"Lunar Battlement Unum! Advance to the riverbanks!"
"Solar Air Patrol Duodecim! Cover them from the air! Griffon Advancement on your exposed left fore!"
"Chaos Troops Quinquaginta and Novem! Get in front and split the enemy troops into small groups!"
Celestia turned away from the troops, watching her sister take her place as commander. "Discord, we're fighting a losing battle..."
"It's not over!" He yelled back, teeth bared. His tone lowered as he surveyed the battlefield. "We still have the Chemicals..."
"We said we wouldn't use them..." The Solar Princess hissed.
"We. Have. No. Choice." Discord growled, turning and breaking another wave of lightning over the enemy lines. "You said it yourself. We're losing."
"Sister! The Griffon Air Squad has attacked our troops! I need help!"
"Coming!" Celestia yelled back, before turning to the spirit. "Not now."
"Well then, Celestia..." He crossed his arms, leaning back and snapping another wave of thunder, "...you just try to hold on."
She looked at him, holding the soft glare, half-saddened and half-disgusted, and turned around, flying up beside her sister. "Philomena! Take out the left side!"
The phoenix darted down from the clouds, lighting her feathers with the solar energy she had absorbed. Her dive lit the sky in shining flame, and screams of tens of Griffons and ponies alike filled the air.
"Solar Air Patrol Duodecim! Fill the airspace over Philomena!"
"Quick! Lunar Battlement Unum! Fill the space!"
"Chaos Troop Quinquaginta! Protect the left flank! Novem, take the right!"
*****
Canterlot still managed to bustle with activity, filled with ponies living their daily lives.
"Oh yes, I almost forgot! With a dozen cupcakes, you get a coupon for ten bits off on your next purchase! Here you go," the pony leaned over the counter and handed the waiting Unicorn a pastel pamphlet. "You're welcome!"
I frowned at Lemon Mane's extreme antics. "Lemon, that deal ended last week."
She turned around, eyes growing wide as she stuck out her lower lip. "But Miss... all the extra papers were taking up space..."
"Then you throw them in the furnace. Celestia knows how much this place costs to heat anyway." I glared for a few more moments before sighing. "Fine. Hand them out."
"Oh, thank you, Miss Dusk Breeze!" She flung herself forward, her pale yellow hooves wrapping around my neck in a hug.
I blew a strand of her neon yellow mane out of my face. "Lemon, what have I told you about the hugging?"
"Oh, sorry Miss, I forgot."
"You always do." I muttered. "New customer coming in. I'll be in the kitchen."
The cheery 'Welcome to The Sugar Stable!' that Lemon was so happy to give out faded from my hearing as I shoved the double doors open. A tall stallion was shouting orders from the counter next to Lemon's, the small notes flying through the drop chute.
"Stir Crazy!" I yelled into the din. "How're the supplies dealing?"
A young mare, only in her twenties from her application, trotted up, her red mane pulled back in an elastic. "We're starting to run low on icing sugar and the daffodil petals are starting to dwindle..."
I let out a heavy sigh. "Anything that's not from the Griffon Republic?"
"Everything's peachy keen that comes from here." She replied.
"At least we get good business from the ponies that come to drown their sorrows in sugar..."
"There's a silver lining on everything, Miss." Stir beamed.
I raised a hoof to my temples. "How's Brownie holding up?"
"Well, I don't mean to gossip..." Stir glanced around before leaning into my ear. "...but rumor is that she's been working down at Hoofer's to keep her income high."
"A pretty, intelligent mare like her working in a place like that?" I frowned. "Who did you hear this from?"
I looked around for the energetic employee, but she had vanished into the steam of the deep-fryers. With a quiet snort, I trotted out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
*****
"Sweetie, you look frazzled."
"Not in the mood, Sugar."
My sister glared from the kitchen, candy floss mane falling over her eyes. "Well, suh-ree! Trying to be nice!"
"You're not helping. I need an aspirin."
"I told you that you should invest in a new building. This one's too small, and you know it. The tiny space is too loud for you, and-"
'Stop telling me what to do!" I yelled, gritting my teeth. "The only reason you have a roof over your head is because I have a family tie! You're not my mom!"
"Oh, you did not just go there." Sugar Petals hissed, trotting out of the doorway.
"I did." I growled. "Now leave me alone."
She lifted her nose, snorting. "The aspirin is in the cupboard on the left."
"Thank you."
*****
I reached up to grab the tub of medicine when a sudden wave of nerve-tingling paranoia washed over me. Unnaturally terrified, I backpedaled out of the washroom, past my confused sister, and out onto the small balcony. My eyes grew wide as I scanned the horizon, the normal plumes of thick smoke still billowing, muffled explosions present...
There.
Rushing over the hills in the distance, a green-yellow wave of smoke, boiling across the ground, not drawing away or slowing down. A small town was absorbed in seconds, no screaming audible from this distance.
"Sugar, get downstairs!"
"Why?"
"JUST GO!" I shouted, cantering back inside. She quickly followed, our hoof-beats knocking down the stairs. She ran past me, out into the cafe, while I tried to rush the kitchen ponies down into the basement.
Sugar bolted past, dirt and powdered sugar flying up in her wake, a small stampede vanishing deeper into the house. The kitchen staff followed.
I glanced around for any stragglers before going towards the stairs myself.
"Miss Dusk!"
I gasped and turned around, seeing Lemon standing in the doorway from the counter. "What's going on?"
"Lemon, hurry inside!"
"There's nothing wrong that I can see."
I saw the green fog starting to roll through the Canterlotian streets and a few tendrils poking curiously through the door.
"Lemon! Just hurry!"
"But there's no..." she turned around, following my gaze, and screamed.
Tears in my eyes, I pulled the door shut, sliding the locks and trying to hide the picture of Lemon being consumed by the eerie fog.
Through my blurring vision, I saw a tiny wisp of smoke drift around the hinges of the door.
"The fallout gear..." I breathed, smashing the single container in the underground facility. This house was built for a single pony...
I slid the heavy mask over my muzzle, slipped the nylon over my fur, and stepped into the rubbery boots. The visor on the mask flickered to life, the neon arrows and numbers scrolling past as it re-awoke. I sighed, my breath steaming up the cold glass for a few seconds.
...and only a single pony would remain.
*****