//------------------------------//
// Talk of War 
// Story: Echoing Shadows 
// by LordSiravant 
//------------------------------//

Chapter Three: Talk of War


Sombra looked over the balcony at his grovelling subjects below, some carving crystal statues in his likeness, others mining the various crystals that were instrumental in the magics surrounding the creation of his Obsidian Guard. His savage grin widened. Oh, how satisfying it was to be able to witness this scene once again. The ponies that were too weak to continue working were carted off to Sombra's dungeons as new 'recruits' for the Obsidian Guard.

Things were running smoothly. Estimates predicted that he would have a force numbering over a thousand Obsidian Guards by the end of the month. Though that was not a sufficient number to assault Equestria, (as he had learned the hard way a thousand years ago) it was a start. The Shadow Tyrant watched his subjects, no, his slaves, work, a feeling of power rushing through his veins. Oh, how he loved that feeling. They answered to him. Only him. And very soon, the entire world would follow suit.

XXXXXX

Twilight did not leave her bed for the rest of the day. The poor girl was inconsolable, and no words of comfort could ease her sorrow. Her friends lingered downstairs in the main part of the library, at a loss as to how to comfort her. "I-I've never seen somepony so sad before," Pinkie Pie spoke. "I know what'll cheer her up! A party!"

"Pinkie Pie!" Applejack snapped. "Twilight just lost her brother. A member of her own family. No amount'a partyin's gonna cheer her up."

Pinkie lowered her head in shame.

"Guys, Princess Celestia needs to know about King Sombra coming back!" Rainbow Dash said. "Normally Twilight has Spike write the letters, but, considering everything that's happened..."

Spike, the ever-faithful assistant, had a quill and parchment already out. "Ready when you are, Dash."

"Dear Princess Celestia," Rainbow began, pacing nervously back and forth as Spike wrote. "We just recently received some really bad news from the Prince of the Gryphon Kingdom, Irontalon. According to him, King Sombra survived the Crystal Heart's attack and has reclaimed the throne of the Crystal Empire. Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance were unable to defeat him and were turned into statues. We need your help, Princess, and Twilight needs her mentor. Your Faithful Subject, Rainbow Dash."

Once he was finished writing, Spike rolled up the parchment and engulfed it in his magical flame, the ashes flying out the window towards Canterlot. "This is simply dreadful!" Rarity exclaimed. "To think that brute is still alive...we barely managed to defeat him last time, girls, and he never even lifted a hoof! Who knows what complex plans he's making right now!"

Before anypony else could get a word in edge-wise, the door opened, and there stood Princess Celestia in all her glory. "Princess!" they all gasped as they knelt before Celestia.

"Where is Twilight?" Celestia asked.

Rainbow pointed up the stairs. "I will be down shortly," Celestia said. "Wait for me here."

Celestia trotted up the stairs and discovered her student splayed out on her bed face-down, sobbing uncontrollably into her pillow. "Twilight?" she said, catching her student's attention.

Seeing her beloved mentor, Twilight ran over and latched onto her, burying her face in Celestia's chest. "I want my brother back!" she wailed. "I want him back! Shiiiining! Please come back! Come ba-ha-ha-haaaack!"

Celestia paid no heed to the mix of saliva, mucus, and tears staining her fur, wrapping both her hooves around Twilight and pulling her close, stroking her mane and nuzzling her forehead. "Shhh, it's alright, Twilight," she gently whispered as tears streamed down her own face. "I'm here. I've got you."

Twilight's loud sobs echoed throughout the library, stirring both Peewee and Owlowicious from their sleep. Owlowicious flew over and perched on Twilight's shoulder, nuzzling her as well.

"Hoo!" the owl hooted.

Slowly Twilight's bawls decreased in volume until they were mere hiccups. "I promise, Twilight," Celestia assured, "that we will do everything we can for Shining Armor and Cadance. Now, come with me downstairs. There's a lot of things we need to discuss."

Twilight sniffed, rubbed her eyes, and nodded, following her teacher downstairs, where her friends were waiting. Once they descended the flight of stairs, Twilight's friends all got up from where they were sitting and embraced Twilight in a group hug, Owlowicious flying off her shoulder and perching on his usual spot. Twilight smiled softly and whispered, "Thanks, girls."

"Now we come to the matter at hand," Celestia spoke up, catching everypony's attention. "As you are all aware, King Sombra is not only still alive, but he has reconquered the Crystal Empire right under our noses. Suffice it to say, he has likely also recaptured the Crystal Heart and is building an army as we speak."

"O-oh my!" Fluttershy squeaked. "A-an army?!"

Celestia nodded her head. "Crystal Ponies are brainwashed, and their bodies changed. They're made faster, stronger, more durable, and mindlessly obedient to Sombra's will. The Obsidian Guard. When he last rose to power, he invaded Equestria with an army of Obsidian Guards. But he greatly underestimated Equestria's strength, and with my sister and I in the lead, we drove them all the way back to the Empire, where we confronted and imprisoned Sombra, and you know the rest of that story. I imagine he does not plan to make the same mistake twice."

"Well, if he's gonna take his time building this army of his," Rainbow suggested, "why don't we attack them first, before they can get big enough to be a real threat?"

"Because there is a good chance the innocent population will get caught in the crossfire," Celestia explained. "Sombra cares nothing for honor or chivalry. He would likely use them as meat shields."

Rainbow gulped.

"How barbaric!" Rarity huffed.

"Ah don't understand, Princess," Applejack interrupted. "How's that varmint still alive?"

"By all rights, he shouldn't be," Celestia answered. "However, what I have feared most has apparently turned out to be true. King Sombra has mastered the spell that wards off death. Understand, my little ponies, that Sombra's power is based in darkness. He uses black magic that is forbidden even for me and Luna to use. The spell he has mastered will allow him to regenerate from even the gravest of wounds. Should even a single fragment of his body remain, he can regrow his body from it."

The Mane Six all traded worried glances.

"Unlike last time, however," Celestia added, "we will not be alone in the coming fight."

Her audience looked to her in confusion. "By Sombra attempting to assasinate their prince, the Gryphons have inadvertantly become involved in this conflict as well. Shining Armor and Prince Irontalon were good friends, and we share a beneficial relationship with their kingdom. I wager it will not take much effort to convince King Swiftwing to aid us."

Twilight lowered her head. "War. Something I had always thought gone from Equestria. I can't believe it's coming to this."

"It is a recourse I had hoped to avoid," Celestia mused. "But there is no negotiating with that black-hearted tyrant. War is coming, and nothing we can do will change that."

Celestia then headed for the door. "I'm going to speak to Prince Irontalon, and then I'm returning to Canterlot to discuss these matters with my sister. I will keep you informed."

Just before she exited, Celestia turned her head towards the Mane Six. "When the time comes, you will have to fight. When it comes to that, will you be willing to make the hard choices? Will you be willing to kill?"

The ponies all looked uncertain. Fluttershy looked like she was about to be ill. Pinkie Pie appeared to be on the verge of tears. A single tear trailed down the alicorn princess's face as she regarded the dedicated group of friends whose innocence was soon to be irrevocably shattered. Without another word, Celestia left, shutting the door behind her.

Silence reigned in the library for several long moments as each pony contemplated what actions they would be forced to make. Applejack shuddered. Mah buckin's pretty durn strong, she thought. Ah could probably just...knock 'em upside their heads.

Suddenly the image of her kicking an anonymous stallion in the head hard enough to crush his skull and snap his neck flashed through Applejack's mind, causing her to shiver uncontrollably.

Rainbow Dash rubbed her arms, thinking about how she would contribute to the war effort. I'm the fastest there is, she thought to herself. No doubt about that. I've never been afraid of roughing up somepony who's causing trouble...but...can I do it? Can I kill somepony, anypony, even if they're trying to kill me?

Twilight was no stranger to fighting. After all, she had fought a Manticore, Changeling drones, and Princess Luna's super-powered evil side, Nightmare Moon, in the past. But never had she resorted to taking the life of a foe. The very idea seemed unfathomable to her. She doubted she would have the courage to go through with it. But...would that mean her death instead?

Pinkie Pie was, predictably, the first one to break the silence. "Why...?" she asked simply, her hair going completely straight and her coat dimming in color as she began to cry. "Why can't everypony just \get along?"

They all looked at Pinkie, sadness written all over their faces. "Why can't we all smile and laugh and throw parties like we always do?! Why do meanies like King Sombra have to hurt innocent ponies?! WHY?!"

Pinkie buried her face in her hooves and sobbed, an equally-saddened Fluttershy rubbing her friend's back. Watching her friends dwell on the coming events, Twilight allowed a cold, dark anger to grip her heart. King Sombra was the cause of all this. He had essentially murdered her brother and sister-in-law, and was now threatening her once-peaceful home with war. She would make the dark king pay dearly for what he had done. As she silently dwelt on her anger, nopony, not even Twilight herself, noticed the wisp of purple smoke that momentarily trailed out of her eyes, nor the flash of sickly-green in her eyes that disappeared just as quickly.