Celestia's POV

Pain. The world was nothing but pain.

The second time I opened my eyes I was no longer in my armor and I could move my legs without feeling like they would shatter. I raised my head from the white blood-stained sheets and looked around the room I had been confined to since the attack upon Baltimare. It had once been a storage area in a basement but now it had transformed into a makeshift hospital. My room was shielded from the rest of the basement with white blankets hanging from the ceiling, preventing the soldiers and commoners from eyeing me as I healed.

The bed I was laying on had been a table once I think. With the use of magic had the once hard wooden construct been transformed into a comfortable madrass. The white sheets covering it had most likely been changed many times as the healers worked on me, but there was still blood. I shakily tried to get up and gritted my teeth in my pain as all my muscles cried out for me to stop. I pushed down the feeling and got off the bed, my eyes landing on a mirror. I could see my white muzzle, a long scar now going across it and my blood shot eyes.

I tried to walk closer to the mirror so I could examine the injuries but every step felt like I was walking on fire. I pushed through the pain and walked up to the mirror to examine myself more clearly. The scar on my muzzle and my blood shot eyes looked so out of place, like they didn't belong there. I looked over the rest of my body with growing dread as I saw more scars and patches of dark fur. I had burn marks over my chest and front legs from the heat of the blast. Shrapnel that had flown through the air had managed to badly cut my flank and back legs as well as my back. I had bandages wrapped around my whole body which I was forced to move with my magic to observe the injuries.

Every time I reaches for my magic it hurt, like someone was trying to drill through my skull. I discovered a small crack in my long white horn that glowed brightly whenever I lit up my magic and I stopped with a growl. I then looked over my shoulder at my bandaged wings, the two appendages tightly wrapped to my body. I undid the bandages with my mouth and magic, allowing my wings to feel the cool air of the room. Immediately I knew something was wrong by how much they hurt. I tried to move them only to yell out in agony as all the muscles in my back screamed for me to stop. I hunched down like I was trying to hide from the pain, like I was a child again.

"Stop that right now! You need rest child!" Star Swirl's voice carried out over the room unlike the whispers from outside my part of the basement.

The old mage had pulled one of the blankets aside and hurried to my side, restraining my wings using his magic. I growled and stood tall, giving my old teacher a glare. I was the first born of Faust and Solaris, one of the rulers of west and supreme commander of our forces. Almost immediately he stopped and backed away with a respectful bow. I would not be coddled like a filly when Luna was out there and our soldiers were dying in the hundreds. I took a deep breath and slowly spread my wings, every little movement causing me tremendous pain. Once I finally managed to unfold them they looked disheveled, sad.

My feathers were bent and ruffled no matter were I looked. My wings looked oddly shaped, like the bones hadn't healed correctly. The worst part was the pain it brought to my soul looking at them. It was any winged creature's pride to sour over the skies, to defeat your enemies from above. You always held the high ground no matter what and only a formidable foe could match such strength. I could feel tears flowing down my cheeks, making my wounds sting. But I didn't care, that pain was nothing compared to this.

"They did all they could.. But you will never fly again.." The old stallion murmured sadly as he watched me.

Every soldier, healer and commoner in the basement looked through the hole Star Swirl had made one his way in. The wall of white blankets were gone and they could all see me sob in despair. But that didn't matter, nothing mattered in that moment. They looked upon me with sadness and pity as I cried, their unbeatable princess at her lowest. And I let them watch. It didn't matter anymore, none of it did.

I didn't know how much time passed down there in that basement. But as it passed it hurt less to walk and the most severe injures inside my body slowly healed. I spent most of my time walking around among the other wounded, giving them encouraging words or listening to their sorrow. It hurt to see my subjects suffer like this, to see them all broken and hurt. Their injuries ranged from flesh wounds to loss of limbs. I talked to one mare who had lost her left front leg, the solider keeping up a calm demeanor for me. But I could tell she was holding back despair and dark thoughts, not wanting them to rule over her. The healers said that her injuries were to severe and all they could do was make sure she passed without pain. She told me that she would make it for our nation.

The next time I passed that mare she was no longer moving.

It was Tartarus to wait around for rescue. I watched as delirious soldiers moaned out loved ones names, hoping someone would answer them. I saw the healers work themselves to the bone, many of them passing out from exhaustion trying to save the life of a single pony. Too often I saw them fail and another of my subjects meet a painful end. I tried to help the best I could, but my cracked horn prevented me from using powerful spells. We were all slowly dying down here and being saved seemed to be more and more of a dream. I just wanted to hold Luna one more time, to tell her how much I loved her. I just wanted to see her again.

Hours passed, water ran out for the wounded and the last healers were starting to break down. Star Swirl hadn't much mana left, the old mage having told me about his seal on the cellar door leading to the basement. I had examined the spell and concluded the griffins would not be able to physically break through it with a weapon. But if a mage held enough power they could try. It was not a pretty image, the thought of the griffins maybe using one of our own to break Star Swirl's seal at his weakest.

It was during this time the seal was breached.

Star Swirl heard voices by the hatch and felt another mage reaching out to tamper with the spell. The old wizard dispelled the ward himself and swiftly blasted whatever was at the other side. With speed his old bones shouldn't have allowed the arch mage hurried up through the hole into the ruins of Baltimare. I tried to follow but a soldier stopped me and forced me to stay down with the others. He had been ordered to keep me safe by the bearded mage.

As there was no sound of battle but rather a familiar groan I relaxed and waited. I saw my old magic teacher appear at the top of the stairs leading up from the basement with a tired smile on his face. I hurriedly passed the guard Star Swirl had assigned to me and I soon felt fresh air fill my lungs. I looked upon the faces of several ponies who all bowed at the sight of me. All of them looked horrified at my dirty coat and injuries, but they didn't say anything. They held too much respect for me to say something about my current state of being.

"You look like hell." The human commented and I couldn't help but chuckle.

All but him.

"You do not look better Guardian Sol." I stated and looked to my left upon my sister's chosen warrior.

He looked older since he left for Everfree with the other Lunar Guardians. There was something about his green eyes, a new darkness had been added to them that hadn't been there before. So he had taken lives. I was not surprised about that fact, me and Luna had commanded him to defend Everfree knowing he'd be forced to kill. But even with all that had happened between us I couldn't help but pity him. I had taken his youth from him by sending him to war.

The man was wearing the same black armor he had been given before leaving Canterlot, but it was slightly damaged. I could see patches where the armor had been pierced or ripped away in the middle of battle. I could even see dried blood on his boots and clothes, still there despite rain or attempts to wash them away. They would always haunt him no matter how much he tried to clean them away. His weapons seemed to be mostly in good condition with the bow granted to him by my sister having a few patches of wood cut by enemy blades.

My mane and tail didn't have their normal magical energy flowing through them. Clinging to my injured body in an uncomfortable way. I looked like a wreck compared to the human at this moment and I hated the feeling of giving him some kind of leverage. But I banished such thoughts to the back of my mind and focused on the most important thing, Luna. Nathaniel cared for her as much as I did, so he had to hold information on her whereabouts. I had a bad feeling creeping over me as I thought about it, but I ignored it. My sister was fine. She had to be.

"Where is Luna?" I asked him slowly.

His expression grew dark and sad, making my heart race. "She.. They.. They killed her.. They killed her.. There is nothing left of Fillydelphia."

I felt like my heart shattered into million tiny pieces and I stumbled. I blankly stared into space before suddenly a scream of rage and anger tore through my throat as I let out a magical blast from my horn. It almost hit the human but I didn't care. It slammed into ruined buildings and made rocks catch on fire as it passed. When I finally calmed down I stumbled once more and was caught by some of the soldiers the Lunar Guardian had brought with him.

"I am so sorry sister," I said and started to weep, "I am so sorry."

Lord Protector Silver Wing's POV

The negotiations with the minotaur and yak leaders were slow. After the battle had been won we had been forced by the northern armies to lower the Spellbinder onto the ground. The Equestrian flag we had put by the crows nest had saved us from being bombarded by the yaks' catapults. But we were still considered hostiles until I informed them about who they were speaking to. With them knowing my role as lord protector of Equestria I was swiftly taken to the tent where the north's two most powerful leaders awaited us. My crew was to wait outside while I saw our northern allies. Lord Orin, ruler of the minotaur city state of Minos and the most well known warrior among the minotaur ranks. Next to him stood king Natesh, ruler over the yak kingdom that covered most of the northern mountains.

I gave them a polite bow as we entered the white tent the two leders were using to plan their next move. The tent was probably ten meters in width and length, giving the two plenty of space to hold tables filled with maps. The ground was covered in a brown cloth to guard the inhabitants against the cold hard soil while there was a fire burning in the middle of the tent. Lord Orin motioned for me to step forward with his hand while King Natesh eyed me suspiciously. They were not entirely trusting of our nation, they never had been. But now it was time for a united front, not bloody infighting.

"My Lord Orin, your majesty Matesh. My name is Silver Wing, lord protector of Equestria and guardian of the realm." I told them with my head raised high.

Lord Orin watched me before nodding. He was a large creature, easily taller the human and princess Luna. Only Celestia could possibly compete against his length and that was if one counted her horn. His body structure reminded me Nathaniel a bit. But where the human had mostly hairless legs ending in feet were Orin's legs covered in a thick brown layer of fur and his legs ended in hooves. His torso was a lot like the human's, but with muscle ripping underneath the thick winter fur covering his upper body. His head was that of a bull, with a brown layer of fur having been braided on his head with golden rings and jewels. The minotaurs' leader was dressed in a loincloth and thick brown leather armor. The leather had most likely been gathered from one of the many predators that lived in the mountains.

King Natesh was a bulky yak, his fur almost touching the ground in some places while armor held it back at others. His fur was surprisingly white with a few black patches being seen in on the fur braided on his head. The yak was wearing heavy iron armor with his golden crown proudly displayed on his head. The yak leader might not have been as tall as Orin, but he surly made up for it with his sheer size. He was a mountain of muscle just like Lord Orin, most likely being able to shatter rock with one kick. The yak eyed me before speaking, his low dark voice filling the tent.

"You have come far up north pony. What do you seek here with one of their ships?" Natesh spat with a growl, but I remained unfazed.

"The ship is ours, as is the way to make them fly. The griffins stole the knowledge from us, hoping to reduce our nation to ashes." I told both leaders.

"You created those ships!? Give me one good reason to not gut you here and now!" The yak yelled in anger, his eyes ablaze with fury.

My wing rested on the spear of Arx before I responded. "Becuase we need your help."

Lord Orin had remained silent during the conversation. His ears flicked as he heard my plea for help however. There was confusion on the minoatur's face, his brown eyes watching me curiously. He did not seem prone to anger, if anything he was almost eerily calm. The large warrior seemed to think over what I had said before he joined the conversation. This leader was more than just muscles and a temperament.

"The ponies comes to us asking for aid, when they control the weather, magic and the sun itself.." He murmured.

"The coast has fallen. We do not know how the efforts in reclaiming it goes for our troops, but the situation is grim. They have their flag ship flying over Equestrian soil as we speak and the southern border has fallen as well. The dark empress has joined them for unknown reasons. If we do not act then Canterlot will fall." I said grimly.

"Let it burn! You caused this war in the first place by allowing them to take your technology! We will not send our soldiers to die on the behest of your coward princesses!" Natesh yelled.

A low growl ripped through my throat and I eyed him. "What did you just call them?"

"ENOUGH." Orin's booming voice filled the tent and I turned my head to the minotaur.

"Orin we cannot allow ourselves to jump into this pit the ponies dug for themselves! If Guto simply wants Equestria then let him have it!" The king hissed to the lord of Minos.

"Guto will not be satisfied with Equestria. Unless you have forgotten old friend, the ponies land is the wall between us and the griffins. They haven't dared to pass the mountains to reach us but with these flying ships and the way open for them to come here easily with many soldiers? They would crush us and you know it." Orin said calmly.

A growl rose from Natesh throat but he seemed to think over the minotaur's words. "If what you say is true, then what difference does it make if we send down our forces from the mountain? They would be slaughtered there instead of here."

"We have Faust's chosen guardian leading our troops on the coast and the last remnants of the dragon nation." I quickly told them both, hoping the promise of divine leadership would convince them.

Both leaders' heads turned to me as I mentioned Faust's chosen guardian. It hadn't been a well known thing until Nathaniel arrived that Faust had even chosen a guardian. But most world leaders seemed to know more about it then the princesses, which included the dragons and the zebras. I hoped I was not building the human up to be something he was not. Nathaniel was leading those troops thanks to the advice and extra leadership provided by his more experienced squad, but that was not something lord Orin or king Natesh needed to know.

"You lie lord protector. Faust died before she could choose such a guardian and her daughters were not to be told about the act." The yak protested.

Orin hummed before he gave his answer. "So the prophecy was true then? I imagined it would take more time before this guardian would appear, but fate sometimes blesses us with luck. Tell me, what is the name of this pony?" The war-lord asked me calmly.

"He is no pony my Lord." A female voice suddenly said and I turned around to the sight of Equestria's most well regarded diplomat and ambassador, Peace Treaty.

"My lady." I said with a nod.

The mare was dressed in a warm brown coat that covered her turquoise fur. She was wearing a warm hat over her head, the diplomat's dark blue mane not entirely covered by the piece of apparel. Her light blue eyes watched the two rulers before she did an intricate bow before them. She was slightly shaking, either from being nervous or the cold weather outside. I couldn't really tell it was cold with my fear and anger currently burning through my veins. If we couldn't convince them soon we were all dead.

"Then what is he? Don't tell me the dragons got another ego boost.." The minotaur muttered and looked over the map on the tabel.

"He is what we call a 'human' my lord. He is an ape like creature from far away." Peace told both the rulers with a kind smile.

"An ape!? Ha! Do you think us so dumb to believe that Faust would choose an ape to guard the realm?" Natesh laughed.

Orin just watched her. "A human you say? I have never heard of such a creature before."

Peace just continued to smile her trained politician's smile. "He is one of princess Luna's guardians and leader over our forces at the coast."

Wait, what?

"Does guardian Sol hold control over all troops?" I questioned her, partially to get information and partially to hype up the human as a great leader.

"He does in the absence of you, the princesses or the senior Solar Guardians. Normally such a task would fall upon the senior Lunar guardian, but as Faust herself chose him as her champion things have changed." Peace Treaty informed me.

So we had given a teen the command of an entire army with a few months of training? I wanted to groan at the thought and I almost pitied the human. All the bullshit he would be forced to sit through when leading armed forces would not sit well with his personality. Nathaniel was all about freedom and leadership was chains under a different name.

"He is also in control over the last dragons. They obey his will and his will alone, as it was written." The mare then added.

Natesh looked unconvinced and he looked prepared to throw us out. Orin on the other hoof looked thoughtful and pondered over the information given to him. I could only hope they would lend us their aid in this time of need. They were our allies, but when the enemy we faced were this great that could mean nothing to them. I prayed to Solaris and Faust to help me save their children and the nation they had helped build. I hoped Faust listened from the heavens as Solaris was unlikely to grant wishes from his tomb.

"I'll call for my guards. I will throw them out of camp and-" Natesh started.

"Me and my men will you join shortly." Orin told me and Peace.

Natesh stopped the minotaur as he headed for the entrance. "You cannot be serious! They caused this problem in the first place! If we join them then we are allowing them to walk away without consequences!" The yak hissed at him.

"And if we don't join them we are doomed to die here instead. If Faust's chosen truly leads them then the path to victory lies with him. If the gods will it we shall survive this war." Orin said before leaving the tent.

Natesh looked furious before glaring at us. "The yaks are not cowards. We will go with you and face down Guto. But know this, if you betray us then I'll cut down you where you stand." The king said before leaving the tent.

Peace turned to me with a tired smile before speaking. "Well.. That was surly impressive.."

The tired mare passed out from exhaustion and I caught her with one of my for-legs. She had done good in helping me convince the two rulers to fight with us. The poor mare must have avoided sleeping to get here as quickly as she had, to help us gain the last push we needed to win. But now was the time for diplomacy over, only soldiers and battles remained. My face grew stoic as I thought of the coming battle and I called for Violet Shield. She and the others had remained outside as promised but now I needed their help.

"Get her onto our ship, do the same with the ponies she came with. Then prepare it to leave, we march for Canterlot." I informed my second in command who nodded slowly.

You wanted a war Guto? I would give you a damn war.

Nathaniel POV

The human held out his hand over the campfire to warm them in the chilly spring evening. Nathaniel had allowed Rose and Osiris deal with Celestia, he had no wish to speak with her. It wasn't just his general dislike of the mare anymore, it was that dead look in her eyes. The same second he'd told her about Luna is was like something had cracked. The outburst she had then sent his way in pure rage and grief would have killed him if it had hit. Such anger and sadness reminded Nate of himself when he had killed the griffon captain.

It terrified him.

The guardian stood there for a couple of more minutes before he stepped away from the warm campfire. By this point had the army once again set up a temporary camp among the ruins. The soldiers were tired, hungry and many had lost friends along the way. Morale was low, even with the knowledge of Celestia's survival. The soldiers that had fought their way through Everfree and Baltimare were slowly loosing their spirit from all the death. Nathaniel felt similarly to all of them, wanting nothing but to lat down and rest. But they had a job to do. Young or old, injured or healthy, sane or at the breaking point. They would all have to contribute to the final push.

There was some laughter in the camp however. Alcohol had been found in the ruins of restaurant wine cellars and the loot had been shared around camp. The commanding officers had frowned upon the looting of the ruins before they spotted Osiris walking away with a cart filled with alcohol. At that point it was better to just allow the soldiers some minor pleasures before they had to face down Empress Dreams and Guto.

Nate pined for some alcohol at that moment and he searched for Osiris' tent. Nate walked for over fifteen minutes among the numerous green and brown tents, seeing both happy and depressed soldiers along the way. What was different this time as he walked through camp was the sheer reverence the soldiers held for him. With the dragons refusing to obey anyone but him and with Celestia being found they viewed him as some sort of leader. He liked the feeling of such power, of the pure belief some ponies now placed in him when all hope seemed lost. It also made him feel uneasy and scared. The teen was not a military leader, Nathan was just a bodyguard with a fancier title.

With a relieved sigh the human found his friend's tent after looking for it among the rows of soldier living quarters. As he stepped inside he was met by the sight of the southern stallion talking to an unknown mare. They were both drinking wine and looked quite flustered. The man just backpedaled and tried to not be seen by the two, hoping to not interrupt them. It was of course then his foot his a crate filled with wine bottles on the floor, drawing attention to himself.

"Ey kid! Come say hi to Blossom!" The stallion slurred with a grin and gestured to the mare in front of him.

Blossom was a pink mare with a yellow mane and tail. Her pink eyes seemed to move a bit slowly but she quickly smiled at the human. She was holding the wine glass with one of her front hooves and she sipped down some more alcohol before eyeing the teen. She gave Osiris a curious look and the former scout only nodded in response.

"So you're that monkey that saved our asses." She slurred and stumbled up to Nathaniel.

The human grew a bit uncomfortable but he answered anyway. "Yeah I guess?.."

"That's amazing! I wish Osiris had introduced you to me earlier~" She purred and placed both her forelegs on the green eyed man's torso.

"I.. Um.. Rose?" He called over his shoulder, hoping to be saved from Blossom's bedroom eyes.

Blossom only giggled. "Let that bat-pony enjoy her night and I'll make you enjoy yours~"

Nathan decided to just grab a bottle of wine and get out of there. He gently set down the mare who pouted in disappointment before grabbing a bottle from the crate his foot had hit. Nathaniel gave Osiris a polite smile before quickly leaving the tent, allowing the two love birds to resume their earlier 'conversation'. The man just wandered around the camp, drinking from his bottle before he noticed the large white tent in the middle of the camp. Celestia had been forced to rest once more after her outburst and Star Swirl wouldn't allow her to leave the bed.

The old mage was sitting outside the white tent with a tired look on his face that screamed of exhaustion. The guards that were meant to guard the princess was whispering to each other and giving the tents concerned looks. Their leader had been recovered, but in a broken state. She was unable to fly, too injured to fight and her already stressed mind had taken a turn for the worse when she learnt of Luna's death. The man looked at the ground for a second before his compassion won over his spite.

"Dammit.." Nate sighed and headed for the tent.

The soldiers saw him approach and they bowed. One of the guards motioned him to follow to a patch of grass behind the large white tent. The human followed the guard who looked even more tired than Star Swirl. The purple coated guard still had scars that were healing and he seemed to be permanently limping. Once they stood behind the tent the soldier removed his helmet and looked at the human.

"We are all tired lord Sol." The pony confessed and eyed the ground.

"I know." Nathan responded and released a heavy breath.

The soldier sighed before continuing. "We are running out of food, our weapons are breaking and all our leaders are either broken, dead or inexperienced. The soldiers that arrived have ensured we can hold these ruins. But a few thousand tired soldiers with low morale against Guto's beast? Sir, we need to fall back while we still can."

Nate looked at the stallion in surprise before answering. "After all of that you want us to just run away? We managed to push the griffins out of Everfree! The lord protector is coming with reinforcements! We can still win this!" Nathaniel insisted.

"No sir, we can't. Look around you guardian Sol, where do you think our army came from?" The soldier asked the human.

"The coast.." The teen realized.

"Their famlies are dead sir. They have nopony left. In times like these we normally put in faith in our leaders, but.. The lord protector might be dead, princess Luna is gone and Celestia is broken. Our troops, with or without the dragons, have run out of motivation. They don't know what we're fighting for anymore and neither do I.." The stallion said and limped away with his head hanging low.

Nathan stood by the tent's back entrance and thought over what the soldier had said. Hope was slowly dying across camp, even with Celestia. The princess of the sun was no longer the same mare that left Canterlot. No one was the same since they left Canterlot. They had hoped for divine guidance from Faust's firstborn, instead they got a leader who had lost her way. The human growled and marched up to the tent entrance, pushing the guards aside. All the mares and stallions in the Everfree would not have died for nothing. He wouldn't allow it.

The human entered the tent and he looked upon the inside with discomfort. There wasn't much inside the princess' temporarily home, only a bed and one table with a map on it. Nathan gazed upon the alicorn standing by the table, her head hung low. Celestia was now dressed in a white robe made from silk. Where the soldiers had gotten it from the human didn't know and he didn't care. The solar monarch's mane was no longer flowing in a nonexistent breeze, clinging to the mare's head and side. She seemed to be depleted on mana as well, even with all the rest she had been doing.

"What do you want?" Celestia asked Nathaniel with a cold tone.

"I want to win this war. I want to fucking sleep. I want some damn liquor. But do you know what I want more than any of that? You acting like a leader! You sit in here and brood while Luna's murder is on his way to destroy your capital! If she saw you now she would be disappointed! You are already a disappointment to the troops! You are a disappointment to all those who have died! You are spitting on their graves by just sitting around doing nothing!" The man started.

Celestia stopped his rant by twirling around and smacking him across the jaw. The human landed on the ground and spat some blood on the dirt. He healed the minor wound quickly, but the act still made his blood boil even more. He got up and watched the princess' poisonous glare fixate on his eyes. Celestia was angry, but Nate had plenty of fury and rage to share as well.

"How dare you? How dare you?" The alicorn hissed and took a step towards him.

Nathan stood his ground and didn't back away from the princess. "You are supposed to be a great leader. You are supposed to be able to defend the realm! You were supposed to protect Luna in our absence instead you let her die!"

"You know nothing of what you speak of child." She growled.

Great thunder sounded above the ruins and the teen could hear rain hitting the tent. "I am not a child!"

"Yes you are. A foolish child who thinks himself a defender of a world he barely knows. I know the prophecy now and I laugh! You are not a hero sent by my mother to offer salvation, you are a child stumbling in darkness telling himself it's light!" Celestia yelled and pushed the human out of the tent.

Nathan hit the muddy ground and got up with a growl. "Fuck you! You are the reason Luna is dead! You are the reason why this war broke out in the first place!"

"I will make you suffer!" The solar princess said and grabbed a sword from a nearby guard.

"Try me and I'll happily feed you to my fucking dog!" The human yelled in anger and drew his own sword.

"THAT IS ENOUGH!!!" Rose yelled and the sanguine mare suddenly pulled the human away from the princess.

"Please princess you are still injured! Don't do something foolish!" A guard said trying to hold back the alicorn.

The guards and lunar guardian restrained the human and monarch, both glaring daggers at each other. Finally when they calmed down they were set free. Celestia looked around at the scared and sad looks of her people and she sat down. The rain washed away tears of anger she had been crying moments before. Nathan just saw the disapproval and disappointment on Rose's face, making him sheet his weapon. With the anger leaving his body Nate just felt tired. He had just reached a boiling point and needed to let it out.

"We.. We need to attack Guto's ship. If he looses that then we can win this war. Without his flagship their fleet won't stand a chance against the dragons." Nathan told the princess reluctantly.

"I have sent enough of my people to die guardian Sol. What makes you think attacking his ship with tired and bruised soldiers will do? With those canons he can tear apart our ground troops and any pegasi trying to get up there will be filled with arrows. We need soldiers and power we don't have to win this battle." Celestia sighed.

"Because I believe in them! I'm eighteen years old and even I can see the spark in their eyes! They're looking for hope and this might be the last chance we get! Please give them the order to march!" The man pleaded with her.

"The ship is to fast. We cannot catch up with it even if we marched now. It is lost Nathaniel.. We lost.." She said in a broken tone.

The soldiers looked horrified and many lowered their head. Equestria was at its darkest hour, surrounded by enemies and all hope seeming lost. It was then the sound of metal armor drew their attention to one of the paths among the tents. A group of soldiers escorted a bruised and bleeding hippogriff to them. Once they reached the princess they slammed the unknown hippogriff onto the ground. He was clad in armor made from sky-metal with one side of the armor slightly blackened from some sort of spell. His brown eyes and brown feathers made him look remarkably similar to the griffon king.

"Crown Prince Tyr of Griffonia." Celestia growled and eyed and injured hippogriff.

The human was taken aback by the information before eyeing the prince more closely. The armor was not something easily come by and the wounds that had injured one of his wings reminded him of the scorched earth of the coastal ruins. Why had their enemy's son come all the way to the coast? What prize was Guto looking for that was worth sending the crown prince into enemy territory?

"Former crown prince.." Tyr spat back and was rewarded with a kick into his side, it hurt the guard's hoof more than the prince.

"Why have you come here? If your father is foolish enough to send you here then it must be important." Rose chimed in and walked up to stand beside the human.

"I came to help you." Tyr claimed and Celestia scoffed.

"Help? With what? Killing our people? You have done enough of that already." The princess growled.

"I came to tell you that the Ygrid has slowed down. Corruption sickness have erupted on the ship and they are excepting a valuable prisoner. It have interrupted the journey to Canterlot." The hippogriff told them.

Nathan's eyes lit up, hope starting to appear in his chest. "Who is the prisoner?"

"Princess Luna. She's alive." Tyr said and all grew silent.

With the guards no longer holding the prince down he stood up and looked at the white alicorn. Celestia looked to be in shock before her mane started to flow slightly. Hope was a powerful emotion. It could make an army on the brink of destruction turn the tides of war. It could make a man without the will to live find meaning again. It could make broken leaders whole once more.

"Why should we trust your words? Why would you betray your father?" Rose asked him.

"Because that griffon is not my father. He is a bloodthirsty monster that wants nothing but war! That is not the king who raised me, that is not the king who I knew. I love my father, but not even love can make me blind to the crimes he has committed! I know you have no reason to trust my words, but this is your only chance to win." The prince said with determination.

It was silent for over a minute before Celestia spoke. "Guardian Thorn."

"Yes your highness?" The sanguine asked the alicorn with a neutral tone.

"Prepare our troops. One final march, for our people." The princess of the sun said and the soldiers cheered.

There was a goal once more. They had a reason to fight. Nathaniel just knew one thing, he was gonna save Luna no matter what it cost him. The teen would not allow Guto to lay his talons on the princess and if he had hurt her then human would rip his head from his neck, on this he swore.

Hidden Sorrow's POV

I his under the blanket the nice bug-pony had given me and watched her take on different forms. The cart she was using to hide me slowly moved forward as she had taken the form of a hippogriff farmer. I remember seeing a few of them when me and mother visited the griffins before. Many of them looked so sad and I had wondered why, mom telling me they weren't liked by their king. It was stupid that he didn't like them, they gave us bread!

Suddenly the cart stopped and Chrysalis pulled the blanket off me. She ushered me towards a small boat the griffins had stored among the large flying boats. I wanted to touch them but she pushed me forwards until we were on the boat. She made the boat fly really quickly and we left the griffin castle behind us. She wrapped her hooves around my neck and kissed my forehead, promising me that I would see my mother again. I hugged her back and nuzzled into her strange mane. I wanted mom to hug me again.

But she promised me that we were gonna go home and find mother. Chrysalis didn't sleep or eat, she just watched me and steered the small boat. I liked the boat as the winds would make it rock back and forth, making me laugh. She really liked it when I laughed. So I laughed and smiled to make her smile, just like I did with mom at home. She needed smiles and I really wanted to share mine with her.

Chrysalis said that my mom wasn't in the large palace anymore but in Equestria. She told me that we had to go there to meet her and I felt really happy about that. Equestria was closer than the palace! I would see my mother soon. I just smiled and smiled as we got closer to Equstria with the boat, no mean griffins trying to stop us. I would soon hug mom again and sleep on my bed again and play with my friends!

"Your mother might look scary when we arrive child, but you need to look at her when we land. She needs to see you to stop doing something stupid." Chrysalis said.

"But my mother would never do something stupid! She's the smartest mom in the world!" I said to her, because it was the truth.

"We all do something stupid child. We all do something stupid.." The bug-pony sighed.

Maybe my mom had done something stupid, but that didn't mean I no longer wanted to hug her! I wanted to hear her sing another lullaby again and read me a book on heroes and demons. I wanted to go home, but mom was home. I felt confused before feeling determined. I was gonna see mom again no matter what. I wanted her to hold me again so I didn't remember mean Guto hurting me. I was coming home mother, I was almost there!

Author's Notes:

Thanks for reading another chapter! We are moving into the final battle in the next chapter, I hope you are prepared.