General Thorn Bush had managed to rally and move over 120 of her finest and most trustworthy soldiers to the castle drawbridge, and after a quick heft of the gates – the new defenders came to help reinforce the inner walls, bringing with them barricades aplenty. Last minute preparations were common when the war strategy needed to change, and today was no exception. Dozens more able bodied soldiers were rerouted to the walls, to operate the short range ballistas. The rest now aboard now sunk air ships were in the field, working to reload and operate the trebuchets before enemy fire could dismantle them.

“Celestia, what if they decide to take the front?” Vapor Cloud questioned, using a towel to wipe the blood from his fur.

“Dangerous, but it’s also likely. Regardless, we’ll be quick to prepare – the front is blocked by a heavy gate, a drawbridge, and hundreds of soldiers. We’ll have enough time to move defenses if we need to, and fall back to the Throne Room as a last resort if the entry hall is lost.”

The sounds of screams erupted past the front gates, mixed with the thunderous bangs of heavy, explosive payloads. The room, once filled with the shuffling movement of soldiers and rough workings of siege barricades went silent.

“Your Majesty! The enemy’s flagship – it’s dropping fire bombs on our troops, and their own soldiers! Our stallions are retreating! They’re being routed!”

Celestia’s eyes went wide, barking more orders to her stallions. “They’ve gone mad – they’re going to take the front! Move the barricades to the entry hall! This is a fight for Equestria, not Canterlot, not me, not Luna – this is a fight for all of you! My Sister and I will stand by your side, at all costs!”

The Two Princesses nodded to each other, darting down the hall to grab what heavy barricades they could in their magic. They worked at breakneck speeds in rhythm with their soldiers, changing their fortifications on the fly. In no less than five minutes, the Living Quarters were entirely blocked off, and the entry hall was well fortified with dozens of rough, oak and iron half walls.

Arin and Vapor worked double time to help put the last massive oak and iron wall barricade in place, a barrier to break up the invading soldiers when they came. Umbra’s green magic helped settle it in, the gray Unicorn giving them a nod before vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

“Celestia! This wont hold long against Leotoln! Any news from Twilight?” Arin shouted, jogging to his own Princess’s side.

“None yet – have faith. That’s all we can have. Stand strong, she may very well be our last hope.”

The Oak drawbridge cracked and shuttered, as a blast of concentrated magic aimed roughly where the sturdy chains were. The lightning hit close enough to puncture and connect, as molten iron soon dripped from beyond the sturdy iron bars.

All soldiers present drew their blades and crossbows, Celestia herself raising her golden halberd onto the crook of her wing. Luna’s own greatsword cleaved through the air, taking a battle stance. Umbra, as quiet as ever, slinked into a darkened corner – out of sight, out of mind. Arin and Vapor stood ready before their respective Princesses, Arin with Sonata drawn, and Vapor clutching Sun Song tight in his muzzle.

It was now, or never.

The second chain fell away in a pile of molten iron, the drawbridge falling with a massive, castle-shaking slam. The holes of the heavy iron gate shining with daylight. Luna gave Arin a nod.

Heart hammering in his chest, he began to thread arrow after arrow through the small gaps of the gate, soft thunks of metal giving way to flesh and the occasional cry piercing the silence as a wave of flame erupted across the bars. The black gate growing shades brighter by the second. Other soldiers joined his volley, breaking bolts across the melting bars or snaking the occasional point through – claiming another life.

Regardless, Arin persisted – desperately – pumping every arrow in his quiver in until the last. The final shaft thunked through the molten bars, until with a massive concussive blast – the iron gave way in a wave of lava.

The Equestrian Guards and Soldiers darted behind their treated barricades, Celestia’s magic preventing the majority of it from raining upon her Stallions.

On the other side of the clear gate, stood no less than three hundred Seraphs, led in front by King Leotoln. His scepter now spent of all magic, he kept tight hold of his trophy regardless. His massive boot taking the first step into the halls, several blue feathered arrows protruding from his robes.

He lifted his spare hand, the wooden shafts illuminated in his magic – before being tugged free of his rapidly healing body. Behind him, several Seraphs lay dead or dying.

“Shame, you could have been an excellent Knight of mine, Prince Arin.”

The world went quiet, as all eyes fell on him. Luna’s gaze, Celestia’s – the quiet thrum of his heart was Arin’s only solace.

“Father?” He said numbly, his grip on Nocture so tight at the leather bands creaked into his hand. “You killed my mother… you… you’re not…”

“Aye. You’re my son. Your mother was a maid of my Castle. I had no idea she was even Inert when I decided to bed her, but when you were born, and I learned the truth… I had to throw you away. For a while, I couldn’t lift my hand against you. It felt wrong. But, I could use you. For an example, or as something valuable perhaps – if only you would Ascend. But here you are, and here I am. A few minutes away from taking that head off of your shoulders.”

“You ruined my life… you had me rot in the Mines, slave in the fields…”

“You did that yourself, to survive in our cruel, harsh world. It’s all your fault, Son. You were born weak, and you will die just the same. Weak.”

Arin took a step forward. Another. One more. Soon, he was sprinting full force at the man who shattered his life into pieces. His veins were full of flame, his eyes full of rage. Luna’s voice was lost on him – Nocturne shining brightly for him to obey, to stop at her command. Even her magical aura had no effect on him, Luna stumbling forward as he blazed past the blue.

No magic could touch him, as his blade came down with such righteous fury on Leotoln, looking to cut him in two from the chest down.

Leotoln calmly stepped out of the way, the blade crashing into the floor – splintering stone from the sheer force of it. The King had no expression in his face, as the tip of his spear sunk into Arin’s stomach with a single devastating thrust – straight through the dragon hide and mithril chain like butter. Lifting him up by the fatal wound, he calmly tossed the soon to be corpse in front of Celestia and Luna both – clearing the entryway without effort.

“NO!” Luna cried – dashing to his side. Umbra reappeared, charging from the shadows.

She said nothing, lunging forward with her horn blazing in cackling red heat. Leotoln reacted quick, both hands grasping the haft of his spear to hold against the feral unicorn, murder in those green eyes.

“Vile wretch of a whore, your corpse will burn first on the pile.”

He went to spin the blade through her chest – but only hit whirring shadows. Leotoln growled.

“Well? Move, men! Bring me those bitches in ropes, preferably alive. I’ll handle the orphan.”

Umbra spun with a heavy kick, making an inch of distance as the soldiers charged around her – ignoring her entirely. This battle was personal.

The Equestrians stepped into action, charging with battle cries aplenty as Luna brought Arin to the side of the main staircase – just out of sight of the war around her.

“Arin, please, no… you… why, why would you do this?”

His hand reached up, holding her face softly. Blood pooling around him in a puddle. “I’m sorry Luna. I should have been a better Knight. I should have listened. I love you, my big, fluffy pillow. I’m so…”

“No! Stay with me, Arin, stay-”

His eyes slid shut, body growing limp in her hooves. She desperately checked for a pulse, anything – healing spells useless on him as he now lay dead.

Gently, the Princess of the Night lowered her Knight to the floor. No tears fell. She knew this would come. This day. This pain. If not from blade, than from the flow of time.

But it didn’t quell her rage. Standing to her hooves, she placed Nocturne against Arin’s chest – enclosing his hands around the once vibrant blade, the now lifeless gem in the pommel growing dim.

Her own greatsword was once again clutched tightly in her magic. She turned, and without another word – swung true, cutting down a Seraph right through wing and armor. Her blade fell again, incoming blows easily parried – magic diverted with her own barrier. Whatever came her way never once touched her blood covered fur, a dance of death in the halls.

She had one target, King Leotoln. And she had an army to cut through to make it

The King swung effortlessly through the air, just barely missing Umbra’s chest as she faded into her shadow form. Her horn flashed into a powerful, magical jab – easily blocked by the Crystal Heart itself. Leotoln was growing tired of this game – but that’s when he felt it.

A bubbling of magic. Not from within the Castle, but from behind – his soldiers turning to a shimmering light glimmering in the sky far above.

Twilight Sparkle and her friends, connected by beams of swirling, magical light.

His mind flashed to the correspondence between him and his spies – and he knew that this would be the end of him. Umbra saw it as well, as Leotoln’s majestic, massive wings spread – making to take to the air to avoid the overwhelming beam of Harmony.

No. You would not escape, not on this day. Her body surged forward in black smoke – reforming as her hooves pinned the King’s wings to his sides. Powerful as he may be, every ounce of Umbra’s both physical and magic strength focused on keeping him grounded.

“You…” He growled, stumbling to throw her off. He darted his spear to the side in an attempt to impale her, but… he was too big, and her body to lithe to hit.

“You will die today, Leotoln, if not by my horn – than by the cleansing power of Harmony!”

The cascade of light surged forward from the sky, raining like a waterfall over the Umbrum and vile King. A crashing wave of blistering death.

Umbra howled in pain – before being destroyed by the light. The remnants of her armor shooting across the floor in puffs of billowing smoke. Now free of his binds, he felt his skin searing and blistering as his entire core threatened to explode outward in a magical burst.

In one last act of defiance, he tilted the spear up into the sky – a funnel of magical power breaking the beam of total destruction, sparing him as the Crystal Heart began to shine with utter radiance once more. A different kind of magic flooded the weapon, and when Twilight and her friends collapsed from the cloudline – spent – he remained standing. Panting in agony and effort, heavy wings nearly ripped to shreds.

But the pain would pass. He looked to his new weapon, ignoring the massive blisters of boiled skin on his arm, as he felt its power thrumming inside.

This changed the battle entirely, as the Seraphs and ponies both – came to a halt.

Leotoln held the spear aloft, a faint chuckle starting at first. Turning into a hearty, full fledged laugh – waving the empowered Crystal Heart once again in an arc.

“The power of Harmony, huh?” His couldn’t stop himself from smiling, as his skin began to knit before their very eyes. “Useless for anything but wreckless, powerful incinerating magic, or boring banishments.”

He pointed the spear forward into the halls of Canterlot, his own Seraphs falling back as they realized what he was about to do. Luna was no more than several yards away, facing down the Armageddon.

Her horn flashed – taking Arin’s body and a dozen Equestrians with her – as Celestia’s horn did the same, landing the survivors in the blocked off Throne Room. Just as the crackling spear of destruction let loose a sun-eclipsing wave of white magic, obliterating bodies and dozens of Seraphs on the spot. The soldiers who managed to get out of the way – or survive the blast by the luck of a barricade – gave Leotoln a wide birth as he stepped into the entry proper. White flames fizzling on the scorched stone.

“You’re lookin’ to give me your castle, in the throne room? By my Feathers, so generous!” He shouted, his remaining soldiers nervously following close behind. The few who weren’t shook to their roots began to question his leadership, having almost ended their lives for nothing.

None stood in his path, as he blasted the heavy oak doors of the throne room down with a wave of his newly recharged toy. “Oh, the fun we’ll have, Princess. So many fresh ideas! So many wonderful little thoughts fluttering in the wind, aye?”

Celestia held her spear aloft in weak magic, exhausted, worn down, and sporting many new gashes across her body. Vapor Cloud stood before her, holding Sun Song at a rough angle. Barely able to turn his head, his wings heavy with exhaustion.

Luna held the greatsword up, her fury dwindling as her magic began to run out. Beaten, battered, bruised. But still kicking – if only just. The Guards and Soldiers around were rough, wrent, and bleeding – desperation turning to horror at what stood before them. Certain death, for sure. And many of them frozen in place, shaking in their armor.

“Let’s make a lesson of ya, shall we?” He gave a toothy grin, starting first with the unguarded Luna. A blast of powerful Harmony magic erupted from his spear, shattering her black armor and slamming her helpless body against the wall. She fell, winded and broken to the floor, her greatsword snapped in twain.

“L-Luna…” Celestia cried, her grip on the golden halberd faltering. This was it, then. Tears began to fall uncontrolled now. They fought to the bitter end, but it just wasn’t enough.

Vapor Cloud rushed forward to come to Luna’s defense – and found the blunt Crystal Heart smashing into his face. He fell to the floor, punted out of the way as Sun Song went spinning towards the window. He made one last effort to stand, before his body gave out on him and lost consciousness.

“Oh, how to punish a centuries old Princess…” He thought aloud, “Gutting you would be just fine, but I think we’ll start with something far more devastating, a little magic your Student just gave me.”

He lifted the spear again, harmonious magic charging within the powerful crystal. But instead of pointing at Celestia – he aimed his weapon at the recovering Luna, who had trouble breathing from her cracked ribs, and agony moving from her broken wings and feathers.

“After all, you don’t mind going another say… thousand years, without seeing your Sister again, hmm? What’s another round on the moon?”

“NO!” Celestia shouted, but it was too late. A beam of energy erupted from the spear in a billowing cascade. Luna’s heart dropped in her chest, unable to move her broken body at all. Her horn could only flash and crackle, a long crack settled from tip to root.

But before the light could strike her, Celestia threw herself in front of the beam. A piercing scream broke the room, and just like that – she was gone.

“Oh my! How brave, and absolutely naive.” He said, giving a victorious, howling laugh. “Well Luna? Raise the moon! Take a look at yer Sister! She decided to give it a little visit, after all.”

Luna ignored him, her burning muscles flexing. Hooves working to drag the rest of her unresponsive body towards Arin’s corpse, her horn giving one last spark – magic aimed at his cold body – before falling unconscious.

---

Arin watched the moon in the sky from the comfort of this little tree he found, content. At least, right now. Something was bothering him, as he basked in the cool air.

Was it the temperature? It was chilly, yes – but not terrible. In fact, it was relaxing even. No. It was something else. Perhaps the moon itself? It had the image of a mare on it, which was worrying – but it wasn’t that.

Oh yes! Luna, Luna was supposed to be here. She raised the moon, after all. Where was she? Aha! There she is. But… she looks hurt!

Darting up from his sitting position, he found his legs unable to move – but he called out anyway. “Luna! Are you okay? You look so… beat up! What happened?”

“Arin, please…” She whispered quietly. “Please, save me.”

“Save you? I can’t! You’re all the way over there – just come over here, there’s apples! It’s so sweet, and the pond looks so beautiful in the moonlight.”

“Please, wake up…”

She began to vanish before his eyes. And then he remembered. The Castle! The Courtyard… he could see it now, so far away. And his legs wouldn’t work. But what was he forgetting? What else?

Luna… Luna was hurt. She… wanted him to save her. He was her Knight.

Knight. Luna’s Knight. She was in danger! Canterlot, it – no!

He tried to move his legs, but they were grasped tightly in vines. The cool air now freezing as he felt himself being sucked away. No! He wouldn’t! Not like this, he must… save… Luna!

“I must…”

But he was so tired. Wouldn’t it be nice to just… fall asleep under the tree? Let the good night take him. It’s so calm and serine here, and Luna would surely show up soon…

…But would it really be her?

His hands darted for the vines, ripping them free of his legs. Kicking. Screaming. And then it all came back.

Leotoln impaled him on the Crystal Spear, and he bled out. He was dead.

“No… I wont die. Not now. No, I refuse! I REFUSE!”

With a herculean effort, he made it to his feet. He imagined flames in his hands, and the roots were burnt to a crisp – and he ran. He ran for the Castle on the hill, and he walked through the melted gate – stepping over the remnants of a very familiar armor… was that Umbra’s? The body-littered stairway followed. And he saw himself, on the floor, Luna’s hoof resting in his cold, pale hand. Celestia was gone, only her Halberd remained on the floor.

No… Leotoln… he was approaching Luna. He was going to finish it. He was going to kill Luna!

He went to tackle the mirage – but nothing happened. He phased through. Luna! No!

He darted for her hoof – he had to pull her out of the way. The hoof in his hand. He squeezed, and…