Celestia and Luna vanished to the armory, and returned donning fitted armor for their impressive stature. It was without question, stunning – the craftsmanship of ponies could be unchallenged in the right hooves. And in this case, this was entirely true.

Brandishing their own weapons, Celestia held her halberd aloft – giving it a gentle spin in her magic. Once again feeling the weight of it in her hooves, as Umbra reappeared with a soft laugh.

“Oh? Remembering wonderful times, Princess?” She gave a fang-heavy smile, recognizing the blade all too well.

“I would be, on brighter days, in a past life. But now? No, I’m afraid not. Umbra, I’m sorry.”

“And I as well.” Luna joined her, carrying a beautiful silvery blade on her back. “Thou have become our greatest ally – and dare we say it – even a friend, in these trying times. In a different world, We would have never fought – and would have become fast allies, of that We are sure.”

Celestia and Luna both bowed to Umbra, who had difficulty registering all of the emotions hitting her at once.

“You are welcome at our table any time, Umbra. And… We both have a gift for you.”

Celestia opened the door to the armory, inviting her inside. “When we last fought, and Luna and I were triumphant – you turned to shadow, and left your armor behind. We had our blacksmiths reconstruct the pieces decades ago, albeit with a less… malevolent aura.”

Past the mails and plates, the crossbows and swords – in a display case sat a regal set of ornate, silver armor. Linked pieces that gave excellent protection to direct blows situated over the torso, ornate hoof guards with interlinking plates to allow total freedom of movement – it was missing a royal red cape, and instead had proper armor across the back to prevent aerial attacks. A fashioned half helm allowed a horn to poke free, and grant full visibility – with added protection to the ears.

Umbra sat on the floor, looking over her long forgotten armor with a swirl of emotions. Its been so long since she properly felt anything, it was just… so hard to describe. Celestia and Luna parted – standing on either side of the display before their horns touched the glass. It vanished, and Celestia’s magic plucked the mask from the stand, gently placing it in Umbra’s hooves.

The red fitting over top had been replaced with a proper emerald, to match her beautiful eyes. Slowly, she took it up – sliding it over her horn as the familiar armor fitted so well in place. It was meant for her.

When she left the armory, she felt not like her old self. Not like a Queen, or royalty – but instead, a Hero. It’s what she could be. She could save ponies, not harm them. She could use the Umbrum’s power for good.

She looked out at the quickly approaching fleet, stepping to the rail of the Living Quarter’s outer wall. Luna and Celestia reappeared from the armory, more gear in tow. This being for Arin, and Vapor Cloud. A helm for the pegasus, and chaps – along with a fine hood – for the Seraph. Built for battle, the helm matched Vapor’s custom fitted chest piece, giving the best protection for his head. Arin’s new chaps were made of the same dragonhide and mithril combination, his hood giving him better protection without restraining his ability to see.

Umbra hardly noticed the happy voices behind her, focused instead on the approaching Seraph. That is where she wanted to be, right now. She saw Twilight struggling to save her world – trying so valiantly to stave off the tide. And that is what she wanted. To use her powers for great things.

Arin appeared by her side, resting a hand over her armored back. “I can see it. You want to fight, don’t you?”

She didn’t speak, only nod.

“For yourself, or?…”

“No. I do not care for the Umbrum or their dark magics any longer, nor am I interested in being vain. I wish to fight for my friends, for my… my home.”

“They say your home is where your heart is…” Celestia approached from behind, a gentle smile on her lips. “And your heart is here, in Equestria. Umbra, you’re an Equestrian, through and through.”

Celestia’s gold clad hoof joined Arin’s hand, as the first true volley fired forth from the Star Fall Fleet – dozens of canons ringing out as the rounds soared through the sky. The individual ships of Leotoln’s brigade immediately sprung up glowing magical barriers.

Because of the distance, Canterlot’s Military had just enough time to set up a ship wedge blockade protecting the castle from a direct attack. And with the mountain on Canterlot’s West bank, the approaching army would have to fly around the peaks – taking defensive fire from the Equestrians – or push East, around the line, and out of range of the cannonballs. But both situations were advantageous for Canterlot, because an East push meant that they would be fortified with long range ground artillery on their approach, including trebuchets. Essentially doubling their offensive capability. And going around the mountain would give them cover – but it would also give the Equestrian Fleet time to ready a massive broadside when they made it to the other side.

“I chose this mountain for a reason. The air is too thin to fly much higher than the tallest point of the Castle, with a warship.” Celestia explained, as more flashes of color erupted from the approaching ships. “And if they try to charge in, like they’re doing now, they’ll exhaust their magic before they can even get close.”

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case for one ship in particular. Even Arin knew its name – the famous and prized Cantis Array, the biggest Wartime Ariship of Alma Sol. The other vessels fell behind it in a spear formation, each shot either falling short into the forest below – or bouncing harmlessly off of a multitude of magic auras across the figurehead. Very rarely did a shot manage to hit an unprotected piece of the hull, wood shards ripping through the air.

The distance grew shorter by the minute, Cannonballs crashing into magic or wood, but never anything critical.

“There must be something we can do, Princess. If this keeps up, they’ll be able to turn for a broadside, and I don’t think the mages aboard any of the Star Fall fleet could handle that many blasts.” Vapor Cloud pointed out, “They could be moving to board our ships, right as we speak.”

“Impossible.” Arin explained, “Most seraphs aren’t well suited for long distance flight, especially this high. Only the more powerful ascendend could sustain flight indefinitely, with more minor soldiers best adept at gliding under a heavy load, such as armor. They would need more height to attempt it, or get much closer.”

“I thought you weren’t good with enemy tactics?” Vapor Cloud teased.

“There’s a difference between common knowledge and having their battle strategy on hand.” Arin withdrew the bow from his back, nocking an arrow in preparation. Each moment, the impending ships grew ever closer, the tension rising. By now, twelve royal guards had joined them on this side of the wall – and even their steely looks showed worry.

“Have you named that bow yet, Arin?” Vapor Cloud drew close to his side, Sun Song gracing his muzzle. The ships were now in boarding range, and already, a stir of activity began to form on the upper decks.

“I’ve been sitting on it for a while, but not yet.”

“Best do it now, in case something happens. It’s good to give historic weapons names, y’know?”

Luna stepped away from Celestia’s side, black armor gleaming menacingly in the daylight.

“Sonata.” She said quietly. “Nocturne is a song of the night, a dreamy duo meant to inspire beauty and passion. A Sonata is a solo instrument, accompanied by a piano. Let thy arrows ever fly true, my knight – like the expert pluckings of a violin, supported by Our ivory keys.”

“Luna, that is the most cheesy thing I’ve ever heard in my life.” Vapor said from Arin’s right, “But also, fitting. Well, that answers my question, I guess.”

“Sonata, huh?…” Arin fumbled the bow, enjoying the fine wood of it. It was always such a beauty.

“On your guard!” Celestia called impatiently to the group. Dozens of armored Seraphs took flight – leaving their ships unguarded as several broadsides rang out at once. Within seconds, of the once fifty strong – only thirty eight remained of the Seraph fleet, others sporting heavy damage as balloons deflated and hulls collapsed around them. At the last moment, the Cantis Array parted to the East, a heavy evasive turn revealing the deadly canons.

Immediately, shots rang out – as it fired upon their own men aboard the vessels, sinking Equestria’s own Flagship Vessel – the Pontis Recurve.

A gap opened before them, as pegasi and other soldiers swarmed the front deck of the collapsing vessel, abandoning ship with Seraphs gaining behind. The soldiers came equipped with parachutes for the Unicorns and Earth Ponies – but the Seraphs took their precious time slicing the chutes to ribbons as they fell, before the still living Ascended rejoined the Cantis Array.

Celestia covered her muzzle, pulling her eyes away from the stony mountain so far below as dozens of her soldiers fell from the sky – out of range of magical assistance, and to close to the invading enemy’s front line to intercept them. Luna rejoined her side, resting a wing against her.

Arin bowed his head for a moment, in respect for the fallen soldiers, before turning his attention back to the battle.

With a hole opened in the defensive line, it gave little time for the now swarmed ships to readjust and plug the gap – allowing three smaller enemy vessels to break their defense and push into Canterlot Air Space. The sound of Trebuchets churning behind them slammed massive payloads of stone into the shuddering shields of the first vessel, the core wood of the ship cracking as it fell apart – balloon escaping it up above before the fiery remainsplummeted before them.

The other two were lucky, and managed to evade the deadly payloads, as the Seraphs aboard began to dismount in a furious charge.

Arin looked to Luna for confirmation, and at her command, drew Sonata’s string, aiming high – and firing. His first shot nailed his target in the shoulder, snaking through the Seraph’s body as the powerful bow gleamed in his hands. The man died on the spot, falling limply through the air as Arin drew another blue-feathered arrow.

But in that split second, return fire was launched – six arrows seeking to return the favor, Celestia’s barrier just barely intercepting them in time. The Unicorns around her charged their horns, and the pegasi guards aimed heavy Crossbows at the ready.

“Fire at will. Don’t volley – they’ll break them with magic.” She commanded calmly. Bolts and magic whizzed past her head freely, Arin’s own arrow taking down one of the Archers as they broke the close range line. A few scant shields sprung up, but without timing, they were shredded by the Equestrian line.

Four more fell to their wounds, and the remaining dozen or so landed roughly on the wall. Blades drawn, and ready for battle.

Sonata was stashed, as the clatter of unloaded crossbows filled the air – blades aplenty drawn and at the ready. Celestia and Luna both gave a warcry and galloped into battle, leading the push as Arin unsheathed Nocturne.

He pumped his legs, running at the grounded Seraphs as a wave of magical flame lashed out towards them. Keenly blocked by Luna’s shield, her horn flashed – blasting the offending Seraph’s armor a new hole.

One of the gold clad guards took a heavy gash at the neck, narrowly avoiding their armor as he collapsed to Arin’s side – Nocturne cutting through the air in a deadly arc against the offender, crashing into steel and shattering it to frozen pieces. The blade sunk into the Ascended’s chest, quickly withdrawn as Arin fell back to Luna’s side.

Sun Song cleaved through another Seraph’s armor like butter, gashing deep into the growling soldier as one of the Ascended managed to slash his leg with a sword. With an angry whirl and kick, a dent formed in the same intruding Seraph’s chest as Sun Song cleaved through a helm. Celestia’s halberd came down hard on Vapor’s first target, ending him in one stroke.

Above, three arrows were narrowly blocked by Luna – who retaliated with a blue beam of magic. The archers flapped out of the way with ease, magic-infused arrows pulsing forward again, cracking her barrier – but failing to penetrate.

Arin instantly sheathed Nocturne, and took out Sonata again – and side by side with Luna, he nocked an arrow and nodded to her.

The barrier fell, and Arin’s arrow lodged itself into the helm of a now dead Seraph, Luna’s magic coursing forward and outright decapitating another. Only one Archer remained above, and he took a wild, flame-infused shot at Arin.

He gave a rough grunt, the burning arrow slamming with a potent thunk against his leg, the first two inches penetrating the dragon scale and mithril chaps. He stumbled back, missing his next arrow, and just barely avoiding a flame bolt directed at his side. The flaming projectle crashed against the stone wall, exploding with a blast.

Umbra’s magic slammed hard into the remaining Archer, cutting him in half. She turned to shadow as a blade coursed through her body – phasing right through her, whirling darkness turning to plunge her curved horn right through the steel chest plate of another Seraph.

Honey Rose – not even trained to fight – appeared from behind the magic casting Seraph, clapping two sponges comically over his eyes. Funnily enough, they were full of soap – a devastating blow as the now blind Seraph was easily dispatched by a guard. You’d think she’d be cowering from battle, being an untrained civilian, but all of those war stories from the elderly at Canterlot High Hopes really started to pay off.

As the battle began to wane, and the small group of attackers were losing numbers, a rattling boom from above followed a crash of stone. A cannonball nearly missed the main group by several feet, taking one of their Royal Guard’s legs with it. He yelped, falling to the floor in agony – Honey Rose darted in to the rescue as she scooped him up, and quickly carted him back within the safety of the castle walls. Another guard followed, a satchel with a cross on his side – horn gleaming to stop the bleeding.

Dispatching the last Seraph with a clean sweep of her halberd, Celestia stood in the gore that surrounded them. Eyes like pinpricks, irrelevant to the cannon fire above. She looked around her in shock, Luna helping the now limping Arin to keep up with the retreating guards.

It took a heavy slap from Umbra to pull her out of the daze. “Move!” She hissed, turning to shadow as a broadside above sounded.

Puling herself out of it, the Princess ran for the shelter of the castle – six craters forming where the battle took place not more than a second before.

Vapor Cloud roughly slammed the oaken door shut behind him, and with two more guard’s help – rammed the massive reinforced barricade over the hooks.

Celestia dropped her halberd, her blood covered hooves raising up to meet her eyes. She looked at the red smothering the gold, shaking.

She hadn’t taken a life in so long, that the shock came back to her at the worst of times. Luna couldn’t help her snap out of it – she was too busy mending wounds of the injured men, including Arin, and stopping the other soldier from bleeding out from the loss of his leg.

Umbra stood before her again, and with a quick yoink – grabbed her horn and brought her to eye level.

“Celestia. Look into my eyes. You have killed before, and you can not perish now. We need your leadership, I…”

Umbra took a moment to spit it out, but… “I need your leadership. I used to think myself as a Queen, a Leader. But I am nothing compared to you. Get yourself together, and lead us.”

And that was all it took for her to come back to her senses. She flicked the blood off of her hooves, her hammering heart steadying.

“You’re… yes. Honey Rose, move our injured to the infirmary – the medic on staff will be able to treat them better than a field kit. Everypony else, on me – we can’t defend all wings of the castle at once, and with our defensive line broken, it’s likely we’ll see an escalade on the housing quarters. We’ll fortify the main hall, and fall back towards the main gates – using the primary East-West hallway as a funnel point to slow their advance, while our siege engineers work on dismantling their air ships.”

She turned to an uninjured gold-clad pegasi. “Deliver these orders to Thorn Bush – we’ll drop the gate to move able-bodied stallions in here. Once she has these orders, help raise the portcullis on her command, understood?”

“Yes, your majesty.”

The door rattled behind them in the tower’s hallway, followed by a massive BANG; the wood shaking on its reinforced hinges.

“Let’s move. We don’t have much time.”

---

The fortifications of the event hall’s exterior entryways was a success – roof access denied by iron doors and steel gates, held back by defenders on machicolations above each doorway. Giving up the housing quarters against an aerial assault was the best idea, as it meant that a direct confrontation had to be done through the Soldier’s hold of the front gardens.

And regardless of how many soldiers Leotoln had, it wasn’t likely to be more than Equestria’s military without his reinforcements. The Cantis Array, marred with burnt wood but still the prized and majestic airship it once was, rammed their mighty lion figurehead into the broadside of another prime Equestrian War Vessel of the Star Fall fleet – splinters of wood and now distant yells of orders reaching the ears of the castle defenders from within the walls.

By their count, the defensive line was breaking – the Cantis Array had weakened the left side enough to allow more Seraph ships entry into Canterlot Airspace, and give them chances for return fire. The casualties mounting, the numbers weren’t on their side at the moment.

Canterlot had 14 remaining air ships, excluding the Comet’s Rush fleet – which was drifting low over Ponyville, limiting the loss of civilian life as the blaze continued. They wouldn’t be much help, either, if they joined the fight – torn to shreds by southern facing broadsides and with only light guns, the best they could do was be a mild distraction for the invading troops, and a costly one at that.

And invade they did. With their air support crumbling, of the remaining 28 Seraph ships, another three pushed into their ground line to take out their siege weaponry. Holes opening in their defenses and ships sinking left and right, it was all a number’s game. One they weren’t winning.

Celestia used her magic to summon a quill, inkpot, and parchment – writing a hurried letter to Twilight.

“Now, it’s all about creating as much time as possible. I was hoping Twilight would be here by now, and it’s not a good sign if she isn’t.” She said, puffing the letter away in a cloud of ethereal smoke. “She’s our last chance at victory.”

---

King Leotoln lounged lazily in the Captain’s quarters of the Cantis Array, his few generals gathered around him. He sat before a war table of the rocking ship, pieces and pawns loosely sticking to the map of Canterlot.

Regardless of the important political talk around him, he was disinterested. In fact, his mind was elsewhere. Boiling anger rippling through him, at the loss of well over half of his army. Dozens of ships, left to rot above Milla Serine, just south of the Capitol.

“Your Majesty, we have pressed above Canterlot – your orders?” A gold-trimmed General saluted to him, just past the door way into his quarters.

“Aye, orders. I think it’s time I make an example of that puny chicken leg pony prancing about with her crown. I don’t just want a victory today. I want them scattered, broken, and crushed.”

“Sire, are you suggesting-”

The sharp orange eyes of Leotoln burned with fury, cutting off his soldier with the thunk of a dagger into his arm rest.

“Wipe out their ground troops, or route them. Doesn’t matter. I want to kick down those gates myself, and figure out a fitting punishment for that pretty Princess.”

He forced the dagger down so hard that it splintered the wood – the metal bending in his grip.

“Sir, we will follow your orders to death, and without question – but as your advisor, wouldn’t it be more wise to board the walls, enter the Castle – and navigate to the Princess?” One of the Generals spoke up. An older Seraph, well past seven hundred – but hardly a scratch to Leotoln’s age. The gathered men were beyond nervous, their men dying on the field in a rough siege that could have been a more steady assault, able to protect the lives of their men. Of there 800 men that passed the Green Scar, well over three hundred were now dead, dying, or missing in action.

His anger dwindled, as he weighed his options. On one hand, a slow, but methodical approach from within the Castle itself, limited by space would be ideal to prevent casualties of his own men. But a more potent, direct breech would crack their moral, and make the taking of the rest of Equestria a simple game of waiting for his mages to move reinforcements to Canterlot. After all, there was a convenient – if exposed – leyline, close by.

“You’re thinking of the now, General Unther. My eye is set ten battles in the future, when we seize the coasts. We break their moral, crush their spirit, and strangle Canterlot by the throat. With their tail between their legs, we could bleed them dry of soldiers in a route. Arrows in the back. Simply killing their leaders isn’t enough.”

He stood up from his chair, hefting the heavy Crystal Heart Spear by his side. It was tapped of magic, but it was a clear sign of his impending victory.

“Ready what’s left of the liquid flame, and gather our most useless soldiers for a Siege Breaker. I’ve always fancied a horse roast.”