I’m on my back as Emeris holds me to the ground, while Lucretia tries to put me in a Sleeper Hold. The metal clang of our armor is almost deafening. I reach up and grab Lucretia’s hand, almost crushing it with rage. She cries out and loosens her grip just enough for me to breath. I punch Emeris in the throat, and with a loud metal clank, he rolls over to the side. I try to get up, but Lucretia lunges on top of me.
“Raiden you have to calm down! You can’t do anything right now!” I howl in rage, desperate to get to the princess's chamber.

Emeris wraps his arms around my legs. I respond by pulling myself forward with my hands. Emeris starts hammering on the side of my leg with his fist.
“Raiden, get a grip! There’s nothing you can do!” Emeris yells. I stop crawling and pound my fists into the stone floor over and over. Lucretia lets herself fall to the side exhausted and panting.

Emeris lets go of my legs and sits on the ground, catching his breath. I pound the cold stone with all my might.
“It’s not fair! None of this is right! It’s not my fault! It should have been me instead of her!” I scream with all the air I can manage. My voice echoes off every wall in the palace. My cries of rage are enough to silence all the refugees still quietly listening in. I roll my face left and right into the floor, unable to manage my emotions any longer. I know I'm not making much sense, and not a single ounce of me cares.

Emeris sighs a bit with a mix of sympathy and annoyance.
“Raiden, we have our best medics tending to Luna, there’s nothing you can do for her right now. I know you want in there, but you’ll just get in the way.” I gradually get to my feet. Lucretia gets in front of me, staying just ahead to subdue me if I make another attempt for the double doors. I let my shoulders slump, and moan in dishonor. She walks forward and puts my head on her shoulder. My helmet and her shoulder pads make a heavy clank as they meet.
“Sir...I know you’re hurting but...we need to talk about this.” Emeris adds in uncomfortably. I let out a bitter groan.
Lucretia puts my arm over her shoulder, and leads me to another room. It's small, meant as a minor dining room. Six chairs, with a rectangle table and a dresser for holding various dinnerware. It was poorly lit as well, creating a gloomy vibe with its two candles in opposite corners. Lucretia sits me down in a chair, and I slump forward sulking. Emeris and Lucretia keep looking over at each other, unsure of what to do with me. Emeris tries to coax me out of my misery.
“Okay, so we can’t ignore this problem any longer. The Og Nag are now being lead by something that exhibits massive mind control abilities.”

Lucretia nods, and crosses her arms.
“To be specific, what do we know and what don’t we know? This is too much of a wild card and we need to prepare for it. Not to mention the strange power surges you both got. One thing at a time though.” Emeris leans his back against the table with both hands on the edge.
“Okay...so it knows who we are and where we come from. It knew Raiden’s little “nickname” and called him a legend. It also said Og Nag could never die. Does any of this make sense to anyone?”

Lucretia casually strolls around the table a few times thinking.
“We can’t really even theorize what it means, but we can at least go off what we do know. From what I’ve observed, it can control the Og Nag in large groups, but we have no reports of it controlling multiple units and having them do two different things. Either it controls one unit, and it does one thing, or it controls multiple units who all do the same thing. That suggests whatever is controlling them isn’t everywhere at once. It has a single mind.” Emeris lifts his head and stares at her.
“That’s a really good observation…” he sounds both impressed and shocked.

Lucretia looks down at me for a few moments, then punches my arm as hard as she can. I grit my teeth for a second and glare at her. I take in a deep breath and gaze at the floor.
“It also displays intelligence. It used our knowledge of the Og Nag against us. We have to act like we’re fighting another army from now on.” I stand up, as the gears start turning in my head.
“Also I’ve noticed that even though the creature itself is clearly magical based, the Og Nag themselves have not used magic. I mean if they could, there were plenty of opportunities to get more casualties. So I think the Og Nag’s limited intelligence makes them susceptible to mind control, or otherwise why not control one of our soldiers, or even one of us? Hell even one soldier could probably dagger one of us in the neck while we're not paying attention. I honestly believe it's an intelligence thing.”

Emeris grunts happily, and walks past me, giving me a friendly backhand to the same arm Lucretia punched.
“Good to have you back...sir.” He says half with gratitude, and half annoyance. I inhale a bit as I think.
“Okay so this creature, whatever it is, we’ll call it Mobius for now. We need to test its abilities. We need to know if it can read our minds, or hear us planning. If we’re lucky, it can only control the weak Og Nag. If it can do more than that, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.” Lucretia laughs loudly.
“Now that’s the Raiden I remember!” I put my hands on my hips and walk a few steps.
“Alright I have a few ideas to test it, the only issue is that if it can read our minds, then it will most likely let us pull off our plans to lure us into a false state of confidence. If that’s the case, we’ll speak with the princesses about magic and see if there’s some way to block it. From what I’ve seen though, it can only use the Og Nag, so we’ll go off that for now. For security reasons, assuming it can hear us, I’ll have to wait until the last minute to tell you the plan.”

Emeris clears his throat, then motions at the door when I look at him. Celestia stands at the doorway, with exhausted red eyes, and a messy mane. We all clamp our hands to our chests and bow. She gives us a distraught nod.
“Raiden...I need to speak with you.” She turns around and walks out of the room. I look at Lucretia and Emeris.
“Keep theorizing. Write down everything we know and we’ll go over it when I get back.” They both nod.

I follow Celestia nervously. Every part of me hopes it isn’t bad news about Luna. Instead of turning right to where Luna is, we keep going forward, down the same path I had spoken with Luna in a few weeks prior. Celestia looks entirely out of it. A few guards have to duck into a nearby room, as she walks down the middle of the hallway, completely inconsiderate of where she’s going.

We walk out onto the same balcony Luna and I had spoken on. She sighs a few times, staring at the ground. My nerves get the better of me.
“Is...is Luna going to be alright?” Celestia looks up at me surprised. A microscopic smile crosses her lips, and I see that brightness return to her eyes for a moment.
“Luna...will be safe for now. Cadence hasn’t answered my scrolls in some time.”
I nod a few times then look at the ground embarrassed. Celestia keeps staring at me.
“You...really fancy her don’t you?” I don’t answer, there’s too much emotion in me right now.

Celestia bumps me with her wing amicably. She lets out a sigh, and I can tell she’s done procrastinating. That dimness comes back to her complexion, as she gets ready to tell me what’s really on her mind.
“I’m accustomed to losing loved ones, to making hard decisions, to doing what is necessary for the kingdom. This is something entirely different. When Tirek began ravaging the land, and I was helpless to stop him, I thought that was one of the worst moments we would ever see. At least he only drained ponies of their magic instead of killing them. But watching my cities burn and my people die, and being absolutely helpless for most of it...I find myself second guessing every decision I make.”

I nod again in agreement.
“It’s not your fault your highness. Luna has gone over much of your recent history. Apparently a full scale war is something that has seldom happened since you overthrew Discord and King Sombra.” She sighs and looks across the land.
“I’m afraid neither of those compare to this. Both did not involve much death, just misery.” She keeps glancing around, wanting to avoid whatever she needs to say. I raise an eyebrow and look at her.
“Princess...what is it? What can we do for you? Whatever it is, name it and it shall be done; whatever the risk.”

She exhales a bit, trying not to cry.
“I can’t sleep, I can’t think. I do my best to hold myself together in front of everyone. But without the comfort of my little sister...I’m afraid I’m not much good to the kingdom.” Sympathy invades my face. I take off my left gauntlet and place my bare hand on her shoulder. She twitches a bit. Her fur is silky, clean and warm.
“Princess, you are more than a good leader. You are who they look up to. You have done magnificently so far. You have done all that anyone could when the time came. I know this is troubling, but you will pull through.”

She bows her head as a few tears run down to her nose.
“That is kind of you to say Raiden, but I’m afraid I must put that all aside and do what needs to be done. Come with me. I must do this while I can still think. Summon your people and meet me in the throne room.” I raise an eyebrow, but nod anyways. We exit the balcony and return to the chambers outside of where they kept Luna while she recovers. I instruct Emeris and Lucretia to gather everyone.

Half an hour later, all my soldiers line her great halls, Luna had been moved into a back room and Celestia sits on her throne. She has cleaned herself up and she looks normal for now. Several more decorated guards stand in front of her, seven total. I also recognized a few mayors off to the sides as well as a few higher profile ponies.

Celestia shifts uncomfortably in her throne. I eye her suspiciously.
She takes a deep breath and gazes straight across the room.
“First Captain Raiden, will you approach the throne please.”
I step out of formation near the back of the room, take three steps forward, turn to the right on my heel so I’m facing the throne. I bow, and walk forward. I had no idea what was going on. Every part of me was horrified that they were banishing us in hopes that the Og Nag would follow. It was very plausible it would even work...for a while anyways.

I stop twenty paces from her guards, and take a knee.
“What does your majesty command?” I choke back tears, taking in one last eye full of her throne room and its majestic paintings. Celestia looks down at me sadly.
“Rise.” She says with a painful tone. I stand up, using all my strength to look her in the eyes.
“First Captain Raiden of the Nation Taraska. I can no longer put off what I know in my heart should be done for the good of our Kingdom.” My heart sinks, my veins turn to ice. I feel hollow. I can’t be mad at her, how could anyone be? They weren't warriors like us. This tragedy had been going on in our nation for countless generations. No one could possibly expect them to tolerate it the way we had to.

She swallows and I hear her inhale vigorously.
“Due to the recent events with the Og Nag, I must make this announcement in front of everypony so there will be no mistake….” She takes in another deep breath.
“At this moment in time...I cannot be responsible for my citizens’ safety.” A few gasps erupt from her small council. They turn and look at each other before turning their attention back to the princess.
“That is why...I am naming First Captain Raiden as our Nations General until the time is no longer needed.”

Her people yell cries of protest. I am a stranger to their lands. We are warriors not leaders. These were some of their outcries. Celestia stomps a hoof angrily.
“Enough!” The room goes silent.
“This was not a decision I made lightly! This was not on a whim or some depressed hysteria!” Her thunderous voice echoes off every wall.
“You have trusted me with your lives. Now I ask that you trust my choices." She turns and faces me directly. She walks off her throne, so she's only a few feet from me. She speaks to me and the crowd simultaneously, meeting their bewildered stares with a solid, stoic expression.
"I'm fully aware that you have all seen what the Taraskans are capable of in war. You know they are ruthless and extremely efficient. What you might have not seen, is their bravery. Their selflessness and how they will go to any length to protect each other and any of us as well. There will be a time where I shall reacquire my position, but for now, we need the ones with experience to lead the fight that will save us from these Og Nag."

She stops looking around the room and faces me directly.
“First Captain Raiden...will you accept?”

The only thing I can manage is a nod, despite my jaw almost hitting the floor. Something in my chest burns. It was as if every negative thing I had ever thought of myself had been brought before me and slain with a sword like a beast. As I nod, my army erupts with applause and whistles. They know full well what this means to me. I have a chance at redemption. I have the ability to show I’m not some low life. I have importance. This world would know the same legend I had made for myself but in a new light. I was no longer the King of the Dead.

The double doors open, and two royal guards are carrying a mantle. It was made completley of fur, with a silky purple cape and a black collar. It would be great during winter, but I'd easily die of heat exhaustion . I watch eagerly, enjoying the sight of respect. The guards walk up to me and bow. I face the princess. She too lowers her head, along with her subjects. Nervousness dances in their eyes, but they trust her. Celestia stops bowing. I hear the mantle fly through the air and stop behind me, hovering.
“Raiden, I have but one request of you before you adorn your new title.” I nod furiously, willing to agree to anything at this point.
“Anything you ask princess!” She looks at me desperately.
“Do what you must in the name of peace, but ...save as many lives as you can….please.”

I take a knee in response.
“I now pronounce you, General Raiden of Equestria.” With that, the mantle flies onto my back, the clasp connects on its own around the front of my chest. More applause, even from her subjects this time who either stomp or bang their front hooves together.
“General Raiden, please rise.” I get to my feet, I’m almost on the brink of tears, but I somehow manage to hold myself together. I was grateful I was still in my full battle armor to hide my emotions in. Celestia trots up to me, eyes full of fear and desperation. She gently places a hoof on my chest.
"Please...save our kingdom...."

I turn around and stare at my soldiers. I see sword marks littering everyone’s armor, dents, new wielded pieces of metal. After everything, after every time they almost died or lost a limb, these soldiers still stand by me. I pull out my sword and point it straight into the air.
“Who’s ready to win a war?!” Everyone pulls out a sword and raises it with pride, crying out for battle.

Lucretia runs up to me applauding. I take off my mantle and toss it onto her. She giggles as she pulls it off her face.

“Take that...thing to my room please. It’s time we stop hiding."

I contemplated the idea of making a literal throne out of Og Nag.