//------------------------------//
// the fall of Canterlot 
// Story: My little Short Stories 
// by Paradise Oasis 
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The fall of Canterlot

Here, recovered from the archives of the Royal Paradise, is the only surviving written account of the fall of Canterlot, by the last commander of that great city's defenders. I have translated the text from old Equestrian Whinnying to modern Ponyland English (the common tongue for all of Ponyland since the arrival of humans), but I have changed it to present tense in order to heighten the tension for the reader...

Have you ever walked in on the tail end of tragic play, and only seen the final few, gut-wrenching moments? Oh sure, you know the whole plot and story up to that point from things you've heard from friends, and reviews you may have read. But not actually seeing the happy times that spiraled downhill into this sorrow, lessens the impact on you. Well, I have personally lived through the final moments of such a tragedy, and I must say... my sorrow is no less than if I had experienced the entire story.

My name is Daffodil, and I am the captain of the Royal guard of Canterlot- the first mare to hold such an esteemed position, and probably the last. It is exceptionally rare and unusual to find a female in the ranks of the Equestrian Military, despite the fact we are the socially dominant gender among ponies... but these are unusual times we live in.

I was born into an Equestria already in decline... a pale shadow of a once-greater empire, devastated by the wars of the past two centuries. Although it was a livable place during my foalhood, things were not as glorious as they once were. All around us were the stain glass windows, depicting the heroic age of the harmony bearers and thier battles. Such times seem like a distant memory now.

"Captain! There is a messenger approaching the gate!" Tulip, my second in command, trots up and informs me. A white mare with a pink mane, my friend is highly sought after by the stallion guards under my command.

"A pony in armor." I snort, looking down at the new arrival outside. "Guards! Open the doors at once!"

The wounded mare limps inside, and shakes off the attempts of the pony medics to help her. As I trotted down the steps to greet her, the yellow mare with the orange mane looks up at me.

"Lieutenant, status report!" I snort, recognizing her rank by her armor design.

"M'am! Snowdrop of the Manehatten city guard, M'am!" She salutes, and I return the gesture. "I come from the east with news! The city of Manehatten has fallen!"

"What?! You cannot be serious!" Tulip whinnied in shock. "Surely Manehatten's defenses were able to hold the goblin army back!"

"This is a very unfortunate turn of events." I reply, remembering that goblins don't take prisoners. "Tell me, were there any survivors?"

"There was an estimated seventy percent causality rate." Snowdrop answered. "The rest of the remaining guards and civilians have fled to Baltimare!"

"Great Celestia…" Tulip whinnies in shock, using the long-dead princess's name as an exclamation

"They'll be safe there, Lady Ringlets has her city well defended." I reassure my two fellow earth mares. A white noblepony with a pink mane, Ringlet is a master strategist and tactician. Her only flaw is her love of Samurai and ninja tales from the donkey kingdoms of the east. If she had her way, she would remake Baltimare into a pagoda-filled paradise.

"With Manehatten gone, they'll be attacking Canterlot next." Tulip snorted. "We are the last obstacle standing between them, and the total domination of Equestria!"

I silently nod my head in agreement, turning over in my head how we came to this. It had only been a few months ago, that the foes of Equestria- Changelings, goblins, diamond dogs, and lava demons- joined together in a grand alliance. Invading in a moment of weakness, they quickly destroyed the city of Fillydelphia, and battled our armies all throughout the countryside.

"Can we expect any help from anypony?" Snowdrop asked hopefully. "Surely Misty Mountain could-"

"Princess Cadence's magic shield is barely keeping the lava demons out." Tulip tells her. "Her kingdom is in no shape to send any troops."

Snowdrop's face falls a little bit. "What about Tall Tale?"

"Duchess Highlights runs her city like a military dictatorship, favoring the art and philosophy of old imperial Pegasaopolis." I snort. "Even if we ordered her to send reinforcements, she'd claim she couldn't spare them!"

"What about Los Pegasus?" She asked, getting desperate. "I heard they were recently liberated from the Changeling occupation they had been under, since the beginning of the war!"

"Yes, liberated by the Flutter Ponies!" Tulip snorted. "Those xenophobes had been living in hiding in the Applewood mountains, and only exterminated the Changelings because they were a threat to them!"

"Queen Rosedust has made the city her capital. The ponies the changelings enslaved have simply traded one harsh master for slightly more benevolent one, that won't drain their love away." I add. "The flutter ponies are more likely to attack us after this is all over, than to come to our rescue!"

"Then… what about Bright Valley?" Snowdrop made one last, desperate attempt. "Surely Princess Golden Glow-"

"They are surrounded… as are Tall Tale, Baltimare, and Misty Mountain." Tulip shook her mane. "Snowdrop… we are on our own."

At that, our messenger falls silent. As Tulip leads the injured Snowdrop inside, I return to my watch atop the wall. By nightfall, I realize, these hills would be swarming with goblins and Diamond Dogs. We would be in for the fight of our lives.

As I look down into the valley below, I saw the recently abandoned town of Ponyville far off in the distance. It had been painful for me to lead a recon team into the abandoned town, to see the boarded up shops and abandoned homes. I was born there, I remembered, and always saw myself as a county girl, a rustic filly from the same hometown as the harmony bearers. And no amount of royal guard training would change that.

It broke my heart when all the inhabitants fled Ponyville a month past, seeking refuge in Dream Valley kingdom, deep within the dangerous and mysterious everfree forest. My family, my friends, the ponies I had grown up with… all of them had abandoned their country for a fleeting promise of protection. At least they would be safe in Dream Castle, as even our invaders were too afraid to venture into that mysterious forest.

The Harmony bearers… I wonder what they would think of us now? The kingdom they saved again and again on the brink of collapse, with the barbarians at the gates. Would Fluttershy cry at all the animals the invaders are butchering for food? Would Rarity weep at the destruction of beautiful garments the looters tore the diamonds off of, shredding the fabric and using it for other purposes? Would Pinkie Pie sob at the laughter that turned to tears, as the goblin killed and devoured every pony they came across?

And would Twilight Sparkle understand that we, the generation that would let Equestria fall, never wanted this? This was the kingdom we inherited… a kingdom on it's last legs.

I am so lost in my own thoughts, that I fail to notice a large mare trot out of the palace, and quietly walk up behind me.

"Captain Daffodil?" An older but noble voice called out. "Mayest we haveth a word with thou?"

I spun around, to find myself face to face with a goddess. Not many other ponies still believe that's what she is… but I come from an old family, where traditions are strong.

"My Princess." I bow low before Luna, the sole sovereign ruler of the kingdom of Equestria. "Tell me, what can I do for you?"

"We have spent many of these hours past, in deep contemplation and meditation." The princess informed me, looking out over the horizon. "It has occurred to us that Canterlot may fall this very night."

"My princess! Surely you have faith in your loyal troops!" I protest, trying to hide my growing despair. "We can defend this city from that rabble of monsters!"

"Let us be realistic, our loyal servant." Luna shook her mane. "This city shall soon betih under a seige most perilous. It would be best if the civilian ponies were taken from this place, so that they will not fall to our foe's wrath."

"You are correct, my princess. We should move the civilians out of harm's way." Shaking my mane, I sigh. "I'll give the order, to begin the evacuation at once."

"We shall send them to Vanhoover, the fallback capital that we had established, should some calamity befall Canterlot." Princess Luna agreed. "The Princess Ponies should be taken there, as they will be needed should something foul befall ourselves."

"Should I assign a group of guards to accom-pony them?" I ask.

"Yes, my fair Daffodil." She nodded wisely. "And it shall be you, who leads them unto their sanctuary."

"Princess!" I protest. "Send me not from your side-!"

"Captian!" She snorts. "You have duty to the civilians, and to my royal heirs! I command you to get them out of the city!"

"As you wish, Princess." I lower my head in sorrow. "So, this is how it ends? Equestria, which has stood for more than three thousands years, perishes in a terrible pile of smoke and ruin?"

"From the moment the three tribes made Peace, and founded this kingdom as a home for all equines, ponykind has been blessed." Under her voice as she spoke, my ears can pick up the sound of distant marching approaching the valley from the east. "Thanks to this kingdom, many generations of ponies have learned to live together in harmony, through the power of friendship."

"And now, Ponykind will have to live without it!" I try to hold back my tears. "Our race, that was once master of it's own destiny, will be driven back into the hills, and forced to live at the mercy of their conquerors!"

"Future generations of ponies, will be the servants instead of the masters. 'Tis true." My Princess lowered her head. "But friendship will not die with Eequestria, so long as ponies keep it alive. It will fall to your generation, my dear Daffodil, to find a new way."

"Won't you come with us, my Princess?" I plead with her, nuzzling her mane. "We will need you to guide us! Ponykind will be lost without you!"

But the princess shook her mane. "Equestria was my sister and I's kingdom. Even here, at the end, I shall not leave it." She smiled at me. "It's time for ponykind to grow up, and no longer rely on two ancient alicorns for protection. It is the younger and fresher minds to take control of things."

"Farewell, my Princess!" I hug Luna, weeping. "We shall all miss you!"

"Goodbye, my little pony!" Tears streamed down her face. "Adulthood has come, and I must leave you behind!"

...

I form the long stream of refugees into a line, trotting away from the city single file, with my guards flanking them on either side. Nearly behind me are Tulip and Snowdrop, making sure everypony keeps up.

As the city fades into the distance behind us, we hear the sounds of marching and battle coming from behind us. When I finally have the courage to look back, I see the tendrils of smoke and flames rising from Canterlot. Many foals wept at the loss of the only home they had ever known, and many of the guard's wives wept at the thought of the soldiers we had left behind, to help Luna make her last stand.

We meet little resistance along the way, and lost only one- a mare named Red Ribbon, who vanished around the time we saw a few large trolls. Otherwise, the monsters seem more interested in taking the Capital, rather than attacking a group of fleeing refugees.

Our long and arduous trek took us north along the unicorn run. We guards move the ponies along stealthily- hiding by day, and trotting by night, though these dangerous lands. This was no longer the safety of Equestria, but the dark and shadowy land of a thousand horrible things, ready to devour us. Finally, we arrive at Vanhoover, where the council of Princess ponies is given a hasty coronation, and the Canterlot ponies are assimilated into the Vanhoover herd.

In the days that follow, representatives arrive at the new capital, and pledge their allegiance to the new rulers. As I fulfill my duties as captain of the royal guard, I hear talk the talk of nobility and politicians, and I don't know wither to be amused or disgusted;

"The destruction of Canterlot is an outrage! Tal Tale will gladly send troops... in exchange for autonomy after our victory, of Course!"

"Baltimare will honor your request to send troops... but we desire the rest of the kingdom to call us Hoofkaido!"

"We will send soldiers to drive these foes from our lands... but Bright Valley proposes power be shifted to local rulers! Surely you can see the princesses of each city-fortress are better suited to govern their subjects than a potentate in some far-away capital!"

I watch as the leaders of Ponykind carve a united Equestria into their own personal fiefdoms. I watched as towns with proud and long histories, such as Tal Tale, are rebuilt into armed fortresses, bristling with firepower. And I watch, with great Sorrow and disgust, as the princess ponies approve a loyalty oath, reducing every mare, stallion, and foal in the kingdom to a state of feudal vassals. The last of our freedoms are stripped away, as we enter a feudal age of war and chaos.

It is not long before the war is over, and the last of the enemies are driven from Equestria. But in thier departure, a new order has replaced the kingdom of Celestia and Luna. I choke back tears, as the flag of Equestria is lowered for the last time, and the flag of the newly created Ponyland confederacy rises in it's place. Princess Luna has never been seen again, though rumors of her survival persist. But even if she did survive the battle, a new world has dawned, and I and my loyal troops feel as if we have no place in it.

It is therefore with regret that I must turn in this letter of resignation, to the council of Princess ponies- for both myself, and my two lieutenants, Tulip and Snowdrop. The three of us have agreed to retire and open a flower stall in Vanhoover (or the Royal Paradise, as it is now being called), and settle down to find stallions to wed. Our cutie marks are, after all, each the very flowers whose names we bear.

I also agree to stay behind and train the first captain of the Confederation's royal guard. But I can no longer, in good conscience, continue to wear this redesigned new uniform, when the country who I swore to serve at the beginning of my career, no longer exists...

The letter cuts off here, the rest of the pages probably lost in the constant reshuffling that the archives went though over the next five centuries. We have no clearer account of that final tragic battle than this letter excerpt- all others are accounts were collected by the Royal historians, from elderly ponies, years after they had fled Canterlot. It is sad to see what our ancestors went through in Equestria's death throes, but also serves as a warning to Ponyland, to never forget the sacrifices and losses that were endured, to make way for the world that we now know.

Tornado Firehooves

Royal court historian, Dream Valley