Celestia could only stare in sorrow as she watched a family of three, two parents consisting of a mare and stallion and a little filly, huddle together as they set what little they still owned underneath a tent. All around her, Guards of both types, Solar and Lunar, were busy setting up temporary housing and escorting refugees who sought the asylum of Canterlot.

"Princess!" a Royal Guard snapped to salute beside her.

"At ease, Milquetoast," the regal alicorn said as she approached the unicorn. "Report."

The unicorn stallion let his foreleg down before speaking.

"Your majesty, another wave of refugees are at the South gates, pleading for us to let them in. Seven thousand, approximately, a third of them foals. What do we do?"

She could see it in the way he stood there, shifting from one hoof to another, his eyes shifting constantly as he licked his lips. He was just as terrified of this war as she was.

"We let the foals in while I convince their elders to sign up," she said.

"Princess, you intend to draft-"

"What choice do we have, Specialist?" she asked grimly.

It had only been a few months ago that she would have been appalled at the notion of drafting anypony for any reason. That, however, was before Sombra returned and seized the Crystal Heart, perverting its power to suit his needs before enslaving the Crystal Empire. He had even gone so far as to corrupt its magic to reanimate the dead to serve his needs. Since then, Equestria had been at a stalemate with the Empire's advance, balancing out in all categories.

That was before Sombra unleashed the Golems.

Magical beasts of crystal, powered by the Heart and piloted either unwillingly or enthusiastically by the ponies that were sealed within. The act of sealing a soul within them disgusted her to no end, but even now she couldn't deny their efficiency. Six of those things had managed to wipe out tens of thousands of her finest Guards, with the only reported way to destroy one was to kill the operator. Even then, the Golem was practically a solid mass of protective runes, and getting past one would take the magical strength of an entire battalion of unicorns.

"I understand this situation is far more grim than it was months ago, but look around you, Specialist. Even now, these ponies have no guarantee of safety within our own walls. Sympathizers could very well be waiting in that crowd at the gate, ready to ensure that Sombra and his armies exploit even the smallest of fractures in our security. If a draft would end up keeping them out of our city, then it is a risk we must accept for the greater good of all Equestria."

The Specialist stayed silent before nodding and wandering off to help somewhere.

Celestia spread her wings and took off for the South gate. Turning her gaze up to the stars, she let a few tears slip through her facade as she uttered a prayer.

"Please... if there is a higher power up there... please, don't let it end like this. Somepony... anything... please, help us."