I stood on a hill, overlooking the Minotaur capitol, my BR in hand. It had been a week since I killed the last three Caribou, and me and the others, now including fifty women, you know what I mean, had gotten here the night before. It had been an. . . interesting week, let me tell you.

The night after I had killed the last three Caribou, I had a dream discussion with Luna. Well, it was more me muting her and telling her what had transpired. I then un-muted her, and she said that the Caribou had been the one thing that got both armies to stop fighting one another. Yeah, the Caribou were that bad. Anyway, after that, I said that the mares they had captured had decided to join me and the others. Not so surprisingly, she thought I had threatened them with death, which I guess I kinda did, unintentionally, now that I think about it. I then said they had chosen willingly. After that, I went the direction of small talk, which surprised her. In fact, we were now able to have conversations without yelling at each other, a real step up, I'd say.

The second thing, actually, had to do with the Tree, who, apparently, is able to be fucking psychic. You see, the third night after the whole camp thing, she spoke to me while we were resting from the teleportation, and said that I myself would not be the one to end this war. Like I didn't already know that, bitch, and I told her that, to which she replied that I would need help from two others, one of whom I had already met. That got my intrigue, but she said no more.

The third was related to Quick, and took place a few days after the second convo. I had with the Tree. We arrived at the town, and Quick, myself, and Mist, disguised, we aren't that stupid, walked in. We didn't find that much, but we did discover a piece of Quick's history. Turns out, she was one of the best Griffon soldiers in what counted as their military. That's not even relative, she was a goddamn terror, or she would be, if ponies knew of her.

The fourth and final thing, so far, would be that Lone had proposed to Starlight. She had practically become Rarity at a fashion convention, hopping up and down, screaming, "YES, YES, YES, YES!" who knows how many times over. The wedding had been planned for after Jagged Blade. In fact, one thing we had learned on the way here was that any and all soldiers caught by Sombra and his allies forces were sent here, and, by fortune, most were deserters. Jeez, we are lucky as hell.

The capitol itself resembled Washington D.C., in shape. It had a sort of wheel and spoke design, with numerous residential buildings on the edge, with museums closer to the center, memorials dotted around, and the equivalent of the White House in the center. Of what I saw of the place, it was built to resemble a castle, with cannons on top in the battlements, high, stone walls surrounded by a moat of fire. Have to give them credit, they know how to put a spin on shit. Patrolling it were crystal constructs. Looks like Sombra upped his game. Oh, this is going to be fun. Oh, if only I had myself a Mantis with the weaponry of the Prototype suit, that would be (to quote one of my favorite bosses) FUCKIN' INVINCIBLE! Guess I'll just have to settle with good ol', reliable Mjolnir armor.

The plan was this: the group would split into five teams of eleven, and infiltrate the city. Starlight led one team, consisting of herself, two changelings, two pegasus mares, two earth pony mares, and the rest being griffoness, codenamed: Echo. The second team was led by a changeling named Amber, her team consisting of herself, two unicorn mares, two griffonesses, and two earth pony mares, and the rest being fellow changelings. Team name: Shadow. The third team was led by a Griffoness that had seen action against Sombra's forces the most, her name being Greta. Her team was herself, three pegasus mares, and one changeling, the rest fellow griffonesses. Team name: Raptor. Team four was led my a unicorn mare named Azure Shadow, her team being all unicorn. Team Name: Mage. I led the last team , which consisted of me, Lone, Quick, Onyx, and Mist, as well as the remainder of the forces, which were two changelings, one earth pony, one unicorn mare, and two griffonesses other than Quick. Team Name: Blue. Yeah, yeah, hate that decision all you want, but here, I'm the only Spartan, so thus, here, I am the Chief.

Right now, the five team leaders were in one of the tents we took from the Caribou camp, going over the specifics.

"Team Raptor will be pulling support detail," I say. "You guys are the fliers, and can get every where pretty quick, and get us intel on any enemy positions."

"And if we need the support?" Greta, a griffoness with the head of a bald eagle and the anthro body of a lion, asked.

"That's why the teams will be close together," Starlight said, voicing her contribution to how we were going in. "In case you guys need the support, or another team needs help, and you guys can't get there."

"I guess it's a good thing they don't have any way to neutralize magic," Azure, who had once been a part of Sombra's forces who had azure skin with black hair, said. "Then we'd be pretty screwed."

"Agreed," Amber, a changeling who, as it turns out in an interesting twist of fate, was one of Chrysalis' family member, and I mean sister, not like how all bee workers are related to the queen bee, which, as it turns out, is not true for changelings, as they work like you and I, but I digress, with, go figure, amber colored chitin or skin, who the hell knows. "Besides, just about each of our teams relies on magic to a degree. Hell, the only one in this entire group that doesn't rely on magic is Josh."

"Which gives us an advantage I'm glad for," Starlight said. "Plus, unless they have spies in the Guard, Sombra and his allies haven't heard of Josh yet."

"Still, we need to pretend as if they do," I say. "Just to be on the safe side."

"Sounds about right," Amber said. "Which is why I think Blue team," I fan squealed on the inside just hearing that, "should be the arrow head of the attack, with Josh at the tip of it, like the rest of us are going to be with our squads."

"Makes sense," Azure said. "If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be here."

I chuckled. "All we need now is a speech I'll most likely have to give."

"Oh, you will be," Greta said with a smirk, which how is that even possible with a damned beak?!

"Good thing I got something ready for that already," I say. "And now for when we move in."

"I say tomorrow night," Azure said, to which the others agreed.

"Then it's tomorrow night," I say. "Until then, we enjoy ourselves, and get our squads ready. Ooh wah naria."

"Ooh wah naria," they reply, that having become the creedo for our army. With that, we left the tent, and went our separate ways. I myself went to a small, secluded hill just a little north of our camp. I had always been an introvert, and even as a general of an army, I still had that.

Once I was at the top of the hill, a ten minute walk for me, I took off my helmet, and sat down, laying my weapons down. I sure have come a long way. I mean, a week ago, I was just some random kid at a convention. Now, I'm a Spartan leading an army. Oh, the twists fate can hand you, am I right?

I put a hand on my side. The impact from Dainn's hammer a week ago had broken a few ribs, which Lone and a few of the other unicorns had fixed, but they told me that, if I ever took my armor off, I would have one hell of a scar. Not sure if I like that or not.

I sighed, and put a hand on one of my thigh compartments, which opened up, and I reached inside to bring out the one thing that was in there. What I pulled out was probably the last thing I had of my old life, and that was an olive green survival bracelet, but keep in mind I wasn't a camper before, I kept it just because I liked it. I wore it while at the convention, and din't find out it came with me until a day ago. I clenched my fist around it, not afraid of breaking it, as it was made of some durable shit, then put it back in the compartment, which then closed.

I then looked at the sky, which was in dusk, the moon slightly high than the sun. I smiled to myself. I had always enjoyed the night. The mystery and the thrill of the unknown, I guess. Watching MLP simply made me more of one because of Luna, my favorite pony. I guess a reason why I trapped part of her mind in mine that would be able to somehow converse with the real one was because I wanted to get to know her. I'd say that plan, unconsciously made to not, is blown to hell now, eh?

I took a deep breath, and let it out slowly, enjoying the fresh air. Over the past week, this was only the third chance I had to take off my helmet, and I was going to enjoy it. I heard rustling behind me, and turned to see Lone. "Hey, Lone," I said as he approached.

"Hey, Josh," he replied. "Mind if I take a seat?"

"Not at all," I say, and he sat down next to me. "So, how's Starlight?"

"Last I saw, well," he said. "I still can't believe she said yes to me."

"Be glad she did," I say. "I'm not exactly one for romance advice, Lone, but I do know this: enjoy every moment with your loved ones, because you never know which might be your last. You and Starlight, getting married? Definitely the right step. Congrats."

"Thanks, Josh," he said. "What about you? Anyone from your home you had an eye for?"

"What are you, a mare," I asked jokingly. "No, not really. I was always a bit of an introvert, preferring to stay inside and write fan fictions or play games."

"And here?" he asked.

"I'm not sure whether or not I should break your face for that," I say with a light hearted smile. "Back where I come from, being in a relation ship with anything that resembles an animal, which you guys do, believe me, would be considered bestiality. I personally don't think it would be, seeing as how the ponies of this world are as intelligent as my kind, if not more so, but lacking in common sense. But, yeah, I guess you could say that," I say, looking at the moon. "But she is way outta my league. Hell, she hates me."

He was about to ask, but then he saw where I was looking. "Seriously," he said. "You're interested in Princess Luna?"

I shrugged. "Yeah, I am. I mean, I saw her in my dreams, she used her magic to get in, which is when I discovered, in dreams, at least, I was a hell of a lot more powerful than her. And yes, that surprised me, too. I sealed a part of her mind in mine, enough to where it and the real her can communicate, how, I don't know, and, well, that's about it."

"So-"

"No, I haven't done anything sexual to her in the dreams," I say. "There is a line I won't cross, and rape is something that crosses that line."

"I was going to ask what you were gonna do tonight?"

"Probably just stay here. You?"

"Spend time with Starlight."

"Then go to her," I say. "I will kick you off this mountain if I have to."

Lone chuckled before getting up. "Yeah, yeah," he said, going to walk off the hill. "See ya tomorrow."

"See ya," I say before looking back at the moon. I smiled to myself once more before I laid down on my back, and closed my eyes to grab what rest I could.

My dreamscape had changed a lot since I imprisoned part of Luna's mind in it. A few days after, I had set a part of it aside for her, for her to design it to he will. I may be a guy who incarcerates ponies, but I'm not cruel. Her part of my mind was designed like a castle made from Onyx. In fact, it looked like Night Stone Castle from Past Sins, by Pen Stroke, which I highly recommend reading it if you haven't, albeit smaller, and the stain glass windows had lunar designs, of course, but nothing that resembled Celestia being overthrown.

I appeared in the main court room, which was designed similar to one of the court rooms you'd find in our world, which had Luna, wearing the same dress I had made appear on her the first time, sitting where the judge would be, with nopony else, and myself wearing a black t-shirt and a pair of similarly colored shorts. "Hello, Josh," she said in a bored tone, but I also heard something else I couldn't pinpoint.

"Hello, Princess," I say, bowing. "And how are you, this fine evening?"

"Well, you are speaking with the full version of my mind, as I am asleep in the physical realm," she said. "It has been a slow day."

"How so," I ask, sitting on one of the benches.

"State secrets," she said. "Something I'm certain you understand, seeing as how you are practically leading a nation of your own."

"Yeah," I say, leaning back and putting my hands behind my head. "A pain in the ass to keep."

"That is something we can agree on without argument," she said, sighing.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Matters of the past," she said. "Then again, I suppose it wouldn't hurt, seeing as how it is just the two of us." She sighed again. "I have been thinking on what you said the first time, all those dream years ago," she said. Yeah, quick note, a week in real life is about, I kid you not, a hundred years in here. Which meant that, for her and I, we had been having dream conversations for about a millennium. Anyway, back to the story. "About what you said relating to Nightmare and I."

"What do you mean," I ask, surprised.

"Against my better judgement, I have been speaking with her, when I am not speaking with you, and, surprisingly, we have come to an agreement."

"About what?" I asked, suddenly curious.

"Well," she said, sitting up straight and resting her arms on the judge bench, "since ponies these days no longer fear the night, and Nightmare has learned what Eternal Night would bring, so we have come to an agreement. If we do pull off what we are planning, we will both most likely be seen as traitors." A tear came to her eye. "Even with the Thestrals, we- I- would still be alone, Celestia not being able to call off the war."

"Because of a stallion named Slharp Wit?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. "In fact, during my talks with Nightmare, we discovered that he is playing both sides." Okay, should have seen that coming. "He revived Sombra with a spell that could kill him if Sharp wishes, brought Nightmare back in a magical body only he can sustain, and has been sending a steady stream of prostitutes to changeling hives, giving them love to feed on. He has something on everypony involved in this war," she said.

"Not me," I say, standing up and dreaming my armor on, and it appeared. "He has nothing on me, knows nothing of me, and I have more than he could have by actually trying. I can beat him, but not for a while," I say. "I need to make it look like I don't know anything abut this."

"I can not ask this of you," she said.

"Who says you need to," I say. "I'll do this willingly. But still, what do you plan on doing with Nightmare?"

"Joining back into one mare," Luna said. "The form I have now is but an illusion that has become solid, and Nightmare is the same. That is why I am shorter than my sister."

"What do you need," I ask, surprising her.

"You're willing to help us," she asked, to which I nodded.

"Yeah," I said. Oh, I just know I'm going to regret what I'm about to do. "Luna, ever since I first saw you, I felt something for you, and it was last night in the physical realm, you know what I mean, that I realized what it is." I take a deep breath, and say, "Luna, I have feelings for you. Every night, I look at your moon and the night, which are as beautiful as anything I have seen, and I would be honored if you would have me by your side," I said, bowing and offering my hand.

She was silent for a time, during which, I began to fear, before I heard hoofsteps, and she said, "Rise."

I did so, glad I had imagined my helmet on. She had a soft smile on her face, but it also had something else on it. Sadness, maybe. I don't know. After all, as The Librarian once said, some smile in shared pain. She sighed. "I am surprised that you feel this way," she said, and my hopes plummeted deeper than the Marinas trench, which, for reference, is ten thousand, eight hundred and nine miles deep. "You are a soldier. True, such relationships have happened before, but not between a princess and an alien, even if hey are similar to our kind. What you have shown me of your personality, Josh, is one of a kind soul, one who puts others in front of himself, if what you did a week ago is any indication. You never give up, a trait to be admired under circumstances such as those we now find ourselves in."

She walked over to me, silent, that smile still on her face, and I saw her dress change. She had thigh high, pure black stockings leggings, along with gloves that stopped just below her shoulder. The dress itself became fully black, albeit with a silver stripe down both sides with the emblem for nightmare night near the bottom, which did not end in a skirt, but, rather, curved inward to cover her sex before widening out along her back, that part stopping just blow her wing joints before going across her chest, holding her assets in with little difficultly, a single piece of fabric along her neck to hold it up.

"Please, remove your helmet," she said, to which I obliged. Then, to my surprise, she softly placed a hand on my cheek, and smiled, and I knew it was one of happiness. "I would be honored to have you at my side, Josh," she said before she leaned up and kissed me, nothing more than a small peck on the lips before she leaned back, a smile on her face, then she dove into a full kiss, catching me by surprise, as I had never french kissed anyone before, but I tried my best, wrestling her tongue with mine, wrapping my arms around Luna as she did so with hers.

She eventually pulled back, slowly, and we looked each other in the eyes, and we both smiled. "So, what do you need," I asked her gently.

"Just to be with you, right now," she said. "If you mean when Nightmare and I merge, simply enough space."

"Well, tell her that I'm willing to give the two of you that space," I say. "We're just outside the old Minotaur capitol." This got a look of surprise from Luna.

"But that was taken by Sombra's army."

"And we're going to free it," I say. "Tell her to come to our camp after tomorrow night, as that's when we're moving."

"I will," she said. "We still have time until you wake up,so what do you wish to do?"

"What ever you want to do," I say. "We are in the part of my mind I gave you, after all."

"If that is the case," she said as she slipped over to my side, her arm in mine. "I would like just to sit."

"If that's what you want," I say, going back to civilian clothes, and we sat on the bench in the front row.

We were quiet foe some time, until I eventually said. "Luna, do you wonder why Sharp's doing what he is?"

"I must admit, I am curious," Luna said. "He could easily just take the throne of each kingdom in the war for himself, but he's letting it play out. It makes no sense."

"What happened to him after Ponyville, which I do still feel sorry for, anyway?"

"He requested, or, rather, demanded, he be put in charge of a battalion of guards. They call themselves, 'The Blind Legion', as they are almost always searching for ancient artifacts."

Okay, ignoring the weird coincidence with Destiny right there, I find it interesting he's searching for artifacts. I mean, most of them probably don't have any power, and the only ones that do that I know of, as well as the library in the Castle of the two sisters, for that matter, would be the Elements, ad the Tree by extension, the Crystal Heart, I suppose you could call Starswirl's journal an artifact, the siren gems, which are either destroyed or stuck in the human world, which makes them not a threat,, the control brace, which, according to the Royal sister's library, is shaped like an anti-magic ring that goes around one's horn, but allows the owner to control whoever the ring was placed on, and the-. . . . . . . . Fuck. The Alicorn Amulet.

"Luna, please tell me you and Celestia have the Control ring and Alicorn Amulet in Canterlot," I say, fear in my voice.

She shook her head. "No, the ring was lost long ago, before Nightmare became my dominant personality, and the Amulet went missing a week before we first encountered you."

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! This is not good. If he plans on doing what I think he is, Sharp will be unstoppable. Why do I have to be the displaced here? That settles it, next time I see a merchant, I'm putting a bullet through his brain. And if I become one, I'm putting one in my head.

"Luna, I know this is a lot to ask, but I need you to stay with the others, and for Nightmare to do the same. I think I know what Sharp is panning," I say, "but I need ponies on the inside."

"But Josh-"

"Luna, please. This may very well have the fate of everypony in this war involved, and, if I'm right, which I pray I am not, Steel's at the center of it."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"It's just a hunch, one I don't want to risk him finding out from any source, even by a slip of the tongue. I swear, once I know for certain, you can join me, but for your own safety, stay with the others, and tell Nightmare to do the same."

She was silent for a time before she said. "If you are certain, Josh, but Nightmare will see it as an act of betrayal."

"Can't you merge minds, but keep the bodies separate?" I asked, which got a look of surprise in response.

"Yes, actually," she said. "That is actually the first stage in what we were planning on doing, and we don't need to do the rest."

"Then do it while my allies and I are taking the Minotaur capitol back," I say. "I'll see you tomorrow night," I say, pulling her into a hug. "I swear it on my life."

Equestrian-Griffon border; nine hundred and twelve miles south of Canterlot

Sharpl Wit, wearing the most bare armor in the guard's armory due to the current nature of the group he was commanding, stood over a trench of earth pony guards and his own personal slaves he had acquired from years helping the few criminal governments of Equestria prosper. Before he betrayed them to the guard, that is, so that he would have less competitors when his plan had come to fruition. He had made a deal with Dainn that the Caribou would invade, and he would be promised a seat of power. Of course, being the intelligent villain, a true rarity in Equis' history, he was, he let off an anonymous tip to both sides, which ended in the devastation of the Caribou army and nation, which that Spartan had finished the job for.

Steel grimaced. That Spartan was the one important person in this war he had nothing on, and was a threat to his plans. Well, for now. Soon, not even the Elements at full power would be able to stop him.

After all, they would be under his control.

But back on the subject of that Spartan, as well as his allies, Sharpl knew extra-dimensional beings when he saw them. After all, he had once talked with the being those other three were from, and even reached an agreement he would keep. They were no threat to him, nor his ally.

He smiled. Celestia, Luna, the Elements, Sombra, Chrysalis, and Nightmare would all bow to him eventually.

"Sir!" he heard, and looked in the direction of the stallion who called, who held up an ancient ring between his fingers that seemed to glow with power. "We found it!"

"Good," he said, taking it in his magic, bringing it to his face, smiling. He then lit that stallion, and ever other stallion near him, aflame. They would especially bow easily once he could duplicate the control brace to have one for each of them, and put the alicorn amulet, which he had stolen two weeks ago, on, giving him more than enough power to kill the Spartan, and burn his soul.