Princess Twilight Sparkle stood talking with Cadence and Shining Armor as the party was in full swing at this point with ponies either eating food, or talking in groups, a few even played some of the games. “Does it have to follow you around?” Shinning asked as he looked at Celestiabot.

“Shinning she isn’t that bad. She actually helped me out a lot today.” Twilight said sighing, she had been talking with the two of them about the machine for the last half hour now as Shinning and Cadence were having trouble with the fact it was always there as well as knowing what it was for. She had to admit she wasn’t completely used to the machine being there but she was growing used to it since Celestiabot only spoke up when addressed or to help Twilight, she wasn’t sure how she’d handle the more vocal Lunabot.

“Still, I’m not very comfortable with that thing being around you all the time.” Shinning said.

“I can assure you Captain Armor I am no threat to you and only desire to keep Princess Twilight safe, surely you can respect that?” Celestiabot said, speaking up for the first time, the machine had been quiet the entire time Shinning was talking as if it wasn’t there.

Shinning blinked when Celestiabot spoke up and as much as he didn’t like to admit it he did like his sister having some form of protection, even if he would prefer the Royal Guard over a strange machine that had no problem killing everything if it wanted to. Twilight nodded and looked at shinning with a slightly raised eye brow to see if he would refute wanting to have her protected. He sighed. “Yes I suppose I can.” Shinning said. It was strange seeing his sister acting like this as he was used to his awkward little sister who was always nervous in social situations like this but she seemed to be handling things far better now and remaining calm and even standing up to ponies. He supposed she was finally starting to become comfortable with being a Princess.

Twilight smiled and nodded. “Thank you Shinning.” She said and nuzzled him, she could tell he was still uncomfortable with the sentrybot but at least he would respect her decision to allow it to follow her, she was sure if she asked the Commander the unicorn would call off the sentry. Speaking of which, Twilight looked over the party to see where the military mare had ended up and to no surprise she was sitting at a table with Meadow, Greywing and a guard she guessed was Stonewall with what Twilight now saw a her signature bottle of whiskey, that mare drank at every party.

Looking back to her brother and his wife. “So Cadence how has your visit to Canterlot been? I know we haven’t had much chance to talk what with everything going on.”

Cadence smiled. “IT has been nice visiting with Aunt Celestia and Aunt Luna though we do need to return to the Empire tomorrow as it has been sometime since we left.” Cadence said. “I’m glad we got to see you tonight before going as I’d hate to leave without spending time with you when we aren’t discussing threats to Equestria.”

Twilight’s face fell a little at the new that they were leaving tomorrow but she knew it couldn’t be helped; they were the rulers of an Empire after all. Twilight opened her mouth to speak but suddenly found her vision filled with nothing but bright pink.

Recoiling back the pink revealed itself to be a certain party mare, her usual wide smile missing as she looked at Twilight while scratching her chin, her lips pressed together as she was deep in thought. “Uh…Pinkie are you ok?” Twilight asked with concern.

“Huh? Oh yeah, I’m fine.” The pink mare said before grabbing Twilight by the shoulders and physically moving her several feet to the left and placing her closer to sound system that had been set up. Once Twilight was placed Pinkie moved Cadence and Shinning and arranged them into a half circle before nodding. “Perfect.” She said and before Twilight could ask what she was doing the mare was off and arranging other party guests into various placed around the room, if not for the random placement Twilight would think the mare was arranging everypony for something but there was no pattern or reason behind where she placed ponies.

Shaking her head and chalking it up to Pinkie Pie just being Pinkie Pie Twilight turned back to her brother and his wife being getting interrupted again. “What are you doing, let me go.” Twilight looked and saw Pinkie moving the Commander as well who looked rather annoyed at being moved and placed beside the sound system.

“Sorry Commander, but I thought that since you are sort of the mare of the hour we could listen to more of your music.” Pinkie said with her trademarked manic grin.

The Commander blinked. “Well I guess, I still have some proper party music.” She said as she pulled out her datapad.

Pinkie Pie shook her head. “Nope, some of the stuff you listen to on your own, not party music.” She said with a smile and the Commander blinked as she hooked up the datapad.

“Um….ok then.” She said and started going through menus. Twilight watched in confusion as she know Pinkie didn’t really like the Commander’s choice in music, actually it was hard to understand what the commander liked about it as a lot of it was noise to Twilight.

The doors at the far end of the room slammed open and a dozen Royal Guards entered the room and Twilight blinked as they all carried swords and spears though none drawn. The room fell mostly silent as the guards all looked on in confusion and some muttered to their companions.

Celestia stepped forward and addressed the unicorn guard in the lead. “Lieutenant Bright Star what is going on?” She asked calmly.

Bright Star snored and stepped to the side and Twilights eyes widened as she saw the figure standing in the middle of the guards. “Hello abominations, pleasant evening for bringing about true Harmony.” The leader said with a smile. Twilight’s mind ran wild as she tried to make sense of what was happening as the royal guards raised amulets they wore under their armor and took aim.

Twilight registered the threat a started to cast a shield spell a moment before the Purifiers fired, a purple shield snapped into place between the Purifiers and the party guests and absorbed the magical blasts. “Good work Twilight. “Cadence said as she and Shinning charged their horns.

Twilight blinked. “I didn’t do that.” She said, she was only half way through the shield spell.

Cadence blinked at her. “But…that is one of the most powerful shields I have seen, it has to be you as only an alicorn could have a shield that strong.”

“Traitorous scum!”” A voice said angrily and the Commander stepped forward her horn light as she maintained the shield. The alicorns in the room stared at the mare as she stepped up beside Celestia and glared at the purifiers.

“Well, well it seems the Agent of Chaos is full of surprises.” The Leader said.

“Oh I’m just full of them you burned bastard.” The Commander snarled.

Twilight blinked and her mouth spoke before her mind caught up, her mind was dealing with the fact she had never seen the Commander this angry before. “How….how are you as strong as an alicorn?” She asked.

The Commander looked over her shoulder at her. “War has a way of forcing you to push past your limits both physically and magically.” She said and then a piece of paper appeared beside her and was shoved before Twilight alongside a quill and ink. “Sign this Princess, don’t waste time reading it just sign it.”

Blinking and doing as the commander said she signed the paper and then started to read it but it was pulled away before she could get further then something about an order being given.

The Commander took the quill and signed as well then the writing utensil fell to the floor as the Commander cleared her throat and stepped forward and read in a calm and authoritative voice. “By order of Equestrian Defense Force High Command, a Hunter/Kill order has been issued on all Purifier Cultists effective immediately.

All Equestrian Defense Forces are to be on alert for any intel on the whereabouts of the targets.

Signed Princess Twilight Sparkle and Commander Twilight Sparkle.”

The Commander looked up from the paper and removed her sunglasses. “What that means is I no longer take prisoners or show mercy and neither do EDF sentries.” She said with a smirk as her eyes changed to being red and she dropped the shield. A half a second later the room was filled with extremely loud clattering causing Twilight to jump as some was coming from right beside her. The Purifier Guards who stood in front of the other all jerked as their bodies were riddled with bullets as Celestiabot and Lunabot fired on them. All except Bright Star who put up a shield and protected herself and the Leader from the incoming fire.

As the gun fire died down leaving most of the Purifier lying in spreading pools of blood the other doors in the room burst open as Guards and Servants rushed in, all of them wielding the Purifier amulets. “Celestia, Luna protect the Princesses!” The Commander barked as she drew her he sidearm and a second one appeared in her left hand as she jumped onto a table to get clear shots over the crowd.

Most of the ponies in the room were starting to panic as the Commander shot the Purifiers rushing the room and the two sentybots fired on them as they moved to protect the four alicorns in the room.

Twilight looked around as some of the guards in the room drew their weapons and engaged the traitors and even some of the nobles picked up dropped swords and fought in the various styled they were trained in while others put up shield to defend themselves and those around them ore fired stun spells. But there were more of them panicking or cowering down and the defenders were quickly getting out numbered.

It was then Twilight noticed Pinkie Pie still standing beside the sound system holding the Commander Datapad, still hooked up. The mare looked at the carnage unfolding before her with a smile somewhere between happy and sad before she pressed something on the device in her hooves.

The speakers let forth some type of a guitar RIF sound that gave way to more guitars and drums as the vocalists started to sing about a battle and the pink mare reached over and cranked up the volume till the music drowned out the screams and gunfire and Twilight could feel the music vibrating through her body.

Twilight could see the Commander smile as the music played and she jumped to another nearby table to get a new angle on the Purifiers and to avoid the incoming fire from the cultists. Twilight couldn’t figure out why Pinkie would start to play music at a time like this, and then she saw how the defenders were reacting.

There was some sort of change in the ponies fighting, they were no longer fighting in random groups but were grouping together and pressing back against the Purifiers and even some of the nobles and guests who had been cowering stopped and joined the battle as the guards and nobles surged forward and met the larger force of Cultists.

“It seems the Commander’s music has rallied my little ponies to fight.” Celestia said from beside Twilight causing her to jump and spin around to face the older alicorn.

“Wh-what?” She stammered out.

Celestia smiled down at her. “Don’t you feel it? The music moving through you?” The Solar Princess asked as she looked at her former mentor.

Twilight paused and focused on herself rather than the battle. The music was vibrating through her and she could feel something inside of her stirred, a type of fire she hadn’t felt before. Celestia smile slightly. “That is a fire that has not been used in a longtime in Equestria, and the Commander’s music has rekindled it, I do believe the song said it best, it is time to face the storm and defend out land.” Celestia said as she stepped forward, her horn lighting up as her sister followed. “And I think it’s time we answered the call.” The Sun Princess said as she sent a wall of magic forward that slammed over a dozen Purifiers into the wall.

Twilight looked around, more and more of the nobles and servants were joining the battle, even the cooks had come from the kitchen, armed with various cooking utensils to join the battle to defend the Princesses.

Watching as everyone fought, even her mentor Twilight felt the fire grow and she lite her horn as she stepped forward to join the battle.

In one corner of the dining room Calm Meadow slammed a Purifier dressed as a maid into the wall before delivering a right hook and the other mare collapsed, this was a lot like the brawl in the club a few weeks ago when she met the Commander, through then it wasn’t a fight against crazy cultists using amulets and most of them dressed as guards and her fellow servants but still with the music blasting and all the ponies surging around her she couldn’t help drawing comparisons.

Turning around the mare came face to face with a Purifier guard, before the cold armor wearing pony could react Meadow rushed the stallion and slammed into him with her full weight causing him to lose his balance and fall back. Pressing her attack the mare reared up and brought her front hooves down on the cultist’s face.

As she stepped back another purifier rushed her from the side with a sword raised, Meadow wasn’t able to react fast enough as she started to move to dodge, however the purifier went sailing sideways and crashed into a table.

Stonewall turned around from bucking the traitor away from the other earth pony. “You alright Meadow?” He asked as he scanned for threats, it was hard to tell who was an enemy and who wasn’t at time as the both defenders and attackers looked the same.

“Yeah, thanks for the save there.” The mare said with a laugh. “What is it with you and the Commander ending up in fights>” She asked as she bucked another Purifier.

“Don’t look at me; I rarely got into fights before the Commander arriver.” Stonewalls aid as he grabbed a Purifier servant and turned to face Meadow, allowing her to slam both her hooves onto the side of the head of the restrained purifier as hard as she could.

“Could have fooled me.” She said with a chuckle as the two of them waded into the fight.

In the air above most of the fighting Greywing grappled with a Purifier Pegasus, the pony was one of the guards so was trained and armored, however Greywing was bigger and a griffin so he had sharp talons.

Gripping the front of the guards armor the merchant let out a loud screech as he flew forward, slamming the Pegasus into the wall as hard as he could, it was enough and the cultist dropped like a stone to the floor not far below.

Greywing then turned to see where the next enemy was, he saw a loyal Pegasus guard flying erratically as he tried to dodge the magical blasted from two Purifier Pegasi’ amulets and with another screech the griffin flew at his next targets.

Another part of the dining hall turned battle field an orange earth pony and cyan Pegasus fought a group of purifier servants. Applejack bucked one of them into two other and they crashed through a table conveniently behind them. “That’s another three!” she called out.

There was a grunt above her and a moment later the Rainbow Dash slammed a Pegasus purifier into the ground hard. “Dang, that puts you ahead of me by two.” The mare said as she looked for another Pegasus to fight, the two of them had somehow turned the fight into a competition to see who could knock out the most purifiers.

“Yeah well there is more of them on the ground then in the air.’ Applejack said as she bucked a chair into another Purifier. “That’s another for me!”

Grumbling Dash took to the air to chase down another Pegasus Purifier.

Nearby a yellow Pegasus moved between ponies lying on the ground, she had not joined in the fighting but instead was gathering the injured into one corner of the room where she tended them along with a few servants and Cadence.

“Cadence over here, he needs you.” Fluttershy said waving the pink alicorn over as she held a severely injured guard, the guard had been slashed across the side by a sword and was bleeding heavily.

Cadence galloped over and looked over the injury before her horn lite up as she cast a healing spell. Once the wound was closed the Princess of Love ended the spell. “Ok that should do it but I think he should stay here as he lost a lot of blood.” She said and Fluttershy nodded in agreement before moving the guard to a section designated for those still needing to rest, around them stood a mix of Royal Guard and the cooks from the kitchen defending the makeshift triage area.

With the guard moved Fluttershy went to tend most injured as they arrived.

Near the sound system a group of a dozen Purifier fired their amulets at the pink blur as it weaved between them at a mad pace. So far all they had succeeded in doing was reducing their numbers from two dozen to a dozen as Pinkie zipped between them all giggling with glee.

“You ponies are really bad at tag you know that?” She said as another Purifier went down from a magical blast from his comrades.

“Pinkie what are you doing?” Rarity yelled as she saw what the mare was doing after pummeling a Purifier with over a dozen bits of wood, a chair had made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of defense.

Pinkie skidded to a stop right between the glaring Cultists. “Playing revers tag, what’s it look like?” The mare said a moment before she drop onto her stomach as the remaining Purifiers fire at the same time. The blasts flew over the prone mare and each one found a mark in the form of a cultist and they all went down. “Though they aren’t very good at the game.” Pinkie said climbing to her hooves.

Rarity opened and closed her mouth at a total loss for words on how to respond to the party pony. Sighing she smiled as pleasantly as she could. “Yes well do be careful dear.” She said before turning to aid a group of nobles about to be overrun by the Purifiers.

“Don’t worry I’m the bested revers tag player ever!” The mare said before ducking a Purifier Pegasus who tried to tackle her from the side and did a face plant into the wall before sliding down it and lying on the floor out of the fight.

Shining Armor stood with two other guards at his back defending a group of servants and noble who were too old to fight but had been caught up in it simply by being in the room when the attack commenced. The Former Captain of the Guard had a shield around them all while the two guards readied there weapons for when of the Purifiers used their amulet that was able to disrupt shields for a moment. They had already dealt with half a dozen of those cultists.

“Where are our reinforcements, not all of the guards in the castle would have betrayed their oaths.” Shinning said through gritted teeth, the betrayal of the guards who had served under him at one point struck him hard.

“Perhaps they are fighting the cultists outside the room and are trying to reach us.” One of the guards with the white unicorn said.

“Perhaps.” She said, he would agree to any theory that didn’t say the only loyal guards in the castle had all been in the room before the attack, he could not handle that possibility.

Near the three alicorn Princess fight, only Luna using offensive magic, Celestia and Twilight using stun spell or tossing the Purifier into the walls to knock them out, the two sentrybots flew at their max speed as the circles the Princess and watched the flanks, mowing down dozens of Purifier Cultists as they focused on the alicorns with their armor piercing ammo.

“Well at least the crazy quadrupeds are making this interesting.” Lunabot said over the radio to her sister as she fired on a group of Cultists.

“Must you treat this as a game?” Celestiabot replied as she dodged a magical blast and returned fire, neutralizing the threat. “This is serious.”

“Yes I know that Sister doesn’t mean I can have a little fun, I like the Princess and all but protecting them is usually so boring! It’s nice to get a little action.” Lunabot said with glee.

Celestiabot sighed. “I honestly question how we are related somehow.”

“That’s easy; we were both programmed by the Commander.” Lunabot said with a chuckle as she fired on more crazy quadrupeds, Celestiabot could only sigh once more.

In the thickest part of the fighting Commander Twilight Sparkle laughed with glee as she emptied the mags from her duel pistols into some Purifiers, the music and sounds of battle drowned out her laughing so no one heard it thankfully. While the situation was dangerous as she didn’t have time to switch into her armor she had to admit there was nothing like a good battle where the air is thick with the smell of gun powder and blood, granted only her and the sentries were actually killing cultists for the most part but still.

The military mare spotted an earth pony cultist near the wall and with a smile she drew her shotgun as she sprinted forward. Catching the Purifier off guard the unicorn slammed them against the wall before shoving the barrel of her shotgun under their chin. With a pull of the trigger the wall was splattered with a mix of blood, bone and brans and Commander Sparkle let the mostly headless body drop to the ground as she pumped another shell into her gun, nothing brightened up a room like a splash of crimson.

Near the entrance of the dining hall the Leader stood behind Bright Star’s shield as he watched the battle unfold before them, nether had moved from their spot as it was un needed, their brothers knew what they were doing, however they had not expected the ponies within the room to rally so fast, he was sure it has something to do with that noise playing from the speakers in the room, he refused to call it music as the sound was grating on his ears and the lyrics repulsive.

All through the castle Purifiers who had once been loyal to the abominations now fought the poor blind souls who still were. However there were enough of the Purifiers to keep the others busy long enough as about an almost half the castle staff was on the side of true Harmony. Ever since the abomination known as Celestia had shown her true colors by allowing the invasion of this city by the creatures know as Changelings many had been open to the words of the Purifiers as it was clear to them she had let them invade so as to cause chaos and to then turn it around and look like the hero so the nation would think she was their protector when she was their captor.

As the leader caught sight of the Agent of Chaos moving through his brothers and sisters like a force of nature with two blade that seemed to be part of her hooves and a smile on her face the Leader looked at the former Royal Guard Lieutenant. “It is time Sister Bright Star.” HE said and the mare nodded before the two of them turned and left the room, the battle behind them all but decided in favor of the defenders but their victory would be short lived once the final act is completed. Then there would be no more abominations standing in the way of true harmony.

The battle in the dining hall came to an end when Commander Twilight Sparkle put a round through the left eye of the last Purifier still standing from her sidearm. Looking over the now thoroughly destroyed dining hall the mare reloaded her side arms and hosted one as she placed the other in her pocket dimension.

The battle had been fierce with the Purifiers motivated by blind devotion while the outnumber defenders were motivated by a desire to defend their way of life, the advantage the defenders had were Twilight’s fire power and training and the overwhelming fire power of the two sentries. Mix all of that with music that ignites the fires of war in someone and you have a recipe for victory, though at cost.

Twilight could see Fluttershy, cadence and a few others collected the wounded and by how they approached some of the downed ponies and looked down sadly before moving on she knew not all the Purifier’s amulets were stun spells, much less the swords and spears the traitors were using.

Sighing she walked towards the two rulers of the land. “You two ok?” Twilight asked as the music died off as someone shut it off.

Celestia looked at the unicorn mare. “Yes we are fine Commander, what of yourself?”

The mare nodded her head. “It will take a lot more than a small army of crazed cultist and traitors to take me down believe me.” Twilight said with a smile then looked around. “Where the Princess?”

Celestia looked over to one corner of the room to where the purple alicorn sat with her eyes closed and her head resting in her hooves. Sighing Twilight made her way over to where her counterpart sat. “Hey Princess you ok?” She asked taking a seat beside the young alicorn.

“I don’t know.” The Princess said not raising her head.

Twilight reached out and patted the alicorn’s head. “It’s ok, I know battle like this can be overwhelming, believe me you should have seen me the first actual fight I got in.”

“It’s not that, I know it was necessary.” The alicorn said looking at the mare beside her. “It’s just….how do you deal with a fight like that and come out like nothing happen? I just don’t understand.”

Twilight closed her eyes and rocked her head side to side as she thought how best to answer. “I guess I just got used to it, I was trained in a very violent war where it was me or the enemy as only one of us would walk away from the fight. I’ve seen so much death that it doesn’t really faze me much anymore when its people I don’t really know.” She said opening her eyes. “I lost a lot to get where I am, not just my body but some very good friends of mine, people I cared about a lot died and I hope you never have to experience that Princess.”

The Princess mulled over the words of the Soldier before nodding. “Alright, I think I understand.” She said.

The Soldier nodded. “Alright, just sit here and deal with it ok?” She told the other mare before getting to her feet. She smiled down at the princess and patted her head again before heading back over to the Royal Sister who were helping collected the wounded.

“Princesses have you found any sign of the Leader among the dead?” She asked.

Celestia looked up from placing a wounded guard beside the others. “No, it looks like he escaped.” She said with a threat of anger in her voice.

Twilight nodded. “Figured he wouldn’t stick around till the end. “She said and held out her hands a moment before her SMG dropped into them and she checked the mag. “I’m going after him.” She said and started to head for the doors.

“IS he really a threat at this point Commander Sparkle?” Luna asked.

Twilight paused and looked back. “The only reason he would revel himself to us rather than just escape is he has moved into his endgame.” The mare said. “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you what he is planning since he has already done it before.

Both alicorn’s eyes widened. “You don’t mean?” Celestia asked.

Twilight nodded. “I do, he plans to turn Canterlot into another Horseton, only this one will be bigger than the last in all likely hood.”

“We have to stop him. “Celestia said firmly.

“No what you need to do is stay here and be seen by your shell shocked subjects so they have something to cling to while trying to deal with what just happened to them> “Twilight said firmly, she could see most of the ponies in the room were just barely holding it together and for the Royal Sister’s to abandoned like this would doom them to having a major break down and who knows what could happen then.

The two alicorns looked around and could see it was well. The Sun Princess sighed. “Yes, you are right Commander.” She said and looked at the militaristic mare. “Be careful Commander, the leader is a mad pony and extremely dangerous.”

Twilight smiled and pulled the charging handle on her SMG. “Relax, not the first time I’ve dealt with someone like him.” She said and an alabaster unicorn stepped forward.

“I’m going with you Commander, you might need some help as we can’t guarantee if the castle is still secured. “Captain Armor said firmly and drew his sword.

Twilight looked at him for a while then slowly nodded, as much as she hated to admit it, he was right and having someone she knew she could trust watching her back would be useful. “Alright but try to keep up with me as we probably don’t have much time.”

Nodding the Captain moved over to join the mare as the Princess stepped up beside Twilight.

“I’m going to.” The purple alicorn said.

Twilight blinked. “Princess this isn’t going to be like the fight in here, I’m going to be killing that bastard and any other Purifiers we come across.”

The Princess nodded. “I know but…I want to do this, I need to see this through to the end.” She said firmly. “I’m going with you.” The alicorn said with conviction, Twilight had to smile, seems her counterpart had grown a back bone when she wasn’t looking.

“Alight then but stay behind me and the Captain, let us do the bulk of the fighting and you cover our asses, make sure no one tries to ambush us from behind.” Twilight and the alicorn nodded before taking up a position behind the two unicorns.

“Good luck to you three.” Luna said and Celestia nodded before they turned back to continue to help find and treat the injured.

“Celestia Luna, protect this room from everyone, if they don’t look like a threat order them to wait outside unless the princesses say otherwise. Twilight ordered the two sentries and both beeped in confirmation. With everything settled the three ponies headed for the door the Leader had last been seen at.

As the group headed through the door Twilight came to a dead stop. “What is it?” Captain Armor asked as she and the Princess came around the unicorn mare to see why she stopped.

There laying before her just outside the door was the body of Bravo Team Leader, a spear buried in his chest and his eyes staring at nothing. Twilight heard the Princess give a small gasp but Twilight ignored it as she looked over the hall.

The hallway was filled with bodies of Purifiers and the mare could see splashes of dark green mixed in with the dark yellow of the cultists, the uniforms she had given her trainees. Both squads had fought their way to the doors of the dining hall facing a superior force, armed with whatever they were able to get their hooves on, but in the end they were outnumbered and outgunned. Still as Twilight looked over the narrow battle field she could tell the trainees had taken at least a dozen Purifiers with them each, in the end the threat to their nation and its leaders had broken through the last layer of reservations they had had.

Twilight slung her SMG and stood as straight as she could before saluting the hallway. “Rest now soldiers, we will carry on in your place, your battle is over now.” She said softly, she would need to make sure her soldiers got a proper burial when this was all over.

After another moment of silence the mare dropped the salute and unslung her rifle. “Alright, let’s move.” She said and turned away from the last battle of this branch EDF soldiers. The two with her nodded and followed close behind; none of them said anything as they left the scene behind as Twilight had said all that needed be said.

As they ran they came across other area that showed signs of battle as the Royal Guard had fought the Purifiers, some area the Purifiers had won and other the Royal Guard had some areas the battle still raged. The group only stopped at these area’s long enough to aid the Royal Guard if it looked like they were going to lose before moving on.

As the group ran they saw a Purifier run from a side hall and twilight raised her SMG, however before she could pull the trigger a blade appeared in the back of the pony’s skull and they went down, dead before ever hitting the floor.

Twilight blinked as she looked at the blade, it was clearly one went to be thrown but who the heck was using them in the castle. A moment later the mare got their answer as Nightgale stepped round the corner, dark fur perfectly clean, dark crimson mane slicked back and his golden eyes calm as ever, looking at him one would think there wasn’t a battle raging in the castle. “Ah, Commander, it is good to see you, please forgive the mess but it seems trash has found its way into the castle and wishes to ruin m’lady’s good time.” The stallion said calmly. “I assume you are dealing with the cause of this trash?”

Slowly Twilight nodded as she kept her eyes firmly locked on the stallion. “Relax Commander, I’m retired and only desire to be a simple servant for m’lady and nothing more and since you are m’lady’s friend I have no issues with you.” The stallion said calmly.

The stallion looked across the hall at where the next side hall ended in a T junction and another throwing knife appeared from nowhere in his hoof and was sent flying. “Hmm….I seem to be out of practice, no matter.” The stallion said and looked at the three ponies beside him. “Good luck to you Commander Sparkle and please take care of the one causing such a mess in the castle.” The stallions aid before trotting off down the hall he had thrown the last knife, Twilight could see a purifier rolling around on the floor, the throwing knife buried in his chest but had missed his heart.

As he walked by Nightgale absentmindedly threw another one and ended the Purifier. Twilight made a mental note to never, under any circumstances become an enemy of the stallion. “Ok….um…lets go.” She said slowly and started walking again and the other slowly started to trot after her none of them entirely sure what to make of what they had just witnessed.

Twilight asked herself that if she was an insane pony, well insane in the manner the Leader was, and she wanted to set off a Life-Bomb and kill the princesses that had ruled the land for centuries then where would she go? Well that was easy. Turning down a hall the group headed for the castle throne room.

Reaching the door to the throne room Twilight guess proved correct, sometime being a mad mare had its uses besides enjoying a wider range of past times then the average pony did, when they found the former Royal Guard Bright Star standing outside the door.

“Bright Star, how in Tartarus could you betray your oaths, you were one of my most loyal officers when I was Captain of the Guard.” Captain Armor said stepping forward.

Bright Star chuckled. “Because I realized I was protecting a monster who manipulated everypony so she could stay in power and everypony would think they needed her when we don’t.” She said sneering near the end. “You saw what happened at your wedding, she practically stood by and let the changelings invade and round us all up as food.”

Well twilight had to admit the manipulation was there but that was just Equestrian politics for you not anything to really do with a character flaw in the Princesses who had just been playing at them for a very long time. “She did fight but she also had to worry about the crowd.” The Captain said.

Bright Star snorted. “So a few of the nobles would have gotten hurt, so? What of the entire city? What of her own damn guards, everypony she supposedly swore to protect?” Bright Star yelled.

“SO you think she should have just ignored the ones immediately around her and let them die if she used her full power?” The Captain said.

“IF it meant proving she cared about more than keeping her power then yes.” Bright Star yelled back and twilight sighed, they didn’t have time to reason with a mare who had made up her mind a long time ago even if it was possible.

Twilight stepped forward and raised her SMG, Bright Star snapped a shield up just as the unicorn pulled the trigger and the bullet bounced off the shield. “Ha, I’ve seen what those weapons of yours can do Agent of Chaos and they won’t get through my shield.” The former guard said smugly.

“Perhaps one won’t but how about a couple dozen?” Twilight asked and the two with her had to jump back as the hall was filled with dozens of guns, Somewhere Twilight’s personal ones she got from earth, the other were Equestria made and were EDF standard issue. With a small smile twilight pulled all the triggers with her magic and the hall echoed with the sound of dozens of firearms going off at once and the unicorn mare as the round hit the shield. She was impressed the shield held for half a minute before shutting and a wall of bullets struck the traitorous guard and she went from being a unicorn are to a bloody lump of flesh that was unrecognizable.

Twilight ceased firing and all the guns except for her SMG and side arm vanished once more. “Let’s move, and be ready for anything on the other side of the door.” Twilight said as she moved forward and stepped over what was left of the former guard while the other two gave it a wide berth making a point to not look at what was left of Lieutenant Bright Star.

Inside the throne room the Leader stood before the throne looking it over, this was where the abomination had ruled over the ponies of this land for centuries, manipulated them into thinking they needed her, into loving her and practically worshiping her. Yes this would be the perfect place to enact the final plan and end their rein once and for all and then true harmony could take its place over the land.

The leader was drawn from his thoughts as a deafening noise sounded from beyond the door to the throne room and he looked back as it cut off. “So you come to stop me Agent of Chaos have you?” He said as he watched the door fly open and a small grey object sail through the door. He watched as it detonated in a blinding flash and he stumbled back.

However he was only blinded for a moment do to the distance he was from the detonation but it was long enough to allow the Agent sweep into the room along with one of the abominations and the unicorn that was married to one.

The leader ducked as the agent raised her weapon and the bullet it fired ripped through the air her had been occupying a moment before. The leader rolled to the side and came up and fired a magical blast from his amulet; however the white unicorn put up a shield and blocked the attack.

The shield dropped and the Agent fired her weapon again. The Leader galloped behind a pillar as the bullets chased him and then buried themselves into the stone support. “Reloading!” The agent called out on a reflex as she ejected her spent magazine and replaced it with a fresh one.

The Leader couldn’t see from behind the pillar but from what his spies told him the Agent most likely was having the other unicorn move around one side of the pillar while she herself moved around the other, and had the abomination stay back out of harm’s way to watch.

There was a flash of light in front of the Leader and the abomination appeared with the smirking Agent. “Boo.” She said as she raised her weapon. The Leader was surprised for but a moment before he rushed forward and tackled the Agent, some of her shots grazing his shoulder but it was a minor injury compared to what the bullets would normal do if they struck him.

The Leader grabbed the weapon in his teeth and wrenched it from the grasp of the Agent before tossing it back and bucking it out the window. The Agent growled in frustration and head butted the Leader causing him to stumble back from behind the pillar and out into the open where the white unicorn fired a magical blast that struck him in the side and sent him sliding across the floor.

The Leader slowly got to his hooves and looked at the group of ponies closing in on him, it was clear he was at a disadvantage against these forces of chaos but it was no matter, they would all perish soon. Seeing no way out the Leader took out a second amulet and began to run his hoof over it, pressing certain areas on it rapidly.

“No you don’t!” The Agent of Chaos yelled and there was a single bang and a searing pain exploded in the side of the Leader’s chest and he spun around, the amulet sailing from his grip.

“NO!!” He cried out as the almost activated amulet landed before the throne and slid beneath it. The partly activated Life-Bomb came to rest directly under the throne the abomination ruled from and a moment alter began to collect energy. However the spell was only partly activated and thus the amulet quickly became unstable and started to spark wildly as the small metal and jeweled object tried to contain the energies it absorbed from the surrounding air till it could not contain it.

There was a moment where the sparks stopped and then all at once the amulet exploded with the fore of a grenade going off. The throne above that had sat in that place for centuries was blown apart, Pieces of the throne sailed in all direction. One piece from what had once been part of the arm of the throne sailed towards to young alicorn in the room.

Time seemed to slow down for all present as the jagged piece of wood tumbled through the air towards the wide eyed Princess of Friendship.

“TWILLY!” Shining armor shoved his sister out of the path of the piece of shrapnel however that meant he himself was now it the path. Time sped back up as the arrant piece of wood flew through the air and pierced the former Captain of the Royal Guard’s chest and he was thrown from his hooves.

“Fucking hell!” Commander Twilight Sparkle yelled as she dropped her side arm and ran over to where the white unicorn lay, pulling both a med-kit and surgical-kit from her pocket dimension as she moved.

The soldier was in full medical mode by the time she drop to her knees beside the unicorn and carefully rolled him over so she could see the piece of wood sticking out of his chest as he coughed and his breath came quick and with difficulty. “Is…Is Twilly ok?”

“She’s fine now shut up and let me work.” Commander Twilight barked as she looked over the wound and opened the surgical-kit and began to pull out what she needed, she was not losing the Captain, not on her watch, not again.

Nearby Princess Twilight Sparkle slowly got to her hooves, the wind having been knocked out of her from the shoves and as soon as she looked upon the scene her eyes shrunk down to small dots as she walked over to where Commander Twilight sat hunched over her brother working franticly to save his life. He mind raced with what the unicorn mare had told her happened to her own brother and tiered started to fall from the alicorn’s eyes as she watched her unicorn self carefully inject something close to the wound in her brother chest.

No, she couldn’t lose Shinning, she simply couldn’t, she didn’t know what she would do if she lost him. Most and more her mind was filled with thoughts of what had happened to the Commander’s brother and that lead to what the other mare had done about it.

Slowly the Princess of Friendship looked over to where the Purifier Leader was trying to drag himself towards the door behind where the throne had once sat. Tears in her eyes and without a word the alicorn started to walk towards the prone form of the Leader as her horn lite with magic of a levitation spell.

The Leader pulled himself towards escape while the forces of chaos were distracted, however his robe caught on something and when he looked back he saw the abomination had stepped on it and she was looking at him with shrunken eyes and tears streaming down a face of total devastation.

“Y-you…’She said and the Leader saw the metal object the Agent of Chaos always carried on her hip raise up, held in the magical grip of the distraught alicorn.

Princess Twilight Sparkle might not have been taught how to use the weapon but she had seen the Commander use them several time and they were simple use and at this distance she couldn’t miss, not with the Leader unable to escape do to his injuring.

She looked down the sights of the pistol aimed squarely between the eyes of the bleeding stallion, her mind took in every detail of the pony who had caused to much chaos and death in the name of his madness, his burnt face, his missing mane the blood leaking from the corners of his mouth as his breath came in ragged gasps. She would end it all here.

A presents appear beside her. “You sure you want to do this Princess?” Commander Twilight Sparkle asked the alicorn as she stepped up beside her. She looked between the young alicorn and the ancient stallion. “If you pull that trigger while your emotions are this out of control it won’t be justice, it will be just revenge.” The mare said calmly. “And if you take this route you will no longer be an idealist, that road will forever be closed to you.” The unicorn leaned close to the alicorn to make sure she heard. “You will be a killer, just like me.” She whispered.

Princess Twilight still stared down the sights of the gun, the other mare’s words slowly making their way through her pain and fear till they began to reach her. The gun started to waver and shake in the alicorns magical grip and slowly the unicorn mare reached out and took it from her alicorn self.

Stepping back Commander Twilight spoke up again. “I was able to stabilize the Captain; he’s going to be ok once he sees the royal doctors.” She said. “You should go be with him to make sure he isn’t alone.”

Silently the alicorn nodded and turned away from the Leader. Commander Twilight Sparkle watched as she started to walk back towards where her brother lay before turning her attention back to the injured stallion, her medical scans told her his lung had been grazed and he had about a 50/50 chance of surviving. “As for you.” She said and stepped onto his robe, preventing him from trying to drag himself away. “From what I know you Purifiers used to be a force for good but somewhere along the way you lost your way, you let the power you had corrupt you and you started a mad war against those you should have worked with.” She said and sighed. “Whether it was out of fear of becoming useless or a desire to not share your power I do not know and frankly I do not care. The facts still stand that you waged a mad war and killed millions of those who did nothing.”

“All we desired was true harmony.” The Leader said, his voice still filled with conviction and his eyes filled with the same strength they had had when Twilight first saw them. She was sure the stallion would live on force of will alone.

“No what you wanted was power and to remain the only one the ponies looked to for aide.” Twilight said firmly and shook her head. “It’s not the first time I have seen it and I doubt it will be the last do to my line of work.” She looked firmly at the stallion bellow her, her face a mask of calm. “I’d suggest you pray to the gods for mercy in the afterlife.” She said and raised her pistol. “Because I stopped believing in them a long time ago.”

There was a single shot behind Princess Twilight Sparkle as she walked towards where he brother lay, though the sound made the mare jump she did not miss a step.

She reached here her brother lay with a med-kit and surgical-kit beside him as well as the piece of wood that had pierced his chest, now removed and the area of his chest now bandaged. He looked up at her. “You ok Twilly?” HE asked with a small smile.

The alicorn wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled down at her brother. “Yeah, I’m fine, what about you?” She asked as she sat on her haunches beside him.

“Eh, hurts a little.” HE said and Princess Twilight looked down at him with an arched eyebrow. “Ok, ok, hurts a lot.” HE said and chuckled a moment before he winced.

“Pain is a good thing; pain means you’re still alive.” Commander Twilight sparkle said as she stepped up beside the Princess and smiled down at the unicorn. “You’re lucky, the wood missed anything vital.” She said before kneeling and picking up her medical gear before she stood up. “Princess keep an eye on him, I’m going to go get my SMG as I don’t want some random person finding it and shooting themselves in the hoof.” She said and patted the alicorn on the shoulder before walking off towards the window the Leader had bucked the gun out of.

The two siblings watched the mare go till she reached the window and looked out if before teleporting away. “She is a strange mare.” Shinning said looking back at his litter sister.

Twilight nodded. “Yeah she is a little but I’m happy to have someone like her as a friend.” She said looking back at her brother. “As strange as that sounds considering she is technically me.”

Shinning chuckled. “Not really, she may look like you and you have a few things in common but she’s not you Twilly.” She said and did his best to ruffle the alicorn’s mane before wincing in pain.

“You really should be careful till we get you to the infirmary.” Twilight said and smiled.

“Yeah that’s exactly what she said as well.” Shinning said with a chuckle. “Honestly I don’t think I have ever seen anypony work so franticly in my life.”

Twilight nodded slowly. “Well…she has her reasons…”She said quietly and Shinning blinked up at her. Twilight sighed. “Her brother was killed during an assassination attempt on Cadence…..it hit her very hard and I think she is still dealing with it and since you look exactly like him…”

Shinning slowly nodded. “I thought something had happened based on how she acted around me, she was always so stiff when everyone else she was far more relaxed.” HE said nodding and sighing as he laid his head back.

Twilight nodding. “It’s how she is dealing with it right now as she hadn’t planned for running into you.” She said. “Though I don’t think she really planned on running into any of us.”

Shinning nodded from the floor. “I can’t imagine anypony planning on meeting alternate versions of everypony they know.”

“Well that is true though I wouldn’t be surprised if after this she makes a plan just for that.” Twilight said with a giggle. Shinning joined in though his cut off abruptly in a wince.

It was shortly after this that Commander Twilight Sparkle returned with her SMG slung on her back and the three of them sat and visited for a few minutes, by this time the battles within the castle were most likely over so they could all take a rest from the past month’s events. The Commander was sure that with the leader dead any Purifiers left would soon fade into the background as there would be few of them and without their mad leader pushing them they would be less motivated to try anything anytime soon.

It was like this that some Royal Guards found them, just sitting in the middle of the throne room talking about mothering in particular and soon after that the Royal Sister arrived and as the Commander had predicted the battles within the castle was over, there were a few Purifier’s hold up in rooms of the castle but they were very few in numbers and it would not take much to retake the rooms as the fight was clearly over and only the most zealotouse still really fought.

The threat from the Purifier’s was now well and truly over and all that was left was to try and find a way to get Commander Twilight Sparkle home, though that could wait as a particular pink pony insisted on having a large party to make up for the one that got interrupted by the Purifiers and the mare still needed to make sure her soldiers got a proper burial.

Author's Notes:

So this is it, the threat of the Purifers is now well a truly over.

Got to see a little of everyone fighting and in the end Twilight's trainees became real EDF soldiers.

also CTS prevented PTS from making a misteak, and if anyone wonders why factor in if PTS had killed while in that emotional state rather then calm and as a ruler it would have destroyed her and lead her down a dark path.

on to the epilogue