***

“Warriors of Equestria. Thou hast come to make war on the sovereign land of Albion and the human race. Turn thy army back… or die!”
David Elliot, The Avatar of Albion.

***

London. January 16th. 2032.

Point Beta: 14:15.

The clang of metal on metal. Screams. The wet sound of flesh sundered. Ringing in his ears.

True Grit shook his head, trying to bring his head out of whatever funk it had ended up in. He was holding his spear in his telekinetic grip. He'd lost his helmet somewhere along the way, his dark green mane flowing behind him. His coat was slicked with sweat and blood.

He brought his spear up, looking for a target, but the melee was confusing, chaotic even. A stallion in white armour charged into one of Grit’s colleagues, and with a growl, Grit rushed him, ramming his spear into his enemy’s neck. A spurt of blood spat out, splattering onto Grit’s face, and with a snarl he pulled the spear out.

“Thanks!” the other Guard said. “Come on, we have to -”

A spell struck the guard in the head, blasting through his eye and out the back of his skull, and he fell to the ground with a clattering thud. Grit growled, turning to see where the shot had come from, and found himself looking at the purple-cloaked Mage. The mare was throwing spells into the melee almost at random, but each spell took out a Royal Guard.

Snarling, Grit charged, but found himself intercepted by a mare in Ivory armour, her helmet gone, revealing a growling Earth Pony face.

“Traitor!” she screamed.

“Buck you!” he shouted back breathlessly, knocking her spear away and headbutting her, before using a spell that sent energy coruscating across her body. She juddered and shuddered, a look of pain on her face, and then she slumped to the ground, but he had already moved on, throwing a concussive spell at a pair of Ivory Guards ganging up on another Royal Guard as he did so.

There were bodies everywhere. Royal Guard, Ivory Guard - but Grit couldn't see any fallen humans. His eyes looked for the tall figures - there! There they were, further along the lines, some of them firing their strange weapons, others using swords to carve through the battlefield.

It was then that he was suddenly bludgeoned to the ground, he hit the ground hard and his head swam as he vaguely saw a pony’s hindquarters fly over him followed by the loud clattering of metal nearby. He tried to climb up again only for somepony else to hit from the other side. He fell to the ground and was trampled by several sets of hooves, his armour denting.

He lay where he had fallen, waiting for another impact but mercifully none came. He pulled himself back up, pain flaring through his body. A small, more coherent part of his mind wondered just how many bones he had broken from the collisions he had suffered.

He stood up and tried to find his shield. Ponies were everywhere around him, running back and forth. Both sides’ formations had collapsed in the centre, the Royal Guard trying to counter-charge the Ivory Guard ponies whilst the silver-clad soldiers piled into the fray. Spells flew overhead in every direction as Unicorn Marksmages shot at whoever came into their sights. Little groups would occasionally form into a roughly organised block and charge at whichever enemies were nearby but it would inevitably lead to their stampede falling apart the moment they contacted.

True Grit lit his horn and grabbed around at the detritus now littering the street for anything he could wield. He felt his magic wrap around the familiar blocky shape of a shield and he hoisted it upright.

A cry suddenly came behind him and he saw an Ivory Guard Unicorn gallop out of the anarchy in his direction. Reacting on instinct True Grit swung his shield at the incoming pony. The dense shield impacted the Unicorn and sent the stunned pony down to the ground. Not wasting an instant True Grit picked up the shield and then brought the heavy rim down on the pony’s head. He felt a disturbing crunch but didn’t stop. Again and again he lifted the shield and then thrust it back down on the pony’s head until there was barely anything recognisable left of it.

Just as fatigue began to wash away the rush of adrenaline that had overtaken him he was hit again. It felt like the concussion spells they had all been taught as trainees but so much stronger. He was thrown end over end into the air - the world spinning as he tried to flail in panic - and crashed into a pile of broken bodies that had built up on the other side of the street.

He lay unmoving, unable to comprehend anything other than the unending pain he felt all over his body. His armour was broken in several places and he could see blood on him; who it belonged to, himself or somepony else, he couldn’t tell. His vision was already beginning to darken, and a buzzing and thumping in his ears was drowning out the noise of battle. He lay amongst the dead and dying, unable to move and struggling to breath as the battle faded away and darkness took him.

***

Point Gamma. 14:15.

Luna slammed into the corrupted False Alicorn. There was a clang of metal on metal as the two collided, and Luna’s momentum bore them both backwards through a wall, smashing through the masonry with ease.

Lyra turned to the surviving troops of Point Gamma - the still-groggy and wounded Everett, Elise, Nox, Kraber and two others.

“You need to get out of here,” she said urgently.

“Fok that, Lieutenant,” Kraber said sharply. “You'll need us all to -”

“This isn't a fight we’re coming out of,” Lyra snapped. “That thing’s not any old F.A. You stay, you die.”

Kraber looked set to argue, but the look on Lyra’s face cut him off.

“Get back to Alpha, warn them what's happening,” she instructed. “Maybe get them to send a REV here or something, I don't bloody know!”

Kraber shook his head. “You're bosbefok, Lyra.” With a growl he stood up. “Come on, let's move.”

He began threading his way through the rubble, the others following, except for Elise. She walked to Eric, who was tense. There came the sounds of clanging metal and slamming bodies from beyond sight.

“You'll need backup on this one,” Elise said quietly to Eric quietly.

“Maybe,” Eric said tightly, “but I need you to pull back. We will need experienced Knights to support the Avatar in the days to come. That's you and Alex.”

Elise nodded, though she didn't look happy. There was another slamming sound.

“Go,” Eric said tightly. His hand clenched on the hilt of his sword. “Now.”

Elise jogged off, leaving Eric and Lyra waiting as more slamming noises started. Suddenly, a figure burst from the buildings, flying over several taller buildings before slamming into the side of one, what was left of glass and masonry cracking under the impact.

Luna floated gently out of the hole in the masonry. She had a few scratches along her face and body, but seemed otherwise unhurt.

“We’ve evacuated the others,” Lyra told her at once. “But this False Alicorn -”

“She is a Nightmare,” Luna corrected. She shook her head. “Bad enough these fools have created such perversions, but to allow them to become Nightmares…”

“Whatever they've done, we have to deal with it,” Eric said shortly. He drew his sword, activating a switch that caused coruscating energy to begin pulsing up and down the blade.

Luna nodded. She looked to Lyra. “You would be better off falling back - this is not a fight you -”

“Save it, your highness,” Lyra said, her horn glowing. “I’ve fought stupid odds before. This is my job.”

Luna sighed. “Very well.”

There was a rumbling, and suddenly a flash of light indicated that the Nightmare had teleported back to them. The light faded, revealing the mare standing there, looking faintly amused.

“Hello,” she said. “Did you miss me?”

Luna growled, her horn glowing, and she sent a spell at the Nightmare, only for her foe to deflect it. Lyra sent another spell, and this one the corrupted Alicorn sent back at her, forcing the Lieutenant to bring a shield up - the backlash from the spell threw her backwards.

Growling, Eric charged forward, and the Alicorn brought her blades up, blocking his strike. She stabbed forward, and he dodged the stabs quickly, before lashing out again. She blocked easily, a small, confident smirk on her face.

Luna charged forward as well, bringing the Gladius di Lune to bear: her strikes were targeted and strong, and her enemy was forced on the defensive, stepping back slowly as she worked her curved blades to parry both Luna and Eric’s strikes. And yet, despite being on the defensive, her little smirk did not waver.

Suddenly, her left blade twirled, sending Eric off balance as he tried to block. A flash of magic sent him flying away and slamming into a wall. Luna suddenly found herself trying to block two blades, and was forced on the defensive as the Nightmare launched a fierce assault, her blades moving faster than sight and nearly finding their mark more than once.

A mint-green flash smacked into the Nightmare’s face, halting her assault for a moment, and Luna seized upon the advantage, her horn glowing as she sent a concussive spell slamming into the mare, throwing her backwards through more buildings, dust and masonry flying outward.

Luna looked back to Lyra. “Well struck.”

“For all the good it does,” Lyra replied, her voice tense. “She's not done yet.”

“No,” Luna agreed as the masonry rumbled. “She is not.”

***

Command Post Majestic. 14:17.

An armoured figure landed among the ruins of the city, glancing around. In the distance he could see the rubble that had once been the Globe Theatre, and the broken towers of London Bridge, now impassible. Near them, however, were things that were more immediate concerns.

He could see the enemy gun batteries nearby. Massive cannons, mounted on ornate wheeled carriages were firing rounds constantly. Their barrels were wider than anything the BDF fielded, appearing more like the centuries-old antique cannons he had seen in museums. Various rims span around the barrels, lit by glowing runic script and constantly moving as if adjusting themselves at all times. Every time the gun fired the runes would flare even brighter and then fade down again. All of them were brightly painted and decorated with flowing golden rich red and rich red lines that contrasted with the polished steel of the barrels. They were raised high into the air, firing their shells into the sky like giant mortars.

Around the battery were pony crews who carried large shells covered in similar scripts. Every time a gun fired one of the ponies would immediately move to open the breech at the rear and make room for two more to life the shell into place and seal the breech shut again. The guns firing discipline seemed haphazard at first but the more the Avatar watched the quicker he realized that they weren’t firing at will. They were firing in sequence, each gun firing in time after the other so that they maintained a constant barrage.

Rolling his shoulders, he began striding towards the position. Almost at once, shouts went up from Equestrian positions all around him, and he could see a few Guards - rearguard troopers mostly - charging at him. A few spells lashed out, most hitting the dirt around him, but one or two slammed into his armour, scorching it. Grimacing, he held up a hand and a shield of translucent white energy appeared before him, catching the spells as they neared him. He pressed on.

A few were brave enough to grab their weapons and charge him. He ignored them, and as they reached his shield they were repelled, thrown backwards into the rubble. A few managed to stir weakly, dazed from the impact.

A few moments later, he reached the enemy trench works, and vaulted over them. He lowered his hand, the shield dissipating, and he brought Excalibur up as a few more charged at him. Deftly he parried blows and riposted, his blade cutting through armour like cloth. They were skilled fighters, no doubt, but they had no chance against him.

He heard shouts, orders being given, but ignored them. The guns were ahead - and he had to silence them.

***

Command Post Regal. 14:18.

At Command Post Regal, Chaplain Lemartia looked out upon the blasted city, her mind wandering far from the raging battle.

What have I done? she thought with a soft frown of consternation. I have unleashed a Nightmare upon the enemy: is it damnation to court the Nightmare within, or is it as the Empress says, a necessary evil? She paused, considering the question. Perhaps it is both - a necessary evil, but an evil nonetheless, and damnation is just another sacrifice we endure for the Empress.

“My lady!” a voice called from behind her.

Lemartia turned to see a Guardspony racing towards her, a harried expression on the mare’s face.

“Yes?” she asked.

“Report from CP Majestic, your grace!” the Guardsmare said breathlessly. “The demon! It's here!”

Lemartia’s eyes widened. At Majestic? But that was the artillery - without that, the advance would not have the support it needed! She spread her wings at once.

Damnation or not, it is a sacrifice I make gladly.

“Then I shall meet it!” she declared, and then she flew.

***

Command Post Majestic. 14:19.

“The enemy are on us!” a voice shouted in the distance. “They're here! They're here!”

Immediately the camp erupted in a frenzy of activity as ponies everywhere rushed to get into formation. They had been about to assemble to reinforce the assaults on the enemy position but whatever force the humans had been able to muster had caught them off guard.

“Horseapples!” Sunny Days cursed as he galloped to where his unit was assembling.

He, Golden Lock and Steadfast had been sent to Majestic a few hours ago as part of a rotation, though personally Sunny Days had preferred being at Regal. The arcguns were loud, even from Regal, and being this close to them made it all the worse. Sunny Days could have sworn he was getting a migraine.

“What’s going on!” Golden Lock shouted, panic on his face. “What do they mean ‘they’re here’?”

“Stop standing there and get into line!” Steadfast suddenly shouted, cutting Golden Lock off as he ran past the other two. Golden Lock looked worried as he struggled between obeying his friend and waiting for some kind of answer.

“Do what the old nag said,” Sunny Days snapped. “Buck knows what's happening, but it won't be good.”

“Soldiers of the Empire!” the voice of their commander suddenly bellowed over the noise of the reassembling army. “The time has come to once again face our foes. We go to battle to prove ourselves to Her divine Majesty. For Crown and Empire!”

Sunny Days slowed down as he fell into line with the other soldiers. He could see Golden Lock and Steadfast at their own points in the formation.

Suddenly there was a great clamour, and then a great heavy object flew into the air from the distance - before slamming into the commander’s position, smearing him and a few of the other lead Sergeants along the ground.

“Buck!” Sunny Days yelled. They had been crushed by one of the artillery cannons, hurled from its position.

“What the buck did that?!” somepony yelled. “One of their metal golems?!”

“It's the demon!” another yelled. “It has to be!”

“Everypony calm down!” Steadfast yelled. The old stallion stepped out of his already breaking formation, moving to the head of the group. “I need two Pegasus scouts, now!”

Two Pegasi moved out of formation immediately.

“Alright,” Steadfast said. “I need to know what’s attacking the guns!”

At once, the two ponies flew into the air and in the direction of Regal. Sunny Days glowered as he waited in formation. Deep down, a part of him was terrified at facing the humans again. Whatever the humans had brought to bear was capable of flinging arcguns from their emplacement several blocks away to just a few metres in front of him where his commanding officer had once stood.

“What do we do if it is the human’s magical weapon?” Golden Lock called out. “Do we attack?”

Steadfast didn’t answer. He wasn’t even sure he had an answer.

***

Point Gamma. 14:25.

Movement was a blur. The Knight Terror was fast - one moment she would be above, the next at the side. One moment she would be out of reach, and the next she would slam into you, forcing you backwards.

Luna matched her, pace for pace, step for step, strike for strike, her teeth gritted and sweat dripping down her forehead as she struck out blocking her opponent’s strikes and responding with her own. Alongside her, Lyra tried her best to throw spells that would distract and delay the Nightmare, though it seemed mostly to be merely annoying the mare. Eric, meanwhile, was struggling to keep up as well, barely managing to save himself from strikes that would have torn him in half had he failed to block them.

Luna’s horn glowed, a shockwave lashing out that blasted the Knight Terror backwards. She took a deep breath, narrowing her eyes at her enemy. Next to her, Lyra was breathing heavily, exhausted from her exertions. Eric had knelt on one knee, seemingly concentrating.

“She’s strong,” he commented simply.

“Are you alright, Eric?” Lyra asked.

“I’ll be fine,” Eric replied softly, shaking his head slightly. “I just… need a moment.”

“We may not have one,” Luna said grimly. “This Nightmare is a difficult beast.”

Eric shook his head, then pulled himself to his feet, his expression pained and his cheeks gaunt.

“Nothing we have seems to be stopping her,” Lyra put in. “You're the Alicorn Princess here - how do we kill her?”

“I have never seen an Alicorn die,” Luna admitted with a frown of consternation. “I do not even know if such a thing is possible.”

“That isn't comforting,” Eric said quietly.

Before they could say anything more, however, there was a flash of magic, and an explosion scattered the three.

“I’m touched that you all seem so eager to talk about me when I’m not here,” the Knight Terror said with a sneering smile, “but really, everypony, isn’t talking behind a pony’s back rude?”

Lyra snarled. “I’m so sorry our manners aren't up to scratch - here, have a consolation present -!”

She shot a spell at Cherubael, who deflected it lazily. Luna took off, charging at her again, her blade clashing with Cherubael’s own weapons. The insane Alicorn grinned.

“Come now,” she said. “I’m sure you can do more than that! Or is the fabled Nightmare Moon -”

Luna yelled, and suddenly a spell blasted Cherubael backwards, and Luna charged after her, pressing the assault and leaving Eric and Lyra behind.

“Dammit,” Lyra said with a scowl. “She’ll get herself killed.”

“She is an Alicorn Princess,” Eric pointed out. “We have to assume she’s capable of holding her own.”

“We don’t have to assume a damn thing,” Lyra said.

There was a sudden explosion, and the dark form of Luna could be seen flying through a building. A moment later, a spell impacted near Lyra and Eric and they dodged to take cover. A moment later, the dust had cleared, and Cherubael was standing before them, a sickly expression of rage and insane glee on her face. She seemed unstable, as if her physical body were struggling to hold itself together. Her blood-red ethereal mane had grown, extending outward and flowing like a rapid river. It had begun to darken on the edges, turning into a sheet of wispish darkness.

A spell flashed towards her, and she raised a shield almost lazily as it impacted. She stepped back, the impact knocking her back slightly, but she did not falter. A moment later, Luna landed near Lyra, her expression livid.

“Now that was rude.” the Knight Terror said with a mad lilt to her voice. Her grin twisted into a dark grimace as she began to build power in her horn. “I think it’s time we saw whether or not the fabled Nightmare Moon is as terrible and mighty as the old mare’s tales said”

“Do not use that name,” Luna hissed. “You abomination.”

Cherubael laughed. “You’re too kind, Nightmare Moo-”

With a mad yell of rage, Luna propelled herself forward, once again clashing against Cherubael’s blades. This time, the corrupted mare’s expression became a little more frustrated, but with a grunt of effort she pushed Luna back.

“Now,” she said, “that is more like it.”

***

Command Post Majestic. 14:40.

The Avatar cut down another Ivory Guardspony, the mare falling with a clanking sound against the hard ground. He had destroyed many of the guns already - the artillery was well defended, but only by the standards of mortal beings.

The last handful of guns were still firing, and he grimaced slightly, before beginning a slow march towards them.

“Demon!” a voice called from somewhere above him.

He turned, only for a spell to impact him in the chest, throwing him backwards to the ground. With a scowl, he pulled himself up, and found himself facing a False Alicorn. She wore a circlet of gold upon her head, and piercing blue eyes stared out from a faintly golden coat and a rich blonde mane.

“You are the demon the humans summoned,” she said stridently, her voice faintly tinged with an unidentifiable accent, as though she were trying to disguise a stronger one. “The Avatar.”

“Yes,” he replied simply, bringing his blade to a guard stance. “You are standing in my way.”

“I will do more than stand in your way, demon,” she said angrily, her accent getting slightly stronger as she spoke. “I am Lemartia, Chaplain of the Eyes of Solamina. I will be your death.”

And with that, she charged…

***

Author's Notes:

Slightly shorter one, but here it is :-) With thanks as ever to my team for their support.