"Are you feeling better?
“A lot, how did you do?
"We'll talk about that later"
"Where have you been?
"I had a job, give me that leg, your bandage came off"
"That..but..when?
"Are you feeling okay? Why are you looking at that bandage?
"You treated my injuries?
"Yes"
“And how…what caused my injuries?
"Although I wish you wouldn't remember it, you have every right to know it"
“What am I supposed to remember? Wait, what happened to Rainbow Dash?
"Umm well...
After knocking, Twilight enters the room and happily hugs Violet who is lying in bed.
"I'm glad you're okay, I was worried about you" She sits down next to Starlight on the bed.
After a moment of disbelief, Starlight calms down and turns back to me.
“What's going on here? Why is everyone acting so weird and where is Rainbow?
Hearing her name, Twiligh turned to me with a questioning look, while I returned the shrug.
“What's this about?” Starlight asks
"It's okay, Rainbow is a bit ill-mannered after spending so much time at the front" Twilight replies calmly
"And everything else that happened?
"It's my fault, I wanted to protect you as much as possible, but I just made it worse"
"You did your best" I'll support the Princess.
"Never mind, just sit back and relax" As soon as Twilight says that, Starlight flinches like she's been bitten and looks at me.
“What are you afraid of? I kneel beside Starlighr on the bed.
"Because I don't like this, it's too suspicious" Violet says which I hold in my arms so she doesn't run away.
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” Starlight struggles to free herself from my grip.
"You need Twiligh to wake you up, you need to stay calm"
"But. But. But" She tries to escape me.
"Trust me" I say quietly, Starlight reluctantly sits in my arms and waits to see what happens when the pink glow hits her.
"Done" Twilight finishes and motions for me to let her go.
Starlight collapses on the bed the moment I release the squeeze, she just lies with her eyes closed for a moment and then sits up as we both stare at her in fear of what's to come.
“How are you feeling? Twilight asks as Violet stares at us speechlessly.
But Starlight just stares with wide eyes as if life is happening before her eyes.
"I understand, it was a plan so that I could heal in peace and not deal with what was happening" Says the already fully aware Starlight.
"I'm glad that everything is as it should be again" The princess rushes to Starlight with another hug.
"I'll leave you lovebirds alone now, I've got to go, I've got a lot to do" Twilight pouted and left immediately, only giving Starlight one last smile in the doorway.
“Can you finally stop this? I call the princess and there is only receding laughter from behind the door.
"Lovebirds?
"Twilight is joking that you told her we were sleeping together" I turn from the door to Starlight.
"What's funny about that?
"Well...she took it to mean we were having sex"
“WHAT? How could she understand that?
"I did say that...we sleep together and I protect you from nightmares.." Violet realizes how weird that sounds and red looks at her hooves while sitting on the bed.
"She's been making fun of it ever since I explained it to her" I lean against the wall as I sit next to Starlight.
"So you're getting along well now?
"That's right, after I helped stop the attack on Ponyvill and her, we get along well."
“Is that what caused the village to be so destroyed?
"Yes, it was an ambush and it couldn't be prevented" I look at the ceiling in disappointment.
"Did someone die?
"They all managed to escape"
"I'm glad"
"I have to go into town, then I'll stop by later" I stand up and walk to the door.
"Wait, I'll come with you" Violet jumps off the bed.
"Are you feeling up to it?
"Of course" She says with a firm and steady step.
We leave the castle and go to Rarity, who is already waiting for us in the square with a tied package, I just take it over and with a greeting and a few words exchanged between the mares, we continue to the forge.
“Remember when we were in the Catacombs? Starligth asks.
"You should be asking if I'll ever forget it" I utter in disgust.
"I wanted to tell you something important, but I didn't get around to it"
"Can't it wait? We're quite pressed for time"
“I noticed, I'm not stupid, I saw you and Twilight looking at each other, so why don't you tell me what's going on?
"Because I want you to be calm" I say as we walk along the broken houses and past the ponies who greet us.
"But I want to know what's going on! You don't trust me, do you?
"Well, if you must know, the truth is that the army is approaching us to stop our offensive and eliminate the rest of the resistance, that's why we are all preparing to fight, it won't be long and everyone
we're off to the front" Starlight looks at me in disbelief as I speak.
"That's terrible, all the more I need to tell you" Starlight stops me as she grabs my orange tank top.
“Okay, I'm listening, what's on your mind? I turn and kneel before her.
"What's happening and happened, a lot of it reminds me of a friend I lost and I'm afraid that the same thing will happen to you"
"Before you came, I was in a terrible depression that I tried to fight off with work, I couldn't even sleep because I had nightmares and so I worked for days without sleep and that lasted for weeks, I survived only on stimulants so I wouldn't fall asleep and I could have continued working" She continues her sad monologue as she studies my reaction.
"My best friend who had a similar past to me and you, we were always together and when the war started she got involved in the fighting a lot even though I asked her not to,
but she couldn't tell, despite her mistakes and fear, she was honest and couldn't watch someone destroy her home and do nothing.
One day a special battle group was formed for an important mission and she volunteered, disobeyed me and despite all my protests went on a very dangerous mission from which no one came back, I went looking for her many times but because of the advancing enemy army, it was more and dangerous.
Since then, I just waited and blamed myself every day for not stopping her, because I knew what the special mission was and how dangerous it was.
I don't want it to happen again with you" She silently looks at the ground.
"I'm sure you've heard that many times, but it's not your fault if she was so convinced that she had to go to battle, even if you forced her not to go,
she would live, but she would never forgive you" I try to calm Violet down.
"Thank you for saying that, it means a lot to me"
"You don't have to worry, I won't disappear" I want to smile, hug her and comfort her, but I can't, I can't because I know what's going to happen and already my heart hurts at the thought.
"I'm waiting for you, I hope everything will be as you wished" says the blacksmith waiting in the shop at the counter as soon as we enter.
"Hello, let's go right now, I'll just prepare this" I say while I put the box on the counter and unpack it.
"You're already at home here, everyone greets you and it looks like they like you" Starlight smiles as she watches what I take out of the box.
"A lot has changed, a lot of them I helped or we just talked, the main thing that helped was that Twilight accepted me and publicly listed me as a visitor to help in the fight"
"That sounds like a lot of work, you managed it at a pretty fast pace didn't you? She laughs and waits for a reaction, but I can't give her one.
"Yes very much" I say quietly.
“So how fast did you do it?
"You're right, it didn't take long" I say as I put on a long brown glove that goes up to my shoulder, where I fasten it with a strap across my chest.
"So how long?
“Do you need to know it to the exact days or minutes? I accidentally said unnecessarily rudely.
"I..sorry..I'm just curious, I've slept through so much and I just want to know the answer to at least something" She says in such a tone that my heart sinks even more.
"Two months" I say quietly with my back to her.
“Wh..WHa…WHAT?!!!
"It's just another joke right? HA HA HA that was a good one" She desperately tries to deny what I said.
"It's not a joke" I put my hand on the table while the blacksmith fixes the iron plates on my left hand that are attached to the glove.
"But how is that even possible? When I look at her, I see she's having a nervous breakdown again.
"What happened to you...What I did to you was absolutely terrible and I will never forgive myself for it, but believe me, only the best came out of it" I say Starlight while the blacksmith joins the iron plates for me.
"But..."
"Only thanks to you there is a good chance that we will win the war and everything will go back to how it was before"
"I'm sorry that I slept through everything, but I'm glad that everyone and everything is going well"
"And finally a masterpiece" A long object wrapped in cloth is placed on the table.
"it looks great, thanks so much for your hard work" I say after peeking under the fabric.
“Wait, why are you wearing armor? Starlight asks
"Because I'm going to fight in a minute" I take the item in the cloth and prepare to leave.
"You're not going anywhere!
“What do you mean? Stunned by the sudden harshness in her voice.
"I won't let you go into such a big battle alone"
"You're not going anywhere, you're not strong enough to join" I stand facing the door while Starlight stands behind me.
"I'm strong, I feel full of energy and if this is to be the last battle, you need everyone"
"YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!! I yelled into the door while the blacksmith went into the back room instead.
“What's wrong with you? A shocked Starlight slowly walks towards me.
"Nothing, you're not going to fight" Still angry.
"You don't have to be afraid that I will die" She says when she looks at my face, which has tears running down my face.
"You won't die because I won't let you go there" I turn away from her and walk through the door.
"That's not for you to decide, this time I'm going to fight, I won't let what happened with Trixie happen again" She runs after me.
I ignore whatever she says, I know I have to stop her from joining a battle that will cost her her life.
But she apparently doesn't care, because I'm enveloped in a green glow that holds me in place, for now she turns me towards her to get a good look at me.
“What's wrong? Starlight asks sadly
"War and Suffering"
“In all the time we've spent together, you've never been so withdrawn or sad when talking about war or death. Don't you want to tell me what's going on?
"Nothing happens"
“Then why are you like this? Angrily, she takes a step towards me.
"I...." I can't say anything, I just look at her with a sad look that I can't control.
"We should go" Violet says as she wipes a tear that's running down my face.
After returning to the castle where Starlight took her armor, we will walk through the demolished square to the end of the courtyard, where four ponies in heavy full-plate armor are already waiting by a cart behind which a pegasus in light leather armor is harnessed.
"We all are, MR. Ben prepare us for immediate departure" Princess Twilight orders in silver and gold armor without a helmet.
"Yes Princess....everything is ready" Says the tall pony who is much taller than the others.
As soon as the low door of the car slams shut, we immediately set off and take off at tremendous speed between a few clouds, where we fly peacefully with a beautiful view of the countryside.
I look at the armors of the three soldiers that look more like works of art, the gray ornate armor full of red symbols of drawings and sharp protrusions for protection looks like I wouldn't be able to save that much money for one complete armor in my lifetime, but compared to the armor of the Princess and Starlight it's just cans.
The princess looks amazing in her full plate silver armor, which looks like it has grown a golden creeper, with lots of thorns and sticking out short branches that are razor sharp.
"Get ready, it's going to be a hard landing" MR Ben shouts at the two soldiers in front of him who cannot be seen because of their face helmets and then turns to us.
The chariot begins to shake and toss with increasing speed as we hurtle towards the ground amidst the debris surrounding the ongoing battle, as stones, knives and spears fly past us.
With the fourth impact, the car lands and we run for the nearest cover while MR. Ben and two soldiers cover us with their own bodies.
While crouching behind a wooden U-shaped pile of wood, the sounds of intense combat, iron clashing iron, cries for help, rage and dying are the most audible.
"The main enemy army has not yet arrived" Informs MR. Ben with the red mane.
"That's why we can inflict the most casualties on them before they arrive, if they stick together there is a high chance they will overpower us, for now we are outnumbered" Twilight shouts over the sounds of the battle.
“What should I do? Starlight asks.
"You will be with me, you and I are support, using magic we will attack from a distance and protect our soldiers" The Princess orders.
"I'll go ahead immediately and try to help the front line soldiers and break up the enemy line as much as possible" I tell Twilight.
"If something were to happen, I'll give a signal, now run" says the princess as she leaves with Starlight and the two soldiers who flew with us.
With a nod to Ben, we run together towards the center of the battle.
we make our way through the formations of armored soldiers to the constant tumult of battle that echoes before us.
Beams are flying behind us, while thrown knives and spears are flying against us that shatter or bounce off the shields that the Unicorns materialize around the soldiers in the back rows, including Twilight and Starlight.
With the heavy aftershock that comes from every impact of the running Ben, with the clang of heavy armor, we are approaching the front line where the fighting is fierce.
I pull down the back of the long cloth held by the pale rainbow.
I peel off the cloth as I run to reveal a black one-handed sword that cuts through the enemy line like butter.
While parts of the goblins' bodies fly around me, Ben covers my back and uses his heavy hooves to crush everything he comes across.
As we advance deeper into the crowd of enemies, our soldiers follow us and prevent the Blacks from closing us in a circle.
A flurry of knives began to rain down on us, but they were stopped by a quickly appearing pink-green shield that also protected the soldiers behind us.
With a look at Twilight who just nods at me, I turn around and my black and gray blade again cuts more and more black armor around me, staining my brown pants green.
With the mighty roar of our soldiers, we shatter the lines of the enemy, who relentlessly attack despite being surrounded in two large circles.
I collapse to my knees resting on my sword, breathing heavily and sweat pouring down my face.
I look at the numerous holes in my clothes that I don't even know how I got as I watch the colors of the happy dancing rainbow on my hand fade.
“Can you make it? Ben asks as he crushes a few blacks that have gotten out of the circle and are running towards us.
I nod to show that I do, but the truth is that I feel very weak.
With a distinctive roar, our soldiers celebrate the victory they have waited so long for and are now savoring to their heart's content.
I look back at Starlight, who is in an embrace with Twilight, among the bouncing and dancing soldiers.
I would like to rejoice like the others, but my joy was stopped by the shaking of the earth, which is getting stronger every moment.
THOOOO
A horn sounds from our ranks, indicating that everyone should line up in battle formation.
confused as to what is happening, I look back to see another army, led by a tall bipedal figure in black spiked armor riding on a black throne.
I look desperately at the huge army that our tired troops cannot match.
I struggle to my feet, leaning on my sword, and face the oncoming army as Ben and I stand in front of our army, first to hit.
A row of blacks line up in front of us, screaming and jumping.
These black ones are different, they don't have pure black armor, but apparently they are worn and dented by many battles, I'm afraid that this will be the elite.
Before I take a step forward, the Princess is standing next to me, calling out to the armor sitting on the throne.
"I, Princess Twilight Sparkle, the ruler of all of Equestria, challenge you to a duel, if you defeat me, I will give up my right as ruler" She says Nobly.
“Your defeat is certain, why should I waste my time with you? The black armor thunders.
"Because even if you tear ours to pieces, we will always fight because you will never break our desire to be free again" She shouts triumphantly as I stare at her in disbelief.
After a moment's thought, the armor is raised and with a metallic clang it descends from the high throne and down the stairs.
Frightened by what the Princess said, Starlight runs to us.
"I won't let you risk your life" I stop Twilight who wants to go towards the enemy.
“Exactly, what if he kills you? Starlight grabs Twilight to keep her from leaving.
"There is no other option, I won't let all my loyal ponies die while I hide" She turns to Starlight.
"In that case, I'll fight him" I say, pulling my sword from the ground and immediately stepping forward.
“No! come back! Twilight and Starlight are calling after me.
But I don't listen to them, I know what is going to happen and there is no other way back.
Suppressing the horrible thought of what's to come, I stand against the black armor that looks down on me.
"I don't want you, I want a princess" He growls.
"You can only get her through my corpse" I say with my sword resting on my shoulder.
"I was hoping you'd learned your lesson from the last time, but it looks like I'm going to have to kill you for real this time" He says angrily, swinging a spiked hand at me on his black armored gauntlet.
With a step to the right, I avoid a direct shot from the giant and with a strong swing my sword with sparks and fragments is reflected from his arm that attacked me.
I take a few steps back, looking at the broken piece of the sword.
With a thunderous laugh, he turns on me again.
I avoid every blow he sends at me, breathing heavily.
For how tall he is, he's very fast and deadly at the same time, just one direct hit and I'll be happy if I can stand up.
His arms whiz around me as I dance around him and when the opportunity presents itself, I land a crucial sword blow, but I'm unable to hurt him.
His armor is a masterpiece that doesn't have a single vulnerable spot.
I slash at him with the blade splintering along its length as I find a weakness in his armor in his armpit.
After every strike he makes, he always straightens up and braces himself for another strike, as soon as he does it again, I grab the sword with both hands with the point pointed at the weak spot and lunge at him with full force.
I narrowly dodged the legs flying towards my chest, the blow of the heavy steel fist, which I had to cover with my arm, pushed me back a little.
With the sound of falling pieces of iron, my left arm swings loosely to the ground with shattered armor covered in my blood.
I hear Starlight scream in fear, I hear the giant's deep laugh and the wild screams of the black soldiers.
I stifle the pain from the shattered hand, while tying it to my torn tank top around my neck.
The giant won't even let me tighten the knot and runs towards me with a tremendous roar.
There is no other option but to end it immediately, in a straight stance with the sword pointed at him, I wait until the last moment before he is close to me.
With a lightning dodge in front of the thrown hand, I jump to him and cut the gap between the armor with the point of my sword.
All I managed to do was somersault to the side when I got elbowed in the head.
I kneel on one knee and lean on my sword with a disappearing rainbow, watching the red drops of blood drip from my face onto the ground.
With a feeling of incredible weakness and pain, I feel how once again the earth shakes as the giant runs.
I raise my eyes from the last remnants of determination, look at the approaching giant and gather the last strength for the last attack in the blinding rainbow glow.
It took my breath away how quickly he dodged my stab and immediately swung his leg, which hits the sword I'm covering my side with, the sword shatters on impact and with the impact on my right hand, which is behind the sword, I'm thrown a few meters, where I stop after a few rolls on back.
I must have been unconscious for a while, Starlight sitting next to me in tears and Twilight standing with her back to me and staring at the giant.
"So...sorry, I couldn't...I did it" I say with difficulty, while I feel that almost every part of my body is broken
"Why did you go to fight? Twilight told me what's wrong with you, so why?" Starlight says between sobs crying over me.
"That's why I was called here to fight for you" I say quietly as her tears fall down my face.
"Now it's YOUR turn Princess" A big black giant walks towards us.
"What are we going to do? We can't beat him" Twilight spoke up nervously.
"But we can" Starlight says, wiping away her tears.
"Take my energy" Starlight says determinedly.
"No" I answer, to the Princess' unpleasant look at me.
"But why not? It will make you strong, like when you fought Princess Luna" She tries to talk me out of it.
"I won't do it because in the state I'm in right now, I'd deprive you of enough energy that it would kill you" Starlight looks at me dumbfounded.
"We have to go, there's no time to argue" Twilight says with a look at the giant who is already a few meters away from us.
"Promise me you'll never blame yourself" Stralight whispers to sleep in my arms as she slowly closes her fading purple eyes.
As I hold Violet in a tight grip and feel the life drain from her, a tremendous amount of energy flows into me that heals all injuries and the rainbow on my hand begins to glow in color again.
"Trops we have to…" She stops talking as the giant shatters her shield and retreats towards us herself.
With a kiss on the forehead, I carefully put the cooling Starlight on the ground.
I stand looking at the ground as Twilight rushes over to me.
"There was no other option..."
"Shut up!!...YOU don't talk to me" Full of rage at myself, I yell at the princess who crouches down like a filly.
With clenched fists, I stand full of hatred for the world that stuck another knife in my heart.
Twilight leaves behind me as the giant approaches me.
It stops right in front of me, I raise my head, in front of which is an armored black chest, waiting for what I will do.
It will never end, my life is only suffering, no matter what I do, those dear to me will never stop dying because of me.
How am I supposed to live when every cell in my body is suffering from the energy that caused her death to pass through it?
It's not mine..it's not.. why is it in me?..why did it have to happen? Why didn't you let me die? why? Why?! Why did you leave me with a mindless life again?
I have to be stronger, I can't go on like this. I have to be stronger for you, for what you sacrificed for me, I have to...
"You're shaking with fear, aren't you? You'd better run away before I kill you and your little friends for good" The giant's bass booms, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I can feel my whole body dripping with sweat, my muscles are as tight as a rock and a dark aura spreads around me, while I stand in nothing but brown ripped pants and my skin begins to change.
Clenched teeth, fists and every muscle suppresses the incredible urge to succumb to rage, to vent all my pain on everything within reach, to discharge everything I feel.
As the dark aura slowly recedes, I feel a familiar energy spilling over my body, while my eyes wet from the constant tears see the giant attacking me.
I said move! His hand flies through the air and wants to drive me into the ground like a hammer to a nail.
Without movement, emotion, or visible effort, his armored hand above my head stops against my left arm, over which a rainbow is poured, aggressively swinging from side to side like crazy.
"You filth how dare you!!........" A dead body in armor tumbles to the ground with armor dented all over his stomach into his body as blood pours out of his helmet.
"Eventually he got over it, I was worried"
"Me too sister, now we must honor the death of the fallen and build our empire stronger again"
"I don't think that's going to be enough for one of them" The majestic black alicorn, who is watching the battlefield from a high rock with her sister, says in concern.