Author's Notes:

Had to change the name of the Crystal Army's scout from Sure Hoof to Sure Step. There was too much confusion with it being too close to the Marazon's scout's name of Quiet Hoof.

Thank you, Pixel_Spark for your help on choosing a name and as always, thanks to Lonestar_Pony for his second set of eyes when it come to proofreading =D

The Marazons quickly recovered from the unease of seeing their enemy spying on them right in their midsts and wasted no time leaving the area. They headed south, led by Queen Ainippe. She was flanked by her best warriors as they made their way through forests of twisted oaks and sycamore trees and the underbrush of poison ivy that clung to the base of the oaks. Cover was thick here, as well as the coastal fog, and they were expert at concealing their presence within both. Still, the Queen was uneasy.

“Quiet Hoof,” she called their scout to her, speaking in an ancient dialect of their native tongue.

“Yes, my Queen?”

“Make certain none are overheard by the enemy. All must speak old Marazon until further notice and bring the unicorns to the front, sides and back of the line,” she instructed. “have them light our way. King Sombra's shadows will have no power of concealment here with their glow.”

“Yes, my Queen!” she hurried off to do as instructed.

The Warrior Queen watched as her magic-users quickly and silently moved into position. At a signal from their Captain, passed down through the line, they lit their horns with a carefully prepared spell that would flood their ranks and the surroundings with light, but not allow it to show through the canopy above them, the last being aided by the thick blanket of cooling fog enveloping the area. Still, no chances were to be taken. The last two assaults from King Sombra's troops had also carried pegasi among them and she knew well if they were spotted from above, it would be over all too soon.

Ainippe wondered how Nyx and Charon were getting along. How long before Sombra discovered the future-seer was nowhere near them, let alone in their ranks? He was not dull, this terrifying King. She had placed a few inquiries to their sisters to the far Northern areas. Those witness to the Tyrant's unique powers and cruelty attested to his sharp military mind, confirming Nyx's visions. Between Herself and Nyx, with what little the seer had been able to make sense out of her magical gift, there were a few options to slow Him and His army down as long as He was unaware they knew more about Him then He currently knew about the Marazon's themselves. She smiled. Their tactics were going to be remembered for being unusual and creative and never tried before, even if they did not survive this assault.

The smile faded as she sighed. Just stall tactics. That's all this was. They would only be able to slow Him down. The question was, would it be long enough that Nyx would be able to get away from Him? Everyone knew the danger if Sombra got his hooves on her. No one questioned if this was worth the lives that would be lost in the battles to come.

Several hours into their trek, they came to the end of their cover. They were at the edge of the fog and the forests. Soft, rolling hillsides with little cover lay ahead, an easy place to get caught out in the open with no defensible terrain to retreat to.

There was something else, though. Something nagging, that felt wrong – off. Ainippe called Quiet Hoof to her again.

“Have we heard from the flyers?” the Queen asked.

The amber-colored mare shook her head. “All but three have returned, My Queen. Early reports are there has been no sign of enemy pursuit.” She shook her head, clearly plagued by the same thing that bothered her Commander. “It feels - “

“ - too quiet?” Ainippe filled in.

“Yes!” Quiet agreed eagerly.

“Stop the advance. I am calling a tactical meeting. Sure!” She set a hoof on Sure's shoulder. “but first, we need to contact our advance scouts to the north, ahead of Neverwake Field. There is a portal to do so at - ”

The scout nodded, her brown eyes lighting up. “- Mirror lake? It is very close.”

“Yes. I desire to know what happened to Nyx. Is she still - “ the Marazon leader was interrupted by a hawk call from behind her, in the ranks, signaling their returning pegasi. Everypony looked up, to the northern skies. Ainippe's heart sank. Only one of the three fliers was returning.

The pegasus flew erratically. Finally, to their horror, a wing crumpled in as she was closer to the ground, causing her to make a hard, painful landing. The closest mares to the crash zone increased their gallop to get to her aid.

The flyer was a Marazon named Fly Away. She was wheezing heavily, an arrow stuck in her left flank, blood thick down the injured leg.

The Queen looked quickly to their physician who was already assessing the pegasus for how to treat the grievous injury. “Sister, what happened? Where are the others?”

The pegasus had enough presence of mind to realize she needed to reply in the ancient tongue as well. “Sky Wind and Cloud Rider are dead. Ambushed. I'm not as fast a flier, was lagging behind, saw them - “ she gasped as the physician applied an herbal painkiller to her flank, then relaxed as it did its work. Another mare put a cold compress on her fevered brow. “saw them die. One shot with an arrow, the other...” she shut her eyes, trying not to be sick at the memory.

“The other?” Ainippe asked gently.

“Stabbed...crystals...red crystals. Shot at her from an armored unicorn.” She lifted a wing gingerly where one had embedded itself in her side underneath it. “Got me too, but I was too far away to be struck fatally.” She tried to smile wryly, but her face fell again. “Obviously.”

The medical unicorn pulled one of several shards from Fly, holding the crystal aloft for the Queen and everyone's inspection. “These must be their King's special – talent,” Ainippe nodded, carefully keeping the disgust out of her voice. It was time for analyzing tactics, not shock and anger. “'Armored', you said?”

Fly nodded wearily. “I saw the glint of the sun on metal on His body. He wears a red cloak as well. The kind arrogant stallions of royalty are so fond of.”

Ainippe laid a hoof gently against Away's pale cheek. “One more thing, sister. Their direction?”

This question agitated the pegasus. “North, my Queen. Away from us!”

There were shocked murmurs among the gathered mares. “No, that can't be!” Councilmare Neris countered, speaking up. “They have no reason to believe we went that direction!”

“Clues were laid down as to all three possible directions we could have taken,” Quiet Hoof told them as she stood at the Queen's side. Her concerned gaze met Ainippe's. “By Luna's crescent, how did they know?”

Ainippe stood taller, composing herself, going over the situation quickly in her mind. Neris paced, flicking her tail in nervousness. “He could not.” She glared back at Fly Away. “You are incorrect. That could not be the direction they were going.”

The pegasus shook her head. “We approached from the east to throw them off, ma'am. There was no mistaking it. They were to our right wing.” She swallowed. “Even after they killed Sky and Cloud and wounded me, I saw them continue north, towards the temple.”

“Towards Nyx,” Ainippe nodded grimly, believing her.

“They didn't even bother to finish me, or my flock,” Away shuddered. “They left them there. I had to return to warn you. I – I couldn't help them!” It was at this point the wounded mare let tears slip as guilt, pain, and blood loss took their toll.

Ainippe looked to their healer. “Take care of her. We are done here.” Eyes blazing, she turned to her army, addressed them loudly, “Captains and tacticians to me! Sisters, pick four runners from among you to retrieve the dead at once! A healer, a unicorn and two warriors. All swift runners and I want NO MORE CASUALTIES!” Her strong, clear voice carried over the assembly as mares started a rhythmic stomping of their hooves in solidarity and support. “My sisters, restock food and medicines from the land quickly. Rest while you can and tend those who need treating. We reverse course once our Council has concluded strategizing at Mirror Lake!” The Queen reared up, her front hooves pawing the air, a war growl escaping her lips the assembly mirrored back.

HOURS EARLIER...

The Crystal Army mounted their gear and headed out as soon as their King had spoken through Commander Iron Blade, following the curve of the land as it went southwest. Because the terrain was loose and rocky, it slowed their progress slightly. The Commander sent their scout Sure Step ahead to make up for the loss of time. Their pace kept them warm, a welcome change from maneuvers outside their King's crystal field surrounding the Empire, but shedding and carrying the additional weight of the insulated clothing they had needed to don to survive while getting outside the arctic chill of the Empire, added to slowing their pace just that little bit more.

The Unicorn Archer's Division Lieutenant, True Aim, had taken to walking with Iron Blade part of the way, partly for the Commander's company and partly to satisfy his curiosity. He looked over into their second leader's eyes, relaxing ever so slightly that they were back to their normal, steel-grey color.

“Yes, I am me again,” Blade assured him.

“As many times as I've seen King Sombra do that, it still creeps me the Tartarus out,” True admitted, shivering. “What's it feel like?”

Blade shrugged. “I can't really describe it to you, Aim,” he admitted. “If you've never been possessed, there is no context for you to understand it within.”

“Try me,” the archer pressed. “I'm bored and we have a long walk.”

“What, you want a game of twenty questions?”

“Sure. Okay, that works for me.” Aim thought a moment. “When His Majesty – you know, does that - “

“Speaks through me,” Blade said, smirking. “That help?”

Aim laughed. “Okay, yeah, 'speaks through you,' are you conscious of it?”

“Oh yes. Wouldn't do much good to not be. I have to follow His directions as well.”

A nod. “Makes sense, I guess. Though I thought if you're sharing thoughts - “

Blade shook his head. “It doesn't work that way, Aim. And I - would rather not,” he admitted with a touch of hesitancy.

The archer raised his eyebrows. “Really? Why wouldn't you want to know the thoughts of a King? I mean what an opportunity!“

“I've been His friend and comrade for years,” the Commander's voice grew slightly darker. “Knew Him before he became King. I was under Prince Sombra's command when He was the Royal Guard Captain for the Crystal Army.” His tone turned from dark to slightly sad. “I know more about what goes on in that pony's head than Princess Luna herself.”

True's eyes widened. “I heard he and she were - “

“Operative word, True. 'Were.' “ interrupted Blade. “If you want to live, you will never mention you even know that.”

The terrain was tricky where they were crossing, so they and the army had to concentrate on negotiating over loose, rocky soil down steep, hilly inclines. Their discussion was by necessity delayed until they made sure they were back on solid ground.

“Were you there when she and he - “ the archer took up the subject again.

“ - courted?” Blade nodded, smiling.

This excited the other unicorn who was suddenly brimming with a thousand questions. “What is she like? Is she as beautiful as they say? Does her mane really look like a hundred trapped stars and her eyes like teal sapphires?”

“More than you can imagine,” came the smiling reply. “You can feel the vibration, the power of her magic standing twenty feet away in the same room. She radiates with a softer light than her sister's. It's cooler, refreshing. It feels as if the quiet beauty of the moon was standing next to you, watching you, not judging those acts done in darkness. Just – accepting you for who and what you were. He needed that. There were many who shunned him outside the battalion. Even some in the palace hated and feared Him before they had a good reason to.”

“Before He claimed the throne?” the archer guessed.

Blade nodded. “They did not think a non-crystal pony – even a royal one, should hold the title over them. His mother's lineage was in question. There were rumors...well, it doesn't matter now, does it?” he smiled grimly. “His Highness had to overcome some strong opposition to his policies and He did so with tact and cunning, and later, cold efficiency. Before...” he shook his head, trailing off, surprising himself at how freely he was talking to the Lieutenant about things probably best left in the shadows with their King.

True Aim was silent for a moment after Blade paused, caught up in his description. “And Princess Luna loved him even back then?”

Blade nodded, relieved to be off the darker part of the subject of the takeover Sombra had initiated after his mother's death. “She defended him at first – even against her sister Celestia's misgivings. Not many understand her night, especially the way Prince Sombra did, going even beyond that understanding, becoming a part of it. Some say he gave his very soul to it – and to her.”

True Aim shook his head, feeling sorry for their King. “Defended him? Against Celestia herself? No wonder he loved her!”

His companion nodded. “They both belong to night, or rather, Sombra belongs to her night. She is and always has been his Queen – even though they are no longer together. It tore him apart inside when she left.” Again Blade's voice turned quiet. “He has never spoken of it again.”

“What happened?” the archer asked. “Why were they separated?”

“It is - complicated. Not long before this, but after His death at Lake Evershine - “

True Aim felt like he had missed something. “What? Wait – death? But He - “

“As I said, True. Complicated,” Blade sighed. “I do not exaggerate when I say death. I think King Sombra would not spare even my life if I revealed the truth of those events to another living soul.

“I can impart this much because many in the Empire saw it that day. Princess Celestia finally stepped in and forbade them to see each other – she went as far as to erect a barrier around the Empire the Moon Princess could not gain passage through.” He shuddered. “I saw that first night she could not penetrate it. She brought her mightiest lunar swords against it – ones that cannot be broken in battle, nor dulled of blade, forged in the heart of the stars themselves! They came to bear against it again and again and again, while Sombra on his side called forth a deadly crystal scythe, similar to the one He carries now, but glittering with deep, red crystal from the heart of the Empire’s mines. Together they cracked the shielding – almost to the point of destroying it utterly, but when the sunshine of morning touched its surface, it renewed, grew strong again, and again and AGAIN!” He lowered his head, remembering in pain. “Every time, Aim. Every damn time!” He slammed a hoof into the side of the rock he was sitting on, chipping off the outer layers of granite.

Composing himself after a moment, he continued, his voice husky. “After a while, they gave up. It was utterly impossible to breach. I can still hear her crying on one side where she had collapsed, He on the other, unable to touch her, unable to provide her the comfort of a simple embrace. Then her sister came, pronounced Him unclean because of his dalliance with dark magic and dragged her away, Luna sobbing incoherently. Celestia forbade Prince Sombra to ever see her again.”

“His rage at Celestia shook the castle to its foundations, spread a darkness throughout the land. Her spell bound His body to the Crystal Empire for eternity so He could not pursue her, but He could escape in His shadow form – something Celestia was unaware He could do!” Blade took a breath, stilling the old emotions of pain and anger at seeing his friends suffer, unable to help them. “But by the time He realized this,” he shook his head. “It was already too late.” He looked around, making sure no one else heard. “When He caught up with Princess Luna, days later in secret, in His shadow form, she did not remember Him!”

True Aim's eyes widened. “What? By Tartarus, why?”

“No one knows,” Blade shrugged. “My contacts in Canterlot Court said Celestia did something to her memory, made her forget Him, but how, or if it is even true that the pure Princess of the Sun could do something so vile to her sister, no one would dare come forth to accuse her.” The Commander turned away, stilling his anger at last, worn from the retelling of the tragic tale. “Oh how the mighty sun she doth fall,” he muttered bitterly.

They fell silent for several minutes, sharing water from a canteen, waiting for the rest of the army to clear the rocky terrain and catch up with them at the front line. Finally, True Aim recalled something of the story that still gnawed him, something he simply had to ask.

“But He - died?” the unicorn archer breathed, unable to comprehend how Prince Sombra had survived to be there now. He sighed, his head spinning from learning more about their Sovereign in a few moments of conversation than the sum total of public knowledge available about Him! “Forgive me, Blade, I just have to know, ” he said, looking back to the Commander. “You were saying about Lake - “

Aim froze, meeting the green-tinged, unfeeling gaze of King Sombra in the pony's eyes.

“True Aim, what is your status?” the Shadow Pony's hollow voice inquired.

The archer bowed, hiding his fear that he had almost mentioned a topic to the King that would have meant his execution. “We are en route to the Marazon camp, my King! The terrain has been difficult, so the Commander sent Sure Step ahead to alert us to their movements.”

“Has he returned?”

“Not yet, mi'lord.”

Sombra used Iron Blade's body to look upwards, surveying the land. “I can tell they are already on the move,” He told Aim. “As to which direction, I cannot say with certainty.”

Someone shouted that Sure Step was back and in a moment the scout earth pony was at their side, bowing before the King. “Your Highness.”

“Your report, Sure Step.”

“The Marazons are on the move, Sire. All three land directions have signs of their passage. I cannot tell which is the true route of their escape.”

Sombra nodded. “Throwing us off their scent. I expected this.” He turned slightly, as if talking to Himself. “Commander, you know what to do.”

The glow fading from his eyes, Iron Blade nodded. “Yes, my King.” He turned to Sure Step, all signs of King Sombra's presence gone. “How far to their former encampment?”

“Not far, sir,” Sure replied, indicating the direction he came from. “We can reach it within the hour.”

“Good. First, have the Lieutenants of the divisions assemble to me at once. We will send out the fliers as soon as we reach our destination, but we wish to give them certain instructions that will hopefully aid them in this accursed fog. Dismissed.”

Iron Blade watched the scout go, noting True Aim's posture sag with relief at his side. He smiled wickedly, laughed and slapped the archer hard on the back. “You dodged an arrow through the throat on that Lake Evershine remark, you stupid bastard. Still want to get nosy about the King's personal life?”

Aim shuddered. “No, no sir. I'm good!” he quickly replied.

“I hate that guy,” True Aim snorted, staring at the Lieutenant of their Pegasus squad.

Iron Blade didn't have to turn to see who the lead archer was talking about, hearing the stallion's loud, boasting voice from across the abandoned Marazon encampment. “Who? Night Bomber?”

“Of course,” Aim huffed, annoyed. “and I hate how his stallions gather around him like adoring colts, hanging on his every word!”

The archer jumped slightly as he was poked by Blade's hoof at his shoulder. “And of course you did not do the same with your squadron leader when you first joined the army,” the Commander teased.

“Phfft! Quick Shot deserved our respect,” the unicorn replied, bored of staring at Bomber's boastful displays, turning back to the braggart. “He was Prince Sombra's fastest archer back in their youth.” He tossed his head in lightly veiled contempt towards the Lieutenant. “That one just shoots his muzzle off and brags how many Marazon sex slaves he's going to take for himself.”

Blade nodded, pursing his lips. “He was the one who pinpointed the exact location of their encampment from the only clue they left behind.”

“Huh, any stallion could have picked up on the scent of a mare in heat,” True dismissed. “We got lucky. They hid their encampment exceptionally well otherwise.”

“If it's any consolation, my friend, he will be allotted as many mares as he earns, like all of us.”

“I'll bet that galls him, too. He just doesn't show it.”

Iron Blade glanced around, seeing the last of the returning pegasi squadron had finally joined them. “He could take a lesson from our Majesty. He has come for only one. And though His Majesty will also end up with their Queen – a great prize indeed – He might just execute her as easily take her back with us. It's the prophetic witch He cares more about.” Leaping up onto several fallen trees, he drew his sword with his magic, throwing it down into the center of the milling crowd. Several stallions closer to the weapon than they felt comfortable about, drew back and settled in for the meeting. Everyone else took their cue and sat on their haunches, expectant and at attention.

“Forgive my interruption of your slave tally, Night Bomber,” he said loudly. Many snickered at this. “I do not believe there are as many Marazon wenches in their entire nation as I heard you number off will be added to your harem.”

Harsh laughter erupted, several same-ranked stallions bumping the pegasus's flanks.

“It's that overactive nose of his,” someone yelled from within the crowd. “He always smells more heat than there really is and thinks he's the cause of it!”

Iron Blade let them have their jest. It was important for morale to let them blow off steam once in awhile. They were all under quite a bit of pressure to perform optimally in battle, especially with their King present. He retrieved his sword, letting the sight of it hovering for a moment over the crowd draw their attention back to him. Satisfied they were settled back down, he floated the sword back to himself, sheathing it at his side. “Bomber, I would like good news to report back to His Majesty,” his voice turned all business.

Bomber cantered forward into the center of the circle of stallions, tossing his dark mane and snorting. After a few turns for show, he faced Iron Blade. “The ground support was an inspired idea,” he declared. “They allowed us to cover their tracks much more thoroughly and negotiate our way back with ease.”

“Here it comes. The horse manure,” Sure Step muttered to True Aim, having trotted up to his side right before the Commander had called them to attention.

“I can smell it from here,” the archer nodded.

“We are pleased you were able to find your way home, Lieutenant,” Blade looked down, inspecting his hoof armor, bored. “And - ?” His sharp gaze returning to the stalling squadron leader.

The pegasus drew his wings in slightly tighter to his body, a sign to Blade and those who knew the bragging stallion well, that he was nervous. “Another run is needed, Commander. A longer one to discern if the tracks run out - “

“Lieutenant?”

Bomber paused, his eyes dilating slightly more. “Yes sir?”

“Are you telling us these Marazon 'wenches' as you called them...these 'pretty warriors' are so adept at hiding their backtracks that your own trackers cannot catch the falsehoods within them?”

“To be fair, Commander,” the pegasus slightly more than muttered. “we are on unfamiliar ground. There is so much animal life in this area, the mares have somehow mingled their tracks with those of similarly sized creatures we have never encountered before.”

“And how much time do you plan to ask the King for to make up for this learning curve entailing the local fauna?” Iron Blade asked pointedly.

The pegasus Lieutenant visibly paled. “Sir?”

Blade shrugged. “Well, I am not a tracker, neither am I a pegasus, therefore I am not qualified to answer His questions as to your failures or requests for more time. Therefore, it will be yourself who shall be giving Him the report, Night Bomber.”

A visible sheen of sweat cropped up on the Lieutenant's brow, all traces of ego trampled by Iron Blade's news. “But Sir - “

“Consider the report given, Commander,” Sombra's dark voice echoed from the back of the assembly.

All heads bowed deeply and the way was quickly parted for the King as He strode forward, His high steps and measured gait putting Night Bomber's earlier display to shame. Coming to stop in front of the slightly trembling pegasus squadron leader, He regarded him for a moment, letting him sweat, the taste of his fear stimulating His senses, increasing His powerful presence among the stallions.

“How much time will be required to discern their true direction, Night Bomber,” He asked His Lieutenant.

“At least another two to four hours, Your Majesty,” the fearful stallion replied, knowing it was utterly useless to lie to his King.

The pause in which his news was considered, ate away at his nerves. Then finally he heard the Shadow King grunt. “The days here may be longer this far from our Kingdom, but that is time we cannot waste chasing they who are not our primary focus.” He looked to Iron Blade who jumped from his high perch and trotted over to King Sombra. “Would you not agree, Commander?”

“We need not chase them, Sire. Once we have the witch you seek - “ he nodded.

“They will come to liberate her,” He nodded, fangs unsheathed, pleased Iron Blade followed His logic, as he always did. “So, we must focus on the Seeress's most likely position,” Sombra paced, Night Bomber forgotten for the moment. The Unicorn King looked up, scanning His army. “Where is Terrain?”

A hardy palomino stallion with a parchment map for a cutie mark came forward, bowing. “At your service, your Highness.”

“You are the sole survivor of both last campaigns, correct?” their King asked.

“I am, Sire.”

Sombra pointed his horn towards the space above them, lighting up a swirl of dark magic. From within the small vortex, the sound came of crashing waves against the ocean. “Does this sound familiar?” he asked the earth pony.

Terrain listened, closing his eyes. They popped open after a moment of intense concentration. “Coast...ocean, but more turbulent than this placid bay,” he said from instinct and stream of consciousness. “Waves smashing against...sharper, rockier contours than anywhere near here.”

“You were south of this position at one point, were you not, Terrain?” Iron Blade asked.

“Yes, yes, sir!” the stallion said, eyes lighting up. “The coast grows softer, sandier for at least three days journey.”

“The north,” Sombra and Iron Blade said at once.

“Break camp, Commander,” their dark pony leader instructed. “we head north.”

Everyone scrambled to carry out their King's bidding.