Dawn of the Final Day. 24 Hours remain.

Starstep blinked his eyes a couple of times, vision blurred as he stared up at the dimly lit clouds above. He furrowed his brow in confusion, his mind unable to recall when he'd gone to sleep. Even in his waking daze, he searched out for the chilling tingle of Nightmare in his head and found her preoccupied with something. As his mental probing reached her, the dark mare drifted further into the dark corners of his thoughts. The whispers of her mischievous laugh slipping through his mind.

He frowned slightly, brow furrowed in confusion. He couldn't remember any dreams from last night. Had Nightmare's dreams been so bad his mind blanked them out? Or had he had any at all? At least she seemed to be ignoring him for now, and for that he was at least a little grateful.

With his eyes now adjusted to the light of dawn, he looked about, noting that he'd slept on top of a mossy, granite outcropping, the top nearly flat and wide enough for a few ponies. His gaze drifted west, finding that his sleeping spot was at the outskirts of the refugee camp. On the other side of the camp, the jagged maw of the massive granite wall towered over them all. He had to crane his neck back to see the top edge hundreds of hooves high. He was but an ant to this massive sheet of stone.

A sliver of orange light glimmered in his peripheral, turning his attention east. The sun had crept just over the horizon, casting the faintest silhouette of Luna sitting at the edge of his granite rock. Quietly, he pulled himself to his hooves and walked over to sit at her side. There they remained in quiet contemplation, Celestia's sun ever so slowly bathing the tops of the eastern foothills in orange and yellow, and the tip of Howling Pass's granite face before crawling down its surface.

The pegasus glanced up at his wife. Her jaw was tight, and dark circles adorned her determined eyes. Only her ethereal mane moved as she stared down the sun. Together they watched it rise, side to side.

Patiently he waited, listening to the occasional gusts of eastern wind ruffle through their feathers, and jangled the chains that held their tokens of love, the wind still cool from the evening dew out in the foothill. No pony yet stirred in the camp, and the sentries were quiet statues at their posts. Even Nightmare remained silent. For the briefest of moments, it felt to Starstep as though Luna and he were the only ponies around. He embraced that feeling, wishing he could hold onto it forever.

The coolness that radiated from his wife soothed Star. It was calm, calculating, with that hint of promised rage hiding just under the ice. The nagging fears of the coming battle frosted over and fell away, leaving him more at peace than he had felt in days. No, peace wasn't the right word.

Focused. That was the crisp sharpness he had in his heart and mind.

As he was reflecting on his thoughts, Luna spoke, so softly he had to strain his ears to hear her

“All the world's a stage.”

Star looked up at her. “Bit for your thoughts?”

Luna's lips curled into a slight smirk. “I didth not think thee a wealthy pony, for I hath many a thought.”

He slyly smiled. “Well, seeing as I'm a prince now, I do have access to the Royal Treasury.”

“Oh-ho!” Luna put a hoof to her chest. “So thou didst marry me for mine fortunes!”

“And power, don't forget that. Because you know I'll use it horde all the Moon-pies for myself.”

“Oh, the scandal! Truly there shalt be rioting within Canterlot's streets. I fear the depths to which the citizens shalt go for but a morsel of delicious cake and marshmallow.” They shared a little laugh and leaned against each other.

Star nuzzled softly at her. “So, what's troubling you?”

“I fear that mine efforts might hath been in vain. That mine plans mayth not result in the desired outcome.”

Star arched an eyebrow, “To keep everypony safe from the rogue griffons?”

“Amongst other things.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Worry not, my love. Thou hast assisted mine efforts on a scale that I cannot hope to properly compensate thee.”

He was about to ask what exactly he'd done to help when the clanking of armor and chain, and the creak of faux-leather caught their attention.

Lighthoof was trotting towards them wearing a grin, his ears up and a spark of excitement in his eyes. He paused before their rock and bowed politely. “Your highnesses,” Star grimaced at the title but noted Light's smirk. “Some ponies just showed up to help us in the coming battle and you'll never believe who.”

Star and Luna shared a knowing smile and hopped off their rocky perch to follow. Light turned and lead them towards camp, stepping high, apparently oblivious to the small racket he made in the gold and onyx armor.

“So...” Star began, “Who is it? I haven't seen you this giddy since that date with whats-her-name in boot camp.”

“No spoilers from me, dude. And her name was Daisy.”

Star glanced at Luna who simply arched an eyebrow at him and gave a small grin.

As they trotted along, Star and Luna noticed more and more recently awoken ponies talking excitedly, some even beginning to follow behind the trio, which soon grew to account for a fair sized portion of the herd. Light led them to the mouth of the Howling Pass where Celestia and a few of the commanding officers, including White-Feather Alexander, were talking to a tall mare in a long winter coat. A quick glance at Luna showed she wore her usual stoic mask, but Star saw the faintest hints in the corner of her eyes or tightness in her jaw that were signs of disappointment and a little anger. It certainly wasn't who they were expecting.

Behind the new mare were ranks of Earth Ponies clad nose to hoof in heavy metal plates, polished to a brilliant shine. They were easily the size of Big Mac and Star himself had to admit that they were an impressive and intimidating sight. He imagined that if just one of those massive ponies sat on him with all that armor, it'd probably break every bone in his body. He didn't even want to consider the damage they'd do on a charge. He noticed that Lighthoof's eyes kept drifting to the ranked juggernauts of steel and wondered what his brother knew about them.

Just behind the armored ponies were ten wagons, metal plates bolted to their sides and wheels, each sporting a massive crossbow on a pivoting turret mounted in their beds. . A small stack of bolts the length of a pony laid on the wagon’s seats. At each wagon he saw three unicorns, all wearing chain and thick, grey cloth armor. Two from each team stood at parade rest before their war-engine, the third with a spyglass to their eye, scanning the skies around them.

As the trio joined Celestia, she gestured with a hoof towards them. “Commandant Frost, you know my sister, but this is her husband, Prince Starstep, and Knight of Equestria, Lighthoof.”

As the mare turned her head towards each of them in turn, her eyes hidden behind snow goggles, Star took a moment to look her over. She was tall, with an athletic build, but not anywhere near the scale of the armored Earth Ponies behind her. Frost's coat was a very pale blue, adorned with a short cut mane and tail of lilac striped with white. She wore a heavy black winter coat that draped over most of her body, accented at the collar with plush white fur. A squared hat of white fur sat on her head, her ears tucked inside. Since there was no horn, Star could only guess that she was either another Earth Pony, or a Pegasus, since her wings would be hidden by the thick coat.

Frost's attention seemed to linger a moment longer on Lighthoof than the rest before she put on a polite, yet sterile, smile. With a thick accent she spoke. “I am most pleased to meet your acquaintances, I am Commandant Frost of Stalliongrad's 3rd battalion. I have brought five units of Earth-Breakers and ten Carro-ballista crews to escort you through the pass.”

Light leaned over and whispered to Star. “Are any of those massive metal ponies mares? Think I can get a date?” He received a gentle elbow in the side in reply.

Celestia smiled, “We gladly welcome your help and I'm pleased you were able to make such good time, Commandant. Stalliongrad is quite the trot from here.”

“We would have rendezvoused with you yesterday evening, but griffons assaulted us in the pass, much to their misfortune. Will the refugees be ready to depart soon?”

Luna lifted her chin. “Thy help is most welcome, however we shalt remain to set a defense. To funnel the herd through the tight passages of the pass shalt only result in unnecessary deaths.”

Frost turned her head to Celestia who nodded in agreement. “I'm afraid my sister speaks the truth. Even with your noble forces helping to defend I fear the worst. Perhaps you would like to discuss tactics with our command staff? Together you may find a way to save these ponies.” She gestured her golden shod hoof towards the watching herd.

The Commandant saluted, a hoof smacking soundly to her chest. “Of course. We are at your command.” She spun sharply around to address her troops in a loud, authoritarian voice. “3rd battalion, defensive operation. Captains, report to the command tent after perimeter duties are set. That is all.”

“Commandant!” shouted a unicorn spotter on the back of one of the armored wagons, a hoof pointing towards the rising sun. “Incoming fliers!” Immediately, all of the heavy crossbows were drawn back by the magic of the unicorn crews and bolts with net-wrapped heads were set into the firing groves. Star could see the smooth, practiced motions of the crew and knew these were hardly rookies.

As the fliers came closer, Star could make out just three outlines and when he noticed they were far too small to be griffons, he exhaled in relief. All of the herd was now watching the three new-comers land on the outskirts of the camp and began walking towards them. Star lost sight of them, but he could hear the whispers of the crowd grow, marking their progress. Whoever they were, certainly had stirred up uncertainty and confusion amongst the refugees. Then the whispers rolled through the crowd and he made out 'bat-pony'. Along with other words of concern.

The herd parted like the sea to allow three armored bat ponies to into the area with the Princesses. Leading the trio was Knight-Captain Gale herself. Her ornate black and purple armor contrasted with her teal coat and dark-teal mane. Her vertical pupiled eyes glanced towards the 3rd battalion, a little smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. Her escort was one bat-pony Star didn't recognize, and one other he faintly recalled meeting in the caves.

The trio of bat-ponies stopped across from the Stalliongrad ponies with the Princesses between them. Celestia had an eyebrow arched at the new arrivals, a questioning look then given to her sister as Luna stepped forward to greet them.

Lighthoof gave a low whistle before whispering, “Stalliongrad and bat-ponies? This day is getting crazy.”

Luna gave a friendly smile. “I welcome thee, Knight-Captain Gale. Praytell, what brings thee to us?”

Gale bowed low, her bat-wings sweeping out, and her voice loud enough for the herd behind her to hear. “Honored Mother-Moon, we have responded to your call to aid these ponies.”

Murmurs rolled through the crowd.

Frost scoffed. “Well, this is a first. The bat-ponies helping someone other than themselves?” Frost words were dripping with spite. “I almost find this situation ironic.”

Star noticed a flash of irritation on Luna's face before she turned towards the Commandant. “There art not reasons for such harsh words. A call for aid was sent and they hath answered the call. Tis not the time for discontent between us.”

Celestia stepped forward, dipping her head slightly towards the Bat-Pony leader with a motherly smile, though Star could see the wariness in her eyes. “Luna is right. We welcome you, Gale. I only regret it's not under better circumstances that we finally meet.”

Gale's eyes flickered to Luna before she bit her lip and bowed low before the Sun-Goddess. “Thank you for welcoming us, Princess Celestia. We hope this is the first step in building friendship and trust. I know our history with you is... strained at best.”

“I share your hope. Now, is it just you three we need to make room for?”

“No, Princess. There's a hundred and twenty-seven bat-ponies at my command.” More than a few of the herd pawed at the ground nervously and plenty began to scan the skies and cliff edges. “The Grand-Mistress sent her swiftest to assist you in any way we can. We have also taken it upon ourselves to locate these hostile griffons.”

Luna tried to hide a smile as Celestia spoke, ears-perked. “Oh? I do hope you were careful. Perhaps we should discuss this further in private?”

The blue alicorn shook her head, “Nay sister, tis time the herd knew the full extent of the threat that we face.”

Celestia turned her head towards Luna, her voice lowering. “I'm not certain...”

“One-thousand, eight-hundred.” Gale's number gave Celestia pause and a couple of the ponies amongst the herd fainted at her words. “A few hundred pursue you, the rest have cobbled together a camp to the west amongst the mountain crags. Ready to descend upon you as you make your way through.”

Hurried whispers rolled through the crowd as the information was relayed to the back. Those soon turned to soft arguing and before long a few were shouting in panic. It made Star's heart ache to see the fear on their faces.

Frost sighed. “You always were one to exaggerate. We made it through the pass with only a patrol to hinder us. Not this thousand griffons that you suggest is there.”

Gale stomped forward towards the Commandant. “Are you claiming me to be a liar? Because coming from a traitor like you, it's beyond insulting.”

Frost closed the distance between them, coming nose-to-nose with the slightly smaller Bat-mare. “Traitor? To who?”

“Your family.”

“All ponies are family. If you'd ever come out of your caves instead of hiding from the world like skulking children, maybe you'd discover that. So if anyone is the traitor, it's you and the rest of the xenophobic mares running the colony.”

Gale bristled, shoving her nose against Frost's. “Yeah? Well just so you know, while you were out playing soldier in Stalliongrad, our mother died. With her last words she asked to see you one last time.” Her voice lowered to a sarcastic tone. “But then, you were always good at disappointing her.”

The revelation seemed to physically hurt the Commandant as she staggered backwards. A mare unicorn in a trench coat from the 3rd's ranks hurried towards her, but she held out a hoof, keeping the other mare at bay. She gritted her teeth and looked down her nose at Gale through her snow-goggles. “I may be a disappointment to our birth mother, but it's apparent you're an embarrassment to our other Mother.”

Gale put a hoof to her sword hilt.

“Ohhhhh buck.” Light whispered next to Star. “This is about to get ugly.”

“ENOUGH!” Luna's Royal Canterlot voice shook the ground and stilled the growing tension. She stalked forward and leaned down so only those very close could hear her. “Ponies lives art at risk and instead of focusing on the task at hoof, thou delve into petty arguments in front of thy subordinates and citizens. Truly a shameful display.”

Both of the other mares looked away, cheeks reddened.

“Wilst thou both put aside thy foalish argument in the name of the greater good?”

They looked at her then reluctantly each other, and nodded. The expressions on their faces made it very clear they were not happy about it, but it seemed to appease Luna as she returned to Celestia's side.

The Sun-Goddess turned to face the herd, her voice loud and very clear. “Citizens of Spurlin, both the warriors from Stalliongrad and the bat-ponies have agreed to assist in keeping you safe from the rogue griffons.” This was met with a spattering of nods and murmurs of approval. “Please, join me in welcoming them.” She began to stomp a hoof on the ground. It took a few moments of awkward uncertainty before the herd joined in and soon the ground was trembling from the thousand hooves slamming the earth and stone.

Celestia raised a hoof to quiet the stomping. “My little ponies, one last trial awaits us. As you may have heard, the rogue griffons plan on attacking us. I ask any pony with the courage to fight to report to the command tent. It is voluntary to enlist in the militia and you are welcome to leave its ranks once we arrive at Trottingham. For those willing to fight for their friends, families and pony-kind, please report by noon. Before then, take time to eat and enjoy the company of friends. That is all.”

The herd discussed with each other for a bit, some directing nervous looks at both the Stalliongrad and bat-ponies. A few seemed to be shouting their intentions to help with the fight. While the mood was somewhat mixed, Star believed the herd seemed hopeful. Eventually they began to disperse, making their way to campfires or towards the command tent.

Celestia turned and gave both Frost and Gale her best motherly disapproving stare. “You're both in a position of authority and I expect you to act like it. Whatever your grievances with one another are, bury them for the herd's sake.” She gave Luna a firm nod and gracefully walked away.

Commandant Frost turned to address her troops. “You know your duties. Set the perimeter and be vigilant.” She then looked over her shoulder at Gale, opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, and marched off to catch up to Celestia.

Star strained his neck so he could whisper in Luna's ear. “Well, I don't think that's what you had planned.”

She sighed faintly. “Neigh, my love. Twas not expecting Stalliongrad so soon, and most certainly not that pony as their leader. However, tis not to say their assistance is not welcome.” She turned to face the refugee command staff, including the few griffons who had attended the meeting.

“Officers, Griffon nobles, and Knight Lighthoof, I ask that thou create a streamlined method in which we may enlist any volunteers from the herd and train them in the basics that may allow for their survival. I shalt send the Knight-Captain to join you shortly as well. Until then, I wouldth ask that thou devise any means or tactics that may tilt the odds into our favor against such a sizable force of griffons. Thou art dismissed.”

Before Light departed he pulled Star off to the side and whispered, “Hey, just so you know, when the Stalliongrad ponies showed up, a lot of those... visions got better.”

“So that's why you were excited about them.”

“Yeah, dude.”

“And when the bat-ponies showed up?”

Lighthoof lifted his head, slowly scanning the few remaining ponies from the crowd. “Well... It's a bit of a jumbled mess right now. I can't tell for sure, but it's still good. But duuuude, bat-ponies? And like a hundred of them!? In my life, I've seen like, what, two? And call me crazy, but I think the Commandant is one too what with all that mother talk.”

Curiosity grabbed Star, “So, how do you feel about that, and the other bat-ponies?”

The tan pegasus shrugged, his golden armor sliding about as he did. “Meh, doesn't bother me one way or another. Any pony that wants to help is a-okay in my book. I'll buy ‘em a round if we make it to Trottingham in one piece. Heck, I'll even buy the Commandant and Knight-Captain all they can drink if they don't kill each other.”

“Ha-ha. That sounds good, Light. I think we could all use a good drink. I'll bring Luna if you bring Celestia. ”

Light smirked. “Princess Celestia.”

They shared a grin. “Some things never change.”

Lighthoof and Star shared a brief hoof-bump before the tan pegasus trotted off into the milling crowd, his gold and silver armor glinting brightly in the morning sun. By now the Stalliongrad ponies were busy moving their war wagons out towards the half-circle perimeter, generally ignoring the five remaining ponies of Luna, Star, Gale and her two escorts.

Luna was quietly talking to Gale, a stern look upon her face. The bat-pony's tuffed ears were drooping as though she was a foal being scolded by her mother.

As she noticed Star approaching, Luna dropped the conversation and her expression immediately flipped to a welcoming smile. Gale looked away to gather herself. “All is well, husband?”

“Yeah, Light's pretty confident we have a fighting chance now. And on a side note, he's pretty okay with the bat-ponies showing up. Not nervous at all. He even offered to buy Gale all the drinks she could handle.”

Gale, now composed, arched an eyebrow. “He wishes to buy me drinks? I thought he was Princess Celestia's...” She trailed off with a glance up at Luna. Star wasn't certain if she was being tactful or unsure of the right word to use.

Luna turned her attention back to the teal bat-pony. “Social calls aside, time grows ever short and I must inquire upon the whereabouts of the package thou hath brought?”

The Knight-Captain dipped her head. “Yes, Mother-Moon. The Grand Mistress bid Granny to bring you something from the Vault. I can take you to it now if you'd like.”

“Wherefore didst though leave it?”

Gale pointed up to the massive cliff face before them. “Up there, Mother-Moon. Granny and the rest of the colony are waiting for your next orders.”

“Very well. I askth that thou all come within wing's reach.” She spread out her plush blue wings, waiting patiently as Star, Gale, and the other two bat-ponies to huddle in close. Then her horn pulsed blue and a bubble of magic encased them all. There was a flash and Star found himself at the top of the cliffs with the others, looking out over the herd far, far below. A spectacular view of the rolling foothills which they'd been traveling through was splayed out clearly before him.

He turned and found himself in front of what he figured was all of the bat-ponies from last night. The more senior, in their full pegasus style plate, occupied the first few rows, while the younger and less armored in their faux-leathers clustered in the back, excitedly peaking around their seniors to get a better look at Luna. At the front of the group was the old bat-pony Granny, accompanied by ornately armored bat-ponies who each had a black iron chain attached to their saddles. The four chains supported a head-sized box between them, draped in royal purple cloth. Star assumed the chains were used to carry the box while flying, but found it curious that they were still holding it aloft.

“I was beginning to wonder how long you all were going to keep us shivering up here.” Granny grumbled, holding a hoof up to shield her eyes from the rising sun. “You couldn't of picked a worse spot to meet up. Wind always blowing and the sun in my face.”

Luna gave a soft laugh. “Dearest, Granny. Thou couldth always turned to face the east.”

“What, and leave my rump showing to all those younglings down below? Nah.”

“What is that?” Star asked as he gestured to the mystery box.

Granny smirked. “This here is as old as the bat-ponies. We've been keeping it safe for the Princess for a long time. I'm just glad we finally get to hand it over to its rightful owner. No more lugging that darn box around anymore.”

“Thou and the Keepers before thee hath done thy duty in preserving the old artifacts. I thank thee for this, but doth should not be too pleased to be rid of them, for what wilst future Keepers hath to complain of if they art all gone?”

“The young, our health, stallions.” Granny gave a little cackle.

Luna smiled, “Indeed.”

“Still, it'll be nice to see this old thing see some use. Seems like we've been holding onto it forever.”

Gale looked up at the alicorn. “Mother-Moon. The Grand-Mistress insisted that we not touch the box once it was removed from the vault. Is it truly that dangerous?”

“Her warning is not unwarranted, yet perhaps overly-dramatic. Tis ignorance of this object that mayth cause harm to the unwary.” Her horn glowed bright blue and the cloth was pulled away by her magic, revealing a glass cube with a black orb inside. What caught Star's attention was that the orb was pitch black, a black so deep there was no reflection from the morning sun. Even the area around the orb seemed darker.

“All of thee, please stand with the rest of the colony.” She gestured to Star and the rest who'd accompanied them from below. He did as asked, watching as his wife gracefully walked within a few hoof-lengths of the cube.

“Dearest ponies, thy Grand-Mistress did not send thee to me because though art swift, rather she selected ponies she thought wouldth serve me well in the days to come. For I seek to bring balance back to Equestria. And if thou art willing to live amongst the other ponies races and put forth effort to push aside thy distrust, this is thy chance to return home. Art there any among thee whom feel themselves unable to rejoin Equestria?” A few of the ponies glanced at each other eyebrows raised questioningly, but no one spoke out, and no one moved.

“Very well then. Thy first true task wilt be thy most difficult. Tonight, many of thee wilt be sent forth to raid the rogue griffon's camp. Tis a ploy only to rile and enrage them and tis not to endanger thy lives unnecessarily. Thy goal tis to goad them all into chasing thee around the herd and return to us from the east. The specifics wilt be discussed this evening. Tis thy chance to prove thyselves to the other ponies and mine sister. Remember that many eyes wilst be upon thee. Doth not bring dishonor upon thyselves.”

“Prior to going forth, I hath a gift for thee.” She gestured her crystal shod hoof towards the box and the orb. “In honor of our reuniting after one-thousand years, I wilt gift thee an opportunity to meet thy future selves. Truly a rare opportunity.”

The bat-ponies' eyes grew wide and a few of the younger ones looked excitedly at each other.

Luna's horn glowed black and blue with purple sparks, condensing to a single point at the end of her horn. Then she leaned her head down and touched the cube with the tip. Nothing seemed to happen. She took a few steps back and nodded. “Honored Guardians, if thou wilt march away from one another.”

The four ponies with the chained saddles saluted across their breastplates crisply and marched ceremoniously in four separate directions. The chains pulled against the sides of the cube and then it shattered into a few hundred pieces. The shards hovered, spinning in place just above the orb's surface, then they circled it, faster and faster. For the briefest of moments, the cube was whole again at the same time the shards fell into its jet black surface. Then the orb was all that was left, quietly hovering in place.

The four Guardians detached their chains from their saddles and joined the rest of the colony as Luna stood right next to the orb, the rising sun at her back, the rolling hills her backdrop. The orb seemed to devour the light and within seconds they all found themselves standing in twilight, a swirl of sunlight being drawn into the orb from all directions like a feathery and wispy net. Above them, the twinkling stars shimmered in the absence of the sun's rays.

The orb pulsed a wave mixed of light and dark, washing over Luna. Her image was distorted and became transparent. As she walked around the orb, another Luna was still standing in place and yet another was gently caressing the black sphere. Star blinked and shook his head in an attempt to clear his vision, but there were still three Lunas, then four, then one, then six. At different spots, doing different things. Like the after-images one saw after being blinded by a flash of light. Moving, shifting, reappearing, vanishing.

“Thy future is every changing.” A Luna spoke.

“Every choice, yet another future.” A second Luna chimed in.

“A fleeting glimpse of possibilities.” Said a third, vanishing right after.

A Luna placed a crystal shod hoof against the black surface. “If thou art unhappy with thy future, change it.”

A final Luna whispered into Starstep's ear, “My love, learn to survive the coming battle.”

Then Star saw himself being drawn into the orb and another version of himself running away and another cowering before it.

His world went pitch black.

…

…

…

Nothing. No sensations, no sounds, no lights. Just a whole lot of darkness.

*** “What have you done now, foal?” Nightmare growled in his head.

“You've been pretty quiet this morning.” Star whispered, but found no voice was coming from his mouth.

*** “If you must know, I was setting up things for our little game. Assuming of course you didn't get impaled on a spear or something foalish before then.”

“I thought my good night's sleep was too good to be true.”

*** “Enough of that nonsense, did you get us lost in a cave again? Truly, it is amazing you've survived this long on your... wait... this feeling.” Suspicion crept into her voice.

There was an explosion of light and billions of little glowing spots whizzed past his vision. Starstep gasped in wonder at the instant formation of stars, nebula, and early galaxies. He was floating in the midst the universe, no, he was the universe. He could feel the heat of the stars, the tingle of energy from the colorful fields of plasma and the sharp prick when one of the celestial bodies exploded in a glorious supernova.

*** “You went into the orb? Are you insane?”

“For your information, Luna sent us into the orb. She said we get to meet our future selves. Besides, I thought you liked space and the dark. Why are you angry?”

The universe seemed brighter now with the billions and billions of lights filling the endless black and Star felt a presence growing stronger around him. It began to probe into his thoughts and what he could only describe as his spirit. The probing soon relented and shortly thereafter he found he had a new transparent body of white-blue energy. He laughed, turning around in space to admire his glowing vapor trail as he did.

He noticed another pony beside him, taller, slender but made of transparent glowing purple energy and an alicorn to boot.

“Whoa, Nightmare?”

The purple ethereal pony lifted her fore-hooves, looking at them curiously. “It would appear so.” She reached out and touched a thread of dark blue fire that was running from both their chests, connecting them. “Separated, yet bound. I remember all too well what comes next. We should leave.”

Curious, Star reached a glowing hoof towards a passing spiral galaxy and gasped when it shattered at his touch. Thousands of little stars scattered everywhere like dust, colliding with one another and creating miniature supernovas or began to revolve around one another in binary systems.

“Why? This place is pretty neat.”

She barred her teeth. “You foal, it's not the universe I have issue with, it's-”

“Welcome!” A warm and upbeat female's voice rang out across the cosmos.

“-her.” Nightmare groaned before drifted around behind Starstep.

A white horse-like being formed before him, glowing softly like moonlight. Her shape reminded him of the citizens of Saddle Arabia with the elongated, slender legs and pointed, lengthy muzzle. She had a lion-like tail, long with a fiery tip at the end. Her mane was made of magenta plasma, much like some of the nebula he'd admired through Twilight's telescope. Her horn was curved instead of straight and on either side were slender, perked ears, with tips that also burned with hot magenta plasma. Her eyes were pitch black, like holes in her face, endlessly drawing light from her body into them.

She touched down in front of him, her cloven hooves sending ripples of white and black energies out into the expanding cosmos like she'd stepped into a shallow puddle. Star briefly wondered how she was standing in the middle of space, but then, she clearly wasn't your usual pony, horse, thing.

“Who are you?” Star asked, in awe of the celestial creature.

She smiled, her voice full of pep and excitement. “I am the Aspect of Space and Time. Some have called me Spacey, which I suppose is suitable enough for your need to label me.”

“We should leave, foal.” Nightmare hissed. “She will be our undoing. Cry out for Luna, she'll pull us back.”

Star ignored Nightmare, enjoying the guilty pleasure of hearing the slight bit of irritation in her voice. “I'm glad to meet you Spacey. So, what do you do here?”

“I witness everything that was, is, and can be. And, Oh! You brought the Dream Aspect with you! Hello again!” The celestial mare reached towards the purple mare.

“No! Leave me be!” Nightmare held up her forehooves to ward off the strange mare.

The space mare cocked her head to the side, her right ear knocking apart a massive gas giant planet that happened to be orbiting her head. “Oh, yes, I'd forgotten she's corrupted at this point in time.”

“I'll show you corrupted, you insane, galaxy eating horse!”

“So... there's a point later in time where she's not corrupted?”

The mare shrugged her slender shoulders. “Sometimes. Your Moon Aspect brought her once. I told her the same thing. It's only a shame your version of the Moon wasn't successful. But, look on the illuminated side! Your Moon Aspect was cured of her own corruption. Not all of them are that lucky. Too bad really. She's a fun one.”

Star jerked his head in Nightmare's direction. “Any tips you can give me to help cure the Dream Aspect?”

Her black eyes narrowed. “Hmmmmmmmmmmm. Yes! Lots of love and understanding!” She lept past him and wrapped Nightmare in her slender fore-legs, hugging the purple mare tightly.

“Release me, you insufferable creature!”

Spacey vanished and reappeared floating above them, or rather, standing above them, upside down. “Or you can destroy her and let her try again in another life.”

“Do you see, birdhorse! She plots my destruction!”

“Uh, that seems a little... extreme.”

“Pragmatic would be a better word. Keeping her bonded to you has 47 to 1 odds that she will cause your death or downfall.” She whipped her tail, separating a binary star system that was floating past her rear, sending the two stars streaking into the darkness of deep space.

“Those odds aren’t very good, are they?” Star looked over his shoulder at the purple mare.

Nightmare narrowed her eyes and bared her ethereal teeth. “Don't you even think about it.”

“It would be my pleasure to release her from you.” She held out welcoming hooves, a warm smile on her lips.

Starstep frowned. “As much as I'd love to have her out of my head. I did make a promise to try and help her and her sister. I'm probably an idiot, but I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't at least give it my best.”

The astral mare shrugged her slender shoulders. “As you wish. It is your future after all. Make of it what you will.”

“Don't think this saves you from our little game.” Nightmare growled in his ear.

“So, Luna, er, the Moon Aspect, said I was to meet future me? She also said I needed to learn how to survive the coming battle.”

Spacey's ears perked and her mane seemed to intensify. “Oh? I can assist you with that. I love time! So many wonderful possibilities. There are some female Starsteps, and some who never fell in love with the Moon Aspect. Some who ate the cake and some who married those three fillies from school and even a few who married the spotted colt. Truly, you are one amongst millions.”

She sat back on her haunches, ripples of black and white energy echoing out into deep space. “Now, am I to assume you wish to speak with potential future versions of yourself?”

“If that's okay.”

Spacey nodded, plucking a massive rocky planet out of space and polishing it on her chest fur before taking a big crunchy bite out of it. She chewed for a bit, watching him with those weird light-sucking eyes. Then she swallowed and tossed the half-eaten planet away to tumble into the darkness.

“Beware, birdhorse. Stay too long and she might decide to take a bite out of you.” Nightmare whispered in his ear.

“I will show you three of your futures selves.” Her horn glowed brightly like the molten-iron core of a planet, then three silvery mirrors appeared in front of Starstep. Spacey floated just above them, resting her fore-legs over the far left one and smiled, horn still glowing molten hot. “They may not stay long and I will not call them back. Remember, these are only possible futures. You may still become them or you may not.”

The astral mare tapped the edge of the mirror three times with a hoof and the surface rippled like someone tossed a pebble into a pond. As the ripples faded, an older, ragged, greying and scared version of Starstep stared back as he was straightening his ceremonial armor of black and purple.

The older stallion gave a start and peered at his younger self. “Geeze, did I ever look that young and naive? Huh, to think this is the day I called myself. Seems like forever ago.”

When the younger Star opened his mouth the older held up a hoof to forestall him. “Now hold on. These visions that weird mare is showing you don't last long. So let me speak a little first.”

Older Starstep sighed. “Life here is one battle after the next. I spend more time dealing with funerals and doing what little I can to support Luna. Listen, the battle at Howling Pass, you can't let the griffons escape. Do whatever it takes to end this thing all at once. I'm dead serious. Even if you have to abandon the refugees to hunt the outcasts down, you can't let them get away to regroup and talk to the rest of the griffon empire. When they hear about the Princesses letting those killers get away, well, they start to rally others to their flag of might makes right.”

Young Star nodded. “I understand. Luna said I should find out how to survive the battle.”

“Honestly, I just stuck next to Luna. She insisted and she'll keep you safe, but quite a few others will go down since she's focused on keeping you unharmed. Looking back, if I could have found a way to protect myself and let her do her thing, maybe it all would have turned out differently.” The older Star shook his head sadly. “Lighthoof and I drifted apart after that battle. He never came out and said it, but I think he saw me as a coward. So, you can survive, but the way I did it, there was a price.” The mirror went blank and scattered into space dust.

Spacey lazily drifted over to the next mirror, poking her head up from behind the top edge. “Would you like another?”

“Yeah, sure.”

She tapped the second mirror three times and again it rippled. A black-coated version of Starstep looked back with teal, vertical pupil-ed eyes edged with purple mist and wearing pale-blue plated armor on his hooves, chest and head. The older Starstep grinned, showing off fangs as he recognized the younger version.

“Hello me, it's nice to meet me again.” His voice sounded odd. Like a mixture of his and...

Young Star's eyes widened.

Nightmare Starstep laughed wickedly. “I had wondered when I'd see myself. How I envy the experience we're about to have. Of hearing their screams after you let me unleash my magics. The horror of that morning...” He licked his lips. “It was delicious.”

He noticed the disgust on younger Star's face and scoffed.“Oh please, don't give me that look. You asked me to help and we still got to stay with Luna. Trust me, little one, Trottingham makes a fine capital for the New Lunar Republic.”

“Send her away, please Spacey.”

The astral mare lifted an eyebrow, “Are you certain? You still have time to learn of this future.”

“I'm sure.”

Spacey turned the mirror to dust as Starstep glared over his shoulder at the purple ethereal version of Nightmare. “Don't even think I'll ever let that future happen.”

Nightmare met his glare with a sadistic grin. “Is that a challenge?”

“I swear to you, I will kill myself before I let you take over.”

“Awww, such a spoil-sport.” She gave a mock pout complete with protruding lower lip.

Star nodded to Spacey. “Last mirror please.”

The Astral mare nodded and tapped the third on the top. Again, ripples and an older Starstep appeared in its surface. This version had his rear half rigged up in one of the pony wheel-chair systems. He was in the middle of adjusting a blue tie and collar when he noticed the younger Starstep.

“...Oh! There's a version of me I never thought I'd see in the mirror again.” His eyes lingered on Star's rear-legs. “Enjoy walking on all fours while you can. Howling Pass kinda puts a dent in your adventuring career.”

“Why, what happens?”

“Whelp, you take a spear trying to save Luna. The good news; you survive. The bad news; there are injuries that even alicorn magic can't really heal right.”

The older Star shook his head with a sad chuckle. “I know you, we, wanted to protect Luna, but you've got to learn to protect yourself first. Trust me on this. Figure out how to do that, and you'll do a lot to help her out. I learned... eventually. But by then it was too late. When I got injured, Luna did something... drastic. Unfortunately, her sister refused to help her and well, the ponies started to see her as a monster. They never came out and said it but... you start to hear the whispers. A few years later, Luna said her good-byes and went through her moon-mirror. We haven't seen her since.”

“Any advice?” Present Star asked.

“Two pieces, I guess. First, try not to get hit by spears. And two, if you can't figure out a way to protect yourself, and the worst still comes to pass, either talk Luna down or get her sister to help. I have a feeling that if they shared the burden, it might not have cost me so much. Do me a favor, and don't become me.” The mirror shattered to dust.

Starstep looked up at the floating astral mare. “Are all of my futures that bad?”

Nightmare smirked. “I don't know, I rather liked the second one. Black looks good on you.”

“Bad?” Spacey asked, cocking her head to one side. “They are just glimpses of what could be.”

“Well, buck, only one had a real answer on how to survive and it turns out terrible.”

Nightmare laughed. “You could have asked the second.”

“No thank-you.” He swatted away a comet that had begun to orbit his head. “So, is that it? No more visions of me?”

Spacey smiled. “I showed you enough to seek a more desired future.”

“But Luna said I needed to learn to survive and they didn't have the right answer and... oh!” A thought occurred to the pegasus. “You see all things that can happen, right?”

Spacey's smile broadened. “I do indeed.”

“Will you tell me the best way to survive the battle and still help fight?”

The astral mare clapped her fore-hooves together in delight, nearby planets exploding into firey fragments. “Ah! Well done! Very few visitors ever ask me directly. They seem to rely far too much upon their future selves.”

“So, will you please help?”

She placed a cloven hoof to her chin in thought. “Mmmmmm. For a price, I will help you.”

“And that is?”

She tilted back her ears and gave a sultry smile. “A kiss.”

Nightmare recoiled with a hiss. “Be wary of her, birdhorse!”

“That's it?”

“That's it, and I will share with you a way to do what you ask.”

Star narrowed his eyes. “There's a catch, isn't there? What does the kiss do?”

Spacey laughed, her expression bright and playful. “It would appear your dealings with the Dream Aspect have made you more cautious. A far cry from your impulsive past. Pony magic is rooted in your emotions, your affections for one another. Your bonds are what make pony-kind truly powerful. A kiss is simply sharing a little of your natural magic with me. In return, you receive the knowledge you seek, changing your future. But be warned; for every action, there is an equal reaction. Therefore, if I change your path, another's must also change.”

“Who?”

“Mmmm, normally I would not tell, yet, I will consider your willingness to help the Dream and Fate Aspects as equal payment. I will allow you to choose.”

She leaned back on her haunches, spreading her fore-limbs to the side, hoofs facing up. In her right hoof, a sphere appeared with an image of Scootaloo. In her left, a sphere showing Cheerilee. And above her horn, a sphere showing Lighthoof.

“Name someone, then kiss me and I will alter both of your current lines.”

“For better or worse for them?” Star asked, skepticism showing on his face and in his voice.

“Equal in degree to how your wish changes your life. Beyond that, their life choices are still within their hooves.”

Starstep looked at the three images one at a time, good and bad memories of each flickering to the forefront of his mind. He wondered, how much would their lives be changed because of his choice? Was there any way to protect himself in the battle to come without this mare's help? But then, he didn't believe Luna wouldn't have told him to find a way to survive if normal means would work. His future selves had presented possibilities if he hid, asked for Nightmare's help or fought anyway. None were good for anypony. So, who should he choose?

Nightmare slipped up to whisper in his ear. “If you're that determined to do this foalish deal, at least consider what Luna would do in your place.”

He cocked his head to the side in thought. Nightmare offered a good question, what would Luna do? He imaged the Moon-Goddess making a deal to save her subjects, being forced to choose somepony to alter their future. So what would she... Oh! A grin spread across his face as he realized there might be a fourth option.

He paddled himself through space to hover close to Spacey, their faces a few inches apart. “So... I just say a name and then kiss you, right?”

She gave the faintest of nods, the sphere showing Lighthoof bobbing ever so slightly as she did, a sly smile on her lips.

“Shouldn't you already know who I name?”

“No, we are outside the time-lines here. What transpires within, is a mystery to even me. That is why it's exciting.”

“And you'll give me a way to survive and help the ponies in the coming fight? No matter who I pick?” Again she nodded.

“Then, I name you, Aspect of Time.” He leaned his neck out and kissed her delicate lips. The spark of power that flowed between them lit him from hooves to tail. And then the universe collapsed in on itself, leaving Star once again in pitch black darkness.

There was nothing for a long while, even Nightmare had vanished. After a while, a faint light appeared somewhere in the distance, growing ever brighter by the second. He reached out for it, floating up until a tugging in his chest yanked him backwards a few feet. He glanced down, seeing a tendril of dark blue fire stretching from his chest down into the abyss below his hooves.

*** “Ow, what are you doing?”

He opened his mouth only to get a throat full of liquid and quickly shut it. Star began to panic, flailing about in the thick fluid, grasping for the light above him, but the weird cord was pulling him down. His lungs began to burn and vision was blurring slightly.

*** “I wont let her take us both down.”

Then a pair of hooves reach down and tore him from the darkness, ripping apart the cord that had held him. Nightmare began screaming in his head and he did his best to ignore her through the pounding headache as he gasped for air.

Star managed to open his eyes and looked up to see Luna smiling down at him. “I welcome thy return, my love.”

He smiled weakly back to her. “Glad to be back.” He looked between her long legs and found the black orb close at hoof. Spinning silently in midair. The knowledge Spacey had given him was filling up his thoughts, making it harder and harder to think beyond it. As he got to his hooves, he noticed all the bat-colony seemed to be accounted for, their attention turning towards him as he took the few steps towards the orb.

“My love?” Luna asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

He knew what he had to do, a clear picture of Spacey's instructions in his head. On and on it kept repeating, blocking out the words the tall, blue pony was speaking to him. A rippling shudder rolled through his body and he felt like his thoughts were pushed to the rear as another pony took control. This other Starstep spread his wings and arced them forward to drive them into the spinning pitch black orb.

The blue pony next to him cried out in alarm and many in the bat-colony watching gasped in horror. He noticed, but the other version of himself didn't. He could feel the chill of deep space sucking the heat from his body, its strange magic washing across his wings like a river around rocks. Quickly, a weight was building up, and he could feel the burning in his wing-muscles as they screamed in protest against the aching pain. He could swear he was screaming, but he didn't notice that.

His body was at its limit, frost covering most of him, wings feeling like someone had tied steel to them. The other version of him stepped back pulling the wings from the pitch-black orb. The same weird shudder rolled through his body a second time and Starstep was back in control. Only, he wish he wasn't because the cold that met him was so agonizing that he fainted immediately.

Starstep blinked a few times as he came to, the concerned face of his wife coming into view, her body and wing cuddling him close. He gave her a reassuring smile, the pain from before now gone. “I'm fine, really.” He looked over her blanketing wing and found the full colony looking at him in awe. He whispered up to Luna. “So uh, why are they looking at me like that?”

She gave him a look that clearly stated 'really?' Then she stood and offered him a hoof to up.

Star got on all fours and gave a shake of his mane, mentally still feeling the weird chill. He glanced over his shoulder and found the orb re-encased in the protective glass, held up by the four chains of the Guardians. It was only then that he noticed his wings felt awfully heavy. Curious, he spread his left wing out, discovering it had been covered in overlapping black plates that sandwiched his feathers between them, mimicking the shape of his own wings. Strangely, they were made of the same material as the orb, reflection-less, pitch-black and seemingly able to suck the light right out of the air. The front was curved over in a half-circle to fit snug against his wing's leading edge. The joints were positioned just right to give maximum natural flexing range with an unknown system of locomotion to drive the movement. The primary plates were longer than his own feathers, giving a blade-like quality to them.It was liking having shield-feathers on top and bottom of his wings. He turned his head to spread the other wing, finding they were also equally armored.

On a whim, he slashed at the air, almost stumbling over at the unexpected weight and sliced clean through the stone at his hooves. A few of the bat-ponies gasped and Luna cocked her head with an amused smile on her lips.

“Twould appear though hath found a means of protection. As Lighthoof hath become the sword of Equestria, thou hath become her shield.”

Gale marched up, eyeing Star's new wing-guards suspiciously before turning her attention to Luna.

“With his return and recovery, everypony is accounted for, Mother-Moon.”

*** “... there's a hole.”

“What?” Star said out loud, causing Gale to give him an irritated glance.

“I said, that everypony is accounted for.”

*** “You wretched creature! She anchored a part of me to her realm. Tearing you from her abyss ripped a part of myself out!”

Star clutched his now throbbing head. “What the heck are you babbling on about.”

Gale narrowed her eyes at the pegasus and opened her mouth before Luna lifted a hoof to stall her. “Star, my love. Art thou well?”

He felt confused, disoriented, and felt a something twisting around in his chest. “No... I... I think I need to lay down.”

Luna placed a wing around her husband. “Knight-Captain, please assess the mental condition of the colony. Not all may hath enjoyed meeting their future selves. I wilt return shortly.”

Gale saluted sharply and set off to her task as Luna guided Starstep away from the other ponies. “What ails thee, Star?”

The pounding was beginning to subside in his head, but there was a strange feeling of hollowness in his chest. Like a tiny piece of himself was missing now. “Headache, mostly.”

“Truly, it surprises me not. Though hath placed thy wings into deep space, a dangerous proposition for even I. I suspect tis only thy blessing of the dragonfire's ill effects that hath prevented thy demise. Please, allow me to assist, my love.” She leaned down, her horn touching his forehead and a soothing, cool feeling washing down over him from nose to hooves.

“That's pretty nice.” Somewhere in the back of his mind, Nightmare was coiling around the hole that was missing in her psyche, the healing magic faintly patching over it.

Luna moved her head closer, whispering in his ear. “Pray-tell, what motivated thee to attempt such?”

Star tilted his head. “Before I went to that... place, you told me to find a way to survive the coming battle.”

Her brow furrowed, “Twas not I, yet I suspect another of myselves issued this decree. She must hath had foreknowledge of harm to befall you.”

The pegasus nodded. “Spacey-” Luna's eyebrow arched. “Uh, she's the Time Aspect I met. Anyhoof, she showed me some futures and then I figured out I could ask her directly for the answer. She agreed but I had to also change somepony else's future too.”

“Tis not a surprise to me. The Time Aspect does so love her games.”

“She showed me three ponies, Cheerilee, Scoots, and Lighthoof. Then she told to name somepony before kissing to seal the deal.”

Luna nodded. “And whom didst thou select?”

Star gave his wife a little smirk. “I took a page out of your book. I named the Time Aspect herself. All she said was to name someone, not that it had to be those three.”

The alicorn's eyes widened in momentary surprise. “Tis a most unexpected choice. I am... unsure what effect this wilt have upon her, or us. Still, that aside, I am most pleased to see thy growth as a diplomat. Thou found a gap in her contract and exploited it in an attempt to protect thy friends. Well done, my love.”

Star reached up and hugged his wife, nuzzling at her soft blue coat. “Thank you, Luna. And I'm sorry if I scared you with the orb thing. I just wasn't myself, it was like another version of me took over to stick his wings in there. But I had to do something, the future versions of me she showed me... all of them are horrible futures.”

“Tis most unusual, my love. The Time Aspect doth not hath a tendency to reveal tragic futures. More often than not, they art interesting versions of thyself. Perhaps tis our bond that altered her game? Twould appear I cause thee no end to thy grief.”

“Luna, my Princess.” He leaned against her, forehead resting against her neck. “I found a way to protect myself while I'm at your side and still help the other ponies. That has to be worth a little struggle. I'm just glad you were having me do those wing exercises, these things weigh a bit.” He chuckled and stretched out an armored wing, the morning light dimming around its surface.

She smiled and kissed the top of his head. “Indeed, my love. In fact, I hath just the individual to give thee training before the battle.” She gave him a sly smirk.

“Get your wing up, higher, HIGHER!” White-feather Alexander barked, his large griffon wings spread wide, tarnished metal plates strapped to them in a more archaic version to Star's wing-guards.

Star was sweating profusely, his coat lathered. One wing was lifted just off the ground in front of him, the black, light eating wing-guards shielding his face. “Don't take offense, but you're blind, how do you even know how high I'm lifting it?”

The hideously scarred face of Alexander twisted up into a wicked grin before he slammed Star's wing down into the dirt, quickly following up with his other wing to bop Star's nose hard enough to cause the young stallion to stagger back. On reflex he put his fore-leg to his nose and found no blood. It wasn't the first time the ancient griffon had smacked his old wing-plates into his face. Star had a growing respect for the old griffon's precise control.

*** “You're not very good at this.” Nightmare said with a bored tone. “I thought I'd be amused watching you be beaten by a blind, old griffon, but it's actually just sad.”

“Your Princess asked me to give you a crash course in wing-guard combat, so either learn, or quit wasting my time, fledgling.” He took a few steps back and spread his wings low and wide. “Now, tips up, let's try this again. And remember, deflect, don't block.”

The clang of metal rang out as Alexander lept forward, swinging out with the leading edges of his wings and deflecting off Star's black metal ones. He rained down a series of blows in different directions, forcing the pegasus to think fast to avoid taking the full force of the larger creature's hits. At one point he decided to lash out at the griffon but Alexander slid his own wing underneath and smacked Star on the left side of his leg, causing him to stumble. Alexander tripped up the balancing fore-hoof, causing the colt to fall to his knees.

“Better, but you're still dead.” The griffon did that weird bird head tilt, his white, sightless eyes just staring at Starstep. “Don't worry about attacking. I don't have time to make you a proper warrior. Defend, keep yourself alive. Wait for them to make a mistake, then lash out. Trip them up, push them over. Make them an easier target for your allies to deal with. You're a shield, not a spear.” His head twisted around. “Ah, refreshments.”

True enough, a young filly came into view from the camp towards them. As the filly trotted closer, he recognized Sunshine, the little spotted pony who was determined to be Lighthoof's squire. She was wearing an oversized metal helm and a long dagger in a sheath at her waist, the scale difference making it more of a short-sword for her. On her back she balanced a tray with a small keg and a couple wooden cups and something wrapped in brown paper. Star had to admit to himself that the sight was pretty adorable, like a foal trying on her parent's clothes.

*** “Except she has no parents.”

Sunny reached Star and Alexander, setting the tray aside with her mouth before giving a curtsy, much more practiced this time. Star and Alexander returned with polite short bows.

“Hey, Sunny. Is that for us?” He asked, using a piece of cloth to wipe his forehead.

She gave a rapid nod. “Yes, sir! Knight Lighthoof said it were part of my training.”

Star trotted over to unwrap the brown package, finding a pair of lemongrass and apple sandwiches. He wondered where the cooks had found these with supplies running so low. He hooved one over to Alexander who began to eat it silently, his white blind eyes looking off into the distance.

“Training, huh? What for?” He poured two glasses of what appeared to be cold, black tea, handing one over to the griffon.

“To be his squire!” She jumped up and down lightly on her hooves.

Star arched an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? So he finally agreed?” Star mentally wondered what could have changed Light's mind. His brother was pretty against having Sunny as a squire before.

“Yes, sir! But he almost didn'. He straight up told me no this mornin' after the bat-ponies and Stalliongrad ponies showed up. I was walkin' away, and he changed his mind, just like that!” She giggled and hopped around, little sheathed dagger bouncing about and oversized helm barely staying on her head.

*** “I suspect my sister had something to do with this.”

“Well, congrats! Just stick near him and learn for now, alright?”

She quickly nodded before giving a little curtsy. “I have to hurry back. Miss Dazzle is going to fix some armor to fit me! Bye, Prince! Bye, Mister Griffon.” She spun on her hooves and trotted quickly away.

Alexander wiped a few crumbs from his beak, dead eyes looking in the departing filly's direction. “There's a lot of fire in that one. She'll be a fine knight.”

Star finished his meal and drained his mug before responding. “You don't think she's too young?”

“Do you?” The griffon turned his head in Star's direction. A twisted smile on his ruined beak.

“Yes. She should be playing, not learning to fight.”

“But you didn't try to talk her out of being a squire. Why is that?” Alexander shook out his wing-guards and stood up to stretch.

*** “Yes, why is that?” Nightmare grinned like a cat.

“Honestly, being next to Lighthoof is probably the safest place for her. Learning to defend herself and other ponies is just a by-product of that.”

Alexander put a curled claw to his beak in thought. “Is that so? Well, if it gives you any comfort, I started learning to fight at about her age, and look at how I turned out.” He grinned that twisted grin. “Anyway, we should continue, there's a lot to learn and the day is half over.”

Star nodded, giving his wings a good stretching to prepare, admiring the inky blackness of his wing-guards. He had to admit that the warping of light surrounding them was fascinating. It had a natural effect of his vision being drawn away from the black plates. He wondered if Spacey's gift had some sort of other magical property.

The flapping of wings caught Star's attention, noting Yellow-Feather Antonio had arrived with a large bundle of four-foot long wooden rods, one end wrapped in bundles of straw and cloth.

Alexander didn't even look towards the new arrival. “You're late.”

The grey griffon shrugged his shoulders as he dumped the training spears to the ground. “I did not think there was much urgency in building these hatchling toys.” His sharp eyes took in the ancient griffon's dulled metal wing-guards then drifted to Star's black, light-eating ones. Those seem to hold his attention for a few moments before he met Star's gaze, a questioning eyebrow raised.

*** “He's worried you're using dark magic again. That little marble trick in the wagon has him cautious of you.” Nightmare grinned.

“I will assume those are the reason for the request.”

Alexander nodded sharply. “Yes, and now that you're here, throw one at Princess Luna's consort.”

“As you wish, Elder.”

Star opened his mouth to protest but Antonio had already plucked one from the pile, bounced in his clawed palm and hurled it right at him with practiced aim. The motion was so smooth, Star didn't notice the padded spear until it was almost too late, flinging up his wings in reflex and taking the full brunt of the throw. He hissed and shook out his wings, the joint and muscles at their base were burning from the impact.

Alexander sighed. “Deflect them down. Don't block. Another.”

In the same smooth motion as before, Antonio hurled a spear at the pegasus.

By the time the sun had begun to set behind the cliff-face of the Howling pass and the surrounding mountain range, Star was exhausted, bruised, and very sore. His wings were dragging now, and it was all he could do to stay upright. And while they'd both worked with him, sparring and hurling many, many spears, neither Alexander nor Antonio seemed winded in the slightest.

At last, the old, gnarled griffon raised a clawed hand. “That's enough for today. You know enough to protect yourself, per the Princess' request.”

Star flopped back on his haunches, panting. “Geeze... I haven't had that kind of a work out since boot-camp. I can't even feel my wings anymore.”

Antonio smirked. “I trained under Elder Alexander for years. You received only a crash course.”

The old griffon gave a chuckle. “And you grumbled about it the whole time.” He turned his blind eyes towards the pegasus. “For a pony, you did well enough. Wing-guards are an old form of combat created by griffons. It's very rare for a pony to want to learn it. You're not physically built for it.”

“Where did you get those things anyway?” Antonio asked as he was gathering up the practice spears.

“A gift.” The pegasus answered, giving them a look over and noting there wasn't a single blemish on the inky black plates.

Alexander nodded. “A fine gift indeed. Do they have a name?”

Yellow-feather Antonio groaned. “Eldar, I consider myself a romantic and even I find that practice out dated and somewhat pretentious.”

“For ordinary weapons, certainly. But those, I don't need eyes to see that they are very special. Perhaps the only ones in the world. At every blow I could feel them tugging at me, like they were hungry.”

Star looked at his left wing-guard, then the right. “Well... How about Solstice? Is that too weird for a weapon's name?”

*** “I would have named them Despair.”

The old griffon gave a curt nod. “It's up to you. Your actions will determine if others will remember their name.” He twisted his head around, looking upwards. “It would appear our time is up.”

The other two followed his gaze to see Luna gliding down towards them. She landed gracefully and dipped her head in respect to Alexander. “Good evening, White-feather Alexander, Yellow-feather Antonio. I trust the practice fared well?”

“He should be able to protect himself in tomorrow's battle. If we survive, I would enjoy taking this hatchling under my wing and training him properly. He would make a fine wing-warrior.” He grinned, his twisted beak making a hideous expression. “For a pony, that is.”

Luna chuckled. “To hear such words from thee, tis high praise indeed.” She looked to her consort, his wings still drooping under the weight of his wing-guards and from sheer exhaustion. “However, tis a thing to consider another time. For now, we must away to the command tent for a final briefing.”

The alicorn lowered her head, horn glowing brilliantly and her magic seeped into Starstep. He could feel the exhaustion from the practice fading away, leaving only a dull aching in its wake.

“Thanks.” He told his wife, smiling up at her.

“Of course, my love.” She returned his smile before gracefully turning and walking away. Star hurried to keep pace at her right side, the two griffons following close behind.

The makeshift tent that the camp referred to as the Command tent was a patchwork thing. Originally being a large party tent, it'd been repaired and reinforced with various pieces of cloth, blankets and canvas. The sides had been added using mats from reeds reeds from the river they'd passed earlier in the journey. Star found it a little crowded as he entered alongside his wife. Already Celestia was there with Lighthoof, Commandant Frost, and her five remaining Sun-Officers. Luna's six Spurlin Night-Officers stood quietly off to one side, with Knight-Captain Gale amongst them, her eyes constantly scanning the crowd. The other five griffon clan-heads were also present; Natasha, Rita, Siegfried, Valkya, and the very nervous looking Igor. Alexander and Antonio left Luna's side with a polite nod of their heads, joining the other griffons as the blue alicorn guided Star towards the Night-guards.

They were arranged in a half-circle, looking towards the back wall which had a large hoof-drawn map of the local area, the focus laying on the jagged granite entrance to Howling Pass. Once they were settled, Captain Oakwood, the brown earth-stallion with a white officer's jacket, stepped from the Sun-Officers ranks and stood before the map.

*** “Foals, foals, the lot of them. The air is thick with fear and worry. The weak, protecting the weaker. It's like a bad play and I cannot look away.”

Oakwood cleared his throat. “This is just a final briefing to bring everypony up to speed since much of the preparations have already been completed. It's important to note that our fighting force, including the newly recruited, is only at about seven-hundred. And if the scouting reports from the bat-ponies are correct-”

Star could hear Gale growling from the other side of Luna.

“Then we're facing at least twice our numbers. To complicate things, we assume they are all used to killing, having raided up and down the borders for months now. Unlike our volunteer militia, they've experienced war. Not necessary battle-tested, but they've seen death. They also suspect we'll be easy prey and they're not entirely wrong. Even though there are over two thousand ponies, the majority of them are just civilians. The outcast's overconfidence is something we're going to try and exploit.”

*** “It's not overconfidence if it's true.” Nightmare grinned a toothy grin.

Oakwood pointed a hoof at a top-down view of Howling Pass' entrance, a jagged passage cut right into two brick-like sections of stone. The passage cut and curved tightly like an injured snake for another mile then opened up deeper in the mountains where side passages spread out like streams.

“Tonight, the bat-ponies will be raiding their big camp. Causing fire and all manner of chaos to stir up the griffons. Based on what White-feather Alexander has told us, the outcasts are extremely hot-headed and prone to fight first, then think later. The ponies attacking them are sure to insult their sense of honor and really rile them up. Then, the bat-ponies will be leading the outcasts on a merry chase up and around the pass using relay teams to keep their fliers fresh and continue to harass the griffons as they pursue. Another smaller team of pegasi will taunt the other group of outcasts that have been following us. The goal is for both groups to meet up to the east and bait the rage-blinded bastards right into our trap.” He slapped a hoof onto the map.

“Outside of the passage, the Earth-Breakers from Stalliongrad will form the first line of defense from ground assault.” He gestured to a thick black half-circle line that surrounded the start of the canyon. “Behind them, the Carro-ballista crews will be fire into the griffons as they breach the mirage field, hopefully stalling them or forcing some to enter by ground and crash against the Earth-Breakers.”

*** “Did you know Captain Oakface's greatest fear is ponies will stop listening to him? On and on he drones. Do you see? You're giving me your full focus instead of that pompous wind-bag.”

“-into the pass, we'll set up flak teams using earth-ponies and unicorns. The stones fragments won't fly far enough to hit the Stalliongrad soldiers outside the pass but in those tight quarters it should easily take care of any stragglers that make it in.” He slid his hoof along the map to a ring of little black dots and a rough sketch of a crown. “The princesses and their personal guard will positioned here behind a ring of short stone walls for prot-”

*** “If you'd let me, we could end this whole battle together. Just you, and me, and a whole lot of fear.” Nightmare slid along his mind like a cat seeking attention.

“No.” Star whispered to himself.

Oakwood halted mid-word and all of the ponies were now looking at Star. Even Luna glanced down at him with a raised eyebrow and Lighthoof seemed stunned from across the room.

“No?” The Sun-Guard lowered his hoof. “Do you see a problem with the plan?”

“Oh, ah.” Star resisted the urge to wilt under all the stares. His mind spun and grasped for something intelligent to say as Nightmare rolled about, laughing in glee. “Not that, I just, ah, I think the flak teams should be in the stone walls. Lighthoof and I can help watch the Princess' backs. Maybe being a little closer to the front will improve morale?” He offered in a desperate bid not to sound like a fool.

“While I'll agree with you Prince Starstep, that more protection for the flak teams would be nice, the Princesses will be busy holding a mirage field to hide our forces. They won’t have the focus to deal with mass assaults. The walls were to buffer that.” His eyes fell to Star's eerie inky-black wing-guards. “And besides, only two pegasi, with one who can't fly, isn't much of an emergency defense.”

Lighthoof raised a hoof. “We'll take Dazzle, if that's okay.”

Across from room amidst the Night-Guard officers, the yellow unicorn's eyes widened. “Me, on royal guard duty?”

Luna gave a brief nod. “I approve of this adjustment. My sister and I shalt do all possible to inspire our fighters. Tis they whom bears the greatest burden.”

Celestia also tilted her head in a regal nod. “Luna speaks true. While we appreciate the thought, we should not hide behind walls when others are at risk.”

Oakwood sighed slightly. “Very well. I'll task one of the other unicorn officers to watch over two crews to cover the absence.”

He slid his hoof along the map to a ring of little black dots and a rough sketch of a crown. “Right, so, the flak teams will move up to the crown position inside the walls, the Princesses will position at the rear of the ballastia wagons. The Princesses will be producing the aforementioned mirage field to hide our forces, providing magical back-up to-”

*** “Well, well, little bird-horse. Perhaps our dear Luna has been rubbing off on you. Still, the offer stands to turn all these raving lunatics with wings into gibbering wretches, rolling in their own shame.”

The Sun-Officer was gesturing to the cliffs north of the canyon pass. “-Griffons allies and pegasi will hide under stone-colored blankets. “Their job is to intercept any griffons that decides to try and flank from above. Eventually, the griffons are going to figure out they've been baited into a killing field and push hard from the top. When the numbers become greater than a skirmish, they'll pull back down in to the canyon and use the close quarters to bait them near the flak crews-”

*** “All this planning is worthless. It will all end in tears, like it has before. I only hope Luna doesn’t take it as hard as she did last time. She left quite the... impression on the world.” Nightmare cackled and Star caught a glimpse of the memory she'd showed him before: a shallow crater with Luna on the edge, cradling the body of Goldwing.

“-And that's the strategy as a whole.” Oakwood said, lowering his hoof from the map. “Whittle down their numbers until they're no longer willing to fight us. Also, I've received word that the entire Wonderbolts force from Canterlot and the air-division from Trottingham are en-route. With a little luck, they'll arrive in time to flip the odds in our favor.”

Oakwood glanced around. “Any questions before we end the briefing?”

Star raised his hoof, drawing all eyes to him again. “Uh, so where will the refugees be?”

The Sun-Guard captain nodded. “I'm sorry, Prince Starstep, I'd forgotten you weren't here for the earlier briefs. With help from the bat-ponies, we found a bunch of shallow cave systems a little further down the pass. There are enough of them to shelter all of the non-combatants as well as a handful of guards to keep watch over them. Hopefully, they'll remain undiscovered during the battle.”

After that, there were no other questions and so the briefing was concluded. As Star exited the tent into the twilight, he noticed most of the refugees were walking down into Howling pass under the protective watch of guards. A few spared him and the Princesses polite bows of their heads, nervous but hopeful smiles on their lips. Most of the wagons and large gear had been left behind, only creature comforts of bedding and food were strapped to their backs.

*** “Look at these weak foals. Too afraid to defend themselves. Always counting on the Princesses to save their sorry hides.”

Star whispered to himself. “At least they have someone to protect them. Not everypony is that lucky.” Nightmare bristled at his answer.

“What was that, my love?” Luna asked as she walked up beside him.

He nodded his head towards the steady stream of refugees. “I was just saying it's nice these ponies have somepony to look out for them.”

“Indeed.”

Gale trotted out of the command tent and up to the pair. Her eyes flickered to Star's black wing-guards and she tightened her lips, as though to hold back her thoughts. “Princess, I shall take my leave to begin the raid.”

Luna held out a fore-hoof which Gale politely kissed in reverence. “Go forth, my child. Complete thy mission and return to me victoriously.”

The bat-pony bowed low. “Without fail.” With a final warning glance towards Starstep, she took to the air on her furred wings and flapped up and out of sight, her two escort bat-ponies following in her wake.

“I don't think she likes me very much.” Star said softly.

“To be forthright, my love; most children doth not take to their new step-fathers at first.”

It took a moment for her words to register in Star's mind. “Wait, what?” He snapped his head around to look at Luna in confusion but the blue alicorn had already begun to walk away, smirking to herself.

Night had long since fallen, a beautiful full moon hanging high in the sky alongside a tapestry of stars and galaxy. Everypony was waiting at their posts, quietly talking with one another, reading from pocket novels or silently staring off into space, lost in their own thoughts. No campfires were lit this night, though they relied on dim glowing magic orbs to see by.

There was a tension in the air, a pressure that weighed heavy on their spirits with the knowledge that they would soon be in battle. Star could hear it in the voices of the unicorn and earth-ponies stationed within the short stone walls behind him.

He himself was standing to the right of Luna, her sister on her left, and Lighthoof on the end. Dazzle and Sunny stood behind them.

He sported a clean, crisp grey officers jacket with silver crescent moons pinned to the collar. And while he felt somewhat naked without a sword belted to his waist, the weight of his otherworldly wing-guards gave him some comfort. Mentally, he wished he'd had more time to train with them. He glanced up and left at his wife, who while in her usual onyx regalia, seemed to radiate an aura of confidence. She wasn't smiling as she regarded the eastern horizon. Her lips were stiff in her usual stoic expression, her eyes betraying no emotions. Yet, he could sense her... anticipation and excitement of what was to come. He wondered if she secretly craved combat, or was it just the challenge that came alongside it?

Nightmare laughed at his thoughts, but said nothing. She'd been fairly quiet since the meeting with the command staff. Star imagined that if she'd had a bucket of popcorn, she'd be reclined back, watching everything unfold like a play.

At Luna's side, Celestia was in her usual gold regalia, though there was a golden spear embedded in the ground before her. Intricate carved runes ran down the length of the haft and the pointed blade seemed made of silver. He'd never heard of the sisters using weapons, so it did surprise him a little.

To Celestia's left, Lighthoof stood in his Knight's armor, the gold and onyx plates dully reflecting the night's sky off their polished surface. His blade was sheathed and strapped to his side and a strip of cloth, blue and white, was tied around his upper right fore-leg. Star wondered what that was for, but his eyes drifted to the little filly behind his friend.

Sunny was lightly bouncing on her hoofs, an excited grin on her face. She wore a modified padded chain-mail coat, a short sword at her side, and an extra padded metal helm with an added chin strap to keep it from toppling off her head. She also had a little kite shield on her back with a crude, hoof-painted black sun and moon on white and blue fields. She noticed Star staring at her and gave him a rapid wave with her hoof, her grin growing wider.

Next to the filly was Light and his new friend, Dazzle. The yellow unicorn who'd survived Nightmare's ruins and had proven a fun pony to hang around. She was in a studded vest and polished steel helm, made for unicorns. At her hooves she had a small box opened, a prism shaped gem made of diamond laid in the velvet padded interior. She'd told him earlier that it was a magic focus the Princesses had loaned her for this task. Her green eyes met his and she gave a confident nod.

Behind the royal group, the flak team of unicorns and earth ponies were behind the small circle of stone that had originally been for the Princesses. While laid out before them were makeshift barricades in front of the semi-circle line of Carro-ballista wagons just outside the canyon's entrance. Their crews were resting under their wagon beds, softly talking with one another or playing cards.

A few paces further, just beyond the barricades, the heavily armored Earth-Breaker ponies sat in near formation, most of their thick polished steel armor resting on the cold earth beside them. They were sharing drinks and lightly eating rations, but no words were spoken amongst them. Star got a sense of a bond between the big earth ponies. Something so strong they didn't need words to communicate. He half wondered if Big Mac had a shared ancestor with these Stalliongrad ponies.

He glanced up towards the top of the canyon walls, the jagged lines that blocked most of the sky above. He couldn't see them, but he knew the pegasi and griffons were up there. Dark, stone colored blankets close at hoof. He wondered if in another life, he'd been one of the ponies up there. The pegasi were going to be in a dangerous position once the outcasts decided to avoid the canyon's entrance. Would they know the right time to pull back? Would the outcasts overwhelm and come raining down on all their heads?

Star had to shake away the worrisome thoughts and tried to focus on the fact that Alexander and the other griffon clan-heads would be up there too. If any pony, er, griffon, could keep things together, he was confident that ancient leader could.

The remainder of the forces was a militia made of the remainder of the guards and the recruited ponies from the civilians. They were behind the flak teams, deeper into the pass. While some of them were off guarding the Spurlin refugees which hid in caves, it was still a fair number of ponies who nervously waited together. Star shook his head sadly as he regarded the group. Many of them were scared out of their minds as they clutched their makeshift weapons or bits of gear scrounged from the carts.

This was all they had to stop a force of blood-thirsty griffons that outnumbered them at least two to one. Was it enough? His internal clock started to nag at him and he knew it was about time for sunrise. Thankfully, the Princesses had used a spell to keep them all from needing sleep, but based on his past experience, he understood that come the following night, they'd be absolutely, drop-dead exhausted. Magic always came with a price.

Starstep returned his attention to the star-lit eastern horizon that he could see through the gap in Howling Pass' entrance.

Star spoke, breaking the silence amongst the royal group. “Is it time?”

Luna spread out a wing and gently placed it upon his back, giving him a calming smile. “Be not in a rush, my love. For this morning, the world wilt change.”

*** “And history will repeat.” Nightmare cackled, a vision of Luna weeping over Goldwing's body flashed in Star's mind.

“I won’t let history repeat,” Star whispered ever so softly.

“Then we art in agreement,” Luna said in Star's ear before withdrawing her wing as a pegasus glided down towards them, wearing a courier's tabard. She bowed before the royal sister before quickly relaying her message.

“Your highnesses, Captain Oakwood says that the bat-ponies were successful. The scouts are reporting that the bat-ponies have met up with the smaller pegasi raid team to the east and are circling back towards us. He expects they'll arrive in a few minutes.”

Celestia nodded. “Thank you, Ribbon Dash. Return to the Captain and let him know we'll be putting up the mirage once the outcasts are in sight.”

“Yes, Princess.” The young mare bowed and flew away back into the darkness.

Celestia pointed a hoof at the horizon, her horn glowing brilliantly. Then, the edge of the sun slipped up over the eastern foothills. Moments later, a horn rang out from the Stalliongrad camp and another shortly thereafter answered from within the militia group and one more from on top of Howling pass.

With the call to arms sounded, Star watched in awe at the practiced speed the Stalliongrad Earth-Breakers slipped into the last of their armor and strapped it down. He had to admit that it put the Royal Canterlot Guards to shame considering they only used partial armor and not the hoof to tail full-plate of the big earth-ponies. They finished suiting and tightened their ranks to be five-deep in a half-circle around the wagons and canyon entrance, standing at full attention as the first glimmers of the sun reflected off the wall of steel.

Behind the armored warriors, the ballista wagon unicorn crews were scrambling out from under their wagons and using magic to draw the massive bowstrings before loading pony-long bolts of wood and steel. Once loaded, they lined up extra bolts for easy access next to the wagons and took their positions. One at the back of the bow for aiming, one down below to assist reload, and one with a feather in their helm with a spyglass hanging from a strap around their neck. Star noticed that some of the bolts had basic spear-heads, some with a complex bundle with netting and some with cone-tipped micro-kegs.

Star's ears swiveled as he heard the scrape of rock and raised voices of the flak crew as they paired off into teams of unicorns and earth-ponies. He remembered reading about the old tactic in battles long past, and while a very old concept he had to admit that in theory it sounded like a good idea. The unicorns would lift large rocks up and the earth-ponies would buck them, splintering them into high-speed shrapnel pieces. Not a lot of range, but the damage to fliers who got too close would be devastating.

Other than that, he could see the militia being formed into loose ranks by the Spurlin Officers. The normal guards seemed calm enough on the surface, though the volunteers next to them had fear, nervousness and despair on their faces, and were clutching their makeshift weapons tight. Star admired their bravery to step up and protect the rest of the herd. He made a mental note to make sure they were honored after the battle.

Minutes passed and the sun crept up a little more, a full quarter of the orange ball peeking over the foothills though right above them, the moon still hung in the sky. A twilight coloring of blues and reds painted the scattered clouds, the twinkling of stars still there, though faint. A tense hush had settled over them. A tightness that clutched at the chest. Even Nightmare in Star's head was wound up tight, though it was more in gleeful anticipation. It reminded Star of a filly about to open her Hearthwarming gifts.

There, just in the orange glow, Star could just make out little bobbing black specks, ever so slowly becoming clearer as they flew closer. Time seemed to crawl for him as he waited, and waited, curiosity and nervousness writhing in his belly.

The clop of hooves approaching distracted him for a moment as Commandant Frost marched up, still in her furred hat and heavy trench-coat. She halted before the royal sisters and saluted. “The ballista teams are ready to open with fire-bolts on your command Princesses.” She tilted her head to the side, looking beyond them to the nervous Militia and Spurlin Guards. “I hope the explosions won’t spook anypony.”

Celestia gave a nod of acknowledgment. “It will be fine.”

Luna lifted her chin, “Remind thy teams not to fire prematurely. Tis better to allow a few of the outcast to pass than risk injury to the bat-ponies or pegasi raiders.” Star got a feeling there was more to Luna's words between the lines.

Frost bowed low. “Of course, Princess. The crews are well trained. We won’t hit our allies.” She turned to face the horizon.

The specks had grown larger and behind them a thousand smaller specks had come into view. On and on they came till Star could make out the shape of a handful of bat-ponies and pegasi, flying as hard as they could right for Howling Pass. He couldn't help but notice the slight bobbing flying style of the bat-ponies compared to the even flight of the pegasi.

Luna looked to her sister. “Tis time, Tia.”

The white alicorn nodded. “I'm ready, Lu-lu.”

Both of their horns lit up brilliantly, white and blue. Moments later a shimmering field rose up a hundred yards from the Earth-breaker ponies. It was like looking through rippling water, or heat rising from hot metal. It slightly obscured the other side, making the dots of the approaching horde wiggle and shift.

Star arched an eyebrow. “Can't they still see us?”

“Neigh, my love. To them, the canyon shimmers and wavers, but no pony to be seen.”

He could just make out the bat-ponies and pegasi as they dove together, plummeting towards the rocky ground and pulling up at high-speeds to rocket towards the pass. There were a handful of griffons right on their tails, but the majority were racing to catch up. Star could just start to make out the sound of so many flapping wings. There was no rhythm, just chaotic noise.

The pack of bat-ponies and pegasi breached the mirage field, racing just over everypony's heads at twenty feet, not even slowing as they banked and wove their way down the jagged, curved passage of the canyon and out of sight. Just then, the few griffons that had kept up with the ponies flew through the cloak. A few gave a surprised squawk at the sudden appearance of so many ponies below them, the rest were caught up in the chase. They flew just over the Stalliongrad forces, the royal group and right into firing range of the flak crews. By the time they realized what was happening, it was too late as the unicorns lifted large rocks for the earth-ponies to buck them into screaming fragments of stone. They outcasts got the full force of the splintered rocks, the bits biting deep into flesh, snapping delicate wing-bones or hitting the soft spots of their bellies. They fell, tumbling to the earth with screams of rage and surprise, the twenty or so foot fall was bone-crushing for many and the few that were still conscious afterwords were bound and gagged by the officers who watched over the flak-crews.

Star immediately returned his attention to the fast approaching horde. A few hesitated, obviously confused by the disappearance of their lead fliers. The rest, however, charged mindlessly on. Many had soot or fire marks on their bodies. Star assumed it was from the bat-ponies' raid.

On they came, 400 yards, 300 yards, then 200. In the back of Star's mind, Nightmare was grinning broadly, her cat-like eyes wide and bright. He resisted the urge to ask her what about this made her so happy, knowing he'd probably regret it.

The horde was at 100 yards, just outside of the haze that marked the mirage field, the sky thick of screaming, blood-thirsty outcast griffons.

“Now!” Celestia commanded in the Royal Canterlot voice and as one the ballista fired in a resounding chorus of slaps. Star watched the ten bolts arc up and into the midst of the first wall of griffons that passed into clear sight. A unicorn in each of the crews lit up their horns and the kegs on the end of the launched bolts exploded in a ground shaking display of fire and smoke. At least a hundred or more griffons fell from the sky and landed at the armored Stalliongrad pony's hooves in a smoldering heap. The Earth-breakers never flinched.

“Ballista Crews, load Fire-bolts!” Frost shouted, her voice cold and clear. “Fire on my command!” Star glanced over to notice the teams had already drawn back the massive bow and immediately fitted the required bolt.

The griffons not hit by the explosions were in chaos, some continuing to push forward, some retreating back out of the haze, causing some in the approaching horde to hesitate. None of them quite knew what was happening. The few that pushed on while the ballistae were loading were quickly met with stone-flak, the little pebbles from the impacts clattering off a light barrier Dazzle had erected over the royal group. Tiny specks of red had also begun to mist the yellow shield. A thunk above them cause Star to duck and look up reflexively. A fallen griffon had collided with the top of the barrier and tumbled off to one side. He watched an officer bind the fallen and drag him away.

A slower wave of griffons slipped through the mirage wall, dodging the chaotic first wave as they passed. Their eyes went wide moments before Frost gave the command and many fell in the new burst of explosions from the ballista bolts. They too fell at the Earth-breaker's hooves as the heavily armored ponies remained waiting in battle formation.

A handful survived the second attack and retreated back, screaming a warning, their feathers singed and smoking. The horde milled about in confusion as the few with grand macabre pony adornments shouted orders from the back of the crowd. Some were calling for a ground assault, gesturing towards the earth while others argued for a mass air assault. Clearly there was no unified command structure.

One griffon with a pony fur cap, the sight of which horrified Star, managed to bring a sizable force with him to the ground. They charged forward with a screaming warcry right through the field and face-first into the Earth-breaker ponies. The big stallions and mares reared up, smashing beaks and limbs with the bone-crushing armored hooves. The griffons retaliated, claws scraping across the armored plates, some launching themselves onto the ponies in an attempt to grapple. The claws did little damage and the ones clutching the ponies simply got rolled under the huge Earth-breakers, the mass of the pony and armor knocking the wind out of them. A few got lucky, managing to slip talons between joints or in the eye-slits of the helmets, but it did little to help them push through the wall of steel and flesh.

Above, one of the outcast leaders took a large group up high, and once above the top of the canyon and the mirage, screamed in rage at all the ponies and dove down towards them. They were met by the disguised pegasi and griffon allies. Hooves and claws and blades met mid-air in the largest aerial dog-fight Star had ever seen.

Another outcast leader wore a ton of jewelry, his body covered in glittering gold trinkets and chains. He organized the remaining outcasts into a long line and charged them straight at the mirage. As Commandant Frost saw their change in tactic, she ordered her ballista crews to switch to net launchers.

The outcasts flew into the mirage in a long stream, the first of them catching nets that tangled many together, plummeting them to the earth. Unfortunately, the time to reload was too long to stop them all as they streamed in. The flak crews soon had plenty of targets bearing down on them, stone fragments costing the assaulting forces dearly. More and more outcasts slipped through, diving at the militia. Some of the volunteers lost their nerve and either ran or huddled in on themselves. The rest raised their weapons and blocked the first wave. In moments they were swarmed by the outcasts, fighting for their lives.

The gold laden leader followed the last of his group, nimbly dodging a net-launcher and laughing as it took out a griffon next to him. He paused just inside the mirage, surveying the pony defenses then his eyes looked down and noticed the Royal sisters. He barked a sharp order and in moments, Star's group was surrounded by at least twenty outcasts, most armed with blades that looked pony in origin, the rest with jagged spears.

Some of the outcasts seemed nervous as their eyes kept drifting towards Luna and Celestia. The rest wore a sadistic or confident grin. There was no warning or warcry as they charged in from all sides. Lighthoof's blade shattered his first opponent’s longsword like glass and followed up with a slash to the neck, coating his golden armor in red mist. Sunny, without hesitation, slipped up behind an outcast that was flanking the Knight and stabbed him in the hind-leg. The wounded griffon spun in rage and got a face full of magic from Dazzle sending him spiraling out into the dirt.

Luna and Celestia used gold and brilliant blue bursts of magic to strike down any griffon who came too near, heads down, horns leveled threateningly.

Star ripped his eyes away from the magic show as a couple female griffons charged him together. He put his lessons from Alexander to good use, deflecting the blows from their worn swords with his black wing-guards. One of them made an overextended thrust and Star deflected the point of the blade into the dirt and followed up with a quick smash of the blunt edge of his wing to her face. She recoiled, screaming as black smoke rose from the bruised eye. The other female seemed confused for a moment, but shook it off and dove in, sword forgotten to claw at him in rapid swings.

Her talons screeched off the inky-black plates over and over, Star kept his shields up to deflect her wild swings. Then she suddenly stopped and staggered backwards, looking at her talons in abject horror. Apparently her bare palms had touched the plates and the flesh was smoking black, edged with frost.

Nightmare was cackling in mad laughter as the two terrified female griffons retreated.

Unfortunately for Star, four more griffons took their place, these armed with better cared-for swords and bits of armor. And strangely, Solstice felt heavier somehow. With a grunt, he lifted his wing-guards up into a defensive stance as another griffon charged in.

While the battle had started off in the ponies favor, the sheer number of attackers began to whittle at their strength. Even the Earth-breakers began to lose members as a few were swarmed by six or more griffons, pulling and ripping at their armor until a weak point was exposed and swiftly exploited. The ballista crews began to suffer casualties as the flak-crews were engaged by a swarm of their own. The remaining members of the Carro-ballista took three wagons and circled them into a little fortification, firing off nets and jagged bolts into the fliers not engaged on the ground.

Up above, the aerial defense was pushed down to the tops of the canyons. And while the pegasi didn't have the strength or claws of the griffons, they were far more nimble and had a better time at avoiding injury. The ally griffons held their own for a while, Alexander and the other Clan-heads putting up such a show of force, some of the outcasts went out of their way to avoid them. But even they were eventually pushed to fighting amongst the ledges and outcroppings of the upper canyon. The sheer numbers the outcasts were throwing at them was simply too much.

On paper, it didn't seem like that many opponents, but now that Star was face to face with the reality, he felt a twinge of panic in his gut. He thought he'd done fairly well so far, keeping so many at bay with his Solstice. At least six laid unconscious at his hooves, but there were plenty more willing to attack the Royal group. To make matter worse, with every griffon taken down from touching their flesh, his wing-guards seemed to tug on something inside him. He couldn't quite explain it. He was beginning to wear out and a quick glance over his shoulder told a similar story for Lighthoof, Dazzle and even Sunny.

The front of Lighthoof's armor was coated with red and the edge of his blade dripped liquid. He was breathing hard around the hilt in his mouth, wings flared and quivering, sure signs of a pegasi in distress. Behind him, Sunny's eyes were scanning left and right, a determined expression on her scratched and bleeding face. Her helmet was missing, probably lost amongst the fallen attackers.

Dazzle's legs were quivering, her horn lower threateningly as she stared down a fresh group of attackers. Her magic lanced out a brilliant yellow, through the floating diamond focus and split in a rainbow of colors to blinding the charging outcast so badly they stumbled into their own allies, causing a tangle of limbs and wings. She attempted to finish them but the magic bolts she fired seemed dull and only singed their feathers.

Luna and Celestia seemed fine, though the tip of Celestia's spear was bloody with her waving and twirling it about in her magic. Luna supported her sister with blasts of blue magic that crystallized any flesh it touched and blue barriers when an outcast attempted to attack from the flanks.

Star deflected a sudden thrust of a spear, avoiding following up with his other wing to punch the griffion in the beak with a bare hoof. Something was certain now that something was wrong with the wing-guards. Sure, they seemed to critically injure those he hit, but the burden on him it produced was putting a tremendous strain on his spirit.

He internally groaned as the spear wielder got back to his paws and two more griffons landed beside him. Together the three charged and Star knew he was in trouble. He deflected one, two blows, but a third gave him a little slash on the cheek. Tiredly, he did all he could to hold off their onslaught, his body was willing, but the spirit seemed drained from him. Half-heartedly he deflected, blocked and dodge, but suffered numerous cuts and bruises for all his effort.

***"Let me help. Together we can finish them all."

Star stomped down on an overextended thrust from the spear wielder and head-butted the griffon in the face. The outcast tumbled backwards, screeching in rage as his two allies closed in again.

"I don't need your help." Star growled.

***"Just ask, and all this will be over. Then you and I can love Luna together."

The blue-grey pegasus screamed in rage as he bounced back the blows of his two attackers and gave them both a smack across the face with the leading edges of his wing-guards. They recoiled in pain and horror, clutching their faces and rolling around on the hard stone, their painful cries filling Star's ears.

Immediately he felt the willingness to fight drain out of him and his heavy wings drooped, the edges scraping the granite.

A part of him saw another griffon diving down at him and for some reason, he just couldn't seem to care.

***"You stupid foal! Ask for my help, you idiot! Ask!" Nightmare was screaming at him.

"Go buck yourself." Star mumbled.

A flash of gold and onyx caught Star's attention as Lighthoof lept forward to cut the diving griffon out of the air, landing in a protective stance in front of his friend. "You alright, dude?"

"Huh, oh, yeah. I'm sorry, Light. I was just a little winded." He could feel a little of himself returning, the grip Solstice had on him was easing. A loud horn sounded somewhere in the canyon, causing Star's ears to flatten.

Cheers began to echo from above, the voices of pegasi crying out in joy.

To the west, the bat-ponies had returned with twenty or so Wonderbolts in their blue uniforms right on their tails. Behind them was the Trottingham royal air-force of a hundred ponies, dressed in green, forest patterned outfits and armed with small crossbows strapped to their forelegs.

Even with the new arrivals, the outcasts still outnumbered them. Yet, it gave them pause and Star could see the minute conflict of fight or flight in their faces. However he noticed the gold laden outcast leader watching his group from just beyond the circle of outcasts surrounding the royal group. The leader turned his head to regard the approaching air-force with disgust, decision weighing on his mind before he pulled a gold plated horn from his belt and gave a mighty double-blow. At first, nothing happened so he blew again. The outcasts began to disengage and fly away from the ponies towards the east.

As Star watched in bewilderment, he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye and turned his head just in time to watch the gold-laden outcast rip a spear out of a nearby griffons claw, bounce it in his palm to balance and hurled it right at the royal sisters, whose attentions were focused in another direction.

He didn't hesitate, springing on his hind-legs with all his might, flapping his wings in a futile gesture to gain a few feet of air. Everything seemed to slow down in that moment.

Nightmare was screaming at him, Luna's head spun, eyes widening. Fear, disappointment, anger; emotions so pure rushed into Star through their link. But it was too late, he was committed, all he could do was try.

There it was, right in front of him, he twisted his body, bringing his armored right wing down on the shaft of the spear. He could feel it connect, snap the hardened wood. He wasn't sure what happened next but he felt the wind get knocked out of him and he fell to the ground hard, gasping urgently for air, a hot pain lancing through his chest. Spots filled his vision as his panicked eyes looked around, his legs scraping at the hard stony earth in a futile effort to escape the agony.

Someone was shouting at him, or it seemed like shouting. His ears were ringing for some reason. He willed himself to focus his eyes and looked up into the worried face of Luna. She used her hoof to gently lift his right wing and looked underneath. There was... something in her expression that Star couldn't quite comprehend. He wanted to call it relief but that was under her mask of cold fury. Their link had grown cold as though she had muted it, hiding her true feelings from him. Tears suddenly rolled down her cheeks and she gave a mighty wail of despair. It broke Star's heart to hear her weep over him.

He took a ragged breath, pain lancing up his side as he did. Carefully he began to lift a hoof to comfort his wife, to let her know he was still alive, but the alicorn scooped him up in her forelimbs, crushing his legs to his side, preventing him from moving, burying his face in her chest fur.

Her wailing faded and she gently laid him back on the ground before turning to stalk away, silent tears rolling down her cheeks as she marched towards the retreating outcast griffons. Rage so deep, Star was certain her onyx slippers would snap with every step. Celestia hurried up to her sister, pleading with her as Luna's horn glowed brighter, and brighter. Above, the moon seemed to grow in size with every second that passed.

“No, sister.” Luna's voice said in cold fury, loud enough for Star to hear. “Never again wilt these creatures harm our ponies.” Her horn was now blinding blue light, the moon now so close that Star was certain a pegasus could fly to it. He could feel the ground under his side begin to tremble.

“Do not do this, Lu-Lu! Remember the pact! We've won the day, you don't need to do this!”

Luna twisted her head to look at her sister. “Hide behind thy pact, sister. A thousand years and thou still cannot do what must be done.”

The ground around them began to shake violently now, pebbles bouncing on the rocky surface. Above, the moon was dominating the sky even while Celestia's sun was three-quarters over the horizon to the east.

There was a sound that defied words. Like a pressure in the ears, or deep rumbling of the earth that cannot be put into form. The retreating outcasts were pushed from the sky and tumbled to the ground. Even from Star's vantage he could see them struggling to lift themselves from the ground, a terrible force was pushing them into the earth.

Celestia put a hoof to her lips as a tear rolled down her cheek. “Please... Lu-lu. Don't. Our ponies wont see you as anything but a Goddess again. Something to be worshiped, to be feared.”

Luna looked to her sister. Sadness and rage in her expression. “Then assist me and we shalt bear the burden together.”

The white alicorn turned away. “I can't, I could never.” She looked away, closing her eyes before beginning a sad, slow walk away from her sister as Luna focused on her moon.

Star noticed Lighthoof and Dazzle at his side. He turned his head to them. “Help me up.” He coughed out, his breath still painful. The pair gave him an incredulous look before glancing at one another.

“Hey, dude. Just relax, it'll be fine. The outcast pulled back.” The Knight glanced at the wood haft of the spear sticking out of Star's side and grimaced.

“Light, bucking get me up, please. Hurry.”

The tan pegasus gave a heavy sigh. “I never could say no to you, dude.” He glanced at Dazzle. “Can you pull the shaft and keep him from bleeding out?”

“Yes, but you should still support him.” She used her magic to yank the shaft out of Star's side, an inch of the broken wood had embedded itself into him, though thankfully, Star had broken off the head of it in time.

Together they got him to his hooves, supported between their bodies, Dazzle's magic pressing a cloth compress to his wound.

Luna was pressing the gravity of her moon down on the screaming griffons while Celestia was walking towards the trio, head held low. The ponies all around them watched their princesses with conflicted faces.

“P-princess -cough- Princess Celestia.” Star managed to voice above the rumbling.

The Sun-goddess lifted her head, eyes widening at the sight of him. “Star! My little pony, you're alive? Then why... ?” Her attention redirected to her sister.

Star began to understand the vision Nightmare had shown him before. It was beginning to make sense and he was determined to help Luna stop history from repeating.

Celestia quickened her pace as she closed the gap between them. “Star, please, help me talk sense into her. She must stop this madness!”

“She's not doing this for me. I'm just one more pony that got hurt trying to protect you. But it's not you who needs -cough- protecting. It's us.”

“You don't understand. This has happened before. If she does this... What she's doing is...” The alicorn shook her head. Her eyes looked out across the watching pony citizens. “I couldn't.”

Lighthoof frowned. “Star, what the buck are you doing. This is between them.”

“You're right. -cough- Buck that hurts... It is. That's the point. Nightmare Moon happened because the day Goldwing -cough- died, Celestia walked away.”

Nightmare grinned a cat-like grin. Eyes bright in his head. She was enjoying the anguish that flickered on the Sun-Goddess' face.

“How dare you.” Celestia started. "You-"

Star interrupted her. “Don't believe me, ask Luna yourself.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes at the pony, judging his words before turning her attention to her sister who was still pressing the moon's gravity down upon the helpless griffons. Slowly, painfully crushing them.

“Sister... is what he says... true?” She asked, hesitant, a little fear in her voice.

Luna turned to meet Celestia's gaze, tears rolling down her cheeks. “Tis truth. I bore the burden of mine actions, alone. Slowly, I did become the creature they saw me to be.”

“Then stop this. Let them go. We will deal with them later.”

“Neigh. You know they will return and harm more ponies. I shalt not let this come to pass. No more will perish at their talons.”

Celestia looked out at the destructive force of Luna's moon. “What you're doing is monstrous.”

Star stumbled forward out of Light and Dazzle's hold to fall at the white alicorn's hooves. “Then please, for Luna. Be monsters together. I beg you.”

Celestia looked down at the injured pegasus, his useless wings and a pleading look in his eyes. “You don't know what you're asking.” She glanced over at Lighthoof, her champion of ponies in his blood-splattered armor and calm expression.

Lighthoof gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll always be there for you, Princess. No matter what you do. I'm your knight after all."

A tear rolled down her cheek as she turned back and walked to Luna's side. The white alicorn took a deep breath before her horn lit up in a brilliant display of gold and fire, nearly blinding every pony. The sister leaned against one another, horns touching and creating an aura of purple magic.

The ground's trembling increased and Star could see the orange glow of the rising sun flare for a moment. Nothing else happened for a few moments, but then a wave of fire was seen rushing towards them from the sky. It reminded Starstep of the illustrations Twilight had shown him of solar flares, only this one was heading right for them.

He had only time to blink before the wash of plasma energy slammed into the gravity pinned outcast griffons. When his vision returned, there was nothing but ash, drifting about in the breeze of the aftermath. The ground where they'd been, the stone was molten, a glowing orange, the sand turned to bits of blackened glass. Only scorched earth on a scale no pony had ever seen before remained.

No pony or griffon said a word. The world had stilled in awe of such power.

Celestia and Luna released their magics, the moon returning to its proper size in the sky, and the sun lifting above the horizon. They embraced one another, weeping silent tears, their necks touching with their heads over each other’s shoulders.

Around them, the ponies dropped their weapons and bowed low towards the alicorns, their twin-goddesses. Even the griffons lowered their heads in respect. Star could see Alexander on a rocky ledge above them, grinning his twisted grin as he caught a bit of floating ash in his talon, grinding it in his palm.

When Star looked back to the royal sisters, he noticed Luna looking right at him, her piercing teal eyes seemed to sparkle as she gave him a smile. But it was not a smile of contentment, or love, or passionate joy at connecting with her sister.

It was a dark smile of triumph.

Nightmare's earlier question came back to echo in his ears. “Can you love a monster?”

Without a doubt, he now had his answer.

Yes, yes he could.

Author's Notes:

Chapter edited by Idylia /) Epic-Brohoof (\
A long time coming eh? But 20k isn't a bad number for a return to form.
Anyhoof, thus the Exodus story arc is done. I regret that it took so long to get to.
There is still plenty more story to come. So don't you worry.
Please take a moment to tell me your thoughts on the chapter. What you liked and why?
I read every comment and I appreciate your feedback.
Thanks for hanging in there ponies. And please take a moment to give the story a Thumbs-up if you've enjoyed it thus far. It really gives that motivation to keep going.