//------------------------------//
// Chapter 31 
// Story: After Discord 
// by Faindragon 
//------------------------------//

The end.
Is also a beginning.
If everything ends.
And nothing begins.
Then there is a problem.
A problem of order.

I looked at the sleeping unicorn mare besides me. What if she died? What if everypony in the guard died? How many families would I destroy with that? How many unnecessary deaths would occur this night. Would it be worth the cost?

Luna’s grace soothed my worries. Yes, it would be worth it if we succeeded. But what would I do? That would be a matter of later thoughts, first thing first.

I gently nudged the sleeping guard, it was time to wake her up, it was time for us to leave for the rest. It was soon time for the operation to begin.

“Huh, who?” she said, surppresing a yawn. She slowly opened her eyelids, her eyes quickly found me even in the faint moonlight. “Oh, its you. I felt asleep did I not?”

I could not help but chuckle at her. “Yes you did. Well, at least you are well rested for this. Are you ready?”

She nodded and rose to her feats. “Yea, I guess I am.”

I walked down the stairs in the tower, found my way down to a room stirring with life. The groups was making themselves ready, each group had been assigned a target. I could not help but notice that we where fewer than we should be. I quickly searched for Corelight and found him standing in the middle of the room, whispering to the last group. I trotted to him and adressed him as soon as I was besides him.
“Corelight, where is the rest of the guards? This can not be all of them, there were more guards this morning!”

He looked at me.
“Some of the guards is out in service, Lightheart and I made sure that some of our guards are out there patrolling. Do not worry, they have their targets ready and will do their job.”

I let out a breath of relief.
“That was good to hear. I thought they had abandoned us, alerted Warden about what is coming.”

“No one in here will betray you, we have only told the ones we knew would stand up for our sake. This city will be cleansed tonight. Are you ready? We only awaits your order.”

I smiled at him.
“Let us go.”

I left the building, the sound of Corelight screaming to the guards that it was time to leave followed me outside. I could not help but smile, it was finally time.


*^*


Luna’s grace was faint enough for us to hide in; our horseshoes was wadded so to not make any sound. Trotholm was lifeless, it was as if the city held its breath for what was about to happen. Each group felt away when it was their time, each one making their way alone towards the home of the pony they had been assigned to assassinate. And for each group that left us did my anxiety over the whole situation raise. Would they betray me? Would they betray this cause? How many of them had family on the list?

Corelight must have been able to read my worry.
“Take it easy, they will not leave us to do this alone. When the town center’s bell toll will the corruption in this city be removed for good.”

“At least until somepony else have the throne.” Discord whispered to me.
“Not now, I do not have time with you.”
“We want to do this ourselves, we do not want anypony on the throne. We want to kill them all.”
“Be quiet!”
“This city will not be purged before it is a ghost town; it will not be clean before al the living is perished.”

“Fight it.” the unicorn mare whispered to me. “Do not give in.”

“We are not going to listen to her. She whisper words of seduction, she want our heart.”
“Discord. I do not have time for your games.”
“We are not playing, we are warning you. She is dangerous. She will kill you.”
“Then that is the way I will go.”
Discord laughed at me.

The last group had left when we had entered the castle gardens. We were now five left, me, Corelight, the unicorn mare and two earth ponies. I saw Luna’s grace illuminating two pegasi who was heading our way. They both saluted Corelight as we got closer.
“The gate is open, none of our guards are patrolling the halls, but there is still five groups in there.”

I talked before Corelight had time to respond.
“We are not going to kill them - no lethal force is to be used against the guards.”

It seemed as if the two pegasi relaxed at this.
“Any one of them could have foals, we are not going to make a foal loose a parent this Luna hour if we can help it.”

“I will lead the way, Warden’s office is positioned near the top of the castle, he never leaves it.”


I motioned for him to go.
“And remember, stay in the shadows, do not let the guards see you if possible, avoid them.”


*^*


This was not going as planned at all. I pulled my blade out from the body of the guard, making him fall over. The combat was over, all four of the guards that had surprised us lay at or hooves, together with one of the pegasi and one of the earth ponies that had followed me. We had been ambushed by these four; the pegasi had fallen before any of us had had the time to react, the earth pony shortly thereafter. I looked over the guards that had ambushed us. Three of them were still alive, the forth lay with his throat slit. I kneeled at the one I had just made fall over. He snarled at me, but I ignored him as I tore a part of his armor away, looking at the wound I had inflicted. I tore away a piece of the wadding.
“Hold here.” I said.

He snarled at me.
“Why would you help me?”

“Do you have a filly?”

“No.”

“A colt?”

“No.”

“Somepony you love?”

He hesitated.
“Good, then hold this against the wound, make sure you do not bleed to death. Do it for the one you love.”

I looked at the others, they had helped the other guards as well. It did not take long time before we could keep going, leaving three wounded, but alive, guards behind us.


*^*


We turned at the last corner before Warden’s office and was greeted by ten guards. I quickly draw my weapon, but they did no move to attack us. Instead did one of them, a unicorn stallion, raise his voice.
“Are you the one that is known under the name of P-20?” he asked, his voice calm and steady.

I was taken aback, not only had the guards waited here for us, they also knew my name.
“I told us that they would betray us.” Discord whispered in my ear. “But we do not listen do we?”
I snarled silently at him before I turned towards the guard.
“I’m the one that is known as P-20...”

The guard talked before I could say anything more.
“We have orders to let you pass, the Warden is waiting for you. Your friends, however, must stay here. Do not worry, we will not hurt them with less than a direct order from Warden himself. They are also free to go if they want.”

“Go.” Corelight said behind me. “I will find other guards that can help us get to you.”

“He was the one that betrayed us! And now he will run away before we realize that it was he. But we can kill him, we can slaughter him.” Discord cackled inside of my head.
“Shut. UP!” I screamed at him, looked at Corelight.

“Do you have anything to do with this?”

“No, I have not done anything against you and I do not believe that anypony else of the guards have. Warden must have known that you where on your way. I will find help.”

I did not know if I could trust any of these guards, but it would not matter. If I turned against them now would I most likely get killed or wounded. I nodded towards him. 
“Go get some then, but remember, non lethal force only!”

I turned away and walked past the guards. One of them opened the door into Warden’s office, and I went inside. 

I was greeted by a voice I knew all to well. Discord’s voise.
“Welcome, P-20. Or should I say Notharam?”

Discord laughed in my head, and was quickly followed by the voice in the room.