//------------------------------// // Ep5: Death by Duty // Story: Death by Dragon // by Compendium of Steve //------------------------------// The warm scent of chamomile wafts upward in caressing my nostrils. Not too fond of tea, myself, but I dabble when the occasion calls for it, and years of etiquette instilled since I could handle tea cups ensure that I don’t make a fool of myself when it does. Very important to know, especially in the presence of high royalty. Only a month remains before the Summer Sun Celebration, and everypony in every locale far and wide has switched to full-scale preparation mode. Even places as far as Appleloosa are getting into it (combined with Braeburn’s kid due in the next week or so, last I heard). Goods and labor being moved across the land, decorations being planned and assembled behind closed doors, and of course the mad scramble for travel arrangements to this year’s hosting city, Hoofington. Ponyville and Canterlot have had their share of the celebration between them, and in the spirit of neighborly recognition, lesser-renowned cities have been getting their time in the national spotlight. Things remain far from quiet in Ponyville, however. The peace of the town has given way to a fever pitch of preparation and anticipation that grows with each passing day. The Cakes have been hard at work in their kitchen after returning from their trip, focused solely on making a superb representative dish, and it’s generally the same with everyone else. And of course, Her Majesty has her own share of royal duties she has to tend to as the big day approaches. A task of organizing so big it would’ve driven her up the wall and into the stratosphere back before the Ascension, but has been reduced to being tedious and time-consuming with her godly enhancements. Hardly any time to issue assignments (like there are any. The biggest celebration in the country, who’s gonna waste time snatching books?), so I’m given odd jobs to help out with the planning. It’s the only time of year I get to work extensively with Owlowiscious. A somewhat relaxing chance to catch up with the old bird. But this year is different. A communique (scroll) from Canterlot has requested my presence for a special assignment from Princess Celestia herself concerning the celebration. Twilight relayed this to me officially, while doing a bad job hiding the excitement in her voice. Celestia has never needed me for anything in past Summer Sun Celebrations, so undoubtedly this had to be something extra special and ultra secret, right? So with Her Majesty’s graces, I was given a few days leave and boarded the first train out to Canterlot. Didn’t know how to feel about this “special assignment,” until I settled on treating it like any other assignment by getting it done and over with as quickly and efficiently as possible. Can’t say I myself wasn’t a bit curious, though. Probably escort an ice sculpture or something. That in mind, I keep my expectations relatively low. Thus I am sitting here in the middle of one of Celestia’s private tea rooms (more like a big glass gazebo), sipping noontime chamomile with the Sun Goddess herself: alone (save for the guards outside) and thankfully no Discord in sight. The crumpets are a tad dry, but the tea and gentle sunlight more than makes up for it. I help myself to another sniff and sip, letting the warming fluid linger in my mouth before swallowing. The flavor doesn’t do it for me, but you can’t deny the aftereffects of comfort. “The tea is to your liking, I take it?” my host asks lightly. “Very much so, Your Highness. Rich and soothing, perfect for a relaxing occasion.” I lean forward to put my cup on the glass table, turning my gaze to her through my shades. Even sitting down she’s taller than me. “I’m glad to hear that.” A regal nod. “I make an effort to please guests however I can, regardless of title or rank. So, are you excited for the upcoming Summer Sun Celebration?” “A bit excited, Your Highness.” “You haven’t been to Hoofington in a while I understand.” Guess we have to speak freely awhile before we get to the crux of things. Typical princess meeting fare. “Not for some time, yes. It’s not too bad a city.” “I’m sure you’re looking forward to visiting there under pleasant circumstances. By the way, how is your shoulder?” “Back to full functionality for some time, ma’am. Bandages came off a week ago. Only interrupted my duties slightly, but that was only for a short while.” “Excellent. I always find that Ponyville is in good standing when its Vanguard is up and about. Would I be correct in presuming that?” “Indeed you would, Your Highness. The town continues running like clockwork, thanks to the guidance of their princess.” Wonder how much longer this is gonna take. “No doubt getting ready for the celebration, as is the entirety of Canterlot.” Even longer, it seems. “It is a good sign, especially so soon after Luna’s passing. Testament to the pony spirit to shoulder tragedy and march toward better, joy-filled tomorrows.” I’d gag mentally at that, but it’s still a bit too soon. “This city remains strong, as do its citizens. And because of that, so too must its leaders be. I will note, though, that everypony seems a bit more grounded, focused on doing a better day’s work. Discord certainly seems inclined to be more cooperative and helpful, at least.” I nod. “That’s very good to hear.” Doubt it’ll last, but who knows. It can be humbling when you lose a plaything (also the matter of smashing a dozen servants over a cliff could have a hoof in it). “Which brings me to the purpose of your presence here today.” Ah, here we go. “No doubt you are wondering what need I have of you in regards to the Summer Sun Celebration.” “I’m fairly curious, yes.” “Admittedly, it does seem rather odd for me to request your assistance on any matter, with you being Twilight Sparkle’s most trusted agent.” Nope, false alarm; there’s still more gabbing to do. I just nod politely. “All of my affairs up to now I have been able to handle on my own, or through the diligence of my staff and advisors. However, events of recent have changed that arrangement.” I nod automatically. Mind’s going dull from the tea. “As I said before, everypony is putting forth their best effort to overcome the air of uncertainty that had befallen the city just a mere month ago.” Yada-yada-yada. “Though it is mostly cleared up, everypony still has to do their part to make sure that not only will this year’s Summer Sun Celebration occur in good spirits, but that that same goodwill carries on in the months to follow, and beyond.” Blah-blah-blah point somewhere blah-blah. “Which, Spike, is why I must ask for you not to be alive by the time of the celebration.” Bluh-bluh... huh? “E-excuse me?” “Your attendance won’t be needed in Hoofington, or anywhere. Ever again.” Still talking in that pleasant, official tone. I had to have missed something. “I don’t believe I heard you right, Your Highness. You said I’m to be—” “Executed. You are correct, Spike. Glad to know I don’t have to repeat myself.” Tone’s gotten firmer, more deadly. This is some joke, right? “I may have misled you in saying that was a request, and for that I apologize. In truth, that is an order, to be carried out immediately. I hope that clarified things a bit more.” Only one thing to say to that. “Are you serious?” A soft, though impatient sigh from those celestial lips. She lowers her head to deliver an inescapable, unwavering gaze. “I am gravely serious. It’s a subject I’m intimately familiar with and do not speak flagrantly of. Especially not in this case.” There’s a tap of her hoof, and the door to the hallway bursts open to let five gilded guardponies file in, taking up position in a semi-circle around me. Each one’s a unicorn, with five polished and sharpened polearms pointed right at me. They all have the looks of a firing squad. Yeah, I say she’s serious. Ep 5 DEATH BY DUTY “I don’t understand.” “I believe you understand plenty, Spike. It shouldn’t come as a surprise.” The guards take a step closer, extending their weapons. “The least you could do is to accept it quietly and with grace.” I can’t recall the last time I had to plead my way out of something. Which makes this even more painful. “Can we talk about this some more? I mean, I’m a little unclear on the full pi—” “I’m afraid talking is done, Vanguard. Other things need my attention and this has gone on for long enough.” A yellow-encased tea cup rises up to her lips, and daintily she sips from it before making a warm, fatal smile. “It’s been such a lovely visit.” No dice. There isn’t time to laugh at my bad luck as a polearm lunges for my head. I press myself back into the chair as much as possible to let it pass my snout, then pull a high kick to knock it up. With that guard distracted I shoot up and back kick my seat away, rather clumsily, into the others. There’s a flash of light as Celestia vanishes, but I’m busy grabbing the polearm before me, and yanking it from its owner’s magical grasp I slam it onto his helmet with enough force to floor him. I spin around to confront the other four. This is definitely not my usual forte: going against military-trained Canterlot guards, who I know are capable fighters. Even worse is that I gave my sword to one of the guards outside, so I don’t have my weapon of choice. Better than going unarmed, though. A guard charges, and fighter instinct kicks in. I parry and sidestep to let him by, but one of his pals tries to catch me with their own charge. I slam my polearm into the ground to stop his, and as his and mine are deadlocked the guy behind me tries to get the upper hoof. I back-kick upward into a flip with the polearm as leverage, busting the back guard’s jaw with my heel before bringing it down onto the head of the front one. Guard number three spots an opening and charges a headbutt into my abdomen as I get back on the ground. His horn doesn’t pierce me, but I’m knocked back and through the table, sending tea and china everywhere in a racket. The guard brings up his weapon to impale me, and I hold out mine for defense, but he switches up and brings it into a horizontal sweep that knocks my polearm from my grasp. It soars through one of the windows in a smash, leaving me to stare up at the guard as he readies his weapon to stab my defenseless self. Not quite so defenseless, as I quickly slam my claws into the ground around my head and shove myself into a slide. Out go the guard’s legs, and an instant after, I get my feet onto his chest and throw his startled self over me, through the air and out the window with my legs. An even bigger smash that time. Back on my feet, the last standing guard eyes me with polearm trained... then turns around and runs for the hall. Out the door he yells,  “The Vanguard tried to assassinate the princess! Come quickly!” I shut him up with my chair before he can get any further. Standing over an unconscious guard amid broken furniture, I start switching gears. That’s when it finally sinks in just how friggin’ screwed I am. There was no restraint or hesitation in their movement: they really were trying to kill me. No doubt the rest of the palace is gonna be gunning for me if Celestia’s look and tone were any indication (which is a pretty damn absolute certainty). Getting a little ahead of myself, though. Need to calm down, think rationally. Place isn’t swarming with guards, so it’s not full alert just yet. Only one thing to do: get the hell out of here as fast as possible. I break into a run down the corridor, my mind calculating what to do once I’m outside the main gates. Get aboard the next train, chariot or courier out of here, get back to Ponyville, and explain myself to Twilight. Wussy plan given my combat prowess, but more fighting will only make my case harder to defend back home (and of all days not to bring a paper and pen). No time to get back my sword, either. A sad loss, but things are too dire to worry about getting back a trusty keepsake. After a good twenty meters I make a turn down a hall into the direction of the main hall, but I skid to a stop before the six or so guards standing just a few yards away. “It’s the assassin, get him!” Two unicorns whip out swords and gallop toward me. Guess the alert’s been raised. “Wait, I didn’t—!” But no such luck in explaining myself as I step back from some determined swipes. Like the idiot I am I didn’t bother picking up a polearm back in the tea room, leaving me with just my bare claws. I duck under one swipe and sweep kick out the legs of one guard before rising up to forcefully palm the other in the face and onto on his rump. Lucky for me a good chunk of Pinkie Pie’s combat curriculum was an emphasis on unarmed combat. Two pegasi come flying toward me with swords in mouth, leaving me to duck and bat them back with my arms. I spot the remainder of the group running to get in on the action, and double back and flee down another hallway. Clatter of hooves and flapping of wings bearing down on me close behind. Gotta go the long way around, but there’s really no say in the matter (save through fisticuffs). Unfortunately, another four guards with polearms and swords run in from a passing hall. Two of them manage to trip me up in an attempt to tackle me, but I twirl and stumble back into my run. Can’t stop to fight, but things are getting too crowded for comfort. I make it to another hallway and turn left, avoiding the squad of guards charging in from the right. I pick up speed, but they’re steadily gaining. Far ahead, through the sunlight streaming in from the hall windows, I spot another guard, turned away and trotting along with something in his mouth. Something long and black and with a very familiar hilt. I bend forward to increase speed while shouting, “Hey Asshole!” The guard turns around in time to take a flying dropkick to the face. Sword and sheath go spinning up into the air, and in one fluid motion I stand my ground, grab the descending sheath, turn, and withdraw my sword to cut down the lead pursuer. Everything goes still, me holding out my blood-stained sword in a warding stance, and the guards looking between me and their fallen comrade as his chest bleeds all over the floor. I take stock of this moment, then realize that I screwed up. Losing myself in an instant as though this were another job. Idiot. Still might be able to fix this. Now that I got their full, undivided, glaring attention, they might actually listen. I ease out of my stance and hold up both my arms, not dropping either sword or sheath. Need to do this delicately, calmly. Never hurts to give peace a chance. “I’ll come quietly.” “Like hell you will!” Guess not. Two of the guards draw their swords and charge in retaliation. Just had to draw first blood, didn’t I? I bring down my claws as they approach, bopping one on the head with the sword hilt and warding off the other’s sword with the sheath. The rest of them rush at me, above and below. My arms become a flurry of motion as I clock out a pegasus and an earth stallion with the sheath before kicking back another guard. Two of them manage to get behind me, and I have no choice but to use my blade and strike them down, severing a throat and chopping off a wing. Despite my efforts to go nonlethal, their ganging up results in blood intermingling with displaced armor and cries of pain. For all their earlier fury they fall relatively fast, and eventually they’re all laid out either unconscious or dead. I look to the blood dripping from my sword a moment before flicking it off and running back the way I came. There had been a (slim) chance to talk my way out, but I’ve officially made this kill-or-be-killed. The way to the entrance hall is clear for now, but they’ll likely have it packed. Currently on the second floor, so I could look for a balcony over the back gardens. Skip the main corridors, drop down, slip out, and Celestia be damned why is this happening? Admittedly it was naive to think there’d be no repercussions for what I had done, but this just doesn’t make sense. Not after what’s been agreed on, not after this long. No use in panicking about it, though. Just need to make myself scarce before I wind up in a far worse mess than the one I left behind. I need to zip down one of the central galleries before I can duck into of the side corridors. At the next intersection I go right, paintings and pottery replacing windows, and at the next intersection I turn left into one of the galleries. One of those elaborate Saddle Arabian carpets beneath my feet, large self-portraits complemented by flowers in vases, and ornate miniature chandeliers overhead for evening time. I’m about a third of the way down when a line of seven or so guards run in to take position at the other end. And each one is carrying a crossbow. “Fire!” shouts the middle one, signaling a slew of arrows to come my way. I stop and pull over a side table, pottery smashing as I drop behind it for cover. Not a second too early as my well-varnished protection gives off a few thunks. Didn’t take them long to play it smart and attack from a distance. Can’t expect anything less from the best-trained fighting force in the kingdom. But those were single shot, and I can move pretty fast. Immediately I hop over the overturned table and make it two steps before stopping to duck under the sizzling balls of energy that blast the table into woody bits. Spellcasters, of course. They really aren’t taking any chances this time. I see two unicorns winding up for another toss, and I get back to running forward. I yank one of the portraits off the wall, and upon hearing the release of a spell I throw the artwork ahead of me. It disintegrates as I nab another painting without slowing down. Utterly disrespectful to art, but honestly, those obnoxious poses beg for this type of treatment. The second painting turns to ash, and by this time there’s only a third of the gallery left to cover and the other guards have reloaded and are taking aim. I take another painting, but redirect myself and hop onto a side table, using it to leap over the arrow bolts and cover the remaining distance. One of the spellcasters is looking up to redirect his attack as I slam the canvas down on his head, and using his neck and the frame as a makeshift turnstile I swing around to kick down the three guards close by. When I finish my round trip, I notice an earth stallion leaping at me with an axe, but in a flash I bring up my sword to split him and his axe up the middle (no you moron, guh!). His blood falls all around as I kick and punch out the remaining guards. Before I let myself reflect on this latest slip-up I kick back into escape mode and head down a side hall. Further inward I go. A few more hallways and I should be close to the back gardens and an exit. About time, too: I hear the distant clopping of back-up fast approaching. The first small side corridor comes into view, and I veer toward it... but stop upon finding the other end clogged with guards. This time they don’t even bother giving a signal. There’s no tables or wall trappings, so I head to the other side of the hall. I bob and duck past the crossbow bolts, standard arrows, spears, throwing axes, trident (the hell?) that hit the wall, and dive through a door before a spell hits. I’m met with a field of polished steel counters, cutlery and assorted foodstuffs. One of the myriad of kitchens this place has (the sisters sure loved their fine dining). I run through the space between the rows of ovens and prep tables, but in short order the door behind me bangs open. “Halt, brigand!” A short spear clangs into a hanging pot nearby, and I look back briefly to see several guards galloping and hurtling over the counters. I get back to running, trying to find the other exit. I spot some double doors across the kitchen, but at that point a sword sticks into the counter beside me. I spin around and bash the attacker’s head with my sword sheath, but in doing so I catch something glimmer and bring up the sheath to my face. A flying meat cleaver hits and gets deflected, but the sheath is cut in half as a result. I look it over, somewhat melancholic, then I toss it across the kitchen where it makes a comforting whap on somepony’s face. A guard runs up to me with his sword, and I use mine to block it. He keeps swinging and I keep blocking, pushing me back along a side aisle and chopping up any fruit or vegetable unfortunate enough to get in the way. Amidst the shower of juices I grab a soup pan and slam it on the guard’s head, but as he collapses a unicorn leaps over him to fire a spell at point blank. I duck sideways in time so that only the right shoulder of my suit gets fried, and immediately I grab the shoulders of his uniform and swing toss him several yards into a four-layer cake (a pitiable loss). Having screwed around enough, I dash for the double doors as spears start falling around me. I shoulder my way through the doors and into one of the castle’s periphery dining halls (yeah, it’s so swanky it has “periphery” dining halls). And of course it’s packed with guards, over a dozen of them. I escape the approaching flood of gold and steel by leaping onto the long table before me, three pegasi taking flight in response. In a second bound I hop up and grab the centerpiece chandelier, using my sword to deflect the attacks of the pegasi. With the deflections creating momentum, I find myself swinging midair, battling the pegasi while avoiding arrows and magic bolts for some daring swashbuckling action. My life can be very strange, sometimes... After parrying the three pegasi simultaneously, I swing in the direction of the larger set of double doors before letting go. Over the guards I go, and a kick gets the doors open and me out into the hall. I roundhouse the doors back closed, and with a swipe of my sword a pillar topples down to keep them that way. Been a long time since I had to fight all three pony races at once, and I’m beginning to feel the sweat. Good thing griffons and minotaurs are still being kept out of the main guard, or this could’ve been more hazardous. I turn in the direction of the back area and book it. Nearly got swarmed back there; can’t afford to get completely surrounded. Nearly a minute goes by as I rush down an inner passageway. Seems I gave them the slip. A clattering of armor and hooffalls ahead prove me wrong, and before I know it there’s a group of hardened stallions with halberds blocking the path. I backpedal and try turning back, but more guards with halberds and polearms close in and take position. It’s a few seconds before I’m encircled by a thick gleaming crowd. I bring up my sword to eye level in a battle stance, putting us in a standoff. My gaze moves from side to side as I measure up the opposition. The exact circumstance I didn’t want to end up in. Going nonlethal with this many is going to be hell. But since I’m in it this deep already, that’s no longer top priority. Survival is. I move as one of the guards breaks rank to strike, and so the timeless act of combat begins anew. I cut through one halberd and follow it up with a fatal slash, then whip around to cut down two others. The next halberd I catch on the blade, but I push it up and cut down the guard before shoving the butt of my sword into the nose of the guy behind me. Part of me is protesting my recklessness, but it’s well too late for me to listen, and if they want me that bad then screw it. Something bumps me from behind and I whirl around to split them open, but stop when I see that it’s me that had shoved me: a taller me with no shades to speak of. Everything comes to a standstill; noise ceases, even breaths stop completely. Undoubtedly the guards, stunned, look from Spike to Spike, then from Spike to Spike, and from Spike to Spike again, unable to tell us two dragons apart. ...Until some blue weirdo slides in and shouts “TIME PARADOX!” before grabbing the doppelganger’s shoulders and tossing him out a window, and then following after. Once that awkward moment of “da fuq” passes, it’s back to more killing. —> I cut a gash into one guard’s face, cut the leg off another, split the heads of two guards back to back, plunge my sword into another’s chest... and it gets stuck. A wave of confusion goes over me as I get a better look at who my sword is in. A very broad-chested earth stallion, about as tall as me, making a grimace through blood-stained teeth. I tug at the hilt, and tug it again with no success. Unbelieveable. I back kick another guard’s jaw with my foot as I work on pulling the sword out, but it doesn’t budge. I duck under two halberd swings in succession, and still no progress. The palooka’s muscles are holding it in place! A halberd falls onto the exposed blade, making me loosen my grip slightly just as a guard shoves into my side. I lose my grip and get knocked into the crowd, my legs getting trampled and my scales getting nicked near my head. A breath of fire and a wide swing of the arm wards them back. Unarmed yet again. I take the short break to raise my dukes. Okay boys and girls: time to Test Your Might. I launch a fist into the face of the nearest guard, and the other into the one beside him, drop to the ground to sweep out the legs of several behind me, and uppercut a smaller guard nearly to the ceiling. Not a breath is wasted as I take on all comers. My barrage is interrupted by their response of polearms and halberds, but I simply use those as balancing beams to do some acrobatics on their heads. When a sword cuts through my makeshift supports, I just hop from back to back (or head), kicking away weapons and stopping atop the occasional guard to punch out some pegasi. Nothing but movement and a swirl of fists and feet on my part, but if I continue they’re just gonna keep coming for more. Victory through numbers, and my limbs are starting to get a bit tired for those odds. That in mind, I leap off one guard back to the one that’s been “holding” my sword, and with both feet on the ground I grab the hilt and rip it out through the stallion’s side. As he falls over in a shower of his own blood I use his body as a stepping stone to get to the other side of the reduced crowd (well, reduced in standing members. Quite a number of dead bodies around). Finally out of the burly brawl, I run along my original course without looking back. Blood is pumping hard from the activity and the relief that I still have blood in me. This adrenaline isn’t going to last long, though. I get to a stairwell leading up to the third floor. No other exits in sight; must’ve passed the hall I needed to go down (damn this battle rush). I look back to see the crowd I left behind galloping to resume the dance. Time to head up. I get up four of the steps by the time they catch up, and I parry halberds and swords the rest of the way up. Without knowing it I stumble onto the landing and get back to running. Windows ahead let in the light of day, but they shatter as several pegasi swoop in. The Royal Guard has a definite bead on me now: they can trace me from the outside. Meaning if I continue, there’ll likely be an ambush waiting by the back garden balconies. The floodwaters are closing in. I run at and slide beneath the newly-arrived pegasi as they try to shear my head off with razor gauntlets (that’s new. Ain’t that a Night Guard weapon?). Jumping back up, I see the winged warriors have flipped around and are readying for another pass. I focus solely on running into the hallway to the right, which, annoyingly, is practically nothing but windows. Like some overhyped action scene they all erupt into glass shards as reinforcements fly in. Far ahead is a worn flaky door set into gray stone, the base of one of the castle’s outer watch towers. When the flood rises, seek higher ground. With no time to slow down, I break into a slide for the remaining ten yards and bust open the door from its lower half. It’s one of those narrow, claustrophobic spiral staircase deals with a stone shaft in the center. I get to climbing. Several dozen steps later I pick up the sound of the Royal Guard below and quicken my pace. After however many stories I make it to the top, and once through the door I recall the importance of waylaying one’s pursuers, and with a quick cut of my palm and some fire, a small Jade Slicer obliterates the door, clogging the stairs with heavy debris. Looking around, I see a large window in front of me, completely intact and no pegasi. Further glance shows this is an enclosed walkway rather than a watchtower, one that connects the back edge of the castle to the front. If I hurry across, I can work my way down toward one of the front walls, get myself street level, get lost in the crowd, make for the station. All kinds of possibilities for escape fill my head, replacing the desperation and growing exhaustion. I barely step into the walkway before there’s a yellow flash, and I look over to see three sparkling unicorns in custom scout armor. Short-range teleportation. That serious, huh? “Can’t I have just a lit—” A kinetic energy ball blasts at my feet, throwing me back with a ker-SMASH right through the window. Freefall through castle airspace. Not the turn of events I had expected, though anything is possible at this point. Amid the glass shards around me I see the multicolored, inverted turrets and roofs of the palace quickly approaching, as well as numerous pegasi flapping about, maybe looking for more windows to break. Perhaps they can be put to better use. I flap myself over to the tower from which I had so unceremoniously been ejected from, and near its flat surface I flip my feet onto it and start running downward. Wind howling by me as I get closer to terminal velocity, and just as my shades start forming an indent into my face I kick off and go horizontal. A good fifty yards go by when I reach the first pegasus, and with an aerial flip most precise I flip around and plant my legs hard on his back. With his body providing equal but opposite force I’m able to skip off in the direction of another pegasus ten yards and several feet above. Off of him I go, down to the next one and repeat with the others. They make a wobbly chain of feathered stepping stones (fairly solid ones, thank goodness), and I use them to get me closer to the front towers before they have time to realize what the hell is going on. At my seventh pegasus I add some more heft to my leap, lining up with the bay window of a building along the front wall. A flawless execution of aerial acrobatics gets ruined by a pegasus who flies by and smacks my legs. The collision sends me spinning and raises me a few feet off mark, resulting in me hitting the slanted roof and tumbling upward before rolling up and over the edge and outside the castle limits. A massive drop down to the plains below this time around, and the castle walls are too far for me to make some use of them. Before I can ponder my options and work on keeping bugs out of my mouth, I see three pegasi plummeting and swirling around me to get to my level. Guess they really got a bone to pick with me, or they’re just making sure the job gets done with certainty. The slim figure of a pegasus mare swoops in to skewer me with a spear, but I turn and grab it in time. We have a bit of midair tug-o-war, but I pull my end hard, pulling her in close enough for me to kick her away and disarm her. I look to find myself on a course with a pegasus keeping his distance, but unluckily for him he gets a full-on tackle from me. In a split second I choose to hang on rather than push off, and the two of us begin a confusing flight through the mountain air, me trying to steer him back upward and him bashing my chest and chin with his forelegs while doing some death-defying rolls to throw me off. “Get off me!” “Get us back up there and I will!” “Like I’ll help you!” “We’re gonna crash if you don’t keep steady!” “Not while you’re on me!” “Just pay attention and quit jerking so much!” “Up yours!” “Could you be a little more civil while we’re on the verge of death?” Our manic tussle brings us back over the walls of the castle and flying wildly around structures and past confused pegasi. Despite the growing bruise count I hang on, but he soon enters a tumble and we go careening toward a large sheet of stained glass. We smash through it and I finally let go, hitting and bouncing along hard, solid, carpeted flooring. I look up in time to see my copilot go straight toward another window, only to smash flat against it in a squelch of blood and broken bones. The poor sod leaves a smear as his corpse slips down the flickering glass like an overgrown pigeon, the victim of a hastily erected magic barrier. Slivers of crimson and feathers covering the picture beneath, staining the image of... the Bearers of Harmony dispelling Nightmare Moon? I turn my head and see more windows depicting other grand feats, as well as the entirety of the vaulted room that housed them. A very long, royal vaulted room. Oh crap... “Not content with dying by the Guard, I see. Hmm, I can understand.” I look to the far end of the room to see my long-absent hostess, Princess Celestia. Nestled in her throne as though she’s been on it all day. Looking like nothing whatsoever had come to ruin her day. “You’ve made quite the commotion this past half hour,” she speaks in her ever lofty voice. “It would have been a lot tidier if you had submitted like I suggested, but oh well.” A mild sigh. Like this is all some minor inconvenience. “Why are you doing this?” Kinda weak question, but she’s still royalty, and I gotta keep myself in check. Even if she wants me dead. “Still feigning ignorance? I would feel insulted, but there has always been a simpleness to your thinking.” Her well-endowed rump lifts from its cushion as she stands. “And since you made the effort to survive and come here, I suppose I could make it perfectly clear.” She takes a few steps down her fancy carpeted ramp. Though she’s a third of a throne room away from me, I don’t let myself loosen up too much. “First, let me inform you that this is nothing personal,” she resumes. “The truth, Spike, is that it’s for the sake of balance. The restoration of balance.” She pauses to flick her shimmering mane. “The kingdom has undergone great changes these past several years. New territories, expanded industry, rise in population, the acceptance of other races into every strata of society. It has given rise to prosperity, but also to strife, and in turn, crimes. Real crimes, unlike the ones you have been keeping in check. A kingdom cannot function and survive properly if its citizens suffer, and thus, precautions have to be made. The first approach is increased protection, a wider exercise of city law. That is easily enough accomplished. But it’s not enough just protecting ponies from criminals and threats from outside. There are also... internal affairs.” “What’s all that have to do with me?” “I’m getting to that, please don’t interrupt.” She draws a breath for another round of exposition. “I refer to the matter of rulership. For a thousand years this land was reigned over by one princess, and it grew and prospered well enough. When Luna returned, it continued to do so without much deviation. But, in a span of two years, there appeared two more princesses. A single ruler can be overburdened with running a kingdom, but having too many can complicate matters further. It creates an imbalance, one that could potentially give way to conflicting ambitions and infighting. Destruction and suffering would befall the populace. Separation of power had to be done, specifically concerning the newer breed. “Cadance was easy enough to handle, at first. Though young, she showed the promise of being a competent and successful ruler, given her unique talent. The quickest way to quell her as a concern was to give her a small kingdom for herself, far to the north. There she could exercise and practice her rulership without upsetting the balance in Canterlot. Of course, it would only be a matter of time before dreams of expansion would fill her. Purity giving way to a thirst for power, one which would inevitably come to odds with the rest of Equestria. How fortuitous, then, that Chrysalis decided to appear and wipe it all away.” “Did... did you really just say that?” Celestia just makes one small, but malevolent, grin. “Quite gruesome and unfortunate, but it saved us from a potentially violent large-scale conflict. And you and Pinkie Pie did the country a great service in removing a heinous threat afterward.” No hint of remorse. I can’t be hearing this. “Which left only one other variable: my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. A mare of unfathomable magical talent, great intelligence. And of course, complete and utter devotion to her mentor.” I seriously can’t be hearing this. I had to have died. I’m probably lying in a heap over there with that pegasus. But her constant talking either means this is one messed-up death experience, or this is all very much real. “She had shown inexperience and naivety through the years, but I have always been a source of guidance and comfort in her times of greatest uncertainty. Ability such as hers shouldn’t be wasted in the mortal realm, and more importantly, left unchecked. Watching her ascend was tantamount to a mother witnessing her child finally enter adulthood, but it also meant I had a variable under my control. Of course, I allowed her to do her own thing. Protect Ponyville, see to maintaining her books. Such simple goals for somepony of near-boundless power, but they were innocent enough. They kept her busy, and kept her in one place. I’ll admit, watching you go around exacting her idea of justice was rather cute, as though any of it actually mattered. But I played along and supported her whenever she asked, much in the same way you have.” She’s sounding more and more like a villain of the week. I’m... at a loss. I brought up authoritarianism, sure, but this goes way beyond that. Is this really Celestia? After having to fend for my life, my head doesn’t have room for this sort of thing. “However, over time you faced tougher tasks, tougher opponents, overcoming each one.” A graver tone. “Before I knew it, another variable had appeared. One that I couldn’t control.” Celestia steps the rest of the way down the ramp, getting to my level. “Still, you were only simple muscle. Strong, yes, but not strong enough to do anything significantly harmful. That was, until a month ago. “Don’t get me wrong, Spike. Luna, in her fit of insanity, had to be dealt with. Though she had been my only sister, there was a growing defiance in her that would have surely risen to overtake me, as had been done a millennia ago. However, the fact that you had killed her has made you just as equal a threat. Both to me, and to balance itself.” “But... why would I—” “Simple. Say Twilight starts having ideas of doing things differently, on how Equestria as a whole should be maintained. Her power is still unrefined compared to mine, but why would she need to resort to that, when she has a very apt and very capable subject to cut down any objectionable parties? This is the frightful reality you have placed me and Equestria in, Spike. None can maintain the balance of Equestria as I have, and thus any threat to my very well-being has to be eliminated, for everypony’s sake.” And there we have it. Most of me is reeling, but the part of me still paying attention has some words to say. “Alright, I get the idea, but I think you’re forgetting one other ‘variable’. Discord’s still floating around. Wouldn’t he have sway in your picture of balance?” “Him? Hah hah ha.” One of those bawdy villain laughs. “Discord is of no concern. He hasn’t been one for years, in fact. Aside from his minor trickeries, he’s essentially domesticated rather than godlike. The Element of Kindness had done too good a job in that regard.” A devious chuckle next. “And even if he weren’t, he would only cause a temporary upset. Though powerful, he’s short-sighted, impulsive, and easily done in by hubris. And Discord never plans long term: as soon as he achieves his vision of chaos, he just wanders aimlessly in it. He won’t even make it that far, though. I’ve formulated plenty of quick contingencies should he make an attempt at wide-scale chaos, none of them requiring use of the Elements of Harmony. In other words, worry more about yourself than about him.” She begins trotting toward me, and I take a step back. She huffs. “Originally, I had planned on telling Twilight you were involved in a tragic accident on your way out of the city. Something about a runaway cart or falling masonry, which admittedly is rather flimsy. But now I can tell her with utmost sincerity how you had gone berserk and attempted to kill me, thus making your death an act of self-defense. You were considerate enough to provide substantial evidence toward that claim.” She eyes my sword, and my own eyes follow. Still a faint shading of red over the silver. “You’ve developed quite the bloodlust over the years. About five guards would’ve been acceptable for a misunderstanding, but that’s nowhere enough for you. Even now, you grow impatient for the chance to fight me. I can see it through those sunglasses. That desire for battle, shared by bloodthirsty savages through the ages. Another factor that makes you a danger to Equestria.” Only because you made me draw my claw, you uppity know-it-all. “Well, you’ll get your wish.” She comes to a stop. “I sealed all the exits, so there won’t be anypony to disrupt us. And I’ve given Discord leave to go elsewhere for the day, so there won’t be any interruption from him. Just a private audience with me and me alone. Only royal treatment for the most loyal of servants, wouldn’t you agree?” Still can’t fully believe this is all happening, and that she’d make light of it. That gets fixed quickly, however, when her face casts a glare and I get wrapped in glorious yellow light. My limbs are forcibly pulled at angles and my body is yanked into the air and brought before Her Highness. Bones and muscles ache profusely as she looks me up and down. “I could tear you asunder like a cockroach, but that wouldn’t be satisfying for either of us. And I always believe in giving everypony a fighting chance.” The magic field vanishes and I fall to the ground ungraciously. As I get my feet back under me, I look up to see an ornate short sword hovering before me. At the other end of the platinum and gem-studded hilt is the stern, deadly look of the princess. “Now draw your weapon.” “Celestia, this is crazy! You can’t be serious about this.” “Taking me for a fool, or still playing ignorant? I believe I’ve made the seriousness of the matter unquestionable by drawing my own sword. Now be a sport and do the same.” “...No.” “Well, suit yourself. Don’t say that I never gave you the chance.” The sword shoots downward, and I quickly roll-slash-throw myself before it plunges into the stone floor with a twang. Her sword is back in the air when I get back on my feet, and she’s sporting a smug look. “Thought so. You never give up so easily, so why start now?” She swishes her sword around before pointing it at me again. “Now then: en garde, Vanguard.” So it’s come to this. I’ve faced a wide range of opponents over the years. Ponies, griffons, minotaurs, buffalo, Diamond Dogs, Changelings, sorceresses, hydras, timber wolves, a were-mare, sky pirates, an opera singer, and even a freakin’ magical girl (a crap one, though). Only recently have I taken on a god and lived, and here I am facing another one. To survive this challenge of regally divine swordsmanship, I’ll have to employ cunning of my own. Beginning with me ducking behind this pillar. Once out of her royal sight, I make for the next pillar, but not two steps later she pops in front of me to drive her blade into the spot over my head. “It’s hardly a fight if you run away at the start,” she chastises as I turn around and run back into the open space of the throne room. I go around the pillar and make a line for the doors, but the alicorn just pops in front of me, looking annoyed. A spark from her horn and magic energy throws me onto my back. “I will rip you apart if you continue this charade!” I leap back onto my feet. Celestia is standing between me and the door, and her teleportation will make any other escape attempts pointless. She’s made a game out of this, and I have to play by her rules. She’s always been pushy back when she was only passive-aggressive. But what are my chances of succeeding in a one-on-one sword fight with her? I defeated Luna only because she was too crazy to fight properly, but right here I’m fighting controlled crazy. I take a few breaths, then bring up my sword. Not like she’s giving me favorable choices, so I may as well hold my own. She gives a snidely smile. “That’s a good boy.” She lowers herself without taking her eyes off me, then with a thrust of her mighty wings she launches straight at me with her sword spear-heading the charge. I bring up my own in time to catch it, the impact causing sparks to shoot off screamingly as I slide back over the floor. My feet lose contact and I’m flung back through the air and into the upper part of the throne, but I spring myself away as it topples over. I land where I had been before and bring up my sword to deflect Celestia’s swipe, then bring it down to deflect another and another. She doesn’t shift an inch during the exchange, having her magic do all the work, but I have to move my body around for almost every blow. I change strategy by darting around to her side, swinging my sword low to cut out one of her hind legs. But of course she’s too quick for that, leaping high into the air and turning around to drive her sword downward. My blade goes to my chest to hold it back, and I’m pinned to the ground as broad side of my own weapon is pushed into my chest. There’s an amused, deranged look on her face as I struggle, but I press my feet into the floor hard enough to push me away in a clumsy ground-level backflip. Catching my breath, I give in to frustration and go running back. Her sword deflects mine, allowing her to flap into the air and land behind me. I turn in response, but again that levitating sword thwarts me. I grit my teeth before pulling off a flurry of swings ending in a strong swipe that knocks away the sword, then I pull back and thrust my sword arm at Celestia. She flaps out of harms way in a split second, so that I only penetrate air. Her sword is willing to keep me company, though, so I’m back to fighting a weapon on autopilot looking to wear me down. A short distance away, Celestia lands gracefully and watches the one-sided duel. “You’re very swift with the sword. It’s been centuries since I went against agility such as yours. But let us see how swift you are to magic.” Her wings start flapping as she rises vertically, her forelimbs held out as golden energy forms and grows over her hooves. A swing of the legs and both energy spheres are fired at me. I knock away the floating sword and leap up onto a pillar, grabbing on just as the ground I was standing on gets blasted to smoke. A third sphere blows out the base of the pillar, toppling it over and forcing me to leap off in a haphazard angle. On the way down Celestia flies in to eagerly cut me in twain with her sword, but I bring mine around with barely a moment to spare. There’s a clang and a sound of tearing as I’m knocked aside and hit the ground in a tumble. I get myself back up, and looking down I see her sword managed to cut a line through my shirt. It also happens to be dripping. “Mmm, first blood,” she says while eyeing the thin red sliver on her blade, then with a flick she focuses it and herself back on me. I charge at her before she has time to make the first move, and we’re back to slamming swords and hopping around one another, though she does it in a more playful manner. Still all a game to her. I hate it when I fight those types. For one they’re not taking it seriously, mainly because they’re skilled enough to afford not to. I’ve danced around this long enough. Time to make things even. I connect with Celestia’s sword a few more times, then knock it away with another strong blow. This time around, though, I breath in and let out a stream of fire at her before she can fly up. Doubt dragon fire would do much to a bonafide Sun Goddess, but it can work as a searing hot smoke screen to cover the quick draw back slash I aim at her head. I feel the slightest contact before a whoosh of air disperses my fire and Celestia has gone back a few yards. Not an inch of her is singed, but there’s a red line across her left cheek. She brings a wingtip forward and dabs the wounds with a feather, and upon seeing it, she makes a big smile. “Touche.” Celestia throws open both her wings, then launches herself back at me with sword swinging. Her weapon is nothing but a fast, furious blur this time, each blow I barely manage to knock away as it pushes me back. “Exhilarating, isn’t it? I haven’t put this much effort into a fight in generations!” My back goes against a pillar as she rears back with her sword. I duck and run away as the blade cleaves out a chunk of marble where my head had been. “Come, dragon: impress me more!” She launches at me again and I’m toe-tapping from her relentless steel. Arms are getting sore from holding my own against the barrage, which can’t be said for her since she isn’t using any of her limbs (the cheater). Hardly the first time since I got into a sword fight with a unicorn, but never one this powerful and, you know, a freakin’ alicorn. A war of attrition would be suicide, and she’s bound to start flinging more magic if I keep blocking. Not unless I beat her to it, though. The first break I get in the assault, I leap high up and bring down my sword for a falling stab. Celestia’s blade bats me away all the way back to the throne room doors, but during my trip I’m able to split open my palm, light a flame, give a chant, and twist to unleash a horizontal Jade Slicer. A good section of floor and two pillars get wrecked, but Celestia had long vanished to rejoin me in the air. Her swinging sword connecting with mine sends me plummeting down the rest of the way into a hard landing. I look up to see her hovering overhead with that look of sly certainty. I draw out another coat of blood onto my sword to fire off another Slicer, followed by a second. Celestia flies over one and uses her barrier-enhanced sword to cleave the other, the ceiling blowing out into gravel. With debris falling around Her Highness, I redirect my next shot into the ground behind me. The Piston launches me to Celestia in a second, who gets a screaming chestful of dragon dropkick. The alicorn slams into the ceiling in a booming spread eagle, and after a second she comes loose and falls. I’m at the ready when she gets to my level, executing a spin to deliver a devastating sword strike against her battered chest plate necklace thingy. The Sun Goddess hits the ground at high velocity, tearing up an already scarred and ruined floor in a thunderous impact. I land gently on the stretch of carpet that’s still intact, and looking through the dust I spot the ivory princess already getting back up. Still in one piece, but she looks winded at least. The chest ornament is gone, her crown’s skewed, and some of her well-preened feathers are sticking out. Her celestial mane is flowing about more unevenly as well. The throne room is a complete mess. A combination of earthquake, tornado and volcano. Doesn’t seem to bother her one bit, neither by her tarnished look or the ghastly decor. “Yes. This is more like it,” she says, pausing between breaths with a smile on her face. “You’ve just made your death at my hooves all the more worthwhile. And I was right: beneath that cool exterior there burns a fighter that lives for battle. Whether by your blood or the training given to you by my student, you have surpassed my expectations wondrously. Have to wonder why you haven’t employed those attacks earlier if you were so keen on escape.” “I’m not going through with this any further, Celestia. Let’s stop before this place comes down around us.” “Stop already? We’ve only just started.” That sword of hers comes floating in and swishing the air about her. “Although, you have always been one to end things quickly. Never a battle to hold your interest for long. And I suppose you’ve staved off your ‘departure’ long enough.” The sword is driven into the floor and carves out a curved line before Celestia’s hooves. “Well then, the very least I can do as a hostess is to keep your interest for as long as possible until the end. The very best opposition for a warrior of your fortitude.” The sword pulls out from the ground and rises over its owner’s head. “All ending in the greatest pyre imaginable. Let us go forth: Philomena!” A majestic screech fills the room as a fiery streak flies out from behind the toppled throne. Her Highness’s pet phoenix swoops down to its master, leaving a trail of embers as it begins to circle overhead. Its radiant plumage gives off a wave of heat every time it completes a revolution, growing hotter as flames begin to spread down from its wings. Celestia is also starting to sprout golden flames from the edges of her wings and from the scar she made in the ground, which spreads into a circle. The temperature of the room rises steadily as the fires of phoenix and alicorn intermingle until they’re both suddenly enveloped in a cylinder of flame. It causes a flash bright enough that I have to raise my arm to cover my eyes, as well as fend off the strong burst of heat. Around my arm I see the orange and yellow of the fire swirl and merge into searing white, then disperse to reveal Celestia in a new look. Her coat has become tinted orange with streaks of red around her body. Her wings have grown yellowish orange extensions that make it look like they’re shooting fire constantly. Her minty mane and tail have become flame incarnate, the very essence of solar fury kept in place by divine will. The crown has become some kind of flaming helmet headdress mix, and there’s a big sun symbol emblazoned on her chest: a larger, more brilliant variation of her cutie mark. Finally her eyes, essentially liquid flame, glare at me as she makes a deadly smile, two swords akin to talons falling in place at each side of her head. Bugger all, she’s gone Nova mode. Or maybe Solar Flare. Point is she’s looking meaner and way, waaay hotter. Corners of my suit are beginning to curl up, and so is the carpet beneath me. She wouldn’t be putting on this much a show if she doesn’t intend to go all out. I bring up my sword as a sign of control on my end. “The full glory of the Sun bears down upon you.” The two talon swords rise, then drop into the ground, creating two flame pillars that rush forward and around me. The stone flooring has melted into bubbling grooves where they passed. “I suggest you move.” I hesitate before following her advice, just as another flame pillar is sent my way. It burns through a chunk of the stone pillar close by, and I run back the way I came. The talon blades switch position, taking spots above and below in front of Celestia before spinning to create some fire crescents (look awfully familiar) at different levels. I hop over the low one and hit the ground flat to get away from the high one, and roll under the next two low ones. They burn hot enough to singe my suit slightly. When they stop coming I hop back up and face down the raging goddess. “Is the temperature to your liking? No? Then allow my Celestial Inferno to consume you!” The talon blades withdraw as air rushes toward Celestia, the room temperature rising at the same time. Her eyes go white as her body flashes in increasingly short, rapid intervals. Knowing a prep sequence when I see one, I turn and run for the door, but stop and dive behind one of the few standing pillars. A few seconds later there is a roar of escaping heat as a powerful flare goes off. The carpet burns up in an instant, but the pillar manages to block out the flare, so long as I stay in its shadow. After a few seconds the heat burst ends and things quiet down, so I look out to see Celestia standing there with both her swords out. “Clever. But it will only get more difficult for you.” Her swords twirl to form two crackling fireballs, which fly off in my direction. I leap away from the pillar before it gets blown to charred rubble, but I don’t stop running as a string of fireballs go after me. Each blast rings in my ears, bits of molten marble hitting my back. There is a pause in the attack, but looking around I see the talon swords flying at me. Once more I’m dueling floating swords, only it’s two very sharp, hot ones this time. I feel the blistering heat with each block, with embers flying off that could set my suit aflame at the first misstep. “How you continue to fight as cleansing flame surrounds you. Admirable, but futile.” Her Highness shoots up in a plume of flame before entering a fiery dive right at me. I leap away from the impact and ensuing fire wave that spreads out from her landing. She starts flashing again as air rushes toward her, meaning it’s my cue to get my ass behind a pillar. I barely get behind one before the blast goes off, the end of my tail actually getting burned before I could get my entire self into safety. When the temperature drops, “This is growing irksome.” Her eyes flash, and a booming fills the room as all the standing pillars explode and fall to the ground in smoking chunks. Through the fire flowing around her, I spot a smirk. “Much better.” Her self-generating flame flares up before she launches at me. I barely sidestep the fireball charge, but she shoots back and catches me on the side. She keeps tearing around the room randomly, so bright that I find myself tripping over the bubbling grooves she creates. At some point she halts in front of me and brings down those talon swords, and it’s another hot exchange. It doesn’t remain swords for long as she conjures up whips of flame to lash at me, burning off more parts of my suit and leaving marks on my scales. The temperature around us grows to the point where I’m actually sweating. My arms grow heavier. Her radiance makes it hard to make things out this close, and she’s moving too fast to get a bead on her. And all the while she’s talking down to me. “You were born merely as a means to discover my protege; what followed was all superfluous in the rearing of my student. All you do, or have ever done, was keep things tidy in her miniscule world of ‘order’. Loyalty to one who remains so short-sighted even after everything I had her experience. A lowly messenger is all you are, and I will not allow a librarian’s bloodthirsty assistant destroy all I have worked for. There's nopony who can keep Equestria as safe and alive as I have. NOPONY!” Celestia’s fire tail whips around and wraps around me, searing my scales as I’m lifted and tossed across the throne room. I hit the ground, roll and slam to a stop against the doors, a ting going off as I bounce off the magical barrier. She resumes talking as I get up. “Now dragon, rejoin your ancestors as cinder. By mine glory and will, Equestria shall prosper forevermore!” Air rushes in and she flashes more intensely this time. No pillars left standing, but I see a chunk of one lying several yards ahead of me. I book it and drop into a slide just as she lets off a screaming flare. I get the back of my head and shoulders against the broken masonry while keeping the rest of me flat. The stone against me grows hotter and hotter like iron, and the sound of sizzling and bubbling indicates that my cover is melting. I feel the top portion of the pillar chunk lowering down to my head, exposing my toes to the intense heat, which I curl up before they get fried. Lava I can handle just fine, but I don’t think it’s nearly as hot as the freakin’ sun. And given all the air being used up to keep this flare running, I’m gonna run out of oxygen if my cover doesn’t give way first. No more games: Celestia will have me dead one way or the other. Given the number of verge-of-death situations I’ve been in, my mind naturally draws up a slew of plans, mostly a jumble of desperate and pointless. A few feasible ones line up, so it’s just a matter of choosing, with no do-overs. Look at it this way: stay here and become a scorch mark, or become a scorch mark while trying to do something. I pick a plan, and put it in motion. I get the rest of my body flat on the floor and spin around on my back, pulling back my legs and angling them before kicking them at my cover. The moment it goes airborne I hop up and get to running behind it as close as possible. Celestia’s inferno burns away at my legs and much of my arms as I move, but I keep my head in line with the pillar chunk. I start to feel blisters forming under my scales while my clothes erupt into flame. In seconds that seem to stretch for minutes, me and the chunk cover the distance leading up to the source of the endless blaze. I keep my sword up with my head and hold it steady, and right when the pillar chunk gets cleaved by a talon sword I thrust forward blindly. There’s a gasp as my sword hits something solid, immediately followed by the heat flare shutting off. The whole throne room is scorched black: hardly anything recognizable except for the stained glass murals. Celestia’s brightness is toned down considerably, her fiery mane brought down to a simmer. No doubt the result of my weapon being stuck deep into her chest. Pained shock fills her face as she looks at the embedded sword and the one holding it. She shudders and a knee buckles. “N... No... You fool. Is Equestria’s well-being unworthy of your sacrifice?” I keep silent, trying to ignore the growing pain from my newly-formed burns without buckling myself. Celestia lowers her head and speaks more quietly. “All of it, undone. Everything will crumble because of what you did this day.” Suddenly she forces a step forward, driving several more inches of steel into her heart in bringing her head within an inch of mine. A dry, crazed chuckle leaves her mouth as she looks me square in the eyes. “I hope you’re prepared for the consequences.” Celestia’s eyes flicker, then her whole body gives off a growing whine as it starts glowing. The glow intensifies steadily, whitening every inch of her with concentrated energy. Sword’s in her too deep for me to pull out, and I don’t think my arms are strong enough to even try. I can only stand and watch as the familiar heat comes back and rays of light shoot off of her. It becomes deafening white as she goes Supernova. DEATH BY DUTY end *Caught in the Jetstream *Dead Sun over Paradise *But what’s in The Void?