As Kyle emerged from the stairwell and stepped out into the plaza underneath the castle, he saw that the entire area was abuzz with activity. A dozen guards stood defensively around the Crystal Heart, each one covered not in the traditional golden armor, but what appeared to be steel. Other guards ran this way and that, most of them moving to or from the south.
Speaking of the south, the entire southern skyline was pitch-black. Though it was the middle of the day, and the sun was high in the sky, a solid black wall of clouds rose up from the city - a wall that Kyle quickly realized was not made of clouds at all, but instead was smoke from burning buildings. But there was something else… something that made him raise an eyebrow, though he didn’t quite know why…
A loud whoosh rushed past Kyle, causing his head to snap towards the sound. He looked just in time to see Rainbow Dash soar into the stairwell he had just left, followed by Fluttershy. Off to the south, he could see Rarity and Applejack running towards the wall of smoke, accompanied by several guards outfitted in the same steel armor.
Off to the east, Kyle saw Shining Armor overseeing another group of guards. Kyle approached the group, taking in the extent of the guards’ armor. Their entire midsection was covered in armor, along with their legs. The thing that stood out to him the most, however, were their hooves. Each one was covered in a solid metal boot, connected to their leg armor. Each boot was reinforced with spikes that had been sharpened to a wickedly sharp point.
Shining Armor looked over as Kyle approached, only just now slipping into his own armor. “Mr. Slater,” he nodded, using his magic to levitate then steel suit onto his body. “I hope you’re ready.”
“As I’ll ever be,” Kyle replied. He glanced back at the towering wall of smoke, squinting at the writhing mass of black rising against the otherwise clear blue day.
“You’ve noticed it too?” Shining Armor asked as he stepped into his boots.
“Noticed what?” Kyle asked, turning his head back towards the prince.
“The Changelings,” Shining Armor replied, latching his boots to his leg armor. He raised his rear legs and bucked hard before rearing up on them, swinging his front hooves. Satisfied that his boots would not detach during the fight, he turned to face Kyle fully. “They’re not flying. They’re coming at us exclusively from the ground.”
Kyle glanced back at the smoke to the south. Sure enough, not a single Changeling could be seen flying around. “So that’s what was wrong…” he murmured. “But that doesn’t make sense…”
“Cadence thinks it has something to do with the Heart,” Shining Armor explained, examining the guards to make sure their armor was put on properly. “You already know that the Sha and Windigos cannot get through the shield The Changelings have been working with the Sha for a while now, and have been in their proximity. Some of their power probably rubbed off on the Changelings, or was even intentionally empowering them. So when they came into the shield, she reckons the power of the Crystal Heart affected that Sha energy and partially nullified it, weakening the Changelings.”
Kyle smirked, still looking at the southern skyline. “Unexpected, but I’ll take anything we can get at this point.” he replied. He turned his head back to Shining Armor. “So, what’s the plan?”
“The Changelings have attacked us from a lucky angle. Lucky for us, that is,” he replied, moving to stand next to Kyle. “From the south, the Changelings’ most direct route leads them through a large, open courtyard to the south. It has only two entrances - one to the south, one to the north, - and funnels in all traffic to the castle coming from the south. The only way to avoid that Courtyard without flying is to swing wide around and come at the castle from the main road that runs east-west through the city.”
“So we’re going to hold the line there,” Kyle finished. “What if they swing around and come at us from the main road? They certainly have the numbers to do that.”
“I’m leaving a dozen guards here to defend the Heart,” Shining Armor replied. “Along with several of our most talented unicorns. It’s not much, but it’s all that we can spare. They’re setting traps all along the main road that will hopefully deter any Changelings from attempting to come at us that way.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Kyle grinned. Shining Armor looked over his shoulder and flicked his tail. The guards snapped to attention, and Kyle and the group of Ponies began moving towards the fated courtyard.
“I hope you realize that we cannot win this fight,” Shining Armor warned. “There’s got to be over twenty thousand Changelings swarming through the southern reaches of the city even as we speak. We only have just over a hundred guards to fight them with. Even with you and and the Princesses, their sheer numbers will overwhelm us. We won’t be able to hold out for long.”
“We don’t have to hold out for long,” Kyle replied. “King Varian, leader of the Alliance, has agreed to send reinforcements. He’s scrambling to gather as many soldiers and adventurers as he can from Stormwind. Once they arrive, we’ll have a fighting chance. All we have to do is hold the Changelings back until that time comes.”
A large, serpentine shadow fell over the group, blocking the sun for a moment. Kyle looked up just in time to see Discord sailing over rooftops, both paw and claw glowing. As he approached the cloud of smoke, Discord unleashed twin blasts of energy, sending them hurtling down upon the invaders. Two small explosions illuminated the smoke cloud, and several screams of pain could be heard as he swept back outward.
“Even Discord’s getting in on the action,” Kyle chuckled.
“A good thing too,” Shining Armor replied as several bursts of green energy lanced out from the streets towards Discord, who was already well out of range. “He’s keeping that particular area locked down, where the Changelings are closest to us. Buying us more time to prepare.”
The group left the plaza underneath the castle and followed a short pathway to the south. At the end, the pathway opened up into a large open courtyard, just as Shining Armor had said. The courtyard was very large - easily twice as big as the courtyard in front of the Cathedral in Stormwind. Besides the groups of guards and various defenses they had set up, the only feature was a small fountain in the middle of the courtyard. The walls surrounding the courtyard were lined with shops where, on a normal day, vendors would be peddling their various goods.
But this was hardly a normal day.
Kyle looked around the courtyard once more, noting the defenses that had already been erected. Several bows were mounted on stands, bows that were made out of a material that looked suspiciously like ice. Multiple barricades of wood and metal had been erected, waiting to be moved into position to stall the oncoming assault.
Several Unicorns were in the narrow street that led out of the south side of the courtyard. As Kyle watched, one of their horns flashed brightly. A circular rune appeared on the wall in front of the Unicorn before quickly fading. The Unicorn backed away and turned to face another wall.
“We’re gonna try to stall them in that narrow street for as long as possible,” Shining Armor explained. “If they’re in there, they can’t take full advantage of their superior numbers. In the open, however…”
“We’ll be quickly overrun,” Kyle finished. “How long do you think we’ll be able to hold them in there?”
“I don’t know,” Shining Armor admitted. “The traps our Unicorns are laying down will only trigger once. After that, it’ll be all up to us to hold the line. We’re going to try to use our ice arrows and magic to hold them back as long as possible, but…” he trailed off, glancing at the meager number of defenders scattered around the courtyard.
“The odds are not in our favor,” Kyle agreed grimly. He glanced around the courtyard once more, watching as the Unicorns moved out of the street and into the courtyard and the barricades were moved into place.
Kyle then spotted something. One of the shops along the walls of the courtyard displayed a foaming mug of cider - most likely a bar or similar. He glanced back over at the southern road, then back at the building. A grin broke across his face, and he tapped Shining Armor on the shoulder. “Hey, are there any kegs in that building?” he asked.
Shining Armor glanced at the building Kyle was pointing at. “Probably,” he replied, raising an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Get some Pegasi to stack them along the side of the road.”
Shining Armor blinked. “Why?”
“Just trust me,” Kyle replied.
Shining Armor raised his eyebrow again, but nodded before running over to a group of guards. Kyle, meanwhile, had turned his attention to another group of Ponies that had entered the courtyard. Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie were walking down the center of the courtyard, each one wearing the same spiked boots that the guards wore.
Kyle ran over towards them. “I was wondering if you all were going to show up,” he said as he fell into step beside them.
“O’ course we’re here,” Applejack replied.
“Well most of us, anyway,” Rarity added.
“I was about to say… I know Twilight’s busy with the portal, but where’s Fluttershy?”
“You think she’d be any good in a fight like this?" Rainbow Dash asked. “Not a chance. The Princesses called her away for something else.”
Kyle frowned at Rainbow Dash’s harsh words, but said nothing. After all, in his opinion, she was right. Fluttershy would be far too timid to survive the coming battle. And even if her tone was sharp, she could not be blamed. She was clearly on edge. They all were.
The rustle of wings drew Kyle’s attention. He looked to the sky to see three shapes drop down next to him. Cadence, Luna, and Celestia had entered the courtyard. They were covered from head to hoof in gleaming armor, each one bearing a different color - Cadence wore silver, Celestia was armored in gold, and Luna bore black. While it covered almost every inch of exposed fur - only their underbellies were exposed - it also was apparently light enough for them to fly in.
Kyle glanced each one over as the princesses turned towards the group. They, too, wore the spiked boots that everyone else was wearing, but Kyle could see that they had other weapons as well. Their horns were covered in a large, metal spike that ended in a sharp point, and the armor that covered their wings tapered off towards the front edge and tips, ending in a razor-sharp blade
“Greetings, Mr. Slater,” Celestia smiled as she approached. “I hope you are ready.”
“As I’ll ever be,” Kyle replied, looking around. “So, where’s Fluttershy? What was that important assignment you gave her?”
Celestia and Luna exchanged a quick glance. “As you have probably already guessed, Miss Fluttershy is… not entirely suited for the heat of war,” Luna began slowly.
“Instead, we’ve asked her to keep the citizens calm,” Cadence continued. “We were able to evacuate most of them, but the Windigos’ presence is interfering with our magic. We didn’t have the strength to keep the portal open any longer. Several hundred Ponies are still within the castle. Fluttershy is trying to keep them calm and prevent panic.”
“I guess that makes sense. Now, I have another question,” Kyle said, looking over Celestia’s armor once more. ”Gold? Really? Isn’t that a bit… soft, to protect you?”
“It is merely gilded, Mr. Slater,” Celestia replied. “Our armor is made of ebonsteel - tough, yet lightweight and flexible. It will provide adequate defense in the coming battle.”
“But what of yourself? Cadence asked looking Kyle over. She raised an eyebrow as she took in Kyle’s simple leather attire. “You don’t appear to be armored. Surely you’re not planning on fighting like that?”
“It’s how I’ve always fought,” Kyle explained. “ I rely on avoiding attacks, rather than having my armor block it. I must be as agile as possible in combat. Metal armor only slows me down.”
“Even so, I believe you will require something a little… extra,” Luna replied. Her horn lit up, and a small chest popped into existence in front of Kyle. “A gift from us, for your services to Equestria. May it serve you well.”
Kyle knelt down and pushed the chest open. He reached in and pulled out the first item - an expertly-made leather tunic, colored a deep, dark brown. Three symbols were emblazoned upon the chest. On the left breast was the emblem of the Alliance, shining in regal blue and gold. On the right was an image of Celestia and Luna, chasing each other in a circle around a sun and moon - the emblem of Equestria. Finally, in the center was another symbol - the blue and white head of Xuen the White Tiger, whose visage symbolized the ferocity of the Windwalker.
Kyle stared at the tunic for a moment before turning his attention to the remaining items in the chest. Sure enough, an entire set of armor lay inside, each one crafted with a level of expertise Kyle had rarely seen, and never worn. The boots were reinforced with steel, and the vambraces had a series of metal studs and spikes along the outside. Inside was also a silken cloak which reached partway down the tunic’s back. It too had Xuen’s visage emblazoned upon it, and it attached to the chestpiece via a pair of metal clasps underneath the shoulder pads.
As Kyle set the final piece of armor aside, he glanced back into the chest. At the bottom was another set of items. Kyle reached in and pulled them out as well. A dagger, along with its sheathe, emerged from the chest, followed by two simple one-handed maces.
“Gifts from Longhorn, Chief of the Redtail Minotaur tribe,” Celestia explained as Kyle held one of the maces in his grip, giving it a trial swing. The head was perfectly weighted, allowing him to lash out with several powerful swings in rapid succession. “It appears that you made quite an impression upon him in Canterlot.”
“Each piece of armor has been given several magical enhancements,” Luna continued. “You will find that, though they are tough and durable, they will not hamper your movement.”
“This is… awesome,” Kyle murmured, looking up at the Princesses with a smile. “Thank you.”
“Do not thank us yet, Mr. Slater,” Luna said grimly, turning her attention back to the south. “The battle has yet to begin.”
“You may want to put that on,” Cadence agreed. “And quickly.”
Kyle noded and pulled off his old armor, throwing it back into the chest. He quickly donned his new armor, marvelling at how lightweight it was. Even though Kyle could tell it was thick, it almost felt like it wasn’t even there.
Kyle finally attached the cloak and put on the final two pieces. The first was a leather hat, almost identical to the ones favored by the Pandaren masters upon the Peak of Serenity. The second was his leather belt. The sun-baked, cracked leather cord contrasted greatly against the fresh leather armor, but the belt had been provided to him by his master as a gift when he had become a fully-fledged Monk - he could not bear to set it aside. He attached the dagger sheath to his belt and picked up the two maces, holding one in each hand.
Rainbow Dash whistled as Kyle stood back up. “Those Changelings will be quaking in their hooves when they get a look at you,” she said. “I’m glad you’re on our side. That looks scary as a -”
Rainbow Dash paused mid-sentence. Her ears perked up and angled towards the south. The other Ponies had likewise tensed up, their attention drawn towards the road. Kyle glanced towards the road, noticing that several Kegs had been placed along each wall lining the road. However, he could not see what the Ponies were tensing up about.
“The Changelings approach,” Cadence murmured.
“Stations, everypony!” Shining Armor cried out. All at once, the courtyard was a mass of galloping hooves as guards ran this way and that. As the confusion died down, Kyle glanced towards the south again. Sure enough, he could now hear for himself the sound of thundering hooves approaching, along with a faint, eerie clicking noise.
He looked around the courtyard, taking in the sight of all the guards gathered. Many wore expressions of tension. Others had their faces contorted into scowls or fearsome snarls. A couple, however, appeared terrified, ready to turn tail and flee before the onslaught.
“They’re not going to last,” Kyle murmured to Celestia, nodding at one such terrified guard. “The fearful and hateful are the first to fall in battle.”
“Perhaps you should speak to them,” Celestia suggested. “Everypony is worried. They are well trained in body, but their hearts and minds may not be as strong. A powerful word may do a world of good for them.”
Kyle blinked once. “But… I can’t speak to them all…” he muttered nervously.
“How can you expect them to not feel fear for death when you yourself fear mere words?” Celestia asked with a knowing smile. “Remember - courage, not bravery, truly defines who we are in these trying times.”
Kyle felt a small smile cross his face. “Al… alright. I’ll do it,” he said quietly. He pushed the chest onto its end and clambered up onto it, using Celestia to balance himself as he stood up tall. Several heads turned in his direction as he towered above the defenders. He cleared his throat as the thunder of the Changelings’ hooves grew ever louder. He looked around once more before taking a deep breath.
“Proud defenders of Equestria!” he called out, drawing the attention of the remaining Ponies. “You stand today against a force beyond reckoning! A force unlike anything seen before! An evil so great, it threatens to consume the entire world in its shadow! You, and you alone, stand between the Changelings and their Sha masters, and the ruin of this world!”
“But do not despair! Even as I speak, the might of the Alliance Army gathers itself! Soon, they will storm into this world, and together we will repel these Changeling invaders! Our mission is simple - make sure there is still a battle to be won when they arrive!”
“The enemy is cunning, cruel, and driven by hatred. They will stop at nothing to see all the world bowed before them. Our task is grim, but our enemy will not hesitate to kill us all. We must do the same. Show no mercy, defenders of Equestria, for you shall receive none in return!”
“But neither should you lash out in fear, anger or hatred! To do so is to empower our enemy! They feed on your hatred, they revel in fear. Give these feelings no quarter in your heart! Ask yourself, instead - What is worth fighting for? Your home? Your family? Hold this close to your heart, and fight not for hatred, but for love.”
“And fight we must! Fight for your homes! For your families! For your very lives!” Kyle pointed as the first Changelings appeared in the road, charging towards the courtyard. Their faces split open in vicious snarls and hisses as they thundered down the road.
“The enemy is upon us! Brace yourselves!”
The guards next to the bows drew the strings back and loaded them with arrows made of ice. They released the strings and the arrows flew forward towards the oncoming Changelings. They found their marks, penetrating the Changelings’ thick chiton. Several Changelings tumbled to the ground, trampled by their comrades. Others froze into solid ice, only to be shattered to pieces as more Changelings charged through them.
The Changelings continued their advance, charging blindly down the street. As they drew ever closer, they began to trigger the traps that the Unicorns had laid down. Some traps froze any Changeling near them, much like the ice arrows. Others exploded violently, sending green ichor and Changeling parts flying. Still others did their work in a less pronounced fashion, causing the Changelings to simply collapse to the ground to be trampled by their brethren
“Now!” Shining Armor yelled, pointing his hoof towards the Changelings. His horn lit up, and a bolt of light blue energy flew from his horn towards the Changelings, joining a barrage of multicolored lasers. The lasers struck the front lines of the Changelings, sending many of them tumbling to the ground. The Unicorns continued to cast magical attacks at the Changelings, with Celestia, Luna, and Cadence adding their own blasts to the mix.
Kyle hooked his maces onto his belt and called upon the Chi around him, gathering as much as he could into his hands. Bolts of lightning and jade-green Chi Bursts flew from his fingertips, quickly getting lost in the sea of energy flying from the defenders.
And yet, the Changelings poured on, making their way down the street. The magic of the Ponies was slowing them, but they could not be stopped, surging like a tide of death towards the courtyard. Within a minute, they had reached the opening, and the first few set their hooves into the courtyard.
Just what Kyle had been waiting for. “Brace!” he yelled over the roar of the battle, aiming his hand down the street. A bolt of lightning lanced out of his hands, but did not strike a Changeling. Instead, it slammed into one of the kegs that the Pegasi had set up. The wooden barrel ignited, spewing flames for a brief moment.
Then, there was a deafening boom and a flash of light as the keg exploded, blasting any nearby Changelings sky-high. The heat of the detonation ignited the other kegs stacked nearby. Another series of explosions rocked the ground as the remaining kegs detonated as well. Over the thunder of the explosions, Kyle could hear a relatively soft rumbling sound. Sure enough, the walls of the buildings lining the street collapsed, burying the street in rubble.
“That wasn’t cider,” Kyle mused as the air around them fell silent. “The explosion was too strong…”
“No, it wasn’t,” Cadence agreed, squinting her eyes to see through the dust. “Probably whiskey.”
For a long moment, nothing moved. Dust billowed out from the rubble, obscuring the street from view. A few Changelings could be seen amongst the rubble. Some of them were horribly burned, others were missing limbs or had been ripped in half, but all of them were dead.
A faint clicking was all the warning they had. Changelings burst from the cloud of dust, surging over their fallen comrades and the rubble that entombed them. More magic flew from the defenders, but by now the Changelings were pouring into the courtyard, allowing them to take advantage of their superior numbers.
The first Changelings met the defenders for the first time, engaging in hoof-to-hoof combat. The Ponies quickly ceased their magical assault and lashed out with their hooves, their spiked boots piercing through the Changeling’s chiton with ease. The Changelings themselves warped their front hooves into wicked-looking scythes and jagged blades, slashing at anyone or anything that they got near - even other Changelings.
Kyle could see it in their eyes as he drew his maces once more. The black haze that clouded their eyes, the inhuman snarls that curled their lips, their wantless desire - no, need - for bloodshed. These Changelings were nothing more than slaves of the Sha now, their old minds completely obliterated.
Kyle stepped forward into the battle, charging at a Changeling that already had a guard on the defensive. Kyle pulled his mace back and brought it down upon the Changeling’s head. A crunching sound followed, along with a shower of green slime and brains as the mace caved the Changeling’s skull in. Kyle then whipped around, lashing out with his other mace at another Changeling’s head. The weapon found its mark, and the Changeling’s neck twisted violently with a loud snap.
Kyle grabbed a flask off of his belt and took a drink. Instantly, he felt strength surging through his body as his Tigereye Brew took effect, empowering him with new strength. He crouched and leaped high into the air, pulling both maces over his head as he reached his peak. He spotted another guard who was being overwhelmed by a trio of Changelings and aimed for them, falling to the ground. He brought both maces down onto one Changeling’s back, cracking it open and sending his foe crashing to the ground. An uppercut with one of his maces caught the second Changeling under the chin, sending it flying high into the air.
Kyle was forced to take a step backwards as the third Changeling lashed out, its scythe-leg narrowly missing Kyle’s chest. It brought its other scythe-leg down in a downwards strike, aiming for his arm. Kyle raised one mace and hooked it under the sickle-shaped leg, catching the blow and trapping the Changeling. He stepped forward with one foot and brought his other mace upwards, smashing through the leg he had just caught and severing it completely. The Changeling howled in pain before Kyle whipped around, his hammer slamming into its head and silencing it.
A flash of orange drew Kyle’s attention. He whipped his head to the left just in time to see a small, unarmored Pegasus slam into a Changeling, knocking it off-balance. The Pegasus reared back and pointed its hoof at the Changeling. A bolt of lightning lanced out, striking the Changeling and knocking it to the ground. Another pegasus slammed its hoof into the Changeling, crushing its head.
Kyle smirked and ran over to the unarmored Pegasus, escaping the worst of the fighting. He clipped one mace to his belt and leaped up, catching her tail before she could fly off again. “I was wondering when you were gonna show up, Scoots,” he laughed, pulling her back down.
“Wh- Kyle!” Scootaloo exclaimed, jumping away and looking around nervously. “I-I can explain. I just - I mean,”
“Chill squirt,” he chuckled. “I’m not angry,”
“Y-you’re not? But you said -”
“I said you needed to go home,” Kyle nodded. “But never when you needed to go home. Nor did I tell you to go through the portal back to Canterlot - only that one was available.”
“But… but I -”
“I knew you wouldn’t go home,” Kyle explained. “I knew you’d want to stay and fight. It’s in your nature.” Kyle turned his attention back to the battle raging around them. “We’ll talk after we’re done here. For now, remember your training, and make me proud!”
“Done and done!” Scootaloo saluted with a grin. She spread her wings and launched herself back into the fray, lightning and burst of energy flying from her hooves.
Kyle also turned to dive back into the battle. He crouched to leap forward, but felt himself falling as a large body slammed into his back, sending him to the ground. He managed to turn himself over and land on his back as an armored guard collapsed on top of him, his throat sliced open.
Another Changeling pounced, landing right next to Kyle. “The Empress will be pleased when I deliver her your head,” it. sneered, It flashed its right leg out, shaped like a sword, and drew it back to stab downwards.
Kyle grasped down by his belt and found what he was looking for. He jerked his head to the side as the sword-leg slammed into the ground right next to him, burying itself deep in the stone floor. Kyle withdrew his arm from under the dead guard and lashed out at the stuck Changeling, his dagger glistening in the sun. The dagger caught the Changeling across the neck, biting deep through the chitin. Green blood spewed forth as the Changeling gurgled in pain. Kyle pushed hard against the guard and rolled the body off of him before throwing himself at the Changeling, ramming his dagger through the Changeling’s throat. The blade pierced through and erupted out from the other side. He quickly withdrew the blade and re-sheathed it as the Changeling collapsed to the ground.
By now, the Ponies had been completely encircled by the Changeling army. They fought valiantly, but Kyle could see their ring of defense growing smaller and smaller as the Changelings herded them into the center of the courtyard, massing them around the fountain. Among the the writhing mass of Changelings lay the bodies of the dead - mostly Changelings, but at least a dozen Ponies lay among the fallen.
Suddenly, the Changelings froze and pulled back slightly, their wings spread defensively. The defenders were now pressed up against the fountain entirely, standing side-by-side and facing outwards against the enemy. Kyle glanced around and spotted Scootaloo, standing next to Rainbow Dash. Both of them were flecked here and there with green blood.The older Pegasus was muttering to her quickly, her face contorted in a scowl that was not aimed at the Changelings.
The wall of Changelings to the south parted, and another, larger Changeling stepped through. Kyle immediately identified this one as a hive queen - she stood much taller than the rest of the Changelings, her eyes were vertical slits rather than solid orbs, and her horn was bent and jagged, jutting outwards at sharp angles.
“Greetings, defenders of Equestria,” she began, her voice triumphant. “I am Venoxys, queen of Hive Ombrex.”
“We don’t give a damn who you are!” A guard spat back.
“You would do well to learn your place quickly, worm,” Venoxys hissed. “You have put up a good fight, I must admit. Several hundred of my kind lay dead, slain by your hooves. But it is now over. You are defeated. Grand Empress Chrysalis, in her mercy, has agreed to offer you an escape from death. Submit and surrender, and your paltry lives will be spared.”
“To be slaves for you?” Kyle demanded, stepping forward. To his surprise, he saw Scootaloo stepping forward as well. There was some scattered murmuring as Scootaloo stopped beside Kyle. He turned his attention back towards the Changeling Queen. “To watch as you destroy everything we know and love? No, Changeling. We would rather die than be slaves. We do not submit.”
“We will never submit,” Scootaloo agreed.
“Never!” Another voice echoed from the remaining Ponies. Another voice rang out, and then another, and another. Soon, the entire crowd was chanting. “Never! Never! Never!”
Venoxys hissed angrily. “Silence!” she roared, slamming her hoof into the ground. A shockwave erupted, shaking the ground violently. Kyle was forced to crouch down to maintain his balance, while several Ponies fell to the ground.
“You choose not to submit,” Venoxys growled threateningly. Her horn began to glow, surrounded by black and white Sha energy. “Then you shall die.” The energy coalesced on the tip of her horn, forming into a large orb of pulsing energy. She cackled as jolts of lightning sizzled around the orb, which was growing ever larger. A small puff of smoke erupted from behind her, quickly getting absorbed by the expanding ball of energy.
“To Tartarus with you a-”
The Changeling queen stopped mid-sentence, her eyes going wide. The orb of energy sputtered and fizzled out of existence. The Changelings closest to her gasped and backed away, staring at her back in fear. Kyle watched as the chitin across her throat cracked. Suddenly, a sharp metal tip erupted from her throat, spraying green blood and small chunks of her exoskeleton. The blade was quickly withdrawn as Venoxys gurgled, her windpipe severed. The blade flashed out from behind her head once more and was rammed into the side of her skull, biting in to the hilt. As it was withdrawn once more, her front knees buckled, and she fell to the ground, dead.
A small, leather-clad shape leaped from her back as she collapsed, landing in front of her corpse. The tiny humanoid spun around and brandished a pair of daggers, one dripping with green slime. “Hope I’m not too late to get in on the fun,” A high-pitched, nasally voice said from beneath the mask. A familiar voice, one that made Kyle grin. “That’s two you owe me now, Slater.”
“Perfect timing, Morkie,” Kyle laughed. “As usual.”
Morkie sheathed one dagger and gave Kyle a quick thumbs up. He raised his hand to his mask and pulled it down, revealing his mouth for a moment. He stuck his fingers into his mouth and gave a loud, high-pitched whistle.
And all hell broke loose.
A dome of golden light sprang to life around the Ponies, encasing them in a hemisphere of energy. The fountain erupted in a geyser, shackles springing into existence and binding the liquid into the shapes of water elementals. The ground beneath the Changelings buckled and quaked, spewing lava this way and that. From the crevices arose more elementals of Earth and Fire, who instantly unleashed their fury upon the stunned Changelings. The skies themselves were rent asunder as shards of ice and orbs of fire, and even what appeared to be the stars themselves, rained down around them, bouncing harmlessly off of the protective dome but drawing screams of fear and pain from the Changelings.
The Changelings began to panic, some running this way and that, some flinging themselves uselessly against the protective dome surrounding the Ponies. A rustle of movement to the west drew Kyle’s attention. He watched as multiple humanoids clambered up onto the rooftops surrounding the courtyard. They drew guns, bows, and crossbows, took aim, and fired. The Changelings closest to them jerked awkwardly and collapsed to the ground, their bodies riddled with arrows and bullet-holes.
Meanwhile, a loud roar drew Kyle’s attention behind him. He watched as multiple beasts charged into the courtyard. Core hounds, wolves, bears, frostsabers, quillen… It was as if a zoo had been unleashed. The beasts descended upon the Changelings on the north side of the courtyard, their powerful claws and vice-like jaws decimating those unfortunate to be caught in their path.
The Changelings were in an all-out retreat now, fleeing towards the south. Now their great numbers worked against them, slowing their movement as those still outside the courtyard were being pushed back. Meanwhile, the elementals and beasts continued their rampage, carving swaths of death and carnage through the Changeling forces as the Hunters on the rooftops picked off Changelings one by one.
And then, Kyle saw something else. A bright green meteor, falling from the sky. It slammed into the ground on the southwest corner of the courtyard, sending everything within ten yards flying backwards. From the crater emerged a terrifying being - one that Kyle had fought multiple times before, but now filled him with joy. A creature born of cursed rock and fel flame - an Infernal. Kyle watched as the Infernal lashed out, sending multiple Changelings flying and incinerating those who survived its strike.
Just as Kyle thought things couldn’t get any more chaotic, he heard it. A loud, deep voice, very close and to the north.
“Glory to the Alliance! Charge!”
The dome of light faded just as Kyle whipped his head towards the voice. From the north, a column of humanoids clad in steel charged forward, armed with swords, axes, maces, shields… anything and everything that could be considered a weapon. At the head of the column was King Varian Wrynn himself. His blade, Shalamayne, glistened in the light of the sun as he brought it down upon the nearest Changeling, cutting it clean in half
The column pressed into the courtyard, their weapons carving through the few Changelings remaining on that side of the fountain. They then fell upon the fleeing Changelings with vigor. Several of the new attackers reached out, and their hands flashed with golden light. Hammers of golden energy rained down upon the Changelings, slamming several of them to the ground.
The cries of the dying Changelings resounded through the air as the full might of the Alliance was brought to bear against them. Kyle watched as one Changeling was surrounded by purple energy and forcibly dragged backwards, screaming in terror. The Changeling landed in front of a Dwarf, who quickly impaled the Changeling upon his blade with a cruel grin. His glowing blue eyes flashed brightly for a moment before he lunged forward, throwing himself back at the Changelings.
And just as suddenly, it was over. The Changelings continued their retreat to the south, moving back into the rest of the city where they would have more room to fight. The Alliance, meanwhile, held their ground, deciding to hold the courtyard rather than press on. The elementals that had been summoned dissolved into nothingness, and the Infernal shuddered before collapsing, the fire dying and the rocks falling lifelessly to the ground. Kyle saw Matthias standing near the southern corridor, glaring at the retreating tails of the Changelings.
Kyle turned towards the sound of boots approaching. He watched as the gathered Ponies parted, allowing King Varian to approach the Princesses. The Ponies bowed their heads respectfully as he stopped in front of the Princesses.
“Welcome to the Crystal Empire, King Varian Wrynn,” Celestia smiled. “Your timing could not have been better.”
“The courtyard is secure,” Varian replied, electing to skip the pleasantries. “Several of my men have also been stationed around the outskirts of the palace to bolster the guards you left there.”
“Why?” Rainbow Dash asked, tilting her head to the side. “The Changelings are falling back. The battle is over. We won!”
Varian silenced the Pegasus with a glare. “We merely held them off. They’ve fallen back from this position, yes,” he said coldly, turning his attention back to the south.
“But this battle is far from over.”