//------------------------------//
// Royalty At The Gates 
// Story: Mein Kampf 
// by Darkswirl 
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"Raise the portcullis!" a voice shouted as soon as we had come into view of the massive town.

From my studies, I had learned that Stalliongrad was the largest and northern-most town in all of Equestria, with the exception of Canterlot.

The nearby Crystal Mountains and deep forests held numerous jobs for the working pony who was able to put up with the intense cold.

The perfect place to hide a treasonous order.

"Princess Luna!" a guard exclaimed as he trotted over to intercept us.  "Noble Thornguard hath anticipated thy arrival.  I am to escort thee and thy guards to the castle grounds, immediately." 

"Very well.  Lead us, soldier." I commanded, falling in step behind the armor-clad Earth Pony as we marched through the cobblestone streets towards the relatively small castle further in.

I let my eyes wander around the town, taking in some of the sights:  Stalliongrad, by far, was not an incredibly reach city but nor were they incredibly poor.  Although the mining and lumber businesses in the area were continuously successful, the need for such materials in other pats of the land were not as high as they used to be.

Steady employment allowed the residents to live comfortably, but not lavishly.

Food was another issue entirely, however.  As they were situated in such a faraway place- on the northern border of Equestria before the Crystal Empire - food was somewhat difficult to come by.  They received most of their supplies through trading caravans, but during severe blizzards, when the supplies could not get through, the castle had several unicorns adept in conjuration.

Upon arriving at the castle, our escort broke off to return to guard duty; leaving us alone in the courtyard.

"Hmph." I snorted in slight disgust.  "Usually a guest is to be escorted directly to the Great Hall."

Skyward Sword took this as a hint, although unintentional, and led the rest of the way into the castle.

Now, I had almost always detested Nobles and other 'high and mighty' acting ponies, but the sheer lack of decorations within the castle still greatly disturbed me.

Not a single suit of armor, nor crest, nor flowerpot decorated the interior as we finally arrived with the throne room- the only light being two braziers that sat beside the throne and torches that lined the wall.

"Noble Thornguard." I said, slightly nodding my head.  "We hath arrived within thy city, as thou can clearly see.  Where may we begin our investigation?"

"Greetings, Princess Luna.  I hath already made arrangements for thy guards to lay in the barracks, which are quite empty, and a lavish guest room hath been prepared in anticipation of thy arrival.  I hath nary the time to attend to the matters concerning the threat against the crown but, if thou wishes to learn more, my Captain of the Guard will be able to assist thee more so than I." Noble Thornguard replied, making me growl slightly in frustration.

A Noble, not having time to seek out the beings that threatened to plunge Equestria into possible war?  What matters could be more important than putting an end to such a plan?

Before I had time to question his words, a gray-coated Unicorn trotted out from beside the throne, donned in brick-red armor.

"Milady," he began, bowing in respect. "I am Burning Heart, Captain of the Guard for Stalliongrad.  If thou would please follow me, we have important matters to attend to."

Nodding to Skyward Sword, who in turn led his troops out back into the city, I began following the silent Unicorn through the dark corridors of the castle, descending into the the darkness.


ῼ


"We apprehended the criminal as she was attempting to flee one of our raids on a suspicious house.  For several days, the city guard hath been watching over an abandoned house after we were alerted to the fact that several robed ponies were meeting there at night.  Fearing Necromancy, I had three guards posted in the surrounding buildings.  Somehow, a fire managed to break out within and the light brought my guards into action." the Captain explained as we began descending the wide, spiral stone staircase that led into the castle dungeons.

The smell of stale hay, urine and feces assaulted my nose to the point where I had to cast a small spell in order to be allowed to breathe.

"And what hath she told thee?"

"Nothing, milady.  She refuses to speak to us, but we know she is able to, as she can be heard mumbling to herself."

"Allow us to see this prisoner, Captain.  We will deal with her." I said as we reached the landing, turning another corner before a long row of cells stretched on before me.  

Signs adorned the outside of the cages, marking their occupants as murderers, thieves, and rapists alike.

Their kind were as much as a threat to Equestria as an entire dragon army.

On the far end of the hall, however, a different kind of sign hung from the bars.  It read, simply, "Unknown".

"Rise, foal." I commanded, eying the form of a small Pegasus clinging to her tattered robs as she lay huddled in the corner.  "Present thyself so that thy Princess may properly address thee."

A small, mocking laugh made its way from the Pegasi's snout to my ears before she replied.  "I serve nay princess, especially nary a one who so righteously follows her sister's hooves."

"Foal," I repeated coldly.  "Rise, so that we may address thee as a pony, rather than a criminal."

But still, the pony refused to follow my instructions; opting instead to stare coldly at me from the dark, cold corner of her cell.

"Captain, grant us entrance within this one's cell, and leave us."

Nodding in understanding, the Unicorn guard brought up the keys from their hook and undid the lock on the door, closing it behind me as he returned the keys to their rack and began trotting upstairs.

"Why art thy within the castle dungeon?"

"Why am I being visited by the Princess of the Night?" the pony challenged.

"We art present in order to gain information that will lead to the capture of a group plotting to overthrow our sister and we."

"Then why art thy here? I am but a simple Pegasus, barely capable of flight, yet somehow suspected of plotting to overthrow thee?"

"Thou were suspected of Necromancy, but without a horn one would be useless in such dark arts.  Tell us, child, what was thy mission that night, within an abandoned house? And why would one such as thyself wear ominous clothing if one were nary up to ill doings?"

With a smug smile, the pony gave out a slight chuckle.  "Wouldn't thou like to know?"

"Indeed, we would.  However, we can clearly see that thou art content with keeping thy snout closed, so we will leave thee be...For now." I said firmly as I unlocked the cage door with my advanced magic, stepping out and locking the door behind me.

As I began to ascend the stairs, Burning Heart descended and made room for me on the stairwell.

"Captain?  For what art thy present?"

"Guard duty, milady.  It is my turn to oversee the prisoners."

With a simple nod, I began climbing the staircase once more, passing Burning Heart.

But he did not stir from his spot, and I felt his eyes burning into my coat even as I rounded the bend and exited into one of the many dark hallways that lead throughout the castle.


ῼ


"Lieutenant.  Rouse thy troops- we art departing to investigate an abandoned house suspected to have been used by the ponies plotting to overthrow us."

"A-At once, milady!" he stammered as he awoke, rolling out of his cot to don his armor and hide his cutie mark, which was a proud looking broadsword flanked on either side with two elegant white wings, before calling his troops forward.

When the Guard had assembled, I led them out of the castle and into the streets of Stalliongrad where, curiously enough, the few ponies who were out in the streets shied away from my guards and myself.  Their faces were not etched with respect, however.  Instead, their eyes betrayed fear.

But it was a different fear from what I was used to showing.  These ponies did not fear me for what I had done, but they feared me for some other, unknown reason- as if I would turn on my hooves and devour them right then and there!

Turning my head slightly to Skyward Sword, who managed to keep pace with me to my side, I whispered my concerns.  "Lieutenant...Doth these ponies appear to be...Acting rather strangely?"

"Indeed, milady.  I hath observed strange doings, as well.  We, the Guard, art here because Stalliongrad hath reportedly lost most of its guard to recent snow wolf attacks...But the barracks were tidy and well kept, as if cleaned by soldiers.  Being a soldier myself, I can say with great certainty that we try and get away with doing as little as we can when not in war.  Princess, something strange is occurring here, and I doth nay enjoy it." Skyward Sword whispered in reply, his eyes scanning the few ponies that continued to shy away from our group.

"Indeed, Lieutenant.  Earlier,we spoke with a prisoner within the castle dungeon.  We could gather no valuable information from her, but the Captain of the Guard came in unexpectedly and watched us intensely as we ascended the stairs.  Keep thy wits sharp, and thy blade sharper, Lieutenant."

Flicking his wing open a bit to inspect his sheathed short sword, Skyward Sword nodded in understanding as we neared a blackened and charred building that had once been the meting place of mysterious ponies at night.

I gave a large sigh, surveying the damage.

There wouldn't be much to work with, as nearly the entire foundation had collapsed and been burnt.

"Well, Lieutenant, shall we begin?"