A week later Bronze was out of the Hospital. The doctor had warned him of his still healing skin and broken ribs. The many bandages were still wrapped around his torso. Celestia had helped him back to the castle and into bed, to rest. Now he lay peacefully reading a book. Celestia about to attend a press conference style event where she will explain her pregnancy and Bronze and her's soon to be marriage.

"Bronze?" She asked as she readied herself in their room

"Yes?" Bronze asked laying the book next to him on the bed with his book mark (a small folded piece of paper) in it.

"When I get back we should discuss names for out baby" Celestia said "How about it?"

"Sure." Bronze sat up and winched in pain.

"Don't hurt yourself Bronze, your still hurt." Celestia said putting her fore hooves on the bed and leaning in to kiss Bronze on the cheek. "Alright the guards are right out the door if you need anything, just shout to them, I ordered them to do what ever you may ask, no questions."

"Okay, thank you Celestia. Enjoy your press thing." Bronze said returning to his book.

"I do hope it goes well." Celestia said "If 'Our Princess is sex crazed' is in tomorrows paper there's going to be a few hangings." She joked "I wonder if Twilight will be there, the conference is in Ponyvile."

"It is?" Bronze asked

"Yes."

"If you see Twilight bring her back here, I never finished my first lesson with her."

"If I see her, I will. Oh and Bronze?"

"Yes?"

"What day should we have the wedding?"

"As soon as possible, I want it to be your day so you plan it as you want." He said lovingly

"Oh that's sweet but...its our day, I will ask some of the staff how long it would take to fully organize a wedding ceremony"

"Alright" Bronze said

"Well I'm leaving for now, goodbye Bronze I will be back in an hour or so." Celestia said leaving

"Okay, have fun, I am going to take a nap" Bronze said as he put his head to his pillow and closed his eyes.

He fell asleep quickly.

Barley 20 minutes was at Sugar Cube Corner, she had arranged for certain Journalists to have Brunch with her as well as Twilight and her Friends if they could make it. She arrived there with a small guard detail. Mr and Mrs.Cake were waiting, and happy to serve Celestia. They greeted her and the guards and began showing her what food they would be making available when the actual event started. There was tea,coffee donuts, cakes, cupcakes, and many more brunch-style treats. Celestia tasted each one and found them to all be delicious.

"Very nice" She commented as she swallowed the last item. In her mind she wished Bronze could have been there.

*Back at the Castle in Canterlot.*

Bronze awoke to a sense of having to urinate.

He got out of bed, painfully he limped to the bathroom. Shortly after urinating he made his way back to the bed. Before he could climb back in bed. One of the window's in the room shattered and there was a blinding flash with a deafening boom. Bronze found himself on the ground. A loud ring in his ears. He was still blinded but as his vision began to clear, he found himself on the floor. The royal guards burst through door. A sort of sonic pulse rippled to air around them and they were blown back out to the hall. As that pulse happened there was more window shattering. Bronze's hearing began to improve. The ringing faded.

"Tsk...tsk...tsk...Bronze. You should never have run away. If you would have just been a good little colt, I could be sitting in my throne beside the queen sixty years from now." A unnervingly calm colt's voice said.

Bronze recognized the voice. "Sixty six, your the reason I am missing some teeth." Bronze said calmly from the floor raising his head to view the armor-less black colt.

"Yes, I don't plan on returning them, if that's what your implying, I'm hear to see you off to the afterlife little Bronze"

"Well now, that's just not going to happen." Bronze said weakly, he was still on the ground looking up at Sixty-Six now. Sixty-six had his hoof-mounted blade unsheathed. He came down hard on Bronze with the blade. As the blade came down Bronze's necklace glowed and Bronze vaporized to dust.

"What's this!?" Sixty-six shouted at the dust.

Bronze's voice boomed around Sixty-Six as if Bronze was..everywhere "A new trick, thanks to the infinite amount of magical spells and techniques."

"What your not going to fight fairly now?" Sixty-six mocked

"Sadly..I cant fight fairly...broken ribs and burnt skin you see."

"Ah yes the other assassins, they failed....but I will not!" Sixty-six brought his blade down on the dust, the dust simply disbursed and moved around the floor. The dust moved behind Sixty-six and in front of the door. The dust formed back into Bronze quickly.

"What kind of tricks do you have, Sixty-six?"

"Better one's than you!" Sixty-six exclaimed raising his non-bladed hoof and pointing at Bronze. The air rippled again and Bronze was propelled out of room and to the end of the hallway. His impact to the wall was softened back to unconscious guards. He painfully stood and said "That..all you got?"

"Not even close." Sixty-six said calmly raising his left front hoof again.

This time Bronze was ready and as the air rippled, Bronze let loose a large burst of red magical energy that soared through the air and contacted to rippling force. Neither one of them knew what happened next.

In Ponyvile Celestia stood in Sugar cube corner. As members of the local new papers walk in, she smiled and greeted each of them. She was happy to see her student and her friends attend.

"Ah, Hello, Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow dash, Pinkie pie, Rarity." She had greeted

"Hello, Princess" Each had said

"Please, help yourselves to any of the foods." Celestia invited

"Thank you, Princess" Twilight said as her friends walked to the table where the food had been placed.

"Oh..um Princess?" Fluttershy asked shyly

"Yes?"

"Where's Bronze?" She questioned

"We had an....incident at the Castle not long ago, Bronze got hurt....badly."

"Oh...is...is he okay?"

"Yes, of course...he's very strong...he can take a little injury"

"Would it be asking too much if I....I offered to take care of him?" Fluttershy asked in a near whisper.

"What do you mean? Act as sort of a nurse?" Celestia asked

"Ye...yes"

"I don't see any..." The Princess was interrupted.

There was a loud boom out side. The room shook, the lights went out, and every pony screamed. The shaking subsided quickly, the lights remained off. Thankfully it was day time and the windows were open.

Dust filled the air outside as a large gust of wind shook the building again. Celestia and everypony in the building rushed out side and looked in the direction of an incredible flash. The flash had come from the highest tower in Canterlot castle. Celestia watched in awe as the tower collapsed in the far distance. Soon dust clouded her vision as the tower hit the castle below. She could only stand there. Debris began to hit. Dust began to settle on the ground. Most of the debris was stone and broken gems. Celestia just...stood there. Tears formed in her eyes. She just stared into the distance.

"Bronze..." she whispered "wha....what happened...?" she was in total shock.

She came to a realization.

Bronze....was dead.

Next Chapter: Sixty-six Estimated time remaining: 34 Minutes