------3rd person------
The town lay in ash as the soldiers dragged survivors out into the open. 5 ponies of different color and race awaited their fate. The horror on their faces was a testament to the shocking events these "civilized" soldiers had made them go through. The soldiers stopped their attack when a unicorn in silver armor trotted into view. One of the soldiers approached him and saluted.
"Sir these stallions injured several of our soldiers in the conquest." The grey pegasus yelled.
The captain slowly shook his head. "Well we don't have time for any kind of trial. The whole empire is at war, and we can't waste time on these whelps." He glanced over at the stallions. His deep blue eyes cut into their souls. "I think I'll have fun killing these ones. I have gotten a good piece of action in a while."
He trotted over to one of the stallions who kept his head down. The captain used his magic to pull his blond mane up and forced him to look.
"Want to beg for mercy?" I captain asked.
The stallion spat in the captain's eye and smirked. A small magic ring formed around the stallions neck and slowly started to close. His eyes shot open and he started gasping for air as he tried to get his hooves to the magic ring. Nothing worked. The ring started getting tighter and tighter and soon blood was coming from his neck. That's when the captain completely closed the ring. The stallions head fell to the ground and his body went limp. The Captain laughed and looked at the 4 remaining stallions.
"Oh, I'm going to have so much fun with you."
"Captain!" A stallion yelled. "We have urgent news from your wife!"
He looked back at the other stallions and shook his head. "To bad. I really wanted to kill the rest of you, but I guess I'll just leave it to my soldiers."
As the captain walked away, screams added to the horrid sound of Celestia's army. The captain walked to the stallion, and the grunt pulled out a letter.
To my dearest Night Shade.
I hope the battles are going well and I hope you are missing me as much as I miss you. I do miss you more than I can say in words, but I know you'll return. I have troubling news about an old friend of yours. The Dark knight has returned to unite with Luna and destroy our empire. Take your army and push on to the west. Destroy everything that stands in your path. I shall see you soon my love.
Queen Celestia
------1st person Lighting------
The whole base was loud with the sound of soldiers packing up the basics needed for a long journey. I stood as a look out to get away from the commotion. The moon was giving me enough light to see into the distance. There was a plume of smoke with a orange glow at the base about 2 miles away. I could only imagine what was happening.
"Lighting?" Asked a familiar voice.
"Ah Doctor. I wondered where you ran off to." I said while pushing a small woven chair towards him.
"Well I wanted to help, but I suppose you don't have magnets here?" He asked.
"Mag-net?"
He smiled. "Ah. Well I don't want to get in the way, so I figured I'd keep watch."
I shrugged. "Be my guest."
He sat down and looked at the night horizon.
"What do you think that smoke is coming from?" He asked.
"Well if it were my best guess, I would say Celestia is trying hard to find me."
He ran his hoof over his un-kept mane. "Aren't you worried? What if they come here next?"
I smiled. "It's going to take them a while to get their army back together after a town raid like that. I bet the last thing on those soldiers minds is finding some pony that's a supposed myth."
He didn't look to happy with my response. "Now is not the time to be smug. Innocent peop.... Ponies are dying out there."
My grin quickly faded. "You're right Doctor. I'll go down there and check to see when we're leaving. The quicker we reach Luna, the better."
He smiled. "Of course. Have you warned the Captain about that smoke?"
My hooves ached as I slowly stood up. "Yeah. He says that we shouldn't be worried, plus this base has gone dark. Right now, we're just among the dark trees and bushes."
The Doctor nodded and went back to watching the sky. I would never understand how he feels. He's still relatively new to this whole world, and he's already seen more war, and death than I had ever seen in my whole life. He was something else from a whole different universe and the only reason he was here, was because he crashed and found me.
"I have to stop thinking like that." I whispered. "For some reason he's here and I can't do anything to change that."
"Lighting! We are ready to move out!" The captain yelled.
I looked up and all the soldiers were carrying saddle bags with only food and water. "Captain. What about all your supplies and extra weapons?"
"There's no time for that. Quickly put on this armor and walk in formation. I'll wear your normal armor just in case we run into trouble."
I looked back at my armor in a box and sighed. "If you think it'll keep me safe."
I quickly placed the armor over and we began the march. Things were quiet as we moved along the dirt path. Most of the soldiers carried random supplies in their saddle bags. There was only one large cart filled with documents and extra cloths. I didn't like the silence, or the fact that we were walking with no aerial cover. I felt like something was watching us.
"Wait." I whispered.
The whole group came to a stop.
"You felt it to?" The Doctor said from behind me.
"Ya. It fells like we're being followed."
I used my horn to make a dim light and slowly checked the perimeter of our group. There was nothing but bushes, trees and grass. I rejoined the group and the captain gave the order to continue the march.
---------------
After what seemed like hours, the forest finally ended and we were on grass lands. The rolling hills of Equestria hadn't lost their luster. From the top of a large hill, the captain gave us time to relax. Everypony threw their gear down and hit the grass. I set my gear down, and went to the captain. He was looking to the west, and I understood why. The faintest glimmer of sunlight was hitting a large castle far off in the distance. We were very close to the west coast, which meant we were close to Luna. The captain sighed heavily and looked at me.
"It's a strange feeling when I look at you. My mom used to tell me and my two brothers stories about the prince that went missing, and how one day he would return to make peace between the Empire and the Republic. You give everypony so much hope, and that something that had been lost in this world for a long time."
I nodded and looked to the west. "For the longest of time, I didn't have hope of seeing this place again. I thought I would fade away into the sands of time. I'm glad I give ponies hope. I makes me believe that all those years weren't wasted. I promise to continue being strong."
The captain smiled and looked to the coast. "As will I."
After an hours rest, the captain rallied the stallions for one last push. The grasslands made me nervous, because we were in the open and anypony watching could quickly strike. The feeling that we were being followed was stronger than ever. and I continued looking back. The Captain saw how worried I was, and told the group to spread out. It did help calm my nerves, but I couldn't put my hoof on the feeling I was having. It was joy, combined with a heavy set of fear. A cold shiver ran down my back as we advanced.
------2 hours later------
The sun was extra strong today. It might have been an attempt to slow down Luna's army along with us. Even when we got to the coast, the suns intensity counter acted the oceans cool breeze. The palace was in view and it looked safe. We started galloping, letting out saddle bags full of gear fall off our backs. One last push, and we'd be behind the castle doors. Just as we were about to call out, a magic bolt struck the captain. He was thrown closer to the ocean, and smoke was coming off the area where the bolt struck. The group quickly stopped and looked for a pony that could have shot the bolt. When I started toward the Captain, I noticed a set of hoof prints being made in the sand. It was moving faster than me, then suddenly, I was hit by something and knocked away from the Captain. I laid in the sand trying to catch my breath, with my fore legs around my stomach, when it finally appeared. A single Trojan was standing over the captain with a sword in it's magical grip. The sword slowly turned and the point was placed in a gap in the armor, in the neck area. Just as I jumped up to attack. the Trojan whispered
"Good by Dark Knight."
The sword went right through the gap and, blood spewed from his neck. His fur was stained as it fell to the beach below. It looked up at me with it's massive orange glowing eyes and opened it's stance. I started moving right and he followed. Our hooves were at the same pace, and the now dead Captain laid in the middle. It charged a magic bolt, and fired multiple shots at me. I brang up a magic shield and countered stopped the bolts, but it fired one at my hooves. I was blasted into the air and gripped with a magical bond that wrapped around my leg and mid torso. The orange aura started to tighten and the pain rose.
"CHARGE!"
When I looked back, the soldiers were attacking the Trojan. The pegisi flew at it as fast as they could. The Trojan countered with magic bolts that hit one out of the five. The rest hit the Trojan with all their front hooves. The grip over my body dropped as the soldiers galloped passed. When the soldiers passed, the Doctor picked me up and dusted me off. Just as I was charging a magic blast, one of the soldiers called out'
"Run! Get to the palace! We'll hold this one off. You don't have much time before her army shows up!"
As much as I wanted to stay and fight, I knew that he was right. The Doctor and I started for the palace. Across the dark lining of the castle walls, figures began showing up.
"Who goes there?" One called out from the top of a wall.
"I am the Dark Knight! I'm here to end the war." I yelled at the top of my lungs. "I've traveled a great distance to see Princess Luna. Please let me see her."
"Fool! Do you think we could really fall for some stupid trick. Kill them both!"
Arrows, and magic bolts rained down from the castle walls. I quickly drew up a barrier.
"Damn! Why doesn't anypony believe me! Those soldiers back there are dieing and their deaths will be in vain."
The Doctor stepped forward. "Not if I have anything to say about it! Keep your magic grid up. I'm going to try something."
The Doctor went through his saddle bag. "Ah there you are."
He pulled out a glowing key and set it on the floor. "If you can focus a tiny bit of your magic on this key, we might have a chance."
The arrows and bolts were still flying down, but I took a deep breath and wrapped the key in my magic. The noise was back and slowly, the view of the castle was starting to fade. A set of blue doors replaced the view, and when it fully materialized, I dropped my shield and smiled.
"See. There's the old girl. So many different power sources in this world she couldn't lock onto the key." He said as he stroked the main round thing in the middle.
I smiled and trotted up to the Doctor. "So, What's next? I thought you said this box wouldn't be able to fly."
The Doctor looked back and said in an irrtated grunt, "This box has a name."
I rubbed the back of my neck and I could feel my cheeks getting red. "Sorry Doctor. What's it's name?"
He smiled and ran a hoof along the round thing. "Her name is Sexy."
Just as he finished saying that, there were loud bangs on the door.
"Open up or we will tourch this box!" A pony yelled from outside.
I looked back at the Doctor. "I think we should go."
He laughed. "Are you scared?"
"Maybe. Only because there is wood and a lock protecting us from a small army and a crazy freak pony." I replied
"Trust me. The sun can't even destroy this old girl..... In fact she became a sun once"
"Wha..." I was cut off when the Doctor threw a lever.
"Come on you old girl. Just a few feet up and a couple yards to the right and we'll be there!" The Doctor yelled.
The TARDS shook violently, and made so many noises, until finally, there was one large jolt and we stopped.
"Ho she did not like that. One second." The Doctor pressed some buttons, and pulled on a lever, then turned around. "How about we take a look at the palace from the inside?
It took me a second to realize what he was saying. "Doctor...... Are we really inside?" I asked while regaining my balance.
He nodded his head toward the door and smiled. I slowly went to the door. I wondered where we had landed, but I really wondered if Luna would be behind the door. I raised my hoof to the door handle and pulled it open. As soon as I did, there were twenty Unicorn horns pointed at me. A single stallion gave the order to fire and a torrent of magic was shot at me. I just curled up and waited for the end, but after a couple seconds, I felt nothing. I opened one of my eyes and saw their magic hitting an invisible wall.
"The TARDIS has a shield range that could cover this whole castle. I figured someone would wonder how a box got in here."
The Doctor was right behind me. "Just wait for them to notice their magic isn't doing anything."
A couple seconds of blinding light later, the magic stopped and the soldiers looked in awe.
"Please listen to me. I need to see Princess Luna!"
One of the soldiers got angry. "Princess Nightmare Moon doesn't take visitors!"
I felt a lump in my throat, and I looked around. "Please let me see her. I miss her so much. Tell her the dark knight is here."
They all started to laugh. "Of course you're the dark knight. The Princess would find it very amusing."
Nopony believes me. I tired so hard and now these guards are stopping me.
"SIR! We have a major issue! The whole of Celestia's army is marching across the plain. We need to reinforce the doors!.
The soldier he was talking to looked back at me. "You. You're a spy! He distracted us! Move all soldiers to the walls and prepare to fight!"
The soldiers turned around and started for the front of the castle, except one. He stayed and watched me and the Doctor. I nudged the Doctor and whispered, "We need to get out of here. My power combined with Luna's would make it impossible for Celestia's army to breach the walls of the castle."
The Doctor nodded. "I agree, but how are we going to get past this guard?"
Just as I was about to say something a guard pony came around the corner. "We need everypony! To Tarturs with these ponies. Princess NIghtmare Moon will deal with them."
The guard pony started for the other pony and they left within seconds. The Doctor smiled and we left the shields protection.
"Doctor, do you have a way to find Luna?" I asked while looking down long hallways.
"Already working on that." He said while fiddling with a silver stick.
"Doctor, what is that thing?" I asked.
He face hoofed. "I explained this before." The device started to make a beeping noise. "It's a sonic screw driver."
He started galloping down a hallway and with each turn the screw driver's beeps got more rapid.
"There is another source of immense power here. The sonic can barely keep track of Luna." The Doctor said as he shook the screw driver.
"Celestia must be near. Come on Doctor. We need to find Luna." I said while looking out a window.
The suns brightness and intensity were growing stronger. She was closing in for the final battle. We continued down different hallways until we came to a large pair of double doors. The doors had a massive black moon painted on them. The screw driver was on a solid tone and the Doctor turned it off. I took a deep breath and pushed the doors open. There on the other end of the room was a dark blue pony sitting on a black throne.
"Who goes there?" Her voice boomed across the room
"Princess Luna.... It's me. Lighting Bolt."
She rose from the throne and used her wings to slowly come down the stairs. "You must think I'm a fool. I see Celestia hasn't learned from the last Trojan that she sent in disguise."
No. Please. Anything but this.
"I will destroy you, and then wipe out Celestia!"
She began charging a bolt and I was going to run, but something grabbed me. When I looked over my shoulder, the Doctor's light brown hoof rested on me.
"Listen. I know you might not trust me, but I have a theory I want to test out."
I started to panic. "Doctor this isn't the time or place to test something. She's about to kill me!"
I yanked away, but the Doctor pulled me back. "LISTEN TO ME! If it works she'll know it's you."
Just as I was about to shout back, a single pony covered in black armor and blood ran into the thrown room.
"Celestia's army is in the cas..."
A spear split his head open and he fell to the ground. Just down the hall, Celestia trotted at a relaxed pace, while five of her Trojan guards followed closely behind.
I looked back after hearing a explosion, and there was a bolt of magic coming at me. There was no time for a shield or for me to jump. I just had to face what was coming. The bolt hit and I was thrown to the entrance of the throne room. I could smell the burning fur and flesh and when I looked down, my right foreleg was completely missing. The blast had gone from my shoulder, all the way to my hoof. Just as I was trying to process the damage, the pain kicked in. It was like somepony slowly pulling the leg off and then ripping it off completely. All I could do was scream in pain. Luna instantly lost the anger in her face.
"No.... It. it really was him."
Celestia saw the whole thing and she started laughing. "Oh... Oh my goodness! After me worrying all this time, it would be my sister who kills the greatest threat to my empire! Oh the sweet irony."
Luna teleported to my side and stood over me. I could feel the tears hitting my face, and slowly everything started to fade.
"Ah my queen. I see you didn't need my help?" A stallion said from behind Celestia
Celestia stopped laughing and looked behind her. "Hello my love. I take it everything went well outside the castle?"
The stallion got close to Celestia's side. "Of course. No survivors."
Celestia smiled. "Good. Then our victory is here."
I recognized the voice through the daze. "N-Ni...Night Shade?"
The stallion in question looked at me. "How do you know my real name?"
I slowly turned and looked at him. "I'm Lunar. Remember?"
He smiled, but slowly it started to disappear. "L-Lunar..... Why does...."
Celestia started to panic. "Ignore it my love. He's the enemy"
"Night! It's me! Remember the guard duties we had together? Remember the incident at the palace? You died there!"
He took a couple steps back. "No...N-no! It can't be." He wrapped his hooves around his head. "Everything is flooding back!"
He fell to the ground and lay limp for a couple of seconds.
"Darling... Are you okay?"
A stream of magic energy wrapped around Celestia's neck. "Mind control...... MIND CONTROL! IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL LOVE!" He threw Celestia into a wall then tightened his grip. "A thousand years.... You made me kill ponies for a thousand years! I can hear them screaming! I can see their faces!"
Night threw Celestia into a wall and charged started toward me and Luna.
Night came to my side and looked at the blast. "Lunar.... I don't think I can heal this."
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "Go! Fight her, before she regains her power. Right now she is weak. Fight in the name of peace, not hate."
Luna and Night nodded, but before they left, Luna kissed my cheek and set me down carefully. I stared at the ceiling as the fighting took place. I could see magic blasts and I felt the rumble on the floor. I started closing my eyes, and submitted to defeat. Then I felt something looking over me. I came to again and the Doctor was standing above me with his screw driver and a big smile on his face.
"Well would you look at that. You'll be feeling a lot better in about ten seconds."
I didn't know why, but the Doctor's smile made me trust him and I counted down the time.
10....9....8....7....6....5 I started closing my eyes 4....3....2....1....
The pain instantly vanished. My eyes snapped open as I looked at the area where my leg was. A strange magic connected with the bone that was charred and slowly it shaped into a new bone. Magic started to surround me and I watched as bone, muscle, skin and fur, returned in a flash.
The Doctor raised a brow. "Well...... This is an interesting piece of evidence to prove my theory right."