High, and far into the mountains there lies a small village. Like any that is cut off from civilization, it is insignificant, not seen as very much important by those who live in the grander cities. However, one village…is destined for greatness.

The day was young; Ponies were out tending to the daily chores that needed tending to, food, etc etc.

It was nearing evening, and the sun was setting on the horizon, showing a beautiful color of red up high on the sky. Everything was quiet, prosperous, peaceful…quiet. As the day was parting ways for the night, everything was settling in, children were readying themselves for bed, and adults were enjoying each other’s company. A cold, but calm wind was on the air, blowing the capes and cloaks of passerby’s that were out on the nice winter’s evening. The last hours before the night.

Torches were aflame, glowing amidst the settling darkness of the night. Random inhabitants of the village were carrying them as they moved throughout the little town.

A young Stallion maybe in his teenage age was at a Mare he like’s home. The two of them were sitting upstairs in the Mare’s room; they were making nervous small talk, or mostly just let the silent ambience of the settling night be the only noise.

Raising his head, the Stallion tried to look up into the Mare’s eyes. However, when he looked he stuttered trying to find any words.

This seemed to improve her mood, as she smiled, giggling a little at his problem forming words. He joined in, shortly, laughing too.

After a couple minutes of nothing but an awkward silence, that had followed their little moment of laughter, he opened his mouth to speak again, but before he could, a sudden knock was heard coming from the door to the Mare’s bedroom.

Both of them turned their heads, looking towards the door.

‘’Beren!’’ a Mare’s voice sounded from behind the door, ‘’your mother just contacted me! She wants you to come home as of this moment!’’

Closing his eyes, his face contorted into a frown, and he held back a soft groan. His eyes looked down in disappointment.

He felt the gentle touch of a hoof against the underside of his chin. He looked up, seeing the Mare in front of him, conjuring a warm smile on her young, but beautiful face.

‘’Hey,’’ she said, ‘’we can hang out more tomorrow. Do you think you can last until tomorrow?’’ The Mare asked.

His eyes looked, his face still frowning. However, shortly they looked back up, smiling, as they settled back on her face.

He scoffed, smiling a little wider.

‘’I kept my mouth for a good while now, I think I know a thing or two about waiting.’’

This time she was the one to scoff. She extended a hoof, putting it to his shoulder.

‘’I never doubted that you would continue holding the title.’’ Both let out a little laugh at that.

‘’Beren! Do not make me say it again!’’ The Mare’s mothers, voice called through the wooden door once more, a little sterner this time.

‘’Yes, Mrs. I am going! I am going!’’ He called back.

He turned, giving her one last look, being only returned with by a gentle smile from her.

All of a sudden, she leaned in a little closer, getting quite close to him. Unexpectedly, she kissed him on the cheek.

When she pulled away from him, his cheeks were blushing, his face red from embarrassment at the thing she had suddenly performed.

His face was evident with how shocked he was about her kissing him like that.

‘’Ok-ay,’’ quickly, he stood back up, turning himself around to face her, ‘’g-goodnight!’’ He almost shouted out at her. She giggled a little at this when she saw it.

He turned around, and started trotting forward…Only to be trotting too quickly and almost trip over his own hooves, as he was not paying attention. He caught himself before falling down.

He froze in place, his ear perking up as he heard her giggling. He swallowed down, and thought it best to make a hasty retreat. Hurrying and opening the door, he rushed out of her bedroom. Then down the stairs, and out the front door.

As the door slammed behind him, he stood up against the wall. Letting out a heavy breath, he shook his head.

‘’Stupid! You idiot!’’ He said to himself.

He trotted down along the road, his hooves tapping as they skipped across the stones.

Exiting out through the entryway, he turned, and started following the path as it lead to the right. His mind was so obsessed about screwing up in front of a girl he actually liked that he was all too oblivious to a recognizable figure looking out through her bedroom window at him as he parted from the premises, and was now on his way back home.

Trotting down along the road, his head was held low, staring down at the pavement in front of him. Overhead, the now come-forth stars shined down upon the world that lay beneath them. Illuminating it one bit at a time.

While following the path, he did not pay too much attention as to where it was leading him. Finally raising his head, and actually looking with his own eyes. He was a little surprised to find that he was actually on the outskirts of the village, near the old oak that had stood in the same place it always had. Always atop its old hill, from the same spot where its seed had first been grown, and now become the large tree that it was today.

He chuckled a little, remembering that his parents used to tell him stories of how this great tree had come into existence.

There were many stories about its origins, some saying that a God in the ancient days of creating Equestria planted it as an eternal testament to the sheer beauty of this good earth, others believed that it was what in their legends was referred to a Mallorn tree, the purest of trees. And some just believed it to be another tree that had simply gone on living for as long as it could.

Raising his hoof, he touched it against the wooden skin of the tree, letting it brush across its surface, as he trotted over towards section of the tree and sat himself down, supporting his back against the tree.

He raised his head, and looked back up towards the moon, seeing once more that round, white sphere in the skies. He smiled as he laid eyes on it.

It was not too often that he has gotten to see a full moon like this, and such it is always amazing when he does see it.

Seeing the moon like that always reminded him of his mother, that nice, beautiful Mare that he had known since birth.

Then, it happened…

Feeling a wetness on him, he brought a hoof up to his chin and wiped the tear that was running down along his cheek. His eyes looked down, before returning back up, and staring towards the moon with a sad frown.

‘’I-I,’’ he held back a chocked sob, ‘’I miss you, Mom.’’ He said, letting several more tears run.

He lowered his head, putting them into his hooves, and starting to sob.

-

Sleeping in her bed, the Mare was laying on her sides, her eyes closed, when all of a sudden, she felt uneasy.

Her eye/s opened, and she sat up on the bed. Her brows narrowed, and her expression become somewhat stern.

She took a few steps forward, approaching the window. She undid, and opened the window, pushing it open with her hooves, holding the window open so she could look out through it.

‘’What is that?’’ She asked nervously, turning her head to look from side to side.

Suddenly, from the right side, her eyes noticed and caught wind of a fiery glow. Her head turned, looking to the right.

Immediately her eyes grew wide, and her jaw dropped, hanging open at the fiery light that was reflected in her eyes as she saw it.

The door of her bedroom flew open, as her father galloped into the room.

‘’Luthien!’’ He shouted as he entered her room. He froze, as he was not able to get very far into it.

Luthien turned, the laminating glow falling upon her face, as she returned her father’s frightened face.

‘’Father!’’ She shouted a look of growing fear on her face.

Sitting by the tree, Beren slowly turned his head, looking behind him, as his ear perked up, catching a sound from behind him.

Making it out further, it sounds like...

His eyes widen, and his head shots up, becoming pale, screaming. That was what he was hearing.

Being quick to get to his hooves, he galloped back up to the front of the tree. However, once he did get to the front of the tree, and he laid eyes on the town, he was paralyzed in place by the sight that greeted him.

In the pupil of his eyes, they reflected what awaited him, while his ears was forced to listen.

Glowing brightly in the midst of the night, the raging fires were spreading throughout the town, claiming home after home.

Screams of panic echoed within, and around the village.

His face was distraught, pale with weary fear, as he observed Ponies running out of the burning town.

In the town’s streets, several Ponies clad in crude, leather armor were charging after unarmed citizens as they attempted to escape. Cutting down some, letting their dead corpses fall to the ground, and throwing nets and restraining others.

With terrible swords, they slaughtered those that fought back, and those that fled.

Stallions were still rushing to the closest armories, equipping themselves with armor, shields, and swords, but upon rushing to confront the vile invaders, they were cut down without mercy. Only a select few survived, and attempted to escape, but even they could not escape the invader’s pursuit.

With their burning town as a backdrop, the inhabitants of this once peaceful place were burned by the collapse of their formerly standing houses.

Running up along the path, Beren hurried through his burning homestead. With his own eyes, he witnessed the struggles between his neighbors and friends, and the armored attackers.

With all haste, he hurried through the town, his head turning in every direction, looking at the terrible onslaught that was taking place.

The streets were littered with blood, and dead bodies, but soon those streets perished as the crumbling buildings started blocking it off.

‘’Mom! Mom!’’ He shouted with great urgency in his voice.

However, as he continued to search, the more he was feeling that it was all in vain. Most of the Ponies he spotted were the terrible forms of the invaders.

He hid when he could, staying out of their sight as much as he could.

One of the attackers had a banner attached to his back. While hiding underneath a porch, he was able to see it as the form of an unrecognizable face more appropriate for a Demon.

Crawling out from underneath the porch, he continued to hurry through the village.

Rounding a corner, he suddenly caught himself, and quickly pulled back behind the corner. Down this particular street, in front of one of the houses, was a large group of the invaders. At the back of the group was a large steel cage, which was being pulled by some quite beastly looking Wolf-Ponies.

He narrowed his brows, looking at it with a confused look.

The door was broken, and out of the doorway strode one of the invaders. Unlike the others, his face was not covered by a black hood and instead wore a strange form of cloth with a steel pendant on the front.

He nudged his head, indicating back towards the house.

The Pony in front of him, turned his head, and looked back towards two Unicorns behind him. The Unicorns nodded, and stepped forth. They pointed their horns, and shoot out several blasts that flew inside the house.

The house exploded, engulfing the entirety of it in a violent inferno that started to grow as it swallowed up more and more of the wood that the house was made of.

With a shine from the fiery light falling upon them, the leather-clad Ponies looked at it for a few minutes. Sighing disappointed, the Pony shook his head, as he and his followers turned, and started to trot away down the street.

With gentle movement, Beren dared to step out from behind the wall. His eyes watched the group as they vanished down the street, becoming fainter and much smaller in the distance. The only indication of their presence being the darkly silhouetted forms that were illuminated by the flames of the burning town.

Backing away, he turned around, about to run away again. However, this small moment of being alone was interrupted by someone grabbing him by the shoulder and turning him around, rather roughly.

A gruff mocking laughter entered his ears, as he both saw, and heard a foreign figure now standing in front of him.

‘’What’s this? A lone one, all on his own?’’ A shaggy haired and very bearded one of those leather-clad invaders said, as he held Beren by the shoulder. He tried to resist the bad-news looking Stallion, but he could see that he was holding a rather foul looking blade in his other hoof, and he doubted that he would not be willing to use it.

‘’Hmm,’’ the scruff grumbled as he looked him over. ‘’And you are…?’’ He asked in a rough manner, face frowing as he almost seemed to be disappointed about something.

Beren breathed uneasily, as his eyes looked at the Stallion’s expecting face.

‘’Well?’’ He shook him violently. ‘’Who are you!?’’ He asked with as much care.

When he stopped shaking, Beren nervously blurted out ‘’Beren!’’

The Stallion’s eyes grew wider, and his face paled.

‘’What did you say your name was!?’’ He shouted, shaking him a lot rougher than the first time.

‘’Beren! It is Beren!’’ When the shaking stopped, he finally looked back into the eyes of the rough-handling Stallion. ‘’I’m Beren.’’

‘’Impossible,’’ he said, now with a nervous tone. His head turned, looking away from the child in his grasp. ‘’But then, that means…’’

Meanwhile, up in one of the buildings that had not yet been burned or destroyed, a bow was strummed.

The Stallion’s ear perked up as the noise reached him, and he turned himself around.

Then, it was released…

With a powerful snap, the arrow was released from the bow, shooting down through the air at a quick speed.

With a powerful impale, the arrow pierced the Stallion’s chest, rendering him motionless where he stood as his life left him. Then he fell down, knees first, and then followed by his torso, and then his head.

Being quick to get to his hooves once the Stallion was completely dead, he started turning around in circles, as he did not dare to run yet in case the one who fired the arrow might attempt to kill him now that he was without anyone to protect him.

‘’Beren!’’ A voice shouted from a balcony above him. Arching his head, the Stallion looked up towards where the voice had come from. There, he scoffed as his eyes laid eyes on the figure that greeted him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but was suddenly silenced as the Pony brought a hoof up to his mouth, motioning for him to be silent.

‘’I am coming down,’’ he mouthed, motioning with his hoof for him to be calm.

Beren, however, had no intention of standing out there in the open, and quickly hurried and trotted over towards the front door of the now abandoned house. Moments later, the shooter that had saved him appeared.

‘’Quick…’’ He instructed, motioning for him to hurry inside the house. Scared out of his mind, Beren hurried and obeyed the adult’s instructions. He looked out into the streets, checking to see if they had been seen. When he saw no indications of the invaders, he closed the door, and went in after Beren.

He was quick in leading the child to where he wanted him to remain. Beren was silent, and did as he was told, knowing that at any minute, if too much noise was made they would be found out by the invaders who might still be patrolling the city streets on the hunt for survivors.

A door opened, and Beren was shown into an old and worn room. When he raised his head, and looked out in front of him, he felt his spirits beginning to rise, and his happiness to soar.

‘’Luthien!’’ He blurted out. The small Mare in front of him turned her head, and looked towards him. Just like him, her sorrows seemed to fade away, and a smile return to her face.

‘’Beren!’’ She replied.

Both of them started to run towards the other, embracing the other with a warm hug.

‘’I thought they had taken you!’’ He held back a chocked sob.

‘’What do you mean?’’

They pulled back, looking in each other’s eyes.

‘’I thought that the attackers had killed you.’’

She smiled back, lowering her head.

‘’You should know me better that. I am not easily taken down by anyone.’’

‘’That is true…but these are hard skilled warriors, and you do not have much combat training, neither of you do.’’

Luthein’s father turned his head, looking back out the door he stood in front.

He turned, looking towards the two adults.

‘’Listen, we have to go. If we leave now, we might still be able to get out before the attackers notice us.’’

Beren turned, looking back towards the older adult.

‘’Then how do you suggest we get past those warriors, as you call them, Father?’’ Luthien asked in a more serious tone. Both males turned back, directing their gaze upon her. ‘’How do you intend for the three of us to escape?’’

Turning his head, Beren looked back at him.

‘’The Northern Entrance. There was no enemy activity in that sector of the village, but I believe that a convoy will soon be passing through there so we must leave at once.’’

‘’Agreed!’’ The two of them said in unison. Their heads turned to look towards the other, but then broke that eye contact when they both blushed.

A scoffed laughter from Luthien’s father was enough to draw their attention back to him.

‘’Come on.’’ He nudged with his head, before hurrying out the front door.

-

Gently easing the door open, Luthien’s father stuck his head out, turning it from side to side to make sure that the coast was clear for them to leave.

Stepping gently out of the front entrance, he looked back behind him, and gently waved his hoof.

‘’Come on.’’ He whispered.

Gently, Luthien and Beren stepped out of the front entrance, and started following him out into the street.

The darkness of night still hung high upon the world, but due to the surrounding darkness, the flames of the burning houses still shined predominantly through it.

While the journey was swift, and as quiet as can be, they tried avoiding being in too close proximity to the burning houses as the generated heat was unbearable.

As they made their way through the empty streets, there was the occasional explosion in the distance. However, before every explosion, there was always a loud * Whoosh!* Almost like something had flown through the air at an incredible speed.

All around them, raised voices chanted in unison, the words of the dark language that they spoke being constantly repeated.

Up into the skies, the red smoke from the fires finally reached, infecting the clouds with the bloody color that was the same as the fluids running through the streets of the town’s mighty warriors, who had attempted, and failed to defend their home from the invaders.

‘’Whoa, whoa! Stop! Stop, stop!’’ He suddenly extended a hoof, pulling both them and himself back behind the corner they had just rounded.

Peeking his head out from behind the side, he scouted to check if they could try to make it.

Retracting his head back, his eyes looked back up at them.

‘’Well, I have good news and bad news…’’ His eyes looked back and forth between the two of them. ‘’The good news is that we have reached the front gates, but the bad is that there are quite some obstacles for us to brave if we want to leave with our lives intact.’’

‘’What obstacles exactly?’’ Asked Beren.

‘’Three large creatures, and that is just the second line of defense, the first is a row of two battalions.’’

Turning his head, Beren looks towards Luthien, and then brings it back towards her father.

‘’Well, we can take them.’’

Luthien’s jaw dropped, hanging open as she raised her brows in surprise from what he had just said. Even her father was shocked at what he had just heard Beren suggest.

‘’Did you not hear me? Was what I described sounding boring to you? We cannot take down such a-‘’

‘’Not head-on, but if we were to be able to lure them away from the Front gates, then nothing will stop us from escaping into the night.’’

‘’No.’’ Her father responded.

‘’No?’’ Beren asked, not believing that his plan was being cast aside like that.

‘’They will not move away from their assigned position, even if we try to go out into the open and present one of us as bait they will refuse to follow us. They would most likely wait for reinforcements, and then send them after us than come after us themselves.’’

‘’Then what do you suggest we do, if you know that your assessment is correct?’’

Turning his head, he looked back at his daughter, smiling at her.

‘’Oh, I think I have an idea of something we could try.’’ He said, turning himself around, and trotting away, as did they.

However, before they could very far, a loud and sudden noise sounded in the distance. It was the sound of a horn being blown.

Turning their heads, they looked back down the street that the sound was coming from. A faint, but growing sound reached their ears, making Luthien’s fathers perk up in particular, as he recognized the sound.

His slight frown dissipated away as a smile took its place. He inhaled a gentle intake of air, and exhaled it with an excited demeanor.

Quickly, he turned back towards Beren and Luthien, and trotted to them in a quickened pace, his eyes looked away from them, turning from left to right, before finally settling on a broken door.

‘’There!’’ He said in a lowered voice, as he pushed them towards the door. ‘’Quickly!’’ He ushered to them. Pushing them inside the house, he was quick to peak his head outside the door, glancing down the street towards where the marching was coming from.

‘’Father, what are you doing!?’’ Luthien asked impatiently as she saw her father return to them.

‘’Yes, what are y-‘’

‘’Do you two trust me?’’ He interrupted, the two of them just stared back at him with dumbfounded glances. ‘’Do you two trust me enough to do now what I ask of you?’’ He asked, with a little panting intermixed with his words.

‘’Father…?’’ She asked gently, as she a step closer to them, ‘’is there something you are trying to tell us?’’

He shook his head.

‘’No…’’ he responded, ‘’there is something I must ask of you.’’

‘’What?’’ She inquired nervously. ‘’What is it that you must ask of us?’’

With a turn of his head, he looked back into his daughter’s face.

Outside the house, the marching only got closer and closer, until finally a long, black line of figures wearing clothing mostly consisting of light cloth, the wearers’ faces being obstructed by hoods and other clothing attire, rounded the corner. Following the path that lead towards the Main Gate at the end of the street.

The front of the long line were clad in light – but still heavy – armor. They mostly focused on swords, through some of them carried shields as well as blades…

The second line were forms clad in light clothing, with almost no sign to armor, aside from what they fashioned to be their armor. Cloth and other bits of fabric covered their faces. They carried swords, bows, and shields…

The final line was another row of Equines that dressed quite similar to the second row. However, whereas the second mostly consisted of cloth and not too much armor, they too had visible cloth, but they focused a lot more on armor.

The torso, shoulders, arms, and hind legs wore armor. The armor for the shoulders were singular pieces of layered, sharp points. The helmet was a special kind that looked to have more on the top, with a mask at the front, at the back of the top of the helmet there was a single shape of steel that went up, and it was separated, giving off two sharp points – At the edge of the front, there was a separate sharp point. They carried shields, and spears.

After passing by one of the houses, one of the guards near the back stopped, turning his head and looking behind him at the house they had just passed.

Someone touched his shoulder, making him turn and look behind him. Standing there was one of the others from the group who had gotten out of line when he did.

Nodding his head towards the house, the other soldier looked up in direction of the house.

‘’Come, I hear something.’’ The first one said, as he waved his hoof towards the house.

A horn blowing sounded in the distance, but the soldier ignored it as he started towards the house.

Getting close enough to the house, the other soldier was finally able to hear it too, the gentle sobbing of a hiding Mare.

‘’A lone mother, probably hiding because she are with her children, and thus will not attempt to flee under fear for being seen..’’ The first soldier said. His companion blinked his eyes back.

Taking a step onto the stones underneath his hoof, he heard the gentle sobbing being interrupted, as well as the floorboards creaking from movement.

He looked up; meeting the first soldiers’ masked face.

The first soldier motioned with his head for his companion to enter inside the house. The second nodded back, and got himself into position.

Suddenly, the first soldier used his spear to force down the door, which landed with a loud thud against the floor.

The thud was loud enough to draw the attention of some of the other soldiers back at their group. Their heads were turned, but when seeing that it was just some of their own investigating a house they turned back, and resumed their march towards the Main Gate.

Out form the house that the soldiers had entered, the sound of metal clinging, and terrible ruckus were the only thing to be heard or seen.

Soon enough, the two soldiers did emerge from the house, but they were not alone. A still resisting Stallion was bound, and forced to follow them. He was bloodied, and had blood running down from under his jaw.

‘’Come on, you filth!’’ The first soldier barked as he pulled on the rope, forcing the Stallion forward, but perhaps a bit too quick, as he stumbled and fell forward.

Looking back at him, the two of them just watched him try to stand up. The first, laughed at the sight of how pathetic and worthless this Equestrian was.

Getting to his hooves, the soldiers started leading the way as he was forced to follow them when they pulled on the rope.

The first smiled as they left two other dead bodies behind in that house. Those stupid enough to resist will lose their lives.

Rounding the corner, they looked down in front of them, but when their eyes suddenly fell upon multiple tall figures, they immediately flinched at the sight of them.

‘’Whoa!’’ The first shouted as he saw the forms standing behind the line of Equine forms. The second was not as frightened he was, and only tightened his grasp on the rope they had tied to the Stallion.

Several of the soldiers standing in the formation in front of the creatures that had startled the first soldier turned their attention to him. Some started to laugh in a mocking manner, but some were silent, only giving him cold stares as they observed them from their lines.

Noticing the laughing soldiers, he frowned angrily, and regained himself before he and the two others started on their way again. It starting when he pulled hard on the rope, suddenly forcing the Stallion to resume following them.

As they moved past the forward formationed line of soldiers without any difficulty, those tall, monstrous beasts were not easy to look away from. Their size alone was enough make one look, and once looking, their attention would take some time before one would look at something else.

Up above, fire was rained from the sky, as large balls of fire shot down from the sky, hitting the nearest house in its proximity.

Still, as it was continually rained down death from the skies, the only ambience to fill this once peaceful town were the cries and screams of the panicking populace, the dying clattering of swords, and the destruction of homes – Either by being burned, or destroyed when then fireballs shot down into them.

Looking around him as he was led away, the Stallion’s jaw was dropped, and his eyes wide with horror at the scene unfolding before his very eyes. Lowering his head, he closed his eyes, and started mouthing things to himself. The screams of the carnage that was taking place tormenting him for every second it surrounded him.

Looking behind him, the second soldier noticed that their prisoner was being silent for once. He saw that he was clearly troubled by the sounds that surrounded them on every side.

Turning his head, and looking around, he took notice as well.

High over the walls, fireballs continued to emerge, destroying more and more of the town.

As they passed by the great beasts that awaited them, they tried to avoid staring as the beasts looked down at them.

With only the grunts and growls from the large beasts being the noises they heard, the three Equines made their way out through the gates. Continuing onwards in a straight line, they pulled on his rope demanding him to be quicker in his pace, but only after a few minutes venturing, they turned their head, only to see something…unexpected. Out on the water, large ships with mounted War Engines hurtled large balls of fire. They were forced to watch as it flew across the water, and the walls, before finding it’s mark, and hitting another building within the proximity of where they fired. A small fleet of perhaps fifteen ships surrounding the city, continually assaulting it from the sea.

Turning his head, he tried to ignore the continuous carnage, as he entered into deep thought. The rest of the trip across the wooden bridges were mostly quiet.

When they reached the end, they trotted, until they reached a small hilltop.

A small formation of what could be described to be Siege Engines greeted them. By the time they reached said Siege engines, they began to fire once more, hurtling big forms of fire through the air towards the town. Watching, the Stallion’s face was pale; with a welling anger, boiling underneath his skin at what he was bearing witness.

He turned, and started resisting his captors. He pulled on his bindings, which surprised them, because they were on a hillside going up towards where the Siege engines stood. He shouted back in pure rage, just wanting to draw his sword and drive its steel through them for what they were doing to his home.

From their spot by the Siege Weapons, several of the ones operating it had their attention drawn towards the trio making their way to them.

One of them turned towards his companion, giving him a confused glance.

The operator that noticed them turned and started galloping away, while his co-operator of the Catapult continued to watch them.

Running until he reached a tent, he hurried inside.

Inside the tent, several figures turned to face the newcomer that had just ran into the tent.

While most of the ones to turn were dressed quite similar to the Catapult operator, they were still very much higher ranked than he was. One of them seemed quite infuriated at him interrupting their meeting.

With a furious frown, one of them stepped forward to speak.

‘’What do you think gives you the right to just barge in here during our councils!’’ She shouted in pure fury at him. ‘’We demand proper results if-‘’

‘’They are bringing him!’’ The soldier blurted out, having no time for things like listening to his superior.

The tent suddenly went quiet, and all eyes were on the soldier. Some looked on in fear; other did not even dare to move an inch from their spots.

‘’He is alive!’’ He panted.

The Mare that had forced him to say this news turned to face one of the Commanders that stood beside her.

‘’Fetch him, NOW!’’ She smiled with an evil delight upon her face.

Bowing her head, the Commander she gave that order to, was quick to her hooves, and was quickly out the front entrance before she needed to be told twice.

-

Reaching the hilltop, the three figures stopped close to the Catapults, one of which had ceased unleashing its fury because it was lacking the second Pony to operate it.

Sitting beside the Catapult, the two soldiers had their prisoners’ rope to the side of one of the Catapults, while they were taking a breather.

One of them let out a soft sigh, closing his eyes.

They were not closed for long, as he heard the sound of clattering approaching, at which his eyes shot open. He quickly stood up, grabbing his spear, and taking a few steps forward.

He stepped out from behind the Catapult, watching to his great astonishment as large group of ten, including the one at the front, approached the Catapult where they had stopped.

He disappeared behind the Catapult. Moments later, he re-emerged, but now accompanied by the other soldier, who was now also looking out towards the approaching soldiers.

When the group reached them, the leading figure stepped up towards them, wearing a strict frown on her face, she wore the same armor, except for having something of a skirt that went down past her waist, but unlike them was not wearing a helmet despite having similar armor.

Her long, red mane blew in the gentle breeze, and her skin was almost tanned.

‘’Evening, Mam.’’ The first and second soldier greeted her, bowing their heads. ‘’How may we be of service.’’

Behind the Catapult, the Stallion was woken up from all the voices speaking. He turned his head, looking it to the left, seeing the guards talking to someone.

She raised a brow, while looking her eyes around the surroundings.

He brought up a hoof, coughing into it.

‘’Again, is there some way we can be helpful, Mam?’’ The first soldier asked again.

The Mares’ eyes settled on him, looking straight at his face.

‘’Actually, there is…’’ She smiled. Her eyes looked down towards the Catapult, catching a glimpse of a head sticking out from behind the edge. She looked back at them. She opened her mouth about to speak, but hesitated for a few seconds.

‘’I have been informed that a prisoner has been brought from the city,’’ her eyes looked back and forth between the two soldiers before her, ‘’may I see him?’’ She asked.

Stuttering to form words, the second soldier hesitated speaking, but the first soldier was quite quick, and replied quickly with a bow of his head. ‘’Yes, Mam, right away.’’

The second’s head turned towards him, looking at him, while he turned to look back at him.

‘’Go fetch the prisoner.’’ He nudged with his head.

The soldier was hesitant to move for a few seconds, but then went and moved, disappearing behind the other soldier as he trotted up towards the prisoner.

When standing a few inches from the prisoner, he looked down at him, seeing that he was looking back up with a blank expression. For a few seconds, he could not break his stare.

‘’It is okay.’’ He mouthed, smiling back up.

Grabbing his bonds, the Stallion rose to his hooves.

A forceful push telling him to start moving. Therefore, he did.

The two stepped out it front with the others, the Stallion being placed in-between his two captors, while the Mare that stood in front of them returned his stares.

‘’Ah…’’ Her smile grew wider, grinning as she laid eyes on the Stallion’s face. ‘’So, it is true what they said…’’ She got closer, almost leaning in while looking him over. ‘’The General…has been captured.’’ She spoke in a mocking manner. She did not receive much in the form of words, aside from the angry glares he was giving her.

‘’My, my, my…It seems that I have touched a nerve,’’ she leaned in closer, her eyes glowing with delight, ‘’tell me I am right!’’ She almost shouted in a twisted joy.

Bringing a hoof up to underneath his chin, though she was meet with some resistance, she lifted his head up, forcing him to looking upon her face.

‘’Tell me…’’ she leaned in a little closer to his ear, ‘’how did it feel when you butchered her?’’ She asked.

He tried pulling away from her, but her hoof only grabbed him, holding him in the manner she desired.

‘’Do you enjoy taking lives because you are ordered to…or because you secretly murder thousands in the daylight!?’’ With a violent force, she forced his head to crash hard against the Catapult. The shock from the impact made him fall to the ground.

He moved, but the movement was frail. The second soldier watched silently as he suffered this abuse.

Glaring down upon him, the Mare brushed herself off.

‘’You are expected, General, we best not be late…She will kill my head in place yours if I do not bring her yours.’’ She turned from him, and started to trot back towards the group. She nodded her head, and the soldiers went to work.

The soldiers that had brought him backed away, allowing them to get close. They lifted him, letting the mud fall from his face, before they started hauling him away.

The Mare looked back at the soldiers that had brought him, giving them a warm smile.

‘’It seems fortune smiles upon us,’’ she bowed her head to them, ‘’the council thanks you.’’

She turned away from them, and started following after her small party as they hauled him away to who knows where.

Standing in silence, both of the soldiers stand by themselves as they watch the group disappear around a corner.

‘’There, now they are gone…’’ the first soldier says as he approaches her, ‘’we can finally leave this forsaken place.’’

He reaches down, grabbing her by the hoof, and starts leading her away from the Catapults, and instead into the surrounding dark of night, but try as he might to lead them to safety, her gaze is only focused on the direction in which her father was led away by the invaders that ruined their home.

As he led her away towards a path, she could do nothing but have her eyes focusing on the direction her father had been lead away.

‘’Come on.’’ She heard him say to her in order to make her focus on following the path, but all the sounds of the world had become blurred out, becoming more and more faint, as the only thought to occupy her mind at this moment were the sorrow of being forcefully separated from her father.

Slowly, a tear started running down the side of her cheek, staining her fur…

In the distance, one of the taller buildings started to collapse from the fire burning its way through the foundations, severely weakening it.

When the structure fell, the sound of a belle clanging loudly upon impact sounded.

After putting some distance between themselves and the sieged city, they reached a small far enough away to be away from the invader's eyes. A large collection of trees stretched for some miles. They would be safe here until tomorrow, they could begin on the fateful journey Northwards when the dawn finally arrived.

Turning back one last time, Luthien looked behind her towards the burning ruins of the settlement that was once her home. Her cheek started feeling wet, as a tear was running down her cheek, and inside her sadness started to reach new heights. It was amidst the dark of night, but the fire made the large form of smoke rising from the village stand out.

She closed her eyes, and started sobbing gently to herself. Extending a hoof, she caught herself with a tree before she could collapse onto the ground.

Turning his head, Beren looked behind him. Standing by a nearby tree, he saw that Luthien was staring back towards the burning settlement, from which they had fled. He excluded a heavy sigh, and then trotted back to her.

Being abruptly snapped out of her sobbing when she felt a hoof on her shoulder, she stopped sobbing, letting out a gentle sniffle, before turning her head and looking up at Beren.

Their eyes were locked, though they could still not see the other's face too good because they still had those helmets on their heads.

Remembering that they were still wearing them, she backed her head a little, she raised her hooves up to both sides of the helmet, quickly removed it, and while trotting along the path threw it off to the sides. Clattering, the helmet was left by the ditch as she hurried away.

His gaze following her, Beren lowered his eyes, thinking about whether it would be smart to abandon the disguises that had gotten them out of the town. Raising his gaze, he hurriedly removed the helmet from his head as well, and then threw it off into the same ditch that she had thrown her helmet off too.

Looking back up towards her, he saw that she was putting some distance between herself and him, and started running off after her, removing the armor that he could, while trying to catch up to her.

-

Back at the besieged city, a large group of twenty armored wagons were placed in a straight line, preparing to disembark from the burning ruins. An overseer trotted beside them, holding a clipboard, and signing off with a quill after inspection. Unlike the others invaders, it wore a light wool coat, and sprouted a ragged beard and mane. As it passed by, frightened voices spoke from within the wagons. The worried eyes watching him as everything was surrounding by the dark.

''Aaaand...That makes a hundred and fifty.'' He said outloud to himself as he finished counting, scribbled it off on the clipboard with the quill, and turning away to go inform his superior that his duties were concluded.

At a tent, a figure clad in light robes, with cloth covering its face, he presented the clipboard to his supervisor, who had given him that job.

However, before the supervisor took the clipboard, his ear twitched as he heard something in the distance. Turning their heads, both of them looked to the left.

Approaching at quick speeds, several Ponies wearing identically titular armor was approaching the supervisor.

''Whoa!'' The overseer exclaimed, as he had to quickly move himself out of the way, as a small party galloped past him, ignoring both him and the supervisor, as they hurried towards a specific tent.

As they passed, the supervisor shivered, feeling cold. He quickly averted his gaze, trying his best to ignore the new arrivals, and instead focus on his task, but the feeling of fear could not be avoided.

At a tent, the many Generals and Commanders were standing in a circle, their gaze focused on a single solitary figure, whose hooves were bound in place by tight chains.

A punch was delivered, causing blood to spurt from his mouth. With a sudden raising of her hoof, a Mare gave the order for them to stop. Growling in rage towards the Stallion, her servants moved away, allowing her to step forward and approach him.

Blood was dripping from his face, and his head hung down, but the pain he felt throughout the rest of his body was nothing compared to how painful his hooves felt.

''Pathethic, Equestrian,’’ the Mare lifted his head with her hoof, making him groan in pain, but only making her smile at how much he was suffering. She shook her head at the misery he was in. ‘’I find it incomprehensible, I really do,’’ her expression turned into that of confusion, ‘’I have destroyed all your brave warriors, burned your home, and enslaved your people, what is holding you back?’’ She asked sternly. ‘’What is demanded of me before you will finally submit to my desires, and give me what I want? WHAT!?’’ She snapped, grabbing his shoulders, and showing gritted teeth as she growled angrily at him.

He closed his eyes, ignoring her.

Shifting her expression into an angry frown, she let go of his head, letting it drop, and hang down in front of her. Turning away from him, she trotted back towards the group of other Officers in the tent.

Bringing a hoof up to underneath her chin, she rubbed it, as a thinking face replaced her furious one. Her eyes looked back towards him.

Gently turning her head, she looked off to the side, drawing all of the other lower Officers ‘attention to her.

‘’Leave us.’’ She instructed to them. All of the stares looking towards her became looks of confusion at her instructions. ‘’I always enjoy the strong ones; they are just too fun…’’ Her smile grew wicked, narrowing her eyes, ‘’and this one does seem to be quite the feisty one.’’ She gently reached down to her belt, and pulling out a small dagger.

Several of the Officers murmured amongst themselves, but all it took was her to let out a heavy sigh, and a turn of her head, giving them an angrily annoyed glare for them to understand that she was not afraid to drop bodies if her orders were not meet, and she did seem to be on the path for getting to the point where she might no longer hold back in giving them in option. They would leave here, whether by will, or by having soldiers carrying their lifeless bodies out. The number of Ponies to leave the tent was small, at first, but more and more started leaving, motivating more to heed their examples to leave, until the only figures left in the tent were Luthien’s father and the General.

Grinning wider from ear to ear, she stepped up towards him. Standing in front of him, she stood herself up, raising her left hind leg up over his, raising the other she also moved it over his leg. Her smile grew, becoming malevolent in appearance.

She leaned in, and whispered into his ear, ‘’Tell me, General, what is it that every Stallion seeks in his life?’’ She asked in a very sensual tone of voice, almost whispering close to his ear.

His eyes grew slightly wide, gently turning his head to look towards her.

‘’A Mare,’’ she said, ‘’one to love him, and her, him.’’ She made her way to his ear, and started nibbling at it.

Her hooves wrapped themselves around him, grabbing tightly, and moving her in close to him, kissing him with a passion.

‘’Give in, and I will be yours, bound to you for all the millennia of the world, I will give you a son, a home, and a life of peace and prosperity.’’ She pulled away from him, giving both of them a chance to breathe a little, ‘’The Mare you have lost, she is with you now, and I am yours forever.’’

His eyes suddenly shot open, and with a gentle motion of his hoof, he managed to lift it slightly, and push her away from him, earning a confused look.

‘’You are not her; you will never be her.’’ He told her. ‘’You murdered her on that day,’’ he leaned in to her ear, whispering ‘’and for that reason, I will never be yours.’’

Her eye grew wide, and her mouth dropped.

Outside the tent, the group of banished Commanders stood outside the place of their meetings. They did have personal quarters they could retire to, but none dared moving from their spot in case she did not have to spend much time with him, for fear of being late, and risk angering her because of their delay.

At the back of the group, a small party of iron clad figures approached them.

With stern determination, they forced the Officers out of their way. Some of them were hesitant at first, but once they noticed the armor the newcomers wore they did not hesitate to step aside for them.

When one of the Commanders was approached by the newcomers, she was stunned from fear from just the mere sight of them.

A hoof touched against the shoulder of the front Officer, but he was quickly moved out of the way. A ‘’Hey!’’ sounded from him, but the newcomers paid no heed to him, and instead turned back, looking out in front of them.

With a raised hoof, she suddenly slapped him in pure rage, letting out an infuriated shout at him, panting through gritted teeth.

With sudden movement, she slapped delivering rage-filled punches to his face. She reached back for her dagger, and quickly pulled it out. With a final scream of fury, she pierced the dagger into his right hoof. His eyes grew wide, as he was almost about to scream out in pain, but was able to suppress it, only letting out a pained groan.

Even after twisting the hoof, she could not manage to get any reactions from him. Finally, she pulled the dagger out of his hoof, making blood start pouring from the wound.

She stumbled back, eyes still wide with surprise at how exceptional he was resisting her. She did not let out a word, she only closed her mouth, regaining her composure as the revelation of her failure sunk in.

Hearing someone enter into the tent, she suddenly turned.

‘’What do you- ‘’ She stopped herself from continuing as she froze in place, eyes growing wide with horror at the sight of the figure before her. She stuttered to breathe, as three forms entered further into the tent.

Quickly, she dropped to her legs, bowing to the newly arrived.

‘’M-my Lord.’’ She said, her voice dripping with absolute fear of the arrival.

The armor of armor touching against the ground filled the tent, reaching his ears, making them twitch.

Raising her head, she stood up, just to be meet with the dark face of her master.

‘’Report on the siege.’’ It demanded, almost whispering in a ghostly voice to her.

‘’I-it has fallen to us, my Lord. The enslaved have been prepared for the journey Eastwards, and all opposition has been neutralized.’’

Turning away from her, the figure took several steps forward.

‘’And how goes the search for our primary objective?’’ Her smile was returning to her face, but it vanished as soon as the subject was brought up. And she did a double-take towards him.

Stopping place, it gently turned its head ‘’Has it been found?’’ Her eyes grew wide, and she shook, not wanting to answer back. However, her options were few, and unfortunately this was the easy one.

‘’N-no, my Lord, w-we have not acquired it.’’ Letting out a gasp, she started trotting forward towards him. ‘’But we are still s-‘’

*Smack*

With great pain in her left cheek, she fell down to the ground, a hoof reaching up to where she had been slapped.

‘’M-my Lord, I-I know that you are not pleased with these results,’’ Standing over her, the titular helmet it wore meet her stares. She turned her head to the side, looking back at her prisoner, while also pointing a hoof up towards him. ‘’but he knows where it lies.’’

Turning its head, it looks towards the bound Stallion in front of him.

‘’T-the General, he knows where it is, he knows where it is located!’’

Turning its whole body to face him it approaches him. Coming to a halt in front of him, with its hoof, it raises his head, seeing his beaten and bloodied face.

Its eyes look back into his face, gently tilting its head.

Turning its head back, it looks towards her.

‘’Leave us.’’ It orders harshly.

Bowing her head, she responds ‘’A-as you command, my Lord.’’

As she turns to leave, it turns its head, looking back into his face.

‘’How strong is your will, Equestrian?’’

Weakly, he tries to look away from it, but it merely pulls him, forcing him to gaze into the eyes. The eyes begin to glow, becoming pure white. His mouth drops, hanging open, as his eyes too become white. His breathing accelerates, his heart starts beating faster.

‘’No...!’’ He utters shaking his head.

Outside the tent, the other Commanders observe as she leaves the tent. They all look at her, following her movements as she trots away from the tent.

‘’NOOOOOO!’’ A voice suddenly screams from within the tent. Their attention is momentarily drawn to it, but then they start to back away, trotting off to other parts of the camp to attend other matters. The screaming being drowned out the further they get away from the tent.

The next morning, a small army of two hundred Ponies marched onto the hilltop. However, what awaited them was a large plain that looked like there had been made a large camp there. Dead fires, and abandoned tents lay scattered around the surroundings. The ground had been scorched black, and most of the life that once before this encampment was made was now dead.

Turning his head, the General in charge of the army looked at the death and desolation that greeted him in the wake of their arrival.

‘’Spread out! Search the ruins! Look for any survivors, and ensure they are given proper care!’’

The army started to move, trotting down the hilltop, ignoring the plain as they set their eyes on the still-burning ruins of the city.

‘’I cannot imagine the horror they endured in the night.’’ He said silently to himself, watching his army spread out. He shook his head, lowering his head. ‘’I failed them…’’ He dropped to his knees, his golden armor glistening in the rays of the late sunlight, pushing the dark clouds overhead back, allowing the night to end and the day to begin.

‘’We failed them…’’

His eye opened, looking out towards the burning city.

‘’But as long as it is safe, their sacrifices will not be in vain.’’

Author's Notes:

I do appolagize for taking this long in uploading the chapter, as well as the story, itself.
I can only hope that you will find it enjoyable enough to ignore the long delay.