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Even my dreams have brought me no respite. As I slept last night, I had a most...horrifying projection of what were surely my innermost fears. I remember it vividly... More vividly than I would like.

I was there with my comrades. Hundreds upon hundreds of armored ponies around me with familiar faces scattered throughout the militia. The sky was dark with ominous swirling clouds as far as the eye could see. And there before us... There it stood. The Heaven's Pillar.

A tension hung heavily in the air. There was no signs of the enemy around us. No Hollows to be seen. We had reached the enemy stronghold with no signs of resistance in sight. But something felt wrong. There was no one to be seen. Not even the emperor himself came out to face us. We were waiting for...something. As if waiting to see if a trap had been set.

My eyes eventually gazed upward at the Heaven's Pillar itself. It was much shorter than it had ever been in reality. I could see the top from the ground. And just vaguely... I could make out the one remaining avian statue that was facing west. Facing us. And against that darkened sky... It began to glow.

Everyone responded to the golden light that engulfed the statue atop the tower. And it...began to grow. The distinctive form of that avian statue expanded as it appeared to move. Spreading its wings of golden light wide while the primary and secondary feathers extending from the bottoms of the wings began to elongate. I suspected this phantom phoenix was about to take flight. But instead... Those sets of feathers began to reach out further. And further. Eventually until they did not look like feathers at all. But more like...chains. Chains of golden light. If only I could have known the horrors that were about to be unleashed upon us.

In a sudden flash, those chains reached out far before curling forward and shooting down towards the militia. In response, the order was given out. They charged, so close to the end with the Heaven's Pillar right before us. But the chains... One by one, they plunged into the militia. And with each stab, each chain would plunge directly into one of our hapless infantry. And with each victim, those chains would suddenly retract with their victims hanging lifelessly from the end of each chain. But the chains would not release them. With every chain that claimed a target, more would burst forth from the phantom phoenix's wings with that ethereal form growing larger still. And all I could do was watch as this spectral entity started to add to its collection.

Spells and arrows flew while our infantry charged. Panic and chaos filled the air as any and all attempts to ward off the harvesting of our allies were entirely futile. These impaling shackles of light... There was no stopping them! The chains even responded to the vanguard and anyone else who was daring enough to charge for the tower ahead by targeting them first. They tried to weave and scatter, doing everything they could to approach the enemy stronghold while attempting to disorient the shackling assault. But no matter how many precious seconds of freedom the charging ponies bought themselves, they never reached the tower's gates. Moments later, they were added to the growing collection hanging from the top of the tower.

Horror set in. I was left unable to bring myself to even try to move as my allies shouted and scrambled against this eldritch monstrosity that was no doubt in service to the emperor. In the chaos that was building around me, I heard a distant blast. One of our archer's landed a shot on one of the chains with an explosive arrow and blew it apart in shards of light. I looked back in relief and saw our elite hippogriff archers launching arrow after arrow. And among them was Sky Beak. In my heart, I knew it was he who landed that shot.

And he was next. The relived smile on my face faded in an instant as one of those chains stabbed itself right into his throat. Just like that, his arms fell limp with his bow dropping from his grasp. The life was sucked right out of him. In a brief lapse of time that lasted less than two seconds, I could only watch in horrified silence...as my father was taken.

The rest of our hippogriff archers were deemed to be next. They responded quickly and took to the air as a flurry of chains stabbed into the ground where they had once been standing. As swiftly as a flock of eagles, they swooped through the air with arrows still being launched on the move. But one by one, the chains of light seized them like snakes snatching fleeing birds out of the air. More decorations to hang from the tower.

Fear and horror in my heart, I frantically tried to do all I could for the allies around me. But there was only so much I could do. Celestial Sword in hand, I tried to cut every chain out of the air I could. But they were so swift that I had a mere second or two to react. Until finally I got lucky. One such chain buried itself into the armored neck of my beloved Rarity. Like everyone else, she fell limp instantly with the magical grip on her eight sabers being lost. But before she could be dragged off, my sword cleaved through the chain. It shattered into countless shimmering pieces that faded away while the life immediately returned to Rarity's eyes.

But it was all for naught. Right as we spoke words of extreme relief, I got to see the life leave her eyes as she gazed upon me when another chain shot down into her neck. Her armor did nothing to stop it. With every chain that was shattered and every chain that claimed a victim, more would sprout in its place. I frantically threw myself at Rarity to at least try to grab her, but despair filled my heart when I fell right upon where she had once been standing. She was gone, another trophy to display from the growing golden gallows above.

So many armored forms dangling helplessly from the growing canopy that was expanding from the top of the Heave's Pillar. So many chains reaching out that the form of the phantom phoenix had been replaced by what I could only describe as a golden treetop set atop a trunk of stone. And the assault continued. More and more of the hundreds or thousands of infantry around me being snatched up by the rapidly growing number of golden chains. But then it dawned on me.

They were not targeting me. The chains never once lashed out at me. Even when they snatched up anyone who was near me, they never targeted me. Because I was the one who allowed this to happen.

Futility began to set in. I knew I could not stop this. I nearly dropped my sword as I could only watch hopelessly as everyone who had been there for me... Who had loved and supported me in spite of everything that had happened... I could only watch as they were taken from me.

I heard the roar of a dragon. My eyes saw Ember off to my left as she tried to repel the chains with her flame breath and spear. She was quick, her reptilian reflexes being just enough to make split-second reactions to dodge the chains and leave them embedded in the ground. At one point, she even snagged one that came in on her spear and even shattered it with a tearing swing. For just an instant, seeing the Dragon Lord successfully repel and even break these heavenly weapons instilled a feeling of hope in my heart. Perhaps we could overcome this.

Those hopes were dashed in seconds. I was about to approach her as Ember unleashed a powerful gout of fire from her maw. And while it looked like this held back a few chains at first, it was all for naught. One chain shot right through that inferno as Ember's fiery resistance halted a second later. And I was greeted with the horrifying spectacle of seeing Ember with eyes wide in shock as the chain anchored itself past her jaws and deep down her throat.

Her name escaped my lips as I felt tears forming in my eyes. The chain that was now grasping Ember from the inside was slow to retreat. It lifted itself higher and began to lift the Dragon Lord off the ground like a fish dangling from an angler's hook. Barely clinging to life, I saw her terrified scarlet eye glance my way before she weakly reached out to me with a pleading open hand. And just like the rest, she was reeled in to join the other catches of the day.

My eyes glanced skyward. I saw so many aerial units trying to weave around the incoming chains that were trying to snatch them out of the air. They were so fast and so nimble that it appeared they were the only ones that were untouchable. Rainbow Dash, Gilda, Spitfire, so many that had the speed to match the enemy. But it could only go on for so long before the enemy would compensate. More and more chains of light shot through the air, slowly overwhelming them like a swarm of serpents trying to catch their prey. And with that, I heard a familiar hellish roar that drew my attention away from the sky. And there she stood. Surrounding by ghostly flames of vermilion and icy blue was Rain Shine. Her armor molten and ruined, her glaive now taken the form of a long and mighty dragon of the east. Her rage made manifest, the kirin was now nirik.

The enflamed unfettered power of the Viper Edge was more than a match for the swarm of heavenly chains. It clashed against them, fiery jaws shattering them with a single chomp. But still more chains were focusing on more than just Rain Shine's pet. Several weaved past it by curling to try and strike her from the side. But she detected this and held her head high, roaring viciously as another pillar for that fire burst up around her to hold it off. And it seemed to be working. They pushed and wiggled, but the chains did not find a way past it. At first.

I saw the Viper Edge very suddenly lose its fiery shroud before regaining its physical form, falling to the ground with a clatter. And I saw why. One chain had narrowly forced its way through. And once that pillar of ghostly fire faded, I saw her. The ash staining her coat was gone and her fiery hair had regained its original solid emerald green form. And her eyes... So empty as that chain dug deep into her throat from below. With a sudden jerk, Rain Shine was hauled high into the air. Not even the kirin would be spared.

Powerful burst of elemental magic was being launched from near the rear of the dwindling militia. Even as the plains around us became increasingly less chaotic as the voices of shouting militiamen were becoming fewer and quiet. I saw so many familiar faces being dragged through the air like prey about to be sacrificed to a beast. The Equestrian royal family were the only ones who could truly counter the chains of light. But Nightmare Moon... Bless her soul, her courage would not be crushed. The Princess of Dreams charged ahead with her sisters and parents covering her with magic bolts flying high.

Nightmare Moon galloped swiftly across the plains that were now littered with the weapons of those who had been taken. The gates to the Heaven's Pillar were wide open if she could only get to it. Dozens of golden chains began to fall upon her, even as many were blasted apart by bolts of divine magic while she even zipped about with teleportation magic to make herself near impossible to target.

I started to wonder if the mighty Princess of Dreams would be the one to end this. But just when she drew near, I flinched in fright as dozens more chains of lights suddenly shot out from behind the Heaven's Pillar like a monster of many limbs waiting for its prey to draw near. And this was just enough. I heard Nightmare Moon let out a startled shout as the dozens of chains descended upon her. And once they pulled away, one was embedded in the back of her armored neck. The Princess of Dreams was hauled up to be displayed with her subjects.

The chains did not wait to see how the royal family would respond to seeing their kin being harvested like the rest. A mass so large that it blocked out the sky... Perhaps thousands of those chains descended upon the four of them as they unleashed a massive swirling mass of yellow, blue, silver, and vermilion up into it.

It was a stalemate. That wave of concentrated magical power pushed against the thousands of chains of light while they probably grew as quickly as they were disintegrated. But this was yet another diversion. Out of the side of that swarm of chains came dozens more that curled around the royal family before swarming over them. And I could only stare aghast in disbelief as they began to disperse with that onslaught of magical energy fading.

The chains regressed. And they... All four of them. Celestia. Luna. Even Sunflare and Orbash! The mightiest ponies in Equestria had fallen! And just like the rest, they were unceremoniously added to the countless bodies hanging from the growing golden canopy. All was lost.

The battlefield was becoming so much more quiet. The stragglers becoming fewer with every second. Until it finally became still. And yet, the chains continued to stab down into the earth off to my right. Was there still one more? My despair being pushed out by curiosity, my eyes went wide as I saw a flash of orange swooping low over the fields towards me. Smolder. She was the only one left and was desperately trying to reach me for any safety I could provide.

I had lost everyone else. I was not about to lose that precious young lady to this eldritch predator. Dropping my weapons, I rushed towards her with my arms free. The tenacious dragoness drifted from side to side as she swooped towards me. I had my wings ready to wrap around us once she was in my arms. Surely my armor would protect her. But...the instant she reached out to me...

My armored hand closed around hers as I saw the life leave her eyes. Extending from the back of her neck was another of those infernal heavenly chains ready to take her away. Panic filled my senses as I tightened my grasp and brought my other hand to hers as well. The chain pulled hard, but I dug my sabatons into the earth for any leverage I could gain. I pulled and pleaded, tears building in my eyes as I wept and begged. Anything to stop them from taking her too!

My voice only became more frantic as one by one, more and more chain plunged into Smolder from behind. I shouted and pleaded before I was suddenly dragged off my feet. The instant my hands lost their grip on my dear Smolder, I wailed in loss as I knew she was gone. They took her... They took her too!

I fell onto my knees and wept pathetically over the last of them having been taken from me. Only when I was barely able to calm my emotions did I start to force myself to stand. And it was then that I saw the ghastly sight above me.

The battlefield had become slight. The chains had relented. Countless weapons lay scattered across the fields. And there... All around the top of the Heaven's Pillar... Hundreds... No, thousands of them. Ponies, griffons, hippogriffs, dragons, there were too many to count. Every single one of them dangling from a chain of golden light with those thousands of chains now granting the tower the unmistakable resemblance of a massive weeping willow tree. And hanging from each branch was a motionless body. And not one of them human.

And even then, this was not the end, countless more chains reached high from the treetop and shot out in all directions. Spanning the dark swirling skies like a web. And then it dawned on me. The militia had fallen. And now, the rest of Equestria was next. All because...of me...

The chains never lashed out at me. They targeted only those who are not human. The emperor lives because of me. The portal that will connect Equestria to Earth exists because of me. Equestria would soon cease to be because of me. Everyone in it would be taken...because of me.

Because of me. Everything that was happening was because of me. Equestria was dying because of me. This was my fault. Everyone hanging from that golden gallows was there because I made it possible! I looked down at my quivering gauntlets, the knowledge of the power I held being the only thing stopping me from being consumed by sorrowful madness. I then did something I almost never do.

I screamed. I threw my head back and howled at the heavens. With a flash of light, the Celestial Sword and the Lunar Shield returned to my grasp. And it was then that the chains took notice of my presence. They sensed my defiance and finally shot down at me to take me. But I refused. My sorrow tempering a newfound fury in my heart, I channeled explosive solar magic into my sword and smashed the blade into the ground to generate a towering explosive geyser of that irresistible white fire. The chains that came for me were nothing more than glimmering shards falling through the air. This was my fault. And I had to do something... Do anything!

With a flap of my wings, I was off. I soared as swiftly as I could to reach the canopy in the hopes of cutting everyone free. There was no fear in my heart. Not while rage fueled me. I wove around the incoming chains of light, diving, rising, and spiraling through the forest of chains. Any that came close enough was cleaved by my sword with ease. I just needed to reach the top of the tower and start hacking away at each branch.

The resistance soon became too much. At last, one chain dug itself into my left pauldron. I felt no pain, nor did I even really feel anything pierce my body, but it took hold firmly and tugged on me. I was quick to cut myself free, whatever part of the chain that was still lodged in my pauldron collapsing into shimmering shards. This continued as I approached, chains grabbing my armored body and my sword cutting myself free. But finally, they started to pierce me en masse. They began to shackle themselves to me faster than I could cut myself free. Until my approach was finally halted as many chains held me aloft while I struggled to pull myself free.

The forest of golden chains pulled back while only those that held me remained near. And with one sudden pull, my armor was entirely torn apart. My fractured armor fell in many pieces while I too fell helplessly with my hands releasing my gear. But I was suddenly saved, but not by who I was hoping for.

Two of the chains pierced my arms and pulled me back up. It was...strangely painless. I was merely being held aloft by my arms. But I was also entirely powerless. Armor ruined, its wings no longer able to keep me airborne, I was entirely at the mercy of this ethereal eldritch nightmare.

I was left dangling before the golden canopy of bodies hanging lifelessly before me. As if forcing me to observe them. So many I did not recognize, but some I did. Too many... They were too motionless. And none looked more lifeless than Ember, her body still hanging by the chain reaching past her open jaws that was probably embedded into her heart or lungs. And then finally... One more chain shot into my head.

And yet, I did not feel it touch my head. One piece of my armor still remained upon me. The one piece that would never break. And with one gentle movement, it lifted my helmet from my head. I watched perplexed while the chain held my helmet before me with the polished white form of the Element of Humanity emblazoned upon the brow. As if it was intentionally holding it where I could see it.

While my helmet was held there, two more chains came in close. One reached far below me before coming back up. And the tip had taken hold of the Celestial Sword with its pure white blade. The sword was held vertically before me as my eyes widened at what this meant. But the other chain... It plunged itself into the brow of my helmet. And I watched as a certain indescribable horror filled my heart. The chain extracted the Element of Humanity from my helmet and held it aloft for me to see while my helmet crumbled into dust. As if declaring to me that the Element of Humanity was no longer mine.

I was granted a moment of silence to behold what was before me. What had been taken from me. It took my life in Equestria. It took everyone I loved. It took everything I adored about this world and would soon erase it. And now it had taken the Element of Humanity from its rightful bearer. Or perhaps...it was never mine to begin with.

I could not save anyone. I could not even save myself. Despair like never before filled me as I felt any and all will to resist fade. And with that, the final blow was struck. The chain that held my sword aimed the blade at me before the glowing white blade of the Celestial Sword was plunged through me. But...I felt no pain. No searing agony. I only felt...cold. An encroaching numbness radiating throughout my body while the glowing white blade that was still exposed became dimmer and darker until the blade was black as obsidian. And with that, the chains that held my arms released me. I plummeted away from that heavenly hell and into the abyss below. Darker...and darker...until I felt and knew nothing.

The sensation of falling gradually made way for the sensation of remaining still while upon my back. I think I felt the faintest hint of tears in my eyes. The room was dark, but not so dark as to be the middle of the night. I think it was the brink of dawn. Rain still lightly pattered against my windows while the medical equipment at my bedside beeped and hummed quietly. I did not have any business being awake at that hour. Not when there was nothing for me to do.

I felt so tired in more ways than one. I did not know how much broken bones take out of you, let alone that combined with a concussion. I was not quite dazed, but I had so little energy. And the memories that lingered... I just wanted to forget about everyone and everything. But just when I started to try to let myself fall back to sleep... Something was resting upon my wrist.

A gentle roll of my head revealed the shadowy form of a stone gray mare beside me. Eyes dull, but filled with a somber concern. She then asked softly, "You're already up?"

"I...had one hell of a nightmare... Don't wanna talk about it." I muttered as I recognized Maud in the shadows. And I remembered her...being one of those who were taken. That stone armor was unmistakable. Only the faintest glows of the machines beside us illuminated in the dark. I felt trapped, but at least I felt safe in her presence. Seeing Maud alive and well beside me was enough to soothe my fears from that dream. If she was just fine, so was everyone else. Hopefully...

"I won't ask... You went through a lot yesterday." Maud muttered softly while averting her eyes for a moment. I suspect she must have been an early riser for much of her life in her line of work if she was awake before I was. Although she quickly corrected that unspoken assumption. "I couldn't sleep... I was afraid you might...pass in the night."

"Maud... I..." Those words touched me. After having so little time to interact with her during the war, I was glad to see that nothing had changed between us. She always was a good friend. In response to her concerns, I took a moment to pay attention to my feeling. I was only vaguely sore on the back of my head. The worst I felt was very minor disorientation and great fatigue. That...and a moment of unexplainable...something. Vision became briefly distorted while feeling like I got hit with a case of vertigo. Was that the effect of a concussion? But once my senses stabilized, I then said, "I'm all right... Or rather...I'm OK enough. This isn't gonna kill me."

"You sure? You don't feel...anything wrong? You need anything?" She replied while I shook my head. She was not vocalizing it much, but I knew she was dearly afraid for me. I lifted my left hand just enough, prompting her to place her hoof under my palm. I held her hoof while she rested her head against my arm. "James... I know Pinkie and I asked you before, but are you still willing to spend some of the holiday season with our family back home?"

"Could you remind me, please? Having a hard time remembering..." I spoke while starting to feel that fatigue getting to me. It is a little too easy to fall back asleep when one has a skull fracture.

Maud looked at me with one eye in the dark as she asked, "Every Hearth's Warming holiday... I always visit my family's rock farm. It would...be really nice if you could visit this year... Please? Marble would be really happy to have you there. Especially after all this trouble."

I remembered that rock farm. I passed by it weeks ago on my way out here. And I was fortunate to encounter Maud's lovely sister while she was a good host. I remembered that little mare fondly from what little time we had together, although... "That sounds nice, but...don't you have another sister? One who's...a little scary?"

"Scary...?" Maud asked with a subtle confused tone while she lifted her head. After a few seconds of contemplation, she then said softly, "Oh... Limestone. Don't worry about her. She's just...rough. Craggy. Like a mountain with the occasional avalanche. She's nicer than she sounds. I think she would really appreciate your company. Especially since you're a good listener."

The memories of our first discussion about that potential holiday visit started to come back to me. Especially now that I knew a little more about Limestone Pie. She did give me a scare the last time I was on the premises, even without ever actually knowing I was there. But if she was kinder than I assumed... All I could do was nod. "Yeah... Sure. I say the holiday visit is still on. I'll be there."

I could see the slightest smile on Maud's face, even in the shadows. "Great. It'll be nice to have you there. I'll make sure Pinkie and I make it a priority to get in touch with everypony back home to plan for a guest. I'll have to catch up on my studies when I get back anyway."

That bit of pleasant conversation did wonders for my heart. I fell back to sleep easily while Maud kept watch over me. But when I did finally drift back into sleep, I found myself immediately surrounded by a sight I had seen before. A field of clouds up to my knees with the night sky looming overhead. And a voice... "James? Are you...well?"

Luna was near. The Princess of the Night drew near with such a gaze of concern in her eyes. I turned to her and explained, "I'm about as well as I can get when asleep. My mind's at least clear here."

"I should apologize... I saw that ghastly sequence play out earlier. What doubts in your heart could even conjure such horrors in your mind? I would have intervened, but...I fear I would have been overwhelmed too quickly. And I did not want to risk that dream becoming more lucid than it already was." She explained with such a look of unease in her eyes. She witnessed it... Saw them all being harvested like trophies to be displayed in that glowing golden gallows... She then promptly explained, "Please, now that I'm hear... Let me weave for you something pleasant. Anywhere you want to go, anyone you wish to be with... Say the word and it shall be done."

It was a tempting offer. But the memories were still fresh on my mind. The aftermath of yesterday...and the nightmare I had just experienced and wanted to forget. I gave her as simple an answer as I could. "If you're offering... Please. Take me home. To Ponyville. And let me...be alone. To dream alone and let me wander."

Luna could only nod before her horn was coated in her magic aura. And before me... A familiar location spread out before me. And I was very nearly brought to tears. The beautiful simple beauty of the first place I had ever seen when I came to Equestria. The thatched roofs. The soft pastel colors. The open roads. It brought back...so many memories to see that wonderful little town I had not seen in weeks. An overwhelming wave of nostalgia flooded through my senses as I suddenly burst into tears and was brought to me knees. How I longed to just go home again... To be where I was openly accepted and given everything I ever needed right on the first day. "I am...just so homesick..."

Luna quickly trotted up to me and draped her wing over my nearly bare body. With a flash of light, I was thoroughly clothed in some of my favorite summer attire. The Princess of the Night whispered to me as I tried to collect my emotions. "There there, my friend... It won't be much longer. You will be home soon enough. Until then...shall I leave you to your lonesome?"

"Just this once, please... I want to savor this one my own terms while I still have time." I pleaded softly now that I was somewhere I wanted to be that I had not seen in weeks. With a silent nod, Luna stepped back through a portal that formed behind her. And once it closed behind her, I felt my mind becoming progressively less lucid. The memories became less clear as they came, but...they were happy memories. I began to wander. And whatever happened... It was a happy time. What I do remember, I remember fondly. I could only hope I would stay asleep well into the morning.

123456 abcd ABCD OK, that jogged my memory. I'm still getting the hang of this.

Everything hurts... And I'm not talking about the cuts those swords gave me. My body feels like it was burned all over from the inside. I can't fight like this. Oh, who am I kidding? No one can fight like this. We're stuck. And we only have one option left...

If I wasn't so floored by what happened during the previous battle, I would've spoken up more adamantly. But I guess I didn't need to since Novo took care of that for me. I can't believe what they agreed on... I thought James was just about dead when I found him. How can he possibly fight the emperor directly when he could barely move after he was struck down? He'll die out there! Is there really no other option?!

I promised him that I would be the one to ed things if it got to the point where the only way out of this mess is if he...were to die. I promised him. Promised I would be gentle. That I would hold him until he was cold before I would join him. And they...nearly took that from me. He was dying. And I knew I couldn't save him. All I felt...was hate. All I could think about was killing and killing and just destroying everything that had anything to do with it. Good lord, what did I do out there? It's all a blur...

So many got hurt yesterday. Did we lose anyone? Hang on... I here someone right outside the window. I don't think they know I can hear them... Oh, it's them. Those boulderheads I brought with me. I guess I'll transcribe what they're saying while I'm at it.

"You think we should knock? She looked pretty roughed up out there after it was over."

"No, it'd be a bad idea to go anywhere near her right now. You saw what she did to those things out there. That could've been us."

"I guess that explains things, huh? That human guy? He must be hers if she went ballistic like that. No wonder she snapped. You've seen how they are together."

"Guys, I don't think things are looking good now. I heard we can't even advance anymore. Too many bodies to move. We're stuck here. I say we take another shot at it. If the guy keeping the emperor alive drops, this whole war will..."

"No, no way! You saw what she did to those things! We'll be next if we try that again! You heard her. She'll hunt us all to the ends of the earth. All of us! No way I'm even touching that guy after last time."

"The last thing anyone with any sense would do is mess with the Dragon Lord's mate. I mean who knows what they've done together in there. For all we know, they've already done the deed. You've seen how happy she is around him."

Are they...seriously noticing what things are like between James and I? Can those idiots really see the love between us? They almost sound...supportive of it. Although it's bold of them to assume James and I are mates already. I may be madly in love with that man, but even I know its unwise to become his forever so quickly.

"Yeah, there's no way he's not the one for her. She's been...happier ever since we came out here. Confident...and not like Dragon Lord Torch was. He never smiled as much as she did. I don't remember him looking so optimistic."

"Huh... Yeah, has it been five years already? Feels like a lot's changed the last few weeks... And not just this dumb war. She's...different now. Kinda feels nice seeing her that happy. I guess she found the right guy after all."

"Boys, I'm actually pretty interested at what happens after we all go home. I think the Dragon Lord's being doing great out here so far. Fierce like her dad, but in her own way."

"That's if we even make it home. You heard the guys at the top. We've probably got a big one coming. And that's if they don't wrap things up at the enemy HQ nice and quick tomorrow."

"I didn't come out her to die, guys... You think we should cut our losses and make a run for it? We could be back home by nightfall if we head out now."

"Nah... I'm staying. They've come this far. These ponies aren't the pushovers we thought they are. They're standing their ground. If the enemy shows up tomorrow, I'm gonna wait right behind the gate and torch them as soon as they bust through."

"You know what? I'm in. We can't let these ponies take all the glory, right?"

Wow... They're actually fired up about this. They're staying. And here I was thinking I'd have to keep them in line myself. It sounds like they're walking away now. They're getting quiet. Wait... What was that last part?

"I just hope that human guy makes it. You know what happens to a dragoness when she loses her man. The dragon lands are gonna be in a really bad place if she breaks now."

Was that...a show of support? From those boulderheads? Now I have no idea what to think of them... What has this war done to us in a positive way?

But they're not wrong. I'm banking so hard on James pulling through. I have so many hopes for the future...but only if he's with me. If I lose him now...

.....I need to go. Need to check on him. I have a bad feeling about this.

I think I woke up late in the morning, but not quite before noon. At least I dreamed well. I remember...being happy in Ponyville. And now I feel so nostalgic for my home. Will it still be the same when I get there? Will anything have changed?

Maud was still by my side. And she greeted me with a subtle smile. "Morning... Did you sleep better this time?"

"Yeah... I was home, but it's a little hard to remember everything. And I guess that's OK." I muttered while feeling just rested enough. I still felt completely out of it and drained with moments of significant disorientation, but the situation was about as stable as it could get. Maud reached out and gently nuzzled my cheek as a simple display of reassuring affection. "Thank you..."

"I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." She replied with her soft voice. It was nice to see her out of her armor for once and back into her preferred attire. She then asked, "I'll head down to ask them to prepare you some breakfast."

"That sounds... Huh?" I mumbled before I could hear the sound of hooves coming up the stairs. And seconds later, the door opened. In stepped one of the royal guards, still clad in his golden barding. A unicorn stallion of gray hues. They all look alike when in uniform...

While I was not concerned at first, Maud was quick to look his way with a narrowing gaze. "What do you need?"

He replied promptly without quite closing the door behind him, "I was just checking in with Sir James. Heard that tomorrow...is when they head out to put an end to the war."

The stallion started to take a step forward, but Maud met his with a step forward of her own. She then asked, "Are you armed?"

"All visitors are forced to disarm before entering the command center. They aren't taking chances after what happened at the infirmary." He tried to take another step forward, but Maud's body language proved threatening enough to make him stand his ground.

I could see Maud's eyes scanning our guest carefully. She was being cautious. She had already witnessed an assassination attempt on me once before. Maud then declared, "Take off your armor."

This demand caused our guest to recoil in surprise. "My armor? But Miss Maud, I..."

"Do it, or I'll do it for you." She spoke with her calm voice being completely ill-fitting for her growing wariness.

My eyes opened wide in alarm as I saw what happened. Our visitor knew there was no getting around this. Instead of removing his armor, he tilted his head down to have his neck parallel to his torso. And as he flared up his horn's magic, a matching magic aura slid out from the back of his helmet and drew a dagger with it. Maud responded accordingly and spoke quietly. "You need to leave."

"Ma'am... Please... There's another wave coming. We all know it..." He explained with a quiet and shaky voice while trying to not alert anyone who might be downstairs. And neither Maud or I tried to call for help out of fear of provoking him into making a desperate move. "I mean... You have family, don't you?"

Maud took another step forward. Slowly. "Leave. Now."

The guard did not relent, his voice fearful and desperate. "I know what it'll mean if I do this and...I've accepted it. I have a wife back home... Two colts. I know what they'll do to me, but... If it's for them, I... I can..."

"If you touch him.....I'll break you in two." Maud spoke eerily calmly while her slow and stiff steps forward relayed her stony resolve in the face of a threat. And I knew she had the raw physical power to back up these threats. "It will hurt. And you'll die. Slowly."

Maud's attempt at intimidation were proving effective. Our guest took a step back. But before anything else could happen, I heard the faintest hint of footsteps coming up the stairs behind him. And in a startlingly swift move, a hand coated in blue scales grabbed our guest by his helmet's plume and jerked his head back with a hand yank. I then saw Ember lean in past the doorway while glaring down at him with her other hand holding a dagger to his throat. She then spoke with a frightening snarl, "Get out."

There was no objection. The guard immediately dropped his weapon and rather comically scampered back down the stairs entirely backwards in a fashion that would have been rather funny if it was not for the murderous tension in the air. Ember immediately locked the door behind her while Maud and I breathed a sigh of relief. The Dragon Lord snatched up the spare dagger and said, "I guess I showed up at a good time."

"That was the second time someone tried that... Everyone's getting desperate." Maud explained in brief while she took a seat beside me. I could tell she really did not want to have to hurt anyone, even if she was prepared to take drastic measures to protect me. She then explained, "Thanks for showing up. I would've done something terrible if you hadn't."

"Oh, don't let me stop you. Just make sure they're still alive by the time I show up next time so I can finish them off." Ember retorted almost playfully. She had volunteered to be the executioner to whoever successfully murders me. And even that warning had not been enough to deter that last visitor. I turned my gaze to the ceiling in bitter resignation. Even with the promise of a brutal death should one murder me, someone had already tried to kill me yet again in spite of it. But not out of selfish spite. He had family back home. Even two foals. The ones who would be twisted hardest by Earth's evils should they ever spread across this world. I know I would not want Scootaloo and Gladesong to grow up in a world that is no different from Earth. And yet I was finally powerless to stop it. Not until tomorrow at least.

Ember came to my side while Maud stepped out of the way. But before she said anything, Ember turned to Maud. "How long have you been up here?"

"Since last night. I didn't feel comfortable leaving him alone." Maud replied while I heard the faintest gurgle in her stomach. She had likely gone without a good meal since she started keeping watch.

Ember was quick to notice that sound as well and connected the dots. "Hey... How about we swap? I'll keep watch here for a while. Someone shows up with a weapon, I'll take a dagger to their throats. Deal?"

I think I saw Maud crack the slightest smirk at that response. Ember was trying to be at least mildly amusing, but her threats were real. Maud was powerful, but Ember has always been a warrior. She is very dangerous in confined spaces. With a nod, Maud started to back up to the door. "Thanks... I'll be back in a while."

Maud departed while keeping the door locked behind her. Ember then turned to me while setting aside the two daggers in her hands. She was entirely out of armor and for good reason. She tried to hide it, but I could see the fatigue in her eyes and even her stance. The Dragon Lord herself had not escaped the previous battle without lasting damage. But my eyes then scanned the bandages wrapped around her torso, that white actually complimenting those beautiful blue scales unexpectedly well. Ember noticed what my eyes were focusing on and rested a hand over one bandage. "Hey, don't worry about this. They don't even hurt anymore. The medics are convinced there won't even be any scarring. Kinda wish they would though. I'd wear these scars proudly if they were for you."

"Don't say that..." I muttered as I could still clearly recall that horrifying bestial rage she displayed while single-handedly holding off everything around us for a while. The sheer brutality... The sounds that came out of her mouth... I looked away while I asked, "What happened to you back there? You...completely lost it."

Ember kneeled beside my bed and rested her hand over mine. I heard the Dragon Lord ask, "You saw all that? I thought...you were a goner. That you were too far gone to save..."

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. "I saw...everything. Beating them to death, tearing them apart, crushing one's head in your jaws... What happened to you?"

"Did you really forget?" Ember replied coolly while her eyes narrowed. Instead of just touching my hand, she closed her fingers around it. "You mean the world to me. And I thought I lost you. Everything I was hoping for, everything I wanted to see with you when the war was finally over, all my hopes for the future... Gone. In just that instant, I...I felt like I had lost everything. And all I could do...was kill as many as those things as I could before they finally got me..."

It was...hard to hear that from her. Especially when I saw tears starting to trickle down her beautiful blue face. "I've...never felt so much hate for anything... I thought they took you from me. And I was gonna take everything from them. You give me hope... And all that hope was gone when I reached you."

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. Just a complex miasma of emotions and thoughts I had no idea of how to put into words. Ember then reached out to me and caressed a finger along my bandaged head. "You always looked so fragile when not armored...And even that armor wasn't enough to protect you. I can't believe they're really sending you out tomorrow to end this..."

A long sigh escaped my nostrils. Live or die, it matters not... That was what Sunflare said. I know she was not being cold. Just stating the facts. Perhaps it would be for the best if I did not return alive. I could not expect all the hate my allies now hold for me disappearing just because the war would be over. Not when the scars would remain. "I'm not expecting it to make it back... Might be for the best."

"Don't you ever say that again." Ember suddenly responded with a growl. She then reached out and cradled my face in both hands as she leaned over me. Those scarlet eyes were not filled with anger. Rather...they were consumed with dread and grief. "Don't go dying on me out there! I know I'm being selfish, but I can't lose you like this! There's so much waiting for us for when this is all over! I can't...imagine let it all get thrown away! Not now!"

The tears flowing down her face. The sincerity in her voice. The love in her words. I loved her so much. Just as much as I was sure she loved me. And so I asked a most precious question. "Is there something you want to tell me? While we still have time?"

She tried. She really did. I was expecting some precious words from her that would change everything between us. I could see it in her eyes as her gaze wandered, fangs bared as she tried to force it out. But instead of words, I heard a horrible wail as Ember buried her face into my chest. She wept bitterly while her hands slid from my face to my shoulders. She could not do it. Just like with Smolder... She could not say it. I knew what she wanted to say, but it was too much. And I could not tell her either. I was not worthy of her anymore. Not by then.

We held each other without a word as Ember's wailing gave way for pathetic sniffling. She soon groaned and writhed atop me as she muttered, "Everything hurts again... Everything burns..."

"Shh... Take it easy. You burned yourself out yesterday and not just physically." I muttered while rubbing my hand over her back. An anxiety attack... Whatever affect it had on her body, it would probably take days or even weeks for her to bounce back from that.

"I know... Oh man, this is worse than whatever those cuts did to me..." She grumbled as her body's aching distracted her from the grief in her heart. But it did not distract her for long. Ember climbed onto my bed and rested herself atop me like so many times before. All while being mindful of the tubes hooked up to my body. With one hand cradling my face, she then whispered mournfully, "Yes... There is something I want to say to you. Lots of things. Powerful things I can't say easily. So many things I want to say to you, but only when this is all over and we can have time to recover. Things I want to say...when we can put down our weapons and stop being warriors for a while."

"I see... I wish I could hear them." I muttered while knowing all too well what was in her heart at the time. It was so...mutual. We both knew it. We both knew how much each desires the other. And yet there was no easy way to say it.

"But I will say this." Ember muttered as she pulled herself closer. Those beautiful scarlet eyes gazing into mine, she then whispered, "I don't want you. I need you."

A very peculiar choice of words. Words that caught my attention. "Need me...?"

"I know. I know it makes me sound weak. If I need something, I'm weak without it. But...I'm all right...with being weak with you." Ember cooed with such a beautiful genuine tone. She reached out and placed a kiss upon my lips before she said, "I can afford to be weak with you. Because I know you'll catch me if I fall. I need you. I want to be good enough for you. I want to be beautiful enough for you. And I'm not afraid to be weak for you...if you make me stronger."

Such...power in those words. It was all just shy of a confession. Just on the precipice of telling me the words that would change everything between us. She wanted me to know, but she still could not make that leap just yet. But I knew. And I understood. But there was still one I needed to ask. "Am I...good enough for you though?"

"James..." Ember sighed before cradling my face in both hands once more. For just a moment, she said nothing. But the uncertainty in her eyes finally gave way to a quiet joy as I noticed a beaming smile form on her long narrow jaws. And the words that followed...hit me in just the right way. "You're all I've ever wanted."

We embraced. Her lips found her ways to mine and I cradled her as best as my weakened body would allow. That barely veiled declaration of love did wonders for my heart in that moment. Truly, the love of a dragon is like no other. And I felt so honored to be declared worthy of hers. And when that kiss ended, she gazed into my eyes as her voice carried a beautiful tone of longing. "I want to be yours. I want to hold you forever and keep you as happy as you make me. I don't want anyone else. I don't...need anyone else. But I need you... Oh my lord, how I need you..."

I pulled Ember up against me, her head being tucked under my chin. I wanted to say so much to her, but could not find the will. Nor could I find the strength. But I think she knew. She knew I listen better than I speak. And she sighed blissfully in our embrace. "I'll have faith in you... I'll keep believing you'll make it back tomorrow... It's the only thing keeping me going now. If I stop believing...I don't know what I'll do with myself. I'm...committing myself towards too much now to have any plans for what'll happen...if you don't return."

"You're...wonderful, Ember..." I muttered with what little strength I could find to bring myself to speak. I could not say the wonderful things she did, but I tried. "You're...one of the best things to happen to me since heading out to fight this war... I feel...blessed to have you. You give me the courage to keep going... I might've quit if you hadn't been here. I'm...grateful to have you..."

"And you'll always have me, you wonderful man. You and no one else." Ember cooed as her hand rested upon my upper arm. And upon the cutie mark that was emblazoned onto it. I started to fall into fatigue once again. And I think she noticed. It was time for another nap while things were calm. "Shhh... You sleep now, all right? I'm here... I'm always here for you."

When I signed up for this war, I never imagined how dire the situation would become. War was never in the nature of Equestria's people and now I see why. I feel like I should consider myself lucky. We mages have always been kept to the back rows to attack the enemy from afar. I suppose in a way this had kept my peers and I out of harm's way as well as dulling the horrors of brutal battlefield combat. Because the horrors of war...

War is not like the kind of threats I have seen before. It is not like what I saw with Nightmare Moon or Discord. It is not even like the invasion of Canterlot when the Changelings hijacked my brother's wedding. It is mundane and graphic. I did not see any of the fighting up close like our infantrymen did, but I have seen the results. So many hurt... So many maimed and scarred... The infirmaries are full to near bursting, even with the surge of medical personnel to counter the drastic increase in wounded fighters. And all I can wonder is if we might end up losing someone before it is all over. And how many I know will be among the fallen.

The weather has not been helping. Rain has been falling more often lately and it perfectly reflects the shift in tone around here. Our allies used to be filled with courage and bravado, ready to face this threat to our world. As newer discoveries were made regarding the true nature of our enemy's goals, that morale remained high while still being a bit more cautious. And now...that cautious optimism is gone. Everywhere I look, I see no hope. Everyone I see is fearful of what will be coming soon. I have even heard whispers among some of our militiamen about considering deserting and making a run for it before the enemy can arrive. I really hope they do not. It is a long way back to civilization to the west.

Even worse is what happened to the one who got us out here in the first place. In all the chaos that happened during the last battle, I had no idea who was wounded and who was still out there fighting. James had been the first to don his armor and weapons to face this invasion. And then we eventually learned that this ancient human emperor was sustaining himself like a parasite through James just being in Equestria. t also explained why the enemy Hollows never directly attacked him. The emperor needs him alive. And this gave us the advantage of James being able to attack the enemy without worry of being attacked himself.

And then the unthinkable happened. James got hurt. And it was no accident.

I thought it was a miscommunication. That in the chaos, someone jumped to conclusions. But no... James is down. A skull fracture to the back of his head. He was attacked from behind and it took a desperate team effort to evacuate him with the enemy making a concentrated effort to get to James. Something changed. The emperor needs James alive, but he ordered his minions to take him out anyway. Why?

There is so much we do not know now. Everything we thought we knew about this war keeps getting turned on its head. First we find out that the last human emperor of so long ago has been revived and seeks to conquer Equestria. Then we find that he is being sustained through James by being the only other human in the world. Then we find out that he is actually preparing a portal directly to the world that James came from to allow its human population to invade and claim Equestria for themselves. And now...James is apparently no longer necessary for this plan to come to fruition. Even worse, there are too many wounded for us to move. We cannot advance. And James will be sent out tomorrow under escort by the king and queen of Equestria to put an end to this on the enemy's home turf. But how? James cannot even stand, let alone fight. Maybe...Zecora? Does she have some powerful potion recipe to use?

Regardless, I needed a good meal to get my mind off of things. I made my way to the mess hall the girls and I visit the most often. Between the rain and there being...fewer of us being able to stand, the mess hall was far quieter than it normally was. There was a perpetual gloom in the air and no one looked happy. I did not see anyone I recognized at first. But I did not have to wait long for a good friend to show up once I claimed a table.

Applejack was on her way over after just getting out of the rain. I have never seen her go without wearing her favorite hat for this long. But...she looked more than just exhausted. She almost looked listless and did not even look directly at me at first. I started to wonder just what she saw out there. Only when she got to the table and took a seat did Applejack greet me with a harsh sigh. "Howdy, Twi..."

"Are you...all right? You don't look like you got hurt yesterday." I asked while looking her over. She was not wearing her armor. If she was hurt, I would have been able to see it.

"Nah, they didn't get me... But...hoo boy, that last one wore me out somethin' fierce..." Applejack groaned before setting her head down on the table. "I'll be real with ya here, Twi... I really don't wanna go back out there again... I don't even know how we got James outta there in the first place..."

"I heard... And I don't blame you. It's not like we can even advance right now. Maybe it's a good thing we won't have to fight anymore for the rest of the war." I said while trying to at least see the positives at the moment. I might not have seen the battle up close like Applejack did, but I really did not want to have to fight again. Not like that. I had seen as much warfare as I ever wanted to.

"Yeah... Yeah, I guess we gotta leave the rest up to the top brass." Applejack said with a long yawn. She really was exhausted. Not even the harvest season at Sweet Apple Acres ever wore her out this hard or fast... Just writing that name made me realize how much I miss Ponyville. I just want to go home.

One of the servers brought us over some menus and fresh water, but we waited for the other girls to show up. Rarity and Rainbow Dash showed up at roughly the same time. But there was no sign of Pinkie Pie. Rarity slumped against the table once seated and let out an impressive groan that was lacking of her usual flair. "Oh my goodness... I don't suppose you ladies are as ready to go home as I am?"

"Yep, we sure are, Rarity. If I can go the rest of my days without ever havin' ta pick up my mace again, I can die a happy mare." Applejack said with a bitter chuckle. At least when we were all together, there was a certain camaraderie even in darker times. But there was still somepony missing. And it was not Fluttershy. "Say... Where's Pinkie? Y'all think she'd be the first ta the party."

I decided it was best if I broke the news. "AJ... I saw her being carried overhead by one of our aerial evacuation personnel yesterday. I think one of the Hollows got..."

"Howdy do, girls! Sorry I'm late!" Well, speak of the devil. Before I could even finish that statement, the voice of the one mare we were missing called out from the end of the mess hall. And there she was. Pinkie Pie was trotting our way with her hindquarters suspended in a wheeled harness. Maud was by her side and looked just as stoic as always.

"Pinkie Pie! Darling, you made it! But what happened?! Why are you in a harness?" Rarity called out as we all perked up. I did not realize until then just how much Pinkie Pie can brighten up even the bleakest situations with just her presence and cheery tone.

Pinkie Pie had no trouble reaching the table, but she needed a little help trying to find a comfortable position and to lock the wheels of the harness. "Um... It's kind of a blur? I think one of those bad guys came at me with a mace and hit me just a teensy weensy bit too hard. Just a little hairline fracture on my left flank. I'll be fine. Although broken bones do take a lot out of you."

"Ooh, that's gotta hurt. Try not to move it too much. Any injuries to the legs are a real pain for us ponies." I replied while just seeing her in that harness made me wince. Out of all of us, Pinkie Pie was the only one who had gotten hurt so far. At least it was a mild injury.

Pinkie Pie then replied with a...somewhat nervous chuckle. Not one of her more cheery laughs. I do not think the rest of the girls noticed, but I did. And it felt...decidedly off. At least what she said next definitely sounded like Pinkie Pie. "But hey! Now I have the perfect excuse to eat all the ice cream and milkshakes I want! Gotta get that calcium!"

"Heheh, that's our Pinkie Pie. Never change, girl." Applejack chuckled while just about all of us found ourselves smiling at this rare moment of levity. Except for Maud and Rainbow Dash. Maud has always been hard to read, but Rainbow... This was far too quiet for her. And she never smiled once. With the two of them having been roommates during the war, Applejack was the first to notice something wasn't right with our brashest friend. "Uh... Dash? Y'all OK there? It ain't like ya ta be this uptight at the dinner table."

"I...uh...kinda don't wanna bring the mood down... Got a lot on my mind." She finally said while I noticed her eyes wandering. What did she see out there? I knew she got to see the wounded in the heat of battle when she had to fetch them from the battlefield, but...was that why?

Rarity pushed a glass of water towards Rainbow, who then greedily chugged the whole thing. "Darling, now's the best time to get things off your chest. We're here for you. What's wrong?"

Rainbow Dash hesitated greatly. And we were not ready for what she said next. "I found Gilda last night. And...I think she lost her left eye."

I felt such a chill fill my gut. Rarity looked like she immediately regretted ever asking and started to look ill. Pinkie Pie practically shrieked and asked, "WHAT?! It...it's not that bad... Right?"

"I dunno... She wasn't exactly in the mood to talk last night. I think she just got out of the infirmary and was pretty beat from the anesthetic and went right back to her place to sleep for the rest of the night, but..." Rainbow Dash explained with her voice being so tired and lacking in her usual bravado. She held her face up with a hoof as she muttered, "I saw her face... Left side's got a patch over her eye... I think it's gone, girls..."

That completely killed the mood. What were we even supposed to say to that? Although Applejack did at least try. "At least she still got one, right? She ain't blind, Rainbow. We gotta at least take some comfort in that."

"Yeah... Yeah, I know... But still... Can't believe that happened to her." Rainbow Dash mumbled with her hooves over her face for just a moment. It really started to dawn on me just how badly that battle fazed my friends. Even Maud did not appear untouched. She had always been quiet, but I noticed times when she would just...stare into space instead of at us. I felt bad... A strange sense of being left out. I was spared the worst of warfare by serving with the battlemages. All I had to do was aim and launch magic with explosive properties in large parabolic trajectories while at the back rows. But they... They saw everything on the frontlines. And I felt awful that I could not emphasize with them over what they had gone through. They were all tired. Rarity and Pinkie Pie even appeared a little jittery. What I would give for us to just go home and finally have things go back to normal...

As the minutes went by, the server came back over and we were able to take our orders for a full lunch. Some good food would soothe our nerves. I think they all knew it too. My friends did not look particularly hungry, but they were trying to fight that for the sake of getting some much needed nutrition after such a grueling battle. But just after the server left, I looked at Maud again. And then it dawned on me. "Maud... If you're out here... Who's with James?"

Pinkie Pie then suddenly gasped as she too suddenly noticed the implications of her sister's presence. "Oh my gosh! Right! What're you doing here, Maud?! If you're here, who's watching James?!"

Pinkie's sister maintained her constant stoicism as she replied, "Ember's watching him."

"Ooooooooh, all right. Gotcha. Nopony would mess with the Dragon Lord when she's standing guard." Pinkie Pie giggled in relief. Good choice too. The Dragon Lord is one of our fiercest fighters and I understand she and James have become quite good friends lately.

It was then that Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow over that question. "Wait, am I missing something...? I know James got hurt, but...does he really need a bodyguard?"

Maud was not the only one who knew. Shining Armor and I have had a promise where he is to relay any information regarding James to me on a need to know basis. And I really needed to know what was happening after that battle. When Maud hesitated to explain, I decided to reveal the truth. "Somepony...made an attempt on his life yesterday. Maud and Shining Armor stopped them."

Rarity was the first to react. Her fatigue disappearing for just a moment, she stomped her hooves on the table and pushed herself over it. "WHAT?! Who would dare?! Who would dare murder him after all he's done for us in this struggle?! He nearly lost his life yesterday on the battlefield, for goodness sake! Tell me, Twilight! Who's the scoundrel who did it?!"

She was not the only one who looked ready to seek revenge. Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked furious as well and were flexing their wrists in a manner that showed they were ready to track down the failed assassin who nearly slit our friend's throat when he was helpless. And I had to tell them the rest of the situation. "He's already been detained and won't be released until the war's over."

"Dang it. That means we can't pay the varmint a visit. The guards won't let us near 'im." Applejack grumbled in disappoint while they got comfortable in their seats again. She then looked around with squinting eyes in thought. "It just don't add up though... Those Hollow things always went outta their way ta NOT hurt James. What changed last time? A guy don't just get clonked on the noggin like that by accident... If James gets taken out, the emperor kicks the bucket too. Ain't that a good thing for us?"

Pinkie Pie shook her head and said, "That doesn't make sense! If James is the one keeping the emperor alive, then he needs to stay alive! If James dies, the emperor dies! That means the portal over there will close! Right...? Right? So...James will...uh..."

Rainbow Dash began to scowl. Her eyebrows furrowed harshly as she said, "It almost feels like that guy is trying to make us hate James by now. Trying to make us think this whole mess is his fault. Like James dying...would be playing right into the emperor's hands... I don't like this, girls. If even the emperor wants James dead, then we gotta make sure that doesn't happen."

"We know, Rainbow. I don't know if you've heard but there's been a decree. Any attempts of James' life will result in detainment until the war ends." I explained while not sure how to soften the next part. "And...if someone does succeed in murdering him...they are to be put to death immediately. And Ember will be carrying out that task."

The...rather amusing look of stunned horror on their faces when I said that. When I mentioned Ember's name... They knew exactly what kind of fate would be in store for the poor fool who would test his luck that much. Rarity shook her head slowly and muttered, "The Dragon Lord? She is to serve as the headsman?"

"Girls... That's brutal. Did you even see what she did to those Hollows when James went down? She was ripping those things apart with her bare hands! I saw her rip some of them IN HALF. I don't even wanna know what she's gonna do to the idiot who decides to take a blade to James now!" Rainbow Dash explained in horror as she gestured wildly with her hooves. She was above the battlefield... I guess she did see the whole mess playing out.

Applejack chuckled nervously at the ugly thought of Ember doing...things to anyone who would murder our friend. "Uh...heheh... Yeah, ain't that the truth. Let's just hope that if anypony gets the idea ta make James' ticker stop tickin', they'll think twice when they remember who's gonna make theirs stop tickin' next."

"For once, I'm actually grateful for the brutality some dragons can display." Rarity sighed with a very relieved smile on her face. And for just a little while, things were back to normal between us all. Conversation is such a therapeutic thing. Although Rarity then asked, "But...why ever would anyone even try to end our dear James after all that's happened? The enemy have deemed him a fair target, yes? Then...wouldn't the obvious choice be to not harm him? Why give the enemy what they want?"

I was surprised to see Applejack beat me to the punch. "They're gettin' desperate, Rarity. We all got kin back home. If I never met James, I might've tried the same thing just ta make sure the Apple family would be just fine. And since fightin's outta the question now... We're just about plum outta options. If the emperor goes down with him, the war's over. That's probably good enough for most of 'em."

"But that's it. Why would the emperor wanna just give up and die with James anyway? If he dies, the portal closes too... Right?" Pinkie Pie then asked as a very uncomfortable silence fell over the table. The clamor of conversation had become just noisy enough in the mess hall by then to drown us out. And it was a good thing too since what we were discussing...was not something I wanted anyone else to hear.

The way my friends looked around at each other as we all pondered that statement... We were all on the same page. On paper, it made no sense. If James dies, the emperor dies. If the emperor dies, his plan fails. Without his presence, the portal to Earth would close... Or would it?

My heart skipped a beat as I suddenly came to a horrifying epiphany. I looked at my friends while they all looked at me. Except for Maud, I could tell through those terrified eyes that we were all on the same page. I then asked, "Girls... Do you suppose...that portal...doesn't need the emperor input's to stay open anymore?"

"You...you don't mean..." Rarity muttered in shock as bowed her head. "Surely, the emperor doesn't intend to terminate himself...to insure there's no one left who even knows how to close it?"

"Don't even go there, Rarity! Don't you even think about goin' there!" Applejack suddenly shouted while pointing her hoof right at Rarity. With our most beautiful friend recoiling in shock, Applejack barked, "I don't even wanna think about this whole war bein' all for nothin'! There's gotta be a way ta close that portal! If Earth is like what I've heard, I don't even wanna think about Apple Bloom growin' up in a world just like it!"

"Girls, can we just...change the subject? Pretty please?" Pinkie Pie pleading as even her optimism was starting to loosen. "I...really don't wanna think about that, OK? Besides, they're gonna do something about it tomorrow, right? They'll win. I...really hope they win."

"Yeah... Yeah, good idea. No point in stressing ourselves out over a bunch of unknowns, right? There's gotta be a way out..." Rainbow Dash muttered as we all decided to drop the subject. And thankfully, our meals arrived shortly afterward. That was just the tasty distraction we all needed.

What happened next was entirely out of the blue. Right after we finished our meals and Maud headed out to return to the command center to keep watch over James, Princess Celestia herself approached the table. Even she looked tired and just about ready to turn in for a nap. We all bowed our heads in greeting while I said, "Princess Celestia... It's great to see you. Do you need something?"

"Actually, Twilight... I was hoping you all could come with me." She replied while we all did just that. Princess Celestia said nothing else. And we just followed.

We walked across the camp while Celestia even put up a barrier over us to keep out the rain. Rarity then looked at Pinkie Pie while we noticed the faint squeaking of her harness and its wheels. "Is that as comfortable as it looks?"

"Yep! And it's pretty fun to roll around in. I wanna try going faster in this thing once I'm feeling a little better from that broken hip back there." Pinkie replied while finding the joy in the simple act of being on wheels. But something on the horizon I did not expect was that airship being used by those harpies that kidnapped James off that train that one time... I still cannot believe that really happened. Pinkie Pie then asked, "Ooh! We going to see the birds?"

"Kind of..." Princess Celestia retorted softly. She sounded very distracted. And I did not want to disturb her. The airship was in an unusual spot. It was moved to the very middle of the camp while I was not looking. Very close to the command center itself. Why there? In fact, all of the airships that were docked had been moved away from the northwestern corner of the camp. Maybe to keep them away from the edge?

We were led up onto the deck of that airship. I think it is called the Zephyrus? And waiting for us was the captain. I have met her and her crew a couple of times, but we really never had the chance to properly get acquainted on the same level as James. They are good friends of his by now though. And there was no joy in her eyes while she looked down at us. "So, you're the ones, huh? Guess I shouldn't be surprised."

"Huh? We're the ones for what? We going somewhere?" Pinkie Pie asked as I started to have a sinking feeling in my gut. We had not been called up onto the Zephyrus for a good reason.

"Not yet, Pinkie Pie. Not until tomorrow at the latest." Princess Celestia replied before she faced Celaeno. "I have explained the situation to you. Do you think you can handle it?"

"Leave it to me and my crew, your highness. We'll get these girls back home just fine." Celaeno replied while tipping her hat to Celestia.

Rainbow Dash spoke next. "Huh?! Wait, we're going home?! Already?!"

"Yes, but only if there is no other option." Celestia said before she faced us all. She sighed heavily before speaking with a frown on her face. "I have already informed Cadence of the situation. If my sisters and I do not return from this war, we are leaving Equestria in her hooves. And you... You five absolutely must survive. The Elements of Harmony, whatever they can do should we fail, must remain useful. If this war fails and the enemy are to overrun us, you are to be evacuated to safety. And...to wait and see what happens. If all else fails, the Elements of Harmony may be the only way to restore or maintain some semblance of stability in...whatever sort of world Equestria will become in the approaching years. So much is uncertain right now, but..."

She fell silent in thought. And her words weighed heavily on my friends and I. They really were considering the possibility of failure. We had come so close to the end of this war, but the odds were finally stacked overwhelmingly against us. Even the Elements of Harmony might not have been enough to turn the tides in our favor. They failed against the emperor before. They would surely fail again. But for what happens next...?

Celaeno stepped up to Celestia and rested her hand on her shoulder. She then said softly, "Hey, I know there's a lot on your mind. I saw what happened yesterday. That was insane. But I'll get these girls home just fine. All right?"

"Thank you, captain." Celestia said with such an exhausted sigh. I doubt she has ever been faced with such a situation in her entire reign. Not like this. She then lowered her head towards us and said, "Just promise me you will not go down with the rest of us if it comes to that. You all must live. Return home and wait. The Elements of Harmony may be Equestria's last hope should we fail."

"We... We will, yer highness. Can't let those go to waste. " Applejack replied before the Princess of the Dawn left us alone. But while Celestia started to depart from the airship, Applejack noticed something else. "Hey, Twi. Looks like somepony's here for ya."

She was right. While Princess Celestia was leaving, Shining Armor was stepping up from the gangplank. And he trotted right over to me. "Hey there, Twily. I thought I'd find you here."

We shared a hug. We both needed one. My friends stepped back and gave us some room for a moment. "I just wanted to talk to you. Just in case I wouldn't have time to find you tomorrow if things get bad."

"Find me...? Wait, aren't you coming too? You'll be coming home tomorrow if the enemy arrives... Right?" I asked as his choice of words awakened a fear in my heart.

My brother had difficulty looking me in the eye. And when he did speak... "No, Twilight... I can't abandon my men. If the enemy arrives tomorrow, I'm staying. Just promise me you'll make it home just fine."

Not once in my life have I felt such an profound fear in my heart. The sudden and very real understanding that my brother...may die out there tomorrow... I almost could not comprehend it. The thought of losing him... "No... No! I can't just leave you here! You're coming home with me, all right?! Don't do this to me! Don't do this to Cadence!"

His face was like stone. Even after becoming captain of the guard, Shining Armor never hid his smile from me. But this time, he maintained that steely resolve like never before. "She knows, Twilight. I had Princess Celestia send a message to her today and she sent a reply. She knows what might happen. And if it comes to that..."

I struggled to hold my tears. And my friends remained silent in a wonderful show of respect. When I could not find the will to speak, he spoke instead. "If you and your friends do end having to leave... Tell Mom and Dad for me. Tell them I'm sorry I couldn't come home. And tell Cadence she was my world. And the last thing I was thinking about was that world..."

As my tears finally fell, so did his. We held each other and silently wept. I noticed my friends and Celaeno turn away. It must have been hard to watch. Although Shining Armor then threw me an unexpected curveball. "And...tell Spike I'm leaving my entire collection to him. I know he'll take good care of it all."

"You... You dork... He'll love you for that." Oh my gosh, why did I laugh at that? Even if that was completely inappropriate for the tone of the situation, I think we both needed it. But once we released each other, I then declared, "But if tomorrow really is...our last day together... Tonight. You and me are gonna spend tonight together like it's the last night of our lives! Got it?"

"Sounds like a plan, Twily. I got some of your favorite gin ready too." My brother replied while those around us started to smile just a little. With another hug, my brother started to depart. "See you tonight, Twilight."

"I'll be there... See you soon." I said with a sigh with my eyes starting to feel sore. We did not want to talk more about the gravity of the situation. We wanted to savor what time we had left by not thinking about the inevitable. I then turned to Celaeno and asked, "So then... As soon there's any sign of the enemy tomorrow, we'll be up here. Right?"

Celaeno nodded while forcing a smile. "That's the plan. I don't get the whole Elements of Harmony thing, but I won't ask questions. But old Zephyrus here will get you home no matter what."

It was then that Pinkie Pie made a startling observation. One we had all overlooked. "Wait! I get we need to make it home OK, but... What about Maud?! I can't just leave my sister here!"

She was not the only one to suddenly remember friends and family. Rainbow Dash then spoke up. "Same here. I can't just leave G here to die. Not after we finally patched things up with each other!"

"Well golly, I guess we do have a few other friends ta think about... I've got Braeburn and Big Macintosh out here with us. And I ain't goin' home without 'em." Applejack muttered in contemplation.

Rarity then stepped towards the captain of the Zephyrus and asked with a pleading smile, "Surely you have enough room onboard for a few more passengers, captain. Could we trouble you for...how to say...giving a few stowaways a pass?"

Surprisingly, Celaeno did not even try to argue with us. She lifted the brim of her hat with her thumb while smiling down at us. "I don't see the issue with a few more passengers. Tell you what. Round up your closest friends and family and we'll make sure you all make it home."

"Oooooh, thank you! If I wasn't on these wheels, I'd squeeze you so hard!" Pinkie pie squealed in utter relief. At least if things got bad, we could count on some of our other friends making it home with us.

And that...is about all I am willing to write for today. I have said my peace and...I hope I am ready if the worst comes to pass. I have no idea how I will tell my family if my brother does not make it... And Fluttershy... Ooh my gosh, Fluttershy... Her husband just might not make it tomorrow... Gladesong might not see her father come home...

Now I need a drink more than ever. And it is getting late. Time to go see my brother. If tonight is our last night together, I want to spend it while happy.

I am not certain how long I was out. When I awoke, Ember was still in bed with me, her body between me and the window beside my bed. She appeared to be asleep too. And I saw why. Maud had returned to my side. The stony mare then said softly, "Hey... Ember took a nap after I got back. It looks like nothing happened while I was gone."

"Thank you... Ember probably needed the extra rest." I replied before I reached out and placed a kiss upon the side of her head. Ember remained asleep, but her hand was grasping mine. Her fingers were locked, intertwining between my own in a loving clasp. But on one finger was my wedding ring. And I knew Maud could see it. I was glad it had never been removed, but now that a reminder of my marriage was on full display...and I had just displayed an act of love towards Ember in front of my guest...

Maud continued to wear her unintentional poker face. For once, I absolutely could not read her. But I had to assume the worst. I looked at Ember, then at my ring, and then back to Maud. I could tell that her eyes were focusing on my ring. And it was futile in trying to explain anything in depth when I was much too out of it and with so little time left. "It's OK if you're disappointed in me... I have worse things to worry about."

"I never said I was." Maud replied softly, but without even the slightest hints of anger. If anything, she sounded...just the slightest bit curious. She then asked, "Does your wife know?"

While Fluttershy has no idea Ember even exists at this time, of course she is aware of the...unorthodox relationships I am in. Especially since she suggested and encouraged it in the first place. And so I said, "Yeah... She knows. It started with Rarity...and then more came into my life."

"There are others?" Maud asked while I could only nod. I was resigned to only an unpleasant response. But what she said next was the exact opposite of unpleasant. "They are very lucky to have you."

"You...understand?" I asked in confusion. For as stoic as Maud is, I still expected her to have some accusations ready. Especially after seeing her childhood home. I was under the impression the Pie family are traditionalists by nature and would condemn unconventional lifestyles and relationships.

Maud surprised me with the faintest smile on her lips. And very kind words. "You've always understood me. And I want to understand you."

"You... You're a great friend, Maud." I muttered in utter relief. She really is wise and understanding. And patient... She listens more than she speaks. Just...like me...

It was at that instant that I had a sudden epiphany. I knew that she and I did understand each other in ways we did not, but why? And now I had a better grasp of why. We share certain traits. Certain quirks and behavioral practices. But still...not enough for me to come to a concrete conclusion. And...it may be too late to ponder and investigate further. And I felt a certain...grief that I may not have enough time left to get to understand her even more. I closed my eyes, but soon felt a hoof upon my left wrist. "I won't ever forget you."

I lifted my hand and placed it over Maud's hoof. My fingers squeezed it firmly while I opened my eyes to look at her. And my eyes opened wide. A single tear trickled down each cheek, even as her face remained still as stone. Even her voice hid the true emotions behind that mask. "I feel like tomorrow...really will be the end... I don't know if I'll be able to let you go..."

"I'll be in good company. The king and queen will be with me. And you've seen how powerful they are." I replied with the facts I knew. If they were I my presence, I would be untouchable. And when I faced the emperor... "I...can't imagine the emperor being all that dangerous in a confrontation. He's a frail shell of a man by now. I'm pretty sure I'll crush him."

"That's not what I'm afraid of." Maud said coolly. She then reached out and rested her other hoof upon my bandaged head. "It's this. You shouldn't even be out of bed yet. It isn't fair..."

"War is never fair..." I replied while glad I was not in more pain. I was actually rather comfortable at the time. I then muttered, "But I want to believe that this will work... I have...too much to leave behind..."

"So many will be hurt if you don't make it back." Maud stated while she rested her silently weeping face onto my hand. She never looked away while she said something profound. "No one loves Equestria like you do. No one knows your world like you do. Everyone who hates you... They don't understand. But they will when you come back. I know they will. Because I understand you."

"Maud..." She really was being so patient. So thoughtful. Her act of trying to really understand the situation was not something I would have expected from even her.

Finally, Maud did something entirely unexpected. She reached out and placed a kiss upon my cheek. A kiss that brought tears to my eyes. "Thank you for loving my world so much. I don't want to see Equestria...stop being Equestria."

"I do love this world... And if I can make sure it stays the way it always has... I can die happy." I muttered in tearful resignation. The situation felt so hopeless, but I was clinging to that one objective. If Equestria could be saved from the evils of Earth, then that was all that really matters in the grand scheme of things.

"Don't say that. You might die happy...but we won't live happily." Maud replied with yet another profound statement that forced me to think deeply. And I could not find a retort. I just closed my eyes and continued to hold her hoof, hoping for tomorrow.

It was not much longer before Ember began to stir. And she finally opened her scarlet eyes. She remained still, motionlessly scanning the room beyond me. After a few seconds, she asked, "Any trouble while I was out?"

"No. We had no visitors." Maud replied simply while I only then started to let go of Ember's hand But her grasp tightened. She refused to let go even as she pushed herself up to her knees. Maud noticed how Ember was not willing to let go yet and said, "Is he important to you?"

Ember glanced at me while I glanced at her. So much we wanted to say, I am sure. Things that could not be said yet. But what she did say was still something to not say lightly. "He means everything to me."

And once again, Maud countered with a very profound retort. "Does that mean...if he doesn't make it back tomorrow...you'll have lost everything?"

Those scarlet eyes opened wide in shock. It was a question that prompted her to more heavily contemplate what my survival meant for her. And after a moment of observing her to wait for an answer, I was greeted with Ember gently cradling my face in her hands. She gazed into my eyes while speaking to our guest. "The only future I can imagine...is one where he is there. And it's...a wonderful future. And if he won't be there... I don't know what I'll do with myself. I'll be lost..."

Ember then turned to look past her arm at Maud while that mare remained silent while seldom blinking. "You don't know what it's like...when there's just one who really listens to you. Who believes in you and values you and what you have to say. Who...wants to see you succeed."

"He's the only one who really understands you..." Maud muttered more softly than usual. She then bowed her head, eyes wandering wistfully. "Me too..."

The widening of Ember's eyes... She knew that it was not an exaggeration. And I could only listen patiently...like I always do. I think they both took note of my observant silence since they both looked right at me. Ember then whispered with a mournful smile forming on her lips. "It sounds like...you make us both happy when you listen."

"Yeah... I do listen better than I talk." I mumbled with what little energy I had. Even after a nap, my fractured skull still sapped the energy out of me. Ember made no attempt to hide her love for me into front of Maud. Her lips went straight for mine. And what a precious kiss it was. I then softly asked, "Do you need to go?"

"Probably... I think you'll be having more visitors today and they're being really stingy on how many can visit. Security and available space, all that stuff..." Ember grumbled while she finally stepped down from my bed. She did not want to leave, but it would be selfish to deny others the chance to stop by. But she then turned to me and rested her hand over mine. "Tomorrow... I'll be there tomorrow."

"Thank you..." I whispered while also not wanting to see her leave. Her presence has always been a comfort to me. Ember then took the two daggers nearby in hand. Her own and that left behind by that would-be assassin. She held one out to Maud, but the stony mare shook her head. We both knew she had no need for a blade when a single punch from her could crush a boulder.

Ember departed very hesitantly. And once she was gone, Maud provided yet another profound observation in a manner only she would say. "She has a heart of diamonds. So strong, but with such a brilliant luster. I wonder what the carat count would be if it was an actual gem..."

That certainly sounded like something she would say. I then asked, "You're quite the artist... Wait, you write poetry, right?"

"Uh huh. I'm starting to get a lot of inspiration too. Maybe I can write up a lot of new prose when I get back home. I'd love to share them with you." Maud replied while cracking just the faintest smile. Her eyes then opened a little wider before she asked, "That cassette tape I gave you with my poetry recordings on them... You still have it?"

"Yeah, I listen to it whenever I take a nap back home. You have a very relaxing voice." I replied honestly. Back before the war started, I did routinely listen to that tape.

I think I noticed that subtle smile start to turn into a smirk. Maud then said, "In that case, I know how to help you sleep tonight. Does a live performance sound nice?"

"Music to my ears." I retorted in an attempt to be witty. And then it happened. For just an instant, that smile...became much wider. It was only for a second, but Maud...was beaming. As bright a smile as I had seen from just about any other mare. And just like that, it was gone. I felt like I had just witnessed a beautiful mirage that would never be repeated. A rare phenomenon that only lasts for an instant, one so brief that you barely have time to process what you saw. But I knew what I saw. I just wish it lasted longer...

I felt it would be best to not mention what I just saw to Maud. She did not even appear to be aware of that brilliant smile she had shown me. It may even alarm her to know how she broke that stony facade for just an instant. Filled with inspiration, Maud took a seat at the typewriter in the room. The tub holding my armor's liquid form was beside it and even the Lunar Shield leaned against the wall and dresser past it. Equipment that I could only hope would serve me well tomorrow. The familiar clicks and clacks of the typewriter filled the air as Maud started to type up her new lines of poetry. That clicking was strangely relaxing. And I started to drift off for another nap. Until...

Before I could drift off entirely, a new sound caught my attention. A knock at the door. Maud froze before hopping down from her seat and leaned up against the door. "Are you unarmed?"

"Yeah. Got no blades or needles or anything to shank anyone with. They searched me clean." The voice replied with a bit of a tough feminine pitch. My eyes narrowed as I contemplated who was out there. I knew the voice... But when the door was opened... A very familiar griffon hen stepped inside. Her right eye glanced at me, a beautiful shade of golden yellow filling the iris. "Hey... Haven't really talked to you in a while."

Gilda. Standing where she was, I could only see the right side of her body. But what I saw yesterday... I weakly reached out with my left hand, pointing at her face. Maud tilted her head to one side to get a better look at the left side of our guest's face and immediately took a step back with her eyes widening just slightly. This confirmed my fears. "I saw you yesterday... Did... Did it really...?"

My griffon friend sighed harshly before very reluctantly turning to face me. "Yeah... They got me good."

Her face... Her left eye had a white surgical patch affixed over it. I remembered her hovering in the air, recoiling from the agony of her eye being grazed by that stray arrow in spite of the precautionary enchantments she and all of our aerial units had on them. Seeing that there... Knowing my presence in Equestria had blinded her... I squinted my eyes shut and turned away in tears.

And yet, Gilda rushed to my side and grabbed my hand. And the words that followed... "Whoa! Whoa, easy! It's OK! I know it looks gnarly, but I swear this isn't as bad as it looks."

How in the world could she even say that? I saw and heard her shriek as that arrow took her eye. I saw all that red... I forced myself to look at her, my eyes unable to stop gazing upon the patch that covered her ruined eye. "But...that arrow took your eye..."

"Yeah, I thought so too. I thought I was never gonna see outta this eye ever again. I was freaking out bad by the time I got to the infirmary..." Gilda replied while starting to nervously chuckle. And she was smiling. Far too brightly, at that. "But they... They patched me up. Had me out for a few hours. I mean I was pretty drugged up by the time I came too, but..."

"What happened?" Maud asked simply while she too listened in.

Gilda let out a big sigh of relief. "I thought I had heard the docs wrong by the time I woke up this morning. I went back to the infirmary just to be reminded about what happened after I was out for the operation. And basically...they said I got about as lucky as you can get with an injury like this. I mean yeah, that sucker split my eyelid right open down the middle, but the eye... Just the tiniest knick. The lightest scratch I could get away with."

It was so strange... I was so convinced that arrow had gouged out Gilda's eye. But she looked almost giddy with relief as she recounted that harrowing tale. And so I asked, "Then...what's the diagnosis?"

"Basically...I haven't lost Leftie yet. I gotta keep this patched up for a while, but...I'm OK. I mean I still got lucky. If I didn't see that thing coming and tilt my head back in time... It's all a blur. I didn't even know what hit me until all I saw was red over my left eye..." Gilda recalled while she still chuckled uneasily. She then held a hand over her bandaged left eye and said, "I cried. Like I couldn't stop counting my lucky stars. I grabbed the doc and gave him a hug...and then I made him promise he'd tell no one I did that... Hey! That means you two gotta keep quiet about it too! Got it?!"

Gilda's relieved glee was very contagious. And when she suddenly threw in a bout of sudden levity, I cracked up. I had the hardest laugh I have had in a while as I was still in bed. It was just...such a welcome case of good news. Although that levity faded fast when Gilda brought something up I had tried to forget about. "But...Trixie never came back to our place. She wasn't there when I went to bed...or when I woke up. Did...they get her?"

I could barely even look at her. But she had to know. "Trixie...almost didn't make it... She's in intensive care... I think she can go either way now."

There was no words. Only the beeping and hum of the machines around me filled the air. I was sure Gilda understood that I was guilty by proxy. Or so I thought. I felt her hand wrap its fingers around mine before she spoke very softly. "It's not your fault... You know that. I know what's going on with the emperor and you. And if I ever got my talons on him..."

"They hate me, Gilda... They've already tried to kill me..." I muttered as I felt she had the right to know about the militia's growing resentment of my presence.

Her right eye narrowed into a bitter scowl. "I know. I heard a few of them talking trash about you. Saying they hoped you wouldn't make it through the night. I shut them up for you. Made them glad they didn't need a visit to the infirmary."

"Gilda..." I muttered at that revelation. She...attacked her own comrades to defend my honor?

"You're the sweetest guy I know... The best guy I know." Gilda retorted with an uncharacteristic sincerity. A tone and tenderness I had not heard out of her in some time. The scarred griffon hen crawled up onto my bed and rested herself across me like a protective wolf. She then looked at Maud and said, "Hey, I'll take it from here for a while. Go grab a bite, go chill with your sister, maybe get a stiff drink while things are quiet, whatever. I've got this. If someone shows up looking for trouble, I'll give the sorry loser trouble."

I saw a subtle yet very crooked smile form on Maud's face. I do not think Gilda noticed, but I did. I think she understood that Gilda was insisting we be given some time alone. And Maud did not even offer a retort. She just nodded and made her way downstairs while closing the door behind her. There was no need to lock it when someone as fierce as Gilda was watching over me.

Unfortunately, someone may have been watching for Maud to leave her post. Barely a minute after she was gone, we both heard the sound of hooves coming up the stairs. Gilda hissed in irritation, "Oh, come on. As soon as she's gone, they just start coming?"

Gilda hopped down from my bed and stood ready. Sure enough, an unfamiliar armored stallion stepped inside. He immediately noticed Gilda's one-eyed glare and stopped in his tracks. "Oh, um... Am I interrupting anything?"

"Yeah, you're interrupting this guy's peace and quiet." Gilda retorted while I watched from my bed. I was certain this visitor was secretly armed, but I felt safe in the presence of someone like Gilda. Her feline attributes certainly gave her a more natural menacing presence than someone like Maud. She even started to spread her wings in a menacing display to further intimidate our visitor. "OK then... I don't know you and I bet he doesn't either. That means one thing. You here to shank the guy?"

I saw glistening sweat starting to pour down his exposed face and neck. Gilda called it right. My griffon friend then said, "Lemme just say what's gonna happen. You take a dagger to that guy's throat? I'll gouge your eyes out. And then I'll hand ya over to the Dragon Lord. And who knows what she's gonna do to you before you kick the bucket? Now, are ya coming or going?"

Our visitor did not even try to argue. He sheepishly ducked back out of the room, but Gilda was quick. She lunged for him and grabbed the terrified stallion by the throat while she glared at him with her one good eye. "Smart move. And spread the word while you're at it. Your buddies try to hurt him, my buddies and I are gonna hurt them first. Got it?"

All he did was nod. Only then did Gilda release him before locking the door behind him. She then looked back at me with a very smug smirk on her beak. I cracked up a bit, finding her menacing presence to be very reassuring. "Thanks, Gilda."

"Hey, I can still be a bad girl if I gotta be." She retorted before bounding up onto my bed again. She then smirked at me and added, "At least I know how to be bad for the right reasons now."

The sleek lioness of a griffon rested across me in a relaxed yet protective manner. Aside from her bandaged eye, she seemed largely unfazed. Perhaps she was more accustomed to stressful situations than most. It was not like she had to do any fighting to begin with and she had to retreat before the worst happened. I asked softly, "You sure you're OK?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Like I said, between the second I threw my head back when I saw that arrow coming and after that, it's hard to remember. Might be for the best, huh?" Gilda replied before reaching out and tracing a finger over my head. Her gaze became more solemn while she said, "Besides... It looks like you got hit harder than I did. Something happen out there?"

"Yeah... Something changed. The Hollows started attacking me directly..." I explained knowing she could not have seen what transpired out there.

Gilda then pointed out an important aspect of my performance on the battlefield. "But...you're always wearing a helmet. It couldn't have been that bad, right?"

"My helmet is still a form of plate armor, Gilda. And plate armor has weaknesses." I replied dully while turning my gaze up at nothing in particular. I did not even really remember the instant I was struck. The blow came from behind in the middle of that chaos. "War hammer... Skull fracture."

Gilda immediately brought a hand to her beak as she reeled much more harshly than I expected. I think she was struggling to hold her tears, even as her one good eye wandered in horror. She then looked right at me and pleaded, "Please tell me you're gonna be OK..."

And I did tell her that. And only because it was true. "I'm gonna be OK. It could've been much worse... Nothing permanent."

Gilda bowed her head and rested her feathered brow into my abdomen. "Oh man... Sounds like we both got lucky out there yesterday... I've heard brain damage can really mess up your personality..."

I did not pursue that topic further. It was a very dark thought. But Gilda then lifted her gaze to look at me while her hand reached for mine. "Thinking about that scares me. You're the sweetest guy I know and I hate the thought of you...changing because of something like that. I've made some dumb decisions after Dash and I had that falling out and I've...been with a couple of guys and...they weren't like you. Made me feel like trash. Made me angry and wonder why I even bothered giving men a chance. Took everything about my life that was already looking bad and made it worse."

"I'm sorry you went through that..." I muttered while not entirely surprised that Gild went through a dark patch between then and now that she had been unwilling to discuss up until then. It was not a topic I wanted to discuss with her if she did not want to think about it.

"Hey, it's cool... Only made me happier when I found you." Gilda muttered just shy of a whisper. The gaze in that golden eye softened as her tone did as well. "I'll say it again. I take back everything I said to you when we first bumped into each other. I was just a bitter idiot. But you're more than just the sweetest guy I know. You're the best. You're soft, but tough when you gotta be. And the two times you ran away? You didn't run from the enemy. You ran towards them. You were gonna take them all on yourself. And hey, you actually did that! Two battles ago? I saw all that. And that was awesome...but really terrifying too. I wanted to talk to you that day, but...I felt like I really shouldn't. I didn't think I could help..."

That was a dark memory. There was no fear in me that day. Only rage. Rage to unleash on those I was convinced had murdered Nightmare Moon. I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. "Anger...has a way of preventing you from being afraid... I've always felt fear on the battlefield... It's always there, even if I look like I know what I'm doing."

"You keep on fighting even when you're afraid?" Gilda asked before I felt her crawling forward onto me. When I opened my eyes, she was gazing right down at me from inches away. And with one gentle movement, her beak met my lips for a kiss. She then looked down upon me with a forlorn gaze of worry. "Then you really are the best... You just might be the best dang dude in the whole militia. They can learn something from you."

It had been quite some time since I felt a kiss from Gilda. I am still uncertain of what to think of her in that regard, but she has truly won me over in the past weeks. Dependable and fierily loyal. Violent, but only when needed. And so much kinder and more beautiful than I had ever expected from what little I had been told. I softly asked, "You really think I deserve that...after everything? I thought you didn't trust a man in a bedroom..."

"I didn't. Until I found you." Gilda said firmly while casting me one of the loveliest smiles I had seen from her in a while. She brought her beak to my lips again for another kiss as she took charge of the situation. She then whispered carefully, "I see why Dash fell for you so hard. We've talked about you and she's really hopeful for whatever's happening down the road. She wants to be good enough for you."

"She is... She really is... It's just up to her to decide when to take that step." I replied while still remembering the rare moments of solace between my boisterous friend and I. And especially that evening of wonderful intimacy with her and Fluttershy last winter. It hurt at the time to consider that it would be just that once... The two of us never able to become something more. And now that possibility has become very real. Although those kisses from Gilda's beak... The reality of the situation and what would happen tomorrow dawning upon me, I asked an important question I might not get another chance to say. "What about you? You've been...too sweet to me at times..."

"I... I still don't know why I did that last time... I mean wow, we really did make out..." Gilda stuttered while I noticed her tail flicking about behind her. The feathers coating her head started to puff up adorably. That memory was really getting to her in a good way and I could not hide a crooked smile. Although she then asked, "Hey, about that day... Am I still pretty?"

Words did not come to be immediately. Because there was something on Gilda's face that marred her appearance. That patch over her eye that hid a fresh scar. She noticed where my eye was looking and turned her head further to the left to hide her face. "Oh... Right... Dumb question. I guess I can't say I'm pretty anymore... Dang it. I wanted to be pretty for you."

"Gilda..." I muttered before reaching out for her face. She looked my way and gazed at me in silence. With my hand caressing the side of her face that held that bandage, I spoke what was in my heart. "You're not pretty... You're beautiful."

She flinched. That round golden eye in her right socket quivered before I started to notice some tears starting to build at the edge. She looked away, desperately trying to compose herself. "I don't get it... I just don't get the way some girls think..."

"Wha...?" I muttered in confusion. It sounded like my words had prompted her to discuss an entirely irrelevant topic. At first.

"I don't get why some girls only want bad boys... Bad boys only make you feel like garbage." Gilda muttered wistfully before she gazed down at me with...a lovely smile in spite of her tearful eye. "It's the good boys who know how to make you feel special."

"I do...?" I asked in some bewilderment. Perhaps I had become so resigned to my sorry role in this whole mess with so many around me calling for my demise that hearing such loving words from someone I had not seen in a while was genuinely confusing.

"Yeah. You always made me feel special..." Gilda muttered as she snuggled up to me on my right. She draped her impressive wing over me with her right eye looking right at me. "You really make this pretty kitty feel wanted..."

I was at a loss for words. Perhaps I was just too tired to think clearly at that moment. And as she snuggled with me, I heard a low droning noise. A very soothing noise. Gilda had begun to purr. The tip of her tail lazily swished about, a sign of her relaxed glee. I tilted my head into hers, resting it against her fluffy plumage. It was then that Gilda asked softly, "Remind me. When this is all over... Where can I find you?"

"Ponyville." I retorted briefly now that I was starting to feel very tempted to drift back into another nap.

"There, huh? Figures... I guess I got a lotta apologies to make when I stop by next, huh?" Gilda chuckled weakly while I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. Her golden eye looked at me from inches away while she said, "I'll come find you sometime. Catch up on lost time... Maybe buy you a few drinks."

I then decided to add an extra bit of trivia to her knowledge. "If you catch me at my day job, I could give you a massage. I do it for a living at the local spa."

"You put those magic fingers to good use in more ways than one, huh?" Gilda chuckled brought she brought a finger to my jaw and gingerly traced her talon along it. She whispered sweetly to me, "Then I gotta stop by. Could really use one right about now. I wonder what it'd feel like to have those fingers go to work on my haunches..."

"If you're trying to seduce me, that won't work right now. I'm...way too out of it to even listen to my libido..." I grumbled in some amusement. There was no way that line did not come across as flirtatious. Although I did have to wonder how the sleek feline haunches of a griffon differs from the strong rounded flanks of a pony. Perhaps I would find out one day.

Gilda snickered at my observations. "Eheheh, couldn't help myself. I mean really, how many mares have you felt up at your job?"

"If I take advantage of my clients like that, I'll get fired or worse." I replied dryly while disgusted by the thought. I confess I have seen more than I have meant to seen during my job, but I never dwell on it. "Besides, I keep it completely professional. I don't lust after women I can't have. If I don't feel that mutual emotional connection, I can't feel that way about a woman."

My friend stayed silent for a moment as she processed my words. She then responded with another kiss to my cheek. "This world needs more men like you. The kinda guy who's all about the love. Is that what you mean? If you don't love a girl, you can't bring yourself to think about getting them in bed with you?"

I allowed myself to speak more profoundly as my inner artist came out. "Exactly. Where's the gratification in intimacy without romance? I can't imagine seeing a woman as a source of pleasure and nothing else... Women aren't objects. Neither are men. The best kind of intimacy is that fueled by love. When they want each other and want to make each other happy..."

"Man... Is it any wonder so many mares want you?" Gilda cooed while her eye was filled with...such adoration. The softest gaze I had ever seen out of her. "I hope you make it tomorrow... If you disappear, there'll be so many broken hearts... Mine too. I don't wanna lose an amazing guy like you."

I could not ignore those words. And so I asked an important question. "Do you...want me?"

Gilda merely stared at me in contemplative silence. Most likely pondering a response. One she did soon give. "I want you in my life. Badly. No man's ever made me feel this happy. This special. This...wanted... But should I feel wanted? Because if you don't want me..."

"I never said that." I retorted in trying to stop her from making any assumptions. I then explained, "There's something there... I do...want you. It's small, but...maybe later. Let's not jump to conclusions. After the war. Next time we meet. Just please come find me. I'll miss you..."

"I'll be there, big guy. I'll come find you when the time is right. We'll chat a while." Gilda cooed while placing another kiss upon my cheek. She then whispered, "I'll try to be patient. And...if you still want me next time you see me... I guess we'll find out, huh?"

"You're a wonderful woman, Gilda... Thanks for being good to me." I whispered in satisfaction. I was not in the position to think too heavily about such concepts. I was too tired...to love all that much.

"Hey, a wonderful guy deserves a wonderful girl. Or lots of wonderful girls if he's got a big enough heart for them all." Gilda cooed while dragging a talon along my chest. It was right around then that there was the sound of hooves coming up the stairs again. Gilda tensed up, ready to pounce if it was someone we did not recognize. Thankfully, it was just Maud. Pinkie Pie's sister closed the door behind her while Gilda relaxed herself. "Hey there. How're things outside?"

"Dreary and gray. And not like the gray of stones. Everyone's not happy." Maud replied as she took a seat beside me. She then looked at us and said, "I talked with Pinkie Pie. There's something you need to know. Both of you."

Gilda sat up in bed now that our friend had our attention. "Really? Let's hear it?"

"If something goes wrong tomorrow and the enemy arrives, she and her closest friends are to be evacuated aboard the Zephyrus. Something about them...being vital to Equestria's survival in the long run." Maud explained with her stoic tone. I immediately understood why. They are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. If even one of them perishes, the set will become useless. They would need to survive in the hopes of being able to...do something should the war effort fail.

"What, are they a bunch of big shot heroes or something? I mean Dash is cool and all, but I don't remember her or the other girls performing any better than anyone else so far." Gilda replied in understandable ignorance. I suppose even Rainbow Dash had been advised or at least had enough common sense to not spout to just anyone about their connections to such a powerful purifying force. Those kinds of archaic artifacts are probably not fully understood by the public regardless.

Maud replied very briefly. "Pinkie Pie said something about Elements of Harmony... I don't get it myself."

I decided it was best that I speak up. "It's a...very situational set of artifacts that they happen to be bound to. They were used against the emperor in the past, but it didn't quite do anything to him. I doubt they'd be useful now, but maybe...they'll save Equestria in some way later... But they need to stay alive to make sure they stay functional."

"Huh... So some weird ancient magic stuff that only works at certain times and against certain things? I get it. Those girls might be the world's saving grace. Maybe." Gilda muttered while trying to comprehend what I had just explained. She then turned to Maud and said, "Anyway, thanks for spreading the word. I'm glad Dash's gonna be all right if anything goes wrong."

"It's not just that. They're being allowed to bring along any immediate family members or close friends." Maud explained before pausing in thought for a few seconds. "I'll be leaving with Pinkie Pie. And Rainbow Dash wants you to come too."

Gilda's eye opened wide for just a second before her face relaxed. A sigh escaped her beak while muttering, "Thanks, Dash... I'll be there. If she wants me to make it out no matter what, I'll tag along."

I found myself smiling slightly at this revelation. It would not be like my closest circle of friends to think only for themselves. To abandon their closest friends on the battlefield would not fly with them. They had to save who they could on short notice. Even...if everyone else would not make it...

It was a dark thing to think about. If the mission tomorrow failed and the camp would be overrun, how many could be saved? How many airships would be able to arrive a safe distance inside the walls and airlift our personnel to safety? It strained my mind to even contemplate the situation. So much so that my fatigue only jumped to coerce me into taking another nap. Gilda noticed and draped a wing over me again. "Time for some more shuteye?"

"Yeah... Can't stay awake..." I mumbled as my eyes became so very heavy. There was no resisting it.

"That's cool. We'll be here when you wake up. Sweet dreams, hero." Gilda retorted while she also got cozy beside me. And in a matter of moments, I was out like a light for more restful dreams.

I don't get where everyone gets the idea the bard always has it easy in these situations. The whole point of a bard is to pump up the boys and girls out fighting with sick beats that gets the adrenaline going. Sure, it's easy to overlook when things are going our way, but it's when the chips are down that the bard is really needed.

Yeah, can you believe it? Me, Ponyville's own DJ-PON3, keeping a journal. Yeah, I'm not big on pencil and paper, but... I got a bad feeling about this one. Things are bad. I still can't believe how many are down after that last one. I did all I could, pumping out a rocking battle ballad on my gear to fire everyone up out there. If they didn't have that tempo keeping them going, how much worse would it have been? And...I'm starting to think we might not make it.

Everything's gloomy and everyone's angsty. They know a big one is coming and there's no way we're gonna get through something like that twice. From what I've picked up on through the grapevine, everything's gonna come down to one all or nothing mission tomorrow. They're gonna send in their best with the totally awesome king and queen of Equestria themselves leading the charge to make sure he gets there in one piece. Man, if only I could be there to serenade that final showdown with the best beats I got on my chart here. We need something inspiring like that right now. And I gotta say James brought some good tunes with him fro where he came from.

I only spoke to the guy once. That human guy. I've seen him around Ponyville plenty of times, but didn't finally get to talk to him until the start of this war thing. I could tell he really didn't know what to make of a wild girl like me. He just stared until I said something. Sweet guy, that James. And not to go into a whole bunch of messy details that came up when the king and queen showed up outta nowhere, but...the guy's got it rough. I've heard the rest of the militia saying really ugly things behind his back. How he's been a mole for the enemy all this time. I mean I get the guy's being a little life source for the old coot out there, but...no. No way. From what I've seen back home and out here, there's no way he's in cahoots with the emperor. James is a good guy and he's giving everything for Equestria now. He knows where his home is and he's good in my book.

I spent the whole day setting up my speakers outside the walls and wiring a network to my rig. If we can't advance, then I'm expecting something big to come knocking on our doors. If I can't bring my music to the field, I'll just make sure it plays over whatever happens on our turf. And our boys will need every edge they can get to hold of the next wave. At least I hope they finish the mission tomorrow before it comes to that.

It was finally getting dark before I made it back to my spot. It's always easy to find it when Tavi's tuning her cello. And I mean Octavia. You'll see her in Canterlot a lot more often than Ponyville. She helps the boys relax after a long march or a good fight with her crew. They're much better for that than my tunes are. Can't beat a live performance. And I just flopped into my hammock once I was in for the evening. And she couldn't stay quiet when she saw me. "You were out there all day, Vinyl. Whatever could you be up to when we're stuck here?"

"Just a gut feeling, Tavi. There's a big one coming, I just know it. I gotta do my part and make sure to fire everyone up when the enemy comes knocking." I said to my snooty housemate. Yeah, I said it. Octavia and I? We live in the same place in Ponyville. Total odd couple, right? Except we ain't hitched and we ain't planning on it. But there was one other reason I set up that speaker system outside the gates. "Besides, I wanna see James off like a real champ tomorrow. And I've got just the song for it."

She set her cello aside when I brought him up. And she didn't look so good. "I've heard such awful things being said about him. And I don't believe it. I've seen the man at the Grand Galloping Gala and even at the odd private party. I don't believe for a second such a gentle and patient soul could ever have a hand in such villainy. What do you make of him, Vinyl?"

Like I said, I've already made up my mind on the guy. "Me? I say he's a good guy in a bad situation. He's got nothing to do with this war, Tavi. I even talked to him myself. Really sweet guy. Really reserved and likes to listen to you talk. To be honest, I'm surprised you two aren't dating."

"What?! Vinyl, the nerve! I barely even know the man! And besides that, he's already married and has a darling daughter waiting for him at home." Tavi took that well. Not. Hey, a girl's gotta get a laugh now and then when things are looking bad. But she then asked, "Although now that you mention him... I've noticed some of the songs you've been playing on your equipment. Did you say that came from the world James is from?"

"Yep! I stopped by his place when I was brainstorming for songs to play on a battlefield and his wife let me check his stuff. I jury-rigged my gear to offload hundreds of tunes from these little electronics he had. Kinda like a Joyboy, but way more advanced. The guy's got great taste in music too. Really expansive taste, there was all sorts of genres on them!" I kinda gushed a bit when I started going into that. I never such great tunes could be found where he was from. But thinking about the world he was from...and knowing we might end up getting an unbreakable means to visit and get visitors from... I set my head down and just...sighed. "It's just too bad to can't judge a guy or a world by its taste in music."

I think Tavi knew where I was going with this. "I've heard some unfortunate things abut that world... And what that world may do to ours and to us as a people if we make contact. I don't have a good feeling about it, but...what about you?"

I must've worn myself more than I thought. I let out yawn before I could say anything and had to set aside my shades. "I dunno, Tavi... Music is my life, but...I can't help but get the feeling the whole music scene in Equestria is gonna get a lot uglier if we lose this war. James has great taste in music...but I don't even wanna think about the losers on Earth with bad taste in music listen to."

"Some melodies are better off never being written, Vinyl. I'm certain there are lyrics from that world we are better off never hearing." Tavi sounded like she's been doing a lot of thinking over what's coming if we lose this war. And she looked really depressed over it. She looked at me while she set aside her cello and asked, "My colleagues are departing tomorrow should the enemy show up. But I don't suppose...you're staying?"

I'd made up my mind by then. I weighed the pros and the cons and came to a decision. "Yeah... Somepony's gotta run this gear. If I'm not around, who's gonna keep the music going?"

"In that case... I shall stay as well." Tavi said while I...didn't even know what to say. I was ready to go down with the ship just to make sure the war would end on a song. But before I could say anything, Tavi tapped a hoof on our cello. "As mares of music, what better end...than to spend our final seconds producing wonderful melodies?"

That... That hit me right in the gut. I just started bawling outta nowhere. Like wow, what a beautiful thing to say. Beautiful and tragic. "Oh man, that's beautiful, Tavi! It's good to have you here, girl! Get over here and gimme a hug!"

And she did. A great hug from a great friend. But then she had a surprise by pulling out a box out from under her cot. "Now then... Seeing as how tomorrow just might be our last day... I asked Fancy Pants to bring along something...specific in his last shipment."

In that box was a beautiful bottle of wine. Tavi always digged the reds while I like my whites. So we eventually got around to finding a middle ground we could both agree on. And that bottle was full of our favorite rosé. She even had a pair of chilled glasses ready for us. And we had a toast. "To good friends, good music, and a good outcome for this conflict. Cheers."

I think I'm starting to feel the buzz from that wine too. And Tavi was smart enough to start brewing some tea to get some detoxing done. I can't let myself be hungover and dehydrated tomorrow. I gotta be on top of things in case the bad guys come knocking. And I didn't set up those speakers just in case we have to make a last stand. I wanna send James off with the right tune. And I think I've found it.

Something in his playlist caught my ear. I don't get the lyrics. I can't figure out what's being sung, but I feel it. I feel it in the delivery and the melodies. Whatever this song is, I struck gold. It feels way too fitting. Too...poignant. There's no song more fitting for...one last goodbye for a hero heading out to face the enemy.

Maybe he'll even recognize it. And I'm expecting tears to be shed. But now... One cup of that tea and it's time for bed. And if anyone ever finds this in the ruins of a burned out camp in the middle of nowhere... Just know we all went out swinging.

I awoke to the knocking on the door. Gilda and Maud were still by my side and did not even noticed that I and opened my eyes when they were so focused on the door. I barely had time to even register what was happening before I saw the door open. And in walked the two people I really did not want to see me in my condition. Two young dragonesses. And one was not what she seemed. Maud was quick to speak up while they both looked very visibly distraught even as Gilda made certain to only let them see the right side of her face. "He's going to be OK. And...he's awake if you want to talk to him."

Smolder and Ocellus. I had not seen them since before the battle yesterday. All I knew is that they had seen me while I was being moved to my room after that failed assassination attempt and could not stop crying when they saw the state I was in. Smolder immediately reached out to me and rushed to my side, her hand reaching out and taking hold of mine. At the very least, she and Ocellus were not in tears. I whispered to her while having a hard time looking at her. "I really didn't want you to see me like this..."

"What happened out there... Why is this happening..." Smolder muttered while she slumped to her knees. She was fighting to hold back her tears as she took my hand between both of hers. "You were just fine when I last saw you... Now this...? I didn't come all the way out here just to see you get hurt! I was supposed to come home with you!"

Maud and Gilda dared not interfere as Smolder let out a wheezing sob. She was so young at the time... I did everything I could to keep her away from the horrors of the battlefield, but there was nothing I could do to shield her from the aftermath. What had she seen since yesterday? What had she heard? Smolder then gazed at me with tearful yet beautiful blue eyes and asked, "You're gonna be OK, right? We can go home soon, right?"

"Soon... Yeah... We've got a plan... It'll all be over tomorrow. That's a promise." I replied while being very careful to keep any and all details regarding what we had decided on from her. I know she loves me. If Smolder was just two years older, we would surely be life mates by now. But if she and Ocellus learned that I just might not make it back, she would fight tooth and claw to stop us. If her love for me burns as hotly as Ember's, Smolder would be a force to be reckoned with if she knew I was being put in harm's way. Maud and Gilda were equally tightlipped on the subject as well. The less they knew, the better.

Smolder looked over at the only other dragoness in the room. Ocellus was rubbing her hands over each other anxiously as she stepped forward. She sighed harshly while resting her hands on my arm. "All the love in you... It's buried so deep... What happened to you? You feel so distant now..."

"Sorry... I'm in a bad place right now and not just physically." I retorted while having difficulty at that precious little love bug.

"You...can feel love?" Maud asked with a hunt of confusion in her voice. She had not yet seen Ocellus without a disguise. While I did trust her to be understanding enough to not jump to conclusions, revealing a Changeling to just anyone was inherently risky.

The rest of us were unsure of what to say. But Gilda spoke first after looking between Smolder and I for wordless permission. She had seen Ocellus when I first found her. "She's...uh...some weird bug pony thing that can change how she looks. But she's cool. She's been a good girl. She can show you, I guess."

"Please, I... I don't want to lose this form right now... I want to hold him...with these hands..." Ocellus pleaded before looking down at her scaled dragon hands. Her natural Changeling hooves would never be able to grasp me like she could at that moment. She then took my hand between hers and looked me in the eyes with a gaze that showed she could feel more deeply than they could. "You're gonna be OK, right...? I don't...want to lose you now... I was...looking forward to going home with you..."

"It's bad, but nothing I can't bounce back from... Broken bones just take a lot out of you... When we get back home, I'll be OK..." I muttered softly while trying my best to hide the truth of the situation. I was hoping that I might make it home alive. Just for them. Just so they could grow up happy under my watch.

It was around then that Gilda hopped down from my bed. She could see that I needed some time alone with my youngest companions. She then looked back at me and spoke while being careful to not let the two young ladies see the left side of her face. "I better leave you with these little ladies. See you tomorrow, all right?"

"Yeah... See you then, Gilda. Take it easy." I replied softly as the scarred griffon hen departed. I then looked at Ocellus and Smolder as they climbed in bed with me now that Gilda had cleared up some space. "I swear I'll be OK once we're back home. Could've been a lot worse..."

"I get that, OK? It's just... War sucks. Everything was going just fine until yesterday... Everyone's either afraid or hurt. I hate how miserable the whole situation feels..." Smolder grumbled as she rested atop me with her jaw upon my chest. She gazed at me with such a miserable stare, Ocellus looking more worried than her since there was no hiding my emotional state from her. Smolder whispered softly, "You...feel so distant now... I don't see that look in your eyes I love to see... Are you still in there somewhere?"

"Please... Don't think anything's changed in how I feel about anyone. I'm just...tired. I need to rest my body and my mind." I explained while understand where she was coming from. I could not...emotionally exert myself as much as I wanted to. And it sucked. I did not want to hide my heart. Certainly not from a wonderful young lady who followed me out into the Empty Plains just to be with me.

"It's still there, Smolder. It's just...buried deep. There's so much pain in the way..." Ocellus muttered with her hand cradling my face. She looked me in the eye and said, "You... You shouldn't be here like this... Why'd they do this to you? You don't wanna hurt anyone... You don't even want to be here."

"Because...this is war. Doesn't matter who you are or what you're good at. War doesn't discriminate on who's on the battlefield. People take up weapons, they fight, they die..." I said almost coldly with my heart resenting everything about this wretched situation. War was never in the nature of the people of Equestria. And now they had seen the true unfiltered reality of it. Something they should never have seen. "It's the one constant in war. The way it's always been. War... War never changes..."

Ocellus lowered her head and rested her brow against my shoulder. "Then why does it even exist...if it brings nothing but so much misery? There's no love in it... Everyone I've seen today... They're afraid... Some are angry. All their love is buried under such...ugly emotions..."

"That's the thing, love bug. It shouldn't exist. Not here. Not in Equestria." I retorted with my eyes narrowing in disgust. Even in a world like Equestria, the humans who were native to this world still had the capacity for warfare. Even in this borderline paradise, I was appalled by the knowledge that they could still do this. "I hope this will be the last time... And never again..."

Maud was respectfully silent to allow us to indulge in each other's company. Smolder and Ocellus were so young at the time... Out of everyone in the entire militia, they had the least reason to expose themselves to the horror of war. I said a silent prayer to myself. Hoping that they would be just fine when they got home, especially on a psychological level.

Little was said for a good while. The two little ladies just rested beside me while I could feel Ocellus sipping away at what little love she could siphon from me. Until there was finally another knock at the door. But this sounded different. Not at all like a hoof tapping on the door. And the sound of them coming up the stairs... Each alternating step sounded different from each other. Like one foot was not like the other. Maud approached the door somewhat cautiously and asked, "Hello...?"

I then heard a voice I immediately recognized. "Uh... Hey? Is there one Mr. James here? I haven't been up here yet..."

"Celaeno... Let her in." I said softly while all eyes fell upon the door. And in stepped a very familiar harpy captain. And the instant her eyes fell upon me, she brought a hand to her beak in utter horror now that she was seeing me in person. All I could say was, "Hey there, captain..."

"No... Oh no no no what happened here...?" Celaeno muttered almost tearfully as she stepped over to me with a hand reaching for my hand. Smolder and Ocellus scooted back to give her more room while she said, "It was funny when it happened to Murdock... Why are you laid up in bed like this? Why's your head bandaged?"

"Murdock got bonked by a frying pan... Doesn't really compare to a war hammer." I muttered as I recalled that ridiculous story on how Squabble used to be called Murdock. That story was ridiculous to the point of being funny. And there was nothing funny or comical about taking a hit to the back of the head on a battlefield from a heavy concussive polearm.

"Oh my god... All my crew bounced back pretty fast whenever they got scuffed up... They didn't crack your skull right open, did they?" Celaeno asked while I could only nod. Maud could see that Celaeno was gong to need a moment of solitude with me and motioned for Smolder and Ocellus to follow her out. Once we were alone, Celaeno pleaded quietly, "Don't hide anything from me here. What's going on? You're gonna be fine, right? You're cognizant, you're talking normally, you're eyes aren't shifting around in your head... I'm pretty sure you haven't taken any brain damage like Squabble did."

"That much, I'm all right. Nothing permanent." I replied while Celaeno slumped to her knees and let out a wheezing and almost delirious chuckle of relief. As funny as that story about Squabble is in hindsight, it must have been harrowing for her to see her eldest crewmate take that much of an unfortunate beating. But she was my friend and I knew I should not hide the truth from her. "It's not stopping me from being sent out tomorrow. If we wait long enough for the next wave, there's gonna be heavy casualties... Need to end this at the source before we lose anyone..."

"No! No way, not when you're in this condition!" Celaeno barked as her hand took hold of mine and squeezed it firmly. She looked at me furiously as fresh tears started to creep past the edges of her eyes. "I still owe you! We still owe you!"

I decided to bring up something that happened during that prior battle. One she surely remembered. "Captain... You led a bombing charge on the enemy yesterday... Do you have any idea how many lives you probably saved? That's good enough for me... If everyone here can go home alive, that's good enough for me. You're off the hook."

"That...wasn't for you!" Celaeno almost shouted while she began to avert her eyes in recollection. "I just... I could see that sea of purple even from that far away. I knew the situation was bad and... I radioed in to the rest of the fleet and rallied them together to do our part to thin out the enemy ranks. We didn't receive orders to stay back, so I took charge of the situation and led them. I wonder how many we took out..."

That certainly sounded like Celaeno. Even if she had no professional experience, she was a natural ship captain with a leader's spirit. I would not be surprised if she receives a promotion after the war ends. I then asked, "And it sounds like you're being tasked with evacuating someone?"

She nodded in confirmation now that her eyes locked with mine again. "Yeah... A bunch of VIPs, I was told. I don't know the full story behind them, but Princess Celestia informed me that their survival is the highest priority."

"They happen to be my most important friends. They were there for me...on my very first day in Equestria..." I muttered in fond recollection of that day. I came to this world with nothing and was given what I needed most in a world that proved to be so much unlike my own. A world I was honored to become a part of. A world...that I may very well die preserving tomorrow. I looked at my avian friend and said, "Get them home safe...and you can consider your debt repaid."

She looked so pained. Celaeno wanted to speak, but could not. She simply bowed her head and tightly clasped my hand between both of hers. We had made plans. I was to visit her homeland with her before long. And now everything she knew and expected had been turned on its head. She then eventually asked, "They're not sending you out there tomorrow like this, right...? Can you still fight?"

"Not like this, no... But they'll find a way. There must be a way to stabilize my body enough to fight... Maybe... Wait..." I muttered before my train of thought was interrupted. My thoughts went to a very specific friend in the militia. One skilled in the creation of arcane potions and tonics that probably are not available through modern methods "Maybe...Zecora... If anyone has a way to fix me up, it's her."

"Oh right, the zebra herbalist... You said she just might have something to get me my leg back, right...?" Celaeno replied before I was suddenly reminded of what I had promised her. I wanted to help her get her missing leg back. And Zecora had the means to do it, even if the process would carry risk. But now that day may very well not come. I think Celaeno knew what I was thinking about since I noticed her gaze lower towards her peg leg. "Hey... If you don't make it... Don't worry about this. I've gone this long with a stump on my leg. I'll manage..."

In that instant, I felt like I had let her down. I wanted to fix her. To restore something that had been lost. And now... "I'm sorry..."

"No, James. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't see what was happening down there. I'm sorry I didn't focus our cannons not eh areas around you. We could've thinned things out around you. Eased up the strain... I'm sorry." Celaeno whispered with her fingers rubbing the back of my hand. She then closed her eyes and said, "OK... I get it. Tomorrow, it's all or nothing. I'm pulling for you, all right? And...if all else fails...I'll get your friends back home safe and sound. Captain's honor."

"Thanks, Celaeno... It's been...great flying with you..." I said while forcing a smile. All this did was frustrate her. She hissed with a restrained sob. "Captain...?"

"Oh, shut up. I hate goodbyes. Don't go acting like this is the end. I don't wanna believe it is." She growled before gazing at me with a much softer stare. "I'm rooting for you. We all are. Just...hang in there, all right?"

"I will... Thanks..." I sighed while Celaeno began to release her grasp on my hand. It was clear she wanted to stay longer, but was too upset to say anything else. I watched Celaeno leave in a very reluctant manner. No one came back up right away, but the muffled voices I could hear through the floor... It sounded like Celaeno's crew had tagged along. And they were not taking the news well. But out of all of them, Mullet sounded the most upset. He even sounded genuinely furious and I could swear I heard him punch a wall. I think they were asked to leave after that.

I was alone for a few minutes more. Maud did not return to my side. And when I started to wonder why she had not come back up, I received an answer. One more visitor came knocking. And in stepped a wonderful sight. "Hey there, baby..."

My eyes widened. Novo stepped forward with a mournful stride in her step. She took a seat at my side with her hand gently wrapping around mine. "How're you holding up, my love?"

"I'm managing... I've been kept safe today." I muttered while finding the presence of my future queen to be easily the most reassuring of anyone who had visited thus far. And there was something that needed to be said. "I saw what you did... Thanks for...standing up for me yesterday."

Novo visibly flinched when I said that. Her eyes darted back and forth with her feathers fluffing up in shock before she then snickered softly. "Oh right, they didn't even turn that thing off? You saw all that?"

I nodded with a crooked smirk on my lips. That was a very dramatic yet touching scene to observe. Novo then asked softly, "Then that means...you also heard everything?"

There was only one thing I could say as I remembered everything she did during that meeting. All she did, all she said, and everything that was exchanged between her and Sunflare when it was believed I was no longer watching. I then whispered with a single tear escaping my eyes. "I love you..."

Novo brought her other hand to her face and wept in a delicate fusion of sorrow and joy. "And I...love you so very much, my sweet swan king... I meant everything I said... You convinced me to let myself love again and I've been so much better off from it... You've...done more for me than you know..."

"That's...not all I heard..." I muttered as the love in my heart started to surface a bit higher. It was so very hard to not feel some joy in the loving presence of my beloved bird of paradise. She has always been so good to me and I have always dearly appreciated her.

Novo managed to smile through her tears and draped herself over me in a soft feathery embrace. She cooed sweetly to me, "You sweet thing... I meant every word. I will crown you one day. You will be my king for real. And I will give you so many beautiful little sons and daughters, my sweet papa bear. And I need you to make it tomorrow if that's ever gonna happen. Please, baby... Please live. For me... For the family we both want."

It was a joyous thought. And such a tragic one too. Such a beautiful future...lost forever if either of us would not be there to see it happen. I felt the faintest fire ignite in my heart. Mere embers, but just enough to fill me with the drive to live. I wanted to live. To live for her. And for our future children. Novo had suffered so much already and I was blessed enough to be the one to heal her. Even as she healed me in ways only she could. We need each other. And so I whispered lovingly, "I'll try... I'll do everything I can, love... For you... For everyone."

"There really is no one else out there who loves this world like you do... No one. You wonderful man." Novo cooed as she brought her beak to my lips for the softest kiss she could provide. Those beautiful eyes gazed longingly into mine mournfully while she added, "I hope this world will keep being good to you for as long as you're good to it. Just remember that no matter what, Capricorn Island will always be your home, baby. And someday, it'll be your kingdom too."

"Don't tease me, Novo... Not yet. Don't get my hopes up too high." I pleaded softly as I continued to bask in the cautious yet hopeful love of that wonderful woman. "But please... Stay with me a while? I missed you..."

"I'm staying right here, baby. I missed your voice... I missed your touch... Oh, how lucky we were that you're still mostly in one piece. I don't know what I'd do if you started talking in incomplete sentences or just kept shutting down..." That wonderful queen cooed to me wistfully. I could still remember the horror and grief in her eyes. The rage she directed towards her admiral for my injuries. And now she was calm again and finding the happiness in a bad situation. She was trying to stay optimistic. Because we both had too much to lose to even think about failure.

After a while of almost blissful solitude with my beloved, Novo then whispered something to me. "I was going to ferry my men back home today. Since there won't be anymore battles here on out, there's no point in them staying. But they refused. They're all insisting on staying for you. And I couldn't say no."

This stunned me. There really was no reason for them to stay now that facing the enemy was out of the question. And...they were doing it for me? I had to ask an important question. "Why do they love me so much, Novo..."

"Because you love them, honey." She cooed before kissing me on the ear. Novo then whispered, "You made a wonderful first impression on them when you came to my home. Seaspray had nothing but respect and adoration for you. Sky Beak loves you like you were his own. They all want the best for you because you want the best for them. And they are all in favor of you wearing a crown beside me."

All I could do was close my eyes and whimper in a quiet sob. It was just so much... Even with all the resentment from so many around me, even with all the distrust from the vast majority of my allies, I was not prepared to know there were still so many that refused to allow themselves to doubt me. They still believed in me. Loved me, even. Novo did not try to coax any words out of me and continued to hold me against her soft feathery body. "You are loved, James. You are loved no matter what. Always know that, all right?"

My tears were enough of an answer. And for a while longer, we held each other and savored this moment of respite. And even then, Novo was not done with pampering me in my time of rest. She soon rose from me with a smirk on her beak. "Come to think of it... There's one more thing I can do for you before I head out. Be right back, baby."

"Huh...?" I mumbled while I assumed Novo was about to leave. But instead, she entered my dorm's bathroom. I heard her gathering up some things that I do not believe had been in there before I was brought back to the command center. And she came back out with a couple of rags, a bucket filled with what was probably soapy water, and even a sponge. And then it hit me. "You're...giving me a...sponge bath?"

"Of course, baby. Smells like you've gone more than a day without a good rinse. Let mama take care of you for now." Novo replied without any hesitation or disgust. And she did just that. I did not even have to leave my bed.

This was too much. The concept of being so helpless and having my beloved do something like this for me was too much for my heart to bear. I wept quietly almost the entire time while Novo cleaned me with her own hands as if she had done so many times before. The fact that there was a crown on her head was entirely irrelevant at that moment. To her, I was her man and she was my mare. And she was just being a good wife to the man who would one day be her husband one way or another. Novo... She truly is the best.

"There... So much better. Feeling squeaky clean, honey?" Novo asked while kissing me upon my forehead. She was right. I felt so much better after that. Not at all grimy. She stepped away to dump the contents of the bucket and give the rags and sponge a good rinse before returning to my side. "Now you can sleep easy tonight, sugar bear."

"You're the best... Truly the best. I love you so much right now..." I muttered while trying to not let tears of utter gratitude spill forth. I had cried enough for one day.

"I know I am, hun. I always was. And my man deserves only the best when he's giving his best for this whole world. Even if they don't know it." My beautiful queen cooed while her finger caressed my face. Her eyes looked towards the window. It was dark outside. I could not believe how fast the day went by And she knew I needed rest.

Novo gazed down upon me with a gaze that was only barely hiding her fears. "James... I'm really trying here. I'm trying to not think about what'll happen if you don't come home tomorrow. Please, don't leave me like this... I can't stay knowing what happens tomorrow. I'll be heading out at the crack of dawn and will only come back when the victory bells rings. So please... Do everything you can to make it back alive... I lost Cygnus. I can't lose you too."

I did not want to be pessimistic. I did not want to fully acknowledge the grim reality of the situation. And I could not let myself despair with Novo trying so hard to cling to whatever hope she still had left. I said what I could. "I'll try... There's...too much for me to leave behind..."

"You better believe there is, baby. Don't forget your wife and baby girl waiting at home. I'm not the only one waiting for you to come back safe and sound." Novo whispered before placing a kiss upon my forehead. I was grateful for that reminder. I really was. She then spoke with a loving sigh, "Sleep well, my love. Get all the rest you can..."

"I'll try... Love you, Novo..." I muttered in grief as I watched her depart. It hurt to see her leave after what turned out to be a truly joyous visit in spite of everything that was happening. And only after Novo departed did Maud come back up. And she happened to have a bowl of soup balanced atop her head. I have been restricted to a diet of only liquid foods for now. "Hey... Thanks."

Maud helped me dine while I think she noticed a fragrance over me. Novo did use a soap that smelled pleasant. My friend glanced at me and asked, "Did she give you a bath?"

"Yeah... I needed it." I retorted in brief. Maud had been understanding so far, but I did not want to elaborate too much just yet. And once dinner was over, I noticed the command center had fallen very quiet. Finally... Time to sleep. One last time.

Maud remained by my side with the silence of the night serenaded only by the beeps and hums of the medical equipment in my room. I held out as long as I could to get some more writing done and got pretty far along in this entry, but my eyes were getting too heavy. Maud helped me shift around in bed to get more comfortable before she then asked, "Need some poetry to get to sleep?"

All I did was nod. And then Maud began to whisper to me. She started with a very familiar and beloved poem of hers that I remembered. Right as my mind became too hazy to remember anything that came afterward. "Rocks. These are my rocks. Sediments...make me sedimental. Smooth and round, asleep in the ground, shades of brown and gray..."

My dreams did not go uninterrupted. I found myself in a foggy clearing, the night sky above with a thick mist almost up to my knees. After what happened last night, Luna was quick to enter my dreaming mind to prevent me from conjuring up something too harrowing. The Princess of the Night made her presence known in mere moments. "Hello there... Are you well?"

I took a moment to survey myself. I was in the same condition as when I slept, as usual. Clad in only a pair of gray boxers, I felt the ethereal winds upon my bare skin. Although a sliding of my fingers along my scalp revealed a full head of hair without any signs of harm to my scalp. While I never minded getting my head shaved, it was comforting to feel myself having reverted to a more familiar state. I turned to my royal friend and said, "Yeah, I'm good... Or least I'm better off here than in the real world. It's nice not having broken bones sucking the life out of you. And to not feel dazed every other hour."

"Your body may be ravaged, but your mind always dreams in peace. Sleep is solace. As it should be." Luna replied with a look of relief in her eyes. At least I was safe in her domain as long as she was in my company. The Princess of the Night then asked, "Now then... This is your night. Whatever it is you desire, speak it and I will see to it that you have it."

"Sister... If I may..." A voice spoke from nowhere. A voice we both knew well. A rift opened beside us as a beautiful mare of darkest black stepped through. Nightmare Moon stood before us, her form in the realm of dreams completely unaffected by the wounds she suffered in warfare. The Princess of Dreams turned to me with such a gaze of unease in those beautiful yet exotic eyes. "I have heard...dreadful things about you. Our own men making attempts on your life. Your body all but crippled by an attack from the enemy that once completely ignored you. Tell me, please. Is this true?"

I had difficulty looking her in the eye. "Yeah... At least three separate attempts... More out of desperation than animosity. I don't think they'll try again after the last one. I've had friends protect me and threaten them. And yeah... The enemy hit me when I least expected it. The Hollows during the last battle threw everything at us to keep me from escaping the battlefield alive."

My words rattled her. Nightmare Moon took a step back as a complex gaze of fury and horror filled her eyes. Luna stepped forward to provide further details. "They don't understand... They are desperate to end this war before the next wave can arrive. We narrowly avoided any loss of life, but another attack will doom hundreds to death. We have decreed that should anyone successfully murder him, they are to be put to death immediately. And Ember has volunteered to carry out the task."

"Ember... Yes, very good... She will make them beg for a swift end..." Nightmare Moon growled before sighing in frustration. She could not leave her room in the waking world. How much did she know about the previous battle? The Princess of Dreams then turned to me and said, "Mother and Father have... They told me...what is to happen tomorrow... It's not fair... You have suffered enough. Given so much for our world. You should not have to face this final trial alone..."

"Thank you... That means a lot... Makes it more bearable." I muttered in resignation. I was supposed to be asleep to rest. Not to be reminded of what was to happen the following day. I then felt the need to ask, "But why are you here? Just...to relax with us?"

"Forgive me... I am selfish in being here. But after what I have heard..." Nightmare Moon spoke before falling silent. I think she knew what I was starting to understand. The Princess of Dreams then turned to the Princess of the Night. "Luna... Please summon Celestia. This may very well be our last night together."

Luna nodded without a word and turned to her left. With a flash of her magic, another rift formed before us. And Celestia was standing on the other side. But the visage beyond her... What was she dreaming off? It looked like somewhere in Equestria I had seen, but...not the same. As if...bits of Earth's architecture had been assimilated into it. I flinched as I processed what little I saw. Was she dreaming of what may become of Equestria were we to fail tomorrow? "Sister...?"

"Oh, thank you..." Celestia retorted when she looked back at us. She jumped through the rift before it could close behind her and greeted us with a thankful smile. "I needed this... Too much on my mind. Thank you for inviting me."

Her smile faded instantly when Celestia realized why she was there with us. She gazed upon me and immediately stepped into my embrace. Her beautiful wings draped over me. I heard her voice whisper into my ear. "I'm so sorry this is happening... I never wanted this for you when we summoned you to our world... I wish I could make this all go away..."

One by one, they all stepped forward. I was wrapped in the soothing feathered embrace of the three royal sisters. Dear friends and lovers I had experienced so much with during the past two years of my life. Two years that felt like a small eternity in hindsight. And I felt content at that moment. If I was going to spend one more night in blissful slumber, I wanted to spend it with the ones who had allowed me to taste paradise in the first place. But this did not stop Nightmare Moon from considering my needs. "We will remain here with you. Or you may remain alone in a dreamscape of your choosing."

"Please stay. Being alone is the last thing I need right now..." I replied while holding them all the best my arms would allow. And they did. The three beautiful royal sisters did not desert me. They held me and remained with me.

Now that Celestia was able to get a good look at me outside the realm of reality, she cast such a relieved yet somber smile towards me. "You look...so much better here. Like nothing ever happened."

"Yeah, I noticed too." I retorted with at least a modest attempt at wit. They all smiled. Just a single moment of respite in spite of all that had been happening.

Nightmare Moon then placed a kiss upon my cheek before she said, "Now then... This night is your night. Whatever it is you want, whatever it is you wish to see... Say the word and we shall make it so."

"My choice? In that case... Gimme a minute." I retorted with my mind starting to wander. I paced about in thought, arms crossed with head bowed. This very well could have been the last time I got to enjoy a full night of sleep. My dreaming mind was able to conjure whatever I wanted with a little assistance from the two night sisters. Or...I could ask them to bring in whoever may also be sleeping. And as my eyes fell upon Celestia, the only outsider there who could not visit on her own power, I had a sudden epiphany. I felt compelled to at least try to accomplish something worthwhile when we still had the chance.

My heart was filled with anxiety as I contemplated what I was about to request. The one person I did not want to see, yet felt compelled to speak to. "There is something I need... Please. Take me to the emperor."

The looks of disbelief in their eyes. It was not something they anticipated. And Nightmare Moon was the first to speak. "I...see the logic in your words. But...I cannot recall if I informed you of this before. I have attempted to peer into the emperor dreams several times. And I have found that he does not rest. He does not sleep. Even for a moment. As much as I wish to grant your request, I cannot bring you into the dream of one is remains awake..."

I was not in the mood to compromise. I needed to see our enemy before that fateful encounter. I had questions that only he had answers too. "Please... Can we at least try?"

"I can see you will not be deterred this time... Very well. Luna? Let's be off." Nightmare Moon declared before she turned to lead us along. The three royal sisters escorted me through the fog while that sea of mist began to shrink further and further below us until only a vast void of black was spread out around us. I would have been terrified had they not been there. Although Nightmare Moon did speak, "This will not be a pleasant experience, my dear. I hope you are certain this is what you want."

"I don't want it. I need it. And I think we all do... Huh?" I replied before we all stopped. Another rift formed before us. And through it stepped two familiar alicorns. "Your majesties? You can get here too?"

"I may not have the sort of mastery over the dream realm that my daughters do, but the night is still my domain. And they had to acquire that power from somewhere." Orbash spoke with a hint of wit in his delivery. But even his unfaltering smile faded as the moon king gazed upon us forlornly. Neither he nor Sunflare could bring themselves to appear even the faintest bit jovial. "Forgive me, my boy... I know you must rest, but..."

"No, don't apologize. I appreciate the company, your majesties. I'm honored." I retorted at the first opportunity. I have grown to adore that wonderful king of unparalleled kindness. Although I almost took a step back when Sunflare stepped forward towards me. "Uh... Yes?"

The fiery sun queen gazed upon me with such a profound frown of regret. She looked almost apologetic. And without a word, she closed her eyes and bowed her head. Her long central horn rested atop my brow before she finally spoke. "Bless you, child."

I stood there and waited, but no other words came. This display of simple tenderness almost felt alien from someone who had tried to destroy me once before. To go from ruthlessly trying to destroy me to showing such unabashed gentleness... From a searing inferno to a gentle flickering flame. I suspect Sunflare is a mare of extremes. Feeling I should not stay silent, I provided a small word of thanks. "I...appreciate it, your majesty."

The sun queen then lifted her head and turned her attention to her daughters. "Now that we are here... What do you have planned?"

They glanced at me before Celestia spoke first. "We are...going to speak to the emperor. Our friend here wants answers."

"The emperor will be no more by the time the sun sets tomorrow. One way or another... Now is as good a time as any if you wish to speak to our old friend one last time." Sunflare replied while not looking or sounding entirely comfortable with the suggestion of seeing an old friend who had long since worn out his welcome.

Now in the company of the five most powerful ponies in the long history of Equestria, I marched on. And at the end of that void, a rift began to form. One that was filled with an almost royal or heavenly glow. Luna spoke first. "There... That's him."

The rift that formed before us was not like any I had seen before. It was veiled. We could not see what was beyond it. A window into the mind of one who was entirely awake. Nightmare Moon then said, "I do not believe we will even be able to get through that... Even I cannot enter the minds of those who remain awake."

"That's fine..." I grumbled as I felt a fire burning in my gut now that I was closer than ever before to actually seeing the one responsible for this entire mess. A paragon of the human race in the world of Equestria, now forever disgraced as quite possibly the foulest traitor in the world's long history. The very knowledge of being even remotely affiliated with the man on the other side of that rift filled me with a burning sense of shame and disgust. And as I took a step forward, that bile in my gut began to boil. "If we can visit him, we'll drag him out here."

The royal family could sense the festering animosity in me as I approached the rift into the very thoughts and desires of our enemy. They stayed back. And once I was standing before the veiled rift, I spoke firmly to it. "I know you're there, old man."

I tried reaching out to the rift, placing my hand upon it to push through. And while it did bend inward just slightly, it did not give. This sturdy resistance started to pique my frustration as I sighed harshly in a growing fury. The memories started to come to the forefront of my mind. Weeks of miserable marching across the Empty Plains. Subjecting the people of Equestria to horrific concepts that had no place in their society. So many wounded and brought to the brink of death. All because...of just one man. "Do you have any idea the damage you've wrought on this world? What you've done to us? To me?"

I pounded my fist onto the veil. It rippled, but did not break. Knowing my bare fists were nowhere close enough, I looked back at the royal family and held out my hand. "My sword!"

There was no objection. With a flash from Nightmare Moon's horn, a familiar weapon appeared in my grasp. The pure white blade of the Celestial Sword glowed brilliantly in that void. And with my trusty sword in both hands, I smashed the blade against the veil. There was very little that blade's edge would not cut. And unfortunately, that veil was one of the few things that could resist it. I nearly lost balance when I was pushed back, but smashed the blade against the veil again and again. "Get out here! I want answers!"

Nothing. No response and no progress. And as I contemplated how else I could possibly get through, my companions stepped forward. They joined me at my sides in a row. And their eyes were filled with an awakened glare of disgust. I was not the only one frustrated with the old fool. And they had suffered with the memories of his betrayal for far longer than I had. This would be their last chance to try and get some closure out of their old friend. Together, we began to take turns in trying to at the very least get the old man's attention. Whether he could hear us or not.

I took another swing at the veil, making a few hard slashes and even took my sword into a reverse grip to plunge the blade into it to try and stab my way through. I had to take a step back as Celestia threw herself into the veil with a fiery charge. It still held while she staggered back with her golden aura of flames fading. She began to bombard the veil with potent bursts of magic from her horn even as she called out with such a wounded tone in her voice. "A thousand years! More than a thousand years later and I still can't understand you! You stood with us since the very beginning! What changed, old friend?! When did our people become so little to you?!"

Luna charged in next. She summoned massive pillars of enchanted blue ice that she began to smash against the veil to try and break her way through. It still held, but it did not stop her from roaring out her most deeply buried grievances. "You took them all captive! Shackled them like livestock! They spoke of domestication! Did you seek to break us all?! To reduce us to mere fodder?!"

Nightmare Moon was next. She summoned a storm of lightning from above. A torrent of blue lightning tried to drill its way through the veil as the furious Princess of Dreams roared with her eyes aglow. "What was it all for, old fool?! Even the few who remained were forced to bear the chains of your sins! They rejected your offers of treachery and still suffered for it! Your empire is dust, your people banished, your name forgotten! All because you could not resist the temptation to reach higher than you should! Tell me, you wretch! Was it all worth it?!"

Such bitterness in their words. I was about to take another swing at the veil as soon as their magical assaults halted, but I had to jump back. Orbash and Sunflare smashed themselves into the veil while shrouded in surging vermilion and silver auras. Even the unparalleled magical might of the king and queen of Equestria failed to even crack the veil. Orbash shouted, his voice filled with an uncharacteristic rage and profound disappointment. "You were like a brother to me! You held your empire together against all odds when the world fell into chaos! I thought you did the impossible, but even you could not resist the temptations of a mad god! You were supposed to be better than this! How can you bring yourself to continue this after all you've already thrown away?!"

At last, Sunflare unleashed a wave of raw solar magic into the veil for several seconds before even she relented. And her words were arguably the most poignant of all. "Everything was as it should be! Equestria earned its very name because of all you and our people achieved! How could you just cast all of that history aside?! Your people inspired ours while they always guided you! Even in Equestria's darkest days, you needed us as much as we needed you! What changed?! Equestria would not be where it is now had humanity not been there with us at the start! What made you decide we were no longer needed?! That we were no longer your equals?!"

Their bitterness seeped into me and drove me on. I rushed forward and began to plunge my sword's blade into the veil over and over, desperately trying to stab my way through. And it was all for naught. Even after all that, there was no signs of the veil breaking. But I would not be deterred. The royal family stood back to give me room and let me get my fury out. But it was futile if I could not reach him.

I raised may sword high, ready to stab again. Teeth bared as I was filled with a bitter wrath, I contemplated my options. I just wanted to get to him. To spite him in any way I could. And then I had a horrible idea. If I could not get to the emperor directly, I would spite him by proxy. Any and all self-preservation in me being suppressed by hate, I stabbed my sword down and plunged it right through myself.

The pain was exquisite. Like nothing I had ever felt. I could feel the subtle warmth of the Celestial Sword's glowing blade radiating through my torso, the pain only fueling my rage instead of discouraging me. But my companions... They did not share my thoughts. A silence filled the air for just a few seconds before I heard Celestia shriek in horrified sorrow. The only one who could find the will to speak was Orbash. "What the devil are you doing?!"

"Is this what you want, old man?!" I yelled with the taste of iron building in the depths of my throat. I swiftly pulled my sword free, much of its white blade now stained a brilliant liquid crimson that glowed a terrifying red. A glow...that felt hauntingly familiar. Too furious to feel any shred of fear, I plunged my sword through myself again. Anything to spite the fool responsible for all the hell we had gone through. "Is this what I gotta do to make it all stop?!"

For a brief moment, that was all I felt. The rage. The pain. The sheer resentment of everything that had been happening up to that point. Over and over, I impaled myself on my own sword. Praying that the emperor could feel what I was feeling. I convinced myself that this was effective. That I was making him suffer through my own suffering. I counted each stab. Seven. Eight. Nine... But before I could plunge my sword through me a tenth time, I heard Nightmare Moon scream with a pleading wail. "ENOUGH!!!"

Her magic aura coated the Celestial Sword and tore it from my grasp. The sword clattered along the unseen floor as this sudden interruption brought me back to my senses just enough to realize what I was doing to myself. The pain...paralyzed me. Shock began to set in. And I fell back into the winged embrace of someone behind me. The magic of the night sisters was quick to close the wounds in my body, but my nerves were still alight. I could see the crimson glow of the stained blade of the Celestial Sword. When I still found myself reaching out for it, a voice spoke firmly from beside my head. "Stop."

Sunflare. She was the first to catch me. Her wing holding me, she lowered me and herself to the floor. I cast my gaze at the veiled rift before us. I could not cut my way through. I could not reach the emperor. I could not even hurt him through my own suffering. Even when I tied to just get something as basic as answers out of him, I failed. Hopelessness overtook me and I finally...broke. I slumped into the winged embrace of the sun queen and wept. But even as my tears flowed, she nuzzled my face most tenderly and whispered the kindest thing I had ever heard out of her. "Stay beneath my wings...and I will keep the darkness away."

They all gathered around me. The entire royal family of Equestria held and rested against me. Wrapping me with their bodies. I felt Celestia and Nightmare Moon place tender kisses upon my face. Kisses stained with their own tears. The Princess of the Dawn then pleaded, "Father... Sisters, we shouldn't stay here. There's nothing but bad memories in the air. We shouldn't be opening old wounds tonight."

"I concur. Allow me... A place we can all find solace in." Luan replied before she put her magic to work. The void began to ripple and be filled with shapes and color. And instead of a flat surface, I soon felt soft and faintly warm sand beneath me. The starry night sky was above. And the sound of ocean waves washing over the coast reached my ears. The air was warm... A tropical beach? It would not be the first time I had visited such a location in my dreams alongside the royal sisters...

My tears no longer quite flowing, I looked around from where I was seated. Indeed, it looked like a seaside resort that would not be out of place in Cantercun. An ideal location to relax in. The resort itself was behind us with only the dark warm tropical ocean spread out before us. Orbash sounded pleased by the choice in location. "Ah, it's so long since I last saw the ocean in the tropics..."

Even though it was time to relax, they were very reluctant to leave my side. And I did not want to move for a while. One by one, the royal family rose to their hooves and stepped away. But not Sunflare. She never once released me from her wing. The sun queen kept me by her side while I continued to wallow in bitter despair. I sighed harshly while she remained perpetually silent. She would not speak if I did not want to be spoken to. So I spoke first. "It all feels so hopeless..."

"Do not despair yet, child. Tomorrow will be the day of truth. Nothing will be certain until you see the emperor with your own two eyes." Sunflare replied with steadfast conviction. Whatever they had planned, she sounded convinced I would make it to the Heaven's Pillar. As for what happens when I do get there... Who can say?

Her words did little to soothe my worries. I could still remember the first time she and I met. The ruthless conviction she showed when she did all she could to honorably slay me in single combat. She hated me at the time, I was convinced of it. And by then, I understood why. "I won't hold it against you if you hate me..."

Sunflare's response was not one I anticipated. She gently nuzzled my head as if I was her own foal. "Do not say that... I hold no ill will towards you, bearer of Humanity."

I was not convinced. I said nothing while I just gazed out at the darkened ocean before us. Her warmth basking over me, I heard Sunflare continue to speaking almost mournfully. "I made...a foolish decision that day. An act fueled by desperation... By bitter memories you had no part in. I see that now. I see that I made a mistake that day. A mistake that just might have benefited our enemy without my knowledge had I succeeded. Forgive me, child... I made a grave error."

This very sincere declaration caught my attention. I slowly turned my gaze up at the sun queen while she looked down at me from mere inches away. The fire in those eyes was gone. Now only embers remained. She again lowered her horn to rest atop my head and said, "My daughters adore you. They would resent me had I taken you from them. And I now see why. You have been very good to them. And been very good to my world and its people. Bringing you to this world was not a mistake. And I thank you for living up to their expectations."

Where was this coming from? The first time we crossed paths, she tried to destroy me. Now Sunflare was easily being the kindest she had ever been to me. Unsure of how to respond to this, I tried to throw in a bit of wit. For my sake as well. "Does that mean...you're in favor of receiving grandchildren?"

Once again, that topic caught her entirely by surprise. Sunflare hilarious started to stammer and sputter while my despair started to make way for a crooked grin of levity on my lips. I needed this. And she finally scowled at me and asked, "Just what kind of ideas has my husband been feeding you when I'm not around?"

I could not speak. I could only smirk impishly at the sun queen while she glared very dryly at me. She soon rolled her eyes and said, "It's...too soon to be discussing that. Not during wartime. I don't have an answer for you."

I then asked a sincere question while turning my gaze back to the ocean before me. "Does that mean...you don't approve of Celestia and I...being together?"

She said nothing at first. It was a daring thing to bring up, to be sure. I was courting the eldest daughter of the most powerful and terrifying mare in all of Equestria. Had I known what Celestia's mother is actually like, I might have been too wary to ever consider becoming more than just friends. Although I soon got an answer. "Please continue to be good to my child... She has taken a great risk by opening her heart to you."

"I will... I...love her so much..." I muttered softly with my thoughts going out to the beautiful Princess of the Dawn. It has always been a relationship that has carried more weight than most. One that needs to be handled carefully. And that...has made it so fulfilling whenever we are alone together and away from the world.

"And I can see she loves you. When she defied me like that... I knew why." Sunflare muttered softly beside my ear. Her wing tightened its embrace over me. Holding me almost protectively against her body. In the embrace of the sun queen, I felt untouchable. About as safe as I could be. And she continued to speak kind words to me. "You have made her very happy. Whatever may come in the future, I hope you two will continue to find joy together."

"Thank you, your majesty..." A sigh hissed from my lips and nostrils. To find peace with the sun queen was something I had deemed an impossibility at one time. It felt...soothing in a strange way. To find approval with the most ancient and powerful of all ponies, the true holders of the crown, was an honor. I knew this to be true. But my heart was so sunken at the time that I could not fully appreciate it.

We finally rose from the sand and made our way to the resort behind us. Even under the cover of night, the place was still expecting patrons with torches lit to provide an air of activity and needed light sources. I was not in the mood for anything beyond a drink. Strawberry and banana was my choice.

All five of them were gathered around me at a table floating in a pool. Although Sunflare was careful to keep her glowing ethereal mane of vermilion warmth from getting wet. It was calm, yet somber. And while we sipped at our drinks, I felt it was a good time to bring me up to speed on how things would go in the coming waking hours. "So then... What's the plan tomorrow? I'm no condition to fight as is. How will we fix that?"

Orbash took a long slurp of his smoothie before he looked at me. "We've enlisted the aid of a certain herbalist who has access to quite the encyclopedia of archaic remedies. The only zebra in the militia, if I am not mistaken."

It was as I suspected. If anyone was going to have something on hand that could stabilize my condition, it was Zecora. Luna was also quick to speak up on her behalf. "She provided vital aid in the aftermath of the battle yesterday. Her powerful potions greatly eased the strain on our medical supplies. I'm certain many of the wounded owe her their lives."

"She's always been reliable..." I replied while always being able to find what I was looking for whenever I visit her. Zecora always has a cure for whatever ailment, from what I have seen. I then asked, "And...she has something to fix my head?"

Sunflare nodded while she explained, "Yes. A recipe most potent that requires ample time for preparation. It should be ready around noon tomorrow. Once applied, you should feel as if you are not wounded at all. Although the effects are said to be temporary, you should have enough time to finish your mission and return before the effects can wear off."

"I certainly hope so... Got too much to leave behind..." I mumbled before gulping down more of my drink. Not much later after that, I was relaxing in a hot tub. And like before, the royal family gathered around me and each other. I made no attempt to resist them. They all huddled together around me. Almost like they were welcoming me into their family...

And then it happened. The world quivered for an instant. And then again. It was already almost time. All while I felt like I had squandered my time in what may be the last time I would ever find solace in sleep. "Over already...?"

"Shush. You will be good hooves soon. Be brave, my dear. Carry on and return to us alive. Please..." Nightmare Moon whispered to me as she placed a kiss upon my cheek. And from there on out, we had no words. All we had was each other.

My vision was eventually clouded by a white void. And my senses became more clouded. I felt fatigued and so weak. M eyes opened lazily as my ears detected familiar beeps and hums. The reality of the situation dawned on my once again.

Today is the day. As I write this with what little time I have left, I am trying to not think about the full scope of the situation. I am trying to not despair. The only comfort I can take is knowing that the end is nigh. This war will end today, one way or another. And yet...

This feeling... Locked in my room with Maud Pie at my side like a guard outside a cell... I feel as if I am waiting a death sentence before I am to be escorted out of my cell and down the hall only to be seated in the electric chair before an audience.

This mission may very well kill me, but what other option do we have? Just wait for the enemy to storm the camp and kill us all? I am terrified, but I would much rather go out doing something useful over waiting here and doing nothing. We are out of time. The emperor will not wait. Anymore waiting may doom us.

I can hear them downstairs. It is almost time. I will probably be leaving this room within the hour.

What will I find there? What truths will be revealed to me once I stand before the emperor forgotten by his own world? I want answers and I will soon have them. And if I do not live to return home...

At least Equestria will not miss me.