Chapter 9: Fight for Freedom

The sun rose on the Crystal Empire, a loud horn blaring on the outside signalling the start of Equestria's attack. Sombra marched upwards through his castle, planning to watch the war from a balcony at the top of the tower. It had been nearly a month since Celestia's scouts had appeared outside the barrier. Since then Sombra has forced every able bodied, and the not so able bodied, pony in the Empire to join the military. If a pony attempted the leave they were thrown outside the barrier, left to  either die or be caught by Celestia's army in their uniform.

"Sir?" a guard asked as Sombra stepped onto the balcony, the sounds of war all around, and it was music to his ears. A gruesome cry could be heard coming from the mines, echoing as it came out, making the guard next to Sombra shudder.

"Are you scared?" Sombra asked mockingly, making the guard look at him in fear. The last guard that was posted there had been thrown directly off the tower, impaling him on the crystal gates that had been put up around the castle. Due to the war beginning soon after the guard's body still hung on the gate, a reminder for everypony to stay away. Sombra leaned into the guard, making him stiffen immediately as Sombra smiled.

"Goodbye..." Sombra whispered as he prepared to throw the guard over the edge, only for his only magic to be counteracted by a superior force. He tried to overpower the new force, but his focus on the one magic made him drop his guard to the other. Sombra was quickly grabbed by a dark blue magic, which thew him against the wall as he noticed a faint golden glow around the guard.

"Celestia!" Sombra roared, breaking the magical hold on him as he did. When he landed he saw Celestia and Luna rise up over the railing, both of them staring at him intently.

"Hello Sombra" Celestia said in an anger tone, obviously anger at the large amount of causalities that her forces were suffering. When another gruesome cry rang out, this time from inside the castle, Celestia and Luna's hard looks softened, giving Sombra enough time to attack them. In a split second the balcony was gone, the guard that had been standing on it in almost a thousand pieces while Sombra and the princesses fly up and away to continue their fight.

"This time we'll do more than seal you in the ice!" Celestia shouted as they rose to the top of the barrier,.

"Is that so?" Sombar asked mockingly as he touched his horn to the barrier. A flash of light was let out as he did, and when Celestia could see again he had a large magical ball above his head, waiting to be throw at her. Luna watched in horror as Sombra started to throw the ball at Celestia, and at the last moment she jumped in the way in an attempt to say her. When Celestia looked at her sister again she was encased in a magical ball of energy, completely motionless.

"Lulu?" Celestia asked as she moved a hoof forwards to touch the ball, only for it to be pulled back by Sombra.

"Sorry, but if you touch this ball, she dies" Sombra said, an evil smile on his face, "It will slowly crush her until all that is left is the size of an almond" Celestia looked at Luna in horror before steeling herself, preparing to attack Sombra, now not only for the Empire, but for Luna too.

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*One Hour Earlier*

"So we're going to run in while you two look for Sombra?" Rainbow Dash asked, being honestly confused at Celestia's plan. They had been out in the wasteland for a month, carefully watching the Empire, had planned for every scenario, and this is what Celestia decides to do?! Rainbow just couldn't understand why Celestia had decided on something that seemed so stupid.

"You will run in to find Twilight and get her out of the castle, she is Sombra's power source, without her..." Celestia explained slowly.

"Without her he's powerless again?" Applejack finished her sentence, a calm nod being the only response from Celestia. That nod not only meant the meeting was over, but it also meant that it was decided, and they had to stick to the plan she decided on. As everypony prepared for the Unicorn regiment to blast a hole in the barrier Shining Armor stood at the back, using his magic to project his voice so he could give a speech to his men.

"Many of you have been in the Equestrian Guard for most of your adult lives, not expecting to see a fight such as this," Shining Armor began, pausing as many of the guards turned to nervously look at him. "But this is what you've been trained for. This fight isn't just for Equestria, this is a fight for all that is good in the world, and if we fail here there will be no pony at home to keep those you love safe. Go into this fight with all of your courage, honor, and pride, and we will go home as the victors!"

"YEAH!" everypony shouted mere seconds before the barrier was broken, the attack starting off with a bang as many of the guards rushed through, for every pony Sombra lost, they lost two. Shining Armor couldn't help but cringe as he watched his men funnel into the barrier on a suicide mission. He quickly regained his composure as the final guard made it through, clearing the path for him and the four available Elements of Harmony to rush in and find Twilight.

"CHARGE!" Shining Armor shouted as him and the girls ran through the barrier and the death that was all around them. A blood curdling scream came from the mines as they passed by, and with a quick look they could see one of Shining's lieutenants standing at the edge of the pit. They had to continue running, but when the reached the castle they all froze.

"Are those..." Spike stuttered as he pointed at the ponies impaled on the gate, some of them looking as though they had been up there for weeks. Pinkie Pie started to gag, eventually letting out a stream of confetti and balloons, but everypony else was too preoccupied to care how weird it was.

"We have to go through here, or else..." Shining Armor said as he looked up, seeing Celestia about to ambush Sombra, "Come one, let's get moving" Everpony listened and followed after him, the entire group starting to run as guards began to come out of every nook and cranny in the castle.. As they ran through they hit a barricade, with Shining Armor accidentally stabbing on of the guards with his horn. He continued to run as the guard cried out painfully, eventually slipping off and showering him in blood.

"Twilight's room is right ahead of us!" Spike shouted as they came to a landing, pointing towards the larger doors on that floor. As they ran to it they heard a loud explosion from higher up in the castle.

"That must be Celestia and Luna, come on, we have to hurry!" Shining Armor ordered, and everypony complied, picking up the pace. As they burst through the door to Twilight's room a bright flash blinded them, and when they came to Twilight was standing in front of them, just looking at them.

"Is that really you? You're not fakes made by Sombra?" Twilight asked shakily, her mental integrity having slipped over the past month.

"Yeah, it's us Twily.." Shining Armor said slowly as he tried to hold back tears, but he eventually broke down and ran up to Twilight, hugging her tight as he cried. Everypony else quickly joined in on the hug and cried along side him, including Twilight herself. The hug made helped her realize they were real, and that Celestia had come back for her...

*SMASH*

"DIE YOU WENCH OF A PRINCESS!" Sombra shouted as he fired another blast of magic at Celestia with killing intent. Just before the blast hit Celestia it disappeared with a flash, blinding everypony. When they were able to open their eyes they saw Sombra laying on the floor surrounded by his own blood, and with Twilight standing over her, her horn back on her head.

"No, you can't do this..." Sombra begged quietly as he stared up at her.

"Your reign ends here Sombra!" Twilight shouted as she slammed a hoof down on Sombra's chest, her eyes filling with hatred as her horn began to glow. Before anypony could say anything Twilight lowered her horn to Sombra's head, and then...

*BANG*