Hooves smacked against stone with a thundering clash, the battle scarred Pegasus eyeing his prey eagerly. The Princess of the Night fought with valour and ferocity, while she remained there was hope to hold them back. Azzal had to eliminate this obstacle. Through ash and fire he watched as the regal Alicorn displayed her prowess. Her hooves shattered bones and her spells burned ponies to ash. She was truly terrifying.

Azzal could hear his muffled breathing even above the chaos of battle around him, the hollow sounds ringing in his head. He raised the Talon of Pain and signaled the advance, his Pegasi flanking him on both sides. They swooped in, attempting to take the princess by surprise. In response she let out a blast of magical energy that sent them flying, incinerating those too close. Azzal raised the Talon to shield himself, the magic bouncing harmlessly off its cursed aura.

Leaping forth he issued challenge to Luna as she regained her strength, the toll of such magic was a high one. Without warning a pillar of fire burst from Azzal’s talon, the princess quickly raising a shield to protect herself form the deadly flames. Letting down her protection she released a torrent of magical power, unleashing a volley of spells straight towards the Pegasus. “This is what you get when you threaten us, our city, and our city!”

Azzal desperately shielded himself from the magical onslaught, his talon only deflecting so much of the damage. “My turn now.” He leaped towards the princess, the talon raised high as it was suddenly ignited with unholy fire. With one fell swoop he struck the Alicorn with much of his strength, ripping through armor and chainmail. She quickly regained her balance; her horn quickly seized the stallion and threw him against the cobblestone ground.

Winded and bruised, Azzal took back to his wings to try and out manoeuvre the princess, or at least play for time. All thoughts of tactical and honorable battle were wiped from Luna’s mind, her eyes glowed with a white light, her wings spread wide as she took to the skies. Azzal swiftly dodged out of her way, swinging the talon as he passed but landing no more than a glancing blow. Luna’s horn was once again alight with power, bolts of lightning sent straight towards the Pegasus.

He swiftly raised the talon to deflect the attack, but the sudden shock chased his hoof to retract and his grip to loosen. He recoiled, the talon slipping from his hoof in multiple pieces. Dark energies poured from the remains as it shattered on the stone floor, a cold chill filing the air around them.

“You have lost fool, your weapon lies shattered on our doorstep and you are at our mercy!”

Azzal at first appeared furious, rage building up within him. After adjusting his lofty armor he spoke in a surprisingly calm tone. “Princess, perhaps you would care to look down at the battle bellow!”

Luna cast a quick gaze to the efforts of her troops, shock suddenly overtaking her. They were scattered, fleeing towards the inner city. Shining Armour fought alone and overwhelmed near the gate, his guard lied dead at his hooves.

“Your mind is clouded and blind, always missing the obvious! You were weak, you let your anger and hate lead you and now you have abandoned your subjects, your friends! Surely you now see how pathetic it truly is?!” Azzal sneered beneath his mask.

Luna would not stand for any more of this, no more of his poisoned words. She quickly flew to Shining Armour’s side and swooped him from the battle. The gate now lied in ruins, the courtyard firmly in Azzal’s hooves. Luna teleported them back to the second gate, collapsing in a heap in front of her sister. Shining Armour stumbled forward and fell into his sisters grasp. “I've got you.”

Shining regained his strength, rising again to his hooves. “Thanks Twilight.”

“Luna!” Celestia cried out, rushing to her sisters side. After every spell and every charms he had cast all her energy was simply drained, now but a limp form. “Did I not say to remain here?! You could have been killed if you have not yet so!”

“We-we are sorry sister, we were fools to think we could help.” A tear trickled down Luna’s face, her body simply lying limp on the stone floor from exhaustion.

“Don’t say that sister, your intentions were pure and you should take heart from that. More are still coming though. They rampage through the lower city and will soon find us here. Go back to the palace until you are ready and await my summoning.”

“If that is your wish.”

“And Luna…” Celestia spoke with soft words. “Take Twilight with you.”

“What?!” Twilight interjected. “You can’t do that! I need to be here with my friends where I belong! You can’t expect me to abandon them, to abandon my duties.”

“Your loyalty is to your subjects and you would be wise to do what is best for them. Go back to the palace and make sure no pony sees you. I have an idea but I require your cooperation.”

Twilight let out a sigh of submission. “Fine then.”

“We best be off then. We don't have the strength in us for one last Teleport if you would be so kind. ” Luna said weakly. “We can converse matters once we are back behind the palace walls.” With a bright flash of purple the princesses were gone, returned to safety, save Celestia.

"Well, Ah guess that just leaves us here." Applejack finally made her presence known. "Ah guess we ain't too much help, but it's nice to do our part."

"Indeed, we are only too obliged."

Celestia smiled at the two mares. " And I am grateful for your aid in this fight, even if I could never imagine you in such a circumstance normally."

"Ah'd say, never have Ah imagined myself in all this fancy getup."

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