//------------------------------//
// Seige on Canterlot | Part One | Truth be Told 
// Story: The Story of Ian Camron 
// by Swordoath 
//------------------------------//

	"Two tickets, please." I asked the cashier at the train station. 
One was for me, and one was for the mare. She was only coming along because the only way Sombra could travel outside his fortress was to be inside her necklace. I didn't see why I couldn't be the one wearing it, but there was no arguing between me and him. We couldn't walk to Canterlot, as that would take several days, especially seeing as neither of us knew the layout of Equestria. It's a wonder to me that I didn't question that a native of Equestria didn't know the landmarks. In any case, the train ride was uneventful. The two of us were the only ones in our car, and after about three hours, we arrived at our stop in Canterlot.
"Y'know..." I said to the mare as we left the station. "I'm rather amazed they don't do any kind of security check, or anything like that."
"True. But with the peaceful natures these ponies have, I suppose it's not very necessary." She replied.
Why does she speak like she's not one of them? I wondered, then asking her something that I asked long ago, but had been left unanswered.
"What's your name?"
She seemed very flustered when she answered. "Oh! Uh, my-my n-n-name?"
"Yes," I said slowly. "You're name."
"Uh, um, you can call me, uh," She stammered. "Serene. My name is Serene."
"Uh-huh." I said, turning back to the path we walked. The hell was that all about?
Attempting to ignore the strange behavior, I mentally began to plan out my attack on the castle. The guards wouldn't pose too much of a threat, particularly the unicorns and earth ponies- I'd been taught how to neutralize most spells set against me, and the earth ponies, while strong, wouldn't be capable of touching me as long as I use the proper shielding techniques. The pegasi's agile, fast attacks could be difficult to avoid, though. I'd have to take caution against them. And then there was the confrontation with the two princesses- assuming I'd face them simultaneously- which would no doubt be difficult. I'd have to worry about strength, magic, and agility, from two targets. Logically, Luna would be weaker, as she is younger. I'd have to take her down first. Celestia would likely be enticed into rage by this, which I could exploit and use against her. Hopefully.
We approached the two guards at the entrance to the castle. 
"Halt! Who goes there?" the pegasus on the left inquired.
"Seriously? Did you seriously just- Never mind," I shook my head. Analyzing the situation, the simplest solution was to pull both their helmets over their eyes, and throw the two against the wall. We walked in the front door without trouble. 
"Which way do we-?"
"Up the stairs, on the left." I'd memorized the layout of the castle, based off of some hoof drawn blueprints. The princess's living quarters were down the hall.
It wasn't long before guards came from behind and in front. Two unicorns ahead, and some earth ponies behind. Serene flew high above the skirmish, while I put up a barrier of red energy behind me. The two unicorns blasted twin bolts of pink energy, which I deflected with more red barriers. No longer under assault, I pressed all the barriers against the ponies, confining them to various corners of he hall. I knocked them each out by smashing their own helmets over each of their heads. 
The mare gave a little 'eep!' each time I did so. What's her deal? She needed to suck it up. I was going to have to kill somepony soon. 
We arrived at the room I'd remembered was Luna's, based off the blueprint. The well oiled door made no sound when I opened it. I prepared a stunning spell in my mind, and...
She wasn't in there. 
"Damn! They must've spread word and warned her." 
"Oh. Where do you think she-?"
"Shut up for a second," I barked. "I need to think."
If she's not in her room, and wasn't in the throne room when I passed it, then where...?
"The observatory!" it made sense that the moon princess would stargaze, and the observatory was the most difficult place for a non-pegasus to reach. That, coupled with with the fact that she and some of her guard could fly, seemed to make it an optimal defense point, as well as escape route.
"Halt!" A grey pegasus shouted at me from the hall. He was backed by two other pegasi, armed with spears. 
"Oh, well hello...!" I said backing toward the night table. "So nice to see you, but this is a bad time. You mind coming back later?"
In their brief moment of confusion, I flung the bedside table's lantern (If they had lamps, why was she using a lantern?) at his head, where it exploded into embers and oil, which lit the group on fire. I couldn't help snickering as I pushed past them, followed by Serene, who I heard whispering 'Sorry, sorry, sorry!" behind me.
Any guards we met along the way to the observatory were generally dispatched without trouble. The only point of true danger was when I was climbing the spiral staircase. Pegasi out the windows tried shooting me with arrows, which, while capable of being blocked, diverted my concentration enough for me to fall towards the hollow center. I'd have been a magic stain if Serene hadn't caught me.
"Thanks," I said, blocking another volley of arrows.
"Don't mention it." She said, ducking when the velocity-deprived arrows fell overhead.
At last, I reached the top. Both princesses and two guards, both pegasi. 
"There you are!" I shot out a blast of magic that would've paralyzed the target, but a guard stepped in front and took it for them. The other did the same with the second bolt.
"Ian! Stop this immediately! You aren't in your right state of mind!" Celestia pleaded of me, standing with her sister on the balcony.
"'Right state of mind'? I'm more clearheaded than I've ever been. Don't think you can tell me what to do. Hey, when your in hell, be sure to say hello to Discord for me. He's next."
I charged up energy, more than enough to blow a tank apart. I took aim, first at Celestia, in spite of my prior plans.
"Say goodbye." I said, grinning maliciously. Vengeance. I never have to listen to her again.
"No!" Serene shouted, tackling me, throwing off my aim, and making me shoot the ceiling. Debris fell, none hitting anyone, by some unimaginable odd. The two princesses flew off, beyond my range.
"You IDIOT! What the hell was that!?" I shouted at Serene. 
"Ian... please, don't do this..." She begged.
"I should KILL you. Sombra will. I'd be doing you and him a favor!" I advanced on her, charging up the same spell.
"Ian, you can't. I know you won't." She said, eyes tearing up. 
"What do you know? You're just some hypocritical degenerate moron who hasn't spoken more than a hundred words to me! You know nothing about me!"
A smile crept over her face, though she still cried. "Yes Ian, I do know you. I have for a long time. Do you know how?"
"How?" I asked skeptically,
"It's me," She said, throwing her forelegs around me in a hug. "Sarah."