//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Solar Eclipse // by keithsterling //------------------------------// "My turn, mother, but how?" Somnus inquiries as Celestia had a huge Cheshire cat smile on her snout as they ascended the staircase to the main floors of Grand Royal Palace. "Way before I met your father and had my beautiful foals. An evil pony name Queen Chrysalis and her changelings invaded Canterlot during your cousin's wedding ceremony. After the defeat, I did a review of Canterlot Security Protocols. I discovered that there were huge gaps in the Security Protocols, even with the heavy presence of Soldiers in the city. Because there was a threat against Canterlot, it still happened. After your cousin's reception, I ask your Auntie to join me in my office. We went over the Security Protocols from front to back, trying to plug the holes in the Protocols." Celestia explains as her bare feet pap-pops over finely made marble tiles of the many interior corridors of the Canterlot Grand Royal Palace on their way to the Throne Room. "After plugging as many holes as we could in Security Protocols, we came up with a plan. The plan was these gold sun pins (tap her fingernail on stylized gold sun pin on Somnus' collar). We gave the plain gold sun pins to every member of the Royal Army. Went activated, it sends signals to the other gold sun pins. In theory, the Royal Army soldiers would instantly return to Canterlot to protect the Royalty. But in practice with animosity among many of the divisions, it never worked. It was not till the birth of my beloved foals (kissing Somnus once again on his cheek). That it works, with your older sister strong command presence as well as my other foal’s command presence. The plan worked." Celestia explains as they continue down the marble tiles interior corridors heading toward the throne room. Meanwhile, on the west side of Everfree Forest close to the area of the Ghastly Gorge, the Equestria Royal Army and Rebel Army exchange gun-fire with an occasional explosion that pockmarks the territory. In the next instance, all gun-fire ceases as the gold sun pins on their combat uniforms begin to blink rapidly, without being ordered the Princess' elite protection unit the Solar Guard start to climb into their troop transport trucks. Once it fills with combat personnel, it speeds off towards the Capital City of Canterlot in rapid succession. Soon the skies above the battlefield is darkening by the hundreds of wings from the Solar Guard Pegasus ponies following ground-based troop transport trucks back to the Capital City of Canterlot. Before long, a huge burning sun symbol form in the sky as remaining troops look skyward toward the symbol at the center of sun symbol wearing her combat uniform was Celestia's eldest daughter Princess Aurora Silverlight. She soon joined in the sky by her Aunt Princess Luna Silverlight and her Cousin Princess Cadance Sparkle. She quickly orders them to gather together their troops and begins to head to Canterlot as fast as they can. With a nod of their heads, the two princesses fly over the heads of their soldiers, order them to load up, and quickly move out. Once the troop's transport trucks head toward Canterlot, the two princesses' land on the roof of the lead truck and ride it all the way to Canterlot. The last troops to leave and head toward Canterlot were the Canterlot Medical Battalion lead by Aurora's younger sister Princess Blueberry Swirl Silverlight. She lands on the roof of the truck that her little sister was riding in. Along the way, Blueberry informs her older sister riding on the roof of the truck that the Solar Guard unit from Friendship kingdom and Ponyville has arrived in Canterlot and is currently deploying around the city waiting from arriving of the Royal Division with that Aurora charge up her horn and begins the process of activating her long-range teleporting ability. As the magic energy in Aurora's horn reaches its zenith in the next instance, their bright flash and a loud pop as Aurora disappear. She soon reappears on the roof of the led Royal Division Solar Guard truck as it passes through the main gate of Canterlot. Once the truck stops, she flies up and does a back flip in midair to land on the ground to the rear of the truck. "Troopers, we don't know what the situation is at the Grand Royal Palace. So let do this by the book."Aurora said as she floated herself shotgun and handgun from the onboard armory. "Yes, Your Highness!" they all said in unison. Meanwhile, in the throne room of the Grand Royal Palace, Somnus holds his own against Daybreaker. Still, he knows he is severely outmatched it likes fighting with his own mother, who he has never been able to defeat in a sparring match. Suddenly a cobalt blue magic aura surrounds the battered Somnus and tosses him against one of the many marble columns in Grand Throne room. Since entering the throne room, the real Princess Celestia Silverlight was quickly drained of her strength by Daybreaker. Celestia's face is etched with desperation watching her son go all out to protect his weaken mother, and she can't do anything to help him. But to add more desperation to this already tense situation, any blow that Somnus lands on Daybreaker is quickly transferred to his mother, who immediately screams out in pain. This has forced Somnus to taper back his assault on Daybreaker in an attempt not to hurt his mother. This situation has given the advantage back to Daybreaker, who is just playing with Celestia's son like a cat with a mouse toy. "I am sorry, baby. Mama is useless against this threat," Celestia said as she dissolves into tears. "Celestia! Look at our son. He is waiting for his mother to save him! That monster is you, and only you can stop it. Our son is taking a beating to give you time to recover. That who our foals are. Don't waste this opportunity. You are his mother, for Celestia's sake!" A stallion voice said in Celestia's head as she slowly rose to her feet as a yellow magic ball forms in the palm of her hand. "Get away from my foal, Daybreaker!" Celestia said fiercely as she lifted her hand in the air and fires a yellow magic beam toward Daybreaker, blowing her off her foal lying badly beaten on the ground. She quickly flies over to him and begins to nudge him with her naked right foot, trying to rouse him. "Mama," Somnus said in a weak voice as she ran her toes through his mane, and she caressed his horn with a side of her foot. "Rest now, my beloved foal, and let your natural Alicorn healing ability, heal you. This' my battle with my evil alters ego Daybreaker. For my family's future." Celestia said as she flies over to Daybreaker, who is playing possum still lying on the ground. "Get up, Daybreaker! That level of magic wouldn't take me out like that!" Celestia exclaims as Daybreaker does an acrobatic leap to her feet and unleashes her own beam toward Celestia. Who quickly moved her head out of the way and caught the very edge of beam on her cheek cut it that quickly heals. "Very right, my good side, it didn't take me out. So good side it times to show who is superior." Daybreaker said as she assumes an offensive stance, and real Celestia assumes a defensive posture. In the next instance, the battle begins as the booms of the two Alicorn trading blows echo in the marble halls of the Grand Throne room of the palace. The counter blows from these powerful Alicorns shake the very foundation of this grand residence. "Why are you fighting me, Celestia? You are me, and I am you!" Daybreaker said as she landed a solid jab on her block, sending Celestia crashing through one of the marble columns, shattering one of the stained glass windows went; she impacted the wall under it. "You don't get it, Daybreaker! One time in my past, I was that mare! But not anymore! I found what I was missing! I found true joy! All those victories meant nothing but pain and suffering for the defeated!" Celestia said as she pulled herself out of the impact crater just as Daybreaker punched a huge hole through the same wall. Celestia dodges out of the way of Daybreaker's next several attacks and counters the rest of her fury with few well placed strikes across her body. Before their loud thud as she does an acrobatic airborne maneuver. That drives the top of her foot into Daybreaker's back; sending her crashing to the ground their aloud crack as she Daybreaker breaks several marble tiles on the floor went she's impacted. "It those insufferable foals of yours! Went I defeat you, Celestia! I will kill each of your foals slowly! Make them suffer by letting the blood drain out of them! And watch as their heart begins to slow and stop!" Daybreaker threatened as Daybreaker quickly comes up on Celestia and whip kicks her into another wall. Once again, shattering the second stained glass window in the throne room. Quickly Celestia flips and presses the soles of her fairly large feet against the wall; she squats against the wall and launches herself at incredible speed toward Daybreaker. She covers her head with her arms. Her arms impact on Daybreaker's stomach knocks the wind out of her. Celestia follows Daybreaker as she sent through the golden doors of the throne room into entrance vestibule their aloud crunch as Daybreaker impacted against a marble column in the room and she down to the marble floor in dazed. Quickly Celestia lands in front of the dazed Daybreaker and begins charging a yellow magic ball in the palm of her hand. "My real joy died years ago, Daybreaker. But those foals he gave me are lasting tribute to the love he always shows me and continued to show me till he died. You shall never hurt my foals again. Begone Daybreaker and return to me." Celestia said as she unleashed the yellow beam destroying Daybreaker force her back into her. Before long Celestia, legs give out under her, and she collapses to ground exhausted a moment later, a badly beaten Somnus stumble into the entrance vestibule and sinks to his knees. He wraps his arms around his mother, who, in turn, wraps her arms and wings around him in a loving embrace. "Is it over, mother?" Somnus inquiry "Indeed, it is my dear foal. That monster will never again plague our family. She is forever locked in my past. Our family's future is very bright." Celestia comments as the Royal Division of the Solar Guard quickly secure the Grand Royal Palace.