. But with age had come experience, and though he was still selfish and self centered as any pony you could care to name, he had become something of a brilliant tactician. Many had been shocked by his sheer knowledge of battle, as though he were a completely different unicorn. The captain was, as always, impressed by his lord who even now was armed for battle, though he hadn’t seen it in well over a decade. His blond mane curled over golden armor, Celestia’s Sun gracing a cloak hung from his right shoulder. He spoke in a somewhat gruff voice, “What news do you bring?”

The officer hesitated before he spoke, some pony seemed to be standing behind the prince in the shadows, but was completely shrouded in the darkness. He cleared his throat and continued nervously, “My lord, the 77th regiment has moved against the Chimera Canyon as you commanded. The mission was a brilliant success! They’re defenses there are still strong, but we did not lose a single pony! They're surely not strong enough that they could resist the might of the entire Army of Dawn!” The prince knit his brow in disbelief. “I gave no such order! Why would I ‘test’ a vital point with an entire regiment when a few scouts would do?” The pony captain sputtered at that, “But sir, there are preparations underway even now to redirect all our forces to the canyon to crush the enemy and finally make way into Chimeron proper! Orders signed by you!” The unicorn narrowed his eyes at the officer and looked as if he were about to rip off his head for all the obvious falsehoods he uttered when a delicate cough came from the shadows. Blueblood shook his mane irritably, then his face changed like the warm sun coming out from behind dark storm clouds. “Very good soldier...leave me now and carry on with your preparations.”

As soon as his subordinate left Blueblood whirled on the pony behind him in a rage. “What is the meaning of this!? Is this another one of your confounded games!? Have I not been humiliated enough to suit you?” There was a low seductive chuckle from the darkness as a pair of red eyes opened. “Oh my sweet prince, such rude things you have to say to me. Have you forgotten I am a Lady? I would never engage in such a farce. Well, at least not one that did not result in more casualties of course.” At that the Prince shuddered, his anger melting into fear. “Then who? I’m not so inept that anypony could just issue false orders in my name and not be scourged within the same hour.” The shadowy pony uncoiled herself from the cushions on which she reclined in the deep twilight of the Prince’s tent. A few strands of dark red hair, almost purple, peeked into the light.

“Indeed darling, you are correct. It would seem someone with extensive knowledge of your family line is plotting something. I wonder who? Shall we play along my Prince? Its been ever so long since you’ve seen battle yourself. I should think you’d relish the Glorious Challenge!” The shadowy pony laughed gently again. Prince Blueblood paled. “My lady, I know you say we must conquer the land where the sun never sets in order to defeat the Twilight Queen...and I will sacrifice a million ponies to that end, in your name. But please...do not ask me to wade into that tide of blood once again...” The silken beauty moved further into the light, revealing a pony dyed blood red. Her main was shockingly dark and beautifully curled, her armor was black as sin and delicately decorated with ruby and garnet. Her demeanor was nothing less than the seductiveness of a succubus fresh from the netherworld, with all the deadly intent there implied. The being once known as ‘Rarity’ smiled knowingly, her eyes crimson flames as she said, “What’s the matter? Afraid of getting dirty?”

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Several days later, the sun brightened with every step the lithe wraith made. Theia bound through the crags and peaks. Even the dim sunlight here hurt her eyes, so she kept to the shadows, leaping from dark pool to pool as she ran along the edge of the river. Once the stream had been a roaring white water, but with the sun shining almost constantly on these lands, it had long dried to a trickle. It wouldn’t be long before the realm of Chimeron would dry up entirely and become a great desert. Theia didn’t care. The young unicorns one good eye blazed with determination, a beautiful azure hue beneath her bronze helmet. Her right eye lay hidden beneath a bandage wrapped tightly, ending just below her curling stub of a horn.. Broken off when she was younger, her horn was about the size of a foals despite her maturity. It barely peeked from between the strands of her silvery blond mane. Iron armor clad her from shoulder to hoof, clanking gently against her cream colored flanks. A network of scars, some old, some fresh enough they still oozed covered her entire body. The mark upon her thigh, an eight point blue and gold compass rose.

The filly had been running for days, deep into enemy territory, far from the lines of battle between the Armies of the Dawn and the Chimeron Empire. In many ways this was as dangerous as running headlong into the Twilight Palace, but at least if Theia died here, she would stay dead. High above her, a bird of prey called. Glancing into the crimson dawn sky, three silhouettes blocked out the light from above. “So much for stealth.” The unicorn muttered to herself. The three shapes dropped as one, and as the griffins descended the armor that marked them as one of the long range patrols of the empire came into focus. In the tight space between the canyon walls there was nowhere to run or hide that their talons couldn’t find her. Theia had only one option.

Two of the griffins were close enough now that Theia could see the gleam of their talons. The third, a larger male, wielded a spear aimed right for her head. Waiting until the last possible second, Theia lept for the canyon wall, kicking off the dusty stone. She smashed into the first soldier with her hooves, denting her helmet badly. Kicking up sparks from hoof on metal as she lept again, she landed on the second female griffin’s spine with a loud crack, sending her spiralling into the shallow stream. With a burst of momentum Theia bounded for the last patrolman still in mid-dive. The timing had to be perfect. Flipping in mid air she shattered the handle of the griffins spear and gripped the part of the handle with the bladed edge between her teeth. With a meaty thump she landed straddling the beasts back, the blade of its own spear at it's throat as it landed roughly on the dusty canyon floor. Between clenched jaws she spoke one word, “Fly.” The griffin moved at first as if he would resist, then she pressed the blade against its throat, easily slicing through the outer layer of feathers and biting into the soft flesh beneath. With an indignant scream the monster climbed into the sky, the canyon walls rushing past at blinding speed as Theia clung for dear life.

In mere moments they rushed out of the canyon and wheeled through the sky. Not far ahead of them the massive columns and temples of the empires city state loomed, gleaming white against a blood red sky. This was the closest that Chimeron got to night since the coming of Twilight. Sheets of cloth stretched from roof to roof in an attempt to gather the dew of the morning for drinking water. This was perfect for Theia, coming from the air, she’d be blocked from any view from below and it didn’t appear there were any other aerial patrols in eye shot. The griffin screamed and wheeled as if to turn back to the front lines of the war, but Theia held the spear head close to its throat again and aimed the beast for the Imperial palace.

Only moments later another high scream pierced the dawn, this one filled with rage. One of the females from the patrol had recovered and was in pursuit. With such speed and ferocity did she fly, the last note of her battle cry still echod as her talons bit into Theia’s side. The pony grunted as pain bloomed in her side like a burning flower. The male griffin tried to buck her then and for a moment Theia hung weightless in the air. If not for the spearhead at his throat, she would’ve been lost. The female griffin, laughing, took another pass, her claws catching mostly cold iron this time but the force of the blow was enough to make the pony lose her grip again. Perhaps they planned to treat her as the hawk treats the tortoise? Watch her fall from this height and explode on the rocks below only to swoop down and feast on the smeared remains. Theia was too close to her goal to give up now. As the lithe form of the griffin dived for a third time, the pony suddenly kicked off from her would be mount and rammed the spear tip into the female's underside. The blow would’ve killed her outright if it hadn’t lodged between her breastplate and shoulder guard. As it was, streamers of blood flew from both griffin and unicorn as the she-griffin lost altitude. There was a whirring of shadows as massive columns passed on every side. Theia lost her grip on her weapon at last and tumbled through the air and burst through the open doors of a balcony.

The fall had knocked of Theia’s helmet, but was much softer than she had suspected it would be. Dizzy and disoriented, it took her a moment to get her bearings. The room was dark, but torchlight cast mutli-colored shadows in pastel hues around the room. Thin silks were draped from floor to ceiling and plush rugs and cushions were strewn about the room. It was a pile of these that had broken her fall. In the center of the room, an ornate fountain lined with winged baby foals and griffin chicks bubbled. It took a moment for her to realize the urgent clopping noise coming from all around her were frightened pony’s in veils running from her. She’d landed in the Imperial harem. “Uh...could someone direct me to the Emperor’s throne room? I have an urgent message to-” She was cut off as a massive paw smashed the marble where she stood. Four manticore eunuchs had pounced silently from the shadows. Their massive lion frames dwarfed the pony, bat wings and scorpion tails grazing the vaulted ceiling. Smiling without a trace of humor Theia bolted for the exit, dodging and weaving through the silken curtains in a vain hope of throwing off her pursuers long enough to get her bearings. While this was her first time in the palace she mostly knew the layout from what Selene had told her. Selene...if she could just find that pony and get out Theia would thank the moon from now until the end of time. Clattering down the hallway, manticore’s huffing and snarling behind her, the young unicorn didn’t realize anyone was in front of her until she slammed into him. She fell to the floor in a daze as the eunuchs loomed over her, claws ready to rend the pony to shreds.

“ENOUGH! What is the meaning of this disturbance!?” The manticore’s fell back as if scourged by the whips of the furies. They knelt in submission, the largest of the eunuchs speaking in a quavering voice that still managed to boom as loud as thunder, “My apologize your grace. This loathsome one is an intruder who assaulted the maidens of your harem. We merely sought to defend them and your honor as we are charged.” Emperor? He was tall, not as large as the manticore who spoke to him but nearly so. His front half was that of a griffin, but his rear body resembled a pony’s. A hippogryph, old and noble ,with a severe cast to his avian features. Dressed in golden raiment and flowing white robes as befitted an emperor, he glared down at the unicorn bleeding on his floor. “And who guards my harem now, pray?” At that the eunuch looked shocked. “We shall return to our post at once your grace Emperor Agustus! By your leave!” The hippogryph sneered as the suddenly cowardly lions fled and he moved to lift the fallen pony’s head in his talons. “So, an agent of the Armies of Dawn no doubt? Are there no depths to which that cursed Blueblood will not stoop?”

“That is no member of the Dawn excellency.” The voice that suddenly called was full of measured grace and civility, gentle yet strong. It came from a large pony that cantered into view, wrapped in a flowing purple cloak, star dust glimmering on the hood that hid her features, she was flanked on either side by ponies in similar garb. Theia had recovered enough from her fall to kneel low before the new comer. “My lady Selene. I hope for my sake the talks of alliance have gone well.” At that Selene laughed, “Well enough child, though I’m not sure if our esteemed Emperor will feel inclined to forgive trespass on his harem...even if it is by one of the daughters of the moon.” The cream colored unicorn smiled. “He may if I tell him that the Armies of Dawn and their leader are even now moving swiftly into a trap we have laid for them.”

The Emperor looked startled at that. “Is this some trick you speak of? Blueblood is a foal, but even he is not so foolish to walk blindly into a trap and give himself over to us. I should know...it was that very mistake, by Caesar Eralius who came before me, that secured the Empire under my rule.” Theia smiled knowingly at her mistress. “Lets just say he has been extended an invitation he will not be able to resist! Naturally I will assist your armies in preparing for his arrival.” At this Lady Selene spoke, “Though I must remind your grace our plan is to capture the Armies of Dawn and turn them to aid us in the fight against the Legion of the Twilight. In return we will never trouble your empire again.” Emperor Augustus Hippolais Icterina Caesar, ruler of Chimeron knit his fearsome brow in thought. “If what you speak is true, then our people perhaps can form an alliance with your Cult of the Moon. But make no mistake, there will yet be more blood, of that there can be no doubt.”

A furious scream echoed through the halls as a blood stained griffin, the same female from the defeated patrol, soared through the hallway. Eyes cold with fury, she landed atop Theia and immediately began to tear at her with talon and beak. All were too stunned to do anything about this sudden attack, until the Emperor himself shrieked and smashed his prodigious weight into the smaller chimera. So stunned by this attack, the soldier nearly lashed out at her Empreror before she realized what she was doing. The rage drained from her face and she knelt low before her lord. “My apologies your grace, the blood lust is upon me. That creature at your feet deserves to die!” The hippogryph stomped his hooves in anger. “On what possible grounds?” Rising, the griffin said, “She nearly broke one of my sisters backs, cut the throat of a venerable brother, and stabbed at my heart, though by grace merely caught me in the shoulder. She is a ruthless assassin, surely sent here to murder you my liege! The only good pony is a dead pony!” Theia rose, bloodier than before with anger in her eyes. “A poor assassin I’d be if I couldn’t kill you pathetic excuses for soldiers. Or maybe you didn’t notice I went out of my way to wound you without killing you? As little as I like it, I’m on your side bird brain!” Both the Emperor and his soldier looked insulted by this, luckily Lady Selene spoke up to smooth things over. “I apologize for the rudeness of my subordinate. She shall return to the front lines soon, to make sure all of our preparations have been made as well.”

Silence descended in the palace for the first time in several moments. “Very well. This soldier will escort her. You will find a birds wing infinitely faster than a pony’s hoof, even if you have so little respect for our brains.” The soldier balked, “But uncle-” The Emperor spread his wings in rage, wingtips brushing the ceiling, “Do not question your Emperor’s command Gytha! Gather your phalanx and prepare to depart.” the young griffin bowed low, but her voice gave the lie to her true feelings as she spoke in barely concealed anger, “At once my liege.”
Lady Selene’s guards helped Theia fully to her hooves once more. “I think you’re wounds should be seen to before you set out again. They say the smell of wounded animals attract the attention of birds of prey as well as scavengers. It would not do for you to become somethings dinner before you have a chance to die gloriously fighting your own kind.” The small assassin grimaced but didn’t say a word as she was lead away.

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“Is it wise for you to send your niece into what you yourself suspect to be a blood bath?”

“Is it any wiser for you to send her? If she’s as important as you say she is, we cannot afford to lose her before the true battle has even begun.”

“Even so, she is in more danger by my side than she would be even in the heart of Canterlot. No, the further she is from me the safer she is. Only by maintaining my distance can she hope to remain safe until the proper time.”

“It’s a dangerous game your playing.”

“Perhaps so. But those seem to be the only kind we can play in this twilight age.”

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It was true that the griffin’s were swift. A trip that took Theia nearly five days on hoof, had been undertaken in half that by wing. In that scant amount of time, the cream colored pony’s wounds were already mostly healed. Clad now in the black robe and simple silver armor of the Cult of the Moon, she felt more at ease. At first she had feared Selene’s words, that the phalanx would fall on her and finish what Gytha had started, but it seemed they’d already been briefed about their alliance. Many of the beasts treated her with courtesy if not respect, though it was too much to hope for kindness. They were all soldiers after all, and they had a mission, even if she weren't injured this was no pleasurable outing. The only exception to this was Gytha herself. It turned out that though Gytha held no official rank, all treated her as if she were some important dignitary. This confused Theia until Praetor Hydronus, a winged serpent chimera, explained that she was the niece of the grand emperor and that as such she was allowed to move about freely within the empires army.

The female griffin obstinately continued to treat Theia as if she were an enemy that needed to be destroyed. When she asked the Praetor why she hated her so, the serpent only laughed and remarked, “She hates all of you hoofed creatures. She had an older sister once, long ago. It was in your lands she went missing.” It took some time until one of the griffin infantry finally explained this further. “Your princess said she must have gotten lost on her return home, but many of our citizens have become ‘lost’ in Equestria before. There was usually a body to be found. Not so with Gilda.” This bit of news did nothing to improve Theia’s temper. She'd have to fight alongside this griffin soon, and the filly didn’t need to worry about the claws at her back as well as the enemy before her.

When they arrived, the unicorn swiftly dismounted the small chariot two powerful griffins had been pulling for her and surveyed the scene from the top of the canyons cliff side. As far as the eye could see, ponies of every size, shape, and color ranged before her. With the gloom of twilight at their back the Armies of Dawn seemed to glow. It was a truly impressive site... If only that might was turned against the cruel Twilight Queen instead of their neighbors they might have ended her reign long ago. Or possibly added to her ranks. Either way they would not be her problem right now. The banners of the sun against a blue background snapped in the wind, indicating that Prince Blueblood himself was already here. There was not a moment to lose! The melee had already begun in front of the barricade. It was only a matter of time before the pegasus soldiers took to the air and then chaos would truly reign. More units of the Imperial legion arrived each moment, lining the tops of the canyon and re-enforcing the barricade as best they could as hooves thundered across the dawn lit plains. There was not a moment to spare if Theia was to bring this long and costly war to an end.

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One moment it was but a skirmish, the next both armies were in full assault. Griffins and pegasus ponies ripped each other to shreds in midair, sending down a fine mist of gore and feathers. Ponies on the ground formed ranks and trampled or kicked their way through the Empires front line of manticores, over-coming the massive brutes with sheer numbers. A few unfortunates were caught in their paws or impaled by their darting scorpian tails, but many a proud lions skull was crushed by the pounding of a thousand hooves. The fiercest, if more subtle combat went on between the unicorns and the kelpies. Theirs was an old enmity, the amphibious horses magic mainly served to create illusions, but they could be deadlier than a manticores sting. The last thing many soldiers saw was a dear ally or friend morphing into a pony with reptilian eyes, a bulging throat sack and wickedly sharp teeth to tear out their throats. Some unicorns worked to negate these magics while others used their powers for more conventional attacks, kicking up clouds of dust to blind or hurling rocks as missles. Failing that, many a kelpie found the cold, clammy flesh of their throats burst by the corkscrew of a unicorns horn.

Prince Blueblood shook with fear at the sheer glut of carnage around him. He looked so gallant and dashing in his golden finery, the visor of his winged helm low over his eyes to conceal the terror within. He charged blindly, passing pony and chimera locked in fatal combat. The unicorn came upon a winged lion that roared challenge, sending the Prince quivering back on his heals. If he lived through this, Blueblood vowed he’d never set hoof upon the battlefield, no matter who questioned his honor, least of all that brooding bloodstained harlot. A flash of crimson played across his eyes, and suddenly the lions head was severed, rolling to the feet of the unicorn eyes still open in shock. The chimera’s body stood without toppling, a great gout of blood fountained from the beasts thick neck. Only Blueblood was not engaged in combat at that moment, so only he noticed the monsters killer bathing in the steady stream of steaming gore. The sight oddly cheered him, his patron diety had not abandoned him. Her sword, if you could call it that, was a massive hunk of carved garnet, its every edge keenly sharp from tip to pummel. It twisted and writhed with crimson energy and almost seemed to drink in the blood of the slain. To be sure none could be seen on its gleaming surface.

With renewed vigor at the sight of this powerful ally, the Prince called for his soldiers to press their assault. Already the barricade they sought to topple was buckling. Once Blueblood, still immaculate and golden, arrived at the front, the Armies of Dawn were so swept up in their fervor for their lord they did not notice the enemy pulling back. Or perhaps those that did took it for retreat before their might. The barricade fell, nothing but a pile of matchsticks under the hooves of their onslaught. Victory would be theirs! For the first time there was a straight shot into the Empires heart, and all the sun blessed bounty that these wretched creatures did not deserve would be theirs! The Armies of Dawn plunged into the gloom, unaware of what lurked in the shadows before them.

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Not far into the canyon proper, four daughters of the moon waited patiently, watching as the barricade fell. Just as planned. The shining tide of armored ponies surged up the stream, thousands of hooves churning the sand and water to mud. They smiled, one to another, as they started the avalanche that would block in the canyon from this side. As the last of the ground based soldiers surged into the canyon, another team near its entrance would do the same. With both the ground ponies and unicorns hopelessly trapped, only the pegasus soldiers would need mopping up.

Prince Blueblood was beside himself with fury as he saw, all too late, that he had walked right into his enemies talons. Before him loomed a wall of stone too high to climb and too perilously loose to dig through without fear of being crushed. From the top of the pile of stone, a single pony called down. “Greetings Prince of Equestria! We are the Daughters of the Moon your friends and allies, though you may not know it yet, here to stop you from committing a terrible mistake! The Empire of Chimeron has sworn to cease all hostilities, and indeed to aid and supply your Armies against the dread forces of the Twilight Queen so that you may reclaim your birthright. All you must do in return is yield this day and make peace with his excellency the Emperor!” He’d heard the offer before, and had many a messengers head sent back to the Empire after similar attempts at peace. However this messengers head was slightly out of reach just at the moment and all the false bravado the Prince felt before drained away as his soldiers milled about him uncertainly. They were sitting ducks down here! A handful of soldiers could crush them all, simply by pushing over a few stones. How could he possibly turn this to his advantage? And where was his supposed patron of war now, when he needed her most?

Looking around himself, the Prince could come to but one conclusion. The easiest option, this time at least, resonated with his cowardice. “Very well, I yield. I ask only that you spare myself and my soldiers. I will speak to the Emperor personally. You will have your peace.” Oddly these words seemed to hearten the ponies around him. All about him there rose the sounds of cheering and quiet approval. Almost everypony was smiling. For the first time since he couldn’t remember when, Prince Blueblood felt a great weight lifted from his heart. That's when the pain started. From the tip of his nose it surged through his entire body all the way to the end of his tail, agony filling him before he exploded in a shower of bloody pieces. Where he had stood before, a dark red pony loomed instead, an obelisk of garnet leaning against her shoulder. The blood splattered soldiers around her backed away eyes wide and mouths open in abject horror at what had befallen their leader.

"That felt soooo good. He was always whining and complaining, you just have absolutely no idea! Such a royal pain, I should've done that decades ago!" She smiled with delight, blood dripping from her curling mane. The mass of glowing gems that had ripped the prince's body to pieces rose from his shattered carcass, lifted by the magic employed by this brutal unicorn. The unicorn atop the barrier called down. "Who are you murderer? Tell me so that I may inform my mistress who I have slain." From the shadows all around the blood drenched pony, fillies and colts in black cloaks appeared, magic shimmering around them. The fiery filly laughed and tossed her mane, sending a scarlet spray into the air, "Oh how rude of me. I find my manners quite desert me on the battlefield. Once, long ago, I was known as Rarity, but you can call me War. And there will be no peace for you mortal specks."

As one the sons and daughters of the moon surged towards the pony who declared herself war. Spells and hidden blades at the ready, they launched an assault from all sides. Her red sword whirled faster than the eye could follow, gracefully deflecting spells and turning aside blades before dismembering each and every last assailant. No one pony died the same, some crushed by the flat of the blade, others rapidly chopped into pieces so fine they were reduced to a simple mist. The entire tableau ended after less than a minute, Rarity's beautiful jewel sword sheething itself through the back and chest of an unfortunate colt who tried to flee back to the safety of the shadows. As his legs twitched and spasmed, his life dripping from his wounds, War turned her back to Theia and bat her lovely long lashes at the assembled Armies of Dawn. Her eyes flashed with fire that coursed down her body and ignited her hooves "Now you must choose darlings. Fight your war or rest in peices!" Her voice became gutteral as the unicorn directed her blade once more and began to mow down soldier after soldier, as if they were made of paper instead of flesh and blood, leaving burning hoof prints in her wake.

Theia panicked. What had been a simple trap had turned into a slaughter ground. Gritting her teeth, the cloaked pony slid down the makeshift barricade, rocks tumbling after her. She landed with a soft thump on the ground that jarred her bones and re-opened some of her half healed wounds. Yet there was no time to worry about those, this monstrous pony was killing, had killed, colts and fillies who wanted nothing but peace and freedom from creatures like herself. She had to be stopped, even if Theia highly suspected she’d die trying. She stood, so regal and elegant in her gem studded armor, her peaceful continence in drastic contract to the unbelievable chaos she effortlessly unleashed on all those around her. Even so, Theia could see she had one glaring weakness. She'd only get one shot at this, and she prayed to the moon for silence and grace.

With all her enemies attention focused on the army before her, Theia slid noiselessly through the bloody forms of the dead and dying. She rose into the air, hovering briefly as a shimmer of magic spread from her stub of a horn to engulf her body. With a soft sigh she became shadow and flowed like water through the air. The magic faltered with a spark from her malformed horn and Theia became tangible again. It was blind, stupid luck that she smashed into Rarity's face, snapping off the War ponies horn. As that horn fell uselessly to her hooves, her sword of gems crumbled. The look of cold fury as she glared down at Theia would stay with the would be assassin for the rest of her life. It would haunt her dreams. Then the unicorn did something the daughter of the moon did not expect. She laughed. "So you have chosen to fight? Good. Its ever so boring when you just choose to die. UNLEASH THE DOGS OF WAR!"crying that, the scarlet pony seemed to melt away, forming a pool of blood that melded into the already gore splattered canyon floor. After a few seconds she had completely vanished.

For a moment all was quiet, but just for a moment. A rumbling began that threatened to bring the canyon walls down on top of their heads. Indeed, a few loose boulders began to tumble, crushing unlucky ponies with wet crunches. That was not all that fell from above, yet all attention quickly turned instead to what burst from below. All around them massive hounds clawed their way through the sand and rock. All wore jewel studded armor and had teeth and claws that looked ready to rip flesh as easily as they could burst through stone. They ranged in size from just larger than a pony to towering behemoths with two heads that belched fire. Yet every last one of them had something in common. All their eyes were as crimson as the orbs of the pony who had called for them.

A set of massive claws ripped through the earth and bodies that lay at Theia's feet, giving the dead a burial as gruesome as their demise. This hound was larger than all the others, at least as large as an Ursa! Its three powerful necks were studded with blood diamonds embedded into the very skin itself. Massive gems sprouted from the creatures back, and in the hearts of each glowed an ember of flame. The three headed hound howled before launching itself at a stunned Theia. A new and desperate battle began then, hooves proving little match against this new enemy. Worse, the canyon walls really were crumbling now. All their enemy had to do was wait until the ponies were buried, then dig themselves out. All seemed lost until a cry came from above. Pegasus ponies and griffins flew together, dropping stones on the heads of the diamond studded dogs, and grabbing the outstretched hooves of the Armies of Dawn. One by one, the soldiers were airlifted to safety as the dogs were driven back into the holes from which they crawled.

A surge of hope filled Theia and she stared down the monstrosity before her. The cerberus' jaws, dripping liquid flame, snapped at the pony and sent her stumbling back. It charged forward, falling for the feint as Theia lept atop its central head. The beasts heads on either side turned to the central one, the left merely growled while the right spat a gout of flame, charring the middle head in the process. Theia did not pause however, and lept to the tallest jewel that studded the monsters back. The walls of the canyon finally began to crumble completely, crushing friend and enemy alike. A scream from above and Theia felt powerful claws digging into her shoulders. She panicked for a moment before a familiar voice shouted over the roar of the ravaged earth and baying hounds. “You owe me big time for this, pony scum!” Theia tried to smile at Gytha, but was still shaken when she realized the enormity of what had just happened. “Thank you Gytha.” The griffin screeched, calling out to her phalanx.

From the cloud of dust formed by the collapsing canyon three heads, one almost skeletal and two whole and all roaring emerged. The jaws of all three closed with sharp, futile clips just below Theia's left hoof. Whimpering in frustration the diamond dog fell back into the mass grave from which it had burst and dug itself out of sight. Winging their way back towards the safety of the Empire, Theia's mind burned with what she had seen. All the death and chaos reminded her of why she was a daughter of the moon. If the what the Armies of Twilight offered them was the choice to fight or die, then they must fight. But if they did not put aside their differences and fight as one, how could they hope to defeat the Twilight Queen, let alone War?

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Dear Princess Celestia,
Today I learned that betrayal takes many forms.

It can be the knife in your back placed there tenderly by a friend. It can be the indiscretion of a family member. It can be the selfish actions of a lover. It can even be an ungrateful bite of the hoof that feeds a dearest purebred pet. There is no end to the many wrongs the ones we trust can visit upon us.

All that seems common to betrayal is that it stings all the more the dearer the friend. The lesson here is obvious. You should be careful whom you put your trust in, if indeed you should bother to trust anyone.

It may be better to guard ones heart than to leave it open to be bled by the tender mercies of a fickle world.