The Changelings were advancing, swift and steady, crossing the heavens above Equestria, closing more and more with every second into the magnificent Canterlot.
The swarm had prepared for a long time for this evening, enduring the merciless cold of the artic mountains, deep inside the eternal glacial valleys.
The months spent in that frozen hell granted the Changelings with endurance and strenght equal that of Celestia's army, therefore they didn't need the surprise element anymore, for they could now go on direct confrontation against the Royal Guard.
This was the day the Changelings were waiting for, the time where they would take revenge on ponykind, and no Changeling had waited more anxiously for this day than Queen Chrysalis.
None of them felt the weight of flying at full speed from the North Mountains to Canterlot, their blood was pumping and their heads were filled with thoughts of glorious triumph, they wouldn't feel any exhaustion with victory at their grasp.
And then finally, after seemingly endless hours of flight there it was, the city of glamour, the city of luxury, high above any other city in Equestria.
Canterlot was at sight.
But at the same time the swarm was at the sight of the sentries in canterlot, their black bodies were contrasting with the deep blue of the night, they were exposed.
A living storm coming to destroy Canterlot.
This was no time for being subtle, the guards sounded the city's alarms at the sight of the strange vision closing fastly from afar.
All the thrumphets and every horn in every tower sounded at unison, and every living creature in Canterlot stood still before the ominous song.
The magic shield was quickly raised around Canterlot with the effort of dozens of specialized unicorns, and the evacuation issue was proclaimed at the streets.
Celestia knew something of extraordinary magnitude was about to happen.
To make the situation worse the population was begining to panic due to the sudden events, and the guards were struggling to avoid a stampede in Canterlot streets.
And inside the palace was not much different of a story, but they had Luna, Cadance and Shining Armor to calm them down, so Celestia made her way to the highest towers, to witness for herself the situation.
And then she arrived, recieved by the tower's sentries highest officer whom with calm demeanor informed her majesty what was of their knowledge at this point.
"You'r majesty, It's a massive formation of living beings heading towards Canterlot, coming from the northeast".
"It's... An Army... But who are..."
Said Celestia as she gazed to the horizon, but then the noises on the street caught her attention, the ponies below were in panic, there was chaos.
After some seconds of meditation she made a decision and then took off the tower, flying towards the open skies, where everyone in the city could see her.
And the chaotic crowds suddenly froze at the sight of Celestia's magnicifent glowing figure, like that of a godess.
And so they waited with a knot in their throats to hear the words from their beloved Princess.
With a powerful and Frim but at the same time kind and warm voice she addressed her subjects.
"Citizens of Canterlot, please remain calm...
In this moments the city is in severe peril...
A great threat is coming towards us as we speak, that is the reason we have issued the evacuation order, so none of you will get hurt in the case of a fight...
A year ago i was reminded that my most sacred duty as a Princess is to protect you, and Equestria...
And so i ask you ponies... Be brave...be strong...
Equestria will always prevail as long as it's people always remain strong!"
And so, everypony stood still, petrified by those words, words of valor and inspiration but also of great concern.
"Come on everypony, lets get a move on and leave some space for the guards to do their job, Shall we?"
Said a random gray furred and blonde maned mare with waltzy eyes that was standing in the middle of the silent crowd with a confident smile on her face.
"Oh yes, come on, let's get a move on gentlecolts, on to the shelters!"
Said what appeared to be her companion, a brown furred stallion with a mane of the same color and an hourglass cutie mark that no one really knew much but some ponies said he was some sort of Doctor.
And so, the concerned crowd agreed to follow the instructions, and began to move, following the guards orders with an anxious calm.
The situation was seemingly under control in the streets.
And inside the palace the evacuation was already on course as well, leaded by the royalty after they managed to calm down the guests by their own but similar means.
Several minutes of tension had transcurred, until the alarms sounded once again, this time the tone was the corresponding for the call to arms.
Celestia was in the Streets helping the evacuation when a guard came to her.
"Your majesty, please come with me."
"What is going on, they're..."
"They're here your majesty"
So, the pegasus lead the Princess into the northeastern edge of town, just in the border of the magic shield.
Meanwhile the streets were flooding with guards, running and flying towards their posts, preparing for the oncoming battle.
Their formations were as it follows.
The land ponies, armed with long spears were in the vanguard of the formation.
And behind them were the pegasus, armed with lighter javelins and light swords.
And in the rearguard were the unicorns, standing in high ground, this case above the roofs of the city.
"Everything is ready for battle your majesty."
A high ranking guard told Celestia while she arrived with the emmisary.
"Battle against whom!?"
The princess asked.
"They're back my lady... The Changelings are back... And they are... Many more than last time."
"But how... How can there be more than the last time!?"
"We're not sure, my lady"
And for the third time, thrumphets sounded, this time amongst the formed ranks.
"They've arrived!"
Said the commander to Celestia.
"Please, My Lady, guide us into battle."
Celestia didn't wanted a battle, but she knew this was no time for hesitation or doubt, it was for her people.
So, she took flight and headed towards the front of the troops.
And there they were, standing on the other side of the magic shield The Changelings were standing, the same creatures that tried to invade the same lands a year ago had returned.
This time there was an overwhelming number of them, never an army of this size had stood outside of Canterlot in all history.
Then the Changeling ranks began opening a singlr path, allowing a tall, slim figure to walk to the front of the lines.
With the same defiant demeanor and and arrogant smile on her face that she portrayed in the past, was standing in the eye of the storm, the Queen of the Changelings herself.
"Chrysalis!"
"You missed me, Celestia?"
"How dare you coming back to Canterlot, How dare you!?"
"You should had known that we wouldn't just stand idly as we starved to death, Celestia"
"That's not the reason you're here, Changeling, what is your intention!?"
"You know you cannot defeat us Changeling, you'll be gone or you'll yield!"
"You mean YOU will make ME yield... Just like the last time, when i stepped on you like an insect!?"
"You got a twisted sense of humor, don't you, bug Queen!?"
Both stared fiercy, throught the shield, each one's troops behind them ready to slaughter each other.
"I shall reveal my intentions here then, Celestia...
I have come to Kill Shining Armor, Cadance... But don't worry... I won't lay a hoof in you... You see... That's another one's privilege"
"What... !?"
Celestia was speechles, shocked by the grim intentions of the Changeling.
"You see Celestia... When you and your damned family defeated us, we were in the brink of death, in the brink of extincion....
That's of course untill our kind benefactor came in our aid..."
Chrysalis said with a tone of mockery.
"What... What benefactor, who in Equestria would help you!?"
"Oh Celestia... You're naive... He's been in front of you the whole time, but you are so blinded by your confidence that you never saw him coming!"
Then it revealed itself as black mist advancing, shrouding the Changeling ranks, and as it passed them they began to look Diferent, the look in their eyes and their presence itself had changed.
"What is that...? Mist?."
Celestia said to herself as she was looking for a new foe hiding in the mist.
"You haven't changed at all... Celestia...."
An ominous voice echoed throught the air, unknown it's direction.
"That... Voice.... It can't be..."
The mist had began concentrating besides Chrysalis.
"Welcome to the party, King."
Celestia and the guards remained silent while the mist began to take shape.
A black fur unicorn dressed in garments of a king, and heavy armor protecting him.
In his neck was hanging the cursed amulet, it's crystals shining like fresh blood.
His crimsom eyes glaring with terrifying hatred and his presence was of voilence and bloodshed, an evil Celestia had feared for a millenium.
"No... You're dead..."
Celestia looked at him with shock, but then she noted something that replaced that shock with the deepest of anguish.
"The... Alicorn.. Amulet... No... Twilight...Ponyville..."
She whispered to herself as she felt her heart shattering and by the tought of what could have happened to her beloved student and all of Ponyville.
"You're not gonna get away with this, SOMBRA!."
Equestria darkest hours were now seconds away.